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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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At a talk in my diocese last Saturday, Mons. Nicola Bux said that people who complain that very few faithful come to the TLM (because it is very strongly “discouraged”, I say) are ridiculous. At Calvary there were only Our Lady and St John, but this does mean that the Sacrifice was accomplished in vain!
My friend and colleague, Dr. Janet Smith, known internationally for her strong defense of Catholic teaching, particularly in the area of sexual morality, biomedical ethics and contraception, professed her vows this past Saturday (the feast of St. Agnes) as a consecrated virgin of the diocese of Lansing.
This time two weeks I’ll be with the monks on my one month discernment retreat; thanks be to God!
Three people who are all young had surgery in the past week for tumors. One was a brain tumor, the second a tumor in the neck, and the third was one in a toddler. All these “girls” are between 3 an 25. They all came out of surgery well, and one is home. However, they all need radiation, or some type of follow-up, so please pray. The facts that one is home and one is breathing on her own are the good news.
I’m currently on a bus heading to the March for Life!!!! Never thought I would be here but here I am!!
My parish priest blessed my house yesterday.
My daughter and her hubby are expecting their third baby. Thank you, Lord.
My husband survived open heart surgery. He is still in the hospital though.
My husband is applying for a new job in a different city. His trip there to be interviewed is being paid for–and they’re paying for me to come, too! I’m very excited to have an opportunity to check out the place where I might be living soon, because I’ve never been there before. Our family are all being very supportive about the potential cross-country move, which is wonderful and unexpected as they all supported our previous cross-country move just two years ago.
Job interview tomorrow, and I’m actually not freaking out yet. Preparation and freakout are inversely related, and I feel pretty good about my preparation. Also good news: even if they go with another candidate, God has graciously provided me with enough to pay the bills in my current situation. Oh, and whatever happens, at least I get a free dinner out of it. The glass is half full!
This will either be a big door opened, or a big sign that says “try another door.”
Today is the MARCH4LIFE – Thanks be to God for the hundreds of thousands who have taken time to be in DC & to continue to stand for LIFE!
After four months of looking for work, I finally managed to get past interview stage and have been offered a job. It’s only a temporary contract, but it’s better than nothing.
Also, got to play with string quartet for the first time in several years – under the same name as ten years ago when I was in school (there are more than four people; it’s a rather ad hoc wedding/gig ensemble).
My friend, Jonathin Chiori Seraiah and his wife Catherine were received into Holy Mother Church!
He was an Anglican “priest” and will be starting his studies to be ordained in the Ordinariate! Praised be Jesus Christ! His parish is St. Aidan’s in Des Moines, Iowa!
On Saturday in our parish, we had 174 teens and adults confirmed in two Masses. I attended the 9:00, which was a full house.
I should mention that I have posted (Fr.) Seraiah’s farewell to Anglicanism over at my blog. Take a read:
http://www.traddyiniowa.blogspot.com
The chaplain of the local university (northern England) is starting to learn the EF of Holy Mass, and has asked me to learn to serve it! I think this will also include the Missa Cantata – can’t wait!
There will be a Solemn Pontifical High Mass for the Feast of Candlemas in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, Thursday, February 2, 7:30 p.m. – Church of the Epiphany, South Miami, Florida.
We are pleased to welcome His Excellency, Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami as the celebrant of this Mass. The Mass will be preceded by the traditional blessing of candles and a procession for the feast day.
Ceremonial and logistical assistance for the Mass is provided through the generous efforts of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
Musical highlights include Tournemire’s office from L’Orgue Mystique for the day (Purificatio B. Mariæ Virginis), played by Mr. Thomas Schuster, Organist and Director of Music at Church of the Epiphany, as well as a Missa Brevis by Zachary Wadsworth, and a commissioned motet by Dr. Paul Weber. Choral works will be sung by the Schola Cantorum of the University of Florida under the direction of Dr. Edward Schaefer. The Gregorian propers of the day will be sung by a Women’s Schola Cantorum under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Donelson of Nova Southeastern University.
The Mass is part of a conference on the French Catholic Composer, Charles Tournemire.
The conference, entitled “Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide” is presented by The Church Music Association of America, in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Church of the Epiphany in Miami, Florida. It includes recitals and papers by an international collection of performers and academics.
For more information, visit the conference website: http://www.musicasacra.com/tournemire
Questions about the Mass or the conference can be directed to Dr. Jennifer Donelson, assistant professor of music at Nova Southeastern University at jd1120@nova.edu or (954) 262-7610.
Help spread the word! Add others to the invitation list for this event. The facebook page can be found here – http://www.facebook.com/events/201159429959275/
Yesterday, a group of some 50 souls (mostly teenagers) met to pray a rosary at the memorial to the unborn in the local Catholic cemetery– a yearly event around these parts. The temps dipped low and a stinging wind blew but not a TV camera in sight; had a WSO crowd of half the size met, however,…..
Made trip reservations for us to visit my wife’s family in Hawaii. It’s been a few years since we’ve been there.
My mother continues to rally (slowly), I got a good report from my MD, and I got a hot tip on a rifle for varmint hunting. :-)
My wife and I went to confession on Saturday !
i talked last week with one of our parochial vicars about preparation for death issues. he was helpful. afterward I had the anointing of the sick. he vested for it and read the whole rite from the book which never happened to me before. i am so happy and peaceful again. a caring priest makes all the difference.
I had an incredible encounter on Saturday. My parish is hosting some talks on priestly sexual abuse, so I went Saturday morning. The woman who spoke is a counselor for both abused children and abusers. She explained the cycle of dishonest and secretive thinking patterns that lead abusers in their denial that they are doing evil things. Anyway, she described successful counseling of abusers in a way that sounded much like confession – i.e. honesty, breaking the secrecy and owning one’s responsibility. I pointed out that this reminded me of what happens in the confessional. Anyway there was a man seated behind me who wept audibly through most of the event, and at the end he approached me and said : “Sir, I have to talk to you”
As it turns out this was the first time he had set foot into a Catholic church since the early 60’s. He had been abused by a priest and the first time was…in the confessional….!! I was dumbstruck, but he was very civil and we had a wonderful conversation where I described my need of the confessional (precisely to keep myself free of the cycle of evil actions) and he listened very attentively. It was a very moving, and I feel fruitful, conversation. He says he will go to the next session, as will I, and I promised to pray for him.
I am praying that the Blessed Virgin will intercede on his behalf.
Applied for three jobs last week.
I applied for a paid position with the government, which I might get. Even if I don’t, it’ll get me back in the game for doing those job interviews done by people who are trained professionals when it comes to sizing up people. It’s only a temp position too, and I know there are about five permanent positions coming up soon. No one knows when, though. I’m hoping for the end of summer so I have my degree, seeing how my salary is based on my credentials at the time of hiring and getting a degree once I’m hired won’t put me into the next wage schedule.
More good news, this semester is off to a good start. I actually handed in my first assignment on time. I really don’t want a repeat of last semester.
I completed the 15 Thursdays of St. Rita and am starting to get “bites” in my job search. Deo gratias!
A good homily from yesterday
Go here http://philotheaonphire.blogspot.com/2012/01/will-church-burn-incense-to-false-idols.html
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
His Grace, Bishop Skurla was appointed Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ruthenian Archeparchy of Pittsburgh on January 19th. This see has been vacant since the death of Metropolitan Basil Schott, on June 10th, 2010, eternal memory. This is indeed Good News!
There may be a TLM coming to a parish near me!
The priest at a Church I frequent, very devoted, respectful, and pious Church, and have options for the TLM and Novus Ordus Mass, spoke the real truth about abortion, the pill, same sex marriage, I almost fell out of my seat. I wanted to stand up and applaud for the truth that he spoke even stating that we have a responsibility as Catholics to vote properly…Amen for the truth…that not a lot of Churches speak openly about on the pulpit. It wasn’t watered down and at the same time was said with great charity.
And I believe there was 28,000 people at the Verizon center for the March for life.
Praise be Jesus and Mary!
Saturday was my husband’s 61st birthday. We received a 20-week ultrasound of our little grand-daughter, now what could be better than that?!
Sunday afternoon, Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, IA, led the local March for Life. The group included “Teen Defenders” from our Guadalupe Youth Group. It was on at least one of the local TV stations; friend Bishop Nickless on facebook for the link.
After the March, Bishop preached the 5pm Mass and pulled no punches–I described it on the other thread. Friday was the 6th anniv. of his Episcopal Ordination.
My Cousin gave Birth to Her First Son Tonight(Philippine Time)named after St John Bosco!(and she will get married in Church soon!)
DEO GRATIAS EX HOC NUNC ET USQUE IN SAECULUM!
My pastor informed us that we will have a procession and Mass in the Extraordinary Form in honor of the Feast of Our Lady’s Purification, or Candlemas, on February 2nd. And also, the appeal he made for silence before Mass (Novus Ordo, it’s not a problem at the TLM) seems to have been taken to heart so far.
The space heater we bought last Sunday for my parents as a supplement for my just-out-of-the-hospital father came in very handy when their furnace failed Saturday night. The heater (and some prudently-stocked dry firewood for the fireplace) saved us from having to call 911 and decamp (back to a hospital, most likely).
Postulant in the Lay Fraternities of St Domininic (3rd Order), Chapter at St Vincent Ferrer New York, starting formation this week.
I got three A’s in College last semester. I am getting a new electric scooter soon and I am excited! God shines His grace on us all is the best news.
March for Life was more than its name in so many ways: being at the Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Bishop Dolan, Msgr. Rossi, & so many others for a powerful presence together with the same in sacred sound by the Organist …) was hopeful and unifying, seeing the Procession and singing the hymn for Bishop Chaput’s 10:00 Mass for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and then finding the mall with its unified presence & seeing leadership of Priests everywhere along the walk; is my good news.