Amantissimi Redemptoris

"Nothing is greater or holier than the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, in which the body and blood of Christ are offered to God for the salvation of all. Holy Mother the Church has always been careful and diligent in order that the Mass be celebrated by priests with clean and pure hearts. It should be celebrated with the proper splendor of sacred ceremonies and rites so that the greatness of this mystery will shine forth all the more even from external appearances. This will also arouse the faithful to the contemplation of divine things hidden in such an admirable and venerable sacrifice. And with like solicitude and devotion, the same most holy Mother has never ceased to urge, exhort, and influence her faithful sons to frequently attend this divine sacrifice with due piety, veneration and devotion. She teaches that they must at all cost be present at it on all holy days of obligation, with their minds and eyes religiously intent on that from which the divine mercy and an abundance of all good things might be acquired." (Bl. Pius IX AMANTISSIMI REDEMPTORIS).

Image Source: FSSP

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Pope Benedict XVI's words on Native Americans to CELAM

In recent days following Pope Benedict XVI's appearance in Aparecida, Brazil the Fifth General Conference of Latin-American Bishops, there has been criticism for the Holy Father's statements. Particularly, the Holy Father has been criticised for his words on the evangelization of Native Peoples:

...what did the acceptance of the Christian faith mean for the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean? For them, it meant knowing and welcoming Christ, the unknown God whom their ancestors were seeking, without realizing it, in their rich religious traditions. Christ is the Saviour for whom they were silently longing. It also meant that they received, in the waters of Baptism, the divine life that made them children of God by adoption; moreover, they received the Holy Spirit who came to make their cultures fruitful, purifying them and developing the numerous seeds that the incarnate Word had planted in them, thereby guiding them along the paths of the Gospel. In effect, the proclamation of Jesus and of his Gospel did not at any point involve an alienation of the pre-Columbian cultures, nor was it the imposition of a foreign culture. Authentic cultures are not closed in upon themselves, nor are they set in stone at a particular point in history, but they are open, or better still, they are seeking an encounter with other cultures, hoping to reach universality through encounter and dialogue with other ways of life and with elements that can lead to a new synthesis, in which the diversity of expressions is always respected as well as the diversity of their particular cultural embodiment.

He has been sharply criticized for his statements from the heresy-plagued Indigenous Missionary Council. Father Paulo Suess told the Reuters news service that the Pope’s statement “was wrong and indefensible.” See Rorate Caeli for additional details.

As the blogger at Hallowedground stated with the above image, "Somebody should have told this Priest."

Photo Source: Father John J. Brown, first full-blooded Blackfoot Indian to become a priest of the Roman Catholic church, 1948

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Cause for Beatification of Pius XII Advances

The Cause of the Beatification of Pope Pius XII has advanced. Pius XII led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958 and immediately beforehand he was the Secretary of State for the Vatican. Pius XII saved thousands of lives during the Holocaust and was a leader for the Catholic Church. I am extremely glad to see his Cause for Beatification advancing.

Members of the Congregation for Saints' Causes met May 8 to consider the cause of Pope Pius XII and apparently voted to recommend that Pope Benedict XVI formally declare him venerable. Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, confirmed the congregation had met, but since the result of the vote still had to be presented to the pope he would not say May 9 what the result was. However, Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, who has spent years officially shepherding the cause through its various stages, told Catholic News Service May 11 that the vote was "unanimous and totally positive." 

Source: Catholic News Service

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Audio Chant: Regina Coeli

Remember to pray the Regina Caeli instead of the Angelus during Easter Season (i.e. Pascaltide). The Easter Season begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until the end of the Octave of Pentecost; as a result, it is 56 total days in length.

By listening to this video and following along, it is easy to memorize the Regina Caeli in Latin.

REGINA, caeli, lætare, alleluia:

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia,

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus; ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

English Translation:

O Queen of heaven rejoice! alleluia:
For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia,
Hath arisen as he said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray

O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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ABC: Video on Tridentine Mass

ABC Boston has a great 6.5 minute video on the Tridentine Latin Mass. I highly recommend it for viewing. There are some great scenes of the TLM from Kansas City and Holy Trinity German Church in Boston.

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Special Intention

If you could, I would like to ask my readers to please say a prayer for a special intention of mine.

Thank you.

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Mark Your Calendars: May 14-16

This year the Minor Rogation, the days leading up to Ascension Thursday, are May 14-16 inclusive. Today is the first day of the Minor Rogation, a day which should be a day of fasting.

These were traditionally days of penance, fasting, and praying litanies. If you are in good health, please remember to observe these days. For more information on Rogation days, see the links in my post entitled Rogation Day: Fasting and Penance.

I greatly encourage people to observe these days and spend time praying the Litany of Saints not only for a bountiful harvest but also for mercy and repentance.

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Pope Benedict XVI in Brazil: Day Five

Today at 9:00 AM, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in front of the Shrine of Aparecida. Nearly 150,000 people attended the open-air Mass. This was the opening Mass for the 5th general Conference of Latin American and Caribbean bishops (CELAM). Let us pray for an end to Protestantism - in particular the heresies of the Pentecostal religion.

His homily is available on the Vatican's website as is his Regina Cæli address.

Photos:


AFP/File/Antonio Scorza
AFP/File/Vincenzo Pinto
Tony Gentile/Reuters

Following the Mass and his address at the Inaugural session of the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America, Pope Benedict XVI departed Brazil and thus concluded his sixth apostolic voyage outside of Italy.

Departure:

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90th Anniversary of Fatima

Today is not only Mother's Day in the United States, but also a special day to remember devotion to Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God. Today is the 90th Anniversary of her apparition at Fatima to three shepherd children. Please pray the Rosary today in honor of Mary's request at Fatima, where she asked for all people to pray the daily Rosary. If you are unfamiliar with Fatima, read about the apparitions!

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Pope Benedict XVI in Brazil: Day Four

Today, May 12, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI continued his sixth apostolic voyage outside of Italy by visiting a center for drug rehabilitation and then praying the rosary at the famous Shrine of Aparecida. Pope Benedict XVI's first major event today was visiting Fazenda da Esperança (Farm of Hope) in Guaratinguetá, about 30 km from the town of Aparecida, which is a center for drug rehabilitation.

While at the center for drug rehabilitation, Pope Benedict XVI said, “I urge drug-dealers to reflect on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and adults from every walk of life. God will call you to account for your deeds.” The Holy Father also said, “Christians are called to announce the Resurrection with force. Right here, in this ‘Fazenda da Esperança’, where people, especially young people, try to overcome drug and chemical addictions, we bear witness to the Gospel of Christ in a consumer-oriented society that is far from God. How different is the Creator’s perspective in that of His work!” More information about his visit can be read on AsiaNews.it.

Photos:

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

REUTERS/Tony Gentile (BRAZIL)

After visiting the center, Pope Benedict XVI journeyed to the Basilica of Aparecida in Aparecida, Brazil where he prayed the Rosary with priests, religious, deacons, and seminarians. He addressed those present as well. The city of Aparecida is home to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil, declared so by Pope Pius XI in 1929.

Photos:

AFP/Orlando Kissner

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