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Thursday, July 31, 2008

#122 -- Do I have to?

Make of it what you will: "Do I have to?"

1st August, Eve of our 20th Anniversary

1st August, Anniversary of the death of Saint Alphonsus 1787

Eve of the 20th Anniversary of our foundation

Saint Alphonsus, a Model of Hope in the Midst of Human Oppositions

Since the Son of God established His Church on earth at the price of His sufferings, He does nothing great here below without using the cross as an instrument.

Alphonsus, having been called by Him to found the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, could not escape this rule. Hence how fearfully he had to suffer in his difficult undertaking!

When his project became known, all Naples was let loose against him; he was treated as a visionary, a fanatic, a deluded person, he was even proclaimed from the pulpit as a deplorable example of the fatal illusion of a victim of pride and presumption.

The assaults he had to undergo from his family and his friends were still more bitter to him. His father, a venerable old man, held him pressed to his bosom for three whole hours, speaking most tenderly to keep him in the paternal mansion.

The Propaganda of Naples, to which he belonged, called a meeting of the members against him, and with unexampled animosity unanimously expelled him, and even deprived him of his benefice. What shocks were these to his heart! But his confidence in God supported him against all human attacks and persecutions.
To cap the climax of his humiliations, he saw himself abandoned by his first companions; and this aggravated the public feeling against him. And, indeed, did not such an event seem to justify the public opposition to his project? Did not even God seem to take sides with his adversaries? Alphonsus needed all the faith of Abraham, to keep up his hope in this circumstance. “God does not need me,” he wrote to his director, (who was then also wavering,) “but I stand in need of God.”

He did even more; at the very height of his troubles, he pushed his heroism so far as to oblige himself by vow to continue the work he had begun, were he to remain alone to do it. This was the decisive point; his confidence was soon rewarded by the arrival of new companions.

Pray for the Eve of our 20th AnniversaryO my God, through the intercession of St. Alphonsus, impart to us that strength of will, which continues to hope in Thee in apprehensions, confusion and the vain terrors of human respect. May the remembrance of Thee be our support, and alone suffice to preserve our courage and serenity amid criticisms, persecutions, derisions and calumnies. “We have hope as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm.”

The above text and prayer were composed by

The Servant of God

Fr. Louis Bronchain, C.SS.R.

1829-1892

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A link to Bishop Von Kettler (1811 - 1877)

His Holiness Pope Leo XIII

who esteemed

Bishop Von Kettler

In the interests of giving another aspect of the traditional understanding of religious liberty, we have added this essay on Religious Freedom to our Reference Links.

Wilhelm Emmanuel Von Ketteler

Bishop of Mainz (1811-1877)

Biographical Note
Regarded as the “pioneer” of modern Catholic social teaching, Von Ketteler’s thought has found expression in the great social encyclicals since his time. Pope Leo XIII refers to Von Ketteler as: “our great predecessor from whom I have learned" (Association Catholique, October 15, 1893, 428).

Introduction

We come now to the all important question whether religious freedom...is opposed to the principles of the Catholic Church. May Catholics who wish to remain true to the principles of their church concede to those of other religions such a position in the state? May Catholic rulers legally permit to their subjects such freedom of conscience without violating their own consciences? Can there be situations in which rulers are even bound in conscience to grant such freedom? Would not such a position be completely opposed to the way the Church operated in the Middle Ages?..... Continued here

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Links from Fr Clement Mary - Christchurch

I have deleted a good number of comments recently, written obviously by SSPX adherents or maybe even Sedevacantists. Since the announcement of our regularization with Rome the only attacks or at least sharply pointed questions have come purely from the aforementioned sources. If I respond to them, it may well be hailed (maybe by the very same people who pose the questions) as a sign that anyone who regularizes looks on the SSPX as Public Enemy No. 1. But if I say nothing, it will quite possibly be taken as admission of defeat and and as such trumpted abroad on various internet forums. Another of the difficulties with these questions is that the questioners give the impression of being unaware of the very existence of even the most basic counter arguments to their underlying assumptions. I think the best solution to this is to refer people to some other blogs that already deal with such questions in a very thorough manner. I don't neccessarily agree with absolutley all that is expressed on the new links I have posted, but recommend them for an intelligent discussion of all things connected with Tradition. Rorate Caeli and What Does The Prayer Really Say need no introduction I hope. The Gregorian Rite has amongst its writers Dr. Brian Kopp, one of the founders of the now notorious Angel Queen forum, but who writes in support of the Bendictine reforms. The Sensible Bond is written by Dr. Brian Sudlow, the English translator of Bishop Tissier de Mallerais' biography of Archbishop Lefebvre. He has subsequently modified his views on the SSPX and writes strong but certainly intelligent posts on the subject. I hope the education these links provide will cut down the number of unnecessarily crude and provocative questions I receive.

Posted by Father Clement at 9:37 AM

Friday, July 25, 2008

WELCOME - WELCOME - WELCOME

Ginger and I are so excited about this new blog. We really made it for you and for our other blogging buddies. This is a place where we can meet every week to share our inspirational/spiritual thoughts. The first weekend in August will be our first time to have Mr. Linky up so that you can share. We will have Mr. Linky on the post each Saturday by 12:00 pm Mountain Time. We are calling it

#121 - solace

In what do you find solace? What place is solace for you? Where do you go in yourself or outside of yourself when you need comfort or consolation? Why do you seek solace? What does it mean for you?