Wherein Fr Z responds to a question by Beans about the traditional rite of Confirmation

I have been informed by a reader that Massimo “Beans” Faggioli posted a tweet in which he thanked me for my prayers after his seriously rude attack on my person and against Bp. Hying.  HERE

I couldn’t see his tweet because he blocks me.

For those of you who are NOT blocked by Beans, here is the tweet…

I would add that what I did was more than say “prayers”.  I celebrated the Sacrifice of Calvary, Holy Mass, for his and his family’s intention.

Screen shot sent by a reader.   It really isn’t fair to ask a question of someone whom he blocks.

Since Beans has asked, I will respond.

Those older forms were never suppressed or abrogated in such a way that they absolutely could not be used.

Firstly, Beans would do well to read the text of Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (Italian).

In SP….

Art. 9, §1  The parish priest, after careful consideration, can also grant permission to use the older ritual in the administration of the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance and Anointing of the Sick, if advantageous for the good of souls.

§2  Ordinaries are granted the faculty of celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation using the old Roman Pontifical, if advantageous for the good of souls.

This is underscored in 2011 by Universae Ecclesiae:

29. Permission to use the older formula for the rite of Confirmation was confirmed by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (cf. art. 9 § 2). Therefore, in the forma extraordinaria, it is not necessary to use the newer formula of Pope Paul VI as found in the Ordo Confirmationis.

Before that, however, after Ecclesia Dei adflicta of John Paul II, the Holy See permitted the use of the liturgical books in force in 1962.  That included, of course, the Pontificale Romanum.

As a matter of fact, after 1988 there was a challenge by the French bishops (if my memory serves) to the use of the Rite of Confirmation.  This was because the SSPX bishops were confirming in the old Rite.  They questioned the validity of confirming with the older, traditional form, because of what Paul VI changed.  However, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified that the older, traditional form remained valid and that the older Rite of Confirmation could be used.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei had the authority to grant the use of those books, in line with the Holy See’s previous legislation.

So, Confirmation with the older, traditional Rite has been going on all this time.  It is now much more frequent because more and more people are choosing to attend the Traditional Latin Mass and they want traditional Confirmation for their children.  Also, more and more bishops are finding it opportune to administer Confirmation in the older Rite and they are generous with their time and effort.

This is simply a normal pastoral activity of bishops that shouldn’t surprise or disturb anyone.

Also, it will become more and more prevalent in the future, I predict.

A demographic sink hole has been opening up underneath the Church for a long time.  COVID has accelerated the sink hole.   Large numbers of Catholics in name and baptism only will fall through that hole not to be seen again anytime soon.   The Church’s landscape is going to change.  I think that a few groups will remain strong in the Church, including Traditionalists (who are having lots of children, who are dedicated and generous with their money) as well as converts from a more Evangelical background and also some charismatics who have strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion.   These groups will find each other out of necessity.  There will be some friction, but I think something amazing will grow out of it.  And what binds them together will the TRADITIONAL LATIN  RITE, not the Novus Ordo.

This is the direction I see opening up for us.

 

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Benedict XVI, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , ,
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VIDEO: How are newcomers to the Traditional Latin Mass treated?

I saw an oldish video interview that Taylor Marshall did with Michael Matt of The Remnant.  They range around on many topics.  However, this part is of particular value.  How are newcomers to the Traditional Latin Mass treated?  Welcomed?  Not welcomed?  Engaged?  Ignored?  Criticized?  Supported?

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, I'm just askin'..., Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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@MilArchUSA Archbp. Broglio Responds to US Navy Decision to Cancel Catholic Priest Contracts

UPDATE 9 Sept 2020:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09-09-2020

Archbishop Timothy Broglio Expresses Gratitude for U.S. Navy Decision to Retain Contracts with Catholic Priests
Navy reverses decision to cancel priest contracts at Naval Bases Coronado and Ventura County and Naval Support Activity Monterey

WASHINGTON, DC – His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, issued the following statement today on the U.S. Navy’s decision to retain contracts with civilian Catholic priests at naval bases in California for at least another year.

Archbishop Broglio said:

“Catholics in the Navy and everywhere in this Country rejoice in the decision by the U.S. Navy to reconsider closing the thriving Catholic programs at naval stations in California.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who lent their support and encouragement to maintaining these programs. In a particular way, I am grateful to the Navy Chief of Chaplains and his staff, as well as, Navy Southwest for their consideration and effort.”

UPDATE 9 Sept 2020:

UPDATE 9 Sept 2020:

The San Diego Union-Tribune says:

Navy changes course, says Catholic services will continue on area bases

After public outcry, Navy Region Southwest reversed a cost-cutting decision that would have ended Catholic services on many area Navy bases

[…]

Originally Published on: Sep 8, 2020 at 18:25


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09-08-2020

His Excellency in contact with Navy Command to urge reconsideration of constitutionally questionable decision

WASHINGTON, DC –  The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), has received many messages and is well aware of the news items published over the past few days about the decision by the U.S. Navy regarding the pastoral care of Catholics at Naval Base (NB) CoronadoNaval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey, and NB Ventura County—all of which are currently served by civilian Catholic priests willing and able to continue their ministry.  In what’s being described as a “cost-cutting” move, the Navy has announced it will cancel the contracts of civilian Catholic priests who serve these military faith communities. Meanwhile on-base Protestant services, led by active-duty non-Catholic chaplains, will continue as usual.

For some time now, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, has been engaged with the Navy Chief of Chaplains and has been trying to meet with those responsible for this decision. Archbishop Broglio noted the savings from cancelling these contracts amounts to a mere 250-thousand dollars—approximately 0.000156% of the Navy’s budget.  “It is difficult to fathom how the First Amendment rights of the largest faith group in the Navy can be compromised for such an insignificant sum,” Archbishop Broglio said. His Excellency expressed hope the Navy will reconsider the decision.

U.S. Navy chaplains serve the pastoral needs not only of the Navy but also the Marines and the Coast Guard. Currently, due to a nationwide shortage of Catholic priests, only 48 priests serve as active-duty Navy chaplains, hardly enough to meet the pastoral needs of more than 135-thousand Catholics now on active duty in all three service branches, plus their families. The Catholic Church depends on civilian priests under contract with the Department of Defense to fill the gap. If the Navy follows through with its decision to begin cancelling those contracts, Catholics who serve will be deprived of their First Amendment right to exercise their religion, casting doubt on the constitutional validity of the move.

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ASK FATHER: When the SHTF, what should we have to help underground priests?

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

The most recent podcast with Ann Barnhardt was on the topic of prepping — HERE — and since the Church in the US might be needing to go underground sooner than we think one of the things we’ll need is supplies on hand so that underground priests can travel light and not carry full kit with them everywhere they go.

What are the minimum essentials to have a Mass if it’s an underground situation? Can a hand-missal be used if all of the Latin is there? Can a votive Mass be said on any day if there’s not access to a proper Missal (eg: print and laminate all the prayers for a full votive Mass to have on hand with wine and unconsecrated hosts)? What’s the best preparation we can make now to support underground priests (to the best we can make predictions about the future)?

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

Firstly, I answer those few questions.  Then I will add some other comments.

Yes, a hand missal can be used.  In a pinch, such as we are talking about here, a hand-held device, screen-device, could be used.  Say you have one in “Farraday” cage or bag against the day when the coronal mass ejection hits and triggers a Carrington event, or an EMP from a foreign power.   Have your sacred books as PDFs (they are available) loaded.  Have physical books if possible.   Remember: if you are networked, more people can share the expense of getting concrete sacred books.    Not every group will need a Pontificale Romanum (for bishops), but the Missale Romanum and Rituale Romanum are indispensable.

Yes, in the situation you describe, when prepper conditions are engaged, sure.  Why not?  It would be great to have the Mass propers for, say, St. John Eudes.  However, if what you have is a set of cards with a couple of Votive Masses, such as of the Blessed Virgin or of the Holy Spirit, sure!   Use a Votive Mass!   And say you want a Mass of the Virgin, but you only have an old set of BLACK vestments.  In those conditions… who cares?  Use the black when “saying the black”.  Have only green but it is Christmas?  Use green!  And laminating is a good idea.  Hard lamination.

Definitely have wine squirreled away.  That might be the toughest aspect of all of this.   As a matter of fact, there is a way to make wine from raisins that would be valid matter for Holy Mass.  So, not only wine, but raisins and the know how to do it.   Flour and water and heat can make a valid host for Mass.  They don’t have to be pretty.  However, there are available for sale host irons.  US HERE – UK HERE  You would not need a high watt machine, since your power could be limited anyway.

What support?

  • Firstly, a place to stay that is safe where he can let his guard down and really sleep for a change.
  • Enough supplies to get to his next destination.
  • Antibiotics and vitamins, first aid stuff.
  • A working “ham radio” station (power, transceiver, antennas(s)).
  • Perhaps stock up on stuff that someone who is itinerant might need: changes of boots, clothes, etc.   Send him on his way refreshed.
  • Ammo: self-defense and also small game (which will be “money” if things get bad enough)
  • Olive oil.  You might ask priests to give you their old oils (SC, OC, OI) at the end of a year and then freeze them or store them in a dark cool place.  Or ask a friendly priest to request extra oils and then do the same.

In the past I have written about

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/2014/02/ask-father-priests-bug-out-bag-for-teotwawki/

 

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Semper Paratus, Si vis pacem para bellum!, TEOTWAWKI, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
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“Fratelli tutti”, anyone?

I am firmly convinced of something I picked up years ago from a radio talk show chap from in native place.

Joe Soucheray – whose shtick was the viscerally common-sensical “Garage Logic” – used to offer that every newspaper ought to have an official “Guy”.  The Guy would sit in a comfortable chair, perhaps with a cooler of drinks close at hand, at the end of the chute where the papers came out of the press ready for distribution. The Guy would look at the paper and anything that he dinged would have to be redone. This was a basic, rather easy way to keep really stupid, knuckle-head mistakes and gaffs out of the paper before it went to everyone’s doorstep.

I have firmly maintained that every entity in the Church should have a “Guy” who looks at stuff before it goes to the public. Some down to earth fellow who easily picks up on what will be obvious to the world, but not obvious the the pencil-necked bubble-dwellers who come up streams with stuff to promulgate.

For example, I remember pounding my head on the desk when the Latin incipit – hence title – of what turned out to be an infamously controversial document, Amoris laetitia, was released. “What were they thinking?!?”, I gasped. “AT LEAST” – I begged my friend in the Press Office – “release the whole first sentence! Do you really want people to think that Francis’ next offering is to be called ‘The joy of sex’?”

That’s one of many possibilities for Amoris laetitia, and a benign one at that. After all, given the über-creepiness that eminated from ghost writer Víctor Manuel Fernández, who could guess at what that incipit promised?

I see in a story at the heavily liberal-biased Religion News Service that people are upset about the incipit – hence, title – of Francis’ projected encyclical.  It is supposed to be about “the economic, environmental and spiritual change that is necessary to address today’s modern challenges”.  Boy, I can hardly wait!    People are upset about the incipit which is to be

Fratelli tutti

Already the bickering has begun, as people wonder what the impact will be.. given we don’t have an context in a sentence for those two words.

Brothers all

Will this be SEXIST???, they fret?

I, who cannot summon an ounce of energy to give a damn whether it’s exclusive or inclusive, am merely a guy who speaks more than one language, including Italian.

To my ear Fratelli tutti just sounds ridiculous.

Who thought it would be a good idea to have a papal document called Fratelli tutti?

 

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#ASonnetADay – 31. “Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts…”

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8 September – Feast of the Nativity of Mary

nativity of mary smStop for a moment.  Consider what our eternal prospects were before the birth not only of Our Lord, but also before the birth of His Mother, from whom He took our human nature, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Ponder the state of slavery to sin in which we were bound and, after death, the strong possibility of everlasting separation from God.

Given what our prospects were, celebrating the birth of our fallen humanity’s solitary boast is a really good idea.

Today’s feast is older than the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was precisely nine months ago.

Holy Church, in celebrating liturgically her holy birth for a long time, ultimately reasoned back to Mary’s holy conception. As St. Thomas Aquinas argued,

“The Church celebrates the feast of our Lady’s Nativity. Now the Church does not celebrate feasts except of those who are holy. Therefore, even in her birth the Blessed Virgin was holy. Therefore, she was sanctified in the womb.” (STh III, q. 27, a. 1)

Lex Orandi Lex CredendiAs we worship, so do we believe.

As we believe, so do we worship.

Change our worship you change belief, and vice versa.

We are our rites.

Here is the entry in the Roman Martyrology for today’s feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Festum Nativitatis beatae Mariae Virginis, ex semine Abrahae, de tribu Iuda ortae, ex progenie regis David, e qua Filius Dei natus est, factus homo de Spiritu Sancto, ut homines vetusta servitute peccati liberaret.

The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sprung from the seed of Abraham [and] from the tribe of Judah, from the line of David the king, from which was born the Son of God, made man of the Holy Ghost, that he might free men from the ancient slavery to sin.

 

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#ASonnetADay – 30. “When to the sessions of sweet silent thought…”

On Labor Day… inside because of moquitos.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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#ASonnetADay – 29. “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes” Quoted even in a Star Trek: NG episode!

Posted in Poetry, Sonnet A Day |
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Wherein Fr. Z responds to the rude attack from Beans – @MassimoFaggioli – on @BishopHying of @MadisonDiocese

I believe that my best public response to Massimo “Beans” Faggioli’s vicious attack on Bp. Hying of Madison, is to say Holy Mass for his intention tomorrow, a 1st Saturday.

Beans posted this on Twitter.  For those of you who are blocked by Beans (as he has blocked me) click HERE for an image of the tweets.

What Beans inspired by his attack on the Bishop was a chain of amazingly uninformed and mean-spirited tweets.   Pretty sad, even attacking the parents and children who received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

That was his objective, of course.

Neither I nor Bp. Hying nor the wonderful people who happily participated in the sacred rite, entirely legitimate and in keeping with the Church’s laws and heart, deserved Faggioli’s rudeness.

Therefore, tomorrow, 5 September 2020, at NOON CDT, I will say Holy Mass for Beans’ intention, and for his family.   I will add prayers for “the gift of tears… compunction of heart”.

Yes, it will be the Traditional Latin Mass which Beans so unjustly and rigidly reviles.

May Our Blessed Mother ask God the Holy Spirit to speak to Massimo’s heart.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Si vis pacem para bellum! | Tagged , , , ,
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