A HOLY AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2024 TO ALL OUR READERS!
Little
Jesus
Ex ore infantium, Deus, et lactentium perficisti laudem (Ps 8, 3)
Little
Jesus, wast Thou shy
Once, and just so small as I ?
Little Jesus, Wast Thou Shy?
19 Years of Rorate Caeli: Keep the Faith, the Best is Yet to Come
On a Sunday exactly like this, Rorate Sunday, the Fourth in Advent, this page was founded, in 2005— it was the first year of the Ratzinger Pontificate, and devout Catholics were filled with hopes and dreams.
The past few years have been hard. But the Christ Child will always remain with us, the fresh Dew from Heaven, making all things new even in the heart of the coldest winter.
Birth, Resurrection: our Faith will never die, and our Church will rise from the depths of winter yet again, light amidst darkness. We hope to witness it firsthand, but we know for sure it will happen. Keep the Faith!
Help Build a New Chapel for the Institute of the Good Shepherd in São Paulo, Brazil - see also video of the project
Our page's friends in Brazil send this request for donations for their chapel project:
We would like to ask for your help in sharing information about a new Chapel Project whose construction began last December 12th: the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.
“Sedevacantism is destroying the Catholic Church”: Guest Article by Joseph Bevan
In entering a debate there is often a tendency to start off with your conclusion, through the exercise of the will or the emotions, and then to gradually work backwards to justify your position. The danger of this procedure, of which we are all guilty from time to time, is to disregard any evidence which challenges our preconceived notions. Our conclusion may even contradict such evidence. The use of ad hominem arguments is very common also, such as: “Well, someone like him would say that, wouldn’t he?” The other obvious danger present in this line of thinking is that it can result in such an entrenched opinion that bitter strife ensues. One thing for sure is that the holder of views which have been acquired in this manner is unshakeable and impervious to alternative opinions, regarding any further argument more in terms of a personal attack.
Canonization of the Martyrs of Compiègne: "To the poorest daughter of Carmel, honor speaks louder than fear."
Francis approved today the Equipollent Canonization of the Sixteen Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne, who can now be honored as saints.
Mother Marie: Sister Blanche...First Commissary: I forbid you to continue...Mother Marie: You have the power to force me to silence, but none to command me to it. I represent here the Reverend Mother Prioress and I shall take no orders from you.
Don Pietro Leone: Is Francis the Pope & If not, what then? PART II
[Rorate editor - Just to be clear: Rorate's editoral position is that Francis is indeed the Pope -- his election was obviously valid, as Don Pietro Leone explained in Part I - and a new one will be elected by an upcoming conclave. NC]
Is Pope Francis Pope
&
If not, what then?
by Don Pietro Leone
The O Antiphons: History, Theology and Spirituality
By Matthew Hazell
[Repost]
Note: this is a slightly revised version of an unpublished catechetical talk, given by the author in December 2015.
History of the O Antiphons
The history and origins of the O Antiphons is unclear. Though we possess a large number of early liturgical texts, comparatively few of them go back to before the seventh century. It is possible that a passing reference to the antiphons is made by Boethius (c. 480-524) in his work The Consolation of Philosophy, [1] which would indicate that the antiphons were known in northern Italy in around the sixth century. However, what we can say for certain is that the antiphons were known by Amalarius of Metz, a monk and scholar of the ninth century (c. 780-850). Amalarius attributes them to an anonymous cantor who probably lived in the 7th or 8th century. By the ninth century, they had also been known in Rome for some time, as they appear in the Roman antiphonaries of the period. Numerous other liturgical books of the Middle Ages from around the ninth century onwards also contain the antiphons.
THE UPCOMING CONCLAVE: A Close Look at the College of Cardinals (Exclusive for Rorate)
by Serre Verweij
for Rorate Caeli
Pope Francis has just named twenty new cardinal electors. Another important step in ensuring that the next Pope will be an ‘inclusive progressive’ like Pope Francis, so many say. The reality, however, seems to be quite different.
Of the 110 current cardinal electors named by Pope Francis, almost half (53) have been named in the last three consistories. These were held after the Pope’s colon surgery that caused him to be hospitalized for over ten days; and induced a wave of rumours that he’s terminally ill. Some Vaticanists think the Pope has been trying to secure his legacy during the last few years of his pontificate. Yet this legacy, and the cardinals representing it, are a mixed and contradictory bag. As such, Francis’ cardinals are actually quite representative of his near twelve year pontificate.
Two Years After Restricting the Traditional Latin Mass, the Archdiocese of Washington Finds Itself In Serious Financial Trouble
Two years ago, the Archdiocese of Washington decided to end the Traditional Latin Mass at Old St. Mary and five other parishes. Like much of the Church, the Archdiocese had been experiencing rapid decline for decades. That decline was exacerbated by the revelation of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's sex abuse in the 2018 "Summer of Shame." But through it all, the seven parishes with the TLM were among its most thriving and generous in the Archdiocese.
Vestments for restored Notre-Dame
The restoration and reopening of Notre-Dame in Paris was perhaps unthinkable to those who watched the great cathedral burn on April 15, 2019. What has been as beautiful as seeing the cleaned and restored cathedral is the fact that the general public clearly preferred making Notre-Dame look exactly as she was.
However, as we have seen before, bishops from the left just can't let beauty stand on its own without doing something to destroy it. While the secular government of France heard the will of the people and heeded their desire for a traditional restoration of Notre-Dame, the archbishop of Paris first fought to redesign the interior to create a museum instead of side altars and confessionals, then hired a furniture maker to design a hideous table-altar, lectern, tabernacle and baptismal font. He just could not let Notre-Dame look like a traditional cathedral without something from the Vatican II era inserted to ruin the day. Next up is a contest to replace stained glass windows with modernist designs.
This past weekend, though, we got to witness how the archbishop of Paris spent an undisclosed amount of money on ghastly new vestments. Not just a few -- but thousands of them. In fact, the archdiocese's website originally announced they hired the modern designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to produce "700 liturgical garments" for the cathedral's reopening.
Announcing "The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hymnal" - 900 pages of Gregorian Chant and Classic Hymns
Produced by Music Manuscript Service of Denver with the help of a team of expert consultants, the OLMCH provides, at long last, the ultimate Catholic hymnal for a fully traditional Catholic sacred music program, in parishes, schools, or religious houses.
Designed primarily with TLM communities in mind, here are some highlights:
Some good news from Korea: new Una Voce association
Cross-posted from the FIUV website.
The Council of Una Voce International has voted to welcome the
as a member of the Federation.
We have been in touch with a founders of this association for some years, and are delighted that they have taken the step to establish a formal association and to apply for membership of the Federation.
 |
| The Traditional Mass celebrated in Korea |
Korea takes its place among a good number of associations in south east Asia: China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, and the Philippines. These are all nations with a rich Catholic heritage, going back to the 16th century, and with their own saints and martyrs who were formed in the Traditional Mass.
The primacy of Mary as Immaculate Conception - By Fr Serafino M. Lanzetta
(Reposted, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sunday, December 8, 2024.)
In omnibus Ipsa primatum tenens
By Fr Serafino M. Lanzetta
Christ is first
New issue of Gregorius Magnus, Una Voce International's magazine
| |
|
French Bishops’ Paper: The Vatican Considering forbidding Traditional Masses inside Cathedrals for the 2025 Chartres Pilgrimage
The semi-official daily newspaper of the French bishops, La Croix, had news on this startling development yesterday: the greatest Traditional pilgrimage in the world (and largest Catholic pilgrimage in France) under threat.
From our friends at French blog Le Salon Beige:
The Vatican may ban the celebration of the traditional Mass at the Chartres pilgrimage. According to information gathered by La Croix:
The Disintegration of the Priesthood — Guest Essay by Vigilius
The following is the first in a series. We are grateful to Vigilius (the pen name of a German priest-theologian) for sending us the translation. The original appeared in German here.
The Disintegration of the Priesthood
Vigilius
Vigilius
The logic of the revolution
“It is about a new culture in the Catholic Church, which takes seriously that baptism is the most important thing ... With synodality, an element of decisive co-responsibility of all believers is added to the basic hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church as a complement, so to speak - at all levels: from the parish to the dioceses, to the national churches, continental churches and the universal church. This is something new!”[1] Thus spoke Georg Bätzing, Chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference and participant in the Roman Synod.
New Stalls and a New Pulpit for Contemplative Preachers - the Fraternity of St Vincent Ferrer Continues to Grow
The following message and appeal was shared with Rorate by our friends in Chémeré-le-Roi.
New Stalls and a New Pulpit for Contemplative Preachers
Fr Augustin-Marie Aubry, FSVF
Prior of the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer
(Chémeré-le-Roi, France)
On September 14th, feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a traditional date for the beginning of the conventual year, we invited all our friends and benefactors for a day at our convent. It was a truly blessed day, marked by a sky as radiant as the countless smiling faces gathered there.
The Call of September 14
After lunch (prepared by the lay brothers), I shared updates on our community, our projects and apostolates. I concluded with an appeal to embrace the religious life, ending with these words:
“Young men, young women, hear my call and spread it far and wide.
I am seeking generous hearts to spread the light of truth.
I am seeking apostles to go forth find those who are searching.
I await you with open arms!”
This call remains pressing.
The Reign of Christ - a book on Our Lord Jesus Christ, King
Our friends from Arouca Press have just re-published a masterpiece on the Kingship of Christ:
XIII Books, our new imprint dedicated to the social doctrine of the Church, is proud to release a new edition of Father Joseph Husslein’s masterful book, The Reign of Christ, a magnificent exegesis of Pope Pius XI’s encyclical “On the Feast of Christ the King” (Quas Primas) perfectly timed to celebrate its centennial in 2025.
Cardinal-elect Pablo David wants to rehabilitate Judas — and share the Eucharist with everyone, no matter what
A SERMON for the First Sunday in Advent - by Fr. Richard Cipolla: “He will strengthen you to the end.”
First Sunday in Advent
December 1, 2024
Fr. Richard G. Cipolla
I knew that morning that I had forgotten something important. I had the idea that I misplaced something. I checked my phone, my ipad, no they were there, I who insisted that I would never have these devices now wedded to them as if they contained my life. My car keys, house keys, all there. But there was this stubborn thought, this feeling that I had misplaced something important. If I could remember what it was I needed to remember I could look for it. But I have done this before: I have gone to the pantry to get something to add to what I was cooking and then forgot what it was I had to get. But it always came back.
Following "The Liturgical Year" with Dom Prosper Guéranger:
AD TE LEVAVI
Dom Guéranger and the Abbey of Solesmes will be our guides to this Advent: the Lord is near.
The words below are from his masterpiece, L'année liturgique:
***
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, the first of the ecclesiastical year, is called, in the chronicles and charts of the middle ages, Ad te levavi Sunday, from the first words of the Introit; or, Aspiciens a longe, from the first words of one of the responsories of Matins.
The "Mayan Rite" and Papal Progressivism - by Abp. Héctor Agüer
Abp. Héctor Agüer
Emeritus of La Plata
Buenos Aires, November 27, 2024
The Liturgy represents the intimate life of the Church, its essence: the worship of the Triune God, in which the First Commandment is fulfilled; the reproduction of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ; the communication of the Grace of the Holy Spirit in the celebration of the Sacraments.
The Liturgy is carried out according to various Eastern and Western rites. The Roman Rite includes the Ordo of the Latin Mass, which originated around the 6th century and has never been abrogated. In 1970, Pope Paul VI sanctioned a new Ordo Missae, which is exercised with alterations here and there, and which lacks solemnity and beauty. For this reason, many young people adhere to the Tradition of the “Traditional Mass,” where it is not arbitrarily forbidden. The letter of that Traditional Mass has the accuracy of ecclesiastical Latin.
Wall Street Journal: Why Christmas music starts so early
My thanks to the Wall Street Journal, which published my op-ed on Christmas music.
Some excerpts:
Radio Has the Christmas Season All Mixed Up
The lyrics of holiday pop songs tend be anticipatory rather than celebratory, which is why stations pull them on Dec. 26
By Kenneth J. Wolfe, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2024The Christmas season gets going earlier and earlier in the U.S., often before Thanksgiving. Artificial pine trees and colorful string lights start popping up at the beginning of November.
“SSPX Episcopal Consecrations – Ignoring the Past” – Guest article by Joseph Bevan
“We do not want to separate ourselves from Rome, we belong to the Church” - Interview with Fr Pfluger SSPX on new episcopal consecrations
The following excerpt is translated from InfoCatolica; the original in Spanish, published on November 22, 2024, may be found here.
 |
| Fr Stefan Pfluger, SSPX |
The FSSPX will in the future negotiate with Rome for authorization to ordain new bishops
Fr. Stefan Pfluger, superior of the German district of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (FSSPX), gave an interview to the Catholic weekly Die Tagespost on the relationship of his fraternity with the Apostolic See. After the death of Bishop Tissier de Mallerais, the need to ordain more bishops may arise, something for which they will negotiate with Rome.
Immaculate Mary, Model of Hermits: A Vocation to Spotlessness
“Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in His holy place? The innocent in hands, and clean of heart.” (Ps. 23:3-4)
The Blessed Virgin said to St. Bernadette at Lourdes: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Who else can claim this exalted purity? Who else can be always clean – always immaculate from sin?
Christ “loved the church, and delivered Himself up for it: that He might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life: that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-27).
Our Lady was preserved from the stain of sin by the preceding merits of her Divine Son. In other words, she was “pre-redeemed.” [1] The rest of us, however, must wait until birth to receive the grace of God which is abundantly poured out in Baptism.
Book Release - Turned Around: Replying to Common Objections Against the Traditional Latin Mass
Recently, TAN released my latest book, Turned Around: Replying to Common Objections Against the Traditional Latin Mass.
Here's the idea behind it. I take nine objections Catholics make to the traditional Latin Mass, and turn them around in jiu-jitsu fashion: “You are right—but you don’t realize how right you are!”
Immaculate Conception: TLM rubrics maintains Sunday Marian Mass
There seems to be confusion on the feast of the Immaculate Conception this year, as December 8 falls on a Sunday. Although the novus ordo transfers the Marian feast day to December 9 this year, with conservative dioceses emphasizing the obligation to hear Mass both Sunday and Monday, it is worth noting the rubric governing the traditional Latin Mass:
"Sunday I class takes precedence over all feasts in occurrence. The feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, however, takes precedence over the Sunday in Advent on which it falls."
Chapter 3, #15 of the rubrics
Sanctifica - A New Traditional Catholic Liturgical App: Dom Guéranger in Your Pocket
Rorate has been sent the following announcement for a new Traditional Catholic app:
A new Traditional Catholic app, Sanctifica, has been recently created and is available for free to help Catholics access and leverage treasures of the Catholic faith. Users can immerse themselves with the liturgy and traditions through the timeless wisdom of Dom Guéranger's "Liturgical Year" combined with Butler's Lives of the Saints and other great resources.
The “Spiritual Diary” of Elisabeth Kindelmann on the Flame of Love contains grave theological errors and cannot be from God — Guest article
We are grateful to Hungarian reader Zsolt Orbán for sharing the following study with Rorate.
The “Spiritual Diary” of Elisabeth Kindelmann on the Flame of Love contains grave theological errors and cannot be from God
Zsolt Orbán
PART I: Petrus Romanus
Many of you may be familiar with the prophecies of Bishop St Malachy, and many of you have marvelled at the succinct and apt characterizations of the popes given. And as we approach the end of Malachy’s list, perhaps the question needs to be asked: who shall be the last pope, a pope named Peter, whom Bishop Malachy calls “the Roman”? Those who carefully watch or hope for the name of Peter appearing among the cardinals, and search for why the epithet “Roman” might apply to a ‘Cardinal Peter’ might be interested in a potential candidate.
The Church Facing an Epochal Change: Trump, the Global Defeat of Wokism and the Mainstream Media, and the Upcoming Conclave
The Caminante - Wanderer Blog
Argentina, November 11, 2024
 |
| Thomas Cole, Destruction, 1836 (The New-York Historical Society) |
The triumph of Donald Trump has been the latest proof, of planetary dimensions in this case, of a reality that has been apparent for some years now. What was crucial was not Trump's triumph, for which I am very happy, but the crushing defeat not so much of Kamala Harris, a poor and mediocre wretch, but of the media, unconditional and indispensable allies of world progressivism. We had seen the same phenomenon last year in more modest dimensions with the triumph of Javier Milei in Argentina, and the astonishing popular support he retains after a year in office, and in other countries in the Americas and Europe -- but the American case, like it or not, is paradigmatic. In a few words, it has been demonstrated to the whole world that a change of Age is at hand.
Carlos Alberto Sacheri, Martyr - by Abp. Héctor Agüer
Abp. Héctor Agüer
Buenos Aires, November 15, 2024
This December 22 will be the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of Carlos Alberto Sacheri, besieged by a commando of the terrorist group ERP (People's Revolutionary Army), when he was returning from Mass with his family. I do not hesitate to recognize that his death was a martyrdom, fruit of his charity. In the history of the Church there is a history of martyrdom. What makes a martyr such is not the suffering imposed on the martyr, but the charity that impels him to embrace the Cross. Charity, I stress, the agape of the New Testament. The martyr, with Christian fortitude, surrenders to death.
Benedictines of Mary Featured in Diocesan Paper
The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has gone through a lot in the last couple years, with severe restrictions, segregation and suppressions of traditional Latin Masses, plus a ban on all other sacraments by diocesan priests.
But the good priests and the laity carry on, filling the gyms, attics and parish halls where the TLM is allowed, and rearranging their lives to comply with three parishes that have temporary indults for the TLM with a condition that once a month we must go elsewhere for the traditional liturgy.
One example of marching forward can be found with traditional vocations. In a front-page article of the new Arlington Catholic Herald, the diocesan newspaper, a feature on all of the women religious from Arlington who have entered the Benedictines of Mary can be found.
 |
Although it would have been nice of the diocesan paper to include the words Latin Mass -- or even Latin -- at least once in the article, it is still a positive action to have a front-page article about a flourishing Latin Mass-based order of sisters.
Prudentia: A Time for Moderation in Words
 |
| PRUDENTIA: "Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves." |
The current regime in charge of the Vatican cannot remain in place forever. At nearly 88, Francis is not getting any younger.
On the Assisted Suicide Bill Debate coming up in the UK on Friday November 15, 2024
.jpg) |
On the Assisted Suicide Bill Debate coming up in the UK on Friday November 15, 2024
There is a lot of muddled thinking about assisted suicide and this is because the basic principles are not addressed and instead, we hear more about the emotional and safeguarding issues.
I think the basic principle is: are you in favour of people killing themselves? If the answer is ‘YES’ then all you have to do is ensure that the new law is bristling with rules to prevent the obvious abuses. If your answer is ‘NO’ then obviously this extends to any form of suicide, whether assisted or not.
Dr. Lamont’s Reply to Joseph Shaw on Francis
In the interests of discussing important issues of our time, Rorate is posting this reply of Dr. Lamont to Dr. Shaw. Readers should bear in mind that we do not necessarily endorse the positions of guest articles posted here.
Reply to Joseph Shaw on Francis
John Lamont
I am grateful to Dr. Joseph Shaw for his discussion[1] of my article ‘What Are the Consequences of Francis’s Theology?’[2], in which I concluded that Francis is no longer the pope because he is a public and notorious heretic. I think his attempt to rebut my conclusion did as well as any such attempt could do, while falling short of being convincing. I will explain why I hold this to be so.
Smell Like the Sheep? The Sheep Smell Like Incense
by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla
Pope Francis has famously said that a true priest should have the smell of his sheep on him. Those may be the best words that have come from the mouth of this pope, at least so far. Those words should be taken to heart by those career priests who have never tasted the stew of parish life, many of whom wander around the corridors of the Vatican bureaucracy as well as those in the bureaucracy of diocesan headquarters just talking to each other. No lambs, no smell.
Exactly One Year After Removing Bishop Strickland, the Vatican Cancels Latin Mass Throughout His Tyler, TX Diocese
When Bishop Joseph Strickland was removed as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, TX in November 2023, one of the reasons given for his termination by Apostolic Nuncio Christophe Pierre was that he refused to "implement the motu propoio Traditionis custodes," i.e. cancel Latin Masses throughout his diocese. Bishop Strickland refused to do so because he could not, in good conscience, hurt well-meaning, faithful Catholics in his diocese: "As a shepherd and protector of my Diocese, I could not take actions which I knew with certainty would injure part of my flock and deprive them of the spiritual goods which Christ entrusted to His Church."
“Fear is the Key” — Guest article about wokery and mob rule
Joseph Bevan
With the proliferation of electronic media there has arisen a powerful force within society which is instantaneous and deadly in its effect. This is known as popular opinion or, more accurately, mob rule. It is fear of the mob which is governing almost every facet of our human existence, and which has given rise to an elaborate defence mechanism, and that is ‘political correctness’ or ‘wokery.’ Wokery is resorted to in order to neutralise the threat of adverse popular opinion and it affects almost everything we do, say or think. There is little doubt that there now operates a ‘herd mentality’ which is driven by the internet. Definitions of ‘political correctness’ or ‘wokery’ have proved elusive simply because it is something we accuse others of, and rarely do we admit that we ourselves may be guilty of it.
A Reflection for the Octave of All Saints by a Catholic Hermit
A Reflection for the Octave of All Saints by a Catholic Hermit
“Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit; and there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord; and there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who worketh all in all.” (1 Cor. 12:4-6)
Saint Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles, was also an exalted mystic. His heavenly contemplation of God was the source of all his insight. His heart, which was captivated by Christ, yearned for this ultimate end: “that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)