It is of utmost joy that our organisation Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph – Philippines, a lay organisation of faithful predilecting the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite has now initiated the erection of a personal parish dedicated solely to celebrating the Tridentine Latin Mass according to the Missal of Bl. John XXIII. Our EDSSJ founding chairman, Bro Dennis Maturan has posted this recently through our ygroups :

The Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, his excellency Bishop Honesto F.Ongtioco, D.D., has permitted the erection of a personal parish for those who are attached to the Extra Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite. The church building will be dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and will under the auspices of Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo and the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph to consolidate efforts aong various groups advocating the return of the form of Mass popularly known as the Tridentine Mass. The parish will also be available for other Sacraments to be administered according to the liturgical books of 1962 or prior to 1970. It will also be a venue of training for priests who would like to learn the ancient usage of the Roman Rite and others who would like to learn the rubrics of serving at the traditional rites, including schola and choir training. The Diocese is now looking for a venue for the said personal parish and funds are solicited in order to commence such as august aposolate. Funds may be channeled through Fr. Michell Joe B. Zerrudo, Parish of Our Lord of Divine Mercy, Diocese of Cubao, Maamo cor. Madasalins Sts., Sikatuna, Quezon City, Philippines or may call his parish at 029213337. We therefore appeal to traditonal Catholic communities to help us in such endeavor.

To help us in propagating further the spirituality of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, I enjoin  myself in this endeavour being a member of the Society itself. We appeal for prayers such that this aspiration may be accomplished in God’s time.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam! Sancti Ioannes Marie Vianney, ora pronobis

The Defensores Fidei Foundation, a non-profit lay organisation committed to Catholic apologetics and evangelisation will resume its “Blessed to be Catholic” monthly talks, commencing with topics regarding the significance of Chinese martyrs & their contribution to the Catholic faith. It will be held from 8:30 AM to noontime on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the second floor of the Amici Building (specifically the room adjacent to Totus Bookstore) in Greenhills. The speaker would be Fr. Simon Zhu Jie, a priest from Beijing currently studying here in the Philippines.

Admission is free.

Some fourth year students from our school Colegio San Agustin-Binan has initalised an outreach program entitled “Aksyon Augustino” for the benefit of those who were affected and left desolate by Typhoon Ondoy which hit the Philippines two days ago. H/t and a million thanks to IV-St. Augustine students Ms. Ara Basbas (for the note), and the posters courtesy of Ms. Rose Gopez and Ms. Chelsea Oray respectively.

For those who wish to send their donations or pledges through us, Colegio San Agustin-Binan is located in Juana Complex 1, Brgy. San Francisco, Binan, Laguna (near the Southwoods Interchange)

Aksyon Agustino

AUGUSTINIANS!

What: AKSYON AGUSTINO
When: September 30, 2009 8AM – 1130AM
Where: CSA Biñan Lobby

Please bring donations:
-canned goods, mineral water,medicine, shoes&slippers, toothbrush, blankets&towels, old clothes, plastic bags, ready-to-eat donations like biscuits, or anything that you think might help.

Start the Change. Take the initiative. Do your Part.

SPONSORED BY: SEÑORES

*All the organizers/facilitators (a.k.a IV – ST. AUGUSTINE), please wear the SEÑORES shirt tomorrow. Para alam nila kung sino ang lalapitan.*

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US! AS ONE WE CAN! MABUHAY ANG MGA AGUSTINO!

See you there! =)

In behalf of our students, a million thanks to all who shall definitely be one with us in this advocacy. Deus est in omnia!!

…THIS?

THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND INCULTURATION
13th Asian Liturgy Forum (ALF)
South-East Asian Region,
September 16-20, 2009
Bahay Pari, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, Edsa, Makati City

We, the delegates to the 13th Asian Liturgy Forum of South-East Asia, met from September 16-19, 2009 to discuss the timely and urgent topic of Liturgical Year and Inculturation. The meeting was held in Bahay-Pari of San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, Makati City, Philippines, under the auspices of His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila to whom we express profound gratitude. The delegates to the meeting came from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. We are now pleased to share the result of our three-day meeting.

1. The history of the liturgical year shows that the calendar of feasts has been constantly adjusting itself to political, cultural, and religious environment of local Churches. This should serve as a guiding principle in our work of inculturating the liturgical year.
2. We note that inculturation normally takes place within the framework of approved liturgical books, whereby the substantial unity of the Roman Rite is preserved. Hence, the inculturation of the liturgical calendar does not result in a totally new calendar that is an alternative to the typical edition of the Roman Rite.

3. However, we acknowledge that inculturation might not always be sufficient to address certain local needs. We would not preclude the creation of particular liturgical calendars while retaining the register of feasts of the Roman Rite.

4. Roman traditional liturgical symbols may need to be adjusted in accord with the seasons of the year in the local Church. This would be applicable, for example, to liturgical feasts like Christmas and Easter whose original symbols do not correspond to existing seasons of the year in a particular Church.

5. Inspired by liturgical history, we recognize the role of local cultural and social traditions in the institution of some liturgical feasts like the Chair of St. Peter in Rome, which originated in the ancestral feast of ancient Rome called parentalia. In accord with liturgical norms, local Churches could institute feasts derived from their traditional and other established practices.

6. Likewise, the cycle of human work has shaped some liturgical celebrations like Rogation and Ember days. We believe that in the industrial world marked by the rhythm of work and rest, production and consumption, and strikes and negotiations, the Church should similarly establish pertinent liturgical feasts.

7. In regions where popular pious exercises abound and continue to be meaningful to the faithful the liturgical calendar can be enriched by the integration of popular religious practices with the liturgical feasts.

8. Sometimes political situations have left their mark on the liturgical calendar as witnessed by the institution of the feasts of Christ the King and St. Joseph the Worker. Local Churches may propose similar feasts to accompany the faithful across political systems.

In conclusion, given that time is relative, that situations are provisional, and that culture and traditions are in constant evolution, the Church should continue to revise, reinvent, and create liturgical feasts that meet the actual needs of the faithful.

That in all things God may be glorified.

I’m dying to know.

Say, it seems as though I have been lost in circulation for the past few days and I likewise miss blogging here myself; but A LOT of things have been keeping me from recording liturgical and apologetics-inclined insights lately hence what I currently deem as a notoriously lagged behind apostolate has become Ex Fide in Fidem. BUT… since my schedule has been mostly unpredictable, I guess I should start revving up site posts whenever I’m free.

It’s not easy maintaining a regular blogging routine on the liturgy and other Church-related matters since I don’t have enough time to read–notwithstanding some other issues that get in the way of my religious blogging stamina; but of course, I pray I could be more focused especially on days wherein I should be coming up with something noteworthy and not laze around all afternoon watching subtitled Japanese dramas. (Oh yes. Jdramas are my foremost guilty pleasures.)

So, I now am beginning to think of what to write next. But in any case, all of you who wish to know what I do or think when I take a break from monitoring ecclesiastical matters may take a peek into this blog of mine. Be prepared, though, for more eccentric Jpop fangirling and/or anything in between warping each and every entry.

The ever-reliable Fr. Zuhlsdorf, at last had put this up on his blog for all the world to see:

PHILIPPINES
Cardinal accused of disobeying Pope

Robert Mickens
In Rome

THE HEADof the Vatican’s Ecclesia Dei commission has reprimanded the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, for setting “unduly restrictive” conditions on use of the Tridentine Mass, [Again… update on the terms!  No one really says "Tridentine" anymore.] saying they were “in direct contradiction” to the wishes of Pope Benedict XVI.

“Your ‘Archdiocesan Guidelines’ are simply not acceptable as they stand and I ask you to reconsider them,” said the Ecclesia Dei president, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, in a letter dated 6 March and seen by The Tablet this week. It said “guidelines allowing only a monthly Mass in a chapel of [the] Metropolitan Cathedral” were in violation of the norms established in the motu proprio, “Summorum Pontificum”, issued by the Pope in 2007 for the widespread use of the Tridentine Mass. [Get this…] Cardinal Castrillón said the papal decree was “part of the universal law of the Church” and could not be limited by the “particular law” of a diocesan bishop. [This is the part that the Pope’s enemies in this matter will really hate!] The Archdiocese of Manila ministers to more than 2.8 million Catholics.

“There is simply no legitimate reason why this [Tridentine] Mass cannot and should not be celebrated in any church or chapel of your archdiocese,” Cardinal Castrillón said in his letter to the Archbishop of Manila.

[Read closely…] He insisted that Cardinal Rosales actively promote the implementation of the motu proprio by “helping priests who are desirous to learn how to celebrate” the old rite Mass, which he said only required that the priest be “reasonably competent in Latin”, [which, as WDTPRS has been saying all along, means that the priest can pronounce the words properly.  We want more, of course, but that is the minimum.  And what is required is sufficiency, the minimum, not expertise.] and that there were faithful [no number set… and the coetus mentioned in the Motu Proprio might be very small indeed.] who wished to assist at its celebration. The Archdiocese of Manila published the Tridentine Mass guidelines on its website last year. But they were quickly removed when supporters of the old rite protested to Rome.

Rome has spoken. The PCED has spoken. And I might as well make my very own comments on these events very soon as I have lots of IT work to accomplish these days. Nonetheless, there needs be a sung Te Deum for this.

Deo Gratias.

{N.B: Original post by Fr. Zuhlsdorf here }

In a gist, the FFI now prefers to celebrate in the Forma Extraordinaria. What more can I say?

From The New Liturgical Movement:

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Franciscans of the Immaculate Predilect the Usus Antiquior

by Gregor Kollmorgen

The Franciscans of the Immaculate, who for some time now have increasingly been celebrating the usus antiquior, have now declared their predilcetion for the Extraordinary Form and explained their reasons for this. This was done by a letter to the editor of the Italian newspaper La Stampa by the Procurator General of the Order, Fr. Alessandro Maria Apollonio, of which messainlatino.it gives some excerpts. Here is an NLM translation of these:

The Franciscans of the Immaculate avail themselves, with joy and grateful appreciation, of the initiative taken by Pope Benedict XVI with the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. [...] The choice to predilect the “extraordinary form” corresponds to a legitimate internal choice of the religious family, as foreseen in the same motu proprio, in a Catholic spirit of fidelity to the Pope and to the liturgical tradition of the Order founded by St. Francis of Assisi. [...]

The spirit of St. Francis, in fact, tends to the greatest possible glorification of God through the good and beautiful things of the world and has always led us to seek what most helps to elevate the mind and heart to the “Most High, Almighty and Good Lord” to whom alone are due “praises, glory, honor and all blessing”(Canticle of the Sun). The extraordinary form of the liturgy of the Vetus Ordo – which is accompanied by that of the Novus Ordo (Missal of Paul VI) – offers, indeed, the happy possibility to live more intensely the vocation and mission of St. Francis of Assisi, within the universality of the Church and its wealth of expressions.

Deo gratias!

From an announcement disseminated by those in-charge of noon masses at the University of Asia and the Pacific as of February 16, 2009. I had the chance to receive this via a forwarded e-mail sent through one of the online groups I belong to:

Friday Noon Masses at UA&P to be Celebrated in Latin

Beginning February 20, the Friday noon Mass at the Stella Orientis Oratory will be celebrated in Latin. The Mass will continue to be the ordinary rite as approved by Vatican II, not the extraordinary rite or the so-called Tridentine Mass.

Celebrating the Friday noon Mass this way will preserve the use of Latin in the liturgy, as encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI. Using Latin in the Mass has never been stopped or prohibited. In the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy ­ Sacrosanctum Concilium ­ the Second Vatican Council, while allowing the use of the vernacular, also affirmed that the “use of the Latin language (…) is to be preserved in the Latin rites.” (no. 36)

The said university’s personnel and students are entrusted with spiritual formation courtesy of the Opus Dei.

N.B. I was fortunate enough to be one of the recepients of this forwarded message courtesy of my very good friend Carlos Antonio Palad of Rorate Caeli. This is the official statement made by Leo Darroch, the president of Una Voce International (a worldwide organisation composed by those who advocate a wider celebration and appreciation for the EFLR according to the Missal of John XXIII) on the restrictions on the TLM as outlined in a recently published set of guidelines from the Archdiocese of Manila.

On reading the guidelines issued by the Archdiocese of Manila on the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form it is clear that whoever drafted these guidelines has not read the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. The guidelines, signed by Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, are reproduced here:

ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS ACCORDING TO THE RITE OF THE ROMAN MISSAL PUBLISHED IN 1962 (TRIDENTINE MASS)

In accordance with the norms laid down by the Apostolic Letter, issued motu proprio, of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum, We hereby establish the following guidelines and conditions on the celebration of the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962 (Tridentine Mass) in the Archdiocese of Manila:

The regulation of the celebration of this extraordinary form of the Mass belongs to the Archbishop of Manila, through the Minister of the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.

This form of Mass is to be celebrated only at the Christ the King Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Manila once a month, but not on Sundays and Solemnities.

The presider at this form of celebration should be a priest duly appointed by the Archbishop of Manila.

To ensure the solemnity and orderliness of the celebration of this form of Mass, the participation of other ministers (i.e., lectors, Master of Ceremonies, servers, choir, etc.) in the liturgy is to be determined and regulated by the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass in this Chapel is open to any individual or group in the Archdiocese of Manila who may have the desire to participate in such celebrations.

Further requests from individuals or groups from the parishes of or who belong to the Archdiocese of Manila to celebrate this form of Mass is to be directed to join the monthly celebration at the Manila Cathedral.

It is highly encouraged that a missal / booklet of the rite in Latin and English be prepared to help the faithful follow the celebration. It is like wise encouraged that those who will participate in this Mass undergo a catechetical orientation before the celebration.

The Archbishop of Manila has jurisdiction over this celebration and, therefore, can decide to limit or discontinue this monthly celebration anytime he judges that this is not consonance with the whole pastoral direction of the Local Church.

Given in Manila, this 8th day of December 2008.

+GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES

Archbishop of Manila

COMMENT:
There is so much in error with these guidelines that even though they mention the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, it is clear that the person who drafted the guidelines cannot possibly have read the Motu Proprio. The writer seems unaware that the previous rigidly-controlled state that existed under the indults of 1988 (Ecclesia Dei adflicta) and 1984 (Quattuor abhinc annos) ended abruptly at midnight on 13th September 2007. Under these indults, people and priests had to obtain permission from their local Ordinary before any celebrations of Mass using the Missal of 1962 could take place. Under Summorum Pontificum, which took effect from midnight on 13th September (i.e. from 14th September 2007), the permission to celebrate Mass according to the Missal of 1962 has been granted by the Supreme Legislator, the Pope, to “each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular,” to “use the Roman Missal published by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962,…and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations……..the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary.” [Summ. Pont. Art 2]. The fact that one does not need the permission of the local ordinary to celebrate or attend Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form, does not, in itself, derogate from the right of bishops to regulate liturgical matters in their sees. No doubt the Supreme Pontiff took that right into account when he assumed that no Catholic bishop would dissent from the superseding right of the Successor of Peter to regulate the liturgy for the universal Church.

Therefore, not only has any priest of the Latin rite the freedom to celebrate Mass on any day of the year (excluding the Easter Triduum but NOT excluding Sundays), but the Motu Proprio removes a need to obtain permission from anyone – either from the Holy See or his local bishop [Summ. Pont. Art.2].

To comment specifically on the detail of the guidelines:
1. Despite what is said in the opening statement these guidelines are NOT in accordance with the norms laid down by the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI.

2. In Summorum Pontificum, the Supreme Pontiff dispensed local ordinaries from “regulating” the celebration according to the Extraordinary Form when, in his Letter to Bishops accompanying the Motu Proprio, His Holiness states “The present norms are also meant to free Bishops from constantly having to evaluate anew how they are to respond to various situations.”

3 “The presider at this form of celebration should be a priest duly appointed by the Archbishop….” [Guidelines, para.4] There is no ‘presider’ at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form, this is a term introduced with the new rite of Mass. In the Extraordinary Form of Mass there is a ‘celebrant’ who offers up the sacred mysteries acting in persona Christi.

4. Concerning paragraph 5 of the Guidelines – it is the duty of all Sacred Pastors to ensure the solemnity and orderliness of the celebration of ALL forms of liturgy in their diocese so it needs to be explained why the Extraordinary Form requires special attention? As the Extraordinary Form and the Ordinary Form are “two uses of the same rite” [Summ. Pont. Art. 1], is the participation of other ministers (i.e., lectors, Master of Ceremonies, servers, choir, etc.) in the Ordinary Form also to be determined and regulated by the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila?

5. It is commendable that a missal / booklet of the rite in Latin and English be prepared to help the faithful follow the celebration but why should those who wish to participate in this Mass have to undergo a catechetical orientation before the celebration? Will this requirement for a catechetical orientation apply equally to those attending the Ordinary Form?

6. The local Ordinary has jurisdiction over this celebration in the sense that he must ensure that ALL liturgy under his jurisdiction is celebrated in conformity with the laws of the Church. Whatever is decided in relation with the Extraordinary Form of Mass must be decided “in full harmony, however, with all that has been laid down by the new norms of the Motu Proprio” [Letter to Bishops]. It is an abuse of authority, and in disobedience to the law expressed by the Supreme Pontiff, our Holy Father, to interfere in the right granted by the Successor of Peter to any priest in good standing to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of Mass. The Pope, the Supreme Legislator, has issued a DECREE, for the benefit of all priests and faithful of the Roman Rite in the Universal Church and no local bishop can interfere with this law and impose his own conditions in an act of public disobedience to the Vicar of Christ.

The way forward for any priest or member of the faithful is clear. In accordance with article 7 of the Motu Proprio they must contact immediately the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei for clarification and send a copy of the guidelines that obstruct the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. They should write to:

H.E. Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos,

President, Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei,

Palazzo della Congr. per la Dottrina della Fide,

Piazza del Sant Ufficio,

00193 Rome,

ITALY.

Fax: +39 06 69 88 34 12. Email: eccdei@ecclsdei.va.

Leo Darroch, Executive President – International Federation Una Voce.

11th February 2009.

A late post on the above matter as I should put it, inasmuch as many of local and international Catholic blogs have already featured another classic in the liturgical aspect of the Philippine Catholic Church. With all the world ever more shedding their qualms against accommodating celebrations of the usus antiquior in their parishes, I do not know as to why the Philippine hierarchy has been staunchly blocking any positive response towards the much celebrated Pope’s paternal solicitudes to the Missal of Bl. John XXIII. We pray that the good Cardinal may eventually realise that winds of change are now sweeping through the Church; and in the name of unity and orthodoxy, acquiesce to a more widespread clamour that the two forms of the Roman Rite may coexist side-by-side towards a more reverent and Christ-centred celebration of the Eucharist.

I now bring you the famous guidelines recently promulgated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception:

ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES
ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS
ACCORDING TO THE RITE OF THE ROMAN MISSAL
PUBLISHED IN 1962 (TRIDENTINE MASS)

In accordance with the norms laid down by the Apostolic Letter, issued motu propio, of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum, We hereby establish the following guidelines and conditions on the celebration of the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962 (Tridentine Mass) in the Archdiocese of Manila:

1. The regulation of the celebration of this extraordinary form of the Mass belongs to the Archbishop of Manila, through the Minister of the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.

2. This form of Mass is to be celebrated only at the Christ the King Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Manila once a month, but not on Sundays and Solemnities.

3. The presider at this form of celebration should be a priest duly appointed by the Archbishop of Manila.

4. To ensure the solemnity and orderliness of the celebration of this form of Mass, the participation of other ministers (i.e., lectors, Master of Ceremonies, servers, choir, etc.) in the liturgy is to be determined and regulated by the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.

5. The celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass in this Chapel is open to any individual or group in the Archdiocese of Manila who may have the desire to participate in such celebrations. Further requests from individuals or groups from the parishes of or who belong to the Archdiocese of Manila to celebrate this form of Mass is to be directed to join the monthly celebration at the Manila Cathedral.

6. It is highly encouraged that a missal / booklet of the rite in Latin and English be prepared to help the faithful follow the celebration. It is like wise encouraged that those who will participate in this Mass undergo a catechetical orientation before the celebration.

7. The Archbishop of Manila has jurisdiction over this celebration and, therefore, can decide to limit or discontinue this monthly celebration anytime he judges that this is not consonance with the whole pastoral direction of the Local Church.

Given in Manila, this 8th day of December 2008.

+GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES
Archbishop of Manila

Father Zuhlsdorf of “What Does the Prayer Really Say?” had something in mind, all of which he perfectly rendered in his signature black+red font colour. He shut off the combox on such a post of his though–for prudence’s sake.