What does Canons Regular mean?
A "canon" is
a member of a religious order who shares some form of common
life and is bound to the solemn celebration of the liturgy in a
particular church.
This ancient term derives from
the Bishop's list or "canon" of priests. These were the clergy who
belonged to the bishop and were his co-workers in the cathedral.
The word
"regular" comes from the Latin regularis, from
regula rule. So a Canon
Regular
is a religious living under a rule.
This term describes a kind of reformed priestly life, which
came into use in the 11th and 12th Centuries when some
canons adopted a vow of poverty, hence Canons Regular.
Canons
Regular live under the Rule of St. Augustine.
As Bishop of Hippo, St.
Augustine composed it so he could share the common life with
his priests.
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
(CRNJ) is a clerical institute of consecrated life whose
members (known as canons) pursue the proper apostolic
ends of their religious society. By pronouncing the ancient
vows of Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience and
living a common life according to the specific form of the
institute, each member consciously strives towards the
perfection of charity.
Bishop
Raymond Burke established the Canons Regular of the New
Jerusalem in the Diocese of La Crosse (Wis.) on June 22,
2002.
He noted
the worthy celebration of the traditional Catholic liturgy
in Latin as being at the heart of spirituality and work of the CRNJ,
the "solemn celebration of the liturgy" referenced in the
definition above.
The
Divine Liturgy in its traditional Latin, in the august Eucharistic Sacrifice, Divine
Office and other rites and ceremonies of the Church,
constitute the summit toward which the activity of the
Church is directed.
For this
reason the worthy celebration of the Church’s worship of the
Most Holy Trinity is at the heart of the spirituality and
work of the CRNJ.
The Canons Regular of the
New Jerusalem seek perfection of the worship of God using
the 1962 liturgy in the celebration of Holy Mass in its
historic Latin form, consistent, Bishop Burke noted, with
his holiness Pope John Paul's
Ecclesia Dei Adflicta of 1988.
I thought the Latin Mass was done away with decades
ago. Wasn't it?
The traditional Roman Rite (Latin
Mass) differs from the new rite -- the 1969 Novus Ordo. The “new
Mass” omits about 70 percent of the traditional Mass prayers. Most
consider the traditional Latin Mass to be much more formal, more
dignified.
The
35-year-old "new Mass" is overwhelmingly the liturgy in which most
Catholics today participate. The traditional Mass, however, remains
a legitimate alternative, increasingly popular among those who find
its more than 1,000-year-old rite to provide a profound religious
experience.
It’s emphasis is on the
sacrifice of Jesus and the recognition of the “true presence” of
Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—in the Holy Eucharist. The
entire Mass focuses on the Consecration of the Body and Blood and on
reception of Christ in Holy Communion. The people and altar
face forward to God as the center of the rite.
In the
past 10 years, the availability of the Latin Mass has increased
dramatically. In 1988, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in his
Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei announced to the world his
desire that the Traditional Latin Mass be made available to all who
desire it:
"To all those Catholic
faithful who feel attached to some previous liturgical and
disciplinary forms of the Latin tradition, I wish to manifest my
will to facilitate their ecclesial communion by means of the
necessary measures to guarantee respect for their rightful
aspirations. In this matter I ask support of the Bishops and of all
those engaged in the pastoral ministry of the Church.."
"...By virtue of my
Apostolic authority I Decree... respect must everywhere be shown for
the feelings of those who are attached to the Latin liturgical
tradition, by a wide and generous application of the directives
already issued some time ago by the Apostolic See, for the use of
the Roman Missal ... of 1962" --Pope John Paul II
Can my family and I attend the Latin Mass you
celebrate or is this just for religious?
You and your family are very welcome
to attend Mass with the Canons Regular or to visit at any other
times that the CRNJ religious are involved in prayer in the chapel.
The order was established by Bishop
Burke and its services are, therefore, recognized as valid
alternatives to the "new Mass" you have been routinely attending.
Booklets are available at the rear of
the chapel to help you follow along with the traditional Latin rite
and the booklets provide the English translation to what is
happening in Latin during the Mass. You will quickly become familiar
with the liturgy, and, we believe, impressed with its dignity, its
emphasis on the Eucharist and it's God-centered orientation.
We ask that you dress respectfully
and recognize that Jesus is present with us in the Eucharist, a
central focus of our worship and our religious life.
Please remember that Holy Communion
is reserved for baptized Catholics who are in a state of
grace.
Thank you and welcome!
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