Your Good News

It has been some time since I’ve asked you what’s going on.  Do you have good news?

I can start out with a couple items of lighter fare.

I just learned of a Ham Radio net that operates on weekends in honor of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was also an operator, SP3RN.  HERE  A priest here in Madison has a 1st class relic of St. Maximilian. Exceedingly rare.  I should borrow it and have it present perhaps for a special event.  That could be interesting.

Next, a priest friend sent this the other day.  It made me audibly laugh.

It’s that precise balance of grim and absurd.  Now… just try to resist it…

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

As far as good news is concerned, I received word that Gammarelli is shipping stuff on 12 June.  Alas, I’ll be on the road when it arrives.  The shipment should include the chasubles for the new “Morlino Set” (thanks especially to GG for the substantial donation) personalized with the coat-of-arms of yours truly and also Fr. Richard Heilman (who happens to be the priest with the relic of St. Maximilian).

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Cardinals and Bishops issue a “Declaration of Truths” intended to “aid” the Supreme Pontiff

A small group including Card. Burke and Bp. Schneider have issued a Declaration of Truths comprising some 40 paragraphs over 8-pages under various subheadings, and have also issued an Explanatory note comprising some 1300 words and 2 single spaced pages.

Declaration of Truths

Declaration of Truths Explanatory Note

From the Explanatory Note:

A common voice of the Shepherds and the faithful through a precise declaration of the truths will be without any doubt an efficient means of a fraternal and filial aid for the Supreme Pontiff in the current extraordinary situation of a general doctrinal confusion and disorientation in the life of the Church.

From the Declaration:

By way of contrast… or perhaps underscoring… you might also have a look at Denziger-Bergoglio.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
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Octave of Pentecost PODCAzTs

Some 11 years ago, I made a series of PODCAzTs for the Octave of Pentecost.   My technical  abilities have improved a little since then, and I seem to have had a little more energy, but they aren’t bad.

So, these are from 2008… Benedict XVI was Pope.

1. Pentecost Monday: PODCAzT 56: Octaves – Fr. Z rants & Augustine on Pentecost
2. Pentecost Tuesday: PODCAzT 57: John Paul II on the unforgivable sin; Our Lady of Fatima and the vision of Hell
3. Pentecost Wednesday:PODCAzT 58: Ember Days; Chrysostom on St. Matthias; Prayer to the Holy Spirit
4. Pentecost Thursday: PODCAzT 59: Leo the Great on Pentecost fasting; Benedict XVI’s sermon for Pentecost Sunday
5. Pentecost Friday: PODCAzT 60: Pentecost customs; St. Ambrose on the dew of the Holy Spirit
6. Pentecost Saturday: PODCAzT 61: Pope Leo I on a post-Pentecost weekday; Fr. Z rambles not quite aimlessly for a while

 

 

 

 

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Great concelebration photos during Chartres Pentecost Pilgrimage

During my last Rome visit I posted a photo of real concelebration: three priests at the same time saying their Masses at three altars in the nave of a Roman church.

Today I found a great series of pics at Messa in latino, a site in Italian.  There are photos of priests lined up saying Masses at various altars on the Chartres Pilgrimage.

This is for your Just Too Cool file.

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Your Pentecost Sunday Sermon Notes

Was there a good point made in the Holy Mass you heard to fulfill your Pentecost Sunday obligation?

Let us know.

I spoke about the ongoing role of the sacrament of confirmation in Christian life.

There were a couple things which thoroughly delighted me today and underscored the daft claims of adults that Latin is to hard, that reverent liturgy is too difficult.

First, at end of Mass and before we sang the Veni Sancte Spiritus (for the indulgence), at the intonation of the Regina Caeli, you could hear a bunch of little, and I mean little, kids piping up.

The next delightful thing was my meeting young “Luke” again.  Luke is – nearing maybe 3?… perhaps that’s a little generous, but he’s pushing 28.  Today, Luke wanted to demonstrate his liturgical skills.  Solemnly swinging his bright blue toy binoculars by their neck strap, he put his hand quite properly on his breast, made a correct genuflection – better than most adults – and then, with a nod of his head, incensed me… in the sense of incense, of course.  I was quite impressed while I was incensed.  He’s got it, this one.  And it seems that he will be named after a holy man raised to the altar’s after all, in the wake of the last court battle.

Alas, I didn’t have my phone with its video.  Rats.

So, Fr. Z kudos to Luke, who get’s it.

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CQ CQ CQ Ham Radio Saturday: DXing and Vatican call sighting, and Vatican Radio LATIN news program

I have had some success making DX contacts recently.  Here’s a shot of my log from yesterday.

Sometimes when it is hard to copy the callsign letters, some hams will veer away from the standard NATO alphabet and use other words, even forming a catchy phrase.  I’ve been thinking about what I might use for W9FRZ.. the FRZ being the focus.

“Fast Running Zebra”
“Fiercely Religious Zealot”
“Foul Rotting Zombie”

all come to mind.

Maybe not so much that last one.

And yesterday, using a spotter, I spotted the Vatican callsign.  Someone activated the station, it seems, at the NAC.   HV4NAC the frequency was in the CW range.

I have been desirous of firing that station up myself for a special event when in Rome.  I’ll be in Rome, I think, for most of October.

Also, concerning the Vatican and radio, Vatican Radio will have a program in Latin each week: HERE  This starts TODAY, 8 June.   It will be broadcast and will be available via podcast.

It is, so far, on Channel 5 at 1030 UTC (0530 CDT)

Lastly, my usual information…

  • I’m calling CQ for a good graphic artist who might design an appropriate logo for ZedNet.  Maybe something with… lightning bolts against ones and zeros. I dunno.  I’m not creative that way.
  • Regarding ZedNet and DMR operation, I refer to you THIS.
  • I created a page for the List of YOUR callsigns.  HERE  Chime in or drop me a note if your call doesn’t appear in the list.

It would be great for more of you blog reading Catholic hams to get involved with ZedNet.

UPDATE:

I searched on Vatican Radio and found the first installments in Latin.

And in Italian what they are doing…

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WDTPRS – Vigil of Pentecost (1962MR): from gerbils to lions

Can you believe that today is already the Vigil of Pentecost?

COLLECT (1962MR):

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut claritatis tuae super nos splendor effulgeat; et lux tuae lucis corda eorum, qui per gratiam tuam renati sunt, Sancti Spiritus illustratione confirmet.

Splendor and claritas are related to the concept of glory and of light. Illustratio is a technical term from ancient rhetoric.  It is a “vivid representation” which, as it were, sheds light on the matter being discussed.  It is an accurate rendering that echoes the reality of the original meant to make an impression, meant to make you see with your mind’s eye what is being described.  How, this word has as its root yet another word for “light”.

Splendor… claritas… lux 2x… illustratio…

Confirmo is “to strengthen, establish”, or “to confirm” in the sense of give assurance, “to assert as true”.  Again, there is a rhetorical or forensic overtone.

A TRANSLATION:

Grant, we beseech You, Almighty God, that the brightness of Your glory may shine upon us, and that the light of Your light may, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, strengthen the minds of those who are reborn through Your grace.

LITERAL VERSION:

Grant, we implore, Almighty God, that the splendor of your glory shine forth upon us; and by the vivid light-shedding of the Holy Spirit may the light of Your light confirm the hearts of those who were reborn by Your grace.

Light-hearted and ponderous.

A couple points to consider.

When Moses emerged from the cloud of the presence of God his face was so bright that it had to be covered with a veil.  It was too bright to look at directly.  God’s presence imparted to Moses something of its glory and Moses was transformed.

How much more will be be transformed when glorious risen in heaven and in the presence of God?

The rhetorical overtones of the vocabulary are probably not a coincidence.  Rhetoric is used to move and to persuade and to edify.  We use the words, the representations of a message we desire to impart to our listeners so that their minds and wills are conformed to the message.

Rhetoric is carried out mainly in the public square, the forum.  It is “forensic“.

The Apostles, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, are changed from men hiding in their upper room to powerful preachers in the public square.

Like gerbils one day.  Like lions the next.

They were “confirmed”.  Their words and lives became an illustratio which pointed to the splendor of the truth.

Have you been confirmed?  Do you consider your confirmed character when you are faced with challenges and hard decisions or temptations?  You have been given a sacrament with effects.  Call upon the graces that the sacrament extends.

Also… GO TO CONFESSION if you are not in the state of grace.

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“Why should I send somebody in my place to be killed?”

At the site of the Knights of Columbus (bad choice about the uniforms, men, very) magazine, Columbus, there is a seriously moving account of D-Day and the storming of the beaches of Normandy. HERE

A sample…

[…]

Then the coxswain said, “DeVita, drop the ramp.” I didn’t hear him because of the roar of the guns and the two big diesel engines in the back of the boat.

Then he yelled louder, “DeVita, drop the ramp!” For a few seconds I froze, because I knew when I dropped that ramp, the machine gun bullets will come into the boat.

And then for the third time he yelled, “G— d— it, DeVita! Drop the f— ramp!” I dropped the ramp and the bullets that were hitting the ramp came into the boat. About 15 or 16 GIs died immediately; many were wounded, some very seriously.

Everybody thinks when you go to die, you pray to God. But when you’re about to die, the only word that comes out of your mouth is, “Mama! Mama!” That’s what they were saying.

I’m in the back of the boat, where the handle was to lower and raise the ramp, so I actually had some protection. The troops who died in front of me were absorbing the bullets that probably would have hit me.

Near me were two stragglers, two young boys. One took a round in the belly, but somehow he survived that day. He was very lucky. The second kid had red hair and was maybe a foot away from me. The machine gun took his helmet and part of his head off. He was not so lucky.

He was screaming, “Help me! Help me!” But I couldn’t help him. He fell at my feet, and I didn’t know what to do. I had no morphine. The only thing I had in my possession was the Lord’s Prayer. I started praying over him, and when he heard the words, it seemed to calm him. Then I reached down and squeezed his hand because I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone. And then he squeezed my hand a little bit, and he died. He was just a little boy. Just a little boy.

[…]

And…

[…]

When we got to our ship, I had a big decision to make. Do I go back? And I said to myself, “Why should I send somebody in my place to be killed?” So I went back with the second wave.

Altogether, I made 15 trips to the beach.

[…]

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DAY 9 – Novena of Prayer to the Holy Spirit – AUDIO

Let us, upon our knees, pray in a special way to God the Holy Spirit during this time between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost.

This is one way to pray.  I invite the readership to join in.

MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA

Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is said, followed by 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 7 Glory be to the Father, followed by the Act of Consecration and the Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

NINTH DAY OF THE NOVENA

Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee Adore,
in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend;
Give Them Comfort when they die;
Give them Life with Thee on high;
Give them joys which never end. Amen

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.

Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

(Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts)

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into Heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.

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DAY 8 – Novena of Prayer to the Holy Spirit – AUDIO

Let us, upon our knees, pray in a special way to God the Holy Spirit during this time between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost.

This is one way to pray.  I invite the readership to join in.

MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA

Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is said, followed by 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 7 Glory be to the Father, followed by the Act of Consecration and the Prayer for the Seven Gifts.

EIGHTH DAY OF THE NOVENA

Bend the stubborn heart and will,
melt the frozen, warm the chill.
Guide the steps that go astray!

Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written “all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands.” It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Saviour: “Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

(Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts)

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into Heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.

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