1962 Missal at 50: A “particular” curiosity of the 1962 Missale Romanum

In our special series on the 50th anniversary of the traditional Missale Romanum of 1962, an article by Mr. Louis J. Tofari. We are open to other guest articles on this series.

_________________________________

John XXIII offers the Holy Sacrifice,
Dec. 1962

A “Particular” curiosity of the 1962 Missale Romanum

Louis J. Tofari

This anno Domini 2012 marks the 50th publication anniversary of the 1962 Missale Romanum. Well, sort of. That's often the problem with misnomers like “1962 Roman Missal” - they're catchy titles and thus easy to remember, but often inaccurate!

So why is “1962” a misnomer? Though the last rubrical revisions to the iuxta typica (standard) edition were completed by June of 1962, and the last textual in November (the long and eagerly-awaited insertion of St. Joseph's name into the Communicantes), nevertheless, a "1962" Missale Romanum could not be had in hand (or on altar) until May of 1963 at the very earliest. This was courtesy of the Vatican's instructions to Printers of the Apostolic See so as to prevent a missal gap war (i.e., undue competition).

Open thread: the future of H.E. Bishop Richard Williamson, FSSPX

Dear readers, is it not strange that a couple of weeks ago the official website of the American District of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) published an article which was clearly and openly critical of one of its bishops, Richard Williamson? [Here is a link to the McCall article] 

We think we know what this means. Yet, we want to know what you think it means. Keep it civil but opine now.

Recent papal pronouncements on the 50th anniversary of Vatican II

1. General Audience (October 10, 2012)

2. L'Osservatore Romano (October 10-11, 2012): special text (preface to collection of Fr. Joseph Ratzinger's Council documents)

3. Homily on the opening mass of the "Year of Faith" (October 11, 2012)

_____________________________________

Vatican II opened up the Church!

-Vatican II opened up the Church...

-...and the people left!

[By Swiss cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. Published on October 10, 2012, and made available by Yahoo!News France. Tip: Fecit Forum]

And the November 3 Traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter's will be offered by...

Beyond parody

Entry of the Bible at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil, during the "Solemn Novena" in preparation for her feast day (October 12). This scene took place on October 5, 2012. 

This Basilica is the largest shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the whole world. 

H/t WDTPRS

Rorate in the Washington Post ...

One of our contributors, Kenneth J. Wolfe, has a piece published in the national section of the Washington Post today on the 50th anniversary of Vatican II. While it's amazing enough that the Post gave him this space (you'll remember he had an Op-Ed in the New York Times on the 40th anniversary of the Novus Ordo, another big win for tradition), what's more amazing is that it's currently the third-highest read story on their site today. Read below:

Vatican II at 50 

By Kenneth J. Wolfe 

Fifty years ago today the Second Vatican Council began with a clear indication of who had gained control of the Catholic Church’s direction. From the Latin Mass to meatless Fridays to the concept of salvation, numerous components of the faith were set to be reformed, led mostly by clerical academics who had served on preparatory commissions. So powerful were they that Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, a conservative who headed what is now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (which the future Pope Benedict XVI would later lead), was vocally heckled and silenced by his participating colleagues. 

As described to journalist Robert Moynihan by Monsignor Brunero Gherardini, who attended the council and lives at the Vatican, Cardinal Ottaviani was addressing the 2,000 assembled bishops in October 1962: “As he speaks, pleading for the bishops to consider the texts the curia has spent three years preparing, suddenly his microphone was shut off. He kept speaking, but no one could hear a word. Then, puzzled and flustered, he stopped speaking, in confusion. And the assembled fathers began to laugh, and then to cheer...” This was on day three.

Read more ... 

Special prayer intention ...

For the priests of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society, and all priests and laymen who benefit from this blog, please offer Masses and prayers for a loved one of one of our contributors who is in poor health that she may recover soon and for the comfort of the family. Thank you.

Events: Mass for Blessed Karl ...

Saint Mary, Mother of God, Church in Washington, D.C. has scheduled its fifth annual Votive Mass of Blessed Karl of Austria.  

Blessed Karl, the last ruler of Austria-Hungary, was a model of holiness in his public, family and spiritual life. He was beatified on October 3, 2004. Because his feast day, October 21, falls on a Sunday this year, the Mass will take place during the octave on Saturday, October 27, at 10:00 a.m.  

The Solemn High Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Andrew Wadsworth, with Fr. Gregory Pendergraft and Fr. Rhone Lillard of the FSSP as Deacon and Subdeacon. At the end of Mass there will be an opportunity to venerate the relic of Blessed Karl.  

At the reception following the Mass, history professor Dr. Paul Van Wie will share a representative sampling from his vast archive of documents and artifacts about Blessed Karl and his empire.  

Saint Mary’s is now honored to house a first-class relic of Blessed Karl in a new shrine dedicated on September 2nd, when HIRH Archduke Imre of Austria presented the relic to Fr. Harris, pastor of St. Mary’s.  St. Mary, Mother of God, Church is located at 727 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001, which is the corner of 5th and H Streets, N.W.

You report: Tuscan Traditional Catholic Pilgrimage with Raymond Card. Burke

We have received the following from Coordinamento Toscano Benedetto XVI. More pictures of this pilgrimage can be found on their blog post: Quinto Pellegrinaggio: un piccolo resoconto e le prime foto di una splendida giornata

September 22, 2012, Fifth regional pilgrimage of Tuscany, organized by the Coordinamento Toscano Benedetto XVI.

 

The fifth edition of the pilgrimage of Tuscany groups for the application of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, has been held on 22 September 2012. 

 

Looking back to the first edition, organized by three groups only, all of us could realize how many steps forward have been made, and the importance the event has assumed in these few years. The pilgrimage has seen the participation of people from all Tuscany and also of parish priests from different dioceses of the region. Moreover, seminarists and priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest were present, as well as religious men from the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

For the record: CDW response to dubium on liturgical dance

Priest and people dancing around the altar at Mass -- Philippines. 

The salient passage in this letter:

"The liturgical law of the Roman Rite does not foresee the use of dance or drama within the Sacred Liturgy, unless particular legislation has been enacted by the Bishops' Conference and confirmed by the Holy See. Any other practice is to be considered an abuse."

On one hand, there is a denunciation of the practice of liturgical dance, even though the query comes from a country in Asia, where many modern liturgists would argue that the condemnation of liturgical dance is not applicable for reasons of "inculturation". On the other hand, it is not a blanket condemnation, as it clearly notes that bishops' conferences may seek Roman approval for this practice in their respective territories. 

What do you think, dear readers?

H/t to The Pinoy Catholic for the picture

Vatican news today

1. From Radio Vaticana: Paolo Gabriele has been convicted of theft of confidential papers and sentenced to 18 months in jail. A papal pardon is possible.

2. From the Bollettino: Msgr. Charles Scicluna, the Maltese-Canadian promoter of justice responsible for several abuse investigations in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has been named auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Malta. Msgr. Scicluna was not exactly a friend of the Traditional rites and uses of the Latin Church in his CDF work - for instance, it was said by several sources at the time that he might have been instrumental in the several attempts to block, derail, or distort the contents of what would become the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae.

Plenary Indulgences for the Year of Faith

Text of the original decree in Latin and Italian: DECRETO DELLA PENITENZIERIA APOSTOLICA CON IL QUALE SI CONCEDONO INDULGENZE, IN OCCASIONE DELL’ANNO DELLA FEDE , 05.10.2012

Of note is the granting of a plenary indulgence for making a pious visit to the site of one's baptism, or for attending three lessons on the Acts of Vatican II or the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 

From Vatican Information Service:

PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH

On Abp. Müller and the SSPX

You will be on firmer ground if you base your own view of the current situation on the second part of the interview granted by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to NCRegister's Edward Pentin (and published yesterday). Nothing has really changed at the moment. 

As for Müller's words in an interview to NDR Kultur radio (tip: pius.info), he is right when he says that the Faith itself is non-negotiable, and that, in this sense, there are no negotiations with the SSPX, and does not think there will be more [doctrinal] talks, which have already taken place - it is quite likely that the SSPX superiors would say the same thing: that is, that the Faith is non-negotiable, and that the doctrinal discussions have ended.

As eager as we are to report some kind of final conclusion to this matter, we urge you to remain patient, as we are: if there is to be either an agreement or an official rupture of contacts, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, by way of the Holy See Press Office, and the SSPX's DICI will officially make the information public before any blog, and not by way of an interview to a radio station...

You Report: Catholic Identity Conference in WV

From our friends at the Knights of Columbus, Woodlawn Council 2161, Traditional Latin Mass Guild: 

The Catholic Identity Conference 2012 was held in Weirton, West Virginia, September 28-30. The Conference brought together speakers from various aspects of the Catholic traditionalist movement and opened with a reception on Friday evening at which those attending had an opportunity to meet the speakers in an informal setting. On Saturday morning, Fr. Gregory Pendergraft, FSSP, offered a low mass for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel at St. Joseph Church in Weirton. Following mass, the following speakers addressed the conference: Michael Matt, editor of The Remnant; John Vennari, editor of Catholic Family News; Christopher Ferrara, president of the American Catholic Lawyers Association; Dr. John Rao, director of the Roman Forum; and James Vogel, editor of The Angelus. Each spoke regarding the essence of Catholic identity during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI.  

During the Saturday evening dinner, Christ Schulte made a presentation regarding the traditional Knights of Columbus initiative and Fr. Pendergraft addressed the gathering. People traveled from as far as California, Texas, and Florida to attend the conference. On Sunday morning, Fr. Pendergraft offered a Missa Cantata at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Weirton. It was the first traditional mass ever offered in that church, which was dedicated in 1967, after changes to the mass had already been implemented. A small schola of students from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, did a magnificent job of singing for the mass.

The Pope on the Sacred Liturgy: the liturgy "cannot be created or amended by the individual community or by experts"

"Liturgy" in the Los Angeles
Religious Education Congress, 2007

In the last catechesis I began speaking about one of the privileged sources of Christian prayer: the sacred liturgy, which - as the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms – is “participation in Christ’s own prayer addressed to the Father in the Holy Spirit” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1073). In the liturgy, all Christian prayer finds its source and goal."(n. 1073). Today I would like us to ask ourselves: in my life, do I reserve enough space for prayer and, above all, what place does liturgical prayer have in my relationship with God, especially the Mass, as participation in the common prayer of the Body of Christ which is the Church?

In answering this question we must first remember that prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (cf. ibid., 2565). Therefore, the life of prayer lies in habitually being in the presence of God and being conscious of it, in living our relationship with God just as we live the usual relationships of our lives, those with close family members, and with real friends; indeed our relationship with the Lord gives light to all of our other relationships. This communion of life with God, One and Triune, is possible because, through Baptism we have been inserted into Christ, we have begun to be one with Him (cf. Rom 6:5).

Event: Priestly Ordination of Deacon Gregory Bartholomew, FSSP

Ordination and First Mass of Saint John of Matha
(Vincenzo Carducci, Museo del Prado)

This Saturday, October 6, 2012 will mark a special occasion as Rev. Mr. Gregory Bartholomew, FSSP is ordained to the Sacred Priesthood. The ordination Mass will take place in St. Paul’s Church in Clifton, New Jersey, at 11:00AM and all are invited to attend the liturgy. The following day the newly-ordained Father will celebrate his First Mass for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at St. Michael’s Church in Scranton. This sung Mass will take place at 10:15AM. There will be a rosary procession afterwards through the streets of Scranton.

Ordination details:
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Time: 11:00am
Location:
St. Paul’s Church
231 Second Street
Clifton, New Jersey 07011

First Mass details:
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2012
Time: 10:15am
Location:
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
1703 Jackson St.
Scranton, PA 18504

New Encyclical in January 2013?

News agency ANSA and daily Il Giornale report today that a Vatican source has affirmed that the expected papal encyclical on Faith should be made public in January 2013, during the Year of Faith.

Tip: Secretum meum mihi

Event: Sacra Liturgia conference, Rome, June 2013

A major liturgical conference is to be held in Rome on June 25-28, 2013: Sacra Liturgia 2013, including several of the major liturgical thinkers of our age, including Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Ranjith and Monsignor Guido Marini. Speakers will also include the recently named vice-president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Abp. Di Noia. The program includes one solemn Traditional Mass and, considering the array of speakers, Traditional Masses will surely be widely available for the participants during all days of the conference.

The Conference will be held in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, of the personal Prelature of Holy Cross and Opus Dei. Further information available at the official website.

Ordinary - Extraordinary: an extraordinary Main Altar at the Mariawald Abbey Church

Our readers are quite aware that the Trappist Abbey of Mariawald, in Heimbach (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), was one of the very few institutions in the world to make use of one of the potentially most powerful words in the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum (art. 3) and became exclusively dedicated to the pre-conciliar Liturgy and customs of their venerable and glorious order.

Though questioned by the Abbot General of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance at the time, the matter was finally confirmed by the personal intervention of Pope Benedict XVI according to many reports.

On September 6, 2012, the new main altar was installed in the abbey church of this community dedicated exclusively to their ancient rites and customs.

Traditional Mass celebrated in the old new-style altar
(1963/1964 Volksaltar - People's Altar):

New ancient-style altar (French-speaking region, 1800s):

[Source: Abtei Mariawald. Tip: Le Forum Catholique]

“Courtyard of the gentiles” in Assisi - but what are they going to talk about?

Forty speakers will take part in the “Courtyard of the gentiles” in Assisi - but what are they going to talk about?

by Cristina Siccardi

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini taught his students well. It was he, as bishop and Cardinal, who conceived the idea of the “Cathedra of Unbelievers”, a formula that has been transferred to the so-called “Courtyard of the Gentiles”  meetings which have taken place more or less everywhere since 2011 with the aim of promoting dialogue in the world between Christians and unbelievers.  This initiative was started by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi - since 2007, President of The Pontifical Council of Culture, of the Pontifical Commission of the Church’s Cultural Property and of the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archeology.

In a few days, on October 5-6, [2012,] we will have “The Courtyard of Francis: God, this Unknown one.”  The Courtyard of Francis? But St. Francis has nothing whatever to do with this very secular and relativist enterprise, banner of the religion - which is – non-religion.  God, for St. Francis, was not at all unknown, seeing that for Christ he risked his entire life and left the world in order to embrace the Cross with all his being, so much so that he earned the stigmata.

Many famous names, many faces of power, that of the state, government, economics, culture, the press. Many words, an ocean of words: nine meetings spread out over the town of the intensely Catholic St. Francis. Here the spotlights will be focused on everything but the one and only Truth, revealed by Jesus Christ, guarded by the Holy Roman Church.  [It amounts to] the most excessive subjectivism, the kind which frightened and alarmed Cardinal Newman, who was left alone, in Anglican England, (much more Anglican than it is nowadays) to defend that Truth he had so long yearned for.  Here we will not even find the witness of the martyrs, who immolated their existence for the Faith and who, for love of the Cross, offered themselves on the altar. 

At least forty speakers will be there, but to talk about what?

The event will  be opened by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi and the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano and will be closed by Cardinal Ravasi and the Minister of Economic Development, Infrastructures and Transport, representative of Monti’s technocratic government which has distinctly relativistic ideas - immanentist, globalist - and -  in practice – in favour of the dissolution of Christian roots. 

Here are the other names:  Eraldo Affinati, Lucia Annunziata, Luigi Berlinguer, Franco Bernabè, Enzo Bianchi, Giancarlo Bosetti, Luigino Bruni, John Borelli, Susanna Camusso, Aldo Cazzullo, Vincenzo Cerami, Lorenzo Chiuchiu', Virman Cusenza, Ferruccio de Bortoli, Domenico De Masi, Massimiliano Fuksas, Umberto Galimberti, Stas' Gawronski, Massimo Giannini, Giulio Giorello, Simon Hampton, Orazio La Rocca, Raffaele Luise, Monica Maggioni, Giuliana Martirani, Armando Matteo, Roberto Olla, Ermanno Olmi, Mario Orfeo, Moni Ovadia, Giuseppe Piemontese, Federico Rampini, Ermete Realacci, Giuseppe Virgilio, Umberto Veronesi, Gustavo Zagrebelsky, Alex Zanotelli.* see translator’s note 

Here are the themes that will be discussed: “the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth”,  faith, work, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, youth and the relationship between art and the sacred.

In short, there will be two protagonists on the scene: doubt and experience.  The former will cause even more imbalance in a society [already] profoundly schizophrenic. The latter will produce a kaleidoscope of “worm-eaten ”  ideas which will insinuate into minds already more than sufficiently confused.

Well then, who will this symposium address? The answer is simple:  the tens, maybe hundreds of journalists who will rush to Assisi and who will make out in some way that the event “has been an enormous success.” Certainly praises will be bestowed and they will be dictated by the names present, not the ideas exposed.  A Protestant cloud will hover over Assisi, liberalist and atheist. It will also draw nutriment from the socialist and communist ideas that continue to live in the metabolism of a diseased civilization, which has decided, knowingly, to worsen its condition of spiritual and social health. The language used will be of a sociological, demagogical, emotional nature.

So, this convention which is to be held in the town constrained nowadays to host anti-Catholic events, will absolutely not speak to souls thirsting for certainties, assurance, transcendence, anchors to cling to and pillars to lean on;  those souls, who despite everything, hasten to the fortresses of the spirit, that is, to the Sanctuaries or to the tombs of the saints, such as the Capuchin, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, another of St. Francis’ sons who also received the gift of the stigmata. And it will neither speak to those souls who desperately go about seeking pastors and teachers in the Church of Christ and not to V.I.P.s and narcissists, who love only themselves and the parades of the world.

We read in the First Letter of St. John:

“Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome him. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore of the world they speak, and the world heareth them. We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (John 1, Chap. 4, 1-6)

On October 4, we celebrate the feast of St. Francis and on the 7th Pope Benedict XVI will proclaim St. Hildegard of Bingen Doctor of the Church:  between these two noble dates we will witness something we would have never wanted to see.  But we know that we are in the midst of the Passion of the Church, with all its painful consequences and the Faith (for which an entire year of reflection and prayer will be dedicated starting on October 11), is suffering frightful blows. It is comforting to know that neither St. Francis nor St. Hildegard would have been invited as speakers and they would have never participated anyway, even as spectators, in this sad and disquieting spectacle.

 Source: RISCOSSA CRISTIANA, Thursday September 27, 2012. [Translation and tip: Contributor Francesca Romana]

*Translator’s note: 

Napa Institute Pontifical Mass by Bishop Cordileone on July 29 - Full Video

H/t Veritatem facientes in caritate

"This grace I will most easily obtain"

As the sky is adorned with stars, so the Province of the March of Ancona was in former times adorned with holy and exemplary friars, who, like the bright luminaries in heaven, ornamented the Order of Saint Francis, and enlightened the world by their doctrine and example.

Foremost amongst these was Brother Lucius Antico, in whom indeed shone forth the fire of divine charity and the light of holiness; for, taught by the Spirit of God, his preaching produced innumerable fruits. Another brother, Bentivoglio of San Severino, was seen by Brother Maximus raised above the earth as he was praying in the forest, at the sight of which miracle Brother Maximus became a Friar Minor, and grew so holy that he worked many miracles, both during his lifetime and after his death: he is buried at Murro. ...

Another Brother, Peter of Monticello, who was the guardian of the old Convent of Ancona, was raised several feet above the earth, to the foot of the Crucifix before which he was in prayer. This same Brother Peter having once observed the Fast of Saint Michael the Archangel with great devotion, as he was praying on the last day of the Fast in the church, was heard to speak with Saint Michael by a young man who had hidden himself behind the high altar, in hopes of seeing something wonderful; and the words which he heard were the following.

The saint said to Brother Peter: “Thou hast suffered faithfully for my sake, and during many days hast mortified thy body; wherefore I am come to comfort thee, and whatever grace thou askest of God, I will obtain for thee.” Brother Peter answered: “Most holy prince of the celestial host of saints, faithful servant of divine love, and pious protector of souls, this is the grace I ask of thee, namely, that thou obtain from God the pardon of my sins.” And St Michael answered: “Ask some other grace, as this I will most easily obtain.” And as Brother Peter asked for nothing else, the Archangel added: “Through the faith and devotion which thou hast to me, I will obtain for thee not this grace only, but many others likewise.” And when the conversation, which had lasted some time, was ended, the Archangel Michael departed, leaving Brother Peter greatly comforted.

Fioretti of Saint Francis

Should the SSPX be excommunicated? An Apostolic Nuncio's thoughts

As the possibility of an imminent regularization of the canonical status of the Society of St. Pius X seems increasingly remote, calls for their mass excommunication or for the formal acknowledgment of their alleged "schismatic" status once and for all, are again beginning to be heard. As if preparing for a tide of such comments, Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, published the following article on his blog a week ago:

The Clear and Distinct as Gift  

With a genuinely upright enthusiasm, I wish to thank RORATE CAELI for posting the YouTube video interview in German with Fr. Schmidberger. This priest has always distinguished himself for his clear and distinct ideas, for the noble and profound way he makes his analysis. This video is no exception.  

As much as it pains me to hear him step back from the path of full communion with the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, where only it is to be found, Ubi Petrus, Ibi Ecclesia, I can deal with and appreciate his level-headed-ness.  

As I was listening to the interview, however, it came to me that the possibility of renewing the excommunication and extending it to all who adhere to the brotherhood if they refuse the Holy Father's extended hand, ought perhaps to be excluded for another reason and that on ecumenical (within or without the Church) grounds. Excommunication, as an imposed penalty today, should be salutary in its intent and working. Excommunication should work for the Church today like it did in the words of St. Paul. I turn the man (cohabiting with his father's wife) over to Satan in hopes of saving his soul and in the meantime eliminating a cause of great scandal within the body of the Church. After so many years away from us, you would have to find arguments for convincing me that a renewed or extended excommunication would bring the brotherhood to its knees and home to Peter, or that the brotherhood's continued separate existence through scandal, by reason of our acquiescence to the separation, risks the kind of scandal among Catholics which could put the eternal salvation of members of the Catholic Church at risk.

  

Ecumenical, I say, because I doubt if the penalty of excommunication could be effectively used today to return anyone who is still separated from us to full communion. The question for me and I think for Fr. Schmidberger is always the same: What happens when that clear-headed elite of which he is the stellar example passes from the scene? Who will steer the course? Whence comes the indefectibility or infallibility?

We must redouble our prayers for the unity of Christ's Church cum et sub Petro.

The Archbishop explains his views in greater detail in the comments section to his original post.

Many thanks to Archbishop Gullickson for noting our post!

Vatican II: A discussion that can no longer be stopped

Whatever might be said about the current situation of the talks between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), and whatever one's doctrinal position might be, one thing is clear: the frank discussion of the ambiguities of Vatican II and of post-Conciliar Vatican documents vis-a-vis the pre-Conciliar Magisterium has begun, and can no longer be stopped. While it would be easy to exaggerate the quality, extent and openness of the discussion so far, it cannot be denied that signs of it have been appearing in unlikely places, such as the following article that was published last week by the Homiletic and Pastoral Review.

The New Evangelization: Quo Vadis?

Sept. 20, 2012 by Paul Kokoski. 

More and more, Catholics are shying away from using terms like “proselytizing,” “conversion,” and even “Catholic” in their ecumenical and inter-religious efforts, almost as if they were ashamed of the Gospel, or afraid of appearing as a “sign of contradiction.”

Vatican II’s Dignitatis Humanae states that every person has a “right” to religious freedom. They are not to be “coerced,” in any way, to act contrary to their own beliefs. In seemingly contradictory fashion, the same document exhorts Catholics to use the coercive power of truth in their missionary mandate to “make disciples of all nations”: “The truth cannot impose itself except by virtue of its own truth, as it makes its entrance into the mind at once quietly and with power.” Dignitatis Humanae thus invites Catholics to be both non-coercive, and coercive, in their dealings with non-Catholics. “Non-coercion” is understood in a negative sense to mean “non-missionary.” “Coercion” is understood in a positive sense to mean “missionary.” Vatican II, then, is inviting Catholics to be both a non-missionary, and a missionary, people. It is asserting, in effect, that two contradictory views of reality are merely different perceptions of the same thing. One can see in this confusion the promotion of a lethal system of religious indifferentism.

Rome-SSPX - Important - With the Pope's own signature: Vatican II and the post-conciliar Magisterium must be accepted in full

A transcript of a conference given by the French bishop of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), Bp. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, in the priory of Saint L.M.G. de Montfort (Maine-et-Loire, France), on September 16, 2012, was made public by French forum Un évêque s'est levé. The main excerpts, according to the available transcript, dealing with the Rome-SSPX negotiations are the following:

"[T]he agreement considered in 2011-2012 lasted for six months, it has not been blessed by the Blessed Virgin. (We had prayed rosary after rosary, and we keep doing that, that is very good.) But the Blessed Virgin was clearly not behind this idea. She did not walk this path, because on June 30 (it's a secret that I reveal to you, but it will be made public), on June 30, 2012, the Pope wrote with his own hand a letter to our Superior General, Bp. [Bernard] Fellay, signed personally: 'I confirm to you in fact [that], in order [for you] to be truly reintegrated into the Church  [Tissier says:] (let us move beyond this expression), it is necessary to truly accept the Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar Magisterium.'

"It is, as a matter of principle, a stopping point, because we could not accept it anyway; we would not sign it anyway. One can enter into details, because the Council is so vast one can find good things in it, but this is not the essence of the Council."

...

"Evidently, we could not sign it. Because we are required to sign it, the agreements do not move forward. I would say that [if] on this point there is no agreement, there will be no agreement.

"This is all I can tell you, I do not think Rome will let us go. The Modernist Rome [sic] will come close to us [once again], it is inevitable. They are determined, they are persistent, they want to lead us to the Council, therefore pray. Personally, I would never sign things like that, that is clear."

In Gianluigi Nuzzi's book filled with Vatican leaks published earlier this year, Sua Santità, a specific chapter was devoted to the 2009 "Williamson crisis", and, in it, mention was made of the note of the Secretariate of State made public by L'Osservatore Romano on February 4, 2009 (we provided a translation of the Italian original text as soon as it was published). Nuzzi included this in his book:

"...[T]he entire phrase 'the Holy Father does not intend to leave aside an indispensable condition' [in the Secretariat of State's draft] was cancelled by Benedict XVI and replaced with, [in his own handwriting,] 'For a future recognition of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X, the full acknowledgment of the Second Vatican Council and of the Magisterium of Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, and of the same Benedict XVI is an indispensable condition'." (Gianluigi Nuzzi, Sua Santità, Chiarelettere, 2012, page 208)

It is unclear if this same content was merely mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI with a reference to the 2009 note in the June 30, 2012, letter mentioned by Tissier de Mallerais, or if the 2012 letter has more precise demands on the matter.

[French forum content also reported by Andrea Tornielli for La Stampa - in Italian]

Consecration to Our Lady - FSSP North American District

Annual renewal of the Consecration of the North American District of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) to Our Lady on the Feast of the of the Most Holy Rosary (source).

Every year, throughout the North American District, the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter and the faithful who freely associate themselves with the Fraternity, renew the consecration of the North American District to the Blessed Mother of God. This re-consecration is done on the first Sunday of October, the Sunday recognized by the Church as being closely associated with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. We encourage all who have not yet done so, to join in the renewal of the consecration during this month of the Rosary. The consecration in this manner is significant first and foremost because the Fraternity has chosen as one of its principle patrons, Our Lady under her august title of Mother of God. Secondly, the Feast is significant because Our Lady through the Rosary preserved so many tenacious adherents to the devotion through difficult years and, as if rewarding them with fruits for their labors, the traditional Mass was once again made available to many of them and to some the traditional Mass was made available through the ministry of the Fraternity. Finally the re-consecration on the feast of the Holy Rosary brings to mind St. Pius V who instituted the feast after the great catholic victory over the Muslim invaders at the battle of Lepanto. St. Pius also codified the traditional Mass, ensuring that it would be preserved for centuries to come, and through whose intercession it can be reasonably assumed that the traditional Mass is continually preserved by the highest guardians of orthodoxy even in our day through both the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei Afflicta and Summorum Pontificum.

Act of Consecration of the North American District of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter to the Blessed Mother of God

This consecration is made on the first Sunday of October by the members and faithful of the North American District of the Fraternity. For private use only.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Help of Christians, behold this day before thy feet, the priests and seminarians of the Fraternity of Saint Peter, together with all those who, united with us as a spiritual family, place their hope and trust in thee. O Queen and Mother of all priests, it was by thee that Jesus, the Divine High Priest and Victim, was given unto the world, and He in turn has given thee to us.

Intercede, therefore, we implore thee, for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross. Look with favor upon the work we seek to do for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers the graces we need as members of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, to be instructed and enlightened by her Magisterium, to be devoutly zealous for the graces of her Sacraments, and to be unfailingly loyal in our unity with the Vicar of thy Son.

(This section is offered by priests and seminarians only:) Conscious of our own frailty, and of the hatred of the world for the works of light, we offer thee this day, and beg thee to take under thy patronage, our Priestly Fraternity. We invoke thee, this day and evermore, as our advocate and Queen, and devote ourselves and all those souls who seek our priestly care, together with all our works and all we have and are, to thy loving protection. To thee and to thy Immaculate Heart, we entrust and consecrate ourselves. Assist us in our endeavors to spread the Kingdom of thy Son, so that those who have strayed from the truth may once more attend to the teaching of the Church; those separated from her unity may return to the one true fold; those in sin may be restored to a state of grace; and those who have abandoned the Sacraments may return with fervor to receive them. O Virgin Most Pure, do thou, together with Saint Peter, and all the angels and saints, pray for us all. May thy love and protection be ever upon our Fraternity, so that we may faithfully proclaim the Holy Gospel and bring the Sacraments to ever more souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers that we may persevere in grace until death, when we may be united with thee, our loving Mother, in our heavenly home. Amen.

The Pope on the Sacred Liturgy and Sacrosanctum Concilium: altare Dei est cor nostrum

In recent months we have made a journey in the light of the Word of God, to learn to pray in a more authentic way by looking at some great figures in the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Letters of St. Paul and the Book of Revelation, but also looking at unique and fundamental experience of Jesus in his relationship with the Heavenly Father. In fact, only in Christ is man enabled to unite himself to God with the depth and intimacy of a child before a father who loves him, only in Him can we turn in all truth to God and lovingly call Him "Abba! Father." Like the Apostles, we too have repeated and we still repeat to Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Lk 11:1).

You report: In the footsteps of Saint Bridget, new Traditional Pilgrimage in Sweden

We deeply thank reader M. Holmström for the detailed report of the Swedish pilgrimage, and for sending us the beautiful pictures by D. Nygård.

Our best wishes for the revival of the Latin liturgical tradition in the land of Saint Bridget.

____________________________________

Meeting God's friends along the way

On September 7-8, 2012, the Society of Cardinal Dante (Kardinal Dante-sällskapet) organized its first pilgrimage from Skänninge to Vadstena in the footsteps of Saint Bridget of Sweden for the sake of reviving Catholic Tradition in Sweden.

Before Protestantism, Skänninge and especially Vadstena were two of Sweden's most important Catholic villages. Although this was the first pilgrimage of the Society, almost 60 people participated. The pilgrims were mainly young people and young families. There was also a group flying in from Croatia only to participate in this historical event.

The pilgrimage started out in Skänninge, where the participants had assembled from many parts of the country, with a Missa Cantata celebrated in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

After Mass, the participants gathered for lunch in the nearby inn. When the meal was finished the aim was set on Vadstena and the walk began!

Late arrival!

Through the beautiful landscape of Östergötland, the pilgrims walked and sang and prayed the rosary together and also stopped to view the ruins of one of the two old Dominican convents which, after the Reformation, sadly disappeared. Many new contacts and friends were made during the walk, strengthening the bonds of the group.

After five long hours of walking, the goal was in sight and the pilgrims were lucky enough to get to the former abbey church before closure and had the opportunity to pray together before the relics of Saint Bridget.

Although the walk was over 20 kilometers the mood remained joyful and the long walk seemed to effect the youngest children the least! After a wonderful and well deserved dinner at a local restaurant the pilgrims headed to a local hostel.

On Saturday morning, the adventure culminated in two important events. Already at 7 AM, a small group of persons had gathered in the former abbey church to witness the conversion and, by the permission of the Swedish Bishop, the confirmation of one of the pilgrims, a young man who chose as his Patron the Patron Saint of Stockholm and its Catholic Cathedral Saint Erik. 

After the confirmation the preparations for Mass were set and at 9 AM the Mass of the Nativity of Mary was celebrated. The pilgrims then gathered close to the relics once more to sing the Litany of Saint Bridget.

Finally a nice brunch was served and the pilgrims went on to say their goodbyes and went home strengthened in faith and Catholic Tradition.

The plans are now in full operation for the second pilgrimage taking place in May 2013.

Facts: The Association to the Memory of Cardinal Dante is intended as a network of Swedish friends of the Institute of Christ the King. We also wish to honour the memory of the great Cardinal and Papal Master of Ceremonies, as well as contribute to a revival of the traditional Roman liturgy in Sweden. Since November 2011 there is a priest from the Institute residing in Stockholm.

Upcoming Events

1. Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Auriesville, New York: This weekend: invitation and more information here.

2. Special Mass in honor of Saint Mother Theodore Guérin, in South Bend, Indiana:

October 3rd, 2012
St. Patrick Catholic Church
309 South Taylor Street
South Bend, IN 46601
7:00 PM
Missa Cantata
Celebrant: Fr. Brian McDonnell, FSSP

Prayers for the success of the November Pilgrimage to Rome

From Una Cum Papa Nostro, the blog of the organizers of the international pilgrimage of Catholic traditionalists to Rome from November 1 to November 3 of this year, culminating in a Pontifical Mass according to the 1962 Missal in St. Peter's Basilica. (There is no real news yet on who will be the celebrant of this Mass, and it is better not to speculate.)

On October 7, a Rosary for the Pilgrimage

Sunday October 7, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto, every single Summorum Pontificum Coetus is invited to pray for the success of the CISP Pilgrimage in November. 

We ask any group of faithful and religious that benefits from the Extraordinary Form of the Mass to pray their Rosary in that beautiful day for the spiritual goals of the Pilgrimage, as expressed by our Chaplain: 

-  thanksgiving and support for the Holy Father;
-  demonstration of loyalty to Peter;
-  profession of faith and participation in the New Evangelization promoted by His Holiness. 

*** 

Un chapelet pour le Pèlerinage 

En la fête du Très Saint Rosaire, anniversaire de la bataille de Lépante, le dimanche 7 octobre, le Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum invite tous les groupes Summorum Pontificum à prier pour le succès du pèlerinage de novembre à Rome. 

Le Coetus Internationalis demande à chaque communauté laïque ou religieuse qui bénéficie de la forme extraordinaire de la messe de prier un chapelet aux intentions du pèlerinage, telles qu’exprimées par son aumônier, l’abbé Claude Barthe : 

- action de grâces et de soutien filial au Saint Père,
- témoignage de fidélité au successeur de Pierre,
- profession de foi et désir de participer à la nouvelle évangélisation voulue par Benoît XVI.

You report: American Anglican Ordinariate, anti-Tradition zone

We have received the following report from a reader:

You have previously posted on your blog reports about Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson's animosity towards the Traditional Mass and another contributor, Augustinus, followed up with mention of the Mass being celebrated Friday mornings at Mount Calvary in Baltimore, a church of the Anglican Ordinariate.

You should know that after Mass there last Friday, September 21st, it was announced that, while the celebration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form is "allowed" [sic] to Ordinariate priests, it cannot be celebrated at Ordinariate premises, "since that form of the Mass is not integral to the Anglican patrimony."

This is less than three months after the termination of another weekday Traditional Mass at an archdiocesan parish due to a priest's reassignment.  That church, St. William of York, with its communion rail and removable low altar, and Mount Calvary were two of the few churches in Baltimore that are well-suited to accommodate the Traditional Mass. 

                                       

Rorate can add that - having confirmed the content above with other sources -, according to our own Roman inquiries on this matter, one man seems to be responsible for the embarrassing and outrageous hatred displayed by the Ordinary of the United States, Msgr. Steenson, regarding the Traditional Mass of the Roman Rite: Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. Wuerl had been put in place as a sort of liaison between Rome and the Anglicans before the official creation of the Ordinariate, and still acts as the Capo di tutti capi of the Ordinariate, on which he imposes his personal idiosyncrasies and hatreds.

We do not think, though, that this excuses Steenson's unbelievable weakness in his foremost administrative task: defending the rights and prerogatives of his priests and faithful. He may think the rights ascertained by Summorum Pontificum to all priests of the Latin Church, including those of his own Ordinariate, are an easily dismissable "problem" created by "difficult" people, with which he should not waste his scarce "political capital". We say with utmost certainty that this weakness will come back to haunt him and all his priests and faithful in more "serious" matters. We would have thought that his Episcopalian experiences would have warned him to the dangers of ceding territory to the Enemy, but, alas, some lessons are never learned by those constitutionally unable to learn them.

Since the Anglican Ordinariate of the United States has become an explicit and rabid Anti-Traditional area, at least in its highest position, it is unlikely that Rorate will report any of its future developments. We stay with Fisher, More, Byrd, Campion, and Newman, and all the various Traditional rites, forms, and uses of the Latin Church  - they can stay with the "Anglican Patrimony" of Annibale Bugnini. As Vicky Gene Robinson (Steenson's contemporary fellow "bishop" of the Episcopal Church in the early 2000s - Robinson, starting in March 2004, Steenson in October 2004) might say, godspeed on your new "life journey"...

"Latin Renaissance"? A new video by the USCCB's Catholic News Service

You report: First Traditional Wedding in Denmark in decades

A Danish reader sends us the following report:

The first wedding in Denmark according to the Traditional Roman Rite since the late 1960s-early 1970s liturgical upheaval took place on Saturday, September 15 at the historic Jesu Hjerte Kirke (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) in Copenhagen. Both bride and groom are regular attendees at the Traditional Sunday Mass held twice a month in the same church.

The Nuptial Mass was sung with Gregorian settings supplemented by the motets Sicut lilium inter spinas by Palestrina and Ubi Caritas by Duruflé. 

A great many non-Catholics and non-believers were present, and everyone, also those familiar with Catholic liturgy in the Ordinary Form, remarked that the ceremony was extraordinarily beautiful, mystical, and inspiring.

Earth-shattering evidence of the wedding of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: "Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people; and God himself with them shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away." And he that sat on the throne, said: "Behold, I make all things new." And he said to me: "Write, for these words are most faithful and true." 

And he said to me: "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. To him that thirsteth, I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely. He that shall overcome shall possess these things, and I will be his God; and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." And there came one of the seven angels, who had the vials full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying: "Come, and I will shew thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb."

Apocalypse of Saint John (Revelation), XXI

SSPX-Rome: Important - Father Schmidberger speaks on conditions and current status of negotiations with Rome Updated: video with subtitles

Fr. Andreas Steiner, spokesman of the German District of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), interviewed Germany’s current District Superior and former Superior General of the Society Fr. Franz Schmidberger.

Fr. Schmidberger spoke on the most recent General Chapter, the current situation of affairs between Rome and the SSPX, and on the relationship with Abp. Müller (head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - and President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei).

Posted on Youtube in German only on September 18, 2012.

[Click on "captions" for English subtitles]

Following is an adapted, but reasonably accurate, summary of the 17:21-long video.

On the first question, dealing with the General Chapter, Fr. Schmidberger remarks about the gain for the SSPX itself: “the General Chapter has provided us with a new unity within our own ranks, [a unity] which had suffered a bit in recent times; and that is a big grace of God, I would say”. Concerning the external aspect of the General Chapter, Father remarks that there are three points which must be demanded from the authorities if a visible union with Rome will be established. These are: firstly, that the SSPX will be given the freedom to expose the errors of Vatican II; secondly, that the SSPX will be allowed to only use the liturgical books of 1962; and thirdly, that there must always be a bishop in the Fraternity from within its own ranks.

The second question deals with the situation between Rome and the SSPX. Around Pentecost (of this year) people thought that a visible union was close, but, as Father remarks, the meeting of Cardinal Levada and Bishop Fellay changed this. The proposal that was presented by the Cardinal contained not only the proposal [translator's note: for a doctrinal preamble] that Bishop Fellay had sent to Rome earlier, but it added to that proposal new requirements to be fulfilled by the SSPX, but which the Bishop deemed unacceptable for the Fraternity.

These additional requirements consist, according to Father, of the recognition of the “licitness” [in German: Lizeität - translator's note: see also the foreword to the SSPX’s German District’s Mitteilungsblatt nr. 404 of September 2012, in which the same word is used, strengthening the belief that this words stems directly from the proposal of Cardinal Levada] of the new liturgy [translator's note: Father firstly presents the term Lizeität as “permissiveness”, but he then immediately interprets it as meaning “rightfulness”]; and also of the recognition of the uninterrupted continuity between Vatican II and all former councils and doctrinal statements of the Church. And that is impossible, according to Father, as there undeniably are ruptures with Vatican II and “we therefore cannot accept the hermeutic of continuity as such” [emphasis added by translator].

Following on that meeting, Bishop Fellay sent a letter to the Pope, asking him whether these additional requirements were wished for by His Holiness, or that they were his co-workers's demands. The Pope assured Bishop Fellay that he really wishes these requirements to be fulfilled.

The SSPX will send its concerns about these additional requirements to Rome in the hope that they can be resolved. Already with the doctrinal discussions it became clear that there are big differences between the teaching of the Church during the last centuries (represented by the SSPX) and the doctrinal concepts of the representatives of the current authorities in the church. As long as these are not resolved, Father says he believes that there will be no real exodus of the Church out of the current problems.

The third question, then, deals with the relation between Archbishop Müller, the current prefect of the CDF, and the SSPX. The Archbishop has not been very favourable of the SSPX when he was the local ordinary of the diocese in which the SSPX has its German seminary; however, what worries Father much more is the heterodoxy of the Archbishop in certain points of the Faith [translator's note: see this Rorate post, at number 2], whereas the head of the CDF is supposed to watch over the Faith and protect it.

Father Steiner then asked whether Fr. Schmidberger expects new excommunications if the SSPX does not fulfil the two abovementioned requirements. Father Schmidberger, however, thinks that that is very unlikely. He sees the Fraternity not only as a community of about 570 priests, some sisters and some Catholic schools, but – without wanting to come across as pretentious – he also believes that the SSPX is in a certain way the backbone of all those who want to keep the Tradition of the Church alive. For all those, the SSPX is in a certain way a point of reference. If this point of reference would be discredited in such a way, this would mean a huge “demoralisation” of the traditional and conservative forces in the Church. It would therefore be a tremendous catastrophe, not so much for the Fraternity, but for the Church itself.

Finally, the last question sought the opinion of Fr. Schmidberger as to whether the talks with Rome have had any benefit. Father believes that the talks have had huge benefits. Firstly, they have proven that the SSPX really does search a normalisation; that the SSPX regards its current situation in light of the current crisis, as being not normal; and every abnormality lingers for a normalisation. The current abnormal situation is, however, not the fault of the Fraternity; it is a necessity in the current crisis if one wants to keep the ancient liturgy, the ancient doctrine, the ancient discipline integrally and if one wants to live homogeneously as a Catholic on this fullness.

On the other hand, the discussions have shown that there exist doctrinal differences; and the deviations do not exist on the side of the Fraternity, but on the side of – one has to, sadly, admit this – those representatives of the Church that organise the Assisi meetings, that practise that which has been explicitly condemned in the past by the Church, by the Popes, by the councils.

And thirdly, the talks have led to a process of clarification within the Society. The Society does not agree with those that, out of principle, reject talks with Rome. Father ends the interview by saying: "The Fraternity has never worked for itself; it has never regarded itself as an end in itself, but it has always striven to serve the Church; to serve the Popes. Archbishop Lefebvre has always said this: we want to be at the disposal of the Bishops, of the Popes; we want to serve them, we want to help them lead the Church out of this crisis, to restore the Church in all her beauty, in all her holiness; but this can, of course, only happen outside of any compromise, of any false compromise. That is of great importance to us and we have in truth tried to resettle this treasure in the Church, to give it right of residence again. And maybe one or another has worked out in a certain way. The Fraternity has also, through these doctrinal discussions which I have mentioned, certainly made people think about the Second Vatican Council and about certain statements of this Council.”

[Translation: IM. Source: Pius.info]