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."

From Catholic News Services

Roe v. Wade the 'Dredd Scott' of our age, commentator argues
Washington DC, January 22 (CNA).-In an article for the National Review, M. Edward Whelan III, President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, made the argument today that the pro-abortion rights U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade is the "Dredd Scott" decision of our age. Both cases, he wrote, invoke "substantive due process" to deny American citizens the authority to "protect the basic rights of an entire class of human beings."
The 1857 Dredd Scott v. Sandford decision ruled that a prohibition on slavery could not apply to slave owners who brought their slaves into free territory. This ruling helped precipitate the U.S. Civil War.
The 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, Whelan explained, imposed permissive abortion laws nationwide. January 22, 2009 marked the 36th anniversary of the ruling.
He noted that the Dredd Scott decision ruled that a prohibition on slavery "could hardly be dignified with the name of due process."

"Thus were discarded the efforts of the people, through their representatives, to resolve politically and peacefully the greatest moral issue of their age," Whelan wrote.
"Roe is the Dredd Scott of our age. Like few other Supreme Court cases in our nation's history, Roe is not merely patently wrong but also fundamentally hostile to core precepts of American government and citizenship," he argued.
"Roe is a lawless power grab by the Supreme Court, an unconstitutional act of aggression by the Court against the political branches and the American people. Roe prevents all Americans from working together, through an ongoing process of peaceful and vigorous persuasion, to establish and revise the policies on abortion governing our respective states."
The Roe v. Wade decision, he charged, imposes on all Americans "a radical regime of unrestricted abortion for any reason all the way up to viability."
"Sloppy language" in the predominant reading of Roe v. Wade's companion case, Doe v. Bolton, leaves abortion "essentially unrestricted even in the period from viability until birth."
Whelan argued that Roe v. Wade fuels "endless litigation" as "pro-abortion extremists" challenge minor abortion-related measures enacted by state legislatures despite such laws being "overwhelmingly" favored by the public. He said these contested measures include those requiring informed consent, parental involvement in the case of a minor who seeks an abortion, and partial-birth abortion bans.
He further argued that Roe v. Wade "disenfranchises" those millions of Americans who believe the "unalienable right to life" warrants "significant governmental protection of the lives of unborn human beings."
"So long as Americans remain Americans—so long, that is, as they remain faithful to the foundational principles of this country—I believe that the American body politic will never accept Roe."
A 2007 study sponsored by the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Judicial Confirmation Network found that Americans were opposed to overturning Roe v. Wade 55 to 34 percent. However, the survey found that Americans were also ignorant about how Roe v. Wade functions in practice.
When educated about the permissive mandates of Roe v. Wade, survey respondents then favored overturning Roe v. Wade by 48 to 43 percent.
Noting a difference of opinion on abortion, Whelan concluded his National Review essay:
"I respectfully submit… it is well past time for all Americans, no matter what their views on abortion, to recognize that the Court-imposed abortion regime should be dismantled and the issue of abortion should be returned to its rightful place in the democratic political process."
Asked by CNA about the argument of Democratic-leaning Catholics that the legal battle to overturn abortion laws should be abandoned in favor of a "common ground" that would reduce abortions via social policies, Whelan said:
"Genuine pro-lifers have long recognized the need both to provide legal protection to the unborn and to provide support to mothers facing unwelcome pregnancies. There's no reason not to pursue both goals. The policies that President Obama has embraced -- including, for example, repeal of the Hyde Amendment -- would instead result in a dramatic increase in the number of abortions."

Always good fun from Landover Baptist

Interesting idea

Who wants chowder?

Nothing like mutual respect to build up the nation.

"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around. . .when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen. . ."

Olympic Instruments say that my new hurdy-gurdy will be ready in a few weeks!

St. Ita of Kileedy

Beside being the feast of Sts. Maur and Placid, January 15 was also the feast of St. Ita of Kileedy, aka "The foster-mother of the saints of Ireland." Born into the Irish royalty, she became a nun and eventually and abbess.

There is no doubt Ita excelled in the ‘Six Gifts" of Irish womanhood the ancient Celt looked for in the well educated girl - wisdom, purity, beauty, music, sweet speech, embroidery. She refused an offer of marriage as she wanted to consecrate herself completely to Christ. Her father refused her. She went at once to an aged priest she had known from childhood and publicly made her vows which she had already formed in her heart. She left her father’s house and the pleasant places round it and set out with some companions for the Ua Conaill territory in the West of Munster, the present Co. Limerick, to a place called "Cluain Creadhail" which some interpret to mean "Meadow of Faith" and which is now called Kileedy. Legend has it that Ita was lead to Killeedy by three heavenly lights. The first was at the top of the Galtee mountains, the second on the Mullaghareirk mountains and the third at Cluain Creadhail. Her sister Fiona also went to Killeedy with her and became a member of the community. (by Bridgid Haggerty)

She had a school for girls, and later, one for boys. Several Irish saints came under her instruction in their childhood and youth. There are several "visions" attributed to her that have been collected over the centuries. They are remarkable examples of Celtic religious poetry. Here is one called

Saint Ita sees Christ come to her in a vision as a baby to be nursed:

It is Jesukin ("Jee-su-kin" diminutive of Jesus)

who is nursed by me in my little hermitage:

though it be a cleric with treasures,

all is a lie save Jesukin. (One can imagine her addressing one of her boy students with this fond diminutive.)

The nursing I do in my house

is not the nursing of a base clown:

Jesus with the men of Heaven

under my heart every single night. (A description of her mystical union with Christ and the saints.)

Young Jesukin, my eternal good! (Absolutely!)

To heed him is a cause of forgiveness,

the king who controls all things,

not to beseech Him will cause repentance.

It is Jesus, noble, angelic,

not an unlearned cleric, ('Way too many of those even now.)

who is fostered by me in my little hermitage,

Jesus the son of the Hebrew woman. (St. Mary the Virgin)

Sons of princes, sons of kings,

though they should come into my country,

I should not expect profit from them;

more likely, I think from Jesukin. ("Put no trust in princes, in man in whom there is no help.")

Sing ye a chorus, O maidens, (She could be addressing her nuns.)

to Him who has a right to your little tribute,

who sits in his place above,

though Jesukin is at my breast.

Source: The Martyrology of Oengus trans. by Whitley Stokes, London, 1905

Brother Tobias DeSalvo, OSB, of happy memory

Father Prior David called me Sunday afternoon with the word that our beloved Brother Tobias had died. He had been battling cancer for a short while, and had received chemotherapy in Fort Smith. They brought him home Friday, but had to take him back to Ft. Smith Saturday because he was in great pain. The reality was that the chemo, because of his weakened condition, had seeped through his intestines into his abdominal cavity and caused septicemia (septic shock leading to death). Of course by being so weak, the intestinal walls could not hold back whatever was in the intestines.

I shall miss him as a friend, beyond the loss to our monastic community at his passing. He was the only one who stood with me in the late unpleasantness, and actually suffered with me in the aftermath, although he did not go into voluntary exile as I did. We never saw eye-to-eye on a number of issues, but that did not stop us from being close. I drank his wine and enjoyed his company. He was always cheerful even in trials, and had a lot more energy than you could believe from looking at the picture to the left. He looks like an old man there, and I guess that years of hard physical labor and little sleep had taken their toll, but I will not remember him thus. (When he was in college at SLU at the time I was there, I can remember him falling asleep over his books, nodding off, waking up and trying to study again. It was kind of funny, but he was never absent from Morning Prayer, which is more than you can say for me.) You can see the beginning of a smile at the corner of his lips, and I'm sure that he thought that taking his picture was more to be endured than enjoyed, especially when there was work to be done.

When I came back for visits, if I had the time, I would try to take him over to the Sonic in Paris and get him a root beer float. He loved sweets, especially ice cream, so it was always a treat for him.

Today at 5:30 I shall say the Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul and the Officium defunctorum (Office for the Dead) during the day. May his memory be eternal, and may he rest in the peace he so justly deserves!

The King-Martyr, Louis, by the grace of God

January 21, besides being the feasts of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, and St. Meinrad, monk and martyr, is the commemoration of the murder of King Louis XVI, the king-martyr, and savior of the American Revolution. The evil deed of evil me was 215 years ago: January 21, 1793. The more I study that whole period and the lives of the principal players, the more I come to see that the French Revolution was one of the most satanic events in human history. It has produced nothing but evil in its wake and the world still suffers from it. The noble king Louis, and his sainted wife, Marie Antoinette of Austria, are the most maligned persons that I have ever encountered. Almost everything that popular culture believes about them are, and were, malicious lies, the monstrosity thereof unfathomable. I truly believe that the king and queen are in the ranks of the martyr saints, and deserve our veneration and admiration. Louis' support for the American Revolution, albeit a totally political act to embarrass Britain, bankrupted France while it rocketed our nation to freedom. In so doing, the evil "thinkers" of France found their opportunity to create the first political holocaust of modern times. God save the king! Holy Louis, pray for us.

This is vocations awareness week

Have you noticed how often the call for freedom is made without ever referring to the truth of the human person? Some today argue that respect for freedom of the individual makes it wrong to seek truth, including the truth about what is good. In some circles to speak of truth is seen as controversial or divisive, and consequently best kept in the private sphere. And in truth’s place – or better said its absence – an idea has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately, claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call relativism. But what purpose has a “freedom” which, in disregarding truth, pursues what is false or wrong? How many young people have been offered a hand which in the name of freedom or experience has led them to addiction, to moral or intellectual confusion, to hurt, to a loss of self-respect, even to despair and so tragically and sadly to the taking of their own life? Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in; nothing less than letting go of self and allowing oneself to be drawn into Christ’s very being for others (cf. Spe Salvi, 28).

MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND SEMINARIANS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Saint Joseph Seminary, Yonkers, New YorkSaturday, 19 April 2008

Sts. Maur and Placid

Yesterday, the 15th of January, was the feast of Sts. Maur(us) and Placid(us), companions and students of St. Benedict. They had joined up with him in their youth, and became, in tradition, the quintessential disciples of the Master. The picture at the left, by Filipo Lippi at Monte Oliveto Maggiore (the home office of the Olivetan branch of the Benedictine family), shows St. Benedict telling Maur that Placid was drowning and that he should go pull him out of the water. St. Gregory, in his Dialogs, where this event is narrated, says that the obedience of Maur was so perfect that he hastened to the lake and, walking on the water, pulled Placid to safety. He doesn't explain why they all had to wear choir dress for this undertaking, but I suppose that was simply the artist's way of depicting them.
Legend says that Maur went to France and founded a monastery there. Placid and his companions were martyred in Sicily by the perfidious Mohammedan infidels.

Collect: Lord our God, you have filled us with wonder by the example of monastic observance in the lives of blessed Maurus and Placid. As we follow in their footsteps, may we come to share in their reward. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

If you can watch through all of this, you have more control than I do

Oh, Andy

China�s Andy Rooney Has Some Funny Opinions About How Great The Chinese Government Is

From Epiphany to Ordinary

With the Feast of the Lord's Baptism we move from the Christmas-Epiphany liturgical cycle to the weeks of "ordinary time." These are so-called because they are ordered from week one to week 33. They are interrupted by the Lent-Easter cycle that begins with Ash Wednesday. In the Liturgy of the Hours, we begin week 1 today. (Baptism of the Lord is in the Advent-Christmas book.)
I am planning to teach on the sacred liturgy and liturgical music during these Sundays before Lent. During Lent, our "Tuesdays in Lent" series will be on basic Catholic Apologetics which I am going to teach. I get requests for this every now and then so I thought that this year it would be a good thing to do.

Someone sent me the very nice 3-d-like image of my coat of arms that I've added to this post. It shows a nice way to make a flat-2-dimensional rendering into something with more zip. I'm not sure who sent it to me, though, as I opened it here in my house, and the name doesn't ring a bell with others in my address book. An old friend or an anonymous admirer? We'll see.

Butch and Brice are resting this afternoon after spending yesterday evening and this morning visiting their friends. I wish Brice would get over all the chewing up of stuff. Butch out-grew it, I'm still waiting for little Brice.

It's in the 50's and cold, but quite sunny here in old El Dorado today. I've been invited to someone's home for dinner this evening. I need to start on my garden soon.

Pilgrimage Reunion

Those who went on the EOHSJ pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome in November with me are having a reunion here in El Dorado this weekend. Pictures will be shared, memories enhanced, notes revised and general fellowship all around. They will attend Mass tomorrow for the Feast of the Lord's Baptism as a group. It should be a great reunion.

Successful Bishop's Pastoral Visit

A very happy pastoral visit by our Bishop concluded after the lunch after the Spanish Mass. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of our diocese of Little Rock arrived Saturday at noon. Following lunch he began a series of scheduled meetings with the finance committee, planning committee, Hispanic community, St. Agnes Guild, K of C, Catholic Daughters, among others.

He presided and preached at Solemn Vespers of the Epiphany Saturday evening, which was followed by a pot-luck supper in the parish hall. During desert he took the microphone and filled us in, in a kind of state-of-the-diocese presentation. He then responded to questions and as supper finished stayed around to kibbutz with the people.

On Sunday morning, the Solemnity of the Epiphany (observed) he presided at Adoration, Morning Prayer, and Benediction at 8 o'clock. Following that he visited with the Lay Missionaries of Charity and other parishioners.

At 10 we celebrated the Pontifical High Mass where the Bishop preached. The choir sang my setting of Videntes Stellam. Following the Mass, he taught the RCIA class in the library (see picture). Then, we celebrated the Pontifical High Mass in Spanish at 12:30. All of the liturgies went very well, and I was especially pleased with the work of our acolytes.

The Hispanic community had a wonderful soup, menudo with pork and vegetables upon which we feasted with gusto. Again during the postre (desert) Bishop Taylor gave the same presentation that he did after the Saturday evening meal in Spanish.

Finally, about 3:30, all was finished and we bade our pastor godspeed as he returned to Little Rock. It was a blessed weekend for us, and we are thankful for Bishop Taylor taking the time to visit us.

Uncle Jay Explains the News