I usually enjoy the movies made by Zhang Yimou. He has a quirky film called A Woman, A Gun and a Noodle Shop.
Have you ever heard about the contests or display of prowess some pizza makers put on to spin up or throw their pizza dough?
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Many people have written to me asking about the rumors that the upcoming Instruction about Summorum Pontificum and asking if the Instruction will undermine the Holy Father’s provisions. I wrote about this Instruction here, and there was considerable discussion about it at that time, toward the end of January.
First, I am not at liberty at the moment to talk about it too much yet. Second, I am thinking and digging. There may be something to the rumors. Or, this may be a fluctus in simpulo.
With that in mind, I will say this, and I think you readers ought to take this to heart.
No matter what I might add to this discussion in the near future, this will be the most important thing I have to contribute.
I warmly invite other Catholic bloggers interested in Summorum Pontificum to pick this up.
If you are concerned about what might happen to Summorum Pontificum, pray and fast. Don’t whine. Don’t panic. Don’t fret. Don’t behave like a suddenly headless chicken.
Do what a committed Catholic warrior would do for a cause that is dear.
Be prudent about fasting, of course, especially if others rely on you and you have health concerns. But if you are young and healthy, fast.
To help you with the Rosary part, and to bring some unity to your praying together, I have changed the playlist on the live stream of Fr. Z TV/RADIO SABINA on Ustream to have just chaplets of the Rosary in Latin followed by the Litany of Loreto and, between chaplets and litanies, prayers Pro Pontifice – for the Pope – in Latin and English.
No music right now on the stream. Just constant Rosary and prayers for the Pope. The webcams are still on the bird feeders and sometimes my office. Please note that I cannot control the ads that might pop up on that Ustream stream unless I pay Ustream a deeply and stupidly high fee.
Don’t whine. Don’t fret. Pray and fast. There may be more to do, but start with that. Before you do anything else, start praying and fasting.
From a reader:
Father, I read and answered your poll regarding veiling during Mass. I have been thinking and praying about taking it a step further; to wearing a head covering outside of Mass as well. I have not personally observed laity women do this (outside of the Amish and Mennonite’s). I am curious on your observance ot this? Thank you.
This could be dangerous ground. I can just see it: I say something like “Go ahead and wear a head covering all the time if you want!” and some idiot will claim that Fr. Z thinks women should wear hijabs or burqas.
Of course you know about the WDTPRS POLL about women covering their heads in church.
Look, friend. I think it is great when women wear head coverings in church. It is an old Catholic tradition, it is biblical, it is – in my opinion – pleasing to the eye. It isn’t obligatory, but it’s nice.
I think hats are great, on men and on women alike.
If, for reasons either spiritual or for fashion, you want to wear a head covering when you are not in church, go for it!
Bring hats back into style, I say! Serious hats for all adults! Let hats abound! Hold your head high and put hats on them!
Even the New York Times – which I detest – has said that hats are making a comeback. The New York Times is almost always wrong about anything good, true and beautiful. I hope this is an exception.
And may I use this opportunity to add a complete non sequitur? I think people should refresh their coffee supply by buying it from the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming.
This upcoming Sunday is already Septuagesima. Did you realize that Lent begins on 9 March?
Do you have a plan for your Lent?
Here is a suggestion for part of your Lenten preparation.
The second volume of the Holy Father’s work Jesus of Nazareth will be released worldwide for Lent 2011, with a date of 10 March.
This volume will focus on the period the Lord’s life from the entrance into Jerusalem to His resurrection. In other words – Holy Week. The Holy Father’s book would help you prepare well for your participation in the liturgical Holy Week worship.
I am reading a preview copy sent by the publisher. It won’t disappoint.
The second volume may be “pre-ordered” at a reduced price through amazon.com. Click HERE.
Directly from Ignatius Press (without amazon) for US buyers HERE.
The first volume is HERE.
In the first volume the Holy Father’s exposition of the problems with an unbalanced “historical-critical” approach to Scriptures masterful and invaluable. Also, he has a succinct explanation of how we are to understand “inspiration” and Scripture. His reflections on the temptations of the Lord was rich.
I suggest that these would be good gifts to priests, useful for their preaching. Both volumes would be useful for your Lenten reflections.
From a reader:
I have a good friend who is much older than I. Sadly, he disagrees with a lot of the Church’s stances. Despite that, he hears Mass regularly (every Sunday), and Holy Days of Obligations. He is an usher and “lector” at his parish, and although he is not a Daily Communicator, he does practice and try to live his faith more than most people in 2011. [Okay. He is an older fellow who still seems to know the difference between right and wrong.]
His nephew, one of my good friends, is getting married next month. [Uh oh.] His nephew is also (tho cradle-catholic) a self-proclaimed agnostic. My friend is becoming a Justice of the Peace in order that he may officiate the wedding ceremony. Now, I know that if my friend were becoming “ordained” in one of the heretical faiths, that would no doubt be an act of self-excommunication. Is his becoming a Justice of the Peace and officiating the ceremony also an act of self-excommunication?
[…]
Members of the Catholic Church are bound to follow the Church’s law on marriage.
If Catholics contract civil marriage before a Justice of the Peace only, they sin and the marriage is not valid. They may not receive the sacraments in such a relationship. Catholics who aid them in such an endeavor would be also committing a sin. If this would be a big public thing, it would all be compounded by public scandal.
Look. It isn’t a sin to become a Justice of the Peace. If one is a Justice of the Peace it may not be a sin to officiate at the weddings of fallen away Catholics, since it is not the business of JPs to know the religion of the people asking to be married. But if you become a JP in order to officiate at the wedding of Catholics not practicing their faith,…. no… that’s just plain wrong. In that case you are knowingly helping Catholics attempt marriage.
If this fellow is known by many people not to agree with the Church’s teachings on various matters, and yet he is functioning as an usher and lector, then I think the pastor should explain kindly that he must no longer to fulfill these functions so long as he stands in opposition to the Church’s teachings. Does the pastor not know? Not care? If not… why not?
“But Father! But Father!”, you may say. “Aren’t you being mean? Isn’t it better to keep the guy involved and work with him? Bring him around?”
What is this? A quirky British sitcom? Keep the eccentric but lovable disenter ready to commit public scandal in highly visible positions so he can spark hijinx and provide opportunities for gossip over coffee and doughnuts?
It may be that there important things going on in the parish which need the pastor’s attention and this this issue is not on his radar screen. Maybe the roof is caving in and he can’t pay the bills. Nevertheless, situations like the one described need to be addressed with charity and diplomacy. Roofs don’t have soul. Ushers, however, do.
This is a dreadful story. CNS reports.
Monstrance with Blessed Sacrament stolen from parish in Spain
Madrid, Spain, Feb 15, 2011 / 04:09 pm (CNA/Europa Press).- Two individuals stole a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament from a parish located in Majadahonda, a suburb of Madrid, Spain.
Fr. Juan Francisco Perez, the parish pastor of St. Catherine’s, said the incident occurred at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11. He told Europa Press that two individuals grabbed the monstrance and left.
Police confirmed that the monstrance was indeed stolen and that an investigation is under way.
Fr. Perez said police dusted for fingerprints at the parish and were given descriptions by witnesses who were present at the Church.
This was not the first time the parish has been the target of such incidents. “On Christmas Eve somebody set fire to the main door,” Fr. Perez added.
Mayor Narciso de Foxa of Majadahonda expressed solidarity with Fr. Perez and his parishioners, saying he is “profoundly indignant” over the “attack,” which demonstrates “the intolerance of these people.”
“We will continue to work until we discover who is behind such grave acts that are disrespectful to all Catholics,” he promised.
Anti-Catholic, or drug addicts, or Satanists, or just plain crazy.
Pray for the people and do penance in reparation for the sacrilege.
It has been a while since I posted one of these.
Here is a snapshot from a few minutes of some of the places you readers are (more or less are, that is… some are approximations).
It always amazes me how this technology connects people.
Buxton, Maine
White Plains, New York
Lincoln, Nebraska
Runcorn, Cheshire
Chicago, Illinois
Milan, Lombardia
Worcester, Massachusetts
Rochester, New York
South Orange, New Jersey
Irwin, Ohio
Dublin
Waterloo, Iowa
Omaha, Nebraska
Waban, Massachusetts
Middleton, Wisconsin
Rowley, Iowa
Zurich
Newbury Park, California
Detroit, Michigan
Wilmington, Delaware
Mount Holly, New Jersey
Philadelphia, Pennsylva…
Moorestown, New Jersey
Paris, Ile-de-France
Bligh, South Australia
Davisburg, Michigan
Simpsonville, Maryland
Lynbrook, New York
Washington, District of…
Hinsdale, Illinois
Lincoln, Massachusetts
Milpitas, California
Arlington, Virginiato
Lethbridge, Alberta
Rome, Lazio
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Washington, District of…
Rochester, Michigan
Richmond, Virginia
Hilversum, Noord-Holland
Buffalo, New York
Simi Valley, California
Xewkija
Jackson Heights, New York
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cincinnati, Ohio
Greenville, South Carol…
Chester, New York
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Boston, Massachusetts
Rushden, Northamptonshire
Montreal, Quebec
Calgary, Alberta
Scottsdale, Arizona
Natchitoches, Louisiana
San Clemente, California
Prairie Farm, Wisconsin
Bethesda, Maryland
Cincinnati, Ohio
Atlanta, Georgia
Los Angeles, California
Sparta, New Jersey
Barrie, Ontario
South Bend, Indiana
Villa Park, Illinois
Los Angeles, California
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tonbridge, Kent
Athens, Ohio
Saint Louis, Missouri
Columbia, Illinois
Marina, California
Indianapolis, Indiana
Coylton, South Ayrshire
Hamilton, Michigan
Sacramento, California
Washington, District of…
Vienna, Virginia
Holy See (Vatican City State)
Middleton, Wisconsin
Manchester
Fair Haven, New Jersey
Hinsdale, Illinois
Notre Dame, Indiana
San Francisco, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Vancouver, British Colu…
Chula Vista, California
Memphis, Tennessee
Tiffin, Ohio
Hemel Hempstead, Hertford
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Mount Rainier, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland
From a reader:
I’m sure you’ve covered this before, but if during the actual words of consecration the priest just holds the ciborium and then after the words, during the elevation picks a host out and holds it above the ciborium, is that licit?
It would without question be valid. Licit?
First, consider the practice before the Council. Any priest who consecrated in that fashion would have been considered barking mad and would have been disciplined.
The Latin of the 2002 Missale Romanum says “accepit panem” before the consecration of the host. “He takes (the) bread”. There is no mention of bread being in the ciborium. The Latin goes on “eumque parum elevatuim super altare tenens… holding it elevated a little over the paten”. The priest holds “it” over the paten, not “them” over the paten.
My reading is that the priest must be holding the host, not the ciborium. Also, I suppose that priest isn’t holding the ciborium over the paten.
The Latin says that after the consecration the priest “Hostiam consecratam ostendit populo… he shows the consecrated Host to the people”. The priest is not instructed to put the ciborium down and pick up a Host.
My reading is that the priest is to pick up a host before the consecration, not the ciborium with hosts in it. Reasonable?
If there is any question, you could address a question to the local bishop or to the Congregation for Divine Worship.
UPDATE 16 Feb 1552 GMT:
From the The Age:
Father Bob Maguire was the page three story in the Herald Sun with the screaming headline: ”I’ll do gay weddings.” Being a modern priest for the modern era who keeps his flock updated via Twitter and his blog, he tweeted: ”Spread the word, comrades. I will not do gay weddings. I cannot do gay weddings. The H/S headliner is wrong.”
_________ ORIGINAL POST __________
Immediate suspension, I think. Public retraction to follow. No? Am I wrong?
From the Herald Sun in Australia:
Gay marriage lobbyists welcome Fr Bob Maguire’s pledge
Paul Tatnell, Anne Wright
February 15, 2011 12:00AMUPDATE 7.48am: GAY marriage lobbyists have welcomed Father Bob Maguire’s public pledge to conduct gay union ceremonies, but claim he’s not the first priest to speak out in favour of the cause. [Again, I repeat my outrage at the spiritual abuse against happy virtuous people by homosexuals who hijack the word “gay”.]
Australia Marriage Equality national secretary Peter Furness said this morning it was encouraging to see a Catholic priest speak publicly about the issue.
“There are many priests who support and want the right to marry same sex couples,” Mr Furness said. [Suspension.]
“(But) people are scared of their bosses to do it publicly.” [If they do it secretly suspend them.]
Mr Furness said a number of religious leaders had made submissions to a 2009 senate inquiry in favour of gay marriage, but some were not willing to go public with their views.
“The Australian Christian Lobby would have us think that there is one viewpoint from the church, but there’s not,” he said.
“There are lots of different viewpoints. We have been contacted by many religious leaders who have said they want to do gay ceremonies.” [Catholic clerics should be suspended.]
Fr Maguire said he would perform a civil ceremony for a homosexual couple – but not in a church. [Indeed?]
[…]
UPDATE 16 Feb 1552 GMT:
From the The Age:
Father Bob Maguire was the page three story in the Herald Sun with the screaming headline: ”I’ll do gay weddings.” Being a modern priest for the modern era who keeps his flock updated via Twitter and his blog, he tweeted: ”Spread the word, comrades. I will not do gay weddings. I cannot do gay weddings. The H/S headliner is wrong.”
The Montreal Gazette has an intriguing piece. Not sure about the design of the cathedral, but the technology of the windows is intriguing.
Let there be light: new Saskatoon cathedral will draw solar power from stained glass
By Jeremy Warren, Postmedia News February 14, 2011
SASKATOON — A different kind of trinity is emerging at Saskatoon’s newest cathedral, where the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is combining art, technology and faith in a stunning and environmentally-friendly project.
The Holy Family Catholic Church, a $28.5-million cathedral under construction in Saskatoon’s northeast, has solar cells embedded in the large stained glass windows that will be installed this spring.
The cathedral could be the first church in North America to use photovoltaic cells in a stained glass installation, said cathedral building committee chair Jim Nakoneshny. The University of British Columbia used the combination in a library.
“It’s an art installation, but being able to incorporate energy-collecting methods is a way to show sustainability can be done without it being an ugly feature on the building,” he said.
Toronto-based artist Sarah Hall used 54 panels to create three large sections — the largest of which is 13.3 metres tall 3.2 metres wide — representing the Prairie sky. [Ummm…. and religious symbols? In the photo, above, it looks as if there may be some small icon-like symbols.]
Sections of bright red, orange and blue swirl around bursts of white light on the stained-glass panels, which will be installed high on the south side of the cathedral.
Hall, who is known for her stained glass work at religious institutions around the world, had the panels fabricated at a studio in Germany. Once made, about 1,000 solar cells were embedded in the panels.
The marriage of art and faith in Roman Catholic architecture is common, Nakoneshny said. [I like the idea of the technology being built into the windows. Very cool. How about religious symbols for the cathedral church of the diocese?]
“The artistic element is always something we look for in a project,” he said.
“If you look back in the history of the church, there’s a long-standing tradition of trying to bring beauty to the form of a building. It ensures that what we’re creating celebrates the glory of God’s creation.” [Creation? What about salvation?]
Nakoneshny said the project is on budget and on time. He expects the cathedral to open its doors in November.
The Saskatoon cathedral’s use of solar energy isn’t new to the Catholic Church. In 2008, the Catholic Church replaced roof tiles on a Vatican auditorium with 2,700 solar panels.
The glass and solar cells — from conception to installation — will cost the Saskatoon diocese about $675,000, but the money for the project came from special donations and not the cathedral’s construction budget, Nakoneshny.
The diocese hasn’t calculated how much money might be saved by using solar energy in the cathedral. The panels will collect annually enough energy to power five homes for a year — enough to help offset electrical costs at the new cathedral, said project manager Michael Lux.
jjwarren@thestarphoenix.com
Another photo from Global Saskatoon.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
Fr. Reader on ROME 26/5– Day 57 & 58: doubled up: “This video… ay! poor unfortunate souls…”
on ASK FATHER: “Ghost” or “Spirit”, which is it? Wherein Fr. Z Rants.: “It makes sense to use ‘Holy Ghost’ where the metre of a hymn demands it: thus the entrance hymn we’re…”
on ASK FATHER: If a bishop and also priests confirm at the same time, who is the minister of confirmation?: “Prof: In the ancient Church it was the practice to give what are in the post-Conciliar Church called the “sacraments…”
on ASK FATHER: Is it a sin to take a 15 minute leave during a terrible homily?: “To be fair Fr. Reader; sometimes that happens by the homily even with the most elegant, sincere and orthodox priests;…”
on ASK FATHER: “Ghost” or “Spirit”, which is it? Wherein Fr. Z Rants.: “I looked around a bit and found a reference in Bosworth and Toller’s Anglo-Saxon Dictionary which led me to Abbot…”
on ASK FATHER: Is it a sin to take a 15 minute leave during a terrible homily?: “St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s Moral Theology talks a lot about how, when it’s to the advantage of the Massgoer, it…”
on ASK FATHER: If a bishop and also priests confirm at the same time, who is the minister of confirmation?: “I was raised in a small-ish rural / suburban US diocese – maybe 110 parishes, and the bishop had no…”
on ASK FATHER: If a bishop and also priests confirm at the same time, who is the minister of confirmation?: “If I understand it correctly (which is doubtful), in the Eastern Rites infants are confirmed (by the priest) at the…”
A Daily Prayer for Priests
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