In case anyone viewing is unaware of this, Fr Lang is parish priest of what may be liturgically and musically the best Catholic church in the world, the London Oratory. Both new and old rites celebrated beautifully and traditionally, and three choirs, two of which are made up of children (don't be fooled by that, between them they also do world tours, release critically-acclaimed albums and sing at the Royal Opera House!) and one of professional adults which may very well be unequalled in the world, at least in the Catholic Church. And in case anyone thinks they are merely dedicated to high aesthetic ideals and (in the case of Fr Lang) scholarship, they hear confessions for at least 2 periods per day, for a great long period on Saturday and all through Sunday morning (during most of the many packed Sunday Masses). And, if you can't make those times, they have even longer confession times at the house next door, which you can ring for from the church. It is so wonderful there that you often wonder why much more of the Church isn't like it, before remembering that it must take a colossal amount of effort (and money) to keep it all going!
I personally attest to that. This is my "London church," where I go on a Sunday when I am in town and I totally recommend it. And beyond its liturgical excellence, it's also a very beautiful church both in its exterior and its interior; and with a sense of community: I am getting the feeling that people there know one other and have personal connections, unlike any big church in a big city. The only thing in which I would slightly differ from the comment (more as a qualification, really) is that, although you need some serious budget to have big professional choirs etc, however, even with no money you can get to 80% of where that church is, just by reverent liturgy, an atmosphere of silence, use of incense, chant, Latin, use of the communion rail, and dignified sacred images. Low budget is never an excuse for bland liturgy or a non-descript space with empty walls and postmodern banality.
In the winter 2021 edition, David W Fagerberg, has a great article called "Why We Need Alexander Schmemann." It talks about how we need a return of liturgy, theology and piety. He calls it the " trivorce."
I was happy to hear some comments on something that always bothered me, but I haven't seen much discussion about, which is the wholesale change in the liturgical calendar. I think Fr Lang put it very very well and Larry's comments were spot on, although a bit of an understatement in my opinion. There are a lot of people named Christopher, who thought they were named after a saint, only to be told that all this is a fable. Some of them will also think the Incarnation and the Resurrection are also fables. Some people at least in certain parts of the world, celebrate their name days. All of a sudden many of these dates just changed for not so obvious reasons for the faithful. I think some saints dates were the same as those of the Eastern Churches. Now they are different. Great books on the Lives of the Saints are now "obsolete" somehow. This is not a good thing. It gives the impression that it's all a random thing and that the Catholic Church just changes things arbitrarily. Why can't it change its doctrines on sexuality? Try to explain now.
Listening to Fr.Lang makes me think that Joseph Ratzinger is really a brilliant theologian of course we all know that, but the fact that his exegesis is so razor sharp and his ability to articulate it is like listening to a beautiful psalm...I'm sure one day Pope Benedict XVI will be declared a Doctor of the Church.
An excellent fit for you to do Communio interviews. Do we get a discount on the journal for listening? I hope this goes well. Are you continuing your Vatican II series as well? Thanks for this articulate discussion.
In case anyone viewing is unaware of this, Fr Lang is parish priest of what may be liturgically and musically the best Catholic church in the world, the London Oratory. Both new and old rites celebrated beautifully and traditionally, and three choirs, two of which are made up of children (don't be fooled by that, between them they also do world tours, release critically-acclaimed albums and sing at the Royal Opera House!) and one of professional adults which may very well be unequalled in the world, at least in the Catholic Church. And in case anyone thinks they are merely dedicated to high aesthetic ideals and (in the case of Fr Lang) scholarship, they hear confessions for at least 2 periods per day, for a great long period on Saturday and all through Sunday morning (during most of the many packed Sunday Masses). And, if you can't make those times, they have even longer confession times at the house next door, which you can ring for from the church. It is so wonderful there that you often wonder why much more of the Church isn't like it, before remembering that it must take a colossal amount of effort (and money) to keep it all going!
I personally attest to that. This is my "London church," where I go on a Sunday when I am in town and I totally recommend it. And beyond its liturgical excellence, it's also a very beautiful church both in its exterior and its interior; and with a sense of community: I am getting the feeling that people there know one other and have personal connections, unlike any big church in a big city. The only thing in which I would slightly differ from the comment (more as a qualification, really) is that, although you need some serious budget to have big professional choirs etc, however, even with no money you can get to 80% of where that church is, just by reverent liturgy, an atmosphere of silence, use of incense, chant, Latin, use of the communion rail, and dignified sacred images. Low budget is never an excuse for bland liturgy or a non-descript space with empty walls and postmodern banality.
Beautiful homily on Easter Sunday at the 9am Oratory mass Fr. Lang.
In the winter 2021 edition, David W Fagerberg, has a great article called "Why We Need Alexander Schmemann." It talks about how we need a return of liturgy, theology and piety. He calls it the " trivorce."
I was happy to hear some comments on something that always bothered me, but I haven't seen much discussion about, which is the wholesale change in the liturgical calendar. I think Fr Lang put it very very well and Larry's comments were spot on, although a bit of an understatement in my opinion. There are a lot of people named Christopher, who thought they were named after a saint, only to be told that all this is a fable. Some of them will also think the Incarnation and the Resurrection are also fables. Some people at least in certain parts of the world, celebrate their name days. All of a sudden many of these dates just changed for not so obvious reasons for the faithful. I think some saints dates were the same as those of the Eastern Churches. Now they are different. Great books on the Lives of the Saints are now "obsolete" somehow. This is not a good thing. It gives the impression that it's all a random thing and that the Catholic Church just changes things arbitrarily. Why can't it change its doctrines on sexuality? Try to explain now.
Listening to Fr.Lang makes me think that Joseph Ratzinger is really a brilliant theologian of course we all know that, but the fact that his exegesis is so razor sharp and his ability to articulate it is like listening to a beautiful psalm...I'm sure one day Pope Benedict XVI will be declared a Doctor of the Church.
He is also very humble! Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote the forward to his book, “Turning Towards the Lord”.
The parish priest of the best parish church in the world!
An excellent fit for you to do Communio interviews. Do we get a discount on the journal for listening? I hope this goes well. Are you continuing your Vatican II series as well? Thanks for this articulate discussion.
"I personally attend an anglic..." everybody take a drink!
😂 …also, “ I’m not here to interrupt so please have at it” 🥃
Typo in title
He is also very humble! Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote the forward to his book, “Turning Towards the Lord”.