Author: John Schultz

Can USA Today write with authority about the Latin Mass?

I don’t think so.
Not enough time to deconstruct the entire piece, but here’s a silly quote from Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington:

“Of 150,000 people in the Washington DC area who attend Mass each week, less than 500 choose the Tridentine Mass,” which has been available in the city since 1985. Accessibility isn’t an issue, since the rite is already offered in three locations scattered across the city and suburbs.

Already offered in three locations scattered across the city and suburbs. Makes it sound like you can just get up and walk over to a Tridentine Mass any given Sunday. Here are the three parishes that celebrate the Tridentine Mass. That’s exactly the same number of parishes that celebrate the Mass in French and Tagalog. The Tridentine Mass is celebrated at only one downtown parish and two in Maryland. And as you can see – DC is a pretty big place. And yet the spokeperson for the diocese can say – geez, only 500 show up for it.
And here’s the most ignorant thing I’ve read in 2007:

In addition to the Latin prayers, which are different from those used in the modern liturgy, Tridentine priests face the altar, so that he is seen as leading the faithful in prayer. The rank and file don’t participate actively in the service.

Sounds like the author interviewed a renegade DRE for this article.
Thanks, McPaper! You have proven worthy for use only in the smallest room in my house.

Sem Photos

My brother Steve, who is a seminarian for the Diocese of Arlington and
entering Third Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, has a bunch
of interesting photos posted on his flickr site.
There are quite a lot of photos of events at the seminary, but a
couple of photos and sets are worth a look:
Mary Immaculate Center and the Queen of All Saints Chapel
John Paul II
And last but not least, a beautiful photo he took a few years ago of
my wife Teresa.
Check back often – he adds new photos with some frequency!