In order to attempt to get my plenary indulgence for the day (Mass - check, Communion - check, pray the Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be --- check checkity check check!, pray for the Intentions of the Pope (Hopes he has a nice vacation) and go to Confession (ooooops) and be free from the attachment of sin (uh...)) I attended the 5:45 pm Mass at St. Anselm. This I think is the latest Monday Mass in the Archdiocese. If there is a later one, it's a secret.
Because it was a weekday Mass, there was no music. The monks chanted the Entrance Antiphon (I think...I'm not sure...they chanted something...) and chanted the different Mass parts. The homily was brief and was about the Word and how it is Salvation and comes to us through Jesus and dwells amoung us. The monks are very reverent. I stayed so late taking pictures that I think I managed to attend Vespers. The monks started chanting and praying after Mass. It's so awesome to here them chanting.
A few months ago, I met someone who was a Benedictine Oblate, who gave me a St. Benedict Medal. She was very clear that I had to get it blessed by a Benedictine priest. I know it is important to get medals blessed, but I wasn't sure what the big deal was. Finally, the medal, me and a Benedictine priest were all in the same place. After Mass I asked Father to bless my medal and he starts and then stops and says I should do this properly (There's a proper way??? There's more than Bless this medal???? Seriously????) Father goes and gets a book (wow) and proceeds to bless the medal with this long blessing that first, exorcises the medal (wow!). After a little searching, I located the Blessing. Pretty Awesome!
Pictures:
View From a Pew
St. Anselm is in the round. There is no back.
Holy Angels Altar
Holy Water Font
Our Lady
Altar of North American Martyrs
Bell Tower
The Bells are G#, A#, C#, D# and F.
They are named: Big Ben, Frederick, Joseph, Jerome and Edward.
Previous Visit
St. Anselm's Website
Once again, you went to a church with a fabulous organ and didn't get to hear it. The Hradetsky organ at the Priory was built in the 70's. It is entirely mechanical action ( meaning the blower and the music rack light are the only electrical connections). They have a very fine organist and use the organ regularly on Sunday- it is well worth a trip back to hear it.
ReplyDeleteI love the monks' chant. I go out there several times a year for Mass, vespers, or some other office, mostly to hear that beautiful music. And I agree with Michael--they have a great organ, and a very talented organist. I think he plays primarily at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning Masses. I visited a few times a couple of years ago when the organ was being refurbished and re-voiced...very interesting. Check out the St. Anselm website at http://www.stanselmstl.org. They're hosting a concert this Saturday night by the boys' choir from the Warsaw Cathedral. (With organ accompaniment, maybe?) Also, if you're interested, visit the Abbey's website, which is different from the one for the parish, at http://www.stlouisabbey.org, and read the monks' bios. I don't know any of them personally, but they're such a talented group of men!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, I'm not a big fan of modern looking churches ...
ReplyDeleteWhy was there not a 'real' crucifix in this entire church. You could not see the pain and suffering of Jesus in any of the crucifixes that I saw in this church because they were all masked with modern artwork. Especially for a visit the day before the passion begins, it becomes very difficult to place oneself on the cross when the suffering of the cross cannot be visualized.