Fr. Z's PODCAzTs

Today I talk about prayer before and after meals.  What inspired me is the recent arrival of beautiful little books - new - for singing the table prayers in Latin.  They are from the Monastery of St. Benedict, in southern France.  HERE  I contacted them and they sent me some copies.

At that page you can see some images of examples of pages.  Also you can use PayPal, which simplifies things.

Moreover, if you order and pay for booklets by 30 August 2019, you can have a 10% discount.

In the course of the podcast, I relate a couple of personal experience of singing these prayers and using the Proper Meal Prayers for certain feasts.

An example (close to real size on a normal screen)

The other day I made a podcast with the Latin that must be used in the traditional rite of baptism. Today I continue on the theme of entrance into the Church with the profession of faith of a convert.

The podcast is spurred by a snarky and yet cowardly anonymous email suggesting that I hit Jesuit Fr. Reese so hard about transubstantiation because of my own lack of faith and, hence, I took it personally.

Yes, I do take this personally. But, no. I don't doubt the Faith. I made my personal profession of faith when I entered the Church formally and I have not wavered in it since, though I remain a sinner.

It astonishes me that priests - who make professions of faith before ordination and when they take an office - should so violate them.

So, today I describe how I was formally brought into the Catholic Church and I read the text of Profession of Faith that we used.

And the music you hear is the parish choir at the parish where I converted and was received into the Church, St. Agnes in St. Paul, under the pastorate and musical direction of Msgr. Richard Schuler.  I sang in the choir for these recordings, lo those many years ago.

This was the level of liturgical worship in which I explored the Catholic Faith intellectually and within which had my slower affective conversion.

Pay attention for the part about transubstantiation.

In this PODCAzT, which also serves as a PRAYERCAzT (my somewhat languishing project to provide Latin language help for men learning the TLM) we will hear the minimum amount of Latin required in the rite of Baptism of One Child according to the Rituale Romanum in force in 1962.

I'm also referring to books that compile the rites and blessings most commonly used, such as the Collectio Rituum or the Parish Ritual.  However, lots of books are floating around that were made after 1962 and they have indications for the use of more English than was permitted in 1962.  For example, the books by Weller indicate more English than in 1962.

The last Collectio in use by 1962 was the 1961 edition, which reflects what was in force in 1962.

Some parts simply must be in Latin.

For example, the exorcisms and blessings of salt, the exorcism of the one to be baptized, the form of the sacrament, the anointings must be in Latin. That’s what was in force in 1962 and that’s what Summorum Pontificum designates as our reference point. Hence, in 1962 that’s what we could do, so that’s what we do today.   Of course, Father can always do the whole thing in Latin.

Editions of the Collectio Rituum and Parish Ritual have this laid out clearly.  You can see right easily which parts can be English and which must be Latin.

Here is a recording of the parts that must, at the minimum, be done in Latin. This is for the baptism of one child.

Also, as I concluded the Latin for baptism, I figured I'd also do the Latin for the "Churching of a Woman", the blessing after childbirth.  Keep in mind that in 1962 and before this was to be done IN LATIN.  The books after 1962 have more permission for English, but those books are not authorized.

For PRIESTS ONLY: I have recordings of the Rites of Exorcism available. HERE

I have been wanting to post something about this ever since I heard about it, days ago.  Others have done yeoman's work to cover it.  For example, LifeSite.

The bare bones: At an ultra-liberal parish in Portland - and that means waaaay out there, 'cause it's Portland - aging-hippies rose up in revolt against their new pastor, a Nigerian-born priest, who was getting rid of, inter alia, the dreadful liturgical junk and the "gay" stuff.  They had a spittle-flecked nutty and got the local press on his case. The secular paper had an article so biased that it read like Eye Of The Tiber... but was not satire.   During Mass the geriatric libs, reliving their halcyon days of Woodstock glory, protested with signs and shouting, tambourines or noise-makers, etc.  There is video.  Get that groooovy song at the end.

What a goat rodeo.  That poor priest.  In that place.  Wow.  Just wow.

If I were the Archbishop there, I would go there, listen, and - knowing full well in advance what would happen, be ready with options.  [All due respect to my old friend Archbp. Sample.  I don't want to be a bishop anywhere.  And I pray for you.]

Remember my descriptions of what drives aging hippies?  They are channeling those formative experiences, those halcyon days of protests, sexual revolution, Vatican II, all fused into an iconic moment.  They see something remotely conservative and they are triggered - POP! - and they go into silly mode, reliving their glory days.

Yes... so, for the length of this post I'm now Archbishop there... let's have the meeting with these elderly congregationalists and then give them three options, sort of like Monty Hall and Let's Make A Deal.

"Dear ladies and other congregationalists, I've listened to what you had to say. I've heard your demands and insults when you interrupted me. I've read your signs. I've got a good picture of your position. Here's my position.

Since you are playing a really dangerous game with your souls and your salvation, and committing dreadful scandal to others, I'll play along.

You can choose what's behind Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3."

[The curtain pulls back to reveal the big doors with numbers.]

"Well? C'mon! You have three choices."

[... they look all around at each other until one of them, with really short gray hair and a flannel shirt over a tie-dyed rainbow tee says ...]

"Door #1 please!"

"Thanks for your choice! Behind Door #1 we have a brand new

.... INTERDICT!"

[MUSIC -

- ANNOUNCER VOICE: "An interdict is a censure imposed when someone incites hatred against the Holy See or the local bishop because of some act of ecclesiastical power (such as assigning a certain priest to a parish), or joins an association that plots against the Church or who commits simony."]

"It seems to me that by fighting in such a disruptive way against Father you are also attacking me, your Archbishop, as well as the Church's teachings and laws. You've demonstrated contempt for me all evening. Thanks for that. You removed doubt.  Just to be clear, an interdict forbids people to celebrate or receive any of the sacraments or to take any liturgical role such as a reader, or nearly always unnecessary minister of Communion. If you violate the interdict and try to take a role at Mass or try to receive the Eucharist, which under canons 915 and 916 you should not approach and should not be given to you, the Mass... sorry, I'll speak your language for your religion - liturgy or empowerment session or whatever, would have to be halted and the person or persons should even be expelled.

[crickets... the Archbishop continues:]

"I'll just remind you that in most places, it is illegal to interrupt a church service. I suppose if we have an off-duty cop present (a good idea anyway) that could help."

[crickets]

"You don't seem enthusiastic. If you don't like that option, maybe we can maaaaaaake a deal! First, let me ask you, how many men have you as a parish sent to the seminary over the last, say, 10 years? Even 5 years?"

"Ummm.... [... whispered consultation...] that would be none."

"Is that your final answer? None?"

"Yes, it is."

"Since you have provided zero priests for either the Catholic religion or for whatever religion you are into here, I think this qualifies as mission territory, ripe for the New Evangelization. You can keep your Interdict or trade your Interdict for what's behind Door #2."

[pause... whispered consultation...]

"We'll trade."

"Good choice! Let's see what's in there. I suspect it might have something of a missionary flavor. Here' it comes...

The INSTITUTE OF CHRIST THE KING!

[MUSIC... rather like a Te Deum...]

Since you haven't been providing men for seminary formation, I don't have a priest to send back to you! We'll just have to get one from somewhere else. Oooopps we did that!  The Nigerian fellow!  Well, that was then and this is now.  So, now you too will enjoy Latin and altar service only by males dressed all in blue, with lace of course, and hear sermons inspired mainly by the Baltimore Catechism until you start producing vocations. How's that sound?  Is it a deal?  You are already living in the past, about 1968... its not that much farther to 1948 ... which some of you will remember, anyway. Maybe you still have your missals and Rosaries from First Communion. Remember those? Chapel veils? You... [looking at one in particular...] can have one in flannel."

[... alarmed stares... a sign drops to the floor... sobs... angry shouts... applause, abruptly cut off with a smack from a tambourine... ]

"What's behind Door #3?"

"So, the New Evangelization isn't welcome here. Let's open up Door #3 and let's see what awaits you! Behind the third door we have... waaaaait for it.... any time now...

.... NO PRIEST AT ALL!

[NO MUSIC]

That's right, you've chosen a self-imposed and informal interdict. You'll now be going off to find the sacraments, if you are really still interested in those old things in your religion, at some other parish to your liking - or not - down the road. But that probably isn't much of a bother, since you are more than likely driving here, your destination parish, from various zip codes.

See how easy? I think that we've just about wrapped it up here. Thanks to all the pro-testants and con-testants. For those of you who didn't get your way, thanks for participating. There are no consolation prizes for attacking the priest I sent here to help you stay out of Hell. Until next time!"

[On his way out he stops, thinks, turns...]

"Of course there's always Door #4."

[Taking a stole from his pocket, he opens up the door to the confessional, upon which a large "4" materializes.]

"Let's make a deal. You confess in number and kind all your mortal sins, including the way you've treated Father, and, in exchange, I'll give you God's pardon. The line forms to the LEFT at this parish, or so I hear."

[The door clicks shut and the light over his door flashes on.]

[MUSIC... CREDITS... Rapid disclaimer voice: "The prize of Hell is neither desired by the Archbishop nor can it be imposed, though interdict and/or the loss of a priest may or may not increase their odds of going there. The contestants are real people chosen from the general membership of the Church and will receive God's justice whether they want it or not when the time comes. His mercy they will have to request and it will surely be given without reservation.

Ceteris paribus etc etc.]

This is pretty weird.  But... well... not really.  It's Germany, after all.

This in the Cathedral of Paderborn.  Not sure when.  Perhaps one of you readers will know.

https://zuhlsdorf.computer/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/POt9kFxxdAPqsgsU-mp4.mp4

https://twitter.com/i/status/1156178218128461825

What a contrast to their patronal feast in 2017.  HERE  Gregorian Chant, Latin, Novus Ordo, Mozart's Coronation Mass.

Remember... German bishops and theologians are exerting a lot of influence over the upcoming Amazonian Synod.

UPDATE

You readers are simply amazing.  Kudos to a reader for the following note.

Please find in the link below the original video of the liturgical “dance” at the Cathedral in Paderborn. The original video is on the Domradio website. This occurred yesterday, i.e. Monday 29 July 2019 as part of some women’s Mass. the music is awful, but it is not Bob Marley. Note the clapping and standing ovation after the performance.

Video link HERE

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A Mass in Germany for "women in the Church".  What could go wrong?   This dance, for one.

So... the Twitter version is a little deceptive. On closer examination, that seems to be someone's video recording, probably using a phone camera, with Bob Marley playing in the background.  In fact, this Twitter hashtag - #KFDdancestoeverysong - has lot of these videos of liturgical dance and some of them are pretty funny. It seems that not every German Catholic is nuts.  Some of them are fighting back.

The original, however, though not Marley is nevertheless intensely cringe-worthy. It starts at about 32:30 followed by 5 minutes of liturgical idiocy. I'll bet that during the zoom-in on the reliquary of St. Liborius, patron of the cathedral (invoked against colic and gallstones) we could have heard his bones whirling around in frustration and fury. The music, I'm sure you want to know, is "Du Bist Kein Zufall" by Till Matton.

The rest of the Mass seems to be a fairly straight forward Novus Ordo concelebration.  I liked the consecration bells at 52:45.  Sort of... "Christus Vincit"-like.  There is an endless Sign of Peace.  It's actually just a couple minutes, but it seems endless.  It always seems endless, as a matter of fact.  The organist has got game, though I wasn't entirely enamored of the selections he played.

There are various videos, by the way, for the week-long celebration of St. Liborius.  This is a pretty deal there.  One of the videos has the Bishop of LeMans, France, celebrating in Latin.  There is a fairly modern setting of the Ordinary in Latin, including a boys choir.  Gregorian chant propers.  Too bad they stick the choir in front of the true altar and they use that horrid thing instead.

UPDATE:

Yes, folks... do check out that Twitter hashtag - #KFDdancestoeverysong . It's a hoot.  But don't use it as an excuse to procrastinate, as I have been doing just now.

Today we hear an outstanding offering of William Kilpatrick who writes at Crisis.  He has had a look at the Instrumentum Laboris for the upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome in October about the Amazon.

He has nailed it.   A German Cardinal (Germans figure big in this, btw), Card. Brandmüller, examined the Instrumentum and blasted it to smitherines.   Kilpatrick takes up where he left off and stomped on the bits and pieces remaining, with great humor.

Really.  Just dig in and enjoy.  It's fun, but sobering.  There are really strange things going on and we will have a lot to deal with.