Some of you may be aware of an apostolate called Catholics United for the Faith (CUF). But for those unfamiliar with it, I would like to give it some attention.
They have some really good apologetics resources, and offer excellent conferences. Their 2008 Conference marks their 40th Anniversary (click the button to see the list of speakers they have coming to Pennsylvania this fall)
Catholics United for the Faith(CUF) is an international lay apostolate, building on the only sure foundation for happiness and renewal of the family and society: the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church.
Founded by H. Lyman Stebbins in 1968 to support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church, CUF has helped tens of thousands of people discover and strengthen their Catholic faith.
There is an interesting entry today by Leon Suprenant, who once studied to be a priest, but found that was not the vocation to which he was called. I would encourage anyone considering a vocation to see the method he used for making his final discernment. Discernment doesn't end with a trip to the seminary or to the convent. It ends with ordination, or final vows. Finding you are not called to the priesthood or religious life after you enter such a serious phase of discernment is nothing for which you should hold your head in shame.
Whether you are discerning yourself and struggling, or if you are a parent, friend or relative of someone discerning, there are some good things to learn from Leon's post: Vocation Awareness
Another entry by Leon which caught my eye was on Lent called: Give it up! Read it to see just the many ways we try to get around those bodily penances.
EDIT: WDIV-TV Headline update: Stolen Statue Found in Alley. Fr. Perrone said it right when he mentioned that the worth of the statue went well beyond the material costs. There was such an emptiness with the loss of that statue and I'm sure many others felt something sacred had been violated. The statues were blesed by Auxiliary John M. Quinn on August 15, 2005 (photo below).
I was saddened to learn late Saturday that our beautiful Angel Statue, installed not long after I came to Assumption Grotto a couple years ago, had been stolen. The statue was the work of a local artist, and served as a fountain, and as a bath for every bird in the neighborhood.
I was elated to hear on WDIV News this morning, that someone called saying the statue was in a neighborhood alley and would be returned today. Watch the news tonight.
I'll feel better when we get it back - hopefully undamaged. The Grotto area looked so empty without that angel, which provided perfect balance along with that of Bernadette.
I don't know how many news channels featured it, but did see it on WXYZ, Channel 7 yesterday and on WDIV this morning.
I'm sure I was one of many who offered prayers yesterday for the thieves, and humbly prayed for the angel's safe return. I hope those who originally took it will respond to the graces of God and turn to Him in conversion.
150th ANNIVERSARY OF LOURDES This first announcement deals with something taking place next week, but I would like to bring it up now. Before we get into talk about the season of Lent, I would like to point out something special coming up, as noted in the Grotto bulletin this weekend:
We invite you to join us here at Assumption Grotto as we celebrate with the church the 150th Anniversary of Lourdes during the 7pm Evening Mass on February 11. Rosary and prayers to gain the Special Lourdes Jubilee Indulgence will follow.
Assumption Grotto is in the middle of a Lourdes Novena which is prayed after all the Masses.
LENT Tomorrow begins lent with Ash Wednesday. Assumption Grotto has the usual weekday Mass lineup: 7:30am, 8:30am, and 7:00pm. A Noon Mass has also been added. The 7:00pm Mass usually features the choir and has a decent turnout, even though Mass, and even the receiving of ashes - a sacramental - is not required.
Just because the Church doesn't mandate something, doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to take full advantage of the graces we can get through Mass and imposition of ashes.
Also, don't forget that it is a day of fasting and abstinence. For more resources on Lent, check out this old post at the blog of apologist, Jimmy Akin. You can also check out the front page of the Assumption Grotto website for guidelines. Fr. Perrone's weekly Descant was also focused on lent how we might approach making sacrifices. One thing our parish has helped me to appreciate, is that there is value in mortification and sacrifice. It's like prayer, and it is good for the soul too. I have copied Father's words below other announcements for the week.
FAT TUESDAY - Paczki Day Some places celebrate, "Mardi Gras" on the day before Ash Wednesday. Here in metro Detroit, we celebrate Fat Tuesday, or more commonly called, Paczki Day. It is a day of feasting on Paczki's (pronounced, "Poonshkees") before a season of penance begins. It is a polish jelly-filled donut that is probably 200 million calories, 500 million carbs, with about 600 million grams of fat. But oh, sooooooooooo good. You can literally feel it sticking to your veins as you eat. It's pure heart-attack special pastry.
Fat Tuesday Cotillion at Assumption Grotto I have not yet made it to a Winter Cotillion at Assumption Grotto yet. I may not make it this year either and I was going to head up there just to take a few shots. It is celebrated on Fat Tuesday and steps back in time with people all decked out in.....very old clothes. It's as if you stepped back into previous centuries, complete with music, food, and dancing. There are women in big poofy, long skirts, and men in quaint suits. From the Grotto website:
Fifth Annual Winter Cotillion - Fat Tuesday, February 5th, in the gym.
Music , traditional reels, old dance tunes of the Colonies and line dances from the late 1700’s to mid 1800’s. Refreshments 6:30 p.m., dancing commences at 7:00 p.m. with the Grand March. Tickets $8.00 available in advance or at the door.
Bring your favorite Hors D’Oeuvre or finger food and Pazki to pass. Beverages will be provided. For tickets or information, call Mary McGuckin at (248) 850-8281 or at the Gift Shop from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Here is Fr. Perrone speaking, in part, on Lent:
It all happens this week: the feast and the famine, Shrove (or ‘Fat’) Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. But first, to conserve a right chronology, I’ll begin with today’s feast of Saint Blaise whence an old tradition of the Church originates, the blessing of throats. While the Church is generous in the variety of blessings she offers the faithful, yet this one, for some reason, has special affection for Catholics. Catholic Europe has a number of local saints whose miracles are commemorated in their respective localities. The Saint Blaise Blessing is exceptional in being observed by the universal Church. The custom originates, we are told, on account of someone once having been saved, through the invocation of Saint Blaise, from choking to death on a fishbone that had been lodged in his throat. Thus, following a venerable custom, we will bless throats of the people who come to the Communion railing after all Masses today, Sunday. One should be mindful that this blessing is not only an aid to good health but is also a sacramental of the Church which confers spiritual benefits. Thus the prayer which the priest says in conferring the blessing asks that God deliver from the individual, through the intercession of the Saint, “all evil of the throat and every other evil.” This is a reminder that the saints in glory can and do help us contend against the enemies of our eternal welfare. You should also note that the degree of faith and devotion that you bring upon receiving this blessing will determine the degree of spiritual benefit given to you through it.
Now about this Wednesday (omitting commentary about Tuesday since I don’t think you need any encouragement to feast yourselves, moderately, on Fat Tuesday) I need to remind you about your Lenten obligations. Wednesday is a day of both fast and abstinence. Translation: abstinence means not eating flesh meats. I quote here canon law 1251: “Abstinence from eating meat..is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on [Good] Friday...” As you can see, all Fridays are supposed to be meatless. Since Lent is the penitential season of the Church, the law of abstinence binds one more strictly and thus the penalty for non-observance would be more severe. Abstinence from meat binds everyone from age 14 (there is no limit on the other end), but surely even younger children may be encouraged to do penance (they are often more capable of doing penances than some adults may realize). Fasting means limiting the amount of meatless food taken. It binds those from ages 21 through 59. Fasting may certainly also be freely embraced by those outside these age limits. The rule of fasting is to take only one full meal a day. It also permits, if needed for strength (e.g. for those working), the taking of a little something at one or even two other times during the day. This last requirement should not however be viewed as ‘snacking’ but as a need when fasting might cause a hardship.
There are many other things one might decide to do for Lent besides the bare bones minimum required by the Church. I always like to encourage the traditional fast of the Church which means taking only one meal everyday during Lent (aside from Sundays) and without any snacks. One might also want to check the kind of food one eats, avoiding delicacies and sweets, as an indication of penance. While these external practices themselves are not the purpose of Lent and while the interior penitential spirit is the essential thing, one should not on that account regard bodily penances too lightly. We have become, in my view, far too self-indulgent and neglectful in our observances. Religions of all kinds (whether for Jews, Moslems, Hindus, or for Christians) have always been concerned to some degree with dietary matters. (Even new age enthusiasts impose restrictions, though fatuously (for the unaware: ‘fatuous’ has nothing to do with being fat; it means ‘silly’). Catholic Christians, following the admonition and example of St. Paul, should wish to chastise their bodies so as to bring them into submission to their wills rather than to their passions.
A final note. Our Canons of the Holy Cross are offering a Lenten extra for you this coming week. They are holding a Lenten ‘mission’ this Thursday and Friday in the evening at 7:00 p.m. (with special talks and Mass), and on Saturday at the 4:00 p.m. Mass and on Sunday for all Masses at the homily time. Our Fathers of the Holy Cross are doing this for you as a spiritual gift. You should not refuse their generosity nor deny yourself some of their spiritual food for your starving souls.
Fr. Perrone
Of course, all parishioners and non-parishioners are welcome to the Mission. I'm convinced that Assumption Grotto is the confessional capital of southeast Michigan, with the finest of confessors. Note, that if you do come to the Mission, confessions will be heard each of the four days during the Mission.
It starts at 6:30pm Thursday in the Church, with Rosary and Confessions. Confessions will then be heard at the starting time Friday of 6:00, followed by Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm. Both evenings run until around 9:00/9:30 and are packed with everything from prayers to conferences and even Exposition and Benediction. Saturday, Confession will be available at 2:30 - the standard time for Saturdays, followed by Exposition at 3:00, Mass at 4:00 and the conference starting at 5:15. It all concludes Sunday with a Conference starting at 2:00, more Exposition and final Benediction just after 5:00pm. On Sunday, Confessions are always heard before the Masses, and sometimes after when there are large crowds.
Fr. Perrone has an article there, and we have an entire list of events coming up for the next several months. Bookmark it and consult it often.
I should add that the webmaster has added a slew of sermons by Fr. Perrone. We had been asking since many people had been asking us to post them bewteen the Grotto site and this blog. Father made good on his promise and sent us a whole lot at once. I am expecting a few others more recent.
Check out some of the other additions made at AssumptionGrotto.com. You may notice a section for "Novenas", which is empty at this time. We hope to populate it with the many original Novenas prayed at Assumption Grotto. This way, if you can't be there on a given day, you can still have access to the prayers.
It's in reference to some points the Holy Father made when they were in the process of electing their new Father General, later said to be Adolfo Nicolas.
Included in the discussion, he said, was the need to respond to the letter Pope Benedict sent to the outgoing superior general, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, praising the Jesuits' contributions to evangelization and urging them to reaffirm their fidelity to contested points of church doctrine, particularly regarding sexual morality and relations with other religions. Father Smolira said the pope's "expression of confidence and trust" in the Jesuits "requires a responsible and enthusiastic response."The congregation delegates "have taken a considerable amount of time to read and reflect among ourselves and to decide how best to respond to that letter," he said.
How should the Jesuits respond? With humble obedience.
Perhaps they could follow the lead of our Blessed Mother when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her: Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum ("Be it unto me according to thy Word.")
Someone has made a pretty good reference for the Tridentine Mass. It not only has the propers, but it has a liturgical calendar, which goes out quite a few years.
Granted, if you have a 1962 missal, this kind of thing should be in there, but if you have an old missal, the projections may not be available. The site was last updated in January 2008 as of this posting.
Of course, we know now, through Summorum Pontificum, that there are not two rites, but one rite in two forms: ordinary and extraordinary. Albeit, "extraordinary form of the Roman rite" is such a mouthful to say.
From the time I made my confirmation, I knew I wanted to enter religious life. However, the only sisters I knew until I was around 16 were not from traditional communities. It was not for me. Unknown to me at the time, was that those interior desires I had for things like traditional community, devotions, orthodoxy in catechism, were at odds with their ideals. There was a sometimes not-so-subtle manner of challenging church teachings, rather than taking the time to learn about them, and humbly following them. The Blessed Mother was viewed with disdain at the worst, and with indifference at best. Of course, one can't appreciate Our Lady without understanding first, her simplicity, humility, and obedience.
Lo and behold, when I was 16 or so, I met some Croatian Franciscan sisters in Chicago and in Windsor, who wore the long traditional habit. The habit, even in 1980, most likely represented some orthodoxy to my mind. I was in a Croatian ethnic parish here in metro Detroit which, at the time was called St. Jerome's. I approached my pastor and asked how I could join this community, which was based overseas. In November of 1980, just months after graduating from high school, I had a one-way ticket which would ultimately lead me to Bijelo Polje to the Mostar Province of the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King. I had to return to secular life in the states after being sidelined by illness.
As an aside, it was less than a year later that the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje began in my own backyard, and it was my community which served the parish of St. James. While I acknowledge the many conversions, and even witnessed them, if you have read my blog for any length of time, you will know that I have serious reservations about the authenticity of those apparitions. I base that not on the positive fruits seen in many of the devout and humble followers. Rather, it is strictly because of some legitimate, negative fruits of seers and associates documented at the diocese (disobedience, deception, defiance and defamation of authority, etc.) . However, I have no doubt that Mary is using the place to bring souls closer to Christ through radical conversions, and to hear the call to serve God through various vocations. I believe it played a role in the resurgance of Marian and Eucharistic devotion, along with frequent confession and mortification - all things which bring people graces, even where there is no apparition (like in your own parish, if you have these things).
Those communities which do take this approach are bursting at the seams, and in some cases, unable to handle the numbers of people wanting to enter. Those communities who treat the Eucharist and Blessed Mother with indifference or disdain and blow-off the need for confession and mortification are dying out. One only needs to see the numbers of postulants and novices at more traditional orders in contrast to those which grew to prominence in the last 40 years. The latter is getting gray, the former have large numbers at a young median age. Here is a look at a video made within the last year on a nearby community in Ann Arbor, Michigan - Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans.
This is not to say that every religious sister in secular clothing is somehow not faithful or not devoted to Mary, the Eucharist and traditional virtue building. This would be stereotyping and we have to be careful. In fact, I've met sisters in secular clothing who are quite devout and faithful, as well as highly virtuous and hardworking, especially with the elderly, the sick, and the poor. Conversely, I've seen cases of sisters in habit who had strange ideas about Catholic religious life (and new age ideals). There are some communities which have permitted its members to follow "all sorts of strange teachings". It's in these communities where a pious, devout and obedient soul - in habit, or not, can truly suffer.
Pray for vocations. And, support solid seminaries, religious orders, and institutes with funds to house and school all that step forward. Thank God for those steadfast sisters who suffer in ways unknown to us in religious communities which have strayed from their rule in favor of comfort, easy religion, and indifference to the Eucharist, to Mary, to the sacrament of penance, and ways of mortification and sacrifice. Their suffering is not in vain. In fact, their prayers and sacrifices may be fueling this resurgance.
MASS FOR THE CLOSING OF THE DIOCESAN PHASE OF THE CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION FOR THE SERVANT OF GOD, ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ~ PREVIEW SHOW 30 min Raymond Arroyo and Fr. Andrew Apostoli discuss the recent developments in the cause of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Sun,02/03/2008 11:00 AM LIVE Mon, 02/04/08 12:00 AM ENCORE
MASS FOR POSTREMA SESSIO THE CLOSING OF THE DIOCESAN PHASE OF THE CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION FOR THE SERVANT OF GOD, ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ~ LIVE 90 min From the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria. Holy Mass celebrated by Bishope Daniel Jenky, along with the ceremony of the Postrema Sessio, whereby all documents, books and testimonies collected on behalf of the cause are then certified and forwarded to the offices of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Sun,02/03/2008 11:30 AM LIVE Mon, 02/04/09 12:30 AM ENCORE
This is somewhat old news (about 10 days), but I hadn't seen it in my blog travels until today.
Interesting news from the blog of Damian Thompson of the Telegraph (UK), and from Rocco Palmo of the Tablet (UK). Archbishop Piero Marini, who had been planning a tour in the US to promote his book on liturgy as postponed that tour indefinitely and rumors are that Pope Benedict helped him to postpone that tour through Cardinal Bertone.
Here’s a fascinating rumour from the Vatican. You may remember that last month the Throne Room of Archbishop’s House, Westminster, was – most inappropriately – used to launch a book by Archbishop Piero Marini, the embittered ex-MC of St Peter’s, which contained a coded attack on the Pope’s liturgical reforms.
Marini, high priest of 1970s liturgical claptrap, was just about to start a high-profile tour of America to plug his dreary volume. But now it has been “indefinitely postponed”, reportedly on the orders of Benedict’s secretary of state, Cardinal Bertone. Interesting, no?
Rocco Palmo offers two possible explanations, one of which is that the rug was pulled out by Cardinal Bertone.
Although a rescheduling of the US tour is being discussed for a later date (most likely November), with the official line running that the archbishop had become "concerned" about coming in the run-up to the Pope's mid-April visit, another source informed of the change reported that the cancellation was sought by Benedict's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana has published a book, Dominus Est by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, where that Bishop analyzes the question of communion recieved kneeling and on the tongue.Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith has written the foreward to this book, which the NLM is happy to present an unofficial translation here to follow. (Many thanks to a good friend of the NLM for providing the link to this, which came originally through, Associazione Luci sull'Est.Without further ado, the foreword of Msgr. Ranjith, Secretary to the CDW:
Do click that link I provided above and read the entire foreward at NLM. One part that really stood out for me, were the last three paragraphs:
In this vein, the book written by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan entitled Dominus Est is significant and appreciated. He wants to make a contribution to the current debate on the real and substantial presence of Christ in the consecrated species of bread and wine... from his experience, which aroused in him a deep faith, wonder and devotion to the Lord present in the Eucharist, he presents us with a historical-theological [consideration] clarifying how the practice of receiving Holy Communion on the tonue and kneeling has been accepted and practiced in the Church for a long period of time.
Now I think it is high time to review and re-evaluate such good practices and, if necessary, to abandon the current practice that was not called for by Sacrosanctum Concilium, nor by Fathers, but was only accepted after its illegitimate introduction in some countries. Now, more than ever, we must help the faithful to renew a deep faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species in order to strengthen the life of the Church and defend it in the midst of dangerous distortions of the faith that this situation continues to cause.
The reasons for this move must be not so much academic but pastoral - spiritual as well as liturgical - in short, what builds better faith. Mons. Msgr. Schneider in this sense shows a commendable courage because he has been able to grasp the true meaning of the words of St. Paul: "but everything should be done for building up" (1 Cor 14, 26).
On Friday, January 4th, at 4:00pm, Assumption Grotto was graced with the Sacrament of Marriage in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (EF) for the first time in 40 years. You may recognize it by another name, the so-called "Tridentine" or "Traditional Latin Mass" (TLM).
I did not post the photos sooner because I was unable to connect with the bride and groom to get their permission to share the pics online (and I did not want them to learn about them via the web!).
Kathryn & Thomas Hulett became husband and wife at this majestic celebration.
Clicking on any pic should enlarge it on your computer. Bloggers: feel free to post any pics you want, but kindly provide a link back to this post (click the time stamp below for the url).
An Unplanned Shoot I had gone to take photos during what I thought was going to be the First Friday Adoration for the Sacred Heart, which normally takes place from 9:30am to 6:30pm each month. We have adoration daily, save Sundays in the convent chapel. I also knew the Christmas decorations would soon be coming down and had not been able to take many pictures.
What? A Wedding? When I got there shortly after 3:00, the Blessed Sacrament had just been returned to the Tabernacle and preparations for the wedding were underway. I was short on time and was planning to leave before the wedding until........the altar cards came out.
I was already feeling bad because I missed a wedding between Christmas and New Years that I had been asked to shoot some months earlier. I hadn't committed, and never commit to weddings because I have many variables in my personal life, especially my mother's ill health, and I would not want to blow the only opportunity someone has to have pictures of such a special day.
What? A "Tridentine" Wedding? Seeing those altar cards, my first plea to God was, "Oh Lord, don't do this to me - you know I won't be able to resist this". A short time later, I learned who was getting married. I did not know the bride, but I knew her father, Mike, who recently passed away after a long illness. I met him in the school hallway of Grotto about two years ago when, seeing my camera, he introduced himself and asked if I was the same Diane who was active on the web in Catholic forums and blogs. We had some good conversations about the faith and the liturgy.
That was it. I finally realized that Mike's Guardian Angel was working overtime along with mine to get me to stay. How could I walk out now? I asked the Blessed Mother for her assistance as I so often do when shooting anything sacred (and because I really have no idea what I'm doing). Below is the result of that prayer.
I did not find out until the sermon that not only did I capture this beautiful wedding, I captured a piece of history for Assumption Grotto. Deo Gratias!
You may have noticed that the bride and groom where exchanging vows at the beginning, rather than mid-Mass. I thought this was awesome.
One thing to note for couples considering a wedding in the Extraordinary Form: Start kneeling daily for longer and longer periods until you can do so comfortably for at least an hour. There was no place for chairs in the Sanctuary and from what I'm told, this is the way it use to be.
I am speaking from experience when I tell you that if you can only kneel for 5 minutes today, with time and practice, you can easily work your way up to an hour over a period of time. I recall my first days at Grotto where I use to break a sweat kneeling for just 7 minutes or so during the short Eucharistic Prayer in the Ordinary Form (or New Mass).
There's one more thing about getting married at Grotto, either in the Ordinary or Extraordinary Form (and you get to choose): No one escapes the pre-Cana classes by Fr. Eduard Perrone, Grotto's pastor. If you want to understand the beauty of marriage in the context of theology of the body, you will have your fill.
(Mt 5)11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: 12 Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
We currently have a very good example of a bishop taking his lashes for the Lord in the conflict created by Catholic basketball coach, Rick Majerus. Several newspapers ran commentaries in their Sunday papers this weekend and, as you can guess, it wasn't Archbishop Raymond Burke whom they were defending.
One can only imagine how Jesus would have been treated by the media in the US. Let's look at a few excerpts. My comments in red, and in brackets.
He did not forfeit his rights [exactly, and it's called "non serviam" or "I will not serve". Pride is the root of all sin and that is what we are seeing in these statements. Not your will God, but mine and no matter what the Church teaches, I want abortion kept legal] . He should not be sanctioned for publicly supporting abortion rights during a recent rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, contrary to the belief of at least one Roman Catholic archbishop [hmmmm......this statement shows significant ignorance of the Catholic faith. If it is a teaching of the Church, that abortion is murder, then how can it not be the belief of all bishops, that abortion is murder. If there is any bishop out there who believes otherwise, then he is not aligned with Rome and is outside of the Church. Hence, is "view" would be invalid as a Catholic bishop].
It gets worse. The author goes from flinging pebbles to large rocks here.
Burke is the attention-getter here. He first thrust himself in the spotlight in 2004 when he said he would deny Holy Communion to John Kerry, then a Democratic presidential nominee, because of Kerry's support of abortion. Now, Burke wants to speak with St. Louis University president Lawrence Biondi about Majerus. Clearly, Burke is envious of Majerus' everyman's charm. Burke wants equal air time
That statement is so outrageous that I can't even begin to comment.
Majerus is a leader at a Catholic University. He has made views which are contrary to Catholic teaching public. Archbishop Burke is well within his rights, to ensure the faithful are properly taught the faith, especially in the face of such public contradictions by someone in Majerus' position. Perhaps a more accurate headline would have been, "Archbishop well within his rights to defend the faith"
At the end of the day one has to wonder if it is really Hilary or abortion that Rick Majerus is supporting. Is that really the cause of the vast majority of pro-aborts. Or, is it something else?
I believe it has more to do with protecting a sexually deviant culture - one that wants to be "Christian" while at the same time free to treat the 10 Commandments as the "10 Suggestions". Let's look closer at two of those (and remember that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it so if you think the 10 Commandments are no longer relevant, you're wrong)
6: Thou shalt not commit adultery
9: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife
After all, if people were following the 6th and 9th Commandments, they wouldn't need to defend "their right" to break the 5th Commandment,
5: Thou shalt not kill.
To the author of the article in the Herald News: Archbishop Burke did not forfeit his rights, and duties to teach the authentic Catholic faith.
We can clearly see here, a need to pray vigilantly for our priests and bishops. We have to pray that they will not be concerned with how they are perceived in the media. We have to pray that they are not concerned with how well they are liked. "Let them who have ears hear". Jesus was liked only by those who had ears to hear. For the rest, he was not liked. That is how Jesus ended up on the cross and it is why every priest, bishop and Catholic lay person should go to the cross with Him. Jesus stood for something and he did not run the other way in the face of opposition to what was right and just. Jesus did not go with the flow or with what was popular. In fact, he encouraged us to be counter-cultural.
Pray that our bishops will endure, and even welcome, the persecution.
Carolina Canonball at The Crescat has a great post up. I will share the contents of it here, but follow the link to the blog to read through many interesting comments.
... its amazing what a difference environment can make.
I haven't made the official parish change, but for over a month now my son & I have been attending mass at the Abbey. Solely from the perspective of a parent, the difference in my son's attitude toward church has changed dramatically.
There is absolutely no conversation before mass at the Abbey. The atmosphere leaves itself to nothing but prayerful silence and nothing less is expected. Even the tone of the mass is silent, slow and deliberate. You can't help but concentrate and direct your focus.
Every one is well dressed and makes an effort, something rarely seen now-a-days. It is obvious why these people come to mass, not for some social hee-haw but to celebrate the mass. Period.
Now you might think something this 'rigid' might not appeal to a small boy or be for him like excruciating torture... the effect is profoundly the opposite. He is never more quiet and well behaved then when in mass.
Surprise. Surprise. Our children are not as stupid are we treat them.
Matt Abbot requested a statement out of Fr. Tom Euteneuer of Human Life International and got a classic response on Coach Rick Majerus who is attempting to play one-on-one with Archbishop Raymond L. Burke.
Father Euteneuer had this to say about the matter:"Rick Majerus is more of a basket case than a basketball coach. His sicknesses all fit so neatly together: He has a modern anti-Catholic 'Jesuit' education; he embraces superficial, undigested rhetoric about the issues; he is a jock pretending to be a scientist; and he exhibits a defiant disobedience to religious authority. Dante would have a field day — no pun intended — putting this guy in the pit of hell. He should be excommunicated along with all the Jesuits who 'educated' him."
It's interesting how stats on many blogs have gone up over this topic between an archbishop and a member of the flock. I've often wondered what drives us to have such a deep interest in these things. Personally, I think it has much to do with people being shocked, some pleasantly, and some indignant, that an archbishop is actually standing up for the Church's teaching.
However, we have to check our interior attitudes. There's no greater time to turn to prayer than now, and for cases just like this.
I'm going to suggest that we all spend some time in adoration for the conversion of Rick Majerus and those who taught him. We also need to pray for Abp Burke, who is no doubt suffering because one of his lamb's is resisting the shepherd's attempts to free him from the thickets.
There are some things, for which debates simply won't do any good. It's at these times we need to go off into prayer, make acts of reparation, and express faith, and have hope, that in God, all things are possible.
As I try to get into a more normal schedule again with everything, including blogging, I was glad to receive an email from Canon lawyer, Ed Peters, who teaches at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He sends out regular updates to fellow Catholic bloggers and one of his topics today is an update from a story I mentioned the other day concerning Catholic St. Louis University basketball coach, Rick Majerus. Ed is a graduate of SLU, class of '79.
Coach Majerus may rule his own basketball court, but he's now playing a game he can't win. Here is the lead-in from Ed Peters. Do read the entire article. I have a feeling we have not heard the last word on this:
Does Coach Majerus really think he can out play Abp Burke? I'm not making this up.
