Latin Mass Society

Chairman's Blog

05/05/2022 - 19:13

Liturgy and the War in Ukraine: Inside the Vatican

I have an article in the latest edition of Inside the Vatican, edited by Robert Moynihan (May-June 2022).
It can most easily be seen online on ISSUU, though you have to buy one issue or take out a subscription if you want to read the whole thing.

My article concludes:
Good will implies that we take the religious values of the region seriously. The liturgical debate taking place in the Western Church, particularly after Traditionis Custodes, can leave one with the impression that the Western Catholics, at bottom, see the whole phenomenon of the Eastern Rites as faintly ridiculous, and accordingly that disagreements among their different groupings is little more than a squabble among foolish children. This impression will not be dispelled until the Holy See has made its peace with its own liturgical tradition, and gives it the place of honour which Pope Benedict XVI hoped for it, and from which Pope Francis has tragically plucked it. 

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30/04/2022 - 14:03

Triduum Photos

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I didn't get round to posting these until now.
The celebrant was Fr Michael Cullinan, in St Mary Moorfields in the City of London. They were accompanied by Charles Finch with his group, Cantores Missae.
These first ones are from Good Friday.
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These are from the Easter Vigil
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22/04/2022 - 20:06

More mischevious nonsense from The Pillar

Cross-posted from Rorate Caeli.

April 14th this year was Maundy Thursday. It is an interesting day for The Pillar to choose to publish a shoddy attack on two Catholic intellectuals, Prof Thomas Pink and Fr Edward Waldstein, for their alleged 'integralist' views, in an interview by Charlie Camosy with Joseph Capizzi.

Plant the critique out there in public, on the day in the year the victims are least likely to notice it quickly or react before the social media circus has moved on. Better still, if someone--like me--does notice and uses Twitter to call on the Pillar's editors, J.D. Flynn and Edward Condon, to account for it over the following 24 hours, they can just piously not react for the duration.

So here I am drawing attention to this interview once again. I happen know the targets of this piece. Prof Pink is a Patron of the Latin Mass Society. I know Fr Waldstein a little from the Roman Forum Summer Symposium. There are a great many would-be lay intellectual leaders of the Catholic world, and the field is quite crowded even if you focus on the Traditional Catholic niche, but Prof Pink and Fr Waldstein are the real thing: they are established and respected academics who are orthodox Catholics and engaged in some of the fundamental issues of the day. Prof Pink is one of the foremost Catholic intellectuals in the UK. 

Accordingly, I suppose it is not surprising that they should be the focus of asinine criticisms. Towards the end the interviewer Camosy tries to draw in a gaggle of other names into the discussion, but Capizzi doesn't really rise to the bait.

The article is presented as a balanced piece by the simple expedient of Capizzi saying 'on the one hand, on the other hand' from time to time, but the balance is unreal because the central characterisation of their position is completely misconceived. Capizzi kicks of the interview with this:
The major figures seem to be primarily online, as I haven’t seen much of their work in standard theological journals. The two (English-speaking) who jump first to mind are Thomas Pink and Edmund Waldstein.
I take their central claim to be that, just as man has two ends, spiritual and temporal, and that man’s temporal end is ordered to his spiritual end, so must the juridical authorities of the world be hierarchically ordered: the temporal juridical authority to the spiritual juridical authority.
In other words, the state should be subordinate to the Church. Relatedly, then, any political order is deficient to the degree it fails to seek this hierarchization of juridical authorities, or denies the existence of the spiritual juridical authority. Thus, “liberalism” must be rejected if and when it denies such ordering — or the existence of the spiritual juridical authority.
What Capizzi is doing is saying: 'before I descend into any criticisms, what these individuals support is this': and then presents something which is simply insane, a kind of theocracy, rule by the clergy, those who exercise spiritual power. What Pink and Waldstein actually believe (and yes, I have checked with them, but readers can look it up for themselves if they want to) is what all orthodox Catholic believe: that while the spiritual end of life is higher than the temporal end, the temporal power is sovereign in its own sphere. Those exercising spiritual authority are not hierarchically superior to those exercising temporal authority when it come to temporal affairs.
It remains true, of course, as Pope John XXIII taught in Pacem in Terris:
59. Men, however, composed as they are of bodies and immortal souls, can never in this mortal life succeed in satisfying all their needs or in attaining perfect happiness. Therefore the common good is to be procured by such ways and means which not only are not detrimental to man’s eternal salvation but which positively contribute to it.
This traditional position is also expressed by Vatican II's Gaudium et Spes 76:

The Church and the political community in their own fields are autonomous and independent from each other. Yet both, under different titles, are devoted to the personal and social vocation of the same men. The more that both foster sounder cooperation between themselves with due consideration for the circumstances of time and place, the more effective will their service be exercised for the good of all. For man's horizons are not limited only to the temporal order; while living in the context of human history, he preserves intact his eternal vocation.
Thus, first, temporal and spiritual authorities are 'autonomous and independent'. And yet, second, since Church and State are exercising authority over the self-same people they will have to find a way to cooperate. And, third, our spiritual goal is of greater ultimate importance than our temporal goals.
Naturally Pink and Waldstein have distinctive things to say about these matters, but the basis of their positions is comprised by the fundamental principles just enunciated, which go back to Pope Galasius' Duo Sunt: 'there are two powers', written in the year 494.
The whole point of this position is that there is no subordination of the temporal power as such to the spiritual. I take it Capizzi is aware of this and his point is to accuse Pink and Waldstein of rejecting this position in favour of the kind of view one might associate with post-revolutionary Iran.
Pink and Waldstein have been active in writing on these topics and Capizzi must have read something about their views in order to pick them out. Either he is putting out a calculated calumny, or else by some combination of laziness and stupidity he really believes what he has written. It is not for me to speculate, but I will say this.
A great deal of public commentary on Catholic matters is undertaken by people with rather limited intellectual formation, particularly journalists. To some extent this is inevitable, and it is good that a journalistic enterprise like The Pillar should invite an academic to help explain a phenomenon like integralism, whether or not that is a helpful term to apply to the views of Pink and Waldstein. There is a problem, however, in that at best the journalistic instinct is to simplify, and all too often journalists are drawn into ideological conflicts in which they present half-truths and half-baked arguments to vindicate one set of people and tear down another: just compare left- and right-leaning newspaper accounts of the same event. Journalists like to pile up supposed facts and opinions in the hope that at least some of it may stick.
Capizzi is allowing himself to be dragged into exactly this kind of exercise. It is a pretty poor showing for a supposedly Catholic outlet, but it is a particular problem for him as an academic. Journalists can always claim that academic arguments are a bit over the heads, and in general I am ready to believe them. But within academia, when someone gets his opponent's views completely upside-down this is not regarded as understandable partisanship. It is basic intellectual failure. It makes you look like a fool, and it renders everything you subsequently say on the subject worthless.
That is why it would be pointless for me to critique the rest of the interview, which of course contains all kinds of tendentious nonsense. From an academic point of view, it is not worth reading, because he is explaining--oh-so-charitably, oh-so-open-mindedly--an imaginary position, a straw man.
Capizzi should be ashamed of himself. JD Flynn and Ed Condon owe Pink and Waldstein an apology, and they should pull this interview. They will not, however: just as they refused to clarify or correct their insinuations of disobedience and wrongdoing levelled at Cardinal Burke last year.
I am sorry to say it, but for all the useful things The Pillar has done and may yet do, it is becoming marked for its failure to observe the fundamental requirements of intellectual honesty and respect for the reputations of public figures. Flynn and Condon need to do some hard thinking about the direction of their work.

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21/04/2022 - 17:49

Monday Masses in London

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Music and feasts/ Votive Masses are now confirmed for the 6:30pm Masses in Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane (Covent Garden, WC2E 7NA) in London up to the end of August.
These are accompanied by the Southwell Consort with polyphony or by the Houghton Schola with chant, under Dominic Bevan.


  • 2nd May: St ATHANASIUS

Missa Euge Bone, Tye

Surrexit Pastor Bonus, L’Heritier

Dum Transisset, Taverner 


  • 23rd May: VOTIVE MASS FOR PEACE

Missa Vidi Speciosam, Victoria 

O Maria Vernans Rosa, Clemens non Papa

Christe qui Lux est Dies, White

  • 6th June: WHIT MONDAY

Missa Dum Complerentur, Palestrina 

Dum Complerentur, Victoria

Loquebantur Variis Linguis, Tallis


  • 20th June: Octave Mass of CORPUS CHRISTI 

Missa Viri Galilei, Palestrina

Viri Galilei, Palestrina 

O Sacrum Convivium, Guerrero


  • 4th July: Octave Mass of SS PETER AND PAUL

Missa Papae Marcelli

Credo Quod redemptor, Parsons

Adolescentes sum ego, Mundy 

  • 25TH July: St JAMES

Missa Simile Est Regnum, Victoria

Sancta Maria, Victoria

Ave Verum, Byrd


  • 15th AUGUST: THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM

Missa Assumpta Est Maria, Palestrina 

Ave Virgo Sanctissima, Guerrero

Ave Maria Gemma Virginum, Mouton


  • 22nd August: THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BVM

Missa Sicut Lilium Inter Spinas, Palestrina

Ave Maria 5, Palestrina

Salve Regina a 5, Victoria

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31/03/2022 - 19:04

FIUV Magazine, Gregorius Magnus, now out!

Download the pdf here; see it optimised for mobile devices on ISSUU here.
The latest Gregorius Magnus includes articles from Malawi, Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine, plus our regular selection of magazine articles from member associations in England, Germany, and France, book reviews, responses to the Responsa ad dubia, and a photographic report on the 2021 Summorum Pontificum--Ad Petri sedem Pilgrimage.
It can be downloaded as a pdf here ; see it optimised for mobile devices on ISSUU here.

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23/03/2022 - 16:38

Sponsorship for Royal School of Needlework Course from the Guild of St Clare

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One of our sponsored students, helping to make a replacement stole
for a violet Low Mass set belonging to the Latin Mass Society
Traditional hand embroidery techniques, required for restoration of old vestments and the construction of new ones in the traditional way, was saved from oblivion in England by the Royal School of Needlework (as it soon became), which was founded in 1872. Today the RSN is commissioned to restore antique fabrics for museums and to create things for state occasions, such as the Coronation, as well as private commissions. They pass on these precious skills to new generations of students in their courses. including the skills of traditional vestment-making.
Their Certificate in Hand Embroidery, in which students master four different techniques by doing a project in each one, could be regarded as the entry level for serious work. 
It is, naturally, expensive and time-consuming. The good news is that the Certificate Course is also extremely flexible, making it possible for students to do it at times convenient to them, over a longer of shorter period of time. 
The even better news is that in association with the Latin Mass Society (and a benefactor) the Guild of St Clare is offering sponsorship which will pay up to 50% of the tuition fees.

We have already sponsored two students, who are now nearing the end of the Certificate. This year we will be able to sponsor two students.
The deadline for applications in 24th June 2022. More information here.

A Certificate Course piece of work by the other of our current sponsored students.
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22/03/2022 - 17:11

A prayer for Friday's Consecration of Russia

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On Friday the Holy Father is going to consecrate Russia, and Ukraine, 'especially', to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union (at the Pope's request) with the bishops of the world.
There is little we can do to make the consecration more perfect from a spiritual point of view as far the words and intentions of the hierarchy are concerned. But we can join in as best we can on our own behalfs.
No official prayer has been suggested, but here is one from the Raccolta--the old handbook of indulgenced prayers--which seems suitable to say on Friday. I have just added a phrase to specify the intention. It was promulgated by Pope Pius XII in 1942.
Pope Francis will start his act of consecration at 5pm Rome time (4pm here in the UK).
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Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother’s Heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities.

Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.

Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquillity of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Saviour of the world: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ’s one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.

Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves, and the nations of Russia and Ukraine, forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting “Magnificat” of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace.

(Pope Pius XII, 17 Nov 1942: with the addition of the words in red).

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11/03/2022 - 11:08

Penance: for Catholic Answers

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Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bridal chamber. (Joel 2.15-7)
My latest for Catholic answers.

Presented with the imperative to “do something” for Lent, a familiar response is to “give something up.” In itself, this is a healthy enough instinct. Depending on your lifestyle, giving up alcohol, or even chocolate, can be a reminder of the nature of the season and a noticeable sacrifice. Alternatively, people think of giving up something bad, trying to overcome a habitual sin. This is laudable, but penance is the sacrifice of something good, not something bad. Catholics should be able to go beyond both kinds of “giving up.”

The imperatives of Lent in particular, and of the Christian life in general, are the eminent good works of prayer, penance, and almsgiving. These really are good works—works that earn us merit. These works will cancel out temporal punishment we would otherwise suffer in purgatory, and add to our glory in heaven, and we can offer them for the good of the holy souls in purgatory and for the conversion of sinners. Good works in this sense are possible only if we are in a state of grace (sanctifying grace), and they will themselves be done in and through God’s assisting grace (actual grace). When we do them, we may say with St. Paul, it is not we who do them, but God who does them through us (Phil. 2:13). They are in fact a gift of God to us—but when God gives us something, we really do possess it.

Read it all there.

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10/03/2022 - 10:00

Server training and vestment-mending in London

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We had a splendid day at St Mary Moorfields with the Society of St Tarcisius (server training) and the Guild of St Clare (vestment mending), taking place simultaneously.

The next such event will take place on
2nd April, St Dominic's Haverstock Hill, 
from 11 am to 4pm (please come to the parish hall on the left of the church).
There is a booking page for the server training for men and boys: more information here.
Contact the Guild of St Clare if you'd like to join them.
For the vestment mending we will find you something to suit your skills! In a pause in the server training, I was myself put onto the unpicking a seam...
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09/03/2022 - 10:00

The 'Latin Mass' Society: letters in The Tablet

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Ash Wednesday. A new generation of Latin Massers.

Although printing two letters challenging the Latin Mass Society directly, The Tablet took their time in printing my response, which appeared two editions ago (yes I've been busy too). It is the old canard about our name. The Latin Mass Society is a lot easier to understand than a few other names I could mention. The Tablet, for example: what is that all about? Did its founders really look forward to the day when it would be referred to a 'the Bitter Pill'?

As for the Latin language not being the issue of polarisation, I welcome the greater depth of research and understanding which has focused attention on changes to the texts even in the Latin version. But Latin is still a sticking point. The correspondents who point out, correctly, that the reformed Mass can be celebrated in Latin, need to ask themselves: why isn't it?

Letters on 4th Feb

...While not quite accurate, it does not seem entirely misleading to speak of two rites. What is misleading – and completely inaccurate – is to refer to the “extraordinary” form as the “Latin Mass”. I find it frankly annoying that the term “Latin Mass” is so frequently used in this way, and has been adopted as a rallying cry on both sides of the current, unfortunate, liturgical conflict.

 
What is at issue is not only, and certainly not primarily, the use of Latin. All the post Vatican II liturgical texts – for the celebration of Mass and the sacraments, the daily Liturgy of the Hours, for ritual consecrations and blessings – were promulgated in Latin. Latin may be, and is, the language in which these rites are celebrated if and when it is appropriate to do so.
 
Latin is not the root cause of today’s liturgical polarisation. Please, let us agree to avoid this confusing use of the term “Latin Mass”. And, in passing, perhaps the Latin Mass Society (which I do not support, despite a personal love of Latin as a liturgical language) might consider changing its name, to represent more accurately what appear to be its own aims and ethos.

(FR) MARTIN J. CLAYTON
HOPE, DERBYSHIRE

...The congregation was mixed: English, Irish, Swiss, German. Although the form of the service was post-Tridentine as prescribed by Vatican II, the language was Latin. 

Interesting to reflect on how the Latin Mass Society would view this service.

JIM MALIA
TOTLAND BAY, ISLE OF WIGHT

My response.

Fr Clayton and Jim Malia (Letters, 5th Feb) are correct that the Mass loved by ‘traditional’ Catholics is not simply the Mass in Latin.

 
The Latin Mass Society was founded to preserve the ancient Mass in Latin, when it began to be celebrated in the vernacular in 1965, and continued to seek the preservation of the ancient Mass in Latin, when it disappeared more or less completely in 1969.
 
Like the names of many organisations, ours reflects the circumstances of our foundation, but it remains universally understood.
 
The reformed Mass has never been widely celebrated in Latin. It would be pointless to make the rites ‘short, clear’ and ‘within the people's powers of comprehension’ (Sacrosanctum Concilium 34) if, at the same time, ‘the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites’ (36). The inner conflict in Vatican II’s Decree on the Liturgy has been resolved, in practice, in favour of the vernacular: to pretend otherwise is to engage in make-believe.

Joseph Shaw
Chairman, The Latin Mass Society

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