Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

ASK FATHER: Electric, battery powered … candles?

Posted on 6 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Dear Father, We have, on occasion, attended Mass at a Novus Ordo parish when we cannot get to the distant Latin Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in our area. We were shocked to see young girl altar servers carrying battery operated candles in procession and placing them on the altar for Mass (no other candles at all). Further we were shocked at a friend’s funeral to see adult altar servers carrying same battery operated candles in procession and placed on the altar for Mass (no other candles). Is this licit? Even if it is, it seems beyond tacky.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal speaks only of “candles” in the celebration of Holy Mass. It does not define what a candle is. It’s sad that we have come so far that the definition of something so simple would be required. Then again, in our society, where all definitions seem to be up for grabs, perhaps defining “candle” is the least of our worries.

A couple years back, the U.S. Bishops Office on Sacred Worship issued a statement on the matter. The statement comes from the bureaucratic officers who staff the USCCB, not from the bishops themselves. Therefore, it has no legislative authority. However, it is a clarification. It relies on clear legislative precedents as well as simple, common logic. HERE

According to this statement, only wax candles are permissible.

Imitation candles should not be used, either at Mass, or in devotional settings.

That said, there is pressure from local governments and insurance companies about the possibility of fire damage from candles. This, despite the fact that churches have been using candles for centuries with less incidence of fire than that caused by faulty electric wiring. I’m just sayin’.

I sympathize with pastors who are been pushed by the local apparatchiks or by their insurance providers to switch to electric “candles”. I urge them, insofar as possible, to resist the temptation.

A candle is a candle.

Candles are beautiful symbols of our sacrifices. They are like living things. They eat and drink the wax from the bees, made collectively in association with sweetness. They breath air. They move in their flames as they flicker. They communicate to our eyes a beautiful light and give contrast to their surroundings by illumination. They burn out at the end of their span. So do we. They are consumed for the Lord in the liturgy. So should we be. We do all these things. And so, using candles in important times is a very wholesome and Catholic practice. Leaving one of these little candles in a Church, as a symbolic sacrifice of your prayers and petitions is entirely natural.

When considering the electric option, Fathers, consider the symbolism of the flame gradually consuming the candle, transforming it into heat and light, just as our faith in Christ Jesus gradually consumes our body and soul, transforming us, through death, into Sons and Daughters of the Living God.

Does throwing switch do if for you?

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged beeswax, candles
20 Comments

CQ CQ CQ – #HamRadio Saturday and a UPS story

Posted on 6 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Since last I posted I have had a few developments.

Firstly, one of you readers, our own WB0YLE, sent a spiffy Kenwood transceiver. Another is sending a mic. An antenna (and a tuner would be a good idea), and key should be on the horizon. Almost there.

Meanwhile, I made a contact (with the same guy who sent the Kenwood) via Echolink (you must be licensed to use it.). He has made his Echolink available to us. WB0YLE-R or 554286.

Nextly, I had heard from a woman religious, whom I believe to live a somewhat hermetical life, that an Italian priest near to her is also a ham. I have an indirect email contact with him.

Also, a layman here in the Diocese of Madison made an interesting proposal. He offered some equipment and expertise to help create a station, which could even be the diocesan station, for the purpose of a) teaching school kids about amateur radio and even b) creating a Catholic Net between dioceses which might be useful if, quod Deus avertat, there might be some sort of TEOTWAWKI event. It would be very interesting to have, say, a provincial net that might provide services if, quod Deus averruncet, things broke down. I am led to ask: Is there a Catholic Ham presence in your diocese?

And then there’s my Juicebox. I have a Juicebox from Hardened Power Systems (tell them Fr. Z sent you) that isn’t cooperating. It is a selfcontained portable power unit, with a solar panel for recharging (and a wall plug) unit that lives in a .50 cal ammo can. It has usb ports, Anderson powerpolls, cig lighter style plugins, etc. This is how they describe their newest model (not mine): “On a single charge, the JuiceBox R2 can do any one of the following: Charge a typical laptop seven times Charge a Smart Phone 60 times Charge a Cell Phone 90 times Run an I-Pad® for nearly 120 hours Run a portable radio for weeks Run a GPS for 170 hours Run a desktop fan for 25 hours Light up a campsite for several nights).” There is a internal compartment into which you can slide a foldable solar panel that will under normal circumstances charge the unit. That said, mine sat long enough without use that it discharged to the point that I couldn’t get it to charge. I contacted the company. They said to charge it from my car battery and, if possible, also plug in the solar panel, since they are on the same bus. I tried it for a while and the meters came back to life. When I have my next longish car trip, I’ll haul it along for a charge. Gotta have that portable power!

One of you readers sent a simple Baofeng handheld. I have it fired up as well. It contacts the repeater easily. Then again, I’m on a very high spot and the repeater is just a stone’s throw.

I’ve started doing a little Morse code practice and I’ve cracked the books for the Extra exam. If nothing else, the Morse will be helpful for tapping messages on the pipe that runs through our cells in the Priesterblock or flashing mirrors to our resistance units. Not only that, Morse is … well… it’s part of the whole radio thing!

Dot-Dash by Dot-Dash

(Before anyone asks, “But Father! But Father!” with a confused liberal gurgle, “What’s next? Don’t you put all your time into hating Vatican II?” Next… perhaps EMT courses? They are offered at a nearby college. Between providing coms, laying down suppressing fire, or absolving sins, tending to people’s physical wounds could be useful. It seems to me that stopping serious bleeding is pretty helpful in a pinch. Why not be a “multitool“? Take it beyond basic CPR. I still need to contact a doc here who can coach me on suturing. I’ve practiced a bit, but… To Do List.)

You know… come to think of it… fathers of families, mothers of families, should know all these things too! No?

Not entirely unrelated, I had to replace a UPS yesterday. The uninterruptable power source (UPS) I was using for my TV monitor and related stuff up and died on me. I swiftly obtained another (UK HERE), somewhat more capable unit.

Click!

I can’t stress enough how useful these UPS gizmos are. They are essentially a surge protector combined with a battery which is kept charged. If there is a power loss, the battery, without interruption, continues to supply power for as long as the battery charge lasts. That can give you time to shut down equipment properly, if it is longer power outage, or continue to work if it is brief without the outage screwing things up. It also protects from the inevitable surges that occur. I have used UPS from different companies, but the one that delivered also the best customer service, by far, has been APC. I have a couple big ones that power and protect my desktop and monitors. They come in different sizes (physically and in terms of plugins and volt ampere output power capacity). If you do anything important with electronic stuff and you don’t have these… rethink your strategy. I have read accounts of a UPS saving the memory of an embroidering machine, of powering a small fridge that cooled a person’s meds during a regional black out… etc. Frankly, for the later, I’d want the Juicebox, too! When I was overseas in Rome and accessing my network and Slingbox, etc., back in these USA, UPSs kept my network going even though the current at the fabled Sabine Farm was erratic. I used remote network power switches to recycle equipment, but that’s another pot of stew.

Anyway… take stock, friends, and make a To Do List.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Ham Radio | Tagged amateur radio, Ham radio, Juicebox, TEOTWAWKI, uninterruptable power source, UPS
24 Comments

Card. Kasper and the game of lowering expectations

Posted on 6 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the National Catholic Register we have this from EWTN host Raymond Arroyo:

Cardinal Kasper Backpedals on Papal Endorsement of Controversial Proposal

Almost single-handedly [well.. he had significant help… from the Pope himself, not to mention a gaggle of others] one cleric has turned the Church’s teaching on Communion, marriage and divorce into an international debate. For decades, German Cardinal Walter Kasper has promoted a proposal to allow divorced-and-civilly-remarried Catholics to receive holy Communion after a period of repentance. His controversial position has drawn intense criticism from some and rapturous support from others. [In other words it created “dialogue”. Everyone should have a copy of The Five Cardinals Book™ by now.] Cardinal Kasper said last fall that a “growing majority” of synod members supported his position. [HA.] And he has claimed to be promoting what Pope Francis wants. [He also claimed, on a recording, that the African bishops shouldn’t be able to tell the other bishops what to do, because they were still involved in taboos.]
The retired German bishop, former Curial official and the man often called “the Pope’s theologian,” [not by anyone who knows better] spoke last week at a Georgetown University conference on the Second Vatican Council. During his Washington visit, Cardinal Kasper sat down with me to discuss his proposal, in depth, and its ramifications for the Church.
The interview, which will air on EWTN’s The World Over in two parts, allows the audience to enter into the mind of a man who in many ways has shaped the conversation of October’s Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome. The cardinal’s determination to press synod fathers to embrace his proposal is clear, as is his belief that it could ultimately succeed. [cue Arrowsmith] He told me that he is undeterred by the opposition his proposal has received from bishops’ conferences around the world. At the same time, the cardinal backs away from his earlier comments indicating papal support for his controversial position. [So, this is now a project of lowering expectations?]
Has Cardinal Kasper’s proposal lost ground? Did he tout the papal endorsement too strenuously? Will his proposal succeed? Don’t miss part one of our exclusive interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper this Thursday, June 4, on The World Over.
Here are a few key excerpts from Part I:

ARROYO: As you look at the situation now, as you see the African bishops, the Polish bishops, the U.S. bishops saying there shouldn’t be a change in either practice or doctrine — you have people writing, signing petitions begging the Church fathers not to make any changes, are you confident that change might happen?
CARDINAL KASPER: Well, that’s one side, but there are many petitions also on the other; [Are there… “many”? Who is writing them?] and since I know many cardinals, I know many bishops who are more on my side …

ARROYO: Your Eminence, I know you brought this proposal forward and have submitted it to the body of bishops, and you have really been out advertising it and trying to expose people to your proposal all over the world. Do you feel any responsibility for the phenomenon that people have written to me about, priests particularly, of divorced-and-remarried couples, gay couples presenting themselves after Mass and saying, “We want Communion; you should allow us to have Communion. This is clearly what the Pope wants.” Do you feel any personal responsibility for that phenomenon?
CARDINAL KASPER: Well, this is a misunderstanding, and, first of all, it was a question, and I put the question to open the debate. It’s not a proposal. [Uh huh.] And, therefore, of course a couple can come and want holy Communion. I spoke about a penitential process, a penitential way. It needs time … [Raymond’s question included the part about “this is what the Pope wants”. I didn’t see an answer about that.]

ARROYO: But there’s already a penitential process. I mean, there is already the canonical process of nullity, yes?
CARDINAL KASPER: Yeah, the nullity process is one thing; I am not this. A process of nullity: This is one thing …

ARROYO: So this is another process?
CARDINAL KASPER: This is another process, but if people, well, if they have the statement of nullity, they can come to holy Communion: That’s clear.

ARROYO: But you do understand, when a Churchman like yourself, a theologian, an esteemed international figure, a Curial official says: “Here is my proposal, and the Pope agrees with me” that does cause some …
CARDINAL KASPER: Well, this I did not say.

ARROYO: Well you did say, and the quote is: “Clearly this is what he wants,” and the Pope has approved of my proposal. Those were the quotes from the time …
CARDINAL KASPER: No … he did not approve my proposal. The Pope wanted that I put the question [forward], and, afterwards, in a general way, before all the cardinals, he expressed his satisfaction with my talk. But not the end, not in the … I wouldn’t say he approved the proposal, no, no, no. [Okay. The Pope did not approve it.]

Tune in for the complete interview on The World Over at 8pm ET on EWTN.

Fr. Z kudos to Raymond for sticking to the questions.

Posted in One Man & One Woman, Synod, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Card. Kasper, civil marriage, lowering expectations, Raymond Arroyo
5 Comments

ASK FATHER: Viewing of bodies in church in front of Blessed Sacrament

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I was wondering on how the practice of having viewings before a funeral Mass in Church began? It seems that this practice is becoming more and more common. It seems to me that church viewings are inappropriate because of all of the talking and carrying-on by the “mourners” which is disrespectful to the Blessed Sacrament and many do not even realize that they are in Church and in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Can anything be done about this? Should the Blessed Sacrament be removed if a family wishes to have their loved one’s viewing/wake in Church prior to the funeral Mass?

Ah, the ever-evolving and changing practices of bereavement and burial…

In the not-too-distant past, the body of the deceased was laid out in the front parlor of the family home and family and friends would visit, pay their respects, and keep vigil over the lamented loved one. They would “wake” their loved one. The morning of the funeral, the carriage would pull up, led by horses with black plumes, and the corpse would be carried to the parish church, followed by a train of mourners. After the Requiem Mass, the deceased would be carried by the pall bearers out back to the parish cemetery and lovingly put to rest, and the mourners would either return to the home or down to the parish basement for a light luncheon and reminiscence.

Then funeral homes arrived on the scene. Many funeral homes do a marvelous job of assisting families at a very difficult point in time. But we can’t forget, funeral homes are businesses. They have an interest in maximizing profits. Funeral homes often encourage family members to forgo churches altogether, and to have the funeral right there in the mortuary, with a priest or deacon coming in to lead a service without the Holy Mass. Others want to bring the deceased to the church as quickly as possible, thus to open up one of the chapels in the funeral home for another paying customer. Again, without the intention to disparage each and every funeral home and their often invaluable services, but some of the developments in burial and bereavement practices seem like they have less and less to do with the corporal work of mercy which is burying the dead.

If the body must be brought to the church before the funeral Mass, it really should be placed somewhere apart from the sanctuary. If there’s a chapel towards the entrance of the church, that would be ideal. Even in the baptistery, it might make some sense (throughout the funeral Mass, much mention is made of the ties between baptism and death). Even there, in a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is not present, people should be assisted to remember that they are in a church: maintain a respectful attitude, quiet voices, and children should not be allowed to run around helter-skelter.

If the deceased is in the main body of the church, where the Blessed Sacrament is present, all the more should people be encouraged to be respectful. I don’t think the Blessed Sacrament should be removed: it’s not the Blessed Sacrament which is in the wrong place here!

How can we instill in people, including non-Catholics who may be attending and who know little about our sense of the sacred, a sense of quiet, reflective awe whilst in the home of the Lord of Life? That’s a good question. Signs in the vestible are useful, as are ushers willing to remind people – politely – of quiet and decorum, a schola chanting Gregorian Chant, Latin psalms, for the deceased while the visitation takes place….

Let’s not forget the good example of well-mannered, well-catechized Catholics.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Four Last Things, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged funeral, viewing, wake
22 Comments

D. Madison – Corpus Christi Pontifical Mass wrap up

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

On the evening of Thursday 4 June, the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison (latinmassmadison.org) sponsored a Pontifical Mass at the Throne, in the Roman Rite’s Extraordinary Form (the way we prayed before and during the Second Vatican Council), at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison. His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, our bishop, was the celebrant. Fr. Tait Schroeder acted as Assistant Priest, Fr. John DelPriore as Deacon, Fr. Alex Navaro as Subdeacon, Fr. Greg Ihm and Fr. John Sasse as the Deacons at the Throne. After Mass there was a procession outside with the Blessed Sacrament. Benediction was given twice along the route and once again the chapel. A beautiful Benediction altar was constructed by the faithful from St. Norbert’s in Roxbury. Scores of people participated by praying and singing hymns. The music, Gregorian Chant and the Mass for Three Voices by Antonio Lotti, with motets, was directed by Aristotle Eseguerra.

During his sermon, Bishop Morlino said that a concrete ways by which one of the Holy Spirit’s Seven Gifts, Fear of the Lord, can be expressed outwardly is reception of Holy Communion in a reverent manner. The reverence with which we encounter Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is a litmus test for how open we are to the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Reverent reception, with humility, can be a witness to others about the true Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The next Pontifical Mass with Bishop Morlino will be on 15 August, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here are some images:

His Excellency the Bishop gave the Benedictions from the balcony over the main doors and then again in the chapel. The first Benediction was given by the Assistant Priest Fr. Schroeder.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Bp. Morlino, Corpus Christ, D. Madison
5 Comments

ASK FATHER: I’m dying and I want for my funeral…

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I am dying and planning my funeral. I like the formulations in the old Latin funeral more than in the Novus Ordo. Can English translations of the old mass be substituted for parts of the new Mass?

The provisions of Summorum Pontificum, that great gift of Pope Benedict XVI to the Church, do not permit mixing of the two forms of the Roman Rite. Thus, the English translations of the prayers of the Extraordinary Form cannot be used during Mass celebrated in the Ordinary Form.

An option does remain open to you: ask to have your funeral Mass celebrated in the Extraordinary Form (in Latin, of course), and provide the congregation with booklets which contain the translations you prefer.

This is a good reminder to all of us to pray and prepare for our own deaths and for our own funerals. In this day and age when we can’t always rely on our friends and family members to share our beliefs and our desire for a Catholic funeral. Outline what you want.

Also… everyone should pay attention too… pray for a holy death, both for yourself, for our interlocutor above, and for those dear to you:

O holy St. Joseph, who died in the arms of the Son of God and in the presence of his holy Mother, I beseech you at my last hour to stand by me, with your immaculate Spouse, that assisted by both your prayers, I may repent of my sins, and breathe my last breath in an act of perfect love and confidence in my Savior, repeating his blessed Name, exalted above every name, and proclaiming joyfully “Lord, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” Amen.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged funeral, good death, Requiem Mass, St. Joseph, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
8 Comments

ASK FATHER: The Magical Friday Bacon-Fish!

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I saw from NOAA today that they discovered a species of moonfish which is “the first fully warm-blooded fish that circulates heated blood throughout its body much like mammals and birds.” HERE
Since in your wonderful post about eating alligators during Lent you cited the Compendii Theologiae Moralis which interprets the prohibition against meat on Fridays as “animalia quae sanguinem habent calidum,” would this be the first example of a fish which is impermissible to eat on Fridays (in Lent, if we must sadly clarify such.)

Open up your handy copy of the Code of Canon Law, and let’s do some digging.

Canon 1251 tells us that “abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference is to be observed on all Fridays…” Canon 17 tells us that

“Ecclesiastical laws are to be understood according to the proper meaning of the words considered in their text and context. If the meaning remains doubtful or obscure, there must be recourse to parallel places, if there be any, to the purpose and circumstances of the law, and to the mind of the legislator.”

Canon 19, a bit further, states that if there is not a specific provision in the law, we can have recourse to the “common and constant opinion of learned authors.”

Well, the proper meaning of the words of canon 1251 exclude the eating of “meat” on Fridays (unless, as in the United States, the bishops have – sadly – allowed the faithful to substitute some other penance on their own determination).

“Meat” is commonly understood to be the flesh of mammals, reptiles and fowl.

“Fish” is commonly not understood to be “meat.”

There has been some controversy over the years about those unusual circumstances of mammals and reptiles who live primarily or exclusively in the water. In many cases, dispensations have been granted to permit their consumption on days of abstinence (capybara in South America, the infamous “muskrat dispensation” in some towns along the Detroit River, which has never been found in written format, but which has been appealed to since time immemorial, granting it at least the status of a legitimate custom (canon 26). Other provisions have been made for including cold-blooded reptiles in the “eatable” category, as with our friend, the tasty alligator!

Here, for the first time, we encounter something novel: a critter which is taxonomically considered a fish, but which is warm-blooded.

We have no real recourse to parallel places, because this seems to be a novelty. What is to be done with this critter, which I suggest ought to be named:

“The Magical Friday Bacon-Fish” ?

Utilizing the principle from the Regulae Iuris 15 – “Odia restringi et favores convenit ampliari,” I think that, until the Holy See makes a determination, we munch on this warm-blooded moonfish with great zest and zeal (and perhaps capers and a soy marinade) every Friday that we possibly can, thanking the Good Lord for His bounty and provision athough mindful of His Sorrowful but Necessary Passion.

Edent pauperes et saturabuntur!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged abstinence, aligator, can. 1251, can. 17, can. 19, can. 26, LENT, Regulae Iuris 15, The Magical Friday Bacon-Fish, warm-blooded
5 Comments

ASK FATHER: Rebaptism and membership in two Churches at the same time?

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Is a person who was baptized a Roman Catholic and later re-baptized in the Coptic Orthodox Church a member in good standing of both Churches who can receive communion in either one?

A dear friend of mine was baptized and raised in the Roman Catholic Church. As an adult, he was drawn to the Coptic Orthodox Church and decided to become a full member of that Church. He had to be re-baptized to do so because the Coptic Orthodox Church does not accept Roman Catholic baptism. He believes that he is now a full member in good standing in both the Roman Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches and can receive communion at either one or go to Mass at either one on any given Sunday.

My friend is hoping that I, too, will get re-baptized in the Coptic
Church. I decided that I can never do so. I thought that baptism was a sacrament that could only occur once, and so I am therefore concerned that getting re-baptized somehow implies a rejection of the Roman Catholic faith. Also, it makes no sense to me to belong to both Churches because (while most of the Christian faith is held in common) the two Churches have a few contradictory beliefs that as best as I can tell are incompatible with each other. Additionally, I am concerned about my friend; hoping that if he is separated from the Roman Catholic Church that this will be remedied and wondering what he would need to do to go about doing this.

Of course you can be members of both Churches! What was it St. Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians? “There are two Lords, two faiths, two baptisms.”

Oh wait …no! That’s not what he said, is it!

A person can only be baptized once. Once means once. I’ll leave aside here the issue of conditional baptism as it doesn’t apply.

If the first baptism is valid, it can never be repeated.

Some of our Eastern friends do not believe that Catholic baptisms are valid, and so, when a Catholic wishes to join their Church, they are rebaptized. They’re, of course, dead wrong about the validity of our baptisms. They are wrong about a lot of things. But even they would agree with us that a person can’t be simultaneously a member of two Churches.

In seeking entrance into a different Church, your friend has committed an act of schism (defined in can. 751) and in submitting to a rebaptism, thereby denying the validity of his original baptism, has committed an act of heresy. Depending on his level of understanding, he may have incurred the automatic excommunication spoken of in can. 1364.

In any case, he is NOT in good standing with the Catholic Church, whose baptism he has rejected by seeking a second baptism elsewhere!

This person should be encouraged to seek out a good confessor, posthaste, to help him sort out his situation and return fully (and exclusively) to the practice of the Catholic Faith.

If he is attracted to the liturgy and spirituality of the Coptic Orthodox Church, he might do well to seek out the nearest Coptic Catholic Church, which is in union with Rome. As a Catholic, he may participate fully in the liturgy of the Coptic Catholic Church without renouncing his Catholic baptism.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Both Lungs, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged can. 1364, can. 751, heresy, schism
13 Comments

ASK FATHER: Blue Vestments… again!

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a future seminarian…

QUAERITUR:

What’s the current ruling on blue vestments? Can they be used or no? I’ve heard some say that only places with an indult, like Portugal, can use them. Others say that the Vatican doesn’t really care.

P.S. Please pray for me as I’m entering seminary this August!

Ah, the Blue Vestment Brannigan.

On 12 February 1864, the Sacred Congregation of Rites extended a privilege to Spain, its colonies, and Latin America permitting the use of blue vestments on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is questionable whether “Latin America” included those parts of the southwestern United States that were formerly part of Mexico.

If I had recourse to the actual decree of the Congregation, it might be clearer. Anyone?

Certain Marian shrines in Europe have been granted similar, but very specific, privileges.

These privileges only apply to those places and feasts for which the privilege has been granted.

Outside of those specific cases, blue vestments (that is, vestments made primarily with blue fabric) are not allowed in the Latin Church. Of course vestments that are primarily another color (white, for example), with blue ornamentation, are permitted.

I will add that, as soon as they are approved, I’ll get some!

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged blue vestments, liturgical blue
22 Comments

Madison, WI: 4 June Corpus Christi – Pontifical Mass at Throne (and NYC!)

Posted on 4 June 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Yes, it is transferred in many places.

TODAY …Thursday 4 June at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison, WI at 7 PM we will have a Pontifical Mass at the Throne with His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino.

Weather permitting, and it looks as if it will, there will be a procession outside with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. For weather… HERE

All are welcome!

ALSO… from New York City, Manhattan

CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
NYC

1) Tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, 2015 will be the Feast of Corpus Christi. At the Church of the Holy Innocents, we will have our 6th annual celebration of this beautiful and very Catholic Feast with a Solemn Mass at 6 PM and an outdoors procession in West Midtown Manhattan immediately after. Blessed holy cards will be distributed to the faithful in attendance as they come into the church.*

2) On Friday, June 5, 2015, (first Friday of the month) newly-ordained Fr. Simon Zurita will be saying his traditional (Solemn) Mass of thanksgiving at 6 PM. Fr. Zurita will offer his priestly blessing to the faithful after the Mass, and there will be a very festive reception in the parish hall.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.