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Showing posts with label St. Michael's Cathedral. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Michael's Cathedral. Show all posts

Saturday 20 May 2023

St. Michael's Cathedral bulletin in Toronto promotes Thomas J. Rosica's "LGBT" lecture

UPDATE:

As noted below, I was sent the notice of this as it appeared then at archtoronto.org. After contacting Neil MacCarthy, Director of Communications, seeing the problem, had it removed and I confirmed it. He did the right thing. Alas, it appears it was not stopped from going to parishes and being printed in bulletins. Well, Neil? What do you have to say for yourself and the deception? Was I duped? Were you? Was ++Francis Leo? Or, all you all culpable and at least we know where we stand?

Not a good start!

Reports from readers that it has appeared in numerous church bulletins including that of the former Chaplain for the Extraordinary Form Mass. 

Readers in Toronto, send links of the parishes where it has been published.
St. Clare of Assisi Woodbridge
St. Aidan, Scarborough

Happy Sunday!

The bulletin for this Sunday in Toronto's St. Michael's Cathedral features a post promoting the Rosica lecture to take place at the Jesuit Manresa retreat centre. In itself, there is nothing wrong with a session for parents of those suffering from same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The point is, the labelling by using the alphabet moniker. The Church does not label people by their sin. People have dignity as men and women, there are no others. This is the point of the post below.


FULL DISCLOSURE:

Last week, a Toronto priest sent me a notice of this, it was on his diocesan update and a web page at archtoronto.org. Seeing it, I wrote to Archdiocesan Director of Public Relations Neil MacCarthy and questioned whether this was the new breeze of Archbishop Francis Leo or a "chancery rat." Neil confirmed it was a "rat" and that Archbishop Leo was not aware and the post was removed. Now, we find that in Archbishop Leo's own Cathedral's bulletin, the alphabet mafia has won.

As I wrote to Neil, is it not bad enough for Catholics on a daily basis to be assaulted by this demonic symbol, be it the alphabet labels ever expanding or the abominable abuse of God's rainbow? Can we not even find peace away from it in the Temple of God?

Is this in the bulletin because a secretary chose to do it?

Was it the Rector's decision?

If not, does the Rector know, does he proof read the bulletin?

Does Archbishop Leo know? Did he sanction it? 

The Vigil Novus Ordo Mass for Ascension Thursday transferred to Sunday on Saturday night is in just over an hour. Will they pull the bulletin?

As for Tom Rosica, if the litigious bully and serial plagiarist wishes to leave the bedpans of Presentation House he can be assured this blogger will be writing. 

If Archbishop Francis Leo was not aware of this and did not approve, then he knows even more now where he must act quickly to assert his authority. If he did approve or does not act, then we know a little bit more of our new Shepherd and what it means. 

Monday 14 June 2021

Sunday Mass returns to St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto

This is the 15% combined with "social distancing." Why not every second instead of every third pew? If everyone is wearing a mask, how can the CCP virus get out of one's mouth and nose? Don't they work? Are there entry ports to lungs on the back of one's head?

Your Eminence, please explain how this is "common sense?" 

The fact is, this is the future of the Church in Toronto thanks to the Ford/Collins tag-team.



Thursday 18 June 2020

How to receive Holy Communion with a face mask. Just say "No!"

Better titled, "How NOT to receive Holy Communion." 

Better there be NO Holy Communion than to follow this ridiculous, preposterous and sacrilegious instruction. Have these people gone mad? How do you remove your mask with the Blessed Sacrament in your hand?

For those of us that attend the traditional Latin Mass, there will be no Holy Communion, it will not be given in the hand, nor will we accept it in the hand. Now, what about my good Oratorian friends at Holy Family? In 2009 during H1N1, they gave Holy Communion in the hand at the Latin Mass in the extraordinary form. Will they do this again?

What insanity!

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Saturday 9 May 2020

The Rector and Vice Rector of St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto


O God beyond all praising,

     we worship you today

and sing the love amazing

     that songs cannot repay;

for we can only wonder

     at every gift you send,

at blessings without number

     and mercies without end:

we lift our hearts before you

     and wait upon your word,

we honor and adore you,

     our great and mighty Lord.

 

The flower of earthly splendor

     in time must surely die,

its fragile bloom surrender

     to you the Lord most high;

but hidden from all nature

     the eternal seed is sown -

though small in mortal stature,

     to heaven's garden grown:

for Christ the Man from heaven

     from death has set us free,

and we through him are given

     the final victory!

 

Then hear, O gracious Savior,

     accept the love we bring,

that we who know your favor

     may serve you as our king;

and whether our tomorrows

     be filled with good or ill,

we'll triumph through our sorrows

     and rise to bless you still:

to marvel at your beauty

     and glory in your ways,

and make a joyful duty

     our sacrifice of praise.

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Cardinal Collins in Toronto: Daily Mass 7:30AM from St. Michael's Cathedral

In Toronto, Thomas Cardinal Collins, following live Mass from St. Michael's Cathedral at 7:30 EST prays the rosary before the Lord, truly present in the Tabernacle.

Live on Facebook daily at 7:30 A.M. EST.


https://www.facebook.com/StMikesCathTO/ 

I note that "some" bishops, have cancelled confession except in cases of imminent death. Not good. Not good at all.  In Toronto, it is by appointment and at a suitable confidential distance. His Eminence makes eminent sense.

May God bless him and keep him healthy.


Cardinal's Message on COVID-19 - March 17, 2020

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

My dear faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto,
I wish to provide you with a further update on our response as a Christian community to the COVID-19 situation which is evolving rapidly. Today, the Premier of Ontario has declared a state of emergency.
Once again in the history of our archdiocese we are in the midst of an epidemic. I am deeply grateful for the priests, deacons and lay pastoral workers of the archdiocese who have acted in this emergency with such loving pastoral care. We are called to ensure that this continues even more in the time ahead. For example, I encourage all pastors to organize the members of their parish to assist those who are isolated and vulnerable, especially the elderly, while always following the directions of the health authorities.
For the duration of this health emergency, I decree that the following be implemented in all parishes, missions and chaplaincies throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto:
Mass – In view of the requirements of the Government of Ontario, during this medical emergency, beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, I instruct that all public Masses be cancelled, both during the week and on the weekend. Churches will be available for individual private prayer.
The priests of the archdiocese will celebrate Mass every day privately for the intentions of the people.
The faithful will be able to watch, via livestream, a Mass which will be celebrated every day at 7:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, which will be followed by the Angelus and the Rosary. I will personally celebrate this Mass as much as is possible. This Mass, Rosary and Angelus will also be available on the Archdiocese of Toronto's YouTube channel for those who cannot join at 7:30 a.m. These Masses and prayers will be offered for the intentions of everyone as we go through these trying times.
In addition, Mass will be broadcast daily on Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation, VisionTV (Daily TV Mass) and EWTN.
So many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are deprived of the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, for many reasons. Due to this health emergency we also will now experience their suffering. Perhaps this sacrifice will help us to cherish more profoundly the great gift of the Holy Eucharist. There is no substitute for personally participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is the source and summit of our life in Christ, and we pray for the time when this may be universally available once more.
It is important to follow carefully the provisions of the health authorities, but it also essential that our spiritual life be enhanced and strengthened all the more during this crisis. At this time, when we are reminded of the brevity of life and of our own mortality, we are called to go deeper to our spiritual foundations. I encourage all people who remain at home and who are cut off from regular social interaction to engage in prayer – to pray the Rosary, to read the Scriptures and to offer prayers for those who are suffering the most in this crisis. We should also pray for the health care workers and others who are engaged in fighting this pandemic on the frontlines.
Baptism – At this time, communal celebrations of Baptism are not allowed. Individual Baptism is allowed with immediate family and following the regulations established by the health authorities.
RCIA – I dispense the catechumens from the scrutinies. Information will be sent out later on the Triduum and reception into the Church.
First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation will be postponed for the duration of the emergency.
Sacrament of Reconciliation – Communal celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are not allowed at this time. All those who wish to receive the sacrament should contact a priest. The sacrament is to be celebrated not in a confessional but rather in another location, where confidentiality may be ensured and where the distance required by the health officials can be maintained.
Marriage – Marriages without Mass may take place with the immediate family members, provided they follow the regulations established by the health authorities. The postponement of the wedding may be requested given these circumstances, but if this is granted there may be a need for revision of the canonical requirements. 
Marriage Preparation is very important. At this time, however, marriage preparation classes are cancelled and pastors are to arrange for individual couples to be prepared properly for marriage.
Visits to the Sick and Homebound should continue as much as possible. As previously communicated, visiting clergy and volunteers should take direction from the health care facility. Parishes should also take care to contact the homebound and vulnerable.
Funerals – During this emergency, there will be no vigils or wake services. The Rite of Committal will take place with the immediate family at the cemetery. There will be no funeral Mass at this time, but we encourage the celebration of a funeral Mass at a later date when it is possible.  
Parish Meetings and Events are cancelled at this time.
Parish Offices – While parish offices may offer more limited operating hours, they should maintain an active presence in the community and be accessible to the faithful. Parishes are encouraged to follow the direction of the Archdiocese of Toronto's Human Resources department, providing flexibility for staff as appropriate. The Archdiocese of Toronto's Catholic Pastoral Centre will also follow this practice, ensuring that offices remain accessible.
We will review our emergency provisions regularly in accord with the requirements of the public health officials and we will provide updates at: www.archtoronto.org/covid19.
While it is a painful moment in the life of the Church to take these extreme measures, we pray that they will aid in combating the pandemic that has affected so many in our own community and around the world.
Once again, we pray for those suffering and for those who are caring for the sick. We are facing many trials during our Lenten journey this year. We take these to prayer, and look for opportunities to be the face of Jesus to all those whom we encounter. May God continue to bless you.
In Christ,
Thomas Cardinal Collins
Archbishop of Toronto

Thursday 29 September 2016

On this Feast of St. Michael, St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto is rededicated

To write a history of this Cathedral of St. Michael, in Toronto, would take much time; I will be necessarily brief.


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Early painting of cathedral interior
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Bishop Michael Power
Toronto was a city of Irish immigrants from the famine. Michael Power was appointed our first bishop. At that time, there was one Archdiocese from Kingston, at the eastern part of Lake Ontario, all the way to Windsor, across the river from Detroit. Bishop Power commissioned the new gothic revival cathedral and laid the cornerstone on this date in 1848. He died of typhus after attending to the suffering Irish and did not live to see it completed. Toronto was known as the Belfast of North America. Catholics were hated. A good, brief history is written by the Bear over at the Spirit's Sword.  It was the "gangs of New York" on a smaller scale. Even back then, Toronto, or York as it was known, was always trying to emulate the Big Apple.

Those familiar with the recent renovations at St. Patrick's in New York will note quite the difference here.  There was little money when St. Michael's was built, the population of Irish was dirt poor, having just arrived. They may not have been much better off in New York but they had a few more years to establish and a many, many more faithful.


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Msgr. John Edward Ronan
The Cathedral became the home of the renowned St. Michael's Cathedral Schola, now literally Choir School. Founded by the late Monsignor John Edward Ronan, pictured at left, the school, throughout the liturgical insanity of the last fifty years still maintained Gregorian propers, sung Latin polyphony Masses and motets, every single Sunday. The school was founded in 1937 and is one of the few in the world affiliated with Rome's Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music. 

Whether they have or not, usually not, liturgical musicians in Toronto are always able to look to the choir school for the standard they should follow. Msgr. Ronan stove to raise the liturgical arts in the Archdiocese to fulfil St. Pius X's vision as articulated in Tra le sollecitudini and to break out from the Sunday Low Mass mentality, something which still presents a problem in more than one Sunday "EF" Mass community, right?


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In the 1930's, the Cathedral underwent a "wreckovation" of sorts. That's right. A few decided then that the vision of the original gothic revival should be replaced and the ceilings were painted in rather gauche faux mosaics with saints appearing bursting on vaulting that actually covered and preserved the original. The area over the altar was given a romanesque touch with paintings of the life of Our Lord as if taken from some quite dated holy card. The rest of the ceiling was stenciled murals. 


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The high altar was lowered to not block the incredible east window some time in the 1950's. Alas, the the rector, or "wrecker," the late Auxiliary Bishop Pearce Lacey who told me himself, as I was driving him home, "I think we went too far," to which my response was, simply, "Yes, Your Excellency." 

Lacey was responsible for the removal of the communion rail destruction of the 1950's era simply gothic reredos and altar  and installed a concrete hulk. If he could have, he would have whitewashed the rest. Lacey was empowered by then Archbishop Pocock to transform Toronto's churches into Vatican II "compliance." He was described to me by one who would know, as "ruthless" in his zeal to destroy that which came before, but I can tell you as he told me himself at the age of 94, "I think we went too far."

Image result for st michael's cathedral torontoA rector that undertook some sensitive restoration of sacred things, Altar, font, pulpit, tabernacle and a few other additions was the late Monsignor Kenneth Robitaille. He was also a great supporter of the Choir School unlike some who came after him who would opine, "what am I supposed to do while they're singing that Gloria!" Oh, I don't know, sit and pray it? Sheesh!

Under Cardinal Carter, the cathedral had a quick redo in 1984 because Pope John Paul II was coming, just a touching up of the existing paint. But there was something else happening in all of this time that nobody noticed or cared to notice. 

St. Michael's was almost literally falling down. From the foundation to the tower.

Enter Thomas Cardinal Collins.

One day, he complained to the Rector about the condition of the once beautiful front doors. Overpainted, over varnished, neglected by all and beaten down by Toronto weather of damp and frigid winters, and hot and humid summers. 

Ah, if it were only the doors. 

Suffice to say, six years and $128,000,000.00 later, St. Michael's Cathedral will, today, be rededicated. 

There was not a part of the building untouched. From the tower to the foundation. From the slate roof to the windows. Fire systems, water, heating and air, lighting, all the fundamental infrastructure. The best part is the return to the vision of the original neo-gothic design and new bespoke Casavant pipe organ to replace the decayed 1880 Karn. The most challenging and incredible achievement was the complete digging out of a full depth basement to construct washrooms and a crypt chapel from what was once a crawl space. 

Even included were commissioned statues for exterior niches on the east and west facades the tower.


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This Cathedral, and the beauty of its windows and the sounds of its choir, were instrumental in my return to the Catholic faith. I had left the Church and out for a jog one Saturday morning thirty five years ago, I entered it for the first time. I was overwhelmed with what I saw. I recalled the invitation in 1963 to attend Ronan's school which I was not able to do. My father, a good man but a bit of a worrier, would not let me travel the distance on a streetcar. Not long before her death, my mother apologised for not insisting on my acceptance of the invitation to attend the then, fully private choir school. Interestingly, and since the LORD does write with crooked lines, I do more in church music now than many of the boys who did go and left it all behind, and I told her that.


All the cathedral’s stained-glass windows were painstakingly restored, including this window depicting the Crowning of Mary.



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The Catholic people of Toronto owe a debt of gratitude and prayers to Cardinal Collins. There were those who wanted it to "burn down." There were those who desired a new cathedral, some modernist hulk, no doubt.  It was this Cardinal Archbishop who fixed the mistakes of the past and made good to repair the literal neglect of his predecessors.



May the Lord bless Cardinal Collins for his vision; and may St. Michael protect him. 


Cardinal Thomas Collins gets an up-close look at the cathedral’s starry ceiling.

May he be inspired to one day, go just a little bit further.


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See also:

New Cathedral webpage

https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/

Catholic Register features
http://www.catholicregister.org/cathedral-reborn


Webcast of the Rededication tonight at 7:00PM EDT
https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live-webcast/



Sunday 15 March 2015

Getting Jesus off the floor - one person at a time and it begins with you!

An reprint of an old post of April 28, 2008

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It was good enough for him. who are you that you should do otherwise?
After work one day, I attended St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto for the late afternoon Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I arrived early and was able to pray the Rosary during the exposition and adoration which occurs daily at the Cathedral from after the lunch hour Mass until the end of the day. This daily exposition and adoration has been going on for as far as I can remember. It is probably what has kept this wretched City from sinking even further into the abyss.

After I received the Eucharist (on the tongue) I had no sooner closed my mouth and the woman who preceded me let out a little gasp; there He lay dropped on the carpet, two inches from my right foot and my steel-toed construction boot. She dropped Him, she dropped Him from her hand and He bounced off the toe of my boot.

How is this possible that she dropped Him from her hand? I mean, did she just let go!


Everyone stopped, including me. I stood perfectly still with Our LORD lying there beside my foot. Father bent down slowly and picked Him up and held Him in his hand against the ciborium


If that were not enough, a few moments later, as I was kneeling on the right aisle the last communicant approached; she took the Host and started to walk away without consuming. I put up my hands to gain Father's attention and was prepared to stop her if he could not. Fortunately, she got the message and consumed Our LORD. Perhaps, she was just lazy or sloppy, perhaps she meant no sacrilege. Or perhaps she did.


Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta often opined that this change (an indult which is optional for the local Bishop to accept and will be abrogated by a future pope) was the worst problem in the world today; "Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand."


If you are in your late 50's, you will have had a similar experience to myself. When I celebrated my First Communion I was on my knees at the communion rail. Together, with my other classmates we held a white linen cloth which was hung over the rail by the altar boys and which we held up under our chins. An altar boy accompanied the priest holding a brass plate called a paten and placed it under our chins. The priest approached and held up the Holy Eucharist and with it made the Sign of the Cross whilst saying; "Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam meam in vitam aeternam. Amen" which translates to, May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ bring you to eternal life. Amen.


A few years later I was told that I was "lucky" because I was part of the first class of altar boys that did not need to learn Latin. By this time, and in the new church building, there was no communion rail and nobody knelt any more for Holy Communion. People lined up and approached the priest in a similar fashion to what they do at McDonald's. We altar boys still held the paten and people received the Eucharist on their tongues. When the last person had communicated the altar boys would carefully carry their patens horizontally to the Altar and assist the priest with the ablution. I can clearly remember seeing little pepper sized particles of the Eucharist on the paten which the priest wiped off with his fingers into the chalice after which I rinsed his fingers over the chalice and he would consume the remains.

I don't need to describe how Our Blessed LORD is received today. So instead, let me pose a few questions:


Do you wash your hands before receiving his body?

Do you "make a throne with your left and receive Him in your right" and then bring your hands to your mouth to feed yourself? Or, do you take Him with your fingers and pop Him into your mouth like a cracker or a potato chip?

Do you purify your hands afterwards as was the actual practice in those days prior to the ninth century when the few laity that actually did receive the Eucharist received in their hands?

Have you ever noticed any particles left on your hands?

Do you think any particles would have fallen to the floor to be tramped under afoot, or mopped up and poured down a municipal drain or vacuumed up from the ubiquitous carpet?

Do you think someone did not consume the Sacred Species but instead stole Him so as to dishonour and defame Him in a black satanic ritual?

Did you ever find Him in a hymn book or under a pew or lying on the asphalt in the parking lot?

Something to think about isn't it?

There is an abbreviated Latin saying in the Church, Lex orendi, lex credendi. That is to say, the law of prayer becomes the law of belief. We are sensory beings and how we worship, how we pray, what we see and smell and hear affects how we think, how we believe and what we believe.

Receiving Holy Communion in the hand was an abuse that began in Holland and spread to Belgium and then to England before crossing the Atlantic. It was the late 1960's and it was wrong. Pope Paul VI, was either incapable or unwilling to stop what was considered to be an abuse and abomination. He condemned it, regretted it and then, legalised it!

Just because we can does not mean that we should.

Throughout history, it was often the laity, or one nun as in St Catherine of Sienna or a holy priest as with St. Philip Neri with the gifts of the Holy Spirit who helped to rescue the church from its corruption. Who says that it cannot be you and me, one person at a time. You can fix the problem, it really is very simple and you can begin the next time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

You can join Pope Benedict's plan which is becoming clearer.

I just didn't think it would be lead from Kazakhstan.







This situation today is a perfect time to send you to read here about the Archbishop of Lima in Peru. He has just banned Communion-in-the-Hand!



Here is a podcast by the ubiquitous Father Z on the subject.


Here is a lengthy and necessary read by Jude A. Huntz which appeared in the March 1997 issue of Homiletic and Pastoral Review.


This was just posted by Fr. Thomas Kocik on the New Liturgical Movement.


Be sure to read this essay by the Most Reverend Athanasius Schneider, Auxilary Bishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan.

Thursday 12 March 2015

The Cathedral Cabaret! A reprise

Something odd today. For some reason an old post from April 15, 2013 which features a cabaret performance of secular music with tickets sold in Toronto's St. Michaels Cathedral has been making the rounds today. You can clearly see the throne in the typical Masonic Lodge presider manner with its green upholstery as this was before the elevation of the Archbishop to the College of Cardinals. It's very odd because not only here but over at Barona somebody's been creeping this old post and raising this as an issue in the combox on a totally unrelated post. Ah; trolls. The singer is quite talented, no doubt about that. The concert should just never been allowed in the Cathedral or any Catholic church.

I can't imagine why or what would be wrong with this; can you?

Oh well, it must be just me that finds this odd.

Go away then, nothing to see here.

http://www.voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2013/04/concerts-in-torontos-catholic-churches.html

http://www.voxcantor.blogspot.ca/2013/04/gaia-and-antiochus-both-welcomed-in.html

Saturday 13 April 2013

Leslie Scrivener and the Toronto Star: Unaccountable anti-Catholic bigots



Sculptor Timothy Schmalz has created a bronze sculpture called Jesus the Homeless outside Regis College, the Jesuit college at U of T.
A purported sculpture of Our Lord and Saviour
As noted previously, reading the quickly declining Toronto Star is not something I engage in. I depend upon friends bringing to my attention articles that need to be challenged. This was the case in the attack a few weeks ago on a Toronto area priest for teaching the Catholic faith and the facts of sin and the need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation - confession of our sins. The author of the poisoned pen article was Leslie Scrivener. 

A few days ago, I wrote about what seems to be an ongoing obsession for this journalist. Can there be any doubt with this article and headline that not only Leslie Scrivener but the Toronto Star is obsessed with the Catholic Church? Can there be any more evidence of a clear Catholic hating agenda when a story is manufactured to smear the Church out of what is in reality, a non-story? I will not link to the article, as I will not provide any hits to Hell's Bible of Toronto. 

An artist has created a sculpture, allegedly of a homeless Jesus sleeping on park bench. Being rejected by St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York; placing it at St. Michael's Cathedral (and sometime Cabaret), was wisely, also rejected. According to diocesan officials a place was offered at St. Augustine's Seminary but that was refused by the artist as nobody would see it. It has now found a place at a Catholic institution, the Jesuit's Regis College at the University of Toronto.
The Immaculate Conception?

Frankly, if anyone has seen the Immaculate Conception Egg at St. Paul's Basilica one would be forced to think twice about these artists and their interpretation of that which is Catholic. We don't need any more ugliness or abstract interpretations of faith. Beauty in music and the visual arts, poetry and architecture, as examples, are reflections of the Divine. Ugliness, as given example here in these two instances, does not.

Of course it is the big, bad Catholic Church that won't put up the art as a sign of the problem of homelessness. The good people at St. Michael's Cathedral (when not organising cabarets) do wonderful work in the real world of homelessness with an Out of the Cold program. They don't need an ugly sculpture allegedly of Our Lord to prove it. They do the work day in and day out with this program and an incredibly active St. Vincent de Paul Society. Relief of suffering is done by work not be tokens.

Why is Leslie Scrivener and the anti-Catholic bigoted Toronto Star trying to lecture Catholics and the Church on charity? 

Who are they to tell any parish or anyone for that matter what is art or what they should or should not put on their property.

Let her go to the Sisters of Charity on Dunn Avenue or St. Francis' Table on Queen Street or the St.Vincent de Paul Society of any parish to see the daily work that Catholics undertake. 
Who does this Scrivener think built the first hospitals in Toronto? Does she think it was those of the family compact? I don't need to defend here the truth of the charity done each and every day by Catholics in this world and 2000 years of the greatest force for good in human history; but I do and you do need to defend the Church against these blatant attacks which border on a psychological obsession and neurosis.

This is the fifth article which takes a position against the Church or one which promotes the cause of dissenters to the faith since the beginning of March 2013. Repeated requests for comments from Scrivener have gone unanswered. The other affect of this kind of hateful, manufactured anti-Catholic trash is to set off the usual bile in the combox -- those that hate the Church are indeed "Legion!" Let this be a lesson to those communication "experts" and others at the Chancery on who the real enemy happens to be.

Lest anyone underestimate their hatred and this obsession pay attention to what you are about to read. Vox has witnessed direct evidence with confirmation from two sources of repute that there is more to come, much more.

The Toronto Star is working on something that will be used in an attempt to break the Catholic Church in Toronto and everything that goes along with it. Their goal is to cause an unprecedented scandal and empty the pews in an attempt to cripple the Church in Toronto costing potential millions of dollars and to go so far as to bring about the destruction of the rights of Catholics to publicly-funded education and more. 

It is not going to be pretty.



Wednesday 10 April 2013

Gaia and Antiochus both are welcome in the Archdiocese of Toronto!


Update: Confirmed from the concert organiser. "All details of the concert were discussed with (          ), the lady in charge of the events at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Posters of the event were dropped off at the Archdiocese in Toronto at 1155 Yonge Street, where they were further distributed to Catholic Churches across the GTA."

Clearly, this took place with the full knowledge of someone at the Chancery office, not just the Cathedral.


Again, what happened to the policy on concerts in churches under the late Cardinal Ambrozic which was in accord with the norms issued by the CDWDS?



Angelica's sensual performance in St. Michael's Cathedral
House of God turned into a cabaret

Look at what they've done to the Temple of God

Please excuse your writer for being a year or two behind the time but this is what they hope for. You understand right?; they want these things to pass under the radar (May 2011). Then one day, someone organises a concert in a Catholic Church with a composition of the Divine Liturgy dedicated to a pagan goddess known as Gaia and dares to call it a Mass and it is reported. Some other people read it make recollection of other events. I've now asked a third time for the policy of the Archdiocese of Toronto on concerts in churches.  We had one once under Cardinal Ambrozic.

Msgr. Ronan is not amused
What you see above and below is so far from what is permitted in a Church and is nothing less than a scandal. This is a desecration of the sanctuary for commercial purposes. No fee or donation to the Cathedral can justify such a use of this sacred space. A lounge singer concert (and I mean lounge singer in the most positive of ways) in a strapless dress, singing profane music in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Toronto. The signing of autographs and selling of (non-religious) items in the forecourt. A poster showing her bare midriff, close ups of her body during the concert -- all of this in front of the Altar of Sacrifice! 

The Rector of St. Michael's Cathedral, Father Michael Busch has shown a failure of stewardship and a complete disregard for the sanctity of this place and the Holy of Holies. He should be ashamed of his dereliction in this regard; debasing this House of God for money!

Is it any wonder why people find refuge in the SSPX? 

Is there not something fundamentally wrong with the Church and the administration of a diocese when this is allowed to happen?

Don't we take our hats off in Church? 
The Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Collins lives at the Bishop's Palace attached to the Cathedral where this desecration occurred. Your Eminence this is wrong, we are owed an explanation. What are you going to do about this? What are you going to do to ensure that this kind of desecration in our churches is going to stop? What about reparation to God?

No artist has a right to desecrate the Cathedral with a secular, commercial performance in a sacred space set apart for the worship of God. 

The dress is beautiful, the woman is obviously talented and fully suitable to Roy Thomson Hall, but not here, not in the Cathedral of Toronto.  Concerts of this type are simply not to be held in churches, the Vatican Congregation responsible has already stated it. 


The quote below is from a composition about Jesus sung and available in the authorised links below.


"nobody's wrong, and nobody's right, we're all givers of light... you just be true, be truthful to yourself, and lead as you really are..."


The "Dictatorship of Relativism" sung loud and proud in St. Michael's Cathedral Cabaret; but I can tell you with every certainty; this is not what Jesus would say.

I ask you, could Antiochus have done worse?

See also:


http://torontocatholicwitness.blogspot.ca/2013/04/abomination-in-sanctuary-st-michaels.html


http://torontocatholicwitness.blogspot.ca/2013/04/abomination-of-desolation-st-michaels.html


Monday 28 April 2008

Getting Jesus off the floor - one person at a time and it begins with you!

An update of an old post of April 28, 2008

After work today, I attended St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto for the late afternoon Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I arrived early and was able to pray the Rosary during the exposition and adoration which occurs daily at the Cathedral from after the lunch hour Mass until the end of the day. This daily exposition and adoration has been going on for as far as I can remember. It is probably what has kept this wretched City from sinking even further into the abyss.

The Cathedral in Toronto is indeed a wonderful example of Gothic revival. Oh, I could make a few improvements such as restoring the High Altar and a Communion Rail; but other than that it is quite stunning. Its windows must be amongst the most beautiful in Canada. Through the St. Michael's Choir School they have kept alive at every Sunday and Holy Day liturgy, Gregorian chant and the sacred choral music of the Church's patrimony.

You probably think a "but" is coming; well gentle people, it is.

After I received the Eucharist (on the tongue) I had no sooner closed my mouth and the woman who preceded me let out a little gasp; there He lay dropped on the carpet, 5 cm from my right foot and my steel-toed construction boot. She dropped Him, she dropped Him from her hand and He bounced off the toe of that boot.

How is this possible that she dropped Him from her hand? I mean, did she just let go!

Everyone stopped, including me. I stood perfectly still with Our LORD lying there beside my foot. Father bent down slowly and picked Him up and held Him in his hand against the ciborium

If that were not enough, a few moments later as I was kneeling on the right aisle the last communicant approached. She took the Host and started to walk away without consuming. I put up my hands to gain Father's attention and was prepared to stop her (after all, I am a Knight of Columbus) if he could not. Fortunately, she got the message and consumed Our LORD. Perhaps, she was just lazy or sloppy, perhaps she meant no sacrilege.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta often opined that this change (an indult which is optional for the local Bishop to accept and can be removed by the Pope) was the worst problem in the world today; "Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion in the hand."

If you are in your mid to late 50's, you will have had a similar experience to myself. When I celebrated my First Communion I was on my knees at the communion rail. Together, with my other classmates we held a white linen cloth which was hung over the rail by the altar boys and which we held up under our chins. An altar boy accompanied the priest holding a brass plate called a paten and placed it under our chins. The priest approached and held up the Holy Eucharist and with it made the Sign of the Cross whilst saying; "Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam meam in vitam aeternam. Amen" which translates; May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ bring you to eternal life. Amen.

A few years later I was told that I was "lucky" because I was part of the first class of altar boys that did not need to learn Latin. By this time, and in the new church building, there was no communion rail and nobody knelt any more for Holy Communion. People lined up and approached the priest in a similar fashion to what they did at McDonald's or now, Tim Hortons. We altar boys still held the paten and people received the Eucharist on their tongues. When the last person had communicated the altar boys would carefully carry their patens horizontally to the Altar and assist the priest with the ablution. I can clearly remember seeing little pepper sized particles of the Eucharist on the paten which the priest wiped off with his fingers into the chalice after which I rinsed his fingers over the chalice and he would consume the remains.

I don't need to describe how Our Blessed LORD is received today. So instead, let me pose a few questions:

Do you wash your hands before receiving his body?

Do you "make a throne with your left and receive Him in your right" and then bring your hands to your mouth to feed yourself? Or, do you take Him with your fingers and pop Him into your mouth like a cracker or a potato chip?

Do you purify your hands afterwards as was the actual practice in those days prior to the ninth century when the few laity that actually did receive the Eucharist received in their hands?

Have you ever noticed any particles left on your hands?

Do you think any particles would have fallen to the floor to be tramped under afoot, or mopped up and poured down a municipal drain or vacuumed up from the ubiquitous carpet?

Do you think someone did not consume the Sacred Species but instead stole Him so as to dishonour and defame Him in a black satanic ritual?

Did you ever find Him in a hymn book or under a pew or lying on the asphalt in the parking lot?

Something to think about isn't it?

There is an abbreviated Latin saying in the Church, Lex orendi, lex credendi. That is to say, the law of prayer becomes the law of belief. We are sensory beings and how we worship, how we pray, what we see and smell and hear affects how we think, how we believe and what we believe.

Receiving Holy Communion in the hand was an abuse that began in Holland and spread to Belgium and then to England before crossing the Atlantic. It was the late 1960's and it was wrong. Pope Paul VI, at worst, an ineffectual shepherd, was either incapable or unwilling to stop what was considered to be an abuse and abomination. He condemned it, regretted it and then with absurdity, legalised it!

Just because we can does not mean that we should.

Throughout history, it was often the laity, or one nun as in St Catherine of Sienna or a holy priest as with St. Philip Neri with the gifts of the Holy Spirit who helped to rescue the church from its corruption. Who says that it cannot be you and me, one person at a time. You can fix the problem, it really is very simple and you can begin the next time you attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

You can join Pope Benedict's plan which is becoming clearer.

I just didn't think it would be lead from Kazakhstan.






This situation today is a perfect time to send you to read here about the Archbishop of Lima in Peru. He has just banned Communion-in-the-Hand!

Here is a podcast by the ubiquitous Father Z on the subject.

Here is a lengthy and necessary read by Jude A. Huntz which appeared in the March 1997 issue of Homiletic and Pastoral Review.

This was just posted by Fr. Thomas Kocik on the New Liturgical Movement.

Be sure to read this essay by the Most Reverend Athanasius Schneider, Auxilary Bishop of Karaganda in Kazakhstan.