He could of at least worn a two piece bathing suit!
Press the title for John Allen’s commentary on this sacrilege of a Mass in the modern Missal, by the way, as I don’t think any priest in the world would celebrate the soon to be banned 1962 Roman Missal. And as we all know, those clergy and laity who celebrate the 1962 Roman Missal are the real problem for the Church and the liturgy!
John Allen touts the virtues of this priest and his ministry to youth in the Archdiocese of Milan. And yes, this is the logical, but not thought out, conclusion to the 1960’s pastoral theology of the Pope Francis. Please recall that in the 60’s and 70’s priests celebrated Mass on beach blankets (not on floats) and used pizza and Coke (the drink) instead of bread and wine.
But again, the mentality of the abuse age of the Church was and evidently is, if a priest does good pastoral work in some or most areas of his life, than we can give him a pass when he abuses someone or something. This seems to be the logic of John Allen’s article.
While I don’t think this “crime” and sure it is a liturgical crime and abusive, should be viewed as a civil crime, but heck Italy is aligned with the Church in many cases, it should be seen as an very serious ecclesiastical crime, no matter how many good works this priest accomplishes.
What is his normal liturgical style and in what other ways has he abused the Mass and thus who participate in these abusive Masses? Was this the only example. That is up to his bishop to investigate and then mete out an appropriate ecclesiastical punishment. Maybe a symbolic punishment would be to force him to learn and celebrate the 1962 Roman Missal and to attend an educational seminar on this form of the Mass during the time he is suspended from priestly ministry? That could be a two week suspension and he could view it as an ecclesiastical vacation.
15 comments:
People on Hilton Head would support this.
Yet during WW II priests celebrated Mass fully vested on battlefields.
Father McDonald,
This is a must read from Rorate. I think it really gets to the heart of the problem:
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2022/08/how-goodwill-was-squandered.html#more
Father McDonald said..."John Allen touts the virtues of this priest and his ministry to youth in the Archdiocese of Milan. And yes, this is the logical, but not thought out, conclusion to the 1960’s pastoral theology of the Pope Francis.
"Please recall that in the 60’s and 70’s priests celebrated Mass on beach blankets (not on floats) and used pizza and Coke (the drink) instead of bread and wine."
That is what Pope Francis has promoted?
The logical conclusion to that which Pope Francis holds and promotes is the supposed return to the 1960s...to Mass that employs "pizza and Coke (the drink) instead of bread and wine?"
Father McDonald, I do not recognize that as the logical conclusion to that which Pope Francis holds and promotes.
Anyway, Father McDonald, thank you for the opportunity to post comments to your great blog.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
— Pope Benedict XVI declared that Summorum Pontificum was "merely an act of tolerance, with a pastoral aim, for those people who were brought up with this liturgy, who love it, are familiar with it and want to live with this liturgy."
"They form a small group...the renewed liturgy is the ordinary liturgy of our time."
Mark, it is pastoral theology run amuck and John Allen fell for it because this priest is so relevant he should be given a pass for his relevant attempt at Mass on a float in the sea and more than likely wearing an Italian thong which we Italian males like to wear at the beach and beach trattorias! It is his version of a clown Mass.
Mark Thomas,
The Novus Ordo is a failure, since only about 30% who bother to go, believe in the Real Presence. Based on that alone, it should be suppressed or radically overhauled. I wish I could live in the fantasyland you occupy where truth and reality are suspended.
I note that Pope Francis is an intolerant bully. Allowing Masses like the one noted here but determined to stamp out a Mass that is essentially 1500 years old.
I have had occasion in the past to remind Mark Thomas that it is dangerous (and dishonest) to rely on selective quotation to construct an argument. Anyone who has read Ratzinger on the subject of liturgy, not least SP and its accompanying letter, can be in no doubt that an important and inviolable principle is at stake; the Vetus Ordo was never abrogated nor could it have been.
What was great and sacred for previous generations remains great and sacred for us now - this runs like a golden thread through his writings. MT is perfectly aware of this, but chooses to ignore it. It is not just a case of not seeing the wood for the trees; it's concentrating on one tree and pretending not to notice a bloody great forest.
I would also take issue with Fr McDonald when he refers to the 'soon to be banned 1962 Roman Missal'. The Church never has suppressed a valid and licit rite, and no bishop, including that of Rome, has the competence to do so.
Fr McDonald
What was particularly noticeable about your cathedral Vetus Ordo Masses (aside from the impressively large congregations) was there seemed no shortage of singers and servers. Presumably the schola sings at the cathedral, so will they still have the opportunity to sing the Gregorian Ordinary and Propers at a Novus Ordo Mass?
John we are working on that. The schola is volunteer but also sing at the Cathedral’s 11:30 Mass. the cathedral has a great music director and organist. But the 1 pm TLM is acapella. I hope they make the move, but the cathedral had a special appeal for them to for Gregorian plainchant and polyphony. The acoustics for in the new church is very good too. The EF Mass is ceasing before next Pentecost Sunday unless there is Divine intervention, if you know what I mean.
I very much enjoyed celebrating mass at Sacred Heart during the 16 months I was in residence there. The acoustics are superb - marble floors and plaster walls and celings. I didn't need to use a microphone at all.
Father McDonald said..."Mark, it is pastoral theology run amuck and John Allen fell for it because this priest is so relevant he should be given a pass for his relevant attempt at Mass on a float in the sea and more than likely wearing an Italian thong which we Italian males like to wear at the beach and beach trattorias! It is his version of a clown Mass."
Father McDonald, thank you for your reply.
I had encountered a few days ago the story in question. I had not read much beyond the headlines.
Today, via your link to John Allen's article, is the first time that I read more in detail about the story.
Father McDonald, I know that you, as God's holy priest, offer, as well as promote, sober, reverential liturgy. Thank you for that.
Therefore, I understand your negative reaction to Father Mattia Bernasconi/his employment of an inflatable air mattress as an altar.
What I do not understand is the jump from that, as well as your mention of pizza and Coke "Masses" of the 1970s, to that of Pope Francis....that such Masses are the supposed "logical conclusions" to Pope Francis' (supposed) theology of the 1970s.
But as always, Father McDonald, Deo gratias for you...and your many decades of having served Holy Mother Church as Her holy, loyal son.
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
— Pope Francis. 2017 A.D:
"Mass is prayer; rather, it is prayer par excellence, the loftiest, the most sublime, and at the same time the most “concrete”.
"What truly is prayer? It is first of all a dialogue, a personal relationship with God."
"When we go to Mass, perhaps we arrive five minutes early and begin to chat with the person next to us.
"But this is not the moment for small talk; it is the moment of silence to prepare ourselves for the dialogue."
Very nice sentiments but until he orders bishops to crack down on the abundance of crap in the modern Missal, it is only nice word with no teeth!
Mark Thomas,
As I have noted you are detached from reality. The priest who would be disciplined would be one celebrating Mass ad orientem. We are in the Alice in Wonderland World now. If you won’t hear what I am saying you should respect what Father McDonald is telling you. He is in the trenches
I had not realized the following until I had read John Allen's article in question:
Father Mattia Bernasconi had posted an apology on his parish's website.
As I read John Allen's article, I realized that the Mass in question had not been plotted...that is, had not been in the works to denigrate the Sacred Liturgy.
In 1988 A.D., then-Cardinal Ratzinger had declared that following "the Council there were many priests who deliberately raised 'desacralization' to the level of a program..."
I am not aware that Father Bernasconi has such a history as the above. But I am open to correction in that regard.
For now, I take as sincere the following from Father Bernasconi:
"It was absolutely not my intention to banalize the Eucharist or to utilize it for other messages of any sort; it was simply a Mass at the end of a week of work with young people who participated in the [anti-mafia] camp and in the context of a group which, for a whole week, celebrated and worked with me, and who seemed to me sufficiently prepared to preserve the sacrality of the sacrament even given the simplicity and poverty of the means.
"But it’s true that symbols matter, and sometimes in a way we don’t intend. It was naïve on my part not to give that the consideration it deserved … I hope you can understand my good intentions, smeared by too much ingenuity, and accept my sincere request for forgiveness."
In light of his apology and request for forgiveness, I hope that Father Bernasconi may receive from Holy Mother Church...from his brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ...Catholic charity, as well as forgiveness.
=================================================================================
All of the above said, I appreciate the following point that Father McDonald had offered:
"...IF NO WHERE APPROPRIATE FOR THE MASS TO BE CELEBRATED IN OVER 100 DEGREE WEATHER COULD BE FOUND, IF THE COVID SHUT DOWN TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN BE DISPENSED FROM MASS IF IT IS HARMFUL TO US!
"EVERYONE COULD HAVE DISPENSED FROM MASS OR HAVE GONE TO A LOCAL CHURCH FOR AN AIR CONDITIONED MASS."
-- I have great respect and appreciation for Father McDonald's wisdom/suggestion in regard to Father Bernasconi decision in question.
-- I have great respect and appreciation in regard to Father Bernasconi's humility via his apology, as well as request for forgiveness.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I am sure that Mr. Allen is a good man, but his usual schtick seems to be to trivialize matters of great concern to Catholics. In this case it is, "gee whiz, a Mass celebrated at the beach, in the water, while it's blazing hot! Big deal..."
Of course, in the U.S., there would be no action by a public prosecutor, and to answer the presenting question, no I don't think what this priest did should be a civil crime.
But an ecclesiastical "crime"? Absolutely. By that I mean, to offer the Holy Mass in this fashion ought to be something ingrained in every priest as a horrible thing to do, and going ahead anyway absolutely ought to bring a penalty.
That this can draw just eyerolls and chuckles and tut-tuts from so-called Catholic media and ecclesiastical authorities says everything you need to know about how bad things are.
Meanwhile, let's get real here. A priest goes to the beach with young people? Are you out of your mind? In the world the rest of us inhabit, priests in particular live under the cloud of suspicion generated by the unspeakable crimes of a few of their brother priests, and even more so, from the gross mismanagement of those crimes by bishops. As a result, priests must avoid all rumor and innuendo, because mere rumor is enough to destroy them and their effectiveness.
For a priest to be at a pool or the beach with a "youth group" is just imprudent. Even moreso to use a public bathroom or changing area nearby. And, no, I'm not saying I don't go to the pool or the beach, but I don't escort a group of young people there. And when I do, I avoid using the changing areas or rest rooms, and yes, I will step out to avoid being alone with a child, and come back later. And if you can't figure out why, you aren't thinking it through.
Father Fox,
Words of wisdom, grounded in common sense. This is another good example as to why bishops should toss Traditionis Crudelis (Custodes) in the circular file. It is a repugnant document founded on lies. A priest like this should be laicized pour encourager les autres
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