Holy Family Library Bookmobile, Michigan

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Fiat

There is another contact we made while attending the CMAA Colloquium which I want to mention because I am very much impressed with this couple’s most laudable initiative to keep old, Catholic books in circulation.  If you are fortunate enough to live in their vicinity,  their apostolate could be of great benefit to you, especially if you homeschool.

We met Doug  Spangler of the HOLY FAMILY LIBRARY of southern Michigan, who told us that to date, he and his wife have rescued over 10,000 books from Catholic schools which have been shut down.

From their web page: “Wren Spangler, who has a Master’s Degree in Library Science, has begun organizing and cataloging these books.  Douglas and Wren have begun to form a free lending library and are planning to offer a large selection of books and media to families in the area–especially Hillsdale, Jackson, Adrian, Temperance, and Coldwater [Michigan].”

You might want to check them out!  – Pun intended  🙂

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Sacred Music Colloquium 2012

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Fiat

Well, we’re back home after a very full week of participating in the CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has been quite an experience for me.  I assisted, for the very first time, at a fully delineated “smells and bells” N.O. For those who say that one can hardly tell the difference between that and the TLM, I beg to differ.   Seeing and hearing a female lector (even doing Gregorian chant) is a reminder that the N.O. is still a Mass of options –  all perfectly legit.

But, as I was reminded, for those who are employed by N.O. parishes as church musicians, the “smells and bells” liturgy, in contrast to what is typical in their parishes was most welcome.  God bless their efforts to bring back some semblance of genuine Catholic worship to their parishes.  Perhaps some of them know it, perhaps not, but they are paving the way for the full restoration to the traditional ars orandi of the Mass that will never die, the venerable, ancient and also ever-new Mass of our heritage, the Tridentine Mass.

Two traditional Latin Masses were also celebrated, one of them on the Solemnity of SS Peter & Paul, by Monsignor Andrew Wadsworth (Director of ICE) as shown in this photo from charlescole.com

This coming Sunday, I look forward to being once more with the beautiful priests and oblates of the Institute of Christ the King for Mass.  It is an inestimable grace to have – even at the cost of small sacrifice – access to a regularly scheduled TLM along with all the devotions, music, images, etc., of our Apostolic faith, where we all worship with one mind and heart, totally free from having to weigh unnecessary options.

If I receive photos/audios, I will post them.  The music WAS absolutely superb, except for some parts of certain more modern postludes which I found to be a little jarring to the ear, and which therefore, made my post-Communion thanksgiving rather difficult.  If God was trying to speak to me, I couldn’t hear Him over the volume and too much dissonance!

I met some wonderful people there, such as Katie from Joliet, Matthew, Kathleen, Catherine, Mona, Ted, Barbie, seminarian Armando, Rick, Father Johannes Smith of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, Father Pasley of Mater Ecclesiae, (who it turns out, is a friend of a priest-friend of ours, here in the diocese of Joliet!) and the former Rosalind Moss………..

….now Mother Mariam of the Lamb of God, (on the right) and foundress of a Benedictine congregation which was inaugurated by Bishop Edward J. Slattery of the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

By the way, Mother told me that her foundation will also now include  mention of Our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.    That’s a very long story which you will probably be hearing later. Suffice to say that Mother made the Mexico connection when she met Msgr. Isidro Puente Ochoa who celebrates the Tridentine Mass in Tijuana.

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Musica Sacra Colloquim 2012

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Fiat

 

Two of us from the Kankakee TLM Community will be attending the colloquium, and thus,  no further postings will be made on this blog until after our return on July 3.

It should be fun!

P.S. I have updated the post on the flags of the Cristeros.  Take a look!

God bless!

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A Get-Rich “Scheme”

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Fiat

According to Forbes Magazine, below is the 2012 list for the ten most wealthy individuals.  In just a few sentences though, in what I hope you will take to heart, I am going to tell you how to surpass all of them in riches.

     Name                                                     Net worth                      Source(s) of wealth

1  Carlos Slim                                      $69.0 billion            Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso

2  Bill Gates                                         $61.0 billion            Microsoft

3  Warren Buffett                              $44.0 billion           Berkshire Hathaway

4  Bernard Arnault                            $41.0 billion            LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton

5  Amancio Ortega                            $37.5 billion             Inditex Group

6  Lawrence Ellison                          $36.0 billion             Oracle Corporation

7 Eike Batista                                     $30.0 billion             EBX Group

8  Stefan Persson                              $26.0 billion             H&M

9  Li Ka-shing                                     $25.5 billion              Cheung Kong Holdings

10 Karl Albrecht                                $25.4 billion              Aldi

Now, consider this truth:  “The benefit of a single grace is greater than all the material value of the whole world.”  Says who?  Says St. Thomas Aquinas 1,2,P, 113a IX ad. 2.

When I read the above quote in my morning reading, I immediately thought of what I could do right there and then to obtain one such single grace that would surpasses the total worth of all the riches in the entire globe!

I was inspired to make a spiritual Communion. It is something I do everyday, but never before has the act had as much significance as when I meditated on the words of St. Thomas.  That is the thought I want to pass on to you today: to make frequent spiritual Communions so as to grow rich in the love of God!

First ask our Blessed Lady to help you form a proper intention, then ask her to adorn you in her most beautiful virtues so as to enable you to receive Him worthily.

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though thou wert already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.

Than speak to Him, thank Him, and finally say to Him, “Mane mecum, Domine.”

Carlos, Bill, Warren… eat your hearts out.  I’ve made my billions today – and more!

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Just In: Cardinal Burke Opines on the SSPX Situation

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Fiat

SSPX-BURKE Jun-15-2012 (530 words) xxxi

Cardinal Burke optimistic on reconciliation with SSPX

By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A senior Vatican official voiced optimism about reconciliation talks with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, while acknowledging the longer-term challenge of bringing the breakaway group under papal leadership.

“I believe that the reconciliation will take place, and then we have to devote ourselves to consolidating it and helping it to go forward,” Cardinal Raymond L. Burke told Catholic News Service June 15, two days after Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the SSPX, met with Vatican officials.

Click link for full story: Catholic News Service

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Notes, Continuing With the Cristeros…

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Fiat

I continue to be amazed with the wealth of information I have recently come across.  I want to share it all, but I realize that my first obligation is to nourish my soul and to comply with my daily duty by taking care of the needs of my family.

The rest of the month is going to be intensely busy and I don’t know how much I will be able to post.  I plan on writing about General Gorostieta.   The letters written to his wife are going to be made public, alas, edited.   It was only just recently that the world discovered the existence of those letters, when a granddaughter of his donated them to a museum that commemorates his life.

Photo is from my new friend Corazón Cristero.

Also, I hope to be able to post something on Hildegard von Bingen, who is to be canonized and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.  God is speaking to us.  Is anybody listening?

I continue to pray most fervently for the regularization of the SSPX.  I understand the suspicions and want of trust coming from certain quarters of its leadership.   We all know what most diocese are like, and of the animosity – both hidden and overt – on the part of many bishops and  clergy against the Traditional Latin Mass and the entire pre-c0nciliar faith.  My diocese is one such example. We are a spiritual desert.  But ultimately, a traditional Catholic puts his trust in God who works through men, even evil men, to attain His purposes.  We know what those purposes are and He WILL REIGN!

What the SSPX has accomplished is remarkable; they have prospered because of the ‘freedom’  from constraining bishops, but I believe that since now they are a formidable force for tradition, they should, in total unity, submit to the yoke of Peter’s authority.

  We have to stand together to withstand what will be unleashed upon us!

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Bishop Fellay to Meet with Cardinal Leveda

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Fiat

A report this morning announces that Bishop Fellay will be meeting this afternoon with Cardinal Wm. Levada to hear of the Pope’s decision regarding the status of the SSPX.  It is afternoon already in Rome.  I am praying for good news which would be of momentous importance for the Church.  As Rocco Palmo says, “[It’s] been intensely awaited for weeks (or, for some, 24 years).”

From today’s news report on Whispers in the Loggia:

And in a development that’s been intensely awaited for weeks (or, for some, 24 years), quickly-moving reports from French and Italian agencies give word that this afternoon will bring a CDF meeting between Cardinal William Levada and Bishop Bernard Fellay at which the head of the Society of St Pius X is to receive the Pope’s decision on the restoration to full communion of the breakaway traditionalist group. (Notably, last Saturday’s edition of B16’s weekly briefing from the CDF — the dicastery which carried out the years-long doctrinal discussions with the Swiss-based group — wasn’t attended solely by Levada, who invariably goes alone to the papal apartment for the sessions; last weekend, the cardinal-prefect was accompanied to the audience by his deputy, the Spanish Jesuit Archbishop Luis Ladaria.)

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The Flags of The Cristeros

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Fiat

The wording reads: “Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe”.

<< To the left is a Cristero family with the flag as depicted above.

This is an image of a battle standard carried by the Cristeros.  >>

It reads: “Long Live Christ the King – Army of Liberation (1927)

<< In this photo we see various flags and standards being carried.  (Preparations for a field Mass)

 It is quite plausible that different brigades  carried their own particular banner, but it appears that the wording was consistent in proclaiming “Long live Christ the King and our Lady of Guadalupe”.

From what I have read and seen, the most prominent type of banner was that of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and that of our Lady of Guadalupe. There are photos also of a cross on a plain white background.  In one photo, such a one is seen where the Cristeros are assisting at Mass in the fields.

Update of June 14, 2012: Below is a beautiful standard which I located at  Corazón Cristero.  The translation at the bottom of the image is mine.  It is hard to decipher the last word, but it sure looks like it reads, “GUIZA  D.  Perhaps the commander of the brigade???

 The above photo (my translation) is from PANORAMICA DEL SANTUARIO DE LOS MARTIRES DE CRISTO Facebook page.

Next,  is a picture of the St. Gaspar regiment commanded by Manuel Ramírez de Oliva.  (He is the one on the right with that “I-dare-you look”.) They carry a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe and one of Christ the King.

In the movie For Greater Glory, Blessed  José Luis Sánchez del Rio is carrying  the banner of  the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From what I can decipher, it says at the top, “Pontifical Apostolate of Reparatory Adoration”.  (Reference is to the union erected with the approbation of St. Pius X  in 1910.  I do not know whether this is an accurate depiction of  the actual banner he carried.)

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THEOLOGY OF THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS #30

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Fiat

After covering the Chalice containing the Precious Body and Blood, the priest genuflects in adoration, then rises to start the Agnus Dei which he says three times while striking his breast. His posture is bent-over in a gesture of humility, reverence and holy fear, while the faithful kneel.

With the fraction rite, we saw Our Lord mystically immolated upon our altar, and at the commingling, His glorious victory over death.  Now, therefore, is a most fitting time to beg of our victorious Savior, mercy and His peace.  Gihr says, “Christ is the Sacrificial Lamb that takes away the sins of the world, only because He is the beloved Son…who conquered, moreover, with the strength of the lion – and who now reigns and triumphs as Lord of lords and King of kings.”

“Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi”–  Anne Catherine Emmerich tells us that after the death of Christ, prodigies occurred both in nature and in souls.  During those moments of grace, numerous sinners at the foot of the cross were converted, among them many soldiers and even Pharisees, this the immediate and glorious fruits of the Lamb’s atoning, sin-effacing, sacrificial offering of Himself.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, at whose patience in torments and blessed death, many, beating their breasts, lamented their offenses; by Thy bitter passion and death give me grace with my whole heart to make amends for my sins; and  for all here present at the foot of this mystical Calvary, be Thou pleased to bestow the gift of union of hearts and minds in the bonds of  Thy peace. Amen”

 _________________

In the N.O., the rubrics do not call for a genuflection, bent-over posture, nor striking of the breast in a penitential gesture by the priest. The rite has the priest breaking a large Host into many pieces so that the invocation of the Lamb of God may be “repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion…”, not necessarily the traditional 3 times in honor of the Trinity.

Also, it is quite common at this point to see the numerous “extra-ordinary” Eucharistic lay-ministers enter into sanctuary to prepare to handle our Eucharistic Lord.  Meanwhile, the congregation remains standing, instead of kneeling as in the TLM.

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Fellay: SSPX readmission ‘explosive’

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Fiat

It’s a very brief bit of info, but I would expect that it will not be long before we hear more on the subject.  For my part, I can’t wait for that “explosion”.

From The Tablet:

Latest News

Fellay: SSPX readmission ‘explosive’

8 June 2012

THE SSPX Superior General has predicted that there will be an “explosion” in the Church if the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) is readmitted.

Bishop Fellay was speaking in the last week of May at a small chapel used by the SSPX in Vienna’s 7th district. In a two and a half hour address on the ongoing negotations between the Vatican and the SSPX, Bishop Fellay said that it was the personal wish of Pope Benedict XVI that the SSPX should return.

Cardinals and bishops were deeply divided on the issue, he said, and Pope Benedict had said it would be “far easier for” both himself and the Society to leave things as they were.

Bishop Fellay also gave an indication of how a return might be structured. He said it was “simply wonderful” that so many Anglicans had come over to Rome and that the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham had been formed. He hoped “something similar” would be possible for the SSPX.

 

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