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

Here I am at the cathouse. They at supper right now. Sichuan fare will be my repast. Cats don’t block the tunnel but that doesn’t mean they are wonderful.

The leaves are changing here. Beautiful.

I am at the library bringing back interlibrary loans. Very useful service. Books come from libraries all over the region. Invaluable for research.

In another entry I wrote:

Now that Summorum Pontificum is a year old, we are seeing that the provisions of Ecclesia Dei adflicta are being implemented.

I think we must be patient about implementing Summorum Pontificum.

At the same time we must keep moving forward.

I am delighted that "personal parishes" are being established. 

We need places of stable worship where all the sacraments can be celebrated.

We need places of reference where people can learn and get comfortable in their own Catholic skins again. 

Personal parishes are very important and helpful. 

We need many of them, everywhere, and soon.

At the same time, bishops could have set us personal parishes long before Summorum Pontificum was issued. 

Under the provisions of Ecclesia Dei adflicta, which expanded the existing legislation, all those things were already possible.

Summorum Pontificum is a juridical solution which gives every priest of the Latin Church the right to use the older liturgical books.  Pastors of parishes can now establish TLM’s in their parishes without permission from anyone.  They can use the Rituale Romanum without permission from anyone.  This can happen in every parish.  Granted, that is not going to happen soon.  But this need not be isolated to a parish here or there, creating small communities cut off from the rest of the life of parishes in the diocese.

Summorum Pontificum is the present and future.

Ecclesia Dei adflicta is the past.

Summorum Pontificum... now!

An interesting piece of mail came in.

Students at John Paul the Great Catholic University (JP Catholic) are getting on television and coverage in the mainstream media for their ads supporting propositions to protect marriage and get parental notification for abortion. 
—An ad of theirs ran in California on broadcast TV immediately following the VP debate
—The LA Times covered their efforts on another set of ads
—The TV news ran a story on them
 
I’ve compiled a lot of the info here:
http://singinginthereign.blogspot.com/2008/10/jp-catholic-students-making-waves.html
 
Rather than inviting speakers like Hillary Clinton to speak at graduation ceremonies, this is what Catholic Universities should be teaching their students to do!
 
My blog aimed at the academic audience so I don’t typically get much of a popular readership but this story needs to get out there.  JP Catholic needs support—we’re just a little school, barely 3 years old!  Catholics would go nuts if they students were making this kind of an impact!
 
Thanks and God bless!

Michael Barber
Professor of Theology, Scripture and Catholic Thought
John Paul the Great Catholic University
10174 Old Grove Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92131
www.jpcatholic.com
www.singinginthereign.blogspot.com

From a priest reader west of the International Date Line (edited):

Hello Father Z,

...

I am 31 years old and a newly ordained priest, ... and am presently assigned at a parish ….  I know I cannot write a long letter to you (it would take much of your time) and express all my sentiments.  I have a lot of things that I cannot do for the love of the Church’s faith and tradition for fear of being persecuted and maligned even by own companion priests and the faithful of the parish where I serve as assistant.   [I have lived that too.  I understand what you are talking about.] To a lot of people here, everything that harks back before 1962 is evil, damnable, and worthy of every condemnation.

I write you to express my sympathy for your work and the important role you play in galvanizing and encouraging Catholics throughout the world who deeply love their faith and would wish to remain true to their identity.  I for one, Father, have experienced persecution for being loyal to the Holy Father and firm in my determination to be solidly grounded in the faith.

For many years, I have closely studied the liturgy and the rich tradition of the Church in the seminary albeit doing it privately (even secretly at times). And throughout the many years that I have admired and been inspired by the liturgical treasures of the Church both past and present, I couldn’t help but suffer in the midst of all the persecution which the current climate in the Church … exerts to those who want to live out according to the fullness of Catholic faith.

I am not trying to be cranky at this, but I just would like to share my own experience to you of how the Church is in a very sorry state here …. [I had to cut this, just to be sure.]

Things have been changing a bit in the Church especially in your place but not much here in _.  Our bishops here are more interested in speaking about politics …  than overseeing the faith of our people and the discipline of our clergy.

... For a very long time, I have waited for the day when I could even witness one TLMass in my own lifetime, but now I have witnessed it, not as a Mass goer, but as a celebrant myself. [So… this priest learned the older form and now can say Mass using it.]  I do it unknown to my parish priest and my parishioners in another far away parish where there are regular EF Masses.  I have to tell made up stories about my whereabouts whenever I would be out of my parish to say the EF Mass so as to protect myself from persecution and ridicule.  I love the Novus Ordo myself, though I try to celebrate it with as much as solemnity as possible using chant for the Preface, the whole Eucharistic Prayer and the Institution Narrative, the Doxology, and even the embolism, and I try to use incense as much as I am able and wear the complete and appropriate vestments. And one thing I [find] curious though is that most of the young people here, those who are 30 years old and below, appreciate and love the Mass when said with solemnity with appropriate vestments and with solemn chant.  And the ones who label me as a conservative and "out-of-touch" are some (not all) of the old ones here who have no sympathy whatever for anything old and "medieval" according to their labels. They seem to have a liturgical formula: Before 1970 = old+evil+poisonous.

Thank you Father for the good work you are doing for the Church.  May the Lord Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar be all the more loved and revered as we work for the good of the holy liturgy so as "to save the world".

This priest should know that he is not alone.  More and more men throughout the world will be learning the older form of Mass. With prudence and patience it will be introduced in more and more parishes.  Prejudices will wane and healing will begin.

I hope priests continue to write in.  I would like their contributions to be a regular feature here.  I will maintain anonymity if requested.  For a description of Mail from priests go HERE.

I received this news.  It is posted on Una Voce of Western Washington.

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is Coming to Seattle!
A new parish will be formed, with permission from Archbishop Brunett

On September 28, 2008 Archbishop Alex J. Brunett announced his invitation to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to form a personal quasi parish in the archdiocese of Seattle. The new parish will be named "the North American Martyrs." Fr. Gerard Saguto FSSP has been named priest administrator.

Fr. Saguto FSSP arrives in Seattle the week of October 1st and will begin offering Mass at St. Joseph Chapel (located in the Josephinum) until a more permanent location is found. His first Mass in Seattle will be on Sunday, October 5th and it will be a sung Mass. Sunday Masses will continue to be at 9:30 AM - confessions begin 45 minutes prior. Daily Mass will be at 7:00 AM - confessions 20 minutes prior, except for Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, during the next month and a half (through November 11th), Fr. Saguto will offer Mass at Holy Family Parish, 9622 – 20th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 at 7:30 PM.

The establishment of a personal parish has been our (Una Voce of Western Washington) organization’s prayerful goal for over twenty years and we offer our sincere thanks to Archbishop Brunett for his granting of permission to invite the FSSP into the archdiocese. We are also thankful for the support, leadership and generosity of FSSP Superior General Fr. John Berg, and the FSSP North American District Superior Fr. Eric Flood for bringing this apostolate to our area. We are blessed, and so very grateful.

Brick by brick.

I remind all pastors that, personal parish in the diocese notwithstanding, you all have the right to implement Summorum Pontificum in your parishes without special permissions.  

Let no one forget this.

Now that Summorum Pontificum is a year old, we are seeing that the provisions of Ecclesia Dei adflicta are being implemented.

We haven’t heard much from Africa on the implementation of Summorum Pontificum.  Here is some news.

Pretoria Latin Mass Group on its way

On Saturday 27th of last month, a meeting was held at St.John Fisher Catholic Church , in Lynwood Pretoria with the aim of organising a group who wish to restore the Extraodinary Form in their own archdiocese. It was a great comfort to see that there are still those who desire to regain their lost liturgical heritage, and most importantly that there are still priests who would be willing to provide for their needs.

As of yet, not much can be said about any substantial gains with regard to actualy having the TLM celebrated once again in an official capacity, however, the effort is still in its infancy and has to "crawl before it can walk". Nonetheless, one can be at least greatful for the fact that their specific cause has not been met with the usual hostility that many are indeed faced with when presenting such a request, that their specific spiritual needs be met.

It was suggested that, in order to gain futher exposure for this specific initiative, anouncements would be made at the Mass notices as well as included into the parish bulletins of those Priests who were obliging to the effort.

Summorum Pontificum Johannesburg will continue to promote and support this effort, when possible. Updates will be posted concerning this specific initiative.

Calvin James Montgomery
President

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, went back to his old house today, the Quirinal Palace.



SKY

SKY TG24

I was very pleased this morning to find in my mailbox another translation of the "Internet Prayer" I wrote in Latin many years ago.  This prayer is all over the internet.

A kind soul translated the prayer into …

CAPAMPANGAN (Phillipines)

Pangadi Bayu Tuglung King Internet:
O kipnuan king upaya at alan-anggang Dios,
king anyu Mu lelang Mu kami
at sinabi Mu kekami ing dulapan mi ya ing cayapan, ing catutuan, at ing caniwan,
lalu’t lalu na ing tagle cabanalan na ning Bugtung Mung Anak, Y Jesucristong Guinu mi,
itulut Mu, pagamu-amu mi Keka,
king kapamilatan nang San Isidro, Obispo at Doctor,
a sana king penandit ning pamaglayag mi king Internet
iyungyung mi la ding mata at gamat mi bucud mung king bague munie ligaya Keka
at pakibagayan mi la sana king mitmung lugud at kapakumbaban ding maldang caladwang kekaming akatalamitanan.
Kapamilatan na ning Cristong Guinu mi.  Amen. 

At the time I wrote the prayer, there was much talk about a "Patron Saint" of the Internet and many people were interested in St. Isidore of Seville.   That is why he is invoked.  But there is no reason why you could not invoke the help of any saint.  Nothing is official yet, and even then we can pray to whom it pleases us.

I am always hoping to get new versions of this prayer.  If you look at the list and see that your language is not represented, perhaps in your kindness you will work on a translation and share it with us!

Here is the English version:

A prayer before logging onto the internet:
Almighty and eternal God,
who created us in Thy image
and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful,
especially in the divine person of Thy Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor,
during our journeys through the internet
we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee
and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter.
Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

I received a very interesting e-mail this morning about the remains and cause of Ven. John Henry Newman.

 

4.10.08 NO PHYSICAL REMAINS OF CARDINAL NEWMAN FOUND IN HIS GRAVE AT REDNAL

Statement by Peter Jennings, Press Secretary to the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory and for the Cause of the Beatification and Canonisation of  Cardinal Newman, Saturday 4 October 2008:
 
(The brass inscription plate on the wooden coffin in which Cardinal Newman was buried, recovered from his grave at Rednal on 2 October 2008. Picture by Peter Jennings. This picture is the copyright of the Fathers of the Birmingham Oratory.)
 
"The grave of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801 – 1890) was excavated with the utmost care on Thursday 2 October 2008, Feast of the Guardian Angels. 
 
"Cardinal Newman died on Monday 11 August 1890 and was buried in the small secluded cemetery at the Oratory House, Rednal, near Birmingham on Tuesday 19 August 1890. He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on 22 January 1991.
 
"During the excavation the brass inscription plate which had been on the wooden coffin in which Cardinal Newman had rested was recovered from his grave.  It reads:
 
‘Eminent [issimus] et Reverend [issimus] Joannes Henricus Newman Cardinalis Diaconus S Georgii in Velabro Obiit Die XI August. MDCCCXC RIP’
 
English Translation:       
            
‘The Most Eminent and Most Reverend John Henry Newman Cardinal Deacon of St George in Velabro Died 11 August 1890 RIP’
 
"Brass, wooden and cloth artefacts from Cardinal Newman’s coffin were found. However there were no remains of the body of John Henry Newman. An expectation that Cardinal Newman had been buried in a lead lined coffin proved to be unfounded.
 
"In the view of the medical and health professionals in attendance, burial in a wooden coffin in a very damp site makes this kind of total decomposition of the body unsurprising.
 
"The absence of physical remains in the grave does not affect the progress of Cardinal Newman’s Cause in Rome. [This is the crucial point.]
 
"The Birmingham Oratory has always been in possession of some actual physical remains of Cardinal Newman.
 
"These consist of some locks of hair, some of which were sent to Deacon Jack Sullivan prior to his inexplicable cure. These, together with items found in his grave, will be housed in a casket for a Vigil of Reception on Friday 31 October and Saturday 1 November, to be followed by the High Mass of All Saints on Sunday 2 November at 11.00 am, when the casket will be placed in the Oratory Church, Edgbaston."
 
The Very Reverend Paul Chavasse, Provost of the Birmingham Oratory and Postulator of the Newman Cause said: "The lack of substantial physical remains does nothing to diminish our deep reverence for Cardinal Newman. Yesterday’s outcome seems to have a Providential significance."
 
Father Chavasse added: "In the ‘Dream of Gerontius’, Cardinal Newman reflected on the experience of death. He wrote:
 
‘I went to sleep; and now I am refreshed. A strange refreshment: for I feel in me An inexpressive lightness, and a sense Of freedom, as I were at length myself, And ne’er had been before’."
 
The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham said: "The establishment of this new location in the Oratory Church, Edgbaston, for our last bodily contacts with Cardinal Newman is an important moment and one that many people will want to mark with prayerful thanksgiving."

This is in my mailbox.

Fr. Z,
 
I am in the midst of a tense situation at a Catholic college, the identity of which I would prefer not to disclose.  The question facing us is: Granting that Summorum Pontificum acknowledges the rights of the faithful to request and to be given access to the usus antiquior, is there any way to derive, out of the document or any authoritative interpretations of it, that this access should primarily take the form of Masses offered on Sundays and possibly other Holy Days of obligation? 
 
I ask because there are college chaplaincies that do have the old rite, yet offer it once a week on Tuesdays at 7:30 AM, or on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 1 PM, or other such odd times.  It seems to me that a "stable group of the faithful" who legitimately desire the Extraordinary Form are inherently requesting it for Sunday because that is the Dies Domini, the high point of the Christian week.  For a pastor or chaplain to allow or celebrate the old rite other times is good, certainly, but not really the central point.
 
Would it depend on what the stable group itself explicitly requests?  I mean, if the group formally requests a Sunday Mass, is that understood to be the Mass that should be given to them in the older usage?  Or, if a pastor or chaplain responds by saying, "Well, I’m fine with a Saturday at 9:00 AM," would there be any grounds for complaint on the part of the group: "Thank you for that opportunity, but we were really looking for a way to fulfill our Sunday obligation with the old rite."?
 
Finally this comes down to a question: When, or with what circumstances, can the stable group be considered to have been granted that to which its members have a right?  I know some will say this is just a matter of prudence and practicality, but it seems to me that there has got to be some way of getting closer to an essential answer.  Otherwise, it seems either that the stable group could keep demanding all the way to asking for seven days a week, which is quite beyond what is feasible in many contexts right now, OR that the stable group could be denied even a Sunday Mass, as long as a "bone" had been tossed to them on some other day of the week or month.
 
God Bless,
 
[please withhold name]

These are questions for the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei and possibly the Council for Legislative Texts.

First, remember that Summorum Pontificum speaks of stable groups in the context of parishes ... parish priests, pastors, are to respond to stable groups.  Of course it makes sense that if the church isn’t a parish and there is someone other than a pastor, this should apply also.  But that is not what the document says.  Also, while it is pretty clear that a group can be very small, you have to argue that a body of students is "stable".  I think the law would provide that they have some sort of domicile, if they live there.  But I don’t quite understand the status of students at a school.  It might be that "stable" doesn’t apply.

Second, I think rather than the legal/juridical argument approach, it would be best to try to arrange this through persuasion and relentless charity.  You will probably get farther that way and quicker.  The student who want this should cheerfully wear down those in charge by a kind and good-natured constant "rapping on the judge’s door" as it were, until they relent.  

Also, it may be that the priests involved don’t know how to say the older form of Mass, or they have too much to do now.  In that case, you need to be creative and get the necessary resources for the priests, including, perhaps a priest from outside willing to come in for a while.  That may involve the bishop’s permission: keep that in mind. 

Finally, it might be a good idea to contact students and prof at other schools where this cause has already been taken up and worked through.

Clearly, the spirit of the document aims at helping many groups of people, not just those who are registered parishioners.  Hopefully a sense of charity and goodwill will prevail in your case. 

Do not neglect getting the students to pray to the guardian angels of those involved, to move them to a better position, including some fasting for their petitions.  You can also pray to St. Joseph, who is a powerful intercessor.

Here is an interesting story.

This is the season of Red Masses in the USA.

Think about that.

American Life League Thursday called on Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl to enforce Canon 915 at the annual Red Mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral on Oct. 5.

The Catholic Code of Canon Law requires that all those who persist in "manifestly grave sin" are not to be permitted to receive the Holy Eucharist.

"We implore Archbishop Wuerl to exercise his duty to protect the Holy Eucharist from the sacrilege of pro-abortion politicians receiving the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League.

The Red Mass has been notoriously attended by politicians who actively support abortion and contraception – a position that is unequivocally opposed by the Catholic Church.

"The Blessed Sacrament has been desecrated in years past at this Mass by politicians with blood on their hands," Brown said. "We hope and pray that this year, Archbishop Wuerl has the courage to be a real shepherd and leader of his flock by protecting our most sacred Sacrament."

The Red Mass is a special Mass celebrated for those involved in the government and legal system. Catholics believe these officials’ power comes from God – therefore they have a sacred duty to govern with justice and protect the most innocent and defenseless among us – the preborn."The Red Mass should be the perfect opportunity for Archbishop Wuerl to send a message to pro-abortion politicians everywhere – it is not possible to be Catholic and support abortion."

Not too long ago after many years of not seeing it, I watched through the series Bless Me Father.  There is an episode when the young priest convinces the old pastor they need new sound-proofed confessionals as we as  new sound system for the church, with a wireless microphone.

You can see the train wreck coming.

There might be a problem about wireless microphones for parishes which have them.  Frankly, I dislike them and hope this is true.  But surely a new mousetrap will be create.

Here is a story sent by a friend.  I don’t know if this is urbane legend or reality, but the source looks good.

FCC prohibits wireless mics in 700MHz band after DTV transition  [IN the USA, as of this coming February, all TV broadcasts will switch from analog to digital.]

The FCC has voted unanimously to ban the use of wireless microphones and other devices in the 700MHz band after the transition to digital television Feb. 17. Also included in the FCC order is equipment for cue and control communications and that synchronizes TV camera signals.

The FCC also wants to prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or shipment of devices that operate as low-power auxiliary stations in the 700MHz band after the transition is complete. Anticipating the decision, wireless microphone vendors like Shure have not manufactured such mics since the end of 2007.  [I wonder what the problem is with that frequency.  Is that the band "they" will use to try to control the 666 chips they are putting in people’s brains?  Where’s my aluminum foil!!?]

Wireless microphones have long been sharing the spectrum with broadcasters on Channels 52 through 69. Those channels, however, are being reclaimed for advanced wireless uses by industry players and first-responders after the transition to DTV.  [First responders… uh huh… sound’s like CHIPS to me!]

Responding to consumer groups, the FCC Enforcement Bureau has opened an investigation into how manufacturers market wireless microphones to users.

The Public Interest Spectrum Coalition alleged in a complaint last month that users of wireless microphones, including Broadway stage shows and large churches, [This is why I am posting this.  Fathers… are you paying attention?] are unwittingly violating FCC rules that require licenses for the devices. The group accused wireless manufacturers of deceptive advertising in how they market and sell the microphones, which largely operate in the same radio spectrum as broadcast TV stations.

Most wireless microphone owners are unaware that FCC rules require them to obtain a license. [Or a chip in your skull….] Wireless microphones that operate in the same frequency bands as broadcast TV stations are intended for use in the production of TV or cable programming or the motion picture industry, according to FCC rules.

The FCC rarely enforces the licensing requirements on the microphones because there have been so few complaints; the microphones are programmed to avoid TV channels. However, transition to digital broadcasting has forced the FCC to act.

It’s not known how many wireless microphones are in operation, but Harold Feld, an attorney for the Media Access Project, said the total is likely more than 1 million. “These are the favored frequencies because they can be run at lower power and can be used for very high-quality audio,” Feld told the Associated Press.

The wireless microphone issue stems from the FCC’s consideration of using the spectrum between TV channels for transmitting wireless broadband signals. Consumer groups and some of the nation’s largest technology companies say these “white spaces” represent enormous potential to make broadband more accessible.

Wireless microphone users and manufacturers have objected to the FCC over future white space devices because of fears of interference, even though many of them haven’t been granted government licenses for the microphones they’re using.

In all seriousness.  This looks like it is true.  I might be a good idea to make plans, if you have a parish where wireless mics are used in the church or church hall.