17 January 2016

Next Sunday, January 24

What a pity that the CBCEW has parked Racial Justice Day onto what, this year, is the Sunday within the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Yet another indication, I suppose, of how far "Unity" has now slipped from being a sexy cause.

The "Liturgy Office" Website says that RJD is now permanently on the Third Sunday before Lent. What has Septuagesima done to deserve this?

According to Archbishop Longley, the "Liturgy Office" itself didn't get round to doing anything about the imminence of this year's RJD until a day or three ago. Shows how unimportant all this stuff is even to them!

I wonder how much the "Liturgy Office" costs each year; and whether it serves any purpose other than that of manufacturing its own job. Anybody got copies of the CBCEW budget? And do diocesan budgets reveal the costs of "Diocesan Liturgy Offices" or whatever they're called? How much is this industry costing the aging pewfodder?

In the Ordinariate, despite having our own sui iuris usage of the Roman Rite with its different Calendar and ORDO, we don't, as far as I am aware, pay anybody to fulfil such roles. World-wide Traddidom leaves management of the Extraordinary Form to the Ecclesia Dei people in Rome. We travel light (expediti) through this world!

Does the Ukrainian Eparch have an Eparchial Liturgy Office? Or do his folk just get on with praying their ancient and beautiful Liturgy, and letting it form them with its untrendy eternal truths?

12 comments:

Nicolas Bellord said...

There is an interview on the National Catholic Register of Father Norbert Hoffman by Edward Pentin. Fr Hoffman is the secretary of the body that issued the latest document on the relationship between the Church and the Jews. He says that the prayer written by Pope Benedict XVI on the Jews is perfectly acceptable as it is merely a prayer for the conversion of the Jews and not a call to conversion (spot the difference!). So what problem do the CBCEW have with it?

Victor said...

I agree that nobody - and least of all the Ordinariate - needs a liturgy office. But if it will ever be introduced, I vote for Fr Hunwicke to be its head.

Edwin said...

Nice one, Fr John - but remember in the dear old CofE every diocese had its own liturgical experts, every parish its liturgy committee and as for the General Synod! semper quidquid de novo. So be grateful for small mercies.

Fr John Hunwicke said...

Well indeed, Monsignore; you inspire me to argue that the extent to which a body needs Liturgy Offices is the measure of its own liturgical decadence!

Fr John Hunwicke said...

... not that any of the parishes I served in had a Liturgy Committee ...

Joshua said...

I don't like the term "Racial Justice" - Herr Hitler and his followers would have thought themselves paragons of virtue in promoting their perverted notions of Racial Justice.

Surely "Anti-Racism" would be far less ambiguous? One may as well celebrate "Cancer Day", which would seem to encourage gladness at the demise of those afflicted with such.

Joshua said...

I recall your hilarious description of your first Sunday at a parish whose good people had assured you "We're strictly BCP", whereupon you gave them the 1662 BCP, Julian Calendar, prayers for King Charles II and the rest. I assume their de facto liturgy committee realised their terminological inexactitude had failed to guide you toward their actual Use (something rather Missal-like, if I recall your account).

Auriel Ragmon said...

Oh Father, just do the black and read the red, whatever that may be?
Jim of Olym, errant Orthodox in Patagonia north (Olympia WA)

Auriel Ragmon said...

PS /we Orhodox don't do 'Liturgy Committees'. We just follow our typicons and bisnops, mostly. It's easier that way.
Jim of oLym

John F H H said...

I've always rather assumed that the Anglican Liturgy Office resided in the study of the compiler of Ordo Missæ Celebrandæ at Divini Officii Persolvendæ pro Anno Liturgico ....

Anonymous said...

We the Romans took out the Act of Confession just before communion and the Indulgentionem Absolutem after the first act of confession. The Byzantines kept intact the most wonderful prayer before their Holy Communion".
O my God, I believe and I profess that you are Christ the Son of the Living God who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first: accept me this day O son of God as a partaker in your mystical Supper for I will not betray you Mysteries to Your enemies with a kiss as did Judas but like the thief I confess"....There is more. It is a very firm protestation of belief in the Eucharist somewhat lacking in the Roman Mass.

John Patrick said...

Mike Hurcum, I use that as a private devotion. Something to do while the 17 or so "eucharistic ministers" are receiving their communion.