By Morgan on January 4th, 2008
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YOUTH TAKING THE LEAD IN RETURN TO TRADITION AND SOLEMNITY 

A youth movement for Catholics devoted to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman liturgy is planning to attend World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

Juventutem derives its name from a Latin word for “youth” and is a multi-national organization dedicated to the daily sanctification of young Catholics through traditional devotions and liturgy.

Pope Benedict recently advocated a wider use of the Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite)  in the Church, following the issuance of his Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which became effective September 14, 2007.

Devotion to this Extraordinary Form of the Roman liturgy is growing among young Catholics, who have discovered the rich treasures of the Church, many of which have been downplayed, or even largely discarded, for three decades by bishops and priests of the 60’s generation.

Now, a new generation has discovered the great devotions of the Church, its Sacred Catholic Music and its rich liturgical heritage.

One of the most surprising news stories to come out of World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany was the presence there of a large group of young Catholics, numbering in the thousands, who were worshiping God using some of the oldest rites in the Catholic Church — including the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (formerly known as “Tridentine”).

This multi-national group called itself “Juventutem“, a word which appears at the beginning of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, at the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, with the invocation of the Priest, followed by the response of the altar server:

 (Priest): “Introibo ad altare Dei.” (I will go up to the Altar of God)

(Altar Server):  “Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.” (To God, who gives joy to my youth)

Newspapers and magazines covered the story of these dynamic young people who were so devoted to the ancient traditions, music and devotions of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Francis George (USA), Cardinal George Pell (Australia), Bishop Fernando Arêas Rifan (Brazil) and Archbishop Raymond Burke (USA) were among those Church dignitaries celebrating liturgies and leading devotions for Juventutem in 2005, which were often attended by WYD pilgrims coming from other groups to participate in the beautiful Masses and experience Gregorian chant.

Although 2005 was the beginning of Juventutem, much has happened in the intervening three years. It is now not unusual to hear of a group of people devoted to the classical form of the Roman liturgy in the Catholic Church.

In July of 2007, Pope Benedict issued his Motu Proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum, in which he clarified that the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Roman Rite takes two forms - the Forma Extraordinaria (Extraordinary Form, formerly called Tridentine), and the Forma Ordinaria (Ordinary Form, formerly called Novus Ordo).

The Holy Father stated that one reason for the issuance of Summorum Pontificum, in fact, was the widespread devotion to these liturgical forms by young Catholics throughout the world.

“Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it,” the Holy Father wrote in his letter to bishops accompanying Summorum Pontificum, “But in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.”

Juventutem and other groups devoted to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite are not the curiosity they once might have been in 2005. Indeed, the number of young Catholics seeking more tradition and solemnity in the Mass through its celebration in the Extraordinary Form, has grown dramatically.

Juventutem has now become an international youth movement whose goal is the daily sanctification of Catholic youth through Roman traditions. A contingent of Juventutem members will meet this summer in Australia for WYD 2008, and the organizers plan a 2-week long schedule of religious and cultural events.

Juventutem USA has organized a WYD 2008 group package, led by Rev. Fr. Denis Buchholz of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest. This priestly order, founded in 1990, is entirely devoted to the liturgical forms of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Fr. Buchholz was part of Juventutem at WYD 2005 and is currently pro rector of Old St. Patrick Roman Catholic Oratory in Kansas City, MO. The schedule of events includes daily Mass according to the Extraordinary Form; Lauds, Vespers, and Compline on most days; catechesis and rosary; attendance at the Papal Mass; and of course, some days to explore Australia.

All Catholics aged 16-30 are welcome to join the group, and Una Voce Central Alabama strongly encourages young Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mobile to become a part of this growing, exciting organization of youth who are finding more fulfillment in their spiritual life by recapturing the best, most solemn devotions of the Roman Catholic Church.

For more information on joining Juventutem USA in Australia for WYD 2008, please visit www.juventutemusa.org.

By Morgan on January 3rd, 2008
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VATICAN MOVES TO BLOCK OBSTRUCTIONIST BISHOPS 

The Vatican has begun drafting a document to elaborate on Pope Benedict XVI’s recent liberalization of the old Latin Mass (now known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite)  because some bishops are either ignoring his move or misinterpreting it, Vatican officials said.

The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said in comments published Thursday that the Vatican would be issuing an “instruction” on how to put the Pope’s document, Summorum Pontificum into practice, since there had been what he called some “uneven” reactions to it since it went into effect September 14, 2007.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, appointed by the Holy Father, has ultimate authority over implementation of “Summorum Pontificum” and lay Catholics can appeal directly to Ecclesia Dei if their bishop restricts or obstructs rights granted under “Summorum Pontificum”.

“Summorum Pontificum” issued by the Holy Father in July removed restrictions on celebrating the formerly-called Tridentine Mass, the rite celebrated exclusively in Latin before the Second Vatican Council “permitted” use of the vernacular, though still maintaining Latin as the official language of the Mass.

In “Summorum Pontificum”, Pope Benedict XVI decreed that the Roman Rite is now divided into two forms of celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of Mass - the Forma Extraordinaria (Extraordinary Form), that being what was formerly called the “Tridentine”, and the Forma Ordinaria (Ordinary Form), that was formerly called the “Novus Ordo” as decreed by Pope Paul VI upon development by Catholic and protestant liturgical commissions in the years following the conclusion of the Second Vatican Countil.

Following the 1960s, the Extraordinary Form could only be celebrated with an Indult from local bishops — an obstacle that had greatly reduced its availability. It was not uncommon for bishops, particularly in the United States, to spread the word that it was not wise for a priest’s future to even request the Indult to celebrate the Extraordinary Form.

Benedict removed that requirement in “Summorum Pontificum” by extending the Indult universally to all priests of the Roman Rite, and further granting extensive rights to lay Catholics in obtaining regular daily and Sunday celebration of the Extraordinary Form in every parish, as well for funerals, weddings and baptisms.

Implementation, however, has been uneven, with some obstructionist bishops issuing rules that “practically annul or twist the intention of the pope,” Monsignor Albert Malcolm Ranjith, secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, said recently, according to the Vatican’s missionary news agency FIDES.

Such reactions amounted to a “crisis of obedience” toward the pontiff, he was quoted as saying, although he stressed that most bishops and other prelates had accepted the Pope’s will “with the required sense of reverence and obedience.”

Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said the upcoming instruction would lay out criteria for the Pope’s document to be correctly applied, according to an interview published Thursday in the Italian religious affairs weekly “Famiglia Cristiana”. He gave no date for release of the Vatican rules for implementation.

He asserted that reactions to “Summorum Pontificum” had included misinterpretations at each end of the spectrum.

“Some have even gone so far as to accuse the Pope of having reneged on Council teaching,” Bertone was quoted as saying. “On the other hand, there are those who have interpreted the (document) as authorization to return exclusively to the pre-Council rite. Both positions are wrong, and are exaggerated episodes that don’t correspond to the pope’s intention. Essentially, the Holy Father wishes only to see both the Extraordinary and Ordinary Forms of the Roman Rite made available in all parishes.”

Despite such incidents, the Rev. John T. Zuhlsdorf, who runs a blog that has charted implementation of the Pope’s document, said he had seen growth in both interest in and celebrations of the older form of the Mass, among all ages of Catholics.

“In some dioceses in the United States, bishops have been stepping up to the plate and not only learning the older form, but celebrating it themselves,” he said. “Younger priests are attending workshops. Several seminaries are offering training for their priesthood candidates.”

Both Una Voce and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter have been instrumental in educating Catholics as to the rights of priests and lay Catholics under “Summorum Pontificum”, and the Fraternity has embarked upon massive training programs for priests.

Currently, within the Archdiocese of Mobile, only one valid Extraordinary Form Mass is celebrated each month, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Whistler.

This state of affairs will change as “Summorum Pontificum” is gradually implemented, both by pastors of parishes as well as future instructions from the Ecclesia Dei Commission, which oversees all matters pertaining to implementation of “Summorum Pontificum”.

Una Voce Central Alabama is presently working toward the ultimate goal of seeing the Extraordinary Form made easily available to all Roman Catholics in the central Alabama portion of the Archdiocese and, in time, to all areas of the Archdiocese proper.

Great progress has been made in the Suffragan Diocese of Birmingham, under the leadership of Bishop Baker (see article below), and through the very hard work of Una Voce Northern Alabama.

By Morgan on December 27th, 2007
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ST. CECILIA SCHOLA CANTORUM ANNUAL WORKSHOP

(Auburn) St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum has announced its annual chant and polyphony workshop, to be held in Auburn, February 1-2, 2008.

A very special conductor coming from the Netherlands, Wilko Brouwers, will be the honored guest.

All parish choirs in central Alabama are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop, in order to learn the basics of chant and polyphony. Considering that both the documents of Vatican II, and the General Instructions of the Roman Missal firmly state that Gregorian Chant has “pride of place” in the Roman Catholic Church, it is far past time that Catholic Masses be once again filled with this sacred music, which was written specifically for our Catholic liturgy.

More information is here: www.ceciliaschola.org/workshop

You can register online at the above link.

You can always write to the Schola with questions: contact@ceciliaschola.org

By Morgan on December 27th, 2007
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GOOD NEWS FROM UNA VOCE NORTH ALABAMA

Extraordinary Form Masses: Diocese of Birmingham

Sunday Jan. 6, The Epiphany, Low Mass 2pm
Blessed Sacrament Church 1460 Pearson Ave. SW
Birmingham, AL 35211

Sunday Jan 20, Low Mass 2pm
Blessed Sacrament Church
1460 Pearson Ave. SW
Birmingham, AL 35211

Sunday Jan 27, Low Mass 4pm
Una Voce Meeting to Follow Mass
St. Mary of the Visitation
222 N. Jefferson St.
Huntsville, AL 35801

Bishop Baker has expressed his desire that the Extraordinary Form of the Mass be offered with regularity throughout the diocese.  Fr. Alan Mackey (who offers the Latin Mass each Sunday in Jacksonville, Alabama) has been commissioned to head this initiative.  A spiritual talk and question and answer session will be held after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on each of the Sunday Masses listed above.

By Morgan on November 29th, 2007
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UNA VOCE AND FSSP ANNOUNCE WORKSHOP FOR PRIESTS

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is pleased to collaborate with Una Voce America in making possible workshops hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska to teach priests how to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

The Mass Training Workshop is a five-day course comprising classroom sessions and practical hands-on instruction with individual instructors, giving ample opportunity for questions and answers. Subjects covered will include: an overall introduction to the Extraordinary Form and traditional liturgical principles; a practical study of the rubrics of the 1962 Roman Missal covering principally the ceremonies of Low Mass with an introduction to Sung Mass; an overview of the 1962 Roman Missal and liturgical calendar; and strategies for gaining proficiency in Latin and in Gregorian chant.

Please visit our website: www.fssptraining.org to download a Registration Packet or contact the seminary at the address below or email: contact@fssptraining.org Mailing address: Our Lady of Guadalupe SeminaryAttn: Mass Training WorkshopsP.O. Box 147, Denton, NE. 68339Ph: (402) 797-7700

By Morgan on November 20th, 2007
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OPINION FROM THE TELEGRAPH

(London) Two and a half years after the name “Josephum” came booming down from the balcony of St Peter’s, making liberal Catholics weep with rage, Pope Benedict XVI is revealing his programme of reform. And it is breathtakingly ambitious.

The 80-year-old Pontiff is planning a purification of the Roman liturgy in which decades of trendy innovations will be swept away.

This recovery of the sacred is intended to draw Catholics closer to the Orthodox and ultimately to heal the 1,000 year Great Schism. But it is also designed to attract vast numbers of disenchanted conservative Anglicans, who will be offered the protection of the Holy Father if they convert en masse.

The liberal bishops don’t like the sound of it at all.

Ever since the shock of Benedict’s election, they have been waiting for him to show his hand. Now that he has, the resistance has begun in earnest - and the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, is in the thick of it.

Benedict’s pontificate moved into a new phase on July 7, with the publication of his apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum.

With a stroke of his pen, the Pope restored the traditional Latin Mass to parity with the modern liturgy. Shortly afterwards, he replaced Archbishop Piero Marini, the papal Master of Ceremonies who turned many of John Paul II’s Masses into politically correct carnivals.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor was most displeased. Last week, he hit back with a “commentary” on Summorum Pontificum.

According to Murphy-O’Connor, the ruling leaves the power of local bishops untouched. In fact, it removes the bishops’ power to block the ancient liturgy. In other words, the cardinal - who tried to stop Benedict issuing the ruling - is misrepresenting its contents.

Alas, he is not alone: dozens of bishops in Britain, Europe and America have tried the same trick.

Murphy-O’Connor’s “commentary” was modelled on equally dire “guidelines” written by Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds with the apparent purpose of discouraging the faithful from exercising their new rights.

A few years ago the ploy might have worked. But news travels fast in the traditionalist blogosphere, and these tactics have been brought to the attention of papal advisers.

This month, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, a senior Vatican official close to Benedict, declared that “bishops and even cardinals” who misrepresented Summorum Pontificum were “in rebellion against the Pope”.

Ranjith is tipped to become the next Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, in charge of regulating worldwide liturgy. That makes sense: if Benedict is moving into a higher gear, then he needs street fighters in high office.

He may also have to reform an entire department, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which spends most of its time promoting the sort of ecumenical waffle that Benedict abhors.

This is a sensitive moment. Last month, the bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion, a network of 400,000 breakaway Anglo-Catholics based mainly in America and the Commonwealth, wrote to Rome asking for “full, corporate, sacramental union”.

Their letter was drafted with the help of the Vatican. Benedict is overseeing the negotiations. Unlike John Paul II, he admires the Anglo-Catholic tradition. He is thinking of making special pastoral arrangements for Anglican converts walking away from the car wreck of the Anglican Communion.

This would mean that they could worship together, free from bullying by local bishops who dislike the newcomers’ conservatism and would rather “dialogue” with Anglicans than receive them into the Church.

The liberation of the Latin liturgy, the rapprochement with Eastern Orthodoxy, the absorption of former Anglicans - all these ambitions reflect Benedict’s conviction that the Catholic Church must rediscover the liturgical treasure of Christian history to perform its most important task: worshipping God.

This conviction is shared by growing numbers of young Catholics, but not by the church politicians who have dominated the hierarchies of Europe and America for too long.

By failing to welcome the latest papal initiatives - or even to display any interest in them, beyond the narrow question of how their power is affected - the bishops of England and Wales have confirmed Benedict’s low opinion of them.

Now he should replace them. If the Catholic reformation is to start anywhere, it might as well be here.

By Morgan on November 20th, 2007
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LITURGICAL ABUSES PLAYED PART IN HOLY FATHER’S DECISION

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A lack of respect for the norms for celebrating the Mass after the Second Vatican Council contributed to Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to grant wider permission for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, a Vatican official said.

“There is a certain tendency to interpret the post-conciliar liturgical reform using ‘creativity’ as the rule,” said Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

An interview with the archbishop was published in the Nov. 19-20 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, after he had given a speech and an interview in which he criticized bishops and priests who were putting restrictions on celebrations of the Tridentine Mass even after Pope Benedict authorized wider use of the rite in July.

In his decree, the pope said the Tridentine Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal should be made available in every parish where groups of the faithful desire it. He also said the Mass from the Roman Missal in use since 1970 remains the Ordinary Form of the Mass, while celebration of the Tridentine Mass is the Extraordinary Form. “Regarding the Tridentine Mass, over the years there was a growing request, which little by little became more organized,” he said.

By Morgan on November 8th, 2007
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VATICAN CRITICIZES OBSTRUCTIONIST BISHOPS

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments criticized bishops and priests who have given a narrow interpretation to Pope Benedict XVI’s permission for the wider celebration of the Tridentine Mass.

Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don told an Italian Internet news site that he found it difficult to understand the action “and even rebellion” of churchmen who have tried to limit access to the older Mass.“On the part of some dioceses, there have been interpretive documents that inexplicably aim to limit the ‘motu proprio’ of the pope,” he told the Web site Petrus Nov. 5.Pope Benedict’s apostolic letter, published in early July, eased restrictions on the use of the 1962 Roman Missal, which governed the liturgy before the new Order of the Mass was introduced in 1970.

The papal document said the Latin-language Tridentine Mass should be available when a group of the faithful requests it and should be celebrated by qualified priests. However, differences exist over what the precise characteristics of the group should be and over what specific knowledge and training a priest must have before he can celebrate the Mass according to the 1962 missal.Behind the attempts to define the terms in a way that limits the availability of the Tridentine Mass, “there hide, on the one hand, ideological prejudices and, on the other hand, pride, which is one of the most serious sins,” the archbishop said.

About Una Voce Central Alabama

By admin on October 23rd, 2007
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Welcome to the website of the Central Alabama Chapter of Una Voce America.

We are committed to the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, as clarified in the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, issued by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

Within this sacred Rite are the two forms of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - the Forma Ordinaria (Ordinary Form) and the Forma Extraordinaria (Extraordinary Form).

Our mission is two-fold:

1) To promote the rights of priests and the faithful, in the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

2) To promote more solemnity in the celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, through the sacred music and language which it has legally retained since the convocation of the Second Vatican Council by Bl. Pope John XXIII, the subsequent development of the Ordinary Form by liturgical commissions in the late 1960’s, and the promulgation of the Ordinary Form by decree of our late Holy Father, Pope Paul VI.

We are fully faithful to the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.