Exaltation of the Holy Cross; Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum

Today we commemorate the great Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  Today is also the 3rd Anniversary of the implementation of Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum.  For this day I wish to highlight some of my past posts.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, where we recall the triumph of the Cross against sin, satan, and death as well as fact that when we are baptized each one of us becomes part of Christ on His Cross so that through our daily crosses we may be brought to the Resurrection (Luke 9:23, 24).

"The Cross is more than something to be looked at. It’s something to join. The Cross is an invitation to the Christian to join Jesus on the Cross. Oftentimes, this is a part of the mystery of the cross we just don’t understand. There are many references in Sacred Scripture that tell us that we are invited to participate in the cross. Jesus said, "What I have done, so must you do also." He said that on Holy Thursday after He washed feet, but what He meant was, "If I have been a servant, then you too must be a servant. If I have washed feet, you must wash feet. And if I have suffered, so you must suffer." It says elsewhere in the scriptures, "Where I have gone, you must follow." In 1st Peter it is so clear – "Christ suffered for you, and left you an example to have you follow in His footsteps."

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The Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum

It is at this time that I wish to especially remember Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who resisted the Second Vatican Council's false propositions of ecumenism, religious liberty, and the altering of the Mass of All Times. It is through his witness and the formation of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX) that the Mass of All Times has spread. And, I will venture to say that without Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's role, the Traditional Latin Mass would have been at last forgotten and no organized resistance to the change would have existed.It is Archbishop Lefebvre who has been slandered in recent years. The cause of canonization of his saintly mother has long been forgotten. Instead, in the words of Bishop Bernard Fellay during a sermon in Paris following Archbishop Lefebvre's death said, "Archbishop Lefebvre has gone, but the Mass is saved, the Catholic priesthood is saved..." Because of his resistance to all of changes affecting all of the Sacraments, the Society of St. Pius X is largely responsible for Pope Benedict XVI's issuance of the motu proprio and then the clear declaration that the Bishops of the Society of St. Pius X consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre are not excommunicated.

In the words of Father Franz Schmidberger at the Requiem Mass of Archbishop Lefebvre, "The work of the Archbishop on this earth is accomplished. Now begins his ministry as intercessor in eternity. He has given everything he could give...the miracle of a new generation of priests."

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Our Holy Father has shown us that through his pontificate, the Sacred Traditions of our Holy Faith are being rightfully restored to their former glory. Let's look at some examples of restoration by Pope Benedict XVI.

In August 2006, Pope Benedict XVI abolished the Christmas concert featuring "pop" music established by Pope John Paul II. In January 2007, he called on the Vatican Courts to tighten up the annulment criteria, as annulments have exponentially increased following Vatican II. Pope Benedict XVI has further restored the use of the Pascal Mozetta in the Octave of Easter 2008.

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High Mass at Queen of Peace, Patton, PA on September 14, 2010

On Tuesday (Sept 14), a HIGH Mass will be celebrated at Queen of Peace at 7 PM in honor of the 3-year anniversary of the institution of Summorum Pontificum, the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI granting greater freedom to priests who wish to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and the Faithful who wish access to it. Let us remember to thank Our Blessed Lord on this anniversary for the tremendous gift of the ancient Mass and ask him to bless Our Holy Father Benedict XVI with holiness and good health for many years to come.

Queen of Peace is located in Patton, PA. The full address is 907 Sixth Ave, Patton, PA 16668

Celebrated in accordance with the expressed wishes of Pope Benedict XVI, with the official support of Bishop Joseph Adamec and Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, OSB.

"What earlier generations held as sacred remains sacred and great for us, too.... It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer and to give them their proper place.” -- Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum

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Cardinal Newman: Recommended Texts

With the upcoming beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman, I wish to highlight some of his best works that I would recommend to those seeking to learn from this holy man. Formerly a priest in the Church of England, Newman was received into the Roman Catholic Church on 9 October 1845.

In his early life, he was a major figure in the Oxford Movement to bring the Church of England back to its Catholic roots. Eventually his studies in history persuaded him to become a Catholic. Both before and after becoming a Catholic, he wrote influential books, including Via Media, Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845), Apologia Pro Vita Sua (1865–66) and the Grammar of Assent (1870).

One of his most powerful statements which I have mentioned in prior posts is his words: "To know history is to cease to be protestant."

1. An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (A classic and a must read for anyone that reads Newman)

2. The Apologia Pro Vita Sua (Now a Classic in Western literature)

3. 3ed of the preface of the Via Media (very good also, talks about the roles of the Church as priest, prophet and king)

4. An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent (A more philosophical work; very good also)

5. Many of the sermons (very powerful and critical of 19th century culture and reflections on the human condition. Furthermore it concerns itself with hell and the afterlife)

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Itinerary: September 16-19, 2010, Papal Visit to the United Kingdom

Below is the itinerary for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom, scheduled to take place over the course of September 16 - 19, 2010. Stay tuned to this blog as we will blog throughout the course of the Pope's visit to the United Kingdom.

To begin, see my recommended works/texts by Cardinal Newman.

September 16

• Depart Rome at 8:10 a.m. 
• Arrival at the international airport of Edinburgh, Scotland at 10:30. 
• Welcome Ceremony at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where he will make a courtesy visit to Queen Elizabeth II.
• At 11:40, the Holy Father will address the authorities in the park of the palace
• Lunch in the archbishop's residence in that same city.
• Mass at 5:15 p.m. in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland. 
• After the Mass, he will depart by plane from Glasgow to London.

September 17

• He will begin the morning by saying a private Mass at the apostolic nunciature in Wimbledon.
• At 10:00 a.m. he will give an address to leaders from the world of Catholic education at an event in the sports field of St. Mary's University College in Twickenham.
• Pontiff will meet with leaders of other religions in the Waldegrave Drawing Room of that same college.
• He will pay a special courtesy visit to the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in Lambeth Palace. The Holy Father will give an address in the presence of the other Anglican "bishops" as well as the Catholic prelates of England and Wales.
• 5:10 P.M.: Benedict XVI is scheduled to go to Westminster Hall to address representatives of the civil society, as part of his State visit. He will meet with civil leaders from the worlds of academics, culture and business, with the diplomatic corps, and with other religious leaders.
• Pope will conclude that day by participating in an ecumenical celebration in Westminster Abbey along with the archbishop of Canterbury and other Christian leaders.

September 18

• Morning meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron and other government leaders in the archbishop's palace.
• At 10:00 a.m., the Holy Father will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also known as Westminster Cathedral, where he will greet the people of Wales.
• Young people will gather in the plaza outside the cathedral to greet Benedict XVI after the Mass.
• The Pope will visit St. Peter's residential home for the elderly in the evening to greet those who are unable to travel to see him, and will then participate in a prayer vigil in Hyde Park.

September 19

• Pontiff will leave Wimbledon by helicopter for Birmingham, where he will arrive at 9:30 a.m.
• At 10:00, he will celebrate Mass and the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Cofton Park of Rednal in Birmingham. The Holy Father will give the homily and, after Mass, will recite the Angelus with the pilgrims gathered there.
• He will make a private visit to the oratory of St. Philip Neri, where he will be the first person to pray at the new shrine for Cardinal Newman, who will at that time be beatified.
• Benedict XVI will conclude his visit with a meeting with the bishops of Scotland, England and Wales,
• Ddepart Birmingham by plane for Rome at 6:45 p.m.
• Arrival in Rome at 10:30.

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Never Forget - September 11, 2001

Let us never forget September 11th, 2001, and the great people who died on that day. May God Bless America and may America praise and glorify God.

Image Source: Associated Press

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Why are Many Individuals (Especially Clerics) Opposed to the Tridentine Latin Mass?

I feel that the overall resistance to the Traditional Latin Mass and many of its traditional teachings (e.g. no salvation outside of the Church, necessity of Baptism for salvation, the existence of an eternal hell, et cetera) is attributable to a pervasive lack of faith and spiritual laxity that have penetrated our culture. Our culture has not only neglected the Faith of our Fathers but has repudiated traditional and time-tested philosophies, governments, ways of public conduct, attire, etc. Some would say that the cause of discord in the Church originated at the 2nd Vatican Council. While I do feel that the Council was one of the most debilitating assaults to the traditional faith, our world has been suffering from a pernicious cancer induced during the Enlightenment. The philosophers of the enlightened led to the French Revolution and the essential collapse of Catholicism in what was once regarded the most Catholic nation in the world. Since that time we have seen mankind exalted and the faith and piety of many vanish.

Our Blessed Lady’s appearance in Fatima (1917) illustrates the revolution in the hearts of mankind long before the Council. And, recall Our Lady’s similar appearance in La Salette (1846). Our world has been rebelling against authority, against traditional manners of dress and practices of sexuality, etc, etc for generations. And it was this modernism that was so forcefully condemned by His Holiness Pope St. Pius X. Unfortunately, modernism – the true cause of our problems – has been misunderstood. We are certainly – and should not be – opposed to advances in technologies and ways of life that improve our living. However, modernism the heresy is the movement in Roman Catholic thought that sought to interpret the teachings of the Church in the light of philosophic and scientific conceptions prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Unfortunately, modernism entered the ranks of some prominent members of the clergy in the 1950s and 1960s leading to the collapse of interior piety and reverence as well as the exterior visibility of our internal faith (e.g. genuflections, public processions, etc). It was precisely this school of thought of modernism that individuals present at the Council sought to fight – people like Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Unfortunately, the members of the clergy who consented to the enlightenment philosophies have worked exceedingly hard to tarnish the name and reputation of His Grace Marcel Lefebvre and any Catholics who wish to attend the Mass of the Saints. Have you noticed that of all priests canonized as of this point, none of them said the Novus Ordo Mass.

I would highly recommend that you read “Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre” by Michael Davies. There are also other sophisticated accounts behind your question on why the clergy can seem so opposed to the Traditional Mass. One such account which details the modernistic influence at the Council is “Rhine Flows Into the Tiber”

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'Vital Immanence': Modernism and its Phenomenological Explanation of Religion

Ite Ad Thomam has a good article on 'Vital Immanence': Modernism and its Phenomenological Explanation of Religion. 

Definitely an appropriate read at this time of year since we just celebrated the Feast of St. Pius X (September 3) and the 100th Anniversary of the Oath Against Modernism (September 1).

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October 2, 2010, Mass of Reparation in Illinois

Click Image for PDF Version

Related Posts:

• Diocese of Joliet: Traditional Mass of Reparation (2007)
• Diocese of Joliet: Traditional Mass of Reparation (2008)
• Diocese of Joliet: Traditional Mass of Reparation (2009)
• Traditional Latin Mass Locations in the Diocese of Joliet
• Joliet Latin Mass Community (FSSP) Reaches 100 Families Mark

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Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Please see my prior post for sermons and prayers for this day.

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 Nativity may bring us an increase of peace. Through our Lord.

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Ss. Peter and Paul in Wisconsin Rapids Begins Traditional Latin Mass

Note: Image of a Traditional Mass celebrated elsewhere

Through the providential gift of the Holy Father's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, Ss. Peter and Paul in Wisconsin Rapids will begin to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite on the First Sunday of the month at 4 PM. This will begin the 3rd of October of this year. The Institute of Christ King will be offering the Holy Mass.

A Facebook group promoting the occasion has been created.

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