“I Wish We Could Have Had A Birthday”
January 31, 2008
Considering we have our own addition to the family here, it blows my mind that people could be either so cruel or so selfish as to terminate a life in this manner.
Priests receive guidelines for traditional Latin Mass
January 31, 2008
Catholic Standard and Times reports that the Tridentine Mass, long a sore point for disaffected pre-Vatican II Catholics represented by the Society of Saint Pius X, is being implemented again for those dioceses that wish to return to the Latin rite.
Mass in ‘Extraordinary Form’Priests receive guidelines for traditional Latin Mass
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&TCardinal Justin Rigali has sent a letter to all priests of the Archdiocese announcing he has promulgated guidelines for the implementation of new norms set by Pope Benedict XVI for the Mass familiar worldwide through the 1960s, which was celebrated mainly in Latin.
The Holy Father issued the new norms last July in his apostolic letter, Summorum Pontificum.
In Cardinal Rigali’s Jan. 8 letter, he encouraged all priests who wish to celebrate the 1962 Roman Missal Mass — now officially called the Extraordinary Form of the Mass of the Roman Rite — to avail themselves of a six-week program that will be offered by the Theological Institute for Priests at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
The program, which begins Jan. 24, “will offer priests the opportunity to study the theology and rubrics of the Extraordinary Form so that Mass may be celebrated with the proper dignity and understanding,” the Cardinal wrote.
The 1962 Mass contained the final amendments, promulgated by Blessed John XXIII, to the Tridentine Mass, which was originally issued by St. Paul V in 1570 after the Council of Trent.
The amended 1962 Mass was in general use through the Second Vatican Council.
In 1970, Pope Paul VI promulgated the missal that is now officially the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Two archdiocesan parishes, Holy Saviour in Norristown and Our Lady of Consolation in Philadelphia, were already celebrating, with the necessary indult, a weekly Mass according to the 1962 missal prior to the issuance of Summorum Pontificum.
“I am grateful to these parishes for their generous response to the needs of the faithful as they continue to celebrate the Mass according to the Extraordinary Form,” Cardinal Rigali wrote.
The guidelines, the Cardinal said, were issued “after consultation with the Council of Priests as well as with other priests of the Archdiocese. I pray that these guidelines will assist all clergy to respond appropriately and generously to the pastoral needs of the faithful in their care.”
Father Brian P. Hennessy, assistant to the vicar for the clergy, said the six-week series will be presented by Msgr. Charles L. Sangermano and Msgr. Michael K. Magee, both of whom have been celebrating Extraordinary Form Masses at the parishes where they are offered.
Father G. Dennis Gill, a former director of sacred liturgy at the North American College in Rome, commented: “This was not an easy decision on the part of the Holy Father. One of his chief aims is the authentic celebration of the sacred liturgy, whether in the ordinary or the extraordinary form.
“Aside from any reconciliation with disaffected Catholics because of liturgical reform,” Father Gill said, “Pope Benedict’s desire is to promote the celebration of the sacred liturgy in either form, with the sacrality of the older form mentoring the current form.”
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo parish and a freelance writer.
Highlights of Cardinal Rigali’s coordinating guidelines for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum:
• A priest is qualified to celebrate the Extraordinary Form when he possesses the requisite knowledge of the rubrics of the Mass and he is competent in the Latin language. If he wishes to celebrate the Extraordinary Form publicly, he must demonstrate this required competence to the regional auxiliary bishop or his delegate. The same requirement holds for deacons who are asked to participate in a Mass or sacred liturgy in the Extraordinary Form.
• For Masses without a congregation, the Extraordinary Form may be celebrated any day except during the Easter Triduum. The faithful may attend such a Mass if they ask to be admitted of their own free will. An additional Mass is never to be celebrated at the same time a public Mass is being celebrated in the same church or oratory.
• A public Mass in the Extraordinary Form with a congregation may be celebrated when a stable group of the faithful makes a request of the pastor. The pastor must first consult with the regional auxiliary bishop before acceding to such a request. The Mass may be celebrated by a priest who has demonstrated his competence to celebrate in the Extraordinary Form.
• The Extraordinary Form may be permitted by the pastor for the celebration of other sacraments, funerals or occasional celebrations when requested by the lay faithful. The pastor is to consult with the regional auxiliary bishop before acceding to such a request and also, if he cannot accede to the request, he must consult the regional auxiliary bishop.
• Religious orders and congregations who wish to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form may do so. However, if they wish to celebrate in this manner often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken to major superiors. If such celebrations are to take place in a parish church entrusted to the care of the religious, the archdiocesan coordinating guidelines must be followed.
Hanoi’s archbishop ready for arrest
January 31, 2008
CWNews reports on the plight of Archbishop Joseph Ngô Quang Kiêt, who is preparing to go to jail to defend his flock’s right to pray in front of the office of Vietnam’s former papal nuncio.
Christianity showing signs of life
January 30, 2008
Erm… My, my. Missionary work has changed considerably since I was younger.
HT: Full Metal Cynic.
Mormon Leader Dies
January 28, 2008
Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has passed away at the ripe old age of 97. He led a massive expansion in his church, which has seen growth worldwide.
Greek Orthodox church head dies
January 28, 2008
It is with the most profound sadness that I report the death of Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos, who passed away recently from cancer. Memory eternal to him for his astounding work in protecting Orthodoxy.
Did God Create Evil – Does the Bible Say So?
January 27, 2008
A good question from GodandScience.org, a fine apologetics site.
Anniversary Marks Deaths of Millions
January 27, 2008
How anyone can support abortion (murder, and you’ll never convince me that it isn’t) is beyond me. And spare me the “It’s my body” tripe.
Read more from Townhall.com here.
Pentecostal Christian Preacher unaware of her Jewish birth.
January 27, 2008
Wow. Unbelievable.
HT: Zavala.
Fr. Barron on Christopher Hitchens’ book
January 27, 2008
As much as I enjoy reading Hitch’s articles on politics, he’s an absolute fool when it comes to religion, as are most of the so-called new atheists. Their arguments are feeble, selfish, and unscholarly. Fr. Barron does his deconstruction of God Is Not Great, Hitchens’ screed, below:
