Fr. Z's Blog | Catholic commentary by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

ASK FATHER: “Priest screws around with order of Mass. Should I mind my own business?” @FatherZ rants, advises.

Posted on 31 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Our priest always reverses the order of the peace and the fraction.

Specifically, he observes the following order:

Our Father, embolism, doxology.

Prayer for the peace of Christ.

Fraction and commingling.

Exchange of peace.

Agnus Dei.

As you can see, #3 and #4 are reversed.

He says it’s because “peace comes from Jesus’s broken body” or something like that. Is this an abuse worth taking up with the bishop, or should I just mind my own business?

“Just mind your own business….”…?!? No! This is YOUR business!

Sacred worship is your business. Our sacred liturgical worship is not the property of the priest, who can do whatever the hell he wants.

The fact that you wrote, “He says it’s because…” suggests that you have spoken with him or he has publicly explained himself.

If you have not communicated with him personally, I urge you to do so. Drop him a note and, if he doesn’t answer, approach him. Of course, use common sense and be kind and respectful.

At the same time, you should discreetly get a few instances of what he does via the video camera setting on your smart phone (assuming you have one).

The paper trail and the video are what might be called “proofs” in the case that this needs to go to another level. It isn’t enough simply to say that Father X is doing Y. You need to show that he is really doing it.

The next step, if the priest continues to commit this clear abuse, is to go to the bishop (I am assuming that this is the pastor of the parish). And/or you can go to the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome. If there is no bishop right now, write to the Congregation directly.

I have tips for writing to bishops and to Rome, HERE.

I said at the top that this is YOUR business. The Church thinks so too.

The document Redemptionis Sacramentum clarifies your role.

6. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters

[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism.

[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff. It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.

The last paragraph clarifies that the faithful have recourse directly to the Holy See at any time in the process. However, they urge that the problems be dealt with at the lowest level possible before seeking help from a higher authority. Hence, if you do not get satisfaction from the priest directly, after collecting written and video proofs you should try the local bishop and then the Congregation.

Again, friend, this is your business.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged liturgical abuse, RS 183
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DAY 1 – Novena of Prayer to the Holy Spirit – AUDIO

Posted on 31 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Let us, upon our knees, pray in a special way to God the Holy Spirit during this time between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost.

This is one way to pray. I invite the readership to join in.

MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA

Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is said, followed by 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 7 Glory be to the Father, followed by the Act of Consecration and the Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

FIRST DAY OF THE NOVENA

Holy Spirit! Lord of Light!
From Your clear celestial height,
Your pure beaming radiance give!

Only one thing is important — eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared — sin. Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for “The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us.”

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Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

(Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts)

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into Heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.

Posted in PODCAzT | Tagged Gifts of the Holy Spirit, novena, Pentecost, Pentecost novena
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FOLLOW UP – Travel Vestments for US Navy Chaplain

Posted on 30 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You will recall that a friend of mine’s airplane went into the river on landing at NAS JAX and he lost his vestments. I started a fundraiser to have new vestments made at Gammarelli in Rome.

Gammarelli sent photos of the fabric being cut. I saw the stacks of cut fabric the other day in Rome as they were waiting to go to the tailors.

I’m also having an alb made.

Here are a few shots.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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WDTPRS: Ascension Thursday: That hope informs our trials

Posted on 30 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Tonight at 6:30 PM at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff we will have a Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord… because it is Ascension THURSDAY… today.

A priest friend wrote this morning:

“Today we have celebrated the Novus Ordo mystery of ‘not the Ascension”. Almost uplifting!”

Agreed. Of course even in the Novus Ordo today is supposed to be Ascension. The shift to Sunday’s took place arbitrarily and it was done in some places, not all (very few).

On Sunday I will celebrate Sunday after Ascension Thursday, because that’s what day it is.

Let’s have a look at the Collect for the Mass of the Lord’s Ascension… on this THURSDAY.

COLLECT – (1962MR):

Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut, qui hodierna die Unigenitum tuum Redemptorem nostrum ad caelos ascendisse credimus; ipsi quoque mente in caelestibus habitemus.

Our hard working Lewis & Short Dictionary can have a little rest today, I think. There is nothing especially noteworthy in the vocabulary. Let us therefore move on to a straight-forward…

LITERAL TRANSLATION:
Grant, we beseech You, Almighty God,
that we, who believe Your Only Begotten Son our Redeemer
to have ascended on this day to heaven,
may ourselves also dwell in mind amongst heavenly things.

Bl. Abbot Columba Marmion, OSB (+1923), wrote in Christ in His Mysteries (US HERE – UK HERE) that “of all the feasts of Our Lord … the Ascension is the greatest, because it is the supreme glorification of Christ Jesus.”

Then, speaking about the very Collect we are looking at today, Bl. Columba says,

“This prayer first of all testifies to our faith in the mystery in recalling the title ‘Only-begotten Son’ and ‘Redeemer’, given to Jesus, the Church shows forth the reasons for the celestial exaltation of her Bridegroom;—she finally denotes the grace therein contained for our souls. … The mystery of Jesus Christ’s Ascension is represented to us in a manner suitable to our nature: we contemplate the Sacred Humanity rising from the earth and ascending visibly towards the heavens.”

Of course it is not only Christ’s humanity but our humanity that ascended into heaven.

We Catholics know that what was not assumed, was not redeemed (St. Gregory of Nazianzus). Our humanity, body and soul, was taken by the Son into an unbreakable bond with His divinity. When Christ rose from the tomb, our humanity rose in Him. When He ascended to heaven, so also did we. In Christ our humanity now sits at the Father’s right hand. His presence there is our great promise and hope. It is already fulfilled, but not yet in its fullness. That hope informs our trials in this life.

Preaching on 1 June 444 St. Pope Leo I “the Great” said,

“Truly it was a great and indescribable source of rejoicing when, in the sight of the heavenly multitudes, the nature of our human race ascended over the dignity of all heavenly creatures, to pass the angelic orders and to be raised beyond the heights of archangels. In its ascension it did not stop at any other height until this same nature was received at the seat of the eternal Father, to be associated on the throne of the glory of that One to whose nature it was joined in the Son.”

Leo says in another sermon of 17 May 445,

“This Faith, reinforced by the Ascension of the Lord and strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, has not been terrified by chains, by prison, by exile, by hunger, by fire, by the mangling of wild beasts, nor by sharp suffering from the cruelty of persecutors. Throughout the world, not only men but also women, not just immature boys but also tender virgins, have struggled on behalf of this Faith even to the shedding of their blood. This Faith has cast out demons, driven away sicknesses, and raised the dead.”

The knowledge that our humanity is now enjoying heaven can work wonders for us in the hour of need. Keep this in mind in time of trial.

When the Lord ascended to heaven He did not lose touch with us His people in this vale of tears. St. Augustine in s. 341 talks about Christ’s presence in every word of Scripture as Word equal to the Father; or as the mediator in the flesh dwelling in our midst; or Christ as the Head and Body together as in a spousal relationship, Christ and His Church intimately bound.

This means that Christ is not insensible to our sufferings. Our faith in this unbreakable bond of Head and Body calls us to be clean and worthy of this saving intimacy.

Allow me to get a little mystical for moment. Another thing that this means is that Christ, as High Priest, is now at the heavenly altar eternally offering His Sacrifice to the Father. This means that His High priestly action is in eternity and not just in points of historical, past time. The immense implication of all of this is that, by having our High Priest in heaven and eternity, what He does is still present to us. All the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection is still available to us, not bound by chronology or by geographical location. The High Priest in heaven now guarantees that we can have many Masses at many altars at the same time, many Communions, many people encountering the Mystery through the time that hurtles toward the summation of all things when Christ will take all things to present them to the Father so that God will be all in all.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS |
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Vigil of Ascension – old and new

Posted on 29 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is something I wrote a loooong time ago – 2006 – for an WDTPRS article in the print version of The Wanderer. I had a column there for 11 years.

…(I)n some places the Feast of the Ascension, which falls always on a Thursday, has been transferred to this Sunday. That would make it “Ascension Thursday Sunday”, I suppose.

In addition, the third edition of the Missale Romanum issued in 2002 now provides us with a Mass for the Vigil of Ascension, which wasn’t in previous editions of the Novus Ordo. Moreover, the prayers for the new Vigil of Ascension are not the same as those found in the pre-Conciliar Missale for the Vigil. Also, there are now proper Masses for the days after Ascension, most having alternative collects depending on whether or not in that region Ascension is transferred to Sunday. Since many people do not have access to the prayers for the Vigil of Ascension, let’s look at them this week. First, here are the antiphons. Ant. ad introitum: Regna terrae cantata Deo, psallite Domino, qui ascendit super caelum caeli; magnificentia et virtus eius in nubibus, alleluia. (Ps 67:33,35) Ant. ad communionem: Christus, unam pro peccatis offerens hostiam, in sempiterum sedet in dextera Dei, alleluia. (Cf. Heb 10:12)

COLLECT:
Deus, cuius Filus hodie in caelos,
Apostolis astantibus, ascendit,
concede nobis, quaesumus,
ut secundum eius promissionem
et ille nobiscum semper in terris
et nos cum eo in caelo vivere mereamur.

This was modified from a prayer in ancient sacramentaries such as the Liber Sacramentorum when it was used on Ascension Thursday having its Station Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Here is some liturgical education for you. The eucological formulas (the prayers), for the Ascension found in what is sometimes called the Leonine Sacramentary surviving in one 7th century manuscript in Verona (the Veronese Sacramentary) are the oldest prayers we have in the Roman liturgy! The Missale Romanum and those ancient collections consist principally in prayers for Masses which in fancy liturgist talk are called “eucological formulas”.

You might not immediately recognize astantibus as being from asto or adsto, which that ascendant lexicon of Latin lemmata, the Lewis & Short Dictionary, says means, “to stand at or near a person or thing, to stand by” The L&S will also inform you that asto has the synonym adsisto.

If you have ever heard the phrase “to assist (adsisto) at Holy Mass” this is the concept: you are present and actively participating.

Also, during the Roman Canon, the priest describes the people as circumstantes, “standing around”. This doesn’t mean they there around the altar with their hands in the their pockets (though I admit I have seen that happen). Rather, they are there morally and spiritually “around” the altar, participating each according to their vocation and capacity. So, circumstantes is used to identify the baptized who are present.

SUPER LITERAL VERSION:
O God, whose Son today ascended
into the heavens as the Apostles were standing close by,
grant us, we beseech You,
that, according to His promise,
we may be worthy both that He lives with us on earth,
and that we live with Him in heaven.

The Apostles, who were adstantes, actively participating in the Lord’s Ascension before, during and after the actual moment if the Ascension, both listened to the Lord and watched the Lord. Similarly, at Holy Mass we actively participate before, during and after the consecration, both by listening to the Lord speak through the texts and watching what the Lord does in the liturgical action.

LATER ADDITION in 2011:

NEW CORRECTED ICEL (2011):
O God, whose Son today ascended to the heavens
as the Apostles looked on,
grant, we pray, that, in accordance with his promise,
we may be worthy for him to live with us always on earth,
and we with him in heaven.

When the Second Person took up our human nature into an indestructible bond with His divinity, indestructible, we were thereby destined to sit at God’s right hand, first in Christ and then on our own. Christ makes us worthy, no one else. Christ alone. It’s all His. And because it’s His, it’s ours.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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Tuesday 28 May – Mass for Benefactors

Posted on 28 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been saying Masses for benefactors in Rome, with a couple of interruptions for other issues. However, unless something super big pops up, I’ll say Mass for benefactors – those who regularly contribution donations by subscription or recently ad hoc, and who have sent items from my wishlist, etc. – tomorrow afternoon, Rome time.

God and my angels know who has sent snail-mail I haven’t seen yet.

I keep you in my constant prayers, of course, and regularly say Mass for your intention. It is my pleasure, honor, and duty to do so.

UPDATE: Here’s some concelebration.

I’m at the center altar, celebrating Mass for the intentions of YOU benefactors.

Posted in ACTION ITEM! |
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ASK FATHER: Difference between Pastor and Parochial Administrator

Posted on 28 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

With priest assignments currently being announced, I am curious about the difference between a Pastor and a Parochial Administrator. If a Pastor is reassigned to another parish as an Administrator, is that a lateral or a lesser assignment?

GUEST PRIEST RESPONSE: Fr. T. Ferguson

In short, on a practical level, there is little difference. The main difference between a pastor and a parochial administrator is that a pastor has stability of office – he is appointed, ideally for life, (canon 522) but by concession in the United States, he may be appointed for a six-year term (http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-522-stability-of-office-of-pastor.cfm). There are other provisions for pastoral terms of office in other countries.

Theoretically, at least, a pastor cannot be removed from the parish prior to the expiry of his term if he does not want to. There are provisions in the law for removing or transferring a pastor (cc. 1740-1752). Practically, this process is rarely used and other, praeter legem processes are used to remove or transfer a pastor (threats, cajoling, intimidation, badgering, enticement).

A parish administrator (c. 540) does not have stability of office – he is often appointed for a period of time, but his appointment can be revoked or altered at any time by the bishop.

It was long customary for a priest to receive his first parish as administrator. Then, if things seemed to work and there were no problems, after a year, he would be made pastor.

Other reasons for appointing an administrator rather than a pastor may be that another priest is in line to be made pastor but is not quite ready yet (off studying at school, engaged in another ministry, on a sabbatical), or the bishop has some other assignment in mind for the priest being named administrator (“I’m appointing you as administrator of St. Eleutherius for a year because in twelve months, after he celebrates his jubilee, Msgr. Bilious will be retiring and I want you as pastor of St. Alphege of the Country Club.”).

There are frequently labyrinthine internal politics at work that would confuse the Spatharokandidatos of the court of Constantine Copronymos, and are probably best left unexamined.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law, HONORED GUESTS, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged can. 522, parish priest, parochial administrator, pastor
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“Meanwhile, I received this lovely note from a reader…”

Posted on 28 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

We know that, in a few years, the inexorable force of demographics will massively reduce the numbers of people in the pews, people who even lightly suggest that they are Catholic, the number of priests, the properties the Church holds… everything. I just saw a study that showed that something dire happened around 1965 which could be the cause of the plummet in numbers of seminarians… while on the other hand in dioceses and groups where tradition is strong, the numbers trend upward. Coincidence?

A couple days ago here in Rome, I spoke with an American priest who said that in his major archdiocese, for the last couple of years about half of all the new priests can and do say the Traditional Latin Mass.

A friend of mine, years ago, claimed that the Novus Ordo would die out. I didn’t accept his claim at the time. I am beginning to wonder. When I see TLM congregations, I see young families with lots of children.

Will they and the young TLM celebrating priests be the only one’s left in the hard times to come? During what could be the Great Falling Away?

I have no answer to that. The trends I see suggest something along those lines.

Meanwhile, the Enemy is active in Hell’s war on souls and the Enemy is sly. Who knows what will hit us next. Attacks will come from outside of the Church. The worse attacks will be from within… as we are already seeing build in both kind and number.

Meanwhile, I received this lovely note from a reader…

I have the privilege to attend this morning the first TLM of a young priest. He is a diocesan priest and celebrated mass in a newly restored old country church on a road that just received a fresh coat of gravel. His homily mentioned keeping alive the traditions and ways of all times. The church was beautiful, the mass was edifying, and the only sound to be heard during the canon was from the farm down the road. Anyway, as this is the type of thing you tend to mention, I thought you might like hear about it.

Our Lord gave us a Church which, because it is His, is indefectible. Indefectibility doesn’t mean that it will remain prominent and influential. It only guarantees that it will remain until He returns in glory.

Because the Church is Christ’s Mystical Body, offered now for eternity to the Father by the High Priest at the heavenly altar, the Church will have to experience its Passion as well. On the other side of that Passion is glory.

Before the Ascension, the Lord breathed on the Apostles and made them “witnesses” (martyres) to the Good News. The Holy Spirit “breathed” down on the whole Church. You, the confirmed, are “in-breathed” by the Holy Spirit also to be strong in living as “witnesses” in the Church’s commission.

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged demographics, Great Falling Away, indefectibility
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Rome Day 8-9: Cheese, Anniversary, and Black Vestments

Posted on 27 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Some shots from my anniversary day in Rome and today.

First things first.

CHEESE! I hadn’t bought cheese from this guy before, but I tried some and it was simply marvelous.

And, of course, Holy Mass in the morning. I was able to celebrate at the altar honoring St. Philip Neri.

Kids.

In the afternoon we visited Chiesa Nuova and the rooms of the Saint. Here is the Reni original.

A death mask.

The saint.

Beautiful Chiesa Nuova. But what’s wrong with this picture?

Nothing is wrong with this picture! And it was great carbonara.

Saltimbocca.

And just for fun!

Today, Monday, I was at Gammarelli to get the BLACK Pontifical set underway. I tried combinations. I also brought friends to give additional opinions.

The violet fabric is what I chose, but it will be black with silver. We pulled some black and silver to get the colors in our eyes.

Black and silver with silver column trim… and rose lining.

Red lining. Hmmm…. talk about Say the Black…

Guess which I picked.

Also, they confirmed that our additional chasubles for the Easter set and Bp Hying’s new chasuble would be ready any time now.

Next door to Gammarelli, you can buy this exquisite glow in the dark statuette. No, no… not everyone at once.

At lunch, I got a lesson (which I requested) about why the sommelier cup is the way it is. Quite interesting, as it turns out.

And, in the spirit of interesting round things.

This evening, at Mass I was at the Gregory the Great altar. Note the freeing of souls from Purgatory. Remember the whole thing abut Gregorian Masses?

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged cheese, Gammarelli, Gregorian Masses, sommelier
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A Must Read. Important post at the UK’s @CatholicHerald today.

Posted on 27 May 2019 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

There’s an important post at the UK’s Catholic Herald today. It has to do with the

HERE

I’m always going on about how, for success, every initiative we undertake in the Church has to start in and go back to our sacred liturgical worship. Of course chronologically we do all sorts of things at the same time. However, logically, worship must always have precedence.

Chad Pecknold, a smart and gifted writer, tells of his visit to a Native American reservation in Arizona, the spiritual care of which has been entrusted by Bp. Olmsted to a new group of Franciscans.

The article speaks to the devastation that socialism has wrecked on those poor people. It quite rightly underscores what Leo XIII taught about the importance of private ownership of property does for human development and thriving. On this reservation, things are owned collectively. Hence, the lack of motivation to improve their lot.

However, these Franciscans are working to renew the spirit of the downtrodden people there through restoration also of the Traditional Roman Rite.

Here’s his peroration. Do read the whole thing over there:

It’s tragic to see the devastation. It’s like the trail of tears has never ended. But with the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit I saw a glimpse of hope for these people. Not material hope mind you, since the tribe is immensely wealthy while the people still live in true material and cultural destruction — a lot like the so-called post-Christian West. What I did glimpse, though, was a greater interior hope. Seeing the Eucharistic sacrifice at the heart of the mission, and faithful friars radiating God’s presence in the midst of their suffering, I suddenly felt joy that the image of God, so beaten down, could find a sanctuary, an oasis, life-giving water, even in the desert of desolation. I had hope that these people could be raised up, not by their tribe, but by the City of God in their midst.

And that is surely what will happen, especially because these friars have their liturgical heads screwed on in the correct direction. Ad orientem and ad maiores.

This is what is needed in parishes, too.

A little while ago, I finished reading Ken Follett’s series about the building of a fictional cathedral in England beginning with Pillars of the Earth. There’s lots of sheer stupidity about the Faith and goofy, tendentious “history” applied, but one thing was well captured: how the town and wealth and well-being and progress and human flourishing grew up around that cathedral and monastic community.

In Pecknold’s article this too:

St. John’s is the parish where the friars live a different kind of common life. It’s an oasis. A sign of contradiction. They wake up chanting the psalms, and go to sleep chanting the psalms. God is their common life, and so truly there is tranquility of order in the midst of devastation. They are now building a beautiful medieval chapel for the friars within their cloister, inspired by the one in Assisi.

You can feel in advance what will happen. Spirits will be lifted, through elbow grease and grace. Liturgical life will power it all. Life in general will improve.

Pray that the Powers That Be leave these Franciscan Friars alone!