Happy Birthday to me, Happy birthday to me.... (you know the tune)

Not much blogging today. Off to the mountains.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 10:13 AM link

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Catholic Journalists

I was not going to say anything about this. I thought it was ill-advised. Franklin Graham, on tour to promote his new book, makes headlines by saying that Muslims haven't adequately apologized for Sept. 11 Attacks.

What gets me writing is that now known Catholic journalists are jumping on the bandwagon. Rod Dreher approvingly provides a link to William F. Buckley’s comments.

There is something odd about Franklin Graham's statement, and on the seeming approval these Catholic journalists provide for it.

It sounds as if they are expecting the Muslim Faith to act like the Catholics, like there is a central authority. Like there is a common faith.

Even Franklin Graham does not believe that about the Christian Faith. He represents one of the thousands of different groups who think that they can interpret the Christian Scripture for themselves without a central Authority.

There is no central Muslim Authority. There is no authoritative Muslim voice that CAN say that this was an aberration of Muslim teaching. THAT is the problem.

What Franklin said was irresponsible for a Christian minister and uncharitable. How does he know? Has he listened to all the Imams throughout the world? Or was he speaking only of Muslim political leaders?

And for the Catholic Journalists: knowing that they are Catholic colors my thinking when I read them. I expect more. I expect critical thinking. They should have known that what Franklin was asking for was impossible to measure or discover. They are all attacking the wrong problem.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 9:38 PM link

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lazy day

Slept in.
Liturgy of Hours.
Prepared Breakfast.
Took a walk.
Read the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Answered some questions on OneRock.com.
Got my tool kit out and began making a rosary.
Read a Chapter out of Colacino’s book.
Midday prayer
Prepared Lunch
Took a walk.

It is a restful, peaceful day, not as hot as previous days. Prayer included remembrance of those dealing with floods in Europe and the devastating monsoons in Asia. A CompuServe Poll reveals that most correspondents think we owe them no assistance.

I am enjoying vacation. My sister is driving up to spend tomorrow with me. She wants to make sure that I am given an appropriate bad time on my 49th birthday tomorrow. I just spoke with her by cell phone. She has already purchased two birthday cards for next year!!! Anyway she is stuck in traffic right now which is appropriate penance, I suppose.

Computer is playing a CD of Boccherini Guitar Quintets.
Ok, back to making rosaries and answering OneRock questions.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 7:47 PM link

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Low Mass Mentality

Excellent post over at Fr. Jim Tucker's Blog. on the Low Mass mentality. This is one of the reasons I sing the liturgy on Sundays whenever possible. As a Parish priest I would sing the mass on Easter, Christmas and major solemnities, but now, upon further reflection, I see its importance more often on Sundays. Thanks to Fr. Jim for a great reflection.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 1:36 AM link

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Rant Mode On...

It is always a dangerous thing to be participating in liturgy in a different parish on vacation or other journeys. Last summer we were pleasantly surprised in Italy on arriving in the parish in Florence and discovering they were singing the parts of the Mass in Latin in a setting that I knew by heart. After two weeks, participating in the Mass in Italian was getting easier and easier, but this particular celebration had made us feel right at home.

Today was another story.

The music ministers at St. Theresa Parish in South Lake Tahoe, CA make it a practice of trampling on the liturgy with their music.

Music is integral to the Liturgy. It is not an add-on, nor supposed to be entertainment. Music is at the service of the liturgy, enabling those participating to raise their voices in praise and worship. At St. Theresa Parish, musical prayer is not for visitors.

Most egregious was the psalm, which began immediately after the “Thanks be to God.” There was no time for even a breath, let alone a moment of silence. It was sung so fast it was barely intelligible. Parts of it indicated that it might be the same text in the missalette. The Alleluia was sung to a melody I had never heard before.

The Kyrie, the Gloria, the Holy, Holy, the Memorial acclamation, the Great Amen, and the Lord’s Prayer and the Lamb of God were all sung to unknown tunes accompanied on the piano that sounded like it belonged at one of the local casinos. I spent part of the liturgy looking through the Mass settings in the back of their parish hymnal to see if I could find the music. The only numbers posted on the ugly hymn boards on either side of the sanctuary only had the opening and closing hymns. There was nothing about the music that made it memorable, and try as I might I could not sing it. I am able to read music and would have been able to sing along if I could have found it.

I asked the musicians after Mass if the Mass parts were in their hymnal. They were not. Since this parish is in a tourist area I asked if they had made any accommodation for visitors. Their answer was that their parishioners knew the music and that it was too expensive to print up copies for visitors.

I was surprised that I was able to remain cordial. The lack of hospitality evident in their ministry was incredible.

The priest was the one bright spot in this liturgy. He explained that he was ordained one month ago and apologized for his accent. He presided at Mass carefully and looked ruffled only when the musicians cut him off twice and prevented him completing his lines. He read a short homily to us very carefully, making it clear that English was not his first language. The Homily was excellent and to the point. His accent did not make it difficult to hear him, and there was nothing I misunderstood about what he was saying. Since I travel a great deal I often find myself visiting different parishes and seeing a variety of priests preside at Eucharist. This is the first time in over a year that I have heard a Eucharistic prayer prayed exactly as it is from the Missal, without amendment or change. He was the means which made it a peaceful, prayerful Eucharist in spite of the intrusive musicians.

Daily mass at this parish has been fine, but today, for this feast, the music made it uncomfortable. My only regret is that I did not bring bread and wine on this trip and will be forced to “celebrate” with these musicians again on Sunday.

Rant Mode off.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 5:38 PM link

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A Women Clothed with the Sun

And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.

…And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein!


Remarks on today's first reading from John Paul II:

From this picture we learn three great things about this community of God and about Mary, the Model of the Church.

First, it was from Mary and from the Church that Christ came; and from Mary and from the Church Christ has still to come for those who have never known him.

Second, there are forces of evil, spiritual and human, which are set on the destruction of the community of God.

Third, however strong the opposition against it and however sore its sufferings, the community of God is under the protection of God and, therefore, it can never be ultimately destroyed.

In Mary and through Mary the situation of humanity and of the world has been reversed, and we have in some way re-entered into the splendor of the first creation. Mary was the instrument that linked Jesus to the whole of humanity

By the incarnation the Son of God united himself with every human being, thus elevating human nature to an incomparable dignity, and drawing the body of Christ, the Church into intimate communion with God.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 4:28 PM link

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from St. Gaspar

Let us remember that the most holy Virgin is the aqueduct of divine mercy, our advocate and, after Jesus, our hope and our protection.
from Letter No. 65 to Countess Lucrezia Ginnasi, May 10, 1813

I have entrusted our congregation and its members to Mary most holy. From heaven, she will see to its protection and will bless it lovingly.
from Letter No. 122 to Msgr. Bellisario Cristaldi, August 27, 1815

The love of Jesus Christ that I nourish for you urges me to have you participate in the delightful consolations that the Lord has given to me during the missions in Umbria which I completed today. I attribute everything to the efficacy of the Blood of Jesus Christ, the prayers of most holy Mary and St. Francis Xavier, my most beloved protector.
from Letter No. 293 to Msgr. Bellisario Christaldi, June 5, 1820

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 4:13 PM link

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August 15, 1815

From a talk by Andrew J. Pollack, C. PP.S.

Finally his companions arrived: Don Gaetano Bonanni, Don Adriano Giampedi, and Don Vincenzo Tani. Fr. Bonanni describes it this way in a letter to Fr. Gonelli: "We arrived in Giano at 7:30 (on the 11th) on Friday. Immediately we went to San Felice ... The priests, the religious, and the representatives of the people came out to meet us. We sang the Te Deum in the church, and then each one went to his room, which our procurator (Gaspar) had prepared as well as could be done, if you consider the limitations of time and money. We place all our confidence in the Providence of God, because we need a lot of things. It is enough to point out that we are in a house that has not been lived in for many years. Nevertheless, I find my delights here, because here are solitude and a field open to do much good for souls. Already we have had requests for missions which we can't accept before we put our house in order. . "St. Gaspar gives a similar account in a letter to Cristaldi and adds: " ... I listened to each of them as they gave an account of their trip. ... On the following morning we began the exact observance of the rules which for the greater part you know, so I won't go through them. The beautiful life of the holy youth Venerable Berchmans serves as table reading. ...

A Triduum in the form of a retreat was conducted in preparation for the Feast of the Assumption. On the feast day itself, the confessions of the men began before daybreak. Devout processions, singing litanies, wound their way to San Felice from the neighboring hamlets. The very great number of people who received Holy Communion exceeded the number at the annual Triduum in honor of the patron saint (Felix), St. Gaspar wrote to Cristaldi. He continues: "We heard confessions until more than an hour after midday. It was a spiritual pleasure to see the penitents steadily streaming to the confessional, and it took some effort to keep order. Two neighboring priests who helped were not enough. ... Some people ate their dinner out in the field, and I'm told that some made something like a picnic out of it, which was not exactly what we were sponsoring, but then there was no disturbance at all. After dinner there was a solemn service which included a sermon on the blessed Mother and a solemn Te Deum, and concluded with the kissing of the holy relic, which I thought would never end. ... We have introduced a holy routine for the church and the house, which the members of our other places will be able to follow. May God continue to bless this holy institution, long desired and finally established. You certainly worked hard to establish a source of good for the greater glory of God. ..." It was very significant that the formal establishment of the Society of the Precious Blood, by means of the formal opening of its first House, took place on the feast of Assumption of Our Lady. The Assumption was the climax of that more perfect redemption granted the Virgin Mary which began with her Immaculate Conception - all in view of the foreseen merits of the Blood of Jesus.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 4:02 PM link

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The Bishops Need Help

Sources here and here are reporting that the Vatican has rejected the Charter the Bishops adopted at their June meeting. So it is back to the drawing table. I may post some thoughts on this later tonight.

Hey, I thought today was to be a day of prayer and penance by the Bishops, but I could find notice of it nowhere. I have seen it mentioned in a few blogs, but it is not even on the bishop’s website.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 8:17 PM link

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Blogging from the heights

Well, there is a phone here, and a local dial-up connection was available so here I am. It is a good thing I can get on-line pretty easily because I could not find a decent newspaper this morning.

South Lake Tahoe is a pretty bustling city especially when you get to the Nevada side with the casinos. I am in a little cabin tucked into the woods about a ten minute drive from all that. I did take one of the ski gondolas up into the higher elevations today, but the temperature and the elevation kept my hiking to a minimum. The elevation is 9200 feet and it takes a while to get used to the thin air. I did get a good picture of a chipmunk. The cabin is at 6200 feet and it has its share of chipmunks, squirrels and other critters to keep me company.

So I may do some blogging this week after all.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 6:52 PM link

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Vacation

I am heading more and more into Vacation mode. I ended up purchasing two more books yesterday so I have some more choices. As soon as the laundry is done, I am going to pack my bag and head off to Lake Tahoe for seven days of quiet. There are no phone lines in the cabin, so blogging will depend on how strong my cell phone signal is. And if the choice is blogging or walking in the mountains, I believe the mountains will win out.

Here are the books I am taking along:

“Making Senses Out of Scripture” by Mark Shea
“The Twelve Prophets” by Marvin A Sweeney
“Homecoming” by John Bradshaw
“The Truth of Catholicism” by George Weigel
“Shaken by Scandals” edited by Paul Thigpen
“The Sources of Gasparian Spirituality” by John Colacino, C.PP.S.

I finished "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. That was an easy read, and very uplifting and disturbing at the same time. The plight of the working poor becomes very clear, and the inherent injustices we take for granted are very disturbing. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Blessings to all! I will be back to a regular phone line on August 19.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 1:42 PM link

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A Recipe

Take the root of faith
the leaves of hope
the rose of charity
the violet of humility
the lily of purity
the absinthe of contrition
the myrrh of mortification
the wood of the Cross

tie them all together in a small packet with the thread of resignation,

put them on to boil by the fire of divine love
held in the urn of prayer,
with the mystic wine of holy joy,
and mineral water of temperance,
securely covered with the lid of silence;

let it stand thus for the morning in the serenity
of meditation;

take a cup of it in the morning and in the evening,
and you will enjoy spiritual health.

From a letter of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, to D. Pietro Spina on June 19, 1825.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 1:38 PM link

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