Funeral Mass Homily for Justice Antonin Scalia

[Marie5890]

I know Fr. Scalia. He was pastor at St. John the Beloved for several years and has served the Sunday noon Traditional Latin Mass there many times. So yes. He knows Latin and can pray it. His father frequently attended that noon Mass, even after Fr. Scalia was reassigned.

Given the context for the funeral, though, it’s not surprising that the Mass was offered in the vernacular.

Fr. Scalia, by the way, is a treasure.

Thanks for letting us know, Zerocrossing!!

 

[ProVobis]

For those (like me) who were bothered by the fact a funeral Mass was held in a rite other than what Justice Scalia normally attended, Fr. Z strongly suggests to make your funeral wishes clearly known in writing as soon as possible.

wdtprs.com/blog/2016/02/fr-scalias-sermon-at-justice-scalias-mass-death-and-your-funeral-plans

The EF is a perfectly legitimate rite for a funeral as are black vestments for the clergy. And of course it can be made more solemn with a Solemn Requiem Mass.

 

[zerocrossing]

Thanks for letting us know, Zerocrossing!!

You’re welcome!

BTW, Fr. Scalia has given many talks at the Institute of Catholic Culture. If you’d like to hear some of them, you can go to…

instituteofcatholicculture.org/complete-library/

Then click on “Author” and scroll down alphabetically to “Scalia.”

 

[revert_jen]

For those (like me) who were bothered by the fact a funeral Mass was held in a rite other than what Justice Scalia normally attended, Fr. Z strongly suggests to make your funeral wishes clearly known in writing as soon as possible.

wdtprs.com/blog/2016/02/fr-scalias-sermon-at-justice-scalias-mass-death-and-your-funeral-plans

The EF is a perfectly legitimate rite for a funeral as are black vestments for the clergy. And of course it can be made more solemn with a Solemn Requiem Mass.

Not to be over-pedantic, the EF and the OF are different forms of the same rite. The funeral was in fact held in the rite that Justice Scalia usually attended: the Latin rite.

I’m sure that Fr. Scalia was well aware of his father’s preferences and to the extent that he had control, followed them. But Justice Scalia was in the public eye for decades, and I think he might have agreed that in a rather public situation like the funeral of a sitting Supreme Court Justice, some accommodations for the large numbers of non-Catholics attending, such as saying the Mass in a language they could understand, would be reasonable. As I mentioned before, he did occasionally attend the OF, so his regular attendance at the EF really was just a (perfectly valid) preference, rather than a conviction that the OF was somehow wrong.

Fr. Scalia mentioned an upcoming memorial service–that might be according to the EF.

–Jen

 

[ProVobis]

Not to be over-pedantic, the EF and the OF are different forms of the same rite. The funeral was in fact held in the rite that Justice Scalia usually attended: the Latin rite.

I’m sure that Fr. Scalia was well aware of his father’s preferences and to the extent that he had control, followed them. But Justice Scalia was in the public eye for decades, and I think he might have agreed that in a rather public situation like the funeral of a sitting Supreme Court Justice, some accommodations for the large numbers of non-Catholics attending, such as saying the Mass in a language they could understand, would be reasonable. As I mentioned before, he did occasionally attend the OF, so his regular attendance at the EF really was just a (perfectly valid) preference, rather than a conviction that the OF was somehow wrong.

Fr. Scalia mentioned an upcoming memorial service–that might be according to the EF.

–Jen

Yes, of course, form. But one can specify which parish, priest, etc as well. I understand that it’snot a done deal, though, as it may be in fact impossible. In this case, a memorial, as you suggest, at a later date, might be a fair compromise.

As far as language goes, that should not be a barrier to a wedding or funeral. Your presence is requested. Even if it’s a Vietnamese wedding or a Papal Mass, you should know what’s going on, I would think.

 

[zerocrossing]

As I mentioned before, he did occasionally attend the OF, so his regular attendance at the EF really was just a (perfectly valid) preference, rather than a conviction that the OF was somehow wrong.

I agree. If Justice Scalia had believed that the OF was wrong, he most likely would have attended Mass in a parish that served EF exclusively. However he attended Mass where both EF and OF were served. I suspect EF was more a preference than an exclusive conviction.

 

[ProVobis]

I agree. If Justice Scalia had believed that the OF was wrong, he most likely would have attended Mass in a parish that served EF exclusively. However he attended Mass where both EF and OF were served. I suspect EF was more a preference than an exclusive conviction.

Maybe he wouldn’t have minded, but that’s not the point. It’s your funeral, no pun intended and you can make that last request. Might save a lot of family squabbling, especially with nine kids.

 

[jeannetherese]

video.foxnews.com/v/4765662525001/funeral-mass-homily-for-justice-antonin-scalia/?#sp=show-clips

Wonderful homily given by Justice Antonin Scalia’s son, Reverend Paul Scalia.

Indeed. it was recommeded on another thread (and linked) and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to watch it this evening.
The Mass was a most beautiful prayer and sacrifice.
May God bless all who assisted of participated through viewing and praying.
Eternal rest gran Mr. Scalia O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.
Amen.

 

[revert_jen]

Maybe he wouldn’t have minded, but that’s not the point. It’s your funeral, no pun intended and you can make that last request. Might save a lot of family squabbling, especially with nine kids.

Certainly, for any of us. I really just meant that Justice Scalia must have come to terms with the downside of being a public figure after all this time, and may have only requested a valid, reverential Funeral Mass, which he got.

Or maybe he would have been upset about it. I really have no way of knowing. I’m mostly just looking for the best case scenario, really, since it’s not really my business and nobody can do anything about it anyway.

Certainly, your advice about writing down one’s preferences is a good, and I personally have all of the music picked out for mine. But I can pretty much guarantee that the Vice President of the United States won’t be attending my funeral. I certainly hope nobody will be videotaping it (much less televising it). Hmm, maybe I should mention that on my sheet with the music listed.

–Jen

 

[GEddie]

Certainly, for any of us. I really just meant that Justice Scalia must have come to terms with the downside of being a public figure after all this time, and may have only requested a valid, reverential Funeral Mass, which he got.

Or maybe he would have been upset about it. I really have no way of knowing. I’m mostly just looking for the best case scenario, really, since it’s not really my business and nobody can do anything about it anyway.

Certainly, your advice about writing down one’s preferences is a good, and I personally have all of the music picked out for mine. But I can pretty much guarantee that the Vice President of the United States won’t be attending my funeral. I certainly hope nobody will be videotaping it (much less televising it). Hmm, maybe I should mention that on my sheet with the music listed.

–Jen

It really doesn’t matter.

The only certainties are that a) the descendants involved will do whatever they see fit and b) we will be too dead to care.

ICXC NIKA

 

[ProVobis]

It really doesn’t matter.

The only certainties are that a) the descendants involved will do whatever they see fit and b) we will be too dead to care.

ICXC NIKA

Not too dead as much as already having been judged.

 

[ProVobis]

Certainly, your advice about writing down one’s preferences is a good, and I personally have all of the music picked out for mine. But I can pretty much guarantee that the Vice President of the United States won’t be attending my funeral. I certainly hope nobody will be videotaping it (much less televising it). Hmm, maybe I should mention that on my sheet with the music listed.

You never know. If you wrote down Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, you might get people flying in from every which way.

I hope you didn’t take that the wrong way and presume I meant it as a joyful occasion. I didn’t and I didn’t understand those bells at the beginning either.

 

[zerocrossing]

Maybe he wouldn’t have minded, but that’s not the point. It’s your funeral, no pun intended and you can make that last request. Might save a lot of family squabbling, especially with nine kids.

I wasn’t actually commenting on whether he would have minded. I don’t know his mind. I was only concurring that he did not appear to exclude the validity of the OF.

At the same time, I don’t understand why there seems to be an assumption in these comments of family squabbling and violating his wishes.

I saw Justice Scalia at Latin noon Mass most Sundays for about six years. His son was my pastor. I have heard his famous tenor voice singing from just behind me at Christmas Midnight Mass. I am not a family friend, just a fellow Catholic, but I have interacted briefly with the Justice and more extensively with his son. So I’m feeling a bit protective of the family right now. Do we really need speculation about squabbles?

 

[ProVobis]

Do we really need speculation about squabbles?

Perhaps not. But in my case, or rather my mother’s case, it was a matter of being cremated or not. And she was a regular Mass goer. She died suddenly and left us to decide what to do and it wasn’t pretty.

BTW, no one else brought up the validity of the OF. I don’t know why you did.

 

[zerocrossing]

Perhaps not. But in my case, or rather my mother’s case, it was a matter of being cremated or not. And she was a regular Mass goer. She died suddenly and left us to decide what to do and it wasn’t pretty.

BTW, no one else brought up the validity of the OF. I don’t know why you did.

I didn’t bring it up. Somebody else commented that Scalia’s preference for EF seemed to be a preference and not a position. (The implication being that he saw the OF as valid but preferred EF). I was merely concurring.

 

[ProVobis]

I didn’t bring it up. Somebody else commented that Scalia’s preference for EF seemed to be a preference and not a position. (The implication being that he saw the OF as valid but preferred EF). I was merely concurring.

Okay, but for the record, I attend the OF, sometimes in Spanish, when the weather and such force me to. I don’t think about its validity as that’s been resolved a long time ago as far as I’m concerned. To me it’s offensive that someone still holds that over my head every time I mention I attend the EF for the most part at several parishes, in fact. Frankly, I don’t see it as a preference but an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the faith, just like some people do with the Eastern rites. A lot of people don’t get that opportunity or turn it down altogether. That’s unfortunate.

 

[bksumm]

I think Fr. Scalia did a wonderful job and I really loved how he began his homily. He said that "we are gathered here because of one man…a man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more; a man loved by many, scorned by others; a man known for great controversy and for great compassion.” As I was thinking he was speaking of his father, Fr. Scalia said of course they were there because of Jesus of Nazareth!

Wow! I thought that was perfect…so Christocentric. Put the emphasis where it belongs on our savior Jesus Christ.

 

[revert_jen]

Okay, but for the record, I attend the OF, sometimes in Spanish, when the weather and such force me to. I don’t think about its validity as that’s been resolved a long time ago as far as I’m concerned. To me it’s offensive that someone still holds that over my head every time I mention I attend the EF for the most part at several parishes, in fact. Frankly, I don’t see it as a preference but an opportunity to expand my knowledge of the faith, just like some people do with the Eastern rites. A lot of people don’t get that opportunity or turn it down altogether. That’s unfortunate.

Well, it was my comments that zerocrossing was referring to, and I didn’t bring it up for anything to do with you–sorry if I was unclear. But I had occasionally heard hints online (not in this forum) that Justice Scalia might not feel that the OF was OK. But he did occasionally attend the OF, so I was just saying that he wasn’t against the OF, just preferred the EF.

–Jen

 

[ProVobis]

But I had occasionally heard hints online (not in this forum) that Justice Scalia might not feel that the OF was OK.
–Jen

Well then it’s a good thing the matter was never brought up before the Supreme Court.

 

[ProVobis]

But I had occasionally heard hints online (not in this forum) that Justice Scalia might not feel that the OF was OK.

Hmmm. If this is true, I wonder why his family agreed to have the Mass said in that form. But this goes back to my original point.