Posts

Showing posts from July, 2023

The Great Commission Ordinariate Style

Image
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (exousia) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. - St Matthew 28:18-20 - - - A brief reminder. This blogger does not speak for the Personal Ordinariates. His "take on things" is merely meant to complement the many official statements and wisdom awaiting celebration in the wider Church. If any part of this or any post found herein contradicts the mind of Holy Mother Church, please leave a comment in the combox to clarify any concerns. - ATTBS - - - READ TIME: 13 minutes Jesus shares his power ( exousia ) with us to enable us to act with his power, the power of God, for the salvation of souls. And when (Jesus) had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them pow

Art v. Rupnik et al.

Image
Marko Rupnik, "artist", former Jesuit, accused serial abuser. ROME (AP) — The Jesuits said Monday that a famous artist priest is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women(.) Catholics are saying that Rupnik's "art" should be removed because of his character, or lack thereof. To do that for that reason is a weak argument for removing his mosaics, etc. A better argument for removing his work from churches and other buildings is because his work is of low artistic merit. In other words, his work does not rise to the level of art. Rupnik's works have figures with large eyes. The eyes are solid, opaque, and disturbingly vacant. The eyes of C-3PO convey more feeling than do Rupnik's eyes. Are we meant to find ourselves in those eyes? So much of human warmth and compassion is conveyed through the eyes. What of divine warmth? Again, Rupnik's work falls short of conveying mercy, divine or human.

Mercy to the merciless.

Image
READ TIME: 12 minutes Hypothetical & Familiar Scenarios A woman is charged with violating the rights of an impassioned member of an "oppressed" minority, a member of a state protected class. The woman, an artist, is taken to court, and prosecuted for attempted discrimination for refusing to design content that she acknowledges is incompatible with her religious beliefs. Lower courts side with state prosecutors. The nation's highest court says wait a cotton pickin' minute, and overturns the lower courts' attempts to infringe upon the woman's right to freedom of expression. Those angered by the highest court's decision are likely to continue targeting businesses and individuals who are obstacles to their demands to have their destructive behaviours made acceptable, and likely to continue using the courts to legislate imagined rights. A student weaponzies her response to a teacher's opposition to her calumny and disruptive behaviour. She attempts to b

Is your parish a healthy liturgical ecosystem?

Image
READ TIME: 4 MINUTES The International Society for Ecosystem Health states: A healthy and diverse ecosystem is one that provides abundant and beneficial services to its constituents, such as food, water, shelter, economic livelihood, recreation, and natural beauty. Let's adapt that. A healthy God-centred liturgical ecosystem is one that provides abundant and beneficial assistance to worshippers to help them thrive, such as orthodox preaching, authentic spirituality and reverent prayer, a refuge of righteousness, immersion in biblical wisdom, restoration in virtue and charity, and supernatural beauty. Authentic Liturgy Is your parish's Eucharistic Liturgy reverent and oriented entirely to God? Is the Liturgy true and beautiful? Is the text of the music and is the preaching orthodox? Is the Liturgy well organized and rubrically responsible? Authentic Fellowship Spiritual: Is the liturgical culture of the parish faith-forming or does it amount to mere entertainment? 2 Timothy 4:3

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

Image
In a movie theatre, you genuflect before entering the aisle to take a seat. Riding a bus, sitting in class or at the doctor's office, and/or when watching TV, you rest your hands palms down on your thighs, finger tips at your knees. You can identify each and every variety of incense used in the Mass simply by its scent. You habitually wear black socks and black dress shoes... even when wearing shorts for gym class or at the beach. You turn a perfect right angle when entering a building. You have nightmares about serving Mass at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. You hear a bicycle bell ring and you drop to your knees. You can't resist the urge to lift a curtain from the bottom. You have a copy of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Adrian Fortescue on your smartphone for recreational reading. You have a copy of Ritual Notes (11th Edition) on your smartphone for recreational reading. As a torchbearer, you can carry a processional candle without spilling one dr

Pray for Canada's Delegates to the Synod On Synodality

Image
Hand of God, from a fresco at Saint Clement of Taüll, Catalonia. Almighty God and Father, vouchsafe to grant Thy servants the grace that illuminates minds and conforms wills to the truth revealed by Thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Pour forth Thy Holy Spirit to guide them and all Synod delegates in perfect faithfulness to the Apostolic Tradition for the glory of Thy Name, for the unity of the Body of Christ, and for the salvation of souls. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Hail Mary... Glory be... Holy Michael, archangel... His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal LACROIX, I.S.P.X., Archbishop of Québec His Grace John Michael MILLER, C.S.B., Archbishop of Vancouver The Most Reverend William Terrence McGRATTA, Bishop of Calgary The Most Reverend Raymond POISSON, Bishop of Saint-Jérôme - Mont-Laurier The Most Reverend Marc PELCHAT, Auxiliary Bishop of Québec, Titular Bishop of Lambesi The Reverend Gilles ROUTHIER, professor in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at Laval Universi
The opinions expressed herein are largely those of the blog author. Every effort is made to conform to Church teaching. Comments are welcome.