infelixego

[infelixego]

I will probably die in my bed, my successor will probably die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.

Francis Cardinal George

[infelixego]

The Evolution Of A Right

Morally Repugnant Behavior Morally Repugnant, but private behavior. Morally Questionable, but private behavior. Private Behavior, not spoken about in public. Private Behavior, sometimes mentioned in public. Private Behavior, mentioned frequently in public. Public Behavior, but somewhat disrespected. Public Behavior, demanding of respect. Public Behavior, those who criticize are morally repugnant. Public Behavior, a moral good. Moral Good, must be recognized in law. Moral Good, must not be restricted. Moral Good, those who find it morally repugnant must be ostracized. Moral Right. Moral Right, must be subsidized by all. Moral Right, must criminalize objection. Moral Right, trumps other lesser rights (now just moral goods.) A Right. H/T to Creative Minority Report.

[infelixego]

Graffiti on the wall of St James' Cathedral, Seattle

Neither, it seems, was the President...

[infelixego]

The sympathies of Barack Hussein

#without comment

[infelixego]

Not exactly the same piece that was played in St Joseph's this afternoon, but this is very like it. I present Hildegard's O Pastor Animarum. Enjoy!

#mp3 uploads

[infelixego]

Liturgical wistfulness

I went this afternoon to confession in St Joseph's, as planned.

Once again, both priests were hearing confessions, though the lines were considerably shorter today than when I went in Advent. Still, Lent has only just begun and I expect there shall be more penitents in the next month as we draw closer to Holy Week.

Afterwards I retired to one of the pews near the back of the church to say my private prayers. I was not long in prayer before a heavenly music began to fill the church—a solo female voice chanting plainsong acapella (probably Hildegard). It was, of course, a recording; although I am no friend of piped music in churches, this particular recording at this particular moment created an atmosphere immediately conducive to prayer, and filled my soul with yearning.

O what a difference it would make to this tired soul were such heavenly music to accompany the sacred liturgy, instead of the sad trash we usually hear in our churches!

But alas, it is not to be; for in the meantime, the wretched amplifiers were being set up in the choir loft to broadcast the inevitable hootenanny that would be performed during the celebration of the vigil Mass at 1730.

What a let-down.

So Hildegard edified the handful of souls that were present in the church for confession... but she will not be allowed to edify the many who will later come to Mass this evening. The many will have to endure a guitar-strummin' mélange of Haugen-Haas-Schutte et al that has considerably more in common with 1960s pop styles than with Hildegard.

Needless, to say, Hildegard is a much more appropriate musical accompaniment to the sacrifice of Calvary than are these artists from the Age of Aquarius.

As guitar music goes, I have even heard Black Metal pieces that were possessed of more dignity and gravitas than most of the hootenanny that is routinely inflicted on Catholic parishes by our friends at OCP. Yes! This is not an exaggeration.

We need an instruction from the Church on sacred music, and we need it soon.

How long, O Lord, how long?

#sacred music

[infelixego]

Priest reviews Malick's Tree of Life

I had the privilege of viewing this marvelous film with my wife on the big screen on our second wedding anniversary last year.

It was not an easy film to follow, but we both couldn't stop talking about it for the rest of the day. It is an immensely moving, deep, thoughtful and spiritual experience.

Below is a review of the film by Fr Charles Canoy of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI.

With thanks to the Pertinacious Papist.

#cinema

[infelixego]

Stop the HHS mandate

If you are concerned, gentle reader, about the manner in which the President is driving a coach and four through the First Amendment of our Constitution and the implications of his actions for the future of religious liberty in these United States, do consider visiting the Stop the HHS mandate website and signing the online petition.

Every person alike, of faith and of no faith, ought to stand together against such an attack on freedom and on liberty of conscience.

If we decide to pass up this opportunity to make our voices heard on the grounds that we are not Catholic, or that we do not adhere to any religion, or that we disagree with the Catholic position on birth control and abortion, we basically allow the regime to bend and twist the Constitution of the United States to fit any radical policy it decides to push. If the regime can tell us what to do today on this issue, it can tell us what to do tomorrow on ANY issue.

Please think about that.

God bless you all this Lent.

Yours in humility, Infelix ego, Melancholicus, peccator.

#petitions #religious liberty

[infelixego]

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Lent has begun.

It is time to take stock of where we stand in the sight of almighty God, and for conforming our lives ever more with His holy will.

The clergy of St Joseph's church, Killeen, are hearing confessions today at 1530.

I am going.

#confession #lent #penance #st joseph's church killeen

[infelixego]

An apology is in order

This post by Fr John Zuhlsdorf is so apt to the prejudices and double-standards of the regime, I feel duty-bound to reproduce it here:

Mr. President, you owe me and millions of American Catholics an apology.

You apologized to Islamic extremists and other Muslims abroad and in the United States for something done against the Islamic faith by mistake.

What you are doing to the consciences of Catholics and indeed all Americans, contrary to the 1st Amendment, you persist in doing on purpose.

As President you have offended me. You have offended millions of Catholics and all American citizens who enjoy religious liberty under the 1st Amendment and who, as human beings, do not deserve to be so demeaned.

You owe us an apology for demeaning our Catholic Faith.

You apologized to foreign extremists, including terrorists who want to kill us. Apologize now to mainstream fellow Americans.

American soldiers burned copies of the Koran, which contains instruction and guidance for their faith, by accident. You then went out of your way to beg forgiveness.

I am not asking you to grovel. I would be satisfied—on this point—if you simply stopped attacking me and others who hold our rights and human dignity to be granted us, not by your Administration, but by God.

Pressing forward your anti-Catholic HHS mandate is tantamount to a purposeful public burning not only of the 1st Amendment, but also Catechism of the Catholic Church, which reaffirms that Catholics cannot, in good conscience, bend to your unconstitutional and irreligious impositions on our consciences.

For a change, apologize to us.

Amen and amen!

#liberal hypocrisy #religious liberty #us constitution

[infelixego]

Is a pair of Nike shoes really worth this much?

Or, how not to observe Lent. Lent has begun, in which season holy Church exhorts her faithful toward a certain detachment from material things; this, that we may reduce the number of daily distractions diverting the attention of our souls toward things of earth, and away from the Lord. It might be a good idea, for instance, to forego spending large amounts of money on designer products, such as the latest brand-name shoes, and instead to donate the money to a charity active in feeding the poor. Imagine the freedom and liberation of soul one would experience if one actually did that! Not to mention how pleasing to God. But in a remarkable display of selfishness, cupidity and materialism, crowds of persons waiting through the night for a Florida Footlocker store to open its doors early yesterday morning surged into the store, trampling over each other and even breaking a door off its hinges in the kind of frenzy one normally associates with panic-stricken crowds trying to flee a burning building. Except these people were not fleeing in fear for their lives, but trying to secure a pair of $220 Nike basketball shoes. Yes, really. The Footlocker store had originally been scheduled to open at midnight, but this was postponed to 0700 due to 'safety concerns'. A riot by persons desperate to get hold of the shoes had actually taken place outside the store the previous night. What is it about these shoes that makes them such a 'must-have'? I realize this shoe is a limited edition... but does that justify the kind of behavior we see recorded in the news video? The madness does not end there. Some of these shoes are now on sale on eBay. Not a few bidders have offered $2,500 for the shoes, more than ten times as much as their retail value. One even offered as much as $70,000, although eBay is reported to have removed this one. They're just shoes, people. They're just shoes. Where is the sense of priorities here?

#lent #news of the weird

[infelixego]

Suggestions for keeping a good Lent: Confession

Do take time, gentle reader, to avail of the sacraments in this holy season. Particularly the sacrament of penance. Spend some time in quiet prayer, and ask the Holy Ghost for light as you examine your conscience. Ask Him to reveal to you the ways in which you have offended God and your neighbor, whether by word, act or omission. Then bring the sins with which your conscience accuses you to the confessional. Confession is often difficult and repugnant; but going to it despite the aversion of human nature strengthens humility and encourages faithfulness. The difficulty of Confession is burdensome only beforehand; during the Confession itself, and for long afterwards (at least in my experience) there is relief, joy, peace, satisfaction, happiness... Hmm. Perhaps I am so curmudgeonly and bitter of late because I do not go to Confession often enough.

#confession #penance

[infelixego]

Off to a flying stop

The penitential season of Lent begins today. For me, Ash Wednesday had an inauspicious beginning. I awoke at 5am (my usual time, by the way; I'm not martyring myself by getting up extra early for 'penance'), extremely tired and groggy from my Fat Tuesday repast the night before. This last consisted almost entirely of carbs washed down with two 24 oz. cans of beer, which indulgence I permitted myself since I knew there would be no PT this morning (I never drink alcohol the night before a PT session). I heartily enjoyed my Fat Tuesday dinner, but knew I would pay for it in the morning—which, of course, I did. No leisure to say prayers; just enough time to shave and dress hurriedly before making my way to the hangar for 0630 formation, after which I had barely enough time for a meagre breakfast before heading to the motor pool for work at 0730. Then followed four hours of manual labor under the hot sun as all the containers recently arrived from overseas had to be emptied and an inventory taken of their contents. My face, neck and ears are burned a bright red. Must remember to bring my sunblock tomorrow. Of course Mass attendance was out of the question. Platoon Sergeant rewarded us with a two-hour lunch break; I had originally intended to spend at least part of this time in a visit to one of the on-post chapels, but such was my state of weariness that I actually forgot to do so, and ended up sleeping in my car instead. So much for Ash Wednesday. I haven't even said my prayers yet; after I showered, the first thing I did was switch on this idol which sits in front of me, namely my laptop computer. I don't have any grandiose plans for long prayers or extraordinary penances or daily Mass attendance (which last would be impossible anyway)... but if I can get through Lent without falling into a certain troublesome besetting sin, it will have been a Lent well spent. Time now to pray.

#ash wednesday #lent

[infelixego]

Memento homo quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris

Two collects for Ash Wednesday:

2002 MR:

Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1928 American Prayer Book:

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Two most excellent prayers—one Catholic, one Anglican. Each has a different emphasis and a different slant. I'm not sure which one I like best. The Anglican prayer is more beautiful and poetic, but the Catholic prayer seems doctrinally more appropriate to this holy season.

#ash wednesday #lent

[infelixego]

Trends in the Church are serious, especially to those accustomed to find in it a solace and a pax in times of temporal trouble, and not just another arena of strife and change.

—J. R. R. Tolkien

#quotes

[infelixego]

It is true that the Church may never simply align itself with the Zeitgeist [spirit of the times]. The Church must address the vices and perils of the time; she must appeal to the consciences of the powerful and of the intellectuals, not to mention of those who want to live narrow-minded, comfortable lives while ignoring the needs of the time, and so forth. As a bishop I felt obliged to face this task. Moreover, the deficits were too obvious: exhaustion of the faith, decline in vocations, lowering of moral standards even among men of the Church, an increasing tendency towards violence, and much else. The words of the Bible and of the Church Fathers rang in my ears, those sharp condemnations of shepherds who are like mute dogs; in order to avoid conflicts, they let the poison spread. Peace is not the first civic duty, and a bishop whose only concern is not to have any problems and to gloss over as many conflicts as possible is an image I find repulsive.

—Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (from Salt of the Earth: The Church at the end of the Millenium. An Interview with Peter Seewald, pp 82-3)

[infelixego]

Catholics and contraception: why the Church has been right all along

In 1968 Pope Paul VI released his encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life) in which recourse to contraceptive devices and methods was condemned.

Although Paul VI did little more than re-state the traditional teaching of his predecessors, Humanae Vitae provoked a storm of international indignation and protest (not least among clergy and theologians) of such magnitude that 1968 has been described as "the year the Church fell apart".

Paul VI—a sensitive soul—never recovered from the shock of the vehemence with which Humanae Vitae was rejected and the violence of the opprobrium that was heaped on his head and, for the remaining ten years of his life he (to use the cliché) "never smiled again".

The secular world (and especially the media) has mocked and derided the Church's teaching on contraception ever since. All the usual bromides have been marshalled against it. The teaching on contraception is denigrated as "backward" and "out of touch"; its unpopular minority stance is underlined by the fact that it is alleged to be upheld only by "withered old celibates in the Vatican". Scoffers, feminists and other enemies of the Church's teaching can point with great glee to statistical evidence to back up their views: it is estimated that about 80% of married Catholics routinely use some sort of contraceptive device or method in their marital life, so even Mass-going Catholics do not obey the Church.

Actually Melancholicus is surprised that figure is as low as 80%. He thinks himself that it must surely be higher. He has never heard a single sermon against contraception from any priest in his whole life—at least not in the Novus Ordo.

Anyhow, Paul VI warned of four consequences for societies that accepted the widespread use of contraception:

• A general lowering of moral standards

• A rise in infidelity, and illegitimacy

• The reduction of women to objects used to satisfy men.

• Government coercion in reproductive matters.

At the time, the pope's warnings were dismissed out of hand. Today, however, we have the evidence of nearly 45 years of social experience in western societies (all of whom have embraced contraception with gusto); can it reasonably be denied that everything that Paul VI predicted has since come to pass?

See here for further exploration of the subject. It is refreshing to see a secular media source take a more balanced approach instead of the usual unthinking, uncritical and emotionally-charged reaction to the Church's teaching (H/T to Fr Finigan).

There is a fifth consequence of contraception, one that the late pope did not explore in his encyclical, but the evidence for which is mounting all around us and is particularly noticeable in parts of Europe.

Contraception may be convenient for individuals, but it spells death for society.

#contraception #humanae vitae #pope paul vi