tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63315385034805199182024-03-13T20:32:49.458+01:00Ubi Spiritus Domini Ibi LibertasWhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FreedomAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-86008751874943962592020-03-28T19:13:00.002+01:002020-03-28T19:15:51.591+01:00Mass Intentions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_lNpCRNtq0/Xn-S5MH8OZI/AAAAAAABwHI/zJZeTehRMK4Fq-5VSd9rEVG-Eeaz_KE5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200328_091603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_lNpCRNtq0/Xn-S5MH8OZI/AAAAAAABwHI/zJZeTehRMK4Fq-5VSd9rEVG-Eeaz_KE5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_20200328_091603.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During this time of Coronavirus, I am planning to live-stream Mass every morning at 8:00am (PDT). You can get more information and subscribe from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnwKktq6d0aH9UfAcTZr_g" target="_blank">my YouTube page</a>. For now, Mass will be in the Dominican Rite, but I am open to celebrating the Ordinary Form in English or Latin. <br />
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If you would like to give an offering for a Mass Intention, please click on the <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=GQ2WY6JSK5MT2&item_name=Offerings+for+Mass+Intentions&currency_code=USD&source=url" target="_blank">PayPal donate button</a> on the left. Here in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the assumed amount for a Mass intention is $10, so unless you say otherwise that is what I will assume. Please include the NAME OF THE INTENTION when you make the donation. Also please let me know whether you would like me to list the intention in the description to the broadcast.<br />
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I will try to update this page if I make further changes.<br />
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Please keep me in your prayers, as you all are in mine.<br />
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<i>Benedicat vos Omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus.</i>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-21683164694864816552016-09-17T23:24:00.000+02:002016-10-17T00:50:18.769+02:00De Concordia inter Codices<h2>
Apostolic Letter issued <i>motu proprio<br />De Concordia inter Codices</i></h2>
<h3>
On harmonizing Eastern and Latin Canon Law</h3>
<br />
On May 31, 2016, Pope Francis issued a document which sought to modify the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church in a number of ways regarding the interaction between Latin and Eastern Christians. The Church is guided by law. Specifically, the Church has two "books" of law, one for Catholic of the Latin Rite and one for those of the Eastern (or Oriental) Rite. These are the <i>Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church </i>(issued in 1983) and the <i>Code of Canon Law for the Oriental Churches </i>(issued in 1990). <br />
<br />
The purpose of these new changes is to address “some discrepancies between the two Codes” in hopes of providing a solution to provide “substantial convergence”. Note that this document does not take immediate effect. According to the terms of the law, this change must first be promulgated, which is normally not done until it is published in <i>Acta Aposolica Sedis</i>. However, the document itself indicates that the <i>motu proprio</i> was promulgated by being published in <i>l'Osservatore Romano </i>on September 15. After promulgation, this change in the laws takes effect three months after such publication. This means that the law does not take effect until December 15, 2016.<br />
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The Pope made these changes through an Apostolic Letter issued <i>motu proprio </i>(i.e., under his own authority). That Apostolic Letter can be found on the Internet in its <a href="http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/09/15/pope_francis_issues_motu_proprio_harmonizing_canon_law_codes/1258248">official Latin</a> and in an <a href="http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/09/15/new-motu-proprio-on-harmonizing-codes-of-canon-law-full-english-translation/">unoffical English translation</a>.<br />
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Below is a rather quick description of the changes made in the law, and especially how it affects pastors. Some of my commentary and questions are included.<br />
<h4>
Changes in Law</h4>
The Code makes clear that when a child is baptized and only one of the parents is Catholic, the child is ascribed to the Church <i>sui iuris </i>(what we often call the "Rite") of the Catholic parent. (Can. 111 §2) This is true regardless of the ritual involved in the baptism of the child. For example, if a Latin Rite priest has permission to baptize the child of a Ukrainian Rite father and Protestant mother in the Latin Rite, the child would still be ascribed to the Ukrainian Church <i>sui iuris </i>of the father, even if the baptism were done according to the Latin rite.<br />
<br />
The Code now clarifies that transfers to another Church <i>sui iuris </i>are effective only when the person transferring has made a lawful declaration of that fact. (Can. 112 §3) That declaration must be made before either (1) the local ordinary (the Bishop) of the Church <i>sui iuris </i>into which they wish to transfer or (2) before their proper pastor (or his delegate) and two witnesses. Without this declaration, no transfer of rite occurs. However, if there is a rescript from the Apostolic See, it can provide otherwise. This needs to be noted in the baptismal registry, which every parish must keep. So, for example, a Latin Rite Catholic woman marries an Eastern Rite Catholic man. He decides during the course of the marriage to transfer to the Latin Church. In order for that transfer to take effect, he must make his declaration either before the Latin Rite local ordinary (the local bishop) or before his proper pastor (or his delegate) and two witnesses. The bishop or pastor must inform the church where he was originally baptized so that they can make a notation of the transfer in his baptismal register.<br />
<br />
The new changes re-state that proper notation must be made in parish baptismal records (and on baptismal certificates) when members of the faithful are ascribed to other ritual Churches <i>sui iuris</i>. (Can. 535 §2) In addition to the other information required in the baptismal registry (marriage, confirmation, adoption, sacred orders, final profession, and change of rite), the baptismal registry must note “adscription to another Church <i>sui iuris </i>and/or any transfer”. Thus, for example, in the case of a Latin Rite priest who baptizes the child of a Latin Rite Catholic and a Marionite Catholic, the parents can agree that the child will be ascribed to the Marionite Rite, even if the baptism is done in the Latin Rite. In that case, the Latin Rite priest must make a notation of that fact in the parish baptismal registry and noted on the Baptismal certificate.<br />
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In what I think is the biggest change in the law, the Code now allows Latin Rite priests more latitude in baptizing the children of non-Catholic Christians. This may be done if two conditions are met: (1) at least one parent (or one who legitimately takes their place) requests it and (2) it is physically or morally impossible for the parent(s) to approach their own minister. (Can. 868 §3) Note that this is not limited to non-Catholic Christians of Eastern Churches (the Orthodox), but would presumably include Christians of other ecclesial communities who are separated from the Catholic Church (Protestants). Moreover, the law normally requires that, for a child to be baptized, that there be a “well-founded hope” that the child be brought up Catholic. That provision now explicitly explicitly references (the Latin word used is “<i>firma</i>”) this new provision. That is, it would seem that with regards to the baptism of non-Catholic Christians, such a well-founded hope that they be raised Catholic does not apply. I must admit I find this provision a bit strange, especially considering the provisions of the law that "merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church". (Can. 11) Thus, the law requiring canonical form for a marriage to be valid (i.e., that it take place before an approved minister) is a "merely ecclesiastical law". Does this mean that the children of non-Catholic Christians who are baptized under this new canon would now be subject to all the "merely ecclesiastical laws"? It's not at all clear to me. <br />
<br />
Another question with regards to this new canon is whether the baptism of the non-Catholic child must be recorded in the Baptismal Register of the church. Apparently, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, addressed this point in a <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/changing-canon-law-pope-brings-latin-and-eastern-practices-closer.cfm" target="_blank">news interview</a>. He indicated that "the baptism would not be recorded in the Catholic parish's baptismal registry; the parents would receive a formal certificate and would register their child's baptism later at an Orthodox parish." Of course, the response from a curial official is not legally binding, or even an authoritative interpretation of the text. In addition, Bishop Arrieta continues to assume that the new provision applies only to the children of the Orthodox, which, of course, the language does not. I think it is still unclear whether such a baptism would be included in the register. With doubt falling on the side of caution, I think it would be prudent for any such baptism to be recorded in the baptismal register with a notation that the child is not Catholic and was baptized under this ecumenical provision.<br />
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Respecting the Eastern tradition, the Code clarifies that only a priest may assist at the wedding of a Latin Rite Catholic and an Eastern Christian – whether Catholic or not. (Can. 1108 §3, 1111 §1; 1112 §1; 1127 §1) This is necessary not just for liceity, but for <i>validity</i>. Thus, a deacon or delegated lay person may not validly assist any marriages that involve Eastern Christians, whether Catholic or Orthodox.<br />
<br />
The Code now also permits the local ordinary (bishop) to grant to any Catholic priest the faculty to bless the marriage of Catholics of an Eastern Church not in full communion with the Catholic Church (the Orthodox). He may bless the marriage only if (1) they voluntarily request it and (2) nothing stands in the way of the licit and valid celebration of the wedding. The priest who blesses the marriage should inform the competent authority of the non-Catholic church. Note that this new section is in the context of those who cannot approach a competent minister without grave inconvenience and there is either (1) danger of death or (2) the inability to approach the competent minister is expected to extend beyond a month. For example, if an Orthodox couple desires to get married and they cannot approach their own minister for more than a month (or in danger of death), the Latin local ordinary may delegate any Catholic priest to bless their marriage.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />[UPDATED to include information on baptismal registries, 16 October 2016)</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-56924782978742852452016-03-30T10:09:00.001+02:002016-03-30T10:10:45.908+02:00FossanovaIn 1274, on his way to a general council in Lyon, after having been invited by Pope Gregory X, St. Thomas Aquinas fell ill near the city of Terracina. He eventually accepted the hospitality of the Cistercian monks in the Abbey of Fossa Nuova (now Fossanova). On March 7, 1274, his strength failed and he died in the Abbey. The Cistercians were forced to leave the Abbey by Napoleon in 1810. The Abbey and church are now under the care of Franciscan Friars from Poland. The room in which St. Thomas died is now a small chapel. <br />
<br />
The Cistercian Abbey church is a beautiful example of early Roman Gothic architecture. It was completed around the year 1208 and displays the simple but grand architectural style of the Cistercians of the middle ages. Pictures of the Abbey are below.
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6267750793855565073%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJbQyaGTrbWPpAE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-53985582971895052772015-11-09T09:17:00.000+01:002015-11-09T09:17:23.513+01:00Dominican Jubilee in Rome<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MR9KZDbMrCw/Vj9Gu1tv_1I/AAAAAAAALEE/K9QovfDc_TE/s1600/IMG_8808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MR9KZDbMrCw/Vj9Gu1tv_1I/AAAAAAAALEE/K9QovfDc_TE/s400/IMG_8808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very Rev. Bruno Cadore, Master of the Order of Preachers, preaches at the Jubilee Mass in Rome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
This year, the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) celebrate the 800th year of our founding. For a brief history of the Order, the Dominican friars of the Province of England <a href="http://english.op.org/about-us/dominican-order/history-of-the-order.htm">have an excellent summary</a>. The Jubilee will be celebrated mostly at the local level, as a thanksgiving to God for the Order and a supplication for the grace necessary to continue our mission. For the events in the Province of St. Joseph, you can see our <a href="http://jubilee.opeast.org/">Provincial Jubilee website</a>. For events around the world, see the <a href="http://www.op.org/en/jubilee">Jubilee Website of the Order</a>. <br />
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You can follow us on social media on Twitter at <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/Dominican_Order" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); color: #8899a6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none !important;"><span style="color: #8899a6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">@</span></span><span class="u-linkComplex-target" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); color: #8899a6; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none !important;">Dominican_Order</span></a> or on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ordopraedicatorum/">OrdoPraedicatorum</a>.<br />
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Here in Rome, the Jubilee began with Mass at Santa Sabina on the Feast of All Saints of the Order of Preachers (Nov 7 in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite). Santa Sabina is the priory where, by long tradition, the Master of the Order lives. The Basilica was originally given to St. Dominic in 1220. Mass was celebrated by the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP. Present were friars from all over the world, as well as Dominican sisters and nuns, and members of the Third Order. <br />
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Here is a slideshow of pictures from the Mass.<br />
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<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6214762269298103905%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJzYnf_CxrXfjQE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comPiazza Pietro D'Illiria, 1, 00153 Roma, Italy41.884339999999987 12.48023999999998141.881384499999989 12.475197499999981 41.887295499999986 12.485282499999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-52965792358067493112015-06-18T21:47:00.003+02:002015-06-18T21:47:45.526+02:00Some thoughts on the new Encyclical<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsARcgg8hgg/VYMflpvcszI/AAAAAAAAFPU/t1P801EnQNk/s1600/Laudato%2BSi%2527_Inglese%2B%25281%2529_Page_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsARcgg8hgg/VYMflpvcszI/AAAAAAAAFPU/t1P801EnQNk/s320/Laudato%2BSi%2527_Inglese%2B%25281%2529_Page_001.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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Below are some initial reactions to <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html">the Pope’s newEncyclical</a>. They’re perhaps a bit
disjointed, and certainly do not cover everything. But they are some of my initial impressions
on reading the document, and a few points I took away as most important. I do encourage
everyone to read it. It is a
fairly simple style to read, and easily comprehensible. It is also the best way to steer clear of the
overly-ideological spin that the members of the media seem determined to give
to it.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
Climate Change</h3>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before getting to the actual encyclical, I want to mention
some of the reporting. Reading the press
accounts, many have discussed the encyclical as if it were the Climate Change
Encyclical. To just take one typical
example, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/world/europe/pope-francis-in-sweeping-encyclical-calls-for-swift-action-on-climate-change.html">New
York Times’s headline</a> puts it, somewhat predictably, this way: “Pope
Francis in Sweeping Encyclical Calls for Swift Action on Climate Change”. As is typical for the religion reporting at
that newspaper, it reflects more the ideological hopes of the author and
editors than it does what the Pope actually said. In fact, the notion of
Climate Change makes up a rather small part of the Encyclical. It is certainly addressed, and the Pope sees
it as important, but to identify it as the main thrust of this Encyclical, as
the New York Times and others do, is very misleading.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Also, the Pope is very clear that the reality of Climate Change
is not something on which he speaks with magisterial authority. He speaks in terms of “scientific consensus”, and defers to the
scientific community. He says, quite
bluntly: “I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle
scientific questions or to replace politics.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
In other words, the Encyclical is much broader than just an
affirmation of the scientific consensus on climate change. Any news outlet you read or hear that pitches
it that way is being deceptive—don’t listen to them. Rather, this Encyclical is a far-reaching
reflection on creation itself, and especially man’s place within it. Moreover, it is meant to reflect specifically
on the modern world, and specifically role and place of modern technology in
the life of man and with respect to the environment.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<h3>
Laudato si’</h3>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As most people have commended, the title is taken from the
first words of the Encyclical. Usually
this is in Latin, but this time Pope Francis chose to use the 13<sup>th</sup>
century Umbrian Italian of St. Francis of Assisi. Those Italian words are “Laudato si’, mi’
Signore” (or, in modern Italian: “Laudato sii, mio Signore”). Most media outlets are reporting only the
first two words, which are the title: “Praised be to you”. But it is important to understand all of St.
Francis’s words: “Praised be to you, my Lord.”
For St. Francis especially, everything is directed to God. St. Francis did not talk about himself, he
talked about God. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In many ways, this is the key to understanding the whole
Encyclical. The Pope wants to reject two
extremes. On the one hand, he wants to
reject a distorted anthropomorphism that exaggerates man’s role in the
world. On the other hand, he wants to
reject a neo-pantheism that would worship creation and make man utterly subject
to it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of those in the environmental movement have criticized the
Judeo-Christian tradition as one of the sources of the problem of economic
degradation. The Biblical language asserting
man’s Dominion of the world, some argue, has become the excuse by which man
ravages the land for his own use.
Moreover, the extend that criticism to the medieval philosophers and the
hierarchy of being, which places man at the top of the material world, and the
rest of the created order—animals, plants, the earth itself—underneath
him. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pope Francis wisely corrects this false view. It is true that the Christian understanding
of creation posits in man a greater dignity, for human beings are the only ones
in the material world created in God’s image and likeness. And God’s words to Adam after he’s been
expelled from the Garden are to till the land – but he also tells him to “keep
it”, in the sense of protect and preserve it.
It is true that man is given governance over creation, but even that
remains subject to the Providence of God.
Man’s governance of creation is itself subject to God’s plan, in which
all things find their end in God. So,
far from man having absolute dominion over the earth, the Christian tradition
sees man as its caretaker, its steward. This
sums it up well: “Our relationship with the environment can never be isolated
from our relationship with others and with God. Otherwise, it would be nothing
more than romantic individualism dressed up in ecological garb, locking us into
a stifling immanence.” (LS 119) And this
notion of stewardship means especially recognizing that we protect the world
for future generations. In what will
likely become one of the more quoted lines of the Encyclical: “What kind of
world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now
growing up?” (LS 160)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the same time, we must avoid the temptation to equate the
value of man and the rest of the created order.
Pope Francis is very clear on this.
He says: “There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology. When
the human person is considered as simply one being among others, the product of
chance or physical determinism, then ‘our overall sense of responsibility wanes’.”
(LS 118) He emphasizes this hierarchy
especially in an example about water. As
the Pope explains, access to fresh water is a vital natural resource because it
is an absolute necessity for human life.
So, when assessing the environmental effects of given projects, we need
to take into account the effects on access to water: “For example, we know that
water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right which
conditions the exercise of other human rights. This indisputable fact overrides
any other assessment of environmental impact on a region.” (LS 185) This means not only the manufacturer whose
product despoils the water table, but the subspecies of fish who that may have
to be sacrificed to permit access to water in a drought. The environment is not to be preserved in
some sort of permanent stasis, like a scene in a snow globe. It is not some idol of the present, to be
worshipped in itself. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
An Integral Ecology </h3>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The primary focus of the Pope’s Encyclical is to prompt a
change in attitude regarding man’s place in the environment. He deliberately speaks in terms of an “ecological
<i>conversion</i>” (LS 5) rather than a
merely environmental one. The reason for
this is to emphasize the interdependence of the created world. An ecology is more than just a few plants and
some animals thrown together. An ecology
is a system – a system of interdependence between the various elements of the
environment, which sustains them and allows them to continue. So, too, man is not cut off from the
environment around him. Rather, he must
be aware that he is a part of the ecological system – a system he needs and
that he in turn effect. Moreover, there
is an ecology to human society as well – that the social dimensions of human
life are related to the way in which we approach creation around us. Therefore, Pope Francis prompts us to an “integral
ecology” which recognizes the “interrelation between ecosystems and between the
various spheres of social interaction”.
(LS 141) In other words, we need
to broaden our view to better recognize how our life, in all its dimensions, is
part of our natural environment. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
Conversion of Life</h3>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More than anything, the Pope calls us to a conversion of
life. Man lives in a world marred by
sin, and this disorder within us effects our relationship with creation,
too. “The harmony between the Creator,
humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the
place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations.” Man’s selfishness looks to his own
gratification first, regardless of the consequences. The Pope calls us to live a simpler life,
casting aside the modern temptations of consumerism and individualism, to live
in a more harmonious relationship with God’s creation. This is more than international agreements,
political campaigns, or green technology.
It is first and foremost a recognition that our encounter with Jesus
Christ must also be manifest in our relationship with the world around us. As the Pope emphasizes: “a healthy
relationship with creation is one dimension of overall personal conversion,
which entails the recognition of our errors, sins, faults and failures, and
leads to heartfelt repentance and desire to change.” This call to conversion is addressed to all
levels of society – the individual family, neighborhoods and communities, local
and national governments, leaders of business and industry, and multinational
organizations. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
One Critique</h3>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As much good as there is in this Encyclical, there are some
problems. The biggest problem, to put it quite bluntly, is the Pope’s
insufficient understanding of economics.
The Pope constantly sees economic growth in merely static terms. For him, it seems, the economic life is like a
big pie, and if one person takes a piece, then he is denying it to someone
else. But the reality of market-based
systems is that they can <i>grow the pie</i>. When resources are given to those who use
them most efficiently for the greatest good, everyone benefits. And it is precisely the mechanism of <i>price</i> that allows those goods to transfer
most efficiently. Is a market-based
system perfect? Of course not, society
needs political mechanisms to provide for justice – something markets do not do
very well. But it is undeniable that private
property and free and open markets are the two greatest forces for eliminating
material poverty that the world has ever known.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-48653960106255528472015-05-05T09:58:00.001+02:002015-05-05T11:04:34.796+02:00The Feast of St. Catherine of Siena in Siena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1TcGitH7d4/VUhwo0H5jVI/AAAAAAAAFHI/KbJdNPn2kIE/s1600/IMG_3871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1TcGitH7d4/VUhwo0H5jVI/AAAAAAAAFHI/KbJdNPn2kIE/s320/IMG_3871.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Italian friars at the Catherinian Basilica of St. Dominic in Siena kindly invited another friar and me for the feast of St. Catherine. The feast usually celebrated by the city on the weekend near her feast day, with several events spread through the weekend. This year, the Pope's representative was Beniamino Cardinal Stella, the Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, who celebrated the solemn Mass. The Archbishop of Siena, the aptly named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Buoncristiani">Antonino Buoncristiani</a> (which would translate as Tony Goodchristians), also attended all of the events.<br />
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It is interesting, especially as an American, to see the mixture of civil and religious in events like this. For the Italians, the civic, the cultural, and the religious are mixed (and assumed) in a way that we simply do not normally do in the U.S. St. Catherine is both a figure of religious holiness and of civic pride for the Sienese, and remains a very important figure.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVLiIPb_Rm0/VUhxLPfm8hI/AAAAAAAAFHI/59k9Na7EnOI/s1600/IMG_3910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVLiIPb_Rm0/VUhxLPfm8hI/AAAAAAAAFHI/59k9Na7EnOI/s320/IMG_3910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first event we attended was the laying of flowers at the statute of St. Catherine near the Basilica. This generally involved groups of women--religious, lay groups, and civil organizations--who came with bouquets of flowers to be set at the statue. In attendance were also the mayor of Siena and other civil officials. As at most of the events, the local neighborhoods (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrade_of_Siena">contrade</a>) had representatives in period costume with flags and drums.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r20Il2rNLw/VUh3j6ul7jI/AAAAAAAAFHY/sIvmT854eQs/s1600/manifestoscaterina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--r20Il2rNLw/VUh3j6ul7jI/AAAAAAAAFHY/sIvmT854eQs/s320/manifestoscaterina.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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That same evening was a <a href="http://www.istitutofranci.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=684:concerto-in-onore-di-santa-caterina-2mag2015&catid=59&Itemid=207&lang=en">concert in honor of St. Catherine</a> at the Duomo (Cathedral), with the Archbishop in attendance. Siena has a well-regarded school of music, the <a href="http://www.istitutofranci.com/index.php?lang=en">Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali "Rinaldo Franci" da Siena</a>. They chose a selection of music from Gustav Faure, and especially music from his Requiem Mass. I find the <i>Pie Jesu</i> from Faure's Requiem Mass to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music. (Here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHbUebcQopo">YouTube version of the Pie Jesu</a> sung by the great Kathleen Battle.)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-APAdc7fzOAw/VUhx5LhFiRI/AAAAAAAAFHI/GbAjXRM3UAU/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-APAdc7fzOAw/VUhx5LhFiRI/AAAAAAAAFHI/GbAjXRM3UAU/s400/IMG_3960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The next day began with another religious/civic event at the house of St. Catherine. With the Cardinal, the Archbishop of Siena, the Mayor of Siena, and various military figures in attendance, gifts were offered to the sanctuary there, including candles and oil for the lamps. <br />
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Following that was the solemn Mass presided by Cardinal Stella at the Basilica San Domenico.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_4SoCI8c7A/VUhyM7AOgPI/AAAAAAAAFHI/J4Kv6LGwgdM/s1600/IMG_3985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_4SoCI8c7A/VUhyM7AOgPI/AAAAAAAAFHI/J4Kv6LGwgdM/s320/IMG_3985.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Finally, on Sunday afternoon, was the procession with the relic of St. Catherine. The relic was solemnly carried from San Domenico, accompanied by the local neighborhood (contrada) where the Basilica is located (the contrado Drago (dragon)), with flags and drums. We then came to the Church of St. Christopher near the town center, where we were joined by the sisters from the shrine of St. Catherine, as well as representatives from the other neighborhoods (contrade) in period costume. The drums escorted us to the campo, where there is a permanent outdoor shrine and altar, where the relic rested as various speeches were made by civil officials. The event ended with a prayer of blessing from the Archbishop of Siena.<br />
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Here is a slideshow with more pictures:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6145285400563318273%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCP2og9eC0InXZQ%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>
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And here is some video from Siena:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-62592361563602927232015-04-29T18:49:00.000+02:002016-11-22T17:43:32.343+01:00Even the Pope gets Canon Law wrong sometimes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-944CeasBD_o/VUELXdNsh2I/AAAAAAAAE48/VC8CLSx3U80/s1600/canon-law-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-944CeasBD_o/VUELXdNsh2I/AAAAAAAAE48/VC8CLSx3U80/s1600/canon-law-books.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
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Once in a while I post something on canon law, usually to correct some major error I see. It is odd now to write a post to correct a rather major error from the Holy See on Canon Law, and even from the Pope himself. <br />
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So what is the mistake. A bit back, Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee to begin this year. He has called this a Year of Mercy. As is typical, he has issued a Bull of Indiction, <i><a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html">Misericordiae Vultus</a> </i>(the Face of Mercy), listing the spiritual benefits to accrue to the faithful in this Jubilee Year. In that document he makes the following statement in paragraph 18:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
During Lent of this Holy Year, I intend to send out Missionaries of Mercy. They will be a sign of the Church’s maternal solicitude for the People of God, enabling them to enter the profound richness of this mystery so fundamental to the faith. There will be priests to whom I will grant the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See, so that the breadth of their mandate as confessors will be even clearer. </blockquote>
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A bit of background here. Most Catholics are under the impression that any priest may hear a confession at any time. This is not true. While the sacrament of Order (<i>i.e.</i>, just being a priest) gives the priest <i>sacramental </i>power. that is not sufficient for him to absolve sins during confession. He also needs something called <i>jurisdictional</i> power, or the <i>executive power of governance</i>. The Code usually calls this <b>faculties. </b>Basically, he needs to be given permission by his local Bishop to hear confessions. (Although pastors of parishes and some others have the power by the law itself.) Without that granting of authority, he has no power to absolve sins.<br />
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The point in question here is about the "authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See". That refers to sins that the Pope has reserved to himself (or one of the Apostolic Penitentiaries) alone to absolve -- no other priest or bishop would have the power to absolve those sins.<br />
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So what's the problem? In the Latin Church, the law has eliminated all of these reserved sins since 1983 -- more than 30 years. In other words, <i>there are no sins reserved to the Holy See</i> in the Latin Church. So, it's not clear at all what these "Missionaries of Mercy" will be doing. <br />
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The law does reserve the removal of certain <i>penalties</i> to the Holy See. There are certain penalties that priests can lift in the confessional. For example, in the Latin Church, a Catholic who procures an abortion automatically (<i>latae sententiae</i>) receives an undeclared penalty of excommunication. Under certain circumstances (see can. 1357), a priest can lift that penalty of excommunication. But there are penalties for certain offense (the canonical word is "delicts") that only the Holy See can lift. These include penalties for, <i>e.g.</i>, using physical force on the Pope, violating the seal of confession, attempting to ordain a woman, desecrating the eucharist, and clerical sexual abuse. Perhaps the Pope means to assign these "Missionaries of Mercy" to these reserved <i>penalties</i>. If so, it does not seem to me that there are all that many of these, or why the usual process through the Holy See would not suffice.<br />
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I should note that this is not true of the Eastern Catholic Churches (e.g., Byzantine Catholics, Maronite Catholics, etc.). There are "reserved sins" in those Churches. So, I suppose this could mean that these "Missionaries of Mercy" will only be sent to the Eastern Churches. Although, if that were the case, you'd think it would be specified that way.<br />
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Either way, it shows that even the Pope can get canon law wrong, and why he always needs some good canonists to give him counsel.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>4/29/15 UPDATE</b>:</span> I added a sentence to clarify a canonical term.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>12/6/15 UPDATE</b>:</span> The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, who have the duty to authentically interpret the law, have weighed in on the issue. You can see the letter (in Italian) from the President of the Council <a href="http://www.delegumtextibus.va/content/dam/testilegislativi/risposte-particolari/cic/Circa%20la%20facolt%C3%A0%20di%20assolvere%20dal%20peccato%20di%20aborto%20concessa%20a%20tutti%20sacerdoti%20per%20l%27Anno%20Giubilare.pdf">here</a>. The letter references a <a href="https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150901_lettera-indulgenza-giubileo-misericordia.html">Sept. 1st letter from Pope Francis</a> to the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization to grant during the Jubilee Year to all priests (<i>tutti i sacerdoti</i>) the faculty to absolve from the sin of abortion (<i>assolvere dal peccato di aborto</i>). Since all priests with the faculty to hear confession generally already have this faculty, some explanation was needed. The letter indicates that without doubt (<i>indubbio, non c'è alcun dubbio</i>), despite the words used, what was intended was to grant the faculty to lift the censure of a non declared <i>latae sententiae</i> excommunication for those who have procured an abortion. This seems to be limited only to the <i>latae sententiae </i>penalty for procuring abortion. Therefore, the Missionaries of Mercy will still have a broader faculty, as it seems they will have the authority to lift any undeclared <i>latae sententiae </i>excommunication<i>.</i><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>11/21/16 UPDATE</b>:</span> The Pope today issued an <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20161120_misericordia-et-misera.html" target="_blank">Apostolic Letter</a> coinciding with the closing of the Jubilee year of mercy. The letter purports to "grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion." In other words, the letter continues the same error that was contained in <i><a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html">Misericordiae Vultus</a> </i>from last year. However, given the intervening authoritative interpretation in November 2015, we can say that we know what the Pope means to do, even if the words do not precisely correspond. It is important to stress that there is no sin that a priest may not forgive (so long as he has the faculty to hear confessions), at least in the Latin Church. I do worry that there are people who will not go to confession because they (falsely) believe they 'have one of those sins that the priest can't forgive' or that there are people who doubt that a confessed sin was truly absolved because it was not absolved by a bishop. I also note that the Holy Father also extended to priests of the Society of St. Pius X the continued faculty of absolving sins. <br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">11/22/16 UPDATE</span></b><span style="color: red;">: </span><span style="color: black;">I corrected a few typos and tightened up some language. Looking it over, perhaps I should stress that there is a difference between the <i>sin</i> of abortion and the <i>crime</i> or delict of abortion, even though they arise from the same act. The confessional is about the forgiveness of the sin, about putting us back into right relationship with God after we have strayed by our actions. The crime is a function of the Church's governance. The Church has always maintained the distinction between the crime of excommunication as sin. They may be related, but there are important differences. Some people believe that excommunication is about making a determination as to whether someone can "get to heaven". That is not true. Excommunication is about protecting the community of the Church from harm by the scandal or behavior of others. It's perfectly possible for a person to be under the penalty of excommunication and yet still have sanctifying grace. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-18122317183820392722015-03-07T17:06:00.000+01:002015-03-07T17:07:05.824+01:00La Galleria Borghese <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqr2nTP-X-A/VPrXT8mcYHI/AAAAAAAAEpM/VswWn8CV5P0/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqr2nTP-X-A/VPrXT8mcYHI/AAAAAAAAEpM/VswWn8CV5P0/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>La Galleria Borghese</i></td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.galleriaborghese.it/default-en.htm">Borghese Gallery</a> is one of the best art museums in Rome. It began originally as the art collection of Cardinal
Cardinal Scipione, who was the son of Hortensia Borghese and the nephew of Pope Paul V. As the Borghese Gallery website explains:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Cardinal Scipion was drawn to any works of ancient, Renaissance and contemporary art which might re-evoke a new golden age. He was not particularly interested in medieval art, but passionately sought to acquire antique sculpture. But Cardinal Scipione was so ambitious that he promoted the creation of new sculptures and especially marble groups to rival antique works. Cardinal Scipione's collection of paintings was remarkable and was poetically described as early as 1613 by Scipione Francucci.</blockquote>
The museum houses one of the best collections of statutes by the famed sculptor Bernini. It also houses several paintings by Caravaggio. The Gallery is situated in the beautiful Borghese park on a hill at the northern end of Rome. You can go through the museum in under 2 hours. If you ever go, I strongly recommend going with a written guide or buying an audio guide. The works of art are not well marked or described.<br />
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Here are some pictures of some of the art that can be found in La Galleria Borghese:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6123443332817502001%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCIuZotrAvMKSKw%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-26961663187190944512015-03-06T10:06:00.001+01:002015-03-06T10:07:36.360+01:00FiesoleFiesole is a small town just outside of Florence. You can get from the Basilica of San Marco just north of the Cathedral to Fiesole in about 10-15 minutes by bus. In the history of the Dominican Order, it is important as a center for reform of the Order in the 15th century. St. Antoninus, later Bishop of Florence, was one of the first novices there. But it is also especially connected to Bl. John of Fiesole, more popularly known as Fra Angelico. As St. Thomas Aquinas is known as the <i>Doctor Angelicus</i> (the "Angelic Doctor"), John of Fiesole is the <i>Pictor Angelicus </i>(the "Angelic Painter"). He was not only one of the greatest artists the Order has known, but he helped create the Italian Renaissance. Below is a slideshow of some of the pictures I took from the convent in Fiesole.<br />
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6119885873477378113%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPLbvZKgrbPSQw%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-73300632104169059372015-01-29T20:30:00.000+01:002015-01-29T20:30:21.684+01:00Oxford & KentI haven't posted here in <i>way </i>too long, so I decided to post some pics of my trip to England. Right after Christmas I went to Oxford as well as Canterbury and Dover in Kent. While in Canterbury, I celebrated a private Mass at the (now Anglican) Cathedral on the feast of St. Thomas Becket. It was in the Cathedral that he was killed while praying Vespers. He left the evening prayers to go to the <br />
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door where the 4 knights sent by Henry II had come to murder Becket. As others locked the doors, St. Thomas insisted they be open, as the Church of God should never be barred at times of prayer. The 4 knights came in and then murdered St. Thomas, his body was then taken to the undercroft where a shrine existed until its destruction in the time of Henry VIII. In fact, the shrine of St. Thomas Becket was one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in all of Europe until the Protestants demolished it. The location of his relics remains unknown. There is now a marker on the stone where St. Thomas was martyred (see picture)<br />
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Below are some slideshows of pics from Oxford, Centerbury, and Dover:<br />
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Oxford:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6102010698016518417%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCN2D5YLf9rqZZA%26hl%3Den_US" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed><br />
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Canterbury:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6102005031821957313%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCKyryrOt_-zmlgE%26hl%3Den_US" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed><br />
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Dover:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6102008855238637345%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCOHq8uDElpb3xwE%26hl%3Den_US" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-92089694501560215882014-10-30T08:31:00.000+01:002014-10-30T08:31:21.525+01:00When All Souls Day Falls on Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICDIwKeXtYg/VFHmGCIJbUI/AAAAAAAADSY/GcZVzCymnAY/s1600/Requiem%2BCenter%2BDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICDIwKeXtYg/VFHmGCIJbUI/AAAAAAAADSY/GcZVzCymnAY/s1600/Requiem%2BCenter%2BDetail.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
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There has been some confusion in the Catholic corner of the Internet with regards to Mass this Sunday. The Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite now allows All Souls Day to be celebrated on Sunday. (The pre-Vatican II calendar would have (and still does) moved it from the Sunday, so as to allow Sunday to retain its primacy.) Normally, there is no Gloria and Creed said on All Souls Day. The confusion seems to <a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/10/ask-father-all-souls-sunday-gloria-creed-what-does-the-universal-ordo-really-say/#comments">originate from the Canadian Bishops</a>, who seem to have required it in their local Liturgical <i>Ordo</i>. <br />
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To help clear up some confusion, I have scanned the relevant pages from the 2013-2014 <i>Ordo Missae Celebrandae et Divini Officii Persolvendi</i> published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana:<br />
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Here is the English translation of the same from the edition published by <i>Centro Liturgico Vincenziano:</i><br />
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Normally, when the <i>Gloria </i>and <i>Creed</i> are to be said, they are mentioned in the notes for the day, as is done above for the Solemnity of All Saints. There is no such notation for All Souls Day.<br />
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The question is whether the GIRM permits or otherwise requires the <i>Gloria </i>or <i>Creed. </i>Paragraph 53 of the GIRM reads, in part: "[The <i>Gloria</i>] is sung or said on Sundays outside the Seasons of Advent and Lent, on solemnities and feasts, and at special celebrations of a more solemn character." There is a similar instruction with regards the Creed, from GIRM no. 68: "The Creed is to be sung or said by the priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities. It may be said also at particular celebrations of a more solemn character."<br />
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There is perhaps an argument to be made that, at least at a solemnly celebrated Mass of All Souls, it would be appropriate to sing the <i>Gloria </i>and <i>Creed, </i>its absence in the universal<i> Ordo </i>notwithstanding.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-8994666073234336532014-05-12T20:35:00.000+02:002014-05-12T20:35:31.742+02:00Pope Francis Speaks to Priests and Seminarians<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Pope met today with priests and seminarians studying at Rome's Pontifical Universities in the Pope Paul VI Hall in Vatican City. The event began with students from the various colleges, representing most of the world, providing selections of music. The songs ranged from Mexican hymns, to American spirituals, to Zulu ululations, to traditional English polyphony. The Pope arrived a bit late--he was meeting with Bishops from Mexico and apparently they got to talking a bit.<br />
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The even largely consisted with a group of pre-selected seminarians each asking a question. The questions related especially to priestly formation and ministry. There was nothing particularly earth-shattering in the talk that I heard. Pope Francis is always very pastoral. Where John Paul tended to speak in the language of philosophy and Pope Benedict in the language of theology, Pope Francis speaks in the language of everyday stories. Most of his responses were anecdotes from his own life and experience. For example, one seminarian asked about the challenges of living in community life. Pope Francis recalled an event when he was a young seminarian or priest and having trouble with one of his fellow seminarians/priests. He went to his Spiritual Director to express his frustration with this person, listing all the reasons why he had a right to be angry. Pope Francis said that his Spiritual Director asked only one question: "Have you prayed for this brother?" The Pope said he admitted at the time that he had not. The Spiritual Director said something to the effect of, "Well, there's no more we can do right now." That's Pope Francis, just a simple story to illustrate a very pastoral point. <br />
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After the talk he walked down the center of the Hall and met with seminarians. I was able to get a few pictures there. I left with a fellow Dominican and we were waiting just outside the exit doors. The crowd wasn't moving, and we just assumed that security was holding everyone up to allow the Pope to get past first. Little did we know that the Pope's next destination was just past we were standing. So, the security quickly formed a corridor through the remaining few of us who were left, and escorted him right past us. I never expected to get that close. It was a nice bit of Providence! <br />
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Below are the pictures I took.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6012604380579506417%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCL27nqbbydiu9wE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-9606781246364350712014-04-22T21:18:00.003+02:002014-04-22T21:20:31.379+02:00Go to Orvieto!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88BbzdeOlKE/U1a9oZrkpYI/AAAAAAAAAck/ElF4vQvj5gk/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88BbzdeOlKE/U1a9oZrkpYI/AAAAAAAAAck/ElF4vQvj5gk/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duomo in Orvieto</td></tr>
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A month or so ago, some friends were coming into town and asked about the possibility of a day trip to Rome. I had my own thoughts, but asked a few other Americans here what they thought. A number of them suggested Orvieto, which I had never been to see. My friends never got the chance to go, but I finally did, and it was a great trip.<br />
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Orvieto is in the midst of a Jubilee Year. The Church was built by Pope Urban VI in the 14th century to house a Eucharistic miracle. Last year was the 750th anniversary of that miracle--The famous Corporal of Bolsena. In 1263, a priest who began to doubt the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist was saying Mass. During the Mass, the host in his hand began to bleed drops of blood, which were visible to a number of people attending Mass. Those drops stained the corporal (the small square cloth the priest uses under the host and chalice while saying Mass). The corporal was preserved as a relic, and remains enthroned in a side chapel of the Duomo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdwTEAvV3vE/U1a-XGpNefI/AAAAAAAAAfs/CZyKFRjMaE0/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdwTEAvV3vE/U1a-XGpNefI/AAAAAAAAAfs/CZyKFRjMaE0/s1600/IMG_4753.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chapel of the Corporal <br />in the Duomo in Orvieto</td></tr>
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This miracle is important to Dominicans because of its indirect tie to St. Thomas Aquinas. In 1264, Pope Urban IV heard of this miracle of the bleeding host. Inspired by it, he ordered that a new feast day be inserted into the liturgical calendar in honor of the Blessed Sacrament -- the feast of <i>Corpus Christi</i>. The story is that he asked the two most scholarly friars, the Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas and the Franciscan St. Bonaventure, to compose the prayers and hymn for the new feast. St. Thomas presented his first, after which Bonaventure threw his into the fire, so great was Thomas's poetry and theology. Thus, Orvieto can be considered the birthplace of the feast of <i>Corpus Christ</i>, and St. Thomas its primary author.<br />
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For the Jubilee year, the Diocese has created a pilgrimage office. They had received the permission of Pope Benedict XVI to open a Holy Door for pilgrims into the Duomo as well. Certainly, if you are planning to go on pilgrimage to Rome this year, you should definitely also make pilgrimage to Orvieto. It just over an hour by train from Rome's <i>Termini </i>station, and the train tickets are not terrible expensive. From the train station, you take a small funicular railway up to the town on the hill, which costs little over 1 Euro.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6005191410709388769%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNqx4K3Y3aHKgAE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-61844005876506962382014-04-22T21:01:00.003+02:002014-04-22T21:01:59.356+02:00Happy EasterThe Paschal Candle at the Basilica San Clemente:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comVia Labicana, 95, 00184 Rome, Italy41.8898427 12.49752309999996716.367808200000002 -28.811070900000033 67.4118772 53.806117099999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-61513919911923976412014-04-21T16:52:00.002+02:002014-04-21T16:56:40.830+02:00Papal Mass for EasterI attended the <a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2014/20140420-libretto-domenica-di-pasqua.pdf">Papal Easter Mass</a> in the clergy section, up in the area set up for the sanctuary outside St. Peter's Basilica. The seats were directly behind the Cardinals, Bishops, and Canons of St. Peter's. In other words, they were pretty good seats. As this year Easter coincided in both the West and the East (the East still dates Easter according to the Julian calendar), the Gospel was sung in both Latin and Greek. <br />
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It was a perfect Roman spring day. There was not a cloud in the sky, and an occasional cool breeze that made the day very comfortable. This was in stark contrast to the noisy rainstorm the night before. A perfect Easter morning.<br />
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After Mass, the Pope immediately removed the liturgical vestments to enter the Popemobile. He took a short ride through the crowd, and then up to the old Papal apartments to deliver the traditional <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/papa-francesco_20140420_urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html">Urbi et Orbi address</a>.<br />
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For even more <a href="http://www.photogallery.va/content/photogallery/en/celebrazioni-liturgiche/pasqua2014.html">pictures</a> and <a href="http://www.radiovaticana.va/player/index_fb.asp?language=it&tic=VA_52C3COYA">video</a> of the Easter Mass, see the Vatican website.<br />
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By the way, is it so hard to dress decently for Mass with the Pope? I mean, am I so old fashioned that I'm the only one who thinks wearing skin-tight blue jeans is inappropriate for a Papal Mass? Red pants and an untucked blue shirt? Wearing a baseball cap throughout the Eucharistic prayer? I mean, even Pope Francis--known for his liturgical simplicity--still wears and alb and chasuble for Mass. If he can dress up, surely we can.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6004753703341303777%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPe8t4vikNryvwE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-59205469177242918552014-04-18T22:21:00.000+02:002014-04-18T22:21:11.996+02:00Stations of the Cross with Pope FrancisAs has been the case for a number of years now, the Pope comes to the Colosseum for the annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Until I came to Rome, I thought the Pope and people were <i>inside</i> the Colosseum. They are not. Across from the Colosseum is a bit of a plateau with the ruins of an old basilica. They set up a tent for the Holy Father there, facing the Colosseum. Because of the scaffolding that now covers 1/4 of the Colosseum, there were able to put a large monitor up to watch the events. The actual procession of the stations goes inside the Colosseum and then back out. This occurs shortly after the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at St. Peter's. The Pope looked very, very tired.<br />
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This year, the meditations for the Stations of the Cross were prepared by His Eminence, Msgr. Giancarlo Maria Bregantini, Archbishop of Campobasso-Boiano. A PDF of the official booklet of the Stations can be <a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2014/20140418-libretto-via-crucis.pdf">found here</a> and the English translations of the meditations may be found <a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2014/documents/ns_lit_doc_20140418_via-crucis_en.html">here</a>.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6003728485955414673%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCOv6rIy2zcXLAQ%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-61310258578021714442014-04-17T15:20:00.000+02:002014-04-17T15:20:44.081+02:00San Clemente - Altar of ReposeBelow are pictures of the Altar of Repose set up in St. Cyril's chapel here at the Basilica di San Clemente. It will be used following the Mass of the Lord's Supper this evening.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102609101335597898111%2Falbumid%2F6003247076315892321%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCKCZkd6Li7viogE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03349480640110411740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-54755173650373760352014-03-16T09:17:00.001+01:002014-03-16T09:17:50.975+01:00Second Sunday in Lent: Santa Maria in Domnica<i>A few years ago, I did a series of posts on the stational churches of the Sundays of Lent for our Provincial website. Below is a reprint of the one for the Second Sunday of Lent, Santa Maria in Domnica, more popularly known as the Navicella. It also happens to be our parish church, as San Clemente is not a parish, and is just a bit down the street from us.</i><br />
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<h4>
Stational Churches of Rome: Santa Maria in Domnica</h4>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From March 2012</span></i></div>
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<i>We continue to look at the Stational Churches of Lent. These are particular churches in Rome associated with a particular day. Every day in Lent has, by ancient custom, a stational church associated with it. This series examines the stational churches associated with the Sundays of Lent. </i><br />
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On the first Sunday of Lent, we encountered the great Basilica of St. John Lateran, notable both for its size and its tie to the Holy Father. Not far from St. John Lateran, in fact, just a short walk down the Via dell'Amba Aradam, we come to the much more modest church of Santa Maria in Domnica. Yet, it somehow seems fittting that as we move through this Lenten season we are brought to the humility of Mary on this second Sunday of Lent. The grand splendor of St. John's Basilica gives way to Mary's small church. For, it is Mary who was with Christ from the beginning, Mary who was there when he began his ministry, Mary who stood beside his cross, and Mary who prayed with the Apostles in the Upper Room as the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of flame. We do not make our Lenten journey without Mary, for Christ did not make his salvific journey without Mary. Like St. John Lateran, the site of this Church has ancient Christian roots. The location as a gathering place for Christians seems go back as early as the third century. By tradition, these early Christians, gathering in a time of persecution, came to this house owned by Cyriaca, a Greek woman. Nearby was a Roman barracks, on the site of what is now San Stefano Rotondo. The Basilica of Santa Maria in Domnica probably did not first become a church, but rather a diaconia. That is, it was a place given over to the care of the poor, often headed by a deacon of Rome. This diaconia was especially associated with the martyr St. Lawrence, an important deacon in Rome and keeper of the Church's treasury. It is said that the Emperor once had St. Lawrence brought before him and demanded to be given the treasury of the church. The holy saint agreed, asking leave to retrieve it. He returned with the poor, the orphans, and the sick, proclaiming to the Emperor that this was the true treasury of the Church. He was eventually executed, his body being taken by Cyriaca and buried in her family cemetery at what is now the Church of St. Lawrence outside the Walls. This former diacona should remind us of our duty of service through almsgiving in this Lenten season<br />
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In the 9th Century, the Pope, Paschal I, has the old diaconia, which was then falling apart, torn down and replaced with the current church, done in a stye to hearken back to the early Christians in Rome. About 700 years later, the church found itself again in a state of disrepair and was renovated by a Cardinal of the Medici family, who later became Pope Leo X. The name of the Church is a bit of a mystery. Some hypothesize that it is the Latin form of Cyriaca, the woman whose home it was, from the Greek word meaning "of the Lord". (The Greek word being Kyrie of the Kyrie Eleison that we sometimes sing at Mass). The Latin form of the Greek word would be Domnica. Some also guess that the word is merely a corruption of dominicum, which was commonly used to describe Rome's numerous house-churches. Finally, some have even posited that the word (which is grammatically feminine) refers to the wife of the Emperor, and that perhaps she donated the land for the Church.<br />
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But the Church also has a second name, Santa Maria alla Navicella, which is also the name of the street on which the Basilica stands. The origin of this name we do know. Nacicella means 'little boat' and it refers to the marble statue of the small boat (a 16th century replica of an ancient statue) that has stood in front of the since the time of its renovation by the Cardinal de Medici. (See photo) The image of the boat is a common one for the Church and for Mary Upon entering the Church one notices immediately the great mosaic on the back of the Apse. (See photos.) The Mosaic goes back to the time of Pope Paschal, the early 820s. The image depicts Mary seated on a throne with the child Jesus in her lap. The style is very much influenced by the Byzantine style of art that remained popular through much of the early middle ages. Surrounding Mary are "myriads of angels in festal gathering" (Heb 12:22) At the feet of the Blessed Virgin is an unusual figure--a man with a square halo. In the Byzantine style, a square halo meant that the person depicted was still living. This, then, is an image of Pope Paschal, venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary. This main scene in the Apse is flanked by two other figures--most likely Moses and Elijah. In keeping with the ancient tradition, the liturgical reading for this day is the story of the Transfiguration. (In fact, the priest is directed on this day to use the Preface from the Feast of the Transfiguration.) The people gathered for Mass on this day not only hear of the glorified Christ with Moses and Elijah, in this church they also see him in his humanity with the glorious and ever Virgin Mary, accompanied by Moses and Elijah--a wonderful example of the ancient tendency to link art and liturgy that has been so sadly lost in our modern age. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="334" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicanfriars/6800306380/in/set-72157629130960776/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Above these,one sees another mosaic frieze of Christ and his Apostles (and two angels). Christ, seated within a mandorla (the almond shaped figure that is meant to represent the union of heaven and earth), is flanked by the Apostles each holding an iconic symbol. Peter, holding the keys of his office, can be clearly seen to the right of Christ. Above these Carolingian mosaics is a baroque ceiling placed by Cardinal de Medici. The various panels of the ceiling depict images of the Blessed Virgin, many of them from types from the Old Testament, as well as the Cardinal's coat of arms. To the right is a depiction of the Arc, a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. It also mirrors the marble carving of the boat in front of the Church. As the boat symbolizes the Church, so it symbolizes Mary who is a type of the Church. As the Second Vatican Council teaches us, "the Mother of God is a type of the Church in the order of faith, charity and perfect union with Christ." (LG 63) The words on this boat recall the words of the Salve Regina: Spes Nostra Salve, "Hail, our Hope". Below is a collection of images of this ancient Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. May the beauty of this Church continue to aid us so that by following our Lenten observances, we may better imitate Mary in our love and fidelity to Christ.<br />
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<i>O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.</i><br />
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=140556" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdominicanfriars%2Fsets%2F72157629130960776%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fdominicanfriars%2Fsets%2F72157629130960776%2F&set_id=72157629130960776&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-9148503026602580822014-03-13T15:31:00.003+01:002014-03-13T15:31:56.569+01:00Marseille FranceAfter my stint in Toulouse, I stayed with the Dominicans in Marseille on the southern coast of France. Marseille has a beautiful location right on the sea. In recent years the city has been inundated--overwhelmed might be a better word--with immigrants from North Africa. <br />
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One of the most recognizable sites in Marseille is the church of La Bonne Mere. It is a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary built on top of one of Marseille's tallest mountains. It has served since it's construction as a beacon for French sailors returning back to shore. The Church is filled with tokens of thanks of sailors saved from storms and rough seas attributed to the intercession of Mary. <br />
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I went to Marseille with another French Dominican who studies Canon Law with me in Rome. When he was a student in Marseille, he got to know a Catholic family who have an apostolate in one of the housing complexes in Marseille. He took me there on New Year's Eve. The housing complex reminded me a bit of the old Cabrini Green in Chicago--mile after mile of high-rise housing complexes with little to no commercial real estate in sight. In Marseille, they are filled almost entirely with immigrants from North Africa. They are not the safest places in the world. The complex we went to had a group of young men out front sitting together over a fire. Apparently these are spotters, who look out for rival gangs and the police. They are usually the ones who get shot in the occasional acts of gang retribution. <br />
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Near one of these high rises, there is a community center built by a Catholic family (and given some assistance by the government). It is staffed by young Catholics who volunteer a year of their time to live there and carry on the apostolate. For New Year's we had a mix of young Catholics and the homeless from the area. It's a small effort, but a wonderful example of some of the vibrancy in French Catholic evangelization and mission.<br />
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The story of the Dominicans there is interesting. The current Dominican church in Marseille was built by a prominent Catholic family. At some point the French government in one of its many eruptions of anti-Catholicism took the church. Apparently, the same family bought it back from the government and gave it back to the Dominicans--essentially paying for it twice. <br />
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There is also a very ancient tradition that Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Lazarus, went to southern France following Christ's resurrection, near Marseille. The relics of Mary Magdalene were found and turned into a shrine. Apparently, recent tests of the bones suggest that they were of a middle-aged woman from the 1st century. Mary lived up in a cave in one of the mountains, and there a shrine was built. The Dominicans have had care of the shrine for several centuries. (Mary Magdalene is one of the patronesses of the Order.) Unfortunately, during the French Revolution, anti-Catholic forces climbed up the mountain and destroyed the large shrine that was there. The current shrine is much smaller than the former one. It is a quite and prayerful spot (after a <i>very </i>long climb up the mountain). <br />
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Here are some pictures from Marseille:<br />
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Here are some of the shrine of Mary Magdalene and environs:<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5967317655523899137%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJbDy5OVn7vpHw%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>
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<br />Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-89790116146541433142014-03-13T15:10:00.000+01:002014-03-13T15:10:02.960+01:00PyreneesAfter a bit of a delay, some more pictures from France. This is from our trip into the Pyrenees near Toulouse. The Pyrenees form the natural border between France and Spain. The mountains were absolutely beautiful. While there we celebrated Mass for a convent of Benedictine Nuns. We also had lunch there with another French priest and some others. <br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5967233858157915713%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNzs8omGwp-x5QE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed><br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5966416838189791841%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNGlnpnt4KOGGQ%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comToulouse, France43.604652 1.444209000000000743.420672 1.1214855000000008 43.788632 1.7669325000000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-30923475574597959332014-03-04T18:50:00.001+01:002014-03-04T18:57:23.046+01:00Lenten Penances<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p19nldzNbhs/UxYN3IuNoxI/AAAAAAAAQh8/mUQX21jJph8/s1600/IMG_3141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p19nldzNbhs/UxYN3IuNoxI/AAAAAAAAQh8/mUQX21jJph8/s1600/IMG_3141.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blessed Sacrament Altar of San Lorenzo fuori le mure (Rome) appointed for the season of Lent</td></tr>
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As we begin the season of Lent this Wednesday, we remember that as Catholics we have a duty to do penance in reparation for our sins and the sins of others as well as to foster a proper detachment from the goods of the world. <br />
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The Code of Canon Law (can. 1249) reminds us of the importance of penance in the life of the Church:<br />
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All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence...</blockquote>
For the benefit of the faithful, below is a a brief listing of the obligations for fasting in the Lenten season. This is only for Catholics in the Latin Rite, as the Eastern Catholic Churches have their own set of obligations.<br />
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<i>Penitential Days of Lent </i></h4>
<i>Ash Wednesday - </i>Abstinence and Fasting<br />
<i>The Fridays of Lent - </i>Abstinence<br />
<i>Good Friday - </i>Abstinence and fasting<br />
<i>Holy Saturday - </i>No obligation to fast or abstain from meat, but the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council urged that "where possible" the Good Friday penances be extended throughout Holy Saturday until the start of the Easter Vigil that night. (<i>Sacrosanctum Concilium </i>110)<br />
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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this year March 5) and ends with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (this year April 17). Although Good Friday is part of the Triduum and not technically a part of Lent, Catholics are obligated to fasting and abstinence on that day.<br />
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<i>Who exactly is bound by these obligations?</i></h4>
<b>Abstinence from meat </b>is a requirement only of those who are 14 years old and older.<br />
<b>Fasting </b>is required by all those older than 18 and younger than 60.<br />
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Also, even if children are too young to be bound by these requirements, parents are reminded that they have an obligation to make sure these children are taught the true meaning of penance. (can. 1252)<br />
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<i>What exactly do abstinence and fasting require?</i></h4>
Pope Paul VI addressed these in his 1966 Apostolic Constitution, <i><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini_en.html">Paenitemini</a>:</i><br />
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Regarding <b>fasting</b>, he said: "The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing—as far as quantity and quality are concerned—approved local custom."<br />
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Regarding <b>abstinence, </b>he said: "The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat."<br />
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<i>What if I cannot fast on a particular day?</i></h4>
Your pastor always has the power to dispense you from a particular obligation to fast or abstain from meat for a sufficient reason, and substitute an appropriate penance in its place.<br />
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<i>Are there days when we do not observe these penances?</i></h4>
We always feast when the church feasts and fast when she fasts. In some years<i> </i>a solemnity falls on a Friday in Lent (The Annunciation or St. Joseph's Day). In that case, the obligation to abstain from meat is lifted. Note that this is true for any solemnity, but not any holy days of lower rank (Feasts or Memorials). No Solemnity falls on a Friday of Lent this year (2014).<br />
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<i>Wait, don't I have to "give something up" for Lent?</i></h4>
While a laudable custom, there is no requirement to give up anything additional during Lent, other than the fasting and abstinence described above. The Lenten season should be marked by three things: prayer, penance, and almsgiving. In this holy season of Lent, Catholics should seek out new opportunities to pray, to detach themselves from the things of this world, and to help their neighbors, especially the poor. So, by all means, give up that chocolate for Lent! But also give that money you've saved to the poor and, even better, offer up a daily rosary for all those who suffer the worst poverty of all, spiritual poverty.<br />
<br />Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-45331784988440057292014-03-03T16:19:00.001+01:002014-03-03T16:20:00.117+01:00Toulouse, FranceShortly after Christmas, I took a trip to Southern France, and stayed in Toulouse and Marseille. Toulouse is in many ways the birthplace of the Dominican Order. It is not far from there that St. Dominic gathered the first nuns together in the convent of in Prouille. It was in Toulouse that St. Dominic began his work of founding an order of men dedicated to the 'Holy Preaching'. Below are some pictures of Toulouse and some of the 'Dominican Country' around it.<br />
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Toulouse<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5967296988028652897%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCOPW7Yi_9ura-gE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>
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Carcassone <br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5966202020130717857%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPPL-bP96ur0Ow%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>
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St. Maximin<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5967321545301844193%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJjUkvWKrufBFw%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-14293599737715993692013-12-25T11:01:00.001+01:002013-12-25T11:01:30.614+01:00San Clemente Praesepio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWQMH9LlBhI/UNq6X55w4XI/AAAAAAAAGN4/mJFxakpjykE/s1600/IMG_8848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWQMH9LlBhI/UNq6X55w4XI/AAAAAAAAGN4/mJFxakpjykE/s400/IMG_8848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Every year our cook here at San Clemente makes from scratch a new praesepio (a nativity scene) in the traditional Italian style. The one from last year is above. The original nativity scenes are credited to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century and they remain very popular among the Italians. <br />
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Here is the entire preasepio for 2013:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDyPq4Qqwd8/UrqnQDrr-3I/AAAAAAAAPCM/sJ6kDHJmuZg/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDyPq4Qqwd8/UrqnQDrr-3I/AAAAAAAAPCM/sJ6kDHJmuZg/s400/IMG_2506.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The scene is in two levels. The main nativity scene is at the bottom. There are smaller scenes mostly above from the life of Christ.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pBqmC5B214/Urqnr4GOHhI/AAAAAAAAPDk/SfMEHFUGw9Q/s1600/IMG_2517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pBqmC5B214/Urqnr4GOHhI/AAAAAAAAPDk/SfMEHFUGw9Q/s400/IMG_2517.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the other half of the nativity scene.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JokLpy9_eRI/UrqnVH0DWMI/AAAAAAAAPCc/DHEIiqWTh4g/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JokLpy9_eRI/UrqnVH0DWMI/AAAAAAAAPCc/DHEIiqWTh4g/s400/IMG_2508.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the main nativity scene.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl8INfZLbzM/UrqnxJ4T77I/AAAAAAAAPD0/C806iH3DUcE/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl8INfZLbzM/UrqnxJ4T77I/AAAAAAAAPD0/C806iH3DUcE/s400/IMG_2521.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Annunciation to Mary.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juKGWftVpwU/Urqnu1FcwCI/AAAAAAAAPDs/wcW1cemNBcc/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juKGWftVpwU/Urqnu1FcwCI/AAAAAAAAPDs/wcW1cemNBcc/s400/IMG_2518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above the image of the Annunciation is this book open to the words of the Angel from Luke's Gospel: "Ave piena di grazia. Il Signore e' con te" (Hail full of grace. The Lord is with you.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXH7FcLpIu4/UrqnnXgriRI/AAAAAAAAPDU/DcXMzmEPkNI/s1600/IMG_2515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXH7FcLpIu4/UrqnnXgriRI/AAAAAAAAPDU/DcXMzmEPkNI/s400/IMG_2515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shepherds see the star. This picture is a bit bright, but when it's dark there is the image of a star on the left wall. The shepherds see the star.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LFkJ_XHBMs/UrqnkGC2rMI/AAAAAAAAPDM/dDtB8zQLaOY/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LFkJ_XHBMs/UrqnkGC2rMI/AAAAAAAAPDM/dDtB8zQLaOY/s400/IMG_2514.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to ask, but I think this is the child Jesus in the home. You can see him learning carpentry with St. Joseph.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqTrXWSo4KU/Urqnh5NtUOI/AAAAAAAAPDE/fcADcQ7oABc/s1600/IMG_2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqTrXWSo4KU/Urqnh5NtUOI/AAAAAAAAPDE/fcADcQ7oABc/s400/IMG_2513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different colors lights have been used to create this effect for the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6MJYoKcFG0/Urqne9iTBkI/AAAAAAAAPC8/QFtz2F_CHKE/s1600/IMG_2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6MJYoKcFG0/Urqne9iTBkI/AAAAAAAAPC8/QFtz2F_CHKE/s400/IMG_2512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Notice the child at the left with the palm branch in his hand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p05Nx6N368g/UrqncXnI9ZI/AAAAAAAAPC0/d1THl7Dw9Bg/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p05Nx6N368g/UrqncXnI9ZI/AAAAAAAAPC0/d1THl7Dw9Bg/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last supper.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbLqd8vnG3s/UrqnzU1yt3I/AAAAAAAAPD8/qFSBvYsrO3o/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vbLqd8vnG3s/UrqnzU1yt3I/AAAAAAAAPD8/qFSBvYsrO3o/s400/IMG_2524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDL77yOcs4s/UrqnZ0_i4sI/AAAAAAAAPCs/R_0ocVW04Ks/s1600/IMG_2510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDL77yOcs4s/UrqnZ0_i4sI/AAAAAAAAPCs/R_0ocVW04Ks/s400/IMG_2510.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crucifixion of Jesus. Notice the one above, it rains! The lights also fade out and lightning flashes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4kp0yq-KWA/UrqnXfyde6I/AAAAAAAAPCk/6fVT9bp-j3o/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4kp0yq-KWA/UrqnXfyde6I/AAAAAAAAPCk/6fVT9bp-j3o/s400/IMG_2509.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Empty Tomb of the Resurrection</td></tr>
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Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-2592494091870045302013-12-22T17:44:00.001+01:002013-12-22T17:44:19.261+01:00Roman ChristmasHere are just a few pictures from Rome. There are some from St. Peter's square showing the Christmas tree. There are also some from Piazza Navona. Piazza Navona is famous at Christmastime for all of its gift stall. It's usually a busy piazza, but doubly so at Christmas.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5960254338875529121%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCLK-76OdsbKk-wE%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comRome, Italy41.8929163 12.48251989999994341.5147788 11.837072899999942 42.271053800000004 13.127966899999944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331538503480519918.post-57160282951888338242013-11-27T20:48:00.000+01:002013-11-27T20:48:44.024+01:00Feast of San ClementeFor the last several decades, our Basilica of San Clemente in Rome has organized a procession with the relics of St. Clement through the neighborhood--complete with fireworks and a band. Unfortunately, we were rained out, so the procession stayed indoors and the fireworks were cancelled.<br />
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But the Band still came:</div>
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The celebrant for the Mass was H.E. Matteo Maria Zuppi, an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rome. <br />
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Pictures from the Basilica and the Mass are below:<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F112407169220406085709%2Falbumid%2F5950984713863916497%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNas-bHHyI2RRw%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed>Fr. Pius, OPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922213510683727819noreply@blogger.comSt. Clement Basilica, Via di San Giovanni in Laterano, 00184 Rome, Italy41.8893347 12.4975756999999717.8729627 -28.811018300000029 65.9057067 53.80616969999997