Sunday, May 26, 2019

Fr. Perrone reflects on two priests -- a bitter old turncoat and a joyful new one

Fr. Eduard Perrone, "A Pastor's Descant" [temporary link], Assumption Grotto News, May 26, 2019:
A dismal and blistering article was published last week in a prominent mag -- here unmentioned -- a diatribe against the Church for the often-alleged crime of clericalism, the credited reason for the Church's present troubles. Only well into the piece was it revealed that the writer was an ex-priest, a fact which didn't surprise me since only such a one can publish a splenetic attack on the faith with impunity. I won't bore you with summarizing what he wrote since there's nothing new there except the expression of a particular talent for rant. His writing led me to reflect no on the dread subject matter but on how it could be that a man ordained to the priesthood could get so much wrong about the Church, the priesthood, and theology. He was, early on, a liberal priest who championed leftist causes and challenged orthodoxy. Perhaps he was poorly educated and malformed in the seminary but his writing gave just enough indication that he knew what Catholicism stands for, even if he has rejected it. It was a wonder that he could have turned out so bad as to write what he did and be led, in the end, to leave the practice of the faith. (Actually, that's not all bad since it spares our Lord the offense of sacrilegious Communions.) Was he, I thought, one of those fake priests who infiltrated the Church years ago to make an attempted coup? Or was he among the pitiful duped who followed false guides and fell away from the truth little by little?

These questions motivated me to write here -- again, not about what was in the mag, but about the hard reality of someone rejecting "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). This became a personal reflection on how many there may be, over the long course of my priesthood, who listened to my teaching or preaching and instead of taking in what I intended to impart to them interiorly resented my words or even outright rejected them. How many young students, for example, hearing my instruction opposed it, unknown to me? The fault in such case may lay with my poor teaching abilities but it might also be due to a bad disposition, whatever its causes. I realize one can't always know by body language whether one's hearers agree or disagree with what's being said. This reminded me of the parable of the sower sowing his seed and the various types of ground on which it fell: rocks, briers, or good soil. When our Lord spoke to His audiences, some of them received His teaching approvingly, some outwardly protesting it, while others harbored interior resentment. He always identified these various responses to His words, and to those who harbored hostility He exposed their private thoughts. Lacking the gift of mind-reading, I can't guess who or how many people I've taught over the years took in what I said or rejected it. Whatever may be in be in the mind sooner or later comes out into the open, as it did in the sorry example of that ex-priest. It made me realize that I must pray more that the Holy Ghost will adapt, adjust, and even correct my poor words as needed for particular souls to make the truth evident to them. (I have elsewhere averted to the divine phenomenon of what I believe may happen when the Holy Spirit causes to make heard in various minds divine truths in spite of a preacher's poor abilities, or even his errors. This would be, if I'm right to think it, an extension of the grace of Pentecost when He made each person hear what wwas being said, modifying it for their comprehension.

How can it be that some Catholics like myself brought up in the good ol' days turn out to be doubters of the Church's doctrines, deceivers of others, and turncoats? At one time, I must suppose, they were sincere and devout Catholics. Something happened to them (unless the conspiracy theory is correct, and they were deliberate "plants" sent out to destroy the Church.)

I forgot to mention where and when I heard about that article. It was while I was in Chicago for the Ordination and First Mass of our own Father Matthew Schuster. What a contrast to read about one priest's falling away and to witness another's joyful ascent to Christ's holy priesthood! While I would not wish to be presumptive of God's grace, I can't refrain from expressing my great hopes for a richly fruitful priesthood for Fr. Schuster. I'm deeply grateful to have witnessed its beginnings. He will have his first Grotto Mass on Pentecost Sunday, June 9, at the 9:30 Mass, following which he will confer, during an open reception for him in the gym, his individual priestly blessings which carry the plenary indulgence.

Finale: Pray on Memorial Day for the souls of the faithful departed who served in various capacities for our country's defense, especially those who died in conflict. We will offer holy Mass for them on Monday at the 9:15 a.m. Mass, preceded by the flag-raising ceremony at 9:00, and followed by the pryers in the cemetery. A doughnut and coffee breakfast chaser may be had in the gym.

Fr. Perrone.

Tridentine Masses this week in metro Detroit and east Michigan


Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

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* NB: The SSPX chapels among those Mass sites listed above are posted here because the Holy Father has announced that "those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly receive the absolution of their sins," and subsequently extended this privilege beyond the Year of Mercy. These chapels are not listed among the approved parishes and worship sites on archdiocesan websites.

Prayer Pilgrimages Latin Mass-Inclusive Bus Tours to Metro Detroit and Canton, Ohio; First Tridentine Mass at St. Michael, Leamington, Ontario on June 28; Fr. Patrick Beneteau Appointed Administrator of St. Anne Parish, Tecumseh, Ontario; Prayer Card for the Apostolic Blessing at the Hour of Death; Latin Prayer Cards; Tridentine Masses This Coming Week


"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"

Tridentine Community News by Alex Begin (May 26, 2019):
May 26, 2019 – Fifth Sunday After Easter

Prayer Pilgrimages Latin Mass-Inclusive Bus Tours To Rural Metro Detroit and Canton, Ohio

Two upcoming bus tours may be of interest:

On Friday, May 31, there will be a tour of churches in the rural northern parts of the Archdiocese of Detroit. A 12:00 Noon Tridentine Mass will be offered as part of the tour at St. Edward on the Lake Church in Lakeport.

On Monday, June 24, a bus tour will visit Canton, Ohio, stopping at the residence of the mystic Rhoda Wise, best known for being the mentor to Mother Angelica. A 12:00 Noon Tridentine Mass is planned to be offered at the historic Basilica of St. John the Baptist [pictured] on this Feast Day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.


More information is available at www.prayerpilgrimages.com or by calling (248) 250-6005.

First Tridentine Mass at St. Michael, Leamington, Ontario on June 28

For many years there has been a Sunday Tridentine Mass in and around London, Ontario, moving every few years to a different location. One of the priest celebrants for that community has been Fr. Tom Ferrera. In 2018 Fr. Ferrera was named pastor of St. Michael Parish in Leamington, not far from Windsor. Fr. Ferrera has decided to host his first High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Michael on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Friday, June 28 at 7:00 PM. Members of the St. Benedict choir and altar serving team will be assisting, with the objective of having St. Michael develop its own team, able to support additional Masses on their own in the future.

Fr. Patrick Beneteau Appointed Administrator of St. Anne Parish, Tecumseh, Ontario


More good news from the Diocese of London: Diocesan Vocations Director and longtime Tridentine Mass celebrant Fr. Patrick Beneteau has been named Administrator of St. Anne Parish in Tecumseh, Ontario, in eastern suburban Windsor, effective July 1. In the 1990s, St. Anne was the host site for the first Traditional funeral Mass to be held in metro Detroit after Vatican II, organized by Chant Sheet author Michel Ozorak. We are hopeful that the Extraordinary Form will once again return to St. Anne, a busy and popular parish.

Prayer Card for the Apostolic Blessing at the Hour of Death


Those who attend the Oakland County Latin Mass Association at the Academy of the Sacred Heart Chapel were recently able to pick up prayer cards which contain the text of the Apostolic Blessing at the Hour of Death, an immensely important prayer explained in detail in the December 9, 2018 edition of this column. Consider carrying one in your wallet for the benefit of yourself or any other person in danger of death. Both the Extraordinary Form of the prayer in Latin and the Ordinary Form version in English are provided on the card, to suit the preferences of the individual concerned and/or the most conveniently available priest. You may obtain additional copies of the card from this source: https://fullofgraceusa.com/collections/holy-cards/products/new-for-2017-the-apostolic-pardon-for-the-dying-holy-cards

Latin Prayer Cards

While on the subject of prayer cards, a vendor has appeared which carries a variety of Latin language prayer cards that may be of interest. Visit www.praylatin.com

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
  • Tue. 05/28 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Holy Name of Mary, Windsor (St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor)
  • Sat. 06/01 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Miles Christi (St. Angela Merici, Virgin)
[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit), Academy of the Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), and St. Alphonsus and Holy Name of Mary Churches (Windsor) bulletin inserts for May 26, 2019. Hat tip to Alex Begin, author of the column.]

Sunday, May 05, 2019

Tridentine Community News - "Vidi Wars"; Reminder: St. Francis d’Assisi Mass on May 19; Fort Leavenworth Army Chaplain Learns the Traditional Mass; Tridentine Masses This Coming Week


"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"

Tridentine Community News by Alex Begin (May 5, 2019):
May 5, 2019 – Second Sunday After Easter

Vidi Wars (With tongue planted firmly in cheek.)

There’s a great divide in Latin Mass land. One which shows no sign of ending. One which separates people of good will, causing them to take sides. We’re talking about the Vidi Aquam, the music that accompanies the sprinkling rite during the Easter season.

Choirs will fight to the death for their right to sing Vidi I, as proof of their command of complicated chant. Yet it’s too difficult for many in the congregation to sing along. And oh boy, is it long. The priest is back up at the altar before it’s even half over. Even more insidious, hymnal editors – who as it turns out tend also to be choir directors themselves – have sought to block the only alternative by not including it in their hymn books. They don’t want you to know there’s another option. Yes, the Latin Mass world has a Big State, a Music Mafia, if you will.

Well, the Trid News is here to pull back the curtain and tell you what the Music Establishment will not: You have an alternative in the mellifluous, catchy Vidi II. Once you hear it, you’ll be humming it all day. Congregations love it, while choir members look down their noses at its simplistic chant. In Detroit, we’ve known about this setting for decades: it was the only Vidi sung at St. Joseph Church’s Sunday Novus Ordo Latin Mass during the long tenure of former music director, the late Thomas Kuras. It was published in their proprietary St. Joseph Hymnal. It also appears in the Solesmes Liber Cantuális [version pictured below], and an organ accompaniment appears in the Collegeville Hymnal.


Following the model of North and South Korea, the two sides of the Vidi War have not signed a peace treaty. Instead, they’ve agreed to a long-term compromise. That’s why you’ll hear our choirs sing Vidi I for the first half of Paschaltide, and Vidi II for the second half. It’s a truce we can all live with.

Reminder: St. Francis d’Assisi Mass on May 19


On Sunday, May 19 at 10:00 AM, there will be a special High Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Francis d’Assisi Church, 4500 Wesson St., at Michigan Avenue in Detroit. The celebrant will be Fr. José Haro of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The music will be led by Wassim Sarweh, and altar servers from the Oakland County Latin Mass Association and the St. Benedict Tridentine Community will assist. St. Francis d’Assisi is one of Detroit’s largest and most ornate historic churches. We hope you will be able to attend and demonstrate our gratefulness to the parish for hosting this special Mass. Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/312538589422446/

Fort Leavenworth Army Chaplain Learns the Traditional Mass

Congratulations to Fr. Jeff Whorton, Catholic Chaplain at the U.S. Army post at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, who celebrated his first Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form after taking training from Extraordinary Faith. A convert from Anglicanism, Fr. Whorton already has been offering the Ordinary Form ad oriéntem. He and his team are hoping to offer Traditional Latin High Masses for the faithful on the base.

Fort Leavenworth follows in the footsteps of the Fort Hood Army post, whose TLM effort will be the subject of an upcoming episode of Extraordinary Faith.


Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
  • Tue. 05/07 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Holy Name of Mary, Windsor (St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr)
  • Fri. 05/10 7:00 PM: High Mass at Old St. Mary’s (St. Antoninus, Bishop & Confessor) – Reception & talk by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski follows Mass: “Liturgical Obedience, the Imitation of Christ, and the Seductions of Autonomy”
  • Sat. 05/11 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Miles Christi (Ss. Philip & James, Apostles)
  • Sun. 05/12 2:00 PM: High Mass at St. Alphonsus, Windsor (Third Sunday After Easter) – Reception & talk by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski follows Mass: “Laws of Organic Liturgical Development and Ruptures of Reform”
[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit), Academy of the Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), and St. Alphonsus and Holy Name of Mary Churches (Windsor) bulletin inserts for May 15, 2019. Hat tip to Alex Begin, author of the column.]