Hate on the Church media feeding frenzy

Posted on 19 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Yes, we must attend to earthly justice, but when I watch what is happening in both Kansas City and my native place of St. Paul and Minneapolis, I wonder about the true motives of the newsies.  Regarding St. Paul, I am pretty sure I know what the lawyers are doing, and at least some of the LEOs.

It reminds me of this:

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Woe to those who raise their hands against the Lord’s anointed.  If there is a shred of greed or ill-will in what those lawyers and newsies are doing, I wouldn’t want to be them on the day of reckoning.  God cannot be fooled.

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , ,
7 Comments

Pope Francis: GO TO CONFESSION!

Posted on 19 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

What is it I have been shouting?

From CNA:

Pope: Be courageous, go to confession

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2014 / 04:57 am (CNA).- During his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis encouraged the pilgrims filling St. Peter’s Square to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. [aka Sacrament of Penance]

“Everyone say to himself: ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ And if it has been a long time, don’t lose another day! Go, the priest will be good. And Jesus, (will be) there, and Jesus is better than the priests – Jesus receives you. He will receive you with so much love! Be courageous, and go to confession,” urged the Pope on Feb. 19. [In some ways, many of us who lean to the traditional can be a little disappointed with Pope Francis’ style (but not so much in the substances when we drill in).  BUT… he speaks about confession and the devil and various other things more often than previous Pontiff’s, and in a direct, appealing way.  Gotta give him that!]

Acknowledging a popular objection to the sacrament, Pope Francis noted, “someone can say, ‘I confess my sins only to God.’ Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and say your sins. But our sins are also against our brothers, against the Church. This is is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness of the Church and of our brothers, in the person of the priest.” [Do I hear an “Amen!”?]

“While the celebration of the sacrament is personal, it is rooted in the universality of the Church,” which “accompanies us on the path of conversion,” he explained.

“Forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves,” cautioned the Pope. “One asks forgiveness, one asks it of another person, and in confession, we ask forgiveness from Jesus.”

“Forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who showers us with mercy and grace that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ crucified and risen.”

The Pontiff went on to recognize that many people feel ashamed at the idea of confessing their sins and might say, “but Father, I am embarrased!” [See Tip #11, HERE]

“Even embarrassment is good. It’s healthy to have a bit of shame… it does us good, because it makes us more humble.”

“Don’t be afraid of confession,” Pope Francis stressed. “When someone is in line for confession he feels all these things – even shame – but then, when he finishes confessing, he leaves (feeling) free, great, beautiful, forgiven, clean, happy.”

“The sacrament of reconciliation is a sacrament of healing,” he pointed out.

“When I go to confession, […it is the Pope speaking…] it’s for healing: healing the soul, healing the heart because of something that I did to make it unwell.”

The Pope pointed to the biblical story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man, which expresses the “profound link” between “forgiveness and healing,” since “the Lord Jesus is revealed at the same time as the physician of soul and body.”

He also recounted the parable of the prodigal son, who sought his father’s forgiveness and was welcomed home with open arms.

“But I say to you,” he stressed to the many pilgrims, “every time we go to confession, God embraces us.”

GO TO CONFESSION!

Your Excellencies?  Fathers?

Is it time to start preaching about this sacrament?

Readers, has it been a long time?  Are you nervous?

It is good to follow a regular format for confession. You might prepare for your confession with a good Examination of Conscience. You can find some good things here. Fr. Finigan made a useful confession pamphlet.

You should, indeed, try to confess all your mortal sins in kind and number whenever you go to confession. However, since it has been a very long time for you, and we humans just can’t remember everything, do your best, perhaps giving an indication of frequency over some period of time (month, year) while confessing those low points you do remember clearly. Just do your best. If you do your best, ALL your sins will be forgiven, whether you could remember them all or not. Then, in the future, you can be more precise when going to confession regularly.

You can always tell the priest it has been a long time and you could use some help.

Also, down the line, you might look at my 20 Tips.

Finally, just go!  You’ll be more than fine.

Do your best and God does the rest.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Francis, GO TO CONFESSION, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , ,
32 Comments

Challenge public homosexual nudity? You’re a “homophobic a**hole”, you “outrageous bigot”, you!

Posted on 18 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Homosexualists work incessantly in every sphere of life to desensitize people, especially the young, to their own particular proclivities.

So, when a school trustee suggested that it was wrong for homosexualists to parade about nude – literally parade – he was blasted with now familiar brutality.

From LifeNews:

Toronto school trustee called ‘homophobic’ for questioning nudity at ‘family friendly’ Pride parade

TORONTO, February 17, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Homosexual activists have slammed him as a ‘homophobic a**hole’ and an ‘outrageous bigot,’ but Toronto District School Board trustee Sam Sotiropoulos says that he’s just concerned about children viewing illegal public nudity at the city’s annual Pride parade. [The very fact that there is a Pride parade is appalling.]

Sotiropoulos created a firestorm on Twitter last week after he tweeted the Toronto Police force asking if it would enforce Canadian law against public nudity.

“As #TDSB participation raises questions of age-appropriateness, do you enforce Canada’s public nudity laws at Pride?” he asked.

Sotiropoulos, who says he has nothing against “LGBTQ” people and says he would attend the Pride parade if invited, was immediately accused on twitter of insulting and hating gays and was labeled “homophobic.” [Because that is what they do.  When they say, for example, that all they want is to be allowed to do what others do (i.e., marry, etc.) it’s a lie.  They have far-reaching objectives.  Along the line is, of course, lowering or elimination of age restrictions.]

“Interesting to remark how readily those who don’t want to be labelled cast labels and slander at others,” Sotiropoulos responded. “To think, these are the folks who are ‘inclusive’?! I’d say, ‘Shame on you,’ but there’s no suggestion they’d understand what it is.” [They understand all too well what it is.  But they reject it.  You are the enemy and you must be crushed.]

Under Canada’s Criminal Code it is illegal to be nude in a “public place.” Section 174 states that a person who is “so clad as to offend against public decency or order” is “guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.”

Sotiropoulos says that city officials have a double standard when it comes to nudity at the Pride parade.

[…]

We are going to see a lot more of this sort of thing.  Homosexualists will be relentless in bringing down moral standards in the pursuit of their agenda.  Anyone who insists on Judeo-Christian, commonsense, natural law morality will be savagely attacked with the violence that is inherent in their projects.

 

Posted in Pò sì jiù, Sin That Cries To Heaven, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
26 Comments

Confusion about the term “Latin Mass”

Posted on 18 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have been going on for YEARS – nay, rather, DECADES –  now about how trads and others should NOT use the term “Latin Mass”, just by itself, to describe Mass in the Extraordinary Form, the Usus Antiquior, the Pian Rite, etc.

“Latin Mass” can refer to the Ordinary Form or the Extraordinary Form.

I know that this is common.  I know that there is even a fine Latin Mass Society in England, which has been doing yeoman’s work for decades.

Look at this confusing article – with a couple contributors, and I suspect language problems – and you will see why in journalism and even from a prelate, we can get confusion.

I am prompted to ask, does anyone have any idea what anything means or people are saying anymore?

This is from CNA.

Vatican City, Feb 18, 2014 / 12:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During a recent interview, Archbishop Arthur Roche [Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, former head of ICEL, former Bishop of Leeds] spoke on the significance of the Traditional Latin Mass, [did he?] explaining that the Mass nourishes us, and that the special rite brings us together in a unique way.

“It’s a common language, [Latin… right? I’ll bet the question had to do with “Latin Mass”… and he heard “Mass in Latin” when the question was about the TLM… keep reading…] as it were, that brings us together, that holds us together,” the archbishop noted during a Feb. 13 interview with CNA, adding that “the Latin Mass…is a beautiful expression of the worship of God.” [Indeed.]

Archbishop Arthur Roche is the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, and is helping to organize a special conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s apostolic constitution “Sacrosanctum Concilium.” [Just the other day, CNS put out a snarky tweet that the conference wasn’t going to be about the Extraordinary Form.]

[…]

Speaking of the Traditional Latin Mass, [oh?] the archbishop highlighted that it “will always be a part of the Roman rite” because it maintains “the language in which the Roman rite is written – whether it be the ordinary or indeed the extraordinary form.” [I am pretty sure he was talking about Mass in the Latin language, not the TLM.]

“It is the way in which the Church expresses itself,” he explained, observing how there has been an increase in use of Gregorian chant during Mass, “especially at international events.”

Drawing attention to the special international reach of the city of Rome, Archbishop Roche went on to say that “people from throughout the world, from every continent and from the different hemispheres, come together to share Mass and are joined together in that common expression of the singing of the Latin part of the Mass.” [He is talking about the Latin, not the Form.]

Turning his attention to Pope Francis take on the rite, the archbishop explained that “the Pope hasn’t expressed anything about the extraordinary form nor in fact about the ordinary form either.” [Jesuits are not, in general, much interested in liturgy.]

[…]

Read the rest there.

People, reconsider your use of “Latin Mass” to describe the older, traditional form.  The Novus Ordo is – according to the will of the Council Fathers – to be in Latin as well.  Mass celebrated in Latin in the Novus Ordo is “Latin Mass”.  Let’s be clear.  I think this dodgy term produced a confused article.

Also, the differences between the two Forms (or “Rites, as I think) are even more manifest when both Forms are in Latin, because – when side by side – you see how the changes to the texts reveal the change in the theology.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Drill | Tagged , , , ,
37 Comments

POLLS: What Eucharistic Prayer do you usually hear?

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In view of this post over at Liturgical Notes, here are a  couple Fr Z POLLS.

At Ordinary Form Mass on Sundays and holy days...

View Results

At Ordinary Form Mass on Sundays and holy days

View Results

 

Posted in Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, POLLS | Tagged ,
39 Comments

Pope Francis’ remarks about Extraordinary Form and people who want it

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Pope Francis allegedly made some negative comments about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and those who desire it.

My comments, below.

From Creative Minority Report:

Pope Francis has made what can only be called disparaging comments about the Traditional Latin Mass and its adherents.

Rorate Caeli reports that the Pope made comments to a Czech Bishop during his ad limina visit those who value and esteem the extraordinary form of the liturgy are merely caught up in a momentary fashion and thus as Pope he does not need to pay attention to them. Yup.

[Abp. Jan Graubner speaks:] When we were discussing those who are fond of the ancient liturgy and wish to return to it, it was evident that the Pope speaks with great affection, attention, and sensitivity for all in order not to hurt anyone. However, he made a quite strong statement when he said that he understands when the old generation returns to what it experienced, but that he cannot understand the younger generation wishing to return to it. “When I search more thoroughly – the Pope said – I find that it is rather a kind of fashion [in Czech: ‘móda’, Italian ‘moda’]. [Actually, a better rendering of “moda” here is “fad”.] And if it is a fashion [fad], therefore it is a matter that does not need that much attention. It is just necessary to show some patience and kindness to people who are addicted to a certain fashion. But I consider greatly important to go deep into things, because if we do not go deep, no liturgical form, this or that one, can save us.” [Go deep.   What does that mean?]

Besides being completely wrong, that the Pope is so disrespectful of the reasonable desires of so many good and faithful Catholics it is staggering in its coarseness and dismissiveness.

Not to mention, such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the attitudes and pronouncement of his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

I know that I have probably misinterpreted our humble Pope’s meaning and that the problem is me. For sure, the Pope seems to think that I am the problem. Please forgive me, I only speak Promethean. [ROFL!]

I wasn’t going to write on this, but my email box is filling up.

First, this is the third hand report of something that the Pope might have said.

There is an ad limina audience.  The Czech prelate says he chatted with the Pope for a bit.  Fine.  The Czech talks to Vatican Radio and recounts this stuff.  Maybe he does so accurately, maybe he doesn’t.  Vatican Radio then ineptly renders it and puts it around.

Bottom line: don’t worry about third hand accounts of informal, off-the-cuff remarks about the TLM.   If the Pope wants to abrogate Summorum Pontificum, he’ll do it in the proper, juridical way.

And does it surprise anyone that a Jesuit doesn’t quite get the whole traditional liturgy thing?

The Pope’s comments change nothing.

Even if we accept that Francis said these things, even if we accept that maybe Francis doesn’t care about the TLM or doesn’t get people who want it, who cares?  The provisions of Summorum Pontificum stand.

Therefore,…

Do not waiver.

Do not slow down.

Do not be downhearted.

Do not relent.

Do not budge.

Do not stop working.

We need more and more celebrations of the older form of Holy Mass in more and more places by more and more priests.

Keep at it.  Get those resources to priests.  Pay any price, offer any help, go the extra mile.

We shall not give up any ground.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
56 Comments

Girl Scouts threaten LifeNews which reported connection to Planned Parenthood

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

On the face of it, being threatened by Girl Scouts does sound like much.  But, think it through: they can be mean!

This makes you want to toss your cookies, from LifeNews:

Girl Scouts USA Threatens LifeNews After Reporting Its Link to Planned Parenthood

During the last two weeks, LifeNews has brought international attention to the link between the Girl Scouts and the Planned Parenthood abortion business and the national boycott of Girl Scouts cookies sponsored by pro-life groups.

The pro-life movement has been concerned for a number of years about the ties between the Girl Scouts and the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Although the Girl Scout organization maintains that it takes “no position” on the issue of abortion, parents, churches, and pro-life activists have long complained of the pro-abortion slant of the Girl Scouts’ resources, role models, and affiliations.

After a series of articles on the boycott and the Girl Scouts-Planned Parenthood link, that featured the Girl Scouts logo to identify the organization, Brian Crawford, an executive with Girl Scouts USA, wrote LifeNews a scathing letter attempting to intimidate us into stopping our reporting on their link and to no longer use their logo or image to identify them as we bring attention to their support for the nation’s biggest abortion business.

In his letter Crawford again denied any connection to Planned Parenthood and he complained about LifeNews.com “articles that outline alleged ties to Planned Parenthood,” saying “GSUSA has an obligation to protect the Girl Scout name.”

“Girl Scouts of the USA does not have a partnership or any relationship with Planned Parenthood and does not plan to initiate one,” he claimed.

The letter “demands” that LifeNews no longer identify the Girl Scouts as we report on its link to the abortion company that does approximately one-third of the abortions in the United States. The GSUSA letter lists a date by which LifeNews must guarantee the Girl Scouts it “will comply with our demand.”

However, the links between the Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood are longstanding, with a Girl Scouts CEO and individual troops admitting as much.

Fresh on the heels of Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) sharing a recommendation for pro-abortion Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis as a 2013 Woman of the Year via their official Twitter account, the organization suggested pro-abortion HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a woman “with courage, confidence, and character.”

Meanwhile, the new national spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts, Kelly Parisi, is the former spokeswoman for a pro-abortion organization — one founded by Gloria Steinem.

[…]

Read the rest over there.

 

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras, Liberals, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , ,
4 Comments

Pope Francis, Argentinian

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I would not be in the least surprised were Pope Francis to abdicate when he turns 80.  As a matter of fact, I suspect he will.

On that, I saw at Rorate something from La Nación.

The Pope renewed his civil, Argentinian identity documents… even though he is a head of state.  He obviously has a Vatican City State Passport.  Apparently the Pope wants to travel on his Argentinian passport and/or identity card.  Thus, he jumped through the loops to get them.  Well, actually, he told someone else to jump through the loops to get them.

Benedict XVI continued to be a German citizen after his election.  I suspect he still has dual citizenship, German/Vatican.  Cardinals who live in Rome are also given Vatican citizenship.

I suspect that when the Pope shows up, customs agents don’t check his passport.  So, what difference does it make?  What is this all about?  I have no idea.  I ask myself: were I elected Pope, would I renew my US Passport?  Yes, I think I would.  Would I resign the papacy? No, I don’t think I would.  But, in the realm of hypotheticals, this just about tops the list.  Heck, I won’t even make monsignor, the way things are going!

Cheer up, Holy Father! Don't look like a 'sour puss!"

 

Posted in Francis, Lighter fare | Tagged ,
8 Comments

A note on the Olympic’s most important sport

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I object to NBC.  And I object to certain aspects of their coverage of the Olympics.  I have also been on the road.  And so I haven’t been able to watch much of the only sport at the Olympics that really counts…

… CURLING.

Today, however, I found a stream that let’s me watch British coverage online.  And so I am beginning, after a long drought, to slake my Curling coverage thirst.

UPDATE:

COOL HATS

The Cube, I think its called.

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
14 Comments

Health benefits of marriage v. cohabitation

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

We all know… or should know… that we cannot lie to God.

Apparently we can’t lie to ourselves either.  God made us that way.

A priest friend in the great state of Texas sent this to me from Live Science:

Marriage is linked with numerous health benefits that simply cohabiting doesn’t seem to provide. Now, research suggests the reason why — the brain links “just” living together with a lack of commitment and can’t relax.

The new study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brains of cohabitating and married heterosexual couples, as well as same-sex couples, half of whom considered themselves married despite lacking legal recognition. [I’ll hold my fire on that… keep reading.] The findings revealed that parts of the brain are less reactive to stress when somene is with a person they consider themselves married to.
“We really pay close attention to when it’s safe to let down our guard and to outsource our stress response to our social networks,” said study researcher Jim Coan, a psychologist at the University of Virginia. [I Don’t: 5 Myths About Marriage]
The findings were unexpected, Coan added: “I’m sort of freaking myself out with this research.”

[…]

What a shock!

(That pun will be funnier once you read the whole thing.)

Posted in Just Too Cool, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged ,
6 Comments