AboutFr. 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.
Question QUESTION: Father, why do you call yourself a Traditional Catholic priest when you offer up the Norvus Ordo Mass. I myself a Traditional Catholic would never again attend the new mass and neither would the Traditional priests I've come to know offer this new mass. It's either one or the other.
ANSWER: Hi, Gene:
Thanks for the statement-like question...
The Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of the Cross by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. The whole Theology of the matter is defined by the Council of Trent, and was reaffirmed explicitly in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI. Pope Benedict XVI, gloriously reigning, certainly does not say "It's either one or the other." Yes - there has been great confusion in the wake of the cultural and religious revolution that took off on the heels of the Second Vatican Council; but as with so many things such as this, we must be patient and persevere.
The Holy Father keeps emphasizing the hermeneutic of continuity in the Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is under the Authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. I am able to celebrate either form in good conscience... if I did not believe this, I certainly would not do so. So, yes, I am a Traditional Roman Catholic Priest because I am in continuity with the defined doctrines of the same Church established and constituted by Jesus Christ.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Father, first I want to say I don't mean any disrespect. However, how can you define the second Vatican council as being in continuity with 2000 years of Catholicism? Where so much dogma has become extinct, such as all Christian denominations will be saved. And, Please tell me why in the world would they place 6 protestant ministers on this council, what heresy I say.
As a result our Traditional Mass, the heart and soul of the Church has been replaced with a heretic mass such as the Norvus Ordo, where the majority of the prayers are taken out, and different liturgy resulting in an invalid sacrifice, which is nearly identical to protestant service.
Yes the current Pope is trying to encourage usage of the Traditional Mass, but that will never remove the damage of Vatican II. Many conscience Priests leave the Norvus Ordo and retreat to the Traditional Church focuses on solely pre - Vatican II tradition as well as lay people. I am one of those. The last time I went to Norvus Ordo Mass I was sick to my stomach. The Protestant singing, the offertory prayers, the sacrilege of the Eucharistic minister, drinking out of the chalice, and lets not leave out receiving communion in the hand and men and woman dressed like garbage in street clothes. and nobody says nothing or sees anything wrong with it. Now tell me Father if I were to go to one of your Masses would be any different?
so I say once again if your a Norvus Ordo presbyter under a Church that practices the new how are you staying true to the old? It's either one or the other.
Answer Hi, Gene:
I am not certain where you are getting your ideas about the Documents of Vatican II making dogma extinct; or your basis for claiming the Church officially states or teaches that all Christian denominations will be saved.
The Sacrifice of the Mass at its heart happens through the separate consecration of the Host and the Chalice. Why would you claim there is no consecration at what you call the "Norvus Ordo" Mass? The Mass you are trying to refer to is the "Ordo Missae" promulgated under the authority of Pope Paul VI. If you study the matter a little more closely, you would actually find that many mainline denominations actually have imitated and tried to copy much of the Catholic Mass, whether of the Ordinary or Extraordinary Form.
I would also suggest that you study the Apostolic Letter of Pope Pius XII concerning the rites of Sacred Ordination in terms of what he defines as "matter and form" in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Your strange practice of using the ancient word "presbyter" as if it were somehow a bad or derogatory thing just shows how much you really do need to study the matter. The very word "priest" comes from the word "presbyter" by way of the Latin, which in turn, comes by way of the original Greek. Look at the Tridentine form of Ordination to the Priesthood, and you will see that the very word "presbyter" (in Latin) is used.
