Card. Müller calls the October Synod (“walking together”): “the great hour of manipulation”

Posted on 14 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Gerhard Card. Müller gave an interview to a Spanish outlet Infovaticana.   The questions were good and the answers were HARD HITTING.

Diane Montagna did a translation and posted it on Twitter.

Here is an excerpt:

Q-There are some voices that have criticized the presence of the laity in this synodal Assembly.

Müller-The bishops participate in their office by exercising collegial responsibility for the whole Church together with the Pope. If the laity participate in it with the right to vote, then it is no longer a synod of bishops or an ecclesiastical conference [and] does not have the apostolic teaching authority of the episcopal college. To speak of a Vatican Council III can only occur to an ignorant person, because from the outset a Roman Synod of Bishops is not an ecumenical council—which the Pope could not subsequently declare without ignoring the divine right of the bishops to a Vatican Council III—that could fni ind a new Church surpassing or completing the one supposedly stagnated at Vatican Council II.
Whenever populist effects tip the balance towards such spontaneous decisions, the sacramental nature of the Church and its mission is obscured, even if subsequent attempts are made to justify it through the common priesthood of all believers, and to eliminate the substantial difference between it and the priesthood of sacramental ordination (Lumen Gentium 10).

Q-Are there more and more bishops and faithful expressing concern about what might happen during this Synod?

Müller-Yes, the false prophets (nebulous ideologues) who present themselves as progressives have announced that they will turn the Catholic Church into an aid organization for the 2030 Agenda. In their opinion, only a Church without Christ fits into a world without God. Many young people returned from Lisbon disappointed that the focus was no longer on salvation in Christ, but on a worldly doctrine of salvation. Apparently, there are even bishops who no longer believe in God as the origin and end of man and the Savior of the world, but who, in a pan-naturalistic or pantheistic way, consider the so-called Mother Earth as the beginning of existence, and climate neutrality as the goal of planet earth.

 

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Daily Rome Shot 793

Posted on 14 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

They saw the Synod (“walking together”) list.

Welcome new registrant:

Chatty CAThy

Meanwhile, black (Vishy Anand) tries for a King walk to the other side.  Ooops.  White to move and mate in three.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Your use of my Amazon affiliate link is a major part of my income. It helps to pay for insurance, groceries, everything. Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance.  US HERE – UK HERE

Since today is Exaltation of the Cross, I remind you of the marvelous recording of the Tenebrae Responses by the Benedictine Nuns of Gower Abbey. Wow.

Tenebrae at Ephesus

US HERE – UK HERE

Arguably, the most beautiful chants of the entire liturgical year.

The Speed Chess tournament: yesterday Wesley So defeated Alireza Firouzja in a nail biter. Wesley was way our in front after the 90 minutes of 5+1. Firouzja caught up in 60 of 3+1 and 30 of 1+1. After tie breaks they went to Armageddon and Wesley did it. 4 hours. 32 games. There was an amazing move. Entire match video HERE.

Today, Ian Nepomniachtchi v. Arjun Erigaisi.  Should be a blast. Also, in Berlin, the Armageddon Grand Finale begins today 19:00 CEST (13h EDT). HERE

BTW… today happens to be a very lean day for donations, for this 14th day of the month.  Please consider signing up?  There are various ways, such as Zelle, Venmo and Wise, but this one works well. A few more on this day would brighten things up considerably.


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Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ, leaves La Civiltà Cattolica to become “Under-Secretary” at Dicastery for Culture and Education

Posted on 14 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

La Civiltà Cattolica is a Jesuit run, Secretariat of State approved journal with semi-official status.   Spadaro has been at LCC for 25 years, 12 as director.

The “Dicastery” – that’s what Congregations are now called.  All offices of the Curia were/are in a sense “dicasteries”, but the titles are formalized now.  The Congregation for Catholic Education (and what a great job they did) was merged with the Pontifical Council for Culture (such accomplishments!) to form one Dicastery.   The Council was, however, the overseer of the Vatican Cricket Team.  Not sure how they are doing.

The new head of La Civiltà Cattolica is another Jesuit, the rector of the Gregorian University, Fr Nuno da Silva Gonçalves, SJ.

During his time at LCC, Spadaro co-authored with a protestant Miguel Figueroa one of the craziest things we’ve ever seen for which he owes virtually every American an apology: “Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism: A Surprising Ecumenism”.  In effect:  Evangelicals and Catholic are haters, that is, that their social/political alliance is really an “ecumenism of hate”.  More HERE

So, off he goes to be Under-Secretary, a position whence he will be able to report all the inner doings of the Dicastery to Francis.

There was a time when we couldn’t see anything newsy about Rome without seeing Spadaro in it.  Then he sort of faded, or was shoved, into the background.  He remerged, made a real splash, and is now off to a new job, so near and yet so far from Casa Santa Marta.

It is interesting that this appointment come so quickly after Spadaro’s blasphemous sermon/article about the Lord and the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15. HERE

Il Messaggero opines that this new position will still allow Spadaro to travel with the papal entourage and transcribe every precious and greatly anticipated gab session with local Jesuits along the way. The article relates many and various weird things Spadaro has gotten into in his years at LCC, a journal which historically was the conscious consummation of intellect and diplomacy.

I wonder if Spadaro will still have the time to maintain his website about Pier Antonio Tondelli.

 

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14 September: Exaltation of the Cross and Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Posted on 14 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, is also the anniversary of the 2007 Summorum Pontificum going into effect.  This Motu Proprio – the Emancipation Proclamation for the faithful who desire the Vetus Ordo – was a keystone in Pope Benedict XVI’s program – I think it was a meditated program – for the renewal of Catholic identity and the life of the Church.

We are our rites.

Ratzinger/Benedict knew that the artificially cobbled up and brutally imposed post-Conciliar Novus Ordo interrupted the sacred worship of the Church without which we cannot fulfill the virtue of Religion.

If the virtue of Religion is absent, disorders in the Church will result.  Change the way we pray and the way we believe and live will, over time, change.

Since the Eucharist – that is, the Sacrament Itself and its celebration which is Holy Mass – is the “source and summit” of our Catholic identity and life, change the Mass and you cause massive waves in the Church.  Do it in a discordant way and with an artificial replacement, and the results will follow suit, as we have seen for some 50 years.

The imposition of the Novus Ordo did not only interrupt the Church’s life, it interrupted the organic development of liturgical worship, the kind that is necessary and prudent for a Church still in this vale of tears.

Correctives were and are – now more than ever before – necessary.

I think the idea of Eucharistic Congresses, etc., is great and necessary.  However, there will always be something missing if the Vetus Ordo is not also celebrated.

Hence, even after its seeming suppression Summorum Pontificum was and is still of monumental importance for the life of the Church today.

This is because, from 2007 until the attempts to crush the faithful who want the Vetus Ordo began in earnest, many thousands of committed Catholics learned of this way of prayer from our forebears.  Also, the internet and entrepreneurial ventures put all the tools people needed into their hands swiftly and economically.

In the 80’s and 90’s it was near impossible to find a Missale Romanum or information about what to do.  Now… this is no longer a problem.  It’s a wholly new landscape, and not one entirely controlled by modernists.

There will be more acts of persecution wrapped in weasel words and the faux-pastoral clucking and lisping about unity.

We must get through them with charity and our jaws set against the next pastoral uppercut.   And we can see more and more the vicious determination of powerful figures to cut down in the Church the people who want the Traditional Latin Mass.

Pressing and widespread problems plague the Church right now.  Hence it is hard to square the fury they’re applying to what they call a tiny fraction of the world’s Catholics.  It proves that the Vetus Ordo is of key importance.  They must feel threatened by something of which the Mass is for them a terrifying reminder

Stay strong and resolved and cheerful even as those who should be aiding you turn on you or, in cowardice, buckle.   What we needed to do before, we need to keep doing now.  Be the first in parishes to volunteer, especially involving works of mercy.  Make sure you know well your Faith and that you are not static, but in motion forward, always reviewing and learning more.  Show your joy in being Catholic and traditional.  Be inviting to others.

Never underestimate the power of an invitation.

All this to honor and to exalt the Cross.

Thank you, Benedict XVI, for such a great gift to the Church.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Benedict XVI, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices |
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Thursday 14 September – a good menu choice – BASIL PESTO

Posted on 13 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

14 September is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.  There is a strong association of this feast with the wonderful herb Basil, Ocimum basilicum, which is named from the Greek word for “king… basileos”.

May I suggest for supper tonight pasta with basil pesto?  You can make it yourself, fresh if you have lots of basil leaves of you can simply buy some.  Pasta and basil pesto with a crisp Sauvignon blanc or Sancerre.

  • A few handfuls of basil leaves, the younger the better.
  • Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Sardo, grated.  Or just a lot of Parmigiano.
  • Cloves of garlic, hopefully not the weak-ass stuff you get in these USA
  • Pine nuts.. you can, or not, toast them.
  • Olive oil

Method 1: Put them into a processor and proceed.

Method 2: Put them into a large mortar and grind them together with a pestle (“pestare” means “crush”).

The traditional way takes elbow grease and patience.

Quality of the ingredients affects the outcome, especially with something like this.

What pasta to get?  Since the pasta is a major part of the dish, it should be good quality.   Bronze cut is preferred.  For the shape, I suggest something that has little ridges that can pick up the pesto.   Have some fun and get some cavatappi!  They look like corkscrews and they have ridges.  Of course there gnocchi are always gnice.  My experience is, however, is that gnocchi are like the little girl in the Wadsworth poem:

There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.

Thus, gnocchi.

Whatever you do, try to have the meal with others. Pray before your meals and offer also a thanksgiving afterward, together with the “Eternal Rest” prayer for those who have died.

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From “The Private Diary of Bishop F. Atticus McButterpants” – 23-09-12 – Request that relic of St. Jude’s Arm be brought to Diocese of Libville

Posted on 13 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

EDITOR’s NOTE: There is a reference to an USA Today article about the Relic of the Arm of St. Jude the Apostle, which is presently being brought to parishes through the ministry of Fr. Carlos Martins of Treasures of the Church.  The USA Today article is: HERE.  +F.Atticus really did read it, it seems.

My friend Fr. Martin’s tells me of a reported miracle.

September 12, 2023

Dear Diary,

I got a letter yesterday from Fr. Simple at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Bent-Straight. It seems Rome has sent the “arm” of St. Jude the Apostle to America. Only God knows why.  Is it because Rome thinks America’s an “impossible cause”?  That’s what Jude’s famous for, right?   Is the Nuncio behind this?

Anyway, Simple’s asking for permission to host the ghastly thing at his parish. I rolled my eyes so much I almost choked on the martini olive I was chewing. Why would anyone have anything to do with old, nasty bones? Aren’t we supposed to bury the dead? Isn’t that one of the works of glory?  Fr. must really want this thing. He sent along a bottle of Remy Martin XO with his letter. How does he know I love the stuff?  I know he’s bribing me. Then again, being bribed is part of a bishop’s perks. It’s his job to discern which bribes God wants him to take. And that is easier said than done.

Why would Simple want to celebrate the bones of the dead?  The only bone I want to see is the one sticking out of a tomahawk steak.  Maybe a rack of ribs too.

Simple was part of the first batch of seminarians I ordained twelve years ago. Much too serious a guy.  For his first assignment, I placed him with my wonderful liturgist, Fr. Campy, to loosen him up. Campy, now there’s a happy priest. The happiest.  Lots of musical instruments at his Masses, lot of dancing, and clapping.  Makes people happy. Plen di joy as the Mexican’s say.  Campy tried his best with Simple, but admitted that no matter how hard he tried, Simple could not be reached.  I’m told he even uses Latin.

Anyway, Fr. Tommy turned on my computer this morning and showed my the article about the arm’s tour in USA Today. There’s stories about a HEALING on day one of the tour.

If I allow the relics here, some reporter will call and ask for a statement about what I hope to achieve with it. Relics ended with Vatican II thank God!  I’ll never put relics in altars anymore. Good riddance. They gross me out. Not that I’m consecrating lots of altars these days.  More like taking them out!

I was going to tell Simple no, absolutely not. Relics have no place in the Church.
But, it’s like he read my mind or something. Today, Simple sent another request along with a box of Padrón 80 years maduro cigars. A box! These suckers are like $40 a stick! I can just see Dozer’s face when I pull one out and light it in front of him. He’ll gag on his Macanudo.  I know Simple’s playing dirty. Still, I suppose I could give him this one. He did spend a small fortune on these gifts, and seeing Dozer gag on a cheap stogie is delightful.

I can just see Simple’s face light up when I say yes.  Could pay off in the future, too.   He’ll owe me one, big time.   Orrr… if I hold out, maybe he send more stuff and I could pass it along to the Nuncio….  Complicated.  Bones … so disgusting.

Will I be expected to go?  I hate to create work, but I better tell Tommy to make sure my schedule is full whatever day that is on the other side of the diocese.

Hey!  Maybe Jude will fill in?

Must ask Tommy if the bone is going to Black Duck.

 

Posted in Diary of Bp. McButterpants | Tagged , , ,
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Daily Rome Shot 792

Posted on 13 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Welcome registrants:

Wikman
Muffy

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE  These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon, but, once in and browsing or searching, Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.

Great beer from the Benedictine monks in Norcia Italy. Help monks. Enjoy great beer. Win. Win.

Meanwhile, white to move. Mate in 2.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

2023 Chess.com Speed Chess Championship is on. Yesterday Fabi ousted Nodirbek. He will now play Hikaru in the Quarterfinals. MLV beat Gukesh and Magnus beat Vidit. Today, Alireza Firouza v. Wesley So. Should be great. Good commentary and announcing in the videos by GMs Daniel Naroditsky and Robert Hess. Daniel “Danya” gets a little squeaky when excited and the time rushes as the games get into hyper-bullet mode are like fast-paced hockey. For my part, I played OTB yesterday and won two games. The against a strong player in the club with a weird style, very defensive. It’s like trying to corner a cat. The second against one the club’s strongest. We usually have long battles, 40-50 moves… except when we don’t. Yesterday’s was a real slug fest. If I can get the game entered into the engine today for some analysis maybe I’ll share some of it.

3 3/4″ Commander Staunton Chess Set – Hurry! Only 279 left! Frankly, I don’t know how that works, because you can pick the color of the board and the colors of the pieces and the color of the optional carrying bag. 10% off with code FATHERZ10

I chose black and natural on a green vinyl board.  Could be some fun combos.

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Now THAT’S what I call “concelebration”!

Posted on 13 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Amazing.

Posted in Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood |
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Ed Pentin, the best working Vaticanista in Rome, has a must read post at his blog by José Antonio Ureta

Posted on 12 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Ed Pentin, the best working Vaticanista in Rome, has at his blog a piece in English by José Antonio Ureta.

José Antonio Ureta is the co-author of The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box: 100 Questions & Answers. This book as lately caused a real stir among the fanatical left and the papalotrous. In 2018, he authored Pope Francis’s Paradigm Shift: Continuity or Rupture in the Mission of the Church? An Assessment of His Pontificate’s First Five Years.

The title of Pentin’s entry:

Questioning Pope Francis’ Evolving Doctrine and Morals Is Neither Ideology nor Backwardness, but Standing Firm in the Faith by José Antonio Ureta

He presents various propositions advanced by the modernists today and deconstructs them.

Very helpful.

It’ll take a little patience. Read it. This is part of your “armoring up” for the fight ahead.

As a commentatrix said the other day, “JOAN UP!”

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
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A message from Bp. Strickland

Posted on 12 September 2023 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Bp. Strickland, by all accounts, spends a good portion of time before the Blessed Sacrament every day.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Be The Maquis, Semper Paratus | Tagged
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