Vindication of Fr. Antinarelli

I have been emailing and blogging around today on a little mini-vacation, and someone pointed me towards something which has been said to be "an attack on Fr. Antinarelli." When I heard it was from one of our own Catholic bloggers who launched this supposed attack, I was quite skeptical and thought that my friend was just a little paranoid.

I could not have been more wrong.

"When I have heard him preach, Father Antinarelli has not impressed me as a gifted speaker - though I have certainly heard worse. At the pro-life Mass, he jumbled information about St. Anthony of Padua. And at today's daily Mass he did not even preach a homily. I don't recall the last time I've been to a daily Mass at which the priest didn't at least say a few words about the readings.

At the last two Masses I've attended with Father as the celebrant he may have been following all the rubrics and doing everything as they should be done, but I got no sense that he was "celebrating" Mass. It all seemed so rote."

Of course he wasn't "celebrating" the Mass! Dear God, when someone says "oh, yes, father celebrated Mass this morning," I always feel like I should say "Jesus wasn't celebrated on the cross, He was sacrificed. Jesus didn't have a joyful celebration at the Last Supper, either. It was a total and unparalleled sacrifice."

Few priests are as reliable and unswerving as Fr. Antinarelli. So what if he jumbled his facts about St. Anthony? A Jesuit once told me that Sts. Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier were the same. Heaven forbid that a date is misquoted.

And homilies at Daily Mass? They are optional. Look it up. Yes, it's preferable to have a homily, and, yes, it is preferable to, at least, say a few words about the readings. However, it is not at all preferable to base one's judgment (a dangerous thing in itself) upon a lack of a homily. There are days when the preface and collect say more about the readings than anything a priest can contrive.

Why do some bloggers who profess to be conservative Catholics only seem to focus on the errors and imagined faults of conservative Catholic priests? It's not left to any of us to judge a priest or a priest's actions unless they jeopardize our own spiritual being. However, to let abuses and schismatic preaching go unnoticed while all the world is invited to see the preaching ills of a humble parish priest is a shame and a travesty, greater than most I should imagine.

"It all seemed so rote."

The only thing rote here is the original author's negative attitude to one of the most solid and orthodox priests in the entire state.

_________________

Just a note: I don't want any kind of arguments starting here or in the comment section or on any other blog. This was merely what it was titled as being, a vindication of Fr. Antinarelli.

Just "Male Celibates" as Priests?

"I know to raise the issue of women and married men to be considered as priests is unacceptable for some among us…not for me…I pray that wherever priests come from that we as God’s family would be open to allow people to serve…if you feel only male celibates should be ordained, fine, encourage and pray for that…if you feel women or married men should be considered, encourage and pray for that…wherever the vocations come from, let us just pray and accept them to serve. My prayer for this Year of the Priest is that all in our Church would be open to consider the many fine Deacons who could be ordained to Ministerial Priesthood…that we would not be afraid to open ourselves to other Married Men becoming candidates…that our Church would use this year to study and examine whether women should be ordained as deacons…that we would consider the possibility that God has planted the vocation to Priesthood in women’s lives and we would seriously try to discern that…that even for Bishops, we would return to the traditional process where the people of the Diocese had a say in offering candidates…I am sure that these ideas are not a part of Pope Benedict’s plan for this year, but as long as we are going to focus on Priests, let’s consider all the dimensions of Priesthood and the real need our Church has..Well, I have said enough for today…enjoy the LPGA if you are going out to Locust Hill…and see you in Church… Peace!"

I bow before the inflated and simplistic sacramental theology of Fr. Kevin Murphy. If you have ever read my postings (which, I am sure, you have) you will get the idea that I loathe duplicity. Fr. Kevin asks people to pray for whatever they feel is right, and to do so internally. If only he practiced what he preached, and contained his schismatic tendencies to himself rather than infest and infect his parishioners with this naive and immature nonsense. The ordination of women will not happen at any point. The Church has taught and upheld this officially through the millenia. If you doubt me, then I ask you this: why did the medieval world have such a fit over the rumors of Pope Joan? Because they knew that the ordination of women was so contrary to the faith founded by Our Lord and fostered by his Apostles and Disciples. The decision on female ordination and the married priesthood is final, and it is a most resounding "NO."

Congratulations, Bishop Clark!

Just in Time to Miss the Pauline Year

Sun Jun 28, 8:53 am ET

ROME (Reuters) – Vatican archaeologists using laser technology have discovered what they believe is the oldest image in existence of St Paul the Apostle, dating from the late 4th century, on the walls of catacomb beneath Rome.

Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, revealing the find on Sunday, published a picture of a frescoed image of the face of a man with a pointed black beard on a red background, inside a bright yellow halo. The high forehead is furrowed.

Experts of the Ponitifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology made the discovery on June 19 in the Catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome and describe it as the "oldest icon in history dedicated to the cult of the Apostle," according to the Vatican newspaper.

The discovery, which involved removing layers of clay and limestone using lasers, was announced a day before Rome observes a religious holiday for the Feasts of St Peter and St Paul.

Peter and Paul are revered by Christians as the greatest early missionaries. Converting on the road to Damascus following a blinding vision of Jesus, Paul took the Gospel to pagan Greeks and Romans and met his martyrdom in Rome in about 65 AD.

Early Christians in Rome buried their dead in catacombs dug into the soft rock under the city and decorated the underground walls with devotional images, often in the Pompeian style.

(Writing by Stephen Brown; Editing by Sophie Hares)

The Pillars Are Crumbling

A Rochester reader has alerted me to the fact that the irony of ironies is unfolding at St. Anne Church. It always seems as if there's something there to keep our interest. While she was unable to snap a photo of what's going on, I think that her words will be just as illuminating and entertaining:

"Well, it turns out that our pillars in front of the church have started to decompose over the past few years. It got really bad recently when it was seen that there were several inches of separation between the ceiling and the pillars. I don't need to tell you that that's a pretty serious thing. We all had a bit of a laugh about it because the pillars of the church are crumbling, sort of like how all the pillars of the community and the parish left. Sometimes I think that I should go back, after all I live just three blocks away. But I always say no. The only time I go back is when they have the auction. I've always admired the organ, so maybe I could get a couple pipes? Lord knows I deserve it!"

Is this any surprise?

On a related note, my informant also notified me of a sudden sanctuary appointment which is prominently placed in front of the processional crucifix. Here is the original:


Here is the anticipated reality:

The Infinite Blessings of eBay

I've been trying, desperately, to find an affordable copy of the Liber Usualis, which contains almost all the Gregorian chants of the Church. Upon finding one on eBay, I sent a message to the seller, asking if, with his "fiat," I might buy the book outright rather than wait the 9 days until the end of the auction (which is starting at $0.99). His response:

"The book cost me over $100! All I can suggest is that you bid whatever amount you feel it is worth. I might also suggest you spend a little less time online, and, while we're at it, lay off the begging!"

I hardly think that offering to buy something is begging. If so, it looks like to need to rewrite the history of the mendicant (begging) orders.

Anyways, after I received that in my inbox, I sent back a very short message which said, "A simple 'sorry, no' would have sufficed. Best of luck with the auction."

His response:

if you want your questions answered in a particular way, please let me know beforehand in future. What a lovely 'shepherd' you'll make to the people of God. Have a nice career, Father.

I guess anyone who is an enthusiast of Latin chant and sacred polyphony has to be a priest. I guess then, in turn, that we have to quit calling Sr. Joan "Fr. Joan." After all, it's rather obvious that she doesn't like Latin chant.

Let's Pray It, Shall We?

I was reading some articles from Pope Pius XII, and he declared of the Mass, "pray it." So many people don't affix any spiritual value to the Mass. Indeed, the only value they see in the Mass is the money they throw so apathetically into the collection basket. This is wrong. The Mass is the most sublime and most perfect way to God, for through it, God is made manifest each and every day, at every hour and in every corner of the world. Pray the Mass, don't just sit there "fulfilling the obligation." Meditate upon each word spoken by the priest, as one should the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The Church fathers knew what they were doing when they penned the original prayers, and our popes and bishops (with a few obvious exceptions) have continued the beautiful heritage of prayerfully translating these prayers into every language and, as it ought to be, the one true language of the Church. And, no, I do not mean Hindi. The prayerful aspect of Latin is what made the Mass so lofty, yet, at the same moment, so humble. The priest was a mediator between the people and God, offering a sacrifice on behalf of the people. Now, the priest is usually a puppet of an administrative body that lacks any true basis in theology. People used to "pray the Mass." People used to be universally pious and orthodox. What has happened?

I think we all know.

Anyways, I just thought that I should share that little tidbit with you. "Pray the Mass." Don't "attend the Mass." Don't "celebrate the Mass." Pray it. It's a sacrifice, not Mardi Gras.

Tabernacle Tournament Part I

I have always enjoyed critiquing various altars and tabernacles wherever I go, but the most entertaining ones are found in . . . any guesses?

Yes! The Diocese of Rochester!

I would like very much to have a bit of a tournament as to which altars/tabernacles are the worst and which are the best. We'll start with which are the worst.

First up: St. Christopher in Chili or St. John the Evangelist in Rochester (not Greece or Spencerport).

St. Christopher's:



















St. John's:

Blessed Mutterings

Tell me, what do you think is more appealing to God? The "blessed mutterings" of the Tridentine Mass or the sanctimonious preaching of those who lack holy orders? It has become somewhat evident that bishops who use lay administrators and encourage lay preaching do so with only good intent. However, what good is there in relegating a priest, a man who has been ordained to minister to God's Church, to a mere "Sacramental minister?" Holy Orders, though somewhat unsung, are the only thing which keeps the Church able to dispense God's Grace through His Seven Sacraments. Taking away sacerdotal ministries from the priests is altering a sacrament. Sacraments have no need to be altered, for they were given to us by Jesus when He was physically present here on Earth. Indeed, it is only through Him that we have His physical presence with us still today in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The last time I checked, tinkering with something that is already perfect can only make it imperfect.

Dixit Dominus, Sede a Dextris Meis

Let's sit at His right, shall we?

The Glory and Splendor of the Tridentine Mass

I had the honor and unfortunate privilege to attend a High Mass, Tridentine, in Rochester today. A friend of the family passed away and requested a Requiem Mass rather than a Novus Ordo liturgy. While any liturgy, when said correctly, can be a beautiful thing, the sheer antiquity and beauty of the Latin Mass surpasses all. The Tridentine Mass elevates the Blessed Sacrament to a level seldom reached in our parishes. Where else is there no room for heterodoxy? The progressives in our midst all too greedily dip their bread into the Novus Ordo, as did Judas on the night during which he betrayed Our Lord. Only "traitor bishops" would forbid this most noble sacrifice of the Mass. Then again, after the Motu Proprio "Sumorum Pontificum" any bishop who forbids the Latin Mass is in clear and blatant error and is refusing to do the will of the Pope and the Holy Spirit at work through him. I would like to give credit where it is due, however, and ensure that all who read this know that it was Bishop Clark who started the Latin Mass Community in Rochester. However, it has been suggested that this was more of a placation than a genuine and unbiased attempt at orthodoxy and reverence. After all, look at the "cathedral."

I think that you will know that about which I speak when I say that some Masses provide more of a "rush of grace" than others. The "grace rush" I felt today kneeling at the Communion rail was unparalleled. Reverent priests, reverent acolytes, reverent schola and a generally reverent congregation all contributed to this. I urge you, I beseech you, give the Latin Mass a try sometime, whether you're in Rochester, Albany, Buffalo, Batavia, Schenectady or anywhere else in New York State. You will find it to be an awesome thing, and truly worthy of being called "a Mass."

I Doff My Cap to Jib Jab

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Lay Administrators Wanted in Diocese of Rochester!

Do you have what it takes to earn the favor of Bishop Matthew Clark? Take this quiz to find out if you can join the echelons of the great ones in Rochester, including but not limited to: Nancy DeRycke, Joan Sobala and Margaret Ostramecki.

http://www02.quizyourfriends.com/take-quiz.php?id=0906211558023126&a=1&&

From Altar-Servers, to Altar-Boy, to Altar-Men?

I'm fairly certain that most of you are familiar with the whole St. Anne Church debacle which began about a year ago. However, none of you have heard the latest development. An uncle of mine who still attends St. Anne (his wife was baptized and buried from there) told me that Sr. Sobala has asked at least two of the ushers (both men over 70) to serve Mass because the young have fled from the parish. Of course, "fled" is my word, not hers. Something tells me that my word is a bit more accurate, though. Anyways, these two both said "no" in language which displayed their contempt for her and the situation which she has created. One said, "I haven't served since the Mass was in Latin. I'm not going to restart now." The other said that "I don't know how to serve the Mass anymore." I love subtle jabs which take a while to process.

Just one year ago, that parish had (according to other blogs) several young altar servers. However, after the regime change, most fled. Please see the following articles for more information. Mr. Leonardi has some good insight:

http://richleonardi.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-is-how-parishes-die.html

http://richleonardi.blogspot.com/2008/07/father-joan.html#c3473112165055085582

(The comments are just as informative as the actual articles.)

English, Spanish and Ebonics

I had lunch with a priest on Thursday, and this is what he had to say about his security system at his house:

"When I ordered the alarm, I got to personalize the blaring warnings and all. So, first, I have it screech really loudly, then it says, 'You have invaded a secure area. Please leave immediately. The police have been called.' And then it repeats it in Spanish. And then, after that, it repeats in Ebonics. (Laughter from both parties) Oh, don't worry, I'm only kidding. I'm not a racist or anything. It only repeats in Spanish."

I'm still laughing. This is the same priest who, when in line at a cafeteria started asking me about West Side Story, if I had ever seen it. When I said I had but it was a long time ago, he handed me his tray and started singing and dancing out (perfectly) three songs from the movie. There were 300 people in the cafeteria watching a priest (in his roman collar) dancing around singing about the Sharks, the Jets and Maria. Good stuff. Good stuff.

Please note: the graphic and the story poke fun at the destruction of the English language, not the culture of African Americans.

Enough is Enough

Serious Laundry Mishap

see more Political Pictures

Theology on Tap - Liberalism's treacherous Trap

We've known for a while that the Rochester Diocese's version of Theology on Tap is more leftist propaganda than actual religious Truth. The latest schedule confirms this as blatently as possible:

Some highlights for the "Summer 12-Pack Series" include:

1. June 24 - What's with Community? with Dr. David Stousr, St. Bernard's School of theology and Ministry
2. June 30 - Stem Cells and the Catholic Church with Dr. Patricia Schoelles, SSJ, President of St. Bernard's
3. July 7 - Angels and Demons with Barb Swiecki, Pastoral Administrator of Guardian Angels
4. July 22 - Living Our Gifts with Nancy DeRycke, Pastoral Administrator of Good Shepherd
5. August 4 - Africa, AIDS, Condoms and the Church with Kevin Mannara, St Mary's Downtown
6. September 1 - Making Christian Choices with Fr. Robert Kennedy, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament

Some people might not know why I included the last one, the only identified priest on the list. Fr. Kennedy, an otherwise great priest, is supposed to have "blessed a same-sex couple" at Mass. I don't have all of the details so I wont' elaborate on the rumors I have heard.

So, this is what Rochester has to offer its young adults? I would much rather my theology be taught to me in a classroom or a church than a pub. Then again, once you get hammered, I'll bet that the liberals begin to make a bit (just a bit) of sense.


If only Pope Benedict were in charge of the diocesan Theology on Tap program . . .

Goodness Gracious

WARNING: "I'm an Orthodox Catholic So Deal With It!" Rant Ahead

I've seen a couple (literally) of comments here that show some discontent at the title and content of "Six Jerks in a Jeep." Let's just recall the following points, shall we?

• Bishop Matthew Clark is, as I have said, a very noble and charitable person, and a more-than-able minister for the Catholic Church. However, he lets his political views interfere with that. The only "jerk" here is the one which thrust him from relative orthodoxy in the 60's and 70's into the liberalism of the present.
• Joan Sobala has said the following things: "Priests dance to my tune." "What Rome says doesn't matter - we have our own norms." "Orthodoxy is subversive." "We need 'people music.'" "Go fertilize another parish." "I am the absolute authority in this matter." "I am your Good Shepherd." "I have been ready and willing to be ordained to the priesthood for thirty years." "When women are ordained, I will be right there." Verdict: more "jerky" than most. If anyone disagrees with this, they obviously have not experienced her first hand.
  
• Fr. Hart is, in the words of several, ordained and not, a "snake in the grass." A member of the St. Anne Church Parish Pastoral Council emailed me last year and recalled how he said, "This whole thing is not the bishop's fault. It's yours for not providing vocations to the priesthood from this parish. How many men have been ordained from your parish? None." Verdict: more "jerky" than most.
  
• The others gave Rome quite a jerk when they broke away and got themselves excommunicated. Excommunication is a testament to being a liturgical/theological jerk/bully.
  

If I have breached anyone's thin skin, I apologize. However, I should ask quite humbly that you consider the horrible way these people have treated Holy Mother Church and reflect. Being called "jerky" would rate about a 1 out of 10 on the scale of inappropriate comments. Saying that women should be ordained by the end of an episcopate: that's a 10. Now, if you will permit me a break, my back has developed quite a pain from all those jumping on it and riding me into the corral of political correctness. I shall not be harnessed.

St. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots - Any Thoughts?

I'm a big fan of English history, especially the reigns of the Tudors. Since the time of her execution for treason, Mary Stuart, aka "Mary, Queen of Scots," has either been slandered or revered. Her faith was not just a political tool as it was for so many other Catholic monarchs, however, there are rumors about her moral fiber. Yes, her gay husband was murdered mysteriously, yes, her cousin Elizabeth I was the near-victim of several assassination plots. However, what are the other possibilities? Many professors and historians think that her gay, English Catholic husband was murdered, not by Mary's will, but that of her Scottish lords. After all, they wielded the true power. Also, the documents that supposedly show Mary's guilt in conspiring against Elizabeth have come under much intense scrutiny, with many believing that they were forged by protestant fanatics wishing to eradicate the "papist threat."

Personally, I do believe that Mary is without guilt in these (and other) matters, and that she is, at least, worthy of being called a noble martyr for the Catholic faith. There are relics of Mary Stuart in existence. Her dress is on display at an English estate which was used, coincidentally, as a refuge and shelter for local Catholics to attend Mass. Her breviary (and rosary?) are in Russia. Why, I don't know. It's a miracle the Soviets didn't trash them.

Anyways, what are your opinions? Saint? Martyr? Traitor? Heretic wench? Murderess? Adulteress?

Defense of the Clergy Part II

Behold, the second part of the article which I have promised and already started.

However, with Our Lord, His Word can be seen in almost every parable, every lesson and every occurrence in which He spoke. When the woman grabbed hold of His garments, Jesus said that “I can feel the power flowing from me.” I can only imagine what He feels with women mounting podiums and donning albs, ostracizing orthodox young men and slandering their reputations. If an act of faith could draw out such a rebuke (albeit mild) from Our Lord, then surely, the blasphemies uttered in parishes world-wide cause much more pain for Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament. In the Gospels we can see clearly when Our Lord becomes most outraged: the desecration of the temple. At no other point in the Gospels is there such overt hostility on the part of Jesus, the True Son of God. When the temple is profaned with money-changers and politicking, Jesus became outraged, for the temple was no longer the sanctified dwelling-place of God, but rather, the den of human weakness and perversion. For what can be more perverse than trivializing Faith and turning it into more of a corporation than the Divine institution which it truly is? In this world of tribulation and doubt, the money-changers are those who invade our sanctuaries with agendas wholly their own. They rob us of our spiritual calm and wrench from our souls any semblance of purity-of-faith. Indeed, to have a parish destroyed by liberalism and progressivism is to have been spiritually-abused in a way that only they who have had this happen to them can describe. The faithful have an obligation to persevere in the faith, no matter how many “lady-priests” infiltrate the ranks of tradition. After all, our Church survived for centuries in outright persecution in Rome itself. How can we, who have no penalties inflicted upon us for practicing our Faith, claim to have more problems? We can make this claim in steadfast truth by saying that while once attacked from without, the Church is now being attacked from within.
The pope is a noble and brave figure who, though surrounded by the wolves of seditious change, confronts the horde with resolute courage. He has the Scriptures on the lips and Tradition in his heart and mind. With these two shields of truth, no foe may vanquish the Holy Mother Church. She is indestructible, for it was Our Lord who declared most venerably, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I shall build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Dearest people, we are at the gates of Hell right now. Our politicians propose liberal agendas of uncivilized change, and many of our religious leaders say nothing and do even less. What are the faithful to do in the face of such stinging apathy? Barrack Obama was correct in saying that conservatives cling to religion, although he was wrong about why. We are not bitter. We are not practicing subversion. We only have one constant in life, and that is the Church. She does not change without Divine mandate, for while mere men lead Her on Earth, the Holy Spirit holds the celestial reigns and guides the Church with such smoothness and dignity that we on Earth can seldom perceive this to be true.
This is the way of God, this “smoothness.” In smoothness one can easily discern right from wrong, truth from falsehood. However, while the natural state of God (as He Himself ordained) is “smooth,” humans are (by this same ordination) naturally unsettled and inconstant. This is not because of any mistake on the part of the Divine, for, after all, He makes not any mistakes. This is as human as is free-will. God makes no mistakes. I trust that all Christians, indeed, all who profess a monotheistic faith, will hold this fact to be true, for, if we don’t we admit that God is imperfect and, thus, not truly “God.” in holding this to be a truth undeniable by logic or reasoning, we see the Divine plan made manifest (in our humble perception) and enacted upon this plane of our existence. God chose to create us. God chose to lead the Israelites from slavery to liberty. God chose to send us His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God chose to take human form and walk amongst us. God chose to die on the cross. God chose to rise on the third day. God chose all. He did not choose female priests. He chose to ask the apostles to leave their spouses and follow Him alone. How much more plainly must God make His statement? No women were ordained by Our Lord and the men whom He chose to ordain left their married lives to live a life of service to the Holy Mother Church. If we pray “for a more inclusive Church” we pray for something which is contrary to Scripture, contrary to Tradition, contrary to Church teaching and, ultimately, something with is completely antithetical to the will of God Himself, as outlined in His revelations to His created. I do not claim to know the will of God, but I do claim to be a loyal son of the Church and, as such, I follow all which She says. To do anything less would cause a rift to appear in the fabric of Truth, a rift that can be treated by nothing save God Himself.
Why would one deliberately walk out on the Church when She has the sole source of Truth in the world today? These children who wander naively from their Mother’s care do so not fully realizing the penalties affixed to doing so. They lose their spiritual nourishment, they lose their security, they lose any sense of true and God-given purpose and they lose, most obviously, their Mother. Like the poor children who live in a perpetual whirlwind of foster-homes, these runaways develop severe issues with life. They feel betrayed, they feel victimized. What victim would, in his (or, for the sake of inclusivity, her) eyes, return to his (or her) captors or, more drastically, to his (or her) true Mother if he (or she) himself feels slighted? We must reach out to these wandering souls and show them the true splendor of God in His Church and Her Sacraments. To lose just one of these sheep is to lose a member of Christ’s mystical body. However, when they lose themselves in the swirling tides of self-pity and liberalism, there is little that anyone can do.
Our Lord’s Church is an institution more ancient than any surviving monarchy, government or nation. It toppled the most powerful empire in history, and its prayers have reduced the Soviet Union and fascism to naught. While evil still exists, mostly in the poor and indigent countries of the world, the Church exists too, and does so to bring hope and courage to those whose lives are forcibly subjugated to the forces of state. This is the Church’s mission to the impoverished: to bring hope and courage through the Gospel and the Sacraments. This sacred duty, first entrusted to St. Peter and still mandated through two millennia, is an absolute necessity, for without the Church and its hope, there is only discord and strife.

Six Jerks in a Jeep

My latest YouTube video. Enjoy:

Little Bombs of Orthodoxy

Sitting in church today, I heard several things which I wished to convey to you. Here's a list containing the quotes, as I can recall them.

• "The priest is not just 'one of the guys.' He is 'alter christi': another Christ. I'm sorry, that's just the way it is."
• "During a diocesan gathering, we sang a hymn in which the Blessed Sacrament was called 'bread and wine.' People do not die for 'bread and wine.' It's not holy bread, it's not special bread, it's not bread at all. It's the body, the soul and divinity of Jesus Christ."
• "I don't care what bishops have to say. I follow what one bishop, the bishop of Rome, has to say."
• "These lay administrators insult Holy Orders. They preach, and that is explicitly forbidden. Their vesture is another insult to the ordained ministry. This is not the way it used to be."

Such sweet orthodoxy! Let more priests follow this one's example and speak for truth, not politics. After all, politics killed Jesus. Truth killed the empire that condemned Him.

Mind Candy

Here is a little piece of mind candy for you all. I have a feeling you need some light-hearted entertainment after that "part one."

"In Defense of the Clergy"

There is an article/essay making its rounds around this "Orthodox Underground" which I thought I should post here. It is somewhat long, but it goes quickly. Due to its length, I will post it in segments. Here is part one:

Few questions addressed to the Church attract as much debate and division as does this one issue. The people who seek to “preserve the status quo” are labeled as bigots, targeted by “reformers” and “progressives” and find themselves berated by those who say that having a priesthood of unmarried men is neither Traditional nor Scriptural. Primarily, let me say that defending the Church’s teaching does not make one a bigot, nor does it show a narrow-minded approach to Catholicism. On the contrary, it shows that one has found the richness that is the Church of Rome. No other religious institution has such a concrete and absolute foundation as do we. Our pope is a direct and palpable descendant of St. Peter, the first pope of our Church. These people who assist the Church in presenting accurately and precisely Her teachings are worthy of praise, not persecution. As was once said, “to be truly Catholic is to be counter-cultural.” How much more “counter-cultural” can one be than to reject gay “marriage,” married priests, female priests and a “more inclusive Church?” If public opinion is to be the thing which steers the Church, then what place does the Holy Spirit have in the matter? In deifying ourselves we strangle the Godliness out of the Church. Without God there is no Church. With no Church, there is no longer any hope in the world.
The manner in which our current-day “reformers” speak and preach is almost apocalyptic. They forecast a complete dearth of vocations if we don’t ordain married men and women to the priesthood. They proclaim that Jesus would want women to be priests. They explain that “orthodoxy is inappropriate.” If these people had any true sense they would see that the true beauty in the Church is not found in the ornate architecture and sculptures, but rather, in the splendour of Her Sacraments. They were crafted by Our Lord during His short life amongst us. He ordained eleven men to be priests and bishops for His Church. The Last Supper marked this as an absolute truth. No women were present in that Upper Room, not even for a moment. While there were many saintly women who followed Our Lord as disciples, none were invited or called to follow Him in ordained ministry. That is final. Jesus Christ Himself decreed in deed rather than overt word that men were called to ordained ministry, and I believe that we all know that in this age of relativism, deed is vastly more important and binding than word.

"We Priests Are Afraid"

These words were spoken to me by a friend who is a priest in . . . a troubled area, shall I say? We were discussing the whole situation about women like Barb and Nancy and Joan, and he said the following:

(I paraphrase)
"John, we should live in a Church devoid of fear on the part of the clergy. Without us, there is no Eucharist, and without the Eucharist, no Church. Our bishops should not be siding with the politicking liberals amongst us, but rather, with his brother priests. We are of a sacred order, and this is something which some bishops do not realize. I'm afraid to speak up against abuse because the women in charge are closer to the bishop's ear than am I, so I ask you, who do you think he'd support? A friend or a priest? The laity cannot readily run the Church, save from a financial end. The priest must have sole authority and answer only to his ordinary. In making 'priest' merely a job in the hierarchy, the Church has lost focus. Of course, by 'Church' I mean the R_____ Diocese."

Let us pray for the good folks in the diocese of . . . Ramblesburg? Rickshawville? I think we can discern of which diocese the good padre spoke. Only in Rochester is the priest put on trial for the errors of the laity who so ineptly run our parishes.

Corpus Christi - Let's Stop At Dunkin' Donuts, Shall We?

In times past, I was a parishioner (albeit unofficial) at St. Anne Church in Rochester. While I usually stay in Albany on the weekends, my business called/calls me to Rochester with some frequency. I remember that for a few years in a row, St. Anne used to have a rather long Corpus Christi procession, leaving the front of the church, turning right onto Mt. Hope, going for nearly half a block, then rounding a corner, going in the parking lot, then the atrium, then to the altar for Adoration. There was always a joke among the parishioners as to whether we could stop at the Dunkin' Donuts establishment just about 100 feet farther from where we turned. (Thus the title.)

However, it appears as if this year the procession isn't happening. Evidently, there is a craft show scheduled for that Sunday morning, and it will be occurring in the atrium. It just seems improbable that a Eucharistic procession would pass between stands of fake flowers and other crafts. Although, with Sr. Sobala's touchy-feely approach to the faith, maybe she'd have Jesus stop at a couple stands, pick up a tacky "objet d'art" or two, and then go back home to the tabernacle. How the parish has fallen! They used to have two thuribles and several reverent altar servers. They weren't all boys, but at least they were respectful. Pange Lingua was echoing around the streets of the neighborhood, and passers-by would stop and bow their heads in humble supplication. Now the only heads bowing are those of the parishioners whose spirits have been thrown into the blender of Joan's theology and then promptly puréed into a runny liquid of bloody orthodoxy. Mmmmm . . . now we know what they will be serving for refreshments after Mass on Sundays from now on. (Apologies to the reader who said that he was planning on eating breakfast when he read this.)

Guardian Angel, Where Art Thou?

I've been poking around the internets in order that I may provide you some fresh stories. Nothing can be fresher than this little incident. Oddly enough, the source of it stems (albeit distantly) from St. Anne Church and Her Eminence Joan Sobala. One of the priests in residence at St. Anne, a Fr. Peter Abas, was sent to Guardian Angels Parish after the switch last summer. He has been working at this new parish since that time, but his job was terminated. Let's have a quiz, shall we? Notification was sent by which of the following venues:

• Bishop's Office
• Lay Administrator, Barbara Swiecki
• God the Spirit

The answer: Lay Administrator, Barbara Swiecki

From what I have gathered (and from a reliable source), Fr. Abas had concluded the Mass when Mrs. Swiecki got up, rang a gong/bell in the sanctuary (I kid you not) and asked for a moment of silence. After a short while, she began to speak and explained that Fr. Abas was no longer going to be at Guardian Angels because the parish couldn't afford him. To recap: the parish which has reached 110% + in the CMA can pay the wages of a youth director, an adminstrator, a grounds keeper and others, but cannot pay a priest to say Mass. And to top all that, Fr. Abas did not know of his departure until that moment.

Our priests deserve vastly better than to be fired by want-to-be priestesses because of politics. Similair things have, doubtlessly, occured in many other Rochester parishes. I yearn for the day when priests aren't intimidated by ecclesial bullies. Please pray that Fr. Abas is happy in his new assignment, which, quite certainly, will be vastly better than the one he has endured for almost a year. His new post will be at St. Thomas the Apostle, Christ the King and St. Salome's in Irondequoit. If you are a parishioner at one of these churches, I have a feeling that you will be in for a treat with this fellow.

I doff my cap to you, Lay Administrator Barbara Swiecki. Never before have we reached your level of unprofessional and immature behaviour.

What's My Line?

I found this little gem on YouTube and thought that you would all enjoy it.

Credo For Today

I have recently picked up a new book from Ignatius Press titled "Credo for Today," written by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. I haven't gotten too far into it, but from the first two chapters or so, I would have to say that it is on par with The Spirit of the Liturgy, if not surpassing it in some ways if that is at all possible. The pope plays the Ron Antinarelli card pretty early in his book, using the term "liberal theologians" only a couple pages into the book. As for the general feel of the book, I leave it to the able folks at Ignatius Press whose job it is to describe their products:

__________________________

What do Christians believe? What gives meaning to our life? What is the purpose of life? The Christian answer to these questions is found in the Creed, in the profession of faith. But what do the articles of this confession actually mean? And how to they affect our lives?

Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, takes a fresh look at these timeless questions. This work is a reflection of the profound, personal insights of Benedict XVI, but also of the great foundations of Christianity: faith, hope, and charity.

Ratzinger writes eloquently and persuasively about the importance for followers of Christ to understand well what they believe so one can live as a serious Christian in today’s secular world. He talks in depth about the true meaning of faith, hope, and love—the love of God and the love of neighbor. He also discusses the crucial importance of a lived faith, for the believer himself as well as being a witness for our age, and striving to bring faith in line with the present age that has veered off into rampant secularism and materialism.

"In our generation the Christian Faith finds itself in a much deeper crisis than at any other time in the past. In this situation it is no solution to shut our eyes in fear in the face of pressing problems, or to simply pass over them. If faith is to survive this age, then it must be lived, and above all, lived in this age. And this is possible only if a manifestation of faith is shown to have value for our present day, by growing to knowledge and fulfillment."

_________________________

I believe that the metaphorical ball is in your court, liberal theologians.

Poor Fr. Brian . . .

I have read the Catholic Courier's coverage of Fr. Brian Carpenter's ordination at Sacred Heart Cathedral last Saturday, and am pleased that there has only been support and happiness for him. However, nothing was mentioned about the music, the style of liturgy, the various "ministers" utilized by the Clark Bar. With thanks to a Mr. D___, I can most resolutely state the following:

1. Although Fr. Carpenter is most decidedly not an African gentleman, the diocese used numerous African and Jamaican-esque pieces, similar to (if not the piece itself) the famous setting of the "Halle, Halle" used in so many of our parishes. It's by Marty Haugen. Can I disguise my surprise?
2. Although there was no liturgical dancer, there was certainly a great deal of theatrics. When will Bishop Clark learn that people want a Mass, not a charmingly witty service of smile-evoking commentary. Mass should be devoid of causality.
3. The only genuinely Latin piece wasn't even genuinely Latin. It was a less-than-purebred combination of Latin and English during the imposition of hands on the part of the priests gathered there.
   
4. And, of course, who could possibly forget the brilliant organ? It is a marvelous instrument, one that is worthy of our respect and admiration. Its splendor is unrivaled in the church building. Oh, wait. That's right. It's a church. Not a concert hall. Hmm. . . It seems as though Bishop Clark has forgotten that little bit. Let's leave the organ where it should be left: in a position secondary to that of the Blessed Sacrament.
   

I have only met Fr. Carpenter on one occasion, and he is a very solid young man. His liturgies promise to be very reverent and by-the-book. No made-up settings of the Eucharistic Prayer under his watch! Let us pray that Fr. Brian will soon have for himself a liturgy worthy of his office.

Cleansing Fire

I have given much thought to this topic, and I have concluded that I, too, should start blogging. Maybe I'm just giving into fad and pomp, but I should like to think otherwise. After all, if our fellow Christian brethren can blog, so to can we. No, this is not a "royal we." It is the "we" of the exiled, the persecuted, the ostracized. What "we" have suffered and witnessed shall not ever go unknown or unreported. Cleansing Fire will serve this function: that "we" the orthodox and traditional shall put up a skillful defense (counter-attack?) when confronted with forces of progressive "reform," liturgical abuse, political manipulation and slander. Let's light this little bon-fire of orthodoxy, shall we? Let not our Roman Catholic faith be torn asunder from whence it was placed, and placed loftily, might I add. It is of too precious a store to be jostled and man-handled (person-handled?) by those who seek more entertainment than Divine Presence amongst us.

Lumen Christi.