I mentioned the other day that Deacon Jim Wilder of Assumption Grotto will be teaching an "intense Latin-1 class". The start date for the 7 week class has been changed to Friday, January 30th. It will be held on Fridays from 4:30 until about 6:00 or 6:30, depending on how things are going. This leaves time to get to the 7:00pm Mass for those who want to assist. On Fridays, it is usually in the Extraordinary Form.
The cost of the class is $100 which includes materials. Deacon Jim says he will be working with Wheelock's books.
It might help to know a little about the instructor's background, so I inquired and the Deacon replied...
Taught Latin for twenty-five years, at least. Taught for seven years at Regina High School; at Grosse Pointe South High School for 12 years; taught at least ten years at Assumption Grotto Homeschool; and tutored Latin. Hold a Masters in Latin from Wayne State University and a major in Latin from the once Catholic University of Detroit.
He is tentatively planning on going from Latin-I through Latin-IV over the course of one year and will start the cycle again. If you don't get in now, it will be at least a one year wait before you can get in.
Sounds good to me. I'm there. Put my name on the list already along with 6 other people who have called.
How do you sign up? Call Jim at 586-776-7774 to register.
EDIT 6:00pm: Folks - these are some very passionate speeches being given by our congress men and women. Do watch this if you are just learning about it.
This dropped into my inbox and it's just a few minutes after 5pm
Tune in at 5:00 p.m. ET Today to Watch Congressional Pro-Life Speeches on CSPAN January 21, 2009 Refer a Friend
As pro-abortion forces increase their numbers in Congress and with the election of President Barack Obama, prolifers need to work hard to protect the life of the unborn. Leading up to the March for Life rally tomorrow, Members of Congress decided to hold a Special Order on the floor of the House today in which they will give speeches defending the unborn. This special order will be aired on CSPAN 1, and could begin as early as 5:00 p.m. EST, depending on the vote schedule. Please keep your eye on CSPAN 1 to watch Members defend the right to life of the unborn, or you can watch online.
Please thank Members who do speak, and let them know how you appreciate their defense of life.
The annual vigil Mass for life will take place tonight at 7:00pm in Washington DC at the National Basilica. Tune in on EWTN (most local Catholic television stations will also carry it live). If you don't have that and have a connection better than the old dialup, go to EWTN and watch it live on the interent. It is spectacular to see hundreds of priests and bishops, and 16,000 people crammed into the church.
Someday, I pray we will see numbers like those seen at yesterday's inauguration descend on Washington DC on January 22nd until we end this law that permits the worst form of discrimination against a class of people known as.....the unborn.
Pray for participants who are being met undoubtedly with challenges of yesterday's inauguration.
“In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass 'For Peace and Justice' (no. 22 of the 'Masses for Various Needs') should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.”
– General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373
I didn't vote for Barack Obama, but unlike disgruntled Democrats and others who rejected George W. Bush, proclaiming, "he's not my president", I won't stoop to that level.
Hence, Barack Hussein Obama is my president and as such, will receive my deepest prayers for his success on economic, world and domestic issues, and his conversion on culture of death issues. Jesus commanded us to love and it is with Christian love that conversions happen.
I truly wish I could have rejoiced fully today. On the one hand, I was very glad to see that America has proven it is not too bigoted to elect a black man for president. On the other hand, my heart is heavy for the increase in the number of deaths to the most innocent of innocents, the unborn - we will see in this administration. The damage done in these next four or eight years, could last for decades. I hope all Catholics who dismissed the culture of life concerns are paying close attention to all that is going to rapidly take place.
As we celebrated Martin Luther King day yesterday and heard those famous words about judging a man not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character, I wondered how Dr. King would have felt about the greatly persecuted class of people we call the unborn or pre-born.
Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, is very active in the pro-life movement. She is not Catholic, but works with Fr. Frank Pavone and Priests for Life. This past summer, Dr. King wrote:
"While African Americans comprise only 4.5 percent of Minnesota's population, black received almost 25 percent of the abortions performed on Minnesotans," stated Dr. King. "Nationally, black women are 4.8 times more likely to have an abortion than white women. It's hard to believe, as the abortion lobby would have you believe, that this discrepancy is caused strictly by economics."
"Abortion has been a scourge on all Americans, but particularly African Americans," added Dr. King. "The numbers speak for themselves. The abortion industry has targeted minority neighborhoods for years. It's not only time that our leaders investigated why this is happening, it's time they stopped indirectly subsidizing these killings by giving our money to businesses that do abortions."
*Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
*Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
*Supporting Stem Cell Research: President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which will allow research of human embryonic stem cells derived from embryos donated (with consent) from in vitro fertilization clinics. These embryos must be deemed in excess and created based solely for the purpose of fertility treatment.
Imagine where we would be, had Barack Hussein Obama been aborted by his mother because his father didn't take responsibility, or because she would have to struggle. Hence, the point of this commercial, which I'm sharing again, aired in select segments of the US today on Black Entertainment Television (compliments of CatholicVote.com)
I believe we are going to see actions and words out of many bishops, the likes of which we have never seen, during this administration. Let's pray that God gives them the courage they need, as well as the prudence. Charity for confused Catholic politicians and others isn't manifested in silence. Concern for self-esteem should never trump concern for the souls of our brothers and sisters "carried away by all kinds of strange teachings".
I recently wrote to assure you of the prayers of the Catholic bishops of the United States for your service to our nation, and to outline issues of special concern to us as we seek to work with your Administration and the new Congress to serve the common good.
I am writing today on a matter that could introduce significant negative and divisive factors into our national life, at a time when we need to come together to address the serious challenges facing our people. I expect that some want you to take executive action soon to reverse current policies against government-sponsored destruction of unborn human life. I urge you to consider that this could be a terrible mistake -- morally, politically, and in terms of advancing the solidarity and well-being of our nation's people.
During the campaign, you promised as President to represent all the people and respect everyone's moral and religious viewpoints. You also made several statements about abortion. On one occasion, when asked at what point a baby has human rights, you answered in effect that you do not have a definite answer. And you spoke often about a need to reduce abortions.
The Catholic Church teaches that each human being, at every moment of biological development from conception to natural death, has an inherent and fundamental right to life. We are committed not only to reducing abortion, but to making it unthinkable as an answer to unintended pregnancy. At the same time, I think your remarks provide a basis for common ground. Uncertainty as to when human rights begin provides no basis for compelling others to violate their conviction that these rights exist from the beginning. After all, those people may be right. And if the goal is to reduce abortions, that will not be achieved by involving the government in expanding and promoting abortions.
The regulation to protect conscience rights in health care issued last month by the Bush administration is the subject of false and misleading criticisms. It does not reach out to expand the rights of pro-life health professionals, but is a long-overdue measure for implementing three statutes enacted by Congress over the last 35 years. Many criticizing the new rule have done so without being aware of this legal foundation - but widespread ignorance of a longstanding federal law protecting basic civil rights is among the good reasons for more visibly implementing it. An Administration committed to faithfully implementing and enforcing the laws of the United States will want to retain this common-sense regulation, which explicitly protects the right of health professionals who favor or oppose abortion to serve the basic health needs of their communities. Suggestions that government involvement in health care will be aimed at denying conscience, or excluding Catholic and other health care providers from participation in serving the public good, could threaten much-needed health care reform at the outset.
The Mexico City Policy, first established in 1984, has wrongly been attacked as a restriction on foreign aid for family planning. In fact, it has not reduced such aid at all, but has ensured that family planning funds are not diverted to organizations dedicated to performing and promoting abortions instead of reducing them. Once the clear line between family planning and abortion is erased, the idea of using family planning to reduce abortions becomes meaningless, and abortion tends to replace contraception as the means for reducing family size. A shift toward promoting abortion in developing nations would also increase distrust of the United States in these nations, whose values and culture often reject abortion, at a time when we need their trust and respect.
The embryonic stem cell policy initiated by President Bush has at times been criticized from both ends of the pro-life debate, but some criticisms are based on false premises. The policy did not ban embryonic stem cell research, or funding of such research. By restricting federally funded research to cell lines in existence at the time he issued his policy, he was trying to ensure that Americans are not forced to use their tax dollars to encourage expanded destruction of embryonic human beings for their stem cells. Such destruction is especially pointless at the present time, for several reasons. First, basic research in the capabilities of embryonic stem cells can be and is being pursued using the currently eligible cell lines as well as the hundreds of lines produced with nonfederal funds since 2001. Second, recent startling advances in reprogramming adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells - hailed by the journal Science as the scientific breakthrough of the year - are said by many scientists to be making embryonic stem cells irrelevant to medical progress. Third, adult and cord blood stem cells are now known to have great versatility, and are increasingly being used to reverse serious illnesses and even help rebuild damaged organs. To divert scarce funds away from these promising avenues for research and treatment toward the avenue that is most morally controversial as well as most medically speculative would be a sad victory of politics over science.
I hope you will consider these comments in the spirit in which they are intended, as an invitation to set aside political pressures and ideologies and focus on the priorities and challenges that will unite us as a nation. Again I want to express our hopes for your Administration, and our offer to cooperate in advancing the common good and protecting the poor and vulnerable in these challenging times.
As we approach the first days of your new responsibilities as President of the United States, I will offer my prayers for you and for your family. May God bless your efforts in fostering justice and peace for all, Mr. President, as you begin your term.
First Year Intensive Seven Week Latin Course for adults and children offered by Deacon Jim Wilder beginning Friday, January 23rd, 4:30 p.m., Grotto Rectory Basement. Course is $100, which includes text book and materials. Call Deacon Jim to register at 586-776-7774.
I need to find out how long it runs. I'm wondering if it isn't a two hour class which would end just ahead of the 7:00pm Mass.
I'll find out. I think I'm going to try to squeeze this in. After all, I've been prodding Fr. Perrone and Deacon Jim to offer something!
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican will soon have its own channel on the video sharing site YouTube where the Catholic faithful or the curious will be able to see Pope Benedict or Church events, a Vatican source said on Saturday.
The details of the accord are due to be presented on Friday at a news conference attended by Vatican officials as well as Henrique de Castro, managing director of media solutions for Google, which owns YouTube.
The initiative will involve Google, the Vatican Television Center and Vatican Radio.
It will mark the Vatican's deepest plunge into new media. The Vatican opened up its website, www.vatican.va, in 1995.
H/T to Fr. Z for this great article out of Baker, Oregon.
At the bottom are some links you will want to explore if you like what this bishop has to say.
Those who profess to love God, but back abortion, are liars Print Edition: 01/15/2009 By Bishop Robert Vasa
BEND — The Mass readings for the week between Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord are taken from the First Letter of St. John. These readings are not always used for it often happens, depending upon the day on which Christmas falls, that the season of ordinary time begins immediately after the celebration of Epiphany. This year, however, the occurrence of Christmas allowed for a full week between these two post-Christmas celebrations and thus the readings from St. John’s first letter. As often happens, the daily Mass readings are both appealing and challenging. The reading of Thursday from I John 4:19ff is particularly appropriate in this year when the life issues are very much on the minds of pro-life persons.
The reason for the increased awareness and even concern on the part of the pro-life community is the specter of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which is highly rumored to be in the works at the federal level. It is this act which has stimulated the bishops of the United States to launch a massive postcard campaign calling upon the House and Senate to abandon FOCA. While further details about the dramatic impact of FOCA on our American culture can be found in many places, I will simply say that it would establish abortion as a federally protected right and, as I understand it, preclude state limitation or regulation of abortion. Further, since abortion would be a federally protected right, it is very possible that even Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Physicians would be mandated to provide this heinous service.
Thus I strongly urge all who have a glimmer of concern for the lives of pre-born children to engage themselves in this postcard campaign. This is not an action which would limit or alter present permissive abortion laws, which some so-called Catholic pro-choice persons might object to, it would simply preclude a dramatic expansion of that permissiveness. Thus it would be very difficult for any Catholic, no matter how much in favor of abortion itself, to find a reason to refuse to participate in this campaign. At the same time, I do not see how any Catholic senator or representative could vote for the passage of FOCA without recognizing that such a vote would constitute a direct and intentional declaration of their disdain for Catholic teaching. Such a vote would be tantamount to a public declaration of their intention to abandon the Catholic faith. It would be imperative that the faith consequences of such a declaration be allowed to fall fully on the heads of those who would make it.
The writing from St. John applies: “Beloved, we love God because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from Him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” We of the Catholic faith certainly know that love of God is central to our tenets, this is the appealing part. It is hard to imagine a Catholic saying, “I am a Catholic in good standing but I do not love God.” But the inspired scriptures tell us that whoever does not love his brother or neighbor does not and, indeed, cannot love God. This is the challenging part. The people of Jesus’ day understood this and it was this understanding that prompted them to ask, “And who is my neighbor?” For all of us, and especially for Catholic legislators in every strata of government, it is necessary to declare, in conformity with the Natural Law and the teaching of the Catholic Church that, the pre-born child is our brother, our sister, our neighbor!
It may sound a little strong to state that legislators “hate” the pre-born child but hate is an absence of love and love means to wish another well. There is nothing about abortion that wishes the pre-born child well. The preservation of abortion “rights” is already an absence of love for the pre-born child but the passage of FOCA could be construed as nothing less than active and positive disregard, even hatred, for these our brothers and sisters. To paraphrase St. John, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but votes for FOCA, thus showing a disregard for his pre-born brother or sister, he is a liar.” Lots of things can be rationalized in government but I do not see any way in which any Catholic could rationalize or justify an affirmative vote for FOCA.
It is not necessary for your postcards to be as outspoken as this bishop but you do have an obligation to participate in this concerted effort to show love for the tiniest and most defenseless of our brothers and sisters. President-elect Obama made it very clear, prior to the election, that he would happily sign FOCA and the millions of Catholics who voted for him hopefully did so for reasons other than this promise and certainly not because of it. It seems to me that it is particularly incumbent upon these same voters to make it clearly known to their representatives that their vote may not in any way be taken as a sign of support for FOCA.
Another way in which we show our affirmative love for our pre-born brothers and sisters is by way of our annual memorial on Jan. 22. This year the Diocesan Office of Pro-life Activities has scheduled a rosary and Mass at St. Joseph’s in Prineville on Thursday evening, Jan. 22. The rosary will commence at 6:30 p.m. with Mass beginning at 7 p.m. While I recognize that many parishes host similar memorial Masses to pray for the two-fold victims of abortion, the child and the mother, I invite any who can to join me at the rosary and Mass at St. Joseph’s in Prineville.
Regardless of how many years have passed since the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Decision and regardless of how prevalent and routine abortion has become in this country, the simple truth remains, it is an act of extreme violence to the pre-born child and to the distressed mother. Thus, if anyone says, “I love God” and still favors abortion, he is, to quote St. John, a liar. May we all live out faithfully what it means to love God.
I received these pictures and a link from Fr. Scott Haynes, SJC, who runs the Sancta Missa website for the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago. Assumption Grotto has one seminarian, Br. Matthew, with this religious community (seen in many of the slides and pics on the site), which is dedicated to a restoration of the sacred. They celebrate both forms of the Mass: Ordinary and Extraordinary. And, they have beautiful music in their liturgies, with several choirs, symphony, chant, etc (a must for Mass if you happen to be in Chicago!).
These pictures are from a recent workshop on the Extraordinary Form (aka, "Tridentine") held for the laity in the Chicago area. Father writes in his post:
VOLO, ILLINOIS - On Saturday, January 10, 2009, during the midst of a blizzard, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius hosted a workshop for laity in the Extraordinary Form at Saint Peter's Church in Volo, Illinois. The parishioners of St. Peter's Church in Volo, Illinois, braved the snowstorm and thoroughly enjoyed the day of Solemn Liturgies and classes.
Teaching a class on the beauty of Mass in the Extraordinary Form is Fr. Frank Phillips, SJC - the founder of the order.
Here is the link again to all of the pictures, which has a list of forthcoming workshops and retreats (which are not limited to Chicago or Illinois). There is also information on how you can get them scheduled in your parish.
This is unreal. Deo gratias that it appears everyone is ok...
It is thought [that is, speculation] that a flock of geese got in the way of the big bird above on take off and both engines were affected. Three minutes into the flight passengers were told to brace themselves for a hard landing.
Mayor Bloomberg says that it appears that all got off safely. Once she splashed down, the pilot and crew helped people to get of the plane and into position where boats could pick them up. The pilot then walked the aisle again after the jet was empty and believed everyone got off safely.
I've got to get off to work and wanted to blog on this yesterday, but again, there was not time to do the detailed post with links.
I'm going to send you to the best source, Tom Peters - the American Papist, because he really wrote his heart out showing the contradictions in professor Doug Kmiec's thinking with regards to the pro-life movement. Doug Kmiec is a Catholic who supported Obama. He recently wrote a pretty whining commentary about Catholic bloggers who attacked his position. There is a difference between rightfully attacking someone's position, and attacking the person and apparently Mr. Kmiec seems to have trouble seeing the difference.
He also believes Catholic bloggers will be responsible for souring relations between the Obama administration and the Vatican.
Perhaps it's all just a game of bait-n-switch. Go get the details....(check out the combox, as well)
Just a note, the Papist's blog is the one to watch with the upcoming March for Life in DC. Tom living there and provided great coverage last year. Go to his homepage, bookmark it and check in frequently for updates on the ground.
As many people wonder whether their car will start, whether school is closed to protect the children from standing at bus stops in life-and-limb threatening cold, my thoughts turn to the homeless. I heard yesterday that in our area here in metro Detroit, the numbers are up by 3-4x than usual, due to the jobless rate.
What really befuddled me is that there are warming centers opening for the homeless, but they operate only during the day, sending these men, women, and children back out into the cold as the temperature drops even lower. By day it has been in the low teens and at night, in the single digits - even in the negative.
It's times like these that as I tuck myself away into a warm bed, in a warm house, that I thank the good Lord. It's only by His grace that I have these most basic needs.
