The other day I posted about how I feel these days, through a photo of a Solemn Mass being celebrated in the ruins of a church bombed in WW2.
May I update?
Here is how I still feel. Notice that there is a significant upgrade in my attitude as well as a significant downgrade in the assessment of my surroundings.
Bishop Michael Wasaburo Urukawa offers Mass in the ruins of the cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan – 23 November 1945.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
on ROME 24/4– Day 34 (-7): The burial place of… PLATO?!?: “My baptismal anniversary. I’m mostly Scottish/Irish Catholic, birthed and educated by the Mercy Sisters during the height of the Troubles.…”
on ROME 24/4– Day 35 (-6): adventures in symmetry: “Father, it was perfect symmetry for two people. One cup handle facing one way and the other the other way.”
on ROME 24/4– Day 35 (-6): adventures in symmetry: “From a reader: “What are in the frames between the vestments?” Those are the priest’s vesting prayers. I’ll show more…”
on WDTPRS: 4th Sunday of Easter (Novus Ordo) – Mighty humble Shepherd, humble mighty flock: “Fr Z you are an inspiration in your knowledge about and love for the things of God and the church.…” on ROME 24/4– Day 32 (-9): Happy Birthday Rome!: “Holy cow that pasta. I wish we had smell-o-vision and taste-o-vision.”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “The German grind continues. It is in their nature.”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Scary about the women. What I mean is this: it would be disheartening enough just to find out that a…” on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “I wonder what’s going on with these women. Don’t they know that the greatest example of womanhood is Our Blessed…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Fr.Z sez: It is really sad that some people still push this rock up the hill. Reminds one of Sisyphus,…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Alas, those men pushing for ordaining women. STILL trying to get women to do all the work. My mother warned…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Dear Dcn PB, I don’t see how the reality can be described differently than by saying that the one sacrament…”
on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “Most people, whether pro or con, misunderstand the history and practice of the female diaconate. The deaconess was a separate…”
on Your Sunday Sermon Notes: 3rd Sunday after Easter (N.O. 4th of Easter) 2024: “I remember only the joke at the beginning of the homily: Priests get four weeks of vacation per year. Some…”
on “you must not remember your forefathers…” Wherein Fr. Z rants.: “My children at one of the solid Chesterton Academies have been taught science and theology by an amazing young Catholic…” on Three items of interest: a conversion, a connection, and a con job: “What is it that changed about the Catholic Herald? Interesting interview by George Farmer. (If only the faithful could be…”
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A Daily Prayer for Priests
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Thanks for all you do for us, Father. Please continue to hang in there, as we the laity continue to do so. What else can we do? For He who is the Head of the Church has the words of everlasting life!
Jesus, our Triumph! Mary, our Joy!
Bless you Father. Brick by Brick. And thank you for the help in logging back in.
Thank you, Father. It’s easy to get carried away by emotion, to feel despair. I always think about Lazarus who had been dead for 4 days. His sisters were overwhelmed by sorrow. But Our Lord showed them that nothing is impossible for Him. And because Martha and Mary had great faith in Him, He raised Lazarus from the dead. So it is with the Church and with the tragedies in our own lives.
When one considers the destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, one is tempted to believe that there can be no God. But terrible events should deepen our Faith, not erode it. Easy to say, hard to do.
A mass being said in the ruins of a great city–new green tendrils growing up in a wasteland. As at the moment of Christ’s death all seemed lost; instead all was made new. Perhaps the great material and historic treasures of the Church may be lost, and we will all have to go back to meeting in private homes or caves, with one dear priest to offer Mass but the real treasure of the Church will never be lost. In the meantime, I’m keeping my old published version of the Catechism, and praying my rosary and for all of the clergy, especially the faithful ones who have not deserted Holy Mother Church. And a special prayer for you, Father Z, that you may feel the love and support of your digital flock as well as your immediate one.
Father, thank you very much for this picture.
The mitre rises above the ruins as it always has and always will. The twelve are before the altar in heaven bringing our prayers before Him. Hope yes.
Let us pray Psalm 80:
Turn back, O God of hosts,
look down from heaven and tend this vine.
Protect the vine, for your right hand planted it;
and the son of man, whom you made strong.
The vine is burnt and dug up;
and they too will perish when they see you rebuke them.
Stretch out your hand over your chosen one
over the son of man, whom you made strong –
and we will not forsake you, and you will give us life;
and we will call on your name.
Bring us back, Lord God of hosts:
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
When one is Confirmed, one gets a slap on the cheek by the bishop (at least I was). Little did I know that it was a foreshadowing.
On the other hand, how can it compare to what the saints and martyrs experienced?
And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn me? How long will they refuse to believe in me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them with pestilence and wipe them out. Then I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” But Moses said to the Lord: [] “Pardon the wickedness of this people in keeping with your great kindness, even as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now.” (Numbers, chpt. 19)
[Jesus said to them:] “how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?” (St. Mark, chpt. 9)
Behold:
“My power is made perfect in weakness.”
From a Lutheran pastor who used the same pic. I know he’s Lutheran but what he says about the pic and worship rings true.
https://missourisynod.wordpress.com/real-worship/
Father Z, thou hast writ:
“The other day I posted about how I feel these days, through a photo of a Solemn Mass being celebrated in the ruins of a church bombed in WW2.”
I have seen this photo from time to time, as I am sure others have. Do you know what this church is and where? (Cologne, perhaps?)
Thank you in advance.
Motivating photos in these two posts.
“We win. They lose.”
-Ronald Reagan when asked about his policy towards the Soviet Union.