IVF, Stem Cell Research and Cloning

This afternoon at our annual Clergy Day, my brother priests of and I heard an outstanding presentation on the science and ethics of in vitro fertilization, stem cell research and cloning by the Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. Director of Education, Neuroscientist and Staff Ethicist of the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

Fr. Tad is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. As an undergraduate he earned degrees in philosophy, biochemistry, molecular cell biology, and chemistry, and did laboratory research on hormonal regulation of the immune response. He later earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Yale University, where he focused on cloning genes for neurotransmitter transporters which are expressed in the brain. He also worked for several years as a molecular biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Fr. Tad studied for 5 years in Rome where he did advanced work in dogmatic theology and in bioethics, examining the question of delayed ensoulment of the human embryo. He has testified before members of the Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina State Legislatures during deliberations over stem cell research and cloning. He has given presentations and participated in roundtables on contemporary bioethics throughout the U.S., Canada, and in Europe. He has done numerous media commentaries, including appearances on CNN International, ABC World News Tonight, and National Public Radio. He directs the Center's National Catholic Certification Program in Health Care Ethics.

He also directed us to Cutting Through the Spin on Stem Cells and Cloning DVD, which examines the science and ethics of stem cell research and cloning. Embryonic stem cell research is considered in the light of morally acceptable alternatives, and a careful consideration of the various media myths surrounding this area of science is presented, therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are examined both scientifically and morally. The need to carefully protect and safeguard embryonic humans is stressed and highlighted. The video is introduced by Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston, and includes participation with a live studio audience followed by a question and answer session. The DVD may be obtained through http://www.ncbcenter.org/

Shepherd me, O God

Shepherd me, O God beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.

God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.

Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
You lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.

You have set me a banquet of love
in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my pow’r to hold.

Surely your kindness and mercy follow me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.

RIP

The Lord said: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. – Matthew 25:21

Many words describe the person who Vera was. But the one which stands out for me is “faithful.” Allow me to describe how that faithfulness played out.

Vera had a determined agenda in this life as her character demonstrated. When her house needy tidying she cleaned and scrubbed until every speck was eliminated. When she saw the parish kitchen needed work she fixed and organized every detail. When I was hungry she made tortillas and chorizo! These are only a few examples of her faithfulness.

I remember one of the first things she asked of me upon my arrival in 1993 was for a nice Sunday missal. I guided her through the index and helped her through the book so that she would always be prepared for Mass. We all knew when she would ready herself, when she would arrive at Mass, and where she would sit. Her life seemed to be a routine, but, it was a determined and faithful agenda.

When my parents visited she was the perfect hostess with a fine meal prepared in her spotless kitchen. Vera and my mother hit it off right away. She occasionally made calls to my mom updating her on my well-being. In fact, my mother stills asks of her regularly.

Vera would kid me about my middle name. She’s the only person who ever said to me, “What do you want now Walter?” She would call my dog Mario “quatro patas.” No one was spared her sense of humor!

Ten years ago when I left the parish she was the last person to wave goodbye. But even in that leave-taking she had an agenda. She purchased for me subscriptions year-after-year to the local newspaper so that I could keep abreast of all-things-Miami-Globe.

So today we mourn our loss. In our memories of Vera we shake our heads, and smile a bit, remembering all that she was in our lives. And I am certain that the first thing she’ll say after entering those Gates will be, “What do you want now Jesus?”

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord.
And let the perpetual light shine upon her.

Fifty dollars poorer

I just paid $50.00 to fill up the tank!

Today's mp3 Latin Lesson | 2.4 |

Traditional Latin Mass
Canon

What?

We live in a society where individual ego is at the forefront.

Relativism: So easy a caveman can understand it.

"Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of education is the massive presence in our society and culture of that relativism which, recognizing nothing as definitive, leaves as the ultimate criterion only the self with its desires. And under the semblance of freedom it becomes a prison for each one, for it separates people from one another, locking each person into his or her own 'ego'" -- Pope Benedict XVI | June 6, 2005

“In the last century we experienced revolutions with a common programme – expecting nothing more from God, they assumed total responsibility for the cause of the world in order to change it. And this, as we saw, meant that a human and partial point of view was always taken as an absolute guiding principle. Absolutizing what is not absolute but relative is called totalitarianism. It does not liberate man, but takes away his dignity and enslaves him. It is not ideologies that save the world, but only a return to the living God, our Creator, the guarantor of our freedom, the guarantor of what is really good and true.” – Pope Benedict XVI | World Youth Day | August 2005

Vaticanista Fashionista

Some very perceptive blogging vaticanistas have keenly observed a “trend” in Roman liturgical garb of recent days.

These two vestments saw the light-of-day once again at the open-air Mass in Saint Peter’s Square on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI dons the Precious Miter while his two secretaries wear the rochet.

Many thanks to John-Paul Sonnen at Orbis Catholicvs, the Rev. Fr. Tim Finigan at The Hermeneutic of Continuity , and The Team at Shouts in the Piazza for the insights, and the Rev. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf at What Does the Prayer Really Say? for the monsignori photo. (Credit to Leoste Italia for the Pope's photo.)

The psychedelic polyester “spirit of v2” is dying a slow-painful death.

Ad Altare Deo

The Saint Charles Borromeo parish altar arrayed for the Easter season.

Today's mp3 Latin Lesson | 2.3 |

Traditional Latin Mass
Creed | Offertory | Preface | Sanctus

Deo Gratias

Pope Benedict XVI, 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, greets the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, April 19, 2005.

Today's mp3 Latin Lesson | 2.2 |

Traditional Latin Mass
Collect | Epistle | Gospel

Populous Praises Pope

Pilgrims hold banners
during a Mass on eve of Pope Benedict XVI's 80th birthday,
in St Peter's Square, April 15 , 2007, in Vatican City

Pope Benedict continues drawing huge crowds

Vatican, Apr. 17, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI continues to draw enormous crowds to the Vatican, official statistics show.

Nearly 3.4 million people have attended papal audiences or liturgical events at which the Pope presided during the 2nd year of his pontificate.

As the Holy Father nears the 2nd anniversary of his election on April 19, the prefecture of the pontifical household has released official figures for attendance at papal events during the past 12 months. The figures closely match the attendance statistics for the calendar year 2006, which showed total attendance of 3.2 million.

According to the Vatican's official figures, just over 1 million people have attended the Pope's regular Wednesday public audiences during the past year; another 1.46 have attended the Sunday Angelus audiences; 350,000 have been included in special group audiences; and over 536,000 have attended pontifical liturgies.

Pope Benedict's popularity compares favorably with that of his predecessor. In last two full years of his reign, Pope John Paul II drew 2.6 million people to audiences and liturgical events in 2003, and 2.2 million in 2004.

Today's mp3 Latin Lesson | 2.1 |

Traditional Latin Mass
Introit | Kyrie | Gloria

Thou art a priest forever

April 15, 1989

Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech
– Hebrews 5:6 Latin Vulgate

Jesus, I Trust in You

In 1931, Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina Kowalska in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Jesus said to her:

"Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You ... I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory”..."I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: 'Jesus, I trust in You' "

During the Mass of canonization of Saint Faustina on April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II proclaimed:

"It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called Divine Mercy Sunday."

The readings on that Sunday are always about mercy, trust and the forgiveness of sins. By the words "the whole message," the Holy Father was referring to the strict connection between the "Easter Mystery of the Redemption" -- the suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit -- and this Feast of Divine Mercy, the Octave Day of Easter. This feast adds so much more meaning to the Easter celebrations. It was Jesus, Himself who asked for it to be celebrated on this particular Sunday following Easter.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Buon Compleanno!

Wish His Holiness a Happy 80th Birthday.

Recall Notice

I received this email Holy Week.

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some other symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is:

P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention.
GOD

Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".

Whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows

California or bust!

Heading to the old homestead for r & r.

Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!

Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!

German - Christus ist auferstanden! Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden!

Dutch - Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan!

Danish - Kristus er opstanden! Sandelig Han er Opstanden!

Icelandic - Kristur er upprisinn! Hann er vissulega upprisinn!

Norwegian - Kristus er oppstanden! Han er sannelig oppstanden!

Swedish - Kristus är uppstånden! Ja, Han är verkligen uppstånden!

Latin - Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!

Italian - Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto!

Catalan - Crist ha ressuscitat! Veritablement ha ressuscitat!

French - Le Christ est ressuscité! Vraiment Il est ressuscité!

Portuguese - Cristo ressuscitou! Verdadeiramente ressuscitou!

Romanian - Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!

Spanish - Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente, ha resucitado!

Church Slavonic - Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!

Russian - Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!

Czech - Kristus Vstal A Mrtvych! Opravdi Vstoupil!

Slovak - Kristus vstal zmŕtvych! Skutočne vstal!

Polish - Chrystus Zmartwychwstał! Zaprawdę Zmartwychwstał!

Old Irish - Asréracht Críst! Asréracht Hé-som co dearb!

Irish - Tá Críost éirithe! Go deimhin, tá sé éirithe!

Breton - Dassoret eo Krist! E wirionez dassoret eo!

Welsh - Atgyfododd Crist! Yn wir atgyfododd!

Albanian (Tosk) - Krishti u ngjall! Vërtet u ngjall!

Armenian - Քրիստոս յարեաւ ի մեռելոց՜ Օրհնեալ է յայտնութիւնն Քրիստոսի՜

Greek - Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!

Turkish - Hristós diril-Dí! Hakíkatén diril-Dí!

Filipino (Tagalog) - Si Cristo ay nabuhay! Siya nga ay nabuhay!

Hawaiian - Ua ala hou ´o kristo! Ua ala ´i ´o no ´oia!

Basque - Cristo Berbistua! Benatan Berbistua!

Aleut - Kristus aq ungwektaq! Pichinuq ungwektaq!

Japanese - ハリストス復活！実に復活

Korean - Kristo Gesso! Buhar ha sho Nay!

Navajo - Christ daaztsáádéé' náádiidzáá! T'áá aaníí, daaztsáádéé' náádiidzáá!

Swahili - Kristo Amefufukka! Kweli Amefufukka!

Syriac - Meshiha qam! Bashrira qam!

Arabic - Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!

Maltese - Kristu qam! Huwa qam tassew!

Hebrew (modern) - Ha Masheeha houh kam! A ken kam!

Mandarin - 基督復活了 他確實復活了

Finnish - Kristus nousi kuolleista! Totisesti nousi!

Hungarian - Krisztus feltámadt! Valóban feltámadt!

From the Vatican

From the Basilica of St. Peter

From the Basilica of St. Peter

From the Basilica of St. John Lateran

Spy Wednesday

Wednesday in Holy Week

Meditation

Today is known as "Spy Wednesday," in remembrance of the traitorous deed of Judas Iscariot. The Introit of the Traditional Latin Mass gives us a foretaste of what is to come after the passion and death of our Lord:

"That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth." - Philippians 2:10 Douay-Rheims Bible

But immediately juxtaposed to this acknowledgment of divine glory is the other side of the equation. The following is the refrain that will be repeated at every hour of the Traditional Divine Office beginning tomorrow:

"He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross." -- Philippians 2:8 Douay-Rheims Bible

Cathedral Liturgy at its Best

The Phoenix Diocese Chrism Mass this evening was the best cathedral liturgy has to offer. From the opening hymn, Laudate Dominum, to O Redeemer at the Procession with Oils, through the final song, Sumus Domus Domini, priests, prelates, and people sang with aplomb.

The gathered priests stood before the assembly and responded, “I am”, as Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted led the Renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service with the following questions:

My brothers, today we celebrate the memory of the first Eucharist, at which our Lord Jesus Christ shared with His apostles and with us His call to the priestly service of His Church. Now, in the presence of your bishop and God’s holy people, are you ready to renew your own dedication to Christ as priests of His New Covenant?

At your ordination you accepted the responsibilities of the Priesthood out of love for the Lord Jesus and His Church. Are you resolved to unite ourselves more closely to Christ and to try to become more like Him by joyfully sacrificing your own pleasure and ambition to bring His peace and love to your brothers and sisters?

Are you resolved to be faithful ministers of the mysteries of God, to celebrate the Eucharist and the other liturgical services with sincere devotion? Are you resolved to imitate Jesus Christ, the Head and Shepherd of the Church, by teaching Christian faith without thinking of your own profit, solely for the well-being of the people you were sent to serve?

Just prior to the closing, the priests rejoined the Bishop in the sanctuary. The presbyterate extended their hands as the Bishop offered the prayer of Consecration of the Sacred Chrism.

All-in-all, cathedral liturgy at its best.

The Sacred Triduum in Rome

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
dons a beautiful cope worthy of his office as the
Vicar of Christ of the One, True Church of God

EWTN will be covering the Sacred Triduum
with Pope Benedict from the Eternal City.
(Eastern Daylight Savings Time)

Evening Mass of The Lord’s Supper
April 5, 11:30 AM Live
April 6, 12 AM Encore

Solemn Liturgy of The Lord’s Passion
April 6, 11 AM Live
April 7, 12 AM Encore

Easter Vigil of the Resurrection of the Lord
April 7, 4 PM Live
April 8, 12 AM Encore

Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday
April 8, 4:30 AM Live
April 8 12 PM Encore

Urbi et Orbi: Easter Message and Blessing
Central Balcony of the Vatican Basilica
April 8, 6 AM Live
April 8 1:30 PM Encore