Mass with Fr. Z in Rome

From J. P. Sonnen:

It was a proud moment to serve Fr. Z's Low Mass in the crypt chapel of the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.  During our Mass we could hear the chants of the Church from a sung Mass being celebrated above at the main altar.  For over 20 years I have been serving Mass for Fr. Z.

Fr. Z was first in Rome in 1981.  His second Mass was celebrated at the main altar of this Basilica, after his ordination by Pope St. John Paul II.  Having Mass at the tomb of St. Cecilia has a bit of an enchanting feel like having Holy Mass in the catacombs.   A very special place to visit, especially at dusk.  I saw it on my first trip to Rome and return every time. 

The Art Nouveau era mosaics were completed in the year 1900 under Cardinal Rampolla, who at age 43 in 1887 had been named Cardinal-Priest of Santa Cecilia.  Always nice to visit here on her feast day, November 22.  She is the patron saint of musicians.  A saint of the Roman Canon and Roman martyr - one of eight female saints mentioned in the Canon... (continued)

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Link:

• Mass with Fr. Z in Rome

Christian Martyr: Martin of Boston at Church

 

From John Paul Sonnen:

From the Internet:

"PRAY FOR BOSTON: 8-yr old Martin Richard, who died in the attack the day after receiving his First Holy Communion symbolizes our pain and yet at the same time our hope: his 1st Communion banner, with the dove of peace, the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharistic Chalice and Bread, makes us pray to the Risen Lord, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, in Whom we place our final hope."

Link:

• Christian Martyr: Martin of Boston at Church

H/t to Ann Barnhardt:

"Cruise over to Orbis Catholicus Secundus where Mr. Sonnen (voted best smirk-weasel in the Catholic blogosphere) is leading the way in reporting on young Martin Richard, the boy who was murdered in the Boston jihad attack. 

Young Martin received his first Holy Communion the day before he died. Mr. Sonnen has pics.

That is a bittersweet consolation. God is good."

St. Lawrence

From Orbis Catholicus:

San Lorenzo Fuori Le Mura.

San Lorenzo Fuori Le Mura.

"The body of St. Lawrence was placed atop this stone immediately after he was burnt alive. 

You can see the impression left from his body, according to tradition." 

• St. Lawrence
• Marble of St. Lawrence

Islam in the Vatican

From Orbis Catholicus:

Photo taken today in St. Peter's Square.

"Christopher Columbus called it the 'sect of Mahomet.'  He was not a big fan.

Meanwhile we have killed our own future with contraception and abortion and now the easy and cheap remedy is immigration of Third World whomever.

Make abortion illegal and save what's left of our civilization before it is too late."

• Link

Swiss Guard: Changing of the Guard

From Orbis Catholicus:

"Through the low gabbling of tourists they change the guard each hour. 

The cutlasses are nice (would be nice to have a real Swiss Guard cutlass and sheath to display on the wall at home)."

Catholic Portugal: Passionists in the Vatican

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Cohors Helvetica and a Word about Vatican Security

By J. P. Sonnen

The enfolding arms of the Bernini colonnades welcome all, into a safe place known as St. Peter's Basilica.

And there at the Papal Masses you have the most colorful military unit in the world, the Swiss Guard. For the most part these guys do fine work and act as an able bulwark in protecting the popes and others.



On the other hand, there is the Corpo della Gendarmeria, whose members are Italian nationals. They are the private security detail of the pope (along with some of the Swiss Guard), who assist at some few other functions as well. Fat with nepotism, they have always been quite definitely in second place. The brass are older men who are wise in the ways of preserving themselves in power and they are most of the names on the Vatican Comitato per La Sicurezza and are the Direzione dei Servizi di Sicurezza e "Protezione Civile".

Everybody has seen the newsreel of the attack on the pope. What is not seen in the video is that after the girl was taken down (and subsequently took down the pope), she then got up ( = got away) and ran down the center aisle through waves of the security cavalcade and only then plowed into the 87-year-old cardinal about half way down the center aisle at which point the Gendarmeria security was (finally) able to stop her (only after she plowed into the cardinal) and carry her out (near the manger scene).

A lack of able security is akin to touching pitch. And this blessed obliviousness of the Gendarmeria has proven dangerous. The careless and carefree bonhomie of the Corpo della Gendarmeria only makes it clear that change needs to be in the air and that the return of the sedia gestatoria, which many are still against, might just be the smartest solution.

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Forty Years of "New Order" Mass

1969 - 2009

Orbis Catholicus Secundus

• PODCAzT 94: PART II - 40 years ago… Paul VI on the eve of the Novus Ordo

• PODCAzT 93: 40 years ago… Paul VI on the eve of the Novus Ordo

Hell

"Ten year old Jacinta lay dying in a hospital bed in Lisbon, Portugal in 1920 when Our Lady said to her: "Certain fashions will be introduced which will offend Our Divine Lord very much. Those who serve God ought not to follow these fashions." Then Our Lady revealed to Jacinta that "the sins that lead most souls to hell are the sins of the flesh." - (source)

Armenian rite ordinations in Rome...

From Orbis Catholicus:





"If you've been blessed with the grace of a liturgical interest then a visit to Rome's (Catholic) Armenican rite parish is a must. This parish is located in the fashionable Via Veneto neighborhood (the Church of San Nicola da Tolentino). Armenican Catholics have had this Rome parish as their own since the 1880s when PopeLeo XIII gave them the property. Armenian seminarians live in the attached collegio. In the photos is a diaconal ordination from Sunday. The ordaining prelate was His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, the Catholic Patriarch of Armenians.Needless to say, the rite was breathtaking. "

• Armenian rite ordinations in Rome...
• Light of the East in the Eternal City

"What is wrong with this picture?"

From ORBIS CATHOLICVS:

"What used to be excised even a few years ago is now accepted.

This photo was taken in the most popular childrens' book shop in Rome. When I complained to the employee she looked at me like a donkey.

Looking for a kids book for some relatives, I entered and found mostly rows of childrens' books on sorcery, wizard craft, vampire and cannibal interests, Soviet bonk and even this "sex" book on the lower right.

Support all families who homeschool their kids and expunge anything like this that might have found its way into your sacred home."

• Link

Card. Castrillon pontificates at Ss. Trinita in Rome

From Fr. Z:

"The FSSP is celebrating their anniversary in Rome. Our friend John Sonnen of Orbis Catholicus has posted some video of a Mass at the "personal parish" in Rome for the TLM and older forms of sacraments, the historic church where St. Philip Neri began the still extant confraternity, Santissima Trinita dei Pelegrini. Cardinal Castrillon, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei was the celebrant."