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{]:¬)

QUAERITUR: Of the color of wine, the amount, and the addition of water

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

First off is the wine to be consecrated have to be red and how much wine poured into the chalice is enough to make it a valid mass?

One of my priests told us if they don’t pour enough wine in the chalice it is not valid?

One time we saw a priest put no water in the wine? Did we still receive Jesus?

I like emails with single questions, so I will be brief.

1) No, and there is no minimum amount. However, too little and you run the risk of dilution when even the small amount of water is added. See THIS.
2) That isn’t a question, but I think you mean something about the amount of wine being an element that determines validity. No. That is NOT the case. See #1.
3) If everything else was performed sufficiently by a validly ordained priest, then probably YES, you did. Not adding water is a serious liturgical abuse, but it doesn’t invalidate.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Drill | Tagged dilution, validity, water, wine
16 Comments

An American Bishop switches political parties

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Rev. Mr. Kandra, at his blog Deacon’s Bench, has an entry about His Excellency Most. Rev. Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Providence.

Bp. Tobin has announced a switch of his political party. He has left the Democrats and has registered as a Republican.

Kandra quotes sources:

“The a-ha moment for me [Bp. Tobin] was the 2012 Democratic National Convention. It was just awful,” Tobin, 65, told the Rhody Young Republicans during an event at the Holy Rosary Band Society Hall in Providence. The leader of Rhode Island’s roughly 621,000 Catholics said he had been a registered Democrat since 1969.

“I just said I can’t be associated structurally with that group, in terms of abortion and NARAL [Pro-Choice America] and Planned Parenthood and [the] same-sex marriage agenda and cultural destruction I saw going on,” Tobin said. “I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

Tobin switched his affiliation to the Republican Party effective Jan. 5, according to voter records reviewed by WPRI.com. [~~Uh-huh. I am sure this TV station was sniffing around out of purely benign motives.~~ Someone wrote to clarify that they checked records after Bp. Tobin’s statement.] He is registered to vote from a house on the 140-acre grounds of the diocese’s Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence. [Note the inclusion of 140-acres…. gosh, he must be rich. After all, I’ll the people are dying to get into that neighborhood.]

“I’ve changed my party registration now, but the fact is that the registration itself doesn’t mean a whole lot to me,” Tobin said. [Will the MSM take him at his word?]

A couple things.

Aside from the fact that the GOP is not perfect, how can any cleric be a member of a political party that is so clearly pro-abortion? How can a cleric be a member of a party that actively, openly undermines the true definition of marriage?

The Democrat platform enshrines abortion rights and homosexual “marriage”.

“But Father! But Father!”, you squishy soft identity types are about to pipe up, “You hate Vatican II and….”

Nope. That’s enough.

Don’t give me any of that “you can be ‘pro-life’ and yet not talk about abortion because ‘pro-life’ can’t be limited to the abortion issue” seam-less garment blah blah. We have to defend the poor and the un-born. Don’t give me that “we help the unborn more by not talking about abortion and focusing on government entitlement programs for the poor”. B as in B. S as in S. We don’t have to choose between the unborn and the poor. We can’t choose between them. We have to choose both. Silence about the unborn and avoidance of the issue for the sake of a “bigger picture” is a cop out. Without the right to be born, the other social justice issues are so much wind in the weeds.

Moreover, though we must help the poor, the best ways to help the poor are matters of contingent moral judgments (about we Catholics can disagree). The right to life of the unborn is not a matter of contingent moral judgments (we Catholics can’t disagree).

I suspect some will say that clerics should not be inscribed in any political party. That is defensible position.

However, in some states is it not the fact that if you are not registered in a party you cannot vote in that party’s primary? I don’t know how RI is set up. Perhaps this switch to GOP means that Bp. Tobin will at least be able to vote in the primary of the party that is not the Party of Death.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged abortion, Bp. Tobin, contingent moral judgments, D. Providence, Democrats, DNC, GOP, Party of Death, political parties, pro-abortion, pro-life, Republicans
42 Comments

REVIEW: Great book of documentary evidence about the Pontificate of Ven. Pius XII

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Click to buy

I just received in the mail a copy of the 3rd edition of POPE PIUS XII AND WORLD WAR II: THE DOCUMENTED TRUTH : A Compilation of International Evidence Revealing the Wartime Acts of the Vatican. (UK link HERE)

Wow. Useful and compelling.

The compiler/editor is Gary L. Krupp. He is Jewish and has the distinction of having been knighted by John Paul II and then raised to the Order of St. Gregory by Benedict XVI. He is the founder of the Pave The Way Foundation.

The book aims to present evidence helpful for an accurate understanding of what Pius XII actually did. As such, it is part of his Foundation’s goal of removing obstacles and misinformation and foster true interreligious dialogue.

The book is a large format paperback.

Within, you find documentary evidence about Pius XII. Images of the documentary evidence are provided.

For example:

What Krupp has done is compile documents, testimonies, newspaper articles, eye-witness accounts, etc., which serve to “bring to light the true history of the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII and those who suffered under Nazi tyranny.”

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Gary L. Krupp, Jews, Nazism, Ven. Pius XII, WWII
11 Comments

Another bishop restricts eulogies

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Sermons for the older form, Extraordinary Form, Requiem Mass are to be pronounced only with the permission of the local bishop and are to be delivered after Mass concludes, while wearing no vestments.

There is a lot of wisdom in this, especially in the older form of Mass which people knew well. First, the Church herself presented what she knows we need to hear as we all march equally toward heaven through the doors of death. In the traditional Requiem, we are equal.

Also, consider the possibilities of putting your foot wrong in a delicate moment or having a sermon turn into a political harangue or emotional outburst. You can multiply examples of things that can and do go wrong.

And they can and do go wrong, often very wrong, when in the Novus Ordo eulogies are given at funerals.

This is why some bishops are wising up and beginning to restrict, in a more direct way, eulogies at funerals. For a good example of that, and some background on the Church’s law, go HERE. Bp. Morlino of Madison issued directives about this for the Diocese of Madison.

Bishop issues rules for funerals to stop ‘dumbing down’ of Mass

The Bishop of Meath in Ireland has issued new guidelines for funerals to counter the “dumbing down” of the Mass.

The guidelines clarified that eulogies had no place during a liturgy, but should take place outside the church.

They received some criticism, including from the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP). [To avoid the offense implied in this abbreviation, which we all know is a type of .45 cal ammo, it is better to use Ass.CP.]

In a statement Bishop Michael Smith thanked his priests for upholding the dignity of the funeral liturgy “often in difficult circumstances”.

Quoting a book by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he said secular culture tended towards the “materialistic trivialisation of death”. Cardinal Ratzinger, he said, wrote that: “Death is to be deprived of its character as a place where the metaphysical breaks through. Death is rendered banal so as to quell the unsettling questions that arise from it.” [Example: covering graveside dirt with artificial turf.]

Bishop Smith said the funeral liturgy had a clear focus. “It is a prayer of petition for the deceased, a prayer commending the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, a prayer rooted in the hope engendered by the Death and Resurrection of Christ.”

Eulogies, therefore, as well as secular songs, poems and readings, “should not take place” during the Mass, the bishop said. He added that priests should only engage with the family about the Mass, not with a “funeral planner”. [Depending on the “funeral planner”, of course.]

His guidelines were criticised by ACP spokesman Fr Sean McDonagh, who said he “doesn’t really understand” the reasoning behind the directive. He said: “As far as I can see there is no way that eulogies interfere with the integrity of the Eucharist. [aka “Mass”] Most of them are totally appropriate for funerals.” [The Church disagrees.]

Posted in Brick by Brick, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Bp. Michael Smith, Bp. Morlino, Card. Ratzinger, D. Meath, eulogies, funerals, Ireland, Requiem Mass
42 Comments

Washington DC bans Christian musician because God “delivered” him from homosexuality.

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

My friend Msgr. Charles Pope has a piece on his blog on the site of the Archdiocese of Washington DC. It merits some attention. Here are a few tastes with my emphases:

District of Columbia Cancels Appearance of Gospel Artist due to Views on Homosexuality. Who Will be Next?
By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Homosexual activists and advocates often state that they merely want recognition and certain legal rights, and that churches and other objectors to their life style remain free to have their opinions and state them in a free culture. And any expressed fears regarding compulsory recognition or punitive measures directed against objectors are dismissed as fear mongering.

Never mind that these fears are based in real experiences in Canada and Europe where clergy have been arrested and fined for presenting the biblical case against homosexuality in the pulpits of their own churches or the pages of their bulletins.

In the end we who raise alarms about the increasingly strident declaration of our objections as “hate speech” and as “human rights violations” remain concerned about legal punishment etc., despite “reassurances” from pro-homosexual advocates and government officials.

Today there is more confirmation about the price that is paid by those who object to the cultural juggernaut that activism is becoming. Gospel Artist Donnie McClurkin has had his appearance canceled by the Mayor’s Office here in DC due to his views on homosexuality. Here is the clip from a local Station, Fox 5 News:

[…]

Well of course there are now those in the ascendency among the cultural elites who will not permit even one scintilla of objection to homosexual behavior. And those who do so must be marginalized and excluded. No dissent from the new dogma of the elites is to be permitted. Dissent must be punished severely and swiftly. [It is a campaign of intimidation and, simultaneously, of propaganda.]

I use words like “dogma” and “dissent” intentionally, since those who like to denounce religious rules and dogma and raise all sorts of objections to past “excesses” of excommunication and inquisition (limited those these were), have now adopted their own fervor for their new anti-religion. And many are far more dogmatic, punitive and excluding than any religious group of recent memory. If you object to the new cultural agenda, you have to go. You must be excluded as dangerous and evil.

[…]

You must be excluded as dangerous and evil.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liberals, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Pò sì jiù, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged Archd. Washington DC, homosexual activists, homosexuality, Msgr. Pope
12 Comments

VIDEO: Sisters react to the election of Pope Francis

Posted on 14 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is worth your time. The Domincan Sister of Mary Mother of the Eucharist react to the election of Pope Francis. It seems that they had a film crew there while they were working on the production of their music disc. (More on the disc HERE. I posted samples there.)

I wonder if at the LCWR meeting the sister there who read my blog will show this to the others.

And there was something on them on NPR.

Posted in Francis, Just Too Cool, Lighter fare, Women Religious | Tagged Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, Pope Francis
12 Comments

Pres. Obama’s dog flown to vacation in a MV-22 Osprey

Posted on 13 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From The Telegraph:

First dog Bo is airlifted to Obama holiday home

Rooms have to be found for dozens of Secret Service agents, someone has to carry a selection of presidential basketballs, and of course the family dog needs his own state-of-the-art aircraft.
Arriving in the idyllic coastal retreat of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Mr Obama left behind him in Washington DC high profile debates over the budget, government surveillance and his health care reforms. Instead, he will spend the next eight days playing golf, going to the beach, and buying books from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.
In the air he swapped his suit and tie for khakis and a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, while Mrs Obama wore a yellow-and-white summer dress.
Bo, the president’s Portuguese Water Dog, arrived separately on one of two MV-22 Ospreys, a hybrid aircraft which takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane.

Posted in You must be joking! | Tagged Pres. Obama
32 Comments

QUAERITUR: How to correct a priest who is getting the rubrics wrong?

Posted on 13 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

A priest has started saying the Extraordinary Form Mass at a local church. The congregation is very thankful, and we make sure to let him know. [Excellent!]

Unfortunately, even though he is enthusiastic about the Extraordinary Form, he doesn’t know the Mass well. It’s difficult for the servers to correct him. He insists he’s right. It obviously embarrasses him, so we just try to ignore it.

The difficulty comes when he starts to give the servers new instructions.

Is there anything we can do to fix the situation without embarrassing him?

Without embarrassing him.

Well…. this is not really a situation of fraternal correction, unless you are priest.

First, don’t do it in front of anyone else.

It seems to me that, above all, you are rights that he is wrong. That is to say, be sure of your position before attempting to correct him.

Then, provide proof. You need evidence. There is an old phrase: gratis asseritur, gratis negatur… something your assert without evidence is just as easily denied by the one you are telling.

Off the top of my head, perhaps you could offer to pay for a refresher workshop with the FSSP or with the guys at St. John Cantius.

CLICK TO BUY

In lieu, I suggest you get a reliable source such as The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Fortescue and O’Connell reworked by Reid after Summorum Pontificum. Double-check everything. Then make a private appointment with Father and bring the book. As a matter of fact, you could give him a copy of the book! At the very least, you could bring photo copies of the relevant pages.

You also need to be familiar with the Instruction on Summorum Pontificum issued by the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” entitled Universae Ecclesiae.

Universae Ecclesiae clarifies that (my emphases):

24. The liturgical books of the forma extraordinaria are to be used as they are. All those who wish to celebrate according to the forma extraordinaria of the Roman Rite must know the pertinent rubrics and are obliged to follow them correctly.

In approaching him I wouldn’t be aggressive. Neither do I think you need to avoid eye-contact as you would when encountering a tiger. Like a tiger, however, Father may aim an initial blow at your hamstring to immobilize you before he suffocates you with his jaws and subsequently guts you. Don’t panic. Remain cordial. Don’t lash back. Give ~~Shere Khan~~ … er… Father an honorable escape route. Thank him for the meeting and leave the materials you brought. After a couple days call and ask when you might be able to see him again.

Do these things, Mowgli, and you probably get some results.

Meanwhile, make sure your will is in order.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged Extraordinary Form, rubrics, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Univerae Ecclesiae
16 Comments

Does Mount St. Vincent, a Catholic College in NY, now employ an “abortion doula” prof?

Posted on 13 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Be sure to check out the feed of the Cardinal Newman Society on the side bar of this blog.

This is from the CNS:

‘Abortion Doula’ Professor Posts Video, But Catholic College Defends Employment

A professor at The College at Mount St. Vincent in New York recorded a video blog detailing her work as an “abortion doula.” [SICK! A “doula” is a woman who assists women during labor and childbirth. What a sick, twisted contradiction of terms.]
In 2011, The Cardinal Newman Society first reported on the scandal of Bianca Laureano teaching a course titled “SOC OF HUMAN SEXUALITY” for the Catholic college while volunteering as an “abortion doula.”
But in this video blog, discovered by a Campus Reform reporter in a follow-up to Newman Society’s reports, Professor Laureano discusses how she comforts women undergoing abortions and sometimes fundraises for women who have difficulty paying for the procedure. [That sounds like material cooperation to me. I suspect that, if true, and if those abortions were in fact procured, she has incurred an excommunication. If that is the case, she should not be teaching in a Catholic school.]

The Cardinal Newman Society asked the College to verify Laureano’s current employment status, but spokesperson Belle Hann replied, “The College of Mount Saint Vincent has a policy whereby we do not comment upon the employment status of faculty and staff.” The College’s website reveals that Laureano was teaching a “Human Sexuality”course as late as last summer.
Hann also forwarded a comment from the president of the College, Charles Flynn Jr., defending Laureano’s employment. “The college is an independent institution deeply committed to its Catholic identity and mission,” he wrote in a letter to alumni. “We cannot and do not require that employees share faith in Catholic teaching, even the most fundamental Catholic teaching.”

?!?

Is there a disconnect in that last part? Am I missing something?

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged abortion, Cardinal Newman Society, Catholic education, CNS, Mount St. Vincent
25 Comments

Opposed to same-sex “marriage”? Burn in Hell!

Posted on 13 August 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The MSM and entertainment industry take pains to portray homosexuals (whom they include in their TV shows at a higher percentage than represented in the population watching the shows) as cool, with it, sophisticated, more balanced and poised than their dysfunctional straight counterparts. No?

On the other hand, I saw this (biretta tip to Pewsitter) at Charisma News:

Human Rights Commissioner Tells Gay Marriage Opponent to ‘Burn in Hell’

A human rights commissioner in Iowa told a Christian opponent of same-sex marriage that he and his entire family should “burn in hell.”

The commissioner, 49-year-old Scott Raasch, sent threatening emails to the Rev. Cary Gordon, who had campaigned against gay marriage.

Yet Raasch still believes he should keep his role on the Human Rights Commission, claiming he would act impartially.

In angry emails, Raasch wrote, “You will get what’s coming to you sooner or later. I hope you rot in hell,” adding, “I think there are many people that deserve to burn in hell … including you and your entire family.”

Raasch also wrote, “Now be a good little bigot and go break some more laws.” [Who’s the bigot?]

Raasch has since apologized to Gordon and insists he would hold no bias against people of faith in his role at the Human Rights Commission. [Riiiiight.]

In his apology, Raasch said, “As I have stated to the City Council, although we disagree on many issues, I hold no bias against religious people generally or against members of Cornerstone and would stand up to protect their legal rights the same as any other protected class.” [“Protected class”… ? What does that mean?]

Gordon, of Cornerstone World Outreach Church, has accepted the apology but still thinks Raasch should step down from his role on the Commission.

“As a commissioner, you are expected to defend me against anti-religious discrimination,” Gordon said. [Apart from the fact that having someone who exercises such bad judgment as to write and send that email is getting paid from taxpayer money.]

“Why not do the honorable thing,” he added, “and tender your resignation to the council so that no one in our community has to worry about whether or not you are out to get them with power?”