Liturgical Nazis Prepare For Conflict

Black-shirts and storm-troopers parade in full battle gear as Catholic faithful become restless with the latest rejection by the USCCB of proposed translations of the 2000 Latin Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. Correct and accurate are not diametrically opposed to edifying, reverent and eloquent. Unfortunately, the lower clergy and the laity suffer with the sometimes droll, often inaccurate and usually pedestrian ICEL English translations from the 1970 Paul VI Missal. Meanwhile, the latest John Paul II edition remains in the Latin and unused in most of the USA. Despite Bishop Serratelli's erudite article, 2/3rd's of his brother bishops in the United States did not approve the recent proposed translation. Evidently, too many polysyllabic, urbane and debonair words for the allegedly unsophisticated, mundane, and prosaic faithful who supposedly need banal, pedestrian and trite translations instead. Maybe we need Liturgical Sesame Street to help people learn about the ineffable and sublime sacred mysteries of authentic divine worship; or so we are led to believe by the 'experts.'

ALL PRIESTS, DEACONS & SEMS: Only Ten Days Left

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy reiterates its invitation to all priests, deacons and seminarians to our annual convocation. This year we meet at the Tremont Plaza Hotel in Baltimore, MD to celebrate the bicentennial of the Archdiocese and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. JULY 14th - 17th are the dates and any member of the Catholic Clergy (Latin or Oriental) in good standing with his diocese or relgious community are welcome to attend. Cost is only $150 and our speakers include:

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien (tentative)
Archbishop of Baltimore

Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

Fr. Peter West
Priests for Life

Dr. Janet Smith (keynote speaker)
Chair of Life Ethics, Professor of Moral Theology
Sacred heart seminary, Detroit, MI

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy is a national association of priests and deacons that promotes ongoing spiritual, theological and pastoral formation of the local clergy in a fraternal environment. Besides monthly local chapter meetings (consisting of a Eucharistic Holy Hour, Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, Spiritual Conference, opportunity for confession, and Benediction), the CCC also holds an annual convocation where orthodox speakers present pertinent lectures helpful to the average parish priest or deacon. Vatican II (Presbyterorum Ordinis), the Code of Canon Law and Pope John Paul the Great (Pastores Dabo Vobis) as well as the Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, strongly encourage and exhort associations to assist the clergy in seriously persuing ongoing formation.

ATTENTION PARISHIONERS and ALL MEMBERS OF THE LAITY, please encourage your pastor, parochial vicar, deacon and seminarian to attend our annual gathering. Makes a perfect ordination or anniversary gift. Annual membership dues are only $35 (nice birthday present). Any donations or contributions are greatly appreciated. See our website for more information.

www.catholic-clergy.org

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

These are photos I took of the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, during my mother's recent visit for my 20th anniversary. Both of us reflected on how proud my dad would have been had he lived long enough to see the World War II Memorial finally erected. He fought in the US Navy during WWII and only got his discharge after he was already serving in the Korean Conflict. Needless to say, me and brothers were always proud of the old man and even though he never told us any war stories, he was our war hero because he served his nation with honor and distinction. His generation were willing to make sacrifices so that others could remain or perhaps for the first time embrace freedom. They placed their own convenience, comfort and even personal safety on the line for their country. Some things were worth risking your life to protect or obtain.

We have such patriots today serving in our military. Many brave men and women stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, but also in Korea, Europe and at sea around the world. We should not forget them this Independence Day. My two parishes have been saying the Prayer to Saint Michael every day after Mass since the first soldier, sailor, airman or marine arrived in the Persian Gulf. Many regular and reserve military have been on numerous dangerous tours and missions. Some have been seriously wounded and some have made the supreme sacrifice. No matter what your political affiliation and regardless of your personal opinion on the specifics of this particular war, remember the troops go when they are sent. The bullets, grenades, missiles and torpedoes kill and mame no matter why they were launched. Pray for peace, pray for a speedy end to the war and pray for the safe return of our troops. But remember, this will not be over in a short time. We had troops in Germany, Japan and Korea long after peace treaties had been signed. America cannot fight and run. We always stayed to rehelp rebuild and restore. Ironically, that component is often forgotten. One day, Father Brighenti and I visited Paris by taking the train from London and going through the famous Chunnel. Once in France, someone noticed we were Americans (could have been my VISA card that has the US Flag on it). We got a terse rebuke from someone who disliked President Bush and said we should stay out of foreign affairs completely. I replied that I did not have enough time to debate the decision to go to war with Iraq, HOWEVER, I did bluntly remind my French inquisitor that had it not been for the USA, he might be speaking German today and we would have flags with black swastikas emblazoned on red, rather than the traditional blue, white and red of the French drapeau tricolore. When we got back to Great Britain, it was comforting to see the opposite response. No matter where we went in London or elsewhere in England, people warmly welcomed us and once they saw were from the United States, they inevitably would throw in a spontaneous "God Bless America." Even those who did not like or approve of their Prime Minister Tony Blair and/or our own President George Bush, still showed a friendly alliance that expressed a multi-generational relationship and gratitude. We heard some of the real old-timers tell stories in the local pub of what happened during WWII and the nightly bombings of London by the Nazi Luftwaffe. Hearing an old British sailor tell how he became friends with an American who voluntarily came to the UK before Pearl Harbor (Dec. 6, 1941) and joined the RAF to fight Hitler and the Third Reich was something I'll never forget.

Fourth of July is our Independence Day but it is also our wake up day. We Americans have to ask ourselves, am I a good citizen? What am I doing to make my country better? Too many of us never vote but we all complain. Too many of us let someone else defend, protect, and serve us and we do little in return. Yes, we have the shame of slavery and segregation in our past and today we have the shame of racism and the horrors of abortion and euthanasia in this 'land of the free.' Freedom, as Pope John Paul the Great reminded us, is NOT equivalent with license or unrestricted liberty. Freedom is the power and ability to do what one OUGHT to do because one chooses to do it. As T.S. Elliot would say, it is doing the right thing for the right reason. We should never forget that Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini were ELECTED into office. Though they imposed a fascist regime, they got into power because they got the votes. After the war, Nazi soldiers and politicians were asked why did you go along with the evil that was done? Many replied "I was merely obeying orders" or "I was merely following party rules and regulations." Today, we have politicians who 'personally oppose abortion' but consistently vote 'pro-choice' (a real oxymoron since the unborn is given no choice whatsoever). Those who love America must want her to do and to be better in every way. Apathetic voters and party-hack politicians wreak more havoc on our nation that anyone can imagine.

On this Fourth of July, let us be grateful we live in a free nation where we can practice our religion without fear, intimidation or persecution. At the same time, since we live in a democratic-republic, we the people are responsible for what our government does or does not do. We elect people into office or we vote them out the next election. Do we vote with our pocket books and wallets and make decisions based on our own convenience and comfort OR do we stand up for principles like those who died to keep our country free? Those who died to erardicate slavery died for a noble cause. Those who neglect their constitutional right to vote commit a sin of omission when they allow those with evil agendas to get into office. The balance of the Supreme Court could be decided by the next President. How many Americans will vote based on the price of gasoline? How many will stay home because their candidate is not in the race? What about the men and women who have fought and died overseas for our nation? Was their sacrifice in vain? Show your appreciation to our brave military whenever you see one of them in public. And show them the ultimate respect by electing GOOD, MORAL and NOBLE politicians into office who place the common good before their own career management.

Feast of Saint Jose-Maria Escriva

St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (1902-1975) was the founder of Opus Dei, the first and so far only Personal Prelature in the Catholic Church. Monsignor Escriva devised a theology and spirituality more than 30 years before the Second Vatican Council coined the phrase the universal call to holiness. Simply put, he advocated the notion that sanctity is not reserved for clergy and religious, but that everyday work can and ought to be means for personal holiness. For centuries, some had thought that the only way to heaven was to imitate the monastic life. Adopt and adapt a spirituality based on the monks and nuns, and the ordinary layperson might have a chance of Paradise, or so some believed. Over time, the monastic sprituality, which was very communal, regulated, religious and for celibates was diluted and distilled so that Joe and Mary Laici could have a possibility of holiness, too. Msgr. discovered what St. Francis de Sales and St. Therese of Lisiux learned beforehand: God calls everyone to holiness. St. Augustine taught about the reality of God giving everyone Sufficient Grace and it becomes Efficacious Grace to those who accept and cooperate with it. So, while not revolutionary from the theological standpoint, from common perception among the faithful, Escriva's idea was fresh and new. Sanctification via ordinary work? Daily work becoming the Work of God (opus Dei in Latin).

Look at the life of Our Divine Lord and the Holy Family in Nazareth. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother spent 75% of their day and life WORKING, i.e., doing ordinary labor. Working in the carpenter shop, cleaning, cooking, washing, etc. Doing the mundane jobs and chores of ordinary life. The BVM and St. Joseph did pray at home, in synagogue and at Temple like all devout Jews of their time. Jesus, Mary and Joseph did not live in a monastery or a convent, however. They lived in an ordinary home and they did ordinary work. Thirty years Our Divine Savior worked, so much so that not only was He called the 'son' of a carpenter, but in one passage He is even called a 'carpenter' Himself. His public mission lasted three years after thirty hidden years working with His foster-father. Since the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph did not spend most of their day on their knees in prayer, it would seem logical that God is not calling everyone to live the life of a cloistered monastic. Some, He is, like the Carmelites, Poor Clares, Dominicans, etc. Most people He has called to live married and single lives and a few as consecrated religious or some men as ordained priests. Opus Dei merely helps members realize that their daily work will sanctify them if they do it well and do it for God. Daily prayer, weekly Mass, monthly confession and yearly retreat are still vital, important and indispensible. Yet, consecrating our daily work and allowing our work to sanctify us is also part of God's plan. Genesis reminds us that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. Pope John Paul the Great in his encyclical Laborem Exercens taught us that WORK is not a four-letter word. Work is holy when done well and done properly. If it is not good, then it is not good work. If evil, then it is the work of the Devil. Cab drivers, police, firefighters, teachers, construction workers, white collar, blue collar, politicians, doctors, lawyers, nurses, secretaries, retired, students, athletes, entertainers, clerks, managers, receptionists, CEO's, et al.; whatever your WORK, do it well, and do it for God and it will become a means of sanctification. Envisioning Christ standing next to you all day while you work might help you to work better OR if your work is not pleasing to God, either because you are not working hard enough OR you may be doing something displeasing or even offensive to God, then change your work. Politicians must enact legislation. That is their work. IF they create human laws that disobey the Divine and the Natural Laws, then their work is not holy, it is evil. Hence, promoting abortion, euthanasia or same-sex marriage laws is not doing the Opus Dei. Judges, too, must do their work but their work must submit to the Natural Moral Law, else their work is also not the Work of God. The same applies to doctors, pharmicists, teachers, parents, etc. Yes, we are to work and to do our best at work AS LONG AS our work pleases God. Violating His Commandments or His Natural Law is the work of Satan, not the work of God. Msgr. Escriva, however, taught that even the most menial, pedestrian job can become an Opus Dei, a work of God, like taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, grocery shopping, doing homework, vaccuuming the house, etc. Just like the Holy Family where work was done at home and in the shop, work can and ought to be a humanizing (and not de-humanizing) enterprise. Slave labor is not the work of God. Abusing workers or cheating employers does not please God. Fair pay for fair days work that respects the dignity of the human person is what the Lord wants us to do and to promote.

Gibbet VS. Thong

While some liturgists try to convince us that 'gibbet' is too arcane to use in the Sacred Liturgy, I urge them to recall the newer translations of Sacred Scripture (New American Bible) in the Lectionary so that every Advent we get Mark 1:7 or Luke 3:16 having St. John the Baptist saying "I am not worthy to unfasten the THONG of his sandal." Why abandon the traditional 'strap' and opt for the modern 'thong' ? When most contempoary Americans hear the word 'thong' they think of an immodest and quite obscene bikini bottom given more vulgar colloquialisms by the youth. Straps (of his sandals), on the other hand, are a more appropriate and accurate translation of the Greek himas or Latin corrigiam than thongs. Gibbet may be less familiar but I do not trust the same people who gave us thongs rather than sandal-straps. Speaking for myself, i.e., and I am unanimous in that.

From the Boss

Pope Benedict spoke to the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec via satellite and made these WONDERFUL remarks on the Sacred Liturgy and Most Blessed Sacrament:

"'The Mystery of Faith': this we proclaim at every Mass. I would like everyone to make a commitment to study this great mystery, especially by revisiting and exploring, individually and in groups, the Council's text on the liturgy, 'Sacrosanctum Concilium,' so as to bear witness courageously to the mystery."

The Pontiff affirmed that such study would help each person "arrive at a better grasp of the meaning of every aspect of the Eucharist, understanding its depth and living it with greater intensity."

"Every sentence, every gesture has its own meaning and conceals a mystery," Benedict XVI continued. "I sincerely hope that this Congress will serve as an appeal to all the faithful to make a similar commitment to a renewal of Eucharistic catechesis, so that they themselves will gain a genuine Eucharistic awareness and will in turn teach children and young people to recognize the central mystery of faith and build their lives around it.

"I urge priests especially to give due honor to the Eucharistic rite, and I ask all the faithful to respect the role of each individual, both priest and lay, in the Eucharistic action. The liturgy does not belong to us: It is the Church's treasure."


The Pontiff also expressed his desire that Christians would come to value Sunday more and more.

"May all of you become ever more deeply aware of the importance of the Sunday Eucharist," he said, "because Sunday, the first day of the week, is the day when we honor Christ, the day when we receive the strength to live each day the gift of God."

If only every member of the clergy and laity could heed and abide by these words of wisdom.

Forty Hours

HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM

My two parishes (Our Lady of Good Counsel & St. Bernadette) are having their annual Forty Hours devotions June 22, 23 and 24.  I ask for your prayers that we may see a renewal of reverence for the Real Presence, in all parishes and dioceses around the world.  I also ask for your prayers for a very important and urgent special intention.  Confidentiality prevents me from divulging any further details, but suffice it to say, I beseech any and all prayers for this matter which concerns a friend of mine who is in need of divine assistance.

ADOREMUS IN AETERNUM SANCTISSIMUM SACRAMENTUM

Right On Target

Fr. Z. at WDTPRS shows that Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, NJ, is accutely aware of the supreme importance regarding the translation of liturgical texts. The Bishop's letter is superb and succinct. He zeroes in on the crux of the matter and explains why accuracy to the authentic and typical Latin text is essential. He also underscores the invaluable treasure of having a dignified, reverent and edifying nomenclature.

Words are written and spoken symbols human beings use to convey ideas. While the literal interpretation of every word is not always or even usually the intent of the original author, the literal sense of the word is absolutely necessary. Hence, in the Bible when Jesus says "you are the salt of the earth" in Matthew 5:13, the sacred author is obviously using a metaphor since human beings are more than sodium chloride. Nevertheless, the literal sense, i.e., the exact idea conveyed by the word salt is necessary to understand the passage. If someone does not know what SALT is, then they cannot comprehend the metaphor. If the wrong word is used in place of salt, the idea is not accurately communicated. The Greek (halas) and Latin (sal) use the specific word salt. If a politically correct health-nut tampered with that translation, we might get something close but the inspired text is more precise.

When the Sacred Liturgy uses certain words in the typical Latin, it should be respected and accurately translated. Diluting the liturgy of theological terminology defies one of the purposes of worship, i.e., the teaching of doctrine. Adoring God is the primary object but since it is a public work done by the entire church, there are other effects of liturgy. Teaching the faith (doctrine) is one and living the faith (morality) is another. The prayers, gestures, symbols, et al. used in divine worship are there for a reason. They convey ideas and hopefully encourage, too. The faithful are given the grace and the INSTRUCTION to seek holiness by living lives in accord with the Divine Will. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass gives proper worship to God AND it inspires us to aspire to become saints. It gives us the goal, the reason and the means to achieve it. United with the other sacraments and combined with the Magisterial teachings of the Church, the Sacred Liturgy encapsulates what and who we are, and where we are meant to go. If we avoid lofty language and remain on a strict diet of mundane, pedestrian idioms, then our minds will be robbed since language is meant to do more than just communicate, it also uplifts and inspires.

The Language of the Liturgy: The Value of the New Translations
In Act III, Scene II of The Tragedy of Hamlet, the young prince gives this advice: “Suit the action to the word, the word to the action.” Ever since the publication of the third edition of the Missale Romanum in 2000, translators have been grappling with the challenge of suiting the word to the liturgy. Translators working to provide a fresh translation of the liturgical texts face a number of challenges. Words, like people’s dress, change from one generation to the next and from one group to another in the same society. What one individual calls a “swamp,” another more ecologically conscious individual calls “wetlands.” A politician waxes eloquently about “public participation.” His audience understands him to say “self-denial.” The corporate world routinely uses the noun impact as a transitive verb. People follow happily along.

Today, politically correct as well as linguistically conscious individuals carefully circumvent the word “man” not to offend women. Past generations pronounced the word with never the slightest intention of excluding women. But times have changed. We speak now about humankind. Certainly, we have gained inclusivity. Yet, we have sacrificed language that is not so abstract.
English always has been an open language, ready to welcome neologisms. The Internet has enriched our speech with new phrases and words. Text messaging is altering our spelling and our syntax. Language is a human expression. As people change, so does the way they speak.
In his popular rhetorical guide, De duplici copia verborum ac rerum, Erasmus, the 16th century Dutch humanist and theologian, showed students 150 different styles they could use when phrasing the Latin sentence, Tuae literae me magnopere delectarunt (Your letter has delighted me very much). Clearly, no single translation of any sentence or work will ever completely satisfy everyone. Even the best of all possible translations of the new Missal will have its critics.
But there is something more at stake than pleasing individual tastes and preferences in the new liturgical translations. The new translations aim at a “language which is easily understandable, yet which at the same time preserves … dignity, beauty, and doctrinal precision” (Liturgiam Authenticam, 25). The new translations now being prepared are a marked improvement over the translations with which we have become familiar. They are densely theological. They respect the rich vocabulary of the Roman Rite. They carefully avoid the overuse of certain phrases and words.

The new translations also have a great respect for the style of the Roman Rite. Certainly, some sentences could be more easily translated to mimic our common speech. But they are not. And with reason. Latin orations, especially Post-Communions, tend to conclude strongly with a teleological or eschatological point. The new translations in English follow the sequence of these Latin prayers in order to end on a strong note. Many of our current translations of these prayers end weakly. Why should we strip the English translation of the distinctive theological emphases of the Latin text? A slightly non-colloquial word order can lead the listener to a greater attention to the point of the prayer.

Our present liturgical texts are framed in simple syntax. The new translations use more subordinate clauses. This, in and of itself, does not render them unproclaimable. By the very fact that, in some instances, the new translations require thoughtful and careful attention to pauses when speaking helps to foster and create a less rushed and more reverent way of praying. Not a small gain for a proper ars celebrandi.

The new translation at times may use uncommon words like “ineffable.” The word is not unspeakable! For sure, this word does not come from the street language of the contemporary individual. But, then, why cannot the liturgy use words that elevate the language from the street to the altar? People may not use certain words in their active vocabulary. This does not mean they will be baffled by their use in the liturgy. “If indeed, in the liturgical texts, words or expressions are sometimes employed which differ somewhat from usual and everyday speech, it is often enough by virtue of this very fact that the texts become truly memorable and capable of expressing heavenly realities” (Liturgiam Authenticam, 27).

Liturgical language should border on the poetic. Prose bumps along the ground. Poetry soars to the heavens. And our Liturgy is already a sharing of the Liturgy in heaven. The liturgical texts that we are now using are not perfect, but they are familiar. This familiarity makes celebrants at ease with the present texts. The new texts are better. When the new texts are implemented, they will require more attention on the part of the celebrant. But any initial uneasiness will yield to familiarity and to a language that is well suited to the Liturgy.
A language suited for the Liturgy: this is the one of great advantages of the work being done on the new translations. There is more to the Liturgy than the human language of any age or any one country. In the new translations of the Roman Missal, a conscious effort is being made to suit the human word to the divine action that the Liturgy truly is. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, the “central actio of the Mass is fundamentally neither that of the priest as such nor of the laity as such, but of Christ the High Priest: This action of God, which takes place through human speech, is the real "action" for which all creation is in expectation… This is what is new and distinctive about the Christian liturgy: God himself acts and does what is essential” (The Spirit of the Liturgy p. 173).

In his early work Enchiridion militis christiani, Erasmus states the obvious about human speech and the divine. He argues that words always fall short of their task of miming the Logos. Reaching back to Exodus 16, he argues that the smallness of the manna rained down on the Israelites "signifies the lowliness of speech that conceals immense mysteries in almost crude language.” Until the end of history, we must be content with imperfect language that will never fully unveil the divine mystery we celebrate. But the new translations, imperfect as they are — as all human speech will be —are good translations that have passed through the hands of many scholars and bishops. The language of the new texts, while not dummied down to the most common denominator, remains readily accessible to anyone. Most assuredly, these new translations of liturgical texts will help us better approach God with greater reverence and awe. We gladly await their final approval from the Holy See and their use in the Liturgy!

+ Bishop Arthur Serratelli

traduttore tradittore

There is an old Italian proverb which says traduttore tradittore, i.e., the translator is a traitor. As the American bishops discuss and debate the latest translation of the Roman Missal, the old battle lines are renewed: FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE vs. DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE. Fifteen years ago I wrote my first article for Homiletic & Pastoral Review (HPR) entitled "The Desecration of Catholicism" where I exposed the deliberate and conspicuous absence of the SACRED, the HOLY in the ICEL translation of the Sacramentary we have had since 1970. Priests and parishioners are begging and pleading with our bishops to RESTORE holiness to our liturgical language. Lex orandi, lex credendi shows us that pedestrian prayers dilute doctrine. Yet, the arguments we hear and see in the media while the USCCB has its summer meeting focuses on a few instances of what some call archaic verbiage. This is a red herring. The real consternation lies with the vapid and vacuous vocabulary we see in the English translation of the Ordinary form of the Roman Missal. The typical Latin text, be it 1970 or 2000, uses the word sanctae (holy) in the response of the congregation after the priest says his offertory prayers at the preparation of the gifts: Suscipiat Dominus sacrificum de manibus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, at utilitatem quoque nostram totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae. ICEL translated that into: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his Church. Note the obvious omission of the adjective "holy" whereas the typical Latin text uses it to describe the Church (Ecclesiae suae sanctae).

Words like holy, sacred, venerable, blessed, et al. are consistently missing in the English translation of the Latin text of the Missal. Present in the Latin but absent in the vernacular. Why? This is not an issue of archaisms. Nevertheless, why the zealous fervor to render our sacred worship banal? Why are pronouns referring to God no longer capitalized? Why the blatant removal of the adjective "Holy" whenever coupled with Eucharist, Mass, Bible, etc. As one who celebrates Holy Mass daily, I want an ELEGANT and ACCURATE translation of the typical Latin text. I need an English translation that is NOT prosaic or pedestrian. Many of my parishioners do not have post-graduate degrees but they are not so unsophisticated and illiterate that they must be given a translation that insults their intelligence and which will not edify their spirit. God deserves respect and divine worship needs to be REVERENT. Sanitizing liturgical texts of sacred language is self-defeating. Dumbing down insults the People of God. Sacred Liturgy needs a holy vocabulary to inspire the faithful to aspire to holiness. Accurate, elegant and edifying translations of the Roman Missal will fulfill the spiritual needs of the clergy and the faithful. Pretending that we are still on Sesame Street does nothing but erode Catholic worship to the level of bare recognition. No need to use Shakespearean or Elizabethen English, however, colloquial, mundane and hackneyed phrases will make the Sacred Liturgy bland and tasteless. The source and summit of our Christian life deserves BETTER.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all my brother priests

As spiritual fathers to our parishioners

may good Saint Joseph

the head of the Holy Family

and universal patron of the Church

bless and protect you

may God bless every father of a priest today

and may He grant eternal rest

to those departed dads

whom we commend to His Divine Mercy

North to Alaska

Catholic Answers Radio invited me as their chaplain this week for the Alaskan Cruise via Holland America Line

Today, we are in Juneau and yesterday, I took this picture of a glacier. Every day I celebrate 8am Mass and offer confessions, give a talk and participate with Tim Staples, Jimmy Akin, Jim Blackburn, & Mark Shea (all VERY competent apologists at Catholic Answers) and some wonderful, intelligent and fascinating participants from across the USA and Canada. I blessed three couples so far who are here on their wedding anniversary, of which one is celebrating 52 years of wedded bliss.

Food is superb, service is impeccable, view is breathtaking and conversation is stimulating. More later ...

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Ever get in one of those really rotten moods where no matter what you say or do, the entire day just gets worse minute by minute, hour by hour? Ever find yourself stewing and brooding over the petty and stupid remarks, complaints and/or demands thrown upon you when you are feeling your absolute worst? It is then that Our Lord will occasionally send us a little boost known as a consolation. Not a genie in the bottle with three wishes nor a goose that lays golden eggs, but a little respite from the ratrace, a small detour or rest-stop to allow you to catch your breath and keep things IN PERSPECTIVE. That happened to me recently. After a nearly three hour Finance Committee meeting where my blood pressure almost rivaled the nuclear incident at Three Mile Island atomic reactor plant, and weeks of haranguing criticisms and complaints over piciune and peripheral issues not related to the salvation of souls, I then got a nice email from a parishioner. I had been down the dumps all day and never expected to get any happy or positive message, at least not on that day.

He went out of his way to thank me and congratulate me on my 20th anniversary of priesthood and to express his gratitude that I have been his pastor for the past six years and that the Bishop just reassigned me for another six-year term. He thanked me on behalf of himself, his wife and his children. He expressed appreciation for the spiritual, theological, fiscal and physical care I have provided for both parishes under my care. It was so nice to read something nice for a change. It is so easy to be obsessed with the few complaints and to allow the vocal minority to cloud your view. Being a Sicilian makes it even more difficult since we never forget anything and take everything to the grave, if you know what I mean. Nevertheless, like a visit to Martha, Mary and Lazarus, even Jesus spent a little down time with people who appreciated Him and who expressed that appreciation. He did not spend 24/7 with His enemies and opponents. He did go away to pray and He did find time to relax and rejuvenate. If Our Divine Lord did that, who are we to think we can do without? Especially we priests, deacons and bishops, i.e., those of us in Holy Orders who are the public face of the Church, often bear the brunt of people's ire and anger for something WE DID NOT DO but sadly one of our colleagues did (or did not) do. The scandals only intensified the situation like cranking up the heat under the frying pan.

When you go to a restaurant and the service or the food is not up to snuff, it is easy to complain to the manager or if the service stinks, to leave a small or no tip whatsoever. We have no problem expressing our displeasure at cold soup, lukewarm coffee or if our special request to remove the onions was not observed. It is easy to identify the bad attitudes or poor service we get in public by those who serve the public. The rude teller is easy to report to the store manager. What about the good one? Why don't we make the same effort with the same zeal to identify a good worker to their boss? Why don't we make a point to tell the manager that the meal was superb and the service impeccable?

A priest friend of mine was called in to see his bishop. Whenever you get that call, your stomach sinks and you wonder "what did I do now?" Worse yet is when the Chancery calls you on Friday and makes you wait all weekend until Monday to see the Bishop. Gives you 72 hours of living hell imagining every possible worse case scenario. Well, my colleague went to the Diocesan HQ and saw the Boss. His Excellency began by saying "I got a letter the other day." Someone had written the bishop about one of his priests. The Bishop proceeded to say that 90% of the correspondence he gets is negative, pejorative and often petty. Much is just a difference of opinion, some is nothing more than someone bellyaching and occasionally there are the real, significant and urgent problems that need to be addressed and corrected ASAP.

This particular case, however, the Bishop read aloud a letter thanking him for sending Father X. to their parish. While not perfect and not yet a saint, this priest won the admiration and gratitude of this parishioner, his spouse and his entire family. The Bishop said he would like to get more positive letters and whenever he does, he shares them with the priest since the negative ones are too easily taken out of context and never forgotten. My friend literally wept since it was the first time his Bishop gave him a compliment. Not only did he get a positive letter from a parishioner but the Bishop also added his own words of appreciation for the work done by this priest.

This is why I urge my parishioners at least once a year to consider making an effort to recognize the waiter or waitress at their favorite restaurant by complimenting them to their boss. I urge them to compliment the doctor on his or her receptionist and on their nurses who rarely get thanked. I ask parents to send a letter at least once a year to the principal about one of your children's teachers, expressing your appreciation for their hard work. When I preach a mission or give a spiritual talk in another parish, I exhort the people to at least once a year write their Bishop and thank him for their pastor, parochial vicar and deacon. All too often we only WRITE to complain and criticize. All too frequently, we forget to ENCOURAGE those who serve us on a regular basis. Why wait to when Father is being transferred to express your appreciation of his priestly ministry to the Bishop in the hopes of getting him to stay? Better to let the Bishop know NOW about his good priests and deacons. Likewise, write the Nuncio to commend and compliment the good Bishop you have. Definitely write if you have bad, mediocre or inadequate clergy, but do not stop there. Whenever you encounter a good, holy, devout priest who does his job, celebrates a reverent Mass, preaches and teaches orthodox doctrine and who lives an exemplary and scandal-less life, then tell his superior once in a while. If we identify and recognize the good and the bad, perhaps more good will appear and less bad. It's worth a try.

Envy of Hanceville

Even Mother Angelica and the nuns at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL, were in awe. This is INDEED, the Monstrance of all monstrances; the Ostensorium of all ostensoria. This is from the Cathedral of Seville as published on the New Liturgical Movement and the American Papist. When Father Bob Levis and I were at the Temple in Hanceville for its dedication and consecration, I teased Reverend Mother the night before by saying any priest who does benediction with her seven foot tall Monstrance will get a real hernia after lifting it up. She replied, "Father, NO ONE but God Himself will even touch that Monstrance, let alone pick it up." Then she gave her loving familiar wink of an eye and smile of the mouth.

Ordinations, Anniversaries & Transfers

While May is commonly the month of priestly and diaconal ordinations, anniversaries and jubilees, June is often the month of TRANSFERS (new assignments). I recall being stationed at our cathedral when I was one of the more than 60 priest being transferred that month. I told the people to avoid driving on Interstate 83 the day transfers took effect. Too many clergy on the road and we are bad enough drivers as it is, let alone when we are in a bad mood ;-)



Seriously though, there will be a plethora of priests on the highways this coming month with newly ordained and newly transferred going and coming. Six years ago this June 16th I was assigned to my first pastorate, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville, PA) and Saint Bernadette (Duncannon, PA). While my appointment by the Bishop was for a six year term, at his discretion he may renew it or make a transfer of pastors. Sadly, many dioceses work on the 'warm body' philosophy, i.e., whoever is available is part of the mix. Unfortunately, that does not always work for the good of Holy Mother Church. For instance, where there is a Pastor and Parochial Vicar(s), it can be difficult for the newly ordained and for the parish if the pastor has a temperment better suited in an assignment where he lives and works ALONE. Some priests just work better in single-man assignments. Whether they are obsessive-compulsive, neat-freaks or slobs, introverted or extroverted, the bottom line is that men should NEVER be a pastor where they have an assistant. These fellows like to be Lone Rangers and do everything themselves and can be envious if the new priest seems more popular with the people. Other pastors work better WITH someone else in the rectory. They need priestly fellowship. They collaborate and work with the Parochial Vicars and the Deacons. Some pastors have a personality and temperment that would drive any resident or associate insane. These despots should always be assigned in a one-man parish. Newly ordained should not automatically be sent to the largest parishes just because their size 'warrants' a parochial vicar. Some pastors and indeed some parishes thrive better with more mature, seasoned clergy whereas sometimes the newly ordained can learn bad habits if their first pastor does not SAY THE BLACK AND DO THE RED. If the pastor is politically correct but not orthodox; if he cuts corners on the Sacred Liturgy; if he imposes his opinion while denying legitimate options; if he is a company man seeking to climb the ecclesiastical ladder; et al., then why send him a newly ordained just because the parish registers go to a certain number? Better to learn the wisdom and experience of the pastor beloved not because he seeks popularity but because he is a real priest. He celebrates a reverent Mass. He preaches an orthodox sermon. He obeys canon law and can still be as pastoral and compassionate as Jesus Christ Himself.

All too often we hear, 'well, our diocese is too small (or too large) for us to make assignments and transfers based on priests personalities and temperments. No one is saying these should be the sole or even primary determining factors. Yet, for the common good, is it not possible to CONSIDER these points? Some pastors should stay more than 6 or 12 years and others need to be moved more often. Some pastors should always have supportive assistants who will work together and other pastors should always be by themselves and never have a parochial vicar.

Personnel Boards help bishops with making assigments but in some places they carry too much clout, authority and power. Often, the same gang of characters are on these boards year after year. When voters wanted term limits for politicians, priests on these boards and committees merely inserted a mandatory one year haitus and then allow another eon of membership. Many Personnel Boards work long and hard to ADVISE and COUNSEL the bishop but the final decision is HIS. He signs the appointment, he should make the phone call. Our Bishop met with every pastor during their final year of current term assignment and asked how things were going. He would inform you if there had been serious complaints or if he had some concerns. He asked, without obligating himself, if the pastor wanted a renewal or if he wanted a new assignment. When priests are treated like adults and with respect, they do and are better in the sacred ordained ministry. When they treat you like a number or as if your name was picked out of a hat (biretta, perhaps?), then you feel like you work for a corporation and not a family of faith or sacred institution.

Some dioceses allow the Personnel Board Director to be the point man when transfers and assignments are discussed and determined. While his advice and counsel are invaluable, the BISHOP is the one a priest promised respect and obedience to (and his successors), not to any committee or council. Like the parish council or finance committee in a parish, personnel boards and presbyteral councils are ADVISORY and only have consultative power whereas the Bishop (and in his absence the Vicar General) has DELIBERATIVE authority. This is why many of us prefer the Bishop to personally tell us there is a problem or we are being moved to a difficult assignment. Vicars for Clergy can and should be ombudsmen for the priests with the Bishop. The Bishop cannot address every issue, item or concern but the big stuff should remain in his episcopal lap. When a priest has an alcohol abuse or gambling problem, he needs his spiritual father, the Bishop, to admonish, advise, correct and support him in getting help. Middle management can only handle the benign or venial concerns. Serious trouble means going to the top. Unfortunately, due to the clergy sex scandals of the past, some prelates avoid their priests and deacons like the plague lest a lawyer chastize them for not keeping plausible deniability.

A few dioceses run not only like a corporate business with productivity estimates, etc., but some even work like the old Soviet Union with middle-management bureaucrats creating a buffer and making their own decisions as to who gets access to the Bishop and what he is privy to hear. Hence, you can have a doctrinally sound and wonderful Bishop but he is not kept up to speed on all that happens within his diocese and he may think he is. What he knows and who he sees can be determined by the equivalent of a politboro or cadre that 'protects' the C.E.O. from unpleasant or difficult situations. Though the word TRANSPARENCY became vogue in the aftermath of the National Review Board, some sychophants still successfully maneuver and manipulate what the local bishop knows or is told and to what extent and by whom.

Pope Benedict XVI challenged and commanded the bishops of America to rebuild the torn and tattered bridges linking the priests and deacons with their local Ordinary. We priests need bishops as much as laity needs priests, and vice versa. It is not a competition or contest. There are no 'sides' to take. Every bishop, priest and deacon, as an ordained minister, is answerable to Almighty God and is subject to the supreme, immediate, universal and full authority of the Roman Pontiff. PERIOD. Our people need to see and hear that we are UNITED in doctrine, discipline and worship. Holy Orders is not a job or career. It is an ontological change and reality which cannot ever be undone. Pray for priests. Pray for deacons. Pray for bishops. Pray for the Pope.

alter Christus

Tomorrow, May 28th, Father Ken Brighenti celebrates his actual 20th anniversary of priesthood and on Sunday, Father Jonathan Toborowsky (Young Fogeys blog fame) will have a solemn Mass of thanksgiving for his 10th Jubilee. Please remember both of them in your prayers as they mark these wonderful celebrations.

ACT OF CONSECRATION OF PRIESTHOOD TO IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
O Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, Mother of the Church, a priestly people, Mother of priests, ministers of your Son: accept the humble offering of myself, so that in my pastoral mission the infinite mercy of Eternal High Priest may be proclaimed: O "Mother of Mercy".

You who shared the "priestly obedience" , of your Son, and who prepared for him a worthy receptacle by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, keep my priestly life in the ineffable mystery of your divine maternity, "Holy Mother of God".

Grant me strength in the dark hours of this life, support me in the exertions of my ministry, entrust me to Jesus, so that, in communion with you, I may fulfil the ministry with fidelity and love, O Mother of the Eternal Priest "Queen of Apostles and Help of Priests".

Make me faithful to the flock entrusted to me by the Good Shepherd, You silently accompanied Jesus on his mission to proclaim the Gospel to the poor.

May I always guide it with patience, sweetness firmness and love, caring for the sick, the weak, the poor and sinners, O "Mother, Help of Christians ".

I consecrate and entrust myself to you, Mary, who shared in the work of redemption at the Cross of your Son, you who "are inseparably linked to the work of salvation".

Grant that in the exercise of my ministry I may always be aware of the "stupendous and penetrating dimension of your maternal presence" in every moment of my life, in prayer, and action, in joy and sorrow, in weariness and in rest, O "Mother of Trust".

Grant, Holy Mother, than in the celebration of the Mass, source and center of the priestly ministry, that I may live my closeness to Jesus in your maternal closeness to Him, so that as "we celebrate the Holy Mass you will be present with us" and introduce us to the redemptive mystery of your divine Son's offering "O Mediatrix of all grace flowing from this sacrifice to the Church and to all the faithful" O "Mother of Our Savior".

O Mary: I earnestly desire to place my person and my desire for holiness under your maternal protection and inspiration so that you may bring me to that "conformation with Christ, Head and Shepherd" which is necessary for the ministry of every parish priest.

Make me aware that "you are always close to priests" in your mission of servant of the One Mediator, Jesus Christ: O "Mother of Priests" Queen of the Clergy"Advocate, Co-Redemptorix and Mediatrix" of all graces.

Amen.

Fr. Z celebrates 17 year Jubilee

CONGRATULATIONS, Father Zuhlsdorf, on your 17th anniversary of priestly ordination. And to another dear friend, Father Schofield (UK) who celebrates his 5th Jubilee. Both famous priest-bloggers. Today is also the feast of St. Philip Neri.

ad multos annos
God grant you many years

The First Lady of Melrose Avenue Meets Papal Ambassador

My mom, Mrs. Elizabeth Trigilio, of Erie, Pennsylvania, met His Grace, Archbishop Pietro Sambi at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC (alias the Vatican Embassy). The Papal Nuncio was kind enough to give yours truly a personal blessing on the ocassion of my 20th anniversary of priesthood and assured me of his prayers for my two friends and co-authors (John Paul II for Dummies) Father Kenneth Brighenti (20 years) and Father Jay Toborowksy (10 years) as they celebrate their respective jubilees, too. My mother was given a private tour of the chapel where His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass and the gardens where he meditated during his recent visit to the U.S. capital. Following this spectacular display of Vatican hospitality, I celebrated the 5:15 pm Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, thanks to the kindness of Msgr. Walter Rossi.

My mom was unable to attend any of the papal Masses due to health concerns. She has been visiting me since the day before Mother's Day and I took her to EWTN where I celebrated my 20th anniversary proper (see previous post). Tomorrow, we head to New Jersey to celebrate the 20th Jubilee of my dear and best friend, Father Ken Brighenti, whose actual date is May 28th (two weeks after mine). Being able to spend time with my mom and my close friends has been a special blessing for which I cannot be more appreciative. Father Ken and I have been friends since 1983 (that's a quarter century for you number-crunching bean-counters). My dear mother buried three of her five children and then her loving husband of 39 years. My sister died at the age of three days; my younger brother Michael died from Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 26; my younger brother Joe was killed at the age 33 by an underage drunk driver; my Dad died from leukemia six months after my brother Joe. My youngest only surving brother, Mark, has leukemia, but Deo gratias, is currently in remission. All this happened before I celebrated ten years of priesthood. Then, in just the past two years, my mom buried three of her siblings, one after another. So this special audience with the Papal Nuncio meant the world to her and I am indebted to His Excellency Archbishop Sambi for being so cordial, hospitable and compassionate. A real gentleman with real class. My dad would have loved to have met him and I am only sorry that he and my brothers were not here to share in my celebration of priesthood anniversary.

Last week, we enjoyed a gourmet meal at Da Filippo's Autentica Cucina Italiana in Somerville, NJ. One of the finest restaurants in NJ or NY. Filippo and his wife prepared a gastronomic festival for me & mom and several wonderful guests (Fr. Brighenti & his sister Priscilla; Lou & Sandy Falconeri, & their son, Anthony; Jack & Christine Adragna; Drs. Keith & Christina Burkhart and their two sons, Kyle & Christopher, and their daughter, Karly.) Deo volente, we will all be around in 2013 for the Silver Jubilee celebration.

non sum dignus Domine

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a gesture is worth a million.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The four dozen people who received Communion from Pope Benedict XVI on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ received the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling.

Imagine if this were done elsewhere, perhaps EVERYWHERE. While standard and mandatory in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, it is still OPTIONAL and licit in the Ordinary form. If the option to receive Holy Communion 'standing' exists, then the option to 'kneel' or 'genuflect' must also coexist. Options imply a CHOICE. Sadly, some clerics feel it necessary to act as if they were Nazi stormtroopers and humiliate any of the faithful who freely choose to exercise their option to KNEEL and to receive on the TONGUE. Perhaps it is time to rescind the options of receiving standing and in the hand and go back to one method, KNEELING and on the TONGUE. We might see fewer irreverent and sacriligeous Communions and the public display of reverence would also bolster Eucharistic piety, devotion and affection. When something is valuable (not just monetarily but ontologically), we treat it with awe and respect. When something is trivial, we treat as pedestrian. The Real Presence of the Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ DESERVES and WARRANTS our total attention, respect, love and affection. Crass and bourgeois behavior belittles Our Divine Savior. Reverence and attention to detail show deep and profound love. It also goes without saying that politicians who notoriously support abortion should not seek nor should they be given Holy Communion since their sinful endorsement of a grave evil disqualifies them from reception and makes it a sacrilege.

Corpus Christi

Adoremus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum

Now Here's Someone Who Really Loves His Job