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Month: December 2006

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Homily of the Ecumenical Patriarch concerning the Liturgy

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Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf’s blog What Does The Prayer Really Say? offers a transcript of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s homily on the Holy Mass delivered during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Both the homily and Fr. Zuhlsdorf’s commentary in Homily of the Ecumenical Patriarch before Benedict are worth a read.

As a member of the PNCC I am in full agreement. The holiness, solemnity, and care used in both the Traditional and Contemporary Rites of the Holy Mass in the PNCC are a testament to our living connection to —the kingdom of heaven where the angels celebrate; toward the celebration of the liturgy through the centuries; and toward the heavenly kingdom to come.—

My thanks to Fr. Jim Tucker for pointing to this in Constantinople Patriarch on Sacred Liturgy.

PNCC

On the consecrations

I could rattle off a ton of adjectives to describe yesterday’s consecration of four new bishops in the Polish National Catholic Church – but simply put, it was powerful.

For me, the act of consecration and everything associated with it was the moment of continuity; the unbroken line of succession back to Christ and His apostles. Election, presentation, consecration.

The thing that brought me a moment of joy was watching the Prime Bishop’s face as the Hymn of the Polish National Catholic Church, Through the Years (Tyle Lat) was sung. Generally, the Hymn is sung at the end of every PNCC Holy Mass using the first and last verse. Yesterday, all the verses were sung, at full power, by 1,000 voices in the mother church of the PNCC, St. Stanislaus cathedral. The Prime Bishop had such a beautiful smile, and joy of hearing the unified proclamation of the Church was evident on his face. I’ll post the words of the Hymn later today.

The act that brought a tear to my eyes was the exchange of peace. My new Bishop, Anthony Mikovsky, went to his wife and hugged her. It was poignant and loving.

Media, PNCC

Coverage of yesterday’s consecrations

From The Citizens Voice: Four PNCC bishops consecrated

With the Book of Gospels on his back, the Rev. Anthony Mikovsky knelt on the altar in St. Stanislaus Cathedral.

A swarm of hands enveloped his head. Their arms outstretched, the bishops who came before him offered a prayer in unison.

It was in that moment that the bishop-elect fully came to grips with his new duty.

—It’s tough to put into words,— said Mikovsky, one of four Polish National Catholic Church bishops consecrated Thursday at the cathedral on East Locust Street, the mother church of the denomination. —Ultimately, it’s an awesome responsibility.—

About 1,000 people packed the South Scranton church for the elaborate and historic 3½-hour Mass.

All four were elected in October during a General Synod in New Hampshire, marking the first time since 1924 that the Polish National Catholic Church chose four new bishops. They were elected last month in just two ballots, a process that took all of 15 minutes.

On Thursday, the process took a bit more time. None of the four appeared to mind.

Also consecrated were the Rev. Sylvester T. Bigaj, of Hamilton, Ontario; the Rev. Anthony D. Kopka, of Stratford, Conn.; and the Rev. John E. Mack, of Washington, Pa.

—It’s overwhelming, in all kinds of ways,— said Mikovsky, 40, now bishop of the Central Diocese and pastor of St. Stanislaus. —The responsibility of it. The joy to be able to serve the people.—

A native of Trenton, N.J., Mikovsky entered the PNCC seminary in Scranton in 1995 while maintaining studies in discrete mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania. His earned a doctoral degree in math and was ordained into the priesthood in 1997.

Just one minor correction. He knelt before the altar, not on it 😉

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