I HATE IT when grandma goes off her meds...!

"Shotgun Wedding?"

Canon 1103 in action???

"Can. 1103 A marriage is invalid if entered into because of force or grave fear from without, even if unintentionally inflicted, so that a person is compelled to choose marriage in order to be free from it."

Some of my faithful readers...

"Sister look! 'The Ultramontanist' has been updated!!!"

Cold Water...

Teodore (the "honorary Romanian redneck") commented to me that I "must be the only honest fisherman" when I admitted to him that I hadn't caught anything in a while on my occasional Friday excursions... This report from the river gives me some consolation. It seems that no one else has been catching much of anything lately, either.

http://www.backwaterangler.com/2009/02/13/mid-february-gunpowder-fishing-report/

Ordination & First Mass...

A couple of short videos from my Ordination and First Mass of Thanksgiving that I put together while fiddling with some video editing software...

A Website of Gastronomical Delight!

My thanks to "The Geek Theologian" for bringing this website to my attention...! Certainly one of the most incredible edible sites on the net. Warning, simply clicking here might double your cholesterol...


Yes, that's a sloppy joe on a Krispy Kreme... YUM!

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

"Pipedreams"

A link to this week's edition of one of my favorite radio programs. Check it out...

It's beginning to come out...

As I mentioned in a post last week concerning the lifting of the latae sententiae excommunications of the four SSPX bishops, one of the interesting points that will necessarily be discussed is the doctrinal acceptance (or not) of the Second Vatican Council. There are hard-core elements, which many people are aware of, within the SSPX who are true "sede vacantists." Such people would seemingly necessarily reject the doctrinal authority of the Council. The question has always existed: to what extent do these factions of the SSPX speak for the group as a whole? Any process of reconciliation with the Church will have to address these issues. What will ensue is a separating of the "wheat from the chaff" so-to-speak. This discussion seems to have begun amongst their group as indicated by the following statement by one of their number to a French newspaper just a few days ago. Stay tuned, there will certainly be more to come on this...

PARIS, 10 February 2009 (AFP) - Bishop Fellay of the Society of Saint Pius X, speaks his reservations about Vatican II

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X, does not reject the whole of the Second Vatican Council but shares some of his reservations in an interview with the weekly Famille chrétienne and La France catholique.

He distinguishes between "the spirit and letter" of the Council: "There is a dangerous spirit which moved across the Council and in this sense we do refuse it," he says, "but when speaking of the letter [of the Council], we do not reject it in full as it is" he adds.

He recalled the position of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the Fraternity, for whom only those things which are in line with tradition in the council should be kept and the rest should be rejected.

Bishop Fellay adds that "the Church can not get rid of her past".

[...]

He also explains his position on ecumenism where he sees a risk of "connivance with the world" and regrets that the Church no longer has "the will to convert."

[...]


Asked about the spiritual and/or doctrinal challenge of rapprochement with Rome, Bishop Fellay sees "a benefit for the whole Church" if "one manages to restore clarity on many issues."

Finally he feels that the discussions between Rome and the Fraternity Saint Pius X will "certainly start quickly" but he does not know in what form.

Time for a bit of levity...

Things have been a bit too serious around here for a couple days now... we need to lighten it up a bit. Check out this funny website http://www.lolsaints.com/

A New Saga?

With the lifting of the SSPX excommunications only a week old, the news wires are buzzing again. Now it is a controversy surrounding the reported double life led by the founder of the Legionaries of Christ and the lay movement Regnum Christi. This group, often accused by its detractors as being "cult-like," is now rocked by reports that it's "beloved Founder" (yes, that's how they refer to him, and yes, they capitalize "Founder"...) had a mistress and fathered a child. Whoa! Read about it HERE. Fr. Maciel had been confined to a "life of prayer and penance" by the CDF several years ago with a prior accusation of misconduct. Now this...

Clearly, the Legionaries have had some great successes (they ordain priests by the dozens - 50 at a time - they do some good things, certainly). We are reminded, again, that some good can come from what is fundamentally disordered. But now the question is: with their seemingly extreme devotion to their founder, can the LC's right their ship? Permit me to interject my humble opinion here: perhaps for the members of the LC's this is an opportunity to realize that priests are ordained for the service of the universal Church and not for themselves, the promotion of a particular religious congregation, or their beloved "Founder." Is this the fruit that will be born from this situation? Time will tell...

The Saga Continues...

There has been much "to-do" about the lifting of the excommunications of the four SSPX bishops. There is even a petition circulating the internet demanding that the pope rescind his decree. A competing petition has been initiated in support of the Holy Father. You can find it HERE and add your name if you so wish...

Groundhog Day...

(Note the "terrible towel" for all you Steeler fans out there...)

Well, the little rat saw his shadow this morning... and we have six more weeks of winter ahead of us. I would be more upset if this whole scenario hadn't contributed to such a great movie...

Super Bowl...

The game was actually better than the commercials this year (and it helps that the right team won: Steelers...). This had to be one of the best ads (no offense to you lovers of fat and smelly cats out there...):



But still, the reigning king of all Super Bowl ads:

Take THIS NBC!

NBC refused to air the following advertisement during tonight's Super Bowl, so we're showing them. We're airing it to the millions of you who keep track of "The Ultramontanist." Take that NBC!

The Snow is Melting...

Mid-50's today for the first time this year... The snow is finally melting.



On another note, check out this blog. It has a very complete list of Catholic blogs out there. Link is HERE.