"The Book of Gomorrah" --Saint Peter Damian

Saint Peter Damian (Ravenna 1007 - Faenza February 21, 1072), Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church

Saint Peter, Prior of Fonte-Avellana (1043 -), wrote a famous Letter to Pope Saint Leo IX, "Liber Gomorrhianus," denouncing the homosexual corruption of the Church.

N.B. that the feast days (OF/EF) of Saint Peter Damian, confessor of the faith against homosexualism, sandwich the Feast of the Chair of Peter.

By divine providence both feasts fall during the episcopal summit on abuse which refuses to censure the Church homosexualism which is the center of today's moral crisis of the Church. The "abuse of minors" is just one of the symptoms of that homosexualist clerical corruption. Doctrinal error is another.

Below is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio with a 4-minute video on Saint Peter Damian in which he neglects to mention the homosexualism so strongly condemned by the Church Doctor and Confessor, Saint Peter. Remember that the most common doctrinal error of the homosexualist is doctrinal error by omission; he omits the doctrines he should teach, when he should teach them. Sodoclericalism! Heresy includes the denial by omission of any doctrine central to the faith.

Do not shrink from denouncing homophilia in all its forms. Be as bold in condemning homophilia as the homophiles are in promoting it! You will be censured as an homophobe by the homophile.

"And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." Matthew 10:22

McCarrick Condemnation Irregularities

A McCarrick verdict cannot be tidy.
It has all the appearances of a scapegoat trial. The process itself smacks of cover-up.

I don't like the secrecy of it. This case should be totally transparent especially given the testimony of Archbishop Viganò which implicates Pope Francis himself under the McCarrick sphere of influence. McCarrick campaigned for the 2013 election of Bergoglio and Bergoglio rehabilitated McCarrick soon thereafter.

1. In the McCarrick trial, who decided what and on what evidence and what were the laws and legal precedents and protocols that were followed?

2. Why is McCarrick silent through it all? It seems to me that everyone should hear from him.

3. Why not a public trial in such a publicly notorious crime?

4. Some people are calling for the repentance and conversion of Theodore McCarrick. Given the public nature of the offense, it would be most fitting for Theodore McCarrick himself to make a public apology beginning in the places where he famously carried out his crimes.

5. McCarrick's biggest crime was manifest to many inside and outside the Church: that which "everybody knew" for decades, the unsoundness of his moral doctrine (e.g. he famously opposed Cardinal Ratzinger on sacrilegious communion to politicians in obstinate, manifest mortal sin) and his very questionable moral life openly posing as a homosexual (notoriously, he habitually shared his bed with adult seminarians in the presence of many witnesses). His crime was homosexualism or "sodoclericalism." The Vatican trial and condemnation has brought no light to that or to the great scandal of the promotion/rehabilitation of McCarrick who was notoriously doctrinally and morally unsound. Who knew what and when and still promoted this man?

This type of procedure seems obscurantist. The Catholic faithful and the faithful clergy have a right to know much more in this case of great scandal to the faith and moral life of the Church.

N.B. Below Father Raymond de Souza mentions some of the canonical irregularities of the McCarrick case.

FEB. 19, 2019
Theodore McCarrick: Some Noteworthy Points to Consider
National Catholic Register: Commentary
Father Raymond J. de Souza

Vatican sources were feverishly leaking over the last weeks that former cardinal Theodore McCarrick would soon be former archbishop, former priest and former cleric Mr. Ted McCarrick. Nevertheless, it remains startling now that it has happened.

So many aspects of McCarrick being dismissed from the clerical state — the “death penalty” for clerics in canon law — are noteworthy:

• It seems incredible that McCarrick is now forbidden to celebrate Holy Mass. The one who presided over grand and humble celebrations of the Eucharist for more than 60 years is no longer permitted to do so. I had only a few encounters with McCarrick over the years, but I did witness his habit of getting up before dawn to celebrate Mass in the private chapel at the North American College in Rome. On one occasion I arrived to set up the chapel for Cardinal Avery Dulles at 7am, and McCarrick had long finished and had returned — not knowing if anyone had been assigned — to put out the cruets and books for Cardinal Dulles.
• McCarrick may no longer act as a priest and no longer belongs to the clerical state, according to canon law, but he is still a priest. The priesthood, like baptism, is irrevocable. A priest can no more be unordained than the Eucharist can be unconsecrated. It’s important not to forget our theology of the priesthood, even if some priests neglect to act in accord with it. And McCarrick is a priest forever, so while it is likely that we will never see him again on earth, we may yet still see him in eternity. As for all priests, his priesthood there will be to his added benediction in heaven or his added malediction in hell.
• Prayers for victims are perhaps easier to offer. But prayers — as the Lord Jesus and St. Stephen teach us — are for the perpetrators, too. Prayers that Ted McCarrick might end up in the Good Thief section of heaven might be difficult but are sound. It was the Good Thief who was the first one home.
• Bishops were quick to express the hope that McCarrick’s “defrocking” might lead to a measure of justice and reconciliation for his victims. Certainly, as the punishment of law is meant to effect justice and repair the damage to the common good; but it should have been noted that the sentence is also aimed at persuading McCarrick — if he has not already done so — to repent and to receive the mercy of God before he dies. There is nothing to hide anymore, no appearances to keep up, no fear of losing human respect, no earthly consequences to avoid — all these things can keep us from sacramental absolution and restoration to sanctifying grace.
• The mercy McCarrick needs is great, for his sins were great. The gravest was “solicitation in the sacrament of confession,” which means using the sacrament for the purpose of sexual activity. It is a grave sacrilege, and even worse than sexual abuse alone, for it offends against the holiness of God, who acts in the sacraments through the priest. And if — understandably — such abuse should dissuade the victim from approaching the confessional again in future when in need, it can be an obstacle to sanctifying grace for the victim, too.
• On the eve of the Vatican’s sexual-abuse summit, the McCarrick matter showed that the Church is still learning how to speak as the Church about sexual abuse, using the proper categories of sin and grace, betrayal and sacrilege, penance and redemption, contrition and conversion. Healing and justice are necessary to be sure, but they are natural categories. The Church has a supernatural mission and should be comfortable speaking about it. That does not diminish the suffering of victims; to the contrary, it exacerbates the gravity of the offense against them.
• Yes, the verdict was announced on the eve of the summit. The process was rushed in an unseemly manner to get a timely announcement. Justice, especially canonical justice, especially in an area where canonical norms have so often been ignored, should not be rushed or manipulated for public-relations purposes. Now that we know the timeline, it is clear that the McCarrick process, though undoubtedly reaching a just conclusion, did not proceed in a normal manner. Vatican sources were leaking that he would be dismissed from the clerical state before a decision had been taken. Verdict first; trial later.
• Consider that the Archdiocese of New York was still taking evidence from McCarrick’s victims after Christmas. The congresso of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) concluded the process and decreed the penalty on Jan. 11, less than two weeks later. McCarrick was notified of the verdict and given a chance to appeal, which was heard and dismissed on Feb. 13, one month later. The Holy Father then confirmed the decision either the same day or the next, McCarrick was informed on Feb. 15, and the world was told the next day. Has the CDF ever handled a case like that before? Even when an outcome is clear, it is still possible to rush to judgment. Rushing to judgment to generate positive headlines is a different version of the problem with how sexual abuse was mishandled in the first place: the priority of public image over application of law.
• Priests whose cases languish for months or years in the Roman Curia might wonder if there really is the same law for all. “No bishop, no matter how influential, is above the law of the Church,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a statement upon the verdict. Not exactly. It was precisely the prelates of the Roman Curia who bent the penal process to their needs for an announcement before the world’s journalists arrive for the summit later this week. That the powerful get to direct the course of justice is not the road to authentic reform.
• The news for the Archdiocese of Washington was not entirely bleak. To have a former archbishop laicized is rare indeed. But it is also rare to have a former vicar general elevated to camerlengo (chamberlain) of the Holy Roman Church, one of only two Curial officials who continue in office after the Holy See becomes vacant. Cardinal Kevin Farrell was given the prestigious post Thursday, the day between McCarrick’s appeal was denied and his notification of the same. Cardinal Farrell served as McCarrick’s vicar general in Washington for six years and as Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s vicar general for one year. Both Cardinals Wuerl and Farrell have repeatedly denied that they knew anything about McCarrick’s misconduct. Cardinal Wuerl was not entirely precise in his denials.
• The review of the McCarrick dossiers in New York; Metuchen and Newark, New Jersey; and Washington must be moving along more quickly than thought. After all, it would be unimaginably foolish to appoint Cardinal Farrell to the post of camerlengo unless it was already known that he came out clean in the Washington review. The appointment must mean the review is complete and shortly will be published, another important step in the resolution of the McCarrick matter.

Father Raymond J. de Souza is the editor in chief of Convivium magazine.

Cf. Vatican petition to end homosexualism in the Church.
N.B. Anniversary of Veterum sapientia, the forgotten Apostolic Constitution on the need for Latin.

Bishops Must Reject "Conspiracy of Silence!"

Open Letter to the Presidents of the Conferences of Bishops

Dear Brothers, Presidents of the Conferences of Bishops,

We turn to you with deep distress!

The Catholic world is adrift, and, with anguish, the question is asked: Where is the Church going?

Before the drift in process, it seems that the difficulty is reduced to that of the abuse of minors, a horrible crime, especially when it is perpetrated by a priest, which is, however, only part of a much greater crisis. The plague of the homosexual agenda has been spread within the Church, promoted by organized networks and protected by a climate of complicity and a conspiracy of silence. The roots of this phenomenon are clearly found in that atmosphere of materialism, of relativism and of hedonism, in which the existence of an absolute moral law, that is without exceptions, is openly called into question.

Sexual abuse is blamed on clericalism. But the first and primary fault of the clergy does not rest in the abuse of power but in having gone away from the truth of the Gospel. The even public denial, by words and by acts, of the divine and natural law, is at the root of the evil that corrupts certain circles in the Church.

In the face of this situation, Cardinals and Bishops are silent. Will you also be silent on the occasion of the meeting called in the Vatican for this coming February 21st?

We are among those who in 2016 presented to the Holy Father certain questions, dubia, which were dividing the Church in the wake of the conclusions of the Synod on the Family. Today, those dubia have not only not had any response but are part of a more general crisis of the Faith. Therefore, we encourage you to raise your voice to safeguard and proclaim the integrity of the doctrine of the Church.

We pray to the Holy Spirit, that He may assist the Church and bring light to the Pastors who guide her. A decisive act now is urgent and necessary. We trust in the Lord Who has promised: “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Mt 28,20).

Walter Cardinal Brandmüller
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

Expose and Depose the Homophiles Who are Running the Church, at Every Level! THE VIGANO PLAN

The Wickedness of the Human Heart and Need for Mortification

In the OF reading from today's Mass we have the Genesis 8:21 pronouncement of God which, in the Douay-Rheims translation reads:

"And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done."

God was appeased by the divine worship of  Noah who built an altar and offered animal sacrifices to God after the universal flood.

In the Basic Catechism we read about the dangers of our inclination to evil from our youth and the need for self-denial in order to combat it, in order to be saved.

Q. 342. Has Jesus Christ given us another great rule [besides the rule of life always to hate sin and to love God, and to love our enemies]?

Jesus Christ has given us another great rule in these words: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

Q. 343. How are we to deny ourselves?

We are to deny ourselves by giving up our own will, and by going against our own humors, inclinations, and passions.

Q. 344. Why are we bound to deny ourselves?

We are bound to deny ourselves because our natural inclinations are prone to evil from our very childhood; and, if not corrected by self-denial, they will certainly carry us to hell.

Basic Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Washington, New Jersey: AMI Press, 1999.

Cf. Cilice.

The Sin of Sodom: The Dictatorship of Faggotry

Viganò

The sin of Sodom was not simply homosexual immorality but, what is more, the institutionalization of homosexuality: the toleration of it, the legitimizing and promoting of it, the forcing of everyone to accept it, and the violent crushing of any opposition to it. The sin of Sodom was homosexual rape, the homosexuals raped the angels of God, they sought to sodomize God Himself. Shall we call it the tyranny of faggotry?

Meanwhile the episcopal faggotry at the highest levels of the Catholic Church accordingly silently acquiesces. It won't dare name or denounce that obvious and ubiquitous crime of homosexual tyranny, even within the Church itself, and is thereby guilty thereof.

"[The two angels with Lot's family in his house] had not retired when the townsmen, the men of Sodom, all the people from every quarter, both young and old, surrounded the house, and called Lot, and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight? bring them out that we may abuse them..." Genesis 19:4-5

"...[T]he [two angel] visitors reached out their hands, and drew Lot back into the house with them, and closed the door. Those who were at the door of the house they struck with blindness, from the least to the greatest, so that they could not find the door. Then they said to Lot, 'Have you anyone else here?...[T]ake them out of the place; for we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against them has become so great before the Lord that he sent us to destroy it.'" 10-13

"The Lord poured down on Sodom and Gomorra sulphur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. He overthrew those cities and the whole region, all the inhabitants of the cities and the plants of the soil." 24-25



N.B. AP article on author Frederic Martel who himself identifies as homosexual.

Conscience and Right "The Ox-Bow Incident" (1943)

"There can't be any civilization unless people have a conscience."

And, "The Lonesome Valley"

3:18 minute

You gotta go to the lonesome valley,

You gotta go there by yo'self.

Nobody else can go for you.

You got to go there by yourself.

Oh, you gotta stand before your Maker,

You got to stand there by yourself.

Nobody can stand for you.

You gotta stand there for yourself.

You gotta ask the Lord forgiveness,

You gotta ask Him for yourself.

Nobody else can ask Him for you.

You got to ask Him for yourself.

You gotta go to the lonesome valley,

You gotta go there by yo'self.

Nobody else can go for you.

You got to go there by yourself.

Speaking of conscience, God, truth and justice, note that Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman is to be canonized. Deo gratias!

Mr. Theodore McCarrick Laicized: Official Vatican Statement

Daily Bulletin of the Vatican Press Office

February 16, 2019

On 11 January 2019, the Congresso of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the conclusion of a penal process, issued a decree finding Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., guilty of the following delicts while a cleric: solicitation in the Sacrament of Confession, and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with the aggravating factor of the abuse of power. The Congresso imposed on him the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state. On 13 February 2019, the Ordinary Session (Feria IV) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith considered the recourse he presented against this decision. Having examined the arguments in the recourse, the Ordinary Session confirmed the decree of the Congresso. This decision was notified to Theodore McCarrick on 15 February 2019. The Holy Father has recognized the definitive nature of this decision made in accord with law, rendering it a res iudicata (i.e., admitting of no further recourse).

Plinthos: The Church needs to rid herself of homosexualism, the VIGANO plan!

Viganò to the Bishops of the Upcoming Episcopal Summit: Fearlessly Demand Clarity on Appointments and Homosexuality

National Catholic Register

February 10, 2019

Thank you for inviting me to take part in this symposium on “Abuse and the Way to Healing” in anticipation of the upcoming bishops’ summit at the Vatican. My contribution will draw on my personal experience of 51 years of priesthood.

It is evident to all that a primary cause of the present terrible crisis of sexual abuse committed by ordained clergy, including bishops, is the lack of proper spiritual formation of candidates to the priesthood. That lack, in turn, is largely explained by the doctrinal and moral corruption of many seminary formators, corruption that increased exponentially beginning in the 1960s.

I entered a pontifical seminary in Rome and began my studies at the Gregorian University when I was 25 years old. It was 1965, just months before the end of Vatican II. I couldn’t help but notice, not only in my own college but also in many others in Rome, that some seminarians were very immature and that these houses of formation were marked by a general and very serious lack of discipline.

A few examples will suffice. Seminarians sometimes spent the night outside my seminary, as the supervision was woefully inadequate. Our spiritual director was in favor of priestly ordination ad tempus — the idea that ordained priesthood could be a merely temporary status.

At the Gregorian, one of the professors of moral theology favored situation ethics. And some classmates confided to me that their spiritual directors had no objection to their presenting themselves for priestly ordination despite their unresolved and continual grave sins against chastity.

Certainly, those who suffer from deep-seated same-sex attraction should never be admitted to seminary. Moreover, before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time, for if this is lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.

Bishops have the paramount responsibility for the formation of their candidates to the priesthood. Any bishop who has covered up abuse or seduction of minors, vulnerable adults or adults under a priest’s pastoral care, including seminarians, is not fit for that responsibility or for any episcopal ministry and should be removed from his office.

I am praying intensely for the success of the February summit. Although I would rejoice greatly if the summit were successful, the following questions reveal that there is no sign of a genuine willingness to attend to the real causes of the present situation:

Why will the meeting focus exclusively on the abuse of minors? These crimes are indeed the most horrific, but the crises in the United States and Chile that have largely precipitated the upcoming summit have to do with abuses committed against young adults, including seminarians, not only against minors. Almost nothing has been said about sexual misconduct with adults, which is itself a grave abuse of pastoral authority, whether or not the relationship was “consensual.”

Why does the word “homosexuality” never appear in recent official documents of the Holy See? This is by no means to suggest that most of those with a homosexual inclination are abusers, but the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of abuse has been inflicted on post-pubescent boys by homosexual clerics. It is mere hypocrisy to condemn the abuse and claim to sympathize with the victims without facing up to this fact honestly. A spiritual revitalization of the clergy is necessary, but it will be ultimately ineffectual if it does not address this problem.

Why does Pope Francis keep and even call as his close collaborators people who are notorious homosexuals? Why has he refused to answer legitimate and sincere questions about these appointments? In doing so he has lost credibility on his real will to reform the Curia and fight the corruption.

Viganò Coat of Arms

In my third testimony, I begged the Holy Father to face up to the commitments he himself made in assuming his office as Successor of Peter. I pointed out that he took upon himself the mission of confirming his brothers and guiding all souls in following Christ along the way of the cross. I urged him then, and I now urge him again, to tell the truth, repent, show his willingness to follow the mandate given to Peter and, once converted, to confirm his brothers (Luke 22:32).

I pray that the bishops gathered in Rome will remember the Holy Spirit, whom they received with the imposition of hands, and carry out their responsibility to represent their particular Churches by firmly asking for, and insisting on, an answer to the above questions during the summit.

Indeed, I pray that they will not return to their countries without proper answers to these questions, for to fail in this regard would mean abandoning their own flocks to the wolves and allowing the entire Church to suffer dreadful consequences.

Despite the problems I have described, I continue to have hope, because the Lord will never abandon his Church.

The Appointment and Tolerance of Bad Pastors is Contrary to the Law of the Church

Expose and Depose the Homophiles Who are Running the Church, at Every Level! THE VIGANO PLAN

Four Truths Necessary to Believe for Salvation

1. That God exists.
2. That God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
3. That there are three Persons in one God.
4. That the Son of God became Man and died for our salvation.

"Souls who depart this life in the state of original sin are excluded from the Beatific Vision of God. (De fide.)" Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Rockford: Tan, 1976, 112.

Cf. Barron and Shapiro

Septuagesima Sunday, February 17, 2019

Septuagesima Sunday   (Lat., seventieth), within the seventh decade, or space of 70 days, before Easter, marking [in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite] the beginning of the penitential season with the wearing of purple vestments and the omission of the Alleluia. In earlier days a part of the week was given to fasting and abstinence in preparation for the more rigid observance of Lent. Among the Greeks called Prodigal Son Sunday from the subject of the Gospel which they read on this day.--C.E.

The Catholic Encyclopedia Dictionary, New York: The Gilmary Society, 1929.

Musica Sacra 29th Sacred Music Colloquium

July 1 – 6, 2019
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Church Music Association of America is proud to invite you to celebrate with us as we hold our 29th Colloquium in 2019, to be held at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The CMAA’s Sacred Music Colloquium continues to be the largest and most in-depth teaching conference and retreat on sacred music in the world. Our 2019 program offers new and expanded opportunities for learning, singing, listening, and interacting with some of the best minds and musicians in the Catholic world today! All liturgies will be held at the Basilica.

The CMAA Colloquium is primarily focused on instruction and experience in chant and the Catholic sacred music tradition, participation in chant choirs, lectures and performances and daily liturgies. During the week, you’ll be able to participate in ordinary and extraordinary form Masses, in Latin, Latin/Spanish and English, Vespers, and daily sung morning and night prayer.

As a participant, you are an integral part of the beautiful music from the Roman Catholic tradition. Experience not only the traditional Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony of the church’s musical treasure, but also new compositions of English propers and ordinaries by various composers, as well as modern motets. For the second year, the Sacred Music Colloquium will also offer Mass in Spanish, with Spanish propers and a Latin Ordinary for our Thursday liturgy.

Highlights
Extensive training in Gregorian chant under a world-class faculty, with choices of a chant class for beginners, a refresher course for men and women, a course on chant improvisation, chant conducting, and schola chant courses for advanced men or women
Breakout sessions during the week on a variety of topics, from directing, organist breakouts, chant conducting, semiology, children’s programs, new music, vocal pedagogy among others
Plenary lectures on topics of interest to all who love sacred music
Choral experience with one of four choirs singing sacred music of the masters such as Palestrina, Faure, Michael Haydn, Guerrero, Morales, Hassler, Farrant, and others. You’ll learn with our gifted faculty, with choices of a beginning polyphony choir for those new to polyphony, and three choirs for more experienced singers.
Daily liturgies with careful attention to musical settings in English, Spanish and Latin
A gala welcome reception and dinner at the ballroom at the Wyeth Ballroom at the Sonesta Hotel
An optional evening event, “Chant on Tap”, with a lively panel discussion on the merits of Mocquereau vs. Cardine
Individual training in vocal production and technique
Training for priests, deacons, and seminarians in the sung Mass (not restricted to clergy and seminarians)
A Music Book, including chant and polyphony, as part of registration
Your own copy of The Parish Book of Chant, 2nd edition
Book sales from the CMAA warehouse. We offer discounts on our books to all attendees and an extra 10% discount to CMAA members.

Plenary Speakers
Tuesday, 10:30 am, July 2, 2019: TBD
Wednesday, 10:30 am, July 3, 2019: TBD
Thursday, 10:30 am, July 4, 2019: TBD

Faculty
Dr. Horst Buchholz, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
Mary Ann Carr-Wilson, San Diego, California
Peter Carter, Allentown, New Jersey
Charles Cole, Brompton Oratory, United Kingdom
Dr. Jennifer Donelson, St. Joseph Seminary (Dunwoodie), New York
Michael Garrepy, Harrisville, Rhode Island
Clara Gerdes, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
David Hughes, St. Mary, Norwalk, CT
Dr. Nathan Knutson, Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dr. Ann Labounsky, Duquesne University
Mark Loria, Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dr. William Mahrt, CMAA President, Stanford University
Dr. Timothy McDonnell, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Matthew J. Meloche, Cathedral of Ss. Simon and Jude, Phoenix, Arizona
Jeffrey Morse, Sacramento, California
Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam, Eastern Michigan University
Rev. Robert Pasley, Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Church, Berlin, NJ
William Riccio, West Haven, Connecticut
Dr. Edward Schaefer, University of Florida
Dr. Susan Treacy, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Florida
Biographical information about the Colloquium faculty


Organ Recital
We are very pleased that we will sponsor an organ recital by organist Clara Gerdes at Macy’s Department Store on the famous Wanamaker Organ on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 12:00 pm. Recitals at Macy’s on the Wanamaker Organ are open to the public. Address: Macy’s Center City, 1300 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Liturgies
Tues., July 2, 4:30 pm Mass, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul Votive of the Holy Angels (OF), English
Wed., July 3, 4:30 pm Mass, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul St. Thomas, Apostle (OF), English/Latin
Thurs., July 4, 4:30 pm Mass, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul Votive of the Blessed Virgin Mary (OF), Spanish / Latin
Fri., July 5, 4:30 pm Mass, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul Requiem (EF), Latin
Fri., July 5, 7:30 pm Vespers, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul (EF), Latin
Sat., July 6, 10:00 am Mass, Cathedral Basilica of Ss Peter and Paul Votive of Ss Peter and Paul, Apostles (EF), Latin

Instructions for Clergy and Seminarians

Please download this instruction page for clergy and seminarians regarding participation in the liturgies of the Colloquium.

Information regarding the vestment colors, as well as information regarding letters of good standing, are detailed in the instruction sheet.

If you have questions, please contact us at programs@musicasacra.com.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLERGY AND SEMINARIANS

Breakout sessions will be offered Tuesday – Friday on a range of various topics including:
Children’s Programs
Chant for Children
Ward Method
Organ Classes
Vocal Pedagogy
Clergy Training
New Music Series
Church Documents Series
Semiology
Gregorian Chant Modes
Chant Improvisation
Chant Analysis
Chant Conducting
… and more.

Chant Course Descriptions
Fundamentals for Men and Women (Director, Jennifer Donelson): This course in Gregorian chant is intended for real chant beginners: both those who can read modern notation and those with no musical training. Participants will learn how to read the four line staff, the names of the neumes, and how to navigate the intervals with solfege. Rhythm will be introduced. Course material will include the Ordinaries of the Mass and two Propers.

Refresher for Men and Women (Director, David Hughes): This course offers continued study in Gregorian chant and is intended for those who have had some background in chant but do not sing chant on a regular basis. This is a beginning to intermediate course whose primary aim, like the foundations course, will not be performance in liturgy. Participants will be responsible for singing the Ordinaries of the Mass and will be prepared to sing three chant Propers during the week.

Schola (two sections: Mary Ann Carr Wilson, Women; Charles Cole, Men): This course is intended for advanced singers who sing chant regularly. The two scholas (men, women) will be responsible for the bulk of the more difficult Mass Propers sung during the week.

Advanced Seminar on the Divine Office (Director, Edward Schaefer): This course is intended for advanced singers (both men and women) who wish to continue their studies of Gregorian chant. This class will focus on study rather than performance, including semiology. This choir will sing for Vespers.

Advanced Seminar on Chant Conducting (Director, Jeffrey Morse): This course is intended for advanced singers (both men and women) who wish to continue their studies of Gregorian chant, particularly on conducting. This class will also focus on study rather than performance. This choir will prepare two Mass Propers for liturgies during the week.

NOTE: Prerequisite for this choir is a solid understanding of the Solesmes rhythmic groupings in chant.

Polyphonic Choir Descriptions
Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam: Beginning Polyphonic Choir
This choir is designed to introduce and improve on the critical vocal and musical techniques necessary for singing polyphonic music. Singers will learn how to carry a part on their own, independent of other sections, and without accompaniment. Members of this choir will learn rhythm, pitch, and vocal production. The choir is designed for novice singers who would not yet benefit from a more advanced choir, but it might also be useful for directors who wish to see how a master goes about teaching inexperienced singers to make beautiful music. One piece is a part of this choir’s agenda: (forthcoming). This choir will sing at Mass on Saturday.

Dr. Timothy McDonnell
This choir will sing a selection of motets and polyphonic Mass ordinaries during the week, including motets by Faure, Isaac and a motet from Cancionero de Palacio, Mass parts for the Michael Haydn Requiem Mass and the Morales Missa Caça, as well as a Spanish falsobordone setting of the Responsorial Psalm for Wednesday’s Spanish/Latin Mass.

Charles Cole
Cole’s choir will also sing a selection of motets and polyphonic Mass ordinaries during the week, including motets by R.R. Terry, Anerio, and Abel di Marco and Mass parts for the Michael Haydn Requiem Mass, as well as the Palestrina Missa Tu es Petrus a 6 and the Morales Missa Caça.

Dr. Horst Buchholz
This choir will sing a selection of motets and polyphonic Mass ordinaries during the week, including Motets by Farrant, Hassler, and Guerrero and Mass parts for the Michael Haydn Requiem Mass, as well as the Palestrina Missa Tu es Petrus a 6 and the Morales Missa Caça.

Repertory by Choir

Registration

programs@musicasacra.com

Rules for Preaching Content --Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

In his 1973 book Dogma and Preaching, English edition, San Francisco: Ignatius, 2011, Cardinal Ratzinger explains various principles for the dogmatic content of preaching. He provides two outlines: four essential sources for the dogmatic content of preaching, and seven theses of dogmatic content for preaching.

Four Standards for Preaching the Gospel Today, 26-39.

1. Sacred Scripture: the interrelated unity of Old and New Testament.
2. The Creeds, then the dogmatic statements that supplement the Creeds, ranked according to the hierarchy of truths, cf. Introduction to Christianity, 1970, 50-64.
3. The living Magisterium of the living Church.
4. The concrete faith of the Church in her communities with its promise of indefectibilitas, abiding in the truth.

Seven Theses for Preaching God Today, 88-103.

1. God should be preached as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 88-91.
2. God should be proclaimed as Creator and Lord, 91-93.
3. God should be preached as Logos, 93-95.
4. God should be proclaimed as Jesus Christ, 95-97.
5. God should be preached as he is reflected in the Law and the Gospel, 97-99.
6. The proclamation of God finds guidance in biblical discourse about God, especially in the parables of Jesus, in the experiences of the saints, and in the faith-reflection upon these experiences, 99-100.
7. The proclamation of God must lead to prayer and come from prayer, 101-103.

"When You Make a Truth Claim you Rise Above Determinism"

If Moral Reasoning is Purely Subjective, Horror!

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Cal Newport is a computer science professor who writes about the intersection of technology and society. He is particularly interested in the impact of new technologies on our ability to perform productive work and lead satisfying lives.

The Art of Manliness blog has an hour podcast interview with Mr. Newport who gives clear advise and a set of guidelines on how to take control of one's use of social media and why that is important for one's social well-being.

Here is what he suggests, with some Plinthos editing.

1. Declutter:  do a 30 day boycott of social media.

     a. detox: week 1 and 2

     b. discover: week 3 and 4 to rediscover what to bring back with strict rules on when and how to use it, and for what purpose.

          1) Turn off phone notifications. 

          2) do not use social media platforms on phone, but only on computer and with clear rules (e.g. once a day for 20 minutes and for a specific purpose).

          3) never click "like" and do not leave comments on social portals.

2. Own your own personal domain such as a blog, so as to decide what you will see and according to your own discriminate selection, thereby creating your own sphere of interest.

3. Own your analogue life: Decide in advance on how you should like to spend your leisure. Pursue hobbies. Determine upon high quality analogue leisure pursuits, places to go people to see and things to do. Be with God and others, in person and without digital distractions.

Coalition for Marriage on "'Gay' 'Marriage'" Tyranny

"We're talking about twelve year old kids learning about anal sex."

Seton Hall University Censors Courage as "Anti-Gay"

"SHU removes anti-gay organization from website" is an article in the current issue of "The Setonian" which defames Courage International and the priests of Seton Hall University as "Anti-Gay," a typical homosexualist sabotage of Catholicism and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Below is the response I just sent to the author of that article, Rhania Kamel, whom you too may contact at her email.

rhania.kamel@student.shu.edu

Good afternoon Ms. Kamel,

Having just read your article in the January 31, 2019 "Setonian" newspaper I should like to express to you my surprise at the anti-Catholic tone of your article.

To call Courage an "anti-gay organization" and to vilify the University and the priests of the University for promoting it is homophile sabotage of Catholicism and of the Catholic University Seton Hall University. There is no single organization in the world which does more for the well-being of people with same-sex attraction than Courage and the Catholic Church, Jesus Christ Himself loving and helping them live according to their inherent human dignity in chastity and in truth.

LGBTQ+ is anti-gay. It is anti-gay because it defends, condones and promotes every manner of sexual confusion and immorality, thus harming everyone afflicted with those vices, and because it actively persecutes anyone who does not join its confusion and promotion of immorality.

Homosexualism (the promotion of every form of sexual unchastity) has no place in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the plan of the living God, that is why it is rejected categorically by every honest man of God and every truly Christian institution.

I call on you to write another article correcting this anti-Catholic/anti-clerical/anti-Christian bullying and to denounce the confused homosexualist ideology behind it, an ideology driven by a false tolerance, entirely intolerant of the Catholicism which is the only reason for the existence of Seton Hall as a Catholic institution.

You are propagating the tyranny of relativism. You obviously do not believe in freedom.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32

Omnes cum Petro ad Jesum per Mariam,

--"Plinthos" (I actually used my real name in my letter to her, which I here conceal for the sake of journalistic freedom)