Marian Pilgrimage

Father Ken Brighenti and I are taking 40 pilgrims (including my Mom) to Fatima, Lourdes and Barcelona November 3-11

Please keep us in your prayers and I shall offer special prayers at Our Lady of Lourdes for my faithful readers. My Dad died on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (Feb. 11) 1998 after watching the Mass on EWTN. One of my two parishes I am pastor is named St. Bernadette. So, it was a must be for me to honor the 150th anniversary of Lourdes.

All Souls Day

Dies Irae

Priestly Support

The following appeared on ZENIT but I was unable after several tries to make a comment.

Here is the original post:

Support for Priests

A response to: Vatican: Future Priests Need More Than Prayer Life

As a priest, I more than anyone agree that many times, it is not until after ordination that a priest's difficulties in the psycho-social aspect come forth.

However, many times, there is a fear to be honest with struggles in the seminary for a fear of being dismissed. Unfortunately, many times, when a priest afterward finds himself in difficulty, he experiences very little support at times in his time of need.

I believe the bishops must examine not only the psychology of the priest, but also how they must support priests.

Fr. Francis Majors

Here is my response:


As a Priest and as president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (a national association of priests & deacons) I thoroughly agree that we desperately need the support of our bishops. Not only do they ordain and assign us, but we function in their name. Priestly ministry is dependent on episcopal ministry in that we assist the bishop in his three-fold task of sanctifying, teaching and governing. While lacking the fullness of the priesthood, priests and deacons, nevertheless are ordained ministers like bishops. Our job helps enable the bishop's job of caring for his flock throughout the diocese. As ordained helpers, priests and deacons are 'in the field' so to speak. We are 'on the front line' in the parish, the school, the hospital, etc. Vatican II and the Code of Canon Law make it clear that bishops need to support their clergy throughout their ordained ministry.

Weeding out bad candidates for the priesthood is the awesome task of vocation directors and seminary faculty but the ultimate responsibility lies with the Bishop who ordains the men to the diaconate or to the priesthood.

As the writer mentioned, however, some psychological or mental problems do not manifest themselves or do not exist before ordination. Like physcial ailments, some diseases appear suddenly and sporadically while others are congenital from birth.

Once ordained, however, every deacon, priest and bishop deserves support across the board: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, financial, psychological. If he misbehaves, his is to be reprimanded and justly punished. Yet, does not the Gospel also command all the baptized to forgive and to seek forgiveness; to repent and accept the repentance of others?

Abandoning our own to the wolves has never been Christian practice. Justice demands that the innocent be protected and the guilty be punished. Christian charity also demands we forgive and be forgiven ourselves.

Today's climate of looming and pending lawsuits around every corner have made some ordained clergy very nervous. The past and previous practice of IGNORING problems and worst yet COVERING UP problems are not viable solutions. At the same time, hyper-reacting to problems and paranoia, skepticism and feeding franzies every time a Catholic clergyman is ACCUSED (note, I did not say CONVICTED) of any type of misbehavior, he is often left to defend himself and fend for himself. Although civil and canon law presume innocence until proven guilty, the court of public opinion is quite different. Ask any priest called into the Chancery Office after a parishioner complains that he or she was not treated properly. 99% of the time, the issue is not Father's alleged rude conduct but in reality it is his defense of orthodox doctrine or his refusal to violate canon law when someone asks for a 'favor' (usually means breaking the liturgical rules to accommodate someone who rarely goes to church)

We need the support of our bishops. We need the support of our laity. We need the support of our brother priests and deacons. Associations like the CCC help at one level among ourselves. We also need moral and spiritual support from our parishioners and from our shepherds themselves, the bishops. Pope Benedict XVI told the American bishops at his US visit to SUPPORT YOUR PRIESTS.

Yes, we are imperfect and peccable. We are weak and we are sinners. The same is true of each and every one of our lay brothers and sisters and the same is true of every bishop. Did Jesus cease His support for His Apostles and Disciples after the Resurrection? Did not many abandon Him on Good Friday? Yet, our Divine Savior forgave His followers and supported them in their repentance.

We live in world that thrives on hypersensitivity. People take too much out of context and react before all the facts are made known. If your parish priest was not part of the recent scandal and your bishop was not part of the cover-up, then both need and deserve your support. Deacons, priests and bishops exist to provide for the spiritual needs of God's people, not vice versa. Yet, the clergy need support and love to be effective and to resist DISCOURAGEMENT. Disenchanted and disillusioned clergy are on the verge of despair. Discouragement can sour a marriage and can tarnish a priestly vocation. Help us so we can help you. Support us so we can support you.

Whenever a phone call or letter comes into the Diocese complaining about a priest or deacon, the post-clergy-scandal reaction is to call the accused cleric in ASAP. If a matter of the Fifth or Sixth Commandment, that would be proper response. When it involves a petty complaint or a disgruntled mediocre Catholic not getting special favors, then a different response is in order.

I annually challenge my parishioners to overtly thank the receptionist at their doctor's or dentist's office; the school secretary where their kids attend; the salesperson at the store; the waitress at the dinor. We easily and readily complain when these people treat us less than we expect but do we acknowlege them when they are doing what they are supposed to do?

We write letters when we want to identify a problem person but do we write as often and as enthusiastically to thank the local bishop for the priest and deacon he sent us? Bishops get all kinds of letters, faxes, phone calls, etc. about their priests and deacons. Most will tell you that they so rarely get positive affirmation that when it does happen it almost seems unreal.

Those of you who have been blessed with wonderful, courageous, orthodox and very pro-life bishops, I ask you to write to the Nuncio (Archbishop Sambi) and thank him and write Pope Benedict XVI and thank him for sending you a good shepherd. If you have a good pastor, parochial vicar and/or deacon, write your local bishop and thank him. If enough good clergy are encouraged, then we might see more of them in terms of who is sent as well as who is ordained. Easy enough to complain when the one sent is not doing his job and he deserves to be corrected by his superiors. Likewise, though, the ones who do a good or even exemplary job deserve recognition, not for their ego but to show what people want and deserve in their clergy.

RETREATS

I preached a retreat this past weekend at Casa Maria retreat house, run by the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word.  They are located a mile from EWTN studios in Irondale, AL.  It is a marvelous place and the sisters are wonderful, orthodox, prayerful and joyful.  It is no accident that you find a thriving community of women religious, with young, vibrant and increasing vocations, wearing a complete habit, and exuding joyful smiles every time you meet them.  Other communities are dying off, their numbers decreasing, no new or younger vocations, no religious garb and no joyful faces. 

If any layperson is looking for an excellent place to make their annual retreat, I HIGHLY recommend Casa Maria.

If you are a priest, there are two superb alternatives.  One is the new clergy retreat house in Hanceville, AL.  Adjacent to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Knights of the Holy Eucharist run the place and it is FREE OF CHARGE.  A brother will pick you up at the Birmingham airport and drive you to Hanceville.  Meals are provided as well at no cost.

Another spectacular choice is Arnold Hall, run by the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei.

   It is located in Pembroke, MA, just south of Boston.  There are other Opus Dei retreat houses located at Schulenburg, TX (Feathercock Conference Ctr.);  Valparaiso, IN (Shellbourne Conference Center); and in Novato, CA (Trumball Manor)

Canon Law requires priests to make one five day reteat each year but the lay faithful are highly encouraged to Pray DAILY, attend Mass WEEKLY, go to Confession REGULARLY (optimally, once a month) and try to make an ANNUAL retreat (one weekend or one week)

BRAVO Bishop Martino

Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, PA (where Senator Joe Biden was born), popped-in at a parish presidential election forum where the debate was on whether or not Catholics could vote for a Pro-Choice candidate. While 1/4 left the meeting in a huff once His Excellency clearly stated Catholic principles for moral voting at election time, the remaining 3/4 gave him a standing ovation.

Like Archbishop Burke and Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Martino did not mince words nor did he equivocate Catholic doctrine or morality. He spoke boldly as a bishop should and spoke with the proper authority of one who has the fullness of the priesthood and who was consecrated as a successor of the Apostles. He also pointed out that he is the chief shepherd in his diocese, not the USCCB.

Read more here ...

Joe Biden Says He is NOT a John Paul Guy

What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (I Cor. 1:12-13)


Whispers in the Loggia has an interesting quote from VP Candidate Senator Joe Biden:

"To sum it up, as a Catholic, I'm a John XXIII guy, I'm not a Pope John Paul guy." Ironically, St. Paul had to contend with the same kind of nonsense two millennia ago when some Christians claimed they were Apollos' guys, some were Cephas men, and some were even Pauli's boys. One cannot be a J23 but not a JP2 guy, or be a P6 and not a B16 guy. All popes are true Bishops of Rome and as such all are Vicars of Christ and Supreme Roman Pontiffs. Whether St. Peter himself or Pius XII, all of them are Vicars of CHRIST and therefore represent HIM and not themselves. Senator Biden appears to be clueless to this aspect of Petrine Ministry. Catholics do not pick and choose the popes they like and only follow that one's teaching. All popes have the charism of infallibility and all possess universal primacy. We don't have 'conservative' popes and 'liberal' popes. We just have popes. Each pontiff has full, universal, immediate and supreme jurisdiction over the entire Church. (CCC #937 and CIC #331) The faithful are asked to obey each and every pope, not just the ones they 'like' or feel an affinity toward. This is not a matter of opinion or taste, as one would prefer the Philosopher Aristotle over the Philosopher Plato, or a contest between Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. Popes have the fullness of authority in doctrine, liturgy and discipline (canon law) regardless of their personality or even popularity. Joe Biden should know better.

Catholic Vote

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bishops Conference

The Pennsylvania Conference of Catholic Bishops (PCCB) issued a very good statement this week and of particular note are these pertinent paragraphs:

We wish to reiterate that the intentional destruction of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia, is not just one issue among many. Time and time again, we bishops have taught that the right to life is the most basic and fundamental human right and must always be defended. Intrinsic evils can never be supported. Catholic teaching does not treat all issues as morally equivalent. The protection of human life from conception until natural death is the preeminent obligation of a truly just society.

The Catholic Church teaches a consistent ethic of life which includes important teaching also on issues of war and peace, economic justice, care of the needy and vulnerable, education, stewardship of the Lord’s creation, etc. We have a moral obligation to defend human life and dignity, to protect the poor and the vulnerable, and to work for justice and peace. At the same time, however, we must never forget the words of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He wrote, “Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.” (On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful, no. 38)

We encourage the Catholic citizens of Pennsylvania to study carefully the Church’s teaching as they prepare for Election Day. We bishops do not endorse any candidate or party. Our role is to teach and form consciences. Above all else, we seek to ensure that the message of the Gospel is heard and upheld. Many of the issues facing our nation and our Commonwealth have important moral and ethical dimensions. We urge our Catholic faithful to be informed and guided by the moral truths of our faith and to exercise faithful citizenship.


The Bishops of Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, issued a similar and equally well written statement

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY

      

To the right of Admiral Christopher Columbus is a picture of the Columbus Chapel in Boalsburg, PA, just outside of Penn State University.  The Boal Family (founders of Boalsburg) married a direct descendant of the legendary discoverer. 

When the Quincentenary occurred in 1992, Father Ken Brighenti and I had the distinct honor and privilege of celebrating a Latin Mass (Ordinary Form) on the altar in that museum, just a few hours from my parish.  Here is what the brochure we picked up said:

Colonel Theodore Davis Boal was married to Mathilde de Lagarde, a French and Spanish woman, and a niece of the family of Christopher Columbus.  One of Mathilde's ancestors had participated in the conquest of Peru and Ecuador after Pizarro's expedition in the 16th century.  His descendants settled in Cuba, and Mathilde's mother, also named Mathilde, was born in Cienfuegos, near which the family had extensive sugar plantations.  The elder Mathilde and her sister Victoria went to stay with their relatives in Madrid, where she married Count Ludovic Denis de Lagarde and Victoria married Don Diego Columbus, direct descendant of Christopher, Discoverer of America and possessor of the family chapel, its relics and heirlooms.  When the younger Mathilde married the young American architect, Theodore Davis Boal, she brought into the family many family heirlooms.  Her aunt, Dona Victoria Columbus, died widowed and childless and left part of her estate to her niece Mathilde, notably Don Diego Columbus' Chapel.      Colonel Boal decided to bring the inheritance to the United States.  He constructed a stone chapel building on his estate, and brought from Spain to Boalsburg the entrance door and the interior of the Columbus Chapel with everything it contained--fine paneling and woodwork, the choir loft (with a great escutcheon of the Columbus family on the railing, its colored panels showing the castle of Castile, the lion of Leon, the Admiral's anchors, the islands of the Indies, and the colors of Spain with an eagle), reredos, the altar draped with fine Spanish linen and lace, the massive silver crucifix, silk and brocade vestments (one maniple is over five hundred years old), sacred church vessels, including large candlesticks, a tabernacle, chalices and a monstrance, paintings attributed to Ribera and Ambrosius Benson among others, handcarved Saints, and family swords.

Of all these heirlooms, the greatest treasure of the Chapel is contained in a silver reliquary: it consists of two pieces of the True Cross which was presented to the Columbus family by the Bishop of Leon, as certified by his signed and sealed document dated 1817, which is on display in the Columbus Family Chapel at the Boal Estate.

For Christopher Columbus buffs, the history of the original Chapel within the family is of interest.  Christopher Columbus's son and heir Diego, Admiral and Viceroy of the Indies, was better situated at court than his father, enjoyed more continuously the royal protection of Ferdinand and Isabella, and married a granddaughter of the Duke of Alba.

To the Discoverer's son fell the wealth his father had earned.  Some of the gold that began to flow from the Indies was transmuted into estates and castles--the trappings of nobility for the Columbus family.  One of the castles was in northern Spain, in the bleak mountains of Asturias, high tide of the Moorish invasion.  Amid these mountains the Moors had built a fortified round tower, which went by the name of "Llamas del Moro" (Flames of the Moor).  When the Moors had been driven out, the Spaniards added to thus rugged structure a large stone castle, two stories high, with higher square towers at each corner.

In the castle was set aside a place of devotion.  There family relics and heirlooms were kept--furnishings and family swords among religious paintings and statuary--dedicated to the glory of God and to the patron saints who had protected the Columbuses from the perils of the sea and of the New World.  Fine wood was carved and gilded, silver was wrought, and each generation added something to what might already have been preserved
there from the days and voyages of Christopher and his son Diego: the little painted statues of saints, carved of wood and embellished with glass eyes, suitable to the narrow chapel-places of the ships of discovery; the small painted wooden crosses which could be used for processions or slipped onto pikestaffs to be planted on the beaches of islands taken in the name of the Sovereigns; the admiral's desk studded with gilt cockleshells, emblematic of St. James of Compostella--a saint particularly revered by Christopher Columbus.  Such a desk could be securely locked with its great key to protect the logs of the voyages; carried ashore or from ship to ship by its strong gilded handles; or open, would provide a surface on which to write those letters the explorers and administrators sent to encourage and reassure their royal patrons.  All of these items, including the desk purported to belong to Christopher Columbus, are now located in the Columbus Family Chapel in Boalsburg.

The Chapel also contains 165,000 pages of Columbus and related family archives dating from 1451 to 1902 which have been catalogued by faculty of the Pennsylvania State University.  At the foot of the stairs to the choir loft is an intricate family tree of the descendants of Christopher Columbus.  There are also some Columbus-period memorabilia in the Boal Mansion, including a painting of Columbus' grandson, Luis Columbus, and a painting of
Queen Isabella.
 

Voting for Politicians

Moral weight isn't always the same

Monday, October 06, 2008

The claim that Catholics could vote for a pro-choice candidate as long as
they disagree on abortion is inaccurate. It isn't enough to disagree on this
crucial issue while agreeing on others.

The precise position of the church was clearly stated by Pope Benedict (then
Cardinal Ratzinger): "When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in
favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other
reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation in evil, which can be
permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons."

Note the important clarifier: "proportionate reasons."

Paragraph three of the very same document puts this in proper context: "Not
all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For
example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the
application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not
for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy
Communion ... There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among
Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with
regard to abortion and euthanasia."

Both involve the deliberate killing of innocent human life.

Hence, the only scenario where a Catholic can in good conscience vote for a
pro-choice candidate is when there is no pro-life alternative OR when both
candidates are only partially pro-life and you opt for the one who will
proportionally do more to end abortion and euthanasia.

REV. FR. JOHN TRIGILIO JR., Pastor, St. Bernadette, Duncannon Our Lady of
Good Counsel, Marysville Marysville

©2008 Patriot-News

© 2008 PennLive.com All Rights Reserved.

Catholic Voter

I am a Catholic and I am anti-slavery. I deplore slavery and have been an active part of the abolitionist movement. But this November of the year of Our Lord 1860 I am voting for Stephen A. Douglas.

Now I know my announcement will befuddle many Catholics who think that Abraham Lincoln is the only possible choice if you are truly as anti-slavery as I say I am. Some of my friends ask me how can I possibly support Senator Douglas when he was largely responsible for the Compromise of 1850 and supported the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision of 1857?

Though Senator Douglas does not regard a slaveholding society as one whit inferior to a free society I think he is the best choice to reduce slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 proves that he is pro-choice on the issue of slavery since the act allowed these new states coming into the union to make up their own mind as to whether slavery should be allowed in their territory. He lets the people in the state decide as to whether slavery is moral or immoral. Surely this will limit slavery and as we work for a more just society more and more slaveowners will decide to reduce the number of slaves they own. Just because Sen. Douglas has invoked racist rhetoric and accused Lincoln of supporting black equality which he believes the authors of the Declaration of Independence did not intend, does not mean that he is pro-slavery. Even supporters of slavery can be conflicted about slavery and whether blacks are equal to us or not and we should work to move to a society where slavery is safe, legal, and rare. Plus it is not true to call him pro-slavery. He is for the choice of slavery and people can decide on their own whether they want to become slaveowners or not.

Shouldn't we let people make their own choices on this issue? Do we really want to legislate morality? Now as a Catholic I personally believe that slavery is wrong, but lawmakers need to represent the people.

Catholics should not be single issue voters and let slavery dominate the discussion. Human dignity and the acceptance of the government of human rights is just one issue of many. What about economic and other social justice issues? The election of Lincoln could even lead to civil war. Do we want a president whose "personal" moral code could lead us to war with all of the horrific deaths that could result? Plus if a war does start no doubt someone like Mr Lincoln would infringe on our civil liberties by suspending the right of Habeas Corpus.

This year the best choice to reduce slavery is to vote Sen. Douglas.

Signed Douglas Kmiec

taken from the CURT JESTER

substitute the word ABORTION for SLAVERY in the piece above and you would have the exact argument some claim they can vote for a pro-abortion candidate while personally disagreeing with them on abortion but agreeing on their other positions

Catholic Clergy Call Upon YouTube to Remove Sacriligeous Videos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY
Catholic PRWire

HARRISBURG, PA (SEPTEMBER 30, 2008) - The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy [www.catholic-clergy.org] requests that YouTube immediately remove all videos depicting the desecration of Catholic hosts. Currently, forty videos are online showing the blasphemous sacrilege against the Most Holy Eucharist (also known as the Blessed Sacrament). We urge YouTube to show the same respect and decency it recently extended to our Jewish brothers and sisters when a similar incident occurred that greatly offended the children of Abraham.

YouTube recently removed a video showing a teenager urinating on the Holocaust memorial in Greece. It was taken down on August 27th, 2008, after five days of protests from Jewish communities around the world. Sadly, the same response has not been extended to Catholic Christians as the offensive videos showing desecration of the Eucharist have been up for more than two months. One of these forty videos shows a host being flushed down the toilet.

Another video shows someone literally absconding from a Catholic Mass with a Host in his possession. The ease with which persons can take Holy Communion since the option to receive in the hand was introduced in the late 20th century, and the subsequent acts of desecration and sacrilege, make it paramount that our bishops seriously consider revoking this method. Restricting reception to Communion on the tongue and disallowing in the Hand is but one possible remedy. Frequent Eucharistic Holy Hours with Benediction will also be of great assistance and encouragement. Voluntary expansion of the Eucharistic fast from one hour to three hours before receiving Holy Communion is another help. Greater reverence for the Blessed Sacrament will be enhanced not only by removing reception in the hand but also by encouraging kneeling as well. Placing the Tabernacle back in the center of our church sanctuaries is another obvious sign of belief in the Real Presence.

We urge all our brother priests and deacons to be very conscious of our public acts of Latria (worship) of the Holy Eucharist as the real, true and substantial Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ. The attention, reverence and devotion we show to Blessed Sacrament as its ordinary ministers will only inspire our people to aspire to emulate our love for Jesus in this most sublime presence. We also pray for those poor souls who commit these vile acts of sacrilege and ask them to please stop.

We Report You Decide

  

Oakland Cathedral  (yuk)



  

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville, AL  (yeah)

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Today is the feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, still affectionately known as "Saint Padre Pio." Blessed with the stigmata, this holy man of God entered religious life (Capuchin Franciscans). EWTN has a magnificent biography on their webstite (click picture above). He entered novitiate at the age of 15 after his father went to America to earn money for his son's education prior to entering the friary. Though he battled disease and attacks of the Devil, his worst suffering occured when he was FALSELY accused. Some of his own brethren and some of the hierarchy were envious of his spiritual goodness and when it was known he had the stigmata, slander and calumny were used to discredit him. It went as far up as the Holy Office. In 1923, the msot vile and reprehensible lie was proliferated and he was forbidden to teach teenage boys in the school attached to the monastery because he was considered "a noxious Socrates, capable of perverting the fragile lives and souls of boys." Nothing was further from the truth but his enemies were persuasive and relentless. Despite his innocence, he obediently complied with his unjust punishment. Guilty of no wrongdoing, he suffered greatly as he was no longer allowed to publicly celebrate Mass, preach or hear confessions. This almost broke his heart. Today, there are other innocent priests who suffer likewise by being suspended of their faculties based on false accusations. The disgusting and repugnant behavior of a few and their subsequent cover-up by some bishops have produced a climate of quasi-paranoia so that some innocent clergy are becoming collateral damage victims.

Padre Pio was allowed to celebrate public Mass in 1933 by order of Pope Pius XI who said "I have not been badly disposed toward Padre Pio, but I have been badly informed." Pope Pius XII encouraged people to visit him. Pope John XXIII remained suspicious but Pope Paul VI dismissed all charges and exonerated the holy man. Pope John Paul the Great beatified (1999) and then canonized (2002) Padre Pio. He endured poverty, disease, hardship, two World Wars, but the most painful was the excruciating suffering of being falsely accused. The vicious lies told about him would have caused the paper they were written upon to burst into flames. Fortunately, he was cleared (sadly, this cannot be said of all falsely accused priests today).Those real culprits who commit the abominable crime of abusing children should have the most severe punishment. They should be defrocked and excommunicated for ruining a child's life and for the scandal they brought upon the Church. Yet, we cannot forget there are always some innocent victims on the other side of the fence insofar as the falsely accused can belong. Just as no one would want to punish a mother for child abuse who was in reality innocent of the accusations, so, too, must we remember the axiom 'innocent until proven guilty.' The gravity of the crime of child abuse demands that ANY and ALL perpetrators be severely punished (be it clergy of any religion, or be it coaches, teachers, scout-masters, neighbors, relatives or even parents) but it also requires diligence to insure that no innocent (falsely accused) are sacrificed in the process. What was vile then is vile now. Child abuse is abhorrent and so is the abuse of power when those in authority cover-up for abusers and/or when they misuse their authority and unjustly censure those priests (or deacons or seminarians) who merely disagree with them or who oppose their prudential judgment. Ironically, some will suspend priests for following the rubrics or for remaining faithful to the Magisterium merely because they criticize their superiors on non-doctrinal matters. Question a policy or prudential judgment and get censured while real violators of canon law and liturgical rubric get promotions and honors. Padre Pio gives us the best remedy: BEAR WRONGS PATIENTLY. I pray to him DAILY for myself and for ALL my brother priests and deacons, especially the most forgotten and most foresaken, the falsely accused and innocent clergy wherever they may be.

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us

Monsignori

  


Papal Honors

The Holy Father can bestow one of three levels of honor to any priest in the Catholic Church: protonotaries apostolic, honorary prelates (domestic prelate), and chaplains of His Holiness (papal chamberlain).  Contrary to common belief, Monsignors (the title given to anyone holding one of the three aforementioned honors) have no more juridical authority than any other priest and he is paid the same as any other priest, too.  Parochial Vicars (formerly known as Curates or Assistant Pastors) are paid a little less than their immediate superior, the parish Pastor.  Normally, though, a Pastor or a priest working in the Chancery Office, is made a Monsignor to honor the work he has done over the years for the diocese.  The authority and the pay grade of any cleric is based on his assignment from the bishop.  Being a Monsignor is purely ceremonial and one of honor not one of legal or sacramental effect.  At the same time, however, the naming of Monsignors is one poignant way the local bishop has to identify and honor some of his own clergy.

It is not a popularity contest since no one votes for nor is one a candidate for Monsignorship.  Only the bishop submits names to the Holy See and it is up to the Roman Pontiff to decide who is given the 'sacred purple' as they say.  No priest aspires to be a Monsignor but I have never found one verified case of a priest who actually refused the honor.  Many have claimed to have rejected the title, just as some have claimed to have refused being made bishop, yet, there is never any proof of such 'humility'.  In reality, there are some political favors being given fulfilled for those loyal to the bishop in some cases and there are others who truly are role models and beacons of personal holiness.  Unfortunately, when a good, exceptional, holy and deserving priest is overlooked for such papal honors while numerous mediocre contemparies are recognized, it almost seems an act of injustice.

While not advocating a democratic or republican reform of Holy Mother Church, I do see merit in at least offering the people (parishioners and lay faithful of the diocese) and the clergy (deacons and priests) an opportunity to SUGGEST names to the local bishop for his consideration to nominate as possible Monsignors by the Pope.  No one is denying the bishop his legitimate right and prerogative to recommend or withhold any name he sees fit, however, if the general public believe they have some input, albeit consultative and not deliberative, I think it would help.  This way, the old addage might finally evaporate:  "better to not be made a Monsignor and have people ask 'why didn't that nice priest become one?' rather than be made a Monsignor and have people ask 'how the heck did he become one?'"

Father Bob Levis would NEVER ask nor want to be made a Monsignor but if there were ever a priest who DESERVED to be made one, it is he.  Ordained 60 years ago, he worked tirelessly at Gannon University teaching philosophy and theology for most of his priesthood AND helping our in nearby parishes.  He was the founding Director of the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies; President Emeritus and co-founder of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy; author of "Jesus, The Catchism and Me; co-host of weekly TV series on EWTN, "Web of Faith."  An advocate and supporter of Catholic home-schooling, Father Levis tours the country giving talks, lectures, retreats and missions, etc.  Active as ever, even though compelled to retire from being a college professor at age 70, he has been working just as hard these last 16 years as he did for the first seven decades.  His orthodoxy, piety, wisdom, and pastoral compassion are legendary.  He has done enormous good for his alma mater, his diocese, his bishop, his parishes, his students, his spiritual directees, et al. 

The Archdiocese of Saint Louis recently made 28 Monsignors and the Diocese of Allentown made 18 Monsignors this past February.  This seems to dispel the unwritten legend that there is some magic formula (only 10% of the diocesan presbyterate can be made Monsignors) determining how many priests the local bishop can propose to Rome for papal honors.  Some say since you cannot honor everyone, then honor no one.  Phooey!  I have nothing but respect and admiration for my older colleagues who gave their entire lives to the Church and endured more hardship and made more sacrifices than I did or ever will make.  We need some mechanism to honor the exceptional men of the Church who have lived holy lives of distinction.  Their example encourages the rest of us.  No, we middle-aged and younger clergy are not dreaming of becoming Monsignors someday, rather, we want to imitate the dedication and integrity of our beloved elder brothers while at the same time showing respect and honor to them.  Of course not everyone can be honored, for it then lessens the particular honor itself.  Yet, to say no one should be recognized is a form of negative socialism, I think.  Others, cynically claim the papal honors are abused by some bishops who use it merely to reward cronies and the good old boys who function as 'yes' men rather than the faithful, loyal men in the trenches, who really live by the rules.  Hopefully, these are the minority in any event.

There will never be Monsignor ballots in the bulletins and thankfully no priests 'running for the office' as some sort of candidate, either.  Nevertheless, every now and then God blesses the church and a particular diocese with exceptional men, like Father Levis, who deserve and SHOULD be made a Monsignor in gratitude for his enormous labors of love.  That's just my opinion, however, and I am unanimous in it.

Sacerdotal Heraldry

             

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Father Guy Selvester is an international expert on ecclesiastical heraldry.  He recently wrote an outstanding article on his blog Shouts in the Piazza on the issue of priests having their own coat of arms.  Rather than being a sign of pretentiousness or vanity, ecclesiastical heraldry is about tradition and honor.

During Mediaeval times, the clergy and nobility (first and second estates, respectively), used heraldry to tell a story about the person, their background, their origins, etc.  The heraldic shield came from the actual shield knights used to protect themselves while wearing armor and engaged in battle.  Ecclesiastical heraldry is as old as that of nobility and monarchy.  Steeped in tradition, today's coat of arms, especially in ecclesiastical usage, connects the past with the present.  Family symbols are used when possible and creatures and things which represent places, ideas, values, and deeds. 

Most people know that Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals and Popes have their own unique coat of arms but what most people do not know is that priests (and deacons) as members of the clergy are equally entitled to their own as well.  The only difference is that everyone who enjoys the fullness of Holy Orders (episcopacy) has a diocese or titular see under their jurisdiction, hence, half of their coat of arms is that of the particular place with the other half being their own or familial shield.  The personal side is usually designed for the cleric when he is ordained or consecrated bishop. 

Deacons have a black hat (galero) with no cords or tassles whereas a Priest has the same black galero but with two cords (one on each side) with one tassle each.  Vicars Forain (Deans) and Episcopal Vicars have a black galero and two cords but with two tassles on each side.  Monsignors have the following: Chaplains of His Holiness, black galero with six tassles on each side; Prelates of Honor, purple galero with six tassles on each side; Protonotary Apostolic has purple galero with six red tassles on each side.  Bishops have green galeros with six tassles on each side; Archbishops have green galeros with ten tassles on each side.  Cardinals have a red galero with fifteen tassles on each side.  Popes have the Papal Tiara.

Mater Dolorosa

Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary

1. The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus.(Luke 2:34)
2. The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family. (Matthew 2:13)
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. (Luke 2:43)
4. The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross. (Luke 23:26)
5. The Crucifixion where Mary stands at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)
6. The Descent from the Cross where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms. (Matthew 27:57)
7. The Burial of Jesus. (John 19:40)

requiescat in pacem

September 11th, 2001

a day of infamy

As we mark the seventh anniversary of 9-11, it behooves us as Catholic Americans to remember and to practice our faith. Justice without mercy is un-Christian; mercy without justice is irresponsible. We must pray and work for justice tempered by mercy. Justice demands that we protect and defend ourselves and the defenseless. Justice also demands we capture, incarcerate and punish the guilty for their violent attack on the innocent. Mercy demands we pray for our enemies and love those who hate us. The Gospel challenges us to pray for the conversion of sinners and evildoers. Are these not spiritual works of mercy: to admonish the sinner, to forgive injuries, to comfort the mourning, to counsel the doubtful, to instruct the ignorant, to pray for the living and the dead and to bear wrongs patiently? Yet, mercy does not negate nor contradict justice. Good is to be encouraged and rewarded while evil is to be condemned and punished. That is for the common good of everyone. As Catholc Christians, we can and must pray for our worst enemies, the terrorists. That does not mean that no one is to hunt them down and bring them to justice. It means we pray for their spiritual conversion that they repent of their former evil and pledge to live good and holy lives in the present and the future.


The innocent victims from the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crashed plane in Shanksville, PA, deserve justice as do their surviving families. The brave men and women who rushed in to save people and who died in the process merit our prayers, thanks and respect. The brave members of our military who died in battle in Afghanistan and Iraq deserve our prayers and gratitude as well. Too many innocent people have died at the hands of a few, radical terrorists who pervert religion for their own political tyranny. Anytime evil is done, the guilty need to be identified, found, and punished. As Christians we are not asked nor required to give evil a blank check. Our faith does not even suggest we give carte blanche to al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden. It does ask us to PRAY for these wicked men. Pray for justice and pray for mercy. Mercy in that they repent and stop doing evil and that we protect more innnocent lives.


I remember the nuns telling us in parochial school to pray for the conversion of Russia. We prayed every day one Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be for the Communists in the USSR and on mainland China to convert from atheism and to embrace Christianity. We also prayed for our brave men and women who defend and protect us in the military. There was no contradiction then and there is none now. People have distorted mercy into a pathetic pity party where the criminal is given more rights and respect than the victims. They have perverted mercy into a wishy-washy, naive and irresponsible delusion that society does not need penal sanctions to preserve order or protect the common good. Contrition and confession are never enough. There must be firm purpose of amendment and some form of penance.


Others have distilled and reduced justice into a primiaeval lex talionis (quid pro quo) and remove any vestige of humanity, mercy or possibility of repentence and reform. This cold blooded form of justice is not Christian nor is it human. Justice and mercy need to coexist. God practices both and so must man. A Christian nation would still have police and prisons, courts and trials, etc. What our faith adds to society and culture, however, is PERSPECTIVE. We are commanded by God to BALANCE justice and mercy without sacrificing one for the other. This is why denying Holy Communion to unrepentant pro-abortion politicians is not a violation of mercy. It is just in that they are openly defying Church doctrine on the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception and on the immorality of abortion at any stage. It is also mercy in that as an EXPIATORY sanction it seeks a REMEDIAL outcome, i.e., the change of heart of the politician to turn back to being pro-life. Justice demands that wrongdoing be condemned and punished but mercy demands we give the guilty a chance to repent and amend their ways. Our modern culture only sees extremes on either end of the spectrum. Catholic Christianity, however, synthesizes justice and mercy together in the same moral life.


It is not easy and it takes a lot of effort but we have no choice. Peace is NOT the absence of war. It is the tranquility of order, Saint Thomas Aquinas said. Order is the correct relationship between parts. When there is harmony it is a consequence of everything and everyone working properly and doing their appropriate job (work). When we defend and protect innocent life, as in the case of the unborn in the womb or the terminally ill in the hospitals and nursing homes, we are doing the right thing for the right reason. When people kill innocent human life, they disrupt the harmony God intended. When we allow terrorists to spread their hatred, lies and oppression, we are neglecting our duty to defend and protect as well. Loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors (that they repent and amend their lives) is a command from God, not an option. Love does not mean being blind or deaf to evil being committed, it means doing what we can to stop evil, for the sake of the victim and the criminal, both of whom are children of God.

Logic 101

Senator Joe Biden should get his money back from his alma mater since they evidently did not teach him real and true philosophy. His argument on Meet the Press was a complete fallacy. Truth is the correspondence of our intellect and reality.

Empirical truth is the proper object of science which employs observation and experimentation.
Rational truth is the proper object of philosophy known by using human reason.
Theological truth is the proper object of religion and is rooted in divine revelation known by faith.

While theologians from different denominations and religions can argue and debate on the immortality of the soul, objectively speaking, the Natural Moral Law is known by REASON and not by faith. Hence, the intrinsic evil of a moral act can and is known by any human person since it is self-evident. While it is true that the Bible and the Magisterium condemn certain acts as sinful, even an atheist or agnostic cannot dispute the innate wickedness of moral evils like murder, rape, genocide, etc.

Senator Biden erroneously claims that only faith informs us about the sacrosanct nature of the human soul from the moment of conception. If it were only known by faith (like the dogma of the Trinity or the Incarnation), then of course, this cannot be imposed on all citizens since not everyone espouses the same religion. On the other hand, as the post WWII war crimes trial in Nuremberg proved, most moral truths are known by reason alone even when reaffirmed and reiterated by divine revelation. Hence, no Nazi soldier or general could claim exemption to incurring moral guilt whenever they engaged in outright mass murder vis-a-vis the Holocaust. Ethical behavior for human beings is based on the law written in the heart and knowable by reason. St. Paul admits this in his own epistle (Romans 2:14). The pagan (pre-Christian Roman) philosopher Cicero stated in his De Republica:

There is truly a law which is right reason, fitted to our nature, proclaimed to all men, constant, everlasting. It calls to duty by commanding and deters from wrong by forbidding ... It can neither be evaded nor amended nor wholly abolished. No decree of the Senate or people can free us from it. No explainer nor interpreter of it need be sought but itself. There will not be found one law at Rome and another in Athens, one now and another later, rather one law, everlasting and unchangeable, extending to all nations and all times, with one common teacher and ruler of all.

Abortion has been consistently condemned since the Apostolic era (cf. the Didache, circa 50 AD) and formally defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) in #2271. Yet, Senator Biden claims that protecting the lives of unborn human babies is an imposition of religious beliefs on others who may not share our religious tenets. If morality were ONLY know via faith and revelation, then he would be right. HOWEVER, Nuremberg proved that morality is also if not primarily known via the natural law and by the use of reason. Otherwise, how could anyone enact civil laws forbidding slavery, segregation, apartheid, genocide, etc.? Is slavery a moral evil ONLY because Christianity says so? The Supreme Court at one time legalized slavery (Dred Scott decision in 1857) and explicitly stated that African-American slaves were not and could never become U.S. citizens. The majority opinion said that laws which freed slaves violated the Fifth Amendment since it deprived slave owners of their legal PROPERTY. It took the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments (and a Civil War) to defend the inalienable rights of black persons.

Biden and Pelosi and others maintain that another Supreme Court decision has precedence, Roe v. Wade. Biden goes so far as to say anti-abortion laws or amendments would violate the 'privacy' clause of the Fourth Amendment. See any similarity between Roe v. Wade and Dred Scott v. John Sanford? Both claimed to have jurisdiction over human persons (the former over black Americans, the latter over unborn Americans). Both denied the inalienable rights of certain human beings.

Slavery had been legal and is now considered un-Constitutional. Abortion is now legal and must also be declared un-Constitutional. The same Natural Moral Law and the same human reason which every sane human person possesses knows that it is wrong, it is immoral and it is evil to treat a whole race or a whole class of people as less than human. Whether black or white, born or unborn, believer or atheist, liberal or conservative, democrat, liberal or independent, all human beings have human rights, and the first and foremost is the right to life.

Fascism is a political philosophy that refuses to recognize the dignity and sanctity of the person and which glorifies the State. It is not fascism to end slavery, segregation, apartheid or abortion, even if there are some citizens who erroneously believe these are legitimate enterprises. Fascism is when the government forces doctors, nurses and health care personnel to provide facilities and procedures for abortion even when those medical people have conscientious objections.

His clan is being fascist when they force an immoral activity to be treated as a legally protected activity. No one is imposing religious doctrines when they condemn the evil of abortion anymore than one could accuse Martin Luther King, Jr., of being doctrinairre when he called for an end to racism and segregation. While he had spiritual reasons and motives, he also had moral and ethical ones rooted in REASON which no human being could refute. Likewise, Biden, Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy, Giuliani, and Ridge (et al.) need to see that abortion has no rights, only human beings have rights. They come from our Creator and they are they are part of our nature, hence, no religion and no branch of government can ever take them away.

PRIVACY clauses are no different from PROPERTY clauses. Human beings are NOT property and their murder is not a private matter. Unborn babies are human just as are African-American, European-American, and Asian-American children and adults. Catholics who disagree are violating the Natural Law AND the Divine Law and should NOT approach nor receive Holy Communion.

ad orientem

FROM THE PASTOR:

Another aspect of our human life is the work we do in sacred worship. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is also called the Sacred Liturgy. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has set the stage for a renewal and renaissance of Catholic worship. This was the intention and objective of the Council Fathers at Vatican II. As mentioned before, we will be learning and using some Latin for common parts of the Mass on one weekend a month. The first Sunday (and evening before) in Marysville and the last Sunday (and evening before) in Duncannon, we will be using the Kyrie (Greek: Lord Have Mercy), Gloria (Latin: Glory to God), Sanctus (Latin: Holy, Holy), Pater Noster (Latin: Our Father), and Agnus Dei (Latin: Lamb of God). They are found in #862-869 of the large Music Issue of Today’s Missal. 'Catholic' comes from the Greek word katholikos which means 'universal' One obvious and poignant way to demonstrate the universality of our church is to use a universal language as well as our own vernacular.

If you watch the TV Mass on EWTN, you will be familiar with these. Even though only once a month, we will become more comfortable and familiar with our rich patrimony. Eastern Orthodox Americans speak fluent English yet use plenty of Greek in their weekly worship just as Jewish Americans use Hebrew in theirs. Latin is the official and traditional language of the Roman Catholic Church and coexists with the vernacular.

Once a month we will also utilize one of the options afforded the celebrant. Every priest is allowed to celebrate Mass facing the people (versus populum) or facing the Tabernacle (versus apsidem). I will do the latter once a month so you can appreciate and experience one of our beautiful customs going back to antiquity. Originally, all priests had to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy AD ORIENTEM, i.e., facing east. Churches were literally built so that the priest AND congregation both faced EAST during public worship. The reason was that the sun rose each day in the east. The Son of God rose from the dead on Easter morning, when the sun rose in the East. Hence, Christians were keen to respect that by facing east when they worshipped their Lord and Savior. Churches were built from Ancient to Mediaeval times facing east. The priest was not seen as ‘turning his back’ on the congregation, rather, BOTH priest and congregation were facing east TOGETHER. Does the bus driver or airplane pilot have his/her back toward the passengers OR rather is he/she facing the same direction of the destination everyone hopes to arrive at?

One of the dangers of exclusivlely celebrating Mass versus populum (facing the people) is that the Celebrant may be tempted to see himself as performing for the congregation. He is not on stage as an actor nor is a director or conductor guiding those in the audience. He is a LEADER of prayer and leaders POINT in the right direction. Great Generals led their armies in battle and both faced the same direction to victory. When the priest and the people both face the same direction, they are also doing the same thing, i.e., worshipping God.

The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, the Byzantine Catholic Churches, and many Lutheran and Anglican churches have worship services where the celebrant faces east with the congregation. Where it is geographically impossible to face east (ad orientem), the custom arose for the priest and people to face the Tabernacle (versus apsidem) since that is where the Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ was always present. Facing the Blessed Sacrament was in essence facing east since the east symbolized the Rising SON (and not just the rising SUN). Therefore, once a month, I shall celebrate Mass facing the Tabernacle, just as you do every time you sit in the pews. WE will be facing the same direction TOGETHER and not me turning my back on you as some would erroneously claim. It is only once a month but I think it important to do since it is part of our legacy, it is done all the time in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (Tridentine Mass) and it is a valid and licit option in the Ordinary form (Novus Ordo or Vatican II Mass). The Scripture readings and homily will still be given facing the people since they are directed toward you. The prayers of worship directed toward God, however, will be facing Him as He IS present in the Tabernacle. Just as we have a diversity of music and language, we have a diversity of proper liturgical forms as part of our Catholic heritage. We should embrace the fullness of whom we are and how we worship.