The Fruit of Fruits

Such eloquent and rational thinking from our left-wing comrades . . .

"Geeze, You'd Think The Guy Would Take a Hint."

Thus was the statement of a ninety-two year old DoR parishioner. I often have breakfast with this gentleman, whom I shall call "Sanctus." He has been displaced from his parish, but because some feel I "harp" on this parish, I won't name it. He is planning on going to St. Boniface, closer to downtown Rochester than . . . the other parish.

His conversations usually repeat themselves, with anecdotes from WWII, Kodak employment and a quaint cottage in the thousand-islands thrown in. However, lately his true colors of tradition and faith have begun to fly proudly. The following are quotes from recent conversations:

"Why'd they get rid of the altar rails? I mean, really, why get rid of them? They just made sense and made people stop and say, 'This is something really special.' they just elevated the whole Mass."

"Why don't we get to say the 'Confiteor' anymore?"

"Geeze, you'd think the guy would take a hint that people think he's doing a lousy job. I mean, for cripe's sake, he's ticked off everyone in the diocese." (Three guesses as to who this references.)

"The Latin Mass was just so holy. I mean, geeze, it was a holy language. I don't mind the new Mass, but the English just doesn't feel right."

"Why doesn't the bishop just leave the parishes alone and let them survive if they can and when they can't, that's when they should close? It just makes no sense at all. He's just backwards."

"These nuns don't have any right to run a parish that way. They don't even show any respect for the Church."

"Sanctus" certainly asks the right questions. If only we had the answers. It seems as if the people that are genuinely pious, genuinely educated (in a liturgical sense) and genuinely devoted to the Church all have one thing to say: "We want our Tradition back." From 10 years to 100, people want "the good old way."

Novena of Fortitude - Day 5

Today's theme: desecration of the holy sanctuary.

Novena of Fortitude - Day 4

Today's theme is "exile," as in, "exiled for orthodoxy." I am fairly certain that if you are reading this, you have either had a parish ripped out from under you or are in the midst of watching that happen.

In today's video, I quote Lamentations, chapter one. I strongly urge you to read the entirety of that chapter, if not the entire Book of Lamentations. Very moving and very telling, all of it.

I Doff My Cap To Thee, Oh DMV of NY State

I had to go down to the local DMV today for some paperwork etc . . . and saw the following question on a form. Please note, I'm not quoting it directly because I'm fairly certain that that would be frowned upon by the New York State "government."

"Assaulting someone while driving a vehicle is considered:
a. a crime punishable by law.
b. a felony, but only if you're apprehended
c. morally reprehensible, but not a crime."

Looking at the choices, I thought the question would have been, "Assaulting a lay preacher during the Mass is considered . . . "

Sr. Mary Know-It-All

While in Rochester for a short sojourn, I was graced with hearing a superb homily on the "surprising" amount of "experts" out there. The priest (yes, Virginia, there are priests who give their own homilies) explained how a nun at his first assignment interpreted this past weekend's Gospel:

"She told the children that the real miracle wasn't the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, but rather, the fact that everyone on the hillside got along in good harmony."

I should like officially to name this kind of modernist thinking as "Woodstock Theology."

Anyways, when he witnessed this occurring, he said nothing, for to speak out as a young priest is quite dangerous indeed in certain places. He wrote a letter to the nun, explaining how the Scriptures aren't open to interpretation, and that the miracles of Our Lord should not be belittled for the sake of "inclusivity." She wrote back:

"You are free to have your own opinion, as am I. After all, both points are equally valid."

Reminds me of that commercial on right now, which is embedded below.

Novena Will Continue on Monday

I won't be able to have the next Novena video done until Sunday afternoon, so I'll be continuing it on Monday. Sorry for any inconvenience.

However, here is something to sate your appetites for sardonic orthodoxy.

Novena of Fortitude - Day 3

We stand for God and for His glory
The Lord Supreme and God of all.
Against his foes, we raise His standard,
Around His cross, we hear His call.
Strengthen our faith, Redeemer,
Guard us when danger is neigh
To Thee we pledge our lives and service,
Strong in a trust that ne'er shall die.
To Thee we pledge our lives and service
Strong in a trust that ne'er shall die.`

Mass Appeal

Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite setting of the Mass? Is it plainchant or orchestral? Anything goes, just so long as it doesn't have gender-confused pronouns.

Novena of Fortitude - Day 2

Novena of Fortitude - Day 1

Contagious Disease Alert

The CF hotline has received a flurry of calls reporting a contamination of the Rochester area. Evidently, at least two DoR-affiliated people have confirmed cases, with numerous more people suspected of being infected.

The disease is called "It's The Parish's Fault, Not The Bishop's." The two confirmed cases are Fr. Hart, who stated that the people of St. Anne Church brought their situation upon themselves because they haven't "produced a priest," and "Persis," a new Rochester blogger who states that the closing of St. Thomas is because they are a "cold-hearted" people who are quite "self-righteous." The two people, both affiliated with the diocese and, thus, Bishop Clark, are in need of our prayers and a possible vaccination. And yet, they both seem to know what it is that ails the diocese. What is it, pray tell?

All I have to say is: Physician, heal thyself.

No parish should be blamed for becoming a victim of ecclesiastic politicking.

Novena of Fortitude

I thought that it is about time that Cleansing Fire had a "retreat," if you will. Therefore, starting tomorrow, I will be posting videos daily for the Novena of Fortitude. It is an abbreviated and edited version of a novena for Our Lady of Victory, but I have assigned each day a different theme:

Day 1 - Humility in Serving the Lord
Day 2 - "For a Day In Your Courts, O Lord, is Better Than a Thousand Elsewhere"
Day 3 - The Betrayal of Our Lord by Judas and His Subsequent Minions of Evil
Day 4 - Exile
Day 5 - Worthiness
Day 6 - "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness . . ."
Day 7 - "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice . . ."
Day 8 - "Blessed are they who mourn . . ."
Day 9 - Final Judgment and Our Lord's Victory Over Earthly Corruption

Each video will be about 7 minutes long, and features a scriptural lesson, litany of Our Lady, sacred music etc . . . I hope that, if you are able, you can attempt to go to Mass on the last day of the Novena. After all, receiving the same Lord to whom we pray can't hurt our orations and supplications.

Want Some Free Ice Cream?

If you do, be sure to stop by St. Anne Church, Rochester, NY around 8:15 on July 25th. It has been a tradition at that parish that, on the last official day of the Novena to St. Anne, there is an ice cream social. The thing is that it is only for people who have been praying the novena to St. Anne.

Something tells me that we've all been doing this, if only in our hearts . . . In that case, I think we deserve a little ice cream.

(Disclaimer: I am NOT saying that you should all go down to St. Anne Church and indulge at the cost of Sr. Joan Sobala. I would never ever ever do that. However, what I would do is accept the hospitality of a kindly old soul who enjoys lay preaching and long walks on the beach.)

Diocese of Rochester's "New Spin on Things"

I have friends "on the inside" who tell me that the Diocese of Rochester is trying to "make the Mass more exciting and fun." In order to help the diocese along, we made a poster for parishes to use.

Studying About the "Good Old Way"

I felt that we needed a "centering video" after our recent bits of hilarity and jocularity.

Liturgical Creativity Expert

So is the title in the Diocese of Rockville Centre for a nun who ordered a priest to stop giving communion in the hand.

Note: video is not mine. I just happened to find it.

Behold the video:

The Religiosity of Starbucks

I was asked by a friend: Why would God be a Caramel Machiatto?

My response:

Because a Caramel Machiatto contains a metaphor for the Roman Catholic Church, aka, "the Church."

First, you start off with a shot of syrup in the bottom of the cup: a small, but concentrated group of believers first worshiped deep down in the catacombs.

Second, you put in the milk: Missionaries spread the faith, diffusing the concentrated core of believers and sending the faith all over the world.

Third, three shots of espresso: Father, Son, Holy Ghost.

You can add a fourth shot in "Affogatto Style": One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic.

After that, the foam is put on the top: like the zuchetto of the pope.

Finally, there is a sheet of caramel sauce drizzled over the whole thing: the clergy add sweetness and vibrancy to the Church, and without them, the Church wouldn't be "Church." Without this caramel glaze, it wouldn't be a Caramel Machiatto.

Ergo, a Caramel Machiatto is the Church.

Protestants would be a chai laté: made from concentrate, and from a box. Just like their theology.

Schismatic Catholics (aka "yeah, Protestants") would be a Decaf Caramel Machiatto: it sort of tastes the same, but there's no real kick to it. Why get coffee when you don't get the fulfillment?

Atheists would be Green Tea Frappucino: doesn't acknowledge the existence of taste.

Time for Another "Wrist Strong Campaign"

Fate draws another parallel between us here at Cleansing Fire and Stephen Colbert. For watchers of the Colbert Report, their papa-bear was injured a couple years ago when in the studio, breaking his wrist. Afterward, he started a "Wrist Strong Campaign," whose proceeds went to veterans and injured soldiers. Well, our dear Pope Benedict fell this morning and broke his wrist. Details are still coming out, so I will provide updates as they are released. All indications are that he is already back to normal, save the use of one wrist/hand.

Update: ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI was briefly hospitalized after suffering a minor fracture to his right wrist, the Vatican said Friday.

The pope, 82, fell Thursday night in his room in Val d'Aosta, a mountainous region of northwestern Italy where the pope spends his summer holidays, the Vatican said.

He was taken to the hospital in the region's central town of Aosta on Friday morning after celebrating his daily private Mass, the Vatican said.

Big "O" Bombs Out

Yes, a weak play on words, I admit. "O" bombs out = Obamsa. Yes. Weak.

Anyways, it's true. Look at the following from facebook:

Do you approve or disappove of Obama's job in office?

Strongly approve 22,661 (17.5%)

Approve 13,216 (10.2%)

Neutral / no opinion 3,905 (3.0%)

Disapprove 13,761 (10.6%)

Strongly disapprove 76,219 (58.7%)

That's 59% of people on facebook saying he's doing a lousy job. And facebook is most decidedly not a "conservative" or "traditional" institution. It looks like the youth and tech-savy adults have spoken.

AP Calculus - Who Would Have Guessed?

"What went wrong?"


I was talking with a nun-friend of mine the other day, and she was telling me all about her days as a teacher, wearing the full habit, teaching the children how to use ink wells and chant the Mass. In talking with her, she brought up many nuns, some living, some deceased, who really changed after the habit was removed. One such case is one dear to all of our hearts. Below, see the photo of Sr. Kostka, a mathematically-inclined teacher at St. Agnes. Her non-habited name was, and is now, Sr. Joan Sobala.




(I must thank a devoted reader for supplying the photos.)

Nod of the Miter, Smack of the Crozier

I've been a fan of Stephen Colbert for a while and, while he may not be the most conservative voice out there, he always defends the unborn, the Church, and the right to life. His shows often have a segment called "Tip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger," in which he approves or disapproves of an official, an event, a political party etc . . .

Well, I got to thinking, if he can do it, why can't we? So, thus is born a weekly article called "Nod of the Miter, Smack of the Crozier." Obviously, a nod of the miter is a good and favorable thing. A smack of the crozier is most decidedly not.

______________________

Today finds Cleansing Fire giving out a Nod of the Miter to . . .

the priests of the Irondequoit Cluster.

These men have a lot of work cut out for them, so we must acknowledge their efforts thus far, and pray for their continued health of mind and body. A heart-felt "thank you" goes out to Frs. William Leone, Timothy Horan, Norm Tanck, Joseph Trovato and Richard Beligotti.

However, we also are giving out a Smack of the Crozier to . . .

Ray Grosswirth. What's happened to the steady stream of entertaining videos? We in the Catholic community (Catholic, as in, "not schismatically Protestant") rely on his videos as one relies on a flu vaccination. We need a little bit of exposure to disease to enable us to more readily fight it off. I can feel a little tickle in my throat already. Cough.

Just a Quiz Result

I took a quiz on facebook this morning and this was my result:

"Blunt and forceful. Blatant and to the point. You get stuff done, and you get it done in a hurry."

How did they know about Cleansing Fire?

Beleaguered Christian Minority

No, not us.

Cowardly villains in Iraq have bombed a Catholic church, killing three Catholics and one Muslim after Mass had concluded. All the news sources cover stories about sectarian violence, with Shiite and Sunni striking blows back and forth, but you never hear about the persecution of the Christian Church in the Middle East. Yes, all religions have a degree of Truth, and, yes, Islam is a religion which has its inception in the same land as Jews and Christians. However, you do not see Catholics targeting Episcopalians in suicide bombings, nor do you see Lutherans blowing up Israeli ambulances.

The Muslim world has consistently and relentlessly targeted the Christian community. While now both sides, ideally, work towards tolerance and friendship, many Muslims still feel that the way to spread their faith is to force it physically and violently upon others. This is not faith, this is fear. And where there is fear there is no room for true conversion. Bombing one's neighbors is not a way of proselytizing. It is a coward's way to dominance. If the radical Muslims want dominance, let them put aside weapons and deal in terms of peace.

Cowardice such as this will not, on any day in any place on this world, yield eternity with 72 virgins. While these terrorist thugs dispatched the innocent to the next life, they fail to realize that we Catholics do not need their 72 virgins. We need only one.

Our Lady of Good Remedy, pray for us!

Avert Thine Eyes, Lest Impure Thoughts Entre Into Ye

Whenever I make a video, I tend to look at it from a strictly "churchy" perspective. In so doing, I occasionally miss photos, words, gestures etc . . . that convey double meanings of a less-than-pious nature. In reviewing the musical, I decided to cover any possible impropriety with a bar which calls your mind elsewhere and serves to keep the dignity of our blog intact.

Chalk it up to a pure upbringing and a naive, trusting view I have towards the human race. We shouldn't have to worry about others' indecency, should we?

_________________________________

Anyways . . .

Now that this little bit of house-keeping is out of the way, we can get back to business. I should like, very much, to support the good people of St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Salome in some way. I will, of course, be putting up a video shortly. However, I want to do something a bit more unique and sweeping. My ideas include either a postcard campaign or, at least, something along those lines. I should think that other Catholic bloggers in this area would help with the effort, so that we may profit from our negative experiences and pool our resources, as varied and as precious as they are. Please, let us discuss this in the comments.

The Musical is Running - Get Your Tickets Quickly

I promised not to disappoint:

We Have Aparel!

A couple of us designed a T-shirt for those who read and support this blog. Feel free to take a look.

Cleansing Fire Blog T-Shirt by genjlcgettys


I'll bet the gift shop at Sacred Heart will have these in stock come next week.

Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two!

It's unfortunate the the DoR didn't realize the breadth and depth of Catholic contributions this year. Then again, in the words of Fr. Hart, "all the Catholics are leaving and becoming Mennonites in Canandaigua."

I think not.

Pope Joan the Movie

No joke. They're making a movie about the medieval myth of Pope Joan. No, we're not talking about Sr. Joan Sobala. We're talking about the story that, I am certain, Dan Brown will warp and twist and "fact"-ify for his new novels.

Here is the link to the IMDB article about the movie. It's going to be released in Europe first, at the end of October this year. I can't wait till it comes to New York. I know I'll be the first in line to see it, right behind Fr. Antinarelli, of course.

Alter Christi

Thus is a priest supposed to be, another Christ, alter Christi. However, when shackled by diocesan politics this seems to become a very difficult thing to be. It is, of course, not the priest's fault. It is his bishop's or his ordinary's.

Anyways, I thought that it would be appropriate to share with you an experience I happened to see once in a Rochester parish. I'll leave it to your imagination to guess which one. I could see that the nun was all dressed for some preaching, and all was on track for Mass to begin. About five minutes before Mass, the priest, who is retired, entered the sacristy and noted the nun's attire. Again, I leave it to your imagination to guess what the attire was. He looked at her and said, "Sister, what are you doing today?" She responded, "Why, J___, I'm giving the homily."

"No, you're not. You never asked my permission. And if you had, I would not have given it to you."

"You're forgetting I'm your boss now."

"Not out there." (The sanctuary)

This priest truly acted as he ought to have, being another Christ and, at the same time, a defender for Him as well. God Bless. Fr. J___ for his unflinching attitude towards what Liturgy should be.

Alter-ation of the Unfortunate Norm

He who is "in the Choir Loft" pointed this out to me, and I thought that I should share it with you. I rather enjoyed it, myself, and hope that you will, as well, as this is the fiftieth, yes FIFTIETH, post on this fledgling site.

"Struck a Spiritual Tone"

Such was the description of the Michael Jackson memorial service. I watched it, myself, being off today, and I must agree wholly. Various ministers were present, each advocating for life, the value of purity and the unborn. Yes, one man mentioned the unborn specifically. And the best part: there was rapturous applause. No matter what Michael Jackson may or may not have done, good or bad, his memorial service was a truly amazing display of the general Christian faith, holding aloft the values of life and the family. I think that, whatever we think of this man and his life, we should pray for him and his family, in particular his three children who now have no true father figure to whom they may look for reliable guidance.

I don't care what you think this man did, what he may have done. Pray for him and pray for his family. For any who may not have seen the final moments of the memorial service, here is a video clip from CNN showing Jackson's daughter, Paris, talking about her father. If your heart is stone in this matter, perhaps this will turn it more closely to the realm of Christian charity.


"Requiem aeternam dona eis, domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis."

"I'm a Catholic. In Case of Emergency . . ."

" . . . contact a priest."

Or so the traditional medal/prayer card/visor pin says. In talking with a Basilian today, I found out there's a little edit which is popular in Rochester. Evidently he used to be a Basilian there, but left because of the politics under Clark. He told me thus:

"I'm a Catholic priest. In case of emergency, contact a bishop, but not this bishop, another one."

Hitler Fails to Make a More Inclusive Church

(The original clip is from a movie called "Der Untergang" which chronicles the final week of Hitler's life, as well as that of Nazi Germany.)

Oh No! We've Been Blocked!

Sorry for the rapidity of posts. Be sure to read the articles below this!

Ray Grosswirth has blocked any interaction with me on YouTube. The new "Beta" version allows a user to block all communication, while before it was just limited to messages and comments. I discovered this when I attempted to subscribe to Mr. Grosswirth's video channel, in order that I may "know that which one fights." Blocked users can't even subscribe to the blocker's channel. Something tells me that I've been blocked for a very long while, but still, the notification I reived when I clicked "subscribe" was brand new.

Funny, I haven't had to block a single comment or user on YouTube . . . Perhaps the Holy Spirit has spoken? I don't presume to know.

I thought those who work for an "inclusive Church" want "open and honest dialogue." You can't have dialogue when you don't let people speak.

O Ruby Blood

"O rubor sanguinis,
qui de excelso illo fluxisti,
quod divinitas tetigit,
tu flos es,
quem hiems de flatu serpentis
num quam lesit."

"O ruby blood
which flowed from on high
where divinity touched.You are a flower
that the winter
of the serpent's breath
can never injure."

I was browsing my collection of sacred music, and stumbled onto this antiphon written by St. Hildegard von Bingen. Sometimes there is a piece of religious writing, poetry, a hymn or a reading from the Scriptures which truly grips you. I thought I should share this with you seeing as how today is the Fourth of July, our national Day of Independence, and a day upon which much blood hung in the balance, and seeing as how we are all also called to be martyrs, in one way or another, for Our Lord. I hate to get preachy on you, but at least I'm not an alb-sporting nun "homilizing" at Mass.

Anyways, this antiphon of St. Hildegard points out to us that the Blood which flowed from Our Savior's side is a source of unimaginable grace and spiritual comfort. In it one can find all nourishment and all satisfaction, for what is more all-satisfying than that which the blanket of our base lives of sin cannot cover or obscure? The serpent's breath of which Hildegard wrote is something which comes in many forms, with which some of us in Western New York are very well acquainted, indeed. The "smoke of Satan" leeks into our lives whenever truth is perverted. This festering of truth, indeed, the Truth, comes, ultimately, from the profanity seen in our sanctuaries and upon our altars. We must pray that the blood which has been shed by the Church's martyr's be not wasted on the roots of the tree of progressivism. For only a tree of righteousness and strength has the right to be nourished by such sweet a nectar.

The winter of evil which was referenced is, in my opinion, no specific event or date. Rather, it is the times which sin enters inot our lives in a freely-chosen manner. Its chilling and pentrating effect is undeniable, for we have all seen how, in time of spiritual weakness, the devil may enter in. It appears as if the Holy Spirit loses the battle and Satan has St. Michael under tread rather tha

n the other way around. However, no sin is unaviodable, for all sin is a choice. We choose to do evil, and we choose to embrace it rather than to place our trust in He whom we ought. Our founding fathers realized this and, while only one or two of the signers of the Declrataion were Catholic, the vast majority were at least "Deists." These men of faith could see the dangers lurking for the people of the colonies and they could see just as well the abuses of power coming from across the Atlantic. Let us learn from the example of these patriots, that we may find the courage to stand up against the tyanies which confront us. Name them and

combat them with all resolve, for to do anything but would be to breath the winter of the serpent's tongue into our midst and, thus, into the Church.

The Sweet Nectar of Tradition

1000 Hits in Under Seven Days

Wow. I didn't expect the Cleansing to be so popular. When I started this just a short while ago, I thought I'd get maybe 1 comment here and there, a couple of articles a week, etc . . . But it's grown quite well, indeed. I'm grasping for a parallel for our successful and pomp-filled first six days (with the counter at the bottom of the page) but the only metaphor I can grasp is that of God's Creation, so I won't try to steal His thunder.

Thanks for the prayerful support.

Consider Our Lady of Victory "Fertilized," Sr. Sobala

It was a year ago to the day today when Sr. Sobala remarked, "If they disagree, let them fertilize other parishes." Well, they most certainly have, sister.



Let's compare two bulletins, shall we? I'll let you decide which is which:

Bulletin 1:
Collection- ~$4500
Remarks from the administrator on liturgy, the year of the priest

Bulletin 2:
Collection- ~$3400
Remarks from the administrator on the Fourth of July, graduations, and "evolving society."
Numerous typos - ex. "Have a great summer1"

Some additional information for your ponderance:
Bulletin 1 comes from a parish that is firmly placed in Tradition and attracts people from all over the diocese. Bulletin 1 has seen an increase in collection money grow steadily and surely since last summer when "new administrations" began. Bulletin 2 comes from a parish that was once firm in Tradition, bringing in well over $8000 per weekend, often times much higher. Bulletin 2 comes from a parish which boasted almost 500 attendees. Bulletin 1 is from a parish that usually has a little less than that per weekend.

Have you guessed the parishes yet? Give up?

Bulletin 1 = Our Lady of Victory, Rochester, NY
Bulletin 2 = St. Anne Church, Rochester, NY

Sr. Sobala, I think that you hold more influence than you give yourself credit for. The people of your parish have most definitely fertilized another one. Keep up the good work, for it is making secure the parishes that ought to be made secure. In this humble blogger's opinion, St. Anne is more likely to close (and vastly more likely, at that,) than is Our Lady of Victory.

We Receive the Bishop's Endorsement

Yes, folks, it's true. Bishop Matthew Clark has given us his endorsement, if not his imprimatur. In the latest Catholic Courier, he tells his flock to do a search for "dioceseofrochester" in You Tube. Well, most normal people would then type "Diocese of Rochester" into the box. In doing so, the first result is . . . The Vacant Chair! Yes, it's true. Try it right now and laugh as hard as I did when a reader and friend notified me. And, even when grammar is torn to shreds and "dioceseofrochester" is typed in, my video is still in the top 10. In fact, it's number six.

The Year of the Priest - Ecce Sacerdos Magnus

"I throw myself at the foot of the Tabernacle like a dog at the foot of his Master."

- St. John Vianney

"All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man."

- St. John Vianney

For your consideration.