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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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It is St Anthony’s feast day!
The solemn high mass for Pentecost that was celebrated by the Benedictine monks of Norcia was well-attended and absolutely beautiful. There were diocesan priests, religious order priests, and seminarians with them as well.
Today is the 13th Annivesary of my ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. Spare a prayer for me today, please. Mass of Thanksgiving at 7:30pm (GMT) in the Usus Antiquior followed by blessing of lilies in honour of St Anthony.
In a little over 2 hours I will be offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Our Lady of Grace Monastery. It will be the highlight of my day. I can’t wait. And I will remember you to the Lord.
Fr. David Wade DeCoste
Recently confirmed. Very happy to be home.
Praying, stmungo! And congratulations!
My good news is… well, I don’t have anything spectacular to share, but I’m having a cup of delicious Chinese tea and listening to archived episodes of Catholic Answers Live!
Big wildfire in AZ came w/in 1 mile of my parent’s home. So far, the firefighters have been able to save their home. Thankful that no one has lost their life.
Had the pleasure of worshiping at Assumption Grotto in Detroit yesterday, with Fr Z celebrating and preaching at an orchestral solemn Mass in the EF. Quite wonderful!
Yesterday, for the first time since I moved into my new parish over a year ago, incense was used at Mass. At the procession, the Gospel proclamation, and the offertory. The priest, a retired gentleman who fills in frequently for the pastor, explained why he used it and noted it has OT roots. I thanked him afterwards and offered to buy more incense if they would employ it in the future, but he said the pastor doesn’t like to use it. Still, a great step forward and a beautiful, reverent Mass.
A few months ago I had a bad run with Rosary beads. First of all a beautiful green pair got lost, and as yet I have not found it, and then to add insult to injury, my other pair of rosary beads; a beautiful white pair broke. This set of Rosary beads was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. Only one bead was missing, but that was enough to ruin the Rosary beads. Prayers to Saint Anthony (the finder of lost objects) failed to find the missing bead. I put the broken Rosary beads away, and made do with an inexpensive pink plastic pair. Later on a friend, who knew nothing of this, gave me a very beautiful elaborate Rosary. They are the most beautiful pair that I have ever owned. Today on Saint Anthony’s feast day, I looked down on the carpet beside my bed, and there was the missing bead. I have looked there before, and it was not in that spot. Now the rosary beads can be fixed and made complete again. Encouraged by this event, I have made another prayer to Saint Anthony to find the green pair. I hope to find them soon.
Excellent start to the summer. Happy Feast.
My Godson was ordained into the priesthood on 5/28.
I got short-shifted between shifts last night and this morning, so I’m getting paid overtime today!
I had to change the way I refer to three of my friends on Saturday as they became the three newest priests for my diocese!
Beautiful Mass in Waltham Sunday.
Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of Kabale couldn’t come for the feast of the Ugandan Martyrs, so he came for Pentecost!
Wonderful Mass in every respect, the weather wasn’t too bad, nice dinner afterwards, good homily from the Bishop, 15 more priests behind him, 2 transitional deacons about to be ordained to the priesthood, and one seminarian (starting his summer parish assignment) serving at altar.
1. Son is healthy, happy and well-adjusted young man.
2. Health is pretty OK.
3. Pastor appears to have recovered nicely from an earlier “mini-stroke”.
4. I just prayed for the pope and applied the indulgence to a recently departed father of a co-worker.
5. I just feel happier than usual. Just do.
His Excellency John Quinn of the diocese of Winona celebrated a Pontifical Low Mass for the first time in Simpson, MN.
Here’s some pictures: http://stevenjohnbosco.blogspot.com/2011/06/pontifical-low-mass-in-diocese-of.html
This is good/bad news…
The bad news is that Tom Rutkoski of Gospa Missions in Evans City, PA (www.gospa.org) passed away last week.
The good news is that in less than an hour his request for a traditional Requiem Mass will take place at St. Paul’s in Butler, PA. I’m almost certain that nothing like this has occured in a parish church in this town in over 40 years.
Archbishop Listecki will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form and assist at a Solemn High Mass this Saturday in Milwaukee. 49 candidates are scheduled to be confirmed at St. Stanislaus Parish & Oratory.
No earthshaking news here, but the choral Mass for Pentecost was excellent.
A well-prepared, hard-hitting sermon by our Parochial Vicar, just returned from the Holy Land.
Lots of chant — plus Vaughn Williams’s “Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing”, a great old Anglican barn-burner, and our music director’s own setting of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” which is chant based with some organum and double choirs thrown in, plus fireworks from the keyboard. It rocked the house – in the nicest and most reverent possible way, of course.
Also, my dogs will be out of rabies quarantine on Thursday. Not a moment too soon – three high octane hunting dogs confined to a small house and smaller yard is not pleasant for anybody.
Had a great day yesterday – served as straw subdeacon for a Solemn High Mass at my parish, went to brunch with a friend, then later met up with three fine priests for an excellent dinner (despite one steak being overcooked), great conversation, and the recalling of many fond memories. It has helped to fortify me for the mountain of work that greets me here at work this morning!
Wow, these good news posts lift the spirit and I was already feeling blessed following Mass at my little parish yesterday. The celebrant was the elderly, retired pastor of the parish, a gentle man who radiates holiness. There was Latin and incensing, a wonderful ‘old fashion’ homily on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Baptism of a baby girl, the first infant Baptism in several years, following a string of funerals. It was beautiful and touched my soul deeply. At the end Father exclaimed loudly, Alleluiah!, and the congregation shouted back, Alleluiah!, and broke into spontaneous and joyful applause, one blessed new little soul for us.
I very recently received and accepted a job offer, ending eight months of unemployment.
It’ll sound silly, but, exactly the thing I wanted to be true about compact Lie Groups turns out to be a really truely theorem; and, even better, the reference supplied by my more-knowledgeable friend gives the completion of exactly the proof I wanted to work, but couldn’t finish — and that was frightfully reassuring!
1) I attended the Ordination of four Priests for the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham on Friday afternoon
2) I’m confident (after a year) that have a vocation to the Priesthood
3) on wednesday I start an 8 week work-experience placement (its not paid and so I will still be recieving welfare but it will be the first work experience for three and a half years and could possibly lead to a paid position after the 8 weeks are up.
Made it to Mass 4 days in a row, a new record.
Got to hear Down Ampney yesterday. Love those sturdy Anglican hymns.
Saw friends who are encouraging about my health things, giving an antidote to a very pro-Stoicism homily Saturday morning (it stated that those who acknowledge suffering are lacking in character, we are to deny that we are suffering).
Progress with learning patience.
The Mass of Pentecost celebrated by Fr. John Arthur Orr at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville (TN) was the most beautiful parish TLM that I have experienced in person (either before or after Vatican II). All the smells and bells, of course, with one of our seminarians as MC, plus thurifer, acolyte, and four torch bearers. Graced (quite literally) by sacred music that lifted us heavenward, from the processional Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest and Vidi Aquam to the closing Regina coeli and recessional Come Down, O Love Divine. The propers and the ancient Pentecost sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus chanted by the Knox Latin Mass Schola, Credo III and the Pater Noster by the whole congregation. The ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei) in sacred polyphony from Palestrina’s Missa Brevis. The highpoint for me (both musically and spiritually) was when–the Sanctus having ended before the consecration of Host and Chalice–the soaring Benedictus began immediately afterward and “covered” the remainder of the Roman Canon. How glorious is the silent canon in combination with the split Sanctus-Benedictus that so majestically frames the Consecration. As a footnote, I later viewed the Solemn Papal Mass of Pentecost telecast from St. Peter’s Basilica, and could not help pondering how Pope Benedict might well envy us our little choir in far away Tennessee, listening yesterday to the famous Sistine Choir which did not come close to matching there what we heard in our little church here.
some_guy: Hooray!
I’m going to a dinner later this week and hear Michael Voris speak!
I also found a very nice lady who trimmed my bushes at home-at no charge! She works at the place where I do my laundry. She also told me this morning that she will crop my peony bushes after the flowers go!
Beautiful High Mass yesterday for the Feast of Pentecost. Our choir sang a nice polyphonic Mass. Not my favorite one, but a nice one indeed.
I don’t think I’ve ever had any good news to tell.
My mom and step-dad are still safe from the Wallow fire in the Arizona White Mountains. Thank you Lord! We pray for rain.
I think I am ready to write the last med school exams of the year… one week in advnace of the test date.
Moving out to Wichita to teach in one of the parish schools next month!
Had an awesome weekend with my 5 year old son (mom and daughter are away in Quebec), filled with hot dogs in the BBQ, birthday parties at the beach and roasted marshmallows in the backyard! he even behaved well during mass — which I am convinced was really the work of the Holy Spirit. Now, awaiting game six of the Stanley Cup finals. Go, Canucks, go! I am supposing Irishgirl will watch the game, too!
1) This week I find out if I get employed for one of two 6-month contracts at a hospital clinical laboratory
2) Two Missa Solemnis TLMs are being dome in Toronto! One is at St. Mark’s Parish in Etobicoke 277 Park Lawn road for 7pm Thuesday June 23rd thanks to Una Voce Toronto, and another is happening July 1 at St. Peter’s which is north of Bathurst St. and Bloor St. (830 Bathurst St.) at 7pm also and will in addition have a homily by Bishop Bossineau! We’re talking full complements of choir, servers, Priest Deacon Subdeacon!
3) I’m on Chapter 7/12 in Cambridge Latin Course Unit 1 of 4 doing self study with the teacher’s answer manual.
Pope Benedict is well known as a cat lover. As Cardinal Ratzinger he used to feed the strays of Rome and as Pope he has kept two cats in the Vatican. I think the Holy Father would enjoy this as much as I did.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/cat-interrupts-speech-practice/20jahdrs
I heard our unborn baby’s heartbeat at my appointment last week — a beautiful 150 beats per minute.
Since “Summorum Pontificum” came out in ’07 our little diocesan Tridentine Mass Society has bravely tried to promote the older Form of the Mass despite open hostility from our resident pastor, & a somewhat lukewarm response from our bishop. Last week we were notified that a priest from an exceptionally solid Religious order (mentioned in this blog) is taking over as both our Society chaplain & director. AMDG!!!
@James Joseph
“I don’t think I’ve ever had any good news to tell”
I don’t know what you’re going through, but the very fact that you are alive is a pure gift of grace from God.
Don’t forget that. Don’t let Satan the father of lies persuade you otherwise- it’s an easy trap to fall in to.
I just received an acceptance packet from St. John Vianney Minor Seminary in Miami, FL. I will move in on August 11, the Feast of St. Clare!
My two little sisters are receiving their First Holy Communion on Sunday, and a young man from our very small parish is headed to the FSSP seminary in Nebraska in the fall.
Some of the adaptive equipment I ordered came today. Hooray. Life will be a little easier now. I am having trouble with some ADLs but this will help a lot. I can still drive and work okay though. Thank God.
Hey, everybody I love reading your good news. And JamesJoseph, you can type and talk to us, that is good news. Even the tiniest things are good news. Breathing is good news. So are walking and eating.
I finished my article about the continuing duty of civil governments towards Jesus Christ and the Catholic Religion. The article turned out to be 30 pages long. I would like to send you a hard copy, Father Z, if you are interested. Please email me your postal address, and I will be happy to send you a copy.
keener_jason@yahoo.com
2 sons have left for Pittsburgh for the Colloquium. One has gone before, and can’t wait to get back. They are young 15 and 17, but love to cantor for the EF. Our pastor made it his summer project one year to teach them and 2 others the Requiem Mass…ever since then, they have fallen in love with singing. Deo Gratias for such a great pastor!
We finished our AAA LL Season, my first as a Manager, with a record of 3 & 8.
http://www.gamechanger.io/t/spring-2011/malone-commercial-brokers-5026976
As always, I had some great kids. A couple of my pitchers will be fearsome when they mature and get better control.
I have been Catholic for 8 years. I was confirmed and received into the Church on Pentecost Sunday 2003.
I am engaged! Pentecost: perfect day for that sort of thing.
_And_ I just started reading a hilarious blog because its writer has it linked through his profile here.
Could stand prayers that everything in my life goes, eh, relatively smooth; I am coming up close to graduating from college with a very practical degree (software engineering) but would hate to have to deal with some unforseen issue with work or school now, right when I’m expecting to move on.
Paulo-I don’t have TV since everything went ‘digital’ a few years ago. Sure wish I could watch the Stanley Cup Finals! Go Canucks, go! Bring Lord Stanley’s ‘chalice’ back to Canada! St. Joseph, Patron of Canada, pray for a Vancouver victory, D . v!
A year after Canada won gold in Olympic hockey in Vancouver, I want to see the Cup returned to Canadian soil! (And I’m American, not Canadian!)
Oh-and congratulations to all the new priests and seminarians-in-waiting! : )