Deacon By Deacon.
His Mightiness, Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of the Diocese of Madison (aka “The Extraordinary Ordinary”), descended upon Nebraska recently to ordain men of the Fraternity of St. Peter to the holy diaconate.
Photos HERE.
Note… gloves, dalmatic, simple miter.
Switch to the precious miter later…
Congratulations to the new crop of deacons, ready to get to work soon for the New Evangelization.
At ZENIT there is a translation into English of the wide-ranging interview given by Carlo Card. Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, about the upcoming Synod and the issue to be addressed. It was originally in Italian in Il Foglio.
You should read it all, but here are some snips:
The possibility of allowing the divorced and remarried to receive communion is spoken about. One of Cardinal Kasper’s suggestions was that they should undergo a period of penance that would bring them into a full readmission to Communion. Is this now an inevitable necessity, or is it the accommodation of Christian teaching to contemporary circumstances?
Those who make these suggestions have not, at least up until now, answered one simple question: what happens to the first valid and consummated marriage? If the Church admits them to the Eucharist, she must render a judgment on the legitimacy of the second marriage. It’s logical. But, as I said, what about the first marriage? The second marriage, if we can call it that, cannot be a true second marriage because bigamy is against the teaching of Christ. So the first marriage, is it dissolved? But all the popes have always taught that the Pope has no authority over this. The Pope does not have the power to dissolve a valid and consummated marriage. The proposed solution seems to imply that although the first marriage continues, the Church can somehow legitimate a second relationship. But in doing this, the proposal demolishes the foundations of the Church’s teaching on sexuality. At this point we have to ask: why, then, can we not approve of unmarried couples living together ? Or why not homosexual unions? The question is simple: what about the first marriage? No one has yet answered that question. In 2000, John Paul II speaking to the Roman Rota said: “It is clear that the Roman Pontiff’s power does not extend to valid and consummated marriages and this is taught by the Magisterium of the Church as a doctrine to be definitively held even if it has not been solemnly declared through a definitive act.” It is a technical formula, “a doctrine to be definitively held”, and it means that on this point there is no further discussion to be had among theologians nor doubts among the faithful.
Therefore, it is not just a question of praxis but also of doctrine?
Yes, this touches upon doctrine. Inevitably. You can try to say it doesn’t, but it does. And not only this. You would introduce a way of thinking that in the long run would touch not only Catholics but everyone. You would suggest that there is no such thing as an indissoluble marriage. This, certainly, is against the Lord’s will. Of that there can be no doubt.
[… Q&A on mercy… ]
We are not, therefore, talking about compromise?
Far from it! Compromise would be unworthy of the Lord. Man on his own can come to compromises. Rather we are talking of the regeneration of a human person and only God is capable of that, and in His name the Church. St. Thomas Aquinas says that the justification of a sinner is a more marvelous work than the creation of the universe. When a sinner is justified, something greater than the whole universe happens, and this act comes about through a poor, humble priest in the confessional. Right there occurs an act greater than the creation of the whole universe. We must not reduce mercy to compromise nor to tolerance. This would be to undervalue, to be unjust to, the Lord’s work.
[…]
Read the whole thing.
In the meantime, His Eminence Raymond Card. Burke, Prefect of the Signatura, has also given his opinion as a canonist that Card. Kasper’s proposals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llSCDBNPvK4&feature=player_embedded
About the great Governor of Wisconsin. I wonder if he will run for President.
From The Blaze:
Scott Walker Says He Won’t Cave to Atheists’ Demand to Pull Bible Verse
“Governor Walker will not remove the post on his social media,” Walker spokeswoman press secretary Laurel Patrick said in an email. “The verse was part of a devotional he read that morning, which inspired him, and he chose to share it.”
Patrick said Walker’s social media accounts are frequently used “to engage with Wisconsinites on matters of public policy” as well as to give constituents “a sense of who he is.”
She said the scripture reference he posted on March 16 was simply “a reflection of his thoughts for the day.”
Walker’s response came after the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote him a letter this week asking that he delete the message, which read simply, “Philippians 4:13,” from his official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The popular New Testament Bible verse reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Freedom From Religion Foundation [A Madison-based hate group.] co-president Dan Barker told TheBlaze Friday that while he finds the posting of the Bible verse both “rude” and “arrogant,” his group likely won’t sue over it.
“We’re still complaining about it, but we can’t do anything more than complain,” Barker said. “We think it’s inappropriate for him to use his official page to promote his view.”
Barker said that the Freedom From Religion Foundation might take definitive action if Walker decided to post Bible messages on a more regular basis, but that in this case they will likely “look the other way.”
“We’re not going to take any legal action on one abuse,” he said. “And it is an abuse — and he should know it’s one.”
I read Walker’s book Unintimidated: A Governor’s Story and a Nation’s Challenge, about the surreal battle waged by the Left when the Governor pushed through legislation to curtail (for once) the immense, budget-draining power of unions. He turned the state’s $3.6 billion deficit into a nearly $1 billion surplus in a couple of years. That apart, reading the account of what happened as union activists and others descended on Madison for weeks of unreal chaos is, itself, worth the price of the book. Prescinding from your possible party affiliation, you can get a real insight into how the Left thinks and works. Also, in the book, he occasionally touches on the role of his faith.
UPDATE: Related to the above, today Gov. Walker signed a $541 million tax cut for Wisconsin taxpayers. HERE
Was there a good point in the sermon you heard during the Mass for your Sunday obligation?
Let us know.
Here is a little bonus for the sanctification of your Sunday.
Here is audio of the Benedictine monks at Le Barroux and their Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after Sunday Vespers.
How I enjoyed Sunday Vespers and Benedict at my home parish, and how I miss it.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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My friend Fr. Richard Heilman, about whom I have written before, had a good audio interview with Christine Niles. HERE.
He talks about shutting down a local strip bar through prayer, shifting to ad orientem worship and having a 40% increase in parish revenue, use of social media, making the “Combat Rosary” his assault weapon against the Devil, the Church Militant Field Manual, the My Confessor app (which is being revamped), the Knights (and Squires) of Divine Mercy, real manhood, Pints and Pipes, confession as armor against the Devil.
This is a priest who says “I’ve gotta do this!”… and then he does it.
This is pretty weird. From a reader:
I have recently visited Vienna and was stunned by the beautiful churches of this magnificent city. One day I went to St. Michael’s church not far from Stephensdom and it was there and then I’ve realized how little I know about Catholic symbols in the Church. Perhaps you or your readers can help? My tip for the main altar is, that it depicts gender neutral beings engaged in various sport activities. Perhaps a reference to Sochi 2014? God help us!
The attached photos (click for larger versions):
Are they mad? Verrückt?
Whoever put those ugly, ridiculous things in that beautiful church should be severely punished.
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Can divorced/remarried laity, without decree of nullity, become Special Ministers of Communion?
The short answer is “No!”
The longer answer is “Noooooooo!”
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Is it a mortal sin if one accidentally lies in Confession about a venial sin?
You cannot “accidentally” lie. A lie is a deliberate distortion of the truth. It cannot be an accident. People can makes mistakes, say things that are false “accidentally”, but people cannot lie “accidentally”. Lying is intentional.
Lying about anything is a sin, more or less grave depending on the matter and the situation.
Lying during confession, however, is grave because of the circumstance.
Lying during confession is also a misuse of a sacred thing, a sacrament, which makes it also the sin of sacrilege. One act, two sins.
“Bless me Father, I have sinned. My last confession was yesterday. During my last confession I lied about something. In doing so, I also committed the sin of sacrilege. I deeply regret so mistreating the Sacrament of Penance. I lied about X. Before that my last confession was two weeks ago. The sins I confessed yesterday were these: A two times, B once, and C three times. For these and any sins I cannot now remember, I am sorry. I ask a penance and your absolution. My Jesus, mercy.”
God hates lies. God cannot be fooled. You cannot escape God.
Remember Proverbs 6: 16-19:
Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren.
Of the six things that God hates, two of them concern liars.
Go to confession.
Confess all your mortal sins in both kind (what kind of sin) and number (how many times or how frequently you committed each kind of sin. Don’t hesitate. Just say it. Don’t chat. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t ramble. Don’t add all sort of extraneous and pointless words or details. Be blunt. Omit nothing.
Pope Francis talks about going to confession. He talks about confession a lot. As a matter of fact, he talks about more than his predecessors did.
Now comes this.
From CNA:
Vatican City, Mar 23, 2014 / 06:38 am (CNA).- During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis announced that March 29-30 would be “24 hours for the Lord,” during which people can find special opportunities for prayer and the sacrament of confession.
“Next Friday and Saturday we will live a special moment of penance, called ‘24 hours for the Lord.’ It will begin with a (liturgical) Celebration in the Basilica of St. Peter’s (on) Friday afternoon, [I wonder what that would be.] then in the evening and night some churches in the center of Rome will be open for prayer and confessions,” he explained to the crowds in St. Peter’s square on March 23.
“It will be – we could call it – a celebration of forgiveness, which will happen also in many dioceses and parishes of of the world.”
The Holy Father then noted that “the forgiveness that the Lord gives us” should make us “celebrate like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, who when the son returned home, had a party, forgetting all his sins.”
The Pope’s Angelus message also focused on the theme of the joy of encountering Christ despite our sinfulness.
Sunday’s gospel recounts the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus begins a conversation with a sinful woman who is despised by society by asking her for a drink of water.
“Jesus’ simple request is the beginning of a frank dialogue, through which he, with great delicacy, enters the inner world of a person with whom, according to societal norms, he should not even say a word,” Pope Francis said.
Jesus’s thirst “was not so much for water but for meeting a parched soul.” His request for a drink “highlighted the thirst that was within her.”
“The woman is touched by this encounter: Jesus turns to those profound questions that we have inside, but often ignore. We too have many questions, but we do not have the courage to ask them of Jesus!” the Pontiff exclaimed.
“Lent is the appropriate time to look inside, to bring out our true spiritual needs, and ask for the Lord’s help in prayer,” he stressed.
The Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus is “enthusiastic.”
“She runs to the village, that village that judged her and rejected her, and announced that she had met the Messiah: one who changed her life.”
“Every encounter with Jesus changes our lives,” Pope Francis repeated. “Every encounter with Jesus fills us with joy.”
Like the Samaritan woman, we are called to “leave our jars” at the well and “witness to our brothers the joy of meeting Jesus and the wonders that his love accomplishes in our lives,” he urged.
The Holy Father then led the crowds in the Angelus prayer and greeted the various pilgrim groups who had traveled to pray with him.
“I wish everyone a good Sunday and a good lunch!” he concluded.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
A Daily Prayer for Priests
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The Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus is “enthusiastic.”