Ordinations

I have attended at least 4 ordinations over the last weeks and sent apologies to at least 2 others - never have I been aware of so many - this is the first harvest of the all too short reign of Pope Benedict who truly inspired these men and valued their response.

Chief among the factors that inspired this new wave was Benedict's teaching on the liturgy - something evident at all the first masses of these young priests.  But despite these happy scenes there was a somber tone in the background, a note of concern at the recent appointments to the Congregation for Divine Worship (Pierro Marini a liturgist not known for his support Pope Benedict's reforms)reforms - a return to a time many of us had rather preferred to forget. 

It Seems that these will have to be the warriors who finally overthrow the liturgical nightmare that has engulfed the Church for 45 years. Surely in the Holy Father's choice of Marinni there has been a failure to read "the signs if the times" - harkening back to people and practices who can only have appeal to an elderly If not almost senile generation is a retrograde step and will lead to another generation of liturgical confusion.

Thankfully the Holy Father has led by example; legalism and rubricism are the terms we may use of those who are inflexible liturgically since Maundy Thursday last

There can now no longer be any serious imposition without the obvious accusation of legalism being levelled against those who would impose liturgical practices upon the entire church such as Marinni.

MATERNAL HEART LATIN MASS COMMUNITY COMES OF AGE

A LAY MOVEMENT

Two weeks ago the Latin Mass Community at Maternal Heart Chapel, Lewisham in Sydney Australia finally after 20 years was erected as a Personal Parish under the auspices of the Fraternity of Saint Peter.  This is a significant milestone.  A good time to reflect on how it all came about.

Indeed it is more significant when we consider the oft forgotten fact that Lewisham (as it is generally known) is the direct result of a lay response to Ecclesia Dei adflicta.  One of the most important and vigorous societies in Australia - the Ecclesia Dei Society (EDS) founded at Lewisham in 1989, saw a great flourishing of the Traditional liturgy through the organisation of it's annual liturgical conference and assistance and defence of those who looked to establish communities in different regions.  Three significant characters, Glen Tattersal (now priest), Garry Scarrabalotti and Stephen Smith came together at the suggestion of Fr Harry Jordan MSC giving impetus to this new society.

Mass before the Inaugural meeting of the EDS - Lewisham 1989

Glen Tattersal and Stephen Smith had already embarked on learning as much as they could about the naiscent movement for the restoration of the Traditional Mass and inspired by their recent visit to the Monasteries of Fontgombault and Le Barroux not to mention Wigratzbad.  A small schola was formed to learn the chant for a monthly Missa Cantata at St Michaels College, City Road, Darlington (this community ultimately moved to St Marys, Cathedral, Sydney).  It became apparent that the monthly Sung Mass was not welcomed by some members of the community and so the schola looked for another opportunity - this presented itself in the form of a weekly thursday Mass at the church of St Joachim at Lidcombe where the kindly Mons. Meeny made them welcome and the recently ordained Fr Terence Naughtin a conventual Franciscan began to celebrate the Traditional Mass regularly.  Here two things happened - free to learn and perform the liturgy, a small community began to develop and those involved in the liturgy developed a greater competence at performing it.  

Mass before the 1st annual meeting of the EDS - Lewisham 1990

With the the death of Mons. Meeny (RIP) and the arrival of a new priest whom one might have thought sympathetic to their cause instead asked them to move on.  It was then through a connection with the St Vincent de Paul Society and it's bookshop that an awareness of the abandoned chapel of the Lewisham Hospital began to arise.  The Chapel was however in a shocking state as a result of the buildings nearby having been pulled down the inside of the chapel was covered in a fine dust which in some places was an inch deep.  This was diligently cleaned by a band of enthusiasts from the Lidcombe group. And thus the Thursday Mass formerly at Lidcombe was officially transferred to Lewisham.

The community consisted of a about 15 people including Glen Tattersal the Chairman of the EDS, Fr Terence was the principal priest and a Schola Cantorum Sanctae Crucis of about 5 led by Stephen Smith.  Here was a new community which asked of it's priests only to sing the Mass, vestments, plate, altar where all provided and of course a generous stipend which Fr Terrence always refused to accept.  In time Fr Terrence became the principal celebrant to the liturgies - other priests had also played a part in sustaining the community at various times not to mention Fr Spora, Fr Spillane, Fr John Hogan, Fr John O'Neill, Fr Ephraim Chifley OP, Fr Dowd OP, Fr John Smith.  

After the 1st annual meeting Mass Lewisham 1990

Thus the community steadily grew as did its commitment to the Solemn celebration of the liturgy.  In time the community through a Novena to St Francis of Assisi was permitted to celebrate the liturgy every Sunday thus arose a tradition of Solemn Mass on Thursdays, Sundays and Major Feasts. 

Through the Monastic influences of the many Tyburn Benedictine oblates amongst the founders of Lewisham a particular liturgical style developed which reflected the European monasteries.  Amongst those most influential where Michael Sternbeck (now of St Bede Studios) who furnished the chapel with many fine vestments both gothic and conical, supplemented by William Lawrence from Brisbane who made many of the full classical surplices.  In the early photographs the presence of the hood worn over the surplice is frequently visible.  Some of these influences survive in that the offices of terce (before mass) and sext (after mass) on Sundays is still sung according to the Monastic Antiphonal.

After a golden period of 15 years many young men had left Lewisham to try their vocations in religious institutions. A disproportionately high number of priestly vocations have emanated from that time.  Unfortunately it was about this time that Fr Terrence began to experience significant problems whith-in his own order which culminated in his not being able to guarantee his continued ministry at the Chapel.   The Praesidium (or Governing Council as it was then) had the daunting task of trying to find someone else to replace him.  It seemed that prayers where answered when Fr Laurence Gresser FSSP recently ordained and returned from the U.S. approached the Cardinal (George Pell) who according to Fr Gresser was happy to appoint him as Chaplain to the Community.  On the one hand the Community where officially a chaplaincy but on the other the failure of FSSP to allow Fr Terrence (who was under their authority) to continue as the principal pastor was the cause of some ill will!  Perhaps more significantly this in reality marked the end of the lay organisation of the Chapel and within 12 months the structures which had sustained the place for so long where discarded.  

The arrival of the Fraternity of St Peter, sadly does not mark the high point of the chapel's liturgical life, rather a certain decline - while the FSSP moved swiftly to turn its interest to a house of formation which is stationed nearby, Fr Terence's distinctive pastoral ministry was sorely missed.

Perhaps with the establishment of this new parish might mark a new period for this community - one which embraces it's founding principals "the performance of the liturgy whenever possible in it's fullest expression" (from the original charter of the community) and one in which the pastors make a new commitment to the people to whom they minister.  One thing was astounding about Lewisham in its first 15 years apart from its achievement liturgically - It was marked by an understanding that without the co-operation of clergy and laity such a venture would not be possible.  Perhaps this principal will be rediscovered.

   

A CURIOUS IMBALANCE

The blog Rorate Ceali dramatically declares that Summorum Pontificum is abrogated!  Is it really?
Surely a most distressing headline for any traditional Catholic!

Franciscans of the Immaculate after High Mass at St John Lateran

Ones first reaction is to think surely not!  Perhaps there is some mistake! The evidence produced makes a good case that in this specific instance there is some truth in it, indeed corroboration is found in the comments of some members of the Franciscans of the Immaculate but put in such a way as to suggest that it is a welcome imposition because of internal strife within the order and assures us that it applies to the order alone. Well that sort of calms things a bit but one is still a bit weary?

After all for a Vatican decastery to wade into such an internal struggle with papal backing is heavy handed to say the least.  Especially since there has been little or no word on the continuing saga of the dissident female religious of the US.  Should we expect the same level of papal interest.  Seems a curious imbalance to me.

As ever we shall have to wait and see.

Oremus pro invicem.

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2013

Somewhat saddened at the lack of the sense of the sacred and the decline of the standard of the music at World Youth Day - but neither am I surprised.

Papal liturgies just ain't what they used to be...

An Extraordinary First Mass

The beginning of the ordination season for this year has begun - a significant Mass offered according to the Missal of 1962 by Fr Nicholas Rynne whose official first Mass was to follow the next day - but unofficially he celebrated his "Primiz" and very first mass according to the Classical Latin Rite.  There where many clergy and seminarians present.  There are a number more of newly ordained who will be offering the ancient rite all over he country before the end of the year.  I never thought I'd live to see the day.  Salve festa dies!

Snearing at the signs of the times - recent musings from Wollongong

One would like to report some good news from the point of view of catholic orthodoxy or perhaps even on something which is balanced but alas there is nothing.  Rather, I am informed that if you present yourself for communion on the tongue at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Wollongong, be prepared for the priest to stop and snear at you -  This happened twice last week to a young catholic.  Astonishing that something which is permited in the new rite and is a matter of personal choice for the laity illicits such a response.  Of course this type of rediculous and infantile behaviour from clergy merely confirms the young man in his resolve and practice.

I am somewhat bemused by the capacity which many liberal clergy who regard themselves as progressive and up to date have for burying their heads in the sand when they strike something that doesn't compute.  The phenomenon of young catholics attracted to the great traditions of the Catholic Church in liturgy and pratice.  "Computer says no!" as the dull secretary declares in Little Britain.  But snearing can be so pastoral though, don't you think?  A little snear here and a little snear there - lets the peope know whats right and wrong, without having to say anything, no?

Just another sign of the times?

ORATORY ANNOUNCED IN AUSTRALIA

Vespers in the little Oratory - London (Chapel of the Little Brothers of the Oratory)

Finally we have the beginnings of the process that will hopefully see the formal establishment of an Oratory of the Congregation of St Phillip Neri. Both the London Oratory and that of Birmingham are two of the most famous ones who set a high standard - one no doubt that is intended to be emulated here.

The Archdiocese of Brisbane (on it's website) mentions the beginning of a process - the "founding of  a society of apostolic life".  Clearly this is not a foundation from overseas - that's not how oratories are generally established.  It is of course a group of local priests who have come together.  There is also mention of seminarians which is very interesting indeed.

As in Toronto, Canada a few years ago and more recently in the United States, this has undoubtedly been in the wings for some time, for no such establishments occur without some years of preparation even to arrive at this point. All of the appropriate approvals seem to have been gained.  Let us pray for the success of this initiative.

HABEMUS PAPAM

POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis of Argentina - The first ever Jesuit and the first non european pope in 1000years!  In most matters his record is quite good but sadly in the diocese over which he presided there is no official celebration of the Traditional Mass.

A rainy Ember Day

Another Ember day and rain, rain, rain.  A good day for fasting

Remember the Ember

In the Venerable Roman Calendar

Today is the second emberday this week of three - Wednesday, Friday and Saturday they are traditionally days of fast - their history is long and complex but also very ancient (check the Catholic Encyclopaedia - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05399b.htm). They are also known as Quarttuor tempore  four groups of them which correspond with the four seasons of the year.  The word Ember is probably derived from the German "Quartember"

Prayers where offered for the harvest both in terms of crops and vocations.  The Pentecost Ember days were usually associated with  ordinations the various minor orders being conferred between the lessons.

They where never suppressed after Vatican II and where meant to be continued at a Diocesan Level for different needs.  Oddly they exist in the new ordo but no, one to my knowledge uses them.

Their absence can only mean that every thing is hunky dory in the diocese and it does not need our prayers, fasts or penances.  Oh thank God for the Wollongong Diocesan Pastoral Plan and our Models of Church!

Musically the emberdays never have the Gloria in excelsis nor alleluias instead there are tracts  and like Lent the organ is not played.  The Ember Saturdays are a little like the Easter Vigil in that they have additional reading, sometimes up to six and like the Easter Vigil they have tracts in between each - the vestments are violet and the ferial Mass ordinary (missa primitiva) is used.

Let us pray for a bountiful harvest, let us pray for priests.

Australian Bishops miss the mark on church music - Wollongong gets it right!

I've just been looking through the Masses recommended by the Australian Bishops Conference, amongst them a re-hash of Br Collin Smith's Mass Shalom (is quite well done) and Richard Connolly's Mass (has some latin refrains) but do these really hit the mark.

Apart from the music provided in the Missal where is the promotion of Gregorian Chant which the much hailed 2nd Vatican Council asked all pastors to teach their people - surely the new translation and the 50th Anniversary of the Council was a good chance to finally implement this reform.

The universality of the Catholic Church has been the focus of the reign of Pope Benedict - The period of experimentation liturgically, spiritually and ecclesiologicaly is at an end the results are in.  Some less enlightened and out of touch bishops and dioceses persist in dated ecclesiological "visions of church" inspired not by the magisterium or the tradition of the church but rather by dated theological and sociological opinions which have already done so much serious damage.  The Wollongong Diocese is one such.

You might feel inclined to ask however "what has music to do with all this" ? Well apart from liturgy and music being part of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan all of the Popes including the Second Vatican Council have reiterated that music and in particular Gregorian Chant is an integral part of the liturgy.  What does this mean? It means that it is part of the substance or content of the liturgy, a fundamental component if you like.  Ideally of course it would be sung in the official language of worship in the church which is Latin but may also be sung in the vernacular to great effect.  What is being said here is that this chant should form the substance of our prayers: the Divine Office, Mass and Devotions in cathedral, convent, priory, abbey, school and parish church.  Surely then the question arises, if something so fundamental so integral (and clearly reiterated by the church) is not happening, what else has not been implemented?  What else indeed...?

Pope Benedict in Sacramentum Caritatis says among other things, that "Gregorian chant is to be not only held in esteem but employed".  The response of the Wollongong Diocese has produced and selected a beautiful offering of Gregorian Chants and produced a booklet and CD to be taught in Schools and in Church both in Latin and English....NOT!  Instead a most "relevant" offering for it's diocesan Mass called the Glendalough Mass claiming to be Irish folk in inspiration and written by an American and published by (guess who) GIA.  Tragically it can not be sung unaccompanied (perhaps that is not so bad after-all) Moving ahead in leaps and bounds! Of course this is not even one of the six recommended by the bishops - this can only be because of the superlative musical resources in the diocese of Wollongong their experts are better than the collective resources of the Australian Bishops.

Meanwhile the Diocese is called at enormous expense to reflect collectively on the decline in Mass attendance and the even greater decline in priests and examine different "models of church" after the tone has been set by a video which is as trite as it is patronising.   The people are lulled into excepting their fate in the guise of consultation and led to the "models" as solutions which are simply a rearranging of the deck chairs" so to speak, they do not address the underlying issues (which is of course lack of priests) at any level.

Young people attracted by authenticity - vocations on the increase

Inevitabley this rationalisation must take place (we all knew that) - and it is the job of the Bishop and his priests to organise themselves in such a way as to provide the service they reasonably can not to call on the the laity, "the baptised" to ratify their rationalisation in the name of consultation.  For if "the baptised" are really asked to stand up and take a stronger role then let us first receive a proper account of the stewardship of the diocese for the last 40 years.  Why have we arrived at this?  Perhaps we the laity have failed in some way?  Yes we have failed to keep our bishops and clergy accountable for their stewardship.  Please no more "models of church"!

While the statistics reflect what we suspected - not surprisingly the largest bureaucracy in the diocese, the Catholic Education Office (CEO) is doing well and expanding. It continues the trend of not teaching the faith and repeating the mantra "that parents are responsible for transmitting the faith to their children".  The CEO quotes a figure of 80% of their enrolled Children as baptised and since baptism has become a comforting social ritual for many we might conclude that an even smaller number of their parents practice the faith largely the result of the catechises of the late 70's, 80's and the beginning of the 90's which was a shameful parody of the faith, watered down to the point of being unrecognisable.

So as the diocese fades off into the sunset and prepares for retirement it has ear marked Irish folk music as the  backdrop for it's swan song - Perhaps it is a fitting Dies Irae for a "model of church" that should have been buried long ago - what is clear is that this generation must pass before a new generation can plant a fresh the garden of the faith in the Wollongong Diocese.

Meanwhile back in the real world increasingly secular and hostile to Catholicism, there is an increase in vocations in the western world, a new trajectory has begun to emerge mostly due to Pope Benedict the XVI.  A trend which has even reached our shores indeed with a return to sound catechesis, gregorian chant and vertical celebrations of the liturgy, authentic Catholicism proves once again that it has the ability to attract and reproduce itself.  Wollongong it seems, will have to wait for a another day before it can join with one voice the saints and countless Angels before God's throne in singing the great sacrifice of praise continually "Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth" Holy, holy, holy, O Lord God of Angel Hosts.