A Light in the Darkness

My life, over the past few months has, to put it mildly, been quite unpleasant. Just over four months ago my mother passed away somewhat unexpectedly and then, two months later we were told that our company would have to close down at the end of November. I now do not have any family remaining in South Africa, but I do, thank God, have the love and kindness of good friends, both old and new, whose friendship and generosity have made the world of difference in these past months.

I also continue, on a daily basis, to thank God for the presence and grace of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in our lives. It has been a very dark period with regard to my Faith, but also a time of great Light. This has been due, in a large part, to the gentle wisdom and guidance of our Holy Father. His words are always a true guide and inspiration in these times of continual upheaval, both personally and globally.

Some weeks ago I read the following from the Holy Father’s book, God is Near Us. I had come across this passage quite by coincidence, as I was flicking through the pages, but they would become even more relevant later, as I will explain:

“Even when Abraham was still on his way, and as yet knew nothing of the mystery of the ram, he was able to say to Isaac, with trust in his heart: Deus providebit – God will take care of us. Because he knew this God, therefore, even in the dark night of his incomprehension he knew that he is a loving God, therefore, even then, when he found he could understand nothing, he could put his trust in him and could know that the very one that seemed to be oppressing him truly loved him even then. Only in thus going onward, so that his heart was opened up, so that he entered the abyss of trust and, in the dark night of the uncomprehended God, dared keep company with him, did he thereby become capable of accepting the ram, of understanding the God who gives to us that we may give. This Abraham, in any case, has something to say to all of us. If we are only looking on from outside, if we only let God’s action wash over us from without and only insofar as it is directed toward us, then we will soon come to see God as a tyrant who plays about with the world. But the more we keep him company, the more we trust in him in the dark night of the uncomprehended God, the more we will become aware that the very God who seems to be tormenting us is the one who truly loves us, the one we can trust without reserve. The deeper we go down into the dark night of the uncomprehended God and trust in him, the more we will discover him and will find the love and the freedom that will carry us through any and every night. God gives that we may give. This is the essence of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; from the earliest times, the Roman Canon has expressed it thus: “De tuis donis ac datis offerimus tibi” – from your gifts and offerings we offer you.” (p.46-47)

One evening, during the following week, I had a rather unpleasant experience. An experience which I have had only once before. A feeling of being, internally, in total darkness. My previous experience had been nightmarish but, at that moment, I recalled what I had read the previous week and I felt a deep sense of comfort. A deep sense that that moment was a gift. It was only in that darkness that I could see the Light, that I could truly sense something of my own smallness but that I was nevertheless being held by an strong and incomprehensible Love, one that we can simply not match with our own efforts.

“It is easier to love someone that you know, than to love someone you don’t know.” These particular words from Father Thomas’s Christmas Mass homily, with reference to our love of Christ, the need to make an effort to come to know Him and love Him more intimately, continue to resonate in my mind. It led me to reflect on my own lack of love for Our Lord. On how much easier it is to allow the distractions of the material world to overwhelm us and trick us into thinking that it alone can sustain us. I find that one sure source of coming to know Christ more intimately, is the through the words of the Holy Father. I found his meditation on the Liturgy of Hours during the opening of the 12th General Synod of Bishops to be particularly moving. The meditation as a whole, touched me deeply, as so many of his words of the Holy Father often do. However, during a rereading of this meditation this afternoon, these words moved me:

“Therefore, exegesis, the true reading of Holy Scripture, is not only a literary phenomenon, not only reading a text. It is the movement of my existence. It ismoving towards the Word of God in the human words. Only by conforming ourselves to the Mystery of God, to the Lord who is the Word, can we enter within the Word, can we truly find the Word of God in human words. Let us pray to the Lord that he may help us search the word, not only with our intellect but also with our entire existence.”

I see in his own words, that movement towards God in human words. Strangely, these ‘words’ connect with something else that Father Thomas said regarding Scripture during his Christmas homily. He recounted how he often people tell him how wonderful a certain movie is. How, for example, they have seen it ten times. His response to this was to say how marvelous it would be if we were to devote this amount of enthusiasm to reading the Gospels. To read a passage from the Gospel ten times. How right he is! I myself am overtly fond of rewatching particular scenes from certain movies. It is only through that sort of immersion in Scripture that I will indeed be able to search the Word, with my entire existence.

May the Lord protect and sustain our Holy Father so that he might continue to be a light and guide for all of us within the encroaching darkness.

Receiving Communion

Futher to my previous post regarding the kneelers that have been introduced, here is a letter from our Parish priest explaining the reintroduction. There has certainly been an increase in the number of people kneeling to receive communion, particularly at last Sunday's Mass after Father Thomas reminded everyone, once again, of the need for reverence when receiving the Host. All emphases, in bold, are Father Thomas's. I would also ask that you keep him in your prayers, as he requests at the end of this letter.



30 November 2008

Dear parishioners:

As I was saying last Sunday, and many of you probably knew, since the Feast of Corpus Christi this year, Pope Benedict XVI has only distributed communion on the tongue to communicants that are kneeling. At
first some thought that this was only a "once off', but the Holy Father has continued with this practice. Why is he doing this and what is the practical teaching that he wants to give us?

After Pope Benedict XVI started distributing the Holy Communion this way, Msgr. Guido Marini, the Master of Papal Liturgical Ceremonies, in an interview that appeared in L'Osservatore Romano (25/6/2008)
was asked if this practice is destined to become habitual in papal celebrations.

This was his answer:

"I really believe so. In this regard it must not be forgotten that the
distribution of Communion in the hand still remains, from the juridical
standpoint, an exception to the universal law, conceded by the Holy See to those
bishops' conferences that have asked for it. The form adopted by Benedict XVI is
meant to underscore the force of the norm valid for the entire Church.
Furthermore, one might also note a preference for the use of this method of
distribution which, without taking anything from the other,
better highlights the truth of the real presence in the Eucharist, fosters the
devotion of the faithful and more readily introduces them to the sense of
mystery."

To understand why Msgr. Marini says that Communion in the hand still remains, from the juridical
standpoint, an exception to the universal law, you have to know a bit of the history of this change in the practice of the Church.

It will come as a surprise especially to younger Catholics that the modern practice of receiving communion in the hand dates back only about forty years. In the years following the Second Vatican council a few countries began experimenting with "communion in the hand", This was done without asking the permission from the Holy See. To legalize this irregular situation a few bishops and bishops conferences asked for permission to distribute communion in the hand.

Pope Paul VI then asked the bishops of the world for their opinion. The vast majority voted against the distribution of communion in the hand. 1,233 said No and 597 Yes.

In line with the views of the bishops in 1969 the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a document "Memoriale Domini" (approved by Pope Paul VI after suggesting several changes in the text. This document can be read at http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWMEMOR.HTM). It strongly supported and
encouraged the reception of communion on the tongue to a kneeling communicant.

In this document the Holy See makes it clear that "This method of distributing holy communion [on the tongue and kneeling] must be retained, taking the present situation of the Church in the entire world into account."
Below are some of the reasons that the Holy See gives:

Reverence for the Eucharist.

This traditional method of receiving is preferable not just because "it has many centuries of tradition behind it, but especially because it expresses the faithful's reverence for the Eucharist."

Part of the preparation to receive communion

Some have argued that having to kneel to receive communion and to be fed the Host is belittling. The Holy See responds to this by emphasising that "the custom does not detract in any way from the personal dignity of those who approach this great sacrament: it is part of that preparation that is needed for the most fruitful reception of the Body ofthe Lord." By kneeling we prepare ourselves for communion showing that we approach this great sacrament in a spirit humility and awe.

By receiving the Host in this reverent manner, so different from the way we would receive normal food, we show 'that it is not a sharing in "ordinary bread and wine" that is involved, but in the Body and Blood ofthe Lord'.

Removes the danger of profanation

This traditional practice "ensures, more effectively, that holy communion is distributed with the proper respect, decorum and dignity. It removes the danger of profanation of the sacred species, in which "in a unique way, Christ, God and man, is present whole and entire, substantially and continually."

Respect for the smallest part of the Host

"Lastly, it ensures that diligent carefulness about the fragments of consecrated bread which the Church has always recommended: It What you haveallowed to drop, think of it as though you had lost one of your own
members."

At the end of Memoriale Domini the Holy See set out the following procedure which is to be observed:

" Where a contrary usage, that of placing holy communion on the hand, prevails,( ... ) In such cases, Episcopal conferences should examine matters carefully and should make whatever decisions, by a secret vote and with two-thirds majority, are needed to regulate matters. Their decisions should be sent to Rome to receive the necessary confirmation, accompanied with a detailed account of the reasons which led them to take those decisions." This explains why Msgr Marini says that communion on the hand is an exception to the general rule and why the Pope is pushing the traditional form.

(All Quotes are from Memoriale Domini)

Over the years the new practice of communion in the hand grew but without many of the faithful realising what they were leaving behind.

So after forty years what are the norms that regulate this issue? You will find the norms for South Africa, set by the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC), in the Pastoral Introduction to the Order
of the Mass (approved by the SACBC) pp. 81-82 . Norms that obviously are in agreement with the general norms given by the Holy See:


1. "In the Conference area under the jurisdiction of the SACBC, Holy Communion may be received in the hand as well as on the tongue; the choice is the prerogative of the communicant". (This means that the priest or minister has to respect the choice of the communicant, no one has the right to oblige doing it in a certain way).

2. "The norm for the posture of reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the SACBC territory is standing. However, communicants who wish to kneel are welcome to do so".

3. "When receiving Holy Communion standing, the communicant may bow the head before the sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receive the Body of the Lord from the minister. The communicant may also use the gesture of "ukuphaphatha" were the hands are gently clapped together in acknowledgement of the gift about to be received. Other signs which are apt are the sign of the cross or genuflection".

As you can see, we are not facing a dogmatic issue. It is something that, as things are now, depends on our choice or preference. There can be no doubt that Pope Benedict XVI, by his courageous liturgical initiative, is sending a strong message to his brother bishops, priests and laity as to the manner in which he would like to see Holy Communion distributed and received at all Masses.

Personally, as you can guess, I am in complete agreement with Pope Benedict XVI in his preference for this traditional way of receiving Holy Communion. I think it's my duty as Parish Priest to share with you this knowledge so you are in a better position to choose. There is a tremendous ignorance regarding this and other liturgical issues, even among us priests. Not long ago a young priest said to me that Communion in the hand was a norm established by the Vatican Council (sic).

As Jesus said: "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8,32).

As I already announced last Sunday, we are going to leave a kneeler in the central corridor when distributing Holy Communion for those communicants who, in use of the right they have, prefer to receive it in the mouth and kneeling. And of course the choice of those who prefer to receive the Communion in the hand will be respected as we have always done.

Please do not hesitate to raise any doubts or issues. In the last weeks I have already received several questions about liturgy: why do we do this, why don't we do that which is common practice in other parishes? I am available and very happy to answer as far as I can any questions you might have.

May God bless you and your families. Please remember me in your prayers.

Yours sincerely

Father Thomas

First Tridentine Mass celebrated at Johannesburg Cathedral

I returned, about an hour ago, from the first Tridentine Mass to be held at Christ the King Cathedral in Johannesburg. The Mass was held in the Blessed Virgin side chapel and there were, I would say, about 100 people present. It was a Low Mass, celebrated by Rev. Father Shaun Mary von Lillienfeld who, after the Mass had ended, gave a short but deeply moving speech in which he described his gratitude for being able to celebrate the Tridentine Mass once again.

As you can see from the photo below, these are very small beginnings but this was a hugely historic occasion. I apologise for the smallness of the image, but the photo came out rather blurry. Fortunately it does not look quite so fuzzy when made a little smaller. There was an official photographer there as well so I will, hopefully, be able to post much better photographs at a later date, although I am sure they will appear elsewhere first.

Father von Lillienfeld celebrates the first official Tridentine Mass in Johannesburg

Baby steps ....

At today's Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, a number of children in the parish received their First Holy Communion. Something completely unexpected and rather wonderful happened. Our parish priest, Father Thomas, used this opportunity to reintroduce kneelers for those who want to receive communion kneeling.

He cited the feast of Corpus Christi during which Pope Benedict first distributed communion to the faithful whilst they were kneeling and on the tongue and that Monsignor Marini had subsequently indicated that this was to become the norm at Papal masses, which has since proved to be correct. Father Thomas also asked people to reflect on the fact that particles of the Host can easily be transferred to the hand and that reception on the tongue was preferable in order to prevent this from happening. He also noted that the reception of communion in the hand was an exception, rather than the rule. From now on we will be able to kneel to receive communion. The choice, however, remains with the individual. Nevertheless, this is definitely a Father Z 'brick by brick' moment.

This may not seem to be particularly exciting news to most people, but I have never had the opportunity, before now, to receive communion kneeling. Thank you Holy Father and thank you Father Thomas.

Speaking of Corpus Christi again brought to mind our Corpus Christi procession earlier this year and I thought it might be a good idea to post a few pictures. Corpus Christi processions like this are, on the whole, rare in South Africa.

A beautiful carpet of flowers had been laid out for the Blessed Sacrament

This carpet extended all the way around the courtyard and ended at the entrance gate

The re-entry of the Blessed Sacrament through the church gates

Although we had only just entered winter it was a bitterly cold and rainy day. We processed to a park about a kilometre down the road where Father Manuel, another of the priests who serves at our parish, gave a Benediction. Another Benediction was given in the church on our return for those who could not participate in the procession. The amazing thing was that the rain held off for most of the procession and only started to really come down again when we returned.

Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran

Today is the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. This morning, our priest, Father Thomas, focused the first part of his homily on this feast and highlighted the fact that the Basilica is the cathedral of Rome and the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father. He also emphasized the importance of listening to and allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Father and the Magisterium.

The papal cathedra in St John Lateran
This basilica is the oldest of the basilicas in Rome, having been dedicated by Pope Sylvester I in 324. It is only when the age of the original basilica is brought to your attention that you begin to realise the true 'age' of our faith and to feel, within one's soul, a gentle but ancient stirring. The deep, but light touch, of all those souls, living and dead, who make up the Communion of Saints.

The Holy Father washes the feet of twelve priests during the Mass of the Lord's Supper in the Basilica

I finish off, once more, with the words of St Josemaria Escriva from his work, The Forge:

You must love, venerate, pray and mortify yourself for the Pope, and do so with greater affection each day. He is the foundation stone of the Church and, throughout the centuries, right to the end of time, he carries out among men that task of sanctifying and governing which Jesus entrusted to Peter.

Setting out into the deep in support of the Holy Father

Well, here I go. Casting off and setting out into the deep and very probably stormy seas, together with the Pro Papa League armada, in support of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. The intention of this blog is the unreserved spiritual support of the Holy Father. This support is given independent of His Holiness's actions and decisions. I see our Holy Father as a great light in the encroaching darkness and I will, by the grace of God, do everything that is within my power to support him.

It worries me greatly that many people seem to consider this sort of spiritual support only when there is a condition of some sort attached to it. I've seen too many suggestions, mainly from those who want the universal return of the TLM, that we pray for the Holy Father in order that he does X, Y and Z, usually in relation to the Motu Proprio. I find this behaviour rather ungrateful. A little like throwing a beautiful gift back in the face of the giver or a little like saying to the gift giver "Is this all you bought me?".

Yes, I do understand the frustration, anger and hurt I have seen from many people regarding the suppression of the TLM by their local dioceses and parishes and the fear of those who have only ever known the Novus Ordo. However, the impatience, divisions and vicious debate that one encounters (from both sides of the spectrum), both on the internet, and elsewhere, leads me to believe that there is something other than the Holy Spirit at work amongst the lay faithful and religious with regard to this matter. This is why I feel that we should all look to the Holy Father as our guide in this matter and stop trying to take matters into our own hands. This goes as much for those intransigents who do everything in their power to prevent the celebration of the TLM in their parishes as it does for those who wish to see the immediate abolition of the Novus Ordo Mass.

There is no doubt in my mind, whatsover, that our Holy Father is fully open to the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit and that he will do whatever is necessary for the wellbeing of the Church.

To quote St Josemaria Escriva:

Your deepest love, your greatest esteem, your most heartfelt veneration, your most complete obedience and your warmest affection have also to be shown towards the Vicar of Christ on earth, towards the Pope.We Catholics should consider that after God and the most Blessed Virgin, our Mother, the Holy Father comes next in the hierarchy of love and authority.