"I have no other dream ..."

I have no other dream than to conform myself at every moment with the suffering and Eucharistic life of our Divine Saviour, to unite my host with His Host, so that my heart may be consecrated with His Heart to the Glory of the Father for the salvation of the world. For the more my life is submitted to God and in conformity with the Redeemer, the more I shall participate in the achievement of His Work.

Marthe Robin

His Excellency Bishop Edward J. Slattery

The Pontifical Extraordinary Form of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Celebrated at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
In Washington, D.C., on 24 April 2010

"All of us must become Saints through what we suffer."

On EWTN I just heard the finest sermon I have heard in years. It was given by His Excellency The Most Reverend Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa. The quote above was toward the end of the profound homily delivered by His Grace. I feel so blest being able to participate through the televised broadcast on EWTN.

Now the overflowing assembly are singing the Credo with such passion and conviction I am in tears.

Praise God in His holiness! Praise God in His holy temple, all the earth!

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Update: the text of Bishop Slattery's sermon can be found on the Te Deum Laudamus blog.

The written text is of course slightly different from the spoken word so you will want to visit Fr. Zed's blog for an Mp3 of the sermon as well as a transcription with Fr. Zed's commentary.

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Click here for the text of the "Hymn for the Year of Priestly Jubilee" written in honour of Bishop Slattery and Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby. And on the CMAA's website is my text set to a new tune by Catholic composer Noel Jones.

RADIO WALSINGHAM ONLINE

This is a simple invitation to listen to RADIO WALSINGHAM ONLINE which has been a project and an apostolate of mine over the last few years.

I hope you will find the music beautiful and the variety of the material ... breathtaking!

Click here for RADIO WALSINGHAM ONLINE

And a hot tip: become a VIP Member of Live365.com and listen to RADIO WALSINGHAM without secular commercial interruptions... a much more enjoyable experience.

A Blessed Paschaltide to you all!

Of the need for Repentance and Penance

While I may quibble with the author of this article entitled Pope Benedict says Catholic Church must 'do penance' , I believe it is worth a glance as I am convinced that these difficult times for the Church and for the Holy Father are an excellent opportunity for righting the course of the Barque of St. Peter through the Episcopate leading the Church in repentance and corporate penance that leads to more true devotion to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament as well as devotion to His Most Holy Mother Mary. The article can be found at this URL : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8622671.stm.

The following I quote from the BBC article:

'Penance is a grace'

During Mass at the Vatican on Thursday, Pope Benedict appeared to make his first reference to the issue since 20 March, when he sent a letter to the Irish people about the abuse scandal in their country.

Conformism which makes it obligatory to think and act like everyone else, and the subtle - or not so subtle - aggression towards the Church, demonstrate how this conformism can really be a true dictatorship Pope Benedict XVI

"I must say, we Christians, even in recent times, have often avoided the word 'repent', which seemed too tough," he said.

"But now, under attack from the world which talks to us of our sins, we can see that being able to do penance is a grace and we see how necessary it is to do penance and thus recognise what is wrong in our lives."

The Pope said this involved "opening oneself up to forgiveness, preparing oneself for forgiveness, allowing oneself to be transformed".

He also hit back at critics of the Church, portraying them as in the thrall of a conformist dictatorship.

"Conformism which makes it obligatory to think and act like everyone else, and the subtle - or not so subtle - aggression towards the Church, demonstrate how this conformism can really be a true dictatorship," he said.

Earlier this month, the pontiff's personal preacher was forced to apologise for having highlighted a comparison between criticism of the Church over the abuse allegations and "the collective violence suffered by the Jews".

In a sermon, Father Raniero Cantalamessa quoted a Jewish friend who said that attacks on the Church echoed "the most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism", such as the use of stereotypes and the spreading of collective guilt.

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I believe that Father Cantalamessa was deliberately misquoted in many reports on the sermon. Nonetheless, I find the point regarding stereotypes and the spreading of collective guilt was spot on. Would that we would hear such challenging sermons each week at Mass!

+Laus Deo.

Novena for H.H. Pope Benedict XVI

This novena may begin on The First Sunday after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), April 11th, and conclude on Monday, April 19th, the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father’s election.

I have tremendous respect for the Holy Father and find the current forward assault against him both pathetic and shabby. Humanity is beset by sexual crimes and sexual criminals, and in this broken, fallen world -- although horrifying and tragic -- it is not surprising to see some of these criminals among the clergy of the Church. Those of us who recall the rise of Communism in the 20th century may also remember that the Church's great enemies in Russia and in the Communist Parties of the world had a programme of infiltration to put all sorts of traitors into the ordained ministries of the Catholic Church. Bella Dodd made this abundantly clear to a generation of Catholics who grew up with Archbishop Fulton Sheen on radio and then television.

Now it is a separate matter when one discusses the way the local bishops dealt with these sexual fiends in the clergy. The episcopate in general has yet to don sackcloth and ashes appropriate to their tremendous failure in protecting the children of God. I am profoundly convinced that until the episcopate repents and does corporate penance led by the Holy Father, the Church will struggle in a most painful, public way against her enemies. However, if the episcopate engaged in public corporate penance they could then lead humanity in corporate penance for all of the sexual crimes against children and adolescents all over the world. A penitent, humble, and humbled Church can lead humanity to God.

At this moment it is imperative that we pray for the Holy Father since it is a time of open struggle against the Pope and against the Faith. We must pray for his health, for divine protection of his person, and for him to receive all of the graces, gifts, and blessings from the Holy Trinity that he needs as the Vicar of Christ on Earth. I invite you, dear Reader, to join in this novena which I believe is tremendously important at this time.

This novena may begin on The First Sunday after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), April 11th, and conclude on Monday, April 19th, the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father’s election.

O God, who art the Pastor and Governor of them that put their trust in thee; look down in mercy on thy servant Benedict, whom thou has chosen to be pastor and ruler of thy Church. Grant unto him, we beseech thee, a spirit of courage and right judgement, that he and all thy whole Church may be preserved and strengthened against every adversity; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

V. Let us pray for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict.
R. May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and not hand him over to the power of his enemies.

V. May thy hand, O Lord, be upon thy servant;
R. Whom thou hast anointed, to be a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

+Laus Deo.

Holy Saturday A.D. 2010

Prayers for the Anglican Patrimony and Heritage within the Holy Catholic Church

O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer to you my continual obedience, pleading that all Anglicans seeking union with the Apostolic See of Peter may have the fruition of their hope. By the power of your Divine Spirit so guide the Holy Father in Rome that this union will be accomplished and that what is good and true in our heritage may be preserved to the benefit of the Universal Church. Grant that Anglican bishops and priests longing for this union may be granted continued exercise of the priestly ministry under the authority of the Roman See and that Christians everywhere may once again know the Chair of Peter as that rock upon which your Church on earth is founded, against which hell cannot prevail. Amen.

--composed by Fr. James Moore in 1978

O HOLY GHOST the Lord, who on Pentecost gavest the Church the gift of tongues that Christ might be known, loved and served by peoples of divers nations and customs: watch over the Anglican heritage within thy Church, we pray thee, that, led by thy guidance and strengthened by thy grace, that it may find such favor in thy sight that its people may increase both in holiness and number, and so show forth thy glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and Son, one God, world without end. Amen.


To Our Lady of Walsingham

O blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Walsingham, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon us, our parish, our country, our homes, and our families, and upon all who greatly hope and trust in your prayers. By you it was that Jesus, our Savior and hope, was given to the world; and he has given you to us that we may hope still more. Plead for us your children, whom you did receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of your Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we all may be made worthy to see and praise God, together with you in our heavenly home. Amen.

+Laus Deo.

Of needles and thorns

Dear friends, beloved in the Lord, Thank you for your prayers. The biopsy of the right eye with the puncture and injection of antibiotics was successful, and the surgeon was very pleased with the samples obtained. Now we wait for the Methodist Hospital Pathology Department's report.

Before my MRI some days prior we spent time in the beautiful Ascension of the Lord Methodist Chapel at the hospital with its beautiful stained glass window above the Altar and to the side a beautiful Roman Catholic tabernacle where the Eucharistic Lord was present. I am deeply grateful to the Methodists for granting Roman Catholics a space in their beautiful chapel. For my part, I was almost overwhelmed by the sense of the Lord's Presence which stayed with me through the MRI of my eyes and brain and late into the day.

How shall I praise God for all the good He has done for me? He has brought me to the best and brightest of doctors, and God has held me so close to Him that His presence has overshadowed every fear, anxiety or concern. And during the tapping of the right eye with the various needles used, He held my hand and comforted me throughout the procedure.

From my heart I thank all of you for your prayers bidding the Lord to come and help me. While the result of the most recent MRI was the subject of many tears for me, I have had my confidence renewed (not by denial) but by the experience of the Divine Presence with me. I am not an orphan, nor am I without a people I call my own. You are that people who pray for me and gather me into your family of faith, and for that I pray God's blessings for you in every area of your life.

There is also a certain grace to having such procedures done in the early part of Holy Week. As my eye was pierced by the first needle, I could not help but think of our sinless Lord being pierced by thorn and by nail, and I asked Him to unite my experience to His, that it become something much more in His hands for the spread of the Gospel and the building up of His Kingdom.

May His Peace, given to us at such great cost, abide in all our hearts this Holy Week and Blessed Triduum.

+Laus Deo!

Blessèd Miguel Pro, Martyr

Blessed Miguel Pro wrote the following prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows ten days before his death, when he instinctively sensed what was going to happen to him:

Let me live beside you, my Mother,
to keep you company in your solitude and your deepest grief!

Let me feel again in my soul
the sadness of your eyes and the abandonment of your heart!

On the road of my life I do not want
to taste the joy of Bethlehem,
adoring the infant Jesus in your virginal arms.
I do not want to enjoy the dear presence of Jesus Christ
in your humble house of Nazareth.

Nor do I wish to unite myself
with the choir of angels
in your glorious Assumption!

In my life I want the jeers
and the derision of Calvary;
I want the slow agony of your Son,
the contempt, the ignominy,
the infamy of the Cross.

My wish, O Sorrowful Virgin,
is to stand beside you, to strengthen my spirit through your tears,
to consume my sacrifice through your martyrdom,
to sustain my heart with your solitude,
to love my God and your God
through the immolation of my whole being.

Through the intercession of Blessed Miguel Pro, I pray for the miracle of complete healing and restoration of my body by the healing virtue of Christ the King.

I stand in grave need of your prayers, gentle reader, and I beg you to pray to the Lord for my healing through the intercession of Blessed Miguel Pro. God be praised.

+Laus Deo!

Humility and Prayer

I have thought a great deal this last week about the treasury of prayer found in the collects of the Church. They do what most of us would like to do when we pray: address God, confident that He is listening, recalling some aspect of the life of Jesus and the Sacred Scriptures and relating those to a need that we have, and finally offering up the prayer in God's Name and to the Glory of the Holy Trinity. Below are 2 collects I treasure and pray often throughout the year, one for Palm Sunday and the other usually paired with Maundy Thursday in Holy Week and every Thursday each week of the year:

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us so to reverence the Holy Mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever know within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

+Laus Deo.

Take Courage, Take Heart

I left the following as a comment on Vultus Christi, Father Mark Daniel Kirby's blog, and thought it was worth repeating here:

Courage, dear brothers and sisters! Even if our Holy Father Pope Benedict were the only light in the darkness, that darkness cannot overcome that light nor can it diminish it. And in addition to our Holy Father there remain among the clergy and religious many brilliant lights burning with the glory of Heaven. Think for a moment of those lights and the lights among the laity and how the darkness can never overcome the Light of Christ all over this beautiful and troubled world. Father Mark is one of these great lights, and even though some of us may feel like a dimly burning wick, Christ promises never to put out even a dimly burning wick. Remember, the darkness cannot diminish even a dimly burning wick.

Let us shine before the Lord with His Light, and let us do so in confidence. And everywhere we go let us leave the encouragement of the Holy Ghost with friend and stranger, priest and pauper, bishop and Pope!

O Christ our Light, the one true Eternal Flame, behold thy Bride the Church, surrounded and assaulted, infiltrated and distressed, and visit Her with the radiance of thy Holy Face that all darkness and every evil be cast out from Her good company of faithful people, devout religious and her anointed priests so that She be ready at thy soon-appearing with lamps alight and hearts raised up; for thy tender mercies' sake. Amen.

+Laus Deo

When You in Silence Speak

God, do You hear our prayers

God, do You hear our prayers
Or answer what we pray?
Sometimes it feels as if we are alone today.
So now we seek to understand
Your silence and Your outstretched hand.

Waiting is not our strength
While fears or anger rise.
When illness strikes or when one of our people dies,
Our hearts are stirred by loss and grief,
And hope seems stolen by a thief.

Yet what we learned we know
And here we must proclaim
That no disaster breaks the power of that great Name
Of Jesus Christ who has endured
All that we suffered or deserved.

When You in silence speak
Help us then to rephrase
Our prayers and pattern them to follow Jesus' ways.
So now we dare as did Your Son
to pray Your perfect will be done.

Words: Copyright © 2001 by Vincent Uher.

Tune: 'LOVE UNKNOWN' by John Ireland

Meter: 66 66 44 44

Please feel free to use this in your parish or congregation reprinting it as I have written it and with my copyright notice. Also, feel free to share it with others who may find it helpful in the face of a disaster or a personal tragedy. I only ask that the text be reproduced in its entirety with my copyright. May the Lord bless us all with His peace.

+Laus Deo.

A Hymn of Humble Access

In the Anglican traditional Liturgy, the Prayer of Humble Access has gone through various revisions (as well as outright substistution with a fine contemporary prayer: 'Most merciful Lord, your love compels us to come in. Our hands were unclean, our hearts were unprepared ...' -- a fine prayer that deserves use in the future formularies of the Anglican Ordinariates within the Roman Catholic Communion). This prayer of approach to the sacred mysteries is defining for the Anglican spirit as well as the Anglican patrimony.

Drawing inspiration from said Prayer of Humble Access, I decided to write a few hymn-texts to explore the themes of the prayer as well as other catholic particulars in Anglo-Catholic eucharistic theology. My intention was for this first hymn to be sung as the People came forward to kneel and receive the Sacrament. I believe within Roman Catholic use it could be sung as well by the assembly after all have received the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The text I post below became known as my Hymn of Humble Access although it is only the first of seven hymns inspired by that great prayer of priest and people. It has always been sung to 'ENGELBERG', but I encourage composers to consider it for a new tune. In publishing the text here, my hope is to share it with all Christians who would like to use it, and so I grant permission for Christian parishes or congregations to reproduce it without alteration and including my Copyright. May Christ bless the reading and singing of this hymn:

A Hymn of Humble Access

Lord, we do not presume to come to thee
As equals or as those of high degree,
But on our knees we cry and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

Great is our Lord who heals the broken heart,
Who saves the weak and bids us do our part
To conquer evil and God's love impart.
Alleluia!

Lord Jesus Christ, we know the time is near
For that great day when thou wilt soon appear.
By thy good Spirit help us persevere.
Alleluia!

O help us grow in living faith and grace
Until we see thy Mercy face to face,
And with thy Saints in Glory take our place.
Alleluia!

Words: Copyright © 1995 by Vincent Uher. All rights reserved.
Tune: Engelberg
Metre: 10 10 10 with Alleluia

+Laus Deo.