Thursday, November 19, 2009

Robert Moynihan, in the November 2009 issue of Inside The Vatican magazine ponders:

Anglicans Towards Rome?



"The Vatican in October made a dramatic announcement: Pope Benedict has authorized a plan to bring Anglicans back into full union with Rome while keeping many Anglican traditions.

"But many questions remain.

"In London, Damian Thompson, a religion writer for the Telegraph Media Group, concluded: This is a decision of supreme boldness and generosity by Pope Benedict XVI, comparable to his liberation of the Traditional Latin Mass ... I suspect that this will be a day of rejoicing for conservative Anglo - Catholics and their Roman Catholic friends all over the world..."

ONE GROUP IS CALLED THE TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION OR TAC.

"This group consists of 16 member churches throughout the world with approximately 400,000 members, with a particularly large proportion from Africa, in nations like Zimbabwe and Tanzania..."

Wow!

Good to have you all back, after an absence of maybe 450 years or so!

Welcome aboard the Bark of Saint Peter! :)

"Puede causar risa el caso de aquel sacerdote ignaro a quien..."


"Se trata del P. José María Espinosa, párroco de Tacáscuaro, hijo de rancherito, de muy escaso talento ... dando salvoconductos para el cielo en donde decía que si morían en la Revolución, aunque tuvieran los pecados que tuvieran, ya estaban completamente perdonados [P. José Romero Flores, 1965] .


Adaptada de La Cristiada, por Jean Meyer.

Página 303.


"Puede causar risa el caso de aquel sacerdote ignaro a quien, a causa de su rusticidad, le había costado gran trabajo llegar a ordenarse y que distribuía pases para el cielo a los que morían con valor.

"De hecho, decía como los padres de la Iglesia que la sangre de los mártires era simiente, que el diablo sabe que los pecados son remitidos por los mártires y que no se tiene derecho a renunciar a la púrpura.

"¿Habrá tristeza mayor que la de no merecer perseguidos por Cristo, ni morir por el nombre del Hijo de Dios?

"Los cristeros se decían que la persecución contra la Iglesia mexicana era un gran dfavor, la prueba de la predilección que sentían por este país la Virgen de Guadalupe y Cristo Rey..."

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

"Howard Hughes told it to me the day Robert Kennedy was shot.

"Hughes was very interested in American Indians..."

"They don't mind having a priest around..."



Adapted from The Black Death, by Gwyneth Cravens and John S. Marr. 1977.

A sinister senior level government official is sharing an anecdote with other such shady characters, likewise up to no good, during a domestic crisis of Medieval Proportions. :)

"It may seem irrelevant to you gentlemen, but I have a story to tell you.

"Howard Hughes told it to me the day Robert Kennedy was shot.

"Hughes was very interested in American Indians.

"He had an almost religious appreciation of their customs.

"He liked to tell about a pueblo of Christian Indians in New Mexico.

"Usually the priests who are assigned to the pueblo are Irishmen from Boston who know nothing of Indian customs and believe they are being sent to a parish no different from one in Detroit.

"They think they will be showing the Indians how to live better, more pious lives.

"The Indians have another viewpoint, though.

"They don't mind having a priest around -- they think it's a good idea to have all the bases covered, so they continue worshiping the old gods and are happy to throw in the Holy Family as well.

"Well, whenever a new priest arrives in the pueblo, the first thing he sees is that the church is all painted up inside with symbols of the corn god and the rain god and so on.

"The Indians explain their customs to the priest very graciously as they take him around the church.

"Just when the priest is about to tell them how all that has to go, that it's a Catholic church, not a pagan temple, the governor of the pueblo leads the priest up behind the altar and shows him a row of skulls on a shelf.

"The Indian politely explains that these are the remains of former priests who did not understand the local customs.

"At that point the priest either packs up and goes back to Boston or he goes along with what the Indians want...."

Pastor Ned Sitzes of Frontier Baptist Church.

Brackettville, Texas.


"Let's honor JESUS with our Gratitude"

"America Should be One Nation under GOD"

November 18. Feast Day of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne.

November 18. Anniversary of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

November 17, 1969: Adios, Green Machine! :)

"Looked like Denzel Washington, and sounded like Adolph Caesar."


On a sunny Southern California mid - morning of this very day four decades back, a bunch of us were standing our final inspection as soon - to - be former members of the Mean Green Machine -- otherwise known as the USMC!

The place?

The Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) of El Toro, not too far -- or so I'd reckon! -- from San Bernardino.

Our assigned Gunnery Sergeant was one tough old brother with ribbons showing he had been there and back, in more than one war.

Our assigned OIC was an even older elegant spit - in - your eye mustang captain sporting snow - white hair and with rows of ribbons showing us that he'd been most likely "sand blasted on Iwo Jima " -- only to be later -- "frozen at Chosin."

These gentlemen, along with with buck sergeant ( E - 5 )Bee -- took their roles as surrogate mom 'an pop for all of us with a sort of off - hand, yet deadly seriousness.

Speaking of deadly seriousness, would anybody like to know Sergeant Bee's spin on contemporary African American culture a la 1969?

He gave us this practically the moment we stepped off that non - stop inbound MAC/Freedom Bird flight from Kadena AFB, Okinawa:

"Now, listen up, o.k.? You all can call me Sarge, Sergeant so - and - so, or by my nick - name, Bee; they're all o.k. by me."

Then he paused for a second, before delivering this zinger.

"And yeah, after hours?

"I'll more than glad to have a beer with any or everyone of you, o.k.?

"But! I'm telling you all something right now: I'm not anybody's soul brother!

"Don't non of you Marines ever make the mistake of looking at my black face, and then even think of call'in me no muthah - *uck*in soul brother, o.k?

"'Cause if you do, I'm going to knock you on your a*s*s, and that's all there is to it, you hear?"

Man!

You bet we heard.

And, so far as I know, that was the end of the issue...

Buck sergeant Bee -- yet another Marines' Marine!

In his case, right out of The Soldier's Story.

One hell of a fine, straight - talk'in fella.

Looked like Denzel Washington and sounded like Adolph Caesar.

Yes, sir!

Forty years ago!

Mid - morning, November 17, 1969.

One of those unforgettable moments, forever frozen in time .... :)

November 17. Feast Day of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

November 17
. Feast Day of Saint Hugh of Lincoln.


17 de Noviembre. Santoral Católico. San Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz, Paraguay.

17 de Noviembre. Santoral Católico. San Aciscio la hacha de Córdoba -- mártir.





Monday, November 16, 2009

Bernal Díaz del Castillo: Historia Verdadera. -- Cap cxxvi.


"Uichilobos se lo mandó, porque pusimos en su casa la imagen de nuestra Señora la Virgen Santa María y la Cruz..."



Hoy, un fragmento de página 246:



"Y lo que contaba Pedro de Alvarado a Cortés, sobre el caso, era que por libertar los mexicanos a Montezuma, y porque Uichilobos se lo mandó, porque pusimos en su casa la imagen de Nuestra Señora la Virgen Santa María y la Cruz; y más dijo que habían llegado muchos indios a quitar la santa imagen del altar donde la pusimos, y que no pudieron, y que los indios lo tuvieron a gran milagro y que se lo dijeron a Montezuma, y que les mandó que la dejasen en el mismo lugar y altar y que no curasen de hacer otra cosa, y así la dejaron."

Y, ¿por qué no, entonces? :)

"La tranquilidad con que marchaban a la muerte estos campesinos...


"Esta época es la de la gran aventura mística, santa, y noble...


Adaptada de La Cristiada escrito por Jean Meyer. 3 tomos. Mex. 1973 - 74. Ed. Siglo XXI.


"La tranquilidad con que marchaban a la muerte estos campesinos cuya gran preocupación, en tiempo de paz, era no morir de muerte repentina, no morir sin tener tiempo de prepararse al tránsito, sobre todo no morir durante el sueño y sin los sacramentos, esta tranquilidad nueva demuestra la gran ruptura que significal 1926 y que esta época es la de la gran aventura mística, santa y noble.

"De pobres diablos insignificantes se convierten en mártires, y lo dicen tranquilamente, y dejan de obedecer a las potencias a las que todavía la víspera saludaban humildemente.... se expresan como Tomás de Canterbury: Las víctimas son numerosas, el número de los mártires aumenta de día en día. ¡Si yo pudiera tener esa suerte!

"Así aquella mujer de Huejuquilla que lloraba y se decía abandonada de Dios porque su familia había sido salvada por la suerte; su hijo único sucembió después combatiendo, y las lágrimas de la madre no borráron el júbilo de la creyente [ Jean Meyer / Petra Cabral, 1967 ]."


November 16. Feast Day of Saint Margaret of Scotland.

November 16. Feast Day of Saint Gertrude.

BISD's Tiger Prep youngsters won 32 - 0 over Del Rio Ponies Saturday!

Meanwhile:

B.H.S. Tigers got waxed -- 56 to 27 -- by the Junction Eagles!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

"Poema escrito por Felipe Brondo:

Gritando al tirano Viva Cristos Rey...



Norberto López:

Desde que tomé las armas hice el propósito de dar la vida por
Cristo..
.


Fuente: La Cristiada, escrito por Jean A. Meyer. 3 tomos. Mex. 1973 - 74. Ed. Siglo XXI.

La famosa guerra religiosa que tuvo lugar entre los años 1926 y 1929.

Participaban unos 50.000 hombres y 25.000 mujeres como insurgentes Cátolicos.

FELIPE BRONDO:

Hoy que está mi alma de ilusiones llena
quiero morir así, robusto y sano
defendiendo mi fe y ante el tirano
con sangre joven empapar la arena.

Quiero morir y soportar la pena
con el valor de un espartano
en esa hora sonreírle ufano
al canalla vil que me condena.

Quiero morir y por mi fe querida
quiero sacrificar mi propia vida
en un suplicio que jamás se ha visto.

En una hoguera sacudir mis alas
o caer traspasado por las balas
gritando al tirano
Viva Cristo Rey.

Como nos comenta Jean Meyer:

"Norberto López, fusilado en 1928, en Encarnación de Díaz, rechazó el perdón que se le ofrecía si se alistaba en el ejército, y dijo: Desde que tomé las armas hice el propósito de dar la vida por Cristo, no voy a perder el ayuno al cuarto para las doce.

"La conciencia de vivir una época extraordinaria era muy fuerte entre los cristeros, y Acevedo, que vio nacer su hija bajo un nopal, exclamó: Vi el cielo abierto ... en las personas de unos miserables cristeros se dejara ver una semejanza con aquel nacimiento de su Hijo Santísimo, en Belén.

Scream'in Sirens & Honking Horns this morning:

The Brackett TIGERS take off for Hondo!


And their rendezvous w / destiny -- or at least a one o'clock kick - off -- with Junction High:

It's Play - off time! :)

Friday, November 13, 2009

"Exorcism is not a sacrament, so it does not function ex opere operato..."


"[E]xorcists in Italy have been using both the old and the new rites..."


Adapted from Dr. Arthur C. Sippo's book review in the New Oxford Review, November 2009, of Matt Boglio's The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist. Doubleday. 304 pages. $24.95.


"Exorcism is not a sacrament, so it does not function ex opere operato.

"The prayers for deliverance from spiritual oppression and possession may need to be repeated for many years, and the victim may not be freed entirely from demonic influence.

"Likewise, exorcism is not something that a lone priest or layman can perform on his own.

"It is an exercise of the Church's authority and so it is necessary that the ritual be performed only with the local bishop's permission, using the precise form prescribed by the Church."


Baglio's prophetical warning to Brackettville's breakaway Catholic Charismatics is grim indeed!


"Standing on one's own against Satan is foolhardy and dangerous.

"It is a serious violation of Church law.

"A traditional Rite of Exorcism in the Western Church had been in use for many centuries.

"It was always recited in Latin, the sacred language of the Roman Rite.

"It was believed by many exorcists that the use of this rite in Latin was most effective.

"A new Rite of Exorcism was developed after Vatican II and has undergone several revisions.

"The new rite can be performed in the vernacular and has several alternative parts.

"At the present time, exorcists in Italy have been using both the old and the new rites, judging for themselves which one would be most appropriate in particular cases."


"[T]he Blessed Virgin Mary can be called on to intercede..."


"It is interesting to note that in certain circumstances the Blessed Virgin Mary can be called on to intercede.

"The demons respond to her name with fear and loathing, and in some cases the possessed person may see visions of Jesus, Mary, or other saints during the ritual.

"The Scriptures promised that Mary would crush Satan's head and that he would live in fear of her heel (Gen. 3:15).

"The experience of exorcists seems to confirm this.

"Demonic possession is still a major front in the war for souls between God and Satan.

"Baglio's book does not lose sight of this. The Rite is thoroughly orthodox and conforms to Catholic teaching.

"It is both interesting and informative, and it stands [ready] to help people understand the very real demonic problems in our world as the Catholic Church understands them.

"It might [also] encourage some unfortunate souls to seek help they would otherwise not know exists..."


Way to go, professor! :)

"UTEP alum slain at Fort Hood"

"Maj. Eduardo Caraveo, was among the 13 [sic.] service members killed Nov. 5 at Fort Hood"

The UTEP Prospector's Ms. Pamela Prieto has this week's story.

"He always praised UTEP; he always said it was a great school"

¡Adelante, Pamela!


Adapted from the original posted 11/10/09.


Photo Caption: The U.S. flag on Memorial Triangle flies at half mast to honor those killed and wounded during the shooting at Fort Hood Nov. 5.

"In what has been called one of the worst mass killings on a U.S. military base, a man whose humble beginnings are rooted in the El Paso - Ciudad Juárez borderland lost his life.

"Maj. Eduardo Caraveo -- who was a UTEP alumnus -- was raised in El Paso and Cd. Juárez and lived in Segundo Barrio for most of his youth.

"After he graduated from Bowie High School, he attended UTEP to achieve his bachelor's and master's degrees.

"He received his master's degree in counseling in 1980.

"He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Arizona.

"His older brother Fernando Caraveo, 71, said he was everyone's consentido, or favorite, and that he was always very loving.

"[H]is brother Rafael Caraveo, 60, said, It's very hard; it's a tragedy. He loved this country that took him in, that gave him his education. He was an excellent person. He praised UTEP; he always said it was a great school ..."

What a waste of a fine person's life.
.. :(

November 13. Feast Day of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Saint Mary Magdalene's Altar Server / Youth Group / Community members play a role in B.H.S. Tigers victory over Sabinal Yellow Jackets in 72nd encounter!


Mr. Victor Robledo made two touchdowns w/out the extra point, while Ms. Bianca Stewart's brother Mr Sam Stewart made his mark, too!

As the Kinney County Post (November 10, 2009) tells us:

"The rest of the game was the [St. MM Altar Server / Youth Group member] Sam Stewart Show.


"Sam ran for 2 touchdowns and the TIGERS made a 2 point conversion to win TIGERS 33 and Jackets 21.

"We are in the PLAYOFFS."

Way to go guys!

BHS Track star Mr. Joelson Terrazas:

From Spofford
's San Blas / Saint Blaze Community!


La señora Paulita Solis' grandson.



Mr. "Joelson Terrazas takes 22nd Place at Regional Cross Country meet in San Antonio on November 7th.

"Terrazas, being the only Varsity boy to qualify for Regionals, ran an awesome 3 mile race.

"His time was 18:32 giving him a 22nd Place out of 168 participants!"

A "Tip of the 'ole Hat" to: the Kinney County Post, Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Their thought for the day: Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it's called golf. :)

November 12. Feast Day of Saint Josaphat.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

St. Mary Magdalen's Youth Group Personality / B.H.S. Senior / Athlete Mr. Victor Cantú!

Makes lst Nine Weeks BHS A Honor Roll!

'Way to go, Victor!

Meanwhile:

St. MM Altar Server/Athlete Ms. Cheyenne Peña makes 7th Grade A - B Honor Roll.

St. MM Altar Server / Athlete Mr. Garón Rueda makes 8th Grade A - B Honor Roll.

St. MM Altar Server / Athlete Mr. Michael Flores, Mr. Tony Flores' primo hermano, makes B.H.S. Seniors A - B Honor Roll.

"XC meet in San Antonio"

Brackettville's Saint Mary Magdalene and Spofford's San Blas / Saint Blaze were represented there, too!

"The Varsity girls and Joelson Terrazas [from Spofford's San Blas / Saint Blaze] qualify for the Regional XC meet in San Antonio, on November 7, 2009.

"[St. MM Altar Server / Athlete] Icela Rueda placed 21st w/ 15:39.

"The Varsity boys placed 5th." The individual results included:[San Blas / Saint Blaze's ] Joelson Terrazas placed 7th w/ 18:19, while [St. MM's] Victor Cantu placed 38th w/ 22:23.

"The individual results for the seventh grade girls included [St. MM Altar Server / Athlete] Cheyenne Peña -- who placed 22nd w/ 18:20.

"The eighth grade boys individual results included [St. MM Altar Server / Athlete] Garón Rueda, who placed 2nd with a time of 13:31.

The seventh grade boys individual results included [St. MM Altar Server / Athlete] Dante Luna, who placed 11th w/ 15:07..."

'Way to go, everybody!

From: The Brackett News. Thursday, November 5, 2009.

November 10. Feast Day of Pope Saint Leo the Great.

November 10. United States Marine Corp's Birthday.

A Semper Fi!


To all former and currently serving members of the Fleet Marine Force (FMF).

Especially:

That steadily dwindling number of survivors of Old Foxtrot Two One (F Co. 2/1) -- The Big Outfit -- of Hill 185 / Nui Loc Son fame -- who fought at the Battle of Binh Son I -- or at least like me who watched it from some kilometers distance -- thereby kicking - off Operation Union I.

St. Mary Magdalene's Youth Group Personalities in Kinney County Post.

Ms. Nena Molinar & Ms. Lila Molinar BHS:

Among other District 28 - A Volleyball Champions.

Ms. Nena Molinar is District 28 - A 's Most Valuable Player (MVP)


'Way to go ladies!

Thanks to: the Kinney County Post. Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Pastor Ned Sitzes' of Frontier Baptist Church.

Brackettville, Texas. 78832



More from his famous bill board!


"Prevent Truth Decay: Read The Bible"

"Square Your Walk With Your Talk"

"Into Foreign Customs, November 09, 8:21 am, Italy."

"Arrived Abroad, November 09, 2009, 8:20 am, Italy."

"International Dispatch, November 04, 2009, 6:28 pm, ISC Chicago Il (USPS)

"Acceptance, November 03, 2009, 9:24 am, Brackettville, TX 78832"


And, so good people!

And so, good friends!

An old bulletin from St. Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish Church, along with a copy of The Brackett News -- the recent edition with the Cowboys in the Sun front page item -- is presently undergoing a lynx - eyed scrutiny from alert multi - lingual experts in all things postal.

Will it be the casual reference in the other enclosed material to someone called simply that Jordanian woman, that causes us to expect just a little more scrutiny?? :)

Altar Servers Shine in Sunday morning Masses at Saint Mary Magdalene's Catholic church!

Where?

In Brackettville, Texas 78832.

That's where....



Sunday, November 8, 2009. 8:00 a.m. Mass. TEAM Mr. Mike Flores + Cousin Mr. Tony Flores & Ms. Britney Castilla -- más Cuatito número 2.

Sunday, November 8, 2009. 10:30 a.m. Mass. TEAM Cuatita número 6 + Mr. Justin Gallegos & Ms. Danielle Gerardo.

Brackettville, Texas' Catholic Charismatic Renewal formerly breaking with Archbishop Gómez?


Uh - huh!

It at least looks like they have.

After nearly two years of debate, Brackettville's Catholic Charismatics publicly opt for going their own way.

And thus sever their last, tenuous ties with the established Catholic Church that is loyal to Pope Benedict XVI as well as those few American bishops still totally in harmony with Rome.


And, sadly enough:

Thereby fulfilling the prophecies given to us so many decades back by the legendary evangelical charismatic minister, David L. Wilkerson.

Believe it or not!

True to type, of course, is our local Catholic clergy.

Because they are sure to be cheerful in continuing to give this latest group of developing schismatics free add space every weekend -- until who knows when.

Perhaps as a reward for leaving quietly into that murky world of the schismatic ...


Source: Our parish bulletin's announcements for the weekend of Saturday October 24th, 2009 & Sunday October 25th, 2009.



"ST. MARY CHARISMATIC RENEWAL

"The St. Mary Magdalene Charismatic Renewal will meet in members' homes beginning Monday evening October 26, 2009, etcetera, etc.."

Saturday, November 07, 2009

"Viven mujeres violencia y hambre"

"Acuden a Opciones Dignas a informarse sobre qué pueden hacer"

"Denuncian:

"Que a los malos tratos se añade la falta de alimentos.

"Demandan hacer valer sus derechos y que cese la violencia en sus hogares."


Adaptada del comentario por Eliud Sandoval Navarro. El Zócalo de Ciudad Acuña. Viernes 6 de noviembre de 2009.

"Así lo dio a conocer en entrevista Brenda Berenice Salas Mata, psicóloga del centro de apoyo Opciones Dignas, luego de comentar que antes de la pérdida de empleo las mujeres que sufrían violencia en su hogar no denunciaban porque al menos su pareja les daba la alimentación y el gasto.

"[S]in embargo ahora no hay esas ayudas y por el contrario sigue habiendo golpes.

"[E]s por lo cual las mujeres optan por denunciar a sus agresores.

"La crisis está afectando los hogares donde se vivía la violencia, contribuyendo a incrementarla y a no otorgar manutención..."

¡Qué triste! :(

Friday, November 06, 2009

"Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani's Policy:

Communion kneeling, on the tongue
"


Aiming to restore a sense of reverence...


From The Catholic World News, November 2009.


"Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima, Peru, has directed that lay people should receive Communion on the tongue, kneeling, in that city's cathedral.

"The cardinal urged others to adopt the same practice, saying that this is the most respectful way to receive the Eucharist.

"Cipriani explained that he is instituting the policy because we must regain the respect and reverence that is due to the Eucharist..."

Way to go, su excelencia....!! :)

"More planning for priestly misbehavior"

"Congregation Reportedly Weighing Rules For Care of Children"



From The Catholic World Report, November 2009.

"The Vatican is weighing new guidelines for the care of children who are fathered by Catholic priests, according to an August report in the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

"The report said that the Congregation for Clergy is considering rules that would provide for the care of such children from the personal assets of the priests involved, without imposing legal or financial obligations upon the Church..."

A belated thank you to those public spirited folks who helped out on November 3, Election Day!



Such Kinney County personalities as Helen S., Carol D. and Alecia R. were patient, cheerful, and unfailingly courteous in helping those Kinney County people who occasionally wandered in during the day, more or less intending to fulfill their civic duty.

Nuestro señor Arzobispo, Don José H. Gómez, nos habla .

Today's Catholic. November 6, 2009.

"¿Qué hacer con la H1N1?"

Y esto no es mi opinión, sino la ley de la iglesia...


"Recientemente envié a las parroquias algunas pautas temporales para ayudar a proteger a las personas de la infección y ayudar a disminuir la propagación del virus en nuestra comunidad.

"Algunas de las medidas que recomendé son simplemente un tema de higiene -- por ejemplo, asegurarnos de que los sacerdotes y ministros mantengan sus manos limpias y desinfectadas.

"Las demás recomendaciones se refieren a prácticas que no son esenciales a nuestra celebración de la Eucaristía -- como por ejemplo, limitar temporalmente la comunión a la hostia consagrada y distribuirla en la mano en vez de la lengua; reemplazar los abrazos y saludos de mano con algo diferente para dar la señal de la paz; suspender el uso de la pila de agua bendita por el momento."


"La Instrucción General del Misal Romano ...

encontrada en nuestra página web
..."


"Es muy importante recordar una cosa: que estas prácticas litúrgicas son opcionales, es decir, no son requisitos para que la Misa sea válida o hermosa.

"Y esto no es mi opinión, sino la leyde la iglesia, que se puede encontrar en la Instrucción General del Misal Romano (que puede ser encontrada en nuestra página web).

"El limitar estas prácticas por un corto tiempo no altera la esencia de la Misa ni disminuye la belleza y sacralidad de nuestra adoración.

"Recibir la preciosísima Sangre, o comulgar en la lengua son expresiones significativas de nuestra fe eucarística.

"Pero no son la única manera por la cual un buen católico puede expresar piedad y devoción..."

Thursday, November 05, 2009

"News Briefs" from the Jesuit's America magazine.

Edition of November 2, 2009.


"U.S. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke newly appointed to the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, celebrated a pontifical high Mass using the Tridentine rite in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 18, the first time the 1962 rite has been celebrated in the basilica in almost 40 years."

"The Vatican began a long - awaited dialogue on Oct. 26 with the leaders of the Society of St. Pius X."


"United Kingdom: Rome Open to Anglican Return"


"Pope Benedict XVI has established a special structure for Anglicans who want to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving aspects of their Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage.

"In establishing the new structure, Pope Benedict XVI is responding to many requests from individual Anglicans and Anglican groups -- including 20 to 30 bishops, said Cardinal William J. Levada, the Vatican's chief doctrinal official."

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

"Quien no conoce a Dios, ante cualquier palo se hinca." II


Father Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap. tells us more!


"We have only two ways to be healed or to improve: through nature or through grace.

"Nature includes science, medicine, technology and all the resources that man has received from God to govern the earth and his own life in obedience to Him.

"Grace includes faith and prayer, through which healing and miracles are sometimes obtained -- always, however, from God, because that power belongs to God (Psalm 62.11)."


Practices related to
Saint Mary Magdalene's Nganga Tree?



"When a third way appears - whether it is recourse to occult powers through occult means [Brackettville's Nganga Tree?], secretly concealed from God without any need for His approval [Nope! Here our clergy openly flaunts it!], or the direct abuse of His name [Bingo! As when some clowns dutifully intoned the Our Father in last year's Nganga Tree mitote!] or of some of His signs (like the pictures of certain saints) -- then the master and pioneer of this third [or Satan's] way enters immediately on the scene.

"He [Satan] is the one who said one day that all power on earth was his and that he could give it to whomever he pleased if he were adored (see Luke 4:6).

"Devastation in such cases is inevitable.

"The fly [including many St. MM parishioners over age 60] is caught in the web of the great spider and will not easily come out alive..."

But hey, folks, so what?

If these people deliberately chose to park their brains outside with their cars, who has the right to complain?

True, we might argue that they have indeed deliberately chosen an utterly self - destructive course of action.

But!

Ultimately, so what, indeed?

Because at Saint Mary Magdalene's Catholic Parish, at least, these good people have done all this as an act of their own God - given free will... :(

Meanwhile....

.... Far, far, away, the young secretary of a certain pastor, the pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Antonio, sits at her desk pondering the latest input from Brackettville.

Should she pass it on to her boss?

Or should she just pitch it?

And if she pitches it, who will care anyway?

Humm ... good question!

Further, a question that will most likely not be be answered until tomorrow sometime, or maybe not even until early Friday, when a regularly scheduled Air Italia plane lands in Rome, Italy, with the usual bags of US Special Delivery Mail on board....

And a little hole in the wall Roman press office just might get a package post marked Brackettville, Texas.

A package with $27.00 worth of pre - paid postage, and containing -- among other items! -- a copy of The Brackett News, as well as a copy of a St. MM bulletin....

Oh, my! Oh, my!

Poor little secretary at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas! :)

November 4. Feast Day of Saint Charles Borromeo.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Rev. Father Raniero Cantalamessa, O. F.M. Cap.

Charismatic Preacher to the Papal Households!

Of both Popes John Paul II & Benedict XVI.

"There is another sickness that coils around us on all sides."

"It is called superstition..."

"This too is a mental sickness."

Here's a previously posted snippet from his tell - all masterpiece, Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled with the Fullness of God.

"There is another sickness that coils around us on all sides.

"It is called superstition -- resorting to wizards, sorcerers, fortune - tellers, occult arts and spiritualists.

"This too is is a mental sickness.

"In Deuteronomy we read, No one shall be found among you -- who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur or a sorcerer, or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits or who seeks oracles from the dead. For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:10 - 12).

"Isaiah wrote this terrifying prophecy: The Lord is about to bring judgment on this land because it is overflowing with soothsayers and diviners from the east (see Isaiah 2:6, 12)

"How modern our ancient Isaiah is!

"[O]ur world is overflowing with sorcerers and diviners.

"Most of the time it is a case of charlatanism and nothing else.

"[Yet the] godless intention of practicing this art and of resorting to occult arts is enough to make people fall into the snares of the evil one.

"We have only two ways to be healed or to improve: through nature or through grace...."

November 3. Feast Day of San Martín de Porres.

Monday, November 02, 2009

In Brackettville, Texas, St. Mary Magdalene's Altar Servers are a credit to their community.

Talk about the hope of the future?

They and their young parents are it.


Just ask Mr. Justin Hidalgo's proud mom....


Just ask Mr. Justin Hidalgo's proud mom. When certain people were becoming "no shows" this past Saturday evening, her son Justin jumped up and did his duty, thereby helping Father Pius and Deacon Jimmy Bader.

As we shared with her a while back this morning while dozens of us were waiting in line -- yours truly to send a copy of The Brackett News to some street - wise Roman reporters -- let's just call them Alberta and Angela -- "Such good people are indeed the wave of the future!
"

And yes! Such young people as Justin reflect well on his mom and the whole family.

Saturday, October 31, 2009. 5:30 p.m. Mass. TEAM Mr. Justin Hidalgo.

Sunday, November 01, 2009. 8:00 a.m. Mass. TEAM Cuatito Número Siete + Ms. Britney Castilla.

Sunday, November 01, 2009. 10:30 a.m. Mass. TEAM Mr. Patrick Ortiz w/ Mr. Justin Gallegos & Cuatito Número Cinco.

November 2. All Souls Day!

St. Mary Magdalene / San Blas Catholic Parish.

Brackettville & Spofford, Texas

Zip code 78832.

Our, pastor -- the Rev. Fr. Pius Ezeigbo -- has kindly announced that, for all Monday is his regularly scheduled day off, the regulation three (3) Masses for today will be spaced out at regular intervals, so that most all of us will be given the opportunity to attend at least one.

Meanwhile, as a pastoral alternative to those of us un - enamored of the mandatory Nganga Tree, he was even so forthright as to provide us with All Souls Day offering envelopes scattered among the pews starting the Mass of this past Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, our parish's enthusiastic fans and participants in imitation Ngangulero ceremonies centered around St. Magdalene Church's magical - mystical Nganga Tree will have their very own special spiritual yearnings catered to, as well, by the final Saturday p.m. Mass of November, likewise by Father Pius Ezeigbo.

Like his fearless alter - ego, the assistant pastor nicknamed Don Chichi in Giovanni Guareschi's wickedly savage late 1960's satire, Don Camillo Meets the Flower Children, our pastor, too, is indeed versatile.

Way to go, Father! :)