Places of Prayer

I thought I would share with you some images of the chapel and sacristy at the rectory at Holy Family. This chapel is used for visiting priests saying private Masses as well as a private place to say their office.

The chandler gives it a nice Victorian look I think.

This altar was recently put in last summer. I think it's quite elegant if I do say so myself.


The sacristy was just recently completed and has everything a priest could want.

Vessels
Vestments
veils, maniples, stoles, etc.
vesting prayers and various missals (my favorite is on the bottom)

Stop The Presses!!!!

CALLING ALL PRIESTS!

In conjunction with EWTN, the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter has just released their new training DVD for the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. The DVD includes step by step instructions, explanations of the symbolism behind the gestures, and everything a priest needs to know to celebrate the traditional Mass.

CHECK OUT THIS LINK!!!!!!!!!!

I think that this shows that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter does not think that the Traditional Mass is its own private ceremony, but shows the charism of the Fraternity. That is, namely, the sanctification of priests through the celebration of the Traditional Mass. I would highly recommend this DVD to any priest who wants to learn this sacred ceremony.

Just an Awesome Video

Although this video has already found its way around the internet, I wanted to share it here. This is just an amazing video, and the nuns singing can only be described as angelic.

Traditionalist and hating it

I was having a discussion with a friend the other day. We were discussing how we both hate being "traditionalists." It's not that we hate the traditional Mass. No. It's not that we hate defending the traditional Mass. Its that we hate having to do so.

There are many times when I would just like to say "I'm Catholic," and let that be the end of it. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in this peculiar situation in the Church today where we have to describe what kind of Catholic we are. Are you a Charismatic Catholic? Are you a Traditional Catholic? Are you a Conservative Catholic? There seems to be an endless amount of sub-categories that one can put oneself in as a Catholic.

Our discussion led to a couple of interesting, yet sad, conclusions. It seems to me that the Church herself has created an endless amount of divisions within her own fold. Granted, yes, a practicing Catholic (in my mind the only person who should be considered Catholic) must accept the authority of the Pope, believe all that the Church teaches, and so on. However, the ideological differences are endless. Should the Church extend into politics (abortion, death penalty, etc.)? What is "real ecumenism?"

And, of course, many of the issues which define Catholics result around the Mass. Rightly so! If the Mass is the crux of our lives as Catholics, if it is the pinnacle, that it should be of the utmost concern of every Catholic how it is celebrated. It seems that the main differences in ideology of the Mass run along these lines: Charismatic, Liberal, Conservative, and Traditionalist.

Let's take a closer look.

Charismatic:

Liberal:


Conservative:

Traditional:

I think that's pretty typical of each category of Catholics. Keep in mind I left out Eastern Catholics because the issue of division is in the Western Church. The East is pretty much solid on the practice of the Faith. Also, I was extremely generous in the display of Conservative Catholics. I did this because I think that the video of the Mass I displayed is the end goal of their movement, or at least pretty close.

So, why have I posted all of this? What was the end result of the discussion with my friend? It is this. We find ourselves in a dreadful time as Catholics. In a time in which we should be united against modernism and secular influence, the Church seems divided. Secular governments are allowed to destroy life and liberty without so much of a rebuke on the grassroots level. The Church is divided on the issue. People are confused about what the Church teaches. Priests across the globe present heresy as the faith and the faith as heresy. And, in the end, we can not even agree on the proper way to worship our Lord.

Now, think what you may, be it Charismatic or Traditional, but remember this. A house divided against itself can not stand, and when we were unified in all things, Mass looked like this

Lost but not Forgotten

Somtimes I weep when I think of what we have lost.

Sold to Baptists