Monday, April 30, 2007
17th May: The Ascension of Our Lord
He entered into possession of the Kingdom of Heaven which He has gained by His sufferings, and St. Paul declares that God "hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Jesus Christ." "There where the Head has gone, the Body is called to follow!"
Traditionally, the Pascal Candle, figure of the Risen Christ, is extinguished after the Gospel and removed after the High Mass. Today however, the Pascal Candle remains in place. Either near the ambo or the Altar and continues to be lit through Vespers on Pentecost Day.
Labels: Ascension, Liturgical Calendar
Friday, April 27, 2007
My Favorite Hymns
Here are all of my favorite hymns with links to Youtube music videos for your listening pleasure.
Latin
- Panis Angelicus (Choral) or Here (Solo)
Panis angelicus is the penultimate strophe of the hymn Sacris solemniis written by St Thomas Aquinas. - Ubi David (Choral: Not the best rendition)
- Miserere Mei, Deus
Composed by Gregorio Allegri in approx. 1630. This hymn was so beautiful and sacred that Pope Urban VIII banned it's redistribution under the penalty of excommunication. - Ave Verum Cropus (Choral) or Here (Oxford Cathedral Choir) or Here.
Composed by Mozart in 1791, Feast of Corpus Christi - Pange Lingua Gloriosi
English- Traditional/Contempory
- Soul of My Saviour
Attributed to Pope John XXII (1249-1334) - Be Thou My Vision (Duet)
Originated in Ireland as a harp tune in the eighth century. - Here I am Lord (Choral: United Methodist Choir) or Here (Duet: Catholic Motions) or Here (On Rope Keyboard... Interesting)
Composed by Dan Schutte - Two Were Bound for Emmaus (Solo: Sample, OCP)
Composed by Bob Hurd - Give Thanks (Concert: Don Moen)
- As the Deer (Piano Solo) or Here (Guitar Solo)
- Here I am To Worship
Composed by Michael W. Smith - Above All (Piano Solo)
Composed by Michael W. Smith
I tag the authors of the following blogs: Mysterium Fidei, Catholic Warrior, Unam Sanctam, Exsurge Domine.
Labels: Gregorian Chant, Hymns, Latin, Links, Miscellaneous, Music
Truth and Tolerance
All of us know that suicide is the number one cause of death among gay-identified youth. Some researchers report that as many as a third of all gay-identified youth has attempted to take their life. Why are gay-identified teens taking (or contemplating) taking their life? The answer is simple. Bigotry.
"Love one another as I have love you"
We should work as hard as anyone to put an end to bigotry. As Christians we need to love homosexuals. Though we definately do not condone homosexual behavior, we need to be encouraged to get out of our comfort zones and love the person behind the issue and to walk alongside those who are on the long, hard road to freedom.
No one can discount the truth that there is freedom from homosexuality in Christ! Scientific and social research have shown that same-sex attraction is not genetic. Therefore, it does not have to dictate the course of one’s life.
Many gay-identified Catholics have left the Church (altogether) because they feel that both God and Church has disowned them due to their orientation. This is not true. They leave because of the comments and remarks of certain members of the congregation that makes them feel left out and disowned.
Such attitudes must change!
As representatives of Christ, it is our duty to stand up for those who are hated and judged. This does not involve condoning sin, as Jesus demonstrated by saying to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” (St. John 8:11). But first, He chased away those who accused her in their self-righteousness. We can change lives with the grace Jesus exemplified.
We don’t do this by redefining marriage, we do it by being a friend to the lonely and sticking up for the bullied. We don’t silence the truth, but speak the truth even when lies are more popular. We don’t do this by offering false hope in sexual permissiveness; we do it by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and facilitating the healing that is not only possible, but promised.
The most important thing is not to condemn!
It's hard to understand why someone we care about would live a lifestyle you don't agree with, but the best thing we can do when we have a friend who's struggling with sexual sin is PRAY! Continue to care. We need to remember we don't have to agree with him/her to love him/her with God's love. The Bible reminds us in Romans 3:23 that, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."All. As in you, and I too.
As Catholic Christians, it's our responsibility to share the truth in love. We're called to be ambassadors for Christ- not lawyers. We shouldn't feel as though we have to argue with someone until we're blue in the face, rather, we should simply let our lives be the example of Christ. Only then, everything we say or do will prove our faith and radiate God's love to anyone in need.
In society today, there are forces trying to disintegrate the meaning of family and indoctrinate younger and younger schoolchildren with sexual confusion. We offer this and all other intentions to our Blessed Mother- Virgin Most Pure- trusting in her maternal intercession. Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Labels: Catholic Belief, Homosexuality, Reply, Thoughts
The Cross First, Then the Crown
Dear brothers and sisters, it is no different when it comes to our Christian worship. How can we experience the real Christian joy on Easter if we do not follow Christ through His sufferings? It is imperative than we have devotion to the passion of Christ; we need to constantly delve profoundly into the sufferings of our Lord. It is only by appreciating the sufferings and death of our Lord that can have joy on Easter. This appreciation is prerequisite.
Craddle Catholics would have lived through many many Lenten Seasons while converts may have lived through much less. However, the number of times is not important and perhaps even insignificant (if one chooses just to follow the motion). Why do I say so? Because there is always something more to learn and appreciate about the Price of our Redemption- gained through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. From the instituition of the Most Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday- the last meal Jesus would share with His diciples- to the passion and death of our Lord on Good Friday, we can be more convinced of His infinite love for us. Love becomes more real, more spiritual, more refined.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son."
When asked by Larry King on CNN why there was suffering in the world, (Protestant Evangelist) Billy Graham simply replied, "Larry, I really don't know." Very often suffering cannot be found in Protestant Theology. The Roman Catholic Church however has the answer! Suffering is the embodiment of God's love. It is also the way back to the Father.
None of us can escape suffering in this life. Everyone from prince to pauper has to suffer. Some more than others. For some suffering comes mostly in a physical form, while others experience emotional or psychological suffering. Some suffer in all the abovementioned areas.
Do we give up hope? Never! Our Lord suffered too. Jesus was like us in all things except sin. In His passion, Jesus shows us how to suffer, he shows us how to accept suffering, he shows us that suffering in itself is not an evil or curse. Most of all, Jesus shows us that suffering is but a key to our own sanctification and salvation. Our sufferings are meritorious for ourselves and others for others because it has been perfected and sanctified by our Lord's sufferings.
Mother McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, once said: "Without the cross, the real crown cannot come."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrated the Feast of the Ressurection no less than three weeks ago, did we really take time to remember at great depth, the price of our salvation?
If we didn't then, our joy may have been more of a social joy than that of a spiritual joy. But do not worry, let us continue to keep in mind that the cross has to come before the crown as we await the next Lenten Season, Holy Week, and Easter Tridum.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus, Our King reigns. He wears the crown and will share it with us! God is with us. Amen!
HE IS RISEN! HE HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH!
WE HAVE HOPE! OUR HOPE AND HELP ARE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Labels: Catholic Belief, Easter, Passion, Protestants, Suffering, Thoughts
The Greatest Man in History
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!
Labels: Jesus, Miscellaneous
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Roman Catholic Morality & The Virtue of Purity
The Purpose Of The Sexual Powers:
The social unit of mankind is the family; in other words, the human race is built up of families as a house is built of bricks, or living tissue of cells and the family rests on the sacred institution of Holy Matrimony - a divine institution from the beginning in the book of Genesis and raised by our Lord Jesus Christ through Holy Mother Church to the dignity of a Sacrament.
God has put into human nature certain sexual powers, passions and instincts, all meant to be used within the holy state of matrimony. If the sexes were without these instincts, if men and women were not strongly and agreebly drawn to each other, then there would be no marriage and the human race would perish. Since these sexual powers, passions and instincts were given by God for the purpose of prcreation, establishing the human family and continuing the human race, they therefore must be kept for these divinely instituted purposes only. To use them in any other way, merely for one's own sexual pleasure, erotic satistfaction and carnal gratification, would be a in a true sense a perversion and thus a mortal sin against human nature and the will of God as expressed in the 6th and 9th Commandments.
A reasonable and healthy curiosity about these sexual powers implanted in our nature by God is quite right and natural and if a young man or woman feels themselves unduly ignorant, they should seek information from their parents or some older person whom they trust. If they wish to inquire on the moral aspects of such matters, they are always welcome to see a priest, preferably a priest from their own parish who would know them and be able to guide them more effectively.
Purity & Chastity Is A Most Beautiful Virtue:
In a world obssessed by perversion, immorality and the darkness of all types of sexual sin, God Himself tells us in Scripture, "Oh, how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal" (Wisdom Of Solomon 4:1). Our Blessed Lord Himself in the Beatitudes said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). The practice of chastity and purity brings a delightful peace to the soul and infuses courage to do and to dare great things for God and our fellowmen.
Every Sin Against Purity & Chastity Is A Mortal Sin:
The guilt and shame that arises out of sexual immorality of any kind is far greater than the very act of impurity that has been committed. Some sins of impurity are more grievious than others and may vary according to the persons with whom they are committed. All sins of incest, beastiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution and pornography are abominable and detestable in the sight of a Holy God.
Impurity & Unchastity Desecrates The Human Dignity:
A man or woman who does not ennoble the sexual appetite by the spiritual power of the will, sinks down to the level of an animal and if he or she keeps on giving into such impure and unnatural practices, he or she sinks lower still. Impure lust, once it is pandered to, grows ever more imperious and makes the vilest slaves of its victims. The resistance of the will grows weaker with every defeat and eventually the complete loss of will-power often results. nature, which is God's servant, takes an awful toll for the transgression of its laws. One would do well to heed the Scriptural warning that "the wages of sin is death."
Impurity & Unchastity Is A Sin Against Human Society:
Impurity and unchastity poisons the wellspring of life and undermines the foundations on which society is built, that is, the propogation of the human race in moral purity and strength through the state of marriage and the practice of wholesome family life. When impurity and unchastity is legalized and becomes a national vice in the form of strip clubs, gay bars and legalized prostitution, this spells both spiritual and moral ruin for whole states, nations and people groups.
The only way that men and women everywhere should walk in is the way of purity and holiness that God has set forth for the human race to follow through the teaching of Holy Scripture and by the life and words of our Lord Jesus Christ. One would do well to heed the words of the prophet Isaiah as both a rule and a way of life, "A path and a way shall be there and it shall be called the holy way. The unclean shall not pass over it. The redeemed of the Lord shall walk there and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads" (Isaiah 35:8).
Acknowledgements:
The Society of the Seven Dolours
Labels: Catholic Belief, Christian Virtues, Morality
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The role of a lay person: to imbue society with Catholic Christian values
I write to alert you to a matter of grave urgency and importance. It's responding to the government's amendment of the Penal Code, especially the section pertaining to homosexual behaviour. The official invite for public feedback was issued months ago. The relevant part is Section 10 which covers "carnal intercourse against the order of nature". The debate on the draft amendments takes place in Parliament in July/August. - Decriminalize homosexual practice.
- Criminalized any public negative comment or statement against homosexual practice. (Some pastors in the State of Victoria, Australia are now in jail because of this)
- Legalize same sex marriages.
- Legalize adoption by same sex partners. (Roman Catholic adoption agencies have closed down in Britain because they now have to allow their children to be adopted by same sex partners).
- Have homosexuals classified as an ethnic group or race so that their rights are enshrined.
- Make it compulsory by law that homosexual practices are taught to children in all schools.
This is already happening in some parts of the world. They have already published colourful and explicit textbooks for this purpose!
While some denominational leaders have made Christian views known, our government's approach on public morality is based on the weight of public opinion. Hence the greater the number of similar opinions the greater the weight government will give.NOW IS THE TIME TO SUBMIT OUR FEEDBACK.
Please share this with the clergy and members of your parish. Once the law is passed in favour of the gay agenda, there'll be no turning back the gradual undermining and destruction of Biblical family values, as well as the freedom to preach godly sexuality standards, as in now happening in parts of Britain, Australia and the US.
The subject line should always mention: Penal Code Amendment:
All a person needs to do is write is something like: "With respect to the coming Parliamentary debate on the above subject, I would like to state that I'm against passing laws to allow same sex marriages or homosexual practices."
A mother could send in something like: "I have three young children and I'm against any legislation that allow for same sex marriages."
Other possible statements:
- I don't hate homosexuals, but I don't believe their lifestyle is good for the future of our country.
- I believe that real family is made from Dad and Mum, not Dad & Dad, or Mum & Mum.
- Please don't allow our country to be influenced by people who are
confused about their own gender. Please don't legalize same sex marriages.
Why can't the Catholic Church make a public statement?
"A response from any church group wouldbe treated as a religious reaction of the conservative right, of religion trying to impose its values. We need ordinary people to write in." Andrew Kong, Canon & Civil Lawyer.
What if we do not take action?
Then, I suppose, we'll probably be seeing more of these:
...... when these babies grow up, society will continue to face ......
...... and the next wedding you attend may look just like this......
...... or this ......
Scriptually
(cf: Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:18-25, Romans 1:27, Leviticus 20:13, Leviticus 18:22)
The image of God is both male and female and is reflected in a godly union between male and female where the creative power of God, His life-giving, His self-giving and His moral nature are perfectly expressed. This is only possible in a heterosexual union.
When God created a partner for Adam He created Eve - not another Adam. This means that perfect partnership requires some level of difference as well as a level of similarity so great that Adam could cry out loudly, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh". Sexual intimacy between a man and a woman is the normal method of male/female bonding (emotionally and physically) because it corresponds to the design of our bodies and because it is the normal means by which offspring are created.
"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." Leviticus 20:13, NAB
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." Leviticus 18:22, NAB
"... and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity." Romans 1:27, NAB
Read: HOMOSEXUALS DESTROY THEMSELVES or the Time Cover Article: THE BATTLE OVER GAY TEENS.
Labels: Homosexuality, Penal Code Amendment, Politics
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Intentions for the Week:
Please offer your prayers for the following intentions:- For an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life- that this Sunday (Vocation Sunday), many young men and women may be open to the call of God in their lives.
- For those who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood and religious life- that the Holy Spirit may always pilot their discernment. Lift especially these bloggers: Nicholas, Patrick and his brother, all the contributors to The Holy Vocations Blog, and myself.
- For Seminarians- may they persevere in their studies to be orthodox ministers of the words and holy dispensers of the Sacraments. Lift Seminarian Matthew who was accepted on 24th April '07 (recently!).
- For the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI- may the Holy Spirit continue to lead and guide him in his task of restoring the Church of Jesus Christ.
- For the repose of the soul of those who have died in tragic accidents- may the Lord confort their loved ones and deliver the souls of the departed to the eternal paradise. Lift up Debra Koh who was swept away by strong currents (5000 meters).
- For an end to abortion- that more Catholics may take part in pro-life activities.
- For the liberialisation of the Classice rite of Mass- that every Catholic may experience the ancient liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church; which belongs to them by birth right.
- For the schismatics and herectics (Protestants)- that our Lord would rescue them from all their errors, and recall them to their holy Mother, the Catholic and Apostolic Church.
- For the poor souls in purgatory- who have no one to pray for them.
- For the conversion of sinners- that the Holy Spirit may illuminate their hearts and souls to see the light of the Risen Christ. Lift Patrick's two sisters; and their husband and boyfriend respectively.
- For more Catholics to provide feedback on the proposed penal code amendments concerning the 'liberalisation' of homosexual activities.
Lord, hear the prayers of your faithful and in your mercy and love, hear and answer them. For the Glory of thy name. Amen.
Please feel free to add your intentions in the comment box.
Labels: Intentions/Petitions, Prayer
Monday, April 23, 2007
Our Lady of Fatima on Hell
This is a sermon by Monsignor Charles T. Moss during a Traditional Latin Mass at St.Roch's Church in West Bangor, PA.
"70% may go to Church but how many have the faith?" Msgr. Charles Moss.
Labels: Evil/Devil, Fatima, Hell, Homily, Homosexuality, Mary, Pornography
Christ's Precious Gift to his Church
Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy
At the beginning of the 40th anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical "Sacerdotalis Caelibatus" of His Holiness Paul VI, the Congregation for the Clergy deems it opportune to recall the magisterial teaching of this important papal document.
Indeed, priestly celibacy is Christ's precious gift to his Church, a gift one needs to meditate on anew and to strengthen, especially in today's profoundly secularized world.
Scholars note that the origins of priestly celibacy date back to apostolic times. Father Ignace de la Potterie writes: "Scholars generally agree that the obligation of celibacy, or at least of continence, became canon law from the fourth century onwards. ... However, it is important to observe that the legislators of the fourth and fifth centuries affirmed that this canonical enactment was based on an apostolic tradition.
"The Council of Carthage (390), for instance, said: 'It was fitting that those who were at the service of the divine sacraments be perfectly continent (continentes esse in omnibus), so that what the Apostles taught and antiquity itself maintained, we too may observe.'"
In the same way, Alfons-Marie Stickler mentions biblical arguments of apostolic inspiration that advocate celibacy.
Read: Sacerdotalis Caelibatus
Labels: Celibacy, Encyclical, Holy Father, Priesthood
The Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick
Jesus did not only send his disciples forth to heal the sick (cf. Mt 10:8; Lk 9:2, 10:9); he also instituted a specific sacrament for them: the Anointing of the Sick.(66) The Letter of James attests to the presence of this sacramental sign in the early Christian community (cf. 5:14-16). If the Eucharist shows how Christ's sufferings and death have been transformed into love, the Anointing of the Sick, for its part, unites the sick with Christ's self-offering for the salvation of all, so that they too, within the mystery of the communion of saints, can participate in the redemption of the world. The relationship between these two sacraments becomes clear in situations of serious illness: "In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum." (67) On their journey to the Father, communion in the Body and Blood of Christ appears as the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection: "Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day" (Jn 6:54). Since viaticum gives the sick a glimpse of the fullness of the Paschal Mystery, its administration should be readily provided for. (68) Attentive pastoral care shown to those who are ill brings great spiritual benefit to the entire community, since whatever we do to one of the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus himself (cf. Mt 25:40).
Labels: Annointing of the Sick, Eucharist, Holy Father, Sacramentum Caritatis, Viaticum
Pius XII on Minor Seminaries
[Note: This address was given to three thousand minor seminarians gathered in Rome on September 5, 1957]"Life is too short, the years of adolescence and of youth are too delicate not to be in pressing need of guidance and protection. The young man who has at heart to become a priest, must ripen in the climate most favorable to a lucid choice. The education of his still fragile will requires prudence and respect.
"He will therefore find in the minor seminaries greatly experienced and solicitous counselors and teachers who will guide his step, stimulate his intelligence, develop his generosity and the feeling of his responsibility in the proper functioning of the seminary.
"If minor seminaries are so useful and beneficial, it is because their institution is based on a precise knowledge of the needs of the adolescent and Christian youth. Families can therefore rely on the wisdom of the Church to judge one's aptitude for the priesthood and the means best suited to prepare for it.
"The Catholic priesthood is truly one of the purest glories of the Church and one of the most striking marks of her holiness. She has therefore always given it her most solicitous care throughout the centuries.
"Despite the weaknesses of human nature, she has maintained at a very high level its ideal of life, without sparing any effort to make her priests men of God and men of the Church, truly capable of taking charge of a part of the flock of Christ and of giving an account of it to God on the day of judgment. She has arranged their intellectual, moral and pastoral formation in an always precise and demanding manner.
"After ordering the erection of major seminaries in dioceses, she has then created special institutions meant for candidates to the ecclesiastical life. Far from having to repent such an institution, she congratulates herself for it when she witnesses the happy fruits borne by minor seminaries in the field of studies as well as in the formation of character."
Labels: Holy Father, Priesthood, Seminarian, Seminary, Vocation
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Gay-marriage split would hurt church: top Anglican
TORONTO (Reuters) - Everyone would lose if the Anglican Church splits in two over the issue of gay marriage, the Archbishop of Canterbury said on Monday.
Dr. Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Church, told a news conference in Toronto it was worth trying to preserve the unity of the church as long as possible.
"We may come to a point where people feel there are irreconcilable differences," said Williams. "But when there is an overlap between human rights and what the church can endorse, it does no good to isolate ideas... If the Anglican church divides, everyone will lose."
Williams has been walking a fine line of late in the raging debate over gay rights within the Anglican Church.
Last month, leaders of the U.S. Episcopal Church rejected a demand by conservative bishops for the American communion to give up authority over parishes that wish to remain closed to same-sex unions.
That irked several influential bishops in Africa and elsewhere who have staked out a conservative stance on homosexuality, which one has described as "an aberration unknown even in animal relationships."
The archbishop was quick to distance himself from that perspective on Monday, saying "I have consistently opposed any idea that gay and lesbian people are anything less than human and fully baptized members of the church."
But Williams also cautioned against any movement to muffle the conservative voice within the church.
"It is not just a case of nice people who want to include gay people in the church and nasty ones who do not," said Williams. "It is a question of what marriage is according to church doctrine and what types of behaviors that the church has the power to bless."
As the argument builds, discussion within the church has turned to a possible restructuring of sorts.
A "pastoral scheme" proposed by the Episcopal Church, the U.S. wing of the Anglican communion, would see individual dioceses having the option of aligning themselves with the church's more conservative elements via a regional representative to traditionalist bishops.
That idea has Williams concerned that the 77-million strong Anglican Church is close to ripping itself to pieces.
"There is a very deep political element to all of this," said Williams of the diverse range of opinions on gay marriage around the globe. "The danger is that people feel like someone else is making a decision which they then have to live by."
Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, though religions are not obliged to perform such ceremonies.
Williams' visit to Toronto, his first in seven years, coincides with a meeting of senior bishops in Canada. The archbishop will lead a one-day retreat of that group as they prepare to elect the new primate for the church in Canada and begin discussions ahead of the church's general synod in Winnipeg this June.
"The communion has to face the fact that there is a division in our church and it's getting deeper and more bitter," said Williams. "I think the goal of maintaining the highest degree of unity has to be the number one concern."
Williams shot down rumors of a rift with the U.S. Episcopals, saying he will attend the fall meeting of the U.S. House of Bishops set for New Orleans, September 20-25.
"These are complicated days for our church internationally and it's all the more important to foster personal relationships and conversations," he said.
"My aim is to keep people around the table for as long as possible on this and to understand one another."
Labels: News, Protestants
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
1Life4Christ: April 2007 Issue
Wishing You a Blessed Easter!
May the love and peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones.
I am pleased to attach a copy of Serra Club of Singapore's latest newsletter,
1Life4Christ
Here is the weblink:
http://www.serrasingapore.org/newsletter/1Life4Christ_2007_04.pdf
Once again, we at Serra Club would like to extend our gratitude for
your continued prayers before the Blessed Sacrament for more priestly
vocations, our seminarians and our priests. Our individual efforts
united with one another will surely bear much fruits for our universal
Church. Therefore, let us continue to do our part and not give up.
On 29 April (Good Shepherd Sunday), there will be a Day of Prayer for
Vocations which will be held at the Church of the Holy Family from 2pm
and end with the 6pm evening Mass which will be celebrated by His
Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. Please do come and join us and the
seminarians to pray for more priestly vocations.
Also, if you know of any single Catholic young man who might be
interested to attend a Vocation Retreat which will be held at the St.
Francis Xavier Major Seminary from 11 - 13 May, please ask them to
register with the seminary (more details are in the enclosed
newsletter).
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Blessed Easter!
Once again, thank you for being a Friend of Serra Club!
God Bless,
Sean Yeo
President of Serra Club of Singapore
Labels: News, Priesthood, Vocation
Open Letter: The Love of God
Having said all this, my issue with Islam is the concept of the love of God/Allah.
In Chrisitanity, God, the Father, provided a sinless savior- Jesus Christ- who took our sins upon himself & bore God's wrath in our place.(Mt20:28,26:28,Lk22:37,Jhn3:16,10:9-11,2Cor5:21,Gal3:13,1The5:9-10) whereas in Islam, Allah provided a messenger- Muhd (P.B.U.H.)- who warned of Allah's impending judgement(Surah2:119,5:19,7:184,188,15:89-90). Through the death & ressurection of Christ, there is no condemnation; hence the love of God is shown and perpetuated. Thus, there isn't a need to weigh good deeds against bad deeds (Surah 7:8-9, 21:47).
Also, on love, Catholics- as many other Christians- believe that God does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 18:23) & is "not wanting anyone to perish but come back to repentance" (2Pet3:9), however in the Koran (Surah 5:49,Ali;Surah4:168-169,7:179,9:2,40:10), we see that Allah desires to afflict man for some of their sins. Perhaps you could explain this part as Catholics do have some understanding regarding this matter where souls are sent to purgatory. Does "afflict them for their sins" imply purgatory or damnation?
Still on love, Allah "loves not the prodigals" (Surah3:140) & neither does he love "him who is treacherous or sinful" (Surah4:107;Ali). This is entirely different from the Christian doctrine where god demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us- our sins (Rom5:8), also looking at the Parable in the Gospel of the prodigal son who returned to the father was warmly welcomed.
Now, there seems to be some contridiction since the Koran says that the God of Islam is the God of the Christians and Jews (Surah 29:46). How can this be when Allah is impersonal and unitarian (Surah4:48) whereas the Christian scriptures reveal God as personal (1Pet5:6-7) and Trinitarian (2Cor13:14)? Also, how can God/Allah be changeble or capricious (Surah 2:284)? Finally, how can the God of the Muslims be the God of the Christians when no where is Allah ever presented as the God of love; not being a loving God is contrary to the very essence and nature of God (1Jhn4:7-16).
Thank you for you time, please correct me if I've wrongly quoted the Koran or if I've misinterpretated it. Otherwise, I hope you can provide your view(s). Anywhere where a harsh or rude tone of language is sensed is not intended.
Before, I go, what are your opinions on this: The Catechism of the Catholic Church 841 regarding the Catholic Church's relationship with the Muslims: "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."
Hope to hear from you soon.
In the God of Abraham,
Paul M.
Labels: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catholic Belief, Discussions, Muslims, Open Letter, Reply
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Hannity Gets Chastised By Catholic Priest
Hannity is denied Communion over his believes on birth control.
"On the contrary, it's nice to see Colmes (and the priest) get the upper hand on Vanity-Hannity. With Hannity being a Catholic, himself, he should respect the priest's authority instead of carrying on a child-like name-calling escapade with a leader of his church. This just further confirms my view of Hannity as an egotistical neocon," Joriet2.
"...... should obide and agree with the catholic church's teachings, otherwise he should not be a catholic, it is pretty simple, he can't pick and choose what be wants to believe," Sub7AV.
Labels: Catholic Belief, Contraceptives, Debate, Pro-Life, Video
Monday, April 16, 2007
Homer and Bart convert to Catholicism
On Sacred Liturgy:
22. 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
1983 Code of Canon Law:
Can. 837
1. Liturgical actions are not private actions but celebrations of the Church itself, which is "the sacrament of unity," namely, a holy people assembled and ordered under the bishops; therefore liturgical actions pertain to the whole body of the Church and manifest and affect it, but they affect the individual members of the Church in different ways according to the diversity of orders, functions and actual participation.
2. Liturgical actions, to the extent that by their proper nature they involve a common celebration, are to be celebrated where possible with the presence and active participation of the Christian faithful.
Can. 838
1. The supervision of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church which resides in the Apostolic See and, in accord with the law, the diocesan bishop.
2. It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the entire Church (universa ecclesia), to publish the liturgical books, to review their translations into the vernacular languages and to see that liturgical ordinances are faithfully observed everywhere.
3. It pertains to the conferences of bishops to prepare translations of the liturgical books into the vernacular languages, with the appropriate adaptations within the limits defined in the liturgical books themselves, and to publish them with the prior review by the Holy See.
4. It pertains to the diocesan bishop in the church entrusted to him, within the limits of his competence, to issue liturgical norms by which all are bound.
Labels: Canon Law, Liturgy, Second Vatican Council
Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Without Priests...
Labels: Holy Father, Priesthood
Happy 80th Birthday Holy Father
"Benendict XVI is an extraordinary gift from God in this age of unbelief,” says Archbishop Mario Rizzi. “His election to the See of Peter is proof positive that the Holy Spirit guides the Church and sees to it that the right men at the right moment be placed at its helm. Unbelievers will doubtless smile at these assertions, but we know just how true they are”.
"In today’s world,” says Monsignor Rizzi, “Catholics are called to live their faith as sheep among wolves. The message sent out by the mainstream media is simply hostile to our faith, and many of the faithful are losing their bearings. The Church, however, is not a political party or a multinational company; she is not even a charitable association, however noble such organisation may be. The Church is an institution established by Christ Himself with the express purpose of handing down His spirit and His teachings. Her task is also that of preserving them intact through the centuries amid a hostile world, and the German pontiff is taking this task very seriously”.
Holy See: Benedict XVI (Includes biography, apostolic letters, homilies, speeches, and news.)
Labels: Birthday, Holy Father
Saturday, April 14, 2007
NEW TRANSLATION: The Order of Holy Mass
The Institution of the Eucharist by JOOS van WassenhoveClick here to view and download the New Translation.
I think the new translation possesses more quality and charm of poetry.
What is the ICEL?
The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) is a mixed commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences in countries where English is used in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy according to the Roman Rite. The purpose of the Commission is to prepare English translations of each of the Latin liturgical books and any individual liturgical texts in accord with the directives of the Holy See. [SOURCE: ICEL]
Labels: International Committee on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), Links, Liturgy, Novus Ordo, Thoughts
Divine Mercy Sunday (15/04/2007)
The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercyis based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received about God’s mercy. Even beforeher death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread.The message of mercy is that God loves us — all of us —no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us toothers. Thus, all will come to share His joy. It is a messagewe can call to mind simply by remembering ABC.
A — Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B — Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C — Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
The Divine Mercy Devotion
Devotion to The Divine Mercy involves a total commitment to God as Mercy. It is a decision to trust completely in Him, toaccept His mercy with thanksgiving, and to be merciful as He is merciful.
The devotional practices proposed in the diary of Saint Faustina and set forth in this website are completely inaccordance with the teachings of the Church and are firmly rooted in the Gospel message of our Merciful Savior.Properly understood and implemented, they will help us grow as genuine followers of Christ.
There are two scriptural verses that we should keep in mindas we involve ourselves in these devotional practices:
1. "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts arefar from me" (Is 29:13);
2. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt 5:7).
Find out more at EWTN: The Divine Mercy Devotion
[SOURCE: EWTN]
Labels: Devotion/Devotionals, Divine Mercy
Lord Have Mercy
A contemptuous and profane image inside 'The1NiteStand Bar and Comedy Club' in Clarke Quay, mocking the Most Holy Eucharist.Please write to them if you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Address your (polite) letter to:
Adrian Houghton,
You can write even if you do not reside in Singapore, let the management know that what they've done is disgusting and offensive.
Let us pray and make reparation!
Labels: Desecration, Photos
Awesome View
The pool
The Home Altar
Labels: Altar, Miscellaneous, Photos
Deo Gratias
The final steps include having to take the Final Theory and the Final Practical Test.
Labels: Miscellaneous, Personal, Thanksgiving
Friday, April 13, 2007
Home Altar: Easter
Labels: Miscellaneous, Photos
Altat Transformation
You've seen Parish Transformation, now check out Altar Transformation by the Fraternity of St. Peter.
Uploaded by CHRIST-REDEMPTEUR
St. Joseph's Sanctuary: Easter
The Altar Table
A closer look at the High Altar
The full view of the canopy
The pulpit and the Pascal candle
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Divine Mercy Sunday
Assassination Attempt: Paulus VI
Bridging Tradition
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Sometime soon, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to broaden permission to use the Tridentine Mass, a long-standing request of traditionalists who favor the rite used before the Second Vatican Council.
The move is aimed at ending a liturgical dispute which has simmered for more than 20 years. In the process, it could clarify how the pope intends to implement what he once described as a "liturgical reconciliation" in the modern church.
The pope will enunciate the new policy in a document to be released after more than a year of debate and discussion at the Vatican. The Roman Curia had mixed views on expanding the use of the Tridentine rite, and so did the world's cardinals and bishops – all of which has lent a certain drama to the outcome.
From the outside, allowing the old Mass has been seen primarily as a concession to the followers of the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was excommunicated in 1988 for his intransigence on liturgical and other reforms of Vatican II.
But some Vatican officials believe that aspect has been overblown. More than making peace with Archbishop Lefebvre's followers, they said, the pope is trying to make peace with the church's own tradition.
One big clue to the pope's thinking came in his 1997 book, titled Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977 and written when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in which he sharply criticized the drastic manner in which Pope Paul VI reformed the Mass in 1969.
The almost total prohibition of the old missal, which had been used for 400 years, was unprecedented in the history of the liturgy, he said in the book.
In effect, he said, "the old building was demolished" and a new one put in its place. Thus the liturgy ceased to be a living development and was treated as something manufactured by experts, which has caused the church "enormous harm," he said.
Even before he wrote those words, then-Cardinal Ratzinger had caused a stir when he said it made sense for the priest to celebrate Mass facing the same direction as the congregation, in the pre-Vatican II style, although he also said it would be confusing to turn the altar around once again.
Over the years, he has sharply criticized what he sees as a tendency for the worshiping community to celebrate only itself.
All of that led some to presume that, as pope, he would preside over a rollback of liturgical reform.
But the picture is not so clear-cut. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he said he considered the new missal a "real improvement" in many respects, and that the introduction of local languages made sense.
In one revealing speech to Catholic traditionalists in 1998, he said bluntly that the old "low Mass," with its whispered prayers at the altar and its silent congregation, "was not what liturgy should be, which is why it was not painful for many people" when it disappeared.
The most important thing, he said at that time, was to make sure that the liturgy does not divide the Catholic community.
With that in mind, knowledgeable Vatican sources say the pope's new document will no doubt aim to lessen pastoral tension between the Tridentine rite and the new Mass, rather than hand out a victory to traditionalists.
Under Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ratzinger conducted the unsuccessful negotiations with Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988, before the archbishop broke off talks and ordained new bishops in defiance of the pope.
Cardinal Ratzinger insisted then that the Lefebvrists accept the new Mass and other major teachings of Vatican II. It's a position he has repeated in his ongoing contacts as pope with Lefebvrist leaders, sources said.
It was Pope John Paul who in 1984 first made it possible for groups of the faithful to worship according to the Latin-language 1962 Roman Missal, the last Vatican-approved missal prior to the post-conciliar reforms.
Pope John Paul set conditions for this special permission, or indult. The main requirement was that those who used the Tridentine rite must make publicly clear "beyond all ambiguity" that they do not call into question the validity of the new Roman Missal.
In 1988, Pope John Paul relaxed the conditions for the indult, but groups still had to accept the new Mass and were still expected to obtain the permission of their local bishop.
The role of the bishop in approving and overseeing use of the Tridentine rite has been a crucial issue in the recent debate. Last fall, when rumors were swirling that a bishop's permission would no longer be needed, the bishops of France issued a statement saying that the return of the pre-Vatican II Mass should be regulated and not left to "personal tastes and choices."
The French bishops also said traditionalist groups that use the Tridentine rite should be expected to give "an unequivocal gesture of assent to the teachings of the church's authentic magisterium," its teaching authority.
For these reasons, many will be looking at Pope Benedict's document not only for a liturgical verdict, but also for a sign of his reconciling skills.
Labels: Holy Father, Liturgy, Second Vatican Council, Society of St. Pius X
Course of Studies
- Business Accounting 1
- Business Accounting 2
- Criminal Procedure
- Law of Contract
- Basics of Entrepreneurship
- Organisational Behaviour
- Conveyancing Law & Procedure
- Family Law
St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Gabriel Possenti, pray for me.
Labels: Miscellaneous, Personal
Pope John Paul II
Labels: Holy Father, Thanksgiving, Video
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Sacramentum Caritatis
The sacramentality of the Church
The Second Vatican Council recalled that "all the sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are directed towards it. For in the most blessed Eucharist is contained the entire spiritual wealth of the Church, namely Christ himself our Pasch and our living bread, who gives life to humanity through his flesh that flesh which is given life and gives life by the Holy Spirit. Thus men and women are invited and led to offer themselves, their works and all creation in union with Christ." (41) This close relationship of the Eucharist with the other sacraments and the Christian life can be most fully understood when we contemplate the mystery of the Church herself as a sacrament. (42) The Council in this regard stated that "the Church, in Christ, is a sacrament a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race." (43) To quote Saint Cyprian, as "a people made one by the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," (44) she is the sacrament of trinitarian communion.
The fact that the Church is the "universal sacrament of salvation" (45) shows how the sacramental economy ultimately determines the way that Christ, the one Saviour, through the Spirit, reaches our lives in all their particularity. The Church receives and at the same time expresses what she herself is in the seven sacraments, thanks to which God's grace concretely influences the lives of the faithful, so that their whole existence, redeemed by Christ, can become an act of worship pleasing to God. From this perspective, I would like here to draw attention to some elements brought up by the Synod Fathers which may help us to grasp the relationship of each of the sacraments to the eucharistic mystery.
Labels: Eucharist, Holy Father, Sacraments
Road to Life
When choosing to take up our cross, it is not so much that we are choosing between a life without crosses and a life with crosses, as deciding which cross to choose, or what meaning to give to the crosses that are part and parcel of our very existence. Cross and suffering are inescapable realities. It is not only Christians who have to go to the hospital, and it is not only Christians who have to bear moral sufferings, or who have to pay a price to attain their ideals.
The mystery of suffering touches every human life. Every person born on this earth has to face his own mortality. And how he does so determines how he lives and his impositions on those around him.
Our consumer society today has set its parameters wholly within the material world, opting for its fleeting satisfactions and comforts, and the cult of the body. In the process it has bred a culture of death and egotism, a grinding and dehumanizing reduction of man to the material, where he has no greater value than a tree or snaildarter.
To save our society, to give it some hope, we are going to have to take Christ at his word, believe that his cross is the only road to life, and live and preach that, giving this same hope to everyone around us. As we search for our vocation, we should not make the mistake of looking for the wide and easy way. Even less should we commit the injustice of preaching the wide and easy way as the way of life - for it is precisely the way that has led to the despair and suicide into which our western civilization is falling.
Easter: Sent Forth to Proclaim the Gospel
The culmination of any encounter with the Risen Lord lies in obeying his command to proclaim the Gospel to all creation. This is what the Eleven learned. This is Christ’s permanent call to all of us who are Christians. Our encounter of faith with the Risen Lord should lead us to love him even more. This is what it did for the apostles. Our encounter with the Risen Lord should not be kept solely for the private sphere of our life. Rather, it should draw us to be zealous in proclaiming him to others. The sense of Christ’s command is to proclaim him to as many others as possible.
Labels: Easter, Evangelism, Priesthood
Monday, April 9, 2007
Watch, Compare, Decide
Above is a video presentation in honor of Holy Thursday when our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Priesthood and the Blessed Eucharist.
More wonderful videos like that above can be found at Sacred Heart Church. The site is full of great orthodox homilies and reverently celebrated Masses presented by eloquent, charismatic priests. The reverence displayed by the clergy of this parish is truly inspirational.
Now, compare the video above with this:
Before the above Sacrilegious, devil distributing Holy Communion video makes you cry out in disgust, I would like to turn your attention to a Good Friday of the Lord's Passion homily from Sacred Heart Church by Par. Vicar Fr. John Cihak. (Notice that Sacred Heart carries on the tradition of veiling statutes)
Now, how can we replace such a beautiful homilies- as we've heard in the above video- with this one below where we'll see a teenager give a SEVEN minute homily on love. Why don't we invite the congregation to take turns in celebrating the 'Happy Meal' (as it is now 'affectionately' known as) as well?
I shan't comment any further. Watch, compare, and decide where you stand: Reverent and orthodox liturgy or Happy MESSes.
May I now invite the faithful to recite the following in reparation:
Litany in Reparation to Our Lord in the Eucharist
For private use only.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, offered for the salvation of sinners,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, annihilated on the altar for us and by us,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, despised by lukewarm Christians,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, mark of contradiction,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, delivered over to Jews and heretics,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, insulted by blasphemers,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, Bread of angels, given to animals,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, flung into the mud and trampled underfoot,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, dishonored by unfaithful priests,
Have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, forgotten and abandoned in Thy churches,
Have mercy on us.
Be merciful unto us,
Pardon us, O Lord.
Be merciful unto us,
Hear us, O Lord.
For the outrageous contempt of this most wonderful Sacrament,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For Thine extreme humiliation in Thine admirable Sacrament,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For all unworthy Communions,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the irreverences of wicked Christians,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profanation of Thy sanctuaries,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the holy ciboriums dishonored and carried away by force,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the continual blasphemies of impious men,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the obduracy and treachery of heretics,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the unworthy conversations carried on in Thy holy temples,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profaners of Thy churches which they have desecrated by their sacrileges,
We offer Thee our reparation.
That it may please Thee to increase in all Christians the reverence due to this adorable Mystery,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
That it may please Thee to manifest the Sacrament of Thy Love to heretics,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
That it may please Thee to grant us the grace to atone for their hatred by our burning love for Thee,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
That it may please Thee that the insults of those who outrage
we beseech Thee, hear us.
Thee may rather be directed against ourselves,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
That it may please Thee graciously to receive this our humble reparation,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
That it may please Thee to make our adoration acceptable to Thee,
we beseech Thee, hear us.
Pure Host, hear our prayer.
Holy Host, hear our prayer.
Immaculate Host, hear our prayer.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
V\ See, O Lord, our affliction,
R\ And give glory to Thy Holy Name.
Let Us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who dost deign to remain with us in
Thy wonderful Sacrament to the end of the world, in order to
give to Thy Father, by the memory of Thy Passion, eternal glory,
and to give to us the Bread of life everlasting: Grant
us the grace to mourn, with a heart full of sorrow, over the
injuries which Thou hast received in this adorable Mystery,
and over the many sacrileges which are committed by the impious,
by heretics and by bad Catholics.
Inflame us with an ardent zeal to repair all these insults to which,
in Thine infinite mercy, Thou hast preferred to expose Thyself
rather than deprive us of Thy Presence on our altars, Who with God
the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest one God,
world without end. R\ Amen.
Labels: Authentic Liturgical Renewal 2007, Miscellaneous, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Video
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter Vigil Photos @ Holy Family
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
"O vere beata nox, quae exspoliavit Aegyptos, Hebraeos nox, in quaterrenis caelestia, humanis divinaiunguntur!"
O truly blessed night, which plunderedthe Egyptians, and enriched the Hebrews. A night, in which heaven is united to earth, and God to man.
Wishing a blessed Easter to one and all!
Entrance Procession with the Easter Candle
Fr. Christopher blessing the Easter water
Welcoming the 24 newly baptized.
Renewal of Baptismal vows
It was a beautiful Mass. How, I wish that the readings weren't reduced; the readings "portray the whole history of human salvation, from the time of Adam to Jesus Christ," PBXXI. Holy Family never fails to produce remarkable liturgy during Soleminities.
RESURREXIT SICUT DIXIT.
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Letter to Editor: Missa In Cantu
Paragraph 16 of Musicam Sacrum (Instruction on Music in the Liturgy) from the Second Vatican Council states:
"One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations
than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song. Therefore
the active participation of the whole people, which is shown in singing, is to
be carefully promoted..."
Sacred Music in the Liturgy deeply involves the congregation in worshipping God. It draws the congregation rather than excluding them. Singing is so wonderful that “to sing” says St. Augustine “is to have prayed twice”.
Paragraph 27 states,
“For the celebration of the Eucharist with the people, especially on Sundays and
feast days, a form of sung Mass (Missa in cantu) is to be preferred as
much as possible, even several times on the same day.”
In my opinion, sung Masses lift up the people to a greater level of worship of God and adds an extra and unique element to the Holy Sacrifice. Paragraph 28 shows the effort taken by the Council Fathers to make the “Mass more beautiful by singing”.
Since Sacred Music is for "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful" (Paragraph 4, Musicam Sacrum), is it possible for parishes to include a sung Mass for Sundays and other Solemnities; listing down on the bulletin the time for such a Mass?
Labels: Liturgy, Music, Novus Ordo, Open Letter
Monday, April 2, 2007
Good Friday Meditation: At the Cross- Seven Last Words
A good contemplation for Good Friday by Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer, SSPX. Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer presents and illustrates clearly the crucifixion of Our Lord. Listen to it here.
This is something you may want to listen to in a prayerful disposition.
Labels: Catholic Belief, Meditation
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