Humility, love for God and others

"If you want to get depressed, think about yourself."

Lord, help me to have a deep and abiding concern firstly for you.  Increase my love for you.  Help me to grow in love for you, especially in your Real, True and Substantial presence in the Most Holy Eucharist.  Help me to bring others to love your Eucharistic presence more deeply, too.

Make me docile to the corrections and suggestions of my ordinary, even as they are expressed through his delegates.  Let me see clearly, how such suggestions flow from and strengthen my first love which is for you in the Holy Eucharist.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is no.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

We're shifting again to Holy Communion

I've been asked about how I'd prefer the people receive Holy Communion.  The short answer is kneeling, at the rail, on the tongue.  This, I suspect, like other things I've noticed, while it will require instructing the faithful, will also  be easier than we're all given to believe.

We'll come back to the fear factor in a moment, let it suffice to recall my mom's encouragement regarding leadership.  They want to follow you; they will do it for you.  That'll work for now.  Even though I want them to do it for Jesus, if they're doing it for me and I'm instructing them well, they'll soon be doing it for Jesus, with greater love than I could imagine and quicker than I think they will.

It will be a win for our parish.

I've got to unfold it.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is yes.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

Not about the resolution...

I know so many of these last posts have been about the resolution.  Here's one that's not, even if I have to apologize for it at the beginning.

"Saint Paul," Rembrandt

I found a voice last night with the youngsters and teachers at CCD.  Mom, late on Christmas night, read me a paragraph from Keirsey's "Please understand me" on leadership.  Most of his insights seem painfully obvious.  This one was, too.  But the pain also yielded quickly to appreciation. It was about leadership.  I'll forget the details of it (small wonder) but the gist was that "They will follow you."  What I got a from mom was that the bond between "Pastor and parish" or between "friend and peers" is as strong as the relationship they have with you and you with them.  They will follow you because they love you.  There's been a fusion at the level of persons that has transcended the particularities of mission or objective.  They will follow you to the gates of hell, they will follow you into battle, they will follow you wherever you go...More later.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is no.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

The saga continues

It's too soon, yet, to clue a good friend in on this resolution, the canonical hours.  I'm still gaining confidence there, I suppose.  And that's not at all due to any deficiency about the matter of the resolution itself, rather more of my own commitment to follow through.  Still, when I intimated the slightest hint of it to him, his response was positive, "I need to do that."  So the sooner I get a firm handle on it, the better to spread the good news about it.

Gozzoli, "Salome"

I think there could be something within the resolution itself that can help with the reform of the clergy, broadly speaking.  More on that later.

I begin now to appreciate more deeply the maxim "Take care of order and order will take care of you." As I progress slowly, already some vistas open which I had only before hoped would be there.  One of which is the emergence of the greater practical necessity of hiring a part time cook.  No eye-rolls, please.  This is because punctuality is paying off.  If I hire a cook, I can tell her/him I need the meal at this precise time overtime.  Breakfast should be ready to go at 9:00 AM; Supper should be served at, say, 5:15 PM.  But because I know what time I'm going to be here, ready to sup or to break the fast, then I can hire someone, and budget what they might cost.  An hour's work in the morning plus an hour for two in the evening.  That's 3 hours a day for how many days?  Monday evening (2), Tuesday (3), Wednesday morning (1), Thursday evening (2), Friday (3), Saturday (3), Sunday (3).  That's 17 hours at $15 dollars an hour is $255/week.  Or $12K-13K/year. Part-time. Plus the cost of food.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is yes.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

I thought we were gonna Schedule Sunday evening's Adoration?

What's the plan here?

There are two stages to Mass setup that evening. One immediate and one remote.

The immediate goes after takedown following Benediction.  Benediction is at 5:45 PM.  It cannot be later else 6:00 PM Mass will start late.  Takedown and setup—let's call this the transition into the evening Mass needs to be as simplified as possible.  The complete put away of benediction can happen after Monday morning Mass, although it shouldn't be that complicated.

Transition involves:

"Dream of the Palace" Giotto

Cope
Humeral veil
Thurible and stand
Monstrance
Altar Crucifix
Typical Mass on High Altar

For this transition to happen in less than 10 minutes there needs to be complete attention.

This is what we're looking at, realistically:

5:45 PM: Benediction
5:53 PM: Transition
5:57 PM: Vest
6:00 PM: Mass

And remember, no rushing the Benediction or the vesting.  For this to work, 5:45 PM is a hard deadline and Mass is pre-set and ready to go right onto the altar, including vestments.  Any help in this regard would make things much easier.  But, it is possible, at least on paper.

All of this pre-set happens before the MBS is exposed.  Which means, if I intend to do the PM half-hour meditation (30 minutes) as well as Vespers (10 minutes), the bell rings at 5:00 PM to begin the holy hour.  Set up for holy hour takes a good 10 minutes (burning incense, placing candles, clearing altar, removing altar crucifix, etc) and so does Mass setup.  So 4:40 PM at the latest.  But remember, last time I went at 4:30 PM and ran out of time.  I'll try it again at 4:30 PM.

At 4:30 PM Sunday evening, it's time for me to be "back at work."

How to Schedule "Catechism talks"

How to Schedule "Catechism talks"

I'll need to come up with a schedule.

Right now I'm thinking: four per week.  Each talk is to last half-an-hour

1) Weekday midday
2) Weekday evening
3) Saturday midmorning
4) Sunday midday

I could try it for a month and see how it goes.

Where to put Terce?

"St. Mark"
Fra Angelico.
We're reading Mark
at daily Mass

Where to put Terce?

Immediately after communion after Mass? Or some later time during the 9:00 AM hour?

I already know, if it's a funeral morning, then Terce happens immediately. Also, Sundays it should happen immediately.  Also, if I have to be anywhere off campus it should happen immediately. Those are three good reasons for making it happen immediately.  Any objections?

If it's later, say 9:30 AM it could 'break up' the feeling that I'm in the church all morning long.  Not that it's a bad thing.  It could invite others who wouldn't come to 8:00 AM Mass.  But that sounds rather idealistic.  I could have some breakfast.  But I'd have it anyway.

I think it should stay where it is, immediately after thanksgiving after Mass.

Got anymore brain busters?

Yes, here's another brain buster.  Will someone please tell me how I'm supposed to celebrate the Divine Office in Choir when I'm the only one in the whole Church?

It took longer than expected

I took my time with Matins/Lauds this morning, no rush.  Slowing down especially the "Gloria patri".  I ended up at about 65 minutes.  This is good to keep in mind in the future for mornings with Nine readings.

Part of the mentality here was to notice how different I pray when I'm keenly aware of someone else present.  The Lord is always present, but, sadly, my motivation here was less noble.  But not entirely ignoble.  I'm supposed to pray on behalf of my people.  If I'm more apt to pray digne ac attente  when they're present, I imagined them present.  It made a difference.  Now, since the Lord is always present, and my guardian angel...you see where this is going.

Anyhow, 65 Minutes.

Try this next Sunday evening

Setup for Monday morning Mass as much as possible right at 6:55 PM or as I'm divesting following the 6:00 PM Mass and getting ready to go to 7:15 PM dinner.  This may be good for Sunday's because of how late dinner typically goes.  Last night I didn't leave the sacristy having setup for this morning's Mass until about 9:15 PM following Compline.  Compline, you'll remember, should come after setup, by the way.

Texted my bro for this morning.  That was good.

"Burial of Saint Lucy" Caravaggio

More rigorous homily prep needs to be in order.  This will pacify my own post-homily thraldom.   When I think I did I good job, I'm high as a kite; when I think I messed it up, I'm down in the dumps. Why not remove the surprise-factor and anticipate by solid prep that it's going to be a good one, every time instead of a guessing game.  "Is this one gonna be good or a stinker?"  That's kid's stuff.  Do the work.  Prepare better.

Publish in the bulletin the  Divine Office schedule for Feb 2?  More later.

I can't get over this Caravaggio of Saint Lucy.  I'm not normally huge on Caravaggio.  Incredible talent, no doubt; but I'm not always on his same wavelength as his interpretations of biblical scenes.  I guess I think he can be a bit over-hyped as the "be all and end all;" at least that's how I've noticed him hyped.

But, this one with St. Lucy is different.  It's devastating. It's her burial. I remember Caravaggio as typically depicting tension and struggle. But that's not here.  This is a post-mortem. She's been martyred. She's being laid to rest.  The painting almost looks unfinished. I think because it's dark where they laid her.  That may be it.  Caravaggio is typically awesome with light.  But light here has been scattered by herd death.  But it hasn't because she's perfect now.  Those who are with her are faithful.  Their sad.  But they have faith.  It's a tough one.  Different from other Caravaggios.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is yes.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

Saturday evenings

I misjudged the importance of the 3:00 PM hour.

In order for dinner not to be too late on a Saturday Evening, it should be just about the first thing to happen after the Saturday evening Mass, that is, about 6:15 PM or 6:30 PM.  Last night I was sitting down to a bowl of pasta at almost 8:30 PM.  I didn't hit the hay until 10:00 AM.  I was up on time, 4:30 AM this morning, but with six-and-a-half hours of sleep as opposed to the preferred as-close-to-8-as-possible I can expect this evening to be a drag.

"Saint James" Fra Angelico

So, the 3:00 PM Saturday afternoon heroic minute has an effect on Sunday evening quality time with the guys.  Connecting those dots is easy enough.

Terce, the half-hour meditation and Vespers were all after Mass yesterday evening when they need to all be before.  This means, just as I need to crash-land the plane to end the day at 8:20 PM when I'm in the sacristy setting up for the next morning, so also I need to crash-land the plane at 3:00 PM.  This also means the last train to leave the station for the swimming pool on Saturdays is 1:30 PM and at 1:15 PM on Weekdays.

Sunday evenings are going to need to be ironed out, too.  That's coming up forthwith.

Also, in case you're wondering if yesterday I wrote any thank you notes—even a single one—the answer is no.

And lastly, if you're also wondering whether the time indicated below corresponds to the time I closed my laptop, got up out of my seat and left to open the Church (or hop in the shower—if it's a Saturday) the answer is yes.

Saturdays

I didn't give myself enough time this morning.  The meditation was ten minutes short (I made it up after Mass) and Prime was rushed.

I got up at 5:00 AM, a bit tired.  But that wore off once I got headlines going.  I took about fifteen minutes too long with headlines.  That showed up in the abbreviated meditation.

"Reassuring Thomas," Duccio

I wanted to take my time getting going this morning, but I let it go on longer than necessary.

It's one thing to check headlines and even to get deeper into some interesting articles, but to waste time online and make the prayer suffer for it—that's just lame.

So, more concretely, I got to the church to open up at about 6:25 AM.  I'll need to make that 6:10 AM next time.  Since shower/shave was after coffee because it is a Saturday, and coffee was done by 5:20 AM, this means it I spent over an hour between headlines and finally opening the church.

Here's what it looked like:

5:00 AM: Up/Coffee
5:20 AM: End coffee/continue headlines
5:37 AM: Sent an email about Inaugural Ball
[this is the no man's land I'm concerned about]
6:25 AM: Open church

Also, because I was rushing, that whole Matins & Lauds were also rushed.  Hence the need next week for a 6:10 AM opening.

Moreover, since there's no break before going into Prime, the whole thing needs to be on time.  Two things about this: 1) all the more reason to be punctual, not to schlep parts and rush others; and 2) that's a good two-and-a-half strait hours in the Church every Saturday morning.  A mundane caution, watch out for the need to visit the restroom in that time.

Lastly, yesterday I wrote this many thank you notes: 0.

Progress report on the New Year's Resolution

Wake up has been at 4:30 AM on School Days and on Sundays.  I'll try a 5:00 AM wake up for this Saturday and see how it goes.

5:00 AM Saturday wakeup means shower/shave happen after coffee/blog/headlines ending still by 5:20 AM.  Matins/Lauds starts at 5:50 AM.

I have noticed a lack of punctuality or a tendency to drag at the 5:20 AM spot as well as at the start of the Half-hour of Mental prayer.  If the Half-hour of mental prayer is late to start on School Days, then Prime is rushed.  6:45 AM is too late to start the mental prayer.  I think 6:40 AM is the latest and 6:35 AM is better.  The same is true for ending coffee/blog/headlines and getting over to start Matins/Lauds.  I think unlocking the church at 5:20 AM is the new goal.

I haven't done much to set up for the 8:00 AM Mass.  That can lead to last minute stress.  To reduce this stress, I should add Mass setup to the pre-Compline routine.  This means 8:05 PM Mass Setup.

Texting my brother at the bedtime hour and at 4:30 AM helps keep both.

The repetition of the 4:30 AM—5:20 AM sequence has abbreviated the shower/shave part and given a bit more time for the coffee/blog/headlines part.  That's 50 Minutes.  I'd like to maximize the coffee/blog/headlines portion of that.  Right now it's 30 minutes to 15 minutes.  That's a 15 minute gap.  I'll refer to reducing this differential as closing the gap.  I'd like to close that gap.  That'll be up on the next progress report.

I've found that Matins/Lauds does not typically take longer than 60-75 minutes, especially as I've gained more practice.  It's probably more like 55-65 minutes.

An important realization I had this morning that I need to emphasize is that I'm not at all trying to "get done" the office in as short a time as is practical.  That is not my goal.  That would give priority to a spirit of haste which I should regard with great mistrust.


(Advance especially to 3:00-3:15)

Naming an intention for any given morning, is important too.  I haven't done that.

Areas of concern, to sum: 1) text bro; 2) close the shower-coffee gap; 3) open at 5:20 AM; 4) Mass setup at 8:05 PM; 5) Start AM Mental Prayer at 6:40 AM; 6) don't rush.

So updated schedule looks like this:

4:30 AM: Rise; Morning Offering

4:55 AM: Coffee/Blog/Headlines
5:20 AM: Open Church; Matins/Lauds

6:40 AM: Half-Hour Meditation

7:10 AM: Prime

7:25 AM: Go to School

7:45 AM: Prep for Mass

8:00 AM: Mass

8:40 AM: Thanksgiving

8:45 AM: Terce

12:00 PM: Angelus

12:05 PM: Sixth

2:30 PM: None

2:50 PM: Go to school

4:00 PM: Half-Hour Meditation

4:30 PM: Vespers
8:05 PM: Setup for Morning Mass

8:15 PM: Compline

8:45 PM: Three Hail-Mary's

Next report in a week.

My brother is the real early-riser...

...I'm just the wannabe.

I've yet to mention that on the motivations of this recent enterprise has been my brother who has began an apprenticeship as an electrician.  He needs to be at his job site at 6:00 AM, which means he has to be up by 4:30 AM.

Know that he is up, as are his co-workers as well as countless other working men has given me an impetus to start the day at the same time.  If they're going to work, I'm going to work.  After all, I have an "office" to go to.

Revenge of the Afternoon Cup of Coffee

"Clever Girl"

I drank a cup of coffee at about 2:00 PM yesterday afternoon.  I was in bed by 9:10 PM but I couldn't fall asleep until closer to 10:00 PM.  Not terrible, but enough to make me question the wisdom of that afternoon cup of coffee.

Live and learn.

I also see I owe a progress report on the adjusted schedule.  It is forthcoming.

Matins and Laudes together takes an hour

This is in case I find myself wondering at any future point how long it takes me.  Also, Matins and Lauds together when there are Nine readings will take more like 75 minutes.  I should budget this time into the morning routine on such days.

So, Matins & Lauds + Half-an-hour of mental prayer is 90 minutes (105 on big feasts).  If all this is to happen on a day when Prime can't be later than 7:10 AM, then I need to be on the way over to unlock the church no later than 5:40 AM (or 5:25 AM on big feasts).  But if I were to pause briefly for ten minutes, as I'm doing now, between M/L and MP, this pushes the unlock time to 5:15 AM.

In other words, the scheme I've worked out is practical for school days.  Non-school days lets me advance the whole thing 30 minutes—which is how long it takes me to go and come back for the 7:40 AM prayer.

Sundays, I'll keep the 4:30 AM wake up, because it feels great to have time on Sundays rather than to be rushing.

There are a few hinges in this: Prime is either at 7:10 AM or 7:40 AM; Matins/Lauds is either 60 or 75 Minutes.  Fasting begins at 5:20 AM.

Sunday fasting can begin as late at 5:35 AM.  Interesting.  I'll have to come back to that.

St. Genevieve, pray for us

Adjusted Schedule, on trial until January 18th

The following is an adjusted schedule based on the one that has been in effect since January 3rd.  I still would love and extra five or ten more minutes before opening the church to enjoy more headlines and coffee.  But I also won't go earlier than 4:30 AM with rise (for now).  So that means I'll have to shower and dress quicker.

Essentially, right now, what I'm saying is that I'm "in the saddle" or rather, "In my office" by 5:15 AM.

4:30 AM: Rise

"St. Jerome Tempted by Dancing Girls"
Limbourg Borthers (1408)

5:00 AM: Coffee, Headlines
5:15 AM: Open Church (Begin 3-hour Eucharistic Fast)
5:20 AM: Matins
6:00 AM: Lauds

6:40 AM: Half-Hour Meditation

7:10 AM: Prime

7:25 AM: Go to School

7:45 AM: Prep for Mass

8:00 AM: Mass

8:40 AM: Thanksgiving

8:45 AM: Terce

12:00 PM: Angelus

12:05 PM: Sixth

2:30 PM: None

2:50 PM: Go to school

4:00 PM: Half-Hour Meditation

4:30 PM: Vespers

8:15 PM: Compline

8:45 PM: Three Hail-Mary's

You can count on Alex to be in his office.  You should count on me to be in mine.

More reporting on the resolution to pray the Canonical Hours

More of a progress report on the New Years resolution.

So far: so good.  Generally.

One thing I've adjusted is that the Church opens at 5:15 AM and Matins starts now at 5:20 AM.  Wake up, then becomes 4:30 AM.  This is to have enough time for a cup of coffee and light breakfast before the 3-hour Eucharistic Fast before the 8:00 AM Mass.

St. Francis receiving the Stigmata

I will try this for a week and see how it goes.  Giving another report.

The thing about 5:20 AM Matins followed immediately by Lauds is that there's not much time before the 6:30 AM Half-hour meditation begins.  The Half-hour began about 6:45 AM.  It went right into Prime which ended at 7:25 AM and I made it with a few minutes to spare for the 7:40 AM opening prayer at the school.  Not bad.  But much wiggle room either.

Amazing that I can get up at 4:30 AM and still be hustling to get things done.

But let's try it again this week and see if it's more natural.

The rest of the hours are good.  There's little prep for Mass.  And even though Terce after Mass is good, I've neglected the thanksgiving somewhat.

8:15 PM Compline may be a better time ignorer to set up an 8:30 PM bed time.

It's shaping up, though.

More later.

Progress report

This is a progress report of sorts on the New Year's Resolution.

Presentation of Christ:Melchior Broederlam

It's conceptual as opposed to a complete report, with times etc—although one of those will be good sooner rather than later.

Several things come to mind.

Rise up, workers!  Not in the Marxist sense.  In the fathers-of-families sense.  They're up early because they're good pros.

Divine office.  We'll come back to that.

Coffee.

Three-hour Eucharistic fast.  It's computed from the time not of the Mass (i.e. 8:00 AM), but rather from the moment of Communion.  Which is when?  I'd say not earlier than 8:15 AM.  What's the earliest I ever say the words "Ecce Agnus Dei?" To be safe, I'd call it 8:15 AM.  I could say 8:20.  And that would probably be accurate, too.  This means I should proclaim the fast at 5:15 AM.

Getting to bed.

And ending Sunday evening.

I like the get-together with the guys, but I also like getting a good start on Monday.  I'm finding that leaving the restaurant around 9PM is always too late.  The tough part is, I can't get to the restaurant before 7:15 PM.  This is generally a late dinner already.  But we are usually not served until around 7:45 PM.  Then there's the important need to visit with the guys.  My point is, for my comfort, generally the whole thing is too late.

If we were to aim for earlier, we have to go much earlier because of my interest in Vespers and Benediction before beginning the 6:00 PM Mass.  This means, as we saw this past Sunday, 4:30 PM setting up in the Church for 5:00 PM Exposition of the MBS.  5:45 PM is the latest to give the Benediction.

I'll try 7:15 PM Pizza and Beer at my rectory with 8:30 PM Compline in the Church and see how it works.

The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described: Fortescue, O'Connell & Reid

Quite simply, if you want to execute well the liturgy—old form, new form, Divine office, this or that Rite or Blessing—it makes sense to want to know where it comes from.

Fortescue (click here for the Amazon link)

I had never participated in a "High Mass"  before.  I had been celebrating a low mass pretty frequently and figured it was probably only a matter of time.  Sure enough, a friend of mine invited me.  He was going to be the celebrant and he needed a Deacon.  I remember thinking, "Sure, what the heck, I might as well learn this now." So I said yes.

Well, it was quite the education.  In humility.  I hadn't felt so ignorant in a long time—probably a bad thing in itself.  God bless the two young laymen who knew pretty much exactly what they were doing with the details of the Mass and had no problem telling us, three priests, every little move.

We rehearsed several times.  Again, requiring more humility than I was expecting.  I'm used to knowing where to go and what to do and why to do it on the altar.  I've been doing it for ten years.  And even when I learned the low Mass a couple of years ago, I was surprised how quickly I picked it up.  The latin being the principle obstacle then.

When in rehearsal, the two young laymen happened to find themselves in conflict on this or that detail, which wasn't very often, they consulted Fortescue and that settled it.  So I wanted to know who was this Fortescue guy and what did he know anyway.  Again, more humility.  But thank God.

I bought a copy, but it was a reprint of Fortescue's first edition of The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite.  It took me a minute when I realized that what I needed was not the first edition but the latest (15th) edition.  The first edition was nice, but something of a relic.  I found that these two other characters have come along since, first O'Connell then Reid, and standing on the shoulders of a giant, they've, especially most lately Reid, given us what we now have—another occasion for growing in humility—or better, a gateway to the blessed liturgy of the Church, thanks be to God.  So I got the 15th edition.

Since then, it’s been more humility and a great desire to learn this thing.  This thing being how to celebrate the Roman Rite, my Roman Rite—Mass, Divine Office, Blessings, Sacraments, everything—with understanding, with knowledge, with love and piety, with devotion, peace, fervor, nobility, simplicity, reverence, care, attention, watchfulness, shrewdness for God.  For the love of God, for my sanctification and for the sanctification of everybody in this blessed parish and in the whole world, but especially in this blessed little parish where it has pleased God that my bishop should have placed me for this briefest of moments.  How long will it be? Nine months? A year? Five Years? Forty Years?  It doesn’t matter.  It’s all the briefest of instants.  Because it will end one day.  It will all end.  And I will have to give an account for the piety of my people to Jesus Christ himself, seated in judgment.  I will have to stand before him.  He will be waiting for my response to his asking of me “Did you prepare them well for me?” “Are they going to find themselves standing where you now stand with the advantage of having known of my plan for them through your teaching and example?”  That’s when the duration of my brief pastorate will matter very little.  Because the care of souls is the care of souls, whether it is five souls for five minutes, or five thousand souls for fifty years.  I owe God my best.

So, I will learn my Fortescue.  Which will help me prepare my people for their particular judgment.

Fortescue (center, in cope) might not have looked like he was having fun, but, trust me, he was having a blast!

Honor the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament

There are at least five distinct injuries to the Body of Christ when a minister gives Holy Communion to one who is divorced and remarried contrary to the law of the Church.

First, The Body of Christ himself is dishonored in the Sacred Host;

Second, the minister acting in the person of Christ abuses his ecclesiastical function;

Third, the ecclesial community representing the body of Christ is deprived of seeing God rightly adored;

Fourth, the spouse united in an indissoluble bond reflecting the love of Christ and his Church suffers further the spiritual death of his/her partner;

Fifth, the participant, a member of the body of Christ commits a sacrilege.

Interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church

B16 gave one positive reason for Summorum Pontificum: "an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church."

I'm personally thrilled to have discovered the older use.  I thank God for this discovery.  Without it I cannot imagine how else I may have so easily and quickly deepened my love and appreciation for the Liturgy and Rites of the Church.

I owe this discovery to B16 and his desire for reconciliation.  I too will make his desire for reconciliation my own, since it's what brought me such a love and appreciation to begin with.

Four years after Summorum, Ecclesia Dei instructed:

"19. The faithful who ask for the celebration of the forma extraordinaria must not in any way support or belong to groups which show themselves to be against the validity or legitimacy of the Holy Mass or the Sacraments celebrated in the forma ordinaria or against the Roman Pontiff as Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church."

Therefore, whatever contradicts this reconciliation—the desire for which produced Summorum—whatever smacks of disunity and division I reject.  I reject it the way I reject anything that would take away from the honor and dignity of the Lord's own Body and Blood.

I will make no separate peace with anyone however enthusiastic they may be for the fostering of the older form who at the same time oppose the Pope, the ordinary form or my own bishop.

"Quasi Civitas Firma"

Note to self: "Loving" (2016) looks interesting

Looks like an exhausting movie, but it's gotten a good review from The Federalist:

Place The Body of the Lord Directly on the Tongue of the Faithful

"Inspired by love, the Church is anxious to hand on to future generations of Christians, without loss, her faith and teaching with regard to the mystery of the Eucharist. There can be no danger of excess in our care for this mystery, for ‘in this sacrament is recapitulated the whole mystery of our salvation.'" (JP2, Eccl. de Euch. #61)

"In continuity with the teaching of his Predecessor, starting with the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the year 2008, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, began to distribute to the faithful the Body of the Lord, by placing it directly on the tongue of the faithful as they remain kneeling." (Office for Lit. Celebr. of Supr. Pont.)

New Years Resolution: The Canonical Hours

Here we go.  We're gonna try it for a week starting tomorrow (Jan 3).  That means I'll post here on Jan 11 and let you know how this went.

5:00 AM: Matins

6:00 AM: Lauds

6:30 AM: Half-Hour Meditation

7:00 AM: Prime

7:15 AM: (Begin One-hour Eucharistic Fast)

7:25 AM: Go to School

7:45 AM: Prep for Mass

8:00 AM: Mass

8:35 AM: Thanksgiving

9:00 AM: Terce

12:00 PM: Angelus

12:05 PM: Sixth

2:30 PM: None

2:50 PM: Go to school

4:00 PM: Half-Hour Meditation

4:30 PM: Vespers

8:30 PM: Compline

9:00 PM: Lights out

When am I going to shave, breakfast, swim, etc?

When there's no school, the day starts later by half an hour.

God help us all.