I will remember you and your loved ones at Mass on Christmas!
Church of the Holy Ghost – Tiverton, RI 2015
From my altar to your home, Merry Christmas!
iPadre #339 – In the Shadow of the Cross
Many people think of Christmas as looking on a cute little baby in a hay strewn manger, surrounded by Mary, Joseph, animals and the shepherds and everything is just so cute and cozy. In my homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent, I pose that the work of redemption has already begun and the Christ Child lays in the shadow of the cross.
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iPadre #338 – Life after death
What is in store for us after we die? Is there really a hell, a purgatory? In this episode, I share a talk given in my parish by my friend Fr. Thomas Kocik.
I finally manage to fix a hum that was giving difficulties in recording. Hopefully, we’ll be back on track for regular recording.
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Tota Pulchra
The Immaculate Conception by Diego Velazquez, Completed c. 1619
Tota pulchra es, Maria.
Et macula originalis non est in Te.
Tu gloria Ierusalem.
Tu laetitia Israel.
Tu honorificentia populi nostri.
Tu advocata peccatorum.
O Maria, O Maria.
Virgo prudentissima.
Mater clementissima.
Ora pro nobis.
Intercede pro nobis.
Ad Dominum Iesum Christum.
You are all beautiful, Mary,
and the original stain is not in you.
Your clothing is white as snow, and your face is like the sun.
You are all beautiful, Mary,
and the original stain is not in you.
You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you give honour to our people.
You are all beautiful, Mary.
Solemn Mass – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Holy Ghost Church in Tiverton, RI will host a
Solemn Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite
December 8th – 5:00 pm
The Rev’d Father Jay A. Finelli
Celebrant
The Rev’d Father Thomas Kocik
Deacon
The Rev’d Father Neil Roy
Subdeacon
All are welcome!
Booklets with propers and readings will be provided.
Why the Communion Paten?
Something that has almost universally disappeared over the years is the Communion Paten or plate. I do not even remember the use of the Communion Paten at my 1st Communion in May of 1969. Change had already come to St. Anthony’s in Woonsocket. I believe it was the transitional Mass, there was a free standing altar with the priest facing the congregation (the high altar had been smashed by then), no longer an altar rail (we sat all over the church and came forward with out families at any time during communion in a modern Communion line), and there was no Communion Plate. I can remember my 1st Holy Communion very clearly. I was wearing a blue suit
, and when the priest said: “The Body of Christ,” I responded: “The Body of Christ.” But that’s off topic.
I did not see the Communion Plate until I entered the Franciscans in Kennebunkport, ME in 1983. They were used at every Mass. However, after leaving the Franciscans, I never saw them again, so I just assumed they were suppressed or something.
On 25 March 2004, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Sacraments came out with Redemptionis Sacramentum. The document dealt with various issues and abuses related to the celebration of Mass.
Paragraph #93 reads:
The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling. [180]
[180] is a footnote to the Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 118.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal reads:
118. The following are also to be prepared:
3. On the credence table: the chalice, a corporal, a purificator, and, if appropriate, the pall; the paten and, if needed, ciboria; bread for the Communion of the priest who presides, the deacon, the ministers, and the people; cruets containing the wine and the water, unless all of these are presented by the faithful in procession at the Offertory; the vessel of water to be blessed, if the asperges occurs; the Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful; and whatever is needed for the washing of hands.
I always liked the use of the Communion Paten, but never used them because I knew the stigma that would follow. “He’s a traditionalist, rigid, still living in Trent.” After reading this, I instituted the use of the Communion Paten at all Masses at Holy Ghost. It only makes sense if we believe in the Real Presence as taught by the Church.
“the whole Christ is contained under each species, and under every part of each species, when separated” [Trent Session XIII, Canon III]
Some people would say “this is such a small thing, there are much bigger issues in life to worry about.” I would posit that this is wrong. Small things become big with time. Recent polls suggest that 70% of Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence. If this is the case, we are in big trouble. We can never do enough to help foster and teach the truth of the Church’s belief in the Real Presence. Catholic faith is centered on the Eucharist. If people reject this tenet of the Faith, everything else is up for grabs. One small thing we can do to increase Eucharistic faith is the reintroduction of the Communion Paten. Because if we priests show our love and reverence for even the smallest particles of the Sacred Host, that faith will impress on the hearts of our people.
The alienating cassock!
When we were seminarians, we guarded our love for traditional clerical attire, lest we were ridiculed at rigid traditionalist nutcases and expelled from formation. Wearing the cassock or expressing any solid Catholic devotional life was considered a very serious sin, mortal in the sense that it would separate you for your vocation.
After ordination to the diaconate, I began cautiously wearing my cassock. However, even then, I was ridiculed. I will never forget the day my pastor sat me down for the talk. “You think you are better than the people.” he said. “A clericalist and I’m worried about your future.” “You will alienate the people.” “We are not to be different. We need to be at their level.”
Even after ordination to the priesthood, I was cautious. Since I had been mentally and emotionally abused for so many years. Those people who were the so called liberals, were themselves the rigid, condescending control freaks. In all my years of seminary and priesthood, I have never demanded or ridiculed someone for not wearing their clerical attire (which is required by Canon Law). So, who has done the most damage to the Church in the last 50+ years? I’ll leave that to your own prayerful and thoughtful consideration.
In the last few years, I have been wearing my cassock every more frequently. The Congregation for the Clergy has made it clear the the cassock is the norm for the priest and transitory deacon. In the Directory For The Ministry And The Life Of Priests, 2013, #61 (pg. 82, 83)
“In a secularised and basically materialistic society where the external signs of sacred and supernatural realities tend to disappear, deeply felt is the need for the priest – man of God, dispenser of his mysteries – to be recognisable in the eyes of the community by his attire as well, and this as an un- equivocal sign of his dedication and identity as holder of a public ministry247. The priest must be recognisable above all through his conduct, but also by his attire, which renders visi- ble to all the faithful, and to each person248, his identity and his belonging to God and to the Church.”
For this reason the priest, like the transitory deacon, must:
a) wear either the cassock “or suitable ecclesiastical dress, in accordance with the norms established by the Episcopal Conference and legitimate local customs”251; when other than the cassock, attire must be different from the way laypersons dress and consonant with the dignity and sanctity of the minister;”
The norms for the USCCB state:
“In liturgical rites, clerics shall wear the vesture prescribed in the proper liturgical books. Outside liturgical functions, a black suit and Roman collar are the usual attire for priests. The use of the cassock is at the discretion of the cleric.“
What I find is that those who have an aversion to clerics in cassock are the ones who raise themselves above the laity the most. They are the ones with what once could call a bad clericalism. I know of those who have not time to bring the dying the Sacrament of the Sick. Or are annoyed when the telephone or door bell rings. There is no time to talk with someone at the door of the church, but don’t interfere with Tee Time at the golf corse.
My experience with the cassock has been very affirming of my vocation and a source of consolation to people. From my grocery shopping at the local Stop & Shop to the supply run to BJ’s Wholesale Warehouse to multiple restaurants and other places, I cannot count the prayer requests, desires for a blessing or just a big smile with “Hello Father.” I have blessed adults and children, heard sad stories of woe and given words of consolation. And even been treated to dinner to which I had not desire, but have accepted so as not to cause offense.
Although the liberals are repulsed by the cassock, it is a strong sign of God’s presence in a broken world. It shouts out “God is alive and the Catholic Church is here for you.” I love the Church and I love the fact that my cassock is a sign of God’s love in this world. All I can say to you my brother priests is let the world know we are here. And if you have any hesitation, follow the advise of St. John Paul II “Do not be afraid.”
iPadre #337 – Christ the King
Many people think the Kingship of Christ is some kind of fantasy. But Jesus Christ is a real and true King. Listen to this episode for my homily from the Feast of Christ the King.
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iPadre #336 – Saint Michael the Archangel
In this episode, i share my homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. “A time of great distress.” We also have some feedback and talk about a prayer for priests and Consecrated Virginity.
– iPadre #127 – Consecrated Virginity
– Prayer for Priests
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All Souls Masses
Here are just a couple of pics from one of my three All Souls Masses. The first was at 7 am this morning in the Ordinary Form and the 2nd & 3rd were Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form. The three pics are from one of the last two Masses.
Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Joánnem
First genuflection after the consecration of the sacred host
The elevation