Update on the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel
Yes, work on the next article, a new and rather lengthy reflection of Our Lady's Fatima apparitions in connection with the dates on which those apparitions took place, is progressing. As it is no longer possible even to make an exception occasionally to stay up during the overnight hours to complete articles, it is necessary to cease work around Midnight and then pick it up again the next day. There is not too much more work to be done. However, I want to excercise care in the commentary's completion.
Similarly, the same kind of care is being taken with part three of my series on the address that Bergoglio delivered two months ago now to the Italian Liturgical Conference. Indeed, this particular commentary is proving to be one of the most difficult that I have ever written because of the extensive documentation required to make various points. It is possible that two shorter articles (afer the one on Fatima) may appear before I conclude the series on Jorge's intellectually dishonest defense of the indefensible, namely, the Protestant and Judeo-Masonic Novus Ordo liturgical service.
Speaking of that abomination of desoluation, today, October 24, 2017, the Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel, is the fiftieth anniversary of the "Missa Nomativa" that Annibable Bugnini staged for cardinals and bishops in the Sistine Chapel. The "Missa Normativa" was the protoype of the Novus Ordo that had been concocted synthetically by Bugnini's Consilium. While the abomination had the support of seventy-one bishops, sixty-three voted yes with reservations, and forty-three simply rejected outright.
The Archbishop of Westminster, John Carmel "Cardinal" Heenan (he was conscrated in 1951 but made a "cardinal" in 1963 by Giovanni Battista Enrinco Antonio Maria Montini/Paolo il Malato) who impemented the Novus Ordo service in 1969 as "best" he thought possible after some minor changes had been made form the Missa Normativa staged fifty years ago today, explained his objections to the Missa Normativa in an intervention made thereafter that are qutie telling
Like all the bishops I offer my sincere thanks to the Consilium. Its members have worked well and have done their best. I cannot help wondering, however, if the Consilium as at present constituted can meet the needs of our times. For the liturgy is not primarily an academic or cultural question. It is above all a pastoral matter, for it concerns the spiritual lives of our faithful. I do not know the names of the members of the Consilium or, even more important, the names of their consultors. But after studying the so called Normative Mass it was clear to me that few of them can have been parish priests. I cannot think that anyone with pastoral experience would have regarded the sung Mass as being of first importance.
At home it is not only women and children but also fathers of families and young men who come regularly to Mass. If we were to offer them the kind of ceremony we saw yesterday in the Sistine Chapel [a demonstration of the Normative Mass] we would soon be left with a congregation mostly of women and children. Our people love the Mass, but it is Low Mass without psalm-singing and other musical embellishments to which they are chiefly attached. I humbly suggest that the Consilium look at its members and advisers to make sure that the number of those who live in seminaries and religious communities does not exceed the numbers of those with pastoral experience among the people in ordinary parishes.
Here are a few points which solely for the sake of time - since only five minutes are allowed for comments - must be put so shortly as to sound brusque.
1. The rule of prayer is the rule of faith. If there is to be more emphasis in the Mass on Bible readings than on Eucharistic prayer, the faith of both clergy and people will be weakened.
2. There is more need than ever today to stress the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. No change in the Mass should be made which might seem to throw doubt on this doctrine.
3. Many bishops in this Synod have spoken of the need of coming to the rescue of the faithful grown restless and disturbed on account of too frequent changes in the Mass. I must therefore ask what attitude the Consilium wlll take to these warnings from the pastors of the Church? I confess in all seriousness that I am uneasy lest the liturgists say "These bishops know nothing about liturgy." It would be tragic if after the bishops have gone home no notice were to be taken of their opinions.
4. In my diocese of Westminster - and in several English dioceses - the rule is that at least one Mass each Sunday must be celebrated in Latin. It would be a great help if the Consilium were to tell the whole Church how the Latin tongue can be preserved. If the Church is to remain truly the Catholic Church it is essential to keep a universal tongue.” (As found at a Novus Ordo presbyter's website: Getting Cardinal Heenan Right.)
No, I will not wish anyone a "happy anniversary." This day was no less "black" fifty years ago today that had been Black Sunday two days before that year as the altered Roman Canon was said in Latin in the vernacular for the first time in the United States of America.
However, I do wish you all a blessed Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel, and thank you for your patience as the next article is completed.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
