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Monthly Archives: January 2011
“How High The Moon”
Blogging from me will probably continue to be light for the next few days. I really appreciate Neil’s return. I hope you will review his “Questions” posts and respond. I also hope we will see more of those. OCF will … Continue reading
Posted in My Family, Parish Life
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Who’s Angry?
I hear that many conservatives are concerned about the rap they get for being angry. I can appreciate the mischaracterization. The coming trend seems to be, if it can be believed, that now all the progressives are defensive, embittered, and–gasp!–angry. … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
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OCF 426: Funeral Liturgy and the Indult
We’ve covered two choices for a deceased Catholic. One option: cremation after the funeral. Second option: one can also cremate, have the ashes buried or entombed, then have a funeral liturgy without body or urn. OCF 426-431 covers the CDWDS indult … Continue reading
OCF 422-425: Cremation and Committal Precede the Funeral Liturgy
Some logical liturgical directives, assuming that cremation takes place soon, the ashes are buried or committed to a columbarium or tomb, then the community celebrates the funeral: 422. When cremation and committal take place before the Funeral Liturgy, the Prayers … Continue reading
OCF 418-421: When Cremation Follows the Funeral Liturgy
First a recommendation: 418. When the choice has been made to cremate a body, it is recommended that the cremation take place after the Funeral Liturgy. In this case, the Vigil for the Deceased and related rites and prayers, as … Continue reading
Fr Ratzinger Signed On
The Pewsitter headline was amusing, as usual: “Did the Pope consider ending priestly celibacy?” They linked to the America blog here where the headline was: “Benedict Called for Church to ‘Investigate Celibacy’.” This is a serious issue. It doesn’t need … Continue reading
Posted in Church News, Ministry
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Questions II: La Bella Figura
(This is Neil) I’ve just read a very interesting short article [PDF] by Adam Deville in the Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity. (I should admit that just a short while ago, I was completely unaware of the existence of this … Continue reading
Posted in Neil
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Framing the Discussion on the Eleventh
I don’t feel entirely at ease about the way Harry and I have discussed the need for the eleventh worker. On the other hand, I feel far from daunted in pursuing this tack. The simple truth is that employment is … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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OCF 417: A Worthy Vessel and Interment
417. The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they … Continue reading
Yellowstone Slumbers
One of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes could bury two-thirds of the continental US if 640000BC repeats itself. The new that the Yellowstone hot spot may be securely under the Rockies: I like that. Should we be nervous that the … Continue reading
Posted in Science
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OCF 416: Remembering the Dead
When a person’s ashes are scattered at sea or in a field or on a mountain, or in some natural setting, it may be hard to discern a tangible place for a particular remembrance. Sure, the memory of the person … Continue reading
Day 8 – The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2011
(This is Neil) “That they all may be one, as you, Father, in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21) In this … Continue reading
Posted in Neil
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OCF 413-415: Presence of the Body
In reading the following three sections, you get a different idea from a comfortable, “Oh, the Church thinks cremation is fine these days!” On the other hand, my sense is that the main reason more Catholics opt for cremation is … Continue reading
First Person Singular
I saw a criticism of a 1991 Tom Booth song at the Chant Cafe: For Holy Communion, they sang “I Will Choose Christ”, which puts the focus on what I am doing as opposed to what God is doing. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgical Music
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Catholic Sensibility 
“Site” Watch: Bishop Flees Trenton For The ‘Burbs
New Jersey Catholics, having been approached for $1M to bolster Catholic education aren’t too happy with their new bishop for investing more than half that amount in a new suburban house. Less than two months into service, and there’s an appeal from … Continue reading →