Come on... you know you want to comment on this!

I have been wondering about this topic myself. I have recently read a book by Monsignor Klaus Gamber called "The Reform of the Roman Liturgy: Its Problem and its background." The French Edition of this book had a preface written for it by, then, Cardinal Ratzinger who said, if I remember correctly, that "every priest and liturgist should read and study this book." One of the basic arguments in the course of the book is that the Priests of the Roman Rite should return to facing to the East during the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. I have to admit, after reading the text, I think I am sold on the idea. I had my doubts and questions, but it seems clear to me, anyway, that it is a practice which does make a lot of sense in the the light of our beliefs as Catholics.

Along the same lines, today there was an article from Zenit.org in which a certain Fr. Lang was interviewed about this very subject. You can find it here. I think this is an interesting topic for Catholics to reconsider today, not for the sake of getting into camps so that we can attack each other, but so that we can build a constructive discussion about what exactly the Second Vatican Council envisioned and what has transpired. Especially, since many people will immediately find this idea of the priest facing to the east, ad orientum, particularly bothersome at first hearing.

But given the recent Motu Proprio (if you want the official text it is here) by our Holy Father, it would appear, that this is not such a thing of the past. In fact, it would appear, if the extraordinary form of the Liturgy is to take its proper place in the worship of the Universal Church of Christ, then perhaps reimagining the Mass promulgated after Vatican II with more elements that were jettisoned is not such a bad idea.

Zooom!!!!

Time has flown by these last few weeks. I apologize, dear reader, for not having been keeping up to date with my little blog here. Nevertheless, I have often thought of you, but have just not found the time daily to keep up with this blog.

Part of that, thankfully, will soon end, as the beginning of RCIA and the Elementary Religious Education begins to settle in for the year. In these first few weeks there is little time for much extra beyond my duties in preparing the RCIA and in making sure all is well in the RE program.
At any rate, a good friend of mine sent me this link, which is a homily by a priest of the Priestly Confraternity of St. Peter. This is the religious order that was first approved to celebrate the Tridentine Liturgy, that is the Mass in the extraordinary form offered before Vatican II.

So "why provide this link to me?" you might ask of me. Well, what is interesting about this priest is that he is from France, and my friend (who sent me this link first met him in Arizona) sent me this link because this priest is now stationed at the F.S.S.P.'s parish here in Denver in Old Town Littleton. I have heard him preach and I think he is quite good, personally. Let me know what you think. If you do like him here are two more sermons: on the Seven Mansions of Prayer and on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Divine Providence

There are many things in our lives that seem like such coincidences. I am grateful to Our Lord Jesus that today I am able to hang with a friend of mine from college, whose name is Joe. This friend was one who I was privileged to study abroad with in the Austrian Program through Franciscan University. In fact, after the Spring semester in 1999 my friend and I were able to spend a month and a half traveling to Fatima, Portugal to visit the Shrine of Mary at Fatima. We also visited the Eucharistic Miracle at Santarem, Portugal. As well, we traveled on to Paris to see the shrine of the Miraculous Medal and the incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul.

After these great experiences we also went on to Ireland and traveled through from the South to the North. We were able to spend the better part of a month with a friend of ours who owns a hotel in Northern Ireland - in a little town called Ballykelly, Northern Ireland. It is a beautiful hotel outside of Derry City.

After all of that I finished up my last year at Franciscan University, got married, and moved to Rome. After 2 years there I got a phone call from Joe. He had decided to come to Rome to study. He was there for one year and we had many the adventure around the streets of Rome. He returned to America, while my wife and I stayed in Rome to finish our degrees.

Just a few months ago I was able to meet up with Joe for a conference in Steubenville, Ohio where Joe was living and going to school to finish his MBA. He had decided to come to Denver to look for work. And so here he is today.

The Sacred Scriptures tell us that "A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter, and he who finds one is blessed (Sir 6:14)." I have been blessed to have a friend like Joe. God knowing my own sorrow from moving from California when I was 16, in 10th grade in public school, has given me the blessing of some very good friends who have been great shelters.

I think many of us if we thought about could see that God has provided for us in many ways. What we often forget, however, is that that providence was not something God is just cooking up as he goes along. In fact, Almighty God has planned all of history from the beginning - even the creation of the world. Nothing has gone unseen in God's plan.

Of course, that begs the question of how are we able to excercise free will which Catholics always go on about? If we can only remember that "time," as such, is a human invention and perspective, then we begin to realize that God allows for our freely willed decisions from before we were even created. He has cooperated with us and our desires and our choices, even before the first plant or animal existed. His Divine Plan and providence takes into account all those things which we will choose wisely and unwisely. But not only your choices, but every human being's choice. No one is forced! We all freely choose, but God constantly provides grace for us to choose to love and respond to Him. While we try to comprehend God's merciful plan from our earthly and time-driven perspective, God has given us all we need to find our greatest joy and peace. For this is the reason that Jesus came into the world. As he said, "I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly (Jn 10:10)."

Let us abandon ourselves to God's glorious will in our lives. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the saints reminds us, a la St. Ignatius of Loyola, "Pray as if everything depends on God, and act as if everything depends on you." The question we must ask ourselves is whether we act in accordance with the teachings of Holy Mother Church, which are the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Have you seen "Robot Chicken?"

I haven't. But I have seen a few clips here and there. A friend of mine, who usually sends me that funny email or instant message each day (you know you have one too!) sent me this link to the best Star Wars parodies of the show "Robot Chicken." To fully enjoy these you had to have been a fan of the Star Wars movies.... but if you were, then you will laugh. I don't know how good or bad the show actually is, but these clips are pretty funny. I hope you enjoy them! Just click here.