A Big Surpirse? Who's Surprised . . .

I don't know why people are saying "big surprise coming". We prayed over a million rosaries, twice. The first time our prayers were answered, so why would we be surprised if Our Lady answered again?

Some very interesting posts from Fr. Demet:

Removal of the excommunications
A Guide

Also the following:

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A surprise - for tomorrow
Updated: more confirmations

The extremely well-informed Spanish blogger Francisco José Fernández de la Cigoña (whose blog La Cigüeña de la Torre was, for instance, one of the first to predict the nomination of Cardinal Cañizares Llovera as Prefect of CDW) had hinted on the nature of the "explosive news" since last week - and since November, in fact.

Today, he confirms that his sources report "explosive news" related to the "Lefebvrists" [sic] - probably the removal or withdrawal of the excommunications of the four Bishops of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and co-consecrated by Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer in Ecône, Switzerland, on June 30, 1988. Fernández de la Cigoña predicts the Papal act for "tomorrow" (though it is unclear how long it will take for the act to be made public).

The other signs that things are on the move were reported here yesterday.

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UPDATE (2248 GMT). Italian religious journalist Andrea Tornielli has just confirmed in his blog the increasing reports: the Pope has already signed the withdrawal of excommunications, and his act will be made public in the next few days.

Pro Life Advertising

Pretty cool approach, but I doubt he still will get it . . .
CatholicVote.com

From Bishop Fellay

DICI (SSPX News Agency)

Message of H. E. Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X

Dear faithful,

The Rosary Crusade, to which we invited you in Lourdes, during our memorable pilgrimage of Christ-the-King, at the end of last October, has by far exceeded our expectations. In less than two months, one million seven hundred and three thousand rosaries were recited throughout the world to obtain from Our Lady the withdrawal of the decree of excommunication of 1988.

We would like to thank you all wholeheartedly. Considering such a generosity, we dare to ask you to continue your efforts in praying that this Crusade may bear its fruits for the good of the whole Church.

+Bernard Fellay
Menzingen, 20 January 2009

Archbishop Lefebvre and Vatican II

OK, after getting several emails about this "newsbreaking" article, I feel the necessity to post this response from Fr. Demet (a Fraternity of St. Peter Priest, not an SSPX one). He always does a nice job on his postings. It has been in my side "Shared Items", but obviously not getting enough attention there . . .
From http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/01/most-underwhelming-news-of-year.html

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The most underwhelming "news" of the year

Italian religious website Petrus repeats the "amazing" news "reported" by Italian weekly Panorama. In an article dedicated to several "finds" in the "Secret heart of the Vatican" (Nel cuore segreto del Vaticano, Panorama, n. 3/2009, p. 130-134), the newsweekly's reporters found the damning evidence that... Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre signed the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

No, really... Panorama's reporters found the top-secret signature (which it calls "The signature that unmasks Lefebvre") in some mysterious location, when they could have found the more "damning" document showing the Archbishop's signature of, among others, Gaudium et Spes (De Ecclesia in mundo huius temporis) or Dignitatis Humanae (De Libertate Religiosa) in our Rorate repository (see here).

The problem is: it is well known that Lefebvre placed his name upon the ceremonial lists of documents (for instance, both the list provided by Panorama and the one in our repository include a very diverse array of conciliar documents and, below them, signatures of bishops - the second list includes not only the above-mentioned documents, but also the only one which the Archbishop publicly praised, Presbyterorum Ordinis).

Irrespective of this, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Lefebvre's biographer and one of the Bishops consecrated by Lefebvre in 1988, had already written that the Archbishop had indeed placed his signature upon the Conciliar documents and among the Conciliar Fathers (Marcel Lefebvre: The Biography, published originally in French in 2002: cf. last pages of Chapter 13). This does not deny the fact that Lefebvre firmly voted against the final drafts both of Gaudium et Spes and Dignitatis Humanae.

Therefore, the only "new" information in the Panorama article is the attempt to create a false appearance of "scandal" in Italian-speaking Catholic circles in a very delicate moment. We will do our utmost to make clear that the shame is on Panorama, and on those who repeat false reports thoughtlessly.

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Source of image: click here.

posted by New Catholic at 10:50 PM

THE MOTHER

Thanks to Karen for this great post and for the link to the above article (here) by Romano Guardinion on the faith of Mary.

O Antiphons

Don't forget the O Antiphons begin tomorrow. For an explanation of these, see the Fish Eaters entry here. Also, for ideas of how to celebrate this time in the Liturgical Year, O Night Divine blog is an excellent resource!
Catholic Culture has several ideas, here and here.

The "O Antiphons"

December 17
O Wisdom, Who didst come out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come and teach us the way of prudence.

December 18
O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and didst give unto him the Law on Sinai: come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

December 19
O Root of Jesse, Who dost stand for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.

December 20
O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel, Who dost open and no man doth shut, Who dost shut and no man doth open, come and bring forth from his prison-house the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 21
O Dawn of the East, Brightness of the Light Eternal and Sun of Justice, come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22
O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of them, Thou Cornerstone that dost make both one, come and deliver man, whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the Nations and their Saviour, come to save us, O Lord our God.

Retreat, RETREAT!!

Yes, I am retreating! I have not been on an Ignatian Retreat in about 6 years. I am looking forward to the peacefulness, but I am also in panic mode trying to get everything here ready for me to be gone for 8 (yes, 8) days. I am tempted to cancel - there is just too much to do with school, Christmas, and, and, . . . I learned from my first retreat to ignore this temptation. I never went when my older kids were little (under 6) because I could not leave them. Then during the retreat I realized that this was going to help them as much as it helped me. I should have been there much sooner. I went every two years after that, then when Michael came along, all those feelings came back - I just could not leave him. I am still having those feelings, but I know in my heart that I will be a better mom, wife, and Catholic on my return.
So, I am gone for a while. Keep the watch and please let me know what all I miss! Your prayers are very much appreciated.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I am retreating in warm, sunny, Phoenix! It will be a nice break from the 40ish weather we have been having here in NC!
I have scheduled some liturgical season posts to go up while I am away,