Bishop Burbidge Blasts A Barrage Of Blessed Bombshells
Dominus Vobiscum, Yall

Well, well... looks like lil' ol' Raleigh, Nowth Cahlinah sets the pace for the rest of the country to follow. Read this carefully. Like I said... it's a bombshell.

One diocese down, one hundred and ninty three to go. By the way, I know that His Excellency is originally from Philadelphia, And Philly is known as The Vatican of America. Could this mean that Bp. Burbidge just might turn the Diocese of Raleigh into The Philadelphia of The South? Works for me.

From the official Diocese of Raleigh website; (emphasis and comments mine)


Implementation of the Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, of Pope Benedict XVI in the Diocese of Raleigh
In his Christmas address to the members of the Roman Curia on December 22, 2005, His Holiness Benedict XVI, shared his vision of shepherding the Church on a path of greater unity, continuity, reform, and renewal. As an essential part of this vision, on July 7, 2007, the Holy Father released his Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, clarifying the status and usage of the Missal of Blessed Pope John XXIII, published in 1962, prior to the liturgical reforms of 1970. The document also governs the use of other ritual books in use prior to these reforms.

Accompanying the Apostolic Letter, the Holy Father also wrote an explanatory letter to all the Bishops of the world providing the context in which the faithful should understand the objectives of the document. The Holy Father explains that the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council found in the 1970 Missal, with its two subsequent revisions, remain as the Forma ordinaria or normal form of celebration of the Mass. The use of the 1962 Missal of Blessed Pope John XXIII is to be used as the Forma extraordinaria or extraordinary form of celebration of the Mass. Most notably, the Holy Father states that these two forms are not to be seen as two separate Rites of the Mass, but rather two forms of celebration within the one Roman Rite. The Holy Father clarifies this two-fold reality when he stated, “There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy, there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us, too….”

Therefore, to implement Summorum Pontificum in every way possible in the Diocese of Raleigh, it is my intention to maintain the Forma ordinaria as normative for celebrations of the Mass, but also to make the Forma extraordinaria form of the Mass more available to the faithful. To this end, resources will be provided to those priests who are able and choose to study how to properly celebrate the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass so that both he and the people of God will best be served. There are many resources available to priests to aid them in this pursuit and so I direct those priests seeking formation to consult with the Vicar General, the Very Reverend David D. Brockman, for which formation program will be the most effective. (The Bishops is actually FOSTERING a love of the TLM in the priests of this diocese!!?? He's actually encouraging them!!?? OK, time to knock me over with a feather.)

Our Diocese is blessed (did he just say "blessed!!??) that we already have priests exercising an effective apostolate offering the Mass and other sacraments using the Forma extraordinaria. I am grateful to these priests for their generosity to assist any priest seeking liturgical formation in the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass. In particular, I wish to recognize the Reverend Paul M. Parkerson, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Dunn for his leadership in this regard. I also express my gratitude to those in liturgical leadership at Sacred Heart, Dunn for offering liturgical formation in the ministry of altar server for the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass.

While Summorum Pontificum does not impose a minimum number of the faithful who may rightfully request (did he just say "rightfully request!!??) the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass from their pastor, the priests of the Diocese of Raleigh, and I, as Bishop, will do everything possible to respond appropriately and generously to the requests for this form with the resources we have (Unfortunantly, some of those very same "resources" are a number of priests in this very diocese that are flat-out heretics. But that's a different post for a different day. And besides... the Bishop's no dummy. He knows exactly what's going on). Our Diocesan website will soon convey more information on parish celebrations of the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass in our Diocese. (HUH?? WHAT!!?? MORE information on even MORE parishes that will be celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass!!??)

In recognition of the effective date of Summorum Pontificum on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14, 2007, I invite the faithful of our Diocese to join me at Sacred Heart, Dunn for a special solemn celebration of the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass. (Mrs. Caveman and myself will be there. I'll even leave my club at home) I will be the homilist for the Mass and Fr. Parkerson will offer the Mass as the celebrant (Did you notice he didn't say "presider"?).

The richness of the Sacred Liturgy is the heart of our Catholic faith. Both the Forma ordinaria and the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass have been the source of holiness for countless saints throughout history. May the richness of our Catholic liturgical prayer, now made more available to the entire Church, continue to lead us all to that same goal. In the words of our Holy Father, "Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith, itself, allows."

+ Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh

I'll come clean... a week or so back, I was fairly upset about a few things that I thought were taking place here in the Diocese of Raleigh. Well, we all know what they say about hindsight being 20/20. Especially in light of this pronouncement, all I can say is "boy, was I ever wrong about Bishop Burbidge."

Two things I'll say about him; I'm glad I don't have his job, but I sure am glad he's my bishop. And you know, I'll even go one step further. Want to know how I really feel about Bishop Burbidge's pronouncement concerning Summorum Pontificum? Click below.