FIUV PP 23

Because of the unique recent history of the Catholic Church in China, the Extraordinary Form has continued to be said alongside the Ordinary Form. The paper argues that the affinity between classical Chinese culture, and notably Confucianism, and the Faith, continues to be relevant in the context of the Extraordinary Form, as the values of continuity, discipline and respect for the sacred continue to be valued, and needed, in the China of today. The Extraordinary Form is moreover helpful in many of the difficulties facing the Church in China today, including linguistic pluralism, poor catechesis, and liturgical indiscipline. . . . . .

The 23rd in the FIUV Position Papers series, called “The Extraordinary Form and China” is now available in the FIUV Positio section.

FIUV PP 22

The Apostolic custom of headcoverings for women is maintained by many Catholics attached to the Extraordinary Form. St Paul laid down that women should cover their heads, and men uncover them, and explained this in terms of his analogy between the relationship between bridegroom and bride, and between Christ and the Church. As Pope St John Paul II taught, female members of the Church represent the Church in a particular way; thus they represent the bride, veiled, both as a symbol of obedience and sacredness. Appendices examine the claim that the custom of the primitive Church was taken from other cultures, and the experience of women recovering the tradition of head coverings today. . . . . .

The 22nd in the FIUV Position Papers series, called “Headcoverings in Church in the Extraordinary Form” is now available in the FIUV Positio section.

FIUV PP 21

Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych, O.S.B.M.
(c. 1580 – 12 November 1623)

Since Pope Leo XIII’s important encyclical Orientalium dignitas in 1894 the policy of the Holy See has been consistent and emphatic, that the liturgical rites of the ancient Oriental Churches are worthy of the utmost veneration, and among those churches in communion with the Holy See they should be protected from undue Latin influence and restored in accordance with their own traditions. This was emphasised by the Second Vatican Council and Pope St John Paul II. This policy is, however, undermined by those exaggerated critiques of the liturgical traditions of the Latin Church which dismiss elements which the Latin and Oriental liturgical traditions have in common, such as worship ad orientem and the use of silent prayer, a contemplative manner of liturgical participation, and respect for liturgical tradition. The establishment of the Extraordinary Form as part of the normal liturgical life of the Latin Church is a necessary step towards a practical attitude of reverence towards the traditions of the Oriental Churches. . . . .

The 21st in the FIUV Position Papers series, called “The Extraordinary Form and the Eastern Churches” is now available in the FIUV Positio section.

FIUV questions threatened SSPX excommunications which may be illegal

MEDIA RELEASE – IMMEDIATE – 4 November 2014

International Una Voce Federation: threatened SSPX excommunications may be illegal

LONDON 4 November 2014 – The International Una Voce Federation which seeks to promote the traditions, particularly the liturgical traditions, of the Roman Catholic Church, within the official structures of the Church, today questioned the legality of a “notification” dated 14 October 2014 of the Roman See of Albano, Italy, claiming to ex-communicate those who receive the sacraments from, or attend religious services of, the Society of St Pius X (SSPX).

The Federation questions the legality of a notification in similar terms of Bishop Óscar Sarlinga of Zárate-Campana in Argentina, issued on 3 November 2014.

Blessed John Henry, Cardinal Newman, a great defender of traditional liturgy, proves Dr Stephen McInerney of Campion College, Sydney

The Inaugural Blessed John Henry Newman Lecture was delivered by Dr Stephen McInerney (Senior Lecturer in Literature, Campion College).

Our thanks to the Rorate Caeli blog for this news and thanks to Dr McInerney for permission to publish.

Blessed John Henry, Cardinal Newman
 

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“Marvellous Disclosures”: 

John Henry Newman’s Anglican Reflections on the Liturgy(1)

Delivered at the Parish of Blessed John Henry Newman, Melbourne

12th October 2014



Over fifty years ago, as he reflected on the legacy of John Henry Newman, Fr Frank O’Malley asked: “What was the spirit of this man who is with us a constant reference and a standard and a sign?” By way of an answer, he pointed to something that few Newman scholars before or since have sought to highlight:

the spirit of Newman moved within the spirit of the liturgy, the liturgy thought of in its most significant sense as the very rhythm of Christian existence, stirred and centred by the life of Christ. Newman absorbed the liturgical character of existence. He lived by the liturgy. (2)

FIUV PP 20

The calendar of the Extraordinary Form contains a number of features not found in the Ordinary Form, notably the season of Septuagesima, the number and treatment of vigils, and the number of octaves. These very ancient features of the calendar allowed the Faithful to enter more deeply into the mysteries presented by the Church’s year by facilitating their preparation for and subsequent meditation upon those mysteries. They also contributed to a liturgical cycle characterised by sharper contrasts of penitential and joyful days and seasons. . . .

The 20th in the FIUV Position Papers series, called “The Season of Septuagesima, and Vigils and Octaves, in the Extraordinary Form” is now available in the FIUV Positio section.

Michael Davies: “A Writer to Cherish” by Leo Darroch

Michael Davies: “A Writer to Cherish”

by Leo Darroch

. . . . . I think it is true to say that Michael Davies, while being a man hugely admired and respected within the world of traditional Catholicism, and known – and feared? – in the corridors of power in Rome, was perhaps relatively unknown to the great majority of Catholic faithful who still attend Sunday Mass in their own parishes. The immensity of the man will only be fully appreciated in the years and decades to come when his writings will be recognised as the foundation and springboard of the resurrection and resurgence of the traditional liturgy and faith of the Church. The greatest tribute we could pay him for his service to us and the Church is to make his work more widely known. For those members who do not have any of his books I would recommend his trilogy Liturgical Revolution. Those who have one or more of his books could perhaps try and persuade their local clergy to read something of his work. . . . . .  (Read the full text)