How to stay positive and keep the Faith

Look, life as we know it could end tomorrow if North Korea kicks off or Iran, Israel, Russia, India, Pakistan and so on.

Our Catholic life is also uncertain;the new Holy Father is in the process of taking over the reins and, judging from yesterday's Mass at St Paul's Without the Walls in Rome, things are a bit muddled at present.

Note the mix up over reception of Holy Communion.

Some priests indicated only by mouth while others happily placed the Host in the hand. There can only be one right way so let's have some clarity please HF. Let's have leadership as well as humility, please.

As always, I turn to Archbishop Fulton Sheen at times of trial and tribulation.

He has an excellent series on world crisis, and personal suffering; physical and mental.

We can look forward to our tears being wiped from our eyes....nothing can harm us.....God is our Father.

SPAKTF!

How do you evangelise a Zombie?

I have worked, during most of my career with young people aged from 16 years of age up to 24 and beyond. They came from all sorts of backgrounds and had all sorts of beliefs or none at all.

A third of them were excellent students, well behaved and diligent. Another third were just there; they existed, they scraped through their assignments and they finally passed through the system (I can identify with that sector, I was like that in my time so don’t give up hope on them  completely).

The final third are the walking dead; some College staff referred to them as “the knuckledraggers” – what unkind person could have used that phrase?

But, it was true. They grunted at times, they were, largely, unwashed, they could not actually string a sentence together and they could not hold a knife and fork.
 They could not tell you who Churchill was let alone Jesus Christ.

Amazing but true.

The problem is, of course, that these are the children of the latch key kids generation.
Their parents came home after school (if they ever went there) to an empty house, not a home.

Food came from the freezer and was microwaved to an instantly edible mush. It was consumed in front of the television (porn videos from under dad’s side of the bed?) and it was eaten using only the fingers. Easier and it saved on the washing up.

If you think that I am painting a damning picture, you are right. But it is also true. And this is the next, evolved generation. The generation that are adept at playing computer games for 12 hours at a stretch, the generation that has lost the art of communication.

Now as Catholics we have a mission in life to lead others to Christ. Not in a Jehovary sort of way, that is crass. Not in a Protestant TV  evangelical sort of way, they wouldn’t watch it. And certainly not in a happy clappy, cheery wavy, Catholic charismatic sort of way. That way only fools the charismatics.

The Holy Father has charged the Bishops to evangelise in 2012 but I’ll bet you a meal for two at McDonalds that no attempt will be made to make contact with the massive numbers, possibly hundreds of thousands that I speak of.

Why? Because it’s hard. Because the number of clergy the Church has that are versed in communicating with young dissidents does not run into double figures, because the ideas cupboard is bare; not only bare, the Bishops have forgotten that it ever existed!

We need new ideas, new ways of approaching this group. They are so tragic, sleepwalking to Hell. They need saving.

But who will save them?

And more to the point – how will they be saved?

Watch this space for some attempt at answering this troubling situation in a few days time.

Good priests are ignoring the requests of the Holy Father

I know of quite a few priests who do this routinely. In this equation the Bishops must also stand up to be counted although, in this instance, the power to obey the Pope lies firmly within the hands of the Parish Priest.

Back in 2006 the Holy Father made a statement concerning the secular music forms being presented at Masses around the world today.

He asked that full attention be given to abiding by the strictures of Vatican II that strongly stated that traditional plainchant and the organ should be the main base of church music.

Why, then is Pope Benedict's more than reasonable request being ignored?

I can only make a guess as to why and that is, the power of the parish council or, if there is a nun in charge of church liturgy, then, almost certainly, she will be the root cause.

The issue of church music is a touchy one. Some years ago when I attended the NO Mass I was asked to write a short piece for the parish mag.
I thoughtfully wrote a few hundred words that carried the heading "Heavy Metal or Choirs of Angels?"

It was a sensitive piece in my usual style (?) but it was promptly consigned to the round file never to appear again.

Parishioners want to be the arbiter as to what takes place musically at Mass and all too often the PP is afraid to stick his head over the parapet and say "No."

You may write your own caption to this one!

Yet the Holy Father has quite clearly said that he wants an end to guitar Masses and to modern 'unliturgical' music, while being fully in favour of modern music in church provided that it reflects the purpose of its use.




Here is the report from 2006 as it appeared in The Daily Telegraph..........

Silence modern music in church, says Pope

By Malcolm Moore in Rome

12:01AM BST 27 Jun 2006

The Pope has demanded an end to electric guitars and modern music in church and a return to traditional choirs.

The Catholic Church has been experimenting with new ways of holding Mass to try to attract more people. The recital of Mass set to guitars has grown in popularity in Italy; in Spain it has been set to flamenco music; and in the United States the Electric Prunes produced a "psychedelic" album called Mass in F Minor.

However, the use of guitars and tambourines has irritated the Pope, who loves classical music. "It is possible to modernise holy music," the Pope said, at a concert conducted by Domenico Bartolucci the director of music at the Sistine Chapel. "But it should not happen outside the traditional path of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphonic choral music."

His comments prompted the newspaper La Stampa to compare him with Pope Pius X, who denounced faddish classical and baroque compositions and reinstated Gregorian chants in 1903.

The Pope's supporters argue that the music played during Mass is a vital part of the communion between worshippers and God, and that medieval church music, with the liturgy, creates the correct ambience for perceiving God's mystery.

ends/.................

So just what part of "Don't do it" do parish priests not understand?

So tell me Bishop, what part of "Kneel to receive the Eucharist" don't you understand?

The Holy Father has demonstrated his desire for all who are able, to kneel and for all, (without exception) to receive the Holy Eucharist direct by mouth.
This has been the practice at St Peter's and at Masses celebrated by Pope Benedict wherever he is in the world.

Yet we still have Archbishops, Bishops and priests failing to comply. It is not the sort of instruction that needs putting in writing...the model is there for all to see! Why don't they instruct their priests and get on and do it?

Now, the Holy Father has gone a step further. He has actually said that this is the correct way to receive the host,  the Body and Blood of Christ.

Here are his very words.....



Just do it - please!



"He who is able to kneel before the Eucharist, who receives the Lord's body cannot fail to be attentive, in the ordinary course of the days, to situations unworthy of man, and is able to bend down personally to attend to need, is able to break his bread with the hungry, share water with the thirsty, clothe the naked,
visit the sick and imprisoned," he continued....

Thanks and biretta tip to Fr Simon Henry for the post (here)

Holy Father prepares for the Catholic Bloggers Guild Blackfen meeting

Please note: This is what I classify as humour, maybe puerile humour. If you do not like it please do the other thing. This is not meant as a slur on the planned Guild meeting, far from it. I anticipate nothing other than Christian love and a bit of Catholic banter!

The meeting is at Blackfen on October 1st, Feastday of St Therese de Lisieux!

Why I am a Traditionalist!

Because.....

...I do not like the liturgy being abused and the House of God desecrated by vulgar and inappropriate music

.....and because so much of what takes place during many Novus Ordo Masses is illegitimate or illicit, invariably breaking Canon Law

....and because guitars and other common instruments do not have a place in Church while the pipe organ is still the preferred musical instrument

and, of course, because I believe that we should all (but especially priests) hold fast to Church law and the teachings of thePope

Now......you have seen what is happening in Austria with over 300 priests rebelling against Rome in an open call to disobedience - if not, go to Fr Z's excellent blog here

And here is some of what the Austrians apparently love; a bit of a gig in church and some off key yelling accompanied by three guitars.....Fr Bensdorp does his best not to look overly embarrased.

Sorry, did I say Austrians? I think that there are also many parishes in England and Wales that offer up such tripe on a Sunday!

Ten events I would like to see in the Catholic Church

1. The Holy Father to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of Mass

2. The Bishops of England and Wales to establish a training programme for
    priests to learn how to say the old Mass in conjunction with the Latin Mass
    Society

3. The full development of the National Shrine of Wales (Our Lady of the
    Taper) as a focus for Welsh and all other Catholics on a par with
    Walsingham.

4. The Archbishop of Westminster to celebrate an Extraordinary Form of Mass
    on the Feast of the Holy Cross - September 14th, anniversary of Summorum
    Pontificum

5. A return to kneeling and reception on the tongue

6. All Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to be disbanded

7. Altar girls to be transferred to a special branch of The Legion of Mary

8. All folk Masses and the use of flutes, recorders, guitars, skiffle boards etc
    banned

9. Unity between Rome and Econe

10. Clerical dress for priests (black suit and white collar) to become the rule

Rome wants it.........so please do it for the Feast of Corpus Christi

And ever afterwards. I am referring, of course, to the reception of the Body of Christ on the tongue and kneeling.

The Bishops of England and Wales may say one thing but the message from Rome and the Holy Father is loud and clear - "do it"

My thanks to Fr Simon Henry for his excellent post on the subject which you may read at Offerimus Tibi Domine

So just how responsive have the English and Welsh Bishops been with regards to Sunday EF Mass provision?

Do have any idea? -  Do you think 20% of parishes in a Diocese offer an EF Mass on a Sunday? Less, maybe? - 15%? - down a bit further possibly? Can this be right?..............

..............after all the Holy Father has done to stipulate how important it is that the Bishops respond to his steer on this vital issue....I can state that, out of 2889 parishes (or thereabouts) only 2.87% on average, offer a Sunday EF Mass.

                                                    2.8% !

And that's not every Sunday...here are the specifics re my piece of research:-

1. I only included parishes that offer a regular Sunday EF Mass whether it is every Sunday or only one during a given month.

2. I included every parish and most Mass Centres but, at times these were difficult to identify so there may be the odd discrepancy but nothing too large as far as I am aware.

3. Obtaining the fairly simple information as to how many parish churches exist within a Diocese proved surprisingly hard to achieve. Some Bishops offer an almost indecipherable jigsaw of shapes which represent parish boundaries or, worse, deaneries, others provide a conventional alphabetical draw down listing and yet others provide a mongrel version which only adds to confusion. I have done the best in the time available.
One Diocese (Portsmouth) had an insoluble problem withits website so, in the end I did an estimated calculation as to number of parishes.

4. I did not include parishes that only offered the Mass on special feasts such as Easter as these appeared to be 'one offs'.

If you would like to see how your Diocese fared, here is the breakdown....

THE GREAT DIOCESAN RESPONSE

TO SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM

DIOCESE       PARISHES     SUNDAY EF MASSES         %

Westminster        216             4                        1.9%

A/del & Br'ton      153             4                        2.6%

 

Birmingham         271             3                        1.1%

Brentwood           131             2                        1.5%

Cardiff                 81             2                         2.5%

Clifton                54              7                         12.8%

East Anglia        110              3                           2.7%

Hallam               79               0                              0%

H'ham & N'cstle 199              4                            2.0%

Lancaster          115              5                            4.4%

                   

Leeds               127              4                            3.2%

Liverpool          204              4                            2.0%

Menevia            69               3                            4.3%

Mi'ddsborough   93               2                            2.2%

Northampton   107               2                             1.9%

Nottingham     158               5                             3.3%

Pymouth         116               5                             4.3%

P'smouth (est) 144               3                              2.1%

Salford           100               1                              1.0%

Shrewsbury     115               5                              4.4%

Southwark      181                9                              5.0%

Wrexham        66                 0                                 0%


Not an outstandingly good response......in fact it is ****** poor (I am not swearing in Lent).

I think the Bishops are (as they say) "having a laugh", and,
 it's at our expense!

7 Bad reasons for leaving the Faith

I come from a large family and most of my siblings, including their children, have left the Faith or are CINOs (Catholics In Name Only).
What has caused this apostasy? Why did my siblings who grew up as "Traditional" Catholics and who were critical of liberal Catholicism, change?

Here are some of the reasons (I assume):-

1. "I just can't be bothered"
Apathy must rank as the prime reason for the drift into oblivion. The gradual relaxation of the Sunday discipline of Mass has led to an eventual total blockage. The causes of apathy are legion but laziness is at the heart of it.

2. "I don't agree with some of the teachings of the Church"
What! You know better than the Pope and the Holy Doctors of the Church? I am quoting Fr Corapi here but it's a good point. If you have several post graduate qualifications in theology and philosophy, spent 30 or so years studying the Bible, and all things theological, can translate Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Ancient Greek, I might have some respect (minimal) for your view...but, if not you score nul points!

3. "I want our children free to make up their own minds when they are older"
So you allow them to eat as they will, without a knife and fork, at the table or on the floor - you allow them the freedom to play in a busy street without supervision?
Children need and demand guidance (and discipline). Cut them off from the Faith in their formative years and those souls will be lost forever, or, at the very least, it will be most unlikely that they will ever become Catholics or anything, for that matter.

4. "I cannot accept that the Pope is in charge and is infallible?"
We have to accept discipline and obedience when we become Catholics. Christ left His Church (His Mystical Body) in the hands of Peter. He did not appoint just St Peter, that would have been too limiting, He made the appointment of Father or Head of the Faith (Pope) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I have never had a problem with infallibility; the office of Pope carries infallibility with it when teaching on issues of Doctrine or when guiding Doctrinal issues with relation to developments within the social and political structure of the world. The Pope is not infallible when it comes to forecasting the weather or horse races, just the unchanging truths of the Catholic Faith.

5. "The Church is wrong on matters of contraception, IVF and AI"
What is meant is that they practice birth control and their friends are recipients of IVF services. When the conscience knows that it is wrong it is much simpler to walk away from something rather than face up to it. Again, obedience clicks in here. The Church teaches these things are wrong based on extensive researches and consultations, by expert religious and secular authorities.

6. "I don't need to go to Church and/or I don't need a formal religion to be holy, I believe in God and that is all that matters"
That is a cop out. We need the strength of a religious community around us (not essential but definitely very helpful). If someone gave up his life for you but, in so doing, requested that you remembered him by spending 45 minutes on your knees every Sunday, would you not do so? Remember, the Catholic Church is the actual Body of Christ Himself, by taking part in the Mass we fully embrace Our Lord as He wishes. It is also a  mortal sin to wilfully miss Sunday Mass.
Belief in God is fine but you also must also have belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.

7. "All of my Catholic friends and family feel the same way"
In Chesterton's words: "Dead bodies float downstream, only live ones swim against it". Just because the majority believes something is right does not make it so, in fact, the reverse is invariably the case. Think for yourself, read the Catechism and some recent works on the subject of Faith. Do not be swayed by those around you who advocate heresy. Have the backbone to hold to what you know is the right course.

And it is worth noting the penalty for apostasy; if we wilfully and knowingly refuse the Mass, the Sacraments (especially, of course, our Easter duty) and the teachings of Christ....what can we expect in return?
Probably, *Hell and its torments for the rest of time, not worth the gamble in my book!

It is also worth remembering Fr Corapi's words: "No one ever gave up the Faith for a higher ideal"
It might be worth visiting St Faustina's vision of Hell - here it is:-

Click!