Saturday, January 31, 2015

Feast of the 3 Holy Hierarchs

Extraordinary Synod for the Chaldeans

Fragility and suffering in the Chaldean Church
An Extraordinary Synod is to be held to try to heal the rift between Patriarch Louis Raphael and Bishop Janno, caused by the question of “errant clerics” who emigrated to the US without permission. The Holy See has been implicated in the matter
Gianni Valente

Monica Miller Critiques Kasper

A Critique of Cardinal Kasper’s Latest Arguments by Monica Migliorino Miller

Petinacious Papist



Adam DeVille on the Changes in the Imposition of the Pallium

The CWR Blog: What a Pallium—and Why Should We Care? by Dr. Adam A. J. DeVille
It seems clear that Pope Francis' recent decision is one in a series designed to decrease focus on the Roman curia and bishop.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Papal Message to Focolare


Pope Francis Meets with the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches








Joseph Fessio Responds to Pierre de Charentenay

“La Civiltà Cattolica” Isn’t Always Right. And It’s a Jesuit Who Says So

Bishops of the Philippines Under Pressure. Examined and Rejected

Credible?

Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri

Rorate Caeli and Pertinacious Papist link to Lifesite News: Pope Francis approved family synod’s controversial mid-term report before publication: synod chief

Bl. Columba Marmion

Vultus Christi: Blessed Columba Marmion: In Die Natalis
Blessed Abbot Marmion

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Joint Document in Progress


What sort of dialogue is necessary?


Canonization as a Popularity Contest?






Changes to the Pallium Investiture Ceremony




Three Holy Hierarchs


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Snowball Fight!


This Can Be Rightly Understood

As referring to expressions of theological opinion that are specific to a ecclesial tradition. But he is liable to be misunderstood. And certainly, the Filique, having been clarified once, may need to be clarified again.


Prayer


Monday, January 26, 2015

Conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity


Sunday, January 25, 2015








Marketing Is Not the Way to Go


A Scandal to the Orthodox

Byzantine, Texas has a video of the giving of Holy Communion at a recent Papal Mass in the Philippines. The bishop of Rome needs to get his house in order, with respect to the "little things" which actually do matter.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Fr. Thomas Hopko, Jesus - Mediator and Intercessor

Ancient Faith Radio - mp3

Dialects of Differeing Mutual Intelligibility? The Solution: Use Latin!?!

FIUV Position Paper: The Extraordinary Form and China

Instead of creating a different missal for Cantonese speakers, for example. Or a restoration of a Missal using literary/classical Chinese (which can be spoken in the local Chinese dialect), but that has a problem of making it potentially difficult for speakers of all Chinese dialects/languages to comprehend? Bet it is still a better solution than the use of Latin.

(Or maybe the Chinese should do what some of the 20th century reformers suggested and give up their language in favor of one that is not limited by phonographs and tones.


For only a few

And time is running out...

Is Scholasticism Making a Comeback? by Rev. James V. Schall, S.J.

Fr. Schall reviews Ed Feser's Scholastic Metaphysics.

2015 Huffington Ecumenical Symposium

website - "Sacred Architecture of East and West: Lessons from History and Contemporary Trends." This year's theme: the relationship between the liturgy and sacred architecture. (via OCA Diocese of the West)

Friday, January 23, 2015

Haven't Seen Christ's Head in This Position Before


Sopoćani Monastery


First Century Copy of the Gospel of St. Mark


"We serve at the pleasure of the bishop of Rome."

Or not?

Francis Flogs the Curia. But What a Gap Between Words and Deeds

The summit on the reform of the Church’s central government is approaching. But in the meantime, the pope is moving forward on his own. In some cases, driving out the good and rewarding the bad

by Sandro Magister

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Russian Orthodox Catechism in the Works

Mospat: Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission in its new composition holds plenary session

St. Vissarion, Smolyan, Bulgaria


St. Maximos the Confessor




Fr. Jacques Philippe - Prayer and Work



Member of the Community of the Beatitudes (FB), Fr. Jacques Philippe will be in the area next week as a speaker for Theology on Tap Silicon Valley. He will also be giving a parish mission at Our Lady of Peace Shrine the following weekend. (More details.)

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Love the Sinner...


Temptation


Spiritual Childhood?

Or Divine Filiation? The second, or adopted sonship, is more appealing to me than "spiritual childhood." While "becoming like children" has scriptural warrant (Matthew 18:3, 19:14), it must be understood in its context, and read in conjunction with what St. Paul teaches (1 Cor 13:11). Child or children is being used equivocally with respect to both instances. We should be humble and trusting and put ourselves in the hands of God the Father, who leads us by the Holy Spirit; but we also need to take responsibility for ourselves as spiritually mature sons of God. "Child" is can be used to refer to the young and to adults but it is usually associated with the former, while "son" can refer to both equally.

Apparently, St. Thérèse herself did not use the French equivalent of "spiritual childhood" or "spiritual infancy" -- from the article by Andrea Tornielli: "Gennari explains that Thérèse’s true doctrine is not 'spiritual infancy' in a minimalist sense: according to her thinking, “Enfant de Dieu”, the Son of God, is the only model, which by divine grace, “deifies” humans by invading them with the love of his Spirit, transforming them into himself, just as Thérèse had explicitly written in a letter to her sister Celine: 'we are called to become divine ourselves.'"

Gianni Gennari, Teresa di Lisieux, il fascino della santità

Teresa maestra di teologia
Intervista a Gianni Gennari sul suo libro "Teresa di Lisieux. Il fascino della santità: i segreti di una dottrina ritrovata" (ed. Lindau)
Zenit
L'Osservatore Romano

Contemplatives in the Midst of the World by Bishop Robert W. Finn
Thoughts for January 16 from Fr Willie Doyle

Monday, January 19, 2015

Writing the Story of the Extraordinary Synod

On Synod reforms and that theology which was “done with faith”
A collage of images fromt he Sistine Chapel

A collage of images fromt he Sistine Chapel
None of the speeches given at the last assembly called into question the fundamental truths about the Sacrament of Marriage,” Francis said. An article by Italian journalist and theologian Gianni Gennari recalled the developments in Church doctrine on the family. What Ratzinger said about theologians who place more faith in the wisdom of the Church than in their own erudition
andrea tornielli

The Patriarchal Nativity Epistle by His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East


Assyrian Church News

The Forgotten Christian World


St. John Chrysostom on Theophany


More Photos of the Tiny Temple in Antarctica


Guido Innocenzo Gargano on Divorce

For the “Hard of Heart” the Law of Moses Still Applies

So says an illustrious biblicist, with a new interpretation of the words of Jesus on marriage and divorce. But the Catholic Church has always preached indissolubility without exception. Will it come to admit second marriages, as in the East?

by Sandro Magister

David Solomon on Ralph McInerny



And a lecture from the Big Mc in 2005...

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Divine Liturgy, 180115





Does learning Koine Greek lead Protestants to Orthodoxy?

Curious if this is a route to conversion... Getting a copy of this book to help me refresh my Greek. (Though I studied Attic Greek first...)

Reading Koine Greek
An Introduction and Integrated Workbook
by: Rodney J. Decker

Armenia



The Family Under Attack by Pietro Leone

Rorate Caeli: "Theology of the Body" explained - a Traditional Catholic view

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Bringing the Treasures of the Byzantine Rite to Roman Seminarians


Friday, January 16, 2015

Studenica Monastery




26 in 2006, how many now?

A list of 26 Species “Concepts”

Cappella Romana Update


Acquiring the Holy Spirit

St. Seraphim's feast was celebrated yesterday.



Related:





Thursday, January 15, 2015

More Photos of Sts. Peter and Paul


More Photos of St. Sava in Belgrade


Ignatius Press Has a New Website Dedicated to von Balthasar

Insight Scoop: New von Balthasar site, new edition of "Dare We Hope", new interview with Fr. Barron

Fr. Dewan in Declining Health

Thomistica.net - Kyrie eleison.

How long before we see his icons around here?


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Another Article on Elder Paisios

Greek Reporter:
Elder Paisios became known for a number of controversial political statements and prophecies. These include the prediction that a war with Turkey will lead to a restoration of a Greater Greece that includes Albania, Macedonia and Byzantium (Istanbul), and the mass conversion of Turks from Islam to Orthodox Christianity. Many Greeks have compared Paisios to Nostradamus.

Jacques Dupuis v. Dominus Iesus

Dialogue Among the Religions. “Dominus Iesus” On Trial Again

The accusations have been prompted by the posthumous publication of two texts by the theologian Jacques Dupuis. And they are aimed at the two authors of that document: Joseph Ratzinger and John Paul II. But the pope emeritus responds point by point

by Sandro Magister

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Small Serbian Temple


St. Paisios



Orthodox Magazine

Monday, January 12, 2015

Theophilus III


Friday, January 09, 2015

St. Romanos the Melodist


So What Does Metropolitan Hilarion Think of Doing Away with These Clerical Vestments

Since they are of such late origin? On the Sakkos and the Mitre by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)

The Creation of an Iconostasis

Pravoslavie: How Iconostases are Made

Thursday, January 08, 2015

I'm a Kasperite

Fr. Hunwicke: CDF condemns Kasper's ecclesiology

In which Fr. Hunwicke quotes Communionis Notio:

" ... the particular Churches, insofar as they are 'part of the one Church of Christ,' have a special relationship of 'mutual interiority' with the whole, that is, with the universal Church, because in every particular Church 'the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ is truly present and active'. For this reason, 'the universal Church cannot be conceived as the sum of the particular Churches, or as a federation of particular Churches'. It is not the result of the communion of the Churches, but, in its essential mystery, it is a reality ontologically and temporally prior to every individual particular Church. Indeed, according to the Fathers, ontologically, the Church-mystery, the Church that is one and unique, precedes creation, and gives birth to the particular Churches as her daughters. She expresses herself in them; she is the mother and not the offspring of the particular Churches. Furthermore, the Church is manifested, temporally, on the day of Pentecost in the community of the one hundred and twenty gathered around Mary and the twelve apostles, the representatives of the one unique Church and founders-to-be of the local churches, who have a mission directed to the world. From the beginning the Church speaks all languages.

"From the Church, which in its origins and its first manifestation is universal, have arisen the different local Churches, as particular expressions of the one unique Church of Jesus Christ. Arising within and out of the universal Church, they have their ecclesiality in her and from her. Hence the formula of the Second Vatican Council: The Church in and formed out of the Churches (Ecclesia in et ex Ecclesiis), is inseparable from this other formula: The Churches in and formed out of the Church (Ecclesiae in et ex Ecclesia*)."

I've been using the model of a federation of particular Churches as an alternate way of understanding Vatican I's claims about the papal office -- in opposition to a ultramontanist, monarchical model with the bishop of Rome at the top of the pyramid, having the authority to micromanage. It would seem that the note from the CDF makes the former model untenable. But is it unintenable in so far as we are talking only about the authority of the bishops, especially of the bishop of Rome, rather than the essential nature of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ? I affirm that as well, and that Christ is the head of the Church while the bishops are His representatives here on earth. So how are they coordinated? After all, are there any prominent Orthodox bishops or theologians who deny the unity of Christ's Church?

The Incarnation and Deification





From earlier this week:



More on St. Nicholas National Shrine


Metropolitan Athanasios of Limasol on Prayer

Patient Endurance ts The Fruit of Virtue, and it is Nourished By Prayer
A Conversation with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limasol about his book, The Church's Open Heart

Fr. Gabriel Bunge on Catholic Ecumenism

Un ancien moine de Chevetogne très critique sur l’Å“cuménisme

I suspect it may be a translation of an interview originally given to an Orthodox website, but I don't have time to confirm.

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Holy Theophany, Divine Liturgies







Online Study of the Acts of the Apostles


Holy Theophany




An Icon of the Theotokos by Philippe Lefebvre

NLM: An Icon of the Mother of God Newly Painted by Philippe Lefebvre David Clayton

Monday, January 05, 2015

The Sedevecantists Will Still Disagree

He Is Pope. Elected by All the Rules

An authoritative canonist rebuts the arguments of those who view Bergoglio’s election as invalid and therefore do not recognize him as pope. But uncertainties remain about the maneuvers that preceded the white smoke

by Sandro Magister

Eve of Theophany


The Story of St. Basil


Because I Have to...



Had a very brief discussion with someone about prayer a couple of years ago; what reason should we give for praying? Yes, prayer should be motivated by caritas, but even if caritas is present in us as an infused habit, we nonetheless have to bring ourselves to prayer sometimes (especially during periods of spiritual aridity), whether it is because one recognizes that it is a duty of the virtue of religion, or because it is morally necessary as a means to God.

Related:

Claude Polin Reviews Manent's Metamorphoses of the City

Insecure Liberalism

Christopher J. Malloy on the Filioque Statement

Thomistica.net

Pontificial Council for Promoting Christian Unity - THE GREEK AND LATIN TRADITIONS REGARDING THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Filioque: A Church Dividing Issue?: An Agreed Statement
The Roman ‘Clarification’ of the Doctrine of the Filioque by David Coffey
AN ORTHODOX RESPONSE TO THE CLARIFICATION ON THE FILIOQUE by Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon

Taizé Community




American Jesuits Promoting One of Their Own


Sunday, January 04, 2015

Divine Liturgy, 150104






The Multiplication of First World Problems

Rome Reports: Vatican launches campaign to voice women's concerns, strengths, challenges

Saturday, January 03, 2015

Coming in April 2015

The Glory of God's Grace
Deification According to St. Thomas Aquinas
by Daria Spezanno

If it is good I think that the weaknesses of some of St. Thomas's conclusions (and the subsequent development of sanctifying grace) will be highlighted, though perhaps unintentionally.

Friday, January 02, 2015

Saint Sava


The Whole Series Should Already Be Available





The FB Page is just posting it in parts...

Should Still Pick Up a Copy


Thursday, January 01, 2015

Spiritual Communion?

Spiritual Communion, an Unknown Quantity

At the synod it was proposed for the divorced and remarried, who are unable to receive the Eucharist. But everyone sees it his own way, and the confusion is great. In “Nova et Vetera” a theologian surveys the controversy

by Sandro Magister

How to Pray the Psalms