We don't complain enough

That may sound a trifle rich coming from one who posts constantly about the inadequacies of those charged with responsibility for the souls of men (and women).....(and children).

But, as a nation, the British prefer to receive a sloppy, undercooked, bland flavoured restaurant meal so that they may live for months on the memory of how bad it was and whinge to their friends on the subject.
Perish the thought that a complaint might be lodged with the waiter or maitre d'.

                                    Not quite The Tablet I had in mind

I am sure it is the same with requests for the EF Mass following Summorum Pontificum; few will have made their way to Bishop's House and even fewer to Rome.

We enjoy sitting back and carping about the sad state of affairs whilst the bulk of the hierarchy, in the absence of any fuss, sit back and relax in the belief that, as the sheep are not bleating, they must be well fed.

If you don't believe me, just investigate a few Diocesan websites and click on the 'Bishop's Appointments' page.
Here's an extract from a leading Diocese for October 2012 (I've tried to keep it anonymous as I don't particularly wish to enter a dialogue on this matter but most Bishop's will have a similar diary):-

Friday 5
10.30am Trustees’ Meeting, Xxxxxxxx
Saturday 6 – Sunday 28
Attends Synod in Rome
Subject to change without notice

Phew! I feel absolutely shattered after just reading about that frenetic activity.

If the CEO of Amazon or the Chairman of the World Bank read that schedule they would probably roll around the floor laughing hysterically.

So, my pre resolution (forward planning, see?) for 2013 is to refresh my efforts to place before my Bishop and Archbishop, polite requests to extractum digitum on matters liturgical and ecclesiastical.

Where to start? So many issues, so little time.

Well, I think that the Diocesan Magazine may be worthy of attention. why?

Because, in with the usual pap about the nun who has just produced a cookery book of recipes using only Fairtrade goods and the Curate who raised funds for CAFOD by knitting a world record length scarf, I have noticed advertisements.

Not just any old advertisements, you understand, but a full colour half page ad for (cover your ears) The Tablet.
Yes, The Tablet!

It's bad enough for a Catholic Church to have copies of this rag at the back of the Church but, to actually be involved in marketing the thing.....39 steps too far, I think.

Time for a little action Richard Hannay style.

My plumber only does baths and sinks.....

……my electrician only socket installations….

                                    And you can have whatever colour you want.....as long as its black

….my doctor only prescribes for measles and ingrown toenails….

 ……my local supermarket only sells cabbages…….

…..and my priest only does the OF Mass

Just what part of Summorum Pontificum do the Bishops not understand?

A dream of a letter - "Dear Bishop...."

......the enclosed letter has been sent by one of your episcopal colleagues to his priests, admonishing them for not implementing my requests.
It is, I hope you will agree, a good letter; a good example of the love of Christ, of the care shown by a good shepherd for his flock, yet the actions you, as a Bishop, have taken, are precisely the same my friend spells out.

 You have not only disregarded my Motu Proprio, you have poured ridicule and scorn on the laity who have responded to it and you have vilified those young men about to become servants of God and those already in His service, who expressed an interest in my call for the Extraordinary Form of Mass.

Please read my friend's letter in full and see if it touches your heart; if it reminds you of the vow of obedience you once made all those years ago and see if you can now put into practice all that is contained therein".

Signed: B------t - and the end of the "dream" letter - now for the real one!

         THE LETTER - FROM BISHOP MARIO OLIVERI 

 1st January 2012

Dear Priests and Deacons,

It is with much bitterness of spirit that I have found that many of you have not taken up or made a right attitude of mind and heart toward the possibility given to the faithful by the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum" of Pope Benedict XVI, of the celebration of Holy Mass "in the extraordinary form" according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII, promulgated in 1962.

In the "Three days of the Clergy" of September 2007, I indicated with strength and clarity what is the value and the true meaning of the Motu Proprio, how we should interpret it and how we should accept it, with a mind that is open to the magisterial content of the document and with a ready willingness of a convinced obedience. The position taken by the Bishop was not missing its calm authority, strengthened by his full concordance with a solemn act of the Supreme Pontiff. The position of the Bishop was founded by reason of his theological argument on the nature of the Divine Liturgy, the immutability of the substance in its supernatural contents, and was also based on surveys of the practical, concrete, good sense of the Church.

The adverse reactions to the motu proprio and the theological and practical guidance of the bishop are almost always dictated by emotional and superficial theological reasoning, i.e. a rather poor and shortsighted "theological" vision, that is not part of and which does not reach the true nature of the things which concern the Faith and the work the Church's sacramental life, that is not fed by the perennial Tradition of the Church, which looks at rather marginal aspects or at least incomplete issues. Not without reason, had I, in "Three Days" cited above, prefaced with the operational guidelines and principles to guide action a doctrinal exposition on the "Unchanging Nature of the Liturgy".

I understand that in some areas, on the part of several priests and pastors, there was also the manifestation almost of ridicule toward faithful who have asked to make use of the option, and indeed of the right, for the celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form; there is also an expression of contempt and almost of hostility toward Brother Priests who are well prepared to understand and respond to the requests of the faithful...

I ask that you put away every attitude not in conformity with ecclesial communion, the discipline of the Church and the convinced obedience due to important acts of the magisterium or government.

I am convinced that my call will be accepted in a spirit of filial respect and obedience.

[...]

The letter carries with it all my desire that it might help to reawaken and a strengthen our ecclesial communion and of our common desire to fulfill our ministry with a renewed fidelity to Christ and his Church.

Finally, I would ask you for much prayer for me and for my apostolic ministry, and I cordially bless you all.
Albenga, 1 January 2012, Solemnity of the Mother of God

Monsignor Mario Oliveri, Bishop

Bishop Oliveri's letter from a translation, reproduced by kind permission of Shawn Tribe - New Liturgical Movement

Hold the Front Page!

Apparently, The Catholic Herald has covered my Summorum Pontificum song on its front page. On their website I can just make out the words, 'Blogger Hails Latin Mass on Folk Guitar'. Is it a folk guitar? I thought it was an acoustic guitar but then what does it matter? It's still an instrument from the pits of Hades!

Long live His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, gloriously reigning.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper in saecular saeculorum. Amen.

I won't let it go to my head... "Look everybody!"

Anyway, in other news, Fr Gabriel Amorth has suggested that the Harry Potter books and yoga are about as good and healthy for us spiritually as rock and pop music. He has a point. The Potter books encourage children to dabble in witchcraft and the occult. Witchcraft and the occult are about seeking power over people, time and places through mediums and spirits. Yoga teaches people that they are on the road to 'enlightenment' through the self when in fact the only light of the World is Lumen Christi.

Try telling that to Telegraph readers though.

I just got back home from St Mary Magdalen's Catechism Evening. Hoards of the Catholic press were camped outside my front door. Flippin' media! I'm going on that Leveson inquiry next week. Why don't they leave me in peace!?

"Mr England," they said, "give us your thoughts on the Eurozone crisis?!"

Obviously, I replied, "When the Eurozone returns to Our Lady, then Our Lady will return to the Eurozone!" 

Ah, the press lapped it up. Lapped it up, they did.

A tragedy unfolds.....join with us if you are able

If you cannot be physically present at the National Shrine of Wales on Sunday 4th December at 3pm, then please remember us in your prayers....we few, we unhappy few, we band of brothers and sisters.

What is the occasion?

Why so pale and grim?

It will be the last EF Mass to be celebrated in West Wales - the end of a brief era that came in like a lion after Summorum Pontificum and now, goes out like a....well it goes out with its head held high at least.



RIP in West Wales!



There will be a Missa Cantata sung by the excellent schola that grew in voice and stature after 14th September 2007 and I have no doubt that the faithful band of brothers and sisters, the lay members of the Confraternity of the Holy Cross and members of the LMS will turn out in honour of Our Lady of the Taper.

After that date the nearest Mass will be around 70 miles distant, that may not sound too much, I am sure for those souls in Middlesborough, Portsmouth and elsewhere who have similar or even further distances to travel.
But it is a massive loss for those of us residing in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

How you can help us

Please pledge a rosary for the cause of the Tridentine Latin Mass returning to West Wales and, in particular, for the Mass to return to the shrine of Our Lady of the Taper - we do not need money, just a pledge of your prayers
Please send me an email just stating 1, 2 or however many rosaries you can afford.....send it to r.collinsassoc@btinternet.com

The pledges will be placed at the feet of Our Lady of the Taper at the National Shrine of Wales, Cardigan on Sunday 4th December and then sent to our Bishop, Bishop Thomas Burns in the form of a spiritual bouquet and petition.

Wherever you are in the world, please add your rosaries to our list, thank you.

Across Universae Ecclesiae

As promised...The tune sounds quite familiar, but I just can't 'imagine' where I've heard it before.

Across Universae Ecclesiae

Prayers rise from the Faithful

Like the incense rises from the Altar

As is written

All Across

Universae Ecclesiae

Contrite hearts and consolation

Together Ad Orientem

The Choir sings the Kyrie

Eleison

Oh

Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

The Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

Tender mercy invites us

To wonder at His Majesty

The Love that's written

All Across

Universae Ecclesiae

Priest mediates for the Faithful

Stands in persona Christi

The Choir sings the Gloria

In excelsis Deo

Oh

Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

The Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

Priest announces Verbum Domini

Thurifer, torches and MC

Is written all across

Universae Ecclesiae

Acolytes and Priest you see they genuflect upon the knee

The Gospel Acclamation peels

Allelulia

Oh

Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

The Mass alone can change the World

So save the liturgy and save the World

Recollect the Lord of Lords will condescend

Disguised as bread and wine

Upon the Altar

All Across

Universae Ecclesiae

Priest utters Ineffable and holy words of Consecration

The Sacrifice of Calvary

Agnus dei qui tollis

Oh

Tollis peccata mundi

Tollis peccata mundi

Tollis peccata mundi

'Oh good there's no Sign of Peace'

Deo gratias

Deo gratias

Deo gratias

Deo gratias

Deo gratias

Deo gratias

And remember. NOBODY is bigger than Jesus! Meanwhile, I found this comment on Rorate amusing...

Beryl said...
Sorry, but when I tried to play this song on Fr Blake's website I could not understand a word because of the bad enunciation of the singer. Inaudible! I thought it was rot. Having read the words via Rorate Caeli's link I wish they had not been set to 'music' but left as they were. The appearance of the singer also irritated me.

That's the price of fame in the traditional Catholic World's new media. They build you up only to knock you down. I'm getting an injunction out on this Beryl character!

The Ballad of Summorum Pontificum

As promised...

The Ballad of Summorum Pontificum

It was the 7th July 2007

“The most beautiful day

This side of Heaven”

A treasure was released

The Mass of all Ages

The Missal was closed

Now a Priest turns the pages

So we kneel down and pray the Confiteor

Now he’s facing the right way, towards the Lord

Ad Deum quit laetificat juvemtutem meum

He turns around and the people say give us some more!

For over 50 years

A Mass that lay hidden

Came out of the closet

No moth there had bitten

No dust was upon it

For this Mass is timeless

You can tell when you walk through the door!

You can hear the bells ring out thrice at the Sanctus

He turns around and he says "Orate Fratres"

Priest and people pray Domine non sum dignus

And the people say give us some more

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more

Gimme some more

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more, give us some more!

Ecce Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi

Now we can hear the words ring out

Every Sunday

The Latin Mass is back
Put your guitars on the floor

We have Communion kneeling and on the tongue

All ages they pass

All ages they vary

The Mass of Ages belongs

In our seminaries

Our Bishops they don’t want it

Oh if only they could

Say “God bless our Pope

The great and the good!”

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more

Gimme some more

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more

Gimme some more!

The Mass that brings sinners

To the Fountain of grace

The Mass that made martyrs

Embrace their pains

The Mass that brought hope

To the poor and abandoned

Finding in Jesus (bow head)

The perfect Companion

But that Mass is back (back)

To liberal dismay

That Mass is back (back)

To liberal dismay

That Mass is back (back)

To liberal dismay

That Mass is back (back)

You might find one today!

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more

Gimme some more

Some more

Summorum Pontificum!

Gimme some more, some more

Gimme some more!

(Repeat x 2)

It was the 7th July 2007

“The most beautiful day

This side of Heaven”

Summorum Pontificum - 4 years on and no change in Westminster

Today is the great feast of The Holy Cross and also the anniversary of Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum that came into force in September 2007.

The Exaltation of The Holy Cross
Rome style

Ask a Catholic man on the Clapham Omnibus what SP is and you will be met with a blank stare. Ask lots of Catholic men and women and you will receive more of the same.
Ask some priests and the success rate goes up a little but not by too much.

The fact is, the average Catholic appears to do little more than sit on the parish commissariat, read The Universe and go to the Novus Ordo Mass ( Nervous Disorder Mass as Stella Hook, a great Catholic, used to call it).

The writ of the Pope does not appear to be worth much in Great Britain today. How can the layman or woman be blamed for their ignorance if  the Bishops and priests appear not to hear what comes forth from Rome.

The status quo in Westminster Archdiocese has not altered, as far as I am aware, since 14th September 2007. EF Masses on a Sunday are still as rare as hen's teeth, and this is the lead Diocese of England and Wales.

 Blimey O'Reilly! What is Archbishop Nichols doing?

Shouldn't he be leading from the front when the Holy Father sends a message to the world?

4 years ago there were few EF Masses
in Rome - now they are plentiful.
Why can't Westminster do as they do
in Rome?

Why hasn't he put in place a priest training programme so that at least one third of his priests may learn how to celebrate an EF Mass? That is what the HF wants is it not?

And why hasn't the Archbishop sent an ad clerum to his clergy asking them to reinstate communion rails? That is what the HF wants is it not?

The talks between Rome and the SSPX begin today but I have a sinking feeling that they will come to nought. If the hierarchy cannot obey Pope Benedict's requests and guidance there is no future for such an orthodox order as the Society. They can see that the Church is still in the grips of modernism and who could blame them for not wishing to place their neck in the noose?

And for those who may wish to have the essence of SP refreshed, here is a brief extract:-

Art 1. The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the 'Lex orandi' (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same 'Lex orandi,' and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of the Church's Lex orandi will in no any way lead to a division in the Church's 'Lex credendi' (Law of belief). They are, in fact two usages of the one Roman rite.

It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents 'Quattuor abhinc annis' and 'Ecclesia Dei,' are substituted as follows...........

WE ADORE THEE O CHRIST  AND WE PRAISE THEE, BECAUSE BY THY HOLY CROSS THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD

Never kiss on your first date.......old SSPX saying

I owe a great deal to the Society of St Pius X. They were, for many years, our only source of an EF Mass celebrated in a church. Their Bishops confirmed our four children when no traditional confirmations were available and, yes, they are valid confirmations.

So it is with great anticipation that I await the outcome of the planned meeting on September 14th (H/T The Jarrow Scriptorium) between Bishop Fellay and Vatican officials. It is, by my reckoning at least the third meeting that has been held under our present Pope's guidance and we all need to pray pretty damn hard for a good and fruitful outcome.



A handshake would do!



I am an optimist, never mind that glass half full rubbish, I have no concept of reality (according to Mrs Linen) and always, always believe that next week is going to be my turn in the National Lottery or that Bishop Burns is going to insist on every Menevia parish having at least one EF Mass every Sunday.

And so it is with brimming confidence that I await the signal on or soon after the 14th September......you see......apart from anything else, the date is significant.

It is the Feast of the Holy Cross AND......the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. This day has not been selected at random, it is a very holy ploy on someone's part to invoke the Holy Spirit to bring the Church together again.

The Feast of the Holy Cross is a feast of exultation and triumph - if you do nothing else between now and the 14th September, say this prayer in the hope of a reconciliation.........and, maybe, a fraternal kiss!

We adore You, O Christ, and praise You,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Evidence of Religious Motivation for Riots

So just how responsive have the English and Welsh Bishops been with regards to Sunday EF Mass provision?

Do have any idea? -  Do you think 20% of parishes in a Diocese offer an EF Mass on a Sunday? Less, maybe? - 15%? - down a bit further possibly? Can this be right?..............

..............after all the Holy Father has done to stipulate how important it is that the Bishops respond to his steer on this vital issue....I can state that, out of 2889 parishes (or thereabouts) only 2.87% on average, offer a Sunday EF Mass.

                                                    2.8% !

And that's not every Sunday...here are the specifics re my piece of research:-

1. I only included parishes that offer a regular Sunday EF Mass whether it is every Sunday or only one during a given month.

2. I included every parish and most Mass Centres but, at times these were difficult to identify so there may be the odd discrepancy but nothing too large as far as I am aware.

3. Obtaining the fairly simple information as to how many parish churches exist within a Diocese proved surprisingly hard to achieve. Some Bishops offer an almost indecipherable jigsaw of shapes which represent parish boundaries or, worse, deaneries, others provide a conventional alphabetical draw down listing and yet others provide a mongrel version which only adds to confusion. I have done the best in the time available.
One Diocese (Portsmouth) had an insoluble problem withits website so, in the end I did an estimated calculation as to number of parishes.

4. I did not include parishes that only offered the Mass on special feasts such as Easter as these appeared to be 'one offs'.

If you would like to see how your Diocese fared, here is the breakdown....

THE GREAT DIOCESAN RESPONSE

TO SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM

DIOCESE       PARISHES     SUNDAY EF MASSES         %

Westminster        216             4                        1.9%

A/del & Br'ton      153             4                        2.6%

 

Birmingham         271             3                        1.1%

Brentwood           131             2                        1.5%

Cardiff                 81             2                         2.5%

Clifton                54              7                         12.8%

East Anglia        110              3                           2.7%

Hallam               79               0                              0%

H'ham & N'cstle 199              4                            2.0%

Lancaster          115              5                            4.4%

                   

Leeds               127              4                            3.2%

Liverpool          204              4                            2.0%

Menevia            69               3                            4.3%

Mi'ddsborough   93               2                            2.2%

Northampton   107               2                             1.9%

Nottingham     158               5                             3.3%

Pymouth         116               5                             4.3%

P'smouth (est) 144               3                              2.1%

Salford           100               1                              1.0%

Shrewsbury     115               5                              4.4%

Southwark      181                9                              5.0%

Wrexham        66                 0                                 0%


Not an outstandingly good response......in fact it is ****** poor (I am not swearing in Lent).

I think the Bishops are (as they say) "having a laugh", and,
 it's at our expense!

Priests must say the Extraordinary Form of Mass!

We now have an absurd situation, two primary forms of the Mass but only a small percentage of priests either able or willing to celebrate one of them.

The Bishops standpoint appears to be "You may have either form of the Mass provided it's the Ordinary Form" (apologies to Mr Ford). They need to observe the Holy Father's guidance on the issue and commence making plans to ensure that every parish that wants the Latin Mass may have it. And those that do not want it are educated into its origins so that, over a period of time it is introduced to them and becomes part of the norm.

It is totally unacceptable for a priest to say: "I don't/won't say it." It is rather like saying that they will no longer hear Confessions or catechise converts. The celebration of the Mass in all its forms should not be optional, it is part of our  liturgical menu....no one can say "It's off today."

Let's face it, the carte du jour is a pretty limited one, here are the basic choices:-



St Blog’s Menu of the Day

ENTREES

Catechism Classes

Stations of the Cross

Benediction

Confession

Baptism

Matrimony

Sacrament of the Sick

MAIN COURSE

Mass – Ordinary Form

Mass – Extraordinary Form

DESSERTS

Vespers

40 Hours Devotion

Processions (when in season)

That's not too hard a programme to provide is it? And while you are about it Bishop, please do not let us have any more of that nonsense about the EF Mass only being available at 3.45pm on Wednesday afternoons.....that's not in the spirit of Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum is it? Be honest!

We would like a regular EF Mass every Sunday morning like what normal Catholics get!

It's at this stage that (in scenes enacted around the country) Bishops slump over their breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and have to be revived with smelling salts. As they come to they gasp the immortal words of John McEnroe but, yes Bishop, we ARE serious!

So please, as they say, stop sitting on your hands and begin to work out a programme to ensure that all of the above takes place. Not in five years time, not even in 2 years time, we want it to start six months from now.

"More smelling salts please Nurse!"

Three days for Summorum Pontificum!

Not much to ask, a three day petition to Our Lady that all will be well and that the integrity of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum will be preserved and the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form even extended.

Please post this prayer on your blog, it is the one the Holy Father calls "the bullet", it is so fast and effective, it goes straight to the heart of the Queen of Heaven:

A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin – never known to fail

O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, faithful Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein thou art my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech Thee from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity. (Make your request).

There are none that can withstand Thy power.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us (repeat three times)

I thank Thee for Thy mercy towards me and mine.

This prayer should be said for 3 days