More on the Motu Proprio

From Die Tagepost, via Kath.net and the Closed Cafeteria.

Now it is being read, studied, commented on and examined for possible consequences. The Motu proprio of Pope Benedict XVI which is supposed to revive the Latin Rite, which was last promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962 in the official Missale Romanum and whose basics were defined by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), is making its way through the global Church.

More can be found here and here.

And always at Rorate Cæli.

Cantate Domino canticum. . .uh, antiquum?

In light of the previous post, this notice I received the other day may be of increased interest to choir directors in the western U.S.:

For anyone interested in learning the basics of Gregorian Chant, the Choir of Madonna del Sasso Parish in Salinas, California, will hold a Gregorian Chant workshop on September 14-15. After attending the sessions from 6-9 pm on Friday, September 14, and 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, September 15, participants will sing at the Parish 4 pm Vigil Mass.

Participants will learn the basics of chant under the direction of Kathy Reinheimer, the Director of the Regina Pacis Cantorum choir and Sursum Corda schola, which sing throughout the Diocese of Reno and the Sierra foothills of California. Registration is $25 (clergy and religious, free!).

For further information, please contact Greg Plese at gaius_iulius@yahoo.com, or call 831-569-0769.

From the Horse's Mouth

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2007 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique released today by the Holy See Press Office concerning Benedict XVI's forthcoming "Motu Proprio" on the use of the Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962.



"Yesterday afternoon in the Vatican, a meeting was held under the presidency of the Cardinal Secretary of State in which the content and spirit of the Holy Father's forthcoming 'Motu Proprio' on the use of the Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962 was explained to representatives from various episcopal conferences. The Holy Father also arrived to greet those present, spending nearly an hour in deep conversation with them.



"The publication of the document - which will be accompanied by an extensive personal letter from the Holy Father to individual bishops - is expected within a few days, once the document itself has been sent to all the bishops with an indication of when it will come into effect."

OP/MOTU PROPRIO/... VIS 070628 (180)

Endorsements and Such

You may have noticed the "Ron Paul President '08" button on the blogroll. No, The Inn has not gone all libertarian on you. But there isn't a distributist candidate and Congressman Paul seems to me to be the best of the available Republican lot. One would love to have an old-time Democrat to vote for. You can just about make out the text of the Al Smith campaign button that has adorned the bottom of the blogroll for the past couple of years. But the sorry lot that have taken over Governor Smith's party have made a Democrat vote from me a near impossibility.

So, for now Congressman Paul gets the blogroll endorsement and the couple of bucks that an impoverished reed player can afford to send along.

(If you really have no use for the Congressman, though, cheer up: the odds of him getting the nomination are very small and in the unlikely event that he should do so, the current incumbent has made it impossible for whoever wins the GOP nod to win the election.)

The Deacon's Masterpiece Revisited

We have been shopping this week and dipping into the savings at a great rate. The household furnishings have been dying the death all at once for the past week. Old age claimed the television on Wednesday, Mary's telephone quit, the little white radio only plays static as of Friday, and the microwave oven refused to cook my breakfast this morning. Rather like the deacon's wonderful one-hoss shay.

--What do you think the parson found,
When he got up and stared around?
The poor old chaise in a heap or mound,
As if it had been to the mill and ground!
You see, of course, if you 're not a dunce,
How it went to pieces all at once,--
All at once, and nothing first,--
Just as bubbles do when they burst.
End of the wonderful one-hoss shay.

So we have been shopping. Not spending all that much money to be sure. (Although we have found that one can no longer buy a simple, inexpensive television any more. It has to be thin, the length and width of a garage door, and "HD", whatever that is. Perhaps a Highland Division telly?) But it leaves one eying suspiciously the still functioning appliances which remain. The fridge, for instance, hasn't been looking at all well lately.

I wonder if Fr John or Fr Perez would be willing to come out and do a house-blessing? And perhaps a minor exorcism?

The Philadelphia Indulgence

Freeing souls from Purgatory and annoying Lutherans up and down the eastern seaboard: Cardinal Rigali obtains a plenary indulgence for his Archdiocesan subjects in honour of the Archdiocese's bicentennial.

The Philadelphia Inquirer explains* it for you here.

[*"Explains", of course, the way secular newspapers always "explain" Catholic peculiarities. You know.]

How To Tell When I Have Finally Gotten 'Round to Reading the Latest Number of "Gilbert" Magazine

Chestertoniana starts appearing in The Inn.

Vide:

It may or may not be true that man's great use for language is to conceal his thoughts; but I suppose that we should all agree to the somewhat analogous proposition that the one great use of newspapers is to suppress news. (Illustrated London News, March 2, 1907)


You may talk of God as a metaphor or a mystification; you may water Him down with gallons of long words, or boil Him to the rags of metaphysics; and it is not merely that nobody punishes, but nobody protests. But if you speak of God as a fact, as a thing like a tiger, as a reason for changing one's conduct, then the modern world will stop you somehow if it can. ("The Philosopher," George Bernard Shaw)


The new theologians often say that the old creeds need re-statement; but though they say it, they do not mean it. They mean exactly the opposite. They do not mean that we should find new words to express the exact meaning of the old doctrines. They mean that we should say the old words, but agree that they mean something entirely different. (Illustrated London News, July 3, 1920)


I was born of respectable but honest parents; that is, in a world where the word "respectability" was not yet exclusively a term of abuse, but retained some dim philological connection with the idea of being respected. ("Hearsay Evidence", Autobiography)

-All lifted from the April/May 2007 number of Gilbert Magazine

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was yesterday in the Pauline Rite. That's one of the few things that I think the reformers got exactly right. Corpus Christi on a Thursday is as it should be -- a commemoration of the day of its institution, Maundy Thursday. And then the feast of the Sacred Heart is both the octave day of Corpus Christi and a Friday, in commemoration of the day Our Lord's Sacred Heart was pierced with a lance. And this is immediately followed by the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and it also occurs on Saturday, the old devotional day of Our Lady.

The Inn does get rather exercized about most of the Pauline reform. But credit where credit is due. This conjunction of feasts is well-thought out and has lovely Catholic devotional resonances.

[I actually planned on mentioning Our Lady's feast on the day. But I used all my time looking for a good illustration. I never found one I liked. We have a nice plaque of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the den but it doesn't photograph well. Maybe next year.]

St Moling

Today is the third Sunday after Pentecost. As feast days go, it doesn't really make the eyes light up and say "howdy". It does have the Good Shepherd Gospel and the "...quia adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens circuit quærens quem devoret!" Epistle, though. So the preacher has a good choice of stem-winders for the sermon.

In the old Irish calendar the 17th of June was the feast of St Moling. He was founder and abbot of the monastery of Techmolin and eventually was made Bishop of Ferns. He was a writer of classical Latin and Irish. More poetry in the ancient Irish was ascribed to St Moling than any other saint except St Columcille. He was once kidnapped by bandits and then released when they discovered he was the poet. (What an interesting place the ancient Gaelic lands must have been. Not only a higher class of bishop but a higher class of bandit.)

In the picture above you can see something of the ruins of St Moling's old monastery and the Church of Ireland parish church built near it.

Rumour Upgrade

Most of the Motu Proprio rumours have been third or fourth hand. A reporter says an official says he heard from someone close to the Pope that it is "on its way" on Thursday. Or Saturday. Or on Corpus Christi. Or a week from Tuesday.

But this one is a major improvement. We've upgraded to second-hand. The Una Voce delegation heard from the Holy Father himself that the freedom for the traditional Roman Rite is imminent. You can find the (very short) report here.

I think we're still subject to a hearsay objection. And maybe a "best evidence" objection. But we're getting there. . . .

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

That's St Ignatius on the left and I've actually forgotten the Jesuit saint on the right. I would think it ought to be St Margaret Mary's confessor, St Claude de la Columbiere but I don't think it is. I'm about, say, 75% sure it's St John Berchmans.

The good old Catholic Encyclopædia has a wonderful little treatise on devotion to Our Lord's Sacred Heart here. An excellent remedy for the notion that the devotion is just an overblown exercize in sentmentality. If you've the time, follow it up with the Venerable Pope Pius XII's encyclical Haurietis Aquas

Here is Leo XIII's "Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus" that we used to pray every First Friday and on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. It's not much used any more. The last I heard it used publicly was at First Friday devotions at St Basil's on Wilshire in Los Angeles when Msgr Benjamin Hawkes was still parish priest.

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thine altar.

We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.

Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising thy precepts, have rejected Thee.

Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.

Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there maybe but one flock and one Shepherd.

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry and Islamism, and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Thy chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation: to It be glory and honour foreverl Amen.

Beatification of Fr Lucas of St Joseph, O.C.D. and Fr Eduardo of the Child Jesus, O.C.D.

Both of the new beati served in what is now the Province of St Joseph in the western United States. "Fr. Lucas was the first Pastor of Holy Family Church in Tucson. He also served at Holy Cross in Morenci, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Florence, and Santa Cruz in Tucson. Fr. Eduardo ministered at Holy Family and at Santa Cruz. (He also served as prior of the monastery that our Catalan friars established in Washington, D.C. in 1916). After their return to Spain from the United States, they were martyred during the Spanish Civil War in July, 1936, Fr. Lucas in Barcelona and Fr. Eduardo in Montcada."

There is much more information here, including some pictures.

Found while messing about with YouTube

Bach: Toccata and Fuguein D -- BWV 565

Rudy Giuliani at the Met

Apparently, if you want to imagine St Dominic, one option is to think of Rudy Giuliani.

Not everyone's first choice, but according to a few folks encountered by the New Yorker's "Talk of the Town" this week he was the first choice of Renaissance painter Carlo Crivelli (1457 - 1493). Or at least, someone who looks an awful lot like Rudy.

You can read the encounter here.

You can also find an illustration in black and white of the painting in question here. Catch the resemblance? Me neither. Just two skinny bald guys with thin noses.

Maybe if the illustration were in colour. Or maybe you have to be a New Yorker. Or maybe the TOTT's intrepid reporter needs a prescription adjustment on the ole monocle.

Mind you, I wouldn't object to Rudy being more like St Dominic. A whole lot more like St Dominic.

There Are More MIA Vatican Documents Than Just The Fabled Motu Proprio

Rocco points out today that it isn't just cranky traditionalists badgering the postman for that delayed mail from Rome. It seems the Chinese, the new cardinals awaiting a consistory, and assorted Vatican bureaucrats awaiting their promotions/transfers are also waiting anxiously for that long-overdue friendly rattle of the letterbox.

You can find the article here.

St Columba

St Columba (or Columcille in the Irish) was the founder of the Iona monastery and the apostle of Christianity to the western isles of Scotland. He was of royal blood and had certain rights to an Irish throne had he not preferred to be monk and priest. The good old Catholic Encyclopædia gives a fine biography of St Columba here.

He is the secondary patron of Ireland and these days, his day is there kept as a feast, although in Scotland it is only a memorial. (Before the Council it was a Double of the First Class in Scotland. I wonder why the demotion?)

Here is his old collect:

We beseech Thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the longing for heavenly glory, and grant that we may bear sheaves of righteousness in our hands to that place where Thy holy Abbot Columba shines in brightness with Thee. Through Christ our Lord.

Religious life on St Columba's Iona was essentially non-existent after the Reformation. These days it's a growth industry. The Church of Scotland has a monastery (of sorts) there, the Episcopal Church of Scotland has a house, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles has come up with a small facility, too. Poor old Iona also seems to attract lovers of new age bumpf at a fantastic rate. In any event, the island has a website here with some lovely pictures and more information written by someone less depressed by the whole situation than I.

There are a few ancient prophecies about Iona. In one, St Columba foresees the devastation of the Reformation and says that Iona will one day be bereft of its monks and be home only to cattle. And, yet, one day it will be as it was.

This one, taken from the website cited above, says that "seven years before the day of judgement the ocean will sweep over both Ireland and Islay. Yet the Isle of St Columba will swim above the waves":

Seachd bliadhna 'n blr'ath
Thig muir air Eirinn re aon tr'ath
'S thar Ile ghuirm ghlais
Ach sn'amhaidh I Choluim Chl'eirich

Not quite a prophecy, but Dr Johnson said of Iona during the days of its devastation that "That man is little to be envied. . .whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona."

Jean Arthur TV-Movie Alert Service Bulletin

The JATVMAS arises from its pallet of misery (flu relapse; tummy version this time; much better now, thank you, but, realistically, you don't want to know much more) to remind you to set your TiVo for "You Can't Take It With You" tomorrow morning: TCM on Saturday 9 June 2007, 06:00 AM EDT but 3:00 AM PDT here in the western edge of the great North American continent.

Trinity Sunday

Trinity Sunday is one of the major feasts of the Church but not one that ever made it big where it counts: $$$ No Trinity Sunday white sales, no Trinity Sunday carols being played in the malls with only 10 more shopping days left 'til Trinity Sunday. Not even a deracinated saint or an anthropomorphic rodent to deliver presents the night before.

Up until the final reform of the Tridentine breviary in the early '60s (i.e., a few years before its complete replacement by the Pauline liturgy of the hours) Trinity Sunday was distinguished as the last day in the year in which the Athanasian Creed - Quicumque Vult - was recited liturgically. But no more. On an ecumenical scale of 1 - 10 (10 being best) it would only rate a 1. (And it only got the 1 because some Lutherans and Anglicans are rather fond of it.) So The Inn may be the old Creed's only commemoration this year.

Herewith, Quicumque Vult:

WHOSOEVER will be saved : before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick Faith.
Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled : without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholick Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
Neither confounding the Persons : nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son : and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one : the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate : and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible : and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal : and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals : but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated : but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty : and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties : but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God : and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods : but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord : and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet not three Lords : but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion : to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none : neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone : not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son : neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons : one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other : none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together : and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid : the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved : must think thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation : that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds : and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man : of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead : and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood;
Who, although he be God and Man : yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh : but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance : but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man : so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation : descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty : from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies : and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting : and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholick Faith : which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Caledonia Romana

And if you have not yet had your fill of Scotland, you might try this blog, Tales from a Roman Seminary. A friend of mine sent me this link a few days ago as the seminarian blogger in question is studying at the Scots College in Rome. It's worth a visit. (If you scroll down far enough you'll find some gorgeous photos of his trip to Spain with shots of many places with links to S Teresa of Jesus and S John of the Cross.)

Thanks, Eloise.

Fashion News

If you looked at the video in the post below you saw SFU's new sky blue kilt hose. The actual colour is bluer than the video shows. And at the top of this post the Blandford Pipe Band is sporting new grey hose. (You can click on the picture for a better view.) With any luck the current pipe band penchant for stark white bed sox will be a thing of the past before long. Further proof? Click on this picture of the San Francisco Irish Pipers at February's Queen Mary Games and view their black oseanna:

Pomona Highland Games

It's probably not wise to post on a publicly accessibly blog when one is a tad feverish and still a little groggy from an afternoon nap. But I really enjoyed our annual highland games last weekend and I haven't even mentioned it yet. I'd like to do that before my newly acquired virus/bacteria takes all the joy out of it and all I care about is another nap.

First off the bat, the Grade I pipe band contest was an outstanding opportunity to hear some world class piping. I mentioned that Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and Alberta Caledonian Pipe Band were going to be here, and contrary to what their on-line schedule said, the L.A. Scots Pipe Band were there and made it a three-way contest. Someone caught a bit of SFU's MSR and posted it on YouTube. For some reason it cuts off part way through the strathspey. But there's some good piping here:



There's a citation on YouTube to L.A. Scots' set but that one cuts off during the march-on tune and you never hear any of their competition piece.

As usual, the games are a great opportunity to catch up with old friends who come from all sorts of airts and pairts throughout the southwestern U.S. And I discovered a couple of people outside the the fire-breathing traditionalist milieu who take a look at this effort every now and again. I suppose that means I really ought to mind my pc p's and q's. Probably a forelorn hope.

One also needs to visit the vendors and stock up on "supplies". Alas, no-one seemed to have those new wooden reed cases. But there was opportunity to stock up on mint sauce. For some reason, there isn't a market in this area that carries mint sauce. I mean the real stuff: Burgess's or Colman's not the Cross and Blackwell dilution that you can hardly taste. How is one supposed to enjoy grilled lamb chops for dinner without mint sauce? I got four jars of Colman's; that should last me for a few months anyway.

If you're familiar with southern California, you are probably assuming that it was hotter than the hinges of hell. I mean, Pomona. Really. But, no. May and springtime in general is actually quite nice. It was a beautiful weekend in the high 70's -- you couldn't ask for better. When I remind you next year, be sure and come if you are anywhere near.

(And the band picture and at the beginning of this post? That's the Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band from Arizona. You can click on the picture to reveal their very distinctive Bruce of Kinnaird tartan.)

I've got da miseries. . . .

. . . .consisting of a sore throat which still after several days hasn't moved either to the sinuses or the chest the way it usually does, a nuisance fever, and a cranky attitude. Uh, a crankier than usual attitude.