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| Brooklyn's Visitation Monastery Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
Tuesday evening my friends and I attended a beautiful Sung Mass at Visitation Monastery (8902 Ridge Blvd.) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for the Novena of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since first offering the Traditional Mass a few months back, attendance at the chapel has been growing steadily, with nearly a hundred faithful filling the pews.
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| St. Jane Frances de Chantal |
Arriving early, we found a seat beneath the stained glass window of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, founder of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. Sitting in quiet prayer, we conducted our Holy Hour of Reparation, which included the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, meditating on the Stations of the Cross, and Eucharistic Adoration.
The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was sung by Celebrant and Homilist Fr. Stephen Saffron, who spoke at length about the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the significance of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. He was dutifully assisted by several young servers and members of the Schola Cantorum from the Church of the Holy Innocents in Midtown Manhattan.
After Mass, we prayed the novena and Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Newly assigned to pastoral service at St. Josaphat Church in Bayside, Queens, we wish Fr. Saffron all the best and much success in his endeavors. It goes without saying, he will be sorely missed at St. Anselm’s in Brooklyn. Knowing how difficult it will be to commute, we pray he will be able to continue the monthly Tridentine Masses at the monastery.
Thank you to the sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary for organizing the Mass and warmly welcoming us inside your beautiful chapel and monastery grounds. As always, it was a great joy to celebrate our faith together.
