My return to blogging - A year of faith, formation, discerning, and encouragment

Hello fellow readers:

It has been quite a long time since my last post - about 9 months! I want to briefly share with you my reasoning for leaving the blogging world (though only being in it for a short time) and why I'm returning.

Since the decision of His Holiness, Benedict XVI, to abdicate the Throne of St. Peter, I, being a faithful adherer and admirer of the Pontiff whom I came under the Church through, was beginning to question what the future of Christ's Church would be under a new pontiff. Was he going to continue the renewal of the sacred liturgy? Was he going to be the educator of the faith to a world that so desperately needs the faith to be taught authentically? Was he going to be a Pontiff whom the liberal Catholics would love or hate? All of these questions I did not know and feared to know the answers to.

At the election of His Holiness, Francis, it only took the first appearance on the balcony in St. Peter's Square for me to understand where the Church was heading. Though since then I have grown to respect him as a Successor of St. Peter, from a convert's perspective who loved the true clarity, direct delivery, and adherence to Catholic tradition of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, I found it hard, and still at times do, due to my own sin, to truly respect His Holiness, Francis. It's just something that I pray, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, will become easier with time.

 So - why have I decided to come back to blogging? Aren't there enough blogs about the sacred liturgy flying about through the trad-Catholic blog-o-sphere? Why would commentary from a graduating senior in college hold any more of a flame than of famous blogs such as "New Liturgical Movement" or "Fr. Z - What the Prayer Really Says" (though he's changed his blog name since then)? I stopped for that very reason and yet I return for that very reason. I'm a young adult Catholic who has got many years left to help in his own special way the return of the reverence and tradition of the sacred liturgy! If there aren't countless of blogs declaring the necessity of the return of the sacred liturgy, "reform of the reform", hermeneutic of continuity, etc., then the "crazy female nun" who runs the liturgy office of any particular diocese or parish would win. The liberal Catholics and their desire for a more Protestant, "inclusive" (my least favorite word) liturgy would win. So what if my post sounds like another trad-Catholic's blog. The fact is....there's more than ONE of us out there! It's rather comforting.

A special thanks goes out to two trad-Catholic Facebook pages, "Adoremus in Aeternum, a Catholic Tradition" and "Church Militant" (not to be confused with ChurchMilitant.TV w/ Michael Voris, though his programing is very good in my book) for posting links to my blog post about "keeping those fingers together". If if you haven't read it, it's probably my post popular blog post. It's over in the right hand corner I'm sure as the top viewed post.

So - it is now official. I am coming out of blogging retirement and back into the fight! I pray that this new motivation and support from my old and new readers will continue to inspire me to right the truth....and nothing but the truth!

God bless, and pray for me, a poor sinner.

Chase Fowler

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us 

Pope Francis' First Papal Mass - A Man of True Humbleness

For those who watched Pope Francis' first papal mass, you witnessed a man who was truly humbled by everything that has happened in the last two days. Sure, I could talk about my dislike of the revival of the free standing altar back into the Sistine Chapel and many other liturgical things that would typically throw me off. I, however, was deeply moved by the true zeal and passion of Pope Francis as he was giving his sermon and his love of the Eucharist. If you have the chance, I'm sure you can find his first sermon on YouTube. I was moved by a man who was given a task he originally did want (conclave 2005) but was elected to by the College of Cardinals. His soft spoken voice is not a sign of weakness but a sign of humility. Yes, I know he only has one lung. He is not Benedict XVI. He is not Blessed John Paul II. He is Pope Francis, a man of whom we all must get acquainted to and a man of whom the Holy Spirit has made our new Supreme Pontiff. I pray that he will adopt the liturgical tradition of Benedict XVI and keep his zeal for the Catholic faith in his preaching! Sure - the sermon was in Italian and not Latin. The mass was in Latin. Sure, the vestments weren't what I would call "traditional". Sure, the mass was celebrated versus populum in the Sistine Chapel and not ad orientem like Benedict XVI would have done so. All of this set aside, we have here a man who is humble, gentle, traditional, and on fire for Christ's Bride, Holy Mother Church. We have a man who has combated evil itself in Argentina. I ask that all traditionalists out there who began to slander our new Holy Father eat a slice "humble pie" (don't worry - I'll have a slice. I may not have shared my opinions publicly, however, I dare say that I was thinking some of what was being said. I did, however, raise question on Dr. Taylor Marshall's blog Canterbury Tales about the past forms of the now Pope Francis' form of ecumenism) and get back to work in promulgating the New Evangelization and saving our ever more increasingly secularized culture!

Let us pray for our new Supreme Pontiff, Francis.

Pater Noster.
Ave Maria.
Gloria Patri.

Amen. 

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-1st-homily-full-text (First homily of Pope Francis)

Sandals & Fiddlebacks - In Honor of the new Supreme Pontiff, Francis

In honor of the St. Francis of Assisi, whom our newly elected Supreme Pontiff, Francis, has chosen his name from (interesting, seeing as he "was" a Jesuit...), here is a beautiful video of the Franciscans of the Immaculate at Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass. The Sisters of the Immaculate are singing in the background.

Pray for the promulgation of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum (2007...let's see how many faithful bishops have spread this out...), and the restoration of the Traditional Latin Mass into the lives of the faithful. Pray also for the new Supreme Pontiff, that he may authentically preach, teach, and pray the fullness of the Catholic faith, doctrines, liturgy, and life into the secular world today.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us
All the Holy Saints and Angels in Heaven, pray for us

Amen. 

Habemus Papam! - Pope Francis

We, at Maniples Matter, would like to congratulate the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, on accepting the position ordained by the Holy Spirit to be the Supreme Pontiff of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We pray that he continues the liturgical continuity of Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, and pray that he brings back the sacred into the Church's liturgy! We pray that Pope Francis upholds the dignity of Christ's Church, prays that he will be graced with countless graces by the Holy Spirit, and guide the Church, through the New Evangelization, into a more authentically Catholic, spiritually and liturgically, so as to share the faith to the secular world.

Oremus. (Let us pray) - for the new Pope

Pater Noster.

Ave Maria.

Gloria Patri

Amen.

Knott - Ritual Notes, 10th Edition

Before I converted to the Catholic Church, I was a ardent Anglo-Catholic and a passionate traditional liturgist (huge surprise to you all, I'm sure...). I came across a copy of Ritual Notes, 10th Edition while I was still in high school and devoured every page. It is the traditional liturgist's bible, whether Catholic or Anglican, and speaks on behalf of the Oxford Movement within England during the later part of the 19th century (the same movement that Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman was a part of and became a Catholic through).

Why do I bring this up? Well, after I graduated high school, I left my copy of Ritual Notes, 10th Edition, at the parish that I attended. Becoming even more of a liturgist in college, I yearned for this book! In the last week, I have been able to obtain it again and have not placed it down! It is literally a "liturigst's drug"!!!

The Ritual Notes, 10th Edition, takes the best of the Sarum Rite (Salisbury Use, 14th c.) and the Tridentine Rite (commonly called the Traditional Latin Mass) and combines them into a traditional, Anglo-philed, liturgist's dream!

Lastly, if the UK, USA, and Australian Personal Ordinariates adopted the Sarum Rite (with the use of Latin, not just the pageantry), I'm sure that could be the substitute for the Tridentine Rite that seems to have been forbidden for public worship on Ordinariate property at least in the United States. Mgsr. Steenson has stated his reasons, however, I think the Sarum Rite is a perfect replacement! It's English; it's traditional liturgy; it's Latin, and it helped inspire the liturgy of the Oxford Movement!

**Please do not use the comment box to question Mgsr. Steenson's stance on the usage of the Tridentine Rite in the comment box. I'd suggest that you look up YouTube videos and written statements by the Ordinary himself in order to understand his point of view, no matter how much I may disagree with it. I am a member of of the Personal Ordinariate of St. Peter.**

Picture taken from an Anglo-Catholic source published in England in the first part of the 20th century depicting the "English Use" (Anglican), which can be assumed to be the Sarum Rite in English. 

Ad Orientem - Orientating Our Lives and the Sacred Liturgy to Christ

In admiration of my loving priest, Father Kyle Walterscheid, who always leads me to the Cross on Mount Calvary, I write this blog post.

Note: To all who read my previous post about ad orientem and were offended by my blunt commentary, I deleted the post so as to write a more educated post that will hopefully be more usual than just my banter. If I offended anyone, my deepest apologies. Mea cupla. Pax Christi.

(courtesy of Benjamin Austin)

Pictured here is the altar, ready for Mass, at Blessed John Paul II University Parish in Denton, Texas. Blessed John Paul II is the Catholic Campus center for the University of North Texas and Texas Women's University. Blessed John Paul II University Parish offers all daily masses, Holy Days of Obligation, and the Sunday High Mass ad orientem.

Note: There are hundreds of traditional liturgical blogs on the internet that talk about the importance of ad orientem. His Holiness, Benedict XVI, has written countless of literature on the Sacred Liturgy! If you're not willing to do your own research, be content with living in your own darkness and do not complain if someone wants to do things more "traditionally". If you wanted the rights to complain, you should have done your own research and found whatever it was in error and fault. That is when you can clearly be against something! Might I suggest Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)'s book entitled "Spirit of the Liturgy" or any books about the Reform of the Reform (in reference to liturgy). The New Liturgical Movement blog is also a fantastic resource!

Ad orientem...a phrase that literally means "towards the orient". What does the orient mean? It means towards the east. In the tradition of the Church, from the times of the early Christians celebrating on top of the tombs of apostles in the catacombs to about the time of the 1960's, for most of the Catholic world, the orientation was "towards the East and the rising sun" which is Christ the Lord. As we pray, we pray towards the East, so as to better bring about what the Psalter describes as the direction of prayer into the conformity of our own Catholic doctrine.

Now, what does this have to do with anything? What does this have anything to do with us in these modern times? Why should we have a particular orientation of prayer? Can we not pray however we wish to?

Well, if we were to talking on an ecumenism level, then I would have no real argument, for if people do not believe in Christ being transubstansiated Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Blessed Sacrament, then facing a gold box against a wall while praying would almost seem pointless. Even if the Blessed Sacrament wasn't reserved, without the proper understanding of to whom to towards what you are orientating your prayers to, ad orientem looks pretty silly. Now, it's time to explain from a Catholic perspective.

Ad orientem - Gazing Upon Mount Calvary

When you enter into a church, do you realize that at that moment, when in front of the Blessed Sacrament, you are in the real and true presence of Christ and are at Mount Calvary with Him as He perfectly was when He died on the cross for our sins? If you were to put on the "eyes of Heaven" you would see countless flocks of angels around every single tabernacle around the world, prostrated before Our Blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist - especially during Holy Mass. At the same time, you would physically be transported to the very time and place on Mount Calvary when Our Blessed Lord offered up Himself unto Almighty God for the sins of the whole world. You would see Our Blessed Mother in silent tears; she too offering up her own Son without protest. You would see the Beloved Disciple, St. John, looking up at Our Blessed Lord while comforting the Blessed Mother. You were hear absolutely nothing, for all of the Gospel accounts, all were silent before Christ as he lifted up His soul to Almighty God. It wasn't until after that that the earth began to shake, etc., etc.

Now, why do you ask, are we transported to Mount Calvary. We are transported because it is by that very act, the very nature of the act, the very essence of Christ's "once for all sacrifice" was and is and how we receive Him so dearly. When we approach the altar rail and humbly kneel before Our Blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist, we are actively kneeling before Almighty God as he offered Himself up to Himself. We are then given His own flesh and blood to consume, the very essence by which eternal life streams from (John 6). We are all, including the priest, onlookers to that wonderful, beautiful, and bloody sacrifice on Mount Calvary. We are all dependent on the necessary grace of Almighty God. Who are we that we are to gaze towards anyone else during this most sacred occasion. We take on the roles of the people who were at Mount Calvary by gazing towards the cross of which Christ Himself was crucified on. Is the Holy Mass some kind of communal effort that we give each other a "pat on the back" for doing a job well done? The answer is no. We must then orientate ourselves to the Cross, to the Tabernacle, by which Our Blessed Lord dwells among us in His most perfect state of Priest and Sacrifice; in Glory in Heaven and on earth offering Himself upon the cross for our very redemption on Mount Calvary.

Ad orientem - Facing Almighty God, to whom we pray to

It baffles my mind when people, who not by their own fault, are so ill-catechized that they truly believe that Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, King of the Universe, in the Tabernacle is a distraction during Holy Mass. If Christ is a distraction to you, you should probably go see a priest and have that fixed.

But let me ask you this questions: When you pray in a chapel, in which direction are you praying towards? Why are you praying in that direction? Why were the pews and kneelers arranged in such a fashion that all are pointing in the same direction? Does it matter if you decided to sit in your chair backwards towards Christ and pray in a different direction than where He is? This was, of course, a series of hypothetical questions that I am now going to answer. When you

When you pray in a chapel, you are hopefully praying towards the sanctuary where the Most Blessed Sacrament is kept in a tabernacle, for that is where Almighty God is truly present in the fully reality of the Second Part of the Blessed Trinity. If you do have an issue with this concept, I suggest that you speak with a Catholic priest on the Church's teachings of transubstansitation. The tabernacle is hopefully in horizontal center of the sanctuary, thus becoming the pinnacle of which prayer is orientated towards. If it is not, you should talk to your priest about his true beliefs of Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Before I continue, why is it important that Christ, who is Almighty God, King of the Universe, Lord of All Creation, be the primary focal point and center of any sanctuary. If you are a Catholic and you are asking this question, I suggest that you do some serious prayer on your own faith. If you do not wish Almighty God to be the primary focal point and in the center of the sanctuary that Holy Mass is being offered, you do not fully believe and fully trust that Jesus Christ, the Second Part of the Most Blessed Trinity, is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. You might say you do. You might even preach that you do. However, if you are not willing to have Him in your sanctuary as the prime focal point for all liturgical actions and for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to whom we offer up to Almighty God Himself as we gaze upon Mount Calvary, your words are meaningless. You do not fully trust in God if you do not make Him the absolute focal point of all prayer within Christ's Church.

Now, when I say, "make Him the absolute focal point of all prayer within Christ's Church," some might say, "But Chase, we're always praying to God. We don't need God present in the Tabernacle before us to pray to Him. God is everywhere and in all of us."

You honestly don't know how many times I've had this argument thrown in my face. I then say something like this:

"Oh ye of little faith. You say that you believe in God. You say that you believe in what Christ's Church teaches. You say you fully believe in the reality of Christ being present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. If you're not willing to have the Tabernacle where God is currently dwelling as the primary focal point of prayer, fixated on the altar so as to perfectly depict that sacred sacrificial act of Mount Calvary, and orientate yourself so that all may know that you are praying in the same direction towards Almighty God whom you trust (including you too, priests. Remember, you are not turning your back on the people. You are inviting them into prayer, and helping them direct their prayers towards Christ dwelling in the Tabernacle), then you do not completely believe in anything you say you do. You are all words but no action. You preach yet nothing perfectly good will come of it until you are all orientated towards Christ."

But what about Vatican II???

Every time I get this argument, I literally go through a perfectly methodical format explaining how Vatican II had nothing to do with celebrating mass versus populum. It's only when I have people who are militantly against ad orientem because they are under some delusion that "whatever the priest or bishop says is liquid gold/the priest's been to seminary/it's in Vatican II" with all the different variations that makes this conversation much harder. Let me point out one thing. Bishops, priests, and deacons are human too. They are not infallible. They can teach error. Many do all over the country, but that's a whole other topic for a whole other different blog.

 http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

I have just posted for you the link to the literal English translation of the Second Vatican Documents on the Sacred Liturgy from the Vatican website. If you wish, you can go onto the website and read the original Latin and then translate it over to English as a fun exercise if you're into that sort of thing. I will personally close my blog and never speak of this subject again if you can find the phrase that talks about having a free standing altar and mass versus populum. If it somehow magically did (which I know it doesn't), I would militantly fight it. However, I know it doesn't I also know by reading books such as "Spirit of the Liturgy" by Benedict XVI that is was not in the Council Father's mind set to ever have versus populum. Even in the Mass of Paul VI there are instructions for when the priest is to turn and face the people such as when he is giving a blessing. Other than that, he is to face Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament who is dwelling in the Tabernacle. Look it up yourself.

GIRM - General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 2003 (USA only)

Now, this is where some people feel as if they've won. They may not be able to argue against any of the previous arguments, but by George they'll quote Chapter V, Section II, Article 299 of the GIRM so fast that they'll think they've won the "battle". They'll be so happy so fast you could have sworn it was their birthday. It has nothing to do with true, authentic Catholic interpretation of the reality of the Holy Mass, Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, or anything other conformity with the sacred tradition of Holy Mother Church. Nope. It has everything to do with the hidden agenda of the "Liturgical Movement" founded in Germany during the Second World War and their own desire to Protestantize the Church and Her sacred liturgy! If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up sometime. That's why "The New Liturgical Movement" blog called themselves exactly that! They wish to counter act the "Liturgical Movement" that sprung from Germany and ruined the rest of Western Civilization and their celebration of the sacred liturgy during the 1970's. More on this "heretical" group later (I believe them to be heretical. Members of this group have individually be proclaimed heretical, however, the group itself was not ever found heretical). To note, Pope Pius XII encyclical Mediator Dei was in direct reaction to this group's influence within Europe during the 1940's.

Also to note about this section of the GIRM - the GIRM, published in 2003, had to be approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments who's Prefect at that time was Cardinal Arinze (now retired since 2008). Many of the liturgical abuses that were alive and well within the United States during the 1970's and 80's (ex. communion in the hand, no altar rails, etc.) had to be later approved after practically a generation or so of Catholics were already indoctrinated with this mentality. The concession of the Congregation to allow such things is under the category of an "indult", which is an allowance for something to happen. The very elusive language of the GIRM and allowance for the individual Conference of Bishops to essentially be allowed to do whatever they please is in direct contrast to the Second Vatican Council and the prior 1950 years of church tradition and conformity to the Magesterium. I personally view the USCCB to be the hugest waste of time. When you get that many men in own room who hold great amounts of power and are all privately disagreeing with one another, it can never turn into a good idea.

To end this section, I am placing a link to a Rome newspaper which states that the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Sacraments is currently in the process of making a manual for priests on how to properly celebrate the Mass which will include the liturgical heresy of versus populum and how that was not in accordance with the Council Father's wishes during the Second Vatican Council. It's taken the Congregation forever and with much resistance from the world's bishops, but they are finally taking stance on what is right!

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-preparing-a-manual-to-help-priests-celebrate-mass

To conclude:

Ad orientem is the only liturgical orientation that perfectly brings about the fullness and authenticity of our Catholic faith. It brings about the re-orientation from worship of man and self back to true worship of Almighty God in such a powerful way that only the Holy Mass can confer. It makes all of us, including the priest, gaze upon the sacred sacrifice on Mount Calvary. It brings about a perfect direction of prayer, for our prayers are then joined with the priest who is celebrating Mass and all facing towards Almighty God, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, veiled in the Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle. I guarantee that by re-configuring all chapels, parishes, cathedrals, etc., to where total worship and prayer was directed towards Almighty God in the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, there would be so many vocations that the world would be transformed to Christ in a matter of months! You wouldn't be able to build seminaries and convents faster! Churches would become so jammed pack with people wanting to witness that which is so sacred! You would have enough priests to bring about the New Evangelization of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! SO MUCH grace can be brought into this world through Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by just re-orientating our lives and our worship to His truly beautiful and Divine Self within the Holy of Holies, the Tabernacle.

Amen.   

  

How to Dress a Chalice for Mass Properly!

It is always amazing what you see at your typical Catholic Church and how they dress their chalices for mass! Sometimes it's veiled; other times it isn't. Sometimes all the chalices are carried out on some LARGE tray that makes it look like they just came from the cleaners!

THIS, my dear friends, is how you dress a chalice. Thank you to the Facebook group "Tradition" for this photo:

This is why...

This is one of the many videos that convinced me to start a traditional liturgist blog. An actual post will be coming soon. But for now, be ready for the horror that is about to come.

"NOT the Same Church"

"Liturgical Abuses"

They still exist. HELP the CHURCH!!!!!!!!

The Vortex - The Drum Beat - The Problems of the Culture

EVERYONE needs to watch this video!!!! This is the BEST video of how the culture of death is winning and what we need to do to change the culture with the fullness of the Catholic faith!

Please watch this! Share this with your parishes! Be a witness and starting banging the "Catholic drum beat"! 

Charles I/Picture Post!!!

To whom it may concern:

As being a former Anglo-Catholic, my heart goes out on this day to King Charles I (Charles Stuart) of England, for on this day, he was wrongfully beheaded by the Puritan England! I believe him to be a martyr for the cause of Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Was he a Roman Catholic? No. He was married to the Princess of France (Catholic) and was believed to be an organizer for the return of England to Holy Mother Church. He was an Anglican but who's churchmanship was truly Catholic in all senses except by Confirmation.

God rest his soul, and may he pray for us.


In other news, this is a picture of the new Archbishop of Portland, the Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample. Now THIS is what an Archbishop should look like! Also...note the MANIPLE and the GAUNTLETS!!!! (There will be a post sometime about the Pontifical Gauntlets)

Picture Post - Requiem Mass and Black Vestments

One thing that REALLY irritates me is when I attend a funeral (yes, it does happen from time to time), the minister (if at a Protestant Church - SHOCKING, I have Protestant relatives) or priest will be dressed in white vestments and be celebrating what's called in the Post Vatican II mindset a "Mass of the Resurrection" - as if the Resurrection of the soul with the body has already happened?

One MAJOR fault with this kind of mindset, no matter who the relation was with, is that you do not TRULY know if the person is going to Heaven (via Purgatory - trust me, even the saints went through a nano-second of Purgatory) or to Hell. Celebrating a Mass of the Resurrection, with all the comforting talk from priests and bishops PROCLAIMING that the soul is now in Heaven with Our Blessed Lord is NOT what the Church teaches. We are not to assume that any soul is either in Heaven or in Hell. We do not have the power or the authority to make that judgement. The only reason why we have that authority when it comes to souls who are canonized (I do not argue this case with those who have been beatified only because it can get tricky) is because there are several miracles proven without a shadow of a doubt that it was through the intercession of a particular person, thus proving that because a miracle happened, the soul must be in Heavenly bliss with Our Blessed Lord.

Why then do we use black vestment?! Why, on a day of already great sorrow, is the Church vested in black, the solemnity is "kicked up" to almost as equal to a Good Friday Mass of the Pre-Sanctified? Can we not all just have a "celebration of life" Mass were they take away the reality that a soul has been unnaturally and tragically separated from the body through death and believe that our dearly departed, whom we love and do not wish to offend their memory, is in Heaven already with Our Blessed Lord?

The problem with modernized Catholic thinking is that we assume to much! We assume that this liturgical heresy is OK because it's been illegally allowed for five generations. We assume that if we defy what our Supreme Pontiff asks of us that nothing REALLY will happen because of our defiance! I could go on and on!

We do NOT assume that any soul, no matter what their religiosity or lack there of, is in Heaven or in Hell. We are MOURNING the loss of a soul - a soul that NO LONGER has the ability to seek Christ's Salvation. Their time is UP! We are truly mourning! We wear black vestments and black clothing to funerals and requiem masses because we are sadden that the judgment of this soul has been forever sealed. All we can do is to pray for the soul, knowing that our prayers may help this particular soul may reach Christ's salvation that NO one is ever guaranteed but is given FREELY by Our Blessed Lord, the Second Part of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Maniples Matter! on Twitter!!!/Email Suggestions!

Readers!


As I am typing my blog post titled "Conversi ad Dominum - Turning Towards the Lord - Ad Orientem", I am referring your attention to the fact that "Maniples Matter!" is NOW on Twitter! If you look on the left hand side, you will see the Twitter account name (@ManiplesMatter)! I will be posting there as well as on the blog comments, links, and such as I see fit. All blog posts will be linked throw Twitter, so if you are a Twitter fan, you will know when a post has happened AND there will be a link there waiting for you to click on!

Also, I truly am serious when I am asking you guys to send me topics for conversations! I want you, as my readers, to take pictures of either bad examples of liturgical abuse (you can use your iPhone and say you're reading the lessons for mass...), or any examples of great liturgy and send them to this email address:

mcfcatholic0192@gmail.com

Also, I'd like to know what you are thinking, how you are enjoying or not enjoying the blog, opinions, suggestions, etc. I am honestly trying to get my foot into the mammoth world of the Catholic blogosphere and wish to be involved equally as all the famous blogs that I can currently think of. My blog is for you the reader! I'll continue to write about topics on my own terms, but unless I get feedback from you, I honestly have no idea if I'm truly reaching anyone! As a person with an opinion wishing to share it, that's obviously the point of this blog!

Follow me on Twitter, share my blog, email me suggestions/comments/pictures/stories, etc., and let me know what you think!

In Christ,

Chase +

Deacon's wish for wider spread of the Latin Mass!

From time to time, I will post links to various websites that have wonderful news articles in reference to the restoration of the Church's liturgy, particularly from parishes, priests, etc., who have come to love and celebrate the Tridentine Mass!

Here's an article from the Catholic News Herald of a deacon promoting the Latin Mass. This is from the Diocese of Charlotte (US).

http://catholicnewsherald.com/50-news/roknewspager-viewpoints/2924-deacon-toner-try-the-latin-mass-the-church-s-ancient-treasure

Enjoy!

Keep Those Fingers Together!!! - A Message to Priests!

Through my experiences of attending many churches who celebrate the Mass of Paul VI (Novus Ordo - I've decided to say the Mass of Paul VI, for that is what it is), if I knew not the priest's own devotion to Our Blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist and was to assume the worst in everyone, I would assume that hardly any priest believed that Christ was truly there, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Now you might be thinking, "Chase, that's harsh! That's a really pessimistic view of priestly conduct! They're Catholic priests! They know it's Christ."

Well, if the priest knows it's Christ, why are there so many un-catechized Catholics who do not even know that Christ is truly there, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Most Holy Eucharist? Why have we allowed this to go on in the Church? The faith of any particular congregation depends upon the faith, devotion  and love of Christ and His Holy Church on the part of the priest (think of St. John Vianney and his congregation!). If there is a faulty parish, look towards the priest! If the Year of Faith is ever to come into full effect, EVERY priest of EVERY Catholic parish MUST be authentically Catholic, have a devout prayer life, teach only the truth of the Catholic faith, and never faultier!

How does this tie into "keeping the fingers together"? By treating Christ with the utmost care, reverence, and importance, the truth of the Catholic faith will prosper and there will be so many vocations to the priesthood and religious life, you'll have to build a new seminary and monastery every year to house them all! Now, let me explain the "keeping the fingers together" bit.

During Holy Mass, even before the consecration, whenever the priest is to touch the Host on the paten, he should ONLY use his thumbs and forefingers while moving or picking up the Host. Even before the consecration! The reason? During the consecration, if you "man handled" the Host during the Offertory and after the consecration happened you use your thumbs and forefingers, the tiny particles of Host on your other fingers have been transubstansitated into Christ! At that point, you might as well just "throw in the towel on keeping Christ's body from being blasphemed"! You'll probably forget He was on your fingers and wipe them on something else, blaspheming Our Lord in more ways than your ever want to know! You, as a priest, will have to answer for this some day! (happy thoughts and confession time!)

So...what do we do about this, and why keep your fingers together? Here's the logistical explanation. When you touch the Host, use your thumbs and forefingers. After you touch the Host, even if it's before the consecration, press your thumb and forefinger together unless if you are touching the Host again (don't see why you would be, but if it happens, OK). This keeps the particles on unconsecrated Host from getting everywhere and being consecrated without you knowing about it! (Priests, think to yourself...How many times have I man-handled the Host, touched the missal, the linens, etc., before, during, or even AFTER the consecration....More prayer and another confession topic...)
At the consecration, again, only use your thumbs and forefingers to pick up the Host, now Christ Himself! Do NOT wipe your fingers on the corporal and DO NOT think that by rubbing your fingers together over the paten or chalice you have sufficiently cleansed your hands of any remnants of Christ. More on how to cleanse your hands at the end of this post. Even when turning pages or when raising the chalice, keep your thumbs and forefingers together and use your other three fingers! Practice this if you have to! Would you rather have to take a little extra time practicing and getting use to only using your middle, ring, and pinkie fingers, or would you blaspheme Christ Himself?! I know which one I'd choose. Do you?

When you (the priest, NOT the congregation) are holding your hands in the orans position (arms slightly stretched), keep your thumbs and forefingers together! You think I'm repeating myself too much? I'll say it again if I have to just to get it in your head - keep your thumbs and forefingers together! YOU HAVE POTENTIAL (before consecration) OR ACTUAL (after consecration) CHRIST (GOD, remember Him?) YOUR FINGERS!

When distributing Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist, ONLY use your thumb and forefinger to pick up and distributed Christ! One hand (preferably your right hand) should be administering Christ while the other should be supporting the ciborium (whilst keeping your thumb and forefinger together). If you think I'm being "nit-picky" about this, just wait until I write a post about reception of Our Blessed Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist by the faithful (or should I say in the modern Church - the assumed faithful...).

When cleansing the sacred vessals (they are called so because Christ Himself has touched them and made them sacred by His own Self), keep those thumbs and forefingers together! You might be saying, "Chase, when do I separate these fingers? They're starting to hurt!" Well, they might be hurting because the demonic spirits around you are so tired of you caring so much for Our Blessed Lord that they are purposing trying to make you open and wipe your fingers on something (fight the good fight)! The only time that you are allowed to open your hands is when they are over the chalice with water being poured over them by an altar boy (This is during the cleansing of the sacred vessels)! This is where you are rub your fingers together. You are washing your fingers and Christ is going into the chalice with the rest of Himself in order to be consumed! 

Do you want to know why I'm being so harsh on this topic? I care and love for Our Eucharistic Lord so much that I want to make sure all priests KNOW how to handle Our Lord. I have literally cried during Holy Mass because I have witness such disgraceful attitudes, facial expressions, and "man-handling" towards and with the Blessed Sacrament! Pray for priests who do not know, do not believe, and do not hope in Our Eucharistic Lord, who makes Himself known to us at every Mass and is truly housed and present in every tabernacle!

There will be another blog post some other time about how to properly cleanse the sacred vessals. Until then, keep the fingers together, prayer hard, and pray for me, a sinner!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. Amen. 

 (just in case you forgot...)

"Royal World" - Monarchists of the 21st Century!

For those suppressed monarchists who read my blog (I'm a monarchist! Every Catholic should it - it's the only form of government that is compatible with the Catholic faith), I have added a new blog, "Royal World", to the pages tab! A dear friend of my, Theodore Harvey, is the blog's writer! For anyone questioning whether monarchy is a valid form of government for the Catholic faith, I'd advise reading the blogs "Throne and Altar" (no longer active, but still up. It has great articles) and Mr. Harvey's blog (He's a High-Church Anglican in support of Rome and traditional Catholics). 

Thanks, and God Save the King (or Queen, if you're in the UK or Her Commonwealth Realms)!

Christ, Our Sovereign Lord, Master, and King! 

Latin Novus Ordo Mass - Our Lady of the Atonement Anglican Use RCC - San Antonio, TX

I have been in an absolute "funk" for the past two weeks. I've been promising you guys that I'd have a post up and never continued by posts. SO...instead of me posting, I've decided to post a series of videos in this post of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church (Anglican Use) in San Antonio, Texas celebrating the Mass of Paul VI in as close to conformity to the Sacred Tradition of the Tridentine Mass as possible! I personally know Father Christopher Phillips (celebrant) and am truly blessed to have found these videos on YouTube of all places!

So...enjoy! If you have any specific questions about the videos, please email me! I don't know how many people I'm actually reaching. To all my readers, I am sorry for not keeping my promise of posting in the allotted times I gave myself. After this post, I will no longer be doing blog "series" and only one post topics! Suggestions would be LOVELY!

 (1/6)

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 (3/6)

 (4/6)

 (5/6)

 (6/6)

ENJOY!!!!!

My kind of Supreme Pontiff...small tid-bit rant :D

As some of you may know, I am a college student, and like all college students, the semester has started again. Classes, rehearsals, homework, etc. So, in the mean time while I make my final adjustments to the "Offertory" section of the "Novus Ordo Compatibility to the Tridentine Mass", I leave you with the first Apostolic Blessing of Venerable Pius XII after his Papal Coronation.  

And yes, I'm a Catholic monarchist! One of these days I will go on a blogging rant about how I wish the Papal coronation should come back into the Church and why I think it's necessary! If the Supreme Pontiff is suppose to be the Crowned Prince of the Church and the temporary ruler of Christ's Church on earthy, I truly believe this can ONLY be fully realized through the re-introduction of the Papal coronation and the Papal tiara! 

It's time for Catholics to finally realize that the "Church of the Nice" (Michael Voris quote from the show "The Vortex" on ChurchMilitantTV) is not the Church by which Christ Himself founded nor was it the Church that was present on this earth prior to the Second Vatican Council. The Church was respected as an institution of moral stability and the defender of truths.

Bring back true, authentic Catholicism, founded upon the teachings of Christ's Church that has lasted for 2000 years. Bring back the truth of the full reality of the Supreme Pontiff's role in the Church from not only being the Defender of the Faith and the Successor to the THRONE of Saint Peter, but also the Temporary Ruler, the Crown Princes of the Princes of the Church, that rules the Church with the authority vested in him by Almighty God with the fullness of the Christian Faith, the Catholic Church.

To my readers...

To my avid readers (which consists of my priest, a few friends, and you all whom I don't know)

I will be back in the swing of things coming this Sunday, January 13th. I'm am currently on a vacation enjoying the mountains, skiing, and truly relaxing! Since I have wireless internet, I could continue the blog posting, however, I've decided to allow myself to be away from the computer! Today's modern society is too involved in technology! I'm a traditionalist, remember... ;D

So, while I'm away enjoying my vacation, I'll leave you with this picture to dwell upon! I promise I will be back on January 13th with a continuation of the Novus Ordo Liturgical Compatibility with the Offertory!

St. Pio of Pietrelcina receiving Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist devoutly and lovingly, humbling himself before Almighty God, and opening his mouth as if he were a child in need of his Savior!

Novus Ordo Liturgical Compatibility - Part II - Liturgy of the Word

Edited from First Edition. Sorry for the confusion if you had any.

Time to start the Liturgy of the Word (or in the Extraordinary Form - Mass of the Catechumens). 

Note: Firstly, I am writing this section as if it were a normal, Sunday morning, mass. Secondly, I am also writing as if there was only one lector and a choir who sings the Psalm. Thirdly, I'm writing this as if Christ in the tabernacle was in the sanctuary, either behind the altar or on the altar and mass was being celebrated ad orientem. If you have any questions about other configurations, please email me. My email in my biography under the "About Me" section. 

After the priest returns to the sedilla and the altar boys to their benches, the Old Testament Reading is read. The Sacred Scriptures, according to the Second Vatican Council, are allowed to be read allowed by a member of the congregation. It was under the assumption that the lector would be a male. It is a provision of the individual bishop of each diocese (or of each country's conference - side note, I'm not a fan-boy of the USCCB, however, that has nothing to do lectors or the gender of lectors) that allows for women to read Sacred Scripture during mass. The lector should be dressed in "business professional" and be taught how to read texts so as to be able to connect phrases, themes and concepts. It is very distracting to hear someone read Sacred Scripture and for that person to not know how to read fluently. Lectors should be trained and given approval by their priests prior to reading during mass.

The lector, when exiting his pew, genuflects, and then walks forward solemnly but not slow. His hands should be together in the traditional form of "prayer hands". When he approaches the front of the sanctuary at the altar rail, he genuflects again, and immediately goes to the lectern. From there he reads the Old Testament lesson in a clear, firm voice. While reading, his hands may either be holding onto the lectern or in "prayer hands" style.

After the Old Testament reading is read, the Psalm is sung by the choir. The lector steps off to the side of the lectern while the Psalm is sung. If for some reason the lector recites the Psalm, it is inappropriate for him to raise his hands in an "orans" stance when the congregation is suppose to say the antiphon. A simple nod or a slight pause will suffice as an indication. When the Psalm is finished, he returns back to the lectern and reads the New Testament. If he's the one who read the Psalm, he shouldn't have moved. Whenever the name is Jesus is spoken, the lector should nod his head (It's the simplest thing we can do, for at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow - This also goes for whenever priests say the name of Jesus during any time of the mass.) After he finishes reading, he walks to the center of the sanctuary, genuflects, and then returns to his seat, genuflecting before sliding into his pew.

Thurifer: You should have already retrieved the thurible and boat filled with incense.

Time for the Gospel. The Gradual, Tract, or Alleluias with verse start. The thurifer should be in front of the priest with the thurible and boat ready. During this, the priest blesses the new incense. He then stands up, and goes to the middle of the sanctuary (the thurifer should be on the priest's right side. For keeping things balanced, another altar server should be with the thurifer, processing in front of the priest and ending up on his left side at the foot of the altar steps), saying simultaneously in a quiet voice:

"Cleanse my heart and my lips, O Almighty God, who didst cleanse the lips of the Prophet Isaias with a burning coal, and vouchsafe, through Thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I may worthily announce Thy holy Gospel. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen." (taken from the Extra-Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite)

The priest should then say quietly while holding a profound bow (at the waist) (the altar boys should have a simple bow, that is, with only their heads):

"Give me Thy blessing, O Lord. The Lord be in my heart and on my lips, that I may worthily and in a becoming manner proclaim His holy Gospel. Amen." (taken from the Extra-Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite)

The priest and altar boys are now upright. The priest ascends to the altar to retrieve the Book of the Gospels, genuflecting when arriving, holding up the Book of the Gospels, and descends to the floor of sanctuary. He then turns back to Christ, simply nods and then goes to the lectern to read the Gospel. If the priest ascends to the altar, the altar servers wait at the foot of the altar steps for the priest. If the priest is not using a specific Book of the Gospels, after the priest says the prayer while profoundly bowing, all three move towards the lectern.

I use the term lectern lightly. In traditional church settings, the lectern was on the Epistle (right side from the congregation standpoint) and the pulpit was on the Gospel side (left side). If there is both a pulpit and a lectern, the Gospel is proclaimed in front of the pulpit where the sermon is preached. If there is only a lectern, the Gospel is either proclaimed at the lectern (which it should then be on the left side, the Gospel side) or, if the lectern is for some reason on the Epistle side, in the open space on the Gospel side with one of the altar boys acting as your lectern.

The priest to congregation responses are exchanged. After such, the Gospel is then incensed with three "double"(1 2, 1 2, 1 2) swings. The thurible is then handed back to the thurifer. If an altar boy is not being used as a lectern, he is still on the left side of the priest, on the opposite side of where the thurifer is. 

The Gospel is then either sung or said. The same rule applies to every time the name of Jesus is said: all nod. The priest should have the slightest of pauses after the name of Jesus to allow His Holy Name to resonate within the church. Afterwards, the priest picks up the Book of the Gospels, kisses where the end of the text for that Gospel is, and remains there for the sermon. If where the priest is standing is not a pulpit or a lectern, he then moves to where one is. If the priest has used an altar boy as a lectern, the altar boy takes the Book of the Gospel back into the sacristy or at the credence table. If the Book of the Gospels was not separate from the Lectionary, nothing happens. If the priest was at a pulpit or lectern and he processed with the Book of the Gospels, he gives the Book of the Gospels to the altar boy to be placed in either the sacristy or at the credence table.

The sermon begins. If during the time of the Liturgy of the Word the lessons were read in Latin, they are now read in English. All would stand for the Gospel and make the appropriate crosses. I advise that if you (the priest) truly have an announcement that cannot wait to say it quickly and without exaggeration before the sermon starts. Announcements at the end of mass is not the best time to make them. The congregation has the Body of Christ inside of them. Allow them to pray and conclude mass in a prayerful state without taking people "out of Mass mode" and back into reality only to then be placed back "into Mass mode" for the closing prayers. The faithful who have just received Christ are living tabernacles. Allow them to pray and mediate on that and not on the Knights of Columbus dinner that's next week.

If there is anything that I've missed or you feel needs to be different, I ask that you email me. I am doing my best to promote a liturgical compatibility between the Mass of Paul VI (Novus Ordo) and the Tridentine Mass for the continuity of the faith and liturgical traditions of Christ's Church. Thank you! The Offertory will be next.

Note: If no incense was used, the altar boys remain at their benches. Other configurations of torch bearers, etc., etc., can be asked about through email. Also, the prayers taken from the Extra-Ordinary Form are of course optional, but of course, encouraged. If there is a deacon in the mass and you have questions about his role, please email me. 

 

Novus Ordo Liturgical Compatibilty with the Tridentine Mass - Introductory Rites

Welcome to the first of several installments of this blog series entitled "Novus Ordo Liturgical Compatibility with the Tridentine Mass". For those who would like to know, I am using a Daily Roman Missal published in the US by the Midwest Theological Forum with "Our Sunday Visitor". It has the mass in both Latin and English side by side. My commentary will be solely based on the assumption that you are celebrating ad orientem with the tabernacle behind or on the main altar! This is also assuming that the only ordinary minister present is a priest. If you have any questions pertaining to other combination of ordinary ministers, sanctuary orientations, etc.,  please email me. My email is in my biography under the tab "About Me".

Note: The words I write in reference to what will be said at Holy Mass will be in English. It is obviously approved, and in tradition and according to the Second Vatican Council, preferable, if it is said in Latin. More on that topic at another time. Also note that, although this may not be in perfect conformity to Extraordinary Form, it is done with deepest love and, as much as possible, in conformity with the Extraordinary Form, so far as I could.

So now let's begin.

The Entrance Chant (Introit, Hymn, etc.) starts. The altar boys process in first followed by the priest. The altar boys stop at the foot of the steps of the altar, leaving a space in the middle of their configuration for the priest to stand. If there are no steps, they stop a little distance away from the altar. The priest then joins the altar boys. All genuflect. The priest then ascends to the altar to kiss it. Then he descends back to the altar boys. The priest then takes the thurible from one of the altar boys, puts incense on the hot charcoals, blesses the incense, and then takes the thurible from the altar boy. The priest ascends to the altar while the altar boys stay in place. He bows. The priest incenses the altar (look at the picture I place at the end of this post about how to incense an altar properly). After incensing, he bows again. He then descends to where the altar boys, turns towards the altar, and hands back the thurible and then ascends back to the altar. The priest then re-ascends to the altar and genuflects, standing at the center of the altar. The thurifer (the one carrying the incense - might as well call him what he is at this point) then takes the thurible to it's designated spot. Note: All of this happens while the Entrance Chant is being sung! That is why it's important to sing ALL THE VERSES of a hymn! I'd advise the choir to sing the Introit of the mass in English and then a hymn for the congregation to sing with if there isn't enough time. So much has happened and the priest hasn't said anything yet.

If there is no incense, the priest ascends to the altar, bows whilst kiss the altar, and stands at the center of the altar. The altar boys remain at the foot of the altar steps.

The priest then starts mass, facing the Christ and the altar, saying:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Everything the priest says should be in a gentle, yet stern, voice. Nothing should be shouted)

Then the priests says either of these three greetings facing the people. It's rather informal to say really anything else and is not a part of the Roman Missal, 3rd Edition. 

1. The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2. Grace to you and peace from God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The Lord be with you.

The priest then invites the faithful into the Penitential Act, facing the congregation, saying:

Brethren, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Note that I did not use the inclusive language of "brothers and sisters". It is incompatible to what the Latin states)

The priest then turn towards Christ holds a profound bow (bowing at the waist). The altar servers do the same at the foot of the altar.

The Confiteor is then recited.

Afterwards, the altar boys continue to hold the profound bow. The priest then, upright, turns towards the congregation, and while saying the general absolution, makes a Sign of the Cross over the people. The people should cross themselves whilst this is happening for it is Christ Himself who is giving them general absolution.

After this, the priest then turns back towards Christ. At this point, the altar boys are standing upright again. When the Kyrie starts, the priest and the altar boys hold a simple bow (bowing with the neck).

After the Kyrie ends, the priest intones the Gloria. If he does not wish to, the cantor intones. If there is no Gloria, this is when the Collect is said or sung, but instead of at the center of the altar, it is to right side of the altar where the missal is placed. The priest still genuflects at the center of the altar before moving towards the missal. (Note: The missal is not on the left side of the altar, turned inward, until the Offertory.)

The Gloria is said or sung. Afterwards, the priest then moves to the right side of the altar, turns to the congregation and says, "Let us pray". He then turns back towards Christ. The Collect is then said or sung (This should be said in English, unless if by desire of the priest, it be said in Latin. In the Extraordinary Form, everything is in Latin). After the Collect is said or sung, the priest returns back to the altar boys, not crossing in front of the tabernacle. Everyone then genuflects and then go to the side of the sanctuary where the sedilla (in contemporary terms, the "priest's chair") and other benches are and sit.

This is the end of the Introductory Rites.

Here's the picture I promised. For incensing the altar during the Introductory Rites, you only use the top portion which depicts the altar. You use both depictions during the Offertory.