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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

A Missal for the Ordinariate

Fr. David Friel · September 20, 2015

N HIS FIRST FULL DAY as the Bishop of Rome, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the College of Cardinals. At the conclusion of that Missa pro Ecclesia, the new pontiff shared a heartfelt reflection, acknowledging his own “sense of inadequacy and human apprehension.” At the same time, though, he said that he felt “a lively feeling of profound gratitude to God.”

Perhaps the most personal part of the reflection was a brief tribute to Pope John Paul II. “I seem to feel his strong hand clasping mine,” Benedict said of JPII. “I seem to see his smiling eyes and hear his words, at this moment addressed specifically to me, ‘Do not be afraid!’”

Another theme during that brief address was ecumenism, which became a central feature of his eight-year reign, including special outreach to Anglicans and members of the SSPX. The Holy Father said:

Peter’s current Successor takes on as his primary task the duty to work tirelessly to rebuild the full and visible unity of all Christ’s followers. This is his ambition, his impelling duty. He is aware that good intentions do not suffice for this. Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress.

Theological dialogue is necessary; the investigation of the historical reasons for the decisions made in the past is also indispensable. But what is most urgently needed is that “purification of memory”, so often recalled by John Paul II, which alone can dispose souls to accept the full truth of Christ. Each one of us must come before Him, the supreme Judge of every living person, and render an account to Him of all we have done or have failed to do to further the great good of the full and visible unity of all His disciples.

One such “concrete gesture” is the forthcoming publication of the missal for use within the Personal Ordinariates established under the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum coetibus. Entitled Divine Worship: The Missal, the volume is set to be published this November, in time for Advent. These missals are available now for pre-sale from the Catholic Truth Society (see HERE).

Together with our brothers & sisters from the Ordinariate, let us celebrate and welcome this ecumenical & liturgical milestone.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Anglican Ordinariate, Pope Benedict XVI Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Indeed, we may not hope for real Latin poetry any more, because Latin is now a dead language to all of us. However well a man may read, write, or even speak Latin now, it is always a foreign language to him, acquired artificially. It is no one’s mother tongue. Does a man ever write real poetry in an acquired language?”

— Rev’d Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

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