Pope's debut single!

Papa Benny singing the debut single of his debut album. His version of a Jerry Lewis classic.

"Summorum Pontificum, Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On."

Forceful singing, eh.  From the chair...with matching clenched fist, showing his Fisherman's Ring.

Papa Benny's debut album?

Courtesy of The New Zealand Herald

Pope Benedict XVI will release an album on which he sings and recites prayers to the Virgin Mary, his label said today. [Papa Benny has a label?!  Grammy subito?  Hah, wishful thinking.]

The pontiff's as-yet-untitled album also includes eight original pieces of contemporary classical music, Geffen/Universal said.

The pope is accompanied by the Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, recorded in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The original compositions are performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded at London's Abbey Road studios.

The album was not a Vatican initiative but was arranged with Multimedia San Paolo, an Italian Catholic media group. Proceeds will go to fund music education for underprivileged children around the world.

The album is due for release on Nov. 30.

Benedict is not the first pope to have his creative efforts captured on record. Last year tenor Placido Domingo recorded an album of poems by the late Pope John Paul II.

***

Can't wait.  My brother bought a casette tape of John Paul II praying the rosary.  Yeah, it's a casette tape and don't laugh if it is not a CD.  He saved a lot just to buy the casette.  And yes, CDs cost a fortune in the Philippines.

40 Hour Eucharistic Vigil for Cory Aquino

An age-old devotion of Eucharistic vigil was "reintroduced" into the Philippines to pray for former president Cory Aquino, who has been battling colon cancer.  Reintroduced because it wasn't heard of for a veeeery looong time.

***

40-hour prayer vigil for former Pres. Aquino’s speedy recovery begins tonight

MANILA, July 30 –- A 40-hour prayer vigil for the speedy recovery of cancer-stricken former President Corazon C. Aquino is set to begin tonight at the the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace on EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Ave.) at the boundary of Quezon City and Mandaluyong City.

Mrs. Aquino’s supporters will offer a 40-hour collective adoration of the exposed Eucharist, or Quarant’ore. [A devotion instituted by St. Philip Neri.  More about this below.] The rites will start at 7 p.m. with a Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani.

On Saturday, August 1, a dawn procession of Our Lady of Fatima, another EDSA icon, will be held starting at 5:30 a.m. The closing rites will be held on the same day with another Mass and a procession of Our Lady of EDSA.

The Quarant’ore is in honor of the time Jesus spent in the tomb. The devotion started in Milan in 1534, [no.] with the Blessed Sacrament displayed [is this the right term to use?] continuously for 40 hours during a time of calamity.  [huh?]

The prayer groups supporting the EDSA Shrine and the prayer vigil include the Sacred Land of Asia, Wellspring of Life Community, Marian Movement Cenacle Group, Luminous Cross of Grace, Hijas de Maria and Knights of Malta. [ hmm... my brother Knights were not there?]

Reports said the condition of the 76-year-old former President has slightly improved although still "not ideal," a day after a family member said her blood pressure had been erratic. (PNA) 

***

Here is my take on the "Quarant'Ore".  The 40 Hours Devotion, since it lasts for 40 hours was introduced by St. Philip Neri in 1548, in Rome.  It is the continuous adoration of the exposed Blessed Sacramant, in honor of the time Our Lord spent in the tomb.  Even though the devotion is for forty hours, a person is not expected to spend 40 hours in adoration.  

This devotion is often practiced during the Sacred Triduum (which is Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday) but can also be also offered in special times such as  great Feasts, or for special occassions such as the collective praying for the healing of Mrs. Aquino.

On a side note, yellow has been the signature color of Pres. Cory.  Her assassinated husband's favorite song was "Tie a Yellow Ribbon".  So after his assassination, the opposition movement in the Philippines used yellow as the color against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.  The YouTube clip below comprise part 1 of Mrs. Aquino's before her historic speech at the joint session of the US Congress.  

Beautiful speech.  One of the proudest moments of being Pinoy!

Part 2 can be viewed here

The last part of her speech is here

Beautiful Solemn Pontifical High Mass

The video of the Pontifical Solemn High Mass for the Solemn Feast of the Most Precious Blood, as celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and assisted by Members of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius is now available online.

This Mass was held last July 1st, 2009 at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville, Alabama, the home of Mother Angelica and the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration.

You can view the video here

The photo below shows His Excellency celebrating the Pontifical Mass in Marytown's Chapel.

Wish more Pinoy bishops would do the same as Bishop Perry.

Nurse forced to aid in abortion sues hospital

From abs-cbnnews.com

A Filipina nurse has filed charges against a hospital for allegedly forcing her to assist in a late-term abortion procedure in Brooklyn, New York City.  [if someone forces you to wrok against your will that is tantamount to slavery isn't it?  Do you need shackles and a whip to fall into that category?]

The New York Post reported that the May 24 incident was traumatic for Catherina Cenzon-DeCarlo, 35.

"It felt like a horror film unfolding," said Cenzon-DeCarlo in a report by the New York Post. [sure it would look like one.  Animal rights activist cringe at the sight of a pig, chicken or cow being butchered for their meat.  How would you react to a human being being murdered inside the womb of her own mother, with her own mother's consent?  All in the name of rights? and choice?] 

Cenzon-DeCarlo was reportedly threatened by Mount Sinai Hospital with insubordination and patient-abandonment if she refuses to assist in the abortion procedure. She also claimed that the hospital has cut her overtime shifts.

A devout catholic, [see the connection? Devout Catholic, Pro-life? Hats off the a fellow Pinoy Catholic standing up and even suffering for her Faith.  God will reward you immensely!] Cenzon-DeCarlo is a married mother of a year-old baby and niece of a Filipino bishop.

She said her bosses at the hospital reportedly exaggerated about the condition [Sounds like the Mona Lisa Project undercover video about a Planned Parenthood counselor telling a Mona Lisa undercover agent that abortion pictures are not "real".  I posted it here.] like the of the patient who was 22 weeks into her pregnancy. 

In her lawsuit, Cenzon-DeCarlo claimed that the hospital told her the patient had preeclampsia, a condition that could lead to seizures or death if left untreated.
 
However, she refuted this and said the patient was not even given magnesium therapy which was a common treatment for preeclampsia.

She found out later that the hospital's own records described the procedure "Category II," which is not considered immediately life threatening.

The incident prompted Cenzon-DeCarlo to file a grievance with her union, the report said.

"I emigrated to this country in the belief that here religious freedom is sacred. [Your religious freedom is allowed in the US except if your a Catholic standing up for life!] Doctors and nurses shouldn't be forced to abandon their beliefs and participate in abortion in order to keep their jobs," she said in the report.

Cenzon-DeCarlo is a native of the Philippines and moved to New York in 2001. She started working at Mount Sinai Hospital as an operating nurse in 2004.

Will they do that to the Koran?

The Pope reacted to a news item regarding a copy of the Bible getting vandalized from the hands of gays and lesbians at an "art show".  The adviser to the Pope said: 'It is disgusting and offensive. They would not think of doing it to the Koran.' 

When its about gays, lesbians, blacks, Muslims, Jews...be careful!  Remember racism and bigotry.

But when it is about Catholics, its fair game.  

Read the coverage of this blasphemous act here and here.

What do you make of this?

This is a response from a Filipino Jesuit about the TLM which was posted on his multiply account.

"...only some are interested in the Extraordinary form. Fr. Tim Ofrasio SJ says it daily. But not all of us. I myself am not. I would rather participate than watch or feel the ambience.(sic) [get that?] I learned that from Vatican II. [get that again?  Vatican II taught him that. And I guess a lot of us too.  Remember how Moses worshipped God in the burning bush?  How Peter fell down on his knees when he realized Jesus in Luke 5:8?  How Elijah reacted to a gentle whisper for God was there in 1 Kings 19:9-14?  Our Masses are too noisy and too participative that we hear each other, and most of the time the priest but no time to hear Him.] But I probably don't mind attending it again; [at least he would not mind] though would not do it daily.""

Afterwards he was asked again:

"i am wondering, father, if ever the Jesuits are interested in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite..."

The Jesuit did not respond.

You can help me find his response by visiting the exchanges here.

I cannot make of his response in the first part.  And certainly was hoping for an answer on the second part.  But nothing...  Silence means a lot, and I mean this time, A LOT of things.

By the way, this priest celebrates Mass on TV.  I've seen one of his Masses.  Clapping, guitars...you get the picture.

Pinoy Jesuit to celebrate the Mass of the Ages

The pinoy blog Monk's Hobbit posted the wonderful news that Fr. Tim Ofrasio, SJ will be celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass on the Feast of their Holy Founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola at the Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy, in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.

Fr. Ofrasio is a Professor of Liturgy and Sacraments at Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.  A fellow Filipino Jesuit confirmed this news in his own blog.

Praying and hoping for more Pinoy priests to celebrate the TLM!  Deo gratias!

SNAPSHOT: Fr. Tim Finigan

His Hermeneuticalness, Fr. Tim Finigan... Photos courtesy of Fr. Z

Today, the biretta and ferraiolo are black.  Soon, it will be either amaranth or scarlet!

The Genuine Liturgical Renewal Bus Express is on its road tour, featuring three future bishops and one future cardinal!   All aboard!!!

The Eucharist = Pro - Life!

I found the transcript of the interview of LifeSiteNews.com with the former Archbishop of Toledo, Spain, Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera who is the current Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.   In the interview, he speaks about the connection of the devotion to the Eucharist and being pro-life.

***

LSN: What is the connection between faithfulness to the norms of the liturgy and faithfulness to the Church's moral teachings?

Cardinal Canizares Llovera: There is no doubt about the connection.

To recognise what is the Eucharist is to recognise Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God that became man. Christ is the most absolute 'yes' of God to man. He is the revelation of God and the revelation of the truth about man. Man cannot be separated from God; man was created in the image and likeness of God.

In creation, God manifests Himself as love in favour of man. In His Son, the true image of the Father, we have been created in the image of the Son. For that reason, all human beings have a greatness and a dignity that cannot be separated or violated.

Jesus Christ shows the face of God that loves man to the utter extremes. The biggest demonstration of this love of Jesus for Man is seen on the cross, dying for man. But this love could not be destroyed or chained by death. It has triumphed over death. [That is why I have always in my pocket a crucifix, not just a cross, but a crucifix to remind me of the greatest love story ever told and ever shown.] The love of Jesus, Son of God, brought to an extreme on the cross, shows how all men are loved by God with a love from which nothing and no one can separate us. Each man has been saved or repurchased by the blood of Christ, which is the blood of God. This is how much every human being is worth, the blood of God.

For that reason, between the Eucharist and the defence of life there is a link that cannot be separated. To live the Eucharist, is to enter in communion with Jesus Christ and as a consequence with His love. This is a communion of life and makes us participate in the life which is Christ. Divine life, eternal life, but at the same time it makes us be givers or carriers of love and defenders of life. [Beautiful...simply beautiful!]

If the Christians would live all that the Eucharist means, we would be defenders of life in every moment. [Here that Biden, Pelosi, Kennedy, Notre Dame...?]

LSN: We were wondering since the issue is very serious in the US and growing more so in Britain and Canada if there is planned a definitive statement or teaching on the reception of Communion by politicians and public figures who reject the Church's teaching on life. The issue still hasn't been resolved since the US election in 2004. [Great question!]

Cardinal Canizares Llovera: I think that the strongest words are found in St. Paul: one who goes to the Eucharist and is not properly prepared, duly prepared, "he eats his own condemnation." This is the strongest thing that we can say and what is the most truthful statement. [It's already in the Bible.]

When the Church states that to take part in or request an abortion, to take an active role in one way or the other, the person incurs automatically excommunication. This means that politicians should become aware and they should be helped to become aware of the gravity of their conduct. When they approve laws against life, in favour of abortion or euthanasia, priest and bishops should say this.  [What happened to the dialogue at Notre Dame?  The pope did his role when Pelosi visited him at the Vatican.  He did it as bishop of ALL Catholics!]

I don't know if there's going to be a document on the politicians who are in favour of abortion, [oh. Rain on my sunshine.] but the politicians have to be conscious of the teachings of the Church that I have just pointed out.

LSN: There's a conflict in the US now. There are some bishops who are saying they will speak to, educate and address the issue with these people but they refuse to refuse. Others are saying, 'No, you may not receive Communion in my diocese". How is that conflict going to be resolved?

Cardinal Canizares Llovera: I cannot judge one group of bishops or the other group of bishops but I think that all of us know what has to be done, or should be done. In the presence of cases of public sinners ... at the same time we don't know what is happening in the consciences of those politicians. I understand the prudence with which we have to act. But I think also that it is our duty to clarify their consciences. To help the person to act in accordance with a right and true conscience. Bishops have a function to help the due formation of conscience. [precisely!] To form consciences in such a way that people should act in accordance with the truth.

The pope JPII in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae offers criteria that show how politicians should act with regards to the questions of life. Also the congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith published an instruction when Cardinal Ratzinger was the prefect on the way politicians should act on these questions of life. Also the most recent encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, when he was referring to abortion offers criteria in such a way that politicians should act in accordance with truth. [And still  Catholic politicians and even clerics , like Notre Dame, insist on following their own "teachings" and "dogma".  This is silent apostasy at its best.]

I believe that the Pauline principle, that gives the title to the most recent encyclical of Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, should be the principle that guides us to speak about this question. This principle, Caritas in Veritate [Love in Truth] should be the principle first for politicians when they come to Communion, and second it should be the rule for bishops when they decide to give or to withdraw Communion.

LSN: Is there a movement in the Vatican to return to the traditional manner of reception of Communion? (With the recipient kneeling and the host placed directly on the tongue.) [Here it comes!]

Cardinal Canizares Llovera: There is no resolution that forbids giving Communion in the mouth.  In the same way, there is no norm that forbids Communion in the hand. Neither can be forbidden. [Then let's make a resolution!  Resolve that the disrespectful manner of receiving Communion in the Hand be banned in the Catholic Church say "Aye!"] Neither one nor the other. This means that Communion in the mouth has a long history and tradition that expresses in a profound way the sense of adoration, reverence in the presence of the body of Christ. Everything that is at stake in the real presence of Christ. If Communion in the mouth goes with the gesture of kneeling, it expresses in a stronger way, with stronger force, the real presence of Christ, the sense of adoration, the participation in the body of Christ that offers Himself for us.

If the papal liturgy is a sign, an indication for all the Church, we should promote Communion kneeling and in the mouth. But, this does not mean not permitting or forbidding Communion in the hand if it is done with due respect. [How can this be done?  Is kneeling and in the mouth on the same level of respectfulness?  Is saluting a senior officer standing up the same as saluting him lying down?  No need to be a rocket scientist to know this.]  With a previous gesture of adoration. This could be kneeling, or a genuflection or with a deep bow. And also in the moment of receiving Communion, the right hand should be placed under the left hand forming a cross expressing in this way the recognition of the real presence of the body of Christ offered for us. We should take care that no particle should be lost. And the body of Christ should be received in front of the priest. [Well its not even a particle that is lost.  Its the entire host Himself!  They have taken away the Lord and we do not know where they have put him.  Sound familiar?]

We should recognise that frequently Communion in the hand many times is not received in this way.

It is very lamentable. [Well, we should not just lament.  We should take action.]

LSN: We know that over the years a great many people have seen and complained about abuses of the liturgy at Mass. What can the faithful do when they see these?

Cardinal Canizares Llovera: They should say to the priest immediately after Mass as a part of fraternal correction. If it is not possible, they should say to the bishop. If the bishop does not act, they should come here and report it to the Congregation. [Have we ever experienced a bishop addressing this issue.  Let's put it in the context of the Philippines.  .  .  .  .  Oh are we still on air, on line.  Sorry, I forgot.  Because, THERE IS NOTHING BEING DONE TO ADDRESS LITURGICAL ABUSE IN THE PHILIPPINES!]

There are two documents that are important. One by the Cong. for Divine Worship, Redemptionis Sacramentum, that talks about some of these abuses and talks about the rights of the faithful and how they should act.

The other is Sacramentum Caritatis, of Benedict XVI that also gives criteria on the way that the Eucharist is abused.

We should all fight to avoid abuses against the Eucharist. It is the holiest, greatest, most important [thing] in the Church and in life. We should respect the Eucharist and the rules and discipline of the Church that give the warranty of ecclesial communion that has its sources, its roots, its truth in the Eucharist, in the celebration of the Eucharist, in the rite that the Church has indicated.  [Want an example?  I remember visiting a Eucharistic Adoration chapel in a city in the south of the Philippines.  Guess what?  No one was in the chapel when I went it.  The Host was exposed.  I noticed something on the "leg" of the monstrance.  It's cobwebs!   Really.  Now you draw the conclusion.  Good Lord. Have mercy]

LSN: Is the liturgical revolution over? Is the Church in general becoming more balanced about the liturgy?

We're still suffering it but also we are in a moment of great hope. [slowly but surely, I hope.] Pope Benedict XVI makes the renewal of the spirit of liturgy to rekindle in the conscience of all the true sense of the liturgy. Which should help to impose a great new unstoppable liturgical movement. Nevertheless, we have not yet applied in a truthful way the teachings of Vatican II read in continuity with the tradition of the Church. This is the commitment of this congregation continuing the [work of the] Holy Father that presides over us in faith and charity and over the whole Church.

We want a Church that should be present in the world, that is ready to transform the world and [lead] the renewal of mankind in accordance with God's will. This will not be possible without Sacrosanctum Concilium, without liturgy, adoration, without putting God in the centre of all, living of God's gift, and offering Him whatever we are in order to bring about His will.

In other words, there is no new humanity and there is no hope for man that is not grounded in God that would come from God and would return everything to God as His glory. The future of humanity is in the liturgy. [Soundslike Fr. Z!] read the last encyclical of the Holy Father, we can understand that the liturgy occupies a central role in the concerns of the Holy Father.

Guess what this is?

I think I am on a roll on getting photos...
So...Aside from being a "work of art", this has something to do with what we do as Catholics. Guess what this is. No joking, really, this is serious stuff.

SNAPSHOT UPDATE: Guess who

In a recent post, I asked you dear TPC readers who this young man is proudly showing his brown scapular.  He is none other than the future Pope John Paul II.

In the photo, a bare-chested, 19 year old Karol Wojtyla is standing between two co-workers at a military construction site in July 1939 in eastern Poland (now western Ukraine). The young Wojtyla is wearing a scapular.

Be proud to wear your scapular, wherever you may be, and what ever the situation may be!

Our dear TPC reader, Michael Tober, of Catholic Books and Debt Reduction And Financial Stability, got it right.  Kudos to Michael!

Pinoy priest-governor to run for presidency

Canon lawyer Ed Peters posted a comment regarding Pampanga Governor and suspended-priest Ed Panlilio's decision to run for the presidency of the Republic of the Philippines.

American Papist Tom Peters posted the video commentary of his father.  My comments and emphasis.

The article below is from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

***

MANILA, Philippines – Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio announced on Tuesday his intention to run for president in 2010 and leave priesthood.

“I have every intention to file my candidacy on or before November 30 [the deadline of filing of candidacy]. I'm ready for all the consequences, including dispensation from priesthood,” he declared at the weekly forum arranged by the Catholic Media Network in Intramuros, Manila.

Panlilio, who became the first Filipino priest to sit in public office when he was elected governor in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's home province in 2007, said he believed running for president was God's calling.

“When I decided to offer myself [as candidate] I felt at peace. I'm doing this not for me, not for myself. I felt God wanted me to go on a higher service,” [And the presidency is a higher he said.

“I have said time and again I have no political agenda. There have been groups telling me to run for the presidency and thought I would pray again. After a period of discernment I said, yeah God is calling me to run for the presidency,” [Oh brother.] he continued.

Panlilio said he was not expecting the Catholic Church leadership to campaign for him since the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines never endorsed and would not endorse candidates. [It is not onky against Church law but against the Constitution.  BUT!!!  The Iglesia ni Cristo, the pseudo-Christian, more Mormon-like group, openly commands, not recommends, but advises its members who to vote for or else risk sanctions or expulsion.  BUT!!! the Philippine-media accuses the Catholic Church of playing partisan politics! WHAT?!?!]

He said he would formally request for dispensation from the Church “anytime between next month and November.”

But he reiterated his previous statement that he would want to be reinstated to the priesthood should he lose in the elections.

“If they would accept me back, yes. But the thing is, that could come later. What's important is, this priesthood that I love so much I'm willing to give up for a greater love and that is love for the country. For me the heart of priesthood is accepting the love of God in working for other people especially the poor,” he said [The heart of the priesthood  is the Sacraments!  Good grief!  You can work for the  poor even without ordination!  A priest can do what a king, president, Nobel laureate, hey maybe even an Academy Award winner, but none of them can do what a priest does, turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ!  And he considers the presidency a higher calling?!  Good Lord! Pray for the governor.  Pray for all priests that they resist all types of temptations.  Power and prestige are one of the temptations the devil presented to Jesus.]

If elected, Panlilio said his government's main thrusts would be to address people's livelihood, malnutrition, corruption, food sufficiency, and insurgency.

***

In fairness though, the governor did a lot to stop corruption in a province dubbed the "Vatican of gambling and corruption".  You can read his profile and some of his accomplishments and the harassment he had been receiving from those affected by his reforms  here.   

Just came back

If you are wondering why I have fewer posts the past weeks, that is because I have been travelling the country on a business trip.  A whole week at the south and another week up north.  So it was like a quick trip of the whole country.

Blogging will resume...

Prayer for Cancer Victims

In your spare time, please pray for my aunt who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer patients.   He himself was stricken with the disease. The night before the operation to remove the cancer on his leg, he prayed before the image of the crucified Christ in the priory chapter room.  His prayer led him into a deep trance-like sleep during which he envisioned the crucified Christ leaving the cross and touching his cancerous leg. When Peregrine awakened from the trance of prayer, he discovered the wound healed and the leg saved.

Please pray that God may heal my aunt from this affliction.

A Prayer to St. Peregrine for Sick Relatives and Friends

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty", the "The Wonder Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you obtained from God for those who have turned to you in their need.   For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being.   You turned to God when the power of human beings could do no more, 
and you were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His cross to heal your affliction. I now ask God to heal these sick persons whom I entrust to you:

(Here mention their names)

Aided by your powerful intercession, I shall sing with Mary a hymn of gratitude to God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.

Communion in the Hand has no traditional basis!

One of my favorite blogs has posted a very powerful article disputing what Communion in the Hand proponents have been trumpeting...that it is an ancient practice. I will not make any comments and even emphasize certain entries because the post was excellently written and everything stands by itself. Excellent post Robert, of St. John's Valdosta Blog! Hope Frs. Genaro Diwa and Anscar Chupungco are reading this.


***

In an interview with Pontifex.Roma, Msgr. Nicola Bux, an advisor to the Holy Father and various congregations in the Curia, gave his take on the proper way to receive Holy Communion.

When asked what is the correct way to communicate, Bux says:

“I would say there are two ways. There is the position where one stands up, taking the Host in the mouth, or else on one’s kneels. I do not see any third way.”

The interviewer does remind him of the "standing up" position. His reply:

“OK, I have nothing against it. The important thing is that the faithful are intimately conscious of what they are about to receive, that is that they do not approach the communion with a lightheartedness that shows immaturity and being at a complete distance from God.”

When asked about the Holy Father's policy of distributing to communicants who are kneeling, Bux says:

"Yes, he was very right to do so. I believe that kneeling when receiving the communion helps one to gather oneself together and to understand the mystery in a more reverential way. To kneel in front of the Body of Christ is an act of gratuitous love and humility before God, and this sense of the sacred is seldom understood. In our days it is mostly adrift and lost or almost muted. “

Finally Msgr. Bux is asked about receiving Holy Communion in the hand. His answer:

“I am sorry to say, but there is no text of the Tradition which supports it. Not even if everybody takes it and eats it in this way. There is no text concerning this, and if we wish we could say that the Apostles were priests and thus had the right to take it by the hand. The Oriental Church does not permit it.”

You've got to love a priest like Msgr. Bux. This is the same priest who offered this advice in 2008 about dealing with bishops who defied Summorum Pontificum:

"St. Joseph is Patron of the Church. You must pray a lot to St. Joseph in this situation, that he either open the bishop’s eyes or he close them for good. This isn’t a joke, eh? St. Joseph is truly very powerful. You must pray a lot to St. Joseph. Moreover St. Joseph was placed in the Roman Canon by Pope John. You can also put him into all the other Eucharistic Prayers after the Blessed Virgin Mary saying ‘and St. Joseph her Spouse’. I am convinced that St. Joseph will do a great deal."

All indicators in the Vatican show that Holy Communion in the hand is on its way out, but the indults have still not been revoked. Let us pray that they are revoked soon to end the sacrileges that have accompanied this misguided permission that was obtained dishonestly.

The story of how I got my St. Pius X reliquary

Back when I was in college, we were living in a dormitory. One of the rooms was once occupied by a late American missionary priest. He was known as a very holy man who worked tirelessly for the salvation of souls. Even before his death, even if his eye sight was already failing him, he was learning a new dialect so he can preach more effectively. Among the items the holy priest left was this reliquary. I found it in a box with the new priest-in-charge of the dormitory telling us that such items are part of the Church's "nostalgic" past. So according to him, there is no need to even place these things in altars or in other noble places like the sacristy. I was completely shocked by the priest's answer but I kept it to myself. So I decided to take the reliquary for myself and gave the Holy Pope, the veneration he worthily deserves even if the other priest does not approve of it.

This reliquary now rests in my wife's family shrine and my mother-in-law would not even give it back to me. But she maintains that she just borrows it and that I still own the reliquary. :) She loves praying the rosary in front of it before sleeping.

Here are photos of the reliquary as I dismantled it to show you how it was kept. The receptacle containing the holy relics is in fact a small pendant. The cotton holding the pendant inside the bigger receptacle shows you how old it is.





I removed the seal at the back to show to you that the wax seal is still intact. So don't worry, the relic is still authentic.

The Brown Scapular saved his life...LITERALLY

This is the story of Eddie Cortez who survived an electrical accident back in 2006 when he was electrocuted with 7200 volts at least...twice.

His upper body suffered the effects of the shock, except for the brown scapular of Mt. Carmel he was wearing the day of the accident. Cortez says the scapular saved his life.

Read his story here and here

After reading this story, I think that is proof enough of the maternal protection of Our Lady to those who would faithfully wear her badge.

Sodom and Gomorrah once again

I don't have time to check the correct spelling of the names of the biblical places wiped out by the wrath of God. This news is just plain ?!@#*&%$#. If you get what I mean. My emphasis and comments

***

Anglicans Split Over Homosexuality, Swedish, U.S. Branches Move to Approve Same-Sex Unions

LONDON, JULY 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Church of England's council of archbishops is expressing concern about a decision last month by Church of Sweden authorities to adopt rites for blessing same-sex unions. [Just expressing concern? What about outrage?]

A June 26 letter from the Anglican council to the Swedish central board affirmed the "problematic" nature of this move.

"Changes in the understanding of human sexuality and marriage," it affirmed, "would lead to an impairment of the relationships between the churches." [Because it is Sodom and Gomorrah all over again!]

It added that this could "further undermine the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion."

The letter was sent to the archbishop of Uppsala, Wejryd Anders, from Bishop Christopher Hill and Bishop John Hind, from the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Advisory.

It stated that "although there is a continuing debate among Anglicans about human sexuality, the teaching and discipline of the Church of England, like that of the Anglican Communion as a whole as expressed in the Lambeth Conference of 1998, is that it is not right either to bless same-sex sexual relationships or to ordain those who are involved in them."

The proposal, the letter continued, "appears to be a fundamental re-definition of the Christian doctrine of marriage and of basic Christian anthropology." [Precisely! A DIY Christianity! This is what happens when you throw the pearls to the pigs as warned by the Lord. Once Christian doctrine is submitted to the whims of the times, you get hell unleashed! It's the Christianity Lucifer wants to have!]

It affirmed, "This position would be at odds with the biblical teaching about the significance of God's creation of human beings as male and female as this has been received by the Church of England and by the Catholic tradition in general." [Well, I have given up hope with heretics led by Jefferts-Schori and Vicky Gene Robinson. Come on, they have their own brand of Christianity and they have their own "Jesus". It's like talking to a kid about Shakespeare when what he has in mind is Barney!]

Meanwhile, the Anglican branch in the United States, the Episcopalian church, voted this week in a general convention to allow the ordination of gay priests and bishops. [See? All hell breaks loose. Lucifer is prancing in their midst.]

Moreover, in further sessions of the convention, the church is also expected to authorize rites for blessing same-sex unions.

England's archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, had warned the convention participants last week to refrain from decisions that will push the churches farther apart. [Just a warning? Like that would accomplish anything. This is what happens when the acknowledged leader, acting in primus inter pares, or in collegiality, has no capacity to censure erring bishops. That's what makes the pope different from the Archbishop of Canterbury or from the Patriarchs of Istanbul and Moscow. Collegiality really will not work!]

Bishop N.T. Wright of Durham, England, stated in a letter Wednesday to the Times of London that "the Americans know this will end in schism. The vote, he continued, to allow the appointment of "persons in active same-sex relationships" to all ministry positions is a "clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion."

***

Episcopalians don't care! Why force someone to go to heaven if they want to go straight to hell? Even Christ himself expressed the same disgust with the scribes and the Pharisees!

PRAYERS FOR OUR DEAR HOLY FATHER

News reports are saying that Pope Benedict XVI will be in a cast for a month after breaking his right wrist in a fall in his chalet while vacationing in the Italian Alps of Aosta. A statement said Holy Father fell in his room. Despite the accident, he celebrated Mass and had breakfast before going to the hospital.

PRAY FOR THE HOLY FATHER...

Blessing of the Brown Scapular

If you want to have your Brown Scapulars blessed, make sure to ask your priest (and not an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion) to bless the scapulars using the formula below which is the recommended and official blessing.  The one below is the shorter form.  You can have this printed and shown to the reverend father.
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BLESSING AND IMPOSITION WITH THE SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
There is a decree issued by Pope Paul V in 1613 stating the importance of wearing this scapular:  "It is permitted to preach that the Blessed Virgin will help by her continued assistance and her merits, particularly on Saturdays, the souls of the members of the Scapular Confraternity who have died in the grace of God, if in life they had worn the scapular,
observed chastity according with their state of life, and recited the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

The imposition is done with a scapular of wool. Afterwards, a scapular medal could be worn. The requirements of this devotion are:

To receive the imposition of the scapular and to wear it habitually. To guard one's chastity. To pray daily the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. It could be substituted by praying three Hail Marys; or seven Our Fathers with Hail Mary and Glory Be; or the
Divine Office.

[The person who is to receive the scapular kneels, and the priest, vested in surplice and white stole, says:]

V. Lord, show us your kindness and mercy.
R. AND GRANT US YOUR SALVATION.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. AND LET MY CRY COME UNTO YOU.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT.

Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of mankind, by your right hand sanctify this scapular, which your servant will devotedly wear for the love of you and of your mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. By her intercession, may he (she) be protected from the wickedness of the enemy and persevere in your grace until death. You who live and reign for ever and ever.

R. AMEN.

[The priest then sprinkles the scapular with holy water and imposes it upon the person (or upon each person), saying:]

RECEIVE THIS BLESSED SCAPULAR AND ASK THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN THAT, BY
HER MERITS, IT MAY BE WORN WITH NO STAIN OF SIN AND MAY PROTECT YOU
FROM ALL HARM AND BRING YOU INTO EVERLASTING LIFE.

R. AMEN.

[After this the priest adds:]

BY THE POWER GRANTED TO ME, I ADMIT YOU TO A SHARE IN ALL THE
SPIRITUAL WORKS PERFORMED WITH THE MERCIFUL HELP OF JESUS CHRIST BY
THE RELIGIOUS OF MOUNT CARMEL. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, + AND OF
THE SON, + AND OF THE HOLY + SPIRIT.

R. AMEN.

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, BLESS YOU, WHOM
HE HAS BEEN PLEASED TO RECEIVE INTO THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MOUNT CARMEL. WE BEG HER TO CRUSH THE HEAD
OF THE ANCIENT SERPENT IN THE HOUR OF YOUR DEATH AND TO OBTAIN FOR
YOU THE PALM AND THE CROWN OF YOUR EVERLASTING INHERITANCE.
THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.

R. AMEN.

How the Brown Scapular saved a homosexual, AIDS victim

A wonderful story of a " homosexual who had contracted the AIDS virus and who died repenting of his sins, received the last rites of the Church and...wearing the Brown Scapular.

Read the story of the late Michael Zeromski, Jr.

Why wear the Brown Scapular?

An interesting article from livingcatholicism.com.  Here is an excerpt regarding the Brown Scapular...

            Is the brown scapular necessary for salvation? The answer to this question is simple….NO. While all devotions to the Blessed Mother are worthwhile and beneficial the Church has never declared one of them to be necessary as She does the Sacraments, especially Baptism. One might ask what the reason is for this. The answer again is simple….Christ did not command it as He did the living of the Sacramental life.

           So why wear the Brown Scapular? Within the Body of Christ, Mary holds a special place. She is the Mother of God. She was assumed into heaven. She is the queen of heaven and earth. For some specific reason God has deemed it necessary for her to intervene for us and to appear to some of us in this life. She counsels us always to pray without ceasing, to return to the Sacraments, to read and study the Scriptures, to be faithful to the Church, and to convert to her Son Jesus. If she has recommended a devotion to us as a means of demonstrating our devotion to her and as a possible means of growing in holiness than it must be worthwhile.

           Wearing a brown scapular is meant to be an outward sign of an interior conviction and devotion to Mary. In imitating Mary, we model ourselves ultimately on the one who most perfectly imitated Christ while on this earth.

***

ARE YOU WEARING YOUR BROWN SCAPULAR?

What Obama was REALLY saying

You are such a burden!

SNAPSHOT: Guess who?

Guess who was this guy proudly showing off his Brown Scapular...

Who's REALLY on the other side when you go to Confession...

I just can't wait...

I can think of other names to add...

New CBCP President

The election of new set of officers of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines is over and they have a new president. Most Rev. Nereo P. Odchimar, D.D., Bishop of Tandag, Surigao. You can read his profile here and the profile of the Diocese of Tandag here. Please pray that the bishop steers the country's conference of catholic bishops in the path of true renewal.

About the Canadian Communion Sacrilege

This really ruined my day...for days now and counting...

If you don't know this story yet, Abp. Andre Richard gave Holy Communion in the HAND to a non-Catholic, Prime Minister Stephen Harper!  Canon Ed Peters, father of American Papist, Thomas Peters, has this to say....

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The Canadian Communion blunder 

Video tape shows Abp. Andre Richard (Moncton, New Brunswick) giving holy Communion to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a state funeral. It is, of course, inconceivable that Richard did not know that Harper is an evangelical Protestant. [yeah.  If he does say that he does not know, I'll tell the archbishop..."Your Grace, tell it to the marines!"] Obviously unsure what to do, Harper apparently slipped the Host into his pocket (!), and his office has not said what he eventually did with It. [Another reason why Communion in the Hand must be stopped!]

Canon 844 specifies the conditions under which a Catholic minister may licitly administer Communion to baptized non-Catholics and none of its five sections, including the most relevant section 4, seem satisfied in this case. I see, for example, no "grave necessity" for Harper to have taken holy Communion in the first place, it is doubtful that he approached on his own accord, and there is no evidence whatsoever that Harper "manifest[ed] Catholic faith in respect to [this] sacrament". Any one of these points, not to mention others, stand in the way of Harper licitly receiving the Eucharist.

For this grave blunder, however, I do not tend to hold Harper responsible, though he might have been poorly advised by his protocol staff. Rather, I look to the archbishop who, as the chief presider over the Eucharist in his local Church (1983 CIC 389) and as the one charged with upholding ecclesiastical laws and sacramental discipline (1983 CIC 392), should have known better.

In any case, I hope his Excellency's office is vigorously pursuing the question as to what happened to the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord last seen headed toward a politician's pocket.

Update: Sources say Harper consumed the Host, some claiming right away, others, just after Mass when he asked a Catholic what to do with it. Either way, the PM's decorum is commendable. Now, about Catholics putting Protestants in such positions to begin with . . .

***

Are we even sure that Harper consumed It.  If he did, he consumed It unworthily as someone who does not believe in the Real Presence.  Harper should have just returned the Host to the archbishop or to any priest present.   What has the archbishop to do about this sacrilege?  What will Rome do about this?

Abomination!

Our Mother who is within us
we celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come.
Your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits
and we let go.
You support us in our power
and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us
the empowerment around us
and the celebration among us
now and for ever. Amen

Before you rise up in arms, I want to clarify that THIS is not my prayer.  I did not compose it nor do I pray it.  I just posted it here to show you the kind of DIY Christianity pervading the world now.  Guess who wrote this prayer?  Not a Pentecostal, not a Lutheran, not Baptist, nor did it come from the WomenPriest movement.  The prayer was written by... a Catholic nun.  Sr. Miriam Therese Winter  Medical Mission Sister, wrote this!  She is a Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Spirituality.  And the author of WomanWord and other books and resources for Ritual.  So she thinks she can do better than what Christ taught us to pray!  Imagine this woman handling your parish's Liturgy!  No wonder liberals hate the Traditional Latin Mass.  NO type of shenanigans such as this would ever happen in a TLM.  

This "prayer" is being used by a Lutheran Church called Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran in San Francisco.  They claim that their "Christian/Lutheran feminist prayers and liturgy reach back into the storehouse of tradition to bring forth names as Mother, Shaddai, Sophia, Womb, Midwife, Shekinah, She Who Is. They do so out of renewed insights into the nature of the Gospel empowered by the risen Christ-Sophia." And like that bigot and anti-Catholic Dan Brown they claim that "Christianity, for the most part, continues to slight or silence the voices and power of women, the divine feminine and efforts to empower women and support the equality of all peoples."

If you think that is the only abomination this church trumpets, take a look at their "rosary"

They replaced the cross/crucifix with a figure they call "Mother Goddess" which looks like a pagan idol.

SAD, SAD, VERY SAD NEWS: The Philippines loses a TLM parish

The sad news I heard for quite a while was already posted over the internet.  St. Jerome Emiliani Parish in Alabang, Muntinlupa has ceased to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.  I will let you read first the announcement from Richard M. Friend, the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the TLM in the parish

***

Dear Friends,

I have a short announcement.

During today’s meeting, Fr. Grato [the Somascan Father who is parish priest of St. Jerome Emiliani] announced that he was discontinuing the TLM at St. Jerome effective immediately. He did not mention anything about the controversy regarding communion in the hand, although I believe this is a contributing factor in his decision. [this is too controversial and sad that I need to pray over this before I give the details.  I need the opinion of my fellow Pinoy trad Cath bloggers. ] Fr. Grato said he felt that TLM St. Jerome was like a “church within a church.” [huh?!] He expressed unhappiness with the present situation. He further said that he will be writing to the bishop to explain his action. He advised us to seek out other parishes in the diocese that may be willing to accommodate a regular celebration of the EF Mass.

Unless Bishop Mercado [the Ordinary of the Diocese of Paranaque] persuades Fr. Grato otherwise, this marks the end of my involvement with St. Jerome. This also highlights the importance of establishing a personal parish staffed by priests who will exclusively serve the needs of the TLM faithful, where Catholics attached to the TLM will truly feel at home and not be treated as second-class citizens who have to make way for Novus Ordo Masses. Having committed time and resources to TLM St. Jerome and seeing how quickly it evaporated, I am convinced that a TLM St. Jerome-type arrangement in other parishes in the diocese, although possible, is a short-term fix that will not fully address the needs of the TLM faithful and may in fact suffer the same fate of TLM St. Jerome. This type of arrangement surely cannot be our goal.

I am presently considering several options, as others are, and in due course will take the appropriate action. In the meantime I ask for everyone’s prayers. Let us pray that the EF Mass will one day find a permanent home in the diocese of Paranaque.

Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!


RICHARD M. FRIEND
Chairman, Organizing Committee
Traditional Latin Mass St. Jerome Emiliani

***

Sad, really sad.  Pray for the restoration of the TLM!  The only parish remaining to regularly offer the TLM in the country is Divine Mercy Parish Church in Sikatuna Village in Quezon City by Fr. Jojo Zerrudo.

Beautiful Comment about the Year of the Priest

Comments from The Black Biretta blog of Fr. John Trigilo of EWTN.  He shares his reflections on what the Year of the Priest is all about.  Photo on the left shows Fr. Trigilio presenting a copy of the book he wrote "John Paul II for Dummies" to his Holiness after the General Audience in St. Peter's Square.  Photo and excerpt courtesy of his blog. Here is the excerpt.

***

The Pope urged priests to be 'men of intense prayer who cultivate a communion of love and life with the Lord.'

This message is CRUCIAL as many American dioceses are gearing up (if not already) for their annual ordination to the priesthood and to the diaconate. Holy Mother Church has over one BILLION members and is a global, worldwide Church. Hence, she NEEDS various types of priests:

PARISH priests - pastors and parochial vicars; serving the daily spiritual needs of the faithful at the local parish level; the majority of priests

TEACHING priests - high school, college and seminary professors who help in the prophetic role of the church to teach the faith.

CHAPLAIN priests - hospital, military, prison, nursing home, etc., who provide a necessary work of mercy

CHANCERY (administration) priests - vocation directors, vicar generals, judicial vicars, chancellors, secretaries to the bishop, etc. who give good advice and 
provide necessary assistance to the local bishop. And of course, the Vatican and Apostolic Nunciatures need DIPLOMAT priests to help that vital work of the Church.

What is NOT NEEDED, however are:

BUREAUCRAT priests - ambitious clerics who have miter & crosier envy (bishop wannabees) and/or those middle management pencil pushers who emulate the old Soviet Union bureaucrat. This type is neither liberal nor conservative; neither progressive nor traditional; in other words, he has NO affiliation with either side. He just sides with the current party in power. Someone who says and does anything and everything to preserve his office job rather than spend his time and effort doing the 'Will of God.' Bureaucrat priests are often autocrats who pretend to have more authority than they actually possess. They make dictatorial pronouncements and presume to speak on behalf of the current diocesan bishop or currently reigning pontiff. These are the 'professional' clergy who are detached and removed from real parish life and are clueless to what goes on in the real world. They pontificate from ivory towers and often have hidden or enigmatic agendas. You can spot a bureaucrat priest a mile away by the plethora of paperwork (memos, mailings, notices, etc.) emanating from his desk, just to show his importance. POLICY means more to these fellows than canon law or defined dogma and doctrine. Moral principles are made subservient to practical concerns. The bureaucrat priest covers his backside to survive. Moving up the ecclesiastical ladder is their prime directive.

BUSINESS MANAGER priests are obsessed with nickels and dimes, balancing the books and making everything look good on paper. Saving souls is not an urgency, rather, the productivity of programs becomes paramount. These guys run parishes or dioceses like corporations, not like spiritual families or sacred institutions. They place efficiency as their highest goal. As long as the check book balances, the diocesan assessments are paid and the collection never goes down, then they consider themselves SUCCESSFUL. These guys worry about how much it will cost more than how much good will it do.

POLITICIAN priests want to be POPULAR. They preach cotton-candy Catholicism so as not to offend anyone. They tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to be taught. These guys bend or break canon law and/or diocesan rules to keep the big roller, high end, generous donors from leaving the parish. They think accommodating and compromise are effective tools whereas the real parish priest relies on doctrinal orthodoxy, liturgical accuracy (and reverence) and paternal pastoral authority (being a real spiritual father instead of a corporate stooge). Politician priests want happy faces and avoid all confrontation. These are the wheeler-dealers who make behind the scene arrangements, engage in skulduggery and can often be IDEOLOGUES who are usually throwbacks to the 1960's and 1970's. They see innovation as a political tool to keep and make new members. These guys are usually the ones who deny parishioners their legitimate options and impose their own personal choices as if law. Being politically correct is one indicator of this sort.

ENTERTAINER priests use sacred worship and the Divine Liturgy to entertain and amuse the congregation rather than to render to Almighty God true and proper worship (latria) and adoration. These fellows perform when the celebrate the sacraments. They choreograph gestures and movements, not based on the rubrics of the Missal but based on what they learned in a recent liturical workshop. Entertainer priests want to BE loved and to be showered with affection and approval. They do not preach uncomfortable messages nor do they enforce complicated laws. These guys are current on every fad and tidbit the modern media eschews daily so as to appear to be 'with it.' Reverence takes a back seat, if not in the trunk, to enjoyment. They want people to enjoy the Mass instead of seeking to please God by giving Him proper worship.

***

Right on the kisser!  You nailed it Father!  Layeth the smacketh down!  I don't have to highlight the important points or else everything would be in bold letters.  ROFL!

Wait for the reaction...

Now that the Holy Father has released his Motu Proprio "Ecclesiae Unitatem", the Holy Father has expressed his full intent for the incorporation of the Eccelesia Dei Commission with the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, with the president of Eccelesia Dei acting as prefect of the CDF.  Cardinal William Joseph Levada has been appointed as both prefect and president of the CDF and Ecclesia Dei, respectively.  He succeeds Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the immediate past president of  the commission, who has reached the canonical retirement age.

And the Holy Father's intent?

           " With this decision I wish in particular to show paternal solicitude towards the Society of Saint Pius X, with the aim of rediscovering the full communion of the Church."

            To everyone I address a pressing invitation to pray ceaselessly to the Lord, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "ut unum sint". 

With the release of the new encylical "Caritas in Veritate" only a few days ahead of the Motu Propio, let's wait and see how the liberals and the western media would react to the Motu Propio.

Thoughts on Year of the Priest

I was looking for articles to comment over the web and read some articles telling how the Church should celebrate the Year of the Priest.  Before the Holy Father's intent for the celebration of the Year of the Priest falls victim to those with "dissenting views opinions", like what happened with the interpretation of Vatican II documents, (we're so used to hear things like, "In the spirit of Vatican II..."  or "As part of the reforms of Vatican II..."), I have gathered a few excerpts from the letter of the Holy Father, announcing the celebration of the Year of the Priest.

***

This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal  for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010. "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”, the saintly Curé of Ars would often say. [It's what's in the inside that matters for a priest. You will definitely witness a priest who has a very deep prayer life.  The signs?  How they celebrate Mass, how they deliver their homilies, how much time they spent dispensing God's Grace through the sacraments.  If a priest celebrates Mass as if it were his own show, you get a good idea of what motivates him to lead the Mass.  It's not for the praise and worship of the Almighty by making present the same sacrifice on Calvary Christ did.  It's for the clapping, the smiles and the accolades after Mass.]

***

“All good works, taken together, do not equal the sacrifice of the Mass” – he would say – “since they are human works, while the Holy Mass is the work of God”. [Never will it be the priest's own show!] He was convinced that the fervour of a priest’s life depended entirely upon the Mass: “The reason why a priest is lax is that he does not pay attention to the Mass! My God, how we ought to pity a priest who celebrates as if he were engaged in something routine!”.  [I know some priests who complain of getting bored at Mass that is why they are into liturgical creativity.  My!  If you love someone, nothing will ever be boring!  As Thomas Carlyle once said, "The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.”  If you love what you are doing, there is no room for boredom.]  He was accustomed, when celebrating, also to offer his own life in sacrifice: “What a good thing it is for a priest each morning to offer himself to God in sacrifice!”

***

The Curé of Ars immediately set about this patient and humble task of harmonizing his life as a minister with the holiness of the ministry he had received, by deciding to “live”, physically, in his parish church: As his first biographer tells us: “Upon his arrival, he chose the church as his home. He entered the church before dawn and did not leave it until after the evening Angelus. There he was to be sought whenever needed." [In other words, the Holy Father also expects priests to stay at their posts! And not spend time gallivanting, appearing in TV and other radio programs, or running in the streets, or in picket lines, or in.... ok nuff said.]

***

If someone was troubled by the thought of his own frailty and inconstancy, and fearful of sinning again, the Curé would unveil the mystery of God’s love in these beautiful and touching words: “The good Lord knows everything. Even before you confess, he already knows that you will sin again, yet he still forgives you. How great is the love of our God: he even forces himself to forget the future, so that he can grant us his forgiveness!” 

To a priestly confrere he explained: “I will tell you my recipe: I give sinners a small penance and the rest I do in their place”. Aside from the actual penances which the Curé of Ars practised, the core of his teaching remains valid for each of us: souls have been won at the price of Jesus’ own blood, and a priest cannot devote himself to their salvation if he refuses to share personally in the “precious cost” of redemption.  [Again the Holy Father impresses upon priests the grace of the Sacrament of Penance which so many priests disregard nowadays.  Quack psychology became a fad.  Priests spent more time reading new age materials masked as self-help books.  It so influenced the Church even becoming the yard stick of vocations to those in seminaries and monasteries.  Imagine, if the Cure of Ars and St. Therese lived today and entered the priestly and religious life!  They would have been sent out by their superiors using these psychological tools as a gauge for their "worthiness".]

Nonetheless, with exemplary obedience he never abandoned his post, consumed as he was by apostolic zeal for the salvation of souls. [Again as I blogged before, remember your job description!  Remember why God called you according to your state of life.  So many priest are confused of their roles.  I know of a priest who spends more time managing the school but would not even celebrate one single Mass in the schools chapel.  Not even ONE!  You don't need ordination to run a school!  Ordination is for....THE SALVATION OF SOULS not building a brotherhood of men!]

***

The Curé of Ars lived the “evangelical counsels” in a way suited to his priestly state.

His poverty was not the poverty of a religious or a monk, but that proper to a priest: while managing much money (since well-to-do pilgrims naturally took an interest in his charitable works), he realized that everything had been donated to his church, his poor, his orphans, the girls of his “Providence”, his families of modest means. Consequently, he “was rich in giving to others and very poor for himself”. As he would explain: “My secret is simple: give everything away; hold nothing back”. When he lacked money, he would say amiably to the poor who knocked at his door: “Today I’m poor just like you, I’m one of you”. At the end of his life, he could say with absolute tranquillity: “I no longer have anything. The good Lord can call me whenever he wants!”.

His chastity, too, was that demanded of a priest for his ministry. It could be said that it was a chastity suited to one who must daily touch the Eucharist, who contemplates it blissfully and with that same bliss offers it to his flock. It was said of him that “he radiated chastity”; the faithful would see this when he turned and gazed at the tabernacle with loving eyes”.

Finally, Saint John Mary Vianney’s obedience found full embodiment in his conscientious fidelity to the daily demands of his ministry. We know how he was tormented by the thought of his inadequacy for parish ministry and by a desire to flee “in order to bewail his poor life, in solitude”.  Only obedience and a thirst for souls convinced him to remain at his post. As he explained to himself and his flock: “There are no two good ways of serving God. There is only one: serve him as he desires to be served”.  He considered this the golden rule for a life of obedience: “Do only what can be offered to the good Lord”

[Well what can I say?  The Holy Father nailed it.]

***

The Year of the Priest is not only for priests but more importantly for the laity.   Priests need our support.  Not financial support but moral and spiritual support.  Prayers are more important for them than money.  They need our prayers more than ever that they stay true to their vocation, THAT THEY BE FAITHFUL TO THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS, and that they be an Alter Christus when celebrating the Holy Sacrifice and the Church's rites.

A permanent deacon/writer reacts to gay priest's diatribe

Deacon Keith Fournier, writing in Catholic.org has this to say about suspended gay priest and dissident Geoffrey Farrow's attacks on the Knights of Columbus.

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" In addition to praying for Fr. Farrow [yes we still care about his salvation] and exposing his errors so as to protect the faithful, [precisely!] I propose that our readers demonstrate their fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church and solidarity with the Knights of Columbus by engaging in a concerted action which is the opposite of what Father Farrow suggests: Those who have not yet obtained insurance through the Knights of Columbus should do so. Their products are excellent and their profits further the wonderful work of the Order which, unlike Father Farrow, is fully and completely faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. "

***

Farrow's work is to destroy the Church.  He discredits the Order's history of charity by the support given by the KofC towards Proposition 8.  

With his admittance that he is gay, he is fighting that gay marriage be allowed.  Another case of do-it-yourself-Christianity.  Shame.

Dispense him now!

Supreme Knight Anderson: New Encyclical Asks Us to Reexamine Foundation of Economy

From Catholic News Service... a commentary by our Supreme Knight regarding the pope's new encyclical.

New Haven, Conn., Jul 4, 2009 (CNA).- With the release of Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical just days away, the head of the Knights of Columbus is warning people not to ask how the Pope's teaching will validate their world view but how their views should change in response to the document.

The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, states that those in positions of economic influence shold take notice of "Caritas in Veritate", the Holy Father's forthcoming encyclical, to be released on July 7th.

"Commentators," Anderson says, "should avoid trying to analyze the pope’s document from their own perspectives or through a political lens. Pope Benedict XVI's comments in this encyclical, like his writing on the economy previously, concern the need for an ethical underpinning in order for any economic system to be sustainable. An ethical underpinning to economic systems must transcend politics." [Western media does not want ANYONE to tell them what to do especially on issues about morals and ethics.  Kinda like what a priest told me, "If you think it's right, then do it."  More like moral relativism to me, eh?]

Another reaction that Anderson warns against is reading the encyclical and then "asking not how it validates our worldview." Instead, he suggests asking how one's worldview should change in response to the document.

"The world deserves a market economy with a conscience. [Look at Madoff.] We should bear in mind that Pope Benedict XVI in a 1985 paper criticized Marxism heavily for being too 'deterministic' and warned that market economies risked collapse if they too excluded or ignored the ethical component of individual decision making. Certainly, he has been proven correct, and thus all of us, and especially those in position of economic leadership, should certainly take notice of this encyclical," the Supreme Knight recommends.

The Pope's newest teaching document asks the world to re-examine the economic crisis by looking at "the very foundation of our system – and to build on the bedrock of ethics rather than the sand of determinism," he explains.

"We could sum up the pope’s thinking on the economy this way: Each of us must answer Christ’s question, “Who do you say that I am?” If we, with Peter, answer “The Messiah,” then that should direct the axis of our life. Our most important reality must be the truth of our relationships. In this, we understand how the law and prophets could be summed up in Christ’s two commandments: that we love God totally, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Thus we are able to speak of 'caritas in veritate.'"

"If we accept this, we can no longer ask Cain’s question: 'Am I my brother’s keeper?'" notes Anderson. [BEAUTIFUL WORDS WORTHY SUPREME KNIGHT!]

"Accepting this premise, we must realize that our exercise of freedom cannot take the form of simply amassing the most wealth that we can. Rather, all that we do in freedom must reflect that reality and all our actions must take into account the effects of those actions on others. A Christian must be a person for others. In America, most people are Christian, so it is easy to see why they intuitively understand that greed is at the root of our economic crisis, and that one can be ethical and successful. [A tall order to follow, though.  Let's start with Hollywood where the actors are flaunting their livestyle bathed in the seven deadly sins.] This is the message we have seen already from Pope Benedict XVI, in his writings before he became pope, and specifically in Spe Salvi and Deus Caritas Est –his two previous encyclicals," the leader of the Knights says.

***

Our Supreme Knight knows what he is talking about.  Read his bio here

Filipino bishops to elect new head of conference

Excerpts from a news report cbcpnews.net

MANILA, July 7, 2009—Roman Catholic bishops will choose one among them on Saturday who will serve the top post of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The 98 active bishop “electors” will gather on Saturday to Sunday for the CBCP’s 99th plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila.

Highlight of the meeting is the election of a new president who would fill the shoes of outgoing CBCP head, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Under Lagdameo, the CBCP was vocal on social issues such as mining, illegal gambling and, more recently, constitutional amendment and extrajudicial killings, among others. [Just on social issues?!]

Lagdameo became controversial when he issued his strongest statement against the Arroyo administration—denouncing the “moral bankruptcy” in government and of government leaders.
....

The CBCP is also expected to issue on Monday a pastoral statement on ecclesiastical, moral and socio-political issues affecting the country.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez earlier said the plenary might discuss the issue on constituent assembly as the mode for Charter change. [When will the bishops discuss Summorum Pontificum and Liturgical Abuse in the Philippines?]

The CBCP is composed of 130 prelates, 32 of them are retired. Only those who are active in service, however, are allowed to vote. 

The new set of CBCP officials who will be elected this week will resume their posts on December 1, 2009

Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorised the congregation to promulgate the following decrees:

MIRACLES

- Blessed Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (nee Juana Josefa), Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (1845-1912).

- Servant of God John Henry Newman, English cardinal and founder of the Oratories of St. Philip Neri in England (1801-1890).

- Servant of God Angelo Paoli (ne Francesco), Italian professed priest of the Order of Carmelites of the Strict Observance (1642-1720).

- Servant of God Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas (nee Soultaneh Maria), co- foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem (1843-1927).

MARTYRDOM

- Servant of God Jose Samso i Elias, Spanish diocesan priest, pastor and archpriest of Santa Maria de Mataro, killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain (1887-1936).

- Servant of God Teofilo Fernandez de Legaria Goni (ne Beniamino) and four companions, professed priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (PICPUS), killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Servant of God Georg Hafner, German diocesan priest, killed in hatred of the faith in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany (1900-1942).

- Servant of God Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi, Hungarian titular bishop of Sinope and auxiliary of Esztergom, killed in hatred of the faith at Kistarcsa, Hungary (1892-1951).

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Engelmar Unzeitig (ne Uberto), German professed priest of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill (1911-1945).

- Servant of God Anna Maria Janer Anglarill, Spanish foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family of Urgell (1800-1885).

- Servant of God Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu Micheli (ne Clotilde), Italian foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Angels (1849- 1911).

- Servant of God Teresa Manganiello, Italian laywoman of the Third Order of St. Francis (1849-1876).

Important Points from the Pope's General Audience message

An excerpt from a report from the Vatican Information Service.

"Following Vatican Council II", Pope Benedict added, "in some places the impression arose that there were more important things in the mission of priests in our time: some people believed that the priority was to build a new society". [Most priests do not care about the sacraments anymore and these priests are mostly the one's hugging the spotlight through mass media!]

Yet "the two essential elements of priestly ministry" always remain "announcement and power", said the Holy Father recalling how Christ sent His disciples out to announce the Gospel giving them the power to drive out demons. "Announcement and power", in other words "Word and Sacrament, are the pillars of priestly service, over and above the many forms it can take". 

The Pope continued: "When the 'diptych' of consecration-mission is not taken into due account, it becomes truly difficulty to understand the identity of priests and of their ministry in the Church. [and why some priests forget who they are!  Forgetting their own hob description.] ... During this Year for Priests", he said, "let us pray for all the clergy. ... Prayer is the primary duty, the true path of sanctification for priests and the heart of authentic pastoral care of vocations". [Let us pray for priests that they stay true to their vocation, that priests remember the purpose of their ordination. That may become priests after the Heart of Jesus, like St. John Marie Vianney.]

And he concluded: "The low numbers of priestly ordinations in some countries not only must not discourage us, it should stimulate us to dedicate greater space to silence [Silence...can't have it with a dancing priest, rock mass, clapping...try the TLM.  Sacred Silence.  A piece of Heaven on Earth!]  and to listening to the Word, to improving spiritual guidance and the Sacrament of Confession, [which not only very few people go to, but few priests offer!] so that the voice of God, which always continues to call and to confirm, may be heard and followed by many young people"

Let us pray for priests that they stay true to their vocation, that priests remember the purpose of their ordination. That they may become priests after the Heart of Jesus, like how St. John Marie Vianney did.