FSSP and Lexington

We were able to get to All Saints today for the EF and reception with Fr. Flood. I am so glad we went! We were able to chat for a bit after Mass and ask questions, etc. It has to be an exciting time for them because the need is great for priests and apostolates. It is nice that they are so willing to see the concerns and questions of the people. I hope some day they will be an integral part of many diocese. It was definitely a nice way to start the day(and with Lent coming.) Hope is always a good thing.
On another note, I was pleased the priests at our school had confessions offered again. The more children go, the less of a chore it is. This is a great thing and it is one aspect of why I am glad they are there now. I have to trust God will lead us. Nothing is certain anymore. It is a scary and exciting time to be alive. What do people do with no faith? Especially those who are out of work and money. My brother mentioned that attendance is up at a parish(40%?? in a year) and a Christian church in Cincinnati has experienced great growth. Anyway, it's an interesting subject. I need to go find some way to stay warm.

Getting ugly

I have been working(long days, not taking breaks) in the last few days. I have read some of the liberal banter through the media and it's overwhelming. I'm speaking of the church, not politics. The situation of the Austrian "bishop rejection" is disgraceful(see here). We have resorted to bullying to the breaking point? Unreal. Then there is the constant barrage of media bias against the SSPX issue and the Holy Father's decision. On a local level, there is a big "event" with a much anticipated visitor this weekend and the silence is deafening. Thankfully, there is some attention given in the diocese of Lexington but I doubt will be any words coming from Covington. It is no secret that this diocese is not welcoming or open to tradition. It is frustrating.
I don't get the battle, really. If orthodoxy were given the chance in this diocese(not batted about like a hot potato no one wants to handle) the effect would be wonderful. Instead we focus on money and social justice. Great. Way to go on the soul saving. A parish becomes a club run by lay people who don't know their catechism from their Sunday paper. In the last year, I have been in conversations with people in one parish or another(various parishes that have a great, holy priest at the helm) and they sum up their relationship with him as "I don't agree with him on most things, I'm only there because I am Catholic and will always be Catholic". What the? Now mind you, this is not one specific parish or priest. I have heard this from various people in the diocese but the theme is the same. Here's a news flash. These people are dead wrong and don't believe what the church teaches. When does our patience with these deniers need to expire? If you don't believe the teachings of our faith, why stay? This is not an isolated conversation. I have had this conversation with at least 5 people in the diocese since around November. When a priest stands firm on life issues, liturgical norms, canon law and social/sexual moral issues, the people go postal. It is not okay to skip Mass on Sunday and sleep in. It's far from okay to have pre-marital relations. You can't have IVF or use the pill to maintain your selfish lifestyle. No, don't vote for a socialist pro-abort. People in Covington don't want to hear it from their priest or anyone in the church. Why criticize the priest or our Holy Father for standing firm in our faith? Because you view them as out of touch? I want to believe my church isn't going to change like the next pop fad. I need to know there are certainties in life. Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell. The church. All the other stuff can line up behind those very last things. Social norms and fads change. Pruning needs to take place. You either stand for truth or you are trapped in the lies of modern times.
See what happens when I work in long periods of quiet and can pray and think?
I am praying for our Holy Father and hope for a new period in our church. We have been through over 40 years of this failed social experiment called "spirit of VII". Convents are empty. Pews are bare. Vocations are down. Pray and fast for real hope(sorry about that word, it was just there). Instruct our children to hold fast to the truth. They need to be given the truth. I think we are in for a battle. What the Holy Father is experiencing is just foreshadowing. Maybe this is the coming of the death of mediocrity. I see sides being drawn.

St. Mary's

Quickly, I forgot to add that we prayed the Mass at St. Mary's downtown while in Akron. They had a visiting priest from Vienna, OH from the FSSP and I could tell the parish was thrilled to have a High Mass. It may have been the first time(or they do not have them often). The parishioners are always welcoming and friendly there. We went to Mass there way before the motu proprio so it is refreshing and hopeful to see how the Mass has grown and how well supported it is in that region. If you are ever up north in Ohio, you should stop by. They have the TLM at 1 pm on Sunday. The N.O. Mass is very reverent and wonderful as well. The parish is very similar to Old St. Mary's in downtown Cincinnati.

Cancelling a local TLM

I heard it was announced last Sunday that the TLM by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter at Sacred heart in Cincinnati will be no more. Since this is new information, I am not sure if they are leaving the diocese/that parish or if the Mass itself is actually ceasing. I can't comment on how I feel because I only have this small bit of information. Any locals hear the full story?

A nice find in Chant

In Cena Domini Gregorian Chants for the Vesperal Mass of Maundy Thursday by The Schola of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

Promoting a before and after altar video

La métamorphose d'un autel
Uploaded by CHRIST-REDEMPTEUR

A H/T to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf and The New Liturgical Movement for this great and inspiring video clip! Tradition is possible and is not lost(even in France!) My favorite part is when they pan out at the end and you see how it was a beautiful church before the altar had been stripped. Fortunately, the large crucifix was still intact.