AtonementOnline: Congratulations, Dr. Feulner!

10 May 2015

Congratulations, Dr. Feulner!

Professor Hans-Jürgen Feulner, professor of liturgics at the University of Austria, and a very good friend of our parish, has been awarded a papal knighthood. He was awarded the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great for his work on the Anglicanae Traditiones Commission, which recently completed the revision of the Book of Divine Worship. This liturgy, now called simply Divine Worship, is to be used by the Ordinariates, and also the parishes of the Pastoral Provision. We are so pleased that the Holy Father has given Professor Feulner this honor, and we shout out our heartiest congratulations!

"With all my heart, I bless you and your people..."

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."