The work of art is the fruit of human creativity, which questions the visible reality, trying to discover its deep meaning and to communicate it through the language of shapes, colours, sounds. ...
At the end of the first month of the Great War:August 29, 1914: an agonizing French Catholic soldier, in an infirmary bombarded by the Germans in the war front, asks a military chaplain, whom he believes to be a priest in a cassock, for a Crucifix. The chaplain was Chief Rabbi Abraham Bloch, who brings and presents to him the image of the Crucified Lord: moments later, both would be killed by an exploding shell. [For those who asked... the main eye-witness of the incident was Father Jamin, S.J., in whose arms Bloch finally expired. See, for instance, Maurice Barrès, Les diverses familles spirituelles de la France - published in English as The faith of France.]
30-08-2011
General House of the Society of Saint Pius X: Bishop Fellay will be received by Cardinal Levada on September 14, 2011
Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, invited Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, and his two assistants, Father Niklaus Pfluger and Father Alain-Marc Nély, to meet him in the Palace of the Holy Office on September 14, 2011. In his letter of invitation, Cardinal Levada noted that the purpose of this meeting is first to make an assessment of the theological discussions conducted by the experts of the Congregation for the Faith and of the Society of Saint Pius X over the past two academic years, and then to consider the future prospects.
As an aid to making this assessment, the conclusions of the theological discussions drawn up by the experts of both parties were sent to their respective superiors. That is how Bishop Fellay received in late June the document that will be the subject of the meeting on September 14.
Concerning future prospects, Cardinal Levada’s letter provides no details, but some – in the media and elsewhere… [sic] – think that they are authorized to make hypotheses; they speak about the proposal of a formal agreement on the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council and foresee the institution of a personal prelature or of an ordinariate…. [sic] These hypotheses are the product of speculation and have only their authors to vouch for them. The Society of Saint Pius X abides by official proceedings and confirmed facts.
As Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta recalled on the occasion of the recent priestly ordinations in Ecône [June 29; 2011], “We are Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman. If Rome is the head and the heart of the Catholic Church, we know that (…) the crisis will necessarily be resolved in Rome and by Rome. Consequently, the little good we will do in Rome is much greater than the great deal of good that we will do elsewhere.” With this deep conviction Bishop Fellay will go [to Rome] at the invitation of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.(Source : SSPX/MG [General House] – DICI : 08/30/11)
Reports reach the Forest now and again about bishops and vocations directors quizzing seminarians about their interest in the Extraordinary Form. This could be a good thing: they might be ensuring that seminarians are at one with the mind of the Church about the Extraordinary Form which Universae Ecclesiae told us a few months ago:
6. The Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI and the last edition prepared under Pope John XXIII, are two forms of the Roman Liturgy, defined respectively as ordinaria and extraordinaria: they are two usages of the one Roman Rite, one alongside the other. Both are the expression of the same lex orandi of the Church. On account of its venerable and ancient use, the forma extraordinaria is to be maintained with appropriate honour.
Thus if bishops and vocations directors are expressing any concern regarding the Extraordinary Form and seminarians it would, one would think, be to ensure that all seminarians are at home in both forms of the Roman Rite and most importantly are taught how to celebrate and to love the EF.
Sadly this is not what one hears. Instead seminarians are quizzed about their interest in the Extraordinary Form in such a way as to make clear to them that any interest would be considered a problem and as they used to say in my time, `a formation issue`. This is outrageous given developments in recent years. Eventually this will change but until then it is sad that people who are only following the directives of the Holy See are made to suffer.
The Cola Consecration Conference Decries Ban on Cola use in Phoenix Diocese
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2011
Contact: empowered@cola-consecration.com
WASHINGTON, DC - August 22, 2011 - Cola soft drinks will no longer be allowed as an ingredient in consecration matter during Mass at the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, SS. Simon and Jude. In response, the Cola Consecration Conference has issued an action alert calling on the Diocese to immediately reinstate cola soft drinks in that parish.
"If young people in the Phoenix diocese want to grow up to work for the Church - or even aspire to the priesthood - I, and the vast majority of U.S. Catholics, don't see the harm in the use of such a popular drink," said Scarlett O'Tara, executive director of the Cola Consecration Conference. "Around the country, cola drinks have been lawfully served at the altar for well over a decade."
Reportedly, Rev. Reaction banned cola from the altar because he exclusively wants wine and a tiny bit of water to be used in this way. Since 1994, the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops have allowed the use of some cola drinks at the altar. There is no restriction in Canon Law for some cola to be used at the altar during the liturgy.
"This is not only disgraceful, it is impractical. Cola soft drinks are less expensive, more popular, and comprise at least 80 per cent of bottled drinks, and they are the backbone of the non-alcoholic beverage industry around the world," continued O'Tara.
"The Vatican's stance on the consecration of cola is based on arguments that have been refuted time and again. In 1976, the Vatican's own Pontifical Biblical Commission determined that there is no scriptural reason to prohibit the use of cola in consecration. Jesus included water, sugar, corn, natural flavorings, and carbon dioxide as full and equal natural products of Creation, as much as grapes, and the hierarchy would do well to follow suit," O'Tara concluded.
It sounds like the set-up to a bad barroom joke: What do Communist China, the State of Israel, and the traditionalist Catholic Society of St. Pius X (popularly known as the “Lefebvrites”) have in common?
To Peter the Prince of the Apostles, the divine Founder of the Church allotted the gifts of inerrancy in matters of faith and of union with God. This relationship is similar to that of a "Choir Director of the Choir of the Apostles." He is the common teacher and rector of all, so that he might feed the flock of Him who established His Church on the authority of Peter himself and his successors. And on this mystical rock the foundation of the entire ecclesiastical structure stands firm as on a hinge. From it rises the unity of Christian charity as well as our Christian faith. ...
The ancient Fathers, especially those who held the more illustrious chairs of the East, since they accepted these privileges as proper to the pontifical authority, took refuge in the Apostolic See whenever heresy or internal strife troubled them. For it alone promised safety in extreme crises. Basil the Great did so, as did the renowned defender of the Nicene Creed, Athanasius, as well as John Chrysostom. For these inspired Fathers of the orthodox faith appealed from the councils of bishops to the supreme judgement of the Roman Pontiffs according to the prescriptions of the ecclesiastical Canons. Who can say that they were wanting in conformity to the command which they had from Christ? Indeed, lest they should prove faithless in their duty, some went fearlessly into exile, as did Liberius and Silverius and Martinus. ...
However We, who embrace the Eastern Church with no less solicitude and charity than our predecessors, truly rejoice, now that the frightful war is ended. We rejoice that many in the Eastern community have achieved liberty and wrested their holy things from the control of the laity.
The deciding issue concerning the position of the priest at the altar is, as we have said, the nature of the Mass as a sacrificial offering. The person who is doing the offering is facing the one who is receiving the offering; thus, he stands before the altar, positioned ad Dominum, facing the Lord.
If, nowadays, the aim is to emphasize the aspect of the communal meal during the "Eucharistic Feast" by celebrating versus populum, this aim is not being met, at least not in the way some might have hoped. The new arrangement has the "meal leader" positioned at the table, by himself. The other "meal participants" are situated in the nave, or in the "auditorium," not directly connected to the "meal table." ...
The focus must forever be on God, not man. This has always meant that everyone turn towards Him in prayer, rather than that the priest face the people. From this insight, we must draw the necessary conclusion and admit that the celebration versus populum is, in fact, an error. In the final analysis, celebration versus populum is a turning towards man, and away from God.
"Let me be well understood, I do not say that the Fraternity is the Church, but [that] we are of the Church, as the Sulpicians, the Lazarists, the Foreign Missions, and so many others were."
"There is but one Church, of which we are a powerful branch, filled with sap, approved by the Church exactly as other societies were in the past, and that now are, alas, in their great majority dying of natural death."
Mary, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Mother of the Redeemer: we join the many generations who have called you “Blessed”. Listen to your children as we call upon your name. You promised the three children of Fatima that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph”. May it be so! May love triumph over hatred, solidarity over division, and peace over every form of violence! May the love you bore your Son teach us to love God with all our heart, strength and soul. May the Almighty show us his mercy, strengthen us with his power, and fill us with every good thing (cf. Lk 1:46-56). We ask your Son Jesus to bless these children and all children who suffer throughout the world. May they receive health of body, strength of mind, and peace of soul. But most of all, may they know that they are loved with a love which knows no bounds or limits: the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding (cf. Eph 3:19). Amen.
 Conference 2011Conference: "Applying the Fruits of the Extraordinary Rite to Family Life" The manifest fruits of the Mass of Ages can provide a solid foundation for the spiritual life of your family. In this one-day conference, our two distinguished speakers will address what Catholic families can do and gain from a deeper appreciation of the traditional Latin Mass. Deep experience has shown that the reverence, solemnity, quiet and beauty of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite can produce rich spiritual growth and foster the formation of saints. Download the flyer and registration form Saturday, September 10, 2011 9 am - 3 pmThomas Aquinas College 10000 Ojai Road, Santa Paula, California |
Ego dixi: dii estis, et filii Excelsi omnes.Ps. 81, 6 (Breviarium Romanum, Feria VI ad Tertiam)
A holy priest is a saviour and another Christ, taking the Master's place on earth, representing Him, clothed with His authority, acting in His name, adorned with His qualifications, exercising His judgment on earth in the tribunal of penance. He is consecrated to exercise the highest functions Christ ever performed on earth, to continue the work of salvation. In imitation of His Redeemer he gives himself, mind, heart, affections, strength, time, all for God. He is ever ready to sacrifice his very blood and even life itself to procure the salvation of souls, particularly those of his own flock.
He is a god, living and walking on earth; a god by grace and by participation, clothed with the perfections and attributes of God, namely, His divine authority, power, justice, mercy, charity, benignity, purity and holiness. He is a god delegated to carry on God's noblest works, the priestly and pastoral duties, as great St. Dionysius says: Omnium divinorum divinissimum est cooperari Deo in salutem animarum - "The most divine of all divine things is to cooperate with God in the salvation of souls."
