Ad Orientem worship

French Catholic magazine Famille Chretienne has a very interesting interview with Cardinal Robert Sarah in which he very clearly states the need for us to all face east together in our liturgies.

http://www.famillechretienne.fr/vie-chretienne/liturgie/cardinal-sarah-comment-remettre-dieu-au-caeur-de-la-liturgie-194987

Fish Fridays, not just for lent.

Did you know that the requirement for Catholics to give penance on all Fridays not just during lent was never lifted?

In fact today the Code of Canon Law 1251 states "Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."

Why then is it that so many Catholics assume that we are no longer need to give penance outside of lent? This is most likely due to confusion and misinterpretation of a statement regarding Penance and Abstinence issued by The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (our Episcopal Conference as mentioned in Can 1251) in November 1966. In that statement the USCCB declared that "Changing circumstances, including economic, dietary, and social elements, have made some of our people feel that the renunciation of the eating of meat is not always and for everyone the most effective means of practicing penance. Meat was once an exceptional form of food; now it is commonplace.20. Accordingly, since the spirit of penance primarily suggests that we discipline ourselves in that which we enjoy most, to many in our day abstinence from meat no longer implies penance, while renunciation of other things would be more penitential."(US Bishops Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, 19-20),

In other words the need for penance has not vanished, but rather it was felt that because of the common availability of meat and fish, that giving up meat may not in all circumstances constitute a sacrifice great enough to properly show penance and so, outside of lent, an equal or greater penance may be substituted.

"Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one day be glorified with Him. This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church." (ibid,18)

"Friday itself remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year, a time when those who seek perfection will be mindful of their personal sins and the sins of mankind which they are called upon to help expiate in union with Christ Crucified."(ibid,22)

It is important to remember that each Friday recollects Good Friday and as such we are required as Catholics to perform a form of penance. The United States Conference of Bishops has given us the ability to choose that form or penance on Fridays outside of lent, however they also issue the statement; "even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence...as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday, we give first place to abstinence from flesh meat" (ibid,24)

One last quote to reflect on from the letter reminds us of our need for penance, the full letter can be read at the link below."...Sacred Scriptures declare our guilt to be universal; hence the universal obligation to that repentance which Peter, in his sermon on Pentecost, declared necessary for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38). Hence, too, the Church's constant recognition that all the faithful are required by divine law to do penance. As from the fact of sin we Christians can claim no exception, so from the obligation to penance we can seek no exemption." (US Bishops Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence,1)

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm

Why Aren’t Other Dioceses Looking to Lincoln?

Liturgy Guy has an excellent article today,  "Why Aren’t Other Dioceses Looking to Lincoln?"

In it he makes some great points about the state of vocations in our country and why it is that one Diocese is able to create a disproportionate number of vocation when compared against the rest of the country. It seems to again go at the heart of "lex orandi, lex credendi" the way we act matters, when we act with belief we encourage belief in others. Reverence fosters love and respect for God in the Eucharist, dancing and clapping in the isles, fosters love and respect for dancing and clapping.

A few quotes from the article linked above:

"Everyone seems to have a program to promote, a new strategy to increase vocations, to increase weekly Mass attendance, to keep teens from fleeing the faith… However, what’s not as widely known is that we already have a blueprint for success: the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska"

"The National Catholic Reporter (known as the Fishwrap to Fr. Z readers) once bemoaned that it was as if the “reforms” so prevalent in the aftermath of Vatican II had missed Lincoln altogether. Exactly."

"To a large extent, Lincoln has preserved a male only sanctuary "

"The Holy See wishes to recall that it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar. As is well known, this has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations. Thus the obligation to support such groups of altar boys will always continue." - 1994 Letter from the Congregation of Divine Worship

 A very good article, read the rest at the link above.

Novena to St. Joseph - March 11-19th

March 19th, Marks the Feast of St. Joseph, which I wrote about here last year. The upcoming feast gives gives us the wonderful ability to start a novena to St. Joseph tomorrow and conclude it on his feast day.

Say this Novena for 9 Days from March 11 - March 19 and on the 9th day publish the novena with your thanks. 

St. Joseph is the guardian of the Holy Family, he is called the Terror of Demons. Truly he is the the guardian and protector of ALL families. He is called the greatest saint in heaven after our Holy Mother, his spouse. 

Oh, St. Joseph,whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt,before the throne of God,I place in you all my interests and desires.Oh, St. Joseph,do assist me by your powerful intercession,and obtain for me from your Divine Sonall spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to thee most Loving of Fathers.Oh, St. Joseph,I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms;I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me andAsk Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.St. Joseph, Patron of departed souls - pray for me.Amen. ( we always add at the end of this one. "Please pray for our priests and religious and obtain for us many more worthy ones.") 

Lord Jesus, teach me ... to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds

It is easy, sitting here in the comfort of the middle of the United States, to think that martyrdom is something from history books, something that happened to the apostles, and ancient saints long ago. But the reality is that is it is happening even today, there are those that are still giving their life for Christ, first in the way they live, and then literally in the way they die.
Please pray for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity that were martyred only two days ago.

read more here
http://sspx.org/en/news-events/news/sisters-martyrs-yemen-14591

Why Aren’t More Masses Offered Ad Orientem?

Liturgy guy has a great article on Ad Orientem worship. 

This was the question that I recently posed to several priests: why aren’t more masses being offered ad orientem? As we have seen numerous books and articles in recent years convincingly argue for a return to ad orientem worship, it is unfortunate to see how few priests have actually returned to the traditional orientation. Despite well received scholarly works by Monsignor Klaus Gamber, Fr. Uwe Michael Lang, and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger arguing in favor of it, few Catholics ever see the Novus Ordo offered ad orientem, with the notable exceptions of two dioceses: Arlington (Virginia) and Lincoln (Nebraska).

Discussing the topic with several diocesan priests, an explanation for the continuing reluctance to offer the Mass ad orientem can be broken out into five categories:

Read the rest over at Liturgy Guy's website. 

Interview of Bishop Schneider at Rorate Caeli

Rorate Caeli published an interesting interview with Bishop Schneider. They have graciously given permission for it to be republished and I am doing so here. 



*NB: words in bold by Rorate for emphasis:

POST-SYNOD CHURCH & UNBELIEVERS IN THE HIERARCHY

Rorate Caeli: In the recent Synod, we will not know the legal impact it will have on the Church for some time, as it’s up to Pope Francis to move next. Regardless of the eventual outcome, for all intent and purposes, is there already a schism in the Church? And, if so, what does it mean practically speaking? How will it manifest itself for typical Catholics in the pews?

H.E. Schneider: Schism means according to the definition of the Code of Canon Law, can. 751: The refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with those members of the Church who are submitted to the Supreme Pontiff. One has to distinguish the defect in belief or heresy from schism. The defect in belief or heresy is indeed a greater sin than schism, as Saint Thomas Aquinas said: “Unbelief is a sin committed against God Himself, according as He is Himself the First Truth, on which faith is founded; whereas schism is opposed to ecclesiastical unity, which is a lesser good than God Himself. Wherefore the sin of unbelief is generically more grievous than the sin of schism” (II-II, q. 39, a. 2 c). 

The very crisis of the Church in our days consists in the ever growing phenomenon that those who don’t fully believe and profess the integrity of the Catholic faith frequently occupy strategic positions in the life of the Church, such as professors of theology, educators in seminaries, religious superiors, parish priests and even bishops and cardinals. And these people with their defective faith profess themselves as being submitted to the Pope. 

The height of confusion and absurdity manifests itself when such semi-heretical clerics accuse those who defend the purity and integrity of the Catholic faith as being against the Pope – as being according to their opinion in some way schismatics. For simple Catholics in the pews, such a situation of confusion is a real challenge of their faith, in the indestructibility of the Church. They have to keep strong the integrity of their faith according to the immutable Catholic truths, which were handed over by our fore-fathers, and which we find in in the Traditional catechisms and in the works of the Fathers and of the Doctors of the Church.   

Intolerance of minorities (2)

Fr. John Hunwicke, has an excellent article on his blog. .

Here is Fr. Hunwicke's article.
Intolerance of minorities (2)

Intolerance of minorities (2)

The Priestly Fraternity of S Peter, FSSP, was erected with lightning speed after the uncanonical episcopal consecrations performed by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988. The promise was that the participants would be given, within the canonical unity and structures of the Church, the 'deal' which had been agreed with Archbishop Lefebvre; the 'deal' which he had signed, but had thought better of overnight, and had repudiated the next morning.

Broadly, this is what the FSSP was given ... although the most significant item in that package, the provision for them to have a bishop, never materialised, and, to this day, never has.

Little more than a decade later, things, apparently, were not well. In the middle of 2000, the Fraternity priests learned that their canonical election of a new superior had been suspended, a new superior was to be parachuted in, and the Rectors of the Fraternity's seminaries were replaced. A letter referred to "a certain spirit of rebellion against the present-day Church" among the seminarians. And one (otherwise generally sympathetic) Cardinal later explained to journalists that the "Fraternity's members must be helped in their endeavour to strike a balance between their original charism ... and the outcome of their insertion within the ecclesial reality of today". Markthat phrase!

It is not easy to see how the ecclesial reality of today can mean anything other than the prevalent ethos of Novus Ordo Catholicism. "Striking a balance" looks to me horribly like the old "Latinisation" as it used to be applied in a "uniate" context: the intolerance of the majority towards a culturally different minority, of which, for some reason, they feel dreadfully fearful. Or is the problem that Traditionalists are not humble enough? That they continue to address reasoned questions to the ecclesial reality of today?

Ecumenism is fashionable in some Catholic circles. I have long suspected that 'liberal' Catholics, who profess a sympathy for Ecumenism, favour it because their real desire is to change their own Church so that it conforms to the paradigms of Liberal Protestantism. Be that as it may, there is something strange about Catholics who have aprofessed warm ecumenical enthusiasm for ecclesial bodies which have been separated from them for half a millennium ... but who yet have a visible and vocal visceral intolerance towards fellow Catholics living loyally in canonical structures confirmed by the Church.
To be continued.

Why Families Need Traditional Priests

Here is a good article from the Liturgy Guy. I have often thought about this myself, the difference between the traditional parish and the modern parish is down to the attitudes of the parishioners, the support that they offer to each other outside of just the regular Sunday Mass, and what is expected of them by the priests.

http://liturgyguy.com/2016/01/19/why-families-need-traditional-parishes/

Jubilee Year and Plenary Indulgences

On December 8th. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception we began the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. This jubilee year carries with it a special opportunity to earn plenary indulgences by making pilgrimage through a holy door.  For many Catholics that first sentence will raise a few questions. 1. What is a jubilee year? 2. What is a Holy Door? 3. What is a plenary indulgence? 4. How to I earn earn a plenary indulgence?

1. What is a jubilee year?
A jubilee year in the Catholic Church is a time of grace. The motto for this jubilee year is “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Lk 6:36 ). Pope Francis has declared this year from December 8th, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, through December 20th, 2016, The Feast of Christ the King of the Universe, to be an Extraordinary Year of Mercy.
This jubilee (or Holy Year) is extraordinary because it falls outside of the normal 25 year cycle for a Holy Year. The first Holy Year plenary indulgence was initiated by Pope Boniface VIII on Christmas in the year 1300 and set an interval of every 100 years. Clement VI shortened this interval to every 50 years in 1343, and Urban VI further reduced the interval to every 33 years in 1389. Paul II (Ineffabilis providentia, April 19, 1470) set the cycle of holy years at one every 25 years; Sixtus IV therefore declared a Jubilee in 1475; this interval has remained in force, notwithstanding the extraordinary jubilees.... Gradually, the meaning of the jubilee shifted from the simple “plenissime” indulgence to a broader and more positive intention: spiritual renewal in love for God, fidelity to the Gospel and thereby the progress of human society in justice and charity” (Pius XII, Bull Jubilaeum maximum, May 26, 1949) The Holy Year convoked by Pope Francis falls ourside of the this 25 year cycle and so is exraordinary. The Popes have convoked many extraordinary Holy Years through history both to commemorate anniversaries and to advert dangers against the church. The occasion for this holy year is the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of Vatican Council II, December 8, 1965.

2. What is a Holy Door?
The Holy Door is located in St. Peters Basilica in Rome. Traditionally during a Holy Year pilgrims would travel to Rome to walk through one of the four Holy Doors located in each of the four major basilicas. Those doors are bricked shut and only opened during Holy Years so that Pilgrims may gain the plenary indulgence associated with passing through them. Pope John Paul II stated that the Holy Door "... evokes the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish. Jesus said, 'I am the door' (Jn 10:7) in order to make it clear that no one can come to the Father except through Him. This designation which Jesus applies to Himself testifies to the fact that He alone is the Savior sent by the Father. There is only one way that opens wide the entrance into this life of communion with God: This is Jesus, the one and absolute way to salvation. To Him alone can the words of the psalmist be applied in full truth: 'This is the door of the Lord where the just may enter' (Ps 118:20)." 
Apostolic Constitution Per annum sacrum (December 25, 1950) proclaimed the universal character of the jubilee indulgence, which was extended until December 31, 1951. It was no longer absolutely necessary to make the journey to Rome, since ordinaries were authorized to designate in every episcopal see, for the prescribed visits, the cathedral church and three other churches of oratories in which worship services were celebrated regularly.

As part of this Holy Year of Mercy Holy Doors will for the first time be available in individual diocese. In our Diocese of Duluth the Holy Door is located in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth. The opening of these Holy Doors provides a special opportunity for as many Catholics to be able to make the pilgrimage through a Holy Door as possible and each door provides the same opportunity for an indulgence as the Holy Door in St. Peters.

3. What is a plenary indulgence?
This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints". 

This indulgence can be gained for yourself or for the soul of someone already deceased. You cannot however earn the indulgence on behalf of another living person. 

A plenary indulgence can be earned once per day. 

How do I earn a plenary indulgence?

There are many ways to earn a plenary indulgence, but for the purpose of the Holy Year of Mercy the requirements are: 

— have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
— have sacramentally confessed their sins;
— receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This can be any prayer but an Our Father and a Hail Mary are recommended. 

Having met the above requirements, for the Holy Year of Mercy the final act of the indulgence would be to make a pious pilgrimage to one of the Holy Doors and to Pass through the door. This should if possible be done on the same day as going to reconciliation, receiving the Eucharist and  praying for the intention of the Pope, however it can be performed up to 20 days away. Apostioic Penitentiary The Gift of the Indulgence

It is also possible to earn an indulgence by completing the above preparation and then performing one of the Spiritual or Corporal work of mercy. Pope Francis Says in his letter outlining the means of obtaining indulgences in the Jubliee year, "Each time that one of the faithful personally performs one or more of these actions, he or she shall surely obtain the Jubilee Indulgence." The seven corporal works of mercy are; 1. To feed the hungry, 2. To give drink to the thirsty, 3. To clothe the naked, 4. To shelter the homeless. 5. To visit the sick, 6. To visit the imprisoned, 7. To bury the dead. The seven spiritual works of mercy are; 1. To counsel the doubtful, 2. To instruct the ignorant, 3. To admonish the sinner, 4. To comfort the sorrowful, 5. To forgive all injuries, 6. To bear wrongs patiently, 7. To pray for the living and the dead.

In his letter the Pope also gives consideration to the ill and elderly who may not be able to make the pilgrimage to a holy door, in his letter he states. "those for whom, for various reasons, it will be impossible to enter the Holy Door, particularly the sick and people who are elderly and alone, often confined to the home. For them it will be of great help to live their sickness and suffering as an experience of closeness to the Lord who in the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection indicates the royal road which gives meaning to pain and loneliness. Living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial, receiving communion or attending Holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence."