The Lake Charles Latin Mass Society

Here’s an idea that one member of our society sent to me by email:

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kralis/070730

A Catholic couple living in New York City conceived an unusually beautiful idea. As a sign of gratitude and love, they reasoned, what could be better than to send a fresh bouquet of flowers, God’s own artistry, to denote the accompanying gift of a spiritual bouquet — an offering of prayers — to the Holy Father? Since Pope Benedict left Rome shortly after the Motu proprio was publicly announced, they reasoned that the best way to accomplish this would be to have the flowers delivered to the Papal summer residence in the Cíttà dí Castel Gandolfo, just 30 miles outside of Rome, where the Pope will be residing from July 27 until mid-September. They enlisted the help of an American florist, From You Flowers, who arranged local florists in Italy to deliver our bouquets of flowers and bouquets of prayers to the Holy Father. Individuals and groups from all over the world can take part in this show of gratitude.

Check out the link to know how you can add your prayers for the Holy Father.

So after two days from the first Altar-ation, we made some modifications, and this is what we’ve come up with so far. It took about an hour to put together with several people. Naturally it’s a work-in-progress of course, like organic development.

Before:

After:

And after after!

From a distance:

We may also try and add some side Altars as well. We have a statue of Mary to the left, which could be used for that. And as far as the Altar rails, we’ll probably just pull out the kneelers for the People’s Communion, because a permanent Altar rail would drastically change the Sanctuary. Some pews would probably have to be taken out if that were ever done.

Also, I’ve learned that Bishop Provost is in the hospital for a bacterial infection. Prayers are needed.

Update - For whom it may concern: I just want everyone to know that the temporary Altar-ations are unofficial. The Lake Charles Latin Mass Society will of course cooperate with the diocese to ensure that the implementation of the motu propio is done in the way the bishop would like it to be done.

I emailed the founder and editor of the New Liturgical Movement weblog, Shawn Tribe, and he kindly posted the two pictures of the Altar-ation at Our Lady Queen of Heaven on his blog, to showcase to Catholics what can be done with Altar tables to turn them into High Altars.

http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2007/07/altar-a tions.html

Many thanks to him for this!!

Linda Robinson is trying to put together a spiritual bouquet to help pray for the traditional Latin Mass among other things. If anyone is interested in adding their prayers and offerings to it, then you may let her know by emailing her: magistra@suddenlink.net

Here’s a little bit of what we’ve been planning. Nothing is complete yet of course, and we may soon have a video to show the Altar-ation as well .

Before:

After:

If it can be done at this modern-looking parish, it can be done at any parish.

1. What special training must you undertake to prepare to celebrate the Latin Mass? Must you be fluent in Latin or just know the prayers?

Fr. T: Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum, in Art. 5, § 4, states: “Priests using the Missal of Blessed John XXIII must be worthy and not impeded by law” [This is unofficial English translation]. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in their Committee on the Liturgy Newsletter (Vol. XLIII, June-July 2007), further explained: “In order to celebrate the extraordinary form, a Priest must be suitably qualified for and not prohibited by any impediments to the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. This means he must have the minimum knowledge and ability required for a legitimate use of the extraordinary form.”

It is necessary, therefore, for the priest to be trained in the Latin language and the rubrics of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal so as to be “suitably qualified” to offer that Mass. In my case, I participated in an intensive training workshop on the Traditional Latin Mass on June 11-15, 2007, with the blessing of Bishop Glen John Provost. The workshop, designed for diocesan priests, is a collaborative effort between Una Voce America, the largest lay organization in America that supports the Traditional Latin Mass, and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, the largest clerical group in the US that offers what is often called the “Tridentine Mass” (Both of these groups, by the way, are international). The Priest Training Program held at Our Lady of Gaudalupe Seminary (the Fraternity’s Seminary in North America) in Denton, Nebraska has the support of the Most Reverend Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln.

The Program was very comprehensive. It consisted of Classroom Sessions (twice daily), Practica (twice daily), and Workshops (held in the evening). The following topics were covered: Introduction to the Traditional Liturgy and Liturgical Principles, The Requiem Mass/Absolution/Burial, Exposition/Benediction, Missa Sicca (Dry Mass - the Low Mass fully explained and demonstrated step-by-step), Missa Cantata (Sung Mass), Missa Solemnis (Solemn High Mass), Introduction to the Roman Missal, Ordo, and Calendar, Introduction to Latin, Introduction to Gregorian Chant and Sung Mass.

2. How much Latin or liturgical text should attendants of the Mass understand or be familiar with?

Fr. T: The USCCB Newsletter states: “In both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Missale Romanum, full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful is to be desired above all else…. The extraordinary form accomplishes this participation largely through listening to the prayers in Latin and following the words and actions of the Priest and joining our hearts to ‘what is said by him in the Name of Christ and [what] Christ says [to] him’.” The faithful typically use their hand missal, which contains both the Latin and the English translation of the readings and prayers of the Mass. Thus, although one does not have to have a knowledge or understanding of Latin in order to attend the Mass, it would be very beneficial for him or her to have familiarity with the prayers of the Mass or, at least, the ability to use the hand missal in order to facilitate “full, conscious, and active participation” and for his/her own personal edification. I see a need for good catechesis on these, as well as on the origin of the prayers, the meaning of the gestures, and every aspect of the Mass.

3. Is the homily delivered in Latin or English? Do you face the congregation to deliver it, or do you face the altar as with the rest of the Mass?

Fr. T: The readings are proclaimed or chanted in Latin (although Pope Benedict, in Summorum Pontificum, Art. 6, makes provision for the readings to be done in the local language: “The readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognized by the Apostolic See.”), but the homily or sermon is delivered in English with the priest facing the congregation.

4. About how many local Catholics have expressed interest in this special service?

Fr. T: I cannot give you an exact or even estimated number of Catholics in the Diocese of Lake Charles who are interested in the “extraordinary form of the Roman Rite,” but in my own sphere of influence - family, friends, parishioners - I can definitely say that there is a significant number of people who can easily qualify as a “stable group of faithful” mentioned in Art. 5 of Summorum Pontificum.

5. Did you grow up attending and-or participating in Latin Masses? How does it compare to the current vernacular services, besides the language difference. In what ways is the ceremony unchanged, and what are the major differences in style, prayers, and format? What are your childhood memories and opinions of traditional Mass?

Fr. T: No, I was born in 1973 and grew up attending the Novus Ordo Mass – both in English and Tagalog (the Philippines’ national language). The first time I was exposed to the so-called “Tridentine Mass” was when I was studying to be a priest at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans (years 2000-2005). Our history professor, Fr. Stan Klores, who is also the pastor of St. Patrick Church on Camp Street, would invite the seminarians to regularly serve at the Tridentine Mass offered at his parish (This is the “Indult Mass,” made available according to the provisions of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letters Quatuor Abhinc Annos and Ecclesia Dei Afflicta). I was immediately struck by its beauty and reverence. I was hooked since then. In reality, I am one of those “young persons” (the Holy Father talked about in his Letter to the Bishops that accompanied the Motu Propio) who “have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.”

For a more detailed comparison and contrast between the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the one Roman Rite, please refer to the USSCB Newsletter, found on their website. Here is the link: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/bclnewsletterjune07.pdf

From a priest’s perspective (from someone who celebrates the Novus Ordo in different languages – English, Latin, Spanish, Tagalog – and currently learning the Mass according to the 1962 Missal), the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Mass are essentially the same, but the extraordinary (Traditional Latin Mass) has longer prayers (which are very beautiful and Biblical), more gestures (that are filled with meaning) and, as far as rubrics is concerned, has less options (thus, making the celebration very precise, stable and uniform). I appreciate both forms of the Roman rite; each has its own advantages and disadvantages and one can certainly benefit from the other (The Holy Father, in his Letter to the Bishops, states that the co-existence of the two forms “can be mutually enriching.”). In fact, as a result of my training (for the Tridentine Mass), I have gained a greater understanding, love and appreciation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and have noticed that even my celebration of the Novus Ordo has improved much.

6. Were you excited that Pope Benedict’s decree encourages more celebration of the Latin Mass? Or was it just icing on the cake after Bishop Provost already approved the services in June?

Fr. T: Yes, I was very excited because Pope Benedict turned the whole Church’s attention to a treasure that should never be forgotten. I like what he wrote in his Letter to the Bishops: “What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.”

It also served as an “icing on the cake,” since even before the release of the Pope’s document, Bishop Provost already expressed keen interest and generous support in regard to having the Traditional Latin Mass celebrated in our diocese.

7. Why was St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church selected for the Mass? Is there special demand for it among Cameron residents? Are any other diocesan parishes eligible for or considering offering Latin Masses?

Fr. T: St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church made a request for the Traditional Latin Mass before the Motu Propio. After the Motu Propio, any parish with a “stable group of faithful” can theoretically have it. Practically though, it is a different matter because there are many things to consider: the rightful aspirations of the faithful, the need of the diocese, the availability of priests and church facilities, and, of course, the prescripts of the Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum. The Bishop wants to do it right and desires to fulfill the aspirations of the faithful according to the provisions of Motu Propio. He is in constant communication with people (including the three priests who are able to offer the Traditional Latin Mass in our diocese) with the goal of ironing out the details of the plan to make the ancient form of the Roman Rite available to the faithful.

Okay the American Press did a story on the Tridentine Latin Mass on Saturday in the Our Faith page. The reporter contacted Fr. Tolentino, and interviewed several of our members, as well as His Excellency, Bishop Provost. Apparently the reporter got all of her information from this very website, which is interesting because I’m not even sure if it has been of any use and help to the members. I’m interviewed as well. Only subscribers have access to the paper online.

www.americanpress.com

Okay the website Lumen Gentleman has a Motu Proprio Network or database where people in the same area can connect. I’ve already put my contact info in, and I’ve received several emails because of that, which is really great. I encourage anyone interested to do likewise.

http://www.lumengentleman.com/motucontacts.asp

Here’s a video I made. I don’t know what possessed me to make this video on Saturday morning - maybe it was just pure joy. It only took me a couple of hours. Well I hope y’all like it.

Here’s the motu proprio. This is the unofficial translation from the Vatican Information Service into English, and I may get another translation from Mater Marci, if she chooses to do so:

“Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the Church of Christ offers a worthy ritual to the Divine Majesty, ‘to the praise and glory of His name,’ and ‘to the benefit of all His Holy Church.’

“Since time immemorial it has been necessary - as it is also for the future - to maintain the principle according to which ‘each particular Church must concur with the universal Church, not only as regards the doctrine of the faith and the sacramental signs, but also as regards the usages universally accepted by uninterrupted apostolic tradition, which must be observed not only to avoid errors but also to transmit the integrity of the faith, because the Church’s law of prayer corresponds to her law of faith.’ (1)

“Among the pontiffs who showed that requisite concern, particularly outstanding is the name of St. Gregory the Great, who made every effort to ensure that the new peoples of Europe received both the Catholic faith and the treasures of worship and culture that had been accumulated by the Romans in preceding centuries. He commanded that the form of the sacred liturgy as celebrated in Rome (concerning both the Sacrifice of Mass and the Divine Office) be conserved. He took great concern to ensure the dissemination of monks and nuns who, following the Rule of St. Benedict, together with the announcement of the Gospel illustrated with their lives the wise provision of their Rule that ‘nothing should be placed before the work of God.’ In this way the sacred liturgy, celebrated according to the Roman use, enriched not only the faith and piety but also the culture of many peoples. It is known, in fact, that the Latin liturgy of the Church in its various forms, in each century of the Christian era, has been a spur to the spiritual life of many saints, has reinforced many peoples in the virtue of religion and fecundated their piety.

“Many other Roman pontiffs, in the course of the centuries, showed particular solicitude in ensuring that the sacred liturgy accomplished this task more effectively. Outstanding among them is St. Pius V who, sustained by great pastoral zeal and following the exhortations of the Council of Trent, renewed the entire liturgy of the Church, oversaw the publication of liturgical books amended and ‘renewed in accordance with the norms of the Fathers,’ and provided them for the use of the Latin Church.

“One of the liturgical books of the Roman rite is the Roman Missal, which developed in the city of Rome and, with the passing of the centuries, little by little took forms very similar to that it has had in recent times.

“‘It was towards this same goal that succeeding Roman Pontiffs directed their energies during the subsequent centuries in order to ensure that the rites and liturgical books were brought up to date and when necessary clarified. From the beginning of this century they undertook a more general reform.’ (2) Thus our predecessors Clement VIII, Urban VIII, St. Pius X (3), Benedict XV, Pius XII and Blessed John XXIII all played a part.

“In more recent times, Vatican Council II expressed a desire that the respectful reverence due to divine worship should be renewed and adapted to the needs of our time. Moved by this desire our predecessor, the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, approved, in 1970, reformed and partly renewed liturgical books for the Latin Church. These, translated into the various languages of the world, were willingly accepted by bishops, priests and faithful. John Paul II amended the third typical edition of the Roman Missal. Thus Roman pontiffs have operated to ensure that ‘this kind of liturgical edifice … should again appear resplendent for its dignity and harmony.’ (4)

“But in some regions, no small numbers of faithful adhered and continue to adhere with great love and affection to the earlier liturgical forms. These had so deeply marked their culture and their spirit that in 1984 the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, moved by a concern for the pastoral care of these faithful, with the special indult ‘Quattuor abhinc anno,” issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, granted permission to use the Roman Missal published by Blessed John XXIII in the year 1962. Later, in the year 1988, John Paul II with the Apostolic Letter given as Motu Proprio, ‘Ecclesia Dei,’ exhorted bishops to make generous use of this power in favor of all the faithful who so desired.

“Following the insistent prayers of these faithful, long deliberated upon by our predecessor John Paul II, and after having listened to the views of the Cardinal Fathers of the Consistory of 22 March 2006, having reflected deeply upon all aspects of the question, invoked the Holy Spirit and trusting in the help of God, with these Apostolic Letters we establish the following:

“Art 1. The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the ‘Lex orandi’ (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same ‘Lex orandi,’ and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of the Church’s Lex orandi will in no any way lead to a division in the Church’s ‘Lex credendi’ (Law of belief). They are, in fact two usages of the one Roman rite.

“It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents ‘Quattuor abhinc annis’ and ‘Ecclesia Dei,’ are substituted as follows:

“Art. 2. In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary.

“Art. 3. Communities of Institutes of consecrated life and of Societies of apostolic life, of either pontifical or diocesan right, wishing to celebrate Mass in accordance with the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, for conventual or “community” celebration in their oratories, may do so. If an individual community or an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken by the Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and following their own specific decrees and statues.

“Art. 4. Celebrations of Mass as mentioned above in art. 2 may - observing all the norms of law - also be attended by faithful who, of their own free will, ask to be admitted.

“Art. 5. õ 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church. õ 2 Celebration in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held. õ 3 For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor should also allow celebrations in this extraordinary form for special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, e.g. pilgrimages. õ 4 Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded. õ 5 In churches that are not parish or conventual churches, it is the duty of the Rector of the church to grant the above permission.

Art. 6. In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.

“Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 õ 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.

“Art. 8. A bishop who, desirous of satisfying such requests, but who for various reasons is unable to do so, may refer the problem to the Commission “Ecclesia Dei” to obtain counsel and assistance.

“Art. 9. õ 1 The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance, and the Anointing of the Sick, if the good of souls would seem to require it. õ 2 Ordinaries are given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it. õ 2 Clerics ordained “in sacris constitutis” may use the Roman Breviary promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962.

“Art. 10. The ordinary of a particular place, if he feels it appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with can. 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite, or appoint a chaplain, while observing all the norms of law.

“Art. 11. The Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, erected by John Paul II in 1988 (5), continues to exercise its function. Said Commission will have the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign it.

“Art. 12. This Commission, apart from the powers it enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and application of these dispositions.

“We order that everything We have established with these Apostolic Letters issued as Motu Proprio be considered as “established and decreed”, and to be observed from 14 September of this year, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be to the contrary.

” From Rome, at St. Peter’s, 7 July 2007, third year of Our Pontificate.” (1) General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 3rd ed., 2002, no. 397. (2) John Paul II, Apostolic Letter “Vicesimus quintus annus,” 4 December 1988, 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899.

(3) Ibid. (4) St. Pius X, Apostolic Letter Motu proprio data, “Abhinc duos annos,” 23 October 1913: AAS 5 (1913), 449-450; cf John Paul II, Apostolic Letter “Vicesimus quintus annus,” no. 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899. (5) Cf John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Motu proprio data “Ecclesia Dei,” 2 July 1988, 6: AAS 80 (1988), 1498.