The following comes from a Jan. 26 story on SFGate.com.
A Catholic priest, new to San Francisco and no stranger to controversy, has banned girls from acting as altar servers at Mass, a decision that sets his parish apart from all others in the archdiocese.
The Rev. Joseph Illo, pastor at Star of the Sea Church since August, said he believes there is an “intrinsic connection” between the priesthood and serving at the altar — and because women can’t be priests, it makes sense to have only altar boys.
“Maybe the most important thing is that it prepares boys to consider the priesthood,” he said.
The Richmond District parish is now the only one in the archdiocese of San Francisco that will exclude girls from serving at the altar. Such a decision is “a pastor’s call,” said archdiocese spokesman Chris Lyford.
Still, the decision has rankled some people at the church and its school, where some, but not all, parents and students disagreed with the move, said parent Nancy Bye, who serves as liaison between the school and the parish.
“I think it is a few people,” Bye said. “I think a lot of the people who are upset are not parishioners.”
Currently, only adults assist the pastor during the church’s regular Masses. Altar boys and girls are used during the Masses held for the students at the parish’s Star of the Sea School.
Girls trained to be altar girls will be allowed to continue serving, with the use of females phased out. Illo said he wants to get an altar boy program up and running for all Masses, as part of a larger father and sons program at the church.
….This is not the first time Illo has drawn national attention to his parish. In 2008, as a Modesto priest, he said that voting for Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights, required a trip to the confessional.
“Voting for a candidate who promises ‘abortion rights,’ even if he promises every other good thing, is voting for abortion,” Illo wrote in a letter to parishioners. “It is a grave mistake and probably a grave sin.”
Like then, Illo was unapologetic about his stance.
“I think it’s OK for one to just have altar boys,” he said. “We’re a bit more traditional here” at Star of the Sea.
Statement from Fr. Joseph Illo on parish website
On November 7, 2014, Father Patrick Driscoll and I decided to transition the altar server program at Star of the Sea parish from both boys and girls to just boys. Although girls are still serving at the parish, we will train only boys in the future. Girls have been permitted to serve Mass since 1994, but for 1900 years before that generally only males were permitted to serve at Mass. Today this decision is up to the local bishop; Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has given Star of the Sea permission to train only boys in the future for service at the Mass.
We are moving to a boys-only program for two reasons.
First, in a mixed altar-server program, boys usually end up losing interest, because girls generally do a better job. A boys-only program gives altar boys the space to develop their own leadership potential. In the past ten years a significant number of schools are returning to single-sex education for this reason, and male-only organizations like the boy scouts or college fraternities exclude female membership to allow the boys to develop specifically male gifts. We support female-only programs like all-girls schools, sororities and the girl scouts for the same reason.
Second, and much more importantly, altar service is intrinsically tied to the priesthood and serve as feeder programs for the seminary. If the Catholic Church ordained women, altar girls would make sense, but the Catholic priesthood is a male charism. Nothing awakens a desire for the priesthood like service at the altar among the brotherhood of young men. At the risk of generalizing, I suspect young men serving with young women might just distract them from the sacrifice of the Mass, and perhaps even from a priestly vocation.
I want to emphasize that we are not discontinuing altar girls because females are somehow incapable or unworthy. Girls are generally more capable and certainly just as worthy as boys (because God makes us worthy). The news media has portrayed our decision as discrimination. It is not. It is simply giving boys a role they can call their own, and more importantly recognizing the priesthood as a specifically fatherly charism rather than a motherly charism. If this altar boy policy bothers us, we must ask ourselves if we have not unconsciously accepted the errors of the current age; specifically, that the differences between men and women have no more spiritual significance than “plumbing” arrangements. Do you think Mary, the Mother of God, would want to serve the Mass or be a priest, and even if so, why did Jesus not include her at the Last Supper? Is it not because she, as a woman, has a distinct, an even more exalted role than the Apostles?
Altar girls is a common practice only in Europe and North America; in countries that have high numbers of vocations and flourishing Catholic communities, girls do not generally serve the Mass. At Star of the Sea many girls read the scriptures at Mass, help prepare the altar before and after Mass, and participate in a girls-only group called the Daughters of Mary. Some parishes and even two U.S. dioceses do not have altar girls, and so we are not that unusual in this regard. We hope that by strengthening the link between altar service and the priesthood, and providing supportive groups for young men and women, we will strengthen our parish community in the long run.
Girl Altar Boys 01-27
https://www.churchmilitant.tv/platform/?today=2015-01-27
Let’s encourage our boys to volunteer !
Good. We need more Fathers and Sons to serve at Mass.
Please volunteer.
Cardinal Arinze said Altar girls was a mistake. And he was right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWByiwHE4MY
The Vatican has given far too many “INDULTS” – permission for special exceptions to liberal Bishops in the USA who are not representing Catholics but their own view and that of their liberal staff members.
What would we do without our Priests? No Mass, No Sacraments.
Women have the Blessed Mother to emulate. She was the only perfect human being !
And closer to Jesus than any other human being !
God bless you Father Illo! Praise God! This is wonderful news and pray that more will follow your lead. More prayers answered. Saint Rita pray for us, Saint Padre Pio pray for us.
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God
be always praised, blessed, loved, adored
and glorified in Heaven, on earth,
and under the earth,
by all the creatures of God,
and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Amen.
I think that about covers it. Anything else you want to add?
This is a prayer called the Golden Arrow. It is used to make reparation for blasphemy. It is from a revelation of our Lord to a Carmelite nun in the mid 1800s. It was a favorite of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.
St. Rita Prayer of the Roses
O Blessed Saint Rita, my powerful advocate, behold me prostrate before thy Divine Spouse, Jesus, thy Lord, thy God, and thy All. Behold me recalling His favors to thee, that thou mayst plead for me. May this blessed Rose, sweet with the memories of thy daily acts of love before the image of the Crucified Savior, and of the wonders wrought for thee in thy dying moments, give me confidence that thou in Heaven wilt plead that I, too, may share in the good things God has in store for thy clients. Saint Rita, mystical Rose of every virtue, pray for us. AMEN!
In a city with so many Catholic Churches, this is the only one to return to the traditional practice of altar boys only. Such over the top outcry can only mean that Fr. Illo is doing something right. Just enjoy watching the pews and coffers of Star of the Sea begin to overflow.
ChurchMilitant.TV started a crowd funding site so please use their link to donate.
Father Illo, you are so RIGHT ON!!!
You are a TRUE SHEPHERD of your flock and know there are MANY of us traditional Catholics who support you and are praying for you!
Signed a Cradle Catholic 4th generation San Franciscan.
Fr. Illo should be praised, and supported, by all CCD bloggers. He is a man of courage and of Faith, qualities in small supply in most American parishes these days.
And, Abp. Cordileone, who approved the transition plan to all-boy altar servers, should likewise be complimented. It is the Bishop’s call, after all, and Abp. Cordileone made it — like a Man!
The story about the original widespread disobedience of American and European bishops in using altar girls, notwithstanding the absence of any permission, is widely available. Even today, only an indult permits altar girl use — it is not a change of Catholic custom or tradition, here. Feminists, and feminine men clergy, will use whatever is available to gain a toe-hold here and there in their quest to attain the Holy Grail — the Catholic Priesthood.
And, they may get it, with Francis pretty much the captive of leftist “theologians” who want to create a “non-reversible” New Church in many, many respects. In addition to rolling back centuries of teachings on sexual ethics, certainly the role of women priests is front and center to Vatican II implementers. Just look at what that fool Cardinal Baldisseri is arguing, that Catholic doctrine is capable of re-definition and that is what Synods are for. How much more proof do we need that this Master of Ceremonies plans to preside over the destruction of the Catholic institutional church in October. Time to rise up! Cheer for priests like Fr. Illo, and demand that clerics like Cardinal Baldisseri be “retired” immediately.
Oh no! Another traditional priest. This trend has to be stopped. Otherwise the Catholic Church will return to sanity!
Well said and well done, Father Illo. It’s about time that our priests stand up for what is true and right. Coming from European catholic country, I was shocked to se girl altar boys. Father is so right in saying that this is not about not valuing the girls and their gifts. This is about recognizing that boys and girls have equal value, but different ways of serving in the Church.
God bless you Father Illo. Let’s show dear Father some support.
Thank you Father Illo! I heard the reports about the women who had some feminist indoctrination based tantrums and how they have threatened that attendance would now be low because of this decision. Hopefully one day they will understand how much the father of lies has influenced and played so many women like a fiddle. Meanwhile, you are to be greatly commended! You courageously replied that attendance was already so low and that more people have been showing up and that there was no place to go but UP in attendance. God bless you Father for your much needed courageous example as a man and a faithful priest. Elizabeth is right, YOU ARE A TRUE SHEPHERD! Signed a huge family group of cradle Catholic women who absolutely value our courageous priests.
Good luck with that. Faithful Catholic Women know that altars without women are altars that disrespect their lives and the models they teach to their children.
YFC writes, “Good luck with that.” = The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart has absolutely nothing to do with the word “luck”. Pagans believe in and rely on “luck.” You have been skating on the very thin ice of perceived “luck” for quite some time on this website. You consistently mock and distort the teachings of the Catholic Faith. God has mercifully allowed you to rack up every culpable opportunity and reason for you to never be able to say this when you face Him one day… “Oh I didn’t realize how greatly I was mocking and offending you!” ….Where am I going? I am? May I please have another opportunity to serve you faithfully and I promise that I’ll never call anything “luck” again.”
“Who is the beautiful Lady? ” My cousin who died of AIDS saw the beautiful Lady right as he was dying. My cousin no longer relied on lies, illusions, fantasies or on “luck”. He REPENTED for his sins and he was baptized a few months before his death. Thanks be to our merciful God and to the power of the beautiful Lady’s prayer, the rosary!
Matthew 25:13 Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible
“Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.”
YFC, they don’t sound like Faithful Catholic Women! They sound to be very self centered.
John Feeney you are a gentle person. Your response is most direct and charitable. Love it. God bless you.
…don’t speak for Faithful Catholic women, YFC. Goodness knows there were plenty of women over the course of nearly two thousand years who brought their families to the Faith and encouraged them therein without having ‘women’ on the altar.
Being honest about the differences between men and women and their inherent roles etc – even within the Church – is something to be lauded. It is being honest. Being coddled and catered to gets really old fast and doesn’t really satisfy when it comes to actual Faith (not self affirmation in having to have everyone ‘respect’ your life.)
There is no Church doctrine or even discipline within the Church that makes altar service an intrinsically male institution. Pretending that such a doctrine exists will result in fewer women at the altar, of course, but also fewer women in the pews. Along with fewer daughters, sons, and husbands. I don’t have to speak for these women, they will speak with their feet out the door.
“Your Fellow Catholic”: You are virtually always wrong. This is typical of the Zombie-Liberals, who often spew forth whatever they picked up from lefty talking points, whether accurate or not, so they can make noise. It has always been — always — a “noble tradition” to use altar boys, “YFC”. Using girls is but an indult, that, hopefully, will be eliminated in the near term.
Here is but one example, from a Congregation for Divine Worship letter, dated July 27. 2001, on altar servers: “In accord with the above cited instructions of the Holy See such an authorization may not, in any way, exclude men or, in particular, boys from service at the altar, nor require that priests of the diocese would make use of female altar servers, since “it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar” (Circular Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conference, March 15, 1994, no. 2). Indeed, the obligation to support groups of altar boys will always remain, not least of all due to the well known assistance that such programs have provided since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations (cf. ibid.).”
Concentrate really hard on two parts, “YFC”: (1) the “noble tradition” of using altar boys”; and (2) the “well known assistance” of using altar boys “since time immemorial in encouraging future priestly vocations.”
The key word here, Mister Christopher, is “intrinsic”. There is nothing “intrinsically” related to future vocations in service at the altar. Father Illo simply made that connection up in his head, so as to attempt to justify such a sexist maneuver.
YFC, you have no vocation to the priesthood and as such have no basis on which to stake your claims of making connections in one’s head – except for the connections you make up in your own to justify your destructive, persistent, Anti-Catholic behavior.
IOW: You have no understanding of the call to the priesthood whatever.
YFC you really do not know what you are talking about….you are just against the traditional roles of men and women
Guess you’re just trying to get a rise out of Faithful Catholic Women who don’t know what you preport they do. Tsk, tsk, shame on you for making such silly assumptions.
YFC you only say what you say because you do not understand. How can it be explained to you? No matter how often there be an attempt, would you want to comprehend? Your comments are only a reply to what you have hostility towards. Well at least that is how you it seems to many here. There is a good reason as to why alter servers is meant for men. There is a good reason and right now, in your stage in spiritual growth, no amount of explaining will help you get it. Your reply does not represent what we Faithful Catholic Women say about this. What you need to do is step back, watch and learn. Be a better observer, learning from holy people.
Speak less, comment less on matters of faith that you have prejudges about, only be a pupil, a good person that learns. Some people are teachable and some need more time….and some do not want to learn, but they are lead by pride and want to tell the church how to do it or what to do….which one are you?
“Speak less, comment less on matters of faith that you have prejudges about, only be a pupil, a good person that learns.” = Sending homeschooling families back to Germany so their parents can be arrested is not “reasoning well”. = Not wise. Not prudent. IOW.. Take your own advice.
“which one are you? ” = Flip Flop. YFC’s the very same homosexualized activist that you’ve been telling everyone and touting that he “reasons well”.
Here comes the lovely Catherine with her irrational attacks. Seeing things through her eyes are pretty crooked at times and here comes the war again round 3 or 5. No amount of true clarity works for this woman. She wont be satisfied till she sees YFC in hell. God have mercy on her soul.
YFC hates everything about the Church if you read each of his posts carefully.
He adores and is married to his sexual sins related to Sodomy.
Abeca Christian says:
January 29, 2015 at 7:15 pm
YFC stop talking crap about the courage group. Your ranting only makes people see very clear your bad will. Why dont you just focus on how you can get help for your own crisis against Jesus and His natural law. Hell is real. So choose Jesus.
********
It looks as if Abeca is a tad frustrated with YFC as well despite believing now that, “… in your (YFC’s) stage in spiritual growth, no amount of explaining will help you get it.”
If such is the case, why would a lovely lady use the word crap? I am horrified. Scandalized. You are one confusing individual, Abeca Christian, for your understanding seems to fade in and out like a shade. And yet your bias toward consistency shows your bad will like crystal in full sunlight.
Get some help.
Abeca writes, “She wont be satisfied till she sees YFC in hell.” = Such a terrible thing to write. Not a good sign at all. Abeca is coddling much much more than just YFC. Now k’s pilot fish behavior makes sense. Abeca, Answer this important question. Do you agree with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI’s previous statement that homosexuality is “incompatible” with the priesthood? Your response or lack of response will speak volumes regarding your real agenda and selective charity.
Clarity? One moment = “YFC you only say what you say because you do not understand. ” = Next moment = “YFC you reason well.”
This type of flip flop merry go round behavior is also known as enabling.
Catherine: Abeca is an instigator. In her post on the 30th at 7:49 am she say, “and some do not want to learn, but they are lead by pride and want to tell the church how to do it or what to do.” We all know who she was talking about. Then she cries victim and says, “here comes the lovely Catherine with her irrational attacks.” Who attacked first? Good old instigator, Abeca! She brings on the “war” and then claims she is the victim. You totally owned her and won rounds 3 and 5 with your response to her! When will she learn that YFC needs greater help than what any of us can give him on CCD? He knows the truth and he chooses NOT to obey God’s laws. It will be ONLY through the grace of God that YFC will choose to convert to God’s will. He has to want it and apparently he doesn’t at this time. God help him! We can’t! Our only help to give him is to pray for him.
Abeca, please stop speaking down to me. I appreciate your prayers for me, truly, but your condescension is hardly holy or becoming.
RR no one is playing victim here..The way you view things are forms of silencing the truth. Stop using the victim argument when its not even valid here…just correcting your bad behavior. If you feel the need to use the victim role, then you are saying that Catherine is victimized. Shame on you. Just admonishing the bad behavior. But you are part of that problem. Can’t reason with unreasonable people like you. This goes way back RR.
Since Catherine loves to bring up stuff except I don’t take things out of context but here is the history. Only a partial one. This hypocrisy and doubles standards from these ladies, will not save souls. Here are words from the ones who defend schism, (Ann and Catherine)
These are words they use to manipulate:
1. excess of estrogen
2. Manufactured Martyr syndrome
3.Homo-heresy network
4. They mock the term Full communion because they have hostility in their hearts
5.state of manufactured anemia
6. Reason well when they mock my dialogue with YFC,taking it out of context
7. and let us not forget the famous mocking and judging ill fully of “I SMELLED THE ROSES FIRST.”
8. How about the distorted vision that the whole church has gone bad, ignoring Jesus promises in regards to His church, how about when you, yourself wish that the OF mass would be gone….you argue about the Mass, you may have your preference but for you to make such unholy comments against any Mass approved by Christ’s church according to GIRM, gives an impression of Schism and heresy, scandal! Etc…..
Some may assume that absolution by an SSPX priest would be illicit but still valid. If this were true, then the Sacrament of Penance celebrated by an SSPX priest would be unlawful, yet it would still “work”. But again, this is not the case, because the Sacrament of Penance requires ecclesiastical jurisdiction to be valid, and there is not a shred of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the entire Society. Several popes—the source of all jurisdiction in the Church—have made this perfectly clear. For example, when Pope Benedict lifted the excommunications of the SSPX bishops in a gesture of good will, he emphasized that it was still the case that “the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church” (Ecclesiae Unitatem, 4).
I’m with you on this one, YFC. The cloying treatment is enough to suffocate a body.
Thank you Ann Malley and RR. Once again you are both spot on in your posts. One moment it is using coarse words and salacious language and then the next moment it is “I SMELLED THE ROSES *FIRST* ” and then the next moment it is telling homosexualist activists that they “reason well.” Changing the topic to the dreaded SSPX must feel like a nice boondoggle distraction when looking for more methods to defend and coddle those within the Church who despise the Church’s teaching. No taking out of context here. Never underestimate the duplicitousness and cleverness of the Lavender Mafia.
Abeca, please receive your own advice:
“…Your ranting only makes people see very clear your bad will. Why dont you just focus on how you can get help for your own crisis against Jesus and His natural law. Hell is real. So choose Jesus.”
IOW: Instead of fearing ‘tone of schism’ or what you erroneously define as such out of pride, look to the actual schism of heart and practice going on right now inside the Church despite the paperwork that states ‘full communion’.
And that problem does indeed go ‘way back’. That’s the point.
I will use the same tone that RR used on me back from the article “Faith demands a layman to express his thoughts”: because that is the only way to deal with your like because no amount of charity will be pleasing to you ladies, listen up Ann Malley, it was Catherine who initiated this. You ladies work against the mission of the church, that is why you keep bickering and undermining my dialogue with YFC. You are contradicting yourself, while you just agreed with YFC. Your hypocrisy is very apparent. Just like Catherine. If Catherine truly was concerned for his soul, she would not undermine any dialogue or attempt to dialogue with YFC but instead she keeps using the same out of context comments “reasons well” when she knows darn well it has nothing to do with this topic. At least I encourage him in the faith, you ladies use him for other means.
Hey at least I won’t accuse you of trouble in new paradise or something like that, the same famous irrational dialogue that you ladies tend to bring to the table here. As far as I’m concerned I’m owed an apology and if that doesn’t happen, I don’t expect it from you ladies because as people can tell, you can’t reason with irrational bunch of self righteous women. Its about time, someone speaks up!
Stop twisting and trying to interpret my comments. No one is fearing, for fear is not from our Lord… The guidance I gave to YFC where from a good holy priest who often taught that converts and those learning the faith, that they need to be silent for a little while and not give their opinions on matters of faith, especially opinions that undermine the mission of the church. So Catherine wanting to intervene while I tried to convey to YFC, she did a disservice to Him and His salvation walk.
Yes I know, I can’t expect you to understand. But for now, you are in God’s hands.
Look at Linda Maria and RR…more souls mislead by your error to understand and trust Christ. Be holy and fight the good fight, by being in full communion with the Magesterium. Pride is the root of all evil. Obedience and humility are virtues that are often needing plenty of practice.
These pearls are united with Christ and His truths, which He has taught us and continues to teach us through His Holy and Apostolic Catholic church. Read the CCC, Holy scriptures and be holy. The rest, trust in Christ and His promises to us. Be doers of His word, being doers of His word, does NOT mean undermining His church, its truths which it contains and judging it ill-fully because of the sins of men.
“…As far as I’m concerned *I’m* owed an apology.” It is clear that this is what you believe, Abeca, and it is equally clear that this is what fuels much of your dialog. Your fixed notions about yourself also appear to motivate your exhaustive need to keep bringing up how ‘you’ have been slighted.
That is not a defense of Faith.
And that is likely what blinds you, leading you headlong into courting one who would truly undermine the Church while stabbing at those who would aid Her. You are confused and being used, Abeca. Collected like a marble and by one who even now tells you to cut out the patronizing.
What you post above, Abeca, displays that same focus on self that Fr. Illio is having to combat as females are stoked erroneously into believing that *they* deserve an apology because Father wants altar boys.
You state, “*They* mock the term Full communion because they have hostility in their hearts,” should be applied to those who, like you have exhibited here, do not want communion with what the Church actually teaches and has always taught. They want their personal feelings stroked and confirmed or else they’re going to wreak havoc. Very useful to those who would undermine the Church.
I have said previously that I am sorry if I hurt your *feelings*,but I am not sorry for the observations that I have made. Someone does need to speak up as you say, Abeca, but for the Faith…. not wounded pride.
Ann Malley,
Excellent post! You are charitably addressing much much more than just a tone of narcissism. This is full beak ablazing self-centeredness. Also, there is much more going on here. Abeca never responded to this question, “Abeca, do you support and agree with Pope Benedict XVI’s statement that homosexuality is incompatible with the priesthood?” Abeca is tending her own wound first because Abeca is one of the wounded ones. Plain and simple.
Whatever Abeca’s story is,Catherine, I’m with Fr. Ilio. Unapologetic. God willing the clergy will adopt this same stance as it is not ‘their’ truth they are telling, but ‘the’ Truth.
Faint heart never won diddly.
Thank you Father Illo for your leadership. That the liberals are barking at you so early on is just a sign that the caravan moves on. Our common Enemy probably decided to attack so soon because Fr. Illo is a key mover and shaker at the March for Life in San Francisco. Our Enemy seeks abortions, female ordination and gay marriage supported by the Church and is blocked by just a few good men.
Fr. Illo is starting a Saint Philip Neri Oratory at Star of the Sea. If you are one of those living fossils that would like to pray the Holy Rosary together with priests in the middle of the business district of a modern metropolis this is the place for you.
We had Fr. Illo honor our home for dinner and his main objective was tho get us to pray the Rosary together. Arguments that we do not normally did this were to no avail, we ended all praying the Rosary. This is a Holy Priest, I say. We miss him in Southern California and he is San Francisco’s great gain. Godspeed dear Father Joseph Illo, may God liberate you from our Enemies.
Jim McCrea, we have some boys who are as good as the girls.
As Pope Innocent IV stated in his letter to the bishop of Tusculum and repeated by Pope Benedict XIV in his encyclical Allatae Sunt; “Women should not dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry.”
Prayers for Fr. Illo, he is going to be besieged by the screaming progressives/liberals/heretics.
Sounds socially backward, but that’s the point, I guess.
Everyone here who has such glowing praise should visit and support the parish.
Star of the Sea is a beautiful church that has been languishing, and most likely on the closure list for years. Fr. Illo’s appointment is an experiment in creating a traditionalist magnet parish. Seems like a strange location for it, in the middle of SF, but maybe the central location is a good one… in order to succeed, it will need to attract a community from far and wide (and probably not from within the neighborhood or the City… there’s just not the critical mass).
The press here is good publicity. It’s doubtful the parents of the students will be wild about it, but the school can’t really survive without an active parish.
Best of luck to Fr. Illo. Star of the Sea was home to two generations of my family, would love to see it thrive.
Not sure, “Hugh”, about making Star of the Sea a “traditionalist magnate”. If so, it would be better for Abp. Cordileone to ask a Traditionalist order, such as the FSSP, or the ICKSP, to take over entirely, with only Traditional sacraments offered, and the school turned into a top-drawer Traditional Catholic school. That would work.
Half-way measures almost never work. And, often, such measures are used by bishops to show that “no one wants Tradition any more; see, it did not work at Parish X”.
Excellency, if this post comes to your attention, please consider making Star of the Sea a parish limited to only the Traditional sacraments. It could make all the difference.
I am so thrilled with Fr. Illo’s decision! I love Star of the Sea’s insistence on re-installment of a proper DRESS CODE, too! I wish the Vatican would strictly require their old DRESS CODE, with the same requirements, worldwide! The poor dress, and poor manners, and lack of RESPECT FOR GOD– makes me SICK!! Even poor people in poor countries, have the ability and interest, to dress properly and respectfully, for Mass! I also hope the Vatican completely abolishes the so-called silly lay “Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministry!” Let the assisting priests also help Father give Holy Communion, to the lay people! And let the deacons of the local seminaries also help, as in pre-Vatican II days! I also wish the Vatican would abolish the useless lay diaconate! Ridiculous and unnecessary! Then, I also wish the Vatican would require the re-installment of the altar rail in churches, worldwide! It is truly best, for Catholics to receive Our Lord on the tongue, while devoutly kneeling at the altar rail! I gave up silly Novus Ordo Missae “altar girl” Eucharistic Ministry service, many years ago, believing it to be WRONG!!
I will add to my above post. I think the Catholic schools should all once again teach the distinct, God-given, natural roles of Man and Woman! The Catholic boy has Christ as his Role Model, while the Catholic girl has the Blessed Mother– a very high calling, the imitation of the Blessed Mother! If our society could once again have the traditional, distinct roles for man and woman, (and traditional, attractive, distinct dress, too!) — with the family as the center of all life– everyone would grow up much more stable, happy, and fulfilled, in the long run! Get rid of all the CRAZY, IMMORAL, LIBERAL MISFITS— and get rid of all the “rock music” garbage, and the SICK 1960’s “rock star” immoral, unstable, rebellious, MISFIT way of life!! It is HORRIBLE!! Everyone will be SO MUCH HAPPIER, and SO MUCH MORE FULFILLED– in living out their traditional Man or Woman roles in life, with the CHURCH and FAMILY, at the heart and center of all civilization, just as it should be!
Exclude female altar servers “because girls generally do a better job”?? Maybe some competition would encourage male altar servers to do a better job.
This is NOT a reflection on Father Illo, but with everything that happened in the Church, I would not let my son go near a priest that only wanted boy altar servers.
That shows you the damage that has been done by you-know-what.
Don’t be silly Anonymous.
If you know for a fact of any abuse of a child, you must report it to the police and the Diocese Bishop.
There are already boy and girl Altar servers. And you would know this if you were Catholic.
Both girls as well as boys were abused by less than 2% of the Priests in the USA many years ago. It is extremely rare these days.
More children are abused by public school teachers.
Based upon your post, I guess you will just have to quit going to Mass, and not allow your children to go to public schools.
If you are a male, go and become an altar server yourself with your son, or just make sure there is a father of a son there at all times too. That will not only protect the boys, but it will also protect the priests against false accusations.
Excellent suggestion, Anne T. In addition, having a Dad being trained as an altar boy would ensure that his sons would have reinforcement at home regarding proper deportment, etc, not to mention another man able and willing to serve. And having protection for priests against false accusations is critical as any opportunity to defame is too often used and run with for various agendas.
Very true, Anne Malley.
So, anonymous, if you are the real “mous”, you are admitting that the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church was done mostly because of the homosexual priests! Finally! The “you-know-what” is the perversion of ACTIVE homosexuality!!
“That shows you the damage that has been done by you-know-what.” You have a point Anon,,,, the damage that has been caused by gays in the priesthood an all of them need to be flushed out…
God Bless Fr. Illo for having the courage to speak his mind and stick by his decisions. We truly need more Catholic priests like he is. Perhaps having altar boys as servers will help this trend. The Catholic church does honor women and respect them in so many ways. It is ridiculous to say that the Church does not respect women because they cannot be altar servers. Fr. Illo is a true shepherd.
Amy, you are SO right!!!
Everyone should remember, who is the most honored woman…..OUR LADY!!!!
Can’t get any higher than that :)
And by the way, Father Mark Mazza who was pastor prior to Father Illo, is cut from the ‘same cloth’ as Father Illo. In fact he helped start the Latin Mass and he was the one who placed the notices in the vestibule about what a person should wear to Mass and what you should not wear!
Kudos to you Father Mark Mazza too and St. Ansems is lucky to be getting you as their new pastor!!!
Amy ~ The CHURCH says that women and girls can be altar servers. Only Fr. Illo and a few others, a small part of the Church say we can’t.
It is up to the priest, and many women, whether you know it or not, prefer a male voice at the ambo and behind altar rails.
Also, C&H, I have spoken from the ambo, and I was good at it and would have made a good lector. I was uncomfortable, though, and stopped doing it when it got too PC, with people rushing around to see if they could get an equal amount of women along with the men. I felt that gradually the role of the priest was being taken over, and I knew where that would eventually go, and I did not like it.
Wrong again C&H the Vatican has stated that the norm is for altar boys.
The Vatican permits female altar servers.
It is up to the bishop of the diocese and is supposed to be uniform throughout the diocese.
I guess there can be exceptions but I have never seen it addressed officially.
Amy, I’m guessing you work at home?
…working at home when one is a mother is one of the highest callings, YFC, as it is replete with self sacrifice. Regarding female altar servers, the below is informative:
https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2010/04/22/canon-law-and-altar-girls/
Ann, people like YFC know nothing about that word “sacrifice” indulgence is more their thing
And who is taking care of the children of the women who are s0-called “successful”? Most often other women, YFC. Without some other women, they would have never made it to the “top”, and now our government wants children in school almost from the cradle to the grave with no bonding with the parents. Why is that? I think you know the answer — easier to control everything they think, hear and speak. Let children be children for awhile.
Fr. Illo has the prerogative, and was appointed to foster a traditionalist parish. Altar girls are too modern. They don’t fit the aesthetic or the nostalgic belief that the past is superior to the present. It’s one point of view, in a diverse archdiocese.
It’s ridiculous to say the Church honors and respects women, though. What case can you possibly make for that? Within the Church, women are excluded from positions of power and status purely on the basis of sex. In traditionalist circles, even nuns who dare to do more than take vows of poverty and live in cloistered prayer are pariahs, and women are still seen as having value only in procreation.
The origins of all of this dates back as far as Paul, and is represented heavily in the writings of Church Fathers, including the hallowed Augustine and Aquinas. Profound lack of respect. You have a theology where the influential architects thought women were inferior creatures, not created in the image of God, were basically pets or livestock, may or may not have souls, predicated the fall from grace, were defective and evil, and could only atone for their nature with silent obedience and child bearing, must not be allowed any authority over any man (or even speak in public)…
This is mostly anecdotal to modern laity, but it’s endemic in official Church positions even still, and very much at play here. It’s fascinating to see women embrace it. Maybe Stockholm Syndrome?
Yes Hugh we reject ALL the Garbage espoused by you and modern feminism….Maybe you have liberal syndrome which recognizes neither truth or evil….
Oh, good grief, Hugh, how you exaggerate. Some of the most influential people in the past were abbesses, etc. I do not refuse to take Communion from a woman in other Catholic churches if it has been approved, but I just felt it was going too far the other way.
I once gave a friend a religious item as a gift. She told me she was going to have her female friend or relative who was a Extraordinary Minister (Eucharistic Ministers) bless it. Well, only a male priest or male deacon can bless religious items. There is now so much confusion out there about who can do what it is pathetic. I think having female altar servers gives girls the false impression that they can become priests. Just my opinion — no Stockholm Syndrome there. That is why I take no part in anything to do with the altar any more. — other than possibly help decorate the inside of the church..
Dare we hope that this will also herald the end of the dancing girls – also known as “liturgical dancers” which are unbelievably still around in various churches and high school liturgies. They are almost more bizarre than girl altar boys. Imagine a group of nubile young women floating around in The Upper Room in leotards and scarves, wafting incense as Our Lord institutes the Eucharist at the Last Supper or worse yet, on Calvary as He is taking his last agonizing breaths on the cross. Just too ridiculous for words.
Nick ~ I must say you have a very vivid imagination!
Only people like you C&H deny the obscenities that have been introduced into the modern mass, liturgical dancers are not imagined, I have seen them and was revolted… Undo Vatican 2
Nick as you call him…..does not have a vivid imagination!
I know Nick and Nick has seen it in person at a girls high school in the Archdiocese of San Francisco!
Any abuses of the Mass should be reported to the Diocese Bishop asap.
GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) which can be found on the USCCB and Vatican web sites MUST be adhered to.
The phrase is “diocesan bishop” or the “bishop of the diocese”.
Way to go Father Lilo! It takes a lot of guts to make a decision such as this, knowing full well the controversy it will generate – as witnessed by the comments here.
We stand behind you 100% and have sent a donation to your church knowing that there are some Catholics who will retaliate by cutting off support. We can see great things coming from you. God love you.
God bless and protect Fr. Illo and Archbishop Cordileone. Wonderful work. Let’s hope the other churches follow.
Our Lady of Peace at Santa Clara only has mail altar servers. Their congregation is huge and they are a very active parish. Any time you go to their church, which has 24 hour adoration, there are lots of people around. They also have a traditional order of sisters (they wear habits so are recognizable as sisters) on site who support the work of the priests.
Thank you Father Illo, I only pray that we can be blessed with more priests like you.
It is confusing for girls when they serve at mass. They are drawn to service to the church–good. They realize there is something special going on at the altar–good. They are drawn to the miracle happening at the altar (good) and want to do it too–bad.
In ignorance I allowed and encouraged my daughters (and sons) to serve. They all enjoyed it, but I didn’t realize until asked to serve at women’s retreats (which otherwise were very orthodox) that the pull of serving Who is on the altar can get mixed up and “feel” a perceived call to priesthood. It takes the right touch to explain it to boys, girls and parents. Women have so much to give as Brides of Christ. The groom IS Christ with the men standing in persona Christi.
When one buys into same sex marriage of course the whole point of the male priesthood that Jesus established gets obscured. As if we know better or as if Jesus was merely conforming to Jewish tradition.
I commend Fr. Illo for this decision, and hope and pray that Star of the Sea will once again flourish with vocations to both the priesthood and to religious life for the women who will be developed into modest young ladies, given the proper guidance by this good and holy priest. It will be less confusing for everyone when our roles as men and women can be clearly defined, and properly promoted. Girls are as good as boys, and they both have distinctive roles as they develop into men and women. This is an example of how to address those roles, and how to develop our youngsters into good and holy men and women.
How about sexually segregated seating in the churches? Then the men could really feel mutual support..
Caroline, you personally are supporting the break-up of families.
Families who pray together, stay together.
Women do not need to be Priests or Altar servers.
No person NEEDS to be a priest or altar server. However, our entire Body of Christ is enriched when leadership is shared as broadly as possible, especially among those elements where segregation is not necessary. I personally would not attend a parish that forbade woman altar servers, lectors, or parish council members. It is bad enough that the hierarchy of Holy Mother Church is filled with masculinity.
Our entire Body of Christ is not enriched with leadership shared as broadly as possible. The term Body of Christ indicates the working relationship that one has in an actual body, YFC. So a ‘body’ with fifty million heads and no arms, legs, feet, etc is not going to function. But that’s your point. With everyone fighting to be chief, the war is lost.
We can only hope. “Your Fellow Catholic”. One wonders where you learned about Catholicism.
The Catholic Church is perfectly structured to fulfill its mission of salvation. Men act in persona Christi, and fulfill sacramental (and sacrificial) roles. They are to give their lives as Christ gave His life for many. After all, it is the “Church Militant” not the “Church of My Little Pony”.
Women, conformed to the person of Our Holy Mother, are essential to everything of the Church on Earth. From raising strong and large families, to be replica of the Church itself, to maintaining the Faith and passing it on to children, the woman is absolutely the engine of everything. For women religious, they assume the role of assistant to the priesthood, of teacher and healer to Catholic children, and of intercessors to Jesus, through prayer and sacrifice.
You are free, of course, to find comfort in churches where women have their hands in everything. A suggestion would be to try the Episcopalians, they have women playing dress-up everywhere; you would certainly be welcomed. Catholic churches that mistakenly use women for far too much in place of priests should be avoided, but perhaps you can help to continue their sacrilege a bit longer.
Gosh Caroline no one in their right mind want sexually segrated seating. No one. Now you are making unintelligent arguements. Please learn your faith first through the Eyes of Virgin Mary and she will help you understand better and help us all get to Jesus.
There is a fundraiser for Star of the Sea to show our support for these changes. The secular media said that because of Fr. Ilio Star of the Sea will likely go bankrupt. In one day over $30,000 has been raised! We need to show our support so that further changes will be supported by the Archdiocese. https://www.gofundme.com/kvc80g
No to altar boys!
Christ brought men around his table, not young boys.
Let’s have men as “altar boys.”
If we want young men to consider the preisthood, we will need priests to set a better example in the community. Right now most priests have set an example as Democrat Party activists with collars, as child abusers, and as silly men.
They do have adult male altar servers at most Traditional Latin Masses (Extraordinary form). I think they are called acolytes.
Correction: SOME adult male altar servers.
1
ALTAR GIRLS
In the Old Testament the revelation of the kingdom is often made under the forms of symbols. In similar fashion the inner nature of the Church is now made known to us in various images. The Church is, accordingly, called ‘our mother’ and described as the spotless spouse of the spotless lamb. It is she whom Christ ‘loved and for whom he delivered himself up that he might sanctify her’. It is she whom he unites to himself by an unbreakable alliance, and whom he constantly ‘nourishes and cherishes’(Eph 5:25-29).
Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium 6.
While the priest acts as Christ, offering up his life during Mass for his bride the Church, the altar server acts as an extension of the priest’s hands, an extension which must be male lest a same-sex image of Christ and His Church be given and seen.
Altar girls came to us in violation of Canon Law (230.1); having them serve at our altars of sacrifice is a serious deformation of Catholic worship.
It seems the days of chivalry have returned — when a man tipped his hat at a lady, opened doors for her and took care of his family and was shamed if he did not. Not a bad idea as far as I am concerned. Of course women have their duties and responsibilities, too. Men and women were meant to help each other not bash each other. I know it is hard at times but necessary for peace to reign in our world. Good bless Fr. Illo..
How about bringing back the altar rails to keep the sanctuary holy?
Allow people to kneel for Holy Communion without making them feel they are doing something objectionable.
Stop the practice of using EXTRAORDINARY Eucharistic Ministers in ordinary situations.
Stop Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers from going in the Tabernacle – many of them look like they are rooting in a locker.
Stop cantors from facing the congregation – it is not a performance. Have them face the altar like the rest of us. That’s how it is done at Carmel Mission.
Get rid of the pianos.
Address the banal music.
Stop the clapping.
Demand silence in the church at all times.
Educate on the need for appropriate and MODEST dress in church.
In other words, let’s get back to how it used to be. God’s house, sacred and holy place worthy of the King of Kings.
Nicholas, I couldn’t have said it better myself!!!
Maybe this is the reason for that declining attendance in his parish that Fr. Illo complains about in his blog.
God bless Father Illo. May he ban sodomites, abortionists, and Democrats from Holy Communion too (Cf. Can. 915).
And bigots, Jeurg. Don’t forget bigots.
peter what you refer to being a bigot, is not. Nothing against your person.
Douay-Rheims Bible Matthew 6:22
The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome.
Read the whole section of Matthew – Chapter 6
Bigots are part and parcel of “sodomites, abortionists, and Democrats”, Peter. You know that, don’t you?
linda maria, from what i remember, the need for extraordinary ministers and and other ministries came about in the midst of the developing priest shortage. the NCCB calculated that fewer priests combined with the desire to have communion under both species as normative and ordinary in all parishes could lead to much longer masses. as vatican II was further ‘developed’ in the 80’s , and applied, it seems it was hoped that each parish would develop small bureaucracies to execute many things, especially liturgical planning, where, ideally, each mass would require a liturgical committee to have hours worth of input to discuss the ‘theme’ of the mass (it was believed that a mass had a ‘theme’…that could be ‘applied’ or decoded somehow) homilies, appropriate songs and specially per-time home crafted prayers, not relying on a regular mail-ahead suggestions service.’creativity’ was the catchword’. and so the priest shortage intensified with the expectation that Father would be present at as many meetings of committtees as possible…or it meant he didn’t care. add to all this a belief among many of the ‘designers’ of this appoach that the priest shortage was the beginning of the disappearance of priesthood anyway, and all the baptized would discover that the priesthood of their baptisms would somehow carry the day.
We don’t like Ladies giving out the blessed Sacrament and running around the sanctuary. The good ladies did not relieve priests, just castrated them. We are in a war for the future of our Catholic Churc and the extreme left wing of Pope Francis, Barack Hussein Obama and Fidel Castro are winning.
“…linda maria, from what i remember, the need for extraordinary ministers and and other ministries came about in the midst of the developing priest shortage.”
What we were ‘told’ is not often the truth, but rather what seems a legitimate excuse to introduce that which is not what it should be and to quiet those who would say as much. Then, when it comes the norm, nobody questions it. Or, if the true norm is sought, then folks are looked upon as being bad because – well – we ‘had’ to take these measures for the greater good. And now, everyone ‘seems’ so comfortable and it would be ‘mean’ to take away the job because it would hurt feelings etc, etc,etc.
The fruits are rotten.
After Vatican II ended, approximately 200,000 clergy resigned, worldwide! This number included both priests and bishops. None of them wanted to offer the new Mass, and they all felt that Vatican II was a betrayal of the True Faith. Falsely “equalizing” the sacred priesthood to the secular laymen’s state, “ecumenical Protestant-style,” and “dumbing down” the priest’s true and sacred vocation, allowing lay men and women in sacred roles on the altar at Mass– further eroded respect and interest for the priestly vocation. Altar boys became nearly extinct, reverence for God at Mass was gone– and mostly, lay women (not even consecrated nuns!) were handling the Eucharist, in priestly roles! Tragic! The Holy Mass had become a crass, secularized, unholy, sad joke! The Church needs to honestly become truly “practicing Catholic,” truly holy, form her followers correctly in Christ’s Faith and Morals, have a truly beautiful, holy, reverent Mass– and seek to lead the sinful, secular society to Christ! Millions of priestly vocations will then be born, to serve a truly holy, honestly “practicing Catholic” Church!
Lies and Heresy. Period.
No YFC pure Truth you just don’t like it…
Yes, post VII ambiguity *did* usher in a bounty of lies and heresy period. Finally, YFC, you get it!
Thank you, Linda Maria, for finally reaching YFC’s tender middle.
YFC, you should know. You are an expert on lies and heresy yourself – defiling Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium teaching in the CCC as it relates to admitted Sodomites like yourself.
“Your Fellow Catholic”: You are always wrong, spreading your venom everywhere.
The Catholic priesthood has lost many, many members for the same reasons that many, many churches now are largely empty and schools vacant — the Faith, and its attendant disciplines, is no longer taught much. In fact, Vatican II implementation has made certain to discourage, in too many circumstances, the interests of straight, young men to the priesthood. The literature is full of stories about FeminNazi Nuns, feminine and homosexual priests, and other “gatekeepers” at seminaries, whose mission it was/is to keep out the ardent, the conservative/Traditional, the straight, from becoming priests.
Also, the liturgy, in addition to being dumped-down, has been made feminine in nature, tossing out the sacrificial, and the power, of the sacrament. The simpering, prancing, whiny priests that are all the rage today, adore being the “head of the table at the communal meal” and in “welcoming all” to . . . what? There is no sin anymore, no need of the heroism and personal sacrifice of the priest. No wonder the Vatican, lead by its legion of apostate clergy, raises questions about homosexuality, married priests, woman priests — none of the models of centuries past make much sense if everything is relative to modern values.
You will be happy because a “New Church” is definitely being contemplated and, in fact, is largely here already.
Linda Marie stop spreading schism!
Observing reality is not spreading schism, Abeca. The Church, the Spouse of Christ, is undergoing Her passion. Or would you deny too that Christ suffered and died on the Cross? That He was buried? That for all intents and purposes He, the Living God, appeared dead.
Please stop promoting the idea that Catholics must be blind, ignorant and senseless to be holy. You evangelize nothing that way except the caricature of what it means to be Catholic.
I will add to my post, above. Before Vatican II, almost every single Catholic boy, at some point in his young life, considered seriously, a vocation to the priesthood! The vocation of the priesthood was so holy, so very excellent, and very highly admired! With hopefully the formation of a truly good Church once again, someday— the same thing will happen! We will again see tons of priests (and traditional nuns, too!)— everywhere! And all will be well, with Christ leading the way, and all the Church humbly submitting to Him!
And before VII, almost every single catholic girl, at some point in her life, was taught proper grammar and punctuation.
Boys and girls were taught proper manners, too, so what happened to yours, mous?
UH-OH! The grammar and punctuation police are active and on duty here!!! Be careful, everybody!! I guess this is how posters, who have no defense or clue, respond to what they cannot and do not understand. As hockey players say, “Game on!”
And “catholic” is spelt with a capital C!
Great observation, Nicholas! I missed that one!
Linda Maria the world is changing and we are faced with much diversity, how are you handling it? Is it causing you to despair? To distrust Christ and His word and promises to us? We must persevere and remain faithful to His Magesterium. Our church is not a cult, it has many sinners in it and God gives us free will. Times have changed yes, but if you read your bible, it looks like they had it worst too……Trust in Christ. Not on men. Remain faithful and focus on reading the CCC, the bible etc. Go to confession to any priest in full communion, pray and fast. How will we please God? By praying and fasting. After all we are here to please God. Don’t let your fear guide you but keep your focus and trust in Christ. His church contains the wholeness of the truths and no dogma has ever changed. Men change but Christ does not and He promised to be with His church till the end.. I know we are living tough times. Don’t despair. We must live in the present, the past we must learn from and the future, only God knows.
CCC: “1577 Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination.
The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry.
The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return.
The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible. ”
Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:12-16; 1 Tim 3:1-13; 2 Tim 1:6; Titus 1:5-9; Canon 1024.
We must do all we can to encourage good and holy young men to become Priests.
Men who love Jesus, love His Church, and adhere to Sacred Scripture and the CCC from the Magisterium in entirety.
Pray for the Priesthood.
Correct Priestly inaccuracies due to bad formation when evil entered Seminaries,
by your using Sacred Scripture, the CCC, Code of Canon Law, and GIRM for the OF Mass.
You will be doing the Priest a favor as well as Catholics that he influences.
Hosea 4:6
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
great topic Unapologetic. I am unapologetic as well. The CCC states:
I. THE CHURCH IS ONE
“The sacred mystery of the Church’s unity” (UR 2)
813 The Church is one because of her source: “the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.”259 The Church is one because of her founder: for “the Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross, . . . restoring the unity of all in one people and one body.”260 The Church is one because of her “soul”: “It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church’s unity.”261 Unity is of the essence of the Church:
814 From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God’s gifts and the diversity of those who receive them. Within the unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples and cultures is gathered together. Among the Church’s members, there are different gifts, offices, conditions, and ways of life. “Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions.”263
CCC 815 What are these bonds of unity? Above all, charity “binds everything together in perfect harmony.”265 But the unity of the pilgrim Church is also assured by visible bonds of communion:
– profession of one faith received from the Apostles;
-common celebration of divine worship, especially of the sacraments;
– apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders, maintaining the fraternal concord of God’s family.266
816 “The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. . . . This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.”267
Wounds to unity
817 In fact, “in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church – for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame.”269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body – here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 – do not occur without human sin:
Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity.