Thursday, September 25, 2014

FR. ANGELO (?) ANSWERS: IS "BENEDICTION" LITURGY?

In general, the word "benediction" can either refer to a blessing or an invocation. In the Catholic Mass, the "Benediction" is the blessing at the end of Mass. However, in Catholic usage, it can also refer to the "Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament" which is contained in the Order of the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, of which we sometimes refer to simply as "Benediction". With these different references in mind, let us review the following convoluted exchange between a deacon candidate and a mystery speaker* who also made the strange claim that Jesus "was a sinner".

*Note: So far, we have been able to partially identify the "mystery speaker" as a priest from Italy named Fr. Angelo. If anyone can further verify his identity or how he came to be here instructing candidates for the diaconate, please send what you know. Likewise, you can also send information that disproves what we believe we know. 

Here's the conversation:


CANDIDATE:  Is benediction part of liturgy?

The way the question is asked, it first appears that the candidate is speaking of the blessing at the end of the Mass, but we'll soon see that he was not. 

 SPEAKER:  No.

 CANDIDATE:  No?

 SPEAKER:  It’s not.

 CANDIDATE:  But it’s Christ.

He's obviously referring here to the Exposition of the Holy Eucharist. 

 SPEAKER:  The blessing, yes.  The blessing, yes, but not the adoration, not --  something like that.

The speaker makes it also clear that he is referring to the "Exposition" since he refers to "adoration".

 CANDIDATE:  But it doesn’t degrade, it’s not a degradation.  The devotion is not a degradation, no?

 SPEAKER:  No.

 CANDIDATE:  It has valid effects?

 SPEAKER:  Oh, blessing, yes, because it’s God who blesses us.  It’s God.  Jesus Christ blesses us.  And he is with me and with you, with the people.

So, according to the speaker, only the blessing part of the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist is "valid", meaning "valid" as liturgy, but not the "adoration." He is obviously in disagreement with Rome which codified the LITURGY of Eucharistic Adoration here:

Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, nn. 82-100; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 317; Code of Canon Law, can. 941 § 2.

For our general edification, let us contrast what was told to the deacon candidates by this "Fr. Angelo" with what St. Pope John Paul II instructs on Eucharistic Adoration in Redemptionis Sacramentum:

2. Certain Forms of Worship of the Most Holy Eucharist Outside Mass

[134.] “The worship of the Eucharist outside the Sacrifice of the Mass is a tribute of inestimable value in the life of the Church. Such worship is closely linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.”[227] Therefore both public and private devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist even outside Mass should be vigorously promoted, for by means of it the faithful give adoration to Christ, truly and really present,[228] the “High Priest of the good things to come”[229] and Redeemer of the whole world. “It is the responsibility of sacred Pastors, even by the witness of their life, to support the practice of Eucharistic worship and especially exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the eucharistic species.”[230]

[135.] The faithful “should not omit making visits during the day to the Most Holy Sacrament, as a proof of gratitude, a pledge of love, and a debt of the adoration due to Christ the Lord who is present in it.”[231] For the contemplation of Jesus present in the Most Holy Sacrament, as a communion of desire, powerfully joins the faithful to Christ, as is splendidly evident in the example of so many Saints.[232] ‘Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, a church in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved should be open to the faithful for at least some hours each day, so that they can spend time in prayer before the Most Holy Sacrament.”[233]

[136.] The Ordinary should diligently foster Eucharistic adoration, whether brief or prolonged or almost continuous, with the participation of the people. For in recent years in so many places “adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament is also an important daily practice and becomes an inexhaustible source of holiness”, although there are also places “where there is evident almost a total lack of regard for worship in the form of eucharistic adoration.”[234]

[137.] Exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist must always be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of the liturgical books.[235] Before the Most Holy Sacrament either reserved or exposed, the praying of the Rosary, which is admirable “in its simplicity and even its profundity”, is not to be excluded either.[236] Even so, especially if there is Exposition, the character of this kind of prayer as a contemplation of the mystery of the life of Christ the Redeemer and the Almighty Father’s design of salvation should be emphasized, especially by making use of readings taken from Sacred Scripture.[237]

Note: Once again PROOF that "Benediction" (Exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist) is "liturgy" since the pope refers here to the "prescription of the liturgical books." 

...

[141.] The diocesan Bishop should acknowledge and foster insofar as possible the right of the various groups of Christ’s faithful to form guilds or associations for the carrying out of adoration, even almost continuous adoration. Whenever such associations assume an international character, it pertains to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to erect them and to approve their statutes.[240]


22 comments:


  1. It is our understanding that this priest was on Island at the invitation of the Archbishop to instruct Deacon candidates for ordination. He is not a resident priest on Island. He was simply here as a guest to give the necessary credits required for ordination.

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    1. So is this priest covered u der the Archdiocese medical insurance while in island?

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    2. Thank you 6.24pm for reminding observers to look into this priest. Who pays him? Is he covered by select on Island off Island. What about Fr. Wadeson. He should be still covered by select as he is incardinated. I also want to know who pays his salary when he is not working on Island. These are the questions observers need to ask. where is Fr. Wadeson tonight. Guam has a right to know where he is!

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  2. Here's hoping Angelo ---not speaking English very well, really screwed up "(cf. Heb 4:15). Truly he "knew not sin," even though St. Paul will say that "for our sake God made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21).

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  3. TO ANON 4:40PM - Sorry, No, Fr. Angelo has been here for quite a while. He was not here JUST for the the Deacon Candidates, he also instructed at the RMS. You can easily verify this with ANY of his former students to include Edivado who I think will outright deny it. Sorry, Fr. Angelo is a sweet person but was not here ONLY for the Deacon Candidates.

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    1. Then what is the purpose of Fr. Angelo living on Island. what are we paying him for. Salary, three meals a day, airfare, How much is he costing our diocese every month. All these priests living off us like a social welfare system provided by Apuron. And Apuron tells us we have no poor or homeless in Guam. Apuron pours our money into this sect, accuses a beloved Monsignor of financial mismanagement, abandons the poor and needy, and yet gives thousands of USD to a vile and evil sect operating in the name of the church.

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    2. Don't forget guaranteed US Citizenship when they become priest. If it doesn't workout....they can leave the priesthood but keep the US Passport...what a deal...

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    3. New Executive Order from WH "Dreamers" can serve in the Military now with promise of Citizenship; so WHY NOT??

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    4. @10:54 drove someone home to Astumbo. All I have to say is there are some poor in Guam. Don't drive your Equus there though. Some of the roads are not exactly paved. No Poor? Idiot.

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    5. Papers for citizenship is worked on prior to the step before deaconate. Whoohoo what a steal of a deal!

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    6. Sure, dreamers, can serve and active mililtary are getting pink slips. Sorry, off topic.

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    7. @7:04...sure they can leave the priesthood...but its is hard to leave a CULT and what else are they prepared to do? Go to mainland- better benefits.

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    8. 8:13 pm..Serving in the Military with the real potential of losing your life is not the same as the free ride with all expenses paid by the poor people of Guam. I hope you never compare service in the military to serving Pius, AAA, Kiko, David and Adrian.

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    9. How exactly does this NCW infiltration of local Churches all over the world get the papers they need for many countries? How does a family of 8 kids get to move to another part of the world from Italy, for example? BTW, how about our families who are NCW way here. Been at some of OUR Masses and see that they never put anything in the basket. Seen this many times at Masses with Brother Ton. When he brings them all along for the FREE FOOD.

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    10. 8.42pm wake up. Tony has provided a social welfare system to these families from all over the world living in Guam at our expense. Yes the money of Guam people is being used by Tony to provide free housing, free food, free medical care, free travel and free everything. Social welfare system the best in the world everything free provided to the neo by Tony. it is not his money doubt he uses his own money he takes from the people to pay for this cult he is leading in this community.

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    11. Yes free housing, free food, free travel, all given on the social welfare of Tony to neo. He has no concern for the homeless of Guam or growing poverty of this community he operates a welfare system to serve only the neo. Even the can goods in the food bank will be used to susain the neo and the poor of Guam will hear the words " give them cake." The crumbs of the cake. Tony will be eating his foie gras with his neo chums all provided by his welfare state.

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  4. Is Adoration practiced in your parish? Do lay folks expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament? At the chancery, the Basilica, St. Anthony's and Our Lady of Lourdes lay folks repose Christ. Why is that so Bishop?

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  5. And why we are talking about all these strange Priests flying in and out of Guam does anyone know where Fr. John Wadeson is sleeping at night. Snap are waiting to hear from Fr. Wadeson.

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    1. Anon 5:27 PM I urge you to Challenge Fr.John's case. You'll be bringing Tim with you that I guarantee you. Please do.

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    2. No need. Apuron has already judged him guilty by removing him from ministry. Never even offered a defense.

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  6. Problem is now any priest can fly in and out of Guam and we no longer know if children are safe. Clearly safeguarding of our children is not of importance to Tony so we now need to do background checks on every priest seminarian entering Guam.

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  7. All of these priiests must go through database of bishop accountability . We need to know safeguarding is seriously managed in Guam. Archbishop obviously cannot safeguard children so the people of God must carry out a safeguarding over and above Apuron.

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