Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-13
CELEBRATES MASS
BY GREEK RITUAL
SYRIAN PRIEST USES FORMS
OF ANTIQUITY
Monsisnor saIome Of Detroit Is Strik-
Ing in Appearancc-Uses cere-
mony for First Time in
Los Angeles

d, "A
branch of the Catholic church, mass
was celebrated yesterday morning at
the cathedral of st. Vibiana by Mon
signor Salome of the Syrian church OF
Detroit 1t was the first time that the
Greek ritual had been carried out in
Los Angeles and probably in Southern
california. and was of great interest to
the vast congregation that filled the
cathedral.
The mass was substantially the same
as in the Latin form, with rev eX-'
ceptions, and embodied the same idea.
The greatest difference was noticed In
the robes and in the manner OF giving
| the blessing to the people.
| Monsignor Salome entered the
church following the procession of altar
boys accompanied by Monsignor Hart
| nett. Robed entirely in black, with a.
high black headdress, called a lapy,
the Syrian priest was easily notlceaple
among the priests. Tall and slender,
decidedly intellectual man, WIN jet
black hair and beard, made more no
ticeable by the high head dress TO
which was attached black veil reach-
ing nearly to the waist, the monslgnor
made a striking appearance.
Chants In Greek
At the opening of the mass the altar
adtar steps with the various vestments
for the mass. The monsignor doffed
his black outer robe and taking the
various vestments, chanting In the
Greek ritual, robed himself for the
mass. -,
The vestments used have the same
significance but are the original cut
rather than those modihed 1or tne
western church. With the exception
of the alb. which was white, the vest
ments were of a delicate shade OF
layendar of brocaded silk, and pre-
sented a. beautiful sight when the mon
signor mounted the steps to the aitar'
set off by the deep black OF the hlsn
head dress. -,
The monsignor donned the stole,
which is much like the usual toI III
With the exception that it is caught to-
eether in the front and then instead OF
the usual chausable, he donned tne
robe that was originally fashioned,
which more resembled the cope OF the
T,atin church. This was of the laVen-
der shade. Over this and last OF all ne
placed al ut his neck the decoratlon
bestowed on him by Cardinal RampoI-
la, which is beautiful goiden Cross.
Then the monsignor, who has the rank
of archimandrite in the creek chui eh'
commenced the mass.
EXPLAINS Oreck nltSS
Decidedly impressive and lacking any
spectacular feeling that the Vestments
might add to unaccustomed eyes, t.e
monsignor celebrated the mass in the
Creek tongue, giving his blessing to
the people with a golden crucifix and a
lighted taper in his hand. ,
Monsignor Hartnett preached tne
sermon. explaining the rites of the an
cient church and those Of the Latin
branch. Monsignor Hartnett SAID III
part: 49,
"The presence of a priest at the
altar who celebrates the holy sacrifice
according to the Unia or Melchite
Greek rite, demands few words OF
Exclamation. The ritual according TO
which he celebrates is different from
that used in the western church.
"The Catholic church has always in
sisted on the fact that unity is char-
acteristic note Of the true church OF
Christ.
offers up the holy sacrifice in
accordance with the Basilian ritual as
abridged by st. Chrysostom, and In the
Greek language. Does not this dt-
versity of rite militiate against the
unity essential to the church of Christ?
The unity which characterizes the true
church of God is a unity of faith,
ernment AS is manifest, a unity In
language is not demanded. Hence as
far as the unity of the church is con-
cerned it matters not what be the
language of those who profess the |
Catholic faith; it matters not what be |
the language Of their ritual, so long as
the ritual in use has the approval OF
the church of Christ.
Three Languages in Palestine
"In the days of Christ three different |
languages were spoken in Palestine, |
Latin. The Syro- Chaldiac was the
language of Christ, and in this
language was the first mass celebrated
i'm 1t was the Holy Eucharist insti-
tuted.
'The apostles did not celebrate mass
til after the descent of the Holy Ghost
st. Peter probably celebrated his first
conclude that it was celebrated in the
language spoken in the city-the Sy-
riac When the apostles dispersed it
is most probable that each one cele-
brated the sacred mysteries in the
language of the people whom he
wished to convert to the teachings of
Christ. Hence in Palestine alone the
holy sacrifice must have been offered
in the three languages spoken in the
country. so that the offering of the
holy mass in Greek is as ancient as its
Offering in Latin or Syriac
'Tn the church today we find the holy
mass offered in nine or more different
languages. Yet it is the same sacrifice.
The manner in which it is offered is
different, but no change in the ritual
affects it's substance.
when the ceremonies of the Basilian
ritual are compared with those of the
Roman we notice indeed that the cere-
monies are different, but it must be dis
tinctly understood that the canon of
the mass is identical in both rituals. |
The Greek text is a perfect rendering
of the Latin. So that any one accus-
toned to the Latin rite can easily fol- |
low one celebrating according to the
rite of the Melchite Greek.
Some PecuIiarities
"There are a few peculiarities of the |
Basilian ritual to which may call at |
tention. A church adapted to the ritual
requires three altars-one at which the |
celebrant prepares for the sacrifice, an
other at which the sacrifice is offered, |
and the third at which he offers thanks. |
The altar of sacrifice is divided from the
church proper. The celebrant off1ciates