Hmm! I should have saved up for today. I’ll repeat from the congrats to Philadelphia comment yesterday. On July 18, a Solemn High Mass in the EF was celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker, FSSP parish in Tyler, Texas by a newly ordained diocesan priest, his deacon also newly ordained, subdeacon a diocesan seminarian, one cantor also a seminarian, the other a diocesan priest. The Master of Ceremonies was an FSSP seminarian friend of the newly ordained. Thanks be to God for our current (and soon to leave) Bishop Corrada for his support of the EF. I had tears, thinking of these fine YOUNG men, celebrating the traditional Latin Mass so beautifully. We pray that our new Bishop, whoever he will be, is as supportive. Vocations are many in this small diocese, population wise. There were 24 at last count. Deo gratias.
Our grandson who was born with underdeveloped left brain and has suffered seizures for the 6 yrs he has been on this earth, had surgery to correct this last Tuesday and again on Friday, is HOME and seizure free, by the grace and mercy of God!
If that’s not enough good news, the doctors were able, by the guidence of God, to remove the part of the brain that was causing the seizures with out causing any damage to his sight, his speech, or his memory.
After much contemplation and prayer, I finally worked up the courage to veil and kneel for communion at NO Masses. There’s just something about getting down on my knees and looking up at the host and everything going on around me just seems to fade away. I was reminded of something my non-Baptized sister-in-law told me when she saw my uncle receive on his knees at my cousin’s First Communion a few years ago; she described it as the “super-reverent way,” rather than “holier-than-thou” or “overly-pious”. Funny how she gets it.
Oh, and after much frustrations with Malware infecting my computer, and having to have it taken in twice, it is now completely free of all Malware, viruses, worms, trojans, etc.
Congratulations to Philly for getting a fabulous Bishop!
We saw the heartbeat on our baby last Thursday and will look in again tomorrow.
I must be very solidly pregnant because I have been suffering from crazy cravings and terrible morning sickness. Its good to know the hormones are doing right by the baby!
My book now has an outline that ought to lead to a first draft… serious progress as I’ve been researching and digesting the information for over a year for this. I’ve only got four files of material… I’m hoping for a midlength manuscript.
Hubby only needs one more day of drought before his project can get wet…. so at least something good is coming out of the drought!
Our Latin Mass community of three years has found a good new home. A temporary home, but a solid, welcoming one, and in Santa Cruz, CA no less! Thank you, Lord, thank you, Oblates of St. Joseph ~ http://www.MontereyLatinMass.org
We are prayerfully attending the Solemn Novena to St Ann here in Scranton, PA and welcoming many devotees to St Ann from other states. And rejoicing in the good news from our sister archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Our whole family is heading out to Kansas City this weekend for the conference with Cardinal Burke, Bobby Schindler, and Gianna Emanuela Molla, MD (youngest daughter of St. Gianna Molla).
Conference title is “Being Faithful, Even Unto Death (cf Revelation 2:10) – Catholic Wisdom on the Treatment of the disabled and dying.”
Sung votive Mass for the Precious Blood last Friday at a local parish — first time ever for an Extraordinary Form Mass at that parish. Went very well. Father preached a smokin’ homily.
I’m almost done digitizing the notes I’ve taken from 80+ books and other resources on the Roman Canon and the other Eucharistic Prayers of the modern Roman Rite.
But… there’s still a handful of books I haven’t read yet, because I don’t have them. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated! If I could borrow any of the following from someone here, it would make my research a whole lot easier!
I’m not sure if this counts as good news but every time I come to the bring of giving up my dream of a Priestly/Religious vocation because of all the obsticles something just rekindles the embers into a fire again.
@APX: Congrats on your decision. I have been doing both for a while, but I know what you mean – it can be difficult.
Well, I live in Philly, so it feels like Christmas in July (as long as you don’t go outside). :)
I’m currently packing up my cube to move the cube next door. Feels good to get everything reorganized. Oh yes, and tomorrow afternoon I am leaving for a 6-day silent retreat. Please keep me in your prayers.
My wife just found out at her OB/GYN appointment that she’s 1-2cm dilated and 50% effaced. Baby’s head is down, and heart rate is good. Our second baby boy is looking like he’ll be born around his due date this Saturday.
Loads of good news — aside from the splendid news from Philly — again, hurrah!
1. My mom just called and my dad’s cancer surgery went well. The tumor had not spread to his liver and they think they got it all. Everybody keep praying . . . .
2. We are acting as pickup singers in the Georgia Tech Summer Choir, which is presenting Mozart’s Requiem this Sunday afternoon. Glad they were willing to take a couple of old geezers (Tech ’73 and Princeton ’77) to assist the young whipper-snappers. As a tech school, Tech is chronically short on women for every purpose, including choirs — and they always need basses because the young men’s voices generally haven’t fully developed. One hilarious point – the director called on me for Latin translations and correct pronunciation, and referred to me as a Latin scholar (!?!) as my husband says, in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
3. Our new parochial vicar — who was just ordained and appears to be a very faithful orthodox priest and a very nice young man — celebrated daily Mass yesterday for the first time. When he got to the Sanctus, he started chanting in Latin . . . there was a half beat of surprise from the small congregation, but then almost everyone joined in, a capella and with enthusiasm. All those First Sundays with the Ordinary in Latin are paying off. (I thought I saw him hesitate for just a nanosecond before the Agnus Dei, then decide not to rock the boat and to recite it in English . . . but it’s early days!)
We are so blessed here in the Seattle Archdiocese with Archbishop Peter Sartain–maybe I should be quiet as I hope he stays here until he retires, God willing. And thank God for the FSSP and our wonderful pastor Fr. Saguto who inspires our parish.
I went on a first date this past Saturday. My date and I both decided to start things right and first went to Mass at a beautiful old Gothic church. While we were specifically told over the phone that Mass would be in English that day, it turned out that it was actually an EF Low Mass, much to our delight. My date was just received into the Church this past Divine Mercy Sunday, and this was her first Latin Mass, in either form. She loved the experience, and we were both ‘geeking out’ about it afterward. While I have been to EF masses before, this was the first time I received Our Lord at a proper altar rail. We also got to spend time with Our Lord in an adoration chapel connected to the church before leaving. We had a great time together for the rest of that day. Lunch was excellent and affordable for the large portions we got, the weather was perfect, the least humid weekend of the entire month, and I even gave her a crash course in the Liturgy of the Hours (much simpler than the full older Divine Office, though she was also interested in learning that). We ended the day by praying first vespers of Sunday together, on the front steps of a locked inner-city church. I don’t know where this relationship will go, but I know everything will work out either way, because God is in the center.
I have recently been debating an outspoken “pro-choice” acquaintance of mine about the morality of abortion. Unsurprisingly, her arguments are based on little more than opinions and emotional appeal. In fact, her latest response was so filled with inconsistencies and faulty reasoning that I was completely overwhelmed and didn’t even know where to begin.
Here’s where my good news comes in: Without my even knowing, my younger sister penned an incredibly well-written, persuasive, and charitable response exposing my opponent’s faulty reasoning. I was so impressed with her ability to sound like me that I posted it as it was with only a few minor edits!
If you’re interested, you can read the back-and-forth exchange at the blog we set up specifically to debate abortion: http://evcfe.blogspot.com/
I like to joke that I wrote the latest response about as much as JPII wrote the catechism. Yes, there is certainly a Cardinal Ratzinger at work for me behind the scenes! In all seriousness, please pray for my opponent and all who have been deceived about abortion, that God may soften their hearts and open their eyes to the truth.
My family attends St. Mary Church in Norwalk, CT. We have the most holy pastor, and the best music this side of Heaven. Our children’s schola has been asked to sing at the English speaking masses at WYD. They will be evangelizing the youth there, by chanting all the propers, and the ordinary in polyphony with the Sisters of Life. You can listen to them here: St. Mary’s Student Schola
Aren’t they the best? (or am I partial?) They are raising funds to get to Madrid. Can you help them? That would be good news! http://www.chantwith.us
I was reading something the other day that jarred my memory. A priest once told me that it was a good practice to (when you are feeling dissatified and ungrateful) to start thinking about what you are grateful for in a very exaggerated way. I haven’t done it for a long time, but it really makes me feel SO blessed when I do it. I think this good news does that to me too. I love reading about other people’s good news too. It warms my heart so much. Gregorious, I’d love reading about your first date!
My good news is that the garden is producing abundantly and the tomatoes are finally starting to turn red! (We can so much salsa, pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce for our crew that our summer tomatoes are a bit part of our food budget. Plus, they just taste so amazing.)
@old_sage: Fr Z asked for GOOD news and in relation to the nonsense from our Justice Minister about the State forcing priests to violate the Seal of Confession, the priests of Ireland have said NO! The (ultra liberal) Association of Catholic Priests said no, the staunchly orthodox priest-blogger Fr John Hogan said no, the priests at the Dublin EF chaplaincy (where the President of the Central Criminal Court frequently assists at Mass) said no and so did various bishops. Priests, of every shape and hue, standing firm for the sanctity and inviolability of the Sacrament of Penance: how is this anything other than good news?
Of less moment, I was invited back to teach a course on St Thomas in a secular University again this year, Deo gratias!
Been walking normally for about 3 1/2 weeks now. Went to confession and the priest told me a lot of extra stuff that was very helpful. My friends are nice. My new boss is great. Only 5 weeks and 4 days until my vacation and I hope I can still walk okay then so I can zip between the guest house and archabbey church and take pictures of the windows for a slide show I want to make. My hydrangea and ferns look great and the butterfly bushes are the best ever and they smell nice. The bumblebees are fun to watch. I visited with a priest who is here for a month and he was nice too. Wow, everything is great right now. A nice reprieve.
Our sweet little 3yo Vince, who has some global delays due to a neurological issue, learned to play two preschool games tonight, actually following the rules! Plus, he and I worked 3 preschool puzzles together and he put the most pieces in. Praise be to God! Sometimes, the smallest victories are the sweetest.
Sorry I have no good news. Just about everything that can go wrong has gone wrong and I could sure use some prayers. When I have some good news I will let you know.
My parish is going to have, on the 7th of August, the first Missa Cantata using the 1962 missal it has had since 1969. Celebrating the mass will be Father Johanes Mary of the Friars of the Immaculate Conception assisted by novices of the same. The Schola I lead will also assist. Considering we are in the Rochester Diocese, This is monumental and a miracle. It would have never happened with out the Vatican’s most recent instruction. Long Live and God Bless Pope Benedict, and all thanks to the Holy Spirit!
Here in ABQ NM we are in the middle of a terrible drought with no normal monsoon weather pattern. As I sit here reading this blog, it’s raining and the temp has dropped to about 75. It’s the little things in life that make us happy!
i’ve just prayed to your guardian angel and to St. Michael on your behalf. not all that can go wrong has. Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat!!!
my good news is that i finally got up the courage to defend the sanctity of marriage publicly for the first time. to a fraised-Catholic-turned-marriage-“equality” law student i grew up with. we were both cordial, and i felt so liberated and like God was really smiling on me to finally take that step and place my trust in him. as a young woman with many friends and acquaintances with SSA, i will admit that the sanctity of marriage is the area of church teaching into which i fear most to tread.
Jane, you are part of my rosaries now. I do know what it is like to have a tempest carry me away. I could only hold on to the tree branch for so long before I (figuratively) was carried off by the storm. God bless you and all of us who suffer. Does He care? Yes. Is He there? Yes. This is part of the Test, the Refining, the tribulation and the Kingdom and the patient endurance. (Rev. 1)
A close friend of mine, who has struggled for years with depression and anxiety, finally got the courage to ask for help, and has his first appointment with a therapist this afternoon. If anyone reading this wouldn’t mind saying a quick prayer for him, it’d be greatly appreciated.
Te Deum laudamus.
Also, my brother and I are leaving Monday for a week-long trip to New York City (just for fun).
I was wondering Fr Z when you would post this regular request of yours, as I have been dying to share this with everybody.
Fr Brendan Arthur, has been appointed the administrator of the parish of St Gerard’s in North Dandenong on the edge of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia.
Nothing terrific sounding about that in itself, except to say that up until early this year, he was in the Society of St Pius X, but left them with a desire, to be a priest in the Universal Church. Early this year his orders were regularized by the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome, and he approached Archbishop Hart here, if he could serve as a priest, the request being accepted.
This parish is the adjacent one to mine, and last Sunday, (he came to St Gerard’s on June 29) has started to offer Low Mass at midday. (He now says offers the newer liturgy as well, but with the improved English translation!) We got a good crowd attendance, but most surprisingly a number of SSPX followers who know him well, came as well, and were delighted to talk with us afterwards. I say this, because I thought they would have regarded Fr Arthur’s actions as a betrayal.
This is the parish adjacent to time, and I am looking forward to attending St Gerard’s more regularly. I am wondering, if this rupture is slowing being healed. I certainly pray that is the case.
Thank you to the people who prayed for me. I promised that when there was some good news I would give it to you. One of the things that happened lately, was that my computer crashed and I lost all my files and emails. (This is by no means the most serious problem that I am facing. The most serious problem is the escalating behaviour of my autistic adult daughter, which is overwhelming this family.) Anyway my husband worked on the mysteries of where all my files and emails went and he had retrieved them all.
My computer crashed straight after I finished making up a big photographic display of my pilgrimage to St. John Vianney parish in Ars, France, for the upcoming 50th anniversary of my parish of St. John Vianney’s here in Sydney, Australia.
It was predictable. The devil hated St. John Vianney, so I suppose he hates my display also.
I love this quote of St. John Vianney: “The devil is mean, but he is also very stupid. He let’s us know how much good we are doing at Ars.”
Some good news, I ask your prayers please. as of this Monday I will be starting a new life as a postulant with the Franciscans Friars of the Immaculate. Though not so much a commenter, I have been a huge fan of you Fr. Z and have been a long time reader! Having to give up my RSS subscription (since I will be giving up my personal computer use) will be a sacrifice, but I know that it is God’s will for me to go forward. I thank you for the important work you are doing out here on the internet I pray that it will continue for a long time to come. May Our Lady continually intercede for you and your readers!
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grateful on 1st Passion Sunday – some notes: “After mass, a friend was saying they didn’t like the statues being covered. I sent this to her. Also thank…”
Everyone, work to get this into your parish bulletins and diocesan papers.
The most evident mark of God’s anger and the most terrible castigation He can inflict upon the world are manifested when He permits His people to fall into the hands of clerics who are priests more in name than in deed, priests who practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather than the charity and affection of devoted shepherds.
St. John Eudes
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“He [Satan] will set up a counter-Church which will be the ape of the Church because, he the devil, is the ape of God. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the anti-Christ that will in all externals resemble the mystical body of Christ. In desperate need for God, whom he nevertheless refuses to adore, modern man in his loneliness and frustration will hunger more and more for membership in a community that will give him enlargement of purpose, but at the cost of losing himself in some vague collectivity.”
“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops.”
“The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender's inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for every one else the proper pleasure of ritual.”
- C.S. Lewis
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As for Latin…
"But if, in any layman who is indeed imbued with literature, ignorance of the Latin language, which we can truly call the 'catholic' language, indicates a certain sluggishness in his love toward the Church, how much more fitting it is that each and every cleric should be adequately practiced and skilled in that language!" - Pius XI
"Let us realize that this remark of Cicero (Brutus 37, 140) can be in a certain way referred to [young lay people]: 'It is not so much a matter of distinction to know Latin as it is disgraceful not to know it.'" - St. John Paul II
Grant unto thy Church, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that She, being gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may be in no wise troubled by attack from her foes. O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of Thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Almighty and Everlasting God, in whose Hand are the power and the government of every realm: look down upon and help the Christian people that the heathen nations who trust in the fierceness of their own might may be crushed by the power of thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
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mac OS X Lion was released today
that’s all I got at 9 am
I live in Philadelphia. Nuff said.
Hmm! I should have saved up for today. I’ll repeat from the congrats to Philadelphia comment yesterday. On July 18, a Solemn High Mass in the EF was celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker, FSSP parish in Tyler, Texas by a newly ordained diocesan priest, his deacon also newly ordained, subdeacon a diocesan seminarian, one cantor also a seminarian, the other a diocesan priest. The Master of Ceremonies was an FSSP seminarian friend of the newly ordained. Thanks be to God for our current (and soon to leave) Bishop Corrada for his support of the EF. I had tears, thinking of these fine YOUNG men, celebrating the traditional Latin Mass so beautifully. We pray that our new Bishop, whoever he will be, is as supportive. Vocations are many in this small diocese, population wise. There were 24 at last count. Deo gratias.
Our grandson who was born with underdeveloped left brain and has suffered seizures for the 6 yrs he has been on this earth, had surgery to correct this last Tuesday and again on Friday, is HOME and seizure free, by the grace and mercy of God!
If that’s not enough good news, the doctors were able, by the guidence of God, to remove the part of the brain that was causing the seizures with out causing any damage to his sight, his speech, or his memory.
P.S. It is always wonderful to receive a new priest’s blessing and to kiss his hands, which a grateful congregation did.
Fr. Don Hying will be ordained the new Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee today! Praise God!
At my son’s six year pediatric visit yesterday, the nurse asked him if he could count to ten. So he did — in Latin.
After much contemplation and prayer, I finally worked up the courage to veil and kneel for communion at NO Masses. There’s just something about getting down on my knees and looking up at the host and everything going on around me just seems to fade away. I was reminded of something my non-Baptized sister-in-law told me when she saw my uncle receive on his knees at my cousin’s First Communion a few years ago; she described it as the “super-reverent way,” rather than “holier-than-thou” or “overly-pious”. Funny how she gets it.
Oh, and after much frustrations with Malware infecting my computer, and having to have it taken in twice, it is now completely free of all Malware, viruses, worms, trojans, etc.
“… confidite, ego vici mundum.” (Jn. 16:33)
Hmmm, good news.
Congratulations to Philly for getting a fabulous Bishop!
We saw the heartbeat on our baby last Thursday and will look in again tomorrow.
I must be very solidly pregnant because I have been suffering from crazy cravings and terrible morning sickness. Its good to know the hormones are doing right by the baby!
My book now has an outline that ought to lead to a first draft… serious progress as I’ve been researching and digesting the information for over a year for this. I’ve only got four files of material… I’m hoping for a midlength manuscript.
Hubby only needs one more day of drought before his project can get wet…. so at least something good is coming out of the drought!
In these trying times, I’d say normal things are good news. We have a home, food, clothing, and our health. I thank God for our many blessings.
We just found out that my wife is pregnant with our first child!
Our new baby boy is four weeks old today! He is such a joy!
Our Latin Mass community of three years has found a good new home. A temporary home, but a solid, welcoming one, and in Santa Cruz, CA no less! Thank you, Lord, thank you, Oblates of St. Joseph ~
http://www.MontereyLatinMass.org
We are prayerfully attending the Solemn Novena to St Ann here in Scranton, PA and welcoming many devotees to St Ann from other states. And rejoicing in the good news from our sister archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Our whole family is heading out to Kansas City this weekend for the conference with Cardinal Burke, Bobby Schindler, and Gianna Emanuela Molla, MD (youngest daughter of St. Gianna Molla).
Conference title is “Being Faithful, Even Unto Death (cf Revelation 2:10) – Catholic Wisdom on the Treatment of the disabled and dying.”
See http://defendingnaturaldeath.com/
More good news–we have RAIN! A nice steady rain that is causing my hubby fits but which the dry land so badly needed.
We could use a couple of days of rain like this. But whatever God gives us today is really appreciated!
Whoop!
Sung votive Mass for the Precious Blood last Friday at a local parish — first time ever for an Extraordinary Form Mass at that parish. Went very well. Father preached a smokin’ homily.
I’m almost done digitizing the notes I’ve taken from 80+ books and other resources on the Roman Canon and the other Eucharistic Prayers of the modern Roman Rite.
But… there’s still a handful of books I haven’t read yet, because I don’t have them. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated! If I could borrow any of the following from someone here, it would make my research a whole lot easier!
Understanding the Mass by Charles Belmonte
The Mass by Lucien Deiss
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by Martin Hellriegel
The Eucharistic Prayer by Josef Jungmann
Study the Mass by Pius Parsch
The New Mass by A. M. Roguet
The Canon of the Mass and Liturgical Reform by Cypriano Vagaggini
Discovering the Mass by Gerard Calvet
The Mass of All Time by Marcel Lefebvre
Christian Life and Worship by Gerard Calvet
Beyond the Prosaic by Stratford Caldecott
[Yes, you can use this post for your project.]
I’m not sure if this counts as good news but every time I come to the bring of giving up my dream of a Priestly/Religious vocation because of all the obsticles something just rekindles the embers into a fire again.
My dear friend became a grandmother. The baby was born a bit too early, but the tiny little girl is doing very well. Thanks be to God!
Singing Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus this coming Sunday during High Mass!
Blue Bell ice cream is on sale…picked up some strawberry vanilla. :)
@APX: Congrats on your decision. I have been doing both for a while, but I know what you mean – it can be difficult.
Well, I live in Philly, so it feels like Christmas in July (as long as you don’t go outside). :)
I’m currently packing up my cube to move the cube next door. Feels good to get everything reorganized. Oh yes, and tomorrow afternoon I am leaving for a 6-day silent retreat. Please keep me in your prayers.
I got engaged on my birthday, 20 days ago now. Icing on the cake is that we managed to go to two High Masses between then and now.
My wife just found out at her OB/GYN appointment that she’s 1-2cm dilated and 50% effaced. Baby’s head is down, and heart rate is good. Our second baby boy is looking like he’ll be born around his due date this Saturday.
Loads of good news — aside from the splendid news from Philly — again, hurrah!
1. My mom just called and my dad’s cancer surgery went well. The tumor had not spread to his liver and they think they got it all. Everybody keep praying . . . .
2. We are acting as pickup singers in the Georgia Tech Summer Choir, which is presenting Mozart’s Requiem this Sunday afternoon. Glad they were willing to take a couple of old geezers (Tech ’73 and Princeton ’77) to assist the young whipper-snappers. As a tech school, Tech is chronically short on women for every purpose, including choirs — and they always need basses because the young men’s voices generally haven’t fully developed. One hilarious point – the director called on me for Latin translations and correct pronunciation, and referred to me as a Latin scholar (!?!) as my husband says, in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
3. Our new parochial vicar — who was just ordained and appears to be a very faithful orthodox priest and a very nice young man — celebrated daily Mass yesterday for the first time. When he got to the Sanctus, he started chanting in Latin . . . there was a half beat of surprise from the small congregation, but then almost everyone joined in, a capella and with enthusiasm. All those First Sundays with the Ordinary in Latin are paying off. (I thought I saw him hesitate for just a nanosecond before the Agnus Dei, then decide not to rock the boat and to recite it in English . . . but it’s early days!)
Made a good confession. Got blessed with a first class relic of a couple of awesome saints. Got enrolled into the brown scapular. :)
We are so blessed here in the Seattle Archdiocese with Archbishop Peter Sartain–maybe I should be quiet as I hope he stays here until he retires, God willing. And thank God for the FSSP and our wonderful pastor Fr. Saguto who inspires our parish.
I went on a first date this past Saturday. My date and I both decided to start things right and first went to Mass at a beautiful old Gothic church. While we were specifically told over the phone that Mass would be in English that day, it turned out that it was actually an EF Low Mass, much to our delight. My date was just received into the Church this past Divine Mercy Sunday, and this was her first Latin Mass, in either form. She loved the experience, and we were both ‘geeking out’ about it afterward. While I have been to EF masses before, this was the first time I received Our Lord at a proper altar rail. We also got to spend time with Our Lord in an adoration chapel connected to the church before leaving. We had a great time together for the rest of that day. Lunch was excellent and affordable for the large portions we got, the weather was perfect, the least humid weekend of the entire month, and I even gave her a crash course in the Liturgy of the Hours (much simpler than the full older Divine Office, though she was also interested in learning that). We ended the day by praying first vespers of Sunday together, on the front steps of a locked inner-city church. I don’t know where this relationship will go, but I know everything will work out either way, because God is in the center.
Nope. The recent report of the ‘goings-on’ in Ireland and the government’s response are grim
IrishTimes.com
I have recently been debating an outspoken “pro-choice” acquaintance of mine about the morality of abortion. Unsurprisingly, her arguments are based on little more than opinions and emotional appeal. In fact, her latest response was so filled with inconsistencies and faulty reasoning that I was completely overwhelmed and didn’t even know where to begin.
Here’s where my good news comes in: Without my even knowing, my younger sister penned an incredibly well-written, persuasive, and charitable response exposing my opponent’s faulty reasoning. I was so impressed with her ability to sound like me that I posted it as it was with only a few minor edits!
If you’re interested, you can read the back-and-forth exchange at the blog we set up specifically to debate abortion: http://evcfe.blogspot.com/
I like to joke that I wrote the latest response about as much as JPII wrote the catechism. Yes, there is certainly a Cardinal Ratzinger at work for me behind the scenes! In all seriousness, please pray for my opponent and all who have been deceived about abortion, that God may soften their hearts and open their eyes to the truth.
My family attends St. Mary Church in Norwalk, CT. We have the most holy pastor, and the best music this side of Heaven. Our children’s schola has been asked to sing at the English speaking masses at WYD. They will be evangelizing the youth there, by chanting all the propers, and the ordinary in polyphony with the Sisters of Life. You can listen to them here: St. Mary’s Student Schola
Aren’t they the best? (or am I partial?) They are raising funds to get to Madrid. Can you help them? That would be good news! http://www.chantwith.us
I just finished a fresh mozzarella, tomato and pesto salad. My oldest daughter is at ballet so I got to eat it by myself ;)
I was reading something the other day that jarred my memory. A priest once told me that it was a good practice to (when you are feeling dissatified and ungrateful) to start thinking about what you are grateful for in a very exaggerated way. I haven’t done it for a long time, but it really makes me feel SO blessed when I do it. I think this good news does that to me too. I love reading about other people’s good news too. It warms my heart so much. Gregorious, I’d love reading about your first date!
My good news is that the garden is producing abundantly and the tomatoes are finally starting to turn red! (We can so much salsa, pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce for our crew that our summer tomatoes are a bit part of our food budget. Plus, they just taste so amazing.)
God bless you all!
p.s. nfp4life, they are amazing and darling too!
@old_sage: Fr Z asked for GOOD news and in relation to the nonsense from our Justice Minister about the State forcing priests to violate the Seal of Confession, the priests of Ireland have said NO! The (ultra liberal) Association of Catholic Priests said no, the staunchly orthodox priest-blogger Fr John Hogan said no, the priests at the Dublin EF chaplaincy (where the President of the Central Criminal Court frequently assists at Mass) said no and so did various bishops. Priests, of every shape and hue, standing firm for the sanctity and inviolability of the Sacrament of Penance: how is this anything other than good news?
Of less moment, I was invited back to teach a course on St Thomas in a secular University again this year, Deo gratias!
I recently discovered the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales in St. Louis. What a marvelously beautiful building!
I’m also attending my first Traditional Latin High Mass at the Oratory of Saint Patrick in Kansas City on the Feast of the Assumption!
:)
Due to the heat wave, my boys’ soccer league had canceled games and practices for the next two days.
Been walking normally for about 3 1/2 weeks now. Went to confession and the priest told me a lot of extra stuff that was very helpful. My friends are nice. My new boss is great. Only 5 weeks and 4 days until my vacation and I hope I can still walk okay then so I can zip between the guest house and archabbey church and take pictures of the windows for a slide show I want to make. My hydrangea and ferns look great and the butterfly bushes are the best ever and they smell nice. The bumblebees are fun to watch. I visited with a priest who is here for a month and he was nice too. Wow, everything is great right now. A nice reprieve.
I have subscribed to WDTPRS on my Kindle.
Our sweet little 3yo Vince, who has some global delays due to a neurological issue, learned to play two preschool games tonight, actually following the rules! Plus, he and I worked 3 preschool puzzles together and he put the most pieces in. Praise be to God! Sometimes, the smallest victories are the sweetest.
Sorry I have no good news. Just about everything that can go wrong has gone wrong and I could sure use some prayers. When I have some good news I will let you know.
My parish is going to have, on the 7th of August, the first Missa Cantata using the 1962 missal it has had since 1969. Celebrating the mass will be Father Johanes Mary of the Friars of the Immaculate Conception assisted by novices of the same. The Schola I lead will also assist. Considering we are in the Rochester Diocese, This is monumental and a miracle. It would have never happened with out the Vatican’s most recent instruction. Long Live and God Bless Pope Benedict, and all thanks to the Holy Spirit!
Here in ABQ NM we are in the middle of a terrible drought with no normal monsoon weather pattern. As I sit here reading this blog, it’s raining and the temp has dropped to about 75. It’s the little things in life that make us happy!
jane,
i’ve just prayed to your guardian angel and to St. Michael on your behalf. not all that can go wrong has. Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat!!!
my good news is that i finally got up the courage to defend the sanctity of marriage publicly for the first time. to a fraised-Catholic-turned-marriage-“equality” law student i grew up with. we were both cordial, and i felt so liberated and like God was really smiling on me to finally take that step and place my trust in him. as a young woman with many friends and acquaintances with SSA, i will admit that the sanctity of marriage is the area of church teaching into which i fear most to tread.
And the best thing is that after many months I have begun to heal after being deeply hurt by mean church people and their enablers.
Jane, you are part of my rosaries now. I do know what it is like to have a tempest carry me away. I could only hold on to the tree branch for so long before I (figuratively) was carried off by the storm. God bless you and all of us who suffer. Does He care? Yes. Is He there? Yes. This is part of the Test, the Refining, the tribulation and the Kingdom and the patient endurance. (Rev. 1)
I will Soon Purchase a 1962 Missal! DEO GRATIAS!!!!
A close friend of mine, who has struggled for years with depression and anxiety, finally got the courage to ask for help, and has his first appointment with a therapist this afternoon. If anyone reading this wouldn’t mind saying a quick prayer for him, it’d be greatly appreciated.
Te Deum laudamus.
Also, my brother and I are leaving Monday for a week-long trip to New York City (just for fun).
I was wondering Fr Z when you would post this regular request of yours, as I have been dying to share this with everybody.
Fr Brendan Arthur, has been appointed the administrator of the parish of St Gerard’s in North Dandenong on the edge of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia.
Nothing terrific sounding about that in itself, except to say that up until early this year, he was in the Society of St Pius X, but left them with a desire, to be a priest in the Universal Church. Early this year his orders were regularized by the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome, and he approached Archbishop Hart here, if he could serve as a priest, the request being accepted.
This parish is the adjacent one to mine, and last Sunday, (he came to St Gerard’s on June 29) has started to offer Low Mass at midday. (He now says offers the newer liturgy as well, but with the improved English translation!) We got a good crowd attendance, but most surprisingly a number of SSPX followers who know him well, came as well, and were delighted to talk with us afterwards. I say this, because I thought they would have regarded Fr Arthur’s actions as a betrayal.
This is the parish adjacent to time, and I am looking forward to attending St Gerard’s more regularly. I am wondering, if this rupture is slowing being healed. I certainly pray that is the case.
Thank you to the people who prayed for me. I promised that when there was some good news I would give it to you. One of the things that happened lately, was that my computer crashed and I lost all my files and emails. (This is by no means the most serious problem that I am facing. The most serious problem is the escalating behaviour of my autistic adult daughter, which is overwhelming this family.) Anyway my husband worked on the mysteries of where all my files and emails went and he had retrieved them all.
My computer crashed straight after I finished making up a big photographic display of my pilgrimage to St. John Vianney parish in Ars, France, for the upcoming 50th anniversary of my parish of St. John Vianney’s here in Sydney, Australia.
It was predictable. The devil hated St. John Vianney, so I suppose he hates my display also.
I love this quote of St. John Vianney: “The devil is mean, but he is also very stupid. He let’s us know how much good we are doing at Ars.”
Some good news, I ask your prayers please. as of this Monday I will be starting a new life as a postulant with the Franciscans Friars of the Immaculate. Though not so much a commenter, I have been a huge fan of you Fr. Z and have been a long time reader! Having to give up my RSS subscription (since I will be giving up my personal computer use) will be a sacrifice, but I know that it is God’s will for me to go forward. I thank you for the important work you are doing out here on the internet I pray that it will continue for a long time to come. May Our Lady continually intercede for you and your readers!