Thursday, August 23, 2007
EXAMS!!
I humbly request you, my readers, to offer a prayer for me during the my upcoming Semestral Examinations. I will be taking three papers over the course of the next week- commencing this Friday.
The three papers that I'll be taking are:
- Business Accounting I (Friday 24/8)
- Criminal Procedure (Monday 27/8)
- Law of Contract (Thursday 30/8)
Please remember to keep me in your prayers. Blogging will resume after next week.
Ss. Thomas More, Joseph of Cupertino,
and all my patronal saints, pray for me!
Labels: Miscellaneous, Personal, prayer Request
Friday, August 17, 2007
Food for Thought: Where Lord?
In response to my queries, a certain Provincial Superior had this to say:
"I can full well understand that you feel attached to your diocese, especially if it identifies with your country. You may have to consider, though, that Christ invites us to leave all that is dear to us to follow Him with an uncompromising faith. If He has given you the sensibility for orthodoxy and liturgical depth, He has certainly an intent for you to fulfill."
Labels: Discernment, Liturgy, Priesthood, Seminary, Vocation
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Cf. The Apoc. of St. John 11:19, 12:1-6,10
Today we celebrate Mary's sacred body being lifted into the celestial paradise. Because of her sinless nature, God did not permit her body to corrupt, instead, he commanded His angels to carry her- body and soul united- into Heaven. The Blessed Virgin was met by her Son, Jesus as well as the entire court of Heaven; in their song of triumph.
Because Mary is associated in all the mysteries of our Redemption, she has been placed at the right hand of her son where she may dispose of the treasures of eternal life by a unique title- Mother of God.
Dear brothers and sisters, no amount of exterior work that we do can be as pleasing to God or as useful to the Church and souls as that of loving contemplation, in which we allow God to work in and and through us as He pleases. Mary is the perfect example of this. It was for this very reason that God created her; "Mary has chosen the better part which shall not be taken away from her". Have we learnt this important principal from our Lady?
Mary had the ability to see the Divinity of Jesus in His humanity. No one else had known the inner life of Jesus than she did. If we stay devoted to her, she WILL obtain for us this grace of the knowledge of God and of Jesus.
We must remember that the heart of our Mother is a marvel of mercy. When we fear to go to God beacuse of our sins and unworthiness, we can always go to Mary, because God has entrusted to her the realm of mercy.
Let us continue to ask our Blessed Mother to increase in us a tender and filial love towards God, a love filled with adoration for God and zeal for evangelization. Amen.
Labels: Assumption, Catholic Belief, Mary, Saints
Sunday, August 12, 2007
We Have a Valid Cause!
In the 19th Sunday Ord. Time publication of NEWBEC (New Way of Being Church), Fr. Aloysius Mowe SJ writes, "A nostalgic longing for the marks of an imgined glorious past, for example, whether it be the Latin language, of the 'smells and bells' of the Baroque liturgy, is nothing but a manifestation of a lack of faith".
K.I.S.S. (Keeping it short and simple)
- Catholics who embrace the traditions of the Church are not doing so out of nostalgia. We embrace tradition because WE ARE PROUD OF TRADITION.
- We know that the Church wasn't perfect before the council; there was laxity in catechisis, the understanding of what the Mass really was was deteriorating, and Catholicism was more of a religion than a relationship with Jesus Christ, etc... We are not "imaginging a glorious past". We believe that education and orthodoxy is the solution to those problems and that of today's.
- Latin. Click here.
- Any orthodox Catholic would know that the Holy Sacrifice of the Roman Catholic Mass is one of the major battlegrounds in the war against the principalities of Hell. With heresy everywhere and with orthodoxy being purged and persecuted, anyone striving for holiness in this secularized world will definately feel some sense of militancy. We are not trying to fight for identity, we are fighting for liturgical and doctrinal sanity.
- How can non-believers identify the Son of Man in the Church- the Sacrament of God's love- when so many Catholics themselves cannot seem to identify the birth, life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Mass?
- Lack of faith? Harsh words, Fr. Mowe... Catholics who long for the traditional Mass are sharing the same faith as that of countless Saints who were sanctified by the "bells and smells of the Baroque liturgy"; their service to God's people was the natural biproduct of that form of sanctity.
Labels: Latin, Liturgy, Reply, Thoughts, Traditionalism
Penang Trip 9/8-12/8 '06
My appreciations to Andrew of Unam Sanctam for showing me around Penang during my short visit to the island state.
Below is a short cronological summary of each day.
Thursday (9/8)
2100: Departed Sg for Malaysia
2200-0000: North-South Highway (West Malaysia)
Friday (10/8)
0000-0530: North-South Highway
0630-0645: Butterworth Train Station
0715: Sungei Nibong (Nibong River) Coach Terminal
0815: Georgetown
1130-1400: Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill)
1500-1630: Shopping and foot exploration of historic Georgetown.
1930-2300: Dinner at the Chinese Recreation Club
Saturday (11/8)
1130: Met Andrew of Unam Sanctam for a tour of Penang.
St. Xavier
Our Lady of Sorrows
Immaculate Conception
1230: Met Mark of Exsurge Domine and his brother Servers at the Chruch of the Immaculate Conception.
1400: Lunch at Fatty Loh Chicken Rice Restaurant
1500: Briefly introduced myself to Summer, Andrew's Golden Retriever
1530: Visited College General Catholic Seminary
The Seminary Chapel- Holy Hour
1830: Attended Holy Mass at the Chruch of the Assumption.
2000: Boarded the coach at Sg. Nibong Bus Terminal
2045-0000: North-South Highway
Sunday (12/8)
0000-0600: North South Highway
0715: Home
Labels: Churches, Photos, Travels
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Happy National Day!
9th of August marks the 42nd Birthday of the Parliamentary Republic of Singapore.
Let us pray for our nation:
Lord God of Heaven, who has so lavishly blessed this land, make us, thy people, to be humble. Keep us ever aware that the good things we enjoy have come from thee, that hour didst lend them to us. Impress upon our smugness the knowledge that we are not owners, but stewards. Remind us, lest we become filled with conceit, that one day a reckoning will be required of us. Sanctify our love of country, that our boasting may be turned to humility and our pride into a ministry to people everywhere. Help us to make this God's own country, by living like God's own people. Amen.
Opening prayer of National Day Mass:
God our Father, we are the work of your designs. Your will is to gather all of us as one family in yourself. Open us to your love and life given for free as a gift. May we learn from you and your Son to give ourselves totally and freely to working for justice and equlity for our brothers and sisters. Grant that we may also contribute our share in building up a just and united society based on your commandments and the precepts of your Holy Church. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ... Amen.
Labels: Miscellaneous, National Day, Prayer
Monday, August 6, 2007
Automatic Confession
The Catholic Church has installed a new automatic confession service.
Labels: Confession, Miscellaneous, Video
Nice Jewels
A priest interrupts the confession of a beautiful woman by departing to make his own.
Labels: Confession, Miscellaneous, Video
Salisbury Cathedral- Miserere Mei Deus
This video is proof that the Anglicans have better liturgies than the Roman Church. It is both a pity and crying shame considering what happens in the Holy Sacrifice of the Catholic Mass. Shouldn't something be done to make it more fitting for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?
Labels: Liturgy, Miscellaneous, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Video
Monks of Mount Angel Abbey
Traditional Carmelite Monks of Wyoming
A video on the life of the Traditional Carmelite Monks of Wyoming can be found here.
Labels: Links, Religious, Video, Vocation
Vocations Mass at St Anne's Church
St Anne's Church is celebrating the 1st Anniversary of their "Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations" programme with a Vocations Mass on:
Date: 20 August 2007 (Monday)
Time: 7.45pm
Venue: St Anne's Church
Father Henry Siew will be sharing his vocation story and there will be a mini exhibition on the life of St John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Please see attached poster for more information.
All "Friends of Serra Club" are invited to join in this Vocations Mass and we have a little gift for all "Friends".
Labels: Events, Liturgy, News, Vocations
What is Heaven Like
I received an e-mail Catholic New's staff writer, Daniel Tay. Mr. Tay had asked me to describe- in less than 100 words- what I imageind Heaven to be like.
I replied, "The mystic, St. Gemma Galgani described heaven as a school where Jesus instructs on His Flesh and Blood. Therefore, I'd first imagine Heaven to contain all the expressions of love found in the Eucharist; where we would delight in the contemplation of our first love. The atmosphere of serene love would lead us to join Our Blessed Mother and the saints in their salvific intercession for our friends, family, and benefactors; so that they too may inherit the kingdom one day. O beatific light! Truly Emmanuel- God with us".
What do you imagine heaven to be like? Leave your descriptions in the comment box. Try to keep it short and sweet; think of pertinent points.
P.s. May I request that say a short prayer for me before you continue scrolling down? Thank you.
Labels: Catholic News, Heaven, Thoughts, Viewpoints
Sunday, August 5, 2007
A Medieval Tale
Last night's beer with Kenny and his friends at Brewerks in Clarke Quay made me recall the simple joy of being Catholic. Beer. One cannot truly call himself a Catholic if he doesn't like the occassional beer or two or if he can't hold his alchol for that matter.
Out of my mind? Certainly not.
It may come as a surprise to many that beer was nurtured by Catholic monks across Europe. The malt that was nurtured by monks were highly valued, therefore, large-scale breweries were set up in monastic settlements that sprang up across Europe from the 5th century onwards *talk about vocation promotion*. And mind you, these monks were never sustainance brewers, in other words, they supplied the needs of thristy travellers and pilgrams, making ale the financial stability of the monastries. In England where monastries were so central to the development of brewing that the industy aadopted the monk's method of marking the strength of the beer with crosses.
The early Church looked kindly on ale, regarding it as a blessing from God. In fact the early name for yeast was 'God is Good'. St. Florian in Bavaria was reknown for his brewery skills.
Beer in the medieval period wasn't like what it is today. Beer was more than an intoxicating refreshment, it provided a safe drink in an age when the purity of water and milk were uncertain, and drinks like tea and coffee were unknown. The brewing process of beer removed impurities and dieseses, making it a safe drink. This reason was not understood, but the effects were widely welcomed.
The names of Ridleys Bishops Ale and Marston's Merrie Monk reflect the early Church connection with brewing and beer. Today, monastries in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany still brew beer. The world famous Chimay ales derives from the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Belgium.
As Hilaire Belloc once said, "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there’s always laughter and good red wine. At least I’ve always found it so. Benedicamus Domino!"
Labels: Beer, Early Church, Monks, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Religious
Friday, August 3, 2007
Caption Translation
The English translation for the new caption:
TELL the vision you have seen to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead. (Mt. 17:9)
This verse was taken from the 1962 Roman Missal Communion verse.
Labels: Blog Administration, Latin, Translation
Oakland priest Michael Wiener has been celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass since 1999
Incense, bells, mysterious words intoned in an ancient language, congregation and priest moving gracefully in unison as they perform a 1,500-year-old ritual -- that was the old-style Catholic Mass.
But when the Vatican decided to open up the Mass to improvisation in 1965, guitars replaced Gregorian chants, local languages replaced Latin, the priest faced the congregation rather than the altar and the entire Mass was simplified; a priest no longer made the traditional complicated series of scripted gestures during the Mass, nor did he wear elaborate old-style vestments.
Some appreciated the more down-to-earth feel of the new Mass. Others mourned the loss of the mystical, magical ancient Mass. Priests whose congregations wanted to celebrate the old-style Mass -- also referred to as the Tridentine Mass -- had to receive permission from a bishop to do so, until Pope Benedict XVI removed that restriction earlier this month.
Father Michael Wiener is a priest of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Oakland who has been celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass since he became a priest in 1999. I spoke with Father Wiener by phone about new- and old-style masses, the media coverage of Pope Benedict's restoration of the Latin Mass and the accompanying outrage over the reinstatement of a prayer asking God to convert the Jewish people.
Some of my Catholic friends who grew up with the traditional-style Latin Mass are quite passionate about it. They say it feels very special and powerful. What about it appeals to you?
It's mystical. It expresses very well the character of our faith, which at its center is a mystery -- the mystery of the incarnation of God.
Some people describe the Latin Mass as "bells and smells." That expression is somewhat belittling, but it's also accurate because the Latin Mass appeals to all of our senses in a powerful way. The Catholic faith is like that; it takes in the whole human being. It's not just something intellectual, something you read about in books.
Let's talk more about the traditional Latin Mass. For a long time you needed to get permission from a bishop before you could perform the Tridentine Mass. Why?
I believe there was a desire to unify the church's practice to the greatest possible extent by introducing the changed liturgy [new Mass] to the greatest number of faithful. But there have always been large numbers of people who have continued to celebrate [the traditional way].
Do you think the pope's announcement came as a surprise to many people?
No, I don't think so. The pope's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had published two documents that urge wider practice of the Tridentine Mass. Pope Benedict's announcement was in line with this, it was a natural progression for the pope to end the requirement to get a bishop's permission before celebrating the Mass. It's a very happy progression for the faithful who are attached to the traditional rite.
Do you prefer celebrating the Tridentine Mass?
I do! I'm very much in love with this "Mass of all Ages" because it links us to the history of man, so to say. For many, many centuries, this Mass was celebrated and sanctified people, and it has brought about many saints.
All this has developed slowly and organically over the centuries, and is therefore a joy to celebrate. In German we'd describe it as "Gesamtkunstwerk," which means a piece of art that expresses an idea in a very complete way. In the Latin Mass, the priest, who is representing Jesus Christ, is enacting the mysteries of our salvation. The rite itself is full with history and many significant gestures and prayers. It's not only the language the Mass is said in, it's also what the priest does at the altar. Every gesture has meaning.
What are some of the gestures?
The kissing of the altar, making the signs of the cross many times, bowing your head, putting your hands on the altar or folding them on your breast. There are many, many gestures that in their sequence and in their completeness express the beauty of our religion. These gestures express the reverence, the worship, the respect and the awe of the priest in the moment of celebration. And I think the whole composition is very beautiful.
Pope Benedict said he was authorizing parish priests to celebrate the old Tridentine rite if a "stable group of faithful" requests it. Why does one need a stable group?
Celebrating this Mass requires a great deal of organization. It takes a major effort even to make the celebration possible. To ask a parish priest to do that is excessive if nobody is really interested within the parish. I think for this reason, and for maintaining harmony within the parishes, it's very important that the Mass be conducted in an orderly way.
There's been some concern in posts on Catholic blogs that offering old and new Masses may polarize parishes into two camps. Does that worry you?
Not really. I'm in the happy position to be in a parish which has both rites -- St. Margaret Mary in Oakland has the new Mass, the so-called Reformed Mass of Paul VI, and the traditional Mass. And it's worked out well.
Do you think some priests are intimidated or worried about performing this complex ceremony? Or are most priests trained to do it even though it hasn't been performed widely for 40 years?
I can imagine some priests hesitate to practice this Mass, although many are trained to do it in traditional religious communities. I have had several requests, in the Bay Area, from priests who would like to learn to celebrate the Mass.
Many of the news reports since the Pope's statement have focused on the fact that the Tridentine Mass includes a prayer asking for the conversion of the Jews. How do you feel about that issue, and the way it's been represented in the media?
I don't think there is much to say. That prayer is part of the Good Friday liturgy. And the church doesn't ask for the light of faith only for the Jewish people, there are also other people mentioned. So I don't see any problem with that. I don't think it's bad to ask God for his grace and for help and for assistance.
Pope Benedict also recently said that other Christian traditions are not as valid as Catholicism. It just seems to me that the Pope might be thinking now is the time to bring people of all faiths together, rather than emphasize their differences. How do you feel about that?
This is, I would say, simply a repetition of the teaching of the church expressed in many documents and on many occasions. It's nothing new. It's the teaching of the universal importance of our salvation. I don't have any problems with that. The pope certainly tries everything to integrate all groups and individuals in a discussion and in his pastoral care, as pope. He receives everybody, and everything, and talks about these things, but he is also a teacher.
How do you bring people of all faiths together if you are saying that other faiths aren't as valid as Catholicism?
Well, that's a church policy question. I'm not the person who can really speak to that. But very briefly, it's the old and well-known position of the Catholic Church that the full truth of Jesus Christ is present in the Catholic Church. That does not mean that part of Christ and Christ's teachings are not present in other religious groups. But it means that in the Catholic Church alone there is the complete full truth of Jesus Christ.
I don't mean to badger you about this, but these issues have been widely talked about in the news lately, in the coverage of the Latin Mass. So I wanted to get your side of the story ...
I'm used to explaining to people, if they ask me, that when we say that the Catholic Church has the full truth, that does not mean that nobody can be saved outside of the Catholic Church. It means that Christ is our universal savior, and the Catholic Church is, so to say, the most safe ship with which we can cross the Atlantic or the ocean. The Catholic Church is the best equipped ship to reach eternity.
This is not news. People wake up every 10 years, when the church underlines these things again, but these are not new ideas. And other religions do the same thing. You will never hear from a member of the Islamic community that his faith is only relative. You will never hear from an Orthodox Jew that his faith is only relative. That would not be a faith -- - it would be something that is, perhaps, nice on a personal level, but not universally important. The Catholic Church has the name Catholic Church because it's universal. "Catholic" means concerning everybody and all. So, there is nothing new about this teaching.
Labels: Holy Father, Institute of Christ the King, Latin, Liturgy, Summorum Pontificum, Traditionalism
Thursday, August 2, 2007
New Links
Here are the new additions to the list of notable blogs that I've added under the 'Blogs of Note' sidebar header.
Under the 'Tridentine Rite of Mass'
Under 'Seminarian/Clergy'
I've also re-arranged the links to the various societies/religious congregations.
Under Local Orders/Prelatures
And under, Traditional Societies
- Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri
- Institutum Christi Regissummi Sacerdotalis
- Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X
Labels: Blog Administration, Links
Deo gratias et Mariae
Earlier this afternoon I did a presentation on the history and style of Iconography and its relation to us today. I focused on the Byzantine tradition. The Byzantine form is know to be more proper/authentic. I present pieces by Elias Nicholas Katsaros. Elias was trained by George Patriachia and Reverend Father John Spilio; both teachers were direct student of the great Byzantine Iconographer Fotis Kontoglou (1895-1965).
Now here's the good news: I was awarded 90 marks! Deo gratias et Mariae.
Ps. Edward, your explaination in Constatine's Art History Class video (Jul '06) was very useful.
Labels: Icons, Personal, Thanksgiving
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