Sunday, June 19, 2016

Tridentine Community News - Fr. Marczewski to take new post in CA; End-of-life directives; EF vs. OF terminology for feast days; TLM schedule for this coming week


"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"

Tridentine Community News by Alex Begin (June 19, 2016):
June 19, 2016 – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Fr. Marczewski to Take New Post in California

For many years, Orchard Lake Seminary Professor Fr. Robert Marczewski has been the principal celebrant of the Tridentine Masses held at St. Josaphat Church. Now he is about to undertake a new step in his vocation by becoming one of the chaplains at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. Next Sunday, June 26, there will be a farewell Tridentine Mass for Fr. Marczewski at 12:00 Noon at St. Joseph Church. A reception will follow the Mass. Please note that there will be no 8:30 AM Mass at St. Josaphat on June 26.

End of Life Directives

Every Catholic should take every step possible to provide for a good and holy death. Ideally this means that prior to death, a person should receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, Confession, Viáticum (Holy Communion), and the Apostolic Pardon. With Roman Ritual books having been reprinted in recent years, the resources exist to receive these Sacraments according to the Extraordinary Form, as long as you have a willing priest. If you have questions or would like help in being prepared for this eventuality, please e-mail the address at the bottom of this page.

A second consideration is keeping family and medical personnel informed of your wishes in the case of declining faculties. The National Catholic Bioethics Center has prepared a document that can help in this process: “A Catholic Guide to End of Life Decisions” is available for $2.50, in printed or downloadable form. In addition to guidelines, it includes two important sample legal documents that conform to Catholic teaching on end-of-life care: an Advance Medical Directive (also known as a Living Will) [your directives to others about your care] and a Health Care Proxy (also known as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care) [your designation of another individual to make decisions about your care]. For further information or to order a copy, visit: www.ncbcenter.org/publications/end-life-guide/

Extraordinary Form vs. Ordinary Form Terminology for Feast Days

The Catholic Calendar contains four primary classifications of Feast Days. Though the terminology has changed over the years, the concepts remain fairly consistent. The Vatican has established that those of us who follow the Extraordinary Form are to use the rubrics of 1962, plus whatever adaptations have been issued since the establishment of the Pontifical Commission Ecclésia Dei in 1988. Because so many hand missals exist, both originals and reprints, from the era prior to 1962, it is worth mentioning the former terminology.

First Class Feasts (Extraordinary Form 1962) / Doubles of the First Class (Extraordinary Form 1960 and prior) / Solemnities (Ordinary Form): These are the most important Feasts of the Church Year. Examples include Christmas, the days of Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Funeral Mass, also known as the Exequial Mass, is classified as First Class. The Feast of the Patron Saint of a Parish or Diocese, and the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of a Diocese are also First Class, though in practice the latter is rarely given note at the parish level.

Second Class Feasts (EF 1962) / Doubles of the Second Class (EF 1960 and prior) / Feasts (OF): These are significant but not primary Feasts. Sundays After Pentecost, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Feasts of the Apostles are examples. The Greater Ferias of Advent, which are the Ferias in the week before Christmas, are a rare example of Ferias elevated to Second Class, as the Church wants the faithful to focus on preparing for the commemoration of our Lord’s Nativity. A Nuptial [Wedding] Mass is classified as Second Class, however it may not take place on a Sunday. If a Wedding Mass is scheduled on a First Class Feast Day, then the Mass of the Feast is observed instead of the Nuptial Mass Propers.

Third Class Feasts (EF 1962) / Greater Doubles, Doubles, and Semidoubles (EF 1960 and prior) / Memorials (OF): Most weekday Masses are Third Class Feasts, such as St. Hedwig, St. Lucy, and St. Ignatius Loyola. The Ferias of Lent and the Ferias of Advent excepting those in the week before Christmas are also Third Class Feasts, as the Church does not want them to be as easily replaceable as Fourth Class Feasts (see below). A Requiem Mass celebrated on the third, seventh, or thirtieth day after death is classified as Third Class.

Fourth Class Feasts (EF 1962) / Simples and Commemorations (EF 1960 and prior) / Optional Memorials (OF): These are either Ferias (repetition of the previous Sunday’s Mass Propers) or Saints of lesser significance. On Fourth Class Feasts, the Church allows for substitution of other Mass Propers at the celebrant’s discretion. In Windsor, there has always been strong demand for Requiem Masses – the Daily Mass for the Dead, usually followed by the ceremony of Absolution at the Catafalque – on many Fourth Class Feasts. Other options on Fourth Class Feasts include using one of the Votive Masses, such as the Votive Mass of the Angels or the Votive Mass for Pilgrims and Travelers. The Mass of any Saint may also be offered on any Fourth Class Feria.

Nowadays, we should strive to use the appropriate 1962 terminology, even though it might be tempting to fall back upon familiar language used in the Ordinary Form. For instance, one should refer to the “Feast of Pentecost” rather than the “Solemnity of Pentecost” in our calendar.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
  • Mon. 06/20 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (St. Silverius, Pope & Martyr)
  • Tue. 06/21 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Rosary Chapel at Assumption Church (St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor) - Special location this week only
  • Sat. 06/25 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Miles Christi (St. William, Abbot)
  • Sun. 06/26: No Mass at St. Josaphat
  • Sun. 06/26 12:00 Noon: High Mass at St. Joseph (Sixth Sunday After Pentecost) - Farewell Mass for Fr. Robert Marczewski
[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit), Academy of the Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), and St. Alphonsus and Holy Name of Mary Churches (Windsor) bulletin inserts for June 19, 2016. Hat tip to Alex Begin, author of the column.]

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