Summa Sermon Notes 11

Here are the Summa references for the EF, 2nd and 3rd Sundays after Easter

2nd Sunday after Easter

EPISTLE (1 Peter 2:21-25)

"Christ suffered for us"

   The passion of Christ as efficient source of our salvation III Q.48, a.6

   Did Christ by His passion open for us the door to heaven? III Q.49, a.5

   The difference between Christ's sufferings and those of the saints as regards their fruits to us III Q.48, a.5, ad.3

   How could Christ satisfy for us when He had not sinned Himself? III Q.48, a.2

"That you should follow His steps"

   Since Christ abundantly satisfied for us, why should we have to do something too? III Q.49, a.1, ad.4; a.3

"Who did no sin"

   Was there not some sin in Christ? III Q.14, a.3; Q.15, a.1

"Who when He was reviled, did not revile"

   Harmful words II-II Q.72

   Bearing calumny II-II Q.73, a.3

   Should wrongs done us be borne, if they may redound to the dishonor of God? III Q.42, a.4, ad.6

"But delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly"

   How was Christ the cause of His own passion and death? III Q.47, a.1; a.3, ad.2

   How was Christ in surrendering Himself to Pilate sinless, while Judas was not? III Q.47, a.3, ad.3

"Who His own self bore our sins in His body"

   Did Christ suffer physical pain? III Q.15, a.5

   Was Christ's passion more painful than all other sufferings? III Q.46, a.6

   Was the pain of Christ's passion compatible with heavenly happiness? III Q.46, a.8, ad.1

"By whose stripes you were healed"

   How much good accrued to us from Christ's passion? III Q.48

GOSPEL (John 10:11-16)

"I am the Good Shepherd"

   What kind of shepherd is Christ? III Q.8, a.6, ad.3

   What kind of shepherd was Christ during His life? III Q.40, a.3

"The Good shepherd giveth His life"

   What belongs to the pastoral office? II-II Q.184, a.5; a.7, ad.1

   Is pastoral care a pledge of God's love? II-II Q.184, a.7, ad.1; Q.185, a.2, ad.1

   To whom does pastoral office properly belong? II-II Q.184, a.6, ad.2, 3

   Are those in charge of souls, especially bishops, in a state of perfection? II-II Q.184, a.5

   Is the state of bishops more perfect than that of religious? II-I Q.184, a.7

   Are priests, curates, archdeacons in a state of perfection? II-II Q.184, a.6; a.8

   Are the above obliged to lay down their lives for their flock? II-II Q.184 a.6, ad.3

"But the hireling"

   Who may be called a hireling? II-II Q.185, a.5, ad.1

"And leaveth the sheep and flieth"

   Is it ever proper because of temporal persecution for bishops to leave the flock entrusted to them? II-II Q.185

   Must subjects obey superiors in everything? II-II Q.104, a.5

"And one shepherd"

   Since pastors are chosen by the Church, how can there be only one shepherd? III Q.8, a.6

3rd Sunday After Easter
EPISTLE (1 Peter 2:11-19)
"Refrain from carnal desires which war against the soul"
   Are spiritual works and the fruits of the Holy Ghost opposed to works of the flesh? I-II Q.70, a.4
"Having your conversation good"
   Is scandal a mortal sin? II-II Q.43; a.3; a.4
   Wishing one's own goods and praising them to others; is it sinful? II-II Q.132, a.2, ad.1
"Be ye subject, therefore, to every human creature"
   Is one person bound to obey another? II-II Q.104, a.1
   Are subjects bound to obey superiors in all things? II-II Q.104, a.5
   In what are they bound and in what not bound to obey superiors? II-II Q.69, a.1
"Whether it be to the king as excelling"
   Are Christians bound to obey the secular authority? II-II Q.105, a.6
   May infidels have power over the faithful? II-II Q.10
   Are subjects absolved from obedience by the apostasy of superiors? II-II Q.12, a.2
"For the punishment of evildoers"
   Is punishment fitting? II-II Q.108, a.1
   By what means should punishment be meted out? II-II Q.108, a.3
   Is killing a man permissible? II-II Q.64, a.2
"For so is the will of God"
   The twofold will of God I Q.19, a.11
"Honor all men"
   How can all men be honored since honor is properly reserved for superiors? II-II Q.103, a.2, ad.3
"Fear God"
   Fear II-II Q.19
"But also to the froward"
   Since honor is due because of virtue, how is ti possible to honor those who lack it? II-II Q.103, a.2, ad.2
GOSPEL (John 16:16-22)
"We know not what He speaketh"
   Why did Christ cloak His doctrine in parables? III Q.42, a.3, ad.2, 3.
   Is Sacred Scripture difficult and obscure? I Q.1, a.9, ad.3; II-II Q.1, a.9, ad.1
   Do heretics pervert Scripture? II-II Q.1, a.10, ad.1
   Is it the duty of the Pope to establish a symbol of faith to refute heresies as they arise? II-II Q.1, a.10
"And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask Him"
   Does the soul or mind of Christ know all things in the world? III Q.10, a.2
"You shall lament and weep"
   Is it fitting for the just to be afflicted in this life? I Q.21, a.4, ad.3
   Why do sinners prosper and the good do not? I-II Q.87, a.7, ad.2; II-II Q.36, a.2
   How can the universe be equally intended for the just and the unjust, the good and bad? I-II Q.114, a.10, ad.4
"But your sorrow shall be turned into joy"
   In what should we rejoice? II-II Q.28, a.1, ad.3; a.2
   How many ways should we rejoice in God? II-II Q.28, a.1, ad.3
   Does spiritual joy involve a certain sadness? II-II Q.28, a.2
   Can spiritual joy be full in us? II-II Q.28, a.3
   What is opposed to joy? II-II Q.35
"But I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice"
   When was this joy complete in the apostles? III Q.55, a.3, ad.1

Summa Sermon Notes: Advent Through Pentecost

Social-Media Depression

Having participated last week for the first time in a "live" video conference social media platform, zoom, I feel the need to articulate the emotional after-effect.

It was a fine "gathering" of five of my sisters with their husbands and (twenty-five) children, from their homes, and I, the priest, from my rectory. We said the Rosary, each family taking a turn, with the final Litany of Loreto, which I read in Latin and gave the blessing at the end. Then we had some informal conversation for the rest of the hour. It was fun and enjoyed by all. It was good while it lasted. What surprised me is how I felt afterwards.

I have been saying the Rosary and praying with others in the family and at parishes and other Catholic environments for over 35 years, every day, but always in person, never looking at pixels on a screen imaging the people to me. The prayer experience with others, in person, present in the same room together, always lifted me up and brought me to a better interior place. It lifted up my heart and placed it on a more elevated plane. It built me up and I was consistently left a better person and could feel that. This time it was different.

The dark part of my soul, whatever that is, after that encounter, felt darker. I have come out of that "encounter" and feel, as one day passed, and another, lower, not better but worse. I know that the spiritual life is not primarily about enthusiasm and sentimentality, but I also know that there is an ontological difference even between digital reality and analogue. Analogue is continuous whereas digital is always disjointed, it never touches. I come out feeling that I never really saw them and they never really saw me, and that is, indeed, the fact. Virtual is not real. My phone conversations, by comparison, I find much more fruitful and satisfying long-term, than the experience of the video chat. There must be something in the way the mind works that it does not like the deception of false images, idols, if you will. It cannot sink its cognitive teeth into the screen the way is can the living flesh and blood person that is with you in the same room. I'm left to conclude that it may be better to have no image at all rather than such a false image. Static pictures are OK. They are more honest because they do not present the dead image as if it were alive. Pictures do not offer the lie of the video image that over-stimulates the mind and offers it what it cannot deliver. It pretends to be what it is not.

This is helping me to understand the tragic increase in depression and despair in our day, especially among the youth and those who otherwise spend many hours on social media looking at and participating in pseudo-experience.

"All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing." Ecclesiastes 1:8

That is why Christ's resurrection is essential, because the encounter, in the flesh, is solid ground for the heart and for true humanity. "See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have." Luke 24:39 You have to be there, He with you, you with Him, in order to touch Him, in order to be touched by Him. That is why watching television Mass is not really attending Mass. It is at least the difference between watching a dinner on TV and actually eating the dinner yourself, with the others, at the table. They are worlds apart. One fills you, while the other leaves you hungrier than before. It is helpful to pray the Mass even when you are physically deprived of it, but that prayer of the Mass is not enhanced because you watched it virtually, it may also be diminished in its lasting effect. The audio, without video, may be more honest and more helpful.

"...Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed." John 6:54-56

He has to be there with you, and you have to be there with Him. No substitute will do, according to Christ. And phony substitutes may make matters even worse, pretending to give what they do not have. A screen will never give you a man in the flesh, and even less, God.

Solution, continue to make every reasonable effort to receive the sacraments right now from your priest, and let the bishop know how essential it is for you to enjoy and eat the real presence of Christ. Also, try to pray with someone else, in person, at least once a day, in your own home. Love those in your own household, your neighbors, and those with whom you come in contact today. They are Christ, in the flesh, for you. Feed them, give them to drink, clothe them, shelter them, welcome them, visit them, serve them, and you do it to Christ. You have to do it physically! in the flesh! You have to actually go out and do it. You cannot do it simply virtually. You have to do it really. "Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me... [and] as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me." Matthew 25:40,45

Catholics May Receive Communion At SSPX Masses

A question came to me this morning from a brother priest, a pastor in another US diocese.

Q. Some of my parishioners have been going to the SSPX Masses because our bishop, and virtually every US bishop, has stopped the public Sunday Masses. The SSPX is having outdoor Masses despite the fact that our bishop has asked us not to do so. Of course, they do not care what the bishop says, and the civil authorities are permitting the outdoor Masses... Thoughts?

A. It is my understanding that the Church law allows Catholics to receive communion from the Orthodox where they are unable to do so from the Catholic Church, e.g. in places where there is no Catholic Church around. The present situation seems to be a parallel case, in which the Catholic church has practically forbidden any administration of the sacraments to the faithful. Plus, regarding Canon Law we learned that once you have made a reasonable effort to find out what the law says, if it is still unclear, then freedom reigns.

I say yes. Catholics, in the present proscriptive climate, in which the Catholic churches are sacramentally closed to the faithful, they have freedom to go elsewhere to receive valid sacraments, which they need for their spiritual well-being. It is a God-given right for Catholics to have the assistance of the sacraments, because the sacraments are necessary means of salvation. We need the sacraments. We are not Protestants!

I would go further. There are many places where traditional Catholics are, as a rule, not provided the traditional Mass. In those places, given the law I mentioned above, those Catholics have freedom to receive the eucharist from traditional and valid liturgies that may otherwise be illicit, e.g. SSPX, Orthodox, independent chapels, etc.

Private Communion

Below is the testimony of a fellow blogger instructive in encouraging the laity to respectfully request the Sacrament of their pastors during this time of grace.

Private Communion

Unam Sanctam April 7, 2020
The whole thing was a surreal experience. It had been quite useless calling the parish office. All of the employees had been sent home weeks ago and calls simply went to an already full voicemail box. Seeing phone contact to be useless, I got out a piece of paper and scribbled a little note:

"Father X, would it be possible to make an appointment for my family to come receive Holy Communion and receive a blessing? We have not been able to receive the Eucharist for a month. Please call me and let me know if you'd be willing."

I scrawled my phone number on the note and stuffed it in an envelope with the priest's name on it. I drove to the parish and walked about the abandoned campus. The rectory was a sprawling complex with a couple of different buildings and multiple entry ways; I was not certain which door the priest was most likely to come or go from. I found took a guess as to which door looked the most used and affixed the letter to the door, then went my way.

Two days later, after dinner one evening, I heard a text come through. "It's Father X, please call me." I called him back and he said he would grant my request. Distribution of communion has not specifically been forbidden in my diocese, so as I understand it, this was basically a discretionary judgment left to each priest. I told him how many persons I had: "There will be myself and four of my children receiving." We made an appointment for the following day around 11:30 AM.

I called my children in and explained to them that we would be receiving Holy Communion the following day and to prepare themselves as best they could. There was palpable excitement. Receiving any sacrament in the age of Covid-19 is a challenge. They were joyful at being able to receive Christ.

The following morning we arrived at the church a few minutes early to pray in silence and dispose ourselves. We each took a squirt from the massive canister of hand sanitizer by the door and then knelt in silence. A few moments later the priest walked in, vested in a stole. He removed the ciborium from the tabernacle, approached us in the pews, and began proceeding through the text of a communion service.

"Behold the Lamb of God," he said, holding the Body of Christ aloft immediately in front of us. I'd never been so close to a priest at a moment like that. He administered the sacrament to each of us, on the tongue. There was no contact between the priest's fingers and my tongue; indeed, in my 18 years of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, no priest's finger had ever touched me.

After communion, the priest gave us his priestly blessing and departed. We stayed behind a few moments to pray in thanksgiving. It reminded me very much of stories I had read in saints' lives; I remember in the biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, it talked about how before she entered religious life, when she wanted to receive communion she had to approach the parish priest, ask for permission, explain what preparations she'd made to dispose herself, and then receive at a particular Mass scheduled for that purpose.

It was certainly more of a challenge to orchestrate, but this communion meant a lot more. I was more prepared. My children were more prepared. The extra work made it more meaningful. And I started thinking there really is something to the argument that less communions can be more beneficial. Of course I've always known that it was superior to receive fewer communions better prepared than more communions less prepared, but until this present darkness I had no experiential knowledge of the fact.

When this is all over, I think I may voluntarily receive Holy Communion less and spend more time in preparation. Maybe once a month or something.

Also, I am very grateful for this priest for accommodating myself and my children. I suggested a friend in another diocese try the same thing I did for herself and her family; her priest categorically told her no and simply forwarded her a link to an Act of Spiritual Communion. She was understandably disappointed.

May the Lord bless and keep you all.

Cf. Can Priests Cancel Public Masses, and Say a Private Mass Instead? No.

George Cardinal Pell April 11, 2020 Full Interview

Acquitted, declared innocent, Tuesday April 7, 2020

"For no Christian is an earthly tribunal the last tribunal."

Bolt: "What's the meaning to come out of this?...What do [we] have to learn from this?"

Cardinal Pell: "Well, I'd say, 'faith is a help.' I'd say, 'there is a God. He's interested in us. He's good. He's got funny ways. Christ explained what life's about, and that you can get meaning out of the most terrible suffering.'"

--

Why do all of the News Media, EWTN and Fox especially, ignore this huge story!!!

Fake News!

This story needs to be reported every day, at every hour, on every network, for at least a month! Anything less is totally unjust given the wholesale maligning and condemning of this innocent man of God.

N.B. Speaking of Vatican corruption, Pope Emeritus Benedict should leave the Vatican and speak  and move about freely! What is keeping him at the Vatican? Why does he not return to Bavaria? Shall we call it "The Benedict Captivity?" Tomorrow marks the 15th anniversary of his election to the Papacy. He should have remained Pope! The Francis Papacy is a mockery of the Catholic faith and of the Papal Office.

The Mafia, the Vatican, and Australia

Summa Sermon Notes 10

Here are the Summa references for the EF for Easter Sunday and Low Sunday.

Easter Sunday

EPISTLE (1 Cor. 5:7-8)

"Purge out the old leaven"

   What is meant by leaven? III Q.74, a.4

"That you may be a new paste"

   Refraining from evil and doing Good II-II Q.79, a.1

   Avoiding and fleeing sin always II-II Q.35, a.1

   Contention and discord II-II Q.37; Q.38

   Fornication and incest II-II Q.154, a.2; a.3; a.9

   Envy and detraction II-II Q.36; Q.73

"For our Pasch"

   What is understood here by the Pasch? III Q.46, a.9, ad.1

   What is the literal meaning of those things done about the Paschal lamb? I-II Q.102, a.5, ad.2

   What feast of the New Law follows the Pasch of the Old Law I-II Q.103, a.3, ad.4

"Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven"

   How should Christ our Pasch be eaten? I-II Q102, a.5, ad.2

GOSPEL (Mark 16:1-7)

"That, coming, they might anoint Jesus"

   Is it more proper of charity to love than to be loved? II-II Q.27, a.1

Is beneficence an act of charity? II-II Q.31, a.1

To whom should beneficence be shown? II-II Q.31, a.2; a.3

"And very early in the morning, the first day of the week"

   Religion II-II Q.81

   Devotion II-II Q.82

   Is devotion an act of religion? II-II Q.82, a.2

"The sun being now risen"

   How can St. John say that Mary Magdalen came in the morning when it was sill dark at the tomb? III Q.53, a.2

"And entering into the sepulchre"

   What is here understood by "Sepulchre"? III Q.55, a.6, ad.5

"They saw a young man sitting"

   Since John says that Mary Magdalen saw tow angels in white sitting, and Luke mentions two men in shining garments standing, how does Mark mention only one young man sitting at the right side? III Q.55, a.6, ad.5

"Who saith to them: e not affrighted"

   Why should an angel be the first to make known Christ's resurrection? III Q.55, a.2

   Since these women were witnesses of Christ's resurrection, and women have no voice in the Church, why was the resurrection first made known to them? III Q.55, a.1, ad.3

"He is risen"

   the resurrection of Christ III Q.53

   Was it necessary for Christ to rise again? III Q.53, a.1

   Was it proper for Christ to rise the third day? III Q.53, a.2

   By what power did Christ rise again III Q.53, a.4

   The resurrection of the dead III Q.53, a.3

"He goeth before you into Galilee"

   Why did Christ wish to show Himself in Galilee to the apostles III Q.55, a.3, ad.4

Low Sunday

EPISTLE (1 John 5:4-10)

"Whatsoever is born of God"

   The effects of Baptism III Q.69

"But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God"

   Is an explicit faith in the mystery of Christ necessary for salvation? II-II Q.2, a.7

"He that came by water and blood"

   The effects of Christ's passion III Q.49

"And there are three who give testimony in heaven"

   The being and essence of the Trinity I Q.30, a.2; Q.31 a.1; a.2
"The Father"
   Was it fitting for the Son to hear the voice of the Father attesting Christ's sonship? III Q.39, a.8
"The Word"
   Do the works and miracles of Christ give testimony of Christ? III Q.53, a.4
"And the Holy Ghost"
   Is the Holy Ghost fittingly described as descending on Christ at baptism? III Q.39, a.6; a.7
"And these three are one"
   Why do we say the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are one? I Q.31, a.2, ad.4
   Are the three Person of the same essence? I Q.39, a.2
"The water and the blood"
   Was it real water and real blood that flowed from Christ's side? III Q.66, a.4, ad.3; Q.75, a.7. ad.3
"[He] hath the testimony of God in himself?"
   The testimony of the Father attesting Christ's sonship III 39, a.8
Gospel (John 20:19-31)
"Peace be to you"
   Peace--is Christ our peace? III Q.55, a.3, ad.1
"He breathed on them"
   Why did Christ breathe the Holy Spirit on His apostles? I Q.43, a.7, ad.6
"Whose sins you shall forgive"
   Does the pries by absolution truly forgive sins? Suppl. Q.18, a.1; III Q.86, a.1
   The power of the keys Suppl. Q.18
"The doors being shut"
   How did Christ, if He had a real body, enter through closed doors? III Q.54, a.4; a.1, ad.1
"Put in Thy finger hither"
   Why did Christ's body after resurrection show scars? III Q.54, a.4
   Other qualities of Christ's body after the resurrection III Q.54
"Be not faithless"
   Infidelity II-II Q.10
"Because thou hast seen Me"
   Did Thomas believe what He saw? III Q.55, a.5
"Blessed are they that have not seen"
   Why did Christ in many proofs to His disciples portray Himself as living? III Q.55, a.5
"But these are written"
   Why did Christ not write His won doctrine rather than have it done by the evangelists and His disciples? III Q.42, a.4

Summa Sermon Notes 9

Here are the Summa references for the EF for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

EPISTLE (Phil. 2:5-11)

"Who, being in the form of God"

   Since Christ is of the same form of nature as God the Father, how is He other than the Father? I Q.31, a.2, ad.2

"Thought it not robbery to be equal with God"

   Is the Son equal to the Father? I Q.42, a.4; a.6

   Did the devil and the first man wish to be equal to God? II-II Q.163, a.2

"But emptied Himself"

   According to what nature was it proper for Christ (God) to be humiliated? II-II Q.161, a.1., ad.4

   How could Christ be said to empty Himself? III Q.57, a.2. ad.2

"Taking the form of a servant"

   Was the incarnation becoming to Christ III Q.1, a.1

   Was the assumption of a created nature becoming to a divine Person? III Q.3, a.1

"Being made in the likeness of men"

   Did Christ not assume a true human body? III Q.5, a.1, ad.1

"And in habit found as a man"

   Was human nature accidentally united to the word of God? III Q.2, a.6

"Becoming obedient unto death"

   Did Christ die out of obedience? III Q.47, a.2

   The passion of Christ III Q.46, a.2

   How great is the perfection of dying from obedience? II-II Q.124, a.3, ad.2

"Even the death of the cross"

   Was it becoming for Christ to suffer on the cross? III Q.46, a.4

"For which cause God hath exalted Him"

   Did Christ merit to be exalted by His passion? III Q.49, a.6; Q.57, a.1; Q.59, a.3; a.6

"And hath given Him a name which is above all names"

   How God gave Christ a name above all others III Q.49, a.6

GOSPEL (Matthew 26:1-27:66)

"You know that after two days shall be the pasch"

   Did Christ suffer at a convenient or suitable time? III Q.46, a.9

"Lest there should be a tumult among the people"

   Sedition II-II Q.42

   Is it sedition to resist your enemies in defense of the common good? II-II Q.42, a.2

"And the disciples, seeing it, had indignation"

   What is indignation and whence does it arise? II-II Q.158, a.7

"But Me you have not always"

   Have we not Christ daily in the sacrament of the Eucharist? III Q.75, a.1, ad.2

"And on the first day of the azymes"

   What was the first day of the azymes? III Q.46, a.9, ad.1; Q.74, a.4, ad.1

"He that dippeth his hand with Me"

   Why did Christ denounce and make known Judas' sin without any previous notice, even privately? II-II Q.33, a.7, ad.2 

"It were better for him if that man had not been born"

   Is it better to be than not to be? I Q. 5, a.2, ad.3

   Do the damned deliberately prefer not to exist? Suppl. Q.98, a.3

"And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread"

   The sacrament of the Eucharist III Q.74

   Was the institution of this sacrament proper? III Q.73, a.5

   What is the matter of this sacrament? III Q.74

   Did Christ take bread in order to eat it? III Q.81, a.1, ad.1

"This is My body"

   Is this the proper form of consecration of the bread? III Q.78, a.2

"This is My blood of the New Testament"

   Is this the proper form of the consecration of the wine? III Q.78, a.3

   Are these pronounced words true? viz. "This is My body" and "This the the chalice of My blood," etc. III Q.78, a.5

"And you shall be scandalized in Me, this night"

   Why does God permit man to fall at times? I Q.98, a.2, ad.3

"I will go before you into Galilee"

   Why should Christ have preferred to go before them into Galilee than elsewhere? III Q.55, a.3, ad.4

"He began to grow sorrowful"

   Was Christ really in sorrow? Why? III Q.15, a.6; a.4

"My soul is sorrowful even unto death"

   What is sorrow? I-II Q.25; Q.42, a.3, ad.2
   Was sorrow actually in Christ? III Q.15, a.4; a.6
   Since sorrow is opposed to the will, did Christ suffer unwillingly? III Q.47, a.1
"He fell upon His face, praying"
   Was it proper for Christ to pray? III Q.21, a.1
   According to which of His natures was it proper for Him to pray? II-II Q.88, a.10; III Q.21, a.2
   Was it proper for Christ to pray for Himself? III Q.21, a.3
"Let this chalice pass from me"
   Why does Christ call the chalice His passion? III Q.78, a.3, ad.1
"Nevertheless not as I will"
   Did Christ in His human will desire something other than did His divine will? III Q.18, a.6, ad.1
   Did the human will of Christ otherwise than the will of God? III Q.18, a.5
   Was there a conflict in the wills of Christ? III Q.18, a.6
   Was Christ's prayer heard, viz., "Father if it be possible," etc.? III Q.21, a.4, ad.1
"My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it"
   Was not some other plan of salvation possible than the passion of Christ? III Q.46, a.2
"Whomsoever I shall kiss"
   Hypocrisy II-II Q.111
"Put up again thy sword into its place"
   Is it becoming for clerics and bishops to bear arms? II-II Q.42, a.2; II-II Q.64, a.4
"For all that take the sword"
   Will all who take the sword perish by the sword? II-II Q.40, a.1, ad.1
   Is it permissible to kill sinners? II-II Q.64, a.2
"I sat daily with you teaching in the temple"
   Should Christ have taught all things publicly? III Q.42, a.3
"Sought false witness against Jesus"
   Is false testimony a mortal sin and how great a sin? II-II Q.70, a.4
"I adjure thee by the living God"
   What is adjuration? II-II Q.90, a.1
   Is it permissible for man to adjure? II-II Q.90
"He hath blasphemed"
   What is blasphemy and how in many ways does it happen? II-II Q.13, a.1
   Is blasphemy a sin and what kind of a sin? II-II Q.13, a.2; a.3
"Then did they spit in His face"
   In what members and senses did Christ suffer? III Q.46, a.5
"Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he who struck thee?"
   Ridicule, is it a mortal sin? II-II Q.75, a.2
"But he denied before them all"
   Did Peter in denying Christ lose his charity and love? II-II Q.24, a.12, ad.2
"Then He began to curse and swear"
   Is it permissible to curse oneself or others? II-II Q.76, a.1
"He wept bitterly"
   Penance as a virtue III Q.85, a.1
"And they delivered Him to Pontius Pilate"
   Why did the Jews deliver Christ to Pilate, instead of killing Him? III Q.47, a.4, ad.3
"Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned"
   Why Judas sinned in betraying Christ III Q.47, a.3, ad.3
"Saying, I have sinned"
   Is contrition an act of virtue? Suppl. Q.1, a.2
"And went and hanged himself with a halter"
   Is despair a sin? In what does it consist? II-II Q.20, a.1
   Should despair arise from horror of our sins? II-II Q.20, a.4
"He hanged himself"
   Is it permissible to take one's own life? II-II Q.64, a.5
"They bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers"
   Is it permitted to sell a grave in a sacred place? II-II Q.100, a.4, ad.3
"And Jesus stood before the judge"
   Can a judge pass sentence on one not subject to him? II-II Q.67, a.1
"And when He was accused"
   Is a man bound to accuse himself? II-II Q.69, a.1
   Should an accusation be in writing? II-II Q.68, a.2
   How does an accusation become unjust? II-II Q.68, a.3

   May a judge pass sentence without accusation? II-II Q.67, a.3
"And He answered to him never a word"
   Is the accused bound to answer truthfully to all the judge asks? II-II Q.69, a.1
"The governor was accustomed to release to the people"
   May the judge rightly relax punishment II-II Q.67, a.4
   May a judge, knowing the truth, pass sentence to the contrary because of what is adduced in court? II-II Q.67, a.2
"I have suffered many things this day in a dream"
   Is believing in dreams proper? II-II Q.95, a.6
"I am innocent of the blood of this just man"
   Did Pilate sin in delivering Christ to crucifixion? III Q.47, a.3. ad.3
"Delivered Him...to be crucified"
   Should Christ have suffered on the cross? III Q.46, a.4
"And taking Jesus into the hall"
   Did Christ undergo all sufferings? III Q.64, a.5
   Was Christ's pain in the passion greater than all others? III Q.64, a.6
"And they came to a place that is called Golgotha"
   Did Christ suffer in a suitable place? III Q.46, a.10
   Why did Christ not suffer in Nazareth or Bethlehem but in Jerusalem? III Q.46, a.10
"And after they had crucified Him"
   Was the sin of those crucifying Christ most heinous? III Q.47, a.6
"They cast lots"
   What are lots? II-II Q.95, a.8
   Is it permissible to cast lots? II-II Q.95, a.8
"Then they crucified Him with two thieves"
   Should Christ have been crucified with thieves? III Q.46, a.11
"And the selfsame things the thieve also reproached Him with"
   Was there another thief, besides those blaspheming, who asked for forgiveness? III Q.46, a.11, ad.3
"There was darkness over the whole earth"
   During Christ's passion was the course of the heavenly bodies changed? III Q.44, a.2, ad.2
"Why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
   How did the Father abandon Christ in His passion? III Q.47, a.3
   Was the deity of Christ separated from His flesh in death? III Q. 50, a.2
"And crying with a loud voice, He yielded up the ghost"
   Why did Christ cry with a loud voice at death? III Q.47, a.1, ad.2
   Was it proper for Christ do die? III Q.50, a.1
   Was Christ a man during the three days of death? III Q.50, a.4
   Was the body of the dead and of the living Christ identically the same? III Q.50, a.5
"And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two"
   Why was the veil of the temple rent during Christ's passion? III Q.44, a.3
"And the earth quaked"
   Why did the earth quake, the rocks break the graves open? III Q.44, a.3, ad.3
"And many bodies of the saints"
   Will these risen saints die again" III Q.53, a.3, ad. 2
"Mary, the mother of James and Joseph"
   Is this Mary also the mother of Christ? III Q.28, a.3, ad.6
"Wrapt it in a clean linen cloth"
   Why was Christ's body wrapped in a clean linen cloth? III Q.51, a.2, ad.3
"And laid Him in His own new monument"
   Why was Christ placed in a new monument of stone? III Q.51, a.2, ad.4
   Why did Christ prefer burial in a garden in a new and strange grave? III Q.51, a.2, ad.4
   Since Christ's death was so ignominious, why did He wish to be so lavishly buried? III Q.51, a.2. ad.1
   When was Christ in the tomb? III Q.51, a.4

Summa Sermon Notes 8

Here are the Summa references for the EF for the 4th and 5th (Passion) Sundays of Lent

4th Sunday of Lent

EPISTLE (Galations 4:22-31)

"Which things are said by an allegory"

   Has the Scripture many meanings? I Q.1, a.10

"Engendering unto bondage"

   Difference between the Old and New Law I-II Q.107, a.1, ad.2

   Why the Old Law is called the law of fear I-II Q.107, a.1, ad.2

   Was the Old Law good? I-II Q.98, a.1, a.1

   Did the Old Law induce men to observance by threats and promises (temporal)? I-II Q.99, a.6

"That Jerusalem which is above is free"

   Is the New Law one of love and liberty I-II Q.107, a.1, ad.2

   Does the New Law justify? I-II Q.106, a.2.

"Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not"

   Should the New Law have been given from the beginning? I-II Q.106, a.3

   Did any go from the Old into the New Law and were they thereby saved? I-II Q.106, a.1, ad.3; a.3, ad.2; Q. 107, a.1, ad.2

   Similarly, at time of the New Law did some remain under the Old Law I-II Q.107, a.1, ad.2

"For many are children of the desolate, more than," etc.

   In the New Law, besides the Jews, the Gentiles were saved III Q.42, a.1

GOSPEL (John 6:1-15)

"Because they saw the miracles which He did on them"

   Should Christ have performed works and miracles? III Q.43, a.1

   What is a miracle? I Q.105, a.7

   Can God alone perform miracles? I Q.110, a.4

   Is one miracle greater than another? I Q.105, a.8

   Can the grace of performing miracles be communicated to some saint? II-II Q.178

   Why is the grace of miracles not given to all the saints? II-II Q.178, a.2, ad.5

   Were the miracles which Christ performed sufficient to prove His divinity? III Q.43, a.4

"On them that were diseased"

   Did Christ suitably perform miracles on men? III Q.44, a.3

"And when Jesus had seen that a very great multitude"

   Almsdeeds II-II Q.32

   Is giving alms of precept, and when? II-II Q.32, a.5

   Mercy (pity); how great a virtue is it? II-II Q.30, a.4

"And He said this to try him"

   Why does Christ tempt (test) man, since He already knows his mind?  II-II Q.97, a.2

"And Jesus took the loaves"

   The sacrament of the Eucharist III Q.77

"And when He had given thanks"

   Why did Christ pray in working miracles? III Q.43, a.2, ad.2

"And when they were filled"

   How was this multiplication of the loaves performed? III Q.44, a.4, ad.4

"This is of truth the prophet"

   Prophesy II-II Q.171

   Was Christ a Prophet? III Q.7, a.8

Passion Sunday

EPISTLE (Hebrews 9:11-15)

"Christ being come a high priest"

   Was the priesthood becoming to Christ? III Q.22, a.1

   The priesthood of Christ? III Q.22

"Of the good things to come"

   Why Christ is called the high priest of the good things to come? III Q.22, a.5

"More perfect tabernacle not made by hands"

   Whether Christ should be said to be conceived of the Holy Ghost? III Q.22, a.2

"But by His own blood"

   Was Christ the Host which He as Priest offered to God the Father? III Q.22, a.2

"Having obtained eternal redemption"

   Does Christ's priesthood endure forever? III Q.22, a.5

   Did Christ by His passion open for us the gates of heaven? III Q.49, a.5

   Does the effect of Christ's priesthood belong to Him or only to others? III Q.22, a.4

   Was Christ's priesthood according to the order of Melchisedech? III Q.22, a.6

"For if the blood of goats and of oxen"

   Did the ceremonies of the Old Law have salvific power? I-II Q.103, a.2

"How much more will the blood of Christ cleanse our conscience?

   Was the expiation of sin an effect of Christ's priesthood? III Q.22, a.3

   Were we reconciled to God by Christ's passion? III Q.49, a.4

"And therefore He is the mediator of the New Testament"

   What has to be considered in a mediator? III Q.26, a.2

   According to what nature is Christ said to be a mediator? III Q.26, a.2

   Is being a mediator of god and man becoming to Christ? III Q.26, a.1

GOSPEL (John 8: 46-59)

"Which of you shall convince Me of sin?

   Is it a sin to know your own good and approve it? II-II Q.138, a.1

   Is it boasting when one extols himself beyond the opinion of men? II-II Q.112, a.1

   Is God, praising Himself and seeking His own glory, guilty of vainglory? II-II Q.112, a.1, ad.1

   When is it praiseworthy to seek one's own glory and good name? II-II Q.112, a.1, ad.3

"If I say the truth to you"

   Truth I Q.16

   The virtue of truth II-II Q.109

"Therefore you hear them not"

   Can men know truth without grace? I-II Q. 109, a.1

   Why do some, hearing the same sermon, believe, and others not? II-II Q.6, a.1

   How God moves the created intellect I Q.105, a.3

"The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, do we not say well?"

   Should Christ have preached to the Hews without offending them? III Q.42, a.2

"That Thou art a Samaritan"

   Is envy a capital vice? II-II Q.36, a.4

   Whence does contumely arise? II-II Q.72, a.4

   Cursing II-II Q.76

"Abraham is dead"

   Do all die according to the body? I-II Q.81, a.3, ad.1; Suppl. Q.78, a.1

   Is death the result of sin? I-II Q.85, a.5; II-II Q.164, a.1

   How our bodies are vivified by the indwelling of the Spirit within us I-II Q.85, a.5, ad.2

"If glorify myself, my glory is nothing"

   Vainglory; how many ways it is committed II-II Q.132, a.1

"I shall be like to you, a liar"

   Why did our Lord publicly condemn the vices of the Jews? III Q.42, a.2; II-II Q.72, a.2, ad.2

"Abraham your father rejoiced"

   Was it from Abraham's merit that the seed was promised to him, from which all men would be blessed? I-II Q.98, a.4

"Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple"

   Did Christ show His divinity when, by standing in the midst of those plotting against Him, He was not seized by them? III Q.44, a.3, ad.1

From a Senseless Monologue to the Saving Dialogue

Today, in F. Ebner, I came across an idea which has been on my mind for some years now, the fact that every man is carrying on an interior conversation, formulating innumerable unspoken words to express the self, all the time. That conversation, which is typically carried out in the way of a monologue, speaking to "oneself," in the activity of one's mind and soul, is meant to become a dialogue. The expression (meaning "to press out") of oneself in words is not meant to be contained within oneself. It is made for communication, for communion, with others, and, ultimately, with God. Turn your constant monologue into a constant dialogue.

That is the object of all prayer, especially Christian prayer, our vocal prayers, our meditation and our contemplation. Prayer is turning your heart and your mind to God, to go from monologue to dialogue. Tell God, tell Christ, tell holy Mary, tell the Angels and the Saints, tell the Church, all that you are telling yourself. God understands your conversation better than your self can understand it. You will come to know yourself by formulating your thoughts, by "expressing" yourself (pressing yourself out) to God. Our conversation is restless until we give it to the Father in heaven, in Christ. Christ, the Son, is constant dialogue with the Father. You too are made for that. Nothing less will give you peace. Your only peace is in your real conversation with God, turning your conversation over to Him, now, and now, and now. Totus tuus sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Dona mihi cor tuum, O Maria!

"...[W]hy do we record our thoughts? Because of vanity and because we think so much of them? We want to come to rest in the restlessness in which they put us. And the thoughts want to rest by coming to the word. But there is another reason. We think our best thoughts as we talk to someone in spirit. All thinking is 'inner speech' - in monologue or in dialogue. And when we record the thought, it is above all the expression of a secret or obvious need for communication. No thought is entirely at ease in the loneliness of being thought. Because man lives - idealiter or realiter - spiritually in the "relationship of the I to the Thou", and the word is essentially what makes this relationship actual. The word and love."*

Talk to God! all the time.

That is the meaning of Saint Paul's injunction, "pray constantly." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

*Und warum zeichnen wir unsere Gedanken auf? Gerade aus Eitelkeit und weil wir gar so viel von ihnen halten? Wir wollen zur Ruhe kommen in der Unruhe, in die sie uns versetzen. Und die Gedanken wollen zur Ruhe kommen, indem sie zum Wort kommen. Es ist aber noch ein anderer Grund da. Unsere besten Gedanken denken wir, während wir uns im Geiste mit jemandem unterreden. Alles Denken ist "innere Rede"--im Monolog oder im Dialog. Und wenn wir die Gedanken aufzeichnen, so ist das vor allem auch der Ausdruck eines geheimen oder offenkundigen Mitteilungsbedürfnisses. Es ist keinem Gedanken in der Einsamkeit seines Gedachtwerdens ganz wohl. Denn der Mensch lebt--idealiter oder realiter--geistig im "Verhältneis des Ich zum Du", und das Wort ist wesentlich dasjenige, wodurch dieses Verhältnis aktuell wird. Das Wort und die Liebe.

"Geistiges Leben" (1931) in Ferdinand Ebner, Fragmente, Aufsätze, Aphorismen: Zu einer Pneumatologie des Wortes Band I, München: Kösel, 1963, 939-940.

An Agnus Dei for Mercy in Epidemic

Below Is the Recording of the Entire Mass

Straw Men and Some Distinctions

Some recent articles in the Catholic press criticize the large Catholic outcry against the closing of our churches and the apparent total banning of the laity from the sacraments by our bishops, our "shepherds," who have all but relegated the entire Catholic flock to follow the Mass on a digital screen, "until further notice."

The typical caricature is that those who are critical of such draconian methods by our Catholic leaders are inciting civil disobedience or encouraging priests to disobey their bishops. And the writers of the articles present themselves as saying something novel or otherwise insightful when they are generally repeating the going narrative of the propaganda machine, blind obedience to "the experts" without using the sensus fidelium as our guide. Cf. Father Thomas White's response to Rusty Reno's article "Say "No" to Death's Dominion."

The intelligent conservative Catholic critique of these extreme measures is not at all a call to buck the system or to deny science. Many of them are scientists and politicians themselves entirely committed to the civic cause. They are simply demanding reasonable access to the churches and to the sacraments. They are not demanding huge Sunday Masses! That is a straw man. The rebuttals ignore the just and reasonable demand of the faithful of leaving our churches open and giving them reasonable access to the sacraments, while respecting all of the recommended protocols. Here is a quick list of reasonable proposals which would promote our Catholic faith while not present any challenge to the civil norms.

While fully promoting, following and respecting the civil social-distancing recommendations on avoiding crowds, hand sanitizing, etc....

1. All Catholic churches and chapels should remain open for private devotion, small private masses, communion and confessions, etc.

2. Priests should be encouraged and even required to spend time every day in their open churches to attend to the needs of the faithful, saying masses on the side altars of the churches and cathedrals, etc. Being there, in prayer, available, while keeping three feet distance as the norm.

3. Priests should be encouraged and even required to do daily processions (small, sparse and devout) through their parishes, to publicly pray for the people under their care. That should be encouraged and facilitated by the civil authorities.

4. Priests should immediately be called and respond to any Catholic with a life-threatening illness and administer the sacraments of the last rights, now as ever. That is one of the principle functions of the priest and of the Church, to assist the sick, the dying and the dead. We cannot shirk that sacred duty.

All of the above should be allowed. Most people in the present circumstance are freaked out anyway and will not want to crowd into any place, never mind a church. So why forbid the pious Catholic among them from coming to the churches to visit the Most Blessed Sacrament? We are not Protestants. We need the sacraments. Open the churches!

The guidelines of most bishops on this give the impression that priests cannot rightfully administer any sacraments to anyone during this time. However, if one carefully reads the diocesan directives, the vagueness and the canonical imprecision of most of them seems to leave much to the discretion of the pastors and priests regarding individual cases; so it is not a matter of disobedience for a priest to continue, even in this quite repressive climate, to exercise his zeal in his sacramental service of the laity, following all the governmental norms and the apparent wishes of his superiors. To say so, and to say that those who encourage the priests to discretely exercise their public ministry, even in this climate, are encouraging them to disobey their bishops, is largely another straw man.

The Italian government does not forbid any of the things I have listed above, but rather seems to encourage them. It has most recently said that going to the neighborhood church is a legitimate reason to leave one's house during this epidemic and that priests can go to the churches with their assistants for their private functions, freely leaving the churches open! But then, doctors, nurses, civic officials, etc., the laity, when they approach the church, they find it locked! That's the problem. Open the churches!

We are not calling for civil disobedience. We are calling for Catholic zeal with full respect for the rule of law. And that zeal is far from evident when we are completely closed for business, or give the appearance of that, which is far beyond anything the civil law expects or can rightly demand. To forbid all Catholic sacramental worship to all of the faithful is historically unprecedented and wrong because that goes against the jus divinum. That would be the violation of the inalienable rights and duties of the faithful, and of the priests.

Private religious ceremonies should not be interpreted as meaning that no laity are allowed, but that is what most people seem to think, especially when the churches are required to be locked and people are entirely forbidden from attending mass or receiving communion. Consider, for example, that at his Easter Mass today at the Vatican Pope Francis had more than fifty people present. Or the Easter Mass at our National Basilica Shrine had at least twenty five people present. There is no reason why every parish and cathedral every day can't have multiple private masses with people attending and participating in small numbers and the churches open for people to come and pray before the Lord all day every day. That is essential to our Catholic faith and an essential need for the world, especially in crisis, the public display of Catholic devotion.

Open Letter to the Bishops to Facilitate Greater Access to the churches and the sacraments.

Visiting Church, Valid Reason to Go Out --Italian Prime Minister

Traditional Easter Vigil

Four Hours of Beautiful Mystery!

Christ is the Light of the World!

El Inocente Cardenal Pell da Su Mensaje Pascual

“En el Sufrimiento Encontramos la Redención”
Su Eminencia Jorge Cardenal Pell, 11 abril 2020
theaustralian.com.au
Podcast

Toda persona sufre. No hay nadie que se escape siempre. Todos se enfrentan a un par de preguntas. ¿Que debería hacer en esta situación? ¿Por qué hay tanto mal y sufrimiento? ¿Y por qué me pasó esto? ¿Por qué la pandemia de coronavirus?

Los antiguos griegos y romanos pensaban que los dioses eran caprichosos, susceptibles de castigar sin razón. Se dice que cuando envolvemos nuestros regalos de Navidad, seguimos la antigua práctica de los que ofrecían un sacrificio a un dios particular, cubriéndolo para que los otros dioses no se pusieran celosos.

Los ateos de hoy en día creen que el universo, incluyéndonos a nosotros, es producto del azar ciego, que no existe una Inteligencia trascendente para poder explicar nuestra secuencia de ADN, los 10,000 nervios conectados a un ojo, el genio de un Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Beethoven y un Alberto Einstein.

Otra opción es un agnosticismo radical. No sabemos y quizás no queremos saber. De manera que el agnósticos puede luchar contra el destino con una dignidad estoica o ponerse furioso, viajar a la noche "enfurecido contra la luz".

La Pascua da la respuesta cristiana al sufrimiento y al vivir. Los cristianos son monoteístas que surjieron desde dentro de la revelación judía; ellos también siguen al Dios de Abraham, de Isaac y de Jacob. Ellos creen que hace casi 2000 años un joven judío fue crucificado en una colina en Jerusalén, un viernes por la tarde, despreciado y rechazado. Todos lo vieron morir, mientras que un número limitado de personas con fe lo vieron después de una milagrosa resurrección corporal ese mismo domingo. La afirmación no es que el alma de Jesús siga marchando. Fue el regreso de toda su persona de la muerte, rompiendo las reglas de la salud y de la física, ya que los cristianos creen que este joven era el único Hijo de Dios, divino, el Mesías. Los huesos de Jesús nunca se descubrirán. Para consternación de muchos, este era un Mesías que no era un gran monarca como David o Salomón, pero el siervo sufriente de Isaías, que nos redime, nos permite recibir el perdón y entrar en una eternidad feliz.

“He aquí el madero de la cruz en el que cuelga el Salvador [Salus =" la Salud "] del mundo. [¡Vengan a adorar!] "[Ecce Lignum Crucis in quo Salus mundi pependit, venite adoremus!]

Mi generación y los más jóvenes están pasando por un momento único, un momento sin precedentes. No estábamos vivos para la pandemia de la gripe española después de la Primera Guerra Mundial, hasta ahora algo comparable, y hemos oído hablar de la terrible Peste Negra del siglo XIV, donde en algunos lugares murió un tercio de la población. La novedad es nuestra capacidad de combatir la enfermedad de manera inteligente, para mitigar la propagación.

La crisis de abuso sexual dañó a miles de víctimas. Desde muchos puntos de vista, la crisis también es mala para la Iglesia Católica, pero hemos dolorosamente eliminado un cáncer moral, y eso es bueno. Así también verán algunos al COVID-19, como un momento malo para aquellos que afirman creer en un Dios bueno y racional, el Amor Supremo y la Inteligencia Suprema, el Creador del universo. Y es un misterio: todo sufrimiento, pero especialmente la gran cantidad de muertes por plagas y guerras. Pero los cristianos pueden hacerle frente al sufrimiento mejor que podrán explicar los ateos la belleza y la felicidad de la vida.

Y muchos, la mayoría, entienden en qué dirección vamos cuando entienden que el único Hijo de Dios no tuvo una carrera fácil y que sufrió más que lo merecido. Jesús nos redimió y podemos redimir nuestro sufrimiento uniéndolo al suyo y ofreciéndolo a Dios.

Acabo de pasarme 13 meses en la cárcel por un delito que no cometí, una contrariedad tras otra. Sabía que Dios estaba conmigo, pero no sabía lo que pretendía, aunque sabía que nos ha dejado libres a todos. Pues con cada golpe era un consuelo saber que podía ofrecércelo a Dios por algún buen propósito, como convirtiende la masa de sufrimiento en energía espiritual.

Las raíces de nuestros servicios de salud están profundamente arraigadas en la tradición cristiana de servicio, sigiendo su trabajo de largas horas y con un vivo peligro de infección. No era así en la Roma pagana, donde los cristianos eran únicos porque se quedaban con sus enfermos y los cuidaban en tiempos de peste. Incluso Galén, el médico antiguo más conocido, huyó a su finca durante la peste.

Kiko Argüello, co-fundador del Camino Neocatecúmeno, afirma que una diferencia fundamental entre los temerosos de Dios y los secularistas de hoy se encuentra en la menera de afrontar al sufrimiento. Con demasiada frecuencia, los irreligiosos quieren eliminar la causa del sufrimiento, a través del aborto, la eutanasia, o excluirla de la vista, dejando a nuestros seres queridos sin visitarlos en asilos de ancianos. Los cristianos ven a Cristo en todos los que sufren: en las víctimas del abuso, en los enfermos, en los ancianos, y están obligados a ayudar.

Eso es parte del mensaje de la Pascua de Cristo resucitado.

Cardinal Pell, Innocent, Proclaims Easter Faith

"In the Suffering we Find Redemption"

His Eminence George Cardinal Pell
theaustralian.com.au
Podcast

Every person suffers. None escapes all the time. Everyone is confronted with a couple of questions. What should I do in this situation? Why is there so much evil and suffering? And why did this happen to me? Why the coronavirus pandemic?

The ancient Greeks and Romans thought the gods were capricious, liable to punish without reason. It is claimed that when we wrap up our Christmas presents we are following the ancient practice of those offering a sacrifice to a particular god who would cover it so the other gods would not be jealous.

The atheists today believe that the universe, including us, is the product of blind chance, that no transcendent Intelligence exists to help explain our DNA sequence, the 10,000 nerves connected to an eye, the genius of Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Beethoven and Albert Einstein.

Another option is a radical agnosticism. We don’t know and perhaps we don’t want to know. Here the agnostics can battle against fate with a Stoic dignity or turn furious, journey into the night “raging against the light”.

Easter provides the Christian answer to suffering and living. Christians are monotheists who developed from within the Jewish revelation; they too follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They believe that nearly 2000 years ago a young Jew was crucified on a hilltop in Jerusalem, one Friday afternoon, despised and rejected. Everyone saw him die, while a limited number, those with faith, saw him after a miraculous bodily resurrection on the next Sunday. The claim is not that Jesus’ soul goes marching on. It was a return of his entire person from death, breaking the rules of health and physics, as Christians believe this young man was the only Son of God, divine, the Messiah. Jesus’ bones will never be found. To the dismay of many this was a Messiah, who was not a great monarch like David or Solomon, but Isaiah’s suffering servant, who redeems us, enables us to receive forgiveness and enter into a happy eternity.

“Behold the wood of the cross on which hangs the Saviour [Salus = "Health"] of the World. [Come adore!]” [Ecce Lignum Crucis in quo Salus mundi pependit, venite adoremus!]

My generation and those younger are passing through a unique moment. It is not unprecedented. We were not alive for the Spanish flu pandemic after World War I, somewhat comparable so far, and we have heard of the terrible Black Death in the 14th century, where one-third of the population died in some places. What is new is our capacity to fight the disease intelligently, mitigate the spread.

The sexual abuse crisis damaged thousands of victims. From many points of view the crisis is also bad for the Catholic Church, but we have painfully cut out a moral cancer and this is good. So too some would see COVID-19 as a bad time for those who claim to believe in a good and rational God, the Supreme Love and Intelligence, the Creator of the universe. And it is a mystery; all suffering, but especially the massive number of deaths through plagues and wars. But Christians can cope with suffering better than the atheists can explain the beauty and happiness of life.

And many, most understand the direction we are heading when it is pointed out that the only Son of God did not have an easy run and suffered more than his share. Jesus redeemed us and we can redeem our suffering by joining it to His and offering it to God.

I have just spent 13 months in jail for a crime I didn’t commit, one disappointment after another. I knew God was with me, but I didn’t know what He was up to, although I realised He has left all of us free. But with every blow it was a consolation to know I could offer it to God for some good purpose like turning the mass of suffering into spiritual energy.

The roots of our health services are deeply rooted in the Christian tradition of service, their continuing work of long hours and with a lively danger of infection. It wasn’t like this in pagan Rome where Christians were unique because they stayed with their sick and nursed them in times of plague. Even Galen, the best known ancient physician, fled to his country estate during the plague.

Kiko Arguello, co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, claims that a fundamental difference between God-fearers and secularists today is found in the approach to suffering. Too often the irreligious want to eliminate the cause of the suffering, through abortion, euthanasia, or exclude it from sight, leaving our loved ones unvisited in nursing homes. Christians see Christ in everyone who suffers — victims, the sick, the elderly — and are obliged to help.

That is part of the Easter message of the Risen Christ.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 The High Court of Australia Acquitted Cardinal Pell

The Mafia, the Vatican, and Australia

Good Friday Reproaches --Palestrina

Lamentations --Palestrina

The Cross of Christ Gives Meaning to this World --St. Newman

“[T]he death of the Eternal Word of God made flesh..., [His Cross], ...is our great lesson how to think and how to speak of this world... It has given a meaning to the various, shifting course, the trials, the temptations, the sufferings, of [man's] earthly state. [The Cross of Christ] has brought together and made consistent all that seemed discordant and aimless. It has taught us how to live, how to use this world, what to expect, what to desire, what to hope. [Christ and His Cross] is the tone into which all the strains of this world's music are ultimately to be resolved.

“Look around, and see what the world presents of high and low. Go to the court of princes. See the treasure and skill of all nations brought together to honour [the children of men]. Observe the prostration of the many before the few. Consider the form and ceremonial, the pomp, the state, the circumstance; and the vain-glory. Do you wish to know the worth of it all? look at the Cross of Christ.

“Go to the political world: see nation jealous of nation, trade rivalling trade, armies and fleets matched against each other. Survey the various ranks of the community, its parties and their contests, the strivings of the ambitious, the intrigues of the crafty. What is the end of all this turmoil? the grave. What is the measure? the Cross.

“Go, again, to the world of intellect and science: consider the wonderful discoveries which the human mind is making, the variety of arts to which its discoveries give rise, the all but miracles by which it shows its power; and next, the pride and confidence of reason, and the absorbing devotion of thought to transitory objects, which is the consequence. Would you form a right judgment of all this? look at the Cross.

“Again: look at misery, look at poverty and destitution, look at oppression and captivity; go where food is scanty, and lodging unhealthy. Consider pain and suffering, diseases long or violent, all that is frightful and revolting. Would you know how to rate all these? gaze upon the Cross.

“Thus in the Cross, and Him who hung upon it, all things meet; all things subserve it, all things need it. It is their centre and their interpretation. For [Christ, this Holy Week, the most Holy Week,] was lifted up upon it, that He might draw all men and all things unto Him.”

"The Cross of Christ, The Measure of the World: Sixth Sunday of Lent" in John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons, San Francisco: Ignatius, 1997, 1240-1241.

Plinthos: The Cross of Christ gives meaning to this world. That is why all men need the Mass and the Catholic sacraments above every thing in the world. The Mass, the administration of the seven sacraments, and public Catholic worship are not “dispensable, non-essential activity.” To say that would be a terrible blasphemy, because the right worship of God is the only essential work!, because the Cross of Christ is the meaning of the world. It is the meaning of every true nobility, of every wealth, of every real power, of all knowledge and technology; it gives meaning to every poverty, to every sickness, to every death and to every life. And the Mass is the trans-historical holy sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, every spiritual gift comes to the world from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. People need the Mass! The world needs the Mass. The Church Herself, all men united to God, in spirit and in truth, comes from the Mass. Ecclesia Ipsa de Eucharistia est!

This, my Palm Sunday sermon, I delivered today at the end of the Missa Cantata which is available online here. Go to minute 1:47:05 for the sermon.

Pastor's Text-Message for Souls During Covid-19 Lockdown

This is a punishment from the Most Holy Trinity. The sins and rebellion worldwide against His Divine Majesty has brought down His justice. It is an act of His mercy and infinite love calling us back to Him.

This plague only serves a purpose for each soul if that person truly repents of his sins. This diabolical independence and self sufficient state of the human will is a fantasy and a lie. “Without me you can do nothing.” Deadly is lukewarmness among so many Catholics. Indifferent to our Lord and God. I sense it in so many at our parish. Their hearts are stone. The Holy Spirit prompts, knocks, invites to repentance and He cannot enter. I suffer in my soul because of this. Souls running into hell and not thirsting for the Beatific Vision.

The economy has been decimated. So many of our parishioners are out of work. The worst is no sacraments, confessions, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, No Eucharist. Etc.

God is like a loving Father forcing His children to think and meditate on the only thing that matters: His truth. That is reality. God is real. Everything outside of that is false.

So many good people here at our parish of deep faith who truly suffer for loss of the sacraments.

We will come to a point soon where we cannot pay our bills. All I can do is say: “Jesus I hope in you and trust in you”

Despite this great cross from God, I am serene and at peace. I am certain that a singular grace will touch the hearts of some of the most unlikely who have not gone to confession or Mass in many years will return to the fold.

Only thru the Immaculate Conception, will the plague end and the Most Holy Trinity will pour out his graces to us thru her Immaculate Heart. God bless you. Pray for me. Give my best to everyone. In the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Father X.

Visiting Church, Valid Reason to Go Out --Italian Prime Minister

Santa Barbara dei Librai, Rome

April 1, 2020 The President of the Italian Council

Question: "Can we leave home to go to church or to other places of worship?"

Answer: "Access to places of worship is allowed, as long as gatherings are avoided and a distance of no less than three feet between the visitors is ensured. It is permissible to visit the place of worship closest to home, keeping such movement, as far as possible, in the vicinity of one's home.

Places of worship can also be visited on the occasion of movements otherwise permitted, i.e. those determined by essential work needs or necessities, and which are on the way, so that, in an inspection by officials one should make that intention intention know. However, the suspension of all ceremonies, even religious ones, remains firm."

Plinthos: This clarification by the Italian government also implies that priests may randomly say Mass on the churches' altars and hear confessions in the confessionals, keeping the required distance and not forming a crowd. A priest with a few people might also make a procession in the neighborhood to pray for an end to the plague, en route to the nearby church.

Cf. http://plinthos.blogspot.com/2020/03/people-are-still-allowed-to-go-to.html

---

Domanda: “Ci si può spostare per andare in chiesa o negli altri luoghi di culto?”

Risposta: “L’accesso ai luoghi di culto è consentito, purché si evitino assembramenti e si assicuri tra i frequentatori la distanza non inferiore a un metro. È possibile raggiungere il luogo di culto più vicino a casa, intendendo tale spostamento per quanto possibile nelle prossimità della propria abitazione.

Possono essere altresì raggiunti i luoghi di culto in occasione degli spostamenti comunque consentiti, cioè quelli determinati da comprovate esigenze lavorative o da necessità, e che si trovino lungo il percorso già previsto, in modo che, in caso di controllo da parte delle forze dell’ordine, si possa esibire o rendere la prevista autodichiarazione. Resta ferma tuttavia la sospensione di tutte le cerimonie, anche religiose”.

Presidents and the Stock Market

C. Coolridge (+237%),
B. Clinton (+222%),
F.D. Roosevelt (+162%),
Ronald Reagan (+154%) and
D. Eisenhower (+116%) were the best presidents for the "Dow," ([Charles] Dow [Edward T.] Jones Industrial Average).

H. Hoover (-79%), R. Nixon (-16%), J. Carter (-16%), W. Harding (+14%) and G.W. Bush (+19%) were the worst.

D. Trump's record, between +20% (today) and +66% (at his highest), is average.

1933 to 1968 the Dow increased 1,444%. 1980 to 2000 saw an 1,227% increase.

Plinthos decided to do this comparison because the fake news stations talk so much about the stock market but never give critical analysis of it. It is helpful to put things in perspective.
Below is a list of each president of the past century and the value of the Dow at the beginning and at the end of his term, with the percentage differences.

D. Trump (2017-Present)   
April  2020 21.41K (-27%)       (+20% since April 2016)
Feb.   2020 29.42K (+40%)      [+66% since April 2016]
April 2017 20.94K (+12%)

B. Obama (2009-2017)       
April 2016 17.77K  (+15%)      (+38% since April 2008)
  May 2013 15.35K  (+86%)
  May 2009   8.27K  (-36%)

G.W. Bush (2001-2009)
April 2008 12.89K   (+27%)     (+19% since April 2000)
 May 2005  10.14K  ( -.063%)
 May 2001  10.82K  ( -.018%)

B. Clinton (1993-2001)
April 2000  10.84K  (+51%)    (+222% since April 1992)
 May 1997   7.17K   (+108%)
 May 1993   3.44K   (+2.1%)

G.H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
April 1992   3.37K  (+42%)     (+68% since April 1988)
  May 1989  2.38K  (+18%)

R. Reagan (1981-1989)
April 1988   2.01K (+61%)      (+154% since April 1980)
 May 1895   1.25K (+25%)
 May 1981   1.00K (+27%)

J. Carter (1977-1981)
April 1980    817 (+9%)           (-16% since May 1976)
 May 1977    899 (-7.8%)

G. Ford (1974-1977)
 May 1976     975 (+17%)        (+22% since May 1974)
 May 1975     832 (3.7%)

R. Nixon (1969-1974)
May 1974     802 (-14%)          (-16% since Oct. 1968)
May 1969     938 (-1.5%)

L.B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Oct. 1968      952 (+17%)         (+26% since Oct. 1963)
March 1964  813 (+7.7%)

J.K. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Oct. 1963     755 (+8.3%)         (+30% since Oct. 1960)
May 1961     697 (+20%)

D.D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Oct. 1960     580 (+113%)        (+116% since Oct. 1952)
May 1953    272 (+1.1%)

H. Truman (1945-1953)
Oct. 1952     269 (+65%)          (+68% since Jan. 1945)
July 1945     163 (+1.9%)

F.D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
Jan. 1945     160 (+63%)           (+162% since Jan. 1933)
June 1933      98 (+61%)

H. Hoover (1929-1933)
Jan. 1933       61 (-81%)          (-79% since Nov. 1928)
April 1929   319 (+8.9%)

C. Coolridge (1923-1929)
Nov. 1928     293(+205%)       (+237% since May 1923)
Dec. 1923      96 (+10%)

W. Harding (1921-1923)
May 1923      87 (+23%)          (+14% since Nov. 1920)
June 1921      68 (-11%)

W. Wilson (1913-1921)
Nov. 1920     76 (38%)
Feb. 1915     55

Episcopal/Pastoral Overreach: No Palms!

A bishop is saying there will be no palms on Palm Sunday. Surely he has not thought the matter out. There is a simple solution. Let all households have their palm Sunday processions. Use branches and handkerchiefs (to represent the cloaks laid before Christ).

I recommend to all practicing Catholics households throughout the world, and all men of good will who promote true religion, to dress in their Sunday best and go out on Palm Sunday (this Sunday), randomly, reading and singing the ritual of the Palm Sunday Procession, led by the father of the family, the oldest able male (or in the absence of a male, the oldest able woman) and everyone waving handkerchiefs and/or picking twigs from the nearest trees/bushes and praying and singing and processing around the block then inside.

Use any convenient branches for now. We traditionally use branches from palm trees. In Rome they use olive branches. The branches of your yard can serve as an emergency substitute for those till you can get something more legit, later in the year. If you have holy water you can even sprinkle the kerchiefs and the branches and the people with holy water.

No bishop in the world has authority to forbid all of the Catholic faithful from Mass, the sacraments or the church if they can reasonably come. And, of course, he cannot forbid households of faithful from taking up branches and handkerchiefs to walk with Christ in triumphal entry to Jerusalem.

While we are at it, I think that perhaps just as good as watching Mass and the Triduum on television is for Catholics to do those rituals at home as dignified as possible, giving people proper roles. You are allowed to read and do everything except of course the consecration and consummation of the Eucharist and no blessing with the hands the way the priest does it. Imagine the father of the family kneeling to do the ritual washing of the feet of the entire household! Instead of the priest's blessing the head of the household should bless the children with the thumb on the forehead of each making the sign of the cross.

Fathers of families need to take the lead in this time of ecclesial crisis. The world is pretending we don't need priests or the Catholic ritual, suspend the sacraments and close the churches. Catholics need to do Catholic rituals physically, because man is composed as body and soul! We need to worship God with our bodies.

Fasting as the "Study of Medicinal Parsimony"

That is the way today's Extaordinary Form Roman liturgy terms the Lenten self-denial, Thursday of the 1st week of Passiontide. Parsimony. Simplicity. Take small in order to give big.

"Grant, we pray, omnipotent God, that the dignity of our human condition, wounded by immoderation, my be reformed by the study of medicinal parsimony." Plinthos translation.

Study here means the enthusiastic and relentless pursuit in taking little, as medicine for the soul, which tends to harm itself by taking too much.

As dieting is to the body, fasting is to the soul. It may heal many ills.

Fast for love of God, not for the flesh! "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing." John 6:63

Cf. Lukken, Original Sin in the Roman Liturgy, Leiden: Brill, 1973, 70.

In light of that, consider this world of fools in which we are allowed to go to Burger King to get a sandwich but forbidden to go to church for The Bread of Life.

Cf. The Traditional Lenten Fast

Plinthos Atop Mount Si, Seattle

May 2017

Things-To-Do in Quaratine

1. Journal. Write a paragraph daily.
2. Organize/discard your data/files, e.g. pictures, 1/2 hour per day till you get it right.
3. Learn to write poetry; do some every day.
4. Pray using the Bible, 5 min. - 1/2 hr. per day.
5. Pray the daily rosary with your household.
6. Write snail mail letters or post cards, one a week.
7. Take a daily neighborhood stroll, especially with someone in the home, following health norms.
8. Exercise three times per week, 15 minutes each time, e.g. Monday, Wed., Friday.
9. Read an edifying book, especially a classic, even aloud with others.
10. Call someone on the phone just to talk, and listen.
11. Sing some Gregorian chant, one chant a day, e.g. the Ave Regina Coelorum.
12. Pray the Breviary; ibreviary or divinumofficium.
13. Say some other prayers every day; ipieta is a great prayer app.
14. Meditate between 15 min. - 1 hour per day, using a spiritual classic, e.g. the Bible, The Imitation of Christ, to talk and listen to God with your heart directed towards the closest tabernacle, Christ incarnate.
15. Stay away from television and social media.
16. Develop personal relationships at home, in the family, and with neighbors.
17. Pray, by name, for those who hate you.
18. Do acts of random kindness at home. Ask how you can help.
19. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
20. Do good, avoid evil.
21. Examine your conscience and repent every day, especially before bedtime.
22. Make a schedule and stick to it, especially bedtime and time to rise.
23. Dedicate your day to God, on your knees, as soon as you get up.
24. Do a five-day silent retreat; now is the perfect liturgical season for that.
25. Study a foreign language daily.
26. Draw, sketch, paint; knit, crochet, cross-stitch, make lace, etc.
27. Play an instrument daily. Play one piece well each day.
28. Play chess/practice your skills with a real person in your household.
29. Brainstorm other edifying daily activities, to enhance home life.
30. Do not squander this precious time.

New York Covid-19 Doctor on Transmission

The most common way of transmission is by touching an infected person or something touched by an infected person then touching your face (nose/mouth).

Covid-19 is not commonly transmitted through the air. It is not an airborne virus. That can only occur in closed and close quarters with an infected person for over 20 minutes.

Therefore, here are the proper precautions against this disease. All further measures should be deliberate propaganda designed to get people to start paying attention!

• keep ample social distance with others (3 feet)
• entire household stay at home as much as possible and minimize social circle
• refrain from touching people outside your home, and there, only as necessary
• minimize touching things touched by others, outside your household
• wash or sterilize hands, especially after touching something touched by others outside of your household, and keep your hands from your nose & mouth until you have done that
• wear a mask/hankerchief to go out if you will touch things touched by others
• even wear hankerchief on face to go out, just to increase awareness
• those who are sick with symptoms of Covid-19 should isolate, not go out in public, and have minimal and only necessary contact with those in the home, sterilizing everything they touch
• those with shortness of breath, and only they, should go to hospital

Conscious of and keeping these norms, the churches should remain open with full access to the sacraments, but forbidding close congregating.

Following these protocols, the number of people in church is irrelevant! There is no reason large churches cannot accommodate up to 50-100 people, especially if the doors are left open (no one having to touch the common door) and/or hand sanitizer is available at the door.

Private masses with a few of the faithful should not be forbidden!

Confessions in a traditional confessional should not be forbidden; you have the screen and can also keep extra distance.