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: Gathering around the altar at school Mass

Posted on 28 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

It was announced during our school Mass today, by the associate here at the parish where I teach, that henceforth, whatever class has “planned” the school Mass each week will be invited to gather around the altar for the Eucharistic Prayer and will remain until they have given the Sign of Peace to Father.

This is sloppy sentimentality. This crude attempt at being “meaningful” demeans both the Mass and everyone involved.

I don’t believe there is an explicit prohibition in any document against this. However, there are documents which describe who should be where.

For example, in GIRM 295 we read.

The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation.

Lay people are not to be in the sanctuary unless they have a ministerial role. “Standing there” is not a role.

Furthermore, in the USA people are to kneel – not stand – from the Sanctus until after the Amen at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.

Also, back in 1981 the Congregation for Divine Worships official publication Notitiae (No. 17 (1981) p. 61) responded to a question about this matter.

Query: At the presentation of gifts at a Mass with congregation, persons (lay or religious) bring to the altar the bread and wine which are to be consecrated. These gifts are received by the priest celebrant. All those participating in the Mass accompany this group procession in which the gifts are brought forward. They then stand around the altar until communion time. Is this procedure in conformity with the spirit of the law and of the Roman Missal?

Reply: Assuredly, the Eucharistic celebration is the act of the entire community, carried out by all the members of the liturgical assembly. Nevertheless, everyone must have and also must observe his or her own place and proper role: ‘In liturgical celebrations each one, minister or layperson, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to that office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy’ (SC 28). During the liturgy of the Eucharist, only the presiding celebrant remains at the altar. The assembly of the faithful take their place in the Church outside the ‘presbyterium,’ which is reserved for the celebrant or concelebrants and altar ministers.

While this does not say explicitly that that people with no ministerial role mustn’t stand around the altar, it is pretty clear that that is the meaning of the response.

Furthermore, at no point is there an indication in the rite for the priest or anyone else to invite people to come into the sanctuary and stand (against the Church’s clear direction during the Eucharistic prayer) near the altar.

Moreover, the Ceremonial of Bishops 50 states,

“A minister who is not wearing a vestment, a cassock or surplice, or other lawfully approved garb may not enter the sanctuary during a celebration.”

The priest who has this in mind should be dissuaded from starting this, perhaps over a couple mugs of rich and aromatic Mystic Monk Coffee. If he will not be dissuaded, then he should be compelled, either his superior if he is a religious and/or by the local diocesan bishop, whose task it is make sure that the Church’s liturgical directives are followed. One could also explain the situation to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments and ask for advice.

QUAERITUR: Can bishops forbid pastors to add a TLM to the schedule

Posted on 28 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have of late received more than one email from readers with similar questions.

In effect, they have asked if diocesan bishops can forbid pastors to add a Traditional Latin Mass to the Sunday Mass schedule, or if the local bishop can force the pastor to eliminate an existing TLM from the schedule.

From what I am picking up, it may be that a few bishop are trying to restrict the use of the older form of the Missale Romanum to one church/parish only. In doing so, they seem to be ignoring the existence of Summorum Pontificum.

A pastor (parochus) does not need the permission of the bishop to use the 1962 Missale Romanum or to place a TLM on the parish schedule.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio says (in my translation and with my emphases):

§ 2. Celebration according to the Missal of Bl. John XXIII can take place on weekdays; on Sunday, however, and feasts there can be also one celebration of this kind.

Art. 5, § 1. In parishes, where there is stably present a group of the faithful attached to the previous liturgical tradition, let the pastor willingly receive their petitions that Mass be celebrated according to the Rite of the Missale Romanum issued in 1962. Let him see to it that the good of these faithful be harmoniously brought into accord with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the governance of the Bishop according to canon 392, by avoiding discord and by fostering the unity of the whole Church.

[…]

Art. 7. Where some group of the lay faithful, mentioned in art. 5 § 1 will not have obtained the things sought from the pastor, let the Diocesan Bishop be informed about the matter. The Bishop is strenuously asked that he graciously grant their desire. If does not want to provide for a celebration of this kind, let the matter be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.

In reading 5, § 1, pay close attention to that “avoiding discord”. Few things create discord in a parish faster than changing the Mass schedule. It is very important, therefore, that those who are inclined to the traditional form of Mass not be the source of the discord.

Keep in mind that 5, § 1 mentions CIC 1983 can. 392.

Can. 392 §1 Since the Bishop must defend the unity of the universal Church, he is bound to foster the discipline which is common to the whole Church, and so press for the observance of all ecclesiastical laws.

§2 He is to ensure that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline, especially concerning the ministry of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God and the cult of the saints, and the administration of goods.

Thus, bishops cannot ignore Summorum Pontificum. At the same time we could probably identity one or two bishops who, although they have not regulated very well the liturgical practice of their dioceses in respect to curbing obvious abuses, are willing to repress more traditional forms that are perfectly legitimate.

After consultation with a canonist about the meaning of can. 392, it seems that it would be abuse of power by a bishop to micromanage a parishes schedule so as to eliminate a TLM when there is not really a strong need to do so and provided that the schedule adequately and reasonably suits the other needs of the parishioners. Common sense and charity should prevail.

When lay people are involved in a situation like this, they should remain very cool and avoid as much as possible creating problems for the parish priest. On the other hand, lay people have the right to express their opinions, respectfully, to the bishop and to write to Rome, to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.

People can at any time in a “dialogue” with a pastor or a bishop write directly to Rome. However, they are well advised to try to work things out locally before they write to Rome, to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.

Lay people also have the power of their wallets. It may be that, if their legitimate aspirations are being repressed, they may choose to reduce their level of giving. Alternately, if their needs are being met, they should be willing to increase their giving. It is not unreasonable to let the bishop know what your giving plan is and why you have decided to change it.

If you are going to write to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, you should send them documentation about what is going on. Copies of letters exchanged with the pastor and bishop, parish bulletins are very useful. They give the PCED something to work with beyond the statements of a few people.

It is not forbidden for more than one person to write.

Look also at my Tips for writing to bishops and to the P.C. Ecclesia Dei.

And don’t forget to pray to the guardian angels of all those involved if there is a conflict. Old Scratch likes discord and will try to increase it.

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

POTUS again omits “Creator” from Declaration citation

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Creative Minority Report with my emphases and comments:

Well, for all those who said it was just a slip of the tongue last time or that his speechwriters were to blame, Obama just made sure you knew that he meant it the first time. Yup. President Obama just omitted God again from the Declaration of Independence.

As Weasel Zippers said, “No denying it now.”

But while I take notice of what he doesn’t say, what he does say irks me a bit too. Check it out.

CNS reports:

Just seven days after he sparked controversy by omitting the word “Creator” when he closely paraphrased the passage from the Declaration of Independence that says all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,” [Perhaps the one quote people really know well.] President Barack Obama again omitted the Creator when speaking about the “inalienable rights” that “everybody is endowed with.”

This time the president was speaking at a Sept. 22 fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, and his reference to “inalienable rights” was not as close a paraphrasing of the Declaration as it had been the week before.

“And what was sustaining us was that sense that, that North Star, that sense that, you know what, if we stay true to our values, if we believe that all people are created equal and everybody is endowed with certain inalienable rights and we’re going to make those words live, [But they are dead if they exclude God. They are dead because they rely only on ourselves, on finite humans who, by themselves, cannot create or endow anything. ] and we’re going to give everybody opportunity, everybody a ladder into the middle class, every child able to go as far as their dreams will take them–if we stay true to that, then we’re going to be able to maintain the energy and the focus, the fight, the gumption to get stuff done,” Obama said at the DCCC/DSCC event, according to the transcript posted by the White House.Kinda’ weird for a practicing Christian like him to make such an error twice, huh? One would almost start thinking he was doing it on purpose.

Once you omit the Creator from a discussion about rights the rights are immediately quite alienable. They become merely common beliefs which can change over time.

But for Obama to say that the Declaration of Independence is there to give everyone “a ladder” into the middle class. That’s a pretty fundamental misunderstanding of rights if you ask me. And from a President that’s pretty scary.

Not a surprise, however.

Posted in The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Declaration of Independence, POTUS
57 Comments

2 October – Kansas City, KS – FSSP Ordination

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Have you ever seen an ordination to the priesthood with the older, traditional Roman Rite….

A reader sent notice of the following:

FSSP ORDINATION KANSAS CITY THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Rev. Mr David Kemna will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Emeritus Keleher at St Anthony’s Church, KCK, on Saturday, October 2 at 10:00am. All are welcome. (Low Mass at Blessed Sacrament at 7:00am)

Fr Kemna will celebrate his first Solemn Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church on next Sunday, October 3 – External Solemnity of the B.V.M. of the Holy Rosary at 11:00am.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole |
9 Comments

REVIEW: “Annunciation” by artist Daniel Mitsui

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I am sure you remember my review of artist/illustrator Daniel Mitsui’s Crucifixion. Mitsui has a blog called The Lion and the Cardinal, an obvious Patristic reference which never fails to delight me.

Today I received another print from him, a polychrome print of the Annunciation. It is found on his religious art page here.

These are taken with my phone, so they are not perfectly clear.

Here is the print, taken from his site.
Annunciation
A couple details from my new print taken with my phone (so they are a tad fuzzy):

Around the figure of the angel and the Blessed Virgin are Old Testament figures, foreshadowing the Annunciation. This one is of Gideon and the fleece soaked with dew. You might recall my post about St. Ambrose’s exegesis of the “dew” during the period when certain bishops were protesting the new, corrected translation.

You can see the detail in the background./

You can see part of Mitsui’s signature.

I was also very impressed by the way the print was wrapped up, between multiple layers of cardboard, everything carefully taped up so that the print could not be damaged.

This would make a fine gift for, say, some seminarian, or a convert… anyone.

Posted in REVIEWS | Tagged Annunciation, Daniel Mitsui
5 Comments

QUAERITUR: Use of the beretta at Mass in the Ordinary Form

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Can a beretta be used in the OF? When would it be used?

Yes, without question! But make sure that it is clean and in good working order so that it doesn’t misfire.

I would use the beretta primarily when there are too many extraordinary ministers charging the altar. Another possible moment would be when the choir sings On Eagles Wings or another ditty of that sort.

The best way to use the beretta is to rise… first removing your biretta – which is perfectly correct to use in celebrations of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite – and, taking aim, go for center Mass shots (NB: some recommend head shots – auctores scinduntur).

I have learned through hard won and tough experience that you should immediately reload!

To save you and everyone else that embarrassing hitching up of the alb and digging in the pocket for a magazine, have ready on a silver salver, prepared before Mass, covered with a linen cloth about the size of a corporal. The altar boy, or if it is a more solemn occasion, deacon, can bring you magazines as you should need them.

The beretta should be cleaned after the purification of the chalice and before the final prayer and dismissal.

The congregation will be quite patient and will, believe me, not leave before that final blessing.

[No actual extraordinary ministers of Communion or pop-combo members were hurt in the making of this blog entry.]

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare |
67 Comments

QUAERITUR: “Nice to see you!”, during Communion

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

While about to receive Communion today I was told by a Eucharistic minister “nice to see you” immediately after she had said “Body of Christ,” to me. I had not even responded, “Amen” yet. Is this permissible? I was trying to be as solemn as possible as this just threw me off. What do you think.

I am sure that the person who did that had good intentions.

However, the way Holy Communion is to be distributed in the Latin Church is laid out in the books.

The minister of Communion says: The Body of Christ.
The communicant responds: Amen.

In the traditional form the minister says: Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen.
The communicant responds:

That “The communicant responds:” was a trick. The communicant doesn’t respond.

There is no indication in the Novus Ordo or traditional books that, at Communion, the minister and communicant should have a little chat about what’s nice or what isn’t. There is no directive to editorialize. There is nothing about the minister expressing observations or feelings of any kind. Ministers of Communion are not the center of attention at Communion.

“Gosh, how I feel right now is so important that, even though I’m holding a consecrated Host in my hand, and there is a person wanting to receive the Body of Christ in front of me that, I think I’ll just make what I think and feel the center of our attention.”

There is plenty of time to talk after Mass or in another occasion.

In most places there should be a review to determine whether or not extraordinary ministers are truly necessary.

If they are, they should be properly trained.

After that, if they can’t do fulfill their role properly, if they can’t say the black part and do the red thing – they should be replaced.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
41 Comments

The Tablet online edition = Grima Wormtongue

Posted on 27 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the UK’s best Catholic weekly, The Catholic Herald, comes this analysis piece by William Oddie. My emphases and comments.

There are various perspectives from which we can view the papal visit: and one of them is as a PR exercise. That’s not to say, of course, that that is what the visit was actually about: [It was surely also about PR.] but a failure in PR terms would have been a definite set-back for the Church. The ultimate PR pro, Max Clifford, has opined that the Pope “got better coverage in the British media than I expected. In the build-up to the visit there was far more criticism than praise and then after he arrived far more praise than criticism. The pluses far outweighed the minuses. From a PR perspective there is a huge amount that needs to be done, but the visit was a success – far more a success than I thought it might have been.”

We starry-eyed papalists might at this juncture be a little more enthusiastic than that about the fact that the whole thing was “more of a success than… it might have been”, but Clifford’s is on the whole a positive assessment from a wholly disengaged non-Catholic professional.

The Tablet online assessment was much less positive than Max Clifford’s: if you didn’t know, you might have thought it had been composed by a member of Protest the Pope—an organisation which was basically reduced to complete insignificance by the scale of the Pope’s success everywhere but in the immediate environs of their demonstration last Saturday, but which continued to say what a success their whole campaign had been.

Thus, the Tablet online: “Unfolding sex abuse scandals, the rehabilitation of a Holocaust-denying bishop, and the Pope’s traditionalist leanings that have led him to relax restrictions on Tridentine liturgy while continuing to limit Catholic clergy to unmarried men had cost the Pope a degree of support he might have enjoyed from inside and outside the Church. Secularists and gay rights activists joined forces to create a “Protest the Pope” group and 10,000 people took to the streets of central London when the Pope was in town”. Nothing about the Pope’s success: incredible. [I am not in the least surprised.]

The Tablet print edition did better, opining that at the Hyde Park rally (which took place at the same time as the Protest the Pope demo [Or Perhaps the other way around?] by which their online writer was so impressed, and which attracted an attendance over ten times less numerous). “British Catholicism” reads the Tablet leader “set out its stall, saying simply, ‘Here we are, this is what we do.’ It displayed its diversity, its contributions to the common good through its care for disabled and elderly people and for the education and welfare for young people, its inclusive concern for immigrants, strangers and refugees, its commitment to international development and to protecting the environment. This is precisely what the Pope, writing as Cardinal Ratzinger, once called a “creative minority”. More enthusiasm there for “British Catholicism” (whatever that is) than for the Pope, but it was at least an attempt to be positive.

The Tablet online assessment, though, represents the voice of a certain kind of English Catholic, who like Grima Wormtongue [ouch] in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings aims to sap courage and self-confidence by depression and defeatism, and who as we see is already finding once more its insidious voice. That voice has always been fundamentally anti-Wojty?a and anti-Ratzinger; and it surely will find it a lot more difficult now to be heard. But it is not yet a thing entirely of the past: be on your guard.

Dr William Oddie is a leading English Catholic writer and broadcaster. He edited The Catholic Herald from 1998 to 2004 and is the author of The Roman Option and Chesterton and the Romance of Orthodoxy.

The Tablet online = Grima Wormtongue.

Posted in The Drill | Tagged Catholic Herald, Grima Wormtongue, The Tablet
9 Comments

QUAERITUR: Eating, plays in churches

Posted on 25 September 2010 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

I was in a discussion with someone about eating in the Church not necessarily at Mass AND use of the Church for plays, community events, shelter, etc. What are the rules for behavior inside a Catholic Church? Is there a list of such rules anywhere? Where would one find such rules?n

In general.. don’t be eating in church.

That said, it may be in some place that church is the only place available for gatherings.

In Rome I frequented a tiny church entrusted to the Chinese. They really had nothing other than that space for their fairly large group. After Mass, the seats/benches were instantly pushed back, saw horses and boards and cloths produced and people brought out food they prepared at home for a large pot luck meal. When it was done, they left they cleaned with celerity and left the place spotless and in good order. Always. They really had no place else to go.

But in general… don’t be eating in church. Under normal circumstances there will be a place for people to meet apart from the church. Eat there.

Plays…

There was a medieval practice of having mystery and morality plays in church. Eventually they were kicked outside. Today? I suppose the same strictures would apply to plays and other performances as would apply to concerts in churches. There is a Vatican document on that.

The church is a sacred place.

There are sacred things, people and places. When a church is consecrated, it is set apart for that which pertains to God. It is not a secular building, for secular purposes. It is the place where the sacred mysteries are celebrated.

Off the top of my head, perhaps it would be good to see, say, Murder in the Cathedral, in a cathedral.

Moses put his shoes off of his feet because he was on holy ground. Our churches should be treated with respect.

Sadly, from the way some churches are designed and constructed, you would not know that they have any other than a secular purpose. I have seen nicer municipal airports than what was foisted on the people as a new church. Therefore, it does not surprise me that some people would be confused about the uses of church spaces.

Some protestants call their whole church building a “sanctuary”. And they’ve.. well… got nothing.

We should treat our sacred spaces with the respect they require, for our own sake and that of children who learn about the sacred through our choices.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Concerts in Churches
47 Comments