An open letter to Catholic Priests, everywhere, especially those who serve in the diocese in which I live...

June 10, 2012


Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord
(aka Corpus Christi)


Dear Catholic Priests,

I'm begging you, please, please, PLEASE say the black and do the red.  The prayer does say "for many" NOT "for all."  Don't change the Eucharistic prayer to suit your desire to appear inclusionary (remember Code of Canon Law c.838 and the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy?). There are distinct theological reasons "pro multis" means "for many," not the least of which is that the prayer directly quotes Scripture (see today's Gospel if you need proof).

Thank you and may God richly bless you in the service to His flock.

Signed,

A faithful and liturgically orthodox Catholic

Right where God wants me...

I love it when the signs are so crystal clear that show me I'm exactly where God wants me to be.  Not that I ever doubted leaving everything behind in my former hometown to move to a place virtually unknown to me, without a home, without a job, without a real plan or man-made safety net.  There was just something gnawing at me and the family that it was time to move on...that God just needed us somewhere else.  So, we made the move, trusting that God would provide for all of our needs.

I believe that when I don't think God isn't talking to me, it's just me actually not looking for the signs...some big, most small.  The latest in a series of signals from the One who created all things for His good pleasure, came in the realization that the job I'm about to start is exactly the one I thought about applying for 18 months ago but decided not to because, well, I didn't live here yet.  The 1000 mile commute would have been a little long.  Originally, I was sad to have missed the opportunity.  I was comforted however in the knowledge that God would provide as long as I only sought His Will.  And, through a circuitous turn of events, and a series of small miracles, I have now been offered that same very position...the job that I believe is perfect for me and my family.  How cool is that?!?  God has me right where He wants me, when He wants me there.  Life is hard, sometimes disappointing.  But, God is always good.

Best April Fool's Joke Ever!

Went to Mass this morning and was treated to the best April Fool's Joke ever...You'll never guess...one hint...it is Palm Sunday.  Ok, maybe two hints...It is Palm Sunday AND there was a procession.  Ok, maybe three hints...It is Palm Sunday AND there was a procession AND there were ladies in white flowing gowns waving and dancing large palm branches into the sanctuary, around the sanctuary, and out of the sanctuary.

Looking at it again, though, except for the April and the fool(s) part, it really isn't a joke...it is the sad state of affairs of my particular parish in this particular Pacific NW diocese.  Can anyone justify dancing (or as the politically correct, liturgically uniformed, wanna be free, squishy Jesus catholic crowd would have it, "liturgical movement") at Mass unless your parish is one of a handful of ethnic parishes (read: not of the American culture, like the Basques or Native American Indians) in the US and around the world who have been granted permission to perform their sacred dances because it is intrinsic to their worship?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?

No, I didn't think so.  This dancing silliness has gone on long enough.  Please, Pope Benedict XVI, shut this liturgical abuse down before the gates of hell pervade against us.

Finding it difficult to do penance this Lenten season

I don't know why...well I have an inkling, but I'm finding it difficult to keep up with what I promised would be my Lenten penance.  I had resolved to go on a modified daily fast of no more than 1400 calories, give up desserts, sweets, candy, soda, going out to eat, donuts on Sunday after Mass and shopping (other than grocery).  The only two I've been able to keep up are not eating donuts and shopping...those are relatively easy.  The others...well, I've broken them all and it was as if I had no resolve at all.  At first I couldn't figure out what the difference was between this year and last.  I thought that maybe it was the amount of stress I'm under, especially with the temporary accounting job I'm working right now.  But, that just rang hollow.  I believe now it's because I'm not getting any real encouragement or challenge from my parish to make a true penance that will lead me to fuller conversion to Christ.  From the banners I see at Church and on the marquee at another local parish, I'm being cajoled into "fasting from intolerance and feasting on love"...but there is really no teeth in that.  Where's the mortification?  Where's the suffering that I can unite with Christ's suffering?  I haven't gone to Confession in a while merely because the last two times, the priest didn't even give me a penance...nada...nothing...not even an easy one, like "recite a Hail Mary before the Blessed Sacrament." I feel as though I've wasted Lent this year, though I'm really going to try to do more during this Passiontide.

I miss my old parish and its pastor.  It was too hard to ignore Lent there.