Pieces of the SINod puzzle

...the new synodal church, since 1965

Two interesting observations on the Synod of the Family found around the internet plus the method used at the SINod.

The MacGuffin: 

why the final document is irrelevant 

by Patrick Archbold

What do we expect of the final document?

– Flowery orthodox statements securing large majority large majorities of bishops.

– Just enough weaselly stuff to give the Pope his opening.

In fiction, a MacGuffin is a plot device in the form of some goal, desired object,

or other motivator that the protagonist pursues, often with little or no narrative explanation.

The specific nature of a MacGuffin is typically unimportant to the overall plot.

[So, did everyone enjoy a nice WUWTS holiday yesterday? I found a walnut tree and brought home about five pounds. Pat Archbold spent most of the day in a tree. Not making it up. And while he was up there waiting for some hapless and doubtless adorably cute woodland creature to come into his sights, he texted this to us. It is what I’ve more or less been telling everyone who imagines that “the good guys won the Synod! Yaaay!” It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. HJMW]

~ 

Everybody is talking about the final document of the Synod. We didn’t even know if we would have one, but now we know there will be a vote [happening as I edit Pat’s piece…stay tuned HJMW]. This is a chance for – the Africans!… the Poles! …the Latvians!… name the latest group of bishops – to save us!! 

Sorry folks. They want you to be focused on the final document. They NEED you to be focused on the final document. But i have news for you, the final doc is the MACGUFFIN. It is simply a plot device meant to move the story forward, but ultimately it is unimportant. It is a distraction meant to cover the sleight of hand. 

What do I expect of the final document? Well, it will make flowery orthodox statements securing large majority large majorities of bishops. Of course, with just enough weaselly stuff to give the Pope his opening. 

They are not fools, they aren’t going to really fight over the document. Maybe they will put in an offending paragraph or two, intended to be voted out, so that everybody will cheer their favorite orthodox Bishop. Hooray!! We are saved! 

And then the Pope will give his closing remarks (or even in a post synodal exhortation months down the line) in which the he will do only what he needs to do (nuanced they’ll say) to open the door to the heretical episcopal conferences. They will do the rest and the Vatican will do nothing to stop them. 

All the while we will be barraged with stories about how all this worry was for nothing! and how the Holy Spirit saved us! as we knew He would all along!! They will mock the faithful traditionalists and praise the closing document as the mostest orthodoxest document evah!! 

And then, one day a few months from now, we will find institutionalized and approved sacrilege occurring daily in dioceses all over the world and oh, by the way, you better get on board with the new mercy.
Or else.

~

Michael Matt's take on the SINod

the method of the SINod

(mute the video as the music, and we don't like to call it music, is terrible)

For more on the Delphi Technique:

• RAND Corporation, The Delphi Method: An Experimental Study of Group Opinion

• Are You Being Delphied?

Video of Blessed Paul VI celebrating the transitional vernacular Mass!

Fruit of the Second Vatican Council

More:

• Mark your calendars for 7 March 2015...it's the 50th Anniversary of the transitional  vernacular Mass!

Mark your calendars for 7 March 2015...

...it's the 50th Anniversary of the transitional 
vernacular Mass!

Don Risi of All Saints church kisses Paul VI's ring, 7 March 1965

"Today, we inaugurate the new form of the liturgy in all parishes and churches in the world, for all the Masses followed by the people. It's a great event, you will remember it as the beginning of a flourishing spiritual life, as a new commitment in the correspondence of the great dialogue between God and man."

- Paul VI, 7 March 1965 -

...and Francis is going to the same All Saints church Blessed Paul VI first celebrated it at!  

L'Osservatore Romano (Edizione Italiano), Sabato 31 Gennaio 2015, pagina 8 

Francis is going to celebrate the Novus Ordo Missae at la Parrocchia di Ognissanti (the Parish of All Saints) in Rome on 7 March 2015.  As one reads above, the occasion for this visit is the 50th Anniversary of the transitional Mass celebrated by Blessed Paul VI at this same church!  The transitional Mass is similar to the 'scientific experiment' of turning the heat up on a frog in a pot of water gradually until it dies.

a lobotomized frog doesn't realize the water is becoming more warm

A special papal commission, known as the Consilium was established during the Second Vatican Council to implement the liturgical reform mandated in Sacrosanctum Concilium.  This group was led by Annibale Bugnini (a freemason) and Cardinal "Church of the poor" Lercaro. Section 50 of Sacrosanctum Concilium reads,

The rite of the Mass is to be revised in such a way that the intrinsic nature and purpose of its several parts, as also the connection between them, may be more clearly manifested, and that devout and active participation by the faithful may be more easily achieved.

For this purpose the rites are to be simplified, due care being taken to preserve their substance; elements which, with the passage of time, came to be duplicated, or were added with but little advantage, are now to be discarded; other elements which have suffered injury through accidents of history are now to be restored to the vigor which they had in the days of the holy Fathers, as may seem useful or necessary.

This in turn led to the publication of the instruction Inter oecumenici on 26 September 1964.  Inter oecumenici introduced many novelties into being.  Parts of Mass sung by the choir or read by laymen were no longer read by the priest, prayers (Leonine, the Last Gospel, Psalm 42, etc...) were omitted, all readings must be facing the people, reading could be in the vernacular, along with a myriad of other changes.  The three things which stand out because they are so much a part of the Novus Ordo Missae are:  1) when receiving communion the formula became "Body of Christ" - "Amen",  2)  the altar should be freestanding so the priest could face the people during Mass, and  3)  if possible the Eucharist should be kept in a suitable place which may be the altar, a side altar, or elsewhere.

On 27 January 1965, the Consilium issued Nuper edita which integrated the above changes into the rubrics for the Mass as well as permitted the whole Mass to be said in the vernacular and ordered the Liturgy of the Word not to be conducted from the altar but a chair.  Ecclesia semper of 7 March 1965 put into law communion in both kinds and concelebration.

L'Osservatore Romano, 10 Marzo 1965

Which bring us back to the day of 7 March 1965.  This was the day Blessed Paul VI put all these changes into practice.  He like Francis believes in leading the revolution from the front!  Francis considers this such an important date to the Church, why if only the self absorbed navel gazing neo-pelagians and rosary counters would recognize it too.  As Blessed Paul VI predicted, this Mass has ushered in a golden age of spiritual life.  Just look at the attendance of your local Novus Ordo Mass or at the convents and seminaries, they are bursting at the seems!

La Parrocchia di Ognissanti (the Parish of All Saints) in Via Appia Nuova where it went down.

 Paul VI facing the people and saying the transitional Mass in the vernacular.

 D. Zambarbieri, D. Parodi. and D.Piccardo offer the Chalice to Paul VI.

Paul VI standing with back to the High Altar which has been covered.
Notice also, the table in front of the communion rail.

Paul VI among the people at All Saints, 7 March 1965.