"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred." ~Fr. Peter West
...and you cannot preserve the dignity of the human person by allowing children to be killed in their first home - their mother's womb
Laus Deo!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
no more family and youth forum
Well surprise, surprise...
The parish forum was removed due to inactivity.
Not surprising to me since every time I tried to post anything it would log me out and tell me I was a guest and had no privileges to post. And that was even after I had worked with the guy to fix the problem! He fixed it the first time, but it happened again and I gave up on it. I was not worth wasting my time since there were only a handful of people who were even willing to try a forum...
R.I.P.
The parish forum was removed due to inactivity.
Not surprising to me since every time I tried to post anything it would log me out and tell me I was a guest and had no privileges to post. And that was even after I had worked with the guy to fix the problem! He fixed it the first time, but it happened again and I gave up on it. I was not worth wasting my time since there were only a handful of people who were even willing to try a forum...
R.I.P.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reform CCHD now!
Money donated by an “official” entity of the Church should not be used to work against the teachings of the Church.
See for yourself
See for yourself
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My wish list
- a priest who does not recite the liturgical prayers like he is participating in the 100-yd. dash
- a quieter mic for the presider when music ministry is trying to do its JOB and lead the congregation in song
- a choir area with properly positioned chairs and overhead microphones
the opportunity to be asked what hymns we may or may not know before they are thrown at us 20 minutes before Massthis is much better now that the music director has planned the music...- a REVERENT Sunday Mass - without the usual stumblings, forgotten words, forgotten consecrations, etc.
- a good, "spiritually-nutritious" homily
- a "shepherd-like" presence at more parish functions
- less "talk" about upcoming vacation spots and more "walk" in charity and community involvement
- how about a homily during the homily and save the "business of the parish talk" for at the end of Mass (like right before Recessional hymns, perhaps?)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Turning a new leaf?
+J.M.J.+
I am cautiously optimistic that things are turning around for our little music ministry. Today the main body of the choir finally met the new director. That introduction and his expectations went well. The choir rehearsal/choir mass schedule is not what we like or are used to, but it is what we can do temporily, due to the director's outside schedule (that was in place before he was hired). I am confident we will do our best, and we step out in faith! We did a great job today and we are going to continue with what we know for the next few weeks and hope to do something spiritual and holy for the end of Lent, Holy Week, etc. More good news - we are now up to 4 cantors! Now we can breathe a little more easily with the cantor schedule... I believe we are all on the same page about proper, reverent dress when in the leadership role as cantor, as well. BONUS!
My optimism is also bouyed by the fact that we are once again mobile! Dug out from the "Big Snow of 2010," we have finally be able to run the errands we need and simply get out of the house for sanity's sake.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The Mass is about to change for good, but some folks are not happy about it.
Once I became more learned in the Catholic faith (no thanks to the 1990's RCIA program, mind you) and I developed a love for Latin, I have been one of the many Catholics who has never really been satisfied with the watered-down, English translation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Now, thanks be to God, Rome has come to our rescue! At the Vatican’s insistence, a new and improved translation of the Mass is being promulgated for the entire English-speaking world.
I didn't know better until these last 6 years, but the controversies surrounding the English translation of the current rite of Mass developed under Pope Paul VI back in the sixties, split the Church:
Here lies the new problem: the “change agents” in the Church—who love to mold the liturgy to their hearts’ desire—are up in arms about the new accurate translation of the Mass.
Gee - am I surprised?? NO
The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) of the 1970's , came up with the inaccurate translation of the Mass that we all have had to endure. They made what was supposed to be sacred sound bland and casual instead.
These liturgists were obstinately proud of what they did to the Mass, and they’ve defended it to the death ever since. They have been in charge of the translation of the Mass for decades. They have caused bitter—and highly unnecessary—divisions in our Church.
Rome has turned the tables on these “agents of change”—and now, suddenly, Rome is the one opposed to change! (??)
Therefore, we’re in for a big battle in our Church . . . and it’s coming to each of our parishes.
Here's the deal . . .
If you’ve ever had to deal with them, you already know that the “progressive” liturgists hate tradition. They want nothing to do with Latin, and want everything to be “new”, “relevant” ,“hip”, “modern” ,etc. Until now, they got their way and we’ve been stuck with their flawed translation ever since.
But . . . due to the hard work of many good Catholics who wanted the Mass to be accurate and who wanted a return to a sense of the sacred (as Pope Benedict XVI so aptly put it), the translation that we’ve all endured for decades is about to be corrected. Officially. The change is coming all the way from Rome. “Rome has spoken. The matter is finished.”
Well, you would think . . .
But the progressive liturgists are not going down without a fight. They never do. They have started a campaign against the new translation in the pages of publications such as America magazine and The National Catholic Reporter (not to be confused with the much better National Catholic Register) newspaper. They have launched an Internet petition drive called “What If We Just Said Wait?” that wants “a grassroots review of the new Roman Missal.” I have seen this petition - it is telling whose signatures are on this list - if you look by diocese, you see religious sisters who no longer wear habits and do not adhere to orthodox teaching and run less-than-orthodox schools. That is only the beginning of those who sign the petition. I can only imagine what Christ would have said to a "petition" against one of His teachings while he was on earth! These progressive liturgists who have been in charge of many dioceses for the last 40 years are not going to give up without a fight. The old-guard liturgists have said that they’re going to fight the new translation every step of the way. They’ve launched this petition drive to convince bishops and priests to resist the changes. They are protesting, pouting, and stomping their feet.
These folks talk about how Rome is “turning back the clock” and going “against Vatican II” and how the new translation is “too difficult” for people because it uses sacred language. What? Who do they think they are? Who do they think WE are - morons incapable of learning a few new phrases or concepts? It strikes me as idiotic as those adults who "baby talk" to children because they can not grasp the idea that those children use and understand the same language as the rest of us!
They messed up our liturgy and AMEN that the corrections are almost in our hands!
The Mass is the most important part of our Catholic spiritual and sacramental life. It’s the highest form of prayer. It is the re-presentation (not a symbolic representation) of the redemptive sacrifice of our Lord on the cross at Calvary—and it is not to be taken lightly.
Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT merely a “gathering” , “community meal”,or a “breaking of bread” . . . or any of the other banal platitudes that are passed off for liturgy these days.
It’s also the Holy Sacrifice and it is sacred.
So after so many years of suffering with such a bad translation of the Mass, we’re going to have a better Liturgy in English! Thank You, God! And thank you, Papa B!
At their most recent meeting, Bishop Arthur Serratelli (chairman of the bishops’ committee on liturgy) spoke of the urgency of educating the faithful about the new translation. He said:
“The point is rather simple, and in one sentence, it is this: Now is the time to act. We should not wait... In parishes, material could easily be placed in parish bulletins beginning now...Merely providing the resources is not enough. We need to encourage the people to use them.”
So, where does that leave me and my family? We must educate ourselves and trust that the Bride of Christ is taking care of God's children and it is not a difficult step - a few changes in words will lead to a greater understanding of the Church's teachings and the theology of the Church.
Read the changes for yourself.
As you can clearly see, it is not that much. If we are honest with ourselves, it is easily learned. Perhaps this forces us to examine ourselves and face the selfishness that causes us to fight change? But I say to you, it is not that much and it sounds much more reverent and heavenly.
Just my .02
Now, thanks be to God, Rome has come to our rescue! At the Vatican’s insistence, a new and improved translation of the Mass is being promulgated for the entire English-speaking world.
I didn't know better until these last 6 years, but the controversies surrounding the English translation of the current rite of Mass developed under Pope Paul VI back in the sixties, split the Church:
- You had the “progressives” who wanted all kinds of changes in the liturgy and who brought us experimentation, disobedience, and liturgical abuse—and called it “the spirit of Vatican II.”
- Then you had the “traditionalists”—mainly those from the SSPX (Society of St. Pius X), who had many complaints about the New Mass—some valid, some not-so-valid. I understand some of their valid complaints, but if Rome permits the Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular, then who are any of us to question that? HOWEVER, if the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is to be said in the vernacular, then surely we should insist on unsing the CORRECT translations from the Latin! And DO NOT get me started on sappy, PC, 'inclusive language...'
- Then you had the rest of us - most of the faithful who were confused and didn't know that some of what we were handed was simply NOT what Vatican II intended.
Here lies the new problem: the “change agents” in the Church—who love to mold the liturgy to their hearts’ desire—are up in arms about the new accurate translation of the Mass.
Gee - am I surprised?? NO
The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) of the 1970's , came up with the inaccurate translation of the Mass that we all have had to endure. They made what was supposed to be sacred sound bland and casual instead.
These liturgists were obstinately proud of what they did to the Mass, and they’ve defended it to the death ever since. They have been in charge of the translation of the Mass for decades. They have caused bitter—and highly unnecessary—divisions in our Church.
Rome has turned the tables on these “agents of change”—and now, suddenly, Rome is the one opposed to change! (??)
Therefore, we’re in for a big battle in our Church . . . and it’s coming to each of our parishes.
Here's the deal . . .
If you’ve ever had to deal with them, you already know that the “progressive” liturgists hate tradition. They want nothing to do with Latin, and want everything to be “new”, “relevant” ,“hip”, “modern” ,etc. Until now, they got their way and we’ve been stuck with their flawed translation ever since.
But . . . due to the hard work of many good Catholics who wanted the Mass to be accurate and who wanted a return to a sense of the sacred (as Pope Benedict XVI so aptly put it), the translation that we’ve all endured for decades is about to be corrected. Officially. The change is coming all the way from Rome. “Rome has spoken. The matter is finished.”
Well, you would think . . .
But the progressive liturgists are not going down without a fight. They never do. They have started a campaign against the new translation in the pages of publications such as America magazine and The National Catholic Reporter (not to be confused with the much better National Catholic Register) newspaper. They have launched an Internet petition drive called “What If We Just Said Wait?” that wants “a grassroots review of the new Roman Missal.” I have seen this petition - it is telling whose signatures are on this list - if you look by diocese, you see religious sisters who no longer wear habits and do not adhere to orthodox teaching and run less-than-orthodox schools. That is only the beginning of those who sign the petition. I can only imagine what Christ would have said to a "petition" against one of His teachings while he was on earth! These progressive liturgists who have been in charge of many dioceses for the last 40 years are not going to give up without a fight. The old-guard liturgists have said that they’re going to fight the new translation every step of the way. They’ve launched this petition drive to convince bishops and priests to resist the changes. They are protesting, pouting, and stomping their feet.
These folks talk about how Rome is “turning back the clock” and going “against Vatican II” and how the new translation is “too difficult” for people because it uses sacred language. What? Who do they think they are? Who do they think WE are - morons incapable of learning a few new phrases or concepts? It strikes me as idiotic as those adults who "baby talk" to children because they can not grasp the idea that those children use and understand the same language as the rest of us!
They messed up our liturgy and AMEN that the corrections are almost in our hands!
The Mass is the most important part of our Catholic spiritual and sacramental life. It’s the highest form of prayer. It is the re-presentation (not a symbolic representation) of the redemptive sacrifice of our Lord on the cross at Calvary—and it is not to be taken lightly.
Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT merely a “gathering” , “community meal”,or a “breaking of bread” . . . or any of the other banal platitudes that are passed off for liturgy these days.
It’s also the Holy Sacrifice and it is sacred.
So after so many years of suffering with such a bad translation of the Mass, we’re going to have a better Liturgy in English! Thank You, God! And thank you, Papa B!
At their most recent meeting, Bishop Arthur Serratelli (chairman of the bishops’ committee on liturgy) spoke of the urgency of educating the faithful about the new translation. He said:
“The point is rather simple, and in one sentence, it is this: Now is the time to act. We should not wait... In parishes, material could easily be placed in parish bulletins beginning now...Merely providing the resources is not enough. We need to encourage the people to use them.”
So, where does that leave me and my family? We must educate ourselves and trust that the Bride of Christ is taking care of God's children and it is not a difficult step - a few changes in words will lead to a greater understanding of the Church's teachings and the theology of the Church.
Read the changes for yourself.
As you can clearly see, it is not that much. If we are honest with ourselves, it is easily learned. Perhaps this forces us to examine ourselves and face the selfishness that causes us to fight change? But I say to you, it is not that much and it sounds much more reverent and heavenly.
Just my .02
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Recipe for a liturgical train wreck
Ingredients:
How to rescue this recipe? PRAYER and meditation. St. Cecilia, pray for us!
That all said - I love the vocation of the priesthood. I pray for all priests. I am most certainly praying a LOT for mine... I am also praying intently that our music ministry be less shackled and get back to ministering to the hearts of the parishioners.
- 1 - inconsistently present music director (he is still in school and has committments he made prior to being hired, so it is understandable)
- 3 - substitute organists with whom many of us are only slightly familiar
- 1 - "shepherd" who throws too many new pieces (esp. new-to-us Masses without a music director to teach them to us) at the cantors and choir without giving us adequate time to learn said new pieces. AND he wants these alternated so that it makes it more difficult to lead a congregation who will not be comfortable with the new masses because they do not have enough time to learn them. He does not seem to understand (or care) about what we cantors/choir know already and the fact that we are going through a major adjustment in the music ministry.
- 6 (or more) - choir members who left for other parishes when the former choir director resigned (not that blame lies there either - it is just part of this recipe)
- 3 - yes, so far, only 3 cantors to keep up with 3 Masses each week. We are in trouble when someone is sick or out of town.
- 1 choir area that has been once again rearranged - we lost chairs right under one of the choir mics
- 1 sound system that the cantors (who knew how to adjust things in an emergency) are now locked out of
How to rescue this recipe? PRAYER and meditation. St. Cecilia, pray for us!
That all said - I love the vocation of the priesthood. I pray for all priests. I am most certainly praying a LOT for mine... I am also praying intently that our music ministry be less shackled and get back to ministering to the hearts of the parishioners.
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