QUAERITUR: We have two TLM places – should we push for more?

Posted on 10 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

My wife and I are recent converts. Our family is increasingly drawn to the beauty and transcendence of the EF. I have approached our parochial vicar and gently inquired about the possibility of having a EF mass. He is young and seems very orthodox but has no interest. He told us that it is understood in ____ that those who want the EF mass need to go to one of the two parishes that offer it. (We’re very lucky to have two parishes within 15 minutes drive that offer the EF mass – one on Sunday and the other on Monday.)

My question is: Should we press on and ask our pastor or attend mass at one of the other parishes?

First, I am very glad that you have places to go.

At the same time I am concerned about the idea that "people should go to ‘those places’".   This is a problem that has bugged me for a while: we mustn’t create ghettos. 

Summorum Pontificum should be implemented wherever there is desire.  That is the point of Summorum Pontificum.

So… I think that priests everywhere should be encouraged to learn and celebrate the older form of Mass everywhere.

So… support the places which have been established.  But push to expand.

Everyone benefits.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM |
17 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can traditional baptisms be done in English (by priests who don’t know Latin)

Posted on 9 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A question from a reader:

Fr. Z,

Thanks for your great blog.  Our strongly orthodox priest at first declined to baptize our expected baby using the E.F. because of his lack of ability in Latin.  He said he would check with the liturgy 
director of the diocese to see if he could celebrate it in English.
  
Somewhat surprisingly, the answer came back in the affirmative.  

Though a second choice, my wife and I intend to pursue this.  However, we have been unable to locate an authorized translation of the E.F. baptism in English. 

I am told it was permitted before the Novus Ordo was created. 

Have you any advice for me?

Yes, you can have a baptism in the older, traditional form mostly in English.

My understanding is that most everything from the older rite can be done in English, though the blessing of salt, the two exorcisms, the Ephpheta, the In odorem suavitatis, the anointing with the oil of catechumens, the form of baptism, and the anointing with the oil of Sacred Chrism should be in Latin.

The best book for this would be the volume called  COLLECTIO RITUUM which shouldn’t be hard to find at all.  Many older priests will still have a copy, many sacristies will still have it on some shelf.  It wasn’t rare and still is not.

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

QUAERITUR: A priest asks “Day off: Do I need pastor’s permission to say the TLM?”

Posted on 9 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A question from a priest:

I have been moved to [a] parish where I have every third week without a daily mass. I would like to say a low mass on these days, but I’m sure I will get resistance from my pastor, who is a hippie from the ‘70’s. The Motu Proprio specifies that I need not get permission from the Holy See or the Ordinary. Does this mean also my local pastoral boss?

Thanks for any help you can give me,

Fr. _______

 

Reverend and Dear Father: this is what Summorum Pontificum says… rather… what Pope Benedict, the Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, the Legislator says in Summorum Pontificum.

 

Art. 2.  In Masses celebrated without the people, any priest whosoever of the Latin Rite, whether secular of religious, can use either the Missale Romanum issued in 1962 by Bl. John XXIII, or the Missale Romanum promulgated in 1970 by the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, and indeed on any day whatsoever except during the Sacred Triduum.  For such a celebration according to one or the other Missal, a priest does not need permission, neither from the Apostolic See nor from his Ordinary.

 

I think it is pretty clear that if the Pope says priests don’t need permission from the Apostolic See or the local bishop… then he doesn’t need permission from the local pastor. 

Of course there are practical issues to be considered. 

Will the pastor of the parish or the local bishop crucify you for doing what is your right?  

You could have a Pyrrhic victory over this… be aware.  At least in the short term.

If you are willing to take the heat for what you want to do, you have the right to do it.

Also, remember that according to Summorum Pontificum pastors cannot not respond to requests made from groups of people in the parish. 

YOU, Father, are in the parish also….  if you get my drift.  You could be a part of a "stable group".

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM |
24 Comments

The Bux Protocol

Posted on 9 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Some people have reacted to my whimsical labeling of advice from the great Fr. Nicola Bux as the “Bux Protocol”.

Fr. Bux, a consultor to the CDF and more recently also to the office of Pontifical Ceremonies, spoke at the conference in Rome for the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum.

In the Q&A session on the first day, he and Msgr. Perl of the PCED fielded questions.   One of them, predictably, concerned what people should do if they run into a bishop who is dead set against the Motu Proprio despite its clear provisions and continued requests from the people.

Msgr. Bux gave very sound advice which, though light-hearted in a certain sense, nevertheless contained a blade of surgical steel.

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“St. Joseph is Patron of the Church.  You must pray a lot to St. Joseph in this situation, that he either open the bishop’s eyes or he close them for good.  [applause laughter]  This isn’t a joke, eh?  St. Joseph is truly very powerful.  You must pray a lot to St. Joseph.  Moreover St. Joseph was placed in the Roman Canon by Pope John.  You can also put him into all the other Eucharistic Prayers after the Blessed Virgin Mary saying ‘and St. Joseph her Spouse’.  I am convinced that St. Joseph will do a great deal.”

Folks…. if you are frustrated, fast, give alms and pray.

But don’t whine.

There is always something you can do.

Work to open hearts, always, and in the very hard cases, placing the matter in the hands of a mighty intercessor, St. Joseph, you can use the Bux Protocol.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged ,
15 Comments

Sabine views and surprise steak

Posted on 9 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This morning, as I sipped my very hot very strong French Roast, I enjoyed the rising of the sun.  The intense rays we visible through the barn across the road.

The morning sun, with its peculiar qualities, on changing leaves cannot be easily captured.

The same can be said for the evening sun, with its golden light and the shadows it casts.  Here are a couple shots from last night.

Yesterday afternoon someone stopped by after a trip into the big city.  He declared that at the grocery store he had found Black Angus NY strip steaks on sale for $6/lbs and that he had bought one for me.  Ecco… my question of supper was thus resolved.  I don’t know how much longer it will be easy and pleasant to use the outdoor grill on the deck, but it was used yesterday as the sun went down.

Some garlic, some olive oil, some lemon… let it sit while you go say Mass (the guy who brought the steak was to serve as well), and supper takes care of itself.

Quickly steamed broccoli and a few extremely crispy salt and vinegar potato chips (that’s crisps for the readers in Blackfen).  A glass of non-descript serviceable "red". 

Supper. 

Back to the coffee now and another day of work here at the Sabine meridian of the world.

Posted in My View |
14 Comments

QUAERITUR: In what color are priests to be buried?

Posted on 8 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a priest:

Fr. Z.

Do you know what the traditional color chasuble is for priests to be buried in (i.e. not necessarily what is done now, but what was most often done in the past)? 

I need to write out my will and funeral directions for the chancery files and want to be sure to do things right!

Priests are traditionally buried in purple.

According to the old Rituale Romanum clerics should be dressed if possible in cassock and the apparel appropriate to his rank also with the tonsure and biretta.  

13. Sacerdos quidem super talarem vestem, amictu, alba, cingulo, manipulo, stola et casula seu planeta coloris violacei sit indutus.  [Titulus VII, Caput I De exequiis]

Priests usually vest the body.

For my part, I have a purple Roman planeta (Italian pianeta) given to me years ago which will be my burial vestment.  It is not usable for Mass, in my opinion, because it had been left exposed to the sun for a while, so the back is badly faded in part.  But it is otherwise in perfectly good shape.

So… priests should do everyone a favor set aside the proper garb against the time.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests |
26 Comments

QUAERITUR: the seventh candle

Posted on 8 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I had a note from a priest with a question:

Dear Father,
 
I have had a TLM at my Parish, which I celebrate, every Sunday since last November and is going great. But my question is about what I see in the way The Holy Father celebrates Mass in extraordinary form with a cross and 6 candles in the altar, a seventh candle behind the cross because he is Pope. Is this to be an "expected" way of what is to be on the altar for the celebration of Mass?  (ordinary or extraordinary form?)

First, the Holy Father is saying Mass only in the Ordinary Form, so far.  But the use of the seventh candle, next to the Cross at the center of the altar, is a very old custom.

This is not just something that the Roman Pontiff does.

The seventh candle could be used for Pontifical High Mass when celebrated by an Ordinary in his diocese (or by the Pope anywhere, of course).

The seventh candle, placed in the middle and in line with the other six, should be a little higher. This pushes the crucifix a little out of line… which also emphasizes it, in my opinion. Pope Benedict is acutely sensitive to the position of the Cross during Holy Mass.

So… this is an old Mass element enriching the new Mass.

It also rather explodes the Bugnini notion that the old ways of doing things shouldn’t be assumed to be the way we ought to do things in the Novus Ordo.

So, is this to be expected?  I think so.  I think that priests who are preparing for the coming of the bishop to the parish should use the Benedictine arrangement, if they are still having Mass versus populum and be sure to add the seventh candle.

Posted in ASK FATHER Question Box, Mail from priests |
14 Comments

14 Oct: S. St. Paul, St. Augustine’s – The Argument

Posted on 6 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I will be engaging in "The Argument" at St. Augustine’s Church in St. St. Paul.

This event is for men only.

I will be speaking to issues surrounding the assertion:

Detail’s may be sought from the parish.

Posted in What Fr. Z is up to |
1 Comment

Don’t lose sight

Posted on 4 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In another entry I wrote:

Now that Summorum Pontificum is a year old, we are seeing that the provisions of Ecclesia Dei adflicta are being implemented.

I think we must be patient about implementing Summorum Pontificum.

At the same time we must keep moving forward.

I am delighted that "personal parishes" are being established. 

We need places of stable worship where all the sacraments can be celebrated.

We need places of reference where people can learn and get comfortable in their own Catholic skins again. 

Personal parishes are very important and helpful. 

We need many of them, everywhere, and soon.

At the same time, bishops could have set us personal parishes long before Summorum Pontificum was issued. 

Under the provisions of Ecclesia Dei adflicta, which expanded the existing legislation, all those things were already possible.

Summorum Pontificum is a juridical solution which gives every priest of the Latin Church the right to use the older liturgical books.  Pastors of parishes can now establish TLM’s in their parishes without permission from anyone.  They can use the Rituale Romanum without permission from anyone.  This can happen in every parish.  Granted, that is not going to happen soon.  But this need not be isolated to a parish here or there, creating small communities cut off from the rest of the life of parishes in the diocese.

Summorum Pontificum is the present and future.

Ecclesia Dei adflicta is the past.

Summorum Pontificum… now!

Posted in SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM |
15 Comments

From a priest: I must “protect myself from persecution and ridicule” over the TLM

Posted on 4 October 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a priest reader west of the International Date Line (edited):

Hello Father Z,

…

I am 31 years old and a newly ordained priest, … and am presently assigned at a parish ….  I know I cannot write a long letter to you (it would take much of your time) and express all my sentiments.  I have a lot of things that I cannot do for the love of the Church’s faith and tradition for fear of being persecuted and maligned even by own companion priests and the faithful of the parish where I serve as assistant.   [I have lived that too.  I understand what you are talking about.] To a lot of people here, everything that harks back before 1962 is evil, damnable, and worthy of every condemnation.

I write you to express my sympathy for your work and the important role you play in galvanizing and encouraging Catholics throughout the world who deeply love their faith and would wish to remain true to their identity.  I for one, Father, have experienced persecution for being loyal to the Holy Father and firm in my determination to be solidly grounded in the faith.

For many years, I have closely studied the liturgy and the rich tradition of the Church in the seminary albeit doing it privately (even secretly at times). And throughout the many years that I have admired and been inspired by the liturgical treasures of the Church both past and present, I couldn’t help but suffer in the midst of all the persecution which the current climate in the Church … exerts to those who want to live out according to the fullness of Catholic faith.

I am not trying to be cranky at this, but I just would like to share my own experience to you of how the Church is in a very sorry state here …. [I had to cut this, just to be sure.]

Things have been changing a bit in the Church especially in your place but not much here in ___.  Our bishops here are more interested in speaking about politics …  than overseeing the faith of our people and the discipline of our clergy.

… For a very long time, I have waited for the day when I could even witness one TLMass in my own lifetime, but now I have witnessed it, not as a Mass goer, but as a celebrant myself. [So… this priest learned the older form and now can say Mass using it.]  I do it unknown to my parish priest and my parishioners in another far away parish where there are regular EF Masses.  I have to tell made up stories about my whereabouts whenever I would be out of my parish to say the EF Mass so as to protect myself from persecution and ridicule.  I love the Novus Ordo myself, though I try to celebrate it with as much as solemnity as possible using chant for the Preface, the whole Eucharistic Prayer and the Institution Narrative, the Doxology, and even the embolism, and I try to use incense as much as I am able and wear the complete and appropriate vestments. And one thing I [find] curious though is that most of the young people here, those who are 30 years old and below, appreciate and love the Mass when said with solemnity with appropriate vestments and with solemn chant.  And the ones who label me as a conservative and "out-of-touch" are some (not all) of the old ones here who have no sympathy whatever for anything old and "medieval" according to their labels. They seem to have a liturgical formula: Before 1970 = old+evil+poisonous.

Thank you Father for the good work you are doing for the Church.  May the Lord Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar be all the more loved and revered as we work for the good of the holy liturgy so as "to save the world".

A great and heartfelt message.

 

This priest should know that he is not alone.  More and more men throughout the world will be learning the older form of Mass. With prudence and patience it will be introduced in more and more parishes.  Prejudices will wane and healing will begin.

I hope priests continue to write in.  I would like their contributions to be a regular feature here.  I will maintain anonymity if requested.  For a description of Mail from priests go HERE.

Posted in Mail from priests |
40 Comments