Saturday, July 28, 2007

Treasure Hunt in Columbus Ohio

Last night and this morning, I had a splendid visit with Father Kevin Lutz, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Columbus, the capital of our fair state.

Father Lutz and I essentially contacted each other, for different reasons -- curious but true. I posted an item some time back, trolling the net for a used, stone baptismal font (still looking -- would like it to be marble if possible, and with a BIG bowl: email me at frmartinfox@yahoo.com with offers or referrals), and someone referred me to him. It seems Father Lutz is curator of the Jubilee Museum, featuring many treasures that, unaccountably, have been cast off my the Church in recent decades. Meanwhile, Father Lutz, a reader of this blog, wanted to offer to assist me in learning how to offer Mass according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite -- i.e., the classic form of the Mass.

Well, we arranged to meet at his parish last night, he invited me to stay the night, and over the course of the visit, I participated in the classic Mass (I did not concelebrate, as there is virtually no concelebration in the old form), visited his museum -- twice! -- first just to see the treasures (and they are treasures, God bless him for rescuing so much beauty that might otherwise have been lost; and it breaks the heart to realize how much was lost), and second, to do a little "shopping." (I came back with some nice things we can immediately put to use, such a chalice veils and so forth.) We also had a nice dinner, cooked by one of the several seminarians who were passing through, and of course had good fellowship and conversation. (And somehow, amidst all that, Father managed to handle two appointments, and attend to several other matters that arose, as they always do, in an inner-city parish.)

Yesterday morning, the first reading for Mass concerned the Ten Commandments; and I pointed out in that homily that the last two commandments, concerning coveting, gave rise to the other issues of lying, theft, adultery and murder. Alas, while visiting Father Lutz's lovely church, I was sorely tempted to covet! But it is a reminder of the great possibilities that arise from vision and generosity, which of course presuppose love.

If you wish to visit Father Lutz's Jubilee Museum, you might visit the website at Holy Family; I think you can find all the information you need, there.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

To see the museum, go to www,holyfamilycolumbus.org and then click on the "Virtual Tour" of the Museum section.

Tours any day by appointment.

Anonymous said...

What an interesting post! I really enjoyed looking around the Holy Family website -- the museum photos especially. Thanks and good luck in your continuing search for a marble baptismal font as well as other things you need and want for your parishes.

Unknown said...

You mentioned, Father, that there is no "concelebration" in the 1962 Latin Mass.

I have read that elsewhere also.

Would it not be possible for you to assist him as a deacon, or if there were three priests, a deacon and a subdeacon?"

Or would that require a "High Mass" and more time than you had?

Anonymous said...

Ray,

There is no concelebration in the 1962 Mass except the actual ordination Mass, but duties are not divided up as in a Novus Ordo concelebration.

A deacon only assists the priest at a Solemn High Mass. There must also be a sub-deacon and a choir to sing the parts of the High Mass.

There are many excellent videos of Solemn High Masses.

God less you!

Kimberly said...

Fr. Fox,

How wonderful! I am a Holy Family Parishioner and attend the Traditional Mass. Fr. Lutz is a marvel and you could find no finer teacher. I'm enjoying your blog, having recently discovered it. God bless you, Father!