Recent Comments
Liam on Las Vegas, Moving On Up Liam on Las Vegas, Moving On Up Liam on Readings for the Conferral of… Todd Flowerday on Readings for the Conferral of… Liam on Readings for the Conferral of… Teiborlang Malngiang on Paschale Solemnitatis Outline Todd Flowerday on Sacramentum Caritatis 47:… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 47:… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 46: The… The Basics | Catholi… on Wedding Lectionary: Psalm 148:…
Monthly Archives: December 2009
RCIA 257: Who Attends the Rites?
A liturgical suggestion: 257. For children of this age, at the rites during the process of initiation, it is generally preferable not to have the whole parish community present, but simply represented. Thus these rites should be celebrated with the … Continue reading
Posted in post-conciliar liturgy documents, RCIA, Rites
Leave a comment
Sainthood As Art
Neil is correct to press me for an affirmative response to the question, “What are saints for?” I cannot criticize in others the hermeneutic of subtraction without offering something positive from my own encounters with the saints. After some reflection … Continue reading
Posted in Art, spirituality
Leave a comment
A Christmas Wild and Sweet
Christmas greetings to you readers from our household, humans and pets, to yours. May you all find God’s blessings, wild and sweet, in all the celebrations of faith and family in the season ahead. Let the songs be sung, … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
1 Comment
A Short Post on Dante
(This is Neil) I would like to wish a blessed Christmas to our readers. Let me post one more thing in 2009. I would like to direct your attention to three lectures just delivered by the Anglican priest Nicholas Sagovsky, … Continue reading
Australia’s On Board
No doubt a few Catholic commentators were wondering what’s holding up the show. The USCCB has passed on all the Roman Missal it was allowed to read. So why aren’t we using it already? Apparently, it was because of the … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy
2 Comments
RCIA 256: Timing the Children
Some important aspects of timing the reception of the sacraments. Section 256 in whole: 256. In regard to the time for the celebration of the steps of initiation, it is preferable that, if possible, the final period of preparation, begun … Continue reading
Posted in post-conciliar liturgy documents, RCIA, Rites
Leave a comment
Making A Saint
Thanks for the comments on the “Hero Worship” thread. It wasn’t my main intention to get into a debate on the merits of Pius XII’s stance with or aid to Jewish refugees in the 1940’s. It’s certainly not a surprise … Continue reading
Posted in spirituality
10 Comments
Hero Worship
An interesting pair of popes progress down the lane of declared sanctity. One commentator somewhere remarked it was something of a balanced ticket. I didn’t get that. John Paul II from the beginning was a charismatic figure, inspiring people in … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, spirituality
22 Comments
RCIA 255: Peer Group
The rite recommends putting child catechumens together whenever possible: 255. For the celebrations proper to this form of Christian initiation, it is advantageous, as circumstances allow, to form a group of several children who are in the same situation, in … Continue reading
Posted in post-conciliar liturgy documents, RCIA, Rites
Leave a comment
Kids’ Choices
I like working with kids. Always have. One of the most wonderful things to watch is to see them develop as musicians over the years. I’m also fascinated by their thought processes: what choices they make, how they judge options, … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Parish Life
Leave a comment
Episcopal Reluctance
One Irish bishop out, but the others of the “Dublin Five” appear to be heading toward a showdown with a brother bishop, Diarmuid Martin. According to the news link, Archbishop Martin will petition Rome for the removal of these bishops … Continue reading
Posted in Church News
7 Comments
The Armchair Liturgist: Cancelling Liturgical Christmas
During 8:30 Mass yesterday we had almost an inch deposited on our parked cars. The buzz at church during our brief whiteout in Story County was the incoming weather system due to hit later this week. I confess I’m glad … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
8 Comments
RCIA 254: Companions and Parents
254. The children’s progress in the formation they receive depends on the help and example of their companions and on the influence of their parents. Both these factors should be taken into account. As a parent, I have to comment … Continue reading
Posted in post-conciliar liturgy documents, RCIA, Rites
Leave a comment
Pope: You Are The Tree, Tranfigured
An interesting reflection by the Holy Father on the lighting up of the thirty-meter Belgian fir tree at the Vatican. Taking the image of transfiguration a bit further, I often reflect on the plants cut and used for liturgy. Each … Continue reading
Posted in spirituality
2 Comments
Catholic Sensibility 
Take My Dollars and Stay Home
It’s a slow week, but I like it this way. The Iowa winter so far seems undecided between dumping significant snow, or raining and thawing, or plunging below zero at night. I still have a crest of crusty snow on … Continue reading →