Monthly Tridentine Mass at St. Catherine of Siena in Burlingame

Yesterday I had the privilege, for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, to attend the 5:30 PM Latin Mass that is held monthly on the 4th Sunday (not last but 4th) of the month.  It was a wonderful experience and I only wish the Mass was better publicized.  Only around 20 people were present and yet Father gave an excellent sermon and the Mass was even a Missa Cantata with a schola that consisted of five members.

The Mass itself was a little on the long side at around 1 hour and 20 minutes but that was due to a reverent and prayerful experience.  Granted the Mass only takes place once a month so the ceremonies did lack the polish we come to expect in a Latin Mass.  For example, the servers walked too far ahead at the opening procession and had to go both after noticing Father wasn't fully vested yet, some servers were unsure where to stand, and the handouts were printed for the propers for the incorrect Sunday in the liturgical year. The music also had too many breaks - different from the soft musical interludes from the organ I have come to expect during the High Mass.

But the Mass was reverent and solemn.  The Mass was preceded by a recitation of the Rosary in Latin at 5 PM!  It's rare to see the Rosary said before Mass and I've never seen it said in Latin, even before an SSPX Mass.  So that was unique and nice to see its connection with Catholic Tradition. And it's quite rare to find an evening Latin Mass on Sunday in the Bay Area so this is nice for Catholics who travel into the Bay area and arrive late or who sleep in on Sunday morning. This Mass location is in addition to those highlighted in my article: 6 Traditional Latin Mass Locations for Bay Area Catholics Reviewed

I very much wish that the Latin Mass Society of San Francisco, St. Catherine's parish, and others in the community would make this Mass more widely known!  I'd go weekly if they had it offered. 

There is a simple website regarding this monthly Mass so if you have questions, please reach out to the Mid-Peninsula Latin Mass.

Photos from the Mass (you are free to share these as long as you attribute them to this blog article):

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Vigil of St. Bartholomew

While today is the feastday of St. Philip Benizi, there is a commemoration of the Vigil of St. Bartholomew in today's liturgy as well. We could continue to observe these Vigils throughout the year even though the mainstream calendar no longer keeps them.

Taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

The feasts of the Apostles are spread throughout the liturgical Cycle as if to show that the Apostles are the foundation on which the whole Church rests. St. Bartholomew is the sixth in the list of twelve, as given by the Evangelists. Like the other Apostles he learned the secrets of the divine law and made them known to the world, confirming them by his martyrdom (Gospel). On this day the liturgy prepares us for his feast of to-morrow (Collect).

The term “vigil” is used in several ways.  It may refer to an entire day before a major feast day (e.g., the Vigil of Christmas is all day on Dec 24th). This kind of vigil is a feast day in itself. Before the changes to the Roman Calendar in 1955, nearly all feasts of the apostles were preceded by a special Vigil Day. And the Church put those days in place to help us prepare for the importance of a feast of an apostle. Sadly, the observance of fasting on the vigils of the apostles in many places disappeared back in the 1700s.

Collect:

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the solemn feast of Thine apostle Bartholemew, which we anticipate, may both increase our devotion and advance our salvation.

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Mission Santa Clara and Servant of God Magín Catalá

A few weeks ago I visited Mission Santa Clara in Santa Clara, CA. Inside the mission of Santa Clara is the tomb and the story of a remarkably holy man: Father Magín Catalá.  In particular, the beautiful Crucifix shown above is the miraculous Crucifix in front of which Father would pray and was seen levitating from the ground by witnesses who have sworn under oath to this miracle's authenticity.  Father Catalá lived a heroic life of sanctity.  As stated in the below pamphlet from the Mission: "[He] fasted ever day of the year, tasting nothing until noon and then allowing himself but a little milk and corn bread.  He never ate flesh, meat, eggs, or fish."

Let us pray for the canonization of Fr. Catalá:

O God, you sent your holy servant, Father Magín Catalá, to preach your gospel to Native Americans, and you inspired him to glorify your holy name among them by the example of his eminent virtues. We humbly ask you to honor Father Catalá on earth with the testimony of miracles performed through his intercession. Grant us by his merits all manner of blessings. Fill our minds with the light of your truth that, walking always in the way of your commandments, we may come to eternal union with you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord

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Hyacinth of Poland

Double (1954 Calendar): August 17

St. Hyacinth of Poland was born in 1185 in what was then Upper Silesia (today modern Poland).  He was a relative and possibly the brother of Blessed Ceslas Odrowaz.

St. Hyacinth was educated in both law and Sacred Studies and studied in the illustrious cities of Krakow, Prague, Paris, and Bologna.  Despite his education, he was first and foremost a holy priest.  After his ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ, he worked to reform convents in his native country.

While on a trip to Rome with Bishop Ivo Konski, his uncle, he witnessed the glorious Patriarch St. Dominic perform a miracle that changed his life.  He became a personal friend of St. Dominic and then one of the first Dominicans. In fact, he was the first Polish Dominican and he brought the Order to Poland.  He was prolific in his work, evangelizing throughout Poland, Pomerania, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Scotland, Russia, Turkey, and Greece.

During an attack on a monastery, Hyacinth managed to save a crucifix and statue of Mary, though the statue weighed far more than he could normally have lifted; the saint is usually shown holding these two items. Hyacinth never served as provincial nor even a prior, but toiled as a simple friar, focusing on the internal and external missions facing the Polish Dominicans: to deepen their own faith, and to spread it through Poland.

Traditional Matins Reading:

Hyacinth was a Pole and born of noble and Christian parents in the town of Camien of the diocese of Breslau. In his childhood he received a liberal education, and later he studied law and Divinity. Having become a canon of the church of Cracow, he surpassed all his fellow-priests by his remarkable piety and learning. He was received at Rome into the Order of Preachers by the founder St. Dominic, and till the end of his life he observed in a most holy manner the mode of life he learnt from him. He remained always a virgin, and had a great love for modesty, patience, humility, abstinence and other virtues, which are the true inheritance of the religious life.

In his burning love for God he would spend whole nights in prayer and chastising his body. He would allow himself no rest except by leaning against a stone, or lying on the bare ground. He was sent back to his own country; but first of all on the way there, he founded a large house of his Order at Friesach, and then another at Cracow. Then in different provinces of Poland he built four other monasteries, and it seems incredible what an amount of good he did in all these places by preaching the Word of God and by the innocence of his life. Not a day passed but he gave some striking proof of his faith, his piety, and his innocence.

God honoured the holy man’s zeal for the good of his neighbour by very great miracles. The following is one of the most striking: he crossed without a boat the river Vistula, which had overflowed, near Wisgrade, and drew his companions also across on his cloak which he spread out over the water. After having persevered in his admirable manner of life for forty years after his profession, he foretold to his brethren the day of his death. On the feast of our Lady’s Assumption in the year 1257, having finished the Canonical Hours, and received the sacraments of the Church with great devotion, saying these words: 'Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit,’ he gave up his soul to God. He was illustrious for miracles in death as in life, and Pope Clement VIII numbered him among the saints.

Prayer:

O God, Who sendest us joy year by year on the feast of blessed Hyacinth, Thy Confessor, which we are now keeping: mercifully grant on this day of his heavenly birth that we may grow like him in deed. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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First Friday of August

Today is the First Friday of August. Because today is the first Friday of the Month, many Catholic parishes will have special Masses today for the First Friday Devotion.  Find one near you!

Beginning on December 27, 1673, through 1675, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque asking her to receive Him in Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month and to meditate on His passion from 11:00 PM to 12:00 midnight each Thursday. He also revealed to her twelve promises for all who are devoted to His Sacred Heart; he asked for a Feast of the Sacred Heart to be instituted in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with twelve promises for those devoted to His Most Sacred Heart.

Promises for those devoted to the Sacred Heart:

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life."
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Prayer of Reparation:


O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

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Catholic Youth Conference in Buffalo, NY – September 14-16

Update: My talk is now available online to all who couldn't attend

Original Post: I'm honored to be a speaker on Saturday morning at this Conference in Niagara Falls.  Please join us and listen to these excellent talks.

WHY A YOUTH CONFERENCE?

“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”  – St. Augustine

In the madness of the modern world, those who want to live the truths of the Catholic Faith often turn to the past. But if the Church is to survive, we must also look to the future.

YOU, THE YOUNGER GENERATION,

WILL DETERMINE THE FUTURE

OF THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD!

Like St. Augustine in his time, many Catholic young people today are restless. They believe in Jesus but are not sure what relevance He has for the challenges they face. How can they learn about and grow in the True Faith, while dealing with the pressures brought on by school, work, family, friends, society, the culture and the pleasures and temptations that surround them? Many young Catholics don’t know what the Church teaches on issues that are important to them. Many others  have never even heard of Fatima. This must change!

Our Lady came to Fatima to three young children. She told them what we must do NOW to make the future a time of peace in which the love of God will guide our hearts and minds. It is by acting NOW – in the present – that we can shape the world we live in and the world future generations will inherit.

Decide now to come away from your restless life for a weekend. Meet Our Lord at Mass and in
Confession.  Learn about the truths taught by Our Lord, His Church and Our Lady of Fatima, all of which will answer the deepest yearnings of your heart. Listen to talks from amazing speakers on vital issues and get to know other Catholic young people like yourself from all over North America.

After the conference, you will return to your life refreshed, with a new purpose, and on fire with love for Our Lord, Our Lady, and your glorious Catholic faith. By changing your life, you will change the lives of those around you and, together with them, will change the world.

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The Catholic Church in Latin America Under Fierce Assault by Evangelicals; Church Seen as Uncaring to the Poor

Just yesterday I heard from a close friend of mine who is in Latin America doing research work for one of the largest companies in the world.  While there, he interviewed a number of people in Sao Paulo who all expressed concern with the Catholic Church being out of touch and losing ground to the Evangelicals.  While they stated that Brazil was founded by the Portuguese and greatly enriched by the monks and friars who settled there, the Church today is seeing a massive exodus of souls who are leaving her ranks and joining the Evangelicals.  This is deeply troubling as these souls are leaving the only barque of salvation and joining the ranks of Evangelical, Pentecostal, and other heretical sects. 

And this trend is well documented in various studies consistently over the past decades.  I read one such report this morning by Vanessa Chesnut.  Some quotable points of Ms. Chesnut's May 2018 article for NBC entitled, "As Catholicism declines in Latin America and U.S., parishes still count on Latino growth" include:

While 70 percent of adult Latinos identified as Catholic in 2006, that figure fell to 57 percent by 2015, according to The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), a nonprofit research center... 

A Chilean polling firm, Latinobarómetro, reported in a January 2018 survey that the number of Latin Americans who identified as Catholic has fallen from 80 percent in 1995 to 59 percent now. But there is great variation among countries — while only 37 percent of Hondurans and 39 percent of Salvadorans identify as Catholic, that figure rises to 80 percent among Mexicans... 

Even Pope Francis has been unable to reverse the five-decade decline despite his high approval rating among Latin Americans. The Chilean poll shows that from Francis' election in 2013 to 2017, Latin America saw a 4-percentage-point drop in people identifying as Catholic.

Why are they doing this?  My friend, an experienced researcher, stated that his subjects all expressed resentment that the Church is not doing enough to help the poor.  It is the Evangelicals who are actively going to the poor regions and ministering.  And the poor are being won over, just as they were in centuries past when Catholic missionaries dedicated their lives to such works. 

Where have all the Catholic missionaries gone when they are so badly needed? 

They are in their rectories relaxing.  Or they have forsaken their vocations or failed to pick up the Lord's call to serve as missionaries.  These trends are the result of liberal Catholicism having taken hold now for the past 50 years since Vatican II in Latin America.  This is far from a "new springtime."  This is complete desolation and souls are leaving the Church founded by Jesus Christ for counterfeit religions because the Lord's ministers are failing.  It is not watered down teachings, modernized liturgy, or LGBT rights that will save the Church in Latin America.

We need to earnestly pray for great missionaries to rise up and serve the poor, enforce the love and charity of God expressed in the Traditional Liturgy, and who care about saving souls.  Souls cannot be saved in false religions.  We as Catholics profess without a doubt the dogma that there is no salvation outside of the Church. 

Please join me in praying for more vocations to the SSPX's missions in South America and for their House in Brazil, for the FSSP's South American missions, and for the Institute of the Good Shepherd.  I also pray for the modern dioceses to follow them in their work for the poor, for good Liturgy, for sound catechesis, and for doing all things for the salvation of souls!

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics:

Almighty Father, You desire not the death of the sinner, but that he may be converted and live. Pour out upon us Your mercy and hear the prayers of Your servants. Soften the hearts of Your children who have strayed from the true path which You established for their salvation.  They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics and pursue the pleasures of the world.  Grant that they may quickly return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervor of piety, and the ardor of charity.  Restore them all to Your sacraments and the life of Your grace, through the merits of the most precious blood of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen

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Com. of St. Margaret of Antioch

Saint Margaret of Antioch by Peter Candid

Today is the feast of St. Jerome Emiliani, great patron saint of orphans, but today also features a commemoration of St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr.  This St. Margaret is not St. Margaret Mary, who received from Our Lord Himself the First Friday Request.

According to the version of the story in the Golden Legend, St. Margaret was a native of Antioch and the daughter of a pagan priest named Aedesius. Her mother having died soon after her birth, Margaret was nursed by a Christian woman a short distance from Antioch. Having embraced Christianity and consecrated her virginity to God, St. Margaret was disowned by her father, adopted by her nurse, and lived in the country keeping sheep with her foster mother. Olybrius, Governor of the Roman Diocese of the East, asked to marry her, but with the demand that she renounce Christianity. Upon her refusal, she was cruelly tortured, during which various miraculous incidents occurred.

St. Margaret was tortured at Antioch in Pisidia, in the last general persecution during the third century. After having endured many torments, she finished her martyrdom by the sword. She is one of the 14 Holy Helpers.

Collect:

O God, one of the marvelous examples of Your power was granting the victory of martyrdom even to delicate womanhood. May the example of the blessed virgin martyr Margaret, whose birthday we celebrate today, draw us closer to You. Through our Lord . . .

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6 Traditional Latin Mass Locations for Bay Area Catholics Reviewed

I've had the opportunity to explore the various Tridentine Latin Mass locations in the Bay Area this summer.  For those Catholics living in San Francisco, Oakland, the Peninsula, or even down in San Jose, there are relatively few options for Traditional Catholics to avail themselves of the Sacraments.  Thankfully, there are nevertheless still options available.  I've taken the time to attend Mass at these locations so as to provide an honest review.

Of course, the Mass is of infinite value and renders the greatest homage to God (and is the greatest act of religion).  My reviews concern the external factors of these Mass locations and include tips since not all of them were easy to find.  I would always choose one of these Masses (even if it is in a modern and uninspiring church) over a Novus Ordo.

Please join me in praying for an increase in the Faith, in the pursuit of supernatural virtues, and for the reign of Christ to come to all of those living in the Bay Area

Star of the Sea, San Francisco, CA
Mass Times: 11:30 AM on Sundays; 7:30 Daily

Star of the Sea is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.  I had written of them in the past when they made the courageous decision to rightfully only allow men to serve at the altar.  The Church is quite beautiful and, at least on the Sunday I attended Mass, they had two priests hearing Confessions.

The sermon was not the most engaging though and the music was acceptable though not extraordinary in quality.  The artwork though was beautiful.  They have a convenient parking lot as well and a large restroom at the entrance, which is quite useful for families who need a little room for the baby to have a diaper change.

All in all, it was a beautiful Mass but the location is quite far for anyone living in the suburbs or on the other side of the Bay.  For those Catholics who live in the city of San Francisco though, make the commute to this Church for their Sunday Tridentine Mass at 11:30.  Note, this is a new time and the previous schedule of 11 AM and 5:30 PM on Sundays has been replaced with only a Latin Mass at 11:30 AM.  They do though offer an early 7:30 AM Daily Mass as well for those who are local to the Richmond area of San Francisco.

St. Francis of Assisi, East Palo Alto, CA
Mass Times: 6:00 PM on Fridays only

While the parish only offers the Traditional Mass on Fridays, it is still good to see it being celebrated at all.  Part of restoring Catholic tradition and restoring Christian culture necessitates the restoration of the Mass of All Times.  So I welcome an occasional time rather than no time at all.

The parish itself is quite modern but they do have an inspiring and beautiful piece of art featuring St. Francis directly behind the altar.

However, the Mass that I attended for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul had its shortcomings.  The priest saying Mass was noticeably elderly and had a difficult time moving and speaking.  His Latin was read very slowly.  And most problematic of all, after about 15 minutes into the Mass, he began to repeat the readings in English and in Spanish and he gave an English and a Spanish sermon.  Now after nearly 50 minutes had passed, we were finally entering the Offertory of the Mass.

I won't be back but I pray this location helps restore some of the sacred and brings back some reverence to Catholics of the area even though this parish has some improvements to be made.

St. Athanasius Chapel, San Jose
Mass Times: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10 AM on Sundays; 7:45 AM Weekdays

While over an hour from downtown San Francisco even in non-existent Sunday traffic, the city of San Jose is easily reachable for those living in the Peninsula and those on the lower side of the East Bay.  The chapel of St. Athanasius/St. Thomas More is a beautiful chapel, though a little small like many of the other chapels on this list.  The place was filled with large families and Father gave a truly captivating sermon (the most captivating sermon that I heard of any of the parishes on the list).  They also were offering Confessions during Mass as well.  And like the other SSPX Chapels I've attended (but unlike the other places on this list), they have a large container of holy water allowing you to fill up your holy water bottles for home use.

The Chapel offers 3 convenient Mass times on Sundays and even daily Mass before work for those living in or close to San Jose.  I will definitely return and encourage those Catholics in the area looking for a beautiful liturgy but also authentic and non-watered down doctrine to attend Mass here.

Five Wounds, San Jose
Mass Times: 9 AM and 12:30 PM on Sundays; Weekdays: 12:15 PM; Sat: 7:30 AM, except 8:00 PM, 1st Sat.

Updated in October 2018 from the parish website: "Starting on Sunday, October 7, we will be having an additional Mass on Sunday morning in order to accommodate an increased number of attendees. Low Mass will be offered in the IES Chapel at 8:30 a.m. and at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays."

Also in San Jose is the beautiful Five Wounds Portuguese National Church.  The parish church is unfortunately though only used by the Institute of Christ the King priests and is not there own so, for that reason, 60% of the collection goes not to the ICKSP or the Latin Mass but to the parish's checking account.  The Mass times also change frequently in the short time I've known of the parish.  For example, the Low Mass was canceled by the parish due to events for the entire month of June.  And in May, the daily 12 Noon Mass was moved to 7:15 AM to accommodate the parish.  Consequently, the feeling exists that the Latin Mass is not an integral part of the parish but merely a "renter" and at the whim of the parish's decisions and frequent schedule demands.

I attended the Low Mass at 9 AM.  But, much to my surprise, the Low Mass is not in the actual church but located on the same block in a small building in the parking lot called the IES Chapel.  The IES Chapel (pictured below) is extremely small making it quite crowded and uncomfortable to attend Mass.  [Note: In October 2018 they changed the Mass times which likely make it less crowded as they now have 2 Low Masses in the morning]

The Mass was beautiful and said with great care for the rubrics (e.g. of all the Low Masses I attended in the Bay Area, only the Institue of Christ the King priests observe the placing of a lighted candle on the altar during the Canon). However, the majority of parents were having a very difficult time minding their children (at least on the Sunday I attended) and the sounds of screaming, crying, and shouting penetrated the chapel almost incessantly.  These piercing sounds and the difficulty of understanding Father's sermons due to his Japanese accent made it extremely difficult to enter into the mystery of the Mass.

I would not recommend attending the Low Mass.  The High Mass at 12:30 PM does use the beautiful church and offers much more space even though the sanctuary has a rather hideous table altar that isn't moved during the Holy Sacrifice.  

Please pray for the Traditional Catholics of San Jose. 

Mater Dolorosa, South San Francisco
Mass Times: 5:00 PM on Sundays; 12:00 PM on Weekdays

Image of the Chapel in the Monastery House

Mater Dolorosa is a very modern looking parish. And like some of the other locations on this list, the priests who come in and say the Latin Mass are not a part of the parish.  So while it's not possible to attend Mass at a more appropriate morning hour, it is still possible to attend Mass here almost every day of the week (except Saturday mornings).

The Friday when I attended Mass, Mass was moved at the last minute from the main church to the monastery's chapel.  While it took me at least 15 minutes to find it, it was actually on the other side of the large parking lot and in a building that looked like a house.  The Mass itself was beautiful - one of the most beautiful and spiritually enriching Masses I attended, as evident of the holiness, care, and reverence of the priest.

The priest is a member of the Contemplatives of St. Joseph (COSJ) which say the Tridentine Mass at Mater Dolorosa even though their main monastery is down in Monterey, CA (over 2 hours south in no traffic from San Francisco).  The monastic house on the Mater Dolorosa ground allows them to serve the Archdiocese of San Francisco and they do so well.  They even broadcast on Facebook Live the weekly Sermon on Sundays. They even celebrate the Byzantine Liturgy at their Monterey Monastery.

The downside is that the actual parish Church where Mass is said on Sundays, and all weekdays special exceptions aside, is very modernist.  And also problematic, the priests of the COSJ also personally do offer the Novus Ordo.  And they have no qualms about the work of Paul VI and John Paul II who in their sermons they openly praise and quote. They are what some call "conservative" priests rather than "traditionalist" priests, using those terms loosely and in the manner in which most traditionalists do.

While it was admirable to see the Sanctus candle used as that doesn't always happen like it should, the image in the above pictures that was offered in the main church was said by a priest who said the readings in English from the altar instead of in Latin. Another downside, is the Masses are rather long - most daytime low Masses here are an hour. The one I attended for All Saints Day was 1.5+ hours. For a weekday Mass and since many of the people who would likely come need to do so over a lunch break, it's highly likely that it will be a bit too long. The Masses in the five times I've attended have featured a homily too on all but one time - even for feria days.

I do think their Masses were beautiful and I know they are doing good to restore the love of the Liturgy - and I will likely attend their Masses from time to time - but for those looking to have both the Tridentine Mass and pre-Vatican II doctrine, I would recommend only the SSPX.

St. Margaret Mary, Oakland, CA
Mass Times: 7 AM and 12:30 PM on Sundays; M - F: 6:00 PM (except Thurs, 12 noon); Sat: 10:00 AM; Holy Days, usually 6:00 PM

The Institute of Christ the King borrows the parish church of St. Margaret Mary in Oakland.  The parish itself is a great community of those united in the Faith but they have a small parking lot, are located in an area that makes it difficult to reach for those in the East Bay, and the priest's French accent makes the sermons difficult to understand. The parish is also a bit dark and lacks some of the beauty of other chapels and parishes on this list in terms of its ornamentation.

The Novus Ordo priest though did kindly hear Confessions throughout the Mass (but absolution was in English and not in Latin).  The sermon too, while difficult to understand, was meaningful and helpful to hear.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, this honest recap of my experiences is in no way to diminish the value of the Traditional Latin Mass.  But for those familiar with the grandeur and splendor of St. Mary's in Kansas, or St. Josephs in Detroit, or the Institute's Shrine in St. Louis, or St. John Cantius in Chicago, the Latin Masses in the greater San Francisco Bay area leave much to be desired.  Finding a robust Catholic Mass community that actually owns a parish, makes the TLM the centerpiece of the parish and not as an aside to the Novus Ordo, preaches powerful and yet understandable sermons, and is in a parish church that is large enough to allow regular mobility and movement is difficult to find.

Let's keep praying for the Catholics in the Bay Area and for more places to offer the Latin Mass.  As for me, I will likely be attending the SSPX Masses in San Jose and occasional Masses at St. Margaret Mary in Oakland.

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The Americanism Heresy: What Is It? Is it Still Around?

The Encyclical Testem benevolentiae nostrae published Jan 22, 1899, was released by Pope Leo XIII on the history of Americanism.  Testem benevolentiae nostrae was written to Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore from His Holiness Pope Leo XIII.  And while this encyclical is unknown by the vast majority of Catholics, it is nevertheless an extremely relevant document to the modern Catholic.

Much of what we are suffering from in America is the loss of our Catholic identity, and those familiar with this forgotten encyclical will see that the situation of today is largely due to the cultural liberalism of American Catholics.  In this document, Pope Leo XIII condemned the notion that Catholics could decide doctrine for themselves (i.e. cafeteria Catholics) and accept and reject doctrines, customs, and practices according to their own whims.  The Holy Father emphasized that Catholics must obey the magisterial teachings of the Universal Church which is a universal faith that does not alter its dogmas from nation to nation.

This heresy is practiced by many Catholics who have no idea they have fallen into this heresy.

Pope Leo XIII condemned the following trends:

• Undue insistence on interior initiative in the spiritual life, as leading to disobedience.  He condemned the practice to put natural virtues (e.g. hard work and persistence and frugality) ahead of the Theological and Cardinal Virtues which have a supernatural element at their core.
• Attacks on religious vows and disparagement of the value of religious orders in the modern world
• Minimizing Catholic doctrine (especially manifested by failing to speak out and actively live, proclaim, and defend the Faith in the tendency of American life to hide religious convictions or to think that all religions are to be respected)
• Minimizing the importance of spiritual direction
• Maintaining the idea that all opinions should be publicly aired (this is because speech that harms morality and the truths of the Faith has no right whatsoever to be publicly proclaimed) 

In this month during which we remember America’s independence from England, I suggest reading the text online of this obscure but important document for American Catholics.

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