QUAERITUR: Was the Holy Spirit’s guidance at Vatican II infallible?

Posted on 30 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Was Vatican II an ecumenical council with infallible guidance by the Holy Spirit, or a pastoral council which is not infallible?

The Holy Spirit’s guidance is never anything but infallible.  Can the Holy Spirit make a mistake?

However, a lot can happen in the stages between the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the typewriter.

The Holy Spirit does not make mistakes.  We make mistakes even when the Holy Spirit is trying to help us.

The Second Vatican Council was an ecumenical Council.  Surely the Holy Spirit guided the Council (Cf. Vatican I, Session III, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, 24 April 1870).  I don’t have any special insight into what way the Holy Spirit guided the Council.

The Holy Spirit didn’t personally write any of the documents of Second Vatican Council.

That said, the Second Vatican Council was just one of many Councils the Church has held, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and it wasn’t even the most important Council.

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Gladiator school of Vienna discovered

Posted on 30 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Very cool:

Archeologists locate ruins of gladiator school
By: The Associated Press | The Associated Press | 08/30/11 10:48 AM

Archeologists say they have located and excavated the ruins of a massive amphitheater used to train gladiators east of Vienna in what they call a “sensational discovery.”

They say that the ruins located through ground radar measurements rival the Colosseum and the Ludus Magnus in Rome in their structure. The Ludus Magnus is the largest of the gladiatorial arenas in the Italian capital, while the Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire.

A statement Tuesday from the Carnuntum archaeological park gave no details when the find was located and excavated. It said the site will be presented to the media Monday.

The park — part of a former Roman settlement — is about 60 kilometers (35 miles) east of Vienna.

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The Feeder Feed: Dinosaur edition

Posted on 30 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have finally received proof that birds really are modern dinosaurs.

A reader sent me this photo.

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Levity

Posted on 29 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today a jocular friend texted me to suggest that perhaps Pope Benedict’s appointment of Archbp. O’Brien as Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – admittedly younger and with obviously greater military credentials than the last guy – signals the Holy Father’s intention to call for a new Crusade.

I have a learnéd dubitation.

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Remember the ghastly statue of Bl. John Paul II?

Posted on 29 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You remember I am sure the horrid statue of John Paul II in front of the Roman main train station.

This just in.

Controversial John Paul statue looks set for makeover
Artist ready to make some alterations
29 August, 16:02

(ANSA) – Rome, August 29 – A statue of the late Pope John Paul II at Rome’s main train station looks set to be modified after causing a wave of disapproval.

[…]

Some Romans and tourists think the giant artwork looks more like Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

”That bullet-like head on top, it reminds me of Mussolini,” said Enrico, a 42-year-old computer programmer who commutes from Latina south of Rome.

American tourist Sandra Hillhouse, 24, from Arizona, said: ”I don’t understand it at all. He looks more like one of those weird creatures from Star Trek”.

A station cleaner, Maria Colacelli, 46, added a practical objection to the aesthetic ones.

”That cape will be a magnet for street people. I’ll be sweeping out their beer bottles and trash every morning”.

To which the artist reportedly replied ”If a street person needs a place to sleep and found it under my statue I’d be glad.

I’m surprised people still say such things”.

[…]

Read the rest there.

Posted in Brick by Brick |
31 Comments

QUAERITUR: plastic “catch” sheet on the altar

Posted on 29 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Is it permissible to put a sheet of plastic on the epistle side of
the altar at the TLM in order to catch wine and water spills?

There has been some disagreement about this in our Latin Mass community. References would be helpful, either from you or from your readers.

Wellllll…. I guess so.

The basic principle is that nothing which isn’t blessed and used directly for liturgical purposes shouldn’t be on the altar.  We could debate if a plastic sheet is used for a liturgical purpose or a laundry purpose.

When a priest says Mass on his own, he will sometimes set the lavabo dish and cruets on the altar.  The lavabo dish is designed to catch the water when the priest’s fingers are purified.

Sooooo…. I guess so.   I can understand why that would be a desire.   I do my own linens for my chapel.   I can also understand why a plastic sheet would be placed under candelabra for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  Getting wax out of altar cloths isn’t easy.   Keeping candles trimmed and having the correct sized followers for the candles helps.  Also, don’t move them right away after they have been extinguished.

That said, I hate the plastic sheets and think they are tacky, but it seems to me that there might be a bit of wiggle room here, depending on the cadre available for preparation of altar linens.  These sheets do have a practical function.  So does a bookstand, and it is on the altar.   The stricture about not placing profane things on the altar seems to aim more at things like glasses cases, watches, etc.

We return, therefore, to the practical point of having a good sacristy team which could also work on altar linens.  And I will remind everyone of the great booklet by Angelus Press for altar linens.

Perhaps readers can chime in with references and observations.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , ,
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POTUS and issues of human life

Posted on 29 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is part of a post at Life Site. You should read the whole thing there.

Obama’s Pro-Abortion Record: The List Goes On and On..

Dear LifeNews.com Readers,

Today, LifeNews.com updated our exclusive and extensive listing of the pro-abortion and anti-life actions President Barack Obama has taken in two and a half years since taking over the White House.

Some say that a president doesn’t have much effect on issues like abortion, embryonic stem cell research, or promoting abortion abroad. But Obama has proven otherwise — as he’s forced Americans to spend millions of embryonic stem cell research, taxpayer-funded abortions, and spent tens of millions promoting a new Constitution in Kenya that legalized abortions there.

He’s pushed Obamacare and pushed abortion funding and paying for drugs that can cause abortions in Obamacare, refused to de-fund Planned Parenthood, cozied up with pro-abortion leaders, and put staunch anti-life activists in key policy positions and judgeships who will have an impact on pro-life laws for a generation.

In the a few short months since our last update of this important Obama Abortion Record document, here’s what he’s done:

April 11, 2011 – Refuses Speaker John Boehner’s request to cut taxpayer funding to the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

April 14, 2011 – Obama administration castigates The Vatican over family planning.

April 19, 2011 – Obama Easter breakfast has pro-abortion religious leaders.

May 2, 2011 – Report shows the Obama administration met with abortion advocates during consideration of Obamacare.

May 10, 2011 – Senate confirms pro-abortion Obama judicial pick Edward Chen.

May 11, 2011 – Obama schmoozes with Planned Parenthood abortion business president, Cecile Richards.

May 17, 2011 – Obama administration targets peaceful pro-life advocate for prosecution.

May 19, 2011 – Names pro-abortion Morgan Christen to a federal appeals court position.

June 1, 2011 – Denies Indiana’s request to de-fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

June 2, 2011 – Obama administration approves more taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research.

June 17, 2011 – Defends forcing taxpayers to fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business in court.

July 7, 2011 – Report shows Obama policies resulted in 300 tax-funded abortions in Washington, D.C.

July 21, 2011 – Demands that New Hampshire make taxpayers fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

July 21, 2011 – Fines a peaceful pro-lifer $25,000.

August 1, 2011 – Forces insurance companies to pay for abortion drugs under Obamacare.

August 19, 2011 – Obama administration found to have spent taxpayer funds promoting pro-abortion Obamacare during the 2010 elections.

August 19, 2011 — Obama administration approves more taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research.

August 22, 2011 – Vice President Joe Biden fails to condemn China’s one-child, forced abortion policy.

August 23, 2011 — Obama administration calls children “sexual beings,” pushes sex on them.

[…]

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

What to do with obsolete ICEL Missals – “Sacramentaries”

Posted on 28 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

People have been asking what to do with obsolete editions of the lame-duck Sacramentary. I have made some suggestions in the past.

The Canadian Bishops gave their own suggestion.

For real.

De-commissioning the Sacramentary

1. After the Prayer after Communion, the Priest pauses for a moment of silence and then reminds the faithful of the many events this book has been a part of in these or similar words:

Dear Friends in Christ; today is the last (Sun)day in which this Sacramentary will be used. It has served our community well for many years: it has been present at baptisms, funerals, marriages, and above all at the countless Masses that have been prayed in this church. We pause to give thanks for all that God has done by means of the words contained in this book, and trust that God will continue to bless us in the years ahead.

All pray silently for a time. Then the Priest, with hands outstretched says:

Father of light and wisdom,
We praise you for your gifts:
for giving us the power to see
and the ability to write and read
and to use the arts of printing.

Bless + this book as it is taken out of service
and grant that all who have used it or heard its words
may grow in wisdom and grace
before you and all your people.

Father, we praise you through Jesus Christ your Son
in the love of your Holy Spirit,
now and always and for ever.

All: Amen.

2. The Mass continues in the usual way with the Final Blessing. After the Dismissal, the Deacon, or in his absence the Priest closes the book for the final time, saying:

For everything there is a season.
At the closing of this book,
we look to the opening of a new season of grace.

3. The Sacramentary is carried out in the procession by a server or other appropriate minister.

4. The Sacramentary is then reserved in the sacristy, a parish library or museum, or disposed of in a dignified manner.

Well… Say The Black and Do The Red, I suppose.

Look.  It is clear that they want to give people a sense that the book used is worthy of some respect.  Right?

By the way, there are no indications here for the music to be used.

In honor of this moment, I urge you to buy lots of WDTPRS coffee mugs.

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43 Comments

Requiem for an ICEL translation

Posted on 28 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In England the new translation of the Ordinary of Mass will be used beginning September.  Therefore, this Sunday was the last Sunday people will be constrained by law to hear the lame-duck ICEL version in force for these last few sad decades.

My friend Fr. Ray Blake, the great PP of Brighton, has this comment:

Evening Mass is finished and it was the last Sunday Mass with old translations, somehow I think we should have had a wake, some act to mark its passing, like the medieval burial of the Alleluia. It isn’t saying farewell to friend, I’m glad we have fished with it.
We have been using the new translations at weekday Masses for little while now, just so Sunday next I am used to them and we have a few people trained to make the new responses, so during the week I am just going to put the loose page of the old Missal Propers out and the little paperback interim Missal.

Maybe I might put the old Missal out somewhere under a black pall.

It marks the end of an era, I suspect someone will offer the “old Mass” at 3.25pm on the third Sunday at some forsaken felt bannered country church for a few elderly sandalled hobnob eating tamborinistas.

Just a note on translation, we had in England for the first reading, “You have seduced me, and I let myself be seduced”. Americans had, “You have duped me…”. I’d prefer being “seduced” than “duped”. Yuk!

Posted in Brick by Brick, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , ,
45 Comments

QUAERITUR: If I forget to confess a mortal sin, am I still forgiven?

Posted on 28 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

If i forget to confess a mortal/grave sin in the confessional, when i fully intended to confess it before i walked in, is it still absolved?

If you truly forget to confess something, but otherwise make a good confession, then everything is forgiven.  However, you ought to confess what you forget and then later remembered at an early opportunity.

Be diligent your your examination of conscience.

Always do your best.  That’s all we can do.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged , , ,
38 Comments