Shahbaz Bhatti, Requiescat in pace

Shabaz Bhatti was a federal Minister of Minorities in the Government of Pakistan. He was murdered by Islamo-fascists who would have that failed state descend into the depravity of Taliban Afghanistan. Below is his writing.

May he rest in peace.

I was offered high positions in government and I was asked to give up my battle, but I always refused, even at the risk of my life. My answer was always the same: "No, I want to serve Jesus as a common man."

This devotion makes me happy. I do not look for popularity, I do not want positions of power. I just want a place at the feet of Jesus. I want my life, my character, my actions to speak for me and to say that I am following Jesus Christ. This desire is so strong in me that I consider myself privileged if - in my effort and my struggle to help the needy, the poor, the persecuted Christians of Pakistan - Jesus would accept the sacrifice of my life. I want to live for Christ and for Him I wish to die. I feel no fear in this country.

Many times, the extremists tried to kill me and imprison me, I have been threatened, persecuted and my family has been terrorized. The extremists, a few years ago, even asked my parents, my mother and my father, to dissuade me from continuing my mission to help Christians and those in need, otherwise I would be lost. But my father always encouraged me. I say that, as long as I live, until my last breath, I will continue to serve Jesus and this poor, suffering, mankind, Christians, the needy, and the poor.

I want to tell you that I find much inspiration in the Holy Bible and the life of Jesus Christ. The more I read the New and the Old Testament, Bible verses, and the word of the Lord, the stronger are my strength and my will. When I reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ sacrificed everything, that God sent His own Son for our redemption and our salvation, I wonder how I can follow the way of Calvary. Our Lord said, "Come with me, take up your cross and follow me." The words I love most of the Bible state: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, ill and you visited me, in prison and you came to me." So when I see the poor and needy, I think that, under their appearance, Jesus is the one to meet me.

So I always try to be helpful, along with my colleagues, to give assistance to the needy, the hungry, the thirsty.

[Shahbaz Bhatti, Cristiani in Pakistan. Nelle prove la speranza (Christians in Pakistan: hope in tribulation), Marcianum Press, Venice, 2008 (p. 39-43)]

Reprinted from Regina Caeli and OASIS

New Roman Missal Cover

Here is a lovely picture from Father Tim Finegan's blog, The Hermeneutic of Continuity coming soon to a parish near you except in Canada where it has not yet been approved by the Holy See because...

Roman Missal for Canada: Still waiting...

Lest I be accused by any diocesan authorities of being a "conspiracy theorist" I've now had it confirmed by another source that the delay in the Recognitio from Rome for the corrected translation of the Roman Missal (2000) in Canada is the universal posture.

If you are unfamiliar with this topic, click on the Roman Missal medallion on the left to take you to the series of articles. You will also find there the email addresses of Canada's bishops.

I will not, as demanded on another blog, reveal my sources, suffice to say that they are from within the clergy and the laity.

If the Recognitio is not granted soon, then the printing process will be greatly in peril for the beginning of Advent. The responsibility for this will lie with the bureaucrats at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. They can proffer that they have "asked for nothing out of the ordinary" but that simply makes no sense. If they did not, then Rome would not be taking so long.

The calendar and differing dates for feasts between Canada and the United States is also an issue, two being Canadian/North American Martyrs and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha as an example.

This is no place for Canadian nationalism or Quebecois episcopal posture preference dictates to the rest of Canada.

My prediction?

Meetings are being held now in Rome with CCCB officials; Rome will rule and it won't be in favour of what was submitted.

Now, get on with it!

One year ago...

One year ago today, the announcement came that the Toronto Apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter had come to an end. It as the First Sunday of Lent, 2010. Since that time, the Archbishop of Toronto appointed a diocesan priest to celebrate the traditional Latin liturgy at St. Theresa's Church in Scarborough in addition to his other parish duties as Associate Pastor at large and demanding parish north of Toronto. The Mass is no longer a Missa Cantata and attendance has dropped as well since the departure of the FSSP with no signs of growth to be had. The location remains a problem, little transit, not much parking and the time of day at 1:00 is still problematic.
On the positive side, the traditional Mass continues to grow, albeit slowly at St. Vincent de Paul under the Fathers of the Oratory and the Toronto Traditional Mass Society, soon to be known as Una Voce Toronto, has a new Board and is planning more regular programs and opportunities to move the agenda forward.
In my own opinion, the Fraternity will come back to Toronto some day, but on their terms. That would be no more bouncing from one parish to another and one rectory to another. They must have their own parish and rectory to develop live their charism and serve the people desiring to worship and live the Catholic culture in accord with the traditional liturgy and fully united to the Holy Father.
That day will come when the inevitable closing of parishes occurs, particularly in east Toronto where many struggle to survive amidst changing demographics and immigration patterns and general apostasy of Catholics from the faith.

Originally posted on February 21, 2010.

 TORONTO--Only three weeks after a Solemn High Mass was held on Candlemas assisted by transitional Deacons and Seminarians of St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto; and less than a week after a column appeared on Rorate Caeli Blog extolling the provisioning of the Traditional Latin Mass in Ontario, it was announced today after the Mass for Quadragesima Sunday that effective next Sunday, February 28, 2010, the Toronto Apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter will come to an end.

Apostolate Chaplain, Father Howard Venette, FSSP addressed the nearly 100 congregants following the Mass advising the shocked congregation that the departure was due to "internal personnel" matters. Father Venette will be reassigned to Orlando, Florida following his 19 month stay in Toronto.

The FSSP was invited to Toronto by Archbishop Thomas Collins with the hopes of establishing a personal parish for the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. In September 2009, a public announcement was made by the Fraternity and on the Archdiocese of Toronto web page that Canadian Martyrs parish would be the location over a six-month transitional period. Within days of this announcement and without public explanation, the situation changed and the parish plan did not materialise.
Recently, the Fraternity was advised that while a parish was not currently available, its provision would depend on the continued growth and financial viability of the community. In the last 19 months, attendance at the Sunday Mass at St. Theresa Shrine Church increased over 100% from the attendance under the former indult at the Missa Lecta to the Missa Cantata.

Upon arrival in Toronto, Father Venette was in residence at Holy Cross parish where the Mass was celebrated daily and on High Holy Days. Following the situation in September over Canadian Martyrs, Father was moved to St. Brigid's where the daily Mass schedule changed from week to week and the High Holy Day liturgies were split between St. Brigid's and St. Theresa's Parish.
According to officials from Una Voce Toronto, Archbishop Collins had indicated that he desired no less than "five" Extraordinary Form Masses throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto every Sunday.

An Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada

First Asia Bibi in Pakistan and now Said Musa in Afghanistan:

'pm@pm.gc.ca'; 'Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca'

Dear Prime Minister Harper and Minister of Foreign Affairs Cannon,

Re: http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/02/15/afghan-christian-faces-death-penalty-for-his-faith/

I am sure by now you are aware of the story in the National Post originating from the National Catholic Register of Mr. Said Musa, a Christian, persecuted and sentenced to death in Afghanistan. As Canadians, I am sure that you share my outrage over this injustice, particularly given the loss of life of Canadian troops and those of other NATO countries fighting for the Afghan people.

How can this be allowed to continue?

I urge you in every possible way to express to President Karzai of the need to personally intervene and have this man pardoned. Further, this continual persecution of Christians due to a flawed constitution must be prevented from happening again.

Your urgent action is required.

Yours truly,

Discourse and the rights of Catholics

At the risk of being considered an authority on anything I must respectfully disagree with the Prince of the Church quoted here. The Cardinal opines that the climate of discourse in the United States directly led to the murder of a nine-year old girl and others whom he did not even mention, he only spoke of the shooting of Congresswoman Gifford as if she was somehow the only victim in this tragedy. The Cardinal set up a straw man. The reason was not the media or certain politicians or grass-root movements or the public discourse over health-care, economics or whether or not the President is a native born. It was a crime against God and man undertaken by one man who, without God in his heart, committed a terrible crime and heinous and evil act. He could have chosen another way.

In this week's Catholic Register, Father Scott Lewis, S.J. reflects on the Book of Sirach and he comments on the scholarship view of this Book of the Holy Bible as "two-way spirituality". To quote Father, "As individuals we are given opportunities each day to choose between life and death." That man in Arizone chose death. He chose it of his own free-will and not because of Fox News, Sarah Palin, the Tea-Party Movement. I expect more from a Prince of the Church then the usual hyperbole that this was all the fault of someone else in the same way as CNN or the Puffington Post concluded.

As for the public discourse gossip is always wrong as is detraction of an individual. Ideas in the public square and the questioning of what is going on in the Church today by those Shepherds and bureaucrats is on the table for debate as it should be.

If we had the Internet forty or fifty years ago would the sexual abuse crisis inflicted on thousands have been allowed to continue unabated? Would those homosexual pederast priest been allowed to go about their evil?

Would those who destroyed churches and the ars celebrandi and our liturgical praxis and Catholic culture through a hermeneutic of rupture with tradition and false interpretation of the Second Vatican Council have gotten away with it?

It is easy for those in command of Catholic newspapers and Catholic television media and Catholic chanceries to criticise the unwashed bloggers and new media television personalities.

It has been said here in Toronto that the new Mayor, Rob Ford, is a child of the old Mayor, David Miller. Miller's elitism, arrogance, secrecy and abuse of process; his cuddling up to the unions lack of respect for property owners and tax payers and his insane tax increases brought Rob Ford to power.

Perhaps the bloggers and Internet TV network personalities are a result of the behaviour and attitude of bishops, priests, clericalist Catholic television producers and newspaper editors and writers and church bureaucrats and other professional Catholics who for decades have dismissed the concerns of John and Mary Catholic as being no-nothings.

Candlemas

Today is Candlemas, when we celebrate the traditional conclusion of Christmastide. This is the day of the Presentation of the LORD in the Temple and the Purification of Mary.

Last year in Toronto was an occasion not to be forgotten part of which is captured below. The first Solemn High Mass on Candlemas for generations. The celebrant was Father Howard Venette, FSSP. The Deacon and Subdeacon were transitional Deacons and are now priests in parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Diocese of Hamilton. Many of the Acolytes and Servers were Seminarians at St. Augustine's Seminary and others at Serra House in Toronto.

In a few weeks we will recall the one year mark since the loss of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter from Toronto.

London Catholic Foundation to host Anti-Catholic Speaker

Why has a Catholic charitable foundation invited an anti-Catholic bigot to speak at a fundraising dinner? The group is the Monsignor Feeney Foundation for Catholic Education in the Diocese of London. The anti-Catholic bigot is Stephen Lewis, former leader of the Ontario Socialist Party, also known as the NDP (New Democratic Party) and Canadian Ambassador to that other Internationalist Organization, the United Nations. Lewis also heads a foundation, humbly named after himself to promote condom use in Africa. Lewis once accused the Pope of "complete indifference to the vulnerability of women, who are so hugely and disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS." For more of Lewis' quotations about the Pope, Ian Hunter has summarized them on Catholic Insight. Herman Gooder also writes frankly about the matter in today's London Free Press. The issue was also brought to the news by the ubiquitous LifeSiteNews.com.

Most Rev. Ronald Peter Fabbro, C.S.B.
Bishop of London
1070 Waterloo Street
London, ON N6A 3Y2
Tel: (519) 433-0658 #224
Fax: (519) 266-4353
E-mail: bishop@dol.ca

Mary Anne Foster, Executive Director
Monsignor Feeney Foundation
4474-135 Blakie Rd.
London, ON N6L 1G7
Phone: (519) 652-3033
Fax: (519) 652-3077
E-mail: m.foster@ldcsb.on.ca

It is worth noting that the email contact has been removed from the Foundation's web site. Rumour has it, that if you raise the matter by telephone, you will be hung up on.

Is this the Canadian GIRM and the reason for the delay in the Roman Missal?

Is this what the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted to Rome for adaptations to the new Roman Missal for Canada?

Is this what is holding up the approval or disapproval of the GIRM and implementation of the Roman Missal?

It seems that both of my sources as in the post below, were correct.

The bold is in the original document presumably indicating Canadian "adaptations."

43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance
Chant, or while the Priest approaches the altar, until the end of
the Collect; for the Alleluia Chant before the Gospel; while the
Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the
Universal Prayer; from the invitation, Pray, brethren (brothers and
sisters), before the Prayer over the Offerings to the end of Mass,
except at the points indicated below.
They should, however, sit: while the readings before the
Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm are proclaimed; for the
homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is
taking place, and, if appropriate, during the observance of sacred
silence after Communion.
In the dioceses of Canada, they should kneel from the
singing or recitation of the Sanctus to the Memorial
Acclamation, except when prevented by reasons of health, lack
of space, the large number of people present, or some other good
reason. Those who do not kneel at the Consecration, however,
should make a profound bow when the Priest genuflects after
Communion. The diocesan Bishop may allow the common
practice of kneeling at the Consecration only.Where it is the practice for the people to remain kneeling
after the Sanctus until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer and
before Communion when the Priest says, Behold the Lamb of
God, it is laudable to retain this practice. (53)
To achieve uniformity in gestures and postures during one
and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the
instructions given by the Deacon, lay minister, or Priest in
accordance with what is laid down in the Missal.

(53) Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy,
Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 40' Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of
the Sacraments, Instruction Varietates legitimate, 25 January 1994, no. 41: AAS 87
(1995), p. 304.

Kneeling in Canada: What is your experience?

The implementation date for the new Roman Missal has still not been announced by the Canadian bishops. Sources indicate that there are two items that may be holding up Rome's approval of the "adaptations" as well as the "Proper" for Canada which is preventing publication of the Roman Missal. One is the "French Question." This is a desire to have no new GIRM implemented in English until the French translation is ready for Quebec. The second is the question of kneeling and on this there are two possibilities both disharmonious to the United States and Great Britain, but also to Toronto, where I reside.

• Consistent with the 1975 GIRM (as I note below), kneeling ONLY at the Consecration;
• A "Grey Book" instruction to kneel from the "Sanctus to Memorial Acclamation";

In the GIRM in English for the United States (the only English translation) kneeling is from the Sanctus to the Great Amen.
A few people have written me privately since the post, two below, about the kneeling situation. As well, a personal friend formerly living in Halifax has advised me that the kneeling situation there is as the Canadian bishops have apparently asked for in the new GIRM which is not in accord with the United States or Great Britain. A reader in Ottawa writes, "I feel that a few issues need to be clarified. Archbishop Prendergast never made any "rules" about posture in Ottawa. He did ask one of the parishes to put in kneelers. Also, to place and fill the chalices on the altar before Consecration. He also changed the order of the initiation sacraments for the English sector, to have unity, but I won't get into this now." My impression from the media reports is that the Archbishop instructed all parishes to have a unified posture; if this was only for one renegade parish, then I stand corrected.

Imagine my surprise further, when a reader advise me and through my own, more detailed research of the 1975 GIRM states, [21]..."They should kneel at the consecration unless prevented by the lack of space, the number of people present, or some other good reason."

In the interests of accuracy, I am quite surprised, though I find it interesting that in this case, there is a desire to be obedient; if that were the case with the Propers or Ad orientem worship or not changing any words or the restricted use of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, I might find it easier to accept.

I suppose that I am clouded by the more reasonable, if not slightly banal, liturgical situation in Toronto and the overall Archdiocese and its suffragan dioceses. While we have had a some incidents of liturgical weirdness, for the most part, we have not had the disaster present in many other places.

In Toronto, we kneel from the end of the Sanctus to the end of the Amen at the Doxology and we then stand and kneel again from the Agnus Dei and remain kneeling or sitting until after Communion.

I would ask my Canadian readers to make a comment in the comment box, Anonymous if you like.

What is your city?

What is your diocese?

What is the kneeling tradition?

But remember this; the 1975 GIRM also states, "...but it is up to the conference of bishops to adapt the actions and postures described in the Order of the Roman Mass to the customs of the people."
And in Toronto, the custom of the people is to kneel!

New Roman Missal for Canada- No Kneeling, We're Canadian, eh?

What's the difference between a terrorist and a liturgist? You can negotiate with a terrorist! Given what I am going to disclose, you'll see the appropriateness of that old joke.

Two sources have now confirmed what I suspect is one of the two reasons for the continued delay from Rome in approving the submission of the Canadian Proper with Adaptations for Canada by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Roman Missal.

Leaving aside the "French question" for now, the matter is, kneeling. We are of course, an Easter people and we don't need to kneel anymore, as the liturgical terrorists have been telling us.

The General Instruction on the Roman Missal from the Vatican's website in English is that which is approved for the United States of America. It is the same in England.

Let us take a look at the whole paragraph so that you'll get an understanding of its purpose, I have highlighted in bold the relevant instruction:

43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.

They should, however, sit while the readings before the Gospel and the Responsorial Psalm are proclaimed and for the homily and while the Preparation of the Gifts at the Offertory is taking place; and, as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.

In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.

This is identical to what we do in Canada now, at least in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Further, the 1975 General Instruction on the Roman Missal which is currently in force in Canada prescribes this very kneeling posture.

I have it from a direct source that the Grey Book submitted to the Holy See by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops included the following:

In the dioceses of Canada, they should kneel from the singing or recitation of the Sanctus to the Memorial Acclamation.

There you have it. Do you see the glaring difference?

The Canadian bishops don't think we should kneel until after the Amen following the Doxology as we do now. I say as we do now, because this is what we do in Toronto and have since the implementation of the Novus Ordo in 1970. In fact, this is the norm as prescribed in the 1975 General Instruction on the Roman Missal currently in force and frequently ignored.

Two years ago, Archbishop Terence Prendergast of Ottawa, in an effort to end discord, ordered all parishes to follow the format quoted above for Canada. This has long been a trend in Quebec and other French speaking parishes and it became a serious problem in Ottawa with which the previous Archbishop would not deal and Archbishop Prendergast was treated harshly by dissidents over this.

I can imagine that the Roman Canon or First Eucharistic Prayer will become even rarer given that people will need to stand for such a long period. At a time when belief in the Real Presence has never suffered as much is this the right approach of the Canadian bishops?

The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments must not allow this to be forced upon Canadian Catholics. We have had enough of the liturgist tale wagging the dog and the Holy Father must look after the interests of all English-speaking Catholics in Canada and in the world, not the liturgical terrorists from the Outaouais!

Relevant reading:

http://www.catholic.com/library/liturgy/cag_changes.asp

http://www.adoremus.org/0402kneel.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06423a.htm

New Roman Missal for Canada-III

This is number three in an ongoing series. It is my intent that this blog, Vox Cantoris, will be the most authoritative in Canada on this issue and I will attempt to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the implementation of the new Roman Missal in Canada with the resources necessary to educate yourself and your friends on this great gift to the people of God.

Over the last few days, I've posted two articles about the new Roman Missal and its implementation in Canada. You can find them below or by clicking here on New Roman Missal for the entire series.

This is an important matter for Catholics in Canada and you have heard little or nothing about it from your pastor or bishop.

I am instituting this to provide as much up-to-date information on the situation in Canada for its implementation.

Just to remind you; this will be happening in England in September and the United States in November on the first Sunday of Advent.

It is time friends for your voice to be heard.

You must ask your Pastor (but don't pester him, he knows little more than you).

It is however time to write your bishop and the officials at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and raise this issue to ensure that English speaking Canadians are not deprived of the corrected translation to the English Novus Ordo Liturgy.

When writing to an Archbishop, the salutation is "Your Grace" and for a Bishop, it is "Your Excellency."

You should also copy, on this web page, Monsignor Patrick Powers, P.H., General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Monsignor Powers does answer his email.

Your Grace, Archbishop....:

As a practicing Catholic living in your diocese and I am very pleased to know that the Third Edition of the Roman Missal issued by Pope John Paul II in 2000 and its General Instruction has finally been translated and approved by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

Reports in the media indicate that the new Missal is going to be used in Great Britain in September 2011 and in the United States of America on the First Sunday of Advent 2011. Yet, there has been no announcement made in my parish or in the diocesan press in Canada for its implementation.

It is my fervent hope and desire that we English-speaking people in Canada will also reap the spiritual benefits from the new Missal and the corrected translation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from its Latin original. Yet, I am confused as to the delay and lack of communication on this most important matter. When can we expect this new Missal and its General Instruction to be implemented in Canada?

Yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Jacob ANGADIATH Eparchial Bishop of the Syro-Malabarians Catholics in the United States Apostolic Visitator to Canada	bishop@stthomasdiocese.org
Most Rev. Manuel BATAKIAN Eparchial Bishop of the Catholic Armenians in Canada and the United States	mbexarch@aol.com
Most Rev. Bryan BAYDA , C.Ss.R. Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon	bbjbayda@mac.com
Most Rev. Gerard P. BERGIE Bishop of St. Catharines	bishop@stcatharinesdiocese.ca
Most Rev. Jean-Pierre BLAIS Bishop of Baie-Comeau	chancelleriedbc@hotmail.com
Most Rev. Daniel J. BOHAN Archbishop of Regina	chancery@archregina.sk.ca
Most Rev. John A. BOISSONNEAU Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto	bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com
Most Rev. Donald BOLEN Bishop of Saskatoon	bishop@saskatoonrcdiocese.com
Most Rev. Luc BOUCHARD Bishop of Saint-Paul	diospaul@mcsnet.ca
Most Rev. Vincent CADIEUX , O.M.I. Bishop of Moosonee Bishop of Hearst	vincentc@ontera.net
Most Rev. Vincent CADIEUX , O.M.I. Bishop of Hearst Bishop of Moosonee	vincentc@ontera.net
Most Rev. Claude CHAMPAGNE , O.M.I. Bishop of Edmundston	mgrchampagne@nb.sympatico.ca
Most Rev. Murray CHATLAIN Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith	chatlain03@gmail.com
Most Rev. Stephen Victor CHMILAR Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada	eparchto@bellnet.ca
Most Rev. Fred J. COLLI Bishop of Thunder Bay	bishoptb@dotb.ca
Most Rev. Thomas COLLINS Archbishop of Toronto	archbishop@archtoronto.org
Most Rev. John CORRIVEAU , O.F.M. Cap Bishop of Nelson	corriveau.john@gmail.com
Most Rev. Douglas CROSBY , O.M.I. Bishop of Hamilton	bishopsoffice@hamiltondiocese.com
Most Rev. Martin William CURRIE Bishop of Grand Falls Archbishop of St. John's	archbishopmwcurrie@gmail.com
Most Rev. Martin William CURRIE Archbishop of St. John's Bishop of Grand Falls	archbishopmwcurrie@gmail.com
Most Rev. Luc CYR Bishop of Valleyfield	eveque@diocesevalleyfield.org
Most Rev. Robert Anthony DANIELS Auxiliary Bishop of London	tdaniels@dol.ca
Most Rev. Nicola DE ANGELIS , C.F.I.C. Bishop of Peterborough	chancery@peterboroughdiocese.org
Most Rev. Louis DICAIRE Auxiliary Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil	louis.dicaire@dsjl.org
Most Rev. Brian DUNN Bishop of Antigonish	bishopdunn@dioceseofantigonish.ca
Most Rev. Paul-André DUROCHER Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall	padurocher@alexandria-cornwall.ca
Most Rev. Roger ÉBACHER Archbishop of Gatineau	eroger@videotron.ca
Most Rev. Thomas Mar EUSEBIUS Bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States Apostolic Visitator for the Syro-Malankara Catholics in Canada and Europe	bishopeusebius@gmail.com
Most Rev. Ronald Peter FABBRO , C.S.B. Bishop of London	bishop@dol.ca
Most Rev. Pierre-André FOURNIER Archbishop of Rimouski	pierre-andre.fournier@dioceserimouski.com
Most Rev. Richard GAGNON Bishop of Victoria	chancery@rcdvictoria.org
Most Rev. Jean GAGNON Bishop of Gaspé	diogaspe@globetrotter.net
Msgr. Edwin J. GALE Diocesan Administrator Corner Brook and Labrador
Most Rev. André GAUMOND Archbishop of Sherbrooke	agaumond@diocesedesherbrooke.org
Most Rev. André GAZAILLE Auxiliary Bishop of Montréal	agazaille@diocesemontreal.org
Most Rev. Lionel GENDRON , P.S.S. Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil	eveque@dsjl.org
Most Rev. Gary GORDON Bishop of Whitehorse	bishopgary@me.com
Most Rev. Richard GRECCO Bishop of Charlottetown	bishop@dioceseofcharlottetown.com
Most Rev. Yousif HABASH Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Diocese	marbarnaba@yahoo.com
Most Rev. Robert HARRIS Bishop of Saint John	rharris@dioceseofsaintjohn.org
Most Rev. Frederick B. HENRY Bishop of Calgary	bishop.henry@calgarydiocese.ca
Most Rev. Lawrence HUCULAK , O.S.B.M. Ukrainian Eparchial Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of Catholic Ukrainians in Canada	chancery@archeparchy.ca
Most Rev. Peter HUNDT Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto	barriebishop@rogers.com
Most Rev. Ibrahim M. IBRAHIM , O.B.S. Eparchial Bishop of the Catholic Greek-Melkites of Canada	bishop@melkitecanada.org
Most Rev. Joseph KHOURY Bishop of the Catholic Maronite Eparchy of Canada	beitmaroun@videotron.ca
Most Rev. Gérald Cyprien LACROIX Auxiliary Bishop of Québec Diocesan Administrator of Québec	gerald.c.lacroix@ecdq.org
Most Rev. François LAPIERRE , P.M.E. Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe	lapierre@ntic.qc.ca
Most Rev. Donald LAPOINTE Auxiliary Bishop of Saint-Jérôme	diocesesj@citenet.net
Most Rev. Sylvain LAVOIE , O.M.I. Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas	slavoie@keepas.ca
Most Rev. Albert LeGATT Archbishop of Saint-Boniface	alegatt@archsaintboniface.ca
Most Rev. Gilles LEMAY Auxiliary Bishop of Québec	gilles.lemay@ecdq.org
Most Rev. Paul LORTIE Auxiliary Bishop of Québec	paul.lortie@ecdq.org
Most Rev. Gilles LUSSIER Bishop of Joliette	france@diocesedejoliette.org
Most Rev. Anthony MANCINI Apostolic Administrator of Yarmouth Archbishop of Halifax	amancini@catholichalifax.org
Most Rev. Anthony MANCINI Archbishop of Halifax Apostolic Administrator of Yarmouth	amancini@catholichalifax.org
Most Rev. Paul MARCHAND , S.M.M. Bishop of Timmins	dioctims@ntl.sympatico.ca
Most Rev. Vital MASSÉ Bishop of Mont-Laurier	vmasse@diocese-mont-laurier.org
Most Rev. William Terrence McGRATTAN Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto	auxcent@rogers.com
Most Rev. Michael MILLER , C.S.B. Archbishop of Vancouver	mmiller@rcav.bc.ca
Most Rev. David J. J. MONROE Bishop of Kamloops	monroe@rcdk.org
Most Rev. Dorylas MOREAU Bishop of Rouyn-Noranda	dorylas@cablevision.qc.ca
Most Rev. Yvon-Joseph MOREAU , O.C.S.O. Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière	diocese@diocese-ste-anne.net
Most Rev. Pierre MORISSETTE Bishop of Saint-Jérôme	diocesesj@citenet.net
Most Rev. David MOTIUK Ukrainian Bishop of Edmonton	bishop@edmontoneparchy.com
Most Rev. Michael MULHALL Bishop of Pembroke	bishop@pembrokediocese.com
Most Rev. Vincent NGUYEN Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto	vnguyen@archtoronto.org
Most Rev. Kenneth NOWAKOWSKI Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of New Westminster	nweparchy@telus.net
Most Rev. Brendan M. O'BRIEN Archbishop of Kingston	obrien@romancatholic.kingston.on.ca
Most Rev. John S. PAZAK , C.Ss.R. Eparchial Bishop of the Catholic Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada	byzslovakeparch@sympatico.ca
Most Rev. Gérard PETTIPAS , C.Ss.R. Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan	gpettipas@serbernet.com
Most Rev. Jean-Louis PLOUFFE Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie	jlplouffe@diocesecentre.com
Most Rev. Terrence PRENDERGAST , S.J. Archbishop of Ottawa	archbishop@archottawa.ca
Most Rev. André RICHARD , C.S.C. Archbishop of Moncton	chan.diocesemoncton@nb.aibn.com
Most Rev. André RIVEST Bishop of Chicoutimi	diocese.chicoutimi@videotron.net
Most Rev. Reynald ROULEAU , O.M.I. Bishop of Churchill-Hudson Bay
Most Rev. Noël SIMARD Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie	nsimard@diocesecentre.com
Most Rev. Richard SMITH Archbishop of Edmonton	rstrauss@caedm.ca
Most Rev. Raymond ST-GELAIS Bishop of Nicolet	eveque@diocesenicolet.qc.ca
Most Rev. Donald J. THÉRIAULT Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Canada	don.theriault@forces.gc.ca
Most Rev. Albert THÉVENOT , M. Afr. Bishop of Prince Albert	apthevenot@sasktel.net
Most Rev. Eugène TREMBLAY Bishop of Amos	eveque@diocese-amos.org
His Eminence Jean-Claude TURCOTTE Archbishop of Montréal	seccard@diocesemontreal.org
Most Rev. Martin VEILLETTE Bishop of Trois-Rivières	mveillette@evechetr.org
Most Rev. Valéry VIENNEAU Bishop of Bathurst	valeryv@nb.aibn.com
Most Rev. V. James WEISGERBER Archbishop of Winnipeg	archbishop@archwinnipeg.ca
Most Rev. Gerald WIESNER , O.M.I. Bishop of Prince George	bishop@netbistro.com

More Than Words: External Signs of Faith by the Celebrant

The Significance of Genuflections and Other Gestures

By Father Nicola Bux

ROME, JAN. 21, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Faith in the presence of the Lord, and in particular in his Eucharistic presence, is expressed in an exemplary manner by the priest when he genuflects with profound reverence during the Holy Mass or before the Eucharist.

In the post-conciliar liturgy, these acts of devotion have been reduced to a minimum in the name of sobriety. The result is that genuflections have become a rarity, or a superficial gesture. We have become stingy with our gestures of reverence before the Lord, even though we often praise Jews and Muslims for their fervor and manner way of praying.

More than words, a genuflection manifests the humility of the priest, who knows he is only a minister, and his dignity, as he is able to render the Lord present in the sacrament. However, there are other signs of devotion.

When the priest extends his hands in prayer he is indicating the supplication of the poor and humble one. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GRIM) establishes that the priest, "when he celebrates the Eucharist, therefore, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he says the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ" (No. 93). An attitude of humility is consonant with Christ himself, meek and humble of heart. He must increase and I must decrease.

In proceeding to the altar, the priest must be humble, not ostentatious, without indulging in looking to the right and to the left, as if he were seeking applause. Instead, he must look at Jesus; Christ crucified is present in the tabernacle, before whom he must bow. The same is done before the sacred images displayed in the apse behind or on the sides of the altar, the Virgin, the titular saint, the other saints.

The reverent kiss of the altar follows and eventually the incense, the sign of the cross and the sober greeting of the faithful. Following the greeting is the penitential act, to be carried out profoundly with the eyes lowered. In the extraordinary form, the the faithful kneel, imitating the publican pleasing to the Lord.

The celebrant must not raise his voice and should maintain a clear tone for the homily, but be submissive and suppliant in prayer, solemn if sung. "In texts that are to be spoken in a loud and clear voice, whether by the priest or the deacon, or by the lector, or by all, the tone of voice should correspond to the genre of the text itself, that is, depending upon whether it is a reading, a prayer, a commentary, an acclamation, or a sung text; the tone should also be suited to the form of celebration and to the solemnity of the gathering" (GRIM, No. 38).

He will touch the holy gifts with wonder, and will purify the sacred vessels with calm and attention, in keeping with the appeal of so many saints and priests before him. He will bow his head over the bread and the chalice in pronouncing the consecrating words of Christ and in the invocation of the Holy Spirit (epiclesi). He will raise them separately, fixing his gaze on them in adoration and then lowering them in meditation. He will kneel twice in solemn adoration. He will continue with recollection and a prayerful tone the anaphora to the doxology, raising the holy gifts in offer to the Father.

Then, he will recite the Our Father with his hands raised, without having anything else in his hands, because that is proper to the rite of peace. The priest will not leave the Sacrament on the altar to give the sign of peace outside the presbytery, instead he will break the Host in a solemn and visible way, then he will genuflect before the Eucharist and pray in silence. He will ask again to be delivered from every indignity not to eat and drink to his own condemnation and to be protected for eternal life by the holy Body and precious Blood of Christ. Then he will present the Host to the faithful for communion, praying "Dominum non sum dignus," and bowing he will commune first, and thus will be an example to the faithful.

After communion, silence for thanksgiving can be done standing, better than sitting, as a sign of respect, or kneeling, if it is possible, as John Paul II did to the end when he celebrated in his private chapel, with his head bowed and his hands joined. He asked that the gift received be for him a remedy for eternal life, as in the formula that accompanies the purification of the sacred vessels; many faithful do so and are an example.
Should not the paten or cup and the chalice (vessels that are sacred because of what they contain) be "laudably" covered (GRIM 118; cf. 183) in sign of respect -- and also for reasons of hygiene -- as the Eastern Churches do? The priest, after the final greeting and blessing, going up to the altar to kiss it, will again raise his eyes to the crucifix and will bow and genuflect before the tabernacle. Then he will return to the sacristy, recollected, without dissipating with looks and words the grace of the mystery celebrated.

In this way the faithful will be helped to understand the holy signs of the liturgy, which is something serious, in which everything has a meaning for the encounter with the present mystery of God.

* * *

Father Nicola Bux is professor of Eastern Liturgy in Bari and consultor of the Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith, for Saints' Causes, for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, as well as of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

[Translation by ZENIT]