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Thursday, January 31, 2013

FLASH: Archbishop Gomez benches Cardinal Mahony; accepts resignation of Bp Curry



I have no time to comment and I don't think any is needed.  I will say, in your mercy, pray for all involved.  Here is the full statement of Archbishop Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:


***
My brothers and sisters in Christ,

This week we are releasing the files of priests who sexually abused children while they were serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

These files document abuses that happened decades ago. But that does not make them less serious.

I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.

We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today. We need to pray for everyone who has ever been hurt by members of the Church. And we need to continue to support the long and painful process of healing their wounds and restoring the trust that was broken.

I cannot undo the failings of the past that we find in these pages. Reading these files, reflecting on the wounds that were caused, has been the saddest experience I’ve had since becoming your Archbishop in 2011.

My predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, has expressed his sorrow for his failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care. Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara.

To every victim of child sexual abuse by a member of our Church: I want to help you in your healing. I am profoundly sorry for these sins against you.

To every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I want you to know: We will continue, as we have for many years now, to immediately report every credible allegation of abuse to law enforcement authorities and to remove those credibly accused from ministry. We will continue to work, every day, to make sure that our children are safe and loved and cared for in our parishes, schools and in every ministry in the Archdiocese.

In the weeks ahead, I will address all of these matters in greater detail. Today is a time for prayer and reflection and deep compassion for the victims of child sexual abuse.

I entrust all of us and our children and families to the tender care and protection of our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Angels.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend José H. Gomez

Archbishop of Los Angeles

http://www.la-archdiocese.org/org/media/Press%20Releases/2013-0131_JHGStatement-EN.pdf



MORE INFO:

On January 25, George Neumyer did a summary with some background of the situation there in L.A. at the Real Clear Religion blog 


Here is a page at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on the files concerning released clergy and related material.

Rocco Palmo: "There is no excuse!" - In LA, Gomez goes DEFCON1

Below is a snapshot of the L.A. Times headline: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/archbishop-takes-action-on-mahony-curry-over-abuse-scandal.html





H/T to Deacon Greg Kandra and Joanne McPortland



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.

Don Bosco's advice on boys is applicable to our online behavior



In both the traditional and new calendar today, it is St. John Bosco's feast day.  Don Bosco has been near and dear to me for many years.  Perhaps it was his love for homeless and delinquent boys, and his hope in them.  We learn from Don Bosco that you turn boys not by beating them down, but by building them up.  I think his philosophy on raising boys is just as applicable to our dealings with one another, and especially online.  I have a whole separate discussion of this coming in my next post, so check back.

First, here is the second reading from the Office of Readings for today in the Liturgy of the Hours (emphasis mine in bold; my comments bracketed in red).


First of all, if we wish to appear concerned about the true happiness of our foster children and if we would move them to fulfill their duties, you must never forget that you are taking the place of the parents of these beloved young people. I have always labored lovingly for them, and carried out my priestly duties with zeal. And the whole Salesian society has done this with me.

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. [Is it not the same when we deal with others online, especially other Catholics who don't necessarily, "get it" - whatever "it" is at the moment?] Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them. [Farmers prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water, wait for them to sprout, then work the soil and fertilize, etc.  Seeds cannot be forced into mature plants overnight. Whether it is boys, or other Catholiccs, or non-Catholics, it's the same principle]

I give you as a model the charity of Paul which he showed to his new converts. They often reduced him to tears and entreaties when he found them lacking docility and even opposing his loving efforts. [As the saying goes, put an ex-smoker in the room with smokers and watch what happens - they forget how resistant they were to efforts by others to get them to stop.  When someone begins to take their faith seriously yesterday, 6 months ago or 6 years ago, there is a tendency to fall into the trap of trying to correct everyone else, and sometimes with great force. God did not force Mary to receive Jesus into her womb; he proposed through the Archangel Gabriel.  Christ did not force the Apostles to follow, or the rich young man to go and sell all he owned; he proposed.  We should consider imitating this model of "proposing"]

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or willfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger. [How is it any different when dealing with others online, or in person, when discussing the faith?]

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. [And those online as our brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers]. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. [!!! - so ought we not use this with others?] He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. [Bingo! This is where we fail online.  We think that because others show their unfaithfulness, or roughness, it gives us license to engage in condescension and derision. Sometimes people push an issue errantly, purely out of ignorance, or because others they once trusted as faithful, taught them so]. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized, and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart. [Again, SCORE! Reminds me here of what Dom Mark posted the other day in, Sitting on the Basket]

They are our sons, and so in correcting their mistakes we must lay aside all anger and restrain it so firmly that it is extinguished entirely. [Friends, this applies to dealing with anyone, from your own kids, to relatives and friends, and with people we meet in the digital continent]

There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.

In serious matters it is better to beg God humbly than to send forth a flood of words that will only offend the listeners and have no effect on those who are guilty.

I'm going to come back to those last two paragraphs in my next post, so do check back.  I'll drop a link here after it is posted.

St. John Bosco - pray for us.




Further reading:


I've only read a few books on St. John Bosco, and the movie made in recent years with Flavio Insinna, is among my favorites.  I especially recommend the Forty Dreams of Don Bosco.




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, January 30, 2013

Catholic News and Blogpost Roundup for January 30, 2012

Bishop Alexander Sample instructs young people on myths and facts about Vatican II
at the Call to Holiness Conference this past fall.  He was great with the kids. 



It's been a long time since I've done one of these "roundup" posts.  I'll try to do one once weekly.  These cannot be all-encompassing and I trust people are already visiting, on a daily basis, news sites like Catholic Culture and great portals like New Advent which scoop up some of the best leading headlines and commentaries around, along with Vatican Radio, among others.

***

Bishop Alexander Sample will be leaving Michigan to become the archbishop of Portland, Oregon.  Father Z has the video of the powerful homily he gave at Assumption Grotto following the Call to Holiness Conference in October at the first Pontifical High Mass in anyone's memory.  Michigan's loss is Oregon's gain. Here is the announcement at the Diocese of Marquette.  Over at the homepage of the Archdiocese of Portland, you will find a number of things, including video from the presser.

***


Pope Benedict XVI explores: What it means to call God, "Father," in his weekly audience.

***

It's been a while since I visited the Vultus Christi blog.  It is written by Dom Mark Daniel Kirby, the Conventual Prior of Silverstream Priory in Stamullen, Ireland.  They had their beginnings under Bishop Slattery in Tulsa.  Dom Mark has written a post that should be read and contemplated by all.  In it he discusses Catholic Schadenfreude.  He begins his post, thus:

I grieve over the prevalence of the culture of Schadenfreude that modern technology facilitates. Schadenfreude is a kind of perverse delight taken in the weaknesses, falls from grace, or misfortunes of another. Why is there a frenzied rush, even among some Catholics, to point to the latest scandal, to comment on it, and discuss it? What is there in us that prompts us to take a morose delight in uncovering the sins of others? 
He then explores some interesting stories from the Desert Fathers.  Go read his excellent post, Sitting on the Basket.

***


Over at Life News is an awesome piece discussing the pro-life movement.  I was able to listen via the iPhone some of the speakers at the March for Life and I heard the man in the interview - Ryan Bomberger speak.  He was powerful, confident and cordial. You have got to read this post and watch this interview, captured from the very liberal MSNBC.  This is a complete takedown of an anchor's attempt to bait the pro-lifer.  There's actually some good footage of the March for Life too, showing the vast numbers.  I never expected that from MSNBC.  Censorship has plagued the television media on the March for Life which has gone out of it's way to downplay or ignore the event, which can draw as many as 500,000, mostly young people.  

Msgr. Charles Pope discusses the distorted poll talked about in that interview, as well.  

***

Bishop Finn in Kansas City did a take down of the dissenting rag, the National Catholic Reporter, which has lately gone by many other casual names (i.e., National catholic Distorter, National catholic Fishwrap, Non-catholic Reporter, and now, the National Schismatic Reporter).  The paper spends a lot of ink promoting things that are clearly out of harmony with Catholic teaching, and positions itself as a pseudo-magisterium against the bishops.  Blogging canonist Ed Peters thought Bishop Finn was too nice.  I thought so too before even reading his opinion.  Now, the Non-catholic Reporter has written a response to Bishop Finn's position.  Father Z fisks it in, Fishwrap - Starting to stink in the noonday sun.   

I see LarryD at Acts of the Apostasy has a list of the 10 names for the NCReporter.  

***

Terry Nelson is brief and to the point on Holy Communion.  What he suggests is advocated generously by the priests at Assumption Grotto.  Of the many things we enjoy at the parish is the near total silence before and after Mass, something that we probably take for granted.  

***

Elizabeth Scalia, in First Things, explores: How do we respond to, "So, what?"  I guess the expression hit her too many times this week from the Benghazi hearings to dismissive talk about the life snuffed out in abortion.  

***

Deacon Greg Kandra reports on Colleen Carroll Campbell's move to EWTN where she will anchor a daily news show.  This is the first I'm hearing about a daily news show. I'm assuming it's something new.   I hope so.  I've always thought EWTN should have a daily news show that covers Catholic News.  The World Over Live is not so much a news show, but an evening journal.  Vaticano covers news from the Vatican, but the network needs something that covers the fast pace of Catholic news.  Not everyone is in to scouring the internet for what's going on.   It will be good to see Colleen on EWTN regularly.  Matt Archbold at CMR thinks so too.  

***

Over at the National Catholic Register (the more trustworthy NCR), Jimmy Akin talks about the Presentation of Our Lord, which is coming up Saturday.  It's also referred to as Candlemas.  Candles will be blessed at Assumption Grotto Saturday and you can pick up a box after Mass for a small donation.  

***

This Saturday is First Saturday.  There are two Masses on the first Saturday of every month with a special Mass for the local, secular Carmelite community at 8:30 following the regular 7:30 AM Mass.  

Like the daily Mass, the monthly 8:30 AM Mass  follows the 1962 Missal.  Priests are always present for Confessions at these times (yes, Confessions can be heard during Mass, but it's best to get there a little early).  So, this allows for First Saturday Devotions.  Of course, there are Confessions at 2:30 running until at least 3:30 and sometimes up until the 4:00 PM Mass which, at Grotto, is the St. Monica Sodality Mass.  If you want to bring loved ones back to the faith, attend this Mass if you can.   

Sunday will feature the blessing of throats.   Grotto K of C is having it's monthly pancake breakfast in the gym following the 9:30 and Noon Masses.  It's cheap and it's good food, and the funds support the parish. 

***

On Saturday, March 9, Holy Trinity Apostolate is having their Lenten Symposium at Ss Cyril & Methodius.  They always put on a good show.  See the press release here. You can buy tickets at the door, but it's probably best to bring a bagged lunch in such a case. 



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, January 28, 2013

St. Thomas Aquinas

Today is the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas.  This is the second reading from the Office of Readings, taken from a conference by the Angelic Doctor:


************************************


From a conference by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest
The cross exemplifies every virtue
Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.
It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.
If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.
If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.
If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.
If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.
If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.
Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.





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.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Media, the March for Life, and the Opening Mass...




EDIT: With the Opening Mass now over, you can watch or listen to the Closing Mass this morning (7:30 AM ET), and the day's activities, including the March for Life, all online here: http://www.ewtn.com/multimedia/

In a little over an hour from the time of this post, the Mass on the vigil of the March for Life, is set to begin.  I am unable to participate in the March of Life, mainly because of how cold air affects my asthma.

I doubt the media will give the March for Life much coverage.  When they do show up, they focus on the 10 who are protesting those in the march.  To downplay, dismiss, or not even bother to cover one of the biggest events to hit Washington D.C. each year, is nothing less than a form of censorship by the mainstream media.  Phil Lawler has it right in his commentary: DC Reporters Struck Deaf, Blind.

I hope people will get lots of broad shots to show how big the crowds are.  Feel free to link your online web-album here in the combox.

Please pray for all involved in the March for Life, and for the many souls observing to be positively impacted.  May all make it home safely.

If you don't have cable, you can still watch the Mass tonight, and coverage tomorrow streaming live on EWTN.   Go to this page and choose an option for video, audio, etc. Some of these will work on cell phones and tablets

http://www.ewtn.com/multimedia/





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, January 18, 2013

Traditional Latin Masses in Washington DC area at March for Life

Click here for PDF



I'm aware of two TLM's available during the March for Life this year.

One is shown above, by the F.S.S.P. - a Missa Cantata for Nellie Gray.  That one will be on Friday, March 25 at 8:00 AM at St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church.

The other one has been arranged by Juventutem Michigan and will be at the same parish and same day, but at 6:00 PM.  Bishop Perry will be the celebrant for that Mass.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 40th March for Life in Washington, D.C., Catholics from across the nation will gather with Chicago auxiliary bishop Joseph Perry and members of Juventutem Michigan for a 6:00 p.m. Sung Pontifical Mass at St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church. (This liturgy is variously known as the “Traditional Latin Mass,” “Tridentine Mass,” “Extraordinary Form Mass,” “Usus Antiquior,” etc.)
Read more at the Juventutem Michigan blog


I won't hold my breath waiting for the press to report on the largest event to take place in Washington DC each year.  What is so shameful is the downright censorship the networks engage in by not reporting on this the way they should.  When they do report on it, the focus is often on the 10 anti-life protestors who show up to protest the marchers.





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, January 14, 2013

Bishop Schneider returns to US; discusses reception of Holy Communion {Update 2}

Bishop Athanasius Schneider distributes Holy Communion at Assumption Grotto in 2008


On EWTN this past week was His Excellency, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC - an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan. Bishop Schneider sat down with Fr. Mitch Pacwa to discuss a topic he has become well known for: Reverence for Our Eucharistic Lord, especially during reception of Holy Communion.

In the first half hour of the video, we hear how his German family ended up in that part of the world and how growing up behind the Iron Curtain affected understanding of the faith, especially the Eucharist. At a time when religious freedom is threatened here in the United States, it is good to see how other Catholics have struggled to practice the faith in the face of government oppression.  It gives us an appreciation of the freedoms we do have, and hopefully a desire to take full advantage of them in living out our Christian lives, and working to protect our liberties.

Bishop Schneider knows many languages. As a patristics scholar, this has given him access to texts that many others would not have.  He used these language skills to understand how Holy Communion was received in the early Church, since it is often brought up in discussions.  For example, people argue that early Christians received Communion in the hand, but His Excellency goes into greater detail on how they received in the hand.  It is very different from how we receive today.  In fact, kneeling and receiving on the tongue is a much simpler process than what occurred in the early Church.  He discusses this, and other things in the interview.

His Excellency spent time at Assumption Grotto in 2008 where I had opportunities to photograph him and converse briefly with him.  In 2009, the opportunities would present themselves again when he spoke at the Call to Holiness conference, an apostolate of which I am now a board member.

Bishop Athanasius Schneider is an interesting subject worth careful study. He is not dynamic, but his passion comes through loud and clear.  Students of virtue, which is hopefully all of us, should observe how he discusses the most sensitive subject of reception of Holy Communion.  This is a man who underwent culture shock when he went to Germany as a teen and witnessed people receiving Communion in the hand.  It crushed him, and his mother wept at the sight of the casual way in which the Eucharist was handled.   He was shielded from this practice in Kazakhstan where Communion was often received infrequently, and in secrecy.

Bishop Schneider is very devoted to Our Lady.
His episcopal ring contains the Miraculous Medal.
How does he discuss the subject?  Bishop Schneider knows people do not have the understanding he does.  When he talks about the issue he does not mock, ridicule, speak condescendingly, or joke at the expense of those who receive Holy Communion in the hand. Some have argued: He can't because he's a bishop, so we will argue this way on his behalf. These people do not understand the bishop, nor the virtues he exemplifies.  He uses his deep knowledge to reason, calmly, and in a way that is inviting for others to listen and learn.  He gives us that knowledge so we may reason calmly with others.

I have never been able to reconcile defending the Eucharist while attempting to verbally beat others into submission on this subject.  What Bishop Schneider gets, that others do not, is that people were born into this practice, and it is all they know. Or, people desiring to be humbly obedient were forcefully pushed into receiving in the hand against their own sensibilities, eventually embracing it unaware that it came into it's own through illicit means.   Reverence for the Eucharist should lead us to be mindful of the dignity of others.  Harsh rhetoric and demands only cause damage and make people defensive against the desired practice.  We would do best to pray for people to be enlightened and be patient as God works on their minds and hearts with what we present.

Some reject these things out of hand, but we must remember that once the seeds have been planted they take time to sprout.  Our job is not to force germination as this is against nature (God gives to all, free will).  We can keep the soil moist, taking care not to let it dry out; and take care to not oversaturate it (sometimes it's best to present things to people, encourage them to pray on it and let them ponder it over time).

Hopefully, more bishops will follow the lead of the Holy Father, who now places a kneeler out for those in his Communion line.  Bishop Schneider mentions in the interview that other bishops have set this practice up in their cathedrals. Here again, a gentle example is being set with some bishops and priests following, but not without catechesis.

If you want to learn more from Bishop Schneider, I suggest getting his little book, Dominus Est – It Is the Lord! Reflections of a Bishop of Central Asia on Holy Communion.  Even if you feel strongly about receiving Communion in the hand, read the book any way. I've not met anyone who didn't walk away feeling closer to Jesus in the Eucharist by learning this man's life story and the struggles Catholics endured to live the faith behind the Iron Curtain.  It can only make you appreciate how easy we can practice our faith here in the United States. In his homily at EWTN on the same day as the interview below, Bishop Schneider spoke on the effects of persecution on people's faith.

I also have a blog which is intended to collect things from, and on, Bishop Schneider, but it is in need of updating.  Many videos and texts have come out since I last updated it.  If you are aware of something that is not in that blog, drop a link in the comment box here.

Bishop Schneider was in New York, as well, during this visit.  People may feel free to drop in links for those events in the comment box here, as well.




UPDATES

Update 1: In this post. Fr. George David Byers discusses how he was traumatized by the changes in the 60's - something I have heard from others who were taught never to touch the Eucharist as had been the case for centuries, only to be told he now had to receive in the hand.

Update 2: Deacon Greg Kandra also has a post on the subject of reception of Holy Communion.  Go read: I've changed my mind; It's time to bring back the altar rail. 

Update 3: Fr. Jay Finelli offers a testimonial from his own parish where he installed an altar rail, then gave people a choice to use it... or not.




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, January 12, 2013

Cardinal Ruini speaks about Medjugorje Commission; and, "Apparitions" are Scheduled in the Holy Land in August


Rome Reports has a video report in which Cardinal Ruini makes a statement about the Medjugorje Commission's work.  Cutting to the chase, he says their work should wrap up soon, but that they need to yet work a little longer. I hope it comes before the "Virgin Mary will appear in Bethlehem" (see story at bottom).

An Italian journalist and Medjugorje apologist, Saverio Gaeto, author of numerous promotional books including, "Medjugorje. È tutto vero" (Medjugorje. It' all true.) was also interviewed.  I think he is fairly straightforward in this report and doesn't say anything that hasn't been communicated previously by officials, but we will examine how some of this is being sensationalized.

I hope Rome Reports will also interview Italian Medjugorje researcher, Marco Corvaglia, the author of "Medjugorje. È tutto falso" (Medjugorje: It's all false).  Marco runs a multi-lingual website on the phenomenon that looks closer at everything from scientific studies to the words and behaviors of the visionaries and closest associates.  He's also taken a look at bias in how news of Medjugorje is popularly reported. His website, Medjugorje without a Mask has been mentioned by Vatican Radio.   The website has detailed citations to support it's presentation of the facts.

Back to the video report.  Since I get an international audience at this blog, text (transcript) for the video below can be found here.




As the reporter points out, it is not the job of the Commission to discuss it's findings with the public; rather, their analysis will go to the CDF.  Here is what he says in the video report (emphasis mine in bold; my comments bracketed in red).

“There is still some time left before they finish. But there won't be a public declaration, because it's not the commission's duty to say anything to the public.[Exactly, that is 101 and was explained when the Commission kicked-off, so, no surprise here] The role of the commission is to give a reasonable explanation to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which will not be published officially, [Ditto. Previously communicated] however it will likely be leaked [I guess we should anticipate unethical and immoral behavior on the part of those who would give away things that are not theirs to give away]. But, the motivation for the commission is to form an opinion and pass it along to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They will then evaluate it and decide whether to get the Pope involved.”  [Nothing unusual here. Pope sets up a Commission under the CDF. As with anything that goes to CDF, the Holy Father trusts them to bring to him those things that warrant his knowledge, discernment, or direct intervention. Business as usual].


Some promoter sites have sensationalized all of this, such as the online tabloid, Medjugorje Today:




I once felt sorry for people who stumbled upon these sites with the way they sensationalize things.  I'm beginning to feel sorry for the people who write this stuff.  They are setting themselves up for more surprises.

If you follow the plain text of what Church officials have said since the Commission was announced (as opposed to sensationalist hype), there should be no surprises in anything said.  In fact, surprises come when additional statements come forth that don't fit a particular narrative previously presented.  Here is Catholic News Agency reporting in 2010:

Speaking in Italian, he [Vatican spokesman, Fr. Lombardi] said to expect that investigations will take “a good while” to reach their completion and emphasized that the results of the commission’s activities will be submitted to the CDF, under whose mandate they are operating. The commission will only offer their technical findings to the Congregation, which in turn will “make decisions on the case.” 

I keep pointing back to one official statement in March of 2010 that was grossly distorted for reasons we can only leave to the discernment of readers.  For new readers, let us look back at the words of the then Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, when he first discussed the Commission with the people of that nation.   Since liberties were taken with the words of Archbishop D'Errico on certain pro-Medjugorje websites and that was propagated exponentially on the web, I offer a translation of the pertinent paragraph by Fr. Philip Pavic, OFM, who served as a translator in Medjugorje for the better part of a decade.  The Croatian he translated for me comes from the website of the BiH Bishops' Conference (full translation found here, along with comparisons of fudged text).  The Archbishop said:
From personal experience, every time I met the Holy Father he had great interest in the question of Medjugorje, a question to which he was directed from the very beginning that he became prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It deals with a question for which he feels responsible as the supreme head of the Church to pronounce a clear message.


Now, I see two ways the Holy Father can pronounce a clear message:  1) With a statement made with his own voice or pen; 2) Through an office of the Holy See - in this case, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  He can pronounce a clear message by giving a nod to that which is presented to him by the CDF, and the statement they wish to release.

Edit: Fr. George David Byers at Holy Souls Hermitage also comments on how this news is being reported.


VISIONS ON DEMAND TRAVEL TO HOLY LAND.  WHAT?

In other news, it was announced through Medjugorje Today that "The Virgin Mary will appear in Bethlehem."  Even authentic visionary, Bernadette of Lourdes, refrained from referring to her apparition as Mary, under any official church title.  She referred to her simply as, "the lady." This, folks, is called humility.  It's what authentic visionaries, and followers of authentic apparitions, display.

This gig should raise some serious eyebrows and I hope the CDF is paying attention.

1) It is being publicly advertised as an official pilgrimage with a Medjugorje visionary being led by Archbishop Andre Leonard of Belgium.  This is a prudential decision on his part, and I can't help making a simple set of observations: Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and of Croatia, do not: A) host Medjugorje visionaries in their cathedrals, shrines, and parishes; or B) accompany these visionaries on official pilgrimages to Medjugorje or elsewhere; or C) offer anything in words or actions that could be construed as a sanctioning of events associated with Medjugorje.

2) While the number of participants can be limited to those who pay to go on this official pilgrimage, who knows how many people will descend on the Holy Land in an effort to be there for the alleged apparitions.  While this may be a boon for local business, it could be a headache for local Church officials.  Moreover, why should the rich mysteries of our faith typically contemplated in the Holy Land take a back seat to a virtual spectacle in the form of unapproved apparitions?  I hope local Church officials have been notified that visions have been scheduled for the Holy Land.  Here are the details.

Maybe the pilgrimage is not really to the Holy Land, but to Holly Land

Here's just one snippet from the itinerery (underline is mine for emphasis):

In the afternoon, visit of the Clarisses sisters or of the Little Brothers of Jesus. Meeting of a member of the community. Climbing up and down by taxi (or by foot) at Mount Thabor where the Church commemorates since the Byzantine era the Mystery of the Transfiguration. At the end of the day, recitation of the rosary and participation in the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This is madness!  Are we really to believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary would travel with Vicka to Bethlehem so she can become the center of attraction in the Holy Land?   I haven't studied the itinerary close enough to see if Jesus is also scheduled to appear with the lady of Medjugorje, but it would not surprise me if the Church doesn't push the stop button on this before that can happen.  But wait, it's an ecumenical pilgrimage, so that may not be possible:



Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic participates in international Holy Land pilgrimage for healing of humanity on August 19-27, and will have three public apparitions in Bethlehem, inside or outside Church of the Nativity. Other apparitions to Vicka will take place at other holy sites. 
[snip]
The purpose of the ecumenical pilgrimage is the healing of humanity and the human heart through prayer and fasting, aside of sharing and showing solidarity with Christians in The Holy Land. 
The organizers expect people from all over the world to be there. Representatives from more than 10 countries in Europe, North and South America have confirmed their attendance. Many priests and a good number of Bishops and Archbishops have expressed their interest, along with some Cardinals.


You can read the full report at Medjugorje Today and see the embedded promotional videos with more details.

It's interesting to see people travel great distances to fill a cathedral to pray a Rosary with a visionary claiming to see the Blessed Virgin Mary, while nary a handful of people show up when a parish priest or local bishop offer a public Rosary.  In fact, I've been at prayer vigils led by bishops and priests in front of abortion clinics that brought decent, but lower turnouts than expected.    What does this say about faith? Apparently, the Blessed Virgin Mary is more real for some when she is supposedly appearing to someone and she's worth traveling for when she is involved in apparitions.  This Holy Land pilgrimage is an example of that.  How many of those who sign up for this would have gone to the Holy Land without the signs and wonders in the form of alleged apparitions?  A pity, that.

This is all taking place in late August of 2013.  Hopefully, we hear from the CDF before then.  While I cannot lay claim to know the mind of the Church on Medjugorje, it would be unfortunate for people to book such an expensive pilgrimage if, in the end, the Holy See wants an end to these public manifestations of visions - a real possibility.  Mary doesn't need to "appear" in Bethlehem for us to penetrate the mysteries of our faith there.  In fact, such a traveling sideshow has the potential to be a distraction not just for the pilgrims involved, but for others - some of whom may have waited a life time for such a journey to the Holy Land.



Additional Reading:


Note: Post edited to include more quotes from source material at 3:56 PM, same day as post. 




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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

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2012 Christmas Season Pictures: Juventutem on Holy Innocents



My first opportunity to get some good shots of the beautiful Nativity at Assumption Grotto this year was at the Juventutem Michigan Mass on Friday, December 28th - the Feast of Holy Innocents.  Fr. Robert Slaton celebrated the Mass.

Here are a few pics, then you can follow the link to the gallery for the full set.  More pictures are coming, including those from the vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Mother of God, and Epiphany.  You can get to other posts on this by clicking the 2012 Christmas Season label below the post.

With the table altar now removed, beautiful pictures like this are now possible. 





Fr. Lee Acervo, the chaplain to Juventutem Michigan, was in attendance


See the full gallery of pictures for the December 28 Juventutem Mass at Assumption Grotto here:

http://te-deum.smugmug.com/2012Liturgy/Special-Masses/2012-12-28-Juventutem-Holy/27505687_cB2NCn



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.

2012 Christmas Season Pictures: Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass featured a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form, along with Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass

More pictures are forthcoming.  This is the first of several sets.  My apologies for the delays.  I've been somewhat under the weather with the usual winter "stuff" as are many of you.  

Fr. Perrone conducting during the prelude music


A special visitor with a great homily which included
an invitation to lapsed Catholics to return  regularly

See all pictures taken at Midnight Mass 2012 in my Smugmug Gallery for this event. http://te-deum.smugmug.com/2012Liturgy/Seasonal/2012-12-25-Christmas-Midnight/27501851_zHWQqg



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, January 11, 2013

Conference Tomorrow: Catholic Witness in a Nation Divided


My regrets for not putting this up sooner.  As of the time of this posting, there is still over 10 hours left to register.  The conference takes place at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.

Click here to get to the registration page. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5035561500



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, January 9, 2013

Homily of Bishop Athanasius Schneider on EWTN, Jan 8

Bishop Schneider speaking at the Call to Holiness Conference in the Detroit area in 2009


Bishop Schneider, an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Astana, Kazakhstan who has visited Assumption Grotto in 2008, and spoke at the Call to Holiness in 2009 was at EWTN and delivered the homily yesterday. He spoke on the Holy Mass, persecution, and the Eucharist.

He just celebrated a Pontifical Mass in New York (scroll down) this past weekend.





Bishop Schneider is also the author of the book, Dominus Est.  You can read some reviews on the book, and find links for purchase here. 

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, January 5, 2013

Stand with Hobby Lobby Today: Shop in-store or online



Today is the day that many are standing with Hobby Lobby in it's fight for religious freedom.  Buying a product from them, in-store or online, is one way to show support.

Here is what it is all about:



The CEO of Hobby Lobby has penned a tragic letter about the loss of religious freedom and liberty in America. The Christian crafts company has been forced by the Obama administration to pay for drugs for its employees in their health care plan that may cause abortions. 
Doing so violates the religious freedom of the founders and owners of Hobby Lobby, but the firm has, so far, been unsuccessful in getting courts to give it an exemption while its lawsuit against the HHS mandate continues. 
Tens of thousands of Americans have committed to support the Christian crafts store Hobby Lobby on Saturday, January 5 after courts have refused to issued an ruling stopping the Obama HHS mandate. 
The letter from Hobby Lobby CEO David Green that LifeNews received follows:
When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames. Our first retail store wasn’t much bigger than most people’s living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God‘s word. From there, Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.
We’re Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I’ve always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God’s laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that’s what we’ve tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week’s biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest. We believe that it is by God’s grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We’ve not only added jobs in a weak economy, we’ve raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage. 

So, even if you cannot make it to a store, please buy something from them online today, which is what I did since I could not make it to the Sterling Heights store (near Lakeside Mall).  I decided to get some books on the old craft of tatting - something that has intrigued me.  Tatting was once used extensively in liturgical vestments and altar cloths.  I think modern machine technology has taken over, but there is something about hand crafted tatting that looks cool.  I think it might be a way to get me off of electronics and into doing something with my hands again.  I used to do lots of crafts before the internet age. Balance is something we could use in this regard.

SHOP ONLINE AT HOBBY LOBBY TODAY: http://www.hobbylobby.com

FIND A STORE NEAR YOU: http://www.hobbylobby.com/StoreLocator/




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.

Noon Sunday on Jan 6 for Epiphany at Grotto: TLM with Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass


I regret that I have not been able to get to my photos taken over the Christmas season this year.  I am hoping to get to some of it this weekend.  I will pass those on when they are done.

In the meanwhile, know that this Sunday is the last time to hear Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass. The "Tridentine" moves to the Noon time-slot this Sunday only, with the orchestral Mass.  Prelude music begins about 15-20 minutes before hand.

It's been announced that the 9:30 AM Mass (tomorrow only) will be in English.  It used to be a Latin Novus Ordo when the TLM moved to Noon.  Perhaps it will be mixed with the canon of the Mass in Latin.

It's good to see Epiphany celebrated on the same day in both forms of the Mass.

All of the priests will be busy tomorrow afternoon going to many houses blessing them.

Fr. Perrone conducting the prelude music on Christmas Eve
(Note: Flash is not permitted, which explains the darkness of his face)


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.