Fantastic Treatise on Suffering.

Courtesy of one of my Facebook friends, I was privileged to read this article on redemptive suffering. It is very well-written and worth reading (it is also very long. Hence, the link to it.) Suffering and its purpose have been on my mind a great deal lately, after watching two members of my family being slowly devoured by cancer recently. (Not to mention being out of work since March.) Between Fr. Chad Ripperger's class on Spiritual Theology (which I highly recommend! You can listen to it over at Sensus Traditionis) and this article, it becomes much clearer to my mind.

Bragging Rights.

When I read this article, I felt my spirits lift. Not because I have a son at this academy (I don't), nor because I attend an SSPX parish (again, I don't. Utah has no Traditionalist parish of any stripe.) It was because of the fact that against all odds, there are young men today who are being taught to behave like Christians at all times, in all circumstances. And the fact that some in the secular world are taking notice. Kudos to La Salette!

Nice.

In the age of electronic books (of which I am not a fan, except perhaps for college textbooks) I find it incredibly refreshing that there is still a publishing company out there producing quality hard copies of Catholic classics. Check them out!

http://www.baroniuspress.com/

Why Traddies mistrust the Novus Ordo

This article from The Remnant demonstrates it perfectly. Small wonder why the SSPX is hesitant to place themselves under the jurisdiction of such petty little despots. (Sorry, Your Excellency, but a spade is a spade. As a loyal Catholic I continue to respect your office, but your actions are contemptible.)

Ignore the rumors, here's the source.

If you're like me, you're consistenly annoyed by the sometimes outrageous rumor and innuendo circulating in the media and over the internet regarding the SSPX and Rome. Here, Bp. Fellay speaks to seminarians on the doctrinal issues involved in the current dialogue, as well as the Doctrinal Preamble. Let's follow his earlier advice: pay closer attention to the only authoritative sources in these matters, ignoring the constant prattle of those with an agenda...

Now Permitting Comments

Some might have noticed that none of my previous posts have permitted comments. There's been a very good reason for that--namely, I hadn't figured out how to permanently post the guidelines yet. I highly encourage everyone to visit my "pages" section, where the rules (and my bias) are clearly outlined. Starting today, comments are enabled (as are the rules for playing in this cyber sandbox.)

A Layman's Rant, Part One: On Music

Why do I fixate on the music? In a recent conversation with my ex-wife, she asked me that. (We have a kid together, so yes we do talk sometimes. She attends a traditional parish; occasionally we end up discussing the Church.) I’m frequently troubled by the music at Mass. At the time of the conversation, I couldn’t really articulate my reasons. Now I can.

There’s the obvious: I’m in the choir. Because of this, I’m very conscious of the music. But the largest reason is that music is a catechism. If there’s a more effective way to quickly learn something than setting it to a catchy tune, I haven’t heard of it. That’s why most of us learned our alphabet to the tune of Mozart’s variations on “Ah vous dirai-je Maman.” That’s why commercials frequently include catchy jingles. Regardless of how eloquently delivered or prosaically stunning, I doubt any of us catch ourselves muttering snatches of Father’s homily at random during the day. (If you’re an exception to this, I can recommend a couple of solid Catholic therapists with reasonable rates.) Music gets caught in our crania, following us home and going about our daily routines with us. Music reinforces basic doctrines on a deeper level than spoken words will. One would think that the people who are in charge of the liturgy would take special care to scrutinize the music and ensure that its message accurately reflects the mind of the Church.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Open any Novus Ordo songbook (I won’t refer to them as hymnals because most of the songs therein do not qualify as hymns) and read a song at random. Only 1 in 10 at most contains anything resembling Catholic doctrine. Most are fuzzy and sentimental, focused on us—us feeling welcome and validated, us treating our neighbors kindly, us making sure that we share our ice cream, candy and toys with the other children on the playground. Us pinning “goodguy badges” to our lapels. While all of these messages--properly presented--might also reflect a Catholic approach to life, the songs I'm referring to don't. In Novus Ordo songbooks, almost all reference to anything unpleasant to think about (sacrifice, sinfulness, the Four Last Things) has disappeared. Ditto on hymns to any of the Saints except for a handful of popular Marian favorites. Songs labeled “Eucharist” are often the most egregious offenders—all about bread and wine, and the consumption of such. Or how that consumption unites us with Christ in some unclear manner. They don’t unambiguously reflect the reality of transubstantiation. Many make frequent reference to a table rather than an altar, overemphasizing the ritual meal with an occasional nod in the general direction of the Holy Mystery.

Many songs are equally at home in a Protestant setting. I was recently at an American Baptist church for a performance by a friend’s choral group. Curious, I perused the songbook in the pew while waiting for the show to start. Had I been a bit more naïve I would have been shocked to discover a number of songs frequently used at the Novus Ordo Missa contained in its pages. If a Protestant can use a Catholic tune without any doctrinal qualms, either the Protestant is about to swim the Tiber, the Protestant is indifferent, or the song reflects questionable doctrine. (If the tune wasn’t Catholic to begin with, one wonders why we’re using it in Mass.)

Where are all the good, old, Catholic hymns? The ones that reflect the one immortal Faith? Why don’t we use them anymore? Where is the Gregorian chant that the Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium declared was to be given pride of place in a liturgical setting? Why are the only “traditional” hymns that are left songs that were penned by Protestants, from a Protestant understanding? Certainly, some of them are very inspiring and beautiful. But since music is a catechism, we should be more careful with our catechesis. Especially in a time where so many Catholics are confused about the nature and doctrine of the Faith.

That’s why I fixate on the music.

NO, NO, and NO AGAIN!

Is this factual or fallacy?

The article ran on October 24, 2011. While I have to wonder where they selected their 1442 participants from and the criteria they used (I've met plenty of self-identified Catholics who display no other evidence of being Catholic, and numerous others who show marked confusion as to what "Catholic" means) this study can be pretty disheartening. If we let it be. 88% are religiously indifferent? Weekly Mass attendance at 31%? 40% say you don't have to believe in transubstantiation?

It's easy for those of us who are inclined to pessimism and melancholy to start wringing our hands and weeping. Some of us might be inclined to lose heart and despair. I suggest another reaction: hope.

Consider Romans 11:1-10, applied to the current situation. Consider how many times Our Lord stated that He would separate the wheat from the chaff. Remember the parable of the tares amongst the wheat. Consider how the early Church placed Her hope in His promise that the gates of hell will not prevail (Matt. 16:18). Consider the storms Mother Church has weathered since birth. Consider the plight of St. Athanasius when the Arian heresy had overwhelmed so much of the hierarchy that it seemed evil had prevailed. They were in no less hopeless a position than we are today; yet they didn't despair of the enormity of the task. Neither should we. Remember, to admonish the sinner and instruct the ignorant are both Works of Mercy!

I hope you won't take offense to my quoting a Mormon hymn from the pioneer days:

Gird up your loins, fresh courage take

Our God will never us forsake

Traitors have been in the faith since Judas. Let's not get discouraged by the weak of heart. The Novus Ordo has certainly caused a weakening of both Catholic identity and Catholic belief. But those of us who are left, by the grace of God, will be stronger for it.

Vade retro, Satanas!

The Anti-Liturgical Heresy

A very illuminating post from Ars Orandi. Yet again we see words from a century ago being eerily relevant...

Questions Many Of Us Are Asking...

It seems the Italians are taking the theological lead! Following the lead of Msgr. Brunero Gherardini and Professor Roberto de Mattei, a team of 50 Italian academics petitioned His Holiness to reexamine and clarify the Second Vatican Council.

My Prayers Are With Them

Latest on the Doctrinal Preamble. Here's hoping that the "schismatic" nonsense will soon be over and the ones who have fought the longest and most valiantly against modernism, at the heaviest cost, will be recognized by Rome as legitimate.

Instruction on the One Only Saving Faith (from "The Church's Year" by Fr. Leonard Goffine)

There is nothing new under the sun. These words were penned in the nineteenth century. He could easily have written them yesterday morning. Still relevant!

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Eph. 4:5,6)

These words of the great Apostle of the Gentiles show clearly, that it is not a matter of indifference, what faith or religion we profess. Yet in our times so poor in faith, we often hear the assertion from so-called enlightened men: "It is all the same to what religion we belong, we can be saved in any, if we only believe in God and live uprightly." This assertion is impious! Consider, my dear Christian, there is but one God, and this one God has sent only one Redeemer, and this one Redeemer has preached but one doctrine, and has established but one Church. Had God wished that there should be more than one Church, then Christ would have founded them, nay, He would not have preached a new doctrine, established a new, Christian Church; for the Jews also believed in one God. But Jesus cast aside Paganism and Judaism, promulgated a new religion, and founded a new Church. Nowhere does He speak of Churches, but always of one Church. He says that we must hear this Church and does not add, that if we will not hear this Church, we may hear some other. He speaks of only one shepherd, one flock, and one fold, into which all men are to be brought. In the same manner He speaks always of one kingdom upon earth, just as there is only one kingdom in heaven; of only one master of the house and one family, of one field and one vineyard, whereby Her referred to His Church; of one rock, upon which He would build His Church. On the day before His death, He prayed fervently to His Heavenly Father, that all who believe in Him, might be and remain one, as He and the Father are one, and He gave His disciples the express command to preach His gospel to all nations, and to teach them all things, whatsoever He had commanded them. This command the apostles carried out exactly. Everywhere they preached one and the same doctrine, establishing in all places Christian communities, which were all united by the bond of the same faith. Their principal care was to prevent schisms in faith, they warned the faithful against heresy, commanded all originators of such to be avoided, and anathematized those who preached a gospel different from theirs. As the apostles, so did their successors. All the holy Fathers speak with burning love of the necessary unity of faith, and deny those all claim to salvation who remain knowingly in schism and separation from the true Church of Christ.

Learn hence, dear Christian, that there can be but one true Church; if there is but one true Church, it naturally follows that in her alone salvation can be obtained, and the assertion that we can be saved by professing any creed, is false and impious. Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, speaks of but one Church, which we must hear, if we wish to be saved. He who does not hear the Church, He says, should be considered as a heathen and publican. He speaks furthermore of one fold, and He promises eternal life only to those sheep who belong to this fold, obey the voice of the shepherd and feed in His pasture. The apostles were also convinced that only the one, true Church could guide us to salvation. Without faith it is impossible to please God, writes St. Paul to the Hebrews (11:6), and this faith is only one, he teaches the Ephesians (4:5). If the apostles had believed that we could be saved in any religion, they would certainly not have contended so strenuously for unity, they would not have declared so solemnly, that we should not belong to any other than to Christ alone, and that we must receive and obey His doctrine. As the apostles taught so did their successors and all the Fathers agree that there is no salvation outside of the true Church. St. Cyprian writes: "If any one outside Noah's ark could find safety, then also will one outside the Church find salvation" (De unit. eccl. c. 7). From all this it follows, that there is only one true Church which insures salvation, out of which no one can be saved.

But which is this Church? The Roman Catholic, Apostolic Church, for she alone was founded by Christ, she alone was watered with the blood of the apostles and of thousands of holy martyrs, she alone has the marks of the true Church of Christ, against which He has promised that the powers of hell shall not prevail. Those who fell away from the Church three hundred years ago, do, indeed, contend that the Church fell into error and no longer possessed the true, pure gospel of Jesus. Were they right, Jesus might be blamed, for He established this Church, promising to remain with her and guide her through the Holy Ghost until the end of the world. He would, therefore, have broken His word, or He was not powerful enough to keep it. But who dare say this? On the contrary, she has existed for eighteen hundred years, whilst the greatest and most powerful kingdoms have been overthrown, and the firmest thrones crumbled away. If she were not the only true and saving Church, founded by Christ, how could she have existed so long, since Jesus Himself said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up (Mt. 15:13). If she were not the Church of Christ, she would have been destroyed long ago, but she still stands today, whilst her enemies who battled against her have disappeared, and will continue to disappear; for the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, says our Lord. He has kept His promise and will keep it, notwithstanding all the oppositions and calumnies of her implacable enemies.

You see, therefore, my dear Christian, that the Catholic Church is the only true, the only saving Church; be not deceived by those who are neither cold nor warm, and who say: "We can be saved in any religion, if we only believe in God and live uprightly," and who wish to rob you of your holy faith, and precipitate you into the sea of doubt, error, and falsehood. Outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation; hold this firmly, for it is the teaching of Jesus, His apostles, and all the Fathers; for this doctrine the apostles and a countless host of the faithful have shed their blood. Obey the teaching of this Church, follow her laws, make use of her help and assistance, and often raise your hands and heart to heaven to thank God for the priceless grace of belonging to this one, true Church; forget not to pray for your erring brethren, who are still outside of the Church that the Lord may lead them into her, that His promise may be fulfilled: There will be one fold and one shepherd.

ANOTHER Conversion Story?

It seems like everyone wants to bullhorn their thoughts, opinions, and personal lives into the ether for all to see. The desire to be noticed, loved, seen as an important expert...these tend to override both shame and good common sense. My last blog (now defunct) was no exception. It had become nothing more than a vehicle for my own narcissism. So I killed it.

Now I'm back. I was going to bore all three of my readers (only a one of whom actually intended to end up here, the others having arrived purely by accident) with the prosaically eloquent (secret code for "long-winded and pretentious") tale of how and why I came to Tradition. Sufficient prayer and reflection made me think better of it. Why trade one narcissistic blog for another? It seems better to post a link to one of the prayers that has become the cornerstone of my spiritual life:

The Litany of Humility

And while we're somewhere near the topic, please consider taking up the cause for the beatification of its author.