Gambit tries to pet Pip, the guinea pig:
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
Daily Archive
20 June 2012
Early Morning Affection, Predator to Prey
Posted by catholicsensibility under My Family[2] Comments
20 June 2012
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Starts Tomorrow
Posted by catholicsensibility under Saints, Scripture, Two Weeks of Worthy Women[2] Comments
As a response to the US Bishops’ Fortnight of Freedom, I’d like to offer an alternative. The liturgical calendar from 21 June through 4 July is filled with many fine men who gave their lives for the faith. I have no objection whatsoever to Thomas More, John Fisher, and other worthy martyrs.
My readers here know of my low opinion of the USCCB whining on religious freedom. I leave it to the same readers to determine if their stance on personal oppression does them well compared to the many women who suffered a good bit more at the hands of petty churchmen–both today and in the past.
Starting tomorrow, and continuing for the next two weeks, I’ll offer up daily reflections on good and holy women. I’ve enlisted the assistance of a few friends to guest-blog here and provide their own perspectives on women of worth. Hopefully we can observe their conduct in the face of freedoms denied and perhaps gain some needed perspective away from the current political tussles.
I suggest for your consideration a reflection on the worthy woman of Proverbs 31 penned by the inimitable Neil.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Acclaim her for the work of her hands,
and let her deeds praise her at the city gates. (Proverbs 31:30-31)
20 June 2012
RDCA III, 1: Dedication of a Church in Which Mass is Already Being Celebrated Regularly
Posted by catholicsensibility under Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar, Rites1 Comment
Today we start Chapter III, “Dedication of a Church in Which Mass is Already Being Celebrated Regularly.” What does that mean? The first numbered section of the chapter spells it out:
1. In order to bring out fully the symbolism and the significance of the rite, the opening of a new church and its dedication should take place at one and the same time. For this reason, as was said before, care should be taken that, as far as possible, Mass is not celebrated in a new church before it is dedicated {see chapter two, nos. 8,15,17).
Nevertheless in the case of the dedication of a church where the sacred mysteries are already being celebrated regularly, the rite set out in this chapter must be used.
Moreover, a clear distinction exists in regard to these churches. In the case of those just built the reason for a dedication is obvious. In the case of those standing for some time the following requirements must be met for them to be dedicated:
- that the altar has not already been dedicated, since it is rightly forbidden both by custom and by liturgical law to dedicate a church without dedicating the altar, for the dedication of the altar is the principal part of the whole rite;
- that there be something new or notably altered about the edifice, relative either to its structure (for example, a total restoration) or its status in law (for example, the church’s being ranked as a parish church).
This chapter would be an example of sensible Roman pragmatism. There are ideals t0 which the Church devotes a full treatment. And in many cases, the church recognizes situations that do not fit the ideal. In this brief chapter, the Church treats the situation in which an older church has been significantly renovated, or a chapel is upgraded to a church, or similar situations in which the building is up, and already in use.
I suspect that this is how the old Crystal Cathedral in California will be dedicated. Technically, it has hosted worship–just not the Catholic Mass. A new altar would be dedicated, of course–we’ll get to that chapter in a few days. It will be interesting to see how this unusual case is handled by the bishop and the liturgy people of the Diocese of Orange. Comments?
