Sunday, March 30, 2008
Letter to Bishops
Here is the letter by H.H. Pope Benedict XVI that was sent to all the Bishops of the Latin-Church regarding the Apostolic Letter SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM.
My dear Brother Bishops,
With great trust and hope, I am consigning to you as Pastors the text of a new Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio data" on the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970. The document is the fruit of much reflection, numerous consultations and prayer.
News reports and judgments made without sufficient information have created no little confusion. There have been very divergent reactions ranging from joyful acceptance to harsh opposition, about a plan whose contents were in reality unknown.
This document was most directly opposed on account of two fears, which I would like to address somewhat more closely in this letter.
In the first place, there is the fear that the document detracts from the authority of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose essential decisions – the liturgical reform – is being called into question. This fear is unfounded. In this regard, it must first be said that the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form – the Forma ordinaria – of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The last version of the Missale Romanum prior to the Council, which was published with the authority of Pope John XXIII in 1962 and used during the Council, will now be able to be used as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgical celebration. It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were "two Rites". Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.
As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted. At the time of the introduction of the new Missal, it did not seem necessary to issue specific norms for the possible use of the earlier Missal. Probably it was thought that it would be a matter of a few individual cases which would be resolved, case by case, on the local level. Afterwards, however, it soon became apparent that a good number of people remained strongly attached to this usage of the Roman Rite, which had been familiar to them from childhood. This was especially the case in countries where the liturgical movement had provided many people with a notable liturgical formation and a deep, personal familiarity with the earlier Form of the liturgical celebration. We all know that, in the movement led by Archbishop Lefebvre, fidelity to the old Missal became an external mark of identity; the reasons for the break which arose over this, however, were at a deeper level. Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them. This occurred above all because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal, but the latter actually was understood as authorizing or even requiring creativity, which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear. I am speaking from experience, since I too lived through that period with all its hopes and its confusion. And I have seen how arbitrary deformations of the liturgy caused deep pain to individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church.
Pope John Paul II thus felt obliged to provide, in his Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei (2 July 1988), guidelines for the use of the 1962 Missal; that document, however, did not contain detailed prescriptions but appealed in a general way to the generous response of Bishops towards the "legitimate aspirations" of those members of the faithful who requested this usage of the Roman Rite. At the time, the Pope primarily wanted to assist the Society of Saint Pius X to recover full unity with the Successor of Peter, and sought to heal a wound experienced ever more painfully. Unfortunately this reconciliation has not yet come about. Nonetheless, a number of communities have gratefully made use of the possibilities provided by the Motu Proprio. On the other hand, difficulties remain concerning the use of the 1962 Missal outside of these groups, because of the lack of precise juridical norms, particularly because Bishops, in such cases, frequently feared that the authority of the Council would be called into question. Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it, but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them. Thus the need has arisen for a clearer juridical regulation which had not been foreseen at the time of the 1988 Motu Proprio. The present Norms are also meant to free Bishops from constantly having to evaluate anew how they are to respond to various situations.
In the second place, the fear was expressed in discussions about the awaited Motu Proprio, that the possibility of a wider use of the 1962 Missal would lead to disarray or even divisions within parish communities. This fear also strikes me as quite unfounded. The use of the old Missal presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language; neither of these is found very often. Already from these concrete presuppositions, it is clearly seen that the new Missal will certainly remain the ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, not only on account of the juridical norms, but also because of the actual situation of the communities of the faithful.
It is true that there have been exaggerations and at times social aspects unduly linked to the attitude of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition. Your charity and pastoral prudence will be an incentive and guide for improving these. For that matter, the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching: new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal. The "Ecclesia Dei" Commission, in contact with various bodies devoted to the usus antiquior, will study the practical possibilities in this regard. The celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI will be able to demonstrate, more powerfully than has been the case hitherto, the sacrality which attracts many people to the former usage. The most sure guarantee that the Missal of Paul VI can unite parish communities and be loved by them consists in its being celebrated with great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal.
I now come to the positive reason which motivated my decision to issue this Motu Proprio updating that of 1988. It is a matter of coming to an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church. Looking back over the past, to the divisions which in the course of the centuries have rent the Body of Christ, one continually has the impression that, at critical moments when divisions were coming about, not enough was done by the Church’s leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity. One has the impression that omissions on the part of the Church have had their share of blame for the fact that these divisions were able to harden. This glance at the past imposes an obligation on us today: to make every effort to unable for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew. I think of a sentence in the Second Letter to the Corinthians, where Paul writes: "Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return … widen your hearts also!" (2 Cor 6:11-13). Paul was certainly speaking in another context, but his exhortation can and must touch us too, precisely on this subject. Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.
There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.
In conclusion, dear Brothers, I very much wish to stress that these new norms do not in any way lessen your own authority and responsibility, either for the liturgy or for the pastoral care of your faithful. Each Bishop, in fact, is the moderator of the liturgy in his own Diocese (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 22: "Sacrae Liturgiae moderatio ab Ecclesiae auctoritate unice pendet quae quidem est apud Apostolicam Sedem et, ad normam iuris, apud Episcopum").
Nothing is taken away, then, from the authority of the Bishop, whose role remains that of being watchful that all is done in peace and serenity. Should some problem arise which the parish priest cannot resolve, the local Ordinary will always be able to intervene, in full harmony, however, with all that has been laid down by the new norms of the Motu Proprio.
Furthermore, I invite you, dear Brothers, to send to the Holy See an account of your experiences, three years after this Motu Proprio has taken effect. If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought.
Dear Brothers, with gratitude and trust, I entrust to your hearts as Pastors these pages and the norms of the Motu Proprio. Let us always be mindful of the words of the Apostle Paul addressed to the presbyters of Ephesus: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son" (Acts 20:28).
I entrust these norms to the powerful intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, dear Brothers, to the parish priests of your dioceses, and to all the priests, your co-workers, as well as to all your faithful.
Given at Saint Peter’s, 7 July 2007
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
Labels: Liturgy, Second Vatican Council, Summorum Pontificum, Traditionalism
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Low Mass Photos
Here are the- long overdued- photos of the first Low Mass that was offered on the side altar of our Lady of Lourdes in the 4th quarter of last year at St. Joseph's Church. The celebrant was Rev. Fr. John Mary Chin, OCD. Enjoy!
The insertion of the Sacred Relics of Ss. Felicity and Perpetua.
The Altar as it ought to be- clothed in 3 piece of fine linen.
View of the Altar from the Gospel Side
The Offering of the Host
The Offering of the Chalice
For This IS My Body- The Elevation
Benedicat Vos- The Final BlessingLabels: Liturgy, Photos, Traditionalism
Tenebrae 2008
I was blessed to attend the first Tenebrae Service in 40 years. The offices of Matins and Lauds were beautifully chanted by the talented members of the St. Gregory the Great Schola.For those who do not know what the Tenebrae is, here's some information I extracrted from Extraordinary From Singapore's blog: The Tenebrae is "the office which the clergy and the faithful say on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, accompanied by the lamentations of the Prophet Jeremias, and other ceremonies. The word Tenebrae means darkness, and represents the prayers formerly said in the dark hours of the morning. In the Tenebrae the Church mourns the passion and death of, Jesus, and urges her children to return to God; she therefore makes use of those mournful words of Jeremias: 'Jerusalem! Jerusalem, be converted to the Lord, thy God!' " More information here.
Below are some of the photos I took with my new 7.2 megapixels Sony Cybershot DSC-H5. Enjoy!
The Chapel 5 minutes before the Service.
The Entrance Procession.
The 15 candles; as you can see first has already been extinguished.
The chanting of the lamentations of Jeremias.
The female faithful veiled.
The female faithful veiled.Labels: Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours, Liturgy, Photos, Tenebrae, Traditionalism
Prayer for the Dignity of the Mass
Lord Jesus Christ, in Your infinite love You instituted the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Last Supper. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, You continue to pour forth the same graces and spiritual blessings that once flowed from the Sacramental Fountain of Your opened side. Lord, we thank You for manifestating Your Divine Love for us by becoming Sacramentally present in the Eucharistic Species.
We beseech You, our Almightly Lord and King, to defend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from all abuses and sacrileges. Arise Lord, and deliver us, we humbly pray, from these detestable and abominable acts of impiety that threaten the blessed memory of Your sorrowful passion, cruel death, and glorious resurrection.
Send forth Your Holy Spirit to illuminate the hearts of all Your priests. Give them a spirit of reverence, humility, patience and love. Enkindle in their hearts a more fervent love for the Eucharist. Lord, You are the True Light of the world, radiate Your Light now to dispel the traps and snares that the evil one has set before Your priests. We pray especially pray for Your priest(s), N., the shepherd(s) to whom You have entrusted the duty of the salvation of souls.
O Lord, grant all of us true faith. May we always celebrate the Eucharist in reverence, love, care, devotion, and orthodoxy. St. Peter Julian Eymard, St. Francis Fasini, St. Padre Pio, St. Josemaria Escravia, St. Benedict, and all ye other Eucharistic Saints, pray for us! Amen.
- the Author-
Labels: Eucharist, Litugical Abuse, Liturgy, Prayer
Sunday, January 13, 2008
OPEN LETTER: The Necessity Of Immediate Action
Related to: Teddy Bear Picnic Mass
Roma locuta est. Come back to me, with all your heart.
"There is one truth, even though it can always be more deeply known." Franc Cardinal Rode, the Prefect for the Congregation for Institutes of the Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to the Jesuits.
The Church should act without delay in this matter of doctrinal corruption, which is made imperative, especially by the fact that the partisans of error are to be sought not only among the Church's open enemies; but, what is to be most dreaded and deplored, is that these enemies are found in the very bosom of Holy Church.
What is alluded to here are the many who belong to the Catholic laity, and, what is much more sad, to the ranks of the religious life and the priesthood itself. Who, animated by a false zeal for the Church to "move with the times", as it were, and lacking the solid safeguards of philosophy and theology, imbued with poisonous doctrines and a loss of sense of holy Christian modesty have put themselves forward as "reformers" of the Church; and, forming more boldly into a line of attack have assailed all that is most sacred in the work of Christ, not sparing even the Person of our Holy Redeemer, whom, with sacrilegious audacity, they degrade to the condition of a simple and ordinary man.
Although these men and women express their astonishment that we who are faithful to the sacred traditions of our Holy Mother the Church are "outdated and outmoded", yet, in truth, it is they who are the most pernicious of all the enemies of the Church. For they put into operation their errorenous designs and invalid rites for the undoing of Holy Church, not from without but from within. Hence, the danger they present appears almost in the very veins and heart of the Church, whose injury is the more certain from the very fact that their knowledge of Holy Church is more intimate.
By their error and corrupted doctrine, they lay the axe to the very roots of the Church, that is, to the Holy Faith and Sacred Traditions at its deepest level. Once they have struck at its root, there is no end to the amount of doctrinal poison they begin to diffuse through the whole tree, which is the Church. So there is no part of Catholic Truth which they leave untouched none that they do not strive to corrupt. For they play the dubious part of both rationalist and Catholic, and this is so craftily done that it even leads the elect into error. To this must be added the fact, which indeed is well calculated to deceive souls, that they lead a life of ardent holiness. All with the front of corrupting and manipulating the innocent.
Finally, there is the fact which is all but fatal to the hope of cure that their very doctrines have given such a bent to their minds, that they rely upon a false conscience, they attempt to ascribe to love the truth, yet, they introduce foreign and uncatholic rites and doctrines. They pray with other faiths at the one same Holy Altar and even allow the doctrines and ideas of other religions to influence Catholic belief and practice. They teach error to children in the name of catechetics and confused the aged and elderly with their untruths. Different interpretations of the same Scriptures abound and what was once deemed as Protestant, heretical and schismatic is now venerated as doctrine and truth.
The Church in this post modern day and age has indeed fallen by the wayside like the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It will take the compassion of Christ, the Good Samaritan, to move hearts and hands of those who tuly love Holy Church with her rich traditions and sacred doctrines, to pick up the Church wounded with the afflictions of doctrinal error and pouring the oil and wine of the Holy Spirit upon those wounds in fervent prayer, bring Catholicism to the inn, which is in fact a return to True Rome!!
Jesus dixit ei, "Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam."
Jesus said, "Thou art Peter (Cephas), and on this rock (Cephas) I will build my Church, and the gates of the hades shall never prevail against my Church."
Acknowledgements:
Fraternitas Mater Doloroso
Labels: Desecration, Litugical Abuse, Liturgy, Open Letter, Rants/Musings/Thoughts
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Tridentine Mass in Singapore!
Here is a short clip of the recessional procession of the Tridentine Mass that was celebrated today by Revd. Fr. Duncan Wong, FSSP. In procession are members of St. Gregory's Schola and St. Francis Xavier's Youth Choir. Diocesan priest, Revd. Fr. Augustine Tay was also present and assisted in the distribution of the Holy Body of our Lord.
Enjoy!
I can't figure how to get the film upright... Apologies.
Labels: Extraordinary Form Singapore, Liturgy, Music, News, Traditionalism, Video
Friday, January 4, 2008
Liturgical Unity
“The mystery of Christ is so unfathomably rich that it cannot be exhausted by its expression in any single liturgical tradition.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1201).
Forty Years after the Council
It is a sad symptom of what is “certainly a genuine crisis” (Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, 5) in the current life of the Church that those faithful who are rightfully attached to the Classical Rite or the Tridentine Liturgy have been accused of being ‘divisive’ or of ‘causing disunity’ in virtue of their attachment. The Holy Father has condemned such unjust treatment of traditional Catholics and even asked forgiveness for, “The at times partial, one-sided and erroneous application of the directives of the Second Vatican Council, (which) may have caused scandal and disturbance concerning the interpretation of the doctrine and the veneration due to (the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist)” (Dominicae Cenae, III.12).
Of Fidelity & Sensibility
There is indeed a great threat to unity in the Church. It comes, however, from those who reject and disobey the apostolic tradition, NOT from those who UPHOLD it: “The criterion that assures unity amid the diversity of liturgical traditions is fidelity to apostolic Tradition” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1209). Therefore, it is the actions of the majority of the mainstream Catholic Church clergy and laity who have deviated from fidelity to apostolic tradition that has plunged the Church into the crisis that all of us now face. Only if wisdom that respected history, tradition, and sensitivity had prevailed, there would have been a far better result and less division.
Our Birthright
Futhermore, many young people have not heard of this rite of Mass that Pope Urban VII proclaimed as, ''the most beautiful thing this side of heaven". Perhaps, the Church could also take this opportunity to expose young Catholics to the rite of worship of our ancient Catholic religion and give them a sense of pride in their faith.
Only with pride and zeal for their faith, will young people step out to serve in the various ministries on their own accord. The traditional Mass is the birth right of all Roman Catholics around the world.
Community of Believers
The Second Vatican II Council refered to the Church as a Community, I'm sure that there are the older generation of Catholics who miss the old rite of Mass too, we have to be charitable and ensure that they do not feel left out. As a community of believers, we have to take into consideration all our brothers and sisters and not only our own intentions.
It is also interesting to note that over the past few years, an increasing number of young people have shown keen interest in the Tridentine Liturgy. The Church needs to be ready to supply the needs of the young people who will eventually be the supporting pillars of the Church.
Directions
Where are we headed I can't say... but perhaps the spirit of our late Holy Father, John Paul II is with us, continuing to bring about the 'new evangelization' he once called for. An evangelization not only to the Pagans and Protestants but amongst Catholics as well- an immersation of the rich liturgical ceremonies and customs of our One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Amen.
Labels: Evangelism, Holy Father, Liturgy, Second Vatican Council, Summorum Pontificum, Traditionalism
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Liturgy & Theology
(From the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy)
"......Bad theology is supported by bad liturgy and together they spawn bad morality. As Catholic clergy and as baptized members of the Church, we ask that across the board, our shepherds enforce the universal laws of the church; to protect and serve the people of God by ensuring that every ordained deacon, priest or bishop will act morally, properly and pastorally; defend the deposit of faith as taught by the Magisterium; and insist that reverent and proper celebrations of the sacred liturgy be done everywhere, from seminaries to parishes to cathedrals. "
Labels: Liturgy
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Greek-Catholic Services in Singapore!
(From Edward)
Father Serge Keleher, an archimandrite (monsignor) and parish priest of the Greek-Catholic Congregation of St. Nicholas in Dublin, will be in Singapore from 20th to 25th September. As he will be in town for the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God (on the traditional Julian church calendar) and for the weekend, he will be celebrating a full cycle of services according to the Byzantine rite.
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday 20th September- Eve of the Feast:
Vigil (Vespers, Matins, First Hour) at 7.00 p.m.
Friday 21st September- The Nativity of the Mother of God:
Hours and Divine Liturgy (Mass) at 7.00 p.m.
Saturday 22nd September:
Vigil (Vespers, Matins, First Hour) at 6.00 p.m.
Sunday 23rd September:
Hours and Divine Liturgy (Mass) at 10 a.m.
Liturgy on Sunday naturally fulfils the Sunday obligation for those who are bound by it.
Yes, this IS a Catholic Mass - Fr Serge is a Russian-rite Catholic Priest and these services are taking place with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Peter Stasiuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Ss. Peter and Paul of Melbourne. More information on Fr Serge may be found here.
The Byzantine Rite developed around the court and cathedral of the Eastern Roman Emperors in Constantinople, and is thus marked by much ceremony and solemnity. This is a rare occasion to see a non-Roman rite of the Catholic Church in use, as the last Greek-Catholic Divine Liturgy celebrated in Singapore was in June 2000. If you are able to make it for only one service, do come for Liturgy rather than Vigil, as there will be a small choir to sing the services.
Vigil on the 20th and 22nd will be in a mix of languages, but Hours & Divine Liturgy on the 21st and 23rd will be mostly in English, with small amounts of Church-Slavonic, Greek, Romanian and possibly even Arabic.
All Catholics who have observed the appropriate Communion Fast and are in a state of grace are welcome to receive Communion at both Liturgies. Fr. Serge will be available to hear confessions before the services in English, Irish, Russian, Ukrainian and French. He will also be available to answer questions about the Christian East and Eastern Catholicism.
All services will be held at the Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator, 30 Hill Street, Singapore. Questions?
Labels: Announcements, Byzantine Rite, Liturgy
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
An Invitation: An Evening with the Fraternity of Altar Servers
St. John Berchman, patron of Altar Servers+J.M.J.+
Dear Friends-in-Christ,
"The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. ... Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendour." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.
The Fraternity of Altar Servers was recently formed to foster bonds and windows of interactive learning amongst Altar Servers in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Under the spiritual directorship of Rev. Fr. Gerard Weerakoon, we seek to organize reverent celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy for the glory of God and deepen the spiritual and catechical understanding of the Sacred Mysteries of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of all who are present. We desire that our liturgies and fraternal atmosphere will inspire many young men (altar servers or otherwise) to the holy order of priesthood.
Our young Fraternity is currently represented by the twelve following parishes: Christ the King, St. Joseph’s (Victoria St.), Holy Family, Holy Trinity, St. Francis Xavier’s, Holy Spirit, St. Mary of the Angels, St. Stephen’s, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernadette’s, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Ss. Peter and Paul.
Dear Friends-in-Christ,
"The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. ... Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendour." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.
The Fraternity of Altar Servers was recently formed to foster bonds and windows of interactive learning amongst Altar Servers in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Under the spiritual directorship of Rev. Fr. Gerard Weerakoon, we seek to organize reverent celebrations of the Sacred Liturgy for the glory of God and deepen the spiritual and catechical understanding of the Sacred Mysteries of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of all who are present. We desire that our liturgies and fraternal atmosphere will inspire many young men (altar servers or otherwise) to the holy order of priesthood.
Our young Fraternity is currently represented by the twelve following parishes: Christ the King, St. Joseph’s (Victoria St.), Holy Family, Holy Trinity, St. Francis Xavier’s, Holy Spirit, St. Mary of the Angels, St. Stephen’s, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernadette’s, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Ss. Peter and Paul.
We are still actively looking for servers to be part of our fraternal brotherhood.
Our inaugural Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Do join us if you can; the Mass is offered for all secondary and tertiary students throughout the various institutions of learning across Singapore (among other intentions).
All altar servers, aspirants to the Diocesan Priesthood, and Seminarians are cordially invited to come and serve in their cassock/alb; as the (22) active roles have already been taken, all other servers will 'serve from the pews'. Dinner will be provided after the Mass and all are welcomed to join in fellowship. Do send me an email to let me know if you wish to serve.
14 Sep 2007, Friday
Solemn Mass
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1830hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier
N.B. All Masses organized by the Fraternity adhere strictly to the norms set out in the General Instructions to the Roman Missal Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite.
"By praying the Psalms, the Scripture readings and the readings drawn from the great tradition which are included in the Divine Office, we can come to a deeper experience of the Christ-event and the economy of salvation, which in turn can enrich our understanding and participation in the celebration of the Eucharist." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.
Hence, do join us in our evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for our redemption by praying the office of Vespers with us as well.
14 Sep 2007, Friday
Simple Vespers
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1700hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier
Do forward this to all your friends and relations if you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to help support our cause.
I look forward to having you on the 14th. Till then, take care and God bless. I am yours sincerely
In the Eucharistic Lord,
Paul D. Molina
Fraternity of Altar Servers
Our inaugural Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Do join us if you can; the Mass is offered for all secondary and tertiary students throughout the various institutions of learning across Singapore (among other intentions).
All altar servers, aspirants to the Diocesan Priesthood, and Seminarians are cordially invited to come and serve in their cassock/alb; as the (22) active roles have already been taken, all other servers will 'serve from the pews'. Dinner will be provided after the Mass and all are welcomed to join in fellowship. Do send me an email to let me know if you wish to serve.
14 Sep 2007, Friday
Solemn Mass
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1830hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier
N.B. All Masses organized by the Fraternity adhere strictly to the norms set out in the General Instructions to the Roman Missal Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite.
"By praying the Psalms, the Scripture readings and the readings drawn from the great tradition which are included in the Divine Office, we can come to a deeper experience of the Christ-event and the economy of salvation, which in turn can enrich our understanding and participation in the celebration of the Eucharist." H.H. Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.
Hence, do join us in our evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for our redemption by praying the office of Vespers with us as well.
14 Sep 2007, Friday
Simple Vespers
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
1700hr
Church of St. Francis Xavier
Do forward this to all your friends and relations if you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to help support our cause.
I look forward to having you on the 14th. Till then, take care and God bless. I am yours sincerely
In the Eucharistic Lord,
Paul D. Molina
Fraternity of Altar Servers
Labels: Altar Serving, Announcements, Events, Liturgy
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Organic Growth
A clip from the lecture "The Classical Roman Rite and the Renewal of the Liturgy," by Msgr. Michael Schmitz of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The transcript may be found here.
You may also be interested in Msgr. M. Schmitz's article on The Gateway to Eternity as well. In this article, Msgr. Schmitz dicusses the Classical Roman Rite and its meaning for the Church.
Labels: Institute of Christ the King, Litugical Abuse, Liturgy, Traditionalism, Video
Friday, August 17, 2007
Food for Thought: Where Lord?
In response to my queries, a certain Provincial Superior had this to say:
"I can full well understand that you feel attached to your diocese, especially if it identifies with your country. You may have to consider, though, that Christ invites us to leave all that is dear to us to follow Him with an uncompromising faith. If He has given you the sensibility for orthodoxy and liturgical depth, He has certainly an intent for you to fulfill."
Labels: Discernment, Liturgy, Priesthood, Seminary, Vocation
Sunday, August 12, 2007
We Have a Valid Cause!
In the 19th Sunday Ord. Time publication of NEWBEC (New Way of Being Church), Fr. Aloysius Mowe SJ writes, "A nostalgic longing for the marks of an imgined glorious past, for example, whether it be the Latin language, of the 'smells and bells' of the Baroque liturgy, is nothing but a manifestation of a lack of faith".
K.I.S.S. (Keeping it short and simple)
- Catholics who embrace the traditions of the Church are not doing so out of nostalgia. We embrace tradition because WE ARE PROUD OF TRADITION.
- We know that the Church wasn't perfect before the council; there was laxity in catechisis, the understanding of what the Mass really was was deteriorating, and Catholicism was more of a religion than a relationship with Jesus Christ, etc... We are not "imaginging a glorious past". We believe that education and orthodoxy is the solution to those problems and that of today's.
- Latin. Click here.
- Any orthodox Catholic would know that the Holy Sacrifice of the Roman Catholic Mass is one of the major battlegrounds in the war against the principalities of Hell. With heresy everywhere and with orthodoxy being purged and persecuted, anyone striving for holiness in this secularized world will definately feel some sense of militancy. We are not trying to fight for identity, we are fighting for liturgical and doctrinal sanity.
- How can non-believers identify the Son of Man in the Church- the Sacrament of God's love- when so many Catholics themselves cannot seem to identify the birth, life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Mass?
- Lack of faith? Harsh words, Fr. Mowe... Catholics who long for the traditional Mass are sharing the same faith as that of countless Saints who were sanctified by the "bells and smells of the Baroque liturgy"; their service to God's people was the natural biproduct of that form of sanctity.
Labels: Latin, Liturgy, Reply, Thoughts, Traditionalism
Monday, August 6, 2007
Salisbury Cathedral- Miserere Mei Deus
This video is proof that the Anglicans have better liturgies than the Roman Church. It is both a pity and crying shame considering what happens in the Holy Sacrifice of the Catholic Mass. Shouldn't something be done to make it more fitting for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?
Labels: Liturgy, Miscellaneous, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Video
Vocations Mass at St Anne's Church
St Anne's Church is celebrating the 1st Anniversary of their "Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations" programme with a Vocations Mass on:
Date: 20 August 2007 (Monday)
Time: 7.45pm
Venue: St Anne's Church
Father Henry Siew will be sharing his vocation story and there will be a mini exhibition on the life of St John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Please see attached poster for more information.
All "Friends of Serra Club" are invited to join in this Vocations Mass and we have a little gift for all "Friends".
Labels: Events, Liturgy, News, Vocations
Friday, August 3, 2007
Oakland priest Michael Wiener has been celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass since 1999
Incense, bells, mysterious words intoned in an ancient language, congregation and priest moving gracefully in unison as they perform a 1,500-year-old ritual -- that was the old-style Catholic Mass.
But when the Vatican decided to open up the Mass to improvisation in 1965, guitars replaced Gregorian chants, local languages replaced Latin, the priest faced the congregation rather than the altar and the entire Mass was simplified; a priest no longer made the traditional complicated series of scripted gestures during the Mass, nor did he wear elaborate old-style vestments.
Some appreciated the more down-to-earth feel of the new Mass. Others mourned the loss of the mystical, magical ancient Mass. Priests whose congregations wanted to celebrate the old-style Mass -- also referred to as the Tridentine Mass -- had to receive permission from a bishop to do so, until Pope Benedict XVI removed that restriction earlier this month.
Father Michael Wiener is a priest of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Oakland who has been celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass since he became a priest in 1999. I spoke with Father Wiener by phone about new- and old-style masses, the media coverage of Pope Benedict's restoration of the Latin Mass and the accompanying outrage over the reinstatement of a prayer asking God to convert the Jewish people.
Some of my Catholic friends who grew up with the traditional-style Latin Mass are quite passionate about it. They say it feels very special and powerful. What about it appeals to you?
It's mystical. It expresses very well the character of our faith, which at its center is a mystery -- the mystery of the incarnation of God.
Some people describe the Latin Mass as "bells and smells." That expression is somewhat belittling, but it's also accurate because the Latin Mass appeals to all of our senses in a powerful way. The Catholic faith is like that; it takes in the whole human being. It's not just something intellectual, something you read about in books.
Let's talk more about the traditional Latin Mass. For a long time you needed to get permission from a bishop before you could perform the Tridentine Mass. Why?
I believe there was a desire to unify the church's practice to the greatest possible extent by introducing the changed liturgy [new Mass] to the greatest number of faithful. But there have always been large numbers of people who have continued to celebrate [the traditional way].
Do you think the pope's announcement came as a surprise to many people?
No, I don't think so. The pope's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had published two documents that urge wider practice of the Tridentine Mass. Pope Benedict's announcement was in line with this, it was a natural progression for the pope to end the requirement to get a bishop's permission before celebrating the Mass. It's a very happy progression for the faithful who are attached to the traditional rite.
Do you prefer celebrating the Tridentine Mass?
I do! I'm very much in love with this "Mass of all Ages" because it links us to the history of man, so to say. For many, many centuries, this Mass was celebrated and sanctified people, and it has brought about many saints.
All this has developed slowly and organically over the centuries, and is therefore a joy to celebrate. In German we'd describe it as "Gesamtkunstwerk," which means a piece of art that expresses an idea in a very complete way. In the Latin Mass, the priest, who is representing Jesus Christ, is enacting the mysteries of our salvation. The rite itself is full with history and many significant gestures and prayers. It's not only the language the Mass is said in, it's also what the priest does at the altar. Every gesture has meaning.
What are some of the gestures?
The kissing of the altar, making the signs of the cross many times, bowing your head, putting your hands on the altar or folding them on your breast. There are many, many gestures that in their sequence and in their completeness express the beauty of our religion. These gestures express the reverence, the worship, the respect and the awe of the priest in the moment of celebration. And I think the whole composition is very beautiful.
Pope Benedict said he was authorizing parish priests to celebrate the old Tridentine rite if a "stable group of faithful" requests it. Why does one need a stable group?
Celebrating this Mass requires a great deal of organization. It takes a major effort even to make the celebration possible. To ask a parish priest to do that is excessive if nobody is really interested within the parish. I think for this reason, and for maintaining harmony within the parishes, it's very important that the Mass be conducted in an orderly way.
There's been some concern in posts on Catholic blogs that offering old and new Masses may polarize parishes into two camps. Does that worry you?
Not really. I'm in the happy position to be in a parish which has both rites -- St. Margaret Mary in Oakland has the new Mass, the so-called Reformed Mass of Paul VI, and the traditional Mass. And it's worked out well.
Do you think some priests are intimidated or worried about performing this complex ceremony? Or are most priests trained to do it even though it hasn't been performed widely for 40 years?
I can imagine some priests hesitate to practice this Mass, although many are trained to do it in traditional religious communities. I have had several requests, in the Bay Area, from priests who would like to learn to celebrate the Mass.
Many of the news reports since the Pope's statement have focused on the fact that the Tridentine Mass includes a prayer asking for the conversion of the Jews. How do you feel about that issue, and the way it's been represented in the media?
I don't think there is much to say. That prayer is part of the Good Friday liturgy. And the church doesn't ask for the light of faith only for the Jewish people, there are also other people mentioned. So I don't see any problem with that. I don't think it's bad to ask God for his grace and for help and for assistance.
Pope Benedict also recently said that other Christian traditions are not as valid as Catholicism. It just seems to me that the Pope might be thinking now is the time to bring people of all faiths together, rather than emphasize their differences. How do you feel about that?
This is, I would say, simply a repetition of the teaching of the church expressed in many documents and on many occasions. It's nothing new. It's the teaching of the universal importance of our salvation. I don't have any problems with that. The pope certainly tries everything to integrate all groups and individuals in a discussion and in his pastoral care, as pope. He receives everybody, and everything, and talks about these things, but he is also a teacher.
How do you bring people of all faiths together if you are saying that other faiths aren't as valid as Catholicism?
Well, that's a church policy question. I'm not the person who can really speak to that. But very briefly, it's the old and well-known position of the Catholic Church that the full truth of Jesus Christ is present in the Catholic Church. That does not mean that part of Christ and Christ's teachings are not present in other religious groups. But it means that in the Catholic Church alone there is the complete full truth of Jesus Christ.
I don't mean to badger you about this, but these issues have been widely talked about in the news lately, in the coverage of the Latin Mass. So I wanted to get your side of the story ...
I'm used to explaining to people, if they ask me, that when we say that the Catholic Church has the full truth, that does not mean that nobody can be saved outside of the Catholic Church. It means that Christ is our universal savior, and the Catholic Church is, so to say, the most safe ship with which we can cross the Atlantic or the ocean. The Catholic Church is the best equipped ship to reach eternity.
This is not news. People wake up every 10 years, when the church underlines these things again, but these are not new ideas. And other religions do the same thing. You will never hear from a member of the Islamic community that his faith is only relative. You will never hear from an Orthodox Jew that his faith is only relative. That would not be a faith -- - it would be something that is, perhaps, nice on a personal level, but not universally important. The Catholic Church has the name Catholic Church because it's universal. "Catholic" means concerning everybody and all. So, there is nothing new about this teaching.
Labels: Holy Father, Institute of Christ the King, Latin, Liturgy, Summorum Pontificum, Traditionalism
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Headmaster Dolores Umbridge
While watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix yesterday afternoon at the new Grand Cathay Cinema *alone*, one pharse from Dolores Umbridge struck me. It goes as follows... "Progress for the sake of progess should be frowned upon. We should preserve what ought to be preserved and perfect what can be perfected". It appears that these words from Hogwarts's adjunct headmaster applies fairly well to the Church today.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
At least with H.H. Benedict XVI's reign, the Church is begaining to feel more Romish. Only time will tell what the Good Lord has in store for us. Let us continue to pray for an end to abuses in the Sacred Liturgy and for unity in the Church!
Labels: Holy Father, Litugical Abuse, Liturgy, Movies, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Traditionalism
Sunday, July 22, 2007
That's the Spirit!
Way to go Fr. Michael Teo!
Fr. Teo made a comment after a screeing of the video, 'Euchristic Miracles' in the rectory's meeting room this afternoon. "When I was training as a priest, we did everything in Latin. Now there's the vernacular; we cannot acheive the same with the vernacular. The latin (Eucharistic Hymns) can really make you cry!" said a the teary rector.
Spirituality appeals to the imagination that is why the modern rites are so lack the feeling that the latin hymns of old conjure up; giving one the concept of a timeless sacred space that connects one with other believers through the ages.
"Holiness is what we are seeking to attain and our thoughts drawn into at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is not a party or any worldly celebration, so why should our music sound worldly? We don't want to get distracted by music that has worldly connotations, so we should avoid instruments and musical selections that would have those connotations," PBXI
We must bring the sacred to the secular,
not put the secular into the sacred.
Labels: Liturgy, Music, Quote, Quotes, Spirituality, Video
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Et Tibi Pater
I'm glad to see the willingness of many young priests here in the Archdiocese of Singapore to pick up Latin. Even among young Catholics who have neither knowledge of the traditions of the Church nor the Tridentine Mass, there appears to be an inclination toward the universal language of the Church. I believe that those looking for the sacred dimension in a worship/rite that has become 'secular' have found it in Latin; to enter the Celebration is to enter a sacred mystery. Latin is able to give the Mass a holistic sense of mystery. It does not matter that one does not understand Latin: The forms, words and actions we use are only symbols that help us raise our heats, minds, and soul to God. Prayer is a matter of the heart, not head. Even when we pray using words, etc... the real business should be taking place in the heart; at a much deeper level. Genuine Catholic worship is "a deep absorption, so deep that any distractions cease for five to ten minutes," Fr. Thomas Bubay SM. Genuine prayer also lifts us out of ourselves and to the incomprehensible and indescribable God.
Latin leaves priests at a loss [Emphasis completely mine]
John Hooper in Rome
Monday July 16, 2007
The Guardian
In nomine Patris, et, er, ... thingummy.
Pope Benedict may want more of his flock to have the chance to hear mass in Latin. But there is a snag. Not many of his priests know enough of the language to hold a service in it. Even in Italy.
Yesterday the newspaper La Stampa reported on priests' reactions to the Pope's decision this month to extend the use of the old Latin-only rite. Their views ranged from embarrassment to downright anger.
"I wouldn't know how to say mass from memory in Latin," said a 60-year-old priest from Le Marche region. "No priest should be obliged to go back to school to brush up his Latin. If some dioceses want to hold courses, well, fine."
Father Maurizio Fileni, 57, from near Ancona, went further. "I am absolutely incapable of saying mass in Latin," he told the paper. "And I would actually be ashamed to do so".
During Pope John Paul II's 26-year papacy, the top hierarchy of the Catholic church became far more conservative than before. But many of its rank-and-file priests remain firmly wedded to the ideals of the reforming Second Vatican Council.
Pope Benedict's decree allows Roman Catholics to obtain a dispensation from their priest for mass to be said in the Latin-only form, which was sidelined in 1970. Followers of the late archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who broke with the church over its liturgical reform, have made a 90-minute video showing priests how to celebrate mass in the old way.
But Father Fileni, for one, is unlikely to be acquiring it. "I am certainly not going back to being a student," he said. "The faithful can't any longer understand us in Italian, let alone Latin."
"The motu proprio hasn’t all of a sudden thrust Latin upon us. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council assumed that Latin would continue to be an integral part of our way of worship. The Council’s “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,” Sacrosanctum Concilium, states that "the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites." I would imagine these priests who plead ignorance of Latin probably pride themselves on being “Vatican II priests.” If that’s the case, they’ve got some work to do" Rev. Fr. Christopher G. Phillips.
The Language of Tradition [Emphasis completely mine]
By RAYMOND ARROYO
July 13, 2007; Page W11
While drafting the decree that would return the old Latin mass to Catholic altars around the world, Pope Benedict XVI rightly predicted that reaction to his directive would range from "joyful acceptance to harsh opposition." But what he did not anticipate was the reaction of pundits and not a few clerics who have tried to dismiss the decree as a curiosity -- a nonevent that is likely to have little effect beyond a few "ultraconservative" throwbacks. David Gibson, the author of "The Coming Catholic Church," says that the announcement is "much ado about nothing," and French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard says that he doesn't "see a tsunami coming." But there is much more at play here than satiating the liturgical appetites of a few traditionalists.
The legislation (made public on Saturday) allows a pastor, on his own authority, to celebrate the Tridentine Mass, codified in the 16th century. Following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the venerable Mass -- in which cries of "sanctus, sanctus" rose like incense around the altar -- fell out of practice. It was actively suppressed in some quarters -- though never outlawed by the church. Pope John Paul II encouraged celebrations of the old rite in a declaration he issued in 1988, although the permission of the local bishop was required for a priest to offer it. This new legislation removes the middleman and puts the Latin Mass on a par with the widely celebrated vernacular Mass. In the words of the pope, these Masses constitute "two usages of the one Roman rite."
It is an open secret that many in the Roman Curia (including top Vatican officials) were opposed to the decree. Bishops in Germany, France and England grew angry over the prospect of reviving the old Mass. British Bishop Kieran Conry said that "any liberalization of the use of the [Latin] rite may prove seriously divisive. It could encourage those who want to turn back the clock throughout the church." According to several prelates I have spoken to, Bishop William Skylstad, the president of the American Bishops Conference, flatly told the pope that the U.S. bishops opposed any revival of the old rite. Why would the pope risk alienating so many of his own churchmen to appeal to a relatively small group of "disaffected" Catholics?
Reform of the liturgy has been a central concern for Pope Benedict for decades. Disgusted by some of the liturgical experimentation he witnessed in the past few decades, the pope suggested in a letter to the bishops (issued along with the decree) that these "arbitrary deformations of the liturgy" provoked his actions. There is little room for such tomfoolery in the old Mass, whose focus is on the Eucharist and not on the assembled or the celebrant.
During an interview I conducted with the pope in 2003, before his election, he said of the Latin Mass: "[What] was at one time holy for the church is always holy." He also spoke of the need to revive the "elements of Latin" to underscore the "universal dimension" of the Mass. Before Vatican II, a Mass celebrated in New York was identical to the Mass celebrated in Israel. That is not true today. For a faith that crosses borders and cultures, common language and practice in worship are essential signs of unity.
The pope's decree also underscores for Catholics the origins of the new Mass and the continuity of the two rites. Pope Benedict tells his bishops that as a result of his decree, "the celebration of [the vernacular Mass] will be able to demonstrate, more powerfully than has been the case hitherto, the sacrality which attracts many people to the former usage." By placing the two Masses in close proximity, the pope is hoping that the new Mass will take on the sensibilities of the old. The pope is betting that sacrality and reverence will win out over innovation and novelty, no matter which rite people choose.
There are inevitable problems: Many priests today simply don't know Latin. But they can learn it, or at least enough of it to get through the Mass. The movements of the traditional rite can also be gleaned from older clergy and from groups like the Fraternity of St. Peter that offer intensive instruction in the ritual. Just as the laity have grown accustomed to the incessant hand-holding and hand-shaking that make the Mass look like a hoe-down, they will learn to embrace the gestures of the old liturgy. Parishioners can actively follow the Mass using a Missal, which usually provides side-by-side translations. Listening with attention will be required. But who said worshiping God should be effortless?
Since Vatican II, generations of Catholics have participated in Masses and repeated actions that they have no historical appreciation or understanding of. This move by the pope will not only provoke a healthy conversation about why Catholics do what they do but ground them in the beauty and meaning of the liturgy, both new and old.
More on Latin: Why Latin?
Labels: Holy Father, Latin, Liturgy, News, Novus Ordo, Summorum Pontificum, Thoughts
Friday, July 13, 2007
Preparation for Holy Mass
O LORD Jesus Christ, King of everlasting glory,(PROFESSION)
Thou art the Triune God in whom my mind and heart remain fixed, firm and rooted immovably for evermore.
(DIRECT YOUR INTENTION)
Behold I desire to come to Thee this day to commemorate all Thy sufferings, and receive Thy Body and Blood in the heavenly Sacrament.
(INVOCATION)
Send down upon this sacrifice your Holy Spirit. May He declare the Bread we eat to be the Body of Christ,and the cup we drink to be the blood of Christ. May He fill me with His presence to make me worthy of Thy promises, and obtain for me life everlasting.
(PETITIONS)
May my reception of this Eucharist bring thee honor and glory, health to my soul, and deliverance from all my evils. I embrace Thee, my sole good. May I always be happily united to Thee forevermore. I beseech Thee- who hast commanded that thy Holy Sacrifice be perpetuated daily on the all the Altars throughout the world- to perpetuate Thy Holy Sacrifice also on the Altar of my Heart. May it nourish, comfort, and enliven my sickly soul. Save me from the darkness of false doctrine bypreventing me from faltering on my way to the heavenly inheritance Thou hast promised me.
(OFFERING)
Gracious God after whom my hart and soul panteths,In union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer this Mass for: STATE YOUR INTENTION(s). Grant that the insurmountable graces hidden behind this Eucharistic Celebration be directed to these intentions; as Thou willest.
(THANKSGIVING)
Jesus, I thank Thee for giving me Thy Sacred Body and Blood-the pledge of my redemption and the Victim of my ransom-under the veil of this Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
(PRAYER OF CONFIDENCE)
Grant that I may one day see Thee face to face. May nothing in life, or death separate me from Thee. AMEN.
A compilation from the prayers of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. Includes my own compositions.
Labels: Liturgy, Photos, Prayer, Spirituality
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