If I Am A Priest, Can I...

[Moneybags]

God-willing, when I am a priest, I want to know if I will be able to do the following things. If possible, could you attach a referenced Church document to support your answer. I would appreciate any feedback. So here are some things I am wondering if I would be able to do:

1) Wear traditional looking vestments. It seems most priests who offer the Tridentine Mass where more "lacy" looking white vestments (I believe they are albs).

2) Wear the maniple

3) Wear the biretta

4) Install a marble altar and/or turn the altar to face East

5) Re-install altar rails

Here's a few more:

6) Have my altar servers wear cassocks and surplices (the white over the black)

7) Include Latin prayers like the Sanctus and Agnus Dei in the Mass?

[homeschoolmom]

I don't see why you couldn't say the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei... our parish does (sometimes). And we're just sort of a normal parish.

[Oik]

St Benedict,

You follow the traditions of you Church, the Roman Church.


[quote]1) Wear traditional looking vestments. It seems most priests who offer the Tridentine Mass where more "lacy" looking white vestments (I believe they are albs).[/quote]

The style of vestments do not matter, whether they are gothic or baroque.

[quote]2) Wear the maniple[/quote]
Uhh...I can't help you here. In the current Missal I do not think the maniple has a purpose according to the rubrics.

[quote]3) Wear the biretta[/quote]
I don't see why not, as long as you follow the norms along with wearing it.

[quote]4) Install a marble altar and/or turn the altar to face East[/quote]
I do not think you can just replace an altar in a church without necessity.

As far as turning the altar, I don't know what you mean.

A have heard that the direction the priest faces is determined by the Bishop.

[quote]5) Re-install altar rails[/quote]
You could I suppose. People could not be forced to use it though. They are also very expensive.

[quote]Here's a few more:

6) Have my altar servers wear cassocks and surplices (the white over the black)[/quote]
You could do this too. I do not think this is a matter that the Bishop of your Diocese decides.

[quote]7) Include Latin prayers like the Sanctus and Agnus Dei in the Mass?[/quote]

Yes, but according to the normative Pauline Missal, respectively.

[aalpha1989]

You would have to get the altar dedicated and blessed by the bishop....I DO know that altars are supposed to face east. In my novus ordo parish, it does. It is the people that face west. I have read the Spirit of the Liturgy by Ratzinger, so I know that everyone is supposed to face east, people just don't get it....but in my parish (and almost all of the parishes of my county, i've been to a lot of them) you would have to turn the congregation, not the altar. Anyway, I'm sure you could do most of what you said....or you could just join the FSSP and then it would be normal for you to do that stuff.

[Resurrexi]

All priests are allowed to say the Novus Ordo Missae in Latin whenever they want with not indult, and no-one except the Pope can prohibit him.

[Paddington]

[quote name='aalpha1989' post='1160202' date='Jan 9 2007, 10:17 PM']
You would have to get the altar dedicated and blessed by the bishop....I DO know that altars are supposed to face east. In my novus ordo parish, it does. It is the people that face west. I have read the Spirit of the Liturgy by Ratzinger, so I know that everyone is supposed to face east, people just don't get it....[/quote]


aalpha1989,

First of all, I believe you. I know the EOC faces East. My whole thing is that...I was raised Catholic (nominal), and, well, at my parish, umm, well, the thing of it is, and you'll laugh when you hear this, it's nothing really, umm, well, I'll just tell you, umm, geesh, don't worry it's coming, how do I say this?, well, it's just that, okay here it goes, I promise, it's coming, umm, plplplplpl, this won't come out right, ugh, okay, here it is........the altar faced north and the people faced south. There, I said it.
That could be why I never heard about the facing-east-thing while growing up. I don't blame anybody there who "doesn't get it" when the church was built that way.


Peace,
Paddington

EDIT:
I just remembered that my mom's parish faces north while the altar faces south. That is 0-2 then. I only am familar with 2 parishes in the whole universe.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Paddington

[Theologian in Training]

St. Benedict,

As a priest, who lost a good priest friend to a schismatic "church" not even associated with the Vatican (he was convinced we are going to Hell because we are not doing all Latin) I would warn you on some of those things that you wish to do. While it is not a problem for a pastor (the physical changes, that is) some of those things would be very difficult for a new associate starting out. You have to understand that while you like those things and see nothing wrong with them (which there isn't) many will look upon you as rigid, as "too traditional" and, I will be honest, people will give you a hard time. In fact, it was one of the reasons my priest friend left, well, that and the fact that his pastor and him did not see eye to eye on many theological issues, especially given where he was going.

I am not saying you can't do those things, but I think there should be a level of prudence when "coming out of the gate," as it were. Also, depending on the seminary that you will study at, that has been known to cause a lot of friction with some people, especially the formational staff. So, while I understand your fervor and desire, at the same time, you need to remember that not everyone thinks it is a good thing, and some will even see it as a way to go "back in time."

I am merely offering my observations from what I have seen, and giving you a friendly warning if you are accepted into the seminary.

God Bless

Fr. Brian

[Moneybags]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1160618' date='Jan 10 2007, 11:06 AM']I am not saying you can't do those things, but I think there should be a level of prudence when "coming out of the gate," as it were. Also, depending on the seminary that you will study at, that has been known to cause a lot of friction with some people, especially the formational staff. So, while I understand your fervor and desire, at the same time, you need to remember that not everyone thinks it is a good thing, and some will even see it as a way to go "back in time." [/quote]

I understand completely. I do not plan to come out of the seminary and do those things. I am here to serve the Lord and His Church. Everything has its proper time, and I will wait to do such Traditional things if I must. I am going to above all, do what I think is best for the faithful and what my bishop says.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1160638' date='Jan 10 2007, 12:33 PM']
I understand completely. I do not plan to come out of the seminary and do those things. I am here to serve the Lord and His Church. Everything has its proper time, and I will wait to do such Traditional things if I must. I am going to above all, do what I think is best for the faithful and what my bishop says.


[/quote]

wise decision...just don't forget it, as I have also seen happen...

[LouisvilleFan]

Funny... I was curious if I could adopt a kid.

[Moneybags]

I believe reading from Cardinal Arinze that the biretta and maniple are still allowed - they were never abolished. Does anyone know of references and/or pictures showing their usage by priests in Communion with Rome? I mean their usage in the Novus Ordo Liturgy.

Edited January 10, 2007 by St. Benedict

[brendan1104]

My priest wears a biretta at the new mass when there's a procession/a feastday. I recall the examples of Fr. Bryce Sibley, Assumption Grotto, and those mentioned recently at The New Liturgical Movement blog.

[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1160863' date='Jan 10 2007, 04:57 PM']
I believe reading from Cardinal Arinze that the biretta and maniple are still allowed - they were never abolished. Does anyone know of references and/or pictures showing their usage by priests in Communion with Rome? I mean their usage in the Novus Ordo Liturgy.
[/quote]

[Moneybags]

[quote name='brendan1104' post='1160880' date='Jan 10 2007, 06:23 PM']
My priest wears a biretta at the new mass when there's a procession/a feastday. I recall the examples of Fr. Bryce Sibley, Assumption Grotto, and those mentioned recently at The New Liturgical Movement blog.
[/quote]

I remember seeing the biretta recently on The New Liturgical Movement too. Do you know the specific situations when the biretta is used? For example, I understand it is not to be worn while incensing. Here is the post:

[url="http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2006/12/smaller-parishes-and-reform-of-reform.html"]http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.c...-of-reform.html[/url]

And in the comments, there was a response saying that the maniple is still allowed. Does anyone have a priest or know of one that uses the maniple?

[brendan1104]

The procession and the recessional, and during the homily.

Like I said Fr. Sibley wears the maniple.


[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1160905' date='Jan 10 2007, 05:57 PM']
I remember seeing the biretta recently on The New Liturgical Movement too. Do you know the specific situations when the biretta is used? For example, I understand it is not to be worn while incensing. Here is the post:

[url="http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2006/12/smaller-parishes-and-reform-of-reform.html"]http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.c...-of-reform.html[/url]

And in the comments, there was a response saying that the maniple is still allowed. Does anyone have a priest or know of one that uses the maniple?
[/quote]

[Moneybags]

[quote name='brendan1104' post='1160980' date='Jan 10 2007, 07:44 PM']
The procession and the recessional, and during the homily.

Like I said Fr. Sibley wears the maniple.
[/quote]

Than the maniple must be allowed.

Thank you!