Monday, August 6, 2007
Monks of Mount Angel Abbey
Traditional Carmelite Monks of Wyoming
Labels: Links, Religious, Video, Vocation
Sunday, August 5, 2007
A Medieval Tale
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
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Consider Your Call
Brothers, consider your call (1 Corinthians 1:26)
The Church must show its proper and authentic face in the daily striving for fidelity to God and to men. When it accomplishes such a mission with profound consistency, it becomes the favorable terrain for the birth of courageous choices of unreserved commitment for the Gospel and for the people of God.
By means of the special vocations the Lord assures the Church’s continuity and strength and, at the same time, he opens it to the old and the new needs of the world, so that the Church can be a sign of the living God and contribute to the building of the city of man as the civilization of love.
Every vocation is born, is nourished and develops in the Church and is linked to the Church in its origin, growth, purpose and mission. For this reason diocesan and parish communities are called to strengthen their commitment to vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life, especially with the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the witness of charity. They should also keep in mind some of the necessary conditions for an authentic pastoral care of vocations.
Labels: Holy Father, Priesthood, Religious, Vocation
Friday, March 9, 2007
Pope Lists 2 Rules for Movements to Grow: Respect Charisms, Remember That Church Is One.
The Holy Father made this comment Thursday, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, during a question-and-answer session with the Roman clergy in the Hall of Blessings.
Father Gerardo Raúl Carcar of the Schoenstatt Fathers, a native of Argentina working in a parish in Rome, asked the Holy Father how movements can work together with the hierarchy of the Church.
In his answer, Benedict XVI presented two rules for a successful relationship between the two. First, quoting St. Paul´s first letter to the Thessalonians, he said: "Do not extinguish charisms."
The Holy Father said: "If the Lord gives us new gifts we must give thanks.... And it is something beautiful that, without an initiative of the hierarchy ... new forms of life are born in the Church, as they were born in all the centuries."
"Movements have been born in all the centuries," the Pope said. "They integrate in the life of the Church, though at times there is no lack of sufferings and difficulties." As an example, he said that when the Franciscans and the Benedictines were founded, they were also new movements.
"Thus, also in our century, the Lord, the Holy Spirit, has given us new initiatives with new aspects of Christian life: On being lived by human persons with their limitations, they also create difficulties," the Holy Father added.
Born to serve
Commenting on the unity of the Church, the Pontiff said: "If the movements are really gifts of the Holy Spirit, they integrate and serve the Church, and in the patient dialogue between pastors and movements a fruitful form is born, in which these elements become edifying elements for the Church of today and tomorrow."
Benedict XVI continued: "This dialogue takes place at all levels. Beginning with the parish priest, the bishop, the Successor of Peter, the search takes place for the appropriate structures: In many cases, this search has already borne fruits. In other cases, it is still being studied."
The Holy Father gave as an example the process of approving the statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way: "It has been a long way, with many complications which are still occurring today, but we have found an ecclesial way which has much improved the relationship between the pastor and the Way. And so we go ahead!"
"The same is true for the other movements," he added.
On summarizing the two fundamental rules, the Pope suggested that both the movements and parish communities continue with "gratitude, patience, and acceptance of sufferings, which are inevitable."
Benedict XVI continued: "Also in a marriage there are sufferings and tensions. And yet, they continue, and thus true love matures. The same happens in the community of the Church: Together, let´s have patience."
"Let us be obedient to the voice of the Spirit," the Pope added, "but let us also be clear when it comes to integrating these elements in life: This criterion serves, in the end, the concrete Church and in this way, with patience, courage and generosity, the Lord will guide and help us."
Labels: Holy Father, News, Religious
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Da Pacem Domine (Give Peace, Lord)
Thanks to the author of EJVideo-Place for the link he left in the comment box of 'Gregorian Chant Is Returning from Exile. Maybe.'
Labels: Churches, Gregorian Chant, Music, Religious, Video
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Priest pleads for chaste, humble priests and nuns
Catholic priest preaches on the need for holy priests, brothers, monks, sisters and nuns who will live simply, serve the poor and demonstrate the power of Christ's love.
Comments: I am of the humble opinion that the restoration of the priestly/religious identity, the sacred and orthodoxy will help boost vocations.
Labels: Priesthood, Religious, Vocation
Here I Am Lord
This hymn has never failed to make me well up with tears. I hope it touches you in the same way it has touched me.
Labels: Music, Priesthood, Religious, Video, Vocation
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Dom Christian de Chergé
The Trappists of the Monastery of Notre Dame de l'Atlas in Tibherin (Algeria) had devoted their lives to dialogue with Islam and had chosen to remain in their monastery, even though it was located in the mountainous region of Medea, a high-risk area.
Dom Christian de Chergé had written:
"Our state as monks [ruhban] binds us to the choice which God has made for us, which is for prayer and for a life of simplicity, manual labour, hospitality and sharing with all, especially the poor..."
Seized by armed terrorists on the night between March 26 and 27, 1996, they were killed on May 21, 1996.
In his spiritual testament, Dom Christian de Chergé had written:
"When the time comes, I would like to be able to have that moment of lucidity which would permit me to ask forgiveness of God and of my brothers in humanity, forgiving whole-heartedly, at the same time, whoever strikes me. I do not see in fact how I could rejoice in the fact that this people whom I love should be accused of my murder. It would be too high a price a pay, to owe what might be called 'the grace of martyrdom' to an Algerian, whoever he may be, above all if he says he is acting in fidelity to what he believes to be Islam [...].
And you too, friend of the last moment, who will not know what you are doing, yes, even for you I wish to say this THANK YOU, and this A-DIEU, commending you to God in whose face I look upon you.
And may it be granted us to meet anew, joy-filled thieves, in heaven, if it pleases God, our Father, the Father of us both. Amen."
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Where wearing one's Habit isn't a habit
Other articles on habits:
Labels: Authentic Liturgical Renewal 2007, Links, Priesthood, Religious
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Priestly Societies and Religious Orders using Traditional Missals
- Male Priestly Societies & Religious Orders:
Apostolic Administration of St. John Mary Vianney
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer
Institute of St. Philip Neri
Institute of the Good Shepherd
Benedictines - Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek
Benedictines - Abbaye Notre-Dame de Fontgombault
Benedictines - Monastère Notre-Dame de Gaussan
Benedictines - Abbaye Saint-Madeleine (Le Barroux)
Benedictines - Abbaye Notre-Dame de Randol
Benedictines - Monastère Sainte-Marie de la Garde (St. Pierre de Clairac)
Benedictines - Abbaye Notre-Dame de Triors
Religious Institute of the Holy Cross of Riaumont
Canons Regular of the Mother of God
Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
- Female Religious Orders:
Benedictines - Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Fidelite (Jouques)
Benedictines - Abbaye Notre-Dame de L'Annonciation (Le Barroux)
Benedictines - Monastère Notre Dame de Misericorde (Rosans)
Canonesses of the Mother of God
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Schellenberg)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (St. Pelagiberg)
Oblates of Mary, Queen of Apostles
Adoratrices du Coeur Royal de Jesus-Christ Souveraine Pretre
Discalced Carmelitesses - Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Valparaiso)
Dominicans of the Holy Ghost - Institution Saint Dominique (Baffe)
Dominicans of the Holy Ghost - Institution Saint Joseph (Draguignan)
Dominicans of the Holy Ghost - Ecole Sainte Catherine de Siena (Nantes)
Dominicans of the Holy Ghost - Couvent Notre-Dame-de-Joie (Pontcalec)
Dominicans of the Holy Ghost - Institution Saint-Pie X (Saint Cloud)
Religious Victims of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Marseille)
Institute of Servants of the Queen of Apostles
Labels: Links, Priesthood, Religious, Seminarian, Traditionalism, Vocation
Friday, November 24, 2006
Today's Nun Has A Veil--And A Blog
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice,
Deo Juvante
Feast of St. John of the Cross, Confessor
Comm. of St. Chrysogomus, Martyr
Labels: Religious
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