[Apologetics] Re: From NewAdvent.org newsletter

Mon Aug 20 18:43:15 EDT 2007

Comments in red below. - Dianne

Art Kelly <arthurkelly at yahoo.com> wrote:     Interestingly, the news release refers to "altar
servers," a phrase that replaced "altar boys" when
girls were allowed to serve at the altar.  Inaestimabile Donum (no. 18), says, "There are various roles that women can perform in the liturgical assembly: These include reading the word of God and proclaiming the intentions of the prayer of the faithful. Women are not, however, permitted to act as altar servers." In November, 1989, the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the U.S., then-Archbishop (now Cardinal) Pio Laghi, emphasized that "altar server" as used in Inaestimabile Donum "includes those functions traditionally associated with serving as altar server, thurifer, candlebearer, and crossbearer, and other such functions. ... In all matters regarding the liturgy, the local bishop is to be consulted since he is responsible for promoting and deepening the liturgical life of the diocese (Sacrosanctum Concilium n. 41)." 
  Excerpted from:  http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9305fea2.asp

  Inaestimabile Donum can be read at:
  http://www.adoremus.org/InaestimabileDonum.html

I wonder if this Tridentine Mass will incorporate some
aspects of the post-Conciliar liturgy into it, such
as: I doubt it since this is the Tridentine Mass.

Receiving communion standing up, rather than kneeling,
and in the hand, not the tongue - No.  This is not part of the Tridentine Mass.

Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist (Do the EWTN
Masses have any Eucharistic ministers now?)   No.  They don't use them now.  EXTRAordinary ministers are misused and overused now.  They are not part of the Tridentine Mass.  We are always in such a hurry.  Why is it a big deal that the distribution of Holy Communion lasts a minute or two longer than it would if EXTRAordinary ministers were used.

Lectors (probably not, since the news release referred
to deacons and sub-deacons)  No.

Shaking hands during Mass (probably not, but it is
possible)  No.  This is not part of the Tridentine Mass.  Even in the Novus Ordo it is an option.  Why it's still included I don't know because I have yet to meet a priest that likes the "Sign of Peace" (which is actually the "Kiss of Peace" in the Tridentine Mass) especially where it is currently placed in the Mass.

Instead of saying "The Body of Christ" to each
communicant, with the person replying "Amen," (which
was the way it was done in the early Church! please provide corroborating documentation of this fact.) saying
to each commuicant, "Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi
custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam. Amen," with
the person relying nothing. 

The first sentence of the news release states, "For
the first time in its 26 year history, Mother
Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will
be broadcasting a live Solemn High Mass..."

Well, EWTN could have telecast a Tridentine Mass any
time it wanted, since most dioceses have them. I very much doubt that most diocese have Solemn High Tridentine Masses. Very many of them don't even offer the Low Mass.  Maybe
what they meant was a Tridentine High Mass, which may
have been a lot harder to find. But they could have
easily telecast a Tridentine Low Mass.

Another thing: Watching this in Latin on TV will be
mystifying to almost everyone who does not have a
missal with Latin on one side of the page and the
English translation on the other.  

Even if someone happened to be a Latin scholar, the
Mass will be very confusing, since the priest recites
many of the prayers in a deliberately low voice, which
would not be audible on TV (unless he has a wireless
lapel microphone on his vestments--an innovation
unheard of at the time the Tridentine Mass was
celebrated.)    I am so tired of this excuse!  If someone had never been to a Mass (in any language) then that one might fly, otherwise it's a weak argument.  If you were traveling out of the country would you avoid going to Mass just because you didn't understand every word the priest spoke?  I doubt it because you are familiar with the format and what is happening and when.  Actually, that is one of the best reason to have the Mass in Latin.  When daddy was in the army we lived and traveled to many countries.  No matter where we went I knew what was going on when my mother took me to Mass.  Even in the Tridentine Mass the Epistle and the Gospel are read in English (or the vernacular) right before the sermon begins.

  I suggest you carefully read Sacrosanctum Concilium (one of the Vatican II documents).  It is very specific that Latin is "to be preserved" (Art 36.1) and the people are expected to know their prayers and hymns in Latin (CF. Art. 54)

  You can read the document at:
  http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html  or
  http://www.adoremus.org/SacrosanctumConcilium.html#anchor15174745

I don't know if I will watch this on EWTN, but if
someone does, I would appreciate a report to the Group
on their observations.

Art

--- Dianne Dawson wrote:

> EWTN: Live “Tridentine” Mass on 14 September 
> Posted: 17 Aug 2007 12:51 PM GMT-06:00
> I am lead to wonder if the new Bishop of
> Birmingham is making his upcoming presence known.
> 
> Surely this will cause some folks to completely
> freak out. 
> 
> 
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> MEDIA ADVISORY
> EWTN to Televise Live Tridentine Mass Celebrated
> by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
> DENTON, Nebraska – AUGUST 17, 2007 – For the first
> time in its 26 year history, Mother Angelica’s
> Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will be
> broadcasting a live Solemn High Mass at the Shrine
> of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama
> on September 14, 2007 at 8:00AM EST. EWTN has asked
> for the assistance of the Priestly Fraternity of St.
> Peter, an international Society of Apostolic Life of
> Pontifical Right, to help celebrate this
> "extraordinary" form.
> This past July 7th, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed the
> beauty and importance of the Tridentine Mass by
> issuing Summorum Pontificum, a papal document
> encouraging and confirming the right of all Latin
> Rite priests to use this more ancient use of the
> Mass starting September 14th. The Tridentine Mass
> was the normative liturgy experienced by Latin Rite
> Catholics prior to the Second Vatican Council.
> "Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly
> celebration in over 40 years," said Father Calvin
> Goodwin, a professor at the Society’s international
> English-speaking seminary located in Denton,
> Nebraska. "We are very excited to help EWTN and to
> support the Holy Father’s call for a wider presence
> of this form of the Mass. This is a cause for great
> joy."
> Priests and seminarians from Denton, Nebraska will
> travel to Alabama and provide the celebrant, deacon,
> subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar
> servers.
> About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
> Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the
> Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is an
> international society of Catholic priests entrusted
> with the preservation and administration of the
> Catholic Church’s ancient Latin liturgical
> traditions. Over 120 seminarians are preparing for
> the priesthood in the Fraternity’s two seminaries in
> Bavaria, Germany and Denton, Nebraska.
> About EWTN
> Founded by Mother Angelica, a Poor Clare nun, the
> Eternal Word Television Network has become the
> largest religious media network in the world,
> transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than
> 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories
> on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable,
> Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and
> individual satellite users.
> Contact: 
> Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
> 7880 West Denton Road
> Denton, NE 68339 U.S.A.
> (402) 797-7700
> seminary at fsspolgs.org
> 
> 
> 
> Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul
> longs for you, O God.
> 
> Ps 42:1
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------
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ART KELLY, ATM-S
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Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.

Ps 42:1

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