Mystery Worshipper: Amanda B. Reckondwyth
Church:
Mount Angel Abbey, Mt Angel
Location: Oregon, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 22 December 2024, 9:00am
The building
The abbey was founded in 1882, but their original buildings were destroyed by fire. The present abbey complex was built at various times during the 1940s and 1950s and is the work of several architects. Various expansions and renovations have taken place since then. The chapel is stunning in its simplicity, with choir stalls on either side and a simple altar backed by sedilia. A tracker organ stands to the right.
The church
I’ll refer you to their website for a detailed description of the abbey’s workshops, seminars, retreats, and other programs. I will mention here that among their activities is brewing beer – ‘for a higher purpose,’ their website proclaims. Aptly called Black Habit, their beer is available for consumption in a taproom or for purchase at the abbey. Their website livestreams all of their services, including mass and the daily office, and past recordings are available on YouTube.
The neighborhood
Mt Angel is a small city in northwest Oregon, a little over one square mile in total size. It is a charming little place, featuring Bavarian-style architecture and one heck of an Oktoberfest that draws thousands from all over.
The cast
Celebrant, who I assume was the abbot, assisted by a deacon, a master of ceremonies, two acolytes, and 10 priests vested in alb and purple stole who sat in choir and concelebrated.
What was the name of the service?
Mass, Fourth Sunday in Advent.How full was the building?
Not being at liberty to travel to Oregon just now, I watched the service via their website livestream. The counter at its highest point showed that there were 25 people watching. But this varied as the mass progressed. There were 15 monks in choir. See above for a description of the altar party. A congregation was present, but only the first two rows were visible in the camera frame.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
No.
Was your pew comfortable?
Of course I don’t know, but the choir stalls did not look particularly comfortable to me. It appeared that all of their occupants were sitting bolt upright. As for me, my desk chair was its usual comfortable self.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
The monks entered the chapel quietly and took their places in choir. The monastery bells were pealing.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
The monks chanted the introit for the day as the altar was censed. Then: ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
The monks had books in front of them, but I don’t know what the book was. It did not appear that the congregation were holding any printed materials. Nothing was available online for download.
What musical instruments were played?
Tracker organ, opus 79 of the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company of St Louis, Missouri. It was used mainly to accompany the chant, but the organist did strike up a solo (I don’t know what it was) at the offertory, as well as a recessional, that showed off the organ’s resources very well.
Did anything distract you?
A crying baby could be heard in the congregation. Something about the lighting was casting eerie shadows on the wall behind the altar – they looked almost like the ghosts of monks gone to their reward.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
As one would expect of a Benedictine community, the monks chanted all of the ordinary to Gregorian chant in Latin, accompanied by the organ. But most of the proper was recited in English. There was no Advent wreath. Incense was copiously dispensed at all of the correct times. At the offertory, one of the monks left choir to escort a member of the congregation up to the altar with the gifts of bread and wine. The vested priests who had been sitting in choir joined the celebrant at the altar for the liturgy of the eucharist. No bells were rung, though. At the peace, everyone in the altar party exchanged liturgical embraces, but the peace was not carried down to the monks in choir or to the congregation. The monks in choir received communion under both species, but the congregation received under the species of bread only.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
9 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
10 — The abbot spoke clearly and his sermon was well organized and exactly on point.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
Advent is a time to look for the coming of the Lord. The day of the first coming is close, but it’s not here yet. Don’t abandon your sense of watching. When Mary visited Elizabeth, no one was bored – everyone was excited, even the unborn babe in Elizabeth’s womb. Why? Because the Lord’s coming was imminent. The Holy Spirit was present. It is the Holy Spirit that draws us to Jesus and inspires us to look for him. The Lord is among us – we are the Body of Christ. At the first coming, God accomplished all that was necessary for us to enter his kingdom. God’s plan is the salvation of all, and we all have a role in it. If we can feel just a fraction of the joy that Mary, Elizabeth, and the unborn John the Baptist felt, then we will have a wonderful Christmas.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
Everything. What a beautiful, dignified service it was. If only every mass in every church could be celebrated like this.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Only that I could not have been present in person. Well – if I have to be picky – all of the concelebrating priests chanted the Per Ipsum with the abbot – each in a different key! What a strange sound they made!
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
The mass ended with the Leonine Prayer to St Michael the Archangel and a recessional hymn (the only hymn sung in the entire mass) as the altar party left behind the processional cross. The congregation – what I could see of them – remained in place for all verses of the hymn. Bless their souls – I doubt if they would dare to leave early in a monastery. The organist struck up a postlude as the monks in choir left.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
My thoughts turned to lunch.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 — Should I ever find myself in this part of Oregon, I would visit for sure.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
The beautiful dignity of it all.