Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Sacred Liturgy Conference in Portland, Oregon

NLM: Report from the Sacred Liturgy Conference in Portland, Oregon by Gregory DiPippo
CWR: Catholicism, Evolution, and Divine Revelation: A Second Look By James V. Schall, S.J.
Fr. Michael Chaberek's carefully researched and argued book Catholicism and Evolution examines how the magisterium of the Catholic Church has dealt with Darwin and the subsequent theories of evolution
CWR: Marriage and the Matthean Jesus: A First Response to John Martens By Dr. Leroy Huizenga
Jesus’ teaching is grace, not legalism: lifelong marriage is possible because husbands and wives live it in Jesus’ power, not their own.

John Martens, a biblical scholar, published a piece online at the Jesuit-run America last Friday on “Jesus’ Teachings on Marriage and Divorce.” The entry is intended as a response to Ross Douthat’s invitation to those who disagree with his understanding of Catho...
Chiesa: The Synod Has Lost Its Way, But There’s the Jesuit’s Compass

Fr. Spadaro has no doubt. He knows the destination of the synod, no matter if it is in contrast with the preceding “teaching of the Church.” The severe criticism of a New York theologian against the director of “La Civiltà Cattolica”

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The Divine Liturgy of St. James

Celebrating the Divine Liturgy of St. James - Rarely celebrated by the pro-Chalcedonian Orthodox, St. James’s liturgy is...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Monday, November 2, 2015

Monday, November 09, 2015

St. Porphyrios

A person can become a saint anywhere!

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Sunday, November 08, 2015

Epic

Come Receive the Light! We close a six week on Pistevo, a documentary on an iconography project in Rye, NY. http://myocn.net/an-epic-iconography-project/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, November 1, 2015

The Iconostasis Could be Improved


Another...

Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, November 8, 2015

Saturday, November 07, 2015

It Isn't Over Yet

Synod of Discord. Toward a “De Facto Schism” in the Church?

Dominican theologian Thomas Michelet lays bare the ambiguities of the synodal text. Which has not brought unity but has papered over the divisions. The conflict between “hermeneutic of continuity” and “hermeneutic of rupture.” The dilemma for Francis


Francis Is Silent, But Another Jesuit Is Speaking For Him

He is Antonio Spadaro, director of "La Civiltà Cattolica.” In an article in his magazine he has already written what the pope will say on communion for the divorced and remarried

Should Get This Book

For those who love the Church Fathers, or mysticism, or theology—well, we thought this would be exciting. We just...

Posted by Eighth Day Books on Friday, September 18, 2015

Sr. Vassa with Fr. John Behr




Related:
Dr. John Behr | Synchronic and Diachronic Harmony: Saint Irenaeus On Divine Simplicity


The Shocking Truth about Christian Orthodoxy

Thursday, November 05, 2015

Dr. Christopher Shannon on Fr. Bouyer's Memoirs

CWReport: Bouyer's journey from Lutheran pastor to Ressourcement theologian by Dr. Christopher Shannon
A new English translation of the Memoirs of Fr. Louis Bouyer offers keen insights into the Church, the Second Vatican Council, and the intellectual landscape of the past century

Denis McNamara's Series on Sacred Architecture

Can be conveniently found here or at the videos section for the Liturgical Institute. So far the first 7 parts (out of 10) have been uploaded.

Wednesday, November 04, 2015

An Answer to a Question I've Had

about how the laity can pray the hours in the Byzantine rite... praying the troparions for the various hours. But what about praying more of the Psalter?

Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Video of Fr. Gabriel Bunge

Which was posted here now has working audio? Or maybe it did before and there was a problem with the computer...

Elements of the [Roman] Catholic Mass

NLM: New Series of Videos about the Liturgy from the Liturgical Institute, Mundelein

website and FB

Confirmation in the OF

Accipe Signaculum Doni Spiritus Sancti by Rev. John Grant
On the Sacrament of Confirmation and the New Translation of the Ritual

Comments from Bishop Athanasius Schneider

Rorate Caeli: RORATE EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Athanasius Schneider reaction to Synod
Door to communion for divorced & remarried officially kicked open
Synaxis: St. Theophan the Recluse on prayer (Pravmir)

Monday, November 02, 2015

Sing to the Lord Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio

Byz, TX: Sing to the Lord podcast debuts - AFR

Made for Goodness

You were made for goodness and life, not sin and death. God made us in His image; with work, we can uncover that image and start living like the saints He made us to be!#BeTheBee #LiveOrthodoxy #OrthoPost

Posted by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Presidential Inauguration of Fr. Christopher Metropulos as President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

The Presidential Inauguration of Fr. Christopher Metropulos as President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Posted by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Thursday, October 29, 2015

Saturday, October 31, 2015

The Great Commandment

Friday, October 30, 2015

Sandro Magister Continues...

Kasper vs Ratzinger, the Unending Dispute
Francis reignited it and the synod has not resolved it. In the paragraphs on the divorced and remarried the word “communion” isn’t there. But the pope could introduce it himself, by authority


Synodal Church. But the Pope Will Decide Everything
The word “communion” doesn’t even appear in the synod-approved text concerning the divorced and remarried. But in practice everyone is already doing whatever he wants. The spirit matters more than the letter, Francis says

Eastern Christian Books: LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Fall 2015

Eastern Christian Books: LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Fall 2015

"Finally, Augustine Casiday, author of the invaluable landmark work Reconstructing the Theology of Evagrius Ponticus: Beyond Heresy (whom I interviewed about this very book here) has a fascinating and learned essay treating the uses and abuses of Evagrius' famous definition of theology and a theologian from his treatise On Prayer. This maxim, which I have myself quoted regularly, and which seems to be a staple of contemporary Eastern spiritual and apologetical literature, is often used as little more than a thinly disguised sneer at intellectual work--as a cloak for anti-intellectual obscurantism in other words. Casiday's treatment of what Evagrius really meant is important and not to be missed."

Benedict Sheehan

New in #TheSounding - A Composers Insight on New CD. http://myocn.net/a-composers-insight-on-new-cd-till-morn-eternal-breaks/ #MyOCN

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, October 25, 2015

In a gesture of love, Benedict Sheehan, the artistic director of the Chamber Choir of St. Tikhon’s Monastery, is...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Friday, October 23, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Eastern Christian Books: Florovsky and the Russian Religious Renaissance

Eastern Christian Books: Florovsky and the Russian Religious Renaissance

Agitating for Change?

International Inter-Orthodox Conference Discusses Women in Ministry. http://myocn.net/international-inter-orthodox-conference-discusses-women-in-ministry/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, October 25, 2015

Prayer Corners From Around the World

Inspired by PISTEVO, we invite you to share your icons and prayer corners with us so that we may share them with the...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Holy Protection of the Theotokos

One of the most beloved holidays in the Orthodox calendar is the Protection of the Mother of God. The Slavic people...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, October 28, 2015

SS. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church in Bulgaria

Стефан shared this picture from the feast day of St. Demetrios celebrated at SS. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church in Bulgaria. Lord Have Mercy!

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Anglo-Byzantine Calligraphy

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Opening of the Academic Year at the POI

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, opened the Academic Year at the Pontifical Oriental Institute with a Mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Monday.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Monday, October 26, 2015

Archbishop Di Noia on the Anglican Ordinariate Liturgy

NLM: Abp. di Noia on the Ordinariate Liturgy

2015-09 - 7: Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, OP from UKOrdinariate on Vimeo.

De Mattei on the Synod

Rorate Caeli: De Mattei: "The failed Synod: everyone defeated; and Catholic morality in particular"
Roberto de Mattei
CWR: "The Church has no authority...”: On the Limits of the Pope
October 05, 2015
Papal authority cannot be used to promote favored papal causes, no matter how noble. It is to be used to keep the Church one and focused on the one true God.
Dr. Adam A. J. DeVille

Monday, October 26, 2015

So What Was the Purpose?

Pope Francis' address at conclusion of Synod of Bishops [full text]

Synod Diary: After three weeks, a “consensus” document that upholds doctrinal truth
10/25/2015 3:53:41 PM
By Mary Jo Anderson
The synod’s final report is released; what comes next depends upon Pope Francis.

The Synod was neither a great success nor a huge failure
10/26/2015 1:49:46 PM
By Russell Shaw
Followup to the Synod on the Family rests now in the hands of a paradoxical pontiff who champions consultation, collegiality, and synodality while practicing a highly centralized management style

The Dispatch: More from CWR
On "The Church's First Duty": Thoughts on Pope Francis' address at Synod's conclusion
10/26/2015 6:27:56 PM
By James V. Schall, S.J.
Though a South American, Francis seems, in spirit at least, closer to well-known members of the German, Belgian, and Swiss hierarchies

Cardinal Pell explains the paragraphs in the final relatio concerning pastoral care of the divorced and civilly remarried.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Monday, October 26, 2015

Here is a short batch of photos from Mass this morning in St Peter's Basilica with Pope Francis. More to come...

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Sunday, October 25, 2015

Necessary Oversight?

Pope Francis on Monday addressed the members of the Synod of the Chaldean Church, reminding them that “the only authority is the authority of service, the only power is the power of the Cross.”

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Monday, October 26, 2015
CWR: The Relationship of Mercy and Justice According to St. Thomas Aquinas
Thomas does not understand divine mercy as a feeling or a passion that overwhelms God. It is not affective but effective, by healing the defects of the creatures and making them participate in the divine perfection.
By Prof. Thomas Heinrich Stark

We have heard a lot about (the new) mercy during the past months, and with respect to the (sometimes strange and surprising) topics discussed at the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. The remarks of some of the participants in the debates gave the impression that the insistence on truth—and on justice based on truth—is indicative of a merciless mentality. Does that mean that ...

Eastern Christian Books: The Wisdom of the Desert in our Time

Eastern Christian Books: The Wisdom of the Desert in our Time

Sunday, October 25, 2015

For the Dominican Jubilee

DSPT: New Perspectives on Early Lay Dominicans - Fr. Augustine Thompson, OP
Our Changing Understanding of the Black Penitents and Dominican Third Order in the Middle Ages

November 17.

Miraculous Icon

There is a miracle icon of St. John the Baptist in Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Homer Glen, IL that is streaming oil. http://ow.ly/TNxeT #PISTEVO #iBelieve

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Saturday, October 24, 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Be the Bee #82

Watch the New Episode of Be the Bee! Does the Liturgy Need You? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyQK8Tw3UX0

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Friday, October 23, 2015
Chiesa: But the Synod of the Media Has Already Toppled the Real One

It doesn’t matter how it actually ends. World public opinion has already formulated its verdict. With the help of many churchmen

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Metropolitan Hilarion Addresses the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church

Fr. Z: Russian Metropolitan Hilarion to Synod: Don’t be Protestants (mospat) - mospat article

Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Pope Francis

Fr. Araujo Has Passed

Mirror of Justice: Fr. Robert Araujo, S.J., R.I.P. by Rick Garnett

Requiescat in pace.

Sandro Magister Praises Cardinal Dolan

A bit much? Synod. The “Conspirator” Who Does Everything in the Light of Day by Sandro Magister

He is Timothy Dolan, one of the thirteen cardinals of the letter to the pope. A living example of that “parresia,” that candor of word and thought, so desired by Francis

Plus:
Napier, the Voice of Truth on the Letter of the Thirteen Cardinals by Sandro Magister

It took this South African archbishop to clarify in public the true reasons for the letter, which he signed with the others. It all started with the 2014 synod and the maneuvers of some to force its results. Here he is, word for word

The Intention

If the Intention is Unclean.

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Name/Patron Saint?

Wow! This is a beautiful Orthodox Church in Georgia!

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Thursday, October 22, 2015

Orthodox Evangelization

It’s not too late! Sign up to attend this exciting conference! Speaking to Secular America: How the Church Is Reaching...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Thursday, October 22, 2015

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Orthodox Theological Schools in the U.S.

Assembly Releases New Study on Orthodox Theological Schools in the US (pdf) (via Byz, TX)

Excerpt from Letter to the Bishops of the Church on Some Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion

Vultus Christi: The Church–Mystery

Archbishop Aquila Contra the German Bishops

Did Thomas More and John Fisher Die For Nothing? by Archbishop Samuel Aquila
Following the words of Christ himself, the Church has always taught that divorce and remarriage is simply adultery by another name

(via Fr. Z)

Profile of Fr. Louis Bouyer by Falk van Gaver

Le Père Louis Bouyer, un théologien de métier par Falk van Gaver

TED Talk - Guy Consolmagno, SJ

Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, the director of the Vatican Observatory, gives a great TEDTalk on science and religion.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Monday, October 12, 2015

Monday, October 19, 2015

The Catholic Thing: The End(s) of Marriage Since Vatican II by Howard Kainz

"But as I mentioned in a previous column, the “demotion” of “primary end” and the subsequent emphasis on “unitive” aspects of marriage, has even led some priests to consecrate intentionally childless marriages. More recently, this de-emphasis on procreation in favor of “the unitive significance” has certainly facilitated the slide towards obviously non-procreative “marriage” between homosexuals."

Are Josephite marriages "intentionally childless marriages"?
CWR Blog: Cardinal Sarah to the synod: “We find ourselves between ‘gender ideology and ISIS’”
The prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship has released the text of his intervention at the synod.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Georgia.

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Liturgy Wars?

The Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Arthur Roche,...

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Interview with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk

Salt + Light TV interviewed Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as a part of their series "Inside the Synod 2015".

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Friday, October 16, 2015

Photos of Benedict XVI

More recent photos of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI!

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Friday, October 16, 2015

The Archbishop of São Paulo, Brazil, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, met with Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Tuesday. He was kind enough to share a couple of pictures on his Facebook page.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

On October 6, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received a painting from artist Raul Berzosa, who met with the Pope emeritus in the Vatican Gardens. (photo courtesy of the Diocese of Málaga)

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Monday, October 12, 2015

Paris Match Interview with Pope Francis

Pope Francis gave an interview with Paris Match.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Saturday, October 17, 2015

Related:

For those of you who speak French, Marie Duhamel, of Vatican Radio's French Section, has written a new book on Pope...

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Saturday, October 17, 2015

For our French-speaking friends: Marie Duhamel, a senior journalist in Vatican Radio's French service, has just published a book on Pope Francis. You can find out more at the link below.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Thursday, October 15, 2015

An Anniversary

Pope Francis on Saturday morning marked the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops as a permanent...

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Saturday, October 17, 2015

Pope Francis on Saturday morning marked the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops as a permanent...

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Saturday, October 17, 2015

The President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, speaks of about the Synod on the Family.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Saturday, October 17, 2015

St. Luke the Evangelist

Ο Ευαγγελιστής Λουκας, Luke the Evangelist #PISTEVO #iBelievehttp://myocn.net/ο-ευαγγελιστής-λουκας-luke-the-evangelist/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Sunday, October 18, 2015

Saint Luke, The Patron Saint of Iconographers. #PISTEVO #iBelieve http://myocn.net/the-patron-of-iconographers/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Saturday, October 17, 2015
Fr. Z: Pope Francis wants a transformation of the papacy and a synodal Church

"As a Church that “walks together” with men, participates in the travails of history, let us cultivate the dream that the rediscovery of the inviolable dignity of peoples and the exercise of service of authority will be able to help also civil society to be built upon justice and on fraternity, generating a more beautiful world, more worthy of mankind and for the generations that will come after us."

Civil society, justice, fraternity: if these terms are not understood properly in relation to well-defined notions of community and friendship, then the result will be a utopian fantasy leading to bureaucratic statements or worse, the reinforcement of the modern nation-state.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

St. John the Theologian

Learn more about St. John The Evangelist and Theologian. #PISTEVO #iBelievehttp://myocn.net/learn-about-st-john-the-evangelist-and-theologian/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

PISTEVO Episode 8

Watch PISTEVO - The Art of Belief Episode VIII - Divine Liturgy Part 2 #PISTEVO #iBelieve http://myocn.net/pistevo-watch-the-art-of-belief-episode-viii-divine-liturgy-part-2/

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Joy of Prayer

Listen as Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis and Fr. Chris talk about the joys of establishing a relationship with God through prayer! http://ow.ly/TseQ0

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Friday, October 16, 2015

Related:

How do you pray? Draw some inspiration from the life of Symeon. Pray Simply, Pray Always. Watch past episodes and see...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Chiesa: The Letter of the Thirteen Cardinals. A Key Backstory

It is an article by Andrea Tornielli, the vaticanista friendliest with and closest to Bergoglio. It came out four days before the publication of the letter. To expose it and accuse the authors of conspiring against the pope

by Sandro Magister

Friday, October 16, 2015

A New Biography of St. Philp Neri by Jonathan Robinson, CO

NLM: A New Book about St Philip Neri, Reviewed by David Warren

Another book from Angelico Press.

Related:
Review by John Bentley Mays in The Catholic Register.

How's the Company Doing?

ICYMI: here is Salt + Light TV's "Inside the Synod 2015" interview with Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ - the Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Beatitudes

Hymn of the Jubilee of Mercy

Has anyone written a critique of the music? Too modern/Romantic?



more info

"The Authors of the original music (Paul Inwood) and text (Eugenio Costa, S.J.) have donated the copyright of this work to the PCPNE in order to facilitate the distribution of the Hymn of the Jubilee of Mercy throughout the Catholic Church."

Because the Church needs a mission statement and a theme song! (It's a good thing they didn't make some version of the Lord's prayer the theme song. )

Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Synod That is of Interest

Mospat: Russian Orthodox Church delegation arrives in Chambesy for the 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference
The 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference begins its sessions
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev's Facebook page appears to have been deleted or taken offline. I hope it will come back.

Christ and the Rich Young Man

Thoguhts from Dr. Robert Louis Wilken

Living in hard times — lessons from the early Christians…

Radicati nella fede Editorial

Rorate Caeli: Radicati EDITORIAL: "The New Mass, The Mass of the Assembly: the Cradle of Agnosticism"

Editorial: Radicati nella fede, September 2015
Newsletter of the Catholic community of
Vocogno, Diocese of Novara, Italy

We’d like to focus on one among the many: the disappearance of the submissa voce for the priest, which corresponds to lack of silence in the assembly. It appears to us that this is one of the points that most evidently indicates a radical change in the Catholic Rite. Then again, it is typically this which appears to be scandalous to the faithful who chance upon the Traditional Mass: the long parts where the priest, especially in the Canon, pronounces the words softly, and the faithful - not being able to hear anything - are obliged to be silent.

We have noticed many times that this is more of a problem than the use of Latin.

I think some may claim that the words of consecration being said in a low voice is proper to the Roman rite, but how far does this go back? Is the submissa voce proper to the low Mass or to the solemn form (before the low Mass was supposedly adapted to become the solemn form in the codification of St. Pius V)?

Pope Francis on Divine Justice

From Misericordiae Vultus:

20. It would not be out of place at this point to recall the relationship between justice and mercy. These are not two contradictory realities, but two dimensions of a single reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates in the fullness of love. Justice is a fundamental concept for civil society, which is meant to be governed by the rule of law. Justice is also understood as that which is rightly due to each individual. In the Bible, there are many references to divine justice and to God as “judge”. In these passages, justice is understood as the full observance of the Law and the behaviour of every good Israelite in conformity with God’s commandments. Such a vision, however, has not infrequently led to legalism by distorting the original meaning of justice and obscuring its profound value. To overcome this legalistic perspective, we need to recall that in Sacred Scripture, justice is conceived essentially as the faithful abandonment of oneself to God’s will.

The standard textbook Latin view? As for Pope Francis's opposition between faith and the observance of the law, is he getting the right opposition? Is he characterizing the problem with the Pharisees correctly? Is this rooted in an erroneous understanding of Divine Justice, which fails to see that it is actually identical, or an aspect of Divine Mercy, as is indicated in the Hebrew of the Old Testament and in the use of dikaiosune?

Another Stalwart Bishop from Kazakhstan

The Oct. 10 intervention of the Archbishop of Maria Sanctissima in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tomash Peta, in English.

Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Jean-Miguel Garrigues, O.P.

Un intellectuel à contretemps
Synode : le théologien Jean-Miguel Garrigues livre une analyse « autorisée » des orientations du pape François
Divorcés-remariés : le P. Jean-Miguel Garrigues répond à ses détracteurs

THEOLOGIE Père Jean-Miguel GARRIGUES

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

No "Private" Divine Liturgies?

Floating around on the Orthodox interwebz... (for example, this site)

"There was once a priest who did not want to serve the liturgy because it was a cold winter day.

The temperature was 10 degrees below zero and the priest knew that the only person who was likely to come to the service was the chanter. The priest had no idea about the Church’s teaching on the presence of the Triumphant Church and how the Divine Liturgy benefits the living and the departed. With difficulty he forced himself to go to church. On the way to church he kept wishing that the chanter would not come so that he would not have to serve and go home. However, the chanter did come.

The priest did the Prothesis (or Proskomedia, the service of preparing the holy gifts) in a hurry and began the Divine Liturgy. Shortly after, some bishops, priests, monks and nuns and some lay people arrived. Most of them sat in the choir section and began to chant so beautifully that the priest forgot about how cold and lonely he was earlier. His whole body was warm and his whole being was all a flame…. When he did the small entrance he noticed that the church was full of people – most of them familiar – he did not pay much attention and just continued with the Divine Liturgy.

When the time came for the Sanctification of the Holy Gifts he saw three bishops, brightly clothed and radiant entering the Holy Altar. They knelt with him and prayed. The priest then stood up very carefully with fear, took the censer and in a loud voice said,
‘Especially our All Holy, Immaculate, Most Blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary…’.

The soul of the priest was amazed and filled with divine joy. Peace and heavenly stillness, hesychia, dominated his inner self. When the time came for the elevation and dividing of the Host (Lamb) the whole church filled with the sweetest melodies. The whole multitude of people who were present along with the monks, priests and bishops chanted not only once but many times,
‘One is Holy, One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen’.

Next they chanted the Holy Communion hymn,
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good, Alleluia.’

The priest was wondering what to do. Should he partake of the Holy Communion first or step aside for the three bishops who were present. Just as he was thinking this, one of the bishops nodded to him indicating that he should receive Holy Communion and then to Unify and Place the remaining of the portions of the Lamb into the Chalice along with the portions in memory of the Holy Theotokos and the Saints. Having completed this the priest then opened the Beautiful Gate … and saw no one in the Church… he turned and looked back into the holy altar, he looked to the right, looked to the left, the bishops had disappeared, he stood there speechless, amazed. He slowly opened his mouth and chanted the next petition,

‘With the fear of God and faith and love, draw near …,’
and the chanter slowly drew near to take Holy Communion. The priest was still amazed, still wondering! The whole Triumphant Church was present. All those present in the church were persons familiar to him, they were persons that had departed from this life and he would from time to time commemorate their names during each liturgy: ‘that’s why they were present, that’s why they all seemed so familiar’, he thought.

As for the bishops in the altar they were the Three Hierarchs: Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.

So many years of study at university, so much research and so many sleepless nights he spent studying and these efforts were not able to give him not even one drop of the sweetness and divine knowledge that this one Divine Liturgy gave him."

Experiences During the Divine Liturgy p451-453
Chiesa: The Letter of the Thirteen Cardinals to the Pope. Episode Two by Sandro Magister

Text and names of signers confirmed, apart from marginal inaccuracies. Absolutely certain, above all, is what is at stake: control of the procedures, decisive for the outcome of the synod

Collège des bernardins: Une approche théologique du monde : Cosmos de Louis Bouyer par Marie-Hélène GRINTCHENKO


En mémoire... Louis Bouyer, Autour d'un concile

CWR Interview with Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki

Polish archbishop: Unless we recognize sin, Christ’s incarnation is meaningless
October 13, 2015
Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops’ conference gave a wide-ranging interview shortly before the opening of the Synod on the Family.

Related: Synod Profile: Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki
Abp. Gądecki, who is the President of the Polish Bishops Conference a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2014, is known for his staunch and outspoken orthodoxy

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Idolatry?

Listen as Dr. James Skedros, Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Cantonis Professor of Byzantine...

Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Tuesday, October 13, 2015

ἐνανθρωπήσαντα

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in Greek

Πιστεύομεν εἰς ἕνα Θεὸν Πατέρα παντοκράτορα
ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων·
καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν
τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν Μονογενῆ,
τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων,
Φῶς ἐκ Φωτός,
Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ,
γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα,
ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί,
δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο·
τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν,
καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου,
καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα,
σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου,
καὶ παθόντα, καὶ ταφέντα,
καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ κατὰ τὰς γραφὰς,
καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς,
καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρὸς,
καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς,
οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος·
καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ Κύριον καὶ Ζωοποιόν,
τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον,
τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον,
τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν·
εἰς μίαν ἁγίαν καθολικὴν καὶ ἀποστολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν·
ὁμολογοῦμεν ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν·
προσδοκῶμεν ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν,
καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. ἀμήν.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Chiesa: Thirteen Cardinals Have Written to the Pope. Here’s the Letter by Sandro Magister
But Francis has rejected their requests en bloc. And meanwhile, the “Relatio finalis” has disappeared from the program of the synod