Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
On this day in 1917, exactly a century ago, the Blessed Virgin began appearing to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal. She appeared on the thirteenth day of six consecutive months, culminating in the great Miracle of the Sun. Regardless of miracles, Catholics are not obliged to believe these “private revelations”. Indeed, the Church is very careful to investigate these […]
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Years ago, I wrote a post titled “Hopes and Prayers for a new Pastor“. If the stats are to be believed, this is one of the most consistently popular posts on this blog. I wrote then: Being a pastor is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, I think. The responsibility of shepherding souls must be a great […]
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This past weekend, I visited Mount Angel Abbey for retreat. I’d been once before, for an amazing liturgy conference they gave last year. This year, I went to accompany my new godson as he spent the weekend in a discernment retreat. The instant I arrived, I felt like my blood pressure dropped twenty points. During the weekend, I of course […]
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Pope Francis has named Monsignor Daniel H. Mueggenborg, a priest of the Diocese of Tulsa, as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle. He will join Bishop Eusebio Elizondo as assistant to Archbishop Peter Sartain. The Northwest Catholic, the official publication of the Archdiocese ran a story this afternoon: “It is with deep joy that I share this good […]
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A week ago we celebrated Lætare Sunday, a burst of joy in the midst of Lent. This was, coincidentally, the fifth anniversary of our first Mass at our parish of Holy Rosary. This coming week, the week before Holy Week, we double-down on Lent. Traditionally, today’s Fifth Sunday of Lent marks the beginning of Passiontide, when we walk with Christ […]
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We’re just back from the Rite of Election. This is where our Catechumens and Candidates signify their call to the Easter Sacraments. In theory, this should be done at the Cathedral, but the enormous number of people entering the Church make this impractical. Every year, the Archdiocese of Seattle celebrates a number of these Rites throughout the Archdiocese – this […]
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The following open letter can be found in various liturgical blogs, and it is well worth reading. Although I am not one of the signatories, I very much associate myself with the sentiments expressed here. A Statement on the Current Situation of Sacred Music We, the undersigned—musicians, pastors, teachers, scholars, and lovers of sacred music—humbly offer this statement to the […]
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Saint Benedict was the founder of western monasticism; to this day, most monks and nuns worldwide follow some variation of his “Little Rule for Beginners“. Benedict had a twin sister, Scholastica, whose feast day is today. Under her brother’s guidance, she founded the first female monastery in the west. I often think that their parents had a sense of humour, […]
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This is a new feature I’m trying out. My aim is to compare statements issued by officials of the government of the United States with statements on the same or similar subject from Sacred Scripture or from the teachings of the Church or both. I am mindful that we have in this country a separation of Church and State, and […]
» Read moreO God of my fathers and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things by thy word, and by thy wisdom hast formed man, to have dominion over the creatures thou hast made, and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul, give me the wisdom that sits by thy throne, and do not […]
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Happy sixth day of Christmas! Yesterday was the memorial of the splendid Saint Thomas Becket. Having the birth name “Thomas”, I take Becket and Aquinas as patrons, and I normally write something about the saint here each year. Yesterday snuck up on me. In addition to working, I attended an early Mass at Saint Joseph, walked home, and then there […]
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Today is the second “O” antiphon, O Adonai. If you are in Tacoma, you may hear this sung at Solemn Vespers this evening at Holy Rosary Church. Please join us for this beautiful and holy liturgy at 6:00 PM. These videos, which I will be embedding each day until Christmas, were recorded by the Dominican student brothers at Oxford in […]
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This article from Crux caught my eye. What better way to support the homeless Monks of Norcia than to buy their beer? Suds and solidarity: Buying Benedictine beer helps rebuild basilica ROME – The Latin-liturgy chanting, beer-brewing Benedictine monks of Norcia, Italy, the birthplace of St. Benedict, are living and praying in temporary structures after an earthquake in August damaged […]
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From the earthquake-ravaged Monastery of Norcia, we have news that the founding Prior, Rev. Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., has resigned. The earthquakes of the past several months have presented us with incredible challenges, which require vigorous, creative leadership. While I am in good health at the moment, I do not have the strength or energy necessary to meet these challenges. Therefore […]
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For the close of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has released an Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Miseria, “Mercy and Misery”. MISERICORDIA ET MISERA is a phrase used by Saint Augustine in recounting the story of Jesus’ meeting with the woman taken in adultery (cf. Jn 8:1-11). It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful or apt […]
» Read moreBefore, during, and after last night’s vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Rev. Caleb Insco, F.S.S.P., heard Confessions at Holy Rosary. Fr. Insco is a newly-minted priest serving at St Joseph. I am grateful for Fr. Insco’s zeal and charity, and I would like to publicly thank him for his service to the Lord and to the […]
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My friends, it has been a rough couple of weeks. You may have noticed that my posts here of late have been few and far between. For this I apologize. I have been in the grips of a mild depression, which may have even risen to the sin of acedia. Certainly I plan to Confess the same a little later […]
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