Catholic Osprey

MLKJ Day.

2012-01-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

Source:www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/reverend-martin-luther-king-jr-4728.htm

In 1966, Planned Parenthood Federation of America inaugurated the PPFA Margaret Sanger Award to honor the woman who founded America's family planning movement. My words will be in red.

Dr. King's award was presented on May 5, 1966. The citation read

"This award is presented to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., for his courageous resistance to bigotry and his lifelong dedication to the advancement of social justice and human dignity.

OK. I get the "social justice" part. But their definition of "human dignity" is horribly mistaken.

to win freedom for the Negro people parallel closely Mrs. Sanger's fight over the last half-century for the emancipation of women from the burdens of perpetual child-bearing and the emancipation of children from a future of poverty and hopelessness.

http://blackgenocide.org/sanger.html

Neither Mrs. Sanger nor Dr. King has hesitated to challenge unjust laws, cruel social customs and blind prejudice that hold people in ignorance and degradation.

Abortion is an unjust "law" period.

Dr. King has lent his eloquent voice to the cause of world-wide voluntary family planning.

Artificial Birth Control/ Abortions/ Things that Humanae Vitae was written AGAINST.

For Martin Luther King's unique qualities of understanding, compassion and bravery, and for his wise and unwavering leadership in securing for all people their basic human right to knowledge, dignity and opportunity what about life? that are the fount and principle of Margaret Sanger's life, this award is presented."

Oh, and Margaret Sanger was anti-Catholic, too!

______________

Dr. King say's

"Family planning, to relate population to world resources, is possible, practical and necessary. Unlike plagues of the dark ages or contemporary diseases we do not yet understand, the modern plague of overpopulation is soluble by means we have discovered abortions and with resources we possess. Knives and skull-crushers.

There is a striking kinship between our movement and Margaret Sanger's early efforts.

She published such articles as "Some Moral Aspects of Eugenics" (June 1920), "The Eugenic Conscience" (February 1921), "The purpose of Eugenics" (December 1924), "Birth Control and Positive Eugenics" (July 1925), "Birth Control: The True Eugenics" (August 1928),

Like we, she was a direct actionist — a nonviolent resister. Abortion is violence!

...she went into the slums and set up a birth control clinic, and for this deed she went to jail because she was violating an unjust law. That you cannot kill innocent babies?

Margaret Sanger had to commit what was then called a crime in order to enrich humanity by decreasing the negro population, Mr. King?

The size of family that may have been appropriate and tolerable on a manually cultivated farm was carried over to the jammed streets of the ghetto. Your address determines how many kids God sees fit for you to have.

Negro folkways in family size persisted. Letting God determine how many kids you have.

For the Negro, therefore, intelligent guides of family planning are a profoundly important ingredient in his quest for security and a decent life. Who's to say what a decent life is.

Like all poor, Negro and white, they have many unwanted children. Oh, when children are burdens... that is the definition of a "decent life."

This is a cruel evil they urgently need to control. Unwanted children are an evil to Dr. King! Not the concupiscence of the flesh.

There is scarcely anything more tragic in human life than a child who is not wanted. So what would you have Margaret Sanger do to your concieved child not yet born?

That which should be a blessing becomes a curse for parent and child. Life is a curse, now? Children with diseases are blessings, children born healthy are blessings. A baptized soul is a blessing to this world.

There is nothing inherent in the Negro mentality which creates this condition. Their poverty causes it. When Negroes have been able to ascend economically, statistics reveal they plan their families with even greater care than whites. Negroes of higher economic and educational status actually have fewer children than white families in the same circumstances. He is saying "Poverty= litters of kids."
"wealth and education = 'smart numbers'."

For these reasons we are natural allies of those who seek to inject any form of planning in our society that enriches life and guarantees the right to exist in freedom and dignity.
He is accepting an award from a group that aborts children right and left. They don't give a hoot whether a conceived child has a right to exist.

Swear Words

2011-12-06T01:19:00.001-08:00

Today I will type up the Commentary of Cornelius A Lapide on S. Matthew 5:33-37

33. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
34. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:
35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:
36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

But I say to you not to swear at all. "From this passage the Pelagians taught that no oath was lawful for Christians, as we see from the Council of Constance, and the Anabaptists of the present day hold the same opinion, who will not swear in a trial at the bidding of a judge. But this is an error of faith, which the ...example of God Himself , of S. Paul, and the saints condemn as is plain from Psalms 109:4, Rom 1:9, etc. ...An oath is an honor to God as the prime Verity, because he who swears appeals to God, who is infallible Truth, as his Witness. Therefore an oath is an act of religion, and the highest worship, provided that it be done in truth.
You will ask, Why then does Christ say, swear not at all? S. Bernard says that this is not a precept, but only of counsel...So as not to fall into perjury through the habit of swearing, as often happens.
...[Another reason is] Because the trustworthiness and honesty of men, especially of believers and Christians, ought to be such, that things not sworn to can be believed.
...S. Augustine says "False swearing is destructive, true swearing is perilous, swearing not at all is safe." ... Just as it is a moral evil, per se, to kill any one, there are circumstances in which it is permissible, dutiful, and even laudable So it is with an oath.

Neither by heaven for it is the throne of God,: Nor by the earth for it is his footstool: Nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Christ here teaches that he who swears by heaven or earth, swears by God their creator... [by Jerusalem] The meaning is; Do not swear by the saints, the holy city of Jerusalem, nor by other sacred things, nor by your own possessions, or by any other creature, for they all belong to God, who is present in them all and who alone has complete power over them. In like manner, he who swears by creatures swears by God...
Wrongly, do the modern heretics, specifically Augustine Marloratus, say "Just as of old anyone who swore by another idol, detracted to the extent from God's rights, because they put something else in the place of Him who knows hearts and judges souls, so today, those who swear by angels and by dead saints, vainly attach to them the Divinity of which they have deprived from God." But this is an error and a heresy... Paul (1 Cor. 15:31) swears by the glory of the Corinthians, as is plain from the Greek text. The honor of the saints is the honor of God. For God made them saints; therefore one who swears by the saints swears by their God and Sanctifier.

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. This means: Do not think that you are allowed to swear by your head because it is yours, and subject to you and your full control to use as you wish, for any purpose, even to bring down curses upon it by an oath if you perjure yourself; because in fact, your head is not your own, but God's. So you cannot make even one hair of your head white or black; that is for God alone to do. Therefore anyone who swears by their head, swears by God who made it; moreover-horrible thought-such a man is asking God to accept his very herd and life as a pledge, so that if he commits perjury, God will punish him by demanding his head and his life.

But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: (simple affirmation or negation) and that which is over and above these (Greek "excessive": the Syrian version "what is added beyond these") is of evil. The Hebrew translated is "truly; truly, no, no."...
Hence S. Bernard praises Theobald for his simple truthfulness. "for him, as it is said, speaking simply is as good as swearing, and a trifling lie is accounted grave perjury..."
Is of evil- The Greek has "is from the evil one." Evil here may be taken in the masculine or the neuter gender. If masculine, of evil means "from the devil," who, as a ringleader of all iniquity, incites thee to swear falsely, which is the sin of perjury. If of evil is neuter, it means "cometh of vice." The custom of wearing arises from your own vice of levity or irreverence. Franz Lucas admits this: of evil, he says, means from a habit of swearing needlessly and lightly, or falsely and deceitfully. Again, of evil means from a habit of swearing that originates in human mistrust. Since it seemed that men would not believe one another unless they swore.

Why Devotion to the Heart of Our Mother in Her Sorrows?

2011-11-17T06:34:00.000-08:00

"My daughter, tears shed for My Passion are dear to Me; but as I loved My Mother Mary with an immense love the Meditation on the torments which she endured at My death is even more agreeable to Me." -Jesus to Blessed Veronica of Binasco.

"I look around at all who are on earth, to see if by chance there are any who pity me, and meditate upon my sorrows; and I find there are very few..." Mary to St. Bridget

St. Albert the Great, O.P. (who's feast is was two days ago) said "that as we are under great obligations to Jesus for His Passion endured for our love, so also are we under great obligations to Mary for the martyrdom which she voluntarily suffered for our salvation in the death of her Son. Voluntarily since, as St. Agnes revealed to St. Bridget, 'our compassionate and benign Mother was satisfied rather to endure any torment than that our souls should not be redeemed."

We begin to understand why Mary, Mother of God, is Mary, Mother of all! Only to mothers does this innate, unconditional love come as natural. I would say for men and fathers, it is second nature. But to women! First!

"The grief of Mary was so great that, were it divided amongst all men, it would suffice to cause their immediate death."1

After meditating on this one line, we can begin to appreciate why she is so important. Why she has earned the title Co-Redemptix.

"While other martyrs suffered by sacrificing their own lives, the Blessed Virgin suffered by sacrificing her Son's life - a life that She loved far more than Her own; so that she not only suffered in her soul all that her Son endured in His body, but moreover the sight of her Son's torments brought more grief to her heart than if she had endured them all in her own person."2

OK, that was a little weird. What does that say on the surface? Shouldn't a mother rather give herself up than her Child? After meditating and contemplating on how could someone be selfless by giving up someone she loved, we find why she is so worthy of our compassion and our gratitude. Why? because her martyrdom started when Christ was born to die! Her soul was martyred for 33 consecutive years. Her soul, which is not the body. The martyred saints gave their body up for a brief period. We all know pains in the soul hurt much worse.

The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
The First Sword- St. Simeon's Prophecy- "Behold, this Child is a sign of contradiction. And Thine own soul shall be pierced by a sword."

The Second Sword- The Flight of Jesus into Egypt- Three hundred miles on donkey with a delicate newborn child to feed and protect. What shelter could she offer her Child when they entered Egypt as strangers?

The Third Sword- The Loss of Jesus in the Temple- O! The desolation our Mother Mary must have felt as she lost the Divine Presence for three days. Job was tormented by losing all God had given him, but he did not lose God Himself.

The Forth Sword- The Meeting on the Way to Calvary- She hardly could recognized the bloody face of the man who met her in the streets. And when Jesus wiped away the clotted blood from His eyes, Their looks became as so many arrows to pierce the hearts which loved each other so tenderly.

The Fifth Sword- The Crucifixion and Death of Christ- When so many would faint at the deplorable sight of their naked son executed as a criminal, Our Lady stood.

The Sixth Sword- After being lanced in the side, Jesus is placed in the arms of Our Lady- Our Lord's body received the lance but he was dead. Our Lady's heart felt the pain that was doubled as she first touched her dead Son.

The Seventh Sword- The Burial of Jesus- Who had to tell Mary it was time to seal the tomb? After Our Mother told her son the last good bye she left her heart in the tomb to be sealed as well. Mary was so sad that while she returned home all who encountered her was moved to tears.

1- St. Bernadine of Sienna
2- St. Antoninus, O.P.

Today is the Order of the Servants of Mary's All Souls day.

May those souls, and all souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for us.
St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Pray for us.

Assisi v. Assisi

2011-10-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Assisi (null hypothesis)

Assisi I, II, et III.

The Roman Rite

2011-10-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

There are, of course, many rites of Holy Mass. They are all considered Catholic. According to the new canon law of 1983, strictly speaking, you may fulfill your Sunday obligation by participating in any of the following (and a few more.)The Byzatine Rite is called Liturgy, and that is for the East. The Coptic Rite is more Egyptian. The Syriach Rite for the Palestinians and in the native tongue of Jesus. The Maronite Rite is glory of Lebanon, also in Aramaic.

Then, we look at the Latin Rites. Milan can use the Ambrosian Rite. The Carmamelites, the Dominicans, and the Carthusians are religious orders that have their own Rite. However, it was the champions known as the Franciscans that spread the Rite of Rome to the world. These all have the unification of being offered in the same language: Latin.

The Roman Rite is found in 99% of the parishes around town. A little known fact is that Vatican II focused only on the Roman Rite, and any rite that changed after Vatican II did not change by promulgation, but by adapting the Spirit of Vatican II. This blog entry will focus on the Roman Rite only.

The Holy Father says there are two forms of the Roman Rite. One is the "ordinary form," from the Missal of Paul VI, the other is the "extraordinary form," the Mass of John XXIII. Both are written in Latin. The Mass that 99% of parishioners hear is an English translation of the Latin Mass. There is no argument that the first attempt of turning it into English was not so much of a "translation" as it was an attempt to communicate the ideas from Latin to English. This is being corrected with the new translation. So, this year, we will have the Mass of Paul VI in English.

On to the Mass of John the XXIII. This Mass was never popularized in the vernacular. It does have an vernacular translation, and that is found in a thousands of hand missals all over the world. Latin on one side, English, Portuguese, French, Chinese, (you name it) on the other. This is to help people around the world worship God, all in a unified way. The Mass in Italy is the Mass in China is the Mass in Mexico is the Mass in the Philippines. While having Holy Mass in your own language might be nice, especially convienient if you cant read, one can make a case that there is still a language barrier. There are a lot of Polls in my diocese. I would be so lost if I went to a Polish Mass. Even Spanish Mass would be too much for me. So, it can be said that Mass in the vernacular has to, by language's very nature, exclude some people. I.e. there can not be one language that will please everyone. However, there is one language... in a very Lord of the Rings way... to rule them all (and in the darkness bind them?)

Latin is the official Language of our Church.

" The Latin language can be called truly catholic. It has been consecrated through constant use by the Apostolic See, the mother and teacher of all Churches, and must be esteemed "a treasure ... A most efficacious bond which unites in an admirable an unalterable continuity the Church of today with that of yesterday and of tomorrow."

-Pope John XXIII. Veterum Sapientia

Not only is it beautiful, but it is dead. Not being a living language that changes meaning over time is exactly what we need to mean the exact same things Catholics meant 1900 years ago, and what us Catholics will mean in 1900 years.. What else does the Church say about Latin?

"Care must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them."- Vatican II. Sacrosanctum Concillium.

So, technically, we should have been taught by our parish priests the responses to the Latin Mass, but many of us have not. What to do now?

My suggestion would be to go to the "extraordinary form." The first time you go it will be confusing. No doubt about it. Sit in the pew second from the front. You can see the sanctuary better, and there will be someone in front of you who knows when to stand, sit, and kneel. You may not know whats being said, but don't worry. The prayers are magnificent. Try to read them ahead of time. If you try to follow along because the person next to you hands you a missalette, you are still going to get lost. The first time it may be best just to observe. If the priest doesn't say anything out loud for a while, enjoy the sacred silence in prayer (he's busy talking to God, not you.) If you feel offended his back is facing you, just think, he is leading you on a march to Calvary. After Holy Mass is over, you may not like it one bit OR you may like it very much. I would ask that you give it a second try regardless. The Latin doesn't bother you as much the second time, and you know what to expect which is half the battle.

While we're learning "where is the bathroom" in 50 languages, my opinion is we should learn the Pater Noster, the Ave Maria, and the Gloria Patri. Also, these two responses should get you started...

Et cum spiritu tuo "eht coom spee-ree-too too-oh" (And with thy spirit.) The response to "Dominus Vobiscum."

Amen "Ah-men" (after prayers. Often the answer to "Per omnia saecula saeculorum.")

There are a few more, but just learn a couple at a time. This way, when we are around people who don't know English, we could be eager to say, "Celebremus in Latinum"(lets celebrate in Latin) and the might respond "Nunc dices es" (now youre talking!) How unifying!

Two sides to every story?

2011-10-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Dear (lay-person wondering if they can go to a Non-Diocesan Catholic Church) ,

I passed your email on to Fr. ______, the chancellor for our diocese, requesting him to explain where Fr. (in question) stands regarding his position in the Catholic Church.

I’m sending you his response so that you have the full picture. A “celebret” is a document (The Latin means “He may celebrate [the Mass]”) that is valid only for one year as Fr. [chancellor] explains.

I hope this helps.

Bishop _____

----------------------------------------------

Bishop,

At [the vocation director's] request, because of the prospective seminarian from UNF who attends [the chapel in question,] only last week I checked with the Diocese of Scranton where Fr [in question] is incardinated.*1 I was told that he holds a celebret directly from the Ecclesia Dei Commission, and that, by decree of that Commission he is incardinated into the Diocese of Scranton. The date of that celebret would apparently be sometime in 2001 or 2002.

From the chancellor of the Scranton diocese I have the following information -

1. His incardination into the Scranton diocese was, indeed, directed by the Ecclesia Dei Commission

2. He does hold a celebret from that commission, but as celebrets are supposedly good only for about 1 year*2 (according to the Code), it would be out of date now

3. Fr [In question] does NOT have any faculties from the Diocese of Scranton. He was described by the chancellor there as very disobedient.*3

4. ...Unless there is some sort of papal decree placing that parish directly under the Holy See, or within some other ecclesiastical conscription,*4 it is not possible to be in communion with the Bishop of Rome (who they may say they recognize), but not in communion with the Bishop of (our diocese)!

As I understand it, if someone knows of the situation (and I understand that a few there do not) it would be gravely sinful to satisfy their Sunday obligation *5 by attending Mass at [the chapel in question.]

Fr. Chancellor
----------------------------------------------------

okay...

This looks pretty scary at first. Lets take it step by step.

#1 The priest in question is under another bishop of another diocese.

#2 I know that local sees update their priests' celebrets every year. However, The priest in question got one from Rome in 2001 and did not get another from Rome for 3 years when he was incardinated. All while he was in "good standing." If all celebrets are only good for a year, he was saying Mass illicitly for two years under the care of Ecclesia Dei. And they didn't seem to mind.

#3 That is correct. The priest in question does not have all of his faculties. He claims they were taken away unjustly and appeals to the law "ecclesia suppelit" He is seen as disobedient , however has never been suspended. (I asked him once if his bishop called him to return home for a meeting, would he go. He said he would out of obedience. But I have a feeling at that time, there would be a line drawn in the sand, and he would be suspended, and be in the boat of all the other Society priests.

#4 Speaking of Society priests, he has "friends" status with the society. He is not independent, he is under the wing of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. Although,the SSPX may not officially be a "ecclesiastical conscription," Rome sure does deal with them like they are.
"The situation of the members of this Society is an internal matter of the Catholic Church. The Society is not another Church or Ecclasial Community in the meaning used in the Directory." -Cardinal Edward Cassidy on May 3, 1994.

#5 The official word from this diocese must be readdressed. "As he understands it", the Lord Chancellor does not have all the information needed to make this judgement.
"You may fulfill your Sunday obligation by attending a Mass celebrated by a priest of the Society of St. Pius X" (letter, January 18, 2003.) (one of many found on the internet.)

Because Christ set up the Church, we should have recourse to her. I am about to print my own letter to Card. Leveda, president of Ecclesia Dei. I hope this matter will be put at rest when Rome herself makes judges my case. I will update this post in 4 or so months, depending on how fast Rome operates nowadays.

Let the Dead bury the Dead

2011-10-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Closure isn't everything. Our Lord tells that to a disciple who wants to follow Him to Jerusalem, but first bury his dead father. Christ responds by saying... "Follow Me, let the dead bury the dead." And "preach the kingdom of Heaven." This must have been hard to hear.

A man sees it as his duty to bury people, most of all, his father. Its a corporal work of mercy, even. However, Our Lord knows this man's heart. He knows he is sad. He knows he wants to have peace. He knows he wants this chapter in his life to end "And my father died, and like a good son I buried him, and like a good father, he left me my inheritance." But sometimes God doesn't want that. God wants Himself to be only what we inherit. We might say we are ready to follow God with our voice, but in our heart, we don't want to forfeit the goods that shoulda, woulda, coulda been.

God may ask us to have chapters end in the middle of a sentence, right as things were getting juicy. We can't look back or hope and wish there was more! He wants us to trust in Him more than anyone or anything. He wants us to know that while we can grieve for losses, we have to get up immediately and move on, looking forward only, because there is precious little time. He knows we want peace of mind, but we will not have it until God's will is done.

Let the dead bury the dead is not practical. It cannot even happen, I'm pretty sure. So when Jesus says this to us, we have to hold back that thought "Really, Jesus? Are You really going to expect me to just be miserable. Are You really going to let these loose ends be left untide? Instead, replace these thoughts with the prayer "My Dear Lord, I might be a wreck. Vivify me, self pity and moping is not for me. You know what I want. You know what I need. If what I want is not what You want, allow me to accept that. Please let chapters in my life close when they need to. Only the spiritually dead are concerned about everything ending with a pretty pink bow. Please, don't let me be one of them. Amen.

Obviously the question isn't whether the father gets in the ground! Let the dead bury the dead. It might be the hardest thing that we have to do, but we don't have to do it alone!

Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
St. Mary Margaret Alacoque, pray for us!

St. Thomas on Love

2011-10-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

There are two types of Love in human action.
Selfish-you wish good for the pleasure it will give you. This is technically called the love of concupiscence.
Unselfish-you wish good to another not for your own sake, but for the other persons sake. This is technically called the love of friendship.

The love of concupiscence isn't evil. Self love will lead a man to seek perfect happiness! But it is true that the love of friendship is a higher kind of love, because this love is what allows you to grow out of the limitations of your own small self and into the larger world of intimacy with other free spirits, human, angelic, and the divine.

Knowledge is key for love, St. Thomas says. The appetite is only moved by something that attracts it, or repels it. But this attraction or repulsion cannot take place unless the object is known and recognized as such. Some people say love is blind. But love isn't the mystery, it is the objects of love or the actions that flow from love that is the real mystery. Love is blind only when there is no knowledge of the object first. Love can be moved to an unsuitable object because only the good in it, and not the evil, was proposed to the senses. We will see what happens after the evil is proposed to the senses, later. What is important to remember is that you cannot love what you do not know.

But, the knowledge doesn't have to be perfect to love something. Lets look at a steak, for instance. You can love a steak when you smell that bad boy and see how juicy it is. You can cut into it and feel how tender it will be from the ease of the knife slicing through, only to reveal a perfect medium rare. A person can love a steak without actually trying it. But once the appetite is engaged, all you want to do is know it more, in this case, find out how it tastes. The point is that some knowledge that an object as a good is necessary for love to exist at all. Imagine if you were blindfolded, and your nose was pinned shut, and the same steak came to your table all ready cut up. You can not have the same feeling of love, because the knowledge isn't there, right?

Goodness in the object, when perceived, is the fundamental cause of love. Likeness is also a cause of love. People say opposites attract, but St. Thomas says if a angry person seeks a calm and collected person, it is actually the likeness, rather than the unlikeness, that draws one to another. You actually admire the quality, and would like it for yourself.

"Where ever love is seen in action, it is obvious that love aims at the union between the lover and the loved one. It is love that drives a young man to want to be with his fiancee. It is love which makes a wife want the presence of her husband who is out of town.

The union caused by love is found at its best in the intimate life that lovers lead in one another. A man in love with a woman has the thought of her with him always. She lives in his mind and in his imagination. She lives in his will for when she is with him he is pleased, and when she is away he desires her presence. The lover seeks also to live in his beloved. They desire to know everything about each other. This explains why courting couples find so much to talk about. They are trying to get into one another's personalities by learning all they can about one another. The lover seeks even to live in the heart and will of his or her beloved. So lovers never are satisfied with one declaration of love, they want to say it and hear it over and over again. When this unifying effect of love is found in both parties, then human love between human beings is found at its highest.

Love is also ecstatic. To be in ecstasy means to go out of ones self. But it is characteristic of love that it makes you think less of yourself and more of the object you love. It will even move you to make personal sacrifices for the sake of the one you love... In this way is also the cause of zeal and jealousy. A lover is zealous and energetic in trying to do good things for the person he or she loves. Or he is jealous of anyone or anything which seems to threaten his exclusive possession of the one he loves."

But love can also injure or wound you, too. It is a movement of the appetite whether sensible or rational to Good. But sometimes a particular good thing is not suitable for mankind. Food is good, sure, but the love for too much food is gluttonous. An injury has objectively occurred. Love must be under the control of judgement of right reason or it can harm you more than it benefits you.

Even though there is a danger of loving things rashly, we must always remember love is basically an inclination for a good. Its behind every human action. Even if Hitler wanted to rule the world, its because he loved power. if you want to play the lotto, its because you love money.If you volunteer at an animal shelter, its because you love animals (or were court ordered to do service hours.) The bottom line is love seeks good.

The opposite of love is hate. Love, we said, is a movement towards good. Hate is a movement away from evil. If I set that steak before you again, you would see it as a good, and eat it. However, if I replaced that steak with a green and moldy piece of meat that you knew was left out for the flies for a couple of days, you would know its bad and hate it. All hatred is based on a love that comes before it. You hate it, because it will rob you of something you love. In this case, your health or life.

Hatred makes such a strong impression that we might think of hatred as stronger than love. But St. Thomas goes on, that with a little reflection, we will see love as always stronger. The stronger the hate, the stronger the love. I don't like mosquito bites because they are itchy and I like my comfort. I really hate eating rancid food, because it will kill me I love my life. Hatred is okay. It lets us make decisions not to do things that will ultimately destroy us. BUT BE CAREFUL! Why do we hate "hate?" Because so often hatred is for its own sake. Make sure what you hate is evil! Do not hate a good! Then hate becomes a disservice! If someone has made you hate something good, it is their fault, not the object's fault which remains good. That is why the edification of your neighbor is so important. And that's when this author interjects with a prayer.

Oh my God, I am dearly sorry for having turned off many souls from love of Your holy Church. Please, allow them to hate me (or the evil in me) instead of hating something so pure. Thank You for giving us the Church, and all of the successors of St. Peter. Make my love for each and every one of them grow by wanting to know them more. For the ones that are dead and I will never meet, and the one that is alive, this can be achieved by researching them and praying to them or for them. Give me the grace to read documents from Pre-Councillior or Post-Councillor popes, not because I may like/dislike what they say, but because they are popes, and because they reigned in Your good name. Allow me to know; so that I may love good, and hate evil. That I may then DO good, and avoid evil. Amen.

I covered what I wanted to cover pretty much. However, I would like to end with St. Thomas' teachings on desire. Desire is distinct from love. Love is complacency in the good. Desire is a tendency toward a good which is not yet present (or I might add lost.) When people have what the love, they no longer desires it, they only enjoy it...

St. Thomas, Angelic Doctor, pray for us.

up next... I don't know...

Source- My Way of Life, the pocket edition of the Summa

The sequence of Holy Father Francis

2011-10-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

New signs of highest sanctity
Deserving praise exceedingly,
Wondrous and beautiful to see
In Francis we behold.

Unto the newly-gathered band
Directed by his guiding hand,
Francis receives the king's command
The new law to unfold.

Before the world's astonished view
Arise the life and order new,
Whose sacred laws again renew
The evangelic state.

The rule monastic he reforms,
Unto the law of Christ conforms,
And all the apostolic forms
He holds inviolate.

In raiment coarse and rough-endued,
A cord his only girdle rude,
Scant the measure of his food,
His feet withal unshod.

For poverty alone he yearns,
From earthly things he loathing turns,
The noble Francis money spurns
Despising all for God.

He seeks a place to weep apart,
And mouths in bitterness of heart
Time precious lost, when taking part,
In earthly joys and vain.

Within a mountain-cavern lone
He bides to weep, and lying prone
He prays with many a sigh and groan,
Till calm returns again.

There in that rocky cave's retreat,
Rapt high in contemplation sweet,
The earth (wise judge) spurned neath his feet,
To heaven he aspires.

His flesh by penance is subdued,
Transfigured wholly and renewed:
The Scriptures are his daily food,
Renouncing earth's desires.

Then Seraph-like from heaven's height,
The King of kings appears in sight,
The patriarch, in sore affright,
Beholds the vision dread.

It bears the wounds of Christ, and lo!
While gazing on in speech-less woe,
It marks him, and the stigmas show
Upon his flesh, blood-red.

This body like the Crucified,
Is signed on hands and feet; his side
Transfixed from right to left, and dyed
With crimson streams of blood.

Unto his mind words secret sound,
Things future all in light abound,
Inspired from high, the saint hath found
Their sense, and understood.

Now in those bleeding wounds, behold!
Black nails appear, within, all gold;
Sharp are the points, the pain untold,
Unspeakable the woe.

No instrument of man was brought
To make these wounds- here art did nought,
By nature's band they were not wrought,
Nor cruel mallet-blow.

We pray thee by the cross's sign
Marked on thy flesh, whereby twas thine,
The world, the flesh, the foe ma1ign,
To conquer gloriously.

Take us, O Francis, to thy care,
Shield us from woe, from every snare,
That we thy great reward may share,
In heaven eternally.

O Father holy! Father sweet!
Devoutly we thine aid entreat,
May we and all thy brethren meet
Victorious in the strife.

In virtue's way our footsteps train
And bring us with the saints to reign;
So may thy flock of Minors gain
The joy of endless life.

Amen. Alleluia.

Fun Facts!

2011-09-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sacrosanctum Concilium, 4 December, 1963

54. A suitable place may be allotted to the vernacular in Masses which are celebrated with the people, especially in the readings and "the common prayer," and also, as local conditions may warrant, in those parts which pertain to the people, according to the rules laid down in Article 36 of this Constitution.

Nevertheless care must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.

fun fact # 2

Under the tab entitled "Schismatic Churches" found on the list of parishes for the Diocese of Orlando, the SSPX chapel, St. Thomas More, is not mentioned.

These facts would lead me to believe that even the Vatican II Church thinks all priest should be able to say Mass in Latin, at least when there is no congregation, and all Catholics should already know the responses in Latin, e.g. Deo gratias, laus tibi Christi, etc.

AND the SSPX may not be schismatic after all...

To Restore All Things in Christ

2011-09-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

My living grandmother was born under this Pope-Saint's pontificate!

The following is a an excerpt from Rev. Fr. Michael Rodriguez's most recent sermon. He is the pastor of San Juan Bautista, a parish in El Paso, Texas. Is he crazy or on to something?

"...You better believe times have changed, but they have changed for the worst. And we've deviated from the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church and the teachings of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and even though its not easy to recover, we better work as hard as we can to recover. We have to recover the Catholic Faith. It might seem to the world that we fail in trying to recover the Catholic Faith; we might be ridiculed, we might be persecuted, whatever might happen, doesn't matter, we have to pray and God and ask for the grace to do our best to recover the Faith, to do it with joy, to do our best to trust in God and to persevere.
"Two final examples, very quick like, just to show you the gravity of the situation, because you've GOT TO TAKE SERIOUSLY that fact there is A GRAVE, GRAVE crisis in the Faith, even in our own diocese, the Catholic Faith is gone. You better work double time to recover, and help those you love also to recover it. Most of you already know a little bit of whats going on, but very quickly, you can pick this up as you exit, we've got copies of articles that I wrote that appeared as paid advertisements in the news paper, in the El Paso Times a couple weeks ago, some of you are also aware of the response that was given to the news paper by our diocese. Very tragic; so you can open your eyes and see whats taking place. Basically everything that is written in here, I mean there are a few exceptions, but basically the crux of whats written in these articles is Catholic Church teaching. There's no question about it. I'm quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I'm quoting from the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith in Rome, I'm quoting from the United States Bishops, I'm qouting from Sacred Scripture, I'm quoting from Tradition or following the moral tradition of the Catholic Church that is 2,000 years old; that has its roots in Christ and the Apostles and the Catholic Church. Well, the official response from the diocese to the newspaper, again this was quoted in the news paper, when the news paper basically asked the diocese (well, you know) whats your comment, whats the deal (with lets say) with that that appeared by one of the priests? And the response of the diocese was " those are the person views and opinions of Fr. Michael Rodriguez."
"You've got to be kidding me...
"Here is, again, I'm just a little messenger, basically, herein this is contained the teachings of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Holy Catholic Church, and the official word from Our Church is "those are personal views and opinions of a particular priest." If there ever was a betrayal of the Son of God, you better believe thats a betrayal of the Son of God and of the truth that is taught by Jesus Christ thats never going to change. And this is coming from the higher level in our diocese... Thats why were saying "we've lost the Catholic Faith"
"And one final example, also relevant to this, we'll complete with this one so you'll see whats going on (Open your eyes, open your hearts, get to work) with regard to what I wrote... one of my brother priest, he called, I didn't speak to him directly, he left a message on the machine, its also very significant, he left me a message, now there are many of my other brother priests that didn't leave me a message but they pretty much think the same way as this priest, lets not be fooled... basically the message he left me, I wont go through all of it, but basically he left me a message saying I was a disgrace to the Catholic Church, he told me that I better go on retreat and reform my life, he told me that I no longer was a Catholic priest because I wasn't preaching the gospel of love and forgiveness, the gospel that was found and the gospel that was preached by Jesus, and I forgot what else he told me, but you get a gist of what the message was... So be it. I can't say the message came as a surprise...
"The saddest thing about this is the following, though. That in actual reality, he is the one who is no longer in communion with the Catholic Church. He is the one, although in appearance, appears to be the Catholic priest, in the Eyes of God, and of Holy mother Church is no longer a priest. He is not teaching the Faith. Again, the saddest thing of all, is really begin to think how many souls are being led astray by basically I would say these impostors or these wolves in shepherds' clothing that have betrayed Christ, and have betrayed the Faith. And this is not one single indecent, this is not "well, you know there is just one single priest roaming around there that, you know, is doing this." They are Legion. To a large extent the Catholic Faith has disappeared, and has disappeared among so many of the faithful because its disappeared among so many of the shepherds...
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen"

Amen, Father.
This great priest needs your prayers. Ask God to give him the strength to continue to to fortify him with the guts to stand up in front of his congregation and preach the Word of God, without fear of what might happen to him. He sees a real problem, and has a real solution. To go back, and restore all things in Christ. Because right now, man is doing what they think is best. That is to restore some things in Christ, but not all. St. Pius' moto should be taken very seriously. They way he meant it. Please visit father's parish's website at http://sanjuan.webhop.org/

And from the pen of St. Pius, I will leave you with his words...
"We allude, Venerable Brethren, to many who belong to the Catholic laity, nay, and this is far more lamentable, to the ranks of the priesthood itself, who, feigning (putting on fictitiously) a love for the Church, lacking the firm protection of philosophy and theology, nay more, thoroughly imbued with the poisonous doctrines taught by the enemies of the Church (Modernists) vaunt themselves as reformers of the Church...and assail all that is most sacred in the work of Christ"

The beheading

2011-08-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of the beheading of St. John the Baptist. It also happens to be a Monday, so I said the Joyful Mysteries today. That made for an interesting second decade...
The second decade is, of course, the Visitation. While meditating on what happened at this meeting between the two cousins, we see that it is a meeting between two mothers. Two very similar mothers. I'm sure because of her old age, St. Elizabeth didn't live to see her son get his head chopped off, like Our Lady saw her Son die. But St. Elizabeth must have known it was coming. When the two mothers eyes met, it must have been bittersweet, for St. Elizabeth had a christ-type in her womb, too! St. John the Evangelist says "[St. John the Baptist] was not the light, but was to give testimony to the light" because his message was identical to Christ's message, called Rabbi, and he was persecuted and died like Christ, its easy to say "hey, this child was another Christ." And he was! Born for a purpose. There was a man sent from God- John 1:6. And [the executioner] beheaded him in prison, and brought his head on a dish- Mark 6:28.

The beginning, and the end.

At the moment of our conception we are sent by God to do one thing. To live, to love, and to serve Him (okay, three things.) St. John didn't even wait till his birth to glorify his Creator. He lept in the womb in the presence of Jesus. His mission was to always prepare others for the coming of the One who will judge them.

Today was much needed to show me behind the Joyful Mysteries there is sorrow. The children in the wombs of those holy joyful yet sorrowful mothers were born to die. So are we. Deny yourselves, take up your crosses daily. But, alas, there are more than just Joy and Sorrow. There is Glory. There is sorrow found in joy, yes, but there is glory behind dolors...

The Worldlings' 10 Commandments

2011-07-27T13:06:00.001-07:00

from Love of Eternal Wisdom by St. Louis de Montfort
(these were my priest's notes for last Sundays sermon.)

77. The worldly man bases his conduct on personal honour, on "what will people say?," on convention, on high living, on self-interest, on ceremonious manners, and on witty conversation. These seven principles are the irreproachable supports on which, he believes, he can safely depend to enjoy a peaceful life. The world will canonize him for such virtues as courage, finesse, tactfulness, shrewdness, gallantry, politeness, and good humour. Ir stigmatises as serious offenses, insensitiveness, stupidity, poverty, boorishness and bigotry.

78. He obeys as faithfully as he can the commandments which the world gives him.

I. Thou shalt be well acquainted with the world.
II. Thou shalt be respectable.
III. Thou shalt be successful in business.
IV. Thou shalt hold on to whatever is yours.
V. Thou shalt rise above your background.
VI. Thou shalt make friends for yourself.
VII. Thou shalt frequent fashionable society.
VIII. Thou shalt seek the good life.
IX. Thou shalt not be a kill-joy.
X. Thou shalt not be singular, uncouth or over-pious.

What!?!?! What in the heck is St. Louis talking about here?
Up next... My best explanation.

The Feast of St. Anne.

2011-07-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

A prayer for you single girls out there.

St. Anne, St. Anne. Send me a man,
...and any old man wont do.
St. Anne, St. Anne, as fast as you can!
(and one with a special devotion to you!)

Amen.

The following was a conversation I had with a single girl this time last year.

Her: Who needs to pray to stop being single though?

Me: Only those with a vocation to marriage!

Her: Hah, I guess that makes sense. I look at it differently. As someone who feels called to marriage, I just pray for my future husband, for his health and his life, etc. I figure that I don't need to pray for him to enter my life. It'll happen. Until then, definitely enjoying Jesus being the only man in my life. You're never truly single when you're pursuing him and letting him pursue you. Am I right?

A friend of ours agrees: I'm with [this girl]-- I'm in no rush to find a husband at all. Being single is nice, and more time to focus on God.

Me:This is a little different, but maybe I can help explain. If you have a priestly vocation, you should become a priest as soon as possible. Less time to get wrapped up in the woes of this world. The less debt, the less heart ache, the more time you could be in the confessional forgiving sins.
Now how this relates to the married life... Well, imagine (right now for just a second) if St. Joseph was to be your spouse! How amazing would that be having a saint for a husband. When St. Anne found St. Joseph for Our Lady I don't think Our Lady said, "hold on Mom, I need to focus on God." She knew that her calling in life was to raise Christ WITH her husband. Marriage is a sacrament. Not to be rushed into... but the natural part is of course is children, and the supernatural part is the SANCTIFICATION of the two who enter into it. The sooner the two get together, the more time they have to sanctify each other/ have children (future saints). If God sends you a man that will get you to heaven (one that fits the description of above prayer) then why not welcome him into your life as soon as possible. College degrees, jobs that make millions of dollars, being able to "travel before I have kids," none of those will get you to heaven, unlike a good husband. Its just like having a devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Loving her increases your love for her son, just like loving a husband would not detract from Jesus Christ, but I would argue that you would love Him more! But some young ladies would make excellent bride's of Christ. so don't leave that option out of your prayers!

St. Anne, pray for us!
Especially me, and the two girls above, as well!

My Daily Bread Snippet

2011-07-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

Chapter 41- Earning the Reward.
(The first 40 chapters in the book are the soft ones. This is where it gets more "no-nonsense." Maybe not all are ready to hear it, but if you can make it to 4, not all hope, we find, is lost.)

Christ:
"My Child, for reasons which you cannot fully appreciate at present, I made your earthly life a time of labor and trial. Each and every time that I permit you to suffer pain, grief, or disappointment I do it for your own good. These trails help you to come closer to me in one way or another. I made your earthly life a time of labor and trail. Do not think too much about pleasure and rest in this life. Be prepared to exercise patience rather than enjoy comfort or consolation. Think more of carrying the cross of daily life rather than of avoiding everything unpleasant.

2. Do you expect to enjoy interior consolation whenever you wish? Not even My saints could do that during their earthly life. They had to face many troubles, temptations, interior misery and desolation. They went on, however, in spite of all these obstacles, trusting in Me more than in themselves. The were fully aware that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to come.

3. Do you not see how selfish your desires are? You want to obtain quickly the peace and holiness which others achieved only after many trails and labors. You are more interested in enjoying My gifts than in earning them. No, you must do things My way if you want to live the best way.

4. Wait for the light and strength which I will send in due time. In the meantime have courage and be patient. Do not give up the fight against your faults and defects. Do your best to become the kind of person I want you to be. Leave the results to Me. I am near you every moment. Be unselfish enough to go on trying for My sake. I will someday reward you far beyond anything you can imagine.

Think:
Heaven is a reward- a thing to be earned. Though I can never really deserve it by my poor human efforts alone, Jesus has made it possible for me to work for it with His help. Strengthened by His grace, I can strive for Heaven. An honest daily effort against my faults and a faithful attempt to do God's Will in all things will bring me the glorious reward of Heaven. Earthly life has its labors, trails, and difficulties. Each day I show by my actions, words, thoughts and desires, how sincerely I am working for Heaven.

Pray:
Holy Spirit, my God, help me to see your guiding hand in time of trail, and let me follow humbly and loyally whatever You desire of me. I want to do the best that is in me, be it ever so little. Heaven is more than I will ever deserve, but at least I can do my best to make myself a little less unworthy of it. My God, I hope in You, for the grace to go on trying each hour of the day. Amen.

Meditatio #2

2011-07-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

I was meditating on the Assumption of the BVM on the feast of Corpus Christi. I tried think about what the Body of Chirst meant to each Mystery (try it, very useful) and I thought about the following.

Our Lady is Queen of priests, but not herself one. Although she brought Jesus to man once, she could not do so ever again. However, someone she lived with could! St. John was there at the Last Supper for the Mandatum, he was at Calvery for the first Mass, and he was there at Pentecost for the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. He knew that if he wanted to bring back Christ, he could say Holy Mass, and Our Lady knew it, too! She probably had St. John say Mass all the time. I bet she even had him reserve the Blessed Sacrament and kept it in her house. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the Virgin Mary's idea to have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Try that on for size. When you kneel before the Holy Eucharist, who's idea was that? Who loved Our Lord most? Can She ask her Son that we might love Him more?

Blunt

2011-03-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

I was looking up some catholic quotes.
Guess who said what.

1. "Liberal Catholics are the worst enemies of the Church."

2. "At the hour of my death, when Out Lord asks me: 'What have you done with your episcopate, what have you done with your episcopal and priestly grace?' I do not want to hear from his lips the terrible words 'You have helped to destroy the Church along with the rest of them.'"

3. "Many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them."

4. "There are not over a 100 people in the U.S. that hate the Catholic Church, there are millions however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church -- which is, of course, quite a different thing."

1. Pope Pius IX
2. Bp. Lefebvre
3. Our Lady (at Garabandal)
4. Bp. Sheen (apply that to the millions who refuse to look into any documents before Vatican II)

Gaudiam et Spes

2010-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

These are the last of my notes on the Vatican II series.
December 7th, 1965

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the modern world. Speaks about the dignity of man. The ideas of the Church for mans betterment. It starts out with man in 1965. Existential..."The joys and hopes of man in 1965 are the same as the Church." There is no mention of Original Sin. "To be a good Christian is to be the most human." Grace and nature are confused. But we shouldn't want to make man more human. We should want to become divine! Justification and Sanctification are not brought forth. Now the Church is a servant of mankind? Even a king acts as a "servant" for the common good, but he rules rather than serves. To be of the image we need divine intellect and will. The document says it "bares about an element of the divine." If its not talking about grace, then what? It even talks about the "Brotherhood of Man." The Free Masons use that phrase a lot, too. And they mean it in the same way Gaudiam et Spes does. Free Masons mean what you think of. One big world where everybody drinks Coca-Cola holding hands. This departs from the Church's perennial view that we are brothers in the true sense that God is Father, and the Church is Mother. We share in the divine sonship. If you try to fit this definition in the document it doesn't make sense. It all starts with idea that Christ came to serve and not judge is not traditional, nor biblical.
How does the Church judge. In the confessional with penance and absolution. Excommunication and Anathema. Can we use contraception? The Church has passed her judgment on that, as well. The Church is here to judge! Well, does mankind desire to be saved, or not? There is a lot of talk about all this "aspirating." Its all New Age, critical and swift upheaval. Current trends lead to ecumenism. There is a new vision (Free Masonic) where we are all citizens of the world (really Free Masonic) "civis" of a "civitas" with one state with the order to the service of man? or God? (St. Augustine talks about how these two are very different.) In justice, what do we owe God? Our conscience is an act the intellect makes regarding the morality of a decision. *Morality involves God.
Another quote "To develop [Man's] dignity" that page comes strait out of the United Nations. Is man really asking deep questions today? Is the person playing Halo 3 on the couch really asking "what is my vocation?" This document declares "All things should be ordained to man for the center and summit." What happened to dying to oneself, may I ask? Are we born free? Guadiam et Spes makes a good case for that idea. Man can do whatever he wants.
"Adam and Eve had the first relationship between persons." Does the Church not remember Adam and Gods relationship. *Freedom is the capacity to choose between two varying goods... so is it my freedom is protected or my freedom is restricted.
Nowhere does this document mention Communism, which so many hoped it would. Does only a body belong to the state? Does the soul belong to God? Does only the soul belong to God, or the body, too?

on De Verbum

2010-12-15T07:36:00.000-08:00

November 11, 1965 on Divine Revelation...

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

Msgr Ghardini says this Council shouldn't be weighted as much as the others. In the constitutions, only the repeated dogmas are infallible. Anything new, not dogmatic, no definitions, no condemnations.
Revelation by scripture and tradition. Two sources.
Inspiration-Movement of the Holy Ghost. Whereby God directs the writing of human authors so that those and only those things that God wishes are written. Nothing more, nothing less is there that is meant to be there. Only Scripture is inspired (written.) Even eccuminical councils are not written in only the words that God wants. Infalibility and Inspiration are not the same thing. Councils that are infalible are only protected for writing something erroneous.
Scripture is inerrant. No error. None. Not just in theology, not just morals. We're talking geographical, chronological, etc, becuase God cannot direct error to happen. Inerrant is not restricted. It excludes/forbids error. There is no difference... no split between God and the human authors. They couldn't even think of something wrong. It is not true to say "only the religious elements are infalible." That was condemned in 1920. Words are dictated by the Holy Ghost to the person writing.

1) Devine Revelation- all recolation ended with the death of the last apostle, St. John. Traditionally the will submits, and the intellect receives the Content of Faith. These "truths revealed" are "communicated by God himself. Now, people don't want to adhear to God Himself but to man. That leaves room for protestants, Jews, etc. The Truths of the Faith are learnable things, not experiences.

2) "From the Gospel comes truth, morals." What about tradition? That is the other source. It doesn't talk about it at all. The deposit of Faith is dead to the Modern Man. They talk about the living Gospel They really wanted it to grow and change. Can you believe Nicea, Trent, in the same way the Church believed it then. Or were we wrong then about the meaning, and "now we've grown." The apostles receives, and the hierarchy gives to the people. Now there is a move to blur the lines. Make the teaching church and the lay people equals... Tradition is now subordinate. "It just sheds light on scripture."

The idea behind this is "If we can put tradition on the back burner, then we can focus on scripture. That way we can talk to protestants on an even playing field. You bet the protestants who were invited to the Council loved this document. The council may have been "invoked" by the Holy Ghost, but then the hierarchy refused to use the power.

The Holy Ghost was definitely at the Council. He was there to protect the Faith from the liberals binding heresy.

The sixth sense

2010-12-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

On Sacrosanctum Concilium (part II)

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

to be ecumenical, a council must wither be called by the pope, or haves the pope's approval. Like Nicaea I, called by Constantine. They define doctrine or dogma, and condemn heresy(Infallible.) To be defined, you must positively decree, (its not new revelation) that is to be held by all. The deposit of faith ended with St. John. Cannons, or "rules of faith" condemns whats said. They also can definitively reform aspects of Morals (which will be infallible too)
In 1959 when the Council was called, Belgium, Germany, and France were full of well organized liberals, like Rhienner. The group called the "Schemata" made sure Rhienner got in the council the second time it met. Yes, Vatican II is a council, but it is not infallible in definition. In 1983, it was said that infallibility rests in defining Faith and Morals.

Here is the testimony of four popes that prove Vatican II is fallible.
Oct. 6, '65 "Different from other councils, it is disciplinary and pastoral...avoids infalible teaching"
1964- "Avoided proclaiming infallible dogmatic teaching"
John Paul II- Eccesia Dei, "Vatican to renew committee, perhaps because teachings are new and not well understood."
Benedict XVI (Card. Ratzinger) to the Chilean Episcopal Conference "The truth is [Vatican II] defined no dogma at all, merely pastoral in nature... it chose to remain clear [of exorcising infallibility.] Now the council does have infallible teaching in it...When it repeats existing dogma.... but it cannot give "assent of faith."
John XXIII said on Oct. 11, 1962 "No need for any new definitions. Everything that needed to be defined was already defined!" ....
... A Dogmatic Council? No! Calling a council at this time was most inopportune because of the rampant modernism and liberalism. Sometimes heresy does "help" theologians be more precise. In the face of it they may guard the deposit of faith more efficaciously. Councils always deal with problems in the present time, but what were the problems the Church was dealing with. Communism? No, they didn't touch that. What they did say was "This doesn't touch the fundamentals" and it "should be passed on through MODERN thought." Substance is one thing, expression is another....

The vocabulary is totally different in this Council. Truth is attacked, because the words are not scholastic. Words with more than one meaning are used on purpose. Views of Truth...
Ancients' view- Conformity of the mind to reality
Modernists'- Subjectivity (exact opposite.) Because in the 17th century we learned we can be enlightened by truth, but not know it (and God who is Truth.) You can sense a tree (touch, feel, smell, taste) but you cannot know the "treeness." What about an artificial tree, that is an exact replica, and they even sprayed pine on it, and shellacked it with something that tastes like bark? Is it a tree? You cannot sense that it is not a tree, but you can know that it is not a tree.

Don Bognini was kind of a council father. "we exclude condemnation of errors"
Re clothe truths in modern thought. We need to fix families with a renewal. Archbishop Lefebrve tried to have Vatican II condemn Communism, but it was never touched.

Councils are not inspired. It would be heresy to say that Vatican II was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Just like it would be heresy to claim that Vatican I or even Trent was inspired. Only sacred scripture is inspired!

How does a liturgical document get started. Don Gueranger restored the Benedictine Abbey of Solemes. He was very Anti liturgical-heresy. He compiled Gregorian Chant and came up with a missal for the people. He really wanted to bring the people to liturgy. He combated...
Quietism- best thing is to be indifferent. Practice no virtues..."as long as I feel good towards God.
Jansenism- man is utterly wounded. Incapable of doing anything. Cannot approach sacraments unless perfect. What happens... people do not come to the sacraments.
Galicanism- Limited power of the pope in France.
Don Gaspar Lefebrve produced the St. Andrew's Missal. St. Pius X restored liturgy in Chant. Don L. Bodunin joined the Benedictines, but was a secular priest at first. His idea was that to really teach you the Faith. Private prayer/piety is nice, but the individual must give way to the community -public prayer. Bring liturgy to the people vs. bring people to the liturgy. He befriends the future John XXIII in 1924. They really start getting all excited about the parish youth movement. At this time, Archeologism is condemned. That is the idea that everything after about 300 AD is corrupt. And that the Church should go back to the primal means.
But what does "the spirit of Vatican II do?" 35 years later, it turns the altar into a table, it throws out most of the vestments, it makes the Mass "understandable" by dumbing it down.
This document of the Second Vatican Council want laity to get involved with the sacraments unlike they ever were before. All should be involved. And Latin (Western) things were distrusted.
That is why in the New Order there is the influx of the Eastern/Greek "Lord, hear our prayer."
It is "Christian variety."

Dignitatis Humanis

2010-12-12T10:09:00.001-08:00

1965

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

This is the hardest document for Americans to understand. We take for granted the rights of Man (according to the French Revelation.)"We the people!" Life, Liberty, and (property) the pursuit of happiness. You do what you need to do, as long as you don't hurt anybody and you pay your taxes, and you're good to go. We have a very pluralistic mentality. Well, (it was actually called) "Americanism" was condemned by Pope Leo XIII. He says this pragmatic mindset of "if it works than okay" neglects principal. Principal is primary. Whether it is true or not is not important for American minded people. The French for instance, would rather die for principals, to them it is not about getting along. They killed a king because they didn't like how life was.

For the Catholic mind, error is evil. Ideas can lead you to Hell. Not just morals. Fr. John Murray, Society of Jesus, tried to incorporate American Ideas into ecclesiastical law. If you have more than one religion, there's always going to be an evil. Now, whether you put up with them is a different thing. Now, all Religions are good. Age of Communism. "more interested in personal judgement, not subject to coercion, sense of duties. Existentialism." Man has now "come of age." Christianity treats people like children. Duty of Man to search for the truth. Free by Nature, man cannot be coerced. Innate Freedom to publicly practice his religion.
Now man has the Right to worship according to his conscience. There should be no external force. "the state must recognize inherent right to follow his conscience."
3. Public order. This goes against past teaching! Syllabus of Error. Absolute Naturalism. No regard for religion. Moderate same validity for the true religion as for false religion. Public peace may require. But it is almost word for word condemned! (This document may be whats called the counter-syllabus of Error.) Exorcise virtue so that he may save his soul. True religion can not be treated as a false religion, then people cannot know the difference. If they contradict, then we have a problem. They lead to unbelief. If you treat Evil the way you treat Good, you destroy Good. Not difficult. God provides truths. Inquisition.- St. Pius V (inquisitor himself.) He knew that the act of Faith cannot be forced. You cannot for Baptism. But he and the other inquisitors judged sessions concerning non Catholics on things that you can know by reason. Ex. Sodomy. Jews, Muslims, Catholics, all could be tried, because that is understood by all to be wrong. You could even be excommunicated if you were a civil leader who didn't get rid of heresy. But, if one openly practices and entertains heresy after baptism, they can and should be suppressed.

Religious freedom is condemned under Mirare Vos. Look it up. People do not choose whats herder if they have the choice. And it doesn't get much harder than Catholicism. No divorce. No homosexual marriages. But, recent polls for some reason now, "Catholics" are the biggest supporter of this stuff... then the nut job protestants.

Dignitatis Humanae is simply not realistic. People wont come to Catholicism if its just as good as another religion. Cannot approve a system where schools teach only natural reason. Catholics must not hold that the Church is not the only true religion. Roman Pontiffs must not come to terms with Modernism. Explicitly condemned to do so. Their only goal is to protect and further the True Religion.

It is okay to tolerate a false religion if it leads to a civilization where you end up with a worse situation. (like if it would lead violence) but is that where we are at? Toleration of a false religion is not the same thing as an inherent right of a false religion.

Recent thoughts

2010-12-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

I wanted to break from the Vatican II series for one more post, and share some thoughts. I saw some pictures recently from a Catholic group on Campus. The pictures were of a Christmas party that was celebrated on Dec. 2nd (the first day of Chanukkah, not that that has anything to do with anything.) Some of my friends dressed up like buffoons, literally ripping up a present. And cheering them on, on all fours (unless he was looking for a lost contact) was a clergyman. I don't know what else to write. I'll try, but what do I say? "What am I doing hanging out with this group" is a start.
They were four days into Advent, and already couldn't stop themselves from opening a present. I don't know what was in there, but I hope it was worth it. St. Nick stopped by... excuse me, Santa. Maybe he was called St. Nick, I hope not, I don't think St. Nicholas would be to happy with how he was portrayed at a "Catholic event." The pictures were sick, everybody was standing on chairs, giving high fives. Its like an extension of Life Teen. Could you imagine Our Lady standing on chairs, celebrating the birth of her Son three weeks early?
What do you call the age that is in between "Teen" and "Adult." Maybe "young-adult?" Well, whatever you want to call that age, no one was acting like it.

"When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spoke as a child. But when I became a man, I put away the things of a child." St. Paul tells us in his first Epistle to the Corinthians.

How will these poor kids grow spiritually if they are subjected to cake all the time. I don't buy the "not everybody is ready be a hard-core Catholic, so you have to compromise" argument. It is true, not everybody is ready. But don't piss on them and tell them it's raining. If you want to be Catholic, you must reject the world. Jesus Christ and every saint has taught that. What I saw in the pictures was "the world." I just pray that I have the strength to continue to avoid that stuff. I cannot wait until Christmastide, when I can worthily celebrate the Nativity. Until then, Ill keep saying the Joyful Mysteries. I hope you'll join me.

To end with a short prayer...
O Redeemer, born in humility, lived in humility, died in humility, teach me this virtue. Let me know where I stand before Thee. Let me not be intoxicated with the pleasures of the world in the season before Thy Nativity. Help me to avoid paganism and frivility. Grant me the grace to be charitable when I talk about Thee and defend Thy season of Advent. I'm sorry I typed a vulgar word up there, but I was angry. I hope this is justified anger. If it is not, purge me of it. Let me die to myself, so that I may reign with Thee, now, in Christmastide, and forever. Amen.

The Gift of Baptism!

2010-12-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

I saw the most beautiful baptism. It was of an adult (a girl about my age) who was born unto Eternal Life last Wednesday on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. A brief description of the 48 min ceremony.
She was questioned in the vestibule ("outside the Church").
What do you seek? Do you renounce Satan? Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, etc? She knelt down three diffrent times and said the Lord's Prayer each by rising and saying Amen. Tasted the salt of wisdom, and after about 30 minutes of exorcisms, she was ready to be brought into the church. About half way into the nave, she laid prostrate for a few moments. This is when I was a little overwhelmed. I couldn't begin to imagine what was going through her mind, but I can tell you what was going through mine. I just wanted to lay on the ground with her, adore God, tell Him I was sorry for everything I have done to hurt him since my baptism. Promise Him that I would be a good tabernacle for Him to reign from, that I would rather die like Saint Bartholomew then to loose what was about to be given to me. Then I gave thanks, and was so happy that anyone (including me, the biggest sinner I know) could renew the promises of Baptism with one good Confession. She then arose, looking stronger than ever. We all said the Creed. Her ears were open with saliva, her breast and back were anointed with oil. At last, she moved on to the baptismal font. She was anointed one last time, then Baptized in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. A candle was given to her, and she donned the white garment of new Christians.

We can all be as pure as this dove. With a proper examination of conscience, and true contrition for our sins, and the Sacrament of Penance, we will be reconciled to Our Father who is in Heaven.

Nostrae Aetate

2010-12-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

Oct. 1965 On non Christian Religion

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

If you're non-Catholic, can you be saved? Baptism of desire...
(explicit) Unity to the Church by explicit desire (catechists)
(implicit) What about all the New World before the missionaries came bringing the Gospel? What about their ancestors? Was there salvation for them? Well yes, there could be, but supernatural Faith, Hope, and Charity would be needed when you die. Underlying theme of how you can say others in different religions can be saved.
Invincible ignorance- vincible is willful. If you took the necessary means you could know the truth, then it is not invincible. (Like if you choose not to read Card. Hoyos's declaration on whether the SSPX is schismatic, you are not left in invincible ignorance.) But if you lived in a jungle and no missionaries have come to your tribe yet, then you can claim it.
Invincible doesn't save, it just excuses guilt. But God still gives them grace to do good, and avoid evil. Friendship between Christians, that is men of good will.
Community- organization of man. But should we have one community? No! There shouldn't be a one-world religion that compromises so everybody can worship together. "Quest for God?" Excuse me, God has already revealed the Faith, we don't have to search for anything. (but its true, you can still grow, if that's what you mean by "quest")
This document talks about "one human race" with "one common destiny" and "exist in peace" (a peace without truth.) Mutual appreciation of different religions. What about St. Boniface, who desecrated the pagan's holy groves by chopping a tree down himself? St. Justin Martyr gets brought up. But, is this mutual appreciation what St. Justin martyr talked about when he spoke of seeds of the Gospel? Other non-Christians are now having "authentic religious experiences leading them to Catholicism. (yeah, maybe the Anglican bishops, but that's more intellectual and less "emotional." I don't see many Buddhists packing the parish seats after they reach enlightenment. There is a basis in common, sure. They are pretty nice to their neighbor. But that can be natural. They deny the supernatural. Pope Benedict says that St. Justin was talking about philosophy, NOT RELIGION in his series that made him a doctor of the Church, okay, but that's not like the council taught. Other religions are not fruits of the "search for Truth."
Science says primitive religion was monotheistic. The more you advance, the further you get away from one God, though. Starts with Hinduism. They haven't discovered any divine mystery. It says they worship God, free from the illusions of this world.There is no condemnation of anything false. Buddhism can strive to obtain the enlightened one. St. Francis Xavier went to Sri Lanka. He converted the little Hindus and told them o go destroy the temple. Because that was true Ecumenism.
Lets just leave them in invincible ignorance. Do religions lead you to God? Away? In history, saints destroyed everything they could get there hands on. The Catholic rejects other religions. The gods of other religions are fallen angels. They deceive. the Church sent missionaries against their "better judgement" (they knew they would probably die) to convert the natives. BECAUSE OTHER RELIGIONS DONT SAVE.

Even if a cookie is 99% good, and 1% poison, it will still kill you. Just like if a false religion is almost there, but they still deny Christ, it will still send you to Hell. The document talks about preserving some of the cultural influence. Well, St. Pius X says the Catholic culture is superior to others. Vatican II has a high regard for Muslims? Bl. Urban II waged a war on them! St. Catherine of Sienna called them "infidel dogs" and supported the Crusades. St. Joan of Arc did, too. Muslims worship a God who "has spoken to man" in the Koran. No condemnation of any falsity. They believe in Jesus, but not as God. Yet they worship a god without the second Person of the Trinity. (in alms, fasting, prayer, sometimes even invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary.(I don't remember why I wrote this. Maybe the Muslims do?)) St. Bernard of Clairvaux preached the necessity of the Second Crusade, But John Paul II apologizes for it.
The Document is only on how other religions unite. Not how they are wrong. The Church is a Mystery (see last blog, yeah, back to that again.) We are all linked by "spiritual ties." God revealed the truth to the Jews in sight of Christ. If we draw from the original 12 disciples (pretty much all Jews) we get the Truth. But now is not the time to draw anything from the Jews or Gentiles. St. Peter and St. John went into the temples, but why? God still loves them! He pushes them towards the Church, but now, their rites are no longer a valid means. They even think they cannot enter heaven because their has been no savior. Just like we are wounded by Adam's sin, Jews are caught up in their curse. "Let His blood be on us and our children." True, they are not personally responsible for for the actual crime.

So are we not supposed to persecute anybody anymore? What about Communism? What about the Nazi SS after the war? Yeah, well they actually committed crimes against humanity! Ecumenical Council Lateran IV forbids Jews from holding office. That is punishment for them committing the Crime against Humanity. The Fourth Lateran Council also says that Jews must be marked if in public to be kept separate. That's your Faith, ladies and gentlemen. As a Catholic, you must believe what this council binds and what it condemns. Don't talk to me about Vatican II if you're not willing to talk about Lateran IV. And Lateran IV was a doctrinal council. Vatican II is Pastoral, what ever that means (it means it doesn't bind.)

The Church reproves to the mind of Christ the discrimination or harassment of any man. This is Rejection of everything taught before.

St. Boniface, pray for us,
St. Justin Martyr, pray for us,
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us,
St. Pius X, pray for us,
Bl. Urabn II, pray for us,
St. Catherine of Sienna, pray for us,
St. Joan of Arc, pray for us,
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us,
St. Peter, pray for us,
St. John, pray for us.

on Lumen Gentium

2010-12-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

Nov. 21, 1964
On the Church
**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

We started this meeting off by talking about Cardinal Gharardini. He is a Canon in St. Peter's who wrote a book that came out this year called Vatican II: A much needed discussion. This is what he said in a nut shell. The Church didn't start with Vatican II, the council was not infallible, and that Vatican II was basically the destruction of Papal authority. He reiterates what all the Popes have said since the council (and is blatantly ignored) that Vatican II was not dogmatic, and nothing new is to be believed. Therefore if you deny of the new things, you are not a heretic.
De Fide means "from faith." It is when something is judged or condemned by Faith. Not only can Vatican II err, it has erred. Statements need to be made on weight, and it needs to address the parts that are not congruent with tradition.
It defines the Church as being the kingdom of Heaven founded in mystery-means of salvation (sacrament.) Establishes unity. The visible establishment Christ founded with a hierarchy. A political order also establishes unity in the natural order. (Remember, the document is written in Latin.) Key parts of this definition are written in the subjunctive case: what you use when it is not a statement of certainty. Indicative is the case that should have been used, but they chose to use subjunctive. Why?
This is the traditional definition of the Church. The visible, supernatural, perfect (not lacking anything to accomplish its goal) society which is united by a union in faith, subjection to (legitimate hierarchy) to the Pope, and which shares the same sacraments for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. (I think founded by Christ is implied, or maybe I didn't write it down.)
Leo XIII and Pius XII did say the Church was the mystical body (material) of Christ, and bodies are seen. Therefore the Church cannot be invisible, nor solely spiritual. It has five marks... the One, Holy, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic Church. (St?) Mary of Agreta, a Franciscan missionary said the Holy Ghost vivifies the Church, moves, makes holy, is the soul.
What about non-Catholic churches? Vatican II's concept of society is about
1) the Church is a mystery and cannot be seen by all... unlike the old definition: a visible society. It is unknowable in its essence...well, thats not totally untrue, as finite beings, we cant see the entire universe as God sees it, and the beatific vision is witheld from us. But the non-Catholics mean it more along the lines of "don't try to figure out the soul, its too complicated." The church "discovers" its nature. That's weird, what does that mean.
2) Holy effects which others have. So the Holy Ghost doesn't hesitate to use members of heretics?
3) Subsists in the Catholic Church? No! The truth is the Church, it doesn't subside in it. This is problematic. If the true society only subsists in the Church, it is not efficacious.
4) Communion (not membership basis of unity) not the traditional way. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Totally new-Baptism is, not communion. If you lack Faith, you don't have anything.
It talks about the "people of God." This doesn't sound heretical, but it is written not as the Catholic understanding. First comes Christ, he brings the twelve. First comes Moses, then Aaron, then the tribes. Then you understand the "people of God." But in the modern terms, "people of God" is now like "we the people." Nowhere does it talk about the Church Militant. Supreme authority resides in the Pope and the college of Bishops, led by the pope. Nowhere is the Vicar of Christ/Successor of Peter mentioned.
Consecration comes from the apostolic succession. The Power of Orders and the Power of Jurisdiction are two different powers. One comes first, then the other can be granted. But all of the sudden, now apparently you get both at the same time. Just like the Orthodox. They have validly consecrated bishops and orders. But consecration gives you the power to receive jurisdiction. (I don't know where we were going with this.)
Against the Council Fathers, Pope Paul VI exercised powers without them. It was called "Black Tuesday." The Catholic church does not hesitate to call the Blessed Mother our Mediatrix. But he did not condemn, and did not affirm. There were Protestants and Orthodox at the Council, and they talked with the council Fathers.

Okay, so I have no idea what half these notes mean. I remember it all making sense when I took them, but this was like 6 months ago. I am half tempted to not post this, but I know how few people read it. soo....for the two of you out there.... let me try to sum the differences. Tradition says that the True Church must be seen, you must be able to put your finger on it, and outside of it, God does not use other religions to save souls. Now, the Church is actually a mystery, that we can't quite figure out. But Vatican II is pretty sure that the fullness of Truth exists in the Roman Church. It uses a lot of vague flowery words to get around saying that there is an apostolic line that only can claim Truth for its own.
Also, a bishop can consecrate a priest and it be valid, but the new bishop is only then able to receive jurisdiction from the Pope. Also, Paul VI actually acted without the Council, and that is totally within his limits.

On Sacrosanctum Concilium

2010-11-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

We studied the documents of Vatican II at church (yes, we don't pretend that it doesn't exist)... and these next blogs are my notes...

**What is below is my shorthand mixed with my own thoughts. This post is a note/thought dump and may not make sense! If I can clarify anything, please let me know so I can edit/explain further.**

Dec. 1963 Sacrisanctum Concilium
This constitution was for the restoration of the Liturgy. It had "fallen away." It needed to be clarified/ Reformed. There was the liturgical reform itself, then there was the reform of the Office, music, and art. Adapted to things that are subject to change, but never tells what is what. "If Christ established it, it is not subject to change." Apostles, early Church Fathers said the same thing. But later... it is now "subject to change"
Purpose of Reform.

To foster and promote union to whoever believes in Christ. (non-Catholics).

Strengthen and to call all mankind into the Church. (intro of culture into liturgy.)

But NOWHERE does it say anything about God being worshiped in a more fitting manner.
The price of our redemption, the Precious Blood, feast no longer first class. "Christ becomes sin (man) for us" He does take on so much for us.
The "Paschal Mystery" is the NEW thing.(1) The Cross (meritorious), the (2)Resurrection and the (3) Ascension (exemplary/non meritorious) These three made present by liturgy. We encounter the person or events... not the merits.
Meal~ This is what its about. That is why there is now a Jewish table blessing. The people are in the pews for the Last Supper. True presence is not fortified. Transubstantiation is not mentioned, but the presence is now found in the Word. The table of the Word. "where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there..." (that's why in the procession, now the Missal is held above the head.)
But Tradition says the death of Our Lord is the sacrifice that saves us, not the Paschal Mysteries. The Mass is the application of the merits won for us while Christ was alive. Once you die, you cannot merit. And neither could Christ. The Resurrection and Ascension didn't and could not merit any thing for us, and this document makes no distinction. (the authors did not want it to!) The Sacrifice was a finite historical event. How could it happen again? Accidents (like appearances, not like car accidents) happen only once. Calvary happened 2000 years ago, and it will never happen again. But what about the Mass? We can have the effects of the historical event applied to us, AND THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT.

The Bible is inspired, yes. But no "presence it brings" is inspired. Infallible does not equal inspired, and this is very important to understand. The Faith comes through a medium: the teaching church (not us lay people.) Not directly.....As a side note, this makes me wonder how everybody and there mother believes that God is using the "Holy Spirit" to help them make the right decisions. Maybe their conscience that God gave them, yes. But the Holy Ghost?..... St. Paul asks "How can I believe/hear with out a preacher" Rom 10:14. The Church has always been the vehicle the brings you the Faith. Now, lay people are encouraged to come on up and read from the book. Why? Because there is no mediator now. We get "inspiration from the Word proclaimed" with or without the clergy of Christ's Church.

Redemption is now the manifestation of God's love. It expresses the Father's love for us. No longer is it a sign of God's justice. (boy, I havent heard the j word in a while.) Charity has been divorced from Justice....

This document does say true things. In themselves, they are okay, but it leaves out everything that should support it, so when you read it, you can come out thinking like a Modernest. There are no traditional terms left in it. Has the Church been out of Harmony for the past 1500 years, beacause what is implied is very different from what was taught? The reform of liturgy was to be understood with ease, but no person (priest/bishop/cardinal/pope) can change it on his own authority. Read the Council of Trent. You have to believe everything it says in order to be Catholic!
I will leave you with what Sacrosanctum Concilium says...
Latin is to remain preserved in the Roman Rite.
The people should be able to sing in Latin to "sync your devotion to Liturgy."

But why was the Office changed from where the priest had to do 150 Psalms in a week to finish all 150 psalms in a month. I guess the Vatican thought they would have less time on there hands with all the seminarians that were going to come with Vatican II.

St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.

Are there still Thomists?

2010-11-24T06:40:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like to provide an argument in favor of the Tridentine Mass. Surprised?..

This Saturday I was told that the religious group, Home of the Mother, celebrates Mass according to the '62 sometimes. Well, good. I told the person "that Mass will bring your religious order and the world many graces." I was expecting a "yeah, I know, right!" but instead I got an "all Masses bring graces. There is only one Mass, you know that, Alex."

It was clear that my reputation precedes me...
I laughed to my self, and had to admit that with every true Mass comes infinite graces. But on my way home, I thought of an argument...

Studying St. Thomas' Summa, at our last chapter meeting, the question of why we have different Masses (I.e. Mass for the dead, Mass for the election of a pope, Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin, the saint of the day, etc.) was the topic. The answer the Angelic Doctor gives is that the Mass is two things. First and foremost a Sacrifice. It is the same Sacrifice in any valid Mass (A Tridentine Mass, a Novus Ordo Mass, yes, even a Black Mass) Second, the Mass is a prayer. And it is THEE highest form of prayer possible. This is what makes the Masses different. Some are for some intentions, some are for others. And as we all know, some prayers are more pleasing to God, because of how they are offered. One form of the Roman Rite undoubtedly makes the sacrificial nature of the Mass more concise and clear. The more direct our intention is, and the better we prepare ourselves for the prayer; the better it is for us and He Who Is. If you take a the Mass codified by St. Pius V and you take even the best, most conservative, Latin Mass of Paul VI there's still trouble (Google the Ottaviani Intervention if you don't believe me.) Then, if you take the Tridentine Rite, and compare it to a Vulgar mistranslated (not even close) Mass,-full of women readers,-"Eucharistic ministers,"-priest dishing out Communion in the hand saying "Good morning, Bill, Body of Christ"-folk guitar, drums and chimes -and people shaking hands and throwing out peace signs... its simply not comparable. Let me ask you this.

Why are there two forms of one rite? Why is there an Old Rite at all. If two things are the same, that means there is no difference. "Six of one, Half dozen of the other", right? If there is no difference in the "extraordinary form" and the Novus Ordo, why did the bishop of my diocese turn away the Fraternity of St. Peter? Why wont he provide funds for priests who want to learn the ancient Roman Rite? Isn't it the same Mass, Your Excellency? Or is it a waste of time? Is he scared of a Parish that preaches Purgatory, that teaches from the Catechism of St. Pius X, that has a Dominican community which practices penance and true Dominican Spirituality?

Apples and Apples, or Apples and Oranges? Happy feast of St. John of the Cross.

St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. John of the Cross, my Confirmation patron, pray for us.

Its like magic, but real

2010-11-24T06:29:00.001-08:00

I spilled some wax on my dress pants. I thought I was screwed. But a Servite told me this is how you get it off.

Cut two strips out of a paper bag. Each fat enough to cover the whole spill.
Put one immediately under the the stain, and on on top.
Iron that bad boy on medium heat.
The wax gets hot and soaks into the paper and off your pants/shirt/cassock/altar cloth.

True story!

Quick thoughts

2010-11-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

I would like to jot down some of the things that are going on upstairs.
Truth. Do you love truth. Do you hate evil. Do you hate the schism or the schismatic. Do you love your local ordinary, or do you hate him. Do you love the Bishop of Rome or do you hate him. If one says that attending an SSPX Mass can fulfill your Sunday obligation, and it is not a sin to go there, and the other says you can't go there because he doesn't like Tradition, who do you believe? (I'll give you a hint, if you're Roman Catholic, you believe the Pope.) Tradition has been all but outlawed. But it is worse. It is tolerated. It is the ugly stepchild. It is not worth your time to read Open Letter to Confused Catholics, Timebombs of the Second Vatican Council, or even a Novus Ordo book Ecumenical Council Vatican II; a much needed discussion, written by Monsignor Gherardini in Rome, because if you do you will not be open to the Holy Spirit. You will be a bad Catholic. You wont even be Catholic, because it is schism to question the local priests. It is "pompous to think you know better than the Pope."
Open a book, its out in the open. Open Catholic Code of Cannon Law, soften your heart and your mind, and let God work. Love God, and hate what offends him. Do not remain ignorant. Do not think what you don't know wont hurt you. It is a tremendous disservice to God if you choose to blindly be a yes-man your whole life. God will not be fooled. If you can read this, 1. You can read, God has given you the gift of literacy, use it to get smarter/more informed. 2. You have the internet. 3. You have the names of three books that will make you love Jesus more.
Are you a Catholic to fit in? It sure would be a lot easier. Or are you a Catholic to worship God in the most and pleasing manner possible, so that He might be glorified more than ever. Dont be scared to be persecuted for justices sake...there is a second part to that beatitude.

Meditatio

2010-06-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Once in a blue moon I have a good idea. I'm sure about a million people have had the same idea, but this is the first time I have heard about this meditation.

I have been told a melancholic must view all things from the perspective of the Foot of the Cross. I was viewing the Joyful Mysteries from said vantage point and came to a very simple realization.

What horror would it be to take a whip to an infants back! Scourging a baby is one of the most despicable, nauseating thoughts I can come up with. Yet, it is basically what happened 2000 years ago. Let me ask you, what difference was there in the man, Christ Jesus, and the little baby born in Bethlehem.
Was it okay to whip Christ because he learned how to talk? Was it because he grew facial hair that allowed the Romans to gasp for air in between lashings? No. Well then what was different? The answer is really nothing.

Not one thing was different between the man and the child Jesus, but age! He never merrited the whip. Not for one instance in His life did He transgress. It would be okay to punish any other man by the whip, but not Our Lord. I have earned this punishment. Not He who did nothing wrong. Justice is rendering to God what is His due. This act was unjust! Never did God need to shed His blood. He should not have had to go through the torment. A convict must make reparation for his past faults. I convict myself of sin. A baby who grows up and sins just once owes Almighty God penance. But He was a Lamb, pure and white. The Lamb that made us, and we slayed the Victim in a humiliating, hot, red sacrifice.

He was equally as mild as the bambino in swaddle. Christ was equally as obedient as the baby presented in the temple for circumcision. He was as innocent as the infant who nursed on Our Lady's breast. He was as forgiving as the Lord who knew Peter would deny him thrice. Literally, nothing but growth changed in Our Lord on his way to Mount Calvary.

It is haneous to think of the crimes against Our Lord after one comes to this understanding. And we did that to Him. We woke a toddler up, took him out of his crib, took his pajamas and diaper off, and lashed his back to the bone with nine-tails. Spit on his opened body, and crowned his once adorable, now unrecognizable head with thorns.

Jesus Christ, crucified, have mercy on us.
Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Pray the Rosary. It helps!

Receive ye the Habit

2010-06-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have blogged about numbers 4 & 6 on my "playing catch-up list." Now to hit on 1.

For a little over a month, I have been trying to keep the Rule of St. Dominic. Two others and I (the novice on the left) were incorporated into the folds of the ancient brotherhood that started in Spain and set flame to world. We are called the Order of Penance; the Militia of Jesus Christ; Order of Friars Preachers. I now wear the same habit that our Holy Father Dominic received from Our Lady. St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Rose of Lima, Pope St. Pius V, St. Vincent Ferrer, the list of holy men and women goes on and on. I just hope I do not bring any shame to the good names who proceed me.

Why in the world would a Dominican brother take St. Francis, founder of the Franciscans as his name? Well, it so happens that the two founders bumped into each other at the Fourth Lateran Council. Thats Right! What a small world, but it is not surprising to me. Both orders honor the other Holy Father as a founder of their own order.

I think I can learn a lot from both of my Patrons. I pray to repent like St. Francis, and to spread the Truth and zeal for God like St. Dominic. I don't think either of them had beds. Maybe that will go next. They both liked walking. There is a soup kitchen under the patronage of St. Francis that I checked out. That was pretty cool. St. Dominic always kept his conversation with God, or about God. I ask for his intercession to trim the fat, so to speak.

I am so blessed to have been exposed to truly Catholic teachings. Teachings that are older than 45 years old. At the Dominican meetings we go over the Summa and encyclicals that the New Order probably doesn't want you to see. Taking these books off the shelf and blowing dust off is not worth many peoples time anymore. Does the Church not have these problems anymore? Is the Church really in "Spring Time?" Mass attendance down, next to empty seminaries, tradition is the ugly step child. I do see some promise. Some of the youth want strict Catholicism more than the hierarchy. But the problem is the youth have been subjected to nothing but "feel-good" Catholicism. Guitar Mass has replaced Gregorian Chant. Obedience has turned into the blind leading the blind... I just feel that the Church is being married to the world and other religions, which for hundreds and hundreds of years was the opposite goal.

At these meetings we do not get any of this feel good nonsense. What happens when things don't feel good anymore. If everything is based on feelings, St. John of the Cross would warn you to get ready for a very dark, dark night. There is comfort in knowing you walk away from a group meeting intellectually stimulated and not just warm and fuzzy.
Let us pray for people who will teach, preach, and stand up for Dominican Spirituality and Catholicism.

The Name Game

2010-06-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Four Temperaments are quite a useful tool in squeezing the most out of life. They help you win over others, they show you the strengths and weaknesses in your self, they give insight to the way the world goes 'round. It is a sneaky way to cut at some ones being. A great way to continue a conversation (and a light way of judging people) To conquer your own shows who is boss.

The Choleric gets stuff done. All of the dictators and conquers of history were cholerics. If you're not first, you're last, and its their way or the highway. They can be the greatest saints, or the worst sinners. They get excited easily, and it will make a lasting impression. Pride is their downfall, but there is not a better temperament to get others to Heaven.

The Sanguine is carefree and not the deepest group of people. Mirrors are their best friend and they get exited easily, too. However, after something looses its novelty, the Sanguine is ready to move on to something newer and more shiny. They talk just to talk (to hear their own beautiful voice) and forget why they started talking. They help others because they can be very empathetic, but first, they must help themselves. Quite the active temperament.

The Melancholic can be characterized as serious and careful. They are slow to get excited, but after they process the person, place, thing or idea, the impression is lasting. When put on the spot, they know what they want to say, but can not make it sound just right. The old saying "the glass is half empty" applies to melancholic outlook, but they make up (I dare say) the mojority of the saints.

The Phlegmatic is a passive type and needs encouraging. They don't excite very easily and are more forgiving. A wrong first impression with this temperament, and you're not totally dead just yet. Spanking Plegmatics as kids is more acceptable, because the emotional scares are not deep. This temperament is almost like the absence of the above three. Phlegmatics just have to work a little harder than most.

I find myself to be Melancholic. A couple of examples why. Friday was my birthday and I had people over. I knew it was going to rain, and sure enough it did (monsoon like.) I used too much power from the single outlet in the garage, and it blew. It did not surprise me. I will remember why I do not like people and it sticks for no reason. I get tongue tied all the time, etc.

A matter of interest... I get along with Choleric Catholics, but can not stand them if there is no God in a Choleric. I have a really hard time with Sanguine Catholics, but I get the carefreeness of a non-Christian sanguine, and find it amusing and a curiously disgusting. I now have a little better understanding for Catholic Melancholics. We are a little hard on ourselves, but we need to be. But what I dont understand is the non-believing Melancholic. Why be hard on yourself if you there is no God. Why not eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow may never come? I think I would agree with the plegmatic outlook if I didn't have hope for an eternal life. What would be the point of being powerful or popular?

The Temperaments were studied so that we may overcome the shortfalls of our own. The saints embraced the intrinsic good built into their style, and strove for the goods in the others. We should do the same. I have many more thoughts, but want to hear everybody else's!

All's well that ends well

2010-06-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to blog about 84 times since the last one, and here are a few updates for you (to be blogs).
1) I became a Dominican Third Order member! Brother Francis, T.O.P.
2) I had a pretty obvious thought pop into my head while meditating on the mysteries.
3) My diocese is very serious, sometimes.
4) I'm a big fan of the Four Temperaments.
5) I have felt like I failed pointing people in the right direction.
6) There was a concert for the priests of our diocese, and my thoughts.

I think I will tackle number 6.
Yesterday, I was asked if I went to a concert held at my university sponsored by a Catholic entertainment company. The concert entitled "Song of Praise" was to show appreciation for all of our priests and what they do. I was asked (ironically enough in front of my priest, who failed to get the invite... if you know what I mean) if I went to the concert. What a shame. I would have no problem going there, showing my support for the men in black, if that was what was really going on. I know folks who put it on meant well, but if the diocese was really bent on getting the souls of its flock to heaven, they could honor** my priest by letting him do what he was created to do.

**Reverend Father does not want honor for the sake of honor, but isn't it Saint Paul who says if one member glories, then the whole rejoices with it.
Its no surprise what happened, but sad that this diocese has an absolute gold mine located in the heart of its biggest city. But no one will take advantage of him. I can't think of a better priest to train other priests in the Tridentine Rite. No one could preach a more traditional (silent) retreat. He knows more about the New Code of Canon Law better than a lot of priests I know, and could hear confessions in a couple of languages. He is a storehouse of knowledge, and would benefit the diocese in many, many ways. But will this diocese ever grow a backbone and tap this font of knowledge? Probably not, because, as Bishop Williamson puts it "as long as we stand up for the old fashion doctrine, we are raining on their parade."

They admit he is a Priest of God, ordained in a Catholic Rite, with the power to share in the Hypostatic Union and make bread Flesh, and wine Blood. But because he cares about the salvation of souls and claims there is a higher authority than the Local Ordinary, he and the chapel where Tradition lives on is worse than my fingers will let me type.
But where is Christ in all of this? Is Christ going to ease judgment of the soul of a priest because he was honored at "Songs of Praise" the night before last? Will Our Lord, the final judge, let the shepherds slide because they are praised in this world? There is a problem there. Priests are not supposed to be popular. St. John of the Cross would tell you that. I see too many priests striving for an approval rating. The more they say "yes," the more the kids like them. Yes to Ecumenism, yes to Life Teen, yes to the feel-good-cafeteria-Catholicism that leaves little kids like me not knowing the simplest of Catechism. Priests in the New Order do know how to say "No." No to fast and penance, no to the reality of Hell, no to the past teachings of Holy Mother Church...

When Christ comes down at the Consecration does He like what He sees in the Kum-biah picture above? Is a rock concert an appropriate place for the Second Person of the Trinity to dwell? (Yes that white table is the altar.)
Our poor Lord mistreated... our poor Lady shedding tear after tear for priests whom she loves so much. Do we have to take part in this, or at least this mindset? Would the saints attend?

***

In truth, I can bet the concert was, as I was told, amazing. I'm sure the pianist and vocalist were exceptional. I can think of no other group of men who deserve to be treated to a nice night. The servants of God are not to be taken for granted! It is time we put our pride aside and see our problems as problems that we are either okay with, or problems that can be remedied.

As usual, I would like to end with a short prayer. O, Most holy Lord, we give Thee praise, due and fit! Please make us patient, grant us obedience, form us into soldiers for Christ. Give us the strength we need to fight the good fight, and although it may seem like David and Goliath all over again, we know how that turned out! O, most merciful Mary, refuge of sinners, intercede for us. Ask your Creator, Son, and Spouse to make us whole, and may we never compromise the Truth. Amen.

We do not know the future. But we do know that the gates of Hell will never prevail against His Church. All is well that ends well...

Up next, the Four Temperaments

Can I go to a church without regular jurisdiction?

2010-04-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

I have printed the following out for some friends. Some names will be left blank to protect the innocent.

Q. Can I go to St. __________?
A. One could not go to St. _______ if it were Invalid or Illicit?

Valid- i.e. the person celebrating Mass is not a priest, the words of consecration are not said etc. Fr. _____ would be happy to show you his "chelebrant" or his paper from the Vatican, issued by Ecclesia Dei, signed by the cardinal and Msgr. Pearl on July 3, 2000. It says he may celebrate Holy Mass with the use of the 1962 Missal, and he is incardinated in the Diocese of Scranton, PA. Proof he's valid! However, you are supposed to get the permission of the local ordinary to celebrate public Mass. This brings up the question of whether it is licit (lawful) or illicit (illegal.)

Licit- Until the Bishop of ___________ recognizes St. _______, people will always be quick to point this out. However, in the New Code of Canon Law, the rule clearly states that "any Catholic Rite can fulfill your Mass obligation." Msgr. Pearl (who is a priest of the New Order) tells a Catholic who asks about going to the SSPX for the sacraments (the SSPX is the society that ordained Father ______,) "If your primary reason for attending were to manifest your desire to separate yourself from communion with the Roman Pontiff and those in Communion with him, it would be a sin. If your intention is simply to participate in a Mass according to the 1962 Missal for the sake of Devotion, this would not be a sin."

It is true St.____ does not have ordinary jurisdiction (yet.) But does Holy Mother Church foresee instances when her ministers receive jurisdiction for the supreme law to save souls? Yes! Exceptions are made, open a book! Read when the faithful are not bound to go to their local parish. Ecclesiastical Law must be obeyed unless it conflicts with the Divine Law, but as Catholics, we have a duty to worship Almighty God in a due and fitting manner! The Faith and tradition of Catholics go back 2000 years. The Church was founded in 33 A.D, not 1965. All new ideas ended with the death of St. John, the last Apostle. Read the past teachings of the Church and see what she has defended and made clear! Learn what the Councils of our holy and unified church bind you to believe and curse you (anathema) if you hold the erring opinion (their words, not mine.)

The Bishop may not like it, but he cannot pick and choose what goes into out Faith. He is subject to a higher power. What did the last two popes do for the Traditional Mass? Pope JP II came up with Ecclesia Dei, Pope Benedict proclaimed the Summorum Pontificum and lifted the excommunications of the SSPX bishops! Why did he do that? Do you know what these encyclicals say? Do you have access to a computer? (I bet you do reading this.) The popes like the Traditional Rite. Why don't we? One possible reason is we cannot like what we do not know.

After we take the time and make the effort to the research the condition of the modern church, we can come to one of two conclusions. There are either problems or there are not problems. If we "feel uncomfortable" with the liturgical abuses or irreverence, the Holy See does not bind us to go to a parish that has these issues. St. _______ exists because it has none! They hold fast to the teaching that has been handed down from Jesus Christ to his Apostles. St ____ teaches nothing schismatic or heretical. St Paul says there should be no division among members. I Cor 12:25. Bp _________ himself comments on this passage by saying "namely, there should be union, not necessarily uniformity" Hmmm...

If you have any questions, the Catholic Church has the answers. If you need help finding these answers, please clear your afternoon, and contact Alex Walker @ (phone #) theviateam@yahoo.com

St. Paul, pray for us.

Mind your tongue

2010-04-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

One day I found myself (don't ask me how) in a really modern Novus Ordo Church. You know, the ones with the Art Deco paintings , a table, and a tabernacle embedded in the side wall. Well, a friend and I follow a small group of guys in a side room and take our seats. I haven't been mixed with the Novus Ordo very often, and it took me a few seconds to realize that it was in fact a chapel, and Our Lord was present in the wall. I then put down a kneeler and kneel. My friend taps me on the shoulder and whispers... "is the Euch in there" I nodded "yes" and then shook my head...
Try not to throw the word "Eucharist" around. First off, always capitalize it. The Most Holy Eucharist actually means something more than just "my home boy" so show Him some reverence by throwing "holy" or "most holy" or "bless-ed" in front. It is of such importance that these adjectives get capitalized with It! Traditional Catholics make it a point to reserve their speech and watch what ever words are put in the same sentence with this life giving word. Of course, a consecrated host is the Eucharist. But try not to throw the name around like its a substitute for "bread." Remember, every time you say it, you basically say "the Sacrifice of Calvary." Some Synonyms you can use are "Blessed Sacrament" and "Holy Communion." I have heard the word "Eucharist" said more times since Ive been with the schools Catholic group than I have heard it in 10 years. AND NO, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING. The Traditionalists are not afraid of saying "Eucharist" but show It the reverence It deserves. We love It, we embrace It. Its not something common to us. We have It everyday, but It never loses Its novelty. Familiarity breeds contempt.

Ive heard someone say "go up and get the Eucharist" or "then, when it was time for Eucharist." No! Do you know who has "the Eucharist" instead of "the Mass?" The Episcopalians.

We don't "eat the Eucharist." We receive Holy Communion" ---or--- after we pray and mentally prepare ourselves for a worthy reception, we communicate with the Blessed Sacrament found in the Most Holy Eucharist, where Christ is present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Then give sufficient thanks.

I pray for a worthy Communion. You only need one to become a Saint.

Easter Lilies

2010-04-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

I read my last couple blogs and they seem to me written in the way that I was trying to avoid. I wrote the Tale of Two Alters out of frustration, and although I meant it, I said some things I would like to clear up. I spoke about my friend as if he was a blinded ninny who was as illogical as a protestant. I may have stripped the words that came from his mouth to a meaning that suited my blog. And for that, I apologize. Well, hes my best friend. And if this writer writes that kind of stuff behind Friend B's back, he wont have friends for very long. I would like to clarify that I still stick to what I said, I just could have been more diplomatic about it.
Concerning the Good Friday post. I wrote that under the influence of an uncharacteristic slight depression. It sounds so bleak rereading it. I let hear-say get the best of me. I know the Catholic ministry on campus will think. They have more patience and charity than most, and I didn't give them the due respect I should have. Forgive me! I do not think the group at school is a kangaroo court that has it out for me. If they are, they have a good way of hiding it. Being on the other side of Easter can open my eyes a bit more.
Recently, I have been compiling evidence/arguments with two guys. I think this is good, because until this past year, things have just felt right. Well, that would only do for so long. Now, I KNOW things are right. And that is very comforting.

Now that I've gotten this off my chest, on to the blog---

Diplomacy and Strategy. How important are these ideas in the fight for Tradition? We could look at the saints! St. Louis de Montfort had a bull from the Pope saying he may preach basically wherever, whenever, and to whomever. He had Truth on his side (and the Pope) but yet he set a humble model of patience and obedience. Why? Could we learn from this Saint?
Sure, Jesus was angry once. It was just anger, too. He saw merchants in His Father's temple. He literally fliped (tables.) What would Christ do if he walked into a Lifeteen Mass? Or someone told me a story where "kids were high fiving each other after they got back into their pugh after communion." Is this a cause for righteous anger? Yeah, probably. But we must look at Christ's example, too! He knew how the Holy Eucharist would be abused and he still decided it was best to leave the Most Blessed Sacrament with us. So... should we go rushing into battle, sometimes ill prepared, withOUT an interior life that matched the "holiness" of our exterior? Who will listen if we just go out in a fury of melee condemning everybody and their brother? We should first get our act together. God will fix this crisis! We don't change people, He does! It all starts with a life a prayer, then a life of detachment. A life of action will follow. If we are true to God and die to ourselves, He will use us as a tool in His strategy. Just watch...

St. Louis d' Montfort, pray for us.

Good Friday

2010-04-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

What I have been afraid for a year has started to happen.
The question of obedience has come up. Lines are being drawn in the sand. God, give me the strength to hold fast to the Truth. Decisions are going to have to be made, some have already been made. Lord, please allow Your servants to accept their fate with humility and silence. Just as you accepted Your Fathers will in the garden of Gethsemane early this morning. As I write this, 2000 years ago, You would have have been carrying Your Cross up to the summit of execution! Already tried and condemned in a kangaroo court but a few hours ago. Pilate condemned Our Lord because he was a coward, I ask for You to grant the Catholic ministry at school the grace to think; to look at the current situation and be obedient... not to the local ordinary, but to the Power above him!

May all the meditations and devotions from Noon to Three, and the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified after that, mold my spirit. Wipe it clean so that I may wake up with Thee Easter Sunday clothed with the New Man, who according to God has been created in Justice, and Holiness of Truth!

2010-03-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

(i looked up tableform in the common sense dictionary, and it gave me this picture.)

Our Lady, Immaculately conceived, Pray for us!

Do we have to pull up chairs for it to be a table?

2010-03-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

A tale of two alters...

The author had quite the informative talk yesterday with a dear friend. Pope Pius XII's encyclical Mediator Dei was the topic of discussion. This writer (we'll call him A) believes he had it in the bag, while friend B thought so too...

In paragraph 62 when it says it would be straying from the right path to wish the altar restored to its primitive tableform, I didn't think there was much wiggle room. My friends answer was he doesn't think the new alters are table form. He sees "primitive table form" where it was like the Last Supper and everyone has his or her seat. He doesn't see the four legs and a top as tableform, so I don't know what else I can do. Is it me? Am I wrong thinking that Pope Pius meant something when he said table form? I know friend B is not stupid, but look at it! I have provided a picture of two altars, and I would like you to point out the table. If it looks like a table, it smells like a table, it barks like a table, it is a table.
Also in that paragraph, the Holy Father warns us not to get rid of black vestments. Oops!

Paragraph 109. " Let everything be done with due order and dignity, and let no one, not even a priest, make use of the sacred edifices according to his whim to try out experiments."
Well some brave priest out there must have said, "You know what? I am going to try something new and say Mass toward the people today." And then everybody went along with it and that is the normal way now.
B was anxious to point out that A's priest is the rouge here, and that he is more or less doing what ever he wants. If a priest is faithful to the way the Holy Mass has been celebrated for well over a millennium, how is this according to his whim?
Man has been walking upright for at least 8,000 years :). Somewhere in history, someone experimented and found out that it is possible to walk on your hands. You cannot get very far, but you can get from one location to another. That is what we have here. There is a fun cool way to get around nowadays, and it is called the Novus Ordo. But if my priest chooses to put one foot in front of the other, like the fathers have taught him, who is experimenting?

My dear friend B had an idea. He said that all the Masses around the world should be said like how the Holy Father says Mass. (Hey, you could even kneel and receive Our Lord on the tongue! This writer gives it to B, he hates Communion in the hand as much as A does.) He basically told me that if the Pope is wrong, then that is his sin, and we will be judged whether we were good sheep and followed the head.
That is why Holy Mother Church sets up rules, canons, and laws that foresee the problems of today! You just have to take of your Modernism glasses and think clearly and listen to logic.

Also, Pope Pius XII has some black and white things to say about Gregorian Chant! The music that has been in the priests' hearts and on their lips for over 1400 years. He also has some gray things to say about modern music. I find it hard to believe Pius XII would find 1947 modern music the same as 2010 modern music, but we shall see. We shall see.

A pray that all two of my readers have a fruitful Holy Week. May our suffering bring us closer to the Cross. No Resurrection with out Crucifixion! May all of those present at the foot of the Cross some 1,977 years ago pray for us.

Mother of Sorrows, Pray for us,
St. Mary Cleophas, pray for us,
St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us,
St. John the beloved, pray for us,
St. Joseph of Arimathea, pray for us,
St. Nicodemus, pray for us
the penitent thief, pray for us!
St. Pope Gregory the great, pray for us!

I will possess your heart

2010-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

I'm not the biggest fan of Death Cab for Cutie (perhaps I covet the front man's wife, Zooey Deschanel) but they do have a fantastic song that can get you thinking, because it points out something so obvious it hurts.

The first time I heard this song, I thought only of the girl whom I spent every hour thinking of, and unfortunately for this author, dear reader, I did not quite get the same response back...

Well, that is very selfish of me. What about Our Lord! He who loves me more than I can fathom. The Word can use these lyrics to move even the most hard of hearts. In the sacred silence of adoration the Holy Ghost can whisper His wish of complete union of wills. Sanctification will come when my will and His Will are one. One Voice singing...

How I wish you could see the potential,
the potential of you and Me.
Like a book elegantly bound...
but in a language that you can't read (just yet.)
You gotta spend some time, love.
You gotta spend some time with Me.
And I know that you'll find love.
I will possess your heart.

You reject my advances,
and desperate pleas,
I wont let you let me down so easily.

We must spend time with Our Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament. How can we love someone who we don't know? How will we know what we don't try to know? Two of the few real gifts we are all given are time and choice. Sure, some of us have beauty, others of us have money, few have smarts. Woe to those who have all three! But we all can become saints. Beauty, money, or brains wont get you into heaven. Something else will though. But what?

Let us start with Catechism 101. We must know God, love God, and serve God.

Can we say we know God if we don't continually study Him and the works of the Holy Spirit? If we don't take time out from our busy schedule to get on our knees and ask for the graces necessary to know what offends Him and what pleases Him?

Can we honestly say we love Him if we only visit Him once a week? I see old friends more than that. Can we say we love Him who is Love if we receive Holy Communion like snacks? I admit, I have received Our Lord unworthily. I should perhaps reread I Cor. 11:27. And I would do well to remember that the reception of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament needs not only a soul in the state of Grace, but a right intention. How do I know something is wrong? Because I am not a saint. There are enough graces that receiving the Holy Eucharist just once to a predisposed and open soul would make an immediate saint. Time and time again the graces are poured, but like a water on a rock they shed off me and most do not permeate. Why? Because I do not Love Him as much as he loves me! I reject his advances. I try to keep my life instead of saving it. Catechism 1 says to know God, love God, and serve God. Not "know God, love Ourselves, and serve God."

The last of the three commands is to serve God. How should we serve God? Being a postulate to the Dominican order of Penance, I would say take our patriarch as an example. He sold everything he owned, even books copied by his own pen, to relieve the poor. I haven't even seriously considered going near a soup kitchen. He went barefoot and begged for bread from door to door. Ive been eating like a king (and its Lent.) He was walking down a road from one town to another and hired assassins lay in wait to kill him. The hired hands were "struck by the sanctity and dignity of the man of God and was powerless to raise their weapons." They asked Saint Dominic what would he have done if they would have gone on with their plan, and he said "I would have asked you not to kill me with one blow, but to cut off my limbs one by one, and then to put out my eyes and to leave me half dead, bathed in my blood, that I might suffer the longer for the love of my Crucified Savior." I have yet to have a thought like that cross my mind. What service St. Dominic had for our Lord and Our Lady, and what ground I have to make up!

Now that we have heard the Good News, we can no longer stand in the middle ground. It is black or white. It is Jesus Christ or the Prince of the World we chose to follow.
I would like to end with a short prayer...

Oh, most Holy Trinity, grant us more time to do penance and make reparation. Give us opportunities to prove ourselves to you. Let us spend Your time (for it is ours only on loan) in a manner more fit. Let this Passion week be fruitful. Give us an eye for what is easy, and what is right. We beg for a greater desire to devote our gifts to a supernatural end: sanctity. We give thanks to Thee for health and joy! Do not let us let You down. We ask for strength to let us die to ourselves, so that we may rise with you on the third day and reign with You and Your saints forever and ever. Amen.

May Our lady keep you well,

St. Paul, Pray for us.
St. Dominic, Pray for us.

A commentary on United We Stand

2010-02-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

I happen to live in the New World's oldest diocese. My bishop turns 75 this year. In the March issue of the monthly magazine our fair diocese puts out His Excellency has a column... and this is what he writes.

"...As some of you already know, this September I will celebrate my 75 birthday, which according to church law is the canonical age for a bishop to submit his letter of resignation...
As the end to my tenure draws near, I do have one desire that I long to see realized in our diocese- harmonious union."
He cites St. Paul. "...so that there should be no division among the members... If one part suffers, every part suffers... if one part is honored, every part rejoices."

I can think of a little chapel that is suffering now. If it would only but be honored, the whole Church universal would rejoice!

My Bishop goes on to quote St. Paul and St. Augustine (and I'll italicize what he italicizes) "no division among the members... union, but not uniformity," and "in all things charity."

His Excelency remembers Christs prayer before the Agony in the Garden. Is his wish Christ's wish? "May they be one in us."

I will leave you with the bishop's warning. "How can we expect to achieve the unity Jesus desired among the split divisions of Christianity if the parishes continue to harbor an 'us versus them' mentality?... Without the parishes, there is no diocese; and without the diocese there are no parishes- just a mass of congregational assemblies... There is no finer gift you could give me than for all the parishes to work in harmony with the diocese so that together we may make the unity that Jesus prayed for."

hmmm....

St. Paul, pray for us
St. Agustine, pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

Lent

2010-02-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

We have been given a gift. It is the squandered gift of time. Hours, minutes, seconds. Time leading up to the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord so that we may have life everlasting.

My priest is ill. He started his Lent in the hospital. I'm jealous! Something good has come of this. I already miss going to the Holy Sacrifice daily, and realize I have been taking things for granted. How could I forget the dryness when we were in between priests. I'm so sorry dear Lord for taking Your priest for granted. I thank you for my health, and beg you to restore to the Reverend Father his.

I will now begin fashioning my habit Rosary (the kit just came in the mail.) My heart yearns for the Feast of St. Catherine of Sienna when I can wear it on my left hip as she did.

Yours in Christ Jesus

HOM retreat. Notes IV

2010-02-05T07:27:00.001-08:00

The following are the last notes I took on the retreat.

Sin is not the breaking of a rule, but the breaking of a heart. The heart we break is The Heart. The Father's heart, the Son's heart, and the Holy Ghost's Charitable heart. Some would think, "Oh well, I've already sinned once. I might as well do it again before I go to confession." NO! We are not just breaking a rule! It is really like, "Oh well, I have already struck Him across the BACK with a cat-of-nine-tails. Might as well strike Him again." It would do us well to to picture the Roman overseer in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. When we mortally sin it is like saying "Satis..." He then makes the sad gesture to flip the Body that has gone through so much. We say Enough, roll Him over and begin again on His FRONT.
Without sincere purpose of amendment we turn over Our Lord and begin again flailing His fresh skin. We do not just break a law again.

Like an adulterous spouse, we are like an adulterous people to our Bridegroom. All our actions are frivolous and dangerous if they are not derived from the Passion.
Agon is a Greek word that means a contest, a struggle, to combat. Christ was a spiritual athlete from the Agony in the Garden. He teaches us how to live, how to win by suffering. Jesus Christ was reduced to a wreck. He was racked with anguish in the Shadow of the Cross. Sts. Peter, James, and John fell asleep on him. THREE TIMES. How many times have we fallen asleep on Him? The translation in the Gospels does not do it justice. He had extreme fear and anguish. The savior was troubled unto death.
"Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me" writes St. Luke.
The Soul begins to conform...
"Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." records St. Matthew
Then, the final time acceptance...
"And he cometh the third time, and saith to them...It is enough: the hour is come...Rise up, let us go." St. Mark tells us.

His aloneness would keep us awake. We should keep Him company in the Garden when so many will not. Christ sweats blood. He must have been a scared wreck. Be there for Him. The phenomenon has been noted to happen with gladiators, while they wait their turn to go into the arena.
God's pack with his people is fulfilled. The vail is no longer necessary, Christ's death breaks the shroud. There are no more secrets. He will trade His heart of flesh for our hearts of stone. We just have to ask for it. (And again be cautious, for if you beg for Jesus's Sacred Heart, you will get it.)
In the Garden, there were two cups some say. There was the cup that Jesus asked for God to let pass. The cup of bitterness. Full to the brim with scourging, crucifixion, the knowledge that his sacrifice would be useless for most souls. But there was also a cup of consolation, that many would lie down our lives with Him. Be a part of that cup. Use the gift of your imagination. Stretch it and implore God to allow you to know what it was like to prostrate in the Garden of Gethsemani. If His disciples were asleep, you will be there awake with Our Lord, suffering with Him. Ask the Holy Ghost to take you to just one point of the Passion. Meditate on that thought in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Ask for a heart of flesh.

Love is not about feeling. Love is about knowledge. Love is about being there for your lover. 95% of sin originates from loneliness, for self consolation is futile. No one knows loneliness better than the Christ. He did not say we wouldn't suffer, but we that we would not be alone.

Let us unite ourselves to Christ on the Cross as Our Lady has, and may the peace of the Lord be with you.

St. Peter, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John the beloved, pray for us.

HOM retreat. Notes III

2010-02-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Seven Deadly Sins. A lesson given by Sister Zenka (sp?)

The Devil is strategic, he studies us first. Then he attacks our predominate vice...

Pride- An untrue opinion of ourselves. To be humble is to see yourself as God sees you. Those guilty of pride will lower themselves to get others to praise/ raise them. "oh i look fat in this" "oh, no you don't." Correcting a proud person leads them to anger or depression. Obedience is a virtue. Religious sisters have been called "pure as angels...proud as devils."
the virtue of Humility~ Christ stays under the appearance of bread, even when He knows He will be mistreated.
Sloth- To neglect duties. Basically cowardliness. Idleness is the mother of all vices. There is spiritual Sloth and physical Sloth. Are we not good Christians because a Christian life is "too intense?" Don't be lukewarm. We all knows what happens to those who are lukewarm. Right now, souls are being loss because we are not doing anything.
Greed-is being in the middle of water and dying of thirst. You are never satisfied with what you have. It is an inordinate love of a good. Anything can be an attachment. A three corded heavy-duty rope and a piece of fishing line can keep a bird from flying. My friend Brian says it doesn't matter if you have 10,000 dollars that you're attached to, or a single dollar bill that you wont let go of, it is greed.
Give! The combating virtue is generosity. "Many will give things. Some will give time, few will give themselves. A handful will live radically for Christ." What group are we in?
Lust- Pleasures contrary to Purity. Trying to deal with this vice on your own is like walking in a swamp... the more you try to free yourself, the deeper you sink. Impurity is the first sin you fall into when you stop attending Holy Mass routinely. (I can agree 100%.) And to lead another into sin is Scandal. This is so much worse. If a guy tries to get a girl to notice him in an impure way he has committed sin! We are supposed to help girls. If our goal isn't to lead a girl to salvation by our actions then we are in trouble. And vice versa. (Girls, please stop doing what you do best. Thanks.) We must do penance. We may not like it, but it is the only thing that can chastise our defected senses.
What does a Christian "I love you" mean? It means "I want you to never die. You will never die. I want you to have eternal life, because I care about your soul. Heaven is your end." When we have sex, there is a union of Body and Soul. You cannot separate the two! You surrender your whole being to your partner, be faithful to your future spouse. If marriage is your calling, then they are out there now, imagine that!
Envy- Follows Pride. It makes you hate your equals because they are your equals, it makes you hate your inferiors because the may one day surpass you, and you hate your superiors, because they are greater than you. Give thanks to God for the gifts in others. Pray these words..."God, thank you for so and so's virtue of _________, talents of _______, strength in _________."
Gluttony- The inordinate love of eating and drinking. This makes us lower than animals, because animals will only eat until they are satisfied. (Maybe not Franklin, my dad's cat, those are not mini hedge loppers.) We become poor slaves of our body. We give in at the most minimal urge in your body. Satisfy me, satisfy me, satisfy me! NO! Have order. (I would recommend 2 small meatless meals and a third regular meal a day for Lent coming up soon. And nothing in between. Think that is hard, try St. Rose of Lima's diet.)
Anger-We become a puppet in the Devils hands. Let Christ become the Master of the heart. Anger is the violence to despise whatever displeases us. Get over it, invoke mildness. (Think about being in the stable on the first Christmas night, and then try being angry.)

Sister Zenka then filled in what brother David could not get to in the Discerning the Spirits.
The Devil acts like a false lover. He doesn't want you to share your dirty little secrets with your confessor. He is weak if you are strong, but he is strong if you are weak. CUT HIM OFF. Do not even flirt with dialogue with Lucifer.

Yours in Christ,

St. Rose of Lima, Pray for us.
St. Blaise, pray for us.

up next... closing thoughts...

HOM retreat. Notes II

2010-02-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

I would like to continue by adding my notes on the Discernment of Spirits.
This is supposed to be preached over a month long silent retreat, but the brother gave it to us in a little over a half hour.
MARC
Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Confession.
The Cure d'Ars says a union with God is not deserved. Only His kindness allows it. In a perfect Union there is NO DISTANCE between God and ourselves. Silent Adoration! "Whispers in the breeze." Order your life so when you're praying, you are praying in inner silence. (Think about what that means.) We are fighting a war. Are we fighting back?

Rules of Discernment of Spirits of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
If we are living mortal sin to mortal sin, we know what sin is. The Cure d'Ars says you are choosing the pleasure of the moment OVER YOUR GOD. You defile the temple of the Holy Ghost when you give into impure acts and thoughts. It destroys the soul. God looks at your soul and it looks like a shattered mirror. Where is God in your mirror. He can no longer seen His image and likeness in it.
When we seek good looks in our mates, be careful what you wish for. (Is it worth having a girlfriend that is intoxicatingly pretty if the only thing in her mirror is makeup, shoes, handbags and oversize designer label sunglasses? Is God squeezed somewhere in the looking glass? Is it worth having a boyfriend who has a fast car if he'd rather wax and it than go spend an hour with our Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Bulky muscles cranking the thousand dollar upgraded speakers to drown out the golden silence?) You might get it.
Lover of God cannot be separated from love of neighbor. Guys want to be king, but without God. We must participate in Christ. Submit our selves. We want to groom ourselves to appear attractive to the opposite sex, no? Shower, put on cologne or perfume to smell good, right? Well, how does your soul smell? Do you take care of it like you take care of your body? Are you saying your daily Rosary? (A friend blogged about this, its not an option.) "Mr Owl, how many licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" One, two, three.... three. Mr (you're name here) how many clicks does it take to get to PORN. (probably less.) Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. We are guilty, but we have Hope. God forgive and forgets, Satan remembers and reminds. Everyone in Heaven had a rigorous prayer life. No one in Hell had a rigorous prayer life. (Think about that!) Take a second. What is going through your mind when you go to sleep?
Anything you do wrong is your fault. Don't try to blame it on God. Are senses are gates for the Devil. When we feel Godless we tend to push God away. I'll go back to my old life at least there was pleasure there. Keep going like you would in times of consolation. God shows his love in consolation! In desolation, He pulls back and wants us to show our love for Him.

YOU CANT FAKE SANCTITY.

Being good is NOT not being bad. You love a thing in proportion to what you would be willing to pat for it. (I guess that means I love my car too much.) Its true! Many times I have loved my alcohol enough to drop 50 on a bartab. I didn't even spend that on my moms birthday present! You might love the Internet on your iPhone to have a 100 dollar phone bill. Love has a price. Well God paid a price. He humbled himself to become for all practical purpose an ant (man.) Shed His Precious Blood. Walked a deathmarch, and was asphyxiated to death two pieces of wood with our sins through His hands and feet. How much does He love...

Radicallity of the Gospel. Until you can claim you are perfect, you should change. When will you be perfect? (Not new and improved but dead to this world.) Its never to late to change, but is it too early? To die well, you must live well.

We know how this ends. We are going to win. Read Apocalypse.

To Him, through her...

St. John Vianney, Pray for us
St Ignatius of Loyola, Pray for us!

next time... Seven Deadly Sins...

HOM retreat. Notes I

2010-02-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my first retreat. It was hosted by Home of the Mother. A religious order with HQ in Spain, and a outpost in FL. I met some very nice people, new friends, and saw old friends in new light. These are the first fraction of my notes. (I am working from my short-hand)

The four types of Prayer...
First. Oratio- oration. prayer of invoking the Holy Ghost. Without the Holy Ghost, we cannot even say that Christ is Lord.
Second. Lectio- Reading of Divine Word... is prayer! Must approach with intellect and whole being.
Third. Meditatio- Application of the will, memory, imagination. Application to your own life. Time of drawing conclusions.
Forth. Contemplatio- Passive, we cannot actively achieve. Sometimes given to us, sometimes not. Prayer of wonder and discovery. Undiscovered revelations or a deeper way than prayer before. Its like before and after.

On Gen. 3 1-13.
1-3 Serpent is cunning, of angelic intellect. Always will present God as unreasonable. He is your friend, God is Evil. Satan and the first lie. "Why hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?" Whoa, God didn't say all trees. The Devil is running with His words. Eve and the first mistake. To enter into conversation with the Devil. When you first feel doubt, anxiety, anger, can you continue on your own power? NO! Pray right then!
4-5 "No, you shall not die... Be as Gods, know Good and Evil."
6. Satan is a murderer from the beginning. Adam was absent. Wasn't doing his duty to be there to defend, wasn't there to be even be tricked by Satan. He ate knowing he shouldn't. He takes and doesn't give. He doesn't know how to be a man.
Rupture with God. Looses state of Grace.
Rupture with Himself. Harmony lost between body and spirit.
Rupture with Neighbor. Blames Woman. Blames God. " The woman that thou has gave me"
Rupture with Nature. Original Sin. St Paul speaks of creation groaning for redemption. That's the root cause of natural disasters. Tragedy in Haiti because of Original Sin.
Man points the finger at his neighbor and his God. But he should point it at the devil and himself.
The fear of God found in Gen is of man seeing a tyrannical and primitive God. Women tend to Implode with self accusation, self hatred, and self destruction. Men focus destruction outward.

The sin of our time is a "nothing" sin. It posses itself as nothing. We might think it has "nothing to do with us." Oh yes it does. I call it indifference. "Live and let live!" We'll be fine, it is nothing, don't worry about it. We will be okay. Will we?? To become a man we must stop caring what others think. Caring in this sense will enslave us. And as social beings we want to belong. We have needs. Well, these needs destroy! they lead to false worship. You think telling dirty jokes and making fun of people is clean fun? Well, Pilate and Herod were enemies. That is until Herod dressed Our Lord as a fool, mocked Him and sent Him back to Pilate. After that they were chums. He who hears the Good News and rejects it has it in worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.
Don't shun people. But don't compromise. Forgiveness does not compromise Truth. Good hearted people do bad things. But being good hearted is not enough.
The sin is not in the tree itself. The sin is in the taking and not receiving. Man is made for communication. Christ said "if you are my friend, obey my commands." Sinners are fanatics. They have a manic glint in their eye. Misdirected action. They let their passions take over and go numb. St. Augustine says "nothing is as sad as the happiness of sinners."
When we smile, is it a smile of true happiness, or of fanaticism? Are we happy inside and out? Do we have peace in suffering? Is it Vanity... Farce?
So many parts of our lifestyles are obscene. It is the nightmare of perpetual return. Its not a vicious circle, its a downward spiral...
A proof of God's divinity and love is that He asks us to obey His commands. If any one of our friends said "if we are going to be friends, you have to do everything I tell you." You would look at him or her like they are insane. But think about it. Only a God who is Love asks you to be His friend. There is a certain equality between Friends. Peers who are friends by default are on the same level. Ex. Hey lets go see a movie. But what if a friend is better than you. ex. Hey, I'll help you with your Latin homework. He or she is not meeting you half way, he is pulling you toward his level. Eventually creating equality. If God asks us to do everything he asks, its because He wasn't us to share in His Eternal Life. St. Thom Aquinas says the sharing of goods is friendship. God has the goods. He wants to share. The Tree of life is now the Cross. "God became man so that man could become God" - St. Augustine.
Confession is where lives are Changed. Confessed sins are like "reeds of straw cast into my burning furnace of love"- Our Lord to St. Faustina
Because of Justice, Mercy, and Forgiveness we can enter into a child-like joy but more intense because we are no longer naive. (more on this later.) God has the power to interrupt the nightmare of perpetual return. The truth is I AM A SINNER. However, after the sacraments I AM A SON!
When we are in front of the Blessed Sacrament give God silence... listen... obey.

Give God your sins, your heart, and your life.

St Augustine, Ora pro nobis.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Ora pro nobis.
St. Faustina, Ora pro nobis.

(up next is Rules of Discernment of Spirits)

An outside view of the Old Rite part II

2009-10-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

I talked to a priest friend today (Ill call him Rev. Father) and it gave me something to think about.
Going back a couple of weeks ago you might find a blog concerning a Novus Ordo priest and his thoughts (as best as I can remember them) on the Old Roman Rite. His stance was that since people must go out of their way to hear the Traditional Latin Mass, of course you're not going to run into people who are "texting on their cell phones and ducking out early" because they want to be there.
Rev. Father doesnt buy the first priest's stance that "if the Old Mass "was it," people would still be texting and leaving early." He states that he has invited young kids in the past to hear Mass who have only heared Mass said in the New Order. They were shocked by the Holy Silence and maintained it. Good. I should hope so.
But, what part I agree with from the first priests idea that if starting today every preist said the Mass in Latin from the 1962 missal in their own parrish, you're going to have people that do not want to be there. You will always have people who see Mass as a chore. You will always have people who have football on the brain, and are just trying to wait till everybody starts going to Communion so they can sneak out without anyone seeing them. God sees them, and sees their hearts.
Statistically, if all of lets say...the US.... hears the TLM today, you, by default, have people that just plain dont care if they kneel in front of The Almighty. If Rev. Father doesn't believe that, then I would say that I have seen it in my little church. I have seen someone my age get up, turn his back during the Consecration and walk out. Come back in and sit down only to leave before St. John 1:13. He didn't know whats going on. He didn't want to be there, and if he did, then I am being very uncharitable writing this.
I am just going to say that attending only the Traditional Latin Mass doesnt automatically make us St. Dominic Savio. There is something deeper to it. All the world celebrating the TLM isn't going to fix all of us sinners. Its not pushing a magic button that solves the current crisis. But that is not to say we shouldnt strive to have the TLM said on every alter for the glory of God. I think the Old Rite is the weapon of choice to combat Modernism.

We must remember what happens in one Mass on our on little Calvary is enough to fix the problem of today.

How do we fix something that is broken because it was fixed when it was not?
By prayer!
By saying yes to graces that are showered upon us every day.
By living a good life imitating Our Lord and His Saints.
By spreading the Gospel (and when necessary using words.)
By going to Confession and approaching Our Savior in the True Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Eucharist with a clean and pure heart.
By not being passive and letting people get away with Sacrilege inside the Church.
By seeking the Truth, and celebrating it as it is the only thing that matters.
By letting the old man die, and putting on the new.

I would like to end with a short prayer.
Dear Blessed Trinity, awaken my heart. Remove all traces of sin in me. Let me subject myself to You. Let my heart, mind and soul be one with You, especially during the Sacrifice of the Mass. May I grow in love for You and for Our Lady. I ask that she may take me in as a refugee who turned himself away from the wicked world. Give us time to make amends and grant that I may not take Your gift of Faith for granted.

May Our Lord and Lady keep you well,
Saint Dominic Savio, pray for us.
Saint Luke, Pray for us!

where the wild things are not

2009-10-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

This movie was bad. If you are planning on seeing it, do not read the rest of this. I would not want to spoil anything.

The kid is a brat. He disobeys his mother. Runs away from home (not just sent to bed without supper.) Goes on his little adventure where I hope he learned something (I don't buy the "we got to stick together" message). Then he returns home. He does not say he is sorry, and his mom gives him cake and milk.
That was it.
There was a scene where the teacher is talking about how the world was going to end. The sun was going to engulf the planets and then die. The teacher was going on about tidal waves and earthquakes to a seven year old and his class mates. I looked around to see if anybody else was seeing this.
Well, I guess its hard to turn a 10 page book into a 95 minute movie. The book wasn't very deep and the film tried to convey that Max had all these background stories and ideas to justify his shallow lines.
The book was popular when I was at that reading level. Its been out since the 60's. I wonder which audience the film makers were shooting for. Is the movie made for kids or the kids inside all of us? The kid inside me wanted to walk out of the movie theater. I wouldn't take my child.
Maybe I no longer posses imagination.
To be completely honest, if I reread the book, I would probably not like it.
What will be ruined next, The Hungry Caterpillar?

An outside view of the Old Rite

2009-10-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

I had a discussion with a priest from the New Order. Some things he said made some sense. This was the gist of the conversation.
I asked him if he said the Old Rite. He told me he didn't, but where I could find one. He asked me where I attend Mass; I told him. He asked me why I love the old form of the way Holy Mass is celebrated. This was a strait forward question...
My answer was "reverence." The question was not "whats wrong with the Novus Ordo." So I had to hold back what was on the tip of my tongue.
I told him how my senses are at peace in the solemn silence... how I am on guard at the few times Ive heard Mass in the Novus Ordo, and just when I drop my defenses, I look to my right and someone is texting, and I look to the left, and someone is ducking out early. Father seemed to be familiar and he gave me an opinion that was actually satisfactory.
(not exact quotation)
"The way the Mass was celebrated before the Second Vatican Council is called the Extraordinary Form. It is called that because you have to go beyond whats "ordinary" to [go.] If everybody was forced to go to that rite, then you would have the same problem (with people on their phone and ducking out early.)"
I can agree with that.
He then praised the reverence and piety of those who go out of their way to hold fast.
However, then he goes on to tell me the "but."
The one time he heared Holy Mass celebrated in the Traditional Roman Rite he felt removed. Through his experience he ascertained that other people didn't feel like they were a part of the Mass. They didnt co-offer themselves with the priest. I said I was sorry (I didn't know what else to say.) I pointed out that the priest says "Pray brethern, that MY SACRIFICE AND YOURS, and the alterboy says "ad utilitatem quoque nostram" which means "for our advantage."
Growing up with the New Mass, the priest saw old people kneel through the Sacrifice never lifting their eyes or detaching their fingers from the Rosary. He saw this as the remnant of the old folks that were so used to the Old Mass. The spirit of Vad II was to get people more involved.
I must have looked stupid standing there with my mouth open.
This is what I think.
I think that its up to everybody's own self to know whats going on. They need to know their Faith, and if they want to go kneel through the Mass, that's their business. That's on them. I don't know whats going on in their mind. I can only account for me. A sacrifice is happening! Is this a Sacrament, or is this a service where were trying to get everybody to feel good? To be completely honest, I usually feel really bad during Mass. I realize how my sins have offended God. Then I feel better because of Hope and then my life opens up to joy.
I thanked the good priest for his time. He asked me to pray for priests. I can agree with that, too.

Allow me to wrap things up with a short prayer.
Oh my Jesus, may we hear Your Holy Sacrifice with more fervor. May we offer 100% of ourselves to you. Your Saint Alphonsus says "never permit me to offend Thee again, grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what that wilt." Please help those who hear Your Mass half-heartidly, that they may Love God with their whole being. Make us love You more, and then make us Your examples. Also, call young men who will serve You and us well to your priesthood. Strengthen their lives and keep them in Your favor.
Amen!
May Our Lord and Lady keep you all well

My two cents...

2009-10-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

A note to the reader...
This web log will be written in an informal manner. I choose to use first, second, and third person. I capitalize few proper nouns, and I misspell. I abuse punctuation. Forgive me, Ive written enough proper papers in high school. If you choose to read my thoughts on this or that, you can also choose not to because of my lack of precision of the English language. I wont be offended. Also, a lot of my humor is lost in the written word, and please take everything that I say with a grain of salt.
with that said...
Id like to kick things off with a short prayer.
Lord, keep me on path of the Cross. Let me seek first the Kingdom of God. Grant me the virtues that will allow me to lead a exemplary life...especially those of Chastity, Temperance, and Charity. Forgive my past faults, inflame my present with the Love of God and love of my neighbor so I may spend the future (eternity) with Your Saints, Our Blessed Mother, and Thyself! Grant Your peace and Your knowledge upon my family and friends. Grant Your peace and Your knowledge upon those who offend You and are trying to keep Your Commandments (i.e. me.) Open the hearts of those who do not. Thank You for another magnificent day, may I carry tomorrows cross with a deeper love for You!

Amen. Now! This web log will be mostly book reviews, movie reviews, questions for people smarter than this poor writer, and thought dumps. I am open to suggestions and welcome criticism, but have a nasty habit of ignoring it. I am not perfect, and until I am, I will try not to bash others. I intend only to post this stuff for the positive construction of furthering a Christian lifestyle. Help me by being a watchdog and help me with prayer!

Dominus sit in corde meo, et in digitis meis.

May Our Lord and Our Lady keep you well.