Of Interest: Select FSSP Parishes Have Indult to do pre-1955 Holy Week

Hello everyone,

I’ve come across an interesting development within the Church, specifically in the Latin Mass communities of the FSSP.

Thanks to a close friend in my circle of trusted allies in the TLM/EF community here in the Archdiocese of Toronto, it was brought to my attention that the Pontifical Commission of Ecclesia Dei had granted a certain number of communities in the FSSP, a 3 year experimental basis to do the pre-1955 Triduum (Holy Week) liturgies for the three days.

Apparently, amongst hard core liturgiophiles (lovers of the liturgy,) and Radicals Misrepresenting Traditionalists, the current 1962 liturgies of the EF are inferior or had much damage dealt to them by Pius XII’s reforms in 1955. It is said some of these “damages” are examples, like: the number of scriptural readings known as “Prophecies” from the Old Testament (Starting from Genesis at Creation, and progressing through the OT with other readings, dealing with the salvational history of man and woman,) were reduced from 12 in the pre-1955, to just 4 for the current 1962 Holy Saturday Liturgy. Ironically, the Novus Ordo Holy Saturday Mass resurrected some to make it 7 of the original 12, albeit some are optional to the priest discretion and/or convenience. Also it is thought that, generally, much richness and symbolism was lost.

In my personal opinion, what gives? I’m just happy and would rather devote attention to even getting the EF/TLM of 1962 spread more in the Church that can be accessed by the majority of people, and stopping RMTs from poisoning the community spiritually, never mind going back further to another liturgy or version of it.

Regardless, the issue is big enough of a concern to laity and some clergy members of the FSSP, that a large enough request was made to the PCED and it was allowed. As for the details of the indult, one may find both reasoning and summary details of what was granted in these example bulletins from two FSSP parishes as follows:

http://www.olmcfssp.org/uploads/OLMC2.18_.2018_.pdf

http://www.stjoanarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Bulletin-2-18-18.pdf - St Joan of Arc, Idaho, U.S.A.


- The rites of the pre-1955 liturgy can be used on an experimental basis for the years of 2018-2020.
- FSSP pastors had to gain permission before requesting the indult (unclear if a FSSP regional superior or a bishop is the “superior.”)
- A limited number of FSSP parishes are doing this on a trial basis, rumours on social media sites estimate at least, around 25 FSSP parishes have been granted the indult
- PCED was strict on one condition that is publicly known, Benedict XVI’s 2008 revision to the prayer for the Jews in the Intercessory Prayers MUST be used, not the pre-1955 version.

As for up here in Canada, it is currently unknown at this time whether any FSSP parishes, including my closest ones of Thorold (St Catharines, ON) or Ottawa have expressed interest, or are even aware of the indult. However, word likely will travel fast and soon those priests there will have an answer. Mind you I would think not, or that being Mid-Feb, it might be slightly too late to apply for said indult, then also deal with the catechesis on this liturgy, and also become familiarized with the rubrics
and have both choir and liturgical ministers, superior (priests/deacon/seminarians w/minor orders) and inferior (laymen up to Master of Ceremonies positions) be trained in the super Vetus Ordo liturgy.

Regardless, this is an interesting piece of news for those that are part of the EF/TLM environment or communities, and perhaps, should this experiment go well, it could lead to, or be part and parcel with,  greater effects Church or worldwide to come.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

Latin Mass Sub-topic: The "Straw" Subdeacon

Hello everyone,

It seems that a curious topic of minutiae has been finally answered with regards to Latin Mass enthusiasts: The "Straw" Sub-deacon.

For those of you wondering "What?" the Sub-deacon role in the Solemn Latin Mass is the lowest of the three clergy member roles in terms of "rank." It was part of the "major orders" back when the minor order/major order system was a regular part of priestly formation (now mainly part of Extraordinary Form seminaries only). When you are at a Solemn Latin Mass, the "clergy" member on the lowest step is the sub-deacon. You can also identify them a good portion of the time by the dalmatic with one horizontal band on the back, making a "H."

Usually, a priest or a deacon fills the role of the deacon and/or the Sub-deacon. However, Sub-deacon isn't apparently restricted to what we now consider modern Holy Orders (deacon and higher). Apparently, laity can be a sub-deacon in certain conditions in what is called the "straw" sub-deacon. WHAT?????

To answer this question fully, I have no choice but to use an article on what I classify as a Radical Misrepresenting Traditionalist website, Rorate Caeli. Since they are anal about their citing of their works, the article used is titled ""Straw" subdeacon PCED letter." Though I will not hyperlink to them to give them blog hits. Go find the article yourself.

Basically, there are some instances where a suitable person of the old major orders was not able to be a sub-deacon. Under the old rubrics and rules surrounding the 1962/Tridentine/Mass of St. John XXIII, a person in minor orders who has reached the order of acolyte (the highest of the minor orders) was allowed to act as a "straw" sub-deacon in the Latin Mass for these emergency cases.
The acolyte, however, would have a number of his functions as sub-deacon not performed during the Mass, due to not being in the major orders:

• The sub-deacon would NOT wear the maniple
• The sub-deacon does not pour water into the chalice at the offertory, but must let the deacon do so
• SD does not touch the chalice infra actionem, nor cover it with the pall, nor uncover it
• After communion, SD does not purify the chalice, and the priest must do it instead
• After the priest purifies the chalice, then SD covers the chalice with veil and burse and transfers it to the credence table. 

With the advent of Summorum Pontificum bringing the Latin Mass back into the life of the Catholic Church on a public scale, questions have arisen as to what qualifies a layman or a seminarian in training in regards to this "Straw" subdeacon? Thanks to a ``Michael`` of the St. Bede liturgical studios early in 1992, the questioning of another individual, and a Rorate Caeli author (New Catholic?) in 2012 and 2013 respectively, this matter has been answered.

Source: http://www.nowyruchliturgiczny.pl/2012/11/papieska-komisja-odpowiada.html in response to the question: Do the decree of Sacred Congregation of Rites (no. 4184) and the decision of Pontifical Comission ‘Ecclesia Dei’ (no. 24/92), concerning the possibility of serving as a subdeacon during the Mass in forma extraordinaria, apply also to diocesean seminarians (who are not seminarians of the institutes erected by Pontifcial Commision 'Ecclesia Dei') who wear clerical clothing?

Source: Rorate Caeli article "Straw" subdeacon PCED letter." The role of the sub-deacon, according to PCED can also "... be legitimately assumed by an acolyte suitably instituted by a bishop, but with the particular ritual differences."

With these two letters from the PCED, this does leave a good swath of room for the sub-deacon position to be open for certain lay members to do it. Basically, I can forsee two types of laymen being able to do the sub-deacon role where no ordained deacon or priest is available:

1) The lay member is a seminarian in formation (as per the 2012 letter) who has progressed to a suitable point in their studies (e.g. 2nd or 3rd year) whereby they would have received equivalent to what would be those ranks in the old minor/major orders system pre-Ministeria Quaedam of August 15, 1972. UPDATE AS OF 22/05/2015: This could likely, also be the “Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders” done during Mass while in formation. 

2) A lay member who has been formally instituted by a bishop, with suitable training and formal installation from a bishop (such as per this protocol from the Archdiocese of Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States of America. click on "Ministry of Acolyte" for a long Word document.)

So essentially, that leaves us with some options for the application of Summorum Pontificum/the Latin Mass in modern day, post-Vatican II legislation, to fill the role of the sub-deacon. 

Personal Commentary on the Subject

In the Archdiocese of Toronto, there is currently NO formal institution of lectors and acolytes. I would say this is likely, as per the majority of dioceses world wide, due to a lack of education and knowledge about current Church law and legislation of minor orders and the 1972 document on such, Ministeria Quaedam, by Paul VI. Seriously, every diocese should have institution for adult lectors and acolytes. Not to mention rigorous training programs for both!

In terms of my personal Latin Mass experience, I have witnessed the usage of the straw sub-deacon in the Latin Mass, according to current, existing legislation. In the example of the December 2014 Solemn Latin Mass I served alongside St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, the "Straw" Sub-deacon option was used to allow for the position to be filled. The layman in the position of Sub-deacon had fulfilled the requirements of the position under the PCED, having undertaken time and studies at St. Augustine's seminary (with possibly some form of "liturgical promotion") equivalent to what an acolyte of the pre-Vatican II minor orders would have had. He was properly trained in his role, including the restrictions in being the ``straw`` Sub-deacon, and carried out his role according to the EF guidelines. 

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.