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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

WILL HE OR WON'T HE? THAT IS THE QUESTION! WHAT DO YOU THINK? ALL WILL BE REVEALED SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

This is how Pope Benedict celebrated every Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel:

But this is how Pope Francis celebrated his first Mass as the Bishop of Rome in the Sistine Chapel shortly following his election:
But keep in mind that this is how Pope Benedict celebrated his first Mass as the Supreme Pontiff shortly after his election:



15 comments:

Henry said...

It was at the direction of Piero Marini--to which Pope Benedict in true humility submitted as his papal MC during the first year or so of his papacy--that Benedict celebrated versus populum in the Sistine Chapel.

The question you're posing is whether Pope Francis will humbly celebrate this Mass under the guidance of of Piero Marini as virtual MC, or rather that of his actual MC, Guido Marini.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

But the question is, will he or won't he? I wonder if anyone is taking bets on this?

Henry said...

Ok, if he has sufficient humility to follow the guidance of his papal MC (and that of tradition for the Sistine Chapel), then he'll celebrate this Mass ad orientem.

Anonymous said...

If anyone is taking bets, it would be paddypower.com.

Ryan Ellis said...

I guess it doesn't matter, though, does it? If he celebrates ad orientem, the headline will be "BOMBSHELL: POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES AD ORIENTEM." If he celebrates versus populum, the headline will read "BOMBSHELL: POPE CELEBRATES MASS IN SISTINE CHAPEL SAME AS BENEDICT DID." Unfortunately, this blog doesn't really get critical anymore.

John Nolan said...

Benedict first celebrated ad apsidem in the Sistine Chapel in January 2008, not long after Guido Marini became MC. The explanation given was that it that it respected the "beauty and harmony of this architectural jewel".

I suspect that Francis puts ideology above beauty and harmony, and with recent changes in the office of liturgical celebrations which have left Guido Marini dangerously isolated, I will wager a pound to a penny that the moveable altar will be used on Sunday.

Pater Ignotus said...

Good Father, TAKE John Nolan's wager right now!

Православный физик said...

I bet that he will celebrate VP...just as the JPII ferula has made a return. However, I really wish he'd celebrate AO

Anonymous said...

Most of the world does not give a, well, I won't go there, whether he faces frontwards or backwards or toward Mecca or left or right or where ever..... Get a life, people.

Rood Screen said...

Anonymous,
I'm afraid you've managed to post a comment offensive to Jews, Christians and Muslims, all in one sentence.
The liturgical orientation of the Bishop of Rome is of considerable importance to those Christians devoted to the Roman rite of Mass.

Gene said...

It just does not matter. This Pope is not going to fix the Liturgy or the Church. A "bombshell" is the outer covering of a bomb. A bombshell has no power, no effect, no GUTS. It is just that…a shell.

Anonymous said...

I'm certain that it won't be ad orientem, and have a hunch that the weird-looking ferula from All Saints' Day will make a reappearance. I'm willing to bet that Pope Francis will kiss some babies too.

Anonymous said...

There is no way that Pope Francis will face liturgical East for the Mass. To even discuss otherwise is a waste of energy and time.

Anon friend said...

You got the "bombshell" thing right, Gene! Gettin' old... Fr. JBS has it absolutely right as well--we do care about liturgical reverence and attention to the things that mitigate it: as goes the priest, so go his laity. It matters...a lot. Don't give up or give in.

Unknown said...

WIth due respect Father, Pope Francis has eschewed anything Papal in terms of vestments etc since the start of his Pontificate.He did celebrate an NO Mass ad orietem in St. Peters, because there was no room for anything else.His spandex vestments looked rather weary , compared to those of his concelebrants at Christmas and Jan 1st.But if he does for some reason celebrate ad orientem in the Sistine Chapel, I'll gladly eat my hat!