Cardinal Rigali: teach seminarians the Latin Mass

Cardinal Rigali: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is offering a course for priests who wish to be educated and trained in the proper celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII to ensure competence in the Latin language and the rubrics of the extraordinary form. Prior to engaging a "practicum" experience, the theology behind the liturgy and the "motu proprio" will be studied.

I have encouraged any priest who may wish to learn to celebrate this liturgy to seek such educational opportunities so that the liturgy may be celebrated in a prayerful and reverent manner.

Another sign of the New Springtime.





HT Catholic Online

Tsnami of Vocation Inquiries at Dunwoodie

Pope Benedict's visit to Dunwoodie has already borne fruit, in only one week; reports say that St. Joseph's Seminary which was built to house 300 seminarians, and has a mere 23, had been flooded with applications. "It's been like a tsunami, a good tsunami of interest," said Father Luke Sweeney, the Archdiocese of New York's vocations director. “I've been meeting people all week and have a lot of e-mails I haven't had the chance yet to respond to. It has been incredible.”
For the first time in 108 years, the seminary had been preparing for a year with no students. Only 23 seminarians are expected to be ordained for New York City over the next four years. A study carried out by Catholic World Report claims the archdiocese’s ratio of priests to congregation members is among the worst in the country.

Praised be Jesus and Mary!

Just look at the sea of black here at the Rally. This is what the New Springtime will look like. Cassock wearing, holy young men, familiar with tradition, firm in their faith, burning to share that faith with others in the priesthood in an often hostile world.

And they're smiling!

HT Cathlete.net

Hat tip to The Anchoress who has reviewed CMR

My new blog, Catholic Media Review, affectionately dubbed, CMR, received a plug today from The Anchoress. She appreciated my review of Juno.
"After reading this informative review of the film Juno I’d say this site’s off to a splendid start, and it will become a “first-stop” reference when looking for information on what’s out there in the world of media, particularly if you’re trying to get a Christian perspective on things".
I enjoyed her post on young people joining traditional religious orders. I posted on this phenomenon myself, and I see this as a great sign of hope for the Church.
1/4 Update: Thanks to the Curt Jester, who mentioned us by name, and Danielle Bean who called us a 'handful of talented bloggers'. We appreciate your support in this effort. Also thanks to Mary Kochran who will be posting my reveiw of "Juno" on Catholic Exchange.
Our stat counter is smoking!

Fr. Francis Mary Stone of EWTN needs our prayers

I was shocked to hear this letter read on "Life on the Rock" on EWTN tonight. Fr Francis Mary Stone, the host of my daughters' and my favorite show, wrote the following letter, transcribed by Wisconsin Catholic.
Dear Family,
Regretfully, I have a message that does not come without significant pain to both you and me. I have to tell you in all honesty and truth, that I have been personally involved with helping a widow and her struggling family. Over the course of time, the mother and I have grown very close. As a result, I am compelled to take some time off to prayerfully and honestly discern my future.
I am truly sorry of the impact this may have on so many. I am not unaware of the gravity and magnitude of the situation, yet after much wise counsel, it is really something that I must deal with now for the good of all. With that said, it is best that I deal with it away from EWTN.

Therefore, I have asked for and graciously been granted some extended time to prayerfully discern my vocation. To those who are part of the EWTN family locally, and others throughout the world, especially all those who have supported me so faithfully in my priestly vocation and ministry here on Life on the Rock, I sincerely apologize. I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time that is so very difficult, but yet so very necessary.
Please lift me up in your humble prayers to Jesus through Mary, our Mother, in Grace and Mercy.
Fr Francis Mary, MFVA

Fr Anthony Mary then said "Brothers and Sisters of our EWTN family, this is a time in which Fr Francis and all involved are in great need of your prayers and your support as our family. Always remember that no one is beyond the power of God's Mercy or Redemption. And on Fr's behalf, I humbly ask that you pray for him. God bless you."
Fr Anthony Mary looked very shaken, and it felt like a body blow to hear this news.
We'll be praying for the priesthood of Fr. Francis Mary.
Christine Schult posts about it here.
Here is another post by American Papist.
HT Wisconsin Catholic

These nuns are the hope of the Church in America!

I have been emailing convents today, asking for intercessory prayers for the success of our application for the Mater Angelica Catholic Radio Station application to be submitted October 13, 2007. I found this link and was emailing all the convents on the list with my prayer intention, and was tremendously encouraged by the hundreds of young, smiling faces peeking out from behind their traditional habits.
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious is the umbrella organization for 10% of all professed nuns. These are the traditional nuns. They have 90% of all the vocations in the USA, according to a lecture I attended from Dr. Brian Clowes of Human Life International.
Is anyone surprised here?

Collage from the Domincan Sisters of St. Cecelia, also known as the Nashville Dominicans

Monsignor McDonald: the Priestmaker

Creative Minority Report has an excellent post about this wonderful priest whom I was fortunate enough to have as my pastor for two short years, and am happy to see as the Rector of our Seminary. Monsignor takes the salvation of souls very seriously, when I first came to his parish, he mentioned Satan in the first two homilies I heard. I told him that HE was the main reason I had moved to St. John's.
He is gone seven years now, however, he comes over to surprise us when things are slow in the Seminary and gives us one of his rousing homilies, where he walks into your pew, and screams into your face, "you've got to go to confession to save your immortal soul!!!" No one has ever stayed asleep during his homilies!!
First Saturday devotions, Eucharistic Adoration, and long lines at the confessional are his enduring legacy to us. He's a St. John Vianney in the confessional, ready to put on his purple stole at the slightest mention of the sacrament. Once, on the way back to the rectory on his day off which he used to visit his parents, he 'felt guilty' for taking the day off, and stopped to hear confessions at the local hospital. For Msgr. McDonald, nothing was as refreshing as hearing souls come back into a state of grace.
His devotion to the Holy Eucharist is legendary. Once, at a Family Conference, he broke down in tears trying to explain the beauty of Christ's Real Presence. A fellow priest asked me, concerned, "is he all right?" to which I replied, "he always gets like that when he's talking about the Eucharist, that's why we love him". I heard from a friend, that in Monsignor's latest parish, St. Matthew's, an Extraordinary Minister dropped a Sacred Host on the floor during communion. Monsignor, dropped to the floor, consumed the Host, and LICKED THE FLOOR where it had been. A Jewish man observed this and decided to become a Catholic on the spot, saying, "this man REALLY believes that Jesus is in the Host".
Our Bishop, William Murphy has said of him, "he is the priest I admire most, he is like a grandfather figure to all the youth of the diocese. " "That is why he is now rector of the seminary, because Monsignor McDonald has a PhD in priesthood."
Our diocese has a bright future with Monsignor McDonald in charge of forming new priests.