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Christ is Risen!

Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia!

Exsultet iam Angelica turba caelorum: exsultent divina mysteria: et pro tanti Regis victoria, tuba insonet salutaris.		Let the angelic choirs of Heaven now rejoice; let the divine Mysteries rejoice; and let the trumpet of salvation sound forth the victory of so great a King.
Gaudeat et tellus tantis irradiata fulgoribus: et aeterni Regis splendore illustrata, totius orbis se sentiat amisisse caliginem.		Let the earth also rejoice, made radiant by such splendor; and, enlightened with the brightness of the eternal King, let it know that the darkness of the whole world is scattered.
Laetetur et mater Ecclesia, tanti luminis adornata fulgoribus: et magnis populorum vocibus haec aula resultet.		Let our mother the Church also rejoice, adorned with the brightness of so great a light; and let this temple resound with the loud acclamations of the people.
Quapropter astantes vos, fratres carissimi, ad tam miram huius sancti luminis claritatem, una mecum, quaeso, Dei omnipotentis misericordiam invocate. Ut qui me non meis meritis intra Levitarum numerum dignatus est aggregare: luminis sui claritatem infundens, Cerei huius laudem implere perficiat.		Wherefore I beseech you, most beloved brethren, who are here present in the wondrous brightness of this holy light, to invoke wtih me the mercy of almighty God. That He who has vouchsafed to admit me among the Levites, without any merits of mine, would pour forth the brightness of His light upon me, and enable me to perfect the praise of this wax candle.
Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium suum: qui cum eo vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum.		Through our Lord Jesus Christ His Son, Who with Him and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God for ever and ever.
R. Amen.		R. Amen.
V. Dominus vobiscum.		V. The Lord be with you.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.		R. And with thy spirit.
V. Sursum corda.		V. Lift up thy hearts.
V. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.		V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God..
R. Dignum et iustum est.		R. It is meet and just.
Vere dignum et iustum est, invisibilem Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Filiumque eius unigenium, Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis affectu, et vocis ministerio personare. Qui pro nobis aeterno Patri, Adae debitum solvit: et veteris piaculi cautionem pio cruore detersit.		It is truly meet and right to proclaim with all our heart and all the affection of our mind, and with the ministry of our voices, the invisible God, the Father almighty, and His only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who repaid for us to His eternal Father the debt of Adam, and by the merciful shedding of His Blood, cancelled the debt incurred by original sin.
Haec sunt enim festa paschalia, in quibus verus ille Agnus occiditur, cuius sanguine postes fidelium consecrantur.		For this is the Paschal Festival; in which that true Lamb is slain, with Whose Blood the doorposts of the faithful are consecrated.
Haec nox est, in qua primum patres nostros filios Israel eductos de Aegypto, mare Rubrum sicco vestigio transire fecisti.		This is the night in which Thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry foot.
Haec igitur nox est, quae peccatorum tenebras, columnae illuminatione purgavit.		This, therefore, is the night which dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the pillar.
Haec nox est, quae hodie per universum mundum, in Christo credentes, a vitiis saeculi, et caligine peccatorum segregatos, reddit gratiae, sociat sanctitati.		This is the night which at this time throughout the world restores to grace and unites in sanctity those that believe in Christ, and are separated from the vices of the world and the darkness of sinners.
Haec nox est, in qua destructus vinculis mortis, Christus ab inferis victor ascendit. Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset.		This is the night in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption had also been bestowed upon us.
O mira circa nos tuae pietatis dignatio!		O wondrous condescension of Thy mercy towards us!
O inaestimabilis dilectio caritatis: ut servum redimeres, Filium tradidisti!		O inestimable affection of love: that Thou mightest redeem a slave, Thou didst deliver up Thy Son!
O certe necessarium Adae peccatum, quod Christi morte deletum est!		O truly needful sin of Adam, which was blotted out by the death of Christ!
O felix culpa, quae talem ac tantum meruit habere Redemptorem!		O happy fault, that merited to possess such and so great a Redeemer!
O vere beata nox, quae sola meruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab inferis resurrexit! Haec nox est, de qua scriptum est: Et nox sicut dies illuminabitur: et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.		O truly blessed night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour when Christ rose again from hell! This is the night of which it is written: And the night shall be as clear as the day; and the night is my light in my delights.
Huius igitur sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocentiam lapsis, et moestis laetitiam. Fugat odia, concordiam parat, et curvat imperia.		Therefore the hallowing of this night puts to flight all wickedness, cleanses sins, and restores innocence to the fallen, and gladness to the sorrowful. It drives forth hatreds, it prepares concord, and brings down haughtiness.
In huius igitur noctis gratia, suscipe, sancte Pater, incensi huius sacrificium vespertinum: quod tibi in hac Cerei oblatione solemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia.		Wherefore, in this sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense, which holy Church renders to Thee by the hands of Thy ministers in the solemn offering of this wax candle, made out the work of bees.
Sed iam columnae huius praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit. Qui licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit. Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae huius lampadis, apis mater eduxit.		Now also we know the praises of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindles to the honor of God. Which fire, although divided into parts, suffers no loss from its light being borrowed. For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious light.
O vere beata nox, quae exspoiliavit Aegyptos, ditavit Hebraeos! Nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur.		O truly blessed night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to those which are of man.
Oramus ergo te, Domine: ut Cereus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis huius caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus, supernis luminaribus misceatur. Flammas eius lucifer matutinus inveniat. Ille, qui regressus ab inferis, humano generi serenus illuxit.		We beseech Thee, therefore, O Lord, that this wax candle hallowed in honor of Thy Name, may continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted as a sweet savor, may be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning star find its flame alight. That star, I mean, which knows no setting. He Who returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind.
Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. quiete temporum concessa, in his paschalibus gaudiis, assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare digneris.		We beseech Thee therefore, O Lord, that Thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal Festival, and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with Thy constant protection us Thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with our most holy Father, Pope N…., and our Bishop N….
Respice etiam ad eos, qui nos in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo.		Have regard, also, for those who reign over us, and, grant them Thine ineffable kindness and mercy, direct their thoughts in justice and peace, that from their earthy toil, they may come to their heavenly reward with all Thy people.
Per Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus:		Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God:
Per omnia saecula saeculorum.		World without end.
R. Amen.		R. Amen.

Book Review: The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Overall: Save your money, there are better reads. Much better.

It would be foolish to ignore such a popular read. Indeed, one that’s been at the top of the bestseller list for a few weeks now. It’s just a shame that people read weird books.

The basic gist of The Shack is that the main character, Mack, is invited by God to the place where his youngest daughter was brutally murdered and Mack has thus distanced himself from God. Mack spends the weekend there at the shack and chats about all sorts of relevant issues with God: the Trinity, forgiveness, love, free-will, sin, etc.

I freely admit that there are good elements to The Shack, but anything worthy that might be found here is overshadowed and confused by the author’s attempt to depict God. The “flying lesson” on the Trinity that God the Father (aka “Papa”… who is a big black woman… get that sorted out?) is absolutely atrocious. That bit of flying ended in a terrible crash landing from which there were no survivors. None. The theology is too muddled and muddy to see a clear picture. However, one could see this coming since right off the bat the author creates an Indian legend about a girl who commits suicide to save her people and likens this to the sacrifice of Christ… Jesus did not commit suicide! It’s a very crude and poor analogy that falls flat without ever standing. This is not the place to discover the Blessed Trinity. The Christology was pretty much blatant heresy as well. The author wants so desperately to remind us that God became man in Jesus Christ that he divorces the human and divine in Jesus and makes God out to be entirely human with superpowers (like flying, he just doesn’t activate them…). In the end, the God of The Shack is not the one true God; but a shabby impersonation that seeks to push a specific agenda… This Catholic, for one, is shocked that Christian author of a Christian book would have strayed so far from the Bible. With no Bible, and no Church (this author rejects any institutional/hierarchical Church in favor of some wishy-washy Church you can’t quite pin down where or how it exists) what’s left? Mr. Young’s Trinity is not biblical, nor is his Jesus. But this flows from his already demonstrated poor understanding of the Trinity and the sacrifice of Christ.

And if that wasn’t enough, it’s just corny writing. It was difficult to trudge through without crying– not from being moved, but from trite and juvenile dialogue. For example:

…Jesus went straight to Papa and kneeling at her feet, began to wipe off the front of her clothes. He worked down to her feet and gently lifted one foot at a time, which he directed into the basin where he cleaned and massaged it.
“Ooooh, that feels soooo good!” exclaimed Pape as she continued her tasks at the counter.

This book deals with a serious subject– the man’s 6 year daughter is abducted and brutally murdered–a tragedy permitted in God’s divine will, and instead of getting to the heart of the matter they share a chuckle over Jesus having butter fingers and dropping things in the kitchen. I just walked away feeling like things were trivialized and made juvenile by the end. The writing wasn’t consistent with the story.

So, in sum, if you’re looking for a good story, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for decent theology, it isn’t here. Better luck next time.

Tony Blair… did he convert or get stuck in the cafeteria?

Blair questions papal gay policy

The latest in the BBC news has Tony Blair questioning the Church’s stance (not merely Pope Benedict XVI, don’t let them fool you into such slippery thinking) on homosexuality. (FYI, here is what the Holy Father said in context)

It really irks me how people try to save face by playing down Church teachings, or worse, brushing them off as antiquated ideas that are due for an update. Especially a covert. For heaven’s sake, don’t convert if you don’t believe! Don’t say “Amen” if you don’t mean it. Or, as James puts it, “let your yes mean yes and your no mean no”. You don’t get to pick and choose what to believe by what is convenient for you, or what you happen to feel like abiding by. It’s either true or it isn’t.

Mr. Blair sets up this false dividing line between “the Church” (i.e. the Church leaders, he means) and “the Church” (i.e., some liberal all-embracing idea for the laity… there IS a mystical sense of the Church, but I highly doubt Mr. Blair knows or refers to this). The Church [leaders] say one thing, but the Church [laity] believe another, according to Mr. Blair. Well, here’s a NEWSFLASH: The Catholic Church has not ever been, nor will she ever be, a democracy. So that leaves Mr. Blair with two options: suck it up and embrace the wisdom of the Church after some serious study in which he discovers the true rationale for the Church’s teaching(s), or continue to make himself look foolish by complaining about something he can’t change.

Book Review: Brisingr

And no, for the last time, I didn’t spell the title wrong. I can’t help it when authors use made-up words for their titles. It’s their perogative.

Overall: Decent series so far, it’s worth a read if you like fantasy. It’s not my favorite, but it’s not terrible either.

Brisingr is the third installment in the Inheritance Cycle (that was supposed to be… and probably should have been a trilogy) by Christopher Paolini who had most of Eragon written when he was just fifteen. If nothing else, I read Eragon simply because I wanted to know if a fifteen year old really could write a decent novel. I was surprised, and actually enjoyed Eragon and most of Eldest. Brisingr, overall, was not a disappointment but there were a few things that had me shaking my head. First off, each book keeps getting longer and longer as though Mr. Paolini is thinking ‘I wonder how long I can make the next book?’… and Brisingr is no exception. In fact, Brisingr was in dire need of a non-biased editor. This definitely could have been a trilogy because this third book should’ve been about half its size– each journey Eragon takes has 2-3 pages simply describing the journey. It doesn’t make your characters seem more realistic if you have them eating a meal and complaining about how hard it is to get to sleep at regular intervals… it just makes the book drag. And drag. And drag. I really wish I still had a copy of the book to count up how many times we get a description of Eragon eating or complaining about how exhausted/sore/tired/but-still-couldn’t-sleep he was feeling.

That said, I did manage to trudge through the entire book and it was decent, I still like the series. It’s exciting (overall… including Eragon and Eldest), and I’m anxious for the fourth and final (it better be) installment of the series. It’s true that you can see the author’s influences (and love of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy) but I think he does bring his own adjustments to the story that sets it apart from Lord of the Rings and Star Wars (mostly).

Another good thing about this series is that it is relatively PG rated. Which is nice to find. You can still tell a good story without resorting to base language and sexual themes. Does Eragon have a love interest in the series? Yes, but descriptions of her are tasteful and pure. It makes for a better story, in my opinion. Plus, he has a little bit of trouble wooing her, as it is… but he likes her as her, not her as a body and so presents a better idea of the ‘love story’ aspect of the adventure.

Despite the length issues of Brisingr, I still thought he managed to tell a decent story and I hope the fourth book is published soon.

Africa, AIDS, and the Pope

Nearly every news article, story, and blurb about Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Africa has some snide comment about the Church’s stance on artificial birth control and how Pope Benedict XVI says that condoms won’t solve the AIDS crisis in Africa. Writers and uninformed speakers alike paint the Pope as a man who cares more about religious dogma than people’s lives, as though, by his affirmation of the Church’s teaching on sexual morality Pope Benedict XVI is condemning Africans (and other inhabitants of countries struggling with AIDS) to death by AIDS.

NOT SO! I yell. Not so at all. If people would simply open their eyes and see “the big picture” it would all make sense. What is the (main) way the disease is being spread? Sexual contact. Casual sexual encounters, and sexual encouters by force (which, if it’s by force, don’t count on the rapist to take the time to put on a condom…). Handing out condoms like candy only encourages those casual sexual encounters. Are condoms 100% foolproof against spreading HIV/AIDS? Heck no. Look at all the condoms they’ve already been handing out in Africa. There’s still a huge AIDS problem. The only way to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS through sexual encounters is to eliminate those casual sexual encounters. Abstinence. Self-control. We live in such an indulgent society that it’s hard for us to imagine saying no. It’s hard for us to imagine having to deny ourselves a pleasure simply because it will be better for us in the long run.

Let us at a real example from history: the Philippines and Thailand. When the first cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in the Philippines the Church’s policy was implemented (i.e., don’t have sex with an infected person)… there is now a minuscule rate of AIDS in the Philippines. In Thailand, the Church’s policy was ignored and condoms were promoted. The death rate from AIDS is climbing and child prostitution is rampant. Mere coincidence? Highly doubtful.

So what should Africans do? Listen to the Catholic Church! Listen to the Pope! Don’t have sex with an infected person. Bam, zero chance of getting HIV if you’re not putting yourself at risk. Using a condom while having sex with an infected person only increasing your chance of contracting HIV each time. Promoting condoms is promoting an increased spread of AIDS. Promoting abstinence is promoting a grinding halt. Which makes sense to you?

Lenten Disciplines

During those especially holy penitential seasons of the Church’s liturgical year (namely, Advent and Lent) I try and limit my reading to spiritual works. Though I like the classics, there is something about the Lenten season which demands one’s whole person be engaged– this, I think, is really the meaning behind the Lenten tradition of “giving up” something for Lent. The deprivation will force us to seek something to fill its place and the goal is to find an activity that builds virtue and focuses our attention on the great gift of Redemption in Christ.

This Lenten season my goal is to posses a better understanding of grace. Though I graduated with a degree in Theology, grace is one of those subjects that one could spend a lifetime cultivating and deepening in knowledge. I admit that I have a very basic and elementary understanding of grace that extends only so far; however, I think grace needs more attention in theological studies. How else are we to cling to the authentic teachings of the Magisterium? (not to mention enter into dialogue with those who seek to undermine the Catholic Church by pretending that grace is not an all-important element of Catholicism.) Now that I am free (i.e., graduated and still jobless), I plan to devote much of my reading this Lenten season to grace.

Because I have some form of attention deficit disorder when it comes to reading– I pick up one book, read several chapters or perhaps a vast majority of it and then the next day pick up a completely different book and do the same thing, etc. and so on, so that by the time I come back to finish the first book, I have to re-read and skim parts of it to recall those intimate details I need to enter back into the mindset of the author– I chose two books for my study on grace: Fr. John Hardon’s (SJ) History and Theology of Grace: The Catholic Teaching of Divine Grace and Robert Sungenis’ How Can I Get to Heaven? The Bible’s Teaching on Salvation Made Easy to Understand. Both seem to be worthy works up to the task. (Note that I will also make recourse to the Sacred Scriptures, the Catechism, and any other reference which either book might make reference to that would help round out my understanding… probably another aspect that adds to my Reading-ADD of sorts).

Other Lenten reads I recommend:

The Gospel According to Mark- Yes, the Scriptures themselves are a great Lenten read, and I think Mark lends itself well because of its focus on the passion of Christ. Everything points towards the Cross (and the confession of the centurion).

The Passion and the Death of Jesus Christ (St. Alphonsus Liguori)- This is what Lent is all about. (and St. Alphonsus Liguori rocks!)

Frequent Confession: It’s Place in the Spiritual Life (Fr. Benedict Baur)- A good read to remember even after the season of Lent is over… You’ll look at Confession in a whole new light.

Heliotropium (Fr. Jeremias Drexelius)- Talks about conformity of the will to God (like the flower (gentle Christian) that turns itself towards the Sun (Son)). I think it’s a good Lenten read because when we examine where we need to conform our will to the Lord’s Will, it demands some serious sacrifice. It’ll give you good ideas to harp on for Lent the next year!

Christ: the Life of the Soul (Bl. Columba Marmion)- a great work on the spiritual life that’s been praised by all sorts of Popes and theologians… very rooted in the Bible, the Liturgy, and the writings of the Saints. Very Christocentric throughout (I think even non-Catholic Christians would love it).

The Soul Sanctified (Anonymous)- Lots (i.e., 90 to be exact) of small meditations– just a few pages in length– on a variety of topics pertaining to Christan faith and life. Each meditation is unto itself, so you can pick and choose which topic interests you  in whichever order you choose. It’s handy to just carry around and use whenever you have a few moments to turn your thoughts to God.

There are numerous other good reads for Lent, but there is my two cents for this Lent. Happy reading and may you have a most dolorous Lent!

I support the Pope!

With the suble (yet constant) attacks on the Holy Father–for nearly anything and everything it’s beginning to seem– I thought it necessary to remind the world (ha, as if my readership extends that far!) that not everyone finds fault with the Pope. I don’t. I see the big picture. I see where the Holy Father is leading us, and I’m right behind him. I support the Pope. Viva il Papa!

What’s Wrong With the World

As quoted in the New York Times,

“Everyone is so quick to tell the world their problems, but they won’t tell a priest.”

DOMINUS EST — It is the Lord!

Overall: I HIGHLY recommend giving this a good read.

The Amazon.com review of Alcuin Reid does Bishop Schneider’s little book more justice than I could ever dream.