Servo Fidei - Keep the Faith

Papal Influence in Europe Intensifies

2006-04-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

"At a time when the European Union appears to be falling apart at its seams,
European citizens and politicians are gradually turning to the leadership of
one man for solutions."

"There is a massive and highly dangerous void in European leadership. No one
is taking a definitive stand against Islam and the anti-religious sentiment
pervading European society. No one is providing long-term solutions to the
volatile problems besetting the Continent. No one is standing up to protect
European identity. No one is leading Europe!"

"Benedict left no ambiguity as to which Christian values he was specifically
referring to. Pope Benedict said certain principles 'are not negotiable';
they include the protection of human life from conception until natural
death, the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, and the right
of parents to determine how their children will be educated."

"Pope Benedict xvi is acutely aware of the state of Europe today, and he is
already working to restore the Continent from its ailing condition. The
pontiff has wasted little time in reaffirming the Vatican's influence in
European politics and society."

http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?page=article&id=2126

Then it became clear to me what the foundation of real liturgical piety is...

2006-04-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

An interesting article on liturgical piety by Romano Guardini to whom Pope
Benedict XVI attributes much of his understanding of the liturgy, and it's
connection to the Faith.

The connection between Benedict XVI and Romano Guardini is very evident
even in the title of the book "Introduction to the Spirit of the
Liturgy" published by the present pope in 1999.

The preface to the book begins as follows:

"One of my first readings after the beginning of my theological studies,
at the beginning of 1946, was the first work by Romano Guardini, 'The
Spirit of the Liturgy,' a little book published for Easter of 1918. This
work made a decisive contribution to the rediscovery of the liturgy,
with its timeless beauty and grandeur, as the vital center of the Church
and Christian life. [...] This book of mine is intended to represent
another contribution to the renewal of this understanding."

Last Thursday, April 6, replying in St. Peter's Square to a young man's
question about his vocation, Benedict XVI again emphasized that when he
was a young man, his vocation emerged and flourished with the "discovery
of the beauty of the liturgy." Because "in the liturgy, the divine
beauty really appears to us, and heaven opens up."

"Then it became clear to me what the foundation of real liturgical piety
is..."

by Romano Guardini

Today I saw something grandiose: Monreale. I am full of gratitude for
its existence. The day was rainy. When we arrived there ? it was Holy
Thursday ? the solemn Mass had proceeded beyond the consecration. For
the blessing of the holy oils, the archbishop was seated beneath the
triumphal arch of the choir. The ample space was crowded. Everywhere
people were sitting in their places, silently watching.

What should I say about the splendor of this place? At first, the
visitor's glance sees a basilica of harmonious proportions. Then it
perceives a movement within its structure, which is enriched with
something new, a desire for transcendence that moves through it to the
point of passing beyond it; but all of this culminates in that splendid
luminosity.

So, a brief historical moment. It did not last long, but was supplanted
by something else entirely. But this moment, although brief, was of an
ineffable beauty.

There was gold all over the walls. Figures rose above figures, in all of
the vaults and in all of the arches. They stood out from the golden
background as though from a star-studded sky. Everywhere radiant colors
were swimming in the gold.

Yet the light was attenuated. The gold slept, and all the colors slept.
They could be seen there, waiting. And what their splendor would be like
if it shone forth! Only here and there did a border gleam, and an aura
of muted light trailed along the blue mantle of the figure of Christ in
the apse.

When they brought the holy oils to the sanctuary, and the procession,
accompanied by the insistent melody of an ancient hymn, wound through
that throng of figures, the basilica sprang back to life.

Its forms began to move. Responding to the solemn procession and the
movement of vestments and colors along the walls and through the arches,
the spaces began to move. The spaces came forward to meet the listening
ear and the eye rapt in contemplation.

The crowd sat and watched. The women were wearing veils. The colors of
their garments and shawls were waiting for the sun to make them shine
again. The men's faces were distinguished and handsome. Almost no one
was reading. All were living in the gaze, all engaged in contemplation.

Then it it became clear to me what the foundation of real liturgical
piety is: the capacity to find the "sacred" within the image and its
dynamism.

* * *

Monreale, Holy Saturday. When we arrived, the sacred ceremony had come
to the blessing of the Paschal candle. Immediately afterward, the deacon
solemnly advanced along the principal nave, bearing the Lumen Christi.

The Exultet was sung in front of the main altar. The bishop was seated
to the right of the altar, on an elevated throne made of stone, where he
sat listening. After the Exultet came the readings from the prophets,
and I rediscovered the sublime significance of those mosaic images.

Then there was the blessing of the baptismal water in the middle of the
church. All the concelebrants were seated around the font, with the
bishop in the center and the people standing around them. The babies
were brought forward ? one could see the emotion and pride in their
parents ? and the bishop baptized them.

Everything was so familiar. The people's conduct was simultaneously
detached and devout, and when anyone spoke to another person standing
nearby, it was not a disturbance. And so the sacred ceremony continued
on its way. It moved through almost every part of that great church: now
it took place in the choir, now in the nave, now under the triumphal
arch. The spaciousness and majesty of the place embraced every movement
and every figure, commingling them and uniting them together.

Every now and then a ray of sunlight pierced through the vault, and a
golden smile spread across the space above. And anywhere a subdued color
lay in wait on a vestment or veil, it was reawakened by the gold that
spread to every corner, revealed in its true power and caught up in an
harmonious and intricate design that filled the heart with happiness.

The most beautiful thing was the people. The women with their veils, the
men with their cloaks around their shoulders. Everywhere could be seen
distinguished faces and a serene bearing. Almost no one was reading,
almost no one stooped over in private prayer. Everyone was watching.

The sacred ceremony lasted for more than four hours, but the
participation was always lively. There are different means of prayerful
participation. One is realized by listening, speaking, gesturing. But
the other takes place through watching. The first way is a good one, and
we northern Europeans know no other. But we have lost something that was
still there at Monreale: the capacity for living-in-the-gaze, for
resting in the act of seeing, for welcoming the sacred in the form and
event, by contemplating them.

I was about to leave, when suddenly I found all of those eyes turned
toward me. Almost frightened, I looked away, as if I were embarrassed at
peering into those eyes that had been gazing upon the altar.

http://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=49404&eng=y

Conscience and Catholic Politicians (Part 1)

2006-04-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

An excellent interview on Zenit with Father Koterski of Fordham University.
While he recognizes, as the Church does, the "supremacy" of conscience. He
gives a succint definition of conscience:

"In the correct sense of the term, conscience is the judgment that we make
about whether an action we have done or are about to do is in conformity
with the objective and universal moral law that comes from God and that can
be known by us as the natural law. "

"Q: To what extent are Catholic politicians and public officials bound by
their individual consciences, even when they conflict with Church teaching?

Father Koterski: The issue here, I think, concerns the meaning of the term
"conflict with Church teaching."

The term "Church teaching" is a broad term by which people group together
various things that need to be carefully distinguished. The term can easily
run the range from "universal moral precepts that bind always and
everywhere" to recommendations of a practical nature made by one's local
pastor on a particular question.

Catholic politicians and public officials are bound just like the rest of
us to conform to Catholic teaching on matters of moral principle. In fact,
they have a special duty in this regard, precisely by reason of the office
they hold and their obligation to work for the common good. "

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=87565

Liturgy a sign of unity or a sign of Indivdiuality?

2006-04-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

In a remarkable interview, the man who is responsible for preparing the papal liturgies says that a priest should adapt the liturgy in order to express himself, and in the next paragraph he declares it a sign of unity so that there can be no room for a traditional liturgy....

How can someone so completely contradict himself in such a short space of words???

"Now, the archbishop said, he fears there is a move toward "neoritualism, that is, to a priest who celebrates Mass thinking: 'Good, I said my Mass following the rite to the letter. I'm fine.' This is not good; the celebration is not slavish respect for liturgical norms. There always is a little bit of space for the celebrant."

Archbishop Marini said he understood why Pope John Paul gave permission for bishops to authorize the celebration of the pre-Vatican II Mass in some churches for "older faithful" who were attached to the old rite.

"But to go beyond this is to go beyond the church," he said. "If the liturgy is the sign of the unity of the church, you cannot create groups of faithful who pray in a certain way on this day at this hour, then an hour later another group prays in another way."

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0601617.htm

Bishop Rifan and the 7 Capital Sins of traditionalists

2006-04-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview the traditional Bishop Rifan of Campos
had this to say about faults to be cautious of as traditional Catholics:

"1. Pride ? feeling like we have some exclusive and personal knowledge of
truth, cultic idea that we are the only Catholics, the Church's savers.

2. Systematic lack of charity - "See how they hate each other" That's the
contrary of what pagans said about the first Christians. The art of
changing one's friends into enemies. The spirit of division.

3. Rash judgement - Spirit of suspicion. Conspiracy theory.

4. Scandalmongering ? Criticism as a sytem. Ministery of criticism.

5. Spirit of dispute - Systematic disobedience. Independence toward
hierarchy and Church's Magister.

6. Cultish group spirit - "no salvation outside of us".

7. Pessimism - against Christian hope (In spe gaudentes). To some point,
satisfaction with the anormality of one's situation - and with errors by
the human part of the Church ? like if this could justify one's own
position. "

http://www.angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6656&sid=1a0b15b951fb185add86010ead9a70c8

It's Time to Wake Up

2006-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Holy See has been strongly urging Bishops and Pastors to restore the
faithful to understanding of sin and the predominance of it in society
today. If they only understood their would be much cause to celebrate.

In an article from New Oxford Review, Robert Allard connects the abundance
of sin with the abundance of grace, especially from the sacrament of
penance and the Feast of Divine Mercy:

"If it is true that 'where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more' (Rom.
5:20), then indeed with all the sin that is around today there should be an
ocean of graces available. How and from where might all these graces come
to us?

Divine Mercy Sunday! Our Lord keeps His promise to provide the graces to
counteract sin. We have been sitting here in the boat like the Apostles who
had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Just like then, our Lord has
been calling out to us and has been telling us where and when to cast out
our nets. Couldn't we use a nice big catch, right about now?"

In one of her visions, the Lord said to Saint Faustina:
"When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting
there for you. I am only hidden by the priests, but I Myself act in your
soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. When you go to
confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came
forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every
time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy with great
trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul?. Make your
confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen.
Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open
your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My
light."

Remainder of the article here:
http://www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=0406-allard

Freedom for the Traditional Latin Mass

2006-04-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

The rumors regarding this have been steadily growing all week. Since
Sunday, we have increasingly heard that something was imminent.
Yesterday, ACIPrensa published in Spanish that the Holy Father would
grant freedom to the Traditional Latin Mass. And today, our dear
friends at the extremely trustworthy Archivum have published that His
Holiness actually signed yesterday the papal act granting (or
recognizing) this freedom (Archivum reminds its readers that this has
always been one of the negotiating conditions for the Society of
Saint Pius X).

We had been shy to report this (which is why we suggested the "grain
of salt") because some extremely important details, regarding the
exact nature of the act itself and of the amplitude given (or
recognized) to priests, are still missing. When we have the details
(and when we can confirm the date of signing), we will post them as
soon as possible.

P.S. We are still somewhat doubtful -- not because we do not trust
these sources, but because this optimism seems familiar to us and may
lead to disappointment. We really need to see this published... Let
us pray, let us pray!

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2006/03/freedom-for-traditional-latin-mass.html

2 Key Threats to the Family

2006-04-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

2 Key Threats to the Family
According to Theologian Father Michael Hull

NEW YORK, APRIL 2, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of an address Father
Michael Hull of New York delivered at a theologians videoconference last
Tuesday. The Congregation for Clergy organized the international
videoconference.

* * *

Threats to the Family

By Father Michael Hull

The family is the beginning and the basis of all human society. Thus has it
been from creation: "Then the Lord God said: 'It is not good that the man
should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him'" (Genesis 2:18).

Aristotle has a sense of this when he describes the family as the
fundamental community between men and women ("Politica" I.2). St. Augustine
speaks of marriage as "the first natural bond of human society" ("De bono
conjugali" 1.1).

Threats to the family are those that imperil this bond, especially when it
is sealed as a sacrament. Perhaps the two gravest threats to the family are
divorce and artificial birth control. The former destroys the family by
tearing it asunder; the latter frustrates natural expansion of the family
and the human community.

Civil divorce has become de rigueur in many developed countries and is on
the rise all over the world. In most countries these days, divorce is a
simple civil matter, easily obtained and no longer socially stigmatized.
The breakup of families is common and carefree, with little concern for Our
Lord's solemn admonitions against divorce (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark
10:2-12; Luke 16:18; cf. 1 Corinthians 7:10-16).

In the United States of America, for example, surveys place the current
divorce rate at about 40% among the general population and 20% among
Catholics. Interestingly enough, these rates are significantly lower,
approximately 10% to 15%, than they were 10 years ago.

The reason? Marriage has fallen into such disfavor that many couples elect
to live in sin, either temporarily or permanently. Many young adults engage
in a number of short-term or even long-term relationships before they marry
-- if they ever marry at all.

Many younger and older couples decide specifically against marriage and opt
to live their lives in so-called common-law marriages. Surely the Church
must minister to the divorced -- as is illustrated so well in Pope John
Paul II's "Familiaris Consortio" (see Nos. 83-84) -- but the Church must
continue to speak out vociferously against the breakup of marriages and,
therefore, families.

Like divorce, artificial birth control seems to be the order of the day. On
the one hand, it is utilized by those who are married, frustrating or
limiting God's plan of procreation. On the other hand, it contributes
substantially to the contemporary malaise of sin by eradicating many of the
consequences of immoral sexual intercourse.

Both Pope Pius XI in "Casti Connubii" (Dec. 31, 1930) and Pope Paul VI in
"Humanae Vitae" (July 25, 1968) put a special emphasis on artificial birth
control as a principal threat against the sanctity of marriage and the
family in modern times.

Pius was clear: "Any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way
that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate
life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who
indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin" (CC, No. 56).
Paul was prescient when he noted that artificial birth control would "open
wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral
standards" (HV, No. 17).

There is no doubt that such unfaithfulness is on the rise as moral virtue
declines. Indeed, artificial birth control has opened the way so wide and
facilitated such a lowering of moral principles that Paul's words seem but
modest and understated.

In order to defend the family, the Church must be vigilant in proclaiming
the sanctity, inviolability, and permanence of marriage, as well as the
importance of leaving the marital act open to life. The aforementioned
threats to the family are best met by remembering what the family is,
namely, the cornerstone of society and the domestic Church ("Lumen
Gentium," No. 11; FC, No. 21), without which man is bereft of his natural
and supernatural community.

Pope Supports 2-Day Fast for Iraq

2006-04-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Pope Supports 2-Day Fast for Iraq

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 2, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI encouraged believers
worldwide to fast and pray Monday and Tuesday for peace in Iraq and the
world.

After reciting the midday Angelus today from the window of his study, the
Pope echoed the initiative announced in a message signed by Chaldean
Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly of Babylon and Iraqi bishops.

"We are estranged from God with our deeds," wrote the patriarch in his
message, "we do not fulfill his will, and we have abandoned piety, virtue
and forgiveness and, because of this, the blood of so many brothers has
been shed and so many children have been left orphans.

"We must return, repentant, to the house of the Father to do the will of
our sovereign God; to attain this sublime objective, we invite all Iraqis,
in and outside of Iraq, and all believers and men of good will, to prayer
and fasting on next Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th, so that the Lord
will restore peace, tranquility and security to Iraq, country of beloved
Abraham."

Benedict XVI invited "all to join this initiative of our brothers of that
tormented country, commending this intention to the intercession of Mary
Most Holy, Queen of Peace."

Packed Churches and Persecution of Christians

2006-03-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

It would seem that Fr. Samuel doesn't have enough EMHC's since mass lasts
up to 4 hours, and he doesn't understand that the people need to hear the
mass in the vernacular in order to be "fed", especially the less
educated... Tell that to the 2000 people who assist at mass in one of the
only packed churches in Belgium every Sunday.

"One of the rare Belgian churches that is packed every weekend is the
church of Saint Anthony of Padova in Montignies-sur-Sambre, one of the
poorest suburbs of Charleroi, a derelict rust belt area to the south of
Brussels. Holy Mass in Montignies is conducted in Latin and lasts up to
four hours. Yesterday over 2,000 people attended the service by Father
Samuel (Père Samuel). The priest's sermon dealt with his persecution."

Now this Holy priest is being persecuted for warning society about the
dangers of islamization in Europe. He's on trial for these words:
"Every thoroughly islamized Muslim child that is born in Europe is a time
bomb for Western children in the future. The latter will be persecuted when
they have become a minority."

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/936

Pax Christi,

Matt

On Repressing the Fear of the Lord

2006-03-29T08:30:00.001-08:00

In this day where sin is so profoundly embedded in the fabric of society we
are in dire need of some fear of God. Jesus is not "our friend" he is our
Lord and saviour, and he will come to judge us in the end. This sentiment
is well expressed in an article by John Linton from the archives of New
Oxford Review:

A classic in the Hell-bound genre of pulpitry is Jonathan Edwards's
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God":

"The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present;
they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is
given, and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is
its course, when once it is let loose. 'Tis true, that judgment against
your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's
vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the meantime is constantly
increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are
continually rising and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing
but the mere pleasure of God that holds the waters back that are unwilling
to be stopped...."

How sad that we live in a country today that would almost unanimously
denounce this sermon as "extremist," as an example of "hate speech."
Actually, it is both theologically complex and exquisitely literary. No
doubt the Edwardian prescription for today's mild Christians would be
another Great Awakening.

Find the whole article here - http://www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=1296-linton

Praise be to Jesus Christ,

Matt

http://houstoncatholic.net

Dutchman builds modern Noah's Ark

2006-03-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

"Dutchman Johan Huibers is building a working replica of Noah's Ark as a
testament to his Christian faith."

How appropriate that a Dutchman is building a new Ark. In a place prone to
flooding, where human life is not sacrosanct, but is only as precious as
it's percieved value to society. Babies are killed because they won't be
born healthy and perfect, old people are killed when they can no longer be
productive, there is talk even of forced sterilization and abortion for
those members of society not deemed fit.

Article is here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4853890.stm

Dominus Vobiscum,

-- Matt

http://houstoncatholic.net

What's wrong with the NAB?

2006-03-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Here's an example of the lengths taken to "modernize" the language of the bible, without regard for clarity, or accuracy. From last Sunday's Old Testament reading:

Some time after these events, God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, "Abraham!" "Ready!" he replied.

On the blog The Cafeteria is Closed.

"Shared Christian praxis" in Catholic Catechesis

2006-03-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

Why are young Catholics in the USA so embroiled in the heresy that Pope
Benedict condemned in his address of March 15? That notion of an
"individualist Jesus" who's teachings we can adapt to our own lives and
still be saved.

It's due in a large part on the teaching methodology of Thomas H. Groome
who has been involved in virtually all of the catechitical materials used
in the US dioceses. You will find his concepts used in books published by
William H. Sadlier Inc, National Catholic Educational Association
workshops.

While you will find some elements of out and out heresy in these teachings,
the bigger concern is the way that the material is presented to students.
Instead of a "doctrinal" approach where students are taught to understand,
assent to, and apply the teachings of Christ and the Church, they are lead
through an approache which gives them an aopportunity to "adapt" those
teachings to their own circumstances and beliefs. This is precisely what
Pope Benedict refers to.

Shared Christian praxis has five steps, called movements, which comprise
the method. None of the movements can be eliminated; each is considered
essential to the educational approach. The movements are as follows:
(1) Naming/Expressing "Present Praxis": Participants communicate either
their own or society's current behavior or beliefs.
(2) Critical Reflection on Present Action: Participants are called to look
critically at what motivates their present behaviors and beliefs, including
any prejudices or societal influences.
(3) Making Accessible Christian Story/Vision.
(4) Dialectical Hermeneutic to Appropriate Christian Story/Vision to
Participants' Stories and Visions: Participants compare their critically
understood present praxis from Movement Two with the "Christian Story" that
was presented in Movement Three, and develop a new understanding of "their
truth."
(5) Decision/Response for Lived Christian Faith: Participants have an
opportunity to decide how they intend to live their faith as a result of
the decisions that they made about it in Movement Four.

Frighteningly this methodology is being presented, not because of a well
meaning and innocent error, but as a way to indirectly advance Groome's
agenda of dissent, radical feminism, pantheistic indifferentism, etc. etc.
all of the heresies of modernism. His writings clearly indicate his
viewponts.

Full Article

San Francisco Spiritual Director's Conference

2006-03-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

What can I say about this? We're bringing in a pagan to teach our
spiritual directors.

'The 17th Annual Spiritual Directors Internations Conference theme is
"Coming Home to the Interior Landscape." The Conference is open to anyone
interested in the ministry of Spiritual Direction including spiritual
directors, students/interns/descerners, ministers and faculty, chaplains
and hospice workers, campus ministers, other spiritual care providers. The
Keynote Presenter will be Jeremy Taylor, MA, STD (HON), DMin. He is an
ordained Unitarian Universalist minister who has worked with dreams for
over 30 years. Jeremy Taylor blends the values of spirituality with an
active scial conscience and a Jungian perspective. He is the founding
memeber of the Association for the Study of Dream and has written three
books integrating dream symbolism, mythology, and archetypal energy. '

Link

Between Christ and the Church there is no opposition

2006-03-20T10:59:00.000-08:00

Pope Benedict XVI has just initiated a cycle of Catechism in his weekly
audience on Wednesday's. The series entitled Credo Apostolicam Ecclesiam
began with a discussion of the unity of Christ and the Church - Between
Christ and the Church there is no opposition.

He condemns a heresy which has become common in the Church over the last 40
years: the individualistic interpretation of Christ's proclamation of the
Kingdom as proposed by liberal theology is unilateral and unfounded. Here
is how the great liberal theologian Adolf von Harnack summarized this
interpretattion, in a series of lectures in 1900 entitled "What is
Christianity?": "The Kingdom of God comes in the degree in which it comes
to specific men, finds an opening into the soul and is accepted by them.
The Kingdom of God is the 'lordship' of God, that is to say, the dominion
of the Holy God in each different heart" (Third Lecture, 100ff).

His response is that "The individualist Jesus is a fantasy. We cannot find
Jesus without the reality that he created and through which he communicates
himself".

He addresses the Jews specifically: "By their mere existence, the twelve
called from different backgrounds have become a summons to all Israel to
conversion and to allow themselves to be reunited in a new covenant, full
and perfect accomplishment of the old".

Apparently the concept which has been proposed of late, that the Jews are
saved by the old covenant until the second coming, and that we should
demure from attempts at evangelisation is in err.

Analysis and an unofficial translation here on Chiesa.

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

The Liberal Baby Bust

2006-03-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

It seems that demographers have started finding out that we are destined
for a return to traditional values in the West. The "progressives" are
contracepting, aborting, and homosexualizing themselves into oblivion.
Those with strong moral values are having far more children, and thus
making their beliefs far more likely to be carried into future generations.
While not all these children will carry on their parents moral values,
those that don't will find a world with far fewer potential mates who share
their values.

"In the USA, the 17.4% of baby boomer women who had one child account for a
mere 9.2% of kids produced by their generation. But among children of the
baby boom, nearly a quarter descend from the mere 10% of baby boomer women
who had four or more kids.

This dynamic helps explain the gradual drift of American culture toward
religious fundamentalism and social conservatism. Among states that voted
for President Bush in 2004, the average fertility rate is more than 11%
higher than the rate of states for Sen. John Kerry. "

"Tomorrow's children, therefore, unlike members of the postwar baby boom
generation, will be for the most part descendants of a comparatively narrow
and culturally conservative segment of society. To be sure, some members of
the rising generation may reject their parents' values, as often happens.
But when they look for fellow secularists with whom to make common cause,
they will find that most of their would-be fellow travelers were quite
literally never born.

Many will celebrate these developments. Others will view them as the death
of the Enlightenment. Either way, they will find themselves living through
another great cycle of history."

Link to the full article from USA Today on Yahoo

UST Lenten Lecture

2006-03-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Last night at the University of St. Thomas Annual Lenten Lectures series
(http://www.stthom.edu/ia/publicaffairs/events/pdf/LentenLecture06Poster.pdf),
Msgr. James Anderson of St. Rose of Lima parish
(http://www.stroselima.org/), and Mark McNeil
(http://www.fullnessoftruth.org/MarkMcNeil_Theo/index.htm) spoke about
their journey of faith from baptism among our separated brethren with their
rays of truth, to the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church.

Msgr. Anderson's started in his journey after visiting a Catholic Church in
the early 60's for Holy Thursday as a young child. A particularly
beautiful mass under the rubrics the traditional missal, or so I'm told, as
it unfortunately is not celebrated in this diocese. The "incarnate" beauty
of the traditional Catholic church and liturgy connected with his soul in a
special way which prompted him to begin this journey. I wonder would
today's church buildings and liturgies engender the same response in
potential converts? In speaking with Msgr. after his talk we agreed that
it would be good to bring back this beauty which drew him in. I plan to
visit his parish in the near future to see how it's progressing under his
leadership.

Professor MacNeil conversion was later in life, and based on more
intellectual theological reasons, but no less profound.

I asked the speakers to comment on Church hierarchy's present focus on
"dialogue" rather than "return", the response, particularly from Mark was
that it is time for the pendelum to swing back towards return, as it has
moved far too deep into the area of "dialogue". Mark suggests that
dialogue is an important first step in opening the lines of communication,
but it must have, as a second step the goal of returning the individual or
group to the One True Church. We ought to give special consideration to
this perspective from converts who have personal experience as protestants.

Msgr. Anderson commented that the Church no longer "hurls out anathema's",
in charity, I didn't ask what he felt has been the fruits of this change in
discipline.

The remaining lectures in the series are:
March 22 "The Rite of Baptism from the Early Church to the Present" by Fr.
William Kelly.

March 29 "Does the Church Say Non-Catholics Can Be Saved?" by Dr. Paul
Hahn.

April 5 "The Theology and Ritual of Baptism among our Non-Catholic Fellow
Christians" by Sr. Madeleine Grace, CVI.

New Oxford Review on Collegiality & Lack of Ecclesiastical Discipline

2006-03-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

The US Bishops response to a group of dissenting politicians who signed a declaration denying the authority of the Church shows that this is still the modus of Church discipline.

Is it not time to abandon this disciplinary experiment and return to the time tested practice of active protection of the faith from error? Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI's will fall back on his germanic heritage and exercise the discipline the Church so sorely needs today.

From an article by David Palm in the New Oxford Review:

Now, the peculiar feature of the pontificate of Paul VI was the tendency to shift the papacy from governing to admonishing or, in scholastic terminology, to restrict the field of preceptive law, which imposes an obligation, and to enlarge the field of directive law, which formulates a rule without imposing any obligation to observe it. The government of the Church thus loses half its scope, or to put it biblically, the hand of the Lord is foreshortened….

Two things are needed to maintain truth. First: remove the error from the doctrinal sphere, which is done by refuting erroneous arguments and showing that they are not convincing. Second: remove the person in error, that is depose him from office, which is done by an act of the Church’s authority. If this pontifical service is not performed, it would seem unjustified to say that all means have been used to maintain the doctrine of the Church: we are in the presence of a brevatio manus Domini….

The origin of this whole brevatio manus lies quite clearly in the opening speech of the Second Vatican Council, which announced an end to the condemnation of error, a policy which was maintained by Paul VI throughout the whole of his pontificate. As a teacher, he held to the traditional formulas expressing the orthodox faith, but as a pastor, he did not prevent the free circulation of unorthodox ideas, assuming that they would of themselves eventually take an orthodox form and become compatible with truth. Errors were identified and the Catholic faith reiterated, but specific persons were not condemned for their erroneous teaching, and the schismatic situation in the Church was disguised and tolerated….

The general effect of a renunciation of authority is to bring authority into disrepute and to lead it to be ignored by those who are subject to it, since a subject cannot hold a higher view of authority than authority holds of itself….

The renunciation of authority, even as applied to doctrinal affairs, which had been begun by John XXIII and pursued by Paul VI, was continued by John Paul II. (Iota Unum: A Study of Changes in the Catholic Church in the XXth Century)

Amerio cites the amazing testimony of Cardinal Oddi, who spoke to a gathering of Catholics United for the Faith in the 1970s. Amerio shows, in his answer, that refusal to exercise discipline in the Church has at its heart a philosophical shift:

The Prefect for the Congregation of the Clergy was insistently asked why the Holy See did not remove those who taught error, such as Fr. Curran, who had for years been openly attacking Humanae Vitae, and who teaches the licitness of sodomy. Why was it that the Holy See did not correct and disavow those bishops, such as Mgr Gerety, who depart from sound doctrine and protect those who corrupt the faith? The Cardinal replied that “The Church no longer imposes punishments. She hopes instead to persuade those who err.” She has chosen this course “perhaps because she does not have precise information about the different cases in which error arises, perhaps because she thinks it imprudent to take energetic measures, perhaps too because she wants to avoid even greater scandal through disobedience. The Church believes it is better to tolerate certain errors in the hope that when certain difficulties have been overcome, the person in error will reject his error and return to the Church.”

This is an admission of the brevatio manus…and an assertion of the innovation announced in the opening speech of the council: error contains within itself the means of its own correction, and there is no need to assist the process: it is enough to let it unfold, and it will correct itself. Charity is held to be synonymous with tolerance, indulgence takes precedence over severity, the common good of the ecclesial community is overlooked in the interests of a misused individual liberty, [and] the sensus logicus and the virtue of fortitude proper to the Church are lost. The reality is that the Church ought to preserve and defend the truth with all the means available to a perfect society. (ibid.)

Read full article: here

To learn more about New Oxford Review, or to become a subscriber please visit us at http://www.newoxfordreview.org. No bozos or sissies, please!

Lenten Question: Should we party on Friday nights?

2006-03-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

Praise Be to Jesus Christ.

I think this is a good "teaching" moment. This discussion occurred after a
young adults group sent out an event for a party. I wanted to remind
everyone that this a time of penitence.

Why is it that we feel the need to celebrate and have fun all the time?
This seems especially true of young adults. Instead of the the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass, we prefer the "Lifeteen" Kumbaya masses. We ignore
the sacrament of reconcilliation, and sacrifice on Fridays even during
Lent. Why do people respond so harshly when a gentle suggestion is made
that this type of activity might need to be reconsidered?

These things seem to be sympomatic of the "experiential" catechesis and
permissiveness that is prevalent in the US Church today. There are no hard
and fast rules anymore. I shudder to imagine what our children will be
like.

I actually liked A.S. suggestion of asking people to schedule these events
for Saturday's, at least during Lent. There are tens of millions of single
Christians out there, if we spoke with one voice about these things, we
would make an impact.

Matt
=========================================================
From: "P.M."
To: "anonymousyoungadultsevent"
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 6:30 PM
Subject: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

This looks like fun!

On Friday, March 10, 2006 join Houston's 106.9 The Point as we
partner up
with HoustonConnect.com and Gulf Greyhound Park to bring you a
get-together
for singles in Houston!
Schedule of events:
7-8 Check in at Point booth by entrance (participants will be given a
name
badge, asked to register for the "Register to Win" contest for the
dinner
for 2 at the restaurant and also given their game pieces for their
respective genders.
7-9 Appetizers available in the lounge
7:15 Welcome point and KLDE listeners -
7:30 First singles game - grab a date and pick a race to win
trifecta
7:45 Second game- Speed dating - find out as much as you can about
that
person in 5 minutes and then we will switch again going on for 20
minutes .
8:30 Third game- Birth Month Bingo!
8:45 Fourth game- music trivia- grab a partner and a trivia card and
we
have an elimination game kicking people off until one couple survives-
wins
9:30 Fifth game- win place or show - if your dog comes in 1,2, or
3rd
place then you find a partner with matching numbers to win. First 3
couples
to come up with matching tickets win.
10:00 Register to win contest winner announced . Announce next
singles
event date.
Gulf Greyhound Park:
Phone Number: (409) 986-9500
1-800-ASK-2WIN
One block west of 1-45 south at Exit 15, 30 miles south of Houston
and 15
miles north of Galveston in La Marque, Texas.

=========================================================

Matt McDonald wrote:
You might consider that we are in Lent, and Fridays are not only days
of
abstinence, but of penitence.

Pope Leo the Great said:
IV. Use Lent for general improvement in the whole round of Christian
duties.
Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on so great a promise, be heavenly
not
only in hope, but also in conduct. And though our minds must at all
times be
set on holiness of mind and body, yet now during these 40 days of
fasting
bestir yourselves to yet more active works of piety, not only in the
distribution of alms, which are very effectual in attesting reform, but
also
in forgiving offences, and in being merciful to those accused of
wrongdoing,
that the condition which God has laid down between Himself and us may
not be
against us when we pray.

========================================================

From: A.S.
To: Matt McDonald ; P.M.
Cc: anonymousyoungadultsevent@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Matt, with all do respect....

I absolutely agree this is Lent and this is a Catholic group. But it is
also in the Bible that men and women have to find each other, get married,
and start a family for the glory of God. Then, how are men and women going
to make this possible? Should single people not "date" on Lent? Or
better, should we tell the people who organize these events to do them on
Saturdays?

Anyway, you can do the Way of the Cross before going there. And you can
also pray the Rosary while you are there... And pray a little extra if you
like someone! I am NOT, absolutely NOT kidding or being disrespectful. I
used to pray in places like this. And hey! I am a very happily married
woman :-)

However, like any other event sponsored by anonymousyoungadults, since
you should be over 21 years old, you should know if you want or you do not
want to participate...

Just my humble opinion.
God bless,
A.S.

Matt McDonald wrote:
With all due respect, there is a time and place for everything, and Lent
is a special time for penitence and remembrance that Christ died on the
Cross for our sins, especially on Fridays. The Church has declared it a
day of abstinence and penance... our minds should be on Calvary. There are
only 7 Friday's during Lent..An interesting number, the same number of
deadly sins, the same number of the last words of Christ on the Cross... do
you really think the "one" will get away if you aren't shopping on these
days?

In this modern age we set aside our faith to become part of the secular
world.... we should be encouraging each other to imitate Christ and the
Saints.I point this out in Christian Charity, it's not my idea, but those
of the Saints.

====================================================

From: A.M.
To: A.S. ; Matt McDonald ; P.M.
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Dude,
Get a life!!!! I totaly agree with A.S.!!!! This is a SINGLES group, it
is a way of meeting people and sharing our faith.

You should you be prayerful every day of your life not just on Fridays
during lent!!!! Do you go back to your sinful ways on Saturday?

Have fun being intimate with Christ and the Saints tomorrow.
I recently lost a loved one so I personally think we should go out,
celebrate and have fun because who knows what tomorrow will bring!!!!!!!
And yes your celebration can be in line with the teachings of the Catholic
Church no matter what day it is!!!!!

A.M.

==================================================

From: Matt McDonald
To: A.M. ; A.S. ; P.M.
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

I'm sorry for your loss. I'll offer my prayers today for the repose of
your loved one's soul.

Of course you should be prayerful every day of your life, compassionate,
and charitable too. We all sin, not one of us is perfect, we try hard, but
in this secular world it is often difficult to keep your eye on the prize.

I don't know where you heard that it's a good idea to celebrate on Friday's
during Lent, but it's certainly not from the teachings of the Catholic
Church. Life is not always about "having fun", Christ had no fun on the
Cross.

The Catechism:
1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year
(Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense
moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly
appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as
signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and
fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

God bless,

Matt

Church of Freedom and License

2006-03-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

I just came up with an interesting idea.

Cardinal Archbishop Mahony of Los Angelus is hosting a gathering of
heretical and apostate speakers next month, earlier this month, a group of
55 congressmen signed a heretical declaration, 19 French-Canadian priests
have declared that it's good to be a gay priest, in Orange, Ca a Bishop and
pastor have "invited" traditional and faithful Catholics to leave the
diocese if they don't fall into line and start recieving communion
standing.

Why don't all these folks just go off and start their own church? I would
nominate Abp. Mahony to be the first pope of the new "Church of Freedom
and License". They can have the LA Cathedral, and most of the other
churches around the country built in the modern style of atheistic and
secular humanism. They can ordain, and marry whomever they please. They
could replace the sacraments of penance and extreme unction with Reiki, and
Yoga to their hearts content. They can have liturgical dancers, gay
choirs, and clown masses weekly.

One condition is that they only use leavened bread (or alternatively
cookies) and grape juice, so as to avoid desecration of the Real Presence
(this shouldn't be a problem since they really don't believe in it anyway).
And, they must not refer to themselves as "Catholic".

Levada: Openly gay priests make it tough to represent Christ

2006-02-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

Cardinal-designate William J. Levada is the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, appointed to replace then Cardinal Ratzinger. He is formerly the Archbishop of San Francisco, and has been critized for weakness in teaching the Church's position on homosexuality. His remarks at a recent installation ceremony lend cause to some cautious optimism in his leadership of this important congregation:

CNS News Story

In nomine Patris; et Filii; et Spiritus Sancti; Amen.

2006-02-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

The sign of the cross is an ancient Christian prayer that was already commonly used in the 2nd century. It's practice is prescribed for Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and Lutherans. It's use has fallen among many, especially the protestants who tend to associate it with the Catholic Church. The Baptists wrongly consider this venerable prayer to be superstitious.

When in common prayer with non-Catholics, should we avoid the Sign of the Cross to avoid offending our separated brethren?

I don't think so, there's no reason to believe they would be offended by it, nor would we expect them to do it simply to avoid offending us. It seems to me to be a denial by virtue of "lex orandi, lex credendi" of the Blessed Trinity, and the importance of the physical nature of man.

The Catholic Encyclopedia has a great article on The Sign of The Cross.

CVSTOS FIDEI: Pro-Choice Fear of Engagement

2006-02-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

A great post from Tito on the ongoing battle to end the murder of unborn people which is rampant worldwide CVSTOS FIDEI: Pro-Choice Fear of Engagement.

Every Saturday there is a small group of faithful Christians who witness for the Gospel of Jesus in front of the Planned Parenthood abortuary in Houston. We need more prayer warriors! Meet at UST Chapel at 7:30am.

Pell accused of Catholic 'dictatorship'

2006-02-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

In an interview today Cardinal Pell the excellent Archbishop of Sydney, Australia was attacked for his support of Church doctrine. His response to opponents is

the point as issue is whether our conscience has primacy or is supreme and whether a Catholic can choose to reject central doctrines, central teachings of Jesus Christ and/or the Church and be regarded as a perfectly good Catholic. Now, there's a whole Alice in Wonderland dimension to this.

Bravo to the Cardinal! Maybe Pope Benedict XVI should reconsider his choice for Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Peace Be To You,

Matt

What we have Lost

2006-02-20T06:40:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting video about the what we have lost, it's worth watching.

I don't agree with their assessment about much of the reason abuses occurred, but they point out some terrible abuses that we all need to be reminded of.

There is no easily defined distinction between "traditional and modernist" Catholics as is their assertion. There is many different categories, those on the left and right who are in material if not formal schism and/or heresy, those in the center who maintain orthodoxy which includes obedience to the hierarchy of the Church.

I also submit that these abuses do not come from the official instructions of any of the popes or congregations of the Holy See. Virtually all of their judgements are against things which violate the guidelines set forth by Vatican II or subsequent Papal declarations.

I am particularly saddened by the destruction of our sacred spaces and the mass.

Schism to be Unilaterally Ended?

2006-02-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

An article Here suggests that Pope Benedict XVI is planning to end the SSPX schism in a clever way. SSPX denies they're in schism, the Holy See has declared that they are. The Holy See wants to reverse this position, reinstate the excommunicated bishops, establish an apostolic administration to provide jurisdiction to SSPX, open the indult to all priests, and authorize Catholics to attend SSPX chapels. If this were to occur there is essentially no more schism, unless individuals within SSPX create a new, more definitive one, probably sedevacantist. As long as the Pope exercises his authority judiciously, which clearly he would, then there is no exuse for disobedience and the schism would be over.

I think this would have tremendously positive effect on the rest of the Church as it would pressure the liberal bishops into giving up large portions of their flock, or being more orthodox and respectful to the traditional mass.

Don't Mess With Texas Little Old Ladies

2006-02-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

From Peter:

You have to listen to this, don't ever, ever, mess with four Texas little
old ladies in a Chevy Impala.

Listen

Pope Benedict XVI Removes Head of Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue

2006-02-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

Interestingly, Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, the head of the Vatican's Council
for Inter-Religious Dialogue has been removed from his cardinal track post,
and assigned as the papal nuncio, or ambassador to Egypt, a much less
prominent post which is not likely to lead to a "red hat". Hopefully his
replacement will be a solid, orthodox cleric, who will move away from the
false ecumenism which has been going on with this council. The news report
suggests it was an issue over his 'lifestyle', no specifics.

Peace Be To You,

Matt

2006-02-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

What is Single's Ministry?

I recently attended the National Catholic Singles Conference in Denver, Colorado. I came away with a powerful message from Dave Sloan and Jennifer Kilfin about what singles ministry needs to be in the Catholic Church.

I've been involved with Catholic Young Adults groups for awhile, and what is evident is that most of these groups are social clubs for people that are "culturally Catholic". There is a mix of those who are striving to be truly faithful and those who are not.

A group I recently left has become so much of a social club that their routine activities include Pub Crawls, Party Weekends in Austin, and even attending Mardi Gras in Galveston (no word on when the Catholic Girls Gone Wild video will be available). I'm sure the next big event will be a spring break trip to South Padre to watch the wet t-shirt and bikini contests.

These activities are brazenly and scandalously posted on the parish website, where I was rebuked for posting the Holy See's Instruction on the Respect for Human Life, and a diocesan pro-life activity. Ultimately I was forced from the leadership committee of the group due to my defense of orthodoxy and the unborn.

Is this what Christ is calling us to do under the guise of ministry?

Many of these groups do offer spiritual activities, however they seem to be relegated to a lesser status.

What should be the objective of Singles Ministry? According to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Young Adult & Campus Ministry office and based on the USCCB guidelines we are called to be Sons and Daughters of the Light with these fourfold objectives.

To connect young adults with:

Jesus Christ

the Church, by inviting and welcoming their presence in the Christian community

the mission of the Church in the world

a peer community in which their faith is nurtured and strengthened

The answer according to Dave and Jen, is to bring singles into the family of the Church, to provide an opportunity to discern for a vocation to religious or married life, to assist them in maintaining their call to celibacy, and to grow in faith. How can this be accomplished? Not in secular social activities or sterile religious discussions, but in the context of a family. Jennifer hosts a weekly study group in her home with prayer, a potluck supper, and discussion of Church teachings. This happens on the Friday night that some feel is a sacrosanct day when all singles are supposed to be out at the bars trying to meet their next serial monogamy partner. In reality most singles are at home with their dog according to Mary Beth Bonacci.

I feel a strong call to bring this type of family group to my life and the young adults around me. I've started talking with a few faithful Catholic friends and we're planning a Lenten series on A Voice from Calvary by Abp. Fulton Sheen. It will be every Saturday starting March 4, 2006. We hope to continue the group after Easter with A Catholic Catechism by Abp. Sheen or The Teachings of Jesus Christ by Fr. John Corapi. If you're interested in joining us please send me an email. More information will be available next week.

Peace Be To You,

Matt

Welcome to my Blog

2006-02-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Well I've been posting on message boards and blogs for a long time, so I figured it was time to setup my own blog. I'm not sure what I'm going to do here, so we'll just have to see what happens.