Meme: Top 10 Surprising Things

So Adoro tagged me in some crazy meme that she thought up. Those Minnesota bloggers really are nuts or squirrels. Sorry, that was an inside joke that I am not a part of. That being said, I should probably get to this:

Top 10 things that I have done... that surprise me:

1. Graduated from Law School

2. Moved to Alaska

3. Became Catholic

4. Lived on an Island

5. Went Bear & Moose Hunting

6. Was the Editor of a Newspaper

7. Published a blog

8. Drove across the continent 3 times

9. Coached a High School Sports Team

10. Married the woman of my dreams, had a child, and lived happily ever after... (I know I am still young, but the story could end today and that would be the truth.)

I guess I am supposed to tag 5 people so here we go:

Mindy at The Devout Life
The Mom at Shoved to Them
Dan at Gun Lovin Alaskan Catholic Club
V at Sancte Pater
Swiss Miss at well... everywhere like Amentior

Help some Catholics get a new kitchen

How? All you have to do is go to AlaskaBuild and click on the VOTE NOW button at the top.

They are a Catholic family of 11 and this kitchen just will not do:

Here is what the owners have to say:

It doesn't fit our family size of 11. The floor is all crooked and pulled up, so there is no flooring. The walls are half painted and full of cracks and the pantry shelves are full of thick grease, and black mold. The grout on the countertops is black in certain areas, and the stove is chipped and burned. There are frigid drafts wafting from under the cabinets, and the plumbing leaks pitifully. The heater vent is in front of the exit door and the laundry machines are in the kitchen, making laundry days chaotic..

So take a second out of your day and help this family out.

Anchorage Blognic - Fri. Aug. 6 @ 4pm

Details for the Anchorage Blognic:

Friday, August 6th, 2010 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
°•°
Marty's New York Bagel Deli (Inside/Adjacent to):
Title Wave Books - Midtown (Website)
1360 West Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2510
•°•

There are two Title Wave Books... this is the MIDTOWN location.

As stated, we are attempting to meet in the Bagel Deli. If need be we will "spill-over" into the bookstore. (If the deli is full, no seats, etc..)
It might be easier to locate Title Wave Books so that is why we listed it.

Please comment in the Comment Box below if you have questions, comments or concerns. I will attempt to answer email or comments sometime tomorrow after 12:00pm (Noon).

Hope to see many of you there. It should be easy to find us, just look for lots of children and people speaking loudly and animated about the Catholic faith. Please come meet us for coffee, chat and Catholicism.

Bloggers Confirmed:
Joe (Me) - Defend Us in Battle
Mindy - The Devout Life
& possibly more! (I know exciting right?)

Devotions Meme

LarryD at Acts of the Apostasy tagged me with a meme asking me to list my five favorite devotions.

Here are 5 that I love:

1. The Most Holy Rosary of Our Blessed Virgin Mother
2. The St. Michael's Prayer (Short and Long version)
3. The Brown Scapular
4. Eucharistic Adoration
5. St. Joseph Novena

Now I am supposed to Tag 5 Bloggers...I don't know who has been tagged, and who hasn't so don't hate or judge my selections. I feel like this is a chain letter:

1. Dan at Gun Lovin Alaskan Catholic Club

2. Mindy at The Devout Life

3. Maggie at From the Heart

4. Nod at Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

5. The Monkey Squirrel at the Keyboard at Amentior

I think I have fulfilled my obligation... do I get an indulgence?

Alaskan Catholic Humor

Don't mess around in Bethel:

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. "Go up, baldhead," they shouted, "go up, baldhead!"

The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the children to pieces.

II Kings 2:23-24

Vatican getting serious about their dress code

This post is for LarryD of Acts of the Apostasy.

VATICAN CITY, July 27 (UPI) -- The Vatican is enforcing a longstanding dress code, with Swiss Guard officers pulling aside tourists and others to tell them when they're showing too much skin.

The Italian news agency ANSA reported Tuesday the rules on modest dress, previously applied only to those visiting St Peter's Basilica, are now being invoked at the official customs point between Rome and the walled Catholic enclave.

Men in shorts and women with exposed knees or uncovered shoulders were all stopped by the guards and asked if they knew "how things worked here," ANSA said. Even locals were caught off-guard, assuming some new edict had been issued.

"This is the Vatican City and for reasons of respect, you are not allowed in with uncovered shoulders or wearing shorts," was the standard explanation, the news agency said.

The change in enforcement sent women looking for shawls and scarves, and men looking for trousers.

One woman in her late 70s, identified only as Maria, didn't take kindly to being told her calf-length flowered dress was "inappropriate" because her shoulders were uncovered.

"Given all the scandals the church has been involved in, what possible right can it have to be preaching about the morality of sleeveless dresses?" ANSA quoted her as saying loudly after the guards relented and let her pass.

Link: Vatican enforcing new rules on Dress Code

Thomas More College Establishes: Catholic Medieval Guilds

Authentic Catholic Colleges exist. They might not have huge names, Bowl Series football programs, or appear as often in pop culture as some other, allegedly, Catholic institutions, but they do exist. One of them is Thomas More College in New Hampshire.

On top of traditional curricula, and student bodies that exemplify the teachings of the Church, these authentically Catholic schools are known for uniquely implementing traditional methods into their pedagogical philosophy in order to make their educational platform relevant in today's world. Yes, I said that right, they are using traditional methods in order to make their educational offerings more relevant. (Funny how that works eh?)

In that vein, Thomas More College has recently announced that they are establishing: Catholic Medieval Guilds.

The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts announced that it has established a series of medieval-style Catholic guilds that will enable its students to gain skills and experience from master craftsmen in areas such as woodworking, sacred art, music, and baking.

Thomas More College’s guilds will take its spirit from the associations of men and women who advanced their trades and responded to the needs of their local communities in the Medieval Age.

“Catholic guilds flourished during medieval Europe, but by the Nineteenth Century they had all but disappeared,” said Thomas More College president William Fahey. “Guilds in its earliest form were developed out of man’s natural spirit of association. The Catholic Church took medieval guilds under its tutelage and infused into them the vivifying spirit of Christian charity.”

Thomas More College’s guilds will operate with the same level of community and charity.

“Not only will students learn skills they can use throughout their lives,” said Fahey, “they will have an opportunity to bake bread for the homeless, produce icons for local churches, create chairs, cribs, and other projects for the poor and needy in our community, and bring music to nursing homes and hospitals.”

Thomas More College also expects that its guilds will enhance religious life on campus. This fall, for example, students in the woodworking guild will build a new altar for the College’s chapel, while students in the sacred art guild will produce religious art that will hang on the chapel walls. Students in the music guild will be trained to chant and produce sacred music for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The newly established Catholic guilds at Thomas More College will also play a key role in the development of its students.

What a cool idea? Is this a gimmick? No... not anymore than what some colleges forward as legitimate educational paths. In fact, in an economic climate such as ours, a more practical and applied educational model makes sense. Rather than dealing solely in the theoretical during the students educational period, the practical application of their education, and the work product that it creates, places their energy, effort, and the college's resources back into society in a tangible way.

Source Link: Thomas More College - Medieval Catholic Guilds

Traditional liturgical vestments

Terry Nelson, from Abbey Roads, Part of the Minnesota Church Militant, posts in a particular way. If you have never read him, the subtlety of his references to past posts, other bloggers, and the point he is trying to make can easily be lost upon you.

His most recent post is an example. Terry, makes good and obvious points, but it is the FACT that he is making these points about this subject that drives home the message. That being said, I have ripped an excerpt from his post that can resonate with anyone, and should resonate whether you like it or not.

Therefore many of us no longer understand or conceive of our churches to be "the house of God and the gate of heaven" - which in turn may partly explain why the Dutch can play soccer at Mass, in a church, or why dancing and other forms of entertainment takes place during the liturgy elsewhere.
.
Losing an authentic sense of the dignity and majesty of God, we easily disregard the proper decorum and dignity and protocol (ritual) in His Presence - which is due to His Majesty. We have vulgarized worship; overstepping our bounds, and we have made ourselves too familiar within the Holy of Holies. Therefore, the restoration of reverent liturgy, along with the revival of traditional liturgical vestments and decorum, can seem foreign and strange, even excessive to many of us steeped in contemporary culture, where the degenerate and profane has become commonplace and the comfort and ease of our casual lifestyle discourages any type of formalism.
.
Nevertheless, whenever we are in church, and especially during the liturgy, we ought to be aware that we have "drawn near to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, to myriads of angels in festal gathering, to the assembly of the first born enrolled in heaven, to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks more eloquently than that of Abel." [Heb. 12: 22-24]

Link: The Majesty of the Cappa Magna

Happy Birthday LarryD!

Sr. Patricia Owens O'Flannery reminded me that today is LarryD's Birthday! So please make sure you click on over to Acts of the Apostasy and give him a birthday visit bump and comment him a birthday wish.

Wish LarryD a Happy Birthday

Also if you aren't doing anything they are having a little birthday shindig over at the local parish, I caught this sign and wonder where my personal invite is:

St. Michael Warrior Award to: 'Rebecca aka The Mom'

You know that saying: "The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword"... well I have found a prime example of that. Rebecca, better know as: aka the Mom, had one of those moments that warriors LONG for. Those of you that seek confrontation will understand this... especially those of you who work VERY hard at restraining yourself and being charitable in most situations, even if it goes against your will and desire.

aka the Mom was faced with one of those situations where her principles, morals, and dignity were tested by fire. She had two choices... one path required truth, honor, loyalty... the other only required submission, acceptance, and comfort. The first path required her to face fear, confrontation, scorn, mocking and ridicule. The other meant safety, politeness, and ease.

She chose the former. Not because it was confrontational... but because it was right. She wrote about it on her blog... not to brag, but to make a point: There's an Irony There

Here is an excerpt:

"I love when the homeschoolers come in here." She said in a mock whisper to her co-worker. "We get to see the look on their faces as they discover that teaching kids is hard and you have to be smarter than they thought."

With jokes about my lack of intelligence still carrying across the open space, I set about answering the question of why my child hadn't gotten the chicken pox vaccine. It didn't help that I had a space one line long. How do I reduce my faith, politics and health philosophies into one line? I finally settled on "The varicella vaccine is cultured in fetal tissue. As a Catholic, we can not materially cooperate in any way with the intentional destruction of human life."

~~~

It was then that the loud-mouth from next door came in waving the objector form. "You need to re-write this," she demanded... Go to: "Shoved to Them" - to read the rest

Defend Us In Battle

To all those that read this, and the account above: THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT BY ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER, 1 JULY 2010, DEFEND US IN BATTLE HAS AWARDED

THE SAINT MICHAEL WARRIOR AWARD

TO:  REBECCA 'aka The Mom'

FOR EXCEPTIONALLY VALOROUS ACTION IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING ODDS AND DIRECT HOSTILE AGGRESSIONS AS THE MOTHER FOR A CHILD IN NEED OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. aka THE MOM'S EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, DEDICATION TO CHILDREN, AND ADHERENCE TO TRUTH AND HONOR DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE OF HER FAMILY'S PRINCIPLES AND MORALS. HER REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE AND INTELLECTUAL PROWESS IN THE MIDST OF ATTACK UNDOUBTEDLY PRESERVED THE EVERLASTING SOULS OF HER FAMILY, HERSELF AND REFLECTS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CATHOLIC FAITH AND TRADITION. aka THE MOM'S ACTIONS WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS DURING THE BATTLE AGAINST EVIL REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HER, THE CATHOLIC BLOGOSPHERE AND THE ONE TRUE CHURCH.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CATHOLIC BLOGOSPHERE

THIS 1st DAY OF JULY, 2010

-Joe, Defend Us In Battle

Real Men Pray The Rosary - An Apostolate

I found out about a newer apostolate out there, that is RIGHT up our alley here at Defend Us In Battle! The group is called:

Real Men Pray The Rosary

The following is from their website:

Welcome to Real Men Pray The Rosary™, a non-profit apostolate that we created not only to promote the blessings of praying the Rosary, but to also foster a community dedicated to ALL REAL MEN AND WOMEN (and their families!) who embrace their Christian devotion, especially Catholic Christians, and walk humbly with God.


The Holy Spirit called upon us to start this apostolate, to create a place where people could study the mysteries / history of the Rosary, read and share experiences of how the Rosary can impact people’s lives in a modern world, and serve as a unifying experience for communities and families alike.


This website will hopefully help us to dispel the notion that praying the Rosary is for ‘old ladies and funerals!’ and only for Catholics.


All Christians can benefit from the recitation of the Rosary.

I really like their logo, and some of the Gear they have. I don't know why, but I am a sucker for logos and outward displays of the faith. These folks also have a podcast, and somewhat of a blog. They are worth the check-out, if for no other reason than the gear they sell. It appears all the proceeds go to charity, so that only adds to this groups efforts.

Apostolates like this one are an important feature of our faith, I post about them when I find them because I think they add to the fullness of the faith. Not only that, but you never know when and how God is going to reach someone, and as long as a group is authentically Catholic, I want to support them.

You can check them out on their website, or follow them:

Facebook: RMPTR

Twitter: twitter.com/RMPTR

VOTE FOR US!!

As many of you know the 4th Annual Cannonball Catholic Awards are currently underway. They are probably the least MOST IMPORTANT awards in existence to honor the Cathol-og-osphere. We were nominated for awards (Click on Category for EASY VOTING):

Best New Kid On the Block

&

Best Underappreciated Blog

Please be sure to head over to The Crescat and vote for us! We need all the help we can get!


***UPDATE***
P.S.:
I approve voting for the following blogs as well:
Religious:
Fr. Acervo's Corner
Armchair Theologian:
Adoro Te Devote
Most Under-Appreciated:
Shoved to Them
Most BatCraptastic Crazy & Church Militant & Hilfrickanlarious & Snarkiest:
Acts of the Apostasy
Visual Treat:
View from the Back Pew
Potpurri of Popery:
W-B-N
Needs more Updating:
Gun Loving Alaskan Club

The Devout Life - Blogging Along with St. Francis de Sales

Mindy over at The Devout Life, a fellow Alaskan, has decided to dedicate a greater portion of her blogging to St. Francis de Sales': The Devout Life. She is asking those that would like to join along and journey with her to link themselves at the bottom of her blog. It seems like a really good idea and I hope some of you will join in! You can jump in at any time.

The best part? You can get the ENTIRE text online HERE at Catholic City. So there is nothing to purchase... and no waiting. Can't really do much better than that can you?

The journey is about being spiritual and drawing closer to God in your busy life... so what is your excuse? :)

Here is Mindy's post, and make sure you head over to The Devout Life and check it out:

Thanks to the Thrifty Mystics, a study guide has graced my path pertaining to St. Francis de Sales' book, Introduction to the Devout Life. The link to the study guide can be found here. Beginning this week, I am going to blog with this guide as I make my way through the text and I hope that some people will join me along the way.

The book is a joy to read and very applicable to the spiritual practices of the man or woman drawing close to God in the midst of a busy life. If you are a non-Catholic Christian, you may find sections that do not seem relevant to you, such as those pertaining to the Eucharist or Confession. I encourage you to read the book anyway and ponder these different ways of encountering Christ.

If you decide to join in, put a link down at the bottom so we can encourage and have fellowship with one another. (I will have a graphic available shortly.)You can also simply leave a comment if you don't have a blog you are planning to link to.

If you want to follow along chapter by chapter, you can easily do so by clicking through the graphic near the top right corner of this blog. Our first reflections will involve Chapter 1 and the associated questions for reflection on page 10 of the study guide.

Get Ready...

The Crescat has closed the nominations for the 4th Annual Cannonball Catholic Awards. That means that VOTING will begin soon!

Your local blog: Defend Us In Battle is nominated in the following categories:

• Best New Kid On the Block (Awarded to the best new Catholic Blog - What is new... not sure... but I haven't been around that long)
• Best Under Appreciated Blog (Not sure if ANY appreciation is necessary for a nomination in this category... good thing)
• More Catholic Than the Pope (Ummm...... not sure why I got a nod here... but I will take what I can get; as long as what I get isn't EXCOMMUNICATION!)

I will let you know when voting begins... and remember to vote early, vote often, and vote:

"DEFEND US IN BATTLE!"

Does this mean Hell *CAN* Freeze over?

Sword-Tip to Laudator via Father Z:

H. Allen Smith, "The Achievement of H.T. Wensel," in Clifton Fadiman, ed., The Mathematical Magpie (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1962), pp. 141-142 (at 142):

The exact temperature of hell cannot be computed, but it must be less than 444.6° C., the temperature at which brimstone or sulphur changes from a liquid to a gas. Revelations [sic] 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." A lake of molten brimstone means that its temperature must be below the boiling point, which is 444.6° C. If it were above this point it would be a vapor and not a lake.

As the article points out, hell (below 445° C. = 833° F.) is actually cooler than heaven (525° C. = 977° F., computed from Isaiah 30:26).

My world is upside down. Also... I am no Math wizard, so I have no idea how he got 977 F from this:

And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days: in the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of his people, and shall heal the stroke of their wound.

I am guessing he multiplied something by 7? But when you divide 977 by 7, you get 139.6. Maybe the math is slightly different in Celsius. Because the hottest recorded temp I found was 136.

Alaskan Catholics on the Kenai - *EVENT* April 16th

If you live in Alaska, especially on or around the Kenai, then this post is for you.

It may also be for you if you will be in said area this Friday, April 16th @ 7:00pm.

If you do not meet these criteria, this may instead occupy your time: ::CLICK HERE::

Now... for those of you still reading, here is the info on the event:

KENAI PENINSULA FAITH & REASON - APRIL EVENT

Who:
A new apostolate/group that is starting up here on the Kenai.
It is called Faith and Reason.
The group is essentially a learning/apologetics apostolate that is going to meet monthly. 
What:
The groups April (first) event/meeting.
The format is very informal and relaxed and will be held at a local eating and drinking establishment.
The topic will be: "Fides et Ratio" - "Faith and Reason" the encyclical by John Paul II; the namesake of the group.
A presentation will be given by, yours truly- your logal blog author, and then there will be discussion and Q&A.
Where:
Kenai/Soldotna Area - If you would like SPECIFICS please email me.
(Don't want  a bunch of heretics showing up and ruining all the fun).
When:
Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 7:00pm - ???
Why:
To learn more about the teachings of the Faith and the Church.
How:
Show up... and enjoy.
Email me for specific details: angelsdefendus@gmail.com

Some misc. info:
You do not have to have read the encyclical. It would be helpful, but I am going to present it in a way that you don't even have to know what an encyclical is, to enjoy and get something out of the presentation. Also, this is not for "advanced Catholics." This is a come one come all event. In fact, the point of the group is to grow both the "belief" and "knowledge" of the Catholics that attend; hence "Faith and Reason." So come one, come all! I look forward to meeting some of you and look forward to this new group! This will be my first speaking/presentation here in Alaska.

Blog Awards? Yes, blog awards, but not just ANY blog awards...

The 4th Annual Cannonball Catholic Blog AWARDS!

Kat, over at The Crescat is hosting her annual Catholic Blog Awards. The award categories are a lot of fun, and best of all you learn about a lot of new Catholic Blogs. The process works by nominating blogs in the comments and then in a few days she will allow people to vote by category.

Honestly... the whole thing makes me realize how much more I wish I could do with this blog, and how some people really are just gifted at this sort of thing. But then again I do know how to... um... umm.... why don't we look at the categories :)

The list of the categories is:

• Best Blog by a Religious... not Fr. Z
• Best Political Blog... not the American Papist
• More Catholic Than the Pope
• Best Blog by a Heretic
• Best Armchair Theologian
• Best Under Appreciated Blog
• Best Visual Treat
• Best Spiritual Treat
• Most Bat Shit Crazy
• Most Church Militant
• Best Potpourri of Popery
• Snarkiest Catholic Blog
• Best Hifreakinlarious Blog
• Best New Kid on the Block
• Best Blog That Needs to be Updated More Often

So go check it out, and nominate your favorite blogs today!

Catholic Easter Gifts... and more!

For the next few weeks I am going to have a bit more ads and links up on the blog. I am not doing this to annoy you all but to hopefully help you find gifts for Easter and First Communion.

Plus, the website I link to helps this blog out in a small way when you buy through them: When you click their link from my blog, then make a purchase at Aquinas and More they support us with a small % off our next purchase there. So the more you click their link from our blog and then buy through them, the more support we get, and thereby the more books I can buy to help me have interesting things to blog about! We all win!

The company that I support, Aquinas and More is an independently run family business based in Colorado. Here is the "About Us" section from their site:

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods is centrally located in Colorado Springs, CO. We carry thousands of products ranging from books and videos to chalices and church furnishings.

The store was started by Ian Rutherford in 2002 and is owned and run by his family and friends

 So... this is a great set up! You buy what you need, you help out a truly Catholic family business, and in the end the blog is supported!

So Buy away:

Catholic Book Reviews! - Tiber River

Book reviews have been around pretty much as long as there have been books! One of the great things about sites like Amazon is that before you purchase a product you know thousands and thousands of people have bought it before you, and at least a couple have let you know their thoughts on the book or product via a review.

Well, the folks over at AquinasandMore.com have set up a similar site JUST FOR CATHOLIC BOOKS! It is called TIBER RIVER and it is great! We know the classics are good... but what about all the new books that are published everyday? We all know "you can't judge a book by its cover!" So how do you judge a book? Well head over to Tiber River and check it out!

Not only that... but you too can review books! Just sign up... and add to the wealth of reviews that already exist there!

Not only that, but Tiber River is linked in with Aquinas and More so that if you like the review you are reading, you can simply hop on over to their site and purchase it online! So not only is Tiber River a resource for those of us looking at a specific book, but it also becomes a great place to browse! For example, lets say you want a new book, but don't know where to start? Just start browsing the reviews and lists that users have set up, read what they have to say and pick a book. Again, because it is all linked through the Aquinas and More store... you have an easy way to browse and buy! So go check them out today.

-Posted by: Joe

Covering Statues, Icons, and Crosses During Lent ("Passiontide")

This Sunday is Passion Sunday... or at least it used to be. In new Modern Roman Calendar it is the 5th Sunday of Lent. The change occured during the evolution of the Roman Missal in the late '60s and early '70s. Prior to that in the pre-conciliar (Pre-Vatican II Council), it was the start of Passiontide.

Aside from all of the changes, one thing has remained true. As the Church approaches Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter, we being to focus more intensely on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In doing so, a tradition that has continued on in the Church, and is still practiced today, is the covering or veiling of statues, icons and crosses during lent.

(Photo: http://www.wdtprs.com/blog - Father Z)

On WDTPRS.com Father Z. has his reasoning behind the practice:

In the 1962 Missale Romanum, the Extraordinary Use of the Roman Rite, this is First Passion Sunday. In the Novus Ordo we also call Palm Sunday “Passion” Sunday. Today is the beginning of “Passiontide”. It is known as Iudica Sunday, from the first word of the Introit of Mass, from Ps 42 (41).

We lose things during Lent. We are being pruned through the liturgy. Holy Church experiences liturgical death before the feast of the Resurrection. The Alleluia goes on Septuagesima. Music and flowers go on Ash Wednesday. Today, statues and images are draped in purple. That is why today is sometimes called Repus Sunday, from repositus analogous to absconditus or “hidden”, because this is the day when Crosses and other images in churches are veiled. The universal Church’s Ordo published by the Holy See has an indication that images can be veiled from this Sunday, the 5th of Lent. Traditionally Crosses may be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and images, such as statues may be covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil. At my home parish of St. Agnes in St. Paul, MN, the large statue of the Pietà is appropriately unveiled at the Good Friday service.

Also, as part of the pruning, as of today in the older form of Mass, the “Iudica” psalm in prayers at the foot of the altar and the Gloria Patri at the end of certain prayers was no longer said.

The pruning cuts more deeply as we march into the Triduum. After the Mass on Holy Thursday the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the main altar, which itself is stripped and bells are replaced with wooden noise makers. On Good Friday there isn’t even a Mass. At the beginning of the Vigil we are deprived of light itself! It is as if the Church herself were completely dead with the Lord in His tomb. This liturgical death of the Church reveals how Christ emptied Himself of His glory in order to save us from our sins and to teach us who we are.

The Church then gloriously springs to life again at the Vigil of Easter. In ancient times, the Vigil was celebrated in the depth of night. In the darkness a single spark would be struck from flint and spread into the flames. The flames spread through the whole Church.

If we can connect ourselves in heart and mind with the Church’s liturgy in which these sacred mysteries are re-presented, then by our active receptivity we become participants in the saving mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. To begin this active receptivity we must be baptized members of the Church and be in the state of grace.

Now some of you have never seen this before in your parish. You may even wonder, "Is this just another pre-Vatican II thing? Isn't this only allowed in Tridentine Latin Mass Churches?" Well the answer to those questions is NO. In fact, a "Tridentine Church" is a Catholic Church, that happens to celebrate the Mass in the usus antiquior, so the CHURCH itself would fall under the same guidelines as any other church. So then what does the Church say about this?

Here is a statement from the USCCB from March of 2006:

The Veiling of Images and Crosses

1. Does the new Missale Romanum allow for the veiling of statues and crosses?
The Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, provides a rubric at the beginning of the texts for the Fifth Sunday of
Lent, which allows that: “the practice of covering crosses and images in the Church from the Fifth Sunday of Lent
is permitted, according to the judgment of the Conferences of Bishops. Crosses remain veiled until the end of the
celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday; images remain veiled until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

2. Have the Bishops of the Unites States expressed the judgment on this practice?
Yes. On June 14, 2001, the Latin Church members of the USCCB approved an adaptation to number 318 of the
General Instruction of the Roman Missal which would allow for the veiling of crosses and images in this manner.
On April 17, 2002, Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments wrote to Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, USCCB President (Prot. no. 1381/01/L), noting
that this matter belonged more properly to the rubrics of the Fifth Sunday of Lent. While the decision of the
USCCB will be included with this rubric when the Roman Missal is eventually published, the veiling of crosses
and images may now take place at the discretion of the local pastor.

3. When may crosses and images be veiled?
Crosses and images may be veiled on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Crosses are unveiled following the Good Friday
Liturgy, while images are unveiled before the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

[4]. Is the veiling of crosses and statues required?
No. The veiling is offered as an option, at the discretion of the local pastor.

[5]. What is the reason for the veiling of crosses and images?
The veiling of crosses and images is a sort of “fasting” from sacred depictions which represent the paschal glory
of our salvation. Just as the Lenten fast concludes with the Paschal feast, so too, our fasting from the cross
culminates in an adoration of the holy wood on which the sacrifice of Calvary was offered for our sins. Likewise,
a fasting from the glorious images of the mysteries of faith and the saints in glory, culminates on the Easter night
with a renewed appreciation of the glorious victory won by Christ, risen from the tomb to win for us eternal life.

[6]. Why are crosses unveiled after the Good Friday Liturgy?
An important part of the Good Friday Liturgy is the veneration of the cross, which may include its unveiling.
Once the cross to be venerated has been unveiled, it seems logical that all crosses would remain unveiled for the
veneration of the faithful.

[7]. What do the veils look like?
While liturgical law does not prescribe the form or color of such veils, they have traditionally been made of
simple, lightweight purple cloth, without ornament.

[8]. Is it permissible to veil the crosses after the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday?
Yes. The concluding rubrics which follow the text for the Mass of the Lord's Supper (no. 41) indicate that “at an
opportune time the altar is stripped and, if it is possible, crosses are removed from the church. It is fitting that
crosses which remain in the Church be veiled.”

I plan on taking sometime this weekend to do the same with the statues, icons, and crosses around my house. It would be neat to see others do the same. It is really simple to accomplish this. All you really need is a few measurements and some PURPLE cloth. (I typed out a whole instruction set on how to accomplish this and realized it made it seem more complicated than it is, you should be able to figure out how to measure and buy the material necessary. If you do need directions, drop me an email and ill send them to you.)

Getting your parish to do this might be a little more difficult. Some parishes have quite a number of statues, icons, and crosses and some are in quite difficult places to access. Others don't have the ability to purchase the material necessary for such a thing. But maybe we can all talk to our pastors to see if this can be done, especially if some of us are willing to pay for it.

If you have never been in a church that does this, you are missing out. What a humbling and shocking experience it is to walk in and not see such things. I have been to churches that are over 100 years old, that were built in the Gothic and Romanesque style that cover everything. It took my breath away, I suddenly realized how vacant my life would be without these images, and that transformed into the mental image of living without the people behind the images in my life. Also, for those parishes that celebrate the veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, it makes that celebration all the more meaningful.

I would love to see pictures if readers are able to capture photos of a church that practices this tradition. Please email me at: angelsdefendus@gmail.com - I will try and get your pictures up on a post!


-Posted by: Joe