Archbishop of Glasgow Calls For “New Era of Reverence” – Rediscover Mass…
ARCHBISHOP Tartaglia has issued a clarion call to Catholics everywhere to rediscover the Mass. In a heartfelt message, the Archbishop calls for a new era of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, a deeper appreciation of the Mass and a new effort to encourage the lapsed to come back to Sunday Mass.
The Archbishop’s plea has been circulated to every parish in the diocese. It is a summary of the Church’s teaching on what the Eucharist is, how it should be received and why it needs to be rediscovered. In it he warns against “casual or banal” reception of Holy Communion, emphasises the need for care in taking communion in the hand and encourages a new appreciation of silence.
Speaking to Flourish, the Archbishop said: “This is what I long for people to read and understand and act upon. To receive communion is everything. The Eucharist is truly the source and the summit of our Catholic faith and we can never marvel enough at this miracle of God’s love.”
To read the full text of the Archbishop’s message scroll to pages 6 and 11 here.
Comment:
It’s certainly laudable that the Archbishop is seeking to restore reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, calling for “a new era of reverence… a new appreciation of silence [and] a deeper appreciation of the Mass”. Who could argue with those noble words? However, it is certainly questionable whether or not any of these goals are achievable while we see lay people receiving in the hand, and the continued rejection of the traditional Latin Mass in favour of the Novus Ordo Missae.
Shouldn’t the archbishop be pushing a root and branch reform, a restoration of the ancient Mass along with the discipline of receiving Communion on the tongue, kneeling, in the traditional gesture of adoration? Wouldn’t that be more likely to encourage the lapsed to return to Sunday Mass, rather than some noble sounding words which, sorry to say, are likely to be ignored, given that lack of reverence resulting from widespread diminution of belief in the Real Presence is now endemic in Scottish parishes?
Comments (49)
It is all (pardon me) guff. Quite simply.
The Newbishops of Scotland are terrified out of their wits: they see Mass attendance dropping at an alarming, and heretofore unconscionable, rate. Moreover, they know that they, and only they, are to blame.
Leo Cushley has said that by 2020, there will be only 33 diocesan priests in StAnEd and that’s including priests from Poland, India and elsewhere. He is terrified and his colleagues are similarly terrified.
They have a cheek talking about reverence for the Blessed Sacrament: they were the ones who ripped out altar rails, encouraged communion in the hand, demanded that communicants receive under both species, lowered altars to one step above ground level, moved tabernacles away from the focal points of churches, allowed ‘reverent’ bowing to the Blessed Sacrament instead of genuflection, to the point where a Mass can be celebrated without the priest genuflecting at any point. They allowed priests to perform one-handed “elevations”. A Mr Joseph Toal authored the report which encouraged Mass-goers NOT to kneel after the Orate Fratres, but to kneel only for the Canon and NOT to kneel for the final blessing, but to stand.
These spineless, clueless men encourage “communion ministers”, sometimes up to eight (yes!) at a Mass where numbers are dropping by the month.
These men encourage altar girls, the result of which has meant there is no priestly formation on Scottish soil! (On second thoughts, probably a good thing … think Scotus, Chester’s, Drygrange, Gillis, etc.)
They want silence before and during Mass? Not likely when the drums, flutes and guitars are tuning up!
They know there are parishes, dioceses, seminaries and religious orders throughout the world where numbers are on the up, but they turn a blind eye because it would mean a return to something faintly Catholic and that is the last thing they really want, deep down.
They could turn all of the above around with the stroke of a pen, but they don’t have the guts.
They are terrified of losing their jobs by thinking outside of the box and annoying the clowns in the Vatican.
Spineless. Gutless. Cowardly. Should I go on? [NO. STOP RIGHT NOW – ED.]
Sarto2010, while I agree with much of what you say, I would remind you that these en are Princes of the Church and you should show respect for their office by using their title. It is Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia and Bishop (not Mr) Joseph Toal. Referring to them as “newbishops” sounds like something that would be found on that dreadful website Traditio.
Yes, I agree. And it does. And it is a horrible website, but strangely compelling. I have been told off by the headmistress … er, I mean Editor … before, but it is a habit I have developed and find it hard to shake it off. But then … does this hierarchy deserve these titles? Have they merited them? What about Don Jorge Maria, who does not want to be called Pope? Except when it suits him, of course.
Should I address Auld “Call me Ted” McCarrick as Your Eminence?
What about Wee Signorita Coccopalmerio? Your Eminence?
What about “Loadsamoney” Rodrigues de Maradiaga? Your Eminence?
Cupich? Dolan? Mahony? Daneels? I thought not.
[Remove your tongue from your cheek this instant! – Ed.]
Sarto,
Vianney is right – and I can’t believe I didn’t notice your irreverence when I skimmed your post earlier today.
No need to go over the top and say “Your Eminence”, or “Your Grace” etc. I never do that anyway, when (seldom now) I write to a cardinal or bishop. I address them by title and name (Dear Cardinal A, B, or C or Bishop X, Y or Z, and resist the temptation to put inverted commas round “Dear”…)
DO follow one’s example, Sarto2010 IF, that is, you seriously contemplate Sarto2010 reaching the ripe old age of
Sarto2019… 😀
I consider myself well and truly chastised. I think I shall simply stop referring to the (gag) reverend gentlemen.
That way I shall stay out of trouble with the Most Eminent Editrix and will achieve my 2019th birthday.
Sarto,
Now, THERE’s a great idea! Humble Sarto – who’d have thought it? 😀
Where’s your blog Sarto??? It’s gone??? Can you write ??? I don’t know.
La plume de ma tante est dans le jardin.
quod adducendum
Comment deleted – no personal remarks allowed. Read our House Rules.
I’m sorry but I have to make one final comment. I clicked on the hyperlink to Flourish and there, on the first page, is Philip Tartaglia doing one of those “one-handed” elevations! Where do they learn to do that? Who suggested it as a “good idea”? What is the catechesis behind it?
Reverence before the Blessed Sacrament? My eye! Don’t make me laugh!
Clowns. Dolts. Blind “men”. [STOP. – ED]
Sarto2010
Bravo! I totally and completely agree with your every word!
I’m also interested to know where the idea for elevation of Host and Chalice with just one hand came from. It doesn’t look right at all.
Laura, the rubrics of the Novus Ordo clearly states that the priest must use BOTH hands when elevating the Host and then the Chalice but sadly this is just ignored. I watched a Mass once from a Servite Priory in Northern Ireland. At the priest’s Communion he held the Host in one hand and the Chalice in the other then placed the Host in his mouth and then drank from the Chalice as if he was at a cheese and wine party.
Why are you guys over there splitting bears? You get $1 million for this? That will take so the Queen’s not gonna give you her million dollars. Being that I’m a Trump hater I don’t want his either.
Editor: you mustn’t hate Trump – or anyone else for that matter. Grave sin, to hate. The Donald is coming to Scotland when he visits the UK and I only wish I could get to meet him to thank him for saving so many unborn babies’ lives, not to mention giving Mrs Clinton something to think about, and write books about and tell everyone about (now she lost the election and it was everybody else’s fault!)
Wait, come to think of it, doesn’t the priest hold the Host in one hand and the chalice in the other at one point just before Communion, when he says “This is the lamb of God” (Agnus Dei)?
Last week my young daughter was listening to the grown ups lamenting the lack of clerical insight into the causes of lapsation etc. She suddenly piped up: “Can they not SEE that nobody goes to Mass anymore?” Out of the mouth of babes……..
I’m not convinced that a return to the old Mass would completely cure the problem. It’s the whole shabang that’s gone awry! The Archbishop must be in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks that mere words will sort things out. He, along with the rest of the bishops, need to ACT. To do their job as per the job description.
I agree – it’s not just about the Mass although that would be a start.
Why say that? It’s people like you that split liturgical hairs that me me the Florida Yankee want to throw up. Keep splitting hairs, no ones gonna be there soon . To say that is RUDE.
I think Archbishop Tartaglia should lead by example, by restoring the high altar in his cathedral, featuring the tabernacle in its rightful place as the central focal point of the building. He could also ban receiving in the hand and end the practice of lay people giving out communion.
If he does not take any firm action himself, then he is only as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
I laud his aims but there is an element of absurdity here. Imagine someone came to your home, burned it down and then had the gall to lecture you on fire safety. That’s how a Bishop talking about reverence comes across, after decades of communion in the hand and destroying altar rails etc.
I think the Archbishop’s message would be more powerful if it contained an element of humility: he should openly acknowledge that, in recent decades, many Bishops and clergy have directly worked to lower standards and reduce reverence. And that they persevered in this, in the face of much protest from lay people, which was either ignored or arrogantly dismissed.
it is not an effective message simply to identify a problem in isolation, its cause needs to be understood. This is why recognition of the causes is needed. Of course, there are so many, including lack of catechesis and the fact confession has been allowed to slide. No longer is Holy Communion seen as something to be worthy of, but today its just a token understood to indicate the Church’s affirmation of each individual.
Of course, +Tartaglia wont make any changes to the Cathedral layout as that would be a slap in the face to his predecessor who still haunts the archdiocese with his presence. Equally, restoring proper practice for issuing communion would no doubt upset the many lay people who consider their status as “EMHCs” as an indicator of their great importance.
Ultimately without fundamental changes, words alone will have no effect.
Still, even if this comes to nothing – as is likely – at least it seems to indicate the start of an awakening of some kind. And it implicitly acknowledges that the Church has been on the wrong path.
How about a change of heart and loose the rigidity?? Rigidity is rudeness.
“Lose”: verb, transitive; “loose”: adjective. No charge.
Can you read and cook dinner at the same time? No,do you have servants for that over there right
Where do you think I live? Downton Abbey?
We do not have servants! I have a housekeeper who comes in five times a week and a man who does the garden three days a week in summer.
That’s it! No butler, valet, footmen or chambermaids.
This is the 21st century!
Brilliant posts by Gabriel Syme and Sarto2010 (sigh….OK Editor, your comment was brilliant as well….).
Since the Novus Ordo was designed to destroy reverence for the “source and summit” of our Faith, it is an act of sheer lunacy to call for a restoration of reverence through that same destructive liturgy…or, actually, pseudo-liturgy. Like calling for an end to poverty by feeding stones to the poor, or calling for an end to a flu epidemic by giving people more flu.
Are you really so sick, compromised and disoriented, Archbishop Tartaglia, that you cannot see the source of the problem you bemoan? Perhaps you should have a little talk with Father Clovis, or Bishop Schneider, and/or read Open Letter to Confused Catholics. I dare you!
Agreed. To be fair (although being fair sticks in my craw), Philip Tartaglia has recently agreed for Messrs. Burke and Schneider to say Mass in Glasgow, but bemoaning the state of the Church in Scotland is all any of the Newbishops do. Doing anything CatholIc or concrete would be “de trop”.
Sarto,
I can tell you for a fact that neither of those prelates said anything that would irritate any Scots bishop. I wasn’t present on either occasion – the Chairman of Una Voce Scotland (UVS) has made it crystal clear than I am not welcome at any UVS events – but Catholic Truth has “sources” everywhere and I am reliably informed that neither prelate said a word that was worth queuing up to hear.
I heard exactly the same thing, that they said the old Mass and preached homilies that wouldn’t worry any modernist, so what was the point of bringing them to Scotland in the first place?
Nicky,
Perhaps the goal is to make the Traditional Mass as inoffensive as the New Mass….or was that the New-New-New- New Mass, I forget…
RCA Victor,
Tut, tut, TUT – you mean, one takes it, “the new and getting newer by the nano-second New Mass”?
One really MUST be precise, RCA Victor, or one will seriously confuse one’s new Masses…. 😀
Editor,
Precisely!
Latinist that I am, may I suggest Ordo Missae Novissimus?
Or will that also earn a rebuke from The Dear Leader? 😳
Sarto,
Wait till I find out what it means. I WILL be back! 😀
Oh I do have reverence, but it is not superficial reverence that makes everyone WATCH me God people I worship you not a God who loves me more. We bow over here before the Tabernacle because I might need knee surgery one day am I’m gonna have to pay for it thanks to I’m living in the Usa. $$$ Not cheap.
Knees up, Mother Jeanne.
I sincerely hope our Dear Leader doesn’t ban the Great Speller: she is a barrel of laughs. (Translation for Mother Knees-Up: Pleez dun ban Florida wummin, she berral uv laffs. She am gude spellar two. She not rood no way).
Your your point is? Oh,I forgot I didn’t put it into Latin here it is: quod adducendum
Jeanne,
No personal remarks means no personal remarks, not even in Latin! C’mon, behave!
What’s matter you can’t read the Latin?
Editor: as long as Google Translate is up and running and free, I can read Latin…
Beware I give a lot of Latin mass people I love the trouble. If Latin is so good why don’t you speak it every day?
Editor: for the same reason Our Lord didn’t speak Hebrew every day – it’s the language of the liturgy, the official language of the Church. Not intended for a chat over coffee…
Ha ha. Maybe they didn’t tell you in your catechist certificate class that you can’t simply put “jerk” into Google Translate and expect a sensible answer.
Facebook sure I don’t like wet message Masters and most people here in the United States especially in Florida don’t like them either. Our church is over here are booming.
Hey so I made point: why in all the world are you splitting hairs over liturgy?
Lighten up! It’s what happens in your heart and your personal relationship with Christ. Otherwise all externals it sounds very superficial and rude.
Sarto,
What would “jerk” be in Latin – I MUST know… think of the way I could use that in the newsletter? On the other hand, maybe not 😀
How about,
asinus m. (asinī), donkey, ass, mule. Figuratively, it can mean idiot, simpleton.
Or the adjective,
stultus, -a, -um, foolish, unthinking.
Here, I don’t like where this is going …
By the way just because I’m an American doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I have two blessed degrees from Franciscan University. I have a Catechist certificate from the West Coast of Florida here in the United States. And just because my American spelling is not your English spelling, does not mean I’m stupid. The final insult: Disney for three days from US$180 . You can only get that if you’re Florida resident, resident here in United States and have a Florida driver’s license.
Jeanne,
You are right, of course – just because you’re American doesn’t mean you’re stupid – but it does shorten the odds! Kidding! That was really meant to bring a smile to our OTHER American blogger’s face, our beloved RCA Victor.
Nobody thinks you’re stupid, Jeanne, believe me. There’s a fair bit of kidology on this blog, a bit of teasing here, a jovial push there, so please don’t take offence. We’re getting better than usual weather here – the sun has been shining for what seems a century – so it’s probably gone to our heads. We’re not remotely used to sunshine (which is probably why so many Scots head for your neck of the woods, Florida, at holiday time!)
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/59/f7/e9/59f7e9bcb596c0b8d1a592991a00ab27–funny-things-funny-stuff.jpg
I have a Scottish pastor who claims he’s from over your way. He was ordained over there & came over here.
Editor: pass on our sincere sympathy!
Licence.
That card you use when driving!
Sarto,
You are being very naughty! I’m about to release a few more of Jeanne’s posts because, well, the blog’s quiet these days – and who can blame the poor bloggers for choosing sunshine over computers right now, we get so very little sunshine in Scotland. This spell is lasting and lasting… I’m thinking of advertising my umbrella for sale on ebay, wherever that is. I’ve only just found out the whereabouts of Rothesay Bay…
http://i.pinimg.com/236x/c2/d5/47/c2d547aa81244540fbe96f4a7aa0dd7a.jpg
Sarto
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!
WF
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