http://wdtprs.com/blog/Courtesy of Fr. Z, a traditionalist Catholic blogger. Many of the FFSP priests are former SSPX, now in communion with Rome. Now we have the prospect of FFSP parishoners heading off to an SSPX chapel... or the Ukrainian Catholic Option. And in one fell swoop, goodbye communion on the tongue and the Latin Mass (while flouting Vatican norms). All par for the course.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Apparently, the local bishop, His Excellency Most. Rev.Frederick Henry is having a fight with the local presence of the FSSP over the distribution of Communion on the tongue. The bishop issued "norms" for the Diocese of Calgary which forbid Communion on the tongue because of H1N1. The FSSP and the people frequenting their Masses are not conforming to his wishes.
Bishop Henry issued the directive to cease distribution of Communion on the tongue following the recommendation from the Medical Officer of Health, whom I assume is a government official.
When Bishop learned that at the FSSP parish people were still receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, he ordered that they not celebrate Mass at all. He suspended the Extraordinary Form Masses.
He also wrote in one piece of correspondence that
"the current pandemic circumstances do not warrant the non-reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord in favour of a spiritual communion."
Get that? The Bishop won’t allow non – reception of Holy Communion. So, you must receive only in the hand, and, apparently, you must receive.
I am not sure how that works if you think you are in the state of mortal sin because you are so angry about being bullied, but… I digress.
And speaking of the Ukrainian Catholic option... a peak on the comments page of another blog Rorate Coeli (
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/ )
Just a question for those who advise attending the Eastern Rite: I am an Extraordinary Catholic who finds himself 140 miles from the closest Extraordinary Catholic Mass but in the midst of a strong Ukrainian Catholic population (in East Central Alberta).
When I am unable to drive to the Extraordinary Mass I bring my Extraordinary family to the Ukrainian Rite. Recently, the priest announced that as a result of H1N1 the Holy Eucharist would be distributed using "disposable" wooden sticks (like the kind the doctors use when you say "Ahh").
Sadly, I have seen the sticks fall to the floor twice while being replaced on a dish held by the server. Also, I am curious how these sticks will be handled after the Mass given the absorption of the Precious Blood into the wood?
Being an Extraordinary Catholic, I am not familiar with the history of Eastern Liturgical practice and would be grateful for any clarification on this modification.
I am grateful for having this opportunity to experience the beautiful liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Perhaps the Saint might have some famous quotation that could shed some light on the Bishop Henry situation ;-)
