Posted on 06/08/2006 6:52:29 PM PDT by sionnsar
I returned yesterday from the 2006 Anglican Use Conference. It was a wonderful event and I congratulate Eric Bergmann on his recently admitted dossier to the Holy See.
Will There Be an Anglican Rite?
All the buzz surrounds the very explicit statement by Father William Stetson with reference to a rumored Anglican sui juris "uniat" Church. Fr Stetson related that it is nearly impossible to arrange Anglicans in an ecclesiastical structure akin to the Eastern Catholic sui juris Churches.
It essentially centers on a question of Catholic ecclesiology. The ancient metropolitan see of Canterbury and that of York were metropolitan sees established by Rome and governed by Rome. From the Roman point of view, these two sees fell into schism. It is therefore impossible to create a sui juris ecclesiastical body that exists at a greater canonical status than it possesed prior to schism. To put it briefly, Canterbury and York belonged to the Roman patriarchate and their descendents will continue to belong to that patriarchate as they return to full communion with Rome.
Perhaps the following illustration may help. Suppose that the archdiocese of New York went into the schism and then a small number of New York Catholics wanted to return to Rome. They could not expect for Rome to elevate their newly formed ecclesiastical body as canonically sui juris and patriarchal. There could not be a "New York Church" in Communion with Rome, because New York never held sui juris status to begin with.
A further complication involves that fact that Canterbury and York have been replaced by a new Roman hierarchy in England. You can't raise the former schismatics to an ecclesiastically level (i.e., uniat status) that is canonically higher than the Archdiocese of Westminster.
It is really a matter of Roman ecclesiology. Unfortunately, many Anglians have been speaking so freely with the term "uniat" and "Anglican Rite" that everyone assumes it is a reality. Notice, however, that there has never been any indication of the sort from Rome.
Thus, as it stands, returning Anglicans are allowed to continue to enjoy the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite, which is a sort of analogue to the Sarum Use of the Roman Rite.
Anglican Romanticism
Father Carleton Jones, O.P. spoke about his conversion from the Anglican Cowley Fathers to the Catholic Church and the Dominican Order of Preachers. He gave a very interesting and entertaining description of the pyschology of Anglo-Catholic's journey to the Roman Catholic Church.
Anglican Use Architecture
Matthew of Alderman (of the Shrine of the Holy Whapping blog) gave a stunning presentation on what an Anglican Use parish in Chicago might look like. It was a blend of gothic and baroque and envisioned, as I understand it, what an English baroque might be become if England had been further connected to continental developments.
Evensong
Anglican Use Evensong was delightful and I most enjoyed the Anglican chant employed for the Psalm and the hearty and LOUD singing.
Cardinal Dulles on Conversion
Before Cardinal Dulles spoke there was a very nice hour of appetizers and wine in the Trophey room at Scranton University. A very nice dinner followed. During dessert, a representative from Our Lady of Walsingham in House gave a power point presentation outline their newly built and appointed church. I commend to their website and the pictures that can be found there.
Cardinal Dulles gave a wonderful history of his own conversion to the Catholic Church and his pilgrimage from nominal Presbyterianism. The best received portions of his address were his reflections on his encounters with Anglicans and his reasons for why he never seriously considered Anglicanism.
David Mills
David Mills, the editor of Touchstone Magazine, gave a talk on the his conversion and the obstacles that Anglicans encounter as they approach the Catholic Church. He discussed Anglican hubris in a way that made even the most committed Anglican laugh. He discussed the Catholic liturgy in relation to Anglican liturgy and the way in which one cannot fully understand the Catholic Church from the outside.
Anglican Use Mass Celebrated by Bishop Dougherty
My favorite part was the Anglican Use Mass. Haveing been Catholic for only two weeks, it was so comforting to pray the Prayer of Humble Access again. Those little things still mean so much to me. I wept after receiving Communion. I know that I am at home in Rome but I still have a great love for Anglicanism that I hope never goes away. It was also very sad to see many of my brother Episcopal priests come to the rail with arms crossed and know that I am no longer in communion with them at the altar. But mostly I experienced great joy to know that I am a Catholic and that Rome has been so generous so as to provide we ex-Anglicans with this beautiful tradition and liturgy.
Conclusion
It was a wonderful conference and I hope that even those slightly interested in the Anglican Use will attend next year's conference. Perhaps the best part of the conference were all the interesting discussions that occurred during lunch, dinner, and late into the evening in the hotel bar between sips from pints and puffs of pipe smoke. For all those there, it was wonderful to meet you. I look forward to next year. And I hope that there will be many more there next time around.
David Virtue's observations.
Pontificator's observations.
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Though I do like your version better on the latter; the AU one is rather truncated. Is that the '28 BCP you are quoting?...
Hear the Word of God to all who truly turn to him.
Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Matthew 11:28
Yes, 1928 BCP, what I grew up on. I must admit I found it tedious when I got to be an adolescent, but now I cherish the feeling I get when I hear it. How could they drop "what comfortable words?" That's the whole point -- that if you turn to Jesus his "yoke is easy and his burden is light." Arrggh. I hate these revisionists. Must pray for them. Arrrgh.
Now that's how a church should look from the outside!
You said it! I was fortunate to have some great Catholic friends here in Northern VA who knew a GREAT priest who would not tolerate all the goopey/sappy so-called "spirit of Vatican II" (a cover for endless liturgical abuse and experimentation). I'd held off crossing the Tiber because of various scandals and foolishnesses - when some CINO goofball spoke silly and it was reported, my reaction generally was "I can get the same kind of BS over on this side of the Tiber." It was the V.G. Robinson mess that was the push I needed to cross. I remembered the name of this great Catholic priest my friends mentioned, he is pastor at a parish four miles from my house, so I started going there in August '03. He lead my RCIA class, and I never looked back. If the restoration of solid and beautiful liturgy and musica can be done across the board (and not in seemingly exeptional parishes like mine), I think a lot of those traditionally-minded Episcopalians who otherwise would like to cross the Tiber, will cross. People used to classic Anglican plainsong and classic Anglican hymns tend to break out in hives at the first whiff of "on Eagles Wings! (and similar horrors! :)
It would be good to hear a judgment from a Catholic theologian on it. IMHO, the reading is actually faintly Orthodox.
I left the Episcopal church before the VG Robinson fiasco. It was pretty easy to see it coming for me. In the span of a single year (1997), I had one priest 'come out' to me and another give a sermon from the pulpit about his struggles with the hepatitis he had contracted from his gay lover.
However, I actually checked out mentally even before 1997. Probably in early 1996. [BTW, I was a college student at this time.] I think this was around the time I came in contact with the writings of abominable John Spong, and it just horrified me that he was a BISHOP in MY church. I just couldn't tolerate the doctrinal laxness of the ECUSA for very much longer.
That is an awesome prayer; thanks for posting it!
One of my favorites is the prayer prayed silently by the priest at the conclusion of the Maronite Divine Liturgy.
Remain in peace, O holy altar of God. I hope to return to you in peace. May the offering I have received from you, forgive my sins and prepare me to stand blameless before the throne of Christ. I know not whether I will be able to return to you again to offer sacrifice. Guard me, O Lord, and protect your holy Church, that she may be the way of salvation and the light of the world. Amen.
I've done both TLM and NO at Annunciation recently. That it what it is to be Catholic. It is a beautiful Church, not a post V2 bookstore.
I did wonder why if in the old Missal on the facing page was the translation why did they need a new translation? Just turn around and use the same words. That seemed like a no brainer.
This is but an example of what us 1928 Book of Common Prayer Episcopalians and Anglicans grew up with, and recite not just from memory but by heart. Cranmer's liturgies are nothing but awesome.
Maybe it's just me, but I fail to understand why others don't adopt and adapt it. It's not like it isn't free for the taking...
The RC Anglican Rite did -- but then (horror of horrors!) they dropped the clunkiest element of all of the '79 BCP right in the middle of the adaptation. Did the writers have liturgically tin ears?
The inside is pristine and gorgeous too. It has a certain scent... of old candles and incense and worship... I don't know how to describe it exactly.
Well, Rite I Episcopalian is pretty watered down, and Rite II is frankly shorthand. I don't think the NO is especially worse, per se, and the piskies have some pretty darn goofy parishes too.
I think people are turned off by the priest molester scandal. It's not really fair because piskies have their own perverts in the priesthood, but I think it's the sense of the cover up in the Catholic Episcopate that gives people pause.
I didn't let that stop me, because the RCC doesn't condone the bad behavior, and the ECUSA does.
I'm fortunate that my choirmaster reminds us that Latin is the official language of our church, and we sing something in latin pretty much every week. It's a pretty liberal church, but I respect the clergy and like the people. I do HATE the hymns... they're not all bad but we have to sing them all in unison. We do one "Communion Song" that is usually very bad, but we also get to do a nice meditative Communion Anthem. We receive communion while the "Communion Song" is going on.
Must have been infected by the SOVII
My Continuing Anglican church is really fortunate in this regard: our rector holds a doctorate in music (primary focus: Anglican choirs) -- if we are ever subjected to "On Eagles' Wings" I'm calling the men in white suits ASAP.. or I'll be requesting a letter dimissory...!
Agreed. It didn't stop me either.
Although I am still a member of the Episcopal Church ( I'm a multi-generational Episcopalian), I'm now attending an Evagelical Church and couldn't be happier. The thought of going over to Catholicism never entered my low church mind. Besides, my Confederate Episcopalian ancestors would be turning over in their graves if I committed such a "grave offense".
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