Quotation of the Week

 

"There may be traditionalist groups, but we also have them here in the Vatican. That can be cured".

Apparently this is one of the things that Pope Francis said when he addressed representatives of the Catholic News Service.  Referring to traditionalism as a "disruptive factor", he also said:

"A divided church is not the Church, it is not the true Church." 

A Glimpse into the Future

 

Paix Liturgique, the French organisation that campaigns for the traditional Mass has published an interview with Christian Marquant, in which he describes some research that he has conducted into vocations for the traditional priesthood.  

You should go to the website of Paix Liturgique to find the details, but here is a summary of how these vocations are distributed across the world.  The figures relate to the numbers of young men who are taking part in some form of Propaedeutic year or formal preliminary year in preparation for entering a seminary.

United States               57

France                          33

Brazil                           16

Germany                      10

Argentina                       7

England                          6

Portugal                          5

Philippines                      5

Spain                               5

Ireland                             4

Switzerland                      4

Canada                             4

Australia                           4

Poland                               4

Niceragua                          4

Nigeria                               3

Dominican Republic          3

Mexico                               2

Hungary                             2

Italy                                   2

Czech Republic                 2

Gabon                               2

Korea                                2

India                                 2

Columbia                         1

Costa Rica                       1

Cuba                                1

Austria                             1

Belgium                           1

Lebenon                           1

Malta                               1

Rumania                          1

Slavakia                           1

Wales                               1

Angola                             1

Benin                               1

Cameroons                      1

Congo Brazaville            1

Congo Kinshassa            1

Ghana                             1

Kenya                             1

China                             1

New Zealand                 1

Vietnam                        1

Christian Marquant points out that his research is not complete, and may contain some errors.  Also, There is no guarantee that all these candidates will become ordained priests.

Nevertheless, it indicates the geographical spread of interest in the Traditional Mass, even in countries where it is currently not available.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 17th February is Ash Wednesday.  There will two Latin Masses at the York Oratory at which Ashes will be distributed.  The first will be a Low Mass at 8.15am, and the second will be a Sung Mass at 6pm.  

In both cases Ashes will be distributed by sprinkling over the heads of those coming forward to the communion rail,  rather than the usual imposition of a cross on the forehead.

Candlemas

Tuesday 2nd February is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. St Wilfrid's Church in York will be celebrating the feast with the following:

Monday 1st February, eve of Candlemas

There will be First Vespers of Candlemas at 6pm, followed by a procession reinstating Our Lady of York in her shrine in the Lady Chapel.  This will be followed by Benediction.

Tuesday 2nd February

Blessing of candles, procession and Sung Latin Mass at 6pm.

Apologies for the short notice of these events.