Preface

Just look at that Pope John XXIII showing all those wimpy priests out there how it's done.

Girl Altar Boys

Roman published a post in the not too distant past in which he posted a couple of quotes I provided him with from the Popes on the matter of female altar severs. In case you are one of those people who wonder what the deal is I can assure you it does not proceed from a biased "sexism." The question is: provided they are all devout and display a sense of decorum what difference does it make if the servers are male or female?

From the outset one must admit as a matter of principle that whether you are male or female can certainly make a differnce in some situations. Otherwise we could have priestesses or sodomite marriage (to choose some obvious cases). It can't be dismissed a priori with a PC wave of the hand. So does it make a difference in the matter of altar service? We've already seen what Gelasius, Benedict XIV and Innocent IV have to say (explicitly in written documents) on that. But what is rationale behind it all?

Here is a well worthwhile link that will explain the matter in much more detail:

http://www.rtforum.org/lt/lt88.html

I think there are some main points that need summarizing or adding to:

1. The importance of place. In the old liturgy when there was no server for the responses a woman was permitted to perform that function if necessary but from outside the sanctuary.

2. Altar service is in potentiality to priesthood. The potency is not always realized but it is directed towards it nevertheless.

3. Altar servers are a priest's "extra arms and legs." What does it say about the priest's own identity when the servers are female?

The particularly good aspect of the above article is the recognition of the distinction between practical arguments for male only servers and substantial ones. It is often argued (not invalidly) that a strong cohort of altar boys will help lead to an increase in priestly vocations. But as the article notes there is a lack of finality with this argument as it still seems to beg the question somewhat.

One point that I don't think the article addresses (not that it needs to given the substantial arguments it puts forth) is altar girls will lead to an increase in religious vocations (i.e nuns). Even if this were true it would not be sufficient in itself given the jarring theology it involves (i.e what is intrinsic in this matter rather than any extrinsic results). And given the decline in altar boy numbers that always results from the introduction of girls any gain in nuns is off set by a loss in priests. Of course, one only need point to the glaringly obvious fact that we now have more altar girls than ever but declining numbers of nuns !! How's that supposed to w0rk out? In any case, such a result is not in the least surprising given the confusion engendered by altar girls. Altar service is quite simply not in potency to the religious life being a kind of "minor seminary" after all.

Liturgy and beauty - Vestments

This post will heard me finally quoting official documents of the Church to make my opinions and suggestions to Priests, Liturgist and concerned Catholics.

“The beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. The memorial of Jesus' redemptive sacrifice contains something of that beauty which Peter, James and John beh

eld when the Master, making his way to Jerusalem, was transfigured before their eyes (cf. Mk 9:2). Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself an

d his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendor.” SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS (Beauty and the liturgy [35]

A very interesting paragraph from the recent exhortation on the Eucharist by the Pope. Basically it re-states and confirms what faithfully Catholics, Liturgist and Priest have been saying ever since the church ventured out of the catacombs, th at the liturgy Must be beautiful!

Beauty in the liturgy can be achieved with the harmonious use of beautiful vestments, reverence, servers and Music.

First off vestments. So often in the church these days, priest, servers and liturgist constantly use ugly vestments or skip on a few important vestments. To ach ieve beauty with albs, use traditional one, with a cinture, amice and cassock underneath.

Take a look at this example. Jerad and myself are wearing a cassock, amice (using it as a hood) alb and cincture. Soft people would complain that it's too hot for all those vestments up here in this climate, well offer it up I say to those people! Now back to the vestments, the base vestment the cassock, it provides a shape, a form and a creates a better effect then someones favorite Pokemon shirt.

****Caution*** The Cassock can only be wore by Males Servers, due to it being clerical Choir dress. If a female server wore one , no matter if with an alb or surplice, it would be a serious crime against the Church, Tradition and show that the person just sees empty ceremonies, with out seeing the theology or belief. ****Caution***

Next comes the amice, basically it covers the collar of the cassock, or when not wearing a cassock prevents a persons T shirts or shirt collar from being seen. The alb is worn over the cassock and or amice, it is the meat of liturgical dress. The alb with the proper vestments underneath looks far better then the new fangled cassock-alb monster most priests and servers wear.

The cassock-alb monster is plain ugly and the only reason that It was invented was so Father Bob could vest quicker , allowed him to not wear a cassock and surplice and allowed him to use altar girls with out them looking like cross dressers.

A traditional alb can easily be decorated with lace (a post on lace is in the works), apparels or can quite stunning by it's self. But an alb must be worn with a cincture others wise it will look like a sack rather then a liturgical garment. The cincture with an alb on it's own or an alb, amice and cassock will a nice dividing effect and prevents the server/priest form tripping over it. Finally the cincture hides the beer gut and I and most priest have.


Let's keep moving, the chasuble and stole. The first ground rule is the stole is worn under the chasuble, for one simple reason, the chasuble represents charity , while the stole represents authority, thus charity covers authority, see simple. Modern chasuble as just too plain and ugly, I recommend throwing most of them out and replacing them with traditional chasubles, such as the ones above (minus the blue one). They look simply stunning with the cassock, amice, alb and cincture combo. Finally a this applies to the deacons out there as well, modern dalmatics do look too plain and ugly use traditional ones!

Your probably siting there thinking do you think parishes are made of money, well no I don't think that at all. On my site a bunch of good vestment makes advertise through ad sense and they make awesome vestments on a budget! Susan maria and luzar vestments are the two best vestment makes I have seen so far, please do go and see their awesome line of vestments!
Finally Queenslander will find this link to an e-bay store most helpful in finding local producers of awesome vestments http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQsassZikoncornerQQhtZ-1

Personal Update

Being in Year 11 in Australia, has granted me the new experience of having exam blocks. To those not familiar with the term, the blocks are a series of exams spread through out a few days. The best thing about it is that I only have to be at school for the exams themselves, which is much to my delight (I get to sleep in on a few days).

Today was my first day of exam block, I had two exams, Ancient History and Maths A. I like to think I failed them both, but I'm sure it's at least a B for both.

Now on to matters of the blog. My co-blogger is now eagerly attending the university of Queensland, much to his delight. Unfortunately that means he was more work, this has sadly forced him to cut down his already scarce posts, but I'm sure that when he gets the time he will give us such an intellectual post that we will not soon forget it. Study hard my dear friend!

Also my loyal reader might have noticed the donation button. I think you all guessed why it's there. That's right I'm after cold hards cash (I live in a single parent family, only a part-time working Father). But fear not this cash, if some are so generous to donate, would go towards Vestments, liturgical Gear, Books, Missals and a wide array of devotionals. Why do I need vestments and liturgical Gear, well let's just say the quality of these are not so high here and a good liturgist (which I hope to be) needs his own supplies as well. Books as well? Yes I'm afraid so, I need to increase my knowledge of the liturgy, the Faith and my vocation. Missals and devotionals? Yes they are needed to enhance my prayer life (I like icons and whatnot!)

Okay now, thats out of the way I can move on to what I can do for you! First off you get to see lovely photos of the "remnant of orthodox Culture in Brisbane and Australia" , I'll continue my so called "photo" posts. You also get my little info bits, such as my recent Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski post. Since my co-blogger is unavailable to post his theology and philosophy posts, I'll attempt to fill his large shoes, with my reading of "The spirit of the liturgy" and "The shorter summa". Finally you also get my humble opinion of a wide variety of matters.

Finally I'd like to request that my readers would leave a few more comments, I quite enjoy hearing what other people are saying. Now a few photos:

Here is my family altar. It's an nice little altar for family prayer (If I get around to asked my Dad to start it)
To wrap it all up here is a photo of my little Altar in room. To explain it a bit, the purple veil chalice is draped over a crucifix and not the blessed sacrament I have altar cards on my altar, not because I celebrate Mock mass or anything like that, I just like the effect they create and also I read them from time to time to learn more closely the Latin of the Tridentine mass. Finally on a crude stand, I have my St Benedict's prayer book, which has Lauds , Vespers and Compline for a 2 weeks that I pray.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

His Eminence Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski was a great Polish Cardinal. His two greatest achievements where the holding back the tide of communist that was ready to spread from Soviet Russia to engulf Europe and the safeguarding of the Holy Tradition of the Church in Poland. Poland being under communist rule at the time, force the Holy See to make the Cardinal effectively the Spiritual dictator of Poland, he held all the ecclesiastical titles, such as nuncio, primate, president of the Episcopal conference of Poland. His status and character demanded the up most obedience of all of Poland’s bishops, thus prevented any wild card bishops, such as Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles.

His is also know as the Fox of Europe for his great work of fighting communism on it’s door step and routing out the infiltration of Free Masonry in the Church.

The Cardinal also begged the Pope for a extremely slow implantation of Vatican 2 in Poland, great change of the liturgy is not good for a country in the state of persecution!

Finally we all know who his Young protégé was and who he became! Karol Józef Wojtyła.

MIRACLE OF THE ROSARY

I just keep finding these awesome videos. Also I never knew Elvis wrote a Marian Song!

Eucharistic Procession at UNL

I stumbled across this video today and it really moved me. To see such a large procession expressing the really presence of Jesus in the blessed sacrament is really and awesome event. I only wish that I could experience these kind of processions more often!

Also the Music is very profound and spiritual. I particularly like the second polyphony in this video.

Latin Mass- Making the best of things

Last year in my annual visit to my previous abode of Wollongong, I hunted down a convenient Latin Mass. The closes I found was on my way back was a Mass celebrated on a Tuesday at 10.00am in St Finbar’s Church, Glenbrook. I was my 3rd Tridentine Mass ever so I sat in the pews, but the server there did an excellent job even though his cassock didn't quite fit.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Fr John Rizzo FSSP that day. Just judging from the way he celebrated the Mass , he truly is a holy priest. As can be seen above, this church was most likely built after V2 and is a prime example of the mutilation of church design and architecture. The church it's self looks like a back alley urban area. The altar is well quite frankly a crude brick fit for the sacrifice of a normal lamb in a pagan ritual, thus not being worthy of the bloodless sacrifice of the lamb of God. If I remember correctly there is a Masonic compass and set square mosaic on the ground in front of the presider's chair, not something in a Catholic Church.

Quite frankly I hate been so negative about the church so let's move on to the plus side. The altar was so easily made compatible with the Tridentine mass. We added the altar cards, a nice missal stand and moved the processional cross to behind the altar and we have a miracle, an altar just barely worthy of the Tridentine Mass. But I can really complain, this appears to be a decent church compared to what's out there. But I did notice something the I am certainly not used to while praying on the cold hard floor, then it hit me, WHERE ARE THE KNEELER'S?

Christ the King, Redhill

Last year for the feast of Christ the King a solemn Mass of Pope Paul the 6th was celebrated at the Chruch of St Briget's at Redhill. I was kindly chosen my Mrs Mongano to over see the servers for the mass, thus causing my to asume the role of MC. My Server team composed of My co-blogger, his brother, my freind eddie and myself. We had no major faults apart from the acolyte candles blowing out at the entrance to the church.

The Mass was properly celebrated by one of my beloved Capucin Priests Fr Merlin who also celebrates the first friday vigil at St Jame's Cooperoo. The ordinary of the mass was chanted by a lose band of people who know how to chant. Overall It was a true expression of the kingship of Chirst. Below are a few photos of the actualy church, due to be being simply stunning. Unfortunatly my star photographer did not bring his camera, thus me not being able to post pictures of the Mass its self.

The Church is amazingly imposing and large due to it's sheer size and the fact that it is on a hill over looking a good part of the city of brisbane.

The entrance is an awsome sight to behold.
The sanctuary is simple gigantic. There are two beautiful side altar still in tact, as well as the high altar being still left in the church. The other good news from a tradtional perspective is that the low altar is very much unnoticiable thus allowing for a mass to be celebrated ad orientem with ease.

All in all this church is spectaular, well worth a vist. I hope that when the latin mass coumminity up here grows too big for our church we get granted the use of this awsome church.

Funny idea

Just last night I was watching an americanised Japanese anime and thought the opening has a very nice song. That got me thinking, if we replace a few words, maybe it can express the idea of the Reform of the Reform, which I fully support and I recommend to those people unfamilar to the term to read the New Liturgical Movment Blog, which is avaible throught the links on this blog. So here is the song:

We look to the past
As we head for the future
To reclaim the Liturgy

With Faith in God
And trust in the Church

We Live by the lessons we have learnt
As we work for one solution
Organic Development

Now use you imagination and come up with a tune.
Also to those willing to find the song transformed
please do and I'll be sure to mention your effort on the
Blog

Dominican Sisters of Mary on the Today Show

Now this would be better then an army of Altar Girls.

Is This the End for Poland

I Almost fainted when I saw this: http://breviarium.blogspot.com/2007/03/nowe-stroje-dla-ministrantek.html
I appears some Diocese in Poland has introduced Altar Girls. This certainly will destroy
most vocations to the Priesthood that come from Altar Boys in Poland.

Altar Girls? Bad? I'm afarid so, Serveral Popes have condemed it

Pope St Gelasius:

We have heard with sorrow of the great contempt [mépris] with which the sacred mysteries have been treated. It has reached the point where women have been encouraged to serve at the altar, and to carry out roles that are not suited to their sex, having been assigned exclusively to those of masculine gender.

Cited in Michel Sinoir, La Question de L'Admission des Femmes au Service de L'Autel, Paris, Pierre Téqui, 1994, p. 28


Benedict XIV, encyclical letter Allatae Sunt:

Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving the priest at the celebration of Mass. Since this abuse had spread to the Greeks, Innocent IV strictly forbade it in his letter to the bishop of Tusculum: "Women should not dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry." We too have forbidden this practice in the same words in Our oft-repeated constitution Etsi Pastoralis, sect. 6, no. 21.


But hasn't the Pope allowed Altar Girls? Well sadly Yes, but just like commuion in the hand , it is
an idult and not the norm! Meaning if there are boys that could do it, then no Altar Girls.

Now what can we do about it? Isn't Poland too far away for us to do anything? Well yes it is, but remember that our prayers have no limit. So my dear reader we need to pray for an end to Altar Girls in Poland and in the world. Pray, Fast and do penance, before it is too late.

Prayer Rope

The above image is that of an Eastern rite prayer rope. It is used similarly to the western roasry. It is similar to the rosary due to it's repition of prayer. The ways it differs are that you say Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei, miserere mei, peccatoris or Lord Jesus son of God have mercy on me a sinner on all it's beads. The large beads count as noraml beads and simply allow you quick count how many time you have said this prayer.

The tassel is use to wipe of the tears of those useing it due the prayers penitential nature, also the penitenital nature of the prayer natural call for the rope to be black.This rope is about 50 beads long, but there many diffrent lengths of the rope, I have even heard of some being 500 beads long.

Eastern Monks constantly pray this rope, causing it to form a sub concious act thus responding to St Paul's exortaion to "Pray without ceasing" Thessalonians 5:17.

Now about me, after being shown a prayer rope by my ukrainian freind and a bit of reading about it, I simply fell in love with it. So getting to the point, does anyone know the best way to obtain one on a budget?

Adore 2007

As some of you know(because i posted about it) in 2006 there was a youth eucharistic congress up here in brisbane called adore 2006 and it was run by the Aliance of the Holy Family Internation an awsome orthodox organistaion.

The awsome thing is that it is on again, this time in Perth!!. I whole heartedly encourge all who can go it to GO! I myself shall travel to Perth for it, so be sure to expect picutre. The below e-mail I recived should give everyone the neccesary details.

Hope to see my faithful Australian readers there!

Ave Maria!

The OATH brothers would like to thank you for your prayers for the intentions of the ADORE 2007 congress in Perth.

The finalized details for the congress are:

ADORE 2007 - Perth
Date: 12 - 15 April, 2007
Cost: $99
Venue: Advent Park
345 Kalamunda Rd, Maida Vale, WA 6057

For those AHFI members helping facilitate the congress and arriving early, there is a nearby convent which will allow free accommodation from the 16-18th April.
Please notify the OATH brothers if there are some who wish to be accommodated here.
Thankyou & God Bless

One in their Hearts,

- Br. Dominic Ma. Savio

Polish AltarBoys and Lectors, Jasna Gora 2005

In the Year of Our Lord 2005 I traveled to Poland for the Polish Altar boys and lectors pilgrimage to Jasna Gora. Now that is a lot of Altar boys(no girls ha ha) and a lot of them are instituted lectors (see the ministry does exist).

Here is a close up of just as few. Now you may say there are Girls in the photo, well are Polish families just suppose to travel cross country and leave the girls at home? Now most of the servers (including me) were wearing our mass vestments, it was truly a sight to behold to see so many servers in all there different vestments.

Now you probably gathered that it was an open air mass (how on earth could you fit so many servers in a church?!), Natural they had to have an important celebrant, well they had 2 bishops and about 100 priests!. There was even a Scout guard protecting an image of Our Lady of Jasna Gora!.

You can see the army of con-celebrants file down for communion. Now they are all not wearing chasubles because even a great monastery such as Jasna Gora does not have that many chasubles! Also in the photo you can see a priest has found a creative sway to avoid the heat, a hanky, I'd personal get a biretta or an amice hood.

Now where was I in all this? Well I was right there.

Just yesterday I celebrated my 15th Birthday, I happy look back on my past 8 years of serving God at his Holy Altar. To serve at the Altar of God is the greatest honor and privilege you can give a boy.

Introibo ad altare Dei.

R: Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

P: Judica me Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me.

R: Quia tu es Deus fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti, et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus?

P: Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.

R: Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

P: Confitebor tibi in cithara Deus, Deus meus: quare tristis es anima mea, et quare conturbas me?

R: Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

P: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritu Sancto.

R: Sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

P: Introibo ad altare Dei.

R: Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

P: Adjutorium nostrum + in nomine Domini.

R: Qui fecit coelum et terram.

My Favorite psalm, the psalm all servers should know off by heart.

Just this Morning Mary's little child commented on my blog, I remember meeting her at the Melbourne MHCC retreat, just comes to show how small the internet really is. Here blog is worth a look http://www.xanga.com/Marys_little_child?nextdate=2%2f13%2f2007+3%3a10%3a24.347&direction=p


Now reading her blog really stirred my Polish patriotism (Yes to those who don't know I am Polish), so here are a few of my favorite Polish pictures.
Here is King Jan Sobieski the 3rd, he was king of Poland and he beat back the Turks at Vienna. Sure he's no saint, but he drove the Turkish hordes back from Europe thus saving the whole of Christian Europe.

What men did he use to beat the turks our of Europe? The Polish winged Hussars, the archangels of the steppes.

The king did all this after assisting at holy mass and consecrating himself, the whole army and the whole country to Our Lady of Jasna Gora. I can proudly say, you can not call your self a Polish Altar boy unless you have served in the chapel where Our Lady's portrait hangs, Our Lady the Queen of Poland.