Happy anniversary of Summorum Pontificum

It was 7th July 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI signed his motu proprio; freeing the Traditional Latin Mass from the restrictions it had placed upon it for the previous 37 years.

Since then, we have exceptionally more sung masses; including a weekly high mass at the Birmingham Oratory, a high mass at Birmingham's St Chad's Cathedral, and sung masses at the beautiful Spetchley Park Gardens, in Worcestershire.

Thank you Holy Father, for Summorum Pontificum: who will not now hear me, but will someday, when he passes to his eternal reward.

Sadly, since Benedict stepped down, there have been restrictions made upon the Mass again; long after any initial teething issues. For example, the Franciscans of the Immaculate have been subject to visitation and the widespread ban on the mass of ages.

But still, it's been an interesting seven years... On the seventh day of the seventh month.

The Motu Proprio came into effect on 14th September 2007,the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Daily prayer for Priests

O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of Your Son and for love of Him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on Your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop’s hands. Keep them close to You, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.

O Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for the lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.

But above all, I commend to you N. and all the priests dearest to me, the priest who baptized me, the priests who have absolved me from my sins, the priests at whose Masses I have assisted and who have offered me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion, the priests who have taught and instructed me or helped and encouraged me, and the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way.

O Jesus, keep them all close to Your Heart, and bless them abudently in time and eternity. Amen.

May Procession

It was lovely to attend the Marian procession today, which includes crowning of a statue of our Lady of Fatima with a garland of flowers. For the first time Maddy took a very special interest, walking with the other girls in their pretty white dresses. At one point Maddy picked some wild flowers en route and added them to the ones decorating the statue!

Fr Richard Duffield, the new provost of the Birmingham Oratory, led the procession, and asked everyone to pray especially for the success of the Pope's visit and the beatification of our Cardinal, which is beset with opposition. I must admit to my own failings and cynicism about the beatification ceremony, and hope that our family can be there to support our Holy Father.

The afternoon ended with a consecration to our Lady of Fatima, in the hope that we may have God's grace active in our lives using the Blessed Virgin Mary as an example of docility to the divine will.

Prinknash Abbey

Home of the world famous incense and Benedictine community of 12. There were over 70 monks here prior to the 1970s, requiring a brand new purpose built monastary. Here is the result:



Ironically vocations fell soon after, all part of the modern crisis in the Catholic Church. We had the opportunity of reliving the glory days with a 1962 Latin Low Mass in the old Abbey Church, where the monks now reside. The new 'prison-like' structure remains vacant.

Family Retreat

We have just finished a wonderful retreat with Fr Andrew Southwell and St Catherine's Trust. This year it was at the Oratory School in Berkshire, which I must admit made us feel right at home!


Pictured are the two chapels in the school, which along with some of the classrooms and boarder's accomodation, were used by us this weekend. It was also the setting of the second Gregorian Chant training weekend who sung at Mass, Vespers and Compline. These were led by Nick Gale, who was my boarding room master at school!

Our New Archbishop

This is the most beautiful photo from the Mass of Installation. I hope to be able to write a full report soon, for what it's worth. I'm not sure exactly from what angle to do it, though...

Photo credit: Mazur/Catholicchurch.org.uk (see more here)

My greatest regards to this noble Brigittine sister for reverencing the Bishop appropriately, the only example of which I saw throughout the whole day.

Advent

Today is not just the beginning of advent, and the beginning of the 2010 liturgical year; it is also the 40th anniversary of the implementation of the revised Novus Ordo Missale Romanum, now known as the 'Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite' of Mass. Our family celebrated this 40 years in the wilderness by attending a Sunday Mass using the 1962 Missal, which was 'Extraordinary'. We also attended Vespers, which is the first time in ages... Once I asked Fr Guy Nicholls the best way to prepare for Christmas in the Advent season, and he said "By praying Vespers".

V. Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum R. Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just; Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour

Remembrance Day

Today was dedicated by King George V as Armistice Day to commemorate the ending of the First World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Germans signed the Armistice. Nowadays it has come to commemorate all those soldiers killed in war. It is commonly observed by a two-minute silence today at 11am, which is always a poignant moment in the busyness of normal life. It is a good time to pray for the souls of the deceased, especially those Catholics who died during the great wars.

I recently read an eye-opening article in this month's Mass of Ages magazine (Latin Mass Society) written by Fr David Smith RAChD, who is an Army chaplain and has ministered to the soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Whatever anyone can say about the legitimacy of these wars, his witness is a striking one. He writes of the Extraordinary Form of Mass, which he has found very successful amongst the soldiers:

[In the old Mass] the idea of the Sacrifice is in your face. It is absolutely suffused with blood, battle and triumph. This Sacrifice is, so to speak, God's weapon against the powers of darkness...

The silences are important. Why? Because the life of the warrior is surrounded by noise and clamour. The killing-zone is not a place of quiet and calm. Silence is rare - and we crave it... In the face of such majesty, such suffering, even a soldier's 'lesser calvaries' are put into a certain context.

I found this article so powerful. Here is a priest who knows his flock, and realises that the Catholic Mass is so important and applicable to every human situation, even ones infinitely removed from our own experiences. Indeed, I began to realise the truth- that these men need the mercy and nourishment of this 'sacrament of sacraments' so much more acutely than I can ever imagine.

Also appropriately today is the feast of St Martin of Tours, who died in 397. Brought up the son of a military tribune, he was obliged to enlist as a soldier in the Roman army. During this time he was moved to compassion upon seeing a cold beggar, and divided his cloak for him. Touched by this incident, Martin eventually converted to the Catholic Faith. Upon his release from military service he become a monk under St Hiliary and later reluctantly became Bishop of Tours in France. He was renowned for his spirit of humility and mortification, and his example can also teach us the working of grace to touch human lives in the most unlikely of places.

In the two-minute silence of today, I will try to spiritually unite myself with the little silences which our modern-day warriors are going through; whether these silences are filled with anger, pain, bitterness, or the encounter with the divine that any Catholic can see in the Mass.

Rare Sung Requiem

Sung Requiem
for
St Michael & the Holy Angels, West Bromwich
Setting by Jean Richafort (1480-1547)

Wednesday, November 4th at 7:30pm
Followed by refreshments

260 High Street
West Bromwich B70 8AQ

A very rare performance of a High Renaissance masterpierce by ensemble 1685

Ensemble 1685
Formed by Richard Jeffcoat from singers he worked with at Coventry Cathedral, this enterprising group is now in its fifth year, and has notched up more than 300 performances. 1685 was the year both Bach and Handel were born, but, in addition to performances of Bach Passions and Handel's Messiah, the ensemble sings in all styles, and in every kind of performance context. A special interest lies in seeking out the correct context for performances of sacred music, and this rare performance of the Requiem Mass by a Franco-Flemish composer from the 16th century will be greatly enhanced by its context within a Latin Mass.

Jean Richafort (1480-1547)
This polyphonic setting of the Ordinary of the Requiem Mass was composed in honour of the composer's teacher, Josquin Desprez, following Josquin's death in 1521. Richafort held several posts in the Low Countries but also appears to have been attached to the French Court. The Requiem uses fragments of the older composer's work hidden in the rich texture of 6-part writing. This is a very rare performance of a High Renaissance masterpiece, and perhaps it will be performed liturgically for the first time in this country. As far as I know, this will also be the first Traditional Latin Mass in the Black Country in 40 years! Please give it your support!

With thanks to Fr Louis Hong Le (Parish Priest) and Mr Patrick Fahey for helping to organise it.

See my LMS Blog for more details of Latin Masses in the West Midlands.

Seven Dolours High Mass

Oliver Hayes of the Expectation of our Lady has put up a prompt post about tonight's Solemn High Mass for the feast of our Lady of Sorrows at St John Fisher church in West Heath, South Birmingham.



It was the parish priest's first public Mass using the 1962 missal, after having filled the ministry of Deacon and then subsequently attending the LMS priest training conference in Colney last month.

I hope to write more on my LMS blog in due course.

-- Posted From Wend's iPod Touch WiFi (4.5Mb/s)
Virgin Media Broadband

Te Deum

In thanksgiving for the coming beatification of Cardinal Newman:

Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur. Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur. Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi caeli et universae Potestates; Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord.
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee.
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers,
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!

Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae. Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The wonderful company of Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee:

Patrem immensae maiestatis: Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
The Father of infinite Majesty;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.

Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum. Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. Iudex crederis esse venturus.
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man,
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge.

Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance! R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.
V. Every day we thank Thee. R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day. R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee. R. O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.

High Mass in Birmingham Parish

Even before the council it would be unusual for there to be a full Solemn High Mass in the ordinary parishes. It is with eager anticipation that I therefore draw your attention to this event on Thursday July 9th at 7pm! It will be the patronal feast of the church of St John Fisher in West Heath in the old calender and therefore a fitting occasion.

Please see my LMS blog for more details.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cogitationes Cordis ejus in generatiónem:
ut éruat a morte ánimas eórum et alat eos in fame.

The thoughts of His Heart are to all generations: to deliver their souls from death and feed them in famine.

(Introit for today - Psalm 32: 11-19)

The Sacred heart is many things: It is an image, it is a feast, it is a popular devotion in Catholicism. But above all things, it is an indicator towards an important theological foundation of Christendom. In the encyclical Haurietis Aquas, Pope Pius XII asserts that;

It is altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts which devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out on the souls of the faithful, purifying them, offering them heavenly strength, rousing them to the attainment of all virtues.(Paragraph 2)

His predecessor, Pius XI, was even so bold as to say;

Is not a summary of all our religion and, moreover, a guide to a more perfect life contained in this one devotion? Indeed, it more easily leads our minds to know Christ the Lord intimately and more effectively turns our hearts to love Him more ardently and to imitate Him more perfectly. (Miserentissimus Redemptor)

Therefore it seems clear that this devotion is particularly relevant for thinking of our religion in this day and age. So what is this devotion all about?

The perfect way to visualise the basis of the devotion is through the Gospel accounts. St John records in his account of the Gospel (7:37-39);

on the last and great day of the festivity, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and let him drink that believeth in Me. As the Scripture saith: Out of his heart there shall flow rivers of living waters.' Now this He said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in Him.

This vision given by our Lord reaches its perfect fulfilment on the cross, where in the moments after His death the centurion pierces His side with a lance, sending forth a stream of blood and water. The symbolism behind this has been taken to reflect the waters of Baptism which cleanse our soul, and the blood of the new covenant given to us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which instils in us divine Grace, uniting us to Christ's sacrifice and atonement. Through His pierced side, the Holy Spirit thus flowed upon His Church.

But let me take a step back. For the Sacred Heart this year has been instituted as the beginning of a year dedicated to the Priesthood. Pope Benedict has chosen the feast of the Sacred Heart, today, to inaugurate this year. That is why I have chosen the image above: Jesus arrayed in sacerdotal vestments thus symbolising His Divine Priesthood. This consists of Him being the perfect mediator between God and Man, since He is God made incarnate, in the flesh. By sharing in our humanity, Jesus shows us a perfect example of Divine Love. The ministry of the Priesthood is closely connected to this for a variety of reasons which I'm sure we will learn more about in this coming year. From my point of view, the way the Priest makes present the reality of Christ, calvary, the real presence of Our Saviour in the Mass, on the Altar. Furthermore, the Liturgy shows us an image of the Priest in our everyday lives: feeding us with Christ's Love in a tender and sober way, especially evident in the distribution of communion on our tongues like lambs in his flock.

In the image above, Christ is represented on the Cross, for it is here that he makes manifest his Divine Love in the most perfect way, recalling that His institution of the Priesthood and the Eucharist began before the crucifixion during the Last Supper as part of one single act (see the way Mary Magdelene holds the precious Chalice at his feet). Christ is therefore crowned as King in heaven but also victim, the image of the suffering servant of Isaiah's prophecy, symbolised in St John's apocalypse by the lamb standing, as it were, slain.

Through His merits, which He has earned for us on the Cross, we partake in the Holy Trinity and become objects of a love which is constantly outpoured, ready to be received. As we are reminded in the classic image - his heart is burning with love for us, like the Just Father for his Prodigal Son. This love is without condition, and we cannot earn it. We can, obviously, partake by praising the Father for sending us such a gift. We resign our weakness and our failing to His Sacred Heart in confession. He urges us to reciprocate His love in this manner, but moreover by displaying His love in our own everyday lives. It all begins with Christ and His Sacred Heart.

What's in a name?

I would like to link back to a good post on Joseph Shaw's blog about the vocabulary used for the extraordinary form of the Latin Rite. There are many people who react against the word 'traditional' for instance. The word 'tradition' is derived from the latin 'tradere' which means 'to hand down'. The best biblical precedent in the New Testament comes from St Paul, who uses this very same word in the Vulgate translation (1 Cor 15:3);

For I delivered unto you first of all, which I also received

The whole of this chapter is worth reading to grasp this aspect of Catholicism. Indeed, in this respect all Catholics should be 'traditional', in that the doctrine (the deposit of faith given by our Lord) has been handed down and preserved.

What most people acknowledge in various degrees is that in the latter half of the 20th century, there has been a widespread rupture in this process of 'handing down'. Nowhere is this more evident in the catechesis of Catholic doctrine. And visibly in most Catholic churches around the world, there has also been a rupture in the way Liturgy is conducted. These are the topics at the heart of those who are referred to as 'traditionalist', who adhere to the form of Mass which has been very much handed down, without artificial discontinuities.

On the other side of the coin there are 'liberal Catholics' who also acknowledge a discontinuity, but prefer a wholesale rejection of tradition. This will include doctrine and our public display of Catholic beliefs in the Mass.

So it would be nice if we all knew where we were, but when viewing the Catholic world as a whole, it can be a very confusing place where discord is rife! I think it would be far more easier to embrace the Faith of our forefathers, especially those who died in this country for their faith, rather than the modernists who would simply have the Church become 'updated' to the modern world, and eschew all notion of listening to the wisdom of the dead!

I suppose there is also another view that the Church is still in complete continuity. Perhaps the term would be 'neo-conservative' (ie conservative to the new state of affairs). This would probably be a group of Catholics who take an ultra-montanist view on papal infalliability and in my opinion leave the laity looking sadly deficient in intellectual stamina or a desire to progress at all. It must be a hard pressure on the Pope trying to please all these different groups, as well as the non-Catholics and secularists! Our prayers should always be with him, to discern the will of the Holy Spirit, and best safeguard the deposit of Faith, which is the best nourishment for his flock.

Update: A quote from Newman which has appeared on today's blog entry:

I allow, then, that the Church, certainly, does ‘insist,’ when she speaks dogmatically, nay or rather she more than insists, she obliges; she obliges us to an internal assent to that which she proposes to us … And I admit that she obliges us in a most forcible and effective manner, that is, by the penalty of forfeiting communion with her, if we refuse our internal assent to her word. We cannot be real Catholics, if we do not from our heart accept the matters which she puts forward as divine and true. This is plain.

Corpus Christi

Some photos of the latest High Mass at the Birmingham Oratory today can be found on my LMS blog. It was testament to the glory of Catholic liturgy for the greater glory of God, "then be the anthem clear and strong, thy fullest note, thy sweetest song, the very music of Thy breast" (St Thomas Aquinas, who wrote the Lauda Sion for this feast day, intended to more gloriously celebrate the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, just after the end of Paschaltide)

Pontifical High Mass

Tuesday night was the closest I've got to a Pontifical High Mass. It was a beautiful opportunity to photograph the rich sanctuary of the Birmingham Oratory, which is notable in its noble simplicity, its simple form, and functional area. Like the whole church, it does not make one feel swamped by sheer splendour, but invites the soul to share the majestic heights which it aspires to in a more intimate way than the Roman basilicas it is modelled after.

There are so many photos, it is better to simply embed a slide show. You will notice, this Mass was celebrated by Cardinal John Foley in the new form of the Roman Rite, which customary to the Oratories incorporates traditional mass custom with the Novus Ordo missal. The musical setting was Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli which is divine. The result is something which closely resembles the old Rite, without losing the unique aspects of the new; such as offertory processions, special intercessions etc. I find the main drawback to this approach is the stop-start nature of the Rite when coupled with the long Mass scores. In the old Rite, it is more usual for the music to provide a backdrop to what is happening at the altar, rather than an interlude in the proceedings.

Flickr set here

Please go to the Cause Website for an official report of the Mass and the Cardinal's excellent homily.

Happy St Philip Neri

Have a Blessed Feast of St Philip Neri

"My heart grew hot within me, and in my meditation a fire shall flame out..."

Second Alleluia (Psalm 38:4)

"The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by His Spirit dwelling within us"

Introit (Romans 5:5)

We were lucky enough to begin the feast of St Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratorian congregation, last night with First Vespers presided over by Cardinal Foley, who is staying at the Birmingham Oratory during this special time. For more on his visit, see the Cause Website.

He celebrated Vespers beautifully, which consisted of traditional Gregorian chanting of five Latin Psalms intoned by the Cantors (four of the Oratory clergy, vested in copes and sitting on the red stools). This then lead to the Magnificat, the song of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was sung elaborately by the Oratory choir, during which the Altar was incensed by the celebrant (in this case Cardinal Foley).

A special part of last night's ceremony was the Blessing with St Philip's relic (right). There is actually an opportunity for anyone to receive this blessing every Monday at 8pm. Last night, it was of course, more elaborate and solemn. It included a procession to the reliquary (seen in the top picture) where Cardinal Foley blessed it with incense (an ancient act dating back to the Israelites to symbolise the rising up of our prayers to heaven).

After Vespers we also have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, where the Celebrant blesses all the Faithful with the Blessed Sacrament held in a monstrance (left). This act of adoration seeks to extend the blessings encountered during the midst of the Mass, when the Host is elevated for brief veneration.

The Cardinal's American accent was no longer evident as he took up the sung Latin Collect with great care and prayerful attention:

Deus, qui beátum Philíppum Confessórem tuum, Sanctórum tuórum glória sublimásti: concéde propítius; ut cujus solemnitáte laetámur, ejus virtútem proficiámus exémplo. Per Dóminum...

O God, who hast exalted blessed Philip, Thy confessor, in the glory of Thy saints: grant in Thy mercy, that we who rejoice in his festival, may profit by the example of his virtues. Through Christ our Lord... Amen.

For more about the Saint, the holy and inspirational Philip Neri, see a previous post of mine. Vespers at the Oratory uses the traditional breviary pre-1969, but follows the revised calender depending on the feast and its corresponding Magnificat Antiphon and Collect.

May Procession

Flickr set here

Consecrated Hands

This is quite an interesting article:

http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_emasculation.html

A constitutive part of masculinity is the desire for unique intimacy. Much has been written in the past three decades about appropriate intimacy for the priest... The need for a unique physical intimacy with another is constitutive of permanent monogamous relationships ordained by the Creator, Yet it is precisely that type of intimacy with another human being that the celibate sacrifices. The celibate priest, however, was offered through his office an incomparable and unparalleled intimacy: he alone could touch God.

The liturgical legislation of the post-Conciliar era has eliminated the Eucharistic exclusivity that marked the office of the priest. The celibate priest no longer possesses the unique corporeal relationship with God. He is not denied the relationship, but others have access to it. Consider a parallel situation: i.e., within the Sacrament of Matrimony. The possession of an exclusive bodily prerogative with one's spouse is primary; in fact there exists no greater convergence between the Divine Law and the instincts of even fallen human nature than on this point. Violate this pact, and one risks murderous rage. If a celibate priest, however, reacts with even the slightest resentment towards the loss of what was his corporeal exclusivity within his Sacrament of Holy Orders, he is considered a candidate for psychological evaluation."
...

The loss of the priest's unique intimacy with the sacred has subtly, but mightily, contributed to this development. While insisting that nothing has essentially been changed for the priest because he is still the one who consecrates, the liturgical engineers have made his presence optional at the most intimate moment of holy communion between the flock under his care and Our Lord. The majority of Catholics receive the Eucharist from the hands of a lay person. The act of shared intimacy that is at the heart of shepherding ("Feed my lambs, feed my sheep") is absent. The Church, echoing an increasingly feminized society, is telling priests: "Once you have consecrated, you are no longer needed." The act of the priest "feeding" the faithful with the Bread of Life incarnates his role as Its sole provider and, far more than the eye can see, forms his and his people's perception of his spiritual fatherhood. The priest's role was never confined to the sanctuary, but what made him unique to his people was his unique relationship to the Eucharist which he brought forth from within the sanctuary. The commitment to celibacy in the Latin Rite was the tangible sign of the Eucharistic "Christ-man."

...

The vocations crisis, created by the anti-masculine policies of the ecclesiological revolution, is now blamed by the bishops on celibacy. Celibacy is a problem, but only because the present structural environment of the Church has removed those elements which traditionally have supported its compatibility with a healthy masculine nature.

I came across the point in Dom Prosper Gueranger's book "The Holy Mass" about why, in the Traditional Rite, a priest holds his finger and thumb together after consecration. I have heard previously that this was a merely practical measure to prevent tiny fragments of the Blessed Sacrament from falling and becoming profaned. Perhaps this is also true. But Gueranger says that it is because the Priest's fingers are sacred, or consecrated, and alone have the privilege of touching our Lord (rather than anything else around him). This consecration happens at a Priest's ordination, when the bishop wraps a special material around the fingers, consecrating them with oil. To stress his point, Gueranger adds that if a Priest were to lose one of these forefingers through injury, he would have to seek special permission to use another finger for the Sacred Mysteries. All this may seem silly and ritualistic. But take something so ingrained in Tradition away from the priesthood, and perhaps it is difficult to predict the consequences. The above article, I suppose, seeks to get to the psychological bottom of it! Take it or leave it, but I agree with its conclusion.

Image: FSSP Ordinations June 2007 http://www.schola-sainte-cecile.com/

True Concelebration

Here is a stunning photo by Roy of the Middlesborough LMS blog, from the Ushaw Training Conference. This traditional mode of concelebration, private masses at side altars, is seldom seen nowadays. It is almost a more beautiful sight than a High Mass in full swing. It calls to mind silence, stillness, simplicity and holiness. I pray that all the priests who attended will be inspired and blessed to offer the Traditional Latin Mass to their parishioners. See Joe Shaw's blog for more details.