The Quis Non Amántem Project centered on the marriage of Cynthia Calamug and Jeff Ostrowski. Their Nuptial Mass, celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend René Gracida (Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi, TX), took place on April 14, 2007, and was the first Solemn Pontifical Nuptial Mass to be offered in the Extraordinary Form (sometimes called the "Latin Tridentine Rite") since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
Corpus Christi Watershed, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Catholic arts, noted that there were several unique and wonderful aspects about Quis Non Amántem. It was therefore decided to do a type of documentary on the project for the sake of Catholic Evangelism and renewal of the Catholic arts. Watershed filmed the ceremony and surrounding events, using high quality audio and video techniques. A DVD is being produced, along with two versions of the musical selections of the Mass.
The following are some noteworthy aspects of Quis Non Amántem:
• The Wedding Mass was a Solemn Pontifical Nuptial Mass (with Deacon and Subdeacon), celebrated on White Saturday (hence, the Nuptial prayers were commemorated).
• For the Mass, Bishop René Gracida wore a chasuble (and Stole, Maniple, etc.) which had served as the personal "travel-vestment" of recently-Canonized Mexican Bishop, Saint Rafael Guízar Valencia.
• Gregorian chant according to the Solesmes method (Dom Pothier & Dom Mocquereau) as well as beautiful polyphony by masters like Morales, Lassus, and Hassler was sung
• The polyphonic choir for Quis Non Amántem consisted of around fifty singers.
• The Schola Cantórum consisted of nineteen men, including singers from two nationally-known Scholae.
• Several internationally-known Church musicians flew into Texas to assist with the music, including Jeffrey Tucker, Arlene Oost-Zinner, and David Pedersen.
• The "Composer's Edition" of the Quis Non Amántem CD reflects the microphone placements and mastering choices of the composer.
• Quis Non Amántem wanted to show that "non-specialists" can produce great, appropriate, holy music at Mass. This was, indeed, proven, as roughly half of the polyphonic singers (including several high school students & children under the age of 10) had never heard Renaissance polyphony before their experience on April 14, 2007.
• Quis Non Amántem also wanted to show that the great Catholic masterpieces of Lassus, Morales, Hassler, etc. are exceedingly relevant to young Catholics. More than thirty of the polyphonic singers were younger than 25 years of age, and some of the most crucial members were ages under the age of 10.
• The Quis Non Amántem DVD (scheduled for release in August of 2008) includes fascinating interviews and reflections by the clerics and singers who were involved with the production, footage of several Masses (including the Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving the night before the Wedding, offered by Fr. James Fryar, FSSP), and special features like audio commentaries.
• Fr. Paul Roman, the priest acting as Subdeacon in the Mass, was the first licitly-ordained subdeacon in the United States since the Second Vatican Council.
• Quis Non Amántem is a testimony to the rebuilding that must be done in our times, as the Catholic Church in America has been so damaged by apostasy and heretical teaching. A special altar was constructed for the occasion (so Mass could be said Ad Orientam), hand-made liturgical torches were employed, and even the beautiful Chalice used by Bishop Gracida was hand-made for the service of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Every bar of the music sung or played was also hand-edited or composed by the groom, who is a liturgical composer. The pages of the booklets which enabled the congregation to follow the ceremonies were hand-drawn by Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski.
