The Latin Mass is Not Going Away No, the Latin Mass is not going away anytime soon. I say, this, by the way, not as a regular attendee of the pre-Vatican II liturgy. In fact, I've participated in a pre-Vatican II liturgy at most three times over the past nine years. My point is, I'm … Continue reading The Latin Mass is Not Going Away
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Hidden Treasure: “Kyrie” From Wanhal’s Missa Pastoralis
Wanhal and his beautiful compositions are indeed hidden treasure. Thanks to the work of the Wanhal Association and others, Wanhal's beautiful work, both sacred and secular, is slowly making its way back into public view.
Endowed by Their Creator
The Publication of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, marks the formal beginning of a great experiment. As Alexander Hamilton put it a decade later during the debate over adopting the new constitution, the question was whether free men, exercising “reflection and choice,” were up to the job.
Communion with Christ vs Virtual Community
The point is that the Church doesn't exist as a community for the sake of the community itself, it exists to bring us into communion with the Trinitarian God. Even fundamentally good and essential communities such as the family can't do that.
Monteverdi’s ‘Nisi Dominus’: Arrows in the Hand of a Warrior
Nisi Dominus: Unless the Lord Builds the House . . . Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was probably the most important composer in the transition from Renaissance Polyphony to Baroque. This beautiful piece from his Vespers composition, Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610), is a musical setting for Psalm 127 (sometimes listed as Psalm 126). This particular psalm (printed … Continue reading Monteverdi’s ‘Nisi Dominus’: Arrows in the Hand of a Warrior
When Our Priest is a Communist (To Whom Shall We Go?) Part II
Our culture has become toxic, and it is actively hostile to Christian belief and practice. Not only that, the toxicity has infected a large part of the institutional Church. What can we do if leaving the Catholic Church itself is not an option?
St. John Fisher, the Bishops, and Abortion
St. John Fisher St. John Fisher gave up his life on this date in 1535. He died because he would not subordinate the moral authority of the Church to the demands of the secular state. I'll have more to say about today's saint in a moment. First, let's take a moment to discuss the demands … Continue reading St. John Fisher, the Bishops, and Abortion
To Whom Shall We Go (When Our Priest Is A Communist)? Part I
To Whom Shall We Go? "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68) Your parish priest? We live in scary times. It looks like our secular institutions in the West are collapsing, with mob rule on the rise. "Mob rule" really means, of course, a tyranny of the elite … Continue reading To Whom Shall We Go (When Our Priest Is A Communist)? Part I
A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ
A Thorny Problem A thorny problem indeed. It’s so hard for us truly to accept that the Infinite God of the Universe could fully inhabit a human body, and be both True God and True Man. I was often reminded of just how thorny a problem this is for us when I used to discuss the … Continue reading A Thorny Problem: the Body and Blood of Christ
St. Philip the Deacon: Serving Tables and Serving the Lord
St. Philip the Deacon Serving tables was just a start for St. Philip and the other deacons. Today (6 June) is the feast of one of the stars of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Philip the Deacon. In addition to "the Deacon," he also bears the name St. Philip the Evangelist. We should not … Continue reading St. Philip the Deacon: Serving Tables and Serving the Lord