Franciscan winemakers cheer the heart
In October I posted a
piece on the Franciscan Friars’ wine making hobby. Franciscan Friar
of the Renewal Brother Giuseppe Maria Siniscalchi had an idea a few years ago
to make homemade wine when he wasn’t hitting the theology books. The friars do more than study, serve the poor, run the Catholic Underground— they cheer the heart with their wine which is a very human thing to do. This is the
second year for Our Lady of Cana wines. Perhaps this may be a new franchise for the friars!!! I’m looking forward to a 3rd year of winemaking. AND I am willing to be the wine-quality control guy.
With grapes handpicked and materials donated by friends, and
help from the other friars, Brother Giuseppi made a great barrel of wine. Of course, nature did her part and God His… For the
last six months the wine has matured –and we’ve been eagerly waiting for the maturing process to work– in a basement corner in an oak barrel. The
wine now sufficiently mature, today was the time to bottle.
Deacon James
Ferreira, Ken Riello (a 1st yr Dunwoodian) and yours truly set out to watch,
assist and taste the fruit of the earth. James was most kind in bringing some
great bread, cheese and soppressata.
We had great fun bottling nearly 275 bottles of wine. James, I hear, has a case of wine for his first Mass in May! AND this event was SO Catholic!
Always thinking liturgically, the
soon-to-be-priested, Friar Deacon Charles blessed the new wine using this
text, but here is another version of the blessing of wine:
The Blessing of Wine in Honor of Saint John the Evangelist
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Pray Psalm 22 and then the Our Father
V. And lead
us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Preserve thy servants.
R.
That trust in thee, my God.
V. Send them aid, O Lord, from heaven.
R. And from
Sion watch over them.
V. Let the enemy be powerless over them.
R. And the son
of evil do nothing to harm them.
V. And should they drink anything deadly.
R.
May it not hurt them.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto
thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
Holy Lord,
Father Almighty, eternal God! Who didst will that thy Son, equal to thee in
eternity and substance, should descend from heaven and in the fullness of
time take temporal birth of the most holy Virgin Mary, so that He could seek
the lost and wayward sheep and carry it on His shoulders to the sheepfold, and
could cure the man fallen among robbers of his wounds by pouring in oil and
wine– do thou bless + and sanctify + this wine which thou hast vintaged for
man’s drink. Whoever partakes of it on this holy solemnity, grant him life in
body and soul. By thy goodness let it be to him strength in the pilgrimage to
prosper him on the way, that his journey may come to a happy termination.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who didst call thyself the true vine and thy holy apostles the branches, and
didst desire to plant a chosen vineyard of all who love thee, bless + this wine
and impart to it the power of thy benediction.+And as thy beloved disciple John,
Apostle and Evangelist intercedes for them that partake thereof, grant them
security from all deadly and poisonous afflictions and constant good health of
soul and body. Who lives and reigns forever.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
O God, thou
gives to man bread to eat and wine to drink — bread to nourish the body and
wine to cheer the heart. And as thou didst confer upon blessed John, thy
beloved disciple such favor that not only did he himself escape the poisoned
potion, but could restore life to others so overcome; do thou grant to all that
drink this wine spiritual joy and eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
thy Son, who with Thee, lives and reigns, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Who is Benedict XVI?
I bet you can’t answer that question in a 5 minute video!!!! 4 university students from the University of Navarra (Spain) try to answer this question. You’ve got to watch this VERY fun video on Pope Benedict.
Thanks to Miguel Rojo, Santiago Gonzalez-Barros, Juan Camino Pedraza and Alvaro Piquer.
Fr Luigi Squarcia who united his suffering with Christ’s, meets the Lord
Last November I posted a story about a priest, Father Luigi Squarcia, 66, a priest of the Diocese of Viterbo, who was living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease relating that Father Luigi was determined not to be defined by the ravages of a disease, nor to give into the nihilism of sickness and forthcoming death. What he did was remarkable: Father Luigi lived as a true Christian. He gathered up his sufferings for the life of the Mystical Body of the Church and gave them to the Lord in the person of Pope Benedict.
I received word today from friends of his letting me know that Father Luigi died on Wednesday and his funeral is today. My correspondent said that his funeral was concelebrated by four bishops. “He was loved by everyone and a real priest, since he offered and prayed until the last the minute.” I hope that can be said of me when I meet the Lord face to face. In his funeral homily Bishop Chiarinelli likened Father Luigi to Job: tested and found faithful. The bishop also noted that Father’s life was courageous, full of hope and complete in the Cross of Christ.
Providential that I receive this note from Italy about Father Luigi’s death because in my Christian Anthropology class these last days we’ve been speaking of suffering, uniting our suffering with that of Christ’s for the salvation of the world. We’re reading John Paul’s Salvifici Doloris and CS Lewis’ The Problem of Pain trying to understanding the mystery of suffering and pain and how it is redemptive and has radical meaning in a world that rejects suffering and meaning.
Offer a prayer for Father Luigi Squarcia who, indeed, did not squander the gift of suffering.
O God, Who did raise Thy servant Luigi Squarcia to the dignity of priest in the apostolic priesthood, grant, we beseech Thee, that he may be joined in fellowship with Thine Apostles forevermore.
I ask you to pray for a friend, also a priest, Father David Borino, who living with the same disease as Father Luigi.
In the above picture, courtesy of the sisters of the Immaculate Heart Monastery in Acquapendente, has Father Luigi walking with Archbishop Boccardo praying the rosary. In 2005, while processing with the Blessed Sacrament to conclude a Marian year, Father felt a change in feeling in his arms.
Acta Sanctae Sedis, Acta Apostolicae Sedis & Acts and Documents from WWII online
The Holy See has put the “official documents” online. The three acta noted below contain the principal decrees, encyclicals, decisions of the Vatican offices and other notices of ecclesiastical appointments and interests. Church laws contained in the Acta are considered promulgated when published in these organs of communication and official three months from the date of publication unless otherwise mentioned. The Vatican’s website is not part of the official documentary services of the Holy See; it is a method of communication. So, access to this information online is an incredible gift:
Acta Sanctae Sedis (1865-1908)
Acta Apostolicae Sedis (1909-2007)
Cardinal Egan at Holy Innocents Church NYC
Cardinal Edward Michael Egan, emeritus archbishop of New York, preached at Mass tonight observing the the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae at The Church of the Holy Innocents (West 37th Street, NYC). Holy Innocents is a beautiful church consecrated in 1901 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan.
The Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated by the Rev’d Father James Miara (a man ordained by the cardinal), assisted by the Rev’d Father Michael Barrone (Newark Archdiocese) and the Rev’d Father Richard Trezza, OFM, deacon and subdeacon respectfully. Nearly 400 people were in attendance.
The Cardinal focussed his homily on three points: the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae (1995) and the Mass. All three foci speak one language of obedience, though not an obedience of acquiescence to the will of another, but of an obedience that is filled with joy, done willingly and loyally.
The Blessed Mother sets the tone; some might say her life is a poem of love. From the earliest days of the Church the BVM has been an example of how to obey. She is an example for Catholics, particularly in difficult times, of how to live in manner filled with joy by abiding by God’s law joyfully, willingly, enthusiastically and loyally.
The late Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae taught that every human person is precious beyond expression, a mirror held up to the divinity. And thus, every person deserves respect. The encyclical opens with the words “The incomparable worth of the human person,” and then proceeds to lay out for the reader the roots of human dignity from Genesis, Deuteronomy, the Gospels, Saint Paul, Saint John and the natural which is written in the heart of all people.
In fact, the cardinal used an architectural image of sculpting to speak of the natural law being in our hearts and minds paying close attention to the reasonableness of the natural law which guides the human faculty of understanding. The natural law for us, pre-dates the fact of religion. That the natural law is written on the human heart we understand it’s function as being protective of life. People of reasonable mind, therefore, argue that the natural law applies equally to the baby in the womb as to the elderly woman in the wheelchair. Egan’s mantra becomes ours as it is our humane job is to protect life joyfully, willingly and loyally. And as the Blessed Mother gave her ‘yes’ to God, we ought to do the same for ourselves and for all of life at all its stages.
Apparently the cardinal watches National Geographic films these days. He highly recommended 2 films: “In the Womb” and “In the Womb – Multiples.” Both of these films show the great miracle of new life– alive, innocent and smiling. Only Egan would talk about Aristotle’s quip that the sign of a human being is his ability to smile. One would think that man’s ability to smile is linked to rationality and that the high tech photography of pre-born babies show them smiling would convince the cold rationalist to admit that which is in the woman womb is not fleshy stuff but a human being, an innocent baby. I suppose the non-smiling among us aren’t human yet. I wonder. Could Aristotle be correct?
Egan uttered the pious ejaculation: “Yes, Lord, we will defend children from conception to their natural end.
Ordained a priest in Rome in 1957 by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, a man for whom His Eminence has had the “greatest respect,” the themes imprinted on Egan’s heart were that of loyalty and obedience (lived joyfully and willingly, of course). Egan expressed his love for the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Forms of the Mass. As he said, he’s an obedient and loyal son of the Church and since Pope Benedict has determined the Church needs two forms of the Mass, he abides. In fact, the cardinal indicated that he “hears the voice of the Church as the will of God.” Benedict’s motu proprio Summorum Pontificum allows for the Missal of Blessed John XXIII to flourish and it deserves all people’s respect and love. Egan encouraged all to follow and truly embrace the faith as it is lived in sacred Scripture, sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Brought together, the priest and the faithful are to adjust to the leadership of the Catholic Church as Mary was obedient to God in Gabriel announcement of the Day of Redemption and as Pope John Paul II taught in Evangelium Vitae and as Pope Benedict in making the 1962 Missal a respectable form of worship consistent with theological and liturgical tradition.
Nigeria and her human misery
These pictures are extremely hard to look at, they are extremely graphic!!!
Let’s pray for the miracle of peace between Muslims &
Christians in northern Nigeria.
Unbelievable the depths to which human misery and animalistic passions can sink.
The pictures of the horrific murders of the Nigerians posted by the Anglican Diocese of Jos.
What are we doing about it?????
Dominicans and the Liturgy: recovering patrimony
The Order of Friars Preachers (the Dominicans) of the Province of Saint Joseph are now showing renewed interest in their own liturgical patrimony.
See this page for list of resources The Dominican Rite: A Guide to the Low Mass
One of many reasons this is good news to me is that finally the Dominicans are beginning to address their own liturgical tradition viz. their life and mission in the Church. The Liturgy has and ought to continue to be a central source of contemplation and worship of God that will influence all aspects of their life (the so-called 4 pillars) and their preaching. Time will tell on how this renewed interest in the Dominican Liturgy will impact life in the priory, the monasteries, the parishes and even Providence College. Some of the friars are not going to be all that pleased about the old Dominican Rite and will likely be obstructionists. But we need to pray for these poor souls.
One last reason this is a good thing, the good and excellent Liturgy is not only essential to the fraternal life, evangelization, personal conversion but it also inspires solid vocations. I have met a number of men who were turned-off by the Dominicans because of their refusal to entertain the possibility of a richer, more historic use of the Dominican liturgical tradition. The vocation director aborted the vocations of a number of men because of his dim understanding of the Liturgy; with renewed liturgical verve the Dominicans will likely flourish in great proportions. Sadly, the Dominicans’ loss is the gain of dioceses and other religious orders.
Blessed Humbert of Romans, pray for us!!!!
Annunciation of the Lord
As Christ came into the World, he said: Behold! I have come to do your will O God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates ‘the fullness of time,’ the time of the fulfillment of God’s promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the ‘whole fullness of deity’ would dwell ‘bodily.’ The divine response to her question, ‘How can this be, since I know not man?’ was given by the power of the Spirit: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you.'” (484)
God our Father, Your Word became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. May we become more like Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as our redeemer, God and man.
Cardinal Egan to preach at a Solemn Mass observing the 15th anniv of Evangelium Vitae, March 25
New York’s Agnus Dei
Council of the Knights of Columbus announced that Edward Cardinal Egan
would attend and preach the homily at a Solemn Mass for the Feast of the
Annunciation but that he would not celebrate a Pontifical Mass as planned and
announced. This Mass will mark the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae
(The Gospel of Life), the pro-life encyclical by Pope John Paul II issued on
March 25, 1995.
In a brief statement received last week, the Cardinal asked
that his celebration of the Pontifical Mass “scheduled for March 25th at Holy
Innocents Parish be postponed to a later date.” The statement to the
Knights explained the reason for postponing the Pontifical celebration:
that his celebration of the Pontifical Mass “scheduled for March 25th at Holy
Innocents Parish be postponed to a later date.” The statement to the
Knights explained the reason for postponing the Pontifical celebration:
“Because
of so many commitments over the last several weeks, the Cardinal has not had
time to prepare for the Mass properly. He looks forward to arranging
another date with the Knights of Columbus . . . whose invitation he deeply
appreciates.”
of so many commitments over the last several weeks, the Cardinal has not had
time to prepare for the Mass properly. He looks forward to arranging
another date with the Knights of Columbus . . . whose invitation he deeply
appreciates.”
His Eminence will nevertheless attend and preach the homily at a
Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation according to the 1962 Missal
celebrated by Fr. James Miara of the Archdiocese of New York.
Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation according to the 1962 Missal
celebrated by Fr. James Miara of the Archdiocese of New York.
The Solemn
Mass begins at 7:30 PM at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 128 W. 37th Street,
in Manhattan, home to New York City’s Shrine of the Unborn. Before Mass,
there will be a Rosary for Life at 7:00 PM.
Mass begins at 7:30 PM at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 128 W. 37th Street,
in Manhattan, home to New York City’s Shrine of the Unborn. Before Mass,
there will be a Rosary for Life at 7:00 PM.
WHAT: Solemn Mass
for Life, Edward Cardinal Egan, Homilist
for Life, Edward Cardinal Egan, Homilist
WHERE: The Church of the Holy
Innocents, 128 W. 37th Street, Manhattan
Innocents, 128 W. 37th Street, Manhattan
WHEN: Thursday, March 25th;
Rosary for Life, 7 PM; Solemn Mass, 7:30 PM
Rosary for Life, 7 PM; Solemn Mass, 7:30 PM
For more information, call (212)
569-1252 or visit www.traditionalknight.com.
569-1252 or visit www.traditionalknight.com.