stcharles faq

8/14/2019 Stcharles Faq

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St. Charles Borromeo Preservation GuildFAQ Sheet

www.st-charlesborromeo.org

The following are some questions and answers that relate to the renovation of St. Charles Borromeo.There has been a great deal of misinformation about our group and our concerns. Despite what you may have been told, we do support the Magisterium of the Church and Vatican II,

including the reform of the Sacred Liturgy. We accept the Novus Ordo mass as totally valid and licit. We do NOT endorse schismatic groups, e.g., Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, nor do we promote the

dubious spirit of Vatican II. We do not oppose any beneficial repairs of the existing church, such as improving the restrooms.

After the Q and A section, we have excerpts from the documents we used for our answers. We encourageyou to look them up yourselves in books or on the Internet.

Q: Must the main altar be moved?

NO. The main altar does NOT have to be moved anywhere, including under the dome.The present arrangement is such that the attention of the congregation naturallyfocuses on the altar as required.

There is also no need to remove so-called distracting statues, crucifixes, thealtarpiece (baldachin), or pews.

Q: Must we move the tabernacle from the main altar to a side chapel?NO. The tabernacle CAN be located in the sanctuary as we currently have it, behind

the mensa (top surface) of the main altar. It is NOT mandatory to move it. According to the liturgical laws the tabernacle must be kept in the churches with

great reverence in a most honorable location.

Q: May a church utilize a theater in the round or arena type arrangement?Should the Choir be moved so we can see them perform?

NO. This fan out congregation seating type of arrangement is based on a Greco-Roman amphitheater, and the guidelines discourage theater, arena, and audienceanalogies. Likewise, the idea of moving the choir down to see them performalso contradicts this.

Ironically, it would also mean the Priest wouldnt entirely face the congregation, a point emphasized by the participation promoters, but rather would be positionedobliquely to some sections of the congregation depending on where they sit.

Q: Should the baptismal font be located near the entrance, as it is now?YES Baptism is the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door that gives access to the

other sacraments. Historically, catechumens were baptized in a separate building,or in a font that was oriented west, near the entrance, then brought to the altar.

THERE IS NO REASON TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON RENOVATION.Over


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Q: How is Christ present in the Church? (Or Misrepresented?)Unfortunately, there were some misleading comments made at the learningsessions about how Christ is present in the Church. Christ is really present inmany ways, but not in the same degree or manner. Moreover, the words poured,shared, bread, and wine, shown in Fr. Thomas Slon's slide presentation, are

NOT used in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #7. In the Eucharist, Christ is ESPECIALLY present. The doctrine that the bread and

wine become the Body and Blood of Christ is called Transubstantiation (John 6:53) . Christ IS present in his faithful through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, John

14:23, Rm. 8:14-17) . Our growth in holiness takes our whole lives, and is calledSanctification.

Liturgy is an act of the Mystical Body, the Church, and encompasses the entireCommunion of Saints, not limited to an assembly at a particular time and place.

Q: The document Built of Living Stones, does it have force of law?NO. Built of Living Stones (BOLS) replaces Environment and Art in Catholic

Worship (EACW) and by its own admission, merely offers recommendationsand does NOT have the force of law except where it quotes documents that do.

Decrees from Episcopal Conferences must receive two-thirds vote of the Bishops,and approval from the Holy See, to become laws. (Can. 455 2)

Since BOLS and EACW have received neither, it is MISLEADING to presenteither as mandating changes, or to assert these two documents are liturgical law.

Q: Must we take out the altar rails?NO. No document requires or mandates the removal of the altar rails.

At one of the listening sessions the very pejorative term barriers was used todescribe the existing altar rails.

Q: Can we take out the kneelers and stand or sit only?NO. Currently, the liturgical norms in the U.S. require that the people KNEEL at the

appropriate times. When the new Roman Missal takes effect this will continue.

Whats Next?Be aware that at the final Speak Out session, parishioners likely will be broken up and seated at tables insmall groups. We will then be asked what renovations we want, not if we want any. A pro-renovation

person, called a facilitator will be at each table to push the agenda along. This method of group control iscalled the Delphi Technique. Developed by the Rand Corporation, its designed to steer a group to a

predetermined consensus. When asked what renovations you want, reply: NO RENOVATION!

Any alleged renovation of St. Charles is not required by liturgical or canon law. In response to a question at the May 1 Learning Session, Fr. Welbers reluctantly

admitted that St. Charles already fulfills the spirit (a very misused term) and law of Vatican II. We agree.

THERE IS NO REASON TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON RENOVATION. Next page


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DOCUMENTS:

Quotes relating to moving the altar. Notice in the reply that center means center of attention, not mathematical center like under the dome.

INTER OECUMENICI Chapter II. Main Altar

91. The main altar should preferably be freestanding, to permit walking around it andcelebration facing the people. Its location in the place of worship should be truly central sothat the attention of the whole congregation naturally focuses there.

(From Documents on the Liturgy 1963 to 1979 (DOL Footnote: R28 Note from Notitiae).In response to a question about Inter Oecumenici #91, above, the Vatican gave thefollowing reply).

Reply: The instruction does not refer to the mathematical center of a church but to aconceptual center, saying, "so that the attention of the whole congregation naturallyfocuses there"Not 1 (1965) 137-138 no.7

Quotes relating to the location of the tabernacle.

THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1183 The tabernacle is to be situated " in churches in a most worthy place with thegreatest honor. " The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar .

1379 As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church becameconscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharisticspecies. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthyplace in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes andmanifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

CODE OF CANON LAW

Can. 938 2 The tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in adistinguished place in the church or oratory, a place which is conspicuous, suitablyadorned and conducive to prayer.

INAESTIMABILE DONUM Instruction Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery 1980

24. The tabernacle in which the Eucharist is kept can be located on an altar , or away fromit, in a spot in the church which is very prominent, truly noble, and duly decorated , or in achapel suitable for private prayer and for adoration by the faithful.

MYSTERIUM FIDEI Pope Paul VI 1965

#66 In the course of the day the faithful should not omit to visit the Blessed Sacrament,which according to the liturgical laws must be kept in the churches with greatreverence in a most honorable location. Such visits are a proof of gratitude, an expressionof love, an acknowledgment of the Lord's presence.

THERE IS NO REASON TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON RENOVATION.Over


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Quotes relating to theater or arena layout.

BUILT OF LIVING STONES Chapter Two.

#51 This area (the congregation's area) is not comparable to the audience's space in atheater or public arena because in the liturgical assembly, there is no audience .

#86 Parishes will want to choose a seating arrangement that calls the congregation to activeparticipation and that avoids any semblance of a theater or an arena .

Quotes relating to the baptismal font.


1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit ,and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.

Quotes relating to Christs presence.

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Vatican Council II

#7 To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass , not only in the person of His minister , "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offeredhimself on the cross", but especially in the Eucharistic species . By His power He ispresent in the sacraments , so that when anyone baptizes it is really Christ Himself whobaptizes. He is present in His word , since it is He Himself who speaks when the holyscriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings ,for He has promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I inthe midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).

MYSTERIUM FIDEI Mystery of Faith Pope Paul VI 1965

#35 He (Christ) is present in the Church on her pilgrimage through the Holy Spirit whomHe gives us , pours His love into those hearts

#38 But there is yet another manner in which Christ is present in His Church, a manner whichsurpasses all the others; it is His presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist ."

Quotes relating to the legal force of Built of Living Stones.

BUILT OF LIVING STONES Preface

#10 The document presents guidelines that can serve as the basis for diocesan bishops toissue further guidelines and directives for their dioceses. Where the document quotes or reiterates norms from liturgical books and the Code of Canon Law , those prescriptions

are binding on local communities and dioceses.

CODE OF CANON LAW

Can. 455 2 For the decrees mentioned in 1 validly to be enacted at a plenary meeting, theymust receive two thirds of the votes of those who belong to the Conference with adeliberative vote. These decrees do not oblige until they have been reviewed by theApostolic See and lawfully promulgated.

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Quotes relating to kneeling.

U. S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, Committee on the Liturgy

"Finally, the new Institutio notes that "where it is the custom that the people remain kneeling from the end of the Sanctus until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer [as in the United States]

this is laudably retained ." (See http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.htm ) BUILT OF LIVING STONES Chapter Two.You can read the complete text of BOLS at: http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.htm )

#86 Kneelers or kneeling cushions should also be provided so that the whole congregationcan easily kneel when the liturgy calls for it .

Other interesting quotes.

From a description of a Syrian Liturgy:

Throughout the Liturgy, the bending of the knees as the priest kneels before the altar signifies our fall through the transgression of Adam. As the priest rises, our own resurrectionthrough the resurrection of Christ is symbolized. (See http://sor.cua.edu/Liturgy/Anaphora/Preface.html )


1330The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center andmost intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also callits celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because itis the Sacrament of sacraments. The Eucharistic species reserved in the tabernacleare designated by this same name.

1368 The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of the Church. The Church, which is the Body of Christ, participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole andentire .

1370 To the offering of Christ are united not only the members still here on earth, but alsothose already in the glory of heaven. In communion with and commemorating theBlessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, the Church offers the Eucharistic sacrifice

1374 The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique . It raisesthe Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end towhich all the sacraments tend." In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body andblood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the wholeChrist is truly, really, and substantially contained." This presence is called 'real' by which isnot intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too ,but because it is presence in the fullest sense : that is to say, it is a substantial presenceby which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present.

1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the realpresence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflectingor bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord

THERE IS NO REASON TO WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON RENOVATION.

SAY NO TO RENOVATION