Happy Halloweeen (All Hallows Eve)...!

Dad's favorite day of the year was always Halloween. So at least he's having fun tonight.

But for the rest of us it's not the same without the old neighborhood or the fireplace or the kids. Tonight it's pouring rain, German apple juice (gruner apfel), a Cuban MonteCristo and Nessum Dorma by Puccini.

Best Halloween I ever spent was on Michigan Ave. with drinks at the Drake Hotel in Chicago in 2003. Or the NHL game with my brother in 2001. Or the blizzard of '91.

Each year in Italy we get about one trick-or-treater. It's kind of embarassing - for us! The kids ring the bell and don't even know what to do or say. They just hold out a bag with a grim smile. Last year it was a group of primary school girls. In 2005 it was just some kid with his mom. We'll see if any kids stop by tonight.

Election year: vote pro-life...

As for me and my household, we vote pro-life.

"When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them." -Acts 5:33

Christians vote pro-life, basta. And the above is just about the reaction we get from most.

Tell anybody you're pro-life. Tell them you vote pro-life. Have your kids try to tell this to a teacher or to other kids in the neighborhood. Tell it to your boss.

"...and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." -Acts 5:40-42

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

See the gloy here y'all and don't let anybody tell you the Faith is dead on the European continent!

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

A rare, inside sight. For Solemn High Mass prelates sometimes vest at the altar or in the sacristy. Here the bishop can be seen vesting in the sacristy while praying the vesting prayers from the Roman Pontifical.

From Rome: Pontifical Mass December 8...

Aviso Sacro

This coming Monday, December 8, 2008 His Eminence George Cardinal Pell will sing Pontifical Mass from the faldstool at Rome's FSSP parish, Ss.Trinità dei Pellegrini at ten o'clock. All are welcome.

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Communion of the faithful. Notice the interesting two communion rails? This is sometimes seen in the north (as during High Mass the faithful wouldn't receive Holy Communion or would receive from a side altar to the right or left). For this reason they receive here from a portable wood rail with a linen veil atop it.

N.B. The faithful, when they receive Holy Communion, ought to keep their folded hands down under the veil and not atop the rail as seen here.

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Some of the clergy and some of the newly consecrated sisters. Notice the unique carving of the choir stalls. And notice the sisters with bare feet and the crowns of thorns. Be inspired.

This order gets it right. Please support them. See here: http://www.immacolata.com/

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Wow, Pontifical Mass from the throne; now that's the Roman rite!

Elaborate ceremonies inspire vocations. Notice the arms of Pius XII on the umbrella (bell-shaped, but collapsed), Each basilica has in its sanctuary two processional objects on poles: an umbrella and a bell. Better photos of both will be soon posted. This basilica received its processional umbrella and bell in 1947 when it was made a minor basilica.

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Embroidery like this does not belong in a museum or in a cupboard. It is to be seen and used so as to fulfil its purpose: the edification of the faithful.

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Ah, splendor seen in Catholic culture - let's bring this wonder back to every corner of the world (after all, this is [authentic] lay "participation," right?).

These men lead processions and assist at the lavabo during Pontifical Mass at the throne and altar. They do fine work and add a worthy touch and they bring a lay presence into the holy of holies and they act as role models (heroes) for the youth.

They're knights. In Italy they are called the "gentiluomo" or "famiglio" or "cameriere."

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Here one can see the nice orphrey (detachable!) on the copes.

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

From Imperia: consecration of virgins...

Hope you like the mitre - it used to belong to Giuseppe Cardinal Siri!

It's been an amazing past few days. We just spend five days in Liguria, on the Italian Riviera. We made the trip from Rome to witness a very, very special and a very, very rare ceremony - the Ritus Professionis Votorum Solemnium (the consecration of new sisters) according to the old Rituale Romano - Seraphicum.

Nothing like this had been seen around here for decades. People had even forgotten that anything like this existed now or even once upon a time. None of us in our lives had ever seen anything like it.

Just imagine: seven young women made final vows as cloistered Franciscan sisters in Italy according to the usus antiquior of the Roman rite. They were described as being seven roses. As the gloved bishop placed a crown of thorns atop the veiled head of each, there wasn't a dry eye in the church.

The sisters are the Sorores Franciscanae Immaculatae Virginis. They're a new order. Their founder, now venerable in age, was one of twenty-two children and his parents were followers of Padre Pio. The cloister of the sisters is located in in the town of Castello, in Italy.

The ceremony took place in the basilica of the resort town of Imperia, overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The local ordinary sang the Mass while the cloistered sisters made up the choir.

History in the making, every day of the year.

More soon.

See their site here: http://www.immacolata.com/

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

The vesting of the Lord Rev. Cardinal in the sacristy just before Pontifical Mass sung by His Eminence.

The Holy Writ: start to read it often...

Many who read the Writ have a favorite chapter. For some it's Genesis 1 or John 1, John 6 or even Revelation 12, etc.

To each his own. But my most favorite chapter is Luke 24. Read it with a child's heart. You might weep. I read it on the train yesterday morning and closed the book misty eyed.

Election year: vote pro-life...

PBS is at it again.

And the loss aversion liberal media did the same thing in 2004 with all their many exit polls which predicted Mister President John Kerry. And who won that race, pollsters?

Now they have an online poll posted, asking if Sarah Palin is qualified. Imagine that? Gender bias over racial bias? How about timeout for the group mania morons working for PBS.

Apparently the left knew about this in advance and they are trying to flood the voting with NO votes. Thus the wing tilt of all these bogus polls.

The poll will be reported on PBS and picked up by mainstream media. It could influence undecided voters in swing states.

Please do two things -- taking no more than 20 seconds.

1) Click on link and vote YES!

Here's the link:
http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

2) Then send this to every Palin supporter you know, and urge them to vote and pass it on.

The last thing we want is another little victory for PBS.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

See more photos here: http://roma.fssp.it/.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

For more photos see here: http://roma.fssp.it/.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

For more photos see here: http://roma.fssp.it/

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

This evening in a hotel ballroom on the Via Appia all of the many FSSP clergy and pilgrims gathered for a nice banquet in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the order. It was a delight and an honor to participate in all of the many festivities, and the dinner was a real treat. Thank you to everybody!

Just before the dinner the countless pilgrims had the opportunity to get their many religious souvenirs blessed from the Roman Ritual, as seen in the photo. So many good things happening and so many reasons for hope.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Saint Peter, pray for us!

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

This image comes to you live, from Rome. Today the FSSP celebrated two seperate Solemn High Masses at their Rome parish of Ss. Trinita dei Pellegrini. In this way all of the many clergy and countless pilgrims were accomodated for as everybody packed the church in a spirit of prayer morning, noon and night.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Be a lay member of the FSSP and share in the spiritual benefits.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Here we see why pilgrims make the trip to the Holy City of Rome - to worship atop the tomb of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. It's a privilege and an honor!

Saturday morning, pre-dawn. The faithful from all corners of the globe entered the Vatican Basilica. In the crypt grotto Holy Mass was read in the Clementine Chapel as seen in the above photos.

The celebrant was Fr. John Berg, FSSP. He's the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Such a fitting name for a religious order, such a worthy superior and such a noble altar atop Peter's tomb!

Support the FSSP here: http://www.fssp.org/.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Good times in the Roma caput orbis terrarum!

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Fr. John Berg, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. Here he can be seen in prayer at the tomb of Saint Peter in the Vatican Basilica. This is the right man for the right job.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Low Mass at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the FSSP's Rome base.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

The Minnesota priest (and Australian seminarian) in Rome. In the FSSP there are two Fr. Johns from Minnesota are both are here in Rome today and both are the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Some of the finest priests you'll ever meet are produced by the FSSP and that's a fact.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

The FSSP brass. We love you guys (Don Juan, don't leave us!)!

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the Rome parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

FSSP 20th Anniversary Rome Celebration...

Clergy dress - it inspires vocations.