How much lower can our expectations go?
This was the rhetorical question I recently posed in reference to the tendency among so-called “conservatives” to heap praise upon every prelate who manages to say or do anything even remotely Catholic.
Meet Bishop John Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette (MI); the latest to receive a standing ovation from the “hermeneutic-of-continuity” club for performing a minimally praiseworthy deed.
His particular act of Christian heroism?
He just released an “Instruction on Sacred Music in Divine Worship” entitled, Sing to the Lord, All the Earth, ordering the “steps to be taken to promote Sacred Music in the Diocese of Marquette over the next five years.”
Wow! Did you get that? This bishop is apparently rather serious about promoting sacred music in his diocese!
In other news, I met a vegan who is committed to avoiding cheeseburgers.
In all seriousness, I’ve said it before and it bears repeating…
It’s lipstick on a liturgical pig syndrome: Dressing up the Novus Ordo with accoutrements stolen from tradition (smells, bells, postures, Latin, chant, etc.) only serves to further distract the unwitting from the bitter reality that the bastard rite of Paul VI is deficient in itself.
It also serves to perpetuate the lie that the new rite is the “Ordinary Form” of the one Roman Rite, and perhaps worst of all, it leads both priests and laity to believe that the Novus Ordo, if only it be performed with enough reverence and attention to pious detail, can somehow nurture the faithful and please God every bit as much as the Traditional Latin Mass.
That argument aside for the moment, while I’m pleased to assume that Bishop Doerfler’s motives are pure and his intentions are good, the more one delves into the instruction itself, the more ridiculous the outpouring of praise for him appears.
Following are the first three directives outlined in the Instruction:
- All parishes and schools will learn to chant the Ordinary parts of the Mass in English that are found in the Roman Missal, and they will be sung by the congregation some of the time throughout the year.
- All parishes and schools will learn to chant the Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from the Missa lubilate Deo, and they will be sung by the congregation some of the time throughout the year.
- All parishes and schools will learn to chant the Communion Antiphon in English to a very simple tone that everyone can sing, and the Communion Antiphon will be sung at every Sunday Mass. A hymn may be sung after the Communion Antiphon while the congregation is receiving the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Doerfler apparently wants to do the right thing (such as he understands it), but to govern with a decree that essentially says, “You shall do such-and-such some of the time throughout the year” is just pathetic.
Whether this means twice a year, or every other week, or only on Earth Day is anyone’s guess, I suppose.
Can any of you fathers out there even imagine running your own households this way?
Directive #3 is the pretty straight forward by comparison, but can there be any doubt that the resisters in the diocese took notice of, and are emboldened by, the weakness on display in this Instruction?
Oh, and get this, the above directives are prefaced with:
Thus, all parishes and schools are to have implemented the following directives by December 31, 2020.
That’s almost five years away! It almost seems like a parody.
Getting to the meatiest part of the Instruction; it ends by announcing that the Diocese of Marquette is going to produce its own hymnal; one that ensures “musical quality and doctrinal integrity,” and every parish will be expected to use it exclusively once it is ready. (Projected date: Advent 2017)
This was enough to move at least one neo-con blogger (at CC Watershed) to gush:
“I think the bishop is taking a very brave step to restore Sacred Music and to implement what Vatican II called for.”
Don’t laugh. I think he’s serious. I mean… I think he really believes that this constitutes an act of bravery. It’s preposterous, of course, but you have to admit that these people are consistent. Once we implement the Council, then you’ll see; the birds will sing and the sun will shine and the wars will end…
Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m all for hymnals that are devoid of heresy, but what about the quality and doctrinal integrity of the Mass itself?
That, by the way, is not a rhetorical question.
Both Fr. Marques Campo and I have written in this space about the doctrinal problems associated with the Novus Ordo; not due to abuses, but thanks to the text of the Roman Missal itself.
For instance, I posted not long ago about the “once saved, always saved” heresy that is fed to the faithful in the so-called “Mass of Christian Burial,” and how it therefore robs the deceased of the intercessory prayers and sacrifices that are so needed.
How does adding sacred music to that protestant poison contribute to the good of the faithful? More pressing, how does it honor God?
Bottom line – it does neither; in fact, it does the exact opposite. It makes a mockery of both the Mass and the sacred music.
Again, Bishop Doerfler probably means well, but let’s not pretend that his flock is being well-served by this new directive. They are not; they are simply being deceived all the more.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mark 4:28
I think to get a better idea of their stay here on earth, the kiddies should memorize the “Dies Irae” in English.
Yes, the “Dies Irae” (The Wrath of God) is a wake up call for all of us. Find it in the Traditional Catholic Missal –the Requiem Mass. It is usually chanted by the priest. I’m not sure if this was removed from the Novus Ordo rite in the Mass for the Dead. Eternity is forever and ever!
…ooops—- Dies Irae means Day of Wrath!
+Lefebvre:
“This ‘new balance,’ it’s the balance which Opus Dei have: a traditional looking exterior, an exterior piety, an exterior of religious discipline, but with liberal ideas. There’s not concept of fighting against the ‘rights of man,’ against religious liberty and against ecumenism. So, for this balance they’ll have to put down liberation theology a little, put down the French bishops a little due to their catechism, it’ll mean they’ll have to give a little bit of satisfaction to those who have a real nostalgia for the old Mass: and voila! Ultimately, they’ll give the impression of wanting to return to Tradition, but they don’t really want to do so. So we have to warn our faithful, in such a way that they won’t end up being fooled, so that they don’t let themselves be taken in by an exterior traditional reform which would fatally lead them into adopting liberalism and liberal ideas.” (St. Nicolas du Chardonnet, 13/12/1984)
“We must be free of compromise both with regard to sedevacantists as well as those who absolutely want to be subjected to ecclesiastical authority. We remain committed to our Lord Jesus Christ. But Vatican II dethroned our Lord. We want to remain faithful to our Lord, the king, prince and ruler of the world. We cannot change this course of action. So when we get asked the question when will there be an agreement with Rome, my answer is simple: when Rome recrowns “Our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot agree with those who uncrown Our Lord. The day they recognize again our Lord King of peoples and nations, it is not us who shall have rejoined them , but they who come back to the Catholic Church in which we live. ”
+ Marcel Lefebvre, Flavignv, December 1988
My mama always said, “YOU CAN’T POLISH RAT TURD.”
Even in the book of Genises there were two sacrifices to God. Cain offered the work of human hands.
“the bitter reality [is] that the bastard rite of Paul VI is deficient in itself.”
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Who knows where the ‘pig on lipstick’ saying came from?
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Answer: casting “…pearls before swine…”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtxpuOeAYo (a real Catholic disputation against laymen calling the remnant of Catholic Priests ‘inhumane’)…..
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Kyrie Eleison
Another shade of lipstick is called “English Mass”. In some diocesan parishes one may go to the “Latin Mass”… or the “English Mass”. Isn’t that nice? It is their marketing ploy. As if to say that the real Mass is just a Latin language version of the Freemason approved Prot service. By saying “English Mass”, the destroyers hope to color things over. They want to make the gullible Catholic think that one is just the same as the other…except for the language used. But apples and oranges cannot be compared. Only one is Catholic. Only one does what Christ intended. Only one expiates sins, comforts souls in Purgatory and makes reparation to God for the daily sins of the world. Only one keeps the world in existance by this reparation. The other is of the Devil and calls down God’s wrath.
One need only Compare The Confiteor of The Novus Ordo with The Confiteor Of The Lutherans & Anglicans(Episcopalians) and, note the lack of Intercessions, such as Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, St. Michael The Archangel, St. John The Baptist & the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul, which is so part of The Tridentine Latin Mass. The Novus Ordo Version of The Confiteor, like the Lutheran & Anglican Version, is Humanistic without the Intercessions of The Saints being named, though there is ONE Intercession of Blessed Mary Ever Virgin in the NO Confiteor. But the NO CONFITEOR is but one of THREE Options.
Being one who not only goes to the TLM, but to the Byzantine Rite Catholic Divine Liturgies, a set of Liturgies from where the Author of The Novus Ordo, added from, at The Offertory, the Procession with The Bread & Wine to the Priest is just a cheap imitation of “The Great Entrance” of The Priest from The Sacristy, through the Royal Doors to the Altar & Sanctuary. It is an Offertory where the Priest is NOT offering to God The Father for the Expiation of The Priest’s own sins & of The Sins of The Living & Dead. It is a mere offering & and a Preparation, essentially what Protestants do.
Using a Narrative instead of The Actual Words by use of Multiple Anaphorae, insures that Protestants will not be offended in regards to The Consecration of The Bread & Wine.
In Regards to the “Our Father”, Protestants recite “For The Kingdom, The Power & The Glory Are Yours, Now & Forever” at the end of The Prayer. Key element is missing in what we call Doxology, which like Protestants, is recited or sung. This is a chant from a New Testament Codex from St. John Chrysostom, which is sung by The Priest. Protestants believe, not in The Sacred, Sacrificial Priesthood of Jesus Christ, but in The Priesthood of All Believers with the Minister acting as Delegate of The Assembly.
The Actual Chant is “For Thine is The Kingdom, The Power & The Glory, Father, Son & Holy Spirit, Now & Ever & Forever”, and is chanted Twice in The Divine Liturgies, by The Priest. So by our reciting or singing the Doxology & leaving out the Sign of The Cross from it in the Novus Ordo Mass & in Protestant Services, this reinforces the Protestant Belief in The Priesthood of All Believers.
Communion A Mano actually goes back to both Luther & Cranmer, a practice introduced by Protestant Revolutionary Martin Bucer, an Apostate Dominican Catholic Priest. Bucer also wrote the Rite Of Holy Orders for both Lutheranism & Anglicanism, which denies The Priest or Minister, the Power to offer the Holy Sacrifice Of The Mass. Bucer considered the Bread & Wine to be merely symbolic of the Last Supper.
It was in the US, that Communion In the Hand, passed by Fraud & Disobedience of The Holy See, came into being, leading to a low level of belief in the Corporeal Real Presence of Christ, under the APPEARANCE of Bread & Wine. Catechisis has been horrifically inadequate in regards to learning the Doctrines & Disciplines of The Church.
Standing for Holy Communion, A Practice of Eastern Orthodoxy & Catholicism, where Intinction of the Body & Blood is practiced and only Priests, Bishops & Deacons may touch the Sacred Vessels, sadly has become as if a Protestant Lord’s Supper Line, as if one was going up for Hor D’ouvres.
The MADNESS Must Stop. The Novus Ordo must be ended NOW. It is as if we have NO CATHOLIC IDENTITY.
Thanks for that quote from Archbishop Lefebvre. God bless him, he had a very clear way of putting out Catholic truth.
Novus Ordo Catholic identity
7:30 pm Wednesday 3/2/16
Freezingly cold winter’s night
Church of the Good Shepherd
30 parishioners
Sacred Scripture
Homily on first reading…Samuel 24
King David choosing option of three days of punishment , hoping for mercy of God…contrasted with Our Blessed Lord being three days in the tomb
Then receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Blessed Lord Himself
Then prayerful recollection
Then the blessing of St Blaise…
“Through the intercession of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit”
Catholic Identity…
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20
Fr. Cekada exposed for the bitter fool he is:
http://www.trueorfalsepope.com/p/sedevacantist-watch.html
At this point, you should be ashamed of yourself for continuing to promote this garbage.
Hi Louie,
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Some say you’re getting “too bitter”. The fact (which those who understand can see) is that you are calling things as they are, with any emotion read-in (most likely – it’s not like a little bit isn’t appropriate).
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Indeed, these paltry, limp-wristed efforts at “implementing Vatican II properly” and similar such nonsense serve only to illuminate how empty and un-Catholic is the entire New Orientation, starting with its bastardized, Protestantized, effeminate liturgy, which continues to stand as a horrifying affront to the God Who offers Himself as the immolated Victim within it nonetheless.
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God bless you, my friend.
I agree that the Bishop ought to scrap the Novus Ordo altogether, but you and I know that isn’t going to happen right now. If I am understanding you right, it seems that you think it would have been better if the Bishop didn’t do anything about heretical hymns and bad music. I get the feeling that you would agree that since the Novus Ordo is a wreck to begin with, the more chaotic, blasphemous, and heretical, it gets, the better!
I must disagree. There are many Novus Ordo Catholics working out their salvation in spite of the Novus Ordo. Giving them music that helps them lift their hearts and minds to God -music that gives them a little taste of what true worship ought to look like, is beneficial to their souls. I love you Louie, but I think this Bishop is taking a step, however small it may be, in the right direction, and for that I am grateful.
What the bishop should do is reject the vatican 2 church in its entirety. However, like basically every vatican 2 bishop, he is likely a careerist whose main priority is certainly not doing whatever it takes to help save souls and make sure the priests in his charge are doing the same.
There is a reason why the sayings “the road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops” or “the road to hell is paved with the bones of erring priests, with the skulls of bishops as their signposts” came into being. To think that these 21st century bishops have it SOOO tough, when we know the stories of the martyrs…who actually DID have it tough, is a bit weak.
These nice little gestures arent getting anyone to Heaven or getting the truth to ignorant Catholics. Now, of course those ignorant Catholics will be responsible for not learning their Faith….but the ones in charge of teaching them will also be responsible.
His syllogisms are irrefutable. The only way to refute his conclusions is to refute his premises. Thus talking about the craziness about sedevacantism or engaging in ad hominem are all that R&R men have. It’s already clear that they selectively quote Bellarmine to make him say the opposite of what he did. The evidence is out there for all to read.
I agree totally with you Louie, when are the few bishops going to start straight talking! What have they to fear? They are not going to be put into the Lion’s den. Pope Francis needs to be called out in plain language the damage he has done and remains to do so in the Church alongside other dissident Cardinals, Priests etc.
Meanwhile numerous souls are going to hell for want of true knowledge – The Holy Catholic Church.
Keep up the good work,
Yours in Christ,
Jacinta.
It’s pretty astounding anyone could be under such impressions at this point. If there’s one thing Fr. Cekada demonstrates well and repeatedly, it’s that sedevacantism is based on emotion.
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Basic logic tells one pretty readily that the Church can’t possibly work the way he says it does, with every Catholic expected to use his own judgement to depose prelates. But we don’t even need that, since the Church has ruled on that exact question, anathematizing anyone who would dare to personally declare a bishop deposed.
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Bellermine said the same thing, which is entirely obvious when he is *not* quoted selectively.
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Have you read the new book? Or did you start fuming against it as soon as you heard about it as did Cekada and his ilk?
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Keep seeking the truth, and use your intellect instead of your emotions.
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Here’s a good exposition of what Bellarmine *actually* taught, when it comes right down to the actual, specific questions:
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http://www.trueorfalsepope.com/p/sedevacantist-watch-sperayscatholicism.html
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One quote: “No bishop can be shown to have either been deposed or excommunicated by the people, although many are found who were deposed and excommunicated by the Supreme Pontiffs and general Councils. Certainly, Nestorius was deposed from the episcopacy of Constantinople by the Council of Ephesus [A.D. 431], from the mandate of Pope Celestine, as Evagrius witnessed.”
Excellent! You quote St. John Chrysostom quite well.
If anyone is using such personal slurs against Mr Verrechio, it’s probably because he is nagging their conscience. We are living through a most horrific time, this unimaginably evil time, with a great many Church leaders colluding with enemies of God from outside the Church to create more and more sin and moral evil in the world. Those who speak the truth in this time of the Great Apostasy are attacked for refusing to at least silently go along with the destruction of Faith and morals. Even with all the prophesy we have been given, it is hard to comprehend the extremity and pervasiveness of evil and the general tacit complicity to allow it continue without opposition. Thanks to Mr Verrechio and all who keep true to the UNCHANGEABLE Faith without fear or favour. May God strengthen and console them and all of us. We need to support and help each other.