Each summer: Latin students in Rome...

These German kids in Rome were proud of their new t-shirts!

In Rome's July heat: the Spouse of Christ...

The world tells us that the peroxide is the beauty, but the rest of us know better (and we had darn better teach our kids as well, too).

Dads, teach your daughters how to be Christian women. The most important thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Dads, love your wives. Support them in their Christian womanhood and together teach your children, both male and female, about the Christian protocol of dress. Then, we will get lots more nuns and everybody will be a lot happier. This must in large part come from dads! Holy Writ as well as the Church both look to you to step up to the plate. Protect the purity of your homes and so bring peace to your nest.

The holy tiara and those who never understood it...

"In the same spirit, he refused the tiara. It wasn't that he was rejecting the symbolic link with a temporal power whose time had passed. No, the point was much simpler: Vatican II had created a more Gospel-oriented, more spiritual Church."

-A Life With Karol by Stanislaw Cardinal Dziwisz, page 71.

Why Rome is just the best...

This palace was built by the Pacelli family in 1922. Nice to see it on the corner of Pope Innocent III Street and Pope Nicholas III Street!

07.07.07: luckiest day of the century...

Happy anniversary a tutti voi!

FYI: The original plan was for the big first anniversary Rome party of Summorum Pontificum to be held on the shores of Lake Albano, at Castel Gandolfo. Change of plans and now it will be held on the shore of the sea in the resort town of Santa Marinella, near Rome. BBQ and then bonfire with spumante toast and all welcome at dusk on 07.07.

Many of us were born in the seventies. Blatant indifference to religion was what we grew up with (even in our Catholic schools) and this, we knew, was in large part due to a loss of a sense of transcendence. Now we have the transcendence back, thanks be to God, to Summorum Pontificum and to Benedictvs pp. XVI!

From Rome: Jesuit glory of old lives on...

It's a great honor to be affected by holy Jesuits of old. Fr. Blet, S.J., joined the Society of Jesus in 1937. Being a Frenchman, he survived the horrors of the war as a seminarian and then went on to be perhaps the most famous Catholic Church historian of today. Vigilant and holy, it's a delight to chat with him as he explained, in English, a bit about his trips to America. Truly, he's a tender, tender angel.

Fr. Gumpel, S.J., is an Austrian. He is a brilliant man in every way and has a mind like a rapier. One might even say he's a genius and such a gentleman and scholar. It was a delight to chat with him about his compatriot, Al Cardinal Stickler, S.D.B. Later in the day, I was humbled as my telephone rang and it was Fr. Gumpel to tell me that Cardinal Stickler is buried at the catacomb of S. Callisto, off the Via Appia.

The trademark of these two men is their holiness. Please pray for them. Both are faithful Jesuits and warriors for the cause. Would be great to spend one's eternity in heaven with men like these.

Tailor to the Popes: under the reign of Pius XII...

With the devil's focus to dismember the Church at the local level, many clergymen don't even wear clerical dress anymore. It goes without saying that it's been a time of tumult, which has already been ending.

My pastor of blessed memory, the ever solicitous Rev. Msgr. R. J. Schuler, PhD, used to talk about the "old days" in 1950s Rome with all of its many clerical tailors and hat stores, etc. With the vast majority of these shops having now closed their doors, the "rex" of them all remains, Gammarelli.

In 1942 (29 April, '42), Pius XII gave to the Gammarelli family the privilege of having his personal arms on their label and so here we see a ferriola (cape) made by them in the '40s or '50s with his crest and nice to see this quality work, over fifty years later, still in mint condition...and still being used!

To the Ostian Basilica: the Pauline year...

Today, in praying for all readers of the Catholic blog world, I made a quick visit to the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls. It's usually rather quiet there, but today there were lots of faithful and lots of Benedictines, too, hearing confessions.



They have a goofy looking lamp in the outside atrium which is lit for the occasion. The holy door remains closed, but they have opened what they're calling the "Pauline door." It's a nice door, with some odd (cheap looking) plastic-type panels in it to commemorate the event.



As everyone knows, the altar which had been there over the tomb of St. Paul was (sadly) taken out in 2006 (with the permission of the Pope, granted to the German Abbot). They never did open the tomb, but you can now see the exterior of a part of it. Now they have a nice relic displayed there of the chain in which St. Paul is said to have been bound with.



For generations pilgrims have enjoyed seeing the historic baptistry (baptisterium) of the Basilica (near to the sacristy). The Benedictines last month had a giant murky-glass wall put up which now does not allow one to see or enter into the baptistry.



Livid, I asked an employee for how long and why this giant wall was put in. He shared that it was the Abbot who wanted another chapel for private Masses. In knowing that the Basilica is just packed with altars (and chapels), I shook my head at the aging establishment and prayed the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer.



Then it was off to the Lido (Ostia) for a swim (and they finally got a new Lido train!). There's a half dozen "free" beaches there where one does not have to pay. They're crowded, but it's still nice to swim and see all the kids and families having a nice time. Sadly, they never rebuilt the old pier of the Stabilimento Balneare Roma which has been blown up by the Nazis. In fact, even today they don't want people swimming over the water where it had been as its broken foundations are still there under the water. I offer a prayer now they will rebuild it in all its former splendor.



Then off to Rome's newest shopping mall in the suburb of EUR called EUROMA2. This mall is like something out of Las Vegas. It's all marble with obelisks and domes and gold chrome and the like. Mostly womens' clothing stores and everyting is rather expensive (clothes are more expensive in Italy than stateside). But, they do have Rome's first SUBWAY restaurant so for 7 euro one can get a foot long submarine sandwich, a cookie and a drink (yes, there is life south of Milan!).

From Milan: where the Edict of Milan was signed...

When you visit Milan be sure to make it to the Basilica of San Giorgio al Palazzo. This is the site where they believe the Emperor Constantine signed the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313 (when Christianity was then made legal in the Empire).

From Milan: the See of Carlo Boromeo...

When you visit Milan be sure to visit the top of the mighty Cathedral. Milan was the city of St. Charles Boromeo (who Pope John Paul II was named after in 1920, Karl). The episcopal motto of Cardinal Boromeo was humilitas and so one can see this word written throughout the See.

Where to shop while you live in Rome...

In the old days (the bad old nineties), there was just the Panorama chain. Today, in very recent years, thanks to foreign investment, there have been constructed giant shopping malls (each called a centro commerciale) around the outskirts of Rome. They really do make life a lot easier with "one stop" shopping where one can find items not found in any other local in Italy.

Here's the three biggest and best:

In EUR (nice, the newest and something right out of Las Vegas):
http://www.euroma2.it/

In Castel Romano between EUR and Anzio (too distant, but bus from end of Metro Line B at Laurentina):
http://www.mcarthurglen.it/corporate/home/home.php

Next to Rome International Airport (my favorite and easy to get to - just take the airport train from Stazione Roma Trastevere and they have a cinema there, too):
http://www.parcoleonardo.it/commerciale/

Summer leisure reading...

If you want to know the Faith, then just start to read this one from Tan Books and Publishers: The Catechism of the Council of Trent.

Holy Father, bring back the other Pius IX thrones...!

Many have been to the museum at the Lateran Palace in Rome and seen these two thrones. Now we just want to see them used again (banished in the sixties it's time to bring some of this stuff back and we lay forces support this effort to bring back the beautiful)!

The good, bad and ugly...

"It tried to kill me so I ate it."

Like Pa always said: "Strike quick and take no prisoners."

Teach your kids team spirit for the Church...

Here we see a Spaniard, who although a layman, speaks a thousand words to anyone who sees him on the streets of Rome.

The extras count: the processional banner...

Processional baners are a nice extra. For the Corpus Christi procession in the Port of Rome, Civitavecchia, they had this banner on doors and windows along the processional route.

One can see how easy these are to make. Just show up at the printing shop with a nice pen and ink print. They can enlarge and print it on different materials for indoor or outdoor use. Sometimes it takes the laity to do this sort of thing (so do it!).

The Roman style cope...

These are glorious, but sadly not really seen in America. The next time you find yourself in Rome, just order one for your pastor as a gift (with a matching stole) on the Via di Santa Chiara, 34 (near the Pantheon).

An American Carmelite: finest living Latinist...

Here we see Reggie in the Roman Forum earlier this month. Some have asked for an update on his health after his fall on Wednesday and so here's the scoop.

Reggie has been in a Rome hospital since Wednesday afternoon recovering from a bit of a fall which occured at his home, but he's in good spirits and resting well. His famous summer Latin courses will likely end earlier than planned this year. One of the leg bones is broken and so please pray for his surgery and successful time of rest and healing.

From the history books: back when quality was it...

Here we see the last Papal Coronation Mass in June of 1963. This is back before the hippies changed even the way we worship.

Today the masses attend Papal Mass in t-shirt and jeans. But back in the day it was different. Until our modern era every item for use in the "holy of holies" had always been of the purest quality.

For example, pure linen altar cloths (today, all polyester), all starched cottas (today, all linen blend), all pure silk (today, all fake whatever), all hand-made items (today, all machine made), real beeswax hand-painted candles (today, all plastic/oil), all wool cassocks with starched linen collars (today, imitation garments and plastic collars), etc.

Vatican website: also in Latin...

As most everybody knows, the Vatican site is now in Latin, too (www.vatican.va).

Just goes to show how a petition drive can work: (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pro_lingua_latina/).

The book that made me...

During our formative years we've all read books (or even seen films) which helped to form us into being the people we are today.

A book can have a powerful influence on anybody. It was after reading this book as a high schol student that while still a college student I was led to follow his footsteps to Peoria, Washington, D.C., New York City, Rome and then later as a graduate student to Lourdes, the Holy Land, London, Louvain, etc. He's the one who got me into graduate school and got me to study the sacred science in Rome.

He's our American saint. He always said that it was his "daily holy hour" in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament which made him. This he began in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the seminary chapel which still stands today.

Visit his tomb under the main altar in the crypt of the deceased prelates in St. Patrick's Cathedral in N.Y.C. and ask him to pray for you and for your families. He was the most brilliant orator which the Church ever produced in our modern era. See his site here: http://www.archbishopsheencause.org/

Light switch in the papal apartment...

Whenever a new Pope is elected a quick renovation of the papal apartments is carried out. In 1963 the Archbishop of Milan was elected and so he hired Milanese designers to fit the apartment to his tastes.

It was then that the lovely, vividly red crimson damask came off the walls and in its place they put up this more "humble" looking brown (which never matched the Baroque ceilings or floors). Forty years later Pope John Paul II had the brown taken down and new damask put up, albeit this time a lovely white with the pattern of festoons and tiara with keys.

So now that the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican and the Papal Summer Villa at Castel Gandolfo are done, now someone just needs to remind them that now they have to save the walls of the Lateran Palace from this same (brown!) wall-covering!

S.S.P.X and their deadline...

JPSonnen orat pro episcopo Bernardo Fellay, Societatis Sancti Pii X superiore, ut Dominus pacem det Ecclesiae et unitatem cum Beatissimo Papa Benedicto Pp XVI. Oremus omnes! Ut unum sint...

You are invited (in Latin!) to honor his memory...

Peregrinatio hac scopum habet honorandi augustam memoriam Pii PP XII, cuius obitus commemorabitur 9 octobris adveniente quinquaginta annis transactis. Devoti huius Romani Pontifici omnes cordialiter convocati sunt ut adunentur Romae ad participandum in omnibus praevisis actibus. Ii quibus eventus hoc interesse potuerit id notum faciant Sodalitio Internationali Pastor Angelicus ad ulteriores habendas relationes.

This International Roman Pilgrimage has the purpose of honouring the holy memory of Pope Pius XII on the 50th Anniversary of his death, on the forthcoming 9th of October. All his devotees are cordially convoked to meet in Rome to participate in the several ceremonies that have been organized. Those who may be interested in taking part in this event, please contact the Solatium Internationale Pastor Angelicus for further information.

Facebook has a My Events page for this: Peregrinatio Romana Internationalis pro Pio PP XII

sodalitium@pastorangelicus.org

Conventus in Sanctae Sedis Aula Diurnariis edocendis adunatus ad nuntiandos inceptos pro commemoratione Quinquagesimi anni a Pio PP XII obitu: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/22312.php?index=22312&lang=it - Press Conference held in the Holy See Press Office to announce initiatives for commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of Pope Pius XII’s death: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/a0_en.htm - Conférence de Press

How to build a (nice) modern church...

University students of architecture will explain to you that today, in their university programs of study, classical architecture is still "forbidden."

So parish building committees and architectural firms continue to build the most discordant places of worship one can imagine (even in Catholic countries such as Italy, Poland, Spain, etc).

Here's a fine church which could be reproduced with ease anywhere and on budget. If you're on the parish building committee than consider this one in La Storta, just northwest of Rome with its attached school and rectory (p.s. Eugene Cardinal Tisserant is buried here).

Craftsmanship for Catholic culture...

Here we see the coat-of-arms of Blessed John XXIII (aka Bubbles) from perhaps circa 1959. Notice the craftsmanship, detail and to think it was likely all made by hand.

To get craftsmanship like this today, they say you have to look to India, where for example, the British Armed Forces have all their emblems made. Hope we can cultivate more craftsmen all over the world so as to reproduce some of these past treasures for the life of the Church today.

From Catholic Italy: hats of knights and clergymen...

Made in Italy: the glorious maniple...

When Papal Liturgies were Baroque...

It all ended in the tenebrous sixties, but here's another taste of the beauty in the hope that it will make a return.

And why hasn't it yet returned? In large part, Aristotle has the answer: "He who wishes to learn must believe." Many of our tepid leaders just haven't really believed as the Church would have us believe in such tenets as Papal primacy or the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist, etc.

And the truth is that the sixties never really ended in Italy. Pray that Italy and its people can move on from that never-ending decade (and then Italian television will be just so much more bearable!).

Last Papal Coronation: June of 1963...

Pray, fast and do penance and maybe, if the Lord of History deigns, it will make a return.

The good old days...

Here's a taste of just how much we've lost. In this photo, taken from a book, we see the splendor of the papal rites as the world knew them until the fractious sixties when they did away with most everything that was of this scale of beauty. This photo was taken in June of 1963. You can see it's the outdoor Coronation Mass of Paul VI. My pastor was there, Mons. R.J. Schuler, PhD.

From Largo Argentina: Reggie's world!

Meet the greatest living Latinist, Fr. Reginald Foster, O.C.D. A native of the lovely shrine of Holy Hill in Wisconsin, he's one of the minutanti of the Pope's Secretaria Status. He spends his days translating things into Latin for the Popes and teaching others the rich beauty of Latin.

Holy Hill is worth a visit. It's a wondrous Carmelite shrine on a hill in the woods and crop land near Milwaukee (you can even smell the hops as you drive through the brewing centre!). I once made a pilgrimage there with friends in about 1999. We prayed there for Reggie and his ministry. Please pray for his health. Born in 1939, he's been working in the Vatican for 40 years!

The Angelic Doctor on Vestments...

In the Supplement to the Summa Theologica, Question 40 Article 7, we read this:

Seventh Article
Whether the Vestments of the Ministers Are Fittingly Instituted in the Church?

"I answer that, The vestments of the ministers denote the qualifications required of them for handling Divine things. And since certain things are required of all, and some are required of the higher, that are not so exacted of the lower ministers, therefore certain vestments are common to all the ministers, while some pertain to the higher ministers only. Accordingly it is becoming to all the ministers to wear the amice which covers the shoulders, thereby signifying courage in the exercise of the Divine offices to which they are deputed; and the alb, which signifies a pure life, and the girdle, which signifies restraint of the flesh. But the subdeacon wears in addition the maniple on the left arm; this signifies the wiping away of the least stains, since a maniple is a kind of handkerchief for wiping the face; for they are the first to be admitted to the handling of sacred things. They also have the narrow tunic, signifying the doctrine of Christ; wherefore in the Old Law little bells hung therefrom, and subdeacons are the first admitted to announce the doctrine of the New Law. The deacon has in addition the stole over the left shoulder, as a sign that he is deputed to a ministry in the sacraments themselves, and the dalmatic (which is a full vestment, so called because it first came into use in Dalmatia), to signify that he is the first to be appointed to dispense the sacraments: for he dispenses the blood, and in dispensing one should be generous.

But in the case of the priest the stole hangs from both shoulders, to show that he has received full power to dispense the sacraments, and not as the minister of another man, for which reason the stole reaches right down. He also wears the chasuble, which signifies charity, because he it is who consecrates the sacrament of charity, namely the Eucharist.

Bishops have nine ornaments besides those which the priest has; these are the stockings, sandals, succinctory, tunic, dalmatic, mitre, gloves, ring, and crozier, because there are nine things which they can, but priests cannot, do, namely ordain clerics, bless virgins, consecrate bishops, impose hands, dedicate churches, depose clerics, celebrate synods, consecrate chrism, bless vestments and vessels.

We may also say that the stockings signify his upright walk; the sandals which cover the feet, his contempt of earthly things; the succinctory which girds the stole with the alb, his love of probity; the tunic, perseverance, for Joseph is said (Gen. xxxvii. 23) to have had a long tunic, - talaric, because it reached down to the ankles (talos), which denote the end of life; the dalmatic, generosity in works of mercy; the gloves, prudence in action; the mitre, knowledge of both Testaments, for which reason it has two crests; the crozier, his pastoral care, whereby he has to gather together the wayward (this is denoted by the curve at the head of the crozier), to uphold the weak (this is denoted by the stem of the crozier), and to spur on the laggards (this is denoted by the point at the foot of the crozier). Hence the line:

Gather, uphold, spur on
The wayward, the weak, and the laggard.

The ring signifies the sacraments of that faith whereby the Church is espoused to Christ. For bishops are espoused to the Church in the place of Christ. Furthermore archbishops have the pallium in sign of their privileged power, for it signifies the golden chain which those who fought rightfully were wont to receive."

Gammarelli: measuring room of tailor to the popes...

The good old days...

In 2006 the B-16 brought back the throne you see in the photo (which had been in the Museo Storico San Giovanni in Laterano) for some years and now let's just hope he brings back the same with the glorious old ostrich flabella fans still stuck in the same Museo!

Read Aquinas: Thomism for all...

"...the students should learn to examine more deeply, with the help of speculation and with St. Thomas as teacher, all aspects of the mysteries, and to perceive their interconnection."

-Optatam Totius (Decree on the Training of Priests) of Vatican Council II, 1965.

"Emulation in seeking and propagating the truth is not suppressed, but is rather stimulated and given its true direction by commending the teaching of St. Thomas."

-Pius XII, Address to Seminarians, 1939.

"Let (teachers) listen with respect to the Doctors of the Church, among whom St. Thomas Aquinas holds a principal place. For so great is the power of the angelic Doctor's genius, so sincere his love of truth, and so great his wisdom in investigating the deepest truths, illustrating them, and linking them together with a most fitting bond of unity, that his teaching is a most efficacious instrument not only for safeguarding the foundations of the faith, but also in gaining the fruits of healthy progress with profit and security."

-Paul VI, Address to Pontifical Gregorian University, 1964.

The wealth of parents who teach their nest...

Dear Uncle John,

On the 12th it was the day Pope pius X became a Cardinal.

LOVE, MARK

The sun never sets on the British Empire: cheers...

Liberals and others maintain that Latin or good liturgy is "too difficult" for us boor peasants to learn. But the Pope knows better and so does the Holy Ghost, too.

With the lovely summer breeze of Latinum we had a little celebration on the balcony in honor of the Solemn Pontifical Mass just sung in London by our favorite Columbian prelate from the Roman Curia. Such history in the making every day of the year.

To celebrate, booze and tobacco were on the table. With an old Vauen pipe purchased in Bonn where Fr. Ratzinger taught, with toasted cavendish tobacco and some real Scotch Whisky (go Scotland!) aged 18 years (it was a gift worth gold picked up at Tokyo International Airport), it was a special moment of thanksgiving and gratitude.

Brilliant to so see the scarlet cardinalatial cappa magna! Makes me think of the Rev. Mr. Harold Hughesdon of the R.A.F. who was a nine-year old altar boy in Westminster Cathedral in the twenties back in the day. Like he used to sometimes say: Per Ardua ad Astra (Through Struggles to the Stars)!

N.B. Photo from:

http://www.traditionalcatholic.org.uk/DarioCardinalCastrillonHoyos/Introduction.html

Christians, vote pro-life...

It's election year and all Christians are reminded to vote pro-life.

Catholics, know Canon 1398 from the Codex (Code of Canon Law):

"Qui abortum procurat, effectu secuto, in excommunicationem latae sententiae incurrit."

"A person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication."

From the Vatican City: Pope's private heliport...

Here we see the Pope's heliport in the Vatican gardens. Nice Latin, eh? Thank Cardinal Bacci for the word helicopter in Latin and Father Foster for the lovely Latin of the inscription!

Quo Aptius Atque Commodius

In Civitate Vaticana

Commeatus Rationibus Prospiceret

Paulus VI Pontifex Maximus

Hunc Helicopterorum Portum

Aperiendum Instruendumque Curavit

A.D. MCMLXXVI - Pont. XIII

Catholic womanhood: richness of elegancy...

As a fashion designer might gush: "Fastidiously tasteful!"

Such refined propriety expressing fastidious taste with such richness and refinement combined is something which can only be called Catholic and gorgeous.

The most Catholic president we've ever had...

As the spirit of irreligion continues to rage on our Western continents, we see the two most powerful men in the world spending time together in of all places, gardens. From the South Lawn to the Vatican Hill, they seem to really get along rather well.

In the United States we all grew up with God banished from our classrooms and with the bogus shibboleth: "Separation of Church and State." This mantra will not live forever.

Three times I've had the honor to cheer the motorcade of GW Bush while in Rome. In 2004, 2007 and 2008. He's as good as Catholic. That the Father in His mercy might send us more God-fearing public servants as this happy warrior! And that Tony Blair might be pro-life...Veni Creator Spiritus!

N.B. AP photo from the Internet.

Hope of Bl. Alojzije Stepinac: the future is here...

The future isn't tomorrow, it's already here. Please pray for this cleric who will be ordained priest on Saturday, June 21, a.D. 2008. Here he is pictured at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary in Rome.

One of the most beautiful gifts that many of us have ever seen is religious fervor. The joy of many of our lives has been to give homage to the Church, with all the fervor of our baptism. Meanwhile, the Church needs priests and here they are with all the fervor of past generations.

The welfare of Catholic Croatia is in good hands. Let us pray!

The good old days...

Here's a photo from circa 1964 in which we see how the old papal throne used to be set up in St. Peter's Square for Holy Mass.

Sure would be nice to bring some of this beauty back.

Milan: fashion capital of the world...

Archbishop John Baptist Montini in glossy 1950s colour (and notice the cool shoes!).

From Rome: Hail to the Chief...

While on the train this afternoon it was a treat to admire all the lovely sunflowers which are now in full bloom here in the fields of Lazio. All the while I was thinking about this morning how a complete stranger approached me on the street and thanked me for the blog. Charmed was I as one might imagine!

After a tricky exam today I exited the Dominican University and low and behold, the President of the United States of America was about to drive by! Making a quick dash up to the park overlooking the street called the Villa Aldobrandini (the best place to see presidential motorcades as they make their way to the home of the President of Italy, the Quirinale Palace), I got a few great photos which I will later post.

Ostensibly gathering for the pâté, I've had so many Europeans approach me while at parties and the like only to corner me and then rail on President Bush ad infinitum. Knowing they get most of their formation from the secular media, I simply smile and give a polite nod of affirmation at their energy.

But then when they don't stop, as they often never do, I feed 'em with some good-old-Texan talk like so: "Weller first of all, ya'll better know just one ting and tat is his real name and it ain't no Bush 'cause it's a GW Bush, Junior. I've voted for GW twice. He's the most Catholic president we've ever had. He's a legend, a God-fearing Christian and so's his daddy!"

To end the day then, after ten years, I enjoyed the thrill to enter again into the hallowed belly (measuring room) of the Roman tailor shop Ditta Annibale Gammarelli. Getting measured for a new shirt, one can't help but think of all the holy clergy who were measured in the same little room in the back of the Gammarelli shop. I got some great photos and I'll post them soon.

For your trip to Rome this summer...

It's already really busy so schedule now with us for your tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica of Saint Peter:
www.orbiscatholicus.com .

From Rome: Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music...

Welcome to the Pontificium Institutum Musicae Sacrae in Rome! See their info. here:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/sacmus/documents/rc_ic_sacmus_home_en.htm

P.S. If you're a student of architecture at Notre Dame, then consider this plan which is simple, classical and functional. Let's reproduce these nice properties in the New World and elsewhere!

La Popessa: the great Sr. Pascalina Lehnert...

Inside the Vatican City, in the graveyard of the Teutonic College, one can pray before the tomb of this saint. Mother Pascalina was the housekeeper of Cardinal Pacelli/Pope Pius XII for many years.

In Rome one hears great stories about her from those who were around here between 1939 - 1958 and it's great to see a new "fan page" for her on Facebook.

I cordially invite you to become a fan of Mother Pascalina - Je vous invite cordialement à devenir fan de la Mère Pascalina - La invito cordialmente a diventare fan di Madre Pasqualina - Te invito cordialmente a convertirte en fan de la Madre Pascualina - Você está cordialmente convidado a tornar-se fã da Mãe Pasqualina.

Pius XII: "A Pope who knew how to Pope."

Thanks to RV for the picture and to RC for the quote!

Card. Bacci: greatest Latinist of twentieth century...

Even though Latin has dwindled to the brink of extinction, even with the Latin-speaking Catholic being an endangered species, we must remember that we have a patron saint of Latin!

Meet the young Monsignor Antonio Bacci (later Cardinal) of the Segreteria dei Brevi ai Principi (see 1917 Code of Canon Law, canon 264). He was, they say, the greatest Latin prodigy of the century.

Today, everyone stands awe-struck with the genius of Fr. Reginald Foster, who is the finest living Latinist (and also famous for his irascible stream of rhetoric). Foster was a member of the last generation of seminarian which was immersed in Latin morning, noon and night (he had fourteen years of Latin before he was ordained). But the upper echelons never listened to Foster's plea to save our Catholic tongue (our inheritance) and so we have a lot of work to do to bring Latin back into our Catholic families, and sacred rites.

Before Foster, there was Bacci. For many years Monsignor Bacci was the Segretario dei Brevi ai Principi (pro. litt. in forma brevi ad Principes Secretarius). In this capacity he had an ordinary audience with the Pope every first Friday of each month. His office was in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican. He worked with a team of four (three were laymen) and they put everything into Latin through the 1930s, '40s, '50 and '60s.

In the 1990s the Latin Liturgy Association translated the autobiography of Card. Bacci into English and it was a fantastic read. So if you can get your hands on it, then please do. Also, in 1963 he had the fourth edition published (by Editrice Studium) of a Latin-Italian dictionary of modern words which he had put together which was entitled, LEXICON Vocabulorum Quae Difficilius Latine Redduntur.

"Until 1967, the office of the Latinists enjoyed its own distinctive title. It was known as Epistoles ad Princeps - Briefs to Princes. The titles were taken away in a fit of modernism, and scholars like Fr. Foster were listed by their minor official rank in the Annuario Pontificio, the Who's Who of the Vatican. The scholar who held the last title as chief composer of the Briefs to Princes is now over ninety years old. The man lives in retirement in an apartment behind the Vatican, and when he dies, the old title will expire with him. 'He's the Last of the Mohicans,' said Fr. Foster, with an unerring instinct for the least apt comparison, a sign that thirty years in Rome have not touched him profoundly."

-Romans Their Lives and Times, by Michael Sheridan, c. 1994.

Catholic student parties in and near Rome...