St. Josemaria Escriva celebrated ONLY the Traditional Latin Mass

St. Josemaría was always first and foremost obedient, but he could not read the faded print in the new edition of the Roman Missal (see this photo). He had cataracts and found it difficult and painful to read the poor quality typeset. Also, the saint had experienced certain mystical moments associated with particular words, sentences, and structural parts of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Such moments had been a part of his spiritual life since boyhood and through his priesthood. In having to celebrate the Mass of Paul VI, the saint would have been cut off from this.

Finally, it was the saint’s secretary, Don Alvaro del Portillo, who at the behest of the saint telephoned Msgr. Annibale Bugnini to ask permission to continue celebrating the Classical Rite. Monsignor Bugnini was quick in his response: “You don’t need permission from me. Just continue to celebrate the Mass of St. Pius V.”

This was taken from the blog of Rome tour guide, Mr. Orbis himself, John Sonnen.

Another account says that the Saint simply didn't like the New Mass and applied for an indult to say privately until his death, the Mass of his ordination.

The saint himself is nurtured by the Mass of All Ages.

And this is also the same reason why Pope Benedict XVI liberalized the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass now officially known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Which made me remember something.

There was once a raging lunatic cleric who said that those who attend and celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite are "sedevacantists, attackers of Vatican II and haters of Pope Francis".

The photo above shows the Saint celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  Note the placement of the Missal is on the Gospel side (left side of the altar) and the Host is resting on the corporal. That is the reason why the corporal is called THE corporal.  The Body of Christ rests on it.

There are those who say that this is NOT a Traditional Latin Mass but a Novus Ordo Mass and they use this photo below as "proof".

They claim that this is a concelebrated Mass which only happens in the Traditional Latin Mass during an Ordination.

If you see priests now concelebrating with a stole over a surplice, that is a ONE IN A LIFETIME thing!  Bring out your phone cameras and click away!  Most Filipino priests especially in their private Masses would celebrate Mass, offer the Holy Sacrifice in their jammies like these!

So seeing them in their cassock, surplice and stole concelebrating and NOT in the proper vestments (alb, stole, cassock) is such a PRIVILEGE to behold! You won't expect these priest to dress up this way when they get invited to a party in a posh hotel or in a VIP gathering in Malacanang or the US Embassy. Noooooooo!  They dress properly for every event EXCEPT for Holy Mass.

Watch out!  I got a lot of photos of that CREATIVE Mass in San Agustin.

Stay tuned.

Going back...

The photo of St. Josemaria with the priests behind him is NOT a concelebrated Novus Ordo Mass.

Those priests are properly vested to assist in distributing Holy Communion. Why?  Even today, THAT is the proper vestment for a priest not concelebrating, not celebrating but distributing Holy Communion because a priest, bishop and deacon are the ORDINARY ministers of Holy Communion.  Lay people, including nuns, are EXTRAORDINARY Ministers of Holy Communion.

That was a lot for a post.

Whew!

Time to go rest for the moment.

EPAL Ministers of Holy Cow!

 From a blog reader.

First time ko magawi sa Makati CBD after 2 years at natuwa ako na may 2 chapel na sa area, yung old Greenbelt chapel and the Landmark Chapel (formally known as the Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel) na may Adoration Chapel.

Dismayado lang ako kasi ang nagbubukas/nagtatapos ng Adoration/Exposition eh mga EMHC kahit na katatapos lang nung hapon na Misa.

So there you have it, folks! Another confirmation that the Archdiocese of Manila has lazy priests, and because of that, we have EPALS running around.

Some priests and bishops and most especially EPAL EMHCs just don't get it.

‘This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened’ 

(Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 156).


***

They always wanted to be called "Special" since according to some "smart-aleck" EMHC I talked to, they are "not ordinary" like the deacon, priests and bishops.

Ano yan?  Mami?  May special at ordinary?

Cut and paste into your status update so they'll know the truth.

"Ahhhh....what is Redemptionis Sacramentum?"

EMHC Rant: I will not get a blessing from an EMHC!

I had my throat blessed yesterday.

But a priest did it, not an EMHC.

I lined up for the blessing and the line was looonnngg for the priest.  Can you blame us who lined up for him?

There were some who lined up for the EMHCs.

An old lady acting as usher was telling us to cut the line and proceed instead to the EMHC.

I stood my ground.  When only a handful people went to the EMHC, the old lady approached me and asked me to go to the EMHC.  I gruffly answered here whispering "My dear, hindi pari yan.  Bakit ako magpapa-bless sa isang hindi pari?"  I never knew that my "whisper" was heard the people around me until I heard someone said behind me "Oo nga naman."

I guess I did a good job, no?  Only a few went to the EMHC and the line to the priest was still long.  Poor priest.  He was tired after, but hey!  That is what they were ordained to do right?

The Book of Blessings (#1626) states: "The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or lay minister who follows thte rites and prayers designated for a lay minister..

But...but...

Let me make it clear.

A priest is a priest is a priest.

And a deacon is a deacon is a deacon.

A blessing of the ordained makes the one being blessed become a sacramental.

A blessing of the baptized and confirmed Catholic does not make the one he blessed a sacramental.  There is a difference between constitutive and invocative blessings.

Let me quote from Fr. William Saunders who wrote about this in EWTN.

Blessings are categorized into two types: invocative and constitutive.

In an invocative blessing, the minister implores the divine favor of God to grant some spiritual or temporal good without any change of condition, such as when a parent blessed a child. This blessing is also a recognition of God's goodness in bestowing this "blessing" upon us, such as when we offer a blessing for our food at meal time. In blessing objects or places, a view is also taken toward those who will use the objects or visit the places.

A constitutive blessing, invoked by a bishop, priest or deacon, signifies the permanent sanctification and dedication of a person or thing for some sacred purpose. Here the person or object takes on a sacred character and would not be returned to non-sacred or profane use. For example, when religious Sisters or Brothers profess final vows, they are blessed, indicating a permanent change in their lives. Or, when a chalice is blessed, it becomes a sacred vessel dedicated solely to sacred usage.

Now let's look at the prayer used for the blessing of throats:

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr,
may God free you from illness of the throat and from any other sort of ill.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Invocative or constitutive?

I'd say it is constitutive.

Shocked?

You shouldn't be.

The prayer does not impart a supernatural character upon the person being blessed.

BUT!


Let us see what Fr. Z said in his blog post:

"This may shock you, but I am against lay people giving the St. Blaise blessing… “blessing”, when they give it, that is.  The ghastly Book of Blessings has a form for lay people doing this, so the Church permits it.  That doesn’t mean I have to like it.  What the ordained do when they bless and what lay people do when they “bless” are different.  There.  I’ve said it.  I am sure you are shocked."

I share his opinion.

Why?  The blessing is done within the Mass. 

Blessed Ashes are given here in the Philippines after Mass, isn't it?  And EMHCs help in distributing the ash.  Again, men who are designated to distribute Holy Communion?

Are they becoming pseudo-deacons?  All they need is an ordination and their own crossed stoles and dalmatic and poof!  You have deacons!  They almost act as if they are married ordained deacons!

If the Church sees it fit that any lay person can give the blessing of throats on St. Blaise's day, then why would I line up and have it done by an EMHC whose only permission is to distribute Holy Communion, and done within the Mass?

Why EMHCs?  They were permitted to distribute Holy Communion ONLY?

A photo from the Diocese of Bacolod

And this is what I have been crusading!

Stop female altar servers!

Stop the EMHC from taking over the job of young men as altar servers!

KUDOS TO THE DIOCESE OF BACOLOD and thank you to our friend "K" for this.

The EMHC hijacking the job of Altar Servers

My post about that stunning photo at the Typhoon Yolanda hit areas generated quite a buzz since I ranted my heart out against the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who seemingly would always take the spot from altar servers who are thankfully here in the Philippines are mostly young men. (But that is another topic for a future blog post no?)

Why am I having these issues with the EMHCs?

First of all, let us check some of the comments.

A friend said that maybe since the Eucharistic procession was in the hard hit areas, the altar servers either perished or were simply not available, or something to that effect, or that the canopy must be handled by the older and much taller EMHCs.

I beg to disagree.

EMHCs are becoming a staple in Eucharistic processions here in the Philippines.

By the meaning of their names, they are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  Three Church documents are the sources for the "creation" of this position.

Code of Canon Law

Can. 910 §1 The ordinary minister of holy communion is a Bishop, a priest or a deacon.

§2 The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte, or another of Christ's faithful deputed in accordance with can. 230 §3.

Can. 230 §1 Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite. This conferral of ministry does not, however, give them a right to sustenance or remuneration from the Church.
§2 Lay people can receive a temporary assignment to the role of lector in liturgical actions. Likewise, all lay people can exercise the roles of commentator, cantor or other such, in accordance with the law.
§3 Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law.  [Emphasis mine.]

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

GIRM 162. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.

GIRM 162 (cont.) ... These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.

Redemptionis sacramentum (RS)

RS 88 Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law.

RS 156. This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

RS 157. If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons.

RS 158. Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.[259] This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

RS 159. It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.

RS 160. Let the diocesan Bishop give renewed consideration to the practice in recent years regarding this matter, and if circumstances call for it, let him correct it or define it more precisely. Where such extraordinary ministers are appointed in a widespread manner out of true necessity, the diocesan Bishop should issue special norms by which he determines the manner in which this function is to be carried out in accordance with the law, bearing in mind the tradition of the Church.

Reading all through these documents we can summarize that:

1. EMHCs are laymen instituted to distribute Holy Communion in times when there are not enough Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to distribute Holy Communion.  And we know who the Ordinary ministers are.
2. Over appointment of EMHCs is an abuse.
3. The nature of their job is in their name.

Now let me take you to these photographs I have collected of EMHCs not acting according to the virtue of their institution as EMHCs

Not sure where but it says it is from the Parokya ng Santisimo Rosaryo

2008 Corpus Christi procession at Sta. Cruz Church, Manila

Christ the King procession at Dagat-dagatan, Caloocan City

In Morong\, Bataan during Holy Thursday

What's common?

Yes, it's pretty obvious.

Unlike the comments I got from that blog post, here I have photo evidence to show that slowly around the country, EMHCs are taking over the role of altar servers.

I even once went to Don Bosco Makati and was surprised that EMHCs were the one serving at Mass.  No altar servers!

In the Eucharistic procession, the role of carrying the canopy usually falls to the altar servers.

Why is that?

The wisdom of the Church is here to answer that.

Service at the altar was given to young men because it has been proven time and again, that encouraging young boys to serve at the altar influences them to consider a vocation to the priesthood.  That is also the reason why there should be NO ALTAR GIRLS!

But I digress.

The bottomline is that its not their job. and they are not supposed to take it away from these young men who may be contemplating a vocation to the priesthood!

The boys need the inspiration!  Stop getting the jobs that are meant to inspire them!

EMHCs are mostly elderly men who are canonically impeded to be ordained priests let alone be admitted to the seminary.

Why can't they just do well in their jobs of distributing Holy Communion?  Isn't it not enough that you have that immense responsibility of holding with your UNCONSECRATED FINGERS the BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, that you just had to take away the job of a young boy who might be considering a calling to become a priest??? Huh??!?!

Isn't it not enough?

Why can't EMHCs just BE EMHC's?  Why do they have to be all around our chapels, churches and cathedrals when in fact

Dear friends, this is a clear danger of over laicizing our liturgy, of over "active participation" of the laity.  True active participation is INTERNAL not EXTERNAL.  Active participation is achieved not by having the lay do what is supposed to be done by the clergy, and not having the lay dance all around the sanctuary during Mass.  True Active Participation as envisioned by the Church Fathers of Vatican II is PRAYING THE MASS, not doing the Mass!

Dear EMHCs....

You are not altar servers.

Do what you are supposed to do and leave the young boys to serve at the altar.

You are way past the required age.

Stunning image from Typhoon Yolanda affected area

Now this one just speaks of what Pinoy Catholics really are.

I got this from a friend's Facebook timeline.

This is the entrance of the Blessed Sacrament into Santo Nino de Tacloban parish church after the Christ the King Eucharistic procession around the city.

It is FAITH that strengthens us.

It is FAITH that binds us together!

***

But on the side...

I always see this in so many instances, so let me start this rant.............NOW!

What are the EMHCs doing there?

I mean, my gosh, are they running our of altar servers to carry the canopy?

Why is it that EMHCs really would want to make epal all the time, huh?

This role is for the altar servers!

Your role as EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION is duh!...distribute Holy Communion! 

Just stay that way!  Why do you always have to get someone else's role in the liturgy, huh? 

Let the kids serve!  This is a mine of vocations!

You think what you are doing is encouraging young men to serve at the altar?

Sit down!  Your time is up!

Let the young men serve at the altar!

Sorry to ruin the moment with that rant.

I am just having too much of EMHC narcissism.