A Catholic Life

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at St. Gabriel, Stamford

The text and images are an excerpt from a post on The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny: This evening a Missa Cantata was celebrated at St. Gabriel's, Stamford in honor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. The pastor, Fr. Cyprian LaPastina, was the celebrant and deacon Aaron Huberfeld of the Institute of Christ the King preached.

According to the Associated Press, "Pope Benedict XVI broke his right wrist in a fall in his chalet while vacationing in the Italian Alps and underwent successful surgery Friday, hospital officials and the Vatican said." He was taken to Umberto Parini hospital in Aosta (pictured above). Let us pray for the Supreme Pontiff's recovery.

Image Source: Getty Images

Update: In the above image, Pope Benedict XVI greets Dr. Amedeo Mancini who performed the operation on his wrist. This image was taken as the Holy Father was leaving the hospital; he is expected to make a smooth recovery. His wrist will be in a cast for approximately a month.

Image Source: Associated Press

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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendor of heaven,
Childbearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.

Mother so tender,
Who no man didst know,
On Carmel's children
Thy favors bestow.
Star of the Sea.

Purest of lilies,
That flowers among thorns,
Bring help to the true heart
That in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.

Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
You give to those
who turn to thee.

Hail, Gate of Heaven,
With glory now crowned,
Bring us to safety
Where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.

Prayer to Elijah from the Traditional Carmelite Rite:

Deign, we beseech thee almighty God, that we be brought to the same place in heaven as your prophet and our father blessed Elijah, who we believe to have been marvelously taken up in a fiery chariot, and rejoice in the fellowship of your saints. Through our lord Jesus Christ your son...etc."

Image Source: Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Pietro Novelli

This is an image of a Solemn High Mass for the feast of Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More, in the parish church of St John Fisher (built 1962-64) in West Heath, South Birmingham. The Mass was said by Fr. Philip Cleevely. In the roles of deacon and subdeacon are Fr. George Grynowski and Fr. Anton Guziel respectively. Fr. Grynowski is the pastor of the parish and preaced the sermon.

Note: The blue pole is there because it is to become part of a new baldachino.

Image Source: Flickr profile of birmingham_IMS_rep

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Prayer for Priests - Basilica of St. Josaphat

When I visited the Basilica of St. Josaphat this past Sunday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I picked up this prayer card. I am glad to see that this ornately decorated and beautiful testament of Catholicism is promoting the Year for Priests (June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010).

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Tridentine Mass 5th Sunday After Pentecost

There photos are from the Flickr Profile dennis_raymondm30. These images are from the Parish of Our Lord of Divine Mercy, Sikatuna, Q.C., Philippines.

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee, Brewers Game

Today I travel to St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee, WI as I did last year. In Milwaukee I will be watching the Brewers v. Dodgers. So, there will not be any other posts today.

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Friday, July 10, 2009

President Obama meets Pope Benedict XVI, First Lady Wears Veil

Today Pope Benedict XVI met with President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama. Of note, the First Lady wore a veil while in the presence of the Holy Father. I am quite pleased to see this tradition being observed.

Related Posts:

On Women and Veils

Image Source: Getty Images

Motu Proprio "Ecclesiae Unitatem" - in English
APOSTOLIC LETTER ECCLESIAE UNITATEM OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO

My comments are few and in red below. Please comment with your thoughts on this development.
__________________

1.The goal of guarding the UNITY OF THE CHURCH, with the solicitousness of offering to all the aid to responding in opportune manner to this vocation and divine grace, belongs in a particular way to the Successor of the Apostle Peter, who is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the unity both of Bishops and of the faithful1. The supreme and fundamental priority of the Church, in every age, of leading men towards the encounter with God must be favored through the effort of uniting the common witness of faith of all Christians.

2. In faithfulness to this mandate, following the act with which Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, on June 30, 1988, illicitly conferred the episcopal ordination on four priests, Pope John Paul II, of venerable memory, instituted, on July 2, 1988, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei "whose task of collaborating with the bishops, with the Departments of the Roman Curia and with the circles concerned, for the purpose of facilitating full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the Fraternity founded by Mons. Lefebvre, who may wish to remain united to the Successor Peter in the Catholic Church, while preserving their spiritual and liturgical traditions, in the light of the Protocol signed on 5 May last by Cardinal Ratzinger and Mons. Lefebvre"2.

3. In this way faithfully adhering to the same purpose of serving the universal communion of the Church also in her visible manifestation and making every effort so that to all those who truly desire unity it is made possible to remain in it or to find it anew, We have desired to widen and renew, with the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the general indications already contained in the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei regarding the possibility of using the Missale Romanum of 1962, through more precise and detailed rules3.

4. In the same spirit, and with the same commitment of favoring the surmounting of each fracture and division in the Church and to heal a wound felt in an always more painful way in the ecclesial tissue, We have desired to remit the excommunication of the four Bishops illicitly ordained by Mons. Lefebvre. With such a decision, We have intended to remove an obstacle which could prevent the opening of a door to dialogue, and thus invite the Bishops and the "Fraternity of Saint Pius X" to find anew the path towards full communion with the Church. As We explained in the Letter to the Catholic Bishops of past March 10, the remission of the excommunication was a deliberation in the area of ecclesiastical discipline which could liberate the weight of conscience represented by the gravest ecclesiastical censure. The doctrinal questions, however, obviously remain, and, until they are not clarified, the Fraternity does not have a canonical status within the Church, and its ministers cannot exercise any ministry legitimately. [a bold claim. Is this infallible though? Why does Rome continue to paint Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X as rebellious for simply desiring to pass on that which they had received. It was because of Paul VI and John Paul II that arguments arose because at times they did not teach what the Church has traditionally taught.]

5. Since the questions which must be dealt with the Fraternity are of an essentially doctrinal nature, We have decided - twenty-one years after the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei, and as We had planned to do4 - to restructure the Commission Ecclesia Dei, linking it more directly with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

6. Therefore, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei will be constituted thus

a) The President of the Commission is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

b) The Commission has its own order, including a Secretary and Officials.

c) It belongs to the President, aided by the Secretary, to present the main events and questions of a doctrinal nature to the study and discretion of the ordinary instances of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as to submit the conclusions to the superior judgment of the Supreme Pontiff.

7. With this decision, We have desired, in particular, to display our fatherly solicitousness to the "Fraternity of Saint Pius X" so that in the end it may come to full communion with the Church. [And we should pray for the Church to be reformed in many places of the world too]

We earnestly invite all to pray to the Lord incessantly, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "ut unum sint".

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on July 2, of the year 2009, the fifth of Our Pontificate.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
__________________________
1. Cfr Conc. Oecum. Vat. II, Const. dogm. de Ecclesia, Lumen gentium, 23; Conc. Oecum. Vat. I, Const. dogm. de Ecclesia Christi Pastor aeternus, c. 3: DS 3060.
2. Ioannes Paulus II, Litt. ap. motu proprio datae Ecclesia Dei (2 Iulii 1988), n. 6: AAS 80 (1988), 1498.

3. Cfr Benedictus XVI, Litt. ap. motu proprio datae Summorum Pontificum (7 Iulii 2007): AAS 99 (2007), 777-781.

4. Cfr ibid. art. 11, 781.

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Solemn Tridentine Mass in Newark on July 16, 2009

I have been told the following:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 259 Oliver Street, Newark, New Jersey, will hold a Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass in honor of its patroness, on the titular feast of the parish, July 16 at 12 noon. The Mass will be immediately followed by a procession with the Statue of Our Lady through the parish accompanied by a full symphonic Italian feast band and fireworks.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Donation Button Error Fixed

It had come to my attention this afternoon that my sidebar's Paypal Donation Button was not working properly. It would not allow anyone to connect to the donation screen. So, I have corrected the html error and the donation feature is working.

However, anyone who had attempted to donate to the blog in the past two months, approximately, would have been unable to do so. So, if you encountered problems when attempting a donation, please try again.

Your donations help keep this blog operating. I remain extremely grateful for all donations.

A Catholic Life would like to thank Fr. Michael Troha for writing the following article, in honor of the 2 Year Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. Please pray for and support Father in his ministry as he serves as Pastor for Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby.

Fr Michael Troha
Immaculate Conception Church
Willoughby OH

July 7, 2009

Over the past few years several parishioners had asked me about the possibility of having a Tridentine Mass at our parish of Immaculate Conception in Willoughby, Ohio. At that time my response was that we should support the efforts at Immaculate Conception church in Cleveland, where I was formerly the pastor, which has a Tridentine Mass three times a week. But with the promulgation of Summorum Pontificum I began the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy every first Friday evening. Having had very good attendance over the first year I decided to have the Tridentine Mass every Friday evening at 7:30 PM.

Our number of people attending is about 50 people each Friday. When I am away from the parish it has not been a problem to enlist the help of other priests in the diocese who are willing to help and enjoy the opportunity of celebrating the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy.

This past December the parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of the dedication of our “new” church. To commemorate the day I celebrated the extra-ordinary form of the liturgy at the regularly scheduled 8:00 AM Mass. The same crowd that attends the 8:00 AM Mass year round was there for the Mass. I did not receive any negative comments. I did receive a few very positive comments. I think that if the parishioners are supportive we could have a Tridentine Mass at one Sunday liturgy every week.

Today the Church observes the second anniversary of the publishing of Summorum Pontificum, the long-awaited motu proprio of Pope Benedict XVI replacing all former "indults" and freeing the Mass of All Times, the Traditional Latin Mass. No longer would a priest have to ask permission of his bishop to say the Mass as the Mass is to be readily offered and available to all of the Faithful.

In honor of this two year anniversary, I offer the following reflections on those individuals who have made such a celebration possible.

The Saintly Example of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre

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.

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre

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."

Archbishop Lefebvre only wished to teach that which he himself was taught in seminary. He wished to hand on the Catholic faith as taught and celebrated for the past centuries. And his resistance has directly led to the establishment of the Ecclesia Dei Commission and the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum. I highly encourage the reading of Apologia Pro Marcel by Michael Davies as well as Open Letter to Confused Catholics and The Mass of All Times.

Mortal Remains of Archbishop Lefebvre

"I will finish with my testament. I would like that it be an echo of the testament of Our Lord: a New and Eternal Testament...the heritage that Jesus Christ gave us, His Sacrifice, His Blood, His Cross. I will say the same for you: for the glory of the Holy Trinity, for love of the Church, for the salvation of the world: keep the Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Keep the Mass forever!" (Archbishop Lefebvre, 23rd September 1979)

"Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (John 16:20)

Related Posts:

The Saintly Example of Pope Benedict XVI

The response to Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio Summorum Pontificum shows his wisdom and foresight in freeing the Old Mass in Latin.

The document was issued 7 July, 2007. Since then, the list of Diocesan Masses offered in the United States in the Extraordinary Form has grown by over 100 new Sunday Masses every week. In 30 dioceses, the Mass is now offered where none were said before Summorum Pontificum

The Old Mass in Latin is said daily at 56 locations in 47 dioceses across the United States.

Source: Pamphlet from the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei (May 2009)

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.

Therefore, on this day, July 7, 2009, we remember 2 years of Summorum Pontificum, in large part due to the saintly wisdom of Pope Benedict XVI as he seeks to reform the Church in Her Sacred Liturgy.

The Saintly Example of the Average Priest and Bishop:

Under "Catholic Categories" in the sidebar is a permanent link to the post Tridentine Latin Mass, which features numerous links that I update as often as possible. In this post is a list of parishes, chapels, etc. which have begun to offer the Tridentine Latin Mass during these past two years. Please take a moment to look through this list and consider the impact of the motu proprio. We have parishes from around the country and the world. Remember, this is not a complete list, but only the list which I currently have collected.

And we must not only remember these priests but the many others who began offering the Mass of All Times despite persecution, rejection, and hostility. At this time I can think of Fr. Robert Altier (Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis) as well as Fr. Scott Archer (Diocese of Peoria). But these are just two of the many priests who encountered rejection from those around them because they sought to make available the Mass of All Times. Let us honor them at this time. Also worth remember, the Faithful in Niafles attached to the Traditional Mass were driven from their Church less than a week before the Motu Prorio was signed.

Of note among the bishops, Bishop Robert C. Morlino responded to the Holy Father’s motu proprio by designating Holy Redeemer Catholic Church as the site for the celebration of the Tridentine Mass for the Madison area. Bishop Morlino inaugurated the use of the Tridentine Mass at Holy Redeemer by celebrating a Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Throne there on the Third Sunday of Advent (December 16, 2007) [Source].

Consider visiting these parishes and/or writing to the pastors to express your support. I have written around half of these parishes, inviting them to share how the Traditional Latin Mass has benefited their parish. If anyone responds with an article, I will publish them on the website as they become available. And do remember to pray for these bishops and priests as well as all priests and bishops who celebrate the Mass of All Times. At this time I also request prayers for the priests and bishop of the Society of St. Pius X, so that they may no longer be slandered and detracted.

Church of the Sacred Heart, Cutchogue, NY
Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City, Mexico
Mount St. Francis Hermitage, New York
Our Lady of Lourdes, Massapequa Park, NY
St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton, VA
St. John the Apostle, Leesburg, VA
St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa, California
St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, McLean, Virgina
St. John the Evangelist, San Diego, California
St. Joseph Parish, Apple Creek, Missouri
St. Leo the Great, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
St. Maurus, Biehle, Missouri
St. Matthew, Dix Hills, NY
St. Mary, Alexandria, VA
St. Mary of Perpetual Help, Chicago, IL
St. Mary’s By the Sea, Huntington Beach, California
St. Rita, Alexandria, VA
St. Therese in Alhambra, CA
Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Wilmington, CA
Holy Rosary Parish, Sacramento, California
Our Lady of Lourdes, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Holy Angels, Aurora, IL
Sts. Peter and Paul, Naperville, IL
St. Bernard, Joliet, IL
Holy Rosary, Cedar, Michigan
St. Jospeh's Parish, Middletown, NY
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Carmel, IN
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Birmingham, Al
St. Mary of the Visitation, Huntsville, Al
St. Silvia, Tivoli, NY
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Grotto) Parish, Detroit, MI
Immaculate Conception Church 4129 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH
St Stephen Church 1920 W 54th St. Cleveland, OH
St Mary Church 750 S. Main Street Akron, OH
Immaculate Conception Church 37932 Euclid Ave. Willoughby, OH
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Lewiston, ME
St. Kevin's Church, Harrington Street, Dublin 8, Ireland
St. Ann's Parish, 125 Richardson Ave., Shohola, PA
Mater Dolorosa Church, South San Francisco, CA
St. Peter the Apostle, Merchantville, NJ
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Swedesburg, PA
Chapel of Windermere on the Mount, London, Ontario, Canada
Holy Family Catholic Church in Seattle, WA
Church of North American Martyrs at St. Alphonsus Church, Seattle, WA
Holy Redeemer Cathedral Parish, Madison, WI
St. Norbert Church, Roxbury, WI
Sacred Heart, Dunn, NC
Sts. Peter and Paul, Palmyra, VA
Benedictine Monastery, Norcia, Italy
St. Paul Parish, Philadelphia, PA

Looking Ahead:

Remember that it has only been two years since the promulgation of the motu proprio on July 7, 2007, which took effect on the Feast of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2007. It was on September 14 that countless numbers of Tridentine Masses were celebrated such as the following one.

Here is a list of some of the many places that offered the Tridentien Mass on September 14, 2007.

Assumption Grotto, Detroit, Michigan
Bishop Finn, Kansas City, Missouri
Brompton Oratory, London, England
Franziskanerkirche, Vienna
Holy Trinity German Church, Boston, Massachusetts

As you watch some of the scenes from this Mass in Honor of the Promolgation of the Motu Proprio at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, please enter into the spirit of joy event in the Liturgy and the music. Even though this Mass remembered the death of our Lord, it focused more particularly on the Cross as the Instrument of our Salvation.

Let us now move forward, seeking to help the restoration of all things in Christ (i.e. E Supremi, Encyclical of Pope St. Pius X). A Catholic Life Blog is willing to publish any and all photos of Traditional Liturgies and articles concerning them, in an effort to help this Restoration. For all such inquiries, please write me through the email address in my Blogger Profile.

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI Leads Vespers in the Restored Pauline Chapel

On July 4, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Solemn Vespers to commemorate the restoration of the Pauline Chapel, which contains the last frescoes that Renaissance artist Michelangelo painted, the Conversion of St. Paul and the Crucifixion of St. Peter. The five-year restoration project cost the equivalent of $4.5 million.

"Benedict XVI has put the previous altar back in its place, although still a short distance from the tabernacle, restoring the celebration of all "facing the Lord." He has had the ambo removed, and the communion rail put back in its place. The red carpet has disappeared from both the floor and the walls, which have been restored to their original appearance" (Pauline Chapel Reopened for Worship, Renovated by Sandro Magister)

Image Source (1 & 2): Getty Images
Image Source (3 & 4): Reuters

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Sunday, July 5, 2009

Orthodox Leaders Give Message of Unity in Istanbul

Image Source: Enthronement of Patriarch Krill in February 2009, via Wikipedia

Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill gave the message of solidarity and unity in their meeting in Istanbul on Saturday.

Patriarch Kirill arrived in Turkey on Saturday for a three-day visit and met with Barholomew. Kirill also attended a religious service before the meeting, the state-run Anatolian Agency reported.

They were expected to discuss the sensitive issue of the churches in Ukraine and Estonia during the visit of Krill who enthroned in February to lead the Russian Orthodox Church.

Priests kissed Kirill's hands and children gave him flowers when he arrived to the sound of bells ringing at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, where he blessed parishioners and prayed at icons, Reuters reported.

"I hope my visit will be the start of a renewal in our relationship," Kirill told reporters before his talks with Patriarch Bartholomew.

He said he agrees with the message of Bartholomew that the two institutions find themselves as members of a joint church.

Bartholomew, an ethnic Greek but a Turkish citizen, said Kirill's presence in Istanbul is a message of unity. "Your visit to the patriarchate and the mother church is a source of great joy and deep emotion. Your presence here carries the message of unity, togetherness and fraternity with the Holy Russian Church," Bartholomew was quoted as saying by the news agencies.

Relations between the Churches have been strained in the past because Churches in some former Soviet states, such as Estonia, have broken away from the Russian Orthodox Church and tried to pledge allegiance to Bartholomew instead.

A spokesman for Bartholomew said the Churches of Estonia and Ukraine were expected to be on the agenda during the talks, Reuters also reported.

Ukraine and Russia have long been in dispute over the ex-Soviet state's right to its own independent church. The global Orthodox Church does not recognize the Ukrainian Church.

Kirill will attend a joint mass with Bartholomew on Sunday and is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul when he then visits Ankara.

Kirill, leader of 160 million Russian Orthodox believers, is seen as an outspoken modernizer who may thaw ties with the Catholic Church. He was de facto "foreign minister" of the Moscow patriarchate for two decades before succeeding Alexiy II.

Source: Hurryiyet Daily News

Today we celebrate the life of St. Anthony Zaccaria. See my posting from last year for a brief biography of this saint and holy words written by this saint.

St. Anthony Zaccaria is the the founder of the Barnabite Fathers, the Angelic Sisters, and the Laity of St. Paul. In honor of his feastday, A Catholic Life has conducted an interview with Fr. Robert B. Kosek, CRSP. Through A Catholic Life's Partnership with Fr. Kosek's blog Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, three articles have be written in honor of this saintly man for his feastday. These reflections should force ourselves to ask, "What more can we be doing for our Lord?"

Prayer:

Make us, O Lord God, learn in the spirit of Paul the Apostle the knowledge of Jesus Christ which surpasseth all understanding, wherein blessed Anthony Mary was marvelously versed and formed in Thy Church new religious congregations of men and women. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Friday, July 3, 2009

Anniversary of the Coronoation of Hugh Capet, King of France

On July 3, 987 he was crowned as King of France and is regarded as the founder of the Capetian dynasty. His Royal Highness, King Hugh Capet died on October 24, 996 in Paris, France and was interred in the Saint Denis Basilica. The Capetians ruled France from 987 to 1328. All French kings up through King Louis Philippe have belonged to this dynasty.

Currently members of the Capetian dynasty are still states of the kingdom of Spain (in the person of the Bourbon Juan Carlos) and of the grand-duchy of Luxembourg. The Capetian Dynasty remains the oldest continuously reigning dynasty in the world.

Image Source: Hugh Capet of France by Steuben Charles de baron

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Madrid Strips Francisco Franco as Honorary Major and Adopted Son of the Capital

Spain under the Catholic Franco was much more of a Catholic state than it is today. Remember, July 3, 2005, the law legalizing same sex marriage took effect. Nowadays, Spain is far removed from its period of glory - in terms of the supremacy of Catholicism and the superiority of its Navy.

There is even a Cause for the Canonization for Queen Isabella I, husband and co-monarch with King Ferdinand, of Spain, who ruled in the 15th century. Isabella, the Catholic, pray for us.

MADRID - Madrid's city hall on Monday stripped former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco [a shame! Falling down to modern pressure it seems. Franco was a true Catholic] of his title as honorary mayor and adopted son of the capital, 33 years after his death began the transition to democracy.
Councillors of all political colours unanimously voted to remove the titles, as well as medals Madrid conferred on the right-wing general, a spokesman for the council said.
"The capital of Spain is now clean of support for dictators," left-wing Councillor Milagros Hernandez, was quoted as saying on the website of TV news channel CNN+.
The move is the latest in a effort spearheaded by the Socialist government to remove traces of Franco in street names, statues and other symbols glorifying the dictator who gained power after a three-year civil war which ended in 1939 and ruled until his death in 1975.
The removals started under a law passed in 2007 by the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose grandfather was killed by Franco's forces.
The push reverses an unspoken understanding after Franco's death that his supporters would relinquish power on condition that future democrats would not rake up the past.
Members of the conservative Popular Party have criticised the socialist law for, as they see it, needlessly dragging up the wounds of the past. However, the PP -- which rules the local authority in Madrid -- backed the proposal to strip Franco of the city's honours.
Source: Reuters - Tuesday, June 30. My comments in red