Grotto's "hippy-couple" weds in "Tridentine"; heads back to Maine

Seth and Emily were with us only a very short time, but many of us grew to enjoy their joyful company. Unbeknownst to me that they consider themselves somewhat "hippies" as do their friends, I had the same thought when I first saw them when a fellow parishioner said, "isn't that cute - a 'hippy-couple' at Grotto. I can assure you they are not ordinary "hippies".

What is so interesting to me is that Catholic "traddies" come from all walks of life. It has nothing to do with age, race, fashion, or how you part your hair - it's a state of mind, one that is devout and orthodox with regards to Catholic teaching on faith and morals, and a taste for reverence and majesty in the Mass.

The two met at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Emily is into pottery and Seth is into carpentry. Both of these people are simple souls who were just delighted to find Assumption Grotto. Emily is originally from Northville, Michigan while Seth is from Maine. I'm sure as you see the photos you will recognize them from Sunday Mass or the social.

While back in Michigan, she was on the hunt for a traditional parish and actually has family roots at Assumption Grotto. She is related to Bishop Joseph Matthew Breitenbeck who was once a pastor of our parish. His excellency died at 90 years of age in 2005.

Emily told Seth, still up in Maine, that she wanted to wed at Assumption Grotto. So, down to Michigan came Seth - some months ago, in part, to undergo solid Catholic pre-Cana classes. They were pleased to be in the right place at the right time. Father Perrone offered them the choice of Mass in the ordinary or extraordinary form and they chose the latter. Emily said she never dreamed she would be able to get wed in the traditional Latin Mass.

While some weddings are beautiful for their extravagance, this one was special to me because of it's simplicity. Whether the wedding has a large party all dressed to detailed beauty or not, the Sacrament of Marriage requires none of it. There were no tuxedos and gowns, but each dressed up in their own way. Emily was proud to show the veil her mother crocheted with loving hands. The reception, catered by the family in the Grotto gym was equally as simple and it was a pleasure to have so many visitors from out of state - many states. They found an Irish band to play simple music.

Seth and Emily departed back to Maine immediately following the wedding. Our loss is Maine's gain. But, they have vowed to also come back for a visit. I'm going to ask that they send us some photos now and then and let us know how they are doing. May God bless them both with a long, happy, and healthy Catholic marriage.

Seth, Emily you can reach me at: TeDeumBlog@aol.com

What you see in these next two photos is a custom at Grotto immediately following Mass. The couple first came to a side altar where there is a statue of Our Lady. They put flowers in the vase and then prayed together momentarily. Then, they worked their way over to the other side altar where we have St. Joseph and did the same. It is a tender, spiritual way to start a marriage under the guidance of Mary and Joseph.

Ok, folks may have seen me taking some shots of the flowers on the tables. I am actually very fond of peacock feathers and wanted to capture the beauty using my zoom lens like a macro.

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First "Tridentine" Wedding at Grotto in 40 Years!

An extraordinary wedding.....

On Friday, January 4th, at 4:00pm, Assumption Grotto was graced with the Sacrament of Marriage in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (EF) for the first time in 40 years. You may recognize it by another name, the so-called "Tridentine" or "Traditional Latin Mass" (TLM).

I did not post the photos sooner because I was unable to connect with the bride and groom to get their permission to share the pics online (and I did not want them to learn about them via the web!).

Kathryn & Thomas Hulett became husband and wife at this majestic celebration.


Clicking on any pic should enlarge it on your computer. Bloggers: feel free to post any pics you want, but kindly provide a link back to this post (click the time stamp below for the url).

An Unplanned Shoot
I had gone to take photos during what I thought was going to be the First Friday Adoration for the Sacred Heart, which normally takes place from 9:30am to 6:30pm each month. We have adoration daily, save Sundays in the convent chapel. I also knew the Christmas decorations would soon be coming down and had not been able to take many pictures.

What? A Wedding?
When I got there shortly after 3:00, the Blessed Sacrament had just been returned to the Tabernacle and preparations for the wedding were underway. I was short on time and was planning to leave before the wedding until........the altar cards came out.

I was already feeling bad because I missed a wedding between Christmas and New Years that I had been asked to shoot some months earlier. I hadn't committed, and never commit to weddings because I have many variables in my personal life, especially my mother's ill health, and I would not want to blow the only opportunity someone has to have pictures of such a special day.

What? A "Tridentine" Wedding?
Seeing those altar cards, my first plea to God was, "Oh Lord, don't do this to me - you know I won't be able to resist this". A short time later, I learned who was getting married. I did not know the bride, but I knew her father, Mike, who recently passed away after a long illness. I met him in the school hallway of Grotto about two years ago when, seeing my camera, he introduced himself and asked if I was the same Diane who was active on the web in Catholic forums and blogs. We had some good conversations about the faith and the liturgy.

That was it. I finally realized that Mike's Guardian Angel was working overtime along with mine to get me to stay. How could I walk out now? I asked the Blessed Mother for her assistance as I so often do when shooting anything sacred (and because I really have no idea what I'm doing). Below is the result of that prayer.

I did not find out until the sermon that not only did I capture this beautiful wedding, I captured a piece of history for Assumption Grotto. Deo Gratias!

You may have noticed that the bride and groom where exchanging vows at the beginning, rather than mid-Mass. I thought this was awesome.

One thing to note for couples considering a wedding in the Extraordinary Form: Start kneeling daily for longer and longer periods until you can do so comfortably for at least an hour. There was no place for chairs in the Sanctuary and from what I'm told, this is the way it use to be.

I am speaking from experience when I tell you that if you can only kneel for 5 minutes today, with time and practice, you can easily work your way up to an hour over a period of time. I recall my first days at Grotto where I use to break a sweat kneeling for just 7 minutes or so during the short Eucharistic Prayer in the Ordinary Form (or New Mass).

There's one more thing about getting married at Grotto, either in the Ordinary or Extraordinary Form (and you get to choose): No one escapes the pre-Cana classes by Fr. Eduard Perrone, Grotto's pastor. If you want to understand the beauty of marriage in the context of theology of the body, you will have your fill.

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