Special Offering of Rorate Caeli Mass in Advent in the Archdiocese of Toronto Saturday December 14, 2019

Hello Everyone,

After a long absence, I come back to announce special offerings of the Extraordinary Form in our Archdiocese of Toronto, for a special kind of Latin Mass liturgy.

We now come upon the Liturgical season of Advent, anticipating the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. In the Latin Rite, a particular tradition of beauty in the Latin Mass (occasionally celebrated in today's Catholic church in some variation,) is the celebration of the Rorate Caeli Mass. I turn your attention to this simple explanation from the Fraternity of the Society of St. Peter, here. In addition, I attended one held at an Archdiocese of Toronto parish, last Advent season. See here for my report.

Of the most poignant notes that deserves repeating, is that this Mass is held early in the morning, in candlelight with no electricity on in the body of the Church. The basic symbolism is: the ushering in of the daylight as the Mass proceeds, corresponds to the rise of the Light of our Faith, that of Christ being born on Earth via the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is our journey through the season of Advent.

In addition, we are blessed in most of the world to have running electric power. However, what we gain in sight, we tend to lose in the stillness and calm of the darkness. The beauty of a candlelight Mass is that the overall atmosphere is one of calm and beauty, one that doesn't assault our senses of sight and sound, the way a fully lit body of a church with lights and full acoustic sound systems do. That makes it more conductive to prayer, including that taking place at the altar.

Normally, the Rorate Caeli is to be celebrated on a Saturday in the Season of Advent, whereby it is a Feria, which in layman's language, means "no one or nothing special is being celebrated at Mass today." A feria does exist this liturgical year, and so it can be allowed to be said. That date is Saturday, December 14, 2019. 

Thankfully, once again St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church will be offering the Rorate Caeli Mass, in the Archdiocese of Toronto on Saturday December 14th. The details are as follows:

 

St. Mary`s Polish Catholic Church, Toronto, ON (1996 Davenport Road, Toronto, ON.)

• 7 AM starting time
• Low Mass with Music  
• Celebrant is likely the pastor, Fr. Kasimirez, or his replacement if he is still on sabbatical. 

I encourage you to attend the St. Mary`s offering, and be prepared to be amazed and swept away in a sea of serenity as you worship the Lord in candlelight darkness. Bring your family and friends.

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

P.S. While I am aware there is a second offering that will be in Mississauga as a Missa Cantata, I cannot promote this offering on my blog, as 1) This offering is NOT being promoted officially through the Archdiocese of Toronto social media or a parish within the Archdiocese of Toronto (e.g. websites, blogs ...), and (2) Knowing where it is, and the offerings in past at the location, this offering is highly likely to involve Radically Traditionalist leadership in the offering of this liturgy. Some of those ``known`` leaders have attacked my closest friends and allies in the Latin Mass and I, directly and indirectly in past, from both sides of the laity and the clergy. Some supporters/members of this group also run social media on Internet/blog/other platforms that are anti-Francis and anti-Novus Ordo/regular Catholic Church. I cannot in good conscience and in keeping to my blog goals (see No. 2,) disclose the details and will say to look elsewhere on the internet for details. 

REPORT: Rorate Caeli Mass on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church in Toronto

REPORT: Rorate Caeli Mass on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church in Toronto

Hello Everyone, 

I come to you with a special report in this liturgical Season of Advent. If you have not seen this post on my blog, or examined other social media blogs dealing with the Latin Mass in Toronto, there are a number of special offerings, aside from normal Latin Masses at parishes that offer them, that have been or are to come in the Archdiocese of Toronto. In particular over 3 straight Saturdays including this Saturday past, Missa Cantata/High level Latin Masses are being offered at St Mary’s Polish Catholic Church at Davenport and Ossington area in Toronto, 1996 Davenport Road. 

Fr. Kazimirez and his parish have been great supporters of the Latin Mass, hosting their own weekly and special offerings, as well as allowing lay organizations/choirs to organize special offerings of the EF at St. Mary's (including my allies of St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir, with whom recently organized an offering for Christ the King in October 2018.) 

As I did last year, and again this year, I was privileged to have the ability to rise early in the morning, to experience one of the richest liturgies in the Extraordinary Form (EF)/ Latin Mass the Catholic Church has to offer, the Rorate Caeli Mass in Advent. 

As this year’s mass was publicly announced (on the St. Mary's website,) and held at an Archdiocese of Toronto parish, I bring to the faithful a report of the Rorate Caeli 2018 Mass in Toronto, held at St Mary’s. 

PREAMBLE: What is special/different about Rorate Caeli?

As per the Fraternal Society of St Peter, they describe the Rorate Mass as the following: 

"The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.

The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8:

“Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.”

“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.”

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.

The readings and prayers of the Mass foretell the prophecy of the Virgin who would bear a Son called Emmanuel, and call on all to raise the gates of their hearts and their societies to let Christ the King enter; asking for the grace to receive eternal life by the merits of the Incarnation and saving Resurrection of Our Lord."

REPORT:

Upon entering the church, the whole of the body and sanctuary was covered in darkness, save the multitude of lit candles in the sanctuary, and smaller candles lit on every windowsill. 

In attendance for the actual Mass, was about 30-35 laity in the pews including myself, though with celebrant, servers and choir thrown in, that makes for a total of 40-45 people offering their prayers/participating in the sacred liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

While the numbers were about the same as last year’s attendance, I can happily say the demographic has been changing, reflecting the overall gravitas of youth and young adults seeking the spiritual nourishment that the Latin Mass provides. Last year when I attended, from a visual glance around me, I and maybe one other soul were young men under 40, the rest older parishioners of St Mary’s and women. 

This year, when I looked around, I saw two young adult couples, another young man from (my first MC’d) October Christ the King Mass, and another young man with a relative (perhaps one of the acolyte’s brother and mother?) For a smaller crowd at a EF this is a marked jump in demographic, and proof that giving solid liturgy to the youth attracts them to the church, so much so to get them out of bed on an early Saturday morning, and forsake their favourite past-time of weekend sleeping in! 

As for the liturgy itself, every member on the altar was nearly flawless in their execution of the liturgy. Though I would not expect nothing less from pastor Fr Kazimierz who has been doing the EF a few years now, and the serving corps of whom most members I have has the pleasure at serving at the altar of the Lord with. Those servers are all veterans in our diocese, made of a combination of parishioners of St Mary’s and have assisted masses of (in most cases) all lay organizations/choirs who organize Latin Masses in Toronto, and those involving the EF chaplains of past and current in our Archdiocese. 

The choir was sacred and sanctimonious in their chanting of the hymns, propers, and the chosen Mass setting IX: Votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary 1. Mass setting IX was fitting as the sound of the setting has a strong, yet docile and tempered pace, well suited to the gradual rising of the sun and illumination of the parish interior over the Mass. 

As per usual in my reporting, to give you a sample of immersion into the Latin Mass, I post here some of the main posts of the Homily by Fr Kazimierz from my recollection:

• Even in the Old Testament God allowed for many miracles out of love for his holy people and to give hope to all of us, the faithful. 
• Examples are the exile of the Jews out of Egypt from their Egyptian captors as well as the parting of the red sea.
• God continues to show his love and mercy and hope for the people of the faithful even in the time after king David. He did so with Achaz as in the Epistle of the Mass (Isaias 7:10-15.) Surrounded by their enemies, God nonetheless gave to Achaz and the Jewish people, a sign of hope and promise forelling of the coming of Christ being born to the blessed virgin Mary. 
• With Regards to Mary and her Fiat, She was open to the Lord’s grace, his blessings, and mercy, in accepting the great task and privilege of bearing Jesus Christ in pregnancy. Mary is the mother of God because of His own incarnation, of Christ being born of the blessed virgin Mary.
• In this time of Advent me we to reflect on the blessed virgin Mary’s obedience to our Lord and may we be open to his divine well as was Marie when she in obedience excepted being the mother of God and mother of Jesus Christ.

In all, this liturgy was a beautiful way for one to prepare themselves to celebrate his nativity on Christmas Day. It contained a beautiful serenity, so much so, that after I consumed the Lord in the Sacred Species of the Eucharist, I felt a movement of peace and warmth within me after reading some post-communion prayers from my old pre-Vatican II prayer Missal, “The Key to Salvation.” This Sacred liturgy was definitely the “warm cup of cocoa” to melt the spiritual cold of one’s heart and there is no one better (save Christ) to do so than His Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the key focus of the Rorate Caeli Liturgy. 

If one wishes they could come to such a sacred liturgy you have one more chance this coming Saturday, December 23, 2018. Fr Kazimierz will be celebrant for another Missa Cantata at St Mary’s Polish Catholic Parish. This liturgy will also be special as it is an Ember Saturday for the Season of Advent (of the Winter ember days,) containing five Scripture readings prior to the Gospel. There is still time to prepare one’s heart and mind, spiritually, this Advent, with a gorgeous and sacred Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Enjoy the accompanying pictures. Of note: notice the smoke of the incense rising up in the candlelight of the altar, and that the stained glass window over the altar has, in it's center, but who else ... the Blessed Virgin mary 

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin. 

PS. As to the prayer I was reading after consuming the Sacred Host, this is the prayer from “The Key To Salvation,” “Act of Love:“ O beloved Jesus, where shall I find words to express my gratitude and love? O inestimable pledge of God's love for man! O inexhaustible fountain of divine graces! O boundless mercy! O divine charity! Hail O merciful Jesus! O may my soul be sensible of Thy adorable presence and may I see how sovereingly sweet Thou are in the sacrament of Thy love. Yes, O God of goodness!  I love Thee with my whole heart, my whole soul, and above all things. O divine Jesus, do Thou confirm these holy resolutions in my heart, and frant that I may always be able affectionately to exclaim with Thy holy apostle: Thou knowest, Lord, that I love Thee. 

Upcoming Additional Missa Cantata/TLMs for December 2017 in Toronto Outside of Normal TLM Parishes

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to one of my closest of friends, a confidant I can trust in the TLM, I have been informed of some upcoming Missa Cantata offerings in the Latin Mass for the liturgical season of Advent.

After contacting the parish office during the week by email, as well as the pastor himself by phone (surprised calling the main line I got him! Now that's being "pastoral!") to verify the offerings, especially one in particular, I can confirm the following offerings for the TLM, which are ALL being hosted at St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church at 1996 Davenport Road, in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The following offerings have been confirmed:

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Friday Dec 8, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 7:00 PM E.S.T. Start Time. 

SPECIAL!!! RORATE CAELI - Saturday Dec 16, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 5:45 AM E.S.T. Start Time! 
• NOTE: Why so early? From St. John the Bapitst FSSP parish in Arkansas, USA: " The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn .... The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli, from the first words of the Introit, which are from Isaiah 45:8: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.” “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.” The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight ...." 

Ember Saturday in the Season of Advent - Saturday Dec 23, 2017

• St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, 1996 Davenport Road. 9:00 AM E.S.T. Start Time. 
• Note: St. Mary`s has a weekly Latin Low Mass at this time normally, that all can attend.  

For those looking for spiritual preparation in the anticipation and coming of our Lord, why not go the distance and give our Lord a special, spiritual gift to him in anticipation of Christmas Day. Come and see what the sacred and Holy TLM is all about.

Pax tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

P.S. I, nor those I assist in the TLM (e.g. St. Patrick's Gregorian Choir,) have any affiliation with this parish by ministry or as registered parishoners, nor have been asked by any party in these Masses for assistance with the EF liturgies. Despite my blog goals, because these offerings are being hosted by a parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto, with approval from the parish pastor (to the best of my knowledge,) and despite other online promotion of these offerings, I am promoting these offerings for those who simply want to attend some TLMs during, and in the spirit of, this beautiful season of Advent.

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. 

New Politicking About the FFI Situation ... and the Truth from Fr. Geiger of Mary Victrix

Hello Everyone,

I do keep abrest of some particular blogs to keep an eye on Radical Traditionalist elements seeking to further divide Holy Mother Church, and so as to defend True Catholic Traditionalism and Glad Trads whenever necessary.

One of the blogs, the most notorious for Radical Catholic Reactionary behaviour is Rorate Caeli. One of their ongoing campaigns is to produce a distorted version of the truth about the destruction of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (FFI). Many a time, it has been proven that their reporting on the FFI situation is inaccurate and full of half-lies and even full ones.

A couple of days ago, a "Michael Patrick" released unseen footage of a video that was going to be used for an online advertisement campaign or documentary of a day in the life of the FFI. While I will NOT put a hyperlink in to the Rorate Caeli article, I will link to the YouTube(tm) video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goR7yJMQlQ8. Rorate makes some claims about it, and once again claims an atmosphere of fear and "facts" about the video. A couple of right-wing Catholic blogs have also posted on this matter, some for spreading information, and some ... well, I'll keep it at that.

Now, as a journalist, let's say that you want to do an article on firefighting. Wouldn't you interview an ACTUAL firefighter or a fire chief to get the most accurate information on the topic, by someone who is active in that field of expertise?

This is where once again, Fr. Angelo Geiger of the Mary Victrix blog has heroically and gracefully, once again, made proper analysis on another hit piece of propaganda used by Rorate Caeli for their Radical Catholic Reactionary agenda. Father in his latest blog article, sets the record straight as an ACTUAL FRIAR, still formally affiliated with the FFI, as one who has completed formation. Being a shorter piece, I have decided to paste the full text below.

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My Reality, Your Reality

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

No not relativism.  Just an update 1.) to apprise the reader of my status, namely, that I did not fall off the face of the earth. and 2.) to disabuse whoever has eyes to see of the unreality of the latest “news” or “reporting” on the status of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.  Just because people say things does not make it true.

First, thanks to all those who have been praying for me. I made it to the end of the semester at the Angelicum still standing.  I have one more final, but most of the stress is now behind me.  I hope to blog at least a couple of times during the break.

Second, Rorate Caeli has posted a video by one of our former friars, which by all accounts is a fairly nice vocation video for the Institute as it stands now, but it has been posted with a predictable interpretation and broadcasted further by others.

Several clarifications:

1. At least 90% of the footage was taken by a seminarian who remains in the community and is quite happy to do so. Some of his footage was used for a 2013 vocation video which is was used by the producer of the new video without permission.  The parts of the new video that are not in the 2013 vocation video were shot for the vocation video and archived.  I have checked all my facts here from the seminarian in question, who watched the video in its entirety. RC says that the “footage was then kept in secret, witness of something no longer tolerable to those in power, unseen until now.”  This is simply false, as is evidenced by the video on YouTube.
2. About half of the seminarians who are in the video are no longer in the Institute, but to them others have been added who have passed through the novitiate.  When the seminary closed there were 51 seminarians.  Today there are 28.  The same pattern is true of the schola that sang in the video.  It still exists and the members sing regularly at our liturgy.  We continue, for example, to use the Liber Usualis every day for various parts of the liturgy.  Please keep in mind that for those who have orchestrated the exodus, with outside from help from willing collaborators like those at RC, this is exactly what they wanted.  Seminarians were being contacted clandestinely, and encouraged as well as pressured by both former friars and those still in the Institute to leave.  This planned and well-orchestrated effort, unfortunately, was highly successful (and contrary to the explicit will of Pope Francis, BTW).
3. Everything that is witnessed in the video, with the exception of the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy—a temporary restriction contingent on the temporary Commission—and the year long night rising for Matins we still do.  The Holy Father told us face to face that his intention was not to permanently forbid its celebration, but solely to see to it that the liturgy was not a source of division within the community.  Furthermore, the horarium has not changed, except for the continuous night rising, which was never part of our legislation anyway, and was only introduced in the seminary in November of 2011.  (We still rise at night for Matins during Lent—a practice mandated by our ecclesiastically approved Constitutions. Prior to the change in 2011, this had been the practice since 1990 and it remains in force.).
4. Thus, the quotations in the video from our legislation are norms still in force which we continue to observe.
5. The statement of RC that there now exists within the Institute “a new atmosphere of doctrinal corruption and moral relaxation, of the disintegration of the religious observance” is gratuitous, offered without evidence because there is none.
6. This is a fine example of a propaganda piece which says little in terms of facts, but effectively conveys an conclusion necessary to a world-view.  It is called: “painting the target around the arrow.”  For example, RC claims that the video was shot on the very day the seminary closed, in order to achieve a maximum sympathetic response.  But in fact, the friar who shot the material, who was able to identify all the various elements, and who was present when the seminary closed, did not see anything that was shot on the day the seminary closed.

RC writes:

But perhaps our Lady, on her feastday, is offering a vision very different to that which seems to dominate presently in the Church — a vision of the consecrated life which is, as Simeon says of Christ, a sign of contradiction.

Indeed, I couldn’t agree more.  May we have the grace to correspond to our vocation.  But I don’t think any of the friars, including most who would like to see things the way RC wants to see them, would presume they are the ideal, or that the Church is without many other fine religious communities and holy religious.

After all is said and done, after everyone has had their say and shouted from the rooftops what they speculate might be reality—though they are convinced that their opinion is more than that—there remains only one thing to do, especially for vowed religious: obey the Church.  Anything else would be a patent absurdity—a contradiction for sure, but not the sign of contradiction.

I kindly ask Rorate Caeli to link to this post, in the interests of truth, and also out of justice, since the footage does not belong to Rorate Caeli, but has its origin in the Institute and was the work of a friar still present in the community.

So there`s the real truth, from an actual priest/friar of the FFI. I hope, readers, that you continue to view his blog, as you will get real insider's info about the FFI order from him. Rorate Caeli unfortunately, does not even reveal their sources by name. It makes you wonder who they are relying on and how trustworthy the sources are.

I will say though. I hope and pray that Pope Francis makes good on his promise to resolve the FFI situation "soon," and prove to his detractors and slanderers that he is not the menace and tyrant that the media, especially the Radicals Misrepresenting Traditionalist kind, make him out to be. If he does have to pose, ``restrictions`` of any kind, I hope they are such that basically say, ``you guys want to be RCRs, then you will not have an active life in the church or your order. You don`t exhibit the behaviour, fine, you get the Latin Mass, but you won`t be given wanton freedom. Think of it like the FSSP's arrangement with Holy Mother Church ...``

May the Lord Bless Fr. Geiger in his works, especially revealing the truth of what is going on with the order.

Pax, Julian.

2 Weeks of Blogging Despair: Embarrasment from the Radical Catholic Reactionaries over ++Burke and ++Dolan

Hello Everyone,

I realize that this is a lengthy post. Bear with me though. It needs the length as this is 2 weeks worth of observation and reflection.  

These past two weeks have been a sad and woeful one on the Catholic blog-o-sphere. This has been one of the worst periods of recent, where it feels like there is no hope living as a Catholic. The players who are directly responsible for carrying out the sin of despair are powerful men in esteemed positions of authority, who are not speaking with the Mind of the Church, despite the responsibility given to them by our Lord. Are you thinking what I am thinking, or whom I am directly referring to?

Perhaps I should explain further, by discussing what I have been witnessing on the Catholic blog-o-sphere. The situations that have been of critical (as well as hateful) discussion these past two weeks, are in regards to two cardinals, on opposite sides of the theo-political spectrum. They are Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, who’s what we could call “pastoral”, while at the other end, the “spiritual” end, is Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, possibly soon to be ex-prefect of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome.

Summary of the Major Events

Dolan’s criticism, and fury amongst the Traditionalists Behaving Badly (my term by the way that I created, like Dave Armstrong with Radical Catholic Reactionary, to purposely ostracize the Traditionalists who are disobedient and hateful to and within Holy Mother Church, from the good, loyal traditionalists who don't do what they do,) deal with the fact the jolly Cardinal is MC for the upcoming St. Patrick’s parade in New York in 2015. The parade is now letting in pro-gay groups. Dolan's acceptance of the "honour" is being seen as an OK for being gay in the Church. Further, the TBBs are likely thinking of him as the Devil’s minion, for wanting to close down Holy Innocents Catholic Church in NYC, the U.S.A base of operations for valiant Glad Trad hero, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf of WDTPRS. The critics are also implying that the only reason Dolan extended the possible merger/closing of H.I is because too much bad press got out about him, despite his response, so he's saving face for himself and the office of the Archdiocese of New York.

At the other end of things, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke is likely being re-assigned to another office of the Church, a superior of sorts of the Knights of Malta, based in Rome. This move by Pope Francis is being seen by the TBBs as a “demotion” and part of a conspiracy theory of Pope Francis’ and company’s hate for anything dealing with that trad hero, Benedict XVI. They are also attributing this demotion to the fact that ++Burke and other traditional bishops and Jesuits wrote a book defending the traditional teachings of the Church on marriage and the family, in contradiction to the violation of Church teaching in the “tolerated but not acceptable” position of ++Kasper on non-annulled Catholics receiving communion. In addition, ++Kasper is getting a “ringmaster’s stage” for the upcoming Extraordinary Synod of the Family. The worst of the rumour mill at Rorate Caeli, even says that Francis was royally pissed off at this book, and even scolded ++Muller of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith not to promote the book … if you believe the worst PR site for radical traditionalism who’s one step away from sedevacantism that is. 

So, what am I getting at?

With the summary of the main events, it seems as if our appointed leaders in the Catholic world are failing us. The disgusting liberal clergy who are wolves in sheep’s clothing are heroes, the good Cardinals are being destroyed by the Spirit of Vatican II clergy including our Pope of Mercy, and St. Anna Catharine of Emerich’s prophecy is coming true right? Well the leadership of the Church certainly has failed …. But surprise! It’s not entirely the clergy. 

I am talking about those of us laity charged with the full participation of Christ’s priesthood, prophecy, and kingship.

The laity who are being leaders, fighting what they think is their quest to maintain the Church’s order and governance, have done the greatest disservice these past two weeks for the Church. THEY DO NOT, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, HAVE VESTED AUTHORITY TO DICTATE OR ENFORCE THE CHURCH’s LAWS OR TEACHINGS. If they say they do, they are liars and only have the privileges every ordinary Catholic has, albeit at the service and mercy to the clergy and Canon Law (including choice to wield said law.) Many of them, are laypeople, with nothing more than an acumen to see black wherever there is white, and no good of the Church. 

Now, by no means am I wearing rose coloured glasses and saying "all is well", but they have crossed a line between critical evaluation and fraternal correction, into the Devil’s camp using his weapons of slander, calumny, and detraction. They have also aided in committing the sin of despair, sister to the deadly Sloth.

Despair

If anything, the bloggers have allowed for the fruition of the sin of despair amongst what they say. What is the sin of despair? The Sin of Despair is, as per Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church 2091, ".... By despair, man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God's goodness, to his justice - for the Lord is faithful to his promises - and to his mercy."

What the bloggers have been reporting constantly, with hatred/anger, pride (also deadly sins, evidenced in their writing), actually detracts from Holy Mother Church’s mission of evangelizing and the salvation of souls. People want to be saved or seek internally salvation, or being “happy.” Every person’s reason for existence, a la Baltimore Catechism #1 is to know, love, and serve God all their lives. The Church is that spiritual and physical means by which in His Eternal Sacrifice on the Cross, Christ gave us, so that we could be with Him in Heaven. All that these bloggers have done is contravened the Holy Father’s “mission of mercy” and have shown that the Church is another institution with corrupt people in it via their coverage. To show that there is nothing but corruption in the Church and no means of salvation via their blogging coverage is exactly causing despair, a loss of any hope in the Church because of the institutional problems (and false boogeymen) within it. 

  

Let's continue. As traditional Catholics, one would know a number of lists that is nearly forgotten and not taught by current “Catholic” teachers and clergy. One of these lists is The Nine Ways of Being An Accessory to Another's Sin. Allow me to refresh your memory with the list:

1. By Counsel
2. By Command
3. By Consent
4. By Provocation
5. By Praise or Flattery
6. By Concealment
7. By Partaking
8. By Silence
9. By Defense of the ill done

This list, by the way, is in the little red missal books you Latin Mass attendees see at most chapels, churches, and lay-organized Masses. 

If you notice, some of the ways of assisting in committing sin are blatantly being committed by these members on the Net, which I`ve highlighted:

Partaking: Between the quantity and slanderous and calumnous nature of the postings, this is clear provocation of sin, division, and the like amongst members of the Church. This is even more so when these attacks directly concern the Holy Father. Might I also remind you that the Holy Father himself equated gossip and calumny as the devil's works? Those "works" would obviously be sins of grave Matter. The devil's works are no laughing matter. They are always serious business. 

Provocation: The provocation of what they have done is on numerous levels: 1) Vs. the clergy and establishment in place, to anger them, and drive those targets to sin further themselves, 2) Amongst their fellow Traditionalists, by once again embarrassing them and can prompt further persecution. 3) Others, that is, it provokes others to experience the sin of despair. 

Defense of the Ill Done: And how do they justify their actions? They continue to say they will not stop in attacking the Holy Father, will not stop attacking others, and will not stop harming the faithful spiritually. Their defense of their sins committed is that it's all for the Good of the Holy Church, when it's pure bullying, harassment, and hatred dressed up as religion. 

Whether it is in disparaging the Jesuits, the Holy, Father, or Cardinals, this is blatant Pharisee-ism at its worst. In doing the disservice, those leaders on the Catholic blogosphere are leaving us with only one question: Why would anyone in their right mind want to be part of the Church when it is no different from its secular counterparts of schools, government, workplaces, etc.?

Furthermore, people like myself, who actually care about Traditional Catholicism, can only leave shaking our heads in disgust. We want to have a vibrant and happy life with traditional Catholicism as part of the beautiful fabric of worship and liturgical rites in the Church, not the sole be all and end all that is enforced upon everyone! When these leaders embarrass us, misrepresent ALL CATHOLICS, say cruel barbs at our priests and clergy, and fellow Glad Trads and Catholics alike, either we desire to depart from our sinful siblings by having nothing to do with the Latin Mass, or worse, we put our heads in the sand and sin by omission when those significant few do their dastardly deeds, because we fear the “big bad bishops” will take away our Mass in violation of Church Law. Better to continue going to the Latin Mass every Sunday and not say anything right? Both approaches do nothing to increase participation and/or respect for the Latin Mass and Traditional Catholicism. Yet it's all because of a few spiritually misguided souls who just haven't found the proper means to say, "Hey! The Church is awesome! Even though our leaders do sin, there is STILL Spiritual salvation here!" 

I, myself, became quite disparaged about the Church this week, thanks to my sad “brothers and sisters” of Christ. It affected my disposition with my relationships and made me question if there is anything positive in the Church when we are all mucking it up, bloggers included. Thankfully, Christ in Matthew 16:18 promised us Hell would not prevail!

My Appeal

To those specific bloggers, you are making Traditional Catholicism a hateful place to be, and all your Catholic brothers and sisters and clergy will want none of it! Even your closer friends and clergy, can only stand so much, and will be forced in their fidelity to the Lord, to part ways for their souls. Do you care about the actions and influence that you wield on your fellow Catholics? You do want more people to discover the Latin Mass and become traditional Catholics right? Have you heard the expression, “you attract more flies with honey than vinegar?” 

Listen, I get that we have collectively “became awake” to politics and how we were not taught the truths of the faith in light of the institutional, NOT "TRUE", Church’s adoption of the “Spirit of Vatican II” a.k.a. pastoring gone wrong as extreme liberalism, misinterpreting the Vatican II documents. I also understand that some of you are war survivors, carrying around battle wounds that have never been fully healed deep within. There is scar tissue, but it's only a patch that easily opens with the slightest provocation. 

But does bearing your scars mean we are to wage war against the Church and smear every clergy member and layperson who does not practice the doctrine and laws perfectly, even at the cost of your eternal salvation when you go too far, too deep in your conquest? 

I can only end with saying this in necessity. While you have used this in past against me in anger and hatred, or others just like me on the blog-o-sphere not in your "camp," I must appeal to you in earnest. Please, for your spiritual health and others, seek the help of those who can assist you and give you spiritual mercy. What good has airing our all this on the Internet done for your spiritual health? Do you feel any better after? Has the institutional Church around you, or in a large scale, "changed" in any way from your actions? Please refrain from causing sin and grave spiritual harm to yourselves, and those others you associate with. Find a proper, Biblical, and truly, Theological way to love your brother with True fraternal, Catholic charity, according to the virtues (theological, cardinal, others) without resorting to the Devil’s trickery.

If you do not have counselling, please do seek a good and noble priest (preferably), or other orthodox Catholic who can help you with your issues. I do not mean simply a “yes man” who agrees 100% with your ideas and thoughts. I mean someone who can honestly acknowledge your concerns, your hurts, your pains, and assist you in fully seeking and obtaining Christ’s Love and mercy. This might even challenge you, or contradict your thoughts now, but that person will do so in order you to come to a deeper relationship with Christ, and lead a more true, Catholic life. 

Final Words

If anything, it shows that Pope Francis’ mission of mercy is more pertinent than ever, as even Christ’s “best soldiers” of the Church Militant, are badly wounded and their armor in need of major black-smithing to repair the damage.

Finally, allow me to end off with a pertinent link from "Neo-Trad" (a.k.a. Orthodox Good Guy) Mark Shea who succinctly shares to a degree my feelings and concerns, in an excellent interview about the changing face of Catholic Internet blogging:

 http://americamagazine.org/content/all-things/blogging-pope-francis-interview-mark-shea

Everyone, I know that things are rocky right now, but we have to do better than this. As Fr. Z says, Benedict XVI gave us the tools we need. It’s time to get the training wheels off the bicycle and ride with it!

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

P.S. I haven't forgotten about SINE, or my Latin Mass Serving Posts. Give me a break here as I got a significant lady in my life, a Mon-Fri job, and 3-7 other things on the go I gotta worry about, plus being stressed out at the end of the day needing to unwind. You try it and let me know if you do better. I'd like to know your strategies. 

The "Nun" Trend ... but Not Those Nuns ... I'm talking about "That" Symbol

Hello Everyone,

Sadly, the Islamic terrorists in the Middle East have driven our Christian brethen out of one major city, and are now doing graffiti art to Christian's homes, painting a symbol that looks like a "happy face" with one eye. It's called "Nun" and is used by the terrorists as a mark of shame.

Interestingly enough, a number of Catholic Traditionalist Bloggers, including the Trads Behaving Badly, have taken that symbol as their Facebook profile pictures, or their Twitter pics, and even made blog posts with the symbol, to show solidarity for their persecuted Christian brethen.

I, however, on Servimus Unum Deum, as well as on my Facebook, will absolutely NOT be doing this.
I will not be doing this for two main reasons.

1) Holocaust Reminder ... Offensive to my Jewish Background. To me, this symbol reminds me of the Jews who were persecuted and killed by the Nazi's, who were forced to be identified by wearing a Yellow Star of David. It reeks of being made to feel like a second class citizen, and a target to be killed. Further, having a Jewish father and relatives (yes that's true. Is that offensive to you, TBBs?) I am abhorred with the whole practice for what it is worth. You may want to argue that you are trying to turn this symbol into something positive, but to me, a mark of death, is a mark of death. So no, I am likewise, not going to practice in a different form to "reform it", as this act is the very thing that made the friends of, and possibly, some of my distant family members and predecessors back in World War II, marked targets for death. Just instead of German Nazis, it's Radical Islamic Terrorists marking me. And don't even get started on saying that it's a way to "identify" with the pains and sufferings of my family. We don't simulate practices that degrade the human of their dignity just to "identify" with them. In fact, if anything, it destroys the person even if it was simulated or similar. Don't believe me? I dare you to research the Dr. Zimbardo prison experiment that is well known in psychology.

2) (Mostly) Radical Traditionalists Trending This Practice. Hate Screeds and Desire to Fight Back ... Between the Lines or Directly. My second big reason for not doing this is because most of the people gung-ho to do so are the Radical Traditionalists, a.k.a. TBBs. Some of those I know or read are more saner in the Traditional Catholicism spehere who are doing it, but not everyone. For the TBBs, what is part of their posts accompanying the nun letter makes me sick to my stomach.

First example, everyone's favourite TBB blog, Rorate Caeli, devoted a posting to the Nun Letter, and here's a screen capture of the first part of the post:

If you notice what the "header" picture is accompanying the blog, (and all other posts as well), it's an artistic depiction of a knight in the red cross regalia in armor slaying the Ottoman Turkish Muslim radicals in the Crusades. 

Further, here's what they have to say at the end of the post, before an interview with a Christian representative, with my emphasis bolded:

"They mean it as a mark of shame, we must then wear it as a mark of hope: Yes, we are in the army of the Resurrected Nazarene, the Master and Lord of the Universe, the Man who is God Almighty, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. You may kill our brethren and expel them, but we Christians will never go away."

I am not sorry to say this, but between that Crusades header and the military language, basically Rorate Caeli is expressing a hatred for this, so much that the message is to slaughter the Muslims. It doesn't need to be said aloud, but they are advocating a Crusade to fight the militants. Put 2 and 2 together folks. That's TBB antics for you.

Another example, was one that offends me as a Catholic with Traditionalist leanings, and some participation in the Latin Mass. While I will not name the blog on purpose I am that disgusted with it, another TBB blog posted this symbol in solidarity with their Christian brethen. But in addition, the poster called the Muslim faith inspired by demons (in essence, Satan and Hell). Wow ... how anti-ecumenical, anti-Nostra Aetate/Vatican II, and anti-Catholic. It's one thing to hate the murder and violence, and to properly discuss what elements are true and not in other faiths, but to call the faith of a whole Mass of people, who express more devotion than many Catholics around the world, "demonic" serves once again to show the inner hatred and pride of the TBBs, and embarrasses the many good Latin Mass attending Catholic Traditionalists worldwide. I am sure that any Muslims reading that posts, SOOOOO BADLY wants to convert to Catholicism now, especially the Latin Mass, knowing their faith is inspired by Hell's demons and Satan. What a nice show of "ecumenism" to our monotheistic brothers.

Now, what about the rest of the Catholic blogosphere? Most bloggers, including the so-called "Neo-catholic" ones, are discussing this, but they are NOT posting that symbol on their Facebooks, or their actual blogs. If anything, they are advocating prayer and NOT subscribing to such hate screeds.

So, what can we do then, besides the symbol?
Well, in a nutshell, prayer, and acts of fasting and penance, are our greatest spiritual weapons. I'll leave the lovely Mrs. Anchoress, Elizabeth Scalia, to inform you how to properly do something productive about the crisis in the Middle East with our Christian Brethen, instead of participating in these symbol shenanigans. Please see her latest post here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2014/07/21/5-things-you-can-do-right-now-as-isis-threatens-iraqi-christians-and-shiites/.

And so, that is my 2 cents on this matter, and something off my chest. Again, I am deciding that comments are to be closed for this post, to deter combox harassment. Frustrated? Do it on your own soapbox, er, blog.

Yeah it's late but Fisher More College and my Two Cents

UPDATE Mar 8 2014 244pm EST: 

I have found Three more blogs which not only discussed the Fisher More college properly, these authors share similar sentiments that I have expressed in this post and others, which is contributing to a lack of desire among Catholic Faithful to want to consider attending the Latin Mass.

1. Scott Eric ALT - http://scottericalt.com/why-latin-mass-onlyists-are-destroying-the-latin-mass/

2. Lisa Graas - http://www.lisagraas.com/2014/03/03/critics-of-bishop-olson-make-me-leery-of-attending-a-tlm/

And the "cream of the crop" so to speak, a priest whose inside view has been essential to the situation with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate,
3. FFI's very own Fr. Angelo Geiger. a.k.a. Mary Victrix. 
http://maryvictrix.com/2014/03/06/what-the-fisher-more-situation-teaches-us/#more-7415. He sums up best my sentiments here:

"Furthermore, many of the traditionalists seem oblivious to the fact that their propaganda campaign fails to accomplish what needs to be done most, which is to sell the case [of the Latin Mass] to those who are bit unprepared to accept it.  But that does not seem to be what some of them are after.  Indeed, the flame-throwing propagandists are their own worst enemies.

It would appear what some of them really want is an all out counter-revolution against anyone that would oppose the rad trad agenda.  And this is why the objections of men like Dr. Marshall lead to his resignation; why in response to such objections the institution becomes increasingly more radicalized, and why when the hens come home to roost—and it was inevitable that they would—it is everyone else’s fault, except the change agents who stoked the flames.

They can argue all they want about the legal issues involved, but it is very unlikely that under either Pope Francis or even Pope Benedict there would ever be a reversal of such a decision in the face of the facts which inevitably the Diocese of Fort Worth has documented and would be prepared to use if challenged.  So the rad trads will blame the bishop as other bishops watch attentively and conclude that the Most Reverend Michael Olsen did exactly what needed to be done.  No bishop wants this kind of trouble in his diocese.    People can complain foul as much as they want and all they will accomplish is to learn nothing from the lesson.  Apparently, even the FSSP has backed away.  They don’t need the trouble either.

The more the moderates in the movement are marginalized and the more the RC radical types are the principle spokesmen, the more the regular folk are going to identify the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy with anti-conciliar ideology, conspiracy theory, antisemitism and geocentrism.  Complain all you want.  That is just the way it is.  I feel for men like Patrick Archbold, but what does he expect?  As it turns out, Michael Voris might be the smartest man in the traditionalist room—not that I agree with him entirely—for having thrown his rad trad friends overboard."

UPDATE Mar 8 2014 215pm EST: 

I just found this website commenting about the situation. Reading it, this is probably the best, plain "news speak" or "fact-finding" analysis of the situation anyone could read so far: http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/fisher-more-college-controversy-over-extraordinary-form-5812668111781888?page=3

_________     __________    _________    __________    _________    _______    _______

Hello Everyone,

So it's been already beaten to death by the Trad Behaving Badly (TBB) and conservative blogs alike, but as of this past week, one of the TBB sites broke out the news that a bishop under 50 years old, banned Fisher More College in the USA from celebrating the EF Mass. While I hate giving web hits to TBBs, I need to link the original source article here at Rorate Caeli (lest they sue me), for those who don't know what the original fuss is all about.

I decided to pull back for a bit, knowing the usual culprits would cry a foul and start doing anything from wanting a metaphorical pound of flesh from the "Spirit of Vatican II" bishop who banned the Mass, to attacking the Papacy of Francis by linking the ban with the Franciscans of the Friars Immaculate to this event, and claim that this is the start of the "Franciscan" attack to destroy Catholic Traditionalism. Good Job Rorate Caeli. You guys just acted in every sense like TBBs with this one.

MY HOW WE FORGET HOW POPE FRANCIS TOLD OFF A GROUP OF BISHOPS FROM ITALY SOME MONTHS AGO IN AN AUDIENCE, THE LATIN MASS IS NOT GOING TO BE BANNED THERE, BUT TO BE WARY OF EXTREMIST ACTIVITIES!!!

I figured a move like this wouldn't be without good reason, or at least good speculation as to the ban, because a younger bishop like this wouldn't be so naieve as to think his actions wouldn't be spread across the internet and pens and keyboards would be flying like mad against his (Arch)diocesan office or the Vatican dicasteries. Not to mention the younger types ordained in the JPII/B16 papacies, seem to be more neutral/central theo-politically speaking, or more open/friendly to Traditional Catholicism.

Thankfully, Fr. Z, the ever so valiant defender of Catholic tradition and truth, has shed light on this situation thanks to a tertiary source. See his post here. Now, when I see these points, I have valid concern for the college, and the TBBs have lost some of their validity. Supposedly ....

• In May a prof of FMC (Fisher More College) gave a talk and denied aspects of Vatican II [Highly true. In fact the first half of this speech angered Dr. Taylor Marshall so much he walked out before the second 1/2 of the speech]
• The FSSP priests withdrew their services at FMC some time ago.[TRUE!]
• Taylor Marshall, married with several children, resigned his job at FMC without another job. [So True it is not funny. See HIS official statement on the matter here]
• At Thanksgiving, 2013, Fr. Nicholas Gruner, the suspended Fatima Priest, said Mass at FMC.[Likely True, though still looking for an absolute statement of proof]. 
• These things took place when the Diocese of Fort Worth was vacant.[Partially true. From what I'm reading, it sounds like things were starting to blacken under +Vann's reign, but many more things happened when there was no overseeing bishop for the diocese.]
• “This is NOT about hatred for the TLM.” [True, cause, like, ANY attack on the TLM is spearheaded by evil "Spirit of Vatican II" clergy. There is mutual agreement though, by bloggers and involved people alike.]

In addition, a blog called Veneremur Cernui, who unfortunately supports the original source blog, DOES shed light on the situation as this blogger either has contacts in the geographical region of the Diocese of Fort Worth, OR lives in the area themself. http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/fisher-more-denied-ability-to-offer-tlm/

Finally, some of the best analysis of the college's situation comes from an ex-employee, the EF-friendly and ever so charitable and scholarly Dr. Taylor Marshall. He is a good and noble orthodox Catholic who is pro-EF, and was employed at the college until recently. He also runs an online institute I am part off with great Catholic education in an online format. Considering the other signs, I say that this move MUST have been made with solid reason. Might I also remind you Dr. Marshall has commented respectfully on the traditional catholic situation and the EF in post like these. I highly IMPLORE you to read his statement here from his Facebook page.

Seeing these signs and the testimonies of these commentators worries me, as a young Catholic who has partaken to an extent in the EF. I have seen some of this darkness surrounding the EF/Traditional Catholicism from my own archdiocese , and the attitudes prevalent in these signs are not good. They smell TOTALLY TRAD BEHAVING BADLY! While I do agree with the sentiment this situation was handled imprudently and there were better alternatives that could have been done (H/T Fr. Z), I cannot side with the TBBs on this one. Might I also add that financial imprudence is also tied into this president's antics, and that is NEVER good in any situation.

Everyone out there in Traditional Catholicism, let this be a lesson to all of you with what this Michael guy has done. If you decide to be TBB, side with or have sympathies with TBB elements of the EF/Traditional Catholic movement (e.g. SSPX, have radical sentiments, act like jerks online and in person ...), you are going to spoil it for us all, and get the EF killed in your dioceses, the Archdiocese of Toronto included. The (Arch)diocesan offices and the episcopacy (a.k.a. the bishops) are not stupid and will not tolerate such nonsense, and will strip you of the Latin Mass by any means with Canon Law or reason should it be warranted. So DON'T give them any reason to do so such as: Spewing your hate and your calumny, detraction, and slander online and in person; aligning with priests who do not have valid canonical faculties and societies that use the EF but are not in communion with the Church, even so far as to call them ``friends;`` believing in and saying those things you know will anger the episcopacy (e.g. you hate Vatican II? Keep that stuff in your drawing rooms and cigar rooms in private in your houses!) Adhere to these common sense guidelines, and most of the time, it won't be touched. And if the bishops are being un-pastoral in such a light, try to reason with them like in Scripture. That, and if their actions are so improper, they will eventually come to light. Christ won't tolerate His Holy Mass being smeared by his alter Christi like that. There IS divine justice, though that applies to EVERYONE. If you do have a pro-EF bishop though, work with him. Support him. Aid him and be joyful and Francis-like. And don't slander, detract, and calumnize him and his office.

And as for those who say "boo hoo" to the accusation that the TBBs spoil the TLM for us all, maybe your diocese has its own "liturgical police" or bishops who police the EFs and ensure TBBs leave, or you and your colleagues are ensuring that the mouths of the TBBs are shut or kept to their little dung-pile in the corner. However, most do not, including mine, and TBBs DO RUIN the mass for people like myself online and in person. While I can agree with you theoretically and theologically as to your arguments on paper, the situation practically speaking does not support your arguments.

I think the line Fr. Z. keeps saying, something about the "Maquis", seems like the best approach here. And that it all I will say on this situation. And as always, if you are angry and upset at me, go spew you vitriol in your own blogs and private domiciles, as long as Canada/the world allows for free speech on the Internet and private home conversation. I also won't be responding to comments/e-mails from any angry party or Rorate on this one, and won't pull my content down. So don't try it. You do, your comment might just be worthy enough for posting, as an example of what TBBs do. If you have done such stuff before, you'll also be formally banned here at S.U.D.

Pax, Julian.

Rorate Caeli Attacks their "Hero", Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI? More Context is Needed ....

Hello Everyone

I just caught something weird right now in my blogger feed, from Rorate Caeli. The title of the article is "She wanted to convert. But she listened to Cardinal Ratzinger and died a Lutheran." (with hyperlink attached).

The summary I can draw out of this, is that this woman named Sigrid Spath, was a translator for a number of Pope Benedict XVI`s documents from Italian into the language of his heritage, German, while he was the prefect for the CDF in Rome. She was told to remain a protestant to be of better service to the Church.

WHAT????? Something smells like rotten fish here, because Rorate Caeli is supposed to be "Trad" as it were, and Benedict XVI is so revered because of Summorum Pontificum and Ecclesiae Unitatem in Trad culture. Why would Rorate post this if Benedict XVI is supposed to be one of the heroes of Traditional Catholicism for his Latin Mass documents?

On the one hand, I will re-quote another Blogger's analysis of Rorate Caeli, "Spike is Best" which I put in my last couple of posts, which summarizes well their stance on Church issues and their "authority" in the Church:
"And just a friendly neighbourhood reminder: Rorate Caeli is the schismatic-but-without-the-guts-of-declaring-it blog that on the very heels - within minutes in fact - of the public declaration of the election of Pope Francis posted "The Horror" as their reaction, and did not offer any sort of apology stating their filial obedience to the Holy Pontiff. Thus, everything they post, write, disseminate, can be dismissed out of hand without second thought whatsoever, in the full comfortable knowledge that the neo-orthodoxy which they present is entirely floated."

On the other hand, this doesn't make sense! Why would a blog that necessitates adherence to these traditional heroes as it were, attack its own? There MUST be something more to this than a senseless attack on Benedict XVI by his own "party" as it were (traditional Catholics). Something has to clarify what this is all about!

So I must ask the question, what's going on here? Is there more to this story about this translator NOT becoming a Catholic at the advice of our living Pope Emeritus??? If anyone has anything SENSIBLE and not laced with TBB vitriol to add, please do share. Just be advised there are certain people whose comments will NOT be published here, even if they are valid. So don't try it, and follow my blog rules (see September 2012).

Pax, Julian.

Highlight: Spike Is Best Sums up well What Attitude Kills Traditionalism/Latin Mass

Hello Everyone,

Well, another blogger, "Spike is Best," has done a great job in dealing with the sickening attitude of the Trads Behaving Badly in a post on Traditionalism. He exactly deals with what is poisoning the progress of the Traditional Catholic movement and hence, the movement and progress of the Latin Mass in the Church. This is what I have found having been introduced to the Latin Mass two years ago. I am reprinting the words here in full, because in this instance, Spike is truly, Best.

"This is a blog post about "Traditionalism"

Pentimento has a good post up that I thought worth linking to: In Defense of the Folk Mass.

And for those who may have missed it, Colin Kerr wrote a good post about - in part - the latent gnosticism of those who call themselves "Traditionalists", not to mention the implicit schism of having two calendars (the Masses of which do not differ from each other in the same way that the Greek Mass differs from the Coptic Mass, or the Coptic Mass differs from the Melkite Mass, but differ from each other in an entirely different way, since one was brought about to reform the other, albeit without replacing it, but as its reform nonetheless, meaning there must at some point be a unification.): Grace and the Form of the Mass.

"Traditionalist" by the way is an implicitly schism-fomenting title. And the FSSP is very careful about using that term as a defining principle - in fact, they don't. They are a fraternity in submission to the Pope and one of their charisms is that they celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

That's right: the two Masses are supposed to inform each other. That's what Pope Benedict XVI said. Meaning the Novus Ordo being informed by the Extraordinary Form so that it would resemble what was actually envisioned by the Second Vatican Council? No, we can't have that! The sectarian traditionalist fundamentalists prefer the eternal dualism where the Novus Ordo universe exists as the false Matrix which they - being the enlightened Neos - will dissolve by the true and real reality of Underground Zion!
And if not dissolved, they're happy with it being the target from which they can bounce as a sounding board their precious preferences (rather than disposing their relationship with liturgy in the encounter with Christ, the Lamb who was slain who is at the heart of the Mass) by which they congratulate themselves for having such good tastes and their tastes also happen to be their salvation.

And why they prefer this?

Because there is no way the Extraordinary Form can reform the Novus Ordo without itself also being reformed. Because that is why the Novus Ordo came about, as its reform. Was it intended for the two Masses to go alongside in perpetuity with neither the twain ever meeting - and melding? Would Bendict have said that they are to inform each other if that was the case?

Nope. How so? Refer to the above paragraph. Because if the 1962 Mass does not get informed by the Novus Ordo resulting in it being changed, that means that the 1962 Liturgy is something Divinely Ordained beyond any change, which amounts to a denial of Vatican II. How the two Masses can inform each other without a melding point, in other words, while pretending to exist like they differ from each other in the same way that the Coptic Mass differs from the Melkite Mass, is, well, up to your own imagination I guess.

That's not my point anyways. They may very well not "meld". My point is that certain "Traditionalist Catholics" intuitively know the above (how reforming the Novus Ordo means reform of the 1962 Mass) and will show condemnation towards the Reform of the Reform. Is that why certain self-identifying "Traditionalists" are cynical about the phrase, "Reform of the Reform"?

You would think that these folks who write on the blogosphere about how saving the liturgy is to save the world - you would think these people would be all over the Novus Ordo, getting father to tweak various parts of the Mass towards Latin, like the Agnus Dei, towards chant (like father chanting the Gospel), towards having six candles on the altar, towards the tiniest littlest things that make a little tiny step closer to what was actually envisioned by the Second Vatican Council - you know, brick by brick.

Really they don't like brick by brick. They like throwing the bricks. Throwing them in their own condescending superiority. You might almost say it's like they've hijacked Summorum Pontificum.

And just a friendly neighbourhood reminder: Rorate Caeli is the schismatic-but-without-the-guts-of-declaring-it blog that on the very heels - within minutes in fact - of the public declaration of the election of Pope Francis posted "The Horror" as their reaction, and did not offer any sort of apology stating their filial obedience to the Holy Pontiff. Thus, everything they post, write, disseminate, can be dismissed out of hand without second thought whatsoever, in the full comfortable knowledge that the neo-orthodoxy which they present is entirely floated."