Francis' sober apology to the Evangelicals
Welby writes to Francis calling for unity despite differences over women bishops
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Roberto de Mattei Gives an Update on the FFI
Rorate Caeli: "Franciscans of the Immaculate: ideas imposed by decree" by Roberto de Mattei
Yes, even "mercy", without holiness and justice, becomes injustice
Yes, even "mercy", without holiness and justice, becomes injustice
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Monasticism, Clericalism, and the Priesthood of All Believers
Monasticism, Clericalism, and the Priesthood of All Believers
Benjamin Mann
Abbot Nicholas Zachariadis
The essence of monasticism is not clerical service—which is possible only for some—but a radically converted way of life, available to all.
Via Insight Scoop
Benjamin Mann
Abbot Nicholas Zachariadis
The essence of monasticism is not clerical service—which is possible only for some—but a radically converted way of life, available to all.
Via Insight Scoop
Monday, July 28, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Russell Shaw on the Need for Vatican II
Did We Really Need Vatican II? by Russell Shaw
Ecumenical council? Or general synod of the Latin churches, with participation of some of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome?
Was personalism and human dignity the answer?
Ecumenical council? Or general synod of the Latin churches, with participation of some of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome?
Pope St. John XXIII put it clearly in his opening address to the council on October 11, 1962. The “greatest concern” of Vatican II, he declared, was to guard Christian doctrine and teach it “more efficaciously.” That included the truth about “the whole of man, composed as he is of body and soul” and created by God not only for life on earth but for eternal life in heaven.
The council did its best, and that was pretty good. Central to its teaching was the Christocentric affirmation that it’s Christ who “fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear” (Gaudium et Spes 22). The Church has been developing that exalted vision of human dignity ever since, most notably via the personalism of Pope St. John Paul II.
Was personalism and human dignity the answer?
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Vittorio Messori speaks
Rorate Caeli: A stern Messori on the Pope, Scalfari, Vatican Denials, and equivocations on Priestly celibacy: “We must pray for them”.
I don't think Cardinal Stickler's work would be scholarly enough to impress Byzantine Christians.
I don't think Cardinal Stickler's work would be scholarly enough to impress Byzantine Christians.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Brandmüller on Clerical Celibacy
Chiesa: Francis Speaks, Scalfari Transcribes, Brandmüller Shreds
As a Church historian, the German cardinal refutes the notion according to which clerical celibacy was an invention of the 10th century. No, he objects: its origin is with Jesus and the apostles. And he explains why
As a Church historian, the German cardinal refutes the notion according to which clerical celibacy was an invention of the 10th century. No, he objects: its origin is with Jesus and the apostles. And he explains why
Basics of Catholic Social Doctrine
I don't think any more of the series will be made available to the public; part 1 is probably just a teaser to get people to enroll.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Blessed Columba Marmion on the Liturgy of the Church
Vultus Christi: Devotion to the prayer of the Church
Can the Benedictines be at the forefront of the reform of the reform?
Can the Benedictines be at the forefront of the reform of the reform?
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Photos From This Morning's Mass at the DSPT
I didn't go; might have been a good opportunity to meet Bishop Barber.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Two on Canonizations by Rome
Rorate Caeli: So... Canonizations... Infallible or not?
Some similar thoughts from Fr. Hunwicke: Definition and Dogma
Some similar thoughts from Fr. Hunwicke: Definition and Dogma
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Matteo Ricci as a Bridge, Once More?
Chiesa: Francis Has an Offer in Store for China: A New Blessed by Sandro Magister
It will be the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, one of the very few Westerners honored by the Chinese communist authorities. But the thaw between Beijing and the Church of Rome still seems to be a long way off
It will be the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, one of the very few Westerners honored by the Chinese communist authorities. But the thaw between Beijing and the Church of Rome still seems to be a long way off
Friday, July 11, 2014
Another "Defection"
Others would go so far to call it schism. I wonder what Fr. Taft thinks of his decision. Catholic Priest Constantine Simon Converts to Orthodoxy. Apparently he's not a Latin who went "native," but has an Eastern Christian heritage. I don't know what his reasons are for converting, though he apparently does talk about them in his interview (in Russian - links below). May God's will be done.
Byzcath
Byzcath
For the Feast of St. Benedict on the New Calendar
March 21 on the old Roman calendar, March 14 on the Byzantine.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Sungenis Responds to Keating
Here.
If he's focusing on astronomical models and their implications on philosophy, it would make sense he wouldn't want people to be "turned off" or side-tracked by his apologetical work.
If he's focusing on astronomical models and their implications on philosophy, it would make sense he wouldn't want people to be "turned off" or side-tracked by his apologetical work.
Chant of Grottaferrata
Chant of Grottaferrata - Αλληλουάριον, Ήχος α'
Chant of Grottaferrata - Φαεινός ως ήλιος
Chant of Grottaferrata - Φαεινός ως ήλιος
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Monday, July 07, 2014
Latins Going Latin
St. Paul did have a point, but to make it an option for married men... the arguments against might need to be more convincing.
But of Course. What Other Kind of Encounter Could it Be?
Post by News.va English.
More "Positive Press" That Seems Like Propaganda
Mixed thoughts - the institution needs the PR, but the PR can be intrepreted cynically.
Zenit
Saturday, July 05, 2014
Pope Francis Visits Campobosso/Isernia
The Lay Crisis
The right solution? Or more of the same?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6i5_BDvXQ
Mass
The right solution? Or more of the same?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6i5_BDvXQ
Post by News.va English.
Mass
Friday, July 04, 2014
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
10 Questions with Archimandrite Robert Taft
At Pray Tell
Fr. Taft doesn't think Latin traditionalists are traditional but maybe he should try to see things from their perspective, even if their understanding of liturgical participation may be erroneous? I have no idea what his position on "ad orientem" worship may be given his comments below.
He has a forthcoming book: Beyond East and West 2: Problems in Ecumenical Understanding
Something interesting comments on the episcopacy and apostolic succession:
Some books to get, based on Fr. Taft's recommendations:
Liturgy: Model of Prayer — Icon of Life (Fairfax, VA: Eastern Christian Publications 2008)."
Alan Bouley’s From Freedom to Formula. The Evolution of the Eucharistic Prayer from Oral Improvisation to Written Texts
Fr. Taft doesn't think Latin traditionalists are traditional but maybe he should try to see things from their perspective, even if their understanding of liturgical participation may be erroneous? I have no idea what his position on "ad orientem" worship may be given his comments below.
He has a forthcoming book: Beyond East and West 2: Problems in Ecumenical Understanding
Pope Francis good for liturgical renewal or not?
Papa Francesco is good for everything, including liturgical renewal. When he first celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel he had them toss out the altar facing away from the congregation that his predecessor had installed, and thereby gave the signal indicating how he rated the reformed Vatican II liturgy vis-à-vis the restored pre-Vatican II Summorum Pontificum “extraordinary form.”
Is the Vatican II liturgical renewal secure or endangered?
I think it is secure, because I believe the vast majority of Catholic people throughout the world confirm it by voting with their feet and going to Mass in the reformed rite, showing thereby that despite the right-wing neo-con wackos (hereafter NCW’s), most Catholics prefer the reformed rite.
But that does not mean that the NCW’s are not a threat, since it is said that large numbers of them now control the terrain in our seminaries. As Professor Massimo Faggioli, the Catholic point-man on these issues has shown, the Vatican II Liturgical Constitution was the fundamental document that led the way to the rest of Vatican II, so an attack against that key document is an attack against the guiding spirit of the Vatican II Council.
Anything good coming out of Summorum Pontificum?
Nope, unless creating unnecessary divisions in the Church and driving crazy our harried bishops who have too few priests to start with and now have to try and accommodate the NCW’s is considered “good.”
Something interesting comments on the episcopacy and apostolic succession:
This question also involves a cluster of other issues that I believe need to be reconsidered:
[a] the whole question of conceiving apostolic succession via the “relay race pass the baton model” is questionable, since it is probably not provable with historical verisimilitude for any Church on earth, including that of Rome. It is not clear that Rome originally had a monarchical episcopate rather than some sort of collegial governing body, possibly presbyteral, in the earliest post-apostolic era.
Some books to get, based on Fr. Taft's recommendations:
Liturgy: Model of Prayer — Icon of Life (Fairfax, VA: Eastern Christian Publications 2008)."
Alan Bouley’s From Freedom to Formula. The Evolution of the Eucharistic Prayer from Oral Improvisation to Written Texts
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
Holy Virgin Cathedral
I toook a better look at the interior this weekend - I was there on Saturday, for the arrival of the Kursk icon and the episcopal nomination. I hope more photos of the episcopal consecration will be posted. I noticed for the first time that the central dome has a depiction of God the Father. Not canonical, but it is a carryover of a certain 19th ce Russian fad? The sculpting/woodwork of the iconostasis and other wooden structures in the church is similar to what is in the old Holy Virgin Cathedral. Russian curves to the arches? I prefer more 'classical' arches, semicircular. The altar crucifix had some large elements which overwhelmed the icon of our Lord, which
seemed rather small compared to the overall size of the crucifix.
Vespers/all-night vigil was sung mostly in Slavonic, and with modern Russian choral singing. I don't know if the liturgy OCA would be more 'traditional' with respect to liturgical music. Ruthenian prostopinije in English may take a while to become familiar, but because it is in English and it can be sung by the people, it is more 'popular' and conducive to liturgical piety for the laity, I think. I couldn't understand the Slavonic and I couldn't really participate in Vespers, though I was "attending" to it as best as I could.
Seeing the bishops gathered for the nomination of Archimandrite Nikolai with their mantiyas (capes), I was thinking that they are another example of an article of clothing in which form has priority over function (long capes
which have to be picked up by servers when those wearing them have to climb the steps to enter the sanctuary) - they are mostly symbolic, representative of rank, privilege, or the monastic state.
(What are the rules for vesting during the Hours?)
I suppose clerics of a particular church would have to decide in unison whether they would no longer wear certain vestments - or this would have to be imposed on them by someone with greater authority. Otherwise who would dare to go against the norm for the sake of humility or simplicity? Without the force of custom, would there be a race to show humility, a competition for the appearance of holiness (as simplicity)? Still, it seems to me that certain novelties of the 2nd millenium (the mitre) could be dropped, and the evolution of certain vestments could be reversed, without embracing the polyester/ugliness fad of contemporary American Latin vestments.
Should the pope be the man in white? The papal white is a relic of the Dominican habit - should the bishop of Rome be dressed in a black Roman cassock, though perhaps with different color piping? Currently bishops have violet piping, cardinals red. What would an appropriate "papal" color be? White? Red and gold?
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