House of style!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
A lesson in church architecture: the Lombard style (built four-hundred years ago!). And nice to see goldfish in the fountain with the banana tree next to it with snowy mountains in the background!
A word about the priesthood...
Sometimes (often), people are too hard on priests.
There will always be the human element.
And God wanted it this way as He chose men, not angels.
"But although God is the author and dispenser of the Sacraments, He nevertheless willed that they should be administered in His Church by men, not by Angels. To constitute a Sacrament, as the unbroken tradition of the Fathers testifies, matter and form are not more necessary than is the ministry of men."
-Catechism of the Council of Trent
The Ministers of the Sacraments
There will always be the human element.
And God wanted it this way as He chose men, not angels.
"But although God is the author and dispenser of the Sacraments, He nevertheless willed that they should be administered in His Church by men, not by Angels. To constitute a Sacrament, as the unbroken tradition of the Fathers testifies, matter and form are not more necessary than is the ministry of men."
-Catechism of the Council of Trent
The Ministers of the Sacraments
Ecclesiastical Heraldry...
More and more these days seem to have a strong interest in heraldry again. Here's a nice site to get an idea of how ecclesiastical heraldry is to be done:
http://www.guyselvester.50megs.com/photo.html
http://www.guyselvester.50megs.com/photo.html
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
January 7: surgery date for fellow-blogger...
The guy in the cool surplice here is Philip.
He goes in for surgery now on Wednesday, January 7. Please pray for his health and well-being.
See his fine blog here: http://philipgerardjohnson.blogspot.com/
Photo courtesy of Philip (his brother's wedding last year).
Passing of a Catholic blogger: prayers requested...
Please pray for the soul of this Catholic blogger who passed away on Christmas Eve.
See here: http://lemmondrops.blogspot.com/
See here: http://lemmondrops.blogspot.com/
A word about hats in church...
Yesterday, in two seperate countries, I counted almost a dozen seperate men wearing their winter hats in different churches.
When a man uncovers his head in the presence of the God Who will judge him, this gesture of humility is just what he needs.
When a woman covers her head in the presence of the God Who will judge her, this gesture of humility is just what she needs.
Men are men and women are women and this doesn't change with the ages and it didn't change with the sixties either.
God knows the human condition and that is why the Church so gave the world this "custom" of men uncovering their heads in church and women covering their hair in church.
And not to boast, but yesterday was the xth anniversary of the first time I had the honor to meet a pope. On the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany in the year of grace 1999, yours truly had the honor to reverence the ring of Peter for the first time (and in that instant I wept bitterly and for the whole day afterwards). Grace, peace, mercy. May the Lord of History be praised. Amen.
When a man uncovers his head in the presence of the God Who will judge him, this gesture of humility is just what he needs.
When a woman covers her head in the presence of the God Who will judge her, this gesture of humility is just what she needs.
Men are men and women are women and this doesn't change with the ages and it didn't change with the sixties either.
God knows the human condition and that is why the Church so gave the world this "custom" of men uncovering their heads in church and women covering their hair in church.
And not to boast, but yesterday was the xth anniversary of the first time I had the honor to meet a pope. On the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany in the year of grace 1999, yours truly had the honor to reverence the ring of Peter for the first time (and in that instant I wept bitterly and for the whole day afterwards). Grace, peace, mercy. May the Lord of History be praised. Amen.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Swiss resort town of Ascona on Lake Maggiore...
Cuban rum and cigars (and German beer) and a game of chess in the Swiss Alps is about as good as it gets.
And the Catholic priesthood is the world's greatest fraternity.
And as we often say of Catholic life: a big steak, a big cigar, a big beer and a big conversation about big things is our great Catholic pleasure!
Swiss resort town of Ascona on Lake Maggiore...
This is the land of Carolus Borromeus. St. Charles Borromeo was here and even founded a school here which is still in existence: the Collegio Papio.
Ascona is a charming little town, on a giant lake. No trains here, but if you have a rental car or just take the train to nearby Locarno and then the bus to Ascona you can see it all. Be inspired. The Faith lives, thanks to the labors of many. Join the effort: keep Europe Catholic.
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
The school motto in Latin is the only way to go... and the shrine in the back garden is a nice touch.
Swiss resort town of Ascona on Lake Maggiore...
Palm trees and snow: this is the Swiss Italian-speaking Canton of Ticino. On the Swiss national holiday each August 1st all hike up to the tops of the mountains to build bonfires: the glow in the evening darkness is said to be magnificent.
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
The arms over the main entrance. This collegio had the status of "pontifical college" for hundreds of years until the sixties when the Pope at that time gave up this status of this particular school.
Usus Antiquior as seen in Switzerland...
From the Canton of Ticino in the Swiss Alps: Don Jeffry Moore, an American cleric, celebrates Holy Mass according to the usus antiquior in the old papal collegio founded by Pope Gregory XIII some four-hundred years ago.
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
Don Jeffry Moore, the Great. Here he celebrates a Requiem Mass for the souls of the faithful departed in the resort town of Ascona, on Lago Maggiore (Lake Major). The biretta of St. Charles Borromeo, a priceless relic, is still venerated by the faithful there (in a small museum).
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
Carved over the entrance: Collegium Ss. Mariae Misericordiae 1602.
Friday, January 02, 2009
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
A thousand thanks to the great Don Jeffry Moore for inviting me and hosting me at the Collegio Papio in the Swiss resort town of Ascona (a school founded by Pope Gregory XIII and erected by St. Charles Borromeo, its first Cardinal-Protector).
Don Moore is the vice-rector of the Collegio and thanks to his many acts of extraordinary kindness I was able to make this winter holiday after five years in Rome (even saw my first snowfall after five long years on New Year's Eve!).
Don Moore is an American priest who is a member of the Italian-speaking Diocese of Lugano, in the Swiss Alps. He makes his rounds in the town and greets everybody and the kids and parents alike are grateful to him for his presence.
It's a lovely place to live and many Amercian clergy who love Italian language and the idea of living in Europe might be called to serve here.
The Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland...
It's been a great pleasure these past days to stay as a guest at this famous old papal college, now a middle and high school. The two story courtyard in the Lombard style (1585-1602) is magnificent to wake up to and to stay in a room which is hundreds of years old and which so many generations of fine clergymen have lived in is a source of great joy and edification. Thanks, Don Moore!
Resort town of Ascona on Lago Maggiore...
A magnificent lake which reaches from Switzerland into Italy, this is Lake Maggiore. Surrounded by snowy mountains, this little Catholic town has been called the "Beverly Hills" of Switzerland. It's all Italian speaking and a very special place. Don Moore loves it here. Pray for more zealous priests to direct and lead these peoples. It's Italian-speaking. Is it your call (Diocese of Lugano)?
From the Swiss Alps (Ticino Canton)...
Magnificent craftsmanship: see the grapes, wheat and flowers.
This is the land of beautiful vesments. The people loved the Faith of their fathers and gave all they had to the Church. They were the people of the yoke of St. Charles Borromeo, who traveled through these mountain villages in Switzerland to instruct and confirm all in the Faith as the people were under the See of Milan.
On New Years eve yours truly had the honor to attend this Holy Mass prayed in the old Collegio Papio in the resort town of Ascona, Switzerland. The celebrant was the much loved Don Moore, vice-rector. The main altar of this chapel is Ambrosian rite, while the side altars are Roman rite. It's belived that St. Charles Borromeo celebrated Holy Mass atop this same altar mensa on the main altar.
From the Swiss Alps (Ticino Canton)...
Magnificent craftsmanship: carved from wood.
This is the land of wood carvers: Northern Italy, Switzerland, Germany, etc. This was and remains a part of their culture. This photo was taken in the Collegio Papio in Ascona, Switzerland.
From the Swiss Alps (Ticino Canton)...
Catholic culture lives...even in the middle of nowhere mountains.
The glory of the Roman rite: every part counts...
In the sixties some said that "too many" rites and rubrics of the Roman rite were "useless" and "superfluous."
"The Sacrifice (of the Mass) is celebrated with many solemn rites and ceremonies, none of which should be deemed useless or superfluous. On the contrary, all of them tend to display the majesty of this august Sacrifice, and to excite the faithful when beholding these saving mysteries, to contemplate the divine things which lie concealed in the Eucharistic Sacrifice."
-Catechism of the Council of Trent
Edited by St. Charles Borromeo
Promulgated by Pope St. Pius V
Vinum Pro S. Missa: old school altar wine...
Just when they said the old days were over. Like pa once said: "Never say never."
Here's some wicked old altar wine coming from Catholic Spain.
What is wrong with this picture?
It has been suggested by some that modern art is for the most part fundamentally atheistic/agnostic.
Break that pottery and bury it in the mud where it came from.
Women: Catholic ladies...
A big thanks to all of our sweet and lovely Catholic ladies. They are the ones who, in large part, gave us the Faith.
Tonight yours truly went to Holy Mass and counted twenty-seven communicants. Of these only three were adult men (one was the sacristan; all three were old).
To our sweet Catholic women: you brought us up in the Faith and so inspire us to this very day and may you all be blessed a thousand-fold in this life as well as in the next.
And if your husbands persecute you with shameful abuse because you take yourself or your kids to church, kindly know that JPSonnen offers a prayer of thanksgiving for your blaze of glory this very moment in the Swiss Alps.
Tonight yours truly went to Holy Mass and counted twenty-seven communicants. Of these only three were adult men (one was the sacristan; all three were old).
To our sweet Catholic women: you brought us up in the Faith and so inspire us to this very day and may you all be blessed a thousand-fold in this life as well as in the next.
And if your husbands persecute you with shameful abuse because you take yourself or your kids to church, kindly know that JPSonnen offers a prayer of thanksgiving for your blaze of glory this very moment in the Swiss Alps.
Christian families: please buy this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most will say, and it's beautiful to hear, that the most important book one can purchase in this life is the Holy Bible.
However, the Roman Catechism (the Catechism of the Council of Trent) is the singular most important book that any Catholic family can purchase. And it's an easy read.
Buy the new TAN hardbound edition as seen in the Rome photo above:
https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/741/keywords/catechism+council+trent/
A just cause: live and die for the papacy...
Die another day, but die for the Supreme Pontiff in Rome.
Live for something. And die for something. In Europe its soccer. Live for the Church. Be a warrior for the cause!
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