Feria III post Dominica Passionis: "Tempus meum nondum advenit, tempus autem vestrum semper est paratum."

Et ego quasi agnus mansuetus qui portatur ad victimam et non cognovi quia super me cogitaverunt consilia mittamus lignum in panem eius et eradamus eum de terra viventium et nomen eius non memoretur amplius.

-- Jer 11:19

Oremus.
Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium; ut, qui sanctae Dei Genitricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus.
Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum qui tecum, vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Vexilla Regis prodeunt

-- Hymnus, Tempus Passionis, Breviarium Romanum

(Gregorian hymn for Quadragesima, VEXILLA REGIS, Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, Giovanni Vianini, Milano, Italia, Autore Enanzio Fortunato, 606 , www.cantogregoriano.i.)

Tempus Passionis

Passiontide is celebrated from the First Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday.

During these last two weeks of Lent, leading up to Easter, the Church is at pains to make us relive with her the events which went before and surrounded our Saviour's death, and which, above all others, were decisive in effecting the salvation of the world. Passiontide, by its close connection with Eastertide even now sets before us our redemption in the blood of Jesus, but it is the remembrance of the sufferings of Christ and the humiliations of his passion to which the Church now turns particular attention. Before applying to our souls the fruits of grace in the triumphant celebration of our Saviour's resurrection, she desires to make us follow Christ step by step in the dire struggle which he underwent in order to redeem us.

Thus the long retreat of Lent draws to a close, as we contemplate that unique contest, which could alone wrest man from sin and earn salvation for him. It is essential that we should be reminded of this and it is a source of great consolation for us. Our personal effort at self-correction and reparation is not thereby rendered useless, but it is only effective and of value in union with the passion of him who took on himself the sins of the world and expiated them all. Through that mysterious solidarity, which exists between all members of the human family, Jesus, Son of God made man, takes the place of his guilty brethren. He takes our sins upon him..."He was made sin for us," says St. Paul, so as to bear our sins in his body on the tree. (Peter 2.24)

But Christ was victorious in the very act of his self-immolation. He triumphs over evil, and over Satan; he re-establishes God's rights over the world and the devil; the "prince of this world" is cast out. David's prophecy is fulfilled, "God reigns from the tree." At the very heart of Holy Week, when on Good Friday the Church is plunged in sorrow in memory of our Saviour's Death, she brings us before the Cross to hail in it the source of our joy. "Behold the wood of the Cross on which hung the Saviour of the world; come let us adore." And already we are conscious of the resurrection: "We adore your Cross, O Lord, we praise and glorify your resurrection. For behold, by the wood of the Cross joy came into the whole world."

-From the Saint Andrew Missal

DOMINICA I PASSIONIS: "Quis ex vobis arguet me de peccato?"

"Si veritatem dico vobis, quare non creditis mihi?"

-- Lectio sancti Evangelii secundum Ioannem, Cap. 8, 46-59, Ad Matutinum, Dominica I Passionis, Breviarium Romanum

Only the divine identity of Jesus' person can justify so absolute a claim as 'He who is not with me is against me'; and his saying that there is in him 'something greater than Jonah,...greater than Solomon,' something 'greater than the Temple'; his reminder that David had called the Messiah his Lord, (Cf. Mt 12:6, 30, 36, 37, 41-42) and his affirmations, 'Before Abraham was, I AM'; and even 'I and the Father are one.' "(Jn 8:58; 10:30) (CCC 590)

Meeting Christ in the Liturgy offers a reflection for DOMINICA I PASSIONIS.

Fargo, North Dakota: "Salvum me fac , Deus: quóniam intravérunt aquæ usque ad ánimam meam."

Salvum ne fac, Deus: * quóniam intravérunt aquæ usque ad ánimam meam.
Infíxus sum in limo profúndi: * et non est substántia.
Veni in altitúdinem maris: * et tempéstas demérsit me.
Laborávi clamans, raucæ factæ sunt fauces meæ: * defecérunt óculi mei, dum spero in Deum meum.
Multiplicáti sunt super capíllos cápitis mei, * qui odérunt me gratis.
Confortáti sunt qui persecúti sunt me inimíci mei injúste: * quæ non rápui, tunc exsolvébam.
Deus, tu scis insipiéntiam meam: * et delícta mea a te non sunt abscóndita.
Non erubéscant in me qui exspéctant te, Dómine, * Dómine virtútum
Non confundántur super me * qui quærunt te, Deus Israël.
Quóniam propter te sustínui oppróbrium: * opéruit confúsio fáciem meam.
Extráneus factus sum frátribus meis, * et peregrínus fíliis matris meæ.
Quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me: * et oppróbria exprobrántium tibi cecidérunt super me.
Et opérui in jejúnio ánimam meam: * et factum est in oppróbrium mihi.
Et pósui vestiméntum meum cilícium: * et factus sum illis in parábolam.
Advérsum me loquebántur, qui sedébant in porta: * et in me psallébant qui bibébant vinum.
Ego vero oratiónem meam ad te, Dómine: * tempus benepláciti, Deus.

-- Psalmus 68(1-13) [7], Feria quinta ad Matutinum, ad Nocturnum, Breviarium Romanum

(Photo: AP. Please pray for the people of Fargo, North Dakota, and all victims of floods and natural disasters.)

Canon 915: "Panem Angelórum manducávit homo...et ira Dei ascéndit super eos."

Et apposuérunt adhuc peccáre ei: * in iram excitavérunt Excélsum in inaquóso.
Et tentavérunt Deum in córdibus suis, * ut péterent escas animábus suis.
Et male locúti sunt de Deo: * dixérunt: Numquid póterit Deus paráre mensam in desérto?
Quóniam percússit petram, et fluxérunt aquæ: * et torréntes inundavérunt.
Numquid et panem potest dare, * aut paráre mensam pópulo suo?
Ideo audívit Dóminus, et dístulit: * et ignis accénsus est in Jacob, et ira ascéndit in Israël.
Quia non credidérunt in Deo: * nec speravérunt in salutári ejus:
Et mandávit núbibus désuper: * et jánuas cæli apéruit.
Et pluit illis manna ad manducándum: * et panem cæli dedit eis.
Panem Angelórum manducávit homo, * cibária misit eis in abundántia.
Tránstulit Austrum de cælo: * et indúxit in virtúte sua Áfricum.
Et pluit super eos sicut púlverem carnes: * et sicut arénam maris volatília pennáta.
Et cecidérunt in médio castrórum eórum: * circa tabernácula eórum.
Et manducavérunt, et saturáti sunt nimis, et desidérium eórum áttulit eis: *non sunt fraudáti a desidério suo.
Adhuc escæ eórum erant in ore ipsórum: * et ira Dei ascéndit super eos.
Et occídit pingues eórum, * et eléctos Israël impedívit.

-- Psalmus 77, Feria sexta ad Matutinum, Breviarium Romanum

(Photo of Archbishop Naumann: Sebelius "appointment to HHS is particularly troubling...I requested Governor Sebelius not to present herself for communion.")

IN ANNUNTIATIONE B. MARIAE VIRG.

"Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus.
Spiritus Sanctus in te descendet, Maria, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi."

Dómine, Dóminus noster, * quam admirábile est nomen tuum in univérsa terra!
Quóniam eleváta est magnificéntia tua, * super cælos.
Ex ore infántium et lacténtium perfecísti laudem propter inimícos tuos, * ut déstruas inimícum et ultórem.
Quóniam vidébo cælos tuos, ópera digitórum tuórum: * lunam et stellas, quæ tu fundásti.
Quid est homo quod memor es ejus? * aut fílius hóminis, quóniam vísitas eum?
Minuísti eum paulo minus ab Ángelis, glória et honóre coronásti eum: * et constituísti eum super ópera mánuum tuárum.
Omnia subjecísti sub pédibus ejus, * oves et boves univérsas: ínsuper et pécora campi.
Vólucres cæli, et pisces maris, * qui perámbulant sémitas maris.
Dómine, Dóminus noster, * quam admirábile est nomen tuum in univérsa terra!

-- Psalmus 8, Commune festorum beatae Mariae Virginis, In I Nocturno, Breviarium Romanum

Oremus
Deus qui de beatæ Marite Virginis utero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: præsta supplicibus tuis; ut qui vere eam Genitricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te intercessionibus adjuvamur.
Per eundem Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(Art: The Annunciation, Fra Angelico, c. 1430, Museo Diocesano, Cortona, Italia.)

"Maledícti qui declínant a mandátis tuis."

Retríbue servo tuo, vivífica me: * et custódiam sermónes tuos.
Revéla óculos meos: * et considerábo mirabília de lege tua.
Íncola ego sum in terra: * non abscóndas a me mandáta tua.
Concupívit ánima mea desideráre justificatiónes tuas, * in omni témpore.
Increpásti supérbos: * maledícti qui declínant a mandátis tuis.
Aufer a me oppróbrium, et contémptum: * quia testimónia tua exquisívi.
Étenim sedérunt príncipes, et advérsum me loquebántur: * servus autem tuus exercebátur in justificatiónibus tuis.
Nam et testimónia tua meditátio mea est: * et consílium meum justificatiónes tuæ.
Adhæsit paviménto ánima mea: * vivífica me secúndum verbum tuum.
Vias meas enuntiávi, et exaudísti me: * doce me justificatiónes tuas.
Viam justificatiónum tuárum ínstrue me: * et exercébor in mirabílibus tuis.
Dormitávit ánima mea præ tædio: * confírma me in verbis tuis.
Viam iniquitátis ámove a me: * et de lege tua miserére mei.
Viam veritátis elégi: * judícia tua non sum oblítus.
Adhæsi testimóniis tuis, Dómine: * noli me confúndere.
Viam mandatórum tuórum cucúrri, * cum dilatásti cor meum.

--Psalmus 118(17-32) [3], S. Gabrielis Archangeli
Commemoratio: Feria Tertia infra Hebdomadam IV in Quadragesima

(His Excellency Bishop D'Arcy of Fort Wayne/South Bend has announced he will not attend the Notre Dame commencement exercises on 17 May 2009 at which the pro-abortion President is scheduled to speak and to receive an honorary degree. Meanwhile, over 100,000 signatures have now been collected in protest of Notre Dame's invitation.)

From where in the world you visit

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Brussels, Belgium - Pierrefonds, Canada - Mexicali, Mexico - London - Seattle - Cleveland - Corte, Corsica, France - Melbourne, Australia - Seoul, South Korea - Cardiff, UK - Kapellen, Belgique - Bucharest, Romania - Firenze, Italy - Vienna, Austria - Kloof, South Africa - Kalkara, Malta - Verezzo, Italy - Julich, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany - Santa Fe, Argentina - Mexico City - Affoltern, Switzerland - Valparaiso, Chile - Den Haag, Netherlands - Moscow - Pest, Hungary - Kingston, Ontario - Guatemala City - Milano - Antalya, Turkey - Derby, UK - Lalin, Spain - Chisinau, Moldava - Rio, Brazil - Marupe, Latvia - Gif-sur-yvette, France - Orleans, France - Keila, Estonia - Leipzig, Germany - Cluses, France - Calgary, Canada - Marati, Philippines - Lille, Belgium - Rio Verde, Brazil - Falquemont, France - Czech Republic - Edinburgh - Dublin - Molfetta, Italy - Pineda, Spain - Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany - Aix-en-Provence, France - Warsaw, Poland - Singapore - Rome - Zagreb - Klaipeda, Lithuania - Salerno, Italy - Chicago - Salvador Bahia, Brazil - Prague - Caloolan, Philippines - San Remo, Italy - Madrid - Caracas, Venezuela - Sydney - Lima - Birmingham, UK - Kakogawa, Japan - Zaragoza, Spain - London - Sterling, Virginia - Wichita Falls, Texas - Greensboro, North Carolina - Miami - Chico, California - Boul-bel-air, Cote d'Azur, France - Washington - New York, New York - Taipei, Taiwan - Tehran, Iran - Niederneukirchen, Austria - Lincoln, Nebraska - Dostyk, Kazakhstan - Wayne, New Jersey - Lille, Belgium and many more.

Merci, Grazie, Danke, Salamat, Thank you, Shukran, Tesekur, Gracias.

Benedict in Africa

"One such human reality, presently faced with numerous difficulties and threats, is the family. Families are particularly in need of evangelization and practical support, since, in addition to the fragility and lack of inner stability of so many conjugal unions, there is the widespread tendency in society and culture to call into question the unique nature and specific mission of the family based on marriage. In your pastoral concern, which extends to every human being, continue to raise your voice in defence of the sacredness of human life and the value of the institution of marriage, as well as in promotion of the family’s proper role in the Church and in society, at the same time demanding economic and legislative measures to support the family in bearing and raising children."

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY
OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI
TO CAMEROON AND ANGOLA
(MARCH 17-23, 2009)

MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS OF ANGOLA AND SÃO TOMÉ

ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI

Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature - Luanda
Friday, 20 March 2009

Dominica IV in Quadragesima: "Laetare"

Laetare Jerusalem:et conventum facite, omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.

The three synoptic Gospels and St. Paul have handed on to us the account of the institution of the Eucharist; St. John, for his part, reports the words of Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum that prepare for the institution of the Eucharist: Christ calls himself the "bread of life, come down from heaven." (CCC 1338)

Meeting Christ in the Liturgy offers a reflection for Dominica IV in Quadragesima.

"Venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum"

Éripe me, Dómine, ab hómine malo: * a viro iníquo éripe me.
Qui cogitavérunt iniquitátes in corde: * tota die constituébant prælia.
Acuérunt linguas suas sicut serpéntis: * venénum áspidum sub lábiis eórum.
Custódi me, Dómine, de manu peccatóris: * et ab homínibus iníquis éripe me.
Qui cogitavérunt supplantáre gressus meos: * abscondérunt supérbi láqueum mihi:
Et funes extendérunt in láquem: * juxta iter scándalum posuérunt mihi.
Dixi Dómino: Deus meus es tu: * exáudi, Dómine, vocem deprecatiónis meæ.
Dómine, Dómine, virtus salútis meæ: * obumbrásti super caput meum in die belli.
Ne tradas me, Dómine, a desidério meo peccatóri: * cogitavérunt contra me, ne derelínquas me, ne forte exalténtur.
Caput circúitus eórum: * labor labiórum ipsórum opériet eos.
Cadent super eos carbónes, in ignem dejícies eos: * in misériis non subsístent.
Vir linguósus non dirigétur in terra: * virum injústum mala cápient in intéritu.
Cognóvi quia fáciet Dóminus judícium ínopis: * et vindíctam páuperum.
Verúmtamen justi confitebúntur nómini tuo: * et habitábunt recti cum vultu tuo.

--Psalmus 139, Feria sexta ad Vesperam, Breviarium Romanum

(Photo: Alain Juppé: "This pope is becoming a real problem.")

Benedict XVI: Priesthood a "spiritually intense" life

The priestly ministry consists of total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating "in a spiritually intense new life and a new lifestyle which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the apostles made their own."

-- Pope Benedict declares the "Year of the Priest", June 19 2009 - June 19 2010

"Visitasti terram, et inebriasti eam"

Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion: * et tibi reddétur votum in Jerúsalem.
Exáudi oratiónem meam: * ad te omnis caro véniet.
Verba iniquórum prævaluérunt super nos: * et impietátibus nostris tu propitiáberis.
Beátus, quem elegísti, et assumpsísti: * inhabitábit in átriis tuis.
Replébimur in bonis domus tuæ: sanctum est templum tuum, * mirábile in æquitáte.
Exáudi nos, Deus, salutáris noster, * spes ómnium fínium terræ, et in mari longe.
Præparans montes in virtúte tua, accínctus poténtia: * qui contúrbas profúndum maris sonum flúctuum ejus.
Turbabúntur gentes, et timébunt qui hábitant términos a signis tuis: * éxitus matutíni, et véspere delectábis.
Visitásti terram, et inebriásti eam: * multiplicásti locupletáre eam.
Flumen Dei replétum est aquis, parásti cibum illórum: * quóniam ita est præparátio ejus.
Rivos ejus inébria, multíplica genímina ejus: * in stillicídiis ejus lætábitur gérminans.
Benedíces corónæ anni benignitátis tuæ: * et campi tui replebúntur ubertáte.
Pinguéscent speciósa desérti: * et exsultatióne colles accingéntur.
Indúti sunt aríetes óvium, et valles abundábunt fruménto: * clamábunt, étenim hymnum dicent.

--Psalmus 64, Ad Laudes, Feria Quarta, Breviarium Romanum

Dominica III in Quadragesima

God is infinitely good and all his works are good. Yet no one can escape the experience of suffering or the evils in nature which seem to be linked to the limitations proper to creatures: and above all to the question of moral evil. Where does evil come from? 'I sought whence evil comes and there was no solution.' said St. Augustine, and his own painful quest would only be resolved by his conversion to the living God. For 'the mystery of lawlessness' is clarified only in the light of the 'mystery of our religion.' The revelation of divine love in Christ manifested at the same time the extent of evil and the superabundance of grace. We must therefore approach the question of the origin of evil by fixing the eyes of our faith on him who alone is its conqueror. (CCC 385)

Meeting Christ in the Liturgy offers a reflection for Dominica III in Quadragesima.

Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Bishops: "Et in prophetis meis nolite malignari."

"I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility."

-- Benedict XVI

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
CONCERNING THE REMISSION OF THE EXCOMMUNICATION
OF THE FOUR BISHOPS CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE

Confitémini Dómino, et invocáte nomen ejus: * annuntiáte inter Gentes ópera ejus.
Cantáte ei, et psállite ei: * narráte ómnia mirabília ejus.
Laudámini in nómine sancto ejus: * lætétur cor quæréntium Dóminum.
Quærite Dóminum, et confirmámini: * quærite fáciem ejus semper.
Mementóte mirabílium ejus, quæ fecit: * prodígia ejus, et judícia oris ejus.
Semen Ábraham, servi ejus: * fílii Jacob, elécti ejus.
Ipse Dóminus Deus noster: * in univérsa terra judícia ejus.
Memor fuit in sæculum testaménti sui: * verbi, quod mandávit in mille generatiónes:
Quod dispósuit ad Ábraham: * et juraménti sui ad Isaac:
Et státuit illud Jacob in præcéptum: * et Israël in testaméntum ætérnum:
Dicens: Tibi dabo terram Chánaan, * funículum hereditátis vestræ.
Cum essent número brevi, * paucíssimi et íncolæ ejus:
Et pertransiérunt de gente in gentem, * et de regno ad pópulum álterum.
Non relíquit hóminem nocére eis: * et corrípuit pro eis reges.
Nolíte tángere christos meos: * et in prophétis meis nolíte malignári.

-- Psalmus 104(1-15) [1], Sabbato ad Matutinum, ad Nocturnum, Breviarium Romanum

Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Bishops of the Catholic Church: "Inimici tui...cogitaverunt adversus sanctos tuos."

Deus, quis símilis erit tibi? * Ne táceas, neque compescáris, Deus:
Quóniam ecce inimíci tui sonuérunt: * et qui odérunt te, extulérunt caput.
Super pópulum tuum malignavérunt consílium: * et cogitavérunt advérsus sanctos tuos.
Dixérunt: Veníte, et disperdámus eos de gente: * et non memorétur nomen Israël ultra.
Quóniam cogitavérunt unanímiter: * simul advérsum te testaméntum disposuérunt, tabernácula Idumæórum et Ismahelítæ:
Moab, et Agaréni, Gebal, et Ammon, et Ámalec: * alienígenæ cum habitántibus Tyrum.
Étenim Assur venit cum illis: * facti sunt in adjutórium fíliis Lot.
Fac illis sicut Mádian, et Sísaræ: * sicut Jabin in torrénte Cisson.
Disperiérunt in Endor: * facti sunt ut stercus terræ.
Pone príncipes eórum sicut Oreb, et Zeb, * et Zébee, et Sálmana:
Omnes príncipes eórum: * qui dixérunt: Hereditáte possideámus Sanctuárium Dei.
Deus meus, pone illos ut rotam: * et sicut stípulam ante fáciem venti.
Sicut ignis, qui combúrit silvam: * et sicut flamma combúrens montes:
Ita persequéris illos in tempestáte tua: * et in ira tua turbábis eos.
Imple fácies eórum ignomínia: * et quærent nomen tuum, Dómine.
Erubéscant, et conturbéntur in sæculum sæculi: * et confundántur, et péreant.
Et cognóscant quia nomen tibi Dóminus: * tu solus Altíssimus in omni terra.

-- Psalmus 82 [9], Feria sexta ad Matutinum, Breviarium Romanum

(Photo: Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi makes a point during a press conference announcing the content of a letter by Pope Benedict XVI to the world's Catholic bishops, at the Vatican, Thursday, March 12, 2009. Benedict XVI has acknowledged Vatican mistakes over a Holocaust-denying bishop and his efforts to reach out to ultraconservatives, saying in a highly unusual critical review that he was saddened that even Catholics attacked him with open hostility. The pope made a personal analysis of the case in a letter to the world's Catholic bishops made public by the Vatican on Thursday, seeking to end one of the most serious crises of his nearly four-year papacy. AP Photo PIER PAOLO CITO, AP / March 12, 2009.)

Pope admits errors and takes frank look at controversy over Holocaust-denying bishop in Chicago Tribune.

Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI: "be obedient to the Council..cannot sever the roots from which the tree draws its life."

"The Church’s teaching authority cannot be frozen in the year 1962 – this must be quite clear to the Society. But some of those who put themselves forward as great defenders of the Council also need to be reminded that Vatican II embraces the entire doctrinal history of the Church. Anyone who wishes to be obedient to the Council has to accept the faith professed over the centuries, and cannot sever the roots from which the tree draws its life."

-- Benedict XVI

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
CONCERNING THE REMISSION OF THE EXCOMMUNICATION
OF THE FOUR BISHOPS CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE

Withdrawal of excommunication: "An invitation to return"

Benedict on the meaning of his gesture of lifting the excommunication of the four bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X: as a "call to return" his act of reconciliation "serves the same purpose" as the excommunications.
((((..))))

"Episcopal consecration without papal mandate means the danger of a schism, because it calls into question the unity of the Bishops' College with the Pope. The Church must, therefore, react with the harshest punishment, excommunication, and that is to call back the persons thus punished to repentance and into unity. 20 years after the ordinations this goal has unfortunately still not been achieved. The withdrawal of the excommunication serves the same purpose as the punishment itself: once more to invite the four bishops to return."

-- Benedict XVI, Letter to the Bishops

The courage of Pope Benedict XVI: Letter to the bishops

In the letter, to be released officially tomorrow, the Pope defends himself and rebukes those who have been a party to the moral lynching of Traditionalists.

The courage of Pope Benedict XVI urges him once again to speak the truth about hypocrisy within our Church and to place himself in the breach as the one called by Christ to “protect legitimate differences” among the faithful.

In his letter to all Bishops of the world on the removal of the excommunication of the Bishops of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX) and on all aspects involving the subsequent problems related to Bishop Richard Williamson he rebukes those who would welcome with open arms brothers and sisters outside of the household of the Faith while preserving for ridicule and marginalization those who share many aspects of our Faith yet stand in need of full reconciliation with the Church.

Some commentary and a translation of some excerpts of the letter provided today by Rorate Caeli:

The letter will announce that the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" will be placed under the authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (though, as of this moment, it is not clear if only regarding doctrinal matters). The Pope makes clear for Traditionalists that it is not possible to "freeze" the Magisterial authority of the Church in 1962 - but he also chides those who proclaim themselves to be "great defenders of the Council" but who do not wish to understand that Vatican II carries with it "the entire doctrinal history of the Church".

The Pope is frank with those who proclaim ecumenism, but who do not wish to follow through with it with the Fraternity: "May we consign to utter indifference a community in which there are 491 priests, 215 seminarians, ... 117 brothers, 164 sisters, and thousands of faithful? Should we truly let them drift away from the Church? Are we allowed to simply exclude them, as representatives of a radical and marginal group, from the search for unity and reconciliation?"

"A mishap unpredictable to me was the fact that the Williamson affair was placed above the remission of the excommunication. The discreet gesture of mercy towards the four Bishops, ordained validly but not licitly, appeared unexpectedly as a completely different matter: as a denial of the reconciliation of Christians and Jews, and thus as a repeal of that which the Council had clarified for the path of the Church regarding this matter."

"I am saddened by the fact that even Catholics, who in the end should have known better how things stand, considered having to assail me with a hostility ready for attack. For this, I thank even more the Jewish friends who have helped to promptly remove the misunderstanding and to reestablish an atmosphere of friendship and trust."

Some of the concluding words are strong: "The impression is often given that our society feels the need for at least one group to which no tolerance is to be granted; which one may perfectly abuse with hatred. And if anyone dares to approach them, he also loses his right to tolerance and he also may be treated with hatred, with no fears or reservations."

(Translation provided courtesy of Rorate Caeli.)

Benedict XVI must continue to do well, in obedience to Christ, what he already has begun well: to bring unity to the flock of the Church, to protect her from the wolves and to build her up in faith, hope and love as the true bride of Jesus Christ. God bless him and give him length of days!

Let us pray that our Holy Father be saddened no more by these irrational and incomprehensible attacks from within our own household of Faith, the "biting and devouring" of which Saint Paul speaks in his letter to the Galatians, and that we will dedicate ourselves to a more thorough understanding and practice which holds that “Vatican II carries with it the entire doctrinal history of the Church".

((((..))))

The full text of the letter now available at NLM.

"Custodiens parvulos Dominus"

Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus, vocem orationis meae.
Quia inclinavit aurem suam mihi: et in diebus meis invocabo.
Circumdederunt me dolores mortis: et pericula inferni invenerunt me.
Tribulationem et dolorem inveni: et nomen Domini invocavi.
O Domine, libera animam meam: misericors Dominus, et iustus, et Deus noster miseretur.
Custodiens parvulos Dominus: humiliatus sum, et liberavit me.
Convertere, anima mea, in requiem tuam: quia Dominus benefecit tibi.
Quia eripuit animam meam de morte: oculos meos a lacrimis, pedes meos a lapsu.
Placebo Domino in regione vivorum.

-- Psalmus 114, Feria secunda ad Vesperas, Breviarium Romanum

Bishop Finn's statement on President Obama's executive order authorizing taxpayer money for human embryo destruction.

(Photo: from “The Multi-Dimensional Human Embryo,” University of Michigan)

The Ordinary Form and the liturgical hermeneutic of continuity

The Rev Father Charles Johnson, Catholic chaplain aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, currently deployed, sends us photos of the Ordinary Form, or the Paul VI Missa Cantata, liturgy offered on the Second Sunday of Lent in the ship's fo'c'sle. He apologizes for the less than ideal quality of the photos but explains that "the ship was rolling a little bit, and still is".

The arrival at the altar at the beginning of Mass.

The incensation.

The Gospel sung in the tonus ad libitum.

Father Johnson also explains that he is using new Spanish style vestments from Benedictus in Spain and that the incense was obtained by the thurifer in Dubai. He says that the large-grained frankincense just kept on "burning and burning" all through Mass, "like a fog bank" in the fo'c'sle.

Father Johnson's ministry at sea demonstrates well what can be done in every parish to bring the celebration of the ordinary form of the sacred liturgy into a more harmonic continuity with the whole of our Catholic liturgical tradition and to heal the scandal of rupture which is all too often the experience of our good Catholic people at Mass in many parishes.

Thanks to you, Father, your acolytes and crew. Fair winds and following seas!

Dominica II in Quadragesima: "...et transfiguratus est ante eos."

From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master 'began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'(Mt 16:21.) Peter scorns this prediction, nor do the others understand it any better than he. (Mt 16:22-23.) In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, (Mt 17:1-8.) before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John. Jesus' face and clothes become dazzling with light, and Moses and Elijah appear, speaking 'of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.' (Lk 9:31.)" (CCC 554)

For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to 'enter into his glory.' (Lk 24:26.) (CCC 555)

Oremus.
Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium; ut, qui sanctae Dei Genitricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus.
Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum qui tecum, vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Meeting Christ in the Liturgy offers a reflection for Dominica II in Quadragesima.

Intellegite, qui obliviscimini Deum

Peccatóri autem dixit Deus: * Quare tu enárras justítias meas, et assúmis testaméntum meum per os tuum?
Tu vero odísti disciplínam: * et proiecísti sermónes meos retrórsum:
Si vidébas furem, currébas cum eo: * et cum adúlteris portiónem tuam ponébas.
Os tuum abundávit malítia: * et lingua tua concinnábat dolos.
Sedens advérsus fratrem tuum loquebáris, et advérsus fílium matris tuæ ponébas scándalum: * hæc fecísti, et tácui.
Existimásti, iníque, quod ero tui símilis: * árguam te, et státuam contra fáciem tuam.
Intellígite hæc, qui obliviscímini Deum: * nequándo rápiat, et non sit qui erípiat.
Sacrifícium laudis honorificábit me: * et illic iter, quo osténdam illi salutáre Dei.

-- Psalmus 49, 16-23, Feria Quarta, Ad Matutinum, Breviarium Romanum

(Photo: Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary, who advocates the killing of unborn children while claiming to be a Catholic Christian in good standing, by Wikipedia. Catholics Against Sebelius launch website.)

"MY WORD shall not return to me void": the criteria for participation

"Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it."
Is 55:10-11

The sacred Liturgy is an encounter with that living divine "Word" who is Christ. Participation in the sacred Liturgy is first defined, therefore, by those attitudes and dispositions which best enable the faithful to "receive" that Word from the Father in the Holy Spirit of docility. Thus may the living "Word" bestow His life and bring fruitfulness in the living faith of the believer and the communio of believers, never returning "void" to the heavenly Father.

"Fully conscious and active participation" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14) is not identified exclusively with speaking. Here are the ways in which the faithful participate with full consciousness and active participation in the sacred Liturgy without saying a word:

1. Making the sign of the Cross with holy water upon entering the church.
2. Genuflecting in adoration of the Lord truly present in the tabernacle which contains the Eucharist.
3. Kneeling to make a prayer of preparation before holy Mass.
4. Striking the breast while praying the "Confiteor".
5. Sacred silence before the opening prayer.
6. Bowing during the Creed.
7. Listening as the sacred Scriptures are proclaimed.
8. Standing for the proclamation of the holy Gospel.
9. Kneeling during the canon of the Mass and consecration.
10. Receiving the Eucharist with a spirit of devotion and adoration.
11. Sacred silence and thanksgiving following Communion.
12. Making the sign of the Cross when the priest gives the blessing at the end of holy Mass.
13. Genuflecting before departing the church after the conclusion of holy Mass.

((((..))))

Photo: Early morning snowfall blankets Saint Peter's Church.

Mahony on Extraordinary Form: "There is no participation by the people."

Ann Scolari: "What are your thoughts on the Trindentine (sic) mass?"

Cardinal Mahony: "Ann: The Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English [or other languages] after the Council. But there is no participation by the people, and I don't believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us."

-- 2009 RE Congress Cardinal Mahony Chat

"Finally, I really don't know what can be said about a Cardinal of the Church who claims in a public forum that the Mass of nearly 2000 years of Christian history, until 1970, does not instill the spirit of Christ. Maybe I'm just overly emotional about this subject, but it strikes me that such a remark deserves an ecclesiastical rebuke."

-- Jeffrey Tucker, The New Liturgical Movement

In Caritate Non Ficta

Adiuvantes autem et exhortamur ne in vacuum gratiam Dei recipiatis
Ait enim tempore accepto exaudivi te et in die salutis adiuvavi te ecce nunc tempus acceptabile ecce nunc dies salutis
Nemini dantes ullam offensionem ut non vituperetur ministerium
Sed in omnibus exhibeamus nosmet ipsos sicut Dei ministros in multa patientia in tribulationibus in necessitatibus in angustiis
In plagis in carceribus in seditionibus in laboribus in vigiliis in ieiuniis
In castitate in scientia in longanimitate in suavitate in Spiritu Sancto in caritate non ficta
In verbo veritatis in virtute Dei per arma iustitiae a dextris et sinistris
Per gloriam et ignobilitatem per infamiam et bonam famam ut seductores et veraces sicut qui ignoti et cogniti
Quasi morientes et ecce vivimus ut castigati et non mortificati
Quasi tristes semper autem gaudentes sicut egentes multos autem locupletantes tamquam nihil habentes et omnia possidentes

-- Epistola secunda beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios 6:1-10, Lectio 1, Ad Matutinum, Dominica I in Quadragesima, Breviarium Romanum

Qui habitat

Qui habitat in protectione Altissimi,
sub umbra Omnipotentis commorabitur.
Dicet Domino: “Refugium meum
et fortitudo mea, Deus meus, sperabo in eum”.

Quoniam ipse liberabit te de laqueo venantium
et a verbo maligno.
Alis suis obumbrabit tibi,
et sub pennas eius confugies;
scutum et lorica veritas eius.

Non timebis a timore nocturno,
a sagitta volante in die,
a peste perambulante in tenebris,
ab exterminio vastante in meridie.

Cadent a latere tuo mille
et decem milia a dextris tuis;
ad te autem non appropinquabit.
Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis
et retributionem peccatorum videbis.

Quoniam tu es, Domine, refugium meum.
Altissimum posuisti habitaculum tuum.
Non accedet ad te malum,
et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo,

quoniam angelis suis mandabit de te,
ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.
In manibus portabunt te,
ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.
Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis
et conculcabis leonem et draconem.

Quoniam mihi adhaesit, liberabo eum;
suscipiam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen meum.
Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum;
cum ipso sum in tribulatione;
eripiam eum et glorificabo eum.
Longitudine dierum replebo eum
et ostendam illi salutare meum.

-- Psalmus 91, Tractatus Dominica I in Quadragesima