Category: Uncategorized

Benedictine priest and former Human Life International president (and I believe founder) Fr. Paul Marx has passed away over the weekend. Fr. Marx was truly a great man of God. Let us pray for the repose of his soul, so that he may continue to intercede with Our Lord for children in the womb. Paul Zalonski has posted the details here.

I’m hoping readers can help. I was told by a member of a new ecclesiastical movement that I should not watch pop videos as they contain hidden meanings. Here is one of my favorite videos by Newfoundland folk-rock band Great Big Sea. Please help me figure out the hidden meaning of this video?

Weighing in on the controversy over Fr. Tom Doyle’s unfortunate comments vis-a-vis Pope Benedict that got picked up by Christopher Hitchens, I understand where Fr. Zuhlsdorf and Giselle are coming from. I too cringed when I read Fr. Doyle’s comments. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Pope Benedict, and I also believe he has handled the Maciel/Legion scandal well. Keep in mind that he took on Maciel, behind Pope John Paul II’s back, when other powerful curial cardinals were squarely in the Legion’s corner.
That being said, we ought not throw stones at Fr. Tom. He too is a major victim in all this. At one time he was on the fast-track to the pointy hat as a rising star in the canon law world. However, he gave it all up to help victims of clerical sexual misconduct when the bulk of the Church hierarchy was playing hardball with victims and covering up. Because of his moral courage in backing victims, testifying against fellow priests in civil courts when needed, Fr. Tom became a pariah among Catholic churchmen. The abuse and character assassination he suffered was on par with Barba, Vaca and the first group of Maciel’s victims to come forward.
I remember when his name was a curse word in the Church. I remember when people use to laugh at him for predicting an impending major sexual abuse crisis that would severely tarnish the Church. I remember making the mistake, around the time I earned my licentiate in canon law, of saying: “I think Fr. Tom Doyle is right.” Two years later, nobody was laughing at Fr. Tom and his wild predictions. However, the damage had been done to his name and to his career.

…so I’ll be searching for pots o’ charism at the end of the rainbows. Here’s some of my favorite Celtic music (which has helped keep me sane over the last year) to entertain you during my absence. Eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow we pray and fast for the victims:
Loreena McKennitt

The Chieftains & Sinead O’Connor

Máiréad Nesbitt /Celtic Women – [WARNING: Not approved by Pure Fashion police]

Great Big Sea

The Irish Rovers

Then success to bold Saint Patrick’s fist,
He was a saint so clever,
He gave the snakes and toads a twist,
and banished them forever!

In one of the earlier threads, Rosemarie asks as good question:

Aren’t there some “secrets” among Catholics? The ceremonies of the Knights of Columbus are pretty much kept secret, except from the Church heirarchy, I guess. But women and non-members aren’t let in on the ceremonies of the Knights and similar Catholic fraternal organizations.

Speaking as a Knight for 17 years, and the advocate for my council, the Knights of Columbus ceremonies are kinda secret…sorta… You can actually find them in the U.S. Library of Congress. Additionally, it’s made clear to every knight in our constitutions and bylaws that the “secret” does not bind if to maintain the secret would violate one’s duty toward Church or State.
The same is true of the “secrets” and ceremonies of the International Order of Alhambra, a Catholic fraternal organization of which I’m a former member of the international executive. I would imagine the same is true of the Knights of St. Peter Claver and any Catholic fraternal organization. Similarly, I have several friends who are Opus Dei, have invited me to their events and retreats, and I have never encountered any secrets other than when confessing my sins to a priest affiliated with the movement. But the secrecy of the confessional binds all priests – not only those affiliated with Opus Dei.
That being said, there is an order that is often considered the most secretive in the Church. They have strict haircuts, follow a strict rule when it comes to food, each minute of the day is regimented, and fraternal charity and the spirit of their founder is something you will come across in correspondence with them. In fact, the order has never deviated from the spirit of the founder, and has proven highly resistant to any attempt at reform. The order also has its own internal jargon that few outsiders, when they’re permitted inside, seem able to grasp. Which is another thing… not a lot of outsiders within the Church, either among the laity or Church hierarchy, can articulate exactly what members of this order do.
Sound familiar? Well, there’s a couple key difference. The first is that their founder is a saint. The second is that all the aforementioned practices work for members of the order. Has for the last 900 years. Which is why they are considered the only major order within the Church never to have been reformed. Additionally, it is said that the devil feared their founder as his holiness drove away even the most obstinate of demons. Here’s a link to the order’s website.
Here’s a peek at life in their monastery:

Be sure to check out Part II, Part III and Part IV.