June 2022: Small updates personal and EF related

Hello to all, 

I hope everyone has been keeping safe and well in these challenging times, both medically and spiritually. It has been many a month since I have posted anything on this blog of mine for a number of reasons.

One key reason is my crazy but wholesome vocation to marriage with two kids under 5 and full-time work in health care. That alone means very little sleep and time for anything else. Also, the pandemic has played a role somewhat, and of course, the two-pronged documents of Traditionis Custodes and its follow up “dubia” or instruction at the end of last year, has made the Latin Mass at the least more “contained” and at the worst, offerings and expansion opportunities lost. In our own Archdicoese thankfully prudence has been applied and the usual offerings already in place pre-TC have been kept, but after TC, no extra offerings or opportunities have been allowed (w/exceptions approved prior,) due to the restriction of NOT hosting additional Latin Masses in “parochial” (aka diocesan or parish) churches, outside of the offerings permitted by the bishop(s). So news is sparse. 

Regardless of the situation of the world and the Church at large, I want to continue this labour of love and also to attempt semi-regular blogging again. Perhaps once, maybe twice a month, I’ll try to make a post. While yes the Latin Mass is always the focal point of this blog, the postings might expand into other topics that surround the Church and our world, or other spiritual facets and points of interest in our Faith. Not to mention I’ve had other posts “under construction” or desired posts I’ve wanted to make such as my “serving” page with free guides, and the Liguorian reflection series on his Ascetic works. 

Thankfully in spite of TC and the Dubia (herein, TC + D,) the Latin Mass still persists in various ways in Toronto. So, let the postings begin as of this month of June, starting with some points of interest:

1) A Nuptial Mass many months overdue … Back in last summer at the end of August 2021, I was able to serve in a Latin Nuptial High Mass, celebrated by Fr Michael Simoes, pastor of St Mary’s Star of the Sea in Mississauga, ON. This priest may be familiar as he was the subdeacon for the Christ the King Mass at St Mike’s Cathedral back on Oct 2016! This Mass was planned prior to TC so, with the permission of ++Collins or one of his co-bishops it was allowed to still occur. I have a draft that has been long sitting undone, and I am working on completing the full report. However, to do so I’ll need to contact a couple of people involved in the Mass, including the lovely couple! It will be enjoyable to check in nearly one year later and see how their vocation has flourished even more! 

2) The normal archdiocesan parishes offering the Sunday Latin Masses have been allowed to continue offering the Latin Masses in Toronto in order to serve the needs of the faithful attached to the EF. That would be:

• The Oratorians of St Phillip Neri at Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul parishes. Sunday 930am Missa Lecta/Low Mass (at St. Vincent de Paul) and 11am Missa Solemnis/Solemn Mass (or Missa Cantata/High Mass if short on clergy, at Holy Family)
• The offerings courtesy of the Extraordinary Form chaplain Fr Russell Asch. That would be 11 Latin Low Mass/Missa Lecta at St Patrick’s Schomberg, and the home base parish of EF chaplaincy, 1pm Sundays at St. Lawrence the Martyr, Scarborough. 

Please continue to attend and support these offerings. To still do these Masses is a blessing and we should show our gratitude in time, energy, finances (e.g. to pay for hydro/electric/mortgage costs; the personal or Church-wide needs of the pastors caring out the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass …) and spiritually in the full and “active” participation at Mass, but also to His Eminence Cardinal Collins who has chosen NOT to abuse the laws of the Church as some shepherds have done in their dioceses. +Collins has prudently chosen to keep the olive branch alive for that segment of the faithful whose needs are found in the EF, keeping them afloat on the Barque of Peter in these turbulent “waters.”

3)  St Patrick’s Gregorian Choir (herein SPGC) is alive and well! … I am happy to report that my good friends of SPGC have a new home in the interim. Between COVID and pastoral decisions due to a change in leadership, the SPGC was released from St Patrick’s in downtown Toronto, as of Winter 2021. After a long hiatus (but with the choir meeting virtually in weekly ZOOM meetings,) finally a temporary home has been found at the Cathedral of Transfiguration in Markham, ON. SPGC now is the liturgical choir for the 5PM Extraordinary Form Latin Mass (*) there, providing the Gregorian Chant for the liturgy on the first Sunday of every month. 

In addition, the choir may do extraordinary Feasts/ Solemnities of the EF calendar as well. They plan on doing that in June as traditionally, they do a Latin Mass on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This year the feast falls on Fri June 24. I personally plan on, at least, attending, but desire to return to serving in this offering, albeit I will have to contact the clergy regarding that part of the liturgy. 

4) We Still had a Triduum in the EF!!! Yes, believe it or not, Toronto did have a Triduum. While I am disappointed there was no public promotion (… maybe this was intentional, due to fear of TC + D, being asked by harassers and enemies of the Church and/or the EF Mass, to be applied and stop it?) it still happened. I first found this out, thanks to one of my friends in the SPGC choir who attended the offerings, seeing the photos on her Facebook page. Furthermore, another attendee contacted me privately and informed me it was also held according to the liturgy and it’s associated rubrics of “PRE-55,” before changes to the Holy Triduum liturgy (Post-55’ or 1962.) For more information please see this well constructed website: https://www.pre1955holyweek.com/

Now, personally, I am nonchalant which one is held be it 55’ or 62’, though hardcore/radical traditionalists say the 55’ is superior in terms of “tradition,” scriptural readings (aka “lessons”) and adherence to “T”radiation and doctrine. I am NOT going there, except to say I’d personally rather focus on promoting any and all aspects of 62’ as it’s better to build on the “basics” and/or what is most readily available in terms of liturgical items and/or resources (books.) To me, this is a better way to re-introduce the Latin Mass to the life of the Church, especially post TC and it’s Dubia. I’m looking at the “long haul” vs liturgical purity or perfectness here! 

The Triduum did take place Holy Thursday to Saturday, at the EF homesite church of St Lawrence the Martyr in Scarborough, ON, under the direction of Latin Mass chaplain Fr Russell Asch. While the liturgy had to be carried out at odd times for certain days due to the Novus Ordo regular Triduum schedule, the liturgies were carried out traditionally as per pre-55 rubrics with: 9pm Holy Thursday liturgy, Good Friday liturgy at 6pm, and the major liturgical service for Holy Saturday at 10am in the late morning. Of note, Holy Saturday Service prior to the 1955 reforms DID take place in the later morning, so this was not just a balancing act that day around Novus Ordo liturgies. 

Here is just a sampling of the pictures my colleague took to record this historical fact that the Triduum did happen in Toronto (obtained with permissions from my choir friend:)

Picture 1: Transfer of the Blessed Eucharist to the altar of Repose on Holy Thursday, with assistance of a canopy used in processions. The canopy is prescribed in the rubrics. 

Picture 2: Good Friday liturgy, with the thurifer taking back the thurible/censer

Picture 3: Holy Saturday Morning Liturgy, with the blessing of the Paschal fire outside St Lawrence Martyr

Considering Our Eminence, ++Collins, could have easily said NO and used the laws of the Church in TC + D to stop this, it is a beautiful and blessed sign that this was permitted in our Archdiocese. Even in these challenging times, Catholic Traditonalism and the Latin Mass continue to flourish. Deo Gratias! 

5) Finally, I have reposted an oldie but a goodie, on the Saceed Heart Itself, and it’s Feast, including a devotion I completed over 2009-2010, the 9 First Fridays. When I first started this blog, I made this post in its first year. While I am glad to link to the original post here, it deserves a repost for anyone new to here. It is one of the posts prior to this one as well. 

Hoping to start my labour of love once again, and elucidate all of you in a positive, pro-Church and pro-papacy manner while being pro-Traditionalism/EF. 

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

* See Wikipedia here also. The Cathedral was consecrated as a valid and licit worship site by the Catholic Church in the 80’s under JPII, therefore Masses can occur there. However due to church/secular politics the cathedral became placed in the hands of private ownership. Today, it is NOT physically under the corporation sole of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and thus is not an actual parish or chapel of the Archdicoese. Therefore it falls within the desires of TC + D that the EF be done outside of “parochial”/diocesan parishes whenever possible. 

IMPORTANT!!! Sunday Obligation to go to Mass has returned in Toronto

 Full text posted from https://www.archtoronto.org/en/outreach/news/archdiocesan/sunday-mass-obligation/

(Bold MAJOR emphasis, and Italics minor emphasis is I, JB’s)

“Sunday Mass Obligation

Posted : Jun-01-2022

On March 13, 2020, Cardinal Collins issued a communication to the faithful of this archdiocese indicating that it was necessary to cancel public celebrations of the Eucharist on the coming Sunday, stating: “For this weekend and any other which may be required, I grant the faithful dispensation from their Sunday obligation.”

Given that most of the health and safety restrictions in our parishes are no longer in place and the faithful are able to attend the celebration of the Eucharist once again, the basis for the dispensation from the Sunday obligation has dissipated and is no longer in effect.

The Church does not obligate people to do the impossible. If individuals, based on their conscience, cannot attend Mass for a grave reason, including a great vulnerability to COVID-19 or because they are self-isolating to limit the spread of illness, then they are excused from their Sunday obligation, as the law of the Church allows.

After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, many have been deprived of the opportunity to attend Mass and to receive the most Holy Eucharist and all of us have missed the opportunity to experience community, including members of our parishes. As we come to the celebration of Pentecost this weekend, we invite and encourage the faithful to return to the practice of attending Mass in-person.”

REPOST: The Nine First Fridays of Reparation to Christ’s Sacred Heart

(Originally posted May 28, 2013)

Hello Everyone.

This post is a bit special to me, as I am going to write about a devotion topic that I have participated in and has since held a place in my prayer life: The Sacred Heart of Jesus. More specifically, this post will be devoted to the practice of the First Fridays. This post is even more relevant, as Friday June 7, 2013 is the feast day devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in both the Extraordinary and Ordinary Form liturgical calendars.

I will begin with some introduction and some history behind the devotion, and then will go through what is necessary to do the devotion and the indulgences/promises attached to the devotion.

Introduction: The Sacred Heart of Jesus and History behind the Devotion

What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus? It is commonly depicted as Jesus' literal heart, however it has the addition of two key components: The crown of thorns that is around the top perimeter of his heart, as well as a cross, the one he was crucified on, atop his heart. (This is not to be confused with the Immaculate Heart of Mary which usually has flowers around it and seven swords in it, representing the Seven Sorrows of Mary.)  Flames often surround the cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and some depictions also include a diagonal laceration, from being impaled by the spear of the Roman soldier ``Longinus?``, where out came blood and water from the wound. Here's an example:

Source unknown. 

While yes it is depicted as his literal heart of his incarnate body, it has more meaning than being his circulatory organ.

Theological History
Christ himself in the Gospel of John 7:37-39 says this: "And on the last and great day of the festivity, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and let him drink that believeth in Me. As the Scripture saith: Out of his heart there shall flow rivers of living waters.' Now this He said of the Spirit which they should receive who believed in Him."(3). This was made all the more prominent and came true literally when the Roman soldier ("Longinus"???) pierced the side of Christ with his spear, and out poured out blood and water from the wound. Whether it pierced Jesus' actual organ of the heart, it is uncertain.

As is commonly used in literature and poetry, the heart is the organ associated with the deepest of emotions, especially that of love. In the pre-Vatican II encyclical, Haurietas Aquas, by Pius XII, which is devoted to the Sacred Heart, he describes to us more deeply what the Sacred Heart of Jesus is about and why veneration and devotion is to be rightly given:

" .... Holy Writ declares that between divine charity, which must burn in the souls of Christians, and the Holy Spirit, Who is certainly Love Itself, there exists the closest bond, which clearly shows all of us, venerable brethren, the intimate nature of that worship which must be paid to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. If we consider its special nature it is beyond question that this devotion is an act of religion of high order; it demands of us a complete and unreserved determination to devote and consecrate ourselves to the love of the divine Redeemer, Whose wounded Heart is its living token and symbol. It is equally clear, but at a higher level, that this same devotion provides us with a most powerful means of repaying the divine Lord by our own. (6, H.A.) ...."

".... The other reason which refers in a particular manner to the Heart of the divine Redeemer, and likewise demands in a special way that the highest form of worship be paid to it, arises from the fact that His Heart, more than all the other members of His body, is the natural sign and symbol of His boundless love for the human race. "There is in the Sacred Heart," as Our predecessor of immortal memory, Leo XIII, pointed out, "the symbol and express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love in return ...."(16)"
(22, H.A.)

And so, the Sacred Heart of Jesus ...

" .... 55. is a symbol of that divine love which He shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit but which He, the Word made flesh, alone manifests through a weak and perishable body, since "in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily."(52) 56. It is, besides, the symbol of that burning love which, infused into His soul, enriches the human will of Christ and enlightens and governs its acts by the most perfect knowledge derived both from the beatific vision and that which is directly infused.(53) 57. And finally - and this in a more natural and direct way - it is the symbol also of sensible love, since the body of Jesus Christ, formed by the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, possesses full powers of feelings and perception, in fact, more so than any other human body (54) .... " (55-57, H.A.)

Devotional History
The actual devotion of the Sacred heart that is practiced, originates with Saint Mary Margaret Alacoque in the late 1600's. From 1673-1675, the saint received a series of visions of our Lord, revealing to her his Sacred Heart. Jesus asked her in these visions to spread devotion of his Heart throughout the whole church, as reparation for sins and offenses against our Lord. (8, First Fridays and First Saturdays)

At the center of the revelations are twelve promises, made to her by Jesus. For those who consecrate themselves and make reparation to His Sacred Heart:

1. He will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. He will establish peace in their homes.
3. He will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. He will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5. He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in His Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. He will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honoured. (I have provided one above, though there are paper, gold-painted cross cards that seem to be popular for this purpose.)
10. He will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in His Heart.
12. In the excessive mercy of His heart, that His all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in His disgrace, nor without receiving the sacraments. His divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

Of course, these promises are also bestowed onto the faithful who engage in this practice, not just St. Mary.

The Devotion of the Sacred Heart

1. The actual devotion of the sacred heart consists of going to Mass on the First Friday of the month for nine consecutive months, and receiving the Eucharist in the state of sanctifying grace. You MUST do this consecutively for nine months, without any break in the practice. I have found no document, be it in Church Law, Catechism, Papal/Vatican writings, nor writings from trusted Catholic sources that allow for such an interruption other wise, even for valid and legitimate reasons. Not even a priests' dispensation can allow for a valid break.Communion MUST be received on this particular day of the Month. The practice cannot be delegated to another day.

2. They must be done in honour of His Sacred Heart, and thus one must practice devotion to the Heart and have a great love for Christ.

3. Note: This devotion will not dispense you from obligations or from exercising vigilance necessary for leading a good life and overcoming temptation. You will however be bestowed graced to carry out obligations and persevere to the end.

In addition, associated with the devotion is Eucharistic Adoration before or after the Mass. Unfortunately, when it is done after, those parishes that do this tend to schedule confession then, not before the Mass, which deprives people from the ability to receive the Eucharist in the state of grace and perform the devotion. You absolutely cannot receive the Eucharist in the state of Mortal Sin, so you deprive the faithful of the ability to do this practice. Any clergy reading my blog, PLEASE do confession before the Mass, be it with or without Adoration!

Regardless, the beauty of having Eucharistic Adoration attached to this devotion, is that one can receive additional indulgences, which when obtained, remit the temporal effects of sins. A half hour of Eucharistic Adoration minimum, qualifies for the indulgent act. Better yet if one removes themselves from sin completely, the indulgence is plenary, or full.

Indulgences are obtained when one receives confession and communion within 8 days of the indulgent act, prays for the intentions of the Holy Father (which can be at minimum one of the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be), and removes oneself from attachment to all sin. An analogy I use is that sin is like a sticky snail. When we go to confession, we take the snail from his shell and boot him off your skin. However, that shell is taking up space on you. Think of that shell is the time in purgatory one will need to spend to become purified in such a state to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Indulgences remove the temporal effects of sin, that is, that shell is now removed from your body, and thus the complete effects of sin are removed from you, though how many and how much time is reduced is unknown.

Finally, while this is not a mandatory part of the devotion, there are also associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus the Acts of Consecration and Reparation to the Sacred Heart. They are as follows:.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
 I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.

Amen.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for me is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Your alter (in Your presence) eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Your loving Heart is everywhere subject.

 Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying for from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow You, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Your Law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against You; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against You and Your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Your Vicar on earth and Your priest are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Your Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which You have founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Your divine honor, the satisfaction You once made to Your eternal Father on the cross and which You continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Your grace, for all neglect of Your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent other from offending You and to bring as many as possible to follow You.

 O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowing gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to You, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where You with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, world without end. Amen.

Summary:
Therefore, to do this devotion to the Sacred Heart, you must do the following:
1. Be in the state of Sanctifying grace to receive the Eucharist worthily on First Friday. So go to confession, especially if you have one or more Mortal Sins on your soul. Without true repentance and ceasing of the situation, you will obviously not be able to receive the Eucharist in certain situations (e.g. co-habitation, 2nd marriage if 1st was not annulled, masturbation with/without pornography ...)

2. You must attend Mass on First Friday and receive the Eucharist in the state of sanctifying grace, for 9 consecutive months, with no break in between occasions. 

3. For the promises to be fulfilled, you must be promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart, whether it be by taking about the devotion, generally why you love the Sacred Heart of the lord, prayer to the Sacred Heart, etc.

In addition to these conditions,
3. You may also attend , and should, the Eucharistic Adoration that comes before and after the Mass. Under the usual conditions of Confession, Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (at minimum 1x Our Father, 1x Hail Mary, and 1x Glory be, or a specific prayer for His intentions), PLUS a minimum of 1/2 hour of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament, you will gain an indulgence aside from the usual benefits and graces.

4. While it is not absolutely necessary according to numerous sources, some recommend the addition of the Act of Reparation and Consecration to the Sacred Heart to be said during those First Friday sessions. I say, do it.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

Works Cited
Pius XII. Encyclical of Pope Pius XII Haurietas Aquas On the Devotion to the Sacred Heart. May 15, 1956. [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15051956_haurietis-aquas_en.html]. Retrieved 2013 May 28.

Catholic Truth Society. First Fridays and First Saturdays The Devotions Explained. Catholic Truth Society: London, UK. 2008.