A Catholic Life

"No Shades Between Valid and Invalid" - Bishop Williamson

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:08:00 +0000

I wanted to share these words from the recent issue of Dinoscopus - an email newsletter with the thoughts/writings of Bishop Richard Williamson. Emphasized items are underlined:

Now it is true that any one sacrament administered in real life will have been either valid or invalid. There are no more shades between valid and invalid than there are between pregnant and not pregnant. But if we consider the Conciliar sacraments being all the time administered throughout the Newchurch as a whole, we can only say some are valid, some are invalid, but they have all been placed on a slide towards invalidity by the Conciliar Rites' total thrust to replace the religion of God with the religion of man. That is why the Newchurch is on its way to disappearing altogether, and why the Society of St. Pius X can in no way allow itself to be absorbed into it.

...

Meanwhile, as to just how far down the slide is this or that priest, or even the Newchurch as a whole, I will apply the great principle of St. Augustine: "In things certain, unity; in things doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity". And within the framework of certainties such as, within the Newchurch neither already nothing, nor everything still, is Catholic, I mean to extend to my fellow-Catholics the same liberty to judge of things uncertain as I hope they will extend to me. Mother of God, obtain the rescue of the Church !

Additional Reading:

Gaudete Sunday

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:23:00 +0000

INTROIT
Philippians 4: 4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made known to God. -- (Ps. 84. 2). Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- Rejoice in the Lord always . . .

COLLECT - Incline Thine ear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our petitions: and, by the grace of Thy visitation, enlighten the darkness of our minds. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity . . .

EPISTLE
Philippians 4:4-7
Brethren, Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GRADUAL
Psalms. 72: 2,3,6
Thou, O Lord, that sittest upon the Cherubim, stir up Thy might and come. V.: Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Stir up, O Lord, Thy might, and come to save us. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
John 1: 19-28

At that time the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and levites to John, to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the Prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you whom you know not. The same is He that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 84: 2,3
Lord, Thou hast blessed Thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob: Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people.

SECRET - May the Sacrifice of our devotion, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be continually offered up to Thee, may it both complete the institution of the holy Mysteries, and wondrously accomplish in us Thy salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Isaias 3 5: 4
Say: Ye fainthearted, take courage and fear not: behold our God will come, and will save us.

POST COMMUNION - We implore, O Lord, Thy mercy: that these divine helps may expiate our sins, and prepare us for the approaching feast. Through our Lord . .

Image Sources: St. John the Evangelist in Montreal, Canada (Gaudete Sunday, 2007) via Flickr. Click on photos for a larger image.

December 2009 Christvs Regnat Issue

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:47:00 +0000

St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association would like to announce the publication of the December 2009 CHRISTVS REGNAT, which includes articles on the following topics:

Introduction to the Report to the Holy Father on the Second Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum
The Irish Liturgical Calendar
Report on Masses for the Year For Priests
and more....

Blog Technology Updated

noreply@blogger.com (MJTA) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Hello, faithful readers of A Catholic Life. We have just updated the image system on the blog, so many posts use "lightbox" now, which allows you to view high-res versions of the images on the blog without redirecting to another page.

Here is an example, simply click on the image to bring up the high-resolution version. Hit escape, click on the border, or click on the "X" to close the floating image.

If you ever need help redesigning your blog or website, feel free to contact me, MJTA, at mjtanton+fromACL@gmail.com.

Image source: aiwaz.net/panopticon

Internet Explorer Viewers: Please Switch to Internet Explorer 8

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Blog Readers:

A Catholic Life is undergoing a slight modification in its functionality, which will allow the incorporation of light box technology to photos. With this updated technology, you will have the ability to view the full-sized images of the blog on the page by simply clicking on the photo. The elegant transition and increased usability is made possible by a simple, unobtrusive script used to overlay images on the current page.

However, this technology has shown an incompatibility with prior versions of Internet Explorer. If you are a viewer of this blog and use Internet Explorer as your web browser, please switch to the new and improved Internet Explorer 8. You can download this FREE Upgrade from Microsoft.

O Antiphons: Sung by Edinburgh Gregorian Chant Schola

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Host: Edinburgh Gregorian Chant Schola
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Location: St Mary's RC Cathedral
Street: Broughton Street
City/Town: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The Schola's principal Vespers for December sees the singing of Vespers during the "Great" Ferias leading up to Christmas. The keynote of each of these seven days is the "O Antiphon", sung at the Magnificat, which addresses Our Lord under various titles. They evoke the yearning of Isaiah, for the saviour to come.

The 17th of December invoked God as "Wisdom" (Sapientia): "O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence."

The hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel" (in Latin, Veni Emmanuel) is a lyrical paraphrase of these Antiphons. The Vespers are sung in Gregorian Chant, with Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament following immediately thereafter after. Vespers will also be sung on Sundays the 13th and 17th in Broxburn and Glasgow. For further information, see the blog of the Edinburgh Schola

For more information on and to listen to the O Antiphons, please view my article on the O Antiphons.

First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:34:00 +0000

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for 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.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church 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."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Source: Zenit

Indulgences

Image Source: Unknown, Believed to be in the Public Domain

Catholic Christmas Shopping

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Image Source: High altar in St. Peter's Basilica during penitential service before Christmas, December 1945.

Today is one of the most watched days in terms of spending as many major companies seek to increase profit margins. After all, many retailers make most of their money during the shopping season and no day is more profitable than today, Black Friday.

However, along with the deals come traffic congestion, pandemonium in the stores, and enough stress for the entire month of December. This year, as an alternative please consider the A Catholic Life Online Storefront!

I have created the storefront to be a one-stop shop for Catholic items, many of which are devoted to Traditional Catholicism. There is no need to surrender hundreds of dollars to secular retailers or encounter the sleep-deprived people who frequent all retailers this morning.

Browse These Categories!

Traditional Theology
Traditional Liturgy
Traditional Architecture
Bibles
Missals
Devotionals
Traditional Breviaries
CDs
Music Texts

Additionally, please browse the listing of my books and CDs for sale (click here for the listing). But, please act fast as these items are on a first-come, first-serve basis! If you would any of these items, please email acatholiclife [at] gmail.com and we can then work out a payment arrangement.

Here are two highly recommended, appropriate items from the list:

A Child is Born: A Chant Christmas
The Trappist Monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani
ISBN: 7989-26303-2
Price: $5.00
BRAND NEW CONDITION, UNOPENED

Christmas at St. Petronille
(Music from St. Petronille Catholic Church, Glen Ellyn, IL)
Price: $5.00
Excellent Condition

Another Russian Orthodox Cathedral Built in Thailand

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:23:00 +0000

Moscow, November 24, Interfax - The building of Russian Orthodox Cathedral of All Saints in the city of Pattaya (Thailand) is finished.

The church has been built in eight months for donations of believers. The consecration of the church will take place under the celebrating of decade of Orthodoxy in Thailand on December 20 this year.

As it was told, the another church in Thailand of the Ascension of Our Lord will be build on Samuy island. The local arrival has already made a decision to buy the ground area which is located on the mountain slope near the sea.

There is also a wish to open the Russian cultural centre and a school at an Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on the Pkhuket island in Thailand.

Recently Russian Church has received the state registration in the country.

Image Source: Enthronement of Patriarch Krill in February 2009

Christ the King Parish, Sarasota, Florida

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:33:00 +0000

This past April 2009, the New Liturgical Movement commented on the Dedication of Christ the King Church in Sarasota, Florida (FSSP). The above image is from the New Liturgical Movement.

The following are the Mass times for this apostolate, and worthy of mention, during Mass times, you can watch the Mass using the Streaming Video Link from the website of the Christ the King Church in Sarasota.

Have any of you been there in person?

Mass Times:

Sunday: 8:30 am and 10:30 am
Mon - Sat: 9:00 am
Tues & Fri: also 6:30 pm

Confessions:

Sunday: 30 min before Mass
Mon - Fri: 8:15
Sat: after the 9:00 am Mass

Tridentine Latin Mass in Vilnius, Lithuania

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:43:00 +0000

On August 10, 2009, the priest Robert A. Skeris celebrated Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the Gates of Dawn in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Chants were performed by Schola Cantorum Vilnensis from Vilnius.

Last Sunday After Pentecost: Excerpt from Fr. Leonard Goffine's "The Liturgical Year"

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:35:00 +0000

COLLECT Quicken, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, the wills of Thy faithful: that they, more earnestly seeking after the fruit of divine grace, may more abundantly receive the healing gifts of Thy mercy. Thro'.

EPISTLE (Col. I. 9—14.) Brethren, We cease not to pray for you, and to beg that you may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all might according to the; power of his glory, in all patience and long-suffering with joy, giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins.

EXPLANATION In this epistle St. Paul teaches us to pray for our neighbor, and to thank God especially for the light of the true, only saving faith. Let us endeavor to imitate St. Paul in his love and zeal for the salvation of souls, then we shall also one day partake of his glorious reward in heaven.

GOSPEL (Matt. XXIV. 15—35.) At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: When you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth, let him understand: then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains: and he that is on the house-top, let him not come down to take anything out of his house: and he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat. And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck, in those days. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the Sabbath. For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be: and unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect, those days shall be shortened. Then, if any man shall say to you: Lo, here is Christ, or there: do not believe him: for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you before hand: if therefore they shall say to you: Behold, he is in the desert, go ye not out; Behold, he is in the closets, believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west, so shall also the coming- of the Son of man be. Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be moved: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty: and he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a great voice, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. And from the fig-tree learn a parable: when the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors. Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

EXPLANATION When you shall see the abomination of desolation. The abomination of desolation of which Daniel (IX. 27.) and Christ here speak, is the desecration of the temple and the city of Jerusalem by the rebellious Jews by perpetrating the most abominable vices, injustices and robberies, &c., but principally by the pagan Romans by putting up their idols. This destruction which was accomplished in the most fearful manner about forty years after the death of Christ, was foretold by Him according to the testimony of St. Luke. (XXI. 20.) At the same time He speaks of the end of the world and of His coming to judgment, of which the desolation of Jerusalem was a figure.

Pray that your flight be not in the winter or on the Sabbath. Because, as St. Jerome says, the severe cold which reigns in the deserts and mountains would prevent the people from going thither to seek security, and because it was forbidden by the law for the Jews to travel on the Sabbath.

There shall rise false Christs and false prophets. According to the testimony of the Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eyewitness of the destruction of Jerusalem, Eleazar, John, Simon, &c., were such false prophets who under the pretence of helping the Jews, brought them into still greater misfortunes; before the end of the world it will be Antichrist with his followers, whom St. Paul calls the man of sin and the son of perdition, (II Thess. II. 3.) on account of his diabolical malice and cruelty. He will rise up, sit in the temple, proclaim himself God, and kill all who will not recognize him as such. His splendor, his promises and his false miracles will be such that even the holy and just will be in danger of being seduced, but for their sake God will shorten these days of persecution.

Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. That is, where the wicked are, who have aimed at spiritual corruption, there punishment will overtake and destroy them.

This generation shall not pass till all these things be done. By these words Christ defines the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, and says that many of His hearers would live to see it, which also happened. But when the end of the world will come, He says, not even the angels in heaven know. (Matt. XXIV. 36.) Let us endeavor to be always ready by leading a holy life, for the coming of the divine Judge, and meditate often on the words of our divine Lord: Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

(See the account of the Destruction of Jerusalem on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost.)

PRAYER Remove from us, O Lord, all that is calculated to rob us of Thy love. Break the bonds with which we are tied to the world, that we may not be lost with it. Give us the wings of eagles that we may soar above all worldly things by the contemplation of Thy sufferings, life and death, that we may hasten towards Thee now, and gather about Thee, that we may not become a prey to the rapacious enemy on the day of judgment. Amen.

An Explanation and Tutorial on the Celebration of Holy Mass

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:46:00 +0000

This video beautifully illustrates the celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass. For those wishing to learn all of the details of the Celebration of the Mass, please see this text of singular importance: The Celebration of Mass: A Study of the Rubrics of the Roman Missal

The Anniversary of the Death of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:36:00 +0000

In honor of the death of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, who ruled for 68 years, the third longest reign of recorded history in Europe. November 21, 1916, was the day on which he died. Let us pray for his soul today and for the people of Austria.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli:
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem.

Aa-1025: The Memoirs of a Communist's Infiltration into the Church.

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000

Thank you to the reader who sent me Aa-1025: The Memoirs of a Communist's infiltration in to the Church from my Wishlist on Amazon.com. I have really been looking forward to reading this book for some time! Thank you!

Release of Hymns of Mount Athos & The Glory of Byzantium: Christmas Hymns

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:30:00 +0000

On November 17, Jade Music/Milan Entertainment, Inc. is releasing the album "Hymns of Mount Athos" by the Choir of Monks from the Monastery of Simonos Petra. Legendary Mount Athos is home to twenty Orthodox monasteries with more than two thousand monks living, praying, singing and meditating. For centuries they have dedicated several hours of the day to liturgical chant, reflecting on their faith and the depth of Byzantine culture. Simonos Petra is a beautiful symbol of monastic life. Built in the 13th century, it is home today to sixty monks. This recording, Hymns of Mount Athos, is a testimony to the pure beauty of Orthodox chant.

Two weeks later, on December 1, we will release the album "The Glory of Byzantium: Christmas Hymns".

Following the success of The Glory Of Byzantium, Jade Music is releasing The Glory of Byzantium: Christmas Hymns. The album features the Byzantine Choir Of Greece under the direction of Lycourgos Angelopoulos. Compositions on this recording were mostly written by composers of the 17th and 18th centuries; Petros Bereketis, Hourmouzios Hartofylax, Petros Lampadarios, and Petros Peloponnisios among others. These centuries belong to the most important when it comes to post-Byzantine art.

While I have not listened to either of these CDs yet, I am interested in them since Jade Music has consistently provided high quality products in the past. For a list of other Music CDs by them, please click on "Music Reviews" in the labels section below.

Purchasing Information:

Year for Priests

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:49:00 +0000

From June 2009 - June 2010, we commemorate the Year of the Priest. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: "Precisely to encourage encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends, I have decided to establish a special 'Year for Priests' that will begin on June 19 and last until June 19, 2010. In fact, it is the 150th anniversary of the death of the Holy Cure d'Ars, John Mary Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock."

In light of this Year and as we soon approach half of it being completed, let us reflect on the extent to which we have prayed for good and holy priests. Have we prayed for holy priests to continue to persevere and fight heresy such as modernism as well as social evils such as abortion and euthanasia? Have we prayed for traditional young men to answer the call of God to serve at the Altar as a priest? Have we prayed for more priests to help spread the Mass of the Ages and the Saints - the Tridentine Latin Mass - and helped them whenever possible to do so?

Now is a fitting and appropriate time to evaluate our actions in light of this Year of the Priest. Below is a list of various posts from mine that may be useful to your spiritual growth at this time:

Prayers for Priests:

Recommended Reading:

Image Source: Parish priest Father Salvatore Cantatore celebrating mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Poughkeepsie, NY, US, March 1952, Photographer: Ralph Morse

First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:34:00 +0000

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for 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.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church 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."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Source: Zenit

Indulgences

Image Source: Unknown, Believed to be in the Public Domain

Interview with Monsignor Bartolucci on Traditional Catholicism

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:32:00 +0000

Thank you to the reader who notified me of the following interview with Monsignor Bartolucci available on Disuptationes Theologicae [simply translate the page into English using Google Translate or a similar service].

The following intial excerpt from the interview is already quite revealing in terms of the views of Mons. Bartolucci:

INTERVIEW WITH MONSIGNOR. DOMENICO BARTOLUCCI
by Pucci Cipriani and Stefano Carusi

A meeting with Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci, the distinguished Mugellan musician, Maestro Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel, admirer, friend and collaborator of Benedict XVI.

It is a sunny afternoon on the green hills of the Mugellan landscape, when we arrive on the Roman church of Montefloscoli, in the antique rectory full of memories the Maestro Perpetuo of the Sistine Chapel is enjoying the fresh air, behind him a framed photo of the hug the reigning pontiff is giving Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci, the successor of Lorenzo Perosi in the Sacred Palace. On his writing-desk the now-famous book of Monsignor Brunero Gherardini: “Il Concilio Vaticano II- un discorso da fare” (“The Second Vatican Council – a debate to be started”), edited by Edizioni Casa Mariana.
It is on the subject of the liturgical reform that we start our conversation with the Maestro, with Domenico Bartolucci, who in liturgical and musical matters has been at ease working and giving counsel to five popes and who is a friend and collaborator of Benedict XVI, whose work he says is “an immense gift to the Church, if only they would let it work”.

Maestro, the recent publication of the Motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum” has brought a gust of fresh air into the desolate liturgical panorama which surrounds it. Even you may now celebrate the Mass of all time (“messa di sempre”.)

To tell the truth, I have always and without interruption celebrated it since my ordination … on the contrary, I sometimes found it difficult to celebrate according to the modern rite, even if I never said so.

The Mass which never was abolished, is it not?

Those are the words of the Holy Father even if some people pretend not to understand and even if many in the past have argued that the opposite is true.

All Souls Day Traditional Requiem Mass from 2007 at St. Francis de Sales Oratory, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:16:00 +0000

Today is the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

This feast, dating back to the 11th Century, is a time to remember all of the faithfully depart and pray that they are now in the grace of God. God certainly is Love and He is mercy. The only thing we can do is trust in Him and pray for our loved ones.

In the middle of the 11th century, St. Odilo, the abbot of Cluny (France), said that all Cluniac monasteries were to offer special prayers and sing the Office for the Dead on November 2, the day after the feast of All Saints. The custom spread from Cluny and was was adopted throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church. Now we the entire Church celebrates November 2nd as All Soul's Day.

Indulgence:

To gain a Plenary Indulgence form noon Nov. 1 until midnight Nov. 2, visit the church, pray for the Holy Souls and also for the intentions of the Holy Father. On All Soul's Day and for a week afterward, a Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Souls is granted for a visit to the cemetery with devotion and prayer for the dead. All through November, you can gain partial indulgence every day you visit the cemetery and pray for the dead.

Source

Feast of Christ the King 2009: Louisville, KY

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:07:00 +0000

A beautiful video of the Traditional Latin Mass from St. Martin of Tours Church, Louisville, KY on the Feast of Christ the King, October 25, 2009. Archbishop Jospeh Kurtz attended in choir and preached, making a pastoral visit to the Louisville Latin Mass Community.

Archbishop Raymond Burke Celebrates First Traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter's Basilica

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000

In the holy city of Rome on October 18, 2009, a Solemn Pontifical High Mass was sung in the Gregorian Rite by the Most Rev. Raymond Burke in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the Vatican Basilica. What a sign for the Faithful with the Tridentine Mass celebrated in the Vatican itself!

Patristic Quotations

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:52:00 +0000

A reader has sent in the following recommendation:

Hey,

I was listening to an Orthodox podcast during my commute, and the speaker recommended a new source for patristics materials. It seems that Monachos.net recently launched wiki-style set of pages for quotes from the Fathers. I haven't had much of a chance to look through it, but I thought it might be something you'd find worthwhile:

http://www.monachos.net/content/patristics/patristic-quotations

Tridentine Latin Mass Sponsored by the Thomas More Society of Boston College

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:37:00 +0000

The below images were from a Tridentine Latin Mass sponsored by the Thomas More Society of Boston College, celebrated in St Mary's Chapel by Fr Agustin Anda, assisted by Fr. Gary Gurtler, S.J.. Chant choir Schola Amicorum, from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

This Mass took place on the Feast of St Michael the Archangel in September 2009. The acolytes are Philip Micele and Michael Williams.

Image Sources: These photos are from the Greater Boston Tridentine from Flickr, used with permission

First Thursday of the Month: Plenary Indulgence Available

acatholiclife@gmail.com (Matthew) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:33:00 +0000

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for 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.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church 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."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Source: Zenit

Indulgences

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