What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

The Holy Father celebrated 1st Vespers in the Vatican Basilica of St. Peter this evening. The Holy Father’s cope was weird, at first.  It suggests the medieval.

The ceremony took place at the main altar. The Holy Father’s throne was placed not in front of the altar as they usually do for Mass, but rather over to the side next to St. Longinus. There were two young deacons vested in dalmatics. The basilica was quite full, though not entirely jammed. Large crucifix and six rather modern and unattractive candles were on the altar. There were many members of the curia and apostolic household, including almost 30 Cardinals, all in choir dress, with their birettas properly in place. I think only one Cardinal didn’t have his biretta on when seated. These, you know, are the important things. Among the usual Roman suspects, I saw Cardinal Egan of New York and, I believe, Archbishop Burke of St. Louis.

The Holy Father intoned Deus in adiutorium meum intende. He made a brief reflection after the introduction. The Sistine choir was present, with the pueri cantores whose polyphonic parts alternated with the congregation. The hymn was, of course, Cónditor alme siderum.

Unfortunately, the Antiphons and psalms were sung by the choir, horribile auditu, in Italian. The antiphons were extremely annoying new compositions. The psalms were in Italian with an even more annoying and unfamiliar new melody. The psalms were sung alternately by cantors with the usual effeminate voices and the congregation. The canticle from Philippians was sung mainly by two cantors, alternating, interspersed with the congregation occasionally inserting the antiphon. That was annoying too. It is as if they can’t just let the congregation listen. The congregation also sang the concluding antiphons. Each psalm was followed by a short pause and then a prayer in Italian recited by the Holy Father. The prayers have no parallel in the Latin Liturgia horarum. As usual a Italian woman religious read the reading from 1 Thessalonians.

The Holy Father spoke his sermon. I made notes on it, but haven’t digested them yet. He did have a nice reflection on the meaning of the verb "to come" when applied to God.

The Short Responsorial was in Latin. They used the Magnifcat antiphon for Year B. It was polyphonic with the choir alternating with the congregation who sang in the usual Gregorian tone. The Holy Father incensed the altar during the Magnificat.

The intercessions were in vernacular languages but the little response was in Latin: Veni, Domine, et noli tardare.

Pater Noster was in Latin, but they inexplicably and irritatingly added the Protestant Quia tuum est regnum… which amused the Holy Father who, having been interrupted, seemed not to have been expecting it. He was about to start the prayer. The concluding Collect was in Latin. A three-fold solemn blessing in Latin finished it off and the deacon sang Ite in pace. Finally, Alma Redemptoris Mater was sung, appropriately for Advent.

His Excellency, the Master of Ceremonies, Archbishop Piero Marini looked at his watch on the way down the nave. Yes, Your Excellency, the clock is ticking.

Frequent participant Tim Ferguson has done it again.  He offered this as a comment to another entry, but I think it deserves its own spotlight.  Sing to the obvious tune!

I’m dreaming of a broad indult,
and chant restored to pride of place.
Mass ad orientem,
Usque venientem,*
would be a wondrous Christmas grace.

I’m dreaming of a broad indult,
Just like we’ve heard through the grapevine
May we all be turned towards the divine
And may Christmas Mass be Tridentine!

*Christum, understood

Thanks, Tim!  Keep ‘em coming!

The Holy See issued a condemnation of the consecration of a bishop in China which took place without the permission of the Holy Father.  (My translation of the Italian.)

Communiqué of the Holy See Press Office concerning the illegitimate Episcopal Ordination in Xuzhou (Mainland China)

The Holy See considers it necessary to make known its position about the episcopal ordination of the priest John Wang Renlei, which took place on Thursday 30 November in Xuzhou in the Jiangsu province (Mainland China).

1) The Holy Father received the news with deep sorrow, since the abovementioned episcopal ordination was conferred without pontifical mandate, that is to say without respecting the discipline of the Catholic Church concerning the naming of Bishops (cf. canon 377, § 1, of the Code of Canon Law).

2) The episcopal ordination at Xuzhou is the most recent of illegitimate ordinations that have afflicted the Catholic Church in China for several decades, creating divisions in diocesan communities and tormenting the consciences of many ecclesiastics and the faithful.  This series of extremely grave acts, which offend the religious sentiments of every Catholic in China and in the rest of the world, is the fruit and consequence of a vision of the Church that does not correspond to Catholic doctrine and which subvert the fundamental principals of its hierarchical structure.  In fact, as the Second Vatican Council makes clear, "one is constituted a member of the Body of Bishops in virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion with the head and members of the body." (Lumen gentium n. 22).

3. The Holy See, having learned at the last moment of the planned episcopal ordination in the diocese of Xuzhou, did not missing taking those steps which were possible in such a short available time span, so that there would not take place an act that would produce a new laceration in the ecclesial community.  Indeed an illegitimate episcopal ordination is an act which is objectively so grave that canon law establishes severe sanctions for those who confer it and receive it, always with the provision that the act is carried out in the conditions of true freedom (cf. canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law).

4. It is consoling to note that, in spite of the difficult times past and present, nearly all of the Bishops, priests, religious and laity in China, aware that they are members of the Universal Church, have maintained a deep communion of faith and life with the Successor of Peter and with the other Catholic communities scattered throughout the world.

5. The Holy See is aware of the spiritual drama and the suffering of these ecclesiastics, consecrating Bishops and the ordinands, who find themselves constrained to take an active part in illegitimate episcopal ordinations, contravening in such a way the Catholic tradition which they would like in their hearts to follow faithfully.  Moreover, (the Holy See) participates in the interior unease of those Catholics – priests, religious and laity – who see themselves as obliged to accept a Pastor whom they know is not in full hierarchical union with the Head of the College of Bishops or with the other Bishops throughout the world.

6) In regard to the episcopal ordinations, the Holy See cannot accept being confronted with faits accomplis.  Moreover, the Holy See deplores the way the ordination of the priest Wang Renlei, which took place in Xuzhou, went forward, and hopes that incidents of this sort will not be repeated in the future.

I predict I will be in the USA for Christmas (YAY!). Well, that ’s not really a prediction, is it.  Barring something unforeseen, that’s a lock.

Second, I have an inkling the shoe is going to drop on the Motu Proprio we have all been wondering about. Now that His Holiness’ trip to Turkey is over, and a congruent period of time has lapsed since the French meltdown, it seems to me that we’ll see the Holy See move forward on this in some way. 

With my luck, just because I will be out of Rome for a little trip with a priest friend on 8 December, I predict that that is the day the document will be released.  No doubt I will get am SMS on my cellphone telling me something is up when I am out on the road without internet access.  Just watch.

Okay, folks, we’re having a little fun here.  But, on a more serious note, I do think the "derestriction" is going to happen.

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From today’s Kathpress-Tagesdienst

On leaving Turkey for his return to Rome, Pope Benedict saind: "I have a deep gratitude in my heart, and a part of my heart also remains in Istanbul."

Benedikt XVI.: "Ein Teil meines Herzens bleibt in Istanbul"

 

Istanbul, 1.12.06 (KAP) Papst Benedikt hat seine Türkeireise mit herzlichen Worten der Verbundenheit beendet. "Ich habe tiefe Dankbarkeit in meinem Herzen, und ein Teil meines Herzens bleibt auch in Istanbul", sagte der Papst bei der Verabschiedung in Istanbul am Freitagmittag. Er hoffe, dass sein Besuch ein Zeichen der Freundschaft zwischen den Völkern und den Religionen hinterlasse und über die Reise hinaus einen positiven Effekt habe. ...