Father Fortescue

This is the first in the series of things I wanted to draw your attention to earlier but had no time.

It’s a piece from the Cornell Society for a Good Time and is Some Fun with Fortescue. It’s a long post but simply awesome and very very funny.

Fr. Adrian Fortescue was “the greatest authority on the liturgy of the Roman Rite the English speaking world has ever known” (Michael Davies). Born in 1874 and died in 1923.

He remarks in his famous The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite:

As a general rule, except in the case of processions and funerals (when an indefinite number of clergy, supposed to be the choir, stand around the hearse holding lighted candles), not more servers should attend than those really needed, who have some office to perform. It does not add to the dignity of a rite that a crowd of useless boys stand about the sanctuary doing nothing. Nor is it in accordance with the tradition of the Roman rite to add useless ornamental attendance. The servers needed for the ceremonies are sufficient to form the procession.

The Cornell Society points the reader to this photo of a Novus Ordo with excessive altar boys just kneeling there.
It also appears that Fr. Fortescue write his famous work (which every MC should own!) for a measly 300 pounds!

I’m a fan of one or two servers at Low Mass but not necessarily a minimalist for Missa Canata’s or Solemn High Mass. But I am practical. I’m not in favour of having boys vested on the sanctuary just to stand there but I do believe in six torches if you can over four, two or none. Every boy on the sanctuary should have a role to play, if not, he should be in the pews.

Besides The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite (I have only just retrieved my 1962 version from Daniel) I have also read Fr. Fortescue’s The Early Papacy. It too is great read and outlines the arguments for papal infallibility up to the Synod of Chalcedon in 451.

This blog has been silent for a few days so while I’m taking a quick break from study I’ll give an update.

Letterboxing went pretty well and thankyou to those friends and family that helped out. I estimate that all bar about 800 houses were done before ballot papers came out. I had hoped to get to all, but have just simply run out of time and the campaign couldn’t have come at a worse week for me. It’s unfortunate but I hope some of them vote for me anyway.

The nanosatellite design project has been handed in. The report was 108 pages and the total pages was about 180 once appendices had been added. Massive!

Now I really just have to concentrate on my Robot Design Project which is due on Friday. It’s the software for it and I’m really terrible at programming. Hopefully we can scrape though.

Then it’s SWOT VAC and exams…

Hopefully some time on the weekend I'll post a couple of awesome items I've seen recently.

Communion vessels and Communion

I'm not usually one to copy a story in full but this one is interesting.

Lay ministers may not cleanse Communion vessels, Pope Benedict says

By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States.

In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect
of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The U.S. bishops had asked the Vatican to extend an indult -- or church permission -- in effect since 2002 allowing extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to help cleanse the Communion cups and plates when there were not enough priests or deacons to do so.

Bishop Skylstad, who heads the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., said Cardinal Arinze asked Pope Benedict about the matter during a June 9 audience, "and received a response in the negative."

Noting that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal "directs that the sacred vessels are to be purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted acolyte," the cardinal said in his Oct. 12 letter that "it does not seem feasible, therefore, for the congregation to grant the requested indult from this directive in the general law of the Latin Church."

Although receiving Communion under both kinds is a "more complete" sign of the sacrament's meaning, Cardinal Arinze said, "Christ is fully present under each of the species."

"Communion under the species of the bread alone, as a consequence, makes it possible to receive all the fruit of eucharistic grace," he added.

Another "legitimate option" when "the high number of communicants may render it inadvisable for everyone to drink from the chalice" is intinction -- the practice of dipping the consecrated host into the consecrated wine -- "with reception on the tongue always and everywhere," the cardinal's letter said.

Along with the letters from Bishop Skylstad and Cardinal Arinze, bishops received a new resource prepared by the bishops' Committee on the Liturgy titled "Seven Questions on the Distribution of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds."

The committee document also suggested distribution of Communion by consecrated bread alone or by intinction when the number of communicants makes the purification of vessels by priests, deacons or instituted acolytes alone "pastorally problematic."

"Priests should also keep in mind potential risks associated with intinction, especially in the coming flu season," the document added.

The committee said extraordinary ministers of holy Communion may continue to "consume what remains of the precious blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop."

The document notes that the "extraordinary ministry" by which laypeople distribute Communion "was created exclusively for those instances where there are not enough ordinary ministers to distribute holy Communion, due to the consummate importance of assuring that the faithful have the opportunity to receive holy Communion at Mass, even when it is distributed under both species."

Ordinary ministers of Communion are priests and deacons, with instituted acolytes being permitted in the Roman Missal to help the priest or deacon "to purify and arrange the sacred vessels."

In the United States, instituted acolytes, who must be male, generally are seminarians preparing for priesthood.

My comment with regard to the first highlighted part is that a friend of mine said to me 'You can just imagine the conversation between Cardinal Arinze and the Holy Father, it would have been a dismissive wave of the hand, and that would be it'.

My second, is a question. I understood that the practice of dipping the consecrated host into the consecrated wine was banned by the Church. Perhaps someone out there can answer this for me?

Face of Christ

As ACSA President, a lot of people around the country have me on their mailing lists - people I haven't met nor heard off.

I tend to scan the content quickly before noting or dumping. However this email caught my eye.
Bizzare! What do you think?

Breaking news

I just had to post this.

Natasha Stott-Despoja has just announced that she will quit politics at the end of her Senate term.

See The Advertiser's story here. I'm sure you'll see more in the coming hours and days.

pics and talks

I'm really struggling with my history essay and keep hitting brick walls! Letterboxing is nearly half done but a few mates are (hopefully!) coming around this arvo to do what's left (I think I might have to get some more flyers printed on Monday morning.) My family have helped out a bit (the little kids love it!) and I know for a fact that I've secured a dozen votes (hey, they're the people that have promised!) but I'm estimating the required quota to be about 600-700 votes.

So don't expect any substantial blogging this week. In the meantime take a look at this page at the website of the Australian Catholic Students Association. The official photos have been uploaded and so have some of the talks in MP3 form. The talks that haven't been put up yet I have in hard copy (email me if you'd like a read).

new blogs

Ah. Another few blogs to the roll. Purcell's Chicken Voluntary should have been up much earlier as it is one of my regular reads. Joee Blogs blog A Catholic Londoner is another good read and the third is a lad from Brisbane with Et Clamor Meaus Ad Te Veniat. Many of us around Australia have 'Brisbane jokes' referring to their orthodoxy - it is a sad state of affairs. I think he intends to post on both the bad and the good in the Archdiocese.

Priests to dob in child sex abusers

I'm sorry I didn't get around to posting this when it first caught my attention but this may be of some interest to my overseas and interstate readers. It certainly enraged me with people's ignorance.

This story was on the front page of today's Advertiser (the local paper for Adelaide) had this story.

Priests to dob in child sex abusers

ANGLICAN priests no longer will be able to use confidentiality as a reason for not reporting child sex abuse, under strict new rules to be introduced across Adelaide.
The unprecedented measures, to be endorsed by the Diocese of Adelaide Synod next weekend, will extend to confessions heard by priests, including those with other priests.

They follow the compulsory training of South Australian Anglican priests on their legal requirements to report child abuse to authorities, which have been opposed by some priests who believe confidentiality should be maintained for pastoral reasons.

The new rules surpass those implemented nationally by the Catholic Church, which still maintains confidentiality over confessions.

Adelaide Anglican Archbishop Jeffrey Driver yesterday told The Advertiser he would not tolerate any more "cover-ups" within the Anglican Church of child sex abuse, saying previous inaction by church leaders had caused enormous problems.

Archbishop Driver said priests would be given no option but to observe a new code of conduct under which they would be forced to report child abuse, including information received during confession.

"If I was giving confession to a priest who told me about child sex abuse, I would not give him absolution. I would immediately stop the confession and march him straight to the nearest police station," he said.

More...

Then there was this for a Editorial to follow it up.

Update: another story in today's edition. It seems that the Anglicans are now claiming that these new measures won't break the seal of the confessional.

Archbishop Driver said the church recognised the confessional may have been "abused" in the past by people hiding behind its code of confidentiality.

While priests cannot break the seal of the confessional by acting as informants, guidelines are now in place to help them work with abusers to report their crimes to the relevant authorities.

"What the guidelines . . . intend to do is to ensure that while the seal of the confessional is maintained, it is not abused," Archbishop Driver said.

"I expect clergy to act responsibly in the use of the confessional in line with the guidelines.

"I certainly expect that they would withhold absolution and provide strong counsel that the penitent must report what they have done."

Archbishop Driver said if he heard a confession of child abuse, he would refuse absolution.

"I'll say 'I am not able to provide you with absolution and I'd like us to walk a journey . . . to a police station together, as part of what is appropriate contrition'," he said.

Must be Friday

Three religious men (A Franciscan, a Dominican and a Jesuit) died at the same time. They all went to heaven. The Franciscan was welcomed by St. Peter and had heaven's best cook serve him a special meal. The Franciscan was very happy.

The Dominican arrived and was welcomed by St. Peter and had heaven's chef and a team of culinary experts cook for him. The Domincan was elated.

Then the Jesuit arrived. St. Peter, like he did to the other two, welcomed him. This time, God the Father himself did the cooking and serving. This puzzled the first two and protested about the special treatment to the last comer.

Peter explained, "We have too many Franciscans and Dominicans already. He is our first Jesuit!"

(Hat tip: Jesuit Humour Blog)

St. John Cantius

St. John was born near Krakow in Poland in the 15h Century. He was called by God to keep the light of faith and the flame of Christian charity burning. He was a university lecturer in Theology before his ordination when he took up pastoral work. His is the story of the brigands who robbed him on a pilgrimage to Rome. They let him go when they were assured that they had taken all he had. But St. John remembered that he was sewn some money into his cloak and called them back to offer it to them. They were touched by his goodness that they gave back all they had taken. St. John died on Christmas Eve in 1473.

Introit: Ecclus. 18. 12-13. The compassion of man is towards his neighbour; but the mercy of God is upon all flesh. He hath mercy, and teacheth and correcteth, as a shepherd doth his flock. Ps. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that by the example of Thy holy confessor John we may advance in the science of the Saints and show mercy to others, that through his merits we may obtain forgiveness from Thee.

Communion: Luke. 6. 38. Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, and pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall they give into your bosom.

Jesuits are at it again

Famous Latinist fired from Gregorian University, announces new school

ROME, October 18 (CNA) - Fr. Reginald Foster, one of the most renowned Latinists in the world, was fired last week from the Gregorian University by the Society of Jesus, stating that too many students were taking Fr. Foster’s classes without paying tuition.

Fr. Foster said his superior received the news from the university’s Jesuit administration in an e-mail Saturday evening. The letter reportedly stated that "Fr. Foster would no longer be teaching Latin at the Gregorian.” The administration has cancelled Fr. Foster's Latin program and substituted another class for that time slot.

However, in breaking the news with great regret to his students yesterday, Fr. Foster also announced his intention to found a new Latin institute in the Eternal City.

The Professor/Priest, known as the “Pope’s Latinist,” had taught at the Gregorian University for more than 30 years. His course became renowned, drawing students from around the world.

More than 100 Latin students, both past and present, were gathered in the priest’s classroom when he made the announcement.

A source told CNA that it was true that many of Fr. Foster’s students were not registered with the university; however, it was well known that his program was attracting Latinists from all corners, many of whom did enroll in the mother of Jesuit Universities.

Fr. Foster said his new Latin institute did not yet have a locale but he would keep students informed.

According to the source, Fr. Foster, in good spirits, explained to his students the roundabout way he found out he was being fired: "Well you see, the Jesuits were rather Jesuitical about the whole thing, now weren't they?" After informing them of his plans for an institute, Foster exclaimed, “Latin lives!"

It was not disclosed whether the e-mail firing Fr. Foster was in Latin.

Local Politics

Incredibly frustrated and busy at the moment but the blog is kkeping me in good spirits! I love the debate! The ballot papers in the local council election come out mid-next week and I'm trying to organise a letterbox drop this coming weekend among all my uni assignments due next week (all 10 or so of them!!)

Infact I don't think I've mentioned this election yet on the blog. I nominated 6 weeks ago as a candidate for the KLEMZIG Ward of the Port Adelaide Enfield Council. I knew I wouldn't have the time to put in a normal effort but figured if I waited 4 more years I wouldn't be able to use the youth tag. So I nominated. Three other nominated including the two sitting members for the 2 spots for the Ward. There are a number of reasons for nominating but the thing that finally convinced me was that the two sitting members have attended the least amount of meetings out of all the councillors for the last term. Thus a bit of angst among those that care and are likely to vote for a young, energetic looking face.

I do hope that I am elected and I believe I have a good flyer out there and should complement the short paragraph (and photo) in the local paper this week. I don't have any coreflutes on poles and am hoping for the average local voter looking for a representative rather than an ugly face that you can't miss on the way to work. My key slogan is "youth WITH experience". I'm keen for a new experience having dabled in student politics before moving to university boards and committees. I'd be lost if I graduated from uni and don't have some regular committee meetings to attend!

So please pray for me and wish me luck in the contest.

a woman's worst nightmare

with thanks to only moniker. Man! How did this blog suddenly change its theme? I'll post a liturgical one again soon and bring back some Speck!

St. Luke

St. Luke was born at Antioch and was a practising physician when he was converted by St. Paul. He then attached himself to Paul and accompanied him on his missions. This way he acquired the knowledge and information about the life of the early Christian communities and became Acts of the Apostles. It was form Paul's teaching and other study that he was able to write the Third Gospel also known as 'Paul's Gospel'. It is this Gospel that we learn about Christ's early life and about Our Lady. The animals from the vision of Ezechial shows that the ox represent St. Luke and thus he is often pictured with one.

Introit: Ps. 138. 17. To me Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened. Ps. Lord, Thou hast proved ,e and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.

Collect: We beseech The, O Lord, grant us to be aided by the prayers of Saint Luke Thine Evangelist; who for the glory of Thy name ever bore in his body the mortification of the cross.

Gradual: Ps. 18. 5, 2. Their sound went forth into all the earth: and their words to the end of the world. v. The heavens show forth the glory of God; and the firmament declareth the works of His hands.

Sancte Luca. Ora pro nobis.

Women's fertility

Whoa! Some of the comments on this post here have gone overboard. I've had to delete one of them which was entirely inappropriate. Who would have thought a post about tunicles and vestments could have changed so much.

On the topic the erupted this story appeared on The Australian's website today.

Fertility rate at 10-year high

PERHAPS spurred on by the baby bonus, Australian women are giving birth at a 10-year record rate, new figures have shown.

Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have shown the national fertility rate stands at its highest level since 1995.

A total of 259,800 new babies were registered in 2005, an increase of 5500 over 2004.

The actual fertility rate stands at 1.81 babies per woman, up from 1.77 in 2004 and close to the 1995 rate of 1.82.

Continuing a long-running trend, women in the 30-34 age group proved the nation's most fertile, with 117.5 babies per 1000 in 2005 - the highest rate for that age bracket since 1964.

The median age for mums now stands at 30.7. For dads it is 32.9.

Underlining the changing birth demographic, the median age for mums stood at 27.3 in 1985.

Highlighting yet another change, only 68 per cent of births in 2005 were to parents in a registered marriage, compared to 85 per cent in 1985.

Anyway, this the Indolent Server! Why on earth has the debate shifted from liturgy to fertility...?

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Margaret Mary Alacoque was born in 1647 at Verosvres in France. She consecrated herself to Christ at an early age with a vow of perpetual virginity. She entered the convent at age 23 where she received three great revelations and developed a wonderful devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Introit: Cant. 2.3. I sat under his shadow whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate. Ps. How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.

Offertory: Zach. 9. 17. For what is the good thing of him, and what is his beautiful thing, but the corn of the elect and the wine springing forth virgins?

Postcommunion: By the intercession of the blessed virgin Margaret Mary, grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus, that we who have received the mysteries of Thy Body and Blood may put off the pride and vanity of the world and be found worthy to put on the meekness and humility of Thy Heart.

Cardinal Pell: latest on WYD

This is the latest on WYD2008 from His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, himself.

The World Youth Day celebrations in July 2008 will be bigger than the Sydney Olympics as about half a million people will attend the final Mass on Sunday, July 20th at Randwick.

Pope Benedict XVI, 500 bishops and thousands of priests will celebrate this Mass, the climax of a varied programme of events after the Opening Mass on the Tuesday night.

Every category of young person is invited to these Catholic celebrations to see and hear what the Catholic tradition has to offer.

While we hope to welcome Pope Benedict’s arrival through the heads of Sydney Harbour on Thursday night, there will be teaching sessions for the pilgrims on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.

Another highlight is the Way of the Cross through the streets of Sydney on the Friday afternoon, when young Australians will re-enact Jesus’ progress from his condemnation by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to his crucifixion on Mt. Calvary.

Between 80,000 to 120,000 overseas visitors will fly into Australia. This is too many for Sydney airport and requires extra flights.

While pilgrims will have to pay to register, the major cost will be for travel. The registration fee for the young people includes a levy to help those from poorer countries and the contribution of the Australian pilgrims will be directed towards visitors from the Pacific region and Papua New Guinea.

Negotiations have started with the various airlines to obtain significant reductions in the price of the air tickets to reflect the huge increase in numbers.

Many pilgrims in Europe and the United States have already started saving, with the Catholic Bank in Germany offering increased rates of interest for pilgrims. As always many parishes will help sponsor parishioners who will organize local fund-raising ventures of their own.

Ten days ago a delegation of three came from the Vatican to monitor preparations. They were well pleased by progress so far and pleasantly surprised by the level of support outside the Catholic community and especially from the Federal and N.S.W. Governments. Such co-operation does not occur everywhere.

Young people today grow up with computers, but it was different in my youth. I have been staggered by the number of visits to the World Youth Day website, which has received 9.3 million hits since it was launched on Palm Sunday, April 9th. They are still coming in at the rate of more than 50,000 a day.

Another surprise is that Germany, which hosted the W.Y.D. last year in Cologne, tops the list with 2.2 million hits, followed by Australia 1.67 million, U.S.A. on 1.51 million and Italy with 670,000.

Interest in Australia is building steadily from 170,000 hits in June to 342,000 in September, while 10,500 young people are registered to receive regular updates on ePILGRIMAGE.

We have started well, but the major challenges are yet to come.

Maria?

I've been posting on political matters of late and I know you all prefer my religious rants and minor amusing things but I couldn't resist some good old Federal Labor bashing... I found this old image on my computer today while trying to re-organise some ACSA files.

Which heaven are you for?

Protestant Heaven vs. Catholic Heaven


Hat tip Curt Jester

I've added a few new blogs to the list when I removed Cassiscum from the roll due to it being pulled down by the publisher.