With the Holy Father's encouragement of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the traditional practice of offering a Votive Mass of Our Lady in Advent has come back and already become a regular part of the Advent Season. Rorate Masses - so called because the Introit begins with the words Rorate coeli desuper - are often celebrated in the early morning. The practice of celebrating them purely by candlelight in Germany and Austria has spread - a practice which is alluded to in the writings of Pope Benedict who described the Rorate Mass as an important part of the realization of his own priestly vocation.
Of course, one of the really wonderful things about the current emphasis on the Extraordinary Form is that we can begin to regain many of the traditions that have been laid aside in the misinterpretation of the Conciliar mind. There is nothing stopping a priest from celebrating an Ordinary Form Votive Mass of Our Lady in Advent - indeed it should be actively encouraged! The older Form of the Mass informs our use of the Ordinary Form and brings us to a clearer understanding of the roots of the liturgy. Many parishes celebrate Advent and Christmas with candlelit services late in the evening - this is nothing new! The Rorate Mass gives the congregation just this opportunity and, whilst traditionally this is celebrated early in the morning, there seems no reason why it could be held in the evening under the newer dispensation.
So, Parish Clergy, don't dread that Advent Carol Service or Service of Light before Christmas. Instead, get out your finest white vestments, get a choir in to sing some beautiful music and let the ancient liturgy of the church do the talking.
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I attended a Rorate mass for the first time 7.15 in the morning, it´s still dark, after the mass a candle was distributed for tonight. This is a special candle (12 inches long)brought all the way from Bethlehem, Israel, the place of Nativity. I was so happy!
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