I am pleased to read this. Biretta tip to CMR o{]:¬)
My emphases and comments.
Liturgical Institute, Mundelein, Adds Course on the Extraordinary Form
One year after the release of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, The Liturgical Institute at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, announced that it has added a required [required… required] 3-credit course on the history and spirituality of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to its roster of classes. [Will it teach how to say the older Mass? Will that be under another rubric?] The Liturgical Institute was founded by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago (left) in the year 2000. Though the primary emphasis of the Institute involves the reformed liturgical books, this course comes in response to the call of Pope Benedict for freer study and use of the missal of 1962. In the summer and Fall of 2007, immediately after the release of the motu proprio, the Institute included several lectures on the topic in its Hillenbrand Lecture Series, including one by Rev. Dennis Gill, Director of Worship for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and another by Bishop Joesph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. The formal course, whose description is below, will be also be offered for priests and others not enrolled in the Institutes’s degree programs.
[Course description] LI 557 History and Spirituality of the Extraordinary Form
Pope Benedict XVI’s assurance in the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum that every Roman Rite priest may offer the Eucharist and other sacraments according to the form of the rite that was preeminent prior to 1969, provides new opportunities for people to encounter a manner of worship that represents two millennia of exegetical reflection and theological contemplation. [Nicely put!] Now designated as the “extraordinary” form of the Roman Rite, the Mass that serves as the rite’s liturgical center requires careful consideration. The constituent structures of this eucharistic liturgy’s ordo missae, the content of its ecclesiastical propers, [WDTPRS is doing something of that in this year’s series.] its protocols for integrating biblical readings and antiphons, and the complex character of its multiple eucharistic prefaces and single eucharistic prayer (Roman Canon) preserve a form of liturgical celebration that was already well-established in Europe and North Africa before the 5th century. Subtle but meaningful refinements in this liturgy were implemented [I wasn’t entirely static.] by Popes Gregory the Great (7th century), Innocent III (13th century), Pius V (16th century) and, at the start of the Second Vatican Council, John XXIII (1962). In a two-part course that considers the history and spirituality of the Mass of the Roman Rite in its extraordinary form, students will examine the theological foundations and tangible traditions within the Mass whose antiquity and subsequent centuries of celebration on every continent testify to the capacity of liturgy to transcend historical epochs and cultural divisions.
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I’m stunned, but greatful. Deo Gratias, Tom
Tom,
Are you retired?
Hopefully I will attend this seminary next year. There is a parishioner at the Institute Shrine in Chicago who is an adjunct professor who was hired to teach Latin, another required course at the seminary, since there was no other person qualified. I have a feeling that Chicago will soon become an important factor of the reform of the reform.
It would seem this isn’t a required course for seminarians, but rather course for one of the Liturgical Institute’s graduate programs for the M.A. or S.T.L. That’s not to say that seminarians could not take the course– a few seminarians do manage to complete many/most of the courses of the STL as part of the regular 4-year priestly formation program– but I don’t think 500-levels are generally M.Div. courses. (I’ll gladly stand corrected if someone shows the contrary.)
Mundelein Seminary has really blossomed to be a powerhouse of theological education under the guidance of Cardinal George… it had a real spotty history in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, and it is far from perfect now, but be assured that the guys I have known there are going to be (or are) tremendous priests after the heart of our Lord.
I have been considering getting a Masters Degree in Liturgy (or Liturgical Studies) there. This further confirms my desire! Praise God!
In the first sentence of the course description it says “every Roman rite priest” whereas in the document in English it says “each Catholic priest of the Latin rite”, which would include an Ambrosian rite priest for example. “Art. 2. In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, etc”
Art. 2. In Missis sine populo celebratis, quilibet sacerdos catholicus ritus latini,
don Jeffry
Bishop Perry comes up to Wausau, WI semi-annually to do confirmations for the Institute of Christ the King; he confirmed my son a couple of years ago. I watched him closely when he was saying the TLM. Very, very precise. He definitely knew what he was doing.
A Great step in the right direction. Actually I am most happy for the Priests. I know a great many will benefit from this and it will give them the strength to follow their path and journey. It is good news. I hope the classes are overflowing, maybe so much so that it flows down the aisles and up to the altar. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Greg Hessel in Arlington,
Are you retired? Have you not been around these last 40 years?
I fail to understand your comment.
Tom
As a person who has been aware of Mundelein for many years, I am thrilled at this change. Some of the priests from my home diocese have been to this seminary and I am hoping and praying the traditional class opens them to new possibilities.
Timeo danaos et dona ferentes.
It would be interesting to know who will be teaching this course?
While the course description gives reason for hope, I worry that the course could be made into an apologetic for why the professor thinks the Extraordinary Form is inferior to the Ordinary Form.
The Liturgical Institute there is sponsoring an interesting conference in September:
The Bible and the Liturgy: Written Text Becomes Living Word
http://www.usml.edu/liturgicalinstitute/conferences/bible%20and%20liturgy/bible%20home.htm
I am planing to attend…and am deeply impressed by what I read about their MA and STL programs.
In ICXC,
Fr. Deacon Daniel
I will take a wait and see. What many readers seem to be unaware of is the fact that the Liturgical Institute is AT the seminary, not OF the seminary. Yes, there is some intermingling (in the dining room, for example) and a few fourth year men may take a class or two which is offered by the Institute, but the two programs, by and large, have little effect on each other.
Given the sad state of affairs last year with the formation faculty and the administration of the seminary placing undue roadblocks in the path of those deacons who were willing to give up their own time to learn the extraordinary form of the Mass, I don’t hold out much hope for this to bode well for the seminarians. On the other hand, if the Cardinal calls the rector directly and commands him, under obedience, to implement an E.F. component in the seminary curriculum, then fires 85% of the formation faculty (Academic Faculty is NOT the problem here) this might be a good thing.
Until that happens, the Liturgical Institute and Mundelein SEminary will simply be two distinct institutions, with two very different aims, sharing some common facilities.
I keep hearing good things about how Mundelein is improving (yes, the seminarians are actually going to begin wearing black! – good) but when I heard about the intransigence over Summorum Pontificum, I was bitterly disappointed.
If a diocese is looking for a seminary where the men will be given solid priestly formation, a decent theological education, an appreciation for the whole of the Roman Rite and training in the celebration of BOTH forms of Holy Mass, consider Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
Notice I said in my comment above, “theological education” and not “formation”. That was a careful word selection on my part as I was trying to be nice. The academic faculty is outstanding and has gotten even better with Cardinal George’s hires (and fires).
I think that a seminarian who is serious about his formation can do very well at Mundelein. There are some exceptional spiritual masters there to learn from (again, particularly on the academic faculty). It’s the marginal guys who are only interested in “getting by” who can get in big trouble really fast at a place like that (and then spoil it for everyone else). The big problem, I think, is that there is a culture of “quality control” rather than “quality assurance” on the formation side of that house.
I think this, in conjunction with the workshops being offered to priests, seminarians, and laity through St. John Cantius, are a good sign of things to come at Mundelein.
Forgive the off-topic comment, but here’s some great news that Fr. Zuhlsdorf is sure to be posting on soon:
“Vatican approves new English translations for constant parts of Mass ”
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803857.htm
Here is the CWNews story, with even more details:
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=59877
Note what it says about “pro multis” . . .
“encounter a manner of worship that represents two millennia of exegetical reflection and theological contemplation.” and my heart goes pitter patter. That’s the difference between the Church I feel in love with and gave up my (protestant minister) livelihood for and the one I found. It can’t happen soon enough. ::thrive!
Interesting. Did I miss it, or the USCCB did not even mention “pro multis”?
Only CWNews.com has mentioned this; the USCCB has not–I checked. They used Bishop Serratelli as a source.
David Kastel – the reason the USCCB did not mention pro multis is because their list of examples deals with things the people say: “The more significant changes of the people’s parts are: …”
Cardinal George led the Rosary of Juventutem in Sydney last week. I was there and it was amazing. Thank God there are some in the Hierarchy who realise the Church’s future lies in Her past. Very encouraging. Cardinal Pell celebrated Pontifical Vespers and Benediction for Juventutem – this was also incredible. Cardinal Zen visited us unexpectedly and sat in Choir during Mass…Truly a great experience.
Cardinal George was the subject of a discussion that I had with a priest today. This priest paraphased something the Cardinal said about himself,” the conservatives think I
am too liberal and the liberals think I am too conservative…In thinking about his gifts and the legacy that he will leave the archdiocese, perhaps it will not be as an
administrator (or disciplinarian of recalcitrant pastors),but as a true priest, skilled teacher and finely honed academic who-against mighty resistance- gradually reshaped, the institution which trains priests and thereby safeguarded the Faith in the Midwest for future generations. Like Scott Peacock’s experience when the Cardinal led the Rosary at WYD, I have been at Mass when the Cardinal has been the celebrant and it has been a spiritually moving experience. I hope we can all continue to laud his contributions and pray over his human limitations.