Purity of Devotion

If we do not venture to approach men who are in power, except with humility and reverence, when we wish to ask a favor, how much must we beseech the Lord God of all things with all humility and purity of devotion? And let us be assured that it is not in many words, but in the purity of heart and tears of compunction that we are heard. For this reason prayer ought to be short and pure, unless, perhaps it is lengthened by the inspiration of divine grace. At the community exercises, however, let the prayer always be short, and the sign having been given by the Superior, let all rise together. (Rule of St. Benedict)

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Non Serviam

A papal decree earlier this month said priests should now meet requests by the faithful to hold mass in the traditional Church language, which had widely been dropped after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The cardinal said he loved the Latin language and would have no trouble celebrating Latin mass.

“But I will not do it,” he wrote. (Read Rest) (He is also a Jesuit…cough.cough…supression…oh sorry, just a cough)

Collegiality: “When you just don’t feel like being obedient”

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Inspiring Beauty

Just wondering…. Has anyone come across a Beautiful painting depicting the new  Mass? You know something like what you see below. (Not the modernistic neo-pagan stick figures seen in post VatII disposable “missalettes”). Notice how Beauty  garners attention, or at least curiosity. Would Oscar Wilde have converted to Catholicism on his Death-bed if the ceremonial of the Catholic Church was less enchanting? You need bait, sometimes it’s the Holy Spirit calling who He wills, or the life and conduct of Christians they come into contact with, and maybe sometimes it’s the Liturgy. The “Meat and Potatoes” catechism comes later. Kind of like when you met your Wife/Girlfriend, when you first saw her you knew nothing about her, but her beauty pulled you in, you find out the rest later, and it can turn into love. Ya need bait to catch fish.

(Source)

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Le Pardon De Kergoat

You might have noticed the new painting in the masthead. I happen to like it very much, and it will stay up until something else catches my eye. It was painted by Jules Breton (who also painted my usual blog header). The name of the painting is Le Pardon De Kergoat.

(Source)

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Noise of Many Waters

Thy throne is prepared from of old: thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord: the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods have lifted up their waves, With the noise of many waters. Wonderful are the surges of the sea: wonderful is the Lord on high. (Psalm 92)

Eucharistic Congress held in Genova, Italy. Sept 9th 1923

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Gregorian Chant

St. Gregory the Great

Gregorian Chant, which is, consequently the Chant proper to the Roman Church, the only chant she has inherited from the ancient fathers, which she has jealously guarded for centuries in her liturgical codices, which she directly proposes to the faithful as her own, which she prescribes exclusively for some parts of the liturgy, and which the most recent studies have so happily restored to their integrity and purity. On these grounds Gregorian Chant has always been regarded as the supreme model for sacred music, so that it is fully legitimate to lay down the following rule: the more closely a composition for church approaches in its movement, inspiration and savor the Gregorian form, the more sacred and liturgical it becomes; and the more out of harmony it is with that supreme model, the less worthy it is of the temple. (St. Pius X)

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Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. (Matt 5:9)

Parish Priest breaking up fight between schoolboys.

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Traditional Splendor

Traditional Ecclesial Splendor. Look like what you are. Common sense.

(Pics found on Great site: WWI color pics)

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Stop Whining!

To the “progressives” who keep yammering the same old tired cliches: Church going back to the bad old days, priest with back to people, nobody understands Latin bla-bla-bla. Also to some perpetually unhappy “rad trads” who complain Pope Benedict XVI didn’t suppress the Novus Ordo, re-start the Inquisition, denounce Vatican II….bla-bla-bla.

I consider myself a “trad”, so: Hey guys, something Good happened! Not perfect (is anything here below?) , but more than we had even a month ago. My advice?……………….

 P.S. : I will be taking some time away from the Blog, don’t know how long, maybe a few days, a week or so, we’ll see. I want you all to Relax! Be Happy! Get out, shut that damn computer off, it’s an evil devil-bot. Don’t worry about “churchy” things, It’s not our Church, it’s His. You’ll get neurotic worrying about things you can’t control.

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Romanism! Part VIII

Latest in monthly series of Romanism!. This is Part VIII: The Pontifical Court:

Marchese don Francesco Serlupi Crescenzi

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Universal Post-Messianic Judaism

(Painting: Jerusalem, Jerusalem by James Tissot)

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not? Behold, you house shall be left to you, desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matt 23:37)

And Jesus being come out of the temple, went away. And his disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple. And he answering, said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be destroyed. (Matt 24:1)

(The Triumph of Titus)

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

“I haven’t converted to another religion,” he explains. “The Catholic Church is the continuation of Judaism. They are one and the same religion — the thing is the religion changed with the incarnation (God coming to earth in the human form of Jesus). It was always going to change.” (Roy Schoeman, Jewish Convert)

Good Analogy for Jewish/Christian relationship: We got the Chick, they stayed with the broken shell:

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Uninterrupted Apostolic Tradition

Since time immemorial it has been necessary — as it is also for the future — to maintain the principle according to which “each particular Church must concur with the universal Church, not only as regards the doctrine of the faith and the sacramental signs, but also as regards the usages universally accepted by uninterrupted apostolic Tradition, which must be observed not only to avoid errors but also to transmit the integrity of the faith, because the Church’s law of prayer corresponds to her law of faith”. (Pope Benedict XVI Summorum Pontifium)

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Empowered Women

On my bridal day, kneeling before the altar of God, I was handed a crucifix, kissing it with all the love and gratitude of my heart I said,

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of Jesus Christ my Lord, by whom I am crucified to the world and the world to me”.

I was then clothed in “the garments of salvation”, the cross-form of my religious habit … rejoicing that the bill of my divorce from this world had been sealed. (Joy of a nun)

(Bottom Photo is from a movie, don’t know which one)

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Ordination

And thou shalt pour the oil of unction upon his head: and by this rite shall he be consecrated….and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance. (Exodus 29:7)

Another possible effect of the Motu Proprio could be an increase in Priestly Vocations. The Priestly Orders that offer the Extraordinary Rite of the Roman Mass have many vocations, and are building Seminaries and Monasteries in the midst of this age of destruction. The Extraordinary Mass emphasizes the Sacerdotal/Sacrifical Nature of the Mass, and puts the Presider/Communal aspect in it’s proper context. Father Gabet, the North American Superior of the FSSP, said upon seeing the Old Mass for the first time, “This is something I would give my life for”.  (FSSP Vocation Stats)  (Seminary Of ICKSP)  (Clear Creek Monks)

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Not Seperated Brethren, but Crazy Cousins

According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense. (Recent Document on the Church). Hear that “Father” Sally? Yeah, you keep laughing sister. Nice Mitres guys, did your kids make them out of construction paper?

“Bishop” Cindy is smiling, but she’s not happy!

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Guess the Year!

 ***Update** Answer: Ukraine, 1990. Congrats to Sydney, hit the nail on the head. Pics found HERE. About persecution of the Church in Ukraine.  When nuns in the West were/are going nuts, and worshipping Gaia, the East had these faithful ladies.

Hello Folks, take a good look at the below pictures, and guess the year they were taken. Also, if you think your up to it guess a general location. I will post the answer underneath the pictures within 24 hours. Good Luck!

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Liberal Reaction

Fr. Reese and Sr. Joan Chittister’s and Some Apostate and some wretched Feminist “Catholic” reaction to the Motu Proprio. Notice Fr. Reese in metal helmet at America Magazine HQ on the evening of 7/7/07 in below photo. Jesuit Vow? St. Ignatius of Loyola must be looking down shaking his head!

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Unto the Altar of God

 Just thinking out loud: The Holy Father mentions in the new Motu Proprio that it will go into effect on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept 14). Does anyone else think that it is possible that either on that day, or some time thereafter that he himself will publicly offer the Extraordinary Mass at St. Peter’s? Could we see something similiar to the below pics soon? Wouldn’t that send a message, Actions always speaking louder than Words. Oh……One can wish it will happen.

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Happy News

Headline: Pope Releases Traditional Latin Mass. Some local bishops say it is a concession to older people who are nostalgic for the rite of their youth.

Young Catholics and Seminarians all over the world have a giggle at the Old Gaurd.

As the Holy Father said in his letter to the Bishops: Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it, but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them.

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Latin Mass, St. Agnes NY

Hello all, CNN was at my parish about a month ago to tape a segment about the Latin Mass. A little skewed, but to be expected. (See CNN footage)

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Summorum Pontificum

Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the Church of Christ offers a worthy ritual to the Divine Majesty, ‘to the praise and glory of His name,’ and ‘to the benefit of all His Holy Church.

It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church….(Read the Whole Thing) …(Father’s Z comments).

Also an EWTN special on Monday on the Motu Proprio.

 

St. Pio

Don Orione

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Red headed step children of the world rejoice!!(Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

Motu Proprio tomorrow…Tomorrow.. Tomorrow..Is only a day away! (song from the movie Annie!) Click link, scroll down for song “Tomorrow”.

Have a Drink!

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Mea Culpa

Confess therefore your sins to one another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much. (James 5:16)

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Pastor Angelicus

Pius XII’s virtuous life speaks for itself and is supported by an abundance of incontestable documentary evidence. The truth regarding his service to the Church and the World, as a diplomat and during his pontificate, prior to and through the World War II period, is also historically established. He worked with great devotion for peace; condemned Nazism prior to and during hostilities; alleviated the sufferings and saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish and Christian war victims. (Sign the Petition for his Beatification )

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Sometimes the Bad Guys win…..

Pio Nono

Vittorio Emmanuele II sent the Count Ponza di San Martino to Rome on September 9^th to present to Pius IX the by now familiar argument that threats from wild radicals required Italian intervention and the occupation of the Patrimony of St. Peter by more moderate Italian Peacekeeping Forces. “What good is this attempt at useless hypocrisy?”, the Holy Father responded to the emissary. ” Would it not be worth more simply to tell me that he would like to strip me of my kingdom?—I can indeed surrender to violence, but to accept injustice?—Never!”  (Article by John Rao)

Papal Zouves Mentioned in interesting article:

John Surratt (accused in Lincoln assassination)

Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele II

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Coronation of Pope Paul VI

Coronation of Pope Paul VI

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Female “Altar Boys”

 

Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving the priest at the celebration of Mass. Since this abuse had spread to the Greeks, Innocent IV strictly forbade it in his letter to the bishop of Tusculum: “Women should not dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry.” We too have forbidden this practice in the same words in Our oft-repeated constitution Etsi Pastoralis, sect. 6, no. 21. (Part of post at Deo Juvante)

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Blood of the God-Man

Unlimited is the effectiveness of the God-Man’s Blood — just as unlimited as the love that impelled him to pour it out for us, first at his circumcision eight days after birth, and more profusely later on in his agony in the garden, in his scourging and crowning with thorns, in his climb to Calvary and crucifixion, and finally from out that great wide wound in his side which symbolizes the divine Blood cascading down into all the Church’s sacraments. Such love suggests, nay demands, that everyone reborn in the torrents of that Blood adore it with grateful love. (Pope John XXIII: Devotion to the Most Precious Blood.)

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