If any of you have looked at Fr. Z's blog lately you'll see a new rumor concerning the much anticipate Motu Proprio. The rumor, which you can read in it's entirety at What Does the Prayer Really Say, states the the MP will be released this week. Sounds exciting doesn't it? Well, my advice is don't buy it. Don't let it get your hopes up. I imagine the rumor started somewhat like this:
The rumor so far is that Alice Von Hildebrand, after talking to the Pope, said that the Pope planned on releasing the MP in May. Our first guess was May 5, the feast of St. Pius V on the old calender. This turned out to be wrong (surprise). Well, we only have one week left in May. Actually, we only have 3 days. Because of the combination of these two facts, some nut out there thought he would create a story putting 2 and 2 together. If Von Hildebrand said it would come out in May and there's only a week left then of course it would be released this week. Viola! You have a rumor.
Things like this have been going on all year (well, since I've entered the seminary). These rumors and every one like it have all been wrong. We've been taken on a roller coaster of false hope. Nothing has come from believing in these rumors except sorrow and frustration. This little post is a warning. Don't believe an idiot. The media is never right about these things and they're probably not right about it now. Don't get me wrong, I hope I'm wrong, but unfortunately I haven't been proven wrong when it comes to the other rumors.
In the long run, we must have patients as we wait out this great Lent. Like Christ praying in the desert, we must have dependence on the Father that He will lead His Church. We must continue to pray for our clergy especially the bishops and the Pope that they be led by the Holy Spirit. This is the job of the lay faithful. It has always been the job of the lay faithful, and in God's time He will answer our prayers.
God Bless,
+Oremus Pro Invicem+
The Mass of ages:
Frequently banned
Never forbidden
One priest out of five ordained today in France celebrates exclusively the traditional rite of the Mass.
Numerous priests express the desire to discover the traditional Mass, and to celebrate it.
65% of French Catholics support wider use of the traditional Mass.
At a time when Pope Benedict XVI is on the verge of allowing wider use of the Tridentine rite of the Mass, the Society of St. Pius X proposes this high quality educational tool which will allow all priests to discover this rite.
CELEBRATE THE MASS OF AGES
Voiceover: He unfolds the altar cloth. The altar cloth is placed two fingers' width from the edge of the altar. Several times during the duration fo the mass, the priest must place his joined hands on the alter, like this. His hands must not touch the altar cloth. At the words "A reading from the Gospel," he places is left hand on the edge of the missal, and makes with his right thumb a sign of the cross over the spot on the page where the Gospel starts. Then, with his left hand on his chest, he makes the sign of the cross on himself with his right thumb, first on the forehead, then on the lips, and then on the chest. Then, he joins his hands together.
He takes the paten, and holding it in both hands at chest height, he raises his eyes for one moment to the alter crucifix. With his eyes focused on the host, he begins the prayer of consecration. To set down the host, the priest proceeds as follows. He lowers the paten, tracing with it a sign of the cross on the altar. He sets the host down on the altar cloth, taking the paten with his right hand and slides it halfway under the corporale.
He recites the [unclear] in a deep bow, joined hands placed on the altear. Then he bends down to the altar, stands back up, and then traces a sign of the cross on the host and over teh chalice. He then makes the sign over himself before joining his hands again.
This film is a production from the "Letter to our brother priests." a means of connection between the Society of St. Pius X and the priests of France.