Bishop Nickless: Ecclesia Semper Reformanda - Post 2 (Second Vatican Council and the New Evangelization)

We are continuing with a daily posting from the magnificent pastoral letter of Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Souix City, Iowa: Ecclesia Semper Reformanda.  

As is well known, Blessed Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council to be the moment of renewal for the Church in the modern world. The world had changed a great deal since the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Counter-Reformation, the so-called Enlightenment, and the secular revolutions of the nineteenth and



twentieth centuries. The Church now found herself beset on all sides by a world that could no longer understand her, and from within by an unfortunate tendency to isolation, fearing engagement with the rapidly changing world.


In opening the Council, Blessed John stated that the “greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council” was twofold: “that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be [both] guarded and taught more efficaciously.”4 Later in the speech, he elaborated on this: “The substance of the ancient doctrine of the deposit of faith is one thing, and the way in which it is presented is another.”5 The teachings of the Church, our identity and culture as Catholics, must be loved and guarded, yet brought forth and taught in a way understandable to the modern world.


Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul the Great constantly preached the same thing in calling for a “New Evangelization” of the faithful, our separated brothers and sisters in Christ, and all those who do not know Jesus Christ or the Church. This New Evangelization was to be “new not in content but in ardor, methods, and expression.”6 It is readily apparent from his teaching and ministry that for Pope John Paul the Great, the New Evangelization was the true fruit of the Second Vatican Council. Indeed, the Council was the beginning and blueprint for evangelization in the modern world. He explicitly stated this as his particular mission at the time of his election, and he lived it to the end.7 He spent his entire pontificate interpreting and implementing the Council’s documents according to the light of the Holy Spirit, given in virtue of his office, amid the changing circumstances of the Church and the world.


We now find ourselves forty-four years since the close of the Council. Many questions still need to be asked and answered. Have we understood the Council within the context of the entire history of the Church? Have we understood the documents well? Have we truly appropriated and implemented them? Is the current state of the Church what the Council intended? What went right? What went wrong? Where is the promised “New Pentecost”?


Pope Benedict XVI reflected on these important questions in an address to the Roman Curia in December, 2005:

The question arises: Why has the implementation of the Council, in large parts of the Church, thus far been so difficult? Well, it all depends on the correct interpretation of the Council or—as we would say today—on its proper hermeneutics, the correct key to its interpretation and application. The problems in its implementation arose from the fact that two contrary hermeneutics came face to face and quarreled with each other. One caused confusion, the other, silently but more and more visibly, bore and is bearing fruit.



On the one hand, there is an interpretation that I would call “a hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture,” it has frequently availed itself of the sympathies of the mass media, and also one trend of modern theology. On the other, there is the “hermeneutic of reform,” of renewal in the continuity of the one subject – Church – which the Lord has given to us. She is a subject which increases in time and develops, yet always remaining the same, the one subject of the journeying People of God.


The hermeneutic of discontinuity risks ending in a split between the pre-conciliar Church and the post-conciliar Church. It asserts that the texts of the Council as such do not yet express the true spirit of the Council.8

Notice, first, Pope Benedict’s honest acknowledgement that the implementation of the Council has been difficult and is not complete. Notice also his clear-sighted grasp of how two rival interpretations have led to different “camps” within the Church. This division has weakened our identity and mission.



It is crucial that we all grasp that the hermeneutic or interpretation of discontinuity or rupture, which many think is the settled and even official position, is not the true meaning of the Council. This interpretation sees the pre-conciliar and post-conciliar Church almost as two different churches. It sees the Second Vatican Council as a radical break with the past. There can be no split, however, between the Church and her faith before and after the Council. We must stop speaking of the “Pre-Vatican II” and “Post-Vatican II” Church, and stop seeing various characteristics of the Church as “pre” and “post” Vatican II. Instead, we must evaluate them according to their intrinsic value and pastoral effectiveness in this day and age.


Therefore, we must heed the Holy Father’s point that one interpretation, the “hermeneutic of reform,” is valid, and has borne and is bearing fruit. This hermeneutic of reform, as described above, takes seriously and keeps together the two poles of identity (the ancient deposit of faith and life) and engagement with the world (teaching it more efficaciously).


Lastly, the Holy Father, going into greater detail later in the address, explains that the “spirit of Vatican II” must be found only in the letter of the documents themselves. The so-called “spirit” of the Council has no authoritative interpretation. It is a ghost or demon that must be exorcised if we are to proceed with the Lord’s work.

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Footnotes from the pastoral letter applicable to this section:

4 Pope John XXIII, Oct 11, 1962


5 Ibid.


6 Address to the Assembly of CELAM (March 9, 1983), III: AAS 75 (1983), 778. See also Ecclesia in America, 6.


7 E.g., Inaugural Address of Pope John Paul II, October 22, 1978 : “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man.’ He alone knows it.”


8 Pope Benedict XVI, Christmas address to the Roman Curia, December 22, 2005.

We'll continue tomorrow with the next segment.

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

Bishop Nickless: Ecclesia Semper Reformanda - Post 1 (Introduction)

A pastoral letter penned by Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Souix City, Iowa, has been circulating well on the web here in the US, and abroad.  

This bishop took on the so-called, "Spirit of Vatican II", which has long been used by some to distort what is actually in the documents of Vatican II. 

I spent my lunch hour reading the entire pastoral letter and I can tell you that it is rich and worth spending time on.  Don't look at excerpts and move on.  Rather, come here and read one more small segment each day that I post.  In fact, several are already scheduled to appear just after midnight local time the next few days.
He introduced this to his diocese on October 15, 2009 - the Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila. 

As I publish this pastoral letter, I do so on the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus. On this day, the Church prays: “O God, you raised up Saint Teresa by your Spirit so that she could manifest to the Church the way to perfection. Nourish us with the food of her heavenly teaching and fire us with a desire for holiness.” May Saint Teresa be an inspiration to all of us in our desire to grow in holiness.

In this first post, we will simply look at the Introduction.  He is just warming up here, but brace yourself for some real meat and potatoes in subsequent postings. 

I. INTRODUCTION

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever! It has now been almost four joyful years of being your bishop. It has been a time of learning and growth for me as a priest, called beyond my desires and talents, not without God’s grace making up for all that is lacking in me, to be the shepherd for the flock in northwest Iowa. As shepherd, I am called to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15), the truth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, inseparable from His Church, “at the same time holy and always in need of renewal and reformation.”1 In order to do this, I have traveled to meet the priests and people of the diocese, always listening, asking questions, studying and, of course, praying about the current state of the Church. Now I offer my understanding of the state and direction of the Church, both universal and particular, at this juncture in her history. I propose this pastoral plan—a vision, so to speak—for the future of our diocese, and some practical guidance for achieving our goals.



My understanding begins with these personal reflections. I studied and was ordained a deacon and priest during the exciting, almost intoxicating, time of the Second Vatican Council. I am thoroughly a product of that momentous time, the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church in centuries. It has formed the context and culture of my entire ministerial life. Like Pope John Paul the Great, I have no other desire for my ministry than seeing the hopes and reforms of the Second Vatican Council fully implemented and brought to fruition.2 Like Pope Benedict XVI, I know that, while we have worked hard, there is still much work to do.3 My understanding of this work has grown and deepened over the past forty years. So it must be for all of us. The Church is always in need of renewal because it is made up of us, imperfect human beings. This is the deepest reason: as individuals and as a Church, we are always called to grow, change, deepen, repent, convert, improve, and learn from our successes and failures in the pursuit of holiness and fidelity to Jesus Christ and the mission He has given us. Moreover, we need to do this in the midst of an ever changing world, culture and society.


I have experienced this as a priest and now, through the biggest change of all for me, as a bishop. Despite my own unworthiness, I have been blessed abundantly by the Lord Jesus Christ in his call to me, in the graces of my episcopal ordination, and in your support and cooperation. I am happy and blessed to be your bishop. Having been called by God and the Church, I want to do my part to fulfill His mission among you. Thus, we need serious reflection and evaluation of the current state and direction, challenges and opportunities, for faith and ministry in our Lord Jesus Christ in our Diocese.

Tomorrow I will have another section of this great pastoral letter. 

If you prefer to read it all at once:  Get the PDF from the Diocese of Souix City, IOWA for Ecclesia Semper Reformanda.

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Footnotes applicable to this section:

1 Lumen Gentium #8



2 E.g., Christifideles Laici, #2: “In looking over the years following the Council the Synod Fathers have been able to verify how the Holy Spirit continues to renew the youth of the Church and how he has inspired new aspirations towards holiness and the participation of so many lay faithful. This is witnessed, among other ways, in the new manner of active collaboration among priests, religious and the lay faithful; the active participation in the Liturgy, in the proclamation of the Word of God and catechesis; the multiplicity of services and


tasks entrusted to the lay faithful and fulfilled by them; the flourishing of groups, associations and spiritual movements as well as a lay commitment in the life of the Church; and in the fuller and meaningful participation of women in the development of society. At the same time, the Synod has pointed out that the post-conciliar path of the lay faithful has not been without its difficulties and dangers. In particular, two temptations can be cited which they have not always known how to avoid: the temptation of being so strongly interested in Church services and tasks that some fail to become actively engaged in their responsibilities in the professional, social, cultural and political world; and the temptation of legitimizing the unwarranted separation of faith from life, that is, a separation of the Gospel's acceptance from the actual living of the Gospel in various situations in the world.”


3 Homily of 8 December 2005, on the 40th Anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council; e.g., “If we live in opposition to love and against the truth - in opposition to God - then we destroy one another and destroy the world. Then we do not find life but act in the interests of death. All this is recounted with immortal images in the history of the original fall of man and the expulsion of man from the earthly Paradise. Dear brothers and sisters, if we sincerely reflect about ourselves and our history, we have to say that with this narrative is described not only the history of the beginning but the history of all times, and that we all carry within us a drop of the poison of that way of thinking, illustrated by the images in the Book of Genesis. We call this drop of poison ‘original sin’.”

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

Medjugorje and the Battle for Souls

This is wild.  Another whopper from the site of Michael H. Brown - Spirit Daily:

Years ago, it was reported that Vicka Ivankovic, the most prominent seer at the famed apparition site of Medjugorje, had stated that the purported secrets there would begin when all belief in the apparitions seemed to be almost extinguished.

It is an intriguing possibility -- especially in a climate of ecclesiastic intellectualism (and skepticism).

Lost in Space robot in warning mode: Danger! Will Robinson, Danger!

Ecclesiastic intellectualism (and skepticism)?!?!?  How about objective fact finding and pursuit of Truth on the part of the Church?  This is a clear swipe at the Church because she is giving all the appearances of leaning against authenticity in Medjugorje. 

This article is even more incredulous.  It is written by Stephen K. Ryan of "Ministry Values" (my comments bracketed in red)

Bishop Peric, now it seems, is not amused with the fruits of Medjugorje – to him they must be stopped.

Now I am OK with that, really, as long as he has good reason for his decision. But, so far, from what I have read [on promoter sites], it seem it is a matter of he just doesn’t believe. [This guy is his own "pope".]

Well, I am not sure that is good enough for me. I need Bishop Peric to be our Dorothy, our Todo of the wizard of OZ. I need Bishop Peric to open the curtain and expose the phony wizard. I should hope by now, after twenty eight years, the Diocese would have all the smoking guns it needs. If they are going to say some negative things they should be ready to pull the curtain wide open. [He already has, it's just that people and promoter sites are placing feelings and experiences ahead of objective facts and truth!]

The same author just recently compared Bishop Peric to the bishop who had St. Joan of Arc burned at the stake
What we see here is the beginning of a battle for souls ahead of a "new direction for Medjugorje" as announced by Cardinal Puljic of the BiH bishop's conference. 

Isn't it kind of interesting that those who are attacking Bishop Peric and the Church over Medjugorje have some kind of business which profits from it all?

FURTHER READING

• Medjugorje: Analysis of Spirit Daily article on "new direction" reported by Cardinal Puljic - Part 1
• Diocese of Mostar Duvno web-page on the Medjugorje phenomenon
• English page for Italian author Marco Corvaglia with many objective articles

September 26, 2009 Three-Part Statement of Bishop Ratko Peric

• Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 1: Bishop details Vlasic involvement, disobedience; and heresy by the "Gospa"
• Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 2: Bishop details oddity surrounding "gospa's" birthday.
• Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 3: Bishop makes public June 2009 letters to pastor and parochial vicar, listing prohibitions.

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

Medjugorje: Analysis of Spirit Daily article on "new direction" reported by Cardinal Puljic - Part 1

There is an article on Spirit Daily (unsigned) that I feel the need to analyze because of the many distortions which jumped out at me.  It comes on the heels of the three-part statement by Bishop Ratko Peric and the news that a "new direction" is forthcoming from the Holy See on Medjugorje - according to Vinko Cardinal Puljic - the head of the BiH Bishops Conference.

I have no choice but to break this up into segments because the original article is so long. As I find a little time during the coming week, I'll continue to publish further analysis on the same article.

Let's get right into it.  My emphases in bold, comments bracketed in red when inline:

The article starts out...

There is no question that Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno, Bosnia-Hercegoivina, has jurisdiction over church property and liturgical issues in his diocese, which includes the famed apparition site of Medjugorje, and also no question that the bishop -- while disallowed by the Vatican from ruling on the apparitions themselves -- should be obeyed in matters that involve use of church property and presentation of the sacraments.

"Disallowed" is one of several inappropriate and inaccurate ways of explaining what actually happened when the decision was elevated to the Bishop's Conference.  Medjugorje had already become a world wide phenomenon and the 1978 Criteria for Discernment of Apparitions offers an option at this point:

1. The foremost authority to inquire and to intervene belongs to the local Ordinary.


2. But the regional or national episcopal Conference may intervene:

a) If the local Ordinary, after having fulfilled the obligations which fall to him, resorts to them for a study of the event in its entirety.


b) If the event assumes national or regional importance. [Note: Medjugorje already had international importance]

3. The Apostolic See can intervene, either at the request of Ordinary himself, or at the request of a qualified group of the faithful, or directly by virtue of the immediate right of universal jurisdiction of the Sovereign Pontiff (cf. above, IV). [I'm sure there have been people on both sides of this situation begging for intervention of the Holy Father]

Further, we have documented proof that that the true reason it was elevated to the bishop's conference was (2b) above, in a press release made by Cardinal Kuharic in 1987 when it happened:

During the inquiry these events under investigation have appeared to go much beyond the limits of the diocese. Therefore, on the basis of the said regulations, it became fitting to continue the work at the level of the Bishops' Conference, and thus to form a new Commission for that purpose.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been informed about it. It has expressed its recognition of the Diocesan Commission's work done under the responsibility of the local Ordinary [this recognition is an affirmation that the bishop is not out of favor with the Holy See], and it urged that that work be continued at the level of the National Conference of Bishops. [Hence, the Holy See went for option 3 in the 1978 Criteria, for intervention and everything points to it's international status, not the negative position of the bishop as is alleged on many promoter sites]

At that point, the final discernment on Medjugorje would have to come from a greater body - a fact which even Bishop Peric himself acknowledged (Prot 1267/97 - October 2, 1997) when he said: 

5) Nevertheless I am open to a study that the Holy See would undertake, as the supreme court of the Catholic Church, to speak the supreme and definitive judgment on the case, and that as soon as possible, for the good of souls and for the honor of the Church and of Our Lady.

Using language like, "disallowed" or "prohibited" from making a final discernment on Medjugorje, or saying that Bishop Peric was "removed from the dossier" is completely disingenuous and not aligned with objective facts.  Such language is used to discredit the bishop or to make him seem as if he is out of favor with the Holy See.  In fact, some promoter sites will actually make such bold claims.  These are not just subtle attacks against Bishop Peric himself, they are subtle attacks against the Church. It is disinformation intended to pit the people against the bishop.

The Spirit Daily article continues...

Of late, the bishop has exercised that authority with increased vigor, imposing new restrictions as regards the parish of St. James and adjacent Catholic communities. [Yes.  They were dated June 12, 2009: Prot. 648/2009 - 649/2009: Letters from Bishop Peric to Pastor and Parochial Vicar at St. James in Medjugorje]



Those restrictions -- pertinent to the sacraments and use of parish facilities -- must be obeyed.

The question: is his imposition of more stringent guidelines simply the bishop's way of exerting what authority he does have in making a statement about the apparitions [in other words, the bishop is being a bully], and if so, is this renewed vigor -- which has included a prohibition against the parish distributing the monthly Medjugorje message -- simply one in a long series of such actions by the diocese, or is it a precursor to stricter actions by the Vatican itself? [I personally believe it is the latter and the bishop's increased "vigor" could very well be prompted by the Holy See.  Much of what he says has been said before, but he is making it more visible - exposing the disobedience, disorder and disunity involved. I believe in it's forthcoming statement, the Holy See will link to certain, recent documents on the Diocese of Mostar website, or at least refer to them. Of course, time will tell.]

First, let's understand why the bishop does not permit messages from the alleged apparition of Medjugorje to be disseminated.  We have to go back to the 1978 Criteria for Discernment of Apparitions, which Bishop Peric is clearly following.  As Colin Donovan - the Vice President of Theology at EWTN explained,

What the Church has forbidden. From the statements given to date by ecclesiastical authorities it is clear that no one holding an office in the Church (bishop, pastor, rector, chaplain or other) may by virtue of that office lend official sanction to activities which tend to assert the supernaturality of Medjugorje, that is, to contradict the decisions made by competent local authority. Those statements speak only of pilgrimages organized under official auspices; however, common sense tells us that a conference or other activity sponsored by a diocese, parish or other Catholic institution would also be prohibited. Likewise, there could not be public veneration (cultus) of the Blessed Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Medjugorje, since this would suggest the certainty of her appearing there. The title Queen of Peace, however, is already part of the patrimony of the Church.

It's all about the cultus, or the public veneration.  You cannot spread "messages" before a cultus has been authorized or the thing can take off and get away from the Church, which has happened in Medjugorje with the aid of disobedient players.  The real question is - when does the Church permit the cultus?  It's clear that Mr. Donovan doesn't feel it has been authorized and he is quite solid.  Let's look closer at  the 1978 Criteria for Discernment of Apparitions:

a) Initially, to judge the facts according to positive and negative criteria (cf. below, n.1). [This is ongoing by the commission and the some of the most important facts are those closest to initiation - or to the beginning. Facts may be more visible years later when they can be put into context with other facts which is what we are seeing laid out by Bishop Peric in his September 26, 2009, three-part statement.  Part 1 and Part 2 are facts from the early years concerning two key figures - Tomislav Vlasic and Slavko Barbaric).  If you read the criteria in the link above, see the positive and negative criteria that is considered.]

b) Then, if this examination appears favorable, to allow certain public demonstrations of cult and devotion [the cultus] while continuing to investigate the facts with extreme prudence (which is equivalent to the formula: “for the moment, nothing is opposed to it”). [The interesting thing is that we have never left (a) above.  It continues to be investigated, but the cultus was never authorized.  Not only was the cultus not approved, but it was explicitly prohibited in 1985.  It has been repeatedly prohibited since then by ordering "messages" be kept private, not allowing statues, medals, hymns etc., to "Our Lady of Medjugorje".  Not even the Zadar Declaration authorized the cultus, nor any subsequent communications which were limited to discussion of pilgrimages that were not intending to authenticate what was happening in Medjugorje. 

c) Finally, after a certain time, and in the light of experience, (starting from a particular study of the spiritual fruits generated by the new devotion), to give a judgement on the authenticity of the supernatural character, if the case requires this.

Consider now that the parish has been referred to as a "shrine", and it was one of the prohibitions re-iterated by the bishop. There have been unauthorized chapels built, religious communities initiated, all without the permission of the local bishop! Shrine status would not be given until after a positive final judgment on authenticity.  It is the most basic protocol to seek the approval of the local bishop for any of these other things which have found their way into existence illicitly. 

What is clearly happened with Medjugorje is that those promoting it have attempted to win authenticity through popularity.  This is not  how the Church works.  She is concerned ultimately with Truth.  Truth is not based on good fruits alone. It is concerned first, and foremost, with facts surrounding the events themselves.  The fruits are secondary.

We will continue with analysis of the Spirit Daily article when I find time again.

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

Canon lawyer takes on the NCR's attack of the USCCB over marriage

Orthodox Catholics have begun to notice that the dissident wing of the Catholic Church is coming unglued as orthodoxy among bishops is increasing.  More and more, bishops, and the faithful with them, are functioning as they should, with the mind of the Church.  However, some want the Church to mind them and it doesn't work this way.

It wasn't too long ago that only a handful of bishops would stand up to dissidents- at least publicly.  Granted, just as a parent should discipline a child in privacy to preserve their dignity, a bishop will always work privately with someone who is out of line. 

The tide is shifting and not only do many more bishops have the mind of the Church, they are willing to endure persecution for the sake of Truth. By this, we know that the Holy Spirit has come to rest on them.  In charity, please pray for them daily, and for their missions.

The dissidents  - that is, those who want Catholicism to have as many truths as there are people who hold different views of the same thing - are in a panic.  They want to make Catholicism into a designer religion whereby everyone gets to decide their own  version of truth.  The articles at places like the National Catholic Reporter are getting more ridiculous and laughable.  Relativism and consequentialism permeate the works there.  Much of what is found in op-ed pieces, can be refuted with the Compendium of the Catholic Catechism. 

For example, Canon Lawyer, Ed Peters just analyzed one such article that came out a few days ago in which the editors attacked the US bishops for a draft of their Pastoral Letter on Marriage which was leaked to them.  Obviously, it was leaked by someone who did not like what they were reading, otherwise, why would it be leaked to a dissident paper like NCR?  It is an unvirtuous act to begin with - to leak a working document intended to be between bishops to an online magazine  - in particular to one with a reputation for distortion of Catholic teaching.  As an aside, I must say, that any time the NCR has gotten their dander up over something bishops are doing, there's a pretty good chance that humble, loyal Catholics will value the work and study it.

When the editors of NCR can't get a basic Catholic fact straight, how serious can you take the rest of their argument?  Go read: The NCRep's "simple fact" about marriage is simply wrong by Ed Peters, J.D., J.C.D. 

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

Feast of St. Teresa of Jesus (St. Teresa of Avila)

St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) by François Gerard (1827)

From the Way of Perfection, Chapter 7.  This does not apply only to convents, but to any household, or even the workplace.

If one of you should be cross with another because of some hasty word, the matter must at once be put right and you must betake yourselves to earnest prayer. The same applies to the harbouring of any grudge, or to party strife, or to the desire to be greatest, or to any nice point concerning your honour. (My blood seems to run cold, as I write this, at the very idea that this can ever happen, but I know it is the chief trouble in convents.) If it should happen to you, consider yourselves lost. Just reflect and realize that you have driven your Spouse from His home: He will have to go and seek another abode, since you are driving Him from His own house. Cry aloud to His Majesty and try to put things right; and if frequent confessions and communions do not mend them, you may well fear that there is some Judas among you.

Please pray for all Carmelites today on this special feast day.

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!

Relic of St. Damian at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral today and tomorrow

I regret not knowing about this sooner or I would have advertised it.  St. Damian was just canonized and already the Archbishop has managed to get a relic at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral tonight and tomorrow.  From the AOD website:

Tuesday, Oct. 13

7 p.m. Reception of Saint Damien's relic into the Cathedral

7:30 p.m. Vespers service in presence of the relic

7:50–9 p.m. Relic will be on display for silent veneration

9 p.m. Cathedral doors close

Wednesday, Oct. 14

The Cathedral doors will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. for silent veneration of the relic. Please note that veneration will be suspended during the following services.

7:15 a.m. Mass with His Excellency, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

1 p.m. Scripture service for priests and religious (open to the public), celebrated by Bishop Moses Anderson, SSE

3 p.m. Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, to be celebrated by Bishop Francis Reiss

7 p.m. Mass for the faithful of the Archdiocese, to be celebrated by Bishop Daniel Flores

The Cathedral is located at 9844 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, one mile north of West Grand Boulevard and one mile south of the Davison Freeway. For more information about Saint Damien, and the latest information on the relic visit, please visit the Archdiocese of Detroit Web site at www.aodonline.org/stdamien. If you would like to schedule a group visit to the Cathedral for the relic visit, please call (313) 883-2080.

To read much more, go to the Archdiocese of Detroit webpage for St. Damian

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!

Must Read: Cyber Self Defense

Departing from religious talk for a moment here to cover something important about social networking sites and how we use them.  I've already learned that it is never a good idea to advertise when you are coming or going. There's nothing like telling lurking thieves when to break in.

This article deals with how much personal info you put online.  It took a long time for me to put just may name out there, but I don't discuss too many personal things. 

If you are reading this and use anything like Facebook, My Space, Twitter, and even blogs, do take the time to study this article and alter your habits accordingly.

Researchers Suggest Cyber Self-Defense in the Cloud

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!

Update - Call to Holiness - Audio, Video, and pics

If you missed the Call to Holiness or were not close enough to commute, you can purchase audio and video of the conference. 

The pictures were edited, and uploaded early Sunday. 

I have not had time to edit photos from yesterday's 9:30am Solemn High Mass with Fr. Z, nor the Noon Mass with Bishop Athanasius Schneider.  It may be a few days before I get time to do those.


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!

NY Times Blog - Behind the Scenes: Picturing Fetal Remains

I was alerted to this during the Call to Holiness on Saturday - that the NY Times had actually done  a  piece featuring photos of aborted babies, taken by Dr. Monica Miller - a professor at Madonna University and the director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.

You may recall that Dr. Miller had brought some aborted babies to Assumption Grotto where they were buried at the stone for the unborn in a tiny white casket.  Fr. Frank Pavone flew in for the burial and 600 people showed up on a Friday morning for the Mass by Bishop Quinn which preceded that burial. 


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!

Pope Canonizes St. Damian, and another four...

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday canonized 5 new saints, among them - Damian the Leper.  I don't have time to do a full blogpost on it, but here are some good reads:

• 
  
  Homily of Pope Benedict XVI (zenit)
  
  
  
• 
  
  The Honors of the Altar (whispers)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Hawaii Coverage - St. Damien (Catholic Mom in Hawaii)
  
• Apostle of Lepers (Catholic World Report)
  
  
  

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

Fr. Ray Blake: Green Shoots

If you want to read something heartwarming, go read the post by Fr. Ray Blake (in the UK) entitled, Green Shoots.  He voices some things that I have been telling people for the past year or so - signs that give me great hope for the future of the Church. 

Go read Fr. Ray Blake on Green Shoots!

While you are at it, go take a look at his latest project. 


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!

Bishop Sample on Bishop Gumbleton.....not in my diocese!

If you are looking for Call to Holiness pictures, you can scroll down or click here. 

I was just alerted to a statement by Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette in which he has publicly made known that he has asked Bishop Thomas Gumbleton not to speak in his diocese.  It reads, as follows:

I attempted to handle this matter in a private, respectful and fraternal manner with Bishop Gumbleton. It is unfortunate that what should have remained a private matter between two bishops of the Catholic Church has been made available for public consumption.

I want to first of all say that my decision to ask Bishop Gumbleton not to come to Marquette had absolutely nothing to do with the group who invited him to speak, Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice, nor with the topic of his publicized speech, since the Church is a strong advocate of peace and justice. I am sorry for the negative impact this has had on those planning this event.

There is a common courtesy usually observed between bishops whereby when one bishop wishes to enter into another bishop’s diocese to minister or make a public speech or appearance, he informs the local bishop ahead of time and seeks his approval. Only on October 9 did I receive any communication from Bishop Gumbleton, after this situation had already become public.

As the Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, I am the chief shepherd and teacher of the Catholic faithful of the Upper Peninsula entrusted to my pastoral care. As such I am charged with the grave responsibility to keep clearly before my people the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals. Given Bishop Gumbleton’s very public position on certain important matters of Catholic teaching, , it was my judgment that his presence in Marquette would not be helpful to me in fulfilling my responsibility.

I realize that these were not the topics upon which Bishop Gumbleton was planning to speak. However, I was concerned about his well-known and public stature and position on these issues and my inability to keep these matters from coming up in discussion. In order that no one becomes confused, everyone under my pastoral care must receive clear teaching on these important doctrines.

I offer my prayers for Bishop Gumbleton and for all those who have been negatively affected by this unfortunate situation.”

It's that simple folks. That's all that has to be done with any speaker who consistently spreads error through presentations and conferences, whether they are held on Church property or not. 


WHAT PROMPTED BISHOP SAMPLE'S STATEMENT?  UPDATE: 6:55PM

Curt Jester had this entry up earlier and in the combox I found a note on what likely prompted this action out of Bishop Sample:
I really don't think Bishop Sample would have addressed the exchange between himself and Bishop Gumbleton had the media not been involved once he was denied access to the diocese.  From the Mining Journal of the previous day: Bishop Sample tells Detroit bishop not to speak publicly

Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, 79, of Detroit was invited by the Citizens for Peace and Social Justice group to talk about "Visions of Peace: Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" at a forum scheduled for Monday. He was also invited to give a speech on peace in a local church on Sunday.

"Yesterday afternoon he called us and said he received a letter from Bishop Sample to not speak publicly," Dreisbach said. "He was not told why."

Gumbleton, a retired Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of the Detroit Archdiocese, is a longtime national and international activist in the peace movement, according to Dreisbach.

"He was the founder (member) of Pax Christi USA," she said. "He was one of the first bishops to speak out against the Vietnam War."

Gumbleton, whose homilies can be read in The National Catholic Reporter, has been known as an outspoken critic of violence and militarism; his stances have drawn national attention. He was arrested several times for anti-war protesting and performing acts of civil disobedience outside of The White House.

"I don't know how one bishop can deny civil rights," Dreisbach said, adding that she now has to cancel every event planned for Gumbleton's visit.

Keep in mind that "civil disobedience" has no place among the faithful on matters of faith and morals, "specifically with regard to homosexuality and the ordination of women to the priesthood".
Things are indeed changing. Please pray for our bishops. May God grace them with holy boldness.

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!

Photopost: Call to Holiness 2009

Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, author of Dominus Est was one of many speakers at the 12th Call to Holiness in metro Detroit at the National Shrine of the Little Flower.

I would like to give a special thanks to the Blessed Mother, whose help I always seek when photographing liturgical events and conferences.  I credit her and my guardian angel for helping me to see the beauty of the background and integrating it for compositions most pleasing to the eye.  I was especially blessed this year with the help of St. Therese, whose feast day had just passed on October 1st.  The parish was decked out with large photographs and roses which are seen throughout these photos.  Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

The event was held at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. 

Dr. Michael P. Foley spoke on, "How the Mass shaped the western world".

In his talk, "Treasures of the Mass", Fr. Eduard Perrone, Pastor of Assumption Grotto, spoke about the parts of the Mass - ordinary and extraordinary - with the aid of demonstrations on the two large screens.

Bishop Schneider looks up at the on screen demonstrations.

People view liturgical text on the big screen during Fr. Perrone's talk

Bishop Schneider gives his talk, "The Sacredness of the Holy Eucharist and the Fathers of the Church"

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, aka Fr. Z, speaks on, "Mystery Both Fearsome and Alluring: Holy Mass and True Active Participation".  

Quotable Fr. Z: "The greatest form of active participation is worthy reception of Holy Communion"

Dr. Ronald Prowse of Sacred Heart Major Seminary teaches basic chant in his talk, "Let's Sing Sacred Music". It later used in the parish vigil Mass, with the Gregorian notation and Latin shown on the big screens.

Bishop Schneider was the celebrant for the 4:30pm vigil Mass.

Recently ordained, Fr. Charles White IV with his eyes fixed on the Precious Blood during Elevation of the Chalice.

Awwwwww!

If you want to see all of the pictures taken from the day (118 in all), see the slideshow below, or use on of the several options below to view them directly in my smugmug gallery.  Bloggers and webmasters are free to use them for stories, but please provide a courtesy link back to this post (copy shortcut on title or timestamp link at the bottom).  For professional use, please contact me at TeDeumBlog@gmail.com

You can start the slideshow from the beginning by placing your cursor over to the left on the filmstrip and an arrow should appear. You can also change the speed. I recommend "fast".  If it doesn't work for you, use the gallery link below.

Click here to view the gallery of 118 pictures from the 2009 Call to Holiness.

As mentioned yesterday, Fr. Zuhlsdorf will be the main celebrant for the 9:30am Mass which will be a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form. 

At Noon today, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC will be the celebrant at the ordinary form Mass, which is partically in Latin and always celebrated ad orientem.

Updated at 9:00pm to include Abp Vigneron's letter on the Call to Holiness Conference.

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!

Grotto Mass notes for this Sunday...

With the Call to Holiness this weekend and several guest speakers in from out of town, people are wondering who may have the main Masses. 

The choir was told on Wednesday before our rehearsal that Fr. Z will have the 9:30am Mass and it will be a Solemn High Mass.  As we have on most Sundays, there will be chant and sacred polyphony.

I believe Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC will have the Noon Mass.  This Mass is in the Ordinary Form and is partially in the vernacular and in Latin (Eucharistic Prayer).  As with all Masses at Grotto, even the ordinary form is celebrated ad orientem, at the wall altar.

If you have not been to Grotto - we have BBQ'd hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages most Sundays after the 9:30am and Noon Masses.  Just follow the crowd into the school.  We have an excellent giftshop/bookstore, as well.

I'll share pics of Call to Holiness and the Sunday Masses as soon as I get the photos edited.

Please pray for the speakers of Call to Holiness and for participants.  May God's grace guide them.

You may want to follow the blog of Fr. Z while he is here in Detroit.  He is handy with a camera and has been taking some.....well....interesting tours of the city.

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!