Tell that to the Pope

Edit:  interesting that this otherwise conservative Bishop needs to clarify the situation.  Other authorities can posit a correlation between "standing" and lack of reverence, though.  

“The proper posture is standing”

Oakland bishop provides detailed instructions on receiving Holy Communion in his diocese

(The following undated “Instructions on Receiving Communion Properly” by Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone have been posed on the website of the diocesan Office of Worship.)

All Catholics, before receiving Communion, are to be free from serious sin and fast from all food and drink (except water and necessary medicine) for one hour before receiving. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1385; Code of Canon Law, canons 916 and 919)

The proper posture for receiving Communion is standing. This is to show the respect that is due the Most Blessed Sacrament (in our culture, standing up shows respect to someone of importance who enters the room); the bow before receiving Communion signifies the humility with which we must approach the Sacrament.

The deeper meaning of this posture, though, is that the position of standing is symbolic of the Resurrection, and so -- as is done in the Eastern Rites of the Church -- we assume this position when we receive the Sacrament of our salvation. 

Link to California Catholic, here...

Bishop Schneider: The Problem Lies -- Even Without Abuses -- In the Rite Itself

Edit: He stops short of saying for Vatican II what he says of the New Rite of the Mass. He's not just criticizing abuses in the Liturgy, or Communion in the Hand, but the Rite itself.

The new Eucharistic celebration gives the impression of a gathering and not the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. -kreuz.net

Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider
© Marko Tervaportti, Wikipedia,CC

(kreuz.net) Priests and Bishops supposedly had to regard the Liturgical Revolution of Paul VI. († 1978) "with awe", because it had been "formed by the Church".

This is the opinion of Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider (50) of Astana in Kazakhstan at the end of October for the video site 'gloria.tv'.

The Auxiliary Bishop assures that it may be possible to celebrate the new Mass worthily.

A Work of Man
 
The infallibility of the Pope does not correspond to the Liturgical reform -- remarked Msgr Schneider.

No human labor is complete and the Liturigal Reform is a human work.

The Auxiliary Bishop commented in the Pope's declaration in the Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum" on the mutual enrichment between the Old Mass and the Eucharistic celebration.

For him the enrichment is if anything, one sided: The new Eucharistic celebration should be enriched by the elments of the Old Mass.

The Meal is only a part of the Mass

Msgr. Schneider is turned against a Mass celebration with the back to God.

There is no precedent for it in Church history.

The Supper Table makes a gathering or a meal out of the Mas. The representation of the Sacrifice on the Cross of Christ disappears into the back ground.

In reality the elements of a meal appear first at the distribution of Communion: "There is the table and the table cloth."

On the contrary, both -- the Communion rail and the Communion cloth -- have been eliminated.

The Problem is in the Rite

In the new Sunday Mass there is -- even without abuses -- the impression of a meeting.

As causes Msgr Schneider described the celebration facing the people and the fact, that laity stand, go into the sanctuary and read readings or accomplish other activities.

In the new Mass, everything is loudly recited. Everything must be seen.

There is too little room for the contemplative, the silence and prayer.

Msgr Schneider believes that the Liturgical Revolution had never been the intention of the Conciliar Fathers.

The true intention of the Conciliar Fathers is still not realized.

Link to original...

A Prophetic Voice at the Vatican Council: Bishop Giovanni Battista Peruzzo

Edit: the following is an excerpt taken from the Protocols of the Second Vatican Council. It is taken from Roberto de Mattei's new book on the Vatican Council, Concilio Vaticano II. Una storia mai scritta (The Second Vatican Council: a story which has never been told.). It has met with some controversy, and is not presently available in English.

Wikipedia of Bishop Peruzzo

From the Protocols of the Council

I am the last [who  speaks], but I am old, the eldest in your midst, and perhaps I have understood little; so try to see things my way, if some of my  expressions are distasteful to you.  I have heard many observations and proposals against the sacred tradition of the precious use of the latin language in the Sacred Liturgy and many words have been cause for anxiety and concern.  I would like to shortly contribute something where my remarks will not rest on theological, but on a historical basis.  The anti-Liturgical movement is not so telling because of its origins.   It is more significance importance to be concerned with the noteworthiness of the origins of families, institutions, circumstances and instruction: who is the father, who is the mother and who is the leader.  If the source [of origin] as the beginning is done well, they will easily remain healthy over time.  If the source was contaminated, it will be difficult to clean.  While I draw on these principles, I would like to look the origin of the anti-Liturgical Movement in the eye.

Their fathers, their leaders, this movement was begun at the end of the 15th and as the 16th century began.

The first anti-Liturgists were the humanists, true and real pagans in Italy, better-minded in France and the Nordic countries, led by Erasmus, but all wavering in Faith.   Among them were many of our brothers who joined the contest and later left the Catholic Church.  From them the Jansenists arose, in Italy the participants in the Synod of Pistoia and finally the Modernists: this is the society, who are in many ways comparable.

On the other side is found not a single sainted Bishop who was a promoter of this movement.  From St. Charles Borromeo to Saint Anthony Mary Claret, to St. Francis de Sales to St. Alfons, old as new, all held fast onto the Latin Tradition.  These facts must raise concern about these proposals for novelty.   One quickly leaves the "old way", which is safe; but the new ideas, what voids might we encounter and fall into!

 Erasmus wrote the forward to his Gospel of St. Mathew as follows:  "It seems incongruous and ridiculous that the that the common people and women murmur the Psalms and the Sunday prayers like parrots in a constant repetition, while they do not understand their significance."

The University of Paris condemned this opinion, the simply and justifiably appears as Godless, and promotive of new falsities: one reads in Duplessy.  This condemnation which appears to us as exaggerated, turns out to be really prophetic. All of those, who are of one or another type favoring the reduction of the Latin language, brought to the Liturgy, in the past as today,  the same grounds:  so the people might better understand and come to a stronger faith and greater love of God.

In the Augsburg Confession there was nothing more proposed than that the songs of the people would be  in the common language during the celebration of Mass. But what happened?  The general introduction of the people's language in the Mass was the first act of separation from our Holy Mother the Church.  This harsh statement is not mine, but was that of Abbot Dom Guéranger who is truly the father of the Liturgical Renewal.  So here are his words:

"The separation of the liturgical language for some unexplained motive, which we do not know, has almost always done well in obtaining a dispensation from the Pope, to the schism and the complete separation of the Catholic Church."  

He demonstrates this assertion also, as one can glean this in the 3rd Volume of his "Institutions Liturgique". These words, these facts must make us proceed in this matter very carefully.

I will briefly mention a third evident reason: the loyalty of the bishops, more than any other, have always proved to be to the Holy Father.  Since about five centuries the Popes have steadfastly defended Latin in the Sacred Liturgy against the requests, recommendations and threats.  In more recent times, from Leo XIII. to the reigning Holy Father, they have pronounced on the necessity of the Latin language in the Sacred Liturgy  in various Apostolic Letters.

Bretheren, are these instructions merely suggestions, or do they include an order? Opposing points of discussion are allowed;  actually it will show me right, if  you are content to be silent and in obedient subjugation to the Holy Father.  We all desire that today's men become better Christians. Are we all bent on reaching this goal?  History teaches us in fact that the sanctity of souls is bound with the Liturgy, but it requires that  it, especially our holiness, our strength of faith, heroism of apostolate, prayerfulness, intellect, penitence and also outward devotion would lead people to God.  Please look beyond my vanity and pray for me too!

The Address of Mons. Giovanni Battista Peruzzo, Bishop of Agrigento, a 29 October 1962, quoted from Acta Synodalia sacrosancti Concilii Oecumenici Vatican II: Roberto de Mattei: The Second Vatican Council. A hitherto unwritten story. Ecclesiastical Umschau Edition, p. 278 ff  

[Roberto De Mattei holds to that Peruzzo was ridiculed for this talk by the "progressives" in the auditorium.]

Translated from Elsa's Nacht[b]revier...

Bishop Follows Pope Benedict's Example: Kneeling Only

(Brasilia)  Bishop Msgr Antonio Keller, of German descent, head shepherd of the southern Brazilian Diocese  Frederico Westphalen is only giving Holy Communion since Christmas in his Cathedral church to those who are kneeling and on the tongue.  He is following the example of Pope Benedict XVI in this and is intending to support the "reform of the reform".

The internet site, Salvem a Liturgia has published Bishop Keller's pastoral letter about the reception of Communion.   The Bishop reminded the priests and faithful of his diocese that every recipient of Communion must have the grace in order to be able to receive the Body of Christ.  The Bishop underlined the fundamental difference between bread as normal sustenance and the Holy Eucharist, body, blood soul and divinity of the Lord to sustain the soul.

Bishop Keller also reminded on the duty, to fast at least one hour before receiving communion and called for the necessity of having the right disposition at the reception of Holy Eucharist.  In the pastoral letter, Msgr Keller informed his Diocese that he would be following the example of Pope Benedict XVI and giving Holy Communion to the faithful only while they are kneeling and on the tongue.

The words he directed to priests, were: "The refusal of Holy Communion to the faithful, because they want to receive it in a kneeling posture, would be a great injury to a fundantal rights of a Christian believer, namely the right to receive spiritual support from their pastors through the sacraments. (CCC Canon 213). Even where it is allowed to the congregation to properly receive Communion standing by the respective Bishops Conference, that the faithful, who wish to Communicate Holy Communion on their knees may not be refused that for that reason. (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, written on 1. Juli 2002, Notitiae 2002, S. 582-585).

The Diocese of Frederico Westphalen was founded in 1961 by Pope John XXIII. and is the suffragan Diocese of the Archdiocese of Porto Allegre. The name of the city, in which the Bishop's See is located, comes from a German engineer. The population of the Diocese shows a strong German presence, which is apparent even from the family names of the recent Bishops. (Msgr. Hoffman 1962-1971, Msgr. Maldaner 1971-2001, Msgr. Hastenteufel 2001-2007, Msgr. Keller seit 2008).
Text: Giuseppe Nardi Bild: Salvem a Liturgia Translated from katholisches...

A Crusade for Birettas and Latin Mass Readings

The Old Mass is on the March

A Call to Crusade

Battle for the Biretta and latin readings:  What came of the revolution of Paul VI, is a clerical abuse scandal in any case.  by Dr. Ansgar von Rotenhelm

(kreuz.net)A Crusade for Biretta and latin readings is more promising of success, more pleasing to God and for winning souls than a Crusade against global terrorism.

The Good Beginning

The present heap of broken glass which is the New Eucharistic Celebration did not fall from heaven.

It had its origins in modernism of the 20s.


Dom Prosper Gueranger's restorative, high liturgical movement lent its monastic stamp to that time. It was also stamped by St. Pope Pius X († 1914).

This movement was a great hope for the Church.

The Tragic End

Actually, there was a people's liturgical movement, which is affiliated with Romano Guardini.

The result was streamlined in the Second Vatican Pastoral Council and in the fatal liturgical revolution of Paul VI († 1978).

The Catholic philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand (†1977)warned of the "trojan horse" in the Church.

Several Conciliar Fathers  corroborated the author of these lines, that the intentions of reform of Blessed Pope John XIII. († 1963) were fulfilled by the fully approved liturgy of 1962
 .
A New Danger for the Old Mass

Sadly, to this day,  the Old Mass is celebrated under the specter of the Modernists of the 1920s.

They try to customize it.

So it was in some places -- in opposition to the instruction 'Universae Ecclesiae' -- to even say the readings of the Holy Office [Breviary] in  the vernacular or -- although prescribed -- to use no biretta.

The present Papal Commission, 'Ecclesia Dei' shows no interest in assuring adherence to the papal laws.

That would only happen if the media effected the necessary pressure.


The 'Weltbild' scandal has shown: change is possible only when the media supports vocal Catholics.


DemagogicSpeech on Non-Essentials

The Holy Teresa of Avila  (†1582) once said: "I would suffer martyrdom for the smallest ceremony of the Church."

From this it is absurd to ask if then latin readings and head gear are so important. This demagogic talk of the non-essential was the beginning of the catastrophe in 1920.

We could win a Crusade for Birettas and latin readings. Deus lo vult -- God wills it.

Link to original...

Sicilian Priest Refuses Communion in the Hand

Edit: this story from Sicily is of interest. It was reported in Messainlatino a few days ago on the 18th.

A layman wanted to receive Communion in the hand, but the pastor of Acquaviva Platani is opposed to this practice. There was a confrontation after Mass in the Sacristy and the police were called.


CALTANISSETTA - The police were called 'to intervene and restore calm to a faithful Pastor in Acquaviva Platani, Don Francesco Novara, had refused delivery of the Host in his hand.'

This priest only gives Communion on the tongue. This decision by Don Novara has already split the community between those who believe it's the correct decision by the parish priest and those who think it's exaggerated. The man who had been denied the Host, came to the Sacristy after the church service, as reported in the edition of the Journal of Caltanissetta of Sicily, and railed against the priest. The police were called shortly after that by others in the Sacristy. The police arrived and convinced the offended layman to desist from his protests and to return home.

source: the Repubblica.it / chronicle of Palermo


Bravo, Don Francesco Novara! Communion only in the mouth!

Link to Messainlatino...

Cologne Liturgical Congress: Following Rubrics a Sign of Love

The bread baking materials for first communion instruction demonstrate how the approving Bishops think about the Eucharistic Celebration.

Photo From Facebook of Cologne's 14th Liturgical Congress

(kreuz.net, Herzogenrath) The catechetical materials for first Communion preparation are not suitable.

Pastor Guido Rodheudt of St. Gertrud in Herzogenrath described this during his lecture on the 14th Cologne 'Liturgical Congress' at the end of August from the article in the Catholic paper 'Tagespost'.  

Baking Class Instead of First Communion Preparation

Fr. Rodeheudt complained that First Communion preparation should be more important than how bread is made.

Even worse, the children are hardly instructed that the consecrated Host is the true Body of the Lord. The participants in the congress discussed those responsible for this misunderstanding.

This led them to consider "theologians" and Ordinaries.

The Cathedrals Were Built for the Mass

When the Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum' was published, said Fr. Rodheudt, the Old Mass has supposedly been let out of the "doghhouse'.

The Liturgy of All Times should not be limited to "reservations" for Traditionalists. They should be "on free hunting grounds", in the great Cathedrals and simply parish churches.  

New Mass Hostile to Thought

The Augsburg theologian, Fr. Hofman explained that the New Eucharistic Celebration's vestments are often neglected. Fr. Bernward Denekie of the Society of St. Peter criticized the "strip mining in the visible area".

It has led many individuals to lose their faith in the Eucharist.

The Australian, Alcuin Reid of the French Diocese of Frejus-Toulon complained of a diversity -- it would probably be systematic -- of abuses of the rubrics in the New Mass. Truth to the rubrics is "nothing else than an act of love and loyalty to God himself."  

Is Matussek Going to Abandon Communion in the Hand?

  The Catholic journalist Matthias Matussek read from his book "The Catholic adventure" where he discusses Communion in the hand. Matussek commented on this passage at Herzogenrath: "Perhaps I will come over to Communion on the Tongue after this Congress."

Austrian Parish Liturgically Restored

The Graz Pastor Paul Scheichenberger reported that he has restored the Old Rite to days during the week. It is working like a gradual change of diet long and lasting. It states openly in the 'Tagespost' article what plots the Old Liberal Bishop Egon Kapellari of Graz-Seckau is planning to accomplish.

Link to kreu.net original...

Highlights to Aachen's Cathedral on the 14th Liturgical Congress.

Dramatic Changes in Music Rubrics for New Missal

Dramatic Changes in Music Rubrics for New Missal

Posted by Jeffrey A. Tucker

Some of the most advanced thinkers in the world of music and liturgy have long identified the critical problem in Catholic music today. They have pointed out that the Mass itself provides for the texts and the music for the Mass, but in the General Instruction on on the Roman Missal, there appears a loophole. Musicians can sing what is appointed, or (“option 4”) they can sing something else, and that something else is limited only by what the musicians themselves deem as “appropriate.” What this has meant, in effect, is: anything goes. This is why it often seems that when it comes to music at Mass that, well, anything goes.

I’m happy to report that the legislative ground has just shifted, and dramatically so. The new translation of the General Instruction removes the discretion from the music team to sing pretty much whatever it wants. The new text, which pertains to the new translation of the Missal that comes into effect on Advent this year, makes it clear beyond any doubt: the music of the Mass is the chanted propers of the Mass. There are options but these options all exist within the universe of the primary normative chant. There can be no more making up some random text, setting it to music, and singing it as the entrance, offertory, or communion.

 Link to Tucker blog...

H/t:  Stella Borealis

Reform-Cardinal Forbids Communion in the Hand

Editor: Sri Lanka, only our favorite place in the world.

Super Cardinal Ranjith on 'sanctepater.com'

The most progressive Archbishop in the world doesn't complain about Old Liberal decadence.  He rushes to act.


(kreuz.net, Vatikan) At the end of June Malcom Cardinal Ranjith of Colombo in Sri Lanka condemns the celebration of the Mass on the supper table facing the pews.

The Cardinal spoke in the framework of a conference, which took place in Rome from 20th to the 24th of June in Rome, organized by the "Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist".

The Priest as a Boring Entertainer

The Cardinal stressed that the Priest at the supper table is forced in the role of an entertainer.

The Second Vatican Council never talked about a Calvin Box: "The people's altar is not suitable for the fear inducing Mystery of the Holy Eucharist" -- admonished the Cardinal.

He received enormous applause for stating this truism.

The Cardinal stated that the active participation in the Mass is not an external activity rather the significance interior worship.


How does one reform a Diocese?

At dinner during the Conference Cardinal Ranjith described, according to the US Traditionalist Website 'rorate-caeli.blogspot.com' that he had abolished Communion in the Hand in his Diocese.

At the same time he restored communion rails in every church as well.

His priests may only use proper vestments in their celebration of Holy Mass.

Finally he has forbidden all of the priest, to hold syncretic Liturgies, in which elements of other religions are introduced into the Liturgy.

The Website 'sanctepater.com' has photoshopped an image of the Cardinal as a valiant superhero.

Link to kreuz.net...

In Liturgy It's Only the Right of the Powerful

How can it be that in the Church where "Tolerance" has long been the Superdogma, such intolerance exists? Answer: Because tolerance is only valid for the devil.

(kreuz.net) The German Bishops invite to dialog. They are, however, "not immediately dialog-ready" about the Old Mass.

Pastor Hendrick Jolie from the Diocese of Mainz said in the middle of this May on his website.

This is how he sees the Bishops' Offer of Dialog

There interest in the Old Mass is small -- cited Fr. Jolie the Bishops. That has a diverse number of causes said Father Jolie.

He says there's a "steadily growing indifference of many Christians for Faith and Liturgy".

Fr. Jolie sees a second cause in the "open secret that in many Seminaries, the interest in the Old Mass alone can be dangerous."

The clergyman knows seminarians who are hesitant to participate in the Old Rite, because they fear the consequences.

He cites a Seminarist with the words: "I just want to get ordained."

That cause Fr. Jolie to comment: "Is this how the Bishops see dialog?"

In the Diocese of Mainz there are priests who are open to the Old Liturgy, but are under pressure.

On that point he recalled the word of then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from the year 2000:

"Whoever today is inclined to this Liturgy or participates in it, will be dealt with as an outsider; here all tolerance comes to an end."

Fr. Jolie put the question: "How can it be that in our Church where "Tolerance" has long been spoken of as the Superdogma, can such intolerance rule?"

Only the Right of the Strong

The clergyman is appealing to the consciences of the Old Liberal Bishops:

"Experience teaches that unresolved injustice in the Church can have fatal consequences."

Because: "Through silence, ignorance and the "right of the strong" solves no problems in the Kingdom of God."

Fr. Jolie recalled then that the Pope in 2007 had described the de facto prohibition against the Old Mass a "profound injustice".

Then he asked the question:

"Is it not indisputable, that on the one hand in our Church ecumenism is written of highly, while at the same time even Catholics, who are, very directly addressed and given permission from the Pope, are still punished with marginalization?"

Link to kreuz...

Church Latin Was Never the Everyday Language of the People

Editor: If you're queezy about the tone of the article from the Kreuz.net, just look at the arguments and conclusions from Father Lang. He's right you know.

At Least the New Massbook will Orient Itself on the Sacral Latin Language

The backwoods Council discovered the national languages exactly at the moment, when these were increasingly losing their significance after the end of Nationalism and National Socialism.

(kreuz.net, Vatikan) In every form of religion there is a sacral language -- Sanskrit in Hinduism, Pali in Buddhism or Koran-Arabic in Islam.

This was explained by German Oratorian, Father Uwe Michael Lang, this 30. May on the neo-Conservative snooze site, 'Zenit'.

Father Lang is a collaborator of the Roman Liturgical Congregation.

There are No Stable People's Languages

In Christian services there were -- says Father Lang -- in the course of history a variety of languages in use:

-Greek in the Byzantine Tradition,

-The language of the old oriental like Syriach, Armenian, Georgian, Coptic and Ethiopian,

-Church Slavonic.

-Ltain of the Roman and successors in the Western Rites.

Father Lang stresses that the increasingly stylized forms of speech were established. They differ from the common language:

"Often this division follows a linguistic development in the common language, which does not occur in the Liturgical language because of its sacred character."

Church Latin has been from start to finish -- probably also because of its regression to older Latin speech forms -- differentiated from daily Latin speech.

The Romans did not speak in the style of the canons or the Mass prayers -- Father Long stresses:

"As soon as Greek was displaced in the Roman Liturgy by Latin, a significantly stylized language was used, which serve in the service and which would have been very difficult for the average late antique Christian in Rome to understand."

Father Lang also pointed out that the Latin Liturgy would not have been understood by the Catholic Goths, Celts, Iberians and Punic peoples:

"All the same -- thanks to the foresight of the Church of rome and the unifying power of the Papacy -- Latin was the only Liturgical Language of Christendom, and consequently the foundation of Western culture."


The Council Fathers Limped Behind the Times

At this point Father Lang made a noteworthy about face.

Actually he had still shown that the Church Latin at no time part of the common language and generally understood.

Actually now he speaks of a growing "Gap between the Liturgical Lating and the people's language with the development of the national cultures and languages in Europe."

This -- which in any case existed during the entire history of the Church -- situation has "not promoted" supposedly "the active participation of the Faithful in the Liturgy".

For that reason the Pastoral Council desired to promote the use of the mother language -- said the priest.

The council Fathers had not intended that Latin would be displaced by the National languages -- Father Lang said as he attempted to rescue the long discredited honor of the Pastoral Council:

"The linguistic splintering of the Catholic Liturgy was so widely advanced that many Faithful these days can hardly recite any other prayers than an "Our Father" together --- he lamented.

In reality, the back woods Council had discovered National Languages exactly at the moment as these were just increasingly losing their importance after the end of Nationalism and National Socialism in the wake of US-Hegemony.

Link to original...

The Mass of All Ages Will Outlast Newer Rites

The Pastor's Corner column on Dici makes common cause with Cardinal Koch about the Mass. Eventually one Mass will disappear. Perhaps it will be as Cardinal Ranjith envisions, the more ancient Missal of All Ages?

“Benedict XVI knows well that in the long term we cannot remain with a coexistence between the ordinary and extraordinary forms in the Roman rite, but that the Church will again need in the future a common rite... However, given that a new liturgical form cannot be decided in an office, as it requires a process of growth and purification, for the time being the Pope stresses above all that the two forms of use of the Roman rite can and must enrich one another mutually.” (Ibid.) According to Cardinal Koch, Rome’s permission of a Mass that needs no permission would be that it might ultimately disappear!

Holy Father: No Opposition Between Tradition and Progress in the Liturgy

Editor: Pope Benedict is addressing one of the chief sources of Liturgical abuses in the Church today, the Benedictines of Sant'Anselmo. He seems to make a backhand swipe at Dom Beauduin, perhaps. New Liturgical Movement got an Italian translation which describes Benedict's critique in terms of going "beyond" the Council. [About which Rorate Caeli was more circumspect, and Vatican Radio didn't touch on any of this at all.]Basically, this is more reform of the reform talk to Old Liberals who will do their best to ignore the Holy Father's admonitions and prescriptions. That doesn't appear in the following essay by theologian Armin Schibach, but there it is:

'sana traditio' and 'legitima progressio': The program of reform of the Council Fathers. Back in the future on the way to "Sacrosanctum Concilium'. The river of Tradition. by Armin Schibbach

Rome (kath.net/as) In the area of Liturgy, Tradition and progress are not put together in "an "awkward manner" one against the other. Actually, both enrich each other: Tradition contains in itself the principle of development and is always a living reality: "The river of Tradition always flows from its source as it strives toward its mouth". With these words Pope Benedict addressed today's Friday lecture, taking part in the event, organized for the the Papal Liturgical Institute 'Sant'Anselmo', on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of its founding.

Benedict XVI next addressed the reason for the memorial, which lead to the founding of the Liturgical Institute. In this, it was the wish of Pope John XXIII to take up the Liturgical Movement [Editor: Its Revolutionary character, founded primarily in illicit and therefore sinful liturgical abuses don't get mentioned in talks like this.], whose aim was to give a new impetus to the prayer of the Church, shortly before the Vatican Council, by forming the Liturgical Institute at the Benedictine University at the Aventine. The Pope was to have a firm basis for the Liturgical Reform of the Council in this way.

On the eve of the Council, continued Benedict XVI, the need for the reform of the Liturgy made itself ever more certain. The pastoral necessity, which the Liturgical Movement ensouled, made it requisite that the active participation of the faithful in the Liturgical Celebration would be encouraged by the use of the vernacular and that the adaptation of the rites deepening the various cultures.

Similarly, there has been a necessity present from the beginning, to study the depths of the Liturgical foundation, "in order to avoid falling into Ritualism or to validate the subjectivism and protagonism of the celebrant." The reform should find itself centered in the area of the offering of the divine Sacrifice and its justification in the Tradition of the Church.

Proceeding with the theme of the Congress (The Papal Liturgical Institute between Commemoration and Prophesy") the Pope stressed that the reason for the institute is "Commemoration". The Institute has accomplished its task toward the reception of the IInd Vatican Council. For that reason it has become possible to help the holy people of God, "to live the liturgy as an expression of a praying people, as Christ's presence in the midst of the people and as constitute an actuality of salvation history".

The Constitution of the Holy Liturgy "Sacrosanctum Concilium" poses the twofold theological and ecclesiological character of the Liturgy: "The celebration simultaneously makes real an Epiphany of the Lord and an Epiphany of the Church, two dimensions, which is bound to the reality the Liturgical assembly". In the Liturgy of the Church "gives the active presence of Christ: What he brought into fruition during His stay among the people, whose focus formed in the Eucharist is made real."

The Liturgy of the Church "goes out from the 'Conciliar Reform'", says Benedict XVI. Its goal is not, above all, to change the rites and texts, but it is much more to renew the mentality and put the Christian life and the pastoral care of the celebration of the Pascal Mystery of Christ at its center.

"Unfortunately the Liturgy would-- even among us shepherds and experts -- be seen as an object, that it was necessary to reform, and not as a Subject, that is capable of renewing the Christian life, where there was a very narrow band between the renewal of the Liturgy and the renewal of the whole life of the Church: the Church draws its power to live from the Liturgy." In that point, he recalled Pope John Paul in his Apostolic writing "Vinesimus quintus annus" (4. Dezember 1988)on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Constitution of "Sancrosanctum Concilium".


The Liturgy is "the highpoint, to which the action of the Church reaches and is the source from which all of her virtues proceed", said Benedict XVI. So She becomes the great tutor of the primacy of the Faith and of Grace. The Liturgy is the "privileged witness of the living Tradition of the Church", in truth Her fundamental mission, in the "Today" of human affairs the "opus Redemptionis" between the apparent and the existent. For that reason the Liturgy lives "of a correct and standing relation between 'sana traditio' and 'legitima progressio'" (compare. Sancrosanctum Concilium, Nr. 23).

With these two concepts the Council Fathers desired to lay out their "program of reform", "to put the same weight on the great liturgical Tradition of the past with that of the future".

Cardinal Kasper Promotes a Reform of Our Reforms

Liturgy is worship, not only a community celebration.  The experience of the sublime and of the tremendum mysterium is the curative.

His Grace, Cardinal Kasper

Vallendar (kath.net) Cardinal Kasper promotes an "in depth going reform of our Liturgical reforms."  It needs a "renewed liturgical-sacramental culture", said the Curial Cardinal, who was till 2010 the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, according to 'kirchensite.de" from a report from KNA about ++Kasper's lecture at the symposium "The Liturgy of the Church" of the "Cardinal Walter Kasper Institute for Theology-Ecumenism-Spirituality" at the Philosophy and Theology Faculty of Vallendar.

Liturgy must not be desacralized and robbed of its sublimity, explained the former Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, because it is worship, not only a community celebration.  Just as in our civilization, which is leveling,  secular and thoroughly void of meaning, the sublimity and the tremendum mysterium also brings the curative.

Link  to kath.net...original

Related Articles

Cardinal Burke Reprimands Cardinal Kasper

Cardinal Kasper Says Europe Must Return to its Christian Roots

Cardinal Kasper Admonishes Germans to Obey Holy Father

A Destroyer of the Faith Leaves the Curia

Mainz Cardinal Criticizes Mass of All Ages

The stupid Traditionalists don't see through the zeitgeist of the "historical relativism" of the immemorial, unchangeable liturgy -- opines the Prelate.

Old Liberal Cardinal Lehman at Lecture in Wurzburg

(kreuz.net)Critics of the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, who are attached to "immemorial, unchangeable forms", do not see through "the historical relativism".

Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz said this on Saturday during a lecture about the liturgical reform at the St. Burkardus-House in Wurzburg.

This was according to the Press Office of the Diocese of Wurzburg.

The occasion of the lecture was the 47th anniversary of the publication of the Conciliar Documents on the Liturgy of "Sancrosanctum Concilium".

The pastoral and liturgical break after the Pastoral Council was termed by Cardinal Lehman as a "great work".

The Pastoral Council is said to have nourished "the meaning of the Liturgy for the life of the Church" -- joked the Cardinal just then.

Then he said, that the Pastoral Council did not issue "a charter to make one's own forms", although that -- with the complete agreement of the Bishop-- is what happened.

The arbitrariness and lawlessness after the Council was supposedly not a goal of the reform.

The Cardinal continued, saying, that it was good, when the divine services brings "our lives" into fullness-- without clarifying what he meant with that.

Then on the other hand he said that one must "altogether" give room for Jesus Christ.


© Bild: POW, Pressebild Bistum Würzburg

The Pope Plans to Allow Women to the Office of Lector

Editor: It's just a matter of time?


Assignments since 1972 already no longer required ordination.

Vatican City (kath.net/KAP) Benedict XVI is evidently planning to allow women to act as lectors at services. This was confirmed by the new prefect of the Vatican Bishops Congregation, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, this Thursday afternoon.  Ouellet outlined this in the context of the post-synodal document "Verbum Domini" by Pope Benedict XVI., which dealt with "The word of God in life and in the mission of the Church".

In the 220 page document on the structure of the recommendations of the Bishops Synod 2008 dealt with the necessity of a "rediscovery" of the Bible for the life of the Church, for the engagement in society and for inter-religious dialogue.

The Pope recalled among other things the liturgical rules of the Mass in the document: "As is well known, the Gospel is announced by the Priest or Deacon, the first and second reading in the Latin tradition, however, can be assigned to a man or a woman."

Lectoresses will now no longer be the exception.

Till now it has only been men who've been assigned to read the first and second reading, even though in many parishes in the German-speaking world it has turned out otherwise.  That either men or women could be assigned in the lector role was actually foreseen as an exception.

 From the outset on, lectors -- consistently men -- were authorized by the local bishop in the majority of cases.  Besides these lectors assigned as needed by the Bishop, baptised women and men were assigned the  role of reader in the Mass out of necessity.

Till 1972 the lector and acolyte (Altarservers) were assignments reserved for "lower ordinands".  Since 1972 both assignments are no longer tied to one who is ordained.

By the presentation on Thursday afternoon Cardinal Ouellet pointed out that the Pope  seized upon this indirectly from "Proposal 17" of the Bishops Synod on the Bible of  2008: "The Synod Fathers desired that the office of lector should be open also to women -- that therefore ought to take place. And the Holy Father studied this matter intently."

The German edition of Radio Vatican speculated that with the preparedness of the Pope to allow women as lectors, this could also open the way for discussing allowance of women in the office of the diaconate. The possible renewal, of which Cardinal Ouellet speaks, does not mean altogether a step toward the direction of lay preachers, says the broadcaster.

The French Catholic newspaper "La Croix" also took a look on Friday at the expressions of the new papal document with regard to Judaism.  As the paper recalled, it happened two years ago for the first time that there was a Jew who was invited -- a head rabbi from Haifa, Shear-Yashuv Cohen -- to be a lecturer at the Bishops Synod.  And Benedict XVI had explained in his writing, how valuable the dialog with Judaism is for the Church. "We are close together as we share the same spiritual roots.  We encounger one another as brothers -- brothers, who in certain moments of their history have had a tense relationship, but who've now decided to take pains, to build bridges of understanding and friendship", it was said among other things.


Link to original at kath.net...

Mr. Taylor's photo, from here .

Wymyn Priestess photos, here.

Related Articles:

Stealth Deaconess, already in play, here.

Lay Investiture, here.

Linz Bishop, "concelebrates", here.

Stephen Kiechle SJ,will applaud too, here.

Jesuit Revolutionary: Incense Was Enemy Number 1

When the readings of the Old Testament are replaced by readings of Karl Marx. Jesuit Father Edmund Runggaldier has now brought to light background information about Jesuit Education of the 68-Generation


Munich-Innsbruck (kath.net) The Jesuit priest Edmund Runggaldier has illustrated the 68 Generation, for the benefit of the official news of the Jesuits of the German Province. Edmund Rundggaldier, the current professor at the Theological Faculty of the University of Innsbruck currently, was from 1966 to 1968, a novice in St. Andra in Austria. Then he studied philosophy in Pullach near Munich till 1970. There he experienced, according to his own report, a kind of cultural revolution and the awakening of a "delayed inner-Catholic revolution". He avowed himself that sometimes there were excesses among the Novices and Scholastics and he was fully involved. "I was an active, almost a fanatical participant in that revolution: we have formally destroyed Iconography with Nazarene Style", wrote Runggaldier.

Especially explosive are his thoughts on liturgy. "We were combative and missionary especially in the 'renewal' of the Liturgy, that means in the dumping of things that were in our eyes impeding ballast. Incense was enemy number 1," he openly acknowledged. Then he explained that experiments were undertaken in the Jesuit College in Innsbruck in "authentic" Eucharistic Celebrations in the setting of a mirror. These celebrations were, in any event forbidden by the superior. Although, the readings from the Old Testament and the Letters of Paul were replaced by those of Marx or the philosophy of Existentialism. "I was thrilled as the classical Codices which were then still studied in the Scholastic sense critically degraded." Self-critically Ruggaldier then asked how he had come from "Novice" to "Iconoclast" and why one with such an enthusiasm and with such a fanaticism throw overboard a Philosophy tried over centuries, or to be won over by modern Existentialism and a one sided political philosophy.

The Jesuit professor explained then, that one encouraged the oversimplification and use of a fundamental biblical message. "What counted, was -- completely in the sense of the Reformation -- the origins, the ipsissima vox des Herrn." According to his opinion of what took place then was a philosophic approach between the Catholic students -- and Student Camps (Like Highland or Catholic Youth Camps) and the Marxism. For Runggaldier combined extensively the roots and the driving force. "We were especially convinced by the necessity of protecting persistent renewal i.e., permanent revolution, against untruth and alienation.," he wrote in illustration.

For his enemy image was "true Christendom" which belonged to consumer and capitalist liberalism. Things that were alienating were valued then as "subjective forms" an "internalized spirituality." "It was not the subjective well-being that counted, rather the reality itself, the pure original message of the Gospel, the expression of the motives of political affairs, finally the restructuring of Church and Society. Questions like: How do you feel? were strange to us." Some Jesuits left the order or resigned who were under the "pressure of the high ideals". Finally, explained Runggaldier, that he does not want to distance himself from the fundamental motivations of the movement. "The careful abolition of all that, what was held to be secondary in the Rite, which were in any case mistakes. Man needs sustenance for his senses in liturgical execution. The word and nature alone can be hard for a man to taste. Ignatius knew that we ignored it back then", so concluded the Jesuit Father.


Link to original...kath.net...

Pro Multis -- Translation of the 'Missale Romanum' Proceeds in Linz

Papal Commission met under the direction of Bishop Schwarz in the State Capital

Linz (kath.net/KAP) The review of the new translation of the Latin Missal (Missale Romanum) into German is the job of the Papal Commission "Quo Principia", which is shortly under the direction of the Linz Bishop, Ludwig Schwarz, not so much as otherwise in Rome, rather will meet at the Linz Seminary. Members of this Vatican Congregation for Worship and the Order of Sacraments are part of a Commission of academics assigned from diverse German speaking Universities and Diocese.

The new translation of the "Missale Romanum" comes from the Papal Commission "Ecclesia celebrans" under the direction of Cologne Bishop Cardinal Joachim Meisner. This work group generally comes together several times a year and develops translated elements for correction by "Quo principia". The work is done in parallel.

The Linz Diocesan Bishop is an authority in classical studies and was for that reason a leading collaborator at all levels of the development process. Based on this process, there should be a Missal which reflects on the one side the German language as spoken today, while on the other side staying true to the liturgical texts of the celebration of the Mass and expressing up to date language.

What is The Real Threat to The Unity of The Roman Rite? Cardinal Ratzinger's Letter.

In 1999 then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger answered the objections of an old liberal Roman Liturgist. Now the letter is on the internet!

[kreuz.net] On the 16th of November 1998 the old liberal Liturgist and Claretian, Father Matias Augé (74), wrote a letter to the former Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine and the Faith, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.

Father Augé is from Spain. In the late 90s he was a Professor at the Benedictine Liturgical Institute 'Sant'Anselmo' in Rome, on the theological faculty of the Papal Lateran University and advisor to the Vatican Congregation for Liturgy.

In his letter he had criticized a proposal by Cardinal Ratzinger to keep the 10 year anniversary of the Motu Proprio 'Ecclesia Dei' on October 24th 1998.

He could not understand how one could celebrate the Old Rite, without contradicting the Constitution of the Council -- exclaimed the priest to the Cardinal.

For the Tridentine and the effective Rite are a single Rite -- namely "the Roman Rite in two different phases of its history".

Father Augé also mentioned in his letter that a return to the Old Rite brings with it the danger of destroying Church unity and bring into question the decisions of Pope Paul VI (+1978).

Brutal Liturgical Reform

The then Cardinal Ratzinger answered the priest on the 18th of February 1999 in a personal letter.

The exchange of letters was recently published by Father Augé on his Weblog 'liturgia-opus-trinitatis.over-blog.it'.

In his answer Cardinal Ratzinger then recalled that a "not inconsiderable number of Catholic Faithful, mostly of French, English and German language are very strongly attached to the Old Liturgy."

John Paul II. did not have the intention to review for them what happened in the year of 1970 -- "to impose a transitory period of only six months in the extremely abrupt manner as the New Liturgy was."

The then Cardinal mentioned that the "respectable" Liturgical Institute of Trier recommended a time frame of about 10 years for such a transition.

So, it was necessary upon the question of the authority of the ruling Pope and his respectful pastoral disposition to take them into consideration.

The Old Rite Must Help the New Mass

Cardinal Ratzinger made it clear that the unity of the Roman Rite is not today "threatened by a small community, who use the Indult [Permission to Celebrate the Old Mass] and are generally treated like they have the plague, as people not understood, if not even possibly doing something immoral."

"No" -- insisted Cardinal Ratzinger: "The unity of the Roman Rite is threatened by wild creativity, which is often encouraged by the Liturgists."

He reproved the project in Germany, "Missale 2000" which propagated the argument that the Missal of Paul VI. was already obsolete:

"I will remind you, what I have said in my proposal, that the difference between the Missal of 1962 and the Mass, which is truly celebrated according to the Missal of Paul VI, is much smaller, than the differences between the various so-called "creative" uses of the Missal of Paul VI."

Then the Cardinal brought his hope to expression that the presence of the old Missal will form a Dam against the sadly common aberrations of the Liturgy and to serve as an example of "authentic reform".

Today's Pope has sharply criticized the claim that the Old Mass threatens the unity of the Roman Rite:

"That the use of the Indult of 1984 (1988) stands against the unity of the Roman Rite, is in my experience a disposition, that is very far from reality."

In conclusion he stressed his regret that the priest had not noticed in the proposal the "invitation to the <>".

He also requested this, "to open up to the Council, to come to reconciliation, in the hope, with time that the break between the two Missals can be overcome."


Link to original...

The German Bishops are Daydreaming: Dragging Their Feet

The decadent German Church once again finds itself on the crossroads: will the Bishops finally obey the Pope or will they regard him as a fool?

[Kreuz.net, Fulda] Today the President of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, held the findings of the complete assembly of the Bishops Conference, which took place this week in Fulda.

A press text from the website of the German Bishops Conference was published.


The Bishops turn everything to sex

According to the Bishops, future dialogue will be directed to the supposedly "bulky themes".

As an example, they will address the relentless journalist litany of sex, priest sex and the dispensing of sacraments for adulterers.

So that the empty sex-chatter won't come to an early end, so should an actual "dialogue initiative" of the Diocese and Parishes take place.

one of the "many" Episcopal chattering cooperating partner is according to reports from the press text of the Anti-Catholic lay association 'Central Committee of German Catholics'.

A long point of the press conference occupied itself further with the the abuse product which sells itself, with which the Bishops get taken for a ride.

One of the proposed measures for the future is the internet site 'www.praevention-kirche.de'.

Attended by the wrong man

On the catch phrase "Mission to the Jews" the press release made clear that Cardinal Lehmann of Mainz in connection with the bishops Conference had worked a statement.

The text is not available on-line.

Cardinal Lehman has contradicted in the past the New Testament and promoted error that there is a path of sanctity for the Jews without Christ.


Celebration of the violations of 'Kirchentag'

The press release recalled then the Anti-Catholic 'Ecumenical Church Day' [A Lutheran Women-Bishop was honored there after her DUI conviction and resignation] in Munich.

The Bishops praised the godless event to the skies.

There isn't a single criticism of the 'Kirchentag' in the press release.

Now the new believers are conservative

The Liturgy, explained the press text, that the translation of the new Mass Book, which was published in the original Latin, is complete.

Now the Vatican must approve the translation.

The press release broke a lance for the old new Rite. The texts used now that are in full effect are trusted by the priests and people.

The Bishops did not want to endanger these values through a fundamentally new translation:

"The reception of the proposed Missal may be put in danger because of the translation of individual primary words or those translations which occur without necessity in the following translation of words that were till now expressed in good German text and replaced by strange uses." -- said the old liberal Bishops sounding like conservatives.

It is unclear if the Press text meant that "individual primary words" also meant "words of Consecration".

Poe Benedict XVI has tried to correct since November 2005 the previously used erroneous translation of "pro-multis" with "for all".

Up until now he has shown the Bishop's long noses.

A lot of time for nothing.

After the short point about the liturgy, the press release discussed the circumstantial cultural and social questions -- for example, environmentalism.

There was not a single syllable uttered about the very endangered unborn children lost in Germany.

Further points in the press release were Education and Schools, Science and Culture or the theme complex, "World Church".

The most interesting point regarding peronell is that Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstatt will be a member of the Liturgy Commission. [Bishop Hanke is apparently quite liberal and was favored by a local liberal CSU politician in Eichstaet to succeed Bishop Mixa.

Link to original...kreuz.net