Pope Benedict XVI: Recent Comments on Condom Usage

In the past few days, the Internet and much of the media has been focusing on the recent comments of Pope Benedict XVI, when he said that condom usage may be appropriate for male prostitutes (not female prostitutes) as a means to reduce the spread of H.I.V, the virus responsible for AIDS.  His comments were not issued in support for contraception by females and was not intended under any circumstance to be used for the purpose of birth control.

I wish to direct your attention to these previous posts of mine on the topic:

• Why not contraception?
• The Church will never recommend condoms
• Uganda's Abstinence Program will Work
  

Image Source: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

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Consistory for the creation of new cardinals

As I had mentioned several weeks ago, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has chosen 24 new cardinals, including 4 new Americans.  Included among these 24 are Archbishop Raymond Burke, Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Kurt Koch, and others.

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New Translation of the English Roman Missal: A Comprehensive Guide and Explanation

CatechismClass.com has recently unveiled a new lesson on their website to help explain the New Translation of the Roman Missal. The lesson is available as a 60-page document outlining the changes in the Liturgy from the perspective of the priest and the congregation. The text goes through the changes in the Liturgy over the past 2,000 years to best explain the reasons for the changes in this New Translation.

• Chapter 1: The Source and Summit of the Christian Life
• Chapter 2: A Brief History of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Chapter 3: The Need for a New Translation of the Roman Missal
• Chapter 4: What We Will Say (Changes for the Participants)
• Chapter 5: What We Will Hear (Changes for the Celebrant)

This work is intended for the average Catholic to read and is a great tool for pastors to purchase and share with their congregations, CCD classes, RCIA students, etc, etc.

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St Mary Magdalen Wandsworth: Solemn Mass

Below are a few of the recent images uploaded by Joseph Shaw of a Solemn Mass at St. Mary Magadalene in Wandsworth.  Fr Martin Edwards, parish priest of St Mary Magdalen's, Wandsworth, arranged for the recently ordained Fr Ian McDole to celebrate a Solemn Mass in his Church. Fr John Zuhlsdorf was deacon for this Mass.

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Pope: Church Needs Creativity to Reach Digital Age

If the Church is going to fulfill its mission to proclaim the truth of Christ to all peoples, it must use its "creative intelligence" to overcome certain challenges of the digital age, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope reflected on the Church's constant search for better means to proclaim the Gospel on Saturday upon receiving in audience participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council of Culture, which took place last week in Rome. The theme considered at the plenary was "Culture of Communication and New Languages."

"A profound cultural transformation is under way," the Pontiff affirmed, "with new languages and new forms of communication" being developed.

"In this context," he added, "pastors and the faithful notice with concern certain difficulties in the communication of the evangelical message and the transmission of the faith within the ecclesial community itself."

The Holy Father acknowledged that it can be difficult to address men and women who are "distant from or indifferent to an experience of faith," and to whom the message of the Gospel arrives "in a way that has little effectiveness or attractiveness."

But, he recalled, the Church is the "recipient of the mission to communicate to all the nations the Gospel of salvation," and it "does not remain indifferent."

Source: Zenit

I am sure that our Holy Father would be rather pleased if he began to look through the wealth if information available through Catholic blogs and faithful Catholic websites. This blog in particular has been around since 2004 and has seen an influx not only in Catholic blogs but also an influx in quality Catholic blogs.

Similarly, it is fantastic to see the Church continue to spread the Faith through online catechism lessons. CatechismClass.com operates with the singular goal of being nothing short of the best online Catholic catechesis program in the world.  All actions of the company are ultimately directed to the purpose of saving souls.  In the words of the holy apostle Paul, “And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”  (Romans 10:14).  

Let us pray for a continued influx of evangelization using new technologies.

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Diaconate Ordination at Clear Creek Monastery

The New Liturgical Movement blog featured some stunning photographs of a recent (October 3, 2010) diaconate ordination at Clear Creek Monastery.  I wish to share some of these outstanding photos.  Remember - pray for vocations.

Source: NLM

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Zenit: Pope Points to Liturgy as Education on the Gospel

Benedict XVI is urging a greater appreciation of the liturgy as a source of education about the "good life of the Gospel."

The Pope made these statements in a letter sent to Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, on the occasion of the Plenary Assembly being held through Thursday in Assisi.

One focus of the assembly is the review of the Italian translation of the newest edition of the Roman Missal.

"The rites speak through their intrinsic rationality," the Pontiff noted, "and educate to a conscious, active and fruitful participation."

He continued, "The correspondence of the prayer of the Church (lex orandi) with the rule of the faith (lex credendi) molds the thought and the feelings of the Christian community, giving shape to the Church, Body of Christ and Temple of the Spirit."

"No human word can do without time, even when, as in the case of the liturgy, it constitutes a window that open beyond time," the Holy Father affirmed. "Hence, to give voice to a perennially valid reality calls for the wise balance of continuity and novelty, of tradition and actualization."

"The Missal itself is placed within this process," he added.

Source: Zenit

Image Source: A Missa Cantata in the Ancient Form of the Roman Liturgy, offered in the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Fr. Ervin Kovács

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Rorate Coeli

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.
Ne irascaris Domine, ne ultra memineris iniquitatis: ecce civitas Sancti facta est deserta: Sion deserta facta est: Jerusalem desolata est: domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae, ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Peccavimus, et facti sumus tamquam immundus nos, et cecidimus quasi folium universi: et iniquitates nostrae quasi ventus abstulerunt nos: abscondisti faciem tuam a nobis, et allisisti nos in manu iniquitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui, et mitte quem missurus es: emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae, de Petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion: ut auferat ipse iugum captivitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus: cito veniet salus tua: quare maerore consumeris, quia innovavit te dolor? Salvabo te, noli timere, ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus, Sanctus Israel, Redemptor tuus.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Note: Rorate Coeli is an Advent Hymn

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Posts for November: Devotions for the Dead

In honor of the month of November being devoted to the poor souls in Purgatory, please see these posts for more information and devotions for this month. 

• Doctrine of Purgatory
• Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
• Susan Tassone on Purgatory
• Traditional Funeral Rites of the Supreme Pontiffs
• Catholic Devotions for the Dead
• Requiem Mass for a Deceased Pontiff
• Anglican Use Requiem Mass
• Requiem for His Royal Highness, King Louis XVI
• Prayer for the Holy Souls

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400th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Charles Borromeo

Today is the 400th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Charles Borromeo. Four hundred years ago he was canonized by Pope Paul V. Read my prior post on St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of seminarians. Let us pray for his intercession this day.

As We have already mentioned,[10] We are of the opinion that the shining example of Christ's soldiers has far greater value in the winning and sanctifying of souls than the words of profound treatises. We therefore gladly take this present opportunity to teach some very useful lessons from the consideration of the life of another holy pastor whom God raised up in more recent times and in the midst of trials very similar to those We are experiencing today. We refer to Saint Charles Borromeo, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Archbishop of Milan, whom Paul V, of holy memory, raised to the altar of the saints less than thirty years after his death. The words of Our Predecessor are to the point: "The Lord alone performs great wonders and in recent times He has accomplished marvelous things among Us. In His wonderful dispensation He has set a great light on the Apostolic rock when He singled Charles out of the heart of the Roman Church as the faithful priest and good servant to be a model for the pastors and their flock. He enlightened the whole Church from the light diffused by his holy works.

Encyclical of Pope Pius X promulgated on May 26, 1910.

Prayer:

Ever keep Thy Church, O Lord, we beseech Thee, under the abiding protection of St. Charles, Thy Confessor and Bishop: that as his watchful care over his flock won him glory, so his intercession may always make us fervent in Thy love. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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