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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Old and Lost Rivers
Are you familiar with the compositions of Tobias Picker? Have a listen to his tone poem, “Old and Lost Rivers” and tell me what you think. Opera seems to be his real gift–have any readers experienced his works in that genre? … Continue reading
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Mother Théodore Guérin
The US Bishops continue their Fortnight for Freedom. We continue here with worthy women. Anne-Thérèse Guérin was only thirteen years younger than yesterday’s featured worthy woman, but also French. After caring for her widowed mother and younger siblings, she entered religious … Continue reading
Posted in Saints, Two Weeks of Worthy Women
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RDCA IV, 4: The Altar, Sign of Christ
Mass is not limited to the setting of the Church, but for the regular celebration of the Eucharist, a permanent altar is traditional: 4. The Church’s children have the power to celebrate the memorial of Christ and take their place … Continue reading
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Anne-Marie Javouhey
Worthy women are everywhere to be found. But as I research them, it seems as if France has a great share. Continuing a parallel observance to the Fortnight for Freedom, let’s look at a bit of the persecutions endured by the … Continue reading
Posted in Saints, Two Weeks of Worthy Women
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RDCA IV, 3: The Altar, Table of the Sacrifice and the Paschal Meal
Sacrifice or meal: what’s Church teaching? 3. By instituting in the form of a sacrificial meal the memorial of the sacrifice he was about to offer the Father on the altar of the cross, Christ made holy the table where … Continue reading
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Louise (Mother St Andrew) Feltin
Continuing our alternative to the USCCB Fortnight for Freedom, I’d like to offer a story outline of Mother St Andrew Feltin, a 19th century missioner in the American West. Professor Anne M. Butler profiled her courage in the NYT last month. One … Continue reading
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RDCA IV, 2: The Christian Is Also a Spiritual Altar
Modern prelates complain about too much regard for the laity, but their argument is with the Church fathers: Since Christ, Head and Teacher, is the true altar, his members and disciples are also spiritual altars on which the sacrifice of … Continue reading
Philadelphia Conviction and Convictions
Ralph Cipriano reports on his blog of the legal resolution in Philadelphia. One convicted enabler goes to jail. One accused abuser is free. Msgr William Lynn couldn’t hide: The monsignor had his back to courtroom spectators, but everybody could see … Continue reading
Posted in Church News, sex abuse
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Liturgy in the New Evangelization
The working document for October’s synod on the New Evangelization is up at the Vatican’s web site. The practice for recent gatherings of the world’s bishops has been to publish the Instrumentum Laboris, or working document, in advance, presumably to … Continue reading
Posted in Lectio Divina, Liturgy
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Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Gertrude of Helfta
My good friend Fran sent the following essay for Worthy Women. As I think about worthy women, thoughts just keep coming to me over and over again, fed by a potentially unhealthy, but steady diet of church news. Reading about … Continue reading
RDCA IV, 1: Nature and Dignity of the Altar
With chapter IV, we take a good look at the rite of dedication of an altar. The introduction covers thirty numbered sections, but with a fair amount of unique material. This will take us almost to the end of the … Continue reading
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Mary Ward
Today I’d like to continue my alternative to the US Bishops’ Fortnight of Freedom. For the next thirteen days, I plan to profile a few of the many women who suffered a good bit at the hands of petty churchmen. I hesitate to … Continue reading
Posted in Saints, Two Weeks of Worthy Women
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RDCA III, 3-40: Dedicating a Church Already in Use
Chapter III of the RDCA continues with few changes (except as noted in section 2, yesterday): The simple entrance of the dedication rite is reproduced, almost word for word, sections 3-12 follow II, 43-52. In the Liturgy of the Word … Continue reading
Two Weeks of Worthy Women: Marguerite Porete
As a response to the US Bishops’ Fortnight of Freedom, I’d like to offer an alternative. My readers here know of my skepticism with the USCCB campaign. It strikes me as politically motivated, possibly. And even if the bishops protest that … Continue reading
Posted in Saints, Two Weeks of Worthy Women
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Catholic Sensibility 
Serenity Restoration
I notice over at the NCReg that Pope Benedict met with departments heads and cardinal over the recent leaks. Spokesperson Federico Lombardi mentioned that the Holy Father wishes “to “speed up” the conclusion of the “Vatileaks” scandal and to “restore … Continue reading →