Renewed Papal "Hostility" Against Cardinal Sarah -- Who Can and Can Not?

(Rome) Cardinal Robert Sarah, who has been   Prefect of the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments since the autumn of 2014, has developed over the past two years into one of the most prolific and courageous representatives of the universal Church. His traditional understanding of the Church and his public ministry has led to increasing rejection in papal circles. Within the last three months, the Cardinal of Guinea has been rebuffed for the second time.

Cardinal Sarah says what he thinks and he knows what he is talking about. He has written, among other things, two books. The first book, "God or Nothing", was published in 2015 and became a Catholic bestseller worldwide. Since then it has been translated into thirteen languages ​​and topped numerous books on Pope Francis.

Recently the Cadinal's new book, "La Force du silence" (The Power of Silence) was presented in Paris.Translations in other languages ​​are in preparation, and there is every indication that this book will be a sales success.

Clear language is essential for renewal of the Church

The clear language, spoken by the Cardinal, is different from the ambiguous formulations currently preferred in Rome which leave much room for interpretation. The controversial post-synodal Letter Amoris Laetitia became a prime example of the new papal language. Although the Church leader has been asked publicly by various groups of theologians and philosophers to provide clarity to ambiguous formulations, or withdraw the document,  the reigning pontiff has avoided since 2013 from a definition. Pope Francis hides behind references to third parties, without taking even their interpretations himself. He repeated several times, the authentic interpretation of Amoris Laetitia was what Cardinal Schoenborn explained at the presentation of the document in Rome on the 8th of April. What the Archbishop of Vienna said has not been exactly repeated by the Pope. Lately, a "pastoral document" of the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Buenos Aires consider it as the "authentic" interpretation. There is "no need" to add anything, said Francis, but without saying what exactly is said in this document. Those in Rome speak cautiously of an "indirect interpretation". The braver ones say that it is "obvious" that Pope Francis wants to change previous doctrine, but he does not dare to say it. He therefore is handling things more "dietro le quinte" behind the scenes.

The black African Sarah is made of different stuff. He speaks in clear language, because he considers it essential for a renewal of the Church.

Call for all priests to celebrate ad orientem from First Sunday of Advent

Last July 5 Cardinal Sarah spoke as a speaker at the 2016 Sacra Liturgia UK Conference in London, asking all priests worldwide to celebrate Mass ad orientem in 2016 from the First Sunday of Advent, and on the basis that Pope Francis (see Cardinal Sarah: call to priests , from First Sunday of Advent 2016 to celebrate ad orientem again ).

The cardinal said:

"It is very important that we return as soon as possible to a common direction of prayer of the faithful and priests - to the east or at least the direction of Apse -. from whence the Lord will come again"

So he repeated a statement he had made in May in an interview with the French magazine Famille Chrétien. The Cardinal also contradicted the assertion spread in recent decades that the priests  turn their  "backs on" the people, he also celebrates facing ad orientem (to the east). It is "essential that the priest and the faithful face east together. That is exactly what Council Fathers wanted "because" priests and faithful face together in the same direction, on the returning Lord, whom they expect." In the rubrics for the celebration of Mass it was specified exactly when the priest turns to the people (see Cardinal Sarah: "Priests, celebrate ad orientem" ).

Cardinal Robert Sarah

In some circles the brightest excitement prevailed and it was followed by the first affront to Cardinal Sarah. One could also speak of a shot across the bow. On the 11th of July an anonymous statement was published by the Press Office of the Vatican. One does not know which dicastery and which person was responsible. Yet it is certain that it has been endorsed by Santa Marta, otherwise they would not have been published by the Press Office.

Vatican statement with "irritating nonsense"

With the statement  someone hastened to clarify that "no new liturgical directives" are provided for the start of Advent, as someone "falsely" had concluded from the words of Cardinal Sarah. It should also be "better to avoid the expression, 'reform of the reform' regarding the liturgy, as it was sometimes a source of misunderstandings."

In short, Cardinal Sarah's statements were denied by mention of his name. Moreover, the Cardinal was virtually represented as a liar. In the anonymous the Vatican statement it said: "This all happened by mutual agreement within the course of a recent audience that the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship was granted by the Pope." (see also Direction of Celebration: Pope Francis stops foray by Cardinal Sarah ).

The matter was quite differently explained  from the point of view of the Cardinal addressed. Cardinal Sarah appealed specifically to Pope Francis. He presented to him his liturgical concerns, and the Pope had encouraged him.

In London, the cardinal had announced:

"It seems to me useful to remember what I have said on other occasions: Pope Francis asked me to continue the extraordinary liturgical work begun by Benedict XVI.  (see. the message to the Sacra Liturgia-Meeting 2015 in New York, USA). It is not so that the views of his predecessor is ruled out, because we have a new Pope. On the contrary, the Holy Father Francis has an immense respect for the liturgical point of view and for the retired Pope Benedict XVI.  in conscientious fidelity to the intentions and objectives of the Council Fathers' implemented decisions."

This startled the  papal entourage which also responded and denied what the cardinal from Guinea so fearlessly and steadfastly maintains. Cardinal Sarah has stuck resolutely to what has been said, because he is convinced of the profound importance of celebrating Mass facing liturgical east: "The Lord will come from the east", which is why priests and people in the sacred liturgy should turn together to the east, as the whole Church has done more than 1900 years ( Jesus will return from the east, but in the Vatican they have misplaced the compass - Cardinal Sarah reaffirms foray to celebrate Mass ad orientem ).

The anonymous press release from the Vatican clearly explained concerns  that haunt the papal entourage. It also "clarified" that the Missal of Paul VI. is the "ordinary form" of the Roman Rite, and as such should not be replaced by the "extraordinary form".  It was also "clarified" that the altar must always be designed in such a way that the celebratio versus populum can be performed. A "false" statement, according to experts, because this quoted from Institutio Generalis Romani Missalis 2002 only applies to new churches. A celebration direction to the people moreover, was also as the leading liturgists agree, liturgical "nonsense," because the priest turns in the Eucharistic celebration with the people  to God and not to the people. Every priest  can and should celebrate eastwards, repeated Cardinal Sarah again. This requires neither a permit nor a change in the rules in force, because it corresponds to the applicable regulations.

The Outreach

In his new book "La Force du silence," Cardinal Sarah reaffirms the need to celebrate "versus orientem": The reform of the post-conciliar liturgical reform will take place, because it is necessary, said the Cardinal Prefect.

A week after the book came onto the market, a second affront to the Cardinal followed and again directly from the papal entourage.

This coming October 27 the academic year for the  Pontifical Institute of John Paul II for Studies on Marriage and Family  opened its academic year. Cardinal Sarah is to have given the opening speech. But now everything is different. The opening speech will now be held by Pope Francis personally.

The change was disavowed not only by Cardinal Sarah, it also relates to the institution itself, which was founded by John Paul II., together with Cardinal Carlo Caffarra and also in connection with the Synod of Bishops on the Family, deciding how to hold firm on the sacrament of marriage and the traditional moral teaching of the Church. Too firm according to the papal entourage, because the Institute's attitude stands in the way of the "new mercy"  to which Cardinal Kasper and Pope Francis  showed the way.

Although the staff of the Institute are the official, papal experts in marriage and family, they were neither consulted on the preparations nor the synod. Thus, the Institute has been clearly shown that his line is no longer desirable.

Last summer, Pope Francis made a tabula rasa . He replaced the leaders of the Institute from their positions and assigned those of his orientation. The new Grand Chancellor was Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia of the Community of Sant'Egidio (Assisi Interreligious Meeting), who is also appointed as the new President of the Pontifical Academy For Life. The New institute director was Pierangelo Sequeri. In other words, Pope Francis brought the Institute which held to "the Old"  back "on track" (see "Stormed and Humiliated" - The Rebuilding of the Institute John Paul II by Francis and the "sexual revolution in the Vatican". )

The Vatican expert Sandro Magister wrote:

"The result is, that Paglia has boasts to all and sundry of having received the assurance from the Pope that he will personally hold the opening speech for the new course 'of the Institute, dedicated to the contemporary and  openness - instead of the outdated and closed Sarah."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Vatican.va (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Pastor Removes "Volksaltar" From His Church -- The Reaction

(Rome) A pastor has spectacularly restored his parish church which dates from the 18th Century, and then removed the "volksaltar." In architectural, aesthetic, and especially liturgical respects, he reasoned that it was  a mandatory step.  Because of the Church's climate, however, it is an almost "revolutionary," courageous step.

The Italian Archdiocese of Modena in the Po Valley was rocked by a major earthquake in 2012. Two priests died in their churches under the cascading debris. The pastor of the parish of San Michele Arcangelo of Montale Rangone, is Canon Andrea Gianelli,  who restored his parish superlatively and removed  the people's altar on this occasion. The priest, who had been ordained in 1970, is said to have been encouraged  by Pope Benedict XVI. for some time as concerns liturgical questions. The restoration of the earthquake-damaged church would then have been an occasion for him  to act.

Oreientation "mandatory" coram Deo

The intrepid and well-known in his diocesan priest had sent the church newspaper of his archdiocese, the reasons for his decision,which was printed in its entirety on 15 December 2013. The pastor explained how it is generally understood that the priest prays in persona Christi at the altar "and sacrifices, as Jesus Himself would offer sacrifice to God the Father. Thus, the attitude of prayer also changes physically, because it occurs in a direct relationship to God. Even the people pray, but not directly, but through the ordained priest, who says the Eucharistic Prayer alone for this reason. The people hear him and are  united with him in the end by the Amen. The people worship and unites with  his sacrifice, but also his joys in the sacrifice of Christ, but this part of the Mass is essential priestly. It follows necessarily that all are oriented towards the Lord. Not surprisingly, it is called in response to the invitation to lift up our hearts: We lift them up to the Lord."

No Obligation For "People's Altar"

Canon Gianelli then illustrated, referring to Pope Benedict XVI.,  that the direction of prayer for the Church was always East from the beginning, "which is almost 1950 years long," which speaks of an "authentic tradition." "It is a mistake to think that Jesus had looked at the Last Supper toward the apostles, as if he were sitting in their midst. The famous Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which many artists have followed, mediated a false picture of those events as studies clearly. "The Second Vatican Council doesn't say anything about a people's altar and a prayer towards the people," just as much as it says  that the Latin language of the Church was abolished, but rather put it specifically states that it is to be preserved." The Congregation for Divine Worship made ​​it clear in a document of 2000 that there is no compulsion or obligation to prepare a "people's altar".

Church Newspaper: Is a Change of Practice "Opportune"?

However, the church newspaper added a comment. It was the decision of the canon, who was consecrated in  1970, which not only wasn't criticized, but expressly praised. In praising, it was acknowledged that in his reasoning for the three places of celebration in the Novus Ordo  (chair, lectern, altar), but also his emphasis that the Eucharistic Prayer is a prayer direction and in a double sense is "oriented."

The church newspaper described the decision as "totally permissible and lawful" because they have violated neither a legal nor a liturgical provision. However, the diocesan paper then raised the question whether it was "opportune," to celebrate coram Deo  after celebrating "50 years" facing the people.  For a justification, the church paper said that with a celebration ad populum, the Eucharist can be "observed."

"Unfounded Rationalization"

"The reasoning is completely baseless," said Messa in Latino , "because 50 years is not a  sufficient span of time for the Church  to derive a liturgical customary law.  In addition, the reason for the direction of prayer is not the Eucharist, which is also observed in the traditional form, but turning to God, the sacrificial character instead of the character of a meal, the symbolic meaning of the altar cross, the priest and the people are facing and not facing each other, in order to face the East  of the returning Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. "

In addition, they are astonished at the sudden reverence for the Holy Eucharist, "since otherwise there is  heard no criticism, however, that  the tabernacle is not relegated to a few churches, new and old,  in dark, secluded corners," said Messa in Latino . "The laudable example of Canon Gianelli shows that even priests ordained in the New Rite and celebrating a life in the New Rite have been able to identify and rethink undesirable developments through their involvement with the liturgy."

"Will the Ordinary accept the pastor's step?" Asked Messa in Latino . The faithful have accepted him. The removal of the  volksaltar  has,  says canon Gianelli, been the occasion in his parish for some discussion. He had, however, explained his decision in detail and the believers seem to have understood it.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Messa in Latino
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Katholisches...
AMGD

Versus Populum -- The New Church is Directed Towards the People of God

The "Spirit" of the Council

In the wake of the Jacobin Conciliar Spirit, the high altar is exchanged for a dining table. Christ is moved from the center

The high altar (and thus the sacrifice of Golgotha) was pushed to the back by a so-called people's altar (which often looks like a kitchen table), as the east darker from now on.

Completely without necessity an extremely financially expensive piece of furniture was placed between the high altar and the community, which is the spitting image of a Masonic a master's table. Further below you will find depictions of the Masonic altar, which looks like its apparent twin brother, to be confused with the so-called people's altar.

The priest turns his back on Christ

Since the implementation of a suitable people's altar, the priest turns his ass to the altar and attracts the attention of the audience to himself. Through this priestly dominance, everything is presently focused on the priest: on his sex life, his disobedience, his inability in group dynamic etc.

Jesus Christ is barely present in the new Mass, since the sacrifice is offered in the new church facing the audience (versus populum).

It was a masterpiece performance of the Jacobin Conciliar Spirit to bring in almost all the churches a Masonic table in Catholic churches, forcing the priest to turn away from God and to turn toward God's people (versus populum).

The person of the priest binds the attention of the community and distracts them from God. This is the tragedy of the modern priest - if this tragedy is not intended: the modern priest obstructs the view of Christ. The community will not be raised to God, but lowered from.

From the new Catholic churches, lodges were un-Catholic temples in which disobedience, breaking celibacy and self-aggrandizement are to be preached and man emancipated from God. In the modern aggiornamento Church, the priest turns propagandistically to the emancipated group (versus populum), talks a lot of nonsense and suppresses the truth.

Thus the mass is cut from the truth, Jacobin Church people do not get bored, an atmospheric activity of games and  satanic self-celebration is entered into in the new Mass instead of being in the presence of the Victim.

Examples

Example 1 of a Masonic Master Table that could be immediately used as a folk altar (or will be):

Example 2 of a Masonic Master Table that could be immediately used as a folk altar (or will be):

 Example 3 of a Masonic Master Table that could be immediately used as a folk altar (or will be):

Link to Kreuz.net...

Translation: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Pope Francis Celebrates Surprise "ad Deum" Mass --- Greeting From Secretary of State Parolin?

(Vatican) Francis Pope celebrated a surprise Holy Mass last Thursday over the grave of Pope John Paul II, which has drawn some attention. The Pope has celebrated ad Deum for the first time.

The celebration was held in the side chapel of St. Peter's Basilica, in which the body of John Paul II was reburied after his beatification, from the Crypt of the Popes below the main nave. There's no people's altar in the side chape. Such, however, Pope Francis could have been put back as easily as he had placed it in the Sistine Chapel, when he celebrated on the day after his election for the cardinals gathered for his first Mass as pope.

Attention was paid to the direciton of celebration because Pope Francis, when compared to his predecessor Benedict XVI., is considered little sensitive to liturgy and looks with some distrust on the part of the Church, which is committed to the traditional liturgy and tradition.

At the celebration is ad Deum completely normal for all Privatzelebrationen in St. Peter's Basilica, which take place on the side altars. The clothing of his concelebrants leads to a lack of liturgical sensibility open mind. "The act of the pope is neither blatantly something special. And yet it is of importance. If he does not ad Deum would want to celebrate, a word from him would have been enough to get put down a table, forgiveness, a refectory. So we consider it merit and as a gesture of good will," said Messa in Latino.

The Spanish Catholic Church historian and blogger Francisco de la Cigoña wonders if it is a signal to the traditionalists. The gesture would be, says de la Cigoña, in continuity with the greeting message to the Second International Pilgrimage to Rome, which had its culmination in the Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite in St. Peter on October 26th.

De la Cigoña was astonished here that the greeting message was signed by the new Secretary of State, Curial Archbishop Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Pope, although he could not take possession of his post for health reasons. It's a sign that the offices of the State Secretariat to continue working in a familiar form, though the Church is currently without a Secretary of State. Monsignor Parolin is still for convalescence in his home in northern Italy. What appears so far is the first and only official act of Archbishop Parolin, it probably had been asked like this for by the Pope himself. Otherwise, the procedure is hardly explicable, says de la Cigoña.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Messa in Latino / Osservatore Romano

Link katholisches... AMGD

Holy Father Saying Mass Ad Orientem: Video

Edit: was over at the Accion Liturgica blog thanking them and I was attracted for some reason to a site in their blogroll.  It was Hoc Signo where I picked up this beautiful footage of the Holy Father saying a High Mass in the Sistine Chapel ad orientem [facing God in the tabernacle to the east]. He is celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is in the New Calendar, last Sunday.  This is something that we never imagined even in our most beautiful dreams of the Holy Father offering Mass with such gravitas and piety.

The choir is magnificent.

The visual quality improves significantly, so be patient or fast forward.

The Liturgical Picnic is At an End: Priest Says Mass Ad Orientem

An Upper Bavarian Parish has democratically decided to dispose of its altar-table:  "The Altar symbolizes a Cross, therefore the community.  But in our time, in which everything is revolving around itself, we need a break from this clogging."

(kreuz.net, Moosach)  Already at the end of July Pastor Wolfan Lehner had put the altar-table at his church St. Michael in Moosach aside.  The municipality is 27 Kilometers south-east of Munich.

The website 'merkur-online.de' reports that the Pastor had informed his parishioners of this change in his Christmas letter.

The Upper Bavarian Parish of Moosach belongs to the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Common Decision

At the end of July the Parish moved the wooden altar-table out of the Church for a concert.

After that the Parish decided to leave the furnishing for a probationary period in the Sacristy till January.

The Parish is very open to the high altar-- explained Fr. Lehner.  There is no dictatorial style according to the motto:  "We're doing this just so, right now!"
 \
 At the same time the wooden altar-table contains no relics.

The table is not even consecrated:  "For me as a priest, it is displeasing to  consistently use an unconsecrated altar to celebrate the Eucharist"  -- says Fr. Lehner.

Apparently, the Church has three fixed altars which were previously unused.


The Victim Priest is not an Facilitator

The liturgical alterations which took place after the repositioning seemed minimal to the pastor: "For the preparation of the gifts, the back side of the altar is used."

The site 'merkur-online.de' defamed the Holy Mass at the High Altar as "a peculiar sight" -- because the congregation, as in the old Liturgy, commonly face in the same direction.

Pastor Lehner explained to the paper, that at the Sacrifice, the priest is not a facilitator or the host of a celebration, who tries to motivate everyone to participate in the 'Praise of God'.

Much more, the celebrant is the first supplicant of the community, who "strengthens their backs".


The Pastor is An Opponent of Church's Language

The pastor wants to go communally with God.  The disposing of the altar-table is a symbol of that beginning:

"The altar symbolizes a cross, therefore the community.  But in our time, which which everything revoles upon the self, we need a break from the clogging."

The new reorientation shows the goal of the Parish:  "a line to a fixed altar, a common way to God."

For the necessary return of the language of the Church, Fr. Lehner will not hear:  "certainly not by me".

He has already 'held' [sic, abgehalten] Masses in Latin: "But that breaks down the communication with the community"  -- he believes.