'FHE Pope's anniversary Mass, celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, was said by Cardinal Montini, Archbishop of Milan, in the ancient Ambrosian Rite.
It is thought that this was the first time that the Rite—which differs from the Roman in many striking points—has been used in St. Peter's.
It is customary that, on the anniversary of the Pope's coronation the Mass is celebrated by the first Cardinal named during the Pope's pontificate. So it was that on Sunday Cardinal Montini celehratcd the Mass in the Liturgy of his own diocese, a rite which as Pope John reminded the great congregation of Council Fathers, was "powerfully championed" by St. Charles Borromeo whose feast it was.
The Mass said was that of St. Charles (1st Class in Milan) with a special prayer for the anniversary of the Pope's Coronation.
The Liturgy was begun by the Holy Father who intoned an introductory Collect before the procession. At the altar a brief Litany of 12 kyries was followed by the Litany of the Saints.
The Introit corresponds to that of the Roman Mass; during the Gloria (not preceded by the Kyrie) the Cardinals make their obedience. At the beginning of the Gospel there is a triple invocation for silence: the Gospel is followed by an antiphon, a kiss of peace is given The Secret, called super ohlata as in the old Roman Rite, is sung.
The breaking of the host, again as in the old Roman Rite of St. Gregory the Great, takes place after the Paler Noster. In the same way the lihera nos is sung after the Pater Noster.
The breaking of the host is accompanied by variable prayers called the confractoriatn. Befcire the Communion the Deacon again imparts the kiss of peace.
Pope John in Sunday's address recalled that "Pope Martin V when he accepted on October 16. 1418. the invitation to consecrate the main altar of Milan Cathedral, wished to perform the ceremony in the Ambrosian Rite as a iribute to the venerable traditions of that region where. in the metropolitan church and in the Basilica of St. Ambrose, none could celebrate at any of the altars. not even privately, unless in conformity with the Ambrosian Rite. This today is allowed at the side altars".