Recent Comments
Todd on Sacramentum Caritatis 24: The… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 24: The… Todd on Laudato Si 237: Sunday Rick on Laudato Si 237: Sunday Debra on Funeral Lectionary: Psalm 116:… Todd Flowerday on Cardinal Sarah on Traditionis… Steven Harpin on Lumen Gentium 12 freddie stewart on Cardinal Sarah on Traditionis… Figment of Your Imag… on Greetings for Lent? Liam on The Human to Angel Condui…
Monthly Archives: January 2015
End of January Open
The two people for whom these open posts were primarily started seem little-interested as the new ones get opened. Fine, I guess. I know people go to pages they’ve already visited. Maybe others would want to weigh in as the … Continue reading
Posted in open thread
1 Comment
Mutuae Relationes 20: Coordinating Pastoral Activity
What is that saying we hear now and then these days? The Church is not an NGO? In today’s post, the bishops remind us that our mission is not to provide services as such, but to give witness. You can … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Mutuae Relationes, women religious
Leave a comment
DPPL 208: Principles for Veneration of Saints
Chapter Six addresses piety with regard to canonized saints and men and women considered “beati,” blessed. We’re talking sections 208 through 247, taking us deep into Lent this year. Lets begin with some principles. First, the Scriptural witness for those martyred … Continue reading
Mutuae Relationes 19: The Obligation of Evangelization
Remember, this document was written in 1978 and followed on much consultation in the few years prior. Yet here, as today, we hear of the missionary apostolate as a very necessary aspect of the Church, and therefore, of great concern … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Mutuae Relationes, women religious
Leave a comment
DPPL 207: The Akathistos Hymn
Let’s wrap up Marian popular piety. From the East: 207. In the Byzantine tradition, one of the oldest and most revered expressions of Marian devotion is the hymn “Akathistos” – meaning the hymn sung while standing. It is a literary … Continue reading
Mutuae Relationes 18: Universal and Particular Churches
Five Vatican II documents are cited to explore “particular” churches. Universal church needs little introduction. “Particular” would include dioceses, and also, in context of the document, national conferences–remember these were still valued in 1978. You can check the full document online here. Reciprocal … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Mutuae Relationes, women religious
Leave a comment
DPPL 206: Medals
Medals, more in the Catholic imagination than scapulars, would you say? 206. The faithful like to wear medals bearing effigies of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These are a witness of faith and a sign of veneration of the Holy Mother … Continue reading
Mutuae Relationes 17: Different Forms of Apostolic Commitment
We’ll continue our review of Chapter IV of the document Mutuae Relationes, examining the crucial mission of Christ: preaching and spreading the Gospel everywhere. You can check the full document online here. Different forms of apostolic commitment 17. Cultural situations … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Mutuae Relationes, women religious
Leave a comment
DPPL 205: The Brown Scapular and Other Scapulars
You can read about devotional scapulars here. Readers may be aware the etymology of the word, derived from “shoulder” in Latin. The full scapular is a monastic garment worn over the upper torso. For laity, it is something like a badge. … Continue reading
False Gods
Max raised some good questions in an old open thread. I thought it deserved some teasing out and a wider discussion: “There are false gods” So incredibly interesting. What makes them false? That they don’t exist at all? What do … Continue reading
Posted in spirituality
Leave a comment
Mutuae Relationes 16: Union With God
Let’s continue to explore the mission of Christ and how we take it up with bishops and religious faithful. Remember, you can check the full document online here. Today, one absolute: The absolute necessity of union with God 16. Mission, … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Mutuae Relationes, women religious
1 Comment
DPPL 204: Consecration and Entrustment to Mary
What is your experience of consecration to Mary? Any readers out there with experiences in this? 204. The history of Marian devotion contains many examples of personal or collective acts of “consecration or entrustment to the Blessed Virgin Mary” oblatio, … Continue reading
On My Bookshelf: Artemis Awakening
Before reading her latest novel, I was unfamiliar with the author Jane Lindskold. The book cover informs me her books have been NYT bestsellers. I almost picked Artemis Awakening off the new book rack before Christmas. I did last week and it … Continue reading
Priest and Scientist
I recommend the brief Crux article on people who were both priests and scientists. I suggest skipping the commentary, though. A few Jesuits were among the clergy listed, but one of my favorites was a diocesan priest: Georges Lemaître (1894-1966) The … Continue reading
Posted in Astronomy, Science
Leave a comment
Catholic Sensibility 
Servers, Service, and Sex
One subset of priests I’ve known over the years have been musicians/never-pastors. In one parish I served, a semi-retired navy veteran who was a fine organist had regular liturgical duties. He preached once a month. He accompanied the choir every … Continue reading →