Stood the mournful Mother weeping

At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to her Son to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

For the sins of His own nation,
She saw Jesus wracked with torment,
All with scourges rent:

She beheld her tender Child,
Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Translation by Edward Caswall
Lyra Catholica (1849)

Rasmussen: WI Primary: Romney 44, Santorum 34

The latest Rasmussen Reports survey finds Mitt Romney with a 10-point lead over Rick Santorum.

The survey found 44 percent of likely GOP primary voters favored Romney, while 34 percent backed Santorum. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul were supported by 7 percent each.

A week ago, a Rasmussen poll had Romney up 46-33.

This week's survey of 717 likely GOP primary voters was conducted Thursday and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

WiPolitics

I think it's likely that Romney would pick Catholic Marco Rubio as his VP.

In 2008 it looked like this:

John McCain	224,755	54.74%	34
Mike Huckabee	151,707	36.95%	6
Ron Paul	19,090	4.65%	0

Romney had already dropped out prior to the Wisconsin Primary.

Rep. Paul Ryan endorses Mitt Romney

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) endorsed Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney on Friday, saying he believed the former Massachusetts governor was the best candidate to face off against President Obama in the fall and hold the nation’s highest office.

"I am convinced that Mitt Romney has the skills, the tenacity, the principles, the courage and the integrity to do what it takes to get America back on track. So I believe he's the right person for the job," Ryan said on Fox News.

The popular Wisconsin lawmaker said his decision was partially prompted by voters in his home state asking him before the upcoming presidential primary whom they should vote for.

continue at The Hill

Photo

Seven Sorrows

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
II. The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)
III. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43-45)
IV. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Luke 23:26)
V. Jesus Dies on the Cross (John 19:25)
VI. Mary Receives the Body of Jesus in her Arms (Matthew 27:57-59)
VII.The Body of Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb (John 19:40-42)Source

Slamtorum

So Mark Shea had some thought on Rick Santorum...  I can see his point.

I am not voting for Sen. Santorum for this reason as RecoveringFeminist commented in my previous post:

We will not end abortion until we end the contraceptive mentality. This is from February 16, 2012:

Santorum defends moral versus political stance on contraception while caught in crossfire of super PAC supporter's 'bad joke' - Interviews - On the Record - Fox News


"...I mean, the bottom line is my position is very clear. I've had a -- a consistent record...of supporting women's right to have contraception. I've supported funding for it. ..."


"...But the issue of contraception, that's not the case. It's something that people have a right to do in this country. And it certainly will be safe to do so under the Santorum presidency. ..."

Contraception is a bit tricky.  Supporting a national ban isn't plausable.  The matter should be allowed to be regulated by each state (90% of this countries political problems come from the overreach of the federal government).  But when public funding for contraception is "safe to do so under the Santorum presidency" I think I have to look elsewhere.  For the record, I am supporting another candidate.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the Santorum photos this week.   I am grateful that a man of such deep faith is running for president.  I just wish his political positions were more in line with Church teaching.

Paul Ryan: White House Playing 'Chicago Politics' with Rights

Bp Morlino on freedom of religion and the true role of the laity

Last week I was privileged to be a witness to religious freedom and freedom of conscience with nearly 500 faithful people at the Federal building in downtown Madison. Such rallies had been quickly organized around our nation and I know that not all who might have come were able (or even aware of the events).

Those who were able to gather, however, were in large part Catholic (though not all), and in being there, they were really doing what the Second Vatican Council meant by “lay mission,” that is, applying the standards of God’s Kingdom to the real world.

That is the true role that the Church was trying to enliven in the laity through Vatican II — faithful people witnessing actively to today’s world, bringing the Church into the world of today (as opposed to the idea that the main way one can be an “active” Catholic is by performing different liturgical roles).

The women, men, and children gathered in Madison last week were undertaking the lay mission of the Church, which is to witness to the sanctifying presence of God in the world and I’d encourage all of us to remember our call to that mission in our everyday lives, and as we look to the future of our nation.

 continue at Madison Catholic Herald

Verso l'alto! To the heights!

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate and friends overlooking the city of La Crosse during the the annual Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The pilgrimage was sponsored by the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Guadalupe Shrine

Roe v Wade + 39: The Corruptness of the Pro-Life Movement

Written on the Roe V Wade anniversary this year.  It is spot on.  I'll give you a couple of excerpts but it's worth reading the whole thing at De Civitate.  Specifically he brings up the battle between Personhood and Wisconsin Right to Life. 

Anyway, I want to talk about something else on this sad anniversary: not the pro-abortion rights brigade, but we abortion Abolitionists, we politically-minded pro-lifers.  The other side has often accused us of being sheep, willing to support anyone who talks a good talk about abortion, regardless of whether they actually do anything to protect innocent life under the law.  I’ve started to wonder whether there may be some truth to the charge.

The NRLC website is a mess.  If there were internet laws, it would be sent to the design gulag. 

The NRLC, the much healthier AUL, and the Catholic dioceses of Jackson and Biloxi all declined to support Personhood this past fall

Following up on Personhood, some of the reasons given for opposing it (by state orgs, as the national arms remain silent) appear to this non-lawyer to be abject nonsense. 

It's a little long but this article is essential reading for anyone serious about the pro-life movement.

Cardinal Dolan interview on next "Living Our Faith"

"Living Our Faith with Archbishop Listecki" returns Holy Saturday, April 7, 2012. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and presented by Catholic Financial Life, this 30-minute program will air at noon on WISN TV, Channel 12.

The April 7th episode of “Living Our Faith with Archbishop Listecki,” presented by Catholic Financial Life, will once again bring the sights and sounds of Rome to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Archbishop Listecki’s co-host, Bob Dolan, interviews his brother Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, shortly before his elevation to the College of Cardinals this past February. During the show, Cardinal Dolan shares his thoughts on becoming a cardinal, as well as his first memories of being called to the priesthood.

The feature highlights the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, where ad limina pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee attended Mass mere steps from the tomb of St. Peter. In addition, Archbishop Listecki also shares memories of the years he spent living in Rome as a priest graduate student, and how Easter is celebrated in Vatican City.

Watch “Living Our Faith with Archbishop Listecki,” presented by Catholic Financial Life, Holy Saturday, April 7, 2012, on WISN TV 12, noon. Can’t watch? DVR it, or view it the following week at www.livingourfaith.net.

Arch Mil

Okay so does your diocesan papers have one of these(take two)?

Diocese of Winona - The Courier

Rick Santorum's surprise visit to the Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse

That's Leif Arvidson the director of the Shrine facing the camera

St. Maria Goretti

Since blogs post stuff like this; Santorum received Holy Communion on the tongue after genuflecting.

Shrine to the Unborn

His daughter is the young woman with him. Santorum said he went to Confession three days ago. His daughter said, "It's been about two or three weeks for me." She then proceeded to the Confessional and went to Confession with the friars.

The rest on the Guadalupe Shrine's Flickr page

Conspiracy!

courtesy of Abbey Roads

Marquette theology professor Fr. Massingale calls Ryan's proposal "An immoral budget that shuns social justice"

My congressman, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), is subjected to some attempted criticism in an op-ed in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by the Rev. Bryan N. Massingale and John Gehring. They say,

"Ryan takes his Catholic faith seriously and has defended his policy approach in strong moral terms. But it seems he needs a refresher course in basic Catholic teaching."

This appears to unjustifiably assume that Catholics receive instruction in basic Catholic teaching to refresh. In my 16 years in Catholic schools, before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council, I do not recall any document in the corpus of Catholic social teaching ever being assigned reading. I, for one, would have thought that a better use of time in Freshman Theology at Marquette U than being repeatedly told that someone on the faculty had "proved the Holy Spirit does not exist". But I digress. [ROFL!]

continue at The Provincial Emails

Fr. Massingale supports gay "marriage" which is of course to him, moral.  Funny that those who don't think there is any actual sin somehow find some wiggle room for social program cuts.

Photo

St. Gall's Church / Church of the Gesu, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Villinova(click to zoom)

Gesu, founded in 1849 as St. Gall's Parish, initially served English-speaking Irish Catholics from the near south and west sides of Milwaukee in what was the neighborhood of Tory Hill. As the parish grew, it built Holy Name Church in 1875, and by 1887 Jesuit officials combined the two parishes into one church. The Gesu name was chosen in 1893 to honor the Church of the Gesu in Rome where St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, is buried.

Architect Henry C. Koch designed the French Gothic building, drawing inspiration from the Cathedral of Chartres in France. It features landmark spires of unequal height and stained glass windows. The cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1893 with over 20,000 people in attendance. A dedication ceremony followed on December 17, 1894 to mark the formal completion of the church.

 Source

Today:

Flickr

Does your diocesan paper have one of these?

Diocese of Winona MN - The Courier

Yeah, mine doesn't either.

Cardinal Burke to publish "Divine Love Made Flesh" Eucharistic reflections

Pre-order: Expected release date of May 31, 2012

 

In Divine Love Made Flesh: The Holy Eucharist as the Sacrament of Charity, His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke examines the beauty and power of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist in light of the profound and elucidating teachings of Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Using clear and illuminating language, Cardinal Burke guides one through the teaching of the Church on this Most Holy Sacrament and its place in the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

Truly inspiring, this spiritual treatise on the central Mystery of our Faith links the rich theology of the Church with pastoral practice and the spiritual life. To this end, Cardinal Burke's marvelous ability to reach the layman in simple yet inspiring language is sure to engender the love of the Eucharist in the hearts of all who read it.

Catholic Word

You know, in case you were looking for an alternative to Barack Obama's Eucharistic reflections. 

Ron Paul to speak at UW-Madison this Thursday

I don't think Ron Paul has a chance to win the nomination but he is doing a great job with educating the general public on fiscal policy. The other night I was out in Milwaukee and four gentlemen in their 50s were sitting next to us, quietly talking about the federal reserve. Even five years ago, discussing the Fed in public had a crazy connotation.

SO -- love him or hate him, Ron Paul will be speaking on UW-Madison's campus THIS Thursday evening. The event is free. Register online for an advance ticket, or take your chances and show up.

FSPA's pro-abort Weisenbeck, now Obama admin, publishes Eucharistic adoration book

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have released a new book intended to enrich readers’ Eucharistic adoration with reflections based on Sts. Francis and Clare.

Published by Franciscan Media, formerly St. Anthony Messenger Press, “Eucharistic Adoration, Reflections in the Franciscan Tradition” aims to provide Catholics who pray before the “real presence” with a new and unique resource to deepen their adoration experience and do so within the Franciscan tradition.

In their introduction, Sisters Marlene and Joan Weisenbeck wrote, “This book of reflections witnesses how we Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration come before the Eucharist each hour, every day and night, to gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate Christ. We seek to become like the One we contemplate and to continually make room for the mystery of God within our lives. We invite you to do the same.”

Each of the 52 reflections for Eucharistic adoration — one for each week of the year — features four parts that address the spiritual advice of St. Clare to gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate Christ. Sisters Jolynn Brehm, Linda Mershon, Julia Walsh and Joan Weisenbeck provided creative direction on the project.

Read more: http://lacrossetribune.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/fspa-book-offers-reflections-for-eucharistic-adoration/article_98b80fd2-751a-11e1-9e71-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1qFxcdCug

Wiesenbeck is part of Obama's(to quote Fr. Z) "Magisterium of Nuns."  If you want some background on her tragic story, you can read some of the old posts.

If you are wondering how an order like the FSPA with the beautiful devotion of perpetual Adoration for so many years could abandon the Faith for politics, this book might actually shed some light on what happened.  

Photo

Bonus photo

Then Bishop Listecki next to Marlene Weisenbeck

Marquette professor promotes homosexuality at Los Angeles Religious Ed Conference

Fr. Bryan Massingale, a priest with the archdiocese of Milwaukee and an associate professor of moral theology at Marquette University, spoke last March before the group “Equally Blessed,” which describes itself as “a coalition of faithful Catholics who support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people both in the church and in civil society.” The professor, who has said he wants the Church to be “more sensuous and feminine,” publicly opposed Wisconsin’s Marriage Protection Act last year. His recorded talk, “Whatever Happened to the Common Good,” laments “the challenges of living this conviction in a fragmented and divided society.”

LifeSite

HT Terry @ AbbeyRoads

photo

Bishop Listecki to preside at Mass of Atonement

Milwaukee Catholic Archbishop Jerome Listecki will prostrate himself before the altar at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church on Thursday in a special Mass of Atonement meant to acknowledge the church's sins in the handling of the clergy sex abuse crisis and steps it has taken to reform.

Although all Catholics are welcome, the archdiocese specifically invited sex abuse victims in its announcement. It is unclear how the archdiocese's bankruptcy, in which it has taken steps that would block large numbers of victim's claims, would affect that turnout.

continue at MJS

THIS is a good move. 

Photo

Study answers why some Catholics stop attending Mass

The Catholic diocese in Trenton, N. J., wanted to find out why some parishioners stopped attending Mass, so it hired Villanova University researchers to conduct “exit interviews” with 298 lapsed parishioners.

The reasons people quit ranged from the personal (“the pastor who crowned himself king and looks down on all”) to the political (“eliminate the extreme conservative haranguing”) to the doctrinal (“don’t spend so much time on issues like homosexuality and birth control”), according to a story in The Star-Ledger of Newark.

In addition, the respondents didn’t like the church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal and were upset that divorced and remarried Catholics are unwelcome at Mass.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/in-the-spirit-why-do-some-catholics-stop-attending-mass/article_609fdf96-7757-11e1-8266-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1qFRchu6G

So the real question is where is this Catholic church that talks about birth control and homosexuality!?!  LOL!  This 30ish sometimes staching male who drinks and smokes to much wants to join!

The other answers not mentioned in the article; "More giant puppets", "Two words, liturgical dancers" and "My other church is Planned Parenthood."

Photos of Madison's Rally for Religious Freedom

In Madison, 500 people attended the Rally for Religious Freedom. Bishop Morlino delivered the keynote speech, which you can listen to online here. The Cap Times, a liberal pro-abort Madison newspaper, covered the rally in an article here (the reporter misspelled development director Steve Karlen's name and misquoted him; he also misspelled Tom Glavin's name; and one has to wonder if he knew who Patrick Henry was before Friday). 

 PLW's Steve Karlen talking about Patrick Henry and introducing the Bishop.

Father Rick Heilman led the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. 

 Bishop Morlino addressing the crowd.

Thanks to Tom Reitz for sharing his photos!

An update and a few photos from the Chicago Habsburg conference

The event was well attended. Approximately 230 people attended the event, and the pastor was very pleased saying it was a large audience for events such as this. The mass was novus ordo Latin, with music from Haydn’s Leopold Mass. It lasted about an hour. The lecture followed, and lasted about 75 minutes. It was accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation that had many family photographs.

Source

UPDATE: These photos are actually from the DC conference, but the same source plans on posting Chicago photos once available.  

The Orthodox have way better traditions

That day it was customary to release the birds into the wild. This tradition symbolizes liberation of soul from sin and holy thoughts on this heavenly holiday.

Source

She's got it!

I was told once of a bishop who was visiting one of his parishes where the priest had let the parish liturgical committee plan all of the liturgy. Well at the time of the Offertory, a woman in a rather skimpy leotard came prancing down the aisle in a liturgical dance routine with a tape recorded accompaniment. She ascended the altar and twirled around several more time making her way to the bishop and his rather shocked priest, and upon reaching them in their seats at the dramatic conclusion, she slumped to the floor with her hands raised up as if in petition. The priest - acting timid and rather nervous turned to his bishop and whispered with the microphones on, "What do you suppose she WANTS, Your Grace?!" "I don't know," said the bishop, his voice now booming over the speaker system. "But if she asks for your head, she's GOT IT!"

source

O Virgin Pure

2,200+ rally in St. Paul MN to protest HHS mandate

From reader DM:
There were over 18 buses of souls at today's Rally for Religious Freedom in St. Paul, Minnesota, gathered at the Warren E. Federal Building. Notice the reporter says "hundreds" of people. How many hundreds? Hundreds as far as the eye could see! Deo Gratias!

I literally laughed out loud listening to this "reporting" from a local news team.  Watch the video coverage to find out how free contraception saved a young girls life!  ROFL!  One serious problem with the reporting, this student went to the University of Minnesota... which is not affected by the HHS mandate being protested.  Grasping for straws.

Update:

Interesting!

Bishop John Quinn of the Diocese of Winona led a group that packed the plaza in front of U.S. District Court in downtown St. Paul on Friday, March 23, in prayer opposing the Obama administration's health care law mandate that employers provide coverage of contraceptives in health care plans. 

 continue at Pioneer Press