Friday, September 30, 2005

Gregorian chant in the Sacred Liturgy

Denis Crouan, prolific author on matters liturgical, has allowed the weblog of the Church Music Association of America to publish online an excerpt of his book, The History and Future of the Roman Liturgy (Ignatius Press, 2005). The twenty-first chapter addresses the place and role of Gregorian chant in the Sacred Liturgy. Here are some excerpts from the excerpt (boldface emphases mine):
When it is celebrated according to the Roman rite, the liturgy ought to be sung in its entirety: this is the "normal" form. All parts of the Mass or of the Divine Office, from the simplest prayer to the most complicated readings, including of course the recitation of the psalms, are in fact meant to be declaimed according to principles that obey the laws of music...

In order for chant to fulfill its purpose, it must be cultivated, taught at a very young age, and handed down by carefully trained choirmasters. The treasure of sacred chant should be preserved principally in the seminaries and in religious houses, by musicians who have had serious liturgical formation...

With respect to the liturgy, Gregorian chant must not be considered as one musical form that is more interesting than another, or, more simply, as singing that is added to the liturgy "to make it beautiful". It is more than that; it is more than a type of "religious" music: it is sung prayer, the most perfect rendition of the Roman liturgy on the musical plane. It is itself, in a way, this liturgy, but as though expanded, as though raised to its highest degree of expression. It follows that Gregorian chant is capable of spreading among the faithful a message that is more universal, more complete, more capable of being "interiorized" than would be the message of a liturgy that had simply been embellished with ordinary hymns...

Gregorian chant is a sensitive master who takes his time in teaching us: although he loves to cover the words that we sing with a veil, with a shadow, it is not in order to disguise the meaning of what we are proclaiming, but rather to make sure that this meaning is only gradually revealed to us, so that we might never be tempted to celebrate ourselves, but rather might remain turned toward Him who acts at the heart of the liturgy.
Aside: Fr. Robert C. Pasley, who posted the above excerpt to the CMAA weblog, is rector of Mater Ecclesiae Church in Berlin, New Jersey, USA, where all sacraments are celebrated according to the 1962 books. Juventutem pilgrims will see some familiar faces in the parish website's photo album.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Quis ut Deus?


Sancte Michael - ora pro nobis

(Turning to my green ribbon) - A most happy feast day to you all!

I do have a very heart-felt passionate post privately in the works at the moment that I will share as soon as it is ready. It is along the lines of dear Rob Martin's apologia aimed towards my detractors of any pursuasion in profound humility and burning charity. My heart is bursting, but it will have to wait.

What I will post though happens to be based upon a recent disappointment outside my diocesan Cathedral a few days ago. An obviously distressed gentleman with blankets in tow approaches me as I prepare to pay a quick visit. The gentleman confides in me his predicament - he is from interstate looking for his child, hasn't eaten for days, and is at the 'biggest church in Melbourne' looking for assistance. He laments that he looks like a 'junkie' with his tattoos, but is obviously not. He told me that he repeatedly went to see the people in the diocesan offices without much luck. I'll end it there - not accusing anybody of action or inaction.

However - this man was clearly in need of help, and I did what was within my means at the time, mostly with simple and sincere fraternal concern and my prayers.
Please do not assume that because I attend the Latin Mass, because the worship of my living and true God is at the centre of my very existence, that I do not have a burning love for my brother (which of course I should be expressing much more often). One can be willing to die for the truths of the faith, and yet still love one's brother more than oneself - exactly what we are called to do. One feels more passionate for one's brother because of the very fact that she loves the faith. Perhaps it is because she chooses to acknowledge the clearest and most active truth in our society - the scourge of sin. How appropriate a reflection on such a feast-day. There is nothing that brings more sorrow to my heart than to see a dead soul. This is not because I am proud, no, but because I profess to have some understanding of the profound nature of human dignity. It is because I have the living experience to know the difference between a soul that is alive, and a soul that is dead, and the fragile recovering soul completely dependent upon God, but vulnerable to the danger of relying upon itself.

So yes, preach your la-di-da smiley-face lolly-pop Jesus sermons, save the trees, but please make sure you die to sin first. We do play out our interior dispositions for the world to see, remember?

So, finally, I rejoice in my sufferings because it is upon such a back-drop that I grow in love for my brother, my soul delights in the providential care of my Master, and I know truly the protection of the most holy Angels.

Because I was once the child found in a gutter, and for the next hours, will be found at Michaelmas.
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diabolo esto praesidium...

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

The joys of...

... my university chaplaincy.

Those who are liturgically squeamish, look away now...

So, first weekday I was able to assist Holy Mass... Monday. What do I say? Umm... we're in the chapel of the Sacred Heart of DNJC... There's beautiful architecture and, at the East end, a lovely altar built on to the wall.

Now add in the comfy chairs, the coffee table... and have Father celebrate the Divine Mysteries seated all the way through (n.p. if it's necessary, but it wasn't), have him and the entire congregation (bar one, obviously) sit through the whole Liturgy, even the consecration itself...

So, I have a few words afterwards... and ask him a few questions. Politely. Why do you do it this way? His reasons are actually fairly good ones - 'I don't want to alienate people' (valid), 'At the Last Supper...'

'Yes, but, Father, we have to remember that the Holy Mass is far more than that. Sometimes people need a little... reminding.'

Second weekday Mass since I've been here. The coffee table has been replaced with something resembling an altar (I think it's actually the credence from the main church, but it at least is at standing height) and a lectern has appeared. We're still spoken, English, versus populum and full of other little things which are actually contrary to Redemptionis Sacramentum, but distinct progress. Within a year, I doubt I can inspire a Liturgy here that will truly raise us to the heights but, just maybe, we'll have a decent English vernacular Normativa.

Um... S. Pius...???

Prayers gratefully accepted!

FSSP Seminarian Confronts Remnant over Juventutem

I received this forwarded e-mail a couple of hours ago with the request to post it.

Background: The Remnant is a traditionalist newspaper where, in a recent edition, there appeared a negative portrayal of Juventutem and World Youth Day, written by a reporter who apparently played fast and loose with certain facts and photo captions. (I have not seen the article in question as I do not read the newspaper in question.) Below is FSSP seminarian Robert Martin's attempt to set things straight, while affirming the facts that the reporter got right.
From a FSSP seminarian who attended WYD w/Juventutem. With permission to forward from St. Josephs in Richmond.

+AMDG

Dear friends and family,

First, let me apologize for not contacting you all for quite some time. Since returning to seminary, I've been quite busy as I've been promoted to be the no. 2 MC in the seminary, which meant I had a lot of work to do for last week's Pontifical Mass with conferral of tonsure (please pray for the eight men who were tonsured and received the cassock). Things have gotten back to normal this week, so now I'm in the midst of writing letters and thank-you notes. Second, I thank all of you who sponsored me in sending me to Germany for the Juventutem program. I've been compiling pictures from the Juventutem program, which ran in conjunction with World Youth Day in Cologne. This was a wonderful experience for me, because not only did I get to see some wonderful places and participate in some beautiful liturgies, but it was also a great joy to meet my fellow FSSP brothers in Europe. There was truly a sense of camaraderie among us, even though most of us had never met before.

During the first week of the program, we based our operations at the FSSP seminary in Wigratzbad, which is in southern Germany, near the Austrian and Swiss borders. Pilgrims had the option of touring churches and sightseeing for the week or participating in the St. George Walk, which was a three or four day walking pilgrimage through the countryside around Wigratzbad.

During the second week, we went to Dusseldorf, which is one of the three cities that hosted World Youth Day activities (it is an half-hour from Cologne). Juventutem was allowed use of St. Antonius parish church, which is very large and holds about a thousand people. There, we had some beautiful liturgies and heard some heavenly music. The second week culminated in the Papal Mass at Marienfield near Cologne.

I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story. I have put up a gallery, which you can see by clicking on the link below:

http://www.filehigh.com/viewgallery.php?f=4623

Finally, to give you a better sense of what the Juventutem program was like, I'm attaching a letter I wrote to a Catholic journalist in response to an article he wrote about WYD which appeared in The Remnant Newspaper. In the article, this journalist made an extremely unfair characterization of Juventutem. Hopefully my response gives you an idea of how edifying I found the whole Juventutem experience to be. The letter is attached below.

In Christ through Mary,
Rob Martin, FSSP



Dear Mr. -------

I wish to comment on your recent column in the Remnant pertaining to World Youth Day 2005. While I agree with your assessment of the sad state of affairs in the Church (particularly with the problems of ecumenism) and the scandalous nature of many events that are sponsored by WYD organizers, I must voice my great disappointment in your two-paragraph mistreatment of the Juventutem program.

It is obvious to me that you did not attend Juventutem functions. If you had, you would have seen that at most of the public Masses offered in conjunction with Juventutem, offered daily over the course of two weeks, the attendance was closer to 900 to 1000, rather than the meager figure of 300 which you gave in your article. According to the organizers, there were approximately 900 youths directly enrolled in the Juventutem program. Just looking around, I thought the number was closer to 1000. Most of these youths were with Juventutem for the whole two weeks, which included a week in Wigratzbad and surrounding areas and a week in Dusseldorf (where we had use of a very large parish church, St. Antonius, which probably seats close to 1000), one of the three cities in the diocese of Cologne where WYD activities took place.

At the Masses offered in Dusseldorf, the number of faithful probably exceeded 1000, because I noticed many young people attending these Masses who did not seem familiar with the traditional Mass. I know because I held the paten for several different priests as they distributed communion (there were usually around eight or so priests distributing communion at these Masses), and I noticed many of the faithful saying "Amen" when presented with the Sacred Host, or even trying to receive in the hand (needless to say, they were politely made to receive on the tongue). Why do I mention this? Because this is exactly what we, the participants of Juventutem, were aiming for: to expose the youth gathered at WYD to the glories of the traditional Mass, and to do our best to show them what it means to be an authentic Catholic. In fact, those priests who led the organizational efforts of Juventutem made it explicitly clear to the participants that this was to be our principal aim.

The response of the Juventutem youth was positively edifying. Many offered their talents as singers, rehearsing one to two hours a day. The result was beautiful sacred music, the likes of which I have only rarely encountered at Tridentine parish Masses back in the United States. In addition, the young people in the pews were as devout as any adults I have ever seen at a traditional parish. They were silent, prayerful, and reverent, and they sang hymns with great zeal (again, more so than I have ever witnessed in a parish setting).

Our influence extended beyond the confines of our own program. Unfortunately, as you pointed out in your article, there were many so-called Catholic organizations at World Youth Day who were expressing positively un-Catholic beliefs. One such organization was distributing literature near the FSSP's parish church in Cologne. A group of our Spanish participants took all of their literature and disposed of it appropriately. Other participants engaged in debates with members of these organizations to convince them of the truth of the Church's teachings.

Indeed, the response of our participants to the proponents of immorality was zealous, perhaps even to a fault. As our group passed a pro-contraception advertisement in one of the subway stations, several Juventutem participants proceeded to deface the advertisement, rendering it illegible. I'm not sure about the morality of such an action, but we can certainly say that these young Catholics are militant in their hatred of error and sin.

Even at the papal Mass, the one Novus Ordo liturgical event we attended, we did our best to set a good example (although many participants opted not to go at all, but rather attend private Tridentine Masses, instead). As soon as the Mass began, many of the young women put on their veils. The Juventutem youth participated silently and with devotion, while all around us, I saw people walking around and chatting. It appeared to me that these devout young people must have been making acts of reparation the whole time, as they seemed visibly saddened by the lack of reverence among many of their fellow Catholics. At communion time, Juventutem participants lined up, knelt on the ground, and received communion on the tongue from a priest assisted by a seminarian with a paten. It was certainly a sign of contradiction. The circumstances of the papal Mass were unfortunate, but I believe the Juventutem youth tried their best to make the best out of a bad situation. I think they must be commended for trying.

Contrary to what you seem to suggest in your article, there was no other formal participation with WYD activities, aside from the papal Mass. We did not attend any of the catechesis sessions (we held our own), we did not attend any of their concerts (we had our own sacred music concert one night, interspersed with spiritual meditations given by various priests throughout the musical pieces), and I do not know of one instance of Juventutem participants engaging in scandalous behavior.

So what was the result of our efforts? Only God knows what seeds may have been planted. We do know that there were many non-traditionalists who attended our Masses. We also know that several Juventutem participants were approached by locals and WYD participants, commenting about the beauty of the liturgy and the devotion of the young people in attendance, and even mentioning that it brought them to tears. Though we cannot tell the extent of Juventutem's influence at WYD, we are confident that God will bring forth much good fruit as a result of our efforts. Our Lord said, "You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). We, as Catholics who love Tradition, believe that the traditional Mass, along with authentic Catholic doctrine, is a light to the world, a candle that is to shine in the house of God, His Holy Church. Our involvement with WYD was our attempt to share that light with the rest of the Church. There are many young Catholics who don't even know about the traditional Mass. Who knows how many might have attended just one of our Masses and left completely changed? We sought to show the traditional Mass to the young Catholics of the world, and we did so with missionary zeal and without compromising our loyalty to Tradition. We did our best to respond to Our Lord's injunction to "let your light shine before men." I pray that God was pleased with our efforts, even if you are not.

I'd like to comment on one final aspect of your article, and that is your use of photographs. In one photograph (taken from the NY Times photo spread on WYD pilgrims), a 16-year old girl from Michigan is shown wearing a miniskirt and with cigarette in hand. The caption reads, "The New Face of Traditional Catholicism?" Is this caption trying to suggest that this girl was enrolled with the Juventutem program? That is certainly what it seems to imply. I can assure you that she was not, as I met all of the American pilgrims and got to know many of them quite well (and none of them dressed this way). Yet even if she was one of our pilgrims, would that be grounds for dismissing Juventutem (which seems to be the objective in using this photo in combination with such a caption)? Do you believe her appearance to be grounds for dismissing her as an impious young woman? One can learn a lot about a person just from his or her appearance, but there is much that remains hidden. The girl pictured may have a deep love for Jesus Christ and His Church. Perhaps no one has ever spoken to her about dressing more modestly, but she might respond well if it were brought up. It appears that she smokes (which is not necessarily sinful in itself), but maybe only very infrequently. In short, I think there is something very un-Christian in using such a propaganda technique. It's like saying, "Look at this atrocious creature! She is supposed to be Catholic?" It does not seem to reflect a zeal for the salvation of souls, but rather a contempt for misled souls. When you hold up this girl's picture for mockery in such a way, are you loving her as Christ loves her? Do you think she must be a great sinner because of her appearance? Then say so, and then encourage your readers to pray for her.

In conclusion, I suggest that you be more honest and reasonable in your reporting, rather than appealing to emotion by using polemical terminology like "militant Indultarians." That is not how a Christian journalist should write. He should write like a gentleman, rational and courteous. Your two paragraphs on Juventutem are neither.

You are in my prayers. Please pray for me.

In Christ through Mary,
Rob Martin, FSSP

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI meets Bishop Fellay

The Following link contains an interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay about his recent meeting with the Pope:

http://www.dici.org/actualite_read.php?id=622&loc=US

Bishop Fellay's passing mention of World Youth Day is very interesting...

Proposed article - Deus laetificavit juventutem meam

The following is a short article penned by myself about the Juventutem experience:

There was certain appropriateness for Juventutem’s first World Youth Day basing itself upon the theme ‘venimus adorare Eum’ – we have come to adore Him (Mat 2:2). The Traditional Latin Mass encapsulates centuries of the Roman Church’s very best cry to God centred on such a pursuit. Totally ad Dominum, an imperfect people assisted by the angels and saints process on pilgrimage toward the heavenly homeland. Complementary to the Holy Mass, Juventutem’s activities included Latin Rosary street processions, Eucharistic adoration, the Angelus and selections of the Office, and solid catechetical instruction on topics including liturgical reform, the nature of grace, filial piety, and the art of prayer. Pilgrims were nourished with treasures of Catholic culture in sacred concerts, and visits to breathtaking Bavarian Baroque churches and relics of various saints. In addition to Classical Pontifical High Masses, pilgrims also had a privileged exposure to the Dominican and Syro-Malabar Rites.

One may be surprised to learn of the cultural particulars that the international character of the Juventutem delegation exposed within even the Classical Mass. The more confusing included the liturgical posture of the people at points of the Ordinary, but another practice of ringing the church bells throughout the entire Consecration was quite magnificent.

The Juventutem experience was certainly not purely aesthetical. Awaiting Mass with the Holy Father in Marienfeld amongst rubbish and cold winds, misplaced hymns, singing the Credo to get through an ice cold shower, overflowing trains, redundant altars, poor church architecture, Cardinal Arinze’s illness, and feeling quite ‘foreign’ are the stuff that would remind one that a pilgrim’s lot is not necessarily comfortable; pilgrims, Fathers, and brother Seminarians nevertheless pressed on. Of course, light is best perceived out of darkness, and memories of the march of the milites Christi through Marienfeld, the haunting echo of Latin Rosary chant through the empty Dusseldorf St Antonius’ church, stars at night and glorious mornings, and the Latin language nullifying linguistic barriers, burn brightly. Compline by the fire and singing the Tantum Ergo with the Pope at Marienfeld brought warm consolation. I would perhaps say that the comparably smaller group of English-speaking pilgrims shared a closer bond than the French. Personally, the crowning highlight was the ‘actualisation’ of the entire Church, when a small group of us Juventutem pilgrims from the Melbourne community, accompanied by Father Glen Tattersall, FSSP, and with the blessing of His Grace Archbishop Denis Hart, experienced a ‘papal encounter’ outside the Cologne Cathedral.

________________________________________

Through the Liturgy, Juventutem witnessed that World Youth Day need not be another festival celebrating youth for youth’s sake. Ours is a generation that has been largely left unchallenged. One risks severe criticism to dare say that something or some form is objectively ‘better’ or ‘higher’ than another – to dare challenge mediocrity. To deny young people the opportunity to experience the Classical Liturgy on the grounds that it is ‘too hard’ or ‘archaic’ or ‘irrelevant’ is insulting and does them a massive injustice. The idea of contradiction is central to our faith. In a modern world of constant change and innovation, it is scandalous to assume that the stable and permanent are worthwhile. Tradition is looked upon with suspicion, faith, laughable. Through all of this it must be continually stressed that young people are capable of appreciating, and even loving that which preceded them; they have a right to discover their inheritance.

________________________________________

The very existence of Juventutem testifies to the healthy vigour of the ‘Latin Mass movement’ within the Church. Like the Magi, these pilgrims are custodians of a great treasure that belongs to the entire Church, not out of a misplaced sense of piety, but from a genuine concern for the salvation of souls. One of the fruits that I hope blossoms out of Juventutem’s World Youth Day presence is the consideration of the real possibility of a plurality of rites existing harmoniously within the Roman Church, much like in the East, without trying to mould the two into an awkward hybrid, inhibiting the life of both. I hope too that those within the movement will no longer be perceived as ‘on the fringe’ or ‘separatists’. The Classical Liturgy offers the Church a legitimate and proven option to help fill her pews, and seminaries.

Juventutem has demonstrated that clearly of its very essence, the Classical Liturgy is not an ‘appeasement’, an ‘escape’ or a refuge for ‘poor sentimental souls’ stuck in a ‘time warp’. The lambs of this ‘new springtime’ have entered into a bypassed field with a new enthusiasm, and the grass they have settled upon is lush and green. They have discerned that with the grace of God, this is the best means to work out their salvation. How will they show this to the Church and to the world? Not with aggression, an arrogant disposition, or a withdrawn solitude, but with an authentic youthful joy, a joy throughout all days and despite all infirmities. How is this possible? Introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam. I shall go unto the altar of God, to God who gladdens my youth. Deo gratias!

"Vatican Official Foresees Broader Use of Latin Mass"

Catholic World News provides this article via EWTN.com:
An influential Vatican official believes that Pope Benedict XVI could soon expand permission for priests throughout the world to celebrate Mass using the Tridentine rite.

However, Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez cautions that serious doctrinal issues, as well as liturgical questions, must be resolved before the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) can be fully reconciled with the Holy See.
(Hat-tip: Papabile)

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Cardinal Pell on the Dictatorship of Relativism

WYD 2008 host cardinal's address to the Australian National Press Club, September 23, 2005. This is the complete text of which part was cited in this earlier post.

The Oratory thingy

Well, for a first night that was almost entirely publicised by word of mouth, I think there were around 40 or 50 people (totally thrown because I'd expected around ten) at least.

O'course, this was just a social as first night...

I ran into an old friend from the Channel Islands' Youth Orchestra... long story... I was just coming round, as it were, and can remember before going one year praying that I'd be hosted with a Catholic family... that's the kind of odd prayer to which one seems to receive a 'D'accord' from the Almighty... Anyway, it was her family who took me in that weekend; she's now in her first year at the Royal College of Music studying 'cello and lives with some friends of mine (inc. Marissa).

Great bunch. Hopefully this'll grow and grow...

Usual downside though... there's a certain class of people attracted by the Oratory, largely because of where it is, and that's put a lot of people off. Still, I'm looking forward to the next session which is on THURSDAY 20th OCTOBER.

:-)

Still struggling with web access...

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Salvete omnes!

I don't think I've put a post on this yet. And this doesn't really count; it's a parasitic link-fest. Oh well...

The ever-edifying Dappled Things is putting up a handy two-part visitor's guide to the Tridentine (High) Mass- found via here via Aristoteles noster - which would be good to send to chums whom you're dragging along to the Old Rite for the first time. Unless, unlike me, you're good at giving a concise on-the-spot account of what they will find disconcerting for the first few weeks.

Julie, gonnae tell us how the Oratory oojahwhatsit went?!

Pax et bonum vobis!

My only Juventutem digital photo

Taken on Tuesday, August 23, 2005, 11:30 pm, after:
  • ending the pilgrimage in an odd way (hotel stay in Frankfurt after a night on the Marienfeld, not that it's a complaint - the included breakfast was gloriously American);
  • missing the Heathrow/JFK connection (2 for 2!);
  • eating the rest of my WYD rations at the Terminal 3 Starbucks;
  • hoping for a seat on the next flight to JFK (got it!);
  • traveling the NYC public transit system;
  • finding my digital camera on the table, where I left it after emptying its contents onto my laptop in preparation for Germany, ironically enough.
(Prepare early for Sydney.)

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Event: Vespers and Fundraising Dinner, Oklahoma (USA)

For interested parties:
In Honor of Our Lady of the Annunciation
Vespers at the Cathedral with the Monks

His Excellency Edward J. Slattery, Bishop of Tulsa, is hosting an event in support of the Benedictine Monks of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek Monastery.

Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 6:30pm

The evening will begin at Holy Family Cathedral with Vespers, sung in Gregorian chant (open to all), followed by a reception and dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. You will have an opportunity to meet the monks and the many friends of the monastery, including Thomas Gordon Smith, distinguished architect and professor of the University of Notre Dame. Keynote speaker: Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, theologian, columnist and editor-in-chief of First Things magazine.
More information - including sponsorship, attendance and travel arrangements - is available at the Clear Creek Monastery website. Although not mentioned, it seems to be a fundraiser for Phase I of their building project.

Hands at Mass

I have discovered the most wonderful little book. It is called 'Hands at Mass' published in 1951, and is a photo plate study of the priest's hands at Mass, accompanied by the liturgical text. Awe-inspiring to say the least. The sad thing was though that I was the first to borrow it since 1970. Telling. Anyhow, I was wondering if any of you dear people knew of something similar on the internet, or another book etc? I am aware of the Fulton Sheen 'This is the Mass'. I would very much love to share this with you - perhaps we could have our Fathers do an updated version? I will end as the book does, with a Deo gratias, in thanksgiving for events that mean I am no longer a little vagrant (see below) - though I remain very much love-sick :)

"Pell's text message: English syllabus has no morals"

WYD 2008 host cardinal making the news:
Schools that abandoned traditional English programs in favour of "critical literacy" were trying to make students agents of social change, Cardinal George Pell warned yesterday.

In a speech in Canberra yesterday, the Catholic archbishop said some schools were placing too much focus on texts that normalised "moral and social disorder".

"While parents wonder why their children have never heard of the Romantic poets, Yeats or the Great War poets, and never ploughed through a Bronte, Orwell or Dickens novel, their children are engaged in analysing a variety of 'texts', including films, magazines, advertisements and even road signs as part of critical literacy," Cardinal Pell declared.
He gets Orwell in...cool.

(Hat tip: FreeRepublic)

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

"Who, me?"


Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew. 1599-1600; Oil on canvas, 10' 7 1/2" X 11' 2"; Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.

(Hat-tip: Perry Lorenzo)

Hi all!

Sorry about any and all delays with e-mailing. As you know, I'm a pretty occasional blogger as it is, but without web access I'll be even more occasional.

Just to let you all know, the youth/young adult group (at least temporarily names 'Venimus Adorare Eum'... wonder where they got *that* one from!) at the London (aka Brompton) Oratory will begin tomorrow. Please pray that at least a few people will turn up!

I'll post properly some time...

In caritate Xp,

JMR Xx

ps Happy feast of St. Matt!

Monday, September 19, 2005

Juventutem anecdote

This adventurous account was found on the blog of Catholic author Amy Welborn, from the mother of a non-Juventutem pilgrim.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

The tale of Tara: The Juventutem 'vaga'

So, how does Tara, the unofficial Juventutem 'vaga' and thereby of no fixed address spend her days? In a love-sick celestial daze consisting of daily Mass, exposition and adoration of our dear Lord, prayer, street-wandering, church-hugging, and singing silent Divine praises. I do fit in weekly Latin classes, and the occasional all-night church stay when others are out night-clubbing. Unfortunately at the moment, I'm still a little shy to go verbally shouting from the roof-tops. Yes, I am Tara, a poor sinner, I am one of 'them', and I go to 'that'. Deo gratias!

Anyway, I was thinking about a few more serious things:

- Perhaps we could make up some badges using something like a Cafe-Press service. I always wanted a 'I would rather be at Mass' badge!
- Do you think that there ever may be the possibility of a group of religious women forming to live out a similar life to those affiliated with the Institute of Christ the Sovereign Priest, but in this case, the FSSP? Do you think that this endeavour (prayer, sacrifice etc for the benefit of our Fathers and Seminarians) best remain the thing of private intention? Leave it to the Divine Will?
- Does anyone know of any good online 'showbag' inserts to encourage Catholic youth around University entrance age to discover the Latin Mass?

Oh yes - has anyone yet read the good Father Lang's book, 'Turning Towards the Lord'? I have just completed it, and am very impressed. Father has used a very convincing balanced, prayerful, and Patristic-based argument in favour of eastern orientation in prayer, and thus most perfectly, in the Liturgy of the Church. Yes, dear Father Lang - the one of whom I asked to translate the contents of a German shampoo bottle to me to prove that it did not contain conditioner...

A rather different post(!) - orationibus meis - bona nox (on my side!) :)

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Hello one and all!

This would be one of the Americans who braved the Bavarian wilds among hordes of crazy French people during the first week and survived to write about it. My name is Kodi Wilson, and this would then be my formal introduction to most of you. Thanks to Aristotle for finding my blog, and offering me the invite to be a contributor to this wonderful blog that you all have set up here.

For anyone that is interested, I have written up two chapters regarding some of the adventures that we walkers had which you can find at my blog.

I hope to be more of a contributor in the future, but until then God Bless!

Event: Una Voce Conference, Rhode Island (USA)

For interested parties:
Una Voce America would like to invite you to a special weekend conference this November (Nov. 18-20) in Providence, Rhode Island: TRADITION IN THE 21st CENTURY: THE MISSION OF UNA VOCE IN THE PAPACY OF BENEDICT XVI.

The guest of honor for this weekend will be BISHOP RIFAN of Campos, Brazil, and the list of speakers includes Father JOSEPH WILSON (contributor to Cruxnews.com); Father THOMAS KOCIK (Fall River, MA Diocese and well-known Catholic writer); and Fra FREDRICK CRICHTON-STUART (Vice-president FIUV).
More information: Una Voce America

(Hat-tip: The New Liturgical Movement)

Friday, September 16, 2005

Event: One Day Conference at Blackfriars, Oxford

For interested parties:
Ever Directed to the Lord...
The Love of God in the Liturgy of the Eucharist Past, Present, and Hoped For


Saturday 29th October 2005

Speakers:

Professor Eamon Duffy, University of Cambridge
Fr. Jonathan Robinson, Provost, Toronto Oratory
Professor Lauren Pristas, Caldwell College
Dr. Laurence Hemming, Heythrop College, University of London
Professor Paul Bradshaw, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Susan Parsons, Society of St. Catherine of Siena
More information, including registration and fees, may be found at The New Liturgical Movement.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

"Church historian sees end to restrictions on Latin Mass"

Catholic World News reports on more speculation:
Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) will take action soon to allow all Catholic priests to celebrate the Latin Mass, a Cambridge historian has predicted.

Speaking to a conference of priests in Ireland earlier this week, Eamon Duffy said that it was "extremely likely that Pope Benedict will lift the restrictions on the celebration of the Tridentine liturgy," the Irish Independent reported. [Read full article]
Dr. Duffy anticipates that this action may occur at the October Synod of Bishops.

Fr. Jim Tucker and the commenters at Papa Ratzi Post weigh in. Serge offers the pithiest reaction of all, and supplies a link to the original article.

We shall see. In the meantime...

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Thank you for the Traditional Mass!



(Source: Juventutem)


(Source: EcclesiaDei.nl)

There are plans on having one of these banners in English for Sydney '08, right?

(Hat-tip: The Sleepless Eye)

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Two Juventutem articles from the English-speaking press

For reference purposes - these are rather old.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Change Log

If you have a suggestion that you believe would improve this site, please leave it in the comment box. Requests from members will receive higher priority. This post will be updated to reflect changes to the 'blog.

13 October 2005:
  • Anti-spam: Added Spam-Poison anti-spam measures.
22 September 2005:
  • Links: Added links to essential online resources concerning the 1962 Missal and the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei adflicta.
19 September 2005:
  • Links: Added links to Juventutem/WYD 2005 photo essays and pilgrim reports.
17 September 2005:
  • Links: Added links to major priestly institutes, fraternities, women religious orders and lay organizations that are attached to the 1962 Missal and have a presence in English-speaking countries.
14 September 2005:
  • Site statistics: Site Meter functionality added.
13 September 2005:
  • Appearance: Minor tweaks to stylesheet and template improve appearance and grammar ("1 comments?"), reduce redundancy.

  • Comments: Word verification has been enabled to help cut down on comment spam. This means that all commenters will have to fill in an additional security field; it's self-explanatory.

  • Sidebar links: Links to the official Juventutem website and to this log have been added.

  • Timestamps: Since this is an international 'blog, all timestamps are now in GMT.

  • Translations: Babelfish translations of individual posts are now available in eleven languages.
8 September 2006:

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Photos!

I have posted my collection of Juventutem and post-Juventutem Roman adventure photos online. They are available for viewing here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88014379@N00/ I'm sure you will find yourself somewhere :)

Calling out for e-mails!

Carissime, may I have your e-mail addresses in the comments section please so that I can send you 'team' invitation e-mails? I am very much looking forward to getting this up and running, and my apologies that this has taken so long. I have lots of lovely things to share, and I assure you all of my daily prayers in the meantime. -Perpetua (Tara) :)