An Intro to MBS Security

2/28/2021

Sassetta, Francis' 'Marriage'

Staying with Guarding the MBS

Knowing how to safeguard the MBS becomes immediately urgent the moment you become a pastor or are assigned to a place where you are responsible for the reservation of the MBS.

A typical seminarian, upon his ordination to the priesthood frequently, although not always, receives an assignment as a vicar or an associate to a pastor. He’ll learn from that pastor the way the MBS is secured at that location. But what if the MBS is not properly secured? How will the young priest even know? Or will he presume it’s correctly secured and then perpetuate the bad practice going forward. Setting aside, not as unimportant but rather as not a part of this theme, the sensitive question of the means by which the junior priest brings the question of the insufficient security of the MBS to the senior priest, the junior priest—all priests—need to know the basics of MBS Security. A junior priest can glean “best practices” or at least “better practices” by observing and comparing how the MBS is secured in various parishes. But ultimately, he’ll need a standard according to which he’ll measure his assessments.

The church does in fact provide such a standard. Never mind that it’s little known. This work is intended to make it better known.

MBS questions

2/27/2021

Sassetta

I’ll start to number some steps—questions at first— randomly, to be re-numbered later. These are steps to securing the MBS in the parish.

1. Who has access to the tabernacle key?
2. What hours is the church open?
3. Is the Tabernacle immovable and strong?
4. Where is the MBS located (how many locations) in your parish, right now?
5. Who keeps watch over the church?
6. Who administers Holy Communion?
7. Who is present during the times of Exposition of the MBS?
8. With what frequency are the species in the ciborium and luna refreshed?
9. How cleanly are the linens of the altar and of the chalice kept?
10. Do sufficient candles burn in the sanctuary during adoration & exposition?
11. What evidence is there of frequent sacrilegious communions?

Those are just some questions.

Also, it’s supposed to cover the basics. So, where to turn for those? I’d point to the corresponding paragraphs in:

1. Canon Law
2. GIRM
3. Sacramental Rituals
4. Other Ordinary Magisterial Declarations

I’d highlight Nullo. Maybe even reserve a chapter for it.  I’d include practical observations from my experience.

How to keep it from ranging too far? What keeps coming up as always most essential? Emphasize those. If there are implications which lead to further studies, fine. But they are beyond the scope of this work which is to help the priest secure the MBS in the parish.

Strunk & White of MBS Custody

2/26/2021

Fra Angelico, OP

I’ve been leaning towards writing a book—more of a pamphlet—on the aspects of the custody of the MBS that pertain especially to the Parish priest.

My main sources would be firstly Nullo, the GIRM, the ’83 Code, the post-conciliar Eucharistic docs, other magisterial decrees.

The purpose would be a one-stop shopping field manual to guide the practice of right custody.  Let’s develop this purpose more. I’m not sure the vision of a field guide works, since the info in it could be easily committed to memory.  So, perhaps it’s more of an introduction or a starter guide. What I like about this approach is that it more easily presupposes a reader in search of the basics and open to the authority of the sources cited.

Let’s see how it sounds.  An introduction to the custody of the MBS for the parish priest.  I like it more.  It doesn’t imply sophisticated or highly speculative theological insight. Rather, it’s like the 10 steps book.  Strunk and White of MBS custody. The elements of reserving the MBS.  We’re onto something. It’s taken long enough. Guard against the temptation and seduction of sounding wise or holy or pious or theologically impressive. Aim, instead, for clear, basic elements of MBS custody.

Not bad.

Fraternal Charity

2/24/2021

Duccio, Peter

The Bonds of Fraternal Charity.

Jesus admonishes Peter to strengthen his brothers. Like a fortified city. Like oil on the beard of Aaron, dripping onto his vestment—I’m not sure what that has to do with fraternity. Anyhow.

How to confirm a brother. Prayer, sacrifice, action. Prayer in the Mass, for them. For me, at the silence before the collect and at the commemoration. Also, with the many aspirations throughout the day. Sacrifice, bearing the hardships of the day, patiently. The physical hardships which abound, fatigue, pain, etc. But also the temptations, resisting or flying from them with courage for the sake of the brothers who are suffering similarly. Action, correspond. Call. Visit. Share a meal.  Converse. Spend time. Be instant in getting together—not neglecting your official, ministerial work but as a choicest part of it. These expressions are borne most closely and directly from out of the bowels of charity. A more developed, organized or structured expression would be to arrange a thematic excursion, or even professional forum. These aren’t out of reach and can be done “low key” or highly produced, depending on how into it you want to get.

Fraternal charity is an interior disposition which must at the same time not remain invisible.  Rather embrace the tension between doing deeds in secret and letting the light shine. This requires constant rectification of intention.

Why 4:30 AM?

2/23/2021

Di Paulo, Annunciation

Followup thoughts about the extra time afforded by the 4:30 AM wakeup from yesterday, and again today.

It allows me to go slower, more peacefully. Because I know I’ve lowered the risk of losing the time to pray.  Whereas, subtract a quarter-hour and now it’s like, this thing better fit, or I’m playing already catchup.  It’s just funny to think of 4:45 AM as already “late,” but there you go.  “At Dawn We Slept.” Comes to mind.

It also allows me greater patience in the confessional, which is important. So there’s this temptation when I’m doubling my half-hour meditation with my availability to hear confessions, to hurry or to be particularly expeditious with a penitent. That’s not good. It’s not fair to the penitent, at all. I should be doing my utmost to make it easy for them. Damn this sense that they’re inconveniencing me. The extra quarter-hour helps there. It’s for the sake of the conversion of the souls of my parishioners. There, I said it. Why are you getting up at 4:30 AM? For the conversion of my parish.

Similarly, I need to be more punctual with the 9:40 AM on Sunday. I’ll be tempted to snack more at breakfast or coffee. Same thing.  Why are you wrapping up breakfast now? The salvation of souls and the conversion of my parish.  Got it.

Jocko & Mama T

2/22/2021

Simone, "Annunciation"

Jocko Willinck, Mother Theresa & 4:30 AM. It’s one thing they have in common.

I’ve noticed that 4:45 AM frequently leaves me hurried at the last. These fifteen extra minutes I will use thusly: 5 more minutes for Matins & this exercise; 10 more minutes for Lauds, confessions and getting ready before Mass.

It sounds incredibly early. But, I’ve been eyeing it for quite a while as probably the exact right time considering all the things that go into the mornings.

I mean, what time did dad or John Paul have to get started, just in order to get a swim workout before school. That meant: normal morning preparation routine + swim workout = zero dark thirty.

The main things I’ve added to anyone else’s, or my own former self’s normal morning routine has been 1) the old office; 2) this writing exercise. If some future me decides I’m going to chant Lauds and prime, then, hello, 4:00 AM.

For now, let see how far we get with 4:30 AM.

Chair of Peter

Here’s a morning where Matins is Three Nocturnes. It adds ten or so minutes to the recitation.  These fifteen extra minutes become especially helpful to guard against the “rushed” feeling.  

So also does “shutting it down” after dinner.

One thing necessary

2/21/2021

Lorenzetti's "Lamentation"

I typically take my theme for the homily from the readings or from the feast.  I also have other themes which I continually include over time, such as the importance of confession or of the Eucharist, the other sacraments, etc.

Again, thematically, I have intended in the broadest sense that the people should know Jesus Christ through my preaching. I got good training on this much in the seminary. There is “one thing necessary.” Preaching is always directed towards conversion, towards recalling hearts to the Lord. By presenting them with Jesus Christ in the homily, I show them the one who is calling them, seeking after them.

“May you seek Christ. May you find Christ. May you know Christ. May you love Christ.” This. from Escrivá, is the kind of emphasis that helps me out. You’ve got Josemaría, in the middle of the crazy 20th century, doing all he can to stick with the plan as best he can. So, he doubles down, and triples down on Christ. Where else are you going to go?

The Theme this Sunday, the first of Lent, is returning to the Lord via confession. Frustrating the attempts of the evil one by reconciling with Christ sacramentally through penance. Rebuking the devil in no uncertain terms, even at great cost to our earthly condition, for the sake of God’s plan for our eternal peace.

Notice, how in the preceding paragraph I “named that theme” in less than 55-words or less. Word count doesn’t matter, here. It’s articulating the theme that matters.  I think that’s a good exercise.

Integralism

2/20/2021

Further chipping away at “Why these videos”

The evangelical/apologetical may seem obvious enough. There is always a need for the faith to be explained in understandable terms in the current day.  In this regard, that is, since it’s worth doing—it’s worth doing badly.

Regarding the targeting particular individuals or certain groups or demographics of individuals, I suspect that may come somewhat further down the line.  I’d love to reach the men who are the heads of households. These are the guys who’s influence in the community carries the most sway. To fortify their faith and to enkindle their piety, this would bode well for the stability of the Christian people in this place.

All the while, I expect to be honing the craft. The delivery, the production, the various aspects of oral, auditory communication, each of these need identifying and improving.  It’s a chance to develop a style.

Tease this “style” theme out some more.

Can sacred preaching be reduced to the elements of style? Would Strunk & White have been a modern day Peter & Paul, if only they had devoted themselves directly and immediately to the Gospel?

Stealing the word “integralism” properly or improperly for a moment, the idea that sacred preaching has aspects I find problematic. It constantly begs the complicated questions which aspect do I present to whom and at which times and according to which modes? Establishing ahead of time, every time, what the right permutation is for any congregation or assembly seems too improbable, like trying to thread too many needles.  Rather, the apostolic encouragements have to come into play, here.

“I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).

 

I understand Paul’s decision as a personal orientation, a radical alignment of his entire integrity for the sake of his salvation and that of those to whom he was sent. This is the integralism I’m talking about. If it’s a rhetorical device is only rhetorical after first already being ontological, teleological, ethical and even pathological. The rhetoric has to be the lagging indicator of a process preceded by all of the aspects of personal conversion and the pursuit of holiness.

Long form

2/19/2021

di Tomme's "Crucifixion"

Continuing from yesterday’s why videos…

The Method of making the video.

I’m not sure what I meant by that beyond the technical, except maybe this. If the video is a catechesis, how does the video affect the catechetical method. I may have to return to this, as it’s not clear what I had in mind, here.

Evangelical/apologetical

This is clear. The purpose here is getting the word out there in a clear, comprehendible manner.

Who’s the audience? Is this the best way to reach them?

Let’s unpack the long-form for a second.  What makes long-form long-form? Is it merely duration of time? Perhaps the long-form conveys as much the sense that the topic being discussed has been treated in a relatively complete way. Complete, even in a limited sense. Certainly not comprehensively.  Not even a three-hour conversation, or monologue can’t get treat a topic comprehensively.  But it can be full of complete thoughts.

What is a complete thought?

It’s a thought a proposition the terms of which are clearly understood.  The long-form allows these thoughts to be articulated in a satisfying manner.  It allows them to be clarified, challenged, disputed, and even perfected.  These complete thoughts stand in contrast with the sound-bite.

More later.

Why Videos?

2/18/2021

Giotto's "Flight"

What’s this point of creating these videos?

What videos?

I’ve been sending a daily “video” to the whole list of about 50+ folks who have signed up for notifications from the parish. Currently, I’m simply recording a <10-minute catechetical talk on a topic (we’re now doing the Catechism during Lent). The visual element of the video is minimal—just a still shot of Giotto’s “Flight into Egypt.” So, mainly, it’s an audio-recording of yours truly presenting the catechesis.  That’s the video, so far, in a nutshell. I had prior to Lent done a few commentaries on the daily readings and a saint or two; but we’re settled, now, thematically on the catechism.

Why “videos?”

The purpose is several-fold: it’s at lest creative, technical, methodological and evangelical/apologetical—for starters.

Creative: As much as I love “public speaking” but the occasions when I’ve got an audience seem so relatively seldom. I want to improve my ability to communicate via the spoken word in a way which is commensurate with the nobility of the truth. Insofar as Sacred Preaching is an art, it is a Sacred Art. And this artist want to improve in his skills.

Technical: This is some sort of foray into the new-media. The technical savvy required can’t be so hard to acquire. Millions of folks know how to post videos.

More later…

God's Invisible Order

2/17/2021

Teniers, "Triumph of the Eucharist"

Ash Wednesday

The penitential disposition is primarily interior.  What’s up with this secrecy, this invisibility, this disappearing, unassuming humility?

“I am among you as one who serves.” Yes, it establishes man, firmly, in his place. “It” is this glorious invisibility—the riches of God. We allow the created realities to outshine the beauty of God by yielding to the world, the flesh, the devil. But the richness of God prevails. It disappears behind the veil of the natural, for the sake of nature. God serves man in order and righteousness so that man may attain his highest heights.

Without God’s promoting him, man languishes—is lost. God, holding him up, holds him all the way up—to the top. Man either languishes without God or rejoices with him there is no middle.

The mode God prefers for thus exalting man is to reclaim the resplendence of the secret, interior, hidden depth—where no moth nor worm can destroy—but where only God can dwell with man. The man would walk with God during the breezy time of day.

Reclaim God’s order for man’s affections. Look forward to that walk with him, in peace. Be not distracted by the things of this world—by anything other than the hope for His glorious company.

Defending What is Right

2/16/2021

Rubens, "Judgment of Solomon"

Defending what is right.

Imagine:

They’re saying it’s okay to kill a baby. They’re saying this to your own people. They’re saying it to your own people in your house right in front of you. What is the effect of your remaining silent?  Is it not that the heresy will spread, grow stronger and become more brazen?

Knee-capping a teacher for teaching well looks bad. The very one who is supposed to advocate for the teacher is turned against him. The very one who is supposed to advocate for the good of the students is turned against the students. This looks bad all around.

Meanwhile the teacher is forced to consider that he did something wrong. He did everything exactly right. In the teaching moment, he taught. Clearly. And all the more strongly in proportion to the gravity of the matter.

Why the antipathy towards the teacher? He is strong and they are weak. They cannot abide someone with greater authority, shining the ray of truth. Does it expose what they’ve concealed so long in the darkness—that outwardly they’re meant to care for teachers and children, but inwardly they’d sooner see them dead than defend what is right, true and just?

Getting carried away by a little cowardice. Softness, lack of perseverance, lack of magnanimity. “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” How easily we forget it. “Blessed are you when they utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.” How easily we forget it.

Pork, Set Piece

2/14/2021

Quentin Matsys, "Christ the Saviour"

Upshot on the pork belly.

Good. But messy.  I’m sure there’s an easier, less messy way to cook these.  After 30 hours in the sous vide at 155 degrees, I finished up by slicing and shallow-frying 3/4-inch strips in my cast iron skillet. I used a fair amount of lard for this.  It was my first time also pan frying in lard.

The mess came, as expected when the moisture began to explode the oil. The popping and sizzling that the shallow fry is famous for was, as times, more pop than sizzle. I used a pot lid to keep the grease from splattering all over the stove top.  i was also concerned briefly about what I’d do if there was a grease fire.

The result was tasty—both crispy where you’d expect and tender where you’d expect. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the flavor—so I added salt and pepper to finish.  I’ll do it again perhaps with less lard in the pan and a proper splatter guard.  I still have about a pound left to finish.

Ending the day.

I’m attempting to come up with a routine end the day. It was practically the first thought that occurred to me this morning when I woke up—wanting another hour of sleep.  I need a “set piece” that wraps things up nicely wrapping up the evening hour and ending with lights out.

The light’s out routine is simple enough. Once I’m done cleaning the kitchen, and turning out the downstairs light and start heading up the stairs things are pretty automatic from there. The one main “land mine” would be checking the phone.

Can I develop a set play that includes kitchen—maybe morning coffee setup, compline, maybe a brief writing exercise?

Pork Belly

2/13/2021

Van Dyck, St. Jerome

Pork Belly

I’ve had this pork belly in the freezer for a few months.  I think we’re getting close.  I plan to: season it (s&p); sous vide it overnight (24hrs, per Guga’s rec.); shallow fry it (a la ATK).

Ribeye

I’ve dry-brined (a new-word?) the ribeye for 40 hours.  Now, do I sous vide it or strait to the pan to cook?

Saturday AM

Reveille on Saturdays & Thursdays (if I’m at Nottingham) is plus-1 hour versus other weekdays. This is to catchup on any sleep lost through late lights, in lieu of a weekday afternoon nap and to disabuse myself of the notion that I’m some sort of a robot.

Journaling is Fun

It gets my brain going in the morning. Key, however, will be to not postpone this or have it delay the morning routine. In other words, the quicker I get to the 200-words, the easier to detach when time’s up.

“Fr. Drew Says”

There seems to be some popular interest, even a little, in a “Fr. Drew Says” notification sign up.  I had better not leave these folks hanging—some have already been hangin out there for too long—months, a whole year?

Rehearsal prep

 2/12/2021

Antonio van de Pere
Aanbidding van de herders

Productivity

This post is later in the 6:00 hour. The main reason is that I spent this first part of this hour preparing for a brief music rehearsal. I formatted three chants for my brand new choir. The formatting takes time. So much time that I cannot fit it in at the same hour that I would rather be writing these posts. That’s fine.

Today is the first rehearsal for my new choir of young people. The choir consists of three children, their mom and the director—me. W’re rehearsing after the morning Mass.  We’re singing the incipit, the Marian antiphon, and the hymn for the little hour.

I’ve prepared the song sheet’s for them to use. I formatted it for a booklet. I wonder if it would be better to format it for a larger sheet, so that the three of them could all be singing from the same page together.

It snowed this morning—there’s the chance that cancels rehearsal, but we’ll see.

The website that formats the text for the chant now runs slow.  I’m wondering if I need to learn how to format it locally on this computer in order to save time. Otherwise Il’l have to budget a lot more time for preparing texts.

Chant

2/10/2021

Prospects for developing the Chant

A lovely family has shown interest in singing at Church. I want to run with this. I’ll need first to meet with them to assess their skill level. They have indicated a weekday availability, following the morning Mass at 8:00 AM. An early thought was to look at Terce.

Terce

It’s a simple hour. The ordinary chant is the most basic there is. It includes the same, one hymn “Nunc Sancte Nobis.” There is one antiphon and three psalms. The brief chapter, verse, response & oration wrap it up and we’re done. The little hours have to be the easiest place to start. It’s a great place to start. I can find out where their abilities are at the outset and see what Herculean effort it’ll take to get this into a regular repertoire. Oh, and it’s all done in less than twenty minutes.  Really, less than fifteen.

Beyond Terce

Baby steps. Work the Marian antiphons. Comprehension of the text of what is being chanted. Psalm tones. Ordinary of the Mass. Latin language. English propers of the Mass. The sunny uplands are the Gregorian propers of the Mass and some sweet polyphony.

Regular Rehearsal

After 8:00 AM Mass once a week. Briefer, so as not to discourage or overburden them. They’ll then want to take it home, hopefully, and practice there. Eventually, we won’t be rehearsing Terce, we’ll be praying it as, let’s say, our “opening prayer” at rehearsal before moving on to whatever else we’re working on that morning. Cool thing about working the little hours is that if we have to change the rehearsal day or time, we can switch out the hour as well.

[image: File:Magdalena ante el sepulcro de Cristo (Museo del Prado).jpg ]