"OCP is providing music and support for many of the events taking place over the weeklong offshoot of World Youth Day, including music selections for the closing Mass to be celebrated with Pope Francis who will be visiting in coordination with the beatification of 124 Korean martyrs.....
"OCP will provide English and bilingual (English/Korean) music for the Youth Day events as well as English lyric videos to help participants learn each song. The selections include the popular Mass setting, Mass of Christ the Savior, by iconic composer Dan Schutte as well as several other songs that speak to the Asian Youth Day theme, Asian Youth! Wake up! The glory of the martyrs shines on you!....
"Curtis Stephan's song 'Go Out, Go Out' will be sung at the Asian Youth Day closing Mass paraphrases Psalm 117."
Universalis, your very own breviary in pixels...
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
The People of Korea Haven't Suffered Enough?
Martyrs...
MSM on Growing Popularity of "Latin Catholic Mass" [sic]
An article in the St Louis Post-Dispatch about recent ordinations within the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. (Actual ones, not the "ordinations" of women as "Roman Catholic priests" a hoax about which that most secular newspapers just can't stop "reporting." )
One quibble -
I don't think this is quite accurate.
What happened "immediately" is that in an attempt to rile up some Roman Catholics, and get them to "cry foul", (since conflict is what sells "news,") David Willey a reporter for the BBC, either "reported" on something without bothering with even the most cursory check of his "source," or outright lied -
Anyway, I only include the following, (note the words "youth movement,") -
... in light of this continued whingeing from the Tablet.
Or rather, excuse me, not "whingeing", reporting on some else's whingeing with which they concur.
He's not whining and moaning about the way their clerical dress, but their dressing up.
Because somehow, dressing DOWN is more appropriate for those engaged in the greatest, most sacred, most important activity that anyone in this life can ever be privileged to experience?
There are different way a priest may legitimately dress, Fr Ahearne. (he's the one on the right)
Perhaps some of your younger colleagues are actually proud to be allowed to be priests, aware of the awesome gift and responsibility, and don't even mind if people can identify them as such.
(p.s. I love Cardinal Burke.) (There. I said it.)
One quibble -
When Pope Francis was first elected, he appeared to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square without the short, red velvet cape known as a mozzetta. Some Roman Catholics immediately cried foul, worried that the pope’s decision to forgo the more formal wear signaled a threat to traditional Catholic worship.
I don't think this is quite accurate.
What happened "immediately" is that in an attempt to rile up some Roman Catholics, and get them to "cry foul", (since conflict is what sells "news,") David Willey a reporter for the BBC, either "reported" on something without bothering with even the most cursory check of his "source," or outright lied -
Minutes after the election result was declared in the Sistine Chapel, a Vatican official called the Master of Ceremonies offered to the new Pope the traditional papal red cape trimmed with ermine....Ummm... one small falsehood out of many?
"No thank you, Monsignore," Pope Francis is reported to have replied. "You put it on instead. Carnival time is over!"
It was just one small sign out of many this week
Anyway, I only include the following, (note the words "youth movement,") -
Mary Kraychy, with the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei, a nonprofit based in Glenview, Ill., that promotes the Latin Mass, says she’s seen a slow but steady rise in the practice, with more than 400 churches offering the liturgy today. The organization sells missals that display the Latin text of the Mass alongside the English translation.
Kraychy describes it as a “youth movement,” with much of the enthusiasm for the rite espoused by those who are too young to remember the Second Vatican Council.
... in light of this continued whingeing from the Tablet.
Or rather, excuse me, not "whingeing", reporting on some else's whingeing with which they concur.
Fr Seamus Ahearne.... [is] concerned that the few young priests there are in the Irish Church appear to embrace a very traditionalist view of Church.Note the word "up."
They are “so locked into a past model of priesthood” he commented and said this manifested itself in “the way that they dress up, the way they celebrate Mass, and in their views.”
He's not whining and moaning about the way their clerical dress, but their dressing up.
Because somehow, dressing DOWN is more appropriate for those engaged in the greatest, most sacred, most important activity that anyone in this life can ever be privileged to experience?
There are different way a priest may legitimately dress, Fr Ahearne. (he's the one on the right)
Perhaps some of your younger colleagues are actually proud to be allowed to be priests, aware of the awesome gift and responsibility, and don't even mind if people can identify them as such.
(p.s. I love Cardinal Burke.) (There. I said it.)
"Catholic Schools, Firing Policies and Teacher Misconduct"
Zenit has a very good article by E. Christian Brugger, which lays out the principles involved in making these hard decisions very well.
I think they apply to other ministries and apostolates within the parish, as well.
I have been in several situations of the sort, (never, Thank God, where the call was mine to make,) and know how wrenching they can be for all concerned.
He also took a lot of heat for some of it, and of course was in no position to divulge details that would have made things much easier for him had they been known.
Brugger urges that the policies be:
I'm glad he also discusses the difference between confidentiality and secrecy, something the Church must be careful with - I have to think that the attacks we are experiencing on the Seal of the Confessional can be laid directly on the doorstep of members of the hierarchy who were more interested in reputations than justice, and in protecting fellow travelers rather than children, in the sexual abuse cover-up scandal.
The whole thing is a joint project of the Cardinal Newman Society and the Culture of Life Foundation -- bravo!
I think they apply to other ministries and apostolates within the parish, as well.
I have been in several situations of the sort, (never, Thank God, where the call was mine to make,) and know how wrenching they can be for all concerned.
He also took a lot of heat for some of it, and of course was in no position to divulge details that would have made things much easier for him had they been known.
Brugger urges that the policies be:
• clearly published and consistent with Catholic Church teaching;That last may be the hardest part, and neglecting it is the surest way for a group to devolve into warring factions, or rather, for the factions that always seem to already exist, to arm themselves with grievances and "evidence. " (It is a sad fact of our fallen nature that we don't mind rules being bent and exceptions being made on behalf of people we cherish and principles to which we adhere.)
• closely keyed to the institutional mission statement; and
• consistently and non-arbitrarily applied
I'm glad he also discusses the difference between confidentiality and secrecy, something the Church must be careful with - I have to think that the attacks we are experiencing on the Seal of the Confessional can be laid directly on the doorstep of members of the hierarchy who were more interested in reputations than justice, and in protecting fellow travelers rather than children, in the sexual abuse cover-up scandal.
It bears noting that considering the harmful consequences attendant to a decision to terminate or not terminate is not consequentialist reasoning, the aim of which is to determine by appeal to consequences whether or not intending evil (as an end or means) is licit ‘under the circumstances.’ Evil alternatives should never be chosen and consequently should not be the subject matter of moral deliberation. As soon as we conclude that some type of behavior would be intrinsically wrongful to choose, we should exclude it from our range of potentially-acceptable choices. But once we have done this, we must have a reasonable concern for consequences.Brugger enumerates potential consequences of various plans of action, on ALL the parties involved, very astute list.
The whole thing is a joint project of the Cardinal Newman Society and the Culture of Life Foundation -- bravo!
Monday, 4 August 2014
Ironic, no priest for St John Vianney's memorial....
On the other hand, a stark reminder, as the deacon who took the Communion service this morning said, of our need to storm heaven in our prayers for more vocations, of all sorts, but especially to the priesthood.
And me?
In order that I should take Cardinal Merry del Val's litany more to heart, and that I should truly understand, not just intellectually acknowledge, the fact that one cannot learn to be humble without experiencing humiliation, I, who pride myself on my skill at proclamation, and have assured the sacristan that he can always call on me when a lay reader doesn't show, no notice necessary, stepped into the sanctuary to be greeted by Zedekiah, Hananiah, Azzur, from Gibeon, Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, et al.
Who'd'a' thunk "Nebuchadnezzar" would be the least of my problems?
(Actually, the Holy Spirit was with me, I didn't have any problems, but I bet my eyes were big as saucers behind my Dollar Tree readers...)
There seems to be a mistake in the Lectionary.
The deacon had prepared a homily based on Matthew 14, Peter tying to walk on water, but instead it was the loaves and fishes, same as Sunday?
A misprint?
Not sure who the publisher is of the Lectionary they use, but he did some solemn and deliberate page turning, couldn't find that for which he was looking, and just went for it.
Well, as it happens, I had already heard his sermon for the loaves and fishes, and the Holy Spirit was in this as well, because his take on the scripture was practically perfect for the day -- "Jesus ... said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds"
So on the memorial of the Curé of Ars, the patron saint of all priests, whom many, perhaps including himself at times, felt lacking in the "right stuff" to serve Christ's Church as a priest --- on St John Vianney's feast day, we heard about the need for a Church and for the agency of Her ministers if we are to be nourished with the Bread of Life.
God send us holy priests. God send us many holy priests.
And me?
In order that I should take Cardinal Merry del Val's litany more to heart, and that I should truly understand, not just intellectually acknowledge, the fact that one cannot learn to be humble without experiencing humiliation, I, who pride myself on my skill at proclamation, and have assured the sacristan that he can always call on me when a lay reader doesn't show, no notice necessary, stepped into the sanctuary to be greeted by Zedekiah, Hananiah, Azzur, from Gibeon, Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, et al.
Who'd'a' thunk "Nebuchadnezzar" would be the least of my problems?
(Actually, the Holy Spirit was with me, I didn't have any problems, but I bet my eyes were big as saucers behind my Dollar Tree readers...)
There seems to be a mistake in the Lectionary.
The deacon had prepared a homily based on Matthew 14, Peter tying to walk on water, but instead it was the loaves and fishes, same as Sunday?
A misprint?
Not sure who the publisher is of the Lectionary they use, but he did some solemn and deliberate page turning, couldn't find that for which he was looking, and just went for it.
Well, as it happens, I had already heard his sermon for the loaves and fishes, and the Holy Spirit was in this as well, because his take on the scripture was practically perfect for the day -- "Jesus ... said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds"
So on the memorial of the Curé of Ars, the patron saint of all priests, whom many, perhaps including himself at times, felt lacking in the "right stuff" to serve Christ's Church as a priest --- on St John Vianney's feast day, we heard about the need for a Church and for the agency of Her ministers if we are to be nourished with the Bread of Life.
God send us holy priests. God send us many holy priests.
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Buyer's Remorse...?
... when you'd been shopping for human beings?
First World Problems indeed.... First World, on so many levels, entitlement, playing God, exploitation of 3rd world labor...
But you see, this wasn't what they had been comissioned:
A campaign has begun in Australia to raise funds for baby Gammy, a 6-month-old boy with Down’s Syndrome and congenital heart disease currently living in Thailand.
He was born to a 21-year-old Thai woman [who] was to be paid A$11,700 to be the surrogate mother, and has told media that she agreed to the arrangement because she had a large debt that she would not otherwise be able to pay. After implantation of the embryos, it was discovered [she] was pregnant with twins. She was offered an additional A$1,637 for the second child.
Four months into the pregnancy, one of the twins was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. The Australian couple insisted that [she] undergo an abortion, but she refused because she considered abortion to be a sin.
[The surrogate] gave birth to Gammy and also to a healthy baby girl. In addition to Down’s Syndrome, Gammy also has congenital heart disease. The Australian couple took the baby girl, but left Gammy behind to be cared for by his mother, who was paid just under A$11,000 of the money promised to her.....The limited permissibility of surrogacy in Australia has given rise to a form of reproductive tourism, with Australians travelling overseas to enter into commercial surrogacy arrangements. Reproductive tourism is now a multi-billion dollar industry.
India has been a popular destination for Australians, but because Indian law only allows heterosexual couples to participate in surrogacy arrangements, Thailand is becoming increasingly popular for same-sex couples and single people. ... Until recently, Thai law ... required the surrogate mother to be single because, if she was married, her husband automatically becomes the child’s father under Thai law.
What this meant was that the only women who were eligible to be surrogates were single mothers, leading to the risk that vulnerable women could be exploited in surrogacy arrangements....
Following the case of baby Gammy and others similar incidents where biological parents have rejected a baby born with a “defect” and withheld payment from the surrogate mothers, the Thai government has tightened its laws. Commercial surrogacy is no longer permitted in Thailand.
The fundraising site for Gammy is: http://www.gofundme.com/bxci90
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Speaking of Words...
Thank you, Fr McDonald I now understand what is meant by "intimist" besides a genre of painting.
And I've actually experienced what the Holy Father meant applied to Marian spirituality, awful slavic folk hymns that, when translated, proved to be unsuitable for Christian use, (texts that basically described how scary God is, and so urged asking Mary instead, you know, Mom'll be able to manage some kind of work-around.)
And I've actually experienced what the Holy Father meant applied to Marian spirituality, awful slavic folk hymns that, when translated, proved to be unsuitable for Christian use, (texts that basically described how scary God is, and so urged asking Mary instead, you know, Mom'll be able to manage some kind of work-around.)
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
MoDo,a Little Pitchy?
It's nice to know that it is not just about matters ecclesiastic on which MoDo is wont to wax ignorant.
Right after pretty much admitting flat out that she knew literally nothing first hand about the presentations of the Metropolitan Opera before Peter Gelb's tenure, she proclaimed that they had been "musty" and "fusty".
Perhaps she just has an aversion to anything grand that is beyond her powers of understanding.
And has she become irony-impaired?
He said that a teacher criticized him.... for not being able to take criticism..... and he couldn't take it.... you know, the criti--- oh, never mind.
(And yes, I know "pitchy" isn't a word, or rahter, didn't used to be, but there's nothing that we can do about it now.)
Right after pretty much admitting flat out that she knew literally nothing first hand about the presentations of the Metropolitan Opera before Peter Gelb's tenure, she proclaimed that they had been "musty" and "fusty".
Perhaps she just has an aversion to anything grand that is beyond her powers of understanding.
And has she become irony-impaired?
Peter Gelb still recalls the sting. “In second grade, my report card said I couldn't take criticism, and I remember being devastated by that.”Get it, Mo?
He said that a teacher criticized him.... for not being able to take criticism..... and he couldn't take it.... you know, the criti--- oh, never mind.
(And yes, I know "pitchy" isn't a word, or rahter, didn't used to be, but there's nothing that we can do about it now.)
Funerals, the Dies Irae and Guilty Pleasures
I am, "behind the scenes," involved in the planning of several versions of Catholic funerary rites, in both cases the person with actual family authority knows nothing of the requirements and has enlisted my aid with the proviso that no one else knows I have been consulted.
In one case, to my great surprise, I learn that the decedent, a nun in the heady immediate post-VC II days would have wanted Gregorian chant, (I had always assumed she would have been a banjos and tambourine type,) indeed, the liturgical mess of the times may have played a part in her departure from the convent.
I had to explain to her godson that he might have a shot at getting the parish pastor and music director to agree to the propers in some form, but that the Dies Irae, which he was very keen on, was no longer an official part of the Mass, that some priests might allow it to be inserted as an Offertory chant.
In scouting hymn texts for one of the other liturgies I read through several older threads about funeral programming on the CMAA forum, and found a link to a wonderful "mediation on a lost treasure," that is, the Dies Irae, by a Mons. Pope.
Don't know how I missed it at the time, was that the year we actually moved? No matter.
Well worth the read.
I loved his point that yes, the poetry is about Judgment, but ultimately, even more so, it is about MERCY.
And then, apropos of nothing, except my local PBS station that broadcast a Live in HD From the Metropolitan Opera, or rather, broadcast all BUT THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF IT!!!!!!!! (Arghhh!) I was rooting around on Youtube and came across and listened to Jonas Kaufmann singing Ingemisco from the Verdi Requiem a time or two.
Or four.
In one case, to my great surprise, I learn that the decedent, a nun in the heady immediate post-VC II days would have wanted Gregorian chant, (I had always assumed she would have been a banjos and tambourine type,) indeed, the liturgical mess of the times may have played a part in her departure from the convent.
I had to explain to her godson that he might have a shot at getting the parish pastor and music director to agree to the propers in some form, but that the Dies Irae, which he was very keen on, was no longer an official part of the Mass, that some priests might allow it to be inserted as an Offertory chant.
In scouting hymn texts for one of the other liturgies I read through several older threads about funeral programming on the CMAA forum, and found a link to a wonderful "mediation on a lost treasure," that is, the Dies Irae, by a Mons. Pope.
Don't know how I missed it at the time, was that the year we actually moved? No matter.
Well worth the read.
I loved his point that yes, the poetry is about Judgment, but ultimately, even more so, it is about MERCY.
And then, apropos of nothing, except my local PBS station that broadcast a Live in HD From the Metropolitan Opera, or rather, broadcast all BUT THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF IT!!!!!!!! (Arghhh!) I was rooting around on Youtube and came across and listened to Jonas Kaufmann singing Ingemisco from the Verdi Requiem a time or two.
Or four.
A poster on another Kaufmann offering on Youtube refers to him as a "guilty pleasure," and I know what he means.
His
technique seems so different from anything else I've ever heard or ever, really imagined as "good", his
placement even within a single phrase so varied, the extravagance of his
shifting of register to another -- can it be right?
But it is so effective. And his diction and the intensity and precision of his emotional expression is beyond compare.
Music aficionados often joke that the Manzoni Requiem was Verdi's "greatest opera."
Well, why not? did he ever have a more superb libretto, or heartbreaking subject for any opera?
Maybe the most moving expression of penitence I've ever heard.
But it is so effective. And his diction and the intensity and precision of his emotional expression is beyond compare.
Music aficionados often joke that the Manzoni Requiem was Verdi's "greatest opera."
Well, why not? did he ever have a more superb libretto, or heartbreaking subject for any opera?
Maybe the most moving expression of penitence I've ever heard.
I groan as a guilty one,
and my face blushes with guilt;
spare the supplicant, O God.
You, who absolved Mary Magdalen,
and heard the prayer of the thief,
have given me hope, as well.My prayers are not worthy,
but show mercy, O benevolent one,
lest I burn forever in fire.Give me a place among the sheep,
and separate me from the goats,
placing me on your right hand.
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Kiss Day
I always find out about these things too late...
I'll be lying in bed drifting off to sleep and suddenly, I sit bolt upright, "Drat! I forgot to talk like a pirate today!"
Or last Sunday, "Wait, I didn't know there even WAS such a thing as national Ice Cream Day! Yeah, I had some, but... was it enough?"
Anyway, who know that the last day of the Colloquium this year was "World Kiss Day"?
I hereby apologize to everyone I failed to kiss.
Hmmmm... maybe that's only in the EF, or in the Anglican Use.
Wonder what the propers are....
I'll be lying in bed drifting off to sleep and suddenly, I sit bolt upright, "Drat! I forgot to talk like a pirate today!"
Or last Sunday, "Wait, I didn't know there even WAS such a thing as national Ice Cream Day! Yeah, I had some, but... was it enough?"
Anyway, who know that the last day of the Colloquium this year was "World Kiss Day"?
I hereby apologize to everyone I failed to kiss.
Hmmmm... maybe that's only in the EF, or in the Anglican Use.
Wonder what the propers are....
"Not Our Children, Not Our Problem"
What an ugly thing to say, what an ugly way to feel.
But did anyone say it?
USCatholic has a piece about the anti-anti-immigrant backlash backlash..... I think I have that permutation right.
And yes, there is some real hatred being expressed, some real denial of human dignity in the debate.
Anne Coulter's tweets in particular, as singled out in the USCatholic editorial... except, actually, the tweets retaliating against her tweets are uglier still.
But USCatholic references,
I was looking for a photo, but the photo accompanying the Herald column was of something else.
So I did a Google Image search for such a sign and came up empty.
So I searched for the phrase in the news.
Dr Jane Aronson at HuffPo rightly finds such a sentiment, which she uses to title her post, chilling, but attributes it to a different source:
But is it?
In a society that creates and publishes photographic records of every pimple and twitch, isn't it odd that this sign cited by multiple news outlets doesn't seem to have been captured in pixels?
So it's all just, someone said that someone said that someone... you get the idea.
Is it like the anonymous voice in the crowd threatening candidate Obama with violence or the anti-war protestors spitting on returning servicemen... something we want to claim is emblematic of a time and an atitude that just didn't happen to happen?
Why let facts get in the way of a good argument....
I have to be honest, a combox mentioned hearing someone chant "not our children, not our problem," (not a sign,) on the Rachel Maddow Show, but I'm having trouble with javascript, so there may be evidence on Youtube that I just can't see.
(And speaking of "phony, grandstanding, Bible-toting hypocrites", could Catholic news media please stop giving Anne Coulter publicity, and holding her up as some kind of model Catholic? I'm sure she's done some wonderful, Christian things, but her... liabilities should disqualify her.)
But did anyone say it?
USCatholic has a piece about the anti-anti-immigrant backlash backlash..... I think I have that permutation right.
And yes, there is some real hatred being expressed, some real denial of human dignity in the debate.
Anne Coulter's tweets in particular, as singled out in the USCatholic editorial... except, actually, the tweets retaliating against her tweets are uglier still.
But USCatholic references,
We've even seen protesters use the slogan "Not our children, not our problem."and links to an opinion piece in the Miami Herald that says
When demonstrators in California recently turned around busloads of the kids being brought to a processing center, one woman was holding a sign that said “Not Our Children, Not Our Problem.”Horrifying, such naked contempt for fellow human beings, and children, no less, huh?
I was looking for a photo, but the photo accompanying the Herald column was of something else.
So I did a Google Image search for such a sign and came up empty.
So I searched for the phrase in the news.
Dr Jane Aronson at HuffPo rightly finds such a sentiment, which she uses to title her post, chilling, but attributes it to a different source:
a sign that was photographed outside a holding center in Texas ... The sign was held by an American citizen who is threatened and afraid of a community from afar.So everyone agrees it's awful, and would be a real indictment of the people protesting the porousness of our borders -- if it is true.
But is it?
In a society that creates and publishes photographic records of every pimple and twitch, isn't it odd that this sign cited by multiple news outlets doesn't seem to have been captured in pixels?
So it's all just, someone said that someone said that someone... you get the idea.
Is it like the anonymous voice in the crowd threatening candidate Obama with violence or the anti-war protestors spitting on returning servicemen... something we want to claim is emblematic of a time and an atitude that just didn't happen to happen?
Why let facts get in the way of a good argument....
I have to be honest, a combox mentioned hearing someone chant "not our children, not our problem," (not a sign,) on the Rachel Maddow Show, but I'm having trouble with javascript, so there may be evidence on Youtube that I just can't see.
(And speaking of "phony, grandstanding, Bible-toting hypocrites", could Catholic news media please stop giving Anne Coulter publicity, and holding her up as some kind of model Catholic? I'm sure she's done some wonderful, Christian things, but her... liabilities should disqualify her.)
Who was the Pope's audience? Does it matter?
I read in Zenit that the Holy Father was addressing diocesan priests when he said,
Eponymous Flower uses more actually-enclosed-in-quotation-marks-phrases than other reports that I have read of what the Pope said.
I assume they are well informed and trustworthy?
(Although there is this continuing problem of diverse sources reporting on diverse matters of diverse opinions of the Pope of diverse degrees of authority -- none of which can be corrected! My mind drifts back to Eye of the Tiber too, too often when reading about our Holy Father.)
I imagine he did use the same phrase in those two different contexts... do you suppose there are shades of meaning for him?
Does he see the fractioning of the Body of Christ as the ultimate scandal?
Or does he think the Holy Spirit is responsible for the twenty to thirty-some THOUSAND different Christian denominations?
Do the differences just boil down to practices? not to competing claims of Truth?
I cannot wrap my mind around this.
I would be satisfied for now to know what "agnosticism that has entered into the Church in groups of intimist piety” refers to.
What is "intimist piety?
"Bishops must give an example of unity, " reminding the priests that was what Jesus had asked of His Father for the Church.I read on Eponymous Flower, a self-described "polemical Catholic Royalist blog,"
“This cannot be done speaking badly about each other. The unity of bishops is important to the unity of the Church”, he said, adding that the devil revels in and profits from internal conflict.
“The bishops must be in agreement in unity, but not in uniformity. Each one has his charisma; each one has his way of thinking and his point of view.” Though he admitted at times this is the result of mistakes, often it is the result of the Spirit.
“A unity in diversity,” is what’s needed, “in which no-one loses his own personality.”
Pope Francis asked the Evangelicals and Pentecostals for forgiveness for the "assault and slander" that were committed by Catholics. Literally, the Catholic Church's leader said: "Among those who are members of the Pentecostals were prosecuted or convicted, as if they were madmen who would destroy mankind, were also Catholics." Next, the Pope said: "I am the shepherd of the Catholics, and therefore ask you for forgiveness for those Catholic brothers and sisters who were possessed by the devil and did not understand anything."....
It is "a temptation to say: I am the Church, you are the sect. Jesus prayed for unity. The Holy Spirit creates diversity in the Church. He makes the differences. But then Holy Spirit makes the same unity and the church is one in diversity. A diversity reconciled through the Holy Spirit," said Pope Francis according to Lettera43.What is Lettera43? (An Italian newspaper, but i can't work out exactly what sort, reputable?)
Eponymous Flower uses more actually-enclosed-in-quotation-marks-phrases than other reports that I have read of what the Pope said.
I assume they are well informed and trustworthy?
(Although there is this continuing problem of diverse sources reporting on diverse matters of diverse opinions of the Pope of diverse degrees of authority -- none of which can be corrected! My mind drifts back to Eye of the Tiber too, too often when reading about our Holy Father.)
I imagine he did use the same phrase in those two different contexts... do you suppose there are shades of meaning for him?
Does he see the fractioning of the Body of Christ as the ultimate scandal?
Or does he think the Holy Spirit is responsible for the twenty to thirty-some THOUSAND different Christian denominations?
Do the differences just boil down to practices? not to competing claims of Truth?
I cannot wrap my mind around this.
I would be satisfied for now to know what "agnosticism that has entered into the Church in groups of intimist piety” refers to.
What is "intimist piety?
Unity in Diversity?
Not sure what any of this means.
Was this a specifically Italian thing? Haven't found much about it online so far.
I do think history demonstrates all too clearly that when one religion makes accommodations with an opressive state to protect itself, it almost invariably ends up joining in the oppression directed at others.
How has Francis's approach to unity in diversity worked out?
"Among those who persecuted and denounced Pentecostals, almost as if they were crazy people trying to ruin the race, there were also Catholics," [Pope Francis said on a visit to a Pentecostalist Church,] "I am the pastor of Catholics, and I ask your forgiveness for those Catholic brothers and sisters who didn't know and were tempted by the devil."
Was this a specifically Italian thing? Haven't found much about it online so far.
I do think history demonstrates all too clearly that when one religion makes accommodations with an opressive state to protect itself, it almost invariably ends up joining in the oppression directed at others.
Speaking to some 350 Pentecostal faithful in the church, Francis ....stressed that there was unity in diversity within Christianity.Yes, but in what way? There is unity in diversity within the human race, but what does this mean in the context of the Faith? what does it mean FOR the Faith?
In a statement earlier this month ..., several Italian evangelical groups met in the same city and stressed the "incompatibility" of their beliefs with that of the Catholic Church and its pope.So I would have thought.
How has Francis's approach to unity in diversity worked out?
The popular, charismatic movements have drained parishioners from the Catholic Church, particularly in Francis' own Latin America.Exciting, exciting times in which to live.
Monday, 28 July 2014
Liturgical Ministers Training?
Honest, it may seem like it, but I am not picking on Praytell and its writers.
I wasn't reading them for a while, it seemed so boilerplate WeAreNoArticlesPleaseChurch, and their lionization of certain persons and unfair silencing of others was a bore.
But I am very grateful to them for the links to various occurrences at the NPM convention, and have been dropping in there a bit more often.
Anyway, this reference isn't even a criticism, it's more of a lament -- someone asked what kind of training people did for "liturgical ministers."
My parish?
Clearly -- NONE.
The lay readers, (who strangely, are full of advice,) are about 50% incompetent in one way or the other, (projection, diction, preparation, cursory knowledge of the order of Mass, careless and casual posture and liturgical gesture.)
The Extraordinary Ministers are a mixed bag. One once asked me to grab a paper towel and swab out the ciborium to "make sure there were no crumbs left."
They do have, as is usual, among the lost little children serving as servers, two older gentlemen who approach and accomplish their office, I would almost say, perfectly.
Every parish I have ever known has one or two such.
I have never understood, why are they not asked to train the children? Why is it left to a harried priest or an ignorant DRE?
I wasn't reading them for a while, it seemed so boilerplate WeAreNoArticlesPleaseChurch, and their lionization of certain persons and unfair silencing of others was a bore.
But I am very grateful to them for the links to various occurrences at the NPM convention, and have been dropping in there a bit more often.
Anyway, this reference isn't even a criticism, it's more of a lament -- someone asked what kind of training people did for "liturgical ministers."
My parish?
Clearly -- NONE.
The lay readers, (who strangely, are full of advice,) are about 50% incompetent in one way or the other, (projection, diction, preparation, cursory knowledge of the order of Mass, careless and casual posture and liturgical gesture.)
The Extraordinary Ministers are a mixed bag. One once asked me to grab a paper towel and swab out the ciborium to "make sure there were no crumbs left."
They do have, as is usual, among the lost little children serving as servers, two older gentlemen who approach and accomplish their office, I would almost say, perfectly.
Every parish I have ever known has one or two such.
I have never understood, why are they not asked to train the children? Why is it left to a harried priest or an ignorant DRE?
"A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO TEMPORARY LITURGICAL ART"
The Praytell blog linked to Art in the Sanctuary, a site dedicated to Better Than Burlap Banners the design and rigging of temporary liturgical art.
With pulp missals meant to be thrown away, and music in styles of the moment which will embarrass your children, why ever would you want art other than the ephemeral?
With pulp missals meant to be thrown away, and music in styles of the moment which will embarrass your children, why ever would you want art other than the ephemeral?
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Seeking a Decree of Nullity
There's some jawing back and forth, (I know on line it's not literally jawing, but it just seems the right word -- there's an old joke, or line from some writer about the Chicago alderman who would lie that he had a ham sandwich for lunch when he really had tuna, just to keep in practice -- I think comboxes attract people who love to say things like, I didn't imply, YOU INFERRED! or maybe, you should have said "some" if you didn't mean to imply "all"!!!!, so that even if only your fingers come into play on those comments, you're "jawing,") on the subject of , (yeah, I know that's not what they are, really,) annulments over at Fr Z's.
The subject, improving my life as immensely as it has, is of great interest to me.
But THIS comment, after another poster had linked to a tribunal form gave me pause.
Winesses are generally sworn to secrecy about the questions? I followed the link, and it does indeed require secrecy regarding the questions.
I don't remember any such undertaking in Himself's case not to divulge details, in fact I am fairly certain that he was encouraged by his advocate to share with anyone who might help in recall of facts.
And since that time we have shared quite a bit of the process several times, in counseling other people to seek decrees, and in praising the process in general.
Perhaps different tribunals have different rules?
The subject, improving my life as immensely as it has, is of great interest to me.
But THIS comment, after another poster had linked to a tribunal form gave me pause.
are you aware that if you have completed that form, by providing a link to it here you have violated the sworn oath not to reveal the questions?The questions?
Winesses are generally sworn to secrecy about the questions? I followed the link, and it does indeed require secrecy regarding the questions.
I don't remember any such undertaking in Himself's case not to divulge details, in fact I am fairly certain that he was encouraged by his advocate to share with anyone who might help in recall of facts.
And since that time we have shared quite a bit of the process several times, in counseling other people to seek decrees, and in praising the process in general.
Perhaps different tribunals have different rules?
"Intercalate"
According to one online dictionary, the most queried after word over the past 24 hours is "intercalate."
Wonder why?
(I was on the page for my yearly reminder of what "ontology" and "teleology" mean, which I forget and confuse for no other reason than that I first learned them both at about the same time. Kind of the way everyone who had this ,or one like it, in her Latin book...
...has trouble remembering which word is for "arm" and which for "branch.")
Wonder why?
(I was on the page for my yearly reminder of what "ontology" and "teleology" mean, which I forget and confuse for no other reason than that I first learned them both at about the same time. Kind of the way everyone who had this ,or one like it, in her Latin book...
...has trouble remembering which word is for "arm" and which for "branch.")
The Ghost in the Machine?
No, not some dualistic view of soul and body, but an actual machine acting as if... what? it had a spiritual side?
Printing, or at least trying to print a largish, (in denomination, not size or number of pixels, if indeed pixels is how a pdf is measured, I haven't the foggiest,) coupon.
My computer begins singing, or rather shrieking, a high-pitched moan I had never heard before, and instead of the expected coupon, out comes something by Blessed Columba Marmion, which I had read or at least skimmed a few weeks or so online, which I was not now, (not sure I need to but I turn off wi-fi when I'm not using it,) but had not tried to print, or even save, so far as I know.
I guess the universe wants me to read it.
Or the blessed man himself?
(They hate us though, computers, doncha think? or at least remind us they think they are better than we are.....)
Printing, or at least trying to print a largish, (in denomination, not size or number of pixels, if indeed pixels is how a pdf is measured, I haven't the foggiest,) coupon.
My computer begins singing, or rather shrieking, a high-pitched moan I had never heard before, and instead of the expected coupon, out comes something by Blessed Columba Marmion, which I had read or at least skimmed a few weeks or so online, which I was not now, (not sure I need to but I turn off wi-fi when I'm not using it,) but had not tried to print, or even save, so far as I know.
I guess the universe wants me to read it.
Or the blessed man himself?
(They hate us though, computers, doncha think? or at least remind us they think they are better than we are.....)
What does "botched" mean?
Headlines again today, "Another Botched Execution," this time in Arizona.
Really?
"Botched"?
How can you call it botched when your intent was to kill a man and make him suffer because he killed people and made people suffer?
Didn't it happen just the way you... just the way we, since you insist in making your citizenry complicit in these state sanctioned killings -- just the way we wanted it to?
Barbarians.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, grant Joseph Rudolph Wood II peace.
Lord, grant his victims peace.
Lord, grant their families peace.
But again, Lord, have mercy on us.
Really?
"Botched"?
How can you call it botched when your intent was to kill a man and make him suffer because he killed people and made people suffer?
Didn't it happen just the way you... just the way we, since you insist in making your citizenry complicit in these state sanctioned killings -- just the way we wanted it to?
Barbarians.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, grant Joseph Rudolph Wood II peace.
Lord, grant his victims peace.
Lord, grant their families peace.
But again, Lord, have mercy on us.
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Lying With the Truth
Selective, out-of-context quoting in order to make it seem as if someone said almost the exact opposite of what he actually said is a method espoused by the slantyest of slanty communicators, (a technique that will henceforth be known as the "'You Didn't Build That' Ploy," or alternatively the "'Women Are Helpless Without Their Sugar Uncle' Gambit.")
A Catholic Bishop, inexplicably said that he does not identify with those glum people praying the Rosary outside of abortion mills.
Or did he?
Rather than criticizing the pro-life activists, was he actually criticizing the secular media that, in the visual equivalent of selective out-of-context quoting, shows pro-life activists in an unattractive light deliberately so that viewers will not identify with them?
A Catholic Bishop, inexplicably said that he does not identify with those glum people praying the Rosary outside of abortion mills.
Or did he?
Rather than criticizing the pro-life activists, was he actually criticizing the secular media that, in the visual equivalent of selective out-of-context quoting, shows pro-life activists in an unattractive light deliberately so that viewers will not identify with them?
"On that occasion I said we should be careful, especially with television, in which only images are used that help to support personal theories. I gave as an example those that focus on the most inexpressive faces of [persons] praying the Rosary against abortion in front of clinics."
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