Rachel Campos-Duffy: In defense of all-male service at the Lord’s altar

Posted on 27 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Rachel Campos-Duffy comes this re: altar boys.

[…]

According to the Communications Office of the Diocese of Phoenix, there is growing evidence to support the claim that where altar service is limited to boys, priestly vocations increase. The best example is the Diocese of Lincoln Nebraska, the envy of all dioceses when it comes to vocations. [It isn’t rocket science.]

Why? Because serving at the altar was always considered an apprenticeship for the priesthood. Prior to the modern seminary, it was the primary means by which boys discerned their interest and calling to become priests. [Of course.]

For starters, there’s the surprising fact that the participation of boys in altar service programs decreases with the inclusion of girls; likewise it increases when it is boys-only. [Surprising to whom?  Oh, I get it.  She’s being ironical.]

My 10 year-old son is an altar server in a boys-only program he loves and I can attest that the inclusion of his 8 year old sister would, well, annoy him. He’s not a sexist. He’s a typical 10 year-old boy and that is the age that boys begin considering altar service. Our priest is a role model to our son and it’s common sense if the Church wants the experience to feel like a priest-in-training experience, then it ought to be limited to boys. [Of course.]

Despite the positive effects male-only altar service has on participation and more importantly on vocations to the priesthood, many priests are reluctant to implement the policy in this hyper-sensitive, war-on-women era. But changing the policy doesn’t necessarily have to be contentious or cause hurt feelings for girls who desire to serve the Church in its most central sacrament. [You are an optimist, it seems.] One way to ease the pain that comes with any liturgical change is by implementing a sacristan program for girls. [While I agree, in most places there will still be a ruckus.]

There is a long-standing Catholic tradition of nuns and women serving as sacristans. Now girls can follow in this tradition and experience and learn more about the Mass and this awesome responsibility. In many cases, these programs are designed and run by religious sisters. Not surprisingly, parishes that offer a sacristan program for girls report increases in religious vocations for women.

[…]

It’s obvious.

It’s just so obvious.

At the same time, I would love to see stats.

WDTPRS kudos to Rachel.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices |
62 Comments

A POLL provoked by your email! What color of vestments for your funeral?

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

There is a truly bizarre story coming to me in email about a rumor that His Excellency Most Reverend Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, is now requiring priests to use either violet or black vestments for funerals rather than white.

I wish!  Wouldn’t that be great?

“But Father! But Father!”, some of you are bound to be asking, “What’s up? Is this true?  I will move to Madison right away!”

Alas, no, it isn’t true.

Let’s get to the bottom of this so people can stop the sale of their houses.

First, as you know, with the Novus Ordo, three colors are possible options: white, violet/purple, or black.

I got in touch with a dependable source who was at the funeral in question and who heard and saw everything.

What happened is that Bp. Morlino used purple for a recent funeral of a priest.  That means there were some priests there…. no doubt some of a certain age and proclivity.

At the end of the funeral, Morlino explained why he used purple.  He also said that he, personally, was going to use purple or black at funerals when opportune.  He explained that funerals are for prayer for the deceased. White, on the other hand, is the color of those clothed in glory in heaven.  It is not charity to neglect prayer for the dead.  He added that, if he makes it to Purgatory when he dies, he will need prayers.

I will add on my own that the more somber tone set by violet or black underscores our obligation to pray for the deceased.  It seems to me that, from charity toward the deceased, black (or at least violet) would be the better choice.

My guess is that this all got started because some narrow-minded balloon-toting aging-hippie priest-gossip at the funeral, who thinks that everyone goes automatically to heaven, had a case of the vapors at the sight of the purple and tattled on Morlino in an attempt to cause him another irritation.

A bishop told me once, “There are old women of both sexes!”

In short, at this recent funeral, Morlino did not say anything about the legitimate options of others.

(Sadly), there isn’t any diocesan instruction for priests in the Diocese of Madison to use black or purple.

Anyway, you can check out Bp. Morlino’s thoughts about funerals and eulogies (there was a dust up about that, once upon a time) in one of his pastoral letters.  HERE.  I wrote about it HERE.

You can now stop asking me about this in email.  Pretty please?

To distract you from writing me email, let’s have a poll!  Actually, this is a repeat question but we are due for it again. The readership has grown and there are many new people visiting.

Give your answer and then add your reasons in the combox, below.

Latin Church assumed, which color vestments would you prefer for your funeral/Requiem?

View Results

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Four Last Things, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS, The Drill, Throwing a Nutty | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
85 Comments

Homiletic and Pastoral Review online

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Did you know that you can read Homiletic and Pastoral Review online for free?

Click HERE.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged , ,
3 Comments

NEW Z-SWAG: Catholic and Faithful – American and Free & Dic Nigra – Fac Rubra – UPDATES

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I am rolling out a couple new items of  Z-Swag:

First, since we are in a context with the Obama Administration for our freedom to act like Catholics in the public square (cf 1st Amendment), I have this car magnet and sticker:

I have not yet seen one with my own eyes.  I have one on order.  However, every time I have made something, it has turned out well.

For this design click HERE.

Then, because I get at least one request a week for it, I have now a Latin version of the popular Say The Black – Do The Red design.  I have actually had the design for a while, but figured it was about time to pull the trigger.

Check the S-Swag Store HERE.

I made the nigra and the rubra plural, so that we Have “Say the black (things) – Do the red (things)”, which on reflection made better sense.

I also have a left-handed version for you sinister types.

UPDATE:

I added a variation for those of you who prefer an alternative text.  There are both left handed and right handed versions of this as well:

And for you Latin “traditionalists” out there, I have a rather more archaic sounding Latin alternative of the same:

And also for those who prefer it this elegant version:

 

Another version:

UPDATE

Mr. UPS just brought my swag!

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The car magnet is sharp and clear and easy to read.  Looks nice!

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Clear details, too… though such clarity probably isn’t needed on a car.

Who says this has to go on a car?

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The mug is nice too.  Behold the Ur-Mug.

(pesky phone camera is dying on me I think)

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Posted in Brick by Brick, Religious Liberty, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

UPDATE: The Nuns On The Bus Go ‘Round And ‘Round

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I know you are eager for updates about the Nuns On The Bus, who are going ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round.

An alert alerter in Columbus, OhiO, alerted me that The Nuns On The Bus rock tour has finally arrived!

There is a story in the Columbus Dispatch.  Some highlights:

A group of about 100 people greeted Roman Catholic nuns [Wow!  TENS of people came!] with cheers and applause yesterday as they made a stop on the North Side as part of a national “Nuns on the Bus” tour promoting social-service funding.  [Some might call it another thing.]

The tour comes despite a recent Vatican crackdown that said a nuns’ leadership group has focused too much on social-justice issues.  [Did you get that great non sequitur?]

The tour by Network, a Catholic social-justice lobbying group, seeks changes to a U.S. House-passed budget that it says favors tax cuts for the rich, to the detriment of the neediest Americans. The visit yesterday at the office of U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, is one of about a dozen congressional-office stops Network has on a schedule that started June?17 in Des Moines, Iowa, and ends on Monday in Washington.

[NB] Sister Simone Campbell, Network’s executive director, said Tiberi’s staff members offered the “ first substantive conversation of our visits,” [So, they have been polluting the atmosphere all this time… and for what?] and that they agreed that more revenue is needed but disagreed on income criteria for food stamps.

“The conversation we just had … was a gift because it indicated to me for the first time that there was some giveback, that there was some conversation,” Campbell told the crowd yesterday. “We could say we both agree revenue needs to be raised — I have a hunch we probably have a disagreement where, but at least we’ve got a starting point.”

Tiberi spokeswoman Breann Gonzalez said [follow the strand, now…] the congressman’s staff has a different view of the conversation but was receptive to the nuns’ concerns and did discuss the need for programs to help the most-vulnerable. [So, maybe the conversation didn’t go quite as well as Sr. Simone thought.]

[Now watch this!] “However, as a Catholic, Congressman Tiberi [Let’s see the Congressman on the issues HERE.] finds it ironic that during the heart of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ campaign against President Obama’s attack on religious freedom, this group did not once mention the importance of preserving religious freedom,” she said. [WHAT is this you say?!?  The Nuns On The Bus go ’round and ’round, but they don’t talk about the true burning issue for the Church as a whole?] “ Instead, they chose to discuss a bill that has already passed the House and is virtually dead in the Senate since the Senate hasn’t passed a budget in three years.” [BUT WAIT!  They… they… they… they have a whole BUS!  They are rotating!  Their bus gig was a gift of the Spirit!]

[…]

Network also had planned a “Friendraiser for Economic Justice” last night at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Clintonville.  [Niiiiice.]

I hope this tour never ends!

Posted in Lighter fare, Magisterium of Nuns | Tagged , ,
21 Comments

SSPX Bp. Fellay says “No” to Rome? Maybe so. Maybe not.

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the intrepid Andrea Tornielli at Vatican Insider with my emphases and comments:

The letter sent by the Secretary General of the Society of St. Pius X, outlining the hitches in the latest version of the text delivered by the Holy See, has been published

ANDREA TORNIELLI
VATICAN CITY
New hurdles will need to be overcome before the Lefebvrians enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. This was confirmed in a circular letter sent to district superiors and Society of St. Pius X seminar superiors, dated 25 June and classified as “confidential”. [So much for that.] A website that closely follows traditionalist affairs published the news. The letter was communicated internally and was signed by Fr. Christian Thouvenot, the Society’s Secretary General. It was sent from the Fraternity’s Headquarters in Metzingen, to heads of Lefebvrian communities.

Thouvenot wrote that “many sources agree” that the version of the doctrinal preamble corrected by Fellay “appeared to satisfy the Supreme Pontiff.” [A little thin, but I believe it.]

On 13 June, the letter stated, Levada “delivered the April text to our superior general but with corrections that were essentially a re-proposal of the original proposals” made in the doctrinal preamble sent to Fellay in September 2011. Basically, the situation was back to square one, with the Vatican going back to the propositions it made the first time round meaning the amendments made by the Society of St. Pius X were rejected. [Does that sound right? It doesn’t to me.]

Thouvenot wrote that Fellay immediately made it known he could not sign this new, clearly unacceptable document. The next Chapter will give the opportunity to discuss the dossier on the Fraternity’s relations with the Holy See.

The letter states that Fellay refused Bishop Williamson’s participation in the chapter, “due to his stances which encourage rebellion and his constant disobedience.” [There’s a good thing.] Finally, Fr. Thouvenot confirmed the news about Fellay’s decision to postpone the 29 June ordinations of Dominican and Capuchin clerics who are members of the Fraternity. This is because he wants to be certain “of the loyalty of these communities” before “imposing his hands on their candidates.” This shows that the communiqué issued by the Society of St. Pius X following the meeting at the Vatican on 13 June made it clear there were still creases that needed smoothing out.

These snags were also discussed by Fr. Alain-Marc Nély, second general assistant of the Society of St. Pius X at a meeting with priests from the France district, held last 21 June. Nély stated that the last modifications made to the doctrinal declaration which Levada delivered to Fellay do not satisfy the Fraternity on key points such as the Second Vatican Council and the Novus Ordo Missae, the mass introduced after the post-conciliar liturgical reform. The Lefebvrian superior’s response will come after the next general chapter. Fellay seems adamant about the importance of restoring full communion with the Church, which, as is known, the Pope is also very keen on. Fr. Nély focused on the concluding words of the communiqué sent by the Fraternity after the last meeting in Rome. These expressed the hope for continued dialogue in order to reach “a solution for the good of the Church and its souls.”

It is hard to imagine that SSPX modifications to the Doctrinal Preamble which the Holy Father would have had to sign off on would be then circumvented by anyone in the CDF before the Preamble was given back to Bp. Fellay.

While this is not positive news, I read it in the context of the move of Archbishop DiNoia to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei“.  It is hard to imagine why they would be boosting up the PCED if not in preparation for the reunion of the SSPX…. unless… it is for the sake of adjusting the Novus Ordo and Traditional calendars or adding some saints to the 1962 MR.

That said, Benedict XVI is the Pope of Christian Unity.

 

Posted in Benedict XVI, Our Catholic Identity, SSPX, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill | Tagged , , , ,
41 Comments

When everything lines up… just… right….

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

As you know, the Summer Solstice was a few days ago. Our days in the Northern Hemisphere are now once again decreasing.

On Astronomy Pic of the Day there is a pic for your Just Too Cool file.

Explanation:

What time is it? If the time and day are right, this sundial will tell you: SOLSTICE. Only then will the Sun be located just right for sunlight to stream through openings and spell out the term for the longest and shortest days of the year. And that happened last week and twice each year. The sundial was constructed by Jean Salins in 1980 and is situated at the Ecole Supérieure des Mines de Paris in Valbonne Sophia Antipolis of south-eastern France. On two other days of the year, watchers of this sundial might get to see it produce another word: EQUINOXE.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , ,
10 Comments

Once you have multiple monitors/displays…

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

… you will never go back.

My computing life changed with the addition of multiple monitors.  Much of my work was simplified.  I was able to multitask more effectively.  My writing process (and I write a lot) changes when I am on a laptop and I am travelling and when I am at home with the mother ship.

A friend in England – whom I happily saw during my last trip across – sent me a note about the MacBook Pro with multiple monitors.  I have had my “Get A Mac” Fund going for a while and, as the goal is proximate, I have to think about what to do.

But this is attractive.  From the OWC Blog:

Explanation:

Including the built-in Retina display, the new 2012 MacBook Pro 15? can run four displays [OORAH!] at their native resolution.

  1. Retina on laptop @ “best for Retina”
  2. iMac used as a display @ 2560 x 1440 via Thunderbolt
  3. iMac used as a display @ 2560 x 1440 via Thunderbolt/DisplayPort
  4. LG monitor @ 1920 x 1200  via HDMI

Moving images and media didn’t create any lag and we were able to play video on all four displays simultaneously.

This is verrrrry interesting.

It may be time.

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
18 Comments

Fishwrap’s Sr. Maureen Fiedler’s little nutty about the appointment of Greg Burke. Fun!

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Over at Fishwrap, the appointment of Greg Burke as the Holy See’s new Director of Communications has put the always-amusing Sr. Maureen Fiedler into a spittle-flecked nutty.

This is pure fun.

New Vatican spokesman follows the church’s latest trend

by Maureen Fiedler on Jun. 26, 2012 NCR Today
The Guardian reports that Pope Benedict has selected Greg Burke, 52, the Rome correspondent for Fox News, to take on the strategic communications role at the Vatican Secretariat of State. Burke is also a member of the traditionalist group, Opus Dei. [Everyone… watch out for the flecks!]
Moreover, Burke is apparently a “numerary” member of Opus Dei. In other words, the Opus Dei membership for him is central to his life, not just another affiliation. Numeraries are unmarried, usually live in Opus Dei houses and contribute much of their earnings to Opus Dei. Burke is an American who grew up in St. Louis. [Did she mention Opus Dei?]
A major part of Burke’s job is apparently to improve the Vatican’s image in the media worldwide. No small task. Just in the last few months, the head of the Vatican Bank has been sacked, there have been serious leaks of private information, and the pope’s personal butler has been arrested. [Free The Vatican One!]
There are also signs of a shake-up in the Vatican bureaucracy, since — again, according to The Guardian — Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State, was apparently not consulted about this appointment.
[We are approaching Full-Froth.] All this provides stark new evidence of the mentality of the Vatican these days. [I love statements like that: the “Vatican” has a “mentality”!] It has been falling backward toward the 19th century for some time now, [Papa-Re?] and the choice of a Fox News/Opus Dei person is one more piece of evidence of that trend.
Is it any wonder that the friend of mine who sent me this story asked wistfully, “Are the Vatican and the tea party now consubstantial?” [LOL!]

How’s this Sister! This is from back in 2005: Greg Burke (Opus Dei/Fox News), Chris Wallace (Fox News), Fr. Z (the undersigned) announcing live on Fox News the election of Joseph Card. Ratzinger (God’s Rottweiler, Der Panzerkardinal, Grand Inquisitor, etc.) as Benedict XVI.

Meanwhile, the nearly-ubiquitous John Allen is comparing Mr. Burke to Capt. Picard.  That’s not pre-emptive buttering up!  Noooooo.  The connection? The Next Generation.  Former Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls is Opus Dei. Greg Burke is Opus Dei.  Get it?  Fishwrap likes this Opus Dei angle.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, Lighter fare | Tagged , , ,
20 Comments

Curious Curial Moves, including Pont. Comm. “Ecclesia Dei” and Cong. Divine Worship

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Interesting news.

American Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, O.P., is moving from the Congregation for Divine Worship to be the Vice President of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei“.

I am not sure where the present Secretary Msgr. Pozzo is going… or if he is staying.  He could stay, as well, for the sake of continuity. It could be that he will be moved up somewhere else.  There is a lot of voltage at the bottom of the ticket, to use American political terms.

My take on this move of Archbp. DiNoia to the PCED is that the rapprochement between the Holy See and the SSPX is going to take place.

Archbp. DiNoia worked for a long time in the CDF. He knows his way around over there. The Commission, already part of the CDF, needed to be beefed up so that it will be better able stand the impact should some bishop out there try to run them over.

In other news, Bishop Arthur Roche, head of ICEL, has been named Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship.  He remains for the nonce Administrator in Leeds. I don’t know what this means.  The cynical part of my id tells me that, since there are quite a few sees in Blighty opening up in the near future, this might be part of a larger plan to adjust the balance in the episcopate of the region.

The Secretary of the Congregation for Religious Archbp. Jean-Louis Bruguès, O.P. is moving to be Holy See’s Librarian, which will bring a red hat. Now that that position is open, I suspect that the Salesian Bp. Enrico Dal Colovo, Rettore Magnifico of on of my old schools the Pontifical Lateran University, will be moved by the Salesian Secretary of State Card. Bertone to the Secretary position at Religious.

And to think that this is Supreme Court Week in the USA!

What’s next, the new Prefect of the CDF? That would be the next step.

Posted in Ecclesiae unitatem, SSPX, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
31 Comments