Archbp. Burke’s presser for his new assignment

Watch the presser Archbishop Burke gave about ceasing to be Archbishop of St. Louis and becoming Prefect of the Signatura.

This is wonderful.

Also, Archbishop Burke made a statement, posted on the Archdiocesan website.

[flv]08_06_27_burke_statement.flv[/flv]

Play

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24 Comments

  1. patrick f says:

    Even though St. Louis has lost a good Shepherd, the Church benefits from it greatly. Maybe I am just partial being a part of this Arch Diocese, but there isnt a more orthodox bishop, then Raymond Burke. He has given us two oratories for the TLM in St. Louis, and not only did we have 5 priests be ordained who are trained in the TLM, but he also had the first TLM ordination in over 40 years in this area. You will be missed Bishop Burke, especially by those of us who either consider ourselve traditionalists, or are thrown into the category, simply because we were faithful to your teaching and guidance.

    As I said, we are losing something great here, but the whole church gains. Truly, a bittersweet day for St. Louis.

  2. Archbishop Burke is well-suited to his new assignment, having earned a reputation as an eminent canonist. This along with his gift of fortitude, was brought to bear in the St Stanislaus matter. He will be sorely missed here in the States. I pray for him, and wish him well.

  3. Paul Murnane says:

    Not only is he a true leader, he really gets the value of communication in the modern era. How many other dioceses communicate as well as St. Louis?

  4. John Polhamus says:

    That was a statement tinged at more than one point with noticible spasms of emotion. This is a great Archbishop who truly loved his diocese and used his power to rebuild the church within it. I was priviliged to attend his Pontifical ordination mass for the ICK last year, and watching him vest from a vantage point close enough to read the holy fire in his eyes is something which I shall never forget. God bless the man.

  5. Matt Q says:

    I read the archdiocesan website. Gosh. Immediately? Is he on tonight’s Red Eye to Rome? Hope he had time to pack. ;)

    I agree with all of you. Such a man as Archbishop Burke will be missed. A great loss for St Louis in particular and the US in general. If the Holy Father appointed him to be The Lord Chief Justice if you will, then it must a great sign of trust and actual practical knowledge of what Archbishop Burke really knows.

    Wow, he’s not anywhere near this part of the country and there’s a great sense of loss and missing. In the liturgical sense, I suppose he’s done his part for the Tridentine Mass and Tradition. Just hope the Holy Father will be as wise in choosing Archbishop Burke’s successor as he was in choosing him for the Apostolic Signatura. It would be a major step backward if some flake gets in there and undoes everything Burke instituted.

    Archbishop Burke, we wish you well. Godspeed.

  6. craig says:

    I have had the blessing to hear the Archbiship speak a few times, living in Kansas City has some benefits. I am somewhat emotional about his “promotion”, and his leaving. He has had such an enormous impact on my faith, and the faith of my Diocese. The Holy Father is moving boldly ahead with his “marshal plan”. I believe we will very soon see all the right people in the right spot and a rather dramatic change in how we approach our faith will be presented.

    Archbishop Burke, while you do not know me, I know you. And I pray that all the graces needed for your new role may be showered upon you. Thank you.

  7. Joseph Antoniello says:

    Is it strange that Archbishop Burke’s birthday will fall on the same day as the SSPX…ultimatum(?) deadline?

    Providence is a beautiful thing.

  8. Aelric says:

    A simple curiosity question:

    Does Archbishop Burke resume or now take on a titular see?

  9. kiddo says:

    Wow… a blog post that’s not about SSPX. There’s a change in the past 24 hours.

  10. Fr. Dan says:

    He is a great and humble man. May God give him many blessings in his new position. Pax Tecum Your Grace!

  11. Padre Steve says:

    Let’s pray his successor is as effective a leader as
    Archbishop Burke!

  12. Brendan says:

    Got me a little teary-eyed at the end when he got choked up.
    What an awesome and holy man.

  13. Brendan says:

    Video from the press conference this morning…more tears.

    http://www.kmov.com/video/topvideo-index.html?nvid=258521&shu=1

  14. David O'Rourke says:

    I am a bit concerned that the post of Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, while certainly important, is also a very quiet role dealing with technical legal questions almost incompehensible to the average person. Thus, not only will the archbishop’s pastoral skills be lost to the Church but, as well, his willingness to speak out on principles and to act upon them wil also be lost. I suspect that many of the archbishop’s enemies in the U.S. are rejoicing.

    Let us hope that after he gets settled in to his new position and especially after he gets his red hat he will get a seat on additional dicasteries, particularly the Congregation for Divine Worship.

  15. a religious says:

    The archbp’s video statement was humble and moving. Let us pray for him, and for a good and holy successor.

  16. Warren Anderson says:

    Clearly, here is a bishop who loves God, the Church, the Holy Father and the people entrusted to him in the Archdiocese. Such a beautiful example of faithfulness. A holy man. Peace be with you Archbishop Burke. May God grant you every blessing you need in order to fulfill your new role, and may God bless the people of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis with a holy shepherd to lead them.

  17. Limbo says:

    Dear Lord,

    Send us many more bishops like Archbishop Burke, You know we need them.

  18. Francesco says:

    David O’Rourke –

    Don’t be too sure his enemies are rejoicing. After all, the red hat he’ll receive may one day turn into another color…Deo volente!

  19. Thomas says:

    David O’Rourke,

    Francesce beat me to the punch, but be mindful of the red hat that will soon follow. His influence in the different congregations that he will become a member of will be very pastoral, and on a grander scale than just St. Louis.

  20. prof. basto says:

    Aelric: Asimple curiosity question:
    Does Archbishop Burke resume or now take on a titular see?

    No. Under current practice, he does not take on a titular see. Rather, he simply becomes Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis. And, when he assumes the role of Prefect of Signatura, he will remain Archbishop emeritus of St. Louis.

    Cardinal Ratzinger, for instance, was Archbishop Emeritus of Munich and Freising until his elevation to the Supreme Pontificate.

  21. Maureen says:

    This is what obedience looks like. Sure, it’s a promotion. But there’s a good deal more power and autonomy in being an archbishop to a good chunk of North America than in being even Chief Justice of the universal church. He had built himself a flagship archdiocese, full of good things and new good things in process. Now everything that Burke has built, all the things he has started, must be trusted to the hands of God, administrators, and some unknown archbishop to come. There are no guarantees.

    But then, when are there ever?

    So both the good Burke and the people of St. Louis are called to walk onward in faith, trusting in the providence of God.

  22. Jon says:

    I agree with David O’Rourke. This is a great loss to Catholics in America, and a great gain for dissidents and heretics in America.

    What other bishop in America has or will publicly and persistently declare supporters of abortion to be unfit for reception of the Eucharist? None here in Florida.

    Also, I understand candidates for appointments to the episcopacy (bishops) are screened here in America by the Apostolic Nuncio with input from American bishops. I can’t help but wonder if Archbishop Burke was “highly recommended” to the Apostolic Nuncio by America’s bishops, the vast majority of whom would seem to like nothing more than see him gone.

  23. RBrown says:

    No. Under current practice, he does not take on a titular see. Rather, he simply becomes Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis. And, when he assumes the role of Prefect of Signatura, he will remain Archbishop emeritus of St. Louis.

    Cardinal Ratzinger, for instance, was Archbishop Emeritus of Munich and Freising until his elevation to the Supreme Pontificate.
    Comment by prof. basto

    Are you sure that Cardinals have titular sees as non Cardinals do? Or are they made Cardinal Deacons, Priests, and Bishops?

  24. prof. basto says:

    Cardinals indeed do not take titular sees. But I didn’t say they did. They do take/retain the title “emeritus”

Comments are closed.