First Mass in the Immemorial Mass -- Joyful Celebration for the Church of Sardinia

First Mass in the traditional rite at the Marian Shrine of Bonaria in Sardinia

(Cagliari) This past Sunday, 12 April was for the Archdiocese of Cagliari on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sardinia, a memorable historic day.

On the afternoon of  White Sunday, known since 2000 as  Mercy Sunday,   the new priest of the Archdiocese, Don Michele Piras, celebrated his Primiz in the majestic Basilica of Our Lady of Bonaria, the patroness  of the island, his first Mass. And he did so in the Immemorial Mass of the Roman Rite.

On the morning of the day before, Michele Piras was consecrated a priest by Mons. Arrigo Miglio, Archbishop of Cagliari and Primate of Sardinia and Corsica, in the cathedral church. Those present were Cardinal Luigi De Magistris, Emeritus Archbishop Pier Giuliano Tiddia of Oristano and the Bishop Emeritus Antioco Piseddu of Lanusei and about a hundred priests who had come to this happy day.

Shrine of Bonaria - After 50 years, first Sacrifice of the Mass in the Traditional Rite

For 50 years, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was no longer celebrated at the Marian Shrine of Bonaria in the Immemorial Rite. "A truly exceptional joy in many ways," says the traditional website Messa in Latino (MiL).

Sardinia was until recently, a particularly barren ground for the traditional rite. But the ordination of Don Michele Piras now made visible a fruit that had remained hidden. This was particularly evident in the participation of numerous Sardinian clergy for the First Mass. The liturgical service deliberately involved exclusively Sardinian clergy. The response of the diocesan leadership  and clergy show that rejection is not  a "self-evident" reflex in any way.

Sardinian Clergy is Actively Involved

Strong presence of Sardinian clergy (especially the younger)

Don Gianluca Pretta, pastor of Gesico (Cagliari) would have assisted, but had to cancel due to personal reasons at the last minute and was replaced by Father William Barker, Minister of the Personal Parish of  SS. Trinità dei Pellegrini in Rome, procurator of the Fraternity of St. Peter, the Holy See and official of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei;  Don Giorgio Domenico Lenzi, pastor of Sant'Antioco (Cagliari), incardinated in the Institute of the Good Shepherd, served as Deacon; as subdeacon, Don Angelo Cardia, pastor of Soleminis (Cagliari) and Master of Ceremonies, Don  Cristiano Piseddu, priest of the Archdiocese of Cagliari, who is currently completing his studies in Rome.

The first Mass' sermon was by Don Fabrizio Pibiri, pastor of Donori (Cagliari), who presented with both powerful and beautiful words on the greatness of the Catholic priesthood and pointed to how young priest  assumes the responsibility by his ordained ministry.

Also, numerous clergy appeared for the first Mass. In the first place was  Cardinal Luigi de Magistris, who comes from the archdiocese itself; the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Canon Giovanni Ligas and many pastors and priests of the archdiocese, the younger clergy was particularly represented, who had come also from other dioceses of the island. Likewise, a number of seminarians of the General Seminary of the island.

Our Lady of Bonaria - Mercedarians and Founding of Buenos Aires

The Shrine of Bonaria has been under the care of the Mercedians for almost 700 years. The Order was founded in 1218 by St. Raymond of Penyafort,  in the first century as a knightly order and from 1317 as a purely religious order,  which put its main concern for the liberation of the Christians abducted and enslaved by Muslims. If there was not enough money for the ransom, the brothers offered themselves as replacements.  With the discovery of the Americas   the Mercedarians, who are among the mendicant orders since 1670, put their apostolate in the service  of slaves in the New World, which they supplemented by the proselytizing of the Indians. Today the Order continues its founding, especially in the prison ministry.

Sardinia from 1324 belonged to the kingdom of Aragon and for 400  years was connected with Spain. For this reason, the Mercedarians also came from there to the island. In 1534 the Roman-German Emperor Charles V, King of Spain conceived an expedition by Pedro de Mendoza in the New World. Mendoza, knew of Sardinia and the Shrine of Bonaria, and called upon her for a happy crossing and the discovery of the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, which was founded there by him, and called at first Santa María del Buen Aire  from which the present capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires comes.

The religious superiors and pastor of Bonaria, Father Giovannino Tolu, welcomed the new priest at the entrance of the Basilica and after he had put on his priestly stole,  accompanied him to his first sacrifice on the altar.

Large Participation of Faithful People

Flag of Sardinia

The polyphonic chants from the time of Palestrina were sung by the archbishop's Cathedral Choir under the direction of Canon Gianfranco Deiosso,  a Choral Schola chanted the Gregorian settings under the direction of Don Nicola Ruggeri, pastor of Senorbi (Cagliari).

The young acolytes came from the parish of Santa Giusta Gesico, who were noticeable by their natural seriousness and the ease with which they moved in great dignity in the Old Rite.

The largest church in the island was crowded at this festive occasion by a believing people, who had streamed in from the Archdiocese, but also from other dioceses to gratefully praise God for the grace to have been given a new priest, to receive the blessing of priest at his first Mass and to kiss the sacred chrism after yet fragrant, consecrated hands of the newly ordained.

Don Piras was born in Sant'Elia district of Cagliari. After the visit of the Archbishop minor seminary, he entered the seminary of his native diocese and completed his studies with a degree in Rome. His first pastoral care center will be as vicar of a parish of the Archdiocese in the country.

Text: MiL / Giuseppe Nardi
image: Messa in Latin

Abbot Primate of Klosterneuberg's Affront Against the Immemorial Mass and Cardinal Burke

Cardinal Burke Celebrating Mass of
All Ages in St. Peter's Last Saturday

(Vienna) The Votive Mass in the Traditional Rite with Cardinal Raymond Burke announced for November 5th, in the parish church of St. Leopold in Vienna Danube field-Floridsdorf was canceled.

Cardinal Burke will, as advertised,  celebrate a Pontifical Mass in the Old Rite on November 4th, for the Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo in the Church of St. Charles. The Immemorial Mass also announced for his stay in Vienna, the  Votive Mass of the Apostles Peter and Paul, however, was canceled (see report  5:11 .: Cardinal Burke celebrated in Vienna St. Leopold votive Mass in the Old Rite).

Rejection of the Traditional Rite and Aftermath of the Synod of Bishops?

Reasons for the rejection are not known, but they could have something to do  with the traditional Rite and aftermath of the Synod of Bishops on the family. The parish of St. Leopold Donaufeld is incorporated to the Augustinian Canons of Klosterneuburg. The Klosterneuburger Provost, Bernhard Backovsky is cited, who is, as is well known,  the current parish administrator and choir master of the Stift St. Leopold, forbade the celebration.

Bernhard Backovsky was elected in 1995 as  the 66th Provost and 17th  Lateran Abbot of the Stift. In 2002 he was elected Abbot General of the Austrian Augustinian Congregation of Canons. Since 2010 he has also been Abbot Primate of all Augustinian canons in the world.

What about "Open Discussion" and the "Full Peace of the Church" for the Usus Antiquus?

The prohibition by Abbot Primate Backovsky must be construed as an affront of rare hardness toward to the traditional Rite and one of the leading representatives of the Church. An unfriendly manner behind which are visible the veiled   fractures within the Catholic Church in Austria. This demonstrates the inability obey, and to accept the traditional Rite and  respect the opinions of others. Cardinal Burke and Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn stood at opposite position in the Synod of Bishops. A  ban on the Mass in the Old Rite is harsh paternalism to others, first of all, the celebrant, but also the faithful who want this.

The unpleasant incident raises questions about just how valid is this "open discussion", which Pope Francis advocated several times for the Synod of Bishops. And how is confirms the hope that Emeritus Benedict XVI. gave in his greeting message last Saturday: "I am very happy that the Usus antiquus now lives in full peace in the Church, even among the young, also supported and celebrated by great cardinals. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: MiL / Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMGD

Another Diocesan TLM Unceremoniously Being Shut Down in UK?

Edit: one of the problems with getting involved with a Summorum Pontificum parish is that after spending thousands of dollars for restoration, building traditional sodalities, maybe establishing a school and attracting people who come to depend on it for their spiritual lives, the thing can be suddenly yanked, for no other reason than someone at the chancery doesn't think there's enough interest, or that the Latin Mass doesn't fit the locale (as was the case at a parish in California that was moved because it "disturbed" the tourists.)

Perhaps it will, as one concerned Catholic opines, "have its altar tossed in a dust bin and be fit out with minarets."  This is what is happening presently on the other side of the pond.

Moving with the times might be a virtue for some, but it's not exactly a sign of affection either. Here's the news from LMS, who hopes this is incorrect, but we expect it's not:

That's what Fr John Zuhlsdorf says: it will end by the end of Septemeber. According to my sources, which are probably the same as his, this is true. It was announced from the pulpit yesterday by the new Parish Priest, Fr Steven Fisher. It was his second Sunday in the parish. 

If it isn't true, no one will be more pleased to put the record straight than I.
Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark did something very unusual in moving Fr Tim Finigan from the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary at Blackfen, to a parish in Margate. The usual thing is that, knowing that there was a long-established group attending the Traditional Mass in the parish, Archbishop Smith appointed a new Parish Priest who was able, and professed himself willing, to carry this on. 

It is a tragedy that this hasn't worked. Fr Fisher has decided, for reasons which I'll leave to him to explain, that, having said he would continue to say the EF, he won't after all.

Images of FSSP Parish Holy Family in Vancouver

Edit: Vancouver has always been a little more conservative. These are pleasing images of youth, vibrancy and hope.

Founder of Juventutem Invited by Benedict XVI.

 (Vatican) Benedict XVI. received two representatives of tradition on 1 September, : the founder and treasurer of the Foederatio Internationalis Juventutem (IFJ)  traditional youth and the director of the International Pilgrimage of Tradition, Populus Summorum Pontificum.  From 23-26th October 2014  there will be  a third International pilgrimage to Rome.

Cosimo Marti of Juventutem and Giuseppe Capoccia of Summorum Pontificum Populus received late Monday afternoon in the Vatican.   Cosimo Marti had asked in vain for an audience with the Pope before the resignation of Benedict XVI. Last July, he received a surprise letter from the Apostolic Nunciature in Bern. In the Swiss capital, the headquarters of Juventutem.

The Nunciature sent a letter from Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein. It contained an invitation,  no longer expected,   to a meeting with Benedict XVI.  Marti had assumed that his application had been filed with the resignation and had not expected a reaction.

The letter stated that he could bring a companion. Marti chose Giuseppe Capoccia, Director of Summorum Pontificum Coetus Internationalis , who has organized the International Pilgrimage of Tradition in Rome since 2012 Summorum Pontificum Populus. The pilgrimage will take place in 2014 for the third time at the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, Peter, in St. Petersdom. The pilgrimage  is being held out of gratitude for the 2007 Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum granted by Pope Benedict XVI., to free  all priests in the celebration of the traditional form of the Roman rite.

2014: 10 years Juventutem

Juventutem, the Youth of Tradition

Since the International Federation Juventutem 2014 is having ts 10th anniversary, there is a pivot point of this year's pilgrimage. Cardinal George Pell, the prefect of the Economic Secretariat of the Holy See will celebrate Pontifical High Mass on this occasion on October 24 in the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini of the Fraternity of St. Peter in Rome. Ecclesiastical Assistant of Juventutem is Father Armand de Malleray of the Fraternity of St. Peter .

The highlight of the pilgrimage will be on Saturday, October 25,  at the Pontifical Office in St. Peter's Basilica, which will be celebrated in 2014 by Cardinal Raymond Burke. On Sunday, October 26, the youth from Juventutem   will visit the Benedictine Monastery of Norcia, where Cardinal Walter Brandmüller will give a sermon and Holy Mass in the Immemorial Rite.

Immemorial Mass for Juventutem at WYD 2005 in Cologne signaled a Liturgical Turning Point

Cardinal Pell had already celebrated the Traditional Rite for Juventutem in 2005 at WYD in Cologne  as the umbrella organization of traditional youth organization took part for the first time in an official event of the Catholic Church. WYD 2005 was also the first time once again, that the Old Rite had been celebrated in an official event, a major Church. The Old Mass at World Youth Day in Cologne signaled, only a few months after the election of Benedict XVI., the beginning of a liturgical change.

Two years after the Cologne, the same Pope granted the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum . He is also thought of  the thousands of young people with Juventutem who had come to Cologne, where he wrote in the accompanying letter to the bishops, which was published with the motu proprio:

"Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it, but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them. "

The former opinion, that the "request" was restrictive to the older generation, or should be limited, seems to be something to which the successor of Benedict XVI., Pope Francis is still attached. In the ad limina visit of the Czech bishops last February, Francis wondered aloud to Archbishop of Olomouc Graubner in January at the fact that young Catholics interested in the traditional rite:

"When I think about it more thoroughly, I find that it is rather a kind of fashion. And because it is a fashion, therefore we must not give it so much attention. "

The contents of what took place on Monday during the meeting with Benedict XVI. is not yet known. Before the meeting Cosimo Marti and Giuseppe Capoccia, said the French site Notions Romaines, it was their desire to express the loyalty and gratitude as representatives  of traditional youth to Benedict XVI.. Otherwise  the encounter was left to Providence and the emeritus pope.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Notions Romaines / Juventutem

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Liturgical "Sensibility" of Pope Francis Leads to the Demotion of Cardinal Cañizares

Cardinal Cañizares with Pope Benedict XVI

(Rome / Madrid) It had already been written for a few days. Now the confirmation has been made. Pope Francis today named Archbishop Carlos Osoro of Valencia as the new Archbishop of Madrid. The deposition of Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis was already expected a few weeks after the recent conclave. Now the Argentine Pope is sending him back to Spain as the new Archbishop of Valencia. The decisive factor is not in the move, the in rank is more like a demotion, but a reposting away from Rome.

So, this is the  second dismissal of a prefect of the Roman Curia, which was expected by observers since the late spring of 2013. With the election of a new pope all offices of the Roman Curia are forfeit.  In the course of his staff restructuring of the Curia, Pope Francis removed those two from a total of nine prefects. Their understanding of the Church was the closest to Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza was already  replaced as Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy on September 21, 2013. Today, even the delicate department the Holy Liturgy and the Sacraments follows. Delicacy, not least because of questions as to how Pope Francis has exhibited low liturgical sensibility.

Liturgical Abuse for Francis is No Offense? - There is Already the Liturgical Dignity of the Old Rite  

While the Pope previously confessed no connection to criticism the widespread liturgical abuses especially in the West, he had repeatedl incomprehension, yes even a recognized aversion to the traditional Roman Rite, especially against the faithful who adhere to this rite.

That there would never have been a  Motu Proprio under Pope Francis, Summorum Pontificum, with which Pope Benedict XVI. 2007, corrected the liturgical reform of 1969, the imbalance in the innermost core of the faith and gave the traditional Rite far reaching rights of citizenship and equal rights in Church law again in addition to the Novus Ordo, is not doubted in the even more broad environment of the Argentine incumbent.

Cardinal Piacenza and Cardinal Canizares Whom Pope Francis deposed as prefect of a Roman Congregation

The aversion towards the efforts of his predecessor was already visible during his first public appearance, against attempts in the  Church to reclaim the understanding of the sacred, continues with the deposition of Cardinal Cañizares. A replacement has not yet been made. Traditionally connected circles harbor fears. Among the candidates in the past year most frequently mentioned, there was also Curial Archbishop Piero Marini, the [evil] papal master of ceremonies of John Paul II.

Too Close to the Understanding of the Church of Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Piacenza was connected with the  attempt of Benedict XVI to provide the clergy with  Saint John Mary Vianney, a saint, as a model, who was anchored steadfastly in the traditional churches and religious understanding. A "priest in the pre-Conciliar image", which has been so violently resisted within church,  so violently that the attempt failed.

Cardinal Cañizares was connected with the effort of Benedict XVI.  to strengthen the sacredness of the liturgy and to reinforce this effort mainly by the appreciation of the traditional Rite. Benedict XVI. not only ended the monopoly of the Novus Ordo, he put it  under pressure through the Vetus Ordo. In fact, the papal action bore immediate fruits worldwide. A process that  has been increasingly put to a halt by the election of Pope Francis. Critics have blamed Cardinal Cañizares, of scarcely responding to liturgical abuses in the Novus Ordo.

Lack of Understanding of Liturgical "Restoration"

With personal integrity, but not particularly combative, the cardinal celebrated several times in the traditional form of the Roman Rite, as well as in autumn 2012 on the occasion of the first International Pilgrimage of Tradition to Rome . It was the first time since the reform of the liturgy that it was celebrated at a main altar of St. Peter again in a larger scale Sacrifice of the Mass in the Old Rite.

Cardinal Canizares Celebrated the Old Rite in 2012 in St. Peter's Basilica 

Cardinal Piacenza had just turned 69  at the time of his dismissal. Cardinal Cañizares is 68. Neither the one nor the other cardinals were close to retirement age. Both were, as it is custom of the Church, resigned with melodious and prestigious offices.  However, the key point to the line-up of changes, is the underlying directional decision. Pope Francis wants to correct the pontificate of his predecessor, Benedict XVI not only by gestures but by facts. But  that is why he was ultimately chosen.

Detente with Prime Minister Rajoy?

Antonio Maria Cardinal Rouco Varela, the former Archbishop of Madrid,  is retiring  from office because he has reached the age limit.  As usual under Pope Benedict XVI. he  left him two years longer in office. It was just another year, because Pope Francis wanted to take sufficient time  for this personnel decision. Spain plays a more important role in the Spanish-speaking world, to which Argentina is one,  than other European countries.

Cardinal Rouco Varela was a determined opponent of the socialist Zapatero government and its social policy. Because of his personal weight and as chairman of the Spanish Bishops' Conference he exercised a decisive influence on the appointment of bishops in Spain. Politically, he was close to the right wing of the bourgeois Partido Popular (PP). But that's not currently the acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose search for a  majority would prefer a quiet Church. 

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: 30Days / MiL / Asianews / Le Forum Catholique

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Three Cardinals at the Third Pilgrimage of Tradition to Rome

(Rome)  On the coming 23-25th of October in Rome, theThird International Pilgrimage of Tradition will be held. It was organized by the Coetus Summorum Pontificum Internationalis, an international federation of communities and faithful in the Old Rite, which is the implementation of the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, which  Benedict XVI endeavored and  thus allowed all priests the celebration of the Mass in effect till 1965/1969 in 2007.

The still provisional program provides for the participation of two bishops and three cardinals. The bishops are the Frenchman Francois Bacque, a retired Apostolic Nuncio,  and Archbishop Guido Pozzo, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei , who is responsible for the communities of tradition.

Three Cardinals Take Place at Pilgrimage

Among the cardinals is Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke the American, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. He will be celebrating  Pontifical Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday, October 25, which is the culmination of the pilgrimage. In 2013 Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, the Spaniard,  Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, celebrated the Mass. In 2012 it was the Colombian Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1996 to 2006 and from 2000 to 2009, Chairman of Ecclesia Dei . Under Pope Francis, Cardinal Burke is among the degraded. The American Cardinal  has been removed from all the congregations to which he belonged. Burke  under Benedict XVI. made sure that good bishops were appointed in the United States. It's an influence that has eluded him Pope Francis.

The second is the German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, who is on Sunday, October 26, to celebrate the feast of Christ the King witb the Traditional Benedictines of Norcia. Cardinal Brandmüller was, from 1998-2009, President of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Science, casually known as the "chief historian" of the Vatican. In 2010, Cardinal Brandmüller was named to cardinal because of his personal services, who was the first since the liturgical reforms of 1969/1970 to celebrate the Immemorial Mass of All Ages again at the Altar of the Chair of Peter  in 2011 on one of the two main altars of St. Peter's Basilica.

The third cardinal is the Australian, George Pell. As the cardinal deacon, Jean-Louis Tauran announced the new pope on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at March 13, 2013, some had thought at the mention of the name Georgium, for a fraction of a second to be the then Archbishop of Sydney. Cardinal Pell may celebrate a Pontifical Mass in the Roman church of the Fraternity of St. Peter SS Trinità dei Pellegrini on Friday, October 24. He is the only Cardinal of the fifth continent who has been close to traditional circles  for many years. 

Cardinal George Pell

During the pontificate of Benedict XVI. Cardinal Pell was in talks twice, to take over the management of a Congregation of the Roman Curia. In 2005 he was one of the three candidates to succeed the chosen pope. Joseph Ratzinger, as Prefect of the CDF.  The American, William Cardinal Levada was selected, while the third as stated was Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, whom Benedict XVI.  made a Cardinal Secretary of State.

2010 was already fixed as Pell's appointment as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. A campaign was launched against him in anticlerical circles with the accusation that he may have covered cases of sexual abuse, so Rome decided at the last moment for the French-Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

The allegations against Cardinal Pell proved to be baseless smear campaign. [?] So it happened that the Australian cardinal has made unexpectedly rapid career under Pope Francis. Under a Pope who is not suspected to be tradition-friendly. The first promotion was inevitable. A representative in the C8 Cardinal Advisory was selected from each continent to advise the Pope on the reform of the Curia and the Church leadership,  for America for each of the three sub-continents. George Pell is the only Cardinal of Oceania, which is why he had a secure place among the cardinals.

Once in Rome, Pope Francis entrusted him with other leading tasks at the Curia. However, with those in which the Australian may be more expected to put his organizational talents to the test than his liturgical sensibility and enforcing his understanding of the church.

Pope Francis even made him the prefect of a Roman Congregation. On 24 February,  the Pontiff created  a new "Ministry" as an economic secretariat, in which the entire economic and financial affairs of the Holy See were pooled, and made  Pell the first Cardinal Prefect.

The promotion  under the liturgically uninvolved Argentine Pope seem to have done nothing to change the attitude of the Cardinal, as the appointment of Father Mark Withoos as his personal secretary shows. Withoos previously worked for the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei . Another clue is his willingness to celebrate a Pontifical Mass in the traditional rite at the Third International pilgrimage tradition. A willingness, among the number of cardinals who do not condescend due to an internal distance.

Traditional Rite More Visibility

The International Pilgrimage of the tradition took place in 2012 with the declared aim of the traditional rite to gain greater visibility and return it to St. Peter's Cathedral, the main church in Christendom for the first time. 2012  also had a certain hope that Pope Benedict XVI. could even celebrate the Pontifical Mass or at least  attend. It was a hope that did not come true.

The General Delegate of the pilgrimage is the Italian prosecutor, Giuseppe Capoccia of Lecce (head of the Association Summorum Pontificum in Puglia, Campania and Basilicata. Pilgrimage chaplain is a French priest Claude Barthe, Secretary General is the French layman Guillaume Ferluc. The program  can be viewed in English, French and Italian on the website populussummorumpontificum.com.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Summorum Pontificum Populus / Una cum Papa nostro (Screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Vocations Boom Via Old Mass in Paraguay -- Pope Francis Orders Visitation

Pope Francis' Bull

(Rome / Asuncion) Pope Francis has ordered an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese of Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. The Diocese of Alto Paraná on the border of Brazil and Argentina is one of the most traditional and has an above average number of priestly and religious vocations. Why the Pope has ruled for the visitation of a comparatively thriving diocese, while in the capital Asuncion, the Archbishop is a nuisance, the news about aberrosexuality is all over town?

Pope Francis has paid special "attention" to diocese, orders and communities that are connected to tradition, since the beginning of the pontificate. Ciudad del Este is one of these dioceses. The bishop's see is located in the second largest city of the Latin American country. It covers an area of ​​nearly 30,000 square kilometers and holds 700,000 Catholics. This represents 98 percent of the population.

Under Bishop Livieres There is a Big Boost in the Diocese

The Bishop of Ciudad del Este is the Argentinean Rogelio Ricardo Livieres Plano, whom Pope John Paul II had appointed in 2004 at the head of the Paraguayan Diocese was only established in 1993. Since then the diocese has experienced an amazing recovery. The majority of the clergy consists of  priests from religious orders. By 2007, the diocese only had 12 diocesan priests and 70 religious priests. Today, they are preparing in the seminary more than 250 candidates for the priesthood. Almost all parishes of the diocese celebrate in the Old Rite.

As Blogonicus reported, it was confirmed by the Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay, Monsignor Eliseo Ariotti, that the Holy See will conduct an apostolic visitation of the diocese. Pope Francis has instructed so that the former Vatican diplomat, Cardinal Santos April y Castello, archpriest of the Patriarchal Basilica since 2011, Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Santa Maria Maggiore has been in the spotlight since the election of Pope Francis because the miraculous image of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani is a favorite church of the Argentine Pope, which he has already visited several times. In Santa Maria Maggiore, oppressed brothers of the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate perform the altar service. There was the seat of the dissident group, which carried out a radical upheaval in the Order with the help of the Congregation of Religious. At the beginning of the month celebration of the Immemorial Mass of All Ages established since the Jubilee Year 2000, was abolished by Cardinal Santos Abril without replacement. Pope Francis has been friends with Cardinal Abril from the time when he was 2000-2003 nuncio in Argentina.

With Cardinal Abril, Bishop Milton Luis Troccoli Cebélio will perform the visitation from Montevideo. The Paraguayan Episcopal Conference announced the upcoming Apostolic Visitation at a specially convened press conference.



Diocese of Ciudad del Este "Oasis in the Modernist Morass"

Bishop Rogelio Liveires at March for Life in
Ciudad del Este

"The Diocese of Ciudad del Este is an oasis in the theological modernist morass of Latin America," said Messa in Latino. Bishop Livieres helped settle many traditional communities and start-ups in his diocese, which he offers "fatherly protection and spiritual retreat," said the tradition associated website. A diocesan priest from Ciudad del Este has written about the announced visitation by Rome: "It seems important to me, be noted that the prosecution does not proceed against the clergy of the diocese, where Don Rogerio Livieres is a popular and highly respected chief shepherd, but by other bishops who do not have his zeal. The attack comes from the commissions of the Episcopal Conference, led by progressives and where tradition and the Catholic faith is guided by the Bishop of Ciudad del Este, this is unbearable."

More Seminarians Than all Other Dioceses

Ten years after the appointment of Bishop Livieres, the fruits of his pastoral ministry are obvious. The Diocese of Ciudad del Este, which includes only twelve percent of Catholics, today with about 250 seminarians, has more seminarians than all other dioceses in Paraguay. Training in the diocesan seminary is know to be "truly Catholic in its doctrine and liturgy." As well known that other bishops are nervous about how demand the religious congregation in the case of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, and "counter-measures"?

Press Conference Announcing Pope Francis' Measures

Large archdioceses such as Buenos Aires and Montevideo have less than 30 seminarians. "That explains why the development in the Diocese of Ciudad del Este progressive parts of the church interfere," said Messa in Latino.

Bishop Complained to Archbishop of Asuncion About Aberrosexuality

The immediate occasion in which the visitation takes place right now, is likely to be a speech by Bishop Livieres which he gave in early June at the March for Life in his city. In it, he lamented with harsh words that the incumbent Archbishop of Asuncion, his Metropolitan, Eustaquio Pastor Cuquejo Verga has still not been removed from his office, despite the "existencia de pruebas concluyentes y coincidentes" [proven and demonstrable existence and coincidence] for his aberrosexuality. Archbishop Cuquejo, belonging to the Redemptorists, was still a Cardinal contender in 2002. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Auxiliary Bishop of Asuncion, first as interim from 1982 to 1889, and then officially appointed as archbishop in 1992. With the election of Pope Benedict XVI. this was withdrawn because of initial suspicions levied against Cuquejo, and a coadjutor was placed at his side in 2006. According to Bishop Livieres there was now no doubt. All Paraguay forms an ecclesiastical province. This attack on the highest representatives of the Catholic church in the country was strongly condemned by the General Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference and it demands an apology from Bishop Livieres. Which he refuses to do.

Not Two Months Later If a Visitation in Ciudad del Este Does Not Take Place in Asuncion

The Apostolic Visitation arranged by Pope Francis is set to take place from the 21-26th in July. One might entertain the hope that the Pope wants to make an accurate picture about why the diocese experienced such a bloom in vocations in order to eventually derive a model for the universal Church. Roman circles are trying to appease and to stress that the Apostolic Visitation is only serving the purpose to learn the diocesan relations and the local reality. A direct connection with the liturgy was not given. In traditional circles of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, however, they are harboring fears. The announcement of the visit has rekindled painful memories of the Vatican action against the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 image: Pagina Catolica / Messa in Latino
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Katholisches...
AMGD

Pope Francis Openly Contradicts Summorum Pontificum?

Edit: this is from the Catholic Neoconservative commerce website, Kath.net.  It says that Pope Francis has confirmed he will stay the course as stated by his predecessor, and then makes a statement that seems to clearly contradict it.  We can't imagine he wouldn't see the problem.  We suspect that he will continue to say one thing and do another with respect to traditionalists who are at present being blamed for all the woes of the Church at present.

Pope Francis has met with about 60 members of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Conception at the Vatican.   At the meeting the state of the Order was discussed, which has been placed under an Apostolic Commissar for a year.

Vatikan (kath.net/jg) Vatican (kath.net / jg)
  Pope Francis has already met  with about 60 friars of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Conception at the Vatican on June 10th earlier this month.  The meeting took place in the chapel of St. Martha Guest House and lasted about 90 minutes.  This is according to reports by Vatican expert Andrea Tornielli on the online edition of Vatican insider.

 

After the Franciscans had renewed their consecration to the Immaculate Conception with the Pope, they asked questions of Francis.  The Franciscans of the Immaculate have been under an apostolic Commissar for almost a year because of "internal" problems.  Even the Capuchin, Father Fidenzio Volpi, attended the meeting, says Tornielli.

 Francis has been "well informed" in all matters. The Vatican expert, says he is following the development of the Order and expressed his appreciation to Volpi for his "work".

 Due to the Vatican measures,  about 40 of the 400 world's brothers have [requested to leave, per Rorate] left the Order.   It's about half of the seminarians who were only under temporary vows, writes Tornielli.

 With regard to the restrictions on the "Old Mass", Pope Francis  does not want to stray  from the line of Benedict XVI.  From the question of rite there should but be no ideological confrontation, the pope continued.   The members of the Franciscans of the Immaculate must obtain permission from superiors and the bishop, if they want to celebrate a Holy Mass in the extraordinary rite in a parish church, a sanctuary or a meeting house.  [Since the legislation specifically says the opposite, it's difficult to see how this doesn't contravene, Summorum Pontificum.]

Cardinal Ouellet Celebrates the Immemorial Mass for the First Time -- 25 Years of the Abbey of Le Barroux

(Rome) The prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, on Friday, will celebrate a Pontifical High Mass on June 27 at the  Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux in France in the traditional rite.

The occasion was to commemorate the reconciliation 25 years ago  of the Benedictine Monastery of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux with Rome. Since then  the Abbey  reports to   the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei . On June 27, the traditional Benedictine Abbey will celebrate this reconciliation, their elevation to the abbey, at which her late founder, Dom Gerard Calvet was raised to Abbot in 2008 and the consecration of the abbey church.

Abbot Gerard Calvet Could Not Accept Liturgical Reform

Born in 1927 Calvet entered   the Olivetans Order, a branch of the Benedictines, in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1956. As a missionary, he worked for several years in Brazil. The monk saw a serious rupture in   the liturgical reform of 1965/1969, which he could not follow. He left with the permission of the abbot of his monastery Tournay and has lived since 1969 as a hermit in the Vaucluse department in the French Alps.

When young men joined him, who also wanted to live the traditional liturgy and Benedictine Spirituality, Calvet appealed in 1973 with his Convent to the Fraternity of St. Pius X. This led to a break with his Abbey and the Benedictine Congregation of Subiaco.  In 1978 Calvet began with the construction of his own monastery in Provence Le Barroux in the diocese of Avignon. In 1986, a subsidiary was founded in Brazil.

After a Few Fractures, Stability

Dom Calvet did not   follow Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988 on the path of illicit episcopal ordinations. He broke the connection with the SSPX and Rome accepted the offer of reconciliation. It was step that split the community of Le Barroux. A part of the Convention separated from Dom Calvet, including the Brazilian subsidiary that was founded.

Daughter Founding in Aquitaine

In 1989,  Cardinal Augustin Mayer gave the Calvets abbatial blessing and the same year also the consecration of the abbey church was by Cardinal Edouard Gagnon. In 1995 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger aleo visited the traditional Abbey. In 2002,  the Monastery of Sainte-Marie de la Garde in Aquitaine was founded as  a new subsidiary. Today's Priory will  be an independent abbey in the future. 

Since 2003 monastery's fortunes have been passed to  Louis-Marie de Geyer d'Orth, the second abbot of Le Barroux. A few months after the death of old abbot Calvet Le Barroux was in the 2008 Benedictine Confederation added. The Abbey  now has 55 monks, while the Priory of Sainte-Marie de la Garde 13 monks.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Wikicommons

More “Reforms”: Will Ecclesia Dei Be Devoured By The Congregation of Religious Too?

(Rome) The well-known website Rorate Caeli wrote that in 1988,  the Pontifial Commission Ecclesia Dei established by  Pope John Paul II could be dissolved in the course of reform of the Curia taking place under Pope Francis.   It’s a message that caused some excitement in the communities  faithful to tradition. The background forms the distance of the Argentine pope to tradition. Since taking office, Pope Francis has made gestures in a variety of directions, most recently in the Vatican Gardens  towards Judaism and Islam, in his discussions with Eugenio Scalfari also towards atheists, agnostics and Freemasons, while Catholic tradition has he largely ignored.

Papal Astonishment that Catholic Youth is Attracted to the Old Rite

Some cryptic formulations were even interpreted as a swipe against tradition. A general lack of liturgical sensibility seems in addition to hinder Pope Francis’  access to the Old Rite. Compared to the Apulian bishops, he reaffirmed last year, however, that the two forms of the rite should co-exist and be mutually reinforcing. Speaking to the Czech bishops, the head of the Church expressed surprise in the spring of 2014 expressed surprise that  Catholic youth are attracted to the Old Rite.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei was created in 1988 to accommodate parts of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X. catch who did not want to go with “State of Emergency" illicit episcopal ordinations. Since then, the Commission is responsible for all old ritual Communities and orders in the Catholic Church. They thus have direct contact to the Roman Curia.

CDF: Does Lack of Agreement with the SSPX to Decoupling From Ecclesia Dei?

Pope Benedict XVI.  created a Pontifical Council with Ecclesia Dei.  In 2009, the Pontifical Commission of the Congregation and their prefect was automatically a President of the Commission. The President of the Commission has always been a cardinal. From 1988 to 2009 former or partly reigning Prefects of the different Roman Congregations have been incorporated without it.  From 1988-1991 Paul Augustin Cardinal Mayer OSB, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Antonio Cardinal Innocenti 1991-1995, former prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Angelo Felici 1995-2000, former prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 2000-2009, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the same was also Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy till 2006. Since 2009, the respective Prefect of the CDF is Commission Chairman, 2009-2012 was  William Joseph Cardinal Levada, since then  the German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller has officiated.

Congregation of Religious - “Worst of the Worst" Variants

Since the news broke, that Pope Francis is  going  to dissolve a number  of papal councils, merge, or incorporate others, there is concern that   on this occasion they could be manually applied to those facilities in which tradition is of an institutional and therefore recognized framework in the Church. This makes especially the "worst of the worst" variants (Messa in Latino) in the traditional circles, namely the decoupling  of Ecclesia Dei from the CDF and the integration into the Congregation for Religious.  The dissolution of  the Commission is considered unlikely. The question of integration is seen as an indicator of "benevolence".

The presentiment that the leadership will go to  Cardinal Prefect Joao Braz de Aviz, a remaining appointment  from the time of Benedict XVI. (2011),  and Secretary, Curia, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM,   an equally unfortunate appointment by Pope Francis (2013), has left  traditional Catholics who are certainly not Cassandras, but have a high threshold of pain, in some anxiety, because of the unspeakable dealing with the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

The Amazing Zeal of an Inertial Congregation

The Franciscan religious order founded by Father Stefano Manelli  broke two taboos. It changed from the New Order, as such, ( he is subject to the Congregation of Religious and not Ecclesia Dei), from the New to the Old Rite. A step that it also associated with an in-depth engagement and public confrontation with the Church crisis, its causes and in this context with the Second Vatican Council. The male branch of the order was placed  under provisional administration in July of 2013, and a a Visitator for the female branch was appointed in May 2014 and the lay community affiliated with the Order was also suspended. In contrary to the existing Church law the Order of the Old Rite was banned. The priest must individually apply for a permission to celebrate the traditional Mass. To ensure that the female branch of the order was severely impaired, although initially excluded from direct action because the Franciscan Franciscan Sisters are no longer allowed to participate Holy Mass in the Old Rite. The fact that the sisters wanted to maintain the Old Rite, did not move  the leadership of the Congregation at all. 

However, Rome is not only this variant of the inclusion in the conversation. There is the inclusion of  the CDF in that. Pope Benedict XVI explicitly employed it with a view to a return of the SSPX into unity with Rome.  Yet this seems to have exhausted itself where the talks between the Holy See and the SSPX remain inconclusive.

The Congregation for Divine Worship - “Liturgical Sensibility"

Besides the possible "worst" variant, the inclusion in the Congregation of Religious,  there is also discussion of integration into the Congregation for Divine Worship. There since 2008, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera has officiated in the  Curia. It’s an office which could still be exercised for some years by the 68 year old Spaniard. However, there have been persistent rumors  since the election of Pope Francis   of his dismissal.  Indeed, Cardinal Cañizares is the only one of nine prefects of the Congregation, about whom Francis has still taken no decision. Originally, should he be sent back to Spain,  and according to his rank it would only be possible to appointment him as Archbishop of Madrid.  In contrast, there are again some reservations in Spain, where with such an option which no one had anticipated, where an internal succession and local solutions are under discussion.

Regardless of the unresolved question of the Prefect, the annexation of the Commission Ecclesia Dei to the Congregation for Divine Worship would be a  feasible and acceptable solution for traditional circles. The Congregation has very well trained staff with "high liturgical sensibility" (Messa in Latino) and excelled in the past few years mainly due to the sound and quick response to pending questions. Compared to the Congregation for Divine Worship all other congregations act cumbersomely. The special zeal of the Congregation of Religious in the damage of the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate represents a marked exception, which makes matters even more difficult.

How is Pope Francis decide?

How is Pope Francis decide? What his C8 Kardinalsrat recommend? Pope Benedict XVI. aimed to lead the two forms of the Roman Rite to actual equality in the Church. A counter-revolutionary act of the first order, the scope of which, few are aware of in the Church  today, however, some high-ranking enemy was aware of it and it has been  counteracted by Francis Pope personally. In his understanding is Summorum Pontificum and following the instruction Universae Ecclesiae it is only as a gesture of paternal accommodation to a small minority in the Church.  No less, but no more. As such, he sees and accepts the step of Benedict XVI. The question of whether he would ever take such a step himself, is ultimately a useless intellectual exercise.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Accion Liturgica

TransL Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches….

AMGD

The "Hushed" Case of Father Calmel

Edit: who were the figures who resisted for a time, remained true to their vocations, and died serving the true Church, only to be obscured, ridiculed, ignored, unnoticed or placed aside? Surely, many in France know this man and felt the influence of his apostolic zeal. This is one of those great men, who fought an often lonesome fight in the Garden of Gethsemane. Fr. Roger-Thomas Calmel was persecuted mightily by the hierarchy.  He was a French Dominican and taught at a school for the Dominican Sisters of Fanjeux and established a lasting legacy there which lasts to this day.  Pertinacious Papist recently posted this, and we received an e-mail from a reader, Anthony.  God bless for this, here's the article by Cristiana de Magistris:

Dominican religious and Thomist theologian of great importance, director of souls, esteemed and sought throughout the whole of France, Catholic writer of a convincing logic and unambiguous clarity, Fr. Roger-Thomas Calmel (1914-1975) in the difficult years of the Council and the post-council period, was characterized by his counter-revolutionary action, through his preaching, writings and above all by his example, both on a doctrinal as well as a liturgical level. 

But on a particular point the resistance of this son of St. Dominic reached heroism: the Holy Mass. The Catholic Faith is founded upon the Mass because it is in the Mass that our Redemption was wrought by Christ upon Calvary and this is perpetuated in the holy Sacrifice offered day after day. 

1969 was the fateful year of the liturgical revolution, prepared for at length and finally imposed with authority upon a people who neither asked for nor desired it.    

            The birth of the new Mass was not peaceful.  Against the hymns of victory of the novatores, there were the voices of those who did not want to trample upon the past––of almost two millennia––of a Mass which dated back to the apostolic tradition.  This opposition was sustained by two Cardinals of the Curia (Ottaviani and Bacci), but remained completely unheeded.

            The date upon which the new Ordo Missae became effective was fixed for 30thNovember, the first Sunday of Advent, and the opposition was not going to be placated.Paul VI himself, in two general audiences (19th and 26th November 1969), intervened, presenting the new rite of the Mass as the will of the Council and as a help to Christian piety.

            On 26th November he said: “The New rite of the Mass:  it is a change in a venerable tradition that has gone on for centuries. This is something that affects our hereditary religious patrimony, which seemed to enjoy the privilege of being untouchable and settled. It seemed to bring the prayer of our forefathers and our Saints to our lips and to give us the comfort of feeling faithful to our spiritual past, which we kept alive to pass it on to the generations ahead.  It is at such a moment as this that we get a better understanding of the value of historical tradition and the communion of the Saints. This change will affect the ceremonies of the Mass. We shall become aware, perhaps with some feeling of annoyance, that the ceremonies at the altar are no longer being carried out with the same words and gestures to which we were accustomed—perhaps so much accustomed that we no longer took any notice of them. This change also touches the Faithful. It is intended to interest each one of those present, to draw them out of their customary personal devotions or their usual torpor…”.  And he continued by saying that it was necessary to understand the positive meaning of the reforms and to make of the Mass “a school of spiritual depth and a peaceful but demanding school of Christian sociology.”