The Benedict Effect III: When the student is ready...

'When the student is ready, the master shall appear.'

I don't know who said this, possibly a Buddhist, but I feel it perfectly describes our present situation vis a vis our Holy Father Benedict XVI, whom God in his infinite mercy has given to our age.

Deo Gratias.

In Christo pro Papa

Persecuted Christians in Orissa India: Prayer alert I

Tragically the brutality continues as reported by Fr Blake at St Mary Magdalen.

Please pray for our suffering brothers and sisters.
Can't read my Google alerts at the moment, beset my some gremlin, but I'm sure our Holy Father is praying too.

In Christo pro Papa and the Church Militant

'The Benedict Effect ' II: - Aidan Nichols O.P.

ALERT: All PPL members and commnenters:

Please read Aidan Nichols' article published in 'New Blackfriars', edited by the English Dominicans. (Sept. 2008):

'Archi-Liturgical Culture Wars'

On 'New Liturgical Movement' and flagged by 'Forest Murmurs'. Thanks to both and for adding photographs.

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

The 'Benedict Effect' begins to inform English Academe: Casey and Pink

It seems that with the Pontificate of Benedict XVI now three years old, the English scholastic establishment considers it worthwhile to come out of the academic woodwork, whereas before Benedict they saw no point in wasting their effort on a lost cause, such was/is the intellectual paucity of those who are in control of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. This is the 'Benedict Effect'. England and Wales are not lost yet.

You've read Casey; now read Dr Thomas Pink (Kings College London) - The Toils of Ecumenism-a new doctrine or an old policy? For Dr Pink's credentials see kcl Philosophy-Staff Verity Harte.

With thanks to Damian Thompson for initial links.

Back later,

In pro Christo pro Papa,

Jane

For Flagship (Confiteor)/Armada Captains/ In celebration of repelling piratical boarding party!

Thanks to all shipmates. Am overjoyed that our united efforts have successfully repelled this minor assault on our Flagship and its Commander. All now safe as we sail steadily ahead in support of Peter's holy Barque!

To join me in celebration go to http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/e/t/eternal.htm

or

Google 'Eternal Father Strong to Save and go to cyberhymnal

Here you will find the words, music (audio) and history of the famous British and US Navy hymn. It is also the official march of the British Royal Navy. I'm sorry about the tinny sound of In Christo Pro BXVI's ship's piano (Sea water must have got into it during recent skirmish) and the fact that ship's pianist is somewhat carried away with the emotion of the occasion! When we next put into port, I'll try to find something more Gregorian or 'Benedictine'.

Have you noticed how the word Benedictine is creeping into the media in the sense of describing anything to do with Papa? A sign he really is making an impact on public consciousness.

To stir our determination even further, here are the words of 'Heart of Oak' a famous British sea shantie. Ship's sheet music has been temporarily mislaid.

"Come cheer up my lads,
'Tis to glory we steer
To add something more
To this wonderful year.
To honour we call you
As freemmen, not slaves
For who are so free
As the sons of the waves.

Refrain:
Heart of oak are our ships
Heart of oak are our men.
We always are ready
Steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer,
Again and again:

In Chriso pro Papa,

Jane

Latin Mass Society of England and Wales - dates and a DVD

DATES:

1. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15TH AT 11.30AM

CONFIRMATION IN THE TRADITIONAL RITE WITH BISHOP GEORGE STACK, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF WESTMINSTER, AT ST JAMES'S CHURCH, SPANISH PLACE, GEORGE ST. LONDON W1
FOLLOWED BY PONTIFICAL BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

2. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22ND AT 2.00 PM

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL - HIGH MASS OF REQUIEM FOR DECEASED LMS MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS
IT IS HOPED THAT MASS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ABSOLUTION AT THE CATAFALQUE

MASS WILL BE PRECEDED BY A WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT THE GRAVE OF CARDINAL HEENAN (IN THE NAVE)

I WILL BE AT BOTH THESE MASSES (OVER SPECIALLY FROM FRANCE), AND HOPE TO MEET SOME OF YOU THERE. DETAILS OF HOW, WILL BE POSTED LATER. ALL ARE WELCOME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SOCIETY MEMBER TO ATTEND.

MORE DATES TOMORROW AND ON LMS WEBSITE.


DVD COMING SOON:

PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS CELEBRATED BY CARDINAL CASTRILLON AT WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL ON JUNE 14TH 2008. THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE LMS.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

IN CHRISTO ET PRO PAPA

JANE

Episcopal UK attempt to suppress trad. cath. blogs

There are some grounds for believing that this may be true. It is actually quite old news and has been resurrected for another airing, unless of course there have been further attempts on the trad. blogosphere. It is currently being discussed on Damian Thompson's blog 'Holy Smoke' (Daily Telegraph UK). Some of the comments might send you running for the hills but Damian's original post is well worth reading. One commenter suggested that bloggers should apply for an imprimatur to save themselves from extinction. Some of the remarks are well considered and sensible. Recommend you have a look if you're in US and don't know the blog. Damian Thompson cannot be too outspoken in any case because he is a leader writer on the Telegraph and also Editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald UK. UK readers will of course know this. I include these details for any readers from the other side of the pond who may not.

In pro Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI : OUP 2008

This one is particularly for you Confiteor but I recommend it to everyone. A good review is to be found at:
http://www.ignatius insight.com/features2008/schall-trowland
also at:
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspxaeid=9197

A quote from the review:

"The most serious concern of this book is to place Ratzinger as a thinker and doer who has managed to confront almost every major theological issue and to keep in clear focus how the central teachings of the Church are to be understood and presented as the most brillIant explanation of man in the cosmos.................
What we have in Benedict,......is a kind of quiet intellectual energy that has long penetrated to the core of the most important of theological and philosophical controversies." (James V Schall S.J.)

EARLIER TODAY CONFITEOR ASKED FOR GUIDANCE IN INTERPRETING POPE BENEDICT'S LATEST ACTION IN INVITING A RABBI TO SPEAK AT THE IMMINENT SYNOD. I RESPONDED WITH A COMMENT ON 'WHY PAPA?' AND CONFITEOR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT I POST MY ANSWER HERE. I'LL DO SO TOMORROW.

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

News from the Vatican; rumour from England and Wales: "Be not afear'd the isle is full of noises...''

My French media analysis has had to be interrupted because of news from Rome and the rumours that are rife in England and Wales about the possible appointment of yet more 'magic circle' bishops there, including the most important one, that of Westminster.

I have heard of at least one priest who says he knows who will be elevated to Westminster, but we will have to wait another couple of months for the announcement. One has to ask oneself WHY the delay if the decision has been irrevocably made. I think the priest's claim is based more on what he hopes and thinks may happen, given what he apparently knows about certain influential lobbies of interest. Call me, if you like, naive and simplistic in my trust of our Holy Father but these people have not beaten him yet, much as they would appear to be trying.

I assume that our 'modernist' bishops still pray their Office daily. St Augustine has been talking to us for about a fortnight on thc characteristics and pastoral duties of good bishops. Why does there seem to be little evidence of ours having understood the strictures of this great saint, who is followed so devotedly by our Holy Father Benedict?

THE NEWS FROM ROME IS ON:
catholicnewsagency.com New appointments mark bold papal move for liturgical reform.

Please read this. Basicallly it reports that Benedict has sacked all the liturgical advisors he inherited from the Piero Marini era (not to be confused with Guido, the present papal MC).

I leave you tonight with two quotations, both from Shakespeare's Henry IV Pt II. First on rumour:

'Rumour is a pipe
Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures,
And of so easy and so plain a stop
That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,
The still-discordant wavering multitude,
Can play upon it.'

But this one I love even more because it could have been said by Benedict to himself and to God:

'I speak of peace, while covert emnity
Under the smile of safety wounds the world.'

God bless,

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

French editorials on the Visit of Pope Benedict: II

Le Figaro Magazine: covering the week of the Pope's visit, published on the Saturday after his departure. Editorial by Alexis Brezet: 'The Mystery of Benoit XVI: The Pope sacrifices nothing to novelty and facile words.....'

It seems to me that le Figaro is not grinding any partisan axes. It genuinely wants to penetrate this 'mystery'. To actual Catholics, there is of course no mystery, but as one of the two most influential secular French dailies, le Figaro is to be congratulated for taking such an open-minded stance, and in direct contrast with the fomenting fellows and females of the mostly bishop-controlled Catholic media.

At first the editorial states that Benedict (translation from now on, my comments in brackets)'does not have the charisma (debased and shallow use of the word) of his predecessor. He is reserved, cerebral, economical in gesture and precise in each word he utters. He doesn't employ any of the seductions that please the media.....

'At the heart of the French church there are many who are reluctant to follow this old fashioned pope who is bringing back the good old catechism and Latin prayers; who distributes communion in the mouth ('sur les levres', which actually means on the lips and therefore nonsensical); and who has ordered generosity towards the faithful who want the old liturgy from before Vatican II. And yet, in his manner, which is all gentleness and almost timidity, this Pope is incredibly popular. (Incredible because he is actually teaching the Faith!?) Each Wednesday in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Benedict's public audiences are attracting crowds never seen in such great numbers before. His first 'Encyclical Deus Caritas Est' was a record breaking best seller. (As has been 'Jesus of Nazareth') Hundreds of thousands of young people at WDF Cologne and Sydney gave the lie to the claim that WDF would be overshadowed without Jonh Paul II. And now we have the multitudes at Paris and Lourdes. In this popular infatuation (strange word, indicating perhaps that le Figaro wonders whether it will be a short-lived phenomenon) lies a mystery which does not cease to intrigue us.'
End of translated quote.

I've no doubt that all here would say that it doesn't intrigue us at all. No, it gladdens us, gives us strength and increases our prayer for our Holy Father. Habemus Papam indeed.

More of the meat from the Pelerin and le Figaro articles tomorrow but for now, I leave you with the astute words of French Fr. Guy Gilbert which appear later on in the Figaro magazine:

'One looked at John Paul II; one listens to Benoit XVI.'

God bless,

In Christo pro Papa

Jane

French editorials comment on the Visit of Pope Benedict: I

LE PELERIN (The Pilgrim)

The Pelerin is a weekly, one is tempted to spell that weakly, Catholic family magazine. Its Special edition on the Pope's visit claims a circulation of over 30,000but does not state what its normal circulation is. I would guess much less than that but am open to correction. Its Editor Rene Poujol, showed himself in his true colours on a kto tv interview during the visit, inveighing against Pope Benedict's having 'forced' people to receive Communion on the tongue and kneeling. Poujol's indignation on this point was expressed in a vehement almost manic rant. More of that later but it gives you an unpleasant taste in the mouth before we even look at his Editorial for the magazine published on the Thursday after our most Holy Father had left France. Please bear in mind that kto is the mouthpiece of the Bishop's conference of France and Poujol clearly felt safe in his fulminations.

First of all, his editorial is entitled 'Benoit XVI: Passeur d'Esperance' Yes, 'passeur' with a small p, not Pasteur or Berger (Shepherd). A 'passeur' is a ferry or boatman (figuratively it also means 'smuggler'!) Let us be content to translate it as 'boatman of hope'. I would love to, but cannot believe that M. Poujol was making a loving reference to His Holiness' office as the chief earthly helmsman of the Barque of Peter. To my mind the image serves to pull the Holy Father down to the same level as all bishops. He's just another boatman. I do not believe it is oversensitive to say that what at first glance may look like a compliment, is in fact an insult, (at least as the readers of this blog will probably see it).
Further, it is arrogant. The Holy Father does not need M.Poujol to teach him humility. It is Benedict's own prerogative to refer to himself as a humble labourer in the vineyard, or indeed a boatman.

SO HERE WE HAVE PROBLEM NUMBER ONE, IE. THE OVER EMPHASIS ON COLLEGIALITY AMONG BISHOPS WHICH HAS DONE SO MUCH DAMAGE SINCE VATICAN II, AND WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE SPREAD TO THE PRESS AND LAITY WHO ARE TAKING ON THEMSELVES THE SAME 'RIGHTS'.

Domestic demands dictate that this report be submitted in separate paragraphs under separate posts.

Next post in a couple of hours .......

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

A warm welcome to everyone who has commented over the past two or three days

Having technical problems. Hope they can be sorted out in time to post a critique of Pelerin and Figaro editorials later today. Hail Marys all round please and maybe a prayer to St. Antony so that I may identify the problem.

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

A great new initiative on Pro Papa I

CONFITEOR: AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE POSTS ON THE THEOLOGY OF SACRIFICE and in the following profession of intent have absolutely no wish to steal your thunder!!

As to Fr Kirby's article, listed in your seminal reading, when I first read it three months ago, it was profoundly influential on my understanding of the Sacred Heart Devotion (a favourite of mine for half a century) as it bears on Apostolic Action in Pope Benedict's theology. It is a connection which I had long wanted to see clarified in my own theological understanding, and contemplative and active Christian life. Encountering the article just when I did, and Fr Kirby's own especially Eucharistic ministry, came as an answer to two years of continual prayer for just such a clarification as to where God wants me to go, what he wants me to do, and how he wants me to do it. I had always intended to describe this personal experience in some detail on my own blog and will do so eventually. I am sure it will not conflict with your intentions for Pro Papa I.

I also intend to write more about Fr Kirby's new ministry in Tulsa, which through Bishop Slattery is an answer to a call from the Congregation for the Clergy, for priests who will devote themselves to fostering a return to, and increase in, Eucharistic Adoration. I very much suspect that it was the Holy Father himself who encouraged Cardinal Hummes to make this request. Together with the appeal to priests Cardinal Hummes, and as a result Bishop Slattery, called for generous lay women to come forward and offer themselves through prayer and penance as spiritual mothers of priests and deacons. There is no such initiative in England or France so far as I know and so for the time being I have made a private vow to answer this call interiorly. (To this vow I have added Seminarians and aspirants to the religious life and priesthood, my focus always being particularly on those priests etc. who for whatever reason have lost the spiritual support of their own natural mothers.) A second and equally important emphasis is on sick and wounded priests. I will explain all this in greater detail later on.

So whereas until three months ago, I was still searching and floundering, now my life is centred on, and completely full to overflowing with these two things: Prayer for our Beloved Holy Father, who of course comes into the second thing as well, that is, my vow of spiritual motherhood. In Papa's case since he is 16 years older than I am, it should more properly be called spiritual cousin or aunt or niecehood!

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Date correction: Our Lady of the Rosary October 7th of course.

THANKS TO WHITE SMOKE AHOY FOR POINTING OUT ERROR.

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY is of course celebrated on OCTOBER 7TH. Enthusiasm made me careless. I broke one of my own favourite rules: 'Always check your work before handing it in!' A very good lesson in patience and humility has been learned!

However, it gives us a day less to enrich the garland. Over to you folks. Thanks for everything submitted so far.

God bless,

In Christo pro Papa,

Summorum Pontificum clarifying Document.

MAY I DIRECT ALL TO FR. Z's BLOG WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY:

Here you will find Fr. Z's informative and informed post at to the whereabouts of this document. It is with the Holy Father. And to quote Fr., 'It is his.' Recommend you read the full post.

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict update: Rosary Garland for October 8th

A ROSARY GARLAND FOR OUR BELOVED HOLY FATHER - OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OCT 8, 2008

Thanks to Ummblepie of White Smoke Ahoy, whose post about the Rosary on his blog inspired this idea. Please help to make this our first really concentrated bouquet to the Holy Father in time for Our Lady's feast on October 8th. We know how much he is devoted to the Rosary and I'm sure he'll appreciate our offering.

Please leave your contribution, 20, 15, 5 or single decades, in answer to this post or any others (past and future) on this blog. From tonight onward will be adding my own with Litanies. I'll collate the Garland on the morning of Oct 7th for emailing to His Holiness later in the day. This email will very briefly explain who and what we are. We may not receive an acknowledgement but you can be sure that Mgr Georg or one of the other secretaries will alert him to it and that's what really matters. I'll publish the full garland on an update Oct 8th.

Over to you, Flagship (Confiteor), fellow Armada captains, and my very welcome new ship's crew, Lindi and Grigori. I appeal to you all to alert your like-minded friends and relatives. Please encourage them to visit here or to make their offerings through you. Am going over to some French trad. blogs and sites to try and raise some French offerings.

With my prayers and thanks to you all,

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Pope Benedict's French Visit: Liturgy Report I

FRENCH BISHOPS AND CATHOLIC MEDIA: WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T MENTION THE LITURGY?

Approaching my keyboard this morning, I was anticipating a lovely few hours revisiting repeat videos of our Holy Father's beautiful liturgies whilst in France. My idea was to check these against my original notes, for signs of Fr. Z's 'martial plan'. On La Croix and kto I found easy access to the homilies (videos and text transcripts) plus many 'elucidations' from the French bishops, but did not find videos of the actual liturgies in full until early this evening. They were hidden way back on the original itinerary for the visit, not exactly the first place you would look now the visit is over. Having found these full videos, I will conduct the original exercise as intended at some point in the future but this morning's frustration made me realise that I should highlight something else here that has worried me for the last ten days.

I have said elsewhere that I suspect kto and la Croix are in the bishops' pockets and plainly any proper discussion of the 'Summorum Pontificum' has been 'denoticed'. There has not been one occasion in the whole coverage, when a traditionalist has been invited to speak up for his/her position or give an interpretation of the said document. To allow that opportunity would have been to risk people's actually understanding Benedict's theology of the Eucharist and apostolic action. Nobody in the Catholic media appears to understand it or recognise it. And yet it was clearly demonstrable in everything our Holy Father did and said during the trip. There's none so blind as those who refuse to see, or have been told not to see.

It is the secular 'Le Figaro' that gives an objective coverage of all aspects of the visit, mentioning the Liturgy freely and openly as part of a complex picture. This the Catholic media have singularly failed to do.

More tomorrow, which unless nothing else intervenes, will probably be a comparison between the Figaro coverage, that of the weekly Le Pelerin, and an interview with Mgr 23 and editors of influential catholic newspapers. The latter makes my hair stand on end.

Before supper I had the misfortune of listening to my own bishop on kto announcing that all hankering for the old ways is mere nostalgia. Tradition has no value in the modern Christian way of following the message of Christ.

Courage a tous! Pray without ceasing.

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Spiritual Bouquets for Pope Benedict

FOR THE TIME BEING PLEASE POST YOUR PRAYER AND OR PENANCE OFFERINGS UNDER THE LATEST POST ON THE BLOG. I'LL PICK THEM ALL UP AT THE END OF EACH DAY.

I'M VERY ISOLATED HERE AND CAN'T GET TO MASS EVERY WEEK. HOWEVER MY OWN OFFERINGS FOR YESTERDAY WERE AS FOLLOWS: 1 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
1 ANGELUS SHARED WITH THE HOLY FATHER VIA KTO
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY SHARED WITH HOLY
FATHER VIA HIS LATIN ROSARY CDs
1 ATTENDANCE AT HIS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN LOURDES
VIA VIDEO
6 HOURS OF WORK ON THIS BLOG DEDICATED TO HIM

Horseradish Sauce for Fr. Z

Whilst working on text of first report on Liturgy during the recent papal visit, I came across Fr Z's enquiry about horseradish sauce recipes. SPECIALLY FOR YOU FATHER, here is a paragraph from one of my own published books, containing two recipes, one by chef Alexis Soyer and one by me:

"The root's savage assault on the tearducts when it is being grated can be counteracted by freezing beforehand or holding a thick piece of dry bread between the teeth. (Strong onion fumes may be similarly absorbed.) Alternatively, if your sinuses need clearing forget the bread. The nineteenth-century chef Alexis Soyer invented an awsome horseradish sauce recipe: " Universal Devil's Mixture". Apart from the grated fresh horseradish, the ingredients include, chilli vinegar, cayenne and black pepper, and chopped chillies. He suggests it be pressed into incisions made in the meat, which is then slowly broiled, and for the last few minutes as near as possible to the "pandemonium fire"! Perhaps a little much for all but the most intrepid. My own recipe is simpler and consists merely of fresh grated horseradish, mustard powder and single cream. It is nevertheless very hot, and those unused to it have to be warned."

To this I would add, never use vinegar which to my palate always leaves a lingering unpleasant aftertaste whatever one consumes in later courses; always use Colman's English mustard powder available in tins; mix to the consistency of a fairly stiff porridge, with amounts to personal taste. Don't insert into incisions in the meat but serve as a side sauce .

Father, if you don't grow horseradish on the Sabine Farm, put it on your wish list and I'll send you some roots, or thongs as they're called, together with a few tins of Colman's mustard powder.
I'll send growing instructions if necessary. The mustard may have to wait until I've been to UK in November.

Jane

The Buckingham Assembly

Sorry can't make it from France, but wish you all a good time and hope we may have another opportunity to meet on the occasion of the Latin Mass Society's annual High Mass for deceased members, usually in the second half of November. I'll be over for that and if nobody else organises anything, I will make every effort myself! Have a good time next Tuesday. The Buck Arms won't know what's hit it. Have you issued a warning?

All best,

In Christo pro Papa,

Jane

Pope Benedict in France

Assessment and aftermath report here tomorrow, beginning with considerations on Liturgy.

Spiritual Bouquet for His Holiness Benedict XVI

Details will appear here tomorrow.

Mark Miles of Rise and Pray

Please pray for Mark of 'Rise and Pray', who departs tomorrow for a fortnight's discernment retreat at FSSP Wigratzbad.

Mark, as our Holy Fathers John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, (now gloriously reigning) have constantly said, 'Be not afraid.'

In Christo pro Papa

Why another Tradcat. Blog?

ANSWER:

Because I am convinced there is room for a blog that will be in total support of our Holy Father Benedict, grounded in the continual prayer of its owner and readers. Thus it will be seen as following Benedict's own theology of prayer-grounded apostolic action. The blog itself is evidence of this and I hope it may lead to sensible, patient, diplomatic and fruitful networking (according to the model shown by the LMS of England and Wales) in furthering His Holiness' entire vision for the Church, which as I understand it has the Blessed Sacrament and worthy celebration of the liturgy at its heart. It is because the Church has lost this emphasis and banished her Lord to the side-chapels, literally and as a result spiritually, that people no longer understand what they are doing, or rather not doing. Benedict is leading us back to the Fountainhead. He is having a struggle, and not so much with the mass of the faithful, who during the recent trip to France, showed themselves very willing to hang on his every word and learn from him.

This rationale, on which I'm bound to elaborate in later posts, does not preclude constructive debate about his attitudes and actions, but it WILL preclude any intransigent bitterness or impatience on the part of those who declare themselves loyal to Traditionalism. It WILL most definitely preclude destructive criticism and/or downright detraction of His Holiness. This is no place for sedevacantists. There are plenty of other blogs/sites where their attitudes can be confronted. (All comments will be moderated according to the above principles.)

So, we start with prayer and this blog wants to foster and store up a treasury of prayer and penance for our Holy Father's well-being and for his intentions, as in the sense of a spiritual bouquet. This I will send to him by email and snail mail at the beginning of each month. (I will post further details of how this will work in the very near future.)

On these foundations I will base my blog. In the next post I will answer the question as to its title I chose to give it. In the meantime, for those not already familiar, may I recommend without reservation the blog of Fr Mark Kirby: Vultus Christi, for 'deep vein' spiritual sustenance and his article, 'The Sacred Heart in the Theology of Benedict XVI'. The latter is easily found by googling and it's probably somewhere in his blog archive. Also for those who don't already know, the video 'The Papacy of Reason ' is to be found at kto TV and as far as I'm concerned is essential viewing. So are the videos of all the Holy Father' homilies, meditations and speeches during the recent French visit. English translations are of course all over the www. But there's nothing like studying the expressions on Pope Benedict's face, and on those of the other dramatis personae. ...... For one thing, my gut feeling and certainly my prayer is that we may see a Cardinal Archbishop Perrier of Tarbes/Lourdes!

In Christo et pro Papa......

Apology, Patrons, Dedication

Apologies for the unadorend presentation of the blog. As I navigate it in the open Blog Ocean, I will no doubt learn the technology to beautify it. This blog is affiliated to the Pro Papa League Armada and sails under the subtitle: PPL Armada Corvette: ' In Christo Pro Papa BXVI'.

PATRON

The Blessed Virgin Mary 'Mother of Good Counsel' and 'Star of the Sea'

Patron Saints

St. Joseph

St. John the Evangelist

St. Benedict

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Boniface of Fulda

St. Corbianus

St. Peter Julian Eymard

DEDICATION

In Faith, Hope, Love and gratitude,

To our Most Holy Father Benedict XVI

Gloriously reigning at the helm of the Barque of Peter,

AD MULTOS ANNOS