When Vesting For Holy Mass Where Does Fr. Z Strap His Guns....Of The Ornaments Belonging To The Priest
Vesting Holy Mass in the very best that human arts can attain is a response to the need to recognize who we are before God’s transcendent majesty, His just mercy. Fr. Z
Really? Are we now to believe Fr Z's flowery words on vesting for Holy Mass?
When Fr. Z vests for mass where does he strap his guns?
I think it is well established fact by Fr Z and his followers that it is OK for a priest to strap a gun under his vestments. Therefore Fr.Z probably straps guns to himself while vesting for Mass:
Fr. Z on why a Priest should wear a gun under his Vestments while saying Mass:
About carrying a handgun while saying Mass… I am neutral on that point. It is wrong for a priest or bishop to say Mass with his wallet in his back pocket? Money can be misused, after all. Can he have his smart phone in his pocket? A pocket knife on his key ring? You can do bad things with smart phones or knives or keys. Fr. Z
Fr. Z On How To Kill A Man:
Perhaps the firearms training many of us have undertaken is helpful as an analogy. First, you seek to avoid conflicts or deescalate them. When you can’t avoid violence you try to discern the level actually needed. Of course, this sometimes must happens in seconds. In the case that you are forced to act in defense of your life or the lives of others, you use deadly force to stop the threat. That means you shoot effectively to stop the threat. You don’t try to shoot the gun out of the enemy’s hand (this isn’t TV). You don’t shoot to hit the leg (because, again, this isn’t TV). You shoot center mass, to do maximum damage so the threat will stop, because … that’s the point you are at. You don’t shoot “to kill”. Shoot (or whatever) so that the clear, present danger to life and limb is no longer a threat. If a punch in the face or a kick in the ‘nads is enough, and the threat stops, then stop there. Stop punching and kicking. That’s an analogy from a few horrifying seconds of immediately conflict or threat. In prolonged situations, we have time to analyze our motives and consciences. Fr. Z
Why would a priest be interested in knowing how to kill a man?
Unless that priest has no desire to be a martyr for the faith - especially when saying Mass on the Altar.
Here read from a Priest on the Priest's vestments (no place to strap a gun) and tell me after reading this on the Amice that a priest should strap a gun under his Amice:
Of The Ornaments Belonging To The Priest
And first of the Amice.
1. Inocentius the third, speaking of the ornaments belonging to the Priest, saith, that the Vestments of the Evangelical Priest, do signify one thing in the head (to wit, our Saviour) and another in his members. And for as much, as both head and members, are understood, in the person of the Priest, therefore, these ornaments have sometimes, relation to the head, & sometimes to the members.
1. Inocentius the third, speaking of the ornaments belonging to the Priest, saith, that the Vestments of the Evangelical Priest, do signify one thing in the head (to wit, our Saviour) and another in his members. And for as much, as both head and members, are understood, in the person of the Priest, therefore, these ornaments have sometimes, relation to the head, & sometimes to the members.
How by the Amice, is signified, the cloth that hid and covered our Saviours eyes.
2. According hereunto, the Priest putting the Amice before his face: representeth unto us, the mockeries, which the Son of God sustained, when his sacred eyes were blindfolded, & the perfidious Jews, buffeted him on the face, saying Prophecy unto us oh Christ, who is he that stroke thee? Mat.26.68.
How the crown of Thrones.
3. The putting the same afterwards upon his head: representeth unto us, the crown of Thorns, which those most wicked ministers, planted upon the head of our Blessed Saviour.
How recollection and attention.
4. Morally, the Amice admonisheth, that as the Priest covereth his head and face therewith, so ought we to be very vigilant (during the time of this divine Mystery:) that neither our eyes, nor understanding, be carried away, or busied about by vain cogitations.
How fortitude of good works.
5. The spreading of the same abroad, upon the Priests shoulders: doth signify, the fortitude of good works. For as the shoulders are made strong, to perform hard works: so a man (especially a Priest) ought neither to be idle, nor faint in working, but to insist & labour painfully, in well doing, according to that of the Apostle. Labour thou as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.2.Tim.2.3.
How Faith.
6. Lastly, the Priest putting on this ornament, prayeth, saying: impone Domine, &c. Put. o Lord, the Helmet of Salvation upon my head, that I may overcome all diabolical incursions. So that by the Amice, is also signifies Faith, which is indeed, the first and chiefest thing, that a christian ought to bring, coming to priest himself, at so great a Sacrament.
Now for the Wisdom of St Thomas:
Article 4. Whether it is lawful for clerics to kill evil-doers?
Objection 1. It would seem lawful for clerics to kill evil-doers. For clerics especially should fulfil the precept of the Apostle (1 Corinthians 4:16): "Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ," whereby we are called upon to imitate God and His saints. Now the very God whom we worship puts evildoers to death, according to Psalm 135:10, "Who smote Egypt with their firstborn." Again Moses made the Levites slay twenty-three thousand men on account of the worship of the calf (Exodus 32), the priest Phinees slew the Israelite who went in to the woman of Madian (Numbers 25), Samuel killed Agag king of Amalec (1 Samuel 15), Elias slew the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18), Mathathias killed the man who went up to the altar to sacrifice (1 Maccabees 2); and, in the New Testament, Peter killed Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5). Therefore it seems that even clerics may kill evil-doers.
Objection 2. Further, spiritual power is greater than the secular and is more united to God. Now the secular power as "God's minister" lawfully puts evil-doers to death, according to Romans 13:4. Much more therefore may clerics, who are God's ministers and have spiritual power, put evil-doers to death.
Objection 3. Further, whosoever lawfully accepts an office, may lawfully exercise the functions of that office. Now it belongs to the princely office to slay evildoers, as stated above (Article 3). Therefore those clerics who are earthly princes may lawfully slay malefactors.
On the contrary, It is written (1 Timothy 3:2-3): "It behooveth . . . a bishop to be without crime [Vulgate: 'blameless.' 'Without crime' is the reading in Titus 1:7] . . . not given to wine, no striker."
I answer that, It is unlawful for clerics to kill, for two reasons. First, because they are chosen for the ministry of the altar, whereon is represented the Passion of Christ slain "Who, when He was struck did not strike [Vulgate: 'When He suffered, He threatened not']" (1 Peter 2:23). Therefore it becomes not clerics to strike or kill: for ministers should imitate their master, according to Sirach 10:2, "As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers." The other reason is because clerics are entrusted with the ministry of the New Law, wherein no punishment of death or of bodily maiming is appointed: wherefore they should abstain from such things in order that they may be fitting ministers of the New Testament.
Reply to Objection 1. God works in all things without exception whatever is right, yet in each one according to its mode. Wherefore everyone should imitate God in that which is specially becoming to him. Hence, though God slays evildoers even corporally, it does not follow that all should imitate Him in this. As regards Peter, he did not put Ananias and Saphira to death by his own authority or with his own hand, but published their death sentence pronounced by God. The Priests or Levites of the Old Testament were the ministers of the Old Law, which appointed corporal penalties, so that it was fitting for them to slay with their own hands.
Reply to Objection 2. The ministry of clerics is concerned with better things than corporal slayings, namely with things pertaining to spiritual welfare, and so it is not fitting for them to meddle with minor matters.
Reply to Objection 3. Ecclesiastical prelates accept the office of earthly princes, not that they may inflict capital punishment themselves, but that this may be carried into effect by others in virtue of their authority.
Church Fathers: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."
ReplyDeleteFr. Eat Pray Shoot (aka Fr. Z): "Martyrs are wusses! Get your guns!"
I sort of prefer the Church Fathers. They're more....what's that tricky word again....traditional! =)
Fr. Eat Pray Shoot (aka Fr. Z)! LOL!
DeleteHe should use that as the title for his autobiography! =)
Delete