St Elisabeth Convent Choir, Minsk visiting St John of Shanghai, Belfast

Kyrie Eleison

OrthoChristian: ON ENVY AND LOVE OF POWER IN THE HISTORY OF BYZANTIUM AND RUS’
Protodeacon Vladimir Vasilik

Are catastrophic events connected with envy characteristic only of Byzantium? Alas, no.

Metropolitan Hilarion on the Future of Christianity in Europe

Pravmir: Address by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk on the Future of Christianity in Europe

On 18 September 2018, in Lisbon, A Junção do Bem Foundation organized a reception in honour of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, who is currently on a visit to Portugal. After the reception Metropolitan Hilarion delivered an address on the Future of Christianity in Europe.

original: MosPat

A Theologian Comments on the IL for the Upcoming Latin Synod

First Things: THOUGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTUM LABORIS by Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

The Latest Vatican-China Development

Vatican Press Office announces a ‘Provisional Agreement’ between China and the Holy See, the beginning of a process, says Greg Burke
The Provisional Agreement concerns the appointment of bishops. The Global Times today cited China’s Foreign Ministry, which denied the presence in Beijing of a Vatican delegation. China’s leadership appears divided on the matter. The goal of this “accord is not political but pastoral”.

The excommunication of seven illegitimate bishops lifted, the new Diocese of Chengde established for Mgr Guo Jincai

Card Parolin on the importance of the agreement between China and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs unaware of any visiting Vatican delegation by Wang Zhicheng

Card Pietro Parolin also appears to have distanced himself from any imminent agreement on episcopal appointments. Mgr Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, praises China, calling it an influential power that respects human dignity and the planet. For him, the critics of the Sino-Vatican agreement are "a little minority", loud “but there are not very many of them.”


Card Zen on the China-Vatican agreement: Saying nothing in many words by Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiun

Cdl. Zen calls for Vatican secretary of state Parolin to ‘resign’ over ‘betrayal’ in China deal

Provisional agreement between China and Holy See raises many questions, highlights tensions by Christopher R. Altieri
The central question is whether the Church can trust this Chinese government, and whether Chinese Catholics can trust this Papal administration not to give away the store.

Bound to Disappoint Some of the Latin Conspiracy Theorists

NCReg: Benedict XVI Discusses His Resignation in Newly Published Letters Edward Pentin

Portland is Fortunate

NCReg: Archbishop Sample Emphasizes ‘Liturgy According to the Mind, Heart of the Church’ by Joseph Pronechen

The Portland Archdiocese issues a liturgical handbook to ensure greater reverence for the Eucharist and the Mass.

The Mind of the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarch is Revealed

Does he endorse the use of violence to bring the break-away parts of Ukraine back under the political control of Ukraine? If so, how does he justify this? Does he deny that there is a right to secession and self-determination?

CWR: Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk discusses solidarity, patriotism, power for a free Ukraine by Deborah Castellano Lubov

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk says that a free Ukraine is strengthened by solidarity and patriotism, while noting that “patriotic feelings are neutral” and “they must be evangelized.” His Beatitude recalls the so-called revolution of dignity [...]

Dr. Henry Sire

Sandro Magister Comments on Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option

Sandro Magister: "Quaerere Deum." Twelve Years Ago On the Dot, the September 12 of the Church of Benedict

And Rod Dreher responds.

CWR: Cardinal Müller: “Corruption of doctrine always brings with it the corruption of morals” by CWR Staff

“The root of this evil is not clericalism, whatever that might be, but rejection of the truth and moral licentiousness.” Homily at the priestly ordination […]

Come Holy Spirit

or the prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

If the first part of the petition is addressed to the Holy Spirit, does it make sense to ask the Holy Spirit to send forth His Spirit? The second part is addressed to God the Father, so wouldn't it make more sense to include this part:

"Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth."

after that?

As that is taken from Psalm 104, verse 30, can it be argued that it is actually addressing Christ (and the Father)?

Introduction to Christianity at 50

A conference at Notre Dame.

A Dossier for the Devil's Advocate

If there had been one. Thanks to Pray Tell: Paul VI on liturgical reform Part 6

Veni Creator Spiritus

Given that it was supposedly written by Rabanus Maurus (c. 8th ce), one shouldn't be surprised that the hymn reflects a Latin Pneumatology (with one of its sourcesbeing St. Augustine?).

An attempt to increase the authority of the next synod. For what purpose?

cna: Pope approves new constitution for synod of bishops

Edward Pentin

Adam DeVille's Review of John O'Malley's Book on Vatican I

Vatican I, Pius IX and the Problem of Ultramontanism

America Article on Bishop Milan

Fr. Dominic Legge on the Holy Trinity

The Prayer of Jesus, Unveiling the Mystery of the Holy Trinity

Who Is Being Papist?

Asia News: A fortress-like Vatican for the Russian Orthodox Church

Marco Tossati

1P5: On the Pope and Abuse, Who Are the Real 'Falsifiers of the Word'

Related:
Henry Sire, Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires: Some More Unanswered Questions

Business as Usual for Francis

CNA: Cupich, Tobin appointed by Pope Francis to October synod on young people

St. John of Kronstadt on Icons

Dr. Robert Louis Wilken on Religious Liberty

"The Religious Roots of Religious Liberty": player.fm and soundcloud

CWR: Why the Church needs philosophy: On the 20th anniversary of Fides et ratio by Joseph G. Trabbic

The philosophical currents that troubled John Paul II two decades ago and moved him to write Fides et ratio haven’t disappeared. […]

Lord, Have Mercy

We need to pray, with everything that is going on between Constantinople and Moscow, with Ukraine in the middle.



Related:

Rorate Caeli: Benediction of the Conventual Church - Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer by New Catholic

The new conventual church of the wonderful Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer (an order of Priests and Brothers dedicated exclusively to the Traditional Dominican rite and customs), in Chéméré-le-Roi, in Mayenne, France, will be dedicated with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Abp. Guido Pozzo, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, Sep.

Sandro Magister: Francis, a Pope Who Says One Thing and the Opposite

Rorate Caeli: De Mattei: The Church and the Men of the Church

The courageous denunciation of ecclesiastical scandals made by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has generated the consensus of many, but also the displeasure of others, convinced that everything discrediting the representatives of the Church should be covered up by silence. This desire to safeguard the Church is understandable...

If he is serious, he will resign.

CWR: Is Pope Francis serious about addressing abuse crisis and its causes? by Christopher R. Altieri
Francis apparently believes that airing bishops’ dirty laundry is not the right thing to do—and that is a large part of the attitude that got us to this point in the first place.

Sandro Magister: Figments. If Instead of Bergoglio They Had Elected Cardinal Scola Pope

How will this play out?

More smoke from the bishop of Rome: Pope Francis: Bishops must pray to overcome “the Great Accuser”

Related:
Pope’s cardinal advisors say Vatican will soon respond to Viganò allegations
Cardinal DiNardo and USCCB officials to meet with Pope Francis
Wuerl to meet with Pope Francis to discuss resignation

Human Dignity?

Crisis: What Version of Human Dignity Should Catholics Defend? BY JAMES KALB

Dignitatis Humanae, the Vatican II declaration on religious liberty, appeals to what it says is a growing awareness of human dignity. More recent Vatican pronouncements, including the new language in [...]

The College of Cardinals

Fr. Keenan needs to get over his Latincentricism. The college of Cardinals should reverted into the special form of the local synod of the Church of Rome, concerned only with matters of the Church of Rome. It should have no role to play in the Church Universal.

CWR: Should the Church have women cardinals? As we speak about power in the Church, we must ask: is this not simply a form of clericalism, a phenomenon much decried by Pope Francis? by Nicholas Senz

The Best BC Has to Offer?

Fr. Z: Popcorn Moment! James Keenan, SJ, and his 8 women cardinals!

The Issue at Hand

Taking The Gay Priest Issue Seriously by Rod Dreher
The cognitive dissonance within the Catholic Church around homosexuality has reached a breaking point

Greater Use of Traditional Iconography Will Save the Church?

CWR Dispatch: Iconography workshop emphasizes beauty of sacred art, Eastern liturgies by Dr. Adam A. J. DeVille

The “Beauty Will Save theWorld” summer camp is an iconography workshop that includes discussions about beauty and vocations, all held together by sung liturgical prayer.

CNA: Letter acknowledges Vatican receipt of allegations against McCarrick in 2000

26th International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality

Living Faith

Pan-Orthodox Cemes

A paper by Fr. Paul Gavrilyuk

The 2017 Conference

CSM Article on the Old Believers

Symposium of Orthodox Spirituality

University of Chicago site of Symposium of Orthodox Spirituality September 15

The Only Growth Latins Can Get

And hence the USCCB loves immigration... there is no guarantee that the children of the immigrants will stay in the Church, but the USCCB is not willing to deal with the institutional causes of failure.

CNA: Six new churches in five years: Portland’s growing Catholic community

More New Books and Reprints

Resigning the Episcopal Office

CWR: Now it is not the time to “turn down the temperature” by Edward N. Peters
Sometimes even allies offer advice that is ill-conceived, and I think that applies to some of what Fr. Raymond de Souza wrote recently for the National Catholic Register.

(original)

Synaxis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Byz TX: Synaxis of Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne

Archbishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA gives a report.

Archbishop Viganò Comments on Videos

NCReg

Fr. Z: Why was Archbp. Viganò publicly polite to disgraced ex-Card McCarrick? Answered.

De Mattei on Archbishop Viganò

Rorate caeli: De Mattei: Archbishop Viganò - punished for telling the truth?

Probably Won't Be Negative on the Current Pontificate

Fr. Z: New book by Jesuit @antoniospadaro about Francis

Dr. Rao Comments on the Crisis

Rorate Caeli: Op-Ed: "The City of Light under the Regime of Darkness: Historical Meditation on Current Events" (by John C. Rao)

The City of Light and the Regime of Darkness: Historical Meditation on Current Events by Dr. John C. Rao Monday, August 28th, the Feast of St. Augustine, followed hard upon the Sunday statement of Archbishop Viganò regarding papal delinquency in the chastisement of episcopal evildoers. Mulling over the possibility of some providential connection of the annual commemoration of the

Homily of Bishop Stephen Lopes for August 19

Catholic Herald

Something Rotten in...

Being Frank about Francis by Dr. Douglas Farrow

The McCarrick scandal, let us all admit, is just one powerful gust in the swirling tempest that now surrounds Francis and threatens to capsize both […]

Dreher's Viganò Coverage

Viganò Vindicated Again
Yet pontiff calls him a liar in today’s homily. It’s time for Viganò to release all documents

When The Pope Met Kim Davis
Archbishop Vigano gives his side of the story

Pope Francis’s Best Friends
Claim: Post-Vigano, media going soft on pontiff to protect his gay rights agenda


Archbishop Vigano Bright Sadness
Answering Vigano's Critics
Catholic Cold War Turns Into Civil War
Pope Francis McCarrick Gay Mafia Bombshell

Related:
Pope Francis says response to division should be silence, prayer
Pope Francis: Let the Word of God take root in your heart

CNA Update

Catholic News Agency: Benedict, Viganò, Francis, and McCarrick: Where things stand on nuncio’s allegations

Rorate Caeli: Op-Ed: If Homosexual Militancy can even dictate the agenda in the Church

The Theory of Evolution and the Question of Death

Something to ponder after reading the following...

Russian Priest: Most Holy Men Denounced Evolution and So Should We “I’m not ashamed to be a daughter of the Heavenly Father. Let those whose ancestors are apes[1] be ashamed” by Fr. Valery Dukhanin (OrthoChristian)

Bishop Eleganti Interview

CWR: Bishop Eleganti: “The Pope’s silence is a classic non-denial!” by CWR Staff

“The attempts to rewrite the traditional doctrine that regards homosexual acts as disordered in themselves,” says the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Chur, Switzerland, “and […]

Holy Orders: Bishops

Fr. Hunwicke: EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION: a Tale of Two Meddlers

A Documentary on Chevetogne

Holy Amphilochios (Makris)

Hymns in honor of newly-glorified St. Amphilochios (Makris)

Amphilochios (Makris) Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

John Finnis Responds to the CCC Revision

Public Discourse (via Ed Feser)

Praying the Office

The Record of Pope Francis

Sandro Magister: Francis the Backslider. He Didn't Just Cover Up For McCarrick

A Response to James Martin

Abusing Zacchaeus by Dr. Leroy Huizenga
Fr. James Martin’s approaches to interpreting Scripture have a long pedigree in Western Christianity; they’re largely rooted in the modernism of liberal Protestantism.

The Usual Suspects

Fr. Z: “Gay” Parade in Rome with @JamesMartinSJ and a bishop close to the papal inner circle

The Truth About Cardinal Müller's Dismissal?

Lifesite: Pope dismissed Cdl Müller for following Church rules on abuse cases

The Latin "Progressives" React...

Not going to bother to look for other examples...

America Magazine: Viganò's accusations: What we know and what questions they raise

Cupich Cries

CNA Cupich says interview edited unfairly and Full text of Cardinal Cupich NBC Interview

Fr. Rutler on Tattooing

The Morality of Tattooing BY FR. GEORGE W. RUTLER

There was a time, not in the hoary past, when tattoos were an indulgence of louche members of the demi-monde, as observed by Alexandre Dumas. They seem to have become [...] Read more articles The Line Between Holiness and Madness in Ron Hansen’s Mariette in Ecstasy Modern artistic treatments of religious life tend to share a few assumptions: first, that there is something sinister in a life of vocation, and secondly, that those who choose such a life must have some degree of psychological or emotional disturbance motivating them. If these stories feature a nun, priest, or monk as a protagonist, […] View more from the Standard Bearers View more from the Civilized

How Much of This is St. Augustine, How Much is Just Latin Theology?

Orthodoxy, worship, and Saint Augustine by Matthew Tsakanikas, STD
Doctrine exists for worship and not simply for itself. Doctrine apart from worship is barren.

Does this escape "functional Unitarianism"?

Thinking with the NuChurch Instead?

CWR Dispatch: Fr. James Martin is not thinking with the Church by Fr. Steve Mattson

What Fr. Martin writes and says seems guided more by GLAAD than by God, and is more aligned to the thinking of the World than the Word.

Christianity in Ukraine explained in 35 minutes by Right Rev. Dr. Andriy Chirovsky

A Defense in Which Modesty Is No Longer Primary

OrthoChristian: In Defense of Women Who Adhere to Tradition and Wear Headscarves

Is it a good angle for approaching the issue? Shouldn't modesty for the sake of the woman, and also for the sake of her brothers in Christ, be important?

Speculation about Luficer

Why Was Lucifer in the Garden? by Seraphim Hamilton

Adam was destined to be exalted above the angels, and Lucifer could not bear it. Envy incited him to deceive Eve, thus bringing about his own fall from glory.

Yes, the Problem is "Clericalism"

Rorate Caeli: De Mattei: “I will not say a single word about this”

Tsar Nicholas II Conference

Russian Faith: International Conference Honoring Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II

Cupich Must Go

CWR Dispatch: Cardinal Cupich: “The Pope has a bigger agenda”
CNA: Cupich dismisses Viganò claims as a ‘rabbit hole’

First Things...

WHY FRANCIS MUST SPEAK by Gerald E. Murray
The question prompted by Viganò’s account of his personal interactions with Francis, must be answered.

WHY WE STAY, AND THE VIGANÒ TESTIMONY by George Weigel
Archbishop Viganò's testimony deserves to be taken seriously, not peremptorily dismissed or ignored.

WHAT FRANCIS KNEW by Philip Lawler
Viganò's letter implicates Pope Francis in the very behavior he denounced while in Ireland.

More on the Viganò Testimony

Viganò issues new statement, documents to clear his name of false charges

A who's who of the Viganò testimony

October Is Around the Corner...

And Edward Pentin asks: Have Synods Become Vehicles for Legitimizing Heterodoxy?

Edward Pentin Comments on Archbishop Gänswein’s Comments

Archbishop Gänswein’s Comments Were Correct and We Stand By Our Reporting by Edward Pentin

Bishop Schneider Responds

Fr. Z: PODCAzT 167: Reflection of Bp. Athanasius Schneider about The Viganò Testimony

NCReg: Reflection on the ‘Testimony’ of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò by Bishop Athanasius Schneider
Ruthlessness and transparency in detecting and in confessing the evils in the life of the Church will help to initiate an efficient process of ...

Beginning of a Trend?

Or will "conservative" American Roman Catholic theologians continue to be silent about the latest regarding Pope Francis?

Scott Hahn on Vigano letter: ‘It seems like a good time to pray like never before’

In Response to the Smear Campaign

CWR: Archbishop Viganò responds to criticisms of handling of 2014 Nienstedt investigation by Carl E. Olson

The former nuncio to the U.S. flatly denies assertions that he ordered a stop to an investigation of then-Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul and […]

"Two or Three Witnesses..."

Former nunciature official: 'Vigano said the truth'

The Weekend Bombshell

Former United States Nuncio on the McCarrick Scandal: "Francis Knew. He Should Resign"

Related: OP-ED - "The McCarrick Affair: The Pope knew. Here is why he must resign." Francesca Romana at RORATE CÆLI - by Aldo Maria Valli August 26, 2018 [Rorate note: journalist Aldo Maria Valli is probably the best-known Vaticanist in Italy, since for many years he commented on the papacy in the main Italian television network RAI1, and also for RAI 3.] “Bishops and priests, abusing their authority, have committed horrendous crimes to the detriment of their faithful, minors, innocent victims,

Sandro Magister: Homosexual Priests and Bishops. Neither "Healthy" Nor "Faithful"

Are Acts of Canonizations by the Bishop of Rome Infallible?

One Latin traditionalist perspective --

Rorate Caeli: "The authority of canonisations": Do all canonisations need to be accepted as infallible? -- a special guest article The authority of canonisations by Dr. John R. T. Lamont

May God Grant Him Many Years

Church Life: Observations on Ratzinger’s Introduction to Christianity on Its 50th Anniversary written by Cyril O’Regan

Product of the Consilium

Catholic News Agency: Just the Facts?

Or the facts with an ideological slant?

Fr. James Martin critiques ‘homophobic’ pastors at WMOF

From this article can one know what the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is regarding homosexuality and homosexual behavior?

Should This Be Called [Roman] Catholic Integralism?

In Defence of Catholic Integralism by Thomas Pink

Is it necessarily bound up with acceptance of the modern nation-state?

One "Reunion" Council and Two...

ecumenical councils? What did the decrees of Florence really say about the papacy? Something for me to look up, presumably in Denzinger.

From a comment:

I would advise those who have difficulty with Pope Francis’s teaching on the death penalty to follow the guidance of the CDF given in Donum Veritatis, 27-31. Some of Dr. Peters’ comments about the ordinary papal magisterium need clarification because they could be interpreted as challenging the universal ordinary teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, which is affirmed by three ecumenical councils: Florence (D-H, 1307); Vatican I (D-H, 3064), and Vatican II (Lumen Gentium, 22 and 25).

2021

Who Is Protecting James Martin, SJ?

CWR Dispatch: Whither the Church on “sensitivity” to homosexuals? by Thomas R. Ascik
To what degree does the campaign of American Jesuit Fr. James Martin become the agenda for parishes in the Catholic Church throughout the world?

There's no Space in the Curriculum?

If Latins seminarians and graduate students aren't even going to learn Latin any more, they should at least learn Greek in its place.

Schema-Archimandrite Tikhon (Murtazov)

OrthoChristian: “IT’S BETTER TO SIN BY LOVE THAN BY STRICTNESS” The Memory of Schema-Archimandrite Tikhon (Murtazov)

The Absence of Leadership and Pastoring

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a bureaucrat to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

First Among Equals? Or the Final Arbiter?

One more thing from Ed Peters's essay on the change in the CCC:

But that’s where confusion sets in: while popes can, in a singleextraordinary act, assert something with infallible certitude sufficient to bind the faithful in belief or morals (Canon 749 § 1), no pope can, by a single ordinary act, assert something with anything like the equivalent force for Christian consciences.

If infallibility seems to be logically required for the Pope to arbitrate two disputing claims regarding dogma (and even that may be more of a practical, linguistic preference rather than a question about the reality being signified), or for the pope with a council to teach definitively (if infallibility is necessarily guaranteed only with respect to the act of teaching, and not also with the act of reception by the Christian faithful), then does it entail that the pope is infallible when he speaks alone, even if he has supposedly "consulted" the bishops of the world? If the Pope has no divinely sanctioned role as a "universal" teacher, and his role with respect to the Church Universal is limited to his cooperative role with respect to other bishops, speaking collectively as a body, then how can it be claimed that his "extraordinary" acts as a "universal" teacher (even if "taught" by Vatican I) are infallible? Where is the justification in the historical exercise of the office of the bishop of Rome in the first millenium for this?

What if?

Could the split of the Protestants have been prevented if the Latins had first reconciled with the Eastern Chalcedonian Christians ealier, and instead of elevating scholastic theological opinion as dogma at Trent, written the decrees differently?

Then we wouldn't have a problem about bishops endorsing practically unconditional intercommunion with Protestants.

The Intercommunion Proposal of the German Bishops is Unbiblical by Brian Kranick

Why Pope Paul VI Should Not Be Canonized

Paul VI on liturgical reform Editor

Pope Paul VI In view of the canonization of Pope Paul VI, the pope of liturgical reform, in October, Pray Tell is occasionally publishing some of his most significant statements on liturgical reform. This helps us understand the Church’s understanding of liturgy, and also reflect on how far we have to go in implementing the teaching more fully!