Observations on the Toowoomba Tumult. Fr. Z rants.

I am about to rant about Toowoomba and the NCFishwrap.

Join a protest against the NCFishwrap during their fundraising drive by sending money to me.  I explain it here, but just trust me.  It’s a good idea.

My rant today is about the liberal faction’s defense of Bishop Morris of Toowoomba and their high dudgeon at his removal, oh so unjust.

Bishop Morris, it is claimed by liberals, has been treated unfairly.  The people have been treated unfairly.  They are being oppressed.  They are complaining that the bishop was removed without due process.

I don’t see these liberal Catholics protesting against the removal without process of priests because of credible accusations.  They only protest when a liberal bishop is removed without process due to what can only be called credible accusations.

On the basis of that fact alone, you might cut Rome a break.  They trash and shred priests, not bishops.

Think about this: it is really hard to remove a bishop.

If Rome decides that he must be removed… could it be that he… wait for it… deserved it?

If there had to be an Apostolic Visitation – and you know how Rome really benefits in the PR camp from those – could it be that there was a good reason?  How could there be an Apostolic Visitation and the liberals of Australia the NCR not get the idea that there was something wrong beyond mere dislike of the guy?

Did people in Toowoomba have no idea that there was a problem there?  Did no one actually read the letter the bishop sent out in which he advocated the ordination of women and the “recognition”, whatever that means, of ministry of Protestants?  If they are lacking priests in Toowoomba, Protestants are going to be of help?  If only we had more Lutherans helping us out!  They are going to… what?  Give us the sacrament of anointing?  Hear out confessions?  Say Mass?  They left the Catholic Church because of those things .

Even the Catholics of Toowoomba, Australia, and even the Catholic bishops of Australia, and even the staff of the NCR, must know that the issue of women priests is CLOSED, and definitively CLOSÉD.  Does it come as a a surprise that the Holy See might have a problem with a bishop saying that women should be ordained?  What part of definitive is hard to understand, Australia?  NCR?

Poor poor victimized bishop!

Anglican bishops belong in the Anglican Church.

By now in England a thousand Anglicans have recently come into the Catholic Church, some at great personal sacrifice, over the very issues that this Australian bishop was promoting.   In justice to these new Anglican convert Catholics, the Australian bishop had to be dealt with by Rome.   We need to support people who are ready to come to Rome, some of them with great pain and suffering together with their joy.

Doctrine matters.

Look at the narrative here.  Bishop Morris said his 2006 letter had been “misread and I believe deliberately misinterpreted” by a “small group (which has) found my leadership and the direction of the diocese not to their liking”.

The Vatican loathes removing bishops and will do nearly anything to avoid it.  There was a five year investigation involving three important dicasteries of the Holy See (CDF, Bishops, and Divine Worship) and also the Pope.  There was an Apostolic Visit by an American Archbishop.

Bp. Morris quondam of Toowoomba

Tie .. too subtle?

But Bp.  Morris was denied process!   They misread his writings!   He has been misunderstood!

Note well: At no time in the history of the Church has such a “small group” been so powerful.

A few right wing Wanderer Types and Temple Police, as the bishop called them, wrote letters to the Congregations in Rome.

Right. A small group.  In your dreams.  Because the Vatican doesn’t get any mail from disgruntled Catholics.  Nooo.  But this tiny group of extremists, Wanderer Types wrto Rome about liturgical abuses.  THAT’s what did it.

I can see it now.  A five year investigation involving three congregations and an archbishop sent half way around the world, costing thousands of Euros, because Mrs. McGuillicuddy found a Vatican address and wrote:

Dear Cardinal!  Our bishop is really bad!…

Whose kidding whom?  A small group.

That small group included Card. Pell, the Nuncio, other bishops.

It’s always a “small group” … of Wanderer Types, clinging to their Latin and their rosaries.

Lest we forget, we went through this local and wider liberal outrage against the removal of Jacques Galliot, quondam Bishop of Evreux.  They got over it.

If the liberals of Toowoomba and the Fishwrap don’t want to get over this, the Anglican Church needs some members.

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, Throwing a Nutty, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
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QUAERITUR: How much power does a bishop have over the liturgy in the diocese?

Say The Black Do The RedFrom a reader:

I was introduced to Canon 838 and surrounding. My understanding is that the bishop is free to do whatever he wants liturgically provided that the Apostolic See has not decreed to the contrary. Of course, he is meant to preserve the heritage of the Church, but in a strictly legal sense he gains a lot of leeway.

I’m pretty sure that the Missale Romanum has authority from the Apostolic See and thus outranks the bishop. Does the GIRM also outrank the bishop? Also, do declarations by the USCCB that are contrary to the GIRM and/or Missal outrank either of these? Are there specific texts/canons that make the hierarchy clear?

I wanted to consult a good canonist on this one.

Here is what I have come up with from my consultation.

In the Latin Church the moderation of the liturgy lies primarily with the Holy See.  That said can. 838 establishes that the diocesan bishop has a moderating role over the liturgy “according to the norm of law” (par. 1) and “within the limits of his competence” (par. 4).

The General Institution (not Instruction) of the Roman Missal is an essential part of the the Missale Romanum.

In English the GIRM (or variously IGRM) is often mistranslated as the General Instruction (I have done that a lot).  Thus, some liturgists and canonists want to apply to it the principles of canon 34.  The General Institution of the Roman Missal is part and parcel of the whole. The things which are established as normative by the General Institution, as well as the approved text of the Missal itself, are not subject to alteration by an individual diocesan bishop.

The adaptations to the GIRM made by bishops’ conferences are subject to recognitio by the Holy See.

QUAERITUR: How much power does a bishop have over the liturgy in the diocese?If the bishops as a conference wish to alter some portion of the Missal or the GIRM they can only do so with that recognitio – which is not exactly a permission, but rather an acknowledgment that the proposed adaptation is reasonable and within the competence of the bishops’ conference. Not all the proposals of bishops’ conferences around the world have been granted a recognitio.  Some proposals from the USCCB, once given recognitio, have had that recognitio withdrawn (e.g. the proposal to allow the Precious Blood to be consecrated in a flagon and then poured, after consecration, into individual chalices was granted recognitio, then, after Redemptionis Sacramentum, this recognitio was withdrawn.). Once granted that recognitio, the proposed adaptations have the same force, in that territory, as the GIRM itself.  Until they don’t, apparently.  We have to pay attention to changes.

An individual diocesan bishop’s role in directing the liturgy is left to those areas of the liturgy that have not been regulated by a higher authority.

For example, a diocesan bishop could regulate that only white wine be used for Holy Mass, or that every altar in his diocese be rectangular. If he wished to derogate from some norm in either the universal norms or the adaptations approved by the bishops’ conference, he would need the direct approval from the Holy See. Such derogations are seldom granted.  The bishop would need a good reason.   In matters of the calendar, for example, he would probably get a good hearing from Rome if he wanted to emphasize some locally important feast or saint.

Canon 838 is pretty clear in laying out the hierarchy of authority over the liturgy.

The presumption is that the bishop will not seek to do harm to the liturgy.  Rather, in keeping with the whole of the legislation and of the Missal itself, it is presumed that the bishop will see his role as that of preserving the liturgy from abuse and recognizing the right of the faithful to the authentic liturgy of the Church (can. 214).

If an individual bishop exceeds his authority, or uses it capriciously, the faithful have the right to seek recourse to a higher authority.  That authority is the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome. The law gives the bishop lots of latitude.  Some have abused that latitude.  Yet the latitude comes from the fact that a bishop is a successor to the Apostles, not merely the Pope’s branch manager.

There is a tension here, no doubt, but the principles are clear.  In specific instances of abuses, people have recourse.

I am sure this will earn me another shout from Fishwrap as “TEMPLE POLICE!”  I can live with that.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, 1983 CIC can. 915, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
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Help in brainstorming

I have reviewed some booklets for use at Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form.  Lately I showed you the Angelus Press booklet, intended mainly for adults.

Imagine that a diligent Catholic who loves both forms of the Roman Rite, desires to put a colorful, small booklet for the Extraordinary Form into the hands of children and young people.  Looking around, he doesn’t find anything that fits the bill.  He decides to make one.  It has beautiful artwork from great paintings and old holy cards, simple commentary and explanations, large print.  A bishop is found to approve the project.  A publisher is located.  He wants to name it after Pope Benedict, in gratitude for his ministry.  But, seeing that naming something after Pope Benedict might require some additional permissions and hoops, starts brainstorming about another title.

Initial ideas…

A Traditional Missal for Young Catholics
The Summorum Pontificum Missal for Young Catholics
The Young Catholic’s Missal for the Extraordinary Form
An Extraordinary Form Missal for Young Catholics

So… brainstorm.  Anyone outside the box have an idea?  Share it.

And remember our ongoing web-protest against the Fishwrap.  HERE.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Clerical Sexual Abuse, Linking Back | Tagged , ,
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QUAERITUR: seminarians and clerical dress and WDTPRS POLL

Roman collarFrom a seminarian:

I’m wondering, I seem to remember hearing about a letter or something where Pope Benedict asked seminarians to wear clericals when going to audiences or something… I believe this was in reference to his visit to the US recently, but to be honest I’m not sure.

Can anyone help this fellow?

Of course this brings up the larger question of seminarians and clerical dress.

I say: YES.  I think there are good reason for this.  I imagine that some have arguments against.

What say you?

Chose your best answer and add a comment if you care to.  You don’t have to be registered to vote.

Should seminarians wear clerical clothing (suit with Roman collar/cassock/habit/choir dress), at least at seminary and in church even before they are deacons??

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Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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50 years ago today… where were you?

Fifty years ago today, a guy crawled up on top of an 70+ foot high Roman candle knowing that someone would light the fuse and blow him into space riding something called “Freedom 7”.

In April 1961 the Bay of Pigs invasion had failed and the old Senators played their first game as the new Minnesota Twins.  The December 1960 release of Exodus was still on many silver screens. You could smoke, and there were powder rooms.

In my hometown of Minneapolis the top ten on the chart of radio station KDWB 63 included Roy Oribson’s “Running Scared” and “Runaway” by Del Shannon, “Hello Mary Lou” by Ricky Nelson, and Eddy Arnold’s “Just Call Me Lonesome”.  JFK was President and in February a new pop combo called The Beatles performed for the first time at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.  Princess Diana would not be born until July.  The movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s wouldn’t be on the screen until November!   Later also were West Side Story, The Misfits, The Parent Trap.

In the US another ride of Freedom began.  The “Freedom Riders” started a bus trip to test the limits on segregation on interstate bus rides set by the Supreme Court’s integration ruling in Boynton v. Virginia.  On 14 May a bus would be fire-bombed near Anniston, Alabama and civil rights protesters beaten by a mob.

On TV this week you could watch Sea Hunt, Mavrick, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel – I’m sensing a theme… Hazel, Red Skelton, Dick Van Dyke. I am told I used to stand in front of a tiny screen with my hand on my cheek just like Jack Benny.

We had a pink and purple DeSoto.  Not kidding.

And who can forget the Flintstone’s Winston cigarette commercial?  Banned, actually.

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Is this where I got the idea to integrate Mystic Monk commercials into my posts?  Buy some now, by the way.

Ronald Regan spoke out against socialized medicine in 1961.  Listen.  It’s eerie.

Many of the things on the shelves at the grocer look familiar 50 years later.  Also, the backslash, invented in 1960, was still pretty much unknown.  A gallon of gas in the USA was ¢27.  George Clooney would be born on 6 May and Barack Obama’s mother was pregnant and maybe in Hawaii.

John XXIII was Pope and the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal had not yet been issued.

We lose perspective on how small the actual capsule was in which Astronaut Alan Sheppard rode into space on top of a Redstone rocket on 5 May 1961.  The Mercury was a little large than your refrigerator welded onto your washing machine.  And about as sophisticated.  Your wrist watch or TiVo is probably more complex than its electronics.

This little capsule, just big enough for a man and a big parachute, was set on top of a short range surface to surface ballistic missile rocket built by Chrysler.   Even though it was for Mercury, it was not built by Lincoln or Ford, come to think about it.  The steering was made by Ford.

Anyway… picture yourself strapped into your refrigerator sitting on top of a 70 foot tube filled with 11,135 pounds of ethyl alcohol, 25,280 pounds of liquid oxygen and 790 pounds of hydrogen peroxide with the blast yield of 500 tons of TNT or a small nuclear warhead.  WAHOOO!

Fifty years ago today, Alan Sheppard rode Liberty 7 into space.

50 years ago today... where were you?

Then he had to come back down… at 11g.  Think about the 3000 degree temperature, just outside your refrigerator of 1.7 m³ of habitable volume.

50 years ago today... where were you?

In 1971 Alan Sheppard walked on the surface of the Moon during the mission of Apollo 14.

He got on top of a 360 feet tall exploding tube filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and, having traveled the quarter of a million miles in a can the size of a couple Lincoln Town cars with the computing power of your mobile phone and far less memory, stepped out of his protective environment and walked in a few hundred degrees of heat on the lunar landscape in a place named after a 15th century map maker and Camaldolese monk named Fra Mauro.  This is where Apollo 13 was supposed to go.  Their suits sealed up with zippers… mainly.  Sheppard managed to get off the surface of the Moon in the Lincoln Towncar sized Antares with an explosion caused by Aerozine 50 and N2O4 great enough to break the pull of gravity and, with the other two guys, Roosa and Mitchell, came back in one Lincoln Town Car sized can called Kitty Hawk and landed in the ocean after the usual hitting the tiny angle for reentry and enduring the melting heat of friction against the atmosphere.

All without dying.

This year the USA’s manned space program was killed by Pres. Obama.  The next Space Shuttle is the last Space Shuttle.  And it is delayed.

But in 1961 the first American had a ride into sub-orbital space.

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Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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Star trails

Another way to star gaze, from Astronomy Pic of the Day.

Sky in motion from Chris Kotsiopoulos on Vimeo.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged , , ,
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WDTPRS POLL: Your Mass preparation and follow up during the week

I am curious about your preparation for Holy Mass or Divine Liturgy on Sundays and Holy Days or Feasts.  This applies to both forms of the Roman Rite and other Rites as well.

Please choose the best answer and, if you care to, add a comment, below.

For Sundays and Holy Days...

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Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
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NCR’s attack on Pope Benedict

NCR's attack on Pope BenedictThe fishwrappers of the National catholic Fishwrap have today an editorial on their website which is an open attack on Pope Benedict.  It is really long, some 1400 words.  I don’t know whether I will treat it here in full.  It is pretty bad.

I will share a little bit, however, which I found amusing.

The casus belli was the removal of the Australian Bishop William Morris from governance of the Diocese of Toowoomba.  Bp. Morris wrote and distributed, the heretical notions that women should be ordained and that Protestant “orders” (which they lack) should be “recognized”.  Of less controversy were his suggestion that married men should be ordained, etc.  The Fishwrap had a brain-bleed over the fact that Archbp. Chaput was involved in the inquiries into the case of Bp. Morris and that this fine, upstanding, forward-thinking Australian father to his children was removed for doing little more than offering constructive solutions to problems in his diocese and the larger Church (which, I must add, he is in part creating in his diocese).

I am left with the question: How is it that ecclesiastical authority contemplates removing the term “Catholic” from hospitals which harm human life through abortion, and will not remove the word “Catholic” from the title of this newspaper which harms the spiritual life of the faithful?  An editorial against the Pope, in which he and other Church authorities are compared, among other things, to Stalinist apparatchiks, and which openly promotes heresy needs to be addressed by ecclesiastical authority.

FishwrapWe join the Fishwrap’s hectoring of Pope Benedict in medias res.  They just referred to the fact that there are not many “right-wing” Catholics in the D. of Toowoomba, and the bishop calls those who are there the “Temple Police”.

You know the type. In the U.S., they are the crowd that takes marching orders from The Wanderer, [For which I have written a weekly column on liturgical translation and other liturgical issues for 11 years.] their time at Mass searching for a violation of a rubric rather than receiving whatever wisdom or grace might come their way. Then, having detected an “Alleluia” where an “Amen” was called for, they write letters to Vatican congregations, hoping for a sympathetic ear to their pathetic pleas.

Fishwrap HQOn another page of the Fishwrap‘s site I noted this with great interest.

Webathon: We are way behind our schedule to reach $50,000

Wednesday afternoon in our Kansas City office and we have raised some $15,000 of the $50,000 we hope to raise by the end of this week’s Webathon. $15,000 is no little stack of cash – but it is a long way from fulfilling our hopes for the outcome of this week.

I think a good way to show what you think of the NCR would be, first, to talk someone out of a subscription and, then, a spiffy donation to WDTPRS using the donation button below.

NCR's attack on Pope Benedict

If every reader here would pitch in $5, that would make a statement, given the number of readers we have.  I’ll keep track of what comes in through this button.

Finally, pray for the conversion of the staff of the Fishwrap or, that lacking, the failure of their paper and site.  Also say a prayer – now – for the aforementioned Bp. Morris and now Brisbane’s Auxiliary Bishop Brian V. Finnegan, appointed by Benedict XVI as the administrator of the Diocese of Toowoomba.

UPDATE: Some people had problems with the donation button, above.  I have tried to fix it.  If it doesn’t work for you, there is always a button on the sidebar.

UPDATE: Under that NCFishwrap story about being behind in fundraising, note well that there are ringing endorsements of by Sr. Joan Chittister and Sr. Terese Kane, former head of the LCWR, both card carrying members of the “Magisterium of Nuns“:

Today, on this site Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, a former NCR board member and long time columnist, writes about the meaning of the Roy Bourgeois tragedy. She also speaks, in a video, about the importance of helping NCR.

The other day, Sr. Theresa Kane — a former Leadership Conference of Women Religious head, a former head of the Mercy Sisters and a former NCR board member — sent us a message saying how important she thinks NCR is in her life.

I respond saying:

NCR's attack on Pope Benedict
And subscribe to The Wanderer‘s online edition and the Catholic Herald DIGITAL.
UPDATE 5 May 1616 GMT:
We are coming up on the 24 hr mark since I posted this.  Quite a few donations have come in!  Each one feels like an adrenaline boost.  I have tried to write a personal note to each person who sent something.  One email was kicked back as undeliverable, to an address that started ccd…  If I missed someone, sorry about that.  It was not intentional.  Also, since this Project of Protest has spiritual consequences, I will again say Mass remembering the intentions of those who used the donation button on Saturday morning.  I have marked the contributions which came in through the button, above, and I am taking names as it were… but in a good way.

Also, some of you are giving more than $5.  That’s great, of course.  But if all the readers here gave a fiver, it would be greater still.  Obviously.  I need more coffee.

I will do something very Catholic with the money, with a strong tradition overtone since this is in protest against Fishwrap, perhaps something for my 20th, coming up.
UPDATE 5 May 2009 GMT:
From a donating reader and faithful supporter of all that is good true and beautiful:
As a prospective police officer I am compelled to support all moral police-related causes. This includes the Temple Police!
As the son of a police officer, I am delighted to receive your support and promise to continue to send out marching orders.
UPDATE 6 May 0327 GMT:

From an obviously intelligent reader and donor:

I only recently, January 2011, came back to the Church, but in that short time I have found you to be a constant voice of reason and sense in a world gone mad. Thank you. I know your primary target is the NCFishwrap, but as I am English I would be grateful if you could add a prayer for the Tablet as well.
Sure!   I can even help with a Latin text for that prayer.
NCR's attack on Pope Benedict
NCR's attack on Pope BenedictAnd once The Tablet is ready to go, it can be wrapped up in you know what and sent to sleep with the fishes.
Also, from a different reader and donor with good taste:
Yesterday I responded to the NCR’s plea for cash by commenting on their site that I am glad I am most likely young enough to be able in the future to celebrate the final issue of the NCR. But this is even better.
May even the most seasoned readers here be able to say the same.
Posted in Green Inkers, Throwing a Nutty | Tagged , , , , , ,
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Of gratitude, pasta, optimism, and final huzzays

The UPS truck – a happy sight – just deposited a package sent by an esteemed reader, MMK, who spotted Rigatoncini by Rustichella on my wishlist.

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This is a good brand.  The pasta isn’t merely a platform for the preparation, you know.  It should have its own flavor.  When you cook it, it absorbs the liquid it is cooked in, so the liquid makes a difference as well.  Adding salt, or not, or broth, or not, or having good water, or not… matters.  You can also finish cooking your dry pasta in the sauce, which will be absorbed.  I like these small rigatoni with the little ridges, which hold the sauces, or “gravies” as some call them, with which you dress them.  They are especially good for pesto.

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Since I am shifting now again to eating a main meal at midday, I will now instruct Preserved Killick to
extract some sauce of some sort from the freezer.  Now that the season is changing I can use up some of that pesto from last summer.

Finally, I can’t resist posting a photo of the last bit of snow.  Today may be its last huzzay.  I must now touch a belaying pin for the mere thought that it could be over at long last.

20110504-105727.jpg

Lately I also received from MC the Guidebook for Confessors by Michael E. Giesler, and from unidentified but no less esteemed readers some volumes of English translations of St. Augustine’s Expositions of the Psalms, which are useful for a lectio continua.  Unidentified as you may be, I nevertheless remember you at Mass, for it is an honor and duty to pray for benefactors.

I also have received John Henry Newman: Fighter, Convert and Cardinal by Anthony Mockler.  Thanks as well to SE for The Person of Christ by Donald MacLeod: not a Catholic book, but an honest piece of Christology.  Christology may be the very worst division of theology these days. It has languished for decades, I’m afraid.  TB, DDC, PS, KK, BH.  If I have missed you, I beg your indulgence.

Lastly, I have a single male Cardinal visiting regularly.  I hope he finds a girlfriend soon and starts a local consistory.

Of gratitude, pasta, optimism, and final huzzays

I will need more feed soon.

And since spring is springing I have put out orange slices.  It is surely too early, but I would like to catch the attention of the first comers and the added color is cheering to the eye, and I need all the cheering I can get.

This Chickdee tried some, but I don’t think he was very impressed.

Of gratitude, pasta, optimism, and final huzzays

Time to put out nesting materials too.

Posted in Fr. Z's Kitchen, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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Of Monnica and Martyrs

St. MonicaToday in the older, venerable, traditional Roman calendar, is the feast of St. Monica, widow and mother of St. Augustine of Hippo.  In the post-Conciliar calendar her feast was transferred to the end of August.  Monnica, is a spelling that conforms to her Punic origin.

Monica died at Rome’s port Ostia, prevented from her return to N. Africa by a naval blockade.  She caught a fever and passed away in 387, saying,

“Bury my body wherever you will; let not care of it cause you any concern. One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”

Much of St. Monica’s life is described by Augustine in Book 9 the Confessions.  There are moving passages about her overcoming an addiction to alcohol, her dealings with a difficult and violent husband whom she helped to convert, her perseverance in promoting her son – whom she insisted be given the imperial name Augustus – and her good death.  Augustine had her buried in Ostia and had a stone set up for her.  After the sack of the area by the Visigoths in 410, he wrote to have her stone renewed.  Though her body was subsequently moved to the Church of St. Augustine in Rome, her stone was discovered after WWII by children trying to set up a basketball hoop, a game they learned from American GI’s.

After Augustine ditched her in N. Africa to go alone to Italy, but she soon followed.  In Milan, Monnica had some dealings St. Ambrose concerning her use of N. African customs in N. Italy, which scandalized people.  He instructed her to do as they did and gave her the example of his own willingness to conform to the customs of Rome when he was in Rome.  Whence the famous proverb.  She must have been a formidable woman to have garnered attention from Ambrose.  Furthermore, Augustine himself gives her an important role in his early philosophical dialogues, an unprecedented role for a woman in ancient literature.  As Augustine and his companions were preparing for baptism during their working retreat at Cassiciacum, Monica would sometimes be asked – as the baptized person present to answer certain questions.  She, therefore, exemplified something of Augustine’s homo spiritalis he would develop later, a figure who might even correct a bishop.

In life, Monica was a fascinating woman, a loving wife and mother, and after death a strong intercessor.

Here is a photo of a first class relic of St. Monica, in my possession.

St. Monica

Today is also the feast of several English martyrs.

Who would like to have a go at this entry from the 2005 Martyrologium Romanum?

6. Londinii in Anglia, sanctorum presbyterorum martyrum Ioannis Houghton, Roberti Lawrence et Augustini Webster, priorum cartusiarum Londiniensis, Ballavallensis et Axholmiensis, atque Richardi Reynold, ex Ordine Sanctae Brigittae, qui, cum fidem patrum impavide professi essent, Tyburni ad supplicium laniatus tracti sunt sub Henrico rege Octavo.  Cum eis beatus Ioannes Haile, presbyter, parochus loci Isleworth prope urbem, eodem patibulo suspensus est.

Of Monnica and Martyrs

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , , , ,
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