Quickpost: Good Christ the King Analysis with an "EF" encyclical, Quas Primas

Hello Everyone.

So I haven't been on here in a couple of weeks. Well I'm still alive doing other things in my work and faith life.

I am here, though, to bring to your attention a good post I received in my blogger feed. This comes from the USA, from Christopher Smith, OP at Amazing Catechists. I felt this post had the best of everything: A good ol' encyclical by a pope back when the EF was the form of the Mass in the Latin Rite, THE ONLY FORM, analysis of modern events, and good sound reflection on the Feast day in the Ordinary Form. Here's the post:

http://amazingcatechists.com/2012/11/the-importance-of-letting-christ-reign-as-king/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AmazingCatechists+%28Amazing+Catechists%29

BTW, the Feast of Christ the King was already celebrated in the Extraordinary Form, on the Last Sunday in October.

God Bless, YCRCM.  

Quickpost: One of Fr. Z.'s best rants ever, and rightfully deserved.

Hi All.

Just haven't had the motivation or drive to do bigger posts on this blog for a while now. Might re-visit one I started on a week off I had, but not sure if I will.

In the meantime, Fr. Z lays this nugget in this post about the stupid post-Vatican II changes to Holy Days of Obligation. Post is here:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/09/and-he-shall-make-all-both-little-and-great-rich-and-poor-freemen-and-bondmen-to-have-a-character-in-their-right-hand-or-on-their-foreheads/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wdtprs%2FDhFa+%28Fr.+Z%27s+Blog+-+What+Does+The+Prayer+Really+Say%3F%29

"Paul VI blew it when he changed the obligations for doing penance and abstaining on Fridays.    Sorry, that was a bad move.  Does anyone do penance now? FAIL. Our bishops blew it big time by intermittently repressing Holy Days of Obligation.   Now people don’t go to Mass when the obligation is not repressed.  They got the message: going to Mass isn’t very important after all.  FAIL.  Shortening the Eucharistic Fast to an hour before Communion? Another brilliant outcome, do you think?  Do people now pay attention to fasting at all?  Do they have a sense of participation in the Eucharist as involving sacrifice?  We creatures of body and soul need preparation that is both physical and spiritual, fasting and being in the state of grace. Is there any concept of mortification as salutary among the people of God?  Do lots of people really give deep consideration to what they do when receiving Communion?

Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:27. FAIL."

GO FR. Z! Nuff Said

Also, the commenter in the beginning of the post recommends an attendance sheet or stamp card for attendance. I've seen on the net/blogosphere this as a suggestion for the odd Confirmation/1st communion program. Personally, I'm all for it. However the card must be stamped, with two different stamps/colors, one for the beginning of the Mass up to 5 minutes before the Liturgy, and then another one post liturgy. Yes it won't prevent people who falsify emergencies or "bathroom" visits, but it would get people to stick around. As for who would do it? get more people to become ushers. 

While were at it, I think also that the Church could really help their money problems AND help ensure people do their obligations by doing what many Jewish synagogues do: Charge people for tickets on the high holidays. You don't have a regular membership/obligation? You pay for being a C & E Catholic. 

Now I don't know if one gets their high holiday tickets paid for if you are a regular Saturday-going member of a synagogue, but for the Catholic church I'd throw in the High holiday tickets for free with regular attendance (measured by an at least once a month to weekly donation in the envelopes, or a stamp card if you don't like to donate.). Also the front-most rows should be stauchened or blocked off, and only those with the front row tickets (a.k.a. regular attendees and/or regular weekly donations) allowed to have those seats with an Usher on each side to watch. Any disruptions, police get called or security to haul your all out.  Everyone else is first come first serve with tickets, but tickets must be bought regardless whether you get a seat or not. One final note, if all this enforcement were to take place, any people involved should receive some form of compensation for the sake of people who are just piss-pots. 

Sigh, no one will have the guts to do this though.

Pax, YCRCM. 

``Yes, Lord: You know that I love you`.` Reflection on a Gospel from a Novus Ordo Mass for Friday, Seventh Week of Easter Cycle 1/Year 1 at Lunchtime

Hello Everyone.

It's kind of exciting that I'm getting 20-50 page-views per day now. Gives me a little hope now as things aren't exactly peachy keen in my personal life.

Any ways, I decided to go on my lunch break Friday to a parish that is a 5-minute walk from my workplace. The best part is that because it is a parish whose priestly order has a charism that focuses on redemption and the offering of sacraments that was contrary to the challenges in the Church at the time of its foundation. So They offer confession before almost all their major masses and every one on Sunday (Thank the Lord! Here's an order and a parish that knows about the worthy redemption of the Sacrament of the Eucharist!!!!!).

So obviously I went for confession, but also I stayed for Mass because I wanted to offer prayers and my spiritual work of being there to the Lord concerning an  intention in a minor, but personal important spiritual conflict I am having, and feel that I know what the outcome will be based on a key statement.

The homily was given by the chaplain from my workplace. The Gospel reading for Friday, May 25 in the Novus Ordo from the CCCB lectionary for Canada, was from John 21:15-19. Nutshell version: Jesus wants Peter to be a leader and step up and spread the mission of His Church but also he hints that he will die not by his own hands or naturally (that is he will undergo the Passion, Death and Resurrection). He does a well-known reversal of when Peter denies Christ 3 times in the Passion: Christ asks him 3 times ``Do you love me?" and of course Peter says yes, but Christ replies "Feed my lambs."

The chaplain decided to focus on this famous reversal, speaking about the theme of Love. His ending on the topic was a little weak, and personally I felt that the priest could have gone a bit more into explaining about the virtue of Charity (which is also called Love) or explaining more about the highest level of Love which the trinity expressed perfectly: Divine Love, or Caritas. You can read Pope Benedict's Encyclical on that Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth) with regard to that.

However, what struck me from that day's homily, was that he likely used a recent tragedy as a literary device in order to emphasize a point about the Love of Christ. The summation is that  a young man, who fell in love with a woman, was rejected. He then proceeded with a firearm to her, threatens her or someone else, and in the end he shot himself. I thought I heard "students" or "student" in the homily so after an internet search, this is the story that matched the most times in links. The news item is from India and it is fairly recent, having happened last week involving young university students:

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/man-shoots-self-in-girls-hostel-after-being-rejected-by-woman-211348

After relating the story, the priest said that yes, the man "loved" the woman, but is this really love? That question, got me thinking a bit, and I can conclude that, no it's not. Love should not end in a person shooting one's self, and further love cannot be present in forcing another person to do one's bidding or express emotions not there. Instead, all that is present is submission to a more dominant person, fear, and unhappiness. The main point that I remember the priest speaking from this, is that the love of the Trinity has to be present at the core of us as Catholics (I think he used the Holy Spirit. It would make sense as some priests and a doctoral student I know has said that the Holy Spirit is Love.). If our actions are devoid of true, Christian love, well .... I cannot remember what the priest said about that, but I can say that obviously if faith without works is dead, the reverse can also be (and in Catholicism must be,) true. If part of our faith is that our Trinity expresses the most perfect form of love, Caritas, and we ourselves are vessels for the Holy Spirit from Baptism and must carry out God/Christ's Love as part of our Catholic life, then yes, Love/the Theological Virtue of Charity/Caritas must be at the very core of what we do as Catholics (how we do it, though, and how this teaching has been misapplied, is another kettle of fish).

It was a nice little piece of mind that day, concerning that conflict I had and still do on my mind. I pray and hope in that conflict that the Theological virtue of Love will be present. It was definitely my verbal spiritual nourishment, in addition to the ULTIMATE spiritual nourishment found in the Eucharist of our Blessed Lord as his Glorified body present on Earth.

Hoped you enjoyed what I have shared, Pax. YCRCM.

Quickpost: Ash Wednesday2012 Latin Masses in Canada And more Catechesis (YEA!!!)

Hello Everyone

Hope all is well. Just a quickpost as to the Latin Masses available in Canada for Ash Wednesday that I can access from a home computer:

Una Voce Calgary: Masses are at St. Anthony's parish, 5340 - 4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
T2V CZ5 , Tel: (403) 252-1137. Bad news: the website is either down or they forgot to pay the web domain. Good News: After checking out the parish website here, I found out they are having an 1135 am Latin Mass (Lecta, Cantata or Solemnis status unknown, though it'd likely be a low mass since it's during a normal working weekday and would be sparsely attended.)
Una Voce Ottawa: There is no Website currently upon searching, they are listed as a chapter. It'd be better to point you to a TLM ONLY parish with adjoining Catholic school spearheaded by the Fraternal Society of St. Peter., named St. Clement. http://www.st-clementottawa.ca/main.php. They are having a 7am Low Mass and a 730pm High Mass.

Una Voce Saskatoon: "The Latin Mass is located at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 301 Avenue Y South, Saskatoon, SK". 5:15pm TLM's are held on feast days (with a few noted exceptions). Best to call the parish or fire off an e-mail to UVS for more info.

 Una Voce Sudbury: It is best to contact either the church they hold the Masses at, or to e-mail the society. All contained in the link.

Una Voce Toronto: Una Voce Toronto IS NOT organizing a mass for this feast day. However there are options available for Toronto according to the following from their Facebook Page:
1) Scarborough, Toronto: 11am, St Lawrence the Martyr Parish. http://www.stlawrencemartyr.org/ Is TTC accesible via Kennedy Station and a bus from the station. See site for transportation.
2) GTA (Parkdale) 1130am normal weekday low mass (M-F) Holy Family Parish, http://www.oratory-toronto.org/spn_holy_family_church.html. If you cannot make the mid-day TLM, there is a Latin Sung Novus Ordo (NOT EF/TLM) at 8pm. Confessions are normally held about or > 15 min before this mass.
3) GTA (LAKESHORE, CENTRAL TORONTO NEAR ST. JOSEPH's HOSPITAL) 8pm Solemn Latin Mass/Missa Solemnis http://www.oratory-toronto.org/spn_st__vincent_de_paul_church.html. There will be confessions about or > 15 min before this Mass.
FAIRLY NEW!!! Una Voce Hamilton:  This is an official chapter of Una Voce. While they do not have a website, there is a blog devoted to the TLM/EF in their area (Kitchener-Waterloo). This also might include the smaller townships in the area and larger cities such as Fergus, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, and Waterloo. The blog website is this: http://kwtraditionalcatholic.blogspot.com/2011/05/statement-on-ue-by-una-voce.html. Una Voce Hamilton does have a facebook page for those interested: https://www.facebook.com/#!/unavocehamilton. Surely the parishes listed under those links would have a Latin Mass on Ash Wed.

NEW AS OF 2012!!! Una Voce London (ON, CAN): UVL is the newest chapter to Una Voce International from Canada. better yet it has been started by two of the key contributors to the TLM friendly site New Litrugical Movement and they are on the executive. There's even talk of getting the EF associated youth movement, Juventutem started in London area. Anyways, they also have a facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/UnaVoceLondon . Fergus, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener might also be closer or under this Una Voce.  Please check the parishes listed under the links for available Mass times.

Other Chapters with no Website but Exist according to Una Voce International Canada (Not to mention the diocese event pages yielded nothing):
- Vancouver
- Creston
- Edmonton
- St. Johns, Newfoundland
- Victoria, B.C.

If anyone can give me links for the other chapter, or anything else for Canada Ash Wed Latin mass links, let me know.

Here's more goodies for you boys and girls: Catechesis on Ash Wednesday!!!

Ash Wednesday

When? Depends on the Church calendar year but anywhere from mid February to Early March in both forms of the Latin Rite.

What? – “Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of her Lenten journey towards Easter. The Christian life is itself a constant journey of conversion and renewal in the company of the Lord, as we follow him along the path that leads through the Cross to the joy of the Resurrection. The primary way by which we follow Christ is by the liturgy, in which his person and his saving power become present and effective in our lives. In the Lenten liturgy, as we accompany the catechumens preparing for Baptism, we open our hearts anew to the grace of our rebirth in Christ. This spiritual journey is traditionally marked by the practice of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. The Fathers of the Church teach that these three pious exercises are closely related: indeed, Saint Augustine calls fasting and almsgiving the “wings of prayer”, since they prepare our hearts to take flight and seek the things of heaven, where Christ has prepared a place for us. As this Lent begins, let us accept Christ’s invitation to follow him more closely, renew our commitment to conversion and prayer, and look forward to celebrating the Resurrection in joy and newness of life.”

-          Ratzinger, Joseph (a.k.a. Pope Benedict XVI). General Audience Paul VI Audience Hall Wednesday, 9 March, 2011. Online. Available: [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20110309_en.html]. 10 Mar 2011.

 And now, what is said about Ash Wed from the Extraordinary Form? Here’s the entry from the 1962 Baronius Press Hand Missal:

“Ash Wedensday is from a liturgical point of view one of the most important days of the year. In the first place this day opens the liturgical season of Lent, which formerly began with the First Sunday and compromised only 36 days. The addition of Wednesday and the three following days brought the number to forty, which is that of our Lord’s fast in the desert.

In the Old Law ashes were generally a symbolic expression of grief, morning, or repentance. In the Early church the use of ashes had a like signification and with sackcloth formed part of the public penances. The blessing of the ashes is one of the great liturgical rites of the year. It was originally instituted for public penitents, but is now intended for all Christians, as Lent should be a time of penance for all. The ashes used this day are obtained by burning palms of the previous year. Traditionally they are blessed by four ancient prayers, sprinkled with holy water and incensed, and then place in the form of a cross on the foreheads of each of the faithful with the words: “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.” The ancient prayers of the blessing suggest suitable thought for the opening Lent. They are summarized here: “Almighty and everlasting God, spare the penitent … bless these ashes, that they may be a remedy to all who invoke Thy Name … O God, who desirest not the death but the conversion of sinners, look in kindness upon our human frailty … and bless those ashes, so that we, who know ourselves to be but ashes … and that we must return to dust, may deserve to obtain pardon and the rewards offered to the penitent.”

 Ash Wednesday. The Daily Missal and Liturgical Missal with Vespers For Sundays and Feasts From the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 With Supplements Containing The Additional Masses for Englang and Wales, Scotland, United States and Australasia. Summorum Pontificum Edition. Baronius Press: London. 2009. p. 292.

 Notes:

1. As prescribed under Canon Law for ALL CATHOLICS:
Canon Law

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.
-          But what, say, is Fasting and Abstinence in today’s Church Laws? From the bulletin of a local parish of mine:  9^th Sunday Ordinary Time from XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX: “ … Abstinence refrains from consumption of meat. This law pertains to everyone over fourteen years of age. Fasting prescribes that only one meal be taking in a day, but it does not forbid taking more nourishment in the morning and in the evening, according to the needs of each individual …”
                     à So on Ash Wed, you don’t eat meat and you ideally have only one major meal in the 
                     day. However, if you absolutely need a small morsel, fine. Just not a full meal or anything
                     sweet and fatty.

-       Another minor tradition on Ash Wed (but more Good Fri), is that people have fish and chips as their meal on Friday as you can eat fish. Cafeterias today still have the trend of fish and chips on Fridays oddly enough even though many Catholics are unaware that Canon Law says you are to abstain all Fridays of the year. 

 2. Ash Wednesday is NOT a holy day of obligation. Nevertheless many Catholics, even if they do not attend normal Sunday Mass, do go to this Mass and Catholic schools traditionally have a school mass on this day.

3. The ashes that are distributed are traditionally made from the palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday.

4. Many people traditionally “give up” something for Lent, common examples being sweet foods or drinks. However the most powerful forms of penance are fasting, almsgiving, and prayer during lent, above all others (says the Compendium of the Catechism).

Sources:

SCRIPTURE READINGS
EF
Joel 2:12-19 and Matthew 6:16-21

Novus Ordo (ALL CYCLES/YEARS)

Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2, Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

-          Ratzinger, Joseph (a.k.a. Pope Benedict XVI). Message of His Holiness, Benedict XVI for Lent 2011. Online. Available: [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101104_lent-2011_en.html]. 10 Mar 2011.

 -          Ratzinger, Joseph (a.k.a. Pope Benedict XVI). Holy Mass, Blessing, and Imposition of the Ashes. Homily of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Basilica of St. Sabina Ash Wednesday, March 9 2011. Online. Available: [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110309_ceneri_en.html] 19 Mar 2011.

Happy Fasting, YCRCM.

Merry Christmas to Everyone! Cathechesis and some links.

Hello Everyone. Sorry I've been late with the big Catechesis post. I do have a working draft, it's just this blog is a side project and it's not the biggest priority in my life. I also have to sit down and spend time consulting other sources as I don't have fancy degrees or post-secondary theological education, so if I'm going farther than my commentary at face value, I'd better do my homework, so as not to say anything heretical. For my sources, I will need to spend time with the Cantea Aurea of Thomas Aquinas and also the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible with Scott Hahn for more scholarly content.

Now more importantly, I just wanted to wish you a joyful and blessed Merry Nativity of our Lord and a Happy Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But before I depart, I shall give you all a wonderful Nativity gift: Catechesis. Here's catechesis for the Feast of the Nativity.

CHRISTMAS VIGIL & CHRISTMAS DAY!!! Also known as the Solemnity of the Nativity (Birth) of Our Lord/The Feast of the Nativity

When? – December 25 in both NO and EF, but one can go to Mass starting December 24^th in the Evening to satisfy the obligation.

What? – Like it says, this is the day in our liturgical year when we celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth. A good summary of this Holy feast is provided in Pope Benedict XVI’s recent speech prepared for a British BBC radio broadcast, “Thought of the Day”:

“ … God’s chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation. They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send … The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place – he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history … Christ destroyed death forever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross ...  he was none other than the Son of God. Out of love for us, he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life to a share in the life of God himself … let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life ....”

Benedict XVI, Pope. Full text of Benedict XVI’s Thought for the Day. Online.  Available: [http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/12/24/full-text-of-benedict-xvis-thought-for-the-day/]. 25 Dec 2010.

 

Also from the Baronius Press 1962 Missal on Christmastide:

                “ During the season of Advent, we longed for the coming of Christ. In Christmastide, we experience the joy of His coming into the world. The Church is full of the Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus as God, begotten of the substance of the Father before all the ages and born of the substance of His Mother in the world, is given to us. “And His Name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel.” By the union of our souls with Jesus born to human life, we are born to the divine life. “As many as received Him He gave them power to be made Sons of God.” In the birth of Jesus we learn to know God as His Father: “All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knoweth the Son but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father but the Son and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal Him.

                During Christmastide, the liturgy shows us the Messiah as the Son of God, clothed with humanity, glorified by the humble surprised shepherds, and adored by the Magi from the East. Let us fall down before the Child and bless God, for the birth of Jesus is the beginning of our Redemption through grace to the supernatural life.

                Christmas is the only day of the year, other than Easter, which keeps the old custom of celebrating its Feast at midnight. At this hour we called to mind that Mary in her spotless virginity gave to the world its Saviour. In the midst of darkness, the Light was born. Therefore the Church celebrates Christmas on December 25, the time of the year when the days begin to lengthen. The custom of having three Masses originated in Jerusalem. A Mass was said in Bethlehem at a very early hour in the morning. Later a second Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. About midday a third Mass was celebrated. Each of the three Masses has its identifying characteristic. The Midnight Mass celebrates particularly the birth of Jesus, the Mass at Dawn commemorates the adoration of the shepherds, the daytime Mass celebrates the eternal generation of the Word and the dignity of the Son of God.

                Whereas Advent is the season of “absence of Jesus,” Christmastide is a season of great joy in our possession of the Savour. Eight days after Christmas the Church celebrates the Circumcision of Jesus. On January 6, she commemorates the adoration of Jesus by the Magi (Epiphany), which brings Christmastide to a close.”

Christmastide. The Daily Missal and Liturgical Missal with Vespers For Sundays and Feasts From the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 With Supplements Containing The Additional Masses for Englang and Wales, Scotland, United States and Australasia. Summorum Pontificum Edition. Baronius Press: London. 2009. pp.180-181.

Notes:

1. This is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION in the entire world. You must go to Mass on this day regardless of what day of the week it falls under. If it does not fall on a Sunday, you are also obligated to go Christmas and that following Sunday. You can fulfill the Xmas obligation if you attend a Christmas Eve Vigil or Night mass. Also many people will go to an 11pm or Midnight Mass as a tradition.

Sources

SCRPITURAL READINGS

Extraordinary Form

The readings depend on which mass is said. There are a total of three masses.
(Night) First Mass – Titus 2: 11-15 and Luke 2:1-14
(Dawn) Second Mass – Titus 3:4-7 and Luke 2:15-20
(Day) Third Mass – Hebrews 1:1-12 and John 1:1-14

Novus Ordo

Night Mass – Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-16
Dawn Mass – Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20
Day Mass – Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Other Readings from Scripture in the Holy Bible: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:5-80 to Luke 2:1-7 (which also contains the Joyful mysteries of the Annunciation and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.)

Benedict XVI, Pope. Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI Saint Peter’s Basilica, Friday, 24 December 2010. Online. Available:  [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20101224_christmas_en.html]. 25 Dec 2010.

 
Benedict XVI, Pope. Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI Saint Peter’s Basilica, Friday, 24 December 2010. Online. Available:  [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20111224_christmas_en.html] 25 Dec 2011.

A Blessed and Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. YCRCM.

Catechesis: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hello Everyone,

I couldn't let another feast day go by without giving you a little edu-ma-cation. Without further-ado, Catechesis on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I highly advise you to read this before you go to Mass, unless other factors prevent you otherwize:

When? Usually the 2^nd Week of Advent, December the 8^th annually in both the NO and the EF calendars.

Whom? Mary Blessed Mother of Jesus, St. Anne (Mary’s Mother who birthed her), and St. Joachim, Mary's father.

What?

Here's what the Catechism of the Church says on the matter.

The Immaculate Conception

490 To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.”¹³² The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace”.¹³³ In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God,¹³⁴ was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.¹³⁵

492 The “splendour of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: she is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son”.¹³⁶ The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love”.¹³⁷

493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God “the All-Holy” (Panagia), and celebrate her as “free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature”.¹³⁸ By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.
“Let it be done to me according to your word. . .”

494 At the announcement that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing will be impossible”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word.”¹³⁹ Thus, giving her consent to God’s word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God’s grace:¹⁴⁰

As St. Irenaeus says, “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.”¹⁴¹ Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert. . .: “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.”¹⁴² Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary “the Mother of the living” and frequently claim: “Death through Eve, life through Mary.”¹⁴³ (1)

That's a lot eh? Maybe a shorter, better explanation will be more suitable for you. Here's the introduction taken from the variable prayers and passages that fit the Extraordinary Form mass of that day in the 1962 Roman Missal for the Laity:

“ I will put enmities between thee and the woman.” In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to the first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil; the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary’s Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it was this that qualified her for her divine maternity and raised her to her throne as Queen of heaven. “O Queen, conceive without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.” “(2)

Key Points And Notes on the Matter

Key Points
1. THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO OCCASIONS IN THE CHURCH’s HISTORY THAT THE CHURCH HAS USED ITS INFALLIBILITY EX CATHEDRA IN A MATTER OF DOGMA!!!!!
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9ineff.htm – Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX on Dec 8, 1854.

The only other instance of ex cathedra use of the power of infallibility is for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, this ex Cathedra announcement means a binding consequence amongst Roman Catholics: This is dogma pronounced publically and therefore MUST BE OBEYED by all practicing Catholics. To publically dissent from this means you are NOT Catholic and can get you excommunicated via apostasy (giving up the Christian Faith) though it could possibly be heresy (beliefs contrary to dogma of the faith, though usually clergy or high level people get this title), that is if you want to go about things rashly and proclaim denial to everyone and anyone you meet. Sure there are Catholics who don’t believe this and you probably know them, but hopefully they keep this to themselves and don’t try to encourage others to dis-believe. But if clergy do not believe this, you have every right as a Catholic by canon law to report this up the chain of command.

DISCLAIMER: If someone does not believe in the immaculate conception, do keep in mind that a number of Catholics today are poorly educated by the developed world's current cathechesis programs, youth ministries, RCIA programs etc. Most parishes outside of RCIA for converts do not focus on any form of Catholic faith education past Confirmation age. If any education is granted it is usually through a separate/Catholic publically (a.k.a. secular government) funded system which can interdict its authority into what is taught, and rarely will a high schooler get a decent chance at Catholic education via private Catholic school. Do be wary of this and try to get to the bottom of the persons disbelief first before tightening your grip alright? 

 2.       IN CANADA, This is unfortunately not a holy day of obligation. However, as always the Catechism says …

The Sunday Eucharist

2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. “Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.”¹¹⁰

“Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.”¹¹¹ (3)

3.     I would consider this the most important point to tell people today: Many people think that this day refers to Jesus being conceived without original sin. THIS IS WRONG. This day refers to Mary being conceived into the world without original sin so as to be an appropriate vessel to birth our God as the Word Made Flesh, as Jesus.

So, as a final note, I encourage everyone to attend Mass today if they can do it. While in many countries it is not a day of obligation (thanks to their Bishop's Conferences) do go to a Mass today. It will be that more spiritually rewarding to the Lord as you are going on your own free will and not cause an authority dictated you to go. EF parishes everywhere (and lay associations that set up EFs) will always have some mass on a feast day. As for Novus Ordos, some will likely have an evening Mass after work to go to. Worst case scenario, try to get to the morning mass, especially if its before work (if you can make it, and usually weekday NO's are shorter than Sunday. That or priests tend not to "pull out all the stops" as it were on the weekdays").

YCRCM.

Sources

SCRPITURAL READINGS
Extraordinary Form
Proverbs 8:22-35 and Matthew 5:1-12

Novus Ordo

Genesis 3:9-15,20, Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

Other Sources for your Interest:
Holweck, Frederick. "Immaculate Conception." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 9 Dec. 2010 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm>.

Catholic Answers. “Immaculate Conception and Assumption.” Online. Available:

<http://www.catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp>. 9 Dec 2010.

Works Cited according to the MLA Sytle Manual, 5th Ed.:
(1) "The Immaculate Conception." The Catechism of the Catholic Church. LIBERIA EDITRICE VATICANA, 1994, for the English translation in Canada. 1994.

(2) "December 8, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The Daily Missal and Liturgical Missal with Vespers For Sundays and Feasts From the Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962 With Supplements Containing The Additional Masses for Englang and Wales, Scotland, United States and Australasia. Summorum Pontificum Edition. 2009.

(3) "The Sunday Eucharist." The Catechism of the Catholic Church. LIBERIA EDITRICE VATICANA, 1994, for the English translation in Canada. 1994.

Quickpost: Coming week of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Hello Everyone. Just a quickpost for now for TLMs for the upcoming feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The feast day is this upcoming Thursday, December 8, 2011. It is always Dec. 8 in both the EF and the Novus Ordo liturgical calendars. Here's all the information I can muster across Canada using the Internet as to availability:

Una Voce Calgary: Mass is at St. Anthony's parish, 5340 - 4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
T2V CZ5 , Tel: (403) 252-1137. Not sure when the mass that day is, but there is a normal Thursday 7pm TLM listed with benediction after. Call the Parish about that day.

Una Voce Ottawa: There is no Website currently upon searching, they are listed as a chapter. It'd be better to point you to a TLM ONLY parish with adjoining Catholic school spearheaded by the Fraternal Society of St. Peter., named St. Clement. http://www.st-clementottawa.ca/main.php. Check their bulletin in 2 days (link on the front page) to see when they are holding the feast mass.

Una Voce Saskatoon: "The Latin Mass is located at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 301 Avenue Y South, Saskatoon, SK". 5:15pm TLM's are held on feast days (with a few noted exceptions).

 

Una Voce Sudbury: It seems there will be no Dec 8 mass, however it is best to contact either the church they hold the Masses at, or to e-mail the society. All contained in the link.

Una Voce Toronto: 7:30 pm at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish in Scarborough, Ontario, 2210 Lawrence Ae. East. Parish is here: http://www.stlawrencemartyr.org/ Is TTC accesible.

Toronto also has the Oratory of St. Phillip Neri in Toronto, associated with Holy Family Church in the Parkdale Area. Website here: http://www.oratory-toronto.org/spn_holy_family_church.html. 1130am EF low mass and will have a 6pm Sung Latin Mass (I think this means a Novus Ordo with sung and spoken Latin parts, but not entirely a TLM, or it is a EF Low Mass with a choir, but without the necessities to be a High Mass.)

Other Chapters with no Website but Exist according to Una Voce International Canada (Not to mention the diocese event pages yielded nothing):
- Vancouver
- Creston
- Edmonton
- St. Johns, Newfoundland
- Victoria, B.C.

If you are blessed to be in these diocese or can access the churches for the TLMs, go to them. Otherwise try to find a Novus Ordo parish in your area with a evening/night TLM. Know of any others? pass along word in the comments section.

And do expect a post later on about the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Also I want to try for this week to get part 1 of the catechesis effort, and if I find more passages in Matthew, I'll have to subpost and split up Bible into 2-4 subposts, Magisterial documents in another post , and CCC and Youcat in a final post on part 1.

YCRCM.

Feast Day: St Michael the Archangel (and other Archangels)



Picture from Una Voce Orange County California Handout/Bulletin Insert for guests to the EF, Michaelmas

Hello Everyone.

Yeah we all know Christmas and Easter are big days in the Church, but did you know that there are many other "Big days" in the Church? There's many more feast days. That's right, Feasts. And they pop up annually in the Church Calendar, be it Novus Ordo or Extraordinary Form/TLM. So, what are these feast days?

According to the Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by Broderick, feast days in the Church calendar are: "... the sequence of festivals to commemorate a teaching or event or religious improtance, or saints' days .... Feasts are celebrated within the limits of a natural day ..." (1)

So, on this day, September 29th, the Church commemorates a Saint's feast day, an event of religious importance, and indirectly teaching of an event. Today is the feast of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. These are the only angels that are named in the Bible (that is known to us by name). St. Michael is principally who is celebrated today, though all 3 are implied. So what's up with these three big head honchos cause they aren't just angels. Their bigger.

What is an angel? Again I turn to the Catholic Encyclopedia (2):

"... angels are spiritual beings, created by God, and superior in nature to man. They are immortal beings whose role is to minister to God and to do thw will of God in obedience. They are bodiless, spiritual intelligences who have their knowledge, not as man who acquires knowledge through his senses, but by intuition. Thus they do not arrive at conclusions following upon principles by a process of reason but immediately know the principles as truth ...."

Also, there are 9 "choirs" of angels in descending order: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, and Angels (2). Now, that's a nice nutshell definiton for you, but what about the three I mentioned? Let's save the popular one, St. Michael, for last, and let's get Gabriel and Raphael out of the way.

Gabriel
Gabriel means "Man of God/God has shown Himself Mighty." This angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the 70 weeks in Daniel 9:21-27 and also appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Luke 1:11). Finally, he announced to Mary she'd bear Christ who'd be conceived by the Holy Spirit and well, save the world (Luke 1:26) This is the famous angel who is named in the Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Annunciation. (3)

Raphael
Means "God has healed." Appears in the Book of Tobit as a guide to Tobiah. Raphael also bings the demon Asasel in the desert of Egypt in the book ot Tobit, helps Tobiah find a wife and recover his debt, and heals Tobit from blindness. He also reveals his identity directly in the book of Tobit. (3)

Michael (the Big Shatoonah, and my personal favourite Angel)
Clearly you have heard of this angel. Really? No? Well those named Michael have a mane meaning "Who is Like God" which is translated in Latin as "Quis et Deus". You may have seen that expression on some coats of arms or symbols dedicated to Michael. I could tell the story of Michael in a Nutshell, but I found a good summary via the ArchBishop of Ottawa, Ontario, Cannada, +Prendergast's blog: http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/2011/09/archangels-michael-gabriel-raphael.html. The summary was taken from The Catholic Herald Newspaper in the UK at: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/spirituallife/saintoftheweek/2011/09/22/the-saint-who-threw-satan-out-of-heaven/ . Here it is in full text:

"The Archangel Michael is honoured as the leader of the heavenly host which threw Satan and his fellow rebels out of heaven.
Today, the Catechism of the Catholic Church stoutly maintains the existence of angels as “true of faith”: “The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of tradition.”
Angels, the Catechism elucidates, “are servants and messengers of God. Because they ‘always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 18:10) they are ‘the mighty ones who do his word’ (Ps 103:20).
“The whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels. From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.”
This is a development of Jewish tradition. In the Old Testament there are copious references to angels, although Michael’s status is not precisely clear. In the Book of Daniel, written c 550 BC, he is “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people”.
Jesus Christ speaks (Mt 26:53) of having “more than 12 legions of angels” potentially at his side. And although the term “archangel” does not appear in the Bible, the reference in Revelation (12:7) to “Michael and his angels” suggests his supremacy.
In Hebrew the name Michael actually means “Who is like unto God?” The implication, which the rebellious angels learned to their cost, is that no one possibly could be like God.
In Catholic tradition, Michael serves four distinct roles. Just as he had defeated Satan in celestial combat, so he provides aid in the spiritual struggle fought in every human soul.
“With me,” the worldly Bishop Blougram explains in Browning’s poem:

faith means perpetual unbelief
Kept quiet like the snake ’neath Michael’s foot
Who stands calm just because he feels it writhe.

Secondly, Michael is present at every deathbed, offering the hope of redemption.
Thirdly, he weighs the merits of the soul after death.
Fourthly, he stands forth as the guarantor of Christ’s promise to the Church that it will endure to the end of time.
The cult of Michael developed in Byzantine Christianity, though stories of his apparition on Monte Gargano (southern Italy) in the late fifth century helped to spread his fame in western Europe.
Around 495 a vision of the archangel in Cornwall apparently led to the naming of St Michael’s Mount. By the end of the Middle Ages nearly 700 churches in England (many of them on high ground) bore Michael’s name. His feast was even retained in the ultra-Protestant Prayer Book of 1549.
Since 1969 the Catholic Church has combined his feast day with those of Gabriel, Raphael “and all angels”. Michael, though, is still in control of the army." (4)

So that's what this feast day is all about in the Catholic Church. For those interested in the Scriptural Readings for today's masses, here they are for both forms:

Extraordiary Form/Tridentine Latin Mass (1962): Apocalypse (a.k.a. Revelation) 1:1-5 And Matthew 18:1-10

Novus Ordo (1962): Revelation 12:7-12a, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 and John 1:47:51

Also, as to more about the fall of the traitor angels and the Devil (a.k.a. Satan, Lucifer, prior to the fall) with regard to St. Michael, check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 391 to 395. I am referring you for now, but as always, I could do a catechesis session in future on the fall of the traitor angels, the spiritual war,etc. in future.

Sources (cited according to MLA Style Maual, 5th Ed.)
(1) Broderick, Robert C., Thomas, Ed."Feasts of the Church" Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia. 1987.
(2) Broderick, Robert C., Thomas, Ed."Angel" Revised and Updated Catholic Encyclopedia. 1987.
(3) "Sept. 29. Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael" Lives of the Saints For Every Day of the Year. New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1977. 396-398.
(4) "The Saint Who Threw Satan Out of Heaven." The Catholic Herald. 29 Sept 2011. <http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/spirituallife/saintoftheweek/2011/09/22/the-saint-who-threw-satan-out-of-heaven/>