Whispers of a Surprise...

So the Cathol-og-osphere is ALL a-buzz with Vatican Rumors!!

There are two major ones, swirling about. One involves an "announcement" or "surprise" that the Holy Father will be announcing during Holy Week. [The original source for this is: Sector Catolico (A Spanish Blog)] There is a lot of speculation about what it might be [My comments in red]:

• A Holy Week Mass either Ad Orientem or in the usus antiquior [This would make a very strong statement regarding the "reform of the reform."]
• The removal of the indult for Communion "in the hand" [This too would make a very important statement regarding the liturgy, Mass, and what the "reform of the reform" really means.]
• The return of the Sedia Gestatoria, some Papal vesture, or other traditional "item. [Although these are great in their own right, this would be somewhat of a let-down in comparison to the other "possibilities."]
• The announcement of some advancement in the causes of Pope Pius XII or Pope John Paul II. [There are those that weigh in heavily on these possibilities - I wonder if a Saintly causes would be addressed during Holy Week?]

Now these aren't the only possibilities but they seem the most "favored." Now to show you that this isn't just random "Catholic" gossip you can read this same story at the MAJOR blogs below:

• Rorate Caeli - Rumors
• Creative Minority Report - "I love a good surprise!" [They even supply some "vegas style" odds]
• Verbum Patris - "Pope to unveil a surprise...?"

The other rumor needs it's own post...later.


-Posted by: Joe

A priestly take on the new translation of the Roman Missal

As many of you know there is a new translation of the Roman Missal coming out soon. For those that don't this, the plan is to have the new translation out by Advent of 2011. What does this mean exactly?

It means that the Novus Ordo (Modern Rite English) Mass will "sound" different... and it very well may *be* different, but that is a philosophical and theological question. In terms of practical application, the Missal will change many of the prayers, parts, and words used in the Modern Mass.

This of course has made some people question the implementation of this new translation. They argue that the new translation is cumbersome, difficult, or confusing. They then argue that added to the "difficulty" of the new translation is the simple fact that "change" and "newness" in the Mass will create confusion on behalf of the people of the Faith.

These arguments are shallow and in fact don't address the REASONS behind the necessity and purpose of the new translation. To better explain this point I direct you to Father Lee Acervo's: Corner where he explains not only why the new translation is SOUND but why it is actually a Holy and Faith-filled endeavor.

Here is a very poignant excerpt from his article:

When the Mass was first translated into English, many tried to make it more understandable or “meaningful.”  Well-intentioned, except that to make it meaningful to more and more people, the words had to become more and more simplified.  The goal of making the earthly liturgy more heavenly was lost.  The earthly liturgy was made more earthly or common.  Rather than a foretaste of Heaven, the Mass was often little different than everyday life.  As a result, Mass was no longer an encounter with something beyond this world causing many to say (and still say), “Why bother going?” 

The goal of these new translations is to lead us to something heavenly, yet understandable.  This may cause offense to some, but the prayers that we use at Mass are addressed to God and not to the people.  The priest is speaking not to the congregation, but to God on behalf of the Church, and when we approach someone of high dignity, we naturally use a higher form of language.  How much more when we approach the Almighty?

You can read the rest of his post here:

On the Revised English translations of the Roman Missal

-Posted by: Joe

Your Focus for Lent?

Many of us "give up" something, "give something", and/or pray in a new way. These obviously are the ways in which we Pray, Fast, and do Penance.

Yet, I have also chosen to do these things in a combined manner in my SPIRITUAL life. For example, my Lenten "Work" is to work on my spiritual "pride." Many of us that are converts, reverts, or traditionalists struggle with this. We mentally criticize at Mass, we blog about "Spirit of VII'ers", or something else that causes us to be prideful.

So I am working on this... THROUGH my Lenten works.

How about you? What are you working on.....

-Posted by: Joe

USCCB: Bishop Status Report - QP*

Interesting link about the current status of Bishops and Openings:

USCCB - Bishops and Openings


-Posted by: Joe


[Note: I have decided to do more Quick Posts (QP*) which will be included in the title. These will generally be links or updates with little discussion or analysis by me. This is to help my readers find interesting news around the web since I live in a time zone that puts most of my IN-DEPTH posting beyond normal waking hours. I will also try and do more ROUND-UP's of other blogs and interesting info; this helps in the same regard and also gets Blog Traffic flowing around to other great blogs!]

Also remember to check my Twitter Feed for ReTweets, Quick Posts, and Blog Updates!

Twitter.com/angelsdefendus

Triden-TEEN Mass?

Parish after parish strives to get kids involved in the Faith. Brian recently posted on the fact that children are the future of our Faith. We also want our children to love and grow in love of God, His Church, and His Faith. But how do we best accomplish that?

I know that many parishes struggle with Mass attendance and so they employ the LIFE TEEN Mass. [I don't think this is the time of place to discuss Life Teen specifically.] Does that make sense? Should we ALTER what we do... in our Faith, so that teens will be "interested"? How do we best make Mass RELEVANT? Do we "modernize" it, do we "spice it up"? What does this then say ABOUT our faith?

The Curt Jester posted on his Twitter page a VERY interesting blog post from another blog about another idea... one that I particularly could work - if done correctly of course. Maybe the key is to go BACK to the traditional and implement the "Triden-TEEN Mass."

Here is the article from "The Divine Life":

Last week I took my teenage daughter to a special Mass which I hoped she would find especially appealing. It included inspiring worship music, elaborate visual stimulation and inspired preaching. And afterward, when I asked her what she thought, she enthusiastically told me that she liked it. Here is a description of this “teen-friendly” Mass from the parish’s website:
A Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of the Purification (Candlemas) with a blessing of the Candles and Procession with polyphonic propers composed by William Byrd, and the Ordinary from his Mass for Four Voices, sung by Chantry.
Now I admit that I am not an “Old Mass-only” Catholic. Nor do I think the Mass needs to be in Latin; I prefer the vernacular, truth be told. However, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that we have spent countless hours and enormous amounts of energy over the past 40 years trying to create a Mass that is “relevant” and engaging to our teens, when perhaps it was collecting mothballs in the closet the whole time?

Maybe the MASS is already RELEVANT and we have been making it IRRELEVANT? 

-Posted by: Joe

Lent: Books... check em out!

So the NLM has a great post about Lent Reading Schedules:
NLM - Lenten Reading Schedules

One of the best and easiest to accomplish lists that they posted was:
Fr. Jerabek - Lenten Reading Plans

Not only does Fr. Jerabek have easy to follow lists; he also has linked MANY of the readings right on the webpage, making the whole thing pretty fool proof! Go take a look...


-Posted by: Joe

New Blog Added: Fr. White - Our Lady of Good Counsel, Plymouth, MI

Just wanted to let everyone know of a blog I have started paying attention to:

Fr. White is the newest priest at OLGC in Plymouth, Michigan. OLGC was the Modern Rite parish that my wife and I were members of while in Michigan. Although it is a very NEW, LARGE, and MODERN feeling Church, the parish is run by 3 of the BEST priests I have ever come into contact with.

Fr. White came on just as I moved up to Alaska so I didn't get much interaction time with him, but from what I could tell, and what I have read he is a very orthodox priest and a deeply devoted man of God. Here is an except from one of his most recent blog posts, which I can only guess is a recent homily from a Baptism:

Jesus Christ calls each and every one of us here. We are not here by accident. The Lord is working in the lives of each and every one here. It is not we who have chosen the Lord: He has chosen us. He wants us to follow Him; He wants us to put Him first in our lives. He wants each one of us to love Him with our whole heart. It doesn’t matter what obstacles to personal holiness you may think exist in your life. Jesus Christ is calling each and every one of us to love Him with all that we are and with all our strength. Each and every one of us is called to be a Saint.


And a Saint is not just someone who kneels in a monastery all day. Saints are those who love God with their whole hearts, and God fills their hearts with His life and His love and His joy and they, then, take that joy and that life and that love out into the world and share it with others. When I say that we are all called to be Saints, I am not saying that we are all called to run away from the world and hide; I am saying that we are all called to live our lives for God. And God wants us all to be happy. God created us to be happy. Ultimately, He wants us to be happy with Him forever in Heaven, yes, but He wants us to be happy even in this life even now.


True happiness is only found by giving our whole heart to God and by doing His will. It sounds contradictory to our ears, our culture tells us the opposite. Our culture says that happiness is being able to do whatever I want. But those who do whatever they want and have everything they want still, in the long run, find that they are unhappy. The more selfish, and greedy, and sinful we are the less happy we will be. Sin can give immediate gratification, but it cannot ever satisfy our hearts. Our hearts can be only be satisfied by God alone.

 So check out his blog... and hopefully you will get something from his posts that make you think about your faith in a Christ centered way.

-Posted by: Joe

Not everything in Detroit is ugly... St. Josaphat's - Detroit

Now this is a church...

St. Josaphat, Roman Catholic Church - Detroit, Michigan

This is one of the Churches in Detroit that regularly celebrates Mass in the usus antiquior.

The outside is just the beginning...

-Posted by: Joe

Holy Water SHOULD REMAIN During Lent - Defending the Faith During Lent (DFDL)

As lent approaches we will come under SERIOUS attack... and when I mean serious, I mean serious. And it wont be from the Devil... well it will, but we will also face attacks from...

...wait for it...



...INSIDE THE CATHOLIC FAITH! Now... before you call me a blasphemer, let me explain:

During lent, there are all sorts of ridiculous practices that churches have conjured up over the last 40 years. [That is not a random number :) - think about it.] Everything from removing the Holy water from the church, to puppet show passion plays, to washing the feet of women. I will try and write about these BEFORE they come up, so that you can do the proper thing to prevent/fix/educated those in charge.

Now my disclaimer is this: DO NOT WRITE PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE EMAILS TO YOUR PRIEST! Also be charitable, loving, and kind. We should always attempt to be part of the solution and not the problem. So before you go sending an email (or other time of communication), pray. Then write your email, don't send it, save it - now pray again. Then, re-read your email - and pray. Then... and only then if you think it is the correct thing to send such a correspondence is it then OK to send.

Now as for the Holy water question. Father Z. writes about it over at WDTPRS. You can read his take here: Holy Water During Lent - WDTPRS?

This is a letter from the Vatican that Fr. Z. posted:

Any way… This is a response from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments about this question. Enjoy. 
The emphases are Fr. Z's: 
Prot. N. 569/00/L
March 14, 2000

Dear Father:

This Congregation for Divine Worship has received your letter sent by fax in which you ask whether it is in accord with liturgical law to remove the Holy Water from the fonts for the duration of the season of Lent.
This Dicastery is able to respond that the removing of Holy Water from the fonts during the season of Lent is not permitted, in particular, for two reasons:

1. The liturgical legislation in force does not foresee this innovation, which in addition to being praeter legem is contrary to a balanced understanding of the season of Lent, which though truly being a season of penance, is also a season rich in the symbolism of water and baptism, constantly evoked in liturgical texts.

2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of the [sic] of her sacraments and sacramentals is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The "fast" and "abstinence" which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church. The practice of the Church has been to empty the Holy Water fonts on the days of the Sacred Triduum in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil, and it corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated (i.e., Good Friday and Holy Saturday).

Hoping that this resolves the question and with every good wish and kind regard, I am,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

[signed]

Mons. Mario Marini [Later the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, now sadly deceased.]

Undersecretary

So you see... we are not supposed to do it. Father Z. sums it up as only he can:

Holy Water is a power weapon of the spiritual life against the attacks of the devil. 

You do believe in the existence of the Enemy, ... right? 

You know you are a soldier and pilgrim in a dangerous world, ... right? 

So why… why… why would these liturgists and priests REMOVE a tool of spiritual warfare precisely during the season of LENT when we need it the most?? 

Holy water is a sacramental. 

It is for our benefit. 

It is not a toy, or something to be abstained from, like chocolate or television.

So remember to use Holy water always....ALWAYS!

Posted by: Joe

Lent Resources for you! ... and for me!

Lent is quickly approaching and if you are like me you will be looking for books, resources, and other items to help you through the "journey in the desert."

Why not pick something up from Aquinas and more?
When you do... you help not only yourself... but me! As an affiliate I get credit for all purchases made when you click on my link to there...

...so why not pick something up today?

-Posted by: Joe

The Churching of Women

(From the New Liturgical Movement)

Today was the feast of the Presentation and Purification. As usual, because I am on Alaskan time, the entire Traditional Catholic Blogging World posted about this, so I will refrain from being redundant. For those looking for more explanation click the following links:

• New Liturgical Movement - Feast of the Presentation and Purification
• Father Acervo - Presentation of The Lord

Something that I read about a while ago that really peaked my interest, that also correlates to this feast, is the ritual of "The Churching of Women." [The below is taken from a post on the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.'s blog by Msgr. Charles Pope]:

Though it has never been required by the Church it is a beautiful way to welcome back and bless a woman who has perhaps been away for a few weeks  giving birth. She has labored well for her family, her child and the Church and this ritual can serve simultaneously as a blessing and thanksgiving extended by the Church to the noble women who are our mothers. The blessing can be given after a baptism, after mass, collectively to recent mothers, or individually. It is true that the current baptismal rite contains a blessing for the mother but this older rite is a more single and special blessing. The Pope’s recent Motu Proprio permitting the older forms of the sacraments to be used has made these older rituals also more available.

I think this would be an AWESOME ritual to reinstitute across the board. I think it could EASILY be done after Mass at most parishes. If I am correct, the ritual itself is OUTSIDE of the context of Mass, so there is no problem in performing it in Churches where only the Novus Ordo Mass is used.

How better to promote the Pro-Life message of the church, and a very spiritual, traditional, and meaningful way to honor the sacrifice and blessings of motherhood? Aside from the occasional mention at a "Mother's Day Mass" when does the Modern church honor the Mother? Heck, many of the Marian Feasts have become "optional" or "not required in the U.S." If we don't honor Mary, why would we honor other women?

Like many other areas of our faith, I think it would serve us well to return and reclaim the traditional aspects of our faith that served many of our ancestors quite well.

A good explanation is found on the Archdiocese of Washington's (D.C.) blog:
The Churching of Women - AOW
A PDF of the ritual can be found here: The Churching of Women

More Resources:

• New Advent - Churching of Women
• WDTPRS - Father Z. - Churching of Women
• Fish Eaters - Churching of Women

-Posted by: Joe

Septuagesima - or the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time?

Today is SEPTUAGESIMA - Therefore some people reading this blog went to Mass today and the priest was wearing Green and some went and the priest was wearing purple. There are some big differences between the Modern Roman Liturgy and the Usus Antiquior.

If you are reading my blog and want me to explain the differences I must direct you to the experts:
The New Liturgical Movement - Pre-Lent


[[Update]]: Another good explanation is by Fr. Acervo:
Fr. Acervo - Septuagesima

One of the reasons I am such a fan of the Usus Antiquior is because of how much history, tradition, and MEANING exists within the older Rite. The concept of Pre-lent is that there is a transition from ordinary time into Lent, and the period is preparatory.

For the readings from the Tridentine Rite please see:
Septuagesima Readings - Tridentine Missal 1963

-Posted by: Joe

Apple Tablet?

So in a few hours we will know if Apple has finally launched a tablet.

Here are just *some* of the rumors surrounding tomorrows alleged announcement of the tablet:

• A tablet
• iPhone-esque OS
• App's galore
• Camera's (plural)
• Video Conferencing
• Cool "native" games - similar to, but unique in functionality to that of the Wii
• On both the AT&T AND Verizon
• BIG!! (size)
• iTablet, iPad, MacBook Touch, iSlate, might be the name?
• Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, etc... hook ups
• A huge impact on news papers & magazines

If this product comes out it will change computing for sure, but it might very well change the news and blogging into a new dynamic news force. Blogging could easily become TRULY portable with this device. 

So... please feel free to gift me one if it does in fact come out tomorrow. I promise I will accept it graciously, and do good things with it :)

Imagine the possibilities... I know I will :)

...After these messages.

I apologize for the light posting. I have had quite the week. I think I have hinted at that in past posts. There is a lot that went on, and the whole week needs to be told in total; the highs and the lows.

I will intermittently post here and there, things that are important, just so that my readers don't go into hibernation. I do plan however to make a big important post describing this past week, probably to most significant and life-altering in my short existence.

Brian unfortunately is ALSO going through some big changes in his life, hence his limited posting since his introduction here. So... if the posts are light, and not quite as "in depth" as usual, I do apologize. Hopefully once a routine is established around my house with the new baby, I can get to posting on a more consistent basis, and to a level of analysis that you are used to. Until then... I leave you a good reason not to be mad at me:

-Posted by: Joe

Top 10 Catholic iPhone Apps

Are you Catholic?
Have an iPhone?
Want some apps?

Check out this article: Top 10 iPhone Apps over at "Canterbury Tales"

-Posted by: Joe