Have you subscribed to the Catholic newspaper? April 22, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, awesomeness, catachesis, fun, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Interior Life, Latin Mass, priests, religious, sanctity, Tradition, true leadership, Virtue.comments closed
One of my biggest occasional treats is when the great Catholic newspaper put out by the Transalpine Redemptorists shows up in my mail 4 times a year. I just got the Easter edition yesterday, and it is so edifying, so wonderfully traditional, so gloriously Catholic that it just makes my day whenever it comes.
Many readers may already be familiar with this “newspaper,” but those who are not may be asking why I think it’s so great, and whether it’s worth $10 per issue. The answer to the latter question is easy, it most certainly is, not only for the content, but also because this newspaper provides the prime source of income for this very devout, holy, traditional order. They are constrained in many of their plans and ability to grow (for they have many vocations) due to financial considerations.
It’s great for too many reasons to list. Each issue contains beautiful photographs of traditional Catholic piety from around the world, whether it be offering the TLM, a grand procession, a humble soul in prayer, or what have you. The photos are so uplifting and moving they alone are worth the price of subscription. But in addition to that, there is a good deal of news, often on subjects not often covered in the main media or even blogs, there is commentary, there are writings on Saints, and there are even some deep theological insights.
But more than anything it is just the profound sense of Tradition, in every sense of the word, that pervades each issue that makes it so special. Not just Tradition, but also a marked sense of piety and sanctity that pervades each issue. I always come away from reading both edified, and convicted of some deficit in my practice of virtue. Not in a way that makes me feel beat down, but uplifted.
I even like how the paper describes itself in a small box on the back page of every issue:
Catholic is a quarterly newspaper published under the patronage of Our Mother of Perpetual Succor by The Desert Will Flower Press, organ of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer…….
This newspaper claims, so to speak, to be but as the lighthouse of Papa Stronsay which lighthouse is officially described by the Scottish Commissioners of Norther Lighthouses as a “minor light”……Without pretensions this newspaper is simply as a minor lighthouse on a small island in the vast darkness of this world and its oceans.
The light from this island’s vantage signals abroad news of the traditional resurgence in the Church, a renaissance that is evident in the increase of the number of Masses celebrated according to the Roman Missal of 1962; the boost in number of vocations to the traditional forms of religious life and priesthood; the reappearance of large families indicative of the sacrifices made by married couples to live according to the Church’s Magisterium concerning openness to the transmission of life’; and the other manifestations of the recovery of traditional Catholic life in the Church, the longed-for New Pentecost burgeoning with blossoms of new life ungrafted, shooting skywards directly from the roots of the holy past.
Have I gone over the top in my selling it? Ah, well……..the zeal of the converted. Another little bit I like very much is this guidance also on the back cover of every issue:
Now, some scenes from the Vigil Mass on the holy island of Papa Stronsay, the Orkney home to the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer:
Here is the link to subscribe, again.
Did Christ Suffer, Die, and Resurrect in Vain? April 22, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, catachesis, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, Interior Life, Latin Mass, priests, Spiritual Warfare, Tradition, true leadership, Virtue.comments closed
Continuing with the accidental theme of the day, a good sermon below via Video Sancto. This one isn’t really about relations with other religions, but whether we, by the conduct of our faith, make Christ’s infinitely valuable Sacrifice vain for us in particular, because of our coldness of heart?
The priest gives many examples of how we might be making Christ’s Sacrifice in vain, in effect, by rejecting what the Church believes. Mortal sin, of course, cuts us off from supernatural Grace, kills Charity in our souls, and makes us unable to receive the saving fruit of that Sacrifice.
One small note: missing prayers, skipping meditation, foregoing religious reading – sometimes, these things happen because something upsets our day, because some unexpected event comes along. This is perfectly understandable. But if we get in the habit of skipping out on daily Mass, or prayers, or whatever, out of laziness or in preference for other more “fun” things to do, that’s an indicator we may be slipping in our interior life. It’s a warning sign.
But there is a corollary to the above: we should not make such an idol of our prayer time, or reading time, or meditation time, that we behave uncharitably to others, just to insure we have time for our prayers. If someone, perhaps, needs us to watch their child because they have a doctor’s appointment, or if they need help with some chore because their spouse just died, it could be a mistake to beg off just so we can have our prayer/meditation time. Or if we have children and family, we should not let this prayer life become so all-consuming that we neglect our duties to others. This is a trap I’ve seen some fall into, and will admit to having a bit of temptation towards that myself, so in all things, charity first.
Isn’t that priest’s voice wonderfully soothing? I actually listen to some of these sermons to fall asleep at night! I don’t mean that in a bad way. If I turn the volume down so the words aren’t real distinct I just sort of hear a very soothing murmur in the background. It just conks me out.
How can Judaism be “equivalent” to Christianity when Our Blessed Lord spake thus? April 22, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in abdication of duty, Basics, catachesis, Dallas Diocese, disconcerting, Ecumenism, error, foolishness, General Catholic, sadness, scandals, secularism, self-serving, the return.comments closed
A commenter in a previous post noted that a priest at a local parish, well known for being one of the more orthodox in the Diocese, stated in the Vigil Mass this Easter that Judaism is essentially equivalent to Christianity.
Such indifferentism is impossible to reconcile with numerous statements made by Our Blessed Lord Himself, who made plain that acceptance of Himself as Messiah was utterly foundational for salvation. Numerous passages from Scripture support this belief, which has been elementary to the understanding and practice of Christendom since the first Pentecost:
He came into His own, and His own received Him not (Jn I:11)
Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Jn III:5)
For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him. He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved. (Jn III:16-20)
Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him. Philip saith to him: Lord, shew us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, shew us the Father? Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works. (Jn XIV:6-10)
They said therefore to him: Where is thy Father? Jesus answered: Neither me do you know, nor my Father: if you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also. (Jn VIII:19)
Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me: Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. But if I say the truth, you believe me not. (Jn VIII:42-45)
Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it, and was glad. The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am. [This is one of the most dramatic passages in the entire Bible. I absolutely love this discourse, it is so brazen in its truthfulness and in its shredding of the conceits of the Judaizers of that time] They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. (Jn VIII:56-59)
They said therefore unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered, and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent. (Jn VI:28-29). [The Jews then demand of Jesus a sign, that they may believe in him. This was the very same group that the day before witnessed the miracle of loaves and fishes! And now they ask for another sign!]
And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day. (Jn VI:40)
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. (Jn VI:51-55) [This is a Dogma Jews found especially repellent, as they viewed Jesus as calling them to cannibalism. Jews of today still find this doctrine abhorrent. And yet, they are “equal?”]
———-End Quotes———–
I hope I’ve made my point. And this is just the Gospel of St. John. Basically, you have to throw out almost the entirety of this Gospel to pretend that Judaism and Christianity are somehow equivalent, or, that Jews have “their own path to salvation.” Maybe, if you are talking about the conversion of the Jews that will happen at the end of time, that may be true, but for Jews who have lived in history and for those who live today, many of which will die in their sins (Jn VIII: 21).
———–Begin more quotes————
Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as you also know: This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it.(Acts II:22-24)
Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified. Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren? But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call. (Acts II:36-39) [But most Jews rejected the call, and almost all do today]
You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; (Acts VII:51-57a)
But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Gal II:16)
————-End Quote———–
Again, I have really only barely scratched the surface, but this post has already gotten very long.
It is simply not possible to reconcile the rife indifferentism towards Judaism in the Church today with either Sacred Scripture or Tradition. I was going to post this week about the controversy, now 10 years old, regarding the great The Passion of the Christ movie. At that time, many Jews just absolutely castigated the movie for allegedly painting them in a bad light, or stirring up the boogeyman of “antisemitism.” With respect to the Jews, all the movie does is quote Scripture. They have no problem with Mel Gibson, they have a problem with Jesus Christ.
But all these Jewish groups appealed to Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on relations with the Jews, to buttress their arguments. That’s less an effective argument against Scripture than it is against Nostra Aetate. Interestingly, these Jewish groups claim that Nostra Aetate/Vatican II changed Church Doctrine. Thank God, that is impossible, but it does point to yet another major area where Vatican II has muddied the waters to a terrific degree, to where even Cardinals now debate what the Church “believes” on subjects that have been clear Dogmas for 2000 years. Nostra Aetate is one of the most problematic documents in Vatican II.
Anyway, this post is waaay too long, I may come back to this another day.
Some notes on proper decorum at Mass April 22, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, catachesis, Eucharist, foolishness, General Catholic, Latin Mass, Liturgy, priests, reading, sadness, scandals.comments closed
I found some good points on proper behavior at Mass in von Cochem’s Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. While I tend to imagine many of these points will be remedial for many of my readers, there are always new folks coming along and I do get a pretty good amount of random traffic, so I think this effort will not be wasted. This comes from pp. 349-351:
…..how much are they to be blamed who regard the church with no more respect and reverence then their own house [if that much! And certainly, far, far less than they might offer in a movie theater!] , never thinking apparently that it is the house of God, the dwelling place of the Son of the Most High. Some persons are so shameless as to stare about them, watch all who come in or go out, and even talk or laugh, [It is stunning when this occurs. At one local parish, at one time, I could not even hear the words of consecration, despite the PA system, because the people in the row in front of me were having an extended conversation about their lunch plans] while the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, before which the angels fall prostrate upon their faces, is being offered.
To these Christ might well address the words He spoke to those who bought and sold in the temple: “My house is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Lk XIX:46). Commenting on this passage, Cornelius a Lapide says, “The Christian Church is in very truth the house of God, for Christ dwells therein in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar. If He drove the Jews with scourges out of the temple, how much the more do Christians deserve a like treatment who profane His holy house with idle chatter, inquisitive glances, and rude starring at strangers.”
It is more wrong to speak in church than to let one’s eyes wander; besides, not only is it a greater offense against God, but it gives scandal and disturbs others at their prayers. In order to guard against this fault let us remember Our Lord’s words “I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment” (Mt XII:36). IF we shall have to give an account of every idle word that we speak, how severely will the just Judge punish the idle words spoken at Mass-time, whereby we have shown such want of respect for His service.
In order to show the full amount of reverence due to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass it is well to remain on one’s knees all the time…..from the consecration until after the Communion of the priest. For if St. Paul says: “That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth” (Phill II:10). how much more ought we to bow the knee when the Divine savior is present in person upon the altar, and the work of our redemption is renewed………
————–End Quote————
Again, the above is probably only a confirmation of well established practice for most of the regulars around here, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to hear reminders.
The main point is, behave as one should before the King of the Universe and the Savior of our souls! Don’t be flippant! And even after Mass, don’t immediately talk and laugh and carry-0n, have respect not only for the Sacrifice just concluded but also for souls who may remain praying. This is not much of a problem in traddy parishes, but in others, it is almost a universal problem. People behave with much less decorum than they would at a movie theater or a nice restaurant.
This made me laugh April 22, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, blogfoolery, error, foolishness, Four Last Things, General Catholic, silliness, Society.comments closed
Why does the left love totalitarian iconography so much? Do we really have to ask the question?
But I found the below hilarious. First of all, the left is trying to use the same cult of personality effect that got Zero elected on that foul old warhorse Hillary Clinton:
First of all, Clinton hasn’t looked like that in 20 years, if ever. That’s about as favorable a portrait as I’ve ever seen, and still………yikes.
But I loved this comment on the new totalitarian iconography for Hillary:
The Hillary poster in particular seems to come from some weird alternate universe in which Eva Peron was an admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
I don’t know why, but that made me laugh hysterically. Maybe because I’ve been such an officianado of the IJN going back many years. The Imperial Japanese Navy was hands down the most lethal, efficient navy in the world from 1937 to, say, June 1942. Then they were utterly crushed by the pupil they had so cruelly taught, who learned so very well, indeed.
This was their battle flag:
You get the resemblance.
I’m not sure he’d appreciate the association:
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