@Contra Mundum@ Volume XIII, Issue 3 October 2010 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite http://www.locutor.net Is this the party to whom I am speaking?

FFECTIVE prayer requires secret shall reward thee openly. Eof us, among other traits, (Matt 6:6). attentiveness. Formulaic language But then consider prayers like the can assist our prayer by providing a Veni Creator, addressed to the Holy linguistic framework for that which Ghost, or the number of hymns and ultimately beckons to us from devotions addressed to God the beyond language, and by consoling Son, for example the Agnus Dei, or us with words of familiarity and the Christe eleison, or that beautiful beauty. Indeed the great appeal of act of spiritual communion: O Anglican and Anglican-use Catholic come into my heart, Lord Jesus, worship lies in the rolling cadences and remain with me forever, or the of the Prayerbook and its occupying sacerdotal pre-communion prayer a sheltering space between a dense Lord Jesus Christ, who hath said language “not understanden of the unto Thine apostles, My peace I people” on the one side and, on leave with you, my peace I give unto the other, the trite and sub-trivial you… and so on. blathering that has infected so much of modern worship. And, of course, we cannot neglect the innumerable prayers addressed Yet with the incorporation of and in Trinitarian Christianity we to Mary and to the in the prayer formulas, the anchor points traditionally direct prayers to one universal practice of the Catholic of our ‘prayer talk’, we run the of the three Persons of the Holy and Orthodox churches, East and danger that all familiarity breeds, Trinity. The Our Father obviously, West. namely of something short of and that highest and most extensive contempt but firmly in the camp of In traditional prayer formulæ liturgical prayer, the Canon of the the addressee appears at the carelessness, of an inattentiveness Mass, along with the most likely which ultimately also detracts from very beginning of the prayer, majority of formal prayers, all usually followed by a phrase of the other traits which our prayer address God the Father, as our should have, namely devotion and characteristic, Almighty God, Blessed Lord did in His prayers and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, dignity. Unconsidered language as He taught us to pray: leads to inconsiderate language. who desireth not the death of a But thou, when thou prayest, sinner…. But in other formulae the When you are praying, it might enter into thy closet, and when prayer begins with an imperative- help first to ask yourself to whom thou hast shut thy door, pray to form request followed by the are you praying. Yes, of course, thy Father which is in secret; addressee usually without an to God. But God is three Persons, and thy Father, which seeth in additional qualifying phrase: Stir Page 18 Contra Mundum up, O Lord, we beseech Thee… speech might appear as a.b, a.b, where secret delivery trick here (try So in nearly every case we the a’s have some structural similarity following this from now on) lies have a way to establish which and the b’s also resemble one another. For in taking the stress off the word Person of the Most Holy Trinity poetic reasons a chiasm turns this natural thanks and placing it on the be, we are invoking for our prayer, order into a.b, b.a, so for example, stout so that we get: Thanks bé to and we should attend to this as hearts and bold warriors (adjective + Gód, which puts the emphasis the very first step of any prayer noun, adjective + noun) would appear where it properly belongs in the discourse. chiastically as stout hearts and warriors first place. But now ask yourself the bold. And so in our Gloria we find: Examples like this abound, of following: When we recite, as we • --Praise to God the Father places where, just like attending do at practically every offering • --Address to God the Father to who the addressee of a prayer of the Sacrifice of the Mass, • --Address to God the Son may be, we must also engage in the major doxology or Glory • --Petition to God the Son the careful consideration of the be to God on high…, whom are actual import of a prayer phrase, and usually with nary a beat skipped we addressing? Interestingly such as, for a final example, between the two addresses, first to what enough this acclamation of praise the minor doxology, Glory (be) has just preceded it: represents a composite of several to the Father, and to the Son… …O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father very distinct segments, as does Almighty. which demands but seldom its correspondent in the Eastern receives a strong emphasis on church. The Western Gloria then immediately, as the address to all Glory (be), the whole theme shows at least three components: that will follow: of the exclamation, and then the song of the heavenly choirs at O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, O a pregnant pause before the the Nativity of our Blessed Lord Lord God, Lamb of God… enumeration of the Persons of (Glory be to God on high…good Well, thanks, you might say for the the Most Holy Trinity: linguistics and stylistics lesson, but what will towards men) as we hear Glóry (bé) ! it reported in Luke 2:14; then does this actually have to do with our a tribute of praise to God the sense of devotion or attentiveness, apart to the Father Father (we praise Thee…for Thy from the welcome lesson of “recognize and to the Son great glory); finally, a petition to whom you are talking to”? and to the Holy Ghost/Spirit… God the Son (O Lord, the only- Just as much of the value of a well-told To whom be all honor and glory, begotten Son…have mercy upon joke lies in the timing of its delivery, forever and ever. Amen. us…receive our prayer). Few of so also the subtleties of timing and --M.J. Connolly us realize this dichotomy, the intonation can affect our understanding transition between which gets ¶ The Revd. Dcn. Connolly of a prayer formula and even distort it to teaches linguistics in Boston College obscured in our traditional way the point of blasphemy: we can intone and serves primarily as Archdeacon at of reading or chanting the Gloria (and indeed some skeptical souls have Holy Cross Armenian in excelsis, and we neglect an spoken) a seemingly innocent phrase in Belmont. He assists frequently in the Anglican Use. His most recent important pause, a shifting of like …according to the Scriptures or gears, between the two parts and contribution to Contra Mundum was in …the Holy Gospel according to Luke March 2010. thus we neglect the movement to suddenly imply ‘Yeah, sure, that’s from praise to petition, from what the scriptures (or Luke) say, but Father to Son. The primary we know better than that’. Or, to take reason for this oversight comes an even more common example, how from the poetical ordering of the often, especially after a particularly long addressees, a rhetorical device reading, has the congregation’s response called a chiasm. Chiasms re- Thanks be to God sounded more like a order elements which in normal ‘Thank God that’s finally over!’? The Contra Mundum Page 19 IN HONOR OF tolic grace and truth, are inherently and intimately of the very fabric of THERESE Christianity…not as ornaments and trimming, but foundational. AZEL is a lovely lady, very de- To acknowledge Jesus as Lord is Hvout, a member of our parish, not automatically to think rightly of on the Family Mass planning com- Him. Many people think wrongly mittee and other parish activities. I about Christ, and therefore about got to know her from attending her His Church. To them, the Apostles during her recuperation from a hys- are only the first Christians. They terectomy; she lives about twelve will be acknowledged as (mostly) blocks from the church. Hazel is a good men because Jesus chose them, nurse. Very practical lady, as are all but who differ from other Christians nurses. mainly because they are named in Father Steven decided that this the Bible! No wonder non-Catholic year we’d have a Novena to Saint Christians give no official place to Therese, the Little Flower. I do the Apostles in their public services. not think this had ever happened Now, my Pastor heard the story This view shows a fundamentally before. It was a good thing to do. and asked, “But what about the different conception of Christianity The Novena Prayers he decided on rose? Did you get the rose?” A than St. Paul had when he wrote that were good, contemporary, printed lot of folk who receive blessings the Church is “built upon the founda- in a folder and said at all Masses through Therese’s intercession get tion of the Apostles.” for nine days before Saint Therese’s roses or smell roses or whatever. Catholics, on the other hand, are feast on October 2 (including the Hazel returned home, having not even content to commemorate Saturday evening/Sunday Masses). been sent home by the puzzled Saints Simon and Jude and the other People were happy to assist at the doctor because she no longer need- Apostles under the great Festival of Novena. I was very happy as well, ed surgery. And at nine o’clock that All Saints. And the reason lies in the as Saint Therese is the most practical night the doorbell rang. It was her very nature of Church life. saint imaginable and there’s LOTS Aunt Rose, unexpectedly visiting, to preach on from her life. Hazel In the prologue of the Fourth Gos- with a plate of cookies. followed this Novena along. pel, St. John says, “grace and truth Father F. Wilson came by Jesus Christ.” (1:17) And She was going in for surgery a the whole weight of the Gospel is week ago last Friday, which as you ¶ This story appeared in Salve! (October 10, 2009) the parish paper of The Church that they still do! For the Church can imagine was one of her Novena of Saint Mary the , Arlington, is Christ’s gift to us, the ongoing intentions. There was some kind of Texas. fellowship of His Body on earth, growth involving an eye, requiring the living organism carrying down surgery. Eye things are worrying. SAINT SIMON & through time a living tradition of She prayed. SAINT JUDE faith because He is in her as He The Novena ended on Friday, Oc- promised He would be. nd Built upon the foundation of the tober 2 , the Feast of Saint Therese Apostles. The truth which is handed down is of Lisieux. Apparently, as Hazel not a new discovery made by us from HAT sturdy phrase from the presented herself for the surgery, the reading the Bible! It is the full rev- collect for this feast of Saints doctor said, “Oh. What happened T elation Christ gave to Apostles who Simon and Jude comes from Ephe- here?” The condition, inexplicably, are not just the personal disciples sians (2:20). It is St. Paul’s affirma- had resolved itself. The growth was of a first century teacher and who tion that the Apostles, and apos- GONE. Nothing to operate on. died sometime after he did! They Page 20 Contra Mundum

to administer sacraments and ordain sons and daughters, and the seven priests, is an absolutely essential gifts of the Holy Spirit. feature of the Church’s oneness. What are the seven gifts of the Holy So when we say in the Creed we Spirit? Wisdom gives us a love for believe in one, holy, catholic, and the things of God, and directs our apostolic Church, we are not just whole life and all our actions to His stringing together some adjectives as honour and glory. Understanding optional descriptions we can take or enables us to fathom more deeply the leave. The Apostles link us to Jesus mysteries of the faith. Counsel (right Christ from whom come grace and judgement) warns us of the tricks truth. and deceptions played by the devil, and puts us on guard against those are “Apostello” SENT OUT FROM Holy Simon and Jude, pray for us. things which threaten our salvation. the Son of God, and who continue to ¶ A sermon preached by Father Bradford on Fortitude (courage) strengthens us to guard the doctrine that comes from Wednesday, October 28, 2009 in St. Theresa want to try and do the will of God in their Master. of Avila Church. all circumstances and events of our That tradition is already mentioned life. Knowledge enables us to discern in The Acts of the Apostles. “Tradi- the will of God in all things. Piety tion” has the same root word as “trai- (love) makes us love God above all tor.” A traitor is one who hands over ABOUT other things, and therefore want to things to an enemy. Well, an Apostle obey Him because we love Him. hands over the things of God to souls CONFIRMATION Fear of the Lord (reverence) fills us in need of salvation. Souls in need of with a hatred for sin in all its aspects HE sacrament of confirmation salvation deserve nothing less. and all its effects. Tis one of the most important All through the New Testament and ways that the Holy Spirit works in These seven gifts of the Holy in the affairs of the early Church, our lives, yet it is often neglected. Spirit are not to be experienced as there is a never a sense of “We think” In confirmation God completes, an emotional ‘high’. They are spiri- or “Here’s how I read the Bible.” It strengthens and seals our baptism. tual realities which are given to the is always a bold assertion of the ap- We commit ourselves irrevocably to soul, and which can be drawn on ostolic tradition. When we celebrate God, and He seals us indelibly with whenever we need to. All we have the festivals of the Apostles we are the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift to do is to ask God to help us utilise affirming a fundamental assertion of can never be repeated nor can it ever the gifts we already possess. At the the essential principle of the revela- be taken away. Once a confirmed actual moment of confirmation, we tion of truth. Christ chose to do it Catholic, always a confirmed Catho- may not feel anything. But the gifts this way. lic. Once we have been confirmed are always given, and permanently. There is a second reason why we we can never truly speaking lose We should receive the sacrament of commemorate the Apostles. They our faith. Even grave sin or years confirmation in a state of grace, after hold the same relation to grace that of lapsation will not remove God’s making a good confession, and in they do to truth. Just as truth was mark of adoption from our souls. the right frame of mind, being com- pletely open to all the good things revealed and handed down through The spiritual effects of confirma- which the Holy Spirit offers us. the Twelve Apostles, so too grace tion are the following: an increase was received first by them and of the sanctifying grace we received This sacrament is the way we come handed down through ordination in in baptism, the strengthening of our to share in what was given to the an apostolical succession. That dis- faith, an indelible mark of adoption Apostles on the day of Pentecost. pensation of grace first committed imprinted by God on our soul which By a special outpouring of the Holy to the Apostles who were authorized marks us out for ever as His beloved Spirit, the Apostles were confirmed, Contra Mundum Page 21

HOLY INDIFFERENCE OTHING is more character- Nistic of Jesus’ method than his indifference to the many—his devotion to the single soul. His at- titude to the public, and his attitude to a private person were a contrast and a contradiction. If his work was likely to cause a sensation, Jesus charged his disciples to let no man know it: if the people got wind of him, he fled to solitary places: if they found him, as soon as might be he escaped. But he that is, strengthened. Their under- It means setting a good example at all used to take young men home with standing was flooded with the clear times (there are no vacations from our him, who wished to ask questions: light of revealed truth. Their minds vocation); being well-informed about he would spend all night with a grasped more fully the meaning what the Church teaches in matters of perplexed scholar: he gave an af- of the doctrines that Christ had faith and morals, so that we can give a ternoon to a Samaritan woman. He revealed to them. Their wills were sensible and effective answer to those denied himself to the multitude: he fully converted to pursuing the in- who question us about our beliefs; lay in wait for the individual. This terests and prerogatives of Christ, praying each day for the whole Church, was not because he undervalued a so that they were able fearlessly to for the Pope, for the Bishops and all thousand, it was because he could preach the Good News of His death the faithful. In short, it involves being not work on the thousand scale: and resurrection. The Holy Spirit a strong and reliable link in the chain it was not because he overvalued sealed their vocation to - of faith, love and service which goes the individual, it was because his ship and apostolate. right back to Christ Himself and His method was arranged for the scale of one. (John Watson in The Mind Discipleship means following first twelve Apostles. Apostolate means of the Master.) Christ as the truth, the life and the doing things for Christ by doing things way; having no other gods; striv- for the salvation of souls. ¶ From the August 29, 2009 issue of the ing to model our lives on His life In the gospel Christ tells us “Without parish paper (No. 133) The Church of the Good Shepherd, East Chicago, Indiana. and the life of His Blessed Mother me you can do nothing.” The fullness and all the Saints. Discipleship of discipleship and apostolate are not means cultivating a strong personal possible for us without drawing on love for Christ, for the Church He what God gives us in the sacrament founded, and all which that Church of confirmation. If we respond to this teaches in His name and with His sacramental outpouring of the Holy personal authority. Spirit, and if we cooperate with His Apostolate means sharing in the promptings in our soul, we will become vocation and the mission of the aware of the greater glory, and the good Apostles; doing all we can to bring of all His Holy Church. others to know and love God bet- ¶ An article “From the Provost” in the May ter; defending the Catholic Church 2010 issue of The Oratory Magazine, Vol. 87, No. 1068, a publication of The Brompton Christ with Nicodemus and its teachings when necessary. (London) Oratory. Page 22 Contra Mundum SHORT NOTES Ñ Our friend Clayton, artist- their families are invited to attend in-residence in Col- classes, have lunch, converse with Ñ Many thanks to Father James lege, Merrimack, New Hampshire, students, and meet with professors. O’Driscoll for being our celebrant is hosting a 13-part television show Located just outside of Boston in and preacher on the first two Sun- entitled “The Way of Beauty.” In it scenic Merrimack, NH, Thomas days in September. Fr. O’Driscoll is he explores how Christian culture More College is ranked as one of a good and long-time friend of the is patterned after the cosmic order the nation’s top liberal arts programs congregation. He is parochial vicar and that all creation and human offering an authentically Catholic in Holy Family Parish, Rockland. activity receives its fullest mean- campus life, a full semester abroad Ñ Thanks also to Steve Cavanaugh ing in the rhythms and patterns of in Rome, and a guild system where for coordinating arrangements for the Church’s liturgy. Check your students gain practical skills through this year’s joint Evensong at Stone- local Catholic TV station or www. master craftsmen. For more informa- hill College, which we co-host along CatholicTV.com/catholic-art. tion, and to register, please contact with Saint Paul’s Anglican Church the admissions office at (603) 880- Ñ Speaking of Thomas More Col- in Brockton. 8308 or send email to admissions@ lege, the college is hosting a Fall ThomasMoreCollege.edu. Ñ Confirmation Classes will be- Open House on Columbus Day, gin this month for adults planning Monday, October 11, 2010. All Ñ Eastern Standard Time returns to enter the Catholic Church. The high school seniors, juniors, and Sunday, November 7th. series is based on The Catechism of the Catholic Church and a syllabus is available. Ñ Our long-distance parishioner Ryan Amman has been traveling in Europe and recently sent a card from Munich. Ryan is an architect with a practice based in Albany, New York. Ñ An Every Member Canvass will take place during October in support of the parish program for the com- ing year. Ñ Respect Life Sunday is October 3rd. There will be a youth rally at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 11:30 a.m. at the Ca- thedral of the Holy Cross on Wash- ington St. in Boston. Participants are ALL SAINTS’ DAY then invited to join the Walk for Life Monday, November 1, 2010 ALL SOULS’ DAY is Tuesday, nd at the Boston Common. Procession, Solemn Mass & November 2 . Intercession pa- pers are available at the Church Ñ Also on October 3rd, the Francis- Sermon 7:30 p.m. for names of departed souls to be can Friars at St. Anthony’s Shrine on remembered at the Requiem Mass. Arch Street in Boston will celebrate ¶ All Saints’ Day is technically The Mass is at 7:30 p.m. the Transitus of St. Francis, com- not of obligation when it falls on memorating his passage into eternal a Monday. But the faithful will be life. The service will be held from in the habit of attending Mass on 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. that day. Contra Mundum Page 23 British Martyrs

VER the years 200 men and Blessed Ralph Crockett Owomen have been beatified for Priest and Martyr († 1588) their heroic witness to the Catholic Faith ALPH Crockett, of Barton-on- in the British Isles during and after the Rthe-Hill, England, journeyed to Protestant Reformation. Here we con- the continent to study for the priest- tinue brief mention of some of these hood at the English college in Reims, individual martyrs. France. Following his ordination, Fa- Blessed Robert Bickerdike ther Crockett embarked upon a ship Martyr († 1586) bound for England in April of 1586 OBERT Bickerdike, a Catholic together with three other priests. Rlayman of Low Hall, Yorkshire, The ship ran aground along the England, was arrested by the Protes- English coast, where a magistrate of tant agents of Queen Elizabeth I for England’s anti-Catholic Elizabethan having provided a glass of ale to a regime, who had boarded the vessel priest, the future martyr (Saint) John to search it, discovered the priests Boste. During his interrogation, Rob- and apprehended them. After spend- The next Evensong & Benediction ert was asked which side he would ing two and a half years in prison, is Sunday, November 21st, being take if the pope or the Catholic king Father Crockett was condemned the Solemnity of Christ the King. of Spain, acting on the pope’s behalf, simply for being a priest, having been Service time is 5:00 p.m. were to send an invading force into charged with violating a parliamen- the country. Robert replied that in tary statue of 1585 (“27 Elizabeth c. The Congregation such an event he would do as God 2”) mandating the execution of all would enlighten him to do. This Catholic priests ordained since June of Saint Athanasius answer was used to charge him with 24, 1559, who had come into Eng- The Revd. treason, but the jury acquitted him. land or had remained in the country Richard Sterling Bradford, The judge, however, refused to ac- and had refused to take the oath of Chaplain cept their decision and had Robert supremacy (a profession of Queen Saint Lawrence Church retried before a different jury. Robert Elizabeth’s supremacy over the 774 Boylston Ave. was thereupon condemned to death Church in England). On October 1, Chestnut Hill, Mass. by drawing and quartering for hav- 1588, Father Crockett was executed ing returned to the Catholic faith by drawing and quartering along (Parking lot behind earlier in his life, for having refused with another of the priests arrested church.) to attend a Protestant church service, with him, (Blessed) Edward Jones, Sundays 11:30 a.m. and for having said in reply to the after the two had given each other invasion question that “he would do sacramental absolution. Sung Mass as God should put him in mind.” His Fellowship and Coffee in Reprinted from Magnificat, October 2009, sentence was carried out on October Vol. 11, No. 8, p. 44. With permission of the Undercroft after Mass 8, 1586. Magnificat® USA, LLC, Dunwoodie - 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers, New York Reprinted from Magnificat, October 2007, 10704 or Web site: www.magnificat.net. All Rectory: Vol. 9, No. 8, p. 123. With permission of rights reserved. 767 West Roxbury Pkwy. Magnificat® USA, LLC, Dunwoodie - 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers, New York Boston, MA 02132-2121 10704 or Web site: www.magnificat.net. All Tel/Fax: (617) 325-5232 rights reserved. http://www.locutor.net Page 24 Contra Mundum

St. Lawrence Church, 774 Boylston Street (Route 9). Park in the church parking lot behind the Church, off of Reservoir Rd. Chestnut Hill Directions by Car: From the North or South: Route 128 to Route 9. At signal for Reservoir Channing Road Road, take right; Church parking lot is a short Eliot St. Av distance on left. e From Boston: From Stuart/Kneeland St., turn left onto Park Plaza. Drive for 0.2 miles. Park Plaza Boylston St. (Rte 9) becomes St James Avenue. Drive for 0.3 miles. Lee St. Brookline Turn slight left onto ramp. Drive for 0.1 miles. Go Reservoir straight on Route-9. Drive for 3.5 miles. Turn left Reser voir Rd onto Heath Street. Drive for 0.1 miles. Go straight Heath St. on Reservoir Road. Drive for 0.1 miles. Parking . lot is on your right. Directions by Public Transportation: Green line to Kenmore Square terminal. Bus #60, has a stop Low in front of the Church. The Church is a 15-min- ell Lane ute walk from the Cleveland Circle Green Line St Lawrence Church station. On weekdays and Saturdays only the #51 bus route which runs from Cleveland Circle to Heath St. Forest Hills via Hancock Village is a 3-minute bus trip from Chestnut Hill/Reservoir, which stops at Lee St.

Contra Mundum The Congregation of St. Athanasius 10 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132