Evolution

I believe.

Isn't it wonderful how art has evolved. Kind of like the liturgy and theology.

The Last Supper:



Painting by Simon Vouet


A More Modern, Relevant and Up to Date expression:



Stick figures, I mean Artwork by Annie Vallotton.

I think this is the artist responsible for the drawings in the Misallettes and "Good News Bible".

Reasons for hope

This is a reason for hope.

And this.

and even this.

And don't forget this.


But this is not. A document on the shelving of Limbo. First of all what does the document really say? It says that "we may hope" that infants who die without Baptism may be saved. It does not say that infants who die without Baptism will be saved.

But in our rush to oversentimentalize everything- THAT will be completely lost.

And the practical effects will be a further erosion in the importance of Baptism and its necessity for Salvation.

I wonder why we are falling all over ourselves worrying about the effects of the Motu Proprio as if that will be the great cataclysm? And this?

I don't get it.

But happily over at Rorate Caeli they do.

The Contempt Shown Parents of Large Families

Before you accuse me of Indifferentism- read this through and only be sorry that it was not written by a Catholic.

It makes more and more sense to me why I find it is only my OB/GYN and a few others, always orthodox Jews, who will treat us and help us raise large families. I'm not read the riot act. (the nurses in the hospital take care of that). I'm not scared by horror stories of mothers and babies dying in childbirth. I'm not browbeaten into having search and destroy prenatal tests performed. I'm treated like a mother trusting God and trying to do God's will. May God bless them and maybe even bring them to conversion through us.

The Contempt Shown Parents of Large Families
Posted: March 2, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

A funny thing happened to me the other day when my wife and I had, thank God, another baby (a boy). Many of my friends didn't seem all that happy for me. Sure, they went through the motions of smiles and congratulations. But it was evident that many thought me insane. Why would a young man and his wife ruin their lives with eight children? Who could afford the Jewish day-school bills? Didn't we want to live life a little, and not just be burdened with kids?

It got downright surreal when a European film company, pressed me, while my wife was in labor, to finish shooting a segment that had an urgent deadline (I obviously told them they were insane). And the next day, I was mildly criticized by a Jewish organization which was supposed to be hosting me for a lecture for having to cancel on them because the lecture clashed with the baby's bris.

I don't mind that the world doesn't really love babies, just that it pretends to. It's time we got honest about our priorities. Most people get a new car every two or three years, but one or two babies through the life of their marriage is plenty. You can get drunk on an airplane, laugh hysterically with your mates, and still not really anger people. But if you dare bring a crying baby on board you will be given malicious looks as if the little thing is a package that ticks. If you walk your dog along the street, people will stop you to tell you how cute he is. If you walk down the street with a baby, you might find a woman or two who coos, but for the most part, you'll be utterly ignored.

Indeed, the contempt shown to parents of many children is the last acceptable prejudice in our society. As a father of a large family, I find myself apologizing wherever I go, as if I committed a crime. The frequent and loaded stares from scornful onlookers imply that the famine in Africa was caused by my selfish insistence on overpopulating the earth. Long ago my wife and I discovered that few hotels were prepared to accommodate so many children, even if we took three or four rooms, which is why we bought an RV for travel.

How strange to live in a world where loving children casts one in infamy. Having a family with many children implies a backwardness and primitivism that is deemed unbecoming in the developed countries of the West. Large families, it is thought, exist only among religious weirdoes or the teeming hovels of the Third World.

Rich countries, by contrast, prefer to increase their standard of living rather than the number of the living. Looking at Western birth rates for the year 2001, the United States averaged only 14.2 births for every thousand Americans, and the birthrate among white Americans is so low that the United States will soon lose its white majority. Indeed, one can go for days in a wealthy city like Manhattan without encountering a single pregnant woman. Riches and children have become inversely proportional such that the more of the former, the less of the latter.

Hence, the high birth rates of extremely poor African nations like Uganda – at 47.52 births per 1,000 – or Niger with 50.68 births per 1,000, are deemed to be prime causes and indicators of their penury. The abundant fertility and unconstrained sexuality of these countries confirms the unspoken Western mindset of these country's inhabitants as being just one step above savages. Contraception has become a synonym for civilization.

A Christian mother of six once wrote to me, "I find it troubling to worry about getting pregnant again ... because I don't want to face the criticism of friends and family. Why do people not see children as a blessing?" A fair question which deserves a fair response.

Why is it that even many snagogues today are not children friendly? Why are people impressed that Jay Leno owns 20 motorcycles, but disgusted that some religious families choose to have 10 children?

Let's not finesse the response. We all know why. A world that has lost its innocence has trouble appreciating beings who are innocent. A world that has become selfish has soured to the idea of leading a life of selflessness. A world that has become grossly materialistic is turned off to the idea of more dependents who consume resources. And a world that mistakenly believes that freedom means a lack of responsibility is opposed to the idea of needy creatures who "tie you down."

They can go fly a kite.

By just looking at my children, I become more innocent. By loving them, I become more noble. By spending my money on them rather than myself, I find transcendence. And by being a father and liberating all of the love in my heart, my spirit soars free. I work hard to support a large family and I give up no pleasures in doing so because my children are my foremost pleasure.

I am often asked by women dating men how to tell whether they are marriage material. I tell them, "See if he enjoys children." A man who loves children is playful. He will spend his life joking with his wife because he loves to see her laugh, and will flirt with her because he loves to see her smile.

There was a time when husbands and wives worked hard to ensure they could afford the blessings of a large family. Today, the higher your earning bracket the fewer children you have, but then we always knew that many turn money from a blessing into a curse.

Before he died, the Lubavitcher Rebbe launched a campaign asking parents to have one more child than they originally planned. It is a campaign that a dwindling Jewish community should revive as it continues to disappear.
Children are a gift from God!

http://TotusTuusFamily.spaces.live.com - our family website

Article exclusive from World Net Daily.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

You could say this is a small victory and will not diminish the huge number of abortions committed every year but it's not small to that one baby who will be spared this brutal execution.

The Globe asks- Is this the end of the Latin Mass in Boston?

in this article. The official response is no, while as usual what they really mean, "Yes".

Fr. Terence Donilon, Diocesan spokesman:

"I wouldn't say this is the end of Latin Mass in Boston," said Terrence Donilon, a spokesman for the Boston Archdiocese. "It's not the end of something, but the opportunity to create something better."

...somewhere else.

and

By relocating Latin Mass parishioners to the Newton church -- where the Rev. Charles J. Higgins, a popular proponent of the Latin tradition and one of only a few priests in the area qualified to lead a Mass entirely in Latin, leads the services -- the archdiocese hopes to strengthen the Latin following. "Sometimes we get hung up on the buildings and we need to be focused on the sacraments and celebration of faith," said Donilon.

However that seems a bit disingenuous consider the Diocese won't allow advertising or promotion of the Latin Mass in Boston. And the Diocese has refused the offer of an approved order like the Fraternity or the Institute of Christ the King to purchase Holy Trinity.

It's too bad we couldn't avoid getting "hung up on buildings" back in the 70s and 80s when we spent millions to destroy the beautiful interiors of our Churches. To make them more relevant. A few Churches were spared, like Holy Trinity but their time as come.

and finally:

"We're trying to work through the issues one at a time. It's taking longer than we hoped, but we don't want to be heavy-handed," he said.

Heavy handed? The Archdiocese of Boston? Perish the notion.

And what will take Holy Trinity's place? Luxury Condominiums? Office Buildings? Perhaps a mosque?

It's hard to enjoy the Springtime of Vatican II when you look out the window and all you see is rain.

The Spin is In

A nice piece of propaganda.

This editorial will explain why when the Holy Father acknowledges broad use of the Latin Mass, he will really not be acknowledging broad use of the Latin Mass.

Why not?

Because Monsignor Timothy P. Stein doesn't want it to mean that.

For your amusement:

When you finish reading the articles about the Tridentine Rite of the Mass on pages 12 and 13 of this issue, don’t go rummaging through trunks in your attic looking for your old missals, and please don’t start calling the Bishop’s office saying “The Holy Father says you have to allow this.

According to Monsignor Stein what the Holy Father REALLY WANTS is more reverence in the Mass. The Novus Ordo Mass that is.

Guess what Diocesan Office will be the first to receive a phone call when it happens? Why the Diocese of Altoona- Johnstown where Monsignor Stein writes for the Diocesan paper of course.

I'll be sure to post the phone number then.

What the World Needs Now is Condoms...

Rarely do we get such a pat example of how liberals and some men regard women. As objects to be assaulted and used.

Richard Gere was over in India (I wish they had kept him as we have no need of him here) promoting HIV Awareness or whatever they call it to make themselves sound like the humanitarians they are not.

To make some type of point, I guess that he can do whatever he wants to a woman, even publicly, and she will welcome his advances he embraced and dipped back a famous Bollywood actress and kissed her. The Indian people have recognized the colonialist insult and are calling for an apology and are burning Gere in effigy.

Here's the picture:




Now if this shocks you, imagine you are living in India where this is really shocking and man would be arrested if he did this to a woman on the street. Even if he was white. And rich.

And then we read on that the event was to promote condom use for truckers who visit prostitutes at truck stops, contract AIDS and then go home and give it to their wives.

Notice there is no call for fidelity to their wives and marriage commitment. That would be asking far too much of the darkskinned impoverished men of India.

Because if Richard Gere cannot control himself, how can we expect anyone to?

I wonder too that the people of India have forgotten so soon, the advice of Gandhi to use self control and not birth control as he so famously admonished Margaret Sanger.

More Young Nuns

...or still trying to recover from Vatican II.



According to the Boston Globe there are more young nuns.

They link these and these but not these.

The first two are getting vocations. Lots and lots.

The latter sisters are not. Strange that no one is attracted to their dedication to Ecology, Peace and Justice, polyester suits and labyrinth ministry.

And I can't fail to mention my own favorite sisters, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Marriage is a Participation in the Cross

Catholics and Divorce.

An article by Mrs. Sheryl Temaat published in Homiletic and Pastoral Review.

Highlights:

In the opening to this narrative, I said that priests have been silent while children suffer. Silent about what? Divorce. I cannot remember hearing a sermon on divorce the past forty years. Many of my friends and relatives have taken their marriage troubles to a priest and gotten the advice to file for divorce "You don't have a marriage," they have been told in similar terms and to petition for an annulment. That is the message that has been promoted for Catholic families for the past four decades.

Today Catholics divorce in the same percentages as non-churchgoing people and they go on to date or keep steady company with a member of the opposite sex as if they have a right to remarry.

More Vatican II Mischief:

In the 1970s canonists began to write about a new discovery that they found in Gaudium et Spes which they interpret to change the object of the matrimonial contract from a right to the conjugal act to a right to the community of conjugal life.1

Simply Put:

Catholic teaching does not allow divorce/dating/remarrying. That lifestyle not only creates misery on earth but it leads to eternal punishment, not to eternal life.

God Hates Divorce:

The problem today is twoÐfold as I see it. One, no one preaches on sin. God hates divorce (Malachia 2:16); divorce is a grave offense against the natural law (Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 2384); the Catechism calls it a plague and says that divorce traumatizes children # 2385; and study after study has shown the evil effects of divorce upon children.

Scandal of Annulments:

Pope John Paul II gave a yearly address to the Sacred Roman Rota, and often his remarks addressed the scandal of annulments in the English-speaking world, which has fueled the divorce rate among Catholics I would argue, while many canonists argue the other way around, that new grounds for nullity have been offered in order to deal with the rising rate of divorce among Catholics. Either way, the solution of granting many ordinary process decrees of nullity for divorced people is not a solution.

In his address to the Rota in January 2003, Pope John Paul II said that marriage is a participation in the Cross that includes the bearing of suffering. He said that the rosary has shown itself particularly effective in bringing families together. Marriage involves suffering and before Vatican II, we were taught that.

Holy Trinity in Boston: An Architect's View

Update: According to this Boston Pilot story, the Latin Mass will be moved from Holy Trinity as of April 22, 2007.




Boston's Indult: An Expensive Move
by Robert R. Quagan, Architect

BOSTON – April 11 – The Archdiocese of Boston announced on Sunday, March 25th that beginning Sunday, April 22, that the traditional Latin Mass will move from the historic Holy Trinity Parish in Boston's South End. Parishioners plan to appeal the move.

At this time, the plan approved by His Eminence, Sean Cardinal O'Malley appears to be proceeding. The March 25th announcement calls for removal of the Latin Mass parishioners of Holy Trinity (German) Church (http://www.holytrinitygerman.org/) in Boston's South End, which represents three quarters of active parishioners to be transferred to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church (http://members.aol.com/maryimmoflourdes/hist/history.htm) in Newton Uppe r Falls, a suburb west of Boston. This will be the first phase of a plan to merge Holy Trinity’s assets and remaining German congr egation with the nearby Cath edral of the Holy Cross facilitating eventual liquidation of the property.

Recently it was revealed that Holy Trinity's Sacristy Safe, contains numerous priceless patrimonial artifacts. Nearly one hundred relics were discovered having never been made available for veneration by recent Administrators. In recent decades Holy Mass has been only a weekly occurrence and it is suspected their existence were a hold over from the days of Jesuit control. Also discovered was a chalice that apparently was used for generations on special feasts such as Christmas, Easter and Trinity Sunday. The following description is a reprint from the November 1945 issue of The Monatsbote (Parish Newsletter, published continuously since 1899) which provides interesting details about this remarkable sacred vessel:

"When the Golden Jubilee of the new church was approaching (1927) it was felt that for this occasion the parish should have a new chalice. From the start, the parishioners were told that it was not to be a gift of a single individual or a church society, but of the whole parish. Consequently all were invited to contribute gold, silver and precious stones, or cash. In the course of time, hundreds of gold rings, gold watches, chains and other gold ornaments were sent to the rectory, and, above all, gold pieces. All these things were melted and sent to a first-class firm in Germany, Messrs. Koesters & Seegers, Kevelaer, who at the request of Rev. Bernard Wildenhues, SJ had submitted an original sketch of a chalice, which was accepted by the pastor (Rev. Charles P. Gisler, SJ).

At first it had been the intention to buy a chalice of solid silver only, but of exquisite workmanship, to cost about $600. But as gold, precious stones and money began to pour in from all si des , it was decided to have a chalice of solid gold, with a large number of jewels. It is of Roman design, of exquisite workmanship – no factory work; everything made by hand requiring months of labor.

The cup is ornamented with six pictures, representing Christ the King, the Annunciation, the Blessed Trinity in Heaven, the Baptism in the Jordan, the Blessed Trinity with Jesus Christ Crucified, and the Transfiguration. The base contains six pictures of saints, in delicate enamel: St. Ignatius, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Peter Canisius, St. Francis Xavier, Blessed Nicholas von der Flue (the Swiss national saint) and the Little Flower. The artist had been expressly told not to put the picture of the Little Flower on the chalice, but he seems to have misunderstood the order.
The chalice contains about one hundred fifty precious stones – pearls, rubies, amethysts and diamonds. Stem and base, and also the lower part of the cup, are made of the most delicate filigree work. The whole chalice is a masterpiece of workmanship, a worthy gift of the parishioners to the Blessed Trinity, to whom the church is consecrated. May the blessing of the Blessed Trinit y rest upon all who have contributed toward the chalice."

The Jesuit order ran the Parish from shortly after its establishment in 1844 (1848). The present church was dedicated in 1877 and Jesuit administration continued until 1961, when it reverted to diocesan control. It was at that time that the parishes other facilities (Convent, Hall, School) were taken by eminent domain during the height of the urban renewal campaign by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) when the rest of the 19th neighborhood of brick row houses was reduced to rubble. Subsequently, low income housing (projects) replaced the old neighborhood. The then Archbishop of Boston, Richard Cardinal Cushing successfully worked a deal with the BRA to save the church building; hence it has remained since tha t time.

The significance of this church to our Sacred Patrimony cannot be understated to not only German Catholics but Boston Catholics at large. The utilitarianism an d lack of understanding of the role of the Domus Dei in Catholic theology among diocesan administrators in recent times has been all too apparent during the current diocesan reconfigurations. It has resulted in the loss of nearly 65 churches in just the last three years that have dated mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church (MIL) the expected new home of Boston's Latin Mass was dedicated by Cardinal O’Connell on 24 November 1910. It remains an imposing edifice situated on a hillside in Newton Upper Falls. It was rendered in an Italian Romanesque brick style featuring a 135 foot campanile. Originally the roof was in a red terracotta tile and has unfortunately succumbed (long ago) to the utility of asphalt. The front elevation can be best described as a portico reminiscent of a Roman Temple with a vertical proportion expressed by columns of the Corinthian order supporting a pediment that has sculptural relief of figures th at repre s ent the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France in 1854. The focal point of the interior remains the High Altar constructed of white Italian marble. Originally it was set behind an altar rail of red Italian marble with bronze “corkscrew” uprights and gates. The apse was lavishly painted with gilded stenciling serving as a backdrop to the reredos, above which a half dome contained three paintings of the Blessed Virgin: The Annunciation on the left, The Assumption in the center, and The Coronation on the right.

Unfortunately under the pastorate of Fr. Michael F. Doocey (1970-1993), following the Second Vatican Council and the often iconoclastic tendencies that followed, the interior of MIL was generally obscured. The once beautiful sanctuary and nave has been generally white washed. Thi s includes a set of polychromed Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) rendered white. The altar rail was destroyed save about eight feet at the locati ons of the former S ide Altars of St.Joseph and Our Lady. Even these segments were relocated about six feet into the Nave. The marble flooring of the Sanctuary has been obscured by ubiquitous red wall to wall carpet. A new and immovable freestanding Altar was formed about six feet forward of the bottom step of the old High Altar salvaged from the two existing rectangular Side Altars oriented back to back to roughly form a square proportion. The Holy Tabernacle of the old High Altar was systematically plugged and removed to the location of the old St. Joseph Side Altar where a “new” shelf was constructed and enhanced with a marble relief of “The Last Supper” also removed from the lower section (antependium) of the old High Altar. The remaining void from the old High Altar was covered by blank slab of roughly matching marble. Also obvious are t he dozen rows of missing pews in the church's nave, assumed destroyed during renovations of the 1970's.

The Latin Mass co ngregation may face the d aun ting task of reversing and absorbing the cost of the destruction wrought over the last 35 years to even approximate the liturgical order of the sanctuary and nave that remain extant at Holy Trinity. At a very minimum, a temporary altar rail will need to be restored to the devastated Sanctuary of MIL. There is current concern regarding existing sight lines and blind spots encumbered by the permanent placement of an existing freestanding altar and its juxtaposition to the original High Altar. This relationship may especially be problematic with a large liturgical entourage typical during the celebration of a traditional High Mass. At this point, true restoration of the church sanctuary for dignified celebration of the Classical Roman Rite could cost several hundred thou sand dollars. This does not even begin to address the balance of deferred maintenance throughout the balance of MIL’s physical plant that also includes a significant deterioration of roof ing, masonry, exterior wood work and ornamental ironwork. The existing pipe organ, inoperative for years languishes with water damage and cracked bellows. Its restoration could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars to restore.

His Eminence fully expects Boston’s Indult Latin Mass community to invest Time, Talent and Tithe with absolutely no juridical guarantee that the Latin Mass Indult will remain permanently attached to the church of Mary Immaculate. There remains a concern of significant risk associated with the burden of any capital investment at MIL. This is particularly true given recent announcement regarding the Indult and the perception of an "at will" relationship to any given location. Without juridic protection, the ability to fully develop a rooted parish l ife, may hamper its full potentential. Should MIL ever lose its Indult (or its sympathetic Pastor) in the manner of Holy Trinity, trust among many of the Faithful, whose spirituality is formed around the Classical Lit u rgy and Sacramental life could be seriously undermined.

Few older parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston have escaped the iconoclasm of the last 35 years and remain a suitable venue for the Classical Roman Rite. Those that have survived until recent times now face the threat of reconfiguration. The historic Holy Trinity Church remains intact and arguably offers the best extant Sacred Space in the the Archdiocese of Boston for this purpose. Unfortunately, arguments regarding an intact physical patrimony, central location to both major highways and rapid transit and its urban mission continue to have not swayed His Eminence, Sean Cardinal O’Malley. If the Cardinal's plan is implemented as announced, the last Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrat ed at Holy Trinity on Low Sunday, April 15th, ending 16 years at one of Boston's most venerable Catholic landmarks.

The Good 'Ole' Days

Do you ever long for the days when a priest would not say something like this:

"It's like online sex — it's satisfying in a weird way, I suppose … but the real thing is so much better, why would you want to waste your time on it?" asked Francis Maier, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver and an avid video gamer."

From this article.

And then there is this comment by the Reverend Francis X. Maier:

Dysfunctional, promiscuous sex is hardly a clerical monopoly. In fact, behind all of the lay outrage over the current sexual misconduct tragedy lies a deep ambiguity in the faith and behavior of Catholic laypeople.

from a talk about the laity.

Dysfunctional, promiscuous sex versus, you know, committed sex between two consenting adults. Morally speaking I'm not sure what the difference is. Without the Sacrament of Marriage either will send you to hell. But only if you believe in hell. That thins the ranks nicely.

Or the conscription of Clarissa Estes, an author admired by goddess worshippers, feminists, lesbians, new agers as a featured speaker at a diocesan event at the invitation of Fr. Maier, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Denver:

"Both Estes and Maier avoided controversy at the convention here. In introducing her, Maier referred in passing to the attention the choice of speaker had attracted. Just before the convention opened, Maier told the Denver Post, "I don't know about this lesbian stuff," but said Estes was well able to reflect what Pope John Paul II has called "the new evangelization." Maier told the Post that Estes appeals to "the heart, the soul, the need to regain our humanity."

You can read the context here.

I miss the good ole days. Yes indeed. Anachronism, where is thy sting?

Good Friday Rescue

A Good Friday Rescue.

From Operation Rescue's website.

Twenty abortions averted. It's a good start.

Confessions of an Unrepentant Church Shopper

National Review Online article by Jennifer Graham.

For those of us who have not been to a Novus Ordo Mass in years. I offer this as a reminder of why we drive hours, with kids in tow, arrive 30-45 minutes early to get a seat (one hour early for Midnight Mass), and endure the judgment of family and friends who have determined us "schismatic" and "elitist" and "overly critical" for going to the Latin Mass.

The Judas Tree and Legend

From Fisheaters Forum.

The Golden Legend, written in A.D. 1275 by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, recounts both fascinating, fantastical medieval legend and the true History regarding Judas in its section "Of St. Matthias." The writer clearly differentiates between legend and verified truth with his words "Thus far it is read in the history which is not authentic," so you can easily discern:

The Dream

It is read in a history, though it be named apocrypha, that there was a man in Jerusalem named Reuben, and by another named Simeon, of the kindred of David, or, after S. Jerome, of the tribe of Issachar, which had a wife named Ciborea, and on the night that Judas was conceived his mother had a marvellous dream whereof she was so sore afeard. For her seemed that she had conceived a child that should destroy their people, and because of the loss of all their people her husband blamed her much, and said to her: Thou sayest a thing over evil, or the devils will deceive thee. She said: Certainly if so be that I shall have a son, I trow it shall be so, as I have had a revelation and none illusion.

Cast Out to Sea in a Basket

When the child was born the father and mother were in great doubt, and thought what was best to do, for they durst not slay the child for the horror that they should have therein, neither they wist not how they might nourish one that should destroy their lineage. Then they put him to a little fiscelle or basket well pitched, and set it in the sea, and abandoned him to drive whither it would. And anon the floods and waves of the sea brought and made him arrive in an island named Scarioth, and of this name was he called Judas Scariotes.

Now it happed that the queen of this country went for to play on the rivage of the sea, and beheld this little nacelle and the child therein, which was fair, and then she sighed and said: O Lord God, how should I be eased if I had such a child, then at the least should not my realm be without heir. Then commanded she that the child should be taken up, and be nourished, and she fained herself to be great with child and after published that she had borne a fair son. When her husband heard say hereof he had great joy, and all the people of the country made great feast. The king and queen did do nourish and keep this child like the son of a king.

Rightful Heir Born

Anon after, it happed that the queen conceived a son, and when it was born and grown Judas beat oft that child, for he weened that he had been his brotber, and oft he was chastised therefore, but alway he made him to weep so long that the queen which knew well that Judas was not her son, and at the last she said the truth, and told how that Judas was found in the sea. And ere this yet was known Judas slew the child that he had supposed to be his brother, and was son to the king, and in eschewing the sentence of death he fled anon and came into Jerusalem, and entered into the court of Pilate which then was provost. And he so pleased him that he was great with him, and had in great cherety and nothing was done without him.


The Forbidden Fruit

Now it happed on a day that Pilate went for to disport him by a garden belonging to the father of Judas, and was so desirous to eat of the fruit of the apples that he might not forbear them. And the father of Judas knew not Judas his son, for he supposed that he had been drowned in the sea long tofore, ne the son knew not the father. When Pilate had told to Judas of his desire, he sprang into the garden of his father and gathered of the fruit for to bear to his master, but the father of Judas defended him, and there began between them much strife and debate, first by words and after with fighting, so much that Judas smote his father with a stone on the head that he slew him, and after brought the apples unto Pilate, and told to him how that he had slain him that owned the garden. Then sent Pilate to seize all the good that the father of Judas had, and after gave his wife to Judas in marriage, and thus Judas wedded his own mother.

Oedipus Rex

Now it happed on a day that the lady wept and sighed much strongly and said: Alas! how unhappy that I am! I have lost my son and my husband. My son was laid on the sea, and I suppose that he be drowned, and my husband is dead suddenly, and yet it is more grievous to me that Pilate hath remarried me against my will. Then demanded Judas of this child, and she told him how he was set in the sea, and Judas told to her how he had been found in the sea, in such wise that she wist that she was his mother, and that he had slain his father and wedded his mother. Wherefore then he went to Jesu Christ, which did so many miracles, and prayed him of mercy and forgiveness of his sins. Thus far it is read in the history which is not authentic.

Judas the Apostle

Our Lord made Judas one of his apostles and retained him in his company, and was so privy with him that he was made his procurator, and bare the purse for all the other, and stole of that which was given to Christ. Then it happed that he was sorry and angry for the ointment that Mary Magdalene poured on the head and feet of our Lord Jesu Christ and said that it was worth three hundred pence, and said that so much he had lost, and therefore sold he Jesu Christ for thirty pence of that money usual, of which every penny was worth ten pence, and so he recovered three hundred pence. Or after that some say that he ought to have of all the gifts that was given to Jesu Christ the tenth penny, and so he recovered thirty pence of that he sold him, and nevertheless at the last he brought them again to the temple, and after hung himself in despair, and his body opened and cleft asunder and his bowels fell out. And so it appertained well that it should so be, for the mouth which God had kissed ought not to be defouled in touching, and also he ought not to die on the earth because all earthly creatures ought to hate him, but in the air where devils and wicked spirits be, because he had deserved to be in their company.


Customs

Today and during the Sacred Triduum, the Matins and Lauds of the Divine Office are often sung in a haunting service known as the Tenebrae service ("tenebrae" meaning "shadows"), which is basically a funeral service for Jesus. During the Matins on Good Friday, one by one, the candles are extinguished in the Church, leaving the congregation in total darkness, and in a silence that is punctuated by the strepitus meant to evoke the convulsion of nature at the death of Christ. It has also been described as the sound of the tomb door closing. During the Triduum, the Matins and Lauds readings come from the following day's readings each night because the hours of Matins and Lauds were pushed back so that the public might better participate during these special three days (i.e., the Matins and Lauds readings heard at Spy Wednesday's tenebrae service are those for Maundy Thursday, the readings for Maundy Thursday's tenebrae Cercis siliquastrumservice are from Good Friday, and Good Friday's readings are from Holy Saturday's Divine Office).

Legend says that the tree upon which Judas hanged himself was the Cercis siliquastrum -- a tree that is now known as the "Judas Tree." It is a beautiful tree, native to the Mediterranean region, with brilliant deep pink flowers in the spring -- flowers that are said to have blushed in shame after Judas's suicide.

The Carthusians

I discovered that in spite of growing up in Vermont, I had never known that the only Carthusian Monastery in the United States is located there- in Arlington, Vermont.

The Carthusian website

Great article about the Carthusians by Phil Lawler of cwnews.com.

And there will be increased interest now that the documentary: Into the Great Silence is being shown around the world.

Cause of War

Who knew?

Babies according to this article.

Of course the article has the solution. It's simple:

One strategy is to reduce the birthrates and the mortality rates of infants and younger children, according to Population Action, which hopes its research will improve contraception programs, education for girls and health services for children and pregnant women.

Not only is it bad but wait until you read this:

Almost a billion people live in countries where birthrates average at least four [oh the horror] children per woman, among them, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan. Those countries need help to improve infant and child survival and the educational status of women, to reduce population pressures and to become more stable, the report says.

G.K. Chesterton recognized this argument as pure capitalism also known as greed. He wrote an essay called On Social Reform versus Birth Control:

A summary:

What he (the Birthcontroller) wants to control is the populace, and he practically says so. He always insists that a workman has no right to have so many children, or that a slum is perilous because it is producing so many children. The question he dreads is "Why has not the workman a better wage? Why has not the slum family a better house?" His way of escaping from it is to suggest, not a larger house but a smaller family. The landlord or the employer says in his hearty and handsome fashion: "You really cannot expect me to deprive myself of my money. But I will make a sacrifice, I will deprive myself of your children."

Syria Invaded

This is unbelieveable.

Speaker of the House, third in line to the Presidency, went to Syria, state sponsor of terror (Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, etc.) to run for President. I mean really, why else is she there?

And I bet the Arabs appreciated the cultural sensitivity Speaker Pelosi showed wearing a mini skirt. Personally I don't mind offending the Arabs when it is called for, when you are standing on principle, but isn't there some etiquette about Grandmothers not wearing miniskirts?

And what happened to her hair? I could never vote for a president with bad hair.

I really don't mind the Democrats making fools of themselves. But when they threaten our national security and consort with terrorists you can't complain that you don't know what you are getting when you vote for them.

Artistic Representations of the Annunciation

Though I know nothing about art I would call this the Edwardian Annunciation.

For really neat Annunciation pictures from a Florentine Art Historian.

Count yourself very fortunate if you read Italian.

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

(formerly titled Rose Red and Rose White)

My sister first told me about these books and my daughters and I really enjoyed reading them together. Regina Domana is a young author and graduate of Christendom College. She has written 3 modern day fairy tales (and by modern I don't mean Disneyesque) that reference the fairy tales they are based upon. Inspite of my initial disinclination the format really works. Character development is good. Morality is interwoven and not imposed awkwardly. A classic Catholic family is presented and the Faith, good music, literature, poetry, kindness and good works are the goals of the girls' lives.

Though some of the dialogue is awkward and Regina is a young author who would benefit from a really professional editor she has a lot of talent and weaves an exciting tale.

The third book is due this summer and will be self published. I don't know what Bethlehem books was thinking by no longer publishing young adult fiction, like we don't need more of that!






The first two books would make a wonderful Graduation or Confirmation gift. Because of some of the themes presented (I think tastefully and appropriately) it should be for older high school girls. Parents will be the best judge.

You can buy them from Bethlehem books here and you can visit Regina Doman's personal website here and correspond with her. I received a delightful letter from her thought she is a busy mother, writer.

Keep the books coming Baby! We're ready for more.

Flicka : the Family Fiasco

We watched this disappointing movie last night. We had heard nothing but good things about it and our hopes were high. I would summarize the movie thus, a rebellious, disobedient and ungrateful teenager teams up with a rebellious and ungrateful horse and show the girl's hardworking, caring father how wrong he is. About everything.

Some of the worst aspects of the movie-

- the dialogue which consisted of the girl saying things like, "I hate him" (about her father naturally, "You're not my father anymore." and "He doesn't get it."
- a 26 year old actress who pouts sullenly and fails to act like a 16 she is supposed to be portraying
- a weird dynamic between the girl and her brother which makes them seem more like girlfriend and boyfriend
- consistent disrespect and disobedience
- the scene where the girl is smacking and hitting her father

When the girl is sneaking out of her house to "train the horse" that nearly kills her a few times I suppose we are supposed to think it is noble or at least cute, much like a chaplain reaching out to a lost soul on death row. But would it still be cute if she were sneaking out to meet her boyfriend? Smoke, drink or do drugs? Go to the mall when she tells her parents she is going to the library? Just because this story is about a horse does not or should I say should not ennoble disobedience.

I found this negative review here and thought this line summed things up nicely:

"Flicka" is the iconic story of a teenager and his horse, but now the he is a she, and the horse has been pushed to cameo status. This dreary, endlessly annoying melodrama comes in the guise of a family film matinee alternative, but who wants to pay to see people grow to loathe each other over a horse?

To a man the whole family disliked this movie. Naturally the ending is that the father was wrong and the girl and the horse prevail to show him the error of his ways. Because being a good, caring father is not what it's all about- giving in to what your kids want, even if it will harm them is what it's all about.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine

First Holy Communion season is nearly upon us and instead of the normal controversies-

- dresses that are tarty
- Whether the Sacrament of Confession will be received first
- Whether the children scheduled to receive the Sacrament have been properly prepared

I found a new wrinkle.

Purely Yours presents:







these ridiculous looking co-presider costumes.

They advertise the benefits-

- everyone looking the same (why not overalls featured by the Chinese Communists?)
- savings (though they are $60 each)
- and most importantly from their website:

Our children are all special and all children deserve to be treated equally regardless of the clothes they wear. We are all equal in God's eyes and this philosophy is what led to the creation of the PurelyYou Personalized First Communion Robe.

First Communion is about you... PurelyYou.

Obviously this company has tapped into the essence of what the Sacrament is all about.

Correction

I just received this clarification and correction from Fr. Thomas Kocik in the comment section regarding the post: Face East Young Man.

Fr. Kocik writes:

Just a couple points of clarification. The "indult Mass" in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, is celebrated in Holy Redeemer Parish, at the chapel of Our Lady of Grace, in Chatham (on Cape Cod). I was not forbidden to celebrate the indult Mass there; rather, when I expressed to the bishop my willingness to do so, I was told that another priest (retired) had been asked to do so; he resides in the parish. Also, Chatham is not just "a few miles" from me; I am in Fall River (the see city), which is more than an hour's drive.

I apologize for my mischaracterization and hope it has not caused any difficulties for Fr. Kocik.

Maintaining Hope and Optimism Against Great Odds

March 25th came and went.

And what I was told was going to happen.

Didn't.

Eventhough the Italian press was reporting that it would.

In an effort to avoid bitterness:

I've decided to console myself with this:

Joy mixed with the future prospect of revenge against the destroyers of the Church: the liberals.

From a very nice blog indeed.

I Don't Understand....

why I can't convince Catholics that this is a bad idea.
Fresh from their First Holy Communion, and perhaps as a follow up, you can attend a Mother/Daughter fertility awareness day. Doesn't it sound wonderful?

Naturally it would be held in the St. Gerard Room.

And some people are still defending Teenstar

And this:Any other so-called Catholic sex ed.


If we know this doesn't it stand to reason that taking nine year old girls and teaching them about "their fertility" is bad?

No, I guess not.



It makes me wonder why our parents fought off the pollution of Planned Parenthood's sex education only to have our generation go along with this nonsense. Is it guilt? Defensiveness? Is it Catholic parents who cannot imagine getting along in life without the contraceptive benefits of NFP so they must make sure their daughers are indoctrinated early?

I mean haven't these people read Brave New World?

What's a Little Heresy... Among Friends?

Brave New Catholics

A "Catholic" couple tries to have a baby using IVF- condemned by the Church by the way. Fail for 5 years. Then use the wife's sister as a surrogate- the result being twins. At the same time these einsteins decide to try IVF once more themselves- now they have 3 newborns. All born of IVF. Spent over $100K.

I wonder what Fr. Jonathon would say? Probably something very pastoral. After all- $100K these people must be loaded.

Looking Good

Fr. Jonathon Morris



Fr. Fessio, S.J.

While I would never want to kick a man when he is down I have no problem at all with doing so when a man is on top- and undeservedly so.

When I was looking for an image of Fr. Fessio I found that it was difficult to find a really good photogenic picture of the twice fired priest. Fr. Fessio is an academic, a publisher and now a theologian- public image has not been on the radar screen and I respect that. To me it speaks volumes about a person. The pictures of Fr. Fessio are not especially flattering. Fr. Fessio doesn't have an image or a public persona that he has been cultivating.

Unlike, well Fr. Jonathon Morris, Legionnaire extraordinaire. Notice the confidence, the lighting, the hair do, the background of Fr.'s file photo and the utter lack of substance in Fr. Jonathon's remarks.

Being a bookish, dowdy type myself I admit a certain prejudice in favor or someone who is not too done up. But it is striking isn't it?

I only wish that Fr. Jonathon had been available during the Early Church years. I suspect that many a martyr's death could have been averted if he had followed Fr. Jonathon's modus operandi- keep the truth quiet especially if it is going to upset someone. Particularly it if is going to upset someone who has money and might want to give it to you. For your ministry.

With the incredible disobedience shown by Catholics on the issue of birth control I think Fr. Jonathon's despicable obscuring of the truth will have incalculable effects.

I just noticed this...

Fr. Jonathon Morris, movie star, pastor to heretics and Catholic priest on the payroll of Fox News.

I decided to read the "Open Letter to Sean Hannity" by Fr. Morris. I'll highlight a few of his statements:


Dear Sean,

As I watched a fellow Catholic priest spar with you on the March 9 edition of Hannity and Colmes, I hung my head in shame and sadness. My colleague in religion (whom I've never met) used the public airways and Internet to call you a heretic and hypocrite. Because he chose to do this in a public forum, I want you and your viewers to know, publicly, that as an analyst of this television network, I believe this good priest, who does great work, exercised, on this occasion, shockingly poor judgment. I consider his willingness to give his personal opinion about your status within the Church inappropriate and ill-considered, to say the least.

Regardless of the issue and arguments at hand, brandishing law without palpable love almost always repels. I must assume he just made an honest mistake.

Naturally the issue and arguments at hand are not going to be addressed. Whaddya think, Fr. Jonathon is going to discuss doctrine? dogma? truth? Fr. Jonathon has WAY MORE important things to talk about than that boring stuff.


The unfortunate event reminded me of the bigger question of the fast-eroding credibility among religious leaders in our nation and its causes.


Funny you should mention that Fr. Jonathon. Credibility goes to the truth. And when you ignore or obscure the TRUTH that is when you get into trouble. But maybe I'm going too fast for you Fr. Jonathon

But you've gotta read this NEXT PART.

I should start, or rather continue, at home with the Catholic Church, your church and mine. As you rightly stated in the same television segment, the systematic cover-up of sexual abuse within some sectors of Catholic Church leadership was a monstrous scandal and its effects will be long-lasting. Even those priests who were not involved in the mess, as I am sure is the case with the priest in question, can never forget that those of us who wear a clerical collar still conjure up painful memories in many people's minds. The strange looks and rash judgments to which we are at times subjected is not the people's fault; it's ours, in as much as we are members of a very guilty family.

Are you kidding me????? Did Fr. Jonathon just imply what I think he tried to imply- that he "thinks" Fr. Entenuer was not involved in the sex abuse crisis. Fr. Jonathon doesn't think that Fr. Enteneur is a pedophile but I guess you never really know do you? Character assasination at best. And remember this is a Legionnaire priest whose FOUNDER HAS BEEN CENSURED FOR CHILD ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! You wanna talk about rich? You wanna talk about nerve?



Fr. Jonathon continues:

In this light, before we clergy members speak out publicly against public offenses, as sometimes we must do, we should ask ourselves and God why we are doing what we are doing, and what the best way to do it is, according to the circumstances, and always with palpable love. The question is not only if what we have to say is correct, but where, when, and how we should say it. I, for one, would have communicated my beliefs in a different way on more than one occasion if I had followed this advice.


Because it's not TRUTH but how you present that truth and how you market and spin it. I see Fr. Jonathon has learned some very important lessons at Fox News. It's really all about public relations- not the truth- I mean what's really important- looking good and fundraising.

I would be remiss if I were to suggest that the loss of religious credibility begins and ends with Catholic leaders. When we hear television evangelists wonder out loud whether Ariel Sharon's stroke might be God's judgment on him for making territorial concessions to the Palestinians, we lose trust. When, year after year, we listen to self-proclaimed prophets predict the day and the hour of the “end-times,” we lose trust. When we turn on the television and hear preachers promise heaven on earth if we give, give, give to the Church — their church — we lose trust. When we hear mainline Protestant pastors and their associations throw Biblical tradition to the wind and make wishy-washy statements about faith and morality, we lose trust.



Wow, bold statements Fr. Jonathon- lambast the protestants for overly ambitious fundraising. How ironic is that?

The non-Christian religions are in even worse shape regarding leadership credibility. Is there a single Muslim imam who stands out today for his national leadership toward peace? What Muslim scholar can we trust to speak with scholarly proficiency and universal authority about the alleged peaceful nature of Islam?

The Jewish community in America is so splintered and disjointed on themes of dogma and religious tradition, it is difficult to find anyone who speaks for the majority, or even for the masses.


Fr. Jonathon finds fault with the Jews and the Muslims but not on DOCTRINE- that is so beside the point. It's because the Muslims and Jews can't find anyone who speaks consistently on doctrine and dogma (unlike Fr. Jonathon who is just so on message that he refuses to talk about doctrine and dogma because someone might not like it.)



But I and Fr. Jonathon have saved the best for last. It's not just that Fr. Jonathon is a good buddy of Sean- but Sean and Alan are going to heaven according to the wisdom of Fr. Jonathon and how is that? Because it's honesty, humility and courage along with our imperfections that guarantees us heaven.

Sean, I don't always agree with you and Alan, as I have told both of you in person, but I think you are both honest, and both have the humility and courage to accept truth when you stumble across it, even when it comes in bits and pieces. I think it's precisely this three-pronged attitude of honesty, humility and courage that best prepares us, with all of our imperfections, for heaven.

God bless, Father Jonathan

God help you Father Jonathon.

Ave Maria does a 180

Yesterday, Fr. Fessio was out. Asked to submit his resignation and leave campus immediately. Classy.

Today, Fr. has been designated the theologian in residence.

Theories for the rapid reversal-

- student protests
- threats from donors to withdraw support
- intervention by Rome

But we still don't know why the initial firing was done. One theory was that liturgically Fr. Fessio was too traditional and he was getting in the way of the Steubbies who were trying to take over.

Whenever Ave Maria calls to try to convince my daughter to attend there I always ask if there is a Latin Mass on campus and I get this nonsense about a Novus Ordo in Latin. N.B. save yourselves the bother trying to acknowledge that there is a problem with the liturgy and then refusing to do anything substantive about it.

Is it not wonderful that even death can be washed away by a bath?

CONCERNING BAPTISM by Tertullian

The homily is here.

Of special interest:

...the people, freed from the shackles of Egyptian bondage, escaped the violence of the king of Egypt by crossing the water, the water put an end to the king himself with all his forces. What pattern could be clearer in the mystery of Baptism! The nations are freed from the present world by water assuredly, and they leave behind them the devil, their former tyrant, overwhelmed in the water. Likewise the water is cured of the bitterness which spoilt it, and made sweet, useful and beneficial by Moses' rod. That wood was Christ, bringing healing, of course, out of Himself, to the streams of a nature that had once been poisoned and bitter, in the health-giving waters of Baptism. This is the water which flowed down for the people from "the attendant rock." For if "the rock is Christ," without doubt we see that Baptism is blessed by water in Christ. How great is the grace in water, where God and His anointed are present, for the ratification of Baptism! Christ is never apart from water: for even He Himself is baptized with water; when invited to a wedding He inaugurates with water the earliest trials of His power; when He speaks he invites them "that thirst" to His "everlasting water "; when He teaches about love, He commends the offering of "a cup of water" to a destitute person among the works of love; at a well He recovers His strength, "on water He walks," He crosses the water with delight, with water He serves His disciples. The evidence of Baptism continues right to the time of His passion; when He is given over to the cross, water interposes; Pilate's hands know this; when He is wounded, water breaks forth from His side; the soldier's spear knows it.


Baptism Necessary?

13. It is in this connexion, then, that those criminals stir up questions. They actually say: "Baptism is not necessary to those for whom faith is enough; for Abraham also pleased God by no mystery of water, but by that of faith only." But in everything later practice settles a question, and what follows prevails over what has gone before. Let us admit that salvation came about in past times by simple faith, before the Lord's passion and resurrection; but when faith was increased (I mean by faith the belief in His nativity, passion and resurrection), there was added to the mystery, thus enlarged in scope, a ratification in Baptism, in some way a garment of faith, which, previously was simple and now has no efficacy without obedience to its law. For the law of Baptism was enjoined and its ritual prescribed. "Go," he says, "teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit." The addition to this law of the regulation: "Except one be born again of water and spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," bound faith to the necessity of Baptism. Consequently from that time all believers were baptized. Then Paul, also, when he believed, was baptized. And this is what the Lord also, in inflicting the scourge of blindness, had enjoined, saying: "Rise up, and enter Damascus; there you will be shown what you ought to do"; namely, to be baptized, the only qualification that was wanting to him. Apart from that he had sufficiently learnt and believed that "the Nazarene" was the Lord, the Son of God.

Good Friday and Baptism:

19. Good Friday offers the more regular occasion for Baptism, when also the Lord's passion into which we are baptized was consummated. And it will not be interpreted inconsistently with the type that when the Lord was to celebrate His last passover, on sending His disciples to prepare, He said, "You will meet a man carrying water," and thus indicated the place for the celebration of the passover by the sign of water. Next, Whitsuntide is the most joyous period for the administration of Baptism, at which both the Lord's resurrection was widely made known among the disciples, and the gift of "the Holy Spirit" was inaugurated, and the hope of the Lord's advent suggested, when on His having then been "received back into the heavens," the angels said to the apostles that "He would come in the very way in which He ascended into heaven," namely at Whitsuntide. But indeed when Jeremiah says: "And I will gather them together from the farthest parts of the earth on a festal day," he indicates the day of Good Friday and of Whitsunday, which is properly "a festal day." However, every day is the Lord's, every hour, every time is suitable for Baptism: if there is a difference in regard to the proper season, there is none in regard to the grace.

Medieval Quick start

I now know this is "Waterleaf". I read about it in the
Glossary of the Medieval Church.

An awful handy thing to have around the place includs definitions of heretical sects, architectural features and pious objects.

Tip to Liberals and neocons. You just might need it on March 25th. And that's all I have to say about that.

Casting Pearls before Swine.

Fr. Enteneur attempts an intervention.





The background:

Sean Hannity is an Idiot.

And what is Fr. Jonathon Morris's excuse? Do the Legionnaire's serve God, the Catholic Church or Fox News?

Well, it's all too obvious I'm afraid.

Just because...

Thomas Hardy's Cottage in Brockhampton Dorset

Far from the Madding Crowd...

Tea at Trianon- a delightful little blog.

Visit and find out for yourself.

Theme of the day...

... is abortion apparently. Saw this on Drudge- post abortion greeting cards brought to you by the compassionate women at Exhale.



Especially caring.



I can think of a few words. But I won't say them.



I really wished they had used the word "unconditional love" because you know God must have really wanted you to have that abortion and if it's okay with God, it's okay with me. Okay.

And abortion as a "transition". That's so hip, so now.

I hope they're working on the "Sympathy" cards for those relatives who make the choice to euthanize their loved ones.

I'm just overwhelmed at these modern expressions of caring. Everywhere you look it's just love, love, love.

Oh, lost and by the wind grieved...

.. Ghost come back again.


Heartbreaking.

Face East Young Man

Shown: a panel of a Baptismal font that is one of the Seven Sacraments series. Each of the seven sides depicts a Sacrament.

I never knew that the Jews prayed facing East until someone recently told me. I had known that the Muslims did. Strange isn't it that the three major religions all have it within their Traditions to face East in prayer. Except for the Novus Ordo priest during Mass.

How very unecumenical of him.


From an Adoremus article on Facing East:

History of "Liturgical East"
Why the insistence on an Eastward-facing position for both priest and congregation? From early on, Christians adopted the Jewish practice of praying toward Eden, in the East (Gen. 2:8), the direction from which Ezekiel saw come "the glory of the God of Israel" (Ezek 43:2,4), the direction in which Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives and wherefrom He will return (Acts 1:11), and the direction whence the Angel of the Lord will come in the end time (Rev. 7:2). Tertullian informs us that Christian churches are "always" oriented "toward the light".

Origen asserts that the direction of the rising sun obviously indicates that we ought to pray inclining in that direction, an act which symbolizes the soul looking toward the rising of the true light, the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ.

Saint John Damascene says that, while waiting the coming of the Lord, "we adore Him facing East", for that is the tradition passed down to us from the Apostles. Other Church Fathers who confirm this usage are Clement of Alexandria, Saint Basil and Saint Augustine. To this day, the ancient Coptic Rite of Egypt retains in its eucharistic liturgy (just before the Sursum corda) the age-old exhortation of the deacon: "Look towards the East!"

In The Reform of the Roman Rite (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.: Una Voce Press; Harrison, N.Y.: Roman Catholic Books, 1993, chaps. XII-XV), the late Monsignor Klaus Gamber, director of the Regensburg Liturgical Institute, demonstrates convincingly that the precedents for freestanding altars with Mass "facing the people" have been highly exaggerated. In agreement with such eminent (and unquestionably orthodox) liturgists as Father Josef A. Jungmann and Father Louis Bouyer, Gamber shows that the practice of celebrating the Eucharist versus populum flourished only in the city of Rome and in parts of North Africa, where the pagan custom of having the façade (rather than the apse) of a temple facing East was continued; but even then, the historical evidence shows that, while the celebrant did in fact face the people, they did not face him, but turned their backs on him during the prayers so that they, too, could face East.

The whole article can be read here. Written by Fr. Thomas Kocik, a priest of the Fall River diocese in Massachusetts, who from what I understand, is forbidden to say the Latin Mass at the Indult located just a few miles away from his parish.

Why They Call Us Protestants and Why They're Wrong

Unfortunately due to the limitations of the physical world an image of Martin Luther burning in hell was not unavailable.

I was in a discussion recently about what constitutes a Neo Con or a Neo Conservative Catholic. And if you’re not too familiar with the terms Neocon and Trad and how those terms are flung about let me just say that they get along about as well as the Jews and the Samaritans did in Biblical times.

Examples of those who hold the neocon point of view would be Mark Shea, Jimmy Akin, Karl Keating and the like. Now this is not an attempt to condemn them but only to identify them. I’ll let their words speak for themselves.

I made the point that the neocons were like Protestants. They were trying to change the Church, it’s disciplines and embrace any watered down doctrine that will make their lives easier. They have raised NFP to the 8th Sacrament. They believe that the fewer children you have the more money you will have to fund their “ministries” and buy their pathetic little pamphlets, study guides, videos and cassette tapes.

When Church teaching and what they want to do come into conflict they do what they want. A perfect example of this is Bud McFarlane. McFarlane founded (or should I say incorporated) The Mary Foundation and Catholicity. After extolling the virtues of homeschooling, Catholic sacramental marriage and just being an all around good guy, he decided to divorce his wife, take custody of the kids (b/c she was homeschooling), force her to sell the family home, and sue for child support. This is the NeoCon poster boy. I understand that the Mary Foundation is suffering some repercussions from his behavior and fundraising has declined. I don’t know if he has taken a salary cut from his $100,000 per year salary or not. (Note bene: I think with book royalties and honorarium and who knows what else that McFarlane's salary is probably a lot higher than $100,000).

Who in the NeoCon world has condemned his behavior? No one.That would be “unsupportive” , judgmental, and Catholic.

Now you might think that with all their “zeal” for the Faith that the neocons would want to further the Traditions of the Church- the Latin Mass, Gregorian chant, ember days, but then you would be misunderstanding their mission. Promoting the Faith is not their goal. Promoting themselves is.

Because Traditionalists want to promote the Faith and worshipping God they threaten the neocon empire and their little cottage industries. And what do they call us in an attempt to really undermine and dispirit us?

Protestants.

They only use this term because it bothers us. To them the Protestants are not heretics but their brothers and sisters in Christ who will be in heaven at the very moment of their death anyway.

Unfortunately I think some Traditionalists have taken this to heart.

A Protestant is someone who opposed and continues to oppose the Traditions of the Church; the Traditions that have been held for 2000 years. And when they condemn us they condemn the Traditions of the Church and ultimately they condemn themselves.

A New Olympic Sport?

Saudi Road Skating

While I think I should apologize for the pure ridiculousness of this- I can't help but think that during Lent and especially on a Friday, it will make someone smile.

It's certainly better than the other things I've been thinking of writing about-
- Art and insanity
- Trad teens in trouble
- Bucolic living that includes your dogs dragging deer skeletons from the woods and chewing on them.

This also explains why the Life Expectancy for Saudis is still in the 40s. I'm guessing this was taken in the Khobar area.

The Transfiguration

Matthew Chapter 17
17:1. And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:

Et post dies sex adsumpsit Iesus Petrum et Iacobum et Iohannem fratrem eius et ducit illos in montem excelsum seorsum

17:2. And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.

Et transfiguratus est ante eos et resplenduit facies eius sicut sol vestimenta autem eius facta sunt alba sicut nix

17:3. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Et ecce apparuit illis Moses et Helias cum eo loquentes

17:4. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Respondens autem Petrus dixit ad Iesum Domine bonum est nos hic esse si vis faciamus hic tria tabernacula tibi unum et Mosi unum et Heliae unum

17:5. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.

Adhuc eo loquente ecce nubes lucida obumbravit eos et ecce vox de nube dicens hic est Filius meus dilectus in quo mihi bene conplacuit ipsum audite

17:6. And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.

Et audientes discipuli ceciderunt in faciem suam et timuerunt valde

17:7. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: Arise, and fear not.

Et accessit Iesus et tetigit eos dixitque eis surgite et nolite timere

17:8. And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus.

Levantes autem oculos suos neminem viderunt nisi solum Iesum

17:9. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Et descendentibus illis de monte praecepit Iesus dicens nemini dixeritis visionem donec Filius hominis a mortuis resurgat