What? A Conclave? And We're Invited?

Yes, it's true.

I know we've had the "next bishop quiz" before, but we've never had an actual election. Who will win? Who will lose? It's up to you, the Cardinals of Cleansing Fire. Just select the priest whom you honestly think should be the next bishop. Is he loyal to the faith? Is he able? Is he liturgically inclined? What are his views on lay preaching and lay administrators?

Please vote. If you haven't seen it, go to the top of the page and look to the right. I'm very interested to see who wins this thing. Then again, I'm not entirely certain anyone would want to "win" the episcopacy of Rochester.

Interior Pictures of St. Josephs

These are not the best pictures,but they will give you some idea of what the interior used to look like.

Need Baby Clothes

I am requesting baby girl & especially baby boy clothes for the Focus Pregnancy Help Center. I have a client coming in on Tuesday afternoon for baby boy clothes & we are a little short of boy clothes. I would be willing to pick up the clothes, if that works out better for the person donating, to the center. Please call Mary at 218-4051 or email her at marybailey@rochester.rr.com. with any questions.

Thank you,
Mary Jost

FW: Hilarity

I recently received this in my inbox:

The Pope and Nancy Pelosi are on the same stage in front of a huge crowd..

The Madame Speaker and The Pope, however, have seen it all before. To make it a little more interesting, Madame Speaker says to the Pope, "Did you know that with just one little wave of my hand I can make every Democrat in the crowd go wild?"

He doubts it, so she shows him. Sure enough, the wave elicits rapture and cheering from every Democrat in the crowd. Gradually, the cheering subsides.

The Pope, not wanting to be outdone by such a level of arrogance, considers what he could do...

"That was impressive, the Pope says, "But did you know that with .just one little wave of MY hand I can make many people in the crowd, and many around the world, go crazy with joy? This joy will not be a momentary display like that of your subjects, but will go deep into their hearts, and they will forever speak of this day and rejoice."

The speaker seriously doubts this, and says so. "One little wave of your hand and so many people will rejoice forever? Show me."

So the Pope slapped her.

Reminder ! Tridentine Latin Mass at Holy Spirit Church

Just a reminder of the Tridentine Latin Mass this Saturday morning at 8 a.m. (groan) at Holy Spirit Church, corner of Hatch and Plank Roads. It will be a Missa Cantata. The celebrant will be Father Gerard McMahon.

Sage Observation From Cardinal Siri

"If the Church were not Divine, this council (Vatican II) would have buried her."

-Cardinal Giuseppe Siri

_______________________

On a side note, someone recently criticized me/us for "attacking the pope." For future reference, citing papal documents is not anti-papal. When someone says, "Pope Benedict said in _____, that _______ is not permitted," that someone is not saying any of the following:

• The pope is wrong.
• The pope is not a valid pope.
• The pope should resign.
• The pope should be ousted.
• The pope should be re-educated.
• The pope is out-of-line.
• The pope is inappropriate.
• The pope is too out-dated.
• The pope is absolutely insane.

If anyone says that, then that's what we consider to be "sede vacantist," that is, Catholic who believe that the See of Rome has no validly elected leader, i.e. "pope." We are not of this persuasion here at Cleansing Fire. Anyone who suggests anything to the contrary should be considered illiterate. I think the photo below shows that our late pontiff John Paul II agrees with my statement.


Pope John Paul II, defender of the faith, pray for us.

Epic Fail, Catholic Style

Doing my weekly "perusal session" last night, I found what may very well be called "a Catholic Epic Fail." For those of you who may not be familiar with the term "epic fail," it is like this: someone does or says something incredibly moronic, but doesn't realize that what he/she has said/done is moronic.

What was this "epic fail?"

"St. Francis
47th Annual
Chicken BBQ
July 12th
11 am. until sold out
Adults $7.00 ~ Children $5.00
Chicken Halves $4.00
Tickets available at the door."

St. Francis Annual Chicken BBQ? Something tells me the patron of animals and animal lovers would not want his name associated with such an activity.

To see the full ad in the bulletin, just click here and go to page 4.

Funny remark Bishop Casey made once

St. John the Evangelist in Greece was the first church in the DoR built after the Second Vatican Council. Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence B. Casey was called upon to bless this new-fangled looking church. He is reported to have said, after having looked around the church, ". . . do I bless it or launch it. . .?

A diocesan history snippet

In 1851, Bishop Timon of Buffalo appointed, as pastor of St. Peter's Church (it later became Saints Peter and Paul's when it moved to West Main Street), Father Francis Xavier Krautbauer, who later became bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was Bishop from 1875 to 1885.

St. Stanislaus Defended

Well, I listened to the pleas for a "counter" video to the DoR's CMA video.

Behold:

Video of St. Michael's on Clinton Avenue North

I thought many of you would enjoy seeing the inside of St. Michael's Church, arguably the architecturally best church in the diocese. The church is now a repository for the Brombaugh Organ, until the organ's final home in California, is ready for it. If you ever get a chance, stop in St. Michael's and look around but also pray especially for vocations.

Now in it's third home, John Brombaugh's Opus 9, built for Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Toledo, OH, will wait patiently until it's new owners can bring it to California. In the meantime it will enjoy the cavernous acoustics of this beautiful church, kept alive by the sheer will of it's dwindling congregation. The old organ is a Steere from the early 1900s, electrified by Tellers in the 1950s (originally tubular pneumatic!), and now wheezing along and kept alive by a few dedicated volunteers in the church.

St. Boniface at the center of Swillburg

The New Saint Boniface on Gregory Street

The German Catholics of the southeastern part of city wanted a church that was closer than St. Joseph's on Franklin Street. So, the German families and the Redemptorist priests from St. Joseph's sought the approval of Bishop Timon of Buffalo (Rochester was not yet a diocese. That happened in 1868) to build St. Boniface .

The site on Gregory Street (then it was called Grand Street) was purchased for $1,000. The original three-story brick building housed the rectory and school on the first floor and the church on the second floor. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop Timon on June 17, 1860 and the dedication was June 8, 1861, also by Bishop Timon.

Boundaries of the German parishes were fixed

On October 10, 1864, Bishop Timon fixed the boundaries of the 4 then existing German parishes: St. Joseph, SS Peter and Paul, St. Boniface and Holy Family. St. Boniface was bounded on the east and north by Monroe Avenue and Howell Street and on the west by the Genesee River. In July of 1865, the pastor Father John F. Payer, an Austrian, engaged the School Sisters of Notre Dame as teachers. The original church was only 40 feet by 60 feet and to accommodate the increasing population, the church was enlarged by another 40 feet. This new addition was blessed by Rochester's first bishop, Bernard McQuaid in 1870.

The New Church

The year 1885 was devoted to making plans for the new church. The plans were submitted to architect William Schnickel of New York. On April 12, 1886, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated to beg God's blessing on the erection of the new church. On June 6, Bishop McQuaid laid the cornerstone, amid much ceremony both secular and religious. The Gregory Street church was a fine example of Gothic architecture with a tower of 195 feet and was erected at a cost of $70,000.

Solemn Dedication and Blessing

Saint Boniface had a richly carved wooden altar that was installed in 1894. The sculptor was Anthony Halstrich, formerly of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany. Herr Halstrich had established the "Anthony Halstrich Christian Art Studio" in Rochester in 1893. The interior, without the vestibule, was 130 feet long by 63 feet wide. The main altar towered to 27 feet in height from the base to the tip of the altar and a breadth of 16 feet. New Stations of the Cross by Frank Pedevilla were erected in February of 1901.

The Great Fire

On November 6, 1957, a group of Catholic priests anxiously awaited the arrival of Francis Cardinal Spellman, due in Rochester to help observe the 25th anniversary of the consecration of the Most Rev. James E. Kearney, bishop of Rochester.

As the cardinal got off his plane, he asked, "Did you know there's a church on fire in the city? It's a red brick one near the river." The fire, apparently started from sparks from a charcoal fire pot being used by workmen as they installed flashings around the chimney at the left rear of the church.

The Blessed Sacrament Rescued

The Rev. George A. Cocuzzi, vice chancellor of the diocese, was the only priest in the rectory at the time. With the aid of two altar boys, he rescued the Blessed Sacrament and other religious articles from the church.

Church Razed

On Easter Monday, April 7, 1958, the Atlas Wrecking Company began to bring down the church. The demolition was completed on June 5, 1958, the feast of St. Boniface.

The New Saint Boniface

Ground was broken for the new church on April 5, 1959 and the work started immediately. The altars, Stations of the Cross and statues, came from Daprato Studios, the pews from the Rochester Novelty Company and the new organ from the Teller Organ Company of Erie, PA. Stained glass windows were ordered from Pike Glass Studios.

The church was completed and opened on March 6th, 1960. The altars were consecrated by the Most Rev. Lawrence B. Casey, Rochester's auxiliary bishop on March 29, 1960. The parish celebrated 100 years of history with the solemn dedication of the new church by Bishop James E. Kearney.

Aerial view of St. Boniface

Whither Goest Thou?

I think it's about time for another Cleansing Fire reflection.

So often in our lives we are confronted with adversity, whether in society, private life, academic pursuits or the hierarchy in the cubicles. These numerous crosses which rise up can throw us far off course, occasionally driving a wedge of derision (and division, as well) between us and the Church, between us and salvation. Why do some falter while some become saints? Is there a true difference between them and us?

No, indeed there is not. Each person, even those whom we occasionally chastise here, is called to sanctity and sainthood in the universal Church. This is our true Christian vocation, to be saints and defenders of the faith. But, alas, we often fail at this when these crosses of life arise. This is the true problem, for without the cross life would be entirely free and burden-less. Indeed, if the literal cross of Calvary had not arisen, there would be no true core of Christianity. The theology and depth thereof would be lacking. The crosses which we encounter may not be the cross which Our Lord experienced, but we can learn from Him to thrive in the face of such an issue.

When a cross presents itself, we must ask ourselves, "where do we go?" Do we skirt the cross, taking an alternate route and postponing our own dolorous passion? Do we run head-long towards the cross, ready to embrace suffering for the sake of our souls (and Our Lord)? We must do this latter. Embrace the cross. Though the splinters of the cross cause us to bleed, though the nails cause us to be drained of our spiritual life-blood, we must kiss the cross. For after the passion and death of Our Lord on the Cross, what happened? The Resurrection. Yes, we must endure suffering for His sake, facing mockery, condemnation and hate. However, through this we reach a more perfect level of spiritual awareness, learning to offer up our sufferings as little penances and acts of reparation.

So, I pose the question to all of us: "Whither Goest Thou?" Do we embrace the cross or do we hide from it? I should think, reading the emails some of you send and the comments many of you post, we are generally taking the path of pain. And for that I am most glad. For after pain, only relief can come.

**Sorry to "go preachy" on you all. It's been a while since I've had the time or energy to present a reflection such as this. It's vastly easier to make sardonic YouTube videos and laugh rather than to reflect. This said, I have some videos in the works. You can expect them soon.**

Minor Seminary

These videos are especially for those younger men in the DoR who may be considering the seminary.

Saint John Vianney is the largest College seminary in the United States. Come and see how the Holy Spirit in transforming the men of today into the fathers of tomorrow.



I will pray for any man (young or older) considering a vocation.

Use this video for DoR CMA

This is a perfectly fine video that the DoR could have used, with some slight editing, to get (read, bilk) hard-earned money out of its parishioners. The video has the same message as the Clark DoR video...."send in the money and be happy."

I agree the video is a little dated, but we could edit that and save tons of money and have more money to keep our cathedral afloat, and have more scholarship money to send heretics to St. Barnyards on French Road to further erode our diocese.

What They Have to Say . . .

Ever since the enormous amount of anger/frustration shown at the diocesan YouTube channel for it's less-than-traditional promo video, people have been asking what people outside of our little bubble of Catholicity have to say. Well, here are your answers. Of course, these people have asked for anonymity, so I can't divulge their identities.

• "It's so bad it's pathetic. I would be crying, but I'm laughing at the stupidity and blindness of those who made this video."
• "This isn't a promotional video for the CMA. It's the death rattle of a dying race of heterodox 'reformers'"
• "This is absolutely disgusting. Is the bishop purposely trying to alienate the various members of his flock? If so, he's doing a great job. He's not getting a single penny from me."
• "Thank God we only have about two and a half more years with this kind of stuff. When will the bishop realize that he and his cronies are stuck in the 1970's? I mean, really, folk/rock music in St. Stan's? Get real."

All I can say is that these people are "relevant."



By the way, the Cleansing Fire Choir, "Schola Ignem," now has 10 members. Thank you to all!

Rochester Diocesan History - WE HAVE A WINNER

Name the 12th Catholic church built in the City of Rochester?

Answers to Bible search below

There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends...One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo, Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

Annunciation on Norton Street

The picture above was one of the architectural sketches of what Annunciation COULD have looked like. Below is what they chose. The ?church? below is not currently used as a Catholic Church. The Annunciation parishioners went back to the first church that was built across the street. It's a wooden church, quite similar to the old St. Helen's on Hinchey Road in Gates.

A DoR priest --can anybody identify him?

Can you name the former diocesan priest that is now with the Fathers of Mercy in Kentucky? He is in the top row, third from the left?

A Tridentine Mass in the early 80s

Pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres 2009

The Association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté organizes every year at Pentecost a pilgrimage from Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres (France): three days to live and build the Christianity of the third millennium.

Covering within three days a distance of approximately 65 miles, the pilgrims walk in chapters. The pilgrimage has about 160 chapters each comprising around fifty pilgrims from all over France and even abroad (USA, Great Britain, Poland, Canada, Spain, etc. ...). Each year, approximately 8,000 to 10,000 pilgrims, walk to the Marian shrine of Chartres, expressing the condition of Christian life which is to be a long pilgrimage and a long walk to paradise...

My fondest wish is that some Rochester kids could go on this pilgrimage. Most of the kids are in their teens and twenties. Do liberals even have pilgrimages? It's sad if they don't. If you want to read a good, informative book, read "Liberalism is a Sin".

Attention Cleansing Fire Choir!

The list of songs to be sung is completed, and my fraternal relation has happily agreed to assist us in our music making and recording.

So, at this point I ask any additional people wishing to sing to email me via the link at the right of the post. As of now, there are about four of us, plus previously mentioned fraternal relation. It would be an immense blessing if even just one more person stepped forth to "glorify God through our music."

I will be emailing all choir volunteers the list of songs we will be recording. Hopefully, before the end of next week, I will be able to send you the actual musical notation for the songs.

Tridentine Latin Mass at Holy Spirit Church

Next Saturday, September 12, there will be a sung Tridentine Latin Mass at Holy Spirit Church at 8 a.m. (yes, 8 a.m.!). Mass will be celebrated by Father Gerard McMahon. Holy Spirit is at 1355 Hatch Road in Webster, at the corner of Plank Road. Any questions, leave them in the combox and I will answer them.
Oremus pro invicem.

A Reading From the Holy Gospel According to Sanctus

I thought that it was about time that all of you (save one, and I know who you are) would enjoy new bits of wisdom from Sanctus:

• "You've got to watch out for these nuns. You don't know what they're gonna try to pull."
• "It's gotten to the point where one lady has to read, serve and give out communion at Daily Mass. I asked her this morning when she was going to start wearing the vestments."
• "Latin was great. But every time I had to say the Confiteor I said it differently!"
• "I went to Mass one in the Thousand Islands, and it was in this big auditorium. The Protestants were on one side, the Catholics on the other, so two services were going on at once. Well, at communion time, I accidentally got into the wrong line, so I got the Protestant bread instead of the real stuff. Whenever I go to Mass there (DoR) I feel like I'm in the wrong line, like I'm there for a Protestant service instead of Mass."
• "When I was an altar boy (1920's), there were so many nuns, and I'd usually serve for the priest saying Mass in their chapel. Gee, you wouldn't believe what those nuns said before and after Mass. I even heard one giving one of those 'Knock Knock Jokes' to a priest. I didn't know nuns were human before that!"

I hope you are sufficiently tickled by these recollections.


To you, "Anonymous," what would your priest say if he saw what you were typing? I pray you will refrain from posting here any heated comments alleging elder abuse etc . . .

Obama Lies; Grandma Dies

Despite the cartoonish look to this video, it needs to be taken very seriously. Obama is a threat to all right-believing Catholics and Christians. Obama needs to be prayed for earnestly. He must repent. He is a socialist and wants the United States to be socialist country.

This is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine

I'm sure you've all noticed that when some dies, many people say, "he or she passed". Why is this? Are people afraid to say "died"? As in "he died" or "she died".

I was talking with a friend and I asked about his aunt (notice how differently that is pronounced too..."long" a in aunt. I always pronounced it "ant".), he said, "Oh yeah, she passed about a year ago." What was she in a Euchre tournament and died at the table?

Why are we afraid of the word died? It has a very specific meaning; "passed" doesn't. Does using "passed" somehow reflect on not believing in God?

If you can, clue me in here about what's going on?

I remember when I was a kid, my mother told me that grandma died; and then later, she was on the phone with a relative speaking and my mother said (about my grandmother's death), "We lost her". I ripped into the kitchen and yelled to her "you lied to me, mother, you said she was dead".

Nod of the Miter, Smack of the Crosier - Week of September 2, 2009

I had some free time today, so I decided I might as well put up this weeks nods and smacks.

Enjoy.

IPPG Under CF Interdict

Regarding the Irondequoit Pastoral Planning Group's latest statements:

Can you find thirty (30) books of the Bible in this paragraph? Actually, there are 31 if you can find the variant of one Old Testament prophet's name.

The answers are in the above post.

From Highest Heaven to Demonic Depths

A priest with whom I often speak asked me to write on the topic of weddings, for he often experiences great frustration with them. He noted how a couple can have a beautiful wedding Mass, with sacred music and clouds of incense, and then leave church to revel in drunken madness at the reception. Of course, there is nothing wrong with revelry, but my friend told me how he once had to defend his father (recently deceased) from the vicious attacks of a less-than-sober "best man."According to some priestly authors, only the demonic can cause such a tremendous about-face on a day of undoubted sanctity. And I believe it. Weddings are moments of celebration, but not the profane celebrations of human ability. No, it's a celebration between the nuptial trinity: the bride, the groom, and God. Where do tequila shooters and vodka have a place in this?

To have a reception where the priest's father is derided and commented upon lewdly, where the "music" is so loud as to prevent conversation, where the sanctity of the day is discarded to make way for drunken debauchery is no "reception" at all, for the gift received at the altar, God's binding blessing, is no longer "received" but is discarded carelessly.

I am not saying in any way that a reception should be as solemn and sacred as the wedding Mass. After all, we all need a little fun outside of church. However, this fun must be in good taste and must be had according to the faith which we have. This faith is not one that promotes binge-drinking, lust-filled songs, and improper jokes. Our faith is one that recognizes God's providential hand in everything, including the painful and the joyful alike. To have a wedding at which you kneel so piously before Our Lord, and then to go forth and satisfy your gluttonous urges is to embrace hypocrisy and to behave in a most un-Catholic manner. Indeed, it is to act in an inhuman manner. For human beings are called to be creatures of dignity, above the impairing effects of alcohol and lust. Yes, we fall, yes, we succumb. However, to lead hundreds of others into this for the sake of jocularity? That, dear readers, is much more serious.

Please note, this is not meant to judge anyone or their receptions. It is a commentary on society. If you feel the urge to post a comment berating me for my Puritanical streak, think twice. It comes down to this: would God find fault in our often decadent and sinful receptions or would he join in? Something tells me it would not be the latter, but the former.

For All the Saints --

WARNING - I wouldn't let children watch this video without an adult viewing it first.

This is a very sobering video about faith. Christians, especially Catholics (because we have the fullness of truth) are being shut down and marginalized by the state. Perhaps this video will remind us of what suffering might come. Please watch all of it.
I would be very interested in reading your comments.

New YouTube Video

Here is the new video for Cleansing Fire's YouTube channel. However, I'd also like to announce that a previous video, "Closed Parishes of the Diocese of Rochester," has had its original audio returned! You can now hear it as it was intended to be heard.

Anyways, enjoy.

All Souls Chapel in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

All Soul's Chapel, built in 1876, has become the centerpiece of Holy
Sepulchre cemetery. Designed by Andrew Jackson Warner, it was a
small but graceful building measuring 40' x70'. Warner was one of
Rochester's most prominent architects, having been the architect
in residence for the building of St. Patrick's Cathedral and
designer of the addition to the cathedral and Our Lady Chapel.
He also designed the buildings of St. Bernard's Seminary.

The style he selected for the chapel was Early English Gothic, with a
steep slate roof, and built of Medina stone from a local quarry. The
building was planned and completed in three phases, over a ten-year
period.

Phase I

The first phase was the construction of the below-ground undercroft,
which was needed for the storage of bodies, when the winter weather
prevented the hand digging of graves. A crypt for the bishops of the
diocese was also provided there, and was in use until the mid 1930's.

Phase II
The second phase was the completion of the main floor of the chapel
itself, which was done as money became available. In 1885 it was
completed. Some of the interior design features of the chapel were
the attractive supporting hammer beams and the carved wood frames
for the memorial plaques, the handiwork of Dominic Mura, a local
carpenter.

The stained glass windows picturing the fourteen Stations of the
Cross were made in the Studios of P. Nicolas in Roermond, Holland.
He also designed the rose window with Bishop McQuaid's coat of arms
as the centerpiece and the two lancet windows on the facade of the
building.

The handsome white marble altar, trimmed in black marble, stands on
a base of pink Tennessee marble. It was designed and built by the
Hall Company of Boston and was a gift given by the faithful of the
diocese.

The bishop stipulated that each donation was not to exceed $.25,
thus making it possible for everyone to participate in this
magnificent gift. The stenciling and gold leafing of the hammer
beams and the painting of the ceiling panels, with their pictorial
symbols and icons of the passion of Christ, as well as other
religious symbols, highlight the magnificent interior decoration
of the chapel. Not much is known concerning the artist, other than
his name, Chester F. Leiderson; but his work, after all
these years stands as a tribute to his craftsmanship and
artistic ability.


Over the years, the chapel has served many purposes, other than
as a committal chapel for burials. In the early days, services
were held for the faithful from nearby neighborhoods and as an
interim church building for newly developing parishes in the
adjacent areas. It is still very much in use today as a
committal chapel. A monthly memorial mass is said there for all
the deceased in the cemetery, from October to May each year,
and in the other remaining months, the mass is said in the St.
Bernard's Chapel in All Saints Mausoleum on the cemetery grounds.
The building has been meticulously cared for and renovated over the
years to remain the architectural gem that it is today.
All Saints Mausoleum
The Chapel



The Chapel Tower -- Phase III
The third and last phase, completed in 1886, was the addition of the
magnificent 110-foot tower, topped with a bronze rooster weather vane,
symbolizing St. Peter's denying of Christ as the cock crowed. The original
plan called for a bell in the tower, along with a water tank for irrigation,
but these were never installed.

In 2000, some 114 years later, a large bronze bell became available
when a chapel building closed. It had been dedicated to the memory
of Bishop McQuaid after his death in 1909. It was made available by
the diocese to the cemetery, which arranged to have it moved,
restored and placed in the tower. It now speaks, along with the 1980
carillon, and can be heard by visitors throughout the East Division.
Sometimes, when the wind is just right, it can be heard on the other
side of the Genesee River.

In the 1930's Archbishop Edward A. Mooney, the bishop of the diocese,
built a lovely new six-crypt mausoleum of white Vermont marble,
in the base of the tower. It is used as the resting place for the
bishops of the diocese. Since not all of the bishops of Rochester
Diocese are entombed in this mausoleum, a handsome bronze memorial
plaque for all the bishops who did serve, was placed at the base of
the tower. Those not buried here are Cardinal Mooney in Detroit,
Michigan, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, in St. Patrick's Cathedral in
New York City and Bishop Joseph Hogan in St. Rose's Cemetery in his
boyhood hometown of Lima, New York.


In 1983, the bronze statue of Bishop McQuaid, which was erected on
the grounds of St. Bernard's Seminary in 1929, was moved to the
cemetery grounds, shortly after St. Bernard's Seminary closed.
It is now located at the base of the chapel tower. This impressive
statue was designed in the Joseph Sibbel Studios of New York City
and cast in bronze in Italy. It was given in memory of the bishop
by the clergy of the diocese.

For many years, the chapel was the focus of the annual ceremony of
the blessing of the graves. Bishop McQuaid early decided to intro-
duce this European custom of All Souls' Day. He began on November
1, 1876. The Bishop and clergy first sang the Office of the Dead
inside the chapel; then McQuaid addressed the crowds from the
chapel steps; finally he processed about the grounds sprinkling the
graves with holy water.

Unfortunately, November proved too chilly a month to be popular and
was changed to September with a notably increased in attendance.
Only during World War II did the crowds decrease, because of the
gasoline shortage. Continuity was broken, and the last blessing of
the graves took place in 1966 witnessed by no more than 200 visitors.

Modernist in the C of E

Maybe because a good part of my background is British, I find this extremely funny. I hope you do too.



Another for your enjoyment.

The Gloria to Missa Luba

Salve Festa Dies

What's so important about Sunday, October 18, 2009?

Well, I'll give you one hint: it has to do with a change from four digits to three digits . . .

Yes, that's right, it's the 1000 day mark for the Bishop Clark retirement count-down!


I would like, very much, to celebrate this special day, but I'll leave it to you, the readers, to decide how, when, where, etc . . . Perhaps a Cleansing Fire delegation to the Latin Mass that day? Lunch after? Nothing? Everything? The choices are yours, so let's start a dialogue.

Sorry about dropping the D-bomb.

St. Edward of Massachusetts

St. Edward of Massachusetts? A great defender of the faith? Not so much.

I know that if you're reading this, you know why this man's political views were antithetical to everything "Catholic" in this world (and the next). However, I would like to ask a question? Do schismatic Catholics still observe something called "social justice," or do they only care about the poor, not the unborn, the elderly etc . . . ?

From the blog of a certain someone who is now a "priest" at Spiritus Christi:

I like to think that Ted is now part of the heavenly senate, continuing to work toward the rights of all.

I hate to rain on the parade at Spiritus, although, come to think about it, there probably is no parade because gay pride week is over. But, I must still rain nonetheless. Ted Kennedy fought, not for the rights of all, but for the rights of the few and the death of many.

"As for me and my family, we shall follow the Lord."

The Lord would not stand for the killing of unborn children. Then again, perhaps the pro-choice politicians are blessed among men (and women), for they listen to Jesus' command very clearly: "Let the little children come unto me." Through their legislation, they have sent many little children unto Our Lord. Perhaps, though, the Lord didn't mean to kill them . . .

I don't know. I'm no Bible scholar. I'll leave that to our able lay administrators. They seem to know the will of God.

Religious Humor

A Belated "Nod" Goes to . . .

Officer Mike D., for aiding in the recovery of the vehicle of Truth.

You have my immense gratitude.

(More regarding this matter will come shortly.)

Another baby saved, Praise God!

Dear Prolifers,

I am so happy to report to you that another precious
baby was saved from abortion on Thursday, August 27th. at
Planned Parenthood!!

This was about to be an RU 486 abortion. We intercepted
the mother & her daughter who were about to go into
Planned Parenthood.  The woman's daughter is 18 years old
& didn't want her mother to kill her brother or sister.
We talked to the mother & then brought her into the Focus
Center. She cried with remorse for what she was about
to do.

She was wearing the Rosary, around her neck, that I gave
her about six weeks ago, when she passed me on the
sidewalk.  She wasn't pregnant then or she didn't know
she was.  The Blessed Mother was interceding for her.
She is talking about adoption & Suzanne, the counselor
at Focus, called Bethany Adoption Services, for our client.
The daughter was so happy that her mother 'choose life'
today.  They went away very happy & we will continue to
support this family, through her pregnancy.  What a
blessing this day was though sad for the lives that
were lost.

There also could have been a second save.  Praise God!
The couple passed us on the sidewalk & he said to the
girl that he was with, looking at the graphic picture, 
"this is what you are about to do".  She told him to
"shut up" & they walked into Planned Parenthood.
Less then 10 minutes later they both came walking out
and I offered him a Truth packet, with lots of
information in it, which he took.  They walked down
the sidewalk. Thank you Lord!

Keep praying & we need you,
Mary

I want to thank all the prolifers that were there
witnessing & praying, on the sidewalk, in defending
'life'. 

With Candles Ablaze

I have been reviewing, to my most immense displeasure, the footage of the 2009 CMA video released by the Diocese of Rochester. There are several points which Dr. K adroitly pointed out earlier this evening.

HOWEVER -

From 5:23 on, for several seconds, it is plainly seen that the sanctuary candles are lit. This means that the Blessed Sacrament was present for the duration of this mockery of faith. Not only was Our Lord present during this festival of monetary promotion, but no one gave him any reverence or even a nod of silent affirmation of his presence. Not once in the whole video does one see a person kneeling before Our Lord, or someone bowing in deference to His awesome majesty. Yes, we see our solid priests raising the matter at the moment of consecration, but what then? Evidently the Diocese of Rochester doens't consider Our Lord's presence to mean anything, when focusing, as it always does, on the capital to be gained from shameless self-promotion and the spreading of corrosive half-truths.


There is no excuse for this immature and wholly inappropriate use of a church building. A church is to be a place of respectful prayer, as the psalms duly state, "God is in His holy temple. Silence, all, before the Lord." Why is this so hard to grasp?

It is because the diocese has become complacent in its faith, with a few notable exceptions, most of which have been passive-aggressively attacked in this video. Tell me, do you not think it a massive statement on the part of Bishop Clark that the parishes most prominently featured are those which are most prominently orthodox? It is not, dearest readers. It's a bishop who's learning how to "play hard-ball."

Let's play/pray right back, then. Shall we?

Nod of the Miter, Smack of the Crosier - August 27, 2009

Little known fact of Rochester Diocesan History

It seems that the first radio broadcast on record for the solemnities of a Catholic episcopal consecration was for our third bishop, John Francis O'Hern. O'Hern was consecrated a bishop in the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1929. His co-consecrators were two of his best friends: Rochester-born Edward J. Hanna, Archbishop of San Francisco and Thomas Charles O'Reilly, bishop of Scranton. Rochester's pioneer raadio station, WHAM broadcast the whole ceremony to the diocese from 9 am to 2:30 p.m. Today you "ordain a bishop", you don't "consecrate a bishop". Libs hate it when you say "consecrate a bishop."

Name that church -- It's St. Mary's in Medina

If you can name the church where this picture was taken, I will write an article about your favorite Catholic Church in Monroe County. Hint: the picture is not of a church in the diocese of Rochester. The first correct response wins. Winner is based on the time-stamp at the end of your post. Good luck!

All I Can Say Is . . . Wow

Wow.

(Click it.)

Baby saved from being killed

This article below is from Mary Jost, director of the
Focus Crisis Pregnancy Center on University Ave.

Dear Prolifers,

On Thursday, August 20th., there was a baby saved from being killed at
Planned Parenthood by abortion. Thank God! The mother came out &
said to me that she saw the graphic pictures & couldn't do it. I brought
her into the Focus Pregnancy Help Center & give her more information
& a DVD on Growth & Development, of the baby in utero. I brought her
into the Material Aid Room & gave her a stuffed animal & a T-Shirt for
her baby that she would bond with her child.

I'm sorry to report that many other babies, lost their lives at Planned
Parenthood this day. We need more people now to be out in front of
Planned Parenthood to pray & to witness, to save lives. They do the
ultrasounds & preparations on Tuesdays & the abortions, all day,
on Thursdays. Please comeout to pray & witness. Thank you.

To Anonymous

Email me. We need to talk.


I know there are a lot of posters who are here anonymously, but only one treats me and my co-writers like enemies of decency and the Faith. (And it's not Ray Grosswirth.)

I won't make the others suffer by banning anonymous comments. I've had really more than enough of your disdainful rhetoric. You call me a hypocrite? Perhaps the problem not within the depths of my soul but within your own perception of reality.


I apologize to the readers of this blog who have had to deal with persistent bickering. Will you please pardon me for this "housekeeping" post?

You Must Look For This

I just watched this trailer and thought it amazingly well done. A more in depth article can be found at Catholic Ponderings.

Congolese Music at the Tridentine Latin Mass

The Missa Luba is a based on the Tridentine Latin Mass using traditional Congolese songs. The arrangement was by Franciscan Father Guido Haazen from Belgium. This is the Kyrie section. Kyrie is actually Greek; not Latin. This is not your typical European styled Catholic Mass music. This is something quite different, but nonetheless was used as the music for the celebration of the Tridentine Latin Mass.

Hitler Liked Progressive Liturgy

It's a fact.

"We Have a New Priestess"

So did an email in my inbox start off. Evidently, the infallible master's degrees of St. Bernard's have enabled yet another lady to become a "pastoral minister." Seriously, if a degree from St. Bernard's is your Imprimatur to start a Renaissance of unwanted reform, you have some issues.

You can see the bulletin and read the news for yourself here.

I can't wait till the installation Mass. Funny, I don't recall an installation Mass for any priests taking over parishes . . .

Then again, when a diocesan priest says, "We (priests) know that if one of us and 'Julie' get into a fight, the bishop will choose 'Julie.' So much for the priesthood being the greatest fraternal society in the world," you can't expect anything else from our unpleasant reality.

Pray for the bishop. Pray for the new administrator. They will both have to bear an unbelievable burden. It's somewhat vague what her duties may entail, but when a lay woman (yes, I know, redundant) gets involved with a relatively stable parish, little good can come of it. Of course, patterns may change, but look at the DoR track record.


(Folks, get your cameras ready. I can only pray that this "minister" will act with humility and liturgical correctness in her new assignment. It is possible, you know. Anyways, as I said, have your cameras ready.)

St. Andrew's on Portland Avenue -- Church Architecture

This video, using Rochester's Saint Andrew Church on Portland Avenue, gives a basic overview of church architecture. The video shows basic parts of a church (in cruciform style). It describes what an apse, transepts, nave, clerestory are. This parish had Msgr. George Eckl as its pastor. He died at 100 (he was pastor emeritus then). The special effects in the video can be distracting.

Welcome to Blogdom

Well, it looks as if yet another Rochester seminarian has joined the blogging community. Peter Mottola has created a very well-written blog at http://declinapaulisper.blogspot.com/. I highly suggest that you give it a read and become a subscriber. These young people need all the help they can get.

"We three bloggers come from afar, bearing words more radiant than stars."

Weak metaphor. I know. Deal with it.

Solution: 16 hidden Bible book names

The letters in bold reveal the solution to the paragraph with 16 Bible book names hidden in it.

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible (merely by a fluke). It kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now. There really are sixteen names of books in this story.

"Gimme two to go."

Thus were the words of a man who presented a pyx to a priest this morning.

The priest's words: "We need to talk after Mass."

It was a great inspiration to see a priest willing to say "no" to a lay person. So many of the problems we encounter today stem from the weakened role of the priest in our "worship communities," which stems, in turn, from an unwillingness to exert traditional influence.

Note, the laity didn't feel "oppressed" by the Mass until liberal liturgists, and I'm being generous, calling them "liturgists," said to the laity, "You see, the priest has turned his back on you."

Um, no. The priest faces God, not the people whom he has made. In the courts of Europe, one used to face the king or queen, even when leaving a room. Therefore, the person had to back up, still in a bowing posture, until the king or queen was out of sight. You don't talk to a subject of the crown when the monarch himself is in the room. And who can deny that Our Lord is the chiefest monarch? A friend told me recently, "the devil came up with some very creative lines that weakened the 'ad orientem Church.' And our liturgists were often his mouthpieces." How true this is.

A little brain teaser

Can you find sixteen (16) books of the Bible in this paragraph?

I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible (merely by a fluke). It kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now. There really are sixteen names of books in this story.

Sunday Organ Recessional

Some of you go to churches with little or no architectural pizazz, and most often these churches don't have really good organs. So I thought you would enjoy looking at magnificent architecture and some top-notch organ music on Sunday. The piece is the Grand Choeur Dialogue by Eugene Gigout. This piece was the processional played at Archbishop Dolan's installation in St. Patricks in NYC. The cathedral in the video is in Cologne, Germany.

The Beautiful Past

Thanks to Choir Loft for providing these beautiful photos.

Our Lady of Victory

I know many people who read this blog attend Our Lady of Victory. Here are a few pictures from yesteryear. The rectory seems to have more lawn today than then. Who ever does the gardening at OLV has done a really beautiful job. The garden is easy on the eyes. The picture that shows St. Joseph's Church is looking east from Our Lady of Victory. It must have been a somewhat residential area back when.

Still Looking For Musical Recruits

I was thinking that after the glorious organ music of Widor, some people might be emboldened to volunteer for a "Cleansing Fire Musical production." No, it's not "Pope Joan: The Musical." The name and content will only be revealed when the recording is done.

Really, I need volunteers for this venture. I only have 1 volunteer at present. My goal is for four+. You wouldn't want to let me down, now, would you? I'd be so hurt.

Here is a hint for the finished piece(s): The hills are alive.

You gotta keep your eyes closed for this one and pretend it's a Catholic Church.

You have to overlook a few things in this video. One it is from St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It's an Anglican cathedral, neo-Classical design by Sir Christopher Wren, but no matter how beautiful it looks (and it does) it still lack the true presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. That's why my Dad a convert to Catholicism referred to the Anglican/Episcopalian Church as the "Church of the Real Absence".

We also have to overlook the Royal Family and pretend something way more Catholic coming down the central nave. Also, in the music, there is the "Vivat Regina" part, which we could probably ignore too.

Nobody can do ceremony like the British. Absolutely NO one.

New Processional Hymn

This would be the best song to use for liturgical dancing. It even has religious words and themes in it They have words like "judgment day", "Lord", "hallelujah", "Promised Land", they even sing about "washing sins away". Just imagine Thomas Warfield standing in for Judy Garland and we could get some ushers or usherettes to fill in as dancers. on the other hand, instead of Warfield, would get have Sister Joan and the dancers could be some priests of the diocese that like her. Too bad Jerome Robbins has died, he could have choreographed it for the diocese.

Seriously this would get everybody in a happy mood and the celebration would get kicked-off with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The possibilities are endless of where this could go. We could send liturgy into another galaxy of stars.

School Sisters of Notre Dame

The School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND)have been in the Rochester diocese for over 150 years. Actually their incorporated name is the "Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame" but years ago they dropped the "Poor" because it was thought their teaching might have been worth somewhat less because of the word "Poor". Official documents still use the "Poor".

In 1833, Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger founded the order.

Mother Theresa Gerhardinger brought five School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) from Bavaria to America in 1847 to educate German immigrant children.

The SSNDs originally taught only in parishes with German congregation. In Rochester that would have been Holy Redeemer, Holy Family, St. Michael's, St. Joseph's, St. Boniface, SS Peter and Paul (my church as a boy. I was taught by SSNDs), Holy Ghost in Coldwater and Sacred Heart in Perkinsville (this was a short lived assignment).

They were absolutely the best teachers. Each day, school began with Mass
at 8 a.m. Then after walking (single-file) over to school we hung our coats up in the "cloak room", we began our daily studies with one hour of religion. They knew it was their mission to get souls to heaven. I was lucky because I was an altar boy so I got a chance to serve funeral (Requiem) Masses every so often.

In later years, they opened Bishop Kearney High School and went to both St. Margaret Mary's and St. Philip Neri to teach grade school. Today I think there is one nun left at Bishop Kearney and some tutor at the Notre Dame Learning Center on the west-side of Rochester. There are a few in parishes within the Rochester area.

Until about 1957, all the Rochester SSNDs were under the Balitmore Province. In 1957, the order had grown so large that the powers-to-be decided to split the province in two. Baltimore would still be its own province and the new province would be in Wilton, Ct. The nuns were given the option to stay with Baltimore or join Wilton. The new motherhouse opened in the very early 60s, right before the Second Vatican Council.

They wore a very traditional habit until 1963 when they went to a modified habit, which isn't bad considering how few nuns (except the newer orders) wear habits. Today they are very, very left of center.

I'm sure there were some nuns who were too strict. That happens and it's wrong. But all the nuns I had were just fine, holy and devoted woman. I never had a problem with them, then again I wasn't a trouble maker (I just asked too many questions). That was brought up to my parents when the nuns had a twice a year open house for the parents. "Your son is very inquisitive and asks many good questions. Does he do this at home?", asked Sister Meinulpha. "Oh, yes", my parents replied in unison.

Guess which nun that is standing in the photo above is going to be principal this year? Rich Leonardi from Ten Reasons wrote an excellent story that mention the SSND when Rich's Dad went to Saint Peter and Paul's. It's on Catholic Exchange. If I knew how to put a link in here, I would have. Sorry. The nuns didn't teach me anything about computers or links. hahaha

Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, OK. --Catholic Eye Candy

The other day the Catholic wires had a story about Bishop James Slattery of Tulsa Oklahoma. He will be saying the Mass "ad orientum" at the Cathedral. This cathedral has undergone a very through restoration (not wreckovation) like our Sacred Heart Cathedral. Look what a coat of paint can do, properly apply and the right color scheme. The colors and interior design are from the Augustus Welby Pugin style.

Organ Recessional after the Tridentine Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday - 2009