Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tridentine Masses in the Diocese of Joliet, IL

High Altar at St. Joseph's in Rockdale (2018)

St. Peter & Paul Parish
36 N. Ellsworth
Naperville, IL
Sundays at 5:30 PM

St. Bernard's Parish
1301 Sterling Ave.
Joliet, IL
Sundays at 12 Noon

2017 Update: St. Bernards has since been replaced by daily Mass at St. Joseph in Rockdale.  Look to the FSSP of Joliet's website for the most up to date information.  Mass times have changed from when it was at St. Bernards.

Annunciation Monastery
6200 E. Minooka Rd.
Minooka, IL
3rd Saturday of the Month
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
Traditional Rite Solemn Vespers and Benediction, St George's Cathedral 2006

"Unto the end, a canticle of a psalm of the resurrection. Shout with joy to God, all the earth, Sing ye a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise. Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord! in the multitude of thy strength thy enemies shall lie to thee. Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee: let it sing a psalm to thy name" (Psalms 65:1-4).










Image Source: Photos used with permission of Nick Gale, Found via Facebook.
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Leaving the Diocesan Seminary

While it may come as a shock to many of you, I have decided, upon prayer and reflection, to discontinue seminary formation at the end of this academic semester, which concludes for me at 10 AM CDT on May 22, 2009. Thus, effective in the latter part of May 2009, after two years of being a diocesan seminarian, I will leave the program. I would prefer not to go into a lengthy discussion about this issue at the present, but I do not feel that I can support many of the practices of the seminary and of the modern Catholic Church.

I still remain strongly supportive of traditional Catholic seminaries, but through my discernment, I have not felt the Lord calling me to any of these seminaries. I will continue to support Traditional Catholicism and Traditional Catholic seminaries, but I do not personally feel that I can best follow my vocation by joining a traditional seminary.

While I have decided to leave the diocesan seminary, I have decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in Accounting; therefore, in two years I will graduate with an Accounting Major and a Philosophy Minor. In regards to my pursuit of religious practices, I feel that effective immediately, I will be more able to serve the People of God than I have been able to do while in seminary. I have reactivated my blog and posted several articles that were previously saved as drafts (predominantly news stories), which I saved as drafts because I did not want to forget about them. All along I knew that someday (either through discernment or ordination) I would be able to reactive my blog. I will also continue to function as the administrator of Holy Vocations Blog.

I ask for your prayers and support at this crucial transition time. Next year, as I follow God's will for my life, I plan to once again actively write on the Catholic Faith, and Catholic Traditionalism in particular, which I have grown to love with the deepest depths of my heart. I will also make myself available for talks/conferences/lectures if anyone is willing to have me speak. I also plan to travel more extensively and visit Traditional Catholic Churches and shrines around the United States, while being open to the possibility to visiting European locations. Please direct any requests to me via email.

Through prayer, I have also discerned that from this point forward, I will attend the Tridentine Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) and possibly some Eastern Catholic Rites. I will no longer attend the Novus Ordo Mass.

In the future, as a result of my current decision, I will have additional time to spend with the blogging community. It is my hope that I will eventually begin to meet more bloggers in person as we pursue a restoration of the Traditions of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. While this news is undoubtedly shocking, I know that I am following the will of God for my life in this regard. Once again, I ask for your prayers as I undertake this period of transition. It is my hope and prayer that A Catholic Life Blog will once again serve as a place for your spiritual growth.

As a final note, if any of the readers of "A Catholic Life" could donate to me via the Paypal button in the sidebar, it would be tremendously helpful. With this change, I will need to pay a large amount of money to continue my education, but rather than working 24/7 I wish to continue to serve the Church and volunteer my time in such activities like serving the Holy Mass. The more money that I can raise through my blog, the less that I will have to raise by working all of the time. This would mean that I could spend more time blogging as well.

Laudetur Jesus Christus!
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Proudly Entered the Catholic Church 2009

I am pleased to create, for the fourth year in a row, a special post welcoming all new Catholics. I am very pleased that Owen has again kindly created another image for this project, as he did in 2006. Please save it and post it on your blogs, websites, etc. There is no copyright restriction with this work. This image is a gift to all of those individuals who shall or have entered the Holy Catholic Church in the Year of Our Lord 2009.
"O God, Who willest that all men should be saved and should come to the knowledge of the truth: we beseech Thee, send forth laborers into Thy harvest, and grant them grace to speak Thy word with all boldness, so that Thy word may spread swiftly and be glorified, and all nations may know Thee, the only God and Him Who Thou hast sent: even Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord: Who with Thee liveth and reignth"

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal, Mass for the Propagation of the Faith
Please visit the weblogs of these people and welcome them into the Universal Church, the one established by Jesus Christ. Pray for them too!

Note: If you are interested in entering the Catholic Church, I highly endorse the programs offered through CatechismClass.com.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ascension Thursday 2009

Video: Tridentine Mass in Edinburgh for the Ascension in 2008

Today is the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven!

Alleluia, alleluia. V.: God is ascended with a shout and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Alleluia. V.: (Ps. 67. 18). The Lord is in Sinai, in the holy place; ascending on high He hath led captivity captive.

Now is also the time to begin a Novena in Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost.
To all faithful who devoutly participate at a public Novena held in honor fo the Holy Ghost, is granted: Indulgence of 10 years each day. -- Plenary, if they were present at least five times at these exercises, under the usual conditions, and with a prayer for the intention of His Holiness.

To those, however, who shall perform privately these exercises, with the intention to do so nine consecutive days, is granted: Indulgence of 7 years, once a day. -- Plenary, on the usual conditions, for the complete novena and if they are hindered by any reasonable cause from performing this exercise in public.. -- P. P. O. n. 263.
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I Vespers of St. Joseph the Workman

These are beautiful photos of I Vespers of St. Joseph the Workman from April 31, 2009, from Edinburgh. The St. Andrews & Edinburgh Schola sings monthly old rite Vespers in the Cathedral. Benediction also took place, and the celebrant was Fr John Emerson of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

"Wisdom rendered to the just the wages of their labors and conducted them for a covert by day and for the light of stars by night. Alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm) Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Glory be to the Father. Wisdom rendered..." (Introit)















"O God, Creator of all things, Who didst lay on the human race the law of labor: graciously grant that by following the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage, we may carry out the work Thou dost command, and obtain the reward Thou dost promise. Through our Lord" (Collect).

Image Source: Re-produced with permission of Eoghain Murphy, via Facebook Photos
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Summorum Pontificum: 2 Years Later

In light of the coming second year anniversary of the issuance of Summorum Pontificum - which was issued on July 7, 2007 - A Catholic Life wishes to celebrate this festival occurrence.

Do you know of a Latin Mass that has started in large part because of Summorum Pontificum? Do you have photographers and/or videos of a Mass and know the location at which the Mass is regularly offered?

If so, send me your name, the location of the Mass, the typical Mass times, and the photo and/or video [Notice: sending me these implies that you are the copyright holder and you release permission for A Catholic Life to use these photos and/or videos on the website]. Send all of these in an email with the necessary documents attached. You can find my email address via my blogger profile, located in the upper right corner of the sidebar. Entitle the email to me the following way: "Latin Mass Project 2009".

All of these will be compiled into one post made available on July 7, 2009, as we celebrate 2 years of Summorum Pontificum.

Please pass this message around so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to reply.

Image Source: Una Voce Carmel
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Blog Under Maintenance




Hello faithful readers,

You may have noticed a shift in the design of this site. We are creating a brand new layout for your enjoyment. During this time you may note changes in the design, at times making the blog unreadable. We apologize for any problems. Check back soon for the launch of the new A Catholic Life blog!

If you notice anything strange, please comment. Also, any feedback is appreciated in the comments of this post.
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Henry Purcell: Thou Knowest Lord...


Music by Henry Purcell (a 17th century Baroque composer) via New Liturgical Movement.  I recommend the CD: The Works of Henry Purcell
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
May 3, 2009 Ordinations: His Excellency Bishop Fellay at the Church of Notre-Dame de Bellaigue


On Sunday, May 3, 2009, in the Church of Notre-Dame de Bellaigue, His Excellency Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, ordained a new priest, four applicants (Brother Benedict and Brother Joseph, both french, Brother Etienne Brazil and Brother Bede USA) with minor orders (exorcist and acolyte ) and a new tonsure (Br. Odilon, a native of Dijon).

The above photos are re-produced with permission of La Porte Latine.

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