Bishop Rifan was at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, this evening to celebrate a Pontifical Low Mass. I was scheduled to say a Missa Cantata but was happy to say a private Mass earlier in the parish and act as Assistant Priest for the great man. Mgr Gordon Read was the other AP. Neither of us had acted in this capacity before so we needed some prompts here and there. Fortunately, I managed to retain much of what is in Fortescue's mercifully brief chapter on the subject.
Bishop Rifan heads the Apostolic Administration of St John Vianney, established in 2002 in the Diocese of Campos, Brazil, to which about 30,000 faithful are attached. At the end of Mass, after unvesting at the altar and kneeling to say a thanksgiving at the faldstool, he asked us two capellani to accompany him to the back of the Church where he remained to greet all those who had come to the Mass. Nearly all of the people knelt to kiss his ring in recognition of his office as successor to the apostles.
Over dinner afterwards, Bishop Rifan told us of a recently founded group of Franciscans with whom he is great friends. They work with the poor and have established 100 houses in ten years. One of their houses cares for 600 poor people. They have perpetual adoration, live an exemplary life of Franciscan poverty.
Speaking to me personally, the Bishop spoke of how important it is that traditionalists should always show charity to others and avoid bitterness and dissension. His concern was transparently genuine and pastoral. It was a joy to spend an evening assisting him and I look forward to seeing him again at other events this week.
8 comments:
"Speaking to me personally, the Bishop spoke of how important it is that traditionalists should always show charity to others and avoid bitterness and dissension"
And that has to be the key, so often what puts me off fully embracing the "traditionalist" approach is the feeling (probably misplaced) that some traditionalists are more concerned about liturgical correctness than Christian love... so this was really encouraging to hear... thanks!
Your last paragraph reminds me of Bishop Rifan's homily at the Mass in St Joseph's Gateshead in 2005. He said that tradition should make us better Catholics rather than being an abstract end in itself. Very true words indeed. He really is quite an inspirational speaker.
As one discerning a vocation is there any chance you can publish a few more details about those Fransicans? Thank you
Wonderful.
Thank you for the report,Fr.Finigan.
Re: kneeling to kiss Bishop Rifan's ring ~ I was reminded of this passage which was posted some time ago on another blog; I don't know how valid its suggestions are now, but here it is again, if anyone's interested:
From Costume of Prelates of the Catholic Church, according to Roman etiquette page 144
"Should one bend the knee when kissing the episcopal ring? Yes, if the Bishop is within the limits of his own diocese, as it is an acknowledgment of his jurisdiction as Ordinary. Outside of his own diocese, etiquette requires that he should only permit a low bow due to his character as a Bishop.
According to principles frequently laid down in this manual, it is proper to bend the knee to a Cardinal everywhere, to an Archbishop in his province, and to an Abbot in his monastery; and the same honor should also be paid to the Apostolic Delegate throughout the territory of his Delegation."
Although, having said all of that, if everone else was kneeling to kiss his ring, I probably would too; I wouldn't want to appear rude just bowing; however low it was! :c). Hopefully, I'll be present at Bishop Rifan's low Mass at Westminster Cathedral on Friday ~ I'll let you know what I ended up doing! :c).
Father, as I'm sure you're aware this very interesting account has been reposted on the New Liturgical Movement. In the comments over there, the question has come up who exactly these Francsicans Msgr. Rifan referred to are. Would you happen to know more about them? Thank you very much.
Jason - thank you for your precision on etiquette! I remembered that one should kneel on the left knee for a Bishop, the right knee being reserved for the Blessed Sacrament.
I'll be there tomorrow so I will ask the Bishop again about the Franciscans to see if I can get some more details and perhaps a link on the internet.
Jason says that one should only bend the knee to kiss a bishop's ring "if the Bishop is within the limits of his own diocese, as it is an acknowledgment of his jurisdiction as Ordinary".
However, isn't Rifan's See personal rather than territorial?
Post a Comment