How did Bishop Sheen get to Rochester?

Bishop Fulton John Sheen served as bishop of the Rochester diocese from October of 1966 until October of 1969. He was known as a world renowned preacher and for his work in radio and television. So how did this major "celebrity" end up in a small diocese like Rochester?

This is an interesting story jam packed full of feuds and deals. Most of this story comes from the book "America's Bishop -- The Life and Times of Fulton J. Sheen" by Thomas C. Reeves.

Society for the Propagation of the Faith

Spellman named Sheen as Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. (Spellman himself was chairman of the Society's Episcopal Committee.) Spellman was a huge fundraiser for both the Vatican and the Archdiocese of New York. He filled the coffers. To make room for Sheen at the Society, Spellman had its current director, Monsignor Thomas J. McDonnell, elevated as coadjutor of Wheeling, West Virginia.

Sheen was consecrated (the term now is ordained) a bishop on June 11, 1951 for the Archdiocese of New York City. He served as an auxiliary bishop under Francis Cardinal Spellman. The consecration took place in Rome at the Church of Sts.John and Paul, of which Spellman was titular head.

There was no evidence of serious tensions between Sheen and Spellman during the early 1950s. Spellman was personally responsible for Sheen's new position. As director of the Society, Sheen was largely a public relations figure who traveled, preached, wrote, stayed in the news, and raised funds. Spellman knew that those qualifications fit Sheen exactly. Soon, donations began to soar, and Americans were contributing almost two-thirds of the collections made by the Society across the world.

The relationship between the cardinal and the bishop was proving productive, but Spellman was anxious that Sheen know from the beginning who was boss.

SHEEN'S TELEVISION DEBUT

"Life Is Worth Living" made its debut on February 12, 1952. From the first to the last program, Sheen appeared in full episcopal regalia. He was accustomed to dressing that way when giving public lectures. Bishop Sheen's phenomenal success on TV was a sign that millions of Americans had gone beyond the crude caricatures so familiar in the nation's history, and were willing to accept Catholics as Christians and friends. A bishop in full regalia who was charming, funny, learned and sensible could win allies, as well as converts, for the Church.

1955

Worse trouble appeared in 1955, as Sheen and Spellman began an epic feud that was to cloud the rest of Fulton's life. The immediate issue was money for the missions; but pride, on the part of both the bishop and the cardinal, also played a major role in the struggle. It was a story Fulton chose not to tell in his autobiography.

To be continued

Male liturgical dancer

I lifted this from Patrick Madrid's blog. I would go to see him just to laugh my head off, even though I was in church. It would just be too funny for words.

Poll Results

After several polls to the right of your screen, the following information is in:

• People prefer the Southern European polyphony of Victoria and Palestrina over the Northern European polyphony of Byrd and Tallis.
• An overwhelming number of people (85%) feel that Sr. Joan Sobala is the most notorious lay preacher in the diocese. Make that most notorious and not excommunicated lay preacher in the diocese.
• The vast majority of the readers here are from Our Lady of Victory, the Latin Mass Community and "liturgically neutral" suburban parishes (i.e. "my parish is not here").
• And, finally, evidently the sitcom "Friends" is to be avoided like the plague. My vote in the sitcom poll went to Frasier, but I am also quite partial to The Office.

So . . . that means that the ideal Sunday for a Cleansing Fire reader would include an all-day Office marathon, during which a reverent Novus Ordo (i.e. ad orientem and in Latin) would be said at a more centrally-located suburban parish, at which the Missa Brevis of Palestrina would be sung. Sounds excellent, presuming that you can wrench yourselves away from your blog-filled computer screens, away from the Office marathon and into the pews at "St. Whatever Church" for a most inspiring Mass. Maybe if we were at Spiritus Christi or Old St. Mary's, we could just watch The Office during Mass, thus alleviating the need for transit time.

Midpoint Procession - 40 Days for Life

From Rick Paoletti, Rochester coordinator of 40 Days for Life:

This Saturday we will be having our midpoint procession starting at Our Lady of Victory church (Pleasant St off of St. Paul).

We will be gathering in the church parking lot after the 12:10 Mass and the procession will start at 1:00 PM down Main St., to Planned Parenthood on University Ave.

For those who may be concerned because of the recent anti-war protest downtown that got out of hand, please be aware that the police have been notified of our procession and will be monitoring it. All our processions in the past have been peaceful and without incident. This is a great opportunity to make a strong pro-life statement to our community. Let's make an extra effort to have a great turnout for this!

Update on the field trip to Saints Peter and Paul's

Between the Cleansing Fire blog and the Latin Mass Community we should have about 20 people on the trip that is if everyone comes who said they were going to come.

Remember it's free and you get to look at some amazing artwork and some awesomely restored statuary by Sandy Bializewski (sp?). Plus if you're good, I'll show you where the tunnel is from the church to the school. The church has a very large choir loft. You could easily fit a small orchestra up there and just think we used to have about 50 singers in the choir back "in the day"!

Please come and look around, if only for a few minutes. We should get there about 3 p.m., right after the Latin Mass @ St. Stan's. There is handicapped access and a restroom available. You can park behind the church in which case you would use the Brown Street entrance, or, if you like, park in the semi-circle in front of the church on West Main Street.

Obamageddon

I don't know what else to say but pray, pray and pray even more that God will turn this country around.

Liturgical Impropriety's Fine, So Long As It's All or Nothing

So argues a DoR deacon. For his sake, I will not relate his name or post. In a periodical "writing corner" of his, he addresses the following question:

At Mass, I see some people kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer while others are standing. Who's right?

Now for his response. I have added some of my own commentary, but unless red, these are his exact words:

The answer is both . . . sort of! (Sort of? The Church dwells in absolutes, sir. In the words of Fr. Corapi, "The devil's favorite color is gray.") Make no mistake about it - the Church says that the assembly "SHOULD kneel beginning after the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after Amen, EXCEPT when prevented on occaision by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present or some other GOOD reason." [GIRM #43 revised; emphasis mine ("mine" as in Deacon T____, not Gen)] (The Church says that the assembly should kneel. It also says that we should not kill people or torture animals. This man's interpretation leads me to believe that "should" means "eh, do whatever you want.")

He continues:

Here it has been customary to stand during the aforementioned time for the good reason that none of the seats have kneelers. (This could be easily rectified.) This seems (in the words of Shakespeare, "Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not seems." Again - the Church dwells in black and white, not gray) to be evident to the majority but some, no doubt out of a profound and certainly admirable (admirable in the sense of "those admiral natives hopelessly clinging to their land) sense of reverence, feel compelled to kneel directly on the floor. (We are compelled. When God is brought down at the word of the priest, we should fall on our faces out of absolute humility.) The real answer to this question is most suitably addressed by the second directive mentioned: the sign and witness of an assembly united (all participants exhibiting the same posture) should take precedence over anyone's individual "private inclination or arbitrary choice [GIRM #42 revised] - personal piety notwithstanding. (aka "I know some of you are people who can't let go of old things. Tough. We're a community." This is not what Church is about. Indeed, the Church exists at the behest of Christ, not man. Due to this, we must realize that we have no right to His presence, no guarantee save from His lips alone. Cardinal Arinze was rather blunt about this, was he not?)

What is the "Asperges"?

This may help those of you who are planning to attend the Tridentine Latin Mass the last Sunday of October at St. Stanislaus.

Before the principal celebration of Sunday Holy Mass, the Roman Catholic liturgy calls for a ritual sprinkling of the congregation with holy water, an act symbolic of the cleansing of their spirits to receive the Eucharist.

During this liturgical act, in all seasons but Eastertide when the Antiphon is "Vidi aquam," the music chanted is the "Asperges me." The Holy Mass antiphon's texts are, in succession, "Asperges me," an invocation for the Lord's cleansing with the hyssop plant as used by the Israelites (Exod. 12:21-23; Lev. 14:4-6, 49-57). The priest and altar boys will leave the sanctuary and walk down the main aisle sprinkling the congregation with Holy Water. The custom in America is to genuflect and make the Sign of the Cross as the priest sprinkles you. In Europe, the custom is to not genuflect but bow and make the Sign of the Cross.

The "Asperges" is not part of the Mass. During the singing of the "Gloria Patri...", the priest, vested in the cope, and the altar boys will turn towards the altar and make a profound bow (from the waist). The congregation should do likewise. From Easter until Pentecost, the "Vidi Aquam" is sung in place of the "Asperges".

The Latin text is below:

Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor,
Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnum misericordiam tuam.

The English translation of the above.
You will sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed
You will wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
Pity me, O God, according to Your great mercy.

I have included a video from St. Nicholas du Chardonnet in Paris. The Asperges starts at about 4:00. It looks like the priest has a death-grip on the altar boy's neck as if the altar boy is going to tear down the aisle at breakneck speed. The High Mass at St. Nicholas is packed to the rafters with many, many large French Catholic families. You can tell the music style is decidedly French.

Cold? Get Warm With the Truth

This new hoodie wouldn't hurt your warming efforts, either.

Proceeds benefit Our Lady of Victory and the Latin Mass Community.

Lay Preaching Hoodie - Cleansing Fire

St. Damian of Molokai - Canonized Twice?

Evidently, yes. It looks like the Mormons in their infinite wisdom took it upon themselves to "canonize" him and, get this, "marry him to a bride for eternity." So, on one side we have St. Damian of Molokai, Catholic priest and servant of the afflicted, and on the other, a man who claims that Jesus mad a pit-stop in the Americas before his Ascension.

Oh, yes. That's the desire of every Catholic priest: to be canonized and married in a faith which is so deeply distorted from the Church which Christ instituted, and to be claimed in that former faith as eternally blessed. If it were me, I would be absolutely livid. If I wanted to be canonized in two Churches, I would not live in self-imposed exile on a Hawaiian island tending to lepers.

Here is the original article from New Advent, with emphasis added:

Father Damien, the Roman Catholic priest who cared for lepers in Hawaii in the 19th century, apparently is a saint twice over.

Damien, who was born Joseph De Veuster in Belgium, was canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday in Rome.

But Helen Radkey, a critic of the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Monday that research shows Mormons have both baptized Damien by proxy and "sealed" him for eternity to a wife named Marie Damien.

There is no evidence Damien ever married, which would have been a violation of his vow of celibacy.

St. Damien, who died of leprosy in 1889 after working among those quarantined on the Hawaiian island of Molokai for 16 years, is considered an intercessor for patients with leprosy (Hansen's disease), HIV, AIDS as well as for abandoned children, disoriented youths, exploited women, neglected elderly people and oppressed minorities.

The Catholic Church declares a person to be a saint -- or a model for the faithful and a person who has special pull with God in answer to prayers -- only after extensive investigation and proof of two miracles.

Radkey said research into the LDS Church's FamilySearch database indicates that Damien, born in 1840 in Belgium, was baptized by proxy, given his "endowments" and sealed to his parents for eternity Oct. 22, 1983, in the Los Angeles Temple.

More recently, Damien was sealed to a wife, which Radkey calls "bogus," on March 15, 2000, at the Jordan River Temple in South Jordan.

"It's blatantly wrong to seal a person who took a vow of celibacy as a Catholic priest and is so revered in his Catholic religion," said Radkey, a former Catholic. "It's insulting to perform such an action posthumously. It's very disrespectful."

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said he could not comment on the specifics of Radkey's claim, which echoes her previous reports that Mormons have performed ordinances for President Barack Obama's mother, Holocaust victims and fundamentalist polygamists who were booted from the church. (WHAT?!)

"It is counter to church policy to submit anyone's name for temple ordinances if you aren't related to that person," Trotter said. "The church reiterates this policy regularly and we follow it to the best of our ability."

LDS doctrine holds that baptisms and other ordinances performed by the living in temples are offered to those who have died, who are free in the afterlife to accept or reject them.

How Could We Have Missed This?

Nod of the Miter to National Review and dailymail.co.uk.

_______________________

As he headed back home from Washington, Gordon Brown must have rummaged through his party bag with disappointment.

Because all he got was a set of DVDs. Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country, gave the Prime Minister a box set of 25 classic American films - a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks.

Mr Brown is not thought to be a film buff, and his reaction to the box set is unknown. But it didn't really compare to the thoughtful presents he had brought along with him.

Marking the special relationship: The Browns put a lot of thought into their gifts for the Obamas - but the gesture did not seem to be reciprocated

The Prime Minister gave Mr Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet.

The unique present delighted Mr Obama because oak from the Gannet's sister ship, HMS Resolute, was carved to make a desk that has sat in the Oval Office in the White House since 1880.

Mr Brown also handed over a framed commission for HMS Resolute and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert.

In addition, Mr Brown and his wife showered gifts on the Obama children giving Sasha and Malia an outfit each from Topshop and six children's books by British authors which are shortly to be published in America.

In return, the Obamas gave the Browns two models of the presidential helicopter, Marine One, to take home to sons Fraser and John.

Mrs Brown has been praised for her well-chosen gifts for the Obama children - but Mrs Obama's gift to the Brown children appeared less thoughtful

The Prime Minister has not had the best of luck when receiving gifts from U.S. presidents.

He was given a fur-trimmed brown leather bomber jacket by George W. Bush during his first trip to America in the summer of 2007.

Commentators gleefully pointed out that the garment was hardly in keeping with Mr Brown's usual sober attire of business suit and tie.

Downing Street yesterday refused to state which movies were in the box set.

But the Mail has learned it included classics such as Star Wars, The Godfather and Citizen Kane and was produced by the American Film Institute as a 'special request' for the White House last month.

Perhaps pertinently, given Britain is floundering in an economic slump, the DVD collection was thought to feature the movie of John Steinbeck's Great Depression novel, 'The Grapes Of Wrath'.

The gift also included the Oscar-winning boxing biopic 'Raging Bull' starring Robert Di Nero and Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller Psycho - maybe a comment on the PM's notorious short fuse?

And he will hope that at a General Election the British public do not shun his imploration for another term in office by thinking at the ballot box of the famous line from another of the movies, Casblanca: 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.'

But following Mr Brown's his recent troubles - the UK entering recession, soaring job losses and home repossessions, Labour struggling in the polls and threats of leadership challenges - he may be pleased at being able to settle down for a quiet night in front of the ultimate feel-good movie: It's A Wonderful Life.

"So, Jesus is the Son of God? Oh . . . "

Thus was the theological revelation of a college student who attends Sunday "Mass" at Old St. Mary's Downtown. A friend of the blog has forwarded me a portion of the conversation:

Prof: Mr. B_____, can you explain for us what "God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God" means?
Mr. B______: Um. I pass.
Prof: No, you don't. I like your voice and I want to hear it. Do you happen to attend a religious service at which the Nicene Creed is read?
Mr. B_____: Yeah. I go to St. Mary's.
Prof: Oh. So you're . . . Catholic?
Mr. B_____: Yeah. I guess so.
Prof: You guess so. Well. Can you elucidate the matter?
Mr. B_____: Um, no. Not really. '
Prof: Would you agree that Jesus is God?
Mr. B_____: Sure.
Prof: Would you then say that He is not God the Father?
Mr. B_____: Okay . . .
Prof: Well, He's not the Holy Spirit, is He?
Mr. B_____: No, not really.

Awkward silence

Mr. B_____: So Jesus is the Son of God? Oh . . ."
Prof: Yes, Mr. B_____. "Oh" indeed.

Poker Playing Priest

Some of the older priests of our diocese used to get together to play poker. This often happened on a Friday night. My childhood pastor, Father Robert J. Fox would go to play with Monsignor William Naughton (St. Anne's) and other priest friends, including auxilary Bishop Casey. There was a great espirit de corps among priests then. I pray that the priests today have the same.

The next High Mass @ St. Stanislaus

Each and everyone of our readers are welcomed to our next High Mass at St. Stanislaus Church. The Mass will be October 25th at 1:30 p.m. In the traditional calendar it is the Feast of Christ the King.

The feast was established on December 11, 1925 by Pope Pius XI with his encyclical Quas Primas. In 1969, Pope Paul VI gave the feast a new date -- the last Sunday in the liturgical year before the new liturgical year begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent.

Please plan to come to this special Mass and bring a friend and family members too. In addition to Mass, there will be Solemn Benediction and the consecration of the world to the Kingship of Christ.

To whet your musical appetite, one of the selections that we will be singing is Hans Leo Hassler's "Cantate Domino".



At Communion, we will sing Maurice Durufle's "Ubi Caritas" based on the Gregorian melody of the same name.



The Ordinary parts of the Mass will come from Tomas Luis deVictoria's "O Magnum Mysterium". Take a listen to the Sanctus and Benedictus from this Mass.



I would suggest if this is going to be your first High Mass, don't try and follow along, just attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and take it in. Close your eyes. Pray. Smell the incense. Listen to the music and sermon. Allow the grace of God to touch your heart.

Any and all questions left in the combox will be answered asap.

Oremus pro invicem!

Well, That's What Happens When You're Being Rude

While I was walking out of a Rochester business yesterday, I started looking at bumper stickers. Some were entertaining, some purposeless, and some simply insulting. On one car alone, I counted over 12 anti-Christian/anti-religion bumper stickers. Some of the messages were:

Science flies to the stars. Religion flies into buildings.

If you want to let faith rule your life, move to Iran.

Have you forgotten Jesus? GOOD!

etc . . .

I happened to be walking with a devoted reader of the blog, and, while I was greatly irked and agitated, he just kept walking to the car. When we got to the car, he leaned through and asked, "You don't happen to have any of your prayer cards, do you?" Well, I did. I had two of them.


Without going into detail, I will only say that the offending car now has 14 bumper stickers instead of 12. Be cleansed, oh ignorant child of God. Be cleansed!

John Paul II Tribute Video

Yes, it is immensely late. However, I thought we should still pay homage to Pope John Paul II. Enjoy the video.

Nobel Peace Prize

President Obama was been awarded an honor by the Nobel Prize Committee, the title of which is "the Nobel Peace Prize."

It must be that they awarded it to him because of the peace a child finds in her mother's womb. Or perhaps the peace the Iraqi people find when the US removes their protective barrier of military might. Perhaps it was even awarded because of the peace that gay couples will receive when they are married at the altar. Another possibility is the peace we will find when we lose our monetary security to socialized medicine.

I think not.


To award this prize to President Obama is to give a seemingly world-wide stamp of approval to his programs and goals. "Nobel Prize Committee Says 'Yes' to FOCA." I should think that if Nobel himself were still alive, he would be appalled that the Nobel Peace Prize fell to leftist Americans two times in the past few years. He would not have stood for trumped-up "evidence" for man-made global warming, nor would he have stood for massacre of unborn children for the sake of personal choice. Anyone who says that Mother Theresa is on the same level of "peace-making" as President Obama is suffering from a massive delusion and evasion of reality.

For this reason, Cleansing Fire now declares the Nobel Prize Committee under interdict. Let them be anathema.

What Really Goes on At Seminary

Yes, we follow the various seminarian bloggers now. However, they leave out one sinister aspect of their new life.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Pray For Us

While perusing some links posted here over the last few days, I stumbled across the site dedicated to the cause for canonization for Fulton Sheen. I started reading some of his meditations and thought that the first paragraph of one was very appropriate:

Every now and then people come across a counterfeit bill, but I never knew anyone who, because of it, argued that the United States currency was worthless. Astronomers have seen spots on the sun, but I have yet to hear of one who denied that the sun is the light of the world. But I know many who pick out the failings and sins of a few Catholics and then say: “But, my dear, they don’t tell you everything! The Church is really the work of the devil!”

What Does the Lord Require?

An ounce of dignity, I should think. I would just like to set forth this humble comparison of two recent Masses which I attended. A priest friend of mine has told me, and I agree, that "in matters of taste, there is no argument." However, I should think that one of the following two options will stand out as being uniquely reverent and the other as uniquely . . . not.


Mass 1:

• Immense levels of pre-Mass chatter in the church itself.
• The altar candles were white, opaque hurricane lamps with what one would assume to be white pillar candles inside.
• The altar servers were two girls, in albs (which is a priests vestment, if one actually reads the rubrics etc.) who had a contest which I could only intepretate as a game in which one throws the chalice and other vessels for Mass onto the altar from a moderate distance, seeming to be approximately four feet. They then, giggling and bumping into each other, "processed" down the aisle to receive the gifts.
• The priest himself was a victim of circumstances.
• During consecration, one could audibly hear a string of jokes coming from the altar girls.
  
• During the distribution of Communion, the chatter grew louder than it had been before Mass
• And, lastly, the music was all from the span of 1968-1980, and had been taken from a Lutheran/Presbyterian hymnal.

Mass 2:

• Silence before Mass
• Four altar boys, in cassock and surplice (which, if one reads the rubrics, is supposed to be used by servers), processing slowly and symmetrically to the altar, the High Altar, with incense billowing and crucifix held proudly aloft.
• Gregorian chant and hymns of majesty and nobility, namely All Creatures of Our God and King.
  
• Mass was Novus Ordo, but in Latin.
  
• The people actively responded and sang to appropriate parts of the Mass.
  
• No chatter throughout the Mass. Focus was on the altar where it should be.
  
• When there was no chant, there was Renaissance polyphony.
• The priest was not the center of attention, the Mass was.
  
• There were no lay people (aside from servers) in the sanctuary. The readings were done by other priests and deacons.
  
• The homily was about avoiding liturgical abuse, modernism, etc . . .
  
• The organist used Widor's 5th Symphony for the recessional. One of my favorites.

So, what do you think the Lord requires? Irreverent altar girls or majestic organ music?

Examination of Conscience

Greetings all -- I have two questions. Maybe you all can help.

1 - Does anyone know of a good "examination of conscience" online?

2 - What are some good online places to request prayer for a particular intention? Often times convents and/or monasteries websites have a button to click on to request prayer. Something like that would be very helpful. I'm trying to help some homebound people to get more access to prayers.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. I'm trying to do some spiritual works of mercy.

Photo Caption Contest #4

Have fun with this one:

God Save the Queen!

Queen 'appalled' at Church of England moves.

When Pope Benedict visits this country next year, he is expected to stay at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. The warmth of her welcome will come as no surprise to the Pontiff, if senior sources at the Vatican are to be believed.

By Richard Eden
Published: 10:56PM BST 03 Oct 2009

According to informants quoted in The Catholic Herald, the Queen has "grown increasingly sympathetic" to the Catholic Church over the years while being "appalled", along with the Prince of Wales, at developments in the Church of England.

The usually well-informed newspaper adds that the Queen, who is the Supreme Governor of the C of E, is "also said to have an affinity with the Holy Father, who is of her generation".

In July, The Sunday Telegraph disclosed that the Queen had told the heads of a traditionalist (Anglican traditionalists) group, formed in response to the liberal direction of some parts of the Anglican Communion, that she "understood their concerns" about the future of the 80 million-strong global church.

One leading evangelical said: "We found the letters very supportive."

Her intervention was predicted to have surprised many because the group, called the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, was feared by some to be a divisive force and one of its senior figures was this accused of being homophobic.

The then Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, called on homosexuals to repent. He said the Church of England must stick to the Biblical teaching that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

"We want to hold on to the traditional teaching of the Church," he said. "We don't want to be rolled over by culture and trends in the Church," said the bishop, who was one of the most senior religious figures in England.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declines to comment.

Oh, how I yearn for a re-unification with Rome!

St. Pius X and the Box

The following is taken from the St. Pius X parish's "Altar Server Training Manual."

Altar – the table in the sanctuary at which the bread and wine are prepared and transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Along with the ambo (see below) the altar is the most important object in the church. (Table? Sounds a bit too informal in my opinion. However, it is "important" as the manual says. Keep reading, though, to see what is considered unimportant.)
Aspergillem/Sprinkler – the “wand” which is used to sprinkle people with holy water. (Wand? This isn't Harry Potter time. It's the Mass.)


Chalice – the cup, used by the priest, which contains the wine/blood of Christ. Chalices can be made of metal, wood, or ceramic. ("Wine/blood of Christ?" Clarification needs to be made here. And, no, they can't be made of wood or ceramic. Our Lord is more precious than any comodity, but to bring about His presence in a clay pot is wholly inappropriate.)


Tabernacle – the large, metal or wood container in the church which holds the consecrated hosts. A candle is left burning at all times by the tabernacle. (Perhaps the most massive understatement I have seen in a long while. I think it would have been better if they had said, "this is the most important spot in the church" or "this is the container where the Body of Our Lord is kept." Server manuals like this are one of the many reasons why many children are so oblivious to the sanctity of the Mass.)

Just Some Updates

I just have a few things to let you all know.

Primarily, my movie maker is very glithcy at the present time. Until I can find an affordable, reliable and simple system to use, the videos won't be coming with the greatest of speed. My apologies.

Secondly, we have a facebook page! Please, if you're on Facebook and have lost your soul to it as I have, please "become a fan."

Lastly, if you voted in the poll regarding what parish you attend, and you selected "My parish isn't here," please leave what parish you do attend in the comment box for this post. I know I forgot/left off a lot, but that's what happens when blogging meets caffeine rush.

So what are you going to do right now? No, not write a letter to Rome. You're going to become a fan of Cleansing Fire on Facebook. Do it now or I'll smack you with my e-Crozier.

Don't push me. I really will.

Happy Feastday of St. Francis of Assisi

Formal fiddleback chasubles and modest Franciscan sandals come together in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (Traditional Latin Mass) at Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. The video is put to beautiful music from the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. The music was recorded in Italy and is a fine example of the high quality of their music which, combined with the friars in Italy, are playing a major part in spearheading the reform of liturgical music in Italy.

Diocesan Norms - The Movie

Well, just as we released Pope Joan: the Musical, we now release Diocesan Norms: the Movie.



To the first person who says we harp on certain people: certain people continue to do things which cause us to harp.

To the first person who says we are un-Christian: we act with more Christian charity than those about whom we write.

The Pope-ette Strikes Again

Are you ready for the latest from St. Anne Church in Rochester? I certainly wasn't.

This evening I was going between various parish websites for the Diocese of Rochester: St. Michael's, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Anne. But wait. What did I find at St. Anne?

I found this:

"Disable" the website. Something tells me that the website isn't the only aspect of St. Anne Church which is disabled. The attendance is down. Contributions are down. Reverence is at an all-time low. And, of course, the once great musical abilities of the parish have begun to crumble.

The noble man who ran this website with such dedication for nine years is, like so many of the one-time parishioners, told to put his gifts of "time, talent and treasure" to better use elsewhere.

To add further insult to already grievous injury, the new "cluster website" is up and ready. One key feature is Sr. Joan's personal area of reflections. We will watch these with great attentiveness, rest assured. However, the thing which seemed most affronting was Sr. Joan's "Life Quote." This is it:

The difference between a crisis and an adventure is in one's attitude.

So the people of St. Anne Church are on an adventure. Oh, that would explain everything. That would explain the albs, the microphone, the exile of parishioners, the blurring of liturgical rubrics, the removal of Tradition and the over all sacrilegious air which the place has about it now, over a year into Sr. Sobala's reign. What absolutely unmitigated gall, to force a parishioner, a volunteer, from hosting a website which, in addition to promoting St. Anne Church, promotes priestly vocations and respect for the ordained ministry! Now we are treated to such clever insights as "why Catholics have wings."

And this woman is not alone. She has numerous fellows in her ranks. "Fellows" such as Nancy DeRycke, Barb Swiecki and many, many others I care not to mention. The general description of the "Church" for which these people stand is this: a Church of gray hair and manly haircuts. The true Church, the growing and vibrant Church, is the one with chant and polyphony, with incense, with dignity and reverence. There is a clear reason why this new style, this passing fad of progressivism, does not sate our religious desires: it is not eternal. The Blessed Sacrament is. The Mass is. Female "ordination" is not. Nor is lay preaching. Nor is disrespect for the heavenly "Bread of Angels." Why do some among us waste their time and our with this pointless banter of illogical conclusions and short-sighted intuition?

The Church is not Rochester. Rochester is just one small corner of an institution which Christ Himself created. He did not die on the Cross for us so that we could take liberties with His Church and Her Sacraments. To suggest that we, mere human beings, have the power or the authority, or even the ability, to change the Mass to the way which we see fit is to spit in the dying face of Our Lord. He has suffered enough without these people who masquerade as Catholics but declare "let them fertilize other parishes."

So now the old St. Anne website sits empty. A site which once recalled the glories of the Gregorian chant Masses (which are, according to some, an endangered breed at St. Anne,) now falls prey to Sr. Sobala's endless politicking. Webmaster Phil's words could not be any more true or relevant: By their fruits you will know them.

Conservativism: Truth With Humor

From a local bulletin:

October 7th is the feast of the Most Holy Rosary
which, in a sense, is a major celebration for
us because the title Our Lady of Victory was
bestowed on the Most Holy Virgin by Pope St.
Pius V for her intercession at the Battle of Lepanto,
in which the Christian forces conquered
and routed the Turks and thus saved Europe
from Moslem invasion. Our Lady of Victory is
also known as Our Lady of the Rosary because
it was by means of the Rosary that victory was
achieved in that famous naval battle. We ask
her powerful and never failing intercession for
our country and for the noble men and women
of the armed forces who protect us at all times
and who often receive vilification by liberal nut
jobs whose libel is protected by the very forces
who fight for our freedom of speech! God bless
them and keep our world in peace, through the
protection of Our Lady of Victory.

Field Trip

All blog readers are invited to take a tour of Saints Peter and Paul's Church on West Main Street. We will be given a guided tour of the interior of the Lombard Romanesque Church. There will be no charge. This is one of the oldest church in the diocese. It was sold to the Egyptian Coptic Church in early February of 2007. The tour will be October 18 at 3 p.m. This offer will also be extended to the Tridentine Latin Mass Community at Saint Stanislaus Church. A major portion of the interior design was executed by Professor Gonippo Raggi. The belltower was modeled after the Cathedral of Lucca, Italy. See below.



If you can come, please leave a message in the combox so I can give the tour guide an approximate number of interested people.

Cleansing Fire Caption Contest #3

Have fun.

As usual, the winner will receive five free Cleansing Fire prayer cards.

"For God Omnipotent Reigneth"

Is there any doubt?



I'm at a tremendous loss for words when I consider that some people prefer sanctuaries profane in their nakedness and sacrilegious in their treatment of the Blessed Sacrament over this.

New Fatima Film

Well, I'm certainly excited.

San Francisco, Calif., Oct 1, 2009 / 06:39 am (CNA).- A new film about the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, based on the memoirs of visionary Sister Lucia and the accounts of thousands of eyewitnesses, will be holding pre-release screenings in at least seven major U.S. cities.

“The 13th Day” is the first major motion picture by directors Ian and Dominic Higgins. According to the film’s U.S. distributor Ignatius Press, their film tells the story of the Virgin Mary’s appearances to Lucia Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

Over a six month period in 1917, the Virgin Mary gave prophecies and warnings to children that included a harrowing vision of hell, the spread of communism and the attempted assassination of a Pope.

The film was shot on location in Portugal and in the United Kingdom. It has a cast of hundreds and three young Portuguese actors will play the roles of the young visionaries.

Anthony Ryan, Director of Marketing for Ignatius Press, described the film as an “antidote” for our times.
“It is a reminder that a thin veil exists between our world and the next. The Message of Fatima is a relevant wake-up call to a culture torn apart by abortion, war, and injustice. Every Catholic, perhaps every person, should see this film,” he said.

Screenings of “The 13th Day” are scheduled for October 13, the anniversary of the final apparition. They will be held in Atlanta, New York City, Denver, Chicago and Oakland. Other cities with screenings include Orlando, Florida and Austin and Fort Worth, Texas.

Interested Catholic leaders can sign up for a screening in their area at the site http://www.CatholicScreenings.com.

The movie’s website is at http://www.the13thdaymovie.com.

Psalm 2: Quare fremuerunt gentes

1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?
2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
3 Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage.
6 But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment.
7 The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.
11 Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling.
12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way.
13 When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him.

My personal ideas regarding this and its pertinence to Rochester revolve around the first two verses: 1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? 2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. Why have people risen up and devised vain things? Is it because we grow too proud of our status, our goals or intentions, our liturgical positions? Let us not form tribunals to condemn Our Lord as seen in the second verse. However, let us convene tribunals to restore respect and majesty to His Liturgy. After all, it is His.

Compline at Christ Church on Sunday evenings

Dear CF readers - I offer to you a wonderful way to end your Sunday by attending a Compline Service. Compline marks the close of the "Hours of the Divine Office", and its origins date back to the 4th Century monastic custom of private prayer and devotion before retiring. St. Benedict is responsible for the name of the office, its liturgical character and arrangement.


Each Sunday evening at 9 p.m. from October through April there is a candlelit Compline Service held at Christ Episcopal Church on East Avenue. The service is sung by the Schola Cantorum under the direction of Stephen Kennedy, director of music and organist at Christ Church. Mr. Kennedy is also on the faculty of Eastman School of Music.

Candlelight Concerts

Candlelight Concerts precede Compline at 8:30pm each first Sunday of each month from October through April. Concerts given by fine local musicians are underwritten by contributions from Christ Church Friends of Music.

Remember this is NOT in a Catholic Church, but an Episcopal Church, but the music is VERY Roman Catholic. Christ Church obviously doesn't have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle so there is no need to genuflect. This is a concert and not a Catholic service. The atmosphere is very quiet and is done in candlelight. We need to get all of this music back into the Catholic Church. The total Compline service lasts about 25 minutes.

Oh Dear God - They've Got Prayer Cards Now

First was the video in English.

Then was the video with Spanish subtitles.

Now there are prayer cards with the song's refrain on them.


If you are able, you might consider going to the Cleansing Fire store at zazzle.com, located half way down on your right, and ordering a stack of Cleansing Fire prayer cards to . . . "distrubute" . . . to various people and parishes. Profits will be given to local parishes. Yes, you know the ones I mean.

"And He Found It to be Very Good"

The fact that God created the world and everything within it and upon it reinforces the sanctity and validity of much, if not all that Christians hold dear. However, when one compounds the majesty and mystery of Creation with the fullness of the Paschal Mysteries, how can one deny that the highest form of Christian worship in all of Creation is the Traditional Latin Mass? Naturally, we hold that all Masses bring about the same sanctifying grace. The Latin Mass does this and then supplements it with humility, true sacrifice and an unrivaled spiritual experience. Where else can one "see the Lord descend meekly, lowly at the word of the priest?" Yes, Novus Ordo Masses are noble and valid. There is no question that a Novus Ordo Mass done correctly and with reverence can bestow the same feelings of heavenly fulfillment. However, the New Mass is easily corrupted by politics, bickering, personal liberties and inaccuracies. There is no room for error in the Traditional Latin Mass, no possibility of stating an agenda, no chance for corruption.

I write this after having attended the most magnificently prepared Latin Mass in Rochester in several years. Schola and choir intertwined to create strains of song which rival even those of the angels above. The Mass was an absolute pleasure to every sense, tangible and intangible. How can priests, bishops and the like demonize the Traditions we saw (and will continue to see) when God Himself gave the liturgy to us? And the same holds true for those who pass judgment upon the Novus Ordo Mass as an entity. The Mass itself is an honourable thing, no matter what rite. Abuse within the Mass is what causes one to lose heart and spiritual vigor. This presents a question that must be answered: Should we embrace a Mass in which there is no room for abuse, or should we embrace a Mass "fresh in its possibilities," but riddled with problems and weaknesses when given to the wrong shepherds?

Psalm 1: Beatus Vir

We will be starting an occaisional article here in which a psalm will be posted and readers are invited to draw from it whatever they might be able to. Many of the psalms have a great deal of relevance to those of us who are exiles, oppressed in certain parishes, berated for our orthodoxy etc . . . Please feel free to post your thoughts on the psalm in the comment box below.

We will cover all 150 Psalms, so we will start at the very beginning with the first psalm.

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence:
2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.
4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners in the council of the just.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

"She's Not the Only Lay Administrator"

Thus was the claim of an anonymous commenter a while back in response to one of the stories about Sr. Joan Sobala. I thought it time to share with you an experience a friend had at St. Thomas More. He has asked for anonymity, and I will respect his wishes.

Below is his story:

I was asked to serve a benediction for a local prayer society, and St. Thomas More was selected for its location and size. We all knew that Mrs. Margaret Ostromecki was (and is) the administrator there, and that, while not as liturgically-flawed as other administrators, was still in the same boat.

The first indication that something was wrong was that she was supposed to arrive at the church at 7:00 to open up the sacristy, give us the key for the tabernacle, get out the monstrance etc . . . Well, she didn't show up until about 7:45, when we were half way through a "prayer service" sans benediction. Since I was serving, I could clearly see into the sacristy. When I looked up for a moment, I saw a woman standing in the doorway waving me towards her. So I got up and followed.

When I got into the sacristy, she didn't bother to introduce herself. The first thing she said was, "What do you guys need for benediction?" I told her that we needed the monstrance, the key to the tabernacle, a humeral veil, the thurible, incense, charcoal and the book containing the various prayers for benediction. Well, it was not going to be that simple. First, she got out the book and the incense components. However, she also got out a box of unconsecrated hosts. "Fine," I thought. "She's just getting ready for Mass tomorrow morning." Oh, I was so wrong. She then came back into the room with the monstrance, and proceed to place an unconsecrated host inside the lunette, and then into the monstrance. At first, this didn't even register, but then I thought to myself, "Wow. That's really wrong." So I said, "Ma'am, we need the key to the tabernacle so we can put a consecrated host in the monstrance." She then looked at me and, with a look of absolute amazement said, "Well, if that's the way you guys do it, go ahead." I then asked her for the key, but she said she would just go out and get the host and put it in. I then told her that we have a priest who will do that.

After this showing of absolute sacramental ignorance, I asked for the humeral veil. In return, she got out a chasuble. I very nicely told her that a humeral veil is much different from a chasuble. At this point she said, "I don't even know what a humeral veil is. You can find it then." She left.

So, yes, the pastoral administrator at St. Thomas More thought that we would have Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament with the Most Blessed Sacrament, because, "It's not the way we do it." Thank God I'm at Our Lady of Victory where the administrator is a priest who knows where Jesus is (tabernacle) and where He is not (box of unconsecrated hosts).

In Thanksgiving to Almighty God for 50 Years of Priesthood

All who read this are most cordially welcomed this Sunday, September 27th, to Saint Stanislaus Church at 1:30 for the Tridentine Latin Mass to be celebrated by Father Gerard McMahon in honor of his 50th anniversary of ordination.

The Mass will be a Missa Cantata (a High Mass without all the ceremony). This is also the first High Mass of the choir season too. But the most important point is to give thanks to Our Lord for Father McMahon's 50 years as a faithful and orthodox priest of Christ.

Please pray that Our Lord gives us many holy priests for our local diocese and, to pray for our local diocesan seminarians that Our Lord grant them the grace of perseverance in their vocation to the Holy Priesthood.

St. Stanislaus is at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Norton Street. There is plenty of parking both behind the church and across the street from the church. There is a handicapped elevator, security on the premises and restrooms.

Our Schola Roffensis will chant the ordinary (Missa Orbis Factor) and proper parts of the Mass. The polyphonic choir will sing "Ad Te Levavi Oculos Meos" by Palestrina during the Offertory and "Sicut Cervus" also by Palestrina during the Communion.

The ordinary parts of the Mass are the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. The proper parts are the Introit, Gradual or Tract, and both the Offertory and Communion antiphons.

Holy Communion is received kneeling at the communion rail. The priest will recite a prayer over you, there is no need to say "Amen". You should be in the state of grace (no mortal sin on your soul) to receive Holy Communion.

I hope many of you can make it as I told Father that I was posting this on the blog. So this invitation goes out to Sister Emily, Nerina, Rob, Persis, Dr. K, nyyankeegirl, Mike from dorcatholic, genjlcgettys, Honorious IV, ben, Kelly, sed, Ben Anderson, Jonathan, Gene from Rochester Catholic, MaryKay, CPT Tom, Tim Doubt, EandKMom, Tony, Scott/Mary, RochChaCha, Thy Will be Done, Bernie, Lee Strong from View from the Choir, Laura
Trifiro, Gabriella, God Among Us and IrondequoitCatholic and especially to all you "anonymous" posters. I hope that I haven't forgotten anyone. If I did, believe me, it was not intentional.

Cleansing Fire Caption Contest #2

The winning caption will receive five free Cleansing Fire prayer cards.

Incidentally, this is our 300th post. Thanks to all who read and contribute!

Why I Am Not an Evangelical

Well, so many reasons, but this video says it all. Really, folks, brace yourselves. If you watched the film "Jesus Camp," you have already seen this. However, it might be worth another view, seeing as how it really makes you feel good about being a Catholic.

A Dose of Merriment From the NY State Conservative Party

Yes, I am a member.

I was perusing the annals of YouTube and happened upon this little gem. I have always been a devoted admirer of William Buckley, and thought that this might serve as a "shot-in-the-arm" for us. It has long been said that the Conservative Party is the "Catholic Party," as evidenced by the great piety of its key founder, Mr. Buckley. If you're sick of partisan politics and seek to vote how the pope would, join the NYS Conservative Party today. (I am not getting paid for this promotion. I only do that which God and St. Bill direct me to do.)

Of Farms and Shepherds

We have all grown accustomed to the Diocese of Rochester's "touchy-feely" approach to liturgy, particularly through theme Masses, Masses with specific groups of people and Masses held in "unique" locations.

Well, evidently "farm" is now a suitable synonym for "church." Bishop Clark has decided to say a Mass in Savannah during a cluster picnic. I can only hope that he will use a communion rail to keep the swine and the cattle out. After all, that's what it's meant for.

However, one positive thing is this: the bishop is reaching out to rural Catholics in the diocese, celebrating Mass for them during a hard time. However, let's compare functions which the bishop has attended and those which he hasn't.

Has not attended:

• Nocturnal Adoration Society social functions, as his three predecessors did.
• Closing Masses at dozens of parishes.
• Closing ceremonies for the schools the DoR has closed.
• Old Rite Confirmation at St. Stanislaus.
  
• Anniversary celebrations at OLV, St. Anne (before the fall) and the entire list of "sane" parishes.

Has attended:

• Sr. Joan Sobala's "Installation Mass."
• Nancy DeRycke's "Installation Mass."
• The labyrinth.
• Numerous occasions of non-Christian "ecumenism."
• The "rainbow sash Mass."
• High school graduations.
• The production of "The Video."
• Need one continue?

So, yes, Bishop Clark will be saying Mass for a group of Catholics (Masons?) in the rural areas of the diocese. This begs one question:

Which Savannah parish is getting a new female lay administrator?

Latin Mass 4 of 4

Fourth installment touches on Canonical Digits, Washing the Hands, giving out Holy Communion and the evolution of the Latin language.

Catholic Humor/Puns

Once there was a thief who stole a priest's wristwatch, and then went to Confession immediately afterwards to that same priest. He said, "Bless me Father for I have sinned, it's been yaddah yaddah since my last Confession. I stole a wristwatch, but now I feel really bad about it and don't want it anymore. Here--you take it."

Father replies, "No thank you. You should give it back to the person you stole it from."

"Well, I offered it to him, but he didn't want it."

"In that case, you can keep it."

_____________________________________
"If Satan ever goes bald, there'll be Hell Toupee!"
---------------------------------------------

Two cannibals were sitting around chewing the fat one day, when one of them mentioned that no matter how long he boiled them, he still couldn't get a missionary tender enough to satisfy him.

"What kind of missionaries do you use?" asked the other cannibal.

"You know — the fat ones with the brown robes and the funny haircuts."

"Ah ha," replied the other. "You're not supposed to boil that kind — they're friars!"
______________________________________________

Heaven is Where:
The Police are British,
The Chefs are Italian,
The Mechanics are German,
The Lovers are French and
It's all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is Where:
The Police are German,
The Chefs are British,
The Mechanics are French,
The Lovers are Swiss and
It's all organized by the Italians.

Immaturity Gains Little, Save Annoyance

From my comment left at the post from this morning:

Until you (IrondequoitCatholic) can learn to behave yourself, or, at least, to act in a manner befitting of the faith to which you claim to belong, I have enabled comment moderation. I will permit any comment whatsoever, save those which express contempt for those of us who run this site.

Please, everyone, feel free to comment. This is only a temporary thing.

Again, my apologies. Most people have lives, and, thus do not resort to constant badgering on random websites. Even our "critics"/"opponents"/"opposition" act with dignity befitting their faith. Perhaps you, sir, can learn to do the same.

Please, people, do not stop commenting. Your input is what makes this blog great! Rest assured, I do not like silencing voices. I will just need to wait until this pre-pubescent turns 18 and is able to handle the undertaking known as "civility."

Traditional Latin Mass Explained Part 3 of 4

The third installment: Veils & dress -- Mary's role in obedience and authority -- Communion in the hand or on the tongue -- stealing the Eucharist and fasting.

A Poll For Your Musical Enjoyment

Where the conclave was previously will now be a running string of non-Dr.K polls. These new polls will not be dealing with the same subject matter, i.e. liturgy rubrics, bishops, administrators etc . . .

The first of these side-quizzes is "Which of the following is your favorite polyphonic Mass?" The options are as follows, and can be sampled by clicking the name of the Mass:

Byrd's Mass for Four Voices
Palestrina's Missa Brevis
Tallis' Mass for Four Voices
Victoria's Requiem Mass

Enjoy!

Traditional Latin Mass Explained Part 2 of 4

The second installment: Why Latin? How the church is setup and "veils and dress".

Funny Church Video

Can you find Sister Joan Chittester?

This clip is from the Erie Benedictine Sisters of which Sister Joan Chittester is a member. Can you find her? This is from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, the summer of love.

New Theme Mass at Sacred Heart

Brace yourselves for this one.

The Maniturgium

The trailer below is from the 1963 movie "The Cardinal".

Take note at :10 and more clearly at :29, the server on the left side of the screen. See how his hands are folded. Very typically Roman way for a server to hold his hands during church ceremonies.

Notice the Bishop is wearing a "precious" mitre as he begins the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. Later switches to a plain gold mitre when he confers the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This mitre is called an auriphrygiata. In attendance are the deacon, subdeacon and archpriest, along with the bishop's retinue of attendants.

At 1:36, on the far left of the screen you'll notice the precious mitre being held by the "mitre bearer". He is wearing a vimpa on his shoulders. This is starting to make a comeback, but not in Rochester.

At 1:37, you'll hear the ordinandi say the Latin word "adsum". This means "I am present". You say this when your name is called, in Latin, of course. This is a short, but beautiful part of the "Litany of the Saints" when the ordinandi prostrate on the floor. At 2:14, you get a good shot of the "tonsure" on the back of the head.
The bishop then consecrates the ordinandi's hands with Chrism.

At 2:40, is a very old custom at the ordination of wrapping a priest's hand with a linen cloth called a maniturgium. This only exposed his thumbs and forefingers after his palms were anointed. Then the Bishop had the priest touch the chalice and paten with his four fingers. This symbolized the importance of what was called the 'canonical digits,' i.e., the two fingers on each hand a priest needed to celebrate Mass. These were the digits that the Iroquois Indians savagely cut off of St. Issac Jogues hands. The Indians knew he needed these fingers to celebrate Mass. The Pope Urban VIII gave permission for Issac Jogues to use his other fingers on his mutilated hands.

The maniturgium is given to a priest's mother at the first Mass on the day after his ordination. She is suppose to be buried with it. This is making a comeback too.

This part of the movie was filmed at the Cistercian Casamari Abbey in Frosinine, in Lazio province. The vestments are commonly referred to as "fiddlebacks" or "Roman" as opposed to the fuller cut Gothic vestments. The ordinandi wear their chasuables folded until they are ordained.

Cleansing Fire Caption Contest #1

Please concoct a witty/entertaining caption to the photo below.