Thank you, Pope Francis! / Have we entered an age of a new gnosticism?

Fr. Z's blog ^ | 3/30/2013 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

[Mrs. Don-o]

I have never been at a Good Friday Liturgy in a Catholic Church that did not break up the Passion of the Lord into parts, with three individual readers (Narrator, Jesus, and Other), plus the whole congregation taking the part of "Chorus" or "Crowd."

Of course, the whole congregation includes laymen and laywomen.

I've never heard of the Good Friday Gospel being sung, except in Latin. Did this woman chant it in English?

[Brian Kopp DPM]

One poster commented that in a matter of minutes, her parish pastor tossed two men from that night's lineup and substituted two women.

Actually, I've seen this type of comment a number of times now in various blog posts.

Why is it no priests immediately wanted to emulate BXVI administering Holy Communion on the tongue and only to those kneeling yet because of this Mandatum aberration numerous priests acted on it within minutes?

[old and tired]

I've never heard of the Good Friday Gospel being sung, except in Latin. Did this woman chant it in English?

The priest sings it at two parishes I know of in Philadelphia. They are both predominantly African American parishes - not sure if race has anything to do with it. My own parish (predominantly Caucasian) very nearby these other two does things the usual way.

[Jeff Chandler]

the Pope's making rubrics moot sets up anarchy and confusion.

As does the reception of Communion by abortion promoters, notorious adulterers, and homosexual advocates. It conveys the accurate message that one can promote abortion and homosexual behavior and engage in adultery and still be considered a good Catholic; that those views are equal to the teachings of the Church. If not, there would be actual consequences to publicly espousing them as legitimate Catholic beliefs.

It has become quite obvious that the Church leaders don't really think that abortion, homosexuality and adultery are anything that important. So why would liturgy and rubrics be?

The Catholic faith has been boiled down to: Be nice--especially to the poor, then do as you please.

[old and tired]

One poster commented that in a matter of minutes, her parish pastor tossed two men from that night's lineup and substituted two women.

I don't believe this. Our parish has always done men and women and let me tell you, they have to head to the highways and byways to find people as it is. It's not a popular tradition. I don't know anybody who'd be crying tears if they cut it out. ANd I don't believe there's anybody - male or female - who's so itching to be a part of it that they'd oust two guys who'd already agreed to do it.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

There is always, and must be, a Faithful Remnant.

[old and tired]

So, since the ritual does not apply only to priests or candidates for the priesthood, what's the big deal?

I'm with you. I don't see it as a big deal either. But then I'm not bothered by pants wearing female lectors so what do I know?

[Mrs. Don-o]

What you said about Divine and Natural Law is correct --- it is unchangeable by anyone. What you said about ceremonial rubrics is also correct, they are certainly changeable, and for his part, the Pope can change them as he wishes, since he is he chief liturgical authority in the Church.

Nobody's saying he didn't have the authority, nor that he didn't have a good intention.

BUT... he also gave an example of simply disregarding the rule, instead of using his legitimate power to actually change the rule. That is, he could/should have first formally legislated, "From here on in, you can wash the feet of girls/women".

But he didn't, he just did his own thing on the spot.

The EneMedia have apparently latched onto this as a signal for "Whee! The Catholic Church has declared a New Age of No Rules", and in fact, some of the looseygooseys amongst the liberal clerics are sure to see it just that way ("Yahoo, the Pope disregards rules for the sake of compassion, and so can I. Next up, I'm marryin' lesbians...")

They're wrong, of course, but that's the Zeitgeist.

In sum, this would not have been the Pope's intention, but this may be the result. There are a lot of overexcited looseygoosies out there, who could turn this into another poop-typhoon like the one in the immediate aftermath of VII. We haven't even finished repairing he damage caused by that one, and people are afraid of "Here it comes again!"

[mlizzy]

I’m not too concerned about this aspect, though I’ve seen it expressed by several female posters on several blog posts. I don’t think the grandfatherly PFI is placing himself in the near occasion of sin in this regard at this point in his career. On the other hand, Jesus did permit his own feet to be anointed by a women who was a known sinner, and she cleansed His feet with her hair.

Since I'm not a man, I don't know when "grandfatherly" kicks in, but I'm more concerned over the countless young priests who now will adopt his actions. Who needs temptation?! As far as Mary Magdalene cleansing Jesus' feet, He never returned the same.

[annalex]

The point of John 13:11-17 seems to be that as Christ washes the feet of his students, so the disciples should do when they have students. The example is not of Christ washing the feet of some hypothetical other Christs but of his disciples, so when He says "as I have done to you, so you do also" (v.15) it seems clear that they should show similar humble service not to equals but to those in some way inferior, e.g. a priest washing the feet of a non-priest, and of a younger person. That part remains intact if a girl's feet are washed; but the symmetry of Christ the High Priest preparing priests as they prepare future priests is lost in the service that occurred the other day.

I don't see how the expression "one another's feet" (the Greek simply says "υμεις οφειλετε αλληλων νιπτειν τους ποδας", i.e. "you owe others to wash the feet") can overcome this aspect of master vs. disciple.

Moreover, verse 16 speaks specifically of "apostle", further restricting those receiving this commandment to future priests.

Now, not every boy who gets his feet washed by a priest on Holy Thursday will become a priest, but the potential is there, because he is a boy. The potential is not there if he is a girl. This aspect is neglected if women's feet are washed.

I think this is an occasional departure and the expansion of the meaning to service in general, but when done to girls, or women, or even men of full age, the aspect of priestly preparation suffers -- and we sure could use more young priests.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

—— When your laws get in the way of the beautiful thing the Pope did, you and your laws have issues. ——

You are ignorant.

And opinionated.

You are free to remain so.

[Jeff Chandler]

There is always, and must be, a Faithful Remnant.

Yes, I believe that.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If your general point is, "Compassion is the Big Rule that trumps the small rules," you are right and that is a thoroughly Godly theme that runs right through the Scriptures from beginning to end.

There are other aspects, though.

Assuming, as I think we ALL do, that (1) the Pope had the authority to make this small ritual adjustment, and (2) he had the best of intentions, the one sticking point is:

Did he just inadvertently give the nod to all self-proclaimed compassionate Lone Ranger types to do the same?

• I'm a compassionate Choir Director so I'm going to let you do a Lady Gaga cover at your brother's Funeral Mass
• I'm a compassionate Eucharistic Minister so I'm going to give Communion to that cute little doggie
• I'm a compassionate Catholic High School teacher so I'm going to give out condoms
• I'm a compassionate pastor so I'm going to marry lesbians.

Bottom line: we live in a culture that is confused and corrupt without precedent. Pope Francis may want people to hear that "Compassion is our calling," but what many actually WILL hear is, "T'hell with laws, I'm just going to do what feels right. You can't criticize me! My intentions are good!"

The short route to chaos. And we've had enough experience with chaos over the past 40 years to know what it looks like, and to be troubled when we see it coming again.

P.S.I think Pope Francis' penchant for forceful, decisive action is also going to impel him to correct egregious error, hopefully in a swifter way than his precedessors. So my basic stance is still "Watch and Pray."

Watch and Pray, Pray, Pray.

[MinuteGal]

You were certainly correct in the post you took all that heat for.

I, too, have minor uncertain vibes on this Pope at the moment..... the cascade of 'umbleness' right off the bat makes me a little nervous.

We'll see.....he definitely has my heartfelt prayers. It ain't easy being Pope!

Leni

[tiki]

To which I say, do not despair, the Holy Spirit chose him for a reason. It is not our’s to say that God was wrong. If Pope Francis does not improve the Church or , Heaven forbid, does things that make things worse, then that is God’s plan. God knows what will happen and He has already dealt with it. What we have to do is keep our eyes on the prize and live our own vocations as well as we can with the help of God.

[353FMG]

Yup.

[Arthur McGowan]

The Passion is often sung on Palm Sunday. There’s no reason it couldn’t be sung on Good Friday—unless one were to judge that this is too “festive” for Good Friday. Personally, I think it would be. I prefer stark for Good Friday.

[Arthur McGowan]

I hope the Vatican’s official comments have made clear that the Pope is entitled to bend the rubrics, but that this effects no change in the duties of all other priests.

In the Novus Ordo, for many years, it was incorrect, at the “Ecce Agnus Dei,” for the priest to hold the Host over the chalice (rather than the paten), as in the Old Mass. (It is now okay.) JPII did this at least a few times when celebrating an N.O. Mass. Even if he did it by mistake, it was correct, because he was Pope. The liturgy is whatever the Pope chooses to do or happens to be doing.

[ebb tide]

“I hope the Vatican’s official comments have made clear that the Pope is entitled to bend the rubrics, but that this effects no change in the duties of all other priests.”

You’ve got to be kidding. In other words, do what the Church says, not what I do.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you. I am getting an education here.