A LOVELY PHOTO OF SAVANNAH’S CATHEDRAL

Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer departs today for his new archdiocese in Atlanta. He posted this photo on his Facebook. I lived for six years on the top floor of the rectory, 4 left windows and parked in the garage, left side door. It was nice and in the late 80’s Dynasty was a top rated prime time soap. The rectory was my Dynasty residence.

 

DISRUPTING THE CHURCH IS A 1970'S IDEOLOGY AND IT DESERVES BURIAL NOW

Pope Francis is getting clobbered from all sides. The side that His Holiness should choose is not disruption or heterodoxy or out of control inculturation or confusion. His Holiness needs to be listening to orthodox Catholics who are pastoral and flexible, middle of the road, but right leaning.

‘Outsider Pope’ faces resistance as he tries to reform the Church, author says

• Charles Collins, Crux
  Apr 29, 2020
  “For liberals, Francis is too conservative and for conservatives he’s too liberal. The Pope is an old-fashioned Jesuit who can’t be put into a box,” he said.
  Read the rest at Crux.  
  My comments: Part of the problem with Pope Francis is that he sows confusion and is inconsistent in what he says. He plants viruses in his speeches and writings that then begin processes which he intends but doesn't outright say and when he says it, you aren't sure.  Rome, we have a problem.
  His Holiness asks for an outgoing, missionary Church, yet because of the confusion that now reigns as it did after the Council, no one is sure as to what that means because Pope Francis uses the word "proselytize" in a way that seems to mitigate against evangelization, missionary endeavors and apologetics.  
  He has created a loss of Catholic identity, a loss of an appreciation of our Catholic culture and trappings and sides more with charismatic Protestantism than traditional Catholic leanings.  
  Pope Francis uses the term "clericalism" as it was used in the 1970's to diminish the sacramental role of the priest and to make him into a sort of social worker with little that distinguishes him from the laity.
  Clericalism is paternalism, looking down one's nose at the laity, building up the cult of the personality of the cleric that allows him to abuse his office and others with him he should be serving in a sacramental way. Clericalism is a club mentality and uses the office of priesthood for one's own gain and self-satisfaction.  

THE VATICAN QUESTIONAIRE, CAN WE VIEW IT IN A POSITIVE WAY?

There is some concern about the Bishop of Boise and his mandate not to place into the OF Mass EF elements, which are allowed in the OF, such as ad orientem, kneeling for Holy Communion and customs of use of the pall, chalice veil, burse and use of bells.

Of course, to outlaw what the Roman Missal in the Ordinary Form allows is a bit dictatorial, like outlawing intinction when it is in the GIRM of this Missal and adapted for use in the USA and approved by the highest authority.

One of the Vatican questions is EF elements brought to the OF. Wouldn't this be an organic development of the OF Mass which was contrived in the years leading up to the 1970 issue of the revised Mass, albeit deformed?  There was not organic development that led to the temporary "suppression" of the 1962 Missal (although not across the worldwide board) when the new missal, contrived by liturgical theologians as if in a lab, a short of coronavirus manufacturing of it that was forced to go viral).

But now there is organic development of the OF Mass, precisely because the EF Mass was freed from the dungeon of a museum in Rome by Pope Benedict in 2007. The good things of the EF are being applied to the OF Mass to make them look like they are in continuity with each other, thus an organic development of the OF Mass. How cool!

Keep in mind, that it was Pope Francis in 2014 I think issued the now famous Ordinariate Missal, called Divine Worship, the Missal.

It integrates not only Anglican patrimony into this Roman Missal but also EF sensibilities. It allows in an appendix the revamping of the Introductory Rite to include the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar and the EF order of the introductory Rite.

It explicitly allows ad orientem, kneeling for Holy Communion and other EF sensibilities.

In the Missal itself, not the appendix, it is clear that the Roman Canon is used on Sunday and only Canon II is allowed during the week (no other canons).

The traditional Offertory Prayers are an option, the three-fold "Lord I am not worthy..." and the double genuflections at the consecration in addition to kissing the altar each time the celebrant turns from it to face the congregation as in the EF.

This Missal came from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the CDF, the same congregation which has issued the questionnaire to bishops around the world concerning the EF Mass and its influence on the OF Mass.

When I was on sabbatical in Rome in 2013, we visited the office of the CDF for a workshop. I asked an official there if we could see similar options in the Ordinary Form Mass as allowed in the Ordinariate Missal. He said yes, but there needed to be an advocate for such a thing, which the Anglican Ordinariate had in Rome, especially with Cardinal Mueller, the head of that Congregation at the time, but others too.

Thus I am optimistic that we may see a revision of the current OF Missal to introduce into it what the Ordinariate Roman Missal already has and which was approved than non other than Pope Francis with his name in the Forward of this Missal.

HOW I MISS THE GOOD OLE DAYS!

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS I KNOW TO MAKE THE EASTER VIGIL EVEN LONGER THAN IT IS--I WONDER WHAT LITURGICAL GENIUS FIGURED OUT THIS WAY TO MAKE IT LONGER?

We all know that the Easter Vigil is just way too short when all the options are used, including the Roman Canon. We know that all the Protestant relatives and friends of those received into the Church at the vigil want a longer liturgy to savor what their new Catholic relatives are experiencing. I am sure that a three hour Easter Vigil is way too short for Protestants and most Catholics, so this is a splendid way for them to savor the way too short Easter Vigil in a longer fashion. Brilliant! no?

Leave it to the left coast, Holy Spirit Parish, Berkley, California to be so ingenious in 2012:



I wonder if the CDF at the Vatican has devised a survey to see how well this kind of liturgy is integrated into the diocese and what effect it has had on the EF Mass?

SAINT ANNE CHURCH'S LIVE STREAMED MASS FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTERTIDE

MOVING TOWARD ONE RITE OF THE LATIN RITE AGAIN BUT WITH VARIATIONS

Extraordinary Form Mass:

Ordinary Form Mass:

Was Sacrosanctum Concilium wrong in seeking a modest reform of the Tridentine Mass?

No!

We tend to glorify the past forgetting the bad things and remembering things in an idyllic way.

In most parishes prior to Vatican II, most people preferred the Low Mass because it was short. It was short because there was no singing although some parishes did sing traditional Catholic hymns at the beginning, Offertory and recession.

The Mass was said by the priest in Latin at breakneck speed. Why? Because he wanted to get it over with. Some Low Masses, usually weekday, but also the Sunday Low Mass, could be finished in 15 minutes by some priests. That is a liturgical abuse to say the least. When prayers are rattled off at break speed in order to shorten things, Rome we have a problem.

I have watched a couple of Fr. Z's live streamed Low Masses from a makeshift chapel on a cluttered altar in his room I guess. For his private devotion and spirituality and prayer life there is nothing wrong with that.

What I dislike is how fast he recites the Latin EF Low Mass. Not only would most laity who have some working knowledge of Latin not be able to keep up, God Himself can't. How does rattling off prayers as quickly as possible in Latin or the vernacular give God glory, worship, and praise?

If the Mass is deemed too long by some celebrants and for centuries, the only solution to shorten it was by speed reading the Mass in Latin, no Communion to the laity and no chanting of the Mass.

How could we shorten the Mass but maintain its dignity? Let's start with shortening the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. Let's eliminate the longer Offertory Prayers for something shorter. Let's do away with the separate Communion Rites for the priest and then for the laity (the triple Dominus non sum dignus, for him and then for the laity) . Just have one communion rite for both and just say the Dominus non...once.

Get rid of the placeat and Last Gospel.

But then what happened? We added the interminable Responsorial Psalm with multiple useless repetition of refrains in place of the nobly simple Gradual.  Then we added a second reading. We added the interminably long General Intercessions, aka, those boring things and we added the useless presentation of the gifts often in elaborate ways.  The gains in removing the PATFOFA in terms of brevity were lost with the reorganization of the Liturgy of the Word, the General Intercessions and the offertory procession.

In addition to that, we lengthened Sunday Mass with an army of unneeded Eucharistic Ministers parading to the altar to assist with Holy Communion, usually more than necessary pandemic producing common chalices. Distributing Holy Communion to a hoard of Extraordinary Ministers takes a lot of time, time we'll never get back.

And then when the Council asked for a more lavish use of Scripture by lengthening the Liturgy of the Word with additional readings, they allowed the Introit, Offertory Antiphon and Communion Antiphon to be substituted with metrical hymns that were not Scripture. Hello?

But then we were given a shorter Eucharistic Prayer in Prayer II. So we could make longer, more repetitive and beyond people's retention of added Scripture the Liturgy of the Word by shortening the centerpiece of the Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer. And even that in the vernacular is rattled off in at a quick pace.

The good thing about the more lavish recovery of the EF Mass is that we can see what needs to be reformed in both it and the OF Mass! How brilliant is that!

So, here goes once again, my reform of the Tridentine Mass based on the reform in continuity of the OF Mass which cannot be erased but used as a springboard toward what SC actually envisioned, in my most humble and holy opinion:

1. Latin is mandated for the Introit, Gloria, Credo, Offertory antiphon, Sanctus, Agnus Dei,, Communion Antiphon and the vernacular for the other parts as an option.

The Order of Mass:

Introductory Rite:

Introit

At the Foot of the altar:

Opening sentence:Priest: I will go to the altar of God. Response: The God of my youth.
Sign of the Cross
Confiteor
Absolution
(priest ascends to the altar and remains at center for Kyrie and Gloria)
Kyrie (always in Greek and nine fold)
Gloria
Greeting (facing the congregation)
Collect  (at Epistle side of altar)

Liturgy of the Word (at ambo)

First Reading
Gradual
Gospel Acclamation/tract
Gospel
Homily

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Credo (at center of altar)
Offertory
Roman Canon for Sunday, Canon II as option for weekday, no other canons
eliminate mystery of faith and incorporate into Roman Canon as in EF and integrate into Canon II
Doxology and Great Amen as in OF

The Rite of Holy Communion:

Pater Noster
additional prayers as in OF Mass
Fraction Rite
Agnus Dei
Dominus non sum dignus (three times)
Communion of priest and then laity
Communion Antiphon

The Concluding Rite:

Prayer after Holy Communion at altar's Epistle side
Placeat at center of altar
Blessing
dismissal

The Mass is ad orientem. Communion is distributed at the altar railing to kneeling communicants.

AUGUSTA CHRONICLE SYNDICATED EDITORIAL, ALBEIT SECULAR/POLITICAL, NAILS WHAT THE CURRENT CRISIS IN RELIGION IN SECULARIZED CULTURE IS: ORIGINAL SIN AND ITS ACTUAL MORTAL SIN COUNTERPART, THE DEADLY SIN OF PRIDE THAT MAKES MAN AND HIS DEFORMED CONSCIENCE INTO A gOD, A FALSE gOD OF COURSE WITH ITS SUBSEQUENT CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS ADAM AND EVE EXPERIENCED

What happens when man replaces God as God?

By Harold W. Pease, Ph.D.

When man denies the existence of God, or even believes himself an agnostic he, in effect, replaces God with himself as the highest entity of intelligence. This affects his political thinking in virtually every way.

If God does not exist then he cannot be counted on to manage the planet, thus puny man must. Without faith that God oversees everything for the benefit of man the following could not be understood: the rotation of the planets, sunsets and sunrises, the consistency of gravity, wind speeds and temperature variances — even oxygen levels. Nor could the precarious balances of nature that allows a million species of plant and animal life to cohabitate simultaneously on this earth, to eat and be eaten and still survive, every hour of every single day with little overall difference from decade to decade. If the sun refused to rise man would die in a few days, so dependent are we on an intelligence far above our own.

Without faith, man would have believed in, and been frightened by, global cooling in the 1970s, global warming in the 1990s, and climate change in the 2010s and be totally mystified as to why everyone else wasn’t as subject to manmade predictions and panicked as he. They must not be as intelligent. He could never have peace that God had everything under control.

If man has replaced God as God he would find himself panicked over the ever-expanding population. He would look at food availability and compare it to the birth rate, as man has for thousands of years, and conclude that we have to cut the birthrate or we will eventually starve. He would not see that God feeds even the birds who do nothing for it. He would never concede that God would enable man to invent a plow, a tractor, or a combine to increase the food supply and trucks, boats and planes to move it about.

If man has replaced God as God he would tend to favor a regimental form of government such as socialism so that he could make everyone else do as he supposed was best for them. He would never allow natural law where each decide for themselves what is best for them, amplifying incentive, and in such the whole society is benefited. No, never! It would be too dangerous left without total control. Even thought, if possible, must be managed and cameras and drones placed everywhere to see that it is. Freedom dies.

If man has replaced God as God he would credit himself with his success, money, inventions and power. Thus he expects dominion over others because these things, in his mind, demonstrate his superiority.

If man has replaced God as God there could be no ultimate moral authority, translated — no evil, thus no sin, no justice, and no heaven or hell. No security of rights or property would exist. Man justifies his actions with whatever logic suits him — “might is right” has been a consistent philosophy of human existence in societies without God. Man exists only until his death, just like all life. No afterlife with friends and associates or loved ones. No reward or punishment. No sanctity of life thus abortion, infanticide and euthanasia are practiced because their space benefits those living. The weak and vulnerable are cast aside or extinguished.

If man has replaced God as God he might also feel it necessary to compete with God for authority and dominion. Jews lay claim to having been the most persecuted race on the globe the past 2,000 years, being decimated in the gas chambers of Hitler’s Third Reich. Christians were fed to the lions in Roman coliseum’s for entertainment in their early centuries under Roman authority. Today they are the most widely persecuted religion, especially in the Middle East and Africa. Muslims are the most persecuted religion in China with at least a million Uighurs, incarcerated in slave labor camps for their religion, also serving as organ donors on demand for the western world.

When man doesn’t need God he does not seek Him, consequently prayer, inspiration and revelation also are largely muted. Creativity diminishes. Nor is faith needed or nurtured. Man becomes more basal in language and carnal in behavior, less distinguishable from animal behavior. Refinement properties like sharing, giving, sacrificing for others, forgiving others are dulled or extinguished. Darkness is allowed to dim the light of Christ. With diminished light judgment, even the ability to reason, is impaired. Isn’t that what happened, by-in-large, during the so-called Dark Ages when there was little change in Europe for hundreds of years?

If man has replaced God as God he also tends to replace Lucifer as Lucifer. Ironically he denies the existence of both, even failing to recognize what he has become because he left God out. Isn’t this what happened in socialist societies under Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Castro, Pol Pot and so many others? Although these examples are extreme isn’t this legacy, to some degree, common to philosophies or individuals who allowed themselves to replace God as God?

The best evidence that man is not God, and that God exists, is that man as God would have self-destructed thousands of years ago. He has difficulty managing himself, let alone the planet and the universe.

The writer is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the U.S. Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for more than 30 years at Taft College in California.

CAN WE START TO EVALUATE THE RELEVANCY OF THE CHURCH DURING THE CORONAVIRUS YET?

This photo accompanies an article from Rorate Caeli written by an Italian agnostic but with deep family Catholic roots, which causes me to think he is still Catholic at heart but disillusioned by the secularized post-Vatican II Catholic Church. He has an ax to grind but writes food for contemplation like the Most Holy Eucharist in a monstrance. You can read it HERE.

Things are opening up in two states where my feet are firmly planted, Georgia and South Carolina. But not the Catholic Church out of an abundance of caution and rightfully so. In Albany, Georgia in our diocese and a small town outside of Augusta in our Diocese, numerous cases of the Coronavirus can be traced to funerals held in churches that was the catalyst that led to numerous others contracting the disease and many dying. Albany is the “epicenter “ of the virus in Georgia. Outside of Augusta, even the pastor has since died of COVID-19 as a result of that funeral.

In Savannah on Thursday, Fr. Brett Brannen stood atop Memorial Hospital with others in medical uniform and masks and many below him at the entrance of the hospital. He offered prayer, homily and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Fr. Brannen blessed Savannah with the Benediction north, south, east and west. It was covered by all the local TV stations and live-streamed and shared in a viral way.

What made this Benediction more viril, was the fact that others were with  Fr. Brannen. He was not a lone figure there with a server and one or two others. There may have been about 100 in attendance with most wearing masks and trying to spread out six feet apart, but not on the roof. Compare that image with the Lone Ranger in the photo above of Pope Francis. But at least it was Pope Francis and not an underling  priest, like Msgr. Marini.

Currently and perhaps through May, we cannot have Masses with more than a few people assisting on church property. Technically, we could have 10 to 15 in the congregation. In large church buildings, like St. Anne’s, people can spread out almost in two different states and still be in the same church.

And why is it wrong to ask for comparisons with Covid-19 and other flus currently experienced or the H1N1 virus a few years back which brought about for the first time these were allowed, restrictions on the Sign of Peace and the contagion producing Common Chalice? For example, in Augusta, a nursing home has had 80 residents and workers diagnosed with Covid-19. This was last week. There have been no reports of death there yet. But in a normal flu season, these same institutions as well as schools have flu viruses run rampant. In normal times some, if not many die, but there is no national news focus on it.

Should subsidiarity be put into place, which Vatican II mandated, (or did it actually mandate anything?) so that pastors can implement what civil law allows as restrictions are being eased in Georgia, South Carolina and even some states with Democrat governors, like Colorado, although that governor hasn’t come under scrutiny by the democrat media, only Georgia’s governor. Typical, no?

WHILE WE ARE DROPPING THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERINGS, THE “HANDSHAKE/KISS/HUG OF PEACE” AND THE “PANDEMIC PRODUCING COMMON CHALICE,” SHOULDN’T WE ALSO ELIMINATE THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER, AKA, GENERAL INTERCESSIONS, AKA, BIDDING PRAYERS, AKA “THOSE BORING THINGS”?

Cardinal Dolan of New York let it slip, but we all know it, the Universal Prayer is boring and unnecessary. In fact, I believe that St. Patrick’s drops the Universal Prayer during the weekday Mass which is broadcast on Catholic Radio. So, while ill conceived, it is optional.

While the Roman Missal gives examples of the Universal Prayer, most parishes simply make them up. Often they are statements to God, not prayers, or communications to the congregation about what is happening in the world and quite often with a political slant.

Some actual examples of Universal Prayers are the following:

For all who are living in adultery, may the church accompany you. We pray to the Lord.

For President Trump, may a good democratic candidate be elected to replace him.

For those who have too many children, may the Church find ways to help them limit births. We pray to the lord.

I could go on.

If the Roman Canon is used, there is absolutely no need for the Universal Prayer.

And while we are at eliminating useless additions to the Latin Rite Mass, like the Presentation of the offerings, “Handshake, kiss, Hug of Peace” the pandemic producing common chalice, the universal prayer and other such novelties, let us add the following:

Some Latin
The PATFOTA
Ad Orientem
The Gradual
The Traditional Offertory Prayers
The Three-fold Dominus non sum dignus
The Placeat

TWO EXAMPLES THAT ALL LITURGICAL PROGRESSIVES LOVE AND EXTOL: ROMAN INCULTURATION AND AMAZONMIAM INCULTURATION

I am so grateful to progressive liturgists who encourage liturgical inculturation. Here are two examples they applaud without hesitation:

THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS FOR FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE

IF AND WHEN OUR PARISHES REOPEN, ST. ANNE'S MAIN CHURCH AND CHAPEL ARE READY FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AS IT CONCERNS LINING UP FOR CONFESSION AND HOLY COMMUNION

BITTER MEDICINE TO COMBAT COVID 19 IS NECESSARY WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT

Father Dan O’Connell, pastor of Holy Family Church in Columbus in our Diocese, has come down with COVID-19. He is in critical condition in the ICU and on a ventilator. Please pray for him and all who are critically ill with this virus. I placed this on our St. Anne Facebook and it has received almost 30,000 views!

Below the photos is my letter to my parishioners concerning the ongoing cessation of public Masses and in person parish life throughout the month of May:

Dear parishioners,

The bishops of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Savannah have extended the “stay at home” mandate as it regards public Masses and parish life throughout the month of May. It is done so out of an abundance of caution especially for the most vulnerable in our parishes. 

We will continue our drive through “Blessing with Holy Water and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament” beginning around noon on Sundays as this entails no one getting out of cars or personal contact. In other words, social distancing is maintained as cars keep moving. 

Like you, Fr. Solomon and I have grown weary of this “medicine” to stem the tide of COVID-19. On Thursday, though, we learned that one of our diocesan priests, Fr. Daniel O’Connor, pastor of Holy Family Church in Columbus, has this virus and is in the ICU there and on a ventilator. He has other health conditions that has made him vulnerable. Thus, an abundance of caution for both our vulnerable laity and clergy, no matter their age, is a wise move even though we all are getting impatient with this unprecedented moment in modern history. Please pay for Fr. Dan and all who suffer in critical condition. 

I am grateful that we can live stream our Masses, but we cannot ever allow watching Mass on our various media devices to become normal or become complacent about keeping holy the Lord’s day with worship, prayer and leisure. Our Lord did not found a virtual Church, He founded the Catholic Church, and the Church exists in her people and her Head, Jesus Christ, even if we have no brick and mortar church buildings.  But our church buildings allow us to be the people God intended us to be.  Our church buildings are symbols of our final destination in this our earthly pilgrimage, which is heaven. 

Until you can actually get to Confession and Mass, continue to make "The Act of Perfect Contrition", and "an Act of Spiritual Communion".

I am very grateful to all of you who continue to support St. Anne’s with your sacrificial offerings. Many of you are dropping your offering into the “mail box” under the canopy between our office and chapel.  We are also receiving your sacrificial gifts in the mail.  Many more people are signing up for St. Anne’s “Our Sunday Visitor’s” on-line giving.  You can give easily on line by going to our secure Our Sunday Visitor on-line giving and setting up a personal account. WE NEED YOUR SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS IF WE ARE TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR BILLS AND OUR DEBT.  You have been most generous to us in these uncertain times. Thank you so much!!!

Pray unceasingly that both the secular, and religious worlds will soon return to some semblance of normalcy. Let us continue to ask God to bless all of us with a renewed love for being Catholic, celebrating our faith together, and experiencing God’s redeeming love in all of the public sacraments of the Church, and the good works that Jesus calls us to do in our everyday lives.

Thank you for your prayers, and support. Fr. Solomon, and I are praying for you daily!

God bless you,

Fr. Allan

FXM HAS THE 1961 MOVIE, FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Ahhhh Orientem and the profession of St Clare the incorruptible!

FR. BRETT BRANNEN BLESSES ALL OF SAVANNAH AT SAVANNAH'S ONLY PUBLIC HOSPITAL AND DOES SO BY BENEDICTION OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

This occurred a few minutes ago at Memorial Hospital's rooftop. This hospital is in Fr. Brannen's parish boundaries of Blessed Sacrament Church on Victory Drive in Savannah.

Our victory is in the Lord, of course:

IS THE EF MASS ABOUT TO BE SUPPRESSED? I DOUBT IT! BUT WHO KNOWS?

Rorate Caeli is reporting that bishops have been sent a survey about the EF Mass in their diocese. They include the survey in English for you to read in the links below.

We know some bishops like the EF Mass, others tolerate it and still others, despise it. All of this while horrible abuses in the OF Mass are ignored or encouraged. Very odd to say the least.

If there is to be a suppression of the EF Mass, or more controls over its, I doubt that the CDF would have issued new prefaces for the 1962 Roman Missal. That indicates to me that they see an organic development occurring in the EF Mass which Pope Benedict envisioned.

One question, though, which is quite interesting, is about the influence the EF Mass has had on the OF Mass. I think Pope Benedict modeled that for us during his pontificate. Would the CDF be sympathetic to this? I certainly would be and desire it completely.

However, the ominous sign from the Bishop of Idaho about not mingling EF characteristics with the OF Mass needs to be taken into consideration. But who knows.

FROM RORATE CAELI:

BREAKING - IMPORTANT - Summorum Under Threat? - Holy See sends survey to Bishops on Summorum Pontificum (Exclusive)

Could the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, that recognized the rights and continuity of the Traditional Latin Rite, be under threat?

When the motu proprio was first published, there was a period of consultations of three years. It was defined by Pope Benedict XVI in his accompanying letter to bishops: "Furthermore, I invite you, dear Brothers, to send to the Holy See an account of your experiences, three years after this Motu Proprio has taken effect. If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought." This was done, and the result was the mostly positive 2011 Instruction.

***

Quite strangely, now, 13 years after Summorum, when it has become a permanent part of the life of the Church in many places throughout the world, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), now responsible for Summorum, has sent out a new survey for bishops on the application of Summorum Pontificum, because, "His Holiness Pope Francis wishes to be informed about the current application of the aforementioned document."

It could be ominous. The questions seem neutral, but, once one reads them carefully, they may indicate serious consequences.

Rorate has received copies of both documents that were sent, and that had been unknown to the faithful up to this moment: the March 7, 2020, letter of the Prefect of CDF  to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences, and the questions to bishops asked in the April 2020 survey itself -- the due date is July 31, 2020.

Both documents are below (click to open larger and more readable view for both documents):

Read more »

IMPORTANT: Texts of the 7 New Prefaces of the Traditional Latin Mass

The seven new optional prefaces, three of which are ancient and four adapted from similar prefaces in the new missal (Novus Ordo), were promulgated by the Decree Quo Magis, published on March 25, 2020.

It is relevant to recall that new optional prefaces for the 1962 Missal had been foreseen by Pope Benedict XVI on the accompanying Letter to Summorum Pontificum, published on the same day as the motu proprio, July 7, 2007: "new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal." (Benedict XVI)

The Seven optional Prefaces are the following: Preface of the Angels (feasts and votive masses of the Angels and Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel - Sep. 29); Preface of Saint John the Baptist (on the festive and votive masses of the saint); Preface of Martyrs (on the festive and votive masses of Martyrs, other than St. John the Baptist); Preface of All Saints and of Patron Saints (not covered by other prefaces); Preface of the Most Blessed Sacrament (for Corpus Christi, for votive masses of the Blessed Sacrament, and for votive masses of O.L. Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest); Preface for the Dedication of a Church; Preface for Nuptial Masses (for nuptial masses "Pro sponsis").

***

PRÆFATIO DE ANGELIS

Read more »

 

AAAAHHHH ORIENTEM FOR THURSDAY, SECOND WEEK OF EASTER, SAINT GEORGE

POPE FRANCIS NAMES SAVANNAH’S CATHEDRAL A MINOR BASILICA

It will now be known as The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint John the Baptist. Congratulations to the outgoing Bishop of Savannah, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, Rector, Fr. Gerard Schreck, the Cathedral Parish and the Diocese of Savannah.

Certainly it is no coincidence, but a God-incidence, that the naming of the Cathedral as a Basilica comes on the heels of the historic high altar being used for the first time in more than 50 years for a Solemn High Mass in the Ancient Usage by none other than your truly!

Just saying!

LET ME THINK ABOUT THIS FROM THE REGNO UNITO OR AS THEY SAY IN ENGLISH, THE UNITED KINGDOM

From Sandro Magister:

For and Against Mass on TV. A Letter from the United Kingdom/Regno Unito

The cry of alarm raised by Pope Francis against the danger that “virtual” Masses, televised in this time of pandemic, will replace the real and open the way to a “gnostic” Church no longer made up of people and sacraments, true body of Christ, has reanimated a discussion already underway:

> The Pope Against Masses on TV: "This Is Not the Church"

Evidence of this is in the letter reproduced below, from the United Kingdom.

The five cases that the author of the letter examines, in reality - contrary to what he writes - confirm not the equivalence but the absolute primacy that living and real participation in the Mass, even in the most difficult contexts, has with respect to any other mediated visibility.

And even David Critchley's considerations on the “missionary opportunity” that streamed Masses could offer make sense precisely in that they are directed toward the actual celebration of the Eucharist.

Inadvertently, perhaps, confirmation of the irreplaceability of the living and real Eucharist as “culmen et fons” of the Church’s life has also come from those who fought, at the last synod, for the ordination of married men, to ensure through them the celebration of Mass in the most far-flung areas of the Amazon. None of those synod fathers ever jumped up to say that Mass should be brought electronically to those remote places.

The reason was that all they cared about was the ordination of married men, not only in the Amazon but everywhere.

But Providence often makes use of crooked ways to pull straight.

*

Dear Dr Magister

Thank you for “The Pope against Masses on TV”: thoughtful and provocative as always, and particularly so given the contribution of the Holy Father.

I fear that we will neglect the missionary opportunity that online masses provide us. In the past I think that some churches live-streamed masses largely because the technology was there, and “Why not? Let us give it a try! Maybe the bedbound will appreciate it.” But there was no deeper thought about the project. Now we are being encouraged to think more deeply.

First of all I think that live-streamed masses are no great step away from tradition. Consider these situations:

1. A priest is allowed to celebrate Mass at a prison for violent criminals. The prison governor tells him that the prisoners are so violent and unpredictable that they may not assemble in a chapel: the Mass is to take place in the prison yard and the prisoners will watch through their cell windows.

2. A king or great magnate attends Mass any time before the 1790s. He sits in a private pew, screened off from the rest of the church, and watches the Mass through the screen.

3. An inmate at the Hôtel Dieu, Beaune, Burgundy [see photo] watches Mass. The altar is at the far end of the ward, and the inmates – many of them – watch from their beds or cubicles.

I do not think that any of these three is significantly different from attending an online Mass.

Now for a more difficult one.

4. A faithful Catholic, who attends daily mass at home, is travelling abroad. On a Sunday, he has a choice between watching Mass from his home church online, or identifying a local church in the vicinity, finding his way there, and hearing a Mass in a language different from his own, or maybe getting the time of Mass wrong because the notice in the hotel was out of date. It is not obvious to me that he should choose the local church.

Or this one.

5. A rural Catholic church offers a Sunday Mass and one weekday Mass. There are no other Catholic churches nearby. On the other days of the week, a Catholic in the area has in practical terms a choice between attending an online daily mass or no mass, given that he cannot spend all his time travelling. Should we say, No Mass?

And we have not yet started to think about the role of online Masses in evangelisation. Should we encourage those thinking of becoming Catholic to attend an online Mass regularly? Are there people who would never be seen to go to a Catholic church who might be provoked into watching an online Mass? Are there people who might watch an online Mass, and then say, “My goodness, I never thought the Mass might be like that. I must go to some place like that.” What about people in communities where conversion to Christianity is punished: might online Masses play a role in their lives? What about people who are happy to listen to religious concerts, but do not go to Mass? Might they end up attending an online Mass for the sake of the music?

The sum of it is, anyone, living anywhere, now has the option of a liturgical life previously only available to Catholics who lived in religious communities or very close to a large and well staffed church.

Surely, we have much thinking to do.

With my kind regards

David Critchley
Winslow, Buckinghamshire, UK

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW: IS THIS KOSHER?

Perhaps Bee can answer. I received a newsletter from the Canons Regular about their association.  Call me a doctor of the law who notices things most people might not, like a pointer on the altar at an ordination, but it appears to me in these photos, that glass is placed over the altar cloths. I am sure the reason for this is that the ladies of the altar guild don't want to get wax on the cloths from inept altar boys lighting the altar candles.

But, my question is, shouldn't the Mass take place on the altar cloths and not on glass???????

RESTORATIVE PUNISHMENT DOLED OUT BY GOD--WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD THAT?

Dr. Scott Hahn, a father of six, was asked this question on LifeSite:

Dr. Hahn...(is or isn't) COVID-19 a sort of punishment from God?

“Well, you know, when people ask, ‘Is this a divine punishment?’…that’s a loaded question. It's also a complicated question. You know, I would say, ‘Is God getting even with us? Is God getting back at us?’ No. God is trying to get us back to Himself. That's the purpose of punishment. So is this a punishment? Well, yeah. And why? Because we have sinned.”

“We've got to see that God is a loving father. But, I tried to be that, too, with my six kids. And so when I punished my six kids…I didn't punish the neighbor's kids — even when it was more their fault. I punished my kids, but I didn't punish them because I stopped loving them or I started loving them less and less. No, I punished my kids because they're my kids and because I love them.”

“So does God punish us? Yes, but it's restorative. It's redemptive. It purifies us…God’s mercy is when God gives us what we need. Whether it's a virus, an epidemic, an earthquake or a volcano, or a cop pulling us over and giving us a DUI when we are finally forced to accept responsibility for all of our misused freedom. That is not wrath. That is mercy. That is love. And it usually comes wrapped in what feels like a punishment.”

DAILY MASS FROM SAINT ANNE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR WEDNESDAY THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER

As an aside, I learned that not all priests in my diocese are germaphobes. One parish in one of the islands around Savannah, during the shut-down, has allowed their church doors to remain unlocked during office hours for people to visit our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. During Lent, disposable booklets for the Stations of the Cross were available to parishioners who willingly and heroically embraced the possibility of virus to pray in the Church, no one forcing them to do so. How cool is that.

I also listened to Bishop Stika of Knoxville in a live interview on Catholic Radio this mooring.  He said that throughout the pandemic, churches in his diocese remained open for prayer and adoration and priests were hearing confessions taking the necessary precautions. How courageous and cool is that!

A TRIED AND TRUE WAY TO MOTIVATE PARISHIONERS TO GIVE THEIR SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS

At Saint Anne's Church, we start our ushers off young and for very good reason! They melt parishioner's stingy hearts and they gratefully give! How can you refuse an usher like this??????

GIVE THAT ALTAR BOY AN A+ AND A GOLD ⭐️!