Catholic and Loving it!

A recent editorial in The Tablet (I blogged about it here) reported on Archbishop Vincent Nichols having written to Priests attending a training conference in the Extraordinary Form. The folks at the Tablet could hardly contain their joy at the way Archbishop Nichols had given those snivelling traddies a good talking to.

Shortly afterwards Fr Tim Finigan wrote about it saying that The Tablet had it all wrong...

The editorial rightly notes that the Archdiocese of Westminster has sponsored the training course offered by the Latin Mass Society but instead of drawing the obvious conclusion that the usus antiquior is therefore entering the mainstream of ecclesiastical life in England, it presents this as a "control" issue; a claim that the Archdiocese of Westminster might find mildly insulting.

[link]

I wasn't sure. Had the folks at The Tablet picked out some juicy quotes to make it look like Archbishop Nichols was saying what they want him to say or did they have it right? Without seeing the full text of what Archbishop Nichols said, it's hard to say.

The New Liturgical Movement now have the full text and as I like Fr Tim Finigan, I have to say I think he has it wrong this time.

Considering the way our Bishops are usually so careful to avoid treading on anybody's toes, this is a strongly worded letter. In fact, this is one of the strongest worded letters I have seen from the hand of an English Bishop.

Priests’ Residential Training Conference, 24-28 August 2009
All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, Herts

Message from the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster.

I welcome this short Training Conference provided by the Diocese of Westminster in conjunction with the Latin Mass Society. This is the correct description of this event. In both the teaching and law of the Church it is the bishop who has responsibility for the provision and oversight of the Liturgy.

In the Motu Proprio ‘Summorum Pontificum’ Pope Benedict permitted the use of the 1962 Form of the Mass, under clearly defined circumstances. In doing so he insisted that there is one Rite of the Mass in the Latin Church. This makes clear that the ordinary Form of the Mass and this extraordinary Form serve one and the same Rite. They are, therefore, both finding their place in this Summer School and participants will wholeheartedly celebrate the Mass in each of these Forms.

The view that the ordinary Form of the Mass, in itself, is in some way deficient finds no place here. Indeed anyone who holds such a view does not come under the generous provision of ‘Summorum Pontificum’. Such a person is inexorably distancing themselves from the Church.

The Mass is the source and expression of the unity of the Church, for that unity comes from Christ. We have no other. Our unity does not consist in a uniformity of personal use or preference. Indeed, such matters should play a minimum part in our liturgy, particularly in the ministry of the priest. What we priests are to provide, as a key element of our ministry, is the Liturgy of the Church.

The established principle of good liturgy – such as the ‘active participation’ of all taking part in the Mass, in both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist – apply whichever Form of the Mass is being used. This principle needs careful consideration and application by every celebrant and any who help in the preparation of the liturgy. I trust it will find its place in this Summer School.

Pope Benedict has given an additional and delicate task to priests and bishops: the provision of the extraordinary Form of the Mass in response to genuine needs as outlined in the Motu Proprio. I am grateful to you all for helping us to respond to this task, always within the work of sustaining and nurturing the unity of the Church.

+Vincent Nichols
17-709

I'm not sure how anybody can read this and say it is not a "control" issue, the Archbishops meaning is very clear. he is the Bishop and the conference is under his control.In both the teaching and law of the Church it is the bishop who has responsibility for the provision and oversight of the Liturgy.

It's good to see the heroic Archbishop Vincent Nichols laying the smackdown on some seriously dangerous traditionalists. See how he confidently shows them who is the boss. What a guy.

In a moment the big boys from Marriage Care will be coming and Little Vinny will be sure to cross over to the other side of the road in order to avoid passing too close. He will shuffle along awkwardly keeping his eyes to the ground. After all, nobody would want a run in with Terry "Knuckleduster" Prendergast.

Why doesn't Archbishop Vincent Nichols do something about Terry Prendergast? Is it because Bishops are supposed to keep their nose out of marriage? Or is it that he just worried that they might take away his lunch money.