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First reports of Merton College workshop for priests and older Mass
First reports about the recent workshop at Merton College, Oxford, are coming in. Damian Thompson of The Telegraph has an initial impression... and it was a good one.
My emphases and comments.
A glorious Mass at Merton College
Posted by Damian Thompson on 30 Aug 2007 at 12:58
My spirits are soaring after attending yesterday’s solemn traditional Mass at Merton College, Oxford, during the training course for priests organised by the Latin Mass Society.
It was glorious to see the sunlight piercing the pillar of incense as priest, deacon and sub-deacon performed the ancient liturgy for which Merton Chapel was built.I’m going to write about this in more detail elsewhere, but the conference (which ends today) has been a triumph. What delighted me most was the enthusiasm and patent holiness of the priests attending – most of them ordinary parish clergy, not dyed-in-the-wool “traditionalists”. [This is the truly significant bit in the whole event, I think.]
Everyone was buoyed up by the Archbishop of Birmingham’s sermon on Tuesday, which underlined the fact that the old barrier between older and newer forms of worship has been abolished by Pope Benedict.
Let’s hope that that the social barrier between Catholics attached to the newer and older forms of the Mass also disappears. The Pope understands that liturgical renewal will reinvigorate the whole Church; what Catholics need now are diocesan bishops who are willing implement his reform. [And how!]
It is nice when the media gets it. How refreshing.
Comment by Brian Day — 30 August 2007 @ 9:37 amThe Telegraph’s been running some surprisingly generous pieces on the new liturgical situation. I should add, though, surprising for the British press in general. It’s a prominent paper; any similarly favorable, or at least non-antagonistic coverage, in the mainstream press on this side of the pond?
Father, while I find your characterization of the New York Times as “Satan’s Bible” rather amusing, perhaps it’s one more of those things that widens the social and attitudinal barrier between conservatives and liberals, within and outside of the Church. Perhaps you should widen the application of a couple of your five rules?
Comment by Dustin B. — 30 August 2007 @ 10:41 amThe times they are a’changin.
Comment by danphunter1 — 30 August 2007 @ 10:57 am“Let’s hope that that the social barrier between Catholics attached to the newer and older forms of the Mass also disappears.”
I find that rather amusing as an Englishman. especially as in the photographs the Knights of Malta are obviously involved, in Europe they have to have had the right to have arms (coats of) for four generations on both the fathers and mothers side. Fr Conlon, though a simple priest is also a chaplain of the Knights of Malta and therefore entitled, within the context of his Knightly function is entitled to be addressed “Monsignor”, in the photographs he is actually wearing a purple tasselled biretta.
Comment by Derek James — 30 August 2007 @ 11:12 amI can think of nothing more that defines “social barrier” than the KoM, though perhaps we English can be glad of the aristocratic idea of upper and lower classes, being united agains the upstart vulgarity of the middle class.
I was at Mass this afternoon, the Priest (senior honcho in the North of England)came out with a new version of the Eucharistic prayer that I have never heard before. Amongst the howlers were…”Opening the scriptures he broke the bread”....was that Scriptures a ‘la Boeuf Wellington, perhaps ???...then….”Whilst at table he passed the cup (to his disciples)”....least said the better on that one. Times may be changing danphunter….but these guys wont change peaceably, I’m afraid.
Comment by Jim — 30 August 2007 @ 11:29 amI am only an ‘umble construction worker, but how does one acquire the education these guys have and still have such a Tin ear….????? I wish someone could explain that.
You know, the social barrier is artificial. So if the Bishops implement the reform, it will disapear. It’s great to have a positive piece. I spent quite some time squinting to see if I could figure out who was there that I might know. I suppose I will have to wait till September 14th for this and THE OTHER. Cruel anti-spam trick FR Z. I know you’re holding out on me, beastly, beastly, beastly.
Comment by DoB — 30 August 2007 @ 11:36 amPlease someone point us to the “more detail” when it appears.
Many stands taken by the editorial pages of the New York Times are diametrically opposed to Catholic faith and morals. The New York Times is also one of the most respected and most read newspapers in the country. So I think calling it “Satan’s Bible” is quite fitting. However, it’s obviously somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Personally I don’t see how any orthodox Catholic could consider himself to be fully in either the “liberal” or “conservative” camp, as those terms are commonly used in the U.S. Our politics must be informed by our Catholic faith, and Catholic faith and morals do not fit into either of those two categories.
Comment by William — 30 August 2007 @ 11:52 amI would agree with Damian’s impressions of the LMS Conference. I was there for the Masses on each day and they got progressively more beautiful and solemn. The Archbishop of Birmingham celebrated Mass on the first day in the ‘ordinary form’, hence there were 20+ concelebrating priests. The photo that accompanies Damian’s post and reproduced here is from the Archdiocese’s website and was taken after that Mass.
On the second day there was Solemn Mass with beautiful Gregorian chant propers and Ordinary (XIII – Stelliferi conditor orbis). The Pontifical Mass today included a polyphonic setting of the Ordinary, Gregorian propers (for a virgin, it being the feast of St Rose of Lima), and an interesting motet by Purcell with (new?) Latin words.
It was wonderful to see such a spectrum of priests who came seeking to understand & appreciate our liturgical heritage and I think many came with a good pastoral sense and an open heart. I enjoyed what little time I spent there. I didn’t stay for the workshops as there are some years before I am, God willing, to be ordained.
However, I believe that we all came away with a sense of greater unity and love for the Sacred Liturgy, which I believe is what the Holy Father intends. This is an occasion for much hope in the UK, whatever the talk of social classes etc; in my experience, the ‘extraordinary form’ is loved by people of all backgrounds.
Comment by Br Lawrence Lew, OP — 30 August 2007 @ 11:56 amRe: Jim’s comment. Creativity even within the confines of the multiplicity of Eucharistic prayers already provided is one of the more common modes of celebrant-manufactured liturgy even here in the States. No matter how many options and configurations the current revisions allow, which will no doubt expand in the future, one gets the feeling that a certain type of celebrant will never stop expanding the boundaries of novel liturgical praxis until the rules are scrapped entirely and all are allowed to improvise the whole thing, from Introit to Ite (so to speak). In disciplinary terms, how much more foreshortened can the hand of the Lord get?
Comment by Dustin B. — 30 August 2007 @ 11:56 amAm I the only one who sees something strange in this picture? The article speaks of deacon and subdeacon, yet there appear to be concelebrants? Was this a “tridentinized” celebration of the ordinary rite?
Comment by Joseph DeCaria — 30 August 2007 @ 11:57 amI would agree with Damian’s impressions of the LMS Conference. I was there for the Masses on each day and they got progressively more beautiful and solemn. The Archbishop of Birmingham celebrated Mass on the first day in the ‘ordinary form’, hence there were 20+ concelebrating priests. The photo that accompanies Damian’s post and reproduced here is from the Archdiocese’s website and was taken after that Mass.
On the second day there was Solemn Mass with beautiful Gregorian chant propers and Ordinary (XIII – Stelliferi conditor orbis). The Pontifical Mass today included a polyphonic setting of the Ordinary, Gregorian propers (for a virgin, it being the feast of St Rose of Lima), and an interesting motet by Purcell with (new?) Latin words.
It was wonderful to see such a spectrum of priests who came seeking to understand & appreciate our liturgical heritage and I think many came with a good pastoral sense and an open heart. I enjoyed what little time I spent there. I didn’t stay for the workshops as there are some years before I am, God willing, to be ordained.
However, I believe that we all came away with a sense of greater unity and love for the Sacred Liturgy, which I believe is what the Holy Father intends. This is an occasion for much hope in the UK, whatever the talk of social classes etc; in my experience, the ‘extraordinary form’ is loved by people of all backgrounds.
Comment by Br Lawrence Lew, OP — 30 August 2007 @ 11:57 amAm I the only one who sees something strange in this picture? The article speaks of deacon and subdeacon, yet there appear to be concelebrants? Was this a “tridentinized” celebration of the ordinary rite?
Comment by Joseph DeCaria — 30 August 2007 @ 11:58 amAm I the only one who sees something strange in this picture? The article speaks of deacon and subdeacon, yet there appear to be concelebrants? Was this a “tridentinized†celebration of the ordinary rite?
I believe that this is a photo from the first Mass of the seminar which the Archbishop offered and which was a Latin Novus Ordo. Hence the concelebration.
Comment by Craigmaddie — 30 August 2007 @ 12:09 pm“Was this a “tridentinized†celebration of the ordinary rite?”
The London Oratory has been doing it for thirty years. If you’re going to have two or more concelebrating priests, and there’s no reason why two of them should not wear either two other matching chasubles or dalmatics, or dalmatic and tunicle as available. Nor is there any reason that they should not adopt traditional or traditionalized posture and location during the cannon, even during versus populum celebration, but more especially during ad orientem celebration. “Un-lined living-room curtain off-white” is not mandatory. It’s simply a matter of viewing the liturgy through the Hermeneutic of Continuity. At Chorus Breviarii San Diego we’ve been doing it for six years. The problem has always been the lack of awareness of traditional options not specifically stated, but not specifically forbidden either. Hopefully now, that liturgical latitude will come to the fore in the church.
Comment by John Polhamus — 30 August 2007 @ 12:47 pmAre Catholics obligated to believe that the MP was prompted by the Holy Spirit, as this bishop says? Never heard of this sort of linkage for a document such as the MP.
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
The Holy Spirit has prompted our Holy Father to address the matter of the Tridentine Mass.
Comment by Stephen — 30 August 2007 @ 12:53 pmthe archbishop of birmingham is shrewd not traditional
Comment by leo — 30 August 2007 @ 3:53 pmThe Archbishop of Birmingham is indeed shrewd rather than traditional.He trims his sails to the prevailing wind and he knows the way the wind is blowing if he is to reach his goal of Westminster.The Holy Father has no great liking for careerist bishops.It would be wonderful if another Nichols were to succeed to Westminster.I mean ,of course, Aidan Nichols OP.
Comment by Rumold — 30 August 2007 @ 6:09 pmMeanwhile, in Germany , SCHOCKING declarations by the Vice-President of the German Episcopal Conference, Bishop Mussinghoff of Aachen (Aquisgrana):
“The German Bishops meeting in September, will decide for common regulations for the celebration of the old Mass.” (Practically, to extend to all Germany shared ‘guidelines’for the MP’s implementation -similar to those issued by Bishop Mixa in Augsburg.)
Bishop Mussinghoff added that priests in his diocese won’t be allowed to simply answer “yes” to the requests of the faithful (cause they “are too few” for the ordinary parish life). (There are also “too few” 1962 Missals around in his diocese, etc…)
Plus: the question of the old lectionary must be discussed in Rome, cause, “it contains too less Old Testament”. Also the problems with the old Good Friday would be too much…
– - –
Die katholischen Bischöfe wollen im September einheitliche Grundsätze zur Feier der alten Messe vereinbaren.
Das kündigte der Aachener Bischof Heinrich Mussinghoff jetzt an. Der stellvertretende Vorsitzende der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz sagte: „Wir werden Regelungen finden, die alle Bischöfe akzeptieren. Da besteht eine große Einheit.“ Die Messe solle nur von Priestern gelesen werden, „die voll und ganz hinter dem Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil stehen“. Einen Rechtsanspruch auf die tridentinische Messe könnten Gläubige aber im Bistum Aachen nicht gegenüber ihrem Pfarrer erheben, sagte Mussinghoff. Das gehe schon aus praktischen Gründen nicht. Wenn ein Pfarrer für sechs Gemeinden zuständig sei und in einer Kirche nur jeden zweiten Sonntag Eucharistie feiern könne, müsse das eine Messe für alle sein.
> Die Ortsbischöfe hatten Anfang der Woche beim Ständigen Rat ein erstes Gespräch über die Umsetzung des Papst-Erlasses geführt, wie Mussinghoff sagte. Bei ihrem Herbsttreffen vom 24. bis 27. September in Fulda wollen sie die Beratungen fortsetzen. Zu regeln ist nach den Worten des Bischofs etwa die Leseordnung der alten Messe. Sie enthalte bedauerlicherweise weniger Texte aus dem Alten Testament als die neue. „Das wäre ein Verlust, über den man mit Rom reden muss.“ Festzulegen ist nach Angaben des Vize-Vorsitzenden auch, wie die alten Riten künftig in die Priester-Ausbildung einbezogen werden. „Man muss dabei sehen, wie viele Priester den Ritus denn mögen und auch Latein können.“ In den meisten Gemeinden fehlten zudem Messbücher von 1962. Geklärt werden müsse auch die Frage nach der alten Karfreitagsbitte für eine Juden-Bekehrung, die von jüdischer Seite scharf kritisiert worden war. Nach der begrenzten Wiederzulassung der alten lateinischen Messe durch Papst Benedikt XVI. hat bislang nur das Bistum Augsburg Durchführungsbestimmungen herausgegeben. (kna)
See also: http://kirchensite.de/index.php?mySID=f7568aaadc72a09db78f70f3724c7fbd&myELEMENT=137440
——If you just have a look at the last part (wide Roman connections, power in German Church, intense ecumenical relations, also with Jews: a consommè of the mainstream state-of-the-art episcopal power-block) of Mussinghoff’s curriculum, you will be even more frightened…
[...]
15.05.1995
berufen als Mitglied des Obersten Gerichtshofes der Apostolischen Signatur in Rom
23.07.2000 und 04.07.2006 erneut als Mitglied des Obersten Gerichtshofes der Apostolischen Signatur in Rom berufen
07.03.1995 Wahl zum Mitglied der Kommission VIII der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz für Fragen der Wissenschaft und Kultur
24.09.1996 Wahl zum Vorsitzenden der Kommission VIII
25.09.2001 und 26.09.2006 erneute Wahl zum Vorsitzenden der Kommission VIII
24.09.1996-26.09.2001
Mitglied der Glaubenskommission (K I) der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz
seit März 1999 Mitglied der römischen Kleruskongregation
21.09.1999
Wahl zum stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz
20.09.2005 erneute Wahl zum Stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz
25.9.2001-26.09.2006
Mitglied der Kommission X der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz für Weltkirchliche Aufgaben
26.09.2006
Wahl zum Mitglied der Ökumenekommission (K II) der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz
26.09.2006
Wahl zum Vorsitzenden der am 26.09.2006 errichteten Unterkommission der K II “für die religiösen Beziehungen zum Judentum”
http://www.kirche-im-bistum-aachen.de/kiba/dcms/traeger/4/bistum-ac/bischof/tablebenslauf.html
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Is it a time of episcopal war against Summorum Pontificum approaching (e.g.) in Germany
Comment by Syriacus — 30 August 2007 @ 6:12 pm(...after the apparent initial “peaceful acceptance” ) ??
Ye..eesss…I’ve just walked home from “The Pub”...had a couple of drinks, musing on Vincent Nichols and his “fence sitting” posture. Also take into consideration, that certain “Anglophone” personages….lost their shirts betting on Martini…we know who they are….and they know, that we know, that their raiment is still “NAILED” forlornly, shredded in the winds of change blowing through the Church,...... Isn’t that so “PADDY’S”.
Comment by Jim — 30 August 2007 @ 7:12 pmBut the game is far from over. Today I re-joined the Latin Mass Society..I think I was a member of Una Voce (Scotland) in the early 80’s, but it’s all a bit of a blur to be honest. The posts about the German bishops make for worrying reading, the real Mass was never abrogated, so why did so few ever rally to it..???. It seems to me that , like my 80’s Una Voce subscription, when pressure is applied….when Vince starts playing hard ball…a lot of heads will disappear under the parapet….I’m not wrong am I..???. Therefore, I think that the Pope has to , must, play the strongest hand in his (OUR) pack…even stronger than the Motu Proprio..??? he must free the “Original Traditionalists”. Once their constitutions are “enshrined” in Canon Law….then, truly there is no fence left to sit on….is there Vince..???
Jim,
Comment by DoB — 30 August 2007 @ 7:46 pmare you drunk?
“Was this a “tridentinized†celebration of the ordinary rite?â€
“The London Oratory has been doing it for thirty years.”
Comment by Az — 31 August 2007 @ 8:13 amNot quite, though this is often assumed to be the case. The two “deacons”, more often than not priests, do not concelebrate, but perform the diaconal roles. The celebrant presides over the Liturgy of the Word not at the altar, but from the sedilia/bench. Of course, one could argue that Inter Oecumenici (1964/5?) requires this anyway in the old rite. The sacred ministers do not adopt a “Tridentine” posture in the sanctuary, most notably, there is no humeral veil, nor do they stand on the predella in the old style, each on a different level, but alongside the celebrant.
Az said: “The two “deaconsâ€, more often than not priests, do not concelebrate, but perform the diaconal roles.”
I’ve (vaguely) wondered about this when attending the Oratory High Mass. Given that one of them is in effect in what would be the sub-diaconal role under the Ext. Rite, although such an order doesn’t exist any longer, how do they actually “divide” (if one could put it that way)
Comment by jaykay — 31 August 2007 @ 8:28 amthe role of deacon? I take it that the rubrics for deacons in the NO are minimal so in other words how are the various actions proper to a deacon assigned as between the two?
Monsignor (now Bishop) Elliot suggests there should be a Deacon of the Word and a Deacon of the Altar at solemn celebrations when possible, so presumably one