Flames of Shame 2009 - Hobart

The Cloister is back with its special feature on the Flames of Shame. For the benefit of new pilgrims, a Flame of Shame is when the Easter Vigil is scheduled for before dark. Way back before Vatican II, Pope Pius XII started to reform the ceremonies of Holy Week. Eventually the Easter Vigil, which had crept forward into Holy Saturday morning, was sent back to the night time of Holy Saturday. So now the Easter Vigil is supposed to commence after dark, with the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal candle.

We begin this year's series with the Archdiocese of Hobart, which has a much better sense of timing than last year. Sunset in the southern-most capital according to Geoscience Australia is at 5:45pm on 11/4/09. Conceivably, it would be dark from 6:30pm onwards.

Flames of Shame in the Archdiocese of Hobart

New Norfolk 6:00pm
Riverside 6:00pm
St Helen’s 6:00pm

Remember now: No Easter Vigils before dark!

You will be shamed if you do!

A Shiraz for Madam?

Some thoughts on this week’s Liturgy section by Elizabeth Harrington in the Brisbane Catholic Leader (Yes, it has been a while since we’ve looked at it).

Firstly about this bit: “After the sign of peace, the celebrant breaks the bread and pours out the wine in a part of the Mass known as the Fraction (Breaking) Rite. The breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine for communion is one of the central moments of the liturgy.”

Pours out the wine? Pours out the wine? Since when?


Perhaps Mrs Harrington has never read the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum which states:

[106.] However, the pouring of the Blood of Christ after the consecration from one vessel to another is completely to be avoided, lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery.

Harrington notes: “The early Christians named their Sunday worship after this ritual. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, they believed Christ was revealed in “The Breaking of the Bread”.

Exactly: “The Breaking of Bread”, NOT the “Pouring Out of Wine”! Different elements, different action!

In places where the lamentable practice of consecrating the wine in a flagon, bowl or carafe and then pouring it out at the Fraction still occurs, it really ought to stop immediately, not just because that is the rule, not just because of the risk of drops and spills, but also because it is not what the Lord did at the Last Supper, and if He had wanted that action to be a sign of the Eucharist He would have instituted it thus.

As Redemptionis Sacramentum says, :
[105.] If one chalice is not sufficient for Communion to be distributed under both kinds to the Priest concelebrants or Christ’s faithful, there is no reason why the Priest celebrant should not use several chalices.



The other aspect of this article on “The Actions of the Eucharist” which strikes the Cloister as being problematic is the lack of any specific reference to the role of the priest in the Eucharist, beyond one mention that “After the sign of peace, the celebrant breaks the bread and pours out the wine”.

Everything else in the article rather suggests that the Eucharist comes about through the prayers and actions of the people:
“The gifts of bread and wine are taken forward, placed on the altar and prayed over.”

“Along with the gifts of bread and wine we offer ourselves to God, our successes and our failures, our hopes and dreams, the people we care about.”

“In the Eucharistic Prayer, which is the centre and high point of the celebration of the Mass, we give thanks to God for the gifts of bread and wine and for the whole work of salvation.”

“In the communion procession we walk and sing together to the Lord’s table where we share a communal meal, a paschal meal, with Christ and with one another. By taking and eating the Body of Christ together....”

“The Mass is not a re-enactment of Christ's sacrifice; we are not repeating or multiplying it. We are recalling this central event of our salvation, remembering it so we can be part of it. It’s a “re-presentation”. We are saying to God “we are imperfect, but Christ offered his life on our behalf and we are offering that sacrifice to you again”.

Not that any of these statements are wrong in themselves. But the cumulative effect is to create the impression (unintentionally one hopes) that the Eucharist is brought into effect by “we, the people”. It is not: it is brought into effect by the Holy Spirit, through words and actions of the ordained priest.

Who does NOT “pour out the wine”.

How 'bout it?

I'm told that outside Cloister walls there's an economic crisis on. Our hearts go out to those who are on the poverty line, particularly those who would be or soon be among the urban poor. Not to make little of the situation of such, we'd like to suggest one way in which the Catholic Church can make a contribution to the current situation: Let's bring back into use some of the rare beauties which were discarded by the conciliar movement or which fell into disuse.

Here's a picture of the contents Belgian Cardinal Mercier's wardrobe. Some of the stuff there is just burdensome for the modern prelate, but there are some rather lovely items born of a gracious era: the cushion, the saturno, a winter version of some articles. If we had more people producing and purchasing some of the finer (and let's face it, more practical) garments of prelacy, we could do good things for Australia - and since customers would be members of registered charities it would be GST exempt.

Then let's open a shop on Gisborne Street: AustroClero. There's sure to be two big orders placed by locals.

(Cowl tip to Orbvs Catholicvus.)

Not over 'till the congregation sings

Sr Magdalene, I'm sorry to say but I don't think we've heard the last of Fr Peter Kennedy.

Michael McKenna reports in The Australian today that he will "form a "church in exile" just a few hundred metres away at the Trades and Labour Council building".

Father Kennedy said he felt liberated the year-long dispute with Dr Bathersby was over and that he was free to lead the congregation how he liked.

"All these years, we kept under the radar and then we were outed ... I am happy," he said.

Father Kennedy said while he was not sure if Dr Bathersby was aware of his plans, there was nothing to stop him from forming another congregation. He said any sacraments would be recognised, because he was still a Catholic priest.

Hmmm... News flash for Fr Kennedy. No matter how hard you try, you can't consecrate the wrong matter with the wrong words.

Archbishop Bathersby, now is the time to formally excommunicate him!


Becket

Ad Hominem

To the "anonymous" person who left a comment (for the second time in the past year) to the effect that we in the Cloister team are all homosexual, and you have tracked our IP address by means of "special lawyers", and you know who we are, and you're just waiting the right time to tell:

Get a life!

Does here endith the lesson?

Well! After the scandal, the "sackings", the threats, the mediation, and all that has become the South Brisbane Saga it looks, according to at least one source, to be nearing to its close. But not, you will note, before one final Easter show.

We here at The Priory were very pleased to note that the kind people who make up the St Mary's Community Council have decided to let the new Parish Priest have

"immediate and full access to all parish books and records"

How very generous.

Mary Who?

Cardinal Pell is one of the Cloister's heroes, but:

Quote from the artist Paul Newton in the Sydney Catholic Weekly about the paining of 'Our Lady of the Southern Cross' which now adorns the Sydney cathedral and another of which will soon hang in the Australian chapel in Rome - instead of Our Lady, Help of Christians, much loved as Australia's official Patroness.

“Cardinal Pell wanted to have a painting that Australians could relate to, rather than an image that was conceived and produced in Europe several centuries ago”.

And there you have the kernel of the problem.

One thing to be grateful for: there will be no Australian cardinal at the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture in the forseeable future.

Addendum: This is not a criticism of Paul Newton's art, nor a rejection of the Sydney painting. It is meant to open up discussion on whether Australian Catholics can relate to religious icons that are of overseas provenence and predate the 21st Century.

All in the name of science

The South Australian Parliament has recently passed laws permitting human and animal DNA to be mixed.

All in the name of science of course. Let's take a look at what that science could produce.




Or perhaps they will first want creatures like Mr Tumnus.


And just pushing it that little bit further:

My Turn

It seems that the art wars have begun. Now while it looks like frescoes have been the order of the day for those hogging the keyboard, considering my penchant to be different for the sake of it, I offer the following from Amien's Cathedral.

Let us rejoice in the Lord,
celebrating a feast-day in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
at which the angels rejoice and praise the Son of God.

My heart hath uttered a good word: I tell my works to the king.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

According to Your will...

I seem to recall my final word on the matter at table this morning was centred on the 15th century classic Melozzo da Forlì in Rome's Panthéon. All appeared in favour at the time though I see now the fruits of dissent... and I am afterall only the Prior.

Notwithstanding, fine choices all round and what better way to celebrate such a feast than with a bouquet of such beauty... oh and a rosary or two!

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.



Happy feast to all the pilgrims visiting today. Yes, there has been a slight war in The Priory this morning over the picture to put up for this feasr. It was evenly split and Br Pelagius stole the computer first. The things one has to put up with in this place.

Moving on.

It must be said that the Church is very good at helping those of us who might struggle along in Lent. The last week or so has been nicely sprinkled with some little reprise from the normal rigors that this season brings. This though, is perhaps a personal favourite. It's quite powerful to reflect on the fact that the Bible consists of two "beginnings". Somewhat helpful to realise that it is possible for oneself as well, when perhaps one's Lent has required two beginnings. Or three. Or four.

Like I said, it's a personal favourite.

The First Joyful Mystery

Today is the beginning of our salvation,
And the revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
"Rejoice, O Full of Grace, The Lord is with You!"

The Priory has chosen to celebrate the feast of the Annunciation today with this from El Greco. (Well, it wasn't quite unanimous).

There will be special emphasis today on the Canticle of Mary in the Office.



My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen




So although it is a day of celebration, it is also a day of prayer in The Priory. We will also say the Litany of St Gabriel, Archangel.

With failed 'negotiations' and meditations at South Brisbane, let us pray that both sides be guides by the Mediatrix of All Graces - Our Blessed Mother Mary. Mary, Mediatrix.

The Archdioceses of Sydney

Now we are well aware that The Priory has not had its hands perfectly clean when it comes to spelling errors, as most of us were educated in the Tasmanian Catholic School system under Dr. Dan White.

However, the word "Archdioceses" which appears on the mission statement of the New Sydney Archdiocesan(es) website and is as yet uncorrected, has got us into deep discussion.

Br. Belvedere has been getting reports that the Mission Statement has been taking the place of the Creed in a few churches.

Br. Pelagius thinks it cannot possibly be an typographical error as the good Cardinal '...also asked a group of young people to critique the new site.' "People certainly more adept at this sort of thing than I am," the Cardinal said.

Br. Pelagius thinks that it was impossible that students educated in Sydney's impeccable Catholic schools could have missed it and it must therefore be deliberate.

Br. Jasper broke the riddle. "It obviously refers to the other little bits of the world that have been annexed by the Archdiocese of Sydney he explained. 'Archdioceses' refers to the fact that good Cardinal Pell is now Archbishop of Sydney, Grose Vale and Via Cernaia!"

Below is what we propose as an updated map of the Archdioceses.




It seems that His Eminence has been busy. What has he been up to in the Eternal City, which we have referred to earlier? The website says that he launched the new site from Rome as he was there 'overseeing renovations at Australia House.' However, yesterday, when the site was launched via a pre-recorded message, he was actually in South America.

He will be in Ireland speaking on liturgical topics in July.

Br Pelagius wonders if this is a grand tour before taking over the reigns somewhere else.

'Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.' - Hail Mary!!

Da!

What an exciting time ecumenically-speaking! We Cloistered could not be happier with this contribution from the Patriarchate of Moscow to the media debate on the use of condoms in addressing HIV/AIDS.

We particularly enjoyed this part of Zenit's report:

The Russian agency Interfax (so it's in the Russian secular media now too) reported Friday that Father Tchapline (Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations) ..... pointed out that at present certain organizations attempt to simultaneously emphasize the idea of sexual freedom and the fight against AIDS, but that it is impossible to reconcile both of these.

Pope in Africa

Fond memories of World Youth Day 2008...

Caption Competition

You can take the man out of Africa...

One Withoos at the thought... but it's only fair!

If you go out in the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today you’d better go in disguise.
For fans of Pell and Robbie alike will stand in awe of such a sight, because
Today’s the day the Liturgy is a picnic.

If you go out in the woods today, you’d better not go alone.
It’s lovely out in the woods today, but safer to stay at home.
Cause armed with rocks & fake candle light they'll say a mass not quite Rite,
For today’s the day the Liturgy is a picnic.

Every pilgrim, that’s been good is sure of a treat today
There’s lots of wonderful things to eat and special prayers to say
Beneath the trees, where nobody sees they’ll hide & seek & bend their knees
Today’s the day the Liturgy was a picnic!

Our thanks to a delightful young pilgrim for this fine photo...

Egad!!! Not a Professional Liturgist...

Who would have thought...

We as Catholics in the Archdioceses of Sydney

The Cloister alerted us via sealed parchment that the Archdiocese of Sydney has a new website.

Br. Belvedere has been trawling it and I am sure there will be a detailed analysis in a few days from some of us.

However a look at the main page is in order. It seems that the Archdiocese now has a very prominet 'mission statement' (with an interesting take/typo on the Archdiocese which we will also analyse eventually).

MISSION STATEMENT

We, as Catholics in the Archdioceses (sic) of Sydney, part of the universal Church under the successor of St Peter, through our common baptism, are a Eucharistic and sacramental community of Faith, Hope and Love seeking to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are committed to work within the framework of Catholic teaching to strengthen Catholic life, foster co-operation and service, and strengthen evangelisation.

"Thrilling!" said Br. Jasper sarcastically "after a paragraph like that, how could the Saracens keep us from taking Jerusalem? Once more into the breach dear friends..." and he continued on.

"Makes me want to do another 3 hour bout of adoration in reparation for jellybean condom ads!" said Sr. Magdalene as she shuffled off to the chapel.

She returned three hours later in utter excitement with a story about a vision she had. Apparently Christ appeared to her in glory and said that he had a mission statement he has composed specifically for The Priory, which she was to present to us (apparently he also gave her an extra special 'heavenly gruel' recipe).

She gave this thrilling statement.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, factórem cæli et terræ,

visibílium ómnium et invisibílium;
Et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum, Fílium Dei unigénitum, et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula: Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero, génitum non factum, consubstantiálem Patri, per quem ómnia facta sunt; qui propter nos hómines et propter nostram salútem descéndit de cælis; et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Vírgine et homo factus est; crucifíxus étiam pro nobis sub Póntio Piláto, passus et sepúltus est; et resurréxit tértia die secúndum Scriptúras; et ascéndit in cælum, sedet ad déxteram Patris; et íterum ventúrus est cum glória iudicáre vivos et mórtuos; cuius regni non erit finis;
Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem: qui ex Patre Filioque procédit; qui cum Patre et Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur; qui locútus est per Prophétas;
Et unam sanctam cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam.
Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatorum; et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum et vitam ventúri sæculi.

Amen.

Have you voted?

While on the issue of websites...

The official website of St. Mary's aCatholic (sic) Community of South Brisbane is hoping for your assistance to become an integral part of the St. Mary's community. It invites visitors to take the time to sign up for the St Mary's Community Newsletter or become a member of this site by visiting the 'member' page above.

If this 'virtual reality' is anything like 'reality' then The Cloister suspects that most of its pilgrims will likely be considered uninvited guests but we feel you should make the effort anyway!

You may choose to vote in the current pole on the performance of Peter Kennedy on TV last week. 43% presently feel that Peter Kennedy spoke well given restraints of time. The Cloister seemed to achieve consensus on 'bumbling fool' and 'heretic' but they were not among the voting options which seemed heavily weighted on a positive experience of the crap that spewed from his tongue.

In the interests of informed dialogue, it is well worth an explore...

A New Titular See?

The Vatican reports that Pope Benedict erected the new diocese of Namibe (area 57,097, population 1,195,779, Catholics 270,294, priests 12, religious 27) Angola, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Lubango, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan church. He appointed Fr. Mateus Feliciano Tomas, chancellor of the archdiocese of Huambo and pastor of the cathedral, as first bishop of the new diocese.

The Priory likes to report on such positive BIG steps in the Catholic world given that the opening of a new diocese in Australia probably won't happen in our lifetimes.

In fact we are likely to see more than one merger in Australia in that time. How many Australia Sees are vacant?

We can only wonder which African auxiliary will be Titular Bishop of Bathurst.

Not Quite the full "Mini-Bats".

Ever since the "Barry Minute" and "Mini-Bats" raised the bar for the Internet presence of Australian bishops, we've been awaiting the appearance of "Mini-George", "Small-Hart", "Philip the Less" and even "Little Coleridge ".

Regrettably, the re-vamped Sydney Archdiocese website, recently "launched" from Rome via the Internet, does not quite deliver our hoped-for gimmick of Cardinal Pell trailing across your screen in a cappa. Nevertheless, the good Cardinal does appear on the front page, in a video clip shot in front of St Peter's Basilica.

As well as revealing the Sydney Archdiocese Mission Statement, the new-look site has a news story about the artist commissioned by Cardinal Pell to provide 35 paintings to adorn the chapel of the new "Domus Australia" in Rome.

Much to the chagrin of our Mr Public Opinion, a version of "Our Lady of the Southern Cross" will adorn the sanctuary of the chapel of the Domus. Rumour has it that Cardinal Pell is planning to occupy several rooms in the Domus on a permanent basis, from which he will run the Archdiocese of Sydney, making occasional visits to Sydney - much as he does now.

The Mysteries of the East

Australia’s Eastern-Rite bishops seem upset that Eastern Catholic children attending Latin-Rite schools are not being properly treated in respect of the spirituality and sacramental discipline of the East. The eparchs have submitted what seems to be a rather petulant report for discussion at the Bishops’ Conference.

Once the reader has penetrated the usual Byzantine attempt at making us Latins feel guilty for being who we are, the substance of the Eparchs’ complaints, as authored by Fathers Kenez and Kelty, is that some Latin clergy still ignorantly attempt to have Eastern-Rite children receive the sacrament of Confirmation at the “usual” Latin time, even though the Eastern children have already received this sacrament at the time of their Baptism; and that some Latin clergy refuse Holy Communion to Eastern children whom they think are too young to have made their First holy Communion –even though this is not the case since in some Eastern Churches they may do so from the time of their baptism; and that Eastern Catholic children are being forced to fit into the Latin liturgical calendar and practice by, for instance, being compelled to receive the blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday.

There are other examples, the report says, of violation of rights of Eastern children – such as not being permitted in some places to wear the prayer-rope at school. All, of this is part of the overall problem: Latin Catholics are not sufficiently aware of or sensitive to the traditions of the East.

The report then goes on to list some recommended ways of dealing with this overall situation.

The lead in this seems to have been taken by the Ukrainian Eparchy, and by the Byzantines generally rather than by, say, the Maronites. The latter have been here in large numbers for a long time and have a great record of contribution to the life of not only the Maronite Church but also to those Latin parishes within in whose boundaries they live. Maronite devotional practices are not so greatly different from the Latins, and so maybe there is less friction because of that. But it also true that the Maronites have made great efforts in providing Maronite schools for their children, and in promoting Maronite awareness among the Latin dioceses where they are present in numbers.

The Ukrainians are fewer in number and so perhaps they feel the pressure more. And being Byzantine they are inheritors of a long and bumpy history of Latin misunderstanding and, indeed, competitiveness or even hostility from us. The faithful and clergy of the other Byzantine eparchy in Australia, that of the Melkites, have less of a persecution complex than the Ulkrainians, and like the Maronites they are not much ghettoised. And the Chaldean Catholics are still in a sense “finding their feet”, with their first local Chaldean bishop appointed only a couple of years ago. Other Eastern Catholic groups are smaller and depend for episcopal ministry on the local Latin bishops, so it is their interests, I suppose, to be as cooperative and appreciative as possible.

Still, it would be hard to deny, if one wished to do so, that there are some big gaps in Eastern-rite knowledge and sensitivity among some Latin-rite priests and educators. So what is proposed to help solve the problem?

Firstly, they propose an Eastern Catholic theologian be appointed to the Australian Catholic university - which educates most Catholic teachers in the Eastern (no pun) states. In the Cloister we feel that the appointment of a really CATHOLIC theologian of any Rite at all would be a step forward for ACU!

Secondly, they acknowledge that the Eastern Catholics themselves need a clearer sense of their own identity. That would seem to be code for “don’t marry out!”

Thirdly, they’d like more holy Icons with lamps in Catholic schools. Leaving aside the insurance implications, in the Cloister we feel that would be an improvement on pieces of dried plant matter and rocks on a table in the corner.

Fourthly, the making and wearing of the Jesus Prayer-rope should be encouraged for Eastern-rite students. This is a fair point, and we have heard stories in the Cloister that in some Latin-rite schools even the use of the Latin Rosary is demonised.

Fifthly, the celebration of the Eucharistic Liturgies of the Eastern Churches by visiting clergy of those Rites in places where there are significant numbers of Eastern children enrolled. What a nice idea. It might shock some of "me/us"-centred priests, though, to see an Eastern Mass.

Sixthly, more study and workshops. Great, just what we need: more workshops.

Seventhly, the appointment of an Eastern Rites education officer in the National Catholic Education Commission. In the Cloister we suspect that such an appointment, and the politicking around it, is the whole point of this exercise. Whingeing about Latin priests is a means to an end.

Catholic schools, the report concludes, should reflect the whole nature of the Church as “Catholic”. Well, that’s true… but the Catholic nature of the Church is in fact properly manifest in EACH RITUAL CHURCH. Each Church, and that certainly includes the Latin, best reflects the Catholic faith by adhering to and celebrating ITS OWN IDENTITY, its own liturgy, its own spirituality.

While we should indeed take into account the “varied religious identities now represented by the youth of the many other Catholic churches now present in” our Latin Catholic schools, what is needed is for our Latin-rite schools to better reflect the Latin Catholic faith, to better celebrate the Latin liturgy and Latin spirituality. Immersing children into an eclectic Catholicism that is not strongly grounded in ONE Rite will not ultimately enhance anything.

If certain of the Eastern Churches want their own traditions to be pushed, the present writer feels they should do so in their own schools – and get more involved in the public Catholic enterprise in Australia. This would be more productive.

Q&A or mind your P's & Q's

Abbott and Kennedy, not quite the same ring to it as Abbott and Costello.

Q&A focused on Politics, Sex and Religion last night and naturally The Priory gathered 'round the small box to see how Tony Abbott went with that fool on there.

We expected him to be slaughtered if he held the Catholic line well. He was up against a priest who doesn't believe in the priesthood, a ALP gal from the Right of the party but one who has never had much time for faith, a sex-therapist (which perhaps may have been Tony's kettle of fish in his wild days!) and a gentleman from the Fairfax world with ties to the Obama administration. All of them and the host Tony Jones.

Not balanced, but a good representation of the ABC staff.

Br Jasper roared loudly at the introductions when he saw Fr Kennedy dressed in a T-shirt and black jacket with no sign of a cross let alone a collar or any sort. 'Rebel Priest' was his title written on the screen below. He subsequently left the room and went to bed.

Br Jasper was right, he looked like a biker! 'Rebel Priests' should have been written on the back. But then again it would likely be a club of one with Paul Collins as an associate member.

There was little real action for a while and it took 2o minutes for the religion question to arise which an question about St. Mary's South Brisbane.

Fr Kennedy spouted the rhetoric we hadn't heard for two weeks. "Unusual community... not a normal parish... people come from all over the city because of the liturgy we have there... unjust move".

I thought the media was finished with this man.

Tony Jones gave Fr Kennedy plenty of space to talk up his case. "They came in uninvited... ultra-orthodox people."

"Since when do you have to be invited to Mass", mumbled Br Momus? "Aren't we all invited to the table? Seems like this guy is being discriminatory!"

On the topic of gays - St Mary's Gay and Lesbian Choir and the blessings - Fr Kennedy nearly toed the Church line entirely. "It is okay to gay and celibate... it was sinful to act on it."

Br Prior nearly fell off the rocking chair. "Maybe we have misjudged?" he even questioned.

There was a cue from Tony Jones to Tony Abbott to comment on Fr Kennedy's situation.

"There is public sympathy for your position, this it [the Church] is an organisation, with discipline and rules", Abbott stressed.

Peter Kennedy replied with, "we kept under the radar all these years".

There were a few cues to the other guests to comment which were all unremarkable.

In answer to a question from a well spoken young girl about whether Fr Peter believed that Jesus was God, he stated emphatically, "Jesus was a Jew. There is nothing in the first three Gospels that Jesus said he was God."

There is was... the statement that he didn't believe in the Divinity of Christ.

Br Prior apologised to us all for questioning his own judgment of the man and his situation and quietly left the room.

Abbott's response was reasonable and simply deferred to Kennedy's knowledge of theology - he appeared bewildered of course.

Kennedy continued his rant. "It depends on your model of Church... Vatican II came along."

"But they still need a shepherd and the bishop is the leader," interjected Abbott, getting a bit fired-up at this point.

Kennedy announced that, "We've gone to Rome and asked for the sacking to be revoked... writing to the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for the Laity".

"If he doesn't believe in the authority of the local bishop and the authority of the Vatican, why on earth would he listen to the Roman Curia's answer?" asked Sr Magdalene innocently.

"He will, only in the case that they find in his favour," replied Br Momus citing his recent .heretic comment. "He also doesn't know the difference between a Pontifical Council and a Congregation".

Next was a question from a Catholic with concerns about the Church's stand on condoms and AIDs then a video question from a terminally ill viewer about excommunication and abortion.

Kennedy responded first. "The church is so wrong about its teaching on sex... because women have no say...if women were part of the magisterium... the church must become a democracy... it cannot survive. Until women have a say in the teachings of the church, issues like abortion, issues like contraception, issues like that are not going to change."

Sr Magdalene yawned.

Kate Ellis squirmed at her cue to respond and it was up to Abbott to keep the audience listening. Note that the sex therapist and the Jewish Fairfax man have been very quiet.

"We should not judge and damn a religion based on a couple of badly handled examples," citing that he though the reaction of the Brazilian bishop was a overreaction.

On to condoms and Abbott was wishy-washy and uncomfortable. "If they are going to do the wrong thing it is sensible to mitigate against the damages but we would like to hope people would do the right thing." We can only assume that by the right thing he meant monogamy and sex only within the love and responsibility of marriage.

Onto abortion. "Effectively abortion is legal in Australia."

"Praise God!" interjected the sex therapist rather rudely but brought laughter to the audience.

That was the cue for Sr Magdalene to walk out. She had been standing and was creeping closer and closer to the door.

There was a frenzy in the TV room as Br Belvedere and I begged Br Momus not to leave us as well! "There might be a big dust up still!" pointed out Br Belvedere.

Onto overseas aid for abortion and a comment from Fr Kennedy, "I would have been burnt at the stake by now."

"Now we are getting somewhere," I said to my brother. "There may be common ground yet."

There was a web question about a TV celibacy campaign. "That would counteract the jellybeans," exclaimed Br Momus.

Should Kate Ellis be the face of that government campaign? Or Kevin Rudd? It most certainly shouldn't be Tony Abbott!

That might have been some common ground amongst some of the panelists - the sex therapist excluded.

But instead we heard that, "we should be talking to young Australians about sex."

"We should help empower people to overcome this rampant sexuality."

"The Catholic Chruch needs to move out of the bedrooms of people."

"I don't hear confession much anymore Tony."

Then the program got into deep and meaningful issues about intimacy and sex. We've all at least studied basic Theology of the Body so Br Belvedere and I turned off and went to say our prayers before bed.

Applicants be not afraid

With Vianney College - the Wagga Wagga Diocesan seminary - announcing that it has filled all its rooms this year, The Priory would like to draw the attention of young men considering their vocation to our halls.

In fact, bishops be alert. You may like to inquire about sending your students here for training by our very own Br Prior. Philosophy, Scriptural Theology, Moral Theology, Canon Law, Latin and Hebrew are all taught by Br Prior with guest lectures from Hardman Window and the Hound of Heaven. Mr Public Opinion takes the courses in Church History while the Warden will often sit in on classes.

But bishops, be warned...

Has the Pope Been Reading The Priory?

“I would say that this problem of AIDS cannot be overcome with advertising slogans. If the soul is lacking, if Africans do not help one another, the scourge cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem."

This is the quote that has been getting the usual mob into a bother. However we do encourage you to read the ENTIRE conversation and not just the bit the secular media has reproduced to enrage the condom industry.

Here in The Priory we are once again heartened by the Holy Father's continual assult on the mendacity of the West. We encourgage you to join in prayer to St Joseph, patron of the family and whose feast we celebrate today, for the continued health of this extrordinary man.

However we couldn't help but wonder if His Holiness has been reading our outrage at the jellybean condom ads in NSW.

Just to reiterate the point:

"AIDS cannot be overcome with advertising slogans"

Glorious St Joseph... Pray for Us!

O glorious St. Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when thou didst lose, through no fault of thine own, the Child Jesus, thou sought Him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy, thou didst find Him again in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors.

By this sorrow and this joy, we supplicate thee, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune to lose Jesus through mortal sin; but if this supreme misfortune should befall us, grant that we may seek Him with unceasing sorrow until we find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass over to enjoy His presence in Heaven; and there in company with thee, may we sing the praises of His Divine mercy forever.

Amen

A Poisoned Chalice

Since CathNews seems to have gotten a good talking to by our brethren today, Br Prior told us to have a go.

While CathNews has the story, taken from the Toowoomba Chronicle, that the Premier(ess) has been involved with the restoration of a chalice that her grandfather gave to a Toowoom-bah church, it unsurprisingly but sadly emerges that she had been encouraging and assisting in the drafting of a private member's bill of a similar nature to its recent decriminalisation in Victoria, according to the Courier-Mail.

"I have been on the public record a number of times on this issue and I believe that those decisions are best made by a woman, her partner and her doctor and they are ultimately private decisions," she said.

We sincerely hope CathNews isn't buying into Anna Bligh's (and the Toowoomba Chronicle's) promotion of herself as a 'Catholic' candidate and as a preferred choice for Catholics in the upcoming election.

We hope so, but are inclined to believe otherwise given past stories.

It is, after all, so close to the election and Bligh is at very least agnostic if not a full-blown atheist.

[Br. Jasper was just shocked that Toowoom-bah would want such a lovely chalice considering the attitude to such things in the church there, but the priest is wearing a Roman collar.]

A Larrikin Indeed!

There's something about Veronica.

Sister Veronica Brady IBVM or shall we call her Professor Brady?

Or perhaps just simply Veronica, a member of the good Cardinal Pell's famous loyal opposition?


She was a feature on the SBS TV Series Australian Biography has a short biography on the website.

She has spoken out publicly against the Vatican stance on abortion, homosexuality and contraception, and has been involved in the Aboriginal rights movement and the anti-uranium mining lobby. She also supports the ordination of female priests in the Catholic Church.

Now there has been a biography published about her, written by Dr Kath Jordan:

Larrikin Angel: A biography of Veronica Brady

To save you reading it yourself, let's see what the critics have had to say:

Admonisher of popes and politicians, feisty gladiator in many a social justice campaign, inspirational teacher and devout Catholic nun, Veronica Brady was an intriguing figure on the Australian scene in the latter part of the twentieth century. As well as covering her childhood, her decision to enter a religious order, her rise through the ranks of academia and her social activism, this authorised biography discusses Dr Brady's term on the board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, her preparation of the biography of Judith Wright and her travels in China, among many other facets of her very full life. The author has had access to private papers and has spoken to many of her subject's acquaintances and former colleagues.

Some comments on Larrikin Angel:A splendid tribute to an utterly splendid woman. Veronica Brady's personal combination of activism, spirituality and energetic intelligence is a model of how to be-in-the-world with both rigorous conscience and profound affirmation.
Gail Jones

Ah, Veronica Brady, my favourite Catholic, the one of whom Pope John Paul II used to ask every morning when he woke up, 'Is she dead yet?' A story worth the telling.
Phillip Adams

Veronica Brady's profound literary sensibility, as well as her vision, moral integrity and fearless truth-speaking, made her the perfect biographer of my mother, Judith Wright. Larrikin Angel gives a fine, vivid sense of Veronica's own story and shows why she must be considered one of Australia's most precious assets.
Meredith McKinney

Veronica Brady's question 'Do we worship Jesus or an institution?' captures her value to the Church she served and to all of us. In an often smug and complacent society, we need Veronica Brady and her ilk to remind us to look beyond ourselves. I think Jesus would be OK with her.
Fred Chaney

The Priory is wondering why the Professor has been so relatively quiet on the South Brisbane fiasco? Is it perhaps that the loyal opposition remain good friends with ABJB?

Out of the mouths of babes and loonies...

Batten down the hatches, lay in the bottled (holy) water and start re-reading the Book of Revelations for, according to the Rev David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York, the end of the world is nigh... again!

Best known for his best-seller The Cross and the Switchblade, which was made into a movie in 1969 starring Pat Boone (remember him?), the septuagenarian Wilkerson is still preaching doom and disaster down Big Apple way.

It's not that uncommon for American pastors from peculiar-sounding denominations to come up with loony ideas, but in this case Wilkerson is adamant that he has been approached personally by the Holy Spirit to send out a message to the world. "There will be riots and fires worldwide. We are under God's wrath," he decrees.

Given the horrendous bushfires we have been experiencing of late, and the odd earthquake, he just might have a point!

CathNews, Take Up Your Cross!

Pilgrims will indulge a little media watch. Have a look at these two pictures. Both accompany the same story, that the Wagga Seminary is full.

The one on the left is from the Daily Advertiser and the one on the right is from CathNews. Our friends at CathNews have included the essentials of the Advertiser's article, but they have also seen fit to crop the photo of Fr Thompson to exclude his priestly collar and the large crucifix to the Rector's left.

Just what are you fools playing at!?! We all know you don't agree with what goes on in Wagga, but why not show us the cross of Christ? Why would you not portray the priesthood in a positive light?

CathNews, take up your cross!

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump...

As Hound highlighted earlier today the forthcoming aCatholic convention hosted by CF"R" will be attended by the very fabulous and fashionable modern Christian types; and no doubt they will still be peddling stuff that is so last century...

The discerning Coo-ees pilgrim will of course be free to choose from a vast range of fashion finaries which though rooted in the past, point to a more promising future than anything which has risen a little more recently!

Take this fine example which of course by special request will be available in BLUE!

They compassed me about...

Just in case you'll miss its subtle advertising on their website, the Catalyst for Renewal (CF"R") are convening again, this time for "a day of probing analysis and discussion devoted to Bishop Geoffrey Robinson's book" and the "issues raised about the book by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference".

The usual suspects are about, just for a change. Geralding Doogue (of ABC's Compass fame) is imperatrix over the proceedings, during which Frank Brennan SJ, Barry Brundell MSC (Editor of Compass, a publication very much like Geraldine's TV rag), Tim O'Hearn PhD (which congregation are those initals for?) from ACU, and Michael Whelan SM (of the notorious Aquinas Academy) will all open their mouths for much longer than could ever be desired. One can but shudder.

The Warden is planning to attend, and has made an appointment with the hairdresser to have a blue rinse put in. He believes contrary to Hardman's protests that the blue may give him a better chance of blending in. The Cloistered initally thought to discourage attendance, but that would certainly limit discussion. Should pilgrims determine to turn out en masse and offer a wide ranging probe of the book, we recommend this attire for protection:

As far as the probing is concerned (the thought of which is all too disturbing), might we suggest pilgrims take heed of St Augustine's words?

"If, at the same time, we have as our neighbours wicked men [and women], among whom there is not one who can be trusted, not one from whom we do not apprehend and experience treachery, deceit, outbursts of anger, dissensions, and snares, in such a case are not all these other things made bitter and vexatious, so that nothing sweet or pleasant is left in them? Whatever, therefore, be our circumstances in this world, there is nothing truly enjoyable without a friend." (Proba II.4)

Don't go it alone, folks! Take a friend to the CF"R" day and have a truly enjoyable time of probing analysis and discussion. God knows how cold it can be in the Gulf of a'Catholica!

Hail! Glorious St Patrick!

St. Patrick's Day is a favourite in The Priory. Why? Well for various debatable reasons.

Br Momus just loves a Feast Day to break the lenten fast, while Sr Magdalene makes the most of the opportunity to bake with green dye.

Br Belvedere is a little more moderate than Br Momus and simply relishes the chance to have a single Guinness and perhaps a Kilkenny Ale.

Br Jasper just loves sitting there telling wild stories of casting out snakes and druids.

As to yours truely, I just love it that the odd holy priest has been discovered wearing a green chasurable rather than white on this day.

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, dear saint of our Isle,
On us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;
And now thou art high in the mansions above,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, thy words were once strong
Against Satan's wiles and an infidel throng;
Not less is thy might where in heaven thou art;
O, come to our aid, in our battle take part.

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

In the war against sin, in the fight for the faith,
Dear saint, may thy children resist unto death;
May their strength be in meekness, in penance, their prayer,
Their banner the cross which they glory to bear.

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Thy people, now exiles on many a shore,
Shall love and revere thee till time be no more;
And the fire thou hast kindled shall ever burn bright,
Its warmth undiminished, undying its light.

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,
Where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,
And our hearts shall yet burn, wherever we roam,
For God and Saint Patrick, and our native home.

On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
On Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Casting Lots or Holy Craps!

The practice of casting lots is mentioned 70 times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. It was notably used by priests to separate the scapegoat from the one being sacrificed (Lev 16:8); and to assign blame to Jonah for that terrible storm "They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah." (Jonah 1:7).

Were these mere games of chance or a reliable and impartial method for revealing God's will in any matter concerning choice. The apostles cast lots to determine who should take Judas' place among the twelve (Acts 1:26). So, that the Liturgical Commission of Brisbane should be promoting "prayer dice" might not be seen as problematic by many...

But returning to the apostles we find that the method for determining Matthais as God's choice to replace Judas occurred before the coming of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, from that point there is no mention of lots being cast by them or anyone else for any higher purpose.

The Cloister are firm believers that you are likely to get further with God if you don't offend his ears. The rolling of dice to arrive upon a suitable 'thanksgiving' would seem to offend more than God's ears but His intelligence as well!

One wonders what Ms Harrington will make of it... Did someone call 'snake-eyes'?

Oh Craps!

Priory Motivationals VII

The Archbishop of Westminster

Speculation continues about the next appointment to the Archbishopric of Westminster. In past months there have been various candidates named, of various shades of credibility - from Cardinal George Pell, who isn't even English, to various monastic and mendicant chaps, and in the past week the Cloister has seen names such as Westminster priest Fr Alexander Sherbrooke, and Westminster Auxiliary Bishop Bernard. All have been said to be in the running by people claiming to be "in the know"!


Cathnews today carries a story that various English bishops have written to advise against the appointment to Westminster of the Archbishop of Birmingham, Dr Vincent Nichols, on the grounds that he has "too much confidence in himself" and wouldn't be collegial enough, and is ambitious.

In the Cloister it occurs to us that those are character-traits that would RECOMMEND Nichols for the Westminster position. Surely the people of Westminster Archdiocese would be better served by someone who has a bit of self-confidence than by a Shepherd with little confidence, limited ability to make decisions and take responsibility for them, and no sense of the dignity of his position.

We're not suggesting that Nichols is necessarily the man, but really, most of those English bishops are a useless lot. There is England, in desperate need of Catholicism and the light of truth, and all that most of their bishops seem to want to do is cling to the Anglicans so that both churches can surrender together to secularism, Hinduism, atheism and Mahommedanism.

We hope that whoever Pope Benedict eventually appoints to Westminster will attempt to win England for Christ.