Now who didn't see this coming?

Catholic Culture : Latest Headlines : Dog receives communion at Anglican parish

Not all autocrats are enemies; not all democrats are friends.

Is Democracy Overrated? : Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture

Competitive Kindergartens? Can such things be?

10 Unbelievable Facts About Competitive Kindergartens : Online University Lowdown: Rankings, Reviews, of the Best Online Universities

What a crock

Shameless Popery: Ironic Beyond Belief

A very good article

“And with Your Spirit” Revisited Catholic Exchange

onetimothyfour: Anglicans need tough love not ecumenical fraternity

onetimothyfour: Anglicans need tough love not ecumenical fraternity

Creative Minority Report: Top 10 Ways To Know You're Likely To Hear Something Anti--Catholic

Creative Minority Report: Top 10 Ways To Know You're Likely To Hear Something Anti--Catholic

Of course he did

JIMMY AKIN.ORG: Did Obama Lie on Abortion and Healthcare?

Fr Hunwicke's Liturgical Notes: A blessed Springtime?

With what is going on in the CofE these days, the following is a good albeit brief read:

Fr Hunwicke's Liturgical Notes: A blessed Springtime?

Something I've been working on in this parish for several years

Liturgical Education

Campus Thought Police: Opposition to Homosexuality Doesn’t Exist | NewsReal Blog

Campus Thought Police: Opposition to Homosexuality Doesn’t Exist NewsReal Blog

Mommy Life: The truth about Marie Antoinette

A good article about a much-maligned saint:

Mommy Life: The truth about Marie Antoinette

Materialist Dogmatism

A good and timely article.

Materialist Dogmatism

This Beets Awl

A forgotten massacre

Check out this terrible story from my friend, Brantigny: http://lefleurdelystoo.blogspot.com/2010/06/oradour-sur-glane-10-june-1944.html

Largest ordination in Arkansas for decades

http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=arkcath

The Introductory Rites: No mere greeting :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

The Introductory Rites: No mere greeting :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

A beautiful Pentecost tradition at the Pantheon in Rome

The Roman fire fighters drop thousands of red rose petals throught the occulus of the church on Pentecost Sunday:

Dawkins Downfall ("Arrest The Pope" Edition)

And a version by Anton Bruckner

For your Passiontide meditation:

Worth watching

A homily for fathers on the feast of St. Joseph

On St. Joseph

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. I recommend the posting by Fr. Longnecker: http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2010/03/caitlin-orourke-on-st-joseph.html

What Does The Prayer Really Say?

What Does The Prayer Really Say?: "Oliver Rackham, The History of the Countryside (1986; rpt. London: Phoenix Press, 2000), p. 295:
Furze is an important and widely-used fuel; it produces a quick hot blaze suitable for heating ovens, getting up a fire in the morning, or burning heretics."

Thanks to Fr. Z.

Motherly advice

Le Fleur de Lys too: "Blanche's (of Castile, mother of St. Louis IX of France) primary concern for her son Louis IX was to implant in him a deep regard and awe for everything related to the Catholic faith. She used often to say to him as he was growing up, 'I love you my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should commit a mortal sin.'"

The Four Kinds of Love

From C.S. Lewis via Fr. Longenecker:

Standing on My Head:

"Affection is the natural love we have for our families. This is the love for our mother our father and the general love we have of our tribe, our nation, our people, our country.

Friendship is the love we have with another with whom we share an outside interest. It is the love of the soldier, the team mate and the member of a club.

Eros is romantic love. A part of eros is sexual attraction. This natural love still has an element of self interest. We love because we are loved, and we are attracted through the natural desire for sexual relations and to procreate.

Charity is the the highest love. It is the unconditional love of another for their own sake. It desires the good of the other person even at our expense. This is the love God has for us and the love we should have (through grace) for Him and for others."

O Man, Bewail Thy Grievous Sin---A Good Meditation for Ash Wednesday

Hitler vs. B16

Holy Dancing Deaconesses, Batman!

Easter Island comes to the retirement village---I can't wait to get this started here in Eldo.

The Pope is obviously type-cast

Ineffable and Unspeakable

Siege of Vienna 1683

Cantigas of St. Mary by King Alfonso X of Leon

Margaret Sanger, rot in hell!

Blessing of the Lambs

Why the choice of vestments can be VERY important

Although this video is in French, you can get the whole story at the URL above.

Well conceived words on Catholic Church music

This fellow thinks like me. Therefore he is correct:

A Fix for Catholic Music by Jeffrey Tucker

There is a sense in which everything is nobler when sung. It would never occur to us to light the candles on a birthday cake and parade into the room while reciting the words: happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear John, happy birthday to you.

John would probably suppose that this was some kind of cruel joke.

People often miss this point when thinking about the Mass. In contrast, the Fathers of Vatican II understood the ennobling power of music. They reasserted in the Council documents the Church’s view that music is critical to liturgy because it assists in making liturgy more beautiful and therefore more fitting for the praise of God.

 

Follow the URL for the complete article.

Dave Barry's end-of-the-year roundup

Dave Barry has always reminded me of a modern day Robert Benchley, who was a master of the non-sequitur. Dave's review of 2009 is worth the read.

Pelosi: w/o a clue

Elizabeth Lev: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seems to be planning a second career as a theologian. Unfortunately, she never gets one Catholic fact right.

We've been hearing a lot from pseudo-Catholic politicians lately. Here's another example. Elizabeth Lev takes Nancy to the woodshed. 'Bout time her bishop did the same thing.
Notice that Nancy claims:  But it's my faith. Would that Nancy would try to believe the Faith of the Church of which she is ostensibly a member. On the day of judgment "her" faith will be tested. I hope it will be strong enough for or rather than a faith of straw.

Riot in Dakar after Senegalese cardinal rebukes president

Islamic double-think again: The Cardinal of Dakar rebukes the (Mahoundian) President for insulting Christianity, and the mis-understanders of Islam riot. What can one expect?

This is why I have to constantly not miss any opportunity to insult Mahoundianism (Islam, to the p.c.). It must be insulted at every turn. No opportunity must be lost in showing that it is a totally man-made religion, and is only slightly more venerable than Mormonism (what a laugh!) because it's pathetic founder, Mahound, just lived earlier.

The whole world must insult it so that by a kind of aversion therapy the members of that "religion" understand that they can be insulted, their so-called prophet, and holy books can be insulted, and they can still get up in the morning and go to work. No one has to be killed. No property must be destroyed, or girls raped. You can live with it, I know you can! Jesus love you!

The end of 2009

Elena at Fountain of Elias has this from St. Theres of Liesieux:

As Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus said, "As this year has gone, so our life will go, and soon we shall say 'it is gone.' Let us not waste our time; soon eternity will shine for us."

Philosophy is still needed

There was a time at a chapter meeting one of the older monks suggested that we needed to get rid o philosophy in the preparation of monks. "The time for philosophy is over." was his comment. It was wrong then, and, yes, it's wrong now. Father Philip, OP, has some good thoughts here.

Solemn Vespers OF

Inspiring words for the spiritually serious

Islam is the enemy of humanity. It cannot be reformed or helped, only abolished.

Holy Name of Mary (Thanks to Elena at the Fountain of Elias)

On September 12, the fifth day within the octave of the Nativity of the Virgin, in 1683, the army of the Turkish Sultan, 300,000 strong, was miraculously defeated at the gates of Vienna after an attempt to sweep across Europe. The King of Poland, Jan Sobieski, had come to the aid of the Habsburg Emperor Leopold, and they attributed the victory to the fact that they had put the name of Mary on their banners, thus invoking the aid of the Mother of God. The triumph, won against overwhelming odds, saved Europe from becoming a Moslem colony, and September 12 became the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary.







"Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, as terrible as an army set in array?" Canticle of Canticles 6:9






"And the virgin's name was Mary...." St. Luke 1:27

Eucharistic Miracle in Buenos Aires

Recently

I had been on vacation for awhile, and returned last week. Most of what's going on in my parish is the usual, end of summer, kind of thing.
The death of Sen. Kennedy is in the news. Thank goodness they're not making the funeral public! If I were preaching it, it would be difficult to come up with a eulogy.
Today is the feast of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine. She had to deal with a straying son. Her prayers were answered when he converted. What joy that would have been to a mother's heart! What graces the Church received through his later ministry!

We've been doing this for centuries!

Why there is no such thing as "liturgical dancing" in the Roman Rite

Speechless in El Dorado

Here is a picture of the presiding she-bishop of the Episcopal Church vested for something. It is so horrifying that I am speechless. God help us all!

Catholic Culture : Library : The Notion of a Right to a 'Good Death' Undermines Society

"Dying is the most important step a person takes, for it is a step towards the ultimate fulfilment of our innate spiritual nature, our capacity to know God, to know the fullness of the mystery of all things. We have been created with this capacity and our best guide for living is to do nothing to dent, pervert or deaden it. The poet Lucretius said that 'life is given to no one as freehold, we all hold it on leasehold'. Accepting that life is a gift is a good start. Sadly these centuries-old truths about the nature of humanity are no longer common currency. But we can surely all of us recognise, whether we approach our lives with or without a transcendental faith, the serious ethical and social dangers to which the doctrine of unfettered personal autonomy is leading us.
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols is Archbishop of Westminster"

The art of dying

O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not Thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, Thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death to fall from Thee."

There is much talk today about end-of-life issues such has assisted suicide, hospice care, etc. One thing that I find more disturbing than the modern hot-button issues is the real lack of understanding about death from the spiritual perspective. The concept of a "happy death" such as our ancestors in the faith would have known and prepared for is almost nonexistent today.

It was just borne home to me this afternoon as I went to the bedside of a parishioner in the hospital. The local family (all non-practicing Catholics) never even told me he was in the hospital. (Actually, I found that he had been moved to ICU.) I had to hear about it from a brother who lives in another city. People are not prepared to die! They leave to the last minute those things for which a life-time of preparation is not long enough. Catholics mirror the rest of our society in being as clueless as everybody else. We are totally ignorant that at death, it is really a SPIRITUAL struggle that is taking place. Satan does not want us to die in a state of grace. That is why the Church fortifies us with the sacraments and prayer at the time of death. How often have I seen people dying to the noise of the television! Nothing like getting in another viewing of our favorit show!

In earlier times men took death seriously, not from a sentimental point of view, but in view of their souls:

"And therefore it is said in the seventh book of Ecclesiastes: MELIOR EST DIES MORTIS DIE NATIVITATIS. 'The day of man's death is better than the day of man's birth." And this is understood only of good men and the chosen people of God. For of evil men and reprovable, neither the day of their birth, neither the day of their death, may be called good. And therefore every good perfect Christian man, and also every other man though he be imperfect and late converted from sin, so he be verily contrite and believe in God, should not be sorry nor troubled, neither dread death of his body, in what manner wise or for what manner cause that he be put thereto; but gladly and wilfully, with reason of his mind that ruleth his sensuality, he should take his death and suffer it patiently, conforming and committing fully his will to God's will and to God's disposition alone, if he will go hence and die well and surely: witnessing the wise man that saith thus : BENE MORI, EST LIBENTER MORI. To die well is to die gladly and wilfully.

Therefore every sick man, and every other man that is in any peril, should be diligently induced and exhorted that he maketh himself, before all other things, peace with God; receiving spiritual medicines, that is to say the sacraments of Holy Church; ordaining and making his testament; and lawfully disposing for his household, and other needs, if he hath any to dispose for. And there should not be given first to no man too much hope of bodily heal. But the contrary thereof is now often times done of many men, into great peril of souls; and namely of them that actually and openly be drawing and in point hastily to die, for none of them will hear nothing of death.

The reason for this lack of concern for the "last things" is that people have simply put away the idea of sin. That the things we do can have eternal consequences is forgotten, or completely rejected, EVEN BY CATHOLICS! Every funeral that I do is a canonization. This has contributed to the lack of concern for having Masses offered for the repose of the souls of our beloved dead. We don't pray for the dead because we have lost the idea that there's any point to it!

Of course, the Prods will find this development quite gratifying. I mean, after all, they founded themselves on the idea that it was impossible to assist the souls of the faithful departed after death. But who cares what they think? Their "religion" is false anyway. What is really lamentable is that Catholics have bought into this completely. Get your purgatory done now, folks, you don't want to do it later, I can assure you!

Feast of Our Lady of Einsiedeln

The Roman Church celebrates today the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. However, we Swiss Benedictines, descended from the abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, celebrate today as the feast of Our Lady of Einsiedeln. I have posted materials from other sites that speak of the Abbey of Einsiedeln, St. Meinrad the Martyr, and related things.

At St. Meinrad Archabbey, in Indiana, the abbey church is dedicated to Our Lady of Einsiedeln. At my own monastery, the choir of the abbey church is so dedicated. My prayer is for all of our monks, living and deceased, who looked to the All-holy Mother of God for protection and consolation. May Christ in his mercy answer their prayers, and prosper the work of the Order of St. Benedict until he come again!

Einsiedeln - The Sanctuary and the Black Madonna

Einsiedeln - The Sanctuary and the Black Madonna

Wappen von / Blason de EINSIEDELN

Wappen von / Blason de EINSIEDELN

SMR-99 Einsiedeln

SMR-99 Einsiedeln

Einsiedeln, Switzerland: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Einsiedeln, Switzerland: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Kloster-Einsiedeln, Willkommen

Kloster-Einsiedeln, Willkommen

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Abbey of Einsiedeln

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Abbey of Einsiedeln

einsiedeln.page

einsiedeln.page

THE WORLD AROUND US The Holy Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln in Switzerland

THE WORLD AROUND US The Holy Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln in Switzerland

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Feast of Our Lady of Einsiedeln

Black Madonnas: Our Lady of Einsiedeln
Michael P. Duricy
The story of Our Lady of the Hermitage in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, begins in the days of Blessed Meinrad (d. 861). In 853, while living in seclusion near a small lake, the holy man:
had a small chapel built near his cell and therein placed a statue of the Blessed Virgin with the Infant resting on her arm. This statue had been given to him by the Abbess Hildegard, Superior of a convent in Zurich.
In 948, after a church had been built on the site of Meinrad's little cell and chapel, just before the ecclesial dedication ceremony for the building, Our Lord miraculously appeared and was seen to perform the Mass of Consecration. When Bishop Conrad of Constance arrived for the service an unknown voice was heard to say: "Stop brother, the church has been consecrated by God." Charles Broschart notes a resemblance between these miraculous events and those surrounding the church of Our Lady of Puy, France in the fifth century.
As if these events were not miraculous enough, note that the church and monastery have been damaged by fire several times over the course of centuries, but the statue has been unharmed. In fact:
in each of the five fires which reduced the church to ashes, only the holy chapel containing the miraculous image escaped injury.
In addition to these miraculous origins:
Throughout the centuries, miracles of every nature have been performed through the intercession of Our Lady of Einsiedeln; but the shrine claims as the most striking those graces which have invigorated faith and devotion.
It is no miracle then, that Einsiedeln is today, and has been for centuries, the home of one of the most famous Catholic shrines of the Blessed Virgin. However, in contrast to the shrine of Our Lady at Czestochowa, its popularity is limited mainly to Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
In Broschart's opinion, the present statue [at left] is not Meinrad's original. He writes:
It is thought that the present statue, known as the Black Madonna, was carved in 1466, after the third major fire, probably in Northern Switzerland or Southern Germany. It is a little under four feet in height.

Why Is She Black?
To the question: 'Why is the image black?', Broschart opines: "over the years the faces of the Virgin and Child have been darkened by the smoke and fumes of votive candles." Though this explanation is overused, in this case it seems correct. Ean Begg notes that the image was cleaned during its flight from iconoclasts inspired by the French revolution. It was intentionally darkened before public display was resumed, perhaps catering to nostalgic sentiment.
The image was returned to its shrine in 1803 and remains there to this day, still attracting pilgrims. Among these were a number of "royal and other illustrious personages," including three canonized Saints, Charles Borromeo, Benedict Joseph Labre; and, of course, the Patron Saint of Switzerland, Nicholas of Flue [also called 'Brother Klaus'].
For further information on Our Lady of Einsiedeln, refer to The Cult of the Black Virgin (1985) by Ean Begg; Miraculous Images of Our Lady (1993) by Joan Carroll Cruz; and Call Her Blessed (1961) by Charles B. Broschart.

Father Shelton: ROMAN CANON: Quam oblationem tu

"The Church tolerates hymns when necessary, but hymns at the processional parts of Mass begin in history with a merely human author, and so lack the liturgical dance with time that is liturgical sacrifice. (I should also add that the Church is a pilgrim in procession to our future, and never processes back in time. So there is no procession at the end of Mass, and, therefore, no chant at the end of Mass. We can sing a song at the end of Mass, or recite a devotional prayer, but these are not liturgical; they are not part of the Mass.)
When we understand that the Holy Mass comes to us from our future, we begin to understand that there are no separate Masses: Thursday Mass, Sunday Mass, Requiem Mass, etc. Neither is the Mass weighted in the past, as is the Passover observance of the Jews, in which they truly step back into the past event of their salvation from slavery to man. Ours is a salvation from ourselves, and so finds its final effect only in the future, when we leave the world of time as we know it, passing through death and purgation, perhaps, into the Promised Land.
When we realize that this is all a little beyond our comprehension, and certainly beyond our usual experience of reality, we begin the procession into the mystery of the Mass, and start to participate fully, consciously, and actively in the mystery. And we can understand that the priest can pray, in thanksgiving for a prayer that’s already been answered, that the Father bless, acknowledge, and approve our offering bread and wine in every respect, only because the Father already accepts the Lamb in our future."

Gates of Vienna: Taking Death Lightly

Gates of Vienna: Taking Death Lightly:

"Why are the people starving?
Because the rulers eat up the money in taxes.
Therefore the people are starving.
Why are the people rebellious?
Because the rulers interfere too much.
Therefore they are rebellious.

Why do the people think so little of death?
Because the rulers demand too much of life.
Therefore the people take death lightly.

Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much."

From a talk by Abp. Chaput of Denver

"Visual and electronic media, today’s dominant media, need a certain kind of content. They thrive on brevity, speed, change, urgency, variety and feelings. But thinking requires the opposite. Thinking takes time. It needs silence and the methodical skills of logic. Today’s advances in technology have increased the sources of human information that the average layperson can access. That’s a good thing. But they’ve also undermined the intellectual discipline that we once had when our main tools of communication were books or print publications. This is not a good development. In fact, it’s a very dangerous thing in a democracy, which is a form of government that demands intellectual and moral maturity from its citizens to survive."

Fornicating with heretics

You wake up one day and realize that the devil has stolen a march on you. Another sheep has been off in the woods fornicating with the wolves. You can always tell. They don't show up for Mass for awhile. They still receive the bulletin and other notices from the church. They are still members of various organizations. They seem to be Catholics who have taken some time off.

What has in fact happened is that they've made friends with some nice heretics. The Catholic begins socializing with them. What nice people they are! Inevitably religious questions arise. The questions are always polite, and are couched in such a way that they seem innocent enough. I mean, people just want to know about what Catholics believe, don't they?

Then the next move is to inform the Catholic what the Bible "says." Of course, the heretics don't know what the Bible says. If they did, they'd be Catholics and this kind of thing wouldn't be happening. All they can do is read the English text and say that it means whatever they want it to mean---especially if it superficially seems to contradict Catholic teaching. They do this with great assurance, though, and that's not something most Catholic's have about the teachings of their faith.

I had sent out an emailing to the parish that contained an article that I was sending on from another site. The wayward sheep in question (hasn't been to church in months) comes back with a comment about how interesting the article was, but how does it square with what the Bible says in a certain book, chapter, and verse? That the corruption is well under way is as plain as a pikestaff! Catholic laypersons don't talk like that. The sheep has been talking to somebody else. They've got to him. "Who told you you were naked?" God yells in Genesis. "This naked business didn't come from me." It's the same way I feel. The ones that really fall for this, though, are the more intelligent ones, college dudes. I've seen it so often, and it never fails to surprise me. I guess that there's nothing like worldly wisdom, a friendly Prod, some ice tea, and itching ears to get the sheep into the woods with the wolves. And we gave up the Inquisition? Why?

I encourage you to check this out

Typical of our contemporary infatuation with multiculturalism and diversity, there is a place around the Holocaust table for everyone but Catholics. We've known this for a long time, of course, but new and continued manifestations are always coming to light.

While we are expected to compromise our Holy Faith for the sake of not hurting the Jews' feelings (see recent flap over Good Friday prayers in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy), nothing is proposed to commemorate the millions of Catholics who died under the socialists in the 20th century. You'll never find any supporters in the halls of congress or the White House for something like that!

Check out Brantigny's report on the URL above.

CMAA colloquium

Jihad Watch: Fear of massacre grips Christian village in Egypt

Here's more from the "religion of peace:"

Jihad Watch: Fear of massacre grips Christian village in Egypt

Check out the latest from Eva on Corpus Xsti

http://evaulian-thebestoftheworst.blogspot.com/2008/06/98-corpus-christi-you-wont-see-this-in.html

Summer time and St. John the Baptist

Summer arrived officially in these parts at 1:45 a.m. last Sunday, today, 24 June, is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. So we know that the hot weather is here and the tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers are staring to come in from my garden. I will eat a bacon and tomato sandwich tonight in honor of the Baptist's birthday.

Had I been better prepared, I would have scheduled a bonfire for last evening as is the custom on that day. Besides the blessing of the fire, the burning of retired sacramentals, and the singing of Ut queant laxis, a decade of the rosary is to be recited while processing around the fire deiseil (sun wise or clockwise), then there's supposed to be a party. Young men should prove their manhood by jumping over the fire (source of "Jack, be nimble?") and torches should be carried through the fields to encourage the crops. Obviously, there's a lot of pre-Christian stuff here, but that's OK, too, isn't it? God was still God before the Advent of Christ. I think that's correct.

There are sounds of construction that I hear every day, as a new clinic and pharmacy go up visible from my window. Too bad there are no similar sounds here. Construction sounds are as sweet as music to me.

St. John sent us a pleasing shower last evening around supper time. Unusual for this time of year, but quite well-received.

Of the Baptist, St. Augustine saith:

John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, The Law and the prophets were until John. So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother’s womb. You will remember that, before he was born, at Mary’s arrival he leapt in his mother’s womb. Already he had been marked out there, designated before he was born; it was already shown whose forerunner he would be, even before he saw him. These are divine matters, and exceed the measure of human frailty. Finally, he is born, he receives a name, and his father’s tongue is loosed.
Zachary is struck dumb and loses his voice, until John, the Lord’s forerunner, is born and releases his voice for him. What does Zachary’s silence mean, but that prophecy was obscure and, before the proclamation of Christ, somehow concealed and shut up? It is released and opened up by his arrival, it becomes clear when the one who was being prophesied is about to come. The releasing of Zachary’s voice at the birth of John has the same significance as the tearing of the veil of the Temple at the crucifixion of Christ. If John were meant to proclaim himself, he would not be opening Zachary’s mouth. The tongue is released because a voice is being born – for when John was already heralding the Lord, he was asked, Who are you and he replied I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.

John is the voice, but the Lord in the beginning was the Word. John is a voice for a time, but Christ is the eternal Word from the beginning.

Oh, for the charism of projectile vomiting at will!

http://ncronline.org/blogs/young-voices/don%E2%80%99t-tell-pope

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Check out this entry on the Sacred Heart: http://lefleurdelystoo.blogspot.com/2009/06/sacred-heart-badge.html

A Moving Video

I chanced on this video from my friend Brantigny, at the blog: Le Fleur de Lys too

I found it both deeply and curiously moving. Curiously, because I've never really been a fan of parading in the streets with the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps it's a holdover from my revolutionary and much lamented 1960's and '70's. Anyway, just watching it has completely changed my attitude in the few minutes it took to view it.

Maybe a Corpus Xsti procession is in the offing in Eldo one of these years!

The New Missal - Historic Moment in Liturgical Renewal

I encourage you to read this presentation on the new translation of the Missal.

http://www.adoremus.org/0609Serratelli.html

Liturgical musings

What would the result be if we melded "Father Feel-good" With "Father Rubric?" Actually, the result would be me. Why must it be that the liturgy has to be either a warm-fuzzy love fest, or a cold, by-the-book, vapid ritual?

Actually, they do not have to be that way.

The problem is that in the last forty years, due to ineffective introduction of the Missal of Pope Paul VI, the liturgy has become a free-for-all in the hands of priests, experts, and musicians. Bishops are not really concerned about it. (The recent donnybrook over the new missal translations are an exception, and due to other causes.) This attitude has either filtered down to the faithful, or actually been inculcated. Now, there exists a divide between the idea of a structured, liturgical cultus that is universal, and an attitude of Oprah-ism that results in the phenomenon of judging the liturgy on its ability to move us emotionally. If we are not moved, there is something wrong with the liturgy.

Well, there is something wrong with the liturgy when that condition prevails. The liturgy is not feeling, nor is feeling, per se, worship.

As I speak with protestant ministers, I see that their assemblies are rife with this as well. Simply turn on any local Sunday service, and see the role that the musicians have taken over. What used to be one or two standard evangelical hymns sung by the congregation has now been replaced with soloists, instrumental groups or recordings of the same, choral bodily movements and other elements that are taken from popular entertainment. (Remember that in the '60's it was said by many Catholics that congregational singing was "Protestant?" They've mostly dropped it, at least as it was done then.) Sadly, Hollywood is able to do such a better job. Some of this is to appeal to the young. Make 'em feel good about coming to church. When the camera pans the audience/congregation, see how few are really singing. Many in the choir are only lip-syncing. Even Catholics don't bother to do that!

Positive affect is a good thing. We want everyone to have positive affect about worship. But at the same time, positive affect has to be ex opera operato, "by the working of the work" as we say in Latin. For example: to have positive affect toward cabinetry really comes for the joiner when he/she does a good job on making a desk or some other object. The artist can examine the work critically and judge its worthiness. If it is a job well done, then the artist takes joy in it, and loves the art even more. Others who admire it, do so because it represents both good art and honest workmanship. While the artist has a positive affect for the tools of the trade, the actual raw-materials are usually not gushed over, but simply appreciated for their intrinsic truth and goodness.

There is no need to gush over the elements of the liturgy, either. Its noble structure, language, and ritual are already there in its individual elements. Their truth and goodness are evident to anyone who examines them. When the Word and the ritual come together on a Sunday morning, then they are resurrected to the glory of God. The real beauty of the liturgy lies not in the rubrics or the musical notation. It exists only when the liturgy is being done. In this way, liturgy is like music, which only exists when it is being done, not when it is simply ink on paper.

Liturgical affect, IMO, is the restrained joy of the rubrical workmanship and the spiritual preparation of the worshippers, all brought together in the liturgy (Gk.: "work of the people") by the actual doing thereof.

John Chrysostom on the Holy Eucharist

Thoughts from the Early Church The Center for Liturgy Sunday Web Site

Time after Pentecost

Last Sunday was Pentecost, the end of the Easter season in the Church. I was unable to celebrate it with my people since I was at my monastery of Subiaco for the annual alumni reunion, and, now, for our annual monastic retreat. The reunion was a great time, and I was happy to see so many of my former students.

Our retreat master this year is Abbot Gregory Polan, of Immaculate Conception Abbey in Missouri. Obsculta O fili, precepta magistri is how the Rule of St Benedict begins: "Listen, O son, to the precepts of your master, and incline the ear of your heart." It's important for all of us monks to listen, to let the word of Christ pierce to our hearts. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, as Hebrews reminds us. Sometimes it's good to be able to let that sword do its work: open us up, strike our hearts, and make us open to the will of God.

It is good to see the members of our monastic community again. There are fewer now than there were the last time I was here. One of our monks, Br. Vincent, has cancer, which has gone into his liver. He needs our prayers as he goes into this process of chemotherapy. He may very well find that he is on his way to his Master. May his heart be open!

As the days of this retreat continue, I will be blogging more, and hopefully I will have more to say and more time to say it.

This should curl your hair. With thanks to Baron Bodissey

God is my King

Ave verum corpus

I remember my choir singing this in 1984 for an ordination at Subiaco. Wish I could hear them again.

I think this says it all.

Who painted it?

Hillary! visited the basilica of Our Lady of Guadelupe when she was lately in Mexico. They lowered the tilma so that she could see it and she brought a bouquet of white flowers to honor it. She turned to the priest who was on the staff of the basilica and asked "Who painted it?" And this from supposedly the world's smartest woman!

Where have I been?

To say that I've had nothing to do since the last posting would be wrong. Plenty of things have been going on in the life of our parish and in mine. We resurrected the St. Joseph's Table for March 19th in the parish hall. From a small beginning, I expect that it will grow if we just keep doing it for several years. The "Tuesdays in Lent" series will come to an end tomorrow night when we show the pictures and commentary on them from the EOHSJ pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome. The picture shows me in a "Titanic" pose at the prow of the boat on the Sea of Gallilee.

A number of "seekers" have appeared here at Holy Redeemer. They are on a journey of faith, and are interested in joining the Catholic one. It is gratifying to see.

Wednesday is the anniversary of my ordination, April 1, 1978. It seems only like yesterday, but I can assure you that there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then.

Abbot Jerome came to visit me Friday, March 27. He assisted at our communal penance service with two other priests from the deanery, and me. On Saturday he preached at our annual Lenten Quiet Day. This is something the we've done for many years now with St. Mary's Episcopal Church here in El Dorado. When it is at St. Mary's, as it was this year, Holy Redeemer supplies the speaker. When it is done at Holy Redeemer, St. Mary's provides the speaker. We average about thirty attendees annually. Abbot Jerome's topic was the "communion if saints" with quotations from the Letter to Hebrews. It was great, as all his presentations are.

The statues have been veiled for Passiontide. Several stalwarts of the St. Agnes Guild were on hand Saturday to do the veiling. They look creepy now, the statues, that is.

I hope that our Palm Sunday celebrations will have the beautiful weather that we are having now. I am intending to plant my garden tomorrow. It was tilled by a parishioner last week, but the rain made it impossible to do any work in it.

All in all, March has been a busy month, and with all going on I haven't blogged much. I will get back in the swing of things pretty soon.

Sts. Perpetua and Felicty

Today is the feast of the holy blissful martyrs Perpetua and Felicty and their companions in North Africa. They have been favorite saints of mine since childhood. So sad that the place where they gave their blood for Christ was overrun by the arian Vandals. Then, after the Vandals were converted, they were then in turn conquered by the impious Mohammedan pagans. There were over four hundred Latin Rite dioceses in North Africa before the conquest. Now all of them are titular dioceses in the Roman Church in partibus infidelium.

Felicity was Perpetua's slave, but she was also her companion both in life and death. We rightly reject any form of human slavery, but for them, it was unquestionably normal. As the icon shows, however, they are also united on a more personal level than that of mistress to slave. The icon also shows them as true Africans. Something that those of us white folks so often forget when we think of the saints from anywhere.

Collect: Father, your love gave the saints Perpetua and Felicity courage to suffer a cruel martyrdom. By their prayers, help us to grow in love of you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Three cheers for Bp. Martino of Scranton PA!

Bishop Issues Reflection on Teaching of Diversity and Tolerance

http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/news/BishopIssuesReflectionOnDiversityMarch3,2009.asp

Bishop Joseph F. Martino has issued a reflection on how the teaching of diversity and tolerance relates to the teaching of the Catholic Church. The reflection follows:

A substantial amount of media coverage and public commentary ensued after I asked Misericordia University to seriously consider discontinuing its Diversity Institute. Students and others in the community related how this Institute has furthered the advancement of tolerance, understanding and harmony between people of different races and cultures.
These are all worthy goals. All people of good will should work toward these ends.
Misericordia University, as a Catholic institution, has a responsibility for helping the community achieve these goals. However, precisely because it is a Catholic institution, it also has a responsibility to transmit Catholic teaching to its students in ways that are not ambiguous or confusing.
As I said in my previous statement, students should learn respect for all races and cultures, but viewpoints that are in direct opposition to Catholic teaching should not be presented under the guise of “diversity.” Doing so within a formal structure sanctioned by the institution gives the impression that these viewpoints are acceptable, or that all morality is relative.
As Catholics, we must distinguish between authentic tolerance and an “anything goes” mindset. For example, would the Diversity Institute be justified in hosting a speaker who believes the Holocaust is a myth? Or one who believes slavery is okay because certain people are inferior? Or one who believes women can be exploited because they are the “weaker sex”? There are people out there who actually believe this nonsense, and they would be perfectly willing to come to the campus to tell you why.
Their views are certainly “diverse,” but does that qualify them to be given a platform in the name of tolerance? Or should they be allowed to make a presentation without any retort from the Catholic perspective?
As Catholics, we believe there is an objective, moral Truth – given to us by Jesus Christ. This Truth is timeless, and it cannot be altered by the shifting tides of popular culture. If our faith and our actions are not rooted in this Truth, we risk contributing to the “dictatorship of relativism” cited by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in a homily given just prior to his election as Pope Benedict XVI. He said:
“To have a clear faith, according to the creed of the Church, is often labeled as fundamentalism. While relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried about with every wind of ‘doctrine,’ seems to be the attitude that is fashionable. A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the ‘I’ and its whims as the ultimate measure.”
As the Bishop, it is not only my right, but my obligation to ensure that authentic Catholic teaching is being provided in all Catholic institutions in this Diocese, and that viewpoints in opposition to this teaching are not being presented as acceptable alternatives.
I voiced my “absolute disapproval” of Misericordia’s hosting of Keith Boykin not because of his sexual orientation, but because he is a well known proponent of morality that is disturbingly opposed to Catholic teaching, such as homosexual relations and same sex marriage. Furthermore, no presentation was made to balance Mr. Boykin’s viewpoints with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
That is why I asked Misericordia, which asserted that it “is committed deeply to its Catholic mission,” to convey how it teaches Catholic morality regarding sexuality and homosexuality, and to produce concrete evidence. It is regrettable that the University chose to respond with a brief statement without any such evidence.
Nevertheless, I continue to urge Misericordia University to fulfill the four essential characteristics of a Catholic institution of higher learning. As I pointed out in briefer form in my initial statement on this matter, these are:

1. A Christian inspiration not only of individuals but of the university community as such;
2. A continuing reflection in the light of the Catholic faith upon the growing treasury of human knowledge, to which it seeks to contribute by its own research;
3. Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church;
4. An institutional commitment to the service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life.
(Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities)

I also offer this postscript to those who criticize me for taking public stances that may not be popular or “politically correct,” or may not agree with their own personal notions of what “progressive” Catholic doctrine should be. My job as a Bishop is to promulgate the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church to all the faithful. I will continue to do so.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Today I signed a check for a little less than $160,000.00. There is something frightening about signing my name and have a multi-thousand dollar transaction happen. It was not from my personal wealth (of which there is not any), but from my parish and the diocese of Little Rock. The check is for the purchase of two adjacent properties properties on the end of our block on West Main Street. We now own the entire block that fronts on Main, the south side of the block. This is a big investment for us, since we do not have any extra money to throw around, and we are looking at such a tottering economy. It is, however, a step toward the future of possibilities for this parish. Some will say that I can be pretty spendthrift with other people's money, and that is something that a pastor has to be always aware of and avoid, since the property and wealth of a church are not his own. (The motto on my coat of arms Duc in altum-Cast out into the deep, means that I should be bold. It does not mean that I should push others out into the deep.) At the same time, a pastor has to have a vision for the future of a church, even if the members thereof do not. Pastors come and go, and the changes and plans of one are quickly dismantled and overthrown by the next. They are not making more land, though, and it is good to have a lot of it if you ever (as an institution) want to grow. May this transaction be according to God's will for us. If it be, we will have nothing to fear, and if it be not, then it will simply be another example, among the countless, of human folly. Let us pray that it be the former rather than the latter.

O Holy Spirit of God, take me as your disciple; guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil; cover my eyes that they may see it no more; sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me. Be my God; be my guide. Wherever you lead me, I will go: whatever you forbid me, I will renounce; and whatever you command me, in your strength, I will do. Lead me, then, unto the fullness of your truth. Amen.

The whole Lenten story

Anyone with questions about Lent, should check out Jimmy Akin's blog here:

http://www.jimmyakin.org/2009/02/welcome-to-lent.html

Mardi gras and Lent

We are on the cusp of Lent today. Much ado in the sacristies, changing of altar cloths, getting vestments ready, changing out candles and books, and all the other things that have to be done to prepare for tomorrow. I hope that we have some more non-Catholics at the services tomorrow, although we neglected to put the schedule in the paper.

I will have plenty to do: Morning Prayer, blessing and distribution of ashes, and holy communion at 7 o'clock. Mass at noon, and again at six. Then another Mass in Spanish, although I will be trinating, and we're not supposed to say more than one Mass a day, and another if it is something special, e.g., a funeral. If I don't do one in Spanish, then they will not come to the others. The Anglos don't care for bi-lingual liturgies. (We should have kept things in Latin, and then we wouldn't have to deal with all this!)

I get excited about Lent. It is a far more loin-girding time than the new year of resolution attempts. Spring is in the air (Lent is from an Old English word for spring) and the daffodils and other bulbs are blooming all over. It is a time for pruning. So much of our liturgy is based on the cycles of the seasons. How right it is that Passover and Easter are in the spring! Life is going to come out of the death of winter, but even winter was a time of rest and preparation.

Some people hate Lent. They think that it's a total downer. They don't like the music, they don't like the readings or the homilies. They don't like the self-denial. But if there's anything that we need to do as Catholics it is penance. How do we get away without having a penitential spirit. St. Benedict says that the monk's like should always have the character of Lent. This is in line with his understanding of on-going conversion (conversatio morum).

We are having our Tuesdays in Lent again this year. I will do basic apologetics for the first four times. We live in the bible belt, and are surrounded by a sea of fundamentalism. Catholics need to learn how to answer the questions that are inevitably raised, but to answer with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:16).

Besides the lectures, we will have supper provided by the various groups in the church. It will be meatless and mostly soups. Maybe more people will come to Mass on Tuesdays at 5:30. They can then come to supper and the talk. On the last Tuesday of March (5th Tuesday) we will have a presentation of slides from our EOHSJ pilgrimage last November. Everyone has wanted to see them, and Phil Pesek has prepared quite a show.

Who therefore among you who is even more tempted after baptism should not be troubled. It is for this you have received arms: not to stand at ease, but to fight. God will not then ward you off from temptation; and this He does for many reason. First, that you may so learn that you are now stronger. Then, lest you be exalted by the greatness of His gifts. Thirdly, that the devil may receive proof you have wholly renounced him. Fourthly, that by this trial you may become yet stronger. Fifthly, that you may receive an indication of the treasure you have received: for the devil would not so pursue you, to tempt you, did he not see that you had now come to a higher dignity. (Chrysostom, Hom. 13 in Matt.)

Girl Cute

A comment on one of my postings was made by one "Girl Cute." "She" became a follower of the blog. At first I thought (because of her picture in the followers section) it was just some sleaze bag Jezebel going fishing. Now I have checked it out and my first assumption was correct, however, besides being a tawdry Jezebel, she also sells health insurance as her/its primary function. She/it will no longer appear on this blog.

Lent is coming!

Here we are, at the threshold of Lent. One more Sunday in Ordinary Time, and then Shrove Tuesday. What is our plan? How shall we make this Lent? To me, after some reflection, and not a great deal of original thought, the whole process is about holiness. We tend to think of Lent as a time of self-denial, of things that we are going to do or not do. Unless we see our Lenten practice in the light of growing in holiness, then there is no point to it. Our ministers' discussion group is taking up the reading of Newman's 1st parochial and plain sermon: Holiness without which no one shall see the Lord. It is well worth the reading by anyone who seeks an understanding of why we must be holy, and that holiness is a transformation into Christ by conforming ourselves more and more to the divine model.

The traditional works of Lent, prayer, fasting, and alms-giving, give us the means to reflect on our situation, to grow in charity, and to temper our desires and felt needs to a simpler reality. Lent becomes for us a communal catechumenate: we become as neophytes preparing for the great Pasch of our salvation. John the Baptist is heard again: Repent!

The Jews of John's day had ritual baths (baptisms) that were to be used for the rites of taking a gentile into the people of Israel. For John to preach baptism to those who were already Jews was to tell them that they must all become new to everything about God and themselves. They were to start over.

Lent is our start-over, our renewal time. Make wise use of it.

Collect: Graciously hear our prayers, Lord, we entreat you; free us from the chains of sin and defend us against all adversity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For all us Star Wars fans

Deanery Meeting

Yesterday, Thursday, the priests of the deanery met with the bishop at St. Edward's in Texarkana. We have the largest geographical deanery of the, newly designated, deaneries in the diocese. From being the Southwest Deanery, we are now the Ouachita Deanery, encompassing more counties (16) than we did before. In this deanery there are thirteen parishes and six priests. I realized at the meeting the other day that I'm the oldest. This is kind of funny when you realize that I'm the youngest priest of Subiaco Abbey. Go figure. Of these thirteen parishes, I am the only pastor who does not have a mission parish. What that portends for the future is not known to me.

The pastors were given the role of facilitating parish planning in their various cures. This information will, in turn, be used to prepare a deanery 5-year plan. The combination of the various deanery plans will then be the springboard for the diocesan plan.

Unlike previous "plans" that we have experienced, this one is from the ground up. Our history shows that we've usually received plans from on high and were then expected to implement them---usually with un-funded mandates attached. This process is quite different than what we've experienced before, and I believe that it has a much greater chance of success than previous ones.

A tip of the capuche to Bishop Taylor and his curia for approaching the future in this novel way.

St. Blaise, bishop and martyr

Today is the feast of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. He is known as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He was bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and was martyred for the faith. He is the patron for those with diseases of the throat, and on this day a special "St. Blaise Blessing" is administered in many churches, including mine. According to tradition he saved the life of a boy who was choking on a fish bone. The use of the crossed candles in the administration of the blessing is a symbol of that incident.

Blessing: Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may you be preserved from every illness of the throat, and every other disease, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

New Patriarch of Moskow enthroned in 3-hour service

Genealogy

Genealogy research took up a bit of time this afternoon. I'm seeking to prove my descent from Capt. Louis Stagg of Louisiana. This will allow me to join the Military Order of the Stars and Bars for descendants of Confederate officers. With that in the hopper, I'm also working to prove my collateral descent from Capt. Charles O. Savoie of Illinois. That will allow me to apply for membership in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, for descendants of Union officers. I went down to Barton Library and spent an hour in the genealogy room. Lots of interesting stuff there, but nothing jumped out at me as being immediately helpful.

Through the line of Louis Stagg, I can trace back to General John Stagg who served in the Revolutionary War. Then I can apply for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. Who knows where it will end. I might find that I'm also a descendant of Adam. How curious.

Daily life in the parish

I just did a funeral this afternoon. It's quite chilly here, down in the 30's, which is cold for south Arkansas. The funeral was nice and well attended. It sleeted here all night, but it wasn't cold enough for it to stick, so while most of north Arkansas is suffering from ice damage and no electricity, we're doing OK. We have PRE this evening, and I wonder how many kids will be missing. The program starts off with a great deal of participation, but it starts dropping off during Advent, and then doesn't seem to pick back up very much during the rest of the year. Yes, Virginia, it does take commitment---just like anything else.

The Three Holy Abbots of Citeaux

Today we celebrate from the monastic calendar, the three founding abbots of Citeaux, the founders of the Cistercian branch of the Benedictine family. They were St. Robert, abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Molesme, St. Alberic, and St. Stephen Harding.

The holy abbots Robert of Molesme, Alberic and Stephen Harding gave the Benedictine tradition a particular form when in 1098 they built the New Monastery of Citeaux and founded the Cistercian Order. About 1125, Saint Stephen established the nuns' monastery of "Tart" as Citeaux's own daughter-house, and entrusted it to the pastoral care of the abbot of this
monastery. Under the influence of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and others the ideal of their reform spread and monasteries of monks and nuns following the Cistercian way of life multiplied even beyond western Europe. From the very beginning, the Order received lay brothers and lay sisters. A substantial spiritual heritage was engendered through the lives and labours of innumerable brothers and sisters that found expression in writing, chant, architecture and
crafts, and in the skillful management of their lands.

The order was created by a breakaway group of 21 Cluniac monks, who in 1098 left the abbey of Molesme in Burgundy along with their Abbot. Their motivation was to live in strict observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict - the Cluniacs were an offshoot of the Benedictines.
In 1098 the group acquired a plot of marsh land south of Dijon called Cîteaux. In Latin the name
is "Cistercium" from which we have the name Cistercian. The remaining monks in Molesme petitioned the Pope (Urban II) for the return of their abbot. Robert was instructed to return to his position in Molesme, where he spent the rest of his life. Some of the monks remined.
They elected a new abbot, Alberic. He discontinued the use of Benedictine black garments and clothed his monks in white dyed wool, who thus became known as the White Monks.

So from this "Black Monk" go greetings and prayers for our brothers and sisters of the "White Monks."