Roman Missal Recognitio: Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Finally, weeks after the news here on Vox Cantoris, and a day after it was published on Vox with a hat-tip here, three weeks after it was in the church bulletins in the Diocese of Hamilton and two week after the Archdiocese of Toronto announced the beginning of a training session, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has finally announced the recognitio of the new Roman Missal for Canada.

Thank you CCCB for your excellent communication!

For superior information please click the picture below:

Thank you Archbishop Prendergast and LifeSiteNews!

Grateful prayers of thanks and acknowledgement and blessing to Archbishop Terence Prendergast, S.J. of Ottawa for his statement and banning of a priest of Mexico from speaking engagements in the name of the Church promoted from Development & Peace where funds were directed to abortion.

Notwithstanding the unjust, vitriolic accusations by some who consistently blame LifeSiteNews "for stirring up 'division, destruction, hatred, vitriol, judgment and violence' " LifeSiteNews once again has scored another victory for justice and truth and the unborn by exposing the rot at Development and Peace and those in the Church in Canada and the CCCB who continue to whitewash the funding of your collection money to groups in Mexico and other countries who fund the murder of children in the wombs of their mothers.

This is the power of the Internet, the new media and bloggers. As I've stated previously in the last two weeks, they don't like it and they continue still to issue personal attacks by email unbecoming of their state. (I am sure that this will provoke another). The truth will be told and they will convict themselves by their actions and public comments.

Canadian Implementation of new Roman Missal

As reported earlier and in a continuing series here on Vox Cantoris, the new Roman Missal in Canada is finally approved for use after a long wait.

Here for your consumption is this with my comment:

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,

Our Conference has now received recognitio for all sections of the English translation of the revised Roman Missal for use in Canada. (This was granted at the end of February and the CCCB's own website indicates that they would only "approve" the GIRM for use once a French version was complete. Rome thinks otherwise!) The Executive Committee, in consultation with the Permanent Council, has selected the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, as the date for the official implementation of the English translation of the Missal. (Our sources indicate that Rome told the CCCB that Advent I was the date, they did not select it and were given no opportunity to delay it any further) The official decree for this date has not yet been published, because our Conference is still involved in discussions with the Congregation for Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments about the exact wording of one of the requested adaptations for Canada. (What adaptation? Is this the desire to canonize three different kneeling postures including only at the Consecration which goes against the GIRM for the United States and Great Britain. Canada needs MORE kneeling, not less! Again, the Canadian Proper of Saints cannot be that compicated and since it is part of the Missal and "all sections" have been approved, it must be something else. Note that there is one change and that is that the people are to stand at the beginning of the Orate Fratres--Pray Brethren-or Pray Brothers and Sisters)

These discussions with the Congregation will not in any way slow down the preparation of the English translation of the revised Missal. Both the National Liturgy Office and the CCCB Publications Department are busy preparing the new book and their work is proceeding on schedule.

As well, the English Sector National Liturgy Office is preparing to start the launching of the catechetical material it has already prepared. The resource Celebrate and Song, which contains the parts of the Mass spoken by the people, as well as three newly composed Mass settings and the ICEL chants, is now finished and will be available for distribution during the first half of April. This resource also contains the texts of Eucharistic Prayers I-IV and 40 hymns (Propers, where are the Propers?) not currently found in the Catholic Book of Worship III. (The ICEL chants are exceptionally well done; I have not yet seen the three new settings.)

Starting the first week of April, the National Liturgy Office will begin posting texts and power-point slides to be used for workshops at the local level – including workshops dealing with the theology of Eucharist, (I really wish they would stop referring to the liturgy as "Eucharist" instead of the Mass or Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) the process of translation and revision, and the history of the Eucharist.

We had not been able to proceed with the production of the DVDs with Salt and Light TV until the matter of Canadian adaptations was resolved (so the questions are resolved and it is now only wording? What are the questions that were resolved? Why is it not revealed?) and recognitio received. We can now proceed with the DVDs. National Liturgy Office Director Father Bill Burke and CCCB Publications Director Dr. Glenn Byer have met with Salt and Light CEO Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B. The scripts to be used are completed. Salt and Light will do filming in May and June and then, after editing and production, the two DVDs will be ready for distribution by the end of August. (The United States has been preparing for over a year already) The first will be a two-hour presentation on the theological emphases of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The second will be an hour-long presentation with a teaching DVD on the structure of the Mass and the meaning of each part of the Mass. The National Liturgy Office will provide a packet of material including suggested workshop formats and questions for discussion at the parish level.

Finally, early in September, we will have CDs ready with a cantor singing a dozen or so of the new prefaces to assist priests who do not read music but would like to sing the prefaces. (This is good, any priest wishing private lessons may contact me at voxcantoris (at) rogers (dot) com for the Prefaces, Gospel, Exultet, Proclamation of the Moveable Feasts on Epiphany, etc.).

If you have any questions or concerns about the implementation of the English translation of the revised Missal for use in Canada, or about the catechetical materials being planned for its implementation, please do not hesitate to call me.

With every good and prayerful wish on our Lenten journey, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ Our Lord,

(Rev. Msgr.) Patrick Powers, P.H.
General Secretary

Better late than never.

It remains to be seen what "adaption" is approved for Canada and if this is simply the Canadian Proper of Saints or if it is the desire of the CCCB to see various kneeling postures implemented. To refresh you on this matter see here.

Let us hope that the CCCB and those responsible at Salt + Light for the training materials and will include some liturgical discipline in their instruction. There is some justified cynicism that the new translation won't stop some priests from changing the words once again.

[22.3.] Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority. Sacrosanctam Concilium

[52.]...I (Pope John Paul II) consider it my duty, therefore to appeal urgently that the liturgical norms for the celebration of the Eucharist be observed with great fidelity. These norms are a concrete expression of the authentically ecclesial nature of the Eucharist; this is their deepest meaning. Liturgy is never anyone's private property, be it of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated. Ecclesia de Eucharistia

[59.] The reprobated practice by which Priests, Deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the Sacred Liturgy that they are charged to pronounce, must cease. For in doing thus, they render the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy unstable, and not infrequently distort the authentic meaning of the Liturgy. Redemptionis Sacramentum

There are questions worth asking by all John and Mary Catholics; not just by this "untrained liturgist."

Pay no attention...

Well, I've been told off. By whom you ask? Tom Rosica.

I am not a "bishop" and I do not have any "theological formation." My "keyboard and monitor do not make me a liturgist!" I am a "victim" and my "vision of the Church will not help (me) to grow." I need to "get the chip off (my) shoulder." I'm told that I "follow the crowd." I am asked a rhetorical question and given a psychological diagnosis because "what is really eating away at (me) regarding the liturgy(?)" obviously "says much about (me)." Further, I am accused of "hiding behind the rubrics of the liturgy" and have been lumped in with the "Father Corapis, Euteneuers, and the Voris' " of the world (all of whom I expect are lesser sinners than this wretched sinner). The saddest slur is the "sure" accusation that I "would have difficulty with her (Our Lady's) response to the angel, and her Son’s response to the sinners with whom he kept company."

Not bad for a week's insult, keep them coming, I need the humility especially when it comes from someone in a collar.

Nowhere on what some consider to be this now "less than innocent blog" will you find me professing to be a theologian or a liturgist. I'm just a regular Catholic guy. I've never professed to be anything more than that. These accusations and insults are such typical, liberal elitist tactics. Not once, in this ranting series of emails, was there ever a debate. No argument, no debate; only petty little schoolyard insults and ad hominem attacks in so typical a manner as experienced by other hard-working and faithful Catholics who speak out on the conditions in the Church and culture.

On the same day that these putrid, judgmental, and scandalous emails to this Catholic layman arrived a different tone was put forth on the writer's own blog. Some have been fortunate enough and privileged enough to have the opportunity to have invested years in these studies in places like Rome or even Jerusalem. That is wonderful and good, but they think, therefore, that only they have a right to comment, the right to an opinion; the rest of us have no rights. Yet, these are some of the same theologians and liturgists who have torn down the faith and set in place the destruction of the Catholic culture and faith. I don't need to prove that last sentence, just look around you; you know it to be true. They want diversity, only when it suits them. They want dialogue but only when it is what they wish to dialogue about. They have run amok in the Church and the jig is up and they know it.

God gave me and He gave you a brain. Through the ingenuity of man, He gave us the Internet and the ability to be educated and aware of the truth in ways we were never able to do just a few short years ago. Do you think that our parents and grandparents would have stood by and allowed them to tear down the Church and Her liturgy nearly a half-century ago if they knew the truth? These so-called "professional liturgists" and "theologians" were liars. They lied about what the Council said and our parents, in their intelligent ignorance, God bless them, believed it. It is this same clericalism and elitism that perpetuated the crisis of sexual and physical abuse and the cover-up by certain bishops. Then when it happens to a high profile cleric they like, they wax on about how hard it is to understand because he was known to be so "kind" and to be even such a "gentle pastor" and that they were particularly "sensitive" to the needs of victims. Of course, when it is one they don't like (as to the allegations against the two above) it is a different story; no sympathy there, right?

It seems to me that these elitists who are losing their power and influence are at heart, fascists!

They are the all-knowing and all-powerful Oz in clerical collars. They simply can't stand it when we think for ourselves. They profess to know what is best for "John and Mary Catholic," as they like to refer to us as simple folk, and they profess to want us to be educated. When we question what they say or what they do they challenge our right to do so because we are not "theologically formed" and we are not "professional liturgists." They only want us to speak out if it supports their worldview. They publicly profess to detest clericalism yet they are the greatest of clericalists. They insult an honest and genuine open hand of understanding and an offer to reason over food and wine. They refuse to take up the debate but instead, issue little snippets of cruel sarcasm and insult and psychological analysis for which they are unqualified and which is unbecoming of their state in life.

Some will say, that these words are too harsh, not loving, not charitable, not in a manner of what Jesus would say or do or expect. Well, the Jesus of Nazareth whom I know was not a wimp and he was not a liar. He made a whip out of cords and beat those who would defile the Temple and he overturned their tables. He called the Pharisees "hypocrites" and referred to them as a "brood of vipers." He came not to bring "peace but a sword" and to set one against another. He expects each of us to love His Church to stand up for Her and to speak out to defend Her, even from those within. The lukewarm He will "vomit" out of His mouth. Perhaps it was the 600 plus John and Mary Catholics in Kitchener last Saturday; maybe that is what has them so riled up. They have seen the future and it is not a future based on their failed praxis.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
.

First Anglican Divine Worship in Toronto!

History being made...

Tomorrow evening, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the LORD, will be the first time in the Archdiocese of Toronto and all of Canada that the Holy Mass will be celebrated according to the Anglican Use Missal. The Mass, not only authorized, but requested by Archbishop Thomas Collins will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mississauga as part of the Anglicanorum Coetibus in Canada Conference being held t his weekend. Archbishop Collins is Delegate of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for Anglicanorum Coetibus in Canada. Father Christopher Phillips, Pastor, Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas is the Celebrant. He is the founding pastor of the first Anglican Use parish, erected in 1983 under the terms of the Pastoral Provision. Together with Archbishop Collins and Father Phillips, the other Keynote Speaker is Father Aidan Nichols, O.P. Father Nichols has the honorary status of Affiliated Lecturer in the University of Cambridge. He has also taught at the Pontifical University of St Thomas, Rome; St Mary’s College, Oscott; and Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. He has published some thirty books, and over seventy articles.

The Anglican Use Missal is the approved Missal by the Holy See for those Anglicans entering the Church under the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II. The Pastoral Provision was initiated for married Episcopalian clergy to become ordained as Catholic priests who with their parishes chose to come into union with the one true Church. The provision has been only for the United States and was never applied to Canada. This provision is specific and those church communities under the Traditional Anglican Communion are not part of it. Though, clearly a new strucuture for all Anglicans is being established under Anglicanorum Coetibus.

The Missal is beautiful. Also known as the Book of Divine Worship, the Anglican Use Missal is based on the Book of Common Prayer, itself a protestant version of the Mass in England at the time of the break under Henry VIII and based upon what would have been the Sarum Rite, its protestantism stripped away and parts of it brought into conformity with the Missa Normative (Novus Ordo liturgy) specifically the Offertory and the Mystery of Faith. Fortunately, they will be able to correct the 1970 ICEL language in these parts. The final Missal or Missals to be used by the Anglican Ordinariates are not yet known.

St. Joseph's Parish in Mississauga hosted a chant conference recently with Father Samuel Weber, Director of the Institute of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in the United States.

George Wass, Requiescat in pace

George Wass is dead.

UPDATE: An autopsy has been performed and the cause of death has been declared "blunt force trauma." George was murdered!

He died today (March 21, 2011) no doubt succumbing from the stress of his injuries as a result of a brutal beating last Friday morning whilst he was having a cigarette on the porch of the home in which he lived with others suffering from various developmental or mental health problems.

George was one of the regular characters in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood and friends, he was a regular at The Oratory Church of the Holy Family. He was loved by all and held in great affection; him and Karen. How many days I would arrive before Saturday morning Mass and George and Karen would be seated beside the garden catching the early morning sun. George would come into Church and stay for a moment, wave and smile to everyone. He loved the children from the "T" family and the boys always showed him kindness and respect so ingrained in them by their parents. George would go to movies with the Brother from The Oratory and Father D.U. will no doubt take this particularly hard; people would hand him their change; he always had boots and coats and people around the Oratory cared about him and loved him.

George was 62 and lived a hard life suffering from developmental disability probably more than mental illness and he had the capacity of a young boy. I did not know much about George but he was a lovable character and he often cried.

His dad passed away about two years ago and he wept quite a bit after that.

He was like a little boy at times; maybe 8 or 10 and he was alone except for Karen, his best friend whom he was rarely without. He cried wanting his father after he passed away. The Toronto Star today says that he called the cook at the home his "mother" because he wanted someone to be his new mother after she died.

George would cry at times and was afraid saying "he's going to beat me up!"

Somebody did.

Somebody murdered him.

The hospital released him; should he not have been kept for observation?

O LORD, Father of heaven and earth, have mercy on the soul of George Wass and welcome him into the bright palace washed in the blood of Christ; may he enjoy forever the peace and love of you O heavenly Father so denied him in this world. May the soul of our friend George Wass and those of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.

And may the LORD have mercy on his murderer!

New Roman Missal: Musical Training in Toronto

As first reported here on Vox Cantoris, the corrected translation of the 2000 Roman Missal will be implemented in Canada on the First Sunday of Advent, 2011. After a long delay the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments acting in the name of the Holy Father granted the recognitio to the Canadian Proper which includes the Saints days and Mass texts not in the universal Missal and only celebrated in Canada. The General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) has not yet been made available, to confirm whether Rome has canonised the disparity of kneeling posture in Canada as sought by Canada's bishops.

Kneeling in Canada ranges from non-existent (other than for physical limitations) to only at the Consecration and a longer version from the end of the Sanctus (Holy) to the end of the Memorial Acclamation to the more traditional and "laudable practice" used throughout most of Ontario where kneeling continues to the end of the Doxology and Great Amen and again after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). This "laudable practice" is what has been approved for the United States and Great Britain.

As a senior Consultor to the Congregation was told after the breaking of the CCCB grey book posture request on Vox Cantoris, "Canada needs more kneeling, not less!" It was just over two weeks after the information on this blog as to the continued delay and the possible reasons for it was made available on this blog, that the recognitio was granted.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has established a Roman Missal page and this is good news. Announced there, is a training program for Church Musicians (can we please eliminate the phrase, "music ministers") on Saturday, May 28 from 9:00 - 3:30 at a yet to be determined location. The agenda will include the three Mass Settings commissioned by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to be published in the Catholic Book of Worship Supplement as well as the Chant settings in the Missal itself. I've not yet had an opportunity to review the commissioned works but the Chant settings published by ICEL are very good and the chant is well adapted to English.

For superior information and catechetical materials please visit the web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops which was established over a year ago. You can also find resources here from the Bishops of England and Wales where the Roman Missal will be implemented in September.

The latest update from the Canadian bishops continues to be from September 2010.

Alberta Catholic Bishops boycott March for Life!

---

From: Vox Cantoris
Sent: March 17, 2011 6:29 PM
To: 'archdiocese@caedm.ca'; 'bishop.henry@calgarydiocese.ca'; 'gpettipas@serbernet.com'; 'diospaul@mcsnet.ca'
Subject: The Golden Tongue

Dear Your Graces and Your Excellencies,

It is with great shock that I have read on LifeSiteNews and the blog of Archbishop Smith that none of you will be participating in the Alberta March for Life because the organisers cannot guarantee that some participants might hold signs having graphic images of babies murdered through abortion.

These pictures are indeed horrific. They are offensive and they are deeply disturbing. Indeed, the torture and execution through crucifixion of Our LORD and Saviour was also horrific, offensive and deeply disturbing. Perhaps this is the reason that in many of our churches there is no longer a crucified Christ on the cross but a resurrected One for we seem afraid to face the truth of what our sins did to Him then and what abortion does now. I am not for one moment suggesting that any of you are not in favour of life; but I cannot accept that you would refuse to participate in this for this or any other reason. Frankly, I find it horrific, offensive and deeply disturbing that you would take such a position. I also find it one of cowardice and I fear that you are bowing down to political correctness that you will pay for in more ways than you now know.

Please ponder for a moment the Golden Tongue—St. John Chrysostom’s quote; “The road to Hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path”

I urge you to reverse this mistaken decision.

In Christ

Ireland, Ireland; Return unto the LORD thy God!

A priest friend now working in the Vatican likes to say, "There are three kinds of people in the world; those who are Irish, those who wish they were Irish and those who have no ambition."

For those with and without ambition:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

(you will want to turn the player off on the left to listen)

Recognitio for Roman Missal in Canada Confirmed!

At the end of February, representatives of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops were in Rome to meet with various Vatican dicasteries including officials at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

It is confirmed that the Recognitio for Canada has been granted and that the Congregation is "insisting" that the Missal be implemented on Advent I.

The actual formal decrees will take place and the announcement through the regular channels is to be made shortly.

I have opined here, based on irrefutable sources, that the delay has been due to the CCCB desire to have Rome canonise their disparate kneeling postures across Canada and to force many of the rest ofus off of our knees.

It remains to be seen if Rome has agreed to this request in the GIRM; we will know soon enough.

It is normal that each national bishops conference would submit adaptations. Some Saints may only be on a national calendar and the liturgies for these days would need their own Proper, separate and distinct from each other. This was common as well in the usus antiquior Missal as any perusal in the back will usually contain a supplement for the United States, Canada, Great Britain and even specfic dioceses. The delay, however, seems to indicate that the Canada's bishops have asked for something more controversial or else, logic would indicate that the approval would have come last year, around the same time as the recognitio for Great Britain and the United States.

I could be wrong, but my opinion is that the CCCB got the smack-down on this and that the definitive English language General Instruction on the Roman Missal is the one approved for the United States and that the priests and bishops who have eliminated or reduced the traditional form of kneeling are in for a surprise.

The other fact; notwithstanding their own posturing, the CCCB will not be able to delay the GIRM or Missal in English while awaiting for its Quebecois equivalent.

(For more on this topic, click on the Roman Missal medallion to the left.)

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.

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

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]