Rorate Caeli
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

A Public Letter from Italian Laity: Francis, enough! Stop the ideological Civil War in the Church


This heartfelt letter by several Italian lay people was published today in Italian daily IL FOGLIO. The laity are exhausted after 8 years of war conducted from on top: we want peace. Stop, Francis, just stop.


Holy Father,


The latest book by Andrea Riccardi, founder of Sant'Egidio and a well-known voice of the progressive Catholic world is entitled "The Church is Burning: Crisis and the Future of Christianity ”.


We have not written any books, we have not conducted any detailed analysis, but we see every day the slow fire that devours and destroys the Catholic Church in Italy and around the world.


The resignation of Benedict XVI, eight years ago, left many in desolation and others in hope. For some time there was talk of the "Bergoglio effect", alluding to a rebirth that unfortunately never took place. On the contrary! The "Church that goes forth" has remained a slogan with no real application. On the contrary, the holy city of Christianity [Rome], in the age of covid, was the first to barricade its churches, giving the world a sign of total desertion.

Italy:Coronavirus: The Bishop of Crema carries the Blessed Sacrament into the streets of the city


A peste, fame et bello, libera nos Domine!


After celebrating the Mass behind closed doors yesterday, the Bishop of Crema, Monsignor Daniele Gianotti, wishing to show the nearness of the Lord at this very grave time, processes with the Blessed Sacrament into the streets around the Cathedral, blessing the city and the Diocese.

Servizio di Pubblica Utilità per i Cattolici d'Italia: Cosa fare se non puoi andare alla Confessione o ricevere la Santa Comunione


CONTRIZIONE PERFETTA E COMUNIONE SPIRITUALE

Cosa fare se non puoi andare alla Confessione o ricevere la Santa Comunione a causa del virus COVID-19

Se devi isolarti o metterti in quarantena a causa del virus COVID-19 è improbabile che tu possa ricevere i sacramenti normalmente.

In queste circostanze ci sono devozioni che ti permettono di ricevere l’assoluzione per i tuoi peccati (sotto certe condizioni) e la consolazione della grazia Eucaristica.

Queste devozioni sono ufficialmente incoraggiate dalla Chiesa e sono state praticate da santi.

Come fare un atto di Contrizione Perfetta:

Italy and the Coronavirus outbreak: The Mayor of Venice consecrates Venice and the Veneto territories to the Immaculate Heart of Mary


An exemplary witness to the faith - when the civil authorities set an example….

Yesterday the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, wearing his three-colored sash of office, visited the Basilica of La  Madonna della Salute in Venice – and – along with other prayers , invoking the protection of the Blessed Virgin– consecrated Venice and the entire Veneto region to the Immaculate Heart of Mary  with this: “we consecrate the city of Venice and our Veneto lands to Your Immaculate Heart.” 

Apocalyptic: Masses Suspended in All Italy Until April 3rd - "Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo"

From the First Lesson for Matins of Holy Thursday:

"Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo..." How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people, how is she become as a widow she that was was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary. She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. (Lamentations of Jeremiah, 1:1-5)

Following yesterday evening's urgent decree of the Italian central government imposing a lockdown in the entire region of Lombardy and of provinces in the regions of Veneto, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, and Marche, in order to control the spread of the currently spreading strain of coronavirus, already overwhelming the intensive care units of Northern Italy, the government extended the prohibition of "civil and religious ceremonies, funerals included," to the entire country today. And this Sunday the Italian Bishops' Conference made a shock announcement: Masses with the faithful suspended throughout the country until April 3rd (that's right before Holy Week). 

Masses are still supposed to be celebrated, one hopes in common sense, but in private (sine populo), and the lay faithful can make spiritual communion (see how here).

Not in the many wars of the past, not in persecutions, not ever since the Gospel first reached its shores, have the entire Italian peninsula and adjoining islands remained without Mass for the people. Even in the catacombs, the Liturgy (the work of the people) still went on, under severe persecution of the pagan Emperors.

Is it an overreaction? On the one hand, it is laudable that the Church wants to do her utmost to prevent a complete collapse of a public health system. On the other, we are talking about Italy here, and on this very Sunday, on Ligurian beaches, multitudes gathered to enjoy the sunny day:

Corona Virus: All of Italy now a Red Zone

A new Decree by the  Italian Government will be issued this evening to tackle the Corona Virus crisis in Italy.

 
“There will no longer be a red zone. The restrictive measures are extended to all of Italy."

This is the latest measure announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte  to cope with the Corona Virus emergency. “The infected and the deceased are in sharp increase” , the Prime Minster emphasized, inviting everyone to change their habits and limit their movements. 




EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - Italy: An Urgent Plea for Prayers

Map of the provinces put in total
lockdown by the Italian government
Saturday evening:
no person can enter or leave the
provinces, with very few exceptions.

Dear Readers,

I ask you please to increase your prayers for Italy. The situation grows increasingly dramatic each day. This is no comment on the medical aspect of the Coronavirus – I have no competence in that and there are conflicting opinions about it. But what is objectively real are the ramifications of the measures taken to impede the spread of the virus. Italy is in the process of collapsing. This is no exaggeration.

We have been abandoned for the most part by our priests and hierarchy as has been reported in other news outlets and not only Catholic ones. A spiritual wasteland.  I cannot express the desolation I feel when seeing notices outside ALL churches: No Masses, No Confessions, No Benedictions.  Signed by the Bishops. This is the worst part of all.  At least, though, some churches are open and one can visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and have recourse to personal prayer. 

Here are some of the woes we are experiencing which I sense are just the beginning unless something happens to stop our country from precipitating into disaster: 

Italy: Prohibition of public participation at Holy Mass: FSSPX Communiqué on the Health Emergency


February 25, 2020

Note regarding the suspension of Holy Masses

As is known, the Public Authorities have decided to suspend all public events until March 1st , as a result of the Coronavirus health emergency.  
Consequent to such a decision even  public celebrations of Holy Masses have in fact been prohibited, whereas markets, shopping malls and sport-centers remain open.  
The St. Pius X Fraternity, unfortunately, is obliged to suspend all the celebrations with the  participation of the faithful in the regions involved, not however without denouncing the behavior of the Public Authorities, who are impeding the Christian population, in such circumstances, from praying publically to their Creator.  
In this regard, we cannot help being astonished at the lack of appropriate reaction on the part of the Episcopate which raises its voice against the deforestation of the Amazon, but accepts, readily, the banning of public worship given to God.

You Suggest: Retreat in Rome for entrepreneurs with Cardinal Müller

We were proud last year to help promote this fine event. Please consider and make your plans now:



We are honored to invite you to an unique event that StartupWithMax.com initiative is organizing together with the Business Association, a Polish-based Catholic business venture. Entrepreneurs from all over the world will meet in Rome in November to learn from Maximilian Maria Kolbe who, in our opinion, was a great example of a successful entrepreneur and manager. The International Max Retreat will take place for the second time, and this year's keynote speaker will be His Eminence Gerhard Cardinal Müller.

Purgatorial Society Mass in Livorno, Italy

We currently have 88 fine priests saying regular traditional Latin Masses for the millions of souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. While most priests understandably wish to remain anonymous, we always offer our priests the ability to take photos of them saying Masses for the poor souls. 

In the photos below, Father Carlos Donato, Parochial Vicar of the Parish of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Memphis, Tennessee, who also serves as Ecclesiastical Notary of the Diocese of Memphis, as well as Master of Ceremony for the Diocese, says Mass during his pilgrimage at the Church of Madonna del Soccorso in Livorno, Italy. 

A Parish Priest: Tradition must be completely legitimized in order to wipe out the confusion which now reigns supreme

H/T Messa in Latino blogspot


Received from a reader of Messa in Latino and published with pleasure:

“I went to Confession in my parish. The priest who was about 60 years old, said to me “I have been here almost five years and it seems to me that I have never seen you before”.

Meet the new Italian Minster for The Family and Disability: The Honourable Lorenzo Fontana


When the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum was issued by Pope Benedict XVI in July 2007, Municipal Counsellor of Verona at that time, Mr Lorenzo Fontana had this to say:“This is an event of historical importance, which marks a return to tradition”.  The New Minister who has been a Member of the Lega Nord * since he was 20 years old, [he is now 38] attends the Traditional Latin Mass and in actual fact was married in that rite. He has a daughter.

Bishop Schneider: Behind the migrant phenomenon there is a plan to change the European population

Francesco Boezi
"Il Giornale"
June 27, 2018


A plan to call Christianity in Europe into question. This is the vision of the Kyrgyzstan  Bishop, Athanasius Schneider, who focused on this and other themes which very much also concern the vision of the Catholic Church.

Excerpts from an interview to “Il Giornale”:

De Mattei: Building the Future on the Natural and Divine Law

Roberto de Mattei
Corrispondenza Romana
May 23. 2018

 
Forty years ago, on May 22 1978, under the name of Law 194 for the termination of pregnancy, state murder was introduced in Italy by a Christian Democrat ruling class.  Murder, since Law 194 establishes the legitimacy of suppressing an innocent human-being in their mother’s womb;  it is state murder, since this crime is approved, organized and financed by the Italian State; it is mass-murder, since there have been around six million victims of abortion in Italy, according to official estimates; it is a figure far superior to the total  number of deaths in wars and natural disasters since the birth of the Italian State (1861) until today  

Emma Bonino - who along with Marco Panella fought rabidly for this law to be approved - in a video-interview on May 22nd 2018 for La Repubblica, said that Law 194 “functioned”.  That is, like a guillotine or a crematory-oven function, with not a word of compassion for those who are killed.  Still – Bonino added – after forty years “a review”  is required, that is to say, to improve this law, as something still doesn’t work well. What is the problem then?

It is the high rate of conscientious objectors among doctors, which is impeding the full and thorough application of the law. Bonino is not interested in knowing the reasons for this objection of conscience; what is important [for her]is that the laws function, that the slaughter continues and so she hopes for greater diffusion of pharmacological abortion by means of the abortion pill RU 486, which few still have recourse to. Emma Bonino, like many abortionists, consider the baby a growth on the mother’s body, or if they admit that it is human life developing for nine months in the mother’s womb, they have the vision of the interests of the State, of race, of the proletariat class, or of the single individual, which justify the killing of an innocent human-being.  This vision has only one name, which ought to be proclaimed in clear letters : barbarism. 

Bonino doesn’t even realize that something is changing in the world, that today it is not the feminist processions filling the streets, but the marches for Life, like those that took place in Rome on May 19th and in Argentina on May 20th. The mainstream media ignores these events, but a protest which springs from the natural law, engraved in indelible characters in the heart of every man, cannot be stopped. Under pressure by the pro-life movements in the United States, President Trump, has done more [for pro-life] in less than a year than his predecessors did in the previous thirty years. Even Communist China, after the failure of the disastrous one-child-only policy, has decided that by the beginning of 2019, the limits imposed until now on births will be abolished.

In Italy a new government is being formed. It is lamentable the fact that in the so-called “contract of government” the great themes of life and family are absent, or addressed only under the strictly economic aspect. And yet, as Virginia Coda Nunziante noted, if the language of economics is the only one that is understood, it would be sufficient to begin removing the 200-300 million Euros in public expense spent every year in the killing of our children and use the money to make the health system more functional, not the abortuary.  One of the reasons for the crisis in our country is the demographic collapse due to abortion and contraception, which in turn are the fruits of a hedonistic, relativist culture. 

We will never be able to find a way out of the crisis if the conditions of the culture of death are not reversed. This  is the message that comes from the March For Life and other recent initiatives, like Citizengo and ProVita Onlus, but also by the efforts of many young people, groups and associations, who are not surrendering, who will keep on going, and may the breakdown in the Italy of today, be replaced by an Italy which rediscovers the Divine and Natural Law upon which to build its future.

Translation: Francesca Romana




De Mattei: The historical background of the abortion law in Italy

Abortion in Italy forty years later (1978-2018)
Roberto de Mattei 
Corrispondenza Romana 
March 21, 2018

Recently the attention of the media in Italy has been focused on the fortieth anniversary of Aldo Moro’s kidnapping. On March 16th 1978, in an ambush on Via Fani in Rome, the Christian Democrat politician was kidnapped and his bodyguards murdered by the Red Brigade. On May 9th, after a captivity of 55 days, his body was found riddled with bullets in the boot of a car in Via Caetani. No-one has yet to recall though, that, during that same springtime of 1978, the law n.194 on abortion was debated and approved by the Italian Parliament and that since then, it has been the cause of six million victims in our country. 

You Suggest: Retreat in Rome for entrepreneurs featuring Cardinal Burke



"Startup Na Maxa/Start Up With Max" is an initiative aimed at making St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe the patron saint of start-ups and entrepreneurs. Fr. Kolbe was a man whose resourcefulness and perseverance should be a model for all contemporary business people. Even in most difficult circumstances, he showed how important determination, pro-activity, enthusiasm and vision of future handlings are. Therefore it is our desire that entrepreneurs turn to St. Maximilian to invoke his intercession.

We associate St. Maximilian Kolbe mainly with his stripped garment and his death as a martyr. But he was also an outstanding businessman who created from scratch some buoyant institutions. We can truly try to imitate him -- he was a man who in his life took all opportunities that were available to him.

The initiative "Start Up With Max", together with the Conservative Business Network, is organizing November 12-16 in Rome a retreat for entrepreneurs, startuppers and managers. 

It was not a coincidence that we chose Rome as a venue for this retreat. Rome was where St. Maximilian studied and it is was where he was also ordained a priest. Moreover, it was where the idea of Miles Immaculatae started -- a magazine that has been published until this day.

In the framework of the retreat, we will be visiting the most important places related to the youth of St. Maximilian. We will be reflecting upon his teaching during the Holy Mass, the Way of the Cross and the Holy Rosary. We invite you to deepen your faith by means of participation in our event.

A part of the retreat will be delivered by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke.

For more information and for application please click here. 

Click "read more" for this post in Polish: 

Rome, September 1st, Islamic gathering at the Colosseum: “We want it as a place to pray”

Libero Quotidiano
August 25, 2017

Disturbing image of the October 2016 Muslim gathering

The appointment is for September 1st. On that day Muslims will invade the Colosseum  transforming it into an open-air mosque. “Il Tempo” reports that the Islamic community of Rome will gather under the Flavian Amphitheatre, as they did last October. For the Muslims the occasion is a prime feast: 'Eid Al Adha, the  Sacrifice of Abraham.  The  Bengalese Association Dhuumcatu  organizing it, has decided to transform Via San Gregorio, under the Arch of Constantine, into a mosque, “On this special occasion Muslims commemorate the Sacrifice of the Prophet Abraham”  [the Association] posted on their Facebook “ peace be upon him, and it will also be the occasion to express once again our indignation at the terrorist attacks in Barcelona some days ago, when 15 people lost their lives, including 3 Italians.” The Association continues: “these criminals have to know that those who are a danger to others, also with their words, can never consider themselves Muslims.” 

The Pope and Jus soli: He will have to answer to history and God

Chiesa e Post Concilio
August 21, 2017

The Pope and Jus soli: 
Political interference -- Francis will have to answer to history and God

A position that will inevitably trigger off much debate. In his message for The World Day of Immigrants and Refugees, to be celebrated  on January 14, Pope Francis has explicitly sided in favour of jus soli: “At the moment of birth, nationality and regular access to primary and secondary education  should be recognized and certified.” Bergoglio has also shown his support for jus culturae inasmuch as he has asked for the recognition of the right to complete an educational path in the host country. 

Psychiatrist, Dr. Alessandro Meluzzi,  who was interviewed by Intelligonews, has harshly criticized what the Pope said:

What do you think of the Pope’s appeal in favour of jus soli?

“I think the Pope should talk about jus soli in Vatican City. There he could distribute passports to all the people he wanted, seeing as it is a Sovereign State.  As regards citizenship in the Italian Republic, on the contrary,  I find  this an improper and very serious interference since the Law of Papal Guarantees (1877).”

THE ULTIMATE INTERVIEW to Understand all About Pope Francis: Marcello Pera, Italian politician and close Ratzinger friend

Benedict XVI greeting Marcello Pera

Marcello Pera is an influential intellectual in Italy. A former president of the Italian Senate, he is a close friend of Benedict XVI, and even co-authored a book of lectures with him on the decay of the West (Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam)

In an interview with Naples newspaper Il Mattino, published on July 9, 2017, Marcello Pera presented what can reasonably be called the general view of Pope Francis by the wide moderate spectrum of Italians, and Europeans, of all classes.

***

"Bergoglio just wants to do politics, the Gospel does not matter at all"
Pera: "The indiscriminate welcoming [of migrants] risks exploding tensions"

Il Mattino
Naples, July 9, 2017
Interview by Corrado Ocone


Pope Francis, in a new exclusive interview granted to Eugenio Scalfari for "Repubblica" intervenes in the political debate with strong and explosive opinions that at one time would be considered "leftist". This time, the Pontiff turned to the great of the earth assembled in Hamburg for the G20, opposing as a matter of principle to every policy intending to control and limit mass immigration from poor nations to Europe. In order to better understand the ideas, and above all the political and media action of the Pope, in relation to those of his predecessor, we have posed some questions to the former President of the Senate Marcello Pera. He, a [classical] liberal and Catholic, has, as it is known, shared many ideas with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (even writing in four hands with him a book: Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam, Mondadori, 2004).

Mr. President, what is the judgment you have reached regarding the continuous calls made by Pope Bergoglio on the welcoming of migrants? An indiscriminate, unconditional, total welcoming?

"Frankly, I do not get this pope, whatever he says is beyond any rational understanding. It's evident to all that an indiscriminate welcoming is not possible: there is a critical point that cannot be reached. If the Pope does not make reference to this critical point, if he insists in a massive and total welcoming, I ask myself: why does he say it? What is the true end of his words? Why does he lack a minimum of realism, that very little that is requested of anyone? The answer I can give myself is only one: the Pope does it because he hates the West, he aspires to destroy it, and he does all he can to reach this end. As he aspires to destroy the Christian tradition, Christianity as it has realized itself historically.

Sicilian Bishops' AL Guidelines Authorize Communion for Adulterous Couples


On June 4, the Sicilian Bishop Conference, encompassing the 18 dioceses of the island of Sicily, followed their neighboring bishops in Malta by promulgating pastoral guidelines on Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia that authorize Holy Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried without annulment (ie. in a state of public and permanent adultery). The Sicilian guidelines also bear resemblance in their drafting to those of the diocese of Catania. The guidelines significantly admit that Familiaris Consortio required (using the past tense) such couples to practice chastity, but that this requirement has been "expanded" (read: nullified) by Francis in Amoris Laetitia. The guidelines state: "According to the assessment of the confessor and taking into account the good of the penitent, it is possible to absolve and admit [the divorced and civilly remarried] to the Eucharist, even though the confessor knows that it is, for the Church, an objective disorder."