A New Canonry

Laudetur Jesus Christus!
Today in California our sisters' convent of Bethlehem Priory will become a full house of the Premonstratensian Order under the patronage of St. Joseph.  More news details are at the St. Michael's website. 
These sisters were instrumental in my discernment of a vocation to St. Michael's Abbey.  Although I cannot be at the Mass in Fresno today, my prayers are with them as they make final solemn profession of vows.

The few of us canons of St. Michael's who are living in Rome this year celebrated a votive mass of St. Joseph this morning in the left transept of St. Peter's Basilica, at the central altar in the view here.  Notice the mosaic of St. Joseph above the altar and the statue of our holy father Norbert holding a golden chalice to the right above the confessionals (you may want to zoom in). 

Good Question

Yeah... just what do they mean by "choice"?

Perfect Continence

An interesting conversation has begun: "Church Law says Permanent Deacons (and all clerics) are obliged to abstain from sex, notes Canonist Edward Peters."

I won't pretend to resolve the question, but I will state, for anyone who may have doubts, that perfect continence is both possible and good. I've been a virgin all my life; under vows for six and a half years. Most of my friends are likewise celibate. It's a perfectly normal state, and very freeing.

Let the conversation continue.

The St. Michael Messenger: Winter 2011

Blessed John Paul II: Divine Mercy Sunday

The news came today.
Pope John Paul II will be declared blessed on May Day.  
Gaudeamus, igitur.








Image: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ioannes_Paulus_IICoAsimple.png

Ordinary Extraordinary

Does "The Old Mass" refer to the form I grew up with, and does "The New Mass" refer to the form that seems to be coming into style now?

Eucatastrophe