Monday, December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas to Everyone! Cathechesis and some links.

Hello Everyone. Sorry I've been late with the big Catechesis post. I do have a working draft, it's just this blog is a side project and it's not the biggest priority in my life. I also have to sit down and spend time consulting other sources as I don't have fancy degrees or post-secondary theological education, so if I'm going farther than my commentary at face value, I'd better do my homework, so as not to say anything heretical. For my sources, I will need to spend time with the Cantea Aurea of Thomas Aquinas and also the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible with Scott Hahn for more scholarly content.

Now more importantly, I just wanted to wish you a joyful and blessed Merry Nativity of our Lord and a Happy Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But before I depart, I shall give you all a wonderful Nativity gift: Catechesis. Here's catechesis for the Feast of the Nativity.

CHRISTMAS VIGIL & CHRISTMAS DAY!!! Also known as the Solemnity of the Nativity (Birth) of Our Lord/The Feast of the Nativity

When? – December 25 in both NO and EF, but one can go to Mass starting December 24th in the Evening to satisfy the obligation.

What? – Like it says, this is the day in our liturgical year when we celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth. A good summary of this Holy feast is provided in Pope Benedict XVI’s recent speech prepared for a British BBC radio broadcast, “Thought of the Day”:

“ … God’s chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation. They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send … The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place – he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history … Christ destroyed death forever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross ...  he was none other than the Son of God. Out of love for us, he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life to a share in the life of God himself … let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life ....”

Benedict XVI, Pope. Full text of Benedict XVI’s Thought for the Day. Online.  Available: [http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/12/24/full-text-of-benedict-xvis-thought-for-the-day/]. 25 Dec 2010.
 

Also from the Baronius Press 1962 Missal on Christmastide:
                “ During the season of Advent, we longed for the coming of Christ. In Christmastide, we experience the joy of His coming into the world. The Church is full of the Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus as God, begotten of the substance of the Father before all the ages and born of the substance of His Mother in the world, is given to us. “And His Name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel.” By the union of our souls with Jesus born to human life, we are born to the divine life. “As many as received Him He gave them power to be made Sons of God.” In the birth of Jesus we learn to know God as His Father: “All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father but the Son and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal Him.

                During Christmastide, the liturgy shows us the Messiah as the Son of God, clothed with humanity, glorified by the humble surprised shepherds, and adored by the Magi from the East. Let us fall down before the Child and bless God, for the birth of Jesus is the beginning of our Redemption through grace to the supernatural life.

                Christmas is the only day of the year, other than Easter, which keeps the old custom of celebrating its Feast at midnight. At this hour we called to mind that Mary in her spotless virginity gave to the world its Saviour. In the midst of darkness, the Light was born. Therefore the Church celebrates Christmas on December 25, the time of the year when the days begin to lengthen. The custom of having three Masses originated in Jerusalem. A Mass was said in Bethlehem at a very early hour in the morning. Later a second Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. About midday a third Mass was celebrated. Each of the three Masses has its identifying characteristic. The Midnight Mass celebrates particularly the birth of Jesus, the Mass at Dawn commemorates the adoration of the shepherds, the daytime Mass celebrates the eternal generation of the Word and the dignity of the Son of God.

                Whereas Advent is the season of “absence of Jesus,” Christmastide is a season of great joy in our possession of the Savour. Eight days after Christmas the Church celebrates the Circumcision of Jesus. On January 6, she commemorates the adoration of Jesus by the Magi (Epiphany), which brings Christmastide to a close.”

Christmastide. The Daily Missal and Liturgical Missal with Vespers For Sundays and Feasts From the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 With Supplements Containing The Additional Masses for Englang and Wales, Scotland, United States and Australasia. Summorum Pontificum Edition. Baronius Press: London. 2009. pp.180-181.

Notes:
1. This is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION in the entire world. You must go to Mass on this day regardless of what day of the week it falls under. If it does not fall on a Sunday, you are also obligated to go Christmas and that following Sunday. You can fulfill the Xmas obligation if you attend a Christmas Eve Vigil or Night mass. Also many people will go to an 11pm or Midnight Mass as a tradition.

Sources
SCRPITURAL READINGS

Extraordinary Form
The readings depend on which mass is said. There are a total of three masses.
(Night) First Mass – Titus 2: 11-15 and Luke 2:1-14
(Dawn) Second Mass – Titus 3:4-7 and Luke 2:15-20
(Day) Third Mass – Hebrews 1:1-12 and John 1:1-14

Novus Ordo
Night Mass – Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-16
Dawn Mass – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20
Day Mass – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Other Readings from Scripture in the Holy Bible: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:5-80 to Luke 2:1-7 (which also contains the Joyful mysteries of the Annunciation and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.)

Benedict XVI, Pope. Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI Saint Peter’s Basilica, Friday, 24 December 2010. Online. Available:  [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20101224_christmas_en.html]. 25 Dec 2010.
 
Benedict XVI, Pope. Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI Saint Peter’s Basilica, Friday, 24 December 2010. Online. Available:  [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20111224_christmas_en.html] 25 Dec 2011.

A Blessed and Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. YCRCM.

Friday, December 9, 2011

TC's and TP's: Good Job, we just lost more souls. Wherein YCRCM Rants

Hello Everyone.

So I wake up this morning doing my usual reading of blogs. Two posts ago, I posted a list of known Canadian EF churches/Masses for the Immaculate Conception. One of them was in Toronto in Scarborough. I found this on a EF/TLM blog of a Toronto choirmaster, Vox Cantoris (my commentary in red text cause it's time for my ranting and raving):
".... "Trads" can be a nasty group and give the cause a bad name. Last night in Toronto a beautiful Mass was held for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a Missa Solemnis at St. Lawrence the Martyr in Toronto. The three Sacred Ministers were joined by three priests "in choro." The Servers were excellent as usual and the organist and choir were splendid. It's the cranks that show up that are the problem. ...."

Oh no, what the heck did people do to once again perpetuate the stereotype of the "angry traddie???"
1. Look friends, many people that come to theses Masses are first timers. If they don't read the note in the liturgical handout about not singing the Pater Noster and they sing it, so what? But when you "trads" all go sssshhhhhh what you did was actually a vile intrusion on the Holy Mass. They acted in singing out of innocent ignorance, you acted out of rudeness, malice and what you did was a debasement of the liturgy. Stop it! What you "trads" did was a liturgical abuse.
Nice going you crumdugeons. You just further enhanced the whole myth (now sad reality in this case) that the TLM is cold, cruel, and malicious with a obey and serve the master mentality, devoid of love and beauty; the opposite is the Novus Ordo is a welcoming Mass where the Love of Jesus is truly present and why the old Mass was disposed. THE MASS IS NOT YOURS ALONE!!! THE MASS WAS FOR EVERYONE!!!!
2. Gothic Vestments are NOT NOVUS ORDO. They are called "Gothic" for a reason. In fact, the conical style "Novus Ordo" vestment as you refer it is actually of more ancient use than the "Roman" or "Fiddleback." Now, stop the whining about these little things and smarten up.
Look, as a young buck, I don't give a rat's patooty on this. As long as it's not a Rainbow or Tye Dye coloured vestment and ultra modernized, and you stick to the Rubrics and wear the proper coloured vestment that day, so be it. But don't be a liturgical stickler. If you see a TRULY EGREGIOUS liturgical abuse (e.g. ad libbing, wrong material for confection of the Eucharist ...) then whine and complain to the highest authorities. Plus most parishes threw out their 1962 stuff a long time ago, including my personal anguish, altar servers' surpices and cassocks. You don't like the vestments? Then donate to Una Voce or wherever appropriate from your savings/pensions and help the organization purchase the "Proper" vestments if you are so cheezed about that!
3. Artwork that shows the Blessed Virgin Mary's hair in paintings of the Immaculate Conception are not "Vatican II" and do not indicate that I am a "modernist." Until the puritanical Victorian 19th century with its feminine featured Jesus and its burka clad young Virgin and the über-puritanical attitude of you 21st century "trads" the Immaculate Conception was portrayed as a pre-pubescent girl, a young virgin and without a veil as in the post two below. This is a more recent rendition of the style of the many in the same style from the 15th century onward.

This is a little above my "paygrade" to comment on.
4. A Read Mass (Missa Lecta) with Dialogue is not a "Novus Ordo" invention. Nor is standing for the Pater Noster and the Postcommunion a "Novus Ordo" invention. The Church has desired that the people respond to the priest even though you have your preference for absolute silence. This is not where we are now or where the restoration will be. So you can drop this paranoia about NovusOrdoIsms. This is not a liturgical experiment or innovation. Read the rubrics!
It's allowed in the Chruch Laws surrounding the 1962 Missal, so read your Church Documents, pre 1983 Code in Canon Law and the one after it, and rulebooks before you get in a tizzy over this. You can surely find these things on the Internet. The Vatican has a website you know at www.vatican.va/ . If not, get over it!
You would think that these "trads" would be overjoyed with what has been happening since Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum and the recent Universae Ecclesiae.
As an example, when was the last time a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was offered in the Archdiocese of Toronto before last night? How about over 40 years ago! Some "trads" are really an offering up.

Now it's time for me to make a crack about this from a young bucks perspective. Summorum Pontificum and Ecclesiae Unitatem were great gifts to the Church. For years the TLM/EF was suppressed by unruly bishops and priests, manupulated by the new cathechesis. Worse off, one of the reasons it was supressed was that it was "too repressive." Now that it's flourishing, do you really want to ruin this good thing?

Look around you at the Modern Church. Yes there are some strides going on in Post-Vatican II, like WYDs (minus the musical acts and other oddities) that are bringing youth back to Christ, well run youth ministries when headed by somewhat traditional or well-meaning youth ministers, and even more poignant Catholic productions like Fr. Barron's "Catholicism" Series. However, as a whole, look at your institutional Church! The majority of parishes have almost enitrely elderly people filling the pews, and very few people over 13+ years occupying those pews and even filling the ministries within individual parishes. Youth want to be around other youth to start with. If the bodies aren't there, the average youth won't come. Furthermore, many are given crap catechesis in organized parish CCD/cathechesis programs or ther separate/Catholic school systems (and might I add that in Ontario, the GOVERNMENT funds the separate school systems. What they say, goes, like those equity policies forcing GSAs to be implemented.) Much of it is "Jesus loves everyone" garbage. Furthermore, the last 2 generations of clergy, priests, parents and teachers, haven't taught this generation what the Mass is all about. So many are lost to the sea of our secularized, immoral culture. Of the few that remain "in the churches", those youth are going just because it's a family "tradition" or until they get out of Mommy and Daddy's roof. Trust me on that! When I went to University, I stopped going to Mass whenever I was away from my parents. 

Furthermore, YES! Our generation is getting it. We are seeing the devestation of not only our secular culture, but WE ARE WAKING UP to the crap that has been insterted, unintentionally and intentionally in the insitutional Church, including its liturgy. And guess what, WE ... WANT ... MORE! We are realizing that many Novus Ordos are done blandly, and leave us not spiritually satisfied, though we do understand that when the Mass is done with proper form, matter, and intent by a priest with valid AND licit faculties, it is a Sacramentally valid Mass and the Eucharist is confected there. So guess what, a few of us are starting to look deeper into our faiths, learning our Cathecheism and moral theology, doing Church retreats with various organzations and such, and even partaking in ministries in our parishes (and you can thank WYDs and youth ministries for that somewhat too!). A few of us are even venturing out TO PURPOSELY FIND the Latin Mass to satisfy our spiritual souls and be in the presence of true Catholic Theology and prayer.

SEVERE RANT WARNING! As you should know, many people only know of the 1962 EF as "That mass our Grandparents went to and got killed by the Church." YOU SHOULD BE BLOODY THANKFUL WHEN AN UNDER 40 STEPS INTO YOUR EF!!!! Because the Catholic Church in modernized countries is dying and there will be no bodies to replace you and the others when in 10-20 years the Lord calls you back to Heaven (if you are in the state of Sanctiying grace that is.) Many don't know what the heck a veil is, nor any Latin period. WHEN YOU TELL A YOUNG PERSON TO SHUT UP THE WAY YOU DID, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! YOU JUST LET A POTENTIAL NEW PERSON TO THE EF BE SCARED OFF AND PERPETUATED THE MTYH THAT THE 1962 MASS IS FOR OLD PEOPLE ONLY!!!! You just might have even given Satan a little chuckle, becuase he bloody hates the Latin Mass. He LOVES modernism and especially, he is the father of all lies and deception. He probably even did a jig when the Novus Ordo came to existence, knowing the liberal clergy had misinterpreted much of Vatican II and didn't execute what was meant to be the true Vatican II Novus Ordo Mass. Better, he even loves it when the young are kept from experiencing such a treasure in the EF, because then they will remain in the spiritual fog they are in, continue to be "CINO" Catholics and maybe he'll even get a mortal sin or two, and hence their soul as well.

Not every young Catholic gets access to family, friends, or a traditional priest, who will tell them certain sins are mortal or direct them to the Catechism, and had they not been at the TLM/EF, they may never get another opportunity. In fact, priests who study certain theologies even tell people that there is "no gradation of sin." That or possibly the social network of that young person will DETER them from going to the Masses and work against them, thus playing unwitting agents in killing the person's soul. YOU could have been the part of that newtork to provide that person with a role model or friend who would keep them at the Latin Mass. And guess what? Most people in their twenties are any one or more of the following: atheist, agnostic, dabling in New Age/spiritual garbage, Church hating, getting smashed on alcohol and drugs and posting thier escapades on facebook, having pre-marital and sex and contracepting to the hilt, and being self-centered and greedy and money/wealth focused. Many of these young people are Catholic (well likely in name only) and if they do go to Mass, how many of them are aware of how to approach the Eucharist reverently? That is in the state of grace and not Mortal sin, and appropriately dressed? Is the Novus Ordo clergy and your Mass doing this for your son/daughter/granddaughter/son? Look probably a number of them are just poorly cathecized and don't know better, but you are getting the idea right? Wouldn't you like your son/daughter/grandson/granddaughter to come back to her faith and take a modicum of self-respect for herself and for the Lord upon receiving Him at Mass?

Furthermore, When you act in the manner Vox has described above, you give us the message "this is an exclusive club and you're not welcome." We see enough of that garbage at our Novus Ordo parishes with Fr. "Liberal theologian" and his army of liberal theology/weakly catechized Church ladies (and men) who are the lectors, cantors, ushers, etc. and form their own cliques in the parish, making it uncomfortable for the Laity. In some cases, they don't even allow new people to become part of the parish in those ways. KEEP THE DAMN POLITICS OUT OF THE LATIN MASS!!! We young people especially hate workplace/Church politics. It destroys the very message of the Gospel and shows us hypocrisy. We've seen enough of that with our goverments and even our family and friends. At least let the TLM be a safe haven from that spritually!!!! I'll tell you what we young people want. We want our tradition. We want to truly be spiritually nourished in a way that the Novus Ordo often fails to deliver for a number of reasons, despite its sacramental validity. We want to be part of a body of believers who actually TRY to walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to their Catholic faith and aren't CINOs! We want good and theologically sound cathechesis, not that fluff and puff "lovey-dubby" crap of the 60's! We're tired of the "Culture of death" and our friends who are acting like total idiots with their physical AND spiritual lives. We don't want to be them and heck we actually care what happens when we die and Jesus plays judge and jury. We don't want that guilty verdict that sends us to Hell. And the TLM is what will help us there. So please, cut the anger, hatred, shyness etc. and please, introduce and welcome a young person to the TLM. And gradually get us to follow the rules. Believe me, we are smart and adaptable if you give us the chance. We might even carry how we act in the TLM to our lives and change it for the better in dress and attitude! BRING US TO THE LORD!!!!!!

Finally spent, YCRCM.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Catechesis: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hello Everyone,

I couldn't let another feast day go by without giving you a little edu-ma-cation. Without further-ado, Catechesis on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I highly advise you to read this before you go to Mass, unless other factors prevent you otherwize:

When? Usually the 2nd Week of Advent, December the 8th annually in both the NO and the EF calendars.

Whom? Mary Blessed Mother of Jesus, St. Anne (Mary’s Mother who birthed her), and St. Joachim, Mary's father.

What?
Here's what the Catechism of the Church says on the matter.

The Immaculate Conception
490 To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.”132 The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace”.133 In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God,134 was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.135

492 The “splendour of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: she is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son”.136 The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love”.137

493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God “the All-Holy” (Panagia), and celebrate her as “free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature”.138 By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.
“Let it be done to me according to your word. . .”

494 At the announcement that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing will be impossible”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word.”139 Thus, giving her consent to God’s word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God’s grace:140

As St. Irenaeus says, “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.”141 Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert. . .: “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.”142 Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary “the Mother of the living” and frequently claim: “Death through Eve, life through Mary.”143 (1)
That's a lot eh? Maybe a shorter, better explanation will be more suitable for you. Here's the introduction taken from the variable prayers and passages that fit the Extraordinary Form mass of that day in the 1962 Roman Missal for the Laity:

“ I will put enmities between thee and the woman.” In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to the first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil; the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary’s Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it was this that qualified her for her divine maternity and raised her to her throne as Queen of heaven. “O Queen, conceive without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.” “(2)


Key Points And Notes on the Matter
Key Points
1. THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO OCCASIONS IN THE CHURCH’s HISTORY THAT THE CHURCH HAS USED ITS INFALLIBILITY EX CATHEDRA IN A MATTER OF DOGMA!!!!!
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9ineff.htmIneffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX on Dec 8, 1854.

The only other instance of ex cathedra use of the power of infallibility is for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, this ex Cathedra announcement means a binding consequence amongst Roman Catholics: This is dogma pronounced publically and therefore MUST BE OBEYED by all practicing Catholics. To publically dissent from this means you are NOT Catholic and can get you excommunicated via apostasy (giving up the Christian Faith) though it could possibly be heresy (beliefs contrary to dogma of the faith, though usually clergy or high level people get this title), that is if you want to go about things rashly and proclaim denial to everyone and anyone you meet. Sure there are Catholics who don’t believe this and you probably know them, but hopefully they keep this to themselves and don’t try to encourage others to dis-believe. But if clergy do not believe this, you have every right as a Catholic by canon law to report this up the chain of command.

DISCLAIMER: If someone does not believe in the immaculate conception, do keep in mind that a number of Catholics today are poorly educated by the developed world's current cathechesis programs, youth ministries, RCIA programs etc. Most parishes outside of RCIA for converts do not focus on any form of Catholic faith education past Confirmation age. If any education is granted it is usually through a separate/Catholic publically (a.k.a. secular government) funded system which can interdict its authority into what is taught, and rarely will a high schooler get a decent chance at Catholic education via private Catholic school. Do be wary of this and try to get to the bottom of the persons disbelief first before tightening your grip alright? 

 2.       IN CANADA, This is unfortunately not a holy day of obligation. However, as always the Catechism says …

The Sunday Eucharist

2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. “Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.”110

“Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.”111 (3)

3.     I would consider this the most important point to tell people today: Many people think that this day refers to Jesus being conceived without original sin. THIS IS WRONG. This day refers to Mary being conceived into the world without original sin so as to be an appropriate vessel to birth our God as the Word Made Flesh, as Jesus.

So, as a final note, I encourage everyone to attend Mass today if they can do it. While in many countries it is not a day of obligation (thanks to their Bishop's Conferences) do go to a Mass today. It will be that more spiritually rewarding to the Lord as you are going on your own free will and not cause an authority dictated you to go. EF parishes everywhere (and lay associations that set up EFs) will always have some mass on a feast day. As for Novus Ordos, some will likely have an evening Mass after work to go to. Worst case scenario, try to get to the morning mass, especially if its before work (if you can make it, and usually weekday NO's are shorter than Sunday. That or priests tend not to "pull out all the stops" as it were on the weekdays").

YCRCM.

Sources
SCRPITURAL READINGS
Extraordinary Form
Proverbs 8:22-35 and Matthew 5:1-12

Novus Ordo
Genesis 3:9-15,20, Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

Other Sources for your Interest:
Holweck, Frederick. "Immaculate Conception." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 9 Dec. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm>.

Catholic Answers. “Immaculate Conception and Assumption.” Online. Available:
<http://www.catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp>. 9 Dec 2010.

Works Cited according to the MLA Sytle Manual, 5th Ed.:
(1) "The Immaculate Conception." The Catechism of the Catholic Church. LIBERIA EDITRICE VATICANA, 1994, for the English translation in Canada. 1994.

(2) "December 8, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The Daily Missal and Liturgical Missal with Vespers For Sundays and Feasts From the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 With Supplements Containing The Additional Masses for Englang and Wales, Scotland, United States and Australasia. Summorum Pontificum Edition. 2009.

(3) "The Sunday Eucharist." The Catechism of the Catholic Church. LIBERIA EDITRICE VATICANA, 1994, for the English translation in Canada. 1994.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Quickpost: Coming week of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Hello Everyone. Just a quickpost for now for TLMs for the upcoming feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast day is this upcoming Thursday, December 8, 2011. It is always Dec. 8 in both the EF and the Novus Ordo liturgical calendars. Here's all the information I can muster across Canada using the Internet as to availability:

Una Voce CalgaryMass is at St. Anthony's parish, 5340 - 4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
T2V CZ5 , Tel: (403) 252-1137. Not sure when the mass that day is, but there is a normal Thursday 7pm TLM listed with benediction after. Call the Parish about that day.

Una Voce Ottawa: There is no Website currently upon searching, they are listed as a chapter. It'd be better to point you to a TLM ONLY parish with adjoining Catholic school spearheaded by the Fraternal Society of St. Peter., named St. Clement. http://www.st-clementottawa.ca/main.php. Check their bulletin in 2 days (link on the front page) to see when they are holding the feast mass.

Una Voce Saskatoon: "The Latin Mass is located at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 301 Avenue Y South, Saskatoon, SK". 5:15pm TLM's are held on feast days (with a few noted exceptions).
 
Una Voce Sudbury: It seems there will be no Dec 8 mass, however it is best to contact either the church they hold the Masses at, or to e-mail the society. All contained in the link.

Una Voce Toronto: 7:30 pm at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish in Scarborough, Ontario, 2210 Lawrence Ae. East. Parish is here: http://www.stlawrencemartyr.org/ Is TTC accesible.

Toronto also has the Oratory of St. Phillip Neri in Toronto, associated with Holy Family Church in the Parkdale Area. Website here: http://www.oratory-toronto.org/spn_holy_family_church.html. 1130am EF low mass and will have a 6pm Sung Latin Mass (I think this means a Novus Ordo with sung and spoken Latin parts, but not entirely a TLM, or it is a EF Low Mass with a choir, but without the necessities to be a High Mass.)

Other Chapters with no Website but Exist according to Una Voce International Canada (Not to mention the diocese event pages yielded nothing):
- Vancouver
- Creston
- Edmonton
- St. Johns, Newfoundland
- Victoria, B.C.

If you are blessed to be in these diocese or can access the churches for the TLMs, go to them. Otherwise try to find a Novus Ordo parish in your area with a evening/night TLM. Know of any others? pass along word in the comments section.

And do expect a post later on about the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Also I want to try for this week to get part 1 of the catechesis effort, and if I find more passages in Matthew, I'll have to subpost and split up Bible into 2-4 subposts, Magisterial documents in another post , and CCC and Youcat in a final post on part 1.

YCRCM.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Quickpost: After the fact of the New Translation Novus Ordo and update on Catechesis

Hello Everyone. Just a quick post.

1) As per my Catechesis, it's going slower than I've expected. It didn't help that my sleep got screwed up thanks to Night shifts the weekend before and I kept waking up at 330am each day, not able to get back to sleep till 6am and sleep in till late. ugh. I only reclaimed my sleep thanks to a willed effort plus some help from melatonin. You can buy that at a regular drug store under name brands. However I am deciding to start with the Gospels, reading through each. I've found a few quotes for Part 1 as well as a couple for part 2 in dealing with others of specific religions, and even one's own "brother and sister" Catholics (including clergy). When I get through Matthew, I might consider letting you guys see what I have so far ...

2) So, by now everyone's been to a Mass with the New Translation of the Roman Missal, 3rd edition. Unless of course you solely do the TLM. Well, this is how I felt about it and I've been posting on other blogs about this. Do you share the same opinion? Disagree? Agree? Feel mixed? let me know. Also, remember my blog rules? Don't remember them? go to my first posting back in August or September. I don't want virtual firebombs being launched here.

"Coming up to the new mass, I was filled with excitement and curiosity. I’ve seen countdowns for the new translation and read many interesting things from blogs on the blogosphere (Fr Z’s, Catholic Knight, Vox Cantoris, …), got a series of handouts from the internet from my archdiocese that explained the translations, an app from Cale Clarke called “The New Mass” for Iphone (which has a more biblical explanation of the changes for Why’s), and a pew card for the new responses. Fr. Z’s blog especially gave me more to look forward to wordwize as he has masterfully shown how pitiful the 1973 ICEL translation is and how it butchers many of the collects into wimpy feel good “prayers.”

So what happened when I got to my parish? The same old usual. Same old procession, same old 4 sandwich hymns from our current Parish only hymnal (not Gather thankfully!), Homily, consecration, etc. Though it was cool to hear the new eucharistic prayer and collect. Reflecting on the Mass, I didn’t feel at all elevated in soul and body. I felt like it didn’t do what it was being touted to do by everyone, the blogosphere, the diocese, etc. Even with a Catholic colleague at work we agreed the effect wasn’t pronounced as it should have been. Were it not for my lectoring and a decent homily by my priest who usually goes far out into academia land (as he was/is involved in teaching and committees in the Church so that’s his audience 85% of the time), it would have been even more saddening. Mind you my parish isn’t as bad as many of these other parishes when it comes to liturgical abuses post vatican II. The most “out there” things we’ve done is have poor quality sermons and the replacement of the Crucifix on our headstone on the altar be replaced with an Icon of Christ blessed by an archbishop of the Diocese. So maybe since there wasn’t radical changes, maybe there was nothing to notice?

There is a few small gems of hope though out of it today. I helped an older lady in her 40's once with the responses using the pew card. I saw a young elementary school boy and his mother do a simple/moderate bow before receiving the Eucharist. Also, I gained an even further appreciation for the TLM, for even a simple low Mass would have seemed better for me today. While I do acknowledge that as a whole, this is a good start to correcting the damage done to the laity of the Church over the last 40+ years, personally the New Translation was a letdown for me this Sunday and ineffective. That or maybe I should considering transferring to my Mother’s new parish for Novus Ordo things (where there are good traditionally minded Novus Ordo priests)."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Catechesis: Suggestion Taken

Hello Everyone,

So it's been a few days since my last posting, where I was asking for people to help out in providing an idea for a catechesis post. One person, KatyLamb, came forward with a suggestion: How does one go about "conducting themselves with people in the world?" Considering our world has become increasing secular and morally relativist, with many people just living their lives out, and with increasing attacks in democratic nations on the Catholic world from others with alternative lifestyles/dispositions or just pure Catholic hate (like out Christian brothers in Middle Eastern nations), that's a very good question to ask. Hatred is clearly not the answer as "violence begets violence." But what is the answer?

Unless someone else comes up with another idea for catechesis, I'll take this idea forward. It will take good time though as there is much content to cover, even at a brief glance. I'll decide to break it down into two main parts. If this gets really big I might even break up the parts into sub-postings (which will also give you items to chew on.) Also if this drags on into December, I will add on a Catechesis post on the Feast day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary also. So here's my general breakdown of what I want to cover to answer KatyLamb's queries:

Part I: What Scripture, Catechism, the Writings of the Holy Fathers say in general, the virtues.
Part II: Brief overviews as to specific groups: Generally with people, those of other religions, non-believers, alternative lifestyles using Church teachings and other sources from forums and groups that deal with ecumenism or specific non-Catholic groups.

This is briefly my gameplan. If there's something to expand upon then say so. Thanks, YCRCM.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Catechesis: Call out for help: What shall I write about?

Hello everyone.

First and foremost, I will now give proper thank you's to all those who have signed up here at YCRCM: Estase, KatyLamb, laura kuschel, and our newest joinee, Irenaeus G. Saintonge. Thank you for joining up on this little humble blog. Clearly this isn't a wasted effort thanks to you guys/gal(s).

Now to business. I did say I was hoping in my last post to produce something. Well I've been having a bit of a struggle. Between having a small case of doldrums and not anything striking from other blogs to comment on, I haven't got a sure lead to my next post. All I know is I want to do a Catechesis post, but I'm not sure what. So everyone, the 4 of you that is, I've decided to ask for your help: What shall YCRCM write about in a Catechesis post, or another type of post?

Don't be shy, it can be the most basic thing one should of learnt in Catholic School like: What is the Trinity? or perhaps something a little more daring like something in moral theology. Just remember I'm no graduate degree theologian, just a young Canadian Roman Catholic male with some books lying around his study. some things from his Roman Catholic private school, and a computer with Internet at his hands, so if you are looking for something like a graduate thesis, I'd recommend you seek out the master Catholic bloggers/apologists.

So, maybe you don't know what to suggest? Here are some general directions:
1) An up and coming Saint or Holy Feast day: e.g. Dec 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
2) Maybe something you came across in the Catechism, the YouCat, an encyclical, or want revealed from those sources, etc.
3) The New Translation of the Mass (I have a couple of resources, but I'm sure your parishes are covering this in some detail)
4) The Latin Mass/TC's and TP's (if you ask nicely ... though if there is something specific, say it)
5) Only if at least two of you ask for it, the 2nd part of the SSPX post. I'd rather do it on consensus, because it will take me good time to do it, and I know it will ruffle some feathers. There are certain things in the realm of "trad-dom" I do not agree with.

By the way, I just got 2 new resources for my personal home library: Jesus Christ, Revelation of the Unknown God by Fr. Robinson, an St. Phillip Oratory priest, and Sun TV Michael Coren's Why Catholics are Right.

So go ahead and spill for me some ideas. and also be patient. It takes time to do good posts with citations.

YCRCM.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Quick Post: A little something to tell your Kids when it comes to "why we go to Mass"

Hello everyone,

Wow 3 followers! This is a little uplifing for me. When I started about a few months ago, getting only one follower was, well, making me wonder if it was worth it. I knew I wasn't a big wig like Mark Shea, The Crescat, The Anchoress (who was one of the lucky 150 bloggers around the world to be invited to the Vatican blogger summit May 1 or 2 of this year,) or other well-noted Catholic Bloggers. Now seeing 3 as of today, that gives me hope. I'll thank you all properly in the next few days hopefully as I can sit down and devote time to write a proper post, with 4 days off from work and no plans (hopefully with no substiution calls to replace a sick/vacationing co-worker).

So for now, just a little quick post to give you something sweet. One of my favourite blogs is What Does the Prayer Really Say, by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf of the U.S.A (who mostly celebrates mass at Holy Innocents in Manhattan, New York in the Extraordinary Form). One of his posts deals with a reader who sent a letter about a nasty reaction from an usher to a mother's kid who was a little too loud with his cars during an EF Mass. The post is here. One of the Comments caught my eye, by AnnAsher, who gave a simple, but beautiful explanation for her young children on why we go to Mass. Here is the comment with the bold part being the most important.

"AnnAsher says:
We ended up two rows in front of an elderly couple whom I usually make sure to sit well behind. They are newer to our TLM and not of the friendly variety I’m used to there. My boys – 4 and 6, 6 year old has autism- wiggle. Not noisy usually – but wiggle. Lie down, sit up, feet in the air, lie under the pew. When the elderly couple of far enough away I dont have to deal with his facial expressions. My sons have made great progress- I can actually attend all of Mass now – well usually. Today, I could simply feel the heat from behind me. So I feel the writers pain. I suppose my advice is to try to find a safe spot to hide out with your little one and his car! We’ve had various items I’ve tried – none of them work for long. Today, when we left I told the 4 year old that Mass is important and that we must not wiggle there, or in restaurants and movie theaters. Mass is important, I said, because we come to say thank you to Jesus for opening Heaven for us. We come to say Thankyou to God for making us, because He loves us so much, He made us. So I say thank you God for making — and I named him and his sibs. He said to me ” I like church now. I love you Mom and I’m glad God made you. I love heaven too – Mary is there”.So take heart- they get It eventually!"

Smile and enjoy. If you do have, or will have kids, keep this in the memory bank and repeat this to them. Share with them the beauty of the Mass, albeit in a simple form for them at those ages. YCRCM.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Quick Post: Commenter Centristian's Reply on the Hot Topic of Assisi III

Hello everyone,

So currently, as it has happened this past week, one of the current hot blogging topics is Assisi III. In a nutshell, this is a worldwide interfaith gathering of leaders of many of the world's religions, hosted by the Pope. The first event was in 1986, with Assisi II in 2002. This started with Pope John Paul II and has continued with our current pope, Benedict XVI. Benedict did attend Assisi II at Pope John Paul II's request, but skipped Assisi I.

However, these interfaith events have not been without very heated criticism, and even sacreligious practices surrounding it. One of the most touted examples is the "Buhdda statue incidient" as touted by Cardinal Oddi of Assisi I in 1983:


“On that day ... I walked through Assisi ... And I saw real profanations in some places of prayer. I saw Buddhists dancing around the altar upon which they placed Buddha in the place of Christ and then incensed it and showed it reverence. A Benedictine protested and the police took him away ... There was obvious confusion in the faces of the Catholics who were assisting at the ceremony.”(1)


I'll admit that's pretty poor taste and they shouldn't have had such free reign to do that. Fast forward to 2011 where now Benedict is in the hot seat as Pope and he has to do what his predecessor did. Once again the criticism flies, saying how dare he compromize the Catholic faith and promote the very thing he warned he would not do, syncretism (amalgamation of conflicting faiths). I can see the SSPX blowing a nutty over this and threating to reject the premable. Still, even with Benedict's refusal to do much of what was done at prior Assisi gatherings, and just having a moment of silence in unison vs. praying with other faiths, an "incident" occured that has made this Assisi gathering seem like some kind of syncretic event, where some African pagan minister chanted to his pagan God I've never heard of, Olokun.

So I begin to read the combox at Fr. Z's WDTPRS and see a lot of vitrol (I'm exaggerating) and "how dare B16 destroy the faith and be a hypocrite" comments. And then this gem shows up from Centristian, who tends to just floor you with his/her prospective on issues. You just read along, and all of a sudden he/she comes with the greatest insight of the day. Here's Centristian's insight on the Assisi issue and B16's actions. He/She doesn't agree with the event either, but he tackles the whole "your Church is corrupt and hypocritical in history, and is therefore the Whore of Babylon" thing beautifully, my emphasis in bold with slight italics:

Centristian says:
@Neal:
“If this is true (and if I’ve missed something I’m sure someone will let me know), is it fair to assume that silence in the face of this scandal is the price of full communion?”

Perhaps it is the case that it is hard to be anything but silent in the face of something so bewildering. I watched broadcasts of the event, and I could not see that there was any point to the event at all. It seemed like a completely empty and totally meaningless affair (at best). It was strange to see the Pope preside over all of this orchestrated meaningless…and it was not edifying, I am afraid, which I say with all due respect to the Holy Father. But finally, I just do not understand what it actually was. And if certain voices are not vocalizing condemnation, I imagine it is because they aren’t even sure what exactly happened. That is better, I think, than the voices who will harshly, now, condemn the Pope, having just as little understanding, themselves, of what actually happened.

I don’t really know what to do but walk away from it and forget about it. It isn’t the first time, of course, that the actions of popes have left the faithful shaking their heads and wondering what to make of things. Think of the stellar example of the warrior Pope Julius II, or of the publicly scandalous behaviour of Pope Alexander VI (and others like him from the same era). Think of the powerful Italian families and patrician Roman woman using the papacy as their own property for the political and economic advancement of themselves and their families. The good Christfaithful of such times aware of such papal disappointments must have been sickened to the point of wanting to walk right out the door. But where were they to go? Many did run away from it all, of course, into the household of Protestant heresy and schism, confused, shaken and angry; a lamentable but very understandable reaction. So scandalized were they by Christ’s wounded Body, they could only think to flee rather than stay behind and care for it. Fortunately, many Veronicas stayed by and wiped the Face of our disfigured Church with their own personal holiness, witness, and examples.

I think its also helpful to recognize that Christians of one era would potentially be scandalized by the Church of another, so much has the Church changed over the centuries of her existence. Many readers of this blog, for example, in today’s Church, would glory in the sight of, say, Pope St. Pius X, borne aloft on a throne on the shoulders of courtiers, surrounded by ostrich feathers and imperially crowned with the papal tiara. “Magnificent!” we would exclaim. Would a first century Christian feel the same way, however? Might he not be horrified and repulsed by the sight? “Our blessed Peter is arrayed as Pharaoh?!”

I have to put myself in the company of Christians, who, when faced with bewildering actions on the part of a pope or other church leaders will simply sigh, say a prayer, and continue to go about living their own lives of faith, confident that they will not ever have to answer for what a pope does, in any case. That’s all I can do: leave it behind, let God and the Pope sort this one out between them, and carry on in faith, day by day.

Let us not neglect to pray for the Pope. The popes aren’t always supermen. They’re seldom supermen, in fact; often they are quite the opposite. Some past popes have said and done silly and even horrific things. Just look at Peter, himself, who actually denied Jesus Christ three times. Christ chose his apostles knowing that they were all weak and apt to stumble and fall…what else did he have to choose from? We’re all that way. And when one of us rises to the Chair of Peter, that brother of ours remains what he began as: dust. That’s all any of us are. That’s all the pope is, too. So love him and pray for him. He is no better than us, and he is no worse.

Some will watch this and conclude “see: this is not a true pope and that is not a true Church. This is ‘Newchurch’, the false Roman Catholic Church. We must find, somewhere, the true remnant of the true Church and separate ourselves from ‘Newrome’. We will save the Church!” Don’t fall into that trap, however. Don’t flee the establishment of the hierarchical Church because you worry that it isn’t as pure and indefectible as it ought to be. Of course it isn’t; it never was. Its many imperfections give no group the right to establish its own authority, however.

We do not save the Church. The Church saves us. The Church is Christ’s own Body. Christ has promised us that the gates of Hell will not prevail against his Church [edit: Found in Matthew 16:18], therefore those faithful to Christ need have no fear or great trouble over the mistakes (or apparent mistakes) of erroneous hierarchs and prelates. We don’t answer for any of what they do. When we die, God isn’t going to ask, “What is your position on Assisi III?” and then say to us, “Ah-ha! You’re wrong. Buh-bye!” if we’ve misunderstood it all. Don’t be scandalized, therefore, by those who aren’t commenting on something that , for some of us, simply leaves us speechless. (2)

Will someone please give this person a medal and an instant ticket to the seminary or a job at Catholic Answers? This was so powerful and conveyed so lovingly of the Church and those in it. And I wish you a happy 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), or Feast of Christ the King for our Extraordiary Form compatriots.

YCRCM.


References:
(1) “Confisses de um Cardeal,” Interview granted by Cardinal Oddi to Tommasco Ricci, 30 Dias, November 1990, p. 64. Cited from Quo Vadis Petre? by Atila Sinke Guimaraes (Tradition in Action, Los Angeles, 1999), pp. 5-6
(2) "Centristian" in Fr. John Zuhlsdorf. What does the Prayer Really Say? 29 Nov 2011. <http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/10/pagan-chant-to-the-deity-olokun-in-the-basilica-of-st-francis-during-assisi-iii/#comments>

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Quick Post: Bishop Morlino in U.S.A. and awesome commentary from Fr. Z.

Just a quick post folks. You'll like this one. A post that mentions Lady Gaga .... and Hell (separately) within the body of the text??? AND the misinterpretation of Vatican II! This one's a winner. Check it out at:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/10/bp-morlino-on-beauty-and-worship-beauty-is-not-just-a-matter-of-taste/

What do you think? As always the blog rules apply, so be considerate. YCRCM.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Too Cool To Miss: Reverend Know it All and Gasp! Dressing Up For Mass

YCRCM Here,

So I've been fattened and fed with a lovely assortment of Canadian thanksgiving turkey and treats, and I'm happy my favourite USA football team @ Notre Dame defeated Air Force in a landslide 55 - 39.

Now for all of you, a quick post before bed. I was just reading my favourite blogs and what do I find at Reverend Know it All's? A new post on his series about "getting real about the Mass Yo." This post really caught my attention, because it speaks of a common malady in today's modern Catholic Church: not dressing appropriately for Mass.

Youth should especially read this post as this malady is seen heavily in my generation and the next ones after (Generations X, Y, and the Millenials). Even at the biggest events such as Baptisms, Confirmations, and Marriages, there are guests who will dress a little scantily, or even more casually than they are supposed to. Not always, but in a few instances I've witnessed this at baptisms which are now done during Mass at my parish (and this is occuring in the Baptismal party, nevermind the rest of the congregation).

I will admit I was also inflicted by the disease once I hit my university years (and wasn't going to Mass with my family) and when no one tells you why you should dress up for Mass, it really becomes challenging to desire to do so out of respect for our Lord. It also does not help when your parent(s) force you to dress without a solid explanation, as this will confuse you into thinking it is "cause I said so" and lead to resentment. For a great explanation on why to dress reverently for the Lord each Sunday, you can catch the good Reverend's post HERE. Go read it, because the whole post is just too good to pick apart and post here. It would take out all the fun. Really. 5 minutes is all you pretty much need.

After reading that cool post above, my 2 Cents on the matter:
- T-shirts (especially tight ones), shorts, jeans, tank tops, and leggings should be saved for non-uniform schools, the pubs, and casual outings. If you skipped the Reverend's posting and read that last sentence first, look above this and read it.
- Fine I know for a start, many of you won't want to go the full nine yards with a 3-piece suit for men or knee-length skirt + blouse + something to cover the legs (post Thanksgiving) + appropriate heels/shoes for women. Or maybe that's just Xmas and Easter for you, for now. It's probably best, like any behaviour, to start slow and work your way up. Ananlogy: You don't just go from inactivity to running a 5K marathon instantly right? You need to train up so your body doesn't die on you and you earn yourself a trip to the emergency ward of a hospital.
- So what to wear to start on the track to modesty for Mass? Guys, some khaki pants and a golf shirt/Polo can be bought cheap from somewhere like Old Navy in their school uniform section, and that store isn't too pricey. Surely that's not too hard.
- Ladies you could do the exact same but trade the golf shirt/polo for something feminine and classy, or the pants for nice knee length skirts if you are daring. Want an example? I'll take an example from a young acquaintance of my parish from today: white non-"long sleeve T" shirt with long sleeves (not skin tight), Black slacks (feminine styling, but not skin tight), pair of black ballet flats (like the little black dress for shoes right?). Modern, modest, and respectful.

And Happy Canadian Thanksgiving. YCRCM.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Feast Day: St Michael the Archangel (and other Archangels)



Picture from Una Voce Orange County California Handout/Bulletin Insert for guests to the EF, Michaelmas

Hello Everyone.

Yeah we all know Christmas and Easter are big days in the Church, but did you know that there are many other "Big days" in the Church? There's many more feast days. That's right, Feasts. And they pop up annually in the Church Calendar, be it Novus Ordo or Extraordinary Form/TLM. So, what are these feast days?

According to the Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by Broderick, feast days in the Church calendar are: "... the sequence of festivals to commemorate a teaching or event or religious improtance, or saints' days .... Feasts are celebrated within the limits of a natural day ..." (1)

So, on this day, September 29th, the Church commemorates a Saint's feast day, an event of religious importance, and indirectly teaching of an event. Today is the feast of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. These are the only angels that are named in the Bible (that is known to us by name). St. Michael is principally who is celebrated today, though all 3 are implied. So what's up with these three big head honchos cause they aren't just angels. Their bigger.

What is an angel? Again I turn to the Catholic Encyclopedia (2):

"... angels are spiritual beings, created by God, and superior in nature to man. They are immortal beings whose role is to minister to God and to do thw will of God in obedience. They are bodiless, spiritual intelligences who have their knowledge, not as man who acquires knowledge through his senses, but by intuition. Thus they do not arrive at conclusions following upon principles by a process of reason but immediately know the principles as truth ...."


Also, there are 9 "choirs" of angels in descending order: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, and Angels (2). Now, that's a nice nutshell definiton for you, but what about the three I mentioned? Let's save the popular one, St. Michael, for last, and let's get Gabriel and Raphael out of the way.

Gabriel
Gabriel means "Man of God/God has shown Himself Mighty." This angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the 70 weeks in Daniel 9:21-27 and also appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Luke 1:11). Finally, he announced to Mary she'd bear Christ who'd be conceived by the Holy Spirit and well, save the world (Luke 1:26) This is the famous angel who is named in the Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation. (3)

Raphael
Means "God has healed." Appears in the Book of Tobit as a guide to Tobiah. Raphael also bings the demon Asasel in the desert of Egypt in the book ot Tobit, helps Tobiah find a wife and recover his debt, and heals Tobit from blindness. He also reveals his identity directly in the book of Tobit. (3)

Michael (the Big Shatoonah, and my personal favourite Angel)
Clearly you have heard of this angel. Really? No? Well those named Michael have a mane meaning "Who is Like God" which is translated in Latin as "Quis et Deus". You may have seen that expression on some coats of arms or symbols dedicated to Michael. I could tell the story of Michael in a Nutshell, but I found a good summary via the ArchBishop of Ottawa, Ontario, Cannada, +Prendergast's blog: http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2011/09/archangels-michael-gabriel-raphael.html. The summary was taken from The Catholic Herald Newspaper in the UK at: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/spirituallife/saintoftheweek/2011/09/22/the-saint-who-threw-satan-out-of-heaven/ . Here it is in full text:

"The Archangel Michael is honoured as the leader of the heavenly host which threw Satan and his fellow rebels out of heaven.
Today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church stoutly maintains the existence of angels as “true of faith”: “The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of tradition.”
Angels, the Catechism elucidates, “are servants and messengers of God. Because they ‘always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 18:10) they are ‘the mighty ones who do his word’ (Ps 103:20).
“The whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels. From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.”
This is a development of Jewish tradition. In the Old Testament there are copious references to angels, although Michael’s status is not precisely clear. In the Book of Daniel, written c 550 BC, he is “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people”.
Jesus Christ speaks (Mt 26:53) of having “more than 12 legions of angels” potentially at his side. And although the term “archangel” does not appear in the Bible, the reference in Revelation (12:7) to “Michael and his angels” suggests his supremacy.
In Hebrew the name Michael actually means “Who is like unto God?” The implication, which the rebellious angels learned to their cost, is that no one possibly could be like God.
In Catholic tradition, Michael serves four distinct roles. Just as he had defeated Satan in celestial combat, so he provides aid in the spiritual struggle fought in every human soul.
“With me,” the worldly Bishop Blougram explains in Browning’s poem:
faith means perpetual unbelief
Kept quiet like the snake ’neath Michael’s foot
Who stands calm just because he feels it writhe.
Secondly, Michael is present at every deathbed, offering the hope of redemption.
Thirdly, he weighs the merits of the soul after death.
Fourthly, he stands forth as the guarantor of Christ’s promise to the Church that it will endure to the end of time.
The cult of Michael developed in Byzantine Christianity, though stories of his apparition on Monte Gargano (southern Italy) in the late fifth century helped to spread his fame in western Europe.
Around 495 a vision of the archangel in Cornwall apparently led to the naming of St Michael’s Mount. By the end of the Middle Ages nearly 700 churches in England (many of them on high ground) bore Michael’s name. His feast was even retained in the ultra-Protestant Prayer Book of 1549.
Since 1969 the Catholic Church has combined his feast day with those of Gabriel, Raphael “and all angels”. Michael, though, is still in control of the army." (4)
So that's what this feast day is all about in the Catholic Church. For those interested in the Scriptural Readings for today's masses, here they are for both forms:

Extraordiary Form/Tridentine Latin Mass (1962): Apocalypse (a.k.a. Revelation) 1:1-5 And Matthew 18:1-10

Novus Ordo (1962): Revelation 12:7-12a, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 and John 1:47:51

Also, as to more about the fall of the traitor angels and the Devil (a.k.a. Satan, Lucifer, prior to the fall) with regard to St. Michael, check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 391 to 395. I am referring you for now, but as always, I could do a catechesis session in future on the fall of the traitor angels, the spiritual war,etc. in future.

Sources (cited according to MLA Style Maual, 5th Ed.)
(1) Broderick, Robert C., Thomas, Ed."Feasts of the Church" Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia. 1987.
(2) Broderick, Robert C., Thomas, Ed."Angel" Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia. 1987.
(3) "Sept. 29. Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael" Lives of the Saints For Every Day of the Year. New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1977. 396-398.
(4) "The Saint Who Threw Satan Out of Heaven." The Catholic Herald. 29 Sept 2011. <http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/spirituallife/saintoftheweek/2011/09/22/the-saint-who-threw-satan-out-of-heaven/>

Friday, September 23, 2011

Traditional Catholicism: Vatican Hands SSPX a Choice, it Seems ... Part I: SSPX History

Hello. Sorry if this is a little late but when you work a part time job at all hours and you try to catch up on sleep and trying to exercise, that's reasion "1 of 25" (not literally) why I don't write every day. Better yet, try to take an hour long jog running on concrete when you are fat and haven't done an outside run in weeks and ask your legs, "How yo doin boys". Yeah ...... No. They won't like you and you body will scream "I need a rest!".

Well, this is a #2 and a #3 today from my main topics to be covered: 2, which was popular items on the blogosphere, and 3 for Traditional Catholicism (TPs). Well, this is still popular as the topic of discussion is currenly ongoing, even though the big event happened last week. And yes, some later on may say I should have started with a nice easy piece like basic catechesis, but bloggers gotta jomp on those current event topics while they are popular in that moment in time.

For those of you who don't know, the Vatican has been in talks since last year with a traditional Catholicism society called the Society of St. Pius X. This group is devoted to TPs as well as traditional Catholic lifestyle amongst its adherents, that is the kind of social, educational, and religious atmosphere your grandparents has before the world went for a wrong turn in the 60's and Vatican II. Err what do I mean by traditional Catholic lifestyle? Well pictorally in their liturgies and community celebrations, I'll let that speak for itself here. SSPX is not the only TC society, institution, or prelate, devoted to TPs as there are others such as: The Oratorians of St. Phillip Neri (Toronto, Quebec, and elsewhere), Fraternal Society of St. Peter (Formerly Toronto but mainly the USA and Ottawa), The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (USA), the Institute of the Good Sheperd (France) and the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius (Specific states in the USA). However, SSPX is the most notorious/well known organization for TCs and TPs, also becuase of their interesting non-canonical status in the Church (Catholic but non canonically in line with Rome, yet not schismatic in itself. Rather the acts of its superiors were schismatic).

Seeing as I'm gearing this blog towards a more basic level, and new people interested in basic Catholicism, I say that to understand any significance of this event, we need to take a brief look at the history of SSPX in the Church. This will be brief as I'd rather spend the time getting to the main event of yesterday, and you can use your spare time to see a more in depth history via books from both pro-SSPX and anti-SSPX sides as well as Wikipedia.

So flashback to the 1970's-1980's post Vatican II. The "Spirit of Vatican II" (or in my opinion the gross misapplication of V-II's meaning and 16 major documents) was taking effect on Catholicism worldwide, combined with the social and political factors sweeping countries (e.g. the anti-war protests of the 60's in the USA with people being hippies, increased sexual deviancy disguised as normalcy thanks to Kinsey, increasing secularism and theological dissent, etc.) In France, a bishop who has been well noted in several Vatican II analyses and accounts, Bishop Marcel Lefebre, was not pleased at the spiritual and moral devastation occuring at the time. As generally noted after the "New Mass" or Novus Ordo came to creation and existience in 1969x, the Extraordinary Form(EF)/Tridentine Latin Mass (TLM) was disappearing at an alarming rate and many "changes were a'happening" that made him unsettled.

After some missionary efforts in Africa, He approached the bishop of Geneva and Fribourg, in France, in the 70's to start the SSPX. While the Society was growing and developing in the 70's, a number of times Church chergy at various levels were intervening, mainly becuase of the difference in theology of French bishops (that is they were with the new V-II theology and didn't take kindly to what was the "Old" mass). Eventually this all came to a head in 1988 in Econe, Switzerland, when without the permission of the Pope at that time, John Paul II (though different accounts will say that there was a lack of communication or obstinancy on part of the Vatican to grant that permission to ordain a bishop, or provide or a bishop for the Society), Lefebre consecrated (along with another bishop) 4 new bishops for the society. (1) This move however, violated the laws of the Church, also knows as Canon law in the following sections:
Can. 1013 No bishop is permitted to consecrate anyone a bishop unless it is first evident that there is a pontifical mandate. (2)

Can. 1382 A bishop who consecrates some one a bishop without a pontifical mandate and the person who receives the consecration from him incur a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See. (3)
 Furthermore in the encyclical Ad Apostolum Principis by Pope Pius XII in paragraphs 40 and 41:
40. The power of jurisdiction which is conferred directly by divine right on the Supreme Pontiff comes to bishops by that same right, but only through the successor of Peter, to whom not only the faithful but also all bishops are bound to be constantly subject and to adhere both by the reverence of obedience and by the bond of unity."[14]
41. Acts requiring the power of Holy Orders which are performed by ecclesiastics of this kind, though they are valid as long as the consecration conferred on them was valid, are yet gravely illicit, that is, criminal and sacrilegious. (4)

So guess what Levebre just did? Yep, he incured upon himself as well as the 4 bishops (and the other one accompanying him in that act) an excommunication. This led to Pope John Paul II not only establishing the Ecclesia Dei committee just from this sole matter, but he also created the Fraternal Society of St. Peter as a personal prelature to propose a canonically valid Extraordinary Form instituion in communion with Rome.

In terms of the priests and others in the society, this posed an odd conundrum. When consecrated by these bishops, because they were validly ordained prior to the excommunications, they still have a valid priesthood (you never stop being a priest when you are promoted to the order of the Bishop). This priesthood also extends to the priests they consecrate. However their preisthood, bishop positions, and any priests they consecrate, are illicit (as in they do things illegaly in the Church). Worse, what happened affects their sacraments also. Since they have a valid priesthood, they can consecrate they Eucharist illicitly though they say Mass properly with the correct form, matter, and intentions, but as for the rest of their sacraments, these are illicit because they are not done under the permission of the local ordinary in the Church: the diocesan bishop. There might by a few exceptions though. Catholic Answers forums at www.catholic.com in the traditional section has yielded comments from 1-2 people saying their SSPX priest got permission from their bishop for their Sacraments, though this is extremely rare so as cannot be verified.

What about the common layman/woman in the Church? Well regardless of what happened in the 80's, a number of people flocked over to the SSPX in the wake of the "Spirit of Vatican II" because of artrocious liturgies done wrong in the Novus Ordo, confusion at learning the new mass, and the longing for the TLM. As for their masses, there has been clarification by the Vatican on this issue from a representative on Ecclesia Dei for the Pope, Cardinal Hoyos, with the latest response being from 2008 in a reply to a letter by Catholic Commentator Brian Mershon of www.RenewAmerica.com:

 "While it is true that participation in the Mass at chapels of the Society of St. Pius X does not of itself constitute "formal adherence to the schism" (cf. Ecclesia Dei 5, c), such adherence can come about over a period of time as one slowly imbibes a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church .... the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" cannot recommend that members of the faithful frequent their chapels .... We deeply ... pray ... reconciliation ... may come about, but until such time the explanations which we have given remain in force."
Q: Do lay Catholics who frequent Society of St. Pius X chapels, either more less frequently, incur any sin or canonical delict by doing so, if done solely out of devotion to the Church's Latin liturgical tradition and not to separate one's self from communion with one's diocesan Ordinary or local pastor?

PCED: "Catholics who frequent the chapels of the Society of St. Pius X do not incur any sin or canonical delict by doing so. However, we further refer you to what we have already stated ... above." (5)

Mershon Summarizes Hoyos' responses quite well as to the situation of laity who frequent SSPX chapels here:
5. Catholic laymen may attend Mass at a Society of St. Pius X chapel without committing any sin nor incurring any canonical penalty. However, the PCED guidance is that it "cannot recommend" attendance at the Society of St. Pius X chapels due to the danger of imbibing a "schismatic mentality." In other words, someone might find some Society priests fomenting division from full communion with the Church, their local Ordinary and/or the Holy Father in their sermons. The PCED's recommendation is not to attend their chapels habitually, but they acknowledge there is no sin committed nor canonical penalty incurred resulting from attending Mass at SSPX chapels solely out of the desire to worship according to the 1962 missal and in order to fulfill their Sunday obligation. (5)
 However, as you can see there is a severe warning attached. You can fulfill your SUNDAY OBLIGATION by going to the chapel, but it must not be done in a mentality/spirit of schism and by obligation, it is meant the requirement of going to Mass on Sunday. Furthermore, Catholic Answers through their apologetics magazine, This Rock (now self-titled), clarifies this issue in its question and answer section:

Q: Are the bishops and priests of the Society of St. Pius X validly ordained? If so, can someone fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation at an SSPX chapel?
A: Although ordained illicitly, the bishops and priests of the Society of St. Pius X are valid bishops and priests ....
The SSPX Mass, though gravely illicit, is valid and thus theoretically could fulfill the Sunday obligation when no valid, licit Catholic Mass is available. But because of the SSPX’s freshly schismatic state, it would be extremely imprudent to attend an SSPX liturgy, and it could cause scandal. When no valid, licit Catholic Mass is available, one is exempted from the Sunday obligation, so there is no need to try to fulfill that obligation at an SSPX chapel .... (6)


So to end the history part, what about the now? What about this last decade? The SSPX still has a a few seminaries in the world and also has a number of mission chapels or parishes/communities in the world, but especially the United States of America and Canada. But things have taken an interesting turn with the SSPX, much thanks to our Holy Father, Papa Benedict XVI (B16)!

- The Society was constantly saying they'd only consider communicating with the Vatican on few key conditions, with the two biggest ones being the liberation and promotion of the EF/TLM as well as  lifting the excommunications imposed on the Society's bishops.
- In 2000, when JPII was in charge, a number of SSPX priests went on a pilgrimage to Rome as part of the Jubilee, to show that they were willing to consider re-unification with Rome
- In 2007, B16 released a Motu Proprio document, Summorum Pontificum, which allowed for free use of the EF/TLM by all priests, regardless of their bishops permissions or intentions.
- In 2009, B16 lifted the excommunications of the remaining four bishops under that censure (Lefebre died in ...), however controversy surrounded this event as one bishop, Williamson, made anti-semitic statements denying gas chambers in the Holocaust and lowering the estimate of Jews killed in the massacre.
- With the two big conditions filled, as of Fall 2010, B16 set up a committee to engage in talks with the SSPX via representatives of the Holy See (the head being Cardinal Hoyos) to discuss the doctrinal issues surrounding the Society's reluctance to enter into full communion with Rome. These talks ended April of this year.

And that leads us to the main event that happened on Sept 14, 2011: The doctrinal preamble. I will discuss this with my positive commentary and my critican concerns of the matter in another post, Part II. YCRCM

Sources Cited (According to MLA Stule Guide, 5th Ed).:
(1) "Society of St Pius X," Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 15 Sept 2011 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_St._Pius_X>.

(2) Code of Canon Law, Catholic Church. 15 Sept 2011 <http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3P.HTM>

(3) Ibid., 15 Sept 2011 <http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P54.HTM>

(4) "Ad Apostolum Principis," Pius XII, 29 June 1958, Vatican, Italy, 15 Sept 2011. <http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_29061958_ad-apostolorum-principis_en.html>

(5) "PCED confirms officially: Society of St. Pius X within the Church, not in formal schism; Catholics commit no sin nor incur any canonical penalty for Mass attendance." Hoyos in Brian C. Mershon. Online blog. 23 Sept 2011. <http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/mershon/080711>

(6) "Quick Questions" This Rock. 15.7 (2004).