Catholics/Consecrated Ground

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 1/8/2008


Question
Elyse again, Father Johnson. Wow--you wrote me an essay this last time! Marvelous! You have been so gracious and such an invaluable help--I appreciate it tremendously.
Can you recommend any particular books or articles about the Church and the Priesthood pre-Vatican II (pre-Vatican I and post-Council of Trent, technically)? Fortunately, I work in a university library (in Virginia), so I can get my hands on most resources; it's just difficult to winnow out the chaff.
I was delighted to find the book "Catholicity in the Carolinas and Georgia," written by an actual 19th century Priest. I know that Charleston did have two female religious orders who ran an orphanage, a hospital, and schools. By 1861, the city had three Catholic churches in addition to the cathedral, and Charleston also published the first Catholic newspaper in the nation. Sadly, many of the records were destroyed in Civil War fires.
I have ONE more question, Father, and then I will let you get back to your multifarious duties (you truly are a Jack of all trades!). Could you please explain the concept of consecrated ground and why it is important for Catholics to be buried in it?

Answer
Hi, again, Elyse:

Today was my "Day Off": I had fallen behind on a lot of things all last week, as I had been extremely ill with probably the worst flu I have ever suffered in my life.  I could barely move due ot the aches in my body.  I did 10-days worth of dishes that had piled up; did about 1/4 of my personal responses to cards and gifts I had received (lucky for me Christmas season last until 13 DEC);cut my hair; did 2-loads of laundry; offered Mass for a friend who passed away back on SAT morning in Idaho (wished I could get away to go to the funeral...); and did my Breviary in between all of that.
A really great novel I remember about a Priest who ministered in the early 20th Century was "The Cardinal."  I cannot think of particular titles other than that.  I guess that I have absorbed a lot of this information from all kinds of articles, sources and study over many years.
Many Dioceses have books of the History of their Diocese - these are very insightful, as well.
Consecrated ground is in Cemeteries that are specifically Catholic.  It seems that all buried there are Catholics.  I suppose that it is kind of like a Catholic necropolis.  Special mass Intentions are done "for all those buried together in such a place."  Catholic Tradition promotes holy, blessed, and consecrated ground to emphasize the mystery of the future Resurrection of the Dead, and the remembrance of the souls of these Faithful Departed in the Liturgical Prayer of the Church to aid them in their time of purification in Purgatory.  No doubt there is even more that I don't know.  We Catholics just bless a lot of things to invoke God's aid and the protection of the Holy Angels.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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