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Congratulations to Bishop Sample (and a note on "thimble symbols")

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Congratulations to Bishop Sample of Marquette who has been appointed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Portland, Oregon . At 52, he is the youngest Archbishop in the US (at 45, he was the youngest Bishop in the US.) Bishop Sample is know for his podcasts and tweets, and for ordaining the Deacons last year at the FSSP seminary in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is Bishop known for fortitude and clear teaching in the public square. Some modern Liturgy buffs used to (perhaps still do) talk about how we must not use "thimble symbols." So they encouraged priests and bishops to slosh around cup-loads of holy oil, baptise by immersion, and use a large bowl and bath-towel at the lavabo . So if you hear a modern liturgist complain about Bishop Sample's splendid mitre in the picture above, just tell them that it is not a "thimble symbol."
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Muslims and Christians defending family life together

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A priest whom I know, went to talk to the local Imam to discuss their common concern about same-sex "marriage". Here is his report which I publish with his permission: Today the two priests in our parish had lunch at a local Mosque. We have met the Imam before and have worked together on local issues. But today we met with him and some other members of their community to discuss “same-sex marriage”, which is a common concern. The Imam said how pleased he was to hear about the postcard campaign which was arranged by our Bishops. He is going to organise something similar in his Mosque and suggest the idea to others. It was wonderful to find that our views about the government’s proposed legislation are exactly the same. We were all concerned that the “re-definition” of Marriage will cause same-sex marriage to be promoted in schools. And we gave them a printout of the Coalition for Marriage’s latest booklet about same-sex marriage and Primary Schools , which explains ab...
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Roman Forum Summer Symposium 2013

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The Roman Forum has announced its 2013 Symposium at the Gardone Riviera from 1-12 July 2013 on the theme "The Divine Comedy Versus the Theater of the Absurd: Navigating a Path Between Scylla and Charybdis". There is sung Mass in the usus antiquior every day as part of the programme. One fine day I will be able to get to this - sadly not this year, though I wish I could. See also the post by LMS Chairman Joseph Shaw: Lake Gardone Conference .
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Sign petition to stop EU funding for the destruction of embryos

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One of Us is a new group launched this week in twenty European countries calling for a ban on the EU’s “financing of activities which presuppose the destruction of human embryos, in particular in the areas of research, development aid and public health.” They are hoping to get a million signatures by November of this year. Go to One of Us to sign, and to the C-Fam Friday Fax for some background information including the serendipitous link with a case brought by Greenpeace in 1997.
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Boat of Fools Blogfen Review

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Incognito Mystery Church Reviewer and his Research Assistant We have been honoured by a visit from the mystery Church reviewer:  The boat of fools visits Blogfen . He picked up on all the important things including the mantillas and the child bloggers, though he must have gone for coffee before the under-3s chorus of Ave Regina Caelorum . It's true that we don't allow books in Church. All that page-rustling during the Canon disturbs the more considerate worshippers who silently tap iPads or use e-book readers. There is just one correction to make: the worshipper feeding paper tape into an IBM mainframe was actually not a regular but another mystery worshipper from a leading liberal weekly who was also trying to be incognito but hasn't yet worked out that it is not 1968 any more. What Mystery Reviewer doesn't know is that there is an army of disguised papal tech ninjas in the congregation who are using the latest tiny and easily concealed DNA-based nano-machines...
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Something more wholesome: "Passing on the Faith: Virtues and Values" -

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Thanks be to God, there is something positive to report after the last post. The Archdiocese of Westminster Office for Marriage, Family and Life is putting on a Day for parents, teachers and catechists who work with families called Passing on the Faith – Virtues and Values . It will be on Saturday 9 March 2013 from 10:30am to 4:30pm at the Student Union Hall, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, TW1 4SX. Speakers include Bishop Jean Laffitte, Secretary to the Pontifical Council for the Family and Dr Peter Kahn, author/editor of the Catholic Truth Society 'Family Matters' series. The excellent Ten Ten Theatre will also be giving a presentation. Cost: £10 per person, £20 per family (children welcome). The organisers say "Please register in advance if you can - it helps us plan the programme - but you are welcome to turn up on the day."
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Same-sex marriage: impact on education

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The Coalition for Marriage have produced a booklet which indicates that if the “Equal Marriage Bill” is passed schools would have a legal requirement to teach about “same-sex marriage”. Section 403(1A)(a) of the Education Act 1996 imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to “issue guidance” to ensure that pupils “learn the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and the bringing up of children” as part of sex education. If the legal definition of marriage changes, the law will require that children learn about gay marriage as part of sex education... This is obviously far more serious than the right of teachers to object on an individual basis. This would affect all the nation’s children. The C4M booklet gives a number of sample pages from books such as "Daddy's Roommate", "Hello Sailor", "Josh and Jaz have Three Mums" etc. They are aimed at young children. Here is a link to download a copy of the booklet . With materials that ...
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Postcards to MPs - this weekend crucial

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The Bishops have sent postcards to all parishes in England and Wales for people to fill out and send to their MP to ask them to vote against the "Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill." This weekend is crucial because the second reading of the Bill will be on Tuesday 5 February. John Smeaton has written about this on his blog and has suggested some practical ways in which the postcard campaign can be made more effective than simply leaving the postcards at the back of the Church (Archbishop Smith also encouraged such practical action.) Here are the points: Hand cards to mass-goers as they arrive for Sunday mass. Priests celebrating mass speak about the importance of defending marriage and of the bishops’ postcard campaign in their homily or at another appropriate moment. The name of the local MP (or MPs) should be mentioned. Pens & stamps – providing pens for people to fill in the postcards before they leave church, and stamps they can purchase to post them will enco...
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Towey reinstated, Esler steps down

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Dr Anthony Towey has been reinstated at St Mary's University College. Here is his SMUC web page . Last September, security staff escorted Dr Towey from the premises and he was suspended "pending investigations into a very serious disciplinary matter and a grave breach of his professional duties to the college." Not any more, it seems. Here are links to the articles I wrote about Strawberry Hill in September: Strange goings on at Strawberry Hill Students misbehaving Strawberry Hill - shaken or stirred? Yesterday, the College announced that: ‘Professor Esler will conclude his time in office on 31st March 2013 and will undertake research leave and then his remaining annual leave from Wednesday 23rd January 2013, from which date Dr Arthur Naylor will assume the role of Interim Principal pending the appointment of Professor Esler’s successor.’ It is very good news that Dr Towey has been reinstated and I am sure that his students will be delighted.
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Prayer for Marriage blog

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Since my post about Safeguarding Marriage and the power of prayer a new blog has been set up to publicise any prayer events that are held: Prayer for Marriage . Please email details of any times of adoration or indeed any events organised for people to come together to pray for marriage. Here is the email link .
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Mass for Fr Thwaites RIP at Little Oratory

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Thanks to a reader for information about this forthcoming Mass for Fr Hugh Thwaites: FR HUGH THWAITES (1917 – 2012) Requiescat in Pace You are cordially invited to attend a Low Mass, celebrated by Father McHardy, in honour of Father Hugh Thwaites, and for the repose of his soul, at The Little Oratory, Brompton Oratory, Brompton Road SW7 2RP, On Saturday, 2nd February, at 4.15 p.m.
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Popular posts from this blog

Baptism water rosary photo

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This photo is doing the rounds at the moment. Here is the accompanying text: This was taken at the baptism of Valentino Mora, son of Erica, a single mom of 21 who asked the photographer to take a picture of her son for free. The photo of the baptism of Valentino Mora is sweeping the Internet, because at the time the priest pours the Holy water over his head, the water flows in the shape of a rosary. This story began at the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady in Cordova, Spain, where the baptism of a one month baby took place. At the time that Valentino came to the baptismal font for the sacrament of baptism, Erica asked the photographer Maria Silvana Salles, who was hired by other parents baptizing their babies, to take a photo of her son as a favor, since the young mother had no way of paying for it. The photographer, moved by Erica's request, agreed to take a photo of Valentino. Maria Silvana works with a traditional camera and had to send the film to be developed to a shop in ...
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Saint Gabriel

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The angels call for our veneration and awe as part of God’s creation. Part of the destructive modernism of the 1970s included advice to Catholic school teachers that they should not talk to children about angels. This wrought lasting damage which continues to need rectifying. We should include in our prayers a heartfelt recourse to our own Guardian Angels. The Archangel Gabriel “God is my strength” would be terrifying were he to appear to any of us. Our Lady was “troubled” at the word of Saint Gabriel and wondered at the manner of the salutation. Immediately, according to his mission, the awesome messenger explained himself. Modern retelling of the event is often reduced to the jejune “Mary said Yes to God”. In fact, she said “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word”. This conveys more accurately the flawless faith and trust of the Immaculata. In the infinitely wise providence of the Father, we now know the structure of the event in even more detai...
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Is your alb back to front?

Fr Z has initiated a roaring discussion by asking the simple question whether maniples can be used in the Novus Ordo Mass. ( What Does The Prayer Really Say?: Maniples ) One commenter has referred to an important source for the question that has proved popular among modern liturgists. An answer in Notitiae of 1978 said: "When the rubrics of the Missal of Paul VI say nothing or say little on particulars in some places, it is not to be inferred that the former rite should be observed. Therefore, the multiple and complex gestures for incensation as prescribed in the former Missal are not to be resumed." This is, of course, a strange answer. Saying that it must not be inferred that a rite should be used does not imply that it must not be used. We need to check the Latin of this text. (If anyone with access to a library can check it, I have seen the reference given elsewhere as Notitiae 14 (1978) 301-302, no. 2) Let us in any case take the more restrictive interpretation, bel...
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1962 Missal pdf online

The Church Music Association of America and Jeffrey Tucker of the New Liturgical Movement have made available the 1962 Missal online in pdf format (72Mb). The file is hosted at Musica Sacra , the website of the CMAA, thanks to a generous gift from Fr Robert Skeris While you are at it, take a look at the articles clarifying the rules for music at Low Mass and music at High Mass .
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The blessing of a chariot

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When I studied Latin in Rome with Fr Reginald Foster, he used to suggest that a good word for a car was autorhaeda , a word in fact used in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis of 1965 when speaking of a visit made by Pope Paul VI to the Basilica of St Chrysogonus in Trastevere. The word raeda (without the "h") was used by Caesar, Cicero and Horace for a travelling wagon with four wheels and the addition of "auto" does not make for too awful a neologism. In the Rituale Romanum , the blessing for a motor vehicle is the Benedictio vehiculi seu currus . The word currus is normally translated as chariot and reflects the way that people often view their car. Since one's motor vehicle is more likely to be the locus of one's death or injury than many other artefacts, it does make sense to have it blessed. Above you can see us striding purposefully past the Georgian houses of Victoria Road and here is the blessing of the classic mini: The blessing given in the ...
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