Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
Here, in the middle of what used to be the Octave of Pentecost, I’m finally turning my attention on these pages to one of my greatest loves in the Church: the Sacred Liturgy. The liturgy – and here I’m thinking most especially of Holy Mass – is where we meet the Lord, where He deigns to come to us in […]
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Last night, I was Master of Ceremonies at our parish Confirmation Mass. It was my first, but hopefully not my last, MC gig. My reflections on last night are bound to be a little rambly, but I wanted to be sure to record as many of my impressions as I could. The MC role at Mass is somewhat different from […]
» Read morePope Benedict XVI is not typically regarded as a stern disciplinarian, despite a fearsome reputation as head of CDF when he was a Cardinal. However, the past few weeks or so has seen an Australian bishop sacked, and now this: Vatican suppresses Cistercian abbey in Rome The abbey of Santa Croce in Jerusalem, associated with the Roman basilica of the […]
» Read moreThe instruction Universæ Ecclesiæ was issued today in Rome. It is a clarification of Summorum Pontificum, which Pope Benedict XVI promulgated on 7 July 2007. By far the best source for information that I’ve found so far is Father Z’s PODCAzT on the subject. Vatican Radio also has a nice review of the document. Let’s see if I can sum […]
» Read moreInteresting days ahead. The Holy See Press Office announces that the Instruction Universæ Ecclesiæ of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, on the application of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, will be made public on Friday, May 13th, and will be published on that afternoon (May 14th edition of L’Osservatore Romano). The Instruction will be published in its Latin typical version, […]
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We learned at Mass today that our parish priest, Rev. Carmine Sacco, S.J. is retiring some time this year. We also learned that the Jesuits have appointed Rev. Gene Delmore, S.J. to succeed him. A quick search revealed that Fr. Delmore is currently serving as associate pastor of Saint Joseph’s in Yakima, and that he is scheduled to leave there […]
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Today we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist on what is (more or less) the anniversary of the Last Supper. Pope Benedict, in his book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection, spends some time discussing whether this was a traditional Passover meal, or whether perhaps it was celebrated the day before the date […]
» Read moreI have a dirty little secret. Sometimes… sometimes, I pray in Latin. It’s not that I think God likes Latin better than English, and I am certainly not fluent in Latin. In fact it’s safe to say that my knowledge of the language is vanishingly small. This brings up two points: why on earth would somebody pray in a language […]
» Read moreSaint Paul calls us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, cf. Ephesians 6:18). How are we to understand this? I think there are two ways. One is the way explored by an unnamed Russian pilgrim in the spiritual classic The Way of a Pilgrim. The book dates from the mid-19th century, and in it the author visits various monasteries […]
» Read moreHappy Feast of All Saints! This is the day where we celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. In the old days, they were referred to as the Church Triumphant. I’m just back from Mass, and I find myself questioning the wisdom of those who thought that since All Saints falls on a Monday, it should not be a Holy […]
» Read moreToday I attended the funeral of a young woman named Renae Fusako Stewart. I have never met this woman, though by God’s Grace I may meet her yet. She was a convert, having asked for Baptism while in hospital after suffering a stroke. She was, by all accounts a cheerful and engaging young woman. Her health suffered terribly after her […]
» Read moreVOX CLARA COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE April 28-29, 2010 The Vox Clara Committee met at the Pontifical North American College in Rome from April 28-29, 2010. This was the nineteenth meeting of this Committee of senior Bishops from Episcopal Conferences throughout the English-speaking world. The Vox Clara Committee was formed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the […]
» Read moreFrom the Vatican Information Service: Dear Cardinals,Dear Brother Bishops and Priests,Members and Consultors of the Vox Clara Committee, I thank you for the work that Vox Clara has done over the last eight years, assisting and advising the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to the English translations of liturgical […]
» Read moreLast Friday, my little parish of St Rita of Cascia took a small step towards the “Reform of the Reform”. For perhaps only the second time in this century, for one hour last Friday night, we were allowed Eucharistic Adoration. It was glorious. The first time was last month, and the differences between the two events is instructive. Last month, […]
» Read moreThe Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum may be found here: Latin English from Vatican Press Service English from the USCCB (PDF) Accompanying letter in English Fr. Z’s Intro and Comments Te Deum laudámus:te Dóminum confitémur.Te ætérnum Patrem,omnis terra venerátur.Tibi omnes ángeli,tibi cæliet univérsæ potestátes:tibi chérubim et séraphimincessábili voce proclámant:Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.Pleni sunt cæli et terramaiestátis glóriæ tuæ.
» Read moreNOTICE VATICAN CITY, JUL 6, 2007 (VIS) – Tomorrow, Saturday July 7, the Vatican Information service will transmit a special service for the publication of the Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio data” of His Holiness Benedict XVI, “Summorum Pontificum,” concerning the use of the pre-1970 Roman liturgy. The document will be accompanied by an explanatory Letter from the Holy Father. …/…/…VIS […]
» Read moreVatican, Jul. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) – A papal document widening use of the 1962 Roman Missal will be released on July 7, the Roman news agency I Media says, confirming reports that circulated late in June. The motu proprio will be entitled Summorum Pontificum… Source Deo gratias!
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