With an amused biretta tip to JG, who inspired this, o{]:¬) here we finally see a photo of a "stable group".
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I always picture myself as a STABLE shepherd, on my knees adoring the Holy Child!
ROFL! It’s perfect!
Manger for the evening: 1 Mina ($16)
Hay to lay upon, one crib, and a candle: 25 Drachmas ($4)
A “stable group” for the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass: PRICELESS!!!
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.
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But will three people be enough to satisfy parameters set by bishops?
Fr. Z:
You have mentioned a couple of times that “stable group” is not an exactly accurate translation. I have searched your blog to see where you might have given a more correct one, but if you did, I couldn’t find it. Can you enlighten me on that?
Many thanks (but understanding that you can’t answer every question).
Mark, Cardinal Hoyo told 30 Days magazine this about how many are a stable group: notice he doesn’t use the word stable:
30 Days:
The motu proprio does not set a minimal number of faithful needed for the request to celebrate the Mass of Saint Pius V. Yet, in the past, the news was leaked that a minimum number of thirty faithful was considered…
CASTRILLÓN HOYOS: That is the clear evidence as to how, regarding this motu proprio, pseudo-news[reports] were spread out by those who had not read the drafts or by those who, in an interested manner, wished to influence its elaboration. I have followed the entire iter which has led to the final text and, as I recall, no minimum limit of faithful ever appeared in any draft, not of thirty, not of twenty, not of a hundred.
Snipped from Rorate Caeli
Florida John
LOL!
And as the wonderful Caryll Houselander pointed out in her book
“Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross”, it all began with that stable group.
Or some other good thoughts on that ‘stable group’ come from Fr. Frederick
Faber in his meditative “Bethlehem”.
How I look forward to a Christ centered liturgy!
Mark Johnson:
Unofficial English translations of the MP text came up with the “stable group” phrase, by rendering “Ubi coetus fidelium continenter exsistit (where a group of faithful continues to exist) as “where there is a stable group”. The meaning of “stable” is not the same as “continenter” – which refers simply to something done in such as way as to be contained in one place or in one uninterrupted timeframe, even if done only briefly. For example “continenter loqui” means “to keep talking”. “Stable” (unwavering, established, long-standing) implies a more rigid criteria.
Is continenter an adv. (continually)? In that case, it woud seem to mean that the group has to constantly be there and not disappearing and reappearing, in other words, stable.
“In Bethlehem, ubi coetus fidelium traditioni liturgicae omnium temporum adhaerentium continenter exsistit”
Father Z,
Great!
BTW, here is a link to a growing Summorum Pontificum Contact Database. Looks like there are futher attempts being made by orthodox minded Latin Catholics to get organized. Good stuff!
http://www.lumengentleman.com/motucontacts.asp
In ICXC,
Gordo
Michael: The adjective “stable” can also lend the impression that the group isn’t changing in number. That is the problem.
The progressive objection.
Animals – insensate
Angel – imaginary
3 wise men – holiday visitors
Jesus – not human
Mary – unhistorical
Joseph – not a group
Request denied.
To Florida John and Andrew: Thank you! for answering my question.
To Sean: Haha! Very good.