Alleluia!

Wishing you my dear readers, a merry and blessed happy Christmas!!!

When life hands you Mayans

make Mayannaise.

I'm sure you're not worried about the end of the world, I'm not, but I have to post my advent wreath I never did.

My cousin was in an car accident today. The automobile flipped a full 360, she got out with only a minor concussion. Please pray for her.

Christmas isn't as happy a time for some people, please, please pray for the families and men who are suffering through the joys of Christmas, sometimes we need to be put in the spot of a suffering human to understand but haven't we all suffered? Mustn't me take up our Cross?

I ought to think about what I can do for the rest of the people around me. I know several people who are especially suffering this Christmas, but lack the understanding to offer those sufferings up to Christ. I don't say that pridefully, but in the sense that no one has considered to tell them about the most holy Passion of Our Lord, Please send a prayer up for them, and for myself to shown them but with that in mind: only the Holy Spirit can change our hearts. I am thinking about the dreadful shooting in Connecticut in particular, but also for the children in schools who are pushed to the side as worthless and inhuman. At this Advent, wouldn't it be of any consolation to know that one child in the 10th form, formerly a party animal has been lead to the Love Divine, all loves Excelling? (To quote a good hymn). But because of this, has been marginalised as unfair and a cook. I remember a priest saying that Christ never promised we wouldn't be persecuted. After all, He was. And this is why we have our Cross to bear. Some have wounds larger than others, but wounds are wounds and blood is blood. We are only human. Think of our God who suffered, bore the pain of pains for us! The love of loves, the strongest of all loves. The Divine love. That same Christchild whose birth we celebrate in less than 5 days. The Son of the Father. May you never forget the Mother of God's love for her children, a love not hidden but rather a love most evident: the Miraculous Medal, the Scapular, the Rosary and most of all: her dear son, Our Lord! To whom, on our behalf, she intercedes daily and always. The saints suffered, we are all called to be saints, and when we suffer, we can call upon to saints to aid us.

Now, pray and go to the Tabernacle to visit Our Lord. I have saved the "Happy Holidays" rant, because I just don't have the energy.

The Second Sunday

The Second Sunday of Advent.

I'm so off schedule.

Advent is a penitential season, indeed, so pray and GO TO CONFESSION!

A late start!

Forgive me, computers are hard to come by these days!

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

Please enjoy this whilst I figyur out how to add background music!

A blog you should enjoy

http://emilyannscorner.wordpress.com/

I really enjoy her blog. Please stop by and say Hi! Have you got any blogs that I may enjoy? Let me know!

Some overlooked, old, good news...

I was browsing today and came upon a letter written to Christians from the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.

As Christians around the world celebrate Assumption Day, I am delighted to extend my heartfelt greetings to all Canadians observing this blessed occasion.
The feast day of the Assumption of Mary is a joyous occasion for Christian communities across the country. Marking the ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, it is a time to celebrate the fulfillment of the promise made by Jesus to all his faithful servants and the redeeming power of faith.
Canada is blessed with a diverse and devout Christian community, which forms an integral part of our country’s rich heritage. As you observe this special feast day, you are honouring values and traditions that strengthen our social fabric.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, please accept my warmest wishes for a joyous celebration.
God bless, (his signature)

This was a very kind gesture, and although he has questionable actions, we should we happy that a man who is the member of the "Christian and Missionary Alliance",  denomination which is so unsure of it's own polity*, recognises the glory and importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Here is the PDF of the actual letter. The letter which the above quote is taken directly from. This was a kind act, and I hope the other Prime Ministers within the Commonwealth see this as an example.

---

Another letter was published by Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism who is Catholic himself*^.....

Today is Assumption Day, an important celebration for Christians in Canada and around the world. Also known as the feast day of the Assumption of Mary, it is believed that on this day the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, ascended into Heaven.
The Catholic Church teaches ‘that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.’ On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined as dogma the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
Assumption Day is considered to be a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation. Several other denominations of Christian churches also commemorate this day. In Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, this belief is also known as the Dormition of the Theotokos, which means the sleeping of the ‘God-bearer.’ The Anglican Church of Canada refers to it as the Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lutherans refer to this day as ‘the feast of Mary, mother of our Lord.’
This day provides Canadians with an excellent opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions of Canada’s diverse Christian community to our nation’s heritage.
As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I extend my best wishes for a blessed feast day to everyone celebrating today.

Another kind gesture. I just want to remind you that this in no way signals my support for these politicians, but I just admire the thoughtfulness and their recognition of the feast. I know this is old news, but it's exciting news. There are more exciting things that I could post about, but I just happened to stumble on this now.
Here is the link to the letter on the Government of Canada website.

 We have to remember that the true faith is STRUGGLING in Canada. Canada, following Europe is becoming an increasingly secularised country. We have to pray that the many evils currently allowed by law in Canada, are halted. The two most pressing being the legal murder of children (Canada has no legislation on abortion at all), and same-sex "marriage".

FOOTNOTES
* - the Christian and Missionary Alliance is a presby-congre-piscopal type group. A mish mash of the presbyterian, and congregational and episcopal governances.
*^ - there was a little bit of controversy of Jason Kenney and a letter to LGBT groups. This is questionable, but I don't know enough about it to verify anything. If someone could get me "in the know", please comment. I do know that, however, Jason Kenney was present at the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland.

Pray for Canada

Regnat!

+ CHRISTUS VINCIT + CHRISTUS REGNAT + CHRISTUS IMPERAT +

There is only one king, that is Christ our King: our Sovereign Lord.

The mystical body of Christ celebrates His Kingship today, that eternally he shall rule over all that exists. Every creature and thing bows down before Him. 

Christ, Have Mercy upon US!

READ QUAS PRIMAS

It was written then, applied to then, and is still relevant now. 

It is not us who are kings, no, there is only one King. We are not all that exists, no, we were created by God.

Queen of Heaven and Earth: Ora Pro Nobis!

Ghosts that we had known.

Clap your hands and fall on bended knee. Carla is in the house, and she's dancin' up a storm. But why? Surely Christ our Sovereign King would understand this special allowance during the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Wrong.

I'll be completely honest. I have never been to a Mass and then seen liturgical dancing. Never. It is only shortly before I started the blog that I found out people were actually getting away with such utter nonsense. I have never been to a Mass where the priest has called out for women bishops and priests, who have attempted to verbally tear the Pope from his rightful seat. I only found out when I started reading different Catholic blogs, and another moment of honesty: I had never heard of the "National Catholic Reporter" (the American newspaper/fishwrap [as Fr John Zuhlsdorf says] which pretends it's Catholic). Because I am not American, it seems that I missed out on a lot of the liberal temper tantrums that happened in the Church.

Of course we had our own. The only two convents in my vicinity are losing vocations, and I blame it whole-heartedly on their venturing into the world of reiki and tai chi'i instruction, two places on the map that NO Catholic sister should even skip close to.

Also,  EMHC's being used when they shouldn't in any way be. Also, I've seen the yammering on of a sentimental guitar tune about how we should "gather before the table and eat the wheaten bread", utter heresy expressed in a crappy hymn. And, banal noise throughout the Mass in general.

To paraphrase Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, if men knew what truly happened during the Holy Mass then we'd be moved to tears and utter amazement. But it is due to the purposeful lack of understanding of liturgical direction and instruction that people have the urge to introduce ridiculous waste into the most perfect prayer.
There is LATIN for a reason, and there is BEAUTY for a reason.

Those ghosts are what we knew, and who still remain. But, as the time changes so does the tide. Now, I am seeing something different.

The Jesuit parish is where the ONLY Tridentine Mass (EF, TLM, Latin Mass, what have you) is offered. Sometimes an FSSP priest is invited, whenever they're near. Of course attendance is high, they're mainly university students and most of them are under the age of 30, 25 even. And then, in contrast, there is a large amount (almost equal in size) of 60-80 year olds who go regularly.

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. A glorious, and most beautiful feast. I hope to have a post in tomorrow and Sunday, so bear with me. Please pray for me. Mystical Rose, pray for us!

I'm still here.

I honestly can't believe I have neglected making even the smallest of posts for just about 21 or so days. Life has been busy, Our Lord had plans for me. I never got to wish you all a Happy All Souls day, nor an All Saints.

I missed posting about the canonisation of St Kateri Tekakwitha, or of any the new saints. The current situation with the SSPX, our Holy Father, and the recent happenings.

I hope you understand that life takes hold, in particular my end of the stick has been shaking the past month. I went to a performance of Faure's Requiem which I cannot wait to tell you all about.

So please, stay tuned.

Where have I been!

Or rather, where did time go? I have a post for you later

Vatican II and the Year of Faith

Let's start this off pleasantly.

We now turn to the one who convoked the Second Vatican Council and inaugurated it: Blessed John XXIII. In his opening speech, he presented the principal purpose of the Council in this way: “What above all concerns the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine be safeguarded and taught more effectively […] Therefore, the principal purpose of this Council is not the discussion of this or that doctrinal theme… a Council is not required for that… [but] this certain and immutable doctrine, which is to be faithfully respected, needs to be explored and presented in a way which responds to the needs of our time” (AAS 54 [1962], 790,791-792).

These were the words which our Holy Father had in his homily today, in the Mass celebrating the 50th Anniversary of VII and today to open the Year of Faith. These words directly defy the average progressive's ignorance of the documents of the Council. We must remember, that most liberals who say they do things "In keeping with the spirit of the Council, the spirit of Vatican II" hardly know WHAT the council was about or what the documents really dictated.

Today, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops also published a pastoral letter on Vatican II. Now, particular bishops of the CCCB are known on getting the Second Vatican Council wrong. I have not read the document, but if anyone has please send me an email regarding it's contents.

Rest assured: the Pope knows what Vatican II was, he was there. It's a council....out of many other councils such as the first Vatican Council, Trent, as well as the Lateran councils. Of course there are more.

He knows how the documents were read in a spirit of disobedience, and that they were intentionally used as an excuse for dissent. Even 50 years later the problems still linger and we must pray they disappear. What Blessed Pope John XXIII meant by a "breath of fresh air" was ignored.

NOT THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR

courtesy of eponymousflower.blogspot.com

THIS IS MORE LIKE IT

For this year of Faith, please pray for Holy Mother Church, our Holy Father, and for the spread of the EF Mass, the Mass of the saints and our Patrimony as Catholics.

A profession of Hate

This morning, I had the horrible pleasure of stumbling upon this article from the Toronto Star. I have skipped a few of the beginning paragraphs, because i want to get down to the brass tacks of this.

The major crisis in the church right now is we’re not talking to one another,” says theologian Margaret Lavin of Toronto’s Regis College. “We’re screaming and shouting at each other and naming and blaming one another.”

This summer, Oxford professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, a leading historian[therefore as an historian he must have some infallible authority over the matters in Christendom] of Christianity, described the church on the verge of schism “over the Vatican’s failure to listen to European Catholics” about Vatican II. Few repeat that warning, and rebels insist they want to work within the church.[Here we go. The Vatican has failed to listen to European Catholics? This doesn't have to do with VII. The Vatican is a city-state, therefore it can not listen nor see. However, the Vicar of Christ lives in the Vatican. When people say "the Vatican" it's just a cover-up because he's afraid to say the Pope. The Pope does not have to listen to European Catholics, Catholics have to listen to him. There are certain cases where we must follow our conscience, but only when it's well-formed. And how many people have well-formed consciences?]
“I’m insulted when people call me a dissident,” says Rev. Brendan Hoban, a founder of the Irish reform group, the Association of Catholic Priests. “I’ve been at the heart of the church for 40 years.”
Still, many warn of a Roman Catholic Church reduced to a sect, or worse.[He's been at the heart of dissent for 40 years. The Association of Catholic Priests is not a reform group, it's just a dissident group]
“The church has to listen to its people,” Hoban says. “The stakes are huge. This is about the implosion of a church. This is about something disappearing.”[Again with the listening to the People stuff; like I said the Church is not a democracy. It's the Mystical Body of Christ! We are not Park Street First Foursquare Congregationalist.]
In many ways, the church is being torn by a classic power struggle. [/s/ what an epiphany /s/] Reformers say Vatican II calls for a more decentralized and democratic church; the Vatican has instead centralized control while cracking down on doctrinal opposition for the past 30 years.[If John Doe went around and broke into 500 houses, wouldn't the government go and crack down on his crime? If this was the case would it be a controversy? So many "Catholics" have misrepresented the Church, and have lied about the teachings of the Church. Instead of teaching Cathechism in school, they've taught their own made-up doctrines and have encouraged opposition to God.]
A church in tune with modernity was a central theme of Vatican II, and reformers believe a more grassroots institution is the way to achieve that. In the process, doctrines preventing women from being ordained, priests from being married, contraceptives from being used and divorced Catholics from receiving communion must at least be reviewed, if not changed.[This is a classic case of  journalists lacking understanding proper theology and canon law. This is also a classic excuse]
The backdrop to the battle is a Roman Catholic Church in crisis in Europe and North America. Vocations to the priesthood are drying up and sex abuse scandals reveal a hierarchy often more interested in protecting the institution than protecting children.[drying up like water in a warm fridge. But there were bishops who covered up the abuse scandals, although I guarantee you ihttp://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1267473--vatican-ii-roman-catholic-church-still-deeply-divided-50-years-after-historic-reforms

t was not our of love and protection of the Church.]

(skipped over some things about Cardinal Montini, We are Church, the Preachers Initiative...)

Then we focus on a man named McCann who before this mentioned the abuse crisis. 

The final straw for McCann came when the Vatican introduced a new translation of the mass late last year without consultations. Some priests have described the new wording as sexist and awkward, and are refusing to use it. [Sexist and awkward. Does he know what the Mass is? It's not about us]

Pope Benedict XVI, whose pontificate has been marked by missteps, scandal and jostling to succeed him, has responded with a characteristic No. He has silenced dissident priests, and in his Holy Thursday homily this spring, told rebels to practice a “radicalism of obedience.”[Missteps? Scandal and jostling to succeed him? When?]

There is so much BS in this article. So much, so so so much. It is merely a journal of one journalist's desire to blame every problem on the Church. Please readers, pray for her.

The point of my post is this: the secular media has no right to comment on the matters of the Church, as the secular media is full of lies and contempt anyhow. The only thing that will get good press is if Lady Gaga comes out and defends her openly homosexual boyfriend's seventy-four lovers.

And we are the bigots? The article is quite long but if you have the extra hour or so, feel free to read it.

Two new Doctors of the Church

St John of the Cross

St Hildegard von Bingen

Today, there were two great saints: St John of Avila, and St Hildegard von Bingen, proclaimed as Doctors of the Church! Please pray for us!

Happy feast day!

Something about Debussey

There's something about the music of Debussey which just makes on want to melt. This is what true piano music is.

I can remember trying to learn his Clair de Lune. It was hard, but when I eventually got it's flow, I was mesmerised.

A most excellent website

Protect the Pope

Take special notice to their "Log of Anti-Catholicism" and the various prayers there, also, it is just a great resource for protecting our Holy Father against the enemies of the Church

How can I title this?

So you know what bugs me to no end? Quite possibly the fact that I haven't written a "proper" post in dogs ages. How many times did I tell you, my dear readers, that I'd be soon posting again regularly? Well the liar that I am has been on a one-day pilgrimage, Benediction, regular-ish confession, and fulfilling my various obligations the most important being the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Until a while ago, there was length of time, a period of time where I did not go to confession. There was no one else to blame but myself, of course, the Devil did have his part to play in this. I was afraid...as if my confessor would tell everyone my sins, and that he'd think badly about me whenever he saw me.

Of course these were foolish, and the instant I stepped into the confessional and knew that Christ died for my sins and was now ready to forgive me, as he did so many times before. I was contrite and truly sorry....not out of fear of Hell, but for love of God and knowing that I had offended Him and fallen out of friendship with Him.  With the glorious help of Our Lady, the Mother of God and our Mother, I was and am now rid of those fears.

But, my soul was blackened out with the miserable soot of mortal sin. I was spiritually barren. Of course I said my prayers, a lot of prayers, and my Rosary dutifully....but again I was foolish. My soul was still not in a state of grace. It was a dark period spiritually, and I'm glad to be out of it once again.

God has unending and endless mercy. However, that does not in any way give us permission to go out and sin on purpose "because I can go to Confession later...". That only proves we don't have a full love of God, with our very heart and soul. It only shows that we are ignorant of Our Lady's most Immaculate Heart, and her glorious and loving motherhood towards us.

God is not far from us, all we need to say is "Father" and His very ear is at our lips.

When we choose to disobey the Church, the only true Church, and instead choose to abide at our own will...we choose our own self desire instead of the commandments given to us from Our Lord.

Our Blessed Lord is truly knocking at our door. Why am I so foolish as to not open it?

He left us the Church, and His Vicar to guide us on Earth.

God's mercy and forgiveness is endless and can not be described in words. Our Lord said to St Faustyna...

Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy.

And then? Our Lord gives us His own Mother, Mary Immaculate. She is our mother, whenever we're in doubt or pain, whenever we are joyous and whenever we are ecstatic we go to Our Blessed Mother.

St Ambrose tells us

Let, then, the life of Mary be as it were virginity itself, set forth in a likeness, from which, as from a mirror, the appearance of chastity and the form of virtue is reflected. From this you may take your pattern of life, showing, as an example, the clear rules of virtue: what you have to correct, to effect, and to hold fast. The first thing which kindles ardour in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater than the Mother of God?

 What is the purpose of what I have written? That there is only one truth, one God, and his mercy is endless. That he has not abandoned us nor shall He ever. He is just and merciful. Rewarding the good and punishing the bad, he is our Father. We are his creation and should avoid every instance that offends Him. We can obtain everything through Our Lady, the Mother of God who wept with the sigh of Her son crucified, and who intercedes for us before His throne. We have the Saints to endlessly pray for us, who we can go to in our time. And we, must strive to be saints. 

Also, the purpose is to remind myself that I am a sinner, I am imperfect, and we all are.

SSPX of the Strict Observance

On September 21, 2012, the announcement came forth like the trumpet of the Apocalypse: a new Society of St. Pius X of the Strict Observance was founded on August 10, 2012, by the Vienna (Virginia) Declaration. The founding members are five leading priests of the SSPX. 25 more SSPX “resistance priests” have been identified so far and are expected to form the core of the SSPX-SO.
Described in the words of the Declaration as a “united core of priests faithful to the position always maintained by Archbishop Lefebvre,” Frs. Joseph Pfeiffer, Ronald Ringrose, Richard Voigt, David Hewko, and Francois Chazal, coming from various areas around the world, signed the founding documents. Joining the priests in the SSPX-Strict Observance are a number of SSPX religious and laity, to name just a few: Mother Ann-Marie Simoulin, Dom Thomas Aquinas (Benedictines of Brazil), and Dr. David White, who has previously given classes at the SSPX seminary in Winona, Minnesota.
The five founding fathers have elected Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer as their leader for a term of two years (compared to Fellay’s dictatorial 24 years). The fathers have refused to give up the name “Society of St. Pius X” because “we did not change the message; the official line of the [Neo-]SSPX has changed.” Although the founding fathers note that Fellay has not yet signed any “sellout deal” with Newrome, they publicly “withdraw the exercise of obedience to him for motives of Faith until this crisis is over,” in order for the priests to maintain obedience to God in their sworn Anti-Modernist Oath. Ironically, this was the same Anti-Modernist Oath to God that Fellay himself swore when he entered Major Orders with Archbishop Lefebvre.

More here
This doesn't surprise me. Along with praying for the SSPX to fully, we must pray for this splinter as well....but why SSPX-SO?

I think SSPX continuing sounds better.

Lay people to preside funerals

The Archdiocese of Liverpool has become the first diocese in England and Wales to commission lay people to preside at funerals.
Archbishop Patrick Kelly formally commissioned 22 lay ministers to celebrate funeral ceremonies in an effort to relieve pressure on priests who sometimes must celebrate seven or more funeral Masses a week.
The move was announced through a brochure, “Planning a Catholic Funeral”, published recently by the archdiocese. The brochure described a funeral as the “community’s main celebration and prayer for the deceased”.
“This could be a funeral Mass but … it may be a funeral service led by a lay funeral minister or a deacon,” it said.
Vocations in Liverpool declined sharply in recent years, and the archdiocese projected that the number of priests will decline from 170 to 100 by 2015.
Lay ministers already preside at funerals in some parts of the world where no priest or deacon is available. The decision by Archbishop Kelly represents the first time such a step was authorised by the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. What is going on in the mind of the Bishop at all?

More here 
And here..
OH! And here as well...

"Nothing worse than gay dads"

“She thinks children need a father and a mother and I agree with her,” he said. “I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads.

“Some people might not agree with that. Fine! That’s just my opinion.
“I’m not speaking on behalf of the gay community. In fact, I don’t feel like I’m part of any ‘community’.
“The only community I belong to is humanity and we’ve got too many children on the planet, so it’s good not to have more.”
Campaigners claimed his remarks were reminiscent of those who oppose same-sex marriages.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the campaign group Stonewall, said: "Rupert should get out a little bit more to see the facts for himself.
“There is absolutely no evidence that the kids of gay parents suffer in the way they are being brought up or in how they develop."
Everett also told how his family’s military background, which included his father serving as an Army Major, meant “some things were simply not talked about”.
His comments were part of a feature in which his mother was interviewed as well.

Here is the full story

This is good in a sense, because it's an openly homosexual man defending the family. It's sinful and horrible that someone should embrace a homosexual lifestyle, but, to hear this supports the cause AGAINST so-called same-sex couples adopting children. The word "gay" has been misused in this article, but still we have to pray that the true family will be defended and upheld as a model for society.

The feast of the Holy Name of Mary is today. Pray.

Pray for Vocations

A much-loved voice retires

Irondale, Ala., Sep 4, 2012 / (CNA).- Franciscan friar Father Benedict Groeschel has stepped down as host of EWTN’s Sunday Night Prime television show following his apology for making comments about the sexual abuse of minors.
“Father Benedict has led a life of tremendous compassion and service to others and his spiritual insights have been a great gift to the EWTN family for many years. We are profoundly grateful to him and assure him of our prayers,” Michael P. Warsaw, president and CEO of EWTN Global Catholic Network, said Sept. 3.
“At the same time, we ask our EWTN family to pray for all those who have been affected by this painful situation and in particular those who have been victims of sexual abuse.”
Fr. Groeschel decided to step down from the program after consulting with EWTN and with his religious community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Warsaw said.

Full story.

Pray for Fr Groeschel, there are not many who don't enjoy his programme and his glorious compassionate efforts to help the poor. He's a living lesson, and a living object of the true Franciscan charism.

A special Mass

Lately we've seen a trend of religious Orders saying Mass according to their particular rite, most specifically the Carmelites and the Dominicans. If you live in the USA, unlike me, and have the blessing to attend the upcoming Dominican Rite Mass, you are truly blessed and please remember the Holy Father's intentions and take the Blessed Eucharist for him.

Pray for Us

St Anthony Zaccaria, Ora Pro Nobis!

How to win souls...

The solemn Masonic procession - photo from Rorate Caeli

How can we bring precious souls to God when these catastrophe's are taking place?

This Mass was held place for the "National Masonic Day" in Brazil. This is ridiculous, and gravely sinful to condone the teachings of masonry AND the act of these men, presumably Catholic (although latae sentantiae excommunicated). The men were also given the Holy Eucharist.

Here's the full article.

Butterflies have nothing to do with the Mass

Sacred Heart Church now purchased by the ICRSS

Sacred Heart Church purchased by the Institute of Christ the King in Limerick, Ireland

With the help of numerous friends from Ireland, the United States and Continental Europe, the Church of the Sacred Heart at the Crescent in Limerick, also known as the Jesuit Church after its first builders and long-term occupants, was recently purchased by a young priestly community called the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The church and adjacent building, sold to a developer some years ago, had stood vacant for six years and was in danger of falling into ruin. Therefore many people from Limerick and other parts of Ireland were happy to help this Institute bring the Church of the Sacred Heart and its residence back to life.

A young community of members of the Institute of Christ the King will very soon move into the attached residence in spite of its rather poor condition, and the church will serve for the time being as its chapel. With the permission of the Bishop of Limerick, the Institute of Christ the King has had a residence in the diocese since 2009 and offers Mass every Sunday in the Extraordinary Form at St. Patrick's Church, whilst also working in a few neighbouring dioceses.

Founded in 1990, the Institute is a Roman-Catholic Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right in canonical form. The 64 priests of the Institute work all over the world to promote the spiritual Kingship of Christ. A special emphasis is laid on the harmony between faith and culture, and thus the young community has acquired a reputation for promoting the arts, especially sacred music and architecture. This experience will serve to restore the Church of the Sacred Heart to its classical beauty and make it available once more as a point of reference for the cultural life of Limerick.

This is wonderful news! I hope I'll have the privilege to attend Mass there soon. 
Full story at the blog of St Conleth's

Happy Birthday, Cardinal!

Please say a prayer

for

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster

On this is 80th Birthday

  

Society of St Leo XII seeks reconciliation

Bishop David Bell, 41, is head of the Society of Pope Leo XIII, which upholds the pre-Vatican II teachings of the Church, particularly the older form of the Tridentine Mass. The society claims to have 73 bishops and 500 priests, and to be responsible for congregations totalling 8.5 million people.

In the eyes of the Church Bishop Bell’s ordination as a bishop is valid but illicit; he was ordained by bishops with the Apostolic Succession and has passed this on to other bishops he has ordained, but all of this is without the sanction of the Catholic Church.

A report in the Italian newspaper La Stampa last week said that Bishop Bell, who calls himself Archbishop of London, had prepared a “curse” against Bishop Mario Meini of the Diocese of Fiesole, Italy, but he said that this was incorrect.

“I issued a decree of anathema because he said I wasn’t a bishop. Only the Holy See can make such a declaration,” he said.

Bishop Bell met Pope Benedict XVI at a Wednesday audience in June 2011 and kissed his hand. “How did I meet the Holy Father? I asked,” he said, stressing that he applied to meet him as head of the Society of Pope Leo XIII.

He said that he accepts the infallibility of the Pope. “We don’t speak out against the Holy See,” he said, emphasising that doctrinally they are close to the Church. “As far as we are concerned there’s very little difference at all,” he said. The one important point is the Tridentine Mass, which Pope Benedict has brought to greater prominence in the Church.

Read more at the Catholic Herald

I've heard of this society before, and I'm happy they're considering coming home. The Bishop seems enthusiastic and committed to reconciliation, but we'll see.

What I want to know is how they managed to get so many bishops so fast?

Kelowna to fly pro-life flag

Kelowna could become the first major city in B.C. to wear its opinions on its flag. Their city hall is considering flying a pro-life flag during the last week of September, which the city calls “Protect Human Life Week.”
Kelowna has been honouring this event for the past five years.
The flag design is red white and blue with red stripes and red writing that reads “pro-life,” along with silhouettes of a toddler, an adult, and elderly person. City hall rejected the original design of the flag which read: “From conception to natural death.”
Right now, another flag is flying over city hall in Kelowna: A rainbow one. It’s only the second year ever that the city has raised it to acknowledge gay pride festivities.
Similar pro-life flags have been raised in places like Guelph and Whitby, Ontario.

This is just wonderful!

It's unfortunate about the pride flag though, and in a sense, it's kind of contradictory to fly one and then the other, but at least they're going it!

More at www.macleans.ca

This glorious feast!

 

The day when Our Blessed Mother was assumed into heaven to be with Her Son and Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We resound "Hail Holy Queen!" and we salute the holy Theotokos: the Mother of God! Her prayer is so powerful, we constantly rely on her intercession!

Remember 'tis a day of obligation, though unfortunately people don't want to be burdoned with going to Mass TWICE in a week, Heaven forbid.

As a result, it's been moved to the following Sunday in most places.

Please, attend Mass today.

How can you not listen to that beautiful, beautiful motet without dropping to tears is beyond me.

Transalpine Redemptorists receive anonical recognition

Well, dearest readers. Today on this glorious feast of the Assumption, something so exciting has happened by the Grace of God!

The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Transalpine Redemptorists, have finally received canonical recognition!

"I, Hugh Gilbert, O.S.B, by the grace of God Bishop of Aberdeen, decree that the community known as the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, be erected as a Religious Institute of Diocesan right in accordance with c 579 of the Code of Canon Law 1983.  The Institute will be subject to all other applicable norms of the said code and governed by the statutes of the said community previously approved by the Holy See.

Given this day 15th August in the year of Our Lord 2012"

Pray for them and the institute!

Leibster Blog Awards

The great Pearl of Tyburn over at "Longbows and Rosary Beads", that great blog, has nominated me for the Leibster Blog Awards.

As a result of her gracious charity in doing so, and I remain unable express my gratefulness in words, it is my obligation to answer a short list of questions.

1. What was your favorite childhood toy?
My favourite childhood toy was a toy dog my grandmother gave me that I named "Benny". That dog went everywhere with me for a solid five years, and I'd cry when I lost the poor thing, and no doubt he cried too.

2. What is your favorite domesticated animal?
Beagles are my favourite, though I suppose you could say dogs as a whole but in particular I like beagles. They're affectionate, immensely loyal, and good hunters. The next in line would be a German Shepherds and Irish Setters.

3. Who is your favorite fictional/legendary character, and why?
Conaran from the fairy tale "The Enchanted Cave of Cesh Corran" but noone knows that, so Oliver Twist...because he's sly and the story is just heart breaking.

4. Who is your favorite historical character, and why?
Definitely it would have to be Katherine, the one and only TRUE wife of Henry VII. I like her because of her steadfast faith through the difficult times she was put through, along with her loyalty to her husband....but not before her loyalty to God.

5. Who is your favorite saint/Bibilical character, and why?
I can't choose a favourite saint, I have too many. The Blessed Virgin of course, but then there's St Patrick, St John, etc...but my favourite Biblical character is Jonah. Jonah, because that's the first story I remember being read as a child and I always thought that a whale swallowing a man was so "awesome", that if I ever got in trouble, I'd want that to be my punishment.

6. What is your favorite type of music/musical group?
Everyone knows that, it's Libera and the Westminster Cathedral Choir, along with the King's College Choir and the New College Choir, as well the Palestrina Choir. Along with those, the Dubliners, Ryan's Fancy, and the Corries' depending on the song.

7. What is your favorite quote?
My favourite quote is "Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason" by St Thomas Aquinas

 8. What are your favorite meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert)?
Breakfast: Porridge, with just water and brown sugar
Dinner: Usually biscuits, or some cake, or an apple or some fruit ALWAYS with tea. Nothing heavy.
Supper: I love, love, love, love, love fish and chips.
Dessert: Chocolate and peanut butter, or peanut butter and chocolate. In any shape or form.

9. What is your favorite flower/plant?
My favourite flower is the Forget me Not.

10. When was a time you felt particularly inspired by something?
YES! When I saw people were gibing out prayer cards when I was younger, I tried to make my own. But I'm not a talented artist so I gave up and was contented to settle with the beautiful artwork of others.

11. What are some of the causes you feel are worth fighting for?
The fight against death, to fight for life. Our fight against the Devil, so that truth will prevail in the world and that all will be led to Our Lord.
Banning ballpoint pens EVERYWHERE, and making the SIGHT of those things illegal. Everyone will use fountain pens or crayons. One or the other, that's it, just short of world domination. Except for artists, they can use what they please.

I read it over and I noticed that I'm....very fickle. I can never choose just ONE answer. Isn't that strange? Is that a sign of something? Should I see a doctor? Maybe I should see a doctor.

Pray for Us!

 

St Maximilian Kolbe, Ora Pro Nobis

DEAREST READERS

Please pray for my cousin, he is coming along, but he needs prayers. 

The Glory of St John Marie Vianney

 O thou most holy virgin Mary, who dost evermore stand before the most holy Trinity, and to whom it is granted at all times to pray for us to thy most beloved Son; pray for me in all my necessities; help me, combat for me, and obtain for me the pardon of all my sins. Help me especially at my last hour; and when I can no longer give any sign of the use of reason, then do thou encourage me, make the sign of the cross for me, and fight for me against the enemy. Make in my name a profession of faith; favour me with a testimony of my salvation, and never let me despair of the mercy of God. Help me to overthrow the wicked enemy. When I can no longer say:

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I place my soul in your hands," do thou say it for me; when I can no longer hear human words of consolation, do thou comfort me. Leave me not before I have been judged; and if I have to expiate my sins in purgatory, Oh! pray for me earnestly; and admonish my friends to procure for me a speedy enjoyment of the blessed sight of God. Lessen my sufferings, deliver me speedily, and lead my soul into heaven with thee: that, united with all the elect, I may there bless and praise my God and thee for all eternity. Amen.

I don't think that anyone can comprehend the cross that any Priest has to bear: except for a Priest himself. Does it not take a true man to be a priest? It's a physical and spiritual battle. The Devil tries to conquer in the days we live in, and our Priests, our good priests, are at the forefront of the battle. They must glorify God, and they are the children of Our Lady, and the saints are their help.

Today is the feast of St John Marie Vianney...now, if anyone knew what it was to be a priest, 'tis he.

Keep them; I pray Thee, dearest Lord.

Keep them, for they are Thine

The priests whose lives burn out before

Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them, for they are in the world,

Though from the world apart.

When earthly pleasures tempt, allure --

Shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them and comfort them in hours

Of loneliness and pain,

When all their life of sacrifice

For souls seems but in vain.

Keep them and  remember, Lord,

they have no one but Thee.

Yet, they have only human hearts,

With human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the Host,

That daily they caress;

Their every thought and word and deed,

 Deign, dearest Lord, to bless

Everybody sing ALLELU!

For your listening pleasure because we just love this stuff.

Some real music

I can't believe how beautiful the music for the KofC's 130th Supreme Convention's Mass was. The choir was so well coordinated, and the polyphony and hymns they picked were sublime and reverent, and fitting for the Mass....and here is the only decent picture I could capture from my screenshot which I have from EWTN's live stream....

The Transfiguration

Christ have mercy upon us, Lord hear us. We love thee, o Christ!

Have a good day at Chick-fil-A

I can't tell you in words how impressed I am with Chick-fil-A and the appreciation day that was held for them. I only wish there was a Chick-fil-A here so I could have helped. (maybe they'll consider an international franchise, just so I can go)

If this doesn't show how conservatives and really fight back, I don't know what does.

Sancte Pater has more.

Welcoming the Olympics - by the Carmelites

Scotland, the SNP, and same-sex Marriage

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Deputy First Minister, today confirmed she will bring forward legislation but said it will include “important protections” for clergymen, teachers and parents who oppose the move.

She said she is working with the Home Office to amend UK equalities laws to ensure that celebrants cannot be prosecuted by gay couples if they refuse to conduct a marriage service.

But the SNP administration faces a backlash from religious leaders after the results of a public consultation, published to coincide with the announcement, showed 64 per cent of respondents opposed the change.

Only 36 per cent backed the move but Miss Sturgeon argued that other surveys showed a majority are in favour. A record 77,000 people responded to the consultation, three times as many as gave their views on the independence referendum.

The Deputy First Minister said the first gay marriages in Scotland are likely to take place at the start of 2015, the same year that the Coalition Government wants to make the change south of the Border.

This is ridiculous. I never liked the SNP from the get-go, and this just makes me want to cry. It's ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.
Here is the full thing.

Please pray

My cousin is to be married on Friday. He's currently in hospital in Toronto (yes, they flew him all the way to Toronto for something that they could have done here) for his heart. It's too weak for a transplant, though he's been given a pass to come home to be married. Please pray. That's why I've been away.

A note for Rochester

Readers, please pray for the Diocese of Rochester, New York, USA. We're all aware of the antics of ...certain people, and today, their Bishop had to submit the mandatory resignation letter. Please pray that orthodoxy, tradition (tried and true) and restored as belongs!

Troubling news for the Liverpool Dioese

Please pray for the Catholics of Liverpool, there is some bad news.
Read it here.

Pray for us!

St Richard, Ora Pro Nobis!

See the banner!

In what has been called a “dangerous” precedent, Ontario’s Liberal government reached a key contract agreement on July 5th directly with the pro-homosexual Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) after the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association (OCSTA) left the bargaining table late Wednesday night. OCSTA, which represents all Catholic school boards in the province, negotiates the contracts with its Catholic teachers, with the Ontario government acting as a go-between, but was stunned to find the province took over without any consultation.
Kathy Burtnik, vice-president of OCSTA, said negotiations broke off over concerns the deal on the table “did not represent the best interest of students.” She stated she was not aware that negotiations were under way between the government and the OECTA union after other unions representing elementary, high school and French school teachers walked away from the talks.
“At no point were we informed or was it even intimated that a potential agreement could be made between OECTA and the ministry, and we are absolutely opposed to any agreement made without our involvement,” Burtnik said, adding that cutting the school boards out of negotiation sets a dangerous precedent.
“We are dismayed at the dangerous precedent this agreement sets,” said Burtnik.
A spokesman for Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) said the agreement between the McGuinty government and the Catholic teachers’ union is an undemocratic attempt to make board trustees, who are the elected representatives of parents, irrelevant.
“By cutting out local government, that is the local boards of education, McGuinty has perverted democracy,” CLC’s Jack Fonseca told LifeSiteNews. “This move represents a hostile takeover of the education system by big government, and McGuinty is making the role of elected school officials totally irrelevant. The contempt McGuinty has for democracy is astounding.”

And on top of this, Toronto stopped funding Catholic education.

See my quote in the banner.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-gvnt-sets-dangerous-precedent-of-bypassing-catholic-boards-in-teach 

A threat to the Sacred Liturgy...

and to people everywhere

Father Hunwicke has be ordained, and you can find pictures of his Priesting, here http://papastronsay.blogspot.ca/

Happy Dominion Day!

Venerable Fulton J Sheen

Fr Frank Pavone "not now nore has ever been suspended"

We are happy to announce that the Vatican has upheld Father Frank Pavone's appeal and has declared that Father Pavone is not now nor has ever been suspended. Father Pavone remains a priest in good standing all over the world.

We were confident all along that a just decision would be made by the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy. While we fully agree that Bishop Zurek has rightful authority over the priests of his diocese, we also see the urgent need for Father Pavone to be allowed to conduct his priestly ministry outside the diocese of Amarillo for the good of the pro-life movement.

This is great and wonderful news! Pray for him!
Here is the full article

Looking for Tom...

There have been European Robins hanging around my house lately, I think one of them may have been Tom! I'm keeping my eyes peeled.

Most of us are taking our Summer holiday now. We should pray, fast, and say the Rosary daily, say the Divine Mercy chaplet, and go to Adoration. We now have the extra time, and even if you don't get a summer holiday as the majority, you can still use your extra time adore Our Sovereign Lord and King, to praise His Blessed Mother, and to praise the Saints for their glorious intercession on our behalf....especially pray for those who need it.




Also don't forget to visit the new website for the Year of Faith!

I haven't been around

So I don't know if you've noticed I haven't posted in a while? I've been busy. It's been hectic. I'll soon be involved with the Duke of Edinburgh programme, so things are about to get hectic-er. BUT! I'll still find time to post. That'll be my Summer resolution, to post every day. I'll stick to my resolution, as I don't make New Years resolutions.

Anyways in the mean time I'll let you know something about Tom, the bird on my door. Well he's gone now, it's but an empty nest. It's sad, but as long as he attends Catechism classes I won't worry about him.

Wonderful news!

A former Atheist, the very Leah Libresco, is converting to Holy Mother Church! She has, by the grace of God of course, decided to come home!
Please say a prayer for her as she swims this Tibre which can be rough on the waves! Here is her blog.
Pray, pray, pray!

Immaculate Heart, Be my Salvation!

Oh Sacred Heart!

This beautiful picture is fromhere.

Laws banning euthanasia deemed "unconstitutional"

I'd like to know what constitution they're reading.

VANCOUVER - A B.C. Supreme Court has ruled the laws banning doctor-assisted suicide are unconstitutional.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lynn Smith declared the laws invalid, but also suspended her ruling for one year to give Parliament time to draft legislation with her ruling in mind.
Smith also granted Gloria Taylor an exemption in her ruling, allowing the ailing West Kelowna, B.C., woman to seek a physician-assisted suicide during the period her ruling is suspended if she wants.
In a 395-page ruling, Smith says the provisions in the Charter of Rights unjustifiably infringe on Taylor's rights to life, liberty and security of persons.
She says the laws are discriminatory for those who are grievously ill or physically disabled who want to have some control over their circumstances at the end of their lives.
While Smith says risks exist to allowing doctor-assisted suicide, but they can be largely avoided through carefully-designed and well-monitored safeguards.

They are not discriminatory. A family member of mine was able to use assisted suicide, but she did not. Terminally ill with cancer, in pain, she never even thought of using such. She said she had no right to end her life, it wasn't her decision and it wasn't the doctor's decision either. It was God's.

Read the article here.

PRAY!

Bp Fellay is in Rome.

You know what to do dear readers.

Pray!

Don't forget about the Eucharistic Congress! Remember! The Church is Ireland, needs prayers, and it is by the Grace of God that the congress was held in Dublin this year!
http://www.iec2012.ie/

Growing Up

Isn't growing up hard to cope with? Especially if you're a bird's landlord.

The wee birdy is growing up!

He's got feathers and everything!

A new missal!

Corpus Christi Watershed are at it again! Now they're producing an affordable handmissal for the TLM!Click the link below and go to their website!
http://www.ccwatershed.org/Campion/

Prayer for the Holy Father

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.

Pater Noste,  Ave Maria

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. May 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.

Our Father,  Hail Mary.

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.


Epilogue
I have not said anything about the leaked documents of our Holy Father, and I'll say that I only hope the poor soul who has committed such a crime converts and turns himself in.

Trinity Sunday

All praise be to the FATHER:
All praise be to the SON:
All praise be to the HOLY GHOST:
Forever Three in One

Most blest, adored TRINITY,
One LORD one GOD be praised!
Glory eternally be THINE!

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.+AMEN+

Fr Hunwicke, Welcome home!

I have just read on the Transalpine Redemptorist's blog about the Deaconing of Fr Hunwicke! Say a prayer for him!

Gift of Finest Disobedience!

You had better be careful, my dear readers. You see those sisters above? They've got a praise scarf - locked and loaded, ready to fling at you should you support the Vatican's malevolent interference and request that they actually obey as they professed they would in 19hipsty7.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has a Vatican call for reform of their group, saying that it has “caused scandal and pain throughout the church community, and caused greater polarization.”
After a 3-day meeting in Washington, the national board of the LCWR issued a stinging reply to a Vatican investigation of the group’s activities. The board said that the report was “based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency.”
The LCWR, an umbrella group that represents most of the women’s religious orders in the US, was the subject of a Vatican investigation that found “serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life.” The investigation, which reported widespread departures from fundamental Catholic teachings, prompted an April announcement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) that a thorough reform of the group was needed, and Seattle’s Archbishop Peter Sartain had been appointed to supervise that process.
In their June 1 response, the LCWR board members protested the Vatican intervention, saying that “the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised and could compromise their ability to fulfill their mission.” The LCWR leaders said that they will travel to Rome later this month to meet with Cardinal William Levada, the prefect of the CDF, and with Archbishop Sartain. They said they would then confer with their members about an appropriate response.
Sister Pat Farrell, the LCWR president, told reporters that the group’s board had met in a mood of “deep, deep sadness” because of the Vatican’s stand. She said that the LCWR would not issue a full response to the Vatican’s investigation until after meeting with members during the summer and convening a national convention in August.

Pour yourself a strong cuppa: no milk, no sugar. Penance, these are Ember Days!, and read on.

Hatched

Guess what happened last week?

The egg hatched. The picture is blurry, because as I said I don't want to go near the nest...and so I have to zoom.

It's not the prettiest lookin' thing, but I say within a week or two we'll have a cute little birdie.

It is that month, the glorious month!

 

June. It is the month o the most venerable, most adorable, most glorious, most holy, most Sacred Heart of Our Lord and Saviour: Jesus Christ.

 

O sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offences, but also for the sins of those, who straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offences against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behaviour, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violation of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy divine love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.

Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honour, the satisfaction Thou didst once make to Thy eternal Father on the cross and which Thou dost continue to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make reparation, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. 

We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Catholic Photography

I just came across an excellent photographer's blog, which has beautiful pictures of the TLM, the March for Life and much more! Your day is not complete until you have alooksee
http://momentumveritatis.blogspot.ca/

Chartres

As we are now past the great feast of Pentecost, the pilgrimage to Chartres is now taking place. One year, please God, I hope to go!

Do you know French? That documentary is in French.

Please, head over to New Liturgical Movement for some gorgeous pictures, as well as the Papa Stronsay blog by the Transalpine Redemptorists!

Simple English Propers: A Review

I'm not at my main computer right now and I haven't the pictures I want to upload, so pctures are soon to come.

 

I wasn't hesitant to request this item for a review, as I had read some very great things regarding the Simple English Propers, such as their faithfulness to true plainchant and clear layouts. Apparently, the propers are an effort the bring true sacred music back to the vernacular Mass. Well, if every Parish had this book, we wouldn't have a problem with bad hymns. The Simple English Propers are published by the same people who publish the "Vatican II Hymnal", which I haven't looked at but also have heard good things about it. When I opened the box which held the book, I was surprised to see that the cover was tastefully designed with a picture of an old breviary: and it was HARDCOVER too! The book opens nicely, and it stays open. The paper is higher-quality novel paper, and not too heavy.

 

The pages are designed very nicely. The text is very clear, easy to read, and a nice font. The music, staffed in Gregorian notation is easy to follow and the words are positioned beneath the bars in such a manner that congregational singing would be more than possible.

 

Settings for the Funeral and Nuptial Masses are included, and that for me is an extra selling-point.

 

What I loved, and was my favourite feature of these propers is that the tunes the Psalms are set to are splendidly reverent, and serve two main purposes. 1, the main purpose, is to Praise God. The second, is ease of use.

 

More than just propers are included, there are a view other chants as well, but nothing too extensive. There aren't many cons that I can blame this book for, except maybe they could publish an edition that is one solid colour with maybe a white/thinner bible-like paper common in hymnbooks, just as an extra edition. But that's only minor, and a non-issue in regards to the content. In my opinion, every parish that offers the Ordinary Form should have, and use the Simple English propers alongside Gregorian chant. The Propers are an excellent key in restoring the traditions of sacred music BACK to the Church! I would graciously like to thank Tiber River for sending me a copy of this book!

I wrote this review of Simple English Propers for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, your source for Baptism Gifts and First Communion Gifts.
Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.