Untitled - Saints' Books

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2 1 8 Material for Instructions. [PART n.
met. But, O God! it would be necessary to weep, and
even to shed tears of blood, at the manner in which
many priests celebrate Mass. It excites compassion to
see the contempt with which some priests and religious,
and even priests of the reformed Orders, treat Jesus
Christ on the altar. Observe with what kind of atten
tion certain priests celebrate Mass. I
hope their num
ber is small. Of them we may well say what Clement
of Alexandria said of the pagan priests, that they turned
heaven into a stage, and God into the subject of the
comedy. 1 But why do I say a comedy ? Oh! how great
would be their attention if
they had to recite a part in
a comedy ! But with what sort of attention do they
celebrate Mass? Mutilated words; genuflexions that
appear to be acts of contempt rather than of reverence;
benedictions which I know not what to call.
They
move and turn on the altar in a disrespectful manner;
they confound the words with the ceremonies which
they perform before the time prescribed by the rubrics,
although these rubrics are, according to the true opin
ion, all preceptive. For St. Pius V. in the Bull inserted
in the Missal commands us strictly, by virtue of holy
obedience," to celebrate Mass according to the rubrics
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of the Missal: "According to the rite, mode, and norm
prescribed in the Missal." Hence he who violates the
rubrics cannot be excused from sin, and he who is
guilty of a grievous neglect
from mortal sin.
of them cannot be excused
All arises from an anxiety to have the Mass soon
finished. Some say Mass with as much haste as if the
walls were about to fall, or as if
they expected
to be
1
actus."
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2
3 "
"O
impietatem! scenam coelum fecistis, et Deus vobis factus est
Or. ad Gent.
Districte, in virtute sanctae obedientiae."
Juxta ritum, modum, ac normam, quae per Missale hoc a nobis
nunc traditur."