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Love for the TLM = mental illness??
From What Does The Prayer Really Say? comes this report of goings-on at Franciscan U in Steubenville. I find it shocking, if true, considering how solid and orthodox the university is in terms of theology. At the same time... we all know that orthodoxy doesn't always mean orthopraxy. And intolerance comes from both sides of the fence.
I got this by e-mail:
A well-substantiated rumor has it that a petition for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum bearing 155 names of students and faculty has been denied by the plenary council of T.O.R friars on the grounds that the motu proprio does not apply to Catholic universities. You can certainly see what the implications are. Keep this one on your radar; it’s going to be huge.
UPDATE: 1308 GMT 23 Oct 07
I received another bit of information about what is going on. Slightly edited:
In response to your blog post on FUS denying the TLM—-it is more than just a rumor. I am a student at FUS and personally know the people organizing this petition drive. They truly were told "no" after submitting the signatures. As a matter of fact, the person organizing this petition was told by a priest in the chapel to seek professional counseling (evidently a love for the TLM is a mental illness).
What is strange in all of this is that a couple of years ago the folks running
the chapel bent over backwards to bring a French Novus Ordo Mass on campus in order to accommodate roughly 15 French-language students. Ten times that amount request a TLM and we are told to seek counseling.
Pray for us father,
All I can say is... yikes. I hope it ain't so and that those in leadership at Franciscan U publishes a clarification soon for the sake of the Church in union with the Holy Father's wishes. And I hope that the team in Rome who is working on the document that will set straight some mis-interpretations regarding Summorum Pontificum's implementation sees this and adds a bit in about the responsibiility of Catholic universities.
Isn't it ironic that it seems that Notre Dame is more open to the desires of the Holy Father to make the extrodinary form available than FRANCISCAN U, the bastion of orthodoxy and love for the Holy Father??
I got this by e-mail:
A well-substantiated rumor has it that a petition for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum bearing 155 names of students and faculty has been denied by the plenary council of T.O.R friars on the grounds that the motu proprio does not apply to Catholic universities. You can certainly see what the implications are. Keep this one on your radar; it’s going to be huge.
UPDATE: 1308 GMT 23 Oct 07
I received another bit of information about what is going on. Slightly edited:
In response to your blog post on FUS denying the TLM—-it is more than just a rumor. I am a student at FUS and personally know the people organizing this petition drive. They truly were told "no" after submitting the signatures. As a matter of fact, the person organizing this petition was told by a priest in the chapel to seek professional counseling (evidently a love for the TLM is a mental illness).
What is strange in all of this is that a couple of years ago the folks running
the chapel bent over backwards to bring a French Novus Ordo Mass on campus in order to accommodate roughly 15 French-language students. Ten times that amount request a TLM and we are told to seek counseling.
Pray for us father,
All I can say is... yikes. I hope it ain't so and that those in leadership at Franciscan U publishes a clarification soon for the sake of the Church in union with the Holy Father's wishes. And I hope that the team in Rome who is working on the document that will set straight some mis-interpretations regarding Summorum Pontificum's implementation sees this and adds a bit in about the responsibiility of Catholic universities.
Isn't it ironic that it seems that Notre Dame is more open to the desires of the Holy Father to make the extrodinary form available than FRANCISCAN U, the bastion of orthodoxy and love for the Holy Father??
posted by Maria Neva | 9:59:00 AM
3 Comments:
I'm a little vague on this but I don't think that it is so much that the Franciscans are against the TLM as that they are essentially Charismatic in their orientation and teaching.
They have worked hard to create a wonderful Catholic University and I suspect they fear that they will lose control if all the students (worst case scenario) start attending the TLM.
Charismatic Masses don't get written much about by the non-charismatic community. Most Catholics probably have never heard of them. There is an Archdiocesan Charismatic Office but they are located in Minneapolis, many miles from any other archdiocesan office.
But there are a lot of charismatic Masses being said out there and even more prayer groups and healing services.
I suspect many charismatics would like to be considered a "Use" of the Latin Rite or a "Rite" in themselves.
I've been to some charismatic services but though I believe that I have received personal "gifts", I have not received anything in the services that I have attended.
Perhaps I should investigate prayer groups.
That may be so, but it does not really excuse them if they are indeed hostile to their own students requesting the TLM. Further clarification might indeed be necessary from Rome as regards how Catholic universities fit into the Summorum Pontificum picture, however, for the time being I think it is logical to hold the schools as accountable as parishes.
The document does not make any distinctions or exceptions for self-professed "charismatic" or otherwise parishes - it is a document for all Catholics, in whatever location they happen to be.
To be fighting this, as such, without further clarification, is to be going directly against the expressed desire of the Holy Father. And that is a position I find very worrisome indeed, coming from one of our flagship Catholic colleges (It's noteworthy too that Ave Maria U in FL, another flagship, is ALSO reputed to be hostile towards allowing the TLM to be celebrated.
Mark my words, this is not going to go away anytime soon, and those who have been "comfortable" following the Holy Father, even to the point of being a bit proud of their loyalty, may now be required to test their loyalty by being, dare I say, tolerant of what he has permitted, indeed encouraged, others to request.
At the end of the day, it is going to be things like this that will show us how those who are "right" can have their own logs and specks in their eyes, the same as on the "left".
I'll be following this story with interest, let me tell you!
I don't disagree with you, Mary, and I'll be following the story also.
But I just find it interesting that Steubenville seems to play down the "charismatic" aspect of their services in their promotions but might really stress it once they get the students on campus.
The lay apostolates like the Neocatechumenate Way, Legionaries of Christ/Regnum Christi and others are often criticized for being cultish with a tremendous amount of loyalty/reverence for their lay founders/leaders.
I don't believe that charismatics have cult-like leaders, but they do seem to be on a slightly different spiritual journey than many other Catholics.
But as you said, the Pope issued the MP for the whole Roman Rite and religious orders and university campus are included in that.
But it might be years before the recalcitrants finally die off. And that includes priests in the dioceses.
You can see it right here in StP-M. To my knowledge, other than Father Echert at St Augustine's in South St Paul who had the indult before who is beginning to offer the TLM seven days a week, nobody else has made a move.
Father Johnson at the Cathedral probably will be next, but I haven't heard what his plans are.
My prediction was maybe six parishes would begin to offer it. But it looks like I might be off by five.
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