Another assault on Holy Orders

Posted on 24 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At Lifesite I read that in the caput malorum omnium, Card. Marx, Archbishop of Freising-Munich has proposed that lay men and (of course) women should preach at Mass.

Given the general state of things in Germany… they probably couldn’t do any worse.

But that isn’t the point.

It is really quite an assault on the priesthood.

These comments come shortly after a private and unannounced pre-Amazon Synod meeting took place near Rome, at which several German prelates and theologians participated, among them Cardinal Walter Kasper and Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck. An official summary of that meeting called for the introduction of female deacons.

It is an assault on Holy Orders.

Since “talents are different,” the German prelate raised the question of lay preachers. “Do we not want to say: he who has a talent, he shall speak?” he asked. “May only the priest preach?” In general, Cardinal Marx hopes for “a greater diversity of that which is the homily.”

What this is is a reduction of orders simply to functions.  Hence, the ordained are simply functionaries, who do things, then why not pick the people who are good at those things.  That’s a Protestant view of “minister”, not a Catholic view of “orders”.

But, hey!, maybe this sort of talk slowed for a few minutes the number of people leaving the Church in Germany and, therefore, the decrease in the Kirchensteuer.

Posted in Liberals, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
28 Comments

Fr. Z’s Kitchen: Remembrance of Madeleines Past

Posted on 23 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Yesterday I wrote about the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene and averted to “Madeleines”, the Marcel’s immortalized morsel. I had made Madeleines last year for the day and determined that I would do the same this year. However, because of the structure of my day, I didn’t get to them until nighttime while taking in a couple episodes of DCI Banks.

Would I be more successful this year than last? Would the advice I garnered last time be of service this time?

I decided to do this in two batches.  I used the same temperature as indicted on the recipe, but I used one pan and made sure the rack was in the middle.  The results.

First batch, much like last year.

Second batch, with just four in the lower rack (yes, close the element).

Second batch.  I lowered the temperature.  I didn’t get quite the “reverse dimple” as the other.

The smaller and darker ones were from that lower pan.

I learned from a comment last year that Madeleines are good dunked in red wine. I happened to have an open bottle of a California Cab.

Yes, I can confirm that Madeleines are good dunked in red wine!

I’m not much of a baker.  Baking mystifies and intimidates me.  But it’s good to push to do new things.

I am left to consider variables, such as the size of the eggs and the amount of lemon juice. “Zest from half a lemon and then the juice of the lemon”.  Not all lemons and eggs are equal.  Whole milk?  Fat reduced?  I suspect some of you will have observations.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen | Tagged
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Concelebration, the rights of priests, and changing times

Posted on 23 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

My kind of concelebration.

At NLM Peter Kwasniewski has a piece about how concelebration has been and still is being forced on priests.   For some, this is almost a mania and you incur their wrath if you don’t con-comply.

I say that concelebration should be “safe, legal and rare”.

Thus, Peter…

[…]

Clearly, the modernists and progressivists are fuming and plotting against the young priests going to side altars to “say Mass,” or the parochial vicars who set up dignified altars in their rooms for their day off, or the clergy who with curious consistency absent themselves from the sacramental jamborees that pass for special occasions like the Chrism Mass. They can see the writing on the wall. There comes a time when the threat of tradition becomes felt in earnest, and all kindness, real or simulated, is laid aside. It is indeed a threat to the postconciliar house of cards that many have substituted for the rock-solid Church of Christ and its perennial doctrine and liturgy.

The older generation, still paddling and sputtering in a lake of Kool Aid, wants to thwart the revival of private Masses [1] above all because these Masses are so often in the usus antiquior. Thus, two canonical offenses are committed at once: an action against the Code of Canon Law, and an action against the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and its authoritative applications in Universae Ecclesiae.

Let us, them, be as clear as we can be. It is impossible to force a priest to concelebrate, even to establish that he should “as a rule” do so. It is still more impossible to exclude the usus antiquior for a priest’s “private” Mass — that is, when he is not scheduled to offer Mass in public with a congregation. [2]

[…]

Yes.  I believe that there is a connection between the waning desire to concelebrate and the waxing use of the Traditional Mass.

I was recently at a wonderful conference for priests.  I had written that, before I went I had inquired about the possibility of celebrating Mass on my own, and indeed the TLM.  The organizers could not have been more gracious and accommodating.

Thereafter, quite a few priests at that conference asked me what my arrangements were.  They, too, would have preferred to celebrate Mass on their own, rather than concelebrate, and indeed most of them in the Traditional manner.   It was enlightening.

I mentioned this fact to one of the organizers and we had a short chat about how that could be done next year with the addition of individual altars.  My suggestion was that they could obtain, perhaps, 4 or 6 of the altars by St. Joseph’s Apprentice and, as I do, assemble a set in a Pelican case.  Thus, could they easily store and transport them.

In any event, the younger clergy are not slaves to the aging hippies and their acolytes who are basking still in the halcyon days of the spirit of Vatican II.

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged
12 Comments

@JamesMartinSJ – “It is stupefying that women can’t preach”, says the Jesuit. Oh, yeah? Here’s what’s truly stupefying.

Posted on 22 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Get a load of this…

Oh, that’s stupefying, is it?

The Augustinians, the Benedictines, the Cistercians, the Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Trinitarians, Trappists, Basilians, and just about every major religious community founded admits men and women; that is, most of the major ones have men’s and women’s branches of the order or congregation.

Which one does not?

The Jesuits, who have resisted having “Jesuitesses” since the beginning – and the Institute of Mary (Mary Ward’s community) does not count.

St. Mary Magdalene pray for Jesuits.

Posted in Liberals, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged
23 Comments

GREAT NEWS! Bp. Wall of @DioceseofGallup will celebrate Sundays ‘ad orientem’

Posted on 22 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I don’t know about you, but I needed some good news.

Here’s some good news.

His Excellency Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup, on 22 July, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, issued a letter to the people of the diocese entrusted to his care.  HERE

Citing that we have become too lax in our approach to the Eucharist, citing the and citing Benedict XVI’ teachings and his recent letter about The Present Crisis, Bp. Wall has determined that …

For all these reasons, I have decided that, since the recent solemnity of Corpus Christi, the 11:00am Sunday Mass will henceforth be celebrated ad orientem at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Gallup.

In the letter the bishop provides exemplary catechesis in which he cites the best sources, such as my friend Fr. Lang’s book Turning Towards the Lord: Orientation in Liturgical Prayer [US HERE – UK HERE] and also Ratzinger’s Spirit Of The Liturgy. [US HERE– UK HERE].

He also, and this was very good, deals with issue of “preference”.

Finally, let me say a few words on the matter of preference. There is an old saying that holds de gustibus non est disputandum: when it comes to taste, there is no room for dispute. To a point, that is true. Nobody can fault anybody for liking chocolate chip ice cream more than mint, or Chevrolet more than Ford. When it comes to the ways in which we worship God, however, nothing is simply a matter of taste. Msgr. Charles Pope explains this well: “Preferences should be rooted in solid liturgical principles. […] People matter, and they should be nourished and intelligently engaged in the Sacred Liturgy—but not in a way that forgets that the ultimate work of the Liturgy is not merely to please or enrich us but to be focused on and worship the Lord” […]

Exactly.  One can dispute taste.  Not all preferences are of equal value.  It might be that you have chosen something inferior.  Yes… let that sink in.  It’s better to set this category aside in these matters.

I also like the photo on the page that serves up the bishop’s letter.  In the background is the tabernacle (which needs a veil, the true sign of the Real Presence, but I digress) surmounted by words set in stone: SANCTUS SANCTUS SANCTUS.  Just right.

May I say that I am reminded of the late, great Extraordinary Ordinary of Madison.  Bp. Morlino made a strong argument and determined to celebrate ad orientem on Sundays.

Fr. Z kudos to Bp. Wall.

UPDATE:

On Twitter my friend Sam Howard remarked.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some nitwit labelled this “racist”. After all, isn’t everything that actually makes sense “racist”? Like, say, logic?

So, what’s next for Bp. Wall and his valiant staff?

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Is that an ancestor of Susan of the Parish Council?

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , ,
11 Comments

VIDEO which could help some participate more fully at the Traditional Latin Mass (and probably Novus Ordo too)

Posted on 22 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A young priest of Denver, Fr. David Nix, put together a video about a year ago, in which, while he says a Traditional Latin Low Mass, he superimposes quotes from St. Francis de Sales – reflections on each step of Holy Mass – and interposes relevant clips from Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.

It’s pretty interesting and it could help some people enter into the sacred action with a fuller and more conscious and actual participation.

Here’s the tweet I saw, which alerted me to the video.

Right now it has 3654 views.

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
5 Comments

22 July: Mary Magdalene – one tough cookie

Posted on 22 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At NLM there is a really good post by Greg DiPippo about the roller coaster history of the liturgical observance of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.

You might recall that in 2016 Pope Francis made her day – in the Novus Ordo – a Feast with its own Preface (with a glaring error in Latin). I have some photos from older missals. HERE

About the Proper: HERE

Before 1960 Mary Magdalene scored a Creed in her Mass!  It was taken away.  Last year you voted that it should be restored in the Traditional Mass (or that we should do it anyway).

Some time ago, in my weekly column for the Catholic Herald:

The Holy See recently announced that, in the Ordinary Form calendar of the Roman Rite, St Mary Magdalene’s annual liturgical observance on 22 July would be elevated to a Feast.  Her new Feast was even given a new proper Preface.  There is no way to arrive definitively at the identity of this fascinating figure.  Nevertheless, it is good to see her day restored to greater dignity.

Speaking of Mary Magdalene’s identity, we know from Scripture that she came to Jesus’ tomb in the garden to anoint His Body. Mary, the first witness of the empty tomb, then went to tell Apostles. Hence, she is called “the apostle to the apostles”.  Initially, Mary mistook the Risen Lord for the gardener.  St Augustine (d 430) says that “this gardener was sowing in her heart, as in His own garden, the grain of mustard seed.” When He said her name, she recognized and tried to cling to Him. Christ mysteriously forbade her to touch Him (“Noli me tangere” – John 20:17) saying, “I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” Augustine proposes that Christ wanted to be touched spiritually, believed in, before being touched in any other way.  Reflect on that before receiving Communion.

The 3rd century writer Hippolytus identified Mary Magdalene with both Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, and also the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet. Mary Magdalene and/or Mary of Bethany are often identified as sinners. Pope Gregory I “the Great” (d 604) called her a peccatrix, “sinner”. Eventually she came to be called also meretrix, “prostitute”.  Another tradition supposes that Mary Magdalene was the woman the Lord saved from stoning. This is the tradition referenced in Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ. Scholars today believe that Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, the woman Jesus rescued, and the woman who anointed His feet are all different women.

Rightly or wrongly, Mary Magdelene has long been associated in art and literature with ongoing penitence for past sins.  Hallow her feast with an examination of conscience, which can be bitter.  You could then celebrate her Feast with the little scallop-shaped cookies called “madeleines”.  They aren’t really named after our saint, but, who cares?  They might sweeten your remembrance of things past.

Speaking of tough cookies, I made madeleines last year on this date.  They were a little “doner” on one side, and some readers here made good suggestions about that.  They were NOT, however, at all tough!  I shall attempt the same again today, though putting on the oven may be a penance.  More later on that.

Posted in Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
4 Comments

ACTION ITEM! I’m Fr. Z and I endorse this ad. UPDATES

Posted on 21 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’m Fr. Z and I endorse this ad.

From the Archdiocese for Military Services.

For 34 years, the AMS has been serving those who serve. Currently, the AMS has 182 active-duty chaplains serving in the military. Whether on an installation or a ship, our chaplains are attentive to sacramental needs, available to offer counsel, an asset to the religious education program, and ever ready to respond to those key moments in our lives –birth, sickness, sacraments, and death.

Please join us in prayer and almsgiving with a gift in honor of the 182 chaplains serving.

Visit www.milarch.org/dayofgiving to make a gift and a prayer today!

Let’s make a dent!

Tell them Fr. Z sent you!

BTW… I should soon have an update for the replacement travel vestments for Fr. Johnson.

UPDATE 22 July:

Since I posted last night…

UPDATE 23 July:

Posted in ACTION ITEM! | Tagged ,
9 Comments

FEAST DAY! 21 July 1773 – Clement XIV suppressed the Jesuits!

Posted on 21 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

It is a great FEAST today.

Today, 21 July, in the year of grace 1773, Pope Clement XIV of happy memory, issued his Bull by which he suppressed the Jesuits.

I have all sorts of Papa Ganganelli gear which you can order and proudly display.

>>HERE<<

There are mugs and shirts.

17_07_21_shop_screenshot

Clement_XVI_Mug_01 Clement_XVI_Mug_02

I put the salient text from the Bull, Dominus ac Redemptor, on the back

Yes, I know there are some great Jesuits.  I know some great Jesuits.  But they, too, get it.

 

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged , , ,
15 Comments

Mass texts for St. Elijah, Prophet – 20 July

Posted on 20 July 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Many of the great figures of the Old Testament are considered saints and have a day in the Roman liturgical book called the Roman Martyrology. I post about them on occasion.

The Martyrology says that when the day is clear on the regular calendar – id est there is not even an obligatory memorial – a saint of the day in the Martyrology can be selected.

Here is the entry for St. Elijah, prophet, in the Roman Martyrology.  Today is his feast:

2. Commemoratio sancti Eliae Thesbitae, qui propheta Domini in diebus Achab, regis Israel, Dei unici iura vinidicavit adversus infidelem populum tali animi robore, ut non modo Ioannem Baptistam, sed etiam Christum ipsum praefiguret; oracula scripta non reliquit, sed eius memoria fideliter servatur, praesertim in monte Carmelo.

In the older, traditional Roman calendar, I think we must use St. Jerome Emiliani.  In the newer calendar, I think we are freer, since there is only an optional memorial for St. Apollinaris.

Problem: Where to find the texts for Mass for St. Elijah?

Since the Carmelites venerate him, they have Mass texts.

Could Fr. Sven O’Brien use them at the diocesan parish of St. Ipsidipsy in Black Duck?

He could probably ask permission of the local Bishop of Black Duck.

In any event, here is the spiffy preface which a reader sent:

15_07_20_Elijah_03

Preface of Our Father, S. Elijah the Prophet: Right indeed it is and just, proper and for our welfare, that we should always and everywhere give thanks to you, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God; and that we should triumphantly praise, bless, and proclaim you on this solemn feast of blessed Elijah, your Prophet and our father: who, at your word, arose like fire, closed the sky, raised the dead, smote the tyrants, killed the impious, and laid the foundations of the monastic life; who, fed with bread and drink by the ministry of an angel, walked in the strength of that food as far as the holy mountain; who was carried off in a whirlwind of fire, to return as a herald of the second coming of Jesus Christ our Lord; through whom your majesty is praised by the Angels and the Archangels, by the Cherubim too and the Seraphim, who lift up their endless hymn, day by day, with one voice singing: Holy… [Not my translation.]

Finally, the mention of Elijah and Carmelites prompts me to remind you to refresh your coffee supply with

[CUE MUSIC]

… Mystic Monk Coffee!

When you’ve hard a hard week of searching for Mass texts for Old Testament prophets until you look like Gandalf in the archives of Minas Tirith, you can still save the world from Sauron, and find your Mass formulary, by drinking lots of …

Mystic Monk Coffee.

Do you not care about finding that long-lost parchment?

Do you not care about … about the liturgy?

Is it possible that you don’t care about saving the liturgy and saving THE WORLD?!?

What would Gandalf do?  Would he order iced tea?!?   Actually, that sounds pretty good today.  The monks have tea, too.

Anyway…

Mystic Monk Coffee!

It’s swell!

CLICK TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM EVIL

UPDATE:

Here are the Mass propers, thanks to a reader.

O Carm DM St Elias Elijah propers Carmelite

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged
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