Reporter Turns Back On People at Latin Mass
HumorLiturgy

Reporter Turns Back On People at Latin Mass

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Here’s a headline

“Latin Mass Held in New Orleans Despite Pope’s Restrictions”

It included this boilerplate of articles of this type.

“a solemn and ancient form of Catholic worship spoken almost entirely in the Latin language by a priest who faces away from the congregation.”

Just in case you missed this fact:

“Latin intonations are spoken by a priest who mostly faces away from the congregation.”

I was awaiting them saying “The Mass is held at 9 AM by a priest who faces away from the congregation”

This misunderstanding is because so many bishop’s have installed “Adblock Orientum”

The article itself is not totally without merit, just odd emphasis and idiotic headline.

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Thoughts on the 2021 Chesterton Conference

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

I am back from the Chesterton conference, and it was as great an experience as the last two conferences I have attended.

This year they also had a simultaneous virtual conference where talks were broadcast live. I am glad they are doing this for those unable to attend. The talks are diverse and informative.

Yet it is not the talks that primarily draw me.

I want to take notes from conversations of people I met and the extended ones into the wee hours during the Afterglow. While Chesterton comes up, you never know what else will come up. Sometimes I am just willing to be the fly-on-the-wall listening to conservations where I would have nothing to contribute intelligently. So much is interesting to me, more so the people that attend the conference.

“The best way that man could test his readiness to encounter the common variety of mankind would be to climb down a chimney into any house at random, and get on as well as possible with the people inside. And that is essentially what each one of us did on the day that he was born.” – GKC “Heretics

If you climb down a chimney into a Chesterton conference, you will also “encounter the common variety of mankind.”, just with a lot less friction.

We also had a relatively large contingent of people from the Central Florida G.K. Chesterton Society I attend. It was great spending time with them.

A highlight is always Dale Ahlquist. I so appreciate his drive to promote Chesterton. However, what amuses me the most is his superb comic timing and comic body language.

I am already anticipating next year’s conference in Milwaukee.

Plus I am so glad I took the time to visit the Marion E. Wade Center. It was not far from the convention, and the people who work there were great in accommodating us. They had many of GKC’s books and some of his personal books laid out. It was fun to see his doodling in not just the margin of his books.

Another highlight was seeing C.S. Lewis’s copy of GKC’s Orthodoxy with marginalia.

The Marion E. Wade Center museum features memorabilia and rotating displays with selections from our collection of books, letters, manuscripts, and artifacts. Through these exhibits we invite our visitors to explore more deeply the seven authors’ lives, writings, and the historical context in which they lived. Permanent pieces on display in the museum include: a wardrobe owned by C.S. Lewis, desks and pens belonging to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, bookshelves from Charles Williams, the eyeglasses of Dorothy L. Sayers, and Owen Barfield’s chess set and pipe.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 370 – 21 July 2021

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 16 July 2021 to 18 July 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

Letters

Motu Proprio

Papal Tweets

  • “During summer time, let us learn how to take a break, turn off the mobile phone to gaze into the eyes of others, cultivate silence, contemplate nature, regenerate ourselves in dialogue with God. #GospelOfTheDay Mk 6:30–34” @Pontifex 18 July 2021
  • “Only a heart that is not taken over by hastiness is capable of being moved, that is, of not allowing itself to be caught up in itself and by things to do, and is aware of others, of their wounds, their needs. Compassion is born from contemplation. #GospelOfTheDay Mk 6:30–34” @Pontifex 18 July 2021

Papal Instagram

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After Humanity – Book Review
Book Review

After Humanity – Book Review

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Some years ago I read C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition of Man” At the time I knew I probably only grasped a little of it.

So I was looking forward to reading it again side-by-side with this guide “After Humanity” by Michael Ward.

The initial intuition of my grasp of it was generous. There were so many literary illusions that flew over me along with the whole context. So I found this book invaluable in giving context to each of the three chapters from the lectures. That alone helped. There is almost a paragraph-by-paragraph guide to the intricacies of Lewis’s references and arguments. In the end, an overview since we were down in the weeds of the text.

As the book notes, it is interesting that Lewis writing this in 1943 in the midst of WWII focuses on subjectivism and scientism as being a danger. This has certainly been born out.d

I also appreciated that this was also a critical guide to when the author thought Lewis’ arguments were not presented well or other perceived defects.

Plus now I need to re-read Lewis’ Space Trilogy in light of any insights I gained.

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Contractually Obligated to Have Opinion on New Motu Proprio
LiturgyPunditry

Contractually Obligated to Have Opinion on New Motu Proprio

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Last Sunday, after the Latin Mass, we had our monthly Sunday Social, where we have a potluck and talk amongst ourselves.

So I heard a lot of speculation about what the Pope would do regarding the TLM. Most of this, I thought, was simply not going to happen. I even said that I didn’t think this would happen and that likely what would happen is that the Pope would give Diocesan bishops control over it.

Not that I think the new Motu Proprio is very prudential. I find it odd when there is dissent in other quarters of the Church that it is usually met with the long game of dialogue and listening together being proposed—kicking the ball down the road.

I joked earlier on Twitter “The new Motu Proprio name is Traditionis custodes. Which means `Throw oil on fire’”

The attitudes the Pope complains about in his letter are real ones. However, I do not believe they are the majority opinions in the TLM Community. I have never personally met someone who rejected VII. Most of the TLM goers I know also attend daily Ordinary Form Masses. Gripes about the implementation of VII, sure. Yes, this is anecdotal evidence from personal experience. However, I am not comfortable with all the attitudes I encounter, along with some beliefs. Some things I hear are just demonstrably false or often have more charitable explanations. In other words, these are people just like the people I meet in all circumstances.

I find the most annoying is that when you get a new bishop, you don’t know what he will do. It would be within his authority to suppress permission in his diocese, not a good situation. Still, if the TLM is suppressed in my diocese when my bishop retires shortly – I am not going to go crazy and rail against him. Sure, I have the option of going to the Ordinariate Mass instead, but even if I didn’t. I would rather be thankful that I still had access to Jesus in Mass regardless. Of course, I would have firm opinions about this, but I would not want to lose my peace.

I also know about myself that I could move in a radical traditionalist trajectory. That is a temptation for me I fight with, although more so before than now. I try to hold myself as a Glad Trad and see the examples of those with more extremists opinions as a warning to where I could head.

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Liturgical Dogmatics – Book Review
Book Review

Liturgical Dogmatics – Book Review

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Despite already having a backlog of books, I will go ahead and buy another because of a discount or the title strikes my fancy. Plus, I am pretentious enough to have been lured by the title.

So I knew nothing about this book or the author, but Carl E. Olson’s blurb was enough to entice me.

There was much about the playfulness of the writing style I enjoyed while addressing serious topics. I was also not surprised to find later that the author has written two books on Chesterton.

This book consists of short 5–6 page chapters. I read this one slowly because there was just so much that struck me that I had to incorporate into my life. How much I see differently about the liturgy and how our daily life is a constant offering of the liturgy to God. In the back of my mind, I realized the Liturgy of the Hours was, of course, a liturgical exercise while forgetting the other liturgical offerings we can make outside of the Mass.

My short Goodreads review mentions my only caveat and other impressions.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 369 – 14 July 2021

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 17 June 2021 to 14 July 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

Messages

Speeches

Papal Tweets

  • “Let us pray for all the sick that may no one be left alone, that everyone receive the anointing of listening, closeness and care. We can all give it with a visit, a phone call, an outstretched hand.” @Pontifex 11 July 2021
  • “In these days of being hospitalized, I have experienced how important good health care is, accessible to all. This precious benefit must not be lost which needs everyone’s contribution.” @Pontifex 11 July 2021
  • “I thank all those who have been close to me with prayer and affection during my hospital stay. Let us not forget to pray for the sick and for those who assist them.” @Pontifex 14 July 2021

Papal Instagram

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Deep Thoughts & Puns
HumorTheology

Deep Thoughts & Puns

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Our soul purpose is to glorify God.

If I ever write a book it will be on the spiritual life via puns.

“when you confess, you come forth. For what does ‘come forth’ mean if not emerging from what is hidden, to be made manifest. But for you to confess is God’s doing; he calls you with an urgent voice, by an extraordinary grace. And just as the dead man came out still bound, so you go to confession still guilty. In order that his sins be loosed, the Lord said this to his ministers: ‘Unbind him and let him go’. What you will loose on earth will be loosed also in heaven” (St Augustine, In Ioann. Evang., 49, 24).

I like St. Augustine’s comparison of confession to the raising of Lazarus. Plus you know it is time to go to confession when Martha says “Lord, by this time there will be an odor.”

I was talking today to somebody who discovered the joy of reading Ratzinger. This made me very happy. There is a heightened joy when you share the love of something with your friends. For me this is especially true of shared authors.

Thinking about this I thought of the fact that God loves everybody and that I don’t love everybody he loves. Even in the Thomistic-sense of willing the good for the other I have work to do.

The other day I was struck by this line in the Gospel.

“Jesus came, although the doors were locked”

I certainly thought I had locked out all doors to God and that he could never intrude into my life. Like Thomas I demanded empirical knowledge, yet even if presented to me I would have denied it.
This reminds me for the hope I have in me for those currently outside the faith, that Jesus can burst through those locked doors giving us what we need to cooperate.

For Christianity there is a problem with heard immunity. People think they have heard the Gospels, but it hasn’t really penetrated. They have developed an immunity to what they have not really heard. Part of the problem is asymptomatic Christians. People who identify as Christian yet show no signs and will not pass it on to anybody.

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 368 – 07 July 2021

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 1 July 2021 to 20 July 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

Letters

Messages

Papal Tweets

  • “May the night of conflicts recede before a new dawn of hope. May hostilities cease, disagreements fade away, and Lebanon once more radiate the light of peace. Day of reflection and prayer for Lebanon” @Pontifex 1 July 2021
  • “In the #GospelOfTheDay (Mk 6:1–6), Jesus invites us to have eyes and hearts free of prejudices and open to be amazed at God’s surprises, at His humble and hidden presence in daily life.” @Pontifex 4 July 2021
  • “Like Jesus’s fellow villagers, we risk not recognising him. An abstract and distant god who doesn’t get himself involved in situations is more comfortable. God incarnated Himself: humble, tender, hidden, drawing near to us, living the normality of our daily life. #GospelOfTheDay” @Pontifex 4 July 2021
  • “I am touched by the many caring messages received in these days. I thank everyone for their closeness and prayer.” @Pontifex 7 July 2021
  • “The next World Meeting of Families on the theme ”Family love: a vocation and a path to holiness“ will take on a multi-centric and widespread format: each diocese will be able to be the center of a local Meeting for its own families and communities. Event” @Pontifex 20 July 2021

Papal Instagram

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Grief as a winding valley
Other

Grief as a winding valley

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Yesterday I mentioned going to a parish that I haven’t gone to for a while.

Specifically, it was a parish I had not been to since my wife died. When she was alive, she enjoyed going to different parishes and disliked always going to the same parish. This parish, though, is closer to us, was one that was somewhat regular.

Yesterday, I could not help but think of her in the context of this parish. So during Adoration, I read through the readings ahead of Mass and was annoyed that the first reading regarded Abraham burying his wife and then the setup for Issac meeting Rebecca.

It did not help that it seemed the majority of those there for Adoration were Filipinas.

Plus, today is my late wife’s birthday. So today, in the mail was a certificate for the Gregorian Masses I am having said for her. So I am doubly annoyed by all this intrusion into my attempted Vulcan-like stoicism.

C.S. Lewis observed:

“Grief is not, as I thought, a state but a process: like a walk in a winding valley which gives you a new landscape every few miles.” (Letter to Dom Bede Griffiths, O.S.B.)

It seems I often writing things that I would rather keep personal and separated off from the world. Yet, I find being helped by others who do so and try do the same. Jimmy Akin, for example, is very frank about the loss of his wife and that has helped me.

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