Sunday, March 31, 2013

Alleluia! He is Risen!



Happy Easter to all of you. May the Risen Lord bring you many graces this Easter Season.  Don't neglect to act on them!

Here are a few snapshots from today's Easter Sunday Solemn High Mass which was celebrated by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf.  The homily may be available, so check at his blog. This was an orchestral Mass conducted by Grotto's pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone.  It featured music of Carl Maria von Weber.  See the complete list in this flyer.

Next Sunday, the TLM moves, for one week only, to the Noon time slot, with choir and orchestra for the same.  The Knights of Columbus will be offering a pancake breakfast afterwards.

This post will be updated, so check back.  Also, more posts are planned with video and images from Easter Sunday and Holy Week.











Here are the antique cruets in use during these festive liturgies


Parting shot...



For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

About Holy Week Pictures and Video at Assumption Grotto, and more...

Around the 3:00 PM, the lights were turned out in the sanctuary, and the sun, beaming through blue stained-glass windows and the new lighting system set the altar aglow in a blue hue.

I have many pictures and some video clips between Holy Thursday and Good Friday.  I hope my allergies can be kept at bay to allow me to capture the Easter Vigil in photos tonight.  The flowers will make it quite a challenge.  I'll have to double up on the anti-histamine

I wanted to share a video clip from Holy Thursday (below). This is from the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose following the Maundy Thursday Mass (1962 Missal).  These altar boys have been in a retreat at the parish.  There is so much for them to learn in so little time during the Triduum, yet these young men show they are capable of learning, and of the self-discipline needed for this.  I have been to a few of the training sessions.  I give credit to Fr. Perrone for his willingness to put himself through this gauntlet and for the others playing the role of deacon, sub-deacon, master of ceremonies, and still others working in the background.

One interesting note about this clip, is you finally get to see what is behind the loud "clapping" once the bells fall silent after the Gloria on Holy Thursday.  We heard the crotalus during the Consecration.  We heard it again on Friday.  In the video, you will see it in action. It takes considerable wrist action, and some strength.  The video below was taken, as I said earlier, during procession after Mass when the Blessed Sacrament was taken to the Altar of Repose, where people remained with the Lord until Midnight. Look for the flower pedals on the floor, left by some little ones in procession.  I have a clip of them in video too.  that will come soon.





An iPhone 5 shot just after 11:00 PM with altar boys at Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday


Some might wonder why the ombrellino was in use rather than the canopy.  It's because the canopy is difficult to manage through the tunnels on either side of the center.  They used it up until about two years ago, then switched to the smaller ombrellino.

I have a very busy schedule as do most of you.  I think we will all have more time to look at photos and video after Easter.  For those on Facebook, I have been uploading some things there, so look through my profile.  I have not been on Twitter at all and likely won't be.  Facebook makes it easier since it is not limited in characters.  I will, however, tweet my post(s) when I pull all of this together.

Tonight is the Easter Vigil (1962 Missal) and tomorrow, the big thing will be the Orchestral Mass (visit assumptiongrotto.com for details).  It will be at 9:30 AM.  You can also scroll down to my last post for some details.

Oh, and lest I forget to mention it, I said we had a special visitor with us for Easter.  Here is a parting shot.




For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Holy Week Schedule at Assumption Grotto





Information regarding orchestral Masses for Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday is forthcoming.  For Easter, it will be at the 9:30 AM Mass (1962 Missal; Solemn High Mass), and for Divine Mercy at Noon (the Traditional Latin Mass moves to Noon for that week only, with the choir and orchestra; the 9:30 AM will likely be a Latin Novus Ordo).   I am waiting on the flyer with additional details about the music, beyond that which is below. 

Notice the many Confession opportunities! Don't wait until the last minute.  


That's funny, very funny,
but Vatican II did not do away
with Sacramental Confession !


People have been emailing to ask this question: Which Missal is in use for the Triduum at Assumption Grotto.  Answer: 1962.

*****

HERE is the Palm Sunday Bulletin.  Fr. Perrone discusses Holy Week in detail in his column.  The bulletin is only online for about 6-8 weeks, so save it if you want it.

*****

UPDATE - More on the music program




UPDATE 2:

I'm hearing we have a special visitor who will celebrate Sunday.  I'll leave it at that. LOL

UPDATE 3:

I took some photos last night, and some iPhone video.  I uploaded most of the video to my Facebook account.  The quality is really low because of low lighting and inability to use flash or light during liturgical events.  But, there are some interesting things in there to see.  You can get to my Facebook account in the right side bar.

I won't have time to upload many of the photos and other video until after Easter.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

In your mercy, please...

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, intercede for John


Stop and  say a prayer for a fellow secular Carmelite from out of state, John, who is having surgery on his aorta today.  This is very risky surgery. John has a wife, Mary, who is also a secular Carmelite, and who could use some prayerful support as could their four young children.


The Memorare 

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
 

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen


If you are looking for the Holy Week Schedule and details, please see my updated post, or visit  AssumptionGrotto.com


UPDATE 1:

John made it through the surgery. The next 72 hours are critical so please keep up the prayers.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Pope Francis popularity swelling on Twitter!



Pope Francis is gaining popularity on Twitter.  Headline from HuffPo: Pope Francis On Twitter: @Pontifex Account Blowing Up As New Pope Asserts Social Media Presence

Pope Francis is blowing up the Twitterverse.

With many of his nine multilingual accounts actively pulling in thousands of new followers every day, the polyglot pope has already become a force to be reckoned with in the land of social media.
Though the Argentine-born pope has tweeted only a handful of times since last week's papal election, his few tweets garnered plenty of attention. On Tuesday, for example, Francis -- a native Spanish speaker who is conversant in English, Italian, French and German -- tweeted a message about papal ministry in multiple languages. Within five hours, at least two of those posts went viral, having been retweeted thousands of times.

[snip]


According to Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today, the pope's nine @pontifex handles have been attracting about 200,000 new followers daily.
As of Tuesday, Pope Francis -- who, incidentally, follows only himself on Twitter and has been identified as a social media newbie -- boasts a total of about 3.98 million Twitter followers. This number includes the 2 million people who follow the pope's English-language @pontifex account and more than a million who follow the Spanish-language @pontifex_es.
Though papal predecessor Pope Benedict caused quite a stir when he first entered the Twittersphere in December, insiders say Pope Francis' presence on social media will likely be even more significant in the coming months and years.
For one thing, Sean Hudgins, a social media intern for Pope Francis who attends Villanova University, told Mashable that the new pope will likely be tweeting much more often than his @pontifex forerunner.
[snipper]
"It's a global church, and the Twitter followers are starting to reflect that. Clearly we expect to see a bit of a jump with Pope Francis, and not only in Spanish," Burke said Monday of the popularity of the pope's Spanish-language @pontifex_es account. "I can't wait until @pontifex in Spanish passes up the English. Latin America is where we have to get the message out, and Pope Francis can do that."
Ultimately, experts say that social media will be an important tool that Pope Francis and the Catholic Church could use to reach believers and non-believers alike, especially as Twitter and other social media platforms gain in popularity and social importance.
Case in point: On Mar. 13, Twitter played a standout role in the spreading of the news of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's election as Pope Francis. According to Twitter, the announcement generated more than 130,000 pope-related tweets per minute, totaling more than 7 million tweets about the papacy that day. This, according to Mashable, was the "second biggest Twitter event of all time," topped only by the 20 million-tweet deluge triggered by President Obama's reelection in November.



Two tweets sent out by Pope Francis today:





For those wanting to play around with the great classical language of the Latin Rite:



The Tweets are sent out in 9 Languages.  See all of them here and follow any that you wish in Twitter.

(Credit, Photo at top: Gregorio Borgia/AP)

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Homily of Pope Francis for Palm Sunday 2013 {Updated}




The Vatican estimates some 250,000 were in attendance for the Palm Sunday Mass with the Pope.  Here are some video clips from Rome Reports




Look at the beautifully weaved palms. We have some people who do some beautiful weaving at Assumption Grotto too.  In fact, if you want to see how we do Palm Sunday (1962 Missal), see a photo slide-show from 2010.

UPDATE: Father Z has REVISED TEXT (which includes, likely, his off-the-cuff remarks).

From this morning...

(Vatican Radio) Below we publish the text of Pope Francis’ Homily for Palm Sunday: 
1. Jesus enters Jerusalem. The crowd of disciples accompanies him in festive mood, their garments are stretched out before him, there is talk of the miracles he has accomplished, and loud praises are heard: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Lk 19:38). 

Crowds, celebrating, praise, blessing, peace: joy fills the air. Jesus has awakened great hopes, especially in the hearts of the simple, the humble, the poor, the forgotten, those who do not matter in the eyes of the world. He understands human sufferings, he has shown the face of God’s mercy, he has bent down to heal body and soul. Now he enters the Holy City! This is Jesus.This is the heart that looks on all of us, watching our illnesses, our sins. The love of Jesus is great. He enters Jerusalem with this love and watches all of us. 


It is a beautiful scene, the light of the love of Jesus, that light of his heart, joy, celebration.

At the beginning of Mass, we repeated all this. We waved our palms, our olive branches, we sang “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” (Antiphon); we too welcomed Jesus; we too expressed our joy at accompanying him, at knowing him to be close, present in us and among us as a friend, a brother, and also as a King: that is, a shining beacon for our lives. Jesus is God, but he humbled himself to walk with us. He is our friend, our brother. Here, he enlightens us on the journey. And so today we welcome Him And here the first word that comes to mind is “joy!” Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus, from knowing that with him we are never alone, even at difficult moments, even when our life’s journey comes up against problems and obstacles that seem insurmountable, and there are so many of them! It is at this time that the enemy comes, the devil comes, often disguised as an angel who insidiously tells us his word. Do not listen to him! We follow Jesus! 
We accompany, we follow Jesus, but above all we know that he accompanies us and carries us on his shoulders. This is our joy, this is the hope that we must bring to this world of ours. Let us bring the joy of the faith to everyone! Let us not be robbed of hope! Let us not be robbed of hope! The hope that Jesus gives us!

2. A second word: why does Jesus enter Jerusalem? Or better: how does Jesus enter Jerusalem? The crowds acclaim him as King. And he does not deny it, he does not tell them to be silent (cf. Lk 19:39-40). But what kind of a King is Jesus? Let us take a look at him: he is riding on a donkey, he is not accompanied by a court, he is not surrounded by an army as a symbol of power. He is received by humble people, simple folk, who sense that there is more to Jesus, who have the sense of faith that says, "This is the Savior." 
Jesus does not enter the Holy City to receive the honours reserved to earthly kings, to the powerful, to rulers; he enters to be scourged, insulted and abused, as Isaiah foretold in the First Reading (cf. Is 50:6). He enters to receive a crown of thorns, a staff, a purple robe: his kingship becomes an object of derision. He enters to climb Calvary, carrying his burden of wood. And this brings us to the second word: Cross. Jesus enters Jerusalem in order to die on the Cross. And it is here that his kingship shines forth in godly fashion: his royal throne is the wood of the Cross! I think of what Benedict XVI said to the cardinals: "You are princes but of a Crucified King"that is Christ's throne. Jesus takes it upon himself..why? Why the Cross? Jesus takes upon himself the evil, the filth, the sin of the world, including our own sin, and he cleanses it, he cleanses it with his blood, with the mercy and the love of God. Let us look around: how many wounds are inflicted upon humanity by evil! Wars, violence, economic conflicts that hit the weakest, greed for money, which no-one can bring with him. My grandmother would say to us children, no shroud has pockets! Greed for money, power, corruption, divisions, crimes against human life and against creation! And - each of us knows well - our personal sins: our failures in love and respect towards God, towards our neighbour and towards the whole of creation. Jesus on the Cross feels the whole weight of the evil, and with the force of God’s love he conquers it, he defeats it with his resurrection. This is the good that Christ brings to all of us from the Cross, his throne. Christ’s Cross embraced with love does not lead to sadness, but to joy! The joy of being saved and doing a little bit what he did that day of his death. 


3. Today in this Square, there are many young people: for 28 years Palm Sunday has been World Youth Day! This is our third word: youth! Dear young people, I think of you celebrating around Jesus, waving your olive branches. I think of you crying out his name and expressing your joy at being with him! You have an important part in the celebration of faith! You bring us the joy of faith and you tell us that we must live the faith with a young heart, always, even at the age of seventy or eighty.! A young heart! With Christ, the heart never grows old! Yet all of us, all of you know very well that the King whom we follow and who accompanies us is very special: he is a King who loves even to the Cross and who teaches us to serve and to love. And you are not ashamed of his Cross! On the contrary, you embrace it, because you have understood that it is in giving ourselves that we have true joy and that God has conquered evil through love. You carry the pilgrim Cross through all the Continents, along the highways of the world! You carry it in response to Jesus’ call: “Go, make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), which is the theme of World Youth Day this year. You carry it so as to tell everyone that on the Cross Jesus knocked down the wall of enmity that divides people and nations, and he brought reconciliation and peace. Dear friends, I too am setting out on a journey with you, from today, in the footsteps of Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI. We are already close to the next stage of this great pilgrimage of Christ’s Cross. I look forward joyfully to next July in Rio de Janeiro! I will see you in that great city in Brazil! Prepare well – prepare spiritually above all – in your communities, so that our gathering in Rio may be a sign of faith for the whole world. Young people need to tell the world: "It is good to follow Jesus, it is good to go with Jesus, the message of Jesus is good, it is good to come out of ourselves, from the edges of existence of the world and to bring Jesus to others!" 

Three words: Joy, Cross and Youth.
Let us ask the intercession of the Virgin Mary. She teaches us the joy of meeting Christ, the love with which we must look to the foot of the Cross, the enthusiasm of the young heart with which we must follow him during this Holy Week and throughout our lives. Amen.


In his Angelus message, the Holy Father told the youth of the world: "See you in Rio!"

Photo Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Msgr. Guido Marini...posted this on his Facebook page

Yeah, he's on Facebook - go like his page.

(Edit: Someone pointed out the page is in Spanish, so it seems unlikely that he, a Milanese man, is maintaining the page himself. I will say, it is a nicely maintained page, still worth hitting the "like" button)

He posted this photo on Thursday, March 21. Not sure when it was taken.



Recent Posts:





For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Amazing Story behind Icon of Madonna given to Benedict XVI by Pope Francis



In my last post, which has 4 updates on the visits between the two popes, I suggested that people visit Dr. Robert Moynihan's new web page, and consider signing up for his e-letters, which are posted there.  I just received his latest e-letter where he explains a very amazing story involved with the icon Pope Francis presented to his predecessor today.

Moynihan explains in his usual story form:

As Nicole Winfield put it in her comprehensive Associated Press dispatch today: “The two men in white embraced and showed one another the deference owed a Pope in ways that surely turned Vatican protocol upside down: A reigning Pope telling a retired one, ‘We are brothers,’ and insisting that they pray side-by-side during a date to discuss the future of the Catholic Church.”
In the same report, she noted: “Francis also brought a gift for Benedict, an icon of the Madonna. ‘They told me it’s the Madonna of Humility,’ Francis told Benedict. ‘Let me say one thing: When they told me that, I immediately thought of you, at the many marvelous examples of humility and gentleness that you gave us during your pontificate.’ Benedict replied: ‘Grazie, grazie.’”
But who were the “they” who told Francis that the icon was the Madonna of Humility?
“They” were… the people who gave the icon to him. But who were those people?
Well… they were representatives of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, who sent the icon to Pope Francis as a gift, and who handed it to Francis three days ago, on March 20.
How do I know this?
Because a few minutes ago I received an unexpected email from Metropolitan Hilarion, 46, an old friend who is also the “Foreign Minister” (the term isn’t quite accurate, but it suggests the importance of his work and position) of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Moscow Patriarchate, so, the right-hand of Patriarch Kirill. He wrote:
“Pope Francis presented to Pope emeritus Benedict the icon which had been presented to Pope Francis by Metropolitan Hilarion on behalf of Patriarch Kirill [the head of the Russian Orthodox Church] after the private audience [with the new Pope] on 20 March. Отправлено с iPhone [Sent from iPhone]“
So the icon was the Russian icon Hilarion gave to Francis three days ago!
I wrote back: “Amazing. Are you pleased, or upset?”
I added: “It is reported here: ‘They spent 45 minutes talking alone. Pope Francis gave Pope Benedict an icon of Our Lady of Humility, saying that when he received it, he immediately thought of giving it to Pope Benedict.’”
Hilarion wrote back: “Very pleased and touched.”
Now, you really have to read the rest of the story, but I'll let you finish there, in his post: 



Here is his home page.  Once again, consider signing up for those e-letters. You can do it through his home page.  He often posts daily, but sometimes several times daily - this way you can get them as they are posted.


For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

VIDEO: Two Popes Meet! {Update 4}



{This post has been updated, and may get updated as more information is released}




UPDATE 1

Benedict XVI and Pope Francis met for 45 minutes .... alone. That is, no one else alone, not even their secretaries.

From VIS News (emphasis mine in bold)


Vatican City, 23 March 2013 (VIS) – Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, called this afternoon's encounter between Pope Francis and the Bishop emeritus of Rome Benedict XVI “a moment of profound communion”. Although live coverage of the historic event was not provided, recorded images of the two praying together and sitting in the library of the Castel Gandolfo Apostolic Palace has been made available. (An official photo will be published on the VIS blogsite at: http://www.visnews-en.blogspot.it/ when it becomes available.) Following are the notes Fr. Lombardi made of the historic event.

The Holy Father's helicopter landed at the heliport of Castel Gandolfo at 12:15pm and the Pope emeritus' car approached the landing site. Accompanying the Holy Father were: Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, substitute of the Secretariat of State; Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, S.C.I., regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household; and Msgr. Alfred Xuereb.

As soon as the Holy Father alighted, the Pope emeritus approached him and the two embraced. After briefly greeting the others present—Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy, and Dr. Saverio Petrillo, director of the Pontifical Villas—they got into the car to take them to the Apostolic Palace. Pope Francis took the right-hand seat, traditionally reserved for the Pope, while the Pope emeritus took the left-hand seat. Aboard the same car was also Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household.

The car then brought them to the elevators of the Apostolic Palace and the two protagonists of the historic meeting ascended to the papal apartments where they went straight to the chapel for a moment of prayer. In the chapel, the Pope emeritus offered the place of honour to Pope Francis, who instead responded “We are brothers” and wanted them to share the same kneeler.

After a short time of prayer they went to the apartments' library where their private meeting began around 12:30pm. It is the library where the Pope normally receives important guests at Castel Gandolfo. Their meeting lasted around 45 minutes. Pope Francis had brought a beautiful icon as a gift to the Pope emeritus.

Regarding clothing, as previously noted, the Pope emeritus wears a simple white cassock without the fascia (sash) or shoulder cape, the two details that distinguish it from Pope Francis' clothing. The completely private and confidential portion of the meeting was restricted to the library as the two secretaries, Archbishop Ganswein and Msgr. Xuereb, were expected to attend the lunch. The Pope emeritus plans to drive with the Pope to Castel Gandolfo's heliport before they take their leave of one another.

It should be noted that, although this is the first time they meet face-to-face, Pope Francis has already called the Pope emeritus to mind many times: at his first appearance at the external Loggia of the Hall of Blessings of the Vatican Basilica on the evening of his election and with two phone calls—the first that same night and the second on the Feast of St. Joseph, to send his well wishes on the Pope emeritus' saint's day. Their dialogue, therefore, had already begun before this physical meeting. Recall also that the Pope emeritus had already expressed his unconditional reverence and obedience to his successor at his final meeting with the cardinals on the last day of his pontificate, 28 March. This encounter, then—a moment of elevated and deep communion—was a chance to renew his profession of reverence and obedience. Certainly Pope Francis renewed his gratitude, and that of the whole Church, for Pope Benedict's ministry during his pontificate.



UPDATE 2

In this photo, Pope Francis is giving to Benedict XVI an icon of Our Lady of Humility in honor if his humility.

I've said so many times before that I believe Benedict XVI will some day be named a doctor of the Church.  I also believe these two men will be in contact.  I'm sure each appreciates the unique gifts bestowed on the other by God.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn some years from now that Pope Francis consulted Benedict XVI, not as Pope Emeritus, but as the great theologian that he is.



According to the EWTN catalogue where one is sold (not sure if it is the same image, so if someone has a better explanation of this specific icon, please drop me a message in the com-box or at TeDeumBlog (at) gmail (dot) com:

This image of Our Blessed Mother comes from the Russian Orthodox tradition where it is called Our Lady of Extreme Humility. Mary is known for her tenderness and humility because she accepted God's will for her life even though she knew it would cause her pain. In Western traditions, we often call this image Our Lady of Sorrows.

I love icons.  I don't know what draws me to them - perhaps God's grace.

UPDATE 5: See the amazing story behind the specific icon given by Pope Francis to Benedict XVI



UPDATE 3

From Vatican Radio's report: "We are Brothers"

(Vatican Radio) Expectations were high among the thousands of people who huddled into Castel Gandolfo’s tiny Freedom Square Saturday morning. The families, religious and teenagers gathered there had hoped to catch a glimpse of the momentous encounter between Pope Francis and Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus. Emer McCarthy reports: But they were destined to be disappointed. The event was, as it was always meant to be, a private moment of “profound and elevated communion” between the past and present Pope. The crowds, joined by a surprisingly large number of journalists, had gathered early in the morning, well before Pope Francis’ departure from Vatican City State at noon. As his helicopter circled twice above the Square they began chanting his name and that of his predecessor who has been in residence at the Pontifical Villas since February 28th .


Also, from La Stampa's English Edition - Vatican Insider.... a commentary and some explanations.

Ratzinger-Bergoglio lunch:"A constructive meeting. It would be wrong to draw comparisons" 




UPDATE 4

Here is another video.  It has some of the same things the first one above has, but some other things, or different angles.








Something to think about...


 

One last note...

Dr. Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican Magazine has been having some excellent coverage of all things papal.  He has an e-letter I've subscribed to for a few years, but he is now finally posting them daily at a website made for this purpose.  Check it out, and if you prefer daily emails, you can subscribe there.  I know he will have a detailed post about this meeting, so keep checking his homepage.

http://themoynihanletters.com


For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Pope Francis: There is no true peace without truth!

From the Holy Father's meeting with the diplomatic corp today.

ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS/LANDOV
As you know, there are various reasons why I chose the name of Francis of Assisi, a familiar figure far beyond the borders of Italy and Europe, even among those who do not profess the Catholic faith. One of the first reasons was Francis’ love for the poor. How many poor people there still are in the world! And what great suffering they have to endure! After the example of Francis of Assisi, the Church in every corner of the globe has always tried to care for and look after those who suffer from want, and I think that in many of your countries you can attest to the generous activity of Christians who dedicate themselves to helping the sick, orphans, the homeless and all the marginalized, thus striving to make society more humane and more just. 
But there is another form of poverty! It is the spiritual poverty of our time, which afflicts the so-called richer countries particularly seriously. It is what my much-loved predecessor, Benedict XVI, called the "tyranny of relativism", which makes everyone his own criterion and endangers the coexistence of peoples. And that brings me to a second reason for my name. Francis of Assisi tells us we should work to build peace. But there is no true peace without truth! There cannot be true peace if everyone is his own criterion, if everyone can always claim exclusively his own rights, without at the same time caring for the good of others, of everyone, on the basis of the nature that unites every human being on this earth.
Read the full speech here.  He touches on several other things worth reading.

Also, Dr. Robert Moynihan has some additional background on this that may be of interest. 

I remember well that pre-conclave homily of then Cardinal Ratzinger in 2005 where he talked about the "dictatorship of relativism" (as it had been translated for us).  This chased me right out of a nominal Catholic state, and was partly what led me to Assumption Grotto the following month.  Here is the relevant text Pope Francis is talking about, but I offer a bit of a lead-in.  This is all snipped from mid-homily. 

Christ's mercy is not a grace that comes cheap, nor does it imply the trivialization of evil. Christ carries the full weight of evil and all its destructive force in his body and in his soul. He burns and transforms evil in suffering, in the fire of his suffering love. The day of vindication and the year of favour converge in the Paschal Mystery, in the dead and Risen Christ. This is the vengeance of God: he himself suffers for us, in the person of his Son. The more deeply stirred we are by the Lord's mercy, the greater the solidarity we feel with his suffering - and we become willing to complete in our own flesh "what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (Col 1: 24). 
Let us move on to the second reading, the letter to the Ephesians. Here we see essentially three aspects: first of all, the ministries and charisms in the Church as gifts of the Lord who rose and ascended into heaven; then, the maturing of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God as the condition and content of unity in the Body of Christ; and lastly, our common participation in the growth of the Body of Christ, that is, the transformation of the world into communion with the Lord. 
Let us dwell on only two points. The first is the journey towards "the maturity of Christ", as the Italian text says, simplifying it slightly. More precisely, in accordance with the Greek text, we should speak of the "measure of the fullness of Christ" that we are called to attain if we are to be true adults in the faith. We must not remain children in faith, in the condition of minors. And what does it mean to be children in faith? St Paul answers: it means being "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Eph 4: 14). This description is very timely! 
How many winds of doctrine have we known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking. The small boat of the thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves - flung from one extreme to another: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism and so forth. Every day new sects spring up, and what St Paul says about human deception and the trickery that strives to entice people into error (cf. Eph 4: 14) comes true. 
Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine", seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires. 
We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An "adult" faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceipt from truth. 
We must develop this adult faith; we must guide the flock of Christ to this faith. And it is this faith - only faith - that creates unity and is fulfilled in love.
Continue reading full homily






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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
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- Diane M. Korzeniewski

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Post Revision: See Note...



Dear Friends:

The post I made about Holy Thursday last week has been set aside (preserved; not deleted) because, while it had some legitimate considerations on foot-washing intended merely for discussion, I was concerned it could lead some to have animosity towards the Holy Father. I would feel responsible for this, so I'm just acting on my conscience. There was some imprudence on my part in how I wrote it, and I feared those things might fan the flames of distrust, anxiety, suspicion, and fear of this Holy Father for some who are really struggling with the election.   He is not Benedict XVI and the Pope Emeritus is not Pope Francis. Each is unique; each brings different gifts. Each new pope will bring change, some of which will be comforting, some of which will not be. Right now, I would not want to be in the shoes of Pope Francis whether they are red, black, brown or purple with green polka-dots. He can't take a breath without someone doing a critical analysis.

Also, I later learned that my headline led some to believe I was suggesting Pope Francis was causing a wound in the priesthood by going to a detention center to celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Of course, the body of my post made clear that was not what was meant, but I did not want to draw people to the post with a headline that was misleading, unintentional as it was.

There are some things from that post that are well worth extracting and using in another, future post. My discussion of St. John Cafasso, and on the priesthood in general, are examples. If I discuss the subject of foot-washing again, it will not be in the context of any specific persons or events.

Some felt I was being publicly critical of the Holy Father; others did not. Some of you voiced these opinions in the comment box; others through private messages.

In the end, no one suggested that I take the post down. I decided on this course through prayerful reflection.  Watching the Palm Sunday Mass, twice, pretty much sealed it for me. If my post could be taken as a criticism of Pope Francis by anyone, then I would rather it not exist.

I have many more thoughts about Pope Francis brought on, especially watching him at the Palm Sunday Mass and hearing him speak in recent days, but they are best conveyed in a new post. I will wait until after Easter in order to focus on Holy Week. I'm sure he will give me even more to reflect on.

And, yeah - I plan on watching the Pope during Holy Week, just as I have in prior years. My DVR will be set.


Tu es Petra!


 ****COMMENTS HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF****

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
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Wounded Traditionalists and the Liturgies of Pope Francis

I think there is a story behind this specific chasuble and mitre Pope Francis likes to wear.
It's not brocade, but it's also not tie-dyed. It's simple, but not distracting. 

I want to preface this post by saying that traditionalists cannot be broad-brushed with one stroke.  I have found, in my eight years at Assumption Grotto in Detroit and following traditionalist blogs and websites, that only a small segment are what we might call "cranks." They are often the most vocal in some blog comment boxes. Keep in mind there is a silent majority and the outspoken often do not adequately represent a single group or class of people.  It has nothing to do with age either because I see it represented in most age groups.

Years ago, I was a crank myself for a period of time, but it wasn't to last long thanks to some very good priests at Assumption Grotto, also of a traditional bent, who would not allow me to remain there.  Sacramental Confession was very helpful during that period.  My own anger and crabbiness came from feeling wounded over the fact that the church of my youth had given me religious junk food, and some of it was spoiled, at that. The realization came that hell was real and they nearly led me there through neglect of my eternal salvation with too much concern for my self-esteem and little regard for my soul. The "feel good religion" they gave me showed little concern for pleasing God, above all others.  It was steeped with false charity.

With time, and lots of prayer, especially Adoration and the Rosary, I came to realize that a lot of good people passed off bad stuff, because someone else they trusted, gave it to them.  Good men who entered seminary and became priests were subjected to strange teachings that, if they didn't somehow embrace, they weren't getting ordained. Some transitioned out of this as soon as they were ordained; others transitioned later.  Sadly, some are still stuck there. Pray for them.

People today don't consider that when Vatican II was promulgated, there was no internet to verify that what some were bringing back from Rome was legitimate, like the priest turning towards the people, jack-hammering out altar rails, and ushering in folk bands, and Communion in the hand. The "spirit of Vatican II" was peddling all kinds of things that were no where to be found in the documents of Vatican II while eliminating things that those documents specified as having pride of place, like Gregorian chant, and retaining some Latin.  Years went by and some priests and lay people got so accustomed to what they were told was from Vatican II, they reject even the plain words of the Council documents still today.

What came next can happen as someone breaks free from anger about something, which serves only as a boat anchor: I would get angry at other wounded, crabby traditionalists rather than just walk away and pray for them (trying to talk to them when upset can be like throwing fuel on a fire).  They have suffered much and I know some of the pain because I felt it.


With the election of Pope Francis, a small segment of traditionalists has been up in arms because the new pope does not have the same taste for tradition (as in, small-t). Some lament that he isn't wearing the red shoes or choosing brocade vestments and doesn't seem to "dress-up" for the more solemn events, opting for his simple chasuble and mitre used in Argentina (someone should ask him if there is something special about that chasuble and mitre - maybe it was given to him by someone close). They complain that he stands while preaching rather than sitting at the throne. There are many other things I could mention that this segment of traditionalists is upset about, but suffice it to say that I think many are confusing small-t tradition with Tradition, doctrine, and dogma.


I too was concerned and went through a range of emotions as I watched the Holy Father do things different than Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - a man that I believe will some day be declared a doctor of the Church.  It came as kind of a shock to me because I was accustomed to the image of pope given to us by the predecessor of Pope Francis.  But I am also shocked to see a spring in the steps of the pope - something to which I was not accustomed given age and frailty of Benedict XVI (and I recall feeling the same way when Pope John Paul II died and he took over).

Of the things that flowed through my mind in the days after his election was that some seminaries, which have been including provisions to teach seminarians how to celebrate using the 1962 Missal, may shelve such plans under this pope.  But, this remains to be seen.  There is much to learn from the older form of the Mass that can help with a proper celebration of the new and Summorum Pontificum remains in effect.  Priests need to be able to accommodate those who request it. And, I might add, many seminarians have expressed a desire to learn it and not just those of a traditional bent.

Sometimes we make the mistake of associating smells and bells with orthodoxy when a seemingly traditional priest or bishop may actually be lacking in it. The opposite can also be true, where we find a very orthodox priest who has simple tastes for vestments much like Pope Francis.


You might find a video floating around of then Card. Bergoglio celebrating a Mass in a stadium with youth.  I don't want to link to it. There are liturgical dancers in the foreground and balloons being released in the background.  That video appeared within minutes of him being named.  I lamented a return to this kind of thing in papal Masses just when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI seemed to tone them down in favor of a more reserved and reverent atmosphere.  I myself think it is too premature to presume that papal liturgies will include such liturgical abuses going forward.  Everything I've seen of Pope Francis when celebrating the Mass, even in that video, reveals a man deeply devoted to Our Eucharistic Lord despite what is going on around him.  I am really beginning to wonder if he was as surprised to find those things at that Mass as we were to watch them.  Like we say with stocks, "past performance is not guarantee of future results."

For the record, I personally am at peace with the hope that the traditionalist movement is a grass-roots movement.  As others are pointing out, it's very possible that God wants to make sure it is augmented with applying the Gospel more fully.  Catholicism doesn't end with the liturgy; it lives itself out when we hear the words, "Ite, Missa est" and go forth and give witness to the Word in our daily lives.  I believe that this pope will teach us how to do that.  Where Benedict XVI gave us a cerebral understanding of charity, I think Pope Francis will show us how to apply it.  And, I do not believe it will be the kind of false charity we have been experiencing.  True charity must be exercised without sacrificing truth. Mercy is inauthentic if it is not married truth.

There is so much more to say on this, but I want to pass along to you an article by Andrew Haines at Ethika and Politika.  He writes from a similar point of view where he acknowledges his own concerns, but then, as the article goes on, shows us how he worked through them.  Someone without some experience in the traditionalist movement could easily misunderstand his commentary.  Most people that  I have heard back from, who do understand the wounded-ness among some traditionalists felt the article  was well written.  Don't judge the post by it's title.

Go read: The Pope's Painful Liturgies

As an aside, I thought Msgr. Guido Marini looked a little more relaxed in the Inaugural Mass (see pic at top) than he did in the immediate wake of the election.  Of course, less traditional liturgical style of Pope Francis would be most difficult on this papal MC than on others.  Andrew Haines refers to him as the "suffering servant" and I sensed that the moment Pope Francis stepped out on to the balcony for the first time, minus the stole and the Mozzetta.  I hope he is able to stay on as papal MC.  Opportunities for humility come in different forms and I he will be in my prayers.




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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pope gets off his ride to bless severely disabled man

The Pope has decided he won't be using the Popemobile, which has been in use since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.  Rome Reports captures a beautiful moment when he stopped to embrace and bless a severely disabled man, who appeared very excited at the gesture.




If you missed the Mass, go to the YouTube Channel for Vatican Radio and you can probably replay it there and fast forward through parts.  While the Pope was vested with simplicity, that Mass did not lack any beauty.  Chant and sacred polyphony was very fitting and beautiful.

Full Text Homily here: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/03/19/pope:_homily_for_inaugural_mass_of_petrine_ministry_[full_text]/en1-674758

One thing you will notice is the Holy Father's "ars celebrandi." It is very beautiful.  Many commented on the way he elevated the Host and the Chalice - something I picked up last week.  As we age it is not easy to lift arms up, but you see him pushing as high as he can.  The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.

One thing I have noticed is that Pope Francis is unafraid to show reverence through gestures.  During the Gloria Patri on the balcony the other day, Pope Francis bowed.  He bowed again as he waited for God to bless him through our prayers.  Today at Mass, you see again, the great love and devotion he has for the Eucharist. It just radiates.  And, it's not just during the Eucharist.  Young people especially are going to learn a lot from the visible gestures of Pope Francis.  Pope Benedict did all of these things, but I think they were less visible because people expected these things from him.  As we see in the pictures all over the web of him bowing on the balcony, people seem moved by the manner in which he shows reverence.  This is a good thing.  We should not be afraid to show an external sign of reverence, which should be preceded by and coupled with interior reverence.

If you have not seen the video of him discussing the Mass and the priesthood, see it in my last post. In it, he says that the Mass is not a reunion of friends who come together to eat bread and wine; the Eucharist is fundamentally priestly.  This attitude is manifest in his postures and focus while in prayer, and at Mass.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Details on Inaugural Mass of Pope Francis tomorrow morning

Before getting to the Mass that will take place tomorrow, here is a good video-short by EWTN that has then Cardinal Bergoglio talking about the Liturgy and the Eucharist (translated, of course). Veil-tip to the wonderful Fr. Byers at Holy Souls Hermitage.



The Holy Father, Pope Francis, will have his Inaugural Mass tomorrow morning. Coverage on many stations, and online streams begins as early as 3:45 or 3:50 AM ET.

It's going to kill me, but I'm getting up early to watch! So, join me!





Here is something from Vatican Information Service detailing what will happen tomorrow.
The Press Office Director also explained where those participating in and attending the Mass will be located. “On the left-hand side of the 'Sagrato' (porch of the Basilica) will be seated bishops and archbishops (around 250 are expected), ecclesiastics, and delegations from other Churches and Christian confessions. On the right-hand side of the 'Sagrato' will be delegations from various countries lead by heads of state, ministers, etc. On the St. Peter’s statue side of the piazza will be seated Jews, Muslims, and members of other religions, then around 1200 priests and seminarians. On the St. Paul’s statue side of the piazza will be seated the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and other civil authorities. The rest of the piazza will be standing-room for all those without tickets. A large number is expected to attend.”

Between 8:45 and 8:50am [3:45 / 3:50 am ET] the Pope will depart the Domus Sanctae Marthae and start to move through the crowd [give Vatican security a raise] in the various sections of the piazza—either in the Jeep or the Popemobile—and greet those gathered. He will return to the Sacristy, via the Pietà side, around 9:15am. Mass is planned to begin at 9:30am [4:30 am ET]

Regarding the beginning of the ceremony, the Pope, once having entered the Basilica, will head to the Confession (St. Peter’s tomb under the high altar) while trumpets will announce the “Tu es Petrus”. The Pope will venerate the tomb of St. Peter, together with the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches (ten in number, four of whom are cardinals). He will then be presented with the Pallium, Ring, and Book of the Gospels that were placed at St. Peter’s tomb the night before.

The Holy Father will then come back up from the Confession to the main floor of the Basilica, from which the procession continues. The “Laudes Regiae” (Christ is King) will be chanted, with some invocations taken from the Vatican II document on the Church, “Lumen Gentium”. In the Litany of Saints are particularly to be noted, after the Apostles, the Holy Roman Pontiffs who have been canonized up to the most recent: St. Pius X. Fr. Lombardi clarified that these are only the pontiffs who have been named as saints, not those who have been beatified. The procession will then make its entrance into the square.

Fr. Lombardi listed who will be concelebrating the Mass with Francis: all the cardinals present in Rome, joined by the Patriarchs and Major Eastern Rite Archbishops (6); the Secretary of the College of Cardinals; and two Superior Generals (that of the Order of Friars Minor, Jose Rodriguez Carballo and that of the Jesuits, Adolfo Nicolas Pachon, respectively President and Vice-President of the Union of Superior Generals). In total about 180 are expected to concelebrate and they will be seated at the left (that is, in front of the ecclesiastics, not the national delegations).

Before the Mass begins there are the rites specific to the beginning of the Bishop of Rome's Petrine Ministry. These include: [click here to read these interesting details at VIS]

I'm going to quote another part of the long post at VIS (emphasis mine in bold; comments in red).

The Mass will be that of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, which has its own readings (therefore they are not directly related to the rite of the Inauguration of the Pontificate). The Gospel will be proclaimed in Greek, as at the highest solemnities, to show that the universal Church is made up of the great traditions of the East and the West. “Latin,” Fr. Lombardi said, “is already abundantly present in the other prayers and Mass parts.[And, I'll bet some thought it would get ditched altogether!]

The Pope will give his homily in Italian and, as is his style, it probably will not follow the written text strictly, but will contain improvisations. [LOL!]

Fr. Lombardi said that the Master of Celebrations expects that the ceremony will not last much more than two hours and, always with the intention of simplification and not making the rite overly long, there will not be an Offertory procession. The Eucharistic gifts will be brought to the altar by the ministers who prepare the altar. Also, the Pope will not distribute Communion, which will be done by the deacons on the “Sagrato” and, in the various areas of the piazza, by priests. [Not sure why this is, but perhaps in some situations this is common. I'm not up early enough to watch most papal Masses.]

Regarding the music for the ceremony, several moments are notable [Booyah!]. When the Pope enters the Basilica silver trumpets will ring out the “Tu es Petrus”. The Laudes Regiae will be chanted during the procession from St. Peter’s tomb to the “Sagrato”. A 14 piece brass ensemble will play at various moments of the celebration. During the Offertory the “Tu es pastor ovium” (You Are the Shepherd of the Sheep) motet composed by Pierluigi da Palestrina [Oooo - Palestrina is among my favorites] precisely for the Inauguration of the Pontificate will be sung. At the conclusion, the “Te Deum” will be sung with verses alternating between Gregorian chant and a melody by Tomas Luis de Victoria. As it will not be held on a Sunday, there will be no Angelus after the Mass.

Sounds like it is going to be beautiful. I'm actually glad it starts at 4:30. Plenty of time before I start work.


HOW TO WATCH
Now, if you want to watch it, I believe the networks will be carrying it.  I heard ABC advertising that they would be live from Rome at 3:50 AM.  I'm sure EWTN will be on, as well.

If you don't have cable, but have high speed internet, you can watch it live at EWTN, Salt & Light TV.  You can also go right to the Vatican homepage (click your language) and the player will probably pop right up in your window.  It might be slow, so give it a chance.  Also, when viewing at the Vatican website, you might find in the lower window frame of the player, a toggle for various languages.  They have translators working on the fly and you can often pick a language.

I've used EWTN's mobile options.  I'm sure you can watch it through the EWTN App and Pope Apps, as well (look for those on your Apple or Android device).

I give you all of these because if one doesn't work, try another.

As always, I'm sure Father Z will be trying to live-blog if his site doesn't crash from the traffic again.











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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

- Diane M. Korzeniewski

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.