Angels

Guariento di Arpo

Looking like clouds.

I was looking at clouds thinking of 40,000 Headmen - I love that song. I look at clouds and like to wonder about angels. Sometimes they look like thousands of cherubs. Although 40,000 Headmen sound like a lot, 40,000 angels would hardly be a large number. Imagine how many angels there are - so many we can't count them. There is a hierarchy of angels - nine choirs - and silly people want to name their angel guardian.

We know relatively nothing about angels - and of course, many people pay no attention to their guardian angel or even know they have one. I know the catechism and theologians tell us what they are - but I'm not talking about studies here.  I want to simply 'wonder' about angels, the angelic life. 

Corrado Giaquinto

Imagine an angel - imagine a cloud. Try to imagine that when you look at clouds on a cloudy day - or when you catch a glimpse of a few wisps of vapor, in an otherwise cloudless sky. There could be 40,000 angels in that little wisp.  "I know just where my feet should go and that's enough for me..."


We don't know what angels are - what are they?  Yes, they are spirits, but what is that?  What do they do?  What did they do before the test?   What is their name - does God know each by name?  Of course he does. Who is God and what is an angel?  What am I? "And soaring high above the clouds I found a golden shrine..."

And soaring high above the clouds ... don't look back.

Like a prayer.

More lamentations from the religiously dissatisfied ...

Not good enough?

I noticed a link on Facebook to an NCRegister article by Fr. Raymond de Souza who seems to believe the Church ignored the Fatima Centenary - while in fact citing all the ways in which the anniversary was indeed celebrated around the globe, as well as noting the canonizations of Jacinta and Francisco by Pope Francis, during his apostolic visit to Fatima on the feast day of the first apparition, in accord with the jubilee year.  A plenary indulgence was granted especially for the jubilee year as well.  Yet Fr. de Souza complains it was an 'undeclared Year of Fatima'?

All year long, Catholics online were expecting some dreadful chastisement, war, tsunami, and so on, to mark the Fatima anniversary.  Perhaps even hoping the Pope would be killed so they could get one to their liking?  Reputable priests - monsignors even - warned of impending doom.  No doubt it's still on the way, but in the meantime Fatimists will continue to claim Heaven is pretty pissed off at the Church and the Pope(s) for not following the instructions given in the secrets, esp. as interpreted by Fr. Gruner and the FatimaLiveNetwork, survived by Christopher Ferrara and his remnant of traditionalist Catholics.

They are never satisfied.  The third secret wasn't dramatic enough, no pope was actually killed, the consecration wasn't explicit enough, the fall of Communism didn't make Russia Roman Catholic, etc..  So of course, the Jubilee Year of Fatima wasn't big enough - and golly-gee - fire didn't come down from heaven to devour all the liberals. 

Yeah, but ... the year isn't over yet.

Fellini-esque ... a sort of photo essay.

I saw a photo of a Cardinal in an ermine lined cappa magna on the steps of a church in Florence on Christmas Eve and for some reason Fellini immediately came to mind, as well as vintage glamour shots from Cannes.  The photos of the Cardinal can be found on a site called 'Regina Magazine' and can't be shared independently online.  The one shot of the Cardinal with the aspergillum blessing the street is especially dramatic - the magazine copy says onlookers were 'stunned'.

Holy Innocents

People seem to resist the idea that the Holy Family were 'displaced persons' - a term used for refugees and migrants coming into the United States after WWII.  Many at the time used the pejorative term "DPs" for them.   Their detractors claimed they were coming into the US to live and work tax free, while collecting welfare benefits and provided housing services.  Things haven't changed much, immigrants and refugees are pretty much disparaged in the same way these days.

I just noticed on Facebook a post concerning a tweet from Ann Coulter claiming the Holy Family were not refugees.  I didn't bother to read much more, since I encounter that claim frequently online.  The fact is, the Holy Family did flee persecution, just like so many refugees do today.  The Holy Family fled the murderous Herod and took refuge in Egypt.  Refugees seek refuge in a safe place, often fleeing their homeland.  They migrate - move from one place to another - and find refuge in a place of exile.  Jesus was a indeed a refugee exiled in Egypt.  Thus the prophecy was fulfilled: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

We are all pilgrims and strangers, aliens and sojourners, refugees and migrants in flight, looking for a homeland.  How can we deny that the Son of God left us an example of this?  As St. Paul points out:  For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.

Fr. Z and I are best friends now.

I had a dream that we had drinks together and shared our love of traditional vestments and Renaissance art.  I explained to him I kept it secret until now because I was hurt he hadn't friended me years ago.  I was very shy about meeting him, convinced that he disliked me, so I hesitated to tell him how fond I am of him, and how much I wanted to be his friend.  He said he wanted that too.  It was so nice.  We had drinks and talked about rubrics and vestments and chant.  I woke up feeling great affection for Fr. Z.

I know it was a dream, but it made me think.  I don't want to criticize or complain about people online anymore.  I don't want to argue and disagree and be disagreeable and always critical of people who may be unhappy or angry about something.  I want to be content to let others do that - if they choose to do so.  I'm content to let others be in their opinion and judgement.  If I disagree, what does it matter?  If someone contradicts me, that is good.  If I am envious or feel slighted, I need to deal with it and not put it on others.

I hope I can do that.

Cold in Minneapolis

Marjolein Bastin

Happy Christmas to all the critters!

It is so cold outside I put out extra food for the critters and lighted lanterns - not that the lanterns will give much heat, but it looks warmer.  I may light a fire tonight - I bought a small fire pit for the holidays and haven't used it yet, so maybe for the feast of Stephen.  Mrs. Rabitowitz is sitting at the foot of the steps as I write.  I put out apples and walnuts and sunflower seeds, with some grapes.  St. Francis used to put out food for critters on Christmas, and St. Martin De Porres always fed the wild life in the garden.  When you do stuff like that you can't help but recall how many sleep rough, the homeless, those who live in their cars, and those people dispossessed of shelter and home, and even a homeland.

It's Christmas now...

So.

Finally.

 Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

It's Fesitvus!

Pope Francis' Pre-Christmas Address to the Curia.

Pope Francis addresses the Roman Curia during 

his annual Christmas greeting Dec. 21, 2017.

This is the first year for a Festivus Pole, 

which I believe can be seen to the Holy Father's right.

Festivus and the Airing of Grievances.

As everyone knows, Festivus begins with the 'airing of grievances' which Pope Francis delicately weaves into his pre-Festivus-Christmas address to the Roman Curia.  In keeping with the holiday spirit, the Pope started off the Festivus celebration with the following:

In his closely watched pre-Christmas address to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis again spoke about its reform and focused on the Curia’s crucially important relationship ad extra: to the world outside the Vatican City State. This was his fourth consecutive talk on the Roman Curia; the first three were on the inner life of the Curia. This year he focused on the Curia’s relation to the external world.

Francis emphasized that the Curia must act out of of service, or “diaconal primacy” as he called it, not only to the Petrine ministry (the papacy) but also to the outside world, as it seeks to follow in the footsteps of Christ who made himself a slave for our sakes.

[...]

First, those who lose contact with the real world of faith and life and join in the “unbalanced and degenerate logic of conspiracies or of the small circles that in reality represent—notwithstanding all their justifications and good intentions—a cancer that leads to self-referentiality, that infiltrates itself into the ecclesiastical organisms as such, and in particular into the persons that work there.” When this happens, he said, the joy of the Gospel “is lost.”

He described the second group as “the betrayers of trust and the profiteers of the motherhood of the church.” These are “persons who have been carefully chosen to give greater vigor to the [ecclesial] body and to the reform but, not understanding the high levels of their responsibilities, allow themselves to be corrupted by ambition or vain glory, and when they are delicately removed [from those positions] they erroneously declare themselves to be martyrs of the system, of ‘the pope who is not informed,’ of ‘the old guard,’ instead of reciting the mea culpa [‘through my fault’].” - Finish reading here.

Tomorrow is Festivus Eve!

The Vatican Nativity and a provocative presentation of the seven corporal works of mercy...

Sette opere di Misericordia

Caravaggio

Naked man, man nursing at woman's breast ... OMG!

Snap out of it!

So many Catholics seem to be making a big deal about the Vatican Nativity with a naked man representing the work of mercy, 'clothe the naked'.  Have you people been to Rome?  Haven't you people seen naked sculptures all over the city, in the Vatican, in the Sistine?  What is wrong with you?  Have you ever seen a real Neapolitan Nativity (Or a Spanish one for that matter?) with an awful lot of real life going on around the central scene?  While Joseph and Mary find a place in the midst of all the clamor and life happening to allow the birth of Christ to take place?  It didn't happen in a sterile clinic, in the comfort of a nice home or palace, it happened in a stable where animals were kept.  Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in a dump.  The Mother of God also appeared to Bruno Cornacchiola - in a cave where prostitutes turned tricks and homosexuals had sex - across the road from Tre Fontane, outside Rome.  What is wrong with you people?

Clothe the naked.

"Many nuns in Rome say they are shocked and are very worried about the message these decorations are sending to the youngest." - Robert Moynihan


Really?

El Belén del Príncipe

OMG!  Naked Angels!

But Father!  But Father!  Butt!

The website for Antonio Cantone here.

https://www.facebook.com/CANTONECOSTABILEPRESEPI/

A perfect icon for Advent ... Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:

the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and shall name him Emmanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

The root of Jesse has blossomed,

the star of David has risen. - Antiphon

In the bush seen by Moses

as burning and yet unconsumed,

we recognize the preservation 

of your glorious virginity,

O Mother of God.

- Antiphon

Detail of Our Lady of the Burning Bush

similar to OL of the Sign.

Spanish Colonial Example

Our Lady of the Sign

The Virgin Birth of Christ.

When Cardinal Burke was here ...

Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens assisted Cardinal Burke

I was pleased to see that our Archbishop and Bishop attended and assisted Cardinal Burke.  I also noted in some of the photos on the All Saints site that there was room in the church and I even saw a couple of guys in jeans - there was even room to park the car.  I could have attended after all.

Having said that, I still don't get the cappa stuff and vesting at the altar.  Yes, I know what it symbolizes but why?  So that seems like a lot of theater - but who am I to judge?  

Last evening I watched a documentary from the reign of Pius XII which showed the splendor, pomp and circumstance surrounding just about every ceremony involving the Pope, as well as the consistories for new cardinals.  I recall a similar documentary which aired on television when Pius XII died in 1958, and I was thrilled by how grand everything was.  The world has changed dramatically since then, and I understand completely why it was necessary to simplify the papacy and do away with the monarchical extravagances.  

A beautiful life.

Sister Mary Ann Sullivan, ocso 

of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey,

died on May 13, 2017.

More here.

This morning I had a sense that a friend died.

Afterwards, I opened an envelope containing the newsletter from Our Lady of Mississippi Abbey, and sure enough, Sr. Mary Ann was on the first page.  Moments before, I thought - I should open my mail, I bet Sr. Mary Ann died.  (I don't open my mail as soon as I receive it, I like to pretend it's an exercise in detachment to set it aside until Sunday.  I'm not at all detached though - just nuts.)

Anyway, Sr. Mary Ann was always very kind to me. I thank God for her holy life and fidelity. It is a great thing to persevere in the monastery until death.

Great Performances

Gaudete*

They who truly adore God must adore Him in spirit and in truth.

I watched a bit of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert on PBS last evening.  I think it was from last year and it was very grand, as usual.  They had a live nativity which was styled and costumed very much like a Neapolitan creche.  I thought the presentation was rather Catholic.  If the presentation could have included a priest and deacons dressed in elaborate vestments, along with a couple dozen altar boys, partially obscured amid clouds of incense, it would probably attract crowds of traditional Mass Catholics.

The idea came to mind after I saw a couple of Facebook notices that the FSSP church in North Minneapolis is hosting Cardinal Burke tomorrow for a Pontifical Mass.  Today the had a Rorate Mass - candlelit.  I do not recall attending either as a young boy, but I knew the school sisters were happy to attend.  Friends on Facebook noted they would be attending both events this weekend.  The Masses are beautiful indeed, yet the notices do impress me as promotional ads for a special performance - staring Cardinal Burke, and that sort of thing.  Before you get mad that I said that, please know that I understand that it is not like that - but it may seem like that to outsiders.

See that your bodies are living temples of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in you.

It's a curious situation the Latin rite finds itself in.  One Mass in two forms, as well as two calendars for the two forms.  A week or so ago I praised the beauty of a Mass celebrated at a Baroque altar and a friend suggested I go to All Saints, the FSSP parish, mistaking my admiration for the beautiful setting, as well as my regret that many churches got rid of so much ornament, as a sort of unhappiness with the Ordinary Form of Mass.  I'm not at all unhappy with the Ordinary Form.

Many traditionalists complain the Ordinary Form is all about the people and the personality of the priest-celebrant.  That's not my experience.  That said, advertising this Cardinal or that Bishop appearing for a Pontifical Mass at the Throne with several priests and deacons and dozen of altar boys in attendance, amid clouds of incense, seems like promoting an episode of Great Performances.  It is said the Ordinary Form is narcissistic with all the attention upon the celebrant and not worship, all about 'us' and not God.  I think not.

I love this.

The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.


I also believe it is an error to think that one form of Mass is holier than than the other, or more efficacious than the other.  This seems to be the defense on some level, and that simply is not true.  (I'm also thinking it is very wrong to play the EF against the OF, and/or to discuss its use in terms of regime change and who is for it or against it, as well as to enlist new followers or promoters as one would for a theatrical production, and that sort of thing.)  The Rorate Mass is a beautiful celebration in honor of Our Lady, and the theological/mystical symbolism is very rich, so I am not at all dismissing it.  But what exactly is a Rorate Mass?

The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world. - Finish reading at FSSP

I think some people are drawn to deeper devotion in and through the traditional liturgical rites.  Nothing wrong with that at all.  It is their personal experience but it cannot be stated that therefore the extraordinary Form is holier or more pleasing to God when in fact the Church celebrates the Ordinary Form as the central form of the liturgy.  (I'm not a liturgist so I'm not sure I expressed that well.)   Playing the two forms against one another, or saying one is more efficacious than the other is an error.  It seems to me that attitude is also a form of snobbery which is often observable in other areas of the lives of such people.  (It's sometimes fairly obvious on social media.)

Something to think about from St. John of the Cross...

The reason, then, why some spiritual persons never enter perfectly into the true joys of the spirit is that they never succeed in raising their desire for rejoicing above these things that are outward and visible. Let such take note that, although the visible oratory and temple is a decent place set apart for prayer, and an image is a motive to prayer, the sweetness and delight of the soul must not be set upon the motive or the visible temple, lest the soul should forget to pray in the living temple, which is the interior recollection of the soul. The Apostle, to remind us of this, said: 'See that your bodies are living temples of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in you.'  And this thought is suggested by the words of Christ which we have quoted, namely that they who truly adore God must adore Him in spirit and in truth.  For God takes little heed of your oratories and your places set apart for prayer if your desire and pleasure are bound to them, and thus you have little interior detachment, which is spiritual poverty and renunciation of all things that you may possess.

In order, then, to purge the will from vain desire and rejoicing in this matter, and to lead it to God in your prayer, you must see only to this, that your conscience is pure, and your will perfect with God, and your spirit truly set upon Him.

Of certain evils into which those persons fall who give themselves to pleasure in sensible objects and who frequent places of devotion in the way that has been described.

Many evils, both interior and exterior, come to the spiritual person when he desires to follow after sweetness of sense in these matters aforementioned.  For, as regards the spirit, he will never attain to interior spiritual recollection, which consists in neglecting all such things, and in causing the soul to forget all this sensible sweetness, and to enter into true recollection, and to acquire the virtues by dint of effort. As regards exterior things, he will become unable to dispose himself for prayer in all places, but will be confined to places that are to his taste; and thus he will often fail in prayer, because, as the saying goes, he can understand no other book than his own village. - S. John, Ascent

There is an often repeated 

complaint that the 'Presider's Chair'

in the 'Novus Ordo' either 

took the place of the tabernacle

or blocked the view

of the tabernacle,

and made the narcissistic celebrant 

the focus.

What?

 *The word 'gaudy' is derived from 'gaudium'.  Isn't that interesting?

Once upon a time ... something happened.

The Story.

I began writing stories from my life years ago, but I always stopped abruptly at some point, simply because the narrative would get too serious or I'd try to insert some sort of moral or psychological analysis - beyond my competence.  I wanted it to be factual, but funny - because humor made it seem everything is okay.  I also wanted to be sure I came off as being unscathed and perfectly adjusted despite everything.  Yeah, like I said, humor was necessary to escape pity - be it self-pity or that of others who may be more condescending in their sympathy.  Likewise, no one wants to admit to personal problems publicly.

Sometimes that can be warranted however.

Recently on Facebook I really did connect with family members I haven't been in touch with for years - as well as some old friends.  It's wonderful to be back in touch - to catch up, to reconcile.  For me it was a sort of 'It's A Wonderful Life - George Bailey' event.  It's a good thing and I'm very happy and grateful for it.

Then I crashed, so to speak.  The reason I need to write about it is that for years I blamed my family for causing these flashbacks of anxiety and depression.  Of course I knew they couldn't take the blame for my problems, and I knew they were not the actual cause - and that there was nothing wrong with 'them'.  But with every contact, I recalled emotionally, or felt the traumatic feelings and panic I experienced as a child.  Sometimes these feelings would emerge after a phone call, or just picking up a message on the answering service.  I was in huge denial that I probably have PTSD, which could be triggered - especially during the holidays - by something so simple as an invitation to a Christmas party.

This year, when apparently everything was just fine with the family, the panic hit me harder than ever.  Yesterday I had a flashback of some events which I witnessed as a toddler.  What I can say about it is that I know from experience what real terror is.  That's all I can say at this point.  I could speak/write about it and detail every single event, but I won't do that.  It's a breakthrough nonetheless.  In years past, some members of my family mistook my distancing myself, as well as my avoidance of them as a sign something bad happened between us.  That wasn't why I kept a distance of course, and to be sure I never harmed a member of my family - but that was their 'default' position as to why I avoided family contact.

What happened to me, the terror I witnessed, happened when I was a toddler and a young child.  I suppressed it, and denied it, I even joked about the bad stuff that happened.  That's how I dealt with it.  When it caught up with me, I fled - I ran away.  I left home in senior year, I moved away and tried to invent a new life for myself, and with each new try, I strayed further away.  I did everything in my power to avoid the pain - which is the only reason I left family and friends behind - over and over again.  It's why I never stayed in one place.

Anyway.  It all caught up with me this week.  Looks like there really is something called PTSD.  Prayer really helps.  Patience obtains all.

Sometimes God "may allow or cause you to go through difficult trials of faith when you will not be able to cope with your problems by yourself…. 

The experience of not being able to cope with something, and the feeling of loss, can cause you to have the desire to look for his coming. This is a chance for the growth and the deepening of your faith." - Fr. Dajczer

It's all good.  I learned a great deal this week, and my friend Fr. P offered Mass for me.  Thanks to all for your prayers.

ASK FADDA or QUAERITUR: Can a man become a nun?

Can woman become a monk?

The issue of a transgendered nun came up in a small corner of Blogwarts once again today, which reminds me of a few saints stories - and a Cardinal who once sponsored a transgender vocation when he was but a wee bishop in a dell. As any priest should know by now, there is some precedent for the curious case of a transgendered woman becoming a nun, or a trans-man becoming a monk - but not a priest of course.  Never ever a priest.

Catholics have a lot of rules.

Fr. Z lets Fr. Ferguson tackle the QUAERITUR, and he does a fine job.  (I wish I could write with a British/Irish accent, it would make everything so homely and charming... think of Barry Fitzgerald in 'Going My Way'.)  Father references the Canons on the subject, as well as all the vetting and formation rules, regulations, and guidelines within religious formation programs, as a way to sort out all the defective aspirants.  Religious-monastic life is highly regulated and guidelines are sharply defined.  We have seen how well the rules work with no homosexuals allowed in seminary or admitted to ordination, and never in religious life.  Shivers!

Anyway, Fr. Ferguson on when someone identifies as a male ...

If someone who is female but “identifies” as male somehow manages to get through the application process, years of formation, and all the necessary vetting and, horrifically goes through an ordination ceremony, she enters the church building not as a priest, but as an excommunicated woman in virtue of canon 1378.2.1.

If a man attempted to enter a religious community of women, and somehow managed to bluff his way through the formation process, there would not be an automatic excommunication, but he would not in any way shape or form become a nun. He would be a man masquerading as a nun – which might be funny in a movie or play, but in the light of eternity and divine judgment, which we all will face, is a serious and blasphemous action. 

Anyone who assisted, or colluded, or covered for the folks who lie to the Church in order to pretend to get ordained or pretend to take vows will also be subject to penalties in this life, and judgment in the life to come. - Can a man become a nun?

Once upon a time ...

A canonist and bishop allowed a transgendered person to become a nun.

First of all, the man discussed extensively here, went through sexual reassignment procedures and lived as a woman, formed a pious association of the faithful with another woman and intended to live as a consecrated woman religious, popularly identified as a nun, but in reality a sister. This she was apparently allowed to do after abjuring his former way of life - or something to that effect. The aspiring religious found approval, but a very, very, devout lay-woman, concerned about scandal, went over the bishop's head and appealed to the Vatican, and the nascent little community was disbanded. It's over and done with, the poor transgendered person cast out onto the existential periphery and forgotten.  (It should be noted the person had mental health concerns which the bishop hopefully took into consideration before approving of the community in the process of formation.)

Nevertheless, Fr. Z's quaeritur reminded me once again that stranger things have happened, that the road to salvation, the way of holiness is indeed open to all. Even transgender persons. Recall, if you will, what Jesus said in the Gospel when speaking of celibacy, how some men were made eunuchs by men, while some were from birth, and so on. Likewise, it was to a eunuch the Apostle Philip was sent and baptized in Acts. Of course I know, eunuchs were not transvestites, neither were they made so with the intention of becoming a woman, but their condition, in itself, was not an impediment to conversion.

Make of that what you want, there is evidence in history that women posed as men to enter religious communities. I doubt anyone way back when would have been so foolish as to want to be a woman - women had no rights or freedoms in those days. Although, it used to be good to be a man - before American entertainment media and advertising emasculated him, but I digress.

St. Marina the girl-monk.

Long ago, there was a little girl named Marina. Her dad wanted to be a monk but was responsible for the little girl's welfare, so he took her to live as a monk with him - disguised as a boy. (Nature-nurture?) The little girl-disguised-as-a-boy grew up to be disguised as a man. After Marina's father died, she remained living as a monk - undetected by the other monks.

One day, an innkeeper's daughter became pregnant and accused Marina of fathering the child. Marina never defended herself and was sent to do penance. After five years of expiation, she was received back into the monastery. Once again, the fact that she was a woman went undetected. At her death, her sex as well as her innocence was discovered. Today her story is regarded as simple legend by some scholars, although there are feast days set aside for her, one on February 12. Her cult remains active in the Orthodox Church. (Adapted from Attwater, Dictionary of Saints)

There are many stories of men and women disguised as someone or something living and dying in monasteries.  Although it's doubtful a trans person would try to fool anyone today, and even more unlikely they would even want to - or could - get through the battery of modern discernment processes.  Normal people don't even want to go through that sort of brainwash and degree requirements.  Which may explain why there are no longer lay-brother vocations any longer.   

As for transgender saints ...

Never mind.  

I gotta get going around here ... I think someone moved up Christmas or something.

The Great Sign ...

“When the image of the Virgin appeared on the tilma of Juan Diego, it was the prophecy of an embrace: Mary’s embrace of all the peoples of the vast expanses of America – the peoples who already lived there, and those who were yet to come. Mary’s embrace showed what America – North and South – is called to be: a land where different peoples come together; a land prepared to accept human life at every stage, from the mother’s womb to old age; a land which welcomes immigrants, and the poor and the marginalized, in every age.  A land of generosity." - Pope Francis 2013

Santa Casa Loreto

When I was in Loreto I spent every day in the Holy House at the back left corner.  I never saw the frescoes - I never realized they were there until I saw photos of the interior (above) many years later.  I wish I could go back to that.

Our Lady of Loreto, pray for us.

St. Juanito Dieguito ...

A triptych I did a long time ago, terrible photo, but the only one I have.

It is based on a nicho I once saw, but I added two of my 

favorite Mexican saints, Felipe of Jesus and Miguel Pro.

Our Lady called him Juanito Dieguito.


How sweet is that?  This indigenous peasant man was favored by Heaven.  The lowliest man in Mexico was visited by the Empress of the Americas, the Queen of Heaven commissioned him to announce her message.  Juan Diego was 57 years old when Our Lady called him.  Our Lady told him she was mother of all those who lived in this land and that she wanted a chapel built so that she could could relieve the sorrows of all those who come to her in need.  He protested saying he was a man of no importance, and that she would be better off choosing another.  Yet she encouraged him not to fear, lovingly assuring him, "No estoy yo aqui que soy tu madre?"  It makes me cry.

Little father St. Juanito Dieguito

pray for us, pray for all the Americas,

remember especially your people 

who suffer

and are turned away from our borders.

Likewise,

remember those who have lost homes and possessions,

those who find themselves

like those who no longer have a homeland 

and seek to immigrate

to new lands - help us to embrace one another

in our poverty and homelessness

and desperate need of 

the Mother of God

and of mercy.

So many people are losing everything in the fires in California, so many others have already lost their homes and possessions, family, pets and even faith.  Yet Our Lady assures us, "Am I not here, I who am your mother?"  When we cry, doesn't she enfold us in her arms?  No matter who or what we are, what condition we are in, spiritually and physically.  Is there a prison so enclosed, a pit so deep, that her love is not deeper still?

I was sad because some of my friends are sad, a couple have serious illnesses, much of the news is sad, all is sad.  Yet Juanito Dieguito helped me to see Our Lady this morning.  Not as he did of course, but as she is, present spiritually, manifested in her images, which I try to copy.  Images and devotions which leads me to prayer and deeper devotion - and an intimacy I can't explain.  I can say even more frankly than St. Juan, I'm a man of no importance.  And that is wonderful to know, to experience, to be.  It gives me hope.

The outer doors of the triptych

depict Francis and Clare

since the message of Guadalupe

was first entrusted to the Franciscans.

Anyway - these are the holidays - holy-days - which we all can delight in, abandoned and poor though we may be.  Our Lady visits us ... she roams the world looking for the dejected, the outcast.  Yesterday she manifested in the Church as the Immaculata, today she calls us with Juanito Dieguito to confidence and love, tomorrow she lifts us up and carries us within the Holy House, demonstrating that we are on a journey to our true homeland, Heaven.  The Holy House of Loreto is a sign for us, a reminder that we are pilgrims, our home here is not lasting.  In a few days we will see that Great Sign, the Virgin clothed with the sun, the ever Virgin Mother of God has already been revealed for all to see at Tepeyac, one Saturday morning so long ago, on December 9, 1531.  We still see her, we still hear her: "I am the compassionate mother of you and of all you people here in this land, and of the other various peoples who love me, who cry out to me ..."

I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to God's house ... even now our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem!  Jerusalem built as a city, strongly compact...

Photo, Showers.  Prisoner with tattoo

of N.S. Madre de Dios de Guadalupe

Danny Lyon, 1968

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Holy Mary, Mother of Guadalupe,

pray for us sinners,

now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Pope Francis at La Colonna della Immacolata

Immaculate Virgin,

175 years ago, not far from here,

in the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte,

you touched the heart of Alphonse Ratisbonne, who at that moment,

from being an atheist and enemy of the Church,

became a Christian.You revealed yourself to him 

as a Mother of grace and mercy.

Grant that we too, especially in times of trial and temptation,

may fix our gaze on your open hands,

hands that allow the Lord's graces to fall upon the earth.

Help us to rid ourselves of all pride and arrogance,

and to recognize ourselves for what we really are:

small and poor sinners, but always your children.

- Prayer of P. Francis

'We want to thank you for the constant care ...'

Every year the Pope visits the La Colonna della Immacolata, this year Pope Francis followed tradition, with great devotion.  He stopped to lay a bouquet before the icon Salus populi Romani before the ceremony at Piazza di Spagna, and before returning to the Vatican, he visited Sant’Andrea delle Fratte.  I wish I could have been with him.  S. Andrea delle Fratte is a miraculous place - it was for me the very first church where I attended Mass when I first arrived in Rome, at the altar of the Immaculate Conception.  The Immaculate Conception ...

Visit to Basilica of Mary Major 

On his way to Piazza di Spagna this year, Pope Francis also stopped to visit the Basilica of St Mary Major where he laid a floral wreath below the icon of Salus Populi Romani, depicting Our Lady and the Christ Child. This is the same image the Pope always prays at both before and after his apostolic journeys abroad.

Alphonse Ratisbonne 

Before returning to the Vatican later in the afternoon, Pope Francis paid a private visit to the Rome Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte. 

It was here, 175 years ago, that a French Jew by the name of Alphonse Ratisbonne, experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary. At that moment, in the words of the Pope, “from being an atheist and enemy of the Church, he became a Christian”. 

Even more so, following his conversion, Alphonse became a Jesuit priest and missionary and ended up cofounding his own religious Congregation dedicated to Our Lady of Sion. - VR

So many years ago when I first entered the chapel at S. Andrea it was evening and just getting dark, the chapel was dark except for the image of the Immaculata - it was brightly lit.  So bright it seemed like a vision to me and I fell to my knees.  Then Mass began.  This was before I knew anything about Ratisbonne.

Pope Francis at Piazza di Spagna

The conversion of Ratisbonne.

It is a wonderful story, and is pretty much responsible for the great popularity of the Miraculous Medal of the Immaculate Conception.

Alphonse Ratisbonne was the son and heir of a wealthy, aristocratic family of Jewish bankers in Strasbourg, France. When Alphonse was still a child his older brother, Theodor, converted to the Catholic faith and became a priest. The family reacted with hostility and horror. Alphonse resolved never to communicate again with his older brother, and developed a violent antipathy to the Catholic faith and to all things Catholic. Although Alphonse was entirely atheist in his beliefs, and non-practicing as a Jew, he felt a great love and loyalty for his fellow Jews, and devoted much of his effort and wealth to better their social condition. At the time of his conversion, Alphonse was 27 years old, and engaged to marry his uncle's beautiful daughter and to take his place as a partner in his uncle's bank. During his engagement Ratisbonne noticed a subtle change in his religious feelings; he wrote ... - finish reading here.

Conversion of Ratisbonne.

The Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception - Gate of Heaven.

"A praise of glory is a soul that lives in God, that loves him with a pure and disinterested love, without seeking itself in the sweetness of this love, that loves him beyond all his gifts." - St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

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HAIL, Virgin, most wise!

Hail, DEITY’S shrine!
with seven fair pillars,
and table divine!

Preserved from the guilt

which hath come upon us all!
Exempt, in the womb,
from the taint of the fall!

O new Star of Jacob,

of angels the Queen!
O Gate of the saints!
O Mother of men!

To Zabulon fearful

as the embattled array!
Be thou of the faithful
the refuge and stay.
Amen