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

News of planned celebrations marking the promulgation of the Motu Proprio, a document still under embargo at this time, are starting to roll in.

I received this from my good friend the excellent Fr. Robert Pasley, who with his happy community Mater Eccelsiae, a parish set up by the Diocese of Camden (NJ) exclusively for the older Use, knows perhaps better than anyone how to make the provisions of the Motu Proprio work in real life.

Here is what is going on at Mater Ecclesiae:

To celebrate the promulgation of the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum,” Mater Ecclesiae Chapel in Berlin, NJ will host the following events this Sat. July 7 and Sun. July 8:

1. At the 5:00PM Sat. anticipated Mass and the 8:30AM Sun. Mass we will end the Masses with the ringing of the bells and all verses of Holy God we Praise Thy Name (The Te Deum lite).

2. After the 11:00AM High Mass and Benediction, we will sing the Oremus pro Pontifice and then, with bells ringing, we will joyously sing the Solemn Te Deum.

3. There will be a surprise. A priest who has longed to sing the High Mass will be our guest celebrant for the first time. (The Motu Proprio in action)

4. Finally, after the High Mass, we will have champagne, sparkling cider, and cheese in the Hall.

Some time ago it was reported that the Congregation for Causes of Saints sent to the Holy Father its decision about the heroic virtue of Servant of God Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII. When the Congregation sends up their Decretum super virtutibus, it requires the approval of the Holy Father.

I see in the VIS that the Holy Father approved some decrees, but not that of Pius XII. I don’t think we should read too much into this, but it is interesting.

DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 6, 2007 (VIS) – Today in the Vatican, the Holy Father received in private audience Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of decrees concerning the following causes:

MIRACLES

– Blessed Gaetano Errico, Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1791-1860). – Blessed Maria Bernarda Butler (nee Verena), Swiss foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (1848-1924). – Servant of God Maria Rosa Flesch (ne Margherita), German foundress of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary of the Angels (1826-1906). – Servant of God Servant of God Candelaria de San Jose (nee Susana Paz Castillo Ramirez), Venezuelan religious and foundress of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of the Third Regular Order of Venezuela (1863-1940). – Servant of God Marta Maria Wiecka, Polish professed sister of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (1874-1904). – Servant of God Giuseppina Nicoli, Italian sister of the Society of the Daughters of Charity (1863-1924). – Servant of God Ceferino Namuncura, Argentinean layman, student of the Soceity of St. Francis of Sales (1886-1905).

MARTYRDOM

– Blesseds Antonio Primaldo and lay companions, killed in hatred of the faith at Otranto, Italy on August 13, 1480.

HEROIC VIRTUES

– Servant of God Marco Antonio Barbarigo, Italian cardinal of Holy Roman Church and bishop of Montefiascone and Corneto (1640-1706). – Servant of God Luca Prassi, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Institute of Sisters of St. Dorothy (1789-1866). – Servant of God Ignacia of the Holy Spirit, Filipino foundress of the Congregation of Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1663-1748). – Servant of God Maria Leopoldina Naudet, Italian foundress of the Congregation of Sisters of the Holy Family of Verona (1773-1834). – Servant of God Santina di Gesu Scribano (nee Emaneula Giovanna), Italian professed religious of the Institute of Sisters of the Sacred Heart (1917-1968). – Servant of God Emilia Schneider (nee Julia) German professed sister of the Congregation of Sisters of the Holy Cross (1820-1859). – Servant of God Jerome Le Royer de la Dauversiere, French layman and founder of the Institute of the Daughters of St. Joseph of La Fleche, now the Hospitaller Sisters of St. Joseph (1597-1659). – Servant of God Hildegard Burjan, German laywoman and foundress of the Sisters of Social Charity (1883-1933).

On Friday 6 July in the Vatican Basilica there is observed the Feast of all the Holy Roman Pontiffs…. Omnium Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum. This sounds rather like… well….

In the newer calendar it will be the feast of St. Maria Goretti, whose shrine is in Nettuno, my neighboring diocese. Also, according to the Martyrologium Romanum Friday is the anniversary of the death of St. Thomas More. In the older, traditional calendar it is an open day without a particular Mass or saint.

Before I charge off to say Mass on Friday I will check this entry and bring your intentions with me to the altar.

It is something I can do to show my thanks to those who participate and who have been materially helpful.

I am not sure at what hour I will say Mass on Friday. I will wait for my usual server who has a morning errand. Happily, Mass is always exactly on time in the Sabine Chapel: it is scheduled to start when I bow to the Cross, put my biretta on, and head to the altar.

I will close comments when I go to the chapel on Friday.