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About 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, and so am entering into my 7th year of Sacred Ministry.

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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Catholics - Relics

Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/21/2009

Question
Father, how can I go about purchasing 1st class relics?

Answer
Hi, Gene:
Thanks for the question...
This is definitely something getting somewhat out of my league; but I am certain that one ought to be careful in using the language of "commerce, purchasing, and buying" when it comes to such holy things as relics. One must be careful to avoid the territory of the sin of simony, or the purchasing of holy things or spiritual blessings.
A 1st Class Relic is an actual body part of a canonized Saint - God's holy one. I suspect that such items are not merely for private collectors; and should one have some good reason for obtaining this relic, one must be able to demonstrate an ability to keep it within an environment and context of due and proper veneration. I would suspect that if any money were to be exchanged in the proper acquisition of a relic, the money would not be a means of legal tender for the holy object itself... I think that any amount of money would have to do merely with some sort of other costs associated with keeping and transfer of the relic, e.g. the cost of transporting it safely, and the cost of a noble and dignified reliquary (that vessel which holds the relic itself).
I have had the experience of virtually cringing when I have on rare occasion had a person ask me about "buying some Masses" in reference to the "Mass offering stipend." Of course the giving of the offering has to do with a collateral pledge from the donor to one (a Priest) who has then the duty AS A MATTER OF JUSTICE to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for particular intention requested. At the same time, the Code of Canon Law concedes that when a donor really and truly cannot give an offering, a Priest really must try in a reasonable manner to say Mass for that person's intention requested, even without a stipend.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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