Transcript of Cardinal Ratzinger Interview
With Raymond Arroyo on EWTN
From EWTN - Document Library - www.ewtn.com:
Raymond: "Will we see a return to the ad orientem posture, facing the East, the priest facing away from the people during the Canon, a return to the Latin, more Latin in the Mass?
Cardinal: Versus orientem, I would say could be a help because it is really a tradition from the Apostolic time, and it’s not only a norm, but it’s an expression also of the cosmical dimension and of the historical dimension of the liturgy. We are celebrating with the cosmos, with the world. It’s the direction of the future of the world, of our history represented in the sun and in the cosmical realities. I think today this new discovering of our relation with the created world can be understood also from the people, better than perhaps 20 years ago. And also, it’s a common direction – priest and people are in common oriented to the Lord. So, I think it could be a help. Always external gestures are not simply a remedy in itself, but could be a help because it’s a very classical interpretation of what is the direction of the liturgy. Generally, I think it was good to translate the liturgy in the spoken languages because we will understand it; we will participate also with our thinking. But a stronger presence of some elements of Latin would be helpful to give the universal dimension, to give the possibilities that in all the parts of the world we can see “I am in the same Church.” So generally, popular language is … "
I find this question and answer rather insightful, mostly because he doesn't answer it with any reference to the institutional church:
Raymond: What would you say to the faithful, who in the United States are so despondent at this hour, and not sure who to look to? What would you say to them?
Cardinal: Yes. On the one hand, look to the Lord is the first point. He is always present and He’s always near to us. Look also to the saints of all the times, and so find in our times the saints. The humble, faithful persons are present, perhaps not so visible because they are not appearing on the television. But the humble, praying people are present today and this is a confidence of the Church and of all our people find these people, finds that with all the problems of today, the Church has not disappeared; but is continuing, especially in not so visible personalities. So, I think this is essential – find the Lord, find the saints of the times, but also find the not canonized, simple persons who are really in the heart of the Church.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
No More Applauding at Mass!
This is the good news contained in this piece. The altar girl thing will receive most of the attention though and no doubt spark quite a bit of outrage.
From The Advertiser: Vatican to ban altar girls [23sep03]:
"Nor, it said, will girls be able to serve at the altar. Readings from texts other than the Bible will be forbidden, as will applauding during religious services. No reasons were given for any of the various edicts.
The document will state that all Catholics, whether priests or laymen, would be encouraged to denounce 'abuses' of the regulations to their bishops, or even to the Vatican itself, according to the magazine. "
This Reuter's piece on the same document is even more confusing:
According to the magazine, the draft says the use of girl altar servers should be avoided "unless there is a just pastoral cause" and that "priests should never feel obliged to seek girls for this function."
The Vatican in 1994 gave individual bishops the power to decide whether to allow altar girls in their dioceses. But some conservative Catholics are against altar girls, saying their presence has eroded a traditional recruiting ground for priests.
Traditionalists have also seen altar girls as a foot in the door to a female priesthood, which the church bans.
Italian media reported that the initial reaction to the draft, circulated to the world's bishops, has been negative and the document may have to be at least partially modified.
The draft document also discourages applause during masses and "dances inside the sacred building."
Ironically, Pope John Paul's sermons during masses, even those in St Peter's Basilica, are often interrupted by applause.
Some of the pope's masses in Rome and around the world have included dancing, particularly those celebrations marking Asian, African or Latin American events.
The document, drafted by two Vatican departments which oversee doctrine and liturgy, was ordered by the pope who will eventually have to approve a final version.
The draft also warns against the use of non-Biblical language during the mass, such as readings from poets.
It discourages the practice where the faithful receive the wafer and wine at communion.
Catholics believe Christ is present in the wafer and wine but the document says it is preferable just to receive the wafer.
"Self-service" communion is also frowned upon. This appeared to be a reference to the faithful taking the consecrated host directly from the chalice instead of receiving it on their tongue from the hand of a priest.
Communion under one form seems very suspect to me. The altar girl thing seems like a suggestion. The document seems doomed before it is even released.
This is the good news contained in this piece. The altar girl thing will receive most of the attention though and no doubt spark quite a bit of outrage.
From The Advertiser: Vatican to ban altar girls [23sep03]:
"Nor, it said, will girls be able to serve at the altar. Readings from texts other than the Bible will be forbidden, as will applauding during religious services. No reasons were given for any of the various edicts.
The document will state that all Catholics, whether priests or laymen, would be encouraged to denounce 'abuses' of the regulations to their bishops, or even to the Vatican itself, according to the magazine. "
This Reuter's piece on the same document is even more confusing:
According to the magazine, the draft says the use of girl altar servers should be avoided "unless there is a just pastoral cause" and that "priests should never feel obliged to seek girls for this function."
The Vatican in 1994 gave individual bishops the power to decide whether to allow altar girls in their dioceses. But some conservative Catholics are against altar girls, saying their presence has eroded a traditional recruiting ground for priests.
Traditionalists have also seen altar girls as a foot in the door to a female priesthood, which the church bans.
Italian media reported that the initial reaction to the draft, circulated to the world's bishops, has been negative and the document may have to be at least partially modified.
The draft document also discourages applause during masses and "dances inside the sacred building."
Ironically, Pope John Paul's sermons during masses, even those in St Peter's Basilica, are often interrupted by applause.
Some of the pope's masses in Rome and around the world have included dancing, particularly those celebrations marking Asian, African or Latin American events.
The document, drafted by two Vatican departments which oversee doctrine and liturgy, was ordered by the pope who will eventually have to approve a final version.
The draft also warns against the use of non-Biblical language during the mass, such as readings from poets.
It discourages the practice where the faithful receive the wafer and wine at communion.
Catholics believe Christ is present in the wafer and wine but the document says it is preferable just to receive the wafer.
"Self-service" communion is also frowned upon. This appeared to be a reference to the faithful taking the consecrated host directly from the chalice instead of receiving it on their tongue from the hand of a priest.
Communion under one form seems very suspect to me. The altar girl thing seems like a suggestion. The document seems doomed before it is even released.
A Dim View of a Pittsburgh Priest
The strange tale of Fr. Henry Krawczyk and the University of Pittsburgh football player who died in his church this summer. Ann Rodgers gives the long meandering tale of a celibate priest who led two lives and sought desparately to be one of the crowd.
The novice might think that there were more than enough "warning" signs to have merited his removal years ago, but from my experience all of these signs are such frequent problems among clergy that most diocesan staffs merely shrug their shoulders when complaints come in about "punch and judy" (a term often used to refer to the frequent human failures of priests).
One might ponder what the church would be like in a perfect world, unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world but a fallen world. I do think that all of these revelations will lead to a more public recognition of the sinfulness that is the domain of all of us and that we will begin to have a more realistic view of clergy and to not shake off their faults but demand that they deal with them or find a vocation that suits their lifestyle.
Read the Pittsburgh story here Priest falls from grace
The strange tale of Fr. Henry Krawczyk and the University of Pittsburgh football player who died in his church this summer. Ann Rodgers gives the long meandering tale of a celibate priest who led two lives and sought desparately to be one of the crowd.
The novice might think that there were more than enough "warning" signs to have merited his removal years ago, but from my experience all of these signs are such frequent problems among clergy that most diocesan staffs merely shrug their shoulders when complaints come in about "punch and judy" (a term often used to refer to the frequent human failures of priests).
One might ponder what the church would be like in a perfect world, unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world but a fallen world. I do think that all of these revelations will lead to a more public recognition of the sinfulness that is the domain of all of us and that we will begin to have a more realistic view of clergy and to not shake off their faults but demand that they deal with them or find a vocation that suits their lifestyle.
Read the Pittsburgh story here Priest falls from grace
The Other Limbaugh has a Bestseller
From Publisher's Weekly:
They may not get thrown to the lions any more, but today's Christians endure subtler forms of martyrdom, argues this strident manifesto. Limbaugh (Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department) recites a litany of abuses and insults perpetrated, he claims, by separation-of-church-and-state absolutists and the forces of secular humanism. Most of them are familiar complaints of the Christian Right: school children are forbidden to pray before football games; nativity scenes are banned from municipal property; the media ridicule Christian politicians, and Hollywood caricatures Christians as Bible-thumping yahoos or axe-wielding fanatics. At universities where Darwinism, relativism and "sexuality studies" hold sway, Limbaugh says, vocal Christians get packed off to the psych ward. Most insidiously, Christians are continually subjected to sensitivity training-which often promotes a "homosexual agenda"-and silenced when they object. Many of the cases Limbaugh cites raise legitimate questions about society's hypersensitivity to religious expression (although the really serious abuses were often remedied after the inevitable lawsuit). Unfortunately, he tends to equate political controversy with religious bigotry, and Christianity with fundamentalism. Many of the issues he cites, like Democratic opposition to pro-life judicial nominees, or laws requiring Catholic employers to cover contraceptives in health insurance, amount to political disputes pitting conservatives like Limbaugh against liberals, feminists, gays or users of contraceptives, with Christians ranged on both sides. Limbaugh has a point: there are anti-Christian tendencies-rigid school bureaucrats, militant atheists and an often profane and irreligious popular culture-in American society. But there are plenty of pro-Christian tendencies too, such that Limbaugh's persecution complex seems overblown.
From Publisher's Weekly:
They may not get thrown to the lions any more, but today's Christians endure subtler forms of martyrdom, argues this strident manifesto. Limbaugh (Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department) recites a litany of abuses and insults perpetrated, he claims, by separation-of-church-and-state absolutists and the forces of secular humanism. Most of them are familiar complaints of the Christian Right: school children are forbidden to pray before football games; nativity scenes are banned from municipal property; the media ridicule Christian politicians, and Hollywood caricatures Christians as Bible-thumping yahoos or axe-wielding fanatics. At universities where Darwinism, relativism and "sexuality studies" hold sway, Limbaugh says, vocal Christians get packed off to the psych ward. Most insidiously, Christians are continually subjected to sensitivity training-which often promotes a "homosexual agenda"-and silenced when they object. Many of the cases Limbaugh cites raise legitimate questions about society's hypersensitivity to religious expression (although the really serious abuses were often remedied after the inevitable lawsuit). Unfortunately, he tends to equate political controversy with religious bigotry, and Christianity with fundamentalism. Many of the issues he cites, like Democratic opposition to pro-life judicial nominees, or laws requiring Catholic employers to cover contraceptives in health insurance, amount to political disputes pitting conservatives like Limbaugh against liberals, feminists, gays or users of contraceptives, with Christians ranged on both sides. Limbaugh has a point: there are anti-Christian tendencies-rigid school bureaucrats, militant atheists and an often profane and irreligious popular culture-in American society. But there are plenty of pro-Christian tendencies too, such that Limbaugh's persecution complex seems overblown.
Year of the Rosary
The year of the rosary is quickly coming to a close but praying the rosary is once again becoming a way of life for Catholics and some other Christians as well. Amy and I have a rosary book that includes the Mysteries of Light and was published this year:
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
The year of the rosary is quickly coming to a close but praying the rosary is once again becoming a way of life for Catholics and some other Christians as well. Amy and I have a rosary book that includes the Mysteries of Light and was published this year:
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
If Clark Were the Nominee and the Election Were Today...
Neither of which is the case, of course, but it is interesting. Clark is a Catholic convert who was raised Southern Baptist.
From Yahoo! News - Clark Tied With President Bush in Poll:
"Clark, a retired Army general, garnered 49 percent support to Bush's 46 percent, which is essentially a tie given the poll's margin of error. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 19-21, beginning two days after Clark announced he would become the 10th Democratic candidate for the party's nomination. "
Neither of which is the case, of course, but it is interesting. Clark is a Catholic convert who was raised Southern Baptist.
From Yahoo! News - Clark Tied With President Bush in Poll:
"Clark, a retired Army general, garnered 49 percent support to Bush's 46 percent, which is essentially a tie given the poll's margin of error. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 19-21, beginning two days after Clark announced he would become the 10th Democratic candidate for the party's nomination. "
Monday, September 22, 2003
This is Not a Good Sign
Ironically, the convent in question is the subject of one of the finest books that has been released this year about the nuns and the woman who encounters them. I link to the book after the story.
From newsnet5.com - News - Officials Say Cloistered Nuns Are Security Risks:
"NewsChannel5 reported that the Department of Homeland Security is ordering two Korean sisters out of the country, saying they don't qualify for visas. But the cloistered nuns are hoping a higher power will intervene.
The women live as cloistered nuns with the order of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Inside, the nuns pray for the entire world 24 hours a day. They never leave the church except for when they need medical care, and they have almost no contact with the outside world.
But on Friday, they spoke with NewsChannel5 behind steel bars in the visitors' parlor. The bars are a symbol to their commitment to God, prayer and their separation from society.
Sister Mary Cecilia and Sister Mary Catherinia, of Korea, must now deal with the outside world. The Department of Homeland Security said the sisters are security risks. Both Korean sisters may be deported because the U.S. Immigration Service said they don't qualify for religious worker visas.
'I think it's very sad,' said Sister Mary Joseph, a cloistered nun. 'They're not going to hurt anyone at all.' "
Ironically, the convent in question is the subject of one of the finest books that has been released this year about the nuns and the woman who encounters them. I link to the book after the story.
From newsnet5.com - News - Officials Say Cloistered Nuns Are Security Risks:
"NewsChannel5 reported that the Department of Homeland Security is ordering two Korean sisters out of the country, saying they don't qualify for visas. But the cloistered nuns are hoping a higher power will intervene.
The women live as cloistered nuns with the order of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Inside, the nuns pray for the entire world 24 hours a day. They never leave the church except for when they need medical care, and they have almost no contact with the outside world.
But on Friday, they spoke with NewsChannel5 behind steel bars in the visitors' parlor. The bars are a symbol to their commitment to God, prayer and their separation from society.
Sister Mary Cecilia and Sister Mary Catherinia, of Korea, must now deal with the outside world. The Department of Homeland Security said the sisters are security risks. Both Korean sisters may be deported because the U.S. Immigration Service said they don't qualify for religious worker visas.
'I think it's very sad,' said Sister Mary Joseph, a cloistered nun. 'They're not going to hurt anyone at all.' "
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