The old chestnut I am referring to is the unbelievably silly interpretation of the rubric of the new Missal (older version) which said that, by tradition, the Church does not "celebrate the sacraments" on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Anyone with an ounce of sense and not infected with the daftest kind of positivism regarding liturgical law simply presumed that this did not intend to prohibit the longstanding custom of hearing confessions on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. If any support were needed, the press pictures of the Pope of Rome sitting in the confessional on Good Friday every year might just count for something?
Just to make things absolutely clear, the 2000 edition of the Missal adds in the clause "except for penance and the anointing of the sick." Fr Z also has the reference to a clarification from Rome on the matter as long ago as 1977. (See: Just to be clear, Confessions on Good Friday are NOT forbidden…. duh!)
31 years after that clarification and 8 years after the publication of the newer new Missal with the shiny new idiot-proof rubric, Fr Z reports that some priests, liturgical experts and even diocesan liturgy offices still believe that the rubrics of the Missal forbid confessions on Good Friday.
16 comments:
We (Seminarians in an American major seminary) were instructed the other day by the rector of the local cathedral as to how it is a "grave abuse" to hear confessions during the Triduum....*sigh*...
I don't believe I ever heard anyone appeal to the "old" Missal as a justification for this. However, the bishops' conferences of each country are, of course, free to make particular law for their respective countries. In the USA the USCCB has indeed instructed us that it is preferable that confessions NOT be heard during the Sacred Triduum. This, it seems to me has always stemmed from the more contemporary understanding of how the Triduum is observed rather than an appeal to the past.
Can you explain why holy water is not allowed in the stoops - during Lent?
Dominie
I've never understood this idea, or where it came from.
I have always understood the "older" new rubric to proscribe celebrations on these days.
Good Friday used always to be a day of confessions, Stations of the Cross, and, of course, in the afternoon, the solemn
Good Friday liturgy.
Holy Communion is dispensed, but the Eucharist is not celebrated.
The tabernacle is empty.
There is no Mass.
(The so-called "Mass of the pre-sanctified" is a misnomer.)
Holy Saturday is an aliturgical day.
There is no Mass, no Holy Communion, except, if I am right, as a viaticum.
Baptism and Anointing in extremis are permitted.
So how can the hearing of peoples' confessions be considered prohibited ?
The Easter Vigil, it is true, often begins on Saturday evening, well before midnight, but that is a red herring.
It is celebrating Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, not the Saturday during which his body still lay in the tomb.
No confessions !
Rubbish.
Incidentally, Father mentions the "idiot-proof rubric", but I sometimes wonder if there really is such a thing, just as I have always wondered if any instruction from Rome is ever really "water tight", or if all judges are sober.
Great post, Father Tim. I have heard priests say that nobody hears confessions during Easter Week either, which seems barking to me. Why should I be any less likely to commit murder (or any other sin) on Easter Monday than on Monday in Low Week?
PS. Isn't that a coconut you have in the picture?
Dear Father, This is totally off topic but I wanted to share some wonderful news: I found out yesterday that I'm pregnant with our first long-awaited baby!!
God bless!!
Mrs. Michelle in Scotland
Fr Selvester - not the "old missal" but the older version of the new missal. The restrictive interpretation of that rubric was the origin of this nonsense.
Dominie - holy water is not forbidden in the stoops during Lent. You have sadly experienced another piece of creative liturgy nonsense. I'm pretty sure the Vatican has taken the trouble to clarify this too - for all the notice that people take.
Ches - "No confessions in Easter week." You have discovered yet more nonsense.
Quite possibly a coconut - I just looked up google images for a hammer and a nut picture. I'm beginning to wonder if I should have looked for a "men in white coats" picture. But that is needed for another post...
Mrs Michelle - off topic is quite a relief, to be honest. For all I know, some priests may say that you can't say the Rosary in Passiontide or something.
Heartiest congratulations! I'll offer a prayer to St Gerard Majella for you today.
Well, my point was that not every rubric comes from Rome and only from Rome. As priests we have to obey what the bishop (and the bishop's conferences) decide as well. As long as particular law for your country (or diocese) does not contradict the universal law we are just as bound by it as well. Just because something is allowed doesn't mean that it can't also be seen as an abuse by some. Consider the opinion many people have of Communion in the hand...
An afterthought.
May one leave aside for a moment the "saving clause" in the 2000editio of the 1970 Missale Romanum.
Since "Summorum Pontificum", the 1962 Missale Romanum has enjoyed parity with the 1970 Missale Romanum.
This also applies to the Calendar and (presumably) to the rubrical prescriptions of the 1962 Missale Romanum.
Is this not a consequence of the Roman rite possessing two Missals, the 1962 Missale Romanum and the 1970 Missale Romanum ?
How, since "Summorum Pontificum" can the prescriptions of the latter take precedence over the former ?
On the eve of First Passion Sunday, the question is not without relevance.
P.S. A prayer to St. Gerard Majella for Michelle.
Fr Guy - certainly it is possible for priests to be bound by particular (diocesan) law - but not it there is a universal law which over-rides this. Such is the case with confessions on Good Friday, I think. This is the reason why bishops (and bishops conferences) need to seek recognitio for their particular laws.
In some cases, I think that priests can simply say that they are not bound by erroneous legislation.
Father,
good points all 'round, but,
that's a coconut.
Yes, but in thge new liturgy, you are not allowed pictures of chestnuts in the second half of Lent.
Well, Father, you and I will clearly have to agree to disagree on this point. I think that the US bishops are perfectly within their rights to say that while confessions during the triduum may be permitted they are not desired in dioceses in the USA. I would be one of those who squarely falls into the camp of saying that confessions on Good Friday or Holy Saturday are most inappropriate. It may be allowed but that doesn't make it right. I also think that it is pastorally dangerous to ignore the instructions of the bishops conferences and/or the local bishop just because we don't like the decision. The Pastor (parish priest) is, after all, not a free agent but the representative of the bishop in the parish.
I agree with you, Father on the need for respect for authority and that we should not ignore the instruction of the local Bishop because we do not like it. However there may be other reasons for taking issue with a decision of a local bishop: for example that he is ignoring a clear encouragement from the Holy See and the example of the Holy Father himself.
In 2003, a Letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship in response to a query on this matter said:
"Notwithstanding the Church's ancient practice of refraining from the celebration of Mass at the stipulated times during Holy Week, as well as a prudent reserve regarding the scheduling of Baptisms and Marriages during the same times, the scheduling of Confessions on Good Friday and Holy Saturday is laudable and not at all in conflict either with the letter or the spirit of the liturgical norms. Perhaps one of the more eloquent arguments in support of this position is the practice of the Holy Father himself, who has personally heard confessions as a regular practice on Good Friday."
But of course you are right about the importance of respect for one's bishop and it is a pity if that is undermined.
It would appear to me that the penitent thief was penitent on Good Friday.
Some excellent posts here Father Tim, in particular, your Catholic sense of humour is much appreciated.
I was very pleased to read you took a little time off in Holy Week.
God Bless,
JM
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