May 1st Events at the Institute of Christ the King - Chicago, IL

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Bishop Thomas Wenski Named Archbishop of Miami

Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida, as archbishop of Miami yesterday, April 20, 2010. Archbishop Wenski, 59, succeeds Archbishop John Favalora, 74, who resigned as he will reach the age limit this year. Does anyone know of Bishop Wenski's position on the Traditional Latin Mass and issues concerning Traditional Catholic Doctrine?

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5th Anniversary of the Election of Pope Benedict XVI

V. Oremus pro pontifice nostro Benedicto.

R. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

Deus, omnium fidelium pastor et rector, famulum tuum Benedictum, quem pastorem Ecclesiae tuae praeesse voluisti, propitius respice: da ei, quaesumus, verbo et exemplo, quibus praeest, proficere: ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi credito, perveniat sempiternam. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen.

V. Let us pray for Benedict our pope.

R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Prayer is from the Roman Missal.  Attached to the versicle and response is a partial indulgence.]


Today we recall the fifth anniversary of the election of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Seat of the Vicar of Christ.

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 example 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.

Examine the vestments used by the Holy Father at the 3rd Anniversary Mass of John Paul II's death in 2008 (below). At this Mass the Holy Father has discontinued using the staff of Pope John Paul II featured a bent Christ on the Cross, aesthetically unpleasant, and replaced it with a new beautiful pastoral staff (ferula).

(Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi)

Notice in the above image Pope Benedict XVI is using a papal asteriscus, an item that, in addition to practical applications, symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. He has restored it to use in the Papal Liturgy at times.

On the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul 2008, Pope Benedict XVI introduced a different Papal Pallium, establishing better continuity with the past than with the Pallium that became used during the pontificate of John Paul II. "This is the development of the Latin form of the pallium used up to John Paul II," explains the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Guido Marini.

Former Pallium

Restored Pallium

In 2009, the mosaic depicting Pope Benedict XVI in the line of papal portraits in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls has been changed to reflect this shift in the Papal Pallium.(Above Images from St. Paul Outside the Walls by Pope Benedict Forum user "Benodette".)

And remember that in January 2008, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Baptism of the Lord ad orientem in the Sistine Chapel.

Believed to be Associated Press (AP)

In January 2009, His Holiness wore a fiddleback chausible on the Feast of the Epiphany. This was another return back to prior Traditions. Pope Benedict XVI again shows his desire for a restoration of the Sacred Liturgy. And while vestments may seem unimportant, continuity with the past and symbolism is highly important. Each vestment has its own vesting prayer, and each particular garment holds symbolic importance (e.g. the maniple symbolizes Christ at the Pillar of Flagellation, the cincture symbols the rope by which Our Lord was bound and dragged in the streets, et cetera).

Therefore, the exteriors again are an expression of the interior. And, in the past 40 years we have lost not only the interior aspects of the Faith (e.g. lack of knowledge of integral Catholic beliefs such as Transubstantiation, etc) and a decrease in devotion but also exterior aspects of the Faith (e.g. vestments, proper Sacred Liturgy, Rosaries, etc). Coincidence or has the loss of exteriors contributed to the loss of interior Faith?

Image Sources: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

And of substantial importance, Holy Communion is to be given only to those kneeling henceforth, when Pope Benedict XVI distributes Holy Communion. EWTN reports, "To receive Communion from Pope Benedict at Papal Liturgies one will have to receive on the tongue," which is a fantastic affirmation of the Real Presence of our Lord. And as the Body and Blood of Jesus, nothing is of higher value than the Most Holy Eucharist.

St. Thomas Aquinas: "Out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it but when it is consecrated" - Summa, Pt III Q, Q2 Art. 3

Also from Wikipedia, "Each year a papal tiara is placed on the head of the famous bronze statue of Saint Peter in St. Peter's Basilica from the vigil of the Feast of the Cathedra of Saint Peter on February 22 until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29. Although this custom was not observed in 2006, it was reintroduced in 2007."

Finally in this example, compare the below progression of photos of the Urbi et Orbi addresses given on Christmas Day by Pope Benedict XVI.

2005, Source: MSNBC

2006, Source: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Handout

2007, Source: CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters

2008, Source: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

The photos are from 2005 - 2008, and there is a progression in these photos. Tradition is being restored.


For a list of numerous articles on the events in the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, please see the following post: Pope Benedict XVI (permanently linked in the sidebar).

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800th Anniversary of Royal Maundy Service at Derby Cathedral

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83rd Birthday of Pope Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 16, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI turned 83 today, spending his birthday with normal activities punctuated by numerous congratulatory messages from around the world.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano sent the Pope a message expressing his "deep esteem for your elevated magisterium."

In the Vatican, the Holy Father doesn't celebrate his birthday, but rather his name day, the feast of St. Joseph.

Image Source: Pope Benedict XVI says Holy Mass at the Granaries in Floriana in Valletta April 18, 2010. (Reuters)

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Cause for the Canonization of 17 Laotian Martyrs Moves Forward

The beatification process for 17 martyrs who died in Laos between 1954 and 1970 is moving forward. The diocesan phase for 15 of the martyrs concluded in France; two others are already in the Roman phase.

The martyrs were religious and lay missionaries: five French women religious and an Italian member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate; five members of the Paris Society for Foreign Missions and five Laotians (a priest and four laymen, including a catechist of the Hmong ethnic group).

Source: Zenit

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Dates for 7 Upcoming Beatifications Confirmed

Zenit Reports this glorious news.  Deo Gratias!

The Vatican has confirmed dates for seven upcoming beatifications, including that of Manuel "Lolo" Lozano Garrido, a Spanish journalist hailed as a layperson's example of sanctity.

Lozano Garrido (1920-1971) will be beatified in his hometown of Linares, Spain, on June 12.

Lolo wrote for various media, including the daily "Ya" and the Associated Press. In 1942 he began to suffer from spondylitis, which left him an invalid and blind. He eventually founded Sinai, a magazine for sick people. He also authored nine books, which he dictated to his sister and his friends.

Also on the list to be beatified is the chaplain of the Polish Solidarity movement, Father Jerzy Popieluszko (1947-1984). The 37-year-old priest was assassinated by Communist secret service agents. He will be beatified June 6 in Warsaw, Poland.

The other five beatifications will take place this month and next, two in Spain, and three in Italy.

Jesuit Father Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos will be beatified April 18 in Valladolid, Spain.

Carmelite Father Angelo Paoli will be beatified April 25 in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.

Capuchin Friar José Tous y Soler, founder of the Institute of the Capuchin sisters of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd, will be beatified April 25 in Barcelona, Spain.

Franciscan Teresa Manganiello, inspirer of the Congregation of the Franciscan Immaculatine Sisters, will be beatified May 22 in Benevento, Italy.

Finally, Sister Maria Pierina De Micheli of the Daughters of the Immaculate Conception in Buenos Aires will be beatified May 30 in Rome.

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Archbishop Gomez named to Los Angeles Archdiocese

What does this news mean for the Traditional Latin Mass Movement in Los Angeles? Surely this is a step up. I especially welcome comments from those in the state of California on this matter.

LOS ANGELES, APRIL 11, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of San Antonio has been named the coadjutor of Los Angeles, one of the largest archdioceses in the world.

Archbishop José Gómez, 58, was appointed to the California archdiocese last Tuesday.

He will assist Cardinal Roger Mahony, 74, until the cardinal retires.

José Gómez was born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1951. He was ordained a priest for Opus Dei in 1978. He has been serving in the episcopate for nearly a decade, having been named auxiliary bishop of Denver in 2001, and then the archbishop of San Antonio in 2004.

He has a well-established history of advocacy for Hispanic Catholics. The year he was installed as archbishop of San Antonio, he was named one of Time Magazine's 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and in 2007 he was on a CNN list of "Notable Hispanics."

In Los Angeles, Archbishop Gómez will lead more than 4.3 million Catholics (according to 2005 statistics), served by 530 diocesan priests, 640 religious priests and 1,710 religious sisters. The archdiocese has a significant Hispanic population.

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Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Blogger,

 

institute-christ-king.org/bouquet

 

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is preparing to send a spiritual bouquet to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.  Via an online form, the faithful, including your readers, may contribute to this bouquet, along with others throughout the world, which will be presented directly to His Holiness.  All are invited to contribute Holy Masses, Rosaries, Novenas, Holy Hours, or Works of Charity for our Holy Father at a time in which he is being unjustly attacked.

 

The Institute is especially encouraging prayers and sacrifices during a special Novena beginning on Saturday, April 24, the 5th anniversary of the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI, through May 2, which is the first Sunday of the month of Mary, Mother of the Church.

 

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Cardinal Egan: Tridentine Mass from March 25, 2010

Does anyone have any photographs from the Mass that I blogged about previously - His Eminence Edward Card. Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, accepted the invitation from the Agnus Dei Council of the Knights of Columbus in New York City to celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite – a Mass for Life – on 25 March 2010, the Feast of the Annunciation.

I have yet to see any photographs or video from the Mass.

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