When the liturgical reform came in the 1960s, the cudgel of revolution was even aimed at the Ambrosian Rite. Eventually this venerable missal also fell victim to reform. In 1976 the new formed Ambrosian missal was promulgated under the authority of Archbishop Giovanni Colombo of Milan, supported by Pope Paul VI. This put to an end to the speculation and uncertainty of the time, questioning if the Rite would perish or continue in a new form.
Today, by God's grace, there is a community in Milan that is dedicated to preserving the Ancient Ambrosian Rite in its pre-conciliar form. God reward them for their fidelity. Their site can be seen here.
The Ancient Ambrosian Rite community, based in Milan, is a stable group of faithful who meet to pray, attend Holy Mass in the "vetus ordo," receive spiritual formation, and keep the Ambrosian tradition alive. Mass is celebrated every Sunday in the Ancient Ambrosian Rite at a local church. Mass goers are of every age and background, and include the occasional curious tourist.
The Ambrosian Rite takes its name from St. Ambrose, the legendary fourth century Archbishop of Milan. The Rite evolved and developed from that time on. It can be safely assumed the bones of it was composed by St. Ambrose, or at least codified and approved by him. Ambrose had succeeded an Arian bishop and so he would have been posed to clean things up, especially in the area of the liturgy.
The Rite itself has several interesting traditions. For example, the chant sounds slightly different from Latin chant of the Roman Rite. There are additional vestments and liturgical colors that are different. As a rite, it also has its own cycle of readings. Not to mention, as visitors take note, the thurible is swung differently, at times in a circular way, at times upside down.
Further, weekday Masses during Lent are celebrated in black vestments, Advent and Lent both have six weeks, etc. On Fridays in Lend Mass is not celebrated -- instead the faithful pray the Via Crucis. The Agnus Dei is said or sung only at the Mass for the Dead. The processional cross leads the procession with the crucifix always facing the celebrant while processing.
One of the most poignant moments in the Ambrosian Rite is when the celebrant, after the consecration, holds his arms out wide in the form of Christ on the cross; a common medieval custom in different uses of the Roman Rite. He does so from the "Unde et memores" to the first sign of the cross over the Host at "hostiam ☩ puram."
Milan is a city of saints. The Faith was brought there by the Apostle Barnabus. And the first bishop, according to legend, was Anathalon, one of his disciples. The glorious martyrs Gervasius and Protasius are buried in Milan, victims of the first persecution of Diocletian. The persecutions ended in 312 when the Edict of Milan was decreed by the Emperor Constantine.
It does not end there. St. Ambrose of Milan was a fourth century giant. St. Augustine lived in Milan. St. Charles Borromeo was the Archbishop of Milan. Pope Pius XI had been Archbishop of Milan. The Blessed Schuster was Archbishop during the dark days of the Second World War. Cardinal Montini was Archbishop of Milan before his election to the throne of Peter in 1963.
In 1984 the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, authorized the celebration of the Ancient Ambrosian Rite. His decree was confirmed by his successors. The concession has been confirmed up to this very day, in a spirit of pastoral solicitude and respect for tradition and the immense cultural patrimony of the Archdiocese.
The Mass is offered every Sunday morning at the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione al Castello, a beatiful neoclassical church located on the Largo Carioli. The church was built in 1836. The interior is small an cozy, with a golden coffered wooden ceiling depicting the apostles.
The design is a single nave and eight side chapels, decorated by some of the most significant Lombard artists of the seventeenth century. The precious altarpiece in the sanctuary stands, out, a fifteenth century painting depicting the deposition from the cross, painted in the typical Lombard-style of that time, a colorful version of the pietà .
Since January 11, 2015, the Ancient Ambrosian Rite Mass has been celebrated here, using the editio typica missal promulgated in 1954 by Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster. It is offered every Sunday and feast day at 8:15 am (Low Mass) and 9:45 am (High Mass). The church is shared with the Filipino community of Milan.
Various priests serve this apostolate and laymen serve and make up the chant schola. The cerimoniere is Mr. Nicola De Grandi, a great student of the Ancient Ambrosian Rite and a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge related to all things Ambrosian.
His mentor, Mons. Angelo Amodeo (1932-2012), a canon of the Duomo, helped introduce a new generation to the lost pre-conciliar Ambrosian Rite when it was on the verge of extinction in the dark days of the 1970s and 1980s and beyond. After his death he was remembered by his friends with this Latin adage: Ambrosiani Ritus Cultor et Amator.
Interest in the classical form of the Ambrosian rite has in recent years gained prominence and prestige. Today many young people who are hungry for more are finding a refuge in the Ancient Ambrosian Rite, connecting with their own history and the spark that nourished their ancestors for centuries. Further, many liturgical scholars in and outside of Italy have taken notice and this is evidenced by online discussions of a scholarly nature.
Below are some images of the Mass in Milan. God bless and reward this wonderful community of believers. Fortes in Fide!
