Pope Francis and the Latin Mass

Followers of the blog are asking me about my opinion of the restrictions implemented by Pope Francis upon the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

Honestly, I am praying it over.

In the meantime...

Read this post from Fr. Z and Taylor Marshall.

Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola

He famously said this to his Jesuits.

These two jokers had other things in mind.

Yup.

This pretty much sums it up!

You might want to read this.

Very detailed coverage of the Pope's meeting with the press en route to the Vatican

Is Fr. Lombardi checking his pulse?  :D

From Andrea Tornielli of the Vatican Insider.


***

Journalists fired improvised questions at the Pope for one hour and twenty minutes. The Pope agreed to hold the press conference straight after take-off, despite how tired he was after an eventful World Youth Day week in Brazil. Francis surprised journalists with his willingness to answer all questions put to him, even those which touched on really thorny issues like the reform of the Vatican Bank (IOR), the Ricca case, the gay lobby, Vatileaks and even the content of the black leather bad he carried on to the plane which flew him to Brazil last week. This article captures some of what was said on the flight back to Rome today, a conversation which shows how truly at ease Francis is with journalists. It is clear he had decided right from the start to hold a press conference on the return flight instead of the outgoing one, so as to prevent his comments from overshadowing the World Youth Day events. This was further confirmation of the Pope’s ability to communicate and shows he does not need any spin doctors to bolster his image.  [Ehhhh....I think he needs a better spokesman rather than a spin doctor.  It doesn't sound right that the Church employs someone to spin issues, when it's main business is the TRUTH, CHARITY, MERCY, SALVATION.  Not lies.  Not spins.]


The IOR needs to change
“The cardinals had already set out the work that needed to be done in the pre-Conclave general congregations. The ethos of the work being done by the commission of eight cardinals – it was important they came from outside – is that of developing the relationship between synodality and primacy. The proposals for reform are many and they involve the Secretariat of State and of course the IOR. I intended to address this issue next year but the plan’s now changed due to the problems you are well aware of. How do we reform and put right what needs to be put right? I set up an “advisory” commission. I don’t know what is going to happen with the IOR: some say it’s better to have a bank others say it should be shut down. I trust in the work being done by the people employed in the IOR and the commission. I don’t know what the outcome will be: we have to try and see what works. But whatever happens to the IOR, what is needed for sure is transparency and honesty.”


The contents of the little black leather bag
“I took my bag onto the flight with me because I always do. What’s in it? My razor, my book of hours, my diary and a reading book. The book was on Saint Therese of Lisieux, whom I’m deeply devoted to. [Does the media even know what book of hours mean?  Would they care to spin this?] It’s normal to carry a bag, we need to be normal, we need to get used to being normal and I’m a bit shocked that the world took such an interest in the bag. Anyway, there was no nuclear bomb in it...”


Why Francis always asks people to pray for him
“I have always asked people to “pray for me”. When I was a priest I didn’t ask this as often. I started asking it more often when I became bishop. I feel I have many weaknesses and problems, I am a sinner too. This request is something that comes from within. I also ask Mary to pray for me. It’s a habit that comes from the heart. It’s something I feel I have to ask.”  [We all pray for one another and we all one another's prayer.  Bishops, priests and yes even the pope needs our prayers.  We always pray for him at Mass!  A pope needs our prayers just as a doctor would need another doctor or nurse or any health care professional once he gets sick.  Did you ever hear the leader of the Iglesia ni Manalo asking his members of the biggest Pyramiding Scheme in the Philippines aka INC to pray for him?  Nah.  He asks them to give him money, period.]


Changes and opposition in the Roman Curia
“Cardinals asked for changes to be made before the Conclave and it’s who I am. I couldn’t live by myself in the Apostolic Palace for example. The Papal Apartment is big but it’s not lavish. [Contrary to what the media says that it is too luxurious and lavish and kingly...] Still, I can’t live alone with just a small group of people. I need to be and meet with people. That’s why I said I couldn’t for “psychiatric” reasons: I wasn’t up to it mentally and everyone needs to be true to themselves. Cardinals’ apartments are also sober, at least the ones I have seen. We all have to live as the Lord asks us to. But all those who serve the Church should live a generally sober life. [He is not imposing.  That's who he really is.] In the Curia there are saints, bishops, priests, lay people, people who work. Many of them go to visit the poor in secret or minister in some church or other in their free time. But there are some who aren’t quite as saintly and these cases cause an uproar because one falling tree makes more noise than a forest that grows. [Especially if the one looking out for the noise of a crashing tree is a rabidly anti-Catholic pro-abortion, pro-LGBT agenda, Masonic inspired Western media!]  I feel hurt when things like this happen. We have one monsignor (Nunzio Scarano, a senior accountant at APSA (Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See)) who’s in prison. He didn’t go to jail because he resembled the Blessed Imelda (an Argentinean expression which means he was no saint) I think the Curia’s gone a bit downhill. There used to be some old Curia members who were faithful and did their work. This is what the Curia needs. If there is any opposition I certainly haven’t seen it yet. It’s true I haven’t done much but I have found help; I’ve found some loyal people. I like people telling me when they disagree with something. These kind of people are the truly loyal ones. Then there are those who say they agree but behind your back say the opposite. I haven’t met anyone like this yet.”

Why Francis didn’t say anything about abortion and same-sex marriage during his trip to Brazil
“The Church has already addressed these issues and its position is clear. I needed to sound positive on my trip to Brazil.”  [Church of Nice?  :D  Now that he is not in WYD maybe he can be more specific this time?]

Why does referring to oneself as Bishop of Rome not mean being “primus inter pares”
“You mustn’t read between the lines. The Pope is a bishop; he is the Bishop of Rome, which is the centre of everything. It is the top title and then come all the others. But taking this to mean that the Successor of Peter is a “primus inter pares” means going further. Placing emphasis on the number one title, that is, Bishop of Rome, favours ecumenism.  [Hmmm...can't help reading between the lines here.]


A bishop’s and Pope’s job
“Being a bishop is great. But when one tries to become one, that’s a problem and it’s not such a nice thing. There is always the risk a bishop might consider himself superior to others; he might feel a bit like a prince. But the work a bishop does is wonderful: he has the task of leading faithful, being among them and behind them. I was happy as Bishop of Buenos Aires. I was very happy. I am also happy now I am Pope. When the Lord places you somewhere and you agree to do something he has asked you to do, you are happy.”


On future travels
“Nothing has been decided for sure. I hope I will be able to go and visit my Italian relatives in Piemonte. I’d like to go by plane just for one day. Patriarch Bartholomew has invited me to Jerusalem to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Paul VI’s meeting with Patriarch Athenagoras there. I have had invitations from the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. I won’t be going to Latin America for now: I have just been there after all. Argentina can wait for now. I do need to visit Asia, as Benedict XVI didn’t get a chance to. [He'll be in Cebu for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.  But he may decide to go to an Asian tour in the near future.]  On 30 November I was hoping to go to Constantinople for the Feast of St. Andrew’s but my schedule won’t allow it. I have an invitation to Fatima too.”

The Pope’s comment “I feel as if I’m in a cage”
“If only you knew how many times I wanted to take a walk through the streets of Rome! I used to love it. I was a “street priest”. But the Vatican police are really good with me; they have given me a bit more freedom.”  [He wasn't pope before and being head of state, head of government makes you different.  Trappings of the office, and yes, security comes with being pope.]


The Brazilian security issue
“Despite all the talk about the lack of security in Rio, there was not one accident during WYD week. Everything was spontaneous. Less security meant I was able to get close to people. I wanted to trust the people. Of course there was a risk of some madman being among them but the Lord was there too. I didn’t want the bullet-proof car because you don’t shield a bishop from his people. I prefer the madness of this closeness. It’s good for everyone.”  [It's his personality and probably his faith.]

On the Charismatic Renewal Movement
“At the end of the 70s, early 80s, I couldn’t see them. I once said they must confuse liturgical celebration with samba lessons! [LOL!] Then I got to know them better and I was won over. I saw the work that they did and I said mass for them in Buenos Aires every year. I think movements are necessary; they are a gift from the Holy Spirit. The Church is free; the Holy Spirit does what it wants.”  [Your Holiness, there is also a movement brought about by Summorum Pontificum...the Holy Spirit does want it too.]

On the special arrangements usually made for papal flights
“No special arrangements were made for me on this plane; there’s no bed. I either sent a letter or phoned to to say I didn’t require any.” (The Pope’s words confirm what Vatican Insider wrote recently, Ed.)

The role of women in the Church
“A Church without women is like an Apostolic College without Mary. The role of women mirrors that of the Virgin Mary. And the Virgin Mary if the most important out of all the apostles. The Church is female because she is a wife and mother. The Church cannot be understood without the women that serve it. Here’s an example that has nothing to do with the Church: I see Paraguay’s women as glorious human beings. After the war (Here Francis refers to the bloody war between Paraguay and Brazil which took place between 1864 and 1870, Ed.) there were eight women for each man. And they chose to have children, save the homeland, their culture and their faith. This is how women should be conceived in the Church. We still do not have a theology of women. [Great!  As long as there is nothing about ordination!] We need to create one. The Church has discussed the ordination of women bishops and has decided against it. John Paul II gave a definitive answer to this so that door is closed. [BOOM!] But let us remember that Mary is more important than the bishop apostles, so women in the Church are more important than bishops and priests.”  [We have to analyze the last sentence in the context of what the pope reiterated about the big NO to women ordination.]


Francis’ relationship with “grandpa” Benedict XVI
“The last time there were two or three Popes in the Vatican, they didn’t talk to each other, they just fought to see who the real Pope was. I care deeply about Benedict XVI, he is a man of God, a humble man, a man who prays. I was so happy when he was elected Pope and then he decided to resign...I think he is quite something. Now he is living in the Vatican, some have been asking: isn’t he in you way? Isn’t he a hindrance? No, for me it’s like having a wise grandfather living with me. In a family, the grandfather is respected and listened to. Benedict XVI doesn’t meddle. For me it’s like having a grandfather around; he is a father figure to me. If I have any problems I can go and talk to him, just as I did with the serious Vatileaks issue... [woah!] When he met cardinals on 28 February to say goodbye to them, he said: the new Pope is among you and to him I pledge my unconditional obedience. He is an extraordinary man!”  [I think those close to him are the ones creating the wedge between him and Papa Benny. And this is so sad.  I would really feel that the issue against Benedict XVI is his strong conviction against those pushing the liberal agenda in the Vatican.  And they are probably hoping that electing Bergoglio to the Chair of Peter will somehow put to waste what Benedict did.  Well, the issue against the FFI and the TLM is another sad sad thing.  Maybe another oversight from the Holy Father who trusted his aides too much?  Reports had it that the cardinal prefect who issued the statement preventing the FFI to celebrate the Traditional Mass will be one of those who will get axed in the major revamp of the Curia.]


On giving the Sacraments to remarried divorcees
“This is an ongoing issue. I think this is the time to show mercy. Times have changed and the Church faces many problems, partly because of the negative testimonies of certain priests. Clericalism has caused a lot of wounds and these wounds need to be healed with mercy. The Church is a mother and in the Church we need to be merciful towards everyone. We shouldn’t just wait for the wounded to come to us, we need to go out and search for them. I think the time for mercy has come as John Paul II predicted by introducing the Feast of Divine Mercy. Divorced people can take communion, it is those who have divorced and remarried that cannot. [Honestly, I agree with this one.  And quite frankly, I think this is how the Church wanted it in the first place!  But I may be wrong.]  Here I must add that the orthodox follow the theology of economics and allow second marriages. When the commission of eight cardinals meets at the beginning of October we will discuss how to proceed. The Church is taking a very close look at pastoral initiatives for marriage. My predecessor in Buenos Aires, Cardinal Quarracino always used to say: “I consider half of today’s marriages to be invalid because people get married without realising it means forever. They do it out of social convenience, etc...” The issue of invalidity needs to be looked into as well.”  [Hmmm... I always here in the media about a certain personality getting divorced for psychological incapacity.  So, if he is psychologically incapacitated to get married, why marry again???  Yup.  The person who gets the divorce or annulment for that reason, gets married again?  And there is thing about homosexuals...  Lord have mercy!]

I still feel myself a Jesuit
“Jesuits must obey the Pope but if the Pope’s a Jesuit, who does he obey? His superior general? I feel like a Jesuit in spiritual terms; I think of myself as a Jesuit and I think like a Jesuit but not hypocritically.”  [FTW!  Hey Fr. Bernas, Fr. Tabora!  That one's for the both of you!]

Good and bad things about these past few months
“One good thing was the meeting with Italy’s bishops. My trip to Lampedusa was a painful experience but it did me good. It pains me to think of the people who died before reaching shore and who became victims of a global socio-economic system. But the worst thing that happened to me was a sciatica I got in the first month of my pontificate because of the seat I sat in to receive people. It was so painful; I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone! I have been surprised by how many good people there are in the Vatican.”

The Vatileaks scandal
“When I went to visit Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo, I saw a box and an envelope on one of the tables. Benedict XVI told me the box contained all the testimonies collected by the commission of three cardinals in change of looking into the Vatileaks scandal and the envelope contained their conclusions. Benedict XVI had memorised all of it. It’s a big problem but it doesn’t scare me!”

The Orthodox Churches
“The Orthodox Churches have preserved the liturgy which is so beautiful. We’ve lost sight slightly of the meaning of worship. They worship God and they sing about it; time is immaterial to them. [The Divine Liturgy is almost the same as the Traditional Latin Mass Your Holiness.  Novus Ordo?  Nah!] One day we were speaking about Western Europe and they said that “ex Oriente lux” “ex Oriente luxus”, meaning that light comes from the East and consumerism and wealth which do a lot of harm, come from the West. The Orthodox Church preserves the beauty of God being at the centre of everything. When you read Dostoevsky you can really feel the Russian and Oriental spirit. We are deeply in need of this breath of fresh air, this light from the East.”  [John XXIII when he opened the Second Vatican Council said the same words "fresh air".  Hmmm...]


John XXIII and John Paul II's approval for sainthood
“John XXIII resembles a country priest who loves each one of his faithful and he has gone on doing so as bishop and as Nuncio. Think of all the fake baptism certificates he had made to save the Jews when he was in Turkey. He had a great sense of humour. When he was Nuncio, there were some in the Vatican who disliked him and made him wait round for ages whenever he came to Rome. He never complained once; he recited the rosary and prayed the book of hours. He was a gentle man. Twenty days before John XXIII died, Mgr. Agostino Casaroli went to tell him about his mission in one of the Eastern countries, Czechoslovakia or Hungary, I don’t quite remember. Before he left, the Pope asked him: “Do you still go and visit young people in prison?” Casaroli said he did. “Don’t ever abandon them!” He said that to a diplomat who had gone to talk to him about his mission. John XXIII is and was a great man. He convened the Second Vatican Council. Pius XII had intended to do this but the time wasn’t right. John didn’t think about whether the timing was right, he followed the Holy Spirit. John Paul II is one of the Church’s great missionaries, He went out and felt this burning fire; he was like St. Paul. This is why I consider him to be a great man. Canonizing them at the same time sends out a message to the Church: they are great men, they are great men... The original date for their canonizations was going to be the 8th of December but the poor people who can’t afford to fly would have to come from Poland by bus and the roads are icy in December. So we need to think of another date. We could do it on the Feast of Christ the King this year but this would be a bit difficult as it is too soon given that the consistory for the canonizations will take place on 30 September. Another possible date could be Divine Mercy Sunday next year.”  [Keep tab of the dates!]


The accusations made against IOR prelate, Ricca
“In the case of Mgr. Ricca (the IOR prelate who straight after being nominated, was accused of reckless conduct for certain acts committed 13 years ago during his time at the Nunciature in Paraguay, Ed.) I have acted in accordance with Canon Law and ordered an investigation. None of the accusations against him have proved to be true. We haven’t found anything! [Uh-oh...] It is often the case in the Church that people try to dig up sins committed during a person’s youth and then publish them. We are not talking about crimes or offences such as child abuse which is a whole different matter, we are talking about sins. If a lay person, a priest or a nun commits a sin and then repents of it and confesses, the Lord forgives and forgets. And we have no right not to forget, because then we risk the Lord not forgetting our own sins. I often think of St. Peter who committed the biggest sin of all, he denied Jesus. And yet he was appointed Pope. But I repeat, we have found no evidence against Mgr. Ricca.”  [Hmmm...he has a point.  But this is not a matter of putting someone immaculate or impeccable.  The position brings with it an issue of trust not only from the pope but also from the watching eyes of the public as well.  Can he be trusted to handle the position?  Who knows.  The buck stops at the table of Francis.]

The gay lobby
“There is so much being written about the gay lobby. I haven’t met anyone in the Vatican yet who has “gay” written on their identity cards. There is a distinction between being gay, being this way inclined and lobbying. Lobbies are not good. If a gay person is in eager search of God, who am I to judge them? The Catholic Church teaches that gay people should not be discriminated against; they should be made to feel welcome. Being gay is not the problem, [but if you live the gay lifestyle, then there is a problem.  The Church already spoke clearly about this!] lobbying is the problem and this goes for any type of lobby, business lobbies, political lobbies and Masonic lobbies.”  [Good thing he mentioned about the Masons!  BOOM!!!  Repent you Masons!!!]

Before you trust whatever the MSM publishes, look for other sources of information about what the pope or a cardinal or someone REALLY said.  You can really can trust them fully, like the 1970s ICEL.  Ha!

Personally, I hope the Holy Father stops this off the cuff, unscheduled interviews and comments.  His comments are usually taken out of context.  If he cannot stop it, he'd better fire this guy and get someone who is as media savvy as Dr. Navarro-Valls.

Things you must do before, during and after the Mass.

I can add a few more here like:

1.  Dress properly.  Women, if you can, please wear a veil.

2.  Sit properly.  Most men sit at church as if they were at the park.

3.  Revere the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  Receive Him on the tongue and kneeling if you can.

4.  If you bring your little kids to Mass, please make sure they behave.  If they can't, stay out of the church or chapel or in a place where you won't be able to disturb other people.

4.  DON'T CLAP AFTER MASS.  It feels like you are happy things are over.  Heed what the priest or deacon says: "The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."  or "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord."  or "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life."

5.  Pray the Prayer to St. Michael.  The Liturgical revolution for no reason at all took this out.  Bl. John Paul II recommended that we pray this prayer again.


PS:  Bring your cellphone and camera.  Record any liturgical abuse you see.  Post it on YouTube or Facebook and let us share the video to everyone.  Time to show the name of the liturgical abusers and make them answer to the proper authorities.

Touching scene during the Papal Visit at Rio

Hope the kid grows up always cherishing this moment and having a HUGE POSITIVE impact in his life.

Cardinal Dolan's evaluation of Pope Francis

Veteran Vaticanista John Allen interviewed Cardinal Dolan of New York about his views of Pope Francis.

Here are salient points.

• The pope's simplicity, humility and closeness to the people are no surprise, since all cardinals knew it before the conclave, the only surprise is how well he seems to be pulling it off.
• The cardinals thought they elected a dynamic manager, and so far the pace of change has been slower than some expected.  What the change they were expecting is not clear.
• Dolan fears for Francis' safety and said he may have to learn to allow himself to be "handled" a bit more since he is a bit of a free spirit.
• Francis has boosted the "reputation and credibility" of the church, mainly from the side of the Western media, probably, making it easier for bishops to move the ball on many fronts.  I agree in some sense here.  The gay lobby pushing for the scandalous Ricca, the money laundering monsignor of the IOR...imagine that happening at the time of Benedict!  Imagine WHAT the media will say about it.  Headline would have been "Pope leaves scandal ridden Vatican to mingle with the youth."  Oh boy....
• Dolan conceded he's resentful of praise heaped on Francis at the expense of Benedict XVI, saying it's both "hurtful" to the former pope and also "inaccurate."  So true!
• Dolan said Francis is pushing him to a personal examination of conscience  especially in the aspect of living simply.

Dolan is one of those media-charmers but a dismal failure in management.  His handling of the sex abuse cases in Milwaukee is one.  And oh, this one too.

If you have cardinals who cannot even tell someone straight to their faces what is wrong, then by God, why do we have cardinals in the first place?

Nuff said.

The Old Form of the Mass attracts younger generations

Yup!

You read that right.

And get this.

This news was posted in the website of the Archdiocese of Miami.

Yup.

You won't read this in the Archdiocese of Manila!

Not by a long shot!

While these two are around!

***

CORAL GABLES | Joshua Hernandez is a former Protestant who credits the traditional Latin Mass for his conversion to Catholicism.

Raised to be anti-Catholic, Hernandez began to look for a Christian denomination with historical relevance and formal liturgical practice. Though he thought Catholicism seemed too ritualistic, his first stop in his search for a church was attending a Mass to “get it out of the way.”

“It all clicked,” he said, when he saw the Latin Mass “in all its glory.”

Now he is a regular attendee at the Extraordinary Form Latin Mass celebrated each Sunday at 9 a.m. at Sts. Francis and Clare Mission in Edgewater.

Likewise, his girlfriend, Vida Tavakoli, knew she had found her home in the Catholic Church when she first attended Latin Mass in England.

Formerly an atheist, her aversion toward religion changed at the end of her college career, when she became a Protestant. During her post-collegiate travels she became resolute in converting to Catholicism after attending a Missa Cantata, or sung Mass, in the parish of her favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Catholic who penned the “Lord of the Rings” series.

Though the homilies, the first reading and a translation of the Gospel are said in the vernacular, the prayers at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass are chanted in Latin, in the Church’s traditional Gregorian form.

When she heard Latin hymns coming from the choir loft, Tavakoli said, it felt like “hearing angels on high.”

She was mesmerized. “It truly is extraordinary,” she said. “There is something beautiful and sacred about this form of the Mass.”


***

You can read the rest of the post here.

“There is something beautiful and sacred about this form of the Mass.”

“I especially enjoyed Communion (at traditional Latin Mass), where instead of going up to the priest, the priest comes to you at the kneeler.   It was a visible reminder for me that receiving Christ in the Eucharist is a gift given out of love and not a right to claim for granted.”


With statements like this about the Traditional Mass, I still wonder, WHY O WHY, Fr. Diwa, WHY Fr. Malicdem are you so hostile about the Traditional Latin Mass?

Is it poison?   Is it dangerous to the Faith?

You don't speak out against the liturgical abuses committed at Mass but you come out guns ablazing against the Traditional Mass!

Other than CAREER SUICIDE...I can't see other reason why you hate that form of the Mass.

Prove me wrong.

Pleeeeaaaasssseeeeee!

Duh!

Confessions at WYD.

It is a good thing to know that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is still regularly being offered at WYD.  And better yet that confessional grills are installed instead of the usual "come sit beside me and look me in the eye or Can I give you a hug while you confess" kind of set-ups like this one in Madrid.

But notice how some priests "dressed" up for Confession.

We have to take into consideration that some priests here did not pack much for the travel for World Youth Day since most came from other parts of the globe.

I was just wondering...

If some priests can pack their cassock and alb into their luggage, why not the others?

Excuses...excuses...excuses...

But notice the difference in how they dressed up.

The priest in the foreground unbuttoned his clerical shirt and placed the purple/violet stole on top of his street clothes while he hears confession.

The most troubling of all if you look closely to the left of the photo is the priest wearing jeans, t-shirt and sneakers while the rest are in their cassock and alb.  And he wears sunglasses!

Hooha!  Vacation mode!

My take on this?

Tip of the iceberg.

This is what happens in all parts of the world in our Liturgy.  Not just confession, but in the Mass as well.

I remember seeing a "world renowned theological expert" talking all this supposed teachings of Vatican II which you certainly could not find anywhere, wearing nothing but this for Mass.

That liturgical abuser is theologian Daniel Pilario, CM.

Take note of that name.

GULP Alert: Liturgical abuse is...common?...in WYD

I have been a witness to a lot when the World Youth Day was in Manila...

And now the first sighting in Rio.

Just plain...STUPID for the priest to do this.

Look at that young man on the right.

He too is bewildered why he had to do that!

Hurrah for ACTIVE PARTICIPATION!!!

Continue doing this and you trivialize the role of the ordained ministry with the laity...

Continue doing this and you confuse the youth of what is REALLY RIGHT from what is DOWNRIGHT WRONG.

Way to go in the YEAR OF FAITH.

Yes...Fr. Chupungco when he was still alive, NEVER EVER wrote or spoke against any liturgical abuses...He did speak up against Summorum Pontificum though.

Makes you think...

Why do Chupungcan liturgists like Fr. Geny Diwa and Fr. Reggie Malicdem fear the Traditional Latin Mass so much?

Simple.

The TLM has no room for liturgical circus like this.

NO ROOM.

PS:  Anyone out there want to ask me WHY this is a liturgical abuse?  ;)

Fr. Diwa?

A stowaway joins WYD in Rio!

LOL!

Our fave pal, Pedrito, checking in!

Uhm...is he in first class or economy?  :D

More mythological quotes supposedly from Pope Francis

This has been going around my Facebook feed and I did a little Googling and found out all about it.

This was allegedly said by Pope Francis before he left for WYD in Rio.

We need saints without veil or cassock.
We need saints who wear jeans and sneakers.
We need saints who go to the movies, listen to music and hang out with friends.
We need saints who put God in first place, but who let go of their power.
We need saints who have time everyday to pray and who know how to date in purity and chastity, or who consecrate their chastity.
We need modern saints, Saints of the 21st century with a spirituality that is part of our time.
We need saints committed to the poor and the necessary social changes.
We need saints who live in the world and who are sanctified in the world, who are not afraid to live in the world.
We need saints who drink Coke and eat hot dogs, who wear jeans, who are Internet-savvy, who listen to CDs.
We need saints who passionately love the Eucharist and who are not ashamed to drink a soda or eat pizza on weekends with friends.
We need saints who like movies, the theater, music, dance, sports.
We need saints who are social, open, normal, friendly, happy and who are good companions.
We need saints who are in the world and know how to taste the pure and nice things of the world but who aren’t of the world.

Allegedly, Pope Francis said that.  But a quick Google, and you see that there are claims that Blessed John Paul said that.  And then a little more digging and you find that it actually was written in 2010 originally in Brazilian!

The Catholic News Agency has covered this and much much more.

And it also has the REAL quotes made by Pope Francis about WYD like this one:

“I have neither silver nor gold, but I bring with me the most precious thing given to me: Jesus Christ!” (Pope Francis, WYD 2013)

I remember the original guy who said that...

In the meantime, before you click and start sharing, try Google first ok?

We have "liturgists" and "canon lawyers" who use it a lot.

Hello from Davao!  :D

Flying with the pope is very safe

As in veeerrryyy safe!

I love the expression of the plain clothes Swiss guard in the center!  Classic!

The media is fooling you about the RH War!

This info was conveniently missed out by the paid lackeys in the Yellow Media of anti-Catholic Catholic president Noynoy Aquino.

From the Inquirer.

***

It’s all over but the voting for the 14 petitions at the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the Reproductive Health Law—that is, if you believe media reports. With all the speculation going around, it doesn’t help that most media accounts have focused on how the first presenter, lawyer Concepcion Noche, was “rebuked” by the 15 justices. One account said the petitions faced dismissal because of the way Noche struggled through the four-and-a-half-hour ordeal. A law professor even wrote a postmortem for the anti-RH petitions, claiming they didn’t have a case.  [Imagine that!  A law professor!  Ha!  Ooops...I forgot about Brenda Miriam Santiago.]

But what really happened during the oral arguments on July 9? The following exchange, for instance, was never reported in the media:

Justice Roberto Abad: The Constitution, Section 12 Article 2, states that the state shall equally protect the life of the mother and the unborn from conception. This right to life belongs to the unborn, not the mother or the father. Did I exist when I was still in the egg as an egg alone?

Noche: Not yet, your honor.

Abad: But when the egg, when the ovum, is fertilized, is that the beginning of me?

Noche: Yes, your honor. That’s the beginning of you. The unique “you” that exists already at that point. The unique Justice Abad … not a justice yet then.

Abad: In 1987 before this (RH Law) somewhat changed the concept of conception, how did those who drafted the Constitution understand the meaning of conception?

Noche: Life begins at fertilization. It was only recently that that was redefined.

Abad: So in other words, all of us started as zygotes … and then developed into a human being. Conception means beginning, isn’t it? But it needs to be sustained to life by attaching itself to the uterus. And it’s not the business of my parents… It’s my right. If they violated my right, I would not have been born. As Justice Carpio says on this issue, if they believe that this law violates the right to life from the time of conception, that’s how we will decide it … on our understanding of when life begins.

Totally different picture. The issue is of course crucial, because the hormonal contraceptives to be funded in the billions by the RH Law are known abortifacients—they have a secondary action of harming the fertilized ovum when contraception fails. A recognition of the beginning of life at fertilization would render the RH Law unconstitutional.

To be sure, Noche agonized and showed signs of exhaustion. She was, after all, facing all 15 justices of the Supreme Court, but she stood her ground. At one point Justice Antonio Carpio called attention to her long pause, suggesting she had run out of answers. But Noche didn’t let it pass: “No, your honor, I paused because I was reading something.”

The rather tough approach by some justices notwithstanding, Noche’s arguments stood out in substance and even managed to get her interrogators to move on to another topic.

To Carpio’s position that the high court could not settle the issue of when life begins, Noche was firm that the Constitutional Commission was clear that conception referred to fertilization. To Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno’s suggestion that there were only a handful of ConCom members who maintained that belief, Noche said the Constitution was voted upon and ratified by the Filipino people.

In his turn, Justice Mariano Del Castillo remarked, “I concede that upon the meeting of the egg and the sperm there is life already. It should be protected.”

There were in fact more justices who believed there was no mystery as to the beginning of life. Justice Teresita de Castro was pragmatic: “Assuming that the woman is healthy and the egg has already been fertilized, is there anything that will prevent this fertilized egg from developing into a human being?”

To settle the matter, Justice Lucas Bersamin  told Noche to submit data on the beginning of life and the effects of hormonal contraceptives for the court to take judicial notice.

Del Castillo asked what Noche thought should be the government’s responsibility for adverse effects of contraceptives given to women by its health workers. Noche replied that the government must shoulder all expenses related to their treatment.

Justice Jose Perez offered the view that the beginning of life was not even the biggest issue in the RH debate. Taking off from the opening statement of former senator Francisco Tatad, Perez told Noche that what was “constitutionally objectionable” was “the fact that the government itself is putting in money in order to allow the prevention of fertilization.”

De Castro pursued the issue of Tatad’s main argument that the RH Law was nothing but a population control program disguised as a health measure. “There is a provision saying that there shall be no demographic or population targets… But in another provision there is a need to conduct studies to analyze demographic trends, including demographic dividends from sound population policies. It would seem that the law is intimately connected to population control.”

Abad said the RH Law was an exercise of police power. “We cannot outlaw the storms or the typhoons … but a healthy woman with a healthy ovum and eggs… We poison the egg to disable it from receiving the sperm. That’s unconstitutional, that’s improper use of police power.”

Finally, De Castro observed that the RH Law was targeting the poor and the marginalized. “It would seem under this law that the poor should not be allowed to multiply.”

No case? It’s time we extracted substance from the noise of this long-drawn-out debate. The buck stops with the Supreme Court.

Chet Espino is a convener of Families Against RH. The audio recording of the July 9 oral arguments is on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ehdk126S4&feature=youtu.be).

***

See the obvious silence of the media?

What do you expect in this time???

A saint with a saint

Blessed John XXIII praying before the body of St. Pius X before the relics' translation from Venice to Rome.

Wrong way to illustrate John Paul II

Or any blessed/saint pope for that matter!

Here is how Pope St. Pius X is represented

Pope Pius X is holding a book here.  My guess is this is his Catechism, which like the Baltimore Catechism is still a very good Catechism.  Click here for a copy.

See here?

St. Pius X is wearing the red cape but no miter and no ferula.

Why?

Because the pope here is not vested for Mass!


Look at what a friend found, a statue of the soon-to-be St. John Paul II at the Blessed John Paul II parish in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.

Notice something?

Yup.

The papal ferula and miter is on the image!

Yet!

The pope is not vested for Mass.

FYI, the papal cape is NOT a liturgical vestment!

Look at how the red cape is worn by the pope.

Lesson?

Just Google.

Or be humble enough to ask if you don't know or are not sure.


If I were to illustrate St. John Paul II, I'll have him hold a copy of Evangelium Vitae on his left hand and would have young people standing next or kneeling beside him with his hand raised like that of a teacher.

Why?

Those are just two of his greatest legacy.  Maybe a little edit to this and we got it right.  :)

You illustrate a saint with people or things associated with him.

With Pope John XXIII, have him hold a copy of the Apostolic Constitution Humanae Salutis.  FYI, that declared the convening of the Second Vatican Council.

He holds a scroll with his famous quote about the need to call the Vatican Council II "We are not on earth to guard a museum, but to tend a blooming garden full of life."

Any artist out there?  :)

PS:  I am still looking for a good statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod highlighting their martyrdom.

Look at how the pope looked like before going to Rio for WYD

he carried his own bag.

My guess?

To keep it away from the GAY LOBBYISTS!

Ha!

Can't be too trusting these days.

The Catholic Church is anti-Science

Yeah...right.

Sr. Mary Kenneth Keller, BVM, PhD

She didn't get it by tweeting and posting Likes.  More about her here.

Fray Gregor Mendel, Augustinian FRAYLE, Father of Genetics

Msgr. Georges Lemaître, Belgian priest, astronomer and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain. He was the first person to propose the theory of the expansion of the Universe, widely misattributed to Edwin Hubble.

Athanasius Kircher, SJ, father of Egyptology

Blessed Nicolas Steno

Danish Catholic bishop and scientist and a pioneer in both anatomy and geology

And let us ask the perpetual numb nuts about his allegations about the Catholic Church's "anti-science doctrine"

Perfect!

Such a genius.

Would you even trust this joke with giving you a lesson about Philippine history when he cannot even distinguish who is the real villain in a fictional novel?

The story of World Youth Day: From John Paul to Francis

Pope asks Pope for prayers :)

Another Pinoy Blessed!

From GMA News, the same company that produces that program about maintaining a sodomite relationship when you are married to a woman.  Sign the petition to stop it!

***

After Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, the Philippines may have another saint as the Vatican announced that Franciscan Capuchin Father Jose Maria de Manila (Eugenio Saz-Orozco) will be beatified on October 13.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, will lead the beatification ceremony in Tarragona, Spain.

Once he is beatified in Tarragona, Spain on October 13, Father Jose will be known as “Blessed Jose Maria de Manila,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in a news report on its website.

"Father Jose is among the 500 Spanish martyrs who died in the religious persecution of the 1930s who are awaiting beatification," the CBCP said.

Included in this group are 32 Capuchins, including 20 priests and 12 lay religious brothers.

Leading the beatification ceremony will be Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, on behalf of Pope Francis.

Father Jose was born to Don Eugenio Saz-Orozco, the last Spanish mayor of Manila, and Doña Feliza Mortera y Camacho in Manila on September 5, 1880.

However, Fr. Eugenio Lopez, Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Philippine Province, said Father Jose’s baptismal certificate could not be produced because it was burned during the “Liberation of Manila.”

“But his school records from the UST (University of Santo Tomas) showed he is ‘natural de Manila’ (natural-born citizen of Manila). All his biographies from Spain also showed he was born in Manila,” Lopez said.

Father Jose spent his first years of education at the Ateneo de Manila University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and UST.  [All in Intramuros.]

He stayed in the Philippines until he was 16, and pursued further studies in Spain.

Despite his parents' objections, he fulfilled his desire to become a Capuchin priest.

He had his simple profession in Lecaroz (Navarra, Spain) on October 4, 1905, his solemn profession on October 18, 1908 and was ordained a priest on November 30, 1910.

Lopez said Father Jose “remained a Filipino at heart” while in Spain, wishing to return to the Philippines to serve the local Church.

“Circumstances, however, prevented him to fulfill his dream of coming back to the land of his birth, yet he still offered his life for the Gospel he zealously preached in Spain and longed to proclaim in his native land,” he added.

On July 20, 1936 due to the savage acts by anarchist and Marxist troops against the Christian religion and their ministers, several religious, including Father Jose, were forced to abandon their convents in Madrid.  [Not far-fetched in our times.  Right Noynoy?]

On August 17, 1936 the Filipino priest was executed at the gardens of the Cuartel de la Montaña, a military building in Madrid.

Lopez noted that in cases of martyrdom, the miracle required for beatification can be waived - but not for canonization.

“For beatification of a martyr who died because of ‘odium fidei’ (out of hatred for the faith), a miracle is no longer needed,” said Lopez. [A lot of Catholics get jeered and persecuted just because they are Catholics.]

“But for canonization, a miracle is needed. So let’s start asking for his intercession,” he said.

In the meantime, Lopez said the Capuchins in the Philippines will start introducing and promoting the devotion to Father Jose in parishes across the country.


***


FYI.  This new blessed is a FRIAR aka FRAYLE.

What say you sistah?

Oh...

Visiting hour is over.

Pope Francis' first appointment blunder

AFP - The Vatican's "gay lobby" was back in the headlines on Friday after the alleged exposure of a homosexual prelate appointed by Pope Francis to a key position at the Vatican bank.

The Italian weekly L'Espresso said prelate Battista Ricca had gay relationships during his time at the Vatican embassy of Montevideo in Uruguay as well as an affair with a Swiss guard which ultimately saw him sent back to Rome in disgrace.

Vatican expert for L'Espresso Sandro Magister said Ricca provided lodgings and a pay check for captain Patrick Haari in 1999 and was once left badly beaten after trawling notorious gay hangouts before his behaviour saw him transferred out of Montevideo in 2000.

An internal bid to protect him and cover up the scandal meant Francis apparently had no idea about Ricca's past before he appointed him as his personal representative at the scandal-hit bank this year. [Just like how Pope Benedict had no idea about the liberal theological background of one young bishop who did absolutely nothing in a small diocese but he eventually got the plum post and was even made a cardinal!]

Ricca went on to hold several prestigious positions in Rome, including the director of the Santa Martha residence where the pope lives.

Magister said the wiping of Ricca's records was an example of a "gay lobby" at work in the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman Frederico Lombardi brushed off the story as "not credible" but the magazine insisted the allegations were confirmed by primary sources. It said "numerous bishops, priests, religious and laity" in Uruguay had testified against Ricca.  [The always oblivious Lombardi!  Ha!]

Religious watchers said the leaks about Ricca's past may be an internal attempt to block the prelate from carrying out reforms.  [What reforms?!?!?!]

In June, Francis admitted the existence of a "gay lobby" inside the Vatican's secretive administration, the Roman Curia.

"In the Curia, there are truly some saints, but there is also a current of corruption... There is talk of a 'gay lobby' and it's true, it exists," he was quoted as having said during an audience with CLAR (the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women).

The admission followed Italian media reports in February which claimed that a secret report by cardinals investigating leaks from within the Vatican included allegations of corruption and blackmail attempts against gay clergymen, and on the other hand, favouritism based on gay relationships.

If the allegations are proven to be true, it would be a blow to Francis's attempts to clean up the scandal-hit Vatican.


***


You really can't trust anyone that easily these days.

Imagine, the sistahs are running the house!

And expect the anti-Catholic media to gang up on this news and then insist that EVERYONE in the clergy is gay.

"Walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan..."

Pfft!

Monitor the medical progress of Thomas Peters

Visit this blog.

Francis loves Benedict!

Pope Francis telling how much he admires Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

From Andrea Tornielli


***

"You cannot begin to imagine how humble and wise this man is … there is no way I would turn down advice from someone like him, it would be foolish of me to do so!” Pope Francis said referring to his predecessor, Benedict XVI. The comment was made during a telephone conversation with Jorge Milia, journalist, writer and a former pupil of Bergoglio’s. Milia quote Francis’ words in an  article published on Italian journalist Alver Metalli’s blog, Terre d’America.

The writer starts by saying that the Pope complained about receiving a twelve page letter from him. “But you can’t say I didn’t make you laugh…” Milia replied. “He laughed. For reasons not even I can understand, he still puts up with my writing, just as he did all those years ago when he was still my teacher. I told him I had started reading the Lumen Fidei encyclical and he would not take any credit for it. He said Benedict XVI had done most of the work, that he was a sublime thinker and that most people did not really know or understand him.

The writer quoted the Pope saying: “Today I spent the day with el viejo [the old man, Ed.]. We talked a lot; it is always a pleasure to exchange ideas with him.” Naturally, Francis used the Spanish term for “old man” in an affectionate way.

“Whenever he talks about Ratzinger, he does so with respect and tenderness,” Milia said. “He sounds like someone who has bumped into an old friend, an old classmate; one of those people who pop up now and again, who used to attend a course or two after ours and who we admired.”

In his telephone conversation with Milia, Francis said: “You cannot begin to imagine how humble and wise this man is.” To which Milia replied: “Then keep him close…” “There is no way I would turn down advice from someone like him, it would be foolish of me to do so!” Francis said.

Francis also confided in Milia about the fact that it is hard for the Pope to have contact with people: “It was not easy, Jorge. The Pope has many “masters” who have served for a long time here.”

“He went on to say that every change he has introduced has involved a great deal of work  (and has earned him enemies no doubt). The thing he found most difficult was objecting to them managing his agenda. This is why he didn’t want to live in the Apostolic Palace, because many others ended up becoming “prisoners” of their secretaries, Milia wrote. [Hmm...the powers behind the throne.  Like a private secretary bishop wanna be?  hehehe]

“I will decide who I see, not my secretaries … Sometimes I can’t see the people I would like to because I have to wait and see who asks to meet with me,” Francis told his former pupil.

“This comment really struck me. I’m not the Pope and I don’t have his power but I can feel the excitement at the prospect of seeing a dear friend and I don’t know if I would give precedence to someone else,” Milia said.

But he deprives himself from seeing he wants to see, to be with those who ask to see him. He told me that Popes have been isolated for centuries and that this is not good. A shepherd’s place is with his sheep…”

***

Two things in this post.

First of all, I think Pope Francis has a very different managerial style.  His is obviously less formal or less courtly.  His protocols do not even match those even in an office of a city mayor where you need to get an appointment before you see him.  He might not have that much guests when he was in Buenos Aires but he is pope and this is much different than his old job.  He might need some adjustments in that respect that he needs to trust his secretaries.  But it's all up to him.  The creepy thing is that he might get too stressed with so many people trying to talk to him he has less time governing the Church and more time having personal meetings with his sheep.

Second and which I think is more important is how Francis looks up to Benedict.

Nuff said.

His rebuff of Italian bishops wanting to dump Summorum Pontificum andd Msgr. Guido Marini is proof of his respect and admiration of Pope Benedict IMHO.

And he uses the ferula of the former pope on very important occasions.

We thought we had lost it with the return of the Paul VI silver ferula.

And then it suddenly returns during the Feast of St. Peter and Paul aka the Pallium Mass.

In all, expect more things to come with this pope.

As far as I can gather, he is more hands on and puts more of his energy in confronting the problems of the Church regarding the various scandals plaguing the Church.  That sure needs more energy which Pope Benedict said he cannot anymore give to the Church.

How about scandal in the liturgy?  Will Pope Francis be more energetic to confront it?

Wait and see and PRAY!

World Youth Day is around the corner and based on earlier reports, oh boy, ghastly!