Summorum Pontificum September 17, 2007

High Noon for Sheriff Ben
—Is it Gary Cooper time for Pope Benedict? (Warning: Long Winded Metaphor)

The New Liturgical Movement has some great photos and stories from Sunday's kickoff of Summorum Pontificum.

The Cafeteria reports that San Diego has a new TLM in
New church, 'old' Mass

Bishop to Pope: Take a Flying Leap!

This is the most unbelievable thing I have seen! This Bishop is in open defiance of the Pope, Summorum Pontificum, and blatantly ridicules the Extraordinary form!
HT to Amy Welborn
Source

Caserta bishop prohibits traditional Mass -
Parish priest obeys but says he disagrees
By Angelo Agrippa
Corriere del Mezzogiorno

NAPLES - He is known as the bishop of tolerance. Of immigrants. Of deprived persons. He has opened diocesan structures for Muslims to say their Friday prayers, and Ukrainian/Moldavian Orthodox to use for their worship.

But now he has prohibited the celebration of the 1962 Mass restored as of September 14 by Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

With a telephone call, Mons. Raffaele Nogaro ordered the rector of the Shrine of Sant'Anna in Caserta, Don Giovanni Battista Gionti, to stop the Mass he was planning to celebrate at 8 p.m. today.

"This case has nothing to do with tolerance," Nogaro said later.

"The Mass in Latin is a distortion of religious fact. Not even university professors who teach Latin pray in Latin. It is not an appropriate instrument for establishing a true relationship with God. To help people to pray is an honorable effort. That is what I try to do in allowing the Tent of Abraham to be used by Muslims and the chapel next to the Cathedral, to be used by the Orthodox.

"But to assail the faithful with sacred images, theatrical choreography and esthetic embellishments does the opposite. The faithful should be offered something valid and educational, not an occasion for disorientation. In short, murmuring prayers in Latin is good for nothing."

Strong words. A clear dissociation from Pope Benedict XVI's decree regarding the traditional Mass.

"The authority for the theological, liturgical and moral correctness of a diocese is the bishop," Nogaro continued, "even if the Pope has decreed an opening in favor of other rites. I am the only bishop in Campania who has asserted this so far to control the application of the Papal decree.

"Besides, the request of 30-40 persons is not sufficient in order for the traditional Mass to be celebrated. The parish priest is obliged to report it to his bishop. And I was never informed."

In his sacristy, Don Gionti is surrounded by many of those who had requested him for the traditional Mass, and is visibly disconcerted: "I will obey the bishop," he said, "even if this loses us the occasion for a liturgical experience that is important for our community, many of whom requested this. I considered it an experiment, certainly not a replacement for the post-Conciliar Mass.

"I think a priest should respond to a request by his congregation. But the bishop has ordered me to suspend the scheduled Mass, telling me that this would create a dangerous precedent. Though I still do not understand what danger he means."

In short, the Caserta case is everything but "Nulla veritas sine traditione" (Nothing is true outside tradition) as the followers of St. Pius V love to quote.

Fr. Louis Demornex, who studied at the Collegio Russium of Rome and has been the traditionalist parish priest of the Aulpi-Corigliani district in Sessa Auruna near Casertano, commented: "The Tridentine rite is not 'democratic' but for more than a millennium, it was the backbone of the Church. By destroying a traditional valid form of teh mass, one is tearing down the Church itself. The Pope knows this and that is why he issued this decree."

Nogaro, while protesting that he did not wish to be involved in any controversy, said further: "(Celebrating the traditional Mass) is like watching a statue passing in procession and simply admiring its artistic beauty. One cannot say that this is an act of faith or an occasion to inspire spirituality. This is what happens if we communicate in a language which no one knows at all, no one uses anymore, no one understands. The practice has nothing to do with the faith and someone must speak out on what the common thinking is about this."

Anyone want to take bets on whether satanic worship would illicit a similar response from the Bishop?

Negating the Motu Proprio

The Diocese of Peoria Office of Divine Worship has issued a humdinger of a memo.
Here is a taste:

As the "chief moderator" of the liturgy in this Diocese, and in accord with Motu Proprio, the Bishop will not allow any priest to celebrate the extraordinary form without his first demonstrating a working understanding of Latin .

Father Z. hits the roof.

Check out some of the glorious pictures of the Extraordinary Form on NLM here and here

For the Record: Bishop Farrell of Dallas

For the Record: Bishop Farrell of Dallas

Letter from Bishop Kevin Farrell to Priests (edited) source

I write to you concerning the most recent publication of Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI regarding the celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form, that is, according to the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962 by Pope Blessed John XXIII.
In the Diocese of Dallas the Extraordinary Form is celebrated every Sunday at 9:30 AM and at 11:30 AM by Father Joseph Terra, FSSP at the Chapel of Carmel of St. Joseph and the Infant of Prague. The Extraordinary Form is celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish each morning at 6:30AM and on Saturday at 8:00 AM. The Ordinary Form of the Mass is celebrated in Latin (Novus Ordo) by Father Paul Weinberger at 11:30 AM on Sundays at St. William’s Church in Greenville, Texas.
In accordance with Article V of the Motu Proprio it is the responsibility of the Bishop of the Diocese to oversee the celebration of the liturgy in all of its Forms. As most of our priests have no formal liturgical training in the use of the Extraordinary Form I ask that any priest who wishes to celebrate this Form to contact me so that I can assist him in receiving adequate training in this Liturgical Form. In his letter to the Bishops of the world, the Holy Father pointed out that the celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form”… presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language.”
It is my intention to establish a committee of four priests who have knowledge of the Tridentine Rite to assist me in reviewing all requests from priests and the laity to establish public Masses in the Extraordinary Form. It will be the responsibility of this committee to assess the Pastoral needs of the people as well as the capacity of our priests and parishes to celebrate the Mass in this Form.
I encourage any priest who seeks to celebrate the Extraordinary Form for the first time, privately or publicly, to seek a review of his abilities to celebrate the Rite in a worthy and noble manner. It would be most unfortunate if, due to a lack of liturgical training or misinterpretation of the rubrics, this Sacred Form was not celebrated with the dignity it requires.
As I visit the Parishes I am impressed by the dedication of some of our brother priests who, because of the needs of our people, celebrate six or more Masses on a weekend. I have also received requests from Pastors to establish Masses in additional national languages, but I have been reluctant to do so due to a lack of priests. I would hope that, if any priest feels that he could be of assistance in helping some of our more populated parishes, he would be willing to do so.
I thank you for your priestly ministry in service to the needs of our people.

You Be the Judge: Progress?

SOLEMN HIGH MASS - DVD
EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE ROMAN RITE. Celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross September 14, 2007. 90 minutes.

Price: $25.00
Item # HV SHMRR D

Today is the Day! September 14, 2007

A Day of Great Joy!

Watch the SOLEMN HIGH MASS EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE ROMAN RITE
Celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama.
Sept. 14 8:00 AM - Live
Sept. 14 6:00 PM Encore
Sept. 15 12:00 AM Encore


Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos Speaks
Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", has some words on the main document of the current pontificate in an interview to Radio Vaticana

Arkansas Diocese, Latin Mass community respond to new papal support
Two order priests will help train interested pastors in Arkansas

Chicago Parish Already Living "Summorum Pontificum"
CHICAGO, SEPT. 13, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's vision that old and new liturgical forms harmoniously coexist had already been a reality for years at St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago, said Father Scott Haynes.

Summorum Pontificum September 13, 2007

Motu Propio intended more for Chinese Catholics than for Lefebvrists, says Chilean bishop
A fascinating article extensively quotes Bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzalez Errazuriz of Chile who suggests that there is a lot more than meets the eye in the motu proprio. A must read.

Will you watch the Solemn High Mass on EWTN tomorrow or the USCCB's riveting alternative?

Point / Counterpoint
Bishop of Alexandria declares "please do NOT presume such competency. Do not celebrate using the extraordinary form until you have been certified."

SP - Long Island Update
I spoke with Father Andrzej Zglejszewski Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Rockville Centre today regarding the availability of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite in the diocese following Summorum Pontificum.

Training for Priests
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is pleased to collaborate with Una Voce America in making possible workshops hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska, on teaching priests to say the "extraordinary form" of the Latin Roman Rite.

If... but not "only if"
Fr. Tim Finigan clarifies the misreading that sees Summorum Pontificum as imposing conditions of the kind "if and only if". Not so.

Summorum Pontificum September 12, 2007

The hits just keep on comin' (The good kind)

And now the Bishop of Arlington

In what seems to be a trend of positive responses leading into September 14th, the Bishop of Sioux Falls issues norms.
Fr. Z. looks at it here. Bishop Swain of Sioux Falls issues norms for Extraordinary Use

September 14th reminders.

A reminder for those of you in the Columbus area:
A reminder: Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

And of course if you are in the Chicago area:
The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius

And as if perfect weather isn't enough, check this out in San Diego

Summorum Pontificum September 11, 2007

Extraordinary Form for Extraordinary Parish
The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite comes to Long Island courtesy of Summorum Pontificum and a remarkable parish.

Summorum Potificum -It marks a new era of liturgical seriousness
by George Neumayr
The forces in the Church most responsible for dividing Catholics from magisterial teaching are the quickest to use the word “divisive” in any controversy.

And finally a little MP humor: Priests Turn Their Back on the People, Says Critics
——What about all the other professions that turn their back to the people?

Summorum Pontificum September 10, 2007

Only 4 more days until Summorum Pontificum goes into effect!

A Dei of Mass Appeal

The moment Cardinal Ratzinger emerged on the balcony at St. Peter's Square as successor to the late Pope John Paul II, Mary Kraychy knew her long wait was over.

"The Latin Mass is free again!" she thought that spring day in 2005.

www.SanctaMissa.org now has an altar server online tutorial available.

The Barque of Peter fisks an article in the St. Augustine Catholic. Conclusion, not good.