Liturgy

Aristotle A. Esguerra of Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director has saved me the trouble by intelligently fisking an article about Fr. Jan Michael Joncas’ plenum address on differences of musical style.

Update: Due to a misspelling in my title (which I will leave as is) Alicia ask "is the word ‘impoverising’ a cross between improvising and impoverishing? If so, brilliant!" Unfortunately I can’t claim credit for the slip, but I like Alicia’s interpretation as directed towards the liturgy and ‘Impoverising’ is a good word-merge to describe it.

Via Ignatius Insight is canon lawyer
Dr. Edward Peter’s article at Catholic Exchange titled "Another Look at the Orans Issue."

Orans is Latin for “praying.” In liturgy today, the “orans position” is the gesture whereby the priest extends his arms out from his sides, with hands open and facing up, during certain of his audible prayers at Mass.

The orans position (or sometimes, orante), is obviously different from the priest folding or joining his hands, and is prescribed for the celebrant at various points in Mass: for example, during the Opening Prayer, most of the Eucharistic prayer, and the Our Father. The “orans issue” is the recent practice of some lay persons in the congregation adopting this gesture as their own, notably during the Our Father, and introducing thereby, if nothing else, disunity in worship.

I remember it being widely reported before that the orans position was approved by the bishop’s conference for the laity. Understandably there was a lot of confusion on this issue since the bishop’s site left old information that this would be permitted with the new sacramentary. This did not happen and the information to this was not removed for a long period after the new sacramentary was approved (though it appears to be finally gone now.) There is more in depth information on this in the Nov 2003 edition of Adoremus Bulletin.

I think much of the postures used by the laity is like a game of Simon Says. They adopt or mimic what the priest is doing regardless of the posture (or lack of posture) specified in the GIRM. That in these days of radical egalitarianism that people feel left out if they are not engaging in the same posture as the priest. Like they were in an aerobics class following the instructor. More blurring of the lines between the priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood. Funny how some are always talking about the priesthood of the faithful and yet are not willing to make any sacrifices. Too many have confused the call for "active participation" in the Mass by Vatican II with physical and not prayerful action.

Update: Jimmy Akin comments on the same article and makes the same observation I did.

Could it be . . . a desire to get the laity to imitate the priest and thus further blur the lines between the two?

And then goes on to quote a Vatican document that expressed the same concern. Read his post for the paragraph he quotes and what it means. There is a very powerful statement made about the non-ordained faithful to "quasi preside" at the Mass and he further comments on the weight of this document.

Interestingly he also does the same thing I do during the Our Father.

In my own case, I solve this problem by clasping my hands in front of me and closing my eyes. 99.99% of the time that takes care of the issue, though I did once experience an elderly woman using her fingers to pluck at my elbow in an attempt to pierce through my obviously meditative attitude and get me to Conform to the handholding she wanted to inflict on me.

No I don’t get upset if this doesn’t work since I realize the other person is simply ignorant of the fact that this is not an approved posture. Something you really can’t blame most people for since it is so prevalent at many Churches (though fairly rare in my own.) But as I side effect I have found myself closing my eyes during many parts of the Mass and simply listening to be helpful for concentration.

Today is international "Women are ignored by the male hierarchy and not allowed to make an impact day." Well actually today is the memorial for St. Catherine of Sienna, Virgin, Doctor of the Church. A lay women and Third Order Dominican who counseled popes and world leaders. I have often wonder if her mother Lapa Benincasa had been around today how she would have been treated. You can just imagine the reaction of those self appointed procreation police to the news that she was pregnant with her 23rd child. I have read stories around St. Blogs of women telling their stories about people making snide comments about the size of their families. Most recently Smockmama of Summa Mamas relayed a story of her dog’s vet in response to her being pregnant with twins (number five and six). The history of the world and the Church in particular would have been quite different if Catherine’s parents had been part of and bought into a contraceptive culture.

St. Catherine was the model reformer. A mystic with a deep contemplative prayer life who was active in the world. Totally obedient to Christ and his Church and rebuking those who were not living out those truths. Her efforts ended the Avignon papacy and returned the pope to Rome and she also worked to help heal the problems brought about by the election of an anti-pope. It really annoys me when I red Call to Action or VOTF types who bring up St. Catherine and pretend that they are following her example. Instead they are a mirror image in that instead of holding themselves and others to the truth as taught by the Church, they want to change what the Church teaches to bring it inline with their own thoughts.

You can read her spiritual masterpiece "The Dialogue" here to see exactly why she is a Doctor of the Church.

I like this nicely symbolic representation of her both holding up Christ on the cross and embracing the mitre worn by the pope.

Tom at Disputations as usual has interesting thoughts about St. Catherine.

Cardinal Arinze keynote address for the 2005 Gateway Liturgical Conference is available here [PDF ] via Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. His address called "Liturgical norms and liturgical piety" is really worth reading as it addresses everything from the reasons for liturgical norms to questions about formalism. He gives a good overview of the reasons for liturgy and answers questions about those concerned with "making the Mass interesting." He also addresses liturgical dance with the Latin rite and the question about what is possibly seen as liturgical dance in parts of Africa and Asia. If two thumbs up was a liturgical posture, then that is what I would give his address. This address appears to have been faxed to Archbishop Burke since Cardinal Arinze was unable to attend the conference in light of the Pope’s death.

Here is a summary of the address from the St. Louis review.

Update: AMDG has transcibed the address and it is in the extended section.

He is risen indeed!

Welcome aboard the Bark of Peter those who have entered the Catholic Church during this season. Congratulations to those who took part of "operation blank slate" (Baptism) and are now part of Christ’s Mystical Body. Welcome home to Eutychus Fell: Becoming Catholic (who will need to update his blog title) and JanJan of With Issues and Elliot Bougis.

On this day I also remember blog friend Sean Roberts a convert from atheism who blogged his transition from RCIA into the Catholic Church and to being a monk at Holy Resurrection Monastery.

We are Easter people; and Alleluia is our song! Saint Augustine

From an Easter Homily by Saint John Chrysostom.

A re there
any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary from fasting?
Let them now receive their due!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their reward.

If any have come after the third hour,
let them with gratitude join in the feast!

Those who arrived after the sixth hour,
let them not doubt; for they shall not be short-changed.

Those who have tarried until the ninth hour,
let them not hesitate; but let them come too.

And those who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
The Lord gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour,
even as to those who toiled from the beginning.

To one and all the Lord gives generously.
The Lord accepts the offering of every work.
The Lord honours every deed and commends their intention.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike, receive your reward.
Rich and poor, rejoice together!

Conscientious and lazy, celebrate the day!
You who have kept the fast, and you who have not,
rejoice, this day, for the table is bountifully spread!

Feast royally, for the calf is fatted.
Let no one go away hungry.
Partake, all, of the banquet of faith.
Enjoy the bounty of the Lord’s goodness!

Let no one grieve being poor,
for the universal reign has been revealed.

Let no one lament persistent failings,
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death,
for the death of our Saviour has set us free.

The Lord has destroyed death by enduring it.
The Lord vanquished hell when he descended into it.
The Lord put hell in turmoil even as it tasted of his flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, were placed in turmoil when he encountering you below.”

Hell was in turmoil having been eclipsed.
Hell was in turmoil having been mocked.
Hell was in turmoil having been destroyed.
Hell was in turmoil having been abolished.
Hell was in turmoil having been made captive.

Hell grasped a corpse, and met God.
Hell seized earth, and encountered heaven.
Hell took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see.

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is set free!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead.

For Christ, having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Christ be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!

Gregorian Chant in Catholic and Episcopal churches in Arkansas.

From an excellent interview of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna:

KATH.NET: Nowadays, liturgy is often presented as an "event". Many people experience the liturgy as a group experience, a cultural event, an aesthetic add-on. Actually, what is the significance of the liturgy for the Church?

Cardinal Schönborn: The liturgy is "an event", of course. It is at all the most significant event one ever can imagine. For in liturgy happens ("event" signifies "something that happens") the secret of the faith. Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are made present for us. Can there be anything more magnificent than this event? And therefore the Eucharist is of an incomparable topicality, it is more thrilling than any show and more beautiful than all plays. Certainly this does provoke us to get involved as much as possible in this event and to celebrate it with body and soul, with all our being and with our full commitment. It is no coincidence that the event "Holy Mass" is particularly impressive when the celebrant is deeply moved by the secret that he is celebrating. Under these circumstances the fold realises that this is the celebration of the biggest event in history. I had an unforgettable experience of this with Padre Pio, whose way to celebrate the Holy Mass was the same every day, but all the same of an incomparable novelty every time, lively and of fascinating intensity. The organisation of a service is a success, when it is completely serving this "event", which is the core and the subject of the Eucharist. In such a case there is never the danger of it to be boring nor of wear and tear, unless we are bored and weared off ourselves. This, however, is not the fault of the liturgy, but the result of our lacking disposition and of our missing faith.

Read the whole thing here.

From an interview with Cardinal Leo Scheffczye on liturgical abuses in the Diocese of Linz:

KATH.NET: What do you say to the fact that there is a “Liturgical Marketplace” with model “Women’s Sermons” on an official website of the Diocese of Linz?

Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk: The expression “Liturgical Marketplace” foreshadows already to some extent the self-secularisation of Christian reflection and talk about the Holy. The liturgy, as well as endeavours in the forefront of it, do not deserve to be compared with a marketing event, which is concerned with making business, exchanging material goods and with speculations on prices. Concerning the central issue, it has to be stated that the invitation for women to give homilies during Holy Mass, which is implied by such documents, violates the law and the discipline of the church. As regards the contents: If the content of the service of the word and of the proclamation of the Gospel are aimed exclusively at women, this contradicts the instruction of Christ who wants that through him “all might believe” (Jn 1,7).

KATH.NET: What do you say to the fact that in 20 parishes of the Diocese of Linz the official church readings are not used any longer, because they have been replaced by “Women’s Pericopes”?

Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk: The replacement of official church readings or the introduction of “alternatives” by “Women’s Pericopes” is a selection of the Gospel, an arbitrary human reduction of the word of God. If even certain texts and writings are screened and deemed to be unsuitable, then we are in danger of reducing the Gospel to certain “suitable” texts. As a matter of fact, this is the rejection of the authority of the canon of the Holy Scriptures. By this we see the revolutionary potential that is intrinsic in such individualisms. Furthermore such regulations are strictly reserved to the Holy See and within the scope of the law to the diocesan bishop.

KATH.NET: One of the “Women’s Sermons” contains the following text: “We begin this service. In the name of the divine strength that has created all the beauty of our world. In the name of Jesus Christ, who has opened our eyes for the love in ourselves and around us. In the name of the Holy Ghost, the divine ruach. She is joining us and keeping us together.” What is your reaction?

Cardinal Leo Scheffczyk: The aforementioned formula for the opening of the service is the product of an extreme feminism and is watering down the Christian faith in a triune God to a surrogate of feminine vital forces. Furthermore the faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour is changed beyond recognition. This formula can be read as the commitment to an immanentistic post-Christian faith.

In a story last week in The Tablet.

Lay sermons permitted, Vatican tells Swiss bishops. Proposals by Swiss bishops to allow lay theologians to give sermons and Protestants to receive Communion have met with the approval of the Curia in Rome, Bishop Amédée Grab, president of the Swiss bishops’ conference, said this week.

I was highly skeptical of this story when I saw it and figured I would not have to wait too long to see it debunked. Permission for lay theologians to give homilies would be a direct violation of canon law. This of course is not a doctrinal issue and is more of a prudential decision regarding the liturgy, but if the Church did allow this than canon law would have to be changed first. The same article had said that this would be allowed for "emergency situations" and I would really like to know what situation calls for an emergency pinch homilist. The Mass would required that a priest or bishop be there to celebrate Mass in the first place and homilies are only required for Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation.

Giving Communion to Protestants in situations other than impending death and their acceptance of the Catholic view of the Eucharist goes way beyond just the prohibitions in canon law. Saint Paul did not mince words for those who did not discern the body and blood of the Lord and it would also be wrong for someone to give an amen to what they do not in fact believe.

In a story today the rest of the story comes out. The Swiss Bishops received no such permission for these changes. Their Bishop’s conference recently wrote two documents on these subjects prior to the ad limina visit at the beginning of this month. One of the two documents actually condemns the intercelebration of Catholic priests and Protestant ministers and says:

"Unfortunately there are still obstacles on the path to the full unity of all Christians. Such barriers, however, may not be overcome by simplifications, playing down the seriousness of the open questions, as this is the case with intercelebrations of Catholic priests and Reformed ministers. In order to be able to celebrate the Eucharist of the Lord together sometime in the future, Catholics and Protestants must gather regularly and continue to pray with each other."

Their other document approves of lay people giving meditations or homilies during the Mass Redemptionis. This of course is in direct violation of both canon law and Redemptionis Sacramentum.

The Swiss Catholic lay organization ‘Pro Ecclesia" responded to the Bishop’s document.

"The documents of the Swiss bishops’ conference are surprising and worrying us, because they do not comply with the instructions of the magisterium". "Such a procedure appears to be a deliberate step to confront Rome with completed facts. Even more it contradicts the vow of obedience of the bishops to the Holy Father." The lay organisation was convinced that neither the Pope nor the concerned church authorities would grant Switzerland concessions, as these would put the unity of church at risk.

The article also included this:

A Swiss priest wrote in a kath.net article: "Our bishops are real world champions in blandishing crisis". He criticised that the bishops open a lengthy dialogue on liturgical abuses rather than calling their subordinates to obedience. The Swiss bishops state that "in some dioceses of Switzerland certain customs have developed that are not foreseen in the currently valid liturgical guidelines of the church universal." The priest remarks: "Our bishops state this in a way, as it would not affect their authority and responsibility as overseers of the local church." He concludes:"For me, as a priest, all this liturgical disobedience is really wearisome."

Suffragan bishop Paul Vollmar of Zurich told in a radio interview, that during a meeting on liturgical aspects, his German and Austrian colleagues have rebuked the idea to allow homilies by lay people: "Suddenly all of them approached me and said: You Swiss are really the pestilence in Europe."

Bishop Amédée Grab: Homilies by lay people are not allowed

At the end we have the same bishop quoted in last weeks article saying exactly the opposite, though I this one in a case of not the bishop flip-flopping but the press creating a story. The quote of the day has to go to the Swiss priest who said "For me, as a priest, all this liturgical disobedience is really wearisome." Can I get an Amen? It seems like bishop Paul Vollmar of Zurich is engaging in a bit of hyperbole when we said that his German and Austrian colleagues have each told him that the Swiss are really the pestilence in Europe. I believe German Cardinal Ratzinger would take a dim view of many of the Swiss Bishop’s efforts, I doubt if he or other fellow bishops would say such a thing (though some might think it.)

The alleged harsh words of German and Austrian bishops concerning the Swiss church could neither be confirmed nor denied by these two bishops. They stated, however, that especially in Switzerland it is very important to foster the insight that there exists an universal church, and that the Swiss Catholics are not autonomous but integrated in this universal church under the authority of the Holy Father.

Yes we must foster the insight regardless of whether it is true or not. Here is paragraph from their document "Laity in the Service of the Church" I

In the sense of this law, which we neither want to abolish nor to declare to be irrelevant, we state the following concerning the practical liturgical experience in the German-speaking dioceses of Switzerland: The appropriate proclamation of the gospel, fulfilling the actual needs of the believers, requires a longer and careful time of preparation; first in the theological studies, and then for each single sermon. In order to fulfil this requirement ,and to somewhat relieve the priests, which are growing older and getting fewer, we agree that pastoral assistants with an appropriate education and preparation, being assigned for pastoral care by a bishop (missio canonica) may give a sermon or meditation in lieu of the homily, provided that the celebrating priest agrees with this. It shall be expressed in an appropriate way, by a blessing of the celebrating priest or by his introductory word, that the preaching person interprets the word of god as a substitute for the celebrant. A priest celebrating as a temporary help, which is able and willing to prepare and give the homily by himself, may not be denied this right, otherwise we consider this to be an abuse.

I found the start of this paragraph to be really funny. We do not want to abolish the law or declare it irrelevant, but here is how we go about doing it. Taking a look a the relevant Canon:

Can. 767 §1. Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is preeminent; in the homily the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian life are to be explained from the sacred text during the course of the liturgical year.

§2. A homily must be given at all Masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation which are celebrated with a congregation, and it cannot be omitted except for a grave cause.

§3. It is strongly recommended that if there is a sufficient congregation, a homily is to be given even at Masses celebrated during the week, especially during the time of Advent and Lent or on the occasion of some feast day or a sorrowful event.

§4. It is for the pastor or rector of a church to take care that these prescripts are observed conscientiously.

And from Redemptionis Sacramentum:

[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself, “should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.[143] In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate”

Update: From an article published on 19, Feb, 2005

However, in an update to our earlier posting on this site, the Austrian Kath.net news service – which had a journalist at the press conference – directly contradicts The Tablet.

It says: "[Bishop] Grab of Church stressed during the press conference, that "no priest shall be hindered to preach, and that no lay people are allowed to give a homily."

Matt C. Abbott sent me this link to a rather unique tabernacle.

Bread Basket Tabernacle

The design of this tabernacle is not really to my tastes. Though I guess there are advantages. No time spend shining and polishing. Thieves breaking in to steal a gold tabernacle will pass this one right by. Possibly a hungry vagrant might steal it thinking he will have a meal for later. To be fair though, this tabernacle was designed with the 51 Claretian Martyrs in mind. They sometimes hid consecrated hosts among the breakfast bread. No tabernacle no matter how beautiful can accurately reflect the beauty of the Eucharist.

This does make me wonder if the pastor keeps the Church funds in one of those fake books in the library or the keys to the church in one of those fake bricks laying in the garden. Possibly funds are given to the poor in Chinese puzzle boxes. If they can open them they can have the money inside.