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NEW YORK (ChurchMilitant.com) - On Monday, November 14, New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral will offer its first Traditional Latin Mass in more than 20 years.

Eddy J. Toribio, Chancellor of Knights of Columbus Regina Coeli Council, told Church Militant,"This event would be historic because the last time there was a traditional Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral was almost 20 years ago (two full decades!)."

He continued, "Additionally, this would be the first time since 'Summorum Pontificum' that a traditional Mass is publicly celebrated at the cathedral of the archdiocese of New York – other cathedrals have had it before, but St. Patrick's had not – until now!"

The last Traditional Latin Mass celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral was May 1996, with more than 4,000 faithful in attendance.

"One hopes that this will mean that priests and seminarians will feel at ease attending this Mass without worrying that their names will be added to a 'black list' if they are seen attending this traditional Mass," Toribio added.

Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler celebrated the last Traditional Latin Mass at St. Patrick's in May 1996, wearing a "brilliant red cappa magna, a silk cape" as the choir sang Mozart's Coronation Mass. Cardinal Stickler was able to celebrate the Tridentine Mass in a time when the Novus Ordo nearly wiped away the Traditional Latin Rite.

It wasn't until help from Pope St. John Paul II's indult "Quattuor Abhinc Annos" that states: "The Supreme Pontiff, in a desire to meet the wishes of these groups grants to diocesan bishops the possibility of using an indult whereby priests and faithful ... may be able to celebrate Mass by using the Roman Missal according to the 1962 edition."

Then-archbishop of New York John Cardinal O'Conner, a friend of Cdl. Stickler, gave a warm welcome to the assembled faithful on that Fifth Sunday of Easter. "I feel privileged that you have requested this Mass be celebrated here in what is your cathedral."

The May 1996 Tridentine Mass was a lay-led effort by the Knights of Columbus, just as this November 14 Tridentine Mass will be.

The lay-led effort for is largely possible owing to Pope Benedict XVI's "Summorum Pontificum," which allowed a universal indult for the Traditional Latin Mass.

In parishes where a group of the faithful attached to the previous liturgical tradition stably exists, the parish priest should willingly accede to their requests to celebrate Holy Mass according to the rite of the 1962 Roman Missal. It is therefore permitted to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal, which was promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Church’s Liturgy.

Toribio commented, "Obviously, obtaining permission from Cdl. Dolan to have this Mass is a very obvious and clear act of generosity, and we are very grateful for that. It shows a certain level of openness to the faithful who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass that was not there before 'Summorum Pontificum.'"

The Solemn Votive Mass in honor of Our Lady of Mercy will take place at St. Patrick's Cathedral on November 14 at 7 p.m.

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