Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
The same Jesus who was incarnated in Nazareth and born in Bethlehem is incarnated on every altar in the world in the Eucharist. The same sacrifice of the Cross that occurred two millennia ago in Jerusalem may likewise be seen on every altar in the world in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. This is the great Paschal Mystery, in […]
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In most of the world and through most of the last two millennia, the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated today. Although in the United States, Canada, and a few other places it was celebrated this past Sunday. Being Americans, we celebrated last Sunday. Being Benedictines and following our traditional breviary, we are also celebrating today. We’ll also be heading […]
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Happy twelfth day of Christmas! This year I’ve been terrible about posting for the twelve days of Christmas, but I’ve made a handy list at the end of this article which should catch you up. I hope at least you’re enjoying your twelve drummers drumming! This evening is called Twelfth Night, traditionally the vigil of the Epiphany. In my Monastic […]
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Today has been a busy, exciting, and exhausting day. This morning, after a series of interviews this week, I accepted an offer from GitHub, where I have been contracting much of the year. I also contracted with them for a year or so before the Plague. There are still some formalities – a contract to sign on Monday, a background […]
» Read moreRev. Michael Stinson, pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Tacoma, has been appointed Superior of the North American District of the FSSP for a term of three years. Congratulations, Father! The notice may be found in a no-nonsense press release from the FSSP. Father Stinson has served in Tacoma since 2015, and I have always found him gracious and hospitable, […]
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Last weekend, my beautiful bride Francine and I did some walking, and it got me to thinking about the spirituality of walking. I’m always amazed at what you can accomplish by walking. Modern psychologists say that walking makes us smarter, but the idea is hardly original to them. Solvitur ambulando – It is solved by walking. (Saint Augustine) This is […]
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This coming Sunday my parish will participate in an outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament following the Noon Mass. This will be the sixth year we’ve taken Jesus through the streets of Tacoma and amongst His people. Our interim priest, Rev. Francis Xavier Kikomeko, will celebrate the Noon Mass of Corpus Christi at the high altar, and eleven children of […]
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The Dedication of an Altar is a rare ritual in the church. Normally, it takes place within the larger dedication of a church or chapel. However, this coming week, Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg will be dedicating a new altar at one of our local Tacoma parishes. The altar in question was originally commissioned by the parish of Saint Joseph and its […]
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This morning for the first time I served at a public Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It was a votive Mass of Saint Joseph, celebrated at Saint Joseph church in Tacoma by the Rev. Caleb Insco, F.S.S.P. This is only the second time I’ve served at the Vetus Ordo, and I was extremely nervous. Throughout the […]
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This past Saturday (July 22), our parish of Holy Rosary was host to the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fátima. This statue has been on the road worldwide since 1947. The statue is in the middle of a two-year journey across America to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fátima. It was sculpted according to […]
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Depending on what calendar you use (Ordinary Form or Extraordinary Form), and whether or not it is a Holy Day of Obligation in your diocese, today(or last Thursday) is (or was) the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Happy Corpus Christi! Whereas Holy Thursday is a celebration of the institution of the Eucharist, Corpus Christi is […]
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This coming Sunday my parish will participate in an outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament following the Noon Mass. This will be the fifth year we’ve taken Jesus through the streets of Tacoma and amongst His people. In addition, all weekend Masses will be celebrated at the High Altar, Ad Orientem. If you are anywhere in the area, I hope […]
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Today for the first time I served at low Mass in the Extraordinary Form. It was a private Mass, the regularly scheduled daily Mass having ended about twenty minutes before. It was beautiful. Father Insco has been training me for a while now. I did flub up a few things at the very end, and my memorization is terrible. I […]
» Read moreBefore, during, and after last night’s vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Rev. Caleb Insco, F.S.S.P., heard Confessions at Holy Rosary. Fr. Insco is a newly-minted priest serving at St Joseph. I am grateful for Fr. Insco’s zeal and charity, and I would like to publicly thank him for his service to the Lord and to the […]
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An anonymous bishop once famously prescribed a remedy for many of the problems facing the modern Church with the words “less jabbering – more processions“. He was not wrong. In one sense, of course, processions form the structure of the entire liturgy: we begin with an entrance procession (introit), and there are processions for the Gospel, the offertory, and perhaps […]
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Depending on what calendar you use (Ordinary Form or Extraordinary Form), and whether or not it is a Holy Day of Obligation in your diocese, today(or last Thursday) is (or was) the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Happy Corpus Christi! Whereas Holy Thursday is a celebration of the institution of the Eucharist, Corpus Christi is […]
» Read more
This coming Sunday my parish will participate in an outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament following the Noon Mass. The Masses that weekend will be celebrated Ad Orientem. This will be the fourth year we’ve taken Jesus through the streets of Tacoma and amongst His people. If you are anywhere in the area, I hope you will consider joining us. […]
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