Bishop Bernard Wall (1894-1976) of Brentwood (1955-1969) was a good latinist.
At the end of an audience which the English Catholic bishops had of Pope S John XXIII, Wall intoned the chant Ad multos annos, often sung among Catholic clergy in this country on joyous occasions ... for example, when distinguished Dominican theologians are sent to salt mines in Jamaica.
The Holy Pontiff did not long survive this experience.
Could this sort of thing happen nowadays?
The current Holy Father having mocked people for sending him enumerated spiritual bouquets, , would smile and nod and maybe clap his hands at an intoned Ad Multos Annos. Then at a following audience mention something about those who are looking backwards, hinting there is something perverse in them. He really just wants positive vibes, tee shirts and Pachamama beads.
ReplyDeleteEx ore tuo ad aurem Dei!
ReplyDeleteAlthough Pope Francis himself uses a Latin breviary (presumably dating from his late 50s secular priestly studies), his more delicate advisors would see a jab at them, but it is still sung in those Roman seminaries (formal dinners or newly ordained priests like some in the American College on one Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_PdpzkIr8) and any other that have enough priests for a casual or more formal choir, and even Card. Weurl has sung it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_PdpzkIr8). It might be most that most online examples are from nearly 10 years ago, which might be meaningful given recent bullying from the Vatican. Pope Benedict did want all Catholics do share in tradition. Anyhow, Latin as a medium of legal or internal discourse seems fine to the courtiers who only evince discontent when they see when the plebs or little people going to Masses offered using it.
ReplyDeletePope Francis uses the breviary? ANY breviary at all??! This should be investigated thoroughly.
ReplyDelete