Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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 Most Rev Vincent Nichols is Archbishop of Westminster"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The art of dying
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.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."
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!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
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!
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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."
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."
"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."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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?
Thursday, July 02, 2009
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.
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