Thursday, September 03, 2009
He warned against “harsh judgments’’ and attributing “the worst motives’’...
"Do not yoke yourselves in a mismatch with unbelievers. After all, what does righteousness and lawlessness have in common, or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What accord is there between Christ and Belial, what common lot between believer and unbeliever? Tell me what agreement there is between the temple of God and idols?" - 2 Corinthians 6: 14-16
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The old Cistercian funeral rite had the monks prostrating on their knuckles at the graveside, singing three times, "O Lord, be Thou merciful to a sinner." The traditional Requiem and funeral rites are profoundly expressive of what Pope John Paul II called the "mystery of iniquity" encountering "the mystery of Divine Mercy." A funeral Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary offered in contrite and humble supplication for a poor sinner. The traditional liturgy expressed this most poignantly. What makes so many Catholic funerals disturbingly inappropriate is the cumulative effect of white vestments, triumphant hymns, prayer texts that depart from the Church's age old tradition of impetration on behalf of the deceased, and eulogies. The reform of the funeral rites has shown itself to be a theological,liturgical, and pastoral disaster. We all need to open our old Missals to study and savor and prayer the traditional Requiem Mass and burial rites. And be sure to ask for them while you can!
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