Thursday 27 March 2014

For your Humour ... Gilbert & Sullivan Mass

Hello.

Here's something funny, H/T to Fr. Z for posting this first. Yes it's based on the Lutheran Church, but it's quite fully and you can laugh at some "Spirit of Vatican II" Church humour too with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP8tTXKzObc

Have a chuckle. Pax, Julian.

Monday 17 March 2014

Tuning out ... Au Revior for now ...

To those who come here, and/or read S.U.D.

Hello and thanks for viewing this blog in past, present, and future.

I think it's only fair that between the involvement I had with the Latin Mass community in the Archdiocese of Toronto, as well as that this blog has been up for a while, I comment on the recent situation in my life. If you've seen the title above, well yes ....

I am pretty much done with the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for now. Why?

1) Personal Commitments.
Over several months, I have had much change in my life that has made it harder to devote myself to the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite: Since early September I have been dating a fine young lady who is devoted to her faith, and surprisingly, finds me attractive. I also had a job change to a part time M-F job with rotating 1/2 day shifts. In addition, I've been heavily involved in various ministry in my Novus Ordo parish. I must also say that the preaching is becoming much more consistent and even, conservative with hints of traditional Catholicism to sat the least, and preaching-wise the lines between TLM and Novus Ordo preaching are starting to blur while in my parish.

While I have had much to do with my Novus Ordo parish, I have to admit I have not even been going to the TLM even occasionally. I initially was thinking of alternating between TLM and the regular Novus Ordo parish, but that plan dissipated rather quickly .....

2) Loss of desire due to Radical Traditionalism and other Events in the Church
This whole time, if you haven't noticed between my posts and in my about page as to why I've done this blog, there's been a heavy weight on my heart since entering the realm of Traditional Catholicism. And needless to say, the tumour has infested itself to the point it must be excised from my life spiritually.

On a grand scale in the Church, it's clear that much of the hierarchy, is still, anti-Traditionalist and the Novus Ordo, and it's culture in normal parish life, is here to stay a long time. While gradually more priests and younger ordinandi are shifting back to the center to center right theologically and politically, the TLM is still the "black sheep" of Traditional Catholicism, despite the majority of its laity and adherents being good faithful Catholics to the Church and obedient to the Magisterium and the Churchs' rules and doctrine. Unfortunately, "in the name of Francis", persecution has been rampant on Traditional Catholicism. While there have been solid cases like Fisher More College in the USA for the need to restrict the TLM (and contain the Radical leaders associated with the chapel/college), there have been cases of unjust persecution such as with Una Voce Costa Rica (though more evidence needs to be forthcoming, as to whether Trad Behaving Badly elements played a part in this, or not), and clergy and laity are still not as open to it, despite what Benedict XVI did.

More so, the Catholic blog-o-sphere has become rife with angry, Trads Behaving Badly, who support one another in their efforts, as well as continue to be the self-supported leaders of the Traditionalist Movement, giving all Traditional Catholics a bad name, and continue to rage rampant and unchecked in their archdioceses and the Church, without being shut down by the authorities, both ecclesiastical and civil. They knowingly participate in online and personal harassment of other bloggers, chalking it up to wielding a right to protest against Church/moral evils, or having some sort of self-righteous authority. While many orthodox, or in the minds of the TBBs who villify them, "neo-Catholic," bloggers are speaking out more against these evil-doers, these TBB bloggers still hold sway among the Trad community, and continue to spiritually poison and corrupt the minds of others and their readers. Just look at Michael Voris devotees! They are just as guilty as the lie-berals who swear by the false Spirit of Vatican II! You can`t insult the almighty Voris! He is like God!!! He is our Saviour!!! (wait, I thought Jesus was your saviour???).

So on a grander scale, it's clear that the Church is still much so, anti-Trad, and the internet czars who self-authorize themselves as defenders of Traditional Catholicism are not making the situation better. So where does this lead to my own falling away from the Traditional Latin Mass???

Well, personally, since coming into the Latin Mass, and being involved as a server, I have sadly seen this head on first-hand, and personally experienced both personal and online harassment from this group of people in my own Archdiocese. It even still continues as recently as a month ago when I discussed a case of the sick idol worship of Cardinal Burke, thanks to a TBB blog, Rorate Caelli. Many conservative/TBB blogs carried this article also. I was sick of the whole propping up and took it to task respectfully, and of course, some of the harassers decided it would be fun to send calumnious and detracting spiritual taunts in reply, though they at least were smart about it and spewed that venom on their own blogs, and didn't communicate with me directly or do anything behind my back (that I know of). I have also witnessed TBBs attack my other good and humble Latin Mass friends I have associations with, try to manipulate clergy and laity to do their bidding, cause division within the community as to whom to associate with and where to go to Mass, and a number of my serving comrades have left the Latin Mass entirely, or taken sides in the time I have lingered. It has really saddened me to see the servers leave especially as many of us are young children or men, and most young boys and men don't even know anything of the Latin Mass.

Sadly because of their actions, I cannot attend my closest TLM Mass, held with Holy Family and St. Vincent De Paul Churches, of the Oratory of St. Phillip Neri. Well, I won't attend unless I am accompanied by a friend or relative, with maybe an exception in future to Candlemas. Those priests are excellent and the work and education they do is outstanding! However, among their crowd lingers the TBBs, and those people do attend those Masses. Further, because of my actions in this time of the EF, that is, rejecting what they stand for, as well as this blog, I know my name has been thrown around and I am vilified in their minds. It does not matter what they say or do facetiously. I know that I am an enemy for what has transpired in the community, because I picked the ``wrong side`` and the efforts I have tried to do to fight the Radical Traditionalism present. Unfortunately, they and their masters reign supreme in the Latin Mass community in the Archdiocese of Toronto, and even people in the community have attacked the Oratorians themselves, or at least aired ``parish dirty laundry`` despite being a part of the parish and associated with the TLM.

Because of all this conflict and damage, I have personally lost the fire I have for the Extraordinary Form. Don`t get me wrong, I find the liturgy makes it somewhat easier for me to focus on praying to the Lord, I love the ``smells and bells`` as it were, and I did enjoy the time I got to serve the Mass, and I might still do it occasionally with the St. Patrick`s Gregorian Choir, whose work and reports of the Masses I`ve featured here on S.U.D. I am proud and happy to feature their work, as much of the work they do deserves higher recognition by the Latin Mass blogging world out there! Might I also add that while there are accounts of the development of the Latin Mass in the Archdiocese of Toronto on the Internet, the SPGC has been WOEFULLY, left out of the accounts and only part of the truth has been told. Reporting bias I suppose, but that`s nothing new in the world of media and journalism, even if it is on a local or genre/niche-specific scale.

At this time, I would not want to be involved to the extent that I had been in the past due to all the above. It is even for the reasoning above. I don`t even want an ``occasional`` attendance at a TLM because I cannot ever feel safe in these communities as long as the TBBs have free reign and are not being policed by their own fellow Traditionalist siblings of Christ, their organizations, the clergy they work with, or the Office of the Archdiocese of Toronto. At times, I even sympathize with those who restrict or criticize the TLM movement and the "new pelagians" hidden within the movement for valid reasons.

In Conclusion. 
I, Julian Barkin, here on Servimus Unum Deum, am basically, reducing my blogging and my contributions to the blog and the Latin Mass to next to nothing. I will occasionally highlight a post of worthy note and place it here, with the dual purpose of distribution and to maintain my status on the Society of Canadian Catholic Bloggers, as well as that this blog, and the progress I've made on it for the Latin Mass, remains on the Internet (barring circumstances out of my control) for those who want to serve the minor positions in the TLM and read the prepatory materials. I also nearly finished a posting on the thurifer position and will at my convenience work on it to release it in the future.

The group of S.U.D. will be placed on prolonged hiatus, unless someone in the TLM community in the Archdiocese of Toronto, or another person with the experience and resources to carry on the group, can do so. Be warned it will take much time, effort, co-ordination, and resources to carry on the duty in light of current events in the Church, and it will be a major commitment.

Basically it's been a mixed ride, though I will say I still do enjoy the TLM. I would love it even more and return to it in some way in the future, were the condition in our Archdiocese (and the Church to an extent) more suitable. My only last word of advice for any of you in my Archdioese of Toronto, and even others, is to continue to approach AND WORK POSITIVELY WITH His Eminence ++Collins, or your own archdiocese elsewhere if your clergy are willing, to promoting the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite but also in ensuring that the communities are policed properly to deal with and dispel the harmful Traditionalist Behaving Badly elements which hamper the whole movement. Should you be willing to do so, it is entirely possible that the authorities in the Church will at least realize the sincerity and popularity of the request, even so far as to accommodate the requests in some way or form.

And of course .... SERVE THE LATIN MASS!!! SERVIMUS UNUM DEUM!!!!

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.

Saturday 8 March 2014

Yeah it's late but Fisher More College and my Two Cents

UPDATE Mar 8 2014 244pm EST: 

I have found Three more blogs which not only discussed the Fisher More college properly, these authors share similar sentiments that I have expressed in this post and others, which is contributing to a lack of desire among Catholic Faithful to want to consider attending the Latin Mass.

1. Scott Eric ALT - http://scottericalt.com/why-latin-mass-onlyists-are-destroying-the-latin-mass/

2. Lisa Graas - http://www.lisagraas.com/2014/03/03/critics-of-bishop-olson-make-me-leery-of-attending-a-tlm/

And the "cream of the crop" so to speak, a priest whose inside view has been essential to the situation with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate,
3. FFI's very own Fr. Angelo Geiger. a.k.a. Mary Victrix. 
http://maryvictrix.com/2014/03/06/what-the-fisher-more-situation-teaches-us/#more-7415. He sums up best my sentiments here:

"Furthermore, many of the traditionalists seem oblivious to the fact that their propaganda campaign fails to accomplish what needs to be done most, which is to sell the case [of the Latin Mass] to those who are bit unprepared to accept it.  But that does not seem to be what some of them are after.  Indeed, the flame-throwing propagandists are their own worst enemies.

It would appear what some of them really want is an all out counter-revolution against anyone that would oppose the rad trad agenda.  And this is why the objections of men like Dr. Marshall lead to his resignation; why in response to such objections the institution becomes increasingly more radicalized, and why when the hens come home to roost—and it was inevitable that they would—it is everyone else’s fault, except the change agents who stoked the flames.

They can argue all they want about the legal issues involved, but it is very unlikely that under either Pope Francis or even Pope Benedict there would ever be a reversal of such a decision in the face of the facts which inevitably the Diocese of Fort Worth has documented and would be prepared to use if challenged.  So the rad trads will blame the bishop as other bishops watch attentively and conclude that the Most Reverend Michael Olsen did exactly what needed to be done.  No bishop wants this kind of trouble in his diocese.    People can complain foul as much as they want and all they will accomplish is to learn nothing from the lesson.  Apparently, even the FSSP has backed away.  They don’t need the trouble either.

The more the moderates in the movement are marginalized and the more the RC radical types are the principle spokesmen, the more the regular folk are going to identify the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy with anti-conciliar ideology, conspiracy theory, antisemitism and geocentrism.  Complain all you want.  That is just the way it is.  I feel for men like Patrick Archbold, but what does he expect?  As it turns out, Michael Voris might be the smartest man in the traditionalist room—not that I agree with him entirely—for having thrown his rad trad friends overboard."


UPDATE Mar 8 2014 215pm EST: 

I just found this website commenting about the situation. Reading it, this is probably the best, plain "news speak" or "fact-finding" analysis of the situation anyone could read so far: http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/fisher-more-college-controversy-over-extraordinary-form-5812668111781888?page=3

_________     __________    _________    __________    _________    _______    _______

Hello Everyone,

So it's been already beaten to death by the Trad Behaving Badly (TBB) and conservative blogs alike, but as of this past week, one of the TBB sites broke out the news that a bishop under 50 years old, banned Fisher More College in the USA from celebrating the EF Mass. While I hate giving web hits to TBBs, I need to link the original source article here at Rorate Caeli (lest they sue me), for those who don't know what the original fuss is all about.

I decided to pull back for a bit, knowing the usual culprits would cry a foul and start doing anything from wanting a metaphorical pound of flesh from the "Spirit of Vatican II" bishop who banned the Mass, to attacking the Papacy of Francis by linking the ban with the Franciscans of the Friars Immaculate to this event, and claim that this is the start of the "Franciscan" attack to destroy Catholic Traditionalism. Good Job Rorate Caeli. You guys just acted in every sense like TBBs with this one.

MY HOW WE FORGET HOW POPE FRANCIS TOLD OFF A GROUP OF BISHOPS FROM ITALY SOME MONTHS AGO IN AN AUDIENCE, THE LATIN MASS IS NOT GOING TO BE BANNED THERE, BUT TO BE WARY OF EXTREMIST ACTIVITIES!!!

I figured a move like this wouldn't be without good reason, or at least good speculation as to the ban, because a younger bishop like this wouldn't be so naieve as to think his actions wouldn't be spread across the internet and pens and keyboards would be flying like mad against his (Arch)diocesan office or the Vatican dicasteries. Not to mention the younger types ordained in the JPII/B16 papacies, seem to be more neutral/central theo-politically speaking, or more open/friendly to Traditional Catholicism.

Thankfully, Fr. Z, the ever so valiant defender of Catholic tradition and truth, has shed light on this situation thanks to a tertiary source. See his post here. Now, when I see these points, I have valid concern for the college, and the TBBs have lost some of their validity. Supposedly ....

  • In May a prof of FMC (Fisher More College) gave a talk and denied aspects of Vatican II [Highly true. In fact the first half of this speech angered Dr. Taylor Marshall so much he walked out before the second 1/2 of the speech]
  • The FSSP priests withdrew their services at FMC some time ago.[TRUE!]
  • Taylor Marshall, married with several children, resigned his job at FMC without another job. [So True it is not funny. See HIS official statement on the matter here]
  • At Thanksgiving, 2013, Fr. Nicholas Gruner, the suspended Fatima Priest, said Mass at FMC.[Likely True, though still looking for an absolute statement of proof]. 
  • These things took place when the Diocese of Fort Worth was vacant.[Partially true. From what I'm reading, it sounds like things were starting to blacken under +Vann's reign, but many more things happened when there was no overseeing bishop for the diocese.]
  • “This is NOT about hatred for the TLM.” [True, cause, like, ANY attack on the TLM is spearheaded by evil "Spirit of Vatican II" clergy. There is mutual agreement though, by bloggers and involved people alike.]

In addition, a blog called Veneremur Cernui, who unfortunately supports the original source blog, DOES shed light on the situation as this blogger either has contacts in the geographical region of the Diocese of Fort Worth, OR lives in the area themself. http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/fisher-more-denied-ability-to-offer-tlm/

Finally, some of the best analysis of the college's situation comes from an ex-employee, the EF-friendly and ever so charitable and scholarly Dr. Taylor Marshall. He is a good and noble orthodox Catholic who is pro-EF, and was employed at the college until recently. He also runs an online institute I am part off with great Catholic education in an online format. Considering the other signs, I say that this move MUST have been made with solid reason. Might I also remind you Dr. Marshall has commented respectfully on the traditional catholic situation and the EF in post like these. I highly IMPLORE you to read his statement here from his Facebook page.

Seeing these signs and the testimonies of these commentators worries me, as a young Catholic who has partaken to an extent in the EF. I have seen some of this darkness surrounding the EF/Traditional Catholicism from my own archdiocese , and the attitudes prevalent in these signs are not good. They smell TOTALLY TRAD BEHAVING BADLY! While I do agree with the sentiment this situation was handled imprudently and there were better alternatives that could have been done (H/T Fr. Z), I cannot side with the TBBs on this one. Might I also add that financial imprudence is also tied into this president's antics, and that is NEVER good in any situation.

Everyone out there in Traditional Catholicism, let this be a lesson to all of you with what this Michael guy has done. If you decide to be TBB, side with or have sympathies with TBB elements of the EF/Traditional Catholic movement (e.g. SSPX, have radical sentiments, act like jerks online and in person ...), you are going to spoil it for us all, and get the EF killed in your dioceses, the Archdiocese of Toronto included. The (Arch)diocesan offices and the episcopacy (a.k.a. the bishops) are not stupid and will not tolerate such nonsense, and will strip you of the Latin Mass by any means with Canon Law or reason should it be warranted. So DON'T give them any reason to do so such as: Spewing your hate and your calumny, detraction, and slander online and in person; aligning with priests who do not have valid canonical faculties and societies that use the EF but are not in communion with the Church, even so far as to call them ``friends;`` believing in and saying those things you know will anger the episcopacy (e.g. you hate Vatican II? Keep that stuff in your drawing rooms and cigar rooms in private in your houses!) Adhere to these common sense guidelines, and most of the time, it won't be touched. And if the bishops are being un-pastoral in such a light, try to reason with them like in Scripture. That, and if their actions are so improper, they will eventually come to light. Christ won't tolerate His Holy Mass being smeared by his alter Christi like that. There IS divine justice, though that applies to EVERYONE. If you do have a pro-EF bishop though, work with him. Support him. Aid him and be joyful and Francis-like. And don't slander, detract, and calumnize him and his office.

And as for those who say "boo hoo" to the accusation that the TBBs spoil the TLM for us all, maybe your diocese has its own "liturgical police" or bishops who police the EFs and ensure TBBs leave, or you and your colleagues are ensuring that the mouths of the TBBs are shut or kept to their little dung-pile in the corner. However, most do not, including mine, and TBBs DO RUIN the mass for people like myself online and in person. While I can agree with you theoretically and theologically as to your arguments on paper, the situation practically speaking does not support your arguments.

I think the line Fr. Z. keeps saying, something about the "Maquis", seems like the best approach here. And that it all I will say on this situation. And as always, if you are angry and upset at me, go spew you vitriol in your own blogs and private domiciles, as long as Canada/the world allows for free speech on the Internet and private home conversation. I also won't be responding to comments/e-mails from any angry party or Rorate on this one, and won't pull my content down. So don't try it. You do, your comment might just be worthy enough for posting, as an example of what TBBs do. If you have done such stuff before, you'll also be formally banned here at S.U.D.

Pax, Julian.