Pope Benedict XVI Leads Vespers in the Restored Pauline Chapel

On July 4, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Solemn Vespers to commemorate the restoration of the Pauline Chapel, which contains the last frescoes that Renaissance artist Michelangelo painted, the Conversion of St. Paul and the Crucifixion of St. Peter. The five-year restoration project cost the equivalent of $4.5 million.

"Benedict XVI has put the previous altar back in its place, although still a short distance from the tabernacle, restoring the celebration of all "facing the Lord." He has had the ambo removed, and the communion rail put back in its place. The red carpet has disappeared from both the floor and the walls, which have been restored to their original appearance" (Pauline Chapel Reopened for Worship, Renovated by Sandro Magister)




Image Source (1 & 2): Getty Images
Image Source (3 & 4): Reuters

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Orthodox Leaders Give Message of Unity in Istanbul

Image Source: Enthronement of Patriarch Krill in February 2009, via Wikipedia

Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill gave the message of solidarity and unity in their meeting in Istanbul on Saturday.

Patriarch Kirill arrived in Turkey on Saturday for a three-day visit and met with Barholomew. Kirill also attended a religious service before the meeting, the state-run Anatolian Agency reported.

They were expected to discuss the sensitive issue of the churches in Ukraine and Estonia during the visit of Krill who enthroned in February to lead the Russian Orthodox Church.

Priests kissed Kirill's hands and children gave him flowers when he arrived to the sound of bells ringing at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where he blessed parishioners and prayed at icons, Reuters reported.

"I hope my visit will be the start of a renewal in our relationship," Kirill told reporters before his talks with Patriarch Bartholomew.

He said he agrees with the message of Bartholomew that the two institutions find themselves as members of a joint church.

Bartholomew, an ethnic Greek but a Turkish citizen, said Kirill's presence in Istanbul is a message of unity. "Your visit to the patriarchate and the mother church is a source of great joy and deep emotion. Your presence here carries the message of unity, togetherness and fraternity with the Holy Russian Church," Bartholomew was quoted as saying by the news agencies.

Relations between the Churches have been strained in the past because Churches in some former Soviet states, such as Estonia, have broken away from the Russian Orthodox Church and tried to pledge allegiance to Bartholomew instead.

A spokesman for Bartholomew said the Churches of Estonia and Ukraine were expected to be on the agenda during the talks, Reuters also reported.

Ukraine and Russia have long been in dispute over the ex-Soviet state's right to its own independent church. The global Orthodox Church does not recognize the Ukrainian Church.

Kirill will attend a joint mass with Bartholomew on Sunday and is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul when he then visits Ankara.

Kirill, leader of 160 million Russian Orthodox believers, is seen as an outspoken modernizer who may thaw ties with the Catholic Church. He was de facto "foreign minister" of the Moscow patriarchate for two decades before succeeding Alexiy II.

Source: Hurryiyet Daily News

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Zaccarian Spirituality Lived Today - Exclusive Interview Available in Honor of St. Zaccaria

Today we celebrate the life of St. Anthony Zaccaria. See my posting from last year for a brief biography of this saint and holy words written by this saint.

St. Anthony Zaccaria is the the founder of the Barnabite Fathers, the Angelic Sisters, and the Laity of St. Paul. In honor of his feastday, A Catholic Life has conducted an interview with Fr. Robert B. Kosek, CRSP. Through A Catholic Life's Partnership with Fr. Kosek's blog Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, three articles have be written in honor of this saintly man for his feastday.  These reflections should force ourselves to ask, "What more can we be doing for our Lord?"





Prayer:

Make us, O Lord God, learn in the spirit of Paul the Apostle the knowledge of Jesus Christ which surpasseth all understanding, wherein blessed Anthony Mary was marvelously versed and formed in Thy Church new religious congregations of men and women. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Anniversary of the Coronoation of Hugh Capet, King of France

On July 3, 987 he was crowned as King of France and is regarded as the founder of the Capetian dynasty. His Royal Highness, King Hugh Capet died on October 24, 996 in Paris, France and was interred in the Saint Denis Basilica. The Capetians ruled France from 987 to 1328. All French kings up through King Louis Philippe have belonged to this dynasty.

Currently members of the Capetian dynasty are still states of the kingdom of Spain (in the person of the Bourbon Juan Carlos) and of the grand-duchy of Luxembourg. The Capetian Dynasty remains the oldest continuously reigning dynasty in the world.

Image Source: Hugh Capet of France by Steuben Charles de baron

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Madrid Strips Francisco Franco as Honorary Major and Adopted Son of the Capital

Spain under the Catholic Franco was much more of a Catholic state than it is today. Remember, July 3, 2005, the law legalizing same sex marriage took effect. Nowadays, Spain is far removed from its period of glory - in terms of the supremacy of Catholicism and the superiority of its Navy.

There is even a Cause for the Canonization for Queen Isabella I, husband and co-monarch with King Ferdinand, of Spain, who ruled in the 15th century. Isabella, the Catholic, pray for us.

MADRID - Madrid's city hall on Monday stripped former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco [a shame! Falling down to modern pressure it seems. Franco was a true Catholic] of his title as honorary mayor and adopted son of the capital, 33 years after his death began the transition to democracy.

Councillors of all political colours unanimously voted to remove the titles, as well as medals Madrid conferred on the right-wing general, a spokesman for the council said.

"The capital of Spain is now clean of support for dictators," left-wing Councillor Milagros Hernandez, was quoted as saying on the website of TV news channel CNN+.

The move is the latest in a effort spearheaded by the Socialist government to remove traces of Franco in street names, statues and other symbols glorifying the dictator who gained power after a three-year civil war which ended in 1939 and ruled until his death in 1975.

The removals started under a law passed in 2007 by the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose grandfather was killed by Franco's forces.

The push reverses an unspoken understanding after Franco's death that his supporters would relinquish power on condition that future democrats would not rake up the past.

Members of the conservative Popular Party have criticised the socialist law for, as they see it, needlessly dragging up the wounds of the past. However, the PP -- which rules the local authority in Madrid -- backed the proposal to strip Franco of the city's honours.

Source: Reuters - Tuesday, June 30. My comments in red

Related Posts (Other Blogs):

• Martyrs of Spain, Pray for Us!
• The Tomb of Franco
• Reconquest of Madrid
  

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First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his heart."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Source: Zenit

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Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and recall Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. The event is recorded in Luke 1:39-57. Feeling the presence of his Savior, John leaped within the womb of his mother Elizabeth upon Mary's arrival; John was then filled with the grace of God.

The Feast of Visitation was first commemorated in the beginning of the 13th century, when St. Bonaventure recommended it, and the Franciscan chapter adopted it. The Francisian breviary spread it to many churches, but it was only universally adopted in the 14th century, when Urban VI extended it.

See my prior posting on this Feast.

Prayer:

Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of Thy heavenly grace: that as the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of our salvation, so the solemn feast of her Visitation may bring us an increase of peace. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Image Source: Unknown

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Substitute for a Subdeacon at a Solemn Mass

A reader of "A Catholic Life" asked me whether or not a non-ordained male could serve as a subdeacon at a Solemn Mass. After doing some research in "The Celebration of Mass: A Study of the Rubrics of the Roman Missal" by Rev. J B O'Connell, I found the following on page 398:

Only a priest may act as a substitute for a deacon but a cleric in minor orders or at least tonsured may, for a reasonable cause (see S.R.C. 4181), act as substitute for a subdeacon (See S.R.C 2002, 2525, 2965, 3525, 3832, 4181). He may wear the alb and tunicle but not the maniple. During the Mass he may do all that a subdeacon does except:

(a) wipe the chalice and pour the water at the Offertory
(b) touch the chalice again after having brought it to the altar, until after the ablutions
(c) uncover and cover the chalice during Mass
(d) wipe the chalice after the ablutions, although he may arrange and veil it, and carry it to the credence (S.R.C 4181)

S.R.C = Decrees of the Congregation of Sacred Rites

Image Source: Unknown, Found via the blog Munda Cor Meum

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Feast of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today, according to the Traditional Catholic Calendars of 1962 and previous, is the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. After Vatican II, this feastday was combined with Corpus Christi. In the 1969 Calendar, Corpus Christi is officially called the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. However, for those Catholics who like to follow the Traditional Calendar, today is a day to especially remember the price of our salvation - the Blood of Jesus Christ. Today we remember His blood spilt not only on the Cross but also in the Circumcision, Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Scourging at the Pillar of Flagellation, and the Crowning with Thorns.

See the History on this Feast.

Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Jesus, hear us.
R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.

V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.

R/ for ff: save us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father,
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs,
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors,
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins,
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ spare us, O Lord

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.
R/ And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

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Reciprocal Links

A Catholic Life has updated the list of "Other Catholic Blogs" in the sidebar, and I wish to add additional links to the list.

If you have a blog that links to A Catholic Life, then please let me know. I want to link to those blogs who provide links to A Catholic Life. So, please add a link to this blog in your sidebar and then comment below. I am especially interested in finding other traditional-focused blogs with an emphasis on the Traditional Liturgy; it will especially be my pleasure to link to these type of blogs.

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