Overheard in the Sacristy

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Brilliant. Absolutely Brilliant!

Happy 40th birthday, Novus Ordo!

By Damian Thompson

It is 40 years ago today since the New Mass of Paul VI was introduced into our parishes, writes Margery Popinstar, editor of The Capsule. We knew at the time that this liturgy was as close to perfection as humanly possible, but little did we guess what an efflorescence of art, architecture, music and worship lay ahead!

There were fears at first that the vernacular service would damage the solemnity of the Mass. How silly! Far from leading to liturgical abuses, the New Mass nurtured a koinonia that revived Catholic culture and packed our reordered churches to the rafters.

So dramatic was the growth in family Mass observance, indeed, that a new school of Catholic architecture arose to provide places of worship for these new congregations. Throughout the Western world, churches sprang up that combined Christian heritage with the thrilling simplicity of the modern school, creating a sense of the numinous that has proved as irresistible to secular visitors as to the faithful.

For some worshippers, it is the sheer visual beauty of the New Mass that captures the heart, with its simple yet scrupulously observed rubrics – to say nothing of the elegance of the priest’s vestments, which (though commendably less fussy than pre-conciliar outfits) exhibit a standard of meticulous craftsmanship which truly gives glory to God!

The same refreshing of tradition infuses the wonderful – and toe-tapping! – modern Mass settings and hymns produced for the revised liturgy. This music, written by the most gifted composers of our era, has won over congregations so totally that it is now rare to encounter a parish where everyone is not singing their heads off! Even the secular “hit parade” has borrowed from Catholic worship songs, so deliciously memorable – yet reverent! – is the effect they create. No wonder it is standing room only at most Masses!

Did Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, who birthed this kairos, have any idea just how radically his innovations would transform the Church? We must, of course, all rejoice in his imminent beatification – but, in the meantime, I am tempted to borrow a phrase from a forgotten language that – can you believe it? – was used by the Church for services before 1969: Si monumentum requiris, circumspice.

Two years ago today–Monday of the First Week of Advent–I began offering the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite regularly.

Pope praises pro-crucifix demonstrators

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has praised demonstrators who are protesting a European court ruling that said crucifixes in public schools violate religious and educational freedoms.

Several hundred people marched to St. Peter’s Square on Sunday carrying crucifixes and banners reading “Leave us our crucifixes” and “Crucifixes are fine in classrooms.”

The European Court of Human Rights earlier this month ordered Italy to pay euro5,000 ($7,390) to a mother in northern Italy who fought for years to have crucifixes removed from her children’s public school classrooms.

Italy is appealing the decision.

Benedict praised the demonstrators for having shown their “profound love for the cruficix, recognizing its religious, historic and cultural value.”

First Sunday of Advent AD 1969

Novus Ordo Missae

At Vespers for the Start of Advent AD 2009

EWTN will air Vespers from St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the start of Advent. Saturday, November 28 11:00 AM ET / 8 AM PT and 6:00 PM ET / 3 PM PT

According to Saturday’s edition of the L’Osservatore Romano, the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini explains that Pope Benedict will begin using a newly-designed Pastoral Staff at Advent First Vespers that evening. The new ferula was given to the Pope by a Roman association founded in 1869—the Circolo San Pietro.

The image of the front center is the Lamb of God and the symbols of the four Evangelists are on the four points of the cross. The arms of the cross are decorated in a net-like pattern. On the back center is the Chi-Rho, and on the four points of the cross, Saints Augustine, Ambrose, Athanasius and John Chrysostom. The coat of arms of His Holiness top the staff.

A shop assistant displays CDs of a new album just released, entitled “Alma Mater Music from the Vatican,” which includes eight original pieces of contemporary music, interwoven with Gregorian chants and Pope Benedict XVI’s voice, in a shop in Rome, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. Benedict sings a hymn and recites prayers to the Virgin Mary in various languages, including Italian, French and Latin.

The Greek noun eucharistía (εὐχαριστία) derives from eú- “good, well” + cháris “favor, grace”. Eucharistéō (εὐχαριστῶ) is the usual verb for “to thank” in the Septuagint and New Testament. It is found in the major texts concerning the Lord’s Supper:

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks (eucharistéō), He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” — 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

“And when He had taken a cup and given thanks (eucharistéō), He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” — Mark 14:23-24

Pope challenges pilgrims to use Holy Trinity as model in relationships

Vatican City, Nov 25, 2009 / 10:27 am (CNA).- Continuing the theme of Christian culture in the Middle Ages in his weekly catechesis,  Pope Benedict chose Hugh and Richard of Saint Victor’s Monastery in Paris as the subjects of today’s address at his general audience.  These 12th century theologians “remind us that theology is grounded in the contemplation born of faith and the pursuit of understanding, and brings with it the immense joy of experiencing the eternal love of the Blessed Trinity.”

Hugh of Saint Victor is known for his treatise, “On the Sacraments of the Christian Faith,” which was an influential document in defining the nature of a sacrament.  He reached considerable status in his time, to the point of being called “a second St. Augustine.”  Hugh was known for inculcating the desire in his disciples to constantly seek the truth.

In his famous treatise, he emphasized the institution of sacraments by Christ and the communication of grace through the sacraments.  Also proposed in the document was the value of sacraments as outward signs.

Among Hugh’s students at the monastery was  Richard, a disciple who would later become the prior of Saint Victor.  In Richard’s teachings there was an emphasis on the allegorical sense of Scripture and on the continuous observance of virtue, both of which were promoted in his instruction as fundamental to achieving human maturity and contemplative wisdom.

Richard’s treatise “On the Trinity” studied the mystery of the triune God by analyzing love, whereby the mutual giving and receiving between two persons finds its perfection in the creation of a third.

Pope Benedict XVI said the authors such as these two move us to the contemplation of heavenly realities and the admiration of the Holy Trinity as a perfect model of communion.

“How much the world would change if in families, parishes and any type of community, if relationships had as a model the three divine Persons, that not only live with the others, but for them and in them!” the Holy Father exclaimed.

In closing, the Pontiff extended a welcome to pilgrims from all nations, including those on pilgrimage from Japan to celebrate the first anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Peter Kibe and Companions.