More old news...

The Institute of Christ the King had an audience with the Holy Father on the 7th of October, the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. The pictures can be viewed here, on their french site.

ANGLICANORUM COETIBUS

Sorry I have been so quiet...But I have been quite busy lately.

Anyways, this is probably old news by now, but the Pope has released his Apostolic Constitution, the name of which is the title of this post. To read it click here.

Excellent sites in defence of Venerable Pope Pius XII

I found this excellent apologetics site, in support of Venerable Pope Pius XII.

Please take a look at this site and "arm" yourselves with the truth it gives concerning the "Angelic Pastor".

Visit:

http://sttppxiir.blogspot.com/

http://popepiusxiiandthejews.blogspot.com/

http://www.piusxiipope.info/index.htm

And sign these petitions for his beatification:

http://www.piusxiipope.info/petition.htm

http://www.catholicleague.org/petition.php

God bless Pope Benedict XVI

This last week has been a very busy and exciting week.

It all started last sunday when, for the first time in almost 40 years a Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in Saint Peter's Basilica.

Then, later on this week there was the momentus note issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, concerning Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into the Catholic Church. For updates on this "Return of the Anglicans" into full Communion with the See of Rome, I highly recommend that you visit this excellent blog, Rorate Caeli.

Then came the surprising news from Bishop Fellay of the SSPX. Well, all I can pray is that the Doctrinal discussions between the SSPX and Rome bear fruit, and bring these sons of Holy Mother Church back into full Communion with her. And at the way things have been happening, I wouldn't be surprised if our Holy Father manages to pull that off too!

But, as if all this wasn't enough! I discovered another bit of excellent news. Bishop Tichon, head of the diocese for Central and Western Europe of the Patriarchate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has expressed a desire for a "speedy reunion" with the Catholic Church! See the article here at: New Liturgical Movement.

God bless our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI! May he live a long and happy life! God save our Pope, God bless our Church, God save us! Amen!

Vatican could convert Lefebvrists into personal prelature, says Fellay

Santiago, Chile, Oct 22, 2009 / 01:03 pm (CNA).

In an interview with the Chilean daily, “El Mercurio,” the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, Bernard Fellay, acknowledged that the Vatican is considering the possibility of converting the Lefebvrist group into a personal prelature as part of the discussions aimed at bringing about reconciliation.

Fellay, who visited members of the SSPX movement in Chile, is one of four bishops whose excommunication was lifted by Pope Benedict XVI last January. Asked about the speculation that the Society of Pius X could be made into a personal prelature similar to Opus Dei, Fellay responded, “There is a lot of truth to that. I think the Vatican is moving towards that kind of canonical solution.”

He also noted that the controversy unleashed by Bishop Richard Williamson’s statements on the Nazi holocaust “was a well-planned attack, not against the Society, but directly against the person of Pope Benedict XVI, in order to tarnish his gesture.”

This is interesting...

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/10/note-of-congregation-for-doctrine-of.html

Apostolic Visit to the Czech Republic

Take a look at all the details, programs, and events of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's latest Apostolic Visit to the Czech Republic.

"Czech it out"(1) at:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2009/index_repubblica-ceca_en.htm

(1) Sorry, that was terrible...But how often do you get to use the word Czech?

Alleluia!

Yesterday, in Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, a Pontificial High Mass was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Raymond Burke, in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite! I was made known about this in July, by Canon Luzuy of the Institute of Christ the King, but unfortunatly I muddled up the dates, although my poor French might have had something to do with it as well! So there I was, excitedly scanning all the "Traddy" Blogs on the 8th of October, waiting for images of the Pontifical High Mass. Anyways, it happened yesterday, the 18th of October, and from the looks of the pictures it was a most magnificent event. God be praised! Long live our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI!

To see some images of this glorious Mass, visit:

http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/#2112243693705524216

Benedict XVI one of the smartest Popes in history, former Vatican spokesman says

Rome, Italy, Sep 25, 2009 / 03:28 pm (CNA).-

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, who was the Vatican's official spokesman for 22 years, said in an interview that the Church currently has one of the brightest Popes in history, and that one of the most unique aspects of Benedict XVI is his confidence in the rationality of individuals.

Navarro-Valls, who worked for almost two years with Benedict XVI, was interviewed by the Spanish daily El Mundo about his work at the Vatican and some aspects of the two Popes he served under.

Speaking about Benedict XVI, he said he considers him "the Pope with the largest and most brilliant personal bibliography in all of Church history. His conceptual wealth is fascinating. And I think people also outside the Catholic circles are aware of it. "

The former Vatican spokesman does not believe that the Holy Father is a cold person. "I would say the opposite. The manner in which he is moved—which is more frequent than believed—is to not react passionately in response to things,” he said.

He also found that the most unique aspect of his Pontificate is his "confidence in the rationality of people, in their ability to seek the truth," and the great obstacle he faces is, "as he himself said a few days before he was elected pope, the dictatorship of relativism."

Regarding his time with Pope John Paul II, which he has chronicled in some 600 pages of notes, Navarro-Valls said, "A year and a half ago, an American publisher offered me a $1.5 million to write that book. The problem is partly that in recent years I have accepted a number of professional commitments that have absorbed my time. I would have to set aside all of that and spend one and a half years locked in my room in order to write that book. For me it would be a moral imperative to write it, because John Paul was much loved but not entirely known,” he said.

According to Navarro-Valls, the late Pope’s “character and person were not sufficiently known.” For example, he noted, John Paul II “had a very great sense of humor. Even when we had to deal with tragic problems never lost his positive view.”

Regarding the cause of beatification of John Paul II, Navarro-Valls said that "from a strictly technical standpoint, it could be all set before the end of the year. The two steps that remain, technically speaking, are the decree on his virtues and the declaration of a miracle, several of which have been attributed to him, with one that is particularly clear. After that, everything depends on the Holy Father."

Holy Pope Liberius?

The case of Saint Athanasius and Pope Liberius is often used by so called "Traditionalists" to justify disobedience to the Pope. Their claim is that Pope Liberius was the first Pope not to be canonised a Saint, because he unjustly excommunicated Saint Athanasius, who was the only Bishop that resisted the Arian heresy during this great turmoil and crisis in the Church.

Well, paging through my copy of Denzinger, I came across a letter written by Saint Athanasius which praised the Pontiff for his part in fighting the Arian heresy! This was somewhat of a shock to me, and at first I thought I was reading the text wrong. But I didn't let it bother me too much until I started to come into conflict with fellow Traditional Catholics, who brandished this case as a definate historical proof of a valid case of resisting the Pope when he seems to be the cause of troubles in the Church. (Could the Pontiff ever be?)

Anyways, it seems that someone else, with more knowledge and authority than I, has shed some light on this case of Pope Liberius and his role during the Arian heresy.

Visit this link to learn more:

http://papastronsay.blogspot.com/2009/09/holy-pope-liberius-there-is-place-for.html

Preaching the First Crusade

"Oh, race of Franks, race from across the mountains, race chosen and beloved by God as shines forth in very many of your works set apart from all nations by the situation of your country, as well as by your Catholic Faith and the honor of the Holy Church! To you Our discourse is addressed and for you Our exhortation is intended. We wish you to know what a grievous cause has led Us to your country, what peril threatening you and all the faithful has brought Us.

From the confines of Jerusalem and the city of Constantinople a horrible tale has gone forth and very frequently has been brought to Our ears, namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Persians, an accursed race, a race utterly alienated from God, a generation forsooth which has not directed its heart and has not entrusted its spirit to God, has invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by the sword, pillage and fire; it has led away a part of the captives into its own country, and a part it has destroyed by cruel tortures; it has either entirely destroyed the Churches of God or appropriated them for the rites of its own religion. They destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness. They circumcise the Christians, and the blood of the circumcision they either spread upon the altars or pour into the vases of the baptismal font. When they wish to torture people by a base death, they perforate their navels, and dragging forth the extremity of the intestines, bind it to a stake; then with flogging they lead the victim around until the viscera having gushed forth the victim falls prostrate upon the ground. Others they bind to a post and pierce with arrows. Others they compel to extend their necks and then, attacking them with naked swords, attempt to cut through the neck with a single blow. What shall I say of the abominable rape of the women? To speak of it is worse than to be silent. The kingdom of the Greeks is now dismembered by them and deprived of territory so vast in extent that it can not be traversed in a march of two months. On whom therefore is the labor of avenging these wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you? You, upon whom above other nations God has conferred remarkable glory in arms, great courage, bodily activity, and strength to humble the hairy scalp of those who resist you.

Let the deeds of your ancestors move you and incite your minds to manly achievements; the glory and greatness of king Charles the Great, and of his son Louis, and of your other kings, who have destroyed the kingdoms of the pagans, and have extended in these lands the territory of the Holy Church. Let the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord Our Saviour, which is possessed by unclean nations, especially incite you, and the holy places which are now treated with ignominy and irreverently polluted with their filthiness. Oh, most valiant soldiers and descendants of invincible ancestors, be not degenerate, but recall the valor of your progenitors.

But if you are hindered by love of children, parents and wives, remember what the Lord says in the Gospel, "He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me." "Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My name's sake shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life." Let none of your possessions detain you, no solicitude for your family affairs, since this land which you inhabit, shut in on all sides by the seas and surrounded by the mountain peaks, is too narrow for your large population; nor does it abound in wealth; and it furnishes scarcely food enough for its cultivators. Hence it is that you murder one another, that you wage war, and that frequently you perish by mutual wounds. Let therefore hatred depart from among you, let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and controversies slumber. Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepulchre; wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to yourselves. That land which as the Scripture says "floweth with milk and honey," was given by God into the possession of the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the navel of the world; the land is fruitful above others, like another paradise of delights. This the Redeemer of the human race has made illustrious by His advent, has beautified by residence, has consecrated by suffering, has redeemed by death, has glorified by burial. This royal city, therefore, situated at the centre of the world, is now held captive by His enemies, and is in subjection to those who do not know God, to the worship of the heathens. She seeks therefore and desires to be liberated, and does not cease to implore you to come to her aid. From you especially she asks succor, because, as we have already said, God has conferred upon you above all nations great glory in arms. Accordingly undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven."

When Pope Urban had said these and very many similar things in his urbane discourse, he so influenced to one purpose the desires of all who were present, that they cried out, "It is the will of God! It is the will of God!" When the venerable Roman pontiff heard that, with eyes uplifted to heaven he gave thanks to God and, with his hand commanding silence, said:

"Most beloved brethren, today is manifest in you what the Lord says in the Gospel, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in the midst of them." Unless the Lord God had been present in your spirits, all of you would not have uttered the same cry. For, although the cry issued from numerous mouths, yet the origin of the cry was one. Therefore I say to you that God, who implanted this in your breasts, has drawn it forth from you. Let this then be your war-cry in combats, because this word is given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, let this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: It is the will of God! It is the will of God!

And We do not command or advise that the old or feeble, or those unfit for bearing arms, undertake this journey; nor ought women to set out at all, without their husbands or brothers or legal guardians. For such are more of a hindrance than aid, more of a burden than advantage. Let the rich aid the needy; and according to their wealth, let them take with them experienced soldiers. The Priests and clerks of any order are not to go without the consent of their bishop; for this journey would profit them nothing if they went without permission of these. Also, it is not fitting that laymen should enter upon the pilgrimage without the blessing of their Priests.

Whoever, therefore, shall determine upon this holy pilgrimage and shall make his vow to God to that effect and shall offer himself to Him as a, living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, shall wear the sign of the cross of the Lord on his forehead or on his breast. When,' truly',' having fulfilled his vow he wishes to return, let him place the cross on his back between his shoulders. Such, indeed, by the twofold action will fulfill the precept of the Lord, as He commands in the Gospel, "He that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me."

Robert the Monk was present at the Council of Clermont, at which Blessed Pope Urban II gave this powerful discourse. He recorded it for prosperity.

Source:

Dana C. Munro, "Urban and the Crusaders", Translations and Reprints from the Original Sources of European History, Vol 1:2, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1895), 5-8

Artists from around the world to meet with Pope Benedict

Vatican City, Sep 10, 2009 / 10:34 am (CNA).

In an effort to continue its promotion of the arts, the Pontifical Council for Culture is organizing a meeting of artists from around the world with Pope Benedict XVI on November 21.
The meeting will take place in the Sistine Chapel on the 10th anniversary of John Paul II's famous "Letter to Artists" and the 45th anniversary of Paul VI's meeting with artists.

At a press conference this morning at the Holy See's Press Office, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican Museums, spoke about the purpose of the upcoming meeting.

"The aim of the meeting," Archbishop Ravasi explained, "is to renew friendship and dialogue between the Church and artists, and to encourage new opportunities for collaboration."
Paolucci added that although the number of artists invited to the meeting is limited by the size of the Sistine Chapel, they hail from all continents. "They are," he said, "men and women of different cultures and languages ... painters, sculptors, architects, writers and poets, musicians and singers, directors and actors from cinema and theatre, dancers."

On the evening of November 20, before their meeting with the Holy Father on November 21, the artists will visit the Vatican Museums' collection of modern and contemporary art, which was created at the request of Pope Paul VI.

Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI

From Rosary Graphics

Pope Facts: What's the Matter with your Baptism?

On the 8th of July 1241, Pope Gregory IX wrote a letter entitled "Cum, sicut ex" to Sigurd, Archbishop of Nidaros (1) concerning the correct Matter for a valid baptism. Pay special attention to what was being used in the Archdiocese of Nidaros at the time of Pope Gregory IX.

"Since as We have learned from your report, it sometimes happens because of scarcity of water, that infants of your lands are baptized in beer (!), We reply to you in the tenor of those present that, since according to evangelical doctrine it is necessary "to be reborn from water and the Holy Spirit"(John 3:5) they are not to be considered rightly baptized who are baptized in beer."

Talk about being inebriated with the Holy Ghost! Sorry, that was pretty lame.

(1) Nidaros is now Drontheim in Norway

This Pope Fact was taken from "Sources of Catholic Dogma", 1954, republished in 2007 by Loreto Printing

Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer

Please forgive my inactivity these last few weeks, I have been in Scotland, visiting family as well as spending some time at the Golgotha Monastery on Papa Stronsay Island. The Island is inhabited by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, they are Traditional Redemptorists who recently regularised themselves with Rome.

You can learn more about the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer at:

http://www.papastronsay.blogspot.com/

May I also recommend to you their quarterly newspaper, "Catholic". It is an excellent publication, filled with solid, traditional and completely Catholic articles, it is also 100% faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. A definite must have for any Catholic family, it is really a good read.

To subscribe to "Catholic" visit their blog for further details.