Anglican to Catholic

[Albino_Luciani]

I was wondering about the latest conversions from Anglicanism to Catholicism. At this time in history, it seems that Catholics are going through some of the same circumstances that the original Anglicans faced when their previously Catholic Bishops steered them into Protestantism. If more Anglicans were drawn to the Latin Mass, I would be more enthusiastic about their arrival.

It is a supreme irony that the Anglicans are coming back into the Church under the same conditions that made them Anglicans 400 years ago, a deliberately altered liturgy, elimination of popular devotions, stripping churches of altars, standing for Communion, Communion in the hand, etc. Are Anglicans really converting or is it more the case that the two camps, Anglican and Catholic, wandering in the desert, have just sort of bumped into each other? Is it a more a case of comfort in the wilderness than dogma?

Just sayin’…

 

[YoungTradCath]

I don’t quite know what you’re talking about. From a traditional Catholic perspective, it is common, nay the norm, that the Anglican Use masses look more Catholic than the average Roman Rite mass does. Their priests process in cope when asperges is done, their clergy wear maniples (!), Roman chasubles are the norm, it is very common for two deacons (or take your pick and call them deacon and subdeacon) to assist at mass as at Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form, from the videos I have seen they fully embrace chant, they use copious incense, they receive communion at altar rails and kneeling, etc. Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=EdnOJ-LaZZQ

That is a video of an Anglican Use mass, that is, of a mass celebrated by former Anglican clergy for former Anglicans. If you can’t see the extreme amounts of obvious Roman influence in that, then I don’t know what would convince you.

 

[Albino_Luciani]

Thanks.

 

[codefro]

I don’t quite know what you’re talking about. From a traditional Catholic perspective, it is common, nay the norm, that the Anglican Use masses look more Catholic than the average Roman Rite mass does. Their priests process in cope when asperges is done, their clergy wear maniples (!), Roman chasubles are the norm, it is very common for two deacons (or take your pick and call them deacon and subdeacon) to assist at mass as at Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form, from the videos I have seen they fully embrace chant, they use copious incense, they receive communion at altar rails and kneeling, etc. Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=EdnOJ-LaZZQ

That is a video of an Anglican Use mass, that is, of a mass celebrated by former Anglican clergy for former Anglicans. If you can’t see the extreme amounts of obvious Roman influence in that, then I don’t know what would convince you.

exactly.

 

[OraLabora]

Indeed. My wife is Anglican and sometimes I go to her church. There is still a communion rail, the altar and tabernacle faces a reredos, communion is received kneeling, etc.

She attends the more modern liturgy (Book of Alternative Services in Canada) which I don’t like but the traditional service, apart from the language, is far more “traditional” and resembles the Tridentine rite much more than a poorly done OF Catholic Mass. Plus they have a rich musical tradition, while not Gregorian, is certainly not without its beauty (for an excellent parody of it there’s a Youtube Video out there somewhere of Anglican chant being used for the weather report. It’s hilarious!)

I have no issues with the introduction of this Rite into the modern Roman Church. After all we still have the Ambrosian and Mozarabic rites plus a couple of religious orders too have their own.

It will enrich us and bring us closer to unity. What’s not to like?

 

[JimmytheButcher]

If the newspapers and blogs are correct many more Anglicans would be crossing the Tiber, but they have run into some (un)likely resistance (according to reports) from certain elements within the Roman Church, episcopal resistance that is wary about traditional devotions and liturgical practices somehow spoiling their pet projects, politicking, and deviancy.

It could just be bigotry on the part of many of the British pink-zuchetti brains. There are hard-feelings I am sure. I am afraid we might end up with a PNC-style event if the Roman priests and bishops don’t begin becoming less cold-shouldered. I am also thinking of the event where a whole chunk of Eastern Catholics in the United States went Orthodox because of knuckle-headed bishops back in the 1800’s. It was more about power for the establishment than collegiality and fraternity.

The British Roman officials are making the same mistakes.

 

[ProVobis]

Indeed. My wife is Anglican and sometimes I go to her church. There is still a communion rail, the altar and tabernacle faces a reredos, communion is received kneeling, etc.

She attends the more modern liturgy (Book of Alternative Services in Canada) which I don’t like but the traditional service, apart from the language, is far more “traditional” and resembles the Tridentine rite much more than a poorly done OF Catholic Mass. Plus they have a rich musical tradition, while not Gregorian, is certainly not without its beauty (for an excellent parody of it there’s a Youtube Video out there somewhere of Anglican chant being used for the weather report. It’s hilarious!)

I have no issues with the introduction of this Rite into the modern Roman Church. After all we still have the Ambrosian and Mozarabic rites plus a couple of religious orders too have their own.

It will enrich us and bring us closer to unity. What’s not to like?

I exchange a lot of emails with an Anglican female pastor of a parish of my birthplace in the U.K. She as well as a lot of Anglican clerics work on a voluntary basis. I share her prayers and she even throws in some Latin. I do so, however, in an ecumenical spirit. And I think she knows that as well. Obviously, there is no conversion possible (and I wouldn’t attend anything that sounds Anglican anyway) but that doesn’t mean we can’t remain Christian friends.