CBCPnews Poll

CBCPnews has a poll: Do you agree with the latest pronouncement from the Vatican allowing the Latin Mass upon the request of the laity?

I have reservations to polls as it will only make the Latin Mass vs. Novus Ordo sort of a popularity contest instead of just following the decrees of Pope Benedict XVI and appreciating the rich traditions of the Roman Rite. Well I voted YES just to show my support to the Holy Father, and the Traditional Latin Mass.

St. Paul's Bookstore, CBCP Monitor

After a day's work, I sometimes pass by St. Paul's Bookstore in Gateway Mall to see what's new. I usually browse over the books and magazines to see what catches my interests. It has been a long time since I bought a book in St. Paul's, and with so many things to read, I find it hard to find time to read all the books I buy.

This evening, while browsing inside the bookstore, I found a newspaper from the CBCP called CBCP Monitor. The first thing that came into my mind is: Does it have the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum in it? I was glad to know that the July 9-22 issue has it. I can't wait for the next issue.

CBCP also has a new online news site: cbcpnews.com. There's not much content yet, nevertheless, check it out.

Public celebration of the Traditional Mass by the Pope

The first public Traditional Latin Mass of the Pope after his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum could happen this first Sunday of Advent according to Vatican sources.

Source: Italy Global Nation

Traditional Mass in the Visayas

There is a Global Registry of Traditional Latin Masses approved by Legitimate Authority. Here is list of approved Traditional Latin Masses from the Visayas. Please note that it was last updated seven years ago. There could be changes over the past years.


Archdiocese of Jaro-Iloilo

At least every-Sunday Indult Masses:

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church
Tanza, Iloilo City 5000
Island of Panay
Celebrants: Msgr. José Buenaflor, Fr. Sozonte Cataluna; Msgr. Alba
Sundays: 4.00 p.m.
Updated in 2000

Other than at least every-Sunday traditional Latin Masses:

Chapel of Barangay Poblocion South
Parish of the Immaculate Conception
Oton, Iloilo, Island of Panay
Celebrant: Fr. Juan Tubola
Wednesdays, 1st Fridays, 1st Saturdays: 6.30 p.m., after Perpetual Help Devotions

Carmelite Convent Chapel
La Paz, Iloilo City
Celebrant: Msgr. José Buenaflor
1st Fridays & Saturdays

Diocese of Bacolod

At least every-Sunday traditional Latin Masses:

Immaculate Conception Parish
Bakyas, Mansiligan, Bacolod City
Every Sunday: 3.30 p.m.
Sunday Rosary & Confessions: 3.00 p.m.
Updated: 29 August, 2000

Traditional Mass in Malate, Manila?

During last night's episode of "Salitang Buhay," guest speaker, Mr. Carlos Palad, a member of Defensores Fidei Foundation and Una Voce America announced that a Traditional Mass in Malate, Manila is in the works. He also said that he is actually personally involved in the process. Perhaps this will take effect after 14th of September 14. This is a welcome opportunity for people in that area unfamiliar with the Traditional Latin Mass experience a sense of the sacred. Perhaps we will see more of the extraordinary form here in Manila soon.

"Salitang Buhay" (Word Alive) hosted by Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD is a Philippine radio program aired over DZMM (630khz) every Sunday nights 9:00pm to 10:15pm (Manila Time).

Traditional Mass attendees from neighboring provinces

Traditional Latin Mass attendees of the Lord of the Divine Mercy are not only from within Metro Manila itself but some are also from neighboring provinces of Rizal and Cavite. As one of our readers, Mr. Frank Chow, pointed out, these people "...are there because they want to be there more than anywhere else at that particular time." A two and a half hour commute just to meet the Lord and worship Him with utmost love and reverence through the traditional way is definitely worth it.

Talk on Summorum Pontificum on Philippine Radio

From one of NLM's readers:

This coming Sunday, July 22, 2007, 9:00 - 10:15 PM Manila time (that's GMT + 0800 H), Carlos Antonio Palad, an associate of Defensores Fidei Foundation (a Philippine-based apologetics society) and a member of Una Voce America will be guesting on the "Salitang Buhay" (Word Alive) radio program of Fr. Bel San Luis SVD on DZMM 630 khz Radyo Balita. Mr. Palad will discuss Summorum Pontificum and give an introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass. The radio broadcast will cover Metro Manila and all of Luzon (northern Philippines). It will also be simulcast over SkyCable's DZMM TeleDyaryo TV Channel (the TeleDyaryo simulcast will also be available via streaming media download through www.abs-cbn.com)

A discussion regarding the Motu Proprio and Traditional Latin Mass on one of the popular radio stations would be most helpful in conveying the message of the Holy Father as it will reach a lot of people here in Manila and Luzon.

Fr. Bossi Released

Fr. Bossi, the Italian priest kidnapped in Southern Philippines, has been released.

From abs-cbnnews.com

Bossi recovered alive

Father Giancarlo Bossi, the Italian priest abducted last month by suspected extremists in Zamboanga Sibugay province has been recovered alive, a report reaching abs-cbnNEWS said Friday.

Bossi, 57, had grown thin from more than a month in captivity.

Authorities took him to a military camp in Zamboanga City following the recovery.

The Italian priest was kidnapped on June 10 in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Pope regularly celebrates Traditional Mass in private.

Pope Benedict uses older ritual for his private Mass

Vatican, Jul. 16, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news), who recently issued a motu proprio allowing all Catholic priests to celebrate the old Latin Mass, uses the older ritual himself for his private Mass, CWN has learned.

Informed sources at the Vatican have confirmed reports that the Holy Father regularly celebrates Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal.

In his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum the Pope says that the older form-- the form in universal use before the liturgical changes that followed Vatican II-- was never abrogated.

Since becoming Roman Pontiff, Benedict XVI has always used the new ritual-- which he identifies in Summorum Pontificum as the "ordinary form" of the Roman rite-- for public celebrations of the Eucharistic liturgy. However few people have witnessed the Pope celebrating his private daily Mass.

Unlike his predecessor John Paul II, who regularly invited visitors to attend the Mass that he celebrated each morning in his private chapel, Benedict XVI has made it his regular practice to celebrate Mass with only a few aides. The Pope's closest associates have established a reputation for preserving confidences.

Pope Benedict has long been known as an ardent defender of the Catholic liturgical tradition. In the early 1990s he raised eyebrows in Rome by writing a laudatory preface to the book The Reform of the Roman Liturgy, in which Msgr. Klaus Gamber decried many of the liturgical changes of the past few decades.

Then-Cardinal Ratzinger also traveled to Wigratzbad, in Bavaria, to ordain priests for the Fraternity of St. Peter, a group devoted to the use of the traditional liturgy. He performed those ordinations, as well as Mass on Easter Sunday in 1990, using the 1962 Roman Missal.

World Bishops' Reactions

Rorate Caeli has a compilation of Bishops' reactions to Summorum Pontificum.

Link here.

Thank you Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Yesterday was a very special day for us regular Classical Mass attendees. It was our day to thank and honor our Lady of Mt. Carmel. As Father Jojo pointed out, the Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI was released July 7, 2007, the first day of the novena to our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We saw new faces including third order Carmelites wearing their traditional garments and veils.

Father Jojo and the third order Carmelites lead a procession around the vicinity of Sikatuna Village while we prayed the rosary. Most of those who joined the procession were above middle age and yet they were able to walk under the heat of the afternoon sun. Truly a sign of great love and devotion for our Lady.

The Extraordinary Form

This is a beautiful picture of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. Thanks to New Catholic of Rorate Caeli for letting me borrow the picture.

Reactions to Motu Proprio: CBCP President Statement

Here is the statement coming from the CPCP President, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

STATEMENT ON THE "TRIDENTINE" MASS

We fully welcome with respect and appreciation the recent Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI on the "Tridentine" Mass. It clarifies for us the status of the Tridentine Mass in the Latin Language.

In accordance with the Apostolic Letter ("Motu proprio") entitled "Summorum Pontificum" of Pope Benedict XVI, the celebration of the so-called Tridentine Mass, which is in the Latin language, as approved by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962 continues to be fully permissible as an extraordinary form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass was never forbidden or abrogated.

The so-called "New Mass" which was introduced after the Second Vatican Council and approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970 has become more popular among the people because it allowed the use of some approved adaptations, including the use of the popular languages and dialects. It became the ordinary form of the Mass, widely celebrated in the parish churches.

When may the Tridentine (Latin) Mass be celebrated? According to the letter of Pope Benedict XVI, it may be celebrated by catholic priests of the Latin Rite: a) in private masses, b) in conventual or community mass in accordance with the specific statutes of the Congregation, c) in parishes upon request of the faithful and under the guidance of the bishop (in accordance with Canon 392). In such Masses, however, the readings may be given in the vernacular.

This permission given by Pope Benedict XVI means that the Mass in Latin and in accordance with the formula of the Council of Trent, hence Tridentine, with the celebrant's back to the faithful may be celebrated, as it was never forbidden or abrogated. For new priests, this will require formation in the Latin Mass.

Now, we are instructed that in the liturgy of the Mass, there is the ordinary form which is that approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970 after the Vatican II; and there is the extraordinary form - the Tridentine (Latin) Mass which is that approved by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962. The two forms will have their way of leading the faithful to the true worship of God in prayer and liturgy; and may even be a factor for unity in the Church.

+Angel N. Lagdameo
Archbishop of Jaro
President, CBCP
JULY 9, 2007

Sources:
CBCP Online.net President's Page
In and Out of Season

CBCP's response to the Motu Proprio

From the CBCP Website:

CBCP welcomes Pope’s Letter on Latin Mass

MANILA, 09 July 2007— “We fully welcome with respect and appreciation the recent Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI on the “Tridentine” Mass. It clarifies for us the status of the Tridentine Mass in the Latin language,” said CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo in a statement released today.

Pope Benedict XVI issued Saturday a motu proprio Pastoral Letter entitled “Summorum Pontificum" saying that Tridentine Mass approved by Pope John XXII in 1962 “continues to be permissible as an extraordinary form” of celebrating the Mass.

In the same statement, Lagdameo said that the mass being practiced today by Catholics throughout the world is the “new mass” which was introduced after the Second Vatican Council and approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970, which has become the ordinary form of the mass and more popular among the people because it allows the use of some approved adaptations, including the use of popular languages and dialects.

Supporting the Pope’ Pastoral Letter, Lagdameo stressed that the Tridentine mass has never been forbidden and abrogated but should be celebrated by priests of the Latin Rite only in private masses, in conventual or community celebrations, or in parishes when requested by the faithful but under the guidance of the local bishop.

Lagdameo further said that permission by Pope Benedict to celebrate the Tridentine mass is given on condition that it should follow the formula of the Council of Trent.

But news priests, he said, will require formation before celebrating the Latin mass. (Roy Lagarde)

Disinformation Campaign against the Traditional Mass

[This post has been recently updated]

Now that the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum has been made public, the disinformation campaign will start. One of the most subtle poisons being disseminated is that the priest faces away from the congregation. How often does one read this in the newspapers or from other sources? It is being spread and constantly repeated as if to brainwash the people.

No. That is an illogical perspective.

The logical perspective is this: he does so, so that he would face, with that same congregation, the Lord on the cross and lead them to prayer.

Would you rather let the priest turn his back against the Lord so that he could turn to you instead? I hope we'd rather let the priest face the Lord and give the Lord reverence due Him.

Summorum Pontificum

The much awaited document from the Holy Father has been made public. For quite sometime, every single bit of news was just rumors, now, all is real. Will we have more Classical Mass in Manila? Hopefully. For those who are still curious what the Classical or what is popularly known as the Tridentine or Traditional Latin Mass is all about, we should let them know where they can find one, in a small and humble parish church in Sikatuna Village, Cubao, The Lord of the Divine Mercy, the Classical Rite is celebrated once every Sundays at 1:30pm.