New website from the CDF

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has opened a new domain: www.doctrinafidei.va within the official website of the Holy See. This development should facilitate the consultation of its documents in particular for those who are engaged in theological and pastoral work.

There is a general list of all the texts organised chronologically, and three subgroups of these texts, divided into:

• doctrinal,
  
• disciplinary, and
  
• sacramental documents.

Another section includes information on the Congregation's series Documenti e Studi, which are individual printed volumes presenting a major document of the Congregation together with commentaries by noted theologians. There is also a description of the volumes containing the proceedings of various symposia organised by the Congregation in recent years, as well as speeches and other contributions by cardinal prefects.

The documents of the Congregation which have been published are those since the time of the Second Vatican Council.

Case for Tridentine Mass

Sunday, March 18, 2012 ,

by Zak Portelli, Swieqi

I would like to remind Marie Dean (The Sunday Times, February 26) that Malta is not like other countries that have indeed welcomed the Pope’s motu proprio on the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. Here the very mention of Latin would horrify some priests. Every Sunday at 9.15 a.m. there is Latin Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta using the 1972 missal Novus ordo, celebrated on a dining room table, but when there is a pontifical Mass (Christmas, Epiphany, etc.) it is celebrated in Maltese with only the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei sung in Latin.

Am I correct in believing that the Tridentine Mass has not been celebrated at the high altar of St John’s for over 40 years? What is wrong with the Tridentine Mass? If Pope St Pius V during the dogmatic Council of Trent (1545-63) published the Tridentine Missal stating “...this missal can be used everywhere lawfully and freely without any scruple of mind now and in perpetuity”, why do we still have to constantly quarrel with priests who seem to think that the Church never existed before Vatican II?

On several occasions we haveTridentine Masses at the parish church of Ta’ l-Ibraġ, with the permission of the Archbishop; however, there is no regular Tridentine Mass.

St John’s would be a perfect place for a Tridentine Mass; let us hope that the cathedral chapter will be as generous as the Gospel asks them to be and allow the Tridentine Mass to take the place of the 9.15 a.m. Conventual Latin Mass. The Cathedral has a resident choir that is extremely capable when it comes to Latin chants; it has a high altar and many other things that befit the Tridentine Mass.

Disclaimer - The posting of this letter on this site does not in any way, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support by Godwin Xuereb.

Fracture between the Holy See and the SSPX to continue?

Negotiations between Cardinal William Levada, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) and Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the SSPX have led to nowhere.

After seven years of numerous meetings and discussions, the Vatican has rejected the SSPX's position as "insufficient". The Vatican said that the position of the SSPX “is not enough to overcome the doctrinal problems that are the basis of the fracture between the Holy See and the Society of Saint Pius X".

Last September, the PCED had delivered the SSPX with a Doctrinal preamble in which it indicated what was needed in order to overcome the difficulties with the Catholic Church. In January 2012, the SSPX proposed some amendments to the Vatican, which were then looked over by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and allegedly by Pope Benedict XVI too.

The PCED has given a final deadline of one month for a definitive response by the SSPX.

Comment by Mr Leo Darroch, FIUV President

The FIUV ... is presenting papers on matters of current concern in the light of possible changes to the Missal of 1962. In furtherance of this objective we welcome intelligent debate.

We know for a fact that the PCED has commenced work on this project so what do we do? Do we wait until a revised Missal is published and then register futile complaints, or do we do what the FIUV has done for more than 40 years and defend the integrity of this Missal with vigour on behalf of the laity (and many priests) who, individually, have no voice.

(From a comment submitted to Rorate Coeli website earlier this month)

Launching of position papers by FIUV

I am reproducing below an announcement from FIUV. It is important that we Maltese follow closely and contribute where possible. Godwin Xuereb

Dossier Liturgy

FIUV launches discussion papers on the 1962 Missal The Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce (FIUV) is launching a series of short 'position papers' on aspects of the 1962 Missal, with a view to stimulating debate on aspects of the 'Extraordinary Form' which have been criticised in the past, and might be subject to change in the future.

We have a two-fold goal. First, to contribute to a debate, which has been on-going since at least the mid 20th Century, about the theological appropriateness and pastoral effectiveness of (what is now, in the Holy Father's phrase) 'the former liturgical tradition'. We wish to equip those attached to this tradition with the best possible arguments, backed by the best authorities, for maintaining the organic integrity of this tradition, expressed as succinctly as possible but, we hope, comprehensible to a wide audience. We hope in this way to raise the standard of debate which takes place no longer only in the seminar room, but wherever Catholics meet, particularly on the internet.

Secondly, we do this in light of the Holy Father's letter to Bishops accompanying the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum:

For that matter, the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching: new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal. The "Ecclesia Dei" Commission, in contact with various bodies devoted to the usus antiquior, will study the practical possibilities in this regard.

The FIUV is not merely one among many 'bodies devoted to the EF', but is the only international body able to speak for the laity attached to this form of the liturgy. We were established in 1965, at the very beginning of the 'Traditional Movement', and represent a large and growing number of lay associations in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. We have been representing the views and needs of our member associations in Rome, and to the wider world, for nearly half a century.

Accordingly, we have set up a 'Liturgy and Spirituality Subcommittee' to coordinate the development and publication of these position papers. I (Joseph Shaw, coincidentally Chairman of the Latin Mass Society) am the Moderator of that Subcommittee, and in that capacity I am presenting these papers to the public, on Rorate Caeli, thanks to New Catholic's great hospitality.

Mass celebrated by Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, St Peter's, Rome, for the FIUV General Assembly, Nov 2011

While the Holy Father makes reference to two areas of possible change to the 1962 books, new Saints and Prefaces, debate about the future of these liturgical books is not limited to those matters. For that reason, and also because of the first mentioned purpose of these papers, we will be addressing topics on a wide range of issues. As well as an introductory paper, giving something of a disclaimer about our remit, the first six topics planned are:

The Service of Men and Boys at the Altar
Liturgical Piety and Participation
The Method of Receiving Communion
The Vulgate and Gallican Psalter
Liturgical Orientation
Holy Week

No Tridentine Mass at St. John's

Sunday, February 26, 2012 , by

Marie Dean, Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Eire

I was surprised, living in Malta for three months, that there was no Tridentine Latin Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

In Sacrosanctum Concilium, a document of Vatican II from 1963, Pope Paul VI said the Mass was “a sacred action surpassing all others”. However, this sacredness, as well as respect and awe, has been lost by the emphasis on the people in the Novus Ordo, and the ignoring of the Transcendence of God.

The beauty of the Mass for the Ages, with the balance of silence and chant, brings a new spirituality to those who attend. I am sorry that one of the most beautiful churches of the world does not present the most beautiful liturgy in the world, the Tridentine Mass.

I ask those in charge of the liturgical life of the Church in Malta to come into the movement which is sweeping the Church in all other Western countries, the revival of the Tridentine Mass, the most beautiful masterpiece of man’s creation in response to Revelation and Tradition. I predict a renewal of Catholicism, desperately needed in Malta, would be the result of this rediscovered beauty in St John’s.

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.