On the 31st of March 1930, the United States of America instituted a Production Code imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in films for the next thirty eight years.
The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles" as follows:
[Taken from 'Wikipedia']
1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.
2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented.
3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.
Specific restrictions were spelled out as "Particular Applications" of these principles:
nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited.
The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or villains.
The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization."
Methods of crime (e.g. safe-craking, arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented.
References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and venereal disease were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth.
The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered to be offensive.
Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. "Revenge in modern times" was not to be justified.
The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing." Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive option.
Portrayals of miscegenation were forbidden.
"Scenes of Passion" were not to be introduced when not essential to the plot. "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser element."
The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be presented "fairly."
The treatment of "Vulgarity," defined as "low, disgusting, unpleasant, though not necessarily evil, subjects" must be "subject to the dictates of good taste." Capital punishment, "third-degree methods," cruelty to children and animals, prostitution and surgical operations were to be handled with similar sensitivity.
1930 to 1934: The start of the Hays Code
The advent of talking pictures in 1927 led to a perceived need for further enforcement. Martin Quigley, the publisher of a Chicago-based motion picture trade newspaper, began lobbying for a more extensive code that not only listed material that was inappropriate for the movies, but also contained a moral system that the movies could help to promote - specifically a system based on Catholic theology. He recruited Father Daniel Lord, a Jesuit priest and instructor at the Catholic St. Louis University, to write such a code and on March 31, 1930 the board of directors of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association adopted it formally. It has become known to posterity as the Hays Code.
[For the full original article, please click here]
Imagine such a code was still in place today? Let us pray that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her spouse St. Joseph, the power of Christ will put a stop to these modern, perverse, sensual, blasphemous movies and such a code as the 'Hays Code' may some day be reintroduced into society.
Monday March 30 2009 There have been some suggestions in recent weeks about Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth -- 60 years after Mr Costello's inter-party government stormed out of what was then the British Commonwealth, in 1949.
The Commonwealth is no longer called 'British', and republics -- such as India -- are now freely admitted; so certain Irish academics and notables (writing from the Department of History at University College, Cork, though not endorsed officially by UCC) have put forward the idea that it could be in Irish interests to be part of this international club once again.
Maybe: or maybe not. I cannot see it happening -- a national debate on the Commonwealth question might reopen too many old wounds. But there is one issue which has just arisen in which Ireland certainly should have a 'Commonwealth' voice.
That issue refers to Gordon Brown's constitutional proposal to remove the ban on Roman Catholics acceding to the British throne, or indeed, marrying anyone in line to the throne.
It is still part of the Act of Settlement of 1701 that "no British prince" may marry a Roman Catholic and keep his entitlement of succession. Any member of the British royal family who marries a papist must renounce his succession, as did Prince Michael of Kent -- his father was King George VI's younger brother -- when he married the Austrian Marie-Christine von Reibnitz in 1978.
More recently, Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, was received into the Catholic Church in 2001, and was obliged to renounce formally his succession entitlements to the throne. In 2006, he became the first member of the British Royal Family to be married at the Vatican.
As it happens, Nicholas's mother, Katharine, is also a Catholic convert; she has no claim to the throne, but she is, piquantly, a collateral descendent of Oliver Cromwell. (The duchess is also something of a royal drop-out: she does not do royal duties any more, prefers to be called 'Kate Kent' and teaches piano lessons in London's Notting Hill to disadvantaged children.)
By contrast, when Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, married the Irish-Canadian Autumn Kelly last year, she chose to renounce her Catholic faith and become an Anglican -- sparing her bridegroom the rigmarole of resigning from his entitlements as 11th in line to the throne.
Fair enough: individuals may choose whatever faith they wish to embrace. But it remains an awkward element of the British constitution that while a 'British prince' may marry a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Pantheist, an Animist, an Athiest or a worshipper of Wicca, the Witch-Goddess, Roman Catholics alone are still forbidden. Gordon Brown is anxious to update this aspect of the monarchy (and also to equalise succession as between genders, so that the first-born, be they male or female, succeeds.)
Some think that Gordon's political motive is that he needs to mend a few fences -- not to mention currying favour -- with his Labour base in Scotland, which has a strong Catholic element. He has lost ground with this constituency through various parliamentary measures such as approving legalisation of animal-human embryo hybrids, strongly condemned by the Scottish Catholic hierarchy.
Be that as it may, this religious matter is a constitutional question which does have a certain amount of relevance to Northern Ireland.
Republicans and strong nationalists in the North don't give a fig what the rules of the royal game are: to them (as to British republicans), the only progressive measure would be to abolish the monarchy altogether. However, this isn't going to happen any time soon, since the institution remains, on the whole, popular and is democratically supported. (And what would the celeb mags do without William and Harry?)
But there is a solid body of middle-of-the-road Northern Catholics who do care about this question. To them, the continuing, and unique, prohibition on Catholics marrying into the royal family is a 'symbolic' insult.
"I think the queen is a decent Christian woman," a Newry mother wrote to me. "But I do resent the fact that Catholics are still barred from marrying into the royal family, and being accepted properly. To me, it is a symbol of remaining bigotry."
In fact, it is a historically complex issue which has much to do with ensuring the dispossessed Stuarts would never make a claim to unseat the heirs of the House of Hanover. And Queen Elizabeth is the governor of the Church of England, which is thus "by law established": as things stand, the monarch must be an Anglican.
Still, ways can be found. The Dutch Royal House, a Lutheran monarchy, reached a perfectly sensible compromise when Crown Prince Willem-Alexander married an Argentine Catholic, Maxima Cerruti: each spouse could keep their own faith, but the children, to succeed to the monarchy, would be raised as Lutherans. The compromise has worked very harmoniously -- like all compromises, each side has had to give a little.
So, will the Dutch solution apply to the House of Windsor? Much depends on the Commonwealth, which has to be consulted on this issue. If the Commonwealth speaks with a strong voice, and makes workable recommendations, then these changes can be introduced.
What a pity Ireland's voice won't be among those consulted, especially since Ireland has a legitimate interest in expressing the views of the people of this island, which includes those Catholics who feel that the rules should be changed.
But since Ireland has excluded itself from the Commonwealth, there can be no input.
When you leave a club you may thereby assert your own independence from such networks. But you also lose empowerment in a sphere of influence which can touch your own national or cultural interest.
Below is an interesting article from Father Edward Black (Superior of the SSPX Australia) concerning the lifting of the excommunications and the current situation of the SSPX.
Many significant events have happened since I last wrote to you.
Father Jordie Stephens was ordained by Bishop de Galarreta at the seminary at Goulburn on 27th December and he has now been appointed to Sydney to begin his priestly apostolate by taking up the position formerly held by Father Christopher Curtis. The latter has been transferred to the seminary to teach there in place of Father Bourmaud who has gone to labour in the Lord’s vineyard in Kenya.
Father Anthony Esposito preached a retreat to the priests in January and was guest of honour, together with the new seminary rector, Father Vincente Griego, at our annual Australia Day Dinner at Rockdale. Father Emeric Baudot, the Bursar-General of the Society has just completed a visit to all of our major houses and other properties accompanied by Father Elias who has recently been appointed as District Bursar of Australia.The Rosary Crusade for the lifting of the putative excommunications of our four bishops was swift in its efficacy! The number of rosaries recited far exceeded the one million which Bishop Fellay requested; the total being 1,703,097 of which 39,465 were offered from Australia. The Crusade having ended on Christmas Day, the bishop personally took his Spiritual Bouquet to Rome on 17th January and the excommunications were lifted only a few days later by a decree of the Congregation of Bishops which was made public on the 25th January. This event, of course, is of singular importance to us. As Bishop Fellay wrote, “Throughout the whole world, Catholics attached to tradition will no longer be wrongfully stigmatized and condemned for having kept the faith of their fathers. Catholic tradition is no longer excommunicated.”
Furthermore, taken together with the Motu Proprio of 7th July 2007, which acknowledged that the Mass had never been abrogated it may represent a turning of the tide or change of direction in the disastrous policies of the last forty years which have brought the Church to ruin. Needless to say this perception is shared with those who approve of all that has happened during these years and this has resulted in an unprecedented attack by these people on the Pope himself. So seriously has he felt this that he has taken the most unusual step of writing, on 10th March, a public letter to all of the bishops of the world explaining his reasons for this action. Therefore, it is clear to all that Traditional Catholics no longer have the monopoly of being “against the Pope”!
All of these events are greatly encouraging and their significance cannot be underestimated. On the other hand however, it would be very mistaken to overestimate – or rather, misunderstand – what all of this means.
In a letter such as this it is impossible to examine all of the details, nuances and possible ramifications of a very complex situation. However, it must first and foremost be borne in mind that the Motu Proprio and the lifting of the excommunications, most welcome as they are, represent merely the fulfillment of the preliminary conditions requested by Bishop Fellay on behalf of the Society before we could begin with any degree of trust and confidence discussions about the canonical regularization of the Society. All of our troubles over the years have not been confined only to the question of the liturgy but also serious points of doctrine concerning certain documents of the Second Vatican Council and all of the negative consequences which have stemmed from them. These grave difficulties are yet to be resolved and until then the essential problems remain. Obviously, the Society has not taken its stand over all these years simply in order for us to have our comfortable little corner in the Church where we may be undisturbed in indulging our own religious sensibilities while abrogating the duties and responsibilities as members of the wider Church!
It may also be surprising to some that, as far as Church Law is concerned, the lifting of the excommunications does not have a major impact on the situation of the Society. Since the excommunications took place so long ago it is easy to forget that both Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society were suffering canonical penalties long before the excommunications were declared. As the Pope has pointed out in his letter to the Bishops mentioned above, these still remain in force.
The nature of the Church demands that all she teaches be believed by each of her members and that they acknowledge and obey the authority which Christ has placed over her. To reject any part of her teaching is heresy and a refusal to recognize the authority which she claims is schism. Note that simple disobedience to authority does not imply schism which is a refusal to acknowledge that the hierarchy actually possesses the power or authority which it claims. Heretics and schismatics are not members of the Church by the very nature of their situation so that no declaration of excommunication is necessary to be made against them.
Excommunication is sometimes, however, used as a penalty against members of the Church who are neither heretics nor schismatics but whom the Church feels the need to discipline for serious crimes by removing them from the body of the visible Church. In this case, a declaration of excommunication must be made by the competent authority and, of course, it may be lifted once the problem is resolved. It is inevitable that, as in all legal procedures, mistakes may be made and especially in cases where penalties are applied to persons who feel unable to obey because they perceive the commands of superiors to be contrary to the moral or divine law which is our own case.
Another canonical penalty which is known as suspension may be applied to priests and bishops. This forbids (or suspends) them from legally administering the Sacraments or celebrating Mass and they commit a grave sin if they do so. Note here that the sacramental power is not and cannot be taken away but only the authority to make use of the power. This, technically, is the situation of all of the bishops and priests of the Society and therefore the Vatican is not saying that it approves of our apostolate at the present time even although the putative excommunications of the bishops have been removed.
Obviously we have always considered the penalties against us to be unjust and the situation in the Church to be so grave that we are justified in continuing to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments in spite of the opprobrium which has been heaped upon us for doing so. What is now remarkable is that the Pope himself appears to be prepared to acknowledge that we have been acting in good faith. In a Press Release of 12th March Bishop Fellay stated:
“The priestly Society of St. Pius X assures Benedict XVI of its determination to enter into the doctrinal talks recognized as ‘requisite’ by the Decree of January 21st, with the desire to serve revealed Truth, which is the first act of charity to perform towards all men, Christians or non-Christians. It assures him of its prayers so that his faith fail not and that he may confirm his brethren. (cf. Luke 22:32)”
May our Resurrected Saviour grant you every grace and blessing this Easter.
A group under the title: 'NO TO BISHOP ARTHUR ROCHE IN WESTMINSTER' has been put together on facebook and Traditional Catholics in particular are being asked to join.
In an article by the 'Catholic Herald' dated 15/08/2008, it is quite clear that Bishop Arthur Roche, (who is said to be a 'likely' choice for Westminster) is against the Tridentine Mass and the Traditions of the Catholic Church.
Let us pray that this Bishop doesn't replace Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and that another more suitable candidate (in favour of the Tridentine Mass) will lead the Catholic Church in England and Wales and hopefully increase the use of the Extraordinary Form of Mass.
To view the article by the 'Catholic Herald' please click here.
To join the Facebook group opposing Bishop Arthur Roche in Westminster, please click here.
Many Catholics during this time of lent will refrain from watching TV, DVD, VHS etc in order to spiritually prepare themselves for the Holy Feast of Easter. However, I'm sure that during this period one exception could be made for the movie 'The Passion of the Christ'?
The movie (if you have not yet seen it) portrays the last twelve hours of Christ on earth, His sufferings and death on the Cross.
After watching this movie when it first came to the Cinema back in 2004, I can remember the tremendous feeling of love and appreciation which I experienced afterwards. I can honestly say that this movie completely strengthened my spiritual life and love for Jesus and Mary. The movie has also been said to have changed the lives of many other souls through its simple, yet powerful portrayal of Jesus and Mary.
This movie is a great way to prepare for Easter (especially when watched during Holy Week). It allows us to better meditate on the sufferings which Christ endured for the salvation of our souls. After watching this movie; meditating during the rosary, stations of the cross etc will become much easier and will also help you to appreciate the great love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wishing you all the best for the remaining two weeks of Lent!
Fabian
P.S. Today is 'Passion Sunday', therefore why not take this opportunity to watch a movie or read a book related to the passion and suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Below are some suggested materials which you might find useful in preparation for Holy Week:
John Skehan and Francis Guinan were accused in 2006 of skimming money from collection plates and bequests at their church in Delray Beach, Florida, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on real estate, travel, rare coins and girlfriends.
Skehan, 81, was sentenced Tuesday to 14 months in prison and seven years probation after pleading guilty in January to a charge of grand theft of over $100,000.
Guinan, 66, was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison after taking the case to trial and being found guilty of a lesser charge of theft under $100,000.
Many catholic priests have been criticized for committing various crimes ranging from misappropriation of funds to sexual abuse committed mostly on parishioners and church personnel.
Proof of the continuing and widespread abuse by many catholic priests is contained in a wikipedia report on compensation payout recorded up to 2007.
Huge settlement payouts include the 2007 settlement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California involving claims of over $600 million for abuses committed by the clergy.
In September 2003, The Archdiocese of Boston agreed to pay out $86 million to 552 victims. In 2005, Bishop Tod Brown of the Diocese of Orange apologized to 87 alleged victims of sexual abuse and announced a settlement of $100 million following two years of mediation.
There are thousands of cases involving catholic priests from around the world committing various forms of crimes, mostly sexual abuse and misappropriation of funds.
The Catholic Church hierarchy has been struggling in its effort to put order in the institution and in reviving its sagging popularity.
The Pope, bishops and in particular the Catholic priests need our prayers more than ever. Watch the video below for more information on the 'why' and 'how' questions concerning the Catholic Priesthood.
[Source: General Devotions - The New Roman Missal - Father Lasance]
My Queen! My Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession.
Indulgence 500 days; Plenary, under usual conditions if recited daily for one entire month. -S. C. Indulg., Aug. 5, 1851; S. Ap. Pen., Nov. 21, 1926.
The reason for the excommunications latae sententiae (automatic excommunication) of the four Bishops of the Society of St. Pius X in 1988 was a penalty laid down in the revised Code of Canon Law, Canon 1382, for directly participating in an episcopal consecration in the absence of a papal mandate.
However, as we know, the SSPX, several churchmen and canon lawyers affirm “that the consecration was not a schismatic act, on the basis that Lefebvre was merely consecrating auxiliary bishops rather than attempting to establish a parallel church.” We can therefore agree that the reasons for the excommunications of 1988 (whether illicit or not) were related to Canon 1382 and no other reason. This is a well known historical fact. However, according to the Jewish news agency Israel Today, Bishop Williamson “was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust”.
After reading an article on the website Israel Today entitled What Do Jews in Israel Think of Christians? (24/03/2009), the authors state that “Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust”. I immediately sent an email to the editor stating that the authors of the article had made an error concerning the excommunication of Bishop Williamson. Below is the email which I sent to the editor on (24/03/2009).
Dear Sir/Madam,
It has come to my attention that the authors of the article entitled: What Do Jews in Israel Think of Christians? have made a grave error concerning the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson.
The article states "Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust". This statement is untrue! Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 but not for denying the Holocaust, it was because of his unauthorised consecration as a bishop by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
This information is widely available on the internet and I am surprised that the editors of such a ‘prominent’ newspaper could make such a mistake. Perhaps it just goes to show that journalists/writers also make the same mistakes as the Pope when it comes to consulting the internet for information.
I trust the error will be rectified immediately?
Yours sincerely,
Fabian S
Today’s date is the 26th, I still haven’t received a reply from the editor and the errors within the article still haven’t been rectified. The reasons for this could be one of two. For example, the editor may not yet have read my email or is taking his time in replying and altering the article. Secondly, the authors of this article could have deliberately twisted the facts relating to the 1988 excommunications in order to dramatically defend the ‘Holocaust’ and condemn the actions of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
To read the short, yet rather misleading article, please follow: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=128&view=item&idx=1918
The Society of St Pius X has expressed an interest in purchasing St George's Church in Gorton, Manchester. However, because of the comments made by Bishop Williamson concerning the 'Holocaust', politicians and members of the local council are trying to prevent the Society from purchasing the building.
Liberal Democrat Gorton councillor Jackie Pearcey in objection to the church sale said: "Although the Pope is rehabilitating this group back into the Catholic Church, the fact remains that this sect promotes views on a whole range of issues which are unacceptable in the 21st century. She also went on to say "It is astonishing that the Church of England feels that this is an acceptable use for St George's Church."
If it be the will of God, please pray that the Society of St. Pius X will be able to purchase this church, as it will benefit a great number of souls and also be a more fitting place for Christ Our Lord.
Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 24, 2009 / 11:51 pm (CNA).- The Bishops’ Conference of Mexico has sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI offering prayers, solidarity and communion after receiving the Pontiff’s letter explaining the lifting of the excommunication of four Lefebvrist bishops.
In their letter, the bishops lament "with sadness and sorrow the unjust and disproportionate reactions to the gesture of mercy His Holiness has shown to these brothers of ours aimed at reconciliation."
They called Benedict XVI’s decision to send the letter "a courageous gesture that expresses his sincerity, honesty and frankness in his manner of acting as a Successor of Peter." It also conveys "his sensitivity and gentleness, which are the fruit of mature spirituality and wisdom (….), in understanding the different situations that are present in the life of the Church, in order to act with evangelical spirit and to explain with charity and truth the motives and reasons behind the decisions that are made."
For this reason, the bishops said, it is the perfect opportunity to express to the Holy Father, our fidelity and communion."
"We confirm our filial adherence to the Successor of the Apostle Peter, we appreciate the value of his Magisterium and we thank him for such an exemplary testimony by showing us the heart of a good shepherd," the bishops concluded.
St. Catherine of Sweden is the patron saint against abortion and miscarriages. She was born in 1331, the fourth of eight children, to Saint Bridget of Sweden and Ulf Gudmarsson.
At the age of seven, Catherine was sent to Risberg Convent to be educated. She desired to remain in the convent to pursue a religious vocation, but she was promised in marriage to the virtuous and pious German noble Eggard Lydersson von Kürnen, a lifelong invalid. At age 13, the two were united in the sacrament of matrimony. Although Catherine was very beautiful, she and Eggard took a mutual vow of perpetual chastity. They devoted themselves to a life of Christian perfection and active charity.
In 1348, Catherine's father died. With Eggard’s permission, Catherine joined her mother on various pilgrimages. During these pilgrimages, they visited the tombs of the martyrs the churches, and together practiced works of piety, caring for the poor and the sick. In 1349, Catherine traveled with her mother to Rome for the Jubilee; it was at this time that Eggard died. Following his death, Catherine turned down numerous marriage proposals.
When her mother died in 1373, she returned to Sweden, taking the mortal remains of Saint Bridget with her for burial. Catherine entered a monastery at Vadstena, where she lived a very austere life. For the last twenty-five years of her life, Catherine participated in the Sacrament of Confession daily to purify her soul. She died on March 24, 1381. At the time of her death, Catherine was the superior of the convent of Vadstena, founded by her mother; hence the name, Catherine Vastanensis, by which she is occasionally called. She was canonized in 1484 by Pope Innocent VIII.
St. Catherine wrote a devotional work entitled "Consolation of the Soul." In art, Saint Catherine is commonly depicted as an abbess with a female deer, which, according to legend, protected her from attacks on her chastity. She may also be shown (1) holding a lily; (2) dressing a poor man's wounds; or (3) as the Blessed Sacrament is brought to her after her death.
A prominent Danish theologian, who is part of a commission set up to modernize the Vatican and the papacy, says that Pope Benedict XVI is out of touch with reality.
Pope Benedict XVI is the wrong man for the job in what has become a complex society, according to a Danish theologian who is part of a commission seeking to modernize the papacy.
Pope Benedict XVI walks up the stairs as he leaves Angola on Monday, March 23."I have the greatest respect for Pope Benedict's intellectual capacity. Theologically he is well-founded -- he knows it all. But I don't think he is the right man for the job. He forgets life," says Professor Emeritus Peder Nørgaard-Højen in an interview with politiken.dk.
Ignoring Reality
Nørgaard-Højen, who has studied the Vatican and papacy for many years, has recently returned from meetings in an unusual Vatican commission composed of eight Catholics and eight Protestants. The commission is seeking to find ways to modernize the Vatican in an increasingly complex world.
"He ignores reality as it is. From a limited, theological point of view he is correct that the use of condoms goes contrary to the Catholic requirement of protecting life where it is found. But when he puts forward this sort of message on a continent where sexual practices mean that thousands of people die, it is clear to me that Pope Benedict has completely forgotten what kind of world it is that he exists in," says Nørgaard-Højen.
"I know the pope. He has visited us and he knows what we are working with," says Nørgaard-Højen, who sees a major risk that Pope Benedict will lead the Vatican astray.
African Mistake
"The mistake he made during the Africa visit shows that the pope scorns reality. He must learn that the world has become extremely complex. If he doesn't reach this understanding, things can go terribly wrong," he adds.
Asked whether the pope does not have advisers who can avoid this sort of mistake, Nørgaard-Højen says that he has a tendency not to listen. "His sharp intellect probably means that he is not particularly willing to listen to his advisers. His capacity also means that it is rather difficult for his advisers to contradict him," Nørgaard-Højen says.
The Danish theologian goes on to question the veracity of the Vatican newspaper.
Something to Think about
"We probably have to admit that the Vatican newspaper (Ed: l'Osservatore Romano) is just about as truthful as Pravda was during Soviet communism. The pope and his advisers are surrounded by a modern Italian reality, and the other Italian newspapers will react when he says something extreme," says Nørgaard-Højen, adding that the pope should learn from modern Italians.
"He could start by looking at how millions of young Italians and other southern Europeans have turned their backs on the Vatican. A result of this is a heavily reduced birth rate, which is catastrophically low for Italy. Young people couldn't care less about the pope's messages and live their own lives. That should give him something to think about," Nørgaard-Højen concludes.
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.
Italian priest Fr Vincenzo Federico has gone into the finance business, guaranteeing loans for people in difficulty as a result of the global economic crisis.
Ever since he guaranteed a loan of €10,000, or $13,500, to a family of four early this year, his mornings are filled with back to back appointments with churchgoers seeking similar help, the International Herald Tribune reports.
"These days I feel like a banker," Father Federico, 40, said by telephone from his parish in the village of Padula in southern Italy. "In 15 years of priesthood, I never thought that this is what I would wind up doing."
As Italy, the most indebted country in Europe, faces its worst recession since 1975, the Catholic Church is stepping in to help cash strapped Italians, who receive the lowest levels of unemployment assistance among the 30 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The smallest of Italy's 325 dioceses have earmarked a minimum of €15,000 to support bank loans for parishioners. The archdiocese of Milan, the largest Italian city after Rome, has created a €3.2 million fund, to which people may contribute over the internet.
Church officials are meeting in Rome this week at the Italian Bishops Conference to commit more cash, according to Andrea La Regina, head of social projects at Caritas.
"We are putting more money in the pot to meet the demand of families that, until a few months ago, wouldn't have dreamed to ask for help," Mr La Regina said. "The state is not doing what it should to cushion the effects of unemployment."
Caritas serves as the intermediary between parishes and Banca Etica, or Bank with Ethics, a lender started 10 years ago in Padua, west of Venice, by a group of nonprofit organisations.
To obtain credit, Catholics must first make their case to their parish priest, who presents the appeal to a three member council of the local branch of Caritas. If the charity decides with Banca Etica that there are grounds for a loan, the church acts as a guarantor.
"We examine case by case to ensure that people aren't too indebted," said Claudio Gasponi, who screens loan requests at the bank. About a third of applicants receive funds, he said.
The current interest rate is 3 percent a year. That compares with rates of 8.9 percent to 9.3 percent for personal loans from Intesa Sanpaolo, one of the biggest Italian banks.
Mar 22 2009 By Derek Alexander (taken from Sunday Mail)
SCOTLAND'S Catholic schools barred pupils from raising cash for Comic Relief - because it backs contraception in Africa.
Heads were told to put off children joining the Red Nose charity's fun day because some of its work goes against church teachings.
The revelation came days after Pope Benedict XVI provoked a barrage of criticism for claiming condoms "aggravate" Africa's AIDS and HIV epidemic. Michael McGrath, the head of Catholic education in Scotland, said: "The church hasn't issued any policy on Comic Relief.
"But schools know they would not be encouraged to contribute funding in case they were promoting activities contrary to our beliefs. Comic Relief encourages Catholic schools to get involved in a way they feel comfortable with."
The BBC's Comic Relief telethon nine days ago raised more than s59million for good causes at home and abroad.
But earlier this month headteacher Jacqueline Sexton, of the private Fernhill Catholic girls' school in Rutherglen, Glasgow, was criticised by a staff member for letting kids wear red noses on March 13 - Red Nose Day.
Insiders say a teacher threatened to report her to the Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine. A source said: "She perhaps misjudged the depth of feeling."
Last night Mrs Sexton said: "We had some girls wear red noses but didn't raise funds. This is a very happy school and there is no problem."
Comic Relief said: "The Bishops' Conference confirmed they were confident Catholics may support our fundraising initiatives. The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund is our biggest partner agency in Scotland."
Born at Rome, 10 September, 1487; died there, 23 March, 1555. He was the son of a famous Roman jurist, studied jurisprudence at Perugia and Siena, and theology under the Dominican, Ambrosius Catharinus. In 1512 he succeeded his uncle Antonio del Monte as Archbishop of Siponto (Manfredonia), and in 1520 as Bishop of Pavia, retaining, however, the administration of Siponto. Later he became vice-legate of Perugia, and under Clement VII was twice appointed prefect of Rome. After the Sack of Rome (1527) he was one of the hostages given by Clement VII to the Imperialists, and would have been killed by the imperial Landsknechte in the Campo di Fiori, had he not been secretly liberated by Cardinal Pompio Colonna. In 1534 he became legate of Bologna, the Romagna, Parma, and Piacenza. Pope Paul III created him Cardinal-Priest of SS. Vitalis, Gervasius, and Protasius on 22 December, 1536, and raised him to the dignity of cardinal-bishop with the Diocese of Palestrina on 5 October, 1543. As early as 1542 he had been entrusted with work preparatory to the convocation of the Council of Trent, and in a consistory held on 6 February, 1545, he was appointed first president of the council. In this capacity he opened the council at Trent on 13 December with a short oration (cf. Ehses, "Concilium Tridentinum", IV, Freiburg im Br., 1904, p. 516). At the council he represented the papal interests against Emperor Charles V, with whom he came in conflict on various occasions, especially when on 26 March, 1547, he transferred the Council to Bologna.
After the death of Paul III on 10 November, 1549, the forty-eight cardinals present in Rome entered the conclave on 29 November. They were divided into three factions: the Imperials, the French, and the adherents of Farnese. The friends of Farnese united with the Imperial party and proposed Reginald Pole and Juan de Toledo as their candidates. The French party rejected both and, though in the minority, they were strong enough to prevent the election of either candidate. The adherents of Farnese and the French party finally reached a compromise and agreed upon Cardinal del Monte, who was duly elected on 7 February, 1550, after a conclave of ten weeks, although the emperor had expressly excluded him from the list of candidates. The new pope took the name of Julius III. In fulfilment of promises made in the conclave, Julius restored Parma to Ottavio Farnese a few days after his accession. But, when Farnese applied to France for aid against the emperor, Julius allied himself with the emperor, declared Farnese deprived of his fief, and sent troops under the command of his nephew Giambattista del Monte to co-operate with Duke Gonzaga of Milan in the capture of Parma. In a Bull, dated 13 November, 1550, Julius transferred the council from Bologna back to Trent, and ordered that its sessions be resumed on 1 May, 1551, but he was compelled to suspend it again on 15 April, 1552, because the French bishops would take no part in it, and, to escape his enemies, the emperor had to flee from Innsbruck. The success of the French arms in Northern Italy also compelled Julius on 29 April, 1552, to make a truce with France, in which it was stipulated that Farnese was to remain in the peaceful possession of Parma for two years.
Discouraged at his failure as an ally of Charles V, the pope henceforth abstained from interfering in the political affairs of Italy. He withdrew to his luxurious palace, the Villa Giulia, which he had erected at the Porta del Popolo. Here he spent most of his time in ease and comfort, occasionally making a weak effort at reform in the Church by instituting a few committees of cardinals for reformatory purposes. He was a liberal supporter of the rising Jesuit Order, and at the instance of St. Ignatius issued the Bull of foundation for the Collegium Germanicum on 31 August, 1552, and granted it an annual subsidy. During his pontificate the Catholic religion was temporarily restored in England by Queen Mary, who succeeded Edward VI on the English throne in 1553. Julius sent Cardinal Reginald Pole as legate to England with extensive faculties to be used at his discretion in the interests of the Catholic restoration. In February, 1555, an embassy was sent by the English Parliament to Julius III to inform him of its unreserved submission to the papal supremacy, but the embassy was still on its journey when the pope died. Shortly before his death Julius III sent Cardinal Morone to represent the Catholic interest at the Religious Peace of Augsburg. At the beginning of his pontificate Julius III had the earnest desire to bring about a reform in the Church and with this intent he reopened the Council of Trent. That the council was again suspended was due to the force of circumstances. His inactivity during the last three years of his pontificate may have been caused by the frequent and severe attacks of the gout to which he was subject. The great blemish in his pontificate was nepotism. Shortly after his accession he bestowed the purple on his unworthy favourite Innocenzo del Monte, a youth of seventeen whom he had picked up on the streets of Parma some years previously, and who had been adopted by the pope's brother, Balduino. This act gave rise to some very disagreeable rumours concerning the pope's relation to Innocenzo. Julius was also extremely lavish in bestowing ecclesiastical dignities and benefices upon his relatives.
Sources
MASSARELLI, De Pontificatu Julii II diarium, edited by DÖLLINGER in Ungedruckte Berichte und Tagebücher zur Gesch. des Konzils von Trient, I, i (Nördlingen, 1876), 259-326; PASTOR, Gesch. der Päpste seit dem Ausgang des Mittelalters, V (Freiburg, 1909), passim; DE LAVA, La Guerra di Papa Giulio III contra Ottavio Farnese in Rivista storica Italiana (Turin, 1884), 632 sq.; IDEM, L'elezione de Papa Giulio III, ibid., 32 sq.; CIACONIUS, Vitœ et res gestœ Pontificum Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalium, III (Rome, 1677), 741-98; CARDELLA, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della s. romana chiesa, IV (Rome, 1792), 397-401; RANKE, Die römischen Päpste (Leipzig, 1889), 177 sq., tr. FOSTER, History of the Popes, I (London, 1906), 206-11. See also bibliography under COUNCIL OF TRENT.
Thirty year old Sr Bernadette who turned her back on the law and partying with friends is Australia's newest and youngest religious superior general of the newly formed Missionaries of the Gospel.
Seven years ago, the promising young lawyer gave up her party lifestyle and plans for a career, sports car and a family for a more radical lifestyle as a Catholic sister, The West Australian reports.
Sr Bernadette, who is also founder of the new congregation, admits with a laugh that being the spiritual mother for her two fellow sisters, both in their 20s, is a role she is still growing into.
"I think I am experiencing the same anxiety any new mother goes through. We have completely different personalities and different cultures, so our community life presents great struggles and great joys as well," she said.
The order is one of only a handful of Australian orders established since Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866.
"I was like many other young people. I had a good job, I drank and partied a lot, but at the end of the day I still felt an emptiness that no boyfriend and no number of Wild Turkeys could fill," she said.
"I did a full 180. I really wanted to do law, I was deadset on being married, but once I started falling in love with the Lord I realised He was calling me to do something different."
Unlike many orders, the sisters chose to don (adopt) the traditional habit and take new names when they made their vows. Their vows of poverty mean the order receives no income from the Catholic Church, requiring them to rely on donations of food, goods and money to meet their simple needs.
Traditionalists confront members of the PCF (Particommunistefrançais - French Communist Party) and the Greens (Les Verts - Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France) who were distributing condoms to denounce the words of Pope Benedict XVI. Eleven people have been arrested.
Serious clashes took place this afternoon (22/03/2009) outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, between left-wing activists and extreme right-wing activists [sic: Traditional Catholics]. One person has been slightly injured and police have taken three people for questioning.
Traditional Catholics confronted members of the Communist Party of France and the Greens who wanted to distribute condoms in front of the cathedral so as to denounce the words of Pope Benedict XVI.
A journalist from France Info saw a young man hit an activist in the face. The police intervened between the two groups and evacuated the area. The front of Notre Dame was still closed to the public at 13:30.
(Based on Google Translation) To read the remainder of this article in French, please visit: http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/societe/20090322.OBS0027/altercation_entre_communistes_et_catholiques_sur_le_par.html
PARIS - According to an Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche, 43% percent of French Catholics desire the departure of Pope Benedict XVI who has been widely criticized after his recent statements about condoms. If 54% want him to remain in the Vatican, 83% of the Catholics of France believe that the Church must change its discourse and its positions on abortion to reflect changes in society.
According to the survey which is to be published on Sunday, they also want the Church to change its discourse and its positions on homosexuality (69%), remarriage for the divorced (77%), and contraception (85%).
The survey was conducted from March 19 to 20 among a sample of 620 Catholics representative of the French population aged 18 and over, following the remarks of the pope.
The first CSA poll for Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui published on Saturday showed that the image of the pope had deteriorated significantly in France, including among Catholics.
According to this study, 23% of the French say they have a good opinion of Benedict XVI while that figure was 53% in September. There are now 57% who have a poor opinion of him in contrast to 25% six months ago.
Among Catholics, 29% of those responding say they have a good image of the pope compared to 65% in September. 55% expressed a negative opinion compared to 19% six months ago.
The declining image of the pope is also confirmed by Catholics who practice regularly of which only 52% (compared to 86% in September) have a good opinion of him.
The CSA poll was conducted by telephone on March 18 and 19 from a sample of 1012 people representative of the French population.
France Wednesday expressed "its profound concern" ("sa très vive inquietude") in the wake the of the pope’s comments.
"These words are regressive and we are very concerned about these statements which call into question the spirit and the struggle of several decades" against AIDS, said Rama Yade, Secretary of State responsible for human rights.
In response to the debate concerning a new leader for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, I encourage you to pray for a good, conservative (truly Catholic) leader, particularly one in favour of the Latin Mass and the Society of St. Pius X.
Below is an interesting article from the Times in which the prospect of the Pope imposing his own man as English Catholic leader is discussed:
The Pope has been forced to intervene in a damaging power struggle over who will become the next spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Pope Benedict XVI will decide next week who should succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Archbishop of Westminster. It is possible that he will shun all five candidates vying for the post and impose a Vatican diplomat instead.
The highly unusual move is the result of his advisers’ failure to reach a consensus on the best candidate.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales is riven by splits and opponents of at least two of the candidates have lobbied the Vatican in an attempt to sabotage the candidates’ hopes.
Some senior insiders say that the Church is in crisis and the wrong choice of Archbishop could cause it severe damage. The need for decision is urgent as Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor is retiring soon and next week begins a series of farewell Masses to congregations around his diocese.
The five candidates to succeed him are the Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols; the Archbishop of Cardiff, Peter Smith; the Bishop of Nottingham, Malcolm McMahon; the Bishop of Leeds, Arthur Roche; and Bishop Bernard Longley, an auxiliary in the Westminster diocese.
If the Pope, who is currently touring Africa, decides that none the men meets the criteria, he may chose a relative unknown for the post.
The Times has learnt that the most likely candidate in that event is Archbishop Paul Gallagher, a Vatican diplomat and priest in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
The Pope has previously appointed Vatican diplomats to dioceses in the United States after his advisers were unable to agree on one of the original candidates.
Last month Archbishop Gallagher was appointed Nuncio in Guatemala, before which he was Nuncio in Burundi. He is known for his skilled diplomacy and courage. Last April his diplomatic residence in Burundi was bombed. He was out of the country at the time but the attack did not stop him returning to his post.
However, the Vatican may wish to keep his talent in the diplomatic service and in a part of the world where the Church is growing fastest.
The lobbying for and against the official candidates has been fierce. One bishop has written to the Nuncio to argue against Archbishop Nichols, saying that he would be a divisive choice, while it is understood that the Pope has taken telephone calls from opponents of Bishop Roche, with several lobbyists claiming that Bishop Roche would be as divisive a figure as Archbishop Nichols.
Bishop Roche emerged as one of the strongest contenders after Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor visited Rome and lobbied hard on his behalf.
He is a conservative pastor who has done his best to reorganise his diocese to cope with declining Catholic populations in Bradford and Leeds, but he has left some parishioners upset by church closures.
He had been ruled out of the running initially and was not even on the first terna, or list of names, because he had been earmarked for a senior post in liturgy at the Congregation for Divine Worship at the Holy See.
However, his appointment to the congregation has been put on hold and the post he was supposed to have taken left open, so that he will be free to succeed Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor if the Pope chooses him.
Bishop McMahon, a conservative also supported by Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, had been a favourite until his chances were damaged by reports of his backing for married clergy.
Bishop Longley is being touted by bloggers in Rome as the current favourite. Archbishop Smith, who chairs the Catholic Truth Society and is an expert on the media, is another candidate from the conservative wing. He was ruled out by a majority on the Congregation for Bishops, whose job is to chose new archbishops, but his name is still going forward because it was on the original list.
The last time the Roman Catholic Church in England in Wales was thrown into such a crisis was when the Archdiocese of Westminster became vacant in 1976. The favourite, Derek Worlock, lost out to Cardinal Basil Hume after opponents lobbied hard against his appointment. Cardinal Hume was not an obvious choice for Archbishop as he had no experience running a diocese. He was also the first monk to hold the post since the restoration of the English hierarchy in 1850.
The confusion has even affected the normally suave demeanour of Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor himself. At the consecration yesterday of Bishop Canon Seamus Cunningham as new Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Cardinal began his concluding remarks with the phrase: “When I became Archbishop of Canterbury . . .”
In the race
Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham. The 63-year-old from Liverpool, served as an auxiliary in Westminster before moving to Birmingham. He impressed Rome by successfully challenging the Government’s plans to introduce quotas for faith schools. He is diligent and regarded as ambitious
Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds. The 59-year-old from Batley, West Yorkshire, was destined for a top liturgy post in the Vatican until the appointment was put on ice after the present Archbishop of Westminster lobbied hard on his behalf. He is loved by many but also has some well-placed opponents
Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff. The 65-year-old from Battersea, South London, is a chain-smoker whose affability disguises a steely intellect. He was once a conservative and now seems to have upset some conservatives in South Wales. He had the backing of some in Rome and Westminster, but it was not enough to get the majority he needed at the Congregation for Bishops
Bernard Longley, auxiliary bishop in Westminster. The 53-year-old from Manchester is an unusual candidate in that he appears to have no enemies. The main mark against him is his lack of experience as a diocesan and that he is simply too nice. He is urbane, conservative and popular on the dinner party circuit
Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham. The 59-year-old serves as an auxiliary to the Cardinal in the Westminster diocese. He is left-leaning and seemed a certainty until reports appeared in a national newspaper showing that he had supported married priests. Even so, the bookmaker Paddy Power suspended its Westminster stakes last month after a rush of bets Paul Gallagher, Apostolic Nuncio in Guatemala. The dark horse of the race is a bright Vatican diplomat. He has all the skills urgently needed in an archdiocese desperate for gentle but strong leadership. He is not on the list of candidates and has not been considered by the Congregation for Bishops, but is well known in senior circles in the Holy See. His appointment could depend on whether the Pope believes his talents would serve the Church best in Westminster or in Latin America
Bless me, O dearly beloved Father, St. Joseph; bless my body and my soul; bless my resolutions, my words and deeds, all my actions and omissions, my every step; bless all that I possess, all my interior and exterior goods, that all may redound to the greater honor of God. Bless me for time and eternity, and preserve me from every sin.
Obtain for me the grace to make atonement for all my sins by love and contrition here on earth, so that after my last breath I may, without delay, prostrate at your feet, return thee thanks in Heaven for all the love and goodness thou, O dearest father, hast shown me here below. Amen.
Now pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father three times, in thanksgiving to God for the graces and prerogatives bestowed on St. Joseph.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI declared a year of the priest in an effort to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests.
The pope will open the special year with a vespers service at the Vatican June 19 -- the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day for the sanctification of priests. He will close the celebrations during a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter's Square June 19, 2010.
The pope made the announcement during an audience March 16 with members of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy.
He met with some 70 participants of the congregation's March 16-18 plenary assembly, which focused on the missionary identity of the priest and his mission to sanctify, teach and govern.
During this jubilee year, the pope will also proclaim St. John Vianney to be patron saint of all the world's priests. At present he is considered the patron saint of parish priests.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of this 19th-century saint who represents a "true example of a priest at the service of the flock of Christ," the pope said.
St. John Vianney is widely known to Catholics as the Cure (parish priest) of Ars who won over the hearts of his villagers in France by visiting with them, teaching them about God and reconciling people to the Lord in the confessional.
In his address, Pope Benedict said the priestly ministry consists of total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating "in a spiritually intense new life and a new lifestyle which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the apostles made their own."
Priestly ordination creates new men who are bestowed with the gift and office of sanctifying, teaching and governing, he said.
The pope underlined the necessary and "indispensable struggle for moral perfection which must dwell in every authentically priestly heart."
The pope said he was calling for the special year for priests in an effort to foster the priest's yearning "for spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of their ministry principally depends."
"The awareness of the radical social changes over the past decades must stir the best ecclesial energies to look after the formation of priestly candidates," the pope said.
This means great care must be taken to ensure permanent and consistent doctrinal and spiritual formation for seminarians and priests, he said, specifying the importance of passing down, especially to younger generations, "a correct reading of the texts of the Second Vatican Council, interpreted in the light of all the church's doctrinal heritage."
Priests must also be "present, identifiable and recognizable -- for their judgment of faith, their personal virtues and their attire -- in the fields of culture and charity which have always been at the heart of the church's mission," he said.
"The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of ordained ministry," he said, adding that, without priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no church.
Therefore, he said, it is crucial to make sure that new bodies or pastoral organizations are not set up "for a time in which one might have to 'dispense with' ordained ministry based on an erroneous interpretation of the rightful promotion of the laity."
"This would lay the foundations for further diluting the priestly ministry, and any supposed 'solutions' would dramatically coincide with the real causes of the problems currently connected with the ministry," he said.
Louise de Marillac was born probably at Ferrieres-en-Brie near Meux, France, on August 12, 1591. She was educated by the Dominican nuns at Poissy. She desired to become a nun but on the advice of her confessor, she married Antony LeGras, an official in the Queen's service, in 1613. After Antony's death in 1625, she met St. Vincent de Paul, who became her spiritual adviser. She devoted the rest of her life to working with him. She helped direct his Ladies of Charity in their work of caring for the sick, the poor, and the neglected. In 1633 she set up a training center, of which she was Directress in her own home, for candidates seeking to help in her work. This was the beginning of the Sisters (or Daughters, as Vincent preferred) of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (though it was not formally approved until 1655). She took her vows in 1634 and attracted great numbers of candidates. She wrote a rule for the community, and in 1642, Vincent allowed four of the members to take vows. Formal approval placed the community under Vincent and his Congregation of the Missions, with Louise as Superior. She traveled all over France establishing her Sisters in hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions. By the time of her death in Paris on March 15, the Congregation had more than forty houses in France. Since then they have spread all over the world. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934, and was declared Patroness of Social Workers by Pope John XXIII in 1960. Her feast day is March 15th.
O God, the lover and the reward of charity, Who didst raise up a new Sisterhood in Thy Church and didst will that blessed Louise should be its mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that by doing works of charity we may be found worthy to receive the reward Thou hast promised. Through our Lord.
Let us never forget the power of Satan in this world! Below is a link to a video of a real exorcism preformed on a young Italian girl in Italy where Satanism and diabolical possession is ever increasing. After watching the video, I recommend reading the summaries which I've posted under the link. These summaries are of the books "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and "The Exorcist - More Stories" written by the well known Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth explaining why and how people become possessed.
Please note that the exorcist priest in this video is Father Alfredo Pallotta, not Father Amorth. However, I will place a video of Fr Amorth explaining diabolical possession, exorcisms etc towards the end of this post. Please also note that this video can be quite disturbing to those of you who may be sensitive or nervous. Your discretion is therefore advised! To view the video please follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1KhlC9DrqE
WHAT IS POSSESSION?
Possession is when Satan enters and takes over the physical and mental capabilities of a victim, however, the soul and will remains free. Satan acts through the victim without the victim's consent, thus the victim is morally blameless. Satan does not act alone when he possesses an individual. He works side by side with many evil spirits such as spirits of lust, hate, destruction, suicide, revenge, anger, anxiety, desperation, death, torment, etc. Such an example is found in Luke 8:30 the case of the possessed man in the territory of the Gerasenes: "Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Legion," because many demons had entered him ".
Satan's army of evil, torment many unknowing lost souls to the point of destruction of others and of themselves. Today a more favorable climate exists for cases of possession and obsession then ever before. Our world has become a playground of pornography, sex, money, material possessions, drugs, and alcohol. There are so many instruments to spread these Satanic messages such as television, Internet, radio, music, and even the clothing we wear; thus our children are exposed to a multitude of temptations and are wide open to evil. The "predominant" Gods of of this age we live in include money, television, music, and sex. Unfortunately, the "cure"-exorcism, is considered an "ancient" ritual and is snubbed by most religious leaving many victims to suffer indescribable torments, and in some instances, even suicide.
SIGNS OF POSSESSION (from the Roman Ritual of Exorcism)
The following are symptoms of possession as represented in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism. In most cases, a victim will have one or more of the traits listed.
Victim speaks or understands unknown languages without ever studying the language being spoken or heard
Victim clearly knows things that are distant or hidden
Victim can predict future events (sometimes through dreams)
Victim has an intense hatred for holy things
Victim shows a physical strength far above his age or normal condition
The Extraordinary Activities of Satan Defined - The following is taken from Fr. Gabriele Amorth's second book "An Exorcist More Stories." Fr. Amorth's book is published by IGNATIUS released in 2002. The boundaries between one category and another are not clear-cut, because there is a lot of mingling and compounding of symptoms.
Diabolic Possession - is the gravest form of demonic activity, which allows a continuing presence of a demon in a human body. The evil symptoms do not have to be continuous but can alternate between periods of crisis and periods of rest. Possession implies intervals of temporary suspension of mental, intellectual, affective, and volitive faculties. Symptoms can include the knowledge of languages unknown to the victim, superhuman strength, and the ability to know the occult or someone else's thoughts. Typically, there is an aversion to anything sacred, often in conjunction with blasphemy. There are also frauds who pose as demoniac; therefore, we need to be extremely wary.
Diabolic Oppression - is a ransom discomfort. We must remember that symptoms and gravity differ greatly case by case. This oppression can strike health, job, affections, relationship with others, and so on. Its symptoms include unexplainable rages and a tendency to complete isolation. Oppression can affect both individual and groups (even very large groups).
Diabolic Obsession- causes an almost split personality. Our will remains free, but it is oppressed by obsessive thoughts. The victim experiences thoughts that may be rationally absurd but of such a nature that he is unable to free himself. The obsessed person lives in a perpetual state of prostration, with persistent temptations to suicide. We must be aware that the temptation to commit suicide is also present in diabolic possession and diabolic oppression.
Diabolic Infestation - In this case, the malefic activity is directed toward places (houses, offices, stores, fields), objects (cars, pillows, mattresses, dolls) and animals, therefore it only indirectly affects man. Origen tells us that the early Christians resorted to exorcisms in these situations.
Diabolic Subjugation - The term indicates a voluntary pact--implicit or explicit---with Satan, by which we submit to the lordship of the demon. There are also involuntary times with the evil one; these cases fall into the preceding categories, especially the most severe: possession.
HOW DOES ONE BECOME POSSESSED?
Below, Fr. Amorth explains that there are four principal causes that may cause one to fall victim to these evils.
Pure Divine Permission Clearly, nothing happens without divine permission, but God never wills evil, suffering, or temptation. He gave us freedom and allows the existence of evil, but knows how to turn it into good. When he gives the demon his permission to torment us, he does so to strengthen us in virtue, as in the biblical example of Job, as well as of many blesseds and saints. We must keep in mind that diabolical harassment in itself has nothing to do with the state of grace of its victims.
Subject to a Curse Here, too, the victim is innocent, but there is culpability on the part of whoever casts and/or commissions the curse. By the word curse, I mean the intention of harming others through demonic intervention. This can be achieved in many ways: malefice (or spell), binding, evil eye, malediction, and so on. The matter is serious, but we need to be on guard against misconceptions. By their nature, curses lend themselves to all sorts of abuses, especially when we consider the current escalation in the number of frauds, suggestions, manias, and more.
Grave Hardening of Sin Judas Iscariot is the classical Gospel example. The many individuals who abandon themselves to sexual perversions, violence, and drugs fall into this group. The heinous crime of abortion aggravates this situation; its terrible repercussions are clearly seen during exorcisms, because to liberate a victim who is guilty of abortion usually requires a very long period of time. Due to the current devastation of the family and the laxity of morals, the repercussions that stem from the scourge of abortion are much more common than in the past. When we take all these factors into account, we can understand why the number of individuals stricken by evil ailments has multiplied.
Proximity to Evil Places or Persons This includes attending spiritualistic session, dabbling in magic, or consulting magicians, witch doctors, and some card readers; also, practicing the occult, belonging to satanic sects, or practicing in rites that climax with black masses, and so on, put us at great risk.
To this category we can add the influence of mass media, such as pornographic shows and violent horror movies broadcast by many TV stations. We witness the effects of the widespread presence of rock music, culminating in satanic rock performed in what we could easily refer to as "churches or rock", such as stadiums, parks, and discothèques. We should not be surprised that, today, there is an explosion of these activities: a decline in faith life is directly connected to an increase in superstitions. I will not tire or repeating that members of the clergy have done nothing to oppose, or at least warn against, all these evils, because they are completely ignorant even of what the Bible explicitly says on the subject. This forth category has greatly contributed to the increase in evil ailments in the last decades, especially among the young. Taken from (An Exorcist More Stories by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, published by IGNATIUS PRESS can be purchased at Amazon.com).
WHO CAN PERFORM AN EXORCISM?
In the early church (according the Early Church Fathers) the casting out of demons was widely accepted and exorcism could be performed by anyone. Why then has this practice changed? It has been found that in severe cases if the one who is casting out the demons is not experienced or grounded in faith and does not have sufficient spiritual protection it can be harmful for both the victim and the so called exorcist. We find in Matthew 17:20-21 a case in which the apostles could not cast out a demon from the epileptic demoniac. Jesus rebuked them for not being prepared and told them only through prayer and fasting could this demon be cast out.
Before Vatican II the exorcism prayer was part of the Baptismal rite. Why? In the days of the early church there were many pagans coming into the church. Part of the long preparation for these pagans coming into the church was exorcism on Holy Saturday before Easter.
Around the third century, Pope Cornelius was the first to make the exorcist a minor order (See on Internet about this). He announced that an exorcist could be a priest, deacon or in the subdiaconate. The minor order of exorcism has since been dropped by Pope Paul VI in 1972. He did not believe there was a need and it was obsolete.
From the Commentary of the Code of Canon Law
Canon 1172 - (1) No one can perform exorcisms legitimately upon the possessed unless he has obtained special express permission from the local ordinary. (2) The local ordinary is to give this permission only to a presbyter who has piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life.
An exorcism is a sacramental by which "the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion. The canon pertains to solemn exorcisms observing the Rite of Exorcism of the Roman Ritual, not to the simply exorcism that are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or the baptism of infants.
One of the praenotanda to the 1998 Rite of Exorcism (n13) has completely reordered this canon. There are significant differences between the new law and the canon.
An exorcist is to be a priest (sacerdos) not a presbyter (presbyterus) as in the canon, which means bishops as well as presbyters may be appointed exorcists.
The priest must have specific preparation for this office.
"For the most part" (plerumque), the local ordinary who appoints the exorcist should be the diocesan bishop, which implies that the vicar general and episcopal vicar should not do it without a special mandate, except in a case of need when the bishop cannot be reached.
The exorcist, whether appointed to the stable office of exorcist or ad actum, is to fulfill this ministry under the direction of the diocesan bishop.
(Taken from stmichael.pair.com for the original article please follow link: http://www.stmichael.pair.com/index.htm)
Here is a video of the exorcist priest Fr Amorth explaining the rite of exorcism and diabolic possession.
The Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X Bishop Bernard Fellay has issued a statement in response to Pope Benedict's letter regarding the SSPX. Below is the statement which was released yesterday (12/03/2009) :
Press Release from the Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X
Pope Benedict XVI addressed a letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church, dated March 10, 2009, in which he makes known to them the motives which guided the important step of the January 21, 2009 Decree.
After the “avalanche of protests unleashed” recently, we wholeheartedly thank the Holy Father for having placed the debate back on the level on which it must be held, that of the Faith. We fully share his main concern of preaching the Gospel “in our days, when in vast areas of the world the faith is in danger of dying out like a flame which no longer has fuel.”
Indeed the Church is going through a major crisis which can be resolved only by an integral return to the purity of the Faith. With Saint Athanasius, we profess that “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.” (Athanasian Creed)
The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X assures Benedict XVI of its determination to enter into the doctrinal talks recognized as “requisite” by the Decree of January 21, with the desire to serve revealed Truth, which is the first act of charity to perform towards all men, Christians or non-Christians. It assures him of its prayers so that his faith fail not and that he may confirm his brethren. (cf. Luke 22:32)
We place these doctrinal talks under the protection of Our Lady of All Confidence, with the assurance that she will obtain for us the grace to hand down faithfully what we have received, “tradidi quod et accepi.” (I Cor.15:3)
Last Thursday evening (05/03/2009) Father Marc Gensbittel, prior of the Society of St. Pius X church in Rheinhausen, Gemany appeared on TV Südbaden to discuss the Second Vatican Council.
A few weeks prior to this TV show, Father Matthias Gaudron, also of the Society St. Pius X appeared on another German TV show with Johannes B. Kerner to discuss the current situation surrounding remarks made by Bishop Williamson and also the current status of the Society.
For those of you who can speak German, here is the link to the TV Südbaden show with Father Marc Gensbittel which was aired on Thursday evening (interesting discussion but I'm afraid the program has been significantly shortened).
In the most recent 2009 March/April newsletter of SSPX Britain, Fr Paul Morgan (above, left)informs us of the prospect of a new permanent priest and priory for SSPX Scotland. The news comes after Bishop Fellay (above, right) (Superior General of the Society St. Pius X) gave his permission for a priory and new priest for Scotland. The Society hopes to have the new priest and priory in place as early as August 2009, however Fr Morgan reminds us that in order for these events to take place, we must first pray: “…pray earnestly that this important development come to fruition…the devil always seeks to create unrest whenever plans are made for the greater glory of God and for the sanctification and salvation of souls”.1
Saint David's Chapel, Wales
The Society has also managed to purchase the cottage next to their church in Rhos-on-Sea, Wales (above). “This acquisition guarantees the integrity and privacy of the chapel, as well as ensuring its continued use for meetings and refreshments after Sunday Mass, whilst allowing the visiting Fathers convenient over-night accommodation”.2
Saints Margaret and Leonard church, Edinburgh
Saint Andrew's Church, Glasgow
Let us pray and thank Our Lord for the prospect of a new priest and priory for Scotland and also for the priests of the Society St. Pius X in Britain. May Our Lord and His most Holy Mother protect and defend them in all their troubles and efforts to bring the traditions of Catholicism to a Kingdom in which Christ is neither loved or respected.
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On the 31st of March 1930, the United States of America instituted a Production Code imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in films for the next thirty eight years.
