Weddings

There are a sick mess of weddings in 2008. I actually know some of the people getting married this time too.

In February, my cousin is getting married. I'm gonna be going home from there. I don't have any special part in the wedding party or anything with the after party. But thats only the first one.

In March, Nick is getting married. He asked me to be one of the groomsmen, which is really cool. I said yes, of course.
What kind of person do you take me for.

Sometime later Jen and Joe are getting married. I'm the DJ for their after party (I'm getting paid $25 in food).

There are a couple other ones, but those are the three I'm most concerned with.

Makes me want to get a girlfriend.

"To Medusa"

A message to writers:
When you are in class, do not feel as if you should pay attention. If you feel inspiration, write it down. It could be gold like this. Think of it. You too could be writing Haiku sequences to Medusa.
How romantic!

"To Medusa" by Matthew Rose

Gorgon, my Gorgon

I gaze on that sweetest face.

Stone, my own face turns.

O Medusa, dear,

Let us talk a while here,

Make our wedding plans.

Shall it be had here,

Or closer to your own Greece,

Under olive trees?

Who should we invite?

Who can stand to see your grace?

Who can witness love?

My love, they will bide

While we promise each other

Our entire life.

"I do, I, I do."

I say it with gleeful pride.

And she says it too.

And I raise her veil.

I gaze into her eyes; and

There I stand today.

Apologia sua Novus Ordo Missae part 1

At long last I am posting it. Now that the Motu Proprio has come into effect, there has already been discussion throughout the country (I've seen the blogs) of how stupid and bad the Novus Ordo ( I mean, the Ordinary form of the Roman rite, to use Benedict's terms) is, etc. I don't have any exact links, but trust me, they are out there. So now is an opportune time to post my defense of the Novus Ordo. It will be in parts, obviously, since it is a large project. I'm posting first the introduction, providing a little scriptural meditation and general explanation of the project. The entire series is adapted from my Apologetics presentation from my Junior year at the College. Hopefully it is lucid and understandable.


Apologia pro Novus Ordo Missae

One of the most popular parables in the Gospel accounts is the story of the Prodigal Son. The story is so influential that Pope Benedict XVI, in his book Jesus of Nazareth, uses the parable as one of seven that best summarize Jesus’ teaching ministry. The story is universal in message, delving into the depths of God’s forgiveness, the great gift of salvation. Often a homily on this Gospel will reflect on just that, that no matter what the prodigal son did, the forgiving Father welcomes him back.

So what, you may be wondering, does this have to do with defending the Novus Ordo Missae, now referred to as the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite? The reality is that the parable has a lot to do with Ultra-traditionals, against whom this defense is argued. The parable does not end with the Father embracing the son, and Jesus saying “isn’t that nice; that’s how God loves everyone.” The resolution involves another son. The other son is a good boy. He never left his Father’s side, has never deviated from what his father has set forth, etc. Now his brother, his sinful, stupid brother who had told his father to drop dead, comes home; the Father receives him with open arms. A celebration, the Father cries, for my returned son, and the other son watches in envy. Why, he asks his Father. Why have you never rewarded me for my devotion to you? Should I not be rewarded for my love?

You do not understand, the Father replies. I love you too. You have always been devoted to me, but your brother, while he did not show his love of me as you have, has returned. I love you both. Now rejoice, because you are both my sons.

The message was for the Pharisees, but can also be applied to the Ultra-traditionalist of today. While the Church at large may not see itself as the prodigal son, the Ultra-traditionalists certainly see it that way. What these Ultra-traditionalists do not realize is that they, in labeling the main Church as such, have labeled themselves the other son. They are waiting for their brother to return home and be punished, but are shocked and appalled when they see do not see that happening. What is God doing, they may wonder. Has God abandoned the Church, leaving them as the only surviving (to use their term) remnant of the true Church?

The simple answer is that God will never abandon his Church, that the Papacy will always have a pope on Peter’s chair either actually or potentially) until the end of the world, and that the Mass will never end, no matter what Satan may try, for he has already lost. This is not a reason to be prideful or envious of favor. It is a time of rejoicing. Yet the Ultra-traditionalists, particularly those who argue the invalidity of the Ordinary form of the Roman Rite, stand as firm as the other brother. They produce arguments that, on the surface, seem perfectly align with Church teaching, even more so than what the Church herself produces. There lies the classical danger of those who have stood against the Church and the Pope throughout history. The Ultra-traditionalists claim to come from the same lineage as the defenders of the Church. Unfortunately, they do not see how their reflection shines in the Church’s enemies.

It is against these enemies, the Ultra-traditionalists, that these arguments are aimed. It is in defense of the Church and the Mass, both the extraordinary (the “Traditional Mass,” as it is called) and ordinary (the “Novus Ordo Missae, or New Mass”) forms.

Apologia pro Novus Ordo Missae est.

September 14, 2007

Today is a busy day. It is the feat of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a great feast for the Church (although not high enough for us to eat meat today. Snff!). You want to know what this feast is about? Here, this is a good summery of the history behind the feast from the Catholic News Agency website:

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 320, under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem and the dedication, in 335, of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine which mark the site of the Crucifixion.

Today is also important because it is the 30th Anniversary of the College. For 30 years the College has been teaching students Truth. We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Later today is a special convocation honoring three founders of Catholic colleges that appeared around the 70s, here, TAC, and Franciscan. After that is Mass, offered by Archbishop Burke of St. Louis, an apparently very conservative bishop. He has been one of the loudest episcopal voices against Pro-Choice politicians receiving Holy Communion. I'm one of the servers. I'm trembling inside. After Mass will be some food, music, and then, if the rain holds off, some fireworks. Tomorrow there will be a sort of festive dinner and a dance that night.

Today is also the day that Motu Proprio Summorum pontificum (see my previous posts) goes into effect. That means priests can say the Traditional Mass on their own discretion, with out the explicit approval of the local bishop. This should be interesting to see how things play out in the next year or so.

So that's the abbreviated roundup. Hopefully nothing bad will happen.

Wow, that was dire.

Birthday

I would like to tell the blogger world that today is my little sister's birthday.

She's getting older,
and so am I.
She's getting more mature
and so should I.

So Happy Birthday, baby sister. May God shower blessings upon you. May you grow this year as never before (not in height though, because then you'll be too tall, taller even than me!).

If I had money enough to spend
And leisure time to sit a while
There is a fair maid in this town
That surely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart in thrall
Then fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.