"The Modern World Degrades Everything"

Charles Péguy

Cahiers de la Quinzaine (IX)

October 6, 1907

We often forget that the modern world, under a different look, is the bourgeois world, the capitalist world. It is quite an amusing display to see the way our Socialists, anti-Christian, and particularly anti-Catholic, oblivious to the contradiction, praise the same world under the name of 'modern', and demean it, the same one, under the name of 'bourgeois'.

Guest Op-Ed - God at the Center: Reflecting on the Sacred Liturgy

By Veronica A. Arntz

Photo via New Liturgical Movement.

On November 26, 1969, Paul VI gave what many consider the “eulogy” for the Traditional Latin Mass. In essence, he gave the reasons behind why he thought the liturgy ought to be “changed.” In this remarkable address, he recognizes that some individuals will be upset by these changes: “We shall notice that pious persons are disturbed most, because they have their own respectable way of hearing Mass, and they will feel shaken out of their usual thoughts and obliged to follow those of others. Even priests may feel some annoyance in this respect” (4). He furthermore says, after insisting that our “first obedience is to the Council” (5), “the introduction of the vernacular will certainly be a great sacrifice for those who know the beauty, the power, and the expressive sacrality of Latin” (8). He admits that we “will lose a great part of that stupendous and incomparable artistic and spiritual thing, Gregorian chant” (8).

Radicati Editorial: "Thank God We Did Not Obey Those Forcing the New Mass Upon Us"

The New Mass, Source of Pious Naturalism

Editorial: Radicati nella fede, June 2016

Newsletter of the Catholic community of

Vocogno, Diocese of Novara, Italy

Thank God we did not obey.

We are going to shock you, but some provocations are beneficial and useful.

Thank God we did not obey those, who, in order to keep us within “ordinary pastoral care” (while allowing us reluctantly an occasional Traditional Mass) asked us not to be closed to the Council’s New Mass. Thank God we did not obey: we did not cave in to the “political” concern of altering the custody of the faith which is what everyone is doing now out of “a greater obedience.”

Sermon on the Feast of the Sacred Heart

The following sermon was delivered by a traditional cleric. 

Vidi Aquam egredientem de Templo, a latere dextro

I saw water coming from the right side of the Temple. 

These words can be found in the book of the prophet Ezekiel, in the Old Testament. 

At that time, the Temple of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people of God reduced to captivity in Babylon. So God wanted to console His people, and to give them a message of hope through the mouth of His prophet.

So Ezekiel was brought to the top of a mountain and there he had a vision… he saw the New Temple of God, and a source of water coming from the right side.

Event: 400th Anniversary of Dedication of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, Rome

Sunday, June 12, 2016 will be the 400th anniversary of the Dedication of the Church of the Blessed Trinity of Pilgrims (Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini), the personal parish of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) in Rome, exclusively dedicated to the Traditional Mass.

On that glorious day, at 11 am, a Pontifical Mass of the anniversary of the Dedication will be celebrated by Abp. Guido Pozzo, the secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

(Source)

Motu Proprio "As a Loving Mother" on the removal of Bishops for negligence in cases of sexual abuse

[Text by Vatican Radio:] In a new Apostolic Letter, issued motu proprio, Pope Francis has established new norms providing for the removal of Bishops (or those equivalent to them in Canon Law) from their offices in cases where they have “through negligance, committed or omitted acts that have caused grave harm to others, either with regard to physical persons, or with regard to the community itself.”

The Apostolic Letter “Come una madre amorevole” (As a Loving Mother) also clarifies that, with regard “to abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, it is sufficient that the lack of diligence be grave.”

The text was published today in L'Osservatore Romano (under the Italian title, Come una Madre Amorevole), and will enter into force on September 5, 2016.

Italian text below:

LETTERA APOSTOLICA

IN FORMA DI «MOTU PROPRIO»

DEL SOMMO PONTEFICE

FRANCESCO

COME UNA MADRE AMOREVOLE

You Report: For the first time in decades, Corpus Christi procession in Warrington, England

The following report was sent to us by the local priest, the indefatigable Rev. Fr. Armand de Malleray, of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter:

For the first time in decades last Sunday, the Eucharistic Lord “walked” the streets of Warrington in Cheshire, England.

SSPX reaches a new milestone: 600 priests

On this feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, in the (almost former) seminary of Winona, in Minnesota, the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX / FSSPX) reaches a new milestone. With the priestly ordination of 7 deacons (6 Americans and one Briton), the Society will now have 600 priests.

Let us pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that justice be done regarding the final regularization of this majestic work of God, so that even more thousands of Catholics may benefit from it.

Sancte Pie Decime, ora pro nobis!

(source: DICI)

Reminder for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday, June 3)

Pope Pius XI, in the encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor (May 7, 1928), gave the following command:

"...we decree and command that every year on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, -- which feast indeed on this occasion we have ordered to be raised to the degree of a double of the first class with an octave -- in all churches throughout the whole world, the same expiatory prayer or protestation as it is called, to Our most loving Savior, set forth in the same words according to the copy subjoined to this letter shall be solemnly recited, so that all our faults may be washed away with tears, and reparation may be made for the violated rights of Christ the supreme King and Our most loving Lord."

The Holy See then proposed the following formula for the act of reparation:

In praise of Low Mass

Sacrifice. Silence. Like the simple seven words on Golgotha. The essence, before our very eyes: the epitome of unplanned and truly organic development - Roman order and terseness displayed forever and everywhere. 

Strengthened with all might,

Reminder: Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society

This is our monthly reminder to please enroll Souls of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. We now stand at 74 priests saying weekly or monthly traditional Latin Masses for the Souls. 

NEW! Click here to download a "fillable" PDF Mass Card to give to the loved ones of the Souls you enroll. It's free. 

Priests: The Souls still need more of you saying Mass for them! Please email me to offer your services. There's nothing special involved -- all you need to do is offer a weekly or monthly TLM with the intention: "For the Souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society." And we will always keep you completely anonymous unless you request otherwise. 

How to enroll souls: please email me at athanasiuscatholic@yahoo.com and submit as follows: "Name, State, Country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Jones family, Ohio, USA". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.

Event: Solemn High Mass and good food in New Jersey

Couple of quick updates ...

First, we brought to your attention a couple of weeks ago our annual request for you to enroll your loved ones in the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Novena of Masses. The Novena starts on June 3, so please click here to enroll those you care about (or yourselves) now. 

Second, we recently provided our readers with a Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society Mass Card, that can be printed and given to the family and friends of the souls you enroll. We had readers ask if there was a download of the Mass Card that would be a better quality than just printing off a website. Thanks to the efforts of a reader, you may click here now to access a PDF of the Mass Card. It's also "fillable," so you can type in the name of the enrolled soul on the Card.

Exclusive Op-Ed - Pio Pace on latest Roman Comments on the Bizarre Dual Papacy

We are very honored to post this new article by a very wise, knowledgeable, and highly influential cleric, writing under the pen name of don Pio Pace. This time, don Pio Pace reveals to us the startling opinion mill in Rome surrounding the explosive revelation by Abp. Georg Gänswein on how he (and presumably Benedict XVI) sees the current dual status of the papacy.

***
"Contemplative Pope versus Active Pope"

by Father Pio Pace

Pope Benedict XVI meets Cardinal Bergoglio in Rome, January 13, 2007

It is not doubtful that the document we will consider as the most important one in the Pontificate of Francis will be the exhortation Amoris Laetitia, just as Summorum Pontificum is already for that of Benedict XVI. Nobody truly believes in a consequential reform of the Roman Curia, regarding which Pope Francis has never revealed the beginning of a glance...and on which he is not at all interested. On the other hand, Amoris Laetitia, which opens up the Magisterium of the Church to liberal interpretations, truly represents the essence of his project: a papacy legitimized by the media, and having become a provider of good feelings to the modern world.

Event: St. Walburge's Summer Retreat Day

FSSP news: New Apostolate in Pennsylvania | Follow tomorrow Ordination Mass live from Nebraska (3 PM GMT)!

1. A press release from the North American District of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter:

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is pleased to announce the opening of a new apostolate in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Fraternity will take over the administration of St. Stephen of Hungary parish on July 1, 2016.

The announcement that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter will be assuming pastoral responsibility for St. Stephen was made at the parish on the Feast of Pentecost, May 15, 2016, prior to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The members of the parish are very excited to welcome the FSSP to their parish, and are deeply thankful for the priests of the Diocese of Allentown who have offered the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Stephen’s over the years, as well as all those who have prayed and sacrificed for the FSSP to be invited into the diocese.

The Fraternity is grateful to the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Allentown, and his priestly assistants of the chancery for this opportunity.

Congratulations to the FSSP and to the local parishioners! And thanks to Bishop Barres!

(We thank local readers D, J, and L, who had sent us the news days ago.)

***

2. This Saturday, May 28, as in the past few years, Live Mass will broadcast the Ordination Mass of 4 Deacons to the Holy Priesthood. Please, follow LiveMass and their wonderful events, and be sure to watch this beautiful ceremony tomorrow:

The Ceremony will take place in St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha, Nebraska, at 10 AM Central Daylight Time (that is 11 AM EST, 3 PM GMT, 4 PM London, 5 PM Rome).

The celebrant will be His Excellency Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop Emeritus of Lincoln.

De Mattei - Completeness or not of Fatima message is beside the point: what matters is that what is known is unfolding

Church Crisis in light of the Fatima secret

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

May 25, 2016

The centenary year of Fatima was opened on Pentecost Sunday to news that caused quite a sensation.

Fontgombault Sermon for Corpus Christi: "Let us answer the Master Who rent the veil of the Temple"

CORPUS CHRISTI

1981 recording

Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau

Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault

(Fontgombault, May 26, 2016)

For My flesh is meat indeed: and My blood is drink indeed.

(Jn 6:56)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

My dearly beloved Sons,

It is a great mystery that the Church offers today to our adoration and thanksgivings. The Blessed Eucharist is the gift of the God Who wishes to abide in our midst. It appears as a continuation of the mystery of Incarnation. After He came not for those who are healthy, but for those who are ill and sinners, after He encountered in His humanity the entreaty of the widow, but also the joy and thanksgivings of the man who was curved under the burden of sin and then became free, Jesus offers us today to encounter Him in His Eucharistic presence.

Family Synods were a hugely expensive Fraud: Essential Passages of Exhortation had already been written 10 years ago

Yes, the fabulous Rector of the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), elevated to the position of titular Archbishop -- His Excellency Victor Manuel "Tucho" Fernández. We had already reported here in January that he was the main ghost-writer of the post-synodal Exhortation (later published under the title Amoris Laetitia, "The Joy of Love"). This of course had been clear since the Pope named him a member of the Synod drafting committee: as we had called him at the time, "the Pope's closest theological adviser and first named bishop, (fabulously efficient) Rector of the Catholic University of Argentina, member of the original 6-liberal Synod drafting commission".

New, free Mass Card available for the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society

A reader recently took it upon himself to create a Mass Card when he enrolled someone in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. We liked his idea so much that we asked the creator of our new Society logo, Melissa, to turn it into something beautiful that we could share with all of you.

Below is the card she created. This can be printed out, filled in and sent to the loved ones of the deceased you enrolled. And, as always, enrolling someone in the Society (of which there are over 70 priests saying traditional Latin Masses for the enrolled) is free, as is using this new Mass Card.

NB: This is not intended to replace having individual traditional Latin Masses said for someone who dies. We still recommend having TLMs said for your loved ones -- and purchasing the Mass cards from the churches -- when they die and for years afterwards. 

What sort of Mass did 'Vatican II' want?

The Traditional Mass on the Chatres Pilgrimage. Not as off-putting to young people as Pope Paul VI imagined. Photo by John Aron.

Liturgical conservatives and progressives argue endlessly about this. Their argument will never be resolved, both because Sacrosanctum Concilium was and the subsequent magisterium has been self-contradictory, but also because neither side in the debate is willing to be honest about the historical facts. I am sorry to be harsh, but having read the output of both sides of the debate over a number of years, it is time it was said.

One is Simon, the other is Peter? - Gänswein: Papacy was changed in 2013 into an "expanded" Petrine Office with two members. - Does this confirm the Socci-Messori thesis of a papal diarchy?

Double-Headed Church?

Edward Pentin's latest column on National Catholic Register (Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI Sees Resignation as Expanding Petrine Ministry) reports on a speech delivered by Archbishop Gänswein at the Pontifical Gregorian University, May 20. The speech, as reported by Pentin, has two topics of capital significance.

Help traditional Catholics fight sex trafficking

Sex trafficking is a horrific reality for all of us -- regardless of your country of origin. Please read the following report and pray on it. Go to the bottom of the post to see how you can help:

A New Zeal for Souls

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me” (Mark 9: 37).

In our day, a well-formed Catholic can see the attack on the family from rampant lust: The objectification of women, artificial contraception, abortion, pornography, and prostitution. The gift of procreation -- the greatest gift to our nature -- suffers under this vice.  It has broken lives through the centuries and today lust is even more free to break souls.  The counter attack is to build up the family, live the virtues of modesty and chastity, and work for a virtuous culture.  

Sermon for Trinity Sunday 2016

Sermon for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

Father Richard G. Cipolla

Colijn de Coter
The Throne of Grace (c. 1510)
Musée du Louvre

I have always loved those diagrams of the Holy Trinity in the form of an equilateral triangle.  When I taught geometry I was never much interested in the practical applications and problems that had a numerical answer.  I always loved the proofs, their elegance, their almost supernatural quality that never depended on calculations but rather on clear thinking and use of axioms. In those wonderful diagrams of the Holy Trinity as an equilateral triangle,  the Father is at the top of the triangle, the Son at the left bottom and the Holy Spirit at the right bottom. And the word God is in the center of the triangle.  

Events: Three traditional Latin Solemn High Masses in NYC this Thursday!

A reader pointed out that there will be three traditional Latin Solemn High Masses for the feast of Corpus Christi this Thursday in New York City -- almost certainly the first time this has happened since the smoke filled the sanctuary. 

We already told you about the Mass at Holy Innocents. 

There is also a Solemn High Mass Mass and procession at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

Last, see below for info on the third Solemn Mass of the night: 

Benedict XVI dismisses supposed new Fatima revelations as "pure invention" and "absolutely untrue"

Recent image of the Pope Emeritus in a concert offered for his birthday (April 2016)

From the Holy See Press Office:

False Collegiality: Full Text of new Rule demanding Bishops consult with Vatican before erecting Diocesan Institutes, and Our Comment

Comments below the text:

The Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, aware that every new Institute of Consecrated Life, even if coming into existence and developing within a Particular Church, is a gift made to the entire Church, seeing to the need of avoid that new Institutes be erected in the diocesan level without the sufficient discernment that will confirm the originality of the charism, which defines the specific characteristics that the consecration through the profession of the evangelical counsels will have in them and that specifies the real possibilities of development, has ascertained the opportunity of better determining the necessity, established by Can. 579 CIC [Code of Canon Law], of requesting its opinion before proceeding to the erection of a new Diocesan Institute.

Therefore, following the opinion of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts,

the Holy Father Francis

First Traditional Personal Parish in New England: Nashua, New Hampshire

Another abandoned church that would go the way of complete dereliction is to be saved by the Traditional Mass -- the church of St. Stanislaus, built for the Polish community of Nashua, NH, in 1908.

 The press release was made public today by the Diocese of Manchester (the diocese that covers the entire state of New Hampshire):

High Altar - St Stanislaus

Papal spokesman praises radical pro-abortion, pro-divorce politician

Yesterday, on word that "bisexual," atheist, radical politician Marco Pannella had died, Fr. Federico Lombardi praised -- in a written statement, not off the cuff -- the man who helped lead Italy in the 1970s to legalize divorce and abortion. 

A fan of Pope Francis, Pannella was sent a copy of the pope's book by Francis himself, and the pope had even called Pannella asking him to end a hunger strike.

ANSA editorial

May 19, 2016

“I remember him with esteem and in friendship.  I think he has left a human and spiritual legacy of some significance;  candid relations, free expression and generous civic and political commitment towards others, especially for the weak in need of solidarity” said the Pope’s spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi. Pannella was a person with whom, in the past, we were often in disagreement. However, his complete, disinterested commitment to noble causes cannot but be appreciated.” 

Event: Traditional Latin Mass and Procession in New York City

Whitsunday Sermon: "The Spirit of God Makes Human History"

Sermon for Pentecost, 2016

Fr. Richard G. Cipolla

Carlo Urbino
The Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles (c. 1570)
Chiesa di San Marco, Capella di San Giuseppe, Milan

“When the day of Pentecost came….” (Acts 2:1)

When it came….this must mean that its coming was important, and not only for those who were in that Upper Room, for this is about the marvels that God has accomplished.  But if this is that important, if this is not merely a local event, then it must be from the very beginning, the beginning of all that there is:  it must be from the void, from the times when all was a formless void, and the mighty wind, the ruach, swept over the waters, when the large bird breathed over the formless void, when the beating of its wings compressed everything into the singularity point that exploded into the myth of the big bang.  If this is important, ultimately important, then it must be present, must be a part of creation itself, of life itself:  “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Concluding Sermon of the 2016 Paris-Chartres Pilgrimage, by the Father Abbot of Fontgombault -The True Meaning of Pilgrimage

Whitsun Monday

Notre-Dame de Chrétienté (Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres) Pilgrimage

Dom Pateau in Notre-Dame de Chartres, Whitsun Monday

Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau

Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault

(Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral, May 16, 2016)

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son.

(Jn 3:16)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The bodily assessment of these few days is pitiful... Painful muscles, feet reddened with blisters, perhaps the secret desire to catch up right now a few minutes’ slumber, thus anticipating a still faraway refreshing night...

Pope Francis speaks: "The Society of St. Pius X are Catholics on the path to full communion."

[UPDATED BELOW] Pope Francis granted an extensive interview to Guillaume Goubert, the director, and Sébastien Maillard, the Rome correspondent of the semi-official daily of the French Bishops, La Croix, on May 9. The interview (including videos) has been published today, and included the following very relevant excerpt:

Help the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

As we always do, we are urging our readers this year to help the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, as they raise funds to build a new church. 

We apologize that the links in the flyer the sisters made do not work -- it's one of the many limitations of being on Blogger. Below, please find the links to each of the ways you can help. 

* Enroll your loved ones in the Novena of Masses starting June 3 (click here)

* Purchase their award-winning CDs -- including their new album (click here and here)

* Make a tax-deductible donation through their online form (click here)

Rorate on the Road ... in North Carolina

Rorate was on the road yesterday and this time we were in North Carolina at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mt. Holly (just outside of Charlotte). The church is run by priests of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).

While we travel the globe and go to many traditional Latin Mass sites, we normally do not post pictures of the historic churches we visit in the major cities, and focus rather on the little-mentioned yet wonderful experiences we have in smaller towns.

Fontgombault Sermon for Pentecost: "Are our souls intimately united with the Lord?"

PENTECOST

Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau

Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault

(Fontgombault, May 15, 2016)

Initial "S" of the Introit of the Feast

Repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 2:14)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons,

The feast of Pentecost commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit that has been granted to the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle around Mary, as Jesus had promised them shortly before His Ascension. The Lord Who went up to Heaven has not left His disciples orphans. This assertion is still valid. Nobody has ever been forsaken by God, nor will anybody ever be, unless he should refuse the gift of God, the light that comes from God and illuminates every man.

“The world they say is new is as old as the Devil himself”

François de Charette

Julien Le Blant
Execution of François de Charette

“Our Fatherland is our villages, our altars, our tombs and all that our fathers loved before us. Our Fatherland is our Faith, our Land, our King.

Paris-Chartres Pilgrimage begins

The Pentecost Weekend "Notre-Dame de Chrétienté" Paris-Chartres pilgrimage began earlier today. The first event was the Mass in Notre-Dame de Paris:

Godspeed to all pilgrims!

(Image source: NDC twitter account)

One Year from the Centennial - FATIMA: the prophecy of a crisis and the promise of an eagerly awaited triumph

Bl. Jacinta Marto

Francesca Bonadonna

Famiglia Domani

May 22, 2014

Almost a century has passed since the great Fatima event when Our Lady, messenger of God, appeared to the three little shepherds to give an immensely important message and to offer Her maternal intercession for a humanity afflicted by sin - a humanity, more narcotized than ever by creeping secularization, Most Holy Mary is the Queen of the eagerly awaited kingdom, foreseen according to Her promise and unforeseen according to its time and modality; the hope of a new millennium for the children of Light i.e. the militant forces of the People of God moved by the Holy Ghost amid the breakers of unrest and disorder but heading towards the safe harbor described in St. John Bosco’s dream, which points to the two pillars of salvation: the Holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary.

For the Record: Pope on "Deaconess Commission", and clarification

The Future of the Church? (Image of Lutheran Female Deacon)

What happened on Thursday: