Fr. Z's Blog | Catholic commentary by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been rereading The Rhine Flows Into The Tiber, about the inner workings of the Second Vatican Council. Just a few days ago I read about how Council Fathers asked John XXIII to stress devotion to St. Joseph. During the first month of the Council John added Joseph’s name to the Roman Canon.

Today is the 50th anniversary of Joseph being added to the Canon.

Here is the section from the aforementioned book describing what happened during that first month of the Council and some background:

The last speaker on October 30 was Auxiliary Bishop Ildefonso Sansierra of San Juan de Cuyo, Argentina, who expressed the hope that “the wish of very many bishops and priests” for the inclusion of the name of St. Joseph in the Canon of the Mass would not be forgotten. On November 5, the same request was made at great length by Bishop Albert Cousineau of Cap Haïtien, Haiti, a former superior of the St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal, who asked that “the name of Blessed Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be introduced into the Mass wherever the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned.”

At the end of the eighteenth General Congregation, on November 13, the Cardinal Secretary of State made a special announcement on the subject. He said that the Holy Father, wishing to conform to the desire “expressed by many Council Fathers,” had decided to insert the name of St. Joseph in the Canon of the Mass, immediately after the name of the Most Holy Virgin. This action was to serve for all time as a reminder that St. Joseph had been the Patron of the Second Vatican Council. “This decision of the Holy Father,” added the Cardinal, “will go into effect next December 8, and in the meanwhile the Sacred Congregation of Rites will prepare the necessary documents.”

Cardinal Montini later described this unexpected move as “a surprise for the Council from the Pope.”

In some quarters Pope John was severely criticized for taking what was termed independent action while the Ecumenical Council was in session. Actually, his decree was only the culmination of sporadic but intensive campaigns, dating back to 1815, through which hundreds of thousands of signatures of the hierarchy and the laity had been gathered and sent to the Vatican. The campaigns had become particularly intensive at the announcements of Vatican I by Pope Pius IX, and of Vatican II by Pope John. [NB] Immediately after Pope John’s announcement, Monsignor Joseph Phelan of St. Joseph’s Church in Capitola, California, launched a drive together with his parishioners and netted some 150,000 signatures. [Don’t ever assume that small, localized efforts cannot have a big impact on large matters.]

Chiefly responsible for the action taken by Pope John, however, were Fathers Roland Gauthier and Guy Bertrand, directors of the Center of Research and Documentation at the St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal, who in 1961 composed a seventy-five-page booklet giving the history of these campaigns. They explained that the placement of St. Joseph’s name after that of the Virgin Mary in the Canon of the Mass would, doctrinally and liturgically, give official recognition to St. Joseph’s eminence in sanctity, after Mary, over all other saints. These two Holy Cross Fathers, through collaboration with the Discalced Carmelites of the Sociedad Ibero-Americana de Josefología in Valladolid, Spain, and the St. Joseph Fathers of Blessed Leonard Murialdo of the St. Joseph Research Center in Viterbo, Italy, were able to have their booklet appear in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, and sent copies of it with a petition to the Council Fathers around the world, long before the Council began.

In mid-March 1962, Pope John was presented with six volumes containing the signed petitions of 30 cardinals, 436 patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, and 60 superiors general. While examining the signatures, Pope John said, “Something will be done for St. Joseph.” These signatures confirmed him in his personal desire to do something special for St. Joseph, whom he had venerated from childhood with a very special devotion.

On October 19, three days before the liturgy came up for discussion in the Council hall, Father Edward Heston of the Holy Cross Fathers—who had submitted the petitions in the name of the three centers—was officially informed that Pope John had decided to take action on the proposal, and was going to include the name of St. Joseph in the Canon of the Mass.

November 13, the day on which Pope John’s decision was made public in the Council hall, also marked the end of the long discussion on the liturgy, which had taken up fifteen meetings, with an average of twenty-two speeches a day. It was announced at the end of the morning that discussion would begin on the following day on the schema on the sources of revelation.

Our friends at Rorate have an image of the decree:

The Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us (after each line)
Saint Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons, [!]
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of His house:
R. And ruler of all His substance.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thine unspeakable [“ineffabili”] providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thine own most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom we reverence as our defender on earth: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Bl John XXIII, Litany of St. Joseph, Second Vatican Council, St. Joseph, Vatican II
12 Comments

Chesterton in support of Dolan’s call for renewal of confession

Posted on 13 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

As the USCCB meets, I offer this from G. K. Chesterton’s Autobiography (UK link HERE):

When people ask me, or indeed anybody else, “Why did you join the Church of Rome?” the first essential answer, if it is partly an elliptical answer, is, “To get rid of my sins.” For there is no other religious system that does really profess to get rid of people’s sins. It is confirmed by the logic, which to many seems startling, by which the Church deduces that sin confessed and adequately repented is actually abolished; and that the sinner does really begin again as if he had never sinned.

And this brought me sharply back to those visions or fancies with which I have dealt in the chapter about childhood. I spoke there of the indescribable and indestructible certitude in the soul, that those first years of innocence were the beginning of something worthy, perhaps more worthy than any of the things that actually followed them: I spoke of the strange daylight, which was something more than the light of common day, that still seems in my memory to shine on those steep roads down from Campden Hill, from which one could see the Crystal Palace from afar.

Well, when a Catholic comes from Confession, he does truly, by definition, step out again into that dawn of his own beginning and look with new eyes across the world to a Crystal Palace that is really of crystal. He believes that in that dim corner, and in that brief ritual, God has really remade him in His own image. He is now a new experiment of the Creator. He is as much a new experiment as he was when he was really only five years old. He stands, as I said, in the white light at the worthy beginning of the life of a man. The accumulations of time can no longer terrify. He may be grey and gouty; but he is only five minutes old.

Listen to Card. Dolan’s address to the USCCB HERE.

Posted in GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged absolution, confession, forgiveness of sins, G. K. Chesterton, reconciliation, sacrament of penance, sins
8 Comments

Happy Birthday St. Augustine!

Posted on 13 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today is the birthday of St. Augustine of Hippo (354). We actually know his birthday because he tells us in one of his Cassiciacum dialogues (De beata vita 6).

It is therefore also the feast of all the saints of the Augustinian order.

I have a 1st class relic of St. Augustine, but today here is my relic of his mother, which seems appropriate.

Posted in Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged beata u. 6, Cassiciacum, St. Augustine, St. Monica
3 Comments

Nuncio Archbp. Viganò at Notre Shame talks about a concrete “menace” to religious liberty

Posted on 13 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From CNA about the address the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, gave at “Notre Shame”, aka “The Scene of the Crime”, with my emphases and comments:

Papal nuncio: Catholic division undermines religious freedom

South Bend, Ind., Nov 12, 2012 / 07:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has told the University of Notre Dame that there is a concrete “menace” to religious liberty in the U.S. that is advancing in part because some influential Catholic public figures and university professors are allied with those opposed to Church teaching.

“Evidence is emerging which demonstrates that the threat to religious freedom is not solely a concern for non-democratic and totalitarian regimes,” he said. “Unfortunately it is surfacing with greater regularity in what many consider the great democracies of the world.”

The apostolic nuncio, who serves as the Pope’s diplomatic representative to the U.S., said this is a “tragedy” for both the believer and for democratic society.

Archbishop Viganò’s Nov. 4 speech keynoted the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life conference. He discussed martyrdom, persecution, and religious freedom, with a particular focus on the United States.

He cited Catholics’ duties to be disciples of Christ, not elements of a political or secular ideology. He lamented the fact that many Catholics are publicly supporting “a major political party” that has “intrinsic evils among its basic principles.” [That would be Catholics supporting the Democrat party.]

“There is a divisive strategy at work here, an intentional dividing of the Church; through this strategy, the body of the Church is weakened, and thus the Church can be more easily persecuted,” the nuncio said.

Archbishop Viganò observed that some influential Catholic public officials and university professors are allied with forces opposed to the Church’s fundamental moral teachings on “critical issues” like abortion, population control, the redefinition of marriage, embryonic stem cell research and “problematic adoptions.”

He said it is a “grave and major problem” when self-professed Catholic faculty at Catholic institutions are the sources of teachings that conflict with Church teaching on important policy issues rather than defend it.

While Archbishop Viganò noted that most Americans believe they are “essentially a religious people” and still give some importance to religion, he also saw reasons this could change.

He said that the problem of persecution begins with “reluctance to accept the public role of religion,” especially where protecting religious freedom “involves beliefs that the powerful of the political society do not share.”

The nuncio said it is “essential” to pray for a just resolution to religious freedom controversies, including the controversy over the new federal mandate[the Obama administration’s HHS mandate] requiring many Catholic employers to provide morally objectionable insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some abortion-causing drugs.

The issues that the Catholic bishops have identified in this mandate are “very real” and “pose grave threats to the vitality of Catholicism in the United States,” Archbishop Viganò said.

The nuncio also discussed other religious liberty threats.

He cited a Massachusetts public school curriculum that required young students to take courses that presented same-sex relations as “natural and wholesome.” Civil authorities rejected parents’ requests for a procedure to exempt their children from the “morally unacceptable” classes.

“If these children were to remain in public schools, they had to participate in the indoctrination of what the public schools thought was proper for young children,” the archbishop said. “Put simply, religious freedom was forcefully pushed aside once again.”

Catholic Charities agencies have also been kicked out of social service programs because they would not institute policies or practices that violate “fundamental moral principles of the Catholic faith.”

Archbishop Viganò cited several countries that have witnessed severe persecution like China, Pakistan, India and the Middle East. He praised the martyrs past and present who would not compromise on “the principles of faith.” [The US is becoming like those countries, which means there will be martyrs.]

While some forms of persecution are violent and cruel, others aim to incapacitate the faith by encouraging people to renounce their beliefs or the public aspects of their faith, in the face of “great hardships.”

Fidelity to God and the Church has “hastened martyrdom and persecution for many believers of the past, and of today,” he said.

“In all of these instances, we see that the faithful persist in their fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Holy Church! For throughout her history, the Church has gained strength when persecuted,” the archbishop said.

Religious liberty is a human, civil and natural right that is not conferred by the state, he said, adding “religious freedom is the exercise of fidelity to God and his Holy Church without compromise.”

“What God has given, the servant state does not have the competence to remove,” Archbishop Viganò affirmed.

An Apostolic Nuncio does not speak this way publicly unless he has endorsement from above.

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged Archbp. Viganò, HHS mandate, Notre Dame, Obama Administration, Pres. Obama, religious freedom, religious liberty
37 Comments

“Pray For Our Bishops” car magnets

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Since the USCCB fall plenary meeting is going on, I wanted to remind you of these “Pray For Our Bishops” car magnets:

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged car magnets, USCCB, Z-Swag
1 Comment

Benedict XVI will issue a new encyclical on Faith.

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It was easy to predict that Benedict XVI would, during the Year of Faith, issue an encyclical on Faith. It was the next in line after Charity (Deus caritas est and Caritas in veritate) and Hope (Spe salvi).

I wonder if my other prediction will come to pass.

I also predicted that the Holy Father would make some larger gesture at the end of the Year.

When Paul VI held his Year of Faith in 1967-68, all hell broke loose, and he issued an encyclical (Humanae vitae) in a critical time. At the end of the year Paul issued the Credo of the People of God.

Back then they were celebrating the centennial of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul. This year we are observing the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the 1700th anniversary of the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

So, I am wondering what Benedict might do.

I have a few suggestions.

I can imagine that he could issue, perhaps, something like a new Litany. We need to revive popular devotions. The use of Litanies should be revived.

I would like to see the Holy Father celebrate the Usus Antiquior or have it celebrated in his presence.

I suspect that His Holiness might have something in mind.

I hope His Holiness has something in mind.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Vatican II | Tagged Benedict XVI, encyclical, Year of Faith
12 Comments

Are you offended by the use of G-O-D?

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the amusing Eye Of The Tiber:

Atheists Sue To Remove Letters “G”, “O”, And “D” From Alphabet

Berkley, CA––The civil liberties organization American Atheists has sued the U.S. government to remove the letters “G,” “O,” and “D” from the English alphabet, arguing that the letters “often come together in such an order as to promote a belief in God,” its director, Edward Kegin, said Friday. “The letters represent a violation of rights to many atheists around the country, in that the letters are being misused to promote religion.”

Some now believe that the lawsuit may eventually be modified so as to also remove the letters “F,” “A,” “T,” “H,” “E,” and “R.” American Atheists’ President David Silverman said that the letters are an “offense and no less of an attack on the rights of man than was the inquisition.”

In a letter to members of American Atheists Friday, Silverman wrote, W- c-n n- l-n— s–n- by -n- w–c- -s -u- -i—s -n- ——ms — —mpl– -n by –li-i-us z–l–s. N- l-n—…n- m—!

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged irony
33 Comments

ACTION ITEM! FATHER NEEDS A BIRETTA!

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I received a note from a reader:

Dear Fr,

I just saw this on Fr McDonald’s blog:

“I don’t have a biretta. My parochial vicar does, my permanent deacon doesn’t. I have an antipathy toward them and can see why these were so easily discarded along with the maniple. But if someone were to give me one, I would wear it.”

I’m sure if you put an appeal on your blog, you could collect the funds to get him a biretta in no time. I’ll be the first to chip in $5.

Just a thought.

Okay…. how should we proceed?

Perhaps. Let’s get people to commit to a donation of $1 or maybe $5. Then, if Father will set up a PayPal account or something, you could then donate directly to him for a Biretta Fund. Sound okay?

Let’s see what interest there may be.

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Posted in Brick by Brick | Tagged biretta
56 Comments

USCCB meeting: Card. Dolan hits it out of the park! (Listen to the audio here.)

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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I am pretty cynical about USCCB meetings. But this time I am pretty fired up.

I just listened to Cardinal Dolan’s address as President of the conference.

In his address His Eminence spoke about Christ, first and foremost, before all other issues.

He spoke about the renewal of the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE! The Sacrament of Penance is “the sacrament of the New Evangelization”.

He proposed that bishops should go to confession and promote confession.

He even mentioned the renewal of Fridays for penance and mentioned even returning to Fridays all year long for abstinence.

I couldn’t be more pleased. What have I been pounding away at here?

Here is the audio which I captured. Click the arrow or download.

UPDATE: 1655 GMT

The text of the address is available now HERE.

Excerpts with my emphases:

[…]

I would suggest this morning that this reservoir of our lives and ministry, when it comes especially to the New Evangelization, must first be filled with the spirit of interior conversion born of our own renewal. That’s the way we become channels of a truly effective transformation of the world, through our own witness of a penitential heart, and our own full embrace of the Sacrament of Penance.

[…]

To be sure, the sacraments of initiation – – Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist – – charge, challenge, and equip the agents of evangelization. Without those sacraments, we remain isolated, unredeemed, timid and unfed.

But, the Sacrament of Reconciliation evangelizes the evangelizers, as it brings us sacramentally into contact with Jesus, who calls us to conversion of heart, and allows us to answer his invitation to repentance — a repentance from within that can then transform the world without.

?What an irony that despite the call of the Second Vatican Council for a renewal of the Sacrament of Penance, what we got instead was its near disappearance.

[…]

The work of our Conference during the coming year includes reflections on re-embracing Friday as a particular day of penance, including the possible re-institution of abstinence on all Fridays of the year, not just during Lent. Our pastoral plan offers numerous resources for catechesis on the Sacrament of Penance, and the manifold graces that come to us from the frequent use of confession.

[…]

UPDATE 13 Nov 1455 GMT:

Video is HERE. Go to 36:15 for the address itself.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, PODCAzT, The future and our choices, Year of Faith | Tagged bishops, Card. Dolan, reconciliation, sacrament of penance, USCCB
55 Comments

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