I heard a rumour recently -from a source close to le throne- that Cardinal Vingt-Trois had objected to the proposed "clutter" on the altar for the Papal Mass in Paris, the so-called Benedictine altar arrangement, Mgr Marini replied, if the Cardinal had a serious problem he could take it up with the Pope.
Rorate Caeli reports:
A week prior to the Popes visit, the Archbishop of Paris had this to say in an interview with Le Figaro:
September 14 will mark one year since a motu proprio given by the Pope to regularize the use of the old Mass Missal in Latin came into force. Will the Pope address this matter which has had a mixed reception in France?
A few days ago Rorate announced this:
Rorate Caeli reports:
A week prior to the Popes visit, the Archbishop of Paris had this to say in an interview with Le Figaro:
September 14 will mark one year since a motu proprio given by the Pope to regularize the use of the old Mass Missal in Latin came into force. Will the Pope address this matter which has had a mixed reception in France?
The Popes intention in giving this motu proprio was to work towards the unity of the Church. He does not wish for a historical situation of division to fossilize. Its practical implementation is not easy but in the past year the climate has improved in several situations even though it has worsened in others. All of this will take time: thirty years of history cannot be sorted out in twelve months. I do not know if the Pope will speak about it, I only know that the most significant gesture on the subject will be to concelebrate with the bishops of France, in communion in one same liturgy."
A few days ago Rorate announced this:
In the Mass [of Paul VI] he will celebrate in Paris on September 13, the Holy Father will don vestments which belong to the Abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, the most famous Traditional Catholic abbey in France. (Source: Yves Daoudal)
Interesting straws.
15 comments:
What is this Benedictine altar clutter?
Crucifix in the centre, candles equally spaced either side, the arrangement we use here.
I thought that was normal. It does look better, though, if this "clutter" is at the extreme east end, it is another reason why priest should be facing east with everyone else.
Fr.,
I live in France (in the Charente, on the border with the Dordogne).
It is true that the reception to the Motu has been mixed with most of the overt and covert opposition coming from the bishops. Our own Mgr Dagens of Angouleme stated in the press that he found the Pope's initiative 'grave and worrying'>. How divisive is that?!!!
However, THERE IS HOPE! The Trads. have got their act together very effectively on the internet. See Motuproprio.fr and PaixLiturgique.
I've signed up for their free email newsletter which comes several times a week. There's a contact service too so that an excellent network is being built up for people searching for a 'stable group' to join. Nothing in the south Charente yet, but I'm working on it!
To return to the papal visit, IF YOU LIKE I WILL SEND YOU DAILY REPORTS WHILE HIS HOLINESS IS HERE AND THUS GIVE YOU A GRASS ROOTS IMPRESSION OF EPISCOPAL, LAY AND SECULAR REACTIONS.
By the way is HE23 wearing a collar and tie in the pic? Mgr Dagens runs around in a lounge suit and above mentioned neckwear. He's been bishop for 15 years and I've never seen him in this neck of the woods.
Thanks for your blog,
With the assurance of prayers,
Jane
Come in number twenty-three, your time is up!
This is hardly surprising as Cardinal Vingt-Trois is an opponent of the traditional mass. Mass attendance has decreased in his archdiocese and the only church that manages to attract an full congregation is St. Nicholas du Chardonnet - an SSPX church * surprise, surprise*
"If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with the Pope."
Goodness !
I hope Mons. Guido Marini really said that, or words to that effect. The French bishops really need to be made aware by Rome that the years of liturgical revolution are over and the tide is turning. Otherwise, the Church in France will continue to live in the past, a past with no future.
I doubt the Pope on his visit will say much publicly about this, but he knows there are more subtle ways of getting the message across.
They should embrace the Benedictine reform. There is quite simply nothing to fear.
Amused by comment from ponte sisto - 'come in no 23 your time is up!' I have heard the Cardinal speak on several occasions and sadly have been underwhelmed. The trouble is he had such a difficult 'act' to follow after the death of Cardinal Lustiger and it is difficult not to compare them.
I'm not surprised at Cardinal 23 using the word 'clutter' especially when you see the size of some of the French 'table' altars - sometimes square or round. There is often only room for one small candle (how I hate the unbalance of this!) At one EF Mass I attended last month there was the unusual number of four candles, (Ronnie Barker coming to mind!) two each side of the crucifix as there was no room for the six candlesticks usually used for the EF.
Having had a look at the link to the Frenchman's blog reminded me of a big problem which exists in France although, as far as I know, not here. He has the FN on his link list and sadly this is not unusual among EF followers there. Even Joan of Arc has been 'hijacked' by the FN because she drove the English out of France.
Pelerin:
You are right that this is a peculiarly French problem. Le Pen, in the past, has had the TLM at his rallies (probably still does). With friends like that....etc. It is most unhelpful.
Many of the bishops use this as a stick with which to beat all traditionalists, lumping them all together as extreme right wing monarchists. These bishops do not say this in so many words but one needs to be able to read between the lines of what they do say.
Trads. who are not Le Penites are frightened to come out of their private sacristies.
However, there is hope. See my earlier post.
We should all pray for our Holy Father as he prepares to visit the eldest (and possibly)the most recalcitrant, wounded daughter of the Church.
Prayers too for France and her bishops. Our Lady of Lourdes pray for them and for the Vicar of thy Son, Benoit XVI.
Jane
Jane - yes I have presumed for some time that the le Pen connection could be the reason for the French bishops' reluctance to the EF. I cannot see how they can deal with implementing the motu proprio until the connection is severed.
Pleased you think that there is hope as you put it!
Pelerin: I do hope that your comment does not mean that you are against altars which are square.
Square altars are the norm for Eastern Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic churches. Such altars are much smaller than the rectangular ones of the Latin Church - and also invariably without candles or standing crucifix.
Additionally, it is also the practice of Eastern churches to follow the ancient tradition of having an altar which is free-standing in order for the clergy to be able to walk around.
Jane: No, his eminence is wearing a clerical collar, not a collar and tie.
alban - no I am not against square altars just because they are square but because they are so different to those we had been used to in the Latin rite. And because there seems to be so little room on them - the Priest seems to dominate a tiny altar in the NO in a way which happens less behind a wider altar, and of course does not happen at all when Mass is said ad orientem.
Interesting to read your comments on the Eastern churches and their altars. It is all a matter of what we are used to. I attended - from a distance - Mass in the Maronite rite when in Lourdes.The singing was in arabic and aramaic I believe although the homily by a Lebanese priest explaining the Maronite rite was in French. Mass was celebrated at one of the outside altars which was round and made of wood. It was no bigger than a small table. I later saw someone place their camera on it to take a picture of the older more elaborate altar behind. I'm sure they did not realise that this was an altar but I found it deeply upsetting. This would never have happened if the altar had looked like an altar.
The Church in France will be restored with Tradition, (slowly, but surely)
Pelerin:
Oh my dear fellow pilgrim, the majority of the French bishops do not WANT to implement the Motu. THAT is my point. They use all this right wing stuff as a cover-up and excuse for their own politics and disobedience to the Holy Father.
It is of course very much more complicated than that. But you have to wonder how the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris would have, even now, the effrontery to challenge the Holy Father's wishes about the altar furniture for his Mass in Notre Dame. (All the saints of France must be weeping.)
At the very least it is a case of, desormais pas de la politesse. At worst well.....
All saints of France, pray for us in the coming days....
Jane
Post a Comment