Malta's next Cardinal

Fr. Prospero Grech OSA with Pope Benedict XVI (Photo by courtesy of the Order of Saint Augustine)

Before the Angelus Prayer offered on the Feast of the Epiphany, Pope Benedict XVI announced the creation of 22 new Cardinals. Among them was our own Fr Prospero Grech OSA, presently and for decades a member of the community of Collegio Santa Monica, Rome. Father Grech, age 86, a well-known and highly respected Scripture Scholar will become the second Maltese Cardinal.

Letter of the Augustinians' Prior General

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It is with great joy that I send this communication, to share with you the news that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, announced today that our brother, Fr Prosper Grech, of the Province of Malta and long-time resident at the International College of St. Monica in Rome, has been chosen to become a Cardinal.

Today, January 6th, the Pope announced his decision to celebrate a Concistory on February 18th, with the intention of creating 22 new cardinals. Among the names of those chosen, is our brother Fr Grech. Fr Prosper, 86 years of age, entered the Order in Malta in 1943, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1950. He has served for many years in Rome, almost all of them as a member of the community at St. Monica’s. He is a well known professor of Sacred Scripture, and has been a professor at various universities in Rome, especially the Biblicum, but also the Lateran and Gregorian Universities. He is the co-founder and first President of our Patristic Institute, the Augustinianum. He has also collaborated with numerous dicasteries of the Holy See, especially the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In his proclamation made today, the Holy Father announced with great joy the Concistory for creating new Cardinals, among whom he has chosen outstanding churchmen who are especially distinguished for their service to the Church. Our brother Fr Prosper Grech was one of those chosen.

For this we are deeply grateful to God and to our Holy Father Pope Benedict. We express our congratulations to Fr Grech and we rejoice in this recognition of his many years of service, especially in his dedication to the study and teaching of the Word of God.

Fr Robert F. Prevost OSA
Prior General

Episcopal Ordination

Fr Grech will be ordained bishop in the Co-Cathedral of Saint John, Valletta, Malta, on Wednesday, 8 February, 2012. His episcopal coat of arms is diagonally divided into two equal parts with the Maltese cross on a red background on one side and the coat of arms of the Order of St Augustine on a dark blue background on the other. The motto chosen is In te Domine speravi.

Concistory

The Concistory during which the future Fr Prospero will become Cardinal is to be held on the morning of Saturday, 18 February, in Saint Peter's Basilica. The following day the new Cardinals will concelebrate Mass with the Holy Father also in Saint Peter's.

Highlights from his Biography

Born 1925 in Birgu, Malta, Grech studied at the Lyceum and served as gunner of the University Home Guard during the Second World War.

Grech joined the Augustinian Order in 1943 and seven years later was ordained at San Giovanni Laterano in Rome. After graduating Doctor of Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome (1953), Grech conducted research in Semitic languages at Oxford (1957-58) and Cambridge (1958-59) Universities.

Fr Prospero Grech served as professor at the Augustine Institute, Rome and founded the Istituto Patristico Augostinianum, Rome in 1970. He is a member of the Societas Studiorum Novi Testamenti (SNTS) and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. He has lectured for over thirty years at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome on hermeneutics.

Fr Grech was professor of Biblical Theology at the Lateran University, Rome, Counsellor to the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and Secretary of the Maltese Augustinian province. He was also nominated Apostolic Visitor for seminaries in India.

Fr Grech and the Popes

During the time of the conclave that elected Paul VI in 1963, just two hours before the Pope was elected, Cardinal Montini asked Fr Grech to hear his confession.

Fr Grech was a great personal friend of Cardinal Albino Luciani when the latter was still Patriarch of Venice. The cardinal used to take up residence at the Augustinian College in Rome whenever he was in the capital to attend meetings of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Fr Grech used to celebrate Mass and have lunch together with Cardinal Luciani.

The very first letter Pope John Paul I wrote soon after he was elected in August 1978 was one of thanks to Fr Grech for the hospitality and friendship he had always received at St Monica’s Augustinian College.

Pope John Paul II occasionally invited Cardinal Ratzinger, who was then Secretary of the Congregation of the Faith, to lunch. Fr Grech would also be invited.

Political 'involvement'

Fr Grech was also involved in negotiations between the Malta Labour Party (MLP) and the Vatican when attempts were made to solve Malta’s politico-religious dispute of the 1960s. Dom Mintoff, then Labour leader, wanted to start discussions with the Vatican about pending issues and asked Fr Grech to intervene so that negotiations could start.

Fr Grech accepted the invitation and immediately informed the Vatican’s Secretariat of State about this request. He was asked to tell Mr Mintoff to put down in writing what the MLP leader was proposing. Subsequently Fr Grech met Mr Mintoff and returned to the Vatican with the proposals.

After examining them, the Secretariat of State told Fr Grech that the proposals could be a basis for discussion. He was then instructed to inform Malta's Archbishop Michael Gonzi what had happened so that negotiations could start. However, when Fr Grech informed the Archbishop in writing and explained what had happened, Gonzi was furious.

Mr Mintoff was no less infuriated when he learned of the Maltese bishops’ reactions to his plans which had been made public. Both the Archbishop and Mr Mintoff were less than grateful to Fr Grech. According to reliable sources Fr Grech’s involvement in the whole matter could have cost the prominent Biblical scholar his chance to be nominated auxiliary bishop of Malta.

On 13 December 2011, Fr Grech received the honour of Companion of the National Order of Merit by President George Abela, in the name of the government and people of Malta. This honour and especially his nomination to the College of Cardinals more than make up for the unfair treatment he received decades ago.

Malta's First Cardinal

The first Maltese Cardinal - Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata (1757-1843) - was born in Valletta. He was Titular Archbishop of Berytus (1802), Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland (1803) and Secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars (1815).

Sceberras Testaferrata was created Cardinal in pectore in 1816 and elevated to Cardinal-Priest of St. Pudenziana two years later. Subsequently he was Bishop of Senigallia until his death.

The first conclave at which Cardinal Sceberras Testaferrrata took part was that of September 1823, which elected Pope Leo XII as Supreme Pontiff. This was followed by the conclave of March 1829 which elected Pope Pius VIII. The Maltese cardinal's last conclave, which elected Pope Gregory XVI, was also his longest, (December 1830 - February 1831).

By this time, Cardinal Sceberras Testaferrata was among the most senior in the College of Cardinals. He was never absent from a conclave.

Quddiesa Tridentina bla permess

Ittra tilmenta dwar in-nuqqas ta' Quddies Tridentin f'Għawdex, ippubblikata f' "L-Orizzont" ta' llum.

A letter complaining about the lack of Tridentine Masses in Gozo published in today's L-Orizzont (a Maltese left leaning national daily).

Quotes to keep in mind when discussing with parish priests and bishops ...

Photo: Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos (centre) with members of the FIUV Council and other faithful (November 2011)

The below quotes by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos are useful in discussions between laity and the parish priests / bishops to show what the Pope's intentions are:

"The Holy Father, who is a theologian and who was (involved) in the preparation for the (Vatican II - my note) council, is acting exactly in the way of the council, offering with freedom the different kinds of celebration."

"(Pope Benedict wants - my note) All the parishes. Not many, all the parishes (to make provisions for the Tridentine Mass - my note), because this is a gift of God. He offers these riches, and it is very important for new generations to know the past of the church."

"This kind of worship is so noble, so beautiful. The worship, the music, the architecture, the painting, makes a whole that is a treasure. The Holy Father is willing to offer to all the people this possibility, not only for the few groups who demand it but so that everybody knows this way of celebrating the Eucharist in the Catholic Church."

Way back in 2007/2008, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) wrote to all seminaries to ask that candidates to the priesthood are trained to celebrate Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Latin rite, and also to understand the theology, the philosophy and the language of such Masses.

In Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI had indicated that Tridentine Masses should be made available in every parish where groups of the faithful desire it and where a priest has been trained to celebrate it. Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos had indicated that a stable group could mean just three or four people who were not necessarily drawn from the same parish. This has been the main stumbling block in Malta for seemingly unknown reasons.

"Different parishes or dioceses" was inserted in Universae Ecclesiae following pressure from traditional Catholics, including in particular from Malta. I had been involved in informal discussions with the Roman Curia for the previous 18 months and this insertion should have cleared the minds of the local Curia. But, with few exceptions, the status quo has remained.

Concluding, my advice to Pro Tridentina (Malta) and other laity in these islands is to press the local church authorities by referring to these issues and others raised in previous contributions in this Blog. Should discussions fail, the motu proprio and the instruction clearly indicate the other available routes.

Resignations from Pro Tridentina (Malta) and the Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce

Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, with effect from today, Godwin Xuereb has resigned from the posts in Pro Tridentina (Malta) and the Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce. The name of this Blog has changed to Perspettiva Kattolika (Catholic Perspective).

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger on the Tridentine Mass

In what is likely to be my last post, at least for the foreseeable future, I would like to quote what Msgr. Georg Ratzinger - the Pope's elder brother - had to say about the liturgy, soon after the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum:

"One lives the liturgy with great intensity, and the modernists swear by their new discoveries. Everyone who cannot join in with the new then strikes back with equal violence. I must confess that as far as the liturgical realm is concerned many an awkward word has been dropped and many an awkward novelty has been introduced. However, I would not, as I said, condemn the liturgical reform in its entirety.

With the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum by Pope Benedict XVI the celebration of the so-called Tridentine Mass has been freely given as an extraordinary rite for all the faithful without special permission. I myself often receive letters from people from Munich, Regensburg and from other places, for whom it is truly an inner concern to be able to celebrate the old liturgy again. Certain people did not succeed in finding themselves in the new liturgy. Helping such people is I believe a concern. I must confess that I personally have few problems, but there are people of deep religiosity who cannot be reconciled to the new liturgy. They simply miss a lot that their liturgical celebration and their faith used to enliven and deepen, and that is missing in the current liturgy." (31 August 2007 published on the Wiener Zeitung)

Points to reflect and ponder upon...

How not to interpret & implement Vatican Council II

It was pointed out to me that earlier this week, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) board confirmed a decision it took in August whereby 50 parish churches throughout Malta and Gozo were scheduled as grade one buildings. In terms of the scheduling, only restorative works will be allowed to take place on both the internal and external of the building and that even such works can only be carried out with MEPA’s approval and monitoring. In my opinion, this is a step forward although admittedly I do not know the fine details of such a scheduling.

The Maltese Curia has however sought a reconsideration and further discussion, arguing that scheduling should be based on the individual characteristics of each church. Here, I also tend to agree with the Curia. It is what the architect representing the Curia said that I totally disagree with.

He explained that churches were places of worship - not monuments - and therefore changes might be required over time in line with changes to the liturgy, as had happened in the past. The architect specifically pointed out to changes made inside churches in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council.

Isn't it ironic that the architect condones changes that, at most, should have meant the addition of an altar table? But is this what happened in reality? Hardly so...

a) are we therefore to think that the Curia is in agreement with changes that meant the removal of artistic gates, altar rails, side altars, etc. in a number of churches, including ones built hundreds of years ago?

b) are we to witness again the replacement of stained glass windows with ordinary coloured glass as has happened in a particular parish? The reason given by its parish priest being that the church did not have enough sunlight during the day?

c) and how about the many churches that are being used as stores? In a particular case that I saw with my own eyes, the building that used to serve as a parish church was used as a storage place for, among other things, beer! Yes, beer to be used during the typical band march that is a characteristic of patron saints' feasts in these islands. Not to mention that this church's old baptismal font was thrown away...

In my opinion, the Curia's architect shot himself in the foot when he mentioned the 'changes' made in some churches following Vatican II as a sort of justification. In many cases, these 'changes' amounted to vandalism and nothing else. And surely that was not the way to interpret and implement Vatican II in Malta.

On a more postive note, it is encouraging to note that in the Diocese of Gozo, a number of restoration works have taken place on old altars in the past months. This augurs well.

Concluding, I wish everyone, in particular all the readers and members of Pro Tridentina (Malta), a Blessed Christmas and a serene 2012.

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera on Communion

Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera recently recommended that Catholics:

"receive Communion on the tongue and while kneeling. ... It is to simply know that we are before God himself and that He came to us and that we are undeserving ..."

(Communion in this way) “is the sign of adoration that needs to be recovered. I think the entire Church needs to receive Communion while kneeling. In fact, if one receives while standing, a genuflection or profound bow should be made, and this is not happening.”

“If we trivialize Communion, we trivialize everything, and we cannot lose a moment as important as that of receiving Communion, of recognizing the real presence of Christ there, of the God who is the love above all loves, as we sing in a hymn in Spanish.”

“Bishops have a unique responsibility ... and we must not fail to fulfill it, because everything we do to ensure that the Eucharist is celebrated properly will ensure proper participation in the Eucharist.”

Goodbye Mgr. Depasquale

This morning I was thinking of drafting a letter to Mgr. Annetto Depasquale regarding some important matters. It was not to be. In the afternoon, I heard of the sudden dead of Bishop Depasquale.

Bishop Annetto Depasquale passed away this afternoon, aged 73. It is indeed a sad loss for us all Maltese Catholics. Many of us have benefitted in one way or another from his advice, guidance or his welcome smile. Personally, I will miss that handshake and beaming smile although I last met him in 2007.

Bishop Depasquale was the epitome of humility and prudence. He was soft spoken and avoided the front rows, but his views and advice manifested the depth of his wisdom and his ability to grasp the core of situations. The Archdiocese of Malta has lost a highly intelligent and erudite priest.

Over the years he served the Church in pastoral duties with the Church Commission for Children’s Homes, the Pastoral Research Services, besides assisting in the parish of St George in Qormi and the English speaking community in Malta. He taught Canon Law in the Faculties of Theology and Laws of the University of Malta. He became Chancellor on 6 August 1977 and Pastoral Secretary on 14 April 1986. On 9 January 1989 he was appointed Vicar General and on 16 November 1998 His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul II nominated him Titular Bishop of Aradi and Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.

Mgr. Annetto Depasquale, R.I.P.

Wara ż-żewġ Pastorali għall-Avvent...

Nistqarr li l-Pastorali ta' l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona għall-Avvent ma tantx ħassejtha turi imħabba ta' ragħaj lejn parti mill-merħla tiegħu. L-Arċisqof jaf tajjeb li:

• Pro Tridentina (Malta) dejjem uriet - u se tibqa' turi - ubbidjenza lejn il-Papa u lejn l-Arċisqof.
• għadd ta' saċerdoti użaw il-media sabiex jattakkaw lil min għandu għal qalbu dan ir-Rit, inkluż attakki fuq saċerdoti ħuthom. U li f'ċerti każi dawn ta' l-aħħar qed jiġu mwarrba u redikolati.
• Pro Tridentina (Malta) tat stampa veritiera lis-Santa Sede dwar is-sitwazzjoni f'Malta, minkejja li kien hemm min kien se jikteb lill-Papa Benedittu XVI li f'Malta m'hawn ħadd li jrid il-Quddiesa bil-Latin.
• Pro Tridentina (Malta) kienet - u għadha - disponibbli li tassisti lill-Knisja sabiex dan ir-Rit jingħata l-post li jixraqlu, dejjem f'konformita' max-xewqa ta' Papa Benedittu XVI kif imniżżla f'Summorum Pontificum u Universae Ecclesiae.
  

Huwa stramb għalhekk il-fatt li meta f'Malta hawn qawmien mill-ġdid għar-Rit Tridentin, b'għadd ta' Quddies f'postijiet differenti, għal żmien l-Avvent kelli nassisti għal lingwaġġ (ara hawn taħt) li jweġġa'. U li għawweġ il-fatti (lajċi f'Malta kienu diġa' attivi mill-1907 - jew insejnih lil San Ġorġ Preca u s-Soċjeta' tal-M.U.S.E.U.M.?). U t-tfal se nbeżżawhom bil-Latin qisna fi żmien il-Babaw?

MILL-ITTRA PASTORALI GĦALL-AVVENT – IL-KURAĠĠ LI NIĠĠEDDU

Xi drabi anke l-istess komunitajiet tal-Knisja bħal donnhom iħossuhom komdi jserrħu fuq dak li s-soltu jsir u jippreferu jkunu ripetittivi fil-messaġġ u fir-ritwal. Hemm min qed jagħlaq għajnejh għall-preżent, medhi bin-nostalġija tal-imgħoddi. F’ħafna każi għadna nitkellmu b’lingwaġġ u nużaw metodi tal-bieraħ, u dan minkejja li nafu li qed nirriskjaw bil-kbir, għax huma lingwaġġi u metodi li llum ma jinftehmux. Dan qed jissagrifika l-messaġġ tal-Vanġelu! Għaldaqstant, jekk ma noqogħdux attenti, anke fil-knisja nistgħu “nitqaddu”, il-liturġija ssir teatrin, il-knisja nirrenduha mużew tal-istorja!

Il-Konċilju Vatikan II, li l-Knisja bdiet tiċċelebra ħamsin sena ilu, kien esperjenza qawwija tal-Ispirtu li fetħet orizzonti ġodda u kbar. Dakinhar l-Ispirtu s-Santu bejjet żerriegħa ġdida li, jekk inħalluha tnibbet u tikber, kapaċi tagħti wiċċ isbaħ lill-Knisja u lis-Soċjetà! Imma ġara li “xi żerrigħat waqgħu mal-mogħdija u ntrifsu, u l-għasafar tal-ajru naqqruhom kollha. Oħrajn waqgħu fuq il-blat, u nibtu u nixfu, għax tira ma kellhomx. Oħrajn waqgħu qalb ix-xewk, u x-xewk kiber magħhom u ħanaqhom. Oħrajn waqgħu f’art tajba, u nibtu u għamlu l-frott kull waħda mija” (Lq 8:5-8). Il-Konċilju kellu jkun qawwa kbira ta’ “aġġornament” tal-Knisja. Kif darba stqarr il-Papa tal-Konċilju, Pawlu VI, “il-Knisja kollha għandha tadatta ruħha għall-ħtiġijiet ġodda tad-dinja; fid-dawl tat-tagħlim tal-Konċilju, il-Knisja kollha hija impenjata għal dan it-tiġdid spiritwali u organizzattiv”.

Napprezzaw li frott ta’ dan il-Konċilju, fil-Knisja lokali saru diversi riformi, bħal, per eżempju, l-aġġornament fil-Liturġija u l-mod kif tiġi ċċelebrata bis-sehem aktar attiv tal-poplu, is-sehem tal-lajċi fil-qasam aktar wiesa’ tal-Katekeżi u tad-Djakonija, l-attenzjoni tal-Knisja lokali għall-ħtiġijiet tas-soċjetà, kif ukoll l-attenzjoni tagħha għal dawk l-aktar imbegħdin, l-insara mifrudin u saħansitra dawk li jħaddnu reliġjonijiet oħra jew li ma jħaddnu ebda twemmin. Imma billi xi żerriegħa waqgħet fuq il-blat u qalb ix-xewk, forsi din għadha ma tatx il-frott kollu mixtieq.

MILL-ITTRA PASTORALI TAL-AVVENT GĦAT-TFAL

Ħamsin sena ilu fil-Knisja kien hemm mument sabiħ meta il-Papa ta’ dak iż-żmien sejjaħ lill-Isqfijiet kollha tad-dinja biex jiltaqgħu flimkien fil-Vatikan ħalli bħala rgħajja jaraw kif l-insara tad-dinja kollha jistgħu jgħixu aħjar fuq it-tagħlim ta’ Ġesù. Dan kien mument qawwi tal-Ispirtu s-Santu tant li t-tagħlim li ħareġ dak iż-żmien għadu jgħodd sal-lum. Pereżempju fejn qabel il-quddiesa ma kien jifhimha ħadd għax kienet bil-Latin, illum issir bil-lingwa tal-post biex hekk kulħadd ikun jista’ jieħu sehem fil-quddiesa u jifhem dak li jkun qed isir u jingħad. Dak iż-żmien kienu biss is-saċerdoti li jgħallmu u jmexxu fil-knisja. Minn dak iż-żmien il-lajċi wkoll bdew jagħtu s-sehem tagħhom fil-ħidma tal-Knisja; pereżempju illum għandna rġiel u nisa jew żgħażagħ li jgħallmuna l-katekiżmu, li jqarbnu fil-Knisja u anke jmorru jqarbnu lill-morda fid-djar.

*****************

Bħala President ta' Pro Tridentina (Malta) ma nistax ma nittamax li din il-Pastorali kienet sforz żelu żejjed għax il-Knisja se tiċċelebra għeluq il-50 sena tal-Konċilju Vatikan II. U nittama li bħalma l-Kurja diġa' fasslet serje ta' attivitajiet biex tfakkar dan l-avveniment, ma tħallix barra żewġ avvenimenti kbar oħra li l-2012 taħbat egħluq il-50 sena tagħhom:

• Il-Missal Ruman tal-Beatu Ġwanni XXIII (jiġifieri il-Missal tar-Rit Tridentin) u
• l-Kostituzzjoni Appostolika Veterum Sapientia dwar l-istudju tal-Latin, promulgata mill-istess Papa tal-Konċilju.
  

U nafu li l-Beatu Ġwanni XXIII huwa Papa għal qalb ħafna l-Arċisqof tagħna...

FIUV XX General Assembly: a brief report

(Address by Leo Darroch, FIUV President. Photo: courtesy St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association)

Saturday 5 November 2011

On Saturday morning, delegates and a number of distinguished guests (including Suor Margherita Marchione, MPF and Princess von Thurn und Taxis) attended the Tridentine Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. This was celebrated by Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos (President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei) in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The text of his sermon can be found in the previous post (in Italian). Mons. Pablo Collino, Maestro Emeritus of the Julian Chapel Choir was in choir.

Just after Mass, I held private talks in the Apostolic Palace.

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke (Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature) joined the FIUV delegates for lunch. After lunch, His Eminence gave his benediction to those present.

In the afternoon, the XX General Assembly of the Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce started with the Address by its President, Leo Darroch. The 7 new member organisations were presented, they are:

• Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph (Philippines),
• Una Voce Japan,
• Una Voce Portugal,
• Una Voce Natal (Brazil),
• Una Voce Cuba,
• Una Voce Albaruthenia (Belarus), and
• Una Voce Ucraina (Ukraine).

Leo Darroch was reconfirmed for a further term as President by acclamation.

The newly elected Council (including Pro Tridentina (Malta)'s representative) then proceeded to select the following officials:

• Vice-Presidents: Jack Oostveen (the Netherlands), Jason King (USA) and Patrick Banken (France).
• Treasurer: Monika Rheinschmitt (Germany).
• Secretary: Thomas Murphy (Ireland).

Rodolfo Vargas Rubio (Spain) had earlier renounced his post as Secretary due to health reasons. He however remains as a Councillor. I would like to take this occasion to thank Rodolfo for the hard work he devoted to our cause and the assistance he gave Pro Tridentina (Malta) in the past years.

Sunday 6 November 2011

In the morning, delegates assisted at a solemn Tridentine Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph Kramer, FSSP at the Personal Parish of Santissima Trinita' dei Pellegrini.

In the afternoon, the FIUV General Assembly held an open forum at which a number of speakers delivered papers. They were:

• Fr. Joseph Valluari, FDP, who read a paper on the “private prayers” that the Priest says during Mass.

• Don Stefano Carusi, IBP, about the spirit and progress of the Institute of the Good Shepherd.

• Dr. Helmut Ruckriegel, a founder member of FIUV, gave a brief history of our organisation.

• Rev. Dr. José-Apeles Santolaria de Puey y Cruells, JCD (ABD), HistL, SMOM, on the value of Romanitas in the Traditional movement and the Roman Rite as a factor of Civilisation in the Western World.

• Mons. Valentín Miserachs, President of the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music, on Sacred Music and the Centenary of the Pontifical Institute.

• Fr. Joseph Kramer, FSSP, gave statistics regarding the Priestly Fraternity.

• Canon Joseph Luzuy of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, about the progress of the Institute.

The XX General Assembly ended with the chant of the Salve Regina and the benediction by the priests present.

Godwin Xuereb
President, Pro Tridentina (Malta)
Councillor, Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce

Omelia della S. Messa di S. Maria in Sabato Dario Card. Castrillón Hoyos

Omelia della S. Messa di S. Maria in Sabato

per inaugurare la XX Assemblea Generale della

Federazione Internazionale “Una Voce”

Basilica di San Pietro

Cappella del SS.mo Sacramento

Sabato 5 novembre 2011

Dario Card. Castrillón Hoyos

Sia Lodato Gesù Cristo!

Saluto il Dr. Leo Darroch, Presidente della Federazione Internazionale “Una Voce”, i signori delegati della XX Assemblea Generale e tutti i fedeli presenti.

Ringrazio particolarmente il Presidente Darroch per il gradito invito a presiedere questo solenne Pontificale che cade, tra l’altro, in occasione del quarto anniversario della promulgazione del Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum di Sua Santità Benedetto XVI.

Cari fratelli e sorelle,

sono veramente lieto di essere qui tra voi per esprimere un sentito ringraziamento alla Divina Provvidenza che non manca mai di soccorrere i suoi figli che l’invocano fidenti; nello stesso tempo manifestiamo sincera gratitudine al nostro amato Santo Padre Benedetto XVI che con la sua lungimirante sollecitudine pastorale ha riconsegnato alla Chiesa universale il sacro Rito Gregoriano, dandogli nuova fioritura dopo molti lustri di oblio.

“Consta infatti che la liturgia latina della Chiesa nelle varie sue forme, in ogni secolo dell'età cristiana, ha spronato nella vita spirituale numerosi Santi e ha rafforzato tanti popoli nella virtù di religione e ha fecondato la loro pietà”, così Benedetto XVI (MP Summorum Pontificum).

Nell’obbedienza, ossequio e rispetto verso il Magistero della Chiesa, in sommo grado nei confronti del Supremo Magistero petrino, si attualizza nella vita di ogni credente il proposito fondamentale della sequela Christi.

In tale ottica si innesta la retta comprensione dei doveri e dei diritti dei fedeli che nella sacra liturgia trovano la loro forma di espressione più eminente, esplicitando con la forza santificante dell’azione sacramentale il vero culto al Dio altissimo, Creatore e Signore dell’universo.

Il Santo Padre Benedetto XVI, del quale è nota la profonda sensibilità liturgica, ha frequentemente ribadito con il suo alto Magistero l’importanza della liturgia e del suo retto uso, affinché nella diversità delle forme cultuali possa risplendere la ricchezza dei tesori di fede e spiritualità della Sposa di Cristo, poiché “il rapporto tra mistero creduto e celebrato si manifesta in modo peculiare nel valore teologico e liturgico della bellezza. La liturgia, infatti, come del resto la Rivelazione cristiana, ha un intrinseco legame con la bellezza: è veritatis splendor” (Benedetto XVI, Es. Ap. Sacramentum Caritatis, n.35).

Il Rito Gregoriano con la sua solennità e sublimità di contenuti indubbiamente costituisce una forma eccellente per innalzare a Dio le lodi che gli sono dovute, dando nello stesso tempo ai fedeli una più profonda percezione del Mistero che si celebra.

Una tale magnificenza non è dovuta semplicemente a una somma di dati esteriori e di indole puramente estetica, piuttosto sgorgando e alimentandosi di una profonda interiorità.

Possiamo affermare che in tal modo si contempera il dovere di offrire a Dio nel modo più consono il tributo di adorazione e di lode proprio della sua Maestà con i diritti dei fedeli nel poter esprimere al meglio la loro aspirazione di mettere in atto adeguatamente siffatto proposito.

Nell’ascoltare l’odierno brano evangelico di San Luca non deve affatto destare meraviglia se alle parole di lode che la donna del popolo rivolge alla Madre del Salvatore - “Beato il grembo che ti ha portato …” (Lc 11, 27) - , questi risponde ricordando la beatitudine dell’obbedienza alla parola di Dio.

Così argomentando, infatti, il Signore Gesù non si discosta per nulla dall’affermazione di elogio diretta alla S. Vergine; piuttosto la rafforza, sottolineando quella preclara virtù di totale oblazione che in lei rifulge più che in ogni altra creatura, a tal punto da contrassegnare con essa i primordi della redenzione dell’umanità.

Nello stesso tempo ci rammenta come la Santa Vergine sia stata eletta dalla Beata Trinità quale modello e guida di coloro che nulla antepongono alla salvezza eterna; è proprio imitando l’obbedienza fedele della Madre del bell’amore che la nostra obbedienza di viandanti in cerca di Dio riesce a trovare un sentiero sicuro che possa condurci al sommo bene.

Siamo certi di poter dire che l’obbedienza a Dio passa per l’obbedienza a Maria, tanto che nella sincera devozione a così eccelsa Regina si manifesta in modo eloquente la predilezione verso le creature che hanno compreso questo ammirabile segreto dello spirito.

A tal proposito San Luigi Maria Grignion de Montfort, nel suo Trattato della Vera Devozione a Maria, richiamandosi al libro dei Proverbi (Pr 8,32), scrive:

“… i predestinati seguono le vie della Vergine Santa, loro Madre, e cioè la imitano. Proprio in questo sono veramente felici e devoti, e posseggono il segno infallibile della loro predestinazione, come dice loro questa Madre amorevole: Beati quelli che seguono le mie vie” (S. Luigi Maria Grignion de Montfort, Trattato della Vera Devozione a Maria, n.200).

Il singolare compendio di ogni virtù con il quale la divina sapienza ha adornato la Santissima Vergine, è come il riflesso di quella umiltà ineguagliabile che l’ha resa Sovrana di grazia e Madre di misericordia presso il cuore di Dio.

L’obbedienza della Beatissima Vergine è il fiore odoroso germogliato nel solco di questa sua insondabile humilitas che inebria soavemente ogni anima desiderosa di renderle omaggio e chiederle aiuto e protezione.

Il Santo Dottore della Chiesa Alfonso Maria de Liguori delinea alcuni importanti principi teologici sul ruolo di Maria Santissima a favore del popolo cristiano:

“Chiamando Maria Mediatrice ho inteso chiamarla tale, solo come Mediatrice di Grazia, a differenza di Gesù Cristo, che è il primo e l’unico Mediatore di Giustizia. Chiamando Maria Onnipotente …, ho inteso nominarla tale, in quanto ella come Madre di Dio ottiene da Lui colle sue preghiere quanto domanda a beneficio dei suoi devoti … Chiamando Maria nostra Speranza, ho inteso di chiamarla tale, perché tutte le grazie (come afferma S. Bernardo) passano per le sue mani” (cfr. S. Alfonso Maria de Liguori, Le Glorie di Maria, Parte I, Sopra la Salve Regina, Protesta dell’Autore).

L’anima obbediente a Dio - sull’esempio di Maria SS.ma – è tutta compresa dal desiderio di compierne la volontà a qualunque costo. In null’altro del resto consiste l’amore delle creature come ci ricorda lo stesso Salvatore:

“Chi accoglie i mie comandamenti e li osserva, questi mi ama” (Gv 14, 21).

San Tommaso d’Aquino in riferimento a tale affermazione del Signore scrive:

“…c’è qualcuno il quale ha i comandamenti di Dio nel cuore, mediante il ricordo e l’assidua meditazione … Però questo non basta, se poi non li osserva nell’operare … Alcuni hanno i comandamenti sulla bocca, per recitarli e per esortare… Anche costoro devono però osservarli nelle opere … Altri poi hanno i comandamenti negli orecchi e li ascoltano volentieri e con diligenza … Ma neppure questo basta, se essi non li osservano” (San Tommaso d’Aquino, Commento al Vangelo di San Giovanni, XIV, § 1933).

Se è vero che il culto più gradito a Dio è quello dell’adesione alla sua santa volontà, nello stesso tempo non si può non tener conto della straordinaria importanza del culto esterno di cui la Sacra Liturgia costituisce il mezzo di attuazione privilegiato.

La diffusa prassi di abusi in campo liturgico negli anni del post - concilio ha determinato profonde ferite nella Chiesa, esautorando la preminenza di quello spirito di obbedienza al Magistero della Chiesa che dovrebbe immancabilmente caratterizzare espressione di fede.

“L’ars celebrandi scaturisce dall’obbedienza fedele alle norme liturgiche nella loro completezza, poiché è proprio questo modo di celebrare ad assicurare da duemila anni la vita di fede di tutti i credenti” (BENEDETTO XVI, Esort. Ap. Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 38).

Sappiamo come il cosiddetto “spirito del concilio” costituisca per alcuni uno strumento per propugnare pretestuose rivendicazioni volte ad imporre inquietanti modi di pensare e di agire; costoro si rendono responsabili di pericolose derive teologico- pastorali che danneggiano concretamente la vita di fede del popolo di Dio.

La Sacra Liturgia, in particolare, è sovente oggetto di arbitrarie interpretazioni che ne stravolgono la natura e i fini, causando sofferenza e disorientamento nei christifideles, divenuti spettatori attoniti di prassi marcate da forme bizzarre di esasperata creatività.

Cari fedeli,

in questo fausto giorno anniversario del vostro pio sodalizio, sorto per amore a Gesù e alla sua Chiesa, offriamo le nostre preghiere perché la voce del Vicario di Cristo sia da tutti ascoltata e amata.

Imploriamo dalla Santa Madre di Dio, umile e alta più che creatura, quei sentimenti di umiltà e di obbedienza che Dio chiede alle anime devote, affinché tutta la nostra vita sia una liturgia di lode nell’adempimento gioioso della divina volontà.

Sia Lodato Gesù Cristo!

Another Tridentine Mass in Valletta!

Organised by the

Għaqda Dilettanti Mudelli ta' Knejjes A.D. 1986

http://www.freewebs.com/ghaqda_dilettanti_knejjes/

Church of the Augustinian Nuns' Monastery of St. Catherine, Valletta

Wednesday 9 November 2011 at 18:00.

Celebrant - Rev. Fr. Marc Andre' Camilleri.