Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 03, 2010
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
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?
Fr Hunwicke's Liturgical Notes: A blessed Springtime?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
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
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
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:
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
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
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
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.'"
Monday, February 15, 2010
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."
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."
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Holy Dancing Deaconesses, Batman!
Easter Island comes to the retirement village---I can't wait to get this started here in Eldo.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 07, 2010
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.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
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.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
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.
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."
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.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Holy Name of Mary (Thanks to Elena at the Fountain of Elias)
"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
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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!
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!
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.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
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
Jihad Watch: Fear of massacre grips Christian village in Egypt
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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
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.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
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.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Ave verum corpus
I remember my choir singing this in 1984 for an ordination at Subiaco. Wish I could hear them again.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
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!
Monday, March 30, 2009
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)