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{]:¬)

Bp. Galatino: “Couples in irregular matrimonial situations…”

Posted on 28 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I read in the La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno that His Excellency Most Rev. Nunzio Galatino, Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) has thoughts about “unconventional couples” and the sacraments.

‘Church musn’t exclude unusual couples’ Italian bishops say

(ANSA) – Rome, August 27 – The Church must make everyone feel at home, including “unconventional couples”, the secretary-general of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) said Wednesday. “Couples in irregular matrimonial situations are also Christians, but they are sometimes looked upon with prejudice,” Monsignor Nunzio Galantino said. “The burden of exclusion from the sacraments is an unjustified price to pay, in addition to de facto discrimination,” the prelate explained. [“Al peso della non ammissione ai sacramenti si aggiunge, non giustificatamente e come ulteriore fio da pagare, una loro discriminazione di fatto”. In Italian, what he says is not that the exclusion from sacraments is the unjustified price to pay, but rather that the de facto discrimination is an unjustified extra price to pay. It is slightly different distinction. Of course we might ask His Excellency where has he seen all this unjust discrimination towards concubines and adulterers in the average parish as of late, but that’s another story, Rudyard Kipling would say.]

The Vatican last year asked its priests around the world for input on controversial issues ranging from same-sex marriage to surrogate motherhood to polygamy ahead of an extraordinary meeting on the family called by Pope Francis for October 2014. The 38-question survey, sent to national conferences of bishops all over the world, sought input from local officials to help the Vatican as it prepares for an unusual assembly of bishops designed to develop new directions for the Church on issues of family relations. The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization is the official title selected for the third extraordinary general assembly of the synod of bishops to be held in the Vatican.

This would be a good time to remind the readership of a book available for pre-order.

Click to PRE-ORDER

Since it has been released elsewhere also, I can at least reveal the names of the 5 Cardinals and other authors involved in the book:

Cardinals:

Walter Brandmüller
Raymond Leo Burke
Carlo Caffarra
Velasio De Paolis, C.S.,
Gerhard Ludwig Müller

Also:

Fr. Robert Dodaro, OSA
Fr. Paul Mankowski, S.J.
Prof. John M. Rist
Archbishop Cyril Vasil, S.J.

Posted in One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged Bp. Nunzio Galantino, divorce and remarriage, marriage, Synod of Bishops
19 Comments

Card. Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of CDW, transferred to Valencia

Posted on 28 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Antonio Card. Cañizares Llovera, has been transferred to Spain at the new Archbishop of Valencia.

He will fill the vacancy left with the transfer of Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra to Madrid.

Thus, rumors that have been going around have been confirmed.

What we don’t know yet is who will replace Card. Cañizares Llovera at CDW. Cañizares Llovera was known to be in line with the vision of Benedict XVI. At one point his nickname was “Ratzingerino”. His term at CDW was a bit of a mixed bag. I suspect that his successor won’t be so closely aligned with Benedict. But who knows? Francis could surprise us all. I would not weep to see Card. Burke go to Divine Worship, though I wouldn’t put money on it.

What we also don’t know is whether or not this signals that other rumors going about will turn out to be true. In the case of a couple rumors, I really hope not.

Will there be changes to other major dicasteries now? It is not easy to shift Cardinals around. They have to go someplace that calls for Cardinal, such as a major see or important Vatican office. Berlin is open, which makes me wonder about CDF. However, if I am not mistaken the chapter in Berlin has a lot to say about the appointment of their archbishop. I suspect that, given the present theological climate in Germany, they won’t prefer a man with any hint of conservatism. Card. Amato, at Saints, is now 76. Another change could take place there. Saints might be a more likely place than CDW for Card. Burke… if Francis wants to move Card. Burke that is. It would surprise me to the tips of my fingers were Francis to open up a See in these USA by bringing to Rome some Cardinal Archbishop or other and then fill the spot with Card. Burke. I suppose we can daydream about what would happen were Card. Wuerl to be brought to Rome (as one rumor has it) and Card. Burke be sent to Washington DC. That might give new vitality to Can. 915. Also, Chicago will one day need a successor to Card. George, who is now 76 and in poor health. Do say a prayer for him today.

Curial officials are trickling back to Rome, after the summer break. It could be that in the next few days we will see some more moves and maybe even more restructuring of curial offices.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged Card. Burke, Card. Cañizares Llovera
25 Comments

The popular pontificate of Pope Francis: two views

Posted on 27 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Auctores scinduntur… authors are divided on the pontificate of Pope Francis.

He is, undeniably, popular. However, we read in The Week, based on Pew, that despite Francis’ marvelous showing in the polls, as high as 83% favorable, the view many people have of him isn’t changing how they live… yet, at least.

While a quarter of Catholics are more excited about their faith and 40 percent have been praying more often, the same 40 percent said they are going to mass each week (and some 42 percent at least once a year [That often?]) as before Francis was elected.

Here is a story from the German news agency Kath.net, which presents comments from His Eminence Walter Card. Brandmüller on the aspect of papal popularity.

Kardinal Brandmüller: Begeisterung um Papst ist oberflächlich

Hamburg (kath.net/KNA) Emeritus German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller (85) does not think much of the enthusiasm for Pope Francis: “It is superficial. Were this a religious movement, the churches would be full, “the former president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences said in an interview with the Hamburg magazine« History ».

[…]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the trend, if it can be called such.

Back to the Pew findings:

Pope Francis also seems to inspire hope that the Catholic Church will change on some major issues, Pew found, despite the pope’s suggestions otherwise. American Catholics, it turns out, are a fairly liberal bunch: 77 percent want the church to allow contraception, 73 percent support priests getting married, 68 percent support the ordination of women priests, and 50 percent want Rome to recognize same-sex marriages. Those numbers all drop slightly when Pew screened for weekly church attendance. Not that you’d want to take those numbers to the bank: Pew talked to a grand total of 351 Catholics for the survey — the size of a small parish.

351?

I wonder what you readers are experiencing in your parishes.

Is Mass attendance up? Are there things you could within reason attribute to a Francis bump?

Of course Mass attendance and other activities in a parish are one thing. Deeper fidelity and conversion is another. Those are harder to measure and this pontificate hasn’t been going on very long.

One thought: Do you have a sense that Catholics (where you are, at least) are more aware of themselves as Catholics and are, perhaps, therefore more united or more divided? I ask this in light what seems to be a fact in the secular sphere, namely, that during the Obama Presidency in these USA racial relations seems to be even more tense than in decades. Obama is figure of deep and increasing division, as it turns out. Is Pope Francis?

Do remember Pope Francis in your daily prayers.

Posted in Francis, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged Card. Brandmuller, polls, Pope Francis, popularity
64 Comments

ASK FATHER: The priest’s Eucharistic fast in the Extraordinary Form

Posted on 27 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a priest…

QUAERITUR:

I mostly do the Extraordinary Form.

I saw in the De defectibus of 1962, it tells priest to fast 3 hours before communion, does that still hold with extra ordinary form Mass or does the hour fast work without offending God. (I know current norms say one hour but didn’t Pope Benedict use the logic of no altar girls for extraordinary form since we have to “use” the 1962 norms…?)

Given Universae Ecclesiae, I say no. One hour before Communion suffices to fulfill the norm of the Eucharistic fast in the Extraordinary Form, as in the Ordinary Form. It is commendable to do more, but the law says one hour before Communion (not before the beginning of Mass).

This is not really a matter that pertains to the rubrics for Mass, even though the moment of the priest’s Communion is described in the rubrics. This pertains to reception of Holy Communion. That law has been changed for all the faithful, priest included.

Similarly, if a Latin Catholic were to receive Holy Communion at an Eastern Rite Liturgy, he would not be bound by that Eastern Church’s laws on fasting, but rather by the Latin law. This would even apply if he were a Latin priest attending or assisting at an Eastern Mass.

In my opinion, the Holy See and bishops of the world should have us return to a longer Eucharistic fast. I say it should be at least three hours. That would help, I think, the problem of many sacrilegious Communions. It would also help to instill greater respect for all that is sacred and would strengthen our Catholic identity. We need a strong… stronger… Catholic identity in the face of what is surely to come.

I had a POLL on this issue. Keep in mind that the poll isn’t really about YOU. It is about what would be good for the whole Body, the Church:

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged Eucharistic fast, Universae Ecclesiae
35 Comments

ASK FATHER: Meat when a feast falls on a Friday

Posted on 26 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

QUAERITUR:

I am a newly registered member of a parish […] for whom the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is that of the principle patron. Hence, that should be 1st class (solemnity) for the archdiocese. In the traditional calendar, that feast falls on Friday, 22 August, but not, of course, in the new calendar.

My question, then, is this: do I observe this coming Friday [Sorry, this is a few days late!] as a patronal solemnity owing to my membership in a traditional personal parish in this specific diocese, or do I merely observe the feast liturgically, but orient the rest of my day towards the sense of penance that characterizes a Friday?

According the principle favorabilia amplianda – that favors are to be amplified (Regulae Iuris 15), I say that the Feast should have been celebrated on Friday 22 August, with ribs, steaks, and porkchops aplenty. Or, given that you are in the south, I suppose also hog jowls, possum, etc. I haven’t been to Atlanta. Do you have your own style of BBQ there? I digress.

Furthermore, we are permitted, under the present Code for the Latin Church, to substitute penances for abstinence on a Friday.

Keep in mind that in these USA Catholics are not obliged under the norms outlines by the conference of bishops to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. Catholics in England and Wales are, however, and I am sure that they are much the happier for it.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged favorabilia amplianda, odiosa restringenda, Regulae Iuris 15
18 Comments

ASK FATHER: Hogging the confessional

Posted on 26 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

I know you frequently encourage your readers to attend to making use of the confessional and I support you in your efforts! However, I have a question as to how you handle penitents who hog the confessional?

We are fortunate in our parish to have priests available to hear confession during mass and as we have a far flung parish, this is often to only opportunity some of our parishioners have to go to confession.

There are certain members of our parish, and to be honest most of them are women, who will routinely take 20 to 30 minutes in the confessional. It seems to me a sin against the virtue of charity for these folks to take so long in the box when there is a big line of people behind them who also need the use of the Sacrament. And if I happen to be one of them I find myself having to add an extra item to my list if you get my meaning.

So I’d like to know, if you can share, how do you handle these situations and is there anything I should say to our pastor about it?

I’d be careful about accusing others of sinning against charity in the confessional line. You the risk of adding sin to your own sins and ending up like the Pharisee in the parable who thanks God he is not like other men.

That said, yes, it’s a problem when fellow penitents spend an inordinate amount of time in the confessional (or the bathroom, or chatting with the checkout clerk at the grocery store) while folks behind are waiting with varying degrees of patience.

Father confessor, in the confessional, should do what he can to move things along. I don’t say that Father should use cool or severe detachment – St. Alphonsus Liguori has already done that for me – but neither should he let penitents simply ramble aimlessly from one irrelevant point or repetition to another. Even when he tries to keep things moving, sometimes the grace of the sacrament opens up an avenue of interior exploration and it is opportune to probe a bit further.

What is full solution to this problem? Who can say? An express line confessional (15 sins or less!)? A sign asking penitents with whoppers to call and set up an appointment? “Scrupulosity Saturday” once a month where those who feel the need to reconfess all their sins from childhood on can take up all the time they need, leaving the other three or four Saturdays for those who just need a sacramental touch-up?

Back in the day, or in places where more than one priest can be hearing confessions, people figure out which priests tend to be quicker. Remember: it isn’t always the penitent who is slowing things down.

I recall one priest, in my native place, whom we nicknamed “Machine Gun Kelly”, because he was so fast. You could confess fraud on a monumental scale, running prostitutes, acts of genocide and, BAM!, he would have you counseled, assigned a penance, shriven and out practically before you could draw your next breath. Old Fr. Kelly, God rest him, is perhaps at one end of the spectrum, but everyone who really had things to get off their chests without lectures and rhapsodic mumblings that make your eyeballs roll back into your head could seek him out and make a fresh start.

Friends, examine your consciences BEFORE you get into the confessional. Confess your SINS in kind and number. Leave out all the vague expositions about how you feel that you are good person. Just confess your sins. It isn’t complicated, even though it can be hard.

Priests, would you please, for the love of all that holy, save your homilies for the pulpit? Be kind but brief and direct. Don’t lose yourself, and the penitents, in an endless anabasis of syrupy musings about God’s love. Give a brief counsel, make sure there is nothing else that needs to be confessed, suggest a penance, invite the Act of Contrition and get on with absolution. It isn’t complicated.

The confessional is a tribunal, not a coffee house.

Also, keep in mind that usually Father has no idea how many people are in line. It can be of help at times to say, “Father, I was the last person in line when I got in…. Father, there are 7 people behind me.” I, for one, am always glad to know.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests | Tagged confession, confessional, sacrament of penance
76 Comments

My View For Awhile: Road Trip

Posted on 25 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I begin a too short road trip today.

First, stop – St. Paul, because I need a hair cut. Actually, there is a meeting of my literary group. We are, this time, reading Richard Wilbur.

Then, ….

I like driving trips. I listen to audio books, or have my Kindle read books to me. There is also sat radio and iHeartRadio via my phone.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to |
5 Comments

Your Sunday Sermon Notes

Posted on 24 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Was there a good point in the sermon you heard for this Sunday?

Let us know!

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
29 Comments

It’s always someone else…

Posted on 24 August 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

… until it’s you.

We don’t know what problems will crop up. We don’t know when “the big one” will happen.

GO TO CONFESSION.

Today an earthquake shook the Napa region north of San Francisco. Yes, wine country.

I checked a seismological map to see where the epicenter was and compared it to where I was a few weeks ago for the Napa Institute conference. The newsies say that it occurred in American Canyon, CA, which is about 6 miles south of Napa.

I figure the epicenter was about 3 miles to the southwest of where we had the conference. I marked the spot with the red star.

I am sure that some of you will suggest that the earthquake happened because I was there. Disaster follow me, after all. Cities burn in my wake like candles on my birthday cake. Okay. I’ll take the hit on this one, provided that you all

GO TO CONFESSION!