SSPX

Come back to the church guys and gals. Come back. You can even bring crazy Bishop Williamson with you but come back.

visiting Holy Trinity

In our continuing quest to visit all the parishes in our diocese last Sunday we went to visit Holy Trinity. It's a new parish in Gainesville, VA. It is incredibly beautiful. I thought Our Lady of Hope was the prettiest of the new parishes but Holy Trinity blows it away. It looks like a good parish. They have perpetual adoration, three levels of the Legion of Mary and Knights of Columbus. Their pastor, Fr. Pelfrey seems like and interesting person. Alas, they aren't used to visitors and when we ran into members of the choir they stared as if they had never seen such a sight before. One kid stared with google eyes and an an open mouth. I almost laughed.

Rocky's only comment was that these folks don't seem to get out much.

Simplex priests

Are there still simplex priests? I was listening to Fr. Theoden give the homily yesterday when I was suddenly reminded of just how smart he is. I mean, he has a really superior mind. What do men do who feel called to be a priest but know full well that they don't have the academic mind for it?

Pray for our priests!

We offer you: no salary, no recompense, no holidays, no pension.

But much hard work, a poor dwelling, few consolations, many disappointments, frequent sickness, a violent or lonely death, an unknown grave.

THIS COMES FROM AN 1812 POSTER RECRUITING SEMINARIANS TO BECOME MISSION PRIESTS IN AMERICA. IT'S STILL NOT EASY, WE STILL NEED THEM DESPERATELY. PRARY FOR OUR PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS.

the cardinal mccarick rumor rises again

Richard Sipe has openly accused Cardinal McCarrick of being a homosexual. I've met the cardinal and never got a gay vibe from him and frankly, let's consider the source. Mr. Sipe is a former priest and apparently has his own axe to grind. If he's had evidence of immorality on the cardinal's part why didn't he use it years ago? Don't just dredge up an old story ---- the beach house in Jersey rumor has floated around like sewer gas for years--- tell us names, dates, and provide witnesses. Put up or shut up.

Monsignor Ganswein----Some folks need to rediscover so called Catholic guilt.

I find it very creepy how so many Catholic women bloggers and a few men seem to be obsessed with the sexiness of Monsignor Ganswein, the Holy Father's assistant.

People, the man is a priest.Cut the crap and practice custody of the eyes. His life, his words, deeds and attractiveness all belong to God. Lusting after him is just as bad as going into the sacristy, removing the chalice from the safe and using it to drink Kool-Aid. It's just as base as going into the vestment drawers and using an altar cloth to blow your nose. It is as low as washing your hands in the sacrarium. That which is dedicated to God is not for vulgar or profane thought or use. Okay?

Mary, exterminatrix of heresies and impurity, pray for us.

TLM in May

There will be a solemn high TLM at St. Rita's in Alexandria, Virginia on May 1rst.

the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven

Last night at 6:30 Rocky and I went to the traditional Latin mass at St. Rita's. It was a low mass which was great becuase I got to really follow the responses of the altar boys. Fr. Scalia will be celebrating the TLM again soon. Once again Rocky and I were left wondering how on earth Catholics let this go.....

pics from the papal mass

filth and fury

When I read this I started to shiver and thought I was going to vomit. Then I got angry. It is apparently a hoax. I hope to God it is but this young woman either needs a smack upside her empty head or a series of appointments with a competent pyschiatrist.

My God what is wrong with this girl?

Is this was going to Yale will do to a mush mind or was she this messed up before she even hit campus?

Rocky & Dymphna go to Mass with the Pope!

Well, us and 47,000 others. I have to say that the National's Stadium is an excellent venue. It's almost as terrific as Camden Yards. Next, I have to say that taking the Metro was almost ridiculously easy. Rocky and I spent the night at my mother's house so we'd already be in DC by 5AM when the Metro trains started running. The trains were packed but it was the happiest crowd I've ever seen. Everyone was delighted, polite and kind to one another. We ran into a seminarian friend and his classmates.

I chatted with sisters from the Nashville Dominicans, the Servants of the Lord and the Sisters of the Assumption. Wonderful, upbeat young women. At 6AM confessions started and we got in line, which moved quickly. After that we headed up to our seats and bought souveneirs. Our seats were so high we actually above the Secret Service snipers. No problem, it just gave us more of a veiw.

There was a happy buzz of excitment in the air as the priests, bishops and cardinals streamed in and took their seats. The music was not great but the sound system at National's Stadium was so poor that I didn't hear much of it. The best thing was soprano Denyce Graves who managed to overcome the poor sound. And then suddenly on the jumbo tron we saw a Secret Service agent walk down a corridor. A cheer went up because right behind him was the Popemobile. Cameras went off, people waved and cried. The Holy Father looked so genuinely happy to see us. He did one lap around the field and then left to get vested. He's quick for 81 and soon the holy sacrifice of the Mass began.

The sound system failed miserably and we heard not a word of the pope's homily. One thing struck me as sad. Marty Haugen's music has become the "official" music of the American church. The dude isn't even Catholic and his stuff isn't very good or singable but it's all most of us know. Sad. It seemed to be a mediocre offering.

The choirs. What can I say about the choirs? There were four or five and it was a mess. The whole thing was a weird jazz/gospel/ mariachi type mishmash of styles to show how diverse America is and was it more like a free concert in the park than liturgical music. The children's choir, bless their innocent hearts was very good. Too bad we could barely hear them.

Finally, after the dross and muck came pure gold. Placido Domingo sang Panic Angelicus and miraculously the problems with the sound were fixed. He was magnificent and Pope Benedict seemed to really enjoy it. He even got up and went over to Placido who was really emotional when he knelt to kiss the Holy Father's hand.

There were no slip ups with Communion that I saw. Most people recieved in the hand but I didn't notice anyone walking away with the Eucharist. I wasn't the only woman to wear a veil, nor was I the youngest. Neat. After Mass the pope was mobbed by delighted people. He blessed us all and any holy objects we had with us and left for the Nat's dugout.

Afterward Rocky and I took photos and had a hot dog. The concession stands opened right after the pope left the field. Again, I've never seen such a huge and thoroughly happy crowd. I don't like outdoor mega masses but this was as decently done as it can be.

Upon leaving the stadium we visited St. Vincent DePaul a small, very lovely church near the stadium. It is run by the Josephite order and is a mostly black parish. Then we took Metro back to my Mama's house. A beautiful day. I hope the Holy Father gets some sleep tonight. He's got a grueling schedule for an 81 year old.

May God bless him and keep him with us for many more years.

requiem

Today is the anniversary of my father's death. He was 42 years old. Mama was 40. I was 13. I had a glow in the dark rosary and it was my only comfort. In the days and months after his death I started saying the rosary every night for his soul. Those were horrible days and I've never forgotten the feeling that Mary was right there with me each night. I was a very shy, highly sensitive, anxious child and the shock of my father's sudden death was almost too much to bear.

I was terrified that my mother would die and for months I would freak out if I didn't know exactly where she was. I was terrified and of the insecure feelings that overtook me, so I did my crying in private. I was stoic, quiet and as controlled as a Vulcan. Looking back I know that wasn't healthy.

I didn't want my mother to worry about me-- she had so much to deal with and I didn't want to be another problem so I said nothing about my fears. It's funny how when you are backed up against the cross that you get closer to God. When daddy is never coming home, when the baby dies, when the telegram from the Dept. of Defense comes, when the hurricaine blows the house away---- when there is no-one for you prop yourself up with and nothing to distract you from the pain --- then you realize that your suffering is "only the shade of His Hand outstretched caressingly."

Oh daddy, daddy, daddy, how I miss you, if I should forget you, may my right hand forget what it's supposed to do.

Dear God, let him rest in peace.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;Lord, hear my voice!Let your ears be attentiveto my voice in supplication:
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities,Lord, who can stand?But with you is forgiveness,that you may be revered.
I trust in the Lord;my soul trusts in his word.My soul waits for the Lord,more than sentinels wait for the dawn.More than sentinels wait for the dawn,let Israel wait for the Lord;
For with the Lord is kindnessand with him is plenteous redemption;And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the psalm Out of the depths (Ps 129).

grumpy

For the last few days I've not felt well. I've been having smashing headaches, been dizzy, cranky and tired. It's mainly due to working too hard and not eating lunch until I start feeling sick and longing to smack my boss over the head, (silly woman saw a movie on TV last week and now thinks she knows all about my "oppressive" church). Rocky was/is very concerned which made me feel guilty.......

There was a respite. Today I stayed home instead of my usual schedule and felt human again. On Sunday I stayed in bed until I had to go out. Mass was lovely and Father's homily got my attention. He reminded us that the happy sheep obediately follow the Good Shepherd. When they wander off they get into trouble. Fr. asked us how many times we play cafeteria Catholic and pick and choose what we will deign to obey from Mother Church. He reminded us that Tradition comes from the apostles, who of course got everything from Jesus. When we play games with the truth we are rejecting Christ, who is the Truth.

Finally, Fr. exorted us to read the words of the Holy Father and not to just blindly accept what the media says he said. He also reminds us the Holy Father wears a pallium (bishops do too) that is a symbol of his sent-by-God- to- be- a- shepherd of our souls status.

Pray for Cardinal George

He has a deep problem with his priest Fr. Pfleger. Flagrant disobedience, a cult of personality, defiance and scandal. If you look at the website for Fr. Pfleger's parish, St. Sabina's you'll see that a lot of funky things are going on there but none seem Catholic.


The parishoners have threatened to leave the Faith and follow Fr. Pfleger apparently to wherever or whatever "church" he wants if Cardinal George dares to transfer him. Plus, what poor innocent parish wants Fr. Pfleger? There a several scenarios as to how this situation is going to end. Barring a miracle, which could happen, of course, none of them looks good.

adoration tonight

Tonight Rocky and I went to adoration at a nearby parish. It was lovely as usual until a young mohter came in with a toddler. He was having a bad night. He didn't want to leave but he didn't want his mommy praying and not paying attention to him either. That child had remarkable lung power. I hope his parents give him singing lessons someday. That much vocal strength has got to be good for something. He was just tall enough to walk under the altar rail and that's what he did. He headed straight for Jesus and I tensed up thinking that he was going to get hurt by knocking over a candle or the monstrance.

The other adorers were annoyed and one man told the mother frankly that she ought to remove her little boy. She did for a time and when he quieted down she brought him back for a few minutes. The poor thing meant well.... I normally can't stand noisy children but tonight I wasn't bothered. The little fellow actually made me pray harder so I guess all things really do work to the good.

demograhpics are destiny

There are now more Muslims in the world than Catholics. We shouldn't be shocked. Afterall, the Faith is in a free fall in most of Europe and European women don't seem to want to have children anymore. The Muslim woman doesn't have a choice, of course. Nobody envys her. In her case she'd better have a bunch of boys or she could find herself dead or cast out on the street but demographics are destiny. Look for things to get much, much worse in the next 10 to 20 years.

But the West has no-one to blame to but ourselves. I wonder if the French really believe that a Muslim majority will allow them to live as they are used to? The fashion industry, the wine industry and tourism will have be destroyed. And merry old England isn't looking to healthy these days either.

I got to thinking about all this because of an interesting post at the Athanasius blog. He's considerably harsher on JPII than I could ever be but though it hurts me to say it; I think he's more right than wrong. Admitting that makes me feel a bit like Frank Sinatra in the very last scene of Manchurian Candidate where he turns away from the camera so he can cry for his lost friend Raymond.

Guess what?

I just got an e-mail from my parish. Rocky and I have tickets to the papal Mass on April 17.

Hellllllllllllooooooooooo Papa!

Sister Bovary?

Sr. Barbara Markey stole money from the archdiocese of Omaha to spend it on gifts, trips and gambling. The Cafeteria is Closed has a post on this sad story here. Prosecutors say that Sr. Barbara spent more than $307,000.

I don't understand how this happend. What does a nun need with $31,000 on clothing and furniture? I don't really trust nuns who don't wear habitsbecause I've had too many bad experiences with them but I've never known one who approached this kind of lavish living. An unhabited nun only needs four plain blouses, three simple skirts, two sweaters, a light all weather coat and a good heavy coat and two pairs of shoes a year. That doesn' cost $31,000, especially if she goes to Good Will. And what's this about furniture? No nun should be living alone unless she's a hermit and hermits don't have fancy furntiture.

Judging by this photo she's not unfamilar with the hair salon either. Come on somebody had to know that aint right.

She spent $67,000 in casinos. Why in God's name is a nun in a casino? And did nobody question how Sr. Barbara could afford to give expensive gifts? The only gifts I've ever gotten from nuns were prayers (precious!) or handmade crafts. Sr. Barbara may very well be the nicest woman in Omaha and she most likely never meant for any of this to happen. Like Madam Bovary she probably started out with some romantic dreams and things got horribly out of hand. This pathetic story shows why a strong superior is necessary to religious life.