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

I got this question via e-mail.  I have treated it here on the blog a couple time already but it bears a review.

Dear Father,

                     I am a seminarian and I have a quick question that I would like your input on. It may also provide an interesting post topic.

            I know that many within the SSPX and related groups are very opposed to the idea of permanent deacons, especially if those deacons are married. My question is, what would you have to say about a permanent deacon assisting at solemn high mass in the EF. I suppose it must be technically allowed, but is it advisable?

 I see no problem with it; first, because the Church in her Wisdom decided to bring it (the permanent deaconate) back, and second because if the EFis supposed to be a living part of our liturgical life (as you point our re. the new Good Friday prayers for the Jews) than it would make sense that they be allowed. However, I recognize that there may be legitimate differences of opinion, and I would appreciate your input.

Of course permanent deacons can function in the TLM.  It is not only possible it is a great idea!  That makes the possibility of solemn Masses greater.  Also, since deacons are deacons are deacons, they should be deacons.

 

This is also the position of the Pont. Comm. Ecclesia Dei which I wrote about here.

Here is an image of the letter.

 

Frequent reader/commentor Henry sent the following:

Knoxville Catholics’ First Solemn Latin Mass in Decades

At 2 pm on Sunday, April 20 at Knoxville’s historic Holy Ghost Catholic Church—currently celebrating its centennial—area Catholics will enjoy the city’s first solemn Latin Mass celebrated in the four decades since the newer vernacular Mass was introduced in the years following the Second Vatican Council.

As a special feature for this festive occasion, a combined multi-parish choir and orchestra directed by Mary Frazier Garner will sing the principal choral parts of the Mass in the famous "Coronation Mass" setting composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This unique event will afford the opportunity of hearing some of the Church’s greatest sacred music presented not solely in concert but as an active part of the liturgy in a "live" church worship service.

This commemorative celebration follows Pope Benedict XVI’s recent restoration of the older traditional Latin Mass for regular usage as the "extraordinary form" of the Roman rite of the Catholic Church. The newer post-Vatican II Mass is designated the "ordinary form" of the Mass, which is the central act of Catholic liturgical worship. But the pope decreed that parish priests no longer need special permission to use the older form of Mass.

The Latin Mass can be offered at three levels of ceremony and solemnity. The "low Mass" is recited with little or no music. The "sung Mass" is chanted by a priest, usually with music and congregational singing. The "solemn Mass" is offered by a priest assisted by additional clerical ministers and a choir. All parts of a solemn Mass are chanted or sung, the actions of the ministers at the altar are elaborate, and the fragrance of incense combines with sight and sound to provide an enveloping atmosphere of reverence and worship.

This solemn Mass at Holy Ghost Church will be celebrated by Fr. John Arthur Orr, with  Fr. David Carter (assoc. pastor at St. Jude’s Church in Chattanooga) and Fr. Patrick Resen (assoc. pastor at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa) functioning as deacon and subdeacon. Holy Ghost pastor Monsignor Xavier Mankel will attend in choir.

Fr. Orr, spiritual director at Knoxville Catholic High School and pastor of Clinton’s St. Therese Catholic Church, has served the Knoxville Latin Mass community since his 2005 appointment as its chaplain by then Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz. Latin Masses have since been held on Sundays at 1:30 pm at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Farragut and more recently at St. Therese Church in Clinton. This special Mass at Holy Ghost Church was scheduled earlier to celebrate the new St. John Neumann Church in Farragut, where the building dedication has been delayed.

All are welcome to attend who would like both to view the traditional Latin liturgy of the Catholic Church in its fullest form and to hear the music of Mozart that was inspired by and in turn supports this liturgy. The Knoxville Latin Mass community’s web site at www.knoxlatinmass.net can be consulted for further information including a map and directions to Holy Ghost Church.

I got a question via e-mail:

I have very close friends who attend the SSPX masses. They have invited me to attend the confirmation of one of their children in St Mary Kansas. If I go I will be there on through a Sunday and staying at their home. My question is: If I attend Sunday mass at a SSPX chapel, will I still need to attend a diocese mass as well to fulfill my Sunday obligation? I have heard yes and no on this question from different priests. I don’t normally attend SSPX masses but being that my friends have extended this invitation and I would be staying at their home, I am trying to discern the right course in this situation.

Rest assured that if you attend Mass on Sunday at the SSPX church, you will have fulfilled your Sunday Mass obligation. 

It is clear in the 1983 Code of Canon Law that if you attend Mass in a Catholic Rite on the Sunday or its vigil, you fulfill your obligation.  There is no question that the SSPX Mass will be a validly celebrated Mass in a Catholic Rite.

At the same time, I will not recommend that you receive Holy Communion during the Mass under these particular conditions.

A while back I posted that Fr. Dwight who has a blog Standing on my head, has begun celebrating Holy Mass ad orientem.  I was hoping for updates.

I have one.

This is on his blog:

After celebrating Mass facing the Lord I can report these favorable effects from the priest’s point of view:

1. I don’t have to worry about where to look
2. I don’t have to worry about what my face looks like
3. I can weep at the beauty and wonder of it all without concern
4. I can worship more freely and fully
5. I feel more at one with the people of God
6. I am on a journey to God with the people
7. I am not the focus of attention
8. The elevation of the host and the Ecce Agnus Dei have become more of a focus
9. I feel more part of the great tradition
10. I can’t see who’s not paying attention and feel I have to do something to get their attention back.

Okay, subjective feelings on my part, but I thought some readers might be interested.

Subjective, sure.  But these are precisely things that other priests are thinking, Reverend Father!  I can assure you that you are not alone.

And this is just the start of what it will provide for you and your flock.

I got this note from a very fine priest I met at the Kansas City blognic:

I am sure that you have heard about the new bishops named early this morning. [I sure have!]

Msgr. Conley, currently of the Diocese of Wichita and formerly in the Congregation for Bishops and graduate of the famous KU humanities program and now appointed to be auxiliary bishop of Denver, is to my knowledge the first bishop appointed recently who had regularly celebrated the TLM as part of his priestly service (not merely an occasional Mass here and there). [And that must have been a consideration, frankly.  There is no way that it wasn’t.] I believe that he and another priest alternated celebrating the 8 AM Sunday TLM in Wichita, the only such Mass in the Diocese of Wichita.  This is huge!  Maybe second to Summorum Pontificum. [That would be a "YES" vote!]  Now we have a bishop who is not only a friend of the Extraordinary Use of the Mass, like Arch. Burke, but one for whom the EU was an important part of his ministry.  The EU is part of new bishop(s).  It is part of the mainstream of the church.  This is great news for fans of Tradition.

Father Brian Klingele

Archdiocese of Kansas City in KS 

Pretty cutting edge prediction.