Sunday Musings: What Could Have Been

St. Peter's in Steubenville, OH

We attended Mass this morning at St. Peter's in Steubenville, Ohio near Franciscan University. Our granddaughter met us there with a friend. We arrived 25 minutes early and the church was already filling up: students, families with young children, older parents and grandparents, all ages. According to our granddaughter's friend, the dad of the young family in front of us (with four children including a nursing baby) was one of his professors at Franciscan. I confess to being distracted by the little one who responded to my winks and blinks with huge smiles. I'm a baby whisperer.

Vatican Press Office Disses Cardinal Sarah

Holiness, did you hear what Cardinal Sarah said? And it
wasn't even off the cuff! We need to correct it immediately!

Are We Surprised?

Alert from Fr. Lombardi: Cardinal Sarah didn't know what he was saying!

Ah well, I was surprised when Cardinal Sarah said it. I had hoped it indicated that the Holy Father actually approved of ad orientem worship -- you know -- like Benedict requiring those who received Communion from to kneel and receive on the tongue.

We can always depend on the Vatican Press Office to champion the left. Let's hope many ignore Fr. Lombardi and listen to Cardinal Sarah instead. I, for one, have had enough of showmen priests and their one-man comedy acts.

Look East! Jesus is Coming.

Cardinal Sarah asks priests to start celebrating Mass facing east this Advent
The sun rises in the east. Every morning the sun reminds us that the Son of God will return. And so, in the liturgical tradition we always faced east (or at least liturgical east) until the madhouse after Vatican II when liturgical traditions were flung out the window in favor of clown and polka Masses and liturgical disorientation.

This One Liturgical Practice Would Make a Huge Difference in Reverence...

Shepherds lead the flock to heaven's door ad orientem.

...and it would be celebrating Mass in the ordinary form as it was ALWAYS meant to be!

Vatican liturgy chief urges priests to celebrate Mass facing east

"In an interview with the French Catholic magazine Famille Chrétienne, Cardinal Robert Sarah said that the Second Vatican Council did not require priests to celebrate Mass facing the people. 

"This way of celebrating Mass, he said, was 'a possibility, but not an obligation'.
Readers and listeners should face each other during the Liturgy of the Word, he said. 

Makes Me Want to Move to Nebraska - Thank You, Bishop Conley!

Lincoln Diocese to Offer Mass ad orientem at the cathedral during Lent

Read Bishop Conley's Column Here's just a bit:

Since ancient times, Christians have faced the east during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to remember to keep watch for Christ. Together, the priest and the people faced the east, waiting and watching for Christ. Even in Churches that did not face the east, the priest and people stood together in the Mass, gazing at Christ on the crucifix, on the altar, and in the tabernacle, to recall the importance of watching for his return. The symbolism of the priest and people facing ad orientem—to the east—is an ancient reminder of the coming of Christ.

Send Bishop Conley an email saying thank you. Or you can post a comment on the article.