27 February 2011

What a difference a week makes, in Thiberville


Modern French liturgy arrives in Thiberville

Have you been following the Thiberville affair? If not, Google it for some background, especially on video.

Anyways, last Sunday the vanquished Pastor, Father Michael, offered his last Mass there. The video is here.

Today Sunday Mass was celebrated by the new priest, Father Vivien, who is not the resident Pastor, but comes in from somewhere else. The only problem is that almost all of the parishoners, who had gathered to pray the Rosary before Mass, walked out as he walked in. Perhaps it was the extraordinary ministrix of the crucifix that did it, or perhaps they just didn't want to see poor Father shiver to death without a chasuble in the cold climes of northern France. More details here.

The Pimpernel raises his sword (but not in salute) to the Bishop of Evreaux who has worked tirelessly over the last year to bring about this change.


26 February 2011

10,000+

In fact it's closer to 11,000 at the time of posting. That's how many signatures have been appended in just on one week to the appeal to the Holy Father asking him not to take away from Summorum Pontificum in the coming Instruction. Not bad. The infamous 'What if we just said "Wait"' petition against the new ICEL translation has only managed just under 22,000 signatures in almost three months and it has, arguably, a much larger concern group to draw from.

If you have not signed the appeal yet you can do so here.

We are not amused.
The Pimpernel has it on good authority that this appeal has annoyed some of those who walk in Curial corridors. Not the Holy Father: he listens to his children's loyal supplication. But for those who thought the coup was complete, this appeal is a bit of a problem. It seems to have undone the knots they thought they had tied so tightly.

Gone are the days, Your Eminences and Your Excellencies, when you can drop an Instruction on us and retreat to your risotto. As the dictators of the Middle East are learning one by one, the powers of social communication are potent weapons.

The Pimpernel is not advocating revolution or democracy. Heaven forefend! But he is all for an uprising of loyal subjects who use peaceful means in the face bureaucratic bullies. We await the Instruction as corrected by the Holy Father.




24 February 2011

Romanitas Press

There's a new liturigical publishing house on the block called Romanitas Press. It describes itself as "an apostolate of liturgical media for the Roman liturgy".

With ceremonial guides in printed book form and in downloadable files, as well as articles and news of events for training servers and MCs, and useful links, it's a site worth keeping an eye on. For those who read Latin the reprinting of Mgr Callewart's liturgical works (pictured) is a boon.

Cafeteria traditionalists beware - some of the material promoted by this site conforms the liturgical books in force in 1962.

22 February 2011

Extraordinary Abbots

Thanks to a reader who sent a link to a fascinating blog which publishes this photo:

Image © traditionalcatholic.org.uk
Apparently this is the Benedictine Abbot of Farnborough, England, Dom Cuthbert Brogan, out for a rosary walk at the Brompton Oratory in London. Is he a bishop also? If not this is quite extraordinary.

The blog that posted it is well worth a visit here. Apparently it compares the Abbot above with the Abbot below. They sure both dress well.


21 February 2011

Another whinging rebel

The Pimpernel is at a loss to know exactly what it is about Australians. Here our whinging rebels weep and boast about it in journals. Down under they keep threatening outright disobedience in their newspapers.

The latest even has the cheek to say that ''I've no problems with changing things - it's part of my philosophy that you've got to change and grow and develop. It's the fact that this is going backwards instead of going forwards.''

This gem of logic is from Father John Crothers (pictured), Pastor of the Parish of Penshurst in the Archdiocese of Sydney. That’s Cardinal’ Pell’s patch. The good Cardinal happens to be the Chairman of Vox Clara, the Vatican group in charge of the new ICEL translation. 

Father Crothers cannot in good conscience use the new texts, the newspaper reports.

The Pimpernel thinks that this might be an interesting test case. Will Cardinal Pell tolerate open defiance of the Holy See and of himself?

Perhaps His Eminence will be understanding, and make the path easier for Father Crothers to follow his conscience, elsewhere.

Father Crothers, the Cardinal is a big man. He’s an Australian also. He probably won't boast about what he intends to do in the newspapers. But he'll do it for sure. The Pimpernel suggests you take your own advice and “change and grow and develop”. Or find another job.

-----------------------------------

PS. Before comments arrive from the usual prolific Cafeteria Traditionalist or appear on the sectarian blog run by his rather confused disciple about how wicked the Pimpernel is for criticising this poor priest when the Pimpernel himself is concerned to protest about another matter, there is a world of difference, gentlemen, maybe an eternal difference, between appeals that promise loyalty and obedience to the authority Christ instituted and public declarations of disobedience. Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia, chaps, even if we think Peter could have done better.

20 February 2011

One suggestion

A married couple have contacted the Pimpernel suggesting that readers should email their concerns about the coming Instruction on Summorum Pontificum to Vatican Departments. It seems like a good idea. The Pimpernel suggests expressions of loyal concern. There's no honour to be found in traddie rants. They'll get nowhere. The NLM's latest post on this gets the tone just right, the Pimpernel thinks.

To email the Holy Father (or at least his office) benedictxvi@vatican.va

To email Cardinal Levada, President of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' prefect@cfaith.va or eccdei@ecclsdei.va or cdf@cfaith.va

Bloggers and journalists can ask the Vatican Press Office about this by emailing av@pccs.va  


18 February 2011

Is the Pope going back on Summorum Pontificum?

Is the Pope going back on Summorum Pontificum?

The Pimpernel cannot believe that His Holiness wants or intends what is being reported about the forthcoming Instruction on Summorum Pontificum. Pope Benedict is a generous father. He does not want restrictions on the traditional rites. He wants them freely available.

But as the Pimpernel has said before, there are forces within the Vatican who want to harness the movement Summorum Pontificum unleashed before it gets too far. It seems that opponents of the sacred liturgy are trying every bureaucratic trick they can to undermine the Pope’s paternal benevolence. Knaves!


Cardinal William Levada
President of the "Ecclesia Dei" Commission
Is His Eminence implementng the Holy Father's wishes
or undermining them?
Again the Pimpernel cries “To arms”! It is time for earnest prayer and concerted action. The Holy Father needs our help. He must hear the voices of his subjects raised in loyal but clear protest!

Pray and pray more. Act. Support and spread the appeal here. If there is anything else you can do, do it. If you put this off until tomorrow it may be too late.

16 February 2011

A call to arms!

So, yes, something is going on in the Vatican. According to Rorate Caeli attempts are being made to "interpret away" the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. Well, that should not surprise anyone. Pope Benedict has real "enemies within" the Vatican who oppose his rule. The Pimpernel hinted at this some days ago.

According to Rorate Caeli now is the time to act to prevent such a debacle. One thing is for sure, the powers behind the throne in Rome don't like bad publicity. If Catholics around the world make it clear that any backtracking on the legal force of Summorum Pontificum will cause scandal, division, dismay and defection, they will backtrack themselves with amazing speed. If our Holy Father becomes aware that what is proposed would truly harm the Church, he will intervene to stop it.

To arms! It is time to defend the honour of the Sacred Liturgy! Andrea Tornelli's talk this morning of the possibility of Archbishop Filoni being 'kicked upstairs', even if it takes place, won't happen soon enough. We must all act, now.

Rorate Caeli has some good suggestions for action. Readers may have others.

UPDATE: Rorate Caeli has a further post.

Antiphon's excellence & An important book

Good things seem to be happening with the Society for Catholic Liturgy’s journal Antiphon. It’s editor Fr Thomas Kocik has posted a note on the NLM about its recent issue which includes articles on mutual enrichment, eastward facing for the Mass, ars celebrandi and actuosa participatio as well as reviews by Dr Alcuin Reid, Fr Uwe Michael Lang, Fr Paul Gunter OSB, Dr Daniel Van Slyke and others. Not at all a bad team there.

Fr Kocik’s post also includes the text of Reid’s review of Nicola Giampietro’s new book
The Development of the Liturgical Reform(as seen by Cardinal Ferdinando Antonelli from 1948-1970).  It looks important. Some quotes from Cardinal Antonelli about the Vatican II reform in the review seem to show the other side of the coin to what we are usually told.

“I am not enthusiastic about this work. I am unhappy about how much the Commission has changed. It is merely an assembly of people, many of them incompetent, and others of them well advanced on the road to novelty. The discussions are extremely hurried. Discussions are based on impressions and the voting is chaotic. What is most displeasing is that the expositive Promemorias and the relative questions are drawn up in advanced terms and often in a very suggestive form. The direction is weak.”

“That which is sad... however, is a fundamental datum, a mutual attitude, a pre-established position, namely, many of those who have influenced the reform...and others, have no love, and no veneration of that which has been handed down to us. They begin by despising everything that is actually there. This negative mentality is unjust and pernicious, and unfortunately, Paul VI tends a little to this side. They have all the best intentions, but with this mentality they have only been able to demolish and not to restore."

What more is there to be said?


15 February 2011

Cardinal Ranjith takes possession of San Lorenzo in Lucina

Courtesy of Rome Reports here is a taste of the liturgical reception of that great champion of the Sacred Liturgy, Cardinal Ranjith, from the taking of possession of his titular church of San Lorenzo in Lucina last Sunday. Ad multos annos!



What are they saying?

The Pimpernel is a huge admirer of our own new Cardinal Burke. He’s a fearless champion of the Sacred Liturgy. On January 30th he ordained three new deacons for the Institute of Christ the King at their seminary near Florence. They do the liturgy really well there. So long as you ignore the blue and think it's black, it's close to perfection. There is a sumptuous photo essay of the Mass, reception and lunch here.

Cameras catch lots of things. This photo is from His Eminence’s preparation before processing to the chapel. What are Father Mora, the superior of the seminary, and the great Mgr Schmitz, who does such a great job in these parts, saying over on the right? Discussing the delight of seeing the winter cappa magna, speculating on its length, or refining the menu for lunch? Suggestions in a comment please.


14 February 2011

More incensing virgins

A reader was so moved by the ladies carrying bowls of incense at the Vespers welcoming the new Bishop of Dodge City that he sent a link to this performance. It’s not new to the web, but if you haven’t yet seen it you should. There’s so much liturgically wrong here that it’s quite an achievement. List what mistakes you can.  




11 February 2011

Rumours, denials, or demned lies? What's happening in the Vatican?

S.E.R. Mons Fernando Filoni 
What's happening in the Vatican?
Well, thanks be to God, we have a Pope who is governing the Church, Summorum Pontificum, Anglicanorum Coetibus, etc.
We also have a Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship who tells us almost every time he is interviewed that the liturgical reform went wrong and that it is time for a reform of the reform. That, by the way, seems to be nothing much more that what his boss said when he was a Cardinal, and before his boss, now a Pope, called him to Rome to do that job.
This week news leaked about a new Motu Proprio reorganising the Congregation for Divine Worship so that it will concentrate in the future on...the liturgy. There is also speculation that this Motu Proprio might mention a “new liturgical movement” and somehow insist that the reorganised Congregation get on with realising this.
 Then we have the official denial of the Vatican spokesman that says: “there are no grounds nor reason to see in this an intent to promote a control, of a 'restrictive' kind, by the Congregation, of the fostering of the liturgical renewal willed by the Second Vatican Council.

"Is there something you forgot to send
to Cardinal Canizares, Excellenza"?
 Er, what? Why? Has someone in the Secretariate of State had a fit over this forthcoming Motu Proprio or something? Did Archbishop Filoni flip at the possibility of the Pope proceeding with the reform of the reform? Has everyone forgotten that, actually, “the liturgical renewal willed by the Second Vatican Council” has never been seen?
The Pimpernel is full of filial devotion for the Holy Father. Ad multos annos! He has respect for the work of Cardinal Canizares. But he fears that somewhere in between the papal apartments and the Secretariate of State on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, and the Congregation for Divine Worship across the piazza, some disciples of the past dark days, are working against the Holy Father’s program of governance.
 Where is the Instruction on the implementation of Summorum Pontificum? Where is the rumoured return to the traditional manner of receiving Holy Communion? Where are the other long-rumoured parts of the reform of the reform? Who, at this moment, is running a red pen through the ‘offensive’ phrases of the coming motu proprio and preparing a briefing for the Holy Father on why they simply must not be used? Who dictated the “denial” to Father Lombardi?
Where is the problem? It is not with the Congregation of Divine Worship because Cardinal Canizares and Archbishop Di Noia stand with the Pope. Perhaps it lies with the reorganisation, introduced by Paul VI, that means everything going to or coming from the Pope goes via the Secretariate of State? Cardinal Bertone is the Pope’s man. But what of the Substitute for the General Affairs of the Church? Perhaps the 'ministry' of Archbishop Filoni’s department holds the answer?

9 February 2011

A work of renewal in progress

From a reader come reports of the 'renewal' of St. Martin's church in Voorburg in the Netherlands. They are renewing the worship space and dividing the nave to create a new gathering space for the assembly in line with their worship theology. A brief photo essay:

Before the work began
The work in progress - January 2011 
The architect's design for the new worship space
A 3-D impression of the new gathering space
All the plans and more photos of the work can be viewed here.


8 February 2011

Pontifical Vespers in the modern rite?

The diocese of Dodge City celebrated the consecration of its new Bishop John Brungardt last week. As has become customary there was a celebration of Vespers the evening before. The Emeritus Bishop presided. Three other bishops attended.
Now, the Bishop-elect may not have been in charge of this ceremony, and it can be a little difficult to find clear rubrics for pontifical vespers in the modern rite. That said, this celebration was quite something. Enjoy this extract.



7 February 2011

What time is Vespers this morning?

That's right, "this morning". You see there are some traddies who can't tell the time when it comes to the Sacred Liturgy. They go so far as to try and make a virtue out of it. It really doesn't help the cause at all.

There’s a blog that doesn’t seem to like this one and that shouts of the Pimpernel that “nobody cares who you are, or what you think”. One of the main purposes of that blog seems to be the mutual admiration between its owner and another blogger, named after rubrics. He is often intelligent.

They’ve been discussing evening Mass of late. Their comments got on to the timing of Vespers. Apparantly, if one is a Catholic of the Roman Rite, Vespers is a liturgical service of the morning, at least on penitential days. With apologies to Fr Q, the Pimpernel fisks.

Help is available
“The practice of having Vespers in the morning - and I must say when I first discovered the practice for the Roman rite in 1987 [we won't ask where or how] I was awestruck by wonderful [sic] it was  - is not a random praxis but something closely linked to penitential days. [Oh? Time is different on those days? Or is its horologcal absurdity the penance?] The Byzantine rite [relevance to the Roman Rite?] extends the practice beyond Lent to where it is [no, this is 2011, it "was", and by no means always] confined in the old Roman rite.

Of course this was all ridiculed and derided by the twentieth century Liturgical Movement. [perhaps rightly?]  Now of course [why "of course"?] there are emerging theologies [beware of "emerging theologies"] of the Liturgy of the Hours, two outstanding contributions being by the late Fr. Gregory Woolfenden (VP) and Dr. Laurence Hemming. [Surely these learned people are able to tell the time. Do they really maintain that there is a liturgical value and integrity in the celebration of Vespers in the morning, or do they try to create a theological virtue out of practice arising from historical necessity?] There is more to the Office than a mere [merely "mere"?] sanctification of time and theology about life and death, light and darkness inherent in structure and sequence of the hours of Vespers, Mattins and Lauds distinct to what is happening at the other hours. [sic, or, 
what on earth does this sentence mean? It may be an "emerging theology".] As we don’t fully understand these things [Some of us do understand the literal, theological and traditional meaning of "Lauds" and "Vespers" etc. well enough, thank you.] I believe only fools rush in [Sorry, but this time that analogy doesn't work. Intelligent people can soundly justify the liturgical celebration of Vespers in the evening, even on penitential days. There was no rush. But there was a consensus.] to change [or correct?] received praxis [the value of which, if it ever really existed beyond convenience, or bad practice become customary, is not understood, however many people - even revisionist traditionalists - try and "emerge" a theology for it.] – as we saw in the reform of the Roman liturgy the past 100 years.”

Sure, there are lots of things in the reform of the Roman Rite in the last hundred years, even before, that are debatable. But really, this is going too far.


 

5 February 2011

An essay in discontinuity in wood and glass

Over in France they seem to have a particular knack for liturgy and liturgical art.

The Cathedral of Saint Vincent in Viviers down in the South has a beautiful 18th century marble high altar. It doesn't look as if it has suffered at all from the corrosive liturgical fashions of the past fifty or years or so.


But those with an attachment to the modern forms of the liturgy need not fear. A 'facing the people' altar is in front of it. In fact, a new one has recently been put in place. It is called the "contemporary altar".


Wow! It's...really quite something, isn't it? And this is for a cathedral!

Readers are welcome to share their thoughts. Once again the Pimpernel is at a bit of a loss as to what to say about this latest liturgical creation coming out of France, "catastrophically creative"? "ignoble simplicity"? "tragically out of place?" Perhaps "an essay in discontinuity in wood and glass" sums it up best?

Maybe somebody should translate Benedict XVI and Beauty in Sacred Art and Architecture into French and send the Bishop of Viviers a copy? His diocese dates from the fourth century. What might his predecessors think? More importantly, as His Excellency soon turns 71, what will his successor think?

4 February 2011

A monk weeps

Fr Anthony Ruff OSB, until recently the moderator of the Pray Tell blog, has written an open letter on the new English translation of the Missal of Paul VI. He is not very happy, poor monk.

“The forthcoming missal is but a part of a larger pattern of top-down impositions by a central authority that does not consider itself accountable to the larger church. When I think of how secretive the translation process was, how little consultation was done with priests or laity, how the Holy See allowed a small group to hijack the translation at the final stage, how unsatisfactory the final text is, how this text was imposed on national conferences of bishops in violation of their legitimate episcopal authority, how much deception and mischief have marked this process—and then when I think of Our Lord’s teachings on service and love and unity…I weep.

 


I see a good deal of disillusionment with the Catholic Church among my friends and acquaintances. Some leave the Catholic Church out of conviction, some gradually drift away, some join other denominations, some remain Catholic with difficulty. My response is to stay in this church for life and do my best to serve her. This I hope to do by stating the truth as I see it, with charity and respect.”

With just one or two changes, this could have been written forty years ago, with just one difference. What he’s objecting to is in fact not a new missal, but a new translation, a more accurate one. Forty years ago a massive change took place in the calendar, the rite, the language, you name it. In 2011 we’re going to be expected to use an accurate translation of that missal. What’s the big deal?

Perhaps it’s the fact that Rome is exercising its authority? Well, so be it. It has that authority. We’re Catholics you know. If one believes that “legitimate episcopal authority” is violated by the exercise of Papal primacy, one is an Episcopalian. Depending on exactly how one believes that authority is "accountable to the wider church" one may not even be that.

Isn’t it strange how those committed to the modern liturgy are so inflexible and want to cling to a translation of a rite that is a mere forty years old. Well, the translation won’t live much longer (unless Father Ruff, too, hopes to get a Society of Paul VI going). Time will tell about the rite itself.

Forty years ago many more people suffered much, much more than those modern liturgists committed to bad translations claim they are suffering now.

Get a sense of perspective Father, and remember the obedience due to ecclesiastical authority, especially from monks.


Papal Vespers for the Presentation of the Lord

Papal liturgies are pretty good these days. They’re inspiring to be at and a good example to those of us a long way away.  On Wednesday the Pope celebrated solemn vespers for the men and women religious in Rome and gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. A rather noble new set of vestments seems to have been used. Sure, the sisters carrying torches are a bit odd, but hey, let's not forget what things were like under Marini I.    

Courtesy of Rome Reports here is a brief clip.


 


For those who want to see more of the ceremony, KTO TV have the whole thing here (and they don’t usually comment over the liturgical texts like certain American Catholic TV stations).


3 February 2011

The Confession App

Well, it can't hurt, can it? If it helps people go to confession and to make better ones it can't be all bad. It does have an 'Imprimatur'. Does anyone use it? What do people think? Is there a traddy version? Does it have a translation facility for confessing whilst overseas, or a save-function for the 'usuals'?


More details here.


The Mass and disaster

Sister Pilcher
Sister Carmel Pilcher, somehow no longer in the employ of Cardinal Pell's Archdiocese of Sydney, but still a prolific "liturgical consultant" down under, has published The Mass and disaster.

She writes "I wonder about the experience of celebrating Mass in a burnt out paddock after a bushfire, or standing in the sludge left behind from a recent flood; or breathing in the dry dust while standing on parched, arid land in the midst of a drought. 

In a continent that has experienced each of these harsh extremes in recent times, the Sunday memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ would surely take on new significance in such a context. Did any parish community make this choice to gather for Sunday Eucharist in such a place of raw suffering over the past weeks?"

No-one should detract from the terrible and real suffering of so many of her compatriots in recent weeks and even days, or of that of so many others around the world. Being able to celebrate the Mass in the midst of tragedy, danger and loss is a great blessing and consolation. At the foot of the cross made present through the sacrifice of the Mass, especially in such situations, we encounter the source of true meanng and real hope.
 
But does the Pimpernel smell a middle-class, bourgeois liturgical rodent behind the question "Did any parish community make this choice to gather for Sunday Eucharist in such a place of raw suffering?"

A place of "raw suffering"
or a tourist resort for middle-class liturgists?
Reverend lady, Catholics don't choose to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries in places of tradgedy or suffering or standing in sludge to enhance their liturgical experience. We do so out of necessity, because our churches have been flooded or destroyed or whatever. 

We consecrate, we set apart, churches as sacred sites for the most sacred actions there are on this earth, those of the Sacred Liturgy, and we righly grieve when we are no longer able to use them. We don't choose to leave them behind to go walkabout in order to feel the sand underneath our feet in the hope that this will somehow make for a better liturgical experience, or like tourists with a taste for a change of setting.

Sr Pilcher goes on, "Some Catholic leaders believe that Mass is the time for us to leave behind our cares and distractions.  Ensuring the dignity and sacredness of the celebration through the extraordinary is their primary preoccupation, leaving the expression of the human concerns of a community to personal supplication. 

Particular attention is given to such elements as the wafting smell of incense, beautifully embroidered vestments and the gold of chalices and patens that are intended to lift us beyond our human lives and into the sacred presence of the divine.   

Others recognise that Christ is present in the very human experiences of our lives, and these become the focus of the liturgy."

Thanks for making that clear Sister. When "the very human experiences of our lives...become the focus of the liturgy" we're no longer celebrating God, as a certain Bavarian cardinal once said, but ourselves. That, Reverend lady, is not Catholic liturgy, even though it may be what your consultancy advocates.
  
No tourism, just the Church's liturgy.
Ask a miliary chaplain, Sister, whether men in the face of imminent death ask for a liturgy that focusses on their human experiences, or on the divine realities of redemption, forgiveness and the hope of eternal life? They dont have time to choose to savour the sand, the mud or the stench. If they did they would probably choose to be in a church. But they are thankful to be at Mass, to be focussed on God, and to receive the Sacraments in a time of mortal danger.

Sorry, Sister, the Sacred Liturgy is about us worshipping God according the Church's rites, and not about celebrating our human experiences in some manner concocted by ourselves, however touching it may be to us.

The Pimpernel for one, and the Church for another, thinks that the liturgy is about lifting us beyond the human, beyond the horrible suffering we sometimes, nay, all too often, meet in this world, to the divine. Churches and other such things that some dismiss as "frills" are part of how we do this. Please don't patronise people in the midst of their suffering by saying that either they don't want it, or that the liturgy shouldn't do it.

1 February 2011

New book alert - Benedict XVI and Beauty in Sacred Art and Architecture

Further to the NLM report that Four Courts Press will pubish Benedict XVI and Beauty in Sacred Art and Architecture, the proceedings of the second Fota International Confrerence on the Sacred Liturgy in Ireland in 2009, this impressive book can now be ordered through Amazon UK here where they say it's due out next month. It probably won't be available over here in the USA until a bit later, but you can sign up for information here. It looks like it will be well worth a read.

From the publisher's website:

This volume consists of the proceedings of the second Fota International Liturgy Conference, held in 2009. It explores Joseph Ratzinger’s theology of beauty, with reference to the integral role of art and architecture as the context of liturgical worship.
Contents: D. Vincent Twomey, Introduction;

George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, The aesthetic theory of Joseph Ratzinger;

Joseph Murphy (Vatican Secretariat of State), The face of Christ as criterion for Christian beauty;

Janet E. Rutherford, The ‘Triumph of Orthodoxy’ and the future of western ecclesiastical art;

Daniel Gallagher (Vatican Secretariat of State), The philosophical foundations of liturgical aesthetics;

Alcuin Reid (liturgical scholar), Noble simplicity revisited;

Uwe Michael Lang (Consultor to the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff ), Benedict XVI and the theological foundation of church architecture;

Helen Ratner Dietz (ind.), The nuptial meaning of classic church architecture;

Neil J. Roy (U Notre Dame), The galilee chapel: a mediaeval notion comes of age;

Duncan Stroik (U Notre Dame), Benedict XVI and the architecture of beauty;

Ethan Anthony (Cram & Ferguson Architects), New Gothic and Romanesque Catholic architecture in N. America.