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"The beauty is healing, God's presence is obvious...."
Saturday, November 16, 2019, Washington D.C. --- In the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, all 3,500 seats were filled for a Solemn Pontifical High Mass, the traditional Latin Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. It was the world-premiere celebration of the Mass of the Americas in the Extraordinary Form. The liturgy was broadcast live on Eternal Word Television Network EWTN) and was livestreamed as well. To date, just three weeks later, the videotaped Mass has had more than 108,000 views. See it for yourself on the screen below. The Mass of the Americas was commissioned by Archbishop Cordileone's Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, and was written by Frank La Rocca, Benedict XVI Institute's composer-in-residence.
Michael Olbash (Music Director, Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary): "Frank La Rocca has composed perhaps the most significant Catholic composition of our lifetime, performed here with exquisite organ improvisation and flawless Gregorian chant. This, this, is what it means to be an American Catholic in the 21st century."
Father Dwight Longenecker (pastor, author, speaker): "The Mass of the Americas was not only a unifying experience for traditionalists and mainstream Catholics. It was unifying across cultural divides and was therefore a great evangelistic opportunity. In a packed basilica this was a statement of true, vibrant, creative and positive Catholicism in a world where the Catholics are taking a bruising from division, confusion, strife and persecution."
Robert Royal (author, editor-in-chief, The Catholic Thing): "Archbishop Cordileone had a brilliant insight in developing this Mass of the Americas (plural). He wanted an instance of real liturgical beauty....Archbishop Cordileone also wanted a Mass that would be rooted in both Americas, North and South. And that meant incorporating elements of the two great Marian traditions: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Latin America, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States.....Frank La Rocca’s music struck a much better note of inculturation. The Mass was in Latin, Extraordinary Form, so the music drew appropriately from Church traditions of chant and polyphony, but also spoke a fluid and, above all, contemplative modern musical idiom."
Kathryn Jean Lopez (author, columnist): "The Mass of the Americas seems like Our Lady and Juan Diego calling out to a civilization immersed in self-obsession and, at the same time, to loneliness. We are hyper-connected and yet aching for connection. The beauty is healing, and it makes the reality of God’s presence obvious. The Mass of the Americas may just be the answer to modern-day wails of the human heart."
The Benedict XVI Institute of the Archdiocese of San Francisco opens the door of beauty to God, providing resources for more beautiful liturgy and energizing a Catholic culture of the arts. -
High Mass in Latin, Washington D.C., November 16, 2019
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World Premiere, December 8, 2018, San Francisco
Click on the photo above, or visit the Benedict XVI Institute to hear eight selections from the recording of the world premiere of the Mass of the Americas by composer Frank La Rocca. -
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"An historic Mass...": News and Commentary
"On December 8, San Francisco’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption celebrated a 'Mass of the Americas' especially commissioned to honor our Blessed Mother as both the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. EWTN broadcast this historic Mass live. 'The Mass of the Americas is a simultaneous tribute to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (the patroness of the United States) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (the patroness of both Mexico and all the Americas),' wrote Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone ahead of the Mass...." READ the full article: "Honoring Mary in the 'Mass of the Americas," by Joseph Pronechen (National Catholic Register).
"In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone talked about Mary as an evangelizer and unifier. Her appearance at Tepeyac was the reason for the unity of all Mexican people in faith. In the appearance of the Virgin Mary, both the Mexican and Spanish peoples were able to recognize the mother of God. 'A new Christian people is formed from the two, a mestizo people; a new Christian civilization is born from the union brought about by her who is venerated as la Morenita and la Inmaculada. How blessed is Mexico, for truly God has not done this for any other nation!' the archbishop said....." READ the full article: "Queen of Mexico Draws Thousands to Cathedral," by Nicholas Wolfram Smith (Catholic San Francisco).
"It’s an extraordinarily ambitious work, mixing Latin polyphony and chant with traditional South and Central American music. The Mass incorporates a 16-voice mixed chorus, the organ, a string quartet, bells and marimba.... Indeed, that there’s such a thing as a new Mass setting...is a sign of hope: a reminder that tradition is something vital, even dynamic...." READ the full article: "A Trimphant Premiere for a New Mass Setting," by Michael Warren Davis (Catholic Herald, U.K.)."If the aim of the Mass is to demonstrate the way Mary unifies all God’s children, what happens at the end of the Mass of the Americas is nothing short of a miracle. The Advent season’s recessional is Alma Redemptoris Mater. At the very end, as a punctuation to this grand Mass, Frank La Rocca added a short passage for organ and string quartet. After the choir completes the singing of the hymn, the organ continues ‘singing’ the Alma Redemptoris Mater. Then the strings begin La Guadalupana. And then for a brief glorious moment, they harmonize with each other: wonderfully, hauntingly, gorgeously...." READ the full article: "The Making of the Mass of the Americas" (Catholic Arts Today)
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Mass of the Americas EWTN, San Francisco
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Mass of the Americas EWTN (in Spanish)
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Archbishop Cordileone's Homily, December 8, 2018
“He Has Not Done Thus for Any Other Nation”/“No Ha Hecho Nada Igual con Ningún Pueblo”
Text - English | Text - Spanish | Audio Recording -
Conversation with Composer Frank La Rocca