The Cathedral Cabaret! A reprise

Something odd today. For some reason an old post from April 15, 2013 which features a cabaret performance of secular music with tickets sold in Toronto's St. Michaels Cathedral has been making the rounds today. You can clearly see the throne in the typical Masonic Lodge presider manner with its green upholstery as this was before the elevation of the Archbishop to the College of Cardinals. It's very odd because not only here but over at Barona somebody's been creeping this old post and raising this as an issue in the combox on a totally unrelated post. Ah; trolls. The singer is quite talented, no doubt about that. The concert should just never been allowed in the Cathedral or any Catholic church.

I can't imagine why or what would be wrong with this; can you?

Oh well, it must be just me that finds this odd.

Go away then, nothing to see here.

http://www.voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2013/04/concerts-in-torontos-catholic-churches.html

http://www.voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2013/04/gaia-and-antiochus-both-welcomed-in.html

Vatican sells out sacred Sistine Chapel to Porche

 

Memebers of the public inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Museums in the Vatican City in Rome Photo: Alamy

By Nick Squires, Rome

7:34PM BST 16 Oct 2014

Pope Francis has for the first time allowed the Sistine Chapel to be rented out for a private corporate event, with the proceeds to go to charities working with the poor and homeless.

The concert, to be performed amid the splendour of Michelangelo's frescoes on Saturday, will be attended by a select group of about 40 high-paying tourists who have signed up to an exclusive tour of Italy organised by Porsche.

But as the unprecedented deal was announced, the Vatican announced that it would limit the number of visitors allowed inside the chapel to the current total of six million, amid fears that the frescoes are being damaged by the breath and sweat of so many tourists.

The Vatican would not divulge how much it will earn from the event, but the five-day tour of Rome arranged by the Porsche Travel Club costs up to 5,000 euros per head, meaning an overall price of 200,000 euros.

Participants are promised "a magnificent concert in the Sistine Chapel, with its ceiling frescoes painted by Michelangelo".

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The concert will be performed by a choir from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, which traces its origins back to the 16th century.

They will then sit down to a "gala dinner" in the midst of the Vatican Museums, "surrounded by masterpieces by world-famous artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael".

"It's a one-off event and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," a spokeswoman for the Porsche Travel Club told The Telegraph. "It will be the highlight of the trip."

The Pope is keen to put the Vatican's incomparable cultural heritage treasures to good use for the benefit of the needy.

Shortly after he was elected in March last year he called for a "poor Church for the poor".

Monsignor Paolo Nicolini, the administrative director of the Vatican Museums, said firms like Porsche would be asked to make a donation for the use of the Sistine Chapel, with the money then passed onto Catholic charities of the Pope's choice.

"It is an initiative which will support the Pope's charity projects. It is aimed at big companies which, through the payment of a fee, can contribute to charity activities," he said.

Concerts have been held in the Sistine Chapel before, but they have been for private Church audiences, including events held in honour of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

It is believed this is the first time that the chapel, which was built by Pope Sixtus IV between 1473 and 1484, has been leased out to a company for a commercial event.

The Vatican would not say whether it was planning to strike similar deals with other companies.

The restriction on visits to six million a year could mean the introduction of a reservations-only booking system, rather than the current free-for-all in which tourists can book visits online, through travel agencies or queue outside the gates of the tiny city state.

"I am convinced that the Vatican Museums, in particular the Sistine Chapel, have reached the maximum number of visitors possible," said Antonio Paolucci, the director of the Vatican Museums.

The chapel has been fitted with new lighting and climate control systems which are designed to reduce the damage to the delicate frescoes.

Secular promotion video filmed in a Catholic Church!

The video below is of a young singer, the daughter of a David Wang a musician and former contributor to Toronto's Catholic Register. He is the "manager" of his daughter's career. 

This is about the flagrant abuse of a Catholic Church for self-promotion; be it photographs, business ventures or music videos.

Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kitchener, Ontario in the Diocese of Hamilton was used for this video. The Pastor did not permit this video, he was unaware of its filming, no permission was given and the Blessed Sacrament was present in the tabernacle.  

Miss Wang performing in bare feet in a cocktail dress, in a Catholic sanctuary is wrong. Even if she were wearing moccasins, a tunic and mantilla, it is still wrong. 

Concerts in Toronto's Catholic Churches

View from 4:50

Angelica and the Three Tenors at St. Michael's Cathedral

Between this blog and Toronto Catholic Witness the last week has been dedicated to exposing the abuse of our sacred spaces -- our sanctuaries dedicated to the worship of God turned into "venues" and "facilities" to say nothing of cabarets and concerts halls to pagan goddesses.

To be brief, based on the instructions of St. Pius X, Pope Pius XI, Ven. Paul VI and the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments issued a Protocol, 1251/87, on the matter of concerts in churches.

Essentially, the Blessed Sacrament must be in repose in a chapel, there must be no ticket - only a voluntary collection may be taken, the music must be sacred and there must be no performers in the sanctuary nor may the altar, ambo or chair be used for anything. For more details or to read the entire document it can be found at Adoremus.

In about thirty minutes, I as able to put a list together of dozens of concerts including the Angelica, the Three Tenors, The Priests, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Tallis Choir, the Victoria Scholars, Toronto Chamber Choir and many others. All were commercial ventures and some with ticket prices of up to $50. Some were all sacred music and some a mixture of sacred and secular. All were in the sanctuaries. In the case of St. Paul's Baslica on 96.3FM and Salt + Light, it was referred to as a "great facility." St. Patrick's on McCaul Street is referred to as a venue. A document was sent to the Chancery Office for Spiritual Affairs today listing over a dozen concerts, some of a commercial nature listed on the Archdiocese of Toronto's own web page and even in the Catholic Register newspaper.

In consultation with those at Toronto Catholic Witness, we have decided not to let this matter rest until such time as a clearly defined policy in accord with the Protocol is restored and articulated for public consumption.

It seems that the light on this matter is starting to pay off as is being reported by Barona on Witness:

Monday, April 15, 2013

BREAKING NEWS: Archdiocese of Toronto will be re-issuing Policy on Concerts in Churches

The Archdiocese of Toronto will be re-issuing and enforcing the Policy on Concerts in Churches by the late Cardinal Ambrozic. The Policy was never abrogated.  My inside source informed me that all parishes will be formally notified next week; with publication of the document on the Archdiocese's website to follow soon after. 

This re-issuance was deemed necessary after ongoing and prolonged violation of norms by local pastors that was being brought to the notice of the Archbishop's Office. 

More to follow after the formal publication.

Gaia and Antiochus both are welcome in the Archdiocese of Toronto!

Update: Confirmed from the concert organiser. "All details of the concert were discussed with (          ), the lady in charge of the events at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Posters of the event were dropped off at the Archdiocese in Toronto at 1155 Yonge Street, where they were further distributed to Catholic Churches across the GTA."

Clearly, this took place with the full knowledge of someone at the Chancery office, not just the Cathedral.

Again, what happened to the policy on concerts in churches under the late Cardinal Ambrozic which was in accord with the norms issued by the CDWDS?

Angelica's sensual performance in St. Michael's Cathedral

House of God turned into a cabaret

Look at what they've done to the Temple of God

Please excuse your writer for being a year or two behind the time but this is what they hope for. You understand right?; they want these things to pass under the radar (May 2011). Then one day, someone organises a concert in a Catholic Church with a composition of the Divine Liturgy dedicated to a pagan goddess known as Gaia and dares to call it a Mass and it is reported. Some other people read it make recollection of other events. I've now asked a third time for the policy of the Archdiocese of Toronto on concerts in churches.  We had one once under Cardinal Ambrozic.

Msgr. Ronan is not amused

What you see above and below is so far from what is permitted in a Church and is nothing less than a scandal. This is a desecration of the sanctuary for commercial purposes. No fee or donation to the Cathedral can justify such a use of this sacred space. A lounge singer concert (and I mean lounge singer in the most positive of ways) in a strapless dress, singing profane music in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The signing of autographs and selling of (non-religious) items in the forecourt. A poster showing her bare midriff, close ups of her body during the concert -- all of this in front of the Altar of Sacrifice! 

The Rector of St. Michael's Cathedral, Father Michael Busch has shown a failure of stewardship and a complete disregard for the sanctity of this place and the Holy of Holies. He should be ashamed of his dereliction in this regard; debasing this House of God for money!

Is it any wonder why people find refuge in the SSPX? 

Is there not something fundamentally wrong with the Church and the administration of a diocese when this is allowed to happen?

Don't we take our hats off in Church? 

The Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Collins lives at the Bishop's Palace attached to the Cathedral where this desecration occurred. Your Eminence this is wrong, we are owed an explanation. What are you going to do about this? What are you going to do to ensure that this kind of desecration in our churches is going to stop? What about reparation to God?

No artist has a right to desecrate the Cathedral with a secular, commercial performance in a sacred space set apart for the worship of God. 

The dress is beautiful, the woman is obviously talented and fully suitable to Roy Thomson Hall, but not here, not in the Cathedral of Toronto.  Concerts of this type are simply not to be held in churches, the Vatican Congregation responsible has already stated it. 

The quote below is from a composition about Jesus sung and available in the authorised links below.

"nobody's wrong, and nobody's right, we're all givers of light... you just be true, be truthful to yourself, and lead as you really are..."

The "Dictatorship of Relativism" sung loud and proud in St. Michael's Cathedral Cabaret; but I can tell you with every certainty; this is not what Jesus would say.

I ask you, could Antiochus have done worse?

See also:

http://torontocatholicwitness.blogspot.ca/2013/04/abomination-in-sanctuary-st-michaels.html

http://torontocatholicwitness.blogspot.ca/2013/04/abomination-of-desolation-st-michaels.html

Toronto Gaia "Mass" UPDATE

 Confirmation has been received from Chancery officials in Toronto that the Gaia "Mass" at Holy Name Church was "explored by the "appropriate diocesan authorities" as it was clearly, a concern of theirs as well.  The notice on the web page slipped through the radar and it was removed from some time prior to our original post. It also went out to parishes and there is no doubt that many priests took this matter up (as has been confirmed privately). The "event," if you will, will go-ahead. Tickets have been sold. It is clearly not a Mass, but a concert, and we were certainly aware of this fact. However, the fact remains that this composition of sacred liturgical texts and those behind its composition and presentation reveal that this is not sacred music and is anything but appropriate for the liturgy or a Church, even as a concert. that being said, let's take things step-by-step.

It is confirmed, the Blessed Sacrament will be removed from the Church. 

Without bemoaning any further the background of the composers or the suitability of this "Mass" named for a pagan goddess rather than to the glory of the Triune God, the whole matter of concerts in churches is important and needs to be addressed in this and probably many dioceses. 

Under our former Archbishop, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, there was a policy consistent with that of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. This policy, as far as we are aware, and we are awaiting confirmation, has not been changed in Toronto. Clearly, it is being ignored and not just for this event. Three years ago, Salt + Light and an FM Radio station turned St. Paul's Basilica into a "facility" as the FM announcer referred, with a hefty ticket price for a recorded for broadcast concert by "The Priests" with the attendance of at least one Toronto Auxiliary Bishop, notwithstanding the policy. This is not the first time that the Basilica has been used as a concert hall in violation of the Congregation's directive. 

Below are some of the more salient points to consider. The entire document, Protocol 1257/87 from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments can be read at Adoremus. It was sent to the presidents of the national conferences of bishops and through them to commissions on Liturgy and sacred art.

In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that: a. Requests are to be made in writing, in good time, indicating the date and time of the proposed concert, the programme giving the works and the names of the composers. b. After having received the authorization of the Ordinary, the rectors and parish priests of the churches should arrange details with the choir and orchestra so that the requisite norms are observed. c. Entrance to the church must be without payment and open to all. d. The performers and the audience must be dressed in a manner which is fitting to the sacred character of the place. e. The musicians and the singers should not be placed in the sanctuary. The greatest respect is to be shown to the altar, the president’s chair and the ambo. f. The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place (cf. C.I.C., can 938, par. 4). g. The concert should be presented or introduced not only with historical or technical details, but also in a way that fosters a deeper understanding and an interior participation on the part of the listeners. h. The organizer of the concert shall declare in writing that he accepts legal responsibility for expenses involved, for leaving the church in order, and for any possible damage incurred. 11. The above practical directives should be of assistance to the bishops and rectors of churches in their pastoral responsibility to maintain the sacred character of their churches, designed for sacred celebrations, prayer and silence. Such indications should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in the art of music. The treasury of sacred music is a witness to the way in which the Christian faith promotes culture. By underlining the true value of sacred or religious music, Christian musicians and members of "scholae cantorum" should feel that they are being encouraged to continue this tradition and to keep it alive for the service of the faith, as expressed by the Second Vatican Council in its message to artists: "Do not hesitate to put your talent at the service of the divine truth. The world in which we live has need of beauty in order not to lose hope. Beauty, like truth, fills the heart with joy. And this, thanks to your hands" (cf. Second Vatican Council, Message to Artists, 8 December 1965). Rome, 5 November 1987. Paul Augustine Card. Mayer, O.S.B. Prefect Virgilio Noè Titular Archbishop of Voncaria Secretary

Gaia Earth Worship Mass to be held in Toronto!

As much as I regret disturbing my own peace or any others on this Holy Day, this cannot be allowed to continue. How much more are we to take?

"The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Return unto the LORD thy God."

From the the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah; First Nocturn of Tenebrae for Holy Thursday.

From: Vox

Sent: March-28-13 9:58 AM

To: 'archbishop@archtoronto.org'; 'bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com'; 'holyname@rogers.com'

Cc: 'neilm@archtoronto.org'; bills@archtoronto.org

Subject: GAIA EARTH MASS at HOLY NAME CHURCH TORONTO!

Your Eminence, Excellency, Father Morrasse,

“If we do not preach Jesus Christ, we preach the Devil.” These words spoken by our Holy Father Francis have never ringed more true, yet, on this Maundy Thursday, this scandalous matter has been forwarded to me. Regretfully, I must write to you on this Holy Day, rather than all of us being docile to the Spirit, truthfully, the Cult of God must go on and our labours as laity justified in Lumen Gentium and by our Baptism and Confirmation in Christ and the Holy Spirit, must continue.

How is it possible that this abomination of earth worship to a pagan goddess can be allowed to take place in a Catholic Church and promoted on the web page. Now, I note that it does not appear on a page today that I can find, but it is cached in a search as you will see below on the print screen.

Your Eminence, Your Excellency, many times I and others have written and we receive no answers. With all filial respect, I am requesting an answer that this abomination not take place and that the Communications Department will take up its responsibility in these matters not only not to post  but to bring such matters, the actual breaking of the First Commandment to your immediate attention. How much more scandal do the flock of Toronto have to contend with?

Know that you are in the prayers of myself and many these Holy Days.

Yours truly,

www.voxcantor.blogspot.com

bcc. various Catholics in Toronto

Google the cache here.

 (Taken from the Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Toronto)

Apr 3 & Apr 5

Missa Gaia Earth Mass.Holy Name Catholic Church, 71 Gough Avenue, Toronto. 7:30 p.m.The school’s 140-voice choir, musicians and dancers will perform this joyous rhythmic, contemporary work inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.  It is a musical/spiritual celebration of God’s creation that includes the human voice alongside that of the wolf, whale and loon. An instrumental ensemble featuring present students and alumnae provide an eclectic canvas of traditional, gospel, new age and world music.

Admission is $15.