A Traditional Catholic in Iowa: Cardinal Burke and Monsignor Schuler: A Conversati...

Monsignor Richard Schuler (1920-2007)


A Traditional Catholic in Iowa: Cardinal Burke and Monsignor Schuler: A Conversati...: I was recently approached by another blogger, Fr. Allan McDonald of Southern Orders  and asked to comment upon a conversation I was part of...

Card. Burke interjected.  He spoke about the tradition of keeping a male sanctuary as key to continuing the proper idea of what Monsignor was talking about.  The ministers were simply extensions of the priesthood and as such they should be male.  Wherein he made the caveat of a cloistered convent, but was clear to make the distinction that the female nun would not enter the sanctuary, but remain at the rail.
As lunch and the afternoon wore on, we broke for Solemn Vespers at 3pm.  We continued the conversation afterwards, wherein Card. Burke spoke about the need to recommit to proper liturgical catechesis.  He spoke about posture.  He spoke about language.  He spoke about mentality.  And he spoke about form.  Remember, this was early 1995.  Card. Burke spoke about how the Novus Ordo was broken.  That it didn’t have a foothold in the Church because it was not rooted in tradition, but rather that it was a wholly new endeavor started in the 1960s.  He was quick to distinguish between validity and licitness though.  To be valid is to understand that there isn’t a complete break with the 2000 year history of the Church, he would go on to say, but that the actions were not consistent with the laws set forth in the rubrics.  And that made it illicit.  And that is why he liked going to St. Agnes, because the Mass was said licitly.  There was no deviation from the rubrics.  Mass was ad orientem.  Mass was sung.  Mass was Solemn.  Mass was in Latin.  Mass was ceremonially licit.  AND the communicants still received at the rail, on their knees and without the use of their hands.
--at this point, I would like to interject that St. Agnes has kept the traditions of the Church alive based upon actual implementation of the Council, as it happened.  Monsignor’s Bandas and Schuler thought it best to implement the changes as they happened and to stay consistent.  First by Bandas’ leadership then through Schuler’s, after being weekend assistant to Bandas and eventually pastor, in 1969.--