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

This is really interesting from my friend the nearly ubiquitous fair-minded former Rome correspondent for the ultra-leftist NCRep. 

I was once ‘more severe’ than today, Benedict XVI tells priests
Posted on Aug 7, 2008 05:19am CST.
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By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.

Pope Benedict XVI told a group of priests yesterday that he was once “more severe” in terms of administering baptism and confirmation to ill-prepared or lukewarm candidates, but today he’s inclined to be generous wherever there is even “a flicker of desire for communion in the faith.”

The pope also conceded that, over the centuries, Christianity’s commitment to environmental protection may not always have been sufficiently clear. He argued, however, that belief in God is essential to sound ecology, because ultimately a materialist philosophy places no limits on humanity’s exploitation of nature.

Benedict XVI spoke to a group of more than 400 priests of the diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone in northern Italy, where he is currently passing two weeks of vacation. The behind-closed-doors session with the priests, which has become an annual custom for the pope, took place in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Bressanone, and lasted approximately 90 minutes. The pope took six questions and provided impromptu answers.

The Vatican is expected to release a transcript of the session shortly. Yesterday, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesperson, briefed reporters on the highlights of the exchange.

The six questions, according to Lombardi, were:

• Fr. Willy Fusaro, a 42-year-old priest diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1991, the year of his ordination, and today confined to a wheelchair, asked the pope about the Christian meaning of suffering in light of the example of Pope John Paul II;
• Seminarian Michael Horrer, who recently returned from World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, asked the pope about pastoral outreach to the young;
• Franciscan Fr. Willibald Hopfgartner posed a question about the relationship between reason and faith;
• Fr. Karl Golser, a professor of moral theology and a former staffer in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who served briefly under then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, asked his former boss about Christianity and the environment;
• Fr. Franz Pixner asked the pope to comment on priestly life;
• Fr. Paolo Ruzzi asked Benedict for advice on how generous a priest should be in administering the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.

In response to Fusaro’s question on suffering, Lombardi said that Benedict divided the pontificate of John Paul II into two phases. The first came when an athletic, strong John Paul bestrode the world as a “giant of the faith,” while the second came with his slow physical decline and growing weakness. These years, Benedict said, were “not of lesser importance.”

“With this witness of his own passion, he carried the Cross of Christ with humility,” Benedict said. “With deep humility he accepted the destruction of his body, and thus showed us clearly the truth of the passion of Christ.”

When Golser posed his question on the environment, Lombardi said that Benedict laughingly replied, “You could answer that better than I can.” (Golser serves as director of the Institute for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in Bressanone, and has published widely on environmental ethics.)

According to Lombardi, Benedict said that in the past the connection between the church’s teaching on redemption, and on care of creation, may not always have been underlined with enough force. Today, however, the pope said Christians are clearly called to ecological concern, especially by offering examples of “lifestyles” respectful of the environment.

In fact, Benedict argued, if God is denied and the world seen as mere “matter,” then it’s far easier for human beings to justify arbitrary and selfish exploitation of natural resources.

Finally, Lombardi called the pope’s response on sacramental discipline “very interesting.”

“When I was younger, I was more severe,” Lombardi quoted Benedict XVI as saying in response to the question about baptism and confirmation.

“With time, I came to understand the importance of taking the path of mercy, following the example of the Lord, who welcomed even a flicker of desire for communion in the faith,” the pope said.

Benedict quickly added, however, according to Lombardi, that this doesn’t mean the sacraments should be administered when faith is absent.

On 8 August I fly to Cleveland where I will be for a few days.

We have said that there will be a blognic on Saturday morning 9 August.

The plans must be firmed up now, I think.

Let’s meet, on Saturday 9 August, let’s say at 10:30-noon, at The Phoenix Coffee Co. at Mayfied and S. Green Road, in S. Euclid.

This is very informal.  You buy your own coffee, or whatever, and come and go as you wish, with no pressure. 

UPDATE:

The blognic took place on time and quite a few people showed up.  It was a great time and I am grateful to all those who made the effort to come.

Thanks

From a WDTPRSer:

Reverend Father,

I first must tell you that I greatly enjoy reading WDTPRS. I find myself on the site daily. That being said, would you mind posting the following information on your blog?

Una Voce Quad Cities is pleased to announce that the Extraordinary Form will now be offered every Sunday in Davenport, Iowa at 4:00 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Chuch, beginning this coming Sunday, August 3rd. Thanks to the gracious permission of His Excellency, Martin Amos, Bishop of Davenport and the Holy Father for Summorum Pontificum, the TLM makes its return to the Quad Cities Area.

The TLM will also be offered every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Wenceslaus Church in Iowa City.

Thank You.

In Cordibus Iesus et Mariae

Under another entry I made a comment that I was considering shutting down the blog.

I have since gotten lots of urgent and unhappy e-mails.

Sorry about that.

Let me clarify.

I guess what I am really getting at is that a change of pace might be in order.

The blog is a lot of work and I have some other very important things I need to apply myself to.

I also am starting to think about the print version of WDTPRS, the weekly column in The Wanderer.

But WDTPRS has become a fairly important force in the Catholic blogosphere, which is largely due to you readers and your faithful participation.  The traffic here is very high.

So now that the issue of the new liturgical translation is pretty much being resolved, and now that the implementation Summorum Pontificum is pretty much unstoppable, I am rethinking what this is all about.

Dunno…. new name and direction?  New pace?  New focus?  Group blog to take the pressure off a little?

I’m just thinking some things over.

Anyway… I am not going to do anything overly dramatic in the immediate future. 

The blog has been a wonderful experience, you are very supportive, and your feedback in various forms makes a difference.

The priest who brought other priests the "cheat sheet" with the new approved translation of the parts of Mass pertaining to the priest, now has one for lay people.



As he wrote to me:

The attached, which can be printed on the front and back of a single sheet, may be helpful in the future for introducing the people to the new translation of the Mass

I had a question from a reader.  Perhaps some priests might chime in with their experiences.  Personally, I have never been asked to bless one of these or invest anyone.  But… lets get to the question.

I recently purchased a five-fold scapular at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference in Wichita.  However, I find no "rules" for enrollment in the scapular(s).  I looked in the little booklet contained in the package in which I purchased it, but it simply gave the enrollment formula, but not the conditions to be enrolled.  I have searched on the internet as well, and cannot find anything.  I do know that those enrolled in the brown scapular must say the Divine Office, or the Rosary, etc. but what about those enrolled in the five-fold scapular?  Your help would be greatly appreciated.

There is a site which describes the investiture of the five-fold scapular as well as the history of each one.  There is also this site with a bit more elaborate information, including statements about the indulgences attached to this work.  I am sure those are out of date.  Also, the obligations mentioned are to pray the Rosary daily, wear the scapular, a Crucifix, and St. Benedict medal, which I believe both some with the five-fold scapular.

You know… bad things always have happened to me whenever I have blessed a St. Benedict medal.  Devils hate those things, I think.  But I digress.

Otherwise, I suppose that each of these scapulars has its own obligations, which could be looked up separately. 

The form for blessing and investing is in the Rituale Romanum (Titulus IX - Caput XI – #14).  There are blessings and forms there for all the scapulars approved at that date (1953).

Keep in mind that these are sacramentals, not sacraments.  But the devils and his minions hate sacramentals, which cause them pain as they strengthen you. 

Sacramentals are very good things and we should make use of them regularly and with well-thought out purpose!

Here is what the above mentioned site provides.

THE FIVEFOLD SCAPULAR

Blessings and investiture by any Priest.
(Rite now assigned to all priests by the head of various orders.)
The Five-Folds :

    * Outer – the red or the "Passion Scapular"
    * Back – the white, or "Blessed Trinity"
    * Between the brown – or "Our Lady of Mount Carmel"
    * The black – or "Our Lady of Sorrows"
    * The blue – or "The Immaculate Virgin Mary"

Blessing and Investiture:

[The priest should wear cassock, surplice and white stole.]

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

V. The lord be with you.

R. And also with you. [And with your spirit!]

Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus Christ, head over all the faithful and savior of the human race, who has condescended to clothe Thyself with our wounded nature, we beg Thee of Thine innumerable goodness to bless + and sanctify these garments, designed in homage to the most Blessed Trinity, as well as in memory of Thy most bitter passion, and in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Grant that they who may be invested therewith may deserve, through the intercession of thy Blessed Mother, likewise to clothe themselves in body and soul, with Thee, for salvation, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

(The priest then sprinkles the scapulars with Holy Water) and invests each one individually holding their scapular over them (he may use one scapular for all if they don’t have one) and saying the following once for all in common.

1. Receive the habit of the Order of The Most Holy Trinity unto an increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity, that you may put on the new man, created in the likeness of God, in holiness and righteousness.

2. Receive the Scapular of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so that having laid aside the old man and put on the new, you may wear it worthily and come to Life Everlasting.

3. Receive the Scapular of the devoted clients of the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, that by her intercession you may be cleansed from every defilement and attain Life Everlasting.

4. Receive the Scapular of the devoted Servants of Our Lady of the Seven Dolors, so that, through diligent meditation on her sorrows, you may be imbued in heart and body with the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and always remain steadfast in your devotion.

5. Receive the habit of the Society and Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, beseeching the Most Holy Virgin, that through her merits you may wear it without stain, and be protected by her from all adversity and brought to the joys of Life Everlastng.

By the faculty delegated to me by the Holy See, I receive you as partakers of all the spiritual favors of these Orders and Congregations, as well as the Indulgences granted by privilege of the Holy See to the aforesaid Scapulars. [I am not sure what, if any they may be.  The old indulgences were pretty much swept away.  This would need, perhaps, clarification from the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, which has competence in the matter of indulgences.] In the name of The Father,+ and of The Son,+ and of The Holy + Spirit. R. Amen.

V. Preserve Thy Servants.
R. Who trust in Thee, my God.

V. Send them aid, Lord, from on high.
R. And from Sion watch over them.

V. Be Thou unto them a mighty fortress.
R. In the face of the enemy.

V. Let the enemy be powerless against them.
R. And the son of iniquity do nothing to harm them.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.  [That’s better.]

Let Us Pray

Bow down, O lord, to our supplications, and deign to bless+them on whom we have conferred the sacred habits in Thy name. May they cooperate with Thy grace, and thus deserve to attain Life Everlasting. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

May the blessings of Almighty God, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come upon you and remain for all time.

R. Amen.

Taken from the Roman Ritual Volume II. Nihil Obstat: Stephen Anderi, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur:+Joannes P. Troacy, S.T.D. Episcopus Crossensis 18 June 1950)

Looking through the Rituale I found quite a few different forms for different scapulars, some of which I was unaware of. 

Did you know there was a scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel?  I didn’t.  And there is an Augustinian connection.

So, I learned a couple things today because of this question.

I am right now talking on the phone with a friend (who is beating me up for even thinking about changing the blog).

I am presently being asked to ask you something:

Describe some of your experiences of Catholic funerals, good and bad, together with, perhaps customs.

Over at Thoughts from Walney Island there is this good entry:

Today, my diocese [Lancaster, UK] commemorates St Edmund Arrowsmith S.J., St Ambrose Barlow, Blessed James Bell and John Finch ( Laymen), Richard Hayhurst, Robert Nutter O.P. and Edward Thwing, Thurston Hunt and Robert Middleton S.J., John Thules, and Roger Wrenno ( layman) plus Edward Bamber, John Woodcock O.F.M. and Thomas Whitaker. All of these were martyred in the city of Lancaster beteenn the 1580’s and 1646. They met their deaths close to the present Cathedral of St Peter.

As an historian I should know more about them but I don’t. They were all great men who laid down their lives for the Mass and the authority of the Pope. They suffered cruel torments and a hideous death. Yet, by all accounts went bravely and cheefully to their deaths. I think it is very sad that their memory is fading. We rarely talk about the English Martys these days. Many years ago I remember some ecumenical enthusiast actually saying talking about the martys was a hindrance to ecumenism.

Someone has composed these excellent texts for the Mass we can celebrate on this day. All 3 prayers contain references to Bishop Challoners "memoirs of the martyrs" . Thus, "grieving for England are the words of Edmund Arrowsmith, court of conscience are the words of Ambrose Barlow and cheefulness refers to Edward Bamber.

Collect
Almighty Father, may those who died on the Hill above Lancaster, grieving for England, which they prayed God to convert, be our patrons now in heaven that our lives may witness to the faith they professed

Secret
Father, as we bring you our gifts in memory of the men who died, justified in the court of conscience, we pray that our offering may proceed from a pure heart.

Post Communion
Father, mindful of the cheerfulness and courage with which our martyrs faced a barbarous death, we pray that through the gift of the Eucharist our one desire may be to do your holy will.