From the Catholic Encyclopedia

The Wednesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, which is the first day of the Lenten fast.

The name dies cinerum (day of ashes) which it bears in the Roman Missal is found in the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary and probably dates from at least the eighth century. On this day all the faithful according to ancient custom are exhorted to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass, and there the priest, dipping his thumb into ashes previously blessed, marks the forehead — or in case of clerics upon the place of the tonsure — of each the sign of the cross, saying the words: "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." The ashes used in this ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. In the blessing of the ashes four prayers are used, all of them ancient. The ashes are sprinkled with holy water and fumigated with incense. The celebrant himself, be he bishop or cardinal, receives, either standing or seated, the ashes from some other priest, usually the highest in dignity of those present. In earlier ages a penitential procession often followed the rite of the distribution of the ashes, but this is not now prescribed.

There can be no doubt that the custom of distributing the ashes to all the faithful arose from a devotional imitation of the practice observed in the case of public penitents. But this devotional usage, the reception of a sacramental which is full of the symbolism of penance (cf. the cor contritum quasi cinis of the "Dies Irae") is of earlier date than was formerly supposed. It is mentioned as of general observance for both clerics and faithful in the Synod of Beneventum, 1091 (Mansi, XX, 739), but nearly a hundred years earlier than this the Anglo-Saxon homilist Ælfric assumes that it applies to all classes of men. "We read", he says,

in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast.

And then he enforces this recommendation by the terrible example of a man who refused to go to church for the ashes on Ash Wednesday and who a few days after was accidentally killed in a boar hunt (Ælfric, Lives of Saints, ed. Skeat, I, 262-266). It is possible that the notion of penance which was suggested by the rite of Ash Wednesday was was reinforced by the figurative exclusion from the sacred mysteries symbolized by the hanging of the Lenten veil before the sanctuary. But on this and the practice of beginning the fast on Ash Wednesday see LENT.

Please click here to let us know you are coming, and you will be entered in a drawing for a Haydock Douay-Rheims Bible with introduction by speaker Sidney Olhausen.

Schedule and Speaker Information

Send any questions to Rich and Don at conference@stmartha-ct.org.

[If it were me I would rephrase the headline to read: "Modern Religious are in Crisis"


Catholic News Service ^ | 2/4/10 | John Thavis

Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 8:53:56 AM by marshmallow

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A top Vatican official said religious orders today are in a "crisis" caused in part by the adoption of a secularist mentality and the abandonment of traditional practices.

Cardinal Franc Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, said the problems go deeper than the drastic drop in the numbers of religious men and women.

"The crisis experienced by certain religious communities, especially in Western Europe and North America, reflects the more profound crisis of European and American society. All this has dried up the sources that for centuries have nourished consecrated and missionary life in the church," Cardinal Rode said in a talk delivered Feb. 3 in Naples, Italy.

"The secularized culture has penetrated into the minds and hearts of some consecrated persons and some communities, where it is seen as an opening to modernity and a way of approaching the contemporary world," he said.

Cardinal Rode said the decline in the numbers of men and women religious became precipitous after the Second Vatican Council, which he described as a period "rich in experimentation but poor in robust and convincing mission."

Faced with an aging membership and fewer vocations, many religious orders have turned to "foreign vocations" in places like Africa, India and the Philippines, the cardinal said. He said the orders need to remember that quality of vocations is more important than quantity.

Continue reading "Vatican Official Says Religious Are in Modern 'Crisis'" »

The Paulus Institute announced today that on Saturday,
April 24, 2010, at 1 p.m., the fifth anniversary of inauguration
of Pope Benedict XVI will be commemorated in the Great Upper
Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception, Washington DC, by a Pontifical
Solemn High Mass in the “Extraordinary form”—commonly
known as the “Traditional Latin Mass” or “Tridentine Mass”
—celebrated by the Vatican prelate  Darío Cardinal Castrillón
Hoyos of Colombia.

This will be the first such Mass said at the Shrine's High Altar
in nearly 45 years. All Catholics are invited, many of whom may
never have another opportunity to attend such a Mass.
Cardinal Castrillon is the President Emeritus of the Vatican's
Pontificial Commission Ecclesia Dei.

   

The Paulus Institute in Washington DC is sponsoring the Mass.

“We are honored that His Eminence Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos

will be celebrating this Mass at our invitation, especially on the
anniversary of Pope Benedict’s inauguration and at the High Altar
of the National Shrine,” said Institute President Paul King. “It is a
privilege to recognize the Pope on this auspicious occasion and
assist his call to give due honor to the 1500-year old Mass for its
‘venerable and ancient usage.’”

“We are inviting all Catholics to this Mass for the unity
of the entire Catholic community, including those unfamiliar
with it and particularly young adults and families.”
   
For additional information on the Pontifical Mass and The Paulus
Institute’s activities, go to: www.ThePaulusInstitute.org.

January 19, 2010

 

Youngstown, OH - After 34 years in the abortion business, the Mahoning Women's Center in Youngstown, Ohio, permanently closed its doors on January 12, 2010. The owner has retired and the building will be sold. The closure leaves the community of Youngstown abortion-free.

 

"This is such great news for the people of Ohio and all Americans. It means that lives will be saved," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We know from experience that when abortion clinics close, many women who would otherwise have opted for abortion will instead happily keep their babies or release them for adoption."

 

The closure follows a well-documented national trend. In 1991, there were nearly 2,200 abortion clinics, but today there are 712. Since 1991 over two-thirds of all abortion clinics have permanently closed. That trend reflects the shifting attitude of Americans toward the pro-life position.

 

Operation Rescue documented this trend in Project Daniel 5:25, which lists the remaining abortion clinics and encourages pro-life supporters to maintain a presence outside each one.

 

"This week, we mark the 37th memorial of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion and we mourn for the 50 million babies that were the cruel victims of that decision. Yet, at the same time, we rejoice that abortion clinics are closing at an unprecedented rate and that an increasing number of Americans are rejecting abortion in favor of embracing and cherishing life. The foundations of Roe have crumbled, and the abortion industry is not far behind," said Newman.

 

To further speed the closure of abortion clinics, Operation Rescue is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of abortionists who are breaking the law

From Asia News

 01/07/2010 14:46
CHINA - VATICAN
Thousands of Catholics defy snow, cold and police at the funeral of Mgr. Yao Liang
by Zhen Yuan
The government bans use of Episcopal insignia and title of "Bishop", being a pastor of underground Church. Bishop Yao spent 30 years in prison for refusing to join the Patriotic Association, which wants to build an independent Church from the pope. No message from the Vatican.

Xiwanzi (AsiaNews) - Some 4000 believers, under the snow and polar temperatures (- 30 °), yesterday morning attended the funeral of Mgr. Leo Yao Liang, coadjutor bishop of Xiwanzi, who died on 30 December. Bishop Yao spent 30 years in prison for not joining the Patriotic Association. From 2006 to 2009 he was again arrested by the police for the same reason.  

 

People participated in the mass despite prohibitions and restraints by public security which for days has stopped people from outside the  county coming to town and take part in the funeral. As the bishop was an underground pastor, he was not recognized by the government, thus local authorities obliged no use of Episcopal insignia in the Church ceremony, and to refer to the deceased prelate only as "Pastor Yao" not "Bishop Yao". But at the time of burial in the cemetery of Xiwanzi, and in the days leading up to the funeral, the faithful always prayed for " Bishop Yao”. According to witnesses, during the burial one of the faithful inserted the Episcopal insignia of the bishop into the coffin.   The ordinary bishop of Xiwanzi, Mgr. Hou Jinli, 93, being very sick, could not attend the funeral. Out of about 15 priests of the diocese, only 3 were allowed to celebrate mass.

 

A woman who attended the funeral of the bishop, told AsiaNews: "Our faithful loved Mgr. Yao for his dedication to God and the Church. He often told us that his greatest suffering during the long years of imprisonment were not the hard, physical labour, but the pain of not being able to lead his flock".   Sobbing with emotion, she says, "Bishop Yao was a really great personality. We all want to follow in his footsteps and continue his work, especially finish the construction of the church".  Months ago Mgr. Yao blessed the first stone of a church in the town of Xiwanzi and its completion was one of his greatest desires.

To clear the path many local faithful shovelled the abundant snow fall of recent days all the way from the church to the cemetery (10 min walk), to ease the path of the coffin.  

 

The faithful say there has been no message of condolence from the Vatican. So far, the Osservatore Romano has not published any obituary about the deceased bishop.   

Bishop Yao was born in 1923, he was ordained a priest in 1948 and from 1958 to 1984 he was jailed for his refusal to join the official Church. The Patriotic Association is a control body of the Communist Party, which wants to build a Church independent from the Holy See. Bishop Yao was clandestinely ordained underground bishop coadjutor in 2002. He was seized by police in July 2006 and was able to return to his church January 25, 2009, after 30 months of captivity. His body was buried in the cemetery for priests in Xiwanzi.

December 2009

We suspect that this is another indication of a more hopeful future for the American episcopacy — at the very least it belongs in the did-I-read-that-correctly category: Recently, two bishops in two separate dioceses prevented brother bishops from making public appearances on Catholic property in their dioceses. Yes, you read that correctly. A lone bishop banning a brother bishop is a rarity in this day and age. Frankly, it just isn't done. For two of them to take such similar courses of action is inconceivable.

Thomas Gumbleton, retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit, was slated to speak in the Diocese of Marquette (in Michigan's Upper Peninsula) at a conference sponsored by Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice. According to episcopal protocol, when one bishop comes into another bishop's diocese to preach, celebrate the sacraments, or otherwise make a public appearance, he is expected to notify the local diocesan bishop — in effect, requesting his permission. It is necessary for the visiting bishop to be in harmony, so to speak, with the local bishop. In a perfect world, one bishop would not be contradicting the local shepherd.

Continue reading "Bishops Banning Bishops: New Oxford Review" »

 

The Saints will guide you through the new year with the 2010 Traditional Calendar of Saints! A stunning spiritual reminder for every day!

**Available late October-December!**

• Large wall-size 11" x 17"
• Saints for each day conform to the Tridentine calendar.
• Monthly dedication.
• Spiritual quote or prayer for each month • Holy Days of Obligation and Ember days • Liturgical reminders…and more!

 

click here...to purchase one

by Mrs. Lucille Flynn

Since I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, and have no medical background, the thoughts I offer are from my own personal experience and observations over a long eventful life. Our present age can certainly qualify as one of the most perilous, ominous eras in the history of this world. The moral, economic, and yes, survival crises that confront us, reflect the godless, materialistic society by which ego-driven man has chosen to live.

Many post Vatican II Cathlics, victims of the Age of Reason, look to scientific and natural reasoning to solve the multiplying symptoms of an ailing society and a decaying government. For each one of us, encountering daily challenges can be unnerving and defeating. With all this said, how wonderful to know that we have at our disposal the one remedy that fits all!  As Traditional Catholics, we are blessed, not only with the comfort of our daily Low Mass, but with the spiriutal renewal of Sunday High Mass.

If you are near, or able to locate to a traditionally oriented Catholic Church, enter and greet The Lord with a humble genuflection. Also, you may want to pause a moment and reflect on the glorious heritage and meaning of our Christian architecture. Our eyes are drawn to the Main Altar, (usually facing East), which houses the Tabernacle, home of Consecrated Hosts. This area, the Sanctuary depicts the Head of Christ. The section immediately below, and extending to the sides is the Transept, which depicts the arms of Our Divine Savior. On the other side of the Communion Rail is the Nave or main body of the Church where the faithful worship. This area signififies the Body of Christ.

Continue reading "Honor and Glory to God: Therapy for Body and Soul" »

WALKING into church 40 years ago on this first Sunday of Advent, many Roman Catholics might have wondered where they were. The priest not only spoke English rather than Latin, but he faced the congregation instead of the tabernacle; laymen took on duties previously reserved for priests; folk music filled the air. The great changes of Vatican II had hit home.

All this was a radical break from the traditional Latin Mass, codified in the 16th century at the Council of Trent. For centuries, that Mass served as a structured sacrifice with directives, called “rubrics,” that were not optional. This is how it is done, said the book. As recently as 1947, Pope Pius XII had issued an encyclical on liturgy that scoffed at modernization; he said that the idea of changes to the traditional Latin Mass “pained” him “grievously.”

Continue reading "Latin Mass Appeal: NY Times Op-Ed" »