Ever since the millennial year of 2000 which marked the 600th anniversary of the death of Geoffrey Chaucer, the Catholic community in Claremont has stepped into its own "time machine" each year around the date of his death (Oct. 25). The closing of Chaucer's famous masterpiece, "The Canterbury Tales," is actually a prayer which begins: "All you who hear or read this, I beseech you to pray for me."

Thus, on Oct. 24, parishioners at Our Lady of the Assumption Church will celebrate their annual Chaucer Memorial Mass, embellished with musical instruments of the Middle Ages and Gregorian chant. Sung parts of the 5:30 p.m. Mass will be arrangements used in the liturgy of Chaucer's day.

The unique concept of this celebration is the brainchild of Dolores Cullen, 81, OLA's resident Chaucer scholar, who has authored five books published by Fithian Press. In her books she makes the case that Chaucer was a literary genius whose multi-layered, Catholic message has yet to be fully understood.

Her latest book --- aptly entitled "Ensnared by His Words: My Chaucer Obsession" --- describes how, as a middle-aged undergraduate student at Cal Poly Pomona, she came to recognize the religious themes in Chaucer's works. Notably, she identifies Christ with the individual called the Host, who is the guide of the pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales."

Perhaps because these new ideas originated with a grandmother who had spent half her life as a homemaker, or perhaps because they challenge critical tradition, they have met with skepticism and rejection from many in the literary establishment, with a few exceptions. But Cullen, who holds a master's degree, is intently serious about her concern that Chaucer and his works will soon be relegated to the backwaters of academia.

Her passion is contagious, sometimes taking the form of a game she has played with high school students (as well as internet participants) who are asked to guess which Zodiac signs are represented by Chaucer's pilgrims. She has spoken to church groups, ladies clubs and local libraries. Recently, this medieval scholar adopted the digital world and set up a website: www.celebratechaucer.com.

On Oct. 24, Cullen will be distributing prizes of her books and Chaucer T-shirts as well as celebratory slices of cake from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Claremont's Village Venture art fair.

And after Mass that evening, the assembly will process into the parish hall to enjoy medieval victuals of black bread, cheese, apple cider, grapes and glasses of the ever-popular "Chaucer's Mead." Mushroom-cheese pastries made from a recipe in "Pleyn Delit," an authentic medieval cookbook, will also be served. For information, call (909) 626-3596.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church will celebrate its annual Chaucer Memorial Mass, embellished with musical instruments of the Middle Ages and Gregorian chant, on Oct. 24. The concept is the brainchild of parishioner Dolores Cullen, author of five books on the classic writer.