Lost Lambs

Fr. Ernie Davis  Pastor at St. Therese and the Our Lady of Hope Society In Kansas City Mo. Will begin offering an Anglican use Liturgy to their Sunday Mass Schedule. I will also be assisting them in this task.

Below is the current schedule, check out their websites for more info:

Fr. Ernie’s Blog Our Lady of Hope Society

Presentation Schedule – St. Therese Little Flower Anglican Use Community Fall 2008

September 7

Topic: Anglicans and Episcopalians in the Catholic Church: The Pastoral Provision

Presenter: Fr. Ernie Davis, Pastor of St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church and former Episcopal Priest.

September 14

Topic: The Church, Authority, Pope, Bishops, and Magisterium

Presenter: Matt Teel, former Episcopal priest and professor of philosophy

September 21

Topic: Catholic Liturgy then and now

Presenter: Grayson Warren Brown – noted author, speaker, and performer

September 28

Topic: Believing with the Church

Presenter: Matt Teel – former Episcopal priest and philosophy professor

Also don’t forget about my effort to bring the Traditional Mass to Johnson County - The Society of St. Gregory the Great - http://www.gregorythegreat.org

Toward the end of last year we purchased SIRUIS Satellite radio for our cars so that we could have good music and good Catholic radio wherever we drove.

We were soon introduced to “The Catholic Channel” and Lino -The Catholic Guy.  For those that are unfamiliar here is a link to a NYT Article about him from earlier this month.

If you read the article or you are familiar with his show one of the most sought after prizes is a Pope Bottle Opener   - Popener -

Well my dear readers, as a semi-regular caller into the show( Known as “Sophia Lauren Chris” I will explain  why perhaps another time) I have earned a Popener from the Catholic Guy Show during a segment called - “Him, Hymn, or Her”

The Package:

Side 1 - Pope John Paul II

Side II - Benedict XVI

Most of the Catholic world has the Sacrament of Penance on Saturdays at their local parish. I usually make use of the nearest Catholic church for confession on Saturdays. I have met Jesus in this Sacrament many times, I try to make frequent use of it and try to never have more than 2 weeks go by without going even if I have no serious sin to confess. I have gone to confession more in the last 1.5 years than in my entire life combined.

Since I have returned to the faith I have had the opportunity to  have penance in the older form as well as the new form, I have had my confession heard in various locations, for example: rectory, church office, gym, convention center, Seminary rector’s office, sacristy, parish hall, and a few other odd places I’m sure I cant recall. Very rarely will I sit for the sacrament, no matter where I am, I prefer to kneel (just like when I take communion FTR ) even if its face to face. After reflecting I must say I enjoy the “Ordinary Form” of confession - with an orthodox Catholic priest - to the “Extraordinary form”. Probably the only Sacrament I prefer in the new form.

I think my preference stems from my lack of fluency in Latin. The new form of Absolution goes a little something like this:

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

I must say that every time I hear those words it sends chills down my spine, in a good way. I don’t have any more of an explanation than that, I know we should not rely on feelings for determining roles in our religious life -especially confession- yet these are the words that draw me to the newer form.  In all honestly I know it doesn’t matter if the absolution is given in English or Latin, the problem I have run into is that some priests- just like they do with their liturgy- take certain liberties with the form. I have heard various things like: Jesus Forgives you, I take your sins upon myself, or just simply the “I absolve you in the name…”. While I always try to ensure that my absolution is valid - the minimum needed for validity is the “I absolve you in the name…” the priest has no right to change or omit the words that the church has laid out for him to use. This is something very important, I beg you dear readers to ensure that you are having the correct words of absolution said.

I conclude with one last remark - In the new form (and possibly the older form) there is a dismissal prayer that also brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it- however rare it is:

May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure,heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life.

Go in peace.

If you have heard this dismissal before let me know in the combox, I’m curious as to how common it really is.  I always enjoy your comments and questions, don’t be shy!

For your benefit check out Fr. Z’s 20 Tips for making a good confession

I stumbled upon this gem of an article it is Short So I will post in its entirety-

NEWCASTLE, Maine—A Roman Catholic church that touts itself as the oldest in New England is preparing for a bicentennial celebration in Maine.

St. Patrick Catholic Church will hold activities this weekend to mark the completion of its first church building in 1808. Festivities begin Saturday with a ringing of the church bell, one of the last church bells cast by Paul Revere before his death.

Bishop Richard Malone will celebrate Mass in the modern $2 million building completed in 2004 and there will be a Latin Mass in the original building, which still stands. The original small brick church sits on a hill and overlooks the Damariscotta River.

Did you Catch it?
Did you See!??!

I quote again…

…and there will be a Latin Mass in the original building, which still stands..

The Parish built in 1808 will have a Bicentennial mass in the form that the first mass celebrated there took place. AMAZING DEO GRATIAS!!!!!

They have a website complete with Virtual tour HERE

Article Source

it appears they “Latin Mass” - the 2nd Sunday of each month at 12:30 PM in the Old Church

Here is a story I had not seen in the blog world but I think its worth sharing.

The Rev. John McLaughlin never served in the military, but he’s faced unexpected, violent death in the way troops do.

Decades ago, McLaughlin lay bleeding on a Boston street after being stabbed from behind. The prayer-filled moments that followed, when McLaughlin believed he might die, changed his life and ultimately led him to God. Now, in a newly created job, he’ll try to recruit military personnel to the Roman Catholic priesthood…

…This month, McLaughlin left his parish north of Boston and became the first-ever national vocations director at the Archdiocese of the Military in Washington. McLaughlin will travel the country, speaking to troops about following a commitment to their country with commitment to their faith…

…McLaughlin was initially hesitant to take the new vocations post, telling Dixon he was comfortable at Saint Monica’s.

O’Brien replied, “There’s a lot of men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq that were pretty comfortable, too,”

Full Story: Here

Here are a few pictures I took of the parish I grew up in and went to school at.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church - Newton Kansas

Happy Pasch everyone

Its been a interesting lent and I took a blogging break things are gearing up around here getting ready for baby #3 Seen to the left

Also here are some quick Pictures/Links of my local travels:

We Also checked out the Ligurgy of St. Gregory at a local Orthdox parish for educational purposes.

We also prayed a very reverent Novus Ordo (as last time See old Post) where Greek was sung, incense was used, some latin including communion given in latin.

There were also rumors of a very nice liturgy of the presanctified on Good Friday at the St. Lawrence Catholic campus center in Lawrence. Including the prostration at the beginning of mass and latin used as well.

Holy Thursday was celebrated beautifully -as always - at Old St. Patrick’s Oratory.

With the Solemnities of Solemnities upon us I have an urge to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his one true Church to other Ecclesiastic Communities , sitting down and talking scripture and prayer for their conversion, but of course with this feeling to spread the word about the Catholic church it is not without some reservation, as I have never really gone and knocked on doors for the faith so any suggestions would be helpful.

and last but not least I have come into some interesting books recently if anyone has any feedback on these titles put them in the combox.

Book Titles:

The Celebration of Mass I: General Rubrics of the Missal
The Celebration of Mass II: The Rite of Celebration of Low Mass
The Celebration of Mass III: The Rite of High Mass and Sung Mass
(By Rev. J. O’Connell)
The Sacred Ceremonies of Low Mass (By Rev. Felix Zualdi, C.M.)
The Splendour Of the Liturgy (By Maurice Zundel)

and a few others.

I will try and post more frequently also have another church to post so look for it soon.

Hello from Baltimore Maryland, As stated in my last post I have been sent out east for travel, now there are many sights to see and places to visit in this area but with my work schedule I have been limited as far as being a Tourist goes.

There is a good friend of mine whom I have known since Kindergarten whom is enrolled in his second year of theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and that is located in Emmittsburg MD. About 15min from the Pennsylvania Border. Since I was in the area about an hour away I decided to go pay my friend a visit for the first time in about Six years.

At the Mount I spoke with the Monsignor who was the rector, and we spoke of Catholic things, and the Moto Proprio, he said that he plans to start praying the traditional mass next semester so the students can see it and feel it, he said he would train any man who’s bishop requested them to be trained in the extraordinary form, I find this interesting in light of THIS recent letter from the Pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei. But over all the Seminary was very good and Orthodox, I suppose it must be since Bishop Bruskewitz would send his men there.

Below are some pictures from “The Mount” As its called. I’m sorry they are not better but it was the best I can do at night

Please pray for these fine young men that the Good lord will make them the best Priests that they can be and be the men that we deserve.

This upsetting story is found in full at The Telegraph.

Sperm cells have been created from a female human embryo in a remarkable breakthrough that suggests it may be possible for lesbian couples to have their own biological children…

[Right away the Irony that they are using EMBRYONIC stem cells to create sperm that they hope will create an embryo is not lost on me]

…It raises the possibility of lesbian couples one day having children who share both their genes as sperm created from the bone marrow of one woman could be used to fertilise an egg from her partner…

[Ya know.. there might be a NATURAL reason as to why no new life could come naturally out of same sex relationships, Maybe there is a way to reproduce the human species that would seem much more natural than bringing a scientist into the equasion... but naw... lets waste Millions of dollars on research to find alternate ways to Reproduce humans and then murder those embryos that are not wanted]

…Men and women differ because of what are called sex chromosomes. Both have an X chromosome. But only men possess a Y chromosome that carries several genes thought to be essential to make sperm, so there has been scepticism that female stem cells could ever be used to make sperm…

[You Think there would be a natural reason that a male is needed to reproduce but lets ignore the natural evidence too!]

“I think, in principle, it will be scientifically possible,” Prof Nayernia told New Scientist.

He said that he has applied for ethical approval from the university to use bone marrow stem cells from women to start experiments to derive female sperm…

However, Dr Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell and sex determination expert at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, doubts it will work: “The presence of two X chromosomes is incompatible with this. Moreover they need genes from the Y chromosome to go through meiosis. So they are at least double-damned.”

[Once again the Irony is not lost on me here... we could add a Third Dammed as well.. and thats the one that lasts forever]

If all these experiments pan out, then the stage would also be set for a gay man to donate skin cells that could be used to make eggs, which could then be fertilised by his partner’s sperm and placed into the uterus of a surrogate mother….

“I think it is possible,” says Kerkis, “but I don’t know how people will look at this ethically.”

[Oh really... You think it might be a problem?... These are suppose to be some of the smartest folks around and they are looking at the ethical issues AFTER the fact?]

The UK parliament is now debating changes to the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, and the government is under pressure to include an amendment that would allow the future use of eggs and sperm grown in the lab from stem cells.

However, a clause added to this amendment would restrict this to sperm from genetic males and eggs from genetic females.

With Osama Bin Bama in the area and Mrs. and Mr. Clinton trying to earn your vote, and since the Candidate that I feel would be the best for this country does not get the coverage he deserves. What is an ill informed voter to do?

Get the Catholic Answers “Voters Guide for Serious Catholic’s”
this guide goes in depth and is sure to guide your conscience to make the best Catholic choice for this Election Year.

I am still undecided but I’m sure this guide will help me along, Our dear bishops at the USCCB has one as well but… well… um… its the USCCB… so I will concede to the Thumper rule in this case.

To Close I shall quote the New Catechism on this topic:

“Duties of civil authorities

2235 Those who exercise authority should do so as a service. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”41 The exercise of authority is measured morally in terms of its divine origin, its reasonable nature and its specific object. No one can command or establish what is contrary to the dignity of persons and the natural law.

2236 The exercise of authority is meant to give outward expression to a just hierarchy of values in order to facilitate the exercise of freedom and responsibility by all. Those in authority should practice distributive justice wisely, taking account of the needs and contribution of each, with a view to harmony and peace. They should take care that the regulations and measures they adopt are not a source of temptation by setting personal interest against that of the community.42

2237 Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person. They will dispense justice humanely by respecting the rights of everyone, especially of families and the disadvantaged.

The political rights attached to citizenship can and should be granted according to the requirements of the common good. They cannot be suspended by public authorities without legitimate and proportionate reasons. Political rights are meant to be exercised for the common good of the nation and the human community.”