A Treasure To Be Shared

Divine Worship: The Missal—the liturgical book proper to the Personal Ordinariates erected under Anglicanorum Coetibus —embodies a distinctive fusion of the Roman Rite with the English liturgical patrimony that shaped centuries of worship in the British Isles. Its purpose is not antiquarian but evangelical: to preserve those elements of Anglican liturgical life that have nourished holiness and now enrich the Catholic Church. The result is a form of the Mass that is fully Roman in doctrine and sacramental structure, yet marked by a reverent, hieratic, and deeply scriptural idiom. Divine Worship fosters love of God by immersing worshippers in a reverent, beauty‑filled liturgical tradition that lifts the heart toward the sacred. Its poetic language, ordered ritual, and rich musical heritage cultivate interior devotion, helping the faithful encounter God with awe and gratitude. Through this contemplative rhythm of prayer, Divine Worship forms the soul in adoration, deepens reverence, and...

The Church recently celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. How many were paying attention to Christ's teaching? Addressing the Jewish teachers, Jesus told aspiring leaders, or shepherds, that they had forfeited their position. John 10:25-30 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Those are some sobering words for clergy. Obedience in Catholic teaching is not merely “doing what you’re told.” It is a faithful, loving alignment of your will with God’s will, expressed concretely through lawful authority, especially in the forms God has establi...

This past week the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document acknowledging the vital contribution of communities of the Personal Ordinariate to the spiritual health of the Church. The document highlights important aspects of the Ordinariate charism and the character of communities that have developed since Pope Benedict issued the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus on November 4, 2009, the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo. What are some defining features of the Ordinariate within the life of the Church? A Distinctive “Ecclesial Ethos”.  The Bishops first spoke of a distinctive “ecclesial ethos,” marked by the broad participation of both clergy and laity in the life and governance of the Church. This culture, grounded in relationships that shape the ecclesial life of each Ordinariate, is inherently consultative and collaborative . It is also characterized by a capacity to welcome converts into Catholic communion while preserving the uniqueness of their spi...

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who knowest the hearts of all, I render unto Thee my heartfelt thanks for these present trials. Praised be Thy holy Name for granting me the privilege to share in the sufferings of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, for the salvation of souls. I pray not for respite from pains great and small, but rather to know Thee even as Thou desirest to be known, to love Thee even as Thou desirest to be loved, for I am Thy child and disciple, desiring to be known as Thy friend amidst the company of the angels and saints, willing to remain steadfast and forgetful of the cost of love, to serve Thee in this life in the fervent hope of residing in Thy Presence for all eternity; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee, Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. For reflection: Colossians 1:24

Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary | Johannes Vermeer Much digital ink has been spilled about the notion of active participation in the Liturgy. That same notion should read actual participation , but due to a misleading translation of the Latin participatio actuosa , Latin Rite Catholics have been subjected to an incessant barrage of activities at Mass that constitute an unfortunate layering of events that practically force people to embrace a misstated concept in an attempt to engage us in worship. More than acting out, Christ calls us to be present to him in the Liturgy. Holy receptivity is being open-minded and willing to receive divine direction and grace. It entails fostering an open heart and mind to God's presence and teachings, which allows for spiritual growth and transformation. Core Elements of Holy Receptivity Openness and Humility. Holy receptivity involves a posture of humility, acknowledging one's dependence on God and a willingness to be taught and led.  Act...

? doubter, agnostic ! zealot If the '?', then seek the grace to overcome doubts. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! Mark 9:24 Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt. Saint John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua If the '!', then seek the grace of humility to serve God at all times for the salvation of souls. The zealot loves Tradition, but if does not possess love, he is but a noisy gong (1 Corinthians 13:1). The zealot is always " prepared to make a defense to any one who calls (him) to account for the hope that is in (him), yet does it with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15). If zealots are prone to any kind of excess, zealots can be prone to a form of toxic enthusiasm. That is, they might make a defense of something by denigrating the opposition. It may be true that the opposition falls short on a particular issue, but rarely do people win others to a cause by promoting themselves at the expense of another's reputation. To make a proper defen...

The joy of Tradition is an integral part of the Catholic faith. The Second Council of Nicaea emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the traditions received from the apostles and the holy Fathers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that Tradition is the handing on of what the apostles received from Jesus' teaching and example, as well as what they learned from the Holy Spirit. It further distinguishes between the Tradition of faith and the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical, or devotional traditions that have developed over time. The tradition of Christian prayer is a significant aspect of the joy of Tradition. Through the contemplation and study of believers, who treasure in their hearts the events and words of the economy of salvation, the Tradition of faith takes shape and grows.  The festive character of the Sunday Eucharist expresses the joy that Christ communicates to his Church through the gift of the Spirit. Tradition is not a stagnant museum but ...

[ Expanded from a 2019 post ] As one somewhat familiar with the counting of days according to Pentecost, an appreciation of the sequence of days that rubbed off from time served in the Latin Mass community, this blogger has become acquainted with the Ordinariate experience of - or discipline of, or happy encounter of - numbering days according to the Most Holy Trinity. The Ordinariate, you will recall dear Reader, has preserved the Octave of Pentecost, as is appropriate for the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Here we are in the midst of Trinitytide; Trinity XVII, to be exact. Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us: and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. - Collect for Trinity XVII, Divine Worship: The Missal A wise pastor reminds us that "(t)his prayer from the Gregorian Sacramentary is in eff...

Dr. Edward Peters, canon lawyer, weighs in on the Illinois divide. Below, quoted in part, Dr. Peters' assessment. For a full read of his assessment, visit Dr. Peters' site by clicking on the following link: In The Light of the Law. June 14, 2019 No one thought that Chicago’s Blase Cdl. Cupich would follow Springfield’s Bp. Thomas Paprocki’s example in calling upon Catholic state legislators [...] to refrain from Holy Communion until they repented of their evil deed (Canon 916), further directing that his ministers withhold holy Communion from two specific legislators based on their protracted and public support of such measures (Canon 915), so no one was surprised when Cupich didn’t . [...] 1. Cupich claims that “it would be counterproductive to impose sanctions”. This misrepresents a crucial point: withholding Holy Communion under Canon 915 is not the application of canonical sanction but rather the observance of a sacramental disciplinary norm. Casti...