Transferral of Holy Days in England and Wales
Its been a while since I did a good ol' poll about matters liturgical and otherwise. This isn't a new topic, although with the liberation of the older form of Mass, it is perhaps now possible to observe the traditional feast days of our country on their proper days.
So what do you think?
Next Thursday Anglican churches across the country will be observing the feast of the Ascension: 40 days after Easter. However, we in the Catholic Church, the so-called "fullness of Faith" are forbidden from observing this feast, and instead will have to wait till Sunday, 43 days after Easter. The rationale for our bishops to change this was something along the lines of people not bothering to go on Thursday (despite it being a holy day of obligation previously) and therefore missing out on an important feast.
I will leave it to you to decide.
Its been a while since I did a good ol' poll about matters liturgical and otherwise. This isn't a new topic, although with the liberation of the older form of Mass, it is perhaps now possible to observe the traditional feast days of our country on their proper days.
So what do you think?
Next Thursday Anglican churches across the country will be observing the feast of the Ascension: 40 days after Easter. However, we in the Catholic Church, the so-called "fullness of Faith" are forbidden from observing this feast, and instead will have to wait till Sunday, 43 days after Easter. The rationale for our bishops to change this was something along the lines of people not bothering to go on Thursday (despite it being a holy day of obligation previously) and therefore missing out on an important feast.
I will leave it to you to decide.
I voted the fourth option. I think it's an issue because I just don't think that allowing the secular culture to control the Church ever works. Who is it aimed at? The busy Catholics? How many Catholics are that busy as to not be able to attend the Mass in the evening? One percent? I think it's obviously aimed at the Catholics who just don't bother going. And if that is the case what does it achieve? Well, it makes us look bad. But aside from the fact that it makes our claim to be the true witnesses of the Gospel less credible, I think it's not the main issue here. It makes the Ascension of Our Lord look less important than before. If people who don't go to Mass are the problem then this is not going to solve anything - only make things worse. You don't treat toothache with painkillers.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand ignoring the bishops is not an option. Catholics must be obedient to their superiors, especially the bishops . Are they doing something against the Natural Law or are they crossing the limits of their jurisdiction? No. Thus it is out of question for anyone who wants to criticize this decision to go ahead and willingly disobey them, especially after the Vatican made the issue very clear. I think that would make the actions somehow hypocritical.
I think the only thing that can be done is to contact the bishops and to pray.
Oh well, I think I should stop the rant. :-P
God bless,
Tomas
PS: You mentioned (on Facebook) that this might endanger the High Mass at the Oratory. Ye, I thought about that as well and it didn't make me very happy as I was quite looking forward to that. However, worst comes the worst, all you cannot do is to celebrate Ascension on that day. You can always have a regular High Mass...
When Summorum Pontificum was promulgated many Catholic who attend the TLM thought that it would enable them to observe the Holy Days of Obligation at the customary times, notably Epiphany, the Ascension, and Corpus Christi. If you look at the Bishops' Conference's website you will see that a ruling has been obtained from Ecclesia Dei saying that the solemnities observed in the Extraordinary Form must be celebrated on the Sunday to conform with the general practise of the country. While this conforms to what is done in many Continental countries, including Italy, it is a sad, defeatist decision. In obedience we have to conform but it does not encourage respect for episcopal authority.
ReplyDeleteParanoid though this sounds, I wonder if part of the Conference's thinking is also governed by alarm at the possibility of many coming to love the TLM as a result of attending Mass on the usual dates. Perhaps unification was the real intention, but it makes me wonder.
Hmmm...actually...is it referring to the day of obligation or the actual celebration? I'm not sure if it's wise to take the word of the bishops...I would rather like to see the original answer from Ecclesia Dei.
ReplyDeleteThere is something wrong with the voting system, Matthew. I wanted to vote but found I can't.
ReplyDeletewe must out of obedience follow the bishops directives - they are after all, validly ordained successors to the apostles and stewards of the sacred litugy..to do otherwise is to protest and thus move ourselves out of communion.
ReplyDeletelet's pray that we move forward in both forms ofthe roman church and seek the lord in the authentic celebration of the eucharistic liturgy both ordinarily and extraordinarily.
OREMUS PRO INVICEM
Come to Scotland for the day and celebrate the Ascension on Thursday.
ReplyDeleteFr PF: True, but then Corpus Christi is moved up here, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be nothing to prevent a Solemn Votive Mass (in either form) on the traditional day, but any Mass on the Sunday must be of the transferred feast, whether in the ordinary or extraordinary form. And yes, this is a matter of obedience. We can't complain about the disobedience of those who perpetrate liturgical abuse unless we are obedient ourselves, no matter how much we long (and pray) for better bishops.
ReplyDeleteI think it is significant that the bishops are happy to send off a dubium to Rome when they think it suits their purpose, but when it comes to a matter like Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist purifying the sacred vessels, a deafening silence resounds.