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Question
Father,
I am 15 years of age, and I love God truly I do, and lately I have been having these "thoughts" in my mind to talk to someone about my faith. I spoke to my dad who is a training Priest, and is part of the ECC in the USA, and he thinks I might be having a call from God to ask questions and get answers from someone. Any Advice?
Also, I am an Anglo-Catholic, and wondered when praying the Rosary in Church am I allowed to use the book to help me, because I never can remember all the prayers?
I am also trying to learn Latin. Any advice?
Thank you Father
God Bless
Matthew
Hi, Matthew:
Thanks for the question - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I think it's great that you are praying the Rosary in Church, and I certainly can't see anything wrong with using a book to help you with the prayers. I am so happy to see that you are interested in learning Latin - it is such an important language for western culture and civilization, especially for things pertaining to the Church. As you study Latin more-and-more, you will certainly find that it will even help your command of English in many ways.
I trained two of my Altar Boys at my Parish here how to make all of the responses for the older form of the Traditional Latin Mass by having somebody take an old phonograph record from the 1940's or 1950's with the responses for Mass on it, and transferring it to a CD format. The boys had no previous experience with Latin, and within just a couple of weeks, they knew how to say all of the necessary responses.
Have you or your father looked into the Apostolic Provision of Pope Benedict XVI for coming into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church?
Feel free to email me any time: timothydaj@yahoo.com
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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