Roman Catholic Blog

SSPX and continued Anti-Semitism

Bishop's blog raises tensions

between Jews and the Vatican

Richard Williamson, who has previously denied existence of gas chambers during Holocaust, accuses Jews of killing Jesus

Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent

The Guardian, Wednesday 19 October 2011

" Relations between Jews and Catholics are under immense strain after a bishop made controversial remarks on his blog.

Richard Williamson, who has previously denied the existence of gas chambers and the murder of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust, accused the Jews of killing Jesus, a charge that divided the two faiths for centuries until Pope Benedict XVI declared this year that Jews could not be held responsible for Jesus's death.

In his weekly post, Williamson wrote that "the killing of Jesus was truly 'deicide' " and that "only the Jews (leaders and people) were the prime agents of the deicide because it is obvious from the gospels that the gentile most involved, Pontius Pilate, … would never have condemned Jesus to death had not the Jewish leaders roused the Jewish people to clamour for his crucifixion."

His comments have angered Jewish leaders and Holocaust survivors, who are urging Rome to cease reconciliation talks with the ultra-traditionalist splinter group to which Williamson belongs, the Society of St Pius X. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt of the European Council of Rabbis said: "We call upon the Catholic church to suspend negotiations with extremist Catholic tendencies until it is clear that these groups show a clear commitment to tackling antisemitism within their ranks."

Last month, Régis de Cacqueray,(pic above) the head of the French SSPX chapter, also accused Jews of deicide. To the despair of Jewish groups, there has been increased dialogue between the Vatican and SSPX.

Goldschmidt said: "Comments like these take us back decades to the dark days before there was a meaningful and mutually respectful dialogue between Jews and Roman Catholics. There must be no rapprochement within the Catholic church for those of its flock who seek to preach words of hate."

The Vatican has said SSPX will have to sign up to core teachings if they are to reintegrate, although it has not stated what these are. Four SSPX bishops, including Williamson, were excommunicated in 1988 when they were illegally ordained.

But the Vatican lifted Williamson's excommunication on the very day that his Holocaust-denying remarks were aired. The decision appalled Jewish leaders, with many suspending contact with the Vatican as a result. The Vatican said it did not know Williamson held such views.

Williamson has repeatedly ignored pleas to retract his remarks and not even the pope has managed to get the cleric to recant.

The fresh row will embarrass the pope, who is preparing to host a summit of world faith leaders in Assisi, Italy, next week as part of his interreligious outreach programme."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Twenty five plus years ago, as a young man exploring religious vocation I visited the SSPX Seminary in Ridgefield, CT. I arrived on a weekend, after being shown to my room, and having some time before communal prayer, I wandered about finding a bookstore run for families that attended the Tridentine mass at the seminary chapel. While perusing books at that bookstore I was horrified to find copies of the "Protocols ofthe Elders of Zion" on sale. I believe that Fr. Williamson was a superior there at that time. I immediately went back to my room, packed, called a taxi and got the heck out of there.

I have never been able to understand the rampant and vicious anti-Semitism that seems to imbue SOME (luckily a small number) traditional Catholics.

How can Benedict XVI have a doctrinal rapproachment with groups espousing such vile hatred and lies?

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos: Celebrate TLM In Parishes – Even When It Isn’t Requested

Via What Does The Prayer Really Say?: PCED’s Card. Castrillon Hoyos: celebrate TLM in parishes even when it isn’t requested

Quote:

According to Card. Castrillion Hoyos, the Holy Father desires that the TLM be a normal part of parish life. He also says that priests should offer it in their parishes even if there is no specific request for it.

That's a very different message than the one given here: Ex-Papal Liturgist, Archbishop Piero Marini: Liturgical Renewal "Irreversible"

Background quote from Wikipedia:

Darío Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos (born July 4, 1929) is a Colombian Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1996 to 2006, and currently serves as President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. Elevated to the cardinalate in 1998.

Any thoughts?

Ex-Papal Liturgist, Archbishop Piero Marini: Liturgical Renewal "Irreversible"

Christ Healing The Blind Bartimeus by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Here's the link: Vatican official calls liturgical renewal 'irreversible path'

Here's a section of the article:

Liturgical renewal launched by the Second Vatican Council is an "irreversible path" and has not been affected by Pope Benedict XVI's concession on wider use of the Tridentine rite, a Vatican official said.

"The pope's decision has so far not produced any change in the celebrative practice of our ecclesial communities. His gesture was only one of service to unity," Archbishop Piero Marini, who arranged papal liturgies for more than 20 years, said in an interview April 25 in the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

"Therefore let's look ahead and let's continue with enthusiasm the path undertaken by the council," he said.

Late last year Archbishop Marini was named to head the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

The archbishop remains involved in international liturgical issues, and he said a revision of the committee's statutes is giving it wider authority over eucharistic congresses at the national and regional level, too.

Asked if Pope Benedict's relaxation of restrictions on the use of the pre-Vatican II liturgy signaled a halt to the liturgical reform movement, Archbishop Marini said that was clearly not the pope's aim.

The pope's decree "does not intend to introduce modifications on the current Roman Missal or express a negative judgment on the liturgical reform desired by the council," he said.

He said the decree, which reached out to disaffected Catholics, should be seen as an effort to maintain unity in the church.

Archbishop Marini said his own experience in organizing papal liturgies in more than 100 countries has convinced him that the liturgical reform movement has brought overwhelmingly positive results.

"Everywhere, the liturgy desired by the council was celebrated with lively participation and enthusiasm. Everyone understood the liturgy as proper to the local church and at the same time as an expression of the universal church," he said.

Those liturgies also demonstrated that liturgical reform has solid theological foundations, he said.

"Therefore this is an irreversible path," he said.

Liturgical celebration cannot be separated from the life of the church, the archbishop said, and this means "the church of today, not the church of yesterday or of tomorrow."

At the same time, Archbishop Marini said celebrating the liturgy according to Vatican II is not an easy thing. It takes patience, perseverance and pastoral charity, he said.

One particular issue that has emerged during papal trips, he said, is the fact that some Masses are now attended by hundreds of thousands of the faithful. That raises practical considerations like the number of concelebrants, the distribution of Communion and the level of personal participation, he said.

Pope Benedict has already asked for reconsideration of the role of concelebrants, and Archbishop Marini said it makes sense to look at the question through a serious study and with eventual pastoral-liturgical guidelines.

My thoughts:

We'll see, Archbishop Marini. I suspect you're wrong, though. I certainly think it's wrong to claim that Summorum Pontificum was only issued in an effort to preserve unity and avoid schism. How does the allowance of a right Archbishop Marini clearly views as old and outdated alongside the Ordo Missae promulgated by Pope Paul VI signify a movement that preserves liturgical unity?

It's clear that the archbishop is not in agreement with Pope Benedict XVI with respect to the liturgy. That is probably why he's known as ex-papal liturgist, Archbishop Piero Marini.

Any thoughts?

Aquinas And More Catholic Goods

Home Page: Aquinas And More Catholic Goods

From Barbara Kralis:

If you want to receive a free weekly newsletter from an excellent Catholic online bookstore, then click on the link to sign up: Aquinas and More Newsletter

Ian Rutherford, the owner [and l996 graduate of the University of Dallas] will keep you up to date via his bookstore newsletteer re the Saints feasts,liturgical calendar, new liturgy news, quotes, sacramentals, books, etc. Ian's bookstore is so theologically correct that you will never go wrong nor astray buying any of his books. He is a theologian self made and has knowledge of all things Catholic. Some of you old timers may remember Ian is also the creator and webmaster of the excellent theological website, The Catholic Liturgical Library.

You will not find a finer liturgical online site than Ian's Catholic Liturgy. He has been adding fine theological info to his Catholic Liturgy website since the l990's, when there was no other liturgical info available online. Ian was very instrumental in bringing the Latin Mass to the Colorado Springs diocese. He is a true Catholic warrior.

Support the growing Rutherford family by supporting their apostolate "Aquinas and More Catholic Goods." This family is doing everything they can to educate all of us dummies of the truths of our Catholic faith. Help them as they help so many others. Use their online bookstore for your gifts and buy their books to add to your own home Catholic library.

Aquinas And More Catholic Goods – About Us:

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods is centrally located in Colorado Springs, CO. We carry thousands of products ranging from books and videos to chalices and church furnishings.

The store was started by Ian Rutherford and is owned and run by his family and friends:

Ethan (Eddie) his brother-in-law's brother, who runs the shipping department; Zach who does receiving; Deb, who does order fulfillment; Aline, who takes care of customer service; Fran, his mother, who helps with sales; James, his brother, who manages the office; Paula, his wife, who provides moral support and sanity checks; Lucy (7), Margaret (5), Andrew (4), Anne (3), Susan (1 1/2 years) and Peter (newborn), his children, who always ask what daddy does at work.

Our name comes from two famous Catholic saints, Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More. The ox head in our logo is a symbol of St. Thomas Aquinas who was called "The Dumb Ox" because he was a very quiet student, and rather large.

Contact Information:

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods

4727 North Academy Blvd. Suite A

Colorado Springs, CO 80918

(866) 428-2820

(719) 495-7493

Fax: (719) 495-7505

Fr. Z: Oblates Of The Virgin Mary Superiors Come Out Against Pope Benedict XVI & Summorum Pontificum

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church

12001 East 214 Street Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716

Voice: 1 (562) 924-7591 Fax: 1 (562) 402-9411

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California has rescinded their support for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, in what can reasonably seen as defiance of Summorum Pontificum.

Here's the story: OMV and SJ superiors line up against Pope Benedict and Summorum Pontificum.

Quote:

At Saint Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, CA, USA, there was a older form low Mass for a few months. One day as Mass was ending the pastor announced that the head of his order had told OMV priests to stop saying the older form of Mass because providing the TLM was an "apostolate" that the OMV does not embrace. He also said that the 170 person average Sunday attendance was insufficient to justify the Mass there. Some parishioners expressed their dismay, but the pastor was adamant.

I wrote about this back on 13 February.

Some parishioners began writing to the superiors of the OMVs.

Here is an example of a response:

Dear Ms. _, I want to thank you for your email and the concerns you shared regarding the Tridentine Mass at St. Peter Chanel. I can understand how the news you have heard regarding the celebration of the extraordinary form is difficult. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify what has happened and to reaffirm our uncompromised fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church.

The decision to no longer offer the extraordinary form was made by our Major Superior in Rome in consultation with his Council. He arrived at this decision after careful study of the Motu Proprio in light of our charism and the needs for the people we serve. Each Religious Community and Institute of Consecrated Life, under the direction of its Major Superior has the freedom to determine which apostolic works they wish to undertake according to their charism and spirit. This freedom is described in Article 3 of the "Motu Proprio" and is given to the Major Superior by the Holy Father.

The decision of our Major Superior for our religious community does not mean we not recognize the beauty and the validity of this extraordinary form permitted by our Holy Father, or the real need it provides for some of the Catholic faithful. It means simply this is not an apostolic work that our Major Superior wants us to undertake as a Congregation.

As stated in Article 7, the bishop has the responsibility to provide this form to the Catholic Faithful in his diocese to meet their spiritual needs. We have encouraged those who feel called to worship in the extraordinary form to pursue the options available by the diocese. For example, this extraordinary form continues to be offered in the diocese, and we have encouraged the faithful to attend this Mass if they are feel called to this particular form of worship.

We are grateful to God for the opportunity to offer the beauty of the liturgy to thousands each week. Like the extraordinary form, these liturgies are reverent, prayerful and spiritually nourishing. There have been and continue to be great miracles that take place at St. Peter Chanel parish. Whether it is the approximate 800 people who attend the four daily Masses, the 8,000 people who attend the 12 Sunday Masses or the many hours of confessions on a daily basis, God is working in and through Oblate priests and the parishioners in a powerful way. Our commitment to this spiritual work of mercy, along with the many good works at St. Peter Chanel we pray will only continue.

I thank you again for taking the time to write me. I hope I have helped to clarify your concerns.

With my prayers and warmest regards in Christ,

Fr. Bill Brown, OMV
Provincial
Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Fr. Z correctly concludes:

In a nutshell, must we conclude that the OMV’s have determined that they are somehow separate from the rest of the Church in regard to use of the fullness of the Roman Rite? That’s is what it looks like. They don’t have the "charism", a slippery term, to provide for the spiritual needs of people through the TLM. They have an apostolate that excludes such people.

Okay. That’s their choice. Too bad.

Apparently the parishioners are still writing and working to resolve this situation and the Provincial has been communicating with the Rector Major, Fr Patrice Veraquin, OMV.

I'm at a loss. What could these priests and superiors be thinking? The Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite is not only a treasure of the Church, it is also a right of the faithful. If the Oblates are claiming their charism is not to serve all Catholic parishioners in their parishes, then it would follow that they are essentially claiming that serving in parishes isn't their charism.

Any thoughts?

Scandal & Sacrilege In San Francisco [Warning: Graphic]

Note: To prevent the server from slowing down, the video is now linked instead of imbedded.  You have very likely not seen much of this footage, some of which is graphic in nature, before (though it does include some familiar footage).

You can see the video here: Scandal

Description:

This video is a documentary sent to Rome giving a full photographic montage of the level of depravity to which the Archdiocese of San Francisco has fallen within the last 30 years and especially during the governance of Archbishop George Niederauer. This video was produced for the Roman Authorities to see with their own eyes what is happening within San Francisco because of the lack of Roman Catholic Leadership.

See also:

God Save San Francisco

More On Bill O'Reilly, The San Francisco Sacrilege & Archbishop George Niederauer

Bill O'Reilly Didn't Do His Homework When Reporting On The San Francisco Sacrilege

Video: Catholic Archbishop George Niederauer Gives Communion to Blasphemous "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence"

The "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" Lead "Revival Bingo"

Any thoughts?

Pope Benedict XVI Reaffirms That The Catholic Church Is The One, True Church; Changes The Good Friday Prayer

Here's the link: Pope: Other denominations not true churches

Quote:

Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

Benedict approved a document from his old offices at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that restates church teaching on relations with other Christians. It was the second time in a week the pope has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the Church.

Here's the link: Pope mandates change in traditional Good Friday prayer

Quote:

The new version, published in L'Osservatore Romano, reads:

Oremus et pro Iudaeis. Ut Deus et Dominus noster illuminet corda eorum, ut agnoscant Iesum Christum salvatorem omnium hominum.

Oremus.

Flectamus genua.

Levate.

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui vis ut omnes homines salvi fiant et ad agnitionem veritatis veniant, concede propitius, ut plenitudine gentium in Ecclesiam Tuam intrante omnis Israel salvus fiat. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

This prayer would be used only in the Latin language, in the extraordinary form of the Latin liturgy. However it could be translated:

Let us also pray for the Jews: that God our Lord might enlighten their hearts, so that they might know Jesus Christ as the Savior of all mankind.

Let us pray.

Let us bend our knees (kneel).

Please rise.

Almighty and eternal God, whose desire it is that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of truth, grant in your mercy that as the fullness of mankind enters into your Church, all Israel may be saved, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Abe Foxman's take: Prayer for Conversion of Jews Remains Troubling Despite Vatican Changes

I'm pleased with the position taken by The Remnant: A Papal Masterstroke

My thoughts:

I like the new prayer even better. It once again affirms the Catholic teaching that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

Any thoughts?

Archbishop Ranjith: Time To Reconsider Communion In The Hand & Other Good News

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, reiterates the importance of kneeling before the Holy Eucharist and the goodness of kneeling to receive Holy Communion, and has also suggested that it's time to rethink allowing the reception of Holy Communion in the hand.

I like him!

Here's the link to Shawn Tribe's post at the excellent, The New Liturgical Movement: Ranjith On Kneeling For Communion During The Liturgy And Communion On The Tongue

Here's the text of Shawn Tribe's post, which mostly quotes Archbishop Ranjith:

Libreria Editrice Vaticana has published a book, Dominus Est by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, where that Bishop analyzes the question of communion recieved kneeling and on the tongue.

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith has written the foreward to this book, which the NLM is happy to present an unofficial translation here to follow. (Many thanks to a good friend of the NLM for providing the link to this, which came originally through, Associazione Luci sull'Est.

Without further ado, the foreword of Msgr. Ranjith, Secretary to the CDW:

In the Book of Revelation, St. John tells how he had seen and heard what was revealed and prostrated [himself] in adoration at the foot of the angel of God (cf. Rev 22, 8). Prostrating, or getting down one one's knees before the majesty of the presence of God in humble adoration, was a habit of reverence that Israel brought constantly to the presence of the Lord. It says the first book of Kings, "when Solomon had finished putting this prayer to the Lord and this plea, he stood up before the altar of the Lord, where he was kneeling, with palms stretched heavenward, and blessed the whole assembly of Israel "(1 King 8, 54-55). The position of supplication of the King is clear: He was kneeling in front of the altar.

The same tradition is also visible in the New Testament where we see Peter get on his knees before Jesus (cf. Lk 5, 8); when Jairus asked him to heal her daughter (Luke 8, 41), when the Samaritan returned to thank him, and when Mary the sister of Lazarus asked for the life of her brother (John 11, 32). The same attitude of prostration before the revelation of the divine presence and is generally known in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 5, 8, 14 and 19, 4).

Closely linked to this tradition was the conviction that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God and therefore, in the temple it was necessary to prepare one's disposition by corporal expression, a deep sense of humility and reverence in the presence of the Lord.

Even in the Church, the deep conviction that in the Eucharistic species the Lord is truly and really present, along with the growing practice of preserving the Holy Sacrament in tabernacles, contributed to practice of kneeling in an attitude of humble adoration of the Lord in the Eucharist.

[...]

...faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species already belonged to the essence of the faith of the Catholic Church and was an intrinsic part of Catholicism. It was clear that we could not build up the Church if that faith was minimally affected.

Therefore, the Eucharist, bread transubstantiated in Body of Christ and wine into the Blood of Christ, God among us, is to be greeted with wonder, reverence and an immense attitude of humble adoration. Pope Benedict XVI... points out that "receiving the Eucharist means adoring him whom we receive [...] only in adoration can a profound and genuine reception mature."(Sacramentum Caritatis 66).

Following this tradition, it is clear that it became coherent and indispensable to take actions and attitudes of the body and spirit which makes it easier to [enter into] silence, recollection, and the humble acceptance of our poverty in the face of the infinite greatness and holiness of the One who comes to meet us in the Eucharistic species. The best way to express our sense of reverence to the Lord in Mass is to follow the example of Peter, who as the Gospel tells us, threw himself on his knees before the Lord and said, 'Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinner " (Luke 5, 8).

As we see in some churches now, this practice is decreasing and those responsible not only require that the faithful should receive the Holy Eucharist standing, but even eliminate all kneelers forcing the faithful to sit or stand, even during the elevation and adoration of the [Sacred] Species. It is ironic that such measures have been taken in [some] dioceses by those responsible for liturgy, or in churches, by pastors, without even the smallest amount of consultation of the faithful, even though today, more than ever, there is an environment desiring democracy in the Church.

At the same time, speaking of communion in the hand, it must be recognized that the practice was improperly and quickly introduced in some quarters of the Church shortly after the Council, changing the age-old practice and becoming regular practice for the whole Church. They justified the change saying that it better reflected the Gospel or the ancient practice of the Church... Some, to justify this practice referred to the words of Jesus: "Take and eat" (Mk 14, 22; Mt 26, 26).

Whatever the reasons for this practice, we cannot ignore what is happening worldwide where this practice has been implemented. This gesture has contributed to a gradual weakening of the attitude of reverence towards the sacred Eucharistic species whereas the previous practice had better safeguarded that sense of reverence. There instead arose an alarming lack of recollection and a general spirit of carelessness. We see communicants who often return to their seats as if nothing extraordinary has happened... In many cases, one cannot discern that sense of seriousness and inner silence that must signal the presence of God in the soul.

Then there are those who take away the sacred species to keep them as souvenirs, those who sell, or worse yet, who take them away to desecrate it in Satanic rituals. Even in large concelebrations, also in Rome, several times the sacred species has been found thrown onto the ground.

This situation not only leads us to reflect upon a serious loss of faith, but also on outrageous offenses...

The Pope speaks of the need not only to understand the true and deep meaning of the Eucharist, but also to celebrate it with dignity and reverence. He says that we must be aware of "gestures and posture, such as kneeling during the central moments of the Eucharistic Prayer." (Sacramentum Caritatis, 65). Also, speaking about the reception of the Holy Communion he invites everyone to "make every effort to ensure that this simple act preserves its importance as a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrament." (Sacramentum Caritatis, 50).

In this vein, the book written by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan entitled Dominus Est is significant and appreciated. He wants to make a contribution to the current debate on the real and substantial presence of Christ in the consecrated species of bread and wine... from his experience, which aroused in him a deep faith, wonder and devotion to the Lord present in the Eucharist, he presents us with a historical-theological [consideration] clarifying how the practice of receiving Holy Communion on the tonue and kneeling has been accepted and practiced in the Church for a long period of time.

Now I think it is high time to review and re-evaluate such good practices and, if necessary, to abandon the current practice that was not called for by Sacrosanctum Concilium, nor by Fathers, but was only accepted after its illegitimate introduction in some countries. Now, more than ever, we must help the faithful to renew a deep faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species in order to strengthen the life of the Church and defend it in the midst of dangerous distortions of the faith that this situation continues to cause.

The reasons for this move must be not so much academic but pastoral - spiritual as well as liturgical - in short, what builds better faith. Mons. Msgr. Schneider in this sense shows a commendable courage because he has been able to grasp the true meaning of the words of St. Paul: "but everything should be done for building up" (1 Cor 14, 26).

MALCOLM RANJITH
Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship

Here's more good news: German Bishop Supports Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, Slams Liturgical Abuse

Archdiocese Initiates 6-Week Training Program for Priest to Learn Traditional Mass

More than 700 Attend First Latin Mass in Iloilo City, Philippines

Traditional Mass Workshop in NY

Any thoughts?

Pope Benedict XVI's Gentle Revolution

Video: Papa em Missa Ad Orientem

Video: Benedict XVI Versus Deum

Video: Bento XVI esquece Anel de Pescador no Altar da Sistina

Links: The Roman Curia Wakes Up and Strikes Three Blows

Pope to Jesuits: Reaffirm "Total Adhesion to Catholic Doctrine" on "Sexual Morality"

Vatican Initiates Major Initiative to Increase Eucharistic Adoration

Good Works Not Enough, All Religions Not Equal: Latest papal document urges Roman Catholics to win souls.

Sharing Good News is essence of Church mission, Pope says

Mutual prayer is key to Christian unity, Pope repeats

Pope emphasizes consistent application of canon law

The Church law “makes us free to follow Jesus”, explains Benedict XVI

Pope Laments Media Violence, Vulgarity

Pope says science can't help people discover their true identity

Any thoughts?

The Huntington Beach Independent: St. Mary’s by the Sea Parish Welcomes The Traditional Mass

The Huntington Beach Independent has done a story on the return of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to St. Mary’s by the Sea Parish.

Here's the link: Opportunity to be united - Many who attend St. Mary’s by the Sea Church welcome the return of Mass in Latin and say its beauty is slowly returning.

Here's the text:

An ancient Roman Catholic tradition has returned to Huntington Beach, making it one of the few places in the county parishioners can attend Mass in Latin.

St. Mary’s by the Sea Church, 321 10th St., had a long tradition of holding the Tridentine Mass, as the old form is popularly known now. Late pastor Rev. Daniel Johnson championed the Mass to his flock, and was one of only two pastors given permission by the Diocese of Orange to perform it till he retired in 2004.

But Pope Benedict XVI loosened restrictions on the Mass last year, allowing it as an “extraordinary” version of the normal Mass if parishioners demand it from their pastor.

Longtime members of the church have been praying since Johnson’s death for a way to attend the Mass he loved so dearly, said Bette Barilla, who has attended St. Mary’s by the Sea since 1972.

“It was beautiful then, and the beauty is slowly returning,” she said. “When I was in high school, they’d sing in Latin. It is a tradition of the Roman Catholic church.”

Rev. Martin Tran, the church’s current pastor, declined comment for this story. But in a July bulletin to parishioners, he called it “the greatest opportunity for all of us to be united and to move forward together in love, respect, humility, harmony and collaboration, letting go of all divisions and discord.”

Latin Mass was replaced by services in modern languages in the 1960s after the Second Vatican Council, which radically revamped church practices. The modern Mass’ other changes generally involve more active participation by the congregation and more prayers being recited for those in attendance to hear.

The 1962 version of the Mass now allowed by the Catholic Church contains core elements dating back to the sixth century, but it also bears plenty of revisions from the 1950s, said Rev. Arthur Holquin, pastor of Mission San Juan Capistrano. In addition to having a degree in liturgical studies, Holquin presides over what was for decades the only other church in the county allowed to use the old Latin Mass, mostly because of the mission’s historical roots.

One of the Tridentine Mass’ most notable features as usually practiced is its private quality; rather than the call-and-response with the congregation of the modern service, it has them read along silently as the priest and altar server sing or speak the words. That’s not required by the text, Holquin said, but traditionalists prefer it that way.

“Most people’s understanding of the missal of 62 is not a dialogue Mass,” he said. “What they want is a more personal or quasi-private engagement in the liturgical celebration.”

Some traditionalist Catholics have alleged the new Mass had flaws — some even broke away from the church over it and other Vatican II reforms — but the majority of worshipers moved on and worship in the post-’60s style. Those who prefer the Mass, however, are known for the passion — some say vehemence — of their support.

Since the pope eased restrictions on the old style of Mass, a few churches have looked into providing it, Holquin said. But there hasn’t been a rush, he said.

“When I talk to the other priests, my colleagues here, there is not this huge groundswell of folks begging for the missal of ’62,” he said. But he called the change in policy a sign of the pope’s respect for history and a gesture at reconciliation for those who found the transition difficult.

The Latin Tridentine Mass has been held at noon each Sunday since the beginning of December, according to the parish office.

Husband and wife George and Carolyn Kosearas, who have baptized six children at the church, said they were ecstatic to hear it was back. Like virtually everyone interviewed, they’ve come back each week.

“You have no idea the love we have for this Mass,” Carolyn Kosearas said. “It makes you feel the root of this church and its traditions. Anyone that comes and really experiences it can feel that.”

My thought:

Poor Father Tran. I suppose he was wise not to comment. It's dangerous to appear overly enthusiastic about the Tridentine Mass. Bishop Tod Brown is always watching.

Any thoughts?