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{]:¬)

“Oh give me a home….” Nuns on the range.

Posted on 17 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

For your Just Too Cool file…

From CNS:

Benedictine nuns make their home on the range

By Jim West
Catholic News Service

VIRGINIA DALE, Colo. (CNS) — Sister Maria Walburga Schortemeyer is at home wading through the mud and manure of a barnyard in boots, work pants, a fleece jacket, and her white veil.

Minutes later, in the black-and-white habit of a Benedictine nun, she is equally at home singing psalms and praying the Divine Office in a chapel with other nuns.

Sister Maria Walburga is the ranch manager at the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale. The town sits in the arid and isolated foothills of the Rocky Mountains, almost within shouting distance of the Wyoming border.

This community of 24 Benedictine nuns is a semi-cloistered contemplative order. They view their main work as prayer, coming together in the chapel seven times a day. What makes them unusual is their ranch. They raise beef cattle on 250 acres that they own and another 1,500 acres where they have grazing rights.

The abbey was originally established in Boulder in 1935 by Benedictines from Eichstatt, Germany, who fled Adolf Hitler’s growing power. Benedictines have always been associated with agriculture, and the Boulder community established a dairy and grew alfalfa, corn, oats and barley for the cows. When the abbey needed to expand and with Boulder growing into a crowded city, the sisters moved to Virginia Dale in 1997 on land donated by a Denver couple.

As they moved, the sisters changed from raising dairy cattle to beef. They keep 40 female cows and a few bulls and steers. Calves stay until they are ready for slaughter at 2 years old. The cows all have names, which Sister Maria Walburga maintains is not an issue when it’s time for slaughter. The processing is contracted out to a commercial operation.

St. Benedict said to treat everything “as vessels of the altar,” she explained in an interview for Catholic News Service. The nuns treat the animals with reverence, she said, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be consumed. “We feel God gave them for the use of man.”

Treating the animals with reverence, said Mother Maria Michael Newe, the abbess, means not “pumping in hormones and things of that nature to make them be more than they are supposed to be, and just for the pure purpose of using them for money.”

The abbey’s beef is in such demand that it can only be purchased when an existing client drops off the customer list.

Besides cattle and chickens, the sisters also keep bees, raise water buffalo and a few llamas, and have five cats. The llamas guard the cattle from mountain lions. [Llamas can be nasty. I wonder if one of them is named “Ralph”….]

[…]

Read the rest there.

I’ll bet none of them want to be priests, ride on a bus, or belong to the LCWR.

Also, the Benedictines in Missouri who have made the great audio CDs also have some farming going.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Women Religious | Tagged women religious
15 Comments

ASK FATHER: Marrying first civilly, later sacramentally

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

I have been married for a few years. When I came to the States a few years ago as an immigrant, I entered on a fiancé visa, and could not work until I was married and obtained a Green Card. My wife and I went to a judge to get married civilly, yet, we remained in separate homes and did not have sexual relations until after we Sacramentally married two months later. Did we do something contrary to Canon Law? I also think in the Marriage registry the Priest put that we lived at the same address even though we were not cohabitating, which would of course be a grave act. Is it the case that Countries like France use this method of a civil marriage followed by a blessing in the Church.

Well done.

Yes, you did everything correctly and commendably. Especially commendable was your waiting to consummate the relationship until you were well and truly married.

Perhaps after a few years of marriage, you could help prepare couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony at your parish.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged abstinence, continence, green card
22 Comments

Rome – Day 2: Mozarabic Edition

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This morning I was back in the library for another round. I think one more morning out to do it for me.

Meanwhile, on my way to meet folks for lunch I went by a favorite bookstore. You never know what you are going to see in the bargain bin.

Look at this cool way to chill wine. In a cramped space it’s great.

Bruschetta with tomatoes and clams!

Raw sea critters.

Spaghetti alle vongole.

Then it was off to a special Mass in the Mozarabic Rite. There are heaps of people here for canonizations tomorrow and the Archbishop of Toledo celebrated in the Mozarabic Rite in St. Peter’s Basilica.

I went in through the side entrance to the sacristy of the Basilica.

In the little hallway going into the sacristy there are locked cabinets. I had one of these cabinets shared with another priest, for several years since we said Mass there everyday. We kept our chalices there, the books we wanted. The sisters took care of our albs and altar linens.

Mine was on the lower level in the middle.

Cardinals saying hi in the sacristy.

My view for Mass.

One of the petitions really caught my attention:

Solicitemos, pues, de la omnipotencia del Padre, por el nombre del Hijo Salvador, … la extinción de la infidelidad herética.

Do I hear an “Amen!”?

On the way down the via dei Coronari, I stopped to say hi to the guys who run the spiffy bonsai tree store, L’Albero Antico Bonsai. I asked if they still had my little Roman tree. They do. Check out their site. HERE For all of you in Rome, get a bonsai! They are not expensive, they help a room out, and these guys can babysit the tree while you are out of Rome. I didn’t think they would have to have mine so long, but… hey!

Walking to supper tonight we passed by the Church of Sts. Vincent and Athanasius, wherein are kept the entrails of lots of Popes. You read that right. Also, this church hasn’t yet changed the Pope’s stemma over the door. It was rather nice. Then again, I think there is still one that has the stemma of Paul VI and, if I am not mistaken, another that still has John XXIII.

We were out tonight with the Great Roman Fabrizio™ and his Better Half™.

Some moments of the meal.

If you are wondering, tartufo nero. And the ravioli have ricotta and spinach.

Coniglio in umido.

I think this steak came from a T-Rex. A small T-Rex, however.

Dessert, which I almost never have, was fresh pineapple.

Tomorrow there is a Pontifical Mass at the faldstool at Ss. Trinitá dei Pelegrini at 10 am.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged bonsai, Mozarabic
9 Comments

ASK FATHER: Is baptism by fake women ‘priests’ valid?

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

While discussing the ecclesial status of someone baptized by an SSPX priest (is the newly baptized person Catholic?), I had a troubling thought: what about someone who is baptized by a Catholic woman who has pretended to be ordained as a priest? Is that newly baptized person considered Catholic? I tend to think not, since these women have gone to non-Catholic bishops to simulate their ordination. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks for all your work.

Every priest has a story about a “grandmother baptizing in the bathroom sink.” Usually it’s a pious woman, motivated by sincere faith and love for a grandchild whose parents have sadly neglected their responsibilities, or even more sadly, those parents have fallen away from the faith. Therefore sweet, loving grandma baptizes little Claudius in the bathroom sink and now wants the baptism registered as a Catholic baptism. Ideally, grandma has a witness (e.g. grandpa, or Uncle Kenny who stood guard at the door of the bathroom lest his apostate sister get suspicious), and she has used the correct formula to baptize (we can oftentimes be more certain that grandma knows and uses the correct formula than Fr. Lovebeads at Our Lady Queen of Group Process). If so, then we can go ahead and record this as a valid Catholic baptism. In that case, there can be a ceremony in which some of the things that were not done in the inform, “emergency” baptism can be “supplied”.

Holy Church, mindful of Christ’s injunction, wants everyone to be baptized, and so makes it very easy to do. While a bishop, priest, or deacon is the ordinary minister of baptism, any member of the faithful – and even an unbaptized person! – who intends to do what the Church does can validly baptize. Everyone should know the baptismal formula and be ready to use it in emergency situations. Also, it is assumed that if the person, even the unbaptized atheist, uses the correct form and pours the water properly intends, by those correct acts and words, to do what the Church intends.

So, back to the case at hand. This case is not dissimilar from the familiar “grandma in the bathroom” scenario. Except in this case, grandma is a bit more deluded. She thinks she’s a priest.

It’s sort of like watching a little boy running around pretending to be a firetruck. Pretending doesn’t make it so, but its amusing to watch.

Presuming that grandma the wannabe stuck to the formula and didn’t introduce any crazy terminology into the Trinitarian invocation, and presuming that she had some broad (no insult intended) intention to do what the Church intends, the baptism is putatively valid.

Just as in the case of the grandma and the bathroom sink, the child should be brought to a real church in short order to have the remaining ceremonies supplied, and the parents should make a good, solid confession (including confessing schism and possible heresy) to be received back into the good graces of our Holy Mother Church.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged baptism, wymyn
36 Comments

Wherein Fr. Z rants and cracks the whip

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I received word a few weeks ago about a move that was to be made in the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida, by the local bishop, to reduce the celebration of Holy Mass using the 1962 Missale Romanum.

Now I see that the news is out (HERE).

I am sure that many of you readers here would like to offer your choicest unfiltered and unedited spittle-flecked comments about the Bishop Lynch, of St. Petersburg, who is now 74. We are not going to do that here.

However, I will comment on a some things. I hope that you who have traditional leanings will read this and take these words to heart.

First, there may be some things about the St. Petersburg situation that we don’t know. I note with interest the careful language in Lynch’s letter. For example, he designates a parish as “a” center for use of the Extraordinary Form. He doesn’t say “the” center. Remember, Summorum Pontificum is still law. Pastors of parishes can, without permission from the bishop, implement Summorum Pontificum in their parishes.

Also, I note that he says “few” people are using the Extraordinary Form. Okay, there’s “few” and there’s “few”. “Few” can be a lot less than who go to the Ordinary Form, but the number is growing. “Few” can be a small number that doesn’t seem to be involved or growing. There are other options, too. I don’t know which it is in this case.

Next, Lynch mentions “economic viability”. Bottom line, if you want to keep a church open, you have to pay the bills. That means, friends, stick a crowbar in your wallet and pay for what you want! If you want a priest, nice vestments, regular Mass and sacraments, you have to pay the bills. No ticky no laundry. This is a hard fact. Unless of course you and Father are content with a rock in the field at the edge of the forest. That might be what we are headed toward in the not too distant future, but for now we have better options if we are willing to work and pay for them.

If people want something badly enough – even a church – they’ll pay and work and sweat for it.

Not only that… SHOW UP. Be determined to go when things are going on at the parish. If there are “few” people attending, and, on Sunday, you yawn and stretch and say, “It’s sort of far to drive to get to St. Fidelia. I’ll go to nearby St. Ipsipidsy!”, you haven’t helped the cause. If you haven’t been showing up, don’t gripe if they point and say “FEW!”.

Also, don’t gripe when they point and say “Few!” if you haven’t been doing your best to bring more people in. Be inviting. Bring people. Try to fill those pews. You know what? It isn’t Father’s job to do that. IT’S YOUR JOB. You are the people out in the world, commissioned to bring the Gospel to all the corners and edges of your lives and the people you encounter. Dedicated lay people, with a cooperative priest, can work wonders. I saw this in, for example, New York at Holy Innocents. It has taken oodles of time and sacrifice on the part of a few lay people, but that congregation, for the Extraordinary Form, has grown beautifully. And when you talk to the people who made it happen, they will tell you what it took: show up and bring more people.

It drives me crazy when people who have to older Mass get complacent. Let’s not relax for moment! It’s time for ramming speed!

Back to the Lynch Letter. Yes, there are inflammatory phrases. The bishop clearly does not like the Extraordinary Form. I suspect as well that he may dislike the people who like the Extraordinary Form. He doesn’t like the people. But this wouldn’t be new news. So, pray for him. Gang up on him by praying also to his Guardian Angel to help him in these last few days of his term as diocesan bishop. You might also ask St. Joseph to guide him into making good decisions regarding the people who want the Extraordinary Form.

Moreover, do not forget that the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” remains a resource for groups who want to get something going if the local parish priest and the local bishop are less than cooperative.

Which brings me to another point.

The Lynch Letter says that few priests can say the older form of Mass, especially because of their lack of Latin. Yes, and that is the fault of the bishop and those who trained those priests. I refer everyone to canon 249 in the 1983 CIC which requires, it doesn’t suggest, that all seminarians be very well trained in Latin. If they aren’t, then at the time of their ordination, when someone stands up to attest that the men are properly trained, they had better cross their fingers behind their backs, but that requirement is simply being blown off and bishops are to blame.

But this is like crying over spilled milk. It’s time to get one with business even bishops won’t. Take a more positive approach, lay people. Take matters into your own hands. You must get resources into the hands of priests to help them learn the older form. Keeping in mind that priests have a lot to do, make it easy for them. Lay it all out on a silver platter for them. In Madison, where I hang my hat, we have an organization (established before I arrived) to support the spread of the Extraordinary Form. HERE (please drop in and give a tax deductible donation! – 501(c)(3)). We recently made an offer to pay for a couple priests to go to the FSSP training workshop and two priests of the diocese took us up on the offer. You can do the same. Offer to Father to pay for his trip and training. It could make all the difference. More priests, more Masses. But that means that you need to be inviting and helpful for the priest and you have to pay for it.

I guess it depends on how much you want it.

We are now living in a time when people who were hostile to traditional Catholicism (including doctrine) are, after some years of lying fallow, surging back to the fore. They will wipe you out if they have half a chance. Don’t give it to them… especially by being known as the “few” who don’t show up.

Remember, a large percent of the men coming into the seminary these days and who are being ordained right now are open to what you want or already onside. Help them. Help them help you.

Finally, I suggest that you also review what have written before along these lines (HERE). Then, do a real examination of your circumstances and make a plan.

¡Hagan lío!

Comment moderation is ON.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Si vis pacem para bellum!, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill | Tagged Bp. Lynch, D. St. Petersburg, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
31 Comments

Of a “gay Mass” sermon, the Poles, and a useful marriage resource for priests

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A the UK’s best Catholic weekly, the Catholic Herald, there is a piece you readers of the Fishwrap might want to peruse. The writer points to a sermon recently given by His Eminence Vincent Card. Nichols of Westminster at a so-called “gay Mass” at London’s Jesuit Church in Farm Street. The Cardinal explains that “mercy”, which is increasingly (purposely?) misunderstood by many in this pontificate, does not cancel out or trump divine law, rules, etc. Have a look HERE.

CLICK

I took special note that the CH piece mentions The Five Cardinals Book™, Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church, edited by Fr. Robert Dodaro, OSA.

This important book emerged simultaneously in five languages just before last October’s controversial Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on matters touching the family. All sort of odd things happened in and around the synod hall last year. The The Five Cardinals Book™ certainly played its role in helping some members of the Synod to stand firm on established Catholic teaching in the face of those who wanted to introduce revolution.

The Five Cardinals Book™ is now being translated into many other languages. Just yesterday I saw the new Polish edition. The Polish Bishop’s Conference itself participated in its publication. I suspect that the Polish bishops were ready to roll their sleeves up because they recognized the attacks on the doctrine that their own St. John Paul II so clearly offered in his pontificate’s Magisterium. Not only that, but supporting The Five Cardinals Book™ is simply the right thing to do. The book is marvelously useful.

To this last point – the usefulness of The Five Cardinals Book™ – I have an interesting story.

I learned yesterday that some Italian priests – Italian priests, mind you – have started to use The Five Cardinals Book™ as a resource in their preparation of couples for marriage!

This is a great idea. The first chapters, which outline the whole project of the book and then delve into the biblical and patristic dimensions of marriage questions are, I was told, of particular use to these Italian priests. These diligent priests recognize what a great tool The Five Cardinals Book™ is for their pastoral ministry.

So, Fathers, if you weren’t all that interested in the stratospheric discussions and controversies surround the last and upcoming Synod of Bishops, stir yourselves up for something that could be a resource for your work in the parish.

You should have a copy of Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church which contains five essays of cardinals, of the archbishop secretary of the Vatican congregation for the Oriental Churches, and of three other fine scholars.

This is a tool for the New Evangelization.

Are you in the UK? Click HERE

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Synod, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Card. Nichols, Five Cardinals Book, marriage, One Man and One Woman, Synod of Bishops
3 Comments

ASK FATHER: After the final blessing, Father says….

Posted on 15 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

After the Final Blessing (and normally some announcements), our Pastor says ” Remember God loves you and so do I.”

Many in the Parish have begun to reply ” We love you too Father”.

I have been told by some in my that I am being “a doctor of the law” and that since the Final Blessing has been given, Father is not adding anything to the Mass. I take the view that Father is creating a new ending for the Mass and this touchy-feely sediment needs to cease.

Looking for some guidance.

Awwwww. Fadda wuvs you vewy vewy much. How sweet.

I recommend that everyone rush up into the sanctuary to give him a big hug, and maybe a wet kiss, too. Sediment or sentiment… grist for bottom-feeding boors.

This cloying stuff is contrary to the sacred dignity of the actions just performed.

I don’t impute malice to the priest. That said, this sort of “announcement” smacks of narcissism. He’s calling undue attention to himself.

That said, it is true, that since it is after the final blessing it isn’t the sort of liturgical abuse that demands some discipline. Although … there is still the recessional, which seems to be a “part” of Mass in a way.

Your best response is probably to say nothing or do nothing beyond roll your eyes.

Pray for the priest. Offer up your annoyance for the sake of the Poor Souls.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ad lib, final blessing
15 Comments

WDTPRS Ascension – Our humanity, “raised beyond the heights of archangels”

Posted on 15 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

On my planet, this coming Sunday is the 7th Sunday after Easter, Ascension Thursday having fallen on Thursday.

In most places Ascension Thursday has been transferred to Sunday, but not with malice. I’m sure the notion the bishops had was to expose more people to the mystery of the Lord’s Ascension. That may indeed occur. In my opinion the transfer reinforces the impression that these great feasts, important for our Catholic identity, aren’t compelling enough to inspire the planning and sacrifices required to go to Mass during the week.

Meanwhile, the Ascension of Our Lord, one of the great mysteries of the life of Christ, has been celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter (i.e., a Thursday) since the 4th century.

Enough said.

For Ascension Thursday Sunday – in the Novus Ordo – there are two Collects from which the priest celebrant may freely choose. The first prayer is a new composition for the Novus Ordo, and thus it is not found in pre-Conciliar editions of the Missale Romanum. The second option, added in the 2002, 3rd edition is fairly ancient, but is less interesting. We will look at the first Collect:

Fac nos, omnipotens Deus, sanctis exsultare gaudiis, et pia gratiarum actione laetari, quia Christi Filii tui ascensio est nostra provectio, et quo processit gloria capitis, eo spes vocatur et corporis.

The main source for this prayer is undoubtedly St Leo the Great’s (d 461) Sermon 73, 4:

Quia igitur Christi ascensio, nostra provectio est, et quo praecessit gloria capitis, eo spes uocatur et corporis, dignis, dilectissimi, exultemus gaudiis et pia gratiarum actione laetemur.

The phrase gratias agere means “to give thanks”. In Latin, “Thank you!” is “Grátias tibi ágo!, literally, “I give thanks to you.” The link with Greek eucharistia (“thanksgiving”) is apparent. In liturgical contexts actio is often the liturgical “action” itself, the act of liturgical worship, even the core of the Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer. Provectio is “an advancement, promotion”.

LITERAL RENDERING:

Cause us, Almighty God, to exult in holy joys, and to be glad in devout thanksgiving, because the ascension of Christ Your Son is our advancement, and the hope of the Body is being called to that place from whence comes forth the glory of the Head.

I capitalize Body and Head, because Leo is working with the ecclesiological image of Christ as Head of us, His Body the Church. I defend “from whence” – which some think a redundant tautology).

CURRENT ICEL (2011):

Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.

Since our Collect is basically St. Leo let’s quote him some more. On 1 June 444, in that same Sermon 73, 4, he preached to his Roman flock:

“Truly it was a great and indescribable source of rejoicing when, in the sight of the heavenly multitudes, the nature of our human race ascended over the dignity of all heavenly creatures, to pass the angelic orders and to be raised beyond the heights of archangels. In its ascension it did not stop at any other height until this same nature was received at the seat of the eternal Father, to be associated on the throne of the glory of that One to whose nature it was joined in the Son.”

The same Pope Leo (channeling his inner St. Augustine – s. 325, 1) says in Sermon 74, 3, preached on 17 May 445:

“[Our Catholic] Faith, reinforced by the Ascension of the Lord and strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, has not been terrified by chains, by prison, by exile, by hunger, by fire, by the mangling of wild beasts, nor by sharp suffering from the cruelty of persecutors. Throughout the world, not only men but also women, not just immature boys but also tender virgins, have struggled on behalf of this Faith even to the shedding of their blood. This Faith has cast out demons, driven away sicknesses, and raised the dead.”

We know with holy and Catholic Faith that what was not assumed, was not redeemed (St Gregory of Nazianzus d 389/90).

Our humanity, body and soul, was taken by the Son into an unbreakable bond with His divinity. When Christ rose from the tomb, our humanity rose. When Christ ascended to heaven, so also did we ascend. In Christ Jesus, our humanity now sits at the Father’s right hand. His Ascension then is our great hope now. Our hope is already fulfilled, but not yet in its fullness.

This hope informs our trials in this life.

Posted in EASTER, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS | Tagged Ascension, Leo the Great
3 Comments

Pontifical Masses

Posted on 15 May 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The crowning jewel of the Roman Rite is the Pontifical Mass, particularly when the diocesan bishop celebrates in his own diocese. It is as if the whole diocese is present in the moment.

In Madison, WI, the local bishop, His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, the “Extraordinary Ordinary”, has been very generous with his time also to those who desire celebrations of Holy Mass in the traditional form. For the last year he has pontificated every couple months or so. This has given a corps of servers and of priests the chance to get familiar with the rites to the point where they can pull off a Pontifical Mass at the Throne with relative ease.

Last night for the Feast of the Ascension – because yesterday – Thursday – was the feast of the Ascension – His Excellency graciously celebrated a Mass at the Throne.

Here are a few photos to give a taste.