Monthly Archives: August 2006

Bp. Aquila of Fargo no longer Administrator of Sioux Falls

With the appointment of Bishop-Elect Paul Joseph Swain to the See of Sioux Falls, that means that H.E. Samuel Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, is no longer to be the Apostolic Administrator of Sioux Falls.

Right?
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Pope cancels annual Christmas concert

Old new to you?  I learned today that Pope Benedict XVI has cancalled the 12 year annual Christmas concert because, get this,  "he does not share his predecessor’s taste for pop music and wants to avoid scandal" or so it … Read More

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Laws of The House of God

On the blog Wormtalk and Slugspeak I was astonished to see a word not so many people use or even know: Gomer. “Well!” quoth I, “It is time to talk about Fat Man’s Laws of the House of God!” “But … Read More

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Sts. Joseph of Arimethea & Nicodemus

Today is the feast of Sts. Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus: 1. Hierosolymae, commemoratio sanctorum Ioseph de Arimathaea et Nicodemi, qui corpus Iesu a cruce depositum acceperunt, involverunt in sindone et posuerunt in monumento. Ioseph, nobilis decurio et discipulus Domini, … Read More

Posted in Patristiblogging, SESSIUNCULA |
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USCCB: Patristics in the formation of seminarians

The USCCB issued a program for formation for US seminaries. Inter alia the conference has codified that Patristics (study of the theology of the Fathers of the Church) is to be included. Here are the relevant paragraphs: 201. Patristic studies … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Patristiblogging, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , , ,
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John the Baptist: decreased by the sword

Today is the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. I consider this (also) my name day, and in a way it is even more appropriate than the Nativity of John in June. Here is the Roman Martyrology entry … Read More

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Augustine’s strongest suit

Today I have been thinking about the impact of Augustine. (Actually, I think about that nearly every day.) This morning in a chat with a friend who is a true scholar of Augustine, I gleened something. If you want to … Read More

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Augustine’s Bones – where are they now?

Augustine died on 28 August 430. His friend and biographer Possidius describes his last days during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals. Sometime before the early 8th century, Augustine’s remains were translated from N. Africa to Sardinia for fear … Read More

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Augustine is ordained

Many bloggers and certainly patristibloggers will be posting today about St. Augustine. Rather than relate the same old stuff you already know, you might be interested in other less known episodes from the life of this titanic figure who so … Read More

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Mass with Monica and Augustine

This morning at the Sabine Farm Holy Mass was celebrated with the 1962 Missale Romanum in the presence of both St. Augustine and his mother St. Monica. Before Mass began, the great saint was honored with a parade in front … Read More

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28 August: other saints today (Junipero Serra and E. Arrowsmith)

Other saints today: Today is, incidently, the feast of St. Edmund Arrowsmith, one of the English martyrs. In his entry in the Martyrologium Romanum (below) you will find an item, which refers to entry no. 11 for William Dean and … Read More

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FNC’s Steve Centanni and cameraman RELEASED!

Fox News’ journalist Steve Centanni and his cameraman have been RELEASED! Let there be sung Non Nobis and Te Deum.

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Monica’s tomb in Sant’Agostino in Rome

This is the chapel in the church of St. Augustine in Rome (literally across the street from my back door) on the day when the bones of St. Augustine were brought from their resting place in Pavia to Rome. For … Read More

Posted in My View, Patristiblogging, SESSIUNCULA |
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Monica: an influence on the doctrine of Original sin?

Turning again to Serge Lancel’s excellent Augustine, the best biography I know of the great Bishop of Hippo (p. 11 ff) we can get a view of Monica and her son and their relationship (my emphasis): In the course of … Read More

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St. Monica: avoided alcoholism

From Serge Lancel’s Augustine, the best biography I know of the great Bishop of Hippo (p. 8 ff): Before devoting himself entirely to Mother Church, as he approached the age of forty, Augustine had had a concubine for about fifteen … Read More

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21st Sunday of Ordinary Time: SUPER OBLATA (2)

EXCERPT:
Let me ask you. What would the last thirty some years have been like if we had had better translations all along? What would our Church be like today had the mandate of the Council to maintain Latin been obeyed? Would we have a different sense of our identity as Catholics? Would those things have helped us better influence the society we live in? Would we be better prepared to handle the pressures of daily life? Would so many people, including clergy, have been acquiescent in the face of popular cultural trends and the destruction of our education system? I think much of what we see going on today could have been averted. We can’t know anything for sure, but I have little doubt that things would have been very different indeed. This is because I believe that the true Actor at Mass is Christ Jesus the High Priest. Mass is effective and nourishing. Had things been in better shape, Catholics would be different today. Lex orandi, lex credendi! The way we pray has a reciprocal relationship with what we believe. Read More

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Holy Father’s Angelus on St. Monica and St. Augustine

During today’s Angelus at Castel Gandolofo, the Holy Father spoke about St. Monica and St. Augustine. Pope Benedict is a deeper learner about the Fathers and he is sharing wonderful insights with us now. You can hear the enthusiasm in his voice, even though he stubles in his text once. I think he might have inserted a parenthetical.

Benedict XVI referred to Monica as an example of encouragment to parents who are suffering from watching their children stray on the wrongs paths. Augustine was a long seeker after the truth, even from his youth.

Download the mp3 of his address. I don’t know how long this address will be valid. Probably one week. Read More

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St. Melchisedech, Old Testament king and priest

Reverently opening your copy of the Roman Martyrology you find in the first entry for today 1. Commemoratio sancti Melchisedech, regis Salem et sacerdotis Dei altissimi, qui Abraham benedicens salutavit a victoria regressum, Domino sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam, offerens, atque … Read More

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Pope Zephyrinus, pope

Sometimes you have to scratch your head and then just accept things.  Such is the case of the interesting St. Pope Zephyrinus (c. 199-217), Roman born, who lived, as the Chinese put it, "in interesting times".  First, here is the … Read More

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Some (negative) news on the Lefebvrite front

My friend John Thavis in Rome has a CNS story entitled: Lefebvrite bishop says no progress on reconciliation with Vatican. Click here for the whole thing.  My emphasis. EXCERPTS: "I think probably the pope would like things to go quicker, … Read More

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