Purge and Reorganization at the CDF

There are many remote villages on the Apennines. Monsignor Visioli has now been transferred there from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

(Rome) The Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith becomes pastor in the mountains of the Diocese of Parma. An appointed Chief Officer must resign immediately upon a nod from the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States. Purges are taking place again at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.

The local Parma edition of the daily newspaper La Repubblica, which Pope Francis is known to read, reported on August 16 the appointments and forthcoming transfers in the diocesan clergy. Bishop Enrico Solmi of Parma traditionally announces this on August 15th. The most recent changes have now been published on the diocese 's website. They also concern Monsignor Matteo Visioli.

 Msgr Matteo Visioli

Visioli obtained a doctorate in canon law after studying fundamental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He then became episcopal vicar in his home diocese, took on tasks for the Italian Bishops' Conference, was director of the Interdiocesan College for Religious Studies and taught canon law at the Marcianum in Venice. In 2017, Pope Francis summoned him to Rome and appointed him Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Now he was appointed by the Bishop of Parma to be the pastor of three parishes and moderator of a fourth in the mountains of the Apennines. What happened?

Collective punishment

"Our sources at the highest level confirm," according to the traditional site Messa in Latino, that Monsignor Visioli was dismissed because he was associated with Monsignor Giacomo Morandi, who was also promoted from Rome.

Monsignor Morandi was appointed secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2017, at the same time as Visioli. Last January, he was abruptly deported from Rome when Pope Francis appointed him the new Archbishop of Reggio Emilia and Guastalla.

His position was not filled because Francis reformed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in February by merging it into two sections and appointing a separate secretary for each.

Archbishop Morandi had been dismissed on charges of having written the famous response against the blessing of gay couples of March 15, 2021. In it, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated the impossibility of blessing a form of sin. With this negative answer, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith opposed the homo- heresy (Dariusz Oko), which is mainly run by homophile priests from the German-speaking area, supported by some bishops. Pope Francis then left his own Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith out in the rain so as not to deal with the German Bishops' Conference and to create the gay lobby. Santa Marta distanced itself from the responsum immediately after its publication, and Monsignor Morandi was just as quickly named as a possible candidate for the Bishop's See of Turin. His days in Rome were numbered.

Because Msgr. Morandi had dared to thwart the papal plans - in other words, had not intuitively grasped what Pope Francis does not say but wants - he was removed from Rome a few months later - and now, with a delay, also Msgr. Visioli. Messa in Latino writes:

"The climate of South American dictatorship prevailing at the Roman Curia is becoming ever clearer: suspicion or proximity to someone who has fallen from grace is enough to be dismissed without explanation."

The traditional Rite as a Career Ender

Rev Tait C Schroeder

In this context, Messa in Latino mentions another personality of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which since the curial reform has officially been called the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The American priest Tait Cameron Schroeder, who has been working at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2018, was appointed chief of the second section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Disciplinary Department, on May 7th.

Tait C. Schroeder is a priest of the Diocese of Madison. He first studied sacramental theology in Rome at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant'Anselmo and then received his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Santa Croce. Since then, he has gained a reputation as a well-established lawyer. At the beginning of August, Schroeder was still speaking with Cardinal Raymond Burke at a lawyers' conference in Wisconsin, USA - a proximity that was probably not welcomed in Santa Marta either.

The Apostolic Nunciature in the USA, where Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò is no longer nuncio but his successor Archbishop Christophe Pierre, hastened to inform Rome that, according to Messa in Latino, that Schroeder, the priest from the USA, was in fact “guilty of the horrific crime of celebrating in the traditional Rite for visiting groups of pilgrims, forcing Don Schroeder to resign from the office he had just received."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image : MiL

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Fabled Venice Cathedral Under Water — Substantial Damage Expected

Flooding in the lagoon city has reached a height of 1.56 meters one of the highest water levels so far

Rome (kath.net/KAP) The entire floor of St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice is flooded. According to media reports, all the mosaics on the floor of the famous church are under water, as well as the bronze gates of the cathedral are affected as well as the bases of the marble columns. After the storms of recent days, the flood in the lagoon city has reached one of the highest water levels so far with a height of 1.56 meters above normal.

The damage from the salt water could be considerable, the media cite the First Procurator of St. Mark's Cathedral, Carlo Alberto Tesserin. He is responsible for the structural preservation of the church. The expected damage, so Tesserin, could also show several meters above the current water level.

Up to a water level of 1.10 meters, the administration of St. Mark's Cathedral was able to protect the building. "It had been promised to us that such events would no longer take place," said Tesserin, criticizing the authorities of the city. The repair of the damage will now be very complicated and expensive.

St. Mark's Basilica is one of the most famous sights in Venice. A special feature of the cathedral are a variety of preserved mosaic cycles in the floor as well as on the walls.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Venice: Moroccan Muslim Entered Church and Damaged Crucifix

San Geremia in Venice: Muslim entered the church and tore
the cross down: "I will give you the truth.  I bring the truth."

(Rome) In Venice a few days ago a crucifix was badly damaged by  a Muslim  in the Church of San Geremia. The man shouted repeatedly: "I will give you the truth. I bring the truth. "

The church in Sestiere Cannaregio is consecrated to the Old Testament the prophet Jeremiah, close to the Grand Canal, which dates from the 11th century. While the Campanile is 850 years old, it is one of the oldest towers of Venice, the church took its present form in the 18th century. It is famous mainly because of the relics stored therein  of St. Lucy.

On July 12, a Moroccan Muslim with French residency, entered the Venice church filled with visitors  and rushed with loud cries to the large 300 year old crucifix. Here the man shouted, according to witnesses, repeatedly: "I will give you the truth. I bring the truth."  He snatched the three-meter-high cross and proceeded to damage the Corpus and cross by stomping it. He tore the left arm figure of Christ off.

The large crucifix of San Geremia: "This is the Son of God"

The Carabinieri led the man away. This "Islamism" is treated in the politically correct West as a form of mental illness, and  the man who will not face the consequences was medically examined, cited and then placed at liberty. Thus it was  politicians and the media downplayed the Muslim massacres of Graz (2015), three dead and 36 injured, and also the Muslim Amokfahrer of Nice, 84 dead and over 300 injured, was an insane individual perpetrators.

Patriarch of Venice: "Such gestures make joint cohabitation difficult"

The patriarch of Venice, Msgr. Francesco Moraglia condemned the incident in a statement.The Patriarch spoke of

"Gestures that make it difficult  to go on with common ways of living together."

For the meaning of the cross, the Patriarch referred to the Letter of Paul to the Philippians:

"His life was that of a man; he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that every knee should bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth before the name of Jesus and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord' - to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:7 to 11).

God had "increased" His Son because of the cross and He bestowed dominion over the universe upon Him. "If we look at the cross where Christ was nailed, we see the sign of love, which was for each of us the foundation of salvation, and will be the cause of salvation for each of us," said Messa in Latino .

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Wikicommons / MiL
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Venice: Art Historian Protests Against "Mosque" in the Church and Calls the Police

Church to Mosque

(Venice) In  ongoing Venice Biennale, unbeknownst to the Patriarchate, a Catholic church was converted into a mosque (see Venice Biennale: Mosque installed in the church - "Invitation to Islamists to Conquer" ). During the Patriarchate protested with explanations,  the Catholic art historian Alessandro Tamburini, professor at the Institute of Religious Studies, engaged in  a far more efficient sign of protest.

The tax-financed "artwork",  a contribution from the Republic of Iceland to the art exhibition, has been used since then  by  the Muslims of the area as a mosque. Moreover, Muslims have usurped the church and "artwork"  and taken control of the building.

The "interaction" is welcomed as an "invitation to dialogue" by the Swiss artist and the Icelandic Minister of Culture. Neither the state nor the Scandinavian artist has expressed a word of apology or regret for the profanation of the Catholic Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia - Catholic churches are in contrast to Islamic mosques consecrated places. The Catholic Church seems to have a fictional duty which is put forward as a  matter of course, that it does not even need a mention.

The Patriarchate raised strong protest against the abuse. The fact that the church has been privately owned since the 1970s, complicates matters and limits the intervention of the competent diocese.

Access with Shoes in the "Art Pavilion" Denied

Inscription Above the Door of the Venetian Church, Which Was Converted into a Mosque

Alessandro Tamburini a religious scholar who is well-known in academic circles religious scholar  wanted to look at the "scandal" in person. At the entrance to the church, recte for "work of art", he was stopped by Muslims and asked to  take off his shoes, because he was setting foot in  "a mosque."  When Tamburini refused because it was not a mosque, but a Catholic church, he was denied entry by the Muslims. Tamburini called the police on the spot and made it  publicly clear that this is an abuse and an attack against the Catholic Church and Its believers.

"Professor Tamburini made his courageous decision as an example of how to react in such situations of more or less veiled attacks against Christianity in the context of legality," said  Messa in Latino .

Tamburini lives in Venice and teaches art history of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Foreign friends had informed him that they were refused entry to the "Icelandic Pavilion" of the Biennale, because they had refused to take off their shoes. Tamburini went on site to his friends and tried to enter the "Pavilion", where he was filming the entire process.

"Is This a Center of Worship? Respect for Whom and What" -  Iceland Refused to Say

"I was denied entry because I refused to take off my shoes. I asked the following question: which is this a center of worship? They agreed and denied me admission, out of respect. I asked, therefore, respect due to whom  and what: Because of the perhaps too expensive carpet? Or because it is an Islamic place of worship? Inside are  praying Muslims apparently. Or because it is a Catholic place of worship? Removing the  shoes is an act of worship. If this is an art pavilion, then this forced  action is severe. Who wants to visit a mosque of cultural or artistic interest in an Islamic country, will be adapted to the necessary rules, conversely, whoever in Italy wants to visit a church. But this can not apply for an art exhibition, which tends to be thought of as a provocation, for which the artist Büchel is indeed well known," said Tamburini.

"What right have Icelanders in Venice to ban access and convert churches into mosques?"

Reporters said Tamburini then: "It is to be rejected and condemned, that the fundamental rights of a citizen of this country can be restricted by Muslims and pseudo artists who encourage surely neither respect nor dialogue but unnecessarily provoke divisions and tensions. The headlines these days in the media speak for themselves: the sharp observations of patriarchy, because a church was converted into a mosque without permission. In addition, I did not know which authority would have the Icelanders to ban Italian or foreign citizens the access to a public place. And what right have the Icelanders to convert a church into a mosque in Venice? Because a mosque is in every respect. Muslims pray in it, forcing their rules keep them occupied in fact. They have already announced plans to celebrate in, Pavilion 'Ramadan. If this place of worship allowed by the prefecture? If the Treasurer informed? The city administration? I called the police and filed a complaint. "

After Protest, the Icelandic Pavilion Director Allowed Shod Access - art historian refuses: "Questions not answered"

Meanwhile, the Muslims have usurped a church with Icelandic assistance "on behalf of the freedom of art" and want to celebrate in Ramadan

After the art historians sharp words, and engaging the police lengthy discussions, the Icelandic director of the "Pavilion" granted Tamburini an "exceptional" permission, and was allowed to wear shoes to enter the building.  "I refused, because it was not just about my rights. Numerous other people  had already been banned access and the same thing would happen to me again. Above all, they refused to respond to my questions: Is this a religion? Respect for what and whom? Because of an obligatory attitude of refusal  they do not encourage dialogue, but provoke and cause division."

Tamburini continued: "We owe respect to  Muslims and the Icelanders, who are guests in our country. I share the opinion of the Patriarchate and can only regret that it is precisely a city like Venice, which has always historically been  a meeting place of different cultures and religious traditions, has become the scene of such a lack of respect for the identity of others, which has happened to us. Respect demands that you first knock on the door before it opens. Icelanders and Muslims have no respect and without asking permission, converted a church into a mosque. On this basis, it is difficult to engage in interreligious dialogue. The pseudo-artists are known for the fact that they do not ask. Islam is well known for the fact that it does not ask for permission. All the more surprising that the Icelanders still promote such an attitude."

Icelanders have the disrespect to convert a  church dedicated in a foreign city in which they are guests, and to transform it into a mosque, but the Icelandic pavilion director refuses to answer  Tamburini's question whether the pavilion is a place of worship and, if so, whose religion. "Because they misuse a Catholic church, therefore a place of worship, they dare not to answer this question, because by what right could they demand respect for a Muslim place of worship, if you have just desecrated a Catholic place of worship," said Tamburini , "I expect that the prefect and the competent public authorities will protect the Italian Constitution and the rights of Italian citizens."

Meanwhile, the art historian is filing a legal complaint against the owner of the church and the organizer of the Biennale.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Milo

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Biennale of Venice: Mosque Installed in Church -- "Invitation to Muslims to Conquer"

(Venice) Provocations are the "business" In the context of the Venice Biennale, a bi-annual international art exhibition. For the first time a sacrilege takes place  as part of the Biennale. "A mosque has not yet been added to the more than a thousand-year history of Venice,"  wrote the Venetian daily Il Gazzetino  just  a few days ago. That was yesterday. Today Venice has its first mosque and indeed this coming November 22, in the framework of the Biennale.

Profanation of a Church as "Art" - Koran Verses, Mihrab and Prayer Rugs

The real challenge, however, is that the mosque was set up in a Catholic church, namely in Santa Maria della Misericordia in Cannaregio district. Although the church is closed to worship, it is still a consecrated place of worship. Now, however, it has been desecrated. That the he Church of "Mercy" falls into these calculations may be a coincidence, but it meets with  the so-called "new Mercy", the not uncontroversial keyword of the current pontificate.

In the Church there is everything: the Islamic prayer niche, Arabic panels with Koranic verses, the floor is covered entirely with carpets, including small green prayer rugs facing Mecca. The mihrab, the prayer niche in mosques, was built so that it covers the large crucifix of the church.  The new adaptation of the church is to be disturbed by nothing Christian. On the Baroque façade only the inscription  "Allah u Akbar" is missing.  The original intention was to install it  so it is  visible far and wide. Ultimately fees were waived because the city administration, as they say, had exerted pressure to omit the words.

Mosque installation as a Contribution by the Icelandic Consulate

And who came up with the "brilliant" idea? The mosque in the church was organized by the Icelandic Consulate at the Biennale. Of course, everything strictly covered under "artistic" creativity and under the panacea "artistic freedom".

With the transformation of the church into a mosque, moreover   the Swiss artist, Christoph Büchel, was commissioned by the Lutheran Republic of Iceland. He called his "art concept" The Mosque . According to the official statement the "installation" is to be a "message against Islamophobia."   The only question is why the Catholic Church prefers  victims of such politically correct "messages". The Icelandic Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Illugi Gunnarsson, explained that the idea to bury a mosque in a church is in order "to stimulate dialogue" - as the Minister - which is "open" in Iceland.

Gunnarsson is representative of the Liberal-Conservative Independence Party, which together with the CDU, CSU (Germany) and the ÖVP (Austria) in the International Democratic Union (IDU), in the European Parliament but seated with the British Conservatives and the German AFD in the Group of European Conservatives and Reformers.

Muslim Representatives Enthusiastic about Büchel Installation

Born in Basel,  artist Christoph Büchel has become known mainly through provocations. He is known for "institutional critique", which seems highly unlikely if he accepts government contracts, such as those of the Republic of Iceland. In 2010 Büchel installed "an area for sex culture" in the Vienna Secession. He designed the room in a swingers club. During the day it was visited by museum visitors, and at night   a Viennese Swinger Club moved its horizontal activities in the museum.

Mohamed Amin al-Ahdabd, the president of the Islamic community of venice showed himself to be enthusiastic about the Büchel Initiative in Venice. Amin al-Ahdadb realized, probably before anyone else, the importance of the event. "This project surpasses,  in effect, a hundred conferences on dialogue between cultures," said the Islamic representative.

A mosque is not ordained like the Catholic Church and therefore not a religious building. It is a meeting place that can be intricately designed more or less. In theory, however, any room is suitable  as a mosque. Therefore, the Installation awakened not only the appearance of a mosque, but is for Muslims a mosque, as the zealous prayer activities show.

Patriarchate Protested Against Illegal Use and Profanation of the Church

Although a Catholic church is being utilized for the "dialogue artwork", the responsible Patriarch of Venice, Msgr. Francesco Moraglia was never asked for permission. There is great vexation in the patriarchate. There is talk of "abuse", which is made worse because the Church was not only made available without permission, but was profaned.

Art as a sacrilege? The church has been closed for worship since 1969. However, this does not matter, because the church was never profaned. "The church is closed to worship and is no longer part of the church. It has fallen since 1973 to private ownership,"  says the Patriarchate in an official statement. Nevertheless, it said in the statement, "each usage deviating from the Christian Catholic cult needs permission by the ecclesiastical authority, regardless of who is currently in possession of the church. This permission was neither requested nor granted."

The church of Santa Maria della Misericordia has been  in use since  the year 936, but could be even older. The original church was byzantine in design.  In the 13th century it was renewed church gothic. Around 1650, the Baroque facade was built. In the church are works of Bernini's pupil, Clemente Moli. During the Napoleonic domination, the church was, like many others, desecrated and left to decay. The second half of the 19th century was followed by renovation work. In1890 the church was rededicated and reopened for worship.

Biennale sat down randomly over patriarchy away

Patriarchy was also know that "was asked in February about asking other churches in the city for this mosque installation. The patriarch, however, refused. "was not even asked for the church of Santa Maria della Misercordia. Since there was no permission, the Biennale director set aside the very decision of the diocese. An "act of arbitrariness", says the Patriarchate. The attitude of the Church is not being respected.

The city administration emphasizes that the speech was only an "exhibition", but not by a church. The Directorate of the Biennale tried to pour water on the fire. The "project" it says "was approved as an artistic installation on condition that it was implemented in a exhibition that is accessible for all".

The Patriarchate accuses the city administration of rank superficiality. Such a matter would have "required greater attention in the test phase" and would " be considered and approved not only by its artistic aspect". The patriarchy also directed its criticism at the Biennale in charge: "The decision to use a church closed for cult, does not resolve this issue, as it is still effectively a sacred site, but this was ignored."

Catholic Organizations are Calling for "Immediate Evacuation" - "The Installation Isn't an Invtation to Dialog  but War"

Several Catholic associations and the media have meanwhile demanded the immediate evacuation of the mosque installation and the restoration of the church. "The fact that the art is used as a pretext to justify any ideological profligacy is not news. But the transformation of the church of Santa Maria della Misericordia into a mosque as an artistic expression of the struggle against Islamophobia goes to far.  Only an idiot can seriously think that the conversion of a church into a mosque could be understood as an invitation to dialogue. Rather, it is an invitation to war, the conquest and occupation of the churches and at a time when in several countries there rages a brutal war of Muslims against Christians  and ever day churches are conquered, repossessed and transformed into mosques," said the chief editor of the Nuova Bussola Quotidiana .

The Patriarchate has raised protest. Not only because the matter is contrary to common sense, but because it is against the law. The patriarch would have to grant his permission. He has not granted this permission. He was not even asked. That's why this installation is as if it 'does not exist'. This is noted but it's not enough. Such a provocation can not be dismissed so that they protested one day, but everything stays the way it is. The symbolism is too strong. The Patriarchate should demand the immediate removal of the installation. No ifs and buts. Should the Biennale defend this disgrace and false message, peaceful resistance  should be passed over  for active resistance, such as the way the Veilleurs occupy  a square and a church, or by holding a silent prayer vigils. Everything left as it is, would be to send a signal of unconditional surrender to Islam, which plays into the hands of  the most radical branch of Islam. It doesn't change the matter when th entire thing is packed as  "artistic"and "on behalf of the freedom of art" happens,  because these do not interest the Islamists in the least.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Nuova Bussola Quotidiana / Chiesa e postconcilio

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Immemorial Mass of All Ages Returns to Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice

Saint Mark's

(Venice) On 31 January 2015  the traditional form of the Roman Rite returned back to the Patriarchal Basilica of Venice.

The feast of St. Mark the Evangelist will be celebrated by the Church on 25 April. In the old Venetian Republic whose patron was the Evangelist, also the transfer of the relics of the saint was in 828 to Venice is commemorated for the end of January. As the location where the relics of St. Mark's Basilica unique built by the Venetians.

Last Saturday this feast which took place 1200 years ago was commemorated in St. Mark's Basilica at the altar of Nikopoia in the Immemorial Mass of All Ages. The Icon of the Virgin, the "Bringer of Victory",  The icon of Our Lady enthroned with the Child Jesus   on her lap is attributed to the Constantinopolitan icon painter Luca Cancellari (Λουκάς Καγκελλάρης) in the 12th century.  Numerous representations of this icon of Our Lady, "Mary of victory",  were executed after the Battle of Lepanto.

828  the Relics of St. Mark the Evangelist Reach  Venice

The Nikopoia ("Bringer of Victory") in St. Mark's Basilica in Venice

Mark the Evangelist founded not only the Coptic Patriarchate Alexandria in Egypt today. But to him, the foundation of the Patriarchate of Aquileia is attributed. In the Latin Church in 602, the inheritance of the two Patriarchates was divided in the upper Adriatic Sea into the two patriarchates (old) Aquileia and Grado (New Aquileia). The Patriarch of Grado was also in the lagoon of Venice, where he has resided since 1105. In 1451 the Patriarchate was officially transferred from Grado to Venice.

The celebration last Saturday  was made possible by the Patriarch who since  2012, Francesco Moraglia. Already his predecessor, Cardinal Angelo Scola, now Archbishop of Milan, had established a rectorate in Venice for the believers of the Old Rite and entrusted it to the FSSP. The seat of the community is the ancient San Simone Piccolo church on the Grand Canal (opposite the train station). After Father Konrad zu Löwenstein's  had led the community for  several years, this task in was taken over by Father Jean-Cyrille Sow FSSP.

Patriarch Moraglia  has  a coat of arms is that is modeled on that of St. Pius X., who was his predecessor as Patriarch. The Patriarch of Venice, as Cardinal, wears purple. Unlike his predecessors, the reigning patriarch, however,  has not been considered in the third consistory since his appointment to the cardinalate.

Link Katholisches...

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Wikicommons (Nino Barbieri)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Don Siro Cisilino, Guardian of the Immemorial Mass Through Trials and Bans

(Venice) Today it is hardly imaginable any more, what the climate was,  even a few years earlier it considerably more rough. Individual priests who would held to the old Mass were those who were hard pressed by the Diocesan church leadership. One of them was the priest Don Siro Cisilino, for whom it is to be thanked, that the celebration of Holy Mass in the "Old Rite" was never broken in Venice. A short portrait should portray his way. A few months before his election as Pope the then Patriarch of Venice, Albino Cardinal Luciani, forbid in 1978, with a hard line, against the celebration of the "Old Rite" in the city and in his entire Diocese.

The famous "city on the water" had a priest, Don Siro Cisilino, despite the 1965 intervening Liturgical revisions and the following Liturgical reform a few years later, held fast to the Tridentine Rite. The priest and musicologist born in Pantianicco near Udine in Friuli, worked as a pastor in lagoon city. There he wed the beautiful, 1718 classical style overlain on the previous medieval structure of the church of St. Simeon Piccolo. The church is consecrated to the Apostles Simeon and Thaddeus. In order to distinguish it from a nearby parish church, which is consecrated to the Prophet Simeon, it is called the parish church of San Simmeone Grande and the church on the canal is called San Simeone Piccolo. The oldest evidence for both churches traces the back to the 10th century.

Abrupt Liturgical Change: 1965 Introduction of the Vernacular, 1969 New Missal


As with the abrupt celebration of the Mass in the vernacular on March 7th, 1965,  Don Siro did not alter his practice.  He celebrated from then on in Latin according to the Missal of 1962.  The priest had already previously foreseen a radical change with inner disquiet and great sensitivity to the various small liturgical novelties.

As with the first Sunday of Advent in 1969 according to the 1965 translated Missal of 1962 a far deep ranging attack followed and a completely new Missal was introduced, Don Siro refused it.  He did not allow himself through any inducements or threats to celebrate the New Rite.

Exodus and Patience in the Catacombs

The changing times broke on Don Siro Cisilino.  The priest had to leave his church on the Canal Grande because of his refusal.  He took advantage of the Franciscans of the city for a right of sanctuary,  in order to celebrate outside of Mass times, in the truest sense of the word, to be able to celebrate the Old Rite in peace.

As in 1976 the case of Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X he founded "exploded" and the "Traditionalists" were persecuted like sectarians, the Franciscans revoked the guest friendship they offered.  Although Don Siro neither knew Archbishop Lefebvre nor had any contacts to this community, he became a victim of an over eager obedience.  He became too "hot" for the Franciscans.

The priest found a new guest friendship with the Benedictines on the island of San Giorgio near the Palace of the Doge.  In the crypt, which he was allotted by the monks, the Mass of Pius V survived in a certain way in the catacombs.  The Benedictines of San Giorgio were changed to the Novus Ordo, yet continued to celebrate in Latin and preserved the Gregorian chant.  This situation gave them understanding for the homeless priest, to whom they gave asylum.

Ways of Providence and the Return to San Simeone Piccolo

By a fortunate consequence, friends of Don Siro's spoke without hesitation of divine providence, when the famous church musician Carlo Durighello, took part in the humble feast, which was held in July 1977 for the 50th Priestly Jubilee of Don Siro. Durighello had received permission from the Curia,  to use the church, closed since the time of Don Siro's forced departure, for a church music concert.  With great expense, Durighello undertook the necessary renovations.

It was the first time through  this that the church musician and the musicologist met for the first time, and it came that Durighello invited Don Siiro to return again back to his old church.  After the first Mass celebration in August of 1977, the traditional priest was installed permanently on his Mass location at the Canal Grande.  The return meant also a departure from the catacombs of San Giorgio and new visibility for the Old Rite.  Under the general climate of that time, a daring step, which Don Siro did not take lightly.  He suspected new difficulties to come.

Soon word got around, that after years in the city without an available Mass in the "Old Rite" was celebrated.  The number of the faithful, who streamed to San Simeone, was ever greater.

Albino Cardinal Luciani, who later became Pope John Paul I, Forbid the Old Mass

The peace did not last long.  Only a few months later the storm broke.  The then Patriarch of Venice, Albino Cardinal Luciani declared in a document that "the celebration of the ancient Mass in the Church of San Simeone Piccolo and in the area of the whole Diocese, is to be categorically forbidden,"  it said in a private message and without the participation of the faithful.  That was the only notification.

In the official Diocesan paper (Rivista diocesana del Patriarcato di Venezia, edition April-May 1978, P 167)  the curia renewed its proclamation:  "The Patriarch previously forbid that in San Simeone Piccolo -- as has been against the protest of the current pastor, the Vicar and other faithful in the render-vous of the movement Una Voce -- that  the so-called Mass of St. Pius X is celebrated."  At least the ban, that the Old Rite may not be celebrated in the entire Diocese any longer, had fallen away.  Don Siro had to leave San Simeone Piccolo for a second time, but was able at least to return to celebrating Holy Mass on the island of San Giorgio with the Benedictines.

Early Death of John Paul I., Saved the Celebration on Canal Grande

After the death of Pope Paul VI. the Patriarch of Venice became elected the new Pope John Paul I on the 26th of August 1978.  His early death with only a pontificate lasting 33 days was such that the Patriarchal throne as well as the Cathedra of Peter in Rome became vacant.  This double vacancy allowed that the celebration of the Old Mass in San Simeone Piccolo could quietly continue.  Don Siro celebrated Holy Mass in the Tridentine Rite till the end of 1984 in the beautiful church on the Canal Grande right across from the train station of the city.  Becoming very sick, not the least because of his hard struggles of the previous 20 years, he returned to his home in Friauli, where he died on March 4th, 1987.

Liturgical Struggles From Death and Beyond

Even in death the Liturgical peace would be refused him.  The dead priest had never celebrated the Novus Ordo a single time in his entire life.  His wish and desire was to be buried in the traditional Rite. Prepared by past experience, his friends made the Curia of Udine aware of this on many occasions.  But still the former Archbishop of Udine, Msgr Alfredo Battisti, celebrated, without hesitating to violate the last will of the departed, the New Rite and versus populum, which Don Siro had steadfastly avoided his entire life.

Don Siro had never let the thread of the celebration of the Mass in the "Old Rite" in Venice ever break. The Holy Mass in the Tridentine Rite could also continue after his departure, in San Simeone Piccolo, where there were found other priests, who followed the example of Don Siro.  In this way, the classical Rite could continue in Venice uninterruptedly till the year of 2007, as Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated the "Mass of All Times" with the Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" and called it from the catacombs, to which it had been banned.

Don Siro is the Bridge Builder till Summorum Pontifical

Paolo Zolli, early departed Professor of Romance Languages at the University of Venice and Companion described the accomplishment of Don Siro with the words:  "In the harsh times of adversity courageous men are needed, who will carry the torch on further, till God grants better times."  In the implementation of Motu Proprio,  the former Patriarch, Angelo Cardinal Scola, erected the church of San Simeone Piccolo as a personal parish in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, which has been entrusted to Father Konrad zu Löwenstein of the Fraternity of St. Peter.

Link to original...

Coincidence? St. Pope Pius X's Coat of Arms Resemble New Patriarch's

(Venice) The Spanish Vaticanist José Fernández de la Cigoña has published on his blog La cigüeña de la torre the coat of arms of the sainted Pope, Pius X and those of the newly appointed Patriarch of Venice, Msgr Francesco Moraglia, appointed as the new Patriarch of Venice on January 31st.  Both have elements of the honorific of the Patriarchate of Venice.  Giuseppe Melchiore Sarto,  the former Pope Pius X, adopted these arms from 1896-1903, which was once associated with the world famous palace chapel of the Doge of Venice.

The Patriarch, Francesco Moraglia, whose chosen coat of arms upon taking his chair as Patriarch on the 25th of March,  correspond almost congruently with the arms of Pius X, who as his predecessor 115 years ago, occupied the same office.

The arms show the golden lion of St. Mark in the upper part on a silver field.  The lower part shows a golden star in the upper half of the light blue field (heaven), which symbolizes the Virgin Mary, the eight points themselves represent the number of the beatitudes. In the lower half is the alternating dark blue and silver of the churning sea and a black anchor [chastity].  The only difference between the arms of Pius X is a crenelated silver wall with an open gate arch between heaven and the sea, which is a play on the new name of the new Patriarch.

The Spanish Vaticanist suspects that this is not an accident, as far as what will be confirmed.  The coat of arms  was greeted by the new Patriarch of Venice in a conscious imitation of his predecessor, Giuseppe Melchiorre Cardinal Sarto, the later Pope Pius X, as he himself stated.  "That doesn't look bad to me. On the contrary", so says Cigoña

Patriarch Moraglia, born in 1953, from Genoa, was ordained a priest by Giuseppe Cardinal Siri.  He is considered to be a Sirian and a Ratzingerian and is expected to be named a Cardinal in the next Consistorium, which will probably take place at the end of 2013.

Link to katholisches.net...

Rome Announces Massive Appointment for Venice Patriarchate

Edit: of course you probably would have heard it here, first.
VATICAN CITY, 31 JAN 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Bishop Francesco Moraglia of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato, Italy, as patriarch of Venice (area 871, population 375,790, Catholics 372,032, priests 394, permanent deacons 29, religious 755), Italy.

 - Appointed Bishop Filippo Iannone O. Carm. of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo, Italy, as vice gerent of the diocese of Rome (area 881, population 2,816,706, Catholics 2,473,000, priests 4,922, permanent deacons 116, religious 27,375), conferring upon him the dignity of archbishop.

 - Appointed Msgr. Matteo Maria Zuppi of the clergy of the diocese of Rome, pastor of the parish of "Santi Simone e Giuda in Torre Angela", and Msgr. Lorenzo Leuzzi of the clergy of the diocese of Rome, director of the vicariate of Rome's office for pastoral care in universities, rector of the church of "San Gregorio Nazianzeno in Montecitorio" and chaplain of the Italian parliament, as auxiliaries of Rome. Bishop-elect Zuppi was born in Rome in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1981. He has served in various pastoral offices within the diocese of Rome Bishop-elect Leuzzi was born in Traini, Italy in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1984. Before becoming a priest he qualified as a medical doctor. He has worked in pastoral care in his native region of Puglia and in Rome, and is author of a number of books.