FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Some of the clergy after today's Pontifical Mass at the FSSP Rome parish.

F.S.S.P. 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Glory be, FSSP have taken over Rome!

They were all over the streets and churches of Rome earlier this week. At the tombs of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, at the papal audience on Wednesday and just this morning all of their European seminarians arrived from their Seminary of St. Peter in Wigratzbad, Bavaria!

Such a treat to see so many countless FSSP priests, seminarians, families, friends and benefactors crawling all over the City in such a spirit joy and prayer and thanksgiving! A twenty year celebration is a big event and such a youthful religious order in the life of the Church is a true blessing that takes ones breath away.

And to celebrate their twentieth anniversary they even just unveiled a really nice glossy covered commemorative book - a book packed with lots of really nice photos illustrating their twenty year "pilgrimage". What I saw was in French, but a must for every family.

This evening Vespers was sung from the Liber Usualis at the FSSP Rome parish, Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini. The church was packed with countless clergy and laymen alike. As one kid remarked afterwards: "Wow, I never saw so many birettas together in one room!"

Then it was off to dinner for everybody atop the cobbled streets of Rome!

But the highlight? Before Vespers in walked "De Magistris the Great." He is known as perhaps the most beloved of old Vatican prelates. With a smile he entered the sacristy to greet everybody and offer a few warm words of hearty congratulations to all.

Breathtaking Catholic culture: fostered...

Gorgeous Catholic women teach us how to be gallant Catholic gentlemen.

Humanae Vitae: 40th anniversary celebration...

"The press and sometimes theologians said that the Holy Father should never have issued the letter because it divided the Church. Of course it divided the Church as Elijah divided those who had to choose either Baal or God; it divided the Church as the Lord divided it: 'He that gathers not with Me, scatters.' Certainly, it thinned the ranks of the Church just as God's order to Gideon, trimmed his army from 30,000 to 10,000 and from 10,000 to 300 to do battle with an army of about fifty thousand. Humanae Vitae, quite apart from its teaching, is perhaps the most important Church document in modern times. It enabled the Church to know how many would follow the flesh instead of the spirit."

-Those Mysterious Priests, c. 1974
By Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The French Peugeot...

Classic cars are wicked...and so are classic habits!

From the Vatican City State...

The photo the liberal media doesn't want you to see.

It's simple, Christians vote pro-life.

Pius XII: wartime hero...

His August Person was just glorious: "A Pope who knew how to pope."

Already Pius XI had tried to stop the tragedy with his Miserentissimus Redemptor of May 8, 1928, seeking to draw men together in the bonds of love. But nobody listened and nobody was going to listen. It was the same with WWI and it was going to be the same with WWII. So if the repudiation of the papal voice was going to happen anyways, then what was the best strategy? Diplomacy, which is careful prudence. Idiots and bigots call this "silence."

F.S.S.P. 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

This photo was taken yesterday morning in the Vatican Basilica. In walked dozens of gorgeous Catholic women of all ages each wearing a chapel veil! Large, happy Catholic families in Rome on pilgrimage for the twentieth anniversary celebrations of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (see their site in Latin: http://www.fssp.org/la/index.htm) and hope everybody can join them in prayer wherever you are!

From the tomb of Peter: the pilgrim...

You see them now and then. They walk Europe. From church to church they make their way by foot to visit each tabernacle in each corner of the continent. They adore Him.

In June of 2005 my old roommate even did it with three other friends in two groups. They were students in Rome and wanted to make an old school pilgrimage. So they dressed up in hermit habits and with no money and no credit cards set out hitchhiking to holy shrines in central Italy. They did just fine and had a blast.

Once in 2004 I took the last train out of Roma Termini one night with an Irish kid who had walked Europe as a pilgrim. He had just gotten back from the Holy Land. Even the homeless guys who live around the Vatican all knew him as he had camped with them in the past. He stayed as our guest for a couple of days and shared amazing stories of faith, conversion, healings and adventure.

It can be you, too!

Pius XII: a saint of our epoch...

As seen in the casa del clero on the Via Traspontina.

Black is beautiful...

The return of Catholic architecture...

This is da man and his students are the answer: http://www.stroik.com/.

Grant them employment and give them work!

Lolek the Great: 30 years later...

It was a great honor this morning to pray in the Sistine Chapel and later at the tomb of John Paul II, of blessed memory. The Lord was thanked for a good beginning and a good end to the historic Polish pontificate, of happy memory.

Thirty years ago today was a big day. I was but in the womb. John Paul was elected Supreme Pontiff. From '78 to '05 today was a holiday in the Vatican City State.

1978, the year of three popes. Abortion had just been made legal in Italy. And Aldo Moro and the anni di piombo and fear of Soviet Communism and everything else made it a tough time.

Pastores dabo vobis!

How it's done: before and after...

Day and night, friends. This pastor had the vision, distinct taste and guts to make it work. See it all here: www.sttheresasugarland.org.

How it's done: before and after...

This pastor got it right, big time. See his site here and many thanks for the pics - an inspiration!

www.sttheresasugarland.org

And the Church in Her wisdom gave us: the biretta!

Lay and clerical forces: glory of Catholic culture...

From Rome: Religious Teachers Filippini...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

-Mark 28:19-20

The biretta: custom of the Latin church...

"...according to the custom of the priesthood..."
-Luke 1:9

Clergy, don't be embarassed. It doesn't matter what other clergy might say or think or even what some layfolk might say or think. Just keep your focus on Christ reigning atop the altar in the holy of holies.

From your regular church goods supplier order a nice RJ Toomey biretta. They will measure you there. For a start begin to wear it for your Low Mass each weekday. Just try it. It will inspire vocations. A big thank you in advance from your lay fans.

And would be great to see a bishop celebrate Low Mass in his episcopal biretta!

"It is of the new things that men tire - of fashions and proposals and improvements and change. It is the old things that startle and intoxicate. It is the old things that are young."
- G. K. Chesterton

Osteria dei Pontefici: where to dine near Vatican...

Imagine eating in a Rome osteria surrounded by papal portraits?!

This is the place, since 1959!

Osteria dei Pontefici
Ristorante - Pizzeria
Via Gregorio VII, 53

Looks a little tirolese on the inside, but very Roman and a true joy to eat in the shadow of these glorious old papal portraits.

Donned the habit in 1938 and shines even today...

Meet Sr. Margherita Marchione as seen in Rome. She's an American born saint. Born in 1922, she was vested in her holy habit in 1938...and she still wears it to this day!

If she can inspire me, a guy in his twenties, then she can inspire all of our youthful Catholic women. See her, follow her!

Roma Termini (Terminus): all Roads lead where...

If all roads lead you to Rome, you'll make friends with Italians and it will make your life rich. The three of us spent the day in Rome together. After lunch at Termini we each bought a lotto ticket. If anybody won, it was decided, we'd share the pot. The lotto has been called a "tax on dumb people," but if we win we're going to do great work for the Church with that sacco di soldi (now over 80 mill. euro).

Latin lives: from the Roman trash can...

This photo comes to us from the great Maurizio, a personal friend.

Election year: vote pro-life...

Today I voted (absentee ballot) in the Vatican City State. It was an honor. To really enjoy the moment the ballot was filled out in St. Peter's Square. The employee at the Vatican Post, in thick Roman dialect, mentioned it was the first ballot they got. He asked me who I voted for. The reply was simple: "For the soldier."

Nuff said. But although it's above his pay grade, it's not above mine...

"...and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb."
-Luke 1:15

Why be Catholic?

"The Catholic Church is the only thing which saves a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age."

- G. K. Chesterton

Join the revolution and c u all in Vrbe!

A nice church interior: proof it can be done...

Here's fine proof of how a nice church interior can be done:
http://www.sttheresasugarland.org/ .

And a warm word of thanks to the many pastors who have sent us tour clients! Pastors, you guys are awesome and have sent us lots of work and we thank you all for the support!

American clergy: where to be a priest...

Many fine and outstanding Amercian clergymen love Italy and feel called to serve in Rome or near, but don't even know where to go or even where to start.

Well, consider Italian-speaking Switzerland!

It's a strong Catholic area, rich in faith and local traditions/customs. See this site for the lovely town of Ascona: http://www.ascona.ch/ .

There's much work to be done. "Rise, let us be going..." -Mark 14:42

Catholic culture lives: the tiara and your golf game!

Ever seen a tiara on a golf club insignia? Check it out here: http://www.golf.ascona.ch/ .

Or a tiara on a spa insignia? Check it out here: http://www.termedeipapi.it/index.php?zn=leterme&subzn=acque

From Rome: Degree in Apologetics now available!

The Faculty of Theology of the Rome Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum (of the Legionaries of Christ) in collaboration with the “Centro Pascal” and the “Istituto Sacerdos” now offers a degree in "Apologetics" (Diploma in Apologetica).

This is titanic news and all-important to those with a strong interest in apologetics.

www.upra.org
www.pascalcenter.org
www.sacerdos.org

"You are the salt of the earth..."

My baby cousin was in an auto wreck just over one week ago. Her father was my godfather, my first voice of faith at my Baptism on Palm Sunday, 1979.

The family still must manage domestic concerns. For those who are able please offer stewardship here:

http://sarahleebenefitfund.blogspot.com/

Oct. 18: Pontifical Mass in usus antiquior...

F.S.S.P. Twentieth Anniversary Celebration in Rome
1988 - 2008

Saturday, October 18, 2008
Church of Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini
Solemn Pontifical High Mass
Sung by His Eminence Darío Card. Castrillón Hoyos
10:00 a.m.
All welcome!

Catholic culture: portraits painted...

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all!

Tonight, to celebrate, we had a lovely dinner and we dined with an American man who paints portraits. As the portrait artist is now an endangered species, so wonderful to see this alive and well again after the sixties (with its anti-tradition straitjacket)!

Now with the continued return to our cultural mores, we reconcile even with this magnificent, if rather subtle, Catholic tradition.

See here and be a patron to these artists - give them employment and so support the cause. It's a wonderful gift he has: http://henrywingate.com/ .

Oct. 26: Pontifical Mass in usus antiquior...

The Italians are doing a lot and here's another example:

Sunday, October 26, 2008
Feast of Christ the King
Sung Pontifical Mass from the Throne
in the Extraordinary Form
His Excellency Mario Oliveri
Basilica of SS. Maurizio e Compagni Martiri
Imperia (Savona), Italy
3:30 p.m.

Cloistered sisters participating in procession. Be there or be square!

Oct 19: Pontifical Mass in usus antiquior...

Ci permettiamo di portare a conoscenza importanti notizie:

Domenica 19 ottobre 2008, alle ore 10.30,
presso la chiesa di Santa Toscana, in Verona, vicino Porta Vescovo,
Messa Pontificale in onore di S.M.I.R.A. il Beato Imperatore Carlo d’Austria,
Re del Lombardo-Veneto.
La cerimonia sarà officiata da S. Ecc.za Rev.ma Mons. Juan Rodolfo Laise O.F.M. Cap., Vescovo emerito di San Luis (Argentina),
il quale, al termine, amministrerà anche le Sante Cresime secondo l’antico rito, per incarico di S. Ecc.za Rev.ma Mons. Giuseppe Zenti, Vescovo di Verona.
Presenti militi nelle uniformi storiche dell’Impero.
Al termine, canto dell’Inno Imperiale e salve di fucileria in onore del Beato Carlo sull’attigua Piazza di Santa Toscana.

Cordialità,
il Presidente

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

Conclave 1939. Seated in the Sistine Chapel were all the cardinals. Seated atop this chair was Cardinal Pacelli. It was his birthday. And he was elected Pope!

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

Pius XII: our hero who saved Rome's synagogue...

When you travel Western Europe you don't see many pre-war synagogues left anymore. Does anyone know why? And did anyone ever ask why the famous nineteenth century Rome synagogue is still standing after the nine month Nazi occupation of Rome? Evidently Jews and others forget it was Pius XII who saved it from scheduled destruction. But don't confuse them with the facts, their mind is already made up!

Fan of Pius XII: Chief Rabbi of Rome...

This photo was taken at the Rome tomb of Eugenio Zolli, former Chief Rabbi of Rome. After WWII in the 1940s he converted to Catholicism and took as his baptizmal name Eugenio in honor of the baptizmal name of the reigning Pontiff, a wartime hero.

He hid in the Vatican during the war, courtesy of Pius XII who welcomed him (saved him!).

Buy his book Before the Dawn and read it to your kids!

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

Giant portrait of Pius XII as seen in Rome's Jesuit University, the Gregoriana.

October 11: B. Giovanni XXIII, Papa...

Listening to Nessum Dorma by Puccini it was lamented last night that yet another year has gone by without going to Sotto il Monte (near Bergamo) for the feast of Blessed John XXIII, celebrated on October 11. Each year we talk about it, but it's a busy time with school and work.

Please pray the trip is made next year, Deo volente. Would like to meet and photograph Archbishop Loris Capovilla, born in 1915. He was personal secretary to Pope John XXIII and is still living!

And to meet and photograph on another day Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, born in 1923. He was personal secretary to Pope Paul VI and is still living!

Holy men of old, you were there. Witnesses to history, pray for us!

Borgo Pio: the best place to eat...

For different reasons everybody has their favorite place to eat on the Borgo Pio in Rome - and some people are very sensitive about this. It can be a delicate subject!

For example, you'll still hear from those who only eat at Roberto's because they think all the cardinals go there and so the waiters have all the gossip.

Old timer expats talk about how great the Borgo Pio used to be, but those days are over. So, with what we have today, my personal favorite is...

...is the Fratelli Poggi (the brothers Poggi). Family owned. In some ways they're rude (in a Roman way), but great food and mamma in the kitched loves thank yous and service is prompt and measured. I'll even pay a little extra for the ambiente familiare!

Il Mozzicone
dei F.lli POGGI
Borgo Pio, 180

Everybody has a soulmate...

Please pray for my brother. If I ever had a soulmate, it was him.

"Is not this the carpenter...?"

-Mark 6:3

Raiment in glory: kissing of the palms...

So much of Catholic culture has been forgotten, but it's never too late to teach a new generation that which has been lost. Anyways, after the priest gives his first blessing (along the rail as seen here) after the Rite of Ordination or first Holy Mass or whenever, each of the faithful after each blessing kiss both palms once (the idea as suggested by some is that the oil of ordination is still there) and so receive the indulgence.

Fans of Mons. Guido Marini: join today...

If you're on Facebook then join the group Fans of Mons. Guido Marini and show him your support for the "Revolution Guido"!

See here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12795316817

And just remember one thing: "More lace, more grace!"

Revolution Guido: the glory continues...

Change is in the air, friends, and this time change is good!

Anybody in the Rome network under forty just loves to hear these words: "Come era richiesto per l'occasione dal protocollo!"

And here we have it again, the papal throne. Those who yesterday watched the Papal Mass noticed a bit of a change and here it is.

Many of us last saw this old papal treasure in the Lateran Palace museum - with the arms of Pius X on it. But Benedict brought it back and now you can see the new stemma (coat-of-arms) of the current Pontiff, now gloriously reigning.

Thank you, Msgr. Guido, and friends and long may you reign, Holy Father!

Cappella Papale: Papal Mass for Pius XII...

Ill-advised sixties fissure finally coming to an end, y'all! Great to see the wicked pianeta back in action and hope to see more of it!

Cappella Papale: Papal Mass for Pius XII...

Why study in Rome? Where else does one have the opportunity to meet one of the Council Fathers?! This is the Maronite Patriarch, ordained bishop in 1961, he's one of the last living Fathers of Vatican Council II. A great honor to have reverenced his ring today in the Vatican Basilica. He asked: "Lei e' Italiano?" Born in 1920, he's almost ninety!

Cappella Papale: Papal Mass for Pius XII...

Glorious Roman tailored dalmatics from likely 1958 or '59. Really nice to see them still used! Classic is the word.

Cappella Papale: Papal Mass for Pius XII...

The last of the Mohicans, this is the Roman matron. One used to see these Catholic ladies always on the bus with their rosaries and in the pew veiled in quiet prayer. They defined Catholic womanhood. That is, until the hippies came. The world doesn't understand, but we do.

She came to the Vatican Basilica today and explained that in 1954 Pius XII blessed her marriage. She must have said this a hundred times. With tears in her eyes she came to honor him today. Born in 1929 she lived through the war, the liberation and the post-war era.

Modern Catholic girls are embarassed by this Vatican protocol. But doesn't she look timeless? Elegant? Catholic? Gorgeous? Thank You, Lord, for Catholic culture!

Cappella Papale: Papal Mass for Pius XII...

Here's the one the Italian press calls "Il Bello." From Catholic Bavaria was he born. Meet our hero, Don Georg. Even before the Sede Vacante MMV we used to see him walking the streets of Rome, always looking sharp in his black sottana. For this Roman tailored rochet he gets best dressed at every event.

State of Israel: Anti-Catholic screed is fair game...

Catholics are fair game, but dare anybody bash Jews, blacks or gays?

From Israel we often get this line: "Poor us, we have suffered." But why not play by the rules, friends?

When you visit Israel's holocaust memorial museum, the Yad Vashem, this is what you're greeted with as seen above. Photos are not allowed to be taken, and nobody outside is meant to see these pics. When you complain you get a smirk from the museum custodians.

So why not break the "silence"and play by the rules, Israel?

"Unfortunately, the museum has a pictorial display of Pope Pius XII alongside photos of Fascist dictators."

-The Truth Will Set You Free

by Margherita Marchione

c. 2008 by Paulist Press

The Servant of God Pius XII: a saint of our epoch!

"I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war!"

-Psalm 120 [119]: 7

Silence? Does anyone think Hitler really cared what he had to say? And doesn't everyone know to never approach a crazed dog and kick it in the groin? His silence was prudent but more importantly it was diplomatic.

Heartfelt thanks to our wartime Pope on the fiftieth anniversary of his passing! May Your sacred memory always be held in the highest esteem!

Nobody does it like...Sara Lee!

Late this afternoon while atop the Castel S. Angelo my cell began to ring. I looked to see who was calling and it read "MAMMA." When mom calls it's usually good or bad news.

Surrounded by lots of nice works by Paul III the news arrived that our young cousin was just in a terrible auto wreck. I was astounded as even just a few days ago I was even thinking of her - how pretty and great she is. Truly, the one daughter you'd hope for yourself or the type of girl you'd hope your son would wed.

She was the passenger and Sunday was the day of the accident. Please pray for her. And for everybody else involved and related. She's 17-years old.

I first saw Sarah Lee as a newborn on my aunt's deck in South Minneapolis. I still remember the moment. The family had waited for a daughter and she was their first, born to my godfather.

She has grown into a good and happy girl, a young lady who always smiles, is respectful, cheerful, reverent, nice and you know she's great as she even wears a modest bathing suit! And she likes to talk about garage sale purchases, like her dad, and she has lovely hair and beautiful blue eyes, like her mother.

Oremus (Let us pray)!

"Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

-Matthew 18: 4

Rome: he was there during the last great war...

In her history many armies have liberated Rome. But now all those players are dead. Except for the few...the brave...the proud!

This past Monday I had the great honor to give a tour of the Vatican Museums to an Englishman who liberated Rome in June of 1944. For me, it was a proud moment as I helped him down the steps as we entered the Sistine Chapel.

He was a lovely man. Born in 1921. And he smiled the entire tour. And he's the only client I've ever had who wore a tie, smiled the whole time and laughed with a roar at every mild joke I made. This counts for a lot!

He explained that this was the first time he ever came back to Rome after the war. He had battled all the way up the peninsula and had even fought at Monte Cassino, where he's going tomorrow with his daughter and granddaughter.

After entering the Vatican Basilica he related, with a twinkle in his eye, how he had just told one of his old war buddies that he was going to Rome to see the Pope. The old friend laughed and said that was nice, but that he had actually met the Pope while in Rome in June, 1944. And what did the Pope say to him? Pius XII smiled at the English soldier as they shook hands and asked: "How is your family?"

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

The City of Rome proclaimed Pius XII "Defensor Civitatis," a rare Rome title not heard of in many years. Meanwhile, Catholics from the year 1939 until this very day have proclaimed him with the title, "Pastor Angelicus."

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

The tomb of Pius XII as seen in the the Vatican grottos (the crypt) below the Vatican Basilica. Always an honor to pray before his venerable remains.

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

As a newly ordained priest Fr. Eugenio Pacelli enjoyed his first assignment as curate at the famed Rome parish known as the Chiesa Nuova, located on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Visit this church to pray and you can still see the original confessional box he used to sit in for hours.

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

This is the spot where the little baby born in Rome, Eugenio Pacelli, received his Holy Baptism as a newborn. The church here is only open Sunday mornings for Holy Mass, but be sure to visit this site and pray here in the Church of Ss. Celso e Giuliano on the Via del Banco di S. Spirito, 6.

N.B. For reasons unknown to the rest of us, at some point (likely in the seventies?) they took the original font out of this church and moved it to the Basilica of San Pancrazio (see photo below).

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

Here is the Rome font where the little Roman born baby, Eugenio Pacelli, received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The font is now located at the Carmelite parish of St. Pancrazio, in Rome.

Pio XII: Santo Subito!

Cardinal Pacelli, future Pius XII, met with his Jesuit confessor and made his confession on this kneeler every Saturday for many years. This kneeler is located in the Jesuit Church of St. Andrea (Via del Quirinale, Rome).