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Hi Father Johnson..Great first name by the way!!! lol..My question is..When Pope John Paul wrote his encyclical "Ecclesia Dei",and with our present Pope (Benedict xv1),so much in favor of the promulgation of the Tridentine Mass (1962),why are so many American Bishops hesitant to allow more "widespread" use of this sacred rite?
Pax Domine:
Timothy Tomter
Hi, Tim:
Thanks for the question.
The name "Indult Mass" happily does not apply any more for the older form of the Mass in Latin since it is now the "extraordinary" form of the one Roman Rite. An indult is an exception to Church Law, such as the use of altar girls at Mass. An indult must be applied for through the Bishops who may or may not grant it; in the case of altar girls, they treated it with great generosity and almost carelessness to the point that when a Priest does not wish to use this indult, he is seen as being somehow disobedient to this strange and abnormal practice of regular use of altar girls...
On the other hand, back in the days when the use of the Tridentine Mass was an "indult", most all of the Bishops did not want to be generous in allowing it, and even when congregations availed themselves of this opportunity, they were cast as being somehow off base and disobedient...
I would guess that many American Bishops are not supportive of the widespread use of the "usus antiquior" of the Latin Mass because they perceive it to be some kind of "going backwards" or a repudiation of Vatican II. This is because in the progressive west, the false implementation of Vatican II in a spirit of "rupture" with the whole Tradition that preceded it has distorted and twisted many levels and facets of the Church into a bizarre and twisted mess. As soon as we all re-visit the ACTUAL Vatican II, and start down the path of the "hermeneutic of continuity" to which the Pope is calling us, the "fork in the road" from 40-years back will become a permanent split between the American Protestant catholic church, and the True and Authentic Roman Catholic Church in America. We continue to pray for God's help.
+ God bless you!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
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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