Quickpost: SUPPORT TARA BRINSTION NOT KANDACE HAGEN!!!!!

Hello Everyone.

I need anyone who reads this blog and who's on my friend list to please act now.

1) Please read this article from Lifesite News as to the situation: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/young-woman-poised-to-win-leadership-award-with-pledge-to-bring-abortion-to

2) I would like you all to pay attnention to the Tara Brinton Page. I, YCRCM, wrote the following about 1005pm Feb 28, 2012, even though their data clock is 7 hours ahead:
"

1032

Young Canadian RC Male says: Your pledge is awaiting moderation.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:06 am

I pledge to support those who are pro-life and anti-euthanasia, such as Tara Brinston, and to be against those who seek to bring the cutlture of Death to further fruition (e.g. abortion, euthanasia, contraception).

I have a feeling, with a great possibility, that they will find this comment offensive and remove it from her pledge list: one for the anonymity, and two the nature of the comment as I am Anti-abortion and Anti Kandace Hagen and what she is trying to do. I encourage everyone to support Tara and her cause and to devote your own pledge to her. She is currently #2 and deserves that $1000 grant.

ACT NOW!!!! YCRCM.

Update as of 658pm Feb 29, 2012:

My comment is still awaiting moderation under Tara. It has now been given pledge number 1043. Kandace sill leads with 1499 pledges in first place. Tara is Still 2nd place with 1047 pledges (1046 if mine is deleted). Please place your pledge where it counts. YCRCM.

Update as of 339 pm March 1, 2012:

The pledge drive is over. As of 1159 Pm Feb 29th (yesterday), they stopped collecting pledges. Regardless of wherever I click, I cannot find my pledge, nor others are being displayed publically anymore. However, we might have scored a pro-life victory folks. Every vote counted and currently on the ambassador page, Tara at 1615 pledges has a 3 vote lead over Kandace at 1612 pledges. The official results will be tomorrow. Lets hope they don't disqualify my pledge and hope they don't botch the voting. Stay Tuned ...

Update as of 1:34 March 3, 2012

Hey I've just checked my blogger status and this is getting the most hits on my stats counter! Wow. Guess what? Seems the ACIC-CACI organizers have to really look at the pledges for the votes because it's too close to call. This is what's listed at their site:
http://www.2012.active8campaign.com/2012/03/result-announcement-postponed/

"Result announcement postponed!

We know – How exciting! Due to the high number of pledges received in the last week of the campaign, it’s taking longer than we expected to finalize our moderation.

We will announce the final result on Monday, March 5th, but in the meantime want to extend our thanks to everyone involved.

It’s been an honour to work with all eight of this year’s global youth leaders, and awesome to see the number and content of the commitments they’ve inspired.

Our intention was to show that small changes by individual people can inspire others and that we can all make the world a better place. We hope you’ll continue to carry out your commitments and thank you for walking with us towards a world with social justice, human dignity, and participation for all.

From the entire team at ACIC."

BTW, the numbers still stand at Tara: 1615 pledges to Kandace's 1612. My pledge will probably get deleted. I found out after I made my pledge on Lifesite News` site that it has to fit with the plan listed beside the leaders` specific pledge pages or in line with their general mission. I`ll probably get my pledge deleted and not counted so truly consider Tara having a 2 pledge lead.

You think they just want their pro-abort hero may win and are delaying to try and have this happen? Or is it just due measure in a too close to call election like in politics? Opinions or further information on the competition can be commented below.

FINAL Update Mar 3, 2012 2:17 pm EST

Well, they finally have tallied the results:
http://www.2012.active8campaign.com/2012/03/final-results-are-in-and/

Guess what, it was too close to call so they gave BOTH Kandace and Tara a $1000 grant. While I will say I'm glad Tara won a grant, THE BLOODY FACT THEY GAVE KANDACE ONE ALSO IS A TRAVESTY AND AN MORAL OFFENCE AGAINST GOD! Kandace will now be able to carry out her dream or bringing death to more babies in PEI. How disgusting. Everyone, we have to pray and offer reparation against this outrage (e.g. more Masses, fasting, prayers, First Fridays and Saturdays), and furthermore pray to God for justice, and to the Lord Christ that he may be able to reach the hardened mind and heart of Kandace. Too bad I couldn't have done more. If only a major player like Mark Shea or Fr. Z or someone else picked up on this there would have been a clear winner and this would have been a clear win for Tara. I hate being so insignificant at times.

Post-Final update March 6, 2012

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/leadership-contest-announces-results-pro-abort-candidate-behind-by-a-hair-b

I knew this was rigged from the start and they took out my pledge. See LifesiteNews' post competition take on it. And the commentators have the gall to blame the pro-life organizer saying she "poisoned" the competition? What a bunch of hypocrites and sore losers. They know we won and they deleted the pro-life pledges. Tara is the true winner and GOD KNOWS IT!

That's it, this event is in the history books and I'm done here. On to better things.

One final note, I posted in the Lifesite News article and if anyone comes here commenting against me cause I'm pro life, AUTOMATIC RED FLAG, DELETION, BLOCKING, ETC!!!! Read my forum rules from August 2011.

YCRCM.

Quickpost: Wow Cardinal Collins Quotes Humanae Vitae in Interview with Vatican Radio Just after being Red Hatted

Score one for Canada!!!! Anyone think maybe, just maybe, Cardinal Collins will be the next Pope of the Church?

Here's the post by an Ontario group of Catholic bloggers: http://torontocatholicwitness.blogspot.com/2012/02/cardinal-collins-on-humanae-vitae.html

Here's the interview from Vatican Radio: http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-collins-families-need-to-be-strong

Don't forget to read the important (but sadly controversial and now well-ignored) Encyclical Humanae Vitae here: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

BTW, I went to a Solemn Latin Mass at a parish in my city for Ash Wednesday case you were wondering. (Only 1 meal, no meat). 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.

Happy New Year! What`s up and Special Assignment for Seraphic: Online Dating Experience

Hello Everyone! Happy New Year and Pax tibi Christi.

I hope that everyone's start to the new year has been somewhat better than last year's events, though it doesn't always happen.

I'll admit I've been very lax on my blog lately and I haven't done much work with the catechesis assignment. I just seem to be bowing down to procrastination lately and as well my worklife is a vampire sucking both my physical and mental energies, even though its 8-hr rotating shiftwork. Worse my rents are always on my back to accept extra shifts and usually I do, to the point where I think that I think people call or text directly knowing I`ll switch or take their shifts.

However, I have been commenting on other blogs around here on occasion (Fr. Z, Vox Nova, Seraphic Singles ...) and I've delved into a couple of books lately on Church history:

1) The Story of the Church by Johnson, Hannan and Dominica. This book is an excellent Conservative Catholic history book sold on homeschooling sites (or used copies on Amazon/E-bay) that covers up to the 1940's with some focus on America, and also has questions and activities in the book. I will also add that for what I`ve read, this book is much heavier on the contributions that the Saints have had throughout the Church`s history and the authors do not touch things lightly. They'll tell you exactly how the saints died in detail. While this book doesn`t touch the 20th Century enough, it`s still a good book to have in your Catholic library.

2) The Catholic Church: Journey Wisdom and Misson, printed by St. Mary`s Press, by Carl Koch. This was my high school textbook for my Gr. 10 Church History course at my private Catholic all-boys school. Believe it or not, they still use this book (in its 94`edition) as the main textbook. In my opinion they should look at the Didache series and do an upgrade, but if this is what they are using still, it must be a decent book. It`s a ``neutral`` Catholic Church history book covering in decent detail history up to the opening of Vatican II, and has brief snipits of the Church post Vatican II up to the early 90`s. Considering most Church history books are biased against the Church, this is an alright `just the basics` text to have or keep from high school, if your curriculum isn`t busy teaching that social justice garbage.

Personally, I like both my books. However my one caveat is that I want a book that touches on the reign of JPII and now Pope Benedict XVI. Both had and are continuing to make (posthumously or currently) significant contributions to the Church (e.g. JPII --> Catechism and Theology of the Body; B16 --> sex scandal clampdown, ecumenical work with the Anglicans and Society of St. Pius X, Summorum Pontificum and Ecclesiae Unitatem). If anyone can recommend a good CONSERVATIVE Catholic History textbook from any publishing company that covers these two popes' reigns, please let me know.

While I've been around the blogosphere, one of the blogs that I frequent are the two of Dorothy Cummings McClean (a.k.a. Seraphic, Auntie Seraphic), a weekly columnist for the Catholic Register. She used to live in Toronto and had done post-secondary academic studies in theology. Currently, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband and the both of them are Tridentine Latin Mass/Extraordinary form goers. Her two blogs on the internet are Seraphic Goes to Scotland and Seraphic Singles, of which the second blog's title is also the same as that of a book she wrote for single Catholic women here or here for you Canadians on Novalis. It's also titled "The Closet's all mine" in the USA. So I wander over to her blog today and find a cool posting on Valentine's Day. For those in love, it's a nice way to do something and rekindle that burning love or maintain a marriage. However, there's a lot of consumerism involved and between that and being not in love on that weekend/day, it's quite a burden on the minds and hearts of the singles, widows, etc. out there. To counter both the un-Christian parts of that celebration and to bring some cheer to those singles, Seraphic has proposed Operation Valentinus 2012. See it there and make someone else happy. Now I chose to comment on it and I told her what my plans were for countering the single blues this coming weekend, consisting of a Catholic speed-date event set up jointly by my local university Catholic Chaplaincy and another Catholic young adult ministry. At that revelation, Seraphic asked kindly if I could do an account of that event for her and to have it posted on her blog! Wow I feel honourned. I figured why not. This isn't normal speed dating supposedly (it has a Christian/Catholic perspective) so I figure why not report on it. Here's my account of the event post-edit by Seraphic:

"Upon seeing Seraphic's post on Operation Valentinus 2012 and commenting on my Valentine's Day plans within the post, the lovely Auntie Seraphic asked me if I could write an account of the event and she'd post it on her blog. Wow, me, a little blip on the Catholic blogosphere map? Doing a post for a pretty big Catholic media darling? [Very kind but sadly an exaggeration.--Ed.] How could I say no to sweet Auntie Seraphic?

I'm a Catholic male in his late 20s who recently came back to his faith. I'm working towards getting back into a career in health care. I didn't have much luck in the dating department over my school years and, though I did a little bit of dating for a month and a half through a Catholic dating site last year, [that didn't work out]. However, I wasn't employed at that time and I really should haven't gone in full barrel. And that hasn't quelled my honest and heartfelt desire to fall in love, have a long-term relationship and start a family.

So here I am, in the middle age group of 25-32 yr olds, partly employed, and trying to establish myself personally, faith-wise and career-wise. This Catholic speed-dating event was random, mysterious, and I did not know what the outcome would be, nor was there any ``rulebook`` or smart advice that I could take with me. Furthermore, one on the organizers told me about the Catholic frame of mind of this event:

'We are going to encourage a Catholic model which is based first and foremost in human dignity. Each of us has dignity and is worthy of being treated with dignity because we are created in the loving image of God. Also, friendship is an important part of this model ....'
'.... People will be given a little valentine’s greeting card after each speed date meeting. You are going to be asked to write down one thing you enjoyed learning about the person / you admire about the person. And if you want you can enclose your contact info in that note. (The notes will not be handed to participants right away. They will be handed out at the end of the speed dating portion of the evening). It will then be up to recipient to decide if he or she wants to use any contact info provided to get in touch after the event.'
So this seemed like a departure from normal speed dating. Worse, it wasn't definite if people wanted to contact each other, so I felt like I was stepping into the Casino, where the house has the advantage. Randomness abounded, and I didn`t know what would happen. This made me nervous because I am more of an organizer who likes things planned out. I don't mind some randomness but not when it encompasses a task or event.

Furthermore, would the ladies be paying attention to my clothes? Would I seem interesting enough to them? Would they be revolted if I let it slip that I love the Latin Mass, or that I am that deep into my Catholic Faith, or if I said I'm looking long term relationship/for a family? What if I said something wrong and that one thing cost me a further event or friendship/relationship with that woman? What if they asked me if I own a car? What if God's Will is against me and will make the event flop because He's signed my vocation with his Divine pen on my life contract my as single or "GASP" (to me because I do not want to go to) the priesthood????? I really hoped not because God is supposed to respect a person's free will and I already have my faith and relationship struggles and I don't need more.

So the week came and went. I managed to scrounge an outfit that wasn't too business/dressy and yet work acceptable, and went to the event. Beforehand, I prayed to Jesus that I didn't know what would happen, whether I'd burn out big-time or maybe be fortunate, but if something good should happen, let it happen.

Once I arrived there, with my usual initial nervousness when it comes to women, I tried to see who looked around my age, who caught my eye, or if I knew anyone. You had to sign in, and provided you paid prior to the event, you were granted one free beverage.

While there I met another young guy who was part of another local Catholic student association. Still I was relatively alone and nervous. All my worries were running in my mind until the facilitators arrived and started to speak. They said to congregate to various areas depending on our age group and status. They also read out the portion about the frame of mind for Catholic speed dating (above).

When I did what they said, I had my first surprise of the night: My age group was so large (more than 10 people of both sexes) that we had two groups, while the others had only one group each.

Each date included 3 minutes of conversation, followed by 2 minutes writing on a little Valentine's day card, where you would give one considerate detail or comment to the other person, and if you chose, contact information.

And so it began. Each date varied in the level of connection/conversation but was interesting in its own right. With some of the women, we ended up asking the usual questions--about work, education, and the like, while others tended to be a bit more open and got into some elements of their Catholic faith such as how we both got involved in (the Catholic student association), and even some parts of our faith life, like our ministries, our home parish, and some things we've done.

Some women even revealed how they've done work abroad with children, either through teaching or missionary work. One woman revealed an interesting connection to St. Michael the Archangel as one of her patron saints (after daring to open the ``random question`` envelope and asking me about my patron saint, of which one is St. Michael).

Of the more interesting insights/surprises of the night here's what I found:

- I was able to have speed dates with a number of women, all of various figures, cultures, looks, and experiences. It tied quite in nicely to the whole central idea of us all being made in the image of God.

- One of my dates had found that a different form of liturgical music (praise and worship) contributes to her faith, and this has made her consider thinking of joining that choir. I know the kind of music they use, and while I`m more a traditionalist with my Catholic Church music, I was perceptive to see that perhaps in certain cases, it`s the strong faith of the members and people who perform this music that can aid in giving its strength to the liturgy.

- I tended to give my contacts out more, while I didn't get any reciprocated.

- While I didn't receive a contact, nonetheless I was quite pleased that the dread I had experienced going in was gone by the evening, and the event was much better than it could have been. This relief was shared by my fellow daters ! Perhaps this Catholic concept of speed-dating really made it worthwhile.

- Also, I did find that by the end of the night, there were one or two dates I knew that I was able to easily open up to; that I was capable of letting down my guard and anxiety, and feeling confident in their presence. And their looks didn`t prevent me [from speaking easily] or make me guarded. I just eased up and enjoyed their company.

That to me personally is encouraging and makes me somewhat happy inside, that perhaps for me there is the possibility that we can love as Christ did, without reservations, be it a heterosexual loving relationship (Eros), or in other forms of love (e.g. filias - friendship love, Caritas - highest form of love that Chirst expressed).

- Of all the valentines that I received, the one that really caught my attention was that it said the person would pray for me and hope to meet again in future. Often with my personal struggles, I tend to lose hope quickly when the going gets tough. The fact that someone else is praying for me to the Lord really gives me hope and told me someone else cares, even if contact info wasn't there. I now am not praying alone anymore to the Lord.

So this is my account of my speed date from a Catholic man`s perspective. I would do it again if I had the opportunity! I say, perhaps if we all, both men and women, took the principles of the event, and applied them to our dating, maybe just for the initial steps of this whole rondo, or even more when it comes to relationships, maybe things would be a lot easier between the sexes, and both men and women would be more succesful with each other. More importantly, maybe we would all love like Christ just a bit more in this world."

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.

TC's and TP's: Good Job, we just lost more souls. Wherein YCRCM Rants

Hello Everyone.

So I wake up this morning doing my usual reading of blogs. Two posts ago, I posted a list of known Canadian EF churches/Masses for the Immaculate Conception. One of them was in Toronto in Scarborough. I found this on a EF/TLM blog of a Toronto choirmaster, Vox Cantoris (my commentary in red text cause it's time for my ranting and raving):
".... "Trads" can be a nasty group and give the cause a bad name. Last night in Toronto a beautiful Mass was held for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a Missa Solemnis at St. Lawrence the Martyr in Toronto. The three Sacred Ministers were joined by three priests "in choro." The Servers were excellent as usual and the organist and choir were splendid. It's the cranks that show up that are the problem. ...."

Oh no, what the heck did people do to once again perpetuate the stereotype of the "angry traddie???"

1. Look friends, many people that come to theses Masses are first timers. If they don't read the note in the liturgical handout about not singing the Pater Noster and they sing it, so what? But when you "trads" all go sssshhhhhh what you did was actually a vile intrusion on the Holy Mass. They acted in singing out of innocent ignorance, you acted out of rudeness, malice and what you did was a debasement of the liturgy. Stop it! What you "trads" did was a liturgical abuse.

Nice going you crumdugeons. You just further enhanced the whole myth (now sad reality in this case) that the TLM is cold, cruel, and malicious with a obey and serve the master mentality, devoid of love and beauty; the opposite is the Novus Ordo is a welcoming Mass where the Love of Jesus is truly present and why the old Mass was disposed. THE MASS IS NOT YOURS ALONE!!! THE MASS WAS FOR EVERYONE!!!!

2. Gothic Vestments are NOT NOVUS ORDO. They are called "Gothic" for a reason. In fact, the conical style "Novus Ordo" vestment as you refer it is actually of more ancient use than the "Roman" or "Fiddleback." Now, stop the whining about these little things and smarten up.

Look, as a young buck, I don't give a rat's patooty on this. As long as it's not a Rainbow or Tye Dye coloured vestment and ultra modernized, and you stick to the Rubrics and wear the proper coloured vestment that day, so be it. But don't be a liturgical stickler. If you see a TRULY EGREGIOUS liturgical abuse (e.g. ad libbing, wrong material for confection of the Eucharist ...) then whine and complain to the highest authorities. Plus most parishes threw out their 1962 stuff a long time ago, including my personal anguish, altar servers' surpices and cassocks. You don't like the vestments? Then donate to Una Voce or wherever appropriate from your savings/pensions and help the organization purchase the "Proper" vestments if you are so cheezed about that!

3. Artwork that shows the Blessed Virgin Mary's hair in paintings of the Immaculate Conception are not "Vatican II" and do not indicate that I am a "modernist." Until the puritanical Victorian 19th century with its feminine featured Jesus and its burka clad young Virgin and the über-puritanical attitude of you 21st century "trads" the Immaculate Conception was portrayed as a pre-pubescent girl, a young virgin and without a veil as in the post two below. This is a more recent rendition of the style of the many in the same style from the 15th century onward.

This is a little above my "paygrade" to comment on.

4. A Read Mass (Missa Lecta) with Dialogue is not a "Novus Ordo" invention. Nor is standing for the Pater Noster and the Postcommunion a "Novus Ordo" invention. The Church has desired that the people respond to the priest even though you have your preference for absolute silence. This is not where we are now or where the restoration will be. So you can drop this paranoia about NovusOrdoIsms. This is not a liturgical experiment or innovation. Read the rubrics!

It's allowed in the Chruch Laws surrounding the 1962 Missal, so read your Church Documents, pre 1983 Code in Canon Law and the one after it, and rulebooks before you get in a tizzy over this. You can surely find these things on the Internet. The Vatican has a website you know at www.vatican.va/ . If not, get over it!
You would think that these "trads" would be overjoyed with what has been happening since Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum and the recent Universae Ecclesiae.
As an example, when was the last time a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was offered in the Archdiocese of Toronto before last night? How about over 40 years ago! Some "trads" are really an offering up.

Now it's time for me to make a crack about this from a young bucks perspective. Summorum Pontificum and Ecclesiae Unitatem were great gifts to the Church. For years the TLM/EF was suppressed by unruly bishops and priests, manupulated by the new cathechesis. Worse off, one of the reasons it was supressed was that it was "too repressive." Now that it's flourishing, do you really want to ruin this good thing?

Look around you at the Modern Church. Yes there are some strides going on in Post-Vatican II, like WYDs (minus the musical acts and other oddities) that are bringing youth back to Christ, well run youth ministries when headed by somewhat traditional or well-meaning youth ministers, and even more poignant Catholic productions like Fr. Barron's "Catholicism" Series. However, as a whole, look at your institutional Church! The majority of parishes have almost enitrely elderly people filling the pews, and very few people over 13+ years occupying those pews and even filling the ministries within individual parishes. Youth want to be around other youth to start with. If the bodies aren't there, the average youth won't come. Furthermore, many are given crap catechesis in organized parish CCD/cathechesis programs or ther separate/Catholic school systems (and might I add that in Ontario, the GOVERNMENT funds the separate school systems. What they say, goes, like those equity policies forcing GSAs to be implemented.) Much of it is "Jesus loves everyone" garbage. Furthermore, the last 2 generations of clergy, priests, parents and teachers, haven't taught this generation what the Mass is all about. So many are lost to the sea of our secularized, immoral culture. Of the few that remain "in the churches", those youth are going just because it's a family "tradition" or until they get out of Mommy and Daddy's roof. Trust me on that! When I went to University, I stopped going to Mass whenever I was away from my parents. 

Furthermore, YES! Our generation is getting it. We are seeing the devestation of not only our secular culture, but WE ARE WAKING UP to the crap that has been insterted, unintentionally and intentionally in the insitutional Church, including its liturgy. And guess what, WE ... WANT ... MORE! We are realizing that many Novus Ordos are done blandly, and leave us not spiritually satisfied, though we do understand that when the Mass is done with proper form, matter, and intent by a priest with valid AND licit faculties, it is a Sacramentally valid Mass and the Eucharist is confected there. So guess what, a few of us are starting to look deeper into our faiths, learning our Cathecheism and moral theology, doing Church retreats with various organzations and such, and even partaking in ministries in our parishes (and you can thank WYDs and youth ministries for that somewhat too!). A few of us are even venturing out TO PURPOSELY FIND the Latin Mass to satisfy our spiritual souls and be in the presence of true Catholic Theology and prayer.

SEVERE RANT WARNING! As you should know, many people only know of the 1962 EF as "That mass our Grandparents went to and got killed by the Church." YOU SHOULD BE BLOODY THANKFUL WHEN AN UNDER 40 STEPS INTO YOUR EF!!!! Because the Catholic Church in modernized countries is dying and there will be no bodies to replace you and the others when in 10-20 years the Lord calls you back to Heaven (if you are in the state of Sanctiying grace that is.) Many don't know what the heck a veil is, nor any Latin period. WHEN YOU TELL A YOUNG PERSON TO SHUT UP THE WAY YOU DID, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! YOU JUST LET A POTENTIAL NEW PERSON TO THE EF BE SCARED OFF AND PERPETUATED THE MTYH THAT THE 1962 MASS IS FOR OLD PEOPLE ONLY!!!! You just might have even given Satan a little chuckle, becuase he bloody hates the Latin Mass. He LOVES modernism and especially, he is the father of all lies and deception. He probably even did a jig when the Novus Ordo came to existence, knowing the liberal clergy had misinterpreted much of Vatican II and didn't execute what was meant to be the true Vatican II Novus Ordo Mass. Better, he even loves it when the young are kept from experiencing such a treasure in the EF, because then they will remain in the spiritual fog they are in, continue to be "CINO" Catholics and maybe he'll even get a mortal sin or two, and hence their soul as well.

Not every young Catholic gets access to family, friends, or a traditional priest, who will tell them certain sins are mortal or direct them to the Catechism, and had they not been at the TLM/EF, they may never get another opportunity. In fact, priests who study certain theologies even tell people that there is "no gradation of sin." That or possibly the social network of that young person will DETER them from going to the Masses and work against them, thus playing unwitting agents in killing the person's soul. YOU could have been the part of that newtork to provide that person with a role model or friend who would keep them at the Latin Mass. And guess what? Most people in their twenties are any one or more of the following: atheist, agnostic, dabling in New Age/spiritual garbage, Church hating, getting smashed on alcohol and drugs and posting thier escapades on facebook, having pre-marital and sex and contracepting to the hilt, and being self-centered and greedy and money/wealth focused. Many of these young people are Catholic (well likely in name only) and if they do go to Mass, how many of them are aware of how to approach the Eucharist reverently? That is in the state of grace and not Mortal sin, and appropriately dressed? Is the Novus Ordo clergy and your Mass doing this for your son/daughter/granddaughter/son? Look probably a number of them are just poorly cathecized and don't know better, but you are getting the idea right? Wouldn't you like your son/daughter/grandson/granddaughter to come back to her faith and take a modicum of self-respect for herself and for the Lord upon receiving Him at Mass?

Furthermore, When you act in the manner Vox has described above, you give us the message "this is an exclusive club and you're not welcome." We see enough of that garbage at our Novus Ordo parishes with Fr. "Liberal theologian" and his army of liberal theology/weakly catechized Church ladies (and men) who are the lectors, cantors, ushers, etc. and form their own cliques in the parish, making it uncomfortable for the Laity. In some cases, they don't even allow new people to become part of the parish in those ways. KEEP THE DAMN POLITICS OUT OF THE LATIN MASS!!! We young people especially hate workplace/Church politics. It destroys the very message of the Gospel and shows us hypocrisy. We've seen enough of that with our goverments and even our family and friends. At least let the TLM be a safe haven from that spritually!!!! I'll tell you what we young people want. We want our tradition. We want to truly be spiritually nourished in a way that the Novus Ordo often fails to deliver for a number of reasons, despite its sacramental validity. We want to be part of a body of believers who actually TRY to walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to their Catholic faith and aren't CINOs! We want good and theologically sound cathechesis, not that fluff and puff "lovey-dubby" crap of the 60's! We're tired of the "Culture of death" and our friends who are acting like total idiots with their physical AND spiritual lives. We don't want to be them and heck we actually care what happens when we die and Jesus plays judge and jury. We don't want that guilty verdict that sends us to Hell. And the TLM is what will help us there. So please, cut the anger, hatred, shyness etc. and please, introduce and welcome a young person to the TLM. And gradually get us to follow the rules. Believe me, we are smart and adaptable if you give us the chance. We might even carry how we act in the TLM to our lives and change it for the better in dress and attitude! BRING US TO THE LORD!!!!!!

Finally spent, 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.

Quickpost: After the fact of the New Translation Novus Ordo and update on Catechesis

Hello Everyone. Just a quick post.

1) As per my Catechesis, it's going slower than I've expected. It didn't help that my sleep got screwed up thanks to Night shifts the weekend before and I kept waking up at 330am each day, not able to get back to sleep till 6am and sleep in till late. ugh. I only reclaimed my sleep thanks to a willed effort plus some help from melatonin. You can buy that at a regular drug store under name brands. However I am deciding to start with the Gospels, reading through each. I've found a few quotes for Part 1 as well as a couple for part 2 in dealing with others of specific religions, and even one's own "brother and sister" Catholics (including clergy). When I get through Matthew, I might consider letting you guys see what I have so far ...

2) So, by now everyone's been to a Mass with the New Translation of the Roman Missal, 3rd edition. Unless of course you solely do the TLM. Well, this is how I felt about it and I've been posting on other blogs about this. Do you share the same opinion? Disagree? Agree? Feel mixed? let me know. Also, remember my blog rules? Don't remember them? go to my first posting back in August or September. I don't want virtual firebombs being launched here.

"Coming up to the new mass, I was filled with excitement and curiosity. I’ve seen countdowns for the new translation and read many interesting things from blogs on the blogosphere (Fr Z’s, Catholic Knight, Vox Cantoris, …), got a series of handouts from the internet from my archdiocese that explained the translations, an app from Cale Clarke called “The New Mass” for Iphone (which has a more biblical explanation of the changes for Why’s), and a pew card for the new responses. Fr. Z’s blog especially gave me more to look forward to wordwize as he has masterfully shown how pitiful the 1973 ICEL translation is and how it butchers many of the collects into wimpy feel good “prayers.”

So what happened when I got to my parish? The same old usual. Same old procession, same old 4 sandwich hymns from our current Parish only hymnal (not Gather thankfully!), Homily, consecration, etc. Though it was cool to hear the new eucharistic prayer and collect. Reflecting on the Mass, I didn’t feel at all elevated in soul and body. I felt like it didn’t do what it was being touted to do by everyone, the blogosphere, the diocese, etc. Even with a Catholic colleague at work we agreed the effect wasn’t pronounced as it should have been. Were it not for my lectoring and a decent homily by my priest who usually goes far out into academia land (as he was/is involved in teaching and committees in the Church so that’s his audience 85% of the time), it would have been even more saddening. Mind you my parish isn’t as bad as many of these other parishes when it comes to liturgical abuses post vatican II. The most “out there” things we’ve done is have poor quality sermons and the replacement of the Crucifix on our headstone on the altar be replaced with an Icon of Christ blessed by an archbishop of the Diocese. So maybe since there wasn’t radical changes, maybe there was nothing to notice?

There is a few small gems of hope though out of it today. I helped an older lady in her 40's once with the responses using the pew card. I saw a young elementary school boy and his mother do a simple/moderate bow before receiving the Eucharist. Also, I gained an even further appreciation for the TLM, for even a simple low Mass would have seemed better for me today. While I do acknowledge that as a whole, this is a good start to correcting the damage done to the laity of the Church over the last 40+ years, personally the New Translation was a letdown for me this Sunday and ineffective. That or maybe I should considering transferring to my Mother’s new parish for Novus Ordo things (where there are good traditionally minded Novus Ordo priests)."