LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal Raymond Burke and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will celebrate a solemn Pontifical Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which Cardinal Burke founded, on Tuesday.
The esteemed prelates, who are known for their defense of liturgical reverence and orthodoxy, will celebrate the Mass of the Americas as a Traditional Latin Mass at the Shrine, located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The Mass of the Americas is a tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception commissioned by Archbishop Cordileone and composed by Frank LaRocca of the Pope Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship.
The Mass of the Americas “integrates Gregorian chant with traditional Mexican melodies, such as ‘La Guadalupana,’” the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe noted.
Archbishop Cordileone, who leads the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will be the principal celebrant of the Mass, which begins at 12:15 pm CT and will be aired later on EWTN.
“All are warmly invited to join this profound celebration,” the Shrine said.
The Shrine also celebrated the 17th anniversary of its dedication on July 31, featuring Cardinal Willem Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands, as the homilist for the dedication anniversary Mass.
Archbishop Cordileone told the National Catholic Register that the “choice was really the Shrine’s” to celebrate the Mass in the traditional form rather than the Novus Ordo.
He added, “we more often celebrate this Mass of the Americas in the ordinary form. But it is also true that when Frank La Rocca adapted the original Novus Ordo version for the extraordinary form, he made a beautiful Mass even more exquisite. This is sacred music that lifts souls to contemplate the Lord.”
“The last time I celebrated the Mass of the Americas according to the 1962 Missal, it was in 2019, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.” Archbishop Cordileone recalled. “Thousands crowded the Basilica, and hundreds of thousands have watched it online.”
“I’m looking forward to experiencing this moment of grace with many of my fellow Catholics once again, this time at the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe with Cardinal Burke,” he said.
Cardinal Burke explained that the Shrine usually celebrates a Pontifical Mass on August 5, the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major, Our Lady of Snows. The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has a special affiliation with the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was granted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
“It is thus most natural to celebrate the Pontifical Mass according to that usage on such a solemn occasion,” the cardinal said, emphasizing the unique merits of the Latin Mass.
“The beauty of the More Ancient Usage (Usus Antiquior), when it is celebrated with due care and love, attracts the faithful and lifts up their hearts and minds to Our Lord Who descends to the altars of our chapels and churches from His place in eternal glory at the right hand of the Father to make sacramentally present His Sacrifice on Calvary. Each aspect of the More Ancient Usage of the Roman Rite points to the real encounter of Heaven with earth which takes place each time that the Holy Mass is celebrated.”
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe houses numerous first-class relics, including of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Maria Goretti, St. Peregrine, and Blessed Miguel Pro. Norbertine Fathers from St. Michael’s Abbey in California oversee the spiritual care of the Shrine.
