Chesterton on Cigars...

Myself and a good number of my priest friends often times enjoy sharing a cigar. While some would argue this constitutes a vice, I on the other hand choose to see it as a virtue, enhancing the qualities of fraternity and relaxation. In honor of this belief, I offer a few humorous quotes about the enjoyment of a fine cigar by G.K. Chesterton:

"To have a horror of tobacco is not to have an abstract standard of right; but exactly the opposite. It is to have no standard of right whatever; and to make certain local likes and dislikes as a substitute. Nobody who has an abstract standard of right and wrong can possibly think it wrong to smoke a cigar. It is a vague sentimental notion that certain habits were not suitable to the old log cabin or the old hometown. It has a vague utilitarian notion that certain habits are not directly useful in the new amalgamated stores or the new financial gambling-hell. If his aged mother or his economic master dislikes to see a young man hanging about with a pipe in his mouth, the action becomes a sin; or the nearest that such a moral philosophy can come to the idea of a sin. A man does not chop wood for the log hut by smoking; and a man does not make dividends for the Big Boss by smoking; and therefore smoking has a smell as of something sinful."

"Incidentally, I must say I can bear witness to this queer taboo about tobacco. Of course numberless Americans smoke numberless cigars; a great many others eat cigars, which seems to me a more occult pleasure. But there does exist an extraordinary idea that ethics are involved in some way; and many who smoke really disapprove of smoking.

I remember once receiving two American interviewers on the same afternoon; there was a box of cigars in front of me and I offered one to each in turn. Their reaction (as they would probably call it) was very curious to watch. The first journalist stiffened suddenly and silently and declined in a very cold voice. He could not have conveyed more plainly that I had attempted to corrupt an honorable man with a foul and infamous indulgence; as if I were the Old Man of the Mountain offering him hashish that would turn him into an assassin. The second reaction was even more remarkable. The second journalist first looked doubtful; then looked sly; then seemed to glance about him nervously, as if wondering whether we were alone, and then said with a sort of crestfallen and covert smile: "Well, Mr. Chesterton, I'm afraid I have the habit."

"The Catholic Church is like a thick steak, a glass of red wine, and a good cigar."

Observations on the Post-Conciliar Liturgical Reform...

I am currently working on a paper involving liturgical law and the reforms which took place following the landmark Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council. This involves an analysis of the various instructions that came from the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship directing the implementation of the precepts set forth by the Constitution. I came across a great quote from one of these later instructions, Liturgicae instaurationes, of 5 September 1970.

Regular visitors to this blog will know that I have an affinity for the "Extraordinary Form" of the Roman Rite, and that I have been celebrating it for many years now. It has always been my observation that this form of the Mass has had a particular attraction amongst younger people of my generation. This has always come as a bit of a surprise to those not in favor of this form of the Mass, who often characterize this attraction on our parts as a misplaced longing for the past, a fruit of a kind of liturgical scrupulosity, or worse. I don't believe that this is truly the case for most, however. It seems to me (speaking personally) that the attraction of younger people to the "Extraordinary Form" is based primarily on two things. First is that participation in that form of the Mass recalls so poignantly that what one is engaging in in the Church's liturgy transcends the boundaries of one's limited community of the faithful (granted that the conditions of the local community do have a part in the liturgy, especially in the content of the homily, the choice of various legitimate styles of music and vesture, and various other elements of the Mass). This longing for membership in a larger community - an identification with the Church universal - is particularly strong for us. Secondly, this form of the Mass emphasizes the nature of the liturgy as both a spiritual and physical directing of the community towards God. I would argue that this is due largely to the common orientation of the priest and congregation ad orientem, and thus strictly speaking is not unique to the "Extraordinary Form."

As I read these various documents of the liturgical reform, I can't help but identify these liturgical principles present in them. It also seems to me, a person born well after the council (i.e. 1975) and after this initial period of liturgical renovation, that there is a bit of objectivity that one can bring to bear on the liturgical reforms that ensued. It seems that as the reform progressed, there was a greater drawing-back and reigning-in of the liturgical experimentations that were occurring. At least one gets the sense of that from the tone of the various instructions as they were issued one after another. I keep reading these documents and keep thinking that in some ways the liturgical experimentations can be likened to a gorilla who was let out of its cage, and these instructions were attempts to coax him back in. Perhaps we're still trying to accomplish that. Anyway, I post one of the more interesting quotes from the document here. I think that Sacrosanctum Concilium and all of these instructions should be mandatory reading for all those involved in the Church's liturgy today:

The effectiveness of liturgy does not lie in experimenting with rites and altering them over and over, nor in a continuous reductionism, but solely in entering more deeply into the Word of God and the mystery being celebrated. It is the presence of these two that authenticates the Church's rites, not what some priest decides, indulging his own preferences.
Keep in mind, then, that the private recasting of ritual introduced by an individual priest insults the dignity of the believer and lays the way open to individual and idiosyncratic forms in celebrations that are in fact the property of the whole Church.
The ministry of the priest is the ministry of the universal Church: its exercise is impossible without the obedience, hierarchic communion, and the will to serve God and neighbor. The hierarchic character and sacramental power of the liturgy as well as the respectful service owed to the believing community demand that the priest fulfill his role in worship as the "faithful servant and steward of the mysteries of God," without imposing any rite not decreed and sanctioned by the liturgical books

(Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship; Instruction Liturgicae instaurationes, 5 September 1970: AAS 62 [1970] 692-704. Art. 1)

Fall Break II: Extraordinary Form Nuptial Mass...

While I was home for fall break I had the privilege of celebrating a wedding Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Martin's. Congratulations to Scott ("Scotus") and Emily ("Aemilia"). Thanks also to Charlie for the pics:

Fall Break...

I'm just getting back to DC after a week spent at home during the school's fall break. Had a great week catching up with friends, getting in a little fishing, celebrating Mass at St. Martin's (including a wedding last Saturday in the Extraordinary Form), and just generally doing my best impersonation of a bump on a log. As always, it was nice being home, seeing the guys, and being reminded that my time in JCL studies will soon be coming to an end...

Here's a quick video of some of last week's fishing:



A few pics of a particularly beautiful sunrise on the drive back to DC this morning:

And a Reds Fan Weeps...

And here I thought that being a Reds fan was going to be less painful this year...

Continuing the Baseball Theme...

Since we're on a baseball kind of theme around here right now, here's a video of some baseball memories of mine growing up. The late 70's and 80's are filled with memories of going up to Cincinnati to watch Reds games, spending most weeknights at the old Cardinal Stadium watching the Redbirds play, or stopping to catch the occasional UofL college game over at the old Parkway Field. Here's a few pictures I've come across of them all:

Reds: NL Central Division Champs!

What a game it was last night. Won on a solo homerun by Jay Bruce in the bottom of the ninth, the Reds clinched the National League's central division for the first time since 1995. It's their first season in 9 years to have a .500+ winning percentage. Finally, it feels good to be a Reds fan again! I guess that little shrine my sister set-up did the trick...





ahh, remember when...

The Magic Number is ONE!

I can't believe it... barring any last-minute horrendous disasters, my Reds look to have made the playoffs! The last time this happenned: 1995. And I was there. The Reds swept the Dodgers in round one of the NLCS, lighting up Hideo Nomo in the last game of the series in Cincinnati before getting miserably handled by the Atlanta Braves. Now all they have to do is beat the Astros TONIGHT!

Props to my sister Katie for her (frightening?) shrine she has built for tonight's game:

When will it happen at my Alma Mater? (An Extraordinary Form Rant...)

Three-plus years now after the promulgation of the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum," it still amazes me how the now-called "Extraordinary Form" of the Mass has seen such tremendous growth. And who says things don't change quickly in the Church? I mean this not only in the number of Extraordinary Form Masses taking place on any given Sunday in parish churches across the country and world, but also by the greater "normalcy" that is given to its celebration. Gone it seems are the days when the "Tridentine Mass" (as it was called) possessed such a stigma. Just last week I celebrated a Mass in the Extraordinary Form for a group of students here at CUA over at the National Shrine. Such things are relatively normal nowadays.

I remember my own days in seminary (not too long ago now) when - God forbid - the seminary faculty discovered that you were not disgusted by the mere thought of the Mass in Latin! Such was grounds - if not for dismissal - at least for intensive psychotherapy... aimed at purging one of their dangerous, radical, anti-establishment tendencies. How surprising it still is for me - given my own experiences in seminary - to hear word and see pictures of the traditional Mass being celebrated with reverence and devotion in seminaries! Seminary faculty members are now celebrating it in the chapel. Bishops are attending in choir. Seminarians are being encouraged to understand and participate in that form of the Mass! It was hardly more than 15 years ago now that the words of consecration at the seminary Mass were (and sadly, I quote:) "Except for the raisins, This is my Body." Amazing...

And what brought on this rant of mine, you ask? I just came across a post over at the New Liturgical Movement blog about a Mass celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at Notre Dame seminary in New Orleans. The post is HERE.

So: WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN AT MY ALMA MATER???

Fr. James Lichtefeld, R.I.P.

I ask your prayers today for a priest back home who just passed away: Fr. James Lichtefeld. A consummate character, I will always remember Fr. Jim as the pastor of the parish where I grew up. An intimidating man, the pronunciation of his last name was always sure to spark a debate with him. I remember how, upon hearing of the (ahem) "alternate pronunciation" (think "lick your face") that the grade schoolers had developed for him, he marched from room to room (from first grade to the eighth) where he gave a 15 minute lecture on how to correctly spell and pronounce his last name (L-I-C-H-T-E-F-E-L-D!). I was in seventh grade at the time. Years later, after I was ordained, he swore to me he never did that... oh well. Underneath his gruff exterior was a good man and a good priest. It took me some time to realize that, but thank God I did. During a turbulent time in the Church's history, Fr. Jim proved faithful, and there's a lot to be said for that alone. I've come to think over the years that there is no priest who does everything well. Each has their own particular thing that they are better at and enjoy the most. For Fr. Jim that was hospital visitations. Many, many people would recount how faithful he was at their bedside during a time of illness. Or how he was so good with their parent or spouse who lie dying. He was a tremendous help at our tribunal, too, where he functioned as a Defender of the Bond. So, say a prayer for this good man who today went to his reward. May God forgive his faults, and grant him the reward of his goodness. Amen.

UPDATE: arrangements for Fr. Jim include visitation on Thursday, September 23 from 1-8PM at Ratterman's (3800 Bardstown Rd.), with Funeral Mass on Friday at 11:00AM at St. Stephen's.

Anyone for a carriage ride?

This must be the season to celebrate parish anniversaries. St. Vincent DePaul in New Hope, KY (one of the prettiest churches in the archdiocese, in my humble opinion) just celebrated their 190th anniversary. Now that's what I call arriving in style...



Read the article from The Record HERE.

Chant Recordings from the Abbey of Gethsemani...

Continuing our Kentucky Catholic theme, I came across some recordings (done in the late fifties) of the Trappist monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani (not far from Bardstown).





A short video of the bells ringing at Gethsemani:

Catholic Kentucky...

Most people up here in DC are more than a bit surprised when I tell them that Louisville is not only an archdiocese (not a diocese), but that it is the oldest inland diocese in the United States. Many of their dioceses were once a part of mine! We celebrated the two-hundreth anniversary of the founding of the diocese back in 2008, in conjunction with the papal visit that year. Most people seem to think that because Kentucky is largely considered a Southern state, that there are hardly any Catholics there. But quite the opposite is true. When the Catholic migration to this country began in earnest, most came from England to the Eastern shore of Maryland. Of that group, a significant number continued West, over the mountains, and into the then-Western frontier of Kentucky. Along the way they encountered much difficulty and hardship, not least of which was the continual threat of Indian attack. The Catholic pioneers settled an area surrounding Pottinger's Creek in 1785. A small log church was soon constructed at the small crossroads in 1792. In 1823, under the pastorship of Fr. Charles Nerinckx, the current church structure was completed. Fr. Nerinckx was a Belgian, who was educated at Louvain. After enduring four years of persecution by the French, he fled Europe and arrived in the United States in 1804. Bishop John Carroll assigned him to assist Fr. Stephen Badin - the only priest serving in Kentucky at the time and the first man to be ordained a priest in the United States.

My reason for bringing all this up you ask? Well, a friend of mine (Charlie) just recently posted some pictures of Holy Cross parish's 225th anniversary celebration. Enjoy:







Some Suggested Further Reading:
An American Holy Land (A History of the Archdiocese of Louisville), Clyde F. Crews, 1987.
The Catholic Church on the Kentucky Frontier (1785-1812), Sr. Mary Ramona Mattingly, M.A., 1974.
Cathedrals in the Wilderness, J. Herman Schauinger, 1952.

It's Friday...

And you know what that means...



On an exciting note, I actually caught a fish on one of my own flies that I tied: an eight inch brown was caught on a size 16 elk hair caddis. I tried to get some video of it without dropping the phone in the river (check it out at :50)...

High Flows on the Gunpowder...

Water releases from the upstream dam on the Gunpowder last week have the river flowing at 350cfs (more than double its normal flows...). Makes for some difficult fishing, but I still managed a couple trout yesterday: