A Treasure To Be Shared

DIVINE WORSHIP | THE OFFERTORY (FORM I) Form One restores to the Mass the longer prayers one would encounter, though not hear (unless one is a Deacon or server near to the action), in the older Mass, the 1962 Missal, commonly called the Tridentine Mass or Usus Antiquior. Latin enthusiasts would probably recognize much of the hieratic English translation of the Latin found in their pew missals. The text of Divine Worship, though, presents some particularly beautiful and legitimate adjustments to the language of the Offertory prayers retained in and received from the Anglican Patrimony. + + + Standing at the altar, the Priest takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice: Receive, O holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, this spotless host, which I, thine unworthy servant, now offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my numberless sins, offences, and negligences; for all here present; as also for the faithful in...

Please support our seminarians through your prayers and financial contributions. O HEAVENLY Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ did command his disciples to proclaim the glad tidings of thy saving love to all mankind: Pour out thy Holy Spirit, we beseech thee, on all who are now in training for the Ministry of thy Church; make them to be modest, humble, and constant in their labours, and to have a ready will to obey all spiritual discipline; that they may become faithful ministers of thy Word and Sacraments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 419, Saint Gregory's Prayer Book) Saints Charles Borromeo and John Henry Newman: pray for them. The Seminary Formation Fund (SFF):  https://ordinariate.net/give-to-sff Patrick Wallace Freshman, College Seminary St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College, Covington, Louisiana Home Parish: Our Lady of the Atonement, San Antonio, Texas Riley O'Sullivan Junior, College Seminary St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College, Covington, Louisiana H...

You say that you are my judge; I do not know if you are; but take good heed not to judge me ill, because you would put yourself in great peril. - Saint Joan of Arc --- Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine", seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires. We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An "adult" faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true fro...

A page from a book of blessings, discovered on the dusty shelves of a local parish among other curious items, published some decades ago by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Undeclared Sinner someone who has yet to acknowledge his status as a fallen creature see also: hypocrite Witnesses I felt for the tormented whirlwinds Damned for their carnal sins Committed when they let their passions rule their reason. - Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, Hell, Inferno: Canto V I understood that unto such a torment The carnal malefactors were condemned, Who reason subjugate to appetite. ( H.W. Longfellow translation ) - - -  In one sense, and that the eternal sense, the thing is plain. The answer to the question, ‘What is Wrong?’ is, or should be, 'I am wrong'. Until a man can give that answer his idealism is only a hobby. - GKC, Letter to the “Daily News”, August 16, 1905, “What is Wrong”. H/T Mike Miles @ The Society of G.K. Chesterton In an earlier post, yours truly wrote: It's one thing to be a Catholic who repents of his or her sins (and confesses those sins in the confessional) and resolves to avoid near occasions of sin. It is quite another to obs...

Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly. Romans 12:9-21 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is min...

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE "SCHOLAE CANTORUM" OF THE ITALIAN ASSOCIATION OF SAINT CECILIA Beautiful and good music is a privileged tool for approaching the transcendent, and often helps to understand a message even those who are distracted. I know that your preparation involves sacrifice in terms of the availability of time to devote to rehearsals, to the involvement of people, to performances on feast days, when perhaps friends invite you to go for a walk. Many times! But your dedication to the liturgy and its music represents a way of evangelization at all levels, from children to adults. In fact, the liturgy is the first “teacher” of catechism. Do not forget this: the liturgy is the first “teacher” of catechism. Sacred music also carries out another task, that of bringing together Christian history: in the liturgy, Gregorian chant, polyphony, popular music and contemporary music resonate. It is as though, in that moment, there were all the past and present...

The Catholic Way Catholics in public life, these days those who drift left, routinely risk having their convictions challenged because they habitually want their cake (power) and eat it (enjoy it, exploit it, be corrupted by it,...) too. Pat Cross' cartoon exposes the cognitive dissonance entertained by such misguided souls. It's one thing to be a Catholic who repents of his or her sins (and confesses those sins in the confessional) and resolves to avoid near occasions of sin. It is quite another to obstinately refuse to acknowledge and repent of those very public sins as such - e.g., support for the destruction of innocent pre-born human lives - and pretend that, at the end of the day, one's conscience is free of culpability after either standing idly by or by enacting laws and policies that permit a most heinous act against innocent pre-born human life. A straight forward review of the terms to which Catholics are bound - if they truly love the Lord - reveal the standard,...

With many friends who are members of diocesan parishes, day after day I hear lamentations about the shaky state of the Diocese of Victoria, BC (DVBC).  The most recent Synod conducted in the Diocese of Victoria tends to paint an overly rosy picture of a diocese  in steady decline. Given the responses of attendees cited in the Synod Report, the cause is understandable as to why the DVBC is withering. Prophetic voices or specious spaemen? A Synodal Church , a report from the Diocese of Victoria, BC. The Synod participants expressed much hope. The act of simply sharing feelings and thoughts openly was an invigorating boost. People were stirred and surprised. It is as if the process modeled what people aspire to - a Church that is open, welcoming, engaging, and full of life. A yearning for change and transformation was evident in calls for more women in leadership (especially in our churches), ordained women, married priests, a Synodal approach similar to the momentum experienced ...