The Remnant vs Archbishop Ranjith

WDTPRS ^ | November 2, 2006 | Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf

[NYer]

If there were ever a concrete demonstration that the traditionalist dimension of the Church tends, as I often say, to attract the sort of person who is happy only when he is unhappy, (but not exclusively, thanks be to God) it would be the The Remnant, a newspaper which is quite literally related to the paper for which I write each week, The Wanderer. As we can say with any paper, sometimes The Remnant gets it right and their articles are pretty insightful. Often, well…

In another entry on this blog a commentor said something about an article by Christopher A. Ferrara in The Remnant:

However, in The Remnant (July 31), in the same I Media interview with Archbishop Ranjith, it was reported: “In the end, the people will assist at [attend] the Tridentine Mass and our churches [the New Mass] will empty,” this according to Archbishop Ranjith himself. That quote was not mentioned in CWR. Wonder why?

The Remnant made a big deal out of this. Indeed, it is an amazing thing to read and there is sharped steel within it.

However, in a millisecond, you will very correctly wonder if that could really have been what Archbishop Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments actually said.

The answer: yes and no.

The source for the quote was an interview I-Media did with Archbishop Ranjith, in French. Here is a LINK to the whole text. Here is the part in question:

 

Q.: Les abus liturgiques sont-ils réellement si nombreux ?

R.: Chaque jour, nous recevons tellement de lettres, signées, où les gens se lamentent des nombreux abus : des prêtres qui font ce qu’ils veulent, des évêques qui ferment les yeux ou, même, justifient ce que font leurs prêtres au nom du ‘renouveau’… Nous ne pouvons pas nous taire. Il est de notre responsabilité d’être vigilants. Car, à la fin, les gens vont assister à la messe tridentine et nos églises se vident. La messe tridentine n’appartient pas aux Lefebvristes. C’est le moment de cesser les affrontements et de voir si nous avons été fidèles aux instructions de la Constitution conciliaire Sacrosanctum Concilium . C’est pourquoi il faut de la discipline pour ce que nous faisons sur l’autel. Les règles sont bien indiquées dans le Missel romain et les documents de l’Eglise.

Q:. Are liturgical abuses really so numerous?

A: Everyday we get signed letters in which people complain about numerous abuses: by priests who do whatever they want, about bishops who close their eyes to them or, similarly, justify what their priests do in the name of "renewal"... We can’t be silent. It is our responsibility to be vigilant. Because, in the end, people will go to attend the Tridentine Mass and our churches will empty. The Tridentine Mass does not belong to Lefebvrites. It is high time to stop confrontations and to see if we have been faithful to the instructions of the conciliar Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. This is why what we do at the altar takes discipline. The rules are clearly indicated in the Roman Missal and the documents of the Church.

So, what does Archbishop really say? He is pointing to liturgical ABUSES.

Abuses are by definition not part of the Novus Ordo. Abuses are violations of the rubrics.

Ranjith is saying that if we continue to have violations of the Novus Ordo, violations and abuses of the rite as it is laid down in the rubrics and documents of the Church, then people will drift away from the Church. They could even go to others who are disobedient in a different way: Lefebvrites.

From what Ranjith is saying, if there are celebrations of the Tridentine Mass those celebrations should also follow the proper rubrics. His stong point here is that for the unity of the Church and the good of the people, we have to obey the Church especially in the observance of the rubrics. What is harmful to the Church is not the Novus Ordo as such, but rather the priests and bishops who are not doing their jobs, fulfilling their liturgical responsibilities.

I think it is safe to say that had the Novus Ordo been implemented as it ought to have been, according to the texts and the mind of the Council Fathers, few if any people today would have continued over time to desire the older form of Mass. That is supposition, of course, but it is borne out by personal experience of places which don’t have wacky things going on and the books are followed closely and with an eye to the Roman tradition. Still, far and wide things are wacky and few eyes are turned to tradition. Therefore, we need some corrections. We need to reenvision the Novus Ordo and, especially, how it is to be celebrated through the lens of the older form of Mass.

Bring on the new indult and bring it now!

[livius]

I don't think the validity of the NO is in question here, although I have been at some that have been so weirdly transmogrified that they probably were not valid. But that's a whole different matter.

I think your point is a good one - I was simply using those terms because they were the ones in the article.

[NYer]

Did you know the whole Lebanon - Israel thingy was really the fruition of a long conspiracy plotted by the Jews? It is true. I read it in the Wanderer. Long ago Israel plotted to steal Lebanon's water. Yep, Israel is attacked by Iran's Henchmen and the Wanderer blames it on a Jewish Conspiracy.

It seems you doubt this report. You probably missed the following recent news article.

Israel has admitted for the first time that it used phosphorus bombs during its 34-day offensive on Lebanon but said they were only used against Hizbullah targets, the liberal Haaretz daily reported on Sunday.

On Sunday, Haaretz said during the war TV footage showed that civilians "carried injuries characteristic of attacks with phosphorus, a substance that burns when it comes to contact with air."

It reported that a doctor in Dar al-Amal hospital in the eastern city of Baalbeck, revealed that he had received three corpses "entirely shriveled with black-green skin," a phenomenon characteristic of phosphorus injuries.

Military sources had told Agence France Presse at the time that Israel used phosphorus incendiary bombs and implosion bombs, which suck up the air and collapse buildings.

FULL TEXT

During the 34 day war, I posted a thread on this and was unmercifully attacked by freepers from every direction. Now that the truth has been revealed, where are the apologies?

Know your facts before posting critiques.

[mockingbyrd]

The Wanderer is rapidly descending the spiral of craziness that engulfed New Oxford Review. It's sad, and I can't figure out why. One thing's for sure, neither knows their history, the history of Islam, or much about the current status of the Middle East.

[Frank Sheed]

I am dating myself, but I remember when every Church had at least three altars (the high altar and one small one on each side--what are referred to as the Mary and Joseph sides). On All Souls day, priests were allowed to offer the Mass as many times as they wished. I remember serving an All Souls Mass while the two side altars were being used privately by other priests. The graces for these Masses were meant for the souls of the faithful departed.

We as Catholics have lost the meaning of praying for the dead. Here is a famous poem that was used pre-Vatican II for a Requiem Mass. In todays culture, these words are harsh and even jarring!

Dies Irae

The sense of praying for the dead as they were about to face their first judgement is all but lost. Funerals now have become minor canonizations as families recount how good this person was or that person was. In truth, we don't see this individual as God does. God is love but He is also just.

I love All Souls Day. How appropriate that an Italian priest, one steeped in the old tradition, showed you a glimpse of the past. I pray for the dead today and every day. Who is to say that one day, we ourselves might be in Purgatory and, for the lack of sacrifices from friends on earth, we are denied the final view of God face to face until our purgation is complete? How sad...how unnecessary...how far this goes against our charitable duties as part of the Mystical Body of Christ!

Requiescant in pace!

[Tax-chick]

I've sometimes wondered how they cleaned those altars and altar-pieces. Tulsa's Cathedral had spiders way up in the Victorian neo-Gothic frou-frou. I could hear them snickering.

But seriously, Frank, I'm sure you're a hero to the souls in Purgatory, and there are plenty who reach Heaven and devote themselves to praying for you and your intentions.

[livius]

Our church (well, the Cathedral, actually) has side-altars, although of course now they refer to them as "shrines" and they are not used as altars. But I was looking at them today and remembering that very thing - when a church would be full of priests saying mass, even when it was not All Souls. The side altars were often used by elderly priests or others who for some reason or another were not up to dealing with a "public" mass.

Today I happened to be talking to someone about them, and when I said "side altars," she had no idea what I was referring to. I had to explain that the alcoves at the side of the church - each one still having an altar, although the altar is now behind the candle racks - were once for priests to say their private masses. This mystified her even more, and it made me feel really, really ancient - which I'm not, thank you!

[ELS]

Dies Irae

You can listen to a 30-second snippet on the above page, or, if you register at eMusic, you can download the entire recording (6:35) and listen to it.

[bornacatholic]

Know your facts before posting critiques.

My post was a mocking critique of the the Wanderer's descent into publishing antiJewish Conspiracy theories as a way to explain that what we really see is not what is really happening..

In response to this, you posted a total non sequitur having to do with Israel's use of specific munitions.

You took yourself out of the exchange with your own friendly fire, sister.

Just for the fun of it, let's look at a map of gigantic Israel. You know, Jews make up about 0.02%% of the world's population yet they control absolutely everything, dont they? They even manipulated Iran to arm Hamas to attack civiliam targets in Israel as part of a vast conspiracy to steal Lebanon's water.

[murphE]

Here is a famous poem that was used pre-Vatican II for a Requiem Mass. In todays culture, these words are harsh and even jarring!

I heard it today. It is still sung at requiem masses at my chapel.

I am dating myself, but I remember when every Church had at least three altars (the high altar and one small one on each side--what are referred to as the Mary and Joseph sides).

My chapel has these as well. =D

[bornacatholic]

Hamas, at work on behalf of the Jewish Conspiracy, don'cha know, dressed in civies and set-up in neighborhoods and launched salvos at Israel in attempt to kill as many innocent Jews as possible so the Jews could steal Lebanon's water.

It all makes so much sense when you just take some time to break it all down...

[Cheverus]

Wow, used the "P" word, must have made your heart leap in your Chest.

[Frank Sheed]

Many thanks! I just bought this CD. The Chant is excellent!

F

[Frank Sheed]

I also share your love of Chesterton! And an Irishman to boot!

Slainte!
F

[Frank Sheed]

All of our conversations of late seem to devolve to spiders... Hmmm...the Halloween influence.

F

[Tax-chick]

That must be it. Or the "fall housecleaning" phase.

[Frank Sheed]

Time for me to bring in the leaf blower and get rid of all the dust bunnies throughout the house...

[Tax-chick]

LOL! I'm using the portable vacuum, and even moving some furniture around to sweep under it.

[Frank Sheed]

This is a science, Mrs. T. You begin in the upstairs. Using the leaf blower, you seal off the room behind you until there is a nice "pile" in the hallway. Then you move downstairs and centralize the pile in the basement. There, you attack the dust pile (and it is sizeable) with the shop vac (use a new filter please!). It takes a few hours for the microdust to settle so I open a few windows and take a nice drive to look at the foliage on the trees. When I return, all is good.

Don't go near the kitchen and it is a good idea to close the dining room door and put duct tape along the door jam.

Be sure to have a chest X-ray for pneumonia a week or so later. I must have low resistance since I get it each year shortly after this.

F

[ELS]

You're most welcome. Enjoy!