Plenary Indulgences in the Year of Priests

Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and it is also the beginning of the Year of Priets. I just wanted to post this as a reminder, especially to priests, of the plenary indulgences available during this year in honor of Saint John Marie Vianney, which the pope declaired to help foster the "spiritual perfection" of priests.

(Yes, it's a pre-post and a re-post, but this is an important opportunity for Catholics, especially priests.)

Incorrupt Body of Saint Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney
The Church has granted priests the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence daily during the Year of Priests, and the opportunity for the laity to gain a plenary indulgence on the opening and closing days of the Year of the Priest and once a month on the first Thursdays of the month during the Year of the Priest.

For Priests:

The means to obtain the Plenary Indulgence are as follows:

(A) All truly penitent priests who, on any day, devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle, and ... offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Penance, will be granted Plenary Indulgence, which they can also apply to their deceased confreres, if in accordance with current norms they take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Priests are furthermore granted Partial Indulgence, also applicable to deceased confreres, every time they devotedly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them.

In a simple summary, this means that priests could obtain a plenary indulgence DAILY if:

1) Each day, they devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament (either exposed or in the Tabernacle)
2) Each day, they "offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the Sacraments (especially the Sacrament of Penance)
3) Each day, they say the usual prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, ie one Pater Noster (Our Father) and one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
4) Each day, they receive Holy Communion (which would naturally follow if they are offering Mass daily)
5) Go to confession at least once a week
6) Be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin. (see Fr. Tim Finigan's post on this: "Plenary Indulgences NOT Impossible")

This would be a great way to obtain great graces for the faithful departed, especially, as recommended above, for their deceased brother priests and bishops.

I would highly encourage priests to contemplate the great graces being made available to them, and to take adavantage of this opportunity to truly carry out their priestly vocation of interceding for souls and bringing them to salvation, which is the intrisic vocation of the priest.

For the laity:

The means to obtain the Plenary Indulgence are as follows:

(B) All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory, devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence, on the condition that they have expiated their sins through Sacramental Confession and prayed in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This may be done on the opening and closing days of the Year of Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

So in summary for the laity, on the opening day of the Year of Priests, the closing day of the Year of Priests, on the 150th Anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney (August 4th, 2009), and on the first Thursday of each month (and other days if the local ordinary has established them):

1) Devotedly attend Mass and offer prayers to Christ the High Priest for the priests of the Church
or
perform any good work to sanctify and mould priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
2) Receive Holy Communion
3) Offer the usual prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, ie one Pater Noster (Our Father) and one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
4) Make a sacramental confession within a week of the day of seeking to obtain a plenary indulgence
5) Be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin. (see Fr. Tim Finigan's post on this: "Plenary Indulgences NOT Impossible")

This is also a great opportunity for the laity to offer these indulgences for the deceased priests of their diocese who are suffering the most in purgatory, as well as an opportunity to spiritually support the priests of their parish and diocese, those both living and deceased).

For the elderly and sick:

The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles".

So, in summary for the elderly and sick, on the opening day of the Year of Priests, the closing day of the Year of Priests, on the 150th Anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney (August 4th, 2009), and on the first Thursday of each month (and other days if the local ordinary has established them):

1) pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles"
2) Be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin. (see Fr. Tim Finigan's post on this: "Plenary Indulgences NOT Impossible")
3) Offer the usual prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, ie one Pater Noster (Our Father) and one Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
4) If possible, receive Holy Communion, or at least have the intention to receive it as soon as possible.
5) If possible, make a sacramental confession, or at least have the intention to make it as soon as possible.

And one final reminder, even if you don't have the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence, you can still always obtain partial indulgences for the deceased by doing any act of devotion or prayer and offering it to God for the poor souls in Purgatory. This can be done any time and as many times as one likes. Who knows what small act may be the last thing needed to free a soul from Purgatory.

For more on partial indulgences see this link:

Partial Indulgences

Documentation for the Technical "Stuff"

“1. An indulgence is the remission in the eyes of God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose culpable element has already been taken away. The Christian faithful who are rightly disposed and observe the definite, prescribed conditions gain this remission through the effective assistance of the Church, which, as the minister of redemption, authoritatively distributes and applies the treasury of the expiatory works of Christ and the Saints.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norms

“23. 1. Besides the exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin, the requirements for gaining a Plenary Indulgence are the performance of the indulgenced work and fulfillment of three conditions: Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
2. Several Plenary Indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single Sacramental Confession; only one may be gained, however, on the basis of a single Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
3. The three conditions may be carried out several days preceding or following performance of the prescribed work. But it is more fitting that the Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the day the work is performed.
4. If a person is not fully disposed or if the prescribed work and the three mentioned conditions are not fulfilled, the Indulgence will only be partial ...”
5. The condition requiring prayer for the Pope’s intentions is satisfied by reciting once the Our Father and Hail Mary for his intentions (Pater Noster and Ave Maria); nevertheless all the faithful have the option of reciting any other prayer suited to their own piety and devotion.”
- Handbook of Indulgences, Norm

RS

Monastic reflection

Picture from the Monastery of Philotheou on Mount Athos
"In this Jerusalem [the monastery], the Church is the center of the monk's love. The abbatial church is truly for him the building where all is sacred to God, the cherished dwelling echoing with the harmony of his praises and jubilation and proclaiming to all the fervor of his faith in the one thrice holy Lord. There, several times a day, with all the members of the cenobitcal family, the monk extends his suppliant arms, like Moses on the mountain, for the intention of his brethren fighting in the plain; he knows that he can obtain, through the ardor and constancy of his prayer, the victory for the armies of Israel over the enemies of God and of His people. Therefore his gaze, enlightened by faith, reaches out to all that touches God's Kingdom; his charity stirs up the flame of his devotion, it would reach all the souls who are struggling in ignorance, error, doubt, misery, temptation, suffering, sin; all who are spending themselves in promoting Christ's reign upon earth; all those too who are filled with the intense desire for being nearer our Lord. To render his intercession more efficacious, he joins his prayer to the all powerful and ever-answered prayer of the Divine Victim with arms stretched out upon the new Calvary which is the high altar ..."
-Blessed Dom Columba Marmion, OSB
Abbot of Maredsous Abbey in the early 20th century

(Please pray for me as I enter the monastery in early June of this year.)

RS

Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
Here’s a good analogy of the monastic life by an Eastern Orthodox monk of Mount Athos.

The monk departs far from the world not because he hates it, but because he loves it. In this way he will, through his prayer, help the world more in those matters that are, being humanly impossible, only possible by God’s intervention. This is how God saves the world. The monk never says: “I will save the world.” Instead, he prays for the salvation of the whole world, along with his own soul. When the Good God hears his prayer and helps the world, he does not say: “I saved the world,” but “God saved the world.”

In a few words, monks are the “radio operators” of Mother Church, and therefore, if they depart far from the world, they do it out of love, departing from the distractions of this world in order to be in better contact with God and help people more effectively.

Of course, when their unit is in danger, some mindless soldiers also share the irrational demand of certain clergymen (i.e. that monks should return to the world). They say that the radio operator should leave the radio aside and grab his rifle, as if by adding one more gun to the two hundred others he will salvage the situation. While the radio operator clamors to make contact, yelling “calling headquarters, come in, come in” etc., the others think that he calls pointlessly to the wind. However, astute radio operators pay no attention, even if they are reviled. They struggle until they make contact and then ask for immediate help from Headquarters and the air forces arrive, as well as the armed forces, the navy, etc. Thus, in this way, and not with their meager rifles, the unit is saved. The same applies to monks who advance with divine power, with their prayer, and not with their negligible individual powers. It is especially the case in our age, when evil is so widespread, that we are in need of God’s intervention.

(Before becoming a monk, Elder Paisios was himself a radio operator in the army during the Greek civil war which went from 1945-1949)

From Epistles by Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

Although not a Catholic book, it has the common link between the East and the West which is monasticism.

RS

Providential words from the Holy Father

I just saw from a few days back in one of the Holy Father's addresses to some youth in Angola and thought I would publish an excerpt:

After encouraging his young audience not to be "afraid to make definitive decisions", the Pope added: "You do not lack generosity - that I know! But the idea of risking a lifelong commitment, whether in marriage or in a life of special consecration, can be daunting. You might think: ...'Can I make a life-long commitment now, without knowing what unforeseen events lie in store for me? By making a definitive decision, would I not be risking my freedom and tying my own hands?' These are the doubts you feel, and today's individualistic and hedonist culture aggravates them. Yet when young people avoid decisions, there is a risk of never attaining full maturity".

"Take courage!", he cried. "Dare to make definitive decisions, because in reality these are the only decisions which do not destroy your freedom, but guide it in the right direction, enabling you to move forward and attain something worthwhile in life. There is no doubt about it: life is worthwhile only if you take courage and are ready for adventure, if you trust in the Lord Who will never abandon you. Young people of Angola , unleash the power of the Holy Spirit within you, the power from on high!

"Trusting in this power, like Jesus, risk taking a leap and making a definitive decision. Give life a chance", the Holy Father concluded. "This is the life worthy of being lived, and I commend it to you from my heart. May God bless the young people of Angola !".

RS

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Repost from last year.

"Christ in the Desert" by Ivan Kranskoi
Browsing through the Catholic Encyclopedia, I found a few articles that are definitely worth a read to get a better understanding of the season of Lent.

Since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a good place to start is the entry on:

Ash Wednesdsay

(As a side note, I think I found a potential answer about the difference in the US and Rome. From the above article, it says that the faithful received ashes in the form of a cross upon their forehead, and that clerics would receive ashes in the form of a cross upon their tonsure (top of their head). One problem is that "tonsure" no longer exists. Another problem is that so many modernists don't like to distinguish between clerics and laity (as if that is something bad or clericalist). Not sure what or why the differences today.)

With that comes the observance upon Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday) of the:

Fast

On fascinating part mentions how fasting has been seen not only as just a religious observance, but also one of natural virtue as it fosters temperance.

It also explains many of the differences we have heard of in fasting, whether it be be not eating at all, having only one meal (The Black Fast), or having one normal meal with two small meals. Overall the conclusion becomes what is demanded by Church law and most importantly common sense.

Then this brings us fully into the season of:

Lent

Which shows a rather varied form of observance throughout the Church in both East and West due to Lent's rather "late" development compared to other annual feasts like Epiphany.

One interesting perspective was something of Saint Gregory the Great in looking at the fasting of Lent as a tithe to God:

"In the time of Gregory the Great (590-604) there were apparently at Rome six weeks of six days each, making thirty-six fast days in all, which St. Gregory, who is followed therein by many medieval writers, describes as the spiritual tithing of the year, thirty-six days being approximately the tenth part of three hundred and sixty-five."

And here are the relavent Canons on fasting and abstinence:

BOOK IV, PART III, TITLE II, CHAPTER II.

Days of Penance

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

All of these articles are definitely worth a read, and can help give us a proper understanding and more focused observance of Lent.

RS

Fratres, sobrii estote et vigilate

"Quaerens Quem Devoret" by Jean Leon Gerome
"Fratres: Sóbrii estóte, et vigiláte: quia adversárius vester diábolus, tamquam leo rúgiens círcuit, quaerens quem dévoret: cui resístite fortes in fide." - I Peter 5: 8-9

I often repeat this verse to myself in a time like this. I don't know what is going on, but the devil seems to really be active of late. It seems like all sorts of you-know-what is hitting the fan in things going on around me. So, the above verse helps me to keep things in perspective and to not let my guard down.

I guess the devil is really getting wound up before this Christmas. In this case the old saying of "it's always darkest before the light" is spiritually true too. So, stay vigilant, friends.

(Brethren, stay sober and alert, your adversary the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour, resist him being strong in your faith.) - I Peter 5: 8-9

RS

Thinking about All Souls Day

Time for a rant
I was just thinking a bit about All Souls Day in relation to getting things ready for the Masses this Sunday. I have to admit, I have been really disappointed with what seems to be a new perspective on the day. It seems like we should stop calling it "All Souls Day" and start calling it "All Saints Part II."

I don't know if it is just me, but when I was looking over the readings, particularly the ones that were "suggested" on the USCCB website, I just found the readings to be completely inappropriate for the occasion.

When I look at All Souls Day, I see a day in which we are focused on praying for all the faithful departed who have died in the state of grace but have had to go to Purgatory. They need our prayers because they are still being purified of their vices, bad habits, and imperfections, which is most likely a suffering. I sort of look at All Souls Day as a really big funeral Mass. And traditionally that is the way it has been treated. In the extraordinary form, you did not have funeral Masses or celebrate All Souls Day on a Sunday. It was just moved to the following Monday. Strangely, I don't think you can have masses for the dead on Sundays in the ordinary form, yet for some reason All Souls Masses can be said on Sunday, even though the Liturgy of the Hours is just taken from what the current Sunday would be if All Souls didn't fall on it.

Like I said, the readings seem totally inappropriate. Instead of helping us understand that those who die most likely have to go through Purgatory, and thus they need our prayers to help release them from their suffering so they can be brought into the Presence of God, the readings seem to overemphasize the resurrection, which is odd because even the damned will be resurrected. The important thing is where we ultimately end up: Heaven or Hell. The readings seem to give the impression that, "when someone dies, they are just shot into the arms of Jesus." The readings seem to tell us they are already saved and in Heaven. It's like the liturgy just says "don't worry about them, they're fine, no reason to pray for them." It's as though they (whoever "they" are) don't want us to think that just maybe we might be punished for our sins, even if it is a temporary punishment for those who die in the state of grace.

Anyway, I just want to re-emphasize that God is a just God and we all will have to make amends for our sins. Yet, God is a merciful God too. However, it is our duty in the Church Militant to pray for and help as much as possible our brethren in the Church Suffering. This is why I try to help explain plenary indulgences and how to obtain them. So, please on All Souls try to obtain a plenary indulgence for a poor soul in purgatory. And always remember to pray for the faithful departed. I especially like to pray for those who are suffering the most in purgatory and for those who have no one to pray for them.

And remember, this also applies to funerals as well. We certainly hope that the person died in the state of grace, but even if they did, we need to pray for them so that if they are in Purgatory, God will be merciful and bring them to Himself.

Anyway, yes, I'm tired and had to rant a bit, but I just wanted to add my reflections on All Souls Day and hopefully correct some of this improper perspective that has crept into the liturgy in the last 40 years.

RS

Ember Days

Today is (well, was at this hour) the first day of the Autumnal Ember Days. Here's some good articles about Ember Days. It seems ironic that in the hurry to restore things from the early Church into the liturgy, one of the oldest traditions was not only downplayed but in actuality dropped by the wayside.

From Fr. Z's blog:

EMBER DAY AWARENESS … DAY

From The New Liturgical Movement:

Ember Days: Explanation and Two Proposals [UPDATED]

and of course the Catholic Encyclopedia

Ember Days

RS

Novena to Saint Benedict

Statue of Saint Benedict in the piazza in Norcia
It's a simple yet beautiful little novena:

I would also ask your prayers for a "brother" of mine, (we were novices together), Brother Benedict, a deacon and monk of Norcia, who is preparing for priestly ordination this Fall.

Novena to Saint Benedict

Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.
To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His Kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries, and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion, and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore.
[mention your petition]

Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving Will, and to attain the eternal happiness of Heaven.
Amen.

"Saint Benedict Writing His Rule" by Hermann Nigg
RS

Photos of Dom Gerard's Funeral

The New Liturgical Movement provided a link to pictures from the Funeral Mass of Dom Gerard Calvet, OSB, the eventual founder of the Traditional Monastery of Le Barroux in southern France.

As usual the liturgy is beautiful, and shows the detail and theology of the older liturgical form.

Here are some pictures, and the rest can be viewed here:

"Funeral" album of Le Barroux.






More albums can be viewed here:

Le Barroux albums

Dom Gerard Calvet, OSB
1927-2008
Requiescat in pace.
RS

Summer Vocational Discerment Program, Norcia, Italy

Basilica and Monastery of Saint Benedict in Norcia, Italy.
The monastery of which I am a novice oblate is having it's annual summer vocational discernment program for young men considering monastic life. The subprior just sent me this notice, asking to spread the word.

The Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia will hold its 10th annual summer vocational discernment program in 2008 from July 1 – July 31.

The purpose of the program is to offer young men (usually age 18-30) a time to discern God’s will for their life in a more concentrated way than normal worldly circumstances permit.

Attendees will be invited to participate in the life of the monks as a way to guide their decision. The program also includes the following aspects:

Readings and discussions on vocational discernment based on texts from Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the Magisterium.
All the states of life (i.e. marriage, priesthood and religious life) are considered.
Spiritual direction with the monks
Weekly outings to important places in St. Benedict’s life (Subiaco, Monte Cassino)
Weekly hikes in the mountains surrounding Norcia.

Requirements:
Open to men ages 18-30.
A letter of recommendation from a priest.
A $300 donation would be helpful but is not essential.

Participants should try to arrive a few days early to get over the jet lag. For more information please visit the monastery website: www.osbnorcia.org. To apply please write to the Subprior, Br Benedict at benedict@osbnorcia.org.

The community is mostly made up of monks from the United States, however, it is intended to be an international community. It would be ideal if candidates can speak either English or Italian, however, for any questions contact Br. Benedict at the address above.

Having gone through the program I can say it is well worth it and gives you a very good and extended experience of monastic life. The community is solid in it's doctrine, liturgy, and monastic observance. I would highly encourage any men who are even slightly interested.

RS

Information on Ash Wednesday and Lent.

"Christ in the Desert" by Ivan Kranskoi
Browsing through the Catholic Encyclopedia, I found a few articles that are definitely worth a read to get a better understanding of the season of Lent.

Since tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a good place to start is the entry on:

Ash Wednesdsay

(As a side note, I think I found a potential answer about the difference in the US and Rome. From the above article, it says that the faithful received ashes in the form of a cross upon their forehead, and that clerics would receive ashes in the form of a cross upon their tonsure (top of their head). One problem is that "tonsure" no longer exists. Another problem is that so many modernists don't like to distinguish between clerics and laity (as if that is something bad or clericalist). Not sure what or why the differences today.)

With that comes the observance upon Ash Wednesday (and Good Friday) of the:

Fast

On fascinating part mentions how fasting has been seen not only as just a religious observance, but also one of natural virtue as it fosters temperance.

It also explains many of the differences we have heard of in fasting, whether it be be not eating at all, having only one meal (The Black Fast), or having one normal meal with two small meals. Overall the conclusion becomes what is demanded by Church law and most importantly common sense.

Then this brings us fully into the season of:

Lent

Which shows a rather varied form of observance throughout the Church in both East and West due to Lent's rather "late" development compared to other annual feasts like Epiphany.

One interesting perspective was something of Saint Gregory the Great in looking at the fasting of Lent as a tithe to God:

"In the time of Gregory the Great (590-604) there were apparently at Rome six weeks of six days each, making thirty-six fast days in all, which St. Gregory, who is followed therein by many medieval writers, describes as the spiritual tithing of the year, thirty-six days being approximately the tenth part of three hundred and sixty-five."

And here are the relavent Canons on fasting and abstinence:

BOOK IV, PART III, TITLE II, CHAPTER II.

Days of Penance

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

All of these articles are definitely worth a read, and can help give us a proper understanding and more focused observance of Lent.

RS

A meditation on receiving Holy Communion.

"Communion" by Giuseppe Maria Crespi
As a good meditation for Sunday, I found a great reflection by Abbot Joseph of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Byzantine-rite Ukranian Catholic monastery in Redwood Valley, California.

Is it really a Holy Communion?

This would be a great meditation before (every) Mass.

RS

Suffering

9/11 was a very surreal event for me. I was a novice Benedictine monk in Norcia, Italy. For me, the attacks happened in the afternoon. When I first heard the story from a friend, I thought he was just making up some joke. But he wasn't kidding. It was very sobering yet very upsetting. Since all of us in the monastery were from the U.S.A. we were all in a flurry of trying to find out more, wondering what was going on, and generally freaking out. Our Prior noticed this and sat us down in an impromptu chapter meeting, and very simply said one thing. He told us that a monk is not to panic when things get crazy, especially in situations like this where no amount of running around and gathering information will do any good. A monk is to just go to the foot of the Cross and remain there with our Lord. We left the impromptu chapter meeting rather sobered. He was exactly right.

Although I never went on to take vows, I am now a Benedictine novice oblate, and I have just remembered those words. The hard part is that it is much easier said than done. Although I can remember the words, when those times come it is very hard to just go to the foot of the Cross and remain there with our Lord. Yet how much solace that can give Him, to see us come to Him and willingly suffer with Him.

It seems right now is bordering on one of those times. Although I myself am not having the problem, a situation has arisen which has caused me to be in a flurry to find out more, wondering what is going on, and generally freaking out. There still may be a chance that I can help the situation, but it seems like it is becoming either more delicate or, without despairing, that the odds of a positive resolution are worse than I first thought. Spiritual battle can be very tough. The hard part is to see and accept that it is the Cross that actually gives me strength.

Another time, my Prior said something to me that I have found to be so true. He said, "there is no growth without suffering." Looking back over my life, I have found that to be so true. Maybe the suffering has been due to my own decisions, or maybe it has been because of others, but it is often in those times that I learned the most and gained wisdom. I hope that I am currently growing because this situation is causing me a great deal of internal suffering. In some sense, I guess all I can do right now is go to the foot of the Cross and remain there with our Lord.


RS

Fr. Z. on Pope Saint Gregory on Pastors

Picture above the altar of Pope Saint Gregory the Great in the Basilica of Saint Peter, Rome, Italy
I've never really gotten into podcasts, probably because I have rarely enjoyed talk radio. However, I have started listening to Fr. Z's "PODCAzTs" and have found them to be very informative. This particular "PODCAzT" was extremely good. He starts with Pope Saint Gregory the Great talking about what qualities a pastor should have, especially focusing on bishops. However, Fr. Z points out that this can also apply to any man in a role of pastor, be they bishops, priests, or even the father of a family.

Gregory the Great on when pastors should SPEAK UP; priests and getting your way; voicemail feedback.

I always highly recommend Fr. Z's blog, but this is one post that stands out IMHO.

RS

A Voice For My Generation

Wow! Talk about serendipty. I have known about Father Phillip Powell,OP's blog, and have always thought his homilies were good when I read them, but I happened to be looking at another blog that I had never heard of (thanks, Cathy_of_Alex!)and she had a link to this homily by Father Phillip:

Kids These Days: What they don't want from the Church

What he said articulated so well what my generation (I'm almost 35 years old) and apparently the current generation have felt all our lives, especially in relation to the Church ... or I should say many older members of the Church (the Church Herself has never preached the false teachings we've often been fed, just some of Her members).

Anyway, the post is a must read! It is what gives me hope when I see stupid articles like the one from the dinosaur Father Richard McBrien:

Pay no attention to the Pope

Guess, what Father McBrien? We know you are full of crap, and hardly anyone takes you seriously anymore!

RS

Prayer request for dadwithnoisykids and his family

Please pray for dadwithnoisykids and his family. This family is amazing not only in their openness to life, but also in their courage and faith in the midst of difficult times.

Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and earth, pray for us.
Saint Therese of Lisieux, pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for us.

Tomb of Saint Catherine of Siena at Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy.
(click picture to embiggen)
RS

So, what's the point of this blog?

Vigil Mass of the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, September 13th, 2007, in Rome. Cardinal Bertone is the main celebrant, here during the Consecration (along with the relics of the True Cross on the altar)
(click picture to embiggen)
Over at The New Liturgical Movement, there have been some comments saying that with the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum" the "reform of the reform" movement has become ignored and that everyone is focusing only on the extra-ordinary form of Mass now.

This got me to thinking a bit about that statement, and where myself and my own blog fit into that. In this blog's very first post, I said that I wanted to use this blog to share whatever liturgical knowledge I had. It was only after starting and seeing some of the excellent liturgical blogs out there (like The New Liturgical Movement and Fr. Z's What Does the Prayer Really Say) that I realized I had a lot to learn. However, having visted many monasteries and religious houses, having worked as a sacristan at a basilica in Italy and a few parishes here in the States, some of that experience, and the great wealth of information I have learned from studying liturgy over the years have begun to come together. A lot of what has been needed is a liturgical perspective that I first and foremost credit to Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI. With his writings and especially with "Summorum Pontificum" it is as though he has opened a floodgate of liturgical discussion which I believe is beginning to produce great fruit. While I don't necessarily expect a major liturgical reform in my lifetime, I do think he has begun to lay the foundation for a true renewal of liturgical understanding, mostly from his hermenutic of continuity: of looking at the whole of the Church's Tradition.

One of the bad fruits of the "spirit of Vatican II," was that there was a mental rupture from the Church's Tradition in many of the faithful. I say mental rupture because there was not a doctrinal rupture on the Church's part, just an attitude amongst the faithful (even some leaders in the Church) where suddenly Vatican II was seen as a point at which anything before Vatican II is now obsolete, and only Vatican II and anything after that pertains to the Church in the modern world. What Pope Benedict has helped me to do is to break me of that mindset and to look at the whole of the Church's Tradition, and I don't just mean the Roman Church, I mean the entire Church, the Roman Rite, the Western Rites, the Eastern Rites and other Catholics around the world and throughout history.

So, where does this blog fit into all that? I don't think I'll ever be able to nail that down. But getting back to the initial question of the "reform of the reform" vis-a-vis the extra-ordinary form of the Mass that has been placed back on an equal standing with the ordinary form by "Summorum Pontificum," I can say that the motu proprio has actually put more "pressure" on the ordinary form to get it's act together. I don't mean that the Novus Ordo is to be changed to be more like the extra-ordinary form. That's something for the Church to do with an organized reform of the liturgy. "Vigilante liturgical reform" is not the answer to the problems in the Novus Ordo Mass. What I mean is to get the Novus Ordo back on track and to start getting it said as it is supposed to be said. We'll worry about actually reforming the ordinary use later. First we need to just get it said by the books.

I work in a normal diocesan parish, so the extra-ordinary form is something that may be able to be done on occasion, but since it is a parish, the ordinary form is what will be done the majority of the time. That's completely to be expected. "Summorum Pontificum" is not calling for the "Novus Ordo" to become the "Tridentine" or for the "Tridentine" to take over the "Novus Ordo. That's not what the Pope said at all. He merely made the "Tridentine" an easily accessable option for those who prefer it. In a typical parish, the ordinary form is still what will be celebrated as the norm. But hopefully the understanding that the "Tridentine" has to be said with such accuracy will influence those involved with the "Novus Ordo" to carry it out with the same accuracy according to its own instructions, rubrics, and ritual.

Thus, I would say that that is one of the goals of this blog: To help foster an understanding of the instructions, rubrics, and ritual of the Novus Ordo Mass ... even if I personally prefer the extra-ordinary ("Tridentine") form of the Mass. I do this because the extra-ordinary form of the Mass is not what has the problems. Those who want it respect it and say it as it is supposed to be said. The problem is in the chaos of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, all sorts of things were introduced, especially a mindset that you can add anything to the Mass. I think this mindset is the first and greatest difficulty to get over. I have seen this in many, many priests formed after Vatican II, and I would say that even I have fallen into it myself in the past. Although I was always against goofy "liberal" changes, I had no problems with pius or reverent changes. But changes are changes. The Chruch gives instructions for each use and rite, and those are to be followed, not just because it is the law, but because it shows a unity with and obedience to the Church and a unity with that particular Tradition.

One of my first goals is that I would like to go through the 2002 General Instruction on the Roman Missal. The first time I read it, I was absolutely amazed that the Church actually gave such specific instructions on how the Novus Ordo Mass is supposed to be done. That document was what sort of woke me up to the fact that you can't just do whatever you want, you have to actually follow the books (suddenly Canon #846 Pt 1 made sense). Then I got ahold of the "Ceremonial of Bishops" and was amazed to see even more detailed instructions on the Mass. I suddenly saw that there is no real need for "creativity" (which is the same "creativity" that the Pope condemns in his accompanying letter to "Summorum Pontificum") because the actions of the modern liturgy are already laid out for the priest. Sure there might be a few more "options" in the Novus Ordo, but even those are specifically mentioned as options only for this or that particular part or situation in the Mass.

So, on your litany of things for which to pray for me, include that I can learn and understand better the liturgical understanding of not only the "Novus Ordo" and the "Tridentine" but also the bigger picture of the Church's liturical theology. I feel that this will be a difficult process, but one which will bear much fruit in the future.

RS

I am a Benedictine Novice Lay Oblate.

Basilica (and Monastery) di San Benedetteo, Norcia, Italy
In all the chaos after getting back from my pilgrimage from Rome (exhaustion, allergies, doctors' appointments, procedures, work, etc.) I realized I forgot to mention that I became a Benedictine Novice Lay Oblate attached to the Monastery of Saint Benedict in Norcia, Italy (the brithplace of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica).

(I know what you may be thinking, "how can you forget about becoming an oblate?" Well, I didn't, I have been very excited about it, but it's just been THAT busy.)

A lay oblate is sort of like a "third order" Benedictine. It is a layman who promises to live his life in the spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict, and I am obligated to say at least one of the canonical hours of the Divine Office each day. I chose this monastery because I used to be a novice monk there. Although after a year of discernment I realized that God was not calling me there, I do still love the Rule of Saint Benedict (I did my undergrad thesis on the Rule) and am still close with the community in Norcia.

The benefits are being able to participate in the spiritual merits of the monks and to be united to their community in a spiritual way. I pray that next year I can return to become a regular lay oblate which allows one to enter more fully into that oblation (with a promise of oblation that is renewed each year).

So, pray for my perseverance in this as well.

RS

Saint John Cassian

Saint John Cassian
Although today is the Memorial of Saint Bridget, today is also the Commemoration of Saint John Cassian.

He is mentioned in the 2004 Roman Martyrology for today:

Massíliæ in Província Gálliæ, sancti Ioánnis Cassiáni, presbýteri, qui duo monastéria, álterum pro viris, álterum pro muliéribus, cóndidit et, longo rerum monasticárum usu perítus, de Cœnobíticus Institútis et Collatiónes Patrum scripsit ad ædificatiónem monachórum.
[Quick and rough translation](Marsalles in the Province of Gaul (France), Saint John Cassian, priest, who founded two monasteries, one for men, the other for women, learned in the longstanding practice of monastic things, he wrote the Monastic Institutes and the Conferences of the Fathers for the encouragement of monks.

Saint John Cassian travelled with his friend Germanus to the Holy Lands and to Egypt, visiting various monasteries and hermits and learning how to live monastic life. He then recorded much of what he learned in his writings and brought them back to Italy and France to help encourage the growth of monastic life in the West.

Saint John Cassian's writings and Saint Basil the Great's Monastic Rule are specifically mentioned by Saint Benedict in his Rule as recommended reading for monks.

Then, besides, the Conferences of the Fathers, their Institutes and their Lives, there is also the rule of our holy father Basil. For observant and obedient monks, all these are nothing less than tools for the cultivation of virtues; but as for us, they make us blush with shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent. Are you hastening toward your heavenly home?

Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 73

EDIT - Found his writings online over at newadvent.org:

The Institutes

The Conferences

RS