August 2007 Archives

You've probably heard the objection that the Latin Mass would be incomprehensible, especially for children. While that is technically true until a child can read a missal, it doesn't necessarily follow that he isn't learning some very valuable lessons, as Mary Alexander recently pointed out. Once he can read, the world of Latin begins to open.

I am pleased to inform you that beginning September 16th, 2007, Father C. Tim Meares will celebrate a weekly Traditional Latin Mass at St. Joseph Church in Burgaw, NC, near Wilmington, on Sundays at 4:30PM.

Psalm XCIV

"...Quoniam ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et aridam fundaverunt manus ejus: venite, adoremus, et proccidamus ante Deum: ploremus coram Domino qui fecit nos, quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster nos autem populos ejus et oves pascuae ejus...."

"For the sea is His and He made it; and His hands founded the dry land. Come let us worship and fall down before God; let us weep before the Lord that made us; for He is the Lord our God; and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture."

Some who oppose the re-introduction of the Latin Mass claim that it will be divisive, having some parishioners attending Mass in the vernacular and others attending it in Latin. And yet how will this be any more divisive than what we have now? The church down the street from me has Mass in English at 6 AM and Spanish at 7 AM. I've seen parishes with as many as four different languages for Sunday Mass. One more language won’t make it any worse? In fact it can be argued that getting away from the universal language of Latin has been divisive.

click to enlarge image

History was made at Saint Benedict Center (SBC) when the first Confirmation ever, took place at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel on August 25th. The Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, bestowed the Sacrament of Confirmation on fifty confirmandi in the Traditional Rite. The Bishop's moving address to the Confirmandi and the Sponsors, the majestic ceremony and the reverence of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament that followed, left everyone truly impressed. It was a beautiful day (despite the intense heat) and one that will long be remembered at SBC! Deo Gratias!

This slideshow is accompanied by the words of the Bishop to the Confirmandi recorded during that sacred ceremony.

click to enlarge image

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.” St. Francis of Assisi

Every serious mother knows that the formation of her child is the most important task she will undertake. It is the one thing that if neglected she will suffer the effects all her life and so will her child, even into adulthood. And in the list of things that must be overcome, there is nothing more central than self will. Everyone struggles with selfishness and not only as children but all our lives. Children are born into a world where the family revolves around him and his needs. For a while. But then reality hits and it becomes time for him to realize that he is not the center of the universe. This self awareness is most apparent around the age of two and reappears with gusto in the teenage years. Unfortunately the world is ready to join with the flesh and the devil to convince your child and then teenager that their needs, wants, desires, inclinations, interests, reign supreme. And that happiness and fulfillment are to be found in giving in to the self inclinations that manifest themselves.

How can we counteract this? One easy way and I don’t know about you but I’m always looking for the easy way,

click to enlarge image

Signo te signo crucis…

With these words eloquently spoken by His Excellency the Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Worcester diocese, 50 young men and young ladies were confirmed in the Faith. The interesting part of course, is that the words are in Latin. This implies that the sacrament of Confirmation was administered according to the traditional rite on August 25, 2007 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Still River, Massachusetts. Not only is it implied, it is fact

Here’s how one pastor initiated the process to include the Latin Mass in his Mass schedule. Perhaps you’ve heard about a parish doing something similar, or maybe you know about some other successful approach that has been used to promote the Traditional Latin Mass. Please tell us. We look forward to your comments!
The day after Pope Benedict’s motu proprio was issued, the pastor of Saint Anthony’s in New Bedford, Massachusetts took a proactive step. Fr. Roger Landry placed an announcement in his parish bulletin giving a brief outline of the pope’s document, and

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 19, 2007 - Fr. Scott Haynes, S.J.C. offered the Tridentine Latin High Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Siluva on 8-11-07. This was the first time the Traditional Latin Mass was offered at there since the Communist Occupation of Lithuania. Participants of Ad Fontes (http://adfontes.archangelus.lt/), a study-week of Gregorian Chant for young people, sang Gregorian Chant and rededicated themselves to their Catholic faith.

Condensed From The Providence Journal

Following the motu proprio entitled “Summorum Pontificum,” which authorizes priests to celebrate the once-suppressed Tridentine Mass, there is a renewed interest in restoring the old liturgy. According to Fr. Joseph Santos, there are about 20 priests in Rhode Island who have expressed an interest in learning how to say the old Mass.
The Rev. Joseph Santos is the pastor of the Holy Name Church in Providence. The parish was given approval 13 years ago for the Tridentine rite after a trusted friend of the bishop convinced him that allowing the older rite would provide hope to Catholics who felt alienated from the church.

It’s no surprise that there has been a huge positive response to the survey of the parishioners at Saint Lucy’s Parish in Newark, New Jersey as to whether they wanted the Traditional Latin Mass in their parish. Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. Granato, pastor of St. Lucy’s attributes the great interest and desire for the Latin Mass by over 200 of his parishioners to the fact that they are particularly devout and reverent in their worship, and most especially in their adoration of the Holy Eucharist. He spoke of what he called “the sacred silence” instilled in his church.

Moses and the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert and the people of Vermont waited nearly that long for the Latin Mass to return to the Green Mountain state. Through the generosity of His Excellency Bishop Salvatore Matano the Latin Mass made a dramatic comeback on the feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, August 15, 2007 to the Co-Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the Old North End of Burlington.

I'm a cradle Catholic, thanks to my mother. I started in the "old" Church. Yes, Sister Mary had a ruler and used it effectively. We learned the Baltimore Catechism. We went to Mass, first in Latin, then in English. We took the change in stride and never gave it much thought. Rome had spoken, case closed. Cradle Catholics understand that.

On July 31st I had the pleasure of sitting down with His Excellency Bishop Rifan of Campos, Brazil and administrator of the Society of St. John Vianney to ask him some questions about the Motu Proprio promulgated by the Holy Father on July 7th, 2007.

By Julia Duin - The Tridentine Mass, the Latin-only rite both loved and hated by many Catholics for its medieval qualities, is roaring back into use after a July 7 papal decree loosened the rules on celebrating it.

Two traditional priestly societies dedicated to the rite report that priests from all over the country are signing up in droves for weeklong classes to learn the rituals and language of the Mass, named after the 16th-century Council of Trent.

Monsignor Michael Schmitz, vicar-general of the Florence, Italy-based Institute of Christ the King, said he has received hundreds of calls from interested clergy.