Monthly Archives: May 2010

Mary and the Flag

Posted on 31 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

When Memorial Day coincides with the Feast of the Visitation, how does your parish handle the confluence? Two blended feasts? Two observances coexisting side-by-side? Ignore one completely? What do you think the future of such holidays should hold for us–not … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy | 3 Comments

To Praise the Dead or To Pray for Them?

Posted on 30 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

Let’s take a pause today in the OCF series. I’d like to call your attention to Andrew Hamilton’s opinion piece for Australia’s Jesuit periodical Eureka Street. A good essay on the contrasting approaches to modern funerals: do we come to … Continue reading →

Posted in Order of Christian Funerals | 13 Comments

Maturity, Not Sex

Posted on 30 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

I noted that women who have had sexual relationships with priests have asked for a relaxation of mandatory clerical celibacy. The communication vehicle: an open but mostly anonymous letter to the pope. To begin with, I think anyone has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Ministry | 2 Comments

Trinity: Let It Be

Posted on 30 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

At the parish, I was grateful for a non-catechetical homily this weekend. I see from a quick perusal of St Blog’s we have about four or five posts, almost more obligatory than a holy day, attempting to explain the nature … Continue reading →

Posted in Parish Life, Scripture | Leave a comment

OCF 6: Separate But Bonded

Posted on 29 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

This section carefully communicates what the Church teaches about the dead, and lays out the particular hopes for the liturgy. We’ll interrupt the narrative here and there to point out some important aspects: 6. The Church through its funeral rites … Continue reading →

Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, post-conciliar liturgy documents, Rites | 1 Comment

The Best Musical Foot

Posted on 28 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

In his post at NLM today, Jeffrey Tucker offers an interesting comment with regard to contemporary composers revising popular settings of the Mass for the new Roman Missal: I know some of these song writers, and I know that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music, The Blogosphere | 8 Comments

Watch The Spill

Posted on 27 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

Found on Universe Today, this video of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Justice would demand that the criminals responsible at BP ensure full restitution. That might mean jail time too. As a real liberal, I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

John Bosco, on Friends and Benefactors

Posted on 27 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

In researching our parish’s summer bible school (an event we’re assembling from scratch without the canned VBS products from publishers) I found some excellent thoughts from one of our week’s saints, John Bosco. I’ve never before encountered the patron saint … Continue reading →

Posted in spirituality | Leave a comment

The Bus

Posted on 27 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

My wife is heading to Kansas City next week by Greyhound to visit a friend and do some serious petsitting. So why is she watching Sandra Bullock driving the bus on Starz?

Posted in My Family | Leave a comment

OCF 5: Funeral Mass is Principal

Posted on 27 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

Could have a Baltimore Catechism question, please … Why do we celebrate a funeral? 5. Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, post-conciliar liturgy documents, Rites | Leave a comment

Liturgy Planning for 2011

Posted on 26 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

If your parish is like mine, your staff (and maybe you!) are already planning for the coming liturgical year. A late Easter (April 24!) means that Good Friday is the last day of classes here at the university. Lent begins … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | 6 Comments

All Are Welcoming An Archbishop

Posted on 26 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

Jimmy Mac sent me the program for Archbishop Gomez’s Mass of Reception. Lots of text to read while you’re waiting for Mass to begin on page 13. And it’s a typically LA start, a medley arranged by Tony Alonso: Iona’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music | 5 Comments

OCF 3-4: The Eucharistic Connection

Posted on 26 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

The Eucharist is a sacrament of initiation, as we read yesterday. But it is also a celebration of renewal, nourishment, and strengthening–the basic and esssential spiritual maintenance of the Christian. Both aspects of the Eucharist, meal and sacrifice, are emphasized … Continue reading →

Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, post-conciliar liturgy documents, Rites | 1 Comment

OCF 2: Jesus Christ is Central

Posted on 25 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

Saint Paul and Sacrosanctum Concilium are the reference points for this section’s brief but effective meditation on the Paschal Mystery and the sacramental life: The proclamation of Jesus Christ “who was put to death for our sins and raised to … Continue reading →

Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, post-conciliar liturgy documents, Rites | Leave a comment

50 > 8

Posted on 25 May 2010 by catholicsensibility

I see some discussion of the Pentecost Octave on NLM. Make use of the ballot box there, if you wish. One commentator: Out of curiosity to those who said no, what’s your reasoning for believing that it should not be, … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, spirituality | 6 Comments