AS WITH MOST THINGS POPE FRANCIS GESTURES AND SAYS, THE CONSISTENCY ARE SO TENABLE THAT IT MAKES YOU ALMOST LIKE A BISEXUAL: YOU CAN GO EITHER WAY!

At today’s Wednesday audience, Pope Francis gave this throughly orthodox teaching:

Using the weak and sinful

Despite Paul’s checkered past, God chose to reveal His Risen Son to him, so that he might preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

“How inscrutable are the ways of the Lord!” said the Pope. “We experience this every day, but especially if we think back to the times when the Lord called us.”

Pope Francis urged everyone never to forget the moment when Jesus entered our lives, keeping “fixed in our hearts and minds that encounter with grace, when God changed our existence.”

And he marveled at how often God makes use of sinners and the weak to manifest His will.

“And yet, none of this happens by chance, because everything has been prepared in God's plan. He weaves our history and, if we correspond with trust to His plan of salvation, we realize it.”

But just three days earlier in a non magisterial note to the ultra liberal Jesuit Father James Martin who would like same sex couples or any form of LGBTQF++++ groupings to be able to be married in the Church and become priests too:

On eve of LGBT Catholic conference, Pope Francis praised Fr. James Martin, SJ’s pro-LGBT ministry

Jun 28, 6:12 pm

My final comments: 

That endorsement had made some news. But what does it mean? Of course no Catholic has to accept the Pope’s endorsement of this ministry and its heterodox components. But any Catholic now can do so and find support in Pope Francis. But does is jive with today’s papal audience where Pope Francis has a codicil about God calling and using sinners to accomplish His will?  The pope speaks: “and yet, none of this happens by chance, because everything has been prepared in God’s plan. He weaves our history and, if we correspond with trust to His plan of salvation, we realize it.”

Isn’t that a call for repentance and conversion? Who knows, you can read it either way.

By the way, I find it interesting that there has been no real commentary by reputable Catholic news sources as to the implications of Pope Francis’ endorsement of Father James Martin’s LGBTQF+++ ministry which is heterodox in many ways and completely different than the Ministry of Courage. 

NAME THAT FOOD!

 I’m on vacation and cooked my supper last night. IT WAS SIMPLY DELICIOUS! Name that food:

I’M CONFUSED! IS THIS LIBERAL/PROGRESSIVE/INCLUSIVE JESUIT PARISH GOING TO GIVE HOLY COMMUNION TO ANYONE WHO PRESENTS THEMSELVES FOR IT?

 

Years ago I was watching a United Methodist Church worship service on TV. It was Trinity on the Hill UMC in Augusta next door to St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. It was their monthly Communion Service and when it was time for Communion, the minister said, “we have open communion, even if you aren’t baptized, please feel welcome and included to receive our Communion.” 

Is this what Holy Trinity’s Pastoral Council in Washington, DC is saying? Have they completely turned their Holy Communion from a sword into a plowshare? I ask; you answer:

Biden's Catholic parish in DC says it won't deny Communion to Massgoers

BY JOSHUA J. MCELWEE

JUN 29, 2021

D.C.'s Holy Trinity Church, which President Biden often visits for Sunday Mass, said in a statement following the contentious U.S. bishops' meeting that it has no plans to deny Communion at liturgical celebrations.

LET ME TOOT MY OWN HORN: A PERFECT RENOVATION AND RESTORATION

 The photos below are from this past Sunday’s EF High Mass with the Church of the Most Holy Trinity’s newly assigned pastor, Father Jacob Almeter. 

But let me toot my own horn on this church’s perfect renovation. The altar pictured is the altar that was consecrated in April of 1863 and has been consistently in use since that time and through Vatican II until this very day. 

To accommodate the “new” Mass and facing the congregation, the “table” part of the altar/reredos was separated from the reredos around 1966 or so. The altar had been placed four steps up from the sanctuary. Thus, the altar part was brought forward to the edge of the fourth step to allow the celebrant to get behind the altar. From the congregational point of view, nothing had changed except the priest could no longer approach the altar-table at the foot of the altar, but instead had to go around to get behind the “table”. 

Moving the “table” to the edge of the fourth step was not accompanied by added supports under the altar which had those supports under the church for the altar in its original position. Thus in the ensuing years the entire sanctuary began to “bow” because of the under supported weight of the altar. 

In 1998, the entire altar and reredos was dismantled. The reredos was pushed back several feet toward the back wall (which prior to this renovation there was an inordinate amount of wasted space behind the altar/reredos). The altar then, was returned to its original location with its proper supports under it. The fourth step was removed and thus, there were only three steps from the foot of the altar to the altar itself.

The priest can approach the altar from the front and walk around the entire altar on the third step. And of course the Mass can be celebrated either ad orientem or facing the people. Prior to this splendid renovation because of the 1966 moving of the altar, ad orientem would not have been possible. 

How cool is that? When I was at Most Holy Trinity from 1991 to 2004, I celebrated the “new” Mass a few times ad orientem. And by 2000, we had a monthly new Mass in Latin at the normal Saturday Vigil Mass. For the first time in my priesthood, I heard the propers of the new Mass in Latin chanted. I had never heard the “new” Mass’s propers chanted either in Latin or English until 2000!

MY ONLY CRITICISM:

The additional six candles on the altar table (which are new) are superfluous and should not be on the altar. The splendid six candlesticks on the reredos are all that are needed and if extra candles are added for added solemnity, they should be on the reredos not on the altar!!!!!

BTW, the six candlesticks on the reredos came from the closed “Sacred Heart Church” six blocks away and are original to it. “The Last Supper” scene from the facade of Sacred Heart’s altar was removed and placed on the wall in the narthex of Most Holy Trinity. 

You might ask what happened to the original six candlesticks from Most Holy Trinity? They were removed and sent to Sacred Heart Church in Savannah where these remain in use. I tried, in vain I might add, to have these historic candlesticks returned to the original owner!

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

Before:

After:

Okay, the after is better than the before. This is a photo from “I’m fed up with ugly churches” The author writes: One thing I find especially distasteful about post-Vatican II church renovations is the extensive use of wall-to-wall carpets.  What were people thinking of back then?  It’s ugly.  In one church I know, carpet staples were driven into marble flooring.  Fortunately, some churches are now fixing their overly carpeted, tacky interiors.  These two photos show Holy Ghost Church in Issue, Maryland, as renovated years ago with carpeting (photo 1), and after a recent re-renovation by Gardiner Hall Associates of Bethesda, Maryland (photo 2).

My comments:

Believe it or not, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Augusta was fully carpeted in the early 1970’s. When I got there in 1991 the carpet had been replaced with new, expensive wall-to-wall carpet. The carpet was on all the aisles of the church and in the sanctuary. 

When we restored the interior in a major restoration, I called the priest who carpeted it and asked if he did so because the floor was damaged. He said no. And thus we removed all the carpet revealing the 1860’s marble tiles throughout the nave and sanctuary. UNBELIEVABLE!

But the before and after photo above, while an improvement, misses the mark. The original altar should have been pulled forward and a ledge for the tabernacle and six candles created behind it still allowing it to look as once unit but clearly not with two altars as both renovations do.

Please, if at all possible, only one main altar in the sanctuary. The best example of this is the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Augusta where Mass can be celebrated both toward the nave and the apse. 

My other pet peeve is artwork or sacred writings on the floor which means people walk all over it which in our culture is a sign of disrespect. 

BOMBSHELL! ONE OF THE SOURCES AS TO WHY THERE IS A LOSS OF BELIEF IN THE REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST!

 OH MY! MEMORIES AND NOT GOOD ONES: As I was scrolling though facebook, “I’m fed up with ugly churches” posted this photo of “Our Lady of the Fields” Millersville, MD:

Around June of 1979, give or take a year, I went to the first Mass in this very church of a newly ordained Jesuit priest whose mother was my classmate in the seminary. Yes, you read that correctly, but that’s not what this post is about—my mother classmate, that is. 

The Jesuit thought that the Mass as a Meal, a convivial meal, needed to have leavened crusty French Bread as the substance to be transubstantiated, although that good Jesuit would never have describe it with that oh so pre-Vatican II terminology.

And what better way to distribute Holy Communion than to Break the Bread as each communicant approached the variety of ministers of Holy Communion. And if you thought you could receive that Meal on your tongue, like a child being fed by her mother, forget about it. The chunk of Crusty Christ was forced into your hand, like it or not 

And after Mass, the poor, believing parishioners of “Our Lady of the Fields” were found on their hands and knees, picking the large and small Crumbs of Crusty Jesus out of the then red carpeting in the sanctuary where the ministers stood to force Holy Communion into communicants’ hands. 

They and I were horrified and aghast. I was with a seminarian friend of mine at the time. He laughed at the lay people so scrupulous about all the crusty crumbs of our Lord on the carpet. He lamented their Crumb theology! That priest is now laicized and not by choice.

And thus, this kind of sacrilege and outrage was repeated time and time again throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, perhaps two or three generations of Catholics exposed to practices that has led to a weakened Faith in the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist.

By the way, that church back then and now reminded me of my home parish of St. Joseph in Augusta before they built a new church next to it. 

OKAY BISHOPS, WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER DOCUMENT ON EUCHARISTIC COHERENCE?

 

We have enough words about the the Church’s doctrines and dogmas on the Real Presence. No more words that no one will read.

The problem is the Praxis in the manner the Mass is celebrated today.

1. Casual, sloppy liturgies

2. No attention to detail

3. Ad libbing 

4. No meaningful Eucharist Fast, I recommend recovering the 3 hour fast before Mass

5. Communion standing, in the hand, on the run.

#5 the biggest reason for loss and continued loss of belief in the real presence. There were no major issues with orthodox belief, Catholic piety, reverence and wonder and awe in the pre Vatican II Mass. What changed  is the problem.

SACRED HEART CULTURAL CENTER IN AUGUSTA WAS FEATURED IN “I’M FED UP WITH ULGY CHURCHES” FACEBOOK PAGE

 This is what the poster wrote:

Sacred Heart Catholic church in Augusta, Georgia. It is now a community center for weddings. It's hard to believe that the sacred art was left abandon by the diocese. I failed to take pictures of the magnificent stone work on the exterior. It was left abandon for decades, investors the Knox Foundation, a Methodist family)restored it. I still fell to my knees to pray, it felt sacred.

A LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF SAVANNAH, MOST REVEREND STEPHEN PARKES--MY BISHOP

 

A letter from Bishop Stephen Parkes:

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.1 CORINTHIANS 12:12In this issue of the Southern Cross, I hope that you will enjoy learning more about our spiritual family – the Diocese of Savannah.

 

As the body of Christ we are made up of many parts and are very diverse, but all of our parts are united together as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” As the Roman Catholic Church, we celebrate our universality but are beautifully knit together around the table of the Lord through our celebration of the Eucharist, which:...is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

 

“The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1324)

 

The Eucharist draws us into beauty and mystery. One of my favorite quotes about the Eucharist is from St. John Vianney: There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us. As we receive the Eucharist, we become a tabernacle and resting place for the Real Presence of Christ. Our thoughts, words and actions – our witness as Catholic Christians – should reflect the light and love of Christ. Our Church, our world, needs authentic witnesses to bring Christ’s light into darkness, most especially from those who hold public office. 

 

I am deeply concerned about government officials who identify as Catholic but whose views (especially when it comes to the preeminent issue of protecting the child in the womb), are not in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Our shared faith should also be expressed in our public witness. 

 

I ask you to please pray for Catholics who serve in the public square...that they do not compromise the beliefs of our faith but rather show courage in their promotion of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all persons from conception to natural death. 

 

For those who separate their personal belief from their public witness, may they experience the grace of conversion and make a difference in building a culture of life. Please be assured of my prayers for you, your loved ones and your intentions. I pray that we may be authentic witnesses of our Catholic faith.

 

Thank you for your prayers for me. May we meet each day in our prayers and as the Body of Christ, may we Rejoice in the Lord always!

 

In Christ, 

 

Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes

Bishop of Savannah

 

THE ITALIAN CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE OF ITALY, NOT A COMFORTABLE MIX

 

There is a big brouhaha in Italy about the Vatican challenging an anti homophobia proposed law. The Church, meaning the Vatican, has some good points but rank and file Italians aren’t buying it just as they haven’t bought much of the Church’s (read Vatican) intervention into Italian politics. 

Over the decades, the Vatican has alienated Italians, no matter how engaged or disengaged they are from the Church, by pushing the government to act as the Church. Here are a couple of the most divisive things that the Church has promoted in a political way:

Because of the Church, for decades Italians could not seek a civil divorce in Italy. Never mind that a woman or a man might have his or her spouse leave for a paramour and live with that person and there was no legal means to make the “sinner” pay alimony or child support. Even the most ardent of Catholics saw how destructive this was of women/mothers and their children especially at a time that women did not normally work outside the home. 

Apart from meddling in the politics of Italy where many Italians are now more secular than religious, the Church is viewed as a political institution and the priests are seen as uncaring, aloof and authoritarian. 

About 8 years ago while visiting my Italian relatives in Livorno, I got an earful.

It is very difficult to attain a Church annulment in Italy compared to the USA even though Italy now has laws that allow a civil divorce. My relatives could not believe how many annulments I was able to procure for many of my parishioners over the years. They said most priests would not help parishioners gain an annulment even when there are clear grounds for one. 

On top of that, they spoke of the non-pastoral approach of priests to lax Catholics. One of my relatives had a baby that was in critical condition after birth. A priest was called to baptize the baby but the priest refused since the parents were not practicing the Faith. Never mind that in an emergency situation anyone can baptize. Thus, why wouldn’t the priest take pity on the baby and maybe win the parents over with his pastoral solicitude? Why rely on a lay person to baptize in an emergency situation when a priest could have and should have gone to do it himself?

And now, Italians, like most people in the world, do not want to treat homosexuals differently than anyone else and laws are being established, as in this country, to secure their civil rights and to be protected under the law and the Vatican through its political interventions continues to divide Italians which makes the Vatican and thus the Church look uncaring and promoting the mongering of hate toward a particular class of people. 

You can read about the current brouhaha here and how the Vatican is in damage control with Italians:

Pope’s top aide says Vatican not trying to block anti-homophobia bill

• Elise Ann Allen
  Jun 25, 2021
  SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

WITH THE NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION, HOW CAN THE CHURCH BE ATTRACTIVE TO SINNERS, NO MATTER THE ORIENTATION, AND STILL BE PROPHETIC WITH THE CALL TO REPENTANCE?

 

As I viewed the Lifesite reporter and others of a like mind in the Church as this reporter berated heterodox priests and bishops and the ultra progressive and heterodox Association of Priests, I thought to myself if someone was interested in the Catholic Church or returning after having been away, would this video of a reporter and priests gone stupid win them over?

What if you are a homosexual and have bought into the culture’s ethic about sex and your life is empty and you know you are being used and are using others, would this video be a call to join the self-righteous who resort to name calling and the rest of it?

Is there a way to promote the Church’s sexual teachings as it concerns adultery, fornication and Humanae Vitae without shaming, ridiculing and being just nasty to sinners who engage in these particular sins, yet there is a wink and non towards those who are the most uncharitable of Catholics?  Are there greater and lesser mortal sins and some mortal sins get a wink and a nod and sexual sins of the same sex kind cause others to go ballistic? 

Finally, we are more forgiving of heterosexual mortal sins when young people move in with each other with benefits, older people are in civil unions which are not blessed by the Church or enter a “living together” situation after a spouse has died in order to keep the financial benefits of being considered a widow or widower. 

Is there a way not to freak out over sodomy of homosexuals while giving heterosexuals a pass on the same sins? 

In the photo above the man holds a sign saying “it’s not okay to be gay, it’s a sin.” Why not just have a sign saying, “it’s not okay to be a sinner.” And then the Church becomes a country club for the saved and not the sinner. 

It’s complicated and we live in a complicated world. And the world which promotes their ethic of love which equals tolerance looks at the Catholic Church as mongering hate. Is that what we want?

SHOCKING! HOW NOT TO BE A RELGION REPORTER AND HOW NOT TO BE PRIESTS; SHOCKING!

 I can't get the embedded code to post the actual video, so you have to view it at the Lifesite post:

WATCH: Priests at dissident meeting berate LifeSite reporter for questioning them on Church teaching

Jun 22, 5:57 pm

 

My comments:

 

What is wrong with this Lifesite reporter? Doesn't he know anything about Catholic Faith, hope and charity. He was looking for a fight and instigated one and did so in a mortal sin sort of way.

 

Sinning against charity and provoking a scene to humiliate is a mortal sin, pure and simple. Maybe the reporter missed class the day this was discussed?

 

But then we have these priests who take the bait and react as poorly and immaturely as the reporter does. There is an extreme clericalism in their inadequate responses, sure signs of immaturity and insecurity.

 

Whatever happen to the majesty of the priesthood as the late Bishop Raymond Lessard of Savannah lamented at a clergy conference in the late 80's?  

Do you want to belong to a Church (the Church, btw) or any of the parishes these priests serve? 

And do you want a reporter like this to interview you?

It's all so very sad and a bitter fruit of what has transpired in the Church now for over 50 years. Sad indeed.

CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, AUGUSTA THROUGH THE AGES

 APOLOGIES: On my iPhone, I deleted the pink church in Vietnam by accident and of course can't get it back. Sorry to all who posted nice comments!!!

 Late 1800’s:

Late 1950’s:

In the 2000’s: