Supposed severed head of saint on sale at auction

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13522546

The severed head of a man said to be the patron saint of genital disease will go on auction in County Meath on Sunday.

The skull is allegedly that of St Vitalis of Assisi, an Italian Benedictine monk from the 14th century.

It belonged to an Anglo-Irish family from County Louth, and is housed in a Queen Anne case dating from the 17th century.

There has been no official verification of the claim.

St Vitalis was born in Umbria, Italy, and is said to have lived an immoral and licentious youth.

In an attempt to atone for his early sins, he later undertook pilgrimages to shrines throughout Europe, eventually entering the Benedictine monastery at Subiaco.

After leaving the monastery, he lived the remainder of his life as a hermit near Assisi.

It is said that he wore only rags and shunned all material wealth, with the exception of a basket which he used to fetch water from a nearby stream.

He died in 1370, and word of his sanctity soon spread due to reports of numerous miracles performed on those with bladder and genital disorders.

It is unclear exactly how his head may have ended up in Ireland.

Auctioneer Damien Matthews, who is selling the macabre item on Sunday, said that the family think an ancestor brought it back from the grand tour of Europe in the 18th century.

The grand tour was an educational rite of passage for wealthy Europeans from the 17th until the 19th century, intended to provide insight into the great cultural symbols of Europe.

The head sat for many years in the family hall in County Louth, but was recently uncovered in an outhouse.

Mr Matthews said that although he couldn't be certain it was the head of a saint: "It's certainly ancient, and it's certainly the head of somebody."

The Holy Cross Monastery, a Benedictine order in Rostrevor, County Down, did not even know who St Vitalis was, and after an internet search, declined to comment further on the matter of his or anyone else's severed head.

The auction takes place at Annesbrook House in Duleek, County Meath, on 29 May at 1500 BST.

The head, holy or otherwise, is valued at between 800 and 1,200 euros (between £698 and £1,047).

Catholic Maltese say yes to divorce

From http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/239526/maltese-say-yes-to-divorce

Overwhelmingly Catholic Malta has voted to legalise divorce, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced Sunday, after votes were counted following a non-binding referendum the day before.
Gonzi, who campaigned against the introduction of divorce in the last European country where it is illegal, said it was now up the parliament to enact a law legalising the dissolution of marriage.
"This is not the result that I wished for, but the will of the people has to be respected and parliament should enact a law for the introduction of divorce," the prime minister said.
Malta is one of only two countries in the world -- the Philippines is the other -- that bans divorce. Chile was the last country to legalise divorce in 2004 after overwhelming public pressure.
Saturday's non-binding referendum asked the island's 306,000 mainly Catholic voters whether parliament should introduce a new law that would allow couples to obtain a divorce after four years of separation.
Legal separation is widespread in the European Union's smallest member state, but people find it hard to re-marry.

Traditional Catholic Family Devastated By Tornado

From http://realclearreligion.com/index_files/fccfc467bf12146750359ac66cf292c6-639.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+RealClearReligion+%28Real+Clear+Religion%29

What follows is an article from Dailymail about a family left devasted by a recent tornado that ripped through their home in Oklahoma. This morning search and rescue workers located their 3 year old son in a nearby lake--he is now in Heaven. They are a traditional Catholic Family who attend an FSSP parish. If you would like to send a kind note or a donation to the Hamil family here is their parish information:

The Hamil Family
C/O St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Church
Fr. Casavantes, FSSP
8455 NW 234th Street
Edmond, OK 73025
http://www.stdamiens.org/contactus.html


From Dailymail: "As the devastating storms ripped their way through the Midwest, an Oklahoma mother did what she thought was best to keep her family safe.

Catherine Hamil, who is four months pregnant, sought refuge in the bath tub with her three young children in their Piedmont home as they waited for the raging tornado.

But as the devastating twister hit their rural house on Tuesday, 30 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, it became clear that no place was safe to hide as the family was torn apart.

Three-year-old Ryan has not been seen since he was torn from his mother’s arms.

His 15-month-old brother was killed and his pregnant mother and five-year old sister are in a critical condition in hospital.

The children's father, Hank, who runs a crop harvesting business, was away when the tornado hit, but has returned to Oklahoma to help with the frantic search for his three-year-old son.

Catherine, 36, is reported to have several broken bones, bruises and cuts. But doctors said they can still feel the heartbeat of her baby, which is due in October.

Rescuers were desperately searching for the missing toddler on Wednesday evening.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390588/Tornado-touches-Oklahoma-tosses-cars-wraps-boats-trees.html#ixzz1NTjO8HED

Vatican Terminates Cistercian Abbey in Rome

From http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/pope-shuts-down-famous-monastery/story-e6freonf-1226062352180


POPE Benedict XVI has shut down a famous community in Rome that organised dances by a former nightclub dancer nun and hosted VIPs like Madonna, earning the disfavour of the Vatican.

The closure of the monastery of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which holds some of the Church's most prized relics, was reported by Italian newspapers La Stampa and Il Foglio.

The reports said the community of Cistercian monks based at the church for more than five centuries was being transferred to other churches in Italy.

The Vatican did not deny the reports.

The basilica had become a hub for the Friends of Santa Croce, an aristocratic group, and had been criticised for some unorthodox practices including dances in which nuns pranced around the altar.

One of the nuns who performed at the church, a former disco dancer, can be seen in a YouTube video performing a modern dance with a crucifix.

The basilica's longtime abbot, Simone Fioraso, a flamboyant former Milan fashion designer, was already moved out of the basilica two years ago.

The ban was adopted in March by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life following an inquiry but has not yet been made public, the reports said.

Pope Benedict, the leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, is also the bishop of Rome, so the basilica is part of his diocese.

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, built around a chapel dating to the fourth century, is one of Rome's oldest and most prestigious churches.

Send Your Angel to Mass

O’ Holy angel at my side
Go to church for me Kneel in my place at Holy Mass Where I desire to be.
At offertory in my stead Take all I am and own And place it as a sacrifice Upon the Altar throne.
At Holy Consecration bell, Adore with Seraph’s love My Jesus hidden in the Host Come down from Heaven above.
There pray for those I dearly love And those that cause me grief That Jesus’ blood may cleanse all hearts Give suffering souls relief.
That when the priest Communion takes Then bring my Lord to me That His sweet heart may rest in mine And I His temple be.
Pray that the sacrifice divine May all man’s sin efface Then bring me Jesus’ blessing home The pledge of every grace.
Amen

American Protestant group proclaims worldwide that end of world will be on Saturday

See http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/19/rapture-movement-predicts-end-world-saturday

Another in a long line of specified dates for the end of the world. Previous ones have come and gone with nothing happening. While it is quite ridiculous to name a specific date for the end of the world, as Christ says in the Bible that noone knows the day or the hour except the Father, it would be interesting to see if something else does happen on that date. While many disregard this kind of thing, it is widely accepted by many faithful Catholics and other Christians (myself included) that we are indeed living the events predicted in the Book of Revelations. While we do not know at all when certain things predicted will happen, we do believe that they will occur within our lifetime.

Rome’s exorcist finding Bl. John Paul II effective against Satan

Rome, Italy, May 17, 2011(CNA/EWTN News).

The chief exorcist of Rome is seeing a rising number of young people coming under the influence of evil, but he has found in recent years that Blessed John Paul II is a powerful intercessor in the battle for souls.

A small, unassuming office in south-west Rome seems a rather ordinary setting in which to play out a grand battle between good and evil. It is here, though, that Father Gabriele Amorth has carried out most of his 70,000 exorcisms over the past 26 years.

“The world must know that Satan exists,” he told CNA recently. “The devil and demons are many and they have two powers, the ordinary and the extraordinary.”

The 86-year-old Italian priest of the Society of St. Paul and official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome explained the difference.

“The so-called ordinary power is that of tempting man to distance himself from God and take him to Hell. This action is exercised against all men and women of all places and religions.”

As for the extraordinary powers used by Satan, Fr. Amorth explained it as how the Devil acts when he focuses his attention more specifically on a person. He categorized the expression of that attention into four types: diabolical possession; diabolical vexation like in the case of Padre Pio, who was beaten by the Devil; obsessions which are able to lead a person to desperation and infestation, and when the Devil occupies a space, an animal or even an object.”

Fr. Amorth says such extraordinary occurrences are rare but on the rise. He's particularly worried by the number of young people being affected by Satan through sects, séances and drugs. He never despairs though.

“With Jesus Christ and Mary, God has promised us that he will never allow temptations greater than our strengths.”

Hence he gives a very matter-of-fact guide that everybody can use in the fight against Satan.

“The temptations of the Devil are defeated first of all by avoiding occasions (of temptation), because the Devil always seeks out our weakest points. And, then, with prayer. We Christians have an advantage because we have the Word of Jesus, we have the sacraments, prayer to God.”

Not surprisingly, ‘Jesus Christ’ is the name Fr. Amorth most often calls upon to expel demons. But he also turns to saintly men and women for their heavenly assistance. Interestingly, he said that in recent years one man – Blessed Pope John Paul II – has proved to be a particularly powerful intercessor.

“I have asked the demon more than once, ‘Why are you so scared of John Paul II and I have had two different responses, both interesting. One, ‘because he disrupted my plans.’ And, I think that he is referring to the fall of communism in Russia and Eastern Europe. The collapse of communism.”

“Another response that he gave me, ‘because he pulled so many young people from my hands.’ There are so many young people who, thanks to John Paul II, were converted. Perhaps some were already Christian but not practicing, but then with John Paul II they came back to the practice. ‘He pulled so many young people out of my hands.’”

And the most powerful intercessor of all?

“Of course, the Madonna is even more effective. Ah, when you invoke Mary!”

“And, once I also asked Satan, ‘but why are you more scared when I invoke Our Lady than when I invoke Jesus Christ?’ He answered me, ‘Because I am more humiliated to be defeated by a human creature than being defeated by him.”

The intercession of the living is also important, though, says Fr. Amorth. He reminds people that exorcism is a prayer and, as such, Christians can pray to liberate a soul or place from the Devil. However, three things are needed.

“The Lord gave them (the Apostles) an answer that also for us exorcists is very important. He said that overcoming this type of demon, you need much faith, much prayer and much fasting. Faith, prayer and fasting.”

“Especially faith, you need so much faith. Many times also in the healings, Jesus does not say in the Gospel it is me who has healed you. He says, you are healed thanks to your faith. He wants faith in the people, a strong and absolute faith. Without faith you can do nothing.”

Vatican orders bishops to allow Latin Mass

From: http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/27408.php?index=27408&lang=en#TRADUZIONE%20IN%20LINGUA%20INGLESE

The Instruction on the application of the Motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum (July 7, 2007, entered into force September 14, 2007) was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on April 8 last and is dated April 30, the Memorial feast of St. Pius V, Pope

The Instruction, based on the first words of the Latin text, has been called "Universae Ecclesiae" and is by the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", to whom the Pope had entrusted - among other things - the task of supervising the observance and application of the Motu proprio. So it bears the signature of its President, Cardinal William Levada, and Secretary, Msgr. Guido Pozzo.

The document was sent to all bishops in recent weeks. We must remember that "Instructions... clarify the prescripts of laws and elaborate and determine the methods to be observed in fulfilling them" (CIC, can. 34). As indicated in n.12, the instruction is issued "to ensure the correct interpretation and proper application" of the Motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum".

It is only natural that the law contained in the in the Motu proprio be followed by an Instruction on its application. The fact that this should happen now, three years on, is easily explained by recalling that in the letter accompanying the motu proprio the Pope explicitly said to the Bishops: "I invite you to write to the Holy See, three years after the entry into force of this motu proprio. If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought".

Therefore this instruction also contains within it the fruits of the triennial examination of the application of the law, which had been planned from the outset.

The document is written in a simple language and is easy to read. The introduction (nn. 1-8) briefly recalls the history of the Roman Missal until the last edition of John XXIII in 1962, and the new Missal approved by Pope Paul VI in 1970, following the liturgical reform of Vatican II, and reaffirms the fundamental principle that these are "two forms of the Roman Liturgy, defined respectively ordinary and extraordinary: they are two usages of the Roman Rite, one alongside the other. Both are the expression of the same lex orandi of the Church. On account of its venerable and ancient usage, the extraordinary form is to be maintained with appropriate honor". (No. 6).

It also reaffirms the purpose of the motu proprio, divided into the following three points: a) To offer all faithful, the Roman Liturgy in its most ancient usage, considered a precious treasure to be preserved; b) to achieve and really ensure the use of the forma extraordinaria to those who request it c) to favour reconciliation within the Church. (ref. n. 8).

A brief Section of the document (nn. 9-11) recalls the duties and powers of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, upon whom the Pope has "conferred ordinary vicarious power" in the matter. This implies two very important consequences, among others. First, the Commission may decide on appeals that are filed against any action by bishops or other ordinary, which seem contrary to the provisions of the Motu proprio (subject to the possibility of further appeal against the Commission’s decisions at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura ). In addition, the Commission must, with the approval of the Congregation for Divine Worship, edit any eventual edition of liturgical texts for the forma extraordinaria of the Roman Rite (in the document hope is expressed for the inclusion of new saints and new prefaces, for example).

The normative part of the document (nn. 12-35) contains 23 brief points on various arguments.

It reaffirms the competence of the diocesan bishops in implementing the Motu proprio, recalling that in the event of a dispute about the celebration in forma extraordinaria judgement falls to the "Ecclesia Dei" Commission.

It clarifies the concept of coetus fidelium (in short "group of faithful") stabiliter existens ("stable") who desire to participate in the celebration of the forma extraordinaria. While leaving the assessment of the number of people required for its establishment to the wise judgement of pastors, it states that the group does not necessarily have to be composed of persons belonging to a single parish, but may result from people who come together from different parishes or even from other dioceses. While always taking into account compliance with wider pastoral needs, the Instruction proposes a spirit of "generous welcome" towards groups of faithful who request the forma extraordinaria or priests who request to occasionally celebrate in such a form with some of the faithful.

The clarification (n. 19) according to which the faithful who request the celebration in forma extraordinaria "must not in any way support or belong to groups that show themselves to be against the validity or legitimacy of the Holy Mass or the Sacraments celebrated in the forma ordinaria " or against the authority of the Pope as Supreme Pastor of the universal Church, is most important. This would be in flagrant contradiction to the the motu proprio’s very aim of "reconciliation".

Important indications are also given with regards "qualified priests" to celebrating in forma extraordinaria. Of course he should have no impediments in canonical terms, he must have a sufficient knowledge of Latin and know the rite to be celebrated. Bishops are therefore encouraged to make proper formation for this purpose available in seminaries, and the possibility of recourse, if there are no other qualified priests, to the collaboration of priests from the Institutes set up by the "Ecclesia Dei" Commission (which normally use the forma extraordinaria) is also indicated.

The Instruction stresses how each priest whether secular or religious has license to celebrate the Mass "without the assembly" in the forma extraordinaria if desired. So if it is not a celebration with the assembly , the individual religious do not need permission from their superiors.

This is followed - again, with regards the forma extraordinaria - liturgical rules and regulations relating to the use of liturgical books (such as Roman Ritual, the Roman Pontifical and the Ceremonial of Bishops), the possibility of using the vernacular for the readings (in addition to Latin, or alternatively in the "read Masses"), the possibility of clergy using the Breviary from before the liturgical reform, the possibility of celebrating the Easter Triduum in Holy Week for the groups of faithful who request the ancient rite. With regard to sacred orders, the use of older liturgical books is permitted only in Institutions that depend from the Ecclesia Dei Commission.

Once read the impression remain of a very balanced text, which seeks to promote – as the has Popes intended - the peaceful use of the liturgy that predates the reform by those priests and faithful who feel a sincere desire for their own spiritual good, indeed, which aims to ensure the legitimacy and effectiveness of such use as much as reasonably possible. At the same time the text is animated by faith in the bishops' pastoral wisdom, and insists very strongly on the spirit of ecclesial communion which must be present in everyone - faithful, priests, bishops – so that the purpose of reconciliation, as it is present in the Holy Father's decision, is not impeded or frustrated, but encouraged and achieved.

[00713-02.01] [Original text: Italian]

30% of Young Girls' Clothing is 'Sexualized' says American Study

TIME May 10, 2011:

A recent study published in the journal Sex Roles revealed that nearly 30% of young girls clothing had "sexualized" characteristics.

Led by Sarah Murnen, a professor of psychology at Kenyon College, a research team studied 5,666 items of young girls' clothing available on 15 different websites for popular stores in the U.S. The purpose of the study was to examine "girls' clothing as a possible socializing influence that may contribute to the development of self-objectification in preteen girls."

Researchers examined the nature and frequency of "sexualized" clothing — anything "that revealed or emphasized a sexualized body part, had characteristics associated with sexiness, and/or had sexually suggestive writing." They also noted whether the clothing had childlike characteristics, like polka dots.

25.4% of the clothing studied had both sexualizing and childlike characteristics and an additional 4% had only sexualizing characteristics. Researchers believe this may correlate with sexual objectification during adolescence.

Amnesty International's dig at Vatican called 'preposterous'

New York City, N.Y., May 14, 2011 (CNA).

Amnesty International has cited the Vatican in a new report on human rights violations, alleging that it “did not sufficiently comply” with laws “relating to the protection of children.” The Catholic League says the charge represents ideological axe-grinding, from an organization that has lost Church support.

“This is ideology at work, not objective research,” said Catholic League President Bill Donohue. “Coming up empty with cases of abuse that occurred last year, (Amnesty) decided to adopt a 'look-back' strategy, one that is exclusively applied to the Catholic Church.”

Amnesty's 2011 Annual Report charges the Holy See with human rights violations for “child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy over the past decades,” and what it describes as “the enduring failure of the Catholic Church to address these crimes properly.”

Donohue said it was “preposterous” for Amnesty to “hold the Vatican responsible for the behavior of priests all over the world,” a responsibility that belongs to local bishops according to Catholic teaching.

He also observed that the “vast majority” of abuse cases “occurred between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s, having nothing to do with any alleged culpability on the part of the Holy See in 2010.”

“The Annual Report on the other 156 nations details human rights violations that occurred in 2010,” Donohue observed, noting that the report “lists not a single instance of a human rights violation that took place anywhere in the world in 2010 under the auspices of the Holy See.”

Yet Amnesty “still managed to condemn its human rights record,” the Catholic League president reflected. “So what's going on?”

Amnesty's motivation may derive partly from its own loss of Catholic support in recent years. The organization, founded by a Catholic convert, was once favored in many quarters of the Church for its opposition to torture and the death penalty.

But the group has lost significant support from Catholics, and drawn criticisms from bishops, for its 2007 decision to support universal access to abortion as a “human right.” The group has also begun advocating strongly for same-sex “marriage.”

In 2007, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino, said Amnesty had “betrayed its mission” of promoting human rights by endorsing abortion.

Pope sees 'systematic denial' of religious freedom looming

Vatican City, May 5, 2011 (CNA/EWTN News).

Pope Benedict XVI warned members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences that religious freedom is coming under a renewed attack, from forces he compared to the totalitarian powers of the twentieth century.

The Pope observed that religious freedom was among the rights that underwent a “systematic denial by atheistic regimes of the twentieth century” such as Communism and Nazism.

“Today,” he warned in an address made public May 4, “these basic human rights are again under threat from attitudes and ideologies which would impede free religious expression.”

“Consequently,” he told the social scientists, “the challenge to defend and promote the right to freedom of religion and freedom of worship must be taken up once more in our days.” The pontifical academy's most recent gathering, held in Rome from April 29 to May 3, took up the theme of “Universal Rights in a World of Diversity: The Case of Religious Freedom.”

The Pope noted in his address that “the roots of the West's Christian culture remain deep,” and that it was “that culture which gave life and space to religious freedom” and continues to provide for religious liberty where it exists. He observed that an early Christian writer, Tertullian, was the first author to use the phrase “religious freedom.”

The second-century Christian apologist “emphasized that God must be worshiped freely, and that it is in the nature of religion not to admit coercion,” the Pope explained. “Since man enjoys the capacity for a free personal choice in truth, and since God expects of man a free response to his call, the right to religious freedom should be viewed as innate to the fundamental dignity of every human person.”

He acknowledged the world outlook as a mixed one. “There are some states which allow broad religious freedom in our understanding of the term, while others restrict it for a variety of reasons, including mistrust for religion itself.”

Pope Benedict made if clear that the Vatican “continues to appeal for the recognition of the fundamental human right to religious freedom on the part of all states,” including a special concern for “religious minorities who … aspire to live with their fellow citizens peacefully and to participate fully in the civil and political life of the nation.”

Pope Benedict Insists that Bible’s Truth is Found in its Totality

From Catholic Herald May 5, 2011:

While Catholics believe the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is true, one cannot take individual biblical quotes or passages and say each one is literally true, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“It is possible to perceive the Sacred Scriptures as the word of God” only by looking at the Bible as a whole, “a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way to understanding,” the Pope wrote in a message to the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

“It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way, extrapolating a single phrase or expression,” the Pope wrote in the message released today at the Vatican.

The commission of biblical scholars, an advisory body to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met at the Vatican from May 2 to May 6 to continue discussions about “Inspiration and Truth in the Bible”.

In his message, the Pope said clearer explanations about the Catholic position on the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible were important because some people seem to treat the Scriptures simply as literature while others believe that each line was dictated by the Holy Spirit and is literally true. Neither position is Catholic, the Pope said.

“An interpretation of the sacred writings that disregards or forgets their inspiration does not take into account their most important and precious characteristic, that they come from God,” he said.

The Catholic position is that the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical writers so that “human words express the word of God”, he said.

“Through his word God wants to communicate to us the whole truth about himself and his plan of salvation for humanity,” the Pope wrote. “A commitment to discovering ever more the truth of the sacred books, therefore, is a commitment to seeking to better know God and the mystery of his saving will.”

Blessed John Paul II