Lost Lambs

Fr. Richard Neuhaus , that co anchored the papal visit with Raymond Arroyo on EWTN has an excellent post about the papal mass in Washington DC.

I will post just a snippet, I highly suggest reading his work, he is a very smart priest, based on his latest post, he really understands the need and the want of the “Reform of the Reform”

I do not wish to be too hard on those who planned the celebration at Nationals Park. It was, sad to say, not unrepresentative of much Catholic worship in our time. The planners and the performers no doubt meant well, but it is worthy of remark that at a papal Mass there was so much that reflected an ignorance of, or defiance of, the very considered views of the pope.

You can read the entire post here : http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1056

Hey, did anyone hear? The Holy Father is in town, and He held a Huge Mass in the ordinary form in Washington D.C. today. I have been watching the Pontiffs trip very closely and was impressed with the Solemn Vespers last night but was left wanting after todays Mass.

I have had the privilege to be in the presence of Pope John Paul II during world youth day’s 1993 and 2000 and in 1999 when he came to St. Louis. I would like to offer my readers my feelings of participating in an overpopulated open air Mass that resembles what we saw today.

Right away I would like to point out that just watching the Mass today it seemed MUCH more respectful and a bit more reverent than the Mass’ I participated at. In an open air mass the sense of reverence and sacred are lacking, partially due to the fact that we are in a stadium, that we are surrounded by thousands upon thousands - or in the case of Rome in 2000 MILLIONS of people. It is unavoidable to be distracted and the situation has turned into somewhat of a novelty, kneeling can be impaired and weather has played a factor as well.

Sight lines, distance, and noise impedes my concetration on the word and of the sacrifice. Also as pointed out today the music for the liturgy today as in most massive liturgies are not usually considered “Sacred Music”.

I think large liturgical celebrations can be done respectfully and reverently but they are far and few between, the larger the crowd the worse it gets, perhaps there could be a limit set on these in the future - of course when Rome calls to ask me my opinion, you will know where I stand.

Tonight I enjoyed a great evening with friends, family, and some great food. Interestingly enough a conversation was started from comments on my brown scapular, positive, innocent remarks that led into discussion of the Catholic faith.

We started talking about our parishes and where we attend. One mutual friend spoke of the near by parish that we sometimes attend ordinary mass, some at the table I had never met before, but turned out to be Catholic as well, she informed us of her “Gospel” parish where ,”the gospel choir was most excellent and the sign of peace lasts 15-20 Minutes where everyone is leaving their pews and and congregating to shake each others hand”- out of prudence I held my tounge. We then mentioned that on Sundays we drive >20 minutes to attend the Extraordinary Mass in Latin, everyone at the table interest perked when I mentioned this, they began to ask questions and reminisce of their few “Old” mass experiences. I then informed them that soon the Holy Father is to allow any priest to say the Extraordinary Mass, and once again- a very positive response.

The most disappointing thing about all of this is they had no clue the Traditional Mass was still happening, and I fear this is the case for most Catholics, I think announcement of the Motu Proprio will immediately fall on mostly deaf ears, most Catholics at first will not be akin to giving up their hand holding sentiments. This Motu Proprio will be noted as the start of a Giant U turn, that we will see to transform the ordinary Latin liturgy as well as establish a concrete place for the Extraordinary form.

As we finished up the conversation, it was clear we planted some sort of seed one friend mentioned how she missed the communion rails, and she felt it was wrong they took them out, I made sure to let her knew where she could experience such a blessing again, and maybe someday, others will never share her sentiment as the period between the 1960’s- 2007 will be chalked up to another very strange time in church history.

As Most of you know, the Holy Father just left Brazil, after meeting with anyone thats a “Someone” down there, Also as most of you know the Holy Father had once again stressed the church’s teachings on Abortion and Contraception.

What I don’t understand is how two faced these “Somebodys” are, how the president could welcome our Pope with open arms then turn around and provide birth control at $0.20 a pill. If you are going to provide such an atrocity for women such as birth control why not be upfront to the pope about it, why smile and but the facade on of the country being in union with Rome.

Most recently Brazil’s famous Model - Gisele Had a few Choice Words for our pontiff and those who follow him SOURCE:

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Supermodel Gisele Bundchen stepped into the debate over birth control and sexual behavior in Brazil on Tuesday, saying Church opposition to condom use was ridiculous and women should have the right to choose on abortion.

Gisele is idolized by many young women in Brazil, the world’s largest Roman Catholic country, where debate over sexual issues has intensified around a visit by
Pope Benedict last month.

The Pope stressed the Church’s firm opposition to abortion and contraception and railed against sex outside of marriage.

The Brazilian beauty, one of the world’s top models, told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper in an interview that when the Church made its laws centuries ago, women were expected to be virgins.

“Today no one is a virgin when they get married … show me someone who’s a virgin!” she said.

Asked about abortion, she said a woman should have the right to choose what is best for her.

“If she thinks she doesn’t have the money or the emotional condition to raise a child, why should she give birth?”

Gisele, who had just arrived from New York to take part in Rio de Janeiro’s Fashion Week, also defended condom use.

“It’s ridiculous to ban contraceptives — you only have to think of the diseases that are transmitted without them. I think it should be compulsory to use a contraceptive.”

The Brazilian government has clashed with the church over anti-
AIDS programs in which it distributes millions of free condoms and Health Minister Jose Temporao has called for a national referendum on abortion.

Other Brazilian celebrities have fallen foul of the
Vatican over sex issues. Singer Daniela Mercury was banned from performing at a Vatican Christmas concert in 2005 because she took part in a campaign promoting condom use to prevent AIDS.

She denied rumors she was pregnant.

“Of course I want to have a family in the future. But not at this moment.”

I think Gisele proved why shes a Model and not in lawmaking, the fact of the matter is that maybe no one is a virgin when they get married, but thats a problem, why condone pre-martial sex and make it seem acceptable, especially with all of these awful diseases around, why not use your public voice to speak about the honor of virginity, the glory of saving yourself for marriage, the great joy of purity and chastity. Its amazing that this woman who is a role model to thousands of young girls in Brazil and wants to push upon them this culture of death.

Gisele, if she does not have money or does not want children then why not offer the only method that is 100% effective - abstinence- then you will not transmit disease and you will not have unwanted children.

Fact of the matter is Gisele I can show you a virgin, the Virgin Mary, who took the greatest stride to decrease herself so that God may increase, if more women took their cues from her instead of you, imagine where we would be.

BBC NEWS | Americas | Pope visits Brazilian drug clinic
“He urged recovered addicts to be “ambassadors of hope” and said the clinic bore testament “to the Gospel of Christ amid a consumer society far removed from God”.”
“At the clinic, which claims to have an 80% success rate and is run by Franciscan friars, patients receive spiritual guidance while working on a farm as beekeepers, milking cows or tending apple orchards.”

This is awesome to see our Pontiff living the Gospel to some of the most meek of all mankind. It also seems these Franciscans have found how to recover the people not only in their physical ailments but spiritually as well, true works of mercy.

Each act of beekeeping, milking etc.. is an act of serving God in itself.

Along with our newest Saint Galvo this has turned into a very interesting trip to Brazil thus far, I am anxious to see whats next. Who knows maybe a Motu Proprio for a “Latin” Mass will come before he leaves this “Latin” Country.

4-April-2007 — Catholic World News Brief

Easter Triduum Marks “Supreme Confrontation,” Pope Says
Vatican, Apr. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) - At his regular weekly public audience on April 4, Pope Benedict XVI looked forward to the Easter Triduum, saying that the liturgical events of the coming days enact “the supreme confrontation between light and darkness, between life and death.”

The Easter Triduum, the Holy Father said, “invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Cross, to acknowledge our sinfulness and, in faith, to unite ourselves with Jesus in his saving passover from death to life.”

Speaking about each liturgical event in turn, the Pope said that the Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper– both celebrated on Holy Thursday– encourage the faithful to recognize “the supreme triple gift of priestly ministry, the Eucharist, and the new commandment of love.”

Good Friday, he continued, is a day of solemn fasting, penance, and prayer, with the Way of the Cross giving the faithful an opportunity “to imprint the mystery of the Cross ever more deeply on our hearts.”

Holy Saturday should be a day of “interior meditation,” the Pope said– acknowledging that this is a challenge as the faithful prepare for the Easter celebration. Then at the Easter Vigil, “the veil of sadness shrouding the Church… with be shattered by the cry of victory.”

In the Easter Triduum, the Pope said with emphasis, the Church relives “not just a memory but a current reality.” Christ is triumphant over sin and death today, the Pope said. “It is upon this certainty that our Christian lives are built.”