Upcoming Holy Day of Obligation

Don't forget that Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation--the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I find this is one of the feast days that is easiest to forget, probably because it falls during the summer.

So, anyway, get out there and get to Mass either Tuesday night or Wednesday and honor our Heavenly Mother.

Upcoming Holy Day of Obligation

Don't forget that Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation--the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I find this is one of the feast days that is easiest to forget, probably because it falls during the summer.

So, anyway, get out there and get to Mass either Tuesday night or Wednesday and honor our Heavenly Mother.

Where have all the statues gone?

The parish that I often go to for Daily Mass or Morning Prayer/Adoration is a historic one as it has been in existence since at least the 1800's. I was never thrilled with the (indoor) architecture, but it was certainly better than some I've seen.

The other day, while using the church restroom, I noticed some historic black and white photos of the altar (yes, this is where they are displayed--in the bathroom!). Well, even in black and white, this altar was breathtaking. The altar itself was huge, white marble with gothic type spires across it reaching half way up towards the ceiling. There were at least 20 lit candles on the altar. There were no less than 4 huge statues, again white marble, on the sides. Just beautiful.

It made me SO sad to see that this is so far from the flat wooden statues that are there now. I wondered where those priceless (to me, at least) marble statues ended up. Hopefully, some church, somewhere, has them and is using them to enhance their congregation's worship.

This particular parish is building some new buildings outside of town. Dare I hope that some of this beauty will be resurrected?

Where have all the statues gone?

The parish that I often go to for Daily Mass or Morning Prayer/Adoration is a historic one as it has been in existence since at least the 1800's. I was never thrilled with the (indoor) architecture, but it was certainly better than some I've seen.

The other day, while using the church restroom, I noticed some historic black and white photos of the altar (yes, this is where they are displayed--in the bathroom!). Well, even in black and white, this altar was breathtaking. The altar itself was huge, white marble with gothic type spires across it reaching half way up towards the ceiling. There were at least 20 lit candles on the altar. There were no less than 4 huge statues, again white marble, on the sides. Just beautiful.

It made me SO sad to see that this is so far from the flat wooden statues that are there now. I wondered where those priceless (to me, at least) marble statues ended up. Hopefully, some church, somewhere, has them and is using them to enhance their congregation's worship.

This particular parish is building some new buildings outside of town. Dare I hope that some of this beauty will be resurrected?

RIP--Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin, long time talk show host and entertainment entrepreneur, died at 82 of prostate cancer. To illustrate how long he has been in television, I'm posting this YouTube of Merv Griffin singing "Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" and doing an abominably fake English accent. I'm not sure what year this was broadcast.

RIP--Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin, long time talk show host and entertainment entrepreneur, died at 82 of prostate cancer. To illustrate how long he has been in television, I'm posting this YouTube of Merv Griffin singing "Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" and doing an abominably fake English accent. I'm not sure what year this was broadcast.

It's in the Bible

Today's Gospel reading was the infamous passage from Matthew chapter 16 where Jesus asks Peter,

“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my Church", not "my Churches". The Catholic Church is the one Church that Jesus founded. It is founded on Jesus' words in the Bible. All our Sacraments are directly from the bible.

• Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Baptism) [Matthew 28:19]

• What you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven (Confession) [Matthew 16:18-19]

• Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.(Holy Communion) [John 6:53]

• The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. (Confirmation)[John 14:26]

• The two shall become one flesh. (Marriage) [Matthew 10:8]

• Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (Annointing of the Sick)[James 5:14]

• They chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. (Holy Orders) [Acts 6: 5-6]
  

Below is a YouTube video of Palestrina's Tu es Petrus, the Latin version of the Scripture from Matthew 16:18-19:

You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.
Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam.
~ Matthew 16:18b-19