On Sunday, God willing, I will be at Solemn Vespers and Benediction for the Patronal Festival at Holy Family, Toronto Oratory. Here is what the bulletin promises:
Office Hymn (p. 20): Of the Father’s love begotten
Ps. 110 (p. 33) (Antiphon): Thine is princely rule in the day of
thy power in holy splendour. From the womb before the daystar
have I begotten thee.
Ps. 114/115 (p. 39) (Antiphon): Light is arisen in darkness
unto the righteous of heart; the Lord hath sent deliverance to his
people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever.
Apocalypse Canticle (p. 43) (Tone VI & R. K. Marlow after
Tallis, O nata lux de lumine, 1575) Light hath shined upon us,
for on this day is born a Saviour, alleluia.
Short Responsory: Verbum caro factus est, alleluia. Verbum.
Et habitavit in nobis. Alleluia. Gloria. Verbum. (The Word was
made flesh. Alleluia, alleluia. The Word. And dwelt amongst
us. Alleluia. Glory be. The Word.)
Magnificat (p. 46) (Tone VII with fauxbourdons by P.
Bishop) Tolle puerum et matrem eius, et vade in terram Israel:
defuncti sunt enim, qui quærebant animam pueri. (Take the
child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they
are dead that sought the life of the child.)
Final Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Orlandus Lassus)
Organ: Chorale Prelude, “In dir ist Freude” (Orgelbuechlein)
(J. S. Bach)
Friday, December 28, 2007
Extraordinary form (Tridentine/Traditional Latin) Masses in the Archdiocese of Toronto
I intend this to be a definitive list of regular extraordinary form Masses in the city of Toronto. Masses elsewhere in the archdiocese (such as York Region), and those of the SSPX, are excluded without prejudice. Please notify me of any errors or omissions.
Keywords: Indult, Toronto, extraordinary form, Tridentine, traditional Latin Mass, Archdiocese of Toronto, Summorum Pontificum
Sundays
9am Missa Cantata (?) - St Patrick's Church, Schomberg
11.30am Missa Cantata - St Vincent de Paul Church, Toronto Oratory
1pm Missa Cantata - St Theresa Shrine of the Little Flower
Monday to Friday
11.30am Low Mass - Holy Family Church, Toronto Oratory
Saturdays
8.30am Low Mass - Holy Family Church, Toronto Oratory
St Theresa's also has a Low Mass at ten-thirty on First Saturdays, preceded by the Rosary at ten o'clock.
NB: Holy Family does not have a TLM on Sunday, but is interestingly the only parish in the archdiocese with a Latin Mass according to the ordinary form every Sunday (at eleven o'clock). They are also, as far as I know, the only parish with weekly Solemn Vespers and Benediction (five o'clock on Sundays), which is a bilingual service in the ordinary form.
Links:
*Toronto Oratory
*St Theresa's Parish
Keywords: Indult, Toronto, extraordinary form, Tridentine, traditional Latin Mass, Archdiocese of Toronto, Summorum Pontificum
Sundays
9am Missa Cantata (?) - St Patrick's Church, Schomberg
11.30am Missa Cantata - St Vincent de Paul Church, Toronto Oratory
1pm Missa Cantata - St Theresa Shrine of the Little Flower
Monday to Friday
11.30am Low Mass - Holy Family Church, Toronto Oratory
Saturdays
8.30am Low Mass - Holy Family Church, Toronto Oratory
St Theresa's also has a Low Mass at ten-thirty on First Saturdays, preceded by the Rosary at ten o'clock.
NB: Holy Family does not have a TLM on Sunday, but is interestingly the only parish in the archdiocese with a Latin Mass according to the ordinary form every Sunday (at eleven o'clock). They are also, as far as I know, the only parish with weekly Solemn Vespers and Benediction (five o'clock on Sundays), which is a bilingual service in the ordinary form.
Links:
*Toronto Oratory
*St Theresa's Parish
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas Day
High Mass of the Day at St Thomas's, Huron Street. Setting: Missa "Corde natus ex parentis" (Willan) (except Gloria and Credo, de Angelis, and Lord's Prayer, Merbecke).
Entrance Hymn: "O come, all ye faithful"
Sequence: "From east to west" (Christe redemptor)
Offertory: "O little town of Bethlehem" (Forest Green)
During Communion: "Angels from the realms of Glory" (to a tune called Larkin, the first time I have heard it song to anything other than Regent's Square, even though the leaflet indicated that it was sung to the latter at 9.30).
Recessional: "Hark, the herald angels sing"
There was a station at the Crèche afterwards.
Entrance Hymn: "O come, all ye faithful"
Sequence: "From east to west" (Christe redemptor)
Offertory: "O little town of Bethlehem" (Forest Green)
During Communion: "Angels from the realms of Glory" (to a tune called Larkin, the first time I have heard it song to anything other than Regent's Square, even though the leaflet indicated that it was sung to the latter at 9.30).
Recessional: "Hark, the herald angels sing"
There was a station at the Crèche afterwards.
Midnight Mass
Choral Eucharist for Christmas at the Church of the Nearest Sunday, at eleven o'clock at night. The Mass was preceded at ten-thirty by Christmas carols.
Hymn: "While shepherds watched" (Winchester Old)
Choir: I sing the birth (Michael Praetorius arr Philip Moore)
Hymn: "In the bleak mid-winter" (Cranham)
Choir: Wexford Carol (arr. John Rutter)
Hymn: "O little town of Bethlehem" (Forest Green)
Choir Wassail Carol (William Mathias)
Hymn: "See amid the winter's snow" (See amid the winter's snow)
Pontifical Eucharist followed. After "O come all ye faithful" and the lighting of the Christ candle was sung Joy to the world. The retired archbishop who was celebrating did so, bizarrely, in a cope. Ironically, earlier in the day, I was speaking on the phone to an Apprentice who told me that his parish priest would be celebrating Midnight Mass in a cope and told him it would never happen in Canada! The deacon wore cassock-alb and stole and the subdeacon wore cassock and surplice.
The setting was Missa Brevis (Piccolomini-messe) by Mozart, and even the Gloria was sung by the choir to this setting. The crèche, sadly, was not blessed.
"Good Christians all, rejoice" (In dulci jubilo) was the gradual hymn. There was no confession and absolution. The Lord's Prayer, at least, was sung congregationally to Merbecke. At the Fraction, and Invitation to Communion from the New Zealand Prayer Book, based on the Prayer Book words of administration, was said in lieu of the Prayer of Humble Access. Communion hymn (by the choir): "All my heart this night rejoices" (Bonn).
We sang "Silent Night" before the Blessing, which came from Common Worship, then the recessional followed to "Hark, the herald angels sing".
Hymn: "While shepherds watched" (Winchester Old)
Choir: I sing the birth (Michael Praetorius arr Philip Moore)
Hymn: "In the bleak mid-winter" (Cranham)
Choir: Wexford Carol (arr. John Rutter)
Hymn: "O little town of Bethlehem" (Forest Green)
Choir Wassail Carol (William Mathias)
Hymn: "See amid the winter's snow" (See amid the winter's snow)
Pontifical Eucharist followed. After "O come all ye faithful" and the lighting of the Christ candle was sung Joy to the world. The retired archbishop who was celebrating did so, bizarrely, in a cope. Ironically, earlier in the day, I was speaking on the phone to an Apprentice who told me that his parish priest would be celebrating Midnight Mass in a cope and told him it would never happen in Canada! The deacon wore cassock-alb and stole and the subdeacon wore cassock and surplice.
The setting was Missa Brevis (Piccolomini-messe) by Mozart, and even the Gloria was sung by the choir to this setting. The crèche, sadly, was not blessed.
"Good Christians all, rejoice" (In dulci jubilo) was the gradual hymn. There was no confession and absolution. The Lord's Prayer, at least, was sung congregationally to Merbecke. At the Fraction, and Invitation to Communion from the New Zealand Prayer Book, based on the Prayer Book words of administration, was said in lieu of the Prayer of Humble Access. Communion hymn (by the choir): "All my heart this night rejoices" (Bonn).
We sang "Silent Night" before the Blessing, which came from Common Worship, then the recessional followed to "Hark, the herald angels sing".
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Fast living
I've been up since five o'clock this morning. It's always nice when I get up before 8 on a Sunday morning, not only because I then have ample time to prepare for my Communion, but also because I can eat breakfast, since I typically attend Mass at eleven, and observe the three-hour fast before Mass.
In this time of Advent, when we are trying to dodge the commercialism of the season and engage with solemnity in the coming of Christ (even if not in the same penitential manner as in Lent), it's particularly appropriate to think of our disciplines. Here is what the Saint Augustine Prayer Book, by the Order of the Holy Cross, has to say about the Eucharistic fast.
The fast before Communion is not primarily an act of penance, but one of homage to our Lord, in order to receive the Blessed Sacrament as the first food of the day. It is normally a strict fast from both food and drink from midnight. At the Midnight Mass of Christmas it is natural and reverent, though not of obligation, to fast for some hours beforehand. No fast before Communion is required of those in danger of death. (And this is held to justify some relaxation in the case of those on active duty in the armed forces, for whom the fast from midnight may, if necessary, be replaced, according to widespread practice, by one of two to four hours, under the authority of Chaplains or others ministering to those involved.) Liquid food may be allowed to those seriously ill, or to those bed-ridden for over a month, but in such cases, no one should presume to "dispense himself," for the Priest who dispenses the Sacrament is the guardian of the Church's requirements, from whom a formal dispensation should ordinarily be sought.
Since the eucharistic fast is not penitential, it is not understood to prohibit smoking. However, common sense and good manners ought to regulate those things which do not fall within the formal regulations of the Church, such as smoking, the use of lipstick, propriety of dress, and personal cleanliness.
There is no law of the Catholic Church as to what hours of the day or night the Eucharist is to be celebrated. The law concerns only the fast before Communion, and thus the hour for celebration must be set according to the ability of the Celebrant and Communicants to fast from midnight previous to reception. Hence there is no justification for celebrating the Eucharist in the afternoon or evening, except those unusual circumstances indicated above, which may, by permission from the proper superior authority, excuse from the normal observance of the fast, namely, imminence of death or danger thereof, or absolute impossibility of normal reception of the Holy Communion.
In this time of Advent, when we are trying to dodge the commercialism of the season and engage with solemnity in the coming of Christ (even if not in the same penitential manner as in Lent), it's particularly appropriate to think of our disciplines. Here is what the Saint Augustine Prayer Book, by the Order of the Holy Cross, has to say about the Eucharistic fast.
The fast before Communion is not primarily an act of penance, but one of homage to our Lord, in order to receive the Blessed Sacrament as the first food of the day. It is normally a strict fast from both food and drink from midnight. At the Midnight Mass of Christmas it is natural and reverent, though not of obligation, to fast for some hours beforehand. No fast before Communion is required of those in danger of death. (And this is held to justify some relaxation in the case of those on active duty in the armed forces, for whom the fast from midnight may, if necessary, be replaced, according to widespread practice, by one of two to four hours, under the authority of Chaplains or others ministering to those involved.) Liquid food may be allowed to those seriously ill, or to those bed-ridden for over a month, but in such cases, no one should presume to "dispense himself," for the Priest who dispenses the Sacrament is the guardian of the Church's requirements, from whom a formal dispensation should ordinarily be sought.
Since the eucharistic fast is not penitential, it is not understood to prohibit smoking. However, common sense and good manners ought to regulate those things which do not fall within the formal regulations of the Church, such as smoking, the use of lipstick, propriety of dress, and personal cleanliness.
There is no law of the Catholic Church as to what hours of the day or night the Eucharist is to be celebrated. The law concerns only the fast before Communion, and thus the hour for celebration must be set according to the ability of the Celebrant and Communicants to fast from midnight previous to reception. Hence there is no justification for celebrating the Eucharist in the afternoon or evening, except those unusual circumstances indicated above, which may, by permission from the proper superior authority, excuse from the normal observance of the fast, namely, imminence of death or danger thereof, or absolute impossibility of normal reception of the Holy Communion.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Upcoming liturgical events
Here's what I'm up to in the near future:
December 24 (Christmas Eve) - Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nearest Sunday
December 25 (Christmas Day) - High Mass of the Day at St Thomas's, Huron Street
December 30 - High Mass at the Cathedral Church of St James
December 31 (New Year's Eve) - Sung Mass at St Matthias, Bellwoods
January 7 (Julian Christmas) - Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church
January 13 (Baptism of Christ) - Sung Latin Mass (Ordinary form) at Holy Family, King Street, Toronto Oratory; Sung Eucharist and Ordination of Priests at the Church of the Redeemer
February 2 (Purification of the BVM) - Sung Eucharist and Ordination to the Episcopate at the Cathedral
February 6 (Ash Wednesday) - Choral Eucharist at the Church of the Nearest Sunday
February 10 - Choral Mattins at St Olave's, Swansea
February 17 - Sung Eucharist and Ordination to the Priesthood at St John's Convent
December 24 (Christmas Eve) - Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nearest Sunday
December 25 (Christmas Day) - High Mass of the Day at St Thomas's, Huron Street
December 30 - High Mass at the Cathedral Church of St James
December 31 (New Year's Eve) - Sung Mass at St Matthias, Bellwoods
January 7 (Julian Christmas) - Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church
January 13 (Baptism of Christ) - Sung Latin Mass (Ordinary form) at Holy Family, King Street, Toronto Oratory; Sung Eucharist and Ordination of Priests at the Church of the Redeemer
February 2 (Purification of the BVM) - Sung Eucharist and Ordination to the Episcopate at the Cathedral
February 6 (Ash Wednesday) - Choral Eucharist at the Church of the Nearest Sunday
February 10 - Choral Mattins at St Olave's, Swansea
February 17 - Sung Eucharist and Ordination to the Priesthood at St John's Convent
Gaudete Sunday
Below is my report on Gaudete Sunday, one of this blog's two patronal festivals, as posted on Ship of Fools. Sadly, due to the snow storm, I was unable to make it to the Church of St Mary Magdalene for their Solemn Evensong, Advent Carols, and Benediction (pdf warning, and the last two pages are strangely distorted). To add insult to injury, I won't be able to make it next month either because I will be at an Ordination Mass.
***
Gaudete Sunday at St Thomas's, Huron Street.
The Sacred Ministers were vested in what one of the priests of the parish described to me as "a violet set that passes for rose." It's too difficult to second-guess whether I would have caught on had I not been told this. The frontal and the amices of the other ministers of the sanctuary were purple, as were all but one of the stoles of the priests sitting in choir.
The Mass setting was Missa XI: Orbis Factor.
The choir sang the Introit ("Gaudete...") in Mode I during the entrance and there was quite a respectable quantity of smoke.
Sequence: "Creator of the starry height" (Conditor Alme Siderum). Creed to Merbecke (I believe this is an Advent/Lenten exception to the usual rule of De Angelis). Offertory hymn: "Lo! from the desert homes" (Crofts 136th). Motet: "Canite tuba" (Palestrina). Communion hymn: "The Lord will come and not be slow" (Old 107th). After Communion, "King of Love, O Christ, we crown thee" (Hermon, of course). The prelude and postlude (by Bach) were both entitled "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland."
***
Gaudete Sunday at St Thomas's, Huron Street.
The Sacred Ministers were vested in what one of the priests of the parish described to me as "a violet set that passes for rose." It's too difficult to second-guess whether I would have caught on had I not been told this. The frontal and the amices of the other ministers of the sanctuary were purple, as were all but one of the stoles of the priests sitting in choir.
The Mass setting was Missa XI: Orbis Factor.
The choir sang the Introit ("Gaudete...") in Mode I during the entrance and there was quite a respectable quantity of smoke.
Sequence: "Creator of the starry height" (Conditor Alme Siderum). Creed to Merbecke (I believe this is an Advent/Lenten exception to the usual rule of De Angelis). Offertory hymn: "Lo! from the desert homes" (Crofts 136th). Motet: "Canite tuba" (Palestrina). Communion hymn: "The Lord will come and not be slow" (Old 107th). After Communion, "King of Love, O Christ, we crown thee" (Hermon, of course). The prelude and postlude (by Bach) were both entitled "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland."
My belated report on the Conception of Our Lady
Procession and High Mass at the Church of St Mary Magdalene. The Mass was Cum iubilo. Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, and Communion verses from the traditional Roman Rite sung to Plainsong.
Hymns:
At the Procession: "Ye who own the faith of Jesus" (Den des Vaters sinn geboren)
Sequence: The Lord whom earth and sea and sky (Puer nobis nascitur)
Offertory: Sing we of the blessed Mother (Abbot's Leigh)
Advent Prose
Her Virgin eyes saw God incarnate born (Farley Castle)
The celebrant preached an interesting homily on S. Joseph.
Having made my Communion, I proceeded to Holy Family, King Street, one of the two Oratorian parishes. They had had a "Sung Latin Novus Ordo Mass" at the same time as SMM's do. I missed the Mass, the first lecture, and the Angelus. I got to participate in the Litany of Loreto and the second lecture. Then the MBS was exposed and we said the Rosary with meditations on the Joyful Mysteries and with hymns (though no Creed or Salve Regina).
I was a bit miffed that no texts were provided, nor were the hymns announced. I'm pretty sure the Magnificat (for the Visitation) and the Nunc Dimittis (for the Presentation/Purification) were sung, but I don't know the Latin texts by heart, and could only join in for the Gloria Patri. We did however sing "O come all ye faithful." Of that much I am certain.
Benediction brought further mystery hymns. The O Salutaris (in Latin) was sung to the tune of "New every morning is the love" (Melcombe, Oremus tells me). The Tantum Ergo (ditto) was sung to Pange Lingua. These were fortunately in the Adoremus Hymnals in the pews, along with "Holy God, we praise thy name" (Grosser Gott), but not, unfortunately, the psalm and antiphon (again, Latin) sung during the repose of the sacrament.
Hymns:
At the Procession: "Ye who own the faith of Jesus" (Den des Vaters sinn geboren)
Sequence: The Lord whom earth and sea and sky (Puer nobis nascitur)
Offertory: Sing we of the blessed Mother (Abbot's Leigh)
Advent Prose
Her Virgin eyes saw God incarnate born (Farley Castle)
The celebrant preached an interesting homily on S. Joseph.
Having made my Communion, I proceeded to Holy Family, King Street, one of the two Oratorian parishes. They had had a "Sung Latin Novus Ordo Mass" at the same time as SMM's do. I missed the Mass, the first lecture, and the Angelus. I got to participate in the Litany of Loreto and the second lecture. Then the MBS was exposed and we said the Rosary with meditations on the Joyful Mysteries and with hymns (though no Creed or Salve Regina).
I was a bit miffed that no texts were provided, nor were the hymns announced. I'm pretty sure the Magnificat (for the Visitation) and the Nunc Dimittis (for the Presentation/Purification) were sung, but I don't know the Latin texts by heart, and could only join in for the Gloria Patri. We did however sing "O come all ye faithful." Of that much I am certain.
Benediction brought further mystery hymns. The O Salutaris (in Latin) was sung to the tune of "New every morning is the love" (Melcombe, Oremus tells me). The Tantum Ergo (ditto) was sung to Pange Lingua. These were fortunately in the Adoremus Hymnals in the pews, along with "Holy God, we praise thy name" (Grosser Gott), but not, unfortunately, the psalm and antiphon (again, Latin) sung during the repose of the sacrament.
Christmas at S. Clement's
(Courtesy of Magic Wand at Ship of Fools)
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24
11:00 a.m. - Prime and the Christmas Martyrology, Terce, Sext, and None
12:10 p.m. - Low Mass of the Vigil
12:45 p.m. - First Vespers of Christmas and Compline
9:45 p.m. - Matins and Veneration of the Bambino
12:00 midnight - Procession, Blessing of the Crib, and Solemn Mass
1:30 a.m. - Lauds
Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25
8:00 a.m. - Low Mass
9:30 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:30 a.m. - The Devotion of the Steps of the Infant Jesus
11:00 a.m. - Solemn Mass and Veneration of the Relic of the Crib
12:30 p.m. - Vespers
Eve of S. Thomas of Canterbury
Friday, December 28
5:30 p.m. - First Vespers of S. Thomas and Compline
6:00 p.m. - Matins and Lauds
S. Thomas of Canterbury, Patron of the College of Beneficiaries
Saturday, December 29
9:00 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:00 a.m. - Sung Mass and Veneration of the Relic of S. Thomas
12:00 noon - Vespers
Sunday within the Octave
Sunday, December 30
8:00 a.m. - Low Mass
10:00 a.m. - Prime and Terce
10:30 a.m. - Rosary
11:00 a.m. - Solemn Mass and Te Deum
3:00 p.m. - Sext and None
4:00 p.m. - Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Circumcision of Our Lord
Tuesday, January 1
9:30 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:30 a.m. - Rosary
11:00 a.m. - Veni Creator and Solemn Mass
12:30 p.m. - Vespers
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24
11:00 a.m. - Prime and the Christmas Martyrology, Terce, Sext, and None
12:10 p.m. - Low Mass of the Vigil
12:45 p.m. - First Vespers of Christmas and Compline
9:45 p.m. - Matins and Veneration of the Bambino
12:00 midnight - Procession, Blessing of the Crib, and Solemn Mass
1:30 a.m. - Lauds
Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25
8:00 a.m. - Low Mass
9:30 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:30 a.m. - The Devotion of the Steps of the Infant Jesus
11:00 a.m. - Solemn Mass and Veneration of the Relic of the Crib
12:30 p.m. - Vespers
Eve of S. Thomas of Canterbury
Friday, December 28
5:30 p.m. - First Vespers of S. Thomas and Compline
6:00 p.m. - Matins and Lauds
S. Thomas of Canterbury, Patron of the College of Beneficiaries
Saturday, December 29
9:00 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:00 a.m. - Sung Mass and Veneration of the Relic of S. Thomas
12:00 noon - Vespers
Sunday within the Octave
Sunday, December 30
8:00 a.m. - Low Mass
10:00 a.m. - Prime and Terce
10:30 a.m. - Rosary
11:00 a.m. - Solemn Mass and Te Deum
3:00 p.m. - Sext and None
4:00 p.m. - Solemn Vespers and Benediction
Circumcision of Our Lord
Tuesday, January 1
9:30 a.m. - Prime, Terce, Sext, and None
10:30 a.m. - Rosary
11:00 a.m. - Veni Creator and Solemn Mass
12:30 p.m. - Vespers
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Howlers from the Niagara Anglican
Two points from the January 2008 Niagara Anglican (in pdf here)
Eleanor Johnston, from St Thomas's, St Catharines, writes of an experience hearing Bishop Don Harvey preach at the cathedral in St John's: 'The sermon, by Bishop Harvey, was the most narrow-minded and hostile we had ever heard, both in terms of his tone of voice and the content of his message. He ranted at us about the sin of believing in modern theology. One line in particular I remember: "If you do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, you do not belong in this church!" We sat there, stunned.'
I mean, how could he? Doesn't he know that that could offend some people's theological sensibilities? Jesus doesn't really care if you believe his word or his Church as long as you're really nice to your neighbour, right?
Likewise, the Very Rev. Peter Wall, Rector of Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Niagara, chides us for not being accommodating enough of, erm, non-Christian Christians.
"Inclusive worship should also be a hallmark of our parishes and communities. Inclusive of different approaches and needs, of different preferences and experiences, of differing views and responses. A member of the Cathedral community said not so long ago to me that he had real trouble with The Holy Trinity—didn't think that he could believe in it, and struggled with the divinity of Christ. He translated that into a sense of unworthiness to celebrate weekly with the gathered community."
Good for the Dean! After all, people who don't believe in Christ's godhead (and thus, one assumes, not in the Eucharist itself) can still be good Christians, right? To think that one shouldn't partake in the sacraments just because one doesn't believe in them is so retro and self-loathing. Who's to say whether they are good Christians? (Maybe the Council of Nicea?)
Eleanor Johnston, from St Thomas's, St Catharines, writes of an experience hearing Bishop Don Harvey preach at the cathedral in St John's: 'The sermon, by Bishop Harvey, was the most narrow-minded and hostile we had ever heard, both in terms of his tone of voice and the content of his message. He ranted at us about the sin of believing in modern theology. One line in particular I remember: "If you do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, you do not belong in this church!" We sat there, stunned.'
I mean, how could he? Doesn't he know that that could offend some people's theological sensibilities? Jesus doesn't really care if you believe his word or his Church as long as you're really nice to your neighbour, right?
Likewise, the Very Rev. Peter Wall, Rector of Christ's Church Cathedral and Dean of Niagara, chides us for not being accommodating enough of, erm, non-Christian Christians.
"Inclusive worship should also be a hallmark of our parishes and communities. Inclusive of different approaches and needs, of different preferences and experiences, of differing views and responses. A member of the Cathedral community said not so long ago to me that he had real trouble with The Holy Trinity—didn't think that he could believe in it, and struggled with the divinity of Christ. He translated that into a sense of unworthiness to celebrate weekly with the gathered community."
Good for the Dean! After all, people who don't believe in Christ's godhead (and thus, one assumes, not in the Eucharist itself) can still be good Christians, right? To think that one shouldn't partake in the sacraments just because one doesn't believe in them is so retro and self-loathing. Who's to say whether they are good Christians? (Maybe the Council of Nicea?)
Sundays at S. Clement's
The Sunday schedule at S. Clement's, Philadelphia, my dream parish, of which I am currently enrolling as a Friend.
7.30am Matins
8am Low Mass
10am - 10.45am Confessions
10.30am Most Holy Rosary
11am High Mass and Sermon (English Missal)
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction (Anglican Breviary)
They are gradually posting a video of their High Mass, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction for Corpus Christi. It will soon be available for purchase as a DVD.
7.30am Matins
8am Low Mass
10am - 10.45am Confessions
10.30am Most Holy Rosary
11am High Mass and Sermon (English Missal)
4pm Solemn Vespers and Benediction (Anglican Breviary)
They are gradually posting a video of their High Mass, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction for Corpus Christi. It will soon be available for purchase as a DVD.
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