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{]:¬)

Card. Canizares with blunt speech and warnings in Spain

Posted on 7 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

When is the last time you heard this sort of language from a Cardinal?

Moral conscience needed to overcome economic crisis, states Spanish cardinal

Madrid, Spain, Jun 6, 2011 / 02:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Antonio Canizares has called on business and political leaders in Spain to engage in a “joint effort” to overcome “the high unemployment and job insecurity in our country.”

“Just as during other times and in other situations, the Church now feels moved to encourage and stimulate formational initiatives inspired in the social teachings of the Church, so that those who feel called to politics or leadership do not fall prey to the temptation to enjoy their positions out of personal interest or thirst for power.”

During a conference at the 21st Century Club, Cardinal Canizares, the prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, called for “overcoming every spirit of stubbornness and individualism, indifference and distraction in addressing the problems that face us all.”

He encouraged all Spaniards to directly participate in public life. Spain needs to look ahead and build a new future with hope, the cardinal stressed.

Spain religiously weakened

Cardinal Canizares also said Spain has become “very religiously weakened” and is immersed “in a profound and extensive crisis that entails a grave moral and human breakdown that makes it even harder and more difficult to overcome this crisis in the short-term.”

“It is not possible to overcome the crisis … without a new and deeper moral conscience that is universal and valid for all, in which the truth about man, his dignity and the vocation he has because of the fact he is man, is put first,” the cardinal said.

Amid this situation, he underscored the importance of defending “the human person and his dignity” and of making “moral decisions” about essential matters.

“The issue of man is inseparable from the family,” he continued. “The family is the great issue of our day and shows us where we may be heading both in the building of society as well as in the unity between faith and life, between society and religion,” Cardinal Canizares said.

The tip of the spear is our liturgical worship.

To have a true strengthening of our Catholic identity, and therefore have something sound, strong and appealing to offer to the world at large, we have to have a renewal of how we worship Almighty God.

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged Card. Canizares, family, Madrid, Spain
20 Comments

QUAERITUR: Giving Redemptionis Sacramentum to a priest to correct him.

Posted on 6 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Do you think it would be a good idea to give a parish priest and the curates a copy each of Redemptionis Sacramentum for Christmas or as a random gift? [Does that mean “anonymous” gift, or a gift outside the usual gift giving circumstances such as birthday, Christmas, anniversary of ordination, Father’s Day, etc. Not sure.]

I honestly don’t think most priests would have even heard of this document. In light of your recent post, I am thinking that with the current mindset, the new translation may not make any difference to priests who just do their own thing anyway. They need to be educated and (in)formed

I really want to do something to bring them round to the correct way of saying Mass.

Are there any really good books you know of which could be given to priests?

There are several factors here that must be considered.

First, the writer’s motive is to effect a change in the way the priests say Mass. Apparently there are some liturgical abuses there.

Second, if the priest in question doesn’t seem to care what the Church’s laws or texts are, what difference will it make to give him Redemptionis Sacramentum?

Perhaps you and others need to work on him from the pews with the laser beam of prayer, especially involving the priest’s Guardian Angel. Pray for the priest all through Mass. If he continues with liturgical abuses, add fasting and almsgiving to your “correction” of the priest.

That said, assuming there is a reasonable chance that the priest can be reached by more human strategies….

People are within their rights to make known their concerns about liturgical abuses. That is made clear in the aforementioned Redemptionis Sacramentum. RS also says that, while people have the right always to address their concerns directly to the Holy See, they really ought to try to address them first at a lower lever. Thus, putting RS into the hands of the local priests who are not entirely precise in their celebration of Holy Mass may be a good thing.

But how to do this without giving offense, which will undermine the purpose of giving it?

Giving such a “gift” would require real tact and the right moment. Giving just RS would send a very strong message indeed. You have to ask yourself: would that message be well-received? Perhaps RS could be included with several other things concerning liturgy. Perhaps along with Joseph Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy and Feast of Faith and A New Song For The Lord. There is Athanasius Schneider’s Dominus Est. You might also include John Paul II’s Ecclesia de Eucharistia and Benedict XVI’s Sacramentum caritatis.

If RS is in large part about correcting liturgical abuses, Sacramentum caritatis is useful for instilling in a positive way a new “ars celebrandi… art of celebrating”, a new view, attitude, approach.

Otherwise, there are all sorts of good books priests could find useful. I am sure some priest readers here could chime in about them. It could also be possible that the priest in question could create a reading list/wishlist you and others could work from. He might appreciate your interest and you could supplement the list with offerings of your own.

But do be careful about giving a “gift” intended to fix or correct a priest, or anyone else for that matter.

Gifts with agendas can backfire.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged A New Song For The Lord, ars celebrandi, Athanasius Schneider, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Feast of Faith, gifts, Sacramentum caritatis, Spirit of the Liturgy
41 Comments

Anglicans becoming Catholics: a concrete instance

Posted on 6 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I am, these days, especially happy to read good news. A kind reader let me in on this fine development, made possible by the Pope of Christian Unity, Benedict XVI.

There is an Anglican//Episcopalian parish, St. Luke’s, in Bladensburg, Maryland, which I am guessing is geographically in the Archdiocese of Washington DC.

Here is the index page of St. Luke’s (at the time of this writing), with my emphases.

We Are Ordinariate Bound!

+Welcome to St. Luke’s Ordinariate Catholic Community website! It is with great joy St. Luke’s announces its intention to join the Personal Ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. We have been discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit since the Holy Father’s announcement of Anglicanorum coetibus in October of 2009. Since that time we have been in close dialogue with both the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the Archdiocese Washington.

Over the next few months the people of St. Luke’s Ordinariate Catholic Community will undergo formal preparation to become Roman Catholics. This formal preparation will take place at St. Luke’s primarily on Sunday’s at 9:00am, and on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. If you are interested in joining the people of St. Luke’s on this journey you are encouraged and welcomed to attend.

We are deeply grateful to Cardinal Wuerl and to Bishop Chane for their support throughout this discernment. We look forward to continuing to worship in the Anglican tradition, while at the same time being in full communion with the Holy See of Peter.

These are exciting times! We will endeavor to keep you up to date with any information concerning our community and with the Ordinariate. Please browse through our website for the latest information.

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of thy servants, and grant unto this parish family all things necessary for its spiritual welfare: schools to train up thy people in thy faith and fear, ministers to labor in this portion of thy vineyard, a church restored and maintained in the beauty of holiness. Strengthen and increase the faithful; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; rouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of thy truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of thy Holy Catholic Church; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.

Nice prayer! That could be used in any parish.

WDTPRS KUDOS to people of St. Luke’s.

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, New Evangelization, Pope of Christian Unity | Tagged Anglicanorum coetibus, ordinariate
32 Comments

QUAERITUR: Reception of Communion twice in one day, revisited.

Posted on 6 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

The seminarians of ___ are assigned a parish for the summer (as most are, I presume). Sometimes the seminarians serve at more than two Masses. Can they receive Holy Communion more than twice?

No. Unless they are about to die, they may receive twice only during one day.

Not only can seminarians receive twice in one day, everyone who is Catholic and in the state of grace can receive twice in one day.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 917 – Qui sanctissimam Eucharistiam iam recepit, potest eam iterum eadem die suscipere solummodo intra eucharisticam celebrationem cui participat, salvo praescripto Can. 921, § 2.

…

Someone who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it again (iterum) on the same day only within the Eucharistic celebration [i.e. Mass] in which the person participates, with due regard for the prescription of can. 921 § 2.

Can. 921 § 2 says that if a person is in danger of death, he may receive Communion even it is not in the context of Mass. That is Viaticum.

That iterum does not mean “again and again”, but merely “again, one more time”.

Also, that “Eucharistic celebration” in the canon does not mean just any service involving Communion. It means Mass. That was cleared up by the Holy See in an official response to a dubium.

So, say in the morning you attend a Novus Ordo Communion service wherein you receive Communion, or you went to a Mass in either Form. Later in the day you stumble into a church where Mass about to be celebrated and decided to stay for it. At that Mass you can receive Communion again (iterum). This would be even if you were, say, visiting a Maronite Catholic Church, or a Ukrainian Catholic Church and their Divine Liturgy was about to get under way.

However, if you were at Holy Mass in the morning and then stumbled into a Communion service at a priest-less parish in the afternoon, you could NOT receive again because a Communion Service isn’t Mass. If you were at Mass in the morning and then in the afternoon when you were visiting your auntie in the hospital when the chaplain came, you could not receive even if the priest invited you to do so (which in my opinion he should not). However, if you stayed for another Mass immediately following, you would not be able to receive.

Canon 917 tries to walk the line between promoting frequent reception of the Eucharist and a superstitious or excessive frequency, which – I can assure you – some people fall into.

The key here is that the second time must be during a Mass, and you may not enter the Mass at some late point merely in order to receive.

And the issue of Viaticum, Communion for someone in danger of death, is a separate issue.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged c. 917, can. 921 § 2, Holy Communion, iterum, Viaticum
15 Comments

A priest on his first publicly celebrated Solemn TLM

Posted on 6 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A week or so ago, I posted about the intention of a priest in Cincinnati to celebrate Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the first time publicly. Here is a follow up.

Fr. Kyle Schnippel posted a sermon from this first publicly celebrated Mass on his site Called by Name.

There are four wonderful photos on the site Ten Reasons.

Here is part of Fr. Schnippel’s sermon, edited and with my emphases and comments.

As I have been preparing for this occasion, I have had, on occasion, a number of questions as to why I, or so many of my brother priests (and seminarians) are desirous of celebrating Mass according to this Rite, or Form. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a sort of ‘Apologia’ or defense of striving to do this, for as I just mentioned, this has been a transformative process for me, and I wish for others to understand.
What initially attracted me to this Form of the Mass, which I first attended while in College Seminary at the Josephinum, was the ‘otherworldliness’ of the approach to the Mass. To enter into these mysteries is to truly step out of time. [To my mind, the older form of Mass stresses the transcendent dimension of the sacred action.] Our physical senses are prevented from fully grasping what is happening [Yes!] so that our spiritual sense might become in tune with the mystery we celebrate [Perhaps “encounter” is a better word here.]: Latin forces the brain to relax and take it in, rather than mindlessly follow a text; [Yes, the Latin requires you to will to use your head and follow more carefully.] the hiddenness of the priest celebrating towards the altar, instead of against the people, stresses that we cannot ‘see’ what is happening, but can only experience; the silence and stillness of so much of what happens might cause a bit of a reaction when we are so used to being engaged in everything that we do, this is somehow different, this is timeless, this is not ‘entertainment,’ this is ‘worship.’ When we confuse those two concepts, we have failed dramatically.
As a priest, there is even more to it than these. In the current translation of the Ordinary Form of the Mass, the language that is used is sometimes, umm…., presumptive. Even after only seven years as a priest, there is an idea that I say those words and it happens. As a priest, I am not proud to admit, but it can at times be easy to shut the mind off, and just go through the motions.
When one celebrates this Mass, these two traps: presumption and mindless recitation, are simply not possible. When I finish celebrating this Mass, even when said privately, I know something has been done. It takes focus, precision, and dedication to celebrate this Mass well and competently. When I hear that it was usually said in 12 minutes, rushed through and no homily and very detached from the life of the people, I simply respond: it didn’t have to be. And, honestly, is the newer form often said much differently? [A good point.]
More importantly, however, is the lack of presumption on the part of the priest. [In the older form of Mass, the priest is closely controlled.] As I continue to learn the private prayers of the priest of this Mass, I continue to be struck by the, umm…, supplication that is included there-in. [Along with many references to our unworthiness.] We plead and beg that this Sacrifice which is being offered might be found acceptable to God the Almighty Father, aspects which are sorely lacking in the current Ordinary Form, but will gladly be restored with the implementation of the new translation this coming Advent.
There is one prayer which I would like to highlight in how it exemplifies this difference, the ‘Placeat tibi’ which said following the dismissal and just prior to the Blessing. In English, it is rendered:

May the homage of my bounden duty be pleasing to You, O Holy Trinity; and grant that the sacrifice which I, though unworthy, have offered in the sight of Your majesty, may be acceptable to You, and through Your mercy be a propitiation for me and for all those for whom I have offered it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

As I read and pray this prayer at the end of the Mass, what strives to the fore is the humility required. The humility required to celebrate this Mass, that it is not about me as a priest, but about worshiping God. The humility that is required to assist at this Mass, that I am not here to be entertained, but to be united to Christ, and Him Crucified. The humility that is required for us all to approach our Lord and God in fear and trembling.
As we approach the implementation of the new translation of the Ordinary From, may the celebration of the Extraordinary Form lead us to a deeper appreciation of the mysteries we celebrate, help us all to approach our Lord in a spirit of humility and prayer, and finally strengthen us all to become more like Christ in this world so that we might be with Him forever in the world to come.

WDTPRS KUDOS to Fr. Schnippel.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Linking Back, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged Cincinnati, Fr. Schnippel, Josephinum
21 Comments

Sunday Supper: reluctant and without zeal edition

Posted on 5 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have zero appetite. Zero. I forced myself tonight to make something and then not eat it standing over the sink, as I usually do. As I have written, I have rather lost my interest in cooking. But… for the sake of decorum, and to militate against barbarism…

Not quite focused, but onion, garlic, bacon well-browned.

I deglazed with a cup of white wine and ground in black pepper.

Added canned tomatoes and chopped at them for a while with my small but valuable spatchula.

Since I was already committing Italian cooking heresy, I went all the way.

I picked some fresh basil, first of the year. Again… heresy, but, herbs are good.

And oregano…

It’s amazing what a difference there is between fresh and dried oregano. They almost need to be handled as if they were two different spices.

Herbs chopped and something cheesy labelled “pecorino”, domestic and unworthy of the name, grated…

I had extra base-sauce so I readied it for the freezer.

Enough for two… bucatini. Usually I think in terms of between 75 and 100 grams for a regular portion.

Add the pasta, directly into the sauce. Remember, pasta absorbs sauce.

See the butter? It doesn’t belong in this sauce. Nevertheless, when you add the cheese, with butter, this is a technique called “manticare”. It produces a velvety texture. This is heresy also for this style, but… I was in a mood and threw things at the sauce.

Stir it in. Put it in a bowl. Eat.

Note my enthusiasm.

Poor man’s bucatini all’amatriciana, loosely so-called, made in a brutal manner.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen | Tagged bucatini all'amatriciana
31 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can we say “And with your spirit” now?

Posted on 5 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Could you perhaps use some of the new translation now? For example saying “And with your spirit.” under your breath or even using it in confirmation when the bishop says “Peace be with you.”

It seems to me that we, priests and congregations alike, should use the liturgical text that is in force now. We should wait until the new, corrected version is in force.

Priests certainly have a greater responsibility in regard to proper use of the approved texts, and avoiding texts that are not (yet) approved for use. Lay people also have an obligation, as participants in the liturgical action with a role to fill, to follow the texts which are in force.

It will not be long before we can put the lame-duck translation aside and use the new, corrected version.

It is tempting to jump the gun, and no one can stop you from doing as you please in this regard, and I don’t consider it to be a sin to say “And with your spirit” unless you shout it at the top of your lungs and thus disturb the whole action for others, but I would stick with the version in force.

My advice is to make a good verbal response using the text (sadly) still in force.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged and with your spirit, Et cum spiritu tuo, lame-duck, new corrected ICEL
61 Comments

UPDATE: Altar girls and the Extraordinary Form – the PCED clarifies the situation

Posted on 5 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Instruction on the application of the provisions of Summorum Pontificum, entitled Universae Ecclesiae, in paragraph 28, says in an English version:

Furthermore, by virtue of its character of special law, within its own area, the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum derogates from those provisions of law, connected with the sacred Rites, promulgated from 1962 onwards and incompatible with the rubrics of the liturgical books in effect in 1962.

So, if there is a conflict of law between what is found in the 1962 books and what was issued subsequent to the 1962, the what was issued subsequent does not apply for the celebration of the Extraordinary Form. That would include such post-Conciliar innovations as female service at the altar.

UE 28 clarified that females are not permitted to act as servers for the Extraordinary Form.

You may recall that at the University of Cambridge in England, even before Universae Ecclesiae was issued, the Catholic chaplain, who had also celebrated there the older form of Mass, made a decision that his male, female integrated team of servers, should serve also at the older form of Mass. That meant that he employed altar girls, women, to serve at the Extraordinary Form. When Universae Ecclesiae was issued, he continued with this practice.

This situation generated claims on both sides regarding UE 28, some people claiming that that paragraph did not bar females from serving.

I have now a copy of a letter sent by the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesiae Dei” and signed by the Secretary Msgr. Guido Pozzo, which clarifies that UE 28 in fact does say that females cannot serve at the altar in the Extraordinary Form.

The letter essentially quotes UE 28 and then states:

In this regard, the Circular Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments of 1994 (cf. Notitiae 30 [1994] 333-335) permitted female altar servers, does not apply to the Extraordinary Form.

Bottom line: females may not serve at the altar in the Extraordinary Form.

However, I understand as well that, though the chaplain at Cambridge has also had this clarification from the PCED for some time, as recently as Saturday 5 June he continued to have females serve at the altar for the Extraordinary Form.

This all goes beyond the single issue of the sex of the person serving at the altar. There are other innovations subsequent to 1962 to which UE 28 applies. It is important that, early on, the meaning of UE 28 be clear and also be accepted. It is important that, early on, the PCED get involved when Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae are misinterpreted.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged altar girls, Cambridge, Msgr. Pozzo, PCED, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, UE 28, Universae Ecclesiae
22 Comments

New, Corrected Translation won’t be enough

Posted on 5 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at Vultus Christi Fr. Mark Kirby, OSB, is, with my editing, emphases (mostly) and comments…

Pondering

[…]

Mass Facing the People: The Single Greatest Obstacle to the Reform [That is what the great liturgist Klaus Gamber thought. Turning altars around was single most damaging thing done in the wake of the Council.]

Here in Italy it is evident that churches were designed and constructed with an eye to the absolute centrality of the altar with priest and people facing together in the same direction. The placement, within perfectly proportioned sanctuaries, of secondary altars to allow for Mass facing the people has utterly destroyed the harmony, order, and spaciousness that the Sacred Liturgy, by its very nature, requires. [Isn’t it jarring to go into a church where the focus has been shifted?]

The Cheek-by-Jowl Ambo

Adding insult to injury, these versus populum altars are, more often than not cheek by jowl with a lectern (or ambo) that effectively impedes any movement around the altar, and positively discourages the incensation of the altar at the Introit and Offertory of the Mass. [Where there is a picnic table altar, yes.]

Crucifix, Candles, and Flowers

Here in Italy — and also in France — the traditional symmetrical arrangement of the candles and crucifix has all but disappeared in favour of a curious asymmetrical disposition that nearly always includes a bouquet of flowers place at one end of the altar, one, two, or three candles at the opposite end, and a crucifix somewhere in the sanctuary that may or may not be construed as having an inherent relationship with the altar. [Yes… this is a strange thing, very prevalent in Italy. I think it is a nun thing. At least it is a woman-decorating-the-altar thing.]

The Priest Magnified

Apart from these considerations, the most deleterious effect continues to be the magnification of the priest and of his personality. The theological direction of all liturgical prayer — ad Patrem, per Filium, in Spiritu — is obscured, while the priest, even in spite of himself, appears to be, at every moment, addressing the faithful or engaging personally with them. [The Novus Ordo tends to place more emphasis on the priest anyway, since he is constantly yakking at you. Then, make him face the people and you get… ]

It’s All About Me

Certain priests and bishops, marked by a streak of narcissism, abuse their position in front of and over the congregation to soak up the attention and energy of the faithful, attention and energy that, by right, belong to God alone during the Sacred Liturgy.

Placed in front of and over the congregation, priests an bishops all too easily give in to an arrogant liturgical clericalism, subjecting the faithful to their own additions amendments, comments, and embolisms. The faithful, being a captive audience, are subjected to the personality of the priest, which can and often does obscure the purity of the liturgical actions and texts that constitute the Roman Rite. [An even worse liturgical clericalism comes from the condescension behind clericalizing the laity.]

Translation and Business As Usual

The New English Translation of the Roman Missal will not, of itself, be enough to bring about an authentic reform and renewal of the Novus Ordo Missae. A deeper and broader reform is needed, one that must, necessarily, begin with bishops and with their priests charged with the care of souls. [Which is why we need wide-spread use of the Extraordinary Form: to teach us the Roman Rite again.]

Where to Start?

What concrete steps might be taken? It is fully within the authority of bishops to mandate and prescribe, for example, that two arrangements of the sanctuary will be allowed in their dioceses.

The Altar

In churches possessing an ad orientem altar integral to the architectural genius of the original design of the apse or of the sanctuary, secondary versus populum altars should be removed, and the sanctuaries should be restored to the original order, harmony, and spaciousness that characterized them. [There was actually an editorial in Notitiae about that point many years ago, which I translated for Sacred Music. The point being, that for the sake of the unicity of the altar, you don’t put an ironing-baord in front of the main altar. Use the main altar, for pity’s sake.]

In churches possessing only a versus populum altar, that altar should be so arranged as to place the crucifix, with the corpus facing the priest, in a central position with three candles at either side, following the Roman practice. [The so-called “Benedictine arrangment”.] Ideally there should be a space of minimally five feet on all sides of a free-standing altar, so as to facilitate the necessary ritual incensations and so as to allow, whenever possible, the celebration of the Mass ad orientem.