Getting ready to say goodbye, eastern time, to the year of Our Lord two thousand ten. No I don't say twenty ten, I can spring for one additional word to be precise. Because we mark time based on anno domini, the year of Our Lord so it has been two thousand ten years since the beginning of a.d. time. Belaboring a point? I am sure, but I have had three cups of coffee today which is two more than normal due to work and two take home final exams to finish and I am feeling rather alert. I started pondering on the small ways we can remember and recall whose we are and what we should be about.
Every year has challenges while we are on this earth, some great and some small. We can grow, be challenged and offer up our sorrows, but it is also good when we get the small consolations that are also part of life.
May this next year bring us closer to realizing the kingdom of God here on earth.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Yes, I am chatty Cathy today
Actually I just have a lot of pent up blogging. Advent has been ok, not my most prayerful and definitely not my most organized, but it has not been my worst Advent either. There has been work, children, an ever growing housework to do list, a paper and finals to study for, the ususal suspects.
There is also an issue that has been on the minds of a lot of us in this area. I have been trying to go over to a local abortion clinic to pray. Tragically, due to the very lax laws in Maryland (so much so that abortions don't have to be performed in a surgical center) an infamous late term abortion doctor has started working at this clinic in Germantown, MD. He does abortions starting at 20 weeks which means many (mostly?) viable babies. From what I can tell, the youngest gestational age of child to be born and live is 22 weeks, and since most gestational age often has a degree of guessing (few women can say exactly when conception happened).
There have been two large prayer rallies/gathering at the site of the clinic and the movement to provide a constant, peaceful presence of prayer is beginning. I know I am praying for conversion of the abortionist and his staff. Christ offers His love and and offers salvation to everyone. There have been abortionists and staff converted before and though the power of God, there will be again. Especially since we recently remembered the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we also know Mary's prayer and intersession is there for we her children. Like John at the foot of the cross, we take her for our mother.
For those not aware, OL of Guadalupe has been taken (named) as patroness of the unborn, because by her dress in the image, we know that she was dressed in a manner of a virgin, and she also appears to be with child.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.
There is also an issue that has been on the minds of a lot of us in this area. I have been trying to go over to a local abortion clinic to pray. Tragically, due to the very lax laws in Maryland (so much so that abortions don't have to be performed in a surgical center) an infamous late term abortion doctor has started working at this clinic in Germantown, MD. He does abortions starting at 20 weeks which means many (mostly?) viable babies. From what I can tell, the youngest gestational age of child to be born and live is 22 weeks, and since most gestational age often has a degree of guessing (few women can say exactly when conception happened).
There have been two large prayer rallies/gathering at the site of the clinic and the movement to provide a constant, peaceful presence of prayer is beginning. I know I am praying for conversion of the abortionist and his staff. Christ offers His love and and offers salvation to everyone. There have been abortionists and staff converted before and though the power of God, there will be again. Especially since we recently remembered the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we also know Mary's prayer and intersession is there for we her children. Like John at the foot of the cross, we take her for our mother.
For those not aware, OL of Guadalupe has been taken (named) as patroness of the unborn, because by her dress in the image, we know that she was dressed in a manner of a virgin, and she also appears to be with child.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.
Baronius Press Breviary Update take 2
I was talking with a wonderful woman from Baronius about another matter and I mentioned the breviary. She advised to call her about the 3rd or 4th week in January and she should have the information on the price and also the pre-order information.
Just fyi, if you are ordering their breviary I will encourage you to pay for upgraded shipping even though they offer free shipping for orders over $65. Lets just say media mail may be USPS-speak for "let's throw it in a bin somewhere til we get bored and decide to do something with it".
Just fyi, if you are ordering their breviary I will encourage you to pay for upgraded shipping even though they offer free shipping for orders over $65. Lets just say media mail may be USPS-speak for "let's throw it in a bin somewhere til we get bored and decide to do something with it".
Another Pontifical High Mass at the Basilica Shrine April 9, 2011!
Hot off of my e-mail. It has not even been posted on the Paulus Institute web site yet though it looks like they are trying to spread the word though social media also.
http://www.thepaulusinstitute.org/index.htm
Subject: April 9, 2011 Pontifical High Mass in Honor of Pope Benedict XVI
The Paulus Institute is pleased to announce that a Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form will again be offered at the National Shrine on April 9th. The celebrant will be Archbishop Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Liturgy and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican.
RSVP online at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184455611571552
For more information, and to contribute, please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/43759092hNPJXDJp2xP42t8qNjQ;www.pontificalmass.org. Contributions are tax deductible. Get one in in time for this year's taxes.
The Pontifical High Mass from this past April was standing room only and was an incredible experience. If you were not able to attend last and will be any where near Washington, DC, I encourage you to attend. If you were there last year, you know to get there even earlier this year!
http://www.thepaulusinstitute.org/index.htm
Subject: April 9, 2011 Pontifical High Mass in Honor of Pope Benedict XVI
The Paulus Institute is pleased to announce that a Pontifical High Mass in the Extraordinary Form will again be offered at the National Shrine on April 9th. The celebrant will be Archbishop Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Liturgy and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican.
RSVP online at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184455611571552
For more information, and to contribute, please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/43759092hNPJXDJp2xP42t8qNjQ;www.pontificalmass.org. Contributions are tax deductible. Get one in in time for this year's taxes.
The Pontifical High Mass from this past April was standing room only and was an incredible experience. If you were not able to attend last and will be any where near Washington, DC, I encourage you to attend. If you were there last year, you know to get there even earlier this year!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Advent Update & Baronius Press Breviary
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving though it was quite hectic the week before and has been very busy since my return. Working on a paper for my Old Testament class has been eye opening. Nothing like reading the Vatican II documents for yourself. I will update more later.
We do have our Advent wreath up and our Infant of Prague is in His violet robes. I am trying to finish up house cleaning and de-cluttering as part of this Advent. I was able to sent two boxes of items for consignment (deo gratias) and I am trying to move my heart towards simplicity (very hard for a pack rat (sigh).
I did see an update this morning on the baroniuspress.com website regarding their latin-english roman breviary. I don't know how long it usually takes to get a Concordat but perhaps by Lent. Need more pennies in my piggy bank.
Roman Breviary - Breviarium Romanum
Latin-English Breviary [side-by-side]
Flexible cover (Black Leather), 3-Volume Set, Size: 4.5" x 7", Item No: 5500
The excellent news is that the final corrections from the Censor have been received a few days ago. We anticipate that the implementation of the corrections and the finalising of the Breviary will take a couple of weeks.
After this, we will formally apply for the Concordat cum originali to be granted – the necessary approval that liturgical texts require in order to be used and also to ensure that the text is accurate. As soon as the permission is granted, the printing will commence.
We are very grateful for all the prayers and support we have received in order to complete this huge undertaking.
We do have our Advent wreath up and our Infant of Prague is in His violet robes. I am trying to finish up house cleaning and de-cluttering as part of this Advent. I was able to sent two boxes of items for consignment (deo gratias) and I am trying to move my heart towards simplicity (very hard for a pack rat (sigh).
I did see an update this morning on the baroniuspress.com website regarding their latin-english roman breviary. I don't know how long it usually takes to get a Concordat but perhaps by Lent. Need more pennies in my piggy bank.
Roman Breviary - Breviarium Romanum
Latin-English Breviary [side-by-side]
Flexible cover (Black Leather), 3-Volume Set, Size: 4.5" x 7", Item No: 5500
The excellent news is that the final corrections from the Censor have been received a few days ago. We anticipate that the implementation of the corrections and the finalising of the Breviary will take a couple of weeks.
After this, we will formally apply for the Concordat cum originali to be granted – the necessary approval that liturgical texts require in order to be used and also to ensure that the text is accurate. As soon as the permission is granted, the printing will commence.
We are very grateful for all the prayers and support we have received in order to complete this huge undertaking.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Why the lost their minds
I have managed to catch a cold which is now in my chest. Trying to remember to offer it up, which is always a challenge for me, possibly because the concept of offering up your daily aches, frustrations, etc was not exactly taught in Baptist or Methodist circles.
I also now have an 18 year old at home as my son had a birthday last week. Still trying to figure out how time went by that quickly. I am also in disbelief that next week is Thanksgiving! We are heading home for the holidays (Graeters & Masseys!) and looking forward to daily mass in a beautiful church using a communion rail and a 9am TLM (instead of the crack 'o dawn or afternoon (nap time) ghetto.
I have been able to catch up on a few blogs and posts and it has been interesting. One of the things that has happened since I started attending the TLM is I understand much more the attitudes of some of those in the traditional camp. I don't condone extremism, but with knowledge has come understanding. There are not many people who could take years, even decades of being told they were wrong and what they were requesting (TLM's) was reactionary and backwards and wrong unscathed. It is hard to know that what you are being told is wrong because you actually read the documents (Latin was no longer the language of the church, masses is various languages was unity and Gregorian chant was out), and live with knowing the majority of people are being told the wrong thing and have listened.
It is hard to look to the saints, but there are many examples of those who were criticized or thought to be wrong, who were later vindicated. Take strength in that and pray for our Holy Father Pope Benedict. Unity is better and stronger than dis-unity and make no mistake, we are under severe attack.
I also now have an 18 year old at home as my son had a birthday last week. Still trying to figure out how time went by that quickly. I am also in disbelief that next week is Thanksgiving! We are heading home for the holidays (Graeters & Masseys!) and looking forward to daily mass in a beautiful church using a communion rail and a 9am TLM (instead of the crack 'o dawn or afternoon (nap time) ghetto.
I have been able to catch up on a few blogs and posts and it has been interesting. One of the things that has happened since I started attending the TLM is I understand much more the attitudes of some of those in the traditional camp. I don't condone extremism, but with knowledge has come understanding. There are not many people who could take years, even decades of being told they were wrong and what they were requesting (TLM's) was reactionary and backwards and wrong unscathed. It is hard to know that what you are being told is wrong because you actually read the documents (Latin was no longer the language of the church, masses is various languages was unity and Gregorian chant was out), and live with knowing the majority of people are being told the wrong thing and have listened.
It is hard to look to the saints, but there are many examples of those who were criticized or thought to be wrong, who were later vindicated. Take strength in that and pray for our Holy Father Pope Benedict. Unity is better and stronger than dis-unity and make no mistake, we are under severe attack.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Continuity- it is there folks, if you are not blinded by the 60's
An interesting post in this blog. Thanks to Bishop Morlino for standing up to priest who are just trying to insure that the parish's and souls in their responsibility are oriented towards God. http://badgercatholic.blogspot.com/2010/11/bp-morlinos-letter-to-platteville.html
As is evident from the hysteria of many who are full of doom and gloom over the forthcoming new mass translation, there are many who are so deep in the misinformation and mis-steps towards translations, the faith, catechesis that any hint that the way things were in 1979 is they way they should be now is anathema. Unfortunately, there are many who do not see that our current crisis in so many areas, can and is being remedied by finding the "babies that were too often thrown out with the bathwater."
I was able to attend a N.O. Latin mass last night. I actually thought it might be a TLM since the bulletin said Latin, but the parish uses the Adoremus Hymnal (yea!)and seeing the altar servers preparations it was not hard to figure out that it would be a N.O. mass. It was the Latin N.O. mass I have attended in some time and other than the readings and the introductory and closing prayers, the mass was in Latin. I always follow the mass more closely in Latin than in English (since I don't have to "think" when I am at a regular N.O. mass). Really made me happy that in a year and a couple of weeks we can say farewell to an English translation that really does not do justice to the Latin or the true meaning of the mass. As I said in my first posts, I do prefer the TLM, but my reality is that except for rare occasions, my daily mass experience is the English N.O.
As is evident from the hysteria of many who are full of doom and gloom over the forthcoming new mass translation, there are many who are so deep in the misinformation and mis-steps towards translations, the faith, catechesis that any hint that the way things were in 1979 is they way they should be now is anathema. Unfortunately, there are many who do not see that our current crisis in so many areas, can and is being remedied by finding the "babies that were too often thrown out with the bathwater."
I was able to attend a N.O. Latin mass last night. I actually thought it might be a TLM since the bulletin said Latin, but the parish uses the Adoremus Hymnal (yea!)and seeing the altar servers preparations it was not hard to figure out that it would be a N.O. mass. It was the Latin N.O. mass I have attended in some time and other than the readings and the introductory and closing prayers, the mass was in Latin. I always follow the mass more closely in Latin than in English (since I don't have to "think" when I am at a regular N.O. mass). Really made me happy that in a year and a couple of weeks we can say farewell to an English translation that really does not do justice to the Latin or the true meaning of the mass. As I said in my first posts, I do prefer the TLM, but my reality is that except for rare occasions, my daily mass experience is the English N.O.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
We are so Blessed- we have the luxury to disagree about liturgy
We begin the month of November, the month of Holy Souls, with news of a horrible crime against the faithful in Iraq. I am angry, but mindful of our duty to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. The sufferings of the Church in the Middle East illustrates how easy is our life here in the U.S. on so many levels. Our brothers and sisters in Iraq and other countries in the Middle East are surrounded by misguided people who, have no regard for their own, much less the people of God.
No one here has to endure physical fear of going to mass. Even in the "worst" crime ridden neighborhood, you can at least go to mass during the day. We even have the luxury of disagreeing about the music and form of the mass.
Let us remember to pray for those killed in the massacre the other day, pray for an end to the violence and to pray for all of the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
No one here has to endure physical fear of going to mass. Even in the "worst" crime ridden neighborhood, you can at least go to mass during the day. We even have the luxury of disagreeing about the music and form of the mass.
Let us remember to pray for those killed in the massacre the other day, pray for an end to the violence and to pray for all of the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The New Mass Translation-Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Yes, I am reduced to blatantly ripping off bad 70's pop songs. I have been trying to feel out information on the approach of a certain liturgist and the parish dynamics. With the new translation, there are wonderfully talented composers and chant specialists making certain that every parish could have sung propers and ordinary in English and Latin. The idea being that some parishes may need to start with simple chants in English, but that they would learn that:
1) The introit is sufficient for an opening procession and it is always appropriate for the day.
2) The psalms are meant to be chanted
3) The offertory & communion antiphons are always appropriate for the day and the communion antiphon would be no problem for congregations to sing.
Anyway, I was talking with this person about the new translation and the person indicated it was almost as if we were saying or would have to explain that the early 1970’s translation was wrong. I said exactly, though I understand there is hesitation to come right out and say it. This is not an infallible issue, so I will be blunt- if I had turned in a translation from Latin like the current English translation of the mass to any of my language teachers, I would have gotten a D. Entire phrases were left out (mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa), verbs were “translated” in the wrong tense (Credo = I believe, not we believe) etc. It was done to bring a certain “feeling” to the mass, but in the late 60’s and 70’s things were, well, even I had a green polyester suit including a poncho with orange pom poms (mom made it!). This translation is perhaps one step in recovering the sacred.
Our Holy Father may be under a lot of pressure from the forces of status quo, but I am praying there is something promulgated indicating that the preferred way to receive communion is kneeling and on the tongue. I think this would do so much to recover the sense of the Eucharist and Who we receive during communion. The fact that it is more sanitary is just an added bonus.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are Methodists (like my mother) who are kneeling to receive communion at their churches and as far as they are concerned it is just a symbol, yet we Catholics know (or should know) we are, as Jesus stated in the Bible, receiving His Body, Blood Soul and Divinity and in most parishes, we have no choice but to stand.
In the Got Mail, department, I received my copy of The Office Of Compline today. Very crunchy (notes that is). I like.
1) The introit is sufficient for an opening procession and it is always appropriate for the day.
2) The psalms are meant to be chanted
3) The offertory & communion antiphons are always appropriate for the day and the communion antiphon would be no problem for congregations to sing.
Anyway, I was talking with this person about the new translation and the person indicated it was almost as if we were saying or would have to explain that the early 1970’s translation was wrong. I said exactly, though I understand there is hesitation to come right out and say it. This is not an infallible issue, so I will be blunt- if I had turned in a translation from Latin like the current English translation of the mass to any of my language teachers, I would have gotten a D. Entire phrases were left out (mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa), verbs were “translated” in the wrong tense (Credo = I believe, not we believe) etc. It was done to bring a certain “feeling” to the mass, but in the late 60’s and 70’s things were, well, even I had a green polyester suit including a poncho with orange pom poms (mom made it!). This translation is perhaps one step in recovering the sacred.
Our Holy Father may be under a lot of pressure from the forces of status quo, but I am praying there is something promulgated indicating that the preferred way to receive communion is kneeling and on the tongue. I think this would do so much to recover the sense of the Eucharist and Who we receive during communion. The fact that it is more sanitary is just an added bonus.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are Methodists (like my mother) who are kneeling to receive communion at their churches and as far as they are concerned it is just a symbol, yet we Catholics know (or should know) we are, as Jesus stated in the Bible, receiving His Body, Blood Soul and Divinity and in most parishes, we have no choice but to stand.
In the Got Mail, department, I received my copy of The Office Of Compline today. Very crunchy (notes that is). I like.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Diurnal/Brevarium Romanum vs Liturgia Horarum Round !
I do prefer the TLM and I make no apologies. My preference would be to have the ability to go to a TLM every day of the week (ie including daily masses). It would make it so much easier to just follow one calendar instead of having my feet in both OF and EF form worlds. The benefit to being two-footed, though, it it reminds me to pray and try to do what I can to encourage the Reform of the Reform.
I have been struggling with a change in our family routine that has been making my attempts to pray from the 1962 Breviary....non-existent many days. I have the 1 volume Benedictine Diurnal, but the offices's were just longer in 1962. Even in English, Lauds is just longer than the liturgy of the hours (LOTH). I do have Fr. Stravinskas' 1 volume Lauds and Vespers, but it does not have the offices of Saints and of course it is based on OF. I think I am going to try it, in addition to Compline from the Ignatius Press, so I can make certain I am faithful to the prayer I am called to pray as part of my Carmelite vocation. I found a couple of sites with the LOTH in Latin so I can print off office for saint's days.
I will re-evalute this once Baronius comes out with their reprint of the Collegeville Breviarium Romanum. There was a discussion earlier this week on Fr. Z's blog about the very issue of consistency in liturgical worship. My main goal, though, is to try to be faithful and pray, and not get hung up on sides of the debate.
I have been struggling with a change in our family routine that has been making my attempts to pray from the 1962 Breviary....non-existent many days. I have the 1 volume Benedictine Diurnal, but the offices's were just longer in 1962. Even in English, Lauds is just longer than the liturgy of the hours (LOTH). I do have Fr. Stravinskas' 1 volume Lauds and Vespers, but it does not have the offices of Saints and of course it is based on OF. I think I am going to try it, in addition to Compline from the Ignatius Press, so I can make certain I am faithful to the prayer I am called to pray as part of my Carmelite vocation. I found a couple of sites with the LOTH in Latin so I can print off office for saint's days.
I will re-evalute this once Baronius comes out with their reprint of the Collegeville Breviarium Romanum. There was a discussion earlier this week on Fr. Z's blog about the very issue of consistency in liturgical worship. My main goal, though, is to try to be faithful and pray, and not get hung up on sides of the debate.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Modesy vs the Vulgarity-Deal with it Crowd
There was an article by the Washington Post style editor regarding a teen actress/singer who gained fame, money and a legion of tween and pre-teen fans and whose latest performances in former years, would have only been seen on a burlesque stage or "mens" club. After pooh poohing critics who labeled the girl's latest exploit vulgar (making me wonder if she knows the meaning of that word), the writer literally told concerned parents to just deal with it, it is just a phase and the girl is seeking not to be a poorly adjusted former child star.
I, for one, will not deal with it because my number one job as a parent is to raise up my children for God and to raise them in a way that will set them on a path they can follow to heaven. Really. Comments like that article and other things I have noticed are what have led me to make a concerted effort in the past year and a half to model modesty and femininity for my daughter and to stress the importance of modesty to her. Unless our society wakes up and states changing, she will live in a world that has lost its sense of modesty and decorum, but there are still those who know and value those qualities.
If we "get over it" we cannot be surprised to wake up and find our daughter's devalued and used and our son's incapable of being men who can love a wife and lead a family.
Modest and appropriate dress in church is a start. For Catholics, when we go to mass, Jesus is truly present in the tabernacle, period. Because our God is Triune, but One God, church is truly God's house and God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit are present. Because Jesus is always attended by angels, Angels are there. I never understand why someone who, if they were going to meet the president at the White House, would not hesitate to dress up would think jeans or a low cut top or spaghetti straps or shorts is ok to wear to church because it is comfortable or clean or because it is hot outside. We are going into the presence of God to Worship.
Modest skirts are easier to find because longer skirts have been "in" at alot of retailers. Blouses can be a challenge and with girls the challenge is finding skirts and dresses long enough. There are a lot of retailers with cute dresses and skirts, but too many of them are just barely at the knee if not above.
RECOMMENDATIONS
PHYLLISJEAN.NET
I HIGHLY recommend Phyllisjean for beautifully made womens and girls blouses. I have gotten rid of all of my other blouses that always tended to gape. They have beautifully feminine skirts and girls jumpers and bloomers (so they can run and jump and tumble and play, yet still be modest.) A special shout out for their modest doll dresses, which so enchanted my daughter that her doll babies have not been naked for weeks.
And you know that thing about keeping the Sabbath day holy (which should mean no shopping) that we all to often ignore. You will not be buying on Sunday as they shut down the sales part of their store. You can look at the selections, but no buying until Monday.
http://www.phyllisjean.net/index.html
LADYINBLUESHOP
I will write more about head veiling later. In short, to those who argue that it is not in the current code of a cannon law, by 1983, there was a definite trend to ignore things being done that were not permitted then to just give in and allow them so no way were they even going to attempt to deal with the issue of veiling.
I found this shop on Etsy through a post on another blog. Beautiful and reasonably priced women's veils made by a homeschooling mother. Not just triangles, but round veils and princess style in soft laces.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyinBlueShop
I, for one, will not deal with it because my number one job as a parent is to raise up my children for God and to raise them in a way that will set them on a path they can follow to heaven. Really. Comments like that article and other things I have noticed are what have led me to make a concerted effort in the past year and a half to model modesty and femininity for my daughter and to stress the importance of modesty to her. Unless our society wakes up and states changing, she will live in a world that has lost its sense of modesty and decorum, but there are still those who know and value those qualities.
If we "get over it" we cannot be surprised to wake up and find our daughter's devalued and used and our son's incapable of being men who can love a wife and lead a family.
Modest and appropriate dress in church is a start. For Catholics, when we go to mass, Jesus is truly present in the tabernacle, period. Because our God is Triune, but One God, church is truly God's house and God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit are present. Because Jesus is always attended by angels, Angels are there. I never understand why someone who, if they were going to meet the president at the White House, would not hesitate to dress up would think jeans or a low cut top or spaghetti straps or shorts is ok to wear to church because it is comfortable or clean or because it is hot outside. We are going into the presence of God to Worship.
Modest skirts are easier to find because longer skirts have been "in" at alot of retailers. Blouses can be a challenge and with girls the challenge is finding skirts and dresses long enough. There are a lot of retailers with cute dresses and skirts, but too many of them are just barely at the knee if not above.
RECOMMENDATIONS
PHYLLISJEAN.NET
I HIGHLY recommend Phyllisjean for beautifully made womens and girls blouses. I have gotten rid of all of my other blouses that always tended to gape. They have beautifully feminine skirts and girls jumpers and bloomers (so they can run and jump and tumble and play, yet still be modest.) A special shout out for their modest doll dresses, which so enchanted my daughter that her doll babies have not been naked for weeks.
And you know that thing about keeping the Sabbath day holy (which should mean no shopping) that we all to often ignore. You will not be buying on Sunday as they shut down the sales part of their store. You can look at the selections, but no buying until Monday.
http://www.phyllisjean.net/index.html
LADYINBLUESHOP
I will write more about head veiling later. In short, to those who argue that it is not in the current code of a cannon law, by 1983, there was a definite trend to ignore things being done that were not permitted then to just give in and allow them so no way were they even going to attempt to deal with the issue of veiling.
I found this shop on Etsy through a post on another blog. Beautiful and reasonably priced women's veils made by a homeschooling mother. Not just triangles, but round veils and princess style in soft laces.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyinBlueShop
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Latin Chant News & Compline Arrives
And two posts for me in one day! Wonders never cease :)
The first is that a book of Compline (LOTH version) by Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB is now available from Ignatius Press. It has the Office of Compline with chants in Latin and on the facing page in English for the entire church year, all seasons. This is the "new" Compline, not the Tridentine and it is geared for families, churches, congretations etc to promote praying the wonderful prayers to close the day. The hyms have been newly translated (Deo gratias!) because next to the psalm prayers, the hymns in the LOTH....could be better (trying to be nice).
Here is the write up at http://www.ignatius.com/
Office of Compline
Availability: - In Stock
ISBN: 9781586174552
Author: Fr. Samuel F. Weber O.S.B.
Length: 148 pages
Edition: Hardcover
Code: OFCO-H
Retail Price: $18.95
Sale Price: $16.11
ALSO
MusicaSacra.com has all of the information on the Winter Chant Intensive which will take place this coming January in New Orleans. It is a chance for a week to immerse yourself in chant and you do not have to be an expert or near expert. Scott Turkington is a WONDERFUL teacher and he has a gift to make the neumes (chant notes, ie crunchy notes) as instinctive as they were meant to be. Dr. William Marhrt will also be there for experienced chanters. Basically, if you go with just a basic knowledge of chant, you can leave being able to either form and lead a schola or be a good solid member of your schola. Usually, there is another intensive before the big CMAA summer chant colloquium, but this next year Easter is so late. Anyway, I so wish I could go, but spread the word and register fast. It does fill up. Also, if you know a seminarian interested and you have the means, wonderful gift to the seminarian and to the church and His future (God willing) parishioners.
January 3-7, 2011
Old St. Patrick’s Church
New Orleans, Louisiana
Instructors: Dr. William Mahrt and Scott Turkington
The first is that a book of Compline (LOTH version) by Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB is now available from Ignatius Press. It has the Office of Compline with chants in Latin and on the facing page in English for the entire church year, all seasons. This is the "new" Compline, not the Tridentine and it is geared for families, churches, congretations etc to promote praying the wonderful prayers to close the day. The hyms have been newly translated (Deo gratias!) because next to the psalm prayers, the hymns in the LOTH....could be better (trying to be nice).
Here is the write up at http://www.ignatius.com/
Office of Compline
Availability: - In Stock
ISBN: 9781586174552
Author: Fr. Samuel F. Weber O.S.B.
Length: 148 pages
Edition: Hardcover
Code: OFCO-H
Retail Price: $18.95
Sale Price: $16.11
ALSO
MusicaSacra.com has all of the information on the Winter Chant Intensive which will take place this coming January in New Orleans. It is a chance for a week to immerse yourself in chant and you do not have to be an expert or near expert. Scott Turkington is a WONDERFUL teacher and he has a gift to make the neumes (chant notes, ie crunchy notes) as instinctive as they were meant to be. Dr. William Marhrt will also be there for experienced chanters. Basically, if you go with just a basic knowledge of chant, you can leave being able to either form and lead a schola or be a good solid member of your schola. Usually, there is another intensive before the big CMAA summer chant colloquium, but this next year Easter is so late. Anyway, I so wish I could go, but spread the word and register fast. It does fill up. Also, if you know a seminarian interested and you have the means, wonderful gift to the seminarian and to the church and His future (God willing) parishioners.
January 3-7, 2011
Old St. Patrick’s Church
New Orleans, Louisiana
Instructors: Dr. William Mahrt and Scott Turkington
Modesty and Worship- yes I am going there!
I have posted and observed discussions on modesty on some discussion boards that ended up degenerating into factions. One is of those who hold it is not that difficult for a girl or woman to manage wearing a dress or skirt to mass, one that thinks nice pants suits are ok those(usually women)who swear that the fact that woman's pants are tailored for women mean pants are women's clothes now and hey "Jesus wore a dress".
One of the benefits of having a blog is my blog, my rules :)
We live in strange and perilous times. I am well aware that sentiment has been shared by others in prior decades or centuries. The difference now is, by the grace of God, man has made great strides in knowledge of our world, technology etc and we have a much higher capability for destruction on many levels. One example, even 100 years ago, most parents could expect to have at least one of their children die if not more of diseases or situations that are either preventable today or easily cured after a visit to your pediatrician. Children were seen, as per the Bible, as a blessing and a gift. Now, too often they are a convenience and it is legal to kill them before they are born just because.
If you live in North America or Europe, you live in a culture informed by western civilization and in that civilization, pants were men's clothes and dresses or skirts were women's clothes. Yes, I know of Scotland and the kilt, but I know of no other and the kilt was still different as women still wore full length skirts. Anyone who was brought or came to America, was inculturated in some aspect of the European culture which was brought here. Even for those of us who also have African and or Native American roots, there were differences in men's and women clothes.
In short, the push for women to wear and to be able to wear pants everywhere was pushed in the 1960's and 1970's as part of the same cultural push to mandate the amount of children must be controlled and minimized and women should/must work outside the home. I remember being incensed when I was about 10 at a letter to Ann Landers or Dear Abby from a man stating he wished women would stop wearing pants to work and everywhere. I thought about writing a letter back because in my opinion, dresses and skirts were too cold in the winter and pantyhose are uncomfortable. That is true if you are wearing what society considers a dress or skirt. Quite the opposite if you do it right and no hindrance or lack of modesty to an active toddler, again if you do it right.
One aspect of my childhood attending protestant churches is it was always assumed that you wore Sunday best to church. It did not have to be fancy, just clean and for girls or women, a dress or skirt. Does God care what we wear? Not in the sense that he cares what color you wear or whether it is from Target or Macy's. God is God and when we go to Mass we are going to worship God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. I don't think it is too much that we women make certain what we are wearing is modest and feminine.
More in my next post and I will also discuss head coverings.
Note, lest anyone think I am casting stones or being overly critical- I know a woman who is married and they have 10 blessings. She home schools their children and the entire family goes to a 7am daily mass every day (and they do not dash in at the last second). The wife and daughters wear head coverings to mass, and I wish I had my life half as organized and engaged in the church militant as she does. And she and her daughters have jeans and appropriate shirts on at daily mass (but never on Sunday).
One of the benefits of having a blog is my blog, my rules :)
We live in strange and perilous times. I am well aware that sentiment has been shared by others in prior decades or centuries. The difference now is, by the grace of God, man has made great strides in knowledge of our world, technology etc and we have a much higher capability for destruction on many levels. One example, even 100 years ago, most parents could expect to have at least one of their children die if not more of diseases or situations that are either preventable today or easily cured after a visit to your pediatrician. Children were seen, as per the Bible, as a blessing and a gift. Now, too often they are a convenience and it is legal to kill them before they are born just because.
If you live in North America or Europe, you live in a culture informed by western civilization and in that civilization, pants were men's clothes and dresses or skirts were women's clothes. Yes, I know of Scotland and the kilt, but I know of no other and the kilt was still different as women still wore full length skirts. Anyone who was brought or came to America, was inculturated in some aspect of the European culture which was brought here. Even for those of us who also have African and or Native American roots, there were differences in men's and women clothes.
In short, the push for women to wear and to be able to wear pants everywhere was pushed in the 1960's and 1970's as part of the same cultural push to mandate the amount of children must be controlled and minimized and women should/must work outside the home. I remember being incensed when I was about 10 at a letter to Ann Landers or Dear Abby from a man stating he wished women would stop wearing pants to work and everywhere. I thought about writing a letter back because in my opinion, dresses and skirts were too cold in the winter and pantyhose are uncomfortable. That is true if you are wearing what society considers a dress or skirt. Quite the opposite if you do it right and no hindrance or lack of modesty to an active toddler, again if you do it right.
One aspect of my childhood attending protestant churches is it was always assumed that you wore Sunday best to church. It did not have to be fancy, just clean and for girls or women, a dress or skirt. Does God care what we wear? Not in the sense that he cares what color you wear or whether it is from Target or Macy's. God is God and when we go to Mass we are going to worship God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. I don't think it is too much that we women make certain what we are wearing is modest and feminine.
More in my next post and I will also discuss head coverings.
Note, lest anyone think I am casting stones or being overly critical- I know a woman who is married and they have 10 blessings. She home schools their children and the entire family goes to a 7am daily mass every day (and they do not dash in at the last second). The wife and daughters wear head coverings to mass, and I wish I had my life half as organized and engaged in the church militant as she does. And she and her daughters have jeans and appropriate shirts on at daily mass (but never on Sunday).
Friday, October 15, 2010
Are You Zealous for the Lord God of Hosts?
Solemnity of St. Teresa of Jesus, virgin, doctor of the Church
No this is not a typo. For OCDS Carmelites, today is a solemnity and for O.Carm's it is a feast. One of these years I am going to celebrate this feast at at a Carmelite monastery or a parish with St. Teresa as it's patron saint. Due to running late this morning, I was able to attend a mass where the priest did celebrate the memorial and he gave an excellent homily.
Father reminded us that St. Teresa experienced a spiritual dryness of almost 20 years where she prayed, but did not feel anything. Yes, "feeling" is often over-rated, but there is an emotional component to our faith that God often graces us with. God knows what we can bear and there are many of us (me) who may not be able to perservere if not for the consolations God gifts to us. St. Teresa perservered and trusted in God.
The Carmelite motto is based on the words of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, "With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts". Have you been, can you be zealous for God? The past month or two I have been reflecting a bit on the fact that I am part of the Church Militant and as such, I need to make certain I am in the fight. Not in a confrontational "I am right and you are wrong and must listen" but in prayer and testifying to the Truth through my words and work. As St. Francis of Assisi is supposed to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary use words. I need to ask myself each day, am I being zealous?
No this is not a typo. For OCDS Carmelites, today is a solemnity and for O.Carm's it is a feast. One of these years I am going to celebrate this feast at at a Carmelite monastery or a parish with St. Teresa as it's patron saint. Due to running late this morning, I was able to attend a mass where the priest did celebrate the memorial and he gave an excellent homily.
Father reminded us that St. Teresa experienced a spiritual dryness of almost 20 years where she prayed, but did not feel anything. Yes, "feeling" is often over-rated, but there is an emotional component to our faith that God often graces us with. God knows what we can bear and there are many of us (me) who may not be able to perservere if not for the consolations God gifts to us. St. Teresa perservered and trusted in God.
The Carmelite motto is based on the words of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, "With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts". Have you been, can you be zealous for God? The past month or two I have been reflecting a bit on the fact that I am part of the Church Militant and as such, I need to make certain I am in the fight. Not in a confrontational "I am right and you are wrong and must listen" but in prayer and testifying to the Truth through my words and work. As St. Francis of Assisi is supposed to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary use words. I need to ask myself each day, am I being zealous?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Gregorian Chant has Pride of Place in Latin Rite- really
And not just in OF.
Despite those who persist in proclaiming that protestant hymns, campfire ditties or songs in various languages unite us, the Church has never stopped stating that the Latin language and Gregorian chant- are central to the Latin Rite.
I saw this link at the Chant Cafe blog and I wish all of the bishops who have resisted Latin and any mass in Latin would learn from had the attitude of Bishop Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WI.
http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/bishopscolumns/1783-20101007-column.html
Chant as our prayer at Mass
I find myself almost forced to mention the workshop on Gregorian chant which the diocese sponsored last Friday night and Saturday morning. For me it was one of those benchmark events since I have been in the Diocese of Madison. Easily over 80 people were in attendance — we were almost too large a group for the venue to which we were assigned — and the presentations by Fr. Robert Skeris, of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a master presenter and scholar in the area of Church music, were both profound and excellent. His enthusiasm stirred a great deal of enthusiasm among those present.
And after about two and a half hours of practice, those present were able beautifully to sing the whole Mass (Novus Ordo) in Latin, using Gregorian chant. The beauty of this kind of prayer impressed itself on all of us who were there and made the Church’s preference for Gregorian chant seem much more reasonable, and the chant itself seem much more “doable.”
When we think of Gregorian chant as our prayer at Mass, not something that somehow accompanies our prayer but which embodies in sound the prayer itself, we start to think very differently about Church music in general.
This is certainly part of the renewal of the liturgy that we are seeking to accomplish in preparation for the First Sunday of Advent 2011, when we will begin to use the new English Translations of the Roman Missal, but it is also to recover the kind of sacramental attitude with which all of us should approach our full, active, and fruitful participation in the liturgy. Much more needs to be said about this, and indeed, much more will be said about it in the days ahead.
Yes, more complex chants can be more difficult, just as a Beethoven piano piece is more difficult than the Mary Had a Little Lamb that a beginning piano student might learn. The chant is quite intuitive- it was developed FOR singers. As for Latin, if you speak English as I do, our language received much from Latin. The most challenging thing for me is remembering to pronounce "in" not as an American "ehn", but een, lol.
Also, I finally uploaded a picture of me to my blog. I tend to take pictures more than be in them and I don't like many pictures of myself. At least this may prove I DO exist.
Despite those who persist in proclaiming that protestant hymns, campfire ditties or songs in various languages unite us, the Church has never stopped stating that the Latin language and Gregorian chant- are central to the Latin Rite.
I saw this link at the Chant Cafe blog and I wish all of the bishops who have resisted Latin and any mass in Latin would learn from had the attitude of Bishop Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WI.
http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/bishopscolumns/1783-20101007-column.html
Chant as our prayer at Mass
I find myself almost forced to mention the workshop on Gregorian chant which the diocese sponsored last Friday night and Saturday morning. For me it was one of those benchmark events since I have been in the Diocese of Madison. Easily over 80 people were in attendance — we were almost too large a group for the venue to which we were assigned — and the presentations by Fr. Robert Skeris, of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a master presenter and scholar in the area of Church music, were both profound and excellent. His enthusiasm stirred a great deal of enthusiasm among those present.
And after about two and a half hours of practice, those present were able beautifully to sing the whole Mass (Novus Ordo) in Latin, using Gregorian chant. The beauty of this kind of prayer impressed itself on all of us who were there and made the Church’s preference for Gregorian chant seem much more reasonable, and the chant itself seem much more “doable.”
When we think of Gregorian chant as our prayer at Mass, not something that somehow accompanies our prayer but which embodies in sound the prayer itself, we start to think very differently about Church music in general.
This is certainly part of the renewal of the liturgy that we are seeking to accomplish in preparation for the First Sunday of Advent 2011, when we will begin to use the new English Translations of the Roman Missal, but it is also to recover the kind of sacramental attitude with which all of us should approach our full, active, and fruitful participation in the liturgy. Much more needs to be said about this, and indeed, much more will be said about it in the days ahead.
Yes, more complex chants can be more difficult, just as a Beethoven piano piece is more difficult than the Mary Had a Little Lamb that a beginning piano student might learn. The chant is quite intuitive- it was developed FOR singers. As for Latin, if you speak English as I do, our language received much from Latin. The most challenging thing for me is remembering to pronounce "in" not as an American "ehn", but een, lol.
Also, I finally uploaded a picture of me to my blog. I tend to take pictures more than be in them and I don't like many pictures of myself. At least this may prove I DO exist.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Calendar Finds-aka how to avoid your mind playing tricks on you
I must admit that given my choice, I would love to belong to a parish that was strictly TLM. One of the hazards/challenges of attending daily mass in the OF and Sundays in the EF is keeping track of what feast day it is, what saint is being commemorated and what is the liturgical color for the day. And don't get me started on what week in Ordinary time it is in any given week.
We have an Infant of Prague statue with vestments for all of the liturgical colors: white, green, red and purple (no rose yet, but that color is for only two Sundays a year) as a way of teaching our daughter the seasons of the liturgical year as well a way of sanctifying the year.
So, in the post Vatican II period, the seasons of time were renamed, liturgical remembrances were jettisoned (Ember Days) and saint's feast days were moved around, feast days are not celebrated on the correct day, but on the following Sunday (Ascension). Case in point, this past Friday was the Solemnity (for OCDS Carmelites) of St. Therese of Liseux in the NO, but that feast is today in the EF (though suppressed by the Sunday except in those parish's whose patron is St. Therese or for Carmelites.
The result, is almost every week a disconnect between what we are praying at Sunday mass and in my breviary (Benedictine Diurnal) and what we are praying at mass during the week. Once during Pentecost season (I think) this past May, I thought Father was wearing red because of the season but it was for a martyr who had a different feast day in the EF.
So, what is an already busy mom to do? One BIG help has been a wall calendar I found at a bookstore last year. In one of my web searches a few months ago, I found the company that makes the calendar and some other wonderful items. It is a calendar that has what the season and feast is for EF and OF. What really sets this one apart is it also has a guide to the liturgical color for both EF and OF. I know Tan Books also has a dual calendar that has both forms, but it does not indicate the liturgical colors. I also have an EF wall calendar from Seraphim at work (because it is smaller) but it does not help with knowing what the OF is that day.
I highly recommend you check out the Saints Galore calendar. They also make a lovely rosary book that has the prayers in Latin, English and Spanish and a pro-life luggage tag as well as lovely holy cards, and cards including spiritual & prayer bouquets and name day cards.
http://www.saintsgalore.com/
I get no money for this, I am just a satisfied customer who is a lot less confused.
We have an Infant of Prague statue with vestments for all of the liturgical colors: white, green, red and purple (no rose yet, but that color is for only two Sundays a year) as a way of teaching our daughter the seasons of the liturgical year as well a way of sanctifying the year.
So, in the post Vatican II period, the seasons of time were renamed, liturgical remembrances were jettisoned (Ember Days) and saint's feast days were moved around, feast days are not celebrated on the correct day, but on the following Sunday (Ascension). Case in point, this past Friday was the Solemnity (for OCDS Carmelites) of St. Therese of Liseux in the NO, but that feast is today in the EF (though suppressed by the Sunday except in those parish's whose patron is St. Therese or for Carmelites.
The result, is almost every week a disconnect between what we are praying at Sunday mass and in my breviary (Benedictine Diurnal) and what we are praying at mass during the week. Once during Pentecost season (I think) this past May, I thought Father was wearing red because of the season but it was for a martyr who had a different feast day in the EF.
So, what is an already busy mom to do? One BIG help has been a wall calendar I found at a bookstore last year. In one of my web searches a few months ago, I found the company that makes the calendar and some other wonderful items. It is a calendar that has what the season and feast is for EF and OF. What really sets this one apart is it also has a guide to the liturgical color for both EF and OF. I know Tan Books also has a dual calendar that has both forms, but it does not indicate the liturgical colors. I also have an EF wall calendar from Seraphim at work (because it is smaller) but it does not help with knowing what the OF is that day.
I highly recommend you check out the Saints Galore calendar. They also make a lovely rosary book that has the prayers in Latin, English and Spanish and a pro-life luggage tag as well as lovely holy cards, and cards including spiritual & prayer bouquets and name day cards.
http://www.saintsgalore.com/
I get no money for this, I am just a satisfied customer who is a lot less confused.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
So, its fall already
Don't ask. Things have been, let's say, very busy. The reader's digest version:
-getting son through driver's training classes then taking his provisional license test (the one that let's you drive without an adult), check.
-Keeping up with very active and inquisitive 3 year old with an active (birthday)party life, check
-Getting said 3 year old ready for pre-k
-nursing child's strep throat & trying to manage (literal) headaches
-work
-and singing in a fledgling schola for the TLM at our parish.
Life is busy and full. I do now have a laptop that works so I am really going to try to be more faithful to this little blog.
-getting son through driver's training classes then taking his provisional license test (the one that let's you drive without an adult), check.
-Keeping up with very active and inquisitive 3 year old with an active (birthday)party life, check
-Getting said 3 year old ready for pre-k
-nursing child's strep throat & trying to manage (literal) headaches
-work
-and singing in a fledgling schola for the TLM at our parish.
Life is busy and full. I do now have a laptop that works so I am really going to try to be more faithful to this little blog.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Why I don't want a mass of the resurrection
ever.
No, this is not a trick post and I don't mean not now.
I have gotten to the point in my life that I have seen and heard about deaths that are "expected" due to old age and too many that are unexpected due to youth and or accident/tragedy. One of the aspects of the protestant church that has crept into or influenced some Catholic attitudes is the funeral as a celebration of the person's life and if the person was know to be religious or have a faith life, to celebrate them "going home, being with the Father, angels etc. The church has a deliberate approach to the process of discerning if a person is a saint- which means they are in heaven. Discernment, per the Merriam- Webster dictionary-the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. So, unless the death is of a baptized infant or child under the age of reason, the Catholic approach to a funeral should be that we pray for the repose of that person's soul and a funeral should even remind us that one day we too will die. The point of this, is the blank is with the Lord now, attitude means there does not seem to be a knowledge that we should pray for the repose of the poor souls in purgatory.
I have thought about this topic for some time, but what really brought it to mind is a tragic death of a young person that happened earlier this year. I will be obscure on purpose as I don't want to identify the person. Because of the circumstances there were news reports of the death, aftermath and funeral and several reports discussed they ways the deceased was remembered during the mass. Based on the reports, there seemed to be an approach that the person was with God. That may be so and I pray it is so, but I daresay most if not almost all of the people there did not know what was really going on in the interior life of the person. Also, one of the tragedies of our culture is that there are mortal sins that people have convinced themselves are ok or no sin. It is an act of charity to pray for the dead. When I was in RCIA, our pastor explained purgatory in a way that made sense right away. If someone stole $100 from you that you needed and you caught the person, and they were repentant, you might forgive them, but you will still want your $100 back. Consequences- they are still there even with forgiveness.
So, the reason I don't want a mass of the resurrection and that I want a TLM funeral mass (complete with Dies Irae), is I know even if God willing, I persevere in the race, as St. Paul, I will need prayers for the repose of my soul.
No, this is not a trick post and I don't mean not now.
I have gotten to the point in my life that I have seen and heard about deaths that are "expected" due to old age and too many that are unexpected due to youth and or accident/tragedy. One of the aspects of the protestant church that has crept into or influenced some Catholic attitudes is the funeral as a celebration of the person's life and if the person was know to be religious or have a faith life, to celebrate them "going home, being with the Father, angels etc. The church has a deliberate approach to the process of discerning if a person is a saint- which means they are in heaven. Discernment, per the Merriam- Webster dictionary-the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. So, unless the death is of a baptized infant or child under the age of reason, the Catholic approach to a funeral should be that we pray for the repose of that person's soul and a funeral should even remind us that one day we too will die. The point of this, is the blank is with the Lord now, attitude means there does not seem to be a knowledge that we should pray for the repose of the poor souls in purgatory.
I have thought about this topic for some time, but what really brought it to mind is a tragic death of a young person that happened earlier this year. I will be obscure on purpose as I don't want to identify the person. Because of the circumstances there were news reports of the death, aftermath and funeral and several reports discussed they ways the deceased was remembered during the mass. Based on the reports, there seemed to be an approach that the person was with God. That may be so and I pray it is so, but I daresay most if not almost all of the people there did not know what was really going on in the interior life of the person. Also, one of the tragedies of our culture is that there are mortal sins that people have convinced themselves are ok or no sin. It is an act of charity to pray for the dead. When I was in RCIA, our pastor explained purgatory in a way that made sense right away. If someone stole $100 from you that you needed and you caught the person, and they were repentant, you might forgive them, but you will still want your $100 back. Consequences- they are still there even with forgiveness.
So, the reason I don't want a mass of the resurrection and that I want a TLM funeral mass (complete with Dies Irae), is I know even if God willing, I persevere in the race, as St. Paul, I will need prayers for the repose of my soul.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Why Orange is not a Liturgically Correct color
I recall seeing a bit on the news the morning of the World Cup final and thinking “that has got to be (I hope) an Anglican Dutch priest not a Catholic priest”. Alas, I was wrong.
From Catholicculture.org
Bishop Joseph Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam has suspended a parish priest, Father Paul Vlaar, who wore orange vestments-- the color of the Netherlands’ World Cup team-- during Sunday Mass on July 11. Father Vlaar also acted as a goalkeeper during Mass, standing in front of a goal as a parishioner kicked a soccer ball down the aisle.
“On Sunday 11 July, Pastor Paul Vlaar of Obdam celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the spirit of the Football World Cup, wearing an orange chasuble, and did insufficient justice, in text and form, to the sanctity of the Eucharist,” a diocesan statement noted. “The footage of this has caused indignation among faithful here and abroad.”
The statement continued:
In the past the bishop had impressed upon Fr Vlaar not to mix the Holy Eucharist with profane events. The pastor has said to fully support this and promised to abide. The pastor’s pastoral zeal and commitment are not under discussion. Following this new incident the bishop again met with Fr. Vlaar, imposed an immediate time of reflection on him and relieved him of his priestly duties for the time being. Things will once again be considered at a later date.
And this is a blog by a Dutch Catholic blogger discussing the issue further:
http://incaelo.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/a-diocesan-statement-about-fr-paul-vlaar/
I did follow the World Cup a bit. Thanks to my DS and sitting on the sidelines of several years of soccer games, I learned to like the sport. Yes, I know more about and follow American football, but I do enjoy soccer and we used to go see the Columbus Crew play at least a couple of times a year when we were still in Ohio.
In full disclosure, I am also a Cleveland Browns fan and I also tend to cheer for the other Cleveland teams (Indians, Cavaliers) so I KNOW from sports drought. I mean, the last time the Browns were the world champions in professional (American) football, there was no Super Bowl. I still hate Denver and the names Byner and Elway still make me cringe. That being said, on that joyful Sunday I hope to experience when my Brownies are in the Super Bowl, I want to attend mass in the morning and prayerfully participate in mass and receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament from a priest in the correct liturgical color of vestments for the day and in a church with the liturgically correct altar cloths. I don’t care if I am at the Cathedral in downtown Cleveland; I don’t want the priest in orange and brown. Mass in the Catholic church is worship. Boosterism belongs in a stadium.
From Catholicculture.org
Bishop Joseph Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam has suspended a parish priest, Father Paul Vlaar, who wore orange vestments-- the color of the Netherlands’ World Cup team-- during Sunday Mass on July 11. Father Vlaar also acted as a goalkeeper during Mass, standing in front of a goal as a parishioner kicked a soccer ball down the aisle.
“On Sunday 11 July, Pastor Paul Vlaar of Obdam celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the spirit of the Football World Cup, wearing an orange chasuble, and did insufficient justice, in text and form, to the sanctity of the Eucharist,” a diocesan statement noted. “The footage of this has caused indignation among faithful here and abroad.”
The statement continued:
In the past the bishop had impressed upon Fr Vlaar not to mix the Holy Eucharist with profane events. The pastor has said to fully support this and promised to abide. The pastor’s pastoral zeal and commitment are not under discussion. Following this new incident the bishop again met with Fr. Vlaar, imposed an immediate time of reflection on him and relieved him of his priestly duties for the time being. Things will once again be considered at a later date.
And this is a blog by a Dutch Catholic blogger discussing the issue further:
http://incaelo.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/a-diocesan-statement-about-fr-paul-vlaar/
I did follow the World Cup a bit. Thanks to my DS and sitting on the sidelines of several years of soccer games, I learned to like the sport. Yes, I know more about and follow American football, but I do enjoy soccer and we used to go see the Columbus Crew play at least a couple of times a year when we were still in Ohio.
In full disclosure, I am also a Cleveland Browns fan and I also tend to cheer for the other Cleveland teams (Indians, Cavaliers) so I KNOW from sports drought. I mean, the last time the Browns were the world champions in professional (American) football, there was no Super Bowl. I still hate Denver and the names Byner and Elway still make me cringe. That being said, on that joyful Sunday I hope to experience when my Brownies are in the Super Bowl, I want to attend mass in the morning and prayerfully participate in mass and receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament from a priest in the correct liturgical color of vestments for the day and in a church with the liturgically correct altar cloths. I don’t care if I am at the Cathedral in downtown Cleveland; I don’t want the priest in orange and brown. Mass in the Catholic church is worship. Boosterism belongs in a stadium.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
John Andrew "Andyman" Davis- Requiescat in Pace
This is a detour from the ususal focus of my humble blog. Please pray for the repose of the soul of John Andrew Davis- husband, father of three young boys, dj for CD 101 in Columbus, OH, parishioner of St. Timothy Church and active community member and founder of the Andyman-athon on CD 101.
I have loved music since I was a child and used to sneak listen to the am clock radio in my bedroom. I was into what is now called classic rock in my teens, but in college I got interested in what was then called new wave, alternative etc- The Police, Squeeze, The Smiths, Depeche Mode et al. I continued preferring that style of music and in the early 1990's in Columbus a new radio station started- CD 101, which played both "classic" alternative and the newer genres of grunge and other music that you just did not hear on regular commercial radio. For many years, Andyman was my afternoon drive time radio company as he had the 3-6pm slot. He also started a radio telethon called the Andyman-athon during the Christmas season to raise money for kid's charities. He was also a noted supporter of local music and unknown bands- in a time when most commercial radio is focused on the music with broadest appeal regardless of its artistic merit.
Andyman drowned this past Saturday while on vacation with his wife and children in Michigan. Please pray for the repose of his soul and please keep his wife, children and family in your prayers.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=john-andrew-davis-andyman&pid=144192101&fhid=8700
I have loved music since I was a child and used to sneak listen to the am clock radio in my bedroom. I was into what is now called classic rock in my teens, but in college I got interested in what was then called new wave, alternative etc- The Police, Squeeze, The Smiths, Depeche Mode et al. I continued preferring that style of music and in the early 1990's in Columbus a new radio station started- CD 101, which played both "classic" alternative and the newer genres of grunge and other music that you just did not hear on regular commercial radio. For many years, Andyman was my afternoon drive time radio company as he had the 3-6pm slot. He also started a radio telethon called the Andyman-athon during the Christmas season to raise money for kid's charities. He was also a noted supporter of local music and unknown bands- in a time when most commercial radio is focused on the music with broadest appeal regardless of its artistic merit.
Andyman drowned this past Saturday while on vacation with his wife and children in Michigan. Please pray for the repose of his soul and please keep his wife, children and family in your prayers.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=john-andrew-davis-andyman&pid=144192101&fhid=8700
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Flos Carmeli
Yesterday was very busy and I did not have a chance to post on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Solemnity for those of us who are Carmelites-Ancient Observance and Discalced). I was able to go to mass, Deo Gratias, but one year I really hope to be able to go to a Carmelite Monastery to go to a mass celebrated as a solemnity. They masses I have attended since I have been here have been little more than memorials of the feast. The Brown Scapular is such a powerful sacramental and a great gift of Our Lady.
I was also thinking about feasts of Our Lady and I realized I could think of a fairly well known and celebrated feast of Our Lady for every month of the year except April.
I was also thinking about feasts of Our Lady and I realized I could think of a fairly well known and celebrated feast of Our Lady for every month of the year except April.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Deo Gratias
It has been another busy couple of months. My laptop is still clinging to life, but only for some web-surfing, which makes it difficult to post. I am going to try to work on that as I would like to post consistently.
DH did start working full time again in late May!!!! It is a contract position so I am continuing to pray that the contract continues! DS finished his sophomore year and is now at Christendom's Latin camp for a week. DD is having a fun summer and is very busy being 3. Her will is really surfacing so trying to work on channeling that force.
On the Latin Mass Front-
I was blessed to be able to attend the Musica Sacra XX conference in Pittsburgh last month (stay churchy my friends). Despite the fact that Pittsburgh has way too many hills one has to walk up- it was a grace filled week. I really learned a lot and my mom came to help with DD so that was fun. A week of masses that show the range of beautiful music that we have been given over the centuries in the Roman Catholic Church. The first mass was a novus ordo in English with chant ordinary and propers written by Richard Rice and it was celebrated ad orientam. Clear proof that we can have English masses with the introit, gradual, offertory and communion antiphons (not hymns). The rest of the masses during the week were in Latin- tlm and novus ordo. We also prayed/chanted morning prayer and compline each day and by the end of the week, all in Latin.
I will actually get to what I have learned as we are starting rehearsals the week after next, for the chant schola for the tlm. We are going to have to start out with hymns with a low mass as Father is still working with the altar servers to get them to the point where they can serve a missa cantata. We will start singing on the Feast of the Assumption.
DH did start working full time again in late May!!!! It is a contract position so I am continuing to pray that the contract continues! DS finished his sophomore year and is now at Christendom's Latin camp for a week. DD is having a fun summer and is very busy being 3. Her will is really surfacing so trying to work on channeling that force.
On the Latin Mass Front-
I was blessed to be able to attend the Musica Sacra XX conference in Pittsburgh last month (stay churchy my friends). Despite the fact that Pittsburgh has way too many hills one has to walk up- it was a grace filled week. I really learned a lot and my mom came to help with DD so that was fun. A week of masses that show the range of beautiful music that we have been given over the centuries in the Roman Catholic Church. The first mass was a novus ordo in English with chant ordinary and propers written by Richard Rice and it was celebrated ad orientam. Clear proof that we can have English masses with the introit, gradual, offertory and communion antiphons (not hymns). The rest of the masses during the week were in Latin- tlm and novus ordo. We also prayed/chanted morning prayer and compline each day and by the end of the week, all in Latin.
I will actually get to what I have learned as we are starting rehearsals the week after next, for the chant schola for the tlm. We are going to have to start out with hymns with a low mass as Father is still working with the altar servers to get them to the point where they can serve a missa cantata. We will start singing on the Feast of the Assumption.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Solemn Pontifical Mass- wonderful!
I am going to either attempt to post pictures later or will ask DH to help me. Due to some non-related issues, we did not get there as early as I wanted to. We arrived about noon and got upstairs to the upper church about 12:15pm. It was already very full. There was still room towards the back of the church and people had not really started to move closer to let that one additional person or two in the pew. I lucked out and a kind man let me and DD have his seat (which there was actually plenty of room for both of us. It was on the left side of the sanctuary on the end of the aisle and closed to one of the sets of stairs that lead to the crypt church. We were about 5 rows behind one of the cameras for EWTN. A good space if you have a little one because you are closed to a side chapel or the stairs if you need to take them out for a bit.
It was standing room only, literally. Some people did sit in some of the side chapels and there were a lot of people standing & kneeling next to our section during the mass and the same was true elsewhere in the shrine.
The music was wonderful as was the mass. It proved a couple of things as far as I am concerned.
1)The EF form of the mass does not just appeal to those who remember it or to those of European ancestry. There were (as there tends to be) a good number of families including those with small children/infants. I saw white, black and Asian people of all ages and a good number of those in attendance seemed to be younger (late 20'-50's) people who would have no, little or just childhood recollection of the mass pre-Vatican II. There were religious sisters and brothers, but most of those there were lay people.
2)Children can learn to sing Latin. There were several youth choirs who sang before the mass started. I did see the The St. John's Academy before they went to sing and during and that is a choir made up of Catholic elementary students. Alot of them seemed to be in the 4th-8th grade range and they were singing Latin hyms. Folks, it can be done.
3)The people do know what is going on during the mass. I saw several people who it appeared were not used to attending the EF mass, but the booklets were wonderful. They had the entire mass including the propers and prayers in English and Latin and people were following along even with the challenges of a large church and microphones that were on, but were not booming.
And my experience disproved the following old saw:
4) The people can't/won't participate if the mass is in Latin. I heard others singing the "Gloria" and it was "all in" during the "Credo" and the "Pater Noster" IN LATIN and singing the proper chant along with the schola.
DD was happy as she saw some of "her sisters" and after mass we got to speak with a couple of sisters (I don't know what order and I forgot ask).
It was standing room only, literally. Some people did sit in some of the side chapels and there were a lot of people standing & kneeling next to our section during the mass and the same was true elsewhere in the shrine.
The music was wonderful as was the mass. It proved a couple of things as far as I am concerned.
1)The EF form of the mass does not just appeal to those who remember it or to those of European ancestry. There were (as there tends to be) a good number of families including those with small children/infants. I saw white, black and Asian people of all ages and a good number of those in attendance seemed to be younger (late 20'-50's) people who would have no, little or just childhood recollection of the mass pre-Vatican II. There were religious sisters and brothers, but most of those there were lay people.
2)Children can learn to sing Latin. There were several youth choirs who sang before the mass started. I did see the The St. John's Academy before they went to sing and during and that is a choir made up of Catholic elementary students. Alot of them seemed to be in the 4th-8th grade range and they were singing Latin hyms. Folks, it can be done.
3)The people do know what is going on during the mass. I saw several people who it appeared were not used to attending the EF mass, but the booklets were wonderful. They had the entire mass including the propers and prayers in English and Latin and people were following along even with the challenges of a large church and microphones that were on, but were not booming.
And my experience disproved the following old saw:
4) The people can't/won't participate if the mass is in Latin. I heard others singing the "Gloria" and it was "all in" during the "Credo" and the "Pater Noster" IN LATIN and singing the proper chant along with the schola.
DD was happy as she saw some of "her sisters" and after mass we got to speak with a couple of sisters (I don't know what order and I forgot ask).
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Solemn Pontifical Mass at Basilica Shrine
This has been a triple red letter day on my calendar since the date was first announced. Today will be the first Tridentine/EF mass said at the Basilica Shrine in the upper church in 45 years. The mass is in thanksgiving for the 5th anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict 16th. I am going to try to take some pictures and post them later. I am hoping it is filled to capacity, but not before we get there, lol!
I am hoping we get an aisle seat close to one of the horizontal exit aisles so in case DD gets restless or has to go out for a minute we can do so easily. It would be a bonus if we are sitting near some sisters since DD is 1)fascinated by "her sisters" and 2) might be quieter (for a 3 year old) if she is near "her sisters". This will also give me a chance to stock up on a few more Catholic coloring books for her. I will get those before the mass, but I am determined not to linger in the gift shop or book store very long until after the mass.
I am hoping we get an aisle seat close to one of the horizontal exit aisles so in case DD gets restless or has to go out for a minute we can do so easily. It would be a bonus if we are sitting near some sisters since DD is 1)fascinated by "her sisters" and 2) might be quieter (for a 3 year old) if she is near "her sisters". This will also give me a chance to stock up on a few more Catholic coloring books for her. I will get those before the mass, but I am determined not to linger in the gift shop or book store very long until after the mass.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Christus Ressurexit!
We are a party people, liturgically speaking. After the prayer and sacrifices of Lent and the solemn nature of the triduum, we have 8 days of Easter celebration.
I was able to attend Holy Thursday and Good Friday services in the EF for the first time. We were able to go back home also, so we got to see friends. The services were at two churches- Sacred Heart and Holy Family. DD was thrilled because there were sisters at the Good Friday serviceN or as she says "my sisters". Luckily they did not stay praying after the service for an hour 'cause she was not leaving without talking with here sisters.
I was able to attend Holy Thursday and Good Friday services in the EF for the first time. We were able to go back home also, so we got to see friends. The services were at two churches- Sacred Heart and Holy Family. DD was thrilled because there were sisters at the Good Friday serviceN or as she says "my sisters". Luckily they did not stay praying after the service for an hour 'cause she was not leaving without talking with here sisters.
Christus Ressurexit!
We are a party people, liturgically speaking. After the prayer and sacrifices of Lent and the solemn nature of the triduum, we have 8 days of Easter celebration.
I was able to attend Holy Thursday and Good Friday services in the EF for the first time. We were able to go back home also, so we got to see friends. The services were at two churches- Sacred Heart and Holy Family. DD was thrilled because there were sisters at the Good Friday serviceN or as she says "my sisters". Luckily they did not stay praying after the service for an hour 'cause she was not leaving without talking with here sisters.
I was able to attend Holy Thursday and Good Friday services in the EF for the first time. We were able to go back home also, so we got to see friends. The services were at two churches- Sacred Heart and Holy Family. DD was thrilled because there were sisters at the Good Friday serviceN or as she says "my sisters". Luckily they did not stay praying after the service for an hour 'cause she was not leaving without talking with here sisters.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Ok, I am really back now- Palm Sunday 2010
It has been an eventful winter. 3 blizzards, a child who managed to get sick with every bug passing through our state, a family weddinga and a sick father. I am taking an ecclesiastical Latin class because I have wanted to study Latin for some time and it was on Saturday am so the time was perfect. I am also taking a music theory class to start helping me develop my music/singing ability again. Couple that with a computer that refused to connect to the internet and a husband taking classes (and using the other computer) and that added up to months of just quick peaks on-line (no blogging at work for me).
My computer is now healthy (thanks D!) so I am going to try to be consistent and have much to share.
The BIG news is the parish closest to where I live (our geographical parish) started a TLM the first Sunday of Lent. It is at 5pm. Now this church was build with no thought of the TLM on anyones mind though it does have some touches to elevate it above some of the meeting hall style churhes. The station of the cross look like the stations, the statues of Joseph and Mary are side by side, but do have some presence and there is a very nice painting of the parish patron saint on one of the walls. There is a wall bas relief type mural that distracts me to no end if I let it, but the parish does have perpetual adoration and has always had good preaching and teaching from the priests. The attendance has been decent- in the 70-80 people range I think.
It is a low mass now, but I will be trying to see if there are some people who would help us start a schola. Yea! To be able to sing chant again and not just at seminars. I was hoping we could get something together in time for Easter, but we will be going back home to Ohio.
I experienced my first TLM Palm Sunday mass. I went to the 8am one as they were having a high mass and the afternoon was was going to be a low mass with no procession and the abreviated gospel (since that was going to be father's 6th mass of the weekend). It was beautiful The evening mass was nice and there was even a larger crowd- I estimated about 120 people.
We will get to experience the Holy Thursday mass and Good Friday service in the TLM in Ohio. No Easter vigil in the TLM unless I felt like driving over an hour to Dayton, so the plan is to attend the mass at our old parish, which will be N.0. but reverent.
My computer is now healthy (thanks D!) so I am going to try to be consistent and have much to share.
The BIG news is the parish closest to where I live (our geographical parish) started a TLM the first Sunday of Lent. It is at 5pm. Now this church was build with no thought of the TLM on anyones mind though it does have some touches to elevate it above some of the meeting hall style churhes. The station of the cross look like the stations, the statues of Joseph and Mary are side by side, but do have some presence and there is a very nice painting of the parish patron saint on one of the walls. There is a wall bas relief type mural that distracts me to no end if I let it, but the parish does have perpetual adoration and has always had good preaching and teaching from the priests. The attendance has been decent- in the 70-80 people range I think.
It is a low mass now, but I will be trying to see if there are some people who would help us start a schola. Yea! To be able to sing chant again and not just at seminars. I was hoping we could get something together in time for Easter, but we will be going back home to Ohio.
I experienced my first TLM Palm Sunday mass. I went to the 8am one as they were having a high mass and the afternoon was was going to be a low mass with no procession and the abreviated gospel (since that was going to be father's 6th mass of the weekend). It was beautiful The evening mass was nice and there was even a larger crowd- I estimated about 120 people.
We will get to experience the Holy Thursday mass and Good Friday service in the TLM in Ohio. No Easter vigil in the TLM unless I felt like driving over an hour to Dayton, so the plan is to attend the mass at our old parish, which will be N.0. but reverent.
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