Consider that if you wear the mask, you are more likely to get sick.
An anonymous traditionalist priest, friend of this blog, writes: “The advent of widespread literacy and the production of cheap mass-produced books a century and a half ago made it possible to encourage the faithful to follow the texts of the prayers of the Mass by reading missals of their own. This became the approved norm and the subsequent introduction of microphones in church in order to facilitate ‘active’ participation in the text of the prayers of the Mass radically changed the ethos of liturgical worship.”
Reference the older books on the Mass, such as St. Leonard’s The Hidden Treasure; Cochem’s Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; Gihr’s The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: Dogmatically, Liturgically and Ascetically Explained, and you will find nothing that even comes close to advocating vocal responses to the priest by the laity as a means of participating. On the contrary, the older books counsel an attitude of recollection, interior participation, and the offering of self together with Christ as another “victim” at the hands of the sacrificing priest. The “dialogue” Mass is actually a subtle attack eroding the role which had traditionally been allotted to the laity: like Mary Magdalen, the laity during Mass were privileged with the better part, the part of silent contemplation. As Ven. Luis M. Martinez puts it, “Something sublime imposes silence.” The stigmatized Saint, Pio of Pietrelcina actually advised that the faithful assist at Mass as did Our Blessed Mother – who stood silently at the foot of the Cross.
Re: The quote on this graphic. We would caution that the “splendid ceremonies” to which Waugh refers must not be disparaged. It could not have been the intention of Waugh to do so. It appears that he wanted to make the point that priest and laity have entirely different roles and that the laity should not attempt to usurp the clerical duties of neither priest and nor “apprentice” – a word most suited for “altar boy”.
The ceremonies themselves are actions which convey a sequence of mystical events in the re-presentation of Calvary. (See our book.) Understanding this, indeed, makes it possible to penetrate with the heart, mind and soul into the mystical significance of the greatest of miracles transpiring before our eyes.
Father Anonymous continues by saying that in understanding the symbolism of the ceremonies of the Mass, the soul may then, “compose its own meditations according to the response of its heart and thereby be free to contemplate the Sacred Action of Holy Mass…”
For me, the “Ite, missa est” has always been an enigmatic expression, and having it explained to the laity that it means “Go, you are dismissed, sent out!” – to which the response is, “Thanks be to God!” – does not seem satisfactory. The response makes it seem that the faithful are only too glad that the liturgy is finally over!
The website for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has this explanation: “The word Mass comes from the Latin word, Missa. At one time, the people were dismissed with the words ‘Ite, missa est’ (literally meaning “Go, she—meaning you, the Church—has been sent”).
According to the The Catholic Encyclopedia on the New Advent website, the first use of the term “Missa” was used by St. Ambrose in the 4th century when writing to his sister Marcellina. St. Ambrose says, ‘The next day (it was a Sunday) after the lessons and the tract, having dismissed the catechumens, I explained the creed [symbolum tradebam] to some of the competents [people about to be baptized] in the baptistry of the basilica. There I was told suddenly that they had sent soldiers to the Portiana basilica. . . . But I remained at my place and began to say Mass [missam facere coepi].
Does it make sense that he would begin to celebrate the “dismissal”; that St. Ambrose remained at at his place and began to say the “has been sent”?? Maybe I’m thickheaded because this is incomprehensible to my mind.
Perhaps there is a better explanation.
Someone provided me with a link to an antiquarian book, MANUAL DE CONFESORES, written by Fr. Enrique de Villalobos, lecturer at the royal school of St. Francis in Salamanca, Spain. An inscription in the book says that permission was granted in 1639 for the book to be printed. The Manual gives an explanation of the expression in a way that appeals to sound reason and to traditional Catholic doctrine, that is, if he is correct about the word MISSACH. But before I give it to you, be aware that New Advent dismisses it out of hand without any explanation.
Here is what the Manual says. The translation from the Spanish is from this author:
“The Mass is the true and only Sacrifice of the Law of Grace; that there is no other than It. The name is derived from the Hebrew word “Missach”, which means “oblatio spontanea”, or, since Christ himself is the Offering of this Sacrifice, Missa a Deo, a gift of God, and thus when the Priest says “Ite Missa est”, it means “Hostia Missa est ad Deu.”
So according to this 17th century theologian of Salamanca, the voluntary Oblation, the Victim, has been offered to God, to which with heartfelt gratitude, we may, indeed, say “Deo gratias” ! It makes perfect sense!
The New Advent website denies this explanation, saying: “We may dismiss at once such fanciful explanations as that missa is the Hebrew missah. (sic) Notice that Fr. de Villalobos writes, “Missach”.
Since this blog does not allow for comments on its pages, I would be interested in hearing our readers’ thoughts regarding this post. You may e-mail:
kankakeelatinmassATaltaredesignDOTcom
In the days of the catacombs, Mass was celebrated over the tombs of the martyrs. This photo is of the tomb of St. Antiochus, (r.i.p. C. 127 A.D.) in Sardenia, over which Mass was celebrated. As you can see, celebrating “versus populum” would have been impossible.
The following script is my loose translation of some pertinent facts debunking the myth that the early Church celebrated Mass “versus populum”.
From the blog “Messainlatino“:
The Mass facing the people was first espoused by some members of the liturgical movement, such as the monk Lambert Beauduin, who, however knowledgeable in liturgical history, never said that Versus Populum was the ancient position as some modernists claim.
Versus Populum was introduced to give the liturgy a certain note of community with “warmth and familiarity”. But in doing so Beauduin and his friends did not realize that the liturgy was being further clericalized in a nauseating and unacceptable manner.
“A celebration of ‘people-facing’ never existed.”
Mass facing the people, is therefore the daughter of clericalism that sees the priest as the center of all liturgical action that is then defined according to the priest’s place and his orientation.
It is therefore an aberrant expression that arises from an objectionable concept of liturgy.
Yes, indeed, we need to ask ourselves some hard questions!
You will find the link to the entire Youtube presentation in the link below. Here are some excerpts from that video:
“The crisis in the Church today outed itself after the Second Vatican Council, and it came in on the back of the liturgical revolution, so the Mass that you’re going to right now [if you go to the N.O.] is part of that revolution and this is not going to be easy for anyone because I’m not saying the Mass is invalid; I’m not saying anybody who goes there is an evil person or anything , but they use the liturgy to change you from something to…from one thing – Catholic – into something else, sort of a hybrid Catholic Protestant mix. Whether we want to admit it or not, that is what happened. While there is more to this than the Mass, it’s important to realize that it all started there. They went after the Mass first. They changed how Catholics prayed so that they could change eventually how Catholics believe. [L]ook around and you tell me if they were successful.
“Key to understanding that mystery is understanding what they did to the Catholic Mass because the one thing that set Catholics apart from every other religion on earth is of course, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass…they got rid of the old Latin Mass for a reason: because it was so hated by non-Catholics, so despised by the Protestants for 500 yeats, reviled by Martin Luther first and Calvin and Zwingli and all the rest. Why, Why in heaven’s name do they need to get rid of the old Latin Mass? Why do they hate it so today?…Why are they so afraid of the Latin Mass? …We need to ask ourselves some hard questions…” — Michael Matt
One of my Fb friends has organized this international event. She writes: Please join us for a Day of Reparation on Friday, June 8 – Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – to pray, fast, make reparation, make sacrifices, offer up sufferings for the blasphemies and sacrileges committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. [The rosary is highly recommended.]
It is imperative to pray and make reparation regarding:
• The recent Met Gala event that mocked Jesus, Mary, and the Catholic Church.
• Ireland voting for Abortion.
• Blasphemies and Sacrileges that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary receive daily.
• [For the scandal of the life-size cake made into the shape of our Lord, which was cut and served.]
If feasible, some of us can try to pray a rosary together. Since it is a work day, not everyone will be able to join for a group rosary.
If praying from the USA, etc, the rosary will begin at:
• USA – 10:00am Eastern Time – 9:00am Central – 8:00am Mountain – 7:00am Pacific – 6:00am Alaska
• UK – 3:00pm
• France – 4:00pm
• Ireland – 3:00pm
• Netherlands – 4:00pm
• South Africa – 4:00pm
“May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.”
*************
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly, and I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for all the sacrileges, outrages and indifference by which He Himself is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.”
*************
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I ask pardon of Thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee!”
_____________________________
If you are on Fb: https://www.facebook.com/events/1574288239367379/
I am astounded at the level of ignorance among so many Catholics when it comes to the Syrian wars. And, no, Syria’s war is not a civil war, but rather a war of aggression by outside forces. In addition to the above, I leave you with the following quotes, excerpts from the Spanish FB page NAZARENOS PERSEGUIDOS:
“…the statements of Antoine Audo, the Chaldeans bishop of Aleppo: “They destroyed Iraq by saying that there were chemical weapons. And the same thing they did then with Iraq are now doing with Syria. (…) They use the chemical attack argument to fuel the war and please Saudi Arabia. (…) The legitimate government [of Assad] is defeating Islamist terrorist groups in Guta, after regaining control of Aleppo and Deir Ezzor. And just then they start talking about chemical weapons, arguing that they want to defend human rights and democracy! ”
“…statements of Georges Abou Khazen, apostolic Vicar of Aleppo: ‘Washington accuses but lacks certitude. It cannot explain the reason for a chemical weapon attack after the Syrian army had freed most of the territory to the east of Guta [from terrorists]. I wonder who can benefits from all this. (…) It seems obvious that they are looking for a pretext to destroy our country. ‘ ”
Father Fadi Aisar, pastor in Damascus: “The supposed chemical weapons are a slander to justify an unfair war. (…) The Syrian government proposed to the international community to send experts; But they rejected him and attacked us, instead of coming to find out what happened. (…) But we are calm because the Syrian military, thank God, have liberated Guta, where all the Christian churches had been attacked. (…) The truth is that the United States is not fighting terrorism, they are fighting alongside terrorists. The truth will be known. ”
“…. the Missionaries of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, in their blog “SOS Syrian Christians “,..they remind us that Al Nusra front, as well as other jihadi factions, have chemical weapons and on previous occasions have already used them; And where we are warned that ‘materials have been found to prepare chemical weapons’ in the tunnels dug by the terrorists of Guta.’ ”
“Orthodox Hannibal Khoury: ‘We discovered Jesus long before the United States was even a country. My ancestors were the first to receive the name of Christians, at Antioch, and the first to build a church in Dura Europos. We propagate Christianity and die to defend it; We deliver it to the West and, in return, you give us death.’ And he adds: ‘Syrian Christians like me live in freedom and are protected by the present Syrian secular government. If Trump’s actions lead to our disappearance, I hope you remember us. ‘ ”
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Notice the small statue of our Lady of Fatima in the video? God will save Syria yet, because they are the innocent victims of brutal aggression.
The Future of St. Rose Church (now closed), Kankakee, will be addressed by Bishop R. Daniel Conlon:
Saturday, March 24, 2018 2:00 pm
Knights of Columbus Hall
187 S. Indiana Ave., Kankakee
Please come to show your concern, and to voice your opposition to the church being sold. We already have one run down, eye-sore in town of what was once a beautiful, Cath0lic church, St. Mary’s. That is the legacy of the late Bishop Imesch, who would rather sell it – – I was told for the price of $90,000 — rather than entrust it to a traditionalist group of priests. I know this for a fact because I wrote to him with this proposal, and in his response. he flatly said he would not do that. At least he had the decency to respond, unlike Bishop Conlon.
In September of last year, I wrote to Bishop Conlon, asking that St. Rose be used as a parish for the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass. Below is a copy of my letter, a letter to which he never bothered to respond:
Diocese of Joliet
Blanchette Catholic Center
16555 Weber Road
Crest Hill, IL 60403
September 25, 2017
Dear Bishop Conlon:
I am writing in regard to St. Rose of Lima church in Kankakee. As you know, some of us have been praying and working to see the church restored to full use once more. St. Rose was my parish since…. [personal background deleted] I am no longer on the parish roll, but I have hopes of participating in parish life there once more.
When Summorum Pontificum was promulgated by Pope Benedict in ’07, some of us in the parish earnestly started to look outside the diocese for the nearest traditional Latin Mass. That was before the FSSP was invited into the diocese by Bishop Sartain, who, by the way, was gracious enough to permit us the TLM at St. Rose whenever possible. Those who left St. Rose to be spiritually fed elsewhere [where the sacraments were offered in the traditional form] were primarily young, large, homeschooling families. With us, we took our monetary contributions, much talent, and the many able and willing helping hands of husbands and our numerous children and youth. Gone was a flower arranger, choir people, servers, catechists, a translator, food preparers, etc.
St. Rose need not close. Our last TLM under Fr. Thoppil was a Sunday Mass which nearly filled the entire church. It was truly amazing! I understand your polite refusal to invite the Institute of Christ the King into the diocese, since as you said, you already had the FSSP here, and preferred to work with them. I do know, however, that the Institute would still be ready and willing to assist you to keep St. Rose, not only viable, but to make it thrive and prosper.
I had been told that the Fraternity of St. Peter was willing to come to St. Rose, [to begin, on a monthly basis] but of course, they would need your permission and blessing, something that obviously has not happened.
Another thing of which we are aware, is that you wanted to entrust St. Anne parish to the canons of St. John Cantius. If you would rather have them instead of the Fraternity or the Institute, could you please consider entrusting St. Rose to them? The former parishioners of St. Rose who left were from Kankakee, St. Anne, Herscher and Bourbonnais. Several of the young people are now married and starting families of their own. Can you imagine the asset we could all be to the Joliet diocese? I believe that many would willingly come back if only we could be spiritually fed with the traditional Latin Mass which, as stated in the Motu Propio, “was never abrogated”, although we were led to believe it was.
Thank you for your attention, Bishop Conlon. Know that you are in my sincerest prayers.
In the most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Readers might recall a past posting on this blog regarding Bishop Conlon’s attitude towards the Traditional Latin Mass: http://kankakeelatinmass.altaredesign.com/2011/05/17/steubenville-bishop-will-head-diocese-of-joliet-ill-catholic-news-agency-cna/
Please come and attend this important meeting!
If Conlon sells St. Rose, more than likely it will not remain standing to eventually become a run-down legacy of his tenure. Rumors are that it will be razed for a parking lot. If so, never put another penny into the Joliet diocesan coffers. Instead support the traditionalists communities and their missions. It’s only just.
