A reader let me know about Fr. Paul McNellis, S.J. who was a Green Beret in Vietnam, an AP freelancer there, refugee worker on the Cambodian frontier during the Killing Fields, Jesuit priest, and philosophy professor at Boston College.
He is also totally faithful to the Church and yesterday he was award the Mary Kaye Waldron Award at BC which is the highest honor students can bestow on a teacher.
Here is a video tribute his students have made to honor him.
If Vince Fiore had any doubts that he was being called to the priesthood, they ended when he saw Pope John Paul at World Youth Day in 2002.
The Sault Ste. Marie man attended a papal mass at Downsview Park, in Toronto’s north end. An estimated 800,000 people were there, but the St. Mary’s College graduate felt the Holy Father directed his homily straight at his heart.
“Do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the cross,” he said.
That’s all Fiore needed to hear.
“I thought, ‘All right, no more hesitating. I’m going to go for it,’” he said.
“Now here I am.”
Jean-Louis Plouffe, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, will ordain Fiore on Friday at St. Gregory’s Catholic church.
Fiore, 35, is the first Sault man to be ordained in more than a decade.
“It is my way of saying, ‘I love you, Jesus. I am totally yours,’” said Fiore.
“Becoming a priest is an expression of my love for the one who spared nothing by laying down his own life for love of me.”
You can read the rest here. There have also been several stories of men contacting seminaries and diocese in the wake of Pope Benedict’s visit here.
Here is something that will never make it to a Law & Order episode or in fact any script.
Santiago, Apr 25, 2008 / 02:21 pm (CNA).- A group called the Insurrectionalist Federation has claimed responsibility for an attack on the University of Los Andes in Santiago, Chile in which a homemade explosive device was detonated in one of the bathrooms.
The group in question sent a statement to a local radio station claiming responsibility for the attack as a rejection of the Constitutional Court’s ruling to prohibit distribution of the morning-after pill at public health facilities. One of the most reknown professors at the university is a member of the High Court.
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 Fr. Malloy |
During the Papal Mass at St. Patrick’s Rudy Giuliani received Communion.
Asked if he was uncomfortable with having broken the Church ban on the divorced and remarried taking Communion, Giuliani said, "No."
Now Tim Drake reports on a statement by Cardinal Egan.
“The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion. I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the Papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding.”
During his presidential campaign he was not receiving Communion and now it looks like that was more of a tactic to prevent John Kerry type coverage than any real obedience. Bravo to Cardinal Egan for saying this publicly and for meeting with Mr. Giuliani at a later date.
I have seen a lot of news stores and editorials lately trying to infer that since a bunch of pro-abortion politicians received Communion at Papal masses that somehow this was connected with a softening of the Pope’s opinion on the subject as if he had anything to do with what happened. This is what he wrote previously to Cardinal McCarrick in Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion: General Principles.
5. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.
6. When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Declaration "Holy Communion and Divorced, Civilly Remarried Catholics" [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin.
I am not sure why it seems that so few bishops seem to be concerned with the souls of pro-abortion politicians receiving Communion. You would think that there would be more concern for the person committing an act of sacrilege by receiving Communion unworthily. It is an act of charity to prevent a public sinner from receiving Communion and from eating and drinking judgment upon themselves as St. Paul said.
The issue of scandal is only secondary and the primary reason to withhold Communion is out of love for the person who is currently in a state unworthy to receive Communion. Exactly how are they going to repent when the issue is not given the weight it deserves. Somebody who constantly votes for the Culture of Death and is allowed to go on as if it is no big deal has little reason to take the Church’s disciplines in regard to Communion seriously. The idea that they should themselves not present themselves for Communion is of course what should happen, but for the most part his is not happening.
The supporters of the Culture of Death enjoy it when pro-Culture of Death politicians receive Communion since they can then infer that it is not that big of deal and that this issue is just one of many. Just look at all of the news stories and blog posts by dissidents who are in fact inferring this.
It seems from an observers point of view that this subject is just kind of icky for may bishops who don’t want to be seen as taking a political action. What those who would actually feel this way don’t understand is that their receiving Communion is also seen as a poetical statement. Though their largest concern should be the care of souls under their care. Though we should also be lifting up our bishops in prayer along with those Culture of Death polls.
Pastor John Hagee with a "Thank you, Pope Benedict"
Surely his meeting with Deal Hudson has born some fruit. My headline was just in fun and not representative of the article.
Do you go to Eucharist Adoration on a regular basis and yet don’t feel that you are advancing as much in sanctity that you would want to? You try to be humble before the Lord and just let him speak to you through silence and his awesome sacramental presence, but if just does not seem to be enough?
If so don’t worry since this is a common experience. Now in the spiritual life there are not any real shortcuts to holiness. Prayer and reception of the sacraments are of course necessary first steps. Confession on a regular schedule and receiving the Eucharist will of course keep you on the road to holiness as long as the life you are living is not putting a lie to your piety.
But when it comes to Eucharistic Adoration you would like to give yourself a boost. In your daily life you develop blockages to the power of the sacrament and so what you need is something to reduce those blockages of venial sin and to promote Eucharistic Adoration and being more like Jesus. What you need is a formula with Sacrament Promotion Factor (SPF). The higher the SPF rating of a formula the better.
Introducing Copertino’s Son Tanning Lotion with SPF 50!
Son Tanning yourself before the expose Blessed Sacrament is a great way to start you day or end your day or actually pretty much any part of the day.
Whether you kneel before the Blessed Sacrament or prostrate yourself before Jesus our Son Tanning lotion will ensure that every nook and cranny of your soul will be adequately covered. No uneven Son Tanning like with cheaper formulas.
With Copertino’s Son Tanning Lotion you will soon be going beyond reading devotional books during Eucharistic Adoration to silent prayer rapt in adoration of our Lord and Savior.
Now if you start to develop dryness in prayer – don’t blame us – this is just a sign that you are actually advancing in the spiritual life.
You can also buy our Copertino’s Son Tanning Lotion with caffeine for those three in the morning sessions before the Blessed Sacrament that no one else want to sign up for.
You will never get burned when Son Tanning and it might even help to prevent you from burning forever!
So next time you go to Adoration bring Copertino’s Son Tanning Lotion with you. You will be glad you did.
The Last Secret of Fatima is a new book by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State that is mainly a discussion of his three visits with Carmelite nun and seer Sister Lúcia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart. This book will be coming out on May 6th.
Not many books get an introduction written by Pope Benedict XVI, but this one does. The Last Secret of Fatima delves into the story of Fatima, the three secrets, and the various controversies that surround them – especially the third secret. Though Fatima is not the only focus of this book. The book is actually an interview by an American Adrian Walker a theologian living in Europe and who was also the translator for the English version of Pope Benedict’s XVI. In some ways this book is similar to the book length interviews by Peter Seeward of then-Cardinal Ratzinger, except much more focused on one topic.
This book mainly expects the reader to already be familiar with the overall details of Fatima and the visit of Mary to the three peasant children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. While there is some discussion of the history of Fatima the book concentrates on events since then. Cardinal Bertone entered the picture while working at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was sent by Pope John Paul II to speak to Sister Lucia. This was prior to the beatifications of Blessed Francisco Marto and Blessed Jacinta Marto and the subsequent release of the third secret of Fatima. Pope John Paul II who was shot on the anniversary of Fatima always held that it was Our Lady who guided the bullet and prevented his death. This conviction lead him to place a part of the bullet in the crown of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
Ever since people first learned that there was third secret of Fatima there has of course been plenty of speculation as to what it contained and many of these speculations were rather apocalyptic. There was also speculation that there also might have been a forth secret being held at the Vatican. For this and other reasons Cardinal Bertone spoke with Sister Lucia to verify the document they held was the same one that she wrote and that it was indeed complete. She verified this along with other matters concerning the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is rather sad that so much attention has been paid to less consequential details when the message of Our Lady of Fatima which highlights the Gospel and gives a call to repentance is ignored.
While the fact that Sister Lucia confirmed the third secret along the the consecration of Russia being accepted by Mary has been released in the past, what I found most intriguing about the book was the personage of Cardinal Bertone himself along with his impression of Sister Lucia herself. The humility of Sister Lucia comes across in the pages of the book along with something of her personality. While she wrote four books on her life in connection with Fatima and corresponded in countless letters throughout her life you don’t get to see an outsider’s viewpoint. Cardinal Bertone was certainly impressed by her and said he would testify to her heroic sanctity if called on to do so. He also thought it was evident that Sister Lucia had continued to have visions of Mary over the years, but this was something that she would not verify or talk about with him.
The interviewer asked good questions that covered a range of topics concerning Fatima and Cardinal Bertone was always up to the task of providing a in depth answer along with his own insights. Along the way their were excellent discussion on apparitions, devotions, and how they fit in within Church teaching and the difference between public and private revelation. Many behind the scenes details are supplied about the beatification of Francisco and Jacinta and the decision that it was time to release the third secret of Fatima. Besides Pope John Paul II then-Cardinal Ratzinger also is prominent in this book, especially since he was the one who wrote the theological commentary that accompanied the third secret and is an appendix at the end of the book. The later chapters start to range away from Fatima and become more of a straight interview with the Cardinal. This though is a good thing and I really came to appreciate this Salesian Cardinal both for his intellect and his good humor. Especially since even as Secretary of State he does not have the diplomats ways of talking and was quite frank in answering various questions throughout the book.
I doubt thought the the information given in this book will do much to convince those who think that the Vatican is hiding another secret, altered the one that was released, or think that the consecration of Russia has not yet been done. Though for the rest of us that are not so conspiracy minded I can certainly recommend this book even for those who are not interested in the various controversies surrounding Fatima.
One of the things I enjoy about reading G.K. Chesterton is that it gives a lie to the idea that the 1960’s was some kind of real fault point in thinking and morality when the reality is that the views so exemplified by the sixties were already in full swing for quite a while before. You can read Chesterton as if he was writing today and if if you just replace the names used with people living today it would be as if he was still writing books and columns.
For example I am reading All Things Considered which is a book of essays on various topics. I found one paragraph to be the perfect description of the so-called new atheists.
A man who has lived
and loved falls down dead and the worms eat him. That is Materialism if you like. That is Atheism if you like. If mankind has believed in spite of that, it can believe in spite of
anything. But why our human lot is made any more hopeless because we know the names of all the worms who eat him, or the names of all the parts of him that they eat, is
to a thoughtful mind somewhat difficult to discover. My chief objection to these semi-scientific revolutionists is that they are not at all revolutionary. They are the party of
platitude. They do not shake religion: rather religion seems to shake them.
The sentence "They do not shake religion: rather religion seems to shake them" has to be the perfect description of Hitchens, Dawkins, and others and explains their diatribes much better than simply a defense of atheism.
I also found this line to be pretty funny.
Blessed are they who have not seen and yet
have believed: a passage which some have considered as a prophecy of modern journalism.
Dallas, Apr 25, 2008 / 08:50 pm (CNA).- Yoko Ono, the widow of Beatles singer and songwriter John Lennon, has with several others filed several lawsuits challenging the use and critique of Lennon’s song “Imagine” in the documentary “Expelled.” One lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction that, the film’s producers claim, could remove the film from theaters.
Well if she is responsible for John Lennon can we sue her for his imagine no religion? You know that is really hurtful for us religious types especially when he says it is easy to do. Then he even tries to take away from us believers living in the eternal now by saying only atheists like him are "Living for today." Besides Monks and many in religious life don’t have to imagine no possessions since they have gone beyond that. I bet Yoko is really really glad John Lennon only imagined no possessions instead of actually giving away all of his possessions. But then again it is always easier being a dreamer than actually living the dream.
Here is a very unofficial translation of comments by the Pope following a concert in honor of the third anniversary of his pontificate. The translation is from the comment box at The New Liturgical Movement and here is a sample.
We have had the joy of listening with attentive participation to difficult concert pieces of Luciano Berio, Johannes Brahms and Ludwig Beethoven. I am happy to underline how the music of Brahms has enriched with religious trust Holderlin’s ”Song of Destiny”. This leads us to consider the spiritual value of the musical arts, called in a unique way to fill the soul of man with hope, so marked and often wounded by his earthly condition. There is a mysterious and profound link between music and hope, between song and life eternal: it is not for nothing that the Christian tradition portrays the spirits of the blessed in the act of singing in choir, taken up in ecstasy by the beauty of God. But authentic art, like prayer, does not alienate us from the reality of every day, but rather directs us back to it to ”irrigate” and make it to blossom so that it may give place to the fruits of goodness and peace.
The magisterial interpretations that we have listened to remind us as well of the value and universal importance of artistic patrimony: I am thinking especially of the younger generations who in their exposure to such patrimony may be ever again inspired to build a world according to the designs of justice and solidarity at the service of man, valuing the diverse expressions of world culture. I am thinking also of the importance of an education to authentic beauty for the formation of the youth. As a whole, art contributes to the sharpening and orienting of the spirit towards the edification of a society open to the ideals of the spirit. Italy, with its exceptional artistic heritage, can undertaken in this regard an important role in the world: the quantity and quality of the monuments and works of art which she possesses make her a universal ”messenger” of all of those values which art expresses and at the same time promotes. The joyfulness of song and of music are likewise a constant invitation for believers and for men of goodwill to commit themselves to giving humanity a rich future of hope.
After last weeks extreme enjoyment of multiple papal speeches I was going into withdrawals, but his wonderful comments on the role of music, liturgical and otherwise, have giving me my fix.
Now if only the Vatican would do something about providing translations in a timely manner. The Church did a pretty good job of this on Pentecost and it has gone downhill ever since. Though I guess barring the Holy Spirit acting in such a manner again or a Trekian universal translator I would certainly settle for them simply hiring capable translators full time to provide this service.