Wherein Fr. Z is happy

Posted on 4 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You might recall that, at the end of October, while I was in Rome I shopped for fabric and trim and ordered up a set of Pontifical vestments from the famous ecclesiastical shop Gammarelli. Here are a couple of shots from back then.

The fabric cut out and ready to go on 28 October.

Today, just over one month, the vestments arrived. Not bad for a full Pontifical set! Gammarelli stock went up for me because of this project. It used to take them forever to get anything done and shipping was… well… iffy. I had the notice from them on Monday, I tracked them with DHL, and they are here.

And do they pack properly! Beneath the outer paper the box was carefully wrapped in plastic. This would prevent water damage.

Some detail of the cope.

The is the “San Filipo Neri” style of chasuble. It’s fuller, longer, and a bit curved in respect to the modern Roman pianetta.

You can see that the ribbons are black. Striking against the blue. Note the way the maniple is to be tightened on the arm.

To give you a sense of the difference in the silk depending on the light and the light source. It can appear different shades of gold and it has a raised pattern which catches light well.

I won’t hesitate to do a project like this again. Shopping for the fabric saved a lot of money and gave us more variety. The trick is knowing how much to buy of the fabric and paying attention to the pattern, if there is one. The pattern in this silk was fairly narrow, which gave the tailors a lot of flexibility when trying to fit everything in. Kudos to them.

Another thing… I had 5 deacon stoles made instead of just the one. That way the bishop has the option of using the set for an ordination to the diaconate.

These vestments will have their inauguration on Monday 8 December for Our Lady’s feast, which is also a Holy Day of Obligation in these USA.

If you are near Madison, or even if you are not, Pontifical Mass at the Throne begins at 7 pm at the chapel of the Bishop O’Connor Center. Madison’s Bp. Morlino will be the celebrant.

The Mass is sponsored by the Tridentine Mass Society of Madison which also purchased the vestments. Please visit the TMSM page and send a huge tax deductible donation! The TMSM is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible. Those who wish to support the special projects of the TMSM may do so by using the donation button on the website or by mailing a contribution to the Society at 529 Echo Valley Road, Brooklyn, WI 53521.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged D. Madison, Gammarelli, gold silk, Pontifical vestments
19 Comments

ASK FATHER: Offering correction to priest who is being a jackass

Posted on 4 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Far be it from me to tell anyone, let alone a priest, that they can be an ass to people, but our priest, whom I have good rapport with (still even it seems) really can be an ass to people who try to help him, but fall short of his expectations and didn’t think there was anything wrong with how he was treating them. I attempted to talk to him about it in a gentle manner, but he just went on a vulgar rant about how he didn’t care, etc. I left it alone after realizing he wasn’t open to constructive criticism and just prayed for the Holy Spirit to enlighten him.

A month later I received reliable news that he had done a very jerk thing to another parishoner that was inexcusable. I left it for a couple days, and after some time in prayer I decided to attempt again, but use a different, more tactical approach that I thoroughly thought out and was confident would work.

I used your cushioned direct approach, but used the same harsh tone and vulgar phrases he used and respectfully and humbly told him that at times he was being an ass to people who were trying to help him, as well as laid out clearly all the times (I could think of) he was said ass, and reminded him in harsh terms that he is dependent on his parishioners who volunteer their time to have a functioning Latin Mass Community.

It seems to have had some effect, but only time will tell. I have a high degree of respect for his priestly authority over me and the reverence due to his office, and now I’m feeling guilty and debating on whether or not it was wrong for me to take it into my own hands to harshly enlighten him and whether or not I actually sinned. What do you think?

Yes, priests can be jackasses. Priests can – and do – have bad days. And some priests have better people skills than others. And while we all admit that being a jackass is a bad thing, let’s also not fall into the trap of thinking that the first job of the priest is to be a nice guy, full of smiles and hugs. No. The first job of the priest is to offer sacrifice, to pray with and for the Church, to help souls to avoid hell and attain heaven, and therefore properly to teach, govern, and sanctify, to administer the sacraments, etc…. Of course, not being a jackass really helps in trying to get all these priestly duties done. That said….

Fraternal correction is difficult. Paternal correction is even more difficult and we should be extremely reticent to attempt it.

Trying to strike a balance between respect for those in authority, and legitimate reproof of that authority in error has been a difficulty in the Church since St. Paul corrected St. Peter. This always calls for a careful review of motives, and prayer to the Holy Spirit and Guardian Angels of all involved for guidance and the gift of the virtue of prudence.

Here’s a thought.

How about, after correcting a priest on his behavior (maybe not immediately after, but sometime after), going to confession to that same priest and asking his forgiveness for any possible overstepping of bounds? That could show the priest that the correction is not personal, and that you still respect both his priestly office, and him as a person. Or, you might simply approach him some time later – since you say there seems to have been some positive effect – in order to say something like, “Everyone’s so happy with how things have been going lately. I feel much more confident now inviting my friends and family members to come to our parish. Thanks so much for all the great things you’re doing here. Here’s a pound of Mystic Monk Coffee to show my appreciation for your service!”

UPDATE:

The original questioner send this:

Since it was awhile since I sent that Ask Father question regarding paternal correction to my priest acting like a jackass, I thought Pryor might appreciate an update.

My conscience started eating away at me within 24 hours and within less than 72 hours I had apologized to him for being disrespectful and related that now I am the ass. All is well (he wasn’t mad and accepted my apology) and, since he is also my regular confessor, I went to confession to him a couple days later.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged fraternal correction, paternal correction
19 Comments

Pope sacks Swiss Guard Commandant

Posted on 4 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From The Telegraph:

Pope sacks the head of his Swiss Guard for being ‘too strict’
Daniel Anrig will no longer serve as commandant of Pontiff’s private army after Pope Francis is rumoured to prefer a ‘less military’ approach to security

He has dismissed and demoted cardinals, bishops and the Vatican secretary of state, and now Pope Francis’s reformist zeal has claimed a new scalp – the head of his own private army, the Swiss Guard.
In a dispassionate one-sentence notice, the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, announced on Wednesday that Daniel Anrig will no longer serve as the commandant of the 500-year-old corps after the end of next month.
No official explanation was given for the decision, but it was widely rumoured that the Argentinean Pope, who has established a warmer, more inclusive style of governance since being appointed pontiff in March last year, found the commander’s manner overly strict and “Teutonic”.
The 77-year-old pope is said to have been appalled recently to have emerged one morning from his private suite of rooms to find that a Swiss Guard had been standing guard all night.
“Sit down,” he told the young guardsman, to which the soldier said: “I can’t, it’s against orders.”
The Pope replied: “I give the orders around here,” and promptly went off to buy a cappuccino for the exhausted soldier.
[…]

Yeah… right. That last thing I would want from my security detail made up of military personnel is commitment, discipline and professionalism.

Posted in Francis | Tagged Swiss guards
63 Comments

UPDATE – Gift idea: Seignadou Soaps from the Summit Dominicans – VIDEO!

Posted on 4 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I know that most of you are getting Mystic Monk Coffee for people as gifts, and thereby you help the Carmelite men build their new monastery in Wyoming, but there is a wonderful community of nuns to help too!

You know them, I’m sure: the Dominican Nuns in Summit, NJ. These are the legendary “soap sisters” of Seignadou Soaps.

Right now, in addition to their soaps and all the other good things they make, they also have a CD of music for the Immaculate Conception, which feast is drawing close. Alas, I don’t have it or I would share a taste.

Here’s the deal. The sisters are closing down their online store on 17 December, the second and “heavy” part of Advent, “so that we can more deeply prepare our hearts and home for the coming of Christ!”, as they explain.

So… order now!

And tell them that Fr. Z wants them to bring back their smoky-smelling Savonarola line!

The Domincans also have a video in which they show something of their life and talk about the new wing they need to build. HERE

UPDATE 4 Dec:

Apparently quite a few of you visited the sisters’ website. Sister wrote this note to me:

Dear Father,

WOW! Thank you! The title of your blog should be “Father SAYS!”! Many people have put in soap orders but a few people have donated to the building campaign. In God’s time we’ll get to have enough to start. It is sooo expensive to build in this part of NJ. Anywhere else and could easily build a whole monastery for that amount.

We really need the extra space. It’s mostly for a guest house. This year we counted over 90 guests in our 2 single guest rooms: women coming for a vocation retreat, friars, family and friends who visit, religious who stay here (like Nashville, etc.) while doing their apostolate and priests asking to make a retreat. One of our main objectives is to be able to provide a place of the local diocesan priests for a monthly retreat, few days, etc.

At this point we’re not set up for any of this. Unfortunately what did not get into the video are images of the current basement guest room. I don’t know how that happened because the stairways going down are very steep, dark and dreary!

If St. Nicholas thinks you were good this year you might find some Savonarola in your shoes! [I hope he has my address! BTW… how many of you got the pun? The name of the soap? Review, above, and ponder.]

Oremus pro invicem!

Sr. Mary Catharine

What a wonderful community.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole, Women Religious | Tagged Dominicans, Savonarola, Seignadou Soap, Summit Dominicans
17 Comments

OLDIE PODCAzTs: Advent 1969 the Novus Ordo imposed by Paul VI – 45 years later

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In conjunction with reading Peter Kwasniewski’s new, provocative book (which rather reads like this blog in many respects), I just reviewed three old PODCAzTs I made at the time of the 40th anniversary of the implementation of the Novus Ordo for Advent of 1969/70. I used music that was on the charts at that time, as well as a few ditties that came after the Novus Ordo. It is pretty jarring sometimes, but I meant it to be.

In the second of the triptych I gave a roundup of what was going on in the world at the time Paul VI was speaking in these General Audiences and when he imposed the Novus Ordo on the Latin Church.

It was really interesting to read the combox under the three entries with the podcasts.

Frankly, I found review of these podcasts pretty useful, especially as the terrain is shifting again today. Pope Paul’s commentary on what was going to take place was for me – 45 years later – surreal. It was as if Rod Serling were reading the texts, and not the undersigned. (Wasn’t Night Gallery playing in 1969/1970?)

We are 45yrs out now. 45 years.

Is what Paul VI described, what we actually got? As he lists in anticipation certain criticisms and gives some defenses… how do the arguments sound to you?

“So do not let us talk about ‘the New Mass”. Let us rather speak of ‘the New Epoch’ in the Church’s life.”

In those days, optimism oozed from every crack. I am not convinced that it was justified.

Check these old PODCAzTs:

There is some lively discussion going on under a couple of these entries.

Posted in Classic Posts, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged 1969, 1970, Novus Ordo, Paul VI
25 Comments

YOUR URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please use the sharing buttons! Thanks!

Registered or not, will you in your charity please take a moment look at the requests and to pray for the people about whom you read?

Continued from THESE.

I get many requests by email asking for prayers. Many requests are heart-achingly grave and urgent.

Something is up. I’m getting many more requests for prayers than last year at this time

As long as my blog reaches so many readers in so many places, let’s give each other a hand. We should support each other in works of mercy.

If you have some prayer requests, feel free to post them below. You have to be registered here to be able to post.

I still have a pressing personal petition.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
22 Comments

ACTION ITEM! Support Our Lady of Hope Clinic!

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have an ACTION ITEM for you good readers. You have been generous to causes I have mentioned in the past. Sometimes people have a hard time finding causes to support. This is one of them that I admire.

RIGHT NOW… they have a “matching grant” from a generous patron. Every donation to the clinic from now to the end of the year will be matched, so your donation does double duty.

I have written about Our Lady of Hope Clinic before. This is one of the worthiest causes I have seen for a while and it could use your help, wherever you are.

They have a DONATION page.

Contact Julie Jensen, Director of Development, at Julie -AT- ourladyofhopeclinic -DOT- org, or by calling (608) 957-1137.

I was in the clinic yesterday for something. The doctor told me that whenever I mention them on the blog, they get donations from all over.

In the clinic you see a sign on the wall explaining that

“Our Lady of Hope Clinic practices medicine consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church”

Therefore, they will not refer for abortion, prescribe contraception, refer for sterilization, refer for in vitro fertilization, etc.

And…

“We will practice in complete accord with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.”

This is a worthy cause.

I suggest that it is a model that may be duplicated in other places, especially as the chaos really starts to begin in healthcare in these USA.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Emanations from Penumbras, Linking Back, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices | Tagged Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, Our Lady of Hope Clinic, pro-life
1 Comment

US Catholic Colleges with Holy Mass “ad orientem”, TLM and Ordinary Form

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Cardinal Newman Society, which studies Catholic Higher Education, has an interesting piece about ad orientem worship at Catholic schools. The CNS has a great news widget on my sidebar. Check it out now and watch it every day!

Students Show Growing Appreciation for Traditional Masses, Say College Chaplains

Among Catholic colleges and dioceses across the country there has been an apparent rise in the celebration of the Mass ad orientem, where the priest and congregation face the same direction, traditionally to the east. The Cardinal Newman Society spoke with chaplains from three colleges recommended in The Newman Guide about the Masses celebrated ad orientem on campus and what that type of worship brings to students.
At Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., the priest celebrates ad orientem during several weekly Masses—two in the Extraordinary form, as well as two in the Ordinary Form in English and one in Latin—College chaplain Father Stephen McGraw told the Newman Society.

Fr. McGraw explained:

The gradual introduction and occasional celebration of Mass “ad orientem” on campus, along with the celebration “versus populum,” allows students to experience the traditional and historic way of celebrating the Eucharist without jarring them and helps show and reinforce for them the “hermeneutic of continuity” (as spoken of by Benedict XVI) between the Masses of the preconciliar and postconciliar periods. [Good approach. Some of these young people may have only experienced the Ritus Suburbanus.]

Masses celebrated ad orientem give students “an opportunity to participate in liturgical prayer that leads them to contemplation,” [A lot harder with the priest gawking at you with a grin as if he were Conan O’Brien.] said Father Hildebrand Garceau, chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) in Santa Paula, Calif. “All are facing liturgical east in one movement of prayer and offering. It seems to aid greatly in reducing distractions and helping students to focus on the liturgical action of the most powerful prayer in the universe—the Holy Mass.”

At TAC, Masses are said each morning in the Extraordinary Form which gives the undergraduates a “reverent, quiet, contemplative Mass,” said Fr. Garceau. Most Saturdays, a Mass is also said in the Ordinary Form.

Father John Healy at the Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (TMC) in Merrimack, N.H., told the Society that TMC began to celebrate the Latin Mass ad orientem once a week on Fridays because of student demand. Students continue to tell him that the silence in the Mass “impresses them in a particular way” and is very helpful for them, he said.

Additionally, said Christendom’s Fr. McGraw, ad orientem worship “shows our communion with the Eastern Church, which for the most part cele?brates the liturgy of the Eucharist ‘ad orientem.’” He also noted that the priests at Christendom have “expressed their appreciation” for the chance to celebrate these Masses for the students.

According to Fr. Healy, bishops in the dioceses that celebrate the Extraordinary Form say that a lot of the participation is from the younger generation. This gives hope for liturgy and Church tradition both in the present and in the future, he said. It is encouraging to see students appreciate the traditional forms of the Mass.

Ave Maria University, the College of Saint Mary Magdalen, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Apostles College and Seminary, the University of St. Thomas-Houston and Wyoming Catholic College [hurray!] also offer Masses ad orientem.

All the aforementioned colleges are recommended in The Newman Guide for their strong Catholic identity. The Cardinal Newman Society recently released the 2015 edition of the Guide along with an innovative new “Recruit Me” program that allows students to sign up so that the recommended colleges can compete for them.

Catholic Education Daily is an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society. Click here for email updates and free online membership with The Cardinal Newman Society.

For more on why ad orientem worship is important – more important than ever especially as a tool of the New Evangelization – check out two books which would be great gifts for your parish priests this Christmas.

First, Joseph Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy. He explains ad orientem and his transitional arrangement called the “Benedictine Arrangement”. (UK HERE)

Also, my friend Fr. Lang’s Turning Toward the Lord. Historical and theological analysis. (UK HERE)

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged Ave Maria University, Cardinal Newman Society, Christendom College, College of Saint Mary Magdalen, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Holy Apostles College, Thomas Aquinas College, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, University of St. Thomas-Houston
10 Comments

One of the aims of reform of the Roman Curia – weaken it.

Posted on 3 December 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

One of the things I have been saying all along is one aim during the present pontificate is the reduction of the number of Cardinal Prefects and Presidents (and therefore Archbishop Secretaries) in dicasteries of the Roman Curia.

Put several dicasteries together – bammo – fewer cardinals slots open. This will have the simultaneous effect of concentrating power in hands of fewer department heads – easier to control their … world views – and of weakening the power of the Curia globally.

Now I read something from the once-solid, now shakier Andrea Tornielli, an interview with Oscar Card. Rodriguez Maradiaga, who is the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras but who spends nearly all his time in Rome these days. He is part of a small group of cardinals – the Gang of Eight (Nine with the Secretary of State) – appointed by Pope Francis to look at matters of Curial Reform, which we grant is a big job.

[…]

And what about the restructuring of the dicasteries? Can you confirm that two new bodies are being created in order to merge the functions of the various pontifical councils being merged into these?

“The two bodies dedicated to the laity and charity are certain. [That would absorb a several dicasteries.] Te Pope has already presented them to the heads of dicasteries of the Roman Curia. Of course soem observations have been made, that was the point of the consultations. There are certain details that need to be fine tuned. But as far as the general setup is concerned, I think they can be considered work in progress.”

Will the two bodies in charge of laity and charity – which should merge together laity, family, migrants, pastoral care for healthcare workers, Cor Unum and Justice and Peace – be congregations?

“Yes, that is the aim. They will be two congregations. [NB] But they will not be the arithmetical sum of what already exists. Primarily because as congregations they will have a different legal status from that of the pontifical councils. It is also not necessary for there to be a cardinal or a bishop heading every dicastery: there could be a married couple in charge of family affairs, for example and for migrants there could be a nun who has specific experience in this area, a member of the Scalabrinian missionaries for instance.”

What is the aim of Curia reform?

“The aim is to rationalise and simplify things. There are approximately thirty different dicasteries at the moment, including secretariats, councils and congregations. How can a leader regularly bring together all of his ministers ? In the past, meetings took place once or twice a year. How can an institution go on like this? Meetings and consultations need to be more frequent. Then we will be able to say that simplification fosters collegiality. And this is important.” [Keep in mind that before Paul VI there were many fewer dicasteries.]

Will the Secretariat of State also undergo reform?

“Yes, it is currently being studied. The Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will be presenting a plan for this at the next meeting.”

Can anything be said about this?

“No, it is still too early, we have to wait and see. I think one of the points that will be discussed will be the redistribution of internal tasks. But let’s wait and see.”

Will judicial structures undergo reform too? [There are three major tribunals, the Apostolic Signatura (with a cardinal), the Rota, the Apostolic Penitentiary (with a cardinal)]

“This has not yet been discussed. I personally think the idea of merging bodies relating to justice could have a positive outcome. We will discuss this if we have time at the next meeting. I think it would be a good idea to have one single ministry of Justice in the Church that includes the Apostolic Signatura, the dicastery for the interpretation of legislative texts [with a cardinal] and the Apostolic Signatura [ummm… didn’t he just mention the Signatura a second ago? Maybe he meant the Rota?]. With one single head.” [3 cardinals reduced to 1]

Will there be fewer cardinals serving in the Holy See’s offices when Curia reform comes into force?

“Of course, that is the idea. [!!] The Curia must no longer be perceived as a papal court or as the Church’s centralised super-government. It needs to be an energetic structure, there to serve the papal ministry.” [not the “Petrine Ministry”]

[…]

See what’s going on? This might be a good idea. The Church seemed to run pretty well for a long time on fewer departments. Then the Curia was restructured and massively expanded. Has that helped? Really? On the other hand, much depends on what else is being done during a pontificate. So, it is way to early to tell. One thing I do know, moves like this are surely to cause, in the short term, paralysis.