The blog of a group of Filipino Catholics and their frank commentary on anything that affects their lives as a citizen of the Philippines and as a Roman Catholics.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Curia is in disarray?: CALL FOR A ROSARY CRUSADE
From Andrea Tornielli
***
“The atmosphere is poisonous, heavy. Some claim that in the future we won’t be able to take mobile phones with inbuilt cameras into the Vatican.” [Wow! Much like going into the INC Main Temple? Ha!] The ban on camera phones is just a rumour that has been circulating around the Secretariat of State in the last few days, [maybe they will do this now in the Secretariat considering how paranoid Bertone must be!] which have been the most difficult in the Vatican in recent years. “Somehow this is even worse than the storm caused by the Church paedophilia scandal,” said a priest who entered the great gate of Porta Angelica with brisk fearful steps.
Talking moles
Many outside the Vatican doubt the guilt of Paolo Gabriele, [me among them!] the Pope’s butler and no one seems to think he could have master-minded the leak of documents published in journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi’s book. We do not know the extent of his involvement yet. If the inquiry remains at this level, the doubts will inevitably grow. The net of moles, which allegedly includes a number of people, struck again, giving once more the same motives that had been put forward by the famous investigative reporter in the pages of “Sua santità” (His Holiness). The leak of Benedict XVI’s confidential papers could apparently have been an act to help the Pope. Few believe this to be true, mostly because the Vatileaks scandal has managed to besmirch the Holy See as a whole and its image is now in tatters. [I doubt it. Only the anti-Catholics are happy for this.]
Infamous dismissal
Yesterday Fr. Lombardi claimed that there is no connection between the motion of no confidence in the Vatican Bank’s former president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi and the Vatileaks issue. On Thursday the IOR’s lay supervisory council removed the banker who had been chosen by Cardinal Bertone in September 2009 and who was also a leading writer for Vatican daily broadsheet L’Osservatore Romano as well as a friend of the newspaper’s director, Gian Maria Vian. The next day the committee of cardinals met to ratify the vote, but no statement regarding their verdict has been released as yet. The very harsh letter by Carl Anderson, [my Supreme Knight!] one of the four board members, containing the reasons behind the dismissal of Gotti Tedeschi, whose professional image has been destroyed, was intentionally published. The banker was also accused of not “ explaining the distribution of certain documents” he kept. The way he was dismissed is brand new in the history of the Holy See and could have major repercussions, if and when Gotti Tedeschi will decide to speak up.
Is it time for the cardinal to retire?
According to the moles, the real target of the Vatileaks operation, is allegedly the Vatican Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone. The whole thing would have been orchestrated to pressure him into retiring. However, objectively speaking, the explosion of the Vatileaks scandal seems far too extreme for its aim to be the simple removal of a cardinal who will turn 78 in December. Unless one were to believe (and some do) that the ambitions of those who would like to take his place might be the hidden motive behind the storm that is raging inside and outside the Curia and if we were to look even further, perhaps we would find the power struggle for the succession of the ageing Pope at the root of the problems. Ratzinger wanted Bertone by his side because he trusts him and has no intention of removing him, even though the cardinal himself offered to resign. His management of the Secretariat of State has been the target of heavy criticism. However, as happened before, in times of crisis, the ecclesiastical institution has clammed up to protect its clerics.
Pope's secretary targeted
Fr. Georg Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, is facing a difficult time, since Paolo Gabriele had worked alongside him in the papal apartments for six years. Fr. Georg’s influence has grown in the last two years as have the rumours concerning attempts to drive him away from the Pope, such as his possible appointment as bishop in Germany, now that the Diocese of Regensburg is to become vacant and its current bishop is to become cardinal in Rome and cover a different office. [CDF?!?! Really?!] But there are very few who believe that the Pope will get rid of his trusted secretary.
***
I once again reiterate that we have to continue praying for the Holy Father.
On this note, let me share this letter from Michael
hi sir knight. i just can't help but react to the latest posts regarding the latest happenings in the vatican. it really pains me to see such situation is now happening in the vatican. [it is actually happening but it was maliciously brought out into the open and it constitutes a betrayal of the trust of the Pope, to whom the letters were addressed.] is this all because the pope is trying to bring back the church where it is supposed to be? is it because he is restoring everything that was lost after vatican II? [I think it has a bearing in it.] its sad that the pope is all alone in this episode in his papacy. [Not completely.]
i was able to chance upon this vision of Jacinta Marto: " I saw the Holy Father in a very big house, kneeling by a table, with his head buried in his hands, and he was weeping. Outside the house, there were many people. Some of them were throwing stones, others were cursing him and using bad language. Poor Holy Father, we must pray very much for him." [The Holy Father will always be the target of the devil and his demons remember that.]
i cried upon reading this message, it fits the situation of our holy father now. i suddenly felt this spiritual burden; if the holy father is suffering much, we must take a share of this suffering also in as much as we are his children. he is not suffering this because he wanted this himself, but it is because he loves us his children. truly he is a "good shepherd", who is taking the blows for us just to bring us to the right path. [beautifully written!]
lets pray for him. i myself would start a crusade of offering daily rosaries for him. [I agree! This is the way to go!] i hope you could invite your readers to also offer prayers and sacrifices for the holy father. he is suffering so much because of those people who is governed by personal interests instead of humility and service.
Thank you for the wonderful suggestion, Michael.
On that note, I ask all the readers to start praying the Rosary for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and say this indulgenced prayer.
Prayers for the Holy Father
(to be said after the Rosary)
V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies (Roman Breviary).
Our Father. Hail Mary.
(From the old Raccolta: A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, when this prayer has been devoutly said every day for a month (S.C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S. P. Ap., Oct 12, 1931).
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen (Roman Ritual).
(From the old Raccolta: An indulgence of three years, a plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, for the daily devout recitation of this prayer. S. P. Ap., March 10, 1935).
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
SSPX Update: Williamson loyalist confirms it!
Based on this video, this is what we can sum up as observed by J. Christopher Pryor:
1. Bishop Williamson is actively working to undermine Bishop Fellay by attempting to thwart a reunification with Rome.
2. Bishop Williamson, Bishop Tissier de Mallerais and Bishop de Gallareta are united against the Holy Father and Bishop Fellay.
3. The SSPX might have already reunited with Rome if it were not for the leaking of the letter of the three bishops against Bishop Fellay.
4. The letter of the three bishops against Bishop Fellay was leaked by someone in the Williamson camp with the intent of thwarting a reunification of the SSPX with Rome.
5. The Williamson camp is hoping to stall an agreement long enough to take over at the SSPX General Chapter this summer.
6.The Williamson camp is apparently meeting with lawyers to discuss how to obtain SSPX owned property in the event of a split.
7. The Williamson camp is counting priests to determine how strong their position is. There is frustration that some priests keep "switching sides."
8. The Williamson faction believes that, in the event of a split, they have good control of the English district, Mexico and Asia.
9. Williamson's folllowers believe Rome has lost the faith. (They call it "New
Rome" or "Modernist Rome".) They believe that they can reunite with Rome only when "the Papacy returns to the faith."
The split is real and I think the reaction against the unification do not come only from within the SSPX. There are those within the Vatican who do not want this to happen. And the Vatican Leaks scandal has something to do with this.
Vatican Whistleblowers: "We are doing it to protect the Pope."
ROME - Who are the Vatican whistleblowers? "There isn't just one brain behind the operation, there are several. There are cardinals, private secretaries, monsignors and the small fry. Men and women, priests and laypeople. The whistleblowers even include cardinals. But the Vatican Secretary of State cannot admit that and has the small fry arrested, like "Paoletto" (as Paolo Gabriele is affectionately known), the Pope's valet. Who has got nothing to do with it apart from having passed on some letters."
A suburb in the north of Rome, a table in a bar, traffic passing by. It is lunchtime on a now limpid Sunday morning and one of those behind the flow of confidential letters from the Holy See is explaining how the operation works.
"Those doing it are acting to protect the Pope."
The Pope? Why?
"Because the whistleblower - or rather whistleblowers, because there are more than one of them - want to reveal the corruption inside the church in recent years, since 2009-2010."
Who are they? Who are you?
"There are those opposed to the Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone. And those who think that Benedict XVI is too weak to lead the church. [The modernists...]And those who think that this is the time to step forward. So it's become everyone against everyone else. It's war and you no longer know which side anyone is on."
My source is tormented, wanting to speak but at the same time frightened and full of doubts. No names to be published, it would put him or her at risk. There are sudden silences, suspicious glances. "Can I trust you? This thing is terribly delicate." Let's try.
How did the leaks from the Vatican start?
"Out of fear that the power accumulated by the Secretary of State was not in the interest of others in the Vatican." [Just as I have said before.]
But is money also involved?
A hand runs through the hair, eyes look around, fingers torment a ring.
"Money is always involved. There are also economic interests in the Holy See. In 2009-2010 some cardinals began to sense a loss of central control: partly from attempts to restrict the freedom of the inquiry that Monsignor Carlo Maria Viganò was running against corruption, partly because of the Pope's gradual detachment from internal matters." [He trusted Bertone too much.]
The cars in the street honk their horns. Two dogs end up in a fight. We change location. Walk up the hill. Another bar, with an internal garden, a little quieter. The conversation proceeds more smoothly.
"What happened then? Viganò wrote to the Pope denouncing cases of corruption. He asked for help, but the Pope couldn't do anything. He couldn't do anything because it would create an open rift with his right-hand man. In order to keep the Church united he sacrificed Viganò. Or rather, pretended to sacrifice him, because, as you know, the nuncio in Washington (where Viganò was sent) is the most important. So the Cardinals realised that the Pope was weak and sought protection from Bertone."
What did the Pope do then?
"The Pope realised that he had to protect himself. He summoned five people he knew he could trust, four men and one woman. The so-called rapporteurs, Benedict's secret agents. The Pope asked these people for advice, giving everyone a role, with the woman coordinating all five. "
There is a woman helping the Pope in this?
"Yes, she's the strategist. Then there is one physically collecting the evidence. Another preparing the ground, and the other two make sure all this is possible. The role of these trusted people is to tell the Pope who are his friends and who his enemies, so you know who you are fighting against."
Meanwhile, how did the leaking of documents start?
"They started to come out. Channels and journalists were identified."
How are they taken out?
"By hand. The Vatican intelligence service has integrated security systems in the basement of the Apostolic Palace, directed by a 35-year-old ex-hacker, that are more advanced than anything the CIA has, sophisticated systems, but they're no use. Because the Cardinals are used to writing their messages by hand and dictating them. They are then delivered by hand. And the leaked documents are their way of fighting this war. The primary objective was to attack the Pope, to weaken him and convince him to give up control of the political and economic affairs of the Church. Something had to be done."
And the president of the Vatican bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, who was ousted?
"Same thing. Even though he was really close to the Pope: they wrote the encyclical Caritas in Veritate together. Gotti didn't answer to anyone, only the Pope, sending Benedict memos to describe the situation inside the IOR (Institute for Religious Works, the official name of the bank). Including the failed operations, like the law against money laundering or the takeover of the San Raffaele hospital and research centre. Bertone gets jealous, accuses Gotti and decides to oust him. When the Pope heard about Gotti's dismissal last Thursday, he started to cry, "My friend Ettore!" [The Holy Father did not do anything to Bertone!]
The Pope was crying?
"Yes, but then he got really angry and reacted, saying that the truth would come out."
But he couldn't oppose it?
"He could have, but it would have meant a sensational rupture with his Secretary of State."
And then the next day?
"And the next day the Pope was struck again, close to home, when Paoletto was arrested. Now the Pope is in despair. But Paoletto is not the whistleblower, there are lots of whistleblowers. At most someone has used him."
They are saying that Gotti is one of those behind the leaks.
"Gotti is an honest person, who is keeping quiet, as he did during the official investigation into the IOR. And he is now after being thrown out. He's not playing any games; he's not behind the leaks."
Father Georg, Pope's secretary, is also in the crosshairs?
"He was one of the targets for one faction: now more than ever he represents the link between all the Vatican departments and the Pope, acting as a filter, influencing and advising the Pope." [I have heard that Bertone does not like him as well.]
We've now been taking for three hours, it is mid-afternoon, and we're on our third coffee. This person is very well-informed and knows the details, the way things work and the people inside the Holy See like few others.
Why did you decide to come out into the open?
"To reveal the truth. And to bring an end to this media witchhunt for a culprit in the guise of a whistleblower (the valet), a priest (Father George), or a high official or cardinal (Gotti, Cardinal Piacenza or others). The role of the Church is to defend the Gospel, not to accumulate power and money. And I'm doing this in the name of God. I'm not afraid."
(Translated from Italian by Kathryn Wallace)
***
Will Bertone say the last paragraph?
A suburb in the north of Rome, a table in a bar, traffic passing by. It is lunchtime on a now limpid Sunday morning and one of those behind the flow of confidential letters from the Holy See is explaining how the operation works.
"Those doing it are acting to protect the Pope."
The Pope? Why?
"Because the whistleblower - or rather whistleblowers, because there are more than one of them - want to reveal the corruption inside the church in recent years, since 2009-2010."
Who are they? Who are you?
"There are those opposed to the Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone. And those who think that Benedict XVI is too weak to lead the church. [The modernists...]And those who think that this is the time to step forward. So it's become everyone against everyone else. It's war and you no longer know which side anyone is on."
My source is tormented, wanting to speak but at the same time frightened and full of doubts. No names to be published, it would put him or her at risk. There are sudden silences, suspicious glances. "Can I trust you? This thing is terribly delicate." Let's try.
How did the leaks from the Vatican start?
"Out of fear that the power accumulated by the Secretary of State was not in the interest of others in the Vatican." [Just as I have said before.]
But is money also involved?
A hand runs through the hair, eyes look around, fingers torment a ring.
"Money is always involved. There are also economic interests in the Holy See. In 2009-2010 some cardinals began to sense a loss of central control: partly from attempts to restrict the freedom of the inquiry that Monsignor Carlo Maria Viganò was running against corruption, partly because of the Pope's gradual detachment from internal matters." [He trusted Bertone too much.]
The cars in the street honk their horns. Two dogs end up in a fight. We change location. Walk up the hill. Another bar, with an internal garden, a little quieter. The conversation proceeds more smoothly.
"What happened then? Viganò wrote to the Pope denouncing cases of corruption. He asked for help, but the Pope couldn't do anything. He couldn't do anything because it would create an open rift with his right-hand man. In order to keep the Church united he sacrificed Viganò. Or rather, pretended to sacrifice him, because, as you know, the nuncio in Washington (where Viganò was sent) is the most important. So the Cardinals realised that the Pope was weak and sought protection from Bertone."
What did the Pope do then?
"The Pope realised that he had to protect himself. He summoned five people he knew he could trust, four men and one woman. The so-called rapporteurs, Benedict's secret agents. The Pope asked these people for advice, giving everyone a role, with the woman coordinating all five. "
There is a woman helping the Pope in this?
"Yes, she's the strategist. Then there is one physically collecting the evidence. Another preparing the ground, and the other two make sure all this is possible. The role of these trusted people is to tell the Pope who are his friends and who his enemies, so you know who you are fighting against."
Meanwhile, how did the leaking of documents start?
"They started to come out. Channels and journalists were identified."
How are they taken out?
"By hand. The Vatican intelligence service has integrated security systems in the basement of the Apostolic Palace, directed by a 35-year-old ex-hacker, that are more advanced than anything the CIA has, sophisticated systems, but they're no use. Because the Cardinals are used to writing their messages by hand and dictating them. They are then delivered by hand. And the leaked documents are their way of fighting this war. The primary objective was to attack the Pope, to weaken him and convince him to give up control of the political and economic affairs of the Church. Something had to be done."
And the president of the Vatican bank, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, who was ousted?
"Same thing. Even though he was really close to the Pope: they wrote the encyclical Caritas in Veritate together. Gotti didn't answer to anyone, only the Pope, sending Benedict memos to describe the situation inside the IOR (Institute for Religious Works, the official name of the bank). Including the failed operations, like the law against money laundering or the takeover of the San Raffaele hospital and research centre. Bertone gets jealous, accuses Gotti and decides to oust him. When the Pope heard about Gotti's dismissal last Thursday, he started to cry, "My friend Ettore!" [The Holy Father did not do anything to Bertone!]
The Pope was crying?
"Yes, but then he got really angry and reacted, saying that the truth would come out."
But he couldn't oppose it?
"He could have, but it would have meant a sensational rupture with his Secretary of State."
And then the next day?
"And the next day the Pope was struck again, close to home, when Paoletto was arrested. Now the Pope is in despair. But Paoletto is not the whistleblower, there are lots of whistleblowers. At most someone has used him."
They are saying that Gotti is one of those behind the leaks.
"Gotti is an honest person, who is keeping quiet, as he did during the official investigation into the IOR. And he is now after being thrown out. He's not playing any games; he's not behind the leaks."
Father Georg, Pope's secretary, is also in the crosshairs?
"He was one of the targets for one faction: now more than ever he represents the link between all the Vatican departments and the Pope, acting as a filter, influencing and advising the Pope." [I have heard that Bertone does not like him as well.]
We've now been taking for three hours, it is mid-afternoon, and we're on our third coffee. This person is very well-informed and knows the details, the way things work and the people inside the Holy See like few others.
Why did you decide to come out into the open?
"To reveal the truth. And to bring an end to this media witchhunt for a culprit in the guise of a whistleblower (the valet), a priest (Father George), or a high official or cardinal (Gotti, Cardinal Piacenza or others). The role of the Church is to defend the Gospel, not to accumulate power and money. And I'm doing this in the name of God. I'm not afraid."
(Translated from Italian by Kathryn Wallace)
***
Will Bertone say the last paragraph?
Pray for the Holy Father more than ever...
From the Vatican Insider
***
The Commander of the Vatican Gendarmerie was hard at work Sunday. The Vatican leak inquiry did not end with the arrest of the Pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele so the papal police offices are busy sifting through the “investigative material” that will help find the potential accomplices and individuals behind the leaks. There are no immediate plans for arrests but not one of the Curia’s members believed the Pope’s butler is the only one responsible. “The affair is not over yet. This is just the beginning,” they said. Behind the Vatican walls there is a growing belief that “Paoletto’s” arrest was not the finishing line but a starting point. [Bertone is mad!]
During his homily for Pentecost Sunday the Pope sent out a warning against any manoeuvres or clashes taking place behind his back in the Curia: the Holy See is plunging into a Babel-like chaos in which there is a growing “sense of mistrust, suspicion and mutual fear among men, to the point that they are becoming dangerous to one another.” There was a sense of distress in Benedict XVI’s words as he called for “unity, harmony and truth.” The three cardinals that direct the actions of the Vatican police (Herranz, Tomko and De Giorgi) seem convinced that that there is someone higher up, a “steering committee” that is polling the strings in the “Vatileaks” affair. If the outside world is given the impression that two different powers and double standards exist within the Holy See, this would be harmful to its image. That is, if tough measures are adopted against lay employees suspected of betraying their oath of secrecy but Church spies are simply removed and sent to carry out their ministry away from Rome instead of being placed behind bars.
Meanwhile, the Pope’s butler seems to be changing his tune during questioning. Last Wednesday he was found to be in illegal possession of a large quantity of confidential letters. “Paoletto” seems to be following the advice of his lawyer, Carlo Fusco - a member of the Focolare movement and postulator for the causes of saints in the Vatican – and abandoning the silence strategy adopted at the beginning. He is now answering questions regarding the serious charges being made against him, as the investigation moves from the preliminary phase led by the Promoter of Justice Nicola Picardi, to a formal phase led by the investigative magistrate of the Vatican Tribunal, Pier Antonio Bonnet. Investigators are keeping a list of potential moles under observation. About fifteen individuals are suspected of tampering with the top secret material that was leaked to mass media and reveals feuds and scandals going on within the Vatican.
The Pope’s butler is still being held on charges of aggravated burglary and could soon be joined by other disloyal servants of the Holy See. The positions of a number of individuals are being assessed but the definitive culprits have not yet been found. It is significant, however, that following an initial period of complete silence, now, the alleged poison pen letter writer is now talking. Authorities are now examining the possibility of other Vatican office employees and prelates being involved. [I doubt a prelate will be named. But who knows?!] The involvement of prelates is a plausible possibility [it is but I highly doubt that he will be named in public. Bugnini's transfer to Iran ring a bell? Oh, yeah, his student said that Bugnini who had a long career in the Holy See, was "promoted", according to his padawan, to the Nuncio post in Islamic Iran.] given the fact that the investigative commission (headed by Opus Dei cardinal Julian Herranz) that was set up by the Pope to shed light on the Vatican document leak case is made up of cardinals and they are the only ones authorised to investigate on an equal level. One thing that led authorities to suspect the involvement of the Pope’s butler was the publication of a recent document regarding the Ratzinger Foundation, in the book “Sua Santità” (His Holiness) by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. This document was not supposed to be filed in the Holy See’s archives as others were and so could only have come from the Pope’s desk or that of his secretary Fr. Georg. [Which is highly unlikely that Msgr. Georg would supply Nuzzi.]
***
The butler might either be asked to safekeep the documents or is a fall guy. He will not gain anything from keeping the documents.
With that said...
Please pray for the Holy Father.
He needs it now more than ever.
***
The Commander of the Vatican Gendarmerie was hard at work Sunday. The Vatican leak inquiry did not end with the arrest of the Pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele so the papal police offices are busy sifting through the “investigative material” that will help find the potential accomplices and individuals behind the leaks. There are no immediate plans for arrests but not one of the Curia’s members believed the Pope’s butler is the only one responsible. “The affair is not over yet. This is just the beginning,” they said. Behind the Vatican walls there is a growing belief that “Paoletto’s” arrest was not the finishing line but a starting point. [Bertone is mad!]
During his homily for Pentecost Sunday the Pope sent out a warning against any manoeuvres or clashes taking place behind his back in the Curia: the Holy See is plunging into a Babel-like chaos in which there is a growing “sense of mistrust, suspicion and mutual fear among men, to the point that they are becoming dangerous to one another.” There was a sense of distress in Benedict XVI’s words as he called for “unity, harmony and truth.” The three cardinals that direct the actions of the Vatican police (Herranz, Tomko and De Giorgi) seem convinced that that there is someone higher up, a “steering committee” that is polling the strings in the “Vatileaks” affair. If the outside world is given the impression that two different powers and double standards exist within the Holy See, this would be harmful to its image. That is, if tough measures are adopted against lay employees suspected of betraying their oath of secrecy but Church spies are simply removed and sent to carry out their ministry away from Rome instead of being placed behind bars.
Meanwhile, the Pope’s butler seems to be changing his tune during questioning. Last Wednesday he was found to be in illegal possession of a large quantity of confidential letters. “Paoletto” seems to be following the advice of his lawyer, Carlo Fusco - a member of the Focolare movement and postulator for the causes of saints in the Vatican – and abandoning the silence strategy adopted at the beginning. He is now answering questions regarding the serious charges being made against him, as the investigation moves from the preliminary phase led by the Promoter of Justice Nicola Picardi, to a formal phase led by the investigative magistrate of the Vatican Tribunal, Pier Antonio Bonnet. Investigators are keeping a list of potential moles under observation. About fifteen individuals are suspected of tampering with the top secret material that was leaked to mass media and reveals feuds and scandals going on within the Vatican.
The Pope’s butler is still being held on charges of aggravated burglary and could soon be joined by other disloyal servants of the Holy See. The positions of a number of individuals are being assessed but the definitive culprits have not yet been found. It is significant, however, that following an initial period of complete silence, now, the alleged poison pen letter writer is now talking. Authorities are now examining the possibility of other Vatican office employees and prelates being involved. [I doubt a prelate will be named. But who knows?!] The involvement of prelates is a plausible possibility [it is but I highly doubt that he will be named in public. Bugnini's transfer to Iran ring a bell? Oh, yeah, his student said that Bugnini who had a long career in the Holy See, was "promoted", according to his padawan, to the Nuncio post in Islamic Iran.] given the fact that the investigative commission (headed by Opus Dei cardinal Julian Herranz) that was set up by the Pope to shed light on the Vatican document leak case is made up of cardinals and they are the only ones authorised to investigate on an equal level. One thing that led authorities to suspect the involvement of the Pope’s butler was the publication of a recent document regarding the Ratzinger Foundation, in the book “Sua Santità” (His Holiness) by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. This document was not supposed to be filed in the Holy See’s archives as others were and so could only have come from the Pope’s desk or that of his secretary Fr. Georg. [Which is highly unlikely that Msgr. Georg would supply Nuzzi.]
***
The butler might either be asked to safekeep the documents or is a fall guy. He will not gain anything from keeping the documents.
With that said...
Please pray for the Holy Father.
He needs it now more than ever.
Monday, May 28, 2012
GULP Alert: Guess what this is!
What group is this?
You'd be surprised that this is NOT a Jewish ceremony.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Interesting video of a Relic of John Paul II
The music is ghastly.
I do not know what relics of the new blessed is in the wax figure.
But really....seriously...
THE MUSIC IS GHASTLY!
HAPPY PENTECOST!!!
And here is a video from Rome Reports...
Notice that the footage used is an old one. The Holy Father is using his "new-old" "Piero Marini" pallium. And if you take a look, the altar arrangement is the typical Piero Marini - Anscar Chupungco altar arrangement. The crucifix is on the side, which makes the altar look like the pope's office table.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Archbishop Soc reminds the priests of the liturgy of the Way
 |
| Believe it or not, this is how the Way does its first communion! |
May 14, 2012
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Circular 2102-16
RE: Liturgy of the Neo Catechumenal Way
My dear brother priests:
With regard to the questions that our parish priests have raised about the practices of the Neo Catechumenal Way in the celebration of the Eucharist, I have sought the assistance of the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Enclosed with this circular is the position of the said Episcopal Commission regarding the matter. [Wow! Fr. G!]
Please take note that the only permission granted to the Way is the transfer of the Rite of the Peace after the Prayer of the Faithful and the reception of Holy Communion under both species either kneeling down or standing up but not sitting down.
Other than these two permissions, the Masses celebrated for the members of the Neo Catechumenal Way must strictly observe the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the other instructions of the Congregation for Divine Worship. In particular, the hosts and wine to be used for the Eucharist must be the same as those used in the dioceses of the Philippines. The lay faithful may be allowed to preach in the church or in oratory outside the Mass (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 161). [Wow!!! The first Filipino bishop I have heard who has quoted RS! Woohoo!!!]
I entrust these clarifications to your kind information and faithful observance. Please be assured of my pastoral concern.
Sincerely yours,
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
Why, oh, why did Bl. JP2 did not pay much attention to the Way's questionable liturgical practices only makes me think of Cardinals Mahony and Schonborn.
Well...JP2 might be a Blessed and is in Heaven, but he sure did not do much about this group and those two!
BREAKING NEWS: SSPX Schism real!
SaveSSPX.com came out with this appeal.
Show your support here for priests of the Society of St. Pius X wishing to remain true to their founder's mission.
The Conciliar Church has not changed significantly since Vatican II, nor has the need for the SSPX disappeared. The Crisis in the Church is not over. The role of the SSPX as an international, uncompromising witness to Catholic Tradition is crucial, especially now. There can be no practical agreement with Rome without a doctrinal foundation: the errors of Vatican II must be resolved. Before any re-integration with Rome should be considered, the Pope must be willing to renounce Modernism and everything that flowed from it.
***
Here is the letter of the website administrators:
May 24, 2012
Dear SSPX Supporter,
We humbly ask you to spread the word about our apostolate.
This Sunday, after Mass, let your trusted friends know about SaveSSPX.com.
By phone, e-mail, Facebook, etc. let your family and friends know that there's a website designed to show support for any priests who are *at this very moment* wondering what they will do if a deal is brokered with Rome.
SaveSSPX.com is not a discussion forum. It is a head-count for how many people are against an agreement, and a show of solidarity with the SSPX priests who hold the same position. So the more names on SaveSSPX.com, the better!
The more names on the list, the more priests will find the courage to resist the sellout deal, even if it means saying Mass in humbler places such as garages and hotel rooms.
Next Sunday is Pentecost, and the end of May is only 1 week away.
Some say, "Because the opposition of the 3 Bishops has been made known, the deal has been thwarted or at least postponed." but we are not so sure about that. Think about it. Wouldn't Rome be quite content with over 3/4 of the SSPX? Remember, the "new SSPX" would get almost 100% of its buildings, because of the way things have been set up.
The only parts of the SSPX that won't go along with a deal are a large portion of the Laity, and some of its Priests.
So wouldn't the Modernists still get their "death blow" to the SSPX, even if a small part of the SSPX breaks off and starts a new group? Of course they would. The new group would start out with 3 Bishops, ?? priests, hundreds of laymen, and 0 buildings.
The goal of SaveSSPX.com is to make sure that number of priests is 20 instead of 10. Or 35 instead of 25. Or 150 instead of 50. Priests are only human; they don't want to starve. We need to let them know we support them, so it is easier for them to make the right decision.
God bless you,
The SaveSSPX.com Administrators
***
The threat of a Schism is real and this shows it.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The reason why the Church has sued the Obama Administration
 |
| The Holy Father with Ambassador Glendon |
No other than former US Ambassador to the Holy See, Prof. Mary Ann Glendon wrote this article and explained the position of the Church in the USA.
***
This week Catholic bishops are heading to federal courts across the country to defend religious liberty. On Monday they filed 12 lawsuits on behalf of a diverse group of 43 Catholic entities that are challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) sterilization, abortifacient and birth-control insurance mandate. [We will see the same action once RH becomes a law, if it becomes a law.]
Like most Americans, the bishops have long taken for granted the religious freedom that has enabled this nation's diverse religions to flourish in relative harmony. [Wake up call for modernists Vatican II promoters who love dialogue and tolerance, at the expense of our SILENCE and ACCOMMODATION for what is against our morals and Faith.] But over the past year they have become increasingly concerned about the erosion of conscience protections for church-related individuals and institutions. [Thanks for sleeping on the job!] Their top-rated program for assistance to human trafficking victims was denied funding for refusing to provide "the full range of reproductive services," including abortion. For a time, Catholic Relief Services faced a similar threat to its international relief programs. The bishops fear religious liberty is becoming a second-class right. [It is including Americanism worshiping Filipinos.]
Along with leaders of other faiths who have conscientious objections to all or part of the mandate, they hoped to persuade the government to bring its regulations into line with the First Amendment, and with federal laws such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act [This will be the next target of the Obama Administration once the demon in the flesh gets reelected.] that provide exemptions to protect the conscience rights of religious institutions and individuals.
On Jan. 20, however, HHS announced it would not revise the mandate or expand its tight exemption, which covers only religious organizations that mainly hire and serve their co-religionists. Instead, the mandated coverage will continue to apply to hospitals, schools and social service providers run by groups whose religious beliefs require them to serve everyone in need. [And the HHS was crafted by a liberal feminist Catholic who thinks she can craft her own dogmas! Oh, sorry. Happens to every Choose-Your-Own...Smorgasbord Catholic.]
Continued attempts to solve the problem by negotiation produced only an announcement by the Obama administration in February that insurance providers would pay for the contested services. Since many Catholic entities are self-insured and the others pay the premiums, the bishops' concerns were not alleviated.
Protesters rally against the HHS mandate in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on March 23.
The main goal of the mandate is not, as HHS claimed, to protect women's health. [Like the RH Bill!] It is rather a move to conscript religious organizations into a political agenda, forcing them to facilitate and fund services that violate their beliefs, within their own institutions. [The mandate forces its beliefs on Catholics, like RH. Ironically, this is the charge that pro-RH politicians charge those against RH!]
The media have implied all along that the dispute is mainly of concern to a Catholic minority with peculiar views about human sexuality. But religious leaders of all faiths have been quick to see that what is involved is a flagrant violation of religious freedom. That's why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared, "We're all Catholics now." [And the media's silence on the issue is deafening! They did not even bother to cover this news of the filing of the suit against the Obama Administration! See the bias the US media and the current White House has against the Obama Adminsitration?]
More is at stake here than the mission of all churches, including the Catholic Church, to provide social services like health care and education to everyone regardless of creed, and to do so without compromising their beliefs. [And which church in the US operates more hospitals and schools? Yup, the Catholic Church, which those damn atheists love to attack. Incidentally, the atheists cannot claim a school or hospital operating on charity! So who is the hypocrite now!] At the deepest level, we are witnessing an attack on the institutions of civil society that are essential to limited government and are important buffers between the citizen and the all-powerful state.
If religious providers of education, health care and social services are closed down or forced to become tools of administration policy, the government consolidates a monopoly over those essential services. As Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, put it, we are witnessing an effort to reduce religion to a private activity. [the line seem familiar to you? "Hey, the Church has no business what my partner and I do inside our bedroom!" Right! The RH people use this too. And this is the same tactic they are using in the USA.] "Never before," he said, "have we faced this kind of challenge to our ability to engage in the public square as people of faith." [It takes a storm to rock the Bark of Peter and for those in the boat to wake up and call upon the Lord!]
With this week's lawsuits, the bishops join a growing army of other plaintiffs around the country, Catholic and non-Catholic, who are asking the courts to repel an unprecedented governmental assault on the ability of religious persons and groups to practice their religion without being forced to violate their deepest moral convictions.
Religious freedom is subject to necessary limitations in the interests of public health and safety. The HHS regulations do not fall into that category. The world has gotten along fine without this mandate—the services in question are widely and cheaply available, and most employers will provide coverage for them.
But if the regulations are not reversed, they threaten to demote religious liberty from its prominent place among this country's most cherished freedoms. That is why Cardinal Dolan told CBS's "Face the Nation" on April 8: "We didn't ask for this fight, but we won't back away from it."
Ms. Glendon is professor at Harvard Law School.
***
Obama in the USA and the pro-RH politicians here had it coming.
Hans Kung, the comedian
or might I say, the heretic?
The ultraliberal modernist theologian Hans Kung called Benedict XVI an invalid pope. Oh, he also is a signatory of Church 2011,a memorandum containing the demand for reform of the Roman Catholic Church in response to the sexual abuse scandal among German priests.
The memorandum demands the following:
- Structures of participation: more participation of all people in the Catholic Church, particularly through election of bishops and priests;
- Parish community: more help for Catholic communities, with a more explicit sharing of responsibilities. Married priests and women as priests should be allowed;
- Legal culture: the Catholic Church should initiate a church jurisdiction;
- Freedom of conscience: respect for individual conscience, particularly for divorced people, who want to marry again, and for homosexual civil unions;
- Reconciliation: greater reconciliation of the church to her own history; and
- Worship: reform of the Roman Catholic liturgy (with greater modern influence, and more influence from the cultural life of countries).
So, Kung now is also a sedevacantist.
Why the rant?
Just because Benedict is advancing the reunification of the SSPX into the Church.
Will similarly minded priests who hate the SSPX say the same thing?
Anything sedevactist tags here?
Any Luciferian tags there?
Or SECRET SSPX DOG over here?
The latest buzz word is that the Pope will release the decision on Pentecost Sunday.
Thank God for Pope Benedict XVI!
Oh, I also have this button sent to me.
Thanks to dear Bro. Jay for sending it.
Gregorian Chant is being revived by the CDF
From Sandro Magister
***
ROME, May 23, 2012 – At the Mass that Benedict XVI will celebrate in Milan next June 3 in front of an immense crowd of faithful, on the occasion of the world meeting of families, the performance of the Gregorian chants will be entrusted to the choir directed by Maestro Fulvio Rampi.
It is one of the most justly esteemed choirs in Gregorian chant. In the study and practice of which, the "prince" chant of the Latin liturgy, Rampi has for years played a role of the highest importance. [Vatican II placed the highest importance of Latin and Gregorian Chant. But hey! Where is it here in the Philippines?]
Last May 19, in Lecce, he gave a compelling talk precisely on this form of chant, as part of a day of study on sacred music fifty years after Vatican II and in the light of the magisterium of Benedict XVI:
"Il canto gregoriano: un estraneo in casa sua"
It is common knowledge that Gregorian chant is not in its finest hour. It has been practically banned everywhere, in spite of the fact that Vatican Council II, in the constitution on the liturgy, reaffirmed its primacy in the clearest of terms:
If Gregorian chant has been banned, it is because of complete amnesia concerning its nature. Its rebirth therefore demands in the first place that it be rediscovered and understood.
Rampi defined it with five traits, in his talk in Lecce:
*
At the day of study in Lecce, other prominent personalities in the field of liturgical music also spoke.
Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, president emeritus of the pontifical committee for historical sciences, illustrated "the historical antecedents of the liturgical sensibility of Joseph Ratzinger," in the Germany of the nineteenth century and in particular in Regensburg.
Monsignor Valentin Miserachs Grau, the outgoing head of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, denounced the omissions in liturgical and musical formation in the seminaries. [What you have are Protestant inspired music no thanks to Bukas Palad Music of the Ateneo de Manila Jesuits, including that heretical "Christify".]
Maestro Simone Baiocchi, one of the most solid disciples of Domenico Bartolucci, the former director of the Sistine Chapel choir and now a cardinal, critically analyzed recent variations in the practice of choirs and "scholae cantorum."
Monsignor Juan-Miguel Ferrer Grenesche, undersecretary of the congregation for divine worship, made a thorough review of the magisterium of the Church in matters of sacred music, from the 1903 motu proprio "Tra le sollecitudini" of Pius X until today.
The conclusion that Ferrer drew from this is that a "clear and precise" magisterium in this regard has been given. But it has been widely disobeyed and contradicted. And the blame has in part belonged to the hierarchy of the Church. [Who are either modernists themselves or are puppets of modernist liturgists!]
The Church spoke – Ferrer noted – but lacked "a concrete intention to have the discipline in effect applied by those who had responsibility in the matter."
So then, in regard to this sin of omission attributable in large part to the congregation for divine worship of which he himself is part, Ferrer has announced that it is being remedied.
And this is being done at the prompting of a recent motu proprio of Benedict XVI, "Quaerit semper" of August 30, 2011.
In the final part of his talk, reproduced further below, Ferrer announced that the congregation for divine worship will soon be endowed with an office for liturgical art and music that will finally apply, all over the world, the prescriptions of the Church unheeded until now, the rebirth of Gregorian chant first among them.
As can be read further below, Ferrer is very detailed in previewing the future program of the new office.
But he also says that the new office, in order to be created, is still awaiting "confirmation on the part of the secretariat of state" headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. [Which according to some reports, Bertone is BLOCKING! No surprise there!]
And he does not say – but it is known – that the new office has competition in the curia. Because the pontifical council for culture, headed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, also aims to have a say in sacred art and music.
For example, when Ferrer says that the duties of the new office of his congregation will include "the organization of international awards or competitions in composition," he neglects to say that Cardinal Ravasi has already organized one of these international competitions: for a composition that sets to music the "Apostles' Creed."
The awards will take place at the end of the summer in Perugia, in conjunction with the Sagra Musicale Umbra. And an outstanding member of the jury will be Monsignor Massimo Palombella, the current director of the choir of the Sistine Chapel, greatly criticized for the low level of his performances and an exponent of a vision of sacred music very far from, if not opposed to, the one personified by the speakers at the day of study in Lecce.
*
Palombella, together with Monsignor Marco Frisina, director of the choir of the basilica of Saint John Lateran, and the last two heads of the office for liturgical music of the Italian episcopal conference, the priests Antonio Parisi and Vincenzo De Gregorio, leads the quartet that aims to gain control of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music.
This maneuver – and the musical vision that the four represent – was reported by www.chiesa in this article of last March 30:
> Not Sacred Music, but Sounds of Attack
At that time, the appointment of the new president of the PIMS seemed imminent. Instead it is still slow in coming.
Facing off in the curia are on the one side Monsignor Palombella with his cardinals of reference Bertone and Ravasi, and on the other the congregations for divine worship and for Catholic education, whose cardinal prefect, Zenon Grocholewski, is also grand chancellor of the PIMS and has taken as a slap in the face the rejection on the part of the secretariat of state of his candidate for the presidency of the institute, the Frenchman Stephane Quessard, selected in continuity with outgoing president Miserachs.
Cardinal Bartolucci, 95, naturally belongs to this second current. And with him Cardinal Brandmüller, a countryman of the pope.
It is a clash that represents two antithetical visions of the future of liturgical music.
If the decision – not only on the leadership of the PIMS, but also on the primacy of the congregation for divine worship in musical matters – were ultimately up to Benedict XVI, there is no doubt on the orientation to which his preferences would go. [Why would the Secretary of State have a say in these things in the first place? Is Bertone so powerful he already became somewhat like an Executive Secretary?]
The Gregorian singers directed by Rampi, who will accompany his Mass on June 3 in Milan, are an outstanding example of this orientation.
____________
[Here is the talk. Very meaty and informative!]
THE NEW DUTIES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
IN THE PROMOTION OF SACRED MUSIC
AFTER THE MOTU PROPRIO "QUAERIT SEMPER" OF BENEDICT XVI
by Juan-Miguel Ferrer Grenesche
Everyone knows about the urgency and centrality that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has wanted to reserve during his whole pontificate to the correct and authentic application of the teachings of Vatican Council II. [...]?
It is in this context that the motu proprio "Quaerit Semper" of August of 2011 is to be understood, with which the Holy Father Benedict XVI has wished to concentrate further the work of the congregation for divine worship and the discipline of the sacraments in its properly liturgical competencies, affirming:
"In present circumstances it has seemed appropriate for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to focus mainly on giving a fresh impetus to promoting the Sacred Liturgy in the Church, in accordance with the renewal that the Second Vatican Council desired, on the basis of the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium." [...]
The first consequence of the motu proprio "Quaerit Semper" was the elaboration of a new of a new internal ordering of the congregation to adapt its structure to the priorities indicated by the Holy Father, beyond transferring part of the competencies of sacramental discipline – on the sacrament of orders, or cases of the nullity of ordination, and of marriage, or cases of matrimony "ratified and not consummated" – to the tribunal of the Roman Rota, creating within it an "administrative section."
Our congregation, born from the renewed fusion between the congregations of divine worship (or for the liturgy) and of the discipline of the sacraments, was made up of four sections or offices:
- liturgical office I;
- liturgical office II;
- the matrimonial office;
- the priestly office.
The new regulations, although dependent on confirmation by the secretariat of state, provide for the maintenance of four sections, in order not to alter the structure, which however in line of principle will be the following:
- liturgical office I;
- liturgical office II;
- the disciplinary office, which combines the competencies of liturgical discipline and all those that concern sacramentals;
- the office for liturgical arts and music.
In any case, whatever may be the final configuration of this department for the arts and music, it is expected that, with a certain differentiation of competencies, it will deal with issues of music, architecture, painting, sculpture, and the so-called "lesser" arts.
This in turn will require the appointment of a series of outside collaborators or consultants, with specific competencies in these sectors.
In the specific field of sacred music, specific relations at the institutional level will be reestablished with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, as also with the Abbey of Saint-Pierre of Solesmes and other associations and institutions that work in the field of music for the liturgy, from the scientific point of view, from the academic point of view, and in the perspective of the creation of new music or of pastoral practice.
At the level of immediate objectives or challenges, I will point out a few that certainly appear evident:
a. To realize and complete the series of musical books for the liturgy in the Latin language, including the holy Mass, the divine office, the sacraments and sacramentals. Having reached this goal, it will probably be appropriate to realize a complete and more easily usable edition of many of these materials in the form of a sort of "liber usualis."
b. It seems just as urgent to recompile and clarify the different norms and the guidelines of the most recent pontifical magisterium on sacred music in order to offer a foundational text for a directory of chant and music in liturgical celebration for the use of the different conferences of bishops, to which is entrusted the task of elaborating directories and repertoires for their respective countries.
Such a directory, as far as Gregorian chant is concerned, will have to overcome the disputes between purely paleographical and pastoral criteria, as also, in relation with the competent dicastery, to pose the problems of the use of Gregorian chant according to editions from before 1962 in the so-called "extraordinary form" of the Roman rite.
c. With the help of the competent academic and pastoral institutions, it will be necessary to promote, at least in the principal or most widespread modern languages, in harmony with the criteria presented in an appropriate directory, models of new compositions which may help to verify the theoretical proposals and discern them at the local level.
There remains the doubt of what may be the best strategy for reaching such a result. For the moment, the wait continues for the new organisms within the congregation, members and consultants, to confer on these matters, from the edition of repertoires for international celebrations to the organization of international awards or competitions of composition, to courses for composers, conductors, and performers, and to many other concrete proposals to be evaluated.
Summarizing, it is evident that in order to reclaim the issue of music in liturgical celebrations, the congregation, making its own the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and his immediate predecessors on the matter, must guarantee:
1. the preparation of updated and official instruments in order to be able to celebrate with song the Roman liturgy in the Latin language;
2. clarity and facility for the celebration of the Roman rite in the ordinary form in the vernacular language, singing in part or in full the ordinary and/or the propers of the Mass or the divine office in Gregorian or polyphonic melodies based on the liturgical text in Latin;
3. the existence of updated criteria in order to be able to apply the principles of gradualism defined in "Musicam Sacram," both for celebration in the Latin language and for celebration in the vernacular language (directory);
4. the existence of a sure normative framework that responds to the purpose of establishing appropriate national repertoires destined to take on little by little an official value, in such a way that the use of other songs would require an authorization "ad casum" on the part of the respective ordinary: this is another matter for the future directory.
I hope with this [...] that the application of the motu proprio "Quaerit semper" may represent for sacred music a new stage of splendor and beauty: without it, the liturgy would see itself deprived of one of its most eloquent and substantial expressive elements.
***
Yes, our Filipino Liturgical Experts expressed support for the reforms of Vatican II especially on the reforms in the Liturgy.
But where is Latin now?
Where is Gregorian Chant now?
Bah!
Diploma waving........
***
ROME, May 23, 2012 – At the Mass that Benedict XVI will celebrate in Milan next June 3 in front of an immense crowd of faithful, on the occasion of the world meeting of families, the performance of the Gregorian chants will be entrusted to the choir directed by Maestro Fulvio Rampi.
It is one of the most justly esteemed choirs in Gregorian chant. In the study and practice of which, the "prince" chant of the Latin liturgy, Rampi has for years played a role of the highest importance. [Vatican II placed the highest importance of Latin and Gregorian Chant. But hey! Where is it here in the Philippines?]
Last May 19, in Lecce, he gave a compelling talk precisely on this form of chant, as part of a day of study on sacred music fifty years after Vatican II and in the light of the magisterium of Benedict XVI:
"Il canto gregoriano: un estraneo in casa sua"
It is common knowledge that Gregorian chant is not in its finest hour. It has been practically banned everywhere, in spite of the fact that Vatican Council II, in the constitution on the liturgy, reaffirmed its primacy in the clearest of terms:
"The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services."
If Gregorian chant has been banned, it is because of complete amnesia concerning its nature. Its rebirth therefore demands in the first place that it be rediscovered and understood.
Rampi defined it with five traits, in his talk in Lecce:
1. Gregorian is the chant "proper" to the Latin liturgy. In it, the Church speaks its thought on the Word of God in song.
2. Gregorian is the "sonorous" expression of the interpretation that the Church makes of the Word.
3. Gregorian is not ornamentation, but is itself liturgy.
4. Gregorian is liturgy in its proper times and forms: from the introit to the gradual to the "communio," from the Kyrie to the Agnus Dei.
5. Gregorian is a whole that marks out and embraces the entire liturgical year, intelligible only in its unified vision, like the Sacred Scriptures. It is the musical form of the "lectio divina" of the Church.
*
At the day of study in Lecce, other prominent personalities in the field of liturgical music also spoke.
Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, president emeritus of the pontifical committee for historical sciences, illustrated "the historical antecedents of the liturgical sensibility of Joseph Ratzinger," in the Germany of the nineteenth century and in particular in Regensburg.
Monsignor Valentin Miserachs Grau, the outgoing head of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, denounced the omissions in liturgical and musical formation in the seminaries. [What you have are Protestant inspired music no thanks to Bukas Palad Music of the Ateneo de Manila Jesuits, including that heretical "Christify".]
Maestro Simone Baiocchi, one of the most solid disciples of Domenico Bartolucci, the former director of the Sistine Chapel choir and now a cardinal, critically analyzed recent variations in the practice of choirs and "scholae cantorum."
Monsignor Juan-Miguel Ferrer Grenesche, undersecretary of the congregation for divine worship, made a thorough review of the magisterium of the Church in matters of sacred music, from the 1903 motu proprio "Tra le sollecitudini" of Pius X until today.
The conclusion that Ferrer drew from this is that a "clear and precise" magisterium in this regard has been given. But it has been widely disobeyed and contradicted. And the blame has in part belonged to the hierarchy of the Church. [Who are either modernists themselves or are puppets of modernist liturgists!]
The Church spoke – Ferrer noted – but lacked "a concrete intention to have the discipline in effect applied by those who had responsibility in the matter."
So then, in regard to this sin of omission attributable in large part to the congregation for divine worship of which he himself is part, Ferrer has announced that it is being remedied.
And this is being done at the prompting of a recent motu proprio of Benedict XVI, "Quaerit semper" of August 30, 2011.
In the final part of his talk, reproduced further below, Ferrer announced that the congregation for divine worship will soon be endowed with an office for liturgical art and music that will finally apply, all over the world, the prescriptions of the Church unheeded until now, the rebirth of Gregorian chant first among them.
As can be read further below, Ferrer is very detailed in previewing the future program of the new office.
But he also says that the new office, in order to be created, is still awaiting "confirmation on the part of the secretariat of state" headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. [Which according to some reports, Bertone is BLOCKING! No surprise there!]
And he does not say – but it is known – that the new office has competition in the curia. Because the pontifical council for culture, headed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, also aims to have a say in sacred art and music.
For example, when Ferrer says that the duties of the new office of his congregation will include "the organization of international awards or competitions in composition," he neglects to say that Cardinal Ravasi has already organized one of these international competitions: for a composition that sets to music the "Apostles' Creed."
The awards will take place at the end of the summer in Perugia, in conjunction with the Sagra Musicale Umbra. And an outstanding member of the jury will be Monsignor Massimo Palombella, the current director of the choir of the Sistine Chapel, greatly criticized for the low level of his performances and an exponent of a vision of sacred music very far from, if not opposed to, the one personified by the speakers at the day of study in Lecce.
*
Palombella, together with Monsignor Marco Frisina, director of the choir of the basilica of Saint John Lateran, and the last two heads of the office for liturgical music of the Italian episcopal conference, the priests Antonio Parisi and Vincenzo De Gregorio, leads the quartet that aims to gain control of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music.
This maneuver – and the musical vision that the four represent – was reported by www.chiesa in this article of last March 30:
> Not Sacred Music, but Sounds of Attack
At that time, the appointment of the new president of the PIMS seemed imminent. Instead it is still slow in coming.
Facing off in the curia are on the one side Monsignor Palombella with his cardinals of reference Bertone and Ravasi, and on the other the congregations for divine worship and for Catholic education, whose cardinal prefect, Zenon Grocholewski, is also grand chancellor of the PIMS and has taken as a slap in the face the rejection on the part of the secretariat of state of his candidate for the presidency of the institute, the Frenchman Stephane Quessard, selected in continuity with outgoing president Miserachs.
Cardinal Bartolucci, 95, naturally belongs to this second current. And with him Cardinal Brandmüller, a countryman of the pope.
It is a clash that represents two antithetical visions of the future of liturgical music.
If the decision – not only on the leadership of the PIMS, but also on the primacy of the congregation for divine worship in musical matters – were ultimately up to Benedict XVI, there is no doubt on the orientation to which his preferences would go. [Why would the Secretary of State have a say in these things in the first place? Is Bertone so powerful he already became somewhat like an Executive Secretary?]
The Gregorian singers directed by Rampi, who will accompany his Mass on June 3 in Milan, are an outstanding example of this orientation.
____________
THE NEW DUTIES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
IN THE PROMOTION OF SACRED MUSIC
AFTER THE MOTU PROPRIO "QUAERIT SEMPER" OF BENEDICT XVI
by Juan-Miguel Ferrer Grenesche
Everyone knows about the urgency and centrality that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has wanted to reserve during his whole pontificate to the correct and authentic application of the teachings of Vatican Council II. [...]?
It is in this context that the motu proprio "Quaerit Semper" of August of 2011 is to be understood, with which the Holy Father Benedict XVI has wished to concentrate further the work of the congregation for divine worship and the discipline of the sacraments in its properly liturgical competencies, affirming:
"In present circumstances it has seemed appropriate for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to focus mainly on giving a fresh impetus to promoting the Sacred Liturgy in the Church, in accordance with the renewal that the Second Vatican Council desired, on the basis of the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium." [...]
The first consequence of the motu proprio "Quaerit Semper" was the elaboration of a new of a new internal ordering of the congregation to adapt its structure to the priorities indicated by the Holy Father, beyond transferring part of the competencies of sacramental discipline – on the sacrament of orders, or cases of the nullity of ordination, and of marriage, or cases of matrimony "ratified and not consummated" – to the tribunal of the Roman Rota, creating within it an "administrative section."
Our congregation, born from the renewed fusion between the congregations of divine worship (or for the liturgy) and of the discipline of the sacraments, was made up of four sections or offices:
- liturgical office I;
- liturgical office II;
- the matrimonial office;
- the priestly office.
The new regulations, although dependent on confirmation by the secretariat of state, provide for the maintenance of four sections, in order not to alter the structure, which however in line of principle will be the following:
- liturgical office I;
- liturgical office II;
- the disciplinary office, which combines the competencies of liturgical discipline and all those that concern sacramentals;
- the office for liturgical arts and music.
In any case, whatever may be the final configuration of this department for the arts and music, it is expected that, with a certain differentiation of competencies, it will deal with issues of music, architecture, painting, sculpture, and the so-called "lesser" arts.
This in turn will require the appointment of a series of outside collaborators or consultants, with specific competencies in these sectors.
In the specific field of sacred music, specific relations at the institutional level will be reestablished with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, as also with the Abbey of Saint-Pierre of Solesmes and other associations and institutions that work in the field of music for the liturgy, from the scientific point of view, from the academic point of view, and in the perspective of the creation of new music or of pastoral practice.
At the level of immediate objectives or challenges, I will point out a few that certainly appear evident:
a. To realize and complete the series of musical books for the liturgy in the Latin language, including the holy Mass, the divine office, the sacraments and sacramentals. Having reached this goal, it will probably be appropriate to realize a complete and more easily usable edition of many of these materials in the form of a sort of "liber usualis."
b. It seems just as urgent to recompile and clarify the different norms and the guidelines of the most recent pontifical magisterium on sacred music in order to offer a foundational text for a directory of chant and music in liturgical celebration for the use of the different conferences of bishops, to which is entrusted the task of elaborating directories and repertoires for their respective countries.
Such a directory, as far as Gregorian chant is concerned, will have to overcome the disputes between purely paleographical and pastoral criteria, as also, in relation with the competent dicastery, to pose the problems of the use of Gregorian chant according to editions from before 1962 in the so-called "extraordinary form" of the Roman rite.
c. With the help of the competent academic and pastoral institutions, it will be necessary to promote, at least in the principal or most widespread modern languages, in harmony with the criteria presented in an appropriate directory, models of new compositions which may help to verify the theoretical proposals and discern them at the local level.
There remains the doubt of what may be the best strategy for reaching such a result. For the moment, the wait continues for the new organisms within the congregation, members and consultants, to confer on these matters, from the edition of repertoires for international celebrations to the organization of international awards or competitions of composition, to courses for composers, conductors, and performers, and to many other concrete proposals to be evaluated.
Summarizing, it is evident that in order to reclaim the issue of music in liturgical celebrations, the congregation, making its own the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and his immediate predecessors on the matter, must guarantee:
1. the preparation of updated and official instruments in order to be able to celebrate with song the Roman liturgy in the Latin language;
2. clarity and facility for the celebration of the Roman rite in the ordinary form in the vernacular language, singing in part or in full the ordinary and/or the propers of the Mass or the divine office in Gregorian or polyphonic melodies based on the liturgical text in Latin;
3. the existence of updated criteria in order to be able to apply the principles of gradualism defined in "Musicam Sacram," both for celebration in the Latin language and for celebration in the vernacular language (directory);
4. the existence of a sure normative framework that responds to the purpose of establishing appropriate national repertoires destined to take on little by little an official value, in such a way that the use of other songs would require an authorization "ad casum" on the part of the respective ordinary: this is another matter for the future directory.
I hope with this [...] that the application of the motu proprio "Quaerit semper" may represent for sacred music a new stage of splendor and beauty: without it, the liturgy would see itself deprived of one of its most eloquent and substantial expressive elements.
***
Yes, our Filipino Liturgical Experts expressed support for the reforms of Vatican II especially on the reforms in the Liturgy.
But where is Latin now?
Where is Gregorian Chant now?
Bah!
Diploma waving........
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Yes, we are at war!
Always against evil!
***
VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that the members of the Church on earth are aptly described as "ecclesia militans," the Church militant, since it is "necessary to enter into battle with evil."
The Pope said this Monday when he had a lunch with the College of Cardinals. The lunch was an expression of appreciation for congratulations received last month for the Pope's 85th birthday (April 16) and seventh anniversary of election to the See of Peter (April 19).
"At this moment my word can be only a word of gratitude," he said. "Gratitude first of all to the Lord for the many years he has given me; years with so many days of joy, splendid times, but also dark nights. However, in retrospect one understands even the nights were necessary and good, a motive for gratitude."
The Holy Father then reflected on the battle against evil, saying that though the term "ecclesia militans" is "somewhat out of fashion," it is true, "it bears truth in itself." [Let's make it a fashion then.]
"We see how evil wishes to dominate the world and that it is necessary to enter into battle with evil," he explained. Evil is seen in many forms of violence, the Pontiff reflected, but also "masked with goodness and precisely this way destroying the moral foundations of society." [LGBT marriage movement, RH, abortion, liturgical abuse, theological modernism...]
Benedict XVI said that in this struggle against evil in which we find ourselves, "it is very important to have friends." He then spoke of the College of Cardinals as his friends, with whom he "feel[s] at home."
"I feel safe in this company of great friends, who are with me and all together with the Lord," he said. "Thank you for this friendship."
The Pope concluded with a word of confidence and hope: though in battle, he reflected, "we are in the Lord’s squad, hence in the victorious squad."
[LORD'S SQUAD!!!]
***
I remember one smart aleck guy, who is a student of "You-Know-Who" say that the Catechism does not teach about the Church Triumphant, Militant and Suffering.
Yeah, if you read the Catechism today! The Baltimore Catechism, St. Pius X Catechism and My Catholic Faith, all of which I have a copy, have it!
But it does not mean you can't teach it!
The Pope here reiterated the point why we are called as such.
But, hey. The padawan is a disciple of "You-Know-Who"who worships Vatican II.
Well, let them be.
Time is against them.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
We are in the LORD'S SQUAD!
***
Here is the Rome Reports video of that luncheon:
***
VATICAN CITY, MAY 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that the members of the Church on earth are aptly described as "ecclesia militans," the Church militant, since it is "necessary to enter into battle with evil."
The Pope said this Monday when he had a lunch with the College of Cardinals. The lunch was an expression of appreciation for congratulations received last month for the Pope's 85th birthday (April 16) and seventh anniversary of election to the See of Peter (April 19).
"At this moment my word can be only a word of gratitude," he said. "Gratitude first of all to the Lord for the many years he has given me; years with so many days of joy, splendid times, but also dark nights. However, in retrospect one understands even the nights were necessary and good, a motive for gratitude."
The Holy Father then reflected on the battle against evil, saying that though the term "ecclesia militans" is "somewhat out of fashion," it is true, "it bears truth in itself." [Let's make it a fashion then.]
"We see how evil wishes to dominate the world and that it is necessary to enter into battle with evil," he explained. Evil is seen in many forms of violence, the Pontiff reflected, but also "masked with goodness and precisely this way destroying the moral foundations of society." [LGBT marriage movement, RH, abortion, liturgical abuse, theological modernism...]
Benedict XVI said that in this struggle against evil in which we find ourselves, "it is very important to have friends." He then spoke of the College of Cardinals as his friends, with whom he "feel[s] at home."
"I feel safe in this company of great friends, who are with me and all together with the Lord," he said. "Thank you for this friendship."
The Pope concluded with a word of confidence and hope: though in battle, he reflected, "we are in the Lord’s squad, hence in the victorious squad."
[LORD'S SQUAD!!!]
***
I remember one smart aleck guy, who is a student of "You-Know-Who" say that the Catechism does not teach about the Church Triumphant, Militant and Suffering.
Yeah, if you read the Catechism today! The Baltimore Catechism, St. Pius X Catechism and My Catholic Faith, all of which I have a copy, have it!
But it does not mean you can't teach it!
The Pope here reiterated the point why we are called as such.
But, hey. The padawan is a disciple of "You-Know-Who"who worships Vatican II.
Well, let them be.
Time is against them.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
We are in the LORD'S SQUAD!
***
Here is the Rome Reports video of that luncheon:
Book on Vatican II to set the record straight
Aw shucks!
No one from MST, SVST and Euntes?!?!
No one from the feminist theologians?!?
No Angry Nuns?!?
No dissident theologians who herald the New Pentecost of Vatican II, or the Academic Liturgists?!?!
Darn it....
Of course, I was being sarcastic!
Thank goodness for this one.
It is just in Italian though, but expect an English edition soon. No, it would not contain "And also with you."
And no need for Episcopal Conferences or ICEL to meddle in the translation.
But I still prefer, as do most conservative and traditional Catholics do...
A Syllabus of Errors in interpreting Vatican II must come out.
Maybe after this book, no?
No one from MST, SVST and Euntes?!?!
No one from the feminist theologians?!?
No Angry Nuns?!?
No dissident theologians who herald the New Pentecost of Vatican II, or the Academic Liturgists?!?!
Darn it....
Of course, I was being sarcastic!
Thank goodness for this one.
It is just in Italian though, but expect an English edition soon. No, it would not contain "And also with you."
And no need for Episcopal Conferences or ICEL to meddle in the translation.
But I still prefer, as do most conservative and traditional Catholics do...
A Syllabus of Errors in interpreting Vatican II must come out.
Maybe after this book, no?
Huh?!
The torch bearers are going to process?
Are they facing the liturgical east?
....while the Gospel is being proclaimed?
Weh? Wah? Woooo!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
"Parenthood" group teaches this
This is the very same group that supports the RH Bill in the country.
Very.........responsible parenting.
A bunch of perverts!
You don't have to be a Christian/Catholic to know that this is perverted!
Read the full report here.
Catholic Talibans
from Pro-Life Philippines
by Anthony Perez
***
That’s what they call us. [Especially coming from "Catholic" columnist Billy Esposo who is also a member of the Focolare Movement! The gall!]
Oppose liberalism and modernism at its core, be up in arms against same sex marriage, contraception and abortion, sex education, and feminism, and you will be called a fundamentalist. A religious zealot.
Corrolary to this issue is the prevalent thought among liberals that religion and faith is against science and common sense, and therefore impede true progress. Liberals and freethinkers will be quick to make the connection between the “hypocrital” Catholic Church and the poverty of this nation. Try to visit comment boxes and internet forums and stand your ground against the liberal tide. As sure as the sun will rise will you be branded either of the following: bigot, hater, ignorant, intolerant, homophobic, backward, medieval, hypocrite, dim-witted, ‘slaves’ of bishops, fanatics, delusional, idiot, moralist, taliban. [No thanks to the likes of Billy Esposo and would you believe it, even Catholic theologians!]
More recently I was called a Catholic Taliban (a derogatory term which implies fundamentalism) for protecting the sanctity of marriage and upholding its ONLY definition: that it is between a man and a woman.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no conflict between religion and science, between faith and reason. God is not only the author of Truth but THE Truth itself, and so whatever we believe in faith can also be found in reason. Professor Thomas Woods, PhD, says that the Catholic Church was responsible for forging humanity into modern civilization as we know today. [Have you ever asked what these atheists contributed to the world? The university system was born out of the monasteries of Europe.] In fact, most laws in the civilized world can be taken from the commandments and the magisterium of the Catholic Church. This is very remote from the liberal thinking that the Church suppresses reason and scientific advancements and is anti-progress.
Many freethinkers support the LGBT crowd, thinking that supporting the homosexual agenda is to keep up with the times. Perhaps they don’t realize that in Ancient Rome, homosexuality was commonplace. We can go back further: Sodom and Gomorrah. And we all know what happened to them. [It is in fact, A DEGENERATION.]
Those who think that women should be given a choice for abortion is being progressive have missed out on their history lessons, as Spartans threw their ‘unfit’ babies down a cliff, to be dashed to their deaths.
There is nothing progressive nor modern about the liberal agenda.
One of the most common complaints of people against us Catholics and Pro-Lifers is that we should “live and let live”; in essence, what they are asking us to do is to remain quiet in the face of all this evil happening around. [People who are guilty of their crimes and are pretty sure that they cannot defend what they are doing will ask you to just shut up. Does Communism and Dictatorship ring a bell?] Why can’t we Catholics just turn a blind eye on all of these evil? It is because Jesus himself preached that we are the salt of the Earth, and light of the world. No one lights a lamp and hides it under cover. In the same way, we are called to share this light to the rest of the world that has gone half-mad with darkness, and so glorify our Father in Heaven. [The kind of Christian Charity that Esposo and his ilk preach is silence in the face of evil.]
Out of the darkness of Ancient Rome rose the light that was Christianity. Today, we Pro-Lifers shine bright in this darkness that the world has plunged itself into.
There is nothing wrong with being a “Catholic Taliban”. If it means preserving the dignity of life from conception to natural death, and bringing hope and comfort to those who have none, then so be it.
If it means being convinced of the true meaning of marriage, saving women from cancer-causing pills and preventing their objectification caused by the contraceptive mentality; If it means the preservation of morality and and upholding of natural law, then so be it.
True progress can only be achieved by a society that respects life at all stages. To give in to abortion, the contraceptive mentality, to the homosexual agenda, to euthanasia, and divorce is to give in to social and moral decline.
***
Billy Esposo, your turn!
by Anthony Perez
***
That’s what they call us. [Especially coming from "Catholic" columnist Billy Esposo who is also a member of the Focolare Movement! The gall!]
Oppose liberalism and modernism at its core, be up in arms against same sex marriage, contraception and abortion, sex education, and feminism, and you will be called a fundamentalist. A religious zealot.
Corrolary to this issue is the prevalent thought among liberals that religion and faith is against science and common sense, and therefore impede true progress. Liberals and freethinkers will be quick to make the connection between the “hypocrital” Catholic Church and the poverty of this nation. Try to visit comment boxes and internet forums and stand your ground against the liberal tide. As sure as the sun will rise will you be branded either of the following: bigot, hater, ignorant, intolerant, homophobic, backward, medieval, hypocrite, dim-witted, ‘slaves’ of bishops, fanatics, delusional, idiot, moralist, taliban. [No thanks to the likes of Billy Esposo and would you believe it, even Catholic theologians!]
More recently I was called a Catholic Taliban (a derogatory term which implies fundamentalism) for protecting the sanctity of marriage and upholding its ONLY definition: that it is between a man and a woman.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no conflict between religion and science, between faith and reason. God is not only the author of Truth but THE Truth itself, and so whatever we believe in faith can also be found in reason. Professor Thomas Woods, PhD, says that the Catholic Church was responsible for forging humanity into modern civilization as we know today. [Have you ever asked what these atheists contributed to the world? The university system was born out of the monasteries of Europe.] In fact, most laws in the civilized world can be taken from the commandments and the magisterium of the Catholic Church. This is very remote from the liberal thinking that the Church suppresses reason and scientific advancements and is anti-progress.
Many freethinkers support the LGBT crowd, thinking that supporting the homosexual agenda is to keep up with the times. Perhaps they don’t realize that in Ancient Rome, homosexuality was commonplace. We can go back further: Sodom and Gomorrah. And we all know what happened to them. [It is in fact, A DEGENERATION.]
Those who think that women should be given a choice for abortion is being progressive have missed out on their history lessons, as Spartans threw their ‘unfit’ babies down a cliff, to be dashed to their deaths.
There is nothing progressive nor modern about the liberal agenda.
One of the most common complaints of people against us Catholics and Pro-Lifers is that we should “live and let live”; in essence, what they are asking us to do is to remain quiet in the face of all this evil happening around. [People who are guilty of their crimes and are pretty sure that they cannot defend what they are doing will ask you to just shut up. Does Communism and Dictatorship ring a bell?] Why can’t we Catholics just turn a blind eye on all of these evil? It is because Jesus himself preached that we are the salt of the Earth, and light of the world. No one lights a lamp and hides it under cover. In the same way, we are called to share this light to the rest of the world that has gone half-mad with darkness, and so glorify our Father in Heaven. [The kind of Christian Charity that Esposo and his ilk preach is silence in the face of evil.]
Out of the darkness of Ancient Rome rose the light that was Christianity. Today, we Pro-Lifers shine bright in this darkness that the world has plunged itself into.
There is nothing wrong with being a “Catholic Taliban”. If it means preserving the dignity of life from conception to natural death, and bringing hope and comfort to those who have none, then so be it.
If it means being convinced of the true meaning of marriage, saving women from cancer-causing pills and preventing their objectification caused by the contraceptive mentality; If it means the preservation of morality and and upholding of natural law, then so be it.
True progress can only be achieved by a society that respects life at all stages. To give in to abortion, the contraceptive mentality, to the homosexual agenda, to euthanasia, and divorce is to give in to social and moral decline.
***
Billy Esposo, your turn!
Guess where...
Great before and after shots.
How a renovation should REALLY look like.
See the trend?
From the super simplistic, modernist design to regaining the sense of the sacred.
More of this for our chapels, oratories and churches!
How a renovation should REALLY look like.
See the trend?
From the super simplistic, modernist design to regaining the sense of the sacred.
More of this for our chapels, oratories and churches!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Lady Gaga, entertainment and respect
Can you see it now?
Simple...
They want you to respect their choice, their lifestyle, their beliefs...
They beg you to respect what they believe in...
But don't you dare express your Faith!
Anything but yours!
Ironic for people who preach acceptance and intolerance.
They cannot accept Catholics and Christians for who they are.
They cannot tolerate Catholics and Christians for who they are.
Ironic or just plain the work of the devil?
Both, I guess.
When you see a liturgical abuse...
Do you need a college degree before you can even notice something wrong in this?
And this?
And this....
Or this...
And this...
And this...
And this...
Bwahahahah!!!
Poor guys who got a degree from You-Know-Who...
They need to trumpet their diplomas to get their license and to shut you up.
And what I think is surprising is that these very individuals who trumpet their association with the "world-renowned liturgist" and their "degree in Liturgy" or their "certificate of attending a seminar in Liturgy or Congress in Liturgy," conducted by You-Know-Who or his diminutive padawan or his associate nun, or some who claims such ludicrous titles like "Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies" when they are not even assisting in a Papal Mass or have not been given that title by the Holy Father....
CAN'T EVEN SPOT WHAT IS A LITURGICAL NO-NO OR ABUSE!
In fact, they are the very ones who either tolerate it or encourage it or are the very architects of the abuse!
They tell you, that you do not have the right to say anything against the abuse that you have seen or even shout..."Broken faucet!". (if you are on my Facebook list of friends, you'll know what this corny joke is all about. Ha!)
So, if someone tells you to shut up if you cannot show your degree or certificate in Liturgy, give him a copy of the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, which obviously they would not and have never read, along with the Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum:
Here is what Redemptionis Sacramentum, advises us in the even we witness a liturgical abuse:
6. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters***
[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism.
[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[290] It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.
I bolden the letters to put emphasis.
It all takes a brave soul to lodge a complaint against Fr. Sobre and his dancing tambourined go-go dancers...
I cannot do it myself. I'll lose whatever I have as a senior Knight, being a past Grand Knight, former District Deputy and a Faithful Navigator.
Some of you laity can do it.
But do it in TRUTH and CHARITY.
Submit a photo of the abuse, cite what provision of the liturgical law was violated and submit either to the superior or bishop of the priest or deacon in question.
Yup. You do not need to attach a resume or a photocopy of a degree in Liturgy to lodge the complaint.
Redemptionis Sacramentum nor the Code of Canon Law require it.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
It's from St. Cuthbert's coffin!
 | |||
| The first page of St. Cuthbert's Gospel. The text seem familiar to those who know the TLM? |
LONDON (Reuters) - A seventh century gospel discovered in a saint's coffin more than 900 years ago, and the oldest European book to survive fully intact, has been acquired by the British Library for nine million pounds ($14 million), the library said on Tuesday.
The manuscript copy of the Gospel of St. John called the St. Cuthbert Gospel [also known as the Stonyhurst Gospel] was produced in the northeast of England in the late 7th century and was placed in the saint's coffin on the island of Lindisfarne, probably in 698.
His remains were carried to the mainland when the monks and people of the island fled Viking invaders, and ended up in Durham where the coffin was opened in 1104 and the gospel discovered.
Cuthbert's body was reburied in the new Norman cathedral there and became a focal point for pilgrims.
"It is undoubtedly one of the world's most important books," said Scot McKendrick, head of history and classics at the British Library.
"Most people who know about books know about the St. Cuthbert Gospel. The staggering fact is that we don't have a European book that looks as it did when it was made before this. It's quite astonishing."
According to the British Library, which has had the gospel on long-term loan since 1979 and exhibited it regularly, it will be displayed open temporarily after conservationists and curators deemed it safe to do so.
The manuscript features an original red leather binding in excellent condition and is the only surviving "high status" manuscript from this period of British history to retain its original appearance both inside and out.
In 2010, the library was approached by auction house Christie's who were acting on behalf of the gospel's owners the Society of Jesus (British Province), or Jesuits.
The national library was given first option to purchase the manuscript which was valued at nine million pounds.
Scot said that Jesuits came into possession of the prized artifact in the middle of the 18th century.
The Earl of Lichfield gave it to a priest who in turn passed it to Jesuits living in Europe. They later brought it to Stonyhurst, northwest England, explaining why it was formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel.
Little is known of its whereabouts between 1104 and the 1700s, although academics assume it was kept in Durham for much of that time.
Half of the price of the gospel came from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, established in 1980 to safeguard works of art and wildlife havens for the nation.
Other major gifts came from the Art Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation and the Foyle Foundation as well as donations from unnamed charitable trusts and individuals.
The book will be displayed to the public equally in London and the northeast after a formal partnership was agreed between the British Library, Durham University and Durham Cathedral.
The British Library has opened a special display exploring the creation, travels and "near-miraculous" survival of the gospel across 13 centuries and it has also been digitized and made freely available online.
***
St. Cuthbert is not in the General Roman Calendar anymore. In fact, I remembered the name only after I read this article.
I remember listening to the radio program of the late Ernie Baron dubbed "The Walking Encyclopedia" because of his wide range of knowledge in different topics. He once said, and I remember it vividly, that the Vatican reformed the Roman Calendar because there are too many saints in the calendar whose authenticity the Church cannot verify. He claims that the Church has these "mythical" saints whose names need to be taken off the Calendar. And he thanks Vatican II for it.
Uhm....
Right back then I know something was amiss.
And now we know for a fact that it is.
There is one born every decade. Hey Dan Brown!
Friday, May 18, 2012
80 former Minnesota priests sign petition protecting marriage
Take note. FORMER.
From this site.
***
Eighty former Minnesota Catholic priests, many from the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, have signed a statement opposing the Marriage Amendment that will be on the ballot this fall. The statement was released today (Thursday) at a press conference led by former Catholic priests.
The proposed constitutional amendment would restrict marriages in Minnesota to one man and one woman. [Now I am happy that they are former priests. If they are in active ministry and signed this petition...BOOM! Outta here! But.....wait! What happened to those Filipino theologians who signed a paper supporting women ordination, contraception, selective abortion....]
The resigned priests’ statement is contrary to the views of the state’s Catholic Bishops, [just the state?! Stupid reporter.] said a spokesperson. The 80 former priests represent 1,000 years of service to the Catholic Church. [Weh? Di nga? More like 1,000 years of dissent embodied in 80 year old guys! Ha!]
A committee of five former priests drafted the statement and collected the signatures.
They emphasized that Catholics have the right and a duty to vote according to their consciences, [that conscience rubbish again.] and that all Americans should be treated fairly and equally.
According to committee members, one reason for issuing the statement is that active priests were strongly discouraged from expressing dissenting opinions openly. [You are not discouraged. You are just violating rules. And whether you are a priest or a corporate guy, if you violate company rules, or publicly encourage the disobedience of these laws, then it is the door for you, boy!]
The statement reads:
“As resigned Catholic priests who collectively devoted more than 1,000 years of service to the Church, [what a load of crap that is!] we strongly oppose the proposed Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution. Free to express our opinions openly, we call on all people of good will to exercise their fundamental right to follow their consciences and to resist discrimination against any of God’s children. [What?! God Himself discriminated! Discrimination in itself is not a bad thing. Only these LGBT people did! When you say "Light and Dark" you discriminate. When you say "Hot and Cold" you discriminate. When you say "Man and Woman" you discriminate. God created them Man and Woman, not Man and Woman and Womyn... Marriage is a Divine Institution that God Himself created.]
“We encourage Minnesotans to base their vote on principles of justice and love. In violation of these principles, the proposed amendment would deprive an individual of his or her right to marry the person he or she loves. Therefore, we resigned priests encourage all Minnesotans to vote “no” on the marriage amendment.”
***
I hope they stay resigned. Ooops...They will always be.
I hope they stay resigned to the fate that
I still believe that when we tinker or play around with the holy, everything become trivial and mundane.
We played with conception with contraception and so we have abortion.
We played with marriage with Henry VIII's divorce and so we have more broken marriages and know we have people redefining what a man and a woman is and so we have these redefined people redefining according to their whims and caprices what marriage is really all about.
So, know you know why I hate it when people redefine what the Mass and the Liturgy is all about.
And I thought we had a world-renowned liturgist in our own backyard....
From this site.
***
Eighty former Minnesota Catholic priests, many from the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, have signed a statement opposing the Marriage Amendment that will be on the ballot this fall. The statement was released today (Thursday) at a press conference led by former Catholic priests.
The proposed constitutional amendment would restrict marriages in Minnesota to one man and one woman. [Now I am happy that they are former priests. If they are in active ministry and signed this petition...BOOM! Outta here! But.....wait! What happened to those Filipino theologians who signed a paper supporting women ordination, contraception, selective abortion....]
The resigned priests’ statement is contrary to the views of the state’s Catholic Bishops, [just the state?! Stupid reporter.] said a spokesperson. The 80 former priests represent 1,000 years of service to the Catholic Church. [Weh? Di nga? More like 1,000 years of dissent embodied in 80 year old guys! Ha!]
A committee of five former priests drafted the statement and collected the signatures.
They emphasized that Catholics have the right and a duty to vote according to their consciences, [that conscience rubbish again.] and that all Americans should be treated fairly and equally.
According to committee members, one reason for issuing the statement is that active priests were strongly discouraged from expressing dissenting opinions openly. [You are not discouraged. You are just violating rules. And whether you are a priest or a corporate guy, if you violate company rules, or publicly encourage the disobedience of these laws, then it is the door for you, boy!]
The statement reads:
“As resigned Catholic priests who collectively devoted more than 1,000 years of service to the Church, [what a load of crap that is!] we strongly oppose the proposed Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution. Free to express our opinions openly, we call on all people of good will to exercise their fundamental right to follow their consciences and to resist discrimination against any of God’s children. [What?! God Himself discriminated! Discrimination in itself is not a bad thing. Only these LGBT people did! When you say "Light and Dark" you discriminate. When you say "Hot and Cold" you discriminate. When you say "Man and Woman" you discriminate. God created them Man and Woman, not Man and Woman and Womyn... Marriage is a Divine Institution that God Himself created.]
“We encourage Minnesotans to base their vote on principles of justice and love. In violation of these principles, the proposed amendment would deprive an individual of his or her right to marry the person he or she loves. Therefore, we resigned priests encourage all Minnesotans to vote “no” on the marriage amendment.”
***
I hope they stay resigned. Ooops...They will always be.
I hope they stay resigned to the fate that
I still believe that when we tinker or play around with the holy, everything become trivial and mundane.
We played with conception with contraception and so we have abortion.
We played with marriage with Henry VIII's divorce and so we have more broken marriages and know we have people redefining what a man and a woman is and so we have these redefined people redefining according to their whims and caprices what marriage is really all about.
So, know you know why I hate it when people redefine what the Mass and the Liturgy is all about.
And I thought we had a world-renowned liturgist in our own backyard....
Hot Topic
The Manny Pacquiao, Bible Champion post is generating a lot of discussion!
Wow! It is now the 5th most viewed post of TPC!
And now Manny saying his FAITH, not just his opinion, about same-sex "marriage".
Wow! It is now the 5th most viewed post of TPC!
And now Manny saying his FAITH, not just his opinion, about same-sex "marriage".
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Recent updates on Vatican - SSPX discussions
Vatican City, May 16, 2012 / 10:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has announced it will hold separate talks with the superior general of the breakaway traditionalist Society of St. Pius X and each of its three other bishops to try and acheive reconciliation.
“The text of the response of Bishop Bernard Fellay, received on 17 April, 2012, was examined and some observations, which will be considered in further discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, were formulated,” said a communique issued May 16.
The statement was published after a quarterly meeting of the Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The 16-person committee – known as Feria Quarta – met this morning to discuss the modifications made by the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, to a “doctrinal preamble” prepared last year by the Vatican. The document establishes a framework for agreement on some key issues of Church doctrine, including acceptance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
In contrast to Bishop Fellay, the Society’s three other bishops seem hostile to the idea of reconciliation with Rome.
Today’s Vatican communiqué said the situations of the three other bishops “will have to be dealt with separately and singularly.” [Excellent solution, IMHO!]
Earlier this month, Bishops Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Alfonso de Galarreta and Richard Williamson sent a letter to Bishop Fellay warning that an agreement with the Vatican would see the Society “cease to oppose the universal apostasy of our time.”
They also argued that the Second Vatican Council “did not just include particular errors but represented a total perversion of the mind, a new philosophy founded on subjectivism.”
Pope Benedict XVI was dismissed by the three Pius X Society bishops as a “subjectivist.” [Almost to the point of calling Pope Benedict XVI an anti-pope!]
Prior to today’s statement, many observers thought it was possible that the committee would announce an agreement with the Society that could be presented to Pope Benedict XVI for his judgment.
Feria Quarta consists of some of the Vatican’s senior curial figures, such as Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone [Uhm..] and several bishops from key dioceses, including Cardinal Christoph Schonborn [ugh!] of Vienna and Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard [uhm....]of Bordeaux. It is chaired by the Prefect of the Congregation, the American Cardinal William Levada.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve in 1970 as a response to what he described as errors that had crept into the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council. Its relations with the Vatican became strained in 1988 when Archbishop Lefebrve consecrated four bishops against the orders of Pope John Paul II.
***
Archbishop Lefebrve was one of the many conservatives during Vatican II. He was particularly critical of the reform of the Mass.
It was just the TLMass which the nutty and modernist liturgists want to destroy that led to the rupture, well of course including the illegal consecration of the four bishops.
Let us all pray and hope for the full reconciliation of the Society to the One Church of Jesus Christ that persists ONLY in the Catholic Church which is shepherded today by the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI.
The reintegration of the Society back into the Church will bring much fruit, you can bet on it. We have to thank them, in a way, because it was through their actions that the Traditional Movement in the Church came about, whether you accept it or not.
Take it from a SECRET SSPX DOG!
Hahahaha!
Sorry can't help it.
PS: I know that this arrogant apologist would insist that the SSPX deserve all the insult and bad-mouth that he trashed out to them.
But did the Holy See do it that way?
Did Blessed John Paul and Pope Benedict XVI did it that way?
I remember an abrasive and verbally abusive character of a priest like that back in my high school days.
And quite frankly, priests like this give a bad rep to the Catholic priesthood.
Shame on you!
“The text of the response of Bishop Bernard Fellay, received on 17 April, 2012, was examined and some observations, which will be considered in further discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, were formulated,” said a communique issued May 16.
The statement was published after a quarterly meeting of the Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The 16-person committee – known as Feria Quarta – met this morning to discuss the modifications made by the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, to a “doctrinal preamble” prepared last year by the Vatican. The document establishes a framework for agreement on some key issues of Church doctrine, including acceptance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
In contrast to Bishop Fellay, the Society’s three other bishops seem hostile to the idea of reconciliation with Rome.
Today’s Vatican communiqué said the situations of the three other bishops “will have to be dealt with separately and singularly.” [Excellent solution, IMHO!]
Earlier this month, Bishops Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Alfonso de Galarreta and Richard Williamson sent a letter to Bishop Fellay warning that an agreement with the Vatican would see the Society “cease to oppose the universal apostasy of our time.”
They also argued that the Second Vatican Council “did not just include particular errors but represented a total perversion of the mind, a new philosophy founded on subjectivism.”
Pope Benedict XVI was dismissed by the three Pius X Society bishops as a “subjectivist.” [Almost to the point of calling Pope Benedict XVI an anti-pope!]
Prior to today’s statement, many observers thought it was possible that the committee would announce an agreement with the Society that could be presented to Pope Benedict XVI for his judgment.
Feria Quarta consists of some of the Vatican’s senior curial figures, such as Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone [Uhm..] and several bishops from key dioceses, including Cardinal Christoph Schonborn [ugh!] of Vienna and Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard [uhm....]of Bordeaux. It is chaired by the Prefect of the Congregation, the American Cardinal William Levada.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve in 1970 as a response to what he described as errors that had crept into the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council. Its relations with the Vatican became strained in 1988 when Archbishop Lefebrve consecrated four bishops against the orders of Pope John Paul II.
***
Archbishop Lefebrve was one of the many conservatives during Vatican II. He was particularly critical of the reform of the Mass.
It was just the TLMass which the nutty and modernist liturgists want to destroy that led to the rupture, well of course including the illegal consecration of the four bishops.
Let us all pray and hope for the full reconciliation of the Society to the One Church of Jesus Christ that persists ONLY in the Catholic Church which is shepherded today by the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI.
The reintegration of the Society back into the Church will bring much fruit, you can bet on it. We have to thank them, in a way, because it was through their actions that the Traditional Movement in the Church came about, whether you accept it or not.
Take it from a SECRET SSPX DOG!
Hahahaha!
Sorry can't help it.
PS: I know that this arrogant apologist would insist that the SSPX deserve all the insult and bad-mouth that he trashed out to them.
But did the Holy See do it that way?
Did Blessed John Paul and Pope Benedict XVI did it that way?
I remember an abrasive and verbally abusive character of a priest like that back in my high school days.
And quite frankly, priests like this give a bad rep to the Catholic priesthood.
Shame on you!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The SSPX is coming back home
Based on this interview, it will happen.
I saw this on Rorate and WDTPRS and I am posting it here too.
I saw this on Rorate and WDTPRS and I am posting it here too.
New bishop for a sede vacante diocese in the Philippines!
From the Vatican Information Service
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The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Roberto Calara Mallari, previously auxiliary of San Fernando, Philippines, as bishop of San Jose (area 2,540, population 819,000, Catholics 725,000, priests 33, religious 34), Philippines.
***
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Roberto Calara Mallari, previously auxiliary of San Fernando, Philippines, as bishop of San Jose (area 2,540, population 819,000, Catholics 725,000, priests 33, religious 34), Philippines.