Another Perspective - New Missal Dissent

I have said previously that I have made it my objective to draw attention to articles regarding the new Roman Missal, from other Catholic media sources throughout the world, in order to counter the largely negative reports contained in The Southern Cross. I came across another column by Louie Verrecchio titled “The 'Global Missal Dissent System'” in which he writes, “the naysayers are getting more than their fair share of attention in some circles; so much so, that if one didn’t know any better it would seem that a major crisis is at hand rather than a great blessing.”

Read the column here»»

Amusing Attacks On New Roman Missal

The Southern Cross, as the sole national Catholic newspaper in South Africa, is for many Catholics in South Africa the sole source of Catholic news. I have made it my objective to draw attention to articles regarding the new Roman Missal, from other Catholic media sources throughout the world, in order to counter the largely negative reports contained in The Southern Cross. I came across this rather amusing column by Louie Verrecchio titled “Media attacks on new Roman Missal amusing”. It contains a reference to Fr. Larry Kaufmann, a South African Catholic priest, who has been quite critical of the new Roman Missal. 

Read the column here»»

Is It Permissible To Ask If God Exists?

Whether or not God really exists is one of those topics that I suspect many Catholics may consider taboo. Many of us were born into the Church. We have grown up in a culture where from birth it is considered a given for us to believe in the existence of God. We feel we must simply believe by “faith” and not question this belief.

The Promotion of Peace

Peace is not the mere absence of war or the simple maintenance of a balance of power between forces, nor can it be imposed at the dictate of absolute power. It is called, rightly and properly, a work of justice. It is the product of order, the order implanted in human society by its divine founder, to be realised in practice as men hunger and thirst for ever more perfect justice.

Why do minority beliefs trump our religious beliefs?

I have always held the belief that the proponents of gay marriage are not as concerned about the right to marry as they are about forcing those, who hold religious beliefs opposed to gay marriage, to act contrary to their religious beliefs. Stacy Trasancos in her blog asks: “So what I want to know is why should a minority's beliefs trump everyone else's beliefs especially when there is no "right" being infringed upon?” Definitely worth reading here »

A Quote on Clergy

“It will, I believe, be everywhere found,

that as the clergy are,

or are not what they ought to be,

so are the rest of the nation.”

Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Dr William Oddie on New Roman Missal

If you want to read a good Catholic weekly then The Catholic Herald is one such source that I highly recommend. Dr William Oddie, a leading English Catholic writer and broadcaster who edited The Catholic Herald from 1998 to 2004, has written a wonderful blog about the new English translation of the Mass. It would be well worth your while to take some time to read it. To read it just follow this link »»

Social Media - Something Lighthearted

The Delusion of Charity

My post yesterday titled, “Is The Southern Cross Subversively Promoting Dissidence”, has caused some angry responses. The editor of The Southern Cross commented on my blog, “Alas, you are adopting a most hostile tone yourself, thereby helping to turn the Holy Eucharist into a battlefield with undue aggression. Are you not ashamed of yourself?”

Is The Southern Cross Subversively Promoting Dissidence

I recently wrote about the fact that there were liturgical observers, outside of South Africa, who shared my view that South African Catholics were deliberately setup to create a negative reaction to the new Roman Missal. I also expressed my opinion, in my recent blog titled “Priest Resistance to Change – Natural”, that I believe that the motive of The Southern Cross is to specifically promote a negative reaction to the new Roman Missal.

Better The Devil You Know

Rotting Corpse of Muammar Gaddafi

I recently expressed my opinion about the murder of Gaddafi and his son after they were captured and murdered in Sirte, Libya. I made the point in “Trial for Gaddafi Executioner” that, despite what they may have been guilty of, we cannot ever resort to the same barbaric behaviour because “the moment that we executed Bin Laden and Gaddafi, we became them!”

Priest Resistance to Change - Natural

I see that Fr. Russell Pollitt is on the “New English Translation of the Mass” bandwagon again. Fr. Pollitt says in his article that, “I began to reflect on this whole saga again and it strikes me that the implementation does not mean that we should suddenly become uncritical of what we have been given.”

New Mass Translation

I came across a very positive article regarding the new translation of the Roman Missal. I thought that it was definitely worth sharing, especially for fellow Catholics in South Africa. The number of positive articles regarding the new translation, in our national Catholic newspaper, has sadly been quite sparse. In fact, we seemed to have been inundated with mainly reports of negativity regarding the new translation of the Mass. So much so that, in my post “Were South African Catholics Deliberately Setup”, I share the view of Rev. Peter Stravinskas that there may have been a conspiracy to create a negative reaction in South Africa. Anyway, you can read this positive article at source here: “New Mass Prayers Will Bring Faithful Closer to ‘Mystery of God’”

Allahu Akbar - God is Great

Safia Gaddafi (Wife)

The words "Allah Akbar" are heard repeatedly in this video as Gaddafi is captured, beaten and killed. Allah Akbar - God is Great - is indeed true. Our God is great and he is merciful: "There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. "There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 982)

This video is gruesome. It displays how quickly we forget and just how easily we fall and become exactly that which we, just moments before, had hated and despised the most.

Trial for Gaddafi Executioner?

Colonel Gaddafi (Pic: AFP /Philippe Desmazes)

The circumstances that led to the death of Muammar Gaddafi is allegedly still uncertain because there are so many versions of what happened. I would hazard a guess that, like me, most people are under no illusions as to what happened to Gaddafi.

Teachers Fail Parents

Stacy Trasancos posted a very interesting post on her Blog today. I was horrified when I read how the teachers at a school in Hartford had locked the school children into a school building. Why? Well to force them to watch a play in which homosexuals are portrayed as normal and heterosexuals as abnormal. It is clear from the reaction of the children that many of the children clearly didn’t want to watch the play and found the idea of two men kissing on stage repulsive.

Much is Expected

I have to continually remind myself to take stock of the many graces that I receive from God all of the time. It is far too easy to simply take life for granted and give no further thought to the many events in my life. Some of the graces, which I receive, easily become evident through relatively little thought. Some become evident to me only in hindsight, often after or during time spent in prayer.

Campaign: Support Pope Benedict XVI in face of Nazi Accusation

A campaign has been launched on Facebook to muster support for Pope Benedict XVI in the face of the despicable accusations by Susan Sarandon. Susan Sarandan in an interview on Saturday, 15 October 2011, referred to Pope Benedict XVI as "the Nazi one we have now." When the interviewer tried to dismiss the remark Sarandan repeated the accusations. The campaign is here: "Support Pope Benedict XVI in Face of Sarandon Nazi Accusations". Why not sign up in support of the Pope.

Susan Sarandon Calls Pope a Nazi

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon has shown her ignorance by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as the “Nazi one we have now.” She did this not once but twice during an interview with fellow actor and filmmaker Bob Balaban.

Are you missing any siblings?

Have any of us ever considered that we may not have been here if our mother had elected to have an abortion? In addition, have we ever considered that, if our mother has ever had an abortion, we have yet to meet one or more, as the case may be, of our siblings? A sibling, or siblings, who I am sure God has already taken into heaven with him. A sibling whom we will eventually meet when our lives here are over!

Mark’s Recommended Reads (Oct 17, 2011)

There are two books that anyone, who is anyway involved in the Liturgy, has got to read and have readily at hand for reference purposes. Both of these books are by Peter J. Elliot and are extremely easy to read.

HIV+ Man Convicted for First-Degree Assault

A court in Minneapolis recently convicted Daniel James Rick of first-degree assault because, although he was aware that he was HIV positive, Rick had sex with another man and this resulted in the transmission of the disease to the victim. Allegedly, Rick did convey to the other man that he was HIV positive, before they engaged in sex, but the man agreed to sex anyway.

50th Anniversary of Vatican II

Pope Benedict XVI

I think that it is fantastic that Pope Benedict XVI this morning, Sunday, 16 October 2011, declared the “Year of Faith”[1]. A renewed focus on Faith is exactly what the Church needs. The "Year of Faith" will begin on 11 October 2012 and end on 24 November 2013. This date is significant because it was on 11 October 1962 that Vatican II was opened. The “Year of Faith” will therefore mark the 50^th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II.

“Ethical Incest Fantasy?”

Gates of Hell

Yesterday, when I came across the story of how Dan Savage bullied an innocent man[1], I also noted that he, Dan Savage was allegedly America’s leading relationship and sexual advice columnist. I decided to read some of the advice that Dan Savage was offering his many readers, many of whom seem to be young people. Here are some of the bits of advice given by Dan Savage:

Good Samaritan Steals Camera

Jeremy and Sally Weaving

This should give you a good chuckle. The Mail Online has a story about a couple that lost their bag at the airport. The bag contained their passports, some cash, drivers’ licence, and their digital camera.

Pope Benedict XVI Bravely Faced The Storm

WYD 2011 - Prayer Vigil in the Storm

I came across this report about Pope Benedict XVI at World Youth Day 2011. It tells of how Pope Benedict XVI was encouraged to leave the prayer vigil because of the tremendous thunder and lightning and rain. Apparently he twice waved his finger, saying, “no, no, no,” when they tried to get him to leave. I enjoyed reading it and thought you may too.

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Nothing Less Than Savage Bullying

How many times have we been told that two wrongs don’t make a right? Sadly we live in a society where turning the other cheek no longer applies. Instead, vengeance is considered par for the course. Well this waitress learned only to quickly how vengeance can backfire! But so did someone, who has built his reputation on the need for tolerance in society.

Church Terms: What is a Sacrarium?

A Sacrarium

In a church near the altar, normally in the sacristy, one will find a basin that is used to clean sacred vessels after Mass. It is also used as the place in which to dispose of any materials that were used in the sacraments, including disposing of the water that was used for the liturgical ablutions.

Ten Prayer Tips

Carmelite Sisters Praying The Divine Office

I found these useful tips from the Carmelite Sisters in a Catholic eMagazine.[1]

Two Year Trial Wedding

“Divorces across Mexico are sharply on the rise. To avoid the courts from getting inundated with divorce requests, officials at Mexico’s largest and busiest city are toying with the idea of granting ‘trial wedding licenses’.

My Blackberry's Not Working

This had me in stitches . . .

Once Saved, Always Saved?

Many protestant groups hold that once a person accepts Christ as Saviour, he is at that moment saved and there is nothing the person can do to lose that salvation. But the Bible is clear that, like Adam and Eve, we are able to fall from grace. Here is a good response from uCatholic.

Lay People Distribute Communion - Priest Sits

I had to read this post on Fr. Z’s blog, “Priest sits as lay people distribute Communion” more than once to make sure I was not imagining it. Surely this did not happen!

Africa is not for the faint-hearted

If there are any foreigners who think that it is an old wife's tale that we have Lions walking in the streets of Africa. Think again. Look at the risks we take in South Africa just going for a simple mountain bike ride! Welcome to Africa!

I Did Something Stupid In Confession

I saw this post on one of the better Catholic Blogs that I follow. The blog is by a Catholic Priest in the UK, known as Father Z. It contains some sound advice about confession and so I thought it was definitely worth sharing it. Hope you find it helpful.

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