Universae Ecclesiae

The long awaited document clarifying Pope Benedict's motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, was published today under the title Universae Ecclesiae. Supporters of the traditional Mass will find much in it to please them. Many of the excuses used during the past three and a half years to inhibit the celebration of Mass in the usus antiquior are ruled out of order. Here are some of the points that are clearly set out in the document:-

1. There is no minimum size for a stable group of the faithful asking for a traditional Mass, and its members do not have to come a single parish or, indeed, diocese.

2. No priest visiting a church, oratory or place of pilgrimage who has the correct credentials can be refused the right to celebrate Mass in the older form.

3. Priests do not have to be fluent or expert in Latin to celebrate the older rite. They are only required to be able to pronounce the words correctly, and understand what they are saying.

Clause 28 of the document will probably produce the most debate, and turn out to be the most important one. Although it is dangerous to paraphrase a legal document, I shall try to do so. Broadly, it states that summorum pontificum derogates all provisions of Church law promulgated after 1962 which are connected with sacred Rites and which are incompatible with the 1962 liturgy.

If my interpretation is correct, this means that liturgical innovations introduced after 1962 cannot be applied to the usus antiquior. It would seem to imply that practices such as Communion on the hand, the use of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and female altar servers are definitely ruled out for the extraordinary form. It would be useful if a canon lawyer would give a considered opinion on these matters.

Another subject touched upon is is the teaching of the usus in seminaries. Clause 21 states:-

Ordinaries are asked to offer their clergy the possibility of acquiring adequate preparation for celebrations in the forma extraordinaria. This applies to seminaries, where future priests should be given proper formation, including the study of Latin, and where pastoral needs suggest it, the opportunity to learn the the forma extraordinaria of the Roman Rite.

Walking to Walsingham

The Latin Mass Society is organising a walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham, a distance of about 55 miles. It will take place over three days from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August, which is the Bank Holiday weekend. It is modelled on the very successful Paris to Chartres pilgrimage which takes place every year, and is also a continuation of the mediaeval practice, when pilgrims would travel from all parts of England, and indeed Europe, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Overnight accommodation will be provided in campsites and village halls, and there will be support vehicles to transport pilgrims' luggage. Bottled water and evening meals will be provide, but pilgrims are asked to bring with them food to eat during the day.

Pilgrims are asked to gather in Ely, the home town of St Etheldreda, on the Thursday evening, and there will be Mass early on Friday morning. Mass on the Saturday will be in the chapel of Oxborough Hall, a 15th century mansion which has been in continuous Catholic ownership since the Reformation. On Sunday, the walkers will be joined for Mass at the Shrine of Walsingham by other pilgrims travelling by coach and private car. Finally, pilgrims will walk the Holy Mile into the village of Little Walsingham.

To book into the walking pilgrimage, go to the website of the Latin Mass Society.

Compline by Candlelight during May

Saturday 7th May

Saturday 14th May

Saturday 21st May

All at the church of St. Mary, Bishophill Junior, York (York's oldest church), commencing at 9pm.

The Rudgate Singers' 15th Anniversary Mass

Many of you will, I'm, sure, have heard of us. Some no doubt, will have heard us sing at various services that have taken place in the North of England over the last few years. What you may not know, is that the idea to form the choir originated in prison! I used to work for the Prison Service, and a chance conversation with one of the Catholic Chaplains where I worked (Fr. Richard Aladics) led to the first Rudgate Service which took place in the beautiful catholic church in Scarthingwell, back in June 1996, where amongst other pieces, we sang the Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina.

What we believed would be a one-off occasion (or annual at best) clearly didn't turn out to be the case, and we now approach our 15th Anniversary!

The 15th anniversary Mass will take place at St. Joseph's Church, Newby, Scarborough (YO12 6HT if you have satnav) on 18th June, 2011 at 3pm, and will, once again include the Missa Papae Marcelli. Other music is as follows:

Aichinger: Factus est repente
Tallis: Loquebantur variis linguis
Lotti: Regina Caeli

as well as the full Chant Proper of the Mass of Whit Saturday from the Graduale Romanum.

Fr. Stephen Maughan, who celebrated the historic Mass in York Minster earlier this year, has kindly agreed to be the Celebrant, for what we hope will be another special occasion.

Please do put the date in your diaries.

Young Catholic Adults National Weekend.

This is a little late, so you may have already read it elsewhere. My excuse is that I succumbed to an extremely nasty cold just after Easter & haven't felt like doing much else since, apart from the Rudgate Singers' Stow Minster Service.

Anyway, late or not, I'm more than happy to promote this here, although I'm a little on the old side, unless it applies to youths of all ages. ;-)

YOUNG CATHOLIC ADULTS NATIONAL WEEKEND 9TH-11TH SEPTEMBER 2011

During the weekend of the 9-11 September 2011 Young Catholic Adults will be running a weekend at Douai Abbey, it will be led by Juventutem Ecclesiastical Assistant Fr de Malleray . The weekend will be full-board.

* YCA will have half of the retreat centre to itself

* There will be a Marian Procession, Rosaries, Sung Mass, Low Mass, Confession and socials

* Fr. de Malleray FSSP head of Juventutem will preach the retreat, Masses will be in the Extraordinary form

Prices range from £5 to £51 per person per night . There are 3 options

THE MAIN GUEST HOUSE

Friday , registration from 4pm, to Sunday 11th September (full board)* or

Arrive Saturday morning till Sunday or day only

51 pounds full-board PER PERSON PER NIGHT

25 pounds for students/low waged/unwaged (or whatever you can afford) PER PERSON PER NIGHT



THE COTTAGES

£35 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (full board). Self catering £25 per person per night (reductions for students:- or whatever you can afford) .



SELF CATERING CAMPING

£5 PER PERSON PER NIGHT (or whatever you can afford - please bring your own tent and food ).

If you would like lunch on Sunday 11th then it will be an extra £7 each.


How to book - limited places so please reserve your place early


To reserve your place FOR THE WEEKEND (no deposit needed if you are coming for the day on Saturday), please contact the Guestmaster direct and send a 20 pound deposit (NON RETURNABLE) to Brother Christopher Greener OSB, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ (please make any cheques payable to Douai Abbey). Please mention how long you wish to stay and any special diet.


For general enquiries about the weekend:- or any queries about the accommodation/location/lifts required please ring Damian Barker on 07908105787 or 01452 539503.

For photographs of previous Douai Retreats please see:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24212854@N07/sets/72157606091441047/