The Mishandling of the Octave

I am disappointed with the way we treat the Christmas Octave. Churches are filled with people for the 9-day Simbang Gabi. There is a heavy turnout of parishioners, servers, musicians, lectors, and other ministers. Even in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, servers and choir members are excited over the Rorate Masses. So many candles were lit and so much incense was burned to make the days of the Rorate more solemn.

But after the Midnight Mass, everything changes. On the morning itself of Christmas day, the churches are almost empty. Maybe, it is because people have fulfilled their Christmas obligation with the Midnight Mass that they saw it unnecessary to return for Church on Christmas day. However, it becomes more disappointing beginning the Feast of St. Stephen. There, we begin to see less and less people coming to Mass. Lectors and other ministers do not report for duty. Servers were limited to the minimum (1). Even the Sacristan did not see it necessary to light all the 6 candles on the Altar nor to light the Christmas Lanterns in and outside of the Church. The Choir and Cantors are nowhere to be found. And I am not referring only to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. This year, I committed myself to a daily offering of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite throughout the octave and also until Epiphany. I was dismayed by how the octave of Christmas is being treated.

There is something wrong with our liturgical culture. So many assist Mass during the last 9 days of Advent but almost nobody will be there during the Octave. Isn't the Octave the extension of Christmas day? I recall our studies on the Liturgical Year. We were taught that the celebration of the Octave is due to the fact that the Divine Mystery commemorated on Christmas (or Easter) day is so rich that one day is not enough to celebrate it. And so the celebration is extended to 8 days. The 8 days are considered as only 1 day. Thus, the Gloria and the Creed are sung as on the day of Christmas (or Easter). And so everyday of the Octave is Christmas day (or Easter Sunday).

If this were so, why do we treat the Octave days so very badly? Have the Simbang Gabi exhausted us so much that we find it reason enough to stay at home and sleep throughout the Octave? It is as if were have been very busy preparing for the Fiesta and so we disappear and sleep off the actual festivity itself. And allow me to remind you that Advent, the Simbang Gabi, the Rorate Masses are but preparations. YES, ONLY PREPARATIONS!!!!! The Christmas (or Easter) Octave is the REAL CELEBRATION.

We have allowed the commercialism of the secular Christmas to creep into the sacred liturgy itself. We have anticipated Christmas in Advent that there seem to be nothing else to celebrate when the real Christmas came. Where are the servers? Where are the cantors? Where are the lectors? Where are the other ministers? (Where are the priests?)  If only our Lord could speak directly to us, he might say: "There were so many of you present during the preparations for my coming but when I can, everybody went out for their vacation."

Is this the way to treat the Octave days? If this were so, then I might take my vacation as well. This is no way the Octave should be treated. This is simply WRONG LITURGICAL CULTURE.

Dr. Taylor Marshall | Canterbury Tales: Eleven Great Quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on Litu...

As the Illustrious Pontificate of Benedict XVI draws to a close, an article by Dr. Taylor Marshall of Canterbury Tales testifies to the significant contribution of this Pontificate to the re-orientation of the Liturgical Reform. Indeed, the Holy Father is leaving to us a legacy of a truly Catholic liturgical reform. In this article, he puts forward eleven quotations from the Holy Father on liturgy:

Ratzinger on the Liturgical Reformers Creating a 'Fabrication, Banal Product'
The liturgical reform, in its concrete realization, has distanced itself even more from its origin. The result has not been a reanimation, but devastation. In place of the liturgy, fruit of a continual development, they have placed a fabricated liturgy. They have deserted a vital process of growth and becoming in order to substitute a fabrication. They did not want to continue the development, the organic maturing of something living through the centuries, and they replaced it, in the manner of technical production, by a fabrication, a banal product of the moment. (Ratzinger in Revue Theologisches, Vol. 20, Feb. 1990, pgs. 103-104)

Ratzinger on Those Who Appreciate the Latin Mass being Wrongly Treated Like 'Lepers'

"For fostering a true consciousness in liturgical matters, it is also important that the proscription against the form of liturgy in valid use up to 1970 [the older Latin Mass] should be lifted. Anyone who nowadays advocates the continuing existence of this liturgy or takes part in it is treated like a leper; all tolerance ends here. There has never been anything like this in history; in doing this we are despising and proscribing the Church's whole past. How can one trust her at present if things are that way?" (Spirit of the Liturgy, 2000)

Ratzinger on the Degeneration of Liturgy and 'Liturgical Fabricators'

"[W]e have a liturgy which has degenerated so that it has become a show which, with momentary success for the group of liturgical fabricators, strives to render religion interesting in the wake of the frivolities of fashion and seductive moral maxims. Consequently, the trend is the increasingly marked retreat of those who do not look to the liturgy for a spiritual show-master but for the encounter with the living God in whose presence all the 'doing' becomes insignificant since only this encounter is able to guarantee us access to the true richness of being." (Cardinal Ratzinger's preface to the French translation ofReform of the Roman Liturgy by Monsignor Klaus Gamber, 1992).

Ratzinger on the 'Disintegration of the Liturgy'

"I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing today is, to a large extent, due to the disintegration of the liturgy." (Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977)

Ratzinger against 'Homemade Liturgy'

"It is also worth observing here that the 'creativity' involved in manufactured liturgies has a very restricted scope. It is poor indeed compared with the wealth of the received liturgy in its hundreds and thousands of years of history. Unfortunately, the originators of homemade liturgies are slower to become aware of this than the participants..." (Feast of Faith p. 67-68)

Ratzinger on the Latin Mass as the 'Holiest and Highest Possession'

“I am of the opinion, to be sure, that the old rite should be granted much more generously to all those who desire it. It’s impossible to see what could be dangerous or unacceptable about that. A community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what until now was its holiest and highest possession is strictly forbidden and when it makes the longing for it seem downright indecent.” (Ratzinger Salt of the Earth (1997)

Ratzinger on the Danger of Creative "Presiders" at the Mass

In reality what happened was that an unprecedented clericalization came on the scene. Now the priest -- the "presider", as they now prefer to call him -- becomes the real point of reference for the whole Liturgy. Everything depends on him. We have to see him, to respond to him, to be involved in what he is doing. His creativity sustains the whole thing. 

Ratzinger on the Danger of 'Creative Planning of the Liturgy'

Not surprisingly, people try to reduce this newly created role by assigning all kinds of liturgical functions to different individuals and entrusting the "creative" planning of the Liturgy to groups of people who like to, and are supposed to, "make a contribution of their own". Less and less is God in the picture. More and more important is what is done by the human beings who meet here and do not like to subject themselves to a "pre-determined pattern". (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on Why the Priest Should Not Face the People During Mass

The turning of the priest toward the people has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle. In its outward form, it no longer opens out on what lies ahead and above, but is locked into itself. The common turning toward the East was not a "celebration toward the wall"; it did not mean that the priest "had his back to the people": the priest himself was not regarded as so important. For just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian Liturgy the congregation looked together "toward the Lord". (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on the Priest and People Facing the Same Direction

On the other hand, a common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of accidentals, but of essentials. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on the 'Absurd Phenomenon' of Replacing the Crucifix with the Priest

Moving the altar cross to the side to give an uninterrupted view of the priest is something I regard as one of the truly absurd phenomena of recent decades. Is the cross disruptive during Mass? Is the priest more important than Our Lord? (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Dr. Taylor Marshall | Canterbury Tales: Eleven Great Quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on Litu...

Truly Unconfused Worship

Taken at the Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the Our Lady of Grace Shrine, Grace Park, Caloocan City. The Mass was offered on the 31st of May 2012, Thursday in the Octave of Pentecost. The Celebrant was Rev. Fr. Rodel Lopez, OMI, assisted by yours truly as deacon, and Mr. Dennis Maturan as straw sub deacon. Thanks to Mr. Maturan for the pictures.

Video of Solemn Mass in the EF at the Holy Family Parish

The Video of the Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the Holy Family Parish is now posted at the New Liturgical Movement .

More From the Philippines: Solemn Mass in the EF

Solemn High Mass at Holy Family Parish

Last Sunday, February 12, 2012, the High Mass was offered at the Holy Family Church. This is the external Solemnity of the Holy Family. It was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Jean-Marie Moreau of the Institute of Christ the King, with Rev. Fr. Eric Forbes, OFM Cap. serving as Deacon and Rev. Fr. Rodel Lopez, OMI as sub-deacon. It was truly a blessed event - the highlight of our Parish Fiesta.

Thank you Mr. Jay Balza for the pictures and also for bringing Fr. Moreau!

The Common Liturgical Direction (ad orientem)

The elevation of the Body of the Lord

The elevation of the Precious Blood

The second Confiteor

Ite Missa Est.

Implement the Motu Proprio: A Bishop Speaks

At The New Liturgical Movement blog, excerpts of the pastoral letter of Bishop Mario Oliveri to priests and deacons of his diocese were made. The good bishop said:

"I understand that in some areas, on the part of several priests and pastors, there was also the manifestation almost of ridicule toward faithful who have asked to make use of the option, and indeed of the right, for the celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form; there is also an expression of contempt and almost of hostility toward Brother Priests who are well prepared to understand and respond to the requests of the faithful...

"I ask that you put away every attitude not in conformity with ecclesial communion, the discipline of the Church and the convinced obedience due to important acts of the magisterium or government."

In the Philippines, many priests continue to show hostility towards the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. Among them is a Pauline Priest who recently ridiculed the extraordinary form on national TV. To these priests, the exhortation of the good bishop is fittingly addressed: Put away every attitude not in conformity with ecclesial communion, the discipline of the Church, and the convinced obedience due to important acts of the Magisterium or government of the Church. They should be asked: Are you thinking with the Church? Are you moving with the Church?

Follow the link: Implement the Motu Proprio: A Bishop Speaks

The TLM in its new home

Thanks to Ron Yu for the picture

Have been busy for the past weeks on account of my transfer to Holy Family Parish. The transfer is nearly done. The first Mass of the Roman Rite in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated in the new parish at 8:30 am on the 19th of January 2012. The Mass in the Extraordinary form has a new home in the Diocese of Cubao, Philippines.

Please visit us at the Holy Family Parish, Madre Silva corner Lilac Streets, Roxas District, Quezon City. Mass on Ferial days at 8:30 am. Mass on Sundays at 2:00 pm

Rorate Mass in the Longest Night of the Year

Thanks to Dwen Marites Lumaque

Satan Hates the Latin Mass

Over at Rorate Caeli is a report about a priest who was beaten up for offering the Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.


Priest attacked, guilty of celebrating the Latin Mass
...
Tue, 26/07/2011 - 15:24


"You have been tough, but we will smash your head. Signed, Your friend Satan". That was one of several threatening messages sent to Father Hernán García Pardo, parish priest of San Michele, in Ronta [Mugello region of the Province of Florence, Tuscany]. His fault [was] that of celebrating the Latin Mass, liberalized by Benedict XVI in September 2007.


The warnings, which had been recurrent for some time, had not made the priest, who despite everything has continued to say Mass according to the ancient rite, give up. The last chapter [took place] last Wednesday, when he was beaten up by a 'faithful' in the town's rectory in the presence of his aged mother. The beating led to bruising on his back; having been sent to the emergency room of Borgo San Lorenzo, he was medicated.


The news item was published today in the Giornale della Toscana; the accusations made against Father Hernán are those of scattering the flock; above all, he is not forgiven for distributing communion in the mouth [to the] kneeling [faithful], instead of on the hand, in the same manner as Benedict XVI. For others, the Italian-Argentine priest has only brought back some sacred austerity to the parish, excluding guitars from the functions and bringing back to within the walls of the church the ancient Gregorian chant. ...

Clearly, "Satan loathes the Latin Mass", as one commentator said. Not only is the extraordinary form meeting so much opposition from within the ranks of the Church, it is also being opposed by Satan himself. Most of the priests who offer the Mass in this form suffer so much harrassment which are obviously orchestrated by the Prince of darkness. Let us continue to pray to St. Michael the Archangel and also to Our Lady who is destined to crush the head of the Serpent for the protection of our valiant priests who offer the Mass of all times.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Televised Mass in the Extraordinary Form

This was our first attempt at having the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite aired over national television in the Philippines last Sunday, January 23, 2011. The telecast hopefully made many people aware of the existence of this legitimate alternative to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Mass. So far, we have been receiving good feedbacks. The televised Mass was that of the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.

Thanks to Emmanuel TV for making this happen. Thanks to Jesson Allerite for the pictures.

All the Faithful Departed

Some pictures from the Requiem Mass on All Souls' Day from PLDM. Thanks Gerard Cenir for the pictures.

Why the Old Form Thrives in my Parish

I found this profound article on the extraorodinary form being celebrated in a parish. You might want to check it out. Just follow the link

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2010/07/01/why-the-old-form-thrives-in-my-parish/