Author: Richard Chonak

The word came out last week that Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Ecclesia Dei commission, had decided to celebrate the old form of Mass in the basilica of St Mary Major on May 24. It’s a milestone in itself: the first such celebration in a major basilica since 1970, and undertaken at the cardinal’s own initiative, not at the request of the laity. Members of a chant choir in Paris were invited to sing for the Mass, leading to the suggestion that there weren’t enough cantors in Italy familiar with the old rite to do the occasion justice.
Today’s report (subscription required) that three of the four bishops of the Lefebvre movement will return to ecclesial communion and mark the event at that Mass (see also Ad Orientem) is a very hopeful sign.
Even the bad news — the one bishop not including himself in the reconciliation — is sort of good news. Given his reputation for bizarre opinions, Bp. Williamson does not really seem to be suitable for the episcopal dignity.

Northeastern Brazil, that is. The NYTimes (LRR) takes a look at the country’s largest open-air theater spectacle: a family-run Passion Play that started over 50 years ago. It began with kids wearing sheets from the family’s hotel, but now features well-known actors. This year Jesus in the Pacheco production is played by Luciano Szafir, the handsome, dark-haired star of a popular [TV] Globo soap opera called “The Clone,” who was promoted from the role of Pontius Pilate. At the premiere, when his shirt was removed during a poignant scene in which Jesus is whipped and a crown of thorns is placed on his head, clusters of teenage girls began to squeal and take his photograph. It has even spawned a rival production in Recife:

From Drudge: The Weekly Standard reports that Bp. Robert Carlson of Sioux Falls has told abortion-supporting Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle to stop promoting himself as a Catholic in good standing. Thank you, Bishop Carlson!

A couple of newly announced episcopal appointments suggest possible movement in Vatican-Russian relations.
Bishop Jerzy Mazur, SVD, has been named bishop of the city of Elk in Poland. Since 1998 he served as bishop in Irkutsk in Siberia, but after the Pope formally established Bp. Mazur’s territory as a diocese in 2002, Russian authorities revoked his visa and have impeded him from returning there.
Bishop Cyryl Klimowicz, now an auxiliary in Minsk (Belarus), has been named to succeed Bp. Mazur. Is this Rome’s way of finessing the conflict?

The Pope is scheduled to sign it later today at the Holy Thursday evening liturgy.