Sometimes Leon Trotsky is given credit for saying that you might not be interested in war but war is interested in you. He didn’t say that, exactly, but it is nevertheless true. I have not infrequently challenged you readers to … Continue reading
Category: Mass and the Liturgy
The Sudarium and the Shroud, a Part of the Ancient Liturgy
This is an intriguing article explaining the liturgical significance of the altar linen and corporal in reference to the burial and resurrection of Christ. National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin: A German theologian and friend of Benedict XVI, drawing on the … Continue reading
Vatican Leaves Cardinal Sarah Out on a Limb. No Support
Catholic Culture: The Vatican has moved quickly to counteract a suggestion by Cardinal Robert Sarah that priests should celebrate Mass ad orientem. Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, issued a statement on July 11 saying that Cardinal … Continue reading
Vatican Prefect for Liturgy Says Priests Should Not Face the People
Catholic Culture: Cardinal Robert Sarah, the prefect of the Congregation for Liturgy, has recommended that priests throughout the world celebrate Mass ad orientem, beginning at Advent. More here.
Poland: First Nation to Be Granted Permission to Celebrate Feast of the Sacred Heart
Aleteia, Philip Kosloski: Guess which European country was the first to be given papal approval to celebrate a feast in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Was it France, where both St. John Eudes and St. Margaret Mary promoted … Continue reading
Unworthy Communion: St. Paul Warning Text Not in Novus Ordo Readings
New Liturgical Movement: Instead, in keeping with a programmatic decision to avoid what they considered “difficult” biblical texts,[5] the revised Lectionary altogether omits 1 Corinthians 11:27–29. St. Paul’s “stern warning” against receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord unworthily, that … Continue reading
The Lamentations of Jeremias: Art and Music
During the sacred Triduum, the Lamentations of Jeremias are sung as part of the Tenebrae ceremony, i.e., the liturgical office comprised of Matins and Laudes, and done in the dark, as its Latin name suggests. Each liturgical lesson from Jeremias … Continue reading
Archbishop Schneider Objects to Priests Washing Women’s Feet
The Wanderer: Schneider made a clear statement about this matter, as follows: “As concretely to the innovation of washing the feet of women during the Holy Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday: This Holy Mass celebrates the commemoration of … Continue reading
Lenten Ember Days, Today, Friday, and Saturday
Jennifer Miller has a very good article, republished today for Catholic Culture website, on the history and meaning on the Church’s Ember Days. She is the primary developer of CatholicCulture.org’s liturgical year section. Jennifer Gregory Miller, Catholic Culture: This Wednesday, February … Continue reading
Bishop of Marquette, MI, Wants Gregorian Chant Sung in All Parishes
Catholic Culture: Therefore, the bishop said, all parishes in the Marquette diocese will be expected to teach chant to the faithful, and introduce the regular chanting of the Ordinary parts of the Mass. These steps, Bishop Doerfler said, “can be taken … Continue reading
Bishop Orders All Tabernacles Put Back in Center of Sanctuary
Patrick Gorman, director of the Office of Worship for the Madison diocese: “The idea is we’re going to put Christ in the most central place in the Church because that’s the position he has in the Church, in the body … Continue reading
O Antiphons Date Back to Eighth Century
National Catholic Register, Marge Fenelon: We’ve begun the “O” Antiphons. Every year from December 17-23, the Catholic Church sings what’s known as the “O” Antiphons, the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer. They’re called such because each … Continue reading
Advent Hymn: Drop Your Dew, Ye Clouds of Heaven
While I’m on the subject of Advent hymns, here is one written by Michael Denis in 1774 (the music that goes with is was probably written by Michael Haydn). The text is drawn from Holy Scripture, Old and New Testaments: … Continue reading
Maria Walks Amid the Thorn
Here is one of our favorite Advent hymns. It is sung in two parts, one of which is a haunting counterpoint. The carol comes from sixteenth century Germany (although it is probably much older) and commemorates the barrenness of the … Continue reading
Adelante La Fe’s Exclusive Interview with Monsignor Schneider: Vatican II, Communion in the Hand, Crisis, SSPX
With the gracious permission of the Spanish language web site, Adelante La Fe, we reproduce here their own English translation of their complete interview with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, O.R.C., the auxiliary bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan and titular bishop of Celerina. His Excellency says … Continue reading
