Want a TLM in your parish? Here is how it was done in one place!

Posted on 14 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have written a few times (since the election of Francis – for example HERE) that it is time to push forward in the implementation of Summorum Pontificum.  People who have been wringing their hands or resting on the laurels or sitting on their hands waiting for someone else to do something for them have to get to work.  Use the provisions and work the system and supply the elbow grease and the money and the time.

For example, a very small group of men got the now daily TLM going at Holy Innocents in Manhattan! It has greatly helped that parish and provided spiritual well-being for many.  It’ll will continue if people want it to.  They have to use well and protect what they have been given on a silver platter pounded out by the work of a few.

In the pages of the recent number of The Remnant I read of another instance, which if memory serves I posted about here at one time… I think.

Do you know what happened in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina?

In the past, the former bishop had been petitioned many times, “to no avail”.  More recently, a group of people, about 50 families,  approached their parish priest (Fr. Timothy Reid at St. Ann’s) asking for the older form of Mass.  The number of people then grew.

At first, Fr. Reid and Bp. Jugis said no.  There was a reasonable practical problem: priest shortage and too many Masses.   Fr. Reid was already stretched too thin.

At the urging of the priest and bishop, the group wrote to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei“.

The VP of the PCED, Archbp. DiNoia, wrote back asking Bp. Jugis to provide for the desires of the people.  [THIS IS THE TURNING POINT.]

So, the over-worked Fr. Reid – friendly to the project – then had a firmer basis to change the parish schedule.  As everyone knows, Mass schedules are among the most volatile issues in a parish.   Even though some resisted, Father was able to say “Roma locuta est!”.  He changed the Spanish Mass to a TLM (!!!) and encouraged everyone to come all the same, that there would be booklets and aids provided, etc.

Hmmm… instead of keeping two groups in a parish divided, they are now worshiping together!  Hmmmm….

If only the Church had some … I dunno… common language we could all participate in equally.  If only there were some… whaddya call it… rite?  … some rite which was so consistent that it never favored …. PFFFT!   What am I thinking?

Anyway, it seems that Mass attendance is up for that TLM at St. Ann’s.

Also, the coetus fidelium who wanted the older Mass raised funds for sets of Roman vestments for the priest, deacon, subdeacon, for Solemn Masses.

Let’s review.

The people persevered.  They wrote the PCED.  The PCED responded.  At that point it was possible to move forward more boldly and do something as dramatic as replace a Mass in highly favored Voz del Pueblo with one that includes everyone.

There is another dimension of the story which I found amusing, given the strange comments Pope Francis might have made the other day about a spiritual bouquet that had been given to him, about how the people actually counted the Rosaries offered.

I read in The Remnant that the lay group, while using the formal recourse to the PCED also gathered a spiritual bouquet of 4700 Rosaries for their pastor and the bishop!  And, “following the news of a positive result of their petition from the PCED, the lay faithful provided 12,000 Rosaries in thanksgiving….”

When I’m Pope, I’ll happily accept all the spiritual bouquets I can get!  And I’ll like that people counted the prayers, too. I promise.

Use the provisions of Summorum Pontificum!  Use the tools of prayer and good will!

I have often suggested to groups that they offer spiritual bouquets to their bishops, especially the bishops who seem the most unfriendly to their causes.  Who doesn’t like spiritual bouquets?

Get a group of people together and make formal petitions.  Be willing to be cordial in your dealings with the priest and bishop.  Get it done, keep pushing forward, and don’t whine about it.

As I wrote before, Pope Benedict gave you over the course of his 8 years, a beautiful new bicycle!  He gave you a direction, he gave you encouragement, he promised you a snow cone, and gave you a running push.  Now, take off the training wheels and RIDE THE DAMN BIKE!

Now is the time to push forward.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , , ,
29 Comments

QUAERITUR: Confessional etiquette

Posted on 14 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

When going to confession, if you know the priest is a Monsignor (name plate on confessional) would you begin, “Forgive me, Monsignor, for I have sinned,” or stay with the simple, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned?”

There are lots of old sayings about Monsignors.  I am, for example, reminded of a story told about the late Bp. Alphonse Schladweiler, great old gent.  At a confirmation he once said, in his booming voice, “Now children, the bishop has been asking you questions.  Do have any questions for the bishop?”  Always dangerous.  One lad piped up, “What’s a Monsignor?”  The priest at the place was a Monsignor.  Without missing a beat the old bishop said “Why, sonny, a Monsignor is the cross that hangs around the bishop’s neck!”

No, you don’t have to say “Bless me, Monsignor…”.  Any Monsignor worth his salt relishes the title “Father” as the one dearest to his heart.  You can say, “Bless me, Monsignor,…” if you want, but the confessor is really there in his capacity as a spiritual father and in the place of the Just Judge who is also Mercy.

As far as etiquette is concerned, you might say “Thank you” at the end.

Since I am on Monsignors,…. and don’t get me wrong! I’d enjoy being a Monsignor enormously, especially since I am a Lutheran convert: what an honor to be associated with the Holy Father in that way? Is there some bishop out there who… I digress.

You know what difference there is between an absolution given by a Monsignor or a poor little garden variety priest like me?  Absolutely none.  How about the difference in the consecration of the Eucharist?  (Trick question.)

More about Monsignors.  It seems that the Sacrament of Monsignor has matter and form.  The matter is the fancy cassock and the form is “Come apart and rest awhile”.

Yes, folks, I’m here all week.  Next week I’ll be at Ha Ha‘s in Cleveland.  Be sure to tip your waitresses.

UPDATE: 

GO TO CONFESSION!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Lighter fare | Tagged , , , ,
21 Comments

Catholic League’s head: Pope Francis should expel Vatican’s ‘Gay Lobby’

Posted on 14 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This doesn’t need a lot of commentary.

From NewsMax:

Catholic League’s Bill Donohue: Pope Must Oust Vatican’s ‘Gay Lobby’

The “gay lobby” Pope Francis says is at work in the Vatican must be ousted to prevent further damage to the Catholic Church, says Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

“The gay lobby needs to be rooted out and hopefully [Pope Francis] follows the footsteps of Pope Benedict in doing exactly that,” Donohue told “The Steve Malzberg Show” on Newsmax TV.

“It’s no secret … A gay lobby means that you’ve got a nest of homosexual priests who are covering for each other.”

On Thursday, it was revealed that Francis, in private remarks to a Latin American church group, acknowledged that a “gay lobby” is indeed in existence at the Vatican and must be dealt with.

For months, Italian newspapers have reported that powerful prelates who are gay exist in the Vatican and that some have become the victims of blackmailers who have threatened to out them.

Donohue said that over the years, but to a lesser extent now, gay lobbies have also existed in seminaries and parishes.

“[Bestselling author and Rev.] Andrew Greeley … referred to them as the Lavender Mafia. We shouldn’t have any of these people acting on their own with their own agenda,” Donohue said.

“You’ve got to crack this open. You’re either a priest committed to Jesus and everything else has to be secondary and once you have competing interests, whether it be sexuality or otherwise, then you’re the problem and you need to go.”

UPDATE:

A couple points.

When homosexuals become activists, promoting the “correctness” or “virtue” or “goodness” of an actively homosexual lifestyle, even if it is not open or public, we must look them in the eye and say “No.”  We must say “No.”, carefully and with respect for the person.

Since the post started with one firebrand, let’s continue with another.  This video from Michael Voris can add a good perspective to the conversation, lest anyone fall into the trap of suggesting, even vaguely, that homosexuals are not welcome in the Church or that they have no right claim Catholic identity (if they are trying to live Christian lives with all that implies).

Other writers or speakers have presented the point Voris tries to make, but since some of his critics might not expect this from him – because they think they have him figured out, and not in a good way – let’s give a few minutes to one of his old videos.

Posted in Francis, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , ,
76 Comments

Human rights? Over-rated.

Posted on 14 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the New York Post:

NYU booting blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng amid Shanghai expansion: sources
By JAMES COVERT

NYU isn’t letting a pesky thing like human rights stand in the way of its expansion in China.

The university has booted a blind Chinese political dissident from its campus under pressure from the Communist government as it builds a coveted branch in Shanghai, sources told The Post.

Chen Guangcheng has been at NYU since May 2012, when he made a dramatic escape from his oppressive homeland with the help of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

But school brass has told him to get out by the end of this month, the sources said.

Chen’s presence at the school didn’t sit well with the Chinese bureaucrats who signed off on the permits for NYU’s expansion there, the sources said.

“The big problem is that NYU is very compromised by the fact they are working very closely with the Chinese to establish a university,” according to one New York-based professor familiar with Chen’s situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“That’s their liability,” the source said. “Otherwise, they would be much less constrained on issues like freedom of speech.”

The outspoken Chen — whose many supporters include actor Christian Bale, who tried to visit him in China with a TV crew in 2011 — recently inflamed Chinese authorities again when he agreed to visit its archenemy Taiwan in the coming weeks, a source said.

NYU officials claim that Chen was never meant to stay there long-term and that the politics of the new Shanghai campus had nothing to do with his ouster.

[…]

Read the rest there.

May I say that the Post is my favorite NYC paper?  Remember the Rabat story?

Posted in Liberals | Tagged , ,
4 Comments

Nancy Pelosi: late-term abortion “sacred ground”

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

LifeSiteNews:

Catholic Nancy Pelosi: Issue of late-term abortions is ‘sacred ground’

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In response to a question today from a reporter about a late-term abortion ban that is being proposed in Congress, Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that the issue of late-term abortion is “sacred ground” for her. [I have to ask… did she take off her shoes when she said that?!?]

“As a practicing and respectful Catholic, [GAH!] this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this,” Pelosi said. “This shouldn’t have anything to do with politics.” [See what she is doing? “Faith” is only private.]

A Weekly Standard reporter had pointed out that the bill was proposed by legislators in response to the horrific case of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was found guilty of murder for “snipping” the spinal cords of three babies born alive.

“They argue that there really isn’t much of a moral difference between what someone like Dr. Gosnell did to infants born at 23, 24, 25 weeks into pregnancy, and what can happen [legally] at a clinic down the road in Maryland where a doctor says he’ll perform an elective abortions 28 weeks into pregnancy,” asked the reporter. “So, the question I have for you is what is the moral difference between what Dr. Gosnell did to a baby born alive at 23 weeks and aborting her moments before birth?”

Pelosi responded by saying that what Gosnell did was “reprehensible,” but then said that the bill is also “reprehensible,” suggesting that it shows “disrespect” to “a judgment a woman makes about her reproductive health.”  [So late-term abortions are “sacred ground”.]

The bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks based upon evidence that by that age the unborn child can feel the pain of the brutal procedure, which in some cases involves dismemberment while the baby is still alive.

The reporter continued to push Pelosi, asking her what the difference was between a 26 week abortion, and killing the baby after birth.

Pelosi responded that “this is not the issue” and suggested that the proposed bill would say that “there’s no abortion in our country.”

When the reporter tried once again to get Pelosi to answer the question, she shot back, “I’m not going to have this conversation with you, because you obviously have an agenda. You’re not interested in having an answer.”

That was when she also made the remark about the issue being “sacred ground.”

The Weekly Standard reporter complained: “It was a simple question. You didn’t answer.”

Pelosi, despite being one of the most pro-abortion legislators in Congress, has repeatedly said that she is a devout Catholic, and has defended her pro-abortion views in light of her faith.

Pelosi told Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift in 2010 that she had “some concerns” about the Catholic Church’s positions on abortion and homosexuality.

“I am a practicing Catholic, [GAH!] although they’re probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith,” said the former Speaker. “I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with, a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.”

The Congresswoman has been publicly rebuked by numerous Catholic bishops over her position on moral issues.

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

How long before Canon 915 is applied?

If Canon 915 exists for a reason, it exists for Nancy Pelosi.

How long?

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, Throwing a Nutty, You must be joking! | Tagged , , , ,
50 Comments

WISCONSIN: Legislation requiring ultrasounds

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

About one of the things pro-abortion advocates fear the most.

From CBS58 in Wisconsin:

Wisconsin Senate pass abortion bill, ultrasounds now required

WISCONSIN — Wisconsin Senators have passed a bill that would require doctors to perform ultrasounds before performing an abortion. The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Mary Lazich, would also require that doctors discuss in detail the features of the fetus with any woman seeking an abortion.
The ultrasound would not be necessary in a medical emergency or in cases where the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest. [Because they are.. well… less human, I guess.] Senator Lazich has stated: “It is only right that a pregnant woman is fully informed about her child prior to abortion. Far too many women regret their abortion and suffer years of abortion trauma.”
The assembly is expected to vote on the bill as early as tomorrow, and if it passes, Governor Scott Walker says he’ll sign it by the end of the month.
Teri Huyck, President of Planned Parenthood Wisconsin has said, “Women are already informed before they have an abortion. We have an extensive informed consent process…we offer the availability of seeing their ultrasound. I think Senator Lazich is not giving women credit for the intelligence they’ve got.” [You would think that intelligent women would want to know as much as possible.]
If the bill is signed into law, Wisconsin would become the ninth state to require women to receive ultrasounds before abortions.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Emanations from Penumbras | Tagged , , ,
14 Comments

Of Star Wars and Immanentism and Birdcages and Elite Snobbery. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In my talks I sometimes address the steady slide of many Catholics into Immanentism Lite.  They don’t exactly deny that God is transcendent, it’s just that they never give transcendence the slightest thought.  They have never had too, have they?  Did catechism even touch on the idea?  Their liturgical worship has for decades been a self-enclosed circle of self-affirmation and good feelings.  When pushed they admit that God is probably transcendent, but… shrug.  For many today God is sort of like the The Force, ala Star Wars.

Speaking of Star Wars, I saw a story in German in a news source in Munich about a First Holy Communion Mass with a Star Wars theme, complete with blessing with a green toy light saber.  Cool, no?

No, I am not making this up.

Just look at how much fun everyone is having!

Risus abundant in ore stultorum.

Oooops!  I just committed an elitist crime.  I used Latin, didn’t I!  My bad.  I must not care about El Pueblo.

Remember what Karl Cardinal Lehmann said the other day about Latin and the older form of Holy Mass?

Yes, indeed.  Speaking at a Eucharistic Congress (exactly the right time to run down the traditional lung by which the Latin Church breathes liturgically), Lehmann said:

“Ich habe den Eindruck, die ganze Begeisterung auch für das Latein hat viel mit Prestige zu tun und falschen Vorspiegelungen einer vermeintlichen Kulturelite… I have the impression that the whole enthusiasm for Latin has a lot to do with prestige and the pretenses of a supposed cultural elite.”

This from a man who was in a birdcage for Karnival!

I’m sorry again, but… look, I could be wrong here, but does that strike you as somewhat lacking in … decorum?

Sorry for more Latin, and I apologize for apologizing again … but… pace Card. Lehman, how many more reasons do we need for a full-bore, unapologetic, widespread application of the provisions of Summorum Pontificum?

 

Posted in Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Pò sì jiù, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Throwing a Nutty, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, You must be joking! | Tagged , , , ,
54 Comments

Schadenfreude and Reform of the Roman Curia

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Years ago in the hall of the Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio I ran into the then-Prefect Cardinal Ratzinger, who was always happy to chat and let me pick his brains.

On one occasion, he quipped that he was glad that Peter stopped in Rome and did not go north to Germany.  “Imagine”, he said, “were the Vatican in Germany, the efficiency with which we could be making our mistakes”.

Today I read at the site of Sandro Magister something that amused me greatly:

Thomas von Mitschke-Collande's book in German - Kindle - $9.99

ROME, June 13, 2013 – All that was lacking was a guru from McKinsey to design that reform of the curia which everyone expects from Pope Francis. And here he comes.

His name is Thomas von Mitschke-Collande, he is German and was the manager of the Munich branch of the most famous and mysterious company of managerial consulting in the world.

In matters of the Church, he knows his stuff. Last year he published a book with a title that was hardly reassuring: “Does the Church want to destroy itself? Facts and analyses presented by a business consultant.” The diocese of Berlin turned to him to get its accounts back in order, and the German episcopal conference asked him to draw up a plan to save on costs and personnel.

ROFL!

Is this Schadenfreude I am feeling?

Imagine: German managerial experts applying their tools in the still predominately Italian Roman Curia!

Posted in Benedict XVI, Brick by Brick, Francis, Lighter fare, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
15 Comments

QUAERITUR: Distance of a priest’s valid consecration

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Dear Father – Like yourself I am not a fan of concelebration, but I would like to ask two questions. These questions came about in one of those after dinner discussions which come under the heading of “what if?”.

1. Thinking about large gatherings (e.g. Lourdes, open-air Masses, etc) is there any rule about how far away from the altar a priest can be before his actions become invalid?

2. If a priest is in the congregation (either in clerical dress or
“civvies”) and he said the correct words of the Eucharistic Prayer and did the correct actions, would that be valid concelebration? I suspect the answer is “no” but I would appreciate your words of wisdom!

As I have said many times, I think concelebration should be safe, legal and rare.  There are appropriate moments for it, such as when the local bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass or the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, an ordination to the priesthood, occasional gatherings with priests.

Is there a “rule” about how far a priest can be from the Host he is supposed to be consecrating? No.  Not that I know of.

I have pondered this from time to time.  It seems to me that the priest has to be morally present to the Host.  That is, he has to have some sort of moral contact with it.  I am not sure about this, but I suspect there is analogy to be found in the distance at which a priest can absolve sins (within range of the human voice… not by phone, etc.).  It seems to me that a priest’s words of consecration should be audible where the hosts are.  I don’t think he necessarily has to be able to see the hosts.  A priest validly consecrates hosts in a ciborium placed on the corporal when he or the deacon forget to remove the cover.

So, no, there is no rule.  But we play fast and loose with that which is most sacred to us when he have these enormous Masses.  I would have them ended.  Let priests attend in choir dress.  Let people make spiritual Communions.  But I digress.

To the second point, if a priest is in lay clothes in the congregation and he says the words of consecration without actually concelebrating in the proper way….  Valid?  Yes, I think so.  However, he violates about a zillion rubrics and he maybe even violates the stern canon forbidding a priest to consecrate outside of Mass.  Even though the priest is at Mass, he seems not actually to be celebrating the Mass or concelebrating the Mass.  The Church makes it clear how priests concelebrate: they put on vestments, they enter the sanctuary or stand in the proper place, etc.  Standing somewhere in the church amongst the laity in lay clothes and saying the words of consecration with the intent to consecrate skates on the edge of sacrilege.  It may even be as bad as the nefas that Canon Law uses in reference to consecrating apart from celebrating Mass.

Reasons #8677 and #8678 for Summorum Pontificum?

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

Document ready for close of Year of Faith

Posted on 13 June 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Vatican Radio:

Pope Francis: post-Synodal exhortation ready for Year of Faith’s close (full text)

(Vatican Radio) The post-Synodal Exhortation on the new evangelization will be ready in time for the close of the Year of Faith. This was just one of the things Pope Francis said to the members of the XIII Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops on Thursday. Comprised of 15 Members, 12 of whom are elected from the Synod and 3 of whom are designated by the Roman Pontiff, the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat is formed at the end of each ordinary general synodal assembly.

Putting aside his prepared remarks, Pope Francis engaged the Council members in a broad-ranging session, during the course of which he touched on a number of themes, including the post-Synodal Exhortation and the much-anticipated Encyclical letter on faith begun by Benedict XVI, the nature of ecclesial collegiality and the synodal structure in the service of the Church’s universal mission and in cooperation with the Petrine ministry, the crisis of the family, care for the created order, and the recovery of a whole and wholesome understanding of human being. About the encyclical, Pope Francis said the draft pages he received from his predecessor are extremely powerful, and that the work “of four hands” is nearly complete. He also told the Council members that he would be working on the post-Synodal Exhortation during the month of August, and that the document will be ready for the closing of the Year of Faith. The Holy Father also discussed the need to recover a sane vision of the family and a healthy anthropology, saying that the crisis of the family is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by the Church’s pastors and teachers acting in concert.
Below, please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks.

[…]

Read them there.

Year of Faith! Remember? Year of Faith?

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, Year of Faith | Tagged , , ,
8 Comments