Good Friday's Liturgy of the Passion with Pope Francis:
The Vigil of Easter with Pope Francis:
The Vigil of Easter with Pope Francis:
Saturday, April 20, 2019
NO FEET CONTROVERSY THIS HOLY THURSDAY
While the Holy Father washed the feet of 12 men, not a single female foot, others did a hodgepodge of configurations. Others though, put their foot down to feet being washed period. Think of the germs, the athletes foot not to mention the bromodosis.
I recovered the late Bishop Lessard’s solution to a mixed gender of feet. I only wash six, not twelve as a homage of the symbol of service which has nothing to do with the first 12 deacon/priest/bishops of the Church ordained by our very High Priest Jesus Christ, but rather the discipleship all Christians are call to exercise in the world in feeding the poor, clothing the naked, giving water to drink to the thirsty and washing dirty feet.
What did you experience?
AUGUSTA’S GOOD FRIDAY CROSS WALK
This long standing tradition occurs in the two neighborhoods where I grew up in Augusta. Some in the video are former parishioners of mine at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. It is an ecumenical event:
YES! BUT..., BUT THE BUT LEAVES ME SCRATCHING MY HEAD AND THAT UNDERMINES THE “YES”
Press title for complete Crux article with tweeter video of the event, but read my head scratching comments first:
Pope Francis tells gay man ‘you do not lose your dignity’ on BBC
Speaking to Pope Francis, a man says he is a gay man. The first part of Pope Francis response is perfect upholding the intrinsic dignity of every person created in the image and likeness of God:
“Giving more importance to the adjective (gay) rather than the noun (man), this is not good. We are all human beings and have dignity.”
But then the Holy Father says this which is the head scratcher:
“It does not matter who you are or how you live your life, you do not lose your dignity.”
I read this in two differing ways. One way is WHO YOU ARE DEFINES YOU NOT WHAT YOU DO. This is true Catholic anthropology of the person.
But the pope could be read as saying, you have God’s dignity no matter what and so go and sin as much as you want. It doesn't matter who you are or how you live your life.
Then the Holy Father says this:
“There are people that prefer to select or discard people because of the adjective - these people don’t have a human heart.”
Here the pope dehumanizes a judgmental person focusing precisely on the adjective and not the noun. Holy Father did not you just say it doesn’t matter how you live your life, you don’t lose your dignity?
Friday, April 19, 2019
A CONUNDRUM WITH MY NEWLY ORDAINED PAROCHIAL VICAR AND THE CHANTING OF "BEHOLD THE WOOD OF THE CROSS" ON GOOD FRIDAY AND "LUMEN CHRISTI" AT THE PASCHAL VIGIL
When I, trying to be most helpful with my newly ordained parochial vicar, reminded him that when chanting the "Behold" and "Lumen" he should start low for the first and progressively go higher for the next two, as I have done ever since I was ordained.
And he tells, me, but it doesn't say that in the rubrics. And sure enough he is right! So I told him it is a "custom" to do it the way I have always done it.
Then I looked at the EF Missal and the 1965 version of it, and sure enough, the rubrics say to chant these higher each time.
What is your custom in the OF celebrations of these two things, Good Friday, Easter Vigil???????? And how do I convince a doctor of the law studying canon law that I am right???????????????????????
LIBERALISM DESTROYS RELIGIOUS PRACTICE!
This is from the most recent Gallop Poll on religious practice in the USA:
There was a big discrepancy over that 20-year period in regard to political affiliation: Church membership among Democrats fell from 71 percent to 48 percent, compared to a more modest drop from 77 percent to 69 percent among Republicans.
My comment: Being a liberal or progressive is destructive of religious practice and liberal religion is doomed to self destruction as has been seen in the Catholic Church in the 1970’s and the return to the 1970’s in the 2010’s under Pope Francis.
HIT OR MISS? HIT OR MISS?
The vestments and andependium: too much? Too expensive? Too busy? Yes and off-putting to many.
The elevation: the Host? Just fine. The chasuble? Too high? Yes too high!
When will post Vatican II altar boys and Deacons get it right?
Wherein two cartoons teach the correct way. Please learn:
Thursday, April 18, 2019
PAPAL CHRISM MASS IN LATIN AND EVENING MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper Supper:
INTERESTING IMAGE FROM CRUX THIS MORNING
This reminds me of my elementary school days and how we kids just loved sniffing our freshly mimeographed handouts with the blue ink which had an addicting aroma and heavenly high! For us baby boomers it led to Mary Jane, LSD and free ❤️!
Evidently the balsam placed into the olive oil for Sacred Chrism does the same thing for Pope Francis!
Evidently the balsam placed into the olive oil for Sacred Chrism does the same thing for Pope Francis!
EASTER SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE AT HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, HILTON HEAD
ALL I CAN SAY IS YIKES! DISCUSS.
To accommodate the large number of visitors on Easter Sunday, Masses are held in the Church, the Parish Hall & the Education Building. When you arrive on property, you will be directed to the next available Mass.
EASTER SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE:
7:30am, 8:00am, 8:30am
9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am
10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am
12Noon
7:30am, 8:00am, 8:30am
9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am
10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am
12Noon
2pm Spanish Mass
Easter Sunday Masses are held in three
different venues here on the campus.
Choose a Mass time and when you arrive at Holy Family
you will be shown where that Mass is celebrated.
Please note that due to fire dept regulations,
we cannot go over capacity for any venue
so it is possible that if a venue is full
you will be directed to another.
Thank you for your understanding.
Easter Sunday Masses are held in three
different venues here on the campus.
Choose a Mass time and when you arrive at Holy Family
you will be shown where that Mass is celebrated.
Please note that due to fire dept regulations,
we cannot go over capacity for any venue
so it is possible that if a venue is full
you will be directed to another.
Thank you for your understanding.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
GOD BLESS THE LAYMAN, GUS LLOYD OF "SEIZE THE DAY" BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT
Gus Lloyd doesn't know how "clericalism" is the source of abuse in the Catholic Church. How does clericalism lead to the sexual abuse of children or any vulnerable adult by a priest? This was a part of his commentary this very morning as I was driving to the church office.
GOOD QUESTION Lloyd!
It is the clericalism of bishops who are not careful in whom they select to be ordained.
It is the clericalism of bishops who don't properly supervise their priests.
It is the clericalism of bishops who are in a state of denial about the nefarious activity of their clergy.
It is the clericalism of bishops who think they can heal perversion and that breaking the law, either canon or civil doesn't deserve penalties to include the "death penalty" for active ministry.
However, in terms of clericalism, when laity who naively so trust their priests that they entrust their kids or vulnerable adults to them in an unsupervised setting, is a recipe for disaster.
Most parents, though, would never entrust their teenage daughters to a priest and a priest wouldn't want that, but they would entrust their teenage sons and normal priests at one time didn't see anything wrong with that because so few thought the priest was gay and would take advantage of a teenage boy. It is a betrayal of trust but also the ignorance of the sexuality of some priests. It is a betrayal of the vow/promise of celibacy! It is hypocrisy and criminal hypocrisy to boot.
One notorious Jesuit, now dead by the grace of God, was so respected and idolized, placed on a pedestal, that no one could believe he could take advantage of teenagers and children and he used this adulation to take advantage of his victims and ruin the lives of countless kids/teenagers and the Catholicism of countless parents and other family members.
The proliferation of this scandal and the number of victims can be squarely laid at the feet of his Jesuit brothers and superiors. That's clericalism that those who knew could care less about what he was doing. Don't rock the boat. And kids who were abused wouldn't come forward because he was such a respect priest and so high on his pedestal.
Clericalism can be blamed when perverts are set free to do what they want to do without consequences. That needs to be addressed. But the ordained priesthood need not be dumbed down when healthy men are ordained and properly supervised.
WHY THE EF MASS SHOWS THE WAY TO AUTHENTIC CATHOLIC RENEWAL EVEN AS THE DESTROYING FIRES RAGE IN THE CHURCH MILITANT
Last night I attended our annual Chrism Mass at our Cathedral. I noticed that there were far fewer laity in attendance this year compared to last year and a markedly older laity in attendance. This was sad as the liturgy was magnificent. The cathedral has a new choirmaster/organist and he understands Catholic Liturgy and included for the first time in a very long time the propers. We sang with gusto the Jubilatio Deo Gloria. Unfortunately this wasn’t carried through with the Sanctus, Pater Noster and Agnus Dei, but the English choices by Proulx we’re fine and singable. My only suggestion to the new director is to slow things down only slightly and to soften the organ so as not to overpower both the choir and congregation.
The theme of the homily was about renewal during this time of raging fire in our institutional Church.
Ordained priesthood and the non ordained priesthood of the laity are interrelated and configured to service, not power and authority.
I personally think there is a redeemed usage of power and authority based upon the ordained priest's humility with are necessary for our recovering Church and it is a masculine form of it used for the good of the Church. It has to be based upon the crucified and risen Lord’s use of power and authority for the love of and good of His spotless bride, the Church. The complimentary of fully male and female must be recovered and not made gender neutral.
But renewal can’t be based on laicizing and feminizing the ordained priesthood and clericalizing and masculizing the “animi” (souls in Latin feminine, anima) of the laity.
Nor can this recovery be based upon what we do alone, i.e. ministries, but who we are, God’s adopted, priestly people sanctified in the Blood and Water flowing from the right side of Christ which is the font of sacramental life in the Churh.
This entails a contemplative and mystical experience of the Liturgy where we encounter the crucified and Risen Lord especially during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The recovery of the dogma of offering the One Sacrifice of Christ by the ordained priest and the priesthood of the laity cannot be underestimated.
I celebrated for the first time as a priest the EF Palm Sunday Mass at our Cathedral. I celebrated the OF earlier in the morning in my parish.
By far the EF is more contemplative and mystical and enables all the priestly people including the ordained one to enter into the holy of holies not focused on understanding every word or gesture of the Mass or even hearing them. What is important is being swept up into the very experience of heaven on earth in the mystical liturgy.
Lay Catholics who live this mysticism and contemplation at home, work and recreation are the firemen to douse the flames of a burning Church!
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
WHAT WAS NOT LOST IS THIS GOOD FRIDAY IMAGE AND MORE ON THE SYMBOLISM OF THIS FIRE THAT HAS TOUCHED THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY CATHOLICS
But why are Catholics grieving over this building as iconic as it is? First of all, the pre-fire Cathedral is an icon of Catholicism at its best and the beauty she brings to the world.
But this is related secondly to the grief that is being experienced--the loss of beauty in Catholicism as a result of what has been unveiled concerning the hierarchy and the lower clergy. This fire
symbolizes the fire that the institutional Church has been experiencing and the destruction of all that is potentially good with Catholicism.
I was listening to a caller on Gus Lloyd's "Seize the Day" morning call-in show on XM Radio.
She asked Gus if she could be honest in her feelings.
He said, "of course." This fire for her was like the destruction of Catholicism symbolized by the unveiling of so many priests who have betrayed their ministry and ruined so many lives and the bishops who participated in it, enabled it or covered it up.
But also it symbolizes the "funkiness" of Pope Francis and what he is doing.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard in discussions with faithful Catholics who love the pope and the institution of the papacy who wonder if they should confess their distrust and dislike for Pope Francis.
The only thing that can assist the Church at this time is the view of the Cathedral above in a disaster zone but with the Pieta still shining forth, especially the gloried empty Cross.
Depression about the current state of affairs of the Church and papacy must lead to greater prayer for the Supreme Pontiff and his repentance of his part in exacerbating the raging destructive fire of the post-Vatican II polarization in the Church.
IS TIGER WOODS' WIN AT THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL ON PALM SUNDAY A SIGN OF REDEMPTION AND HOPE FOR THE CHURCH SEEKING, BY GOD'S GRACE ALONE, A SIMILAR REDEMPTION AND COME BACK
Augusta is my hometown. The gallery was praying that Tiger Woods would win. Why? A sign of hope that one who suffers such physical and moral degeneration can come back. This thinking may not be religious for Tiger and his fans but it is definitely spiritual with Catholic sensibilities:
Bishop Barron says Tiger’s epic isn’t just about comebacks, but redemption
VATICAN RADIOS SPIN OR FR. THOMAS REESE OF THE NATIONAL CHISMATIC REPORTER SPIN
Both spins are interesting. Fr. Reese's first part is just plain immature and stupid, but his last part, recommendations, especially about Pope Francis canonizing every pope of Vatican II are spot on:
Benedict XVI’s birthday and that “penitential” approach that unites two pontificates
The Pope Emeritus’ birthday this year is accompanied by a debate on his recent letter regarding abuse. An analysis of three documents reveals a common thread that unites the Pope and the Pope Emeritus in the fight against this scourge.
Fr. Thomas Reese, National Chismatic Reporter:
Benedict’s unfortunate letter ignores the facts in the Catholic sex abuse crisis
WASHINGTON (DC)
Religion News Service (National Chismatic Reporter)
Religion News Service (National Chismatic Reporter)
Monday, April 15, 2019
LA STAMPA'S VATICAN INSIDER: The accusation is explicit: the Pope emeritus intervenes with a text that might represent "a pastoral and theological line parallel to that of the Pope", and thus lends itself to being used as a weapon for those opposing Francis.
Pubblicato il 15/04/2019
Ultima modifica il 15/04/2019 alle ore 17:12
DOMENICO AGASSO JR
VATICAN CITY
For the first time in six years the Vatican fits tight for "two popes". Or rather, for the Pontiff and the Emeritus. Benedict XVI’s "notes" on pedophilia risk creating a fracture in this unique situation: the coexistence of two successors of Saint Peter within the "enclosure of Peter". So far the balance has been maintained thanks to the affectionate relationship between the two popes, in addition to the prudence of the emeritus, but now the Holy See suffers from the weight of this coexistence. A "constitutional" question therefore arises on the role of the emeritus. Starting from the assumption that the pope is bishop of Rome, referring to the indications "for the ministry of the bishops", which reads: "the Bishop Emeritus always carries out his activity in full agreement with the diocesan Bishop and in deference to his authority. In this way all will understand clearly that the diocesan Bishop alone is the head of the diocese, responsible for its governance".
Le notizie più importanti della settimana e non solo. Scopri Top10 e La cucina de La Stampa
Benedict XVI's notes on paedophilia open the "constitutional" question and unleash accusations against his entourage. Beyond the content of Ratzinger's text - in which he criticizes progressive theology and writes that the spiritual collapse that caused paedophilia began in 1968 - has never before form become substance like in this affair. In the Vatican the air is heavy. Because many people believe that with this unusual statement Ratzinger was not "hidden from the world" as he had announced after the renunciation of the papacy. And what aggravates the situation is the chosen theme, decisive for Bergoglio’s pontificate of and for the Church as a whole.
The accusation is explicit: the Pope emeritus intervenes with a text that might represent "a pastoral and theological line parallel to that of the Pope", and thus lends itself to being used as a weapon for those opposing Francis.
And among the "oddities" noted there is for example the lack in the document of any mention of emblematic cases such as that of Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who began to commit the first sexual abuse in the '40s, well before '68, and was anything but the progressive current. At the same time Ratzinger's affirmations are considered by the conservative and traditionalist galaxy as necessary and urgent words of truth to save the "boat of Peter" that is allegedly sinking. As Cardinal Robert Sarah would tweet: "We must thank the Pope Emeritus for having had the courage to speak. His analysis of the crisis of the Church is of fundamental importance".
All eyes are focused above all on Ratzinger's entourage, accused of wanting to insist on making Ratzinger's pontificate continue in some way, confirming the thesis that the true and great Pope is the German, not the Argentine one. The number one clue would be the way this media operation was set, with the involvement of Catholic and non-Catholic media that in the United States are part of the apparatus in continuous propaganda against Pope Francis.
In addition, the authenticity of the article is questioned. As Luis Badilla, director of the Seismograph, near the Vatican, says: "The iron circle around Ratzinger has not rarely taken the place of the Pope Emeritus". And as Gian Franco Svidercoschi, former deputy director of Osservatore Romano, author of the pamphlet "Church, freed from evil. The scandal of a believer in the face of paedophilia" (Rubbettino), writes: uncertainty "is due, for Ratzinger's precarious health conditions, not only physical". And then "an acrimony emerges that does not belong to him". And if "someone can answer that it is not so - he continues - then why hasn't he limited himself to transmitting these "notes" to Francis?" For Svidercoschi "the fact that both Parolin and Francis have been informed does not attenuate the gravity of a gesture inevitably interpreted as an attack on Bergoglio". Also because, "how could one answer "no" to a request from the Pope Emeritus?". Moreover, Benedict's staff, with this "international anti-Francis coordination, also puts Ratzinger in difficulty, forcing him to a role he doesn't want. He thus suffers yet another imposition". He explains: after his resignation "he wanted to call himself Father Benedict and not take the title of emeritus, nor be dressed in white and live in the Vatican. But then someone forced him".
MORE ON THE BENEDICT OPTION
EWTN’s ‘Papal Posse’ plus Cdl. Muller discuss Benedict’s abuse crisis letter
ROME - In a new interview, the former top doctrinal official at the Vatican praised Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s recent statement on the clerical sexual abuse scandals and rebuked criticism that the pope did not write it himself or should not speak his mind.
Benedict XVI “has his style, he was helped by a secretary but intellectually he does not need help, because he has great experience and he remembers all those responsible for the fall of moral theology, which is one of the causes behind these abuses,” said German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwing Müller, former Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in an April 14 interview with Italian news outlet Tgcom24.
Despite his 92-years of age, Benedict XVI “is lucid in his thought and in his reasoning, which as seen in that document, is very elaborate and profound,” the cardinal said.
“It’s an excellent service that he has made for the Church,” he continued, “the complaints that suggest that Benedict should stay quiet are not okay, everyone talks. Benedict is a giant of theology, he’s a bishop, a theology professor, he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He has his say in the Church.”
“There are instead characters like Scalfari who are ignorant on theology and nonetheless speak,” Müller added referring to Italian journalist and former editor of La Repubblica, Eugenio Scalfari, known for his controversial interviews with Pope Francis lacking notes and audio recording.
In the emeritus pope’s 6,000-word essay written for a Bavarian periodical - his most extended public statement since his resignation more than six years ago - Benedict ascribed the clerical sexual abuse scandals to the sexual revolution of the 1960s and a post-Vatican II “collapse” in Catholic moral theology.
The letter argues that the scandals reflect a decline in faith in a personal God and garnered blowback from those who did not agree with Benedict’s diagnosis or saw it as a sign of a rift between Francis and Benedict.
“He made an excellent analysis of this issue,” Müller said. “It was better than other explanations and it was very deep because it comes from someone with great experience, who has been in Church government for over 50 years.”
The cardinal asked that everyone learn from the document to overcome the clerical abuse crisis, which he described as “a humiliation for the Church that represents Christ’s body,” and added that such behavior is unacceptable for pastors acting in the name of Jesus.
Regarding a contrast between Francis and Benedict, the cardinal said that “for a real Catholic this is impossible.”
“They are two different people, each different from the other and not in contraposition. Each pope has his mission that is serving the Church of St. Peter,” Müller said.
“I deny this false game of opposing the two people, we only have one pope who is Francis. The two collaborate, advise each other, but Benedict XVI is not the pope, he is a good adviser for all bishops,” he added.
“There is a lot of chatter with no theological basis,” the cardinal concluded, “everything is interpreted with political categories and not theological ones.”
IS THIS A MESSAGE FROM NOTRE DAME (OUR LADY) ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CHURCH IN FRANCE AND ELSEWHERE
COMPARE THE GLORIOUS REVISED TRANSLATION OF THIS PRAYER TO THE INGLORIOUS OLDER TRANSLATION
My IBreviary has both the older closing prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours and the new translation. The Breviary actual books are not updated yet. The closing prayer is actually the Collect of the Mass of the day.
Can you tell which is which and why do you like the one you like?
All-powerful God,
by the suffering and death of your Son,
strengthen and protect us in our weakness.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Or:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, though in our weakness we fail,
we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)