Abbey-Roads2

Deceit - that’s the name of the painting.

“Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?” - “Ballad Of A Thin Man” - Bob Dylan

The other day I ran into a priest who said, “It’s the traditionalists that cause all the problems.” Until recently he had been a member of the personnel board for the Archdiocese of Mpls/St. Paul - really not very long ago, maybe a couple of years? - although he is no longer. That means he had a hand in deciding which priests are assigned where.

Today I ran into this extraordinary couple. He was once an elder in the Jehovah Witnesses, a well educated man, and now very well educated in Roman Catholic theology and liturgy. They began their conversion in a standard Novus Ordo parish. They were attracted to St. Agnes and yet found their way to the traditional Mass - the Tridentine rite. To hear their testimony is truly awesome. Their understanding of the Mass puts my own understanding to shame. They attend the Novus Ordo when they have no alternative, and they accept the Novus Ordo as a valid Mass. Yet their love of the ancient rite is profound. Their understanding and ability to navigate the Latin is unusual, especially for former protestants. They are totally devoted to Pope Benedict XVI and are in no way ’sedevacantist’. Neither do they tolerate any vindictive criticism or detraction of the hierarchy. I was very impressed with their testimony. Very moved indeed.

I posted on my ‘other’ blog about the Altar of the Chair having been removed from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was jack-hammered out of there. One has seen what has happened over the years to countless Churches, stripped of ornament and the old altars. Was someone trying to get rid of every vestige of the traditional rite? Was there some sort of iconoclasm occuring in our midst? Nothing like this ever happened since the Protestant Reformation - nothing. What happened? Why have people been silenced, exiled, marginalized, and ostracized?

Something has been happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you,
Mister Jones?

One never knows what the future holds.

A man I know is dying today. He just retired about three months ago. He was a security guard, although he worked at many jobs throughout his life. With his wife he raised a family of two, sent them to Catholic schools, owned a house - all the while working very hard in relatively low-paying service jobs. He is a devout Catholic and is a member of the third order of Mt. Carmel. He was looking forward to retirement, hoping to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima, paid for in part by his children. His spirituality, as well as that of his wife’s, was very simple, very pure - he was a “little one”. I often thought of the psalm, “this is the man I approve, the lowly and afflicted one who fears my word” when I saw him. He had a limp that came from injuries at his work years ago; this, with his complete simplicity and joyful smile, endeared him to me.

Soon after retirement, he got a cold, then pneumonia, then was diagnosed with leukemia. Chemo seemed to eradicate it - we thought he would be okay. Then more respiritory problems, then an infection. Soon his kidneys stopped functioning, he needed dialysis. Today everything is shutting down, he is in fact, dying. Please pray for him, his name is Rudi Sepeda.

I thought of Pope Benedict XVI recently recommending that we “not work too hard.” Something difficult for the poor to control. In regards the well paid however, one may take the Holy Father’s words to heart - especially in light of Mr. Sepeda’s short retirement. Recall the Gospel of the rich man who hoarded his possesions. He said to himself, “This is what I will do, I will tear down all my barns and build bigger ones, and store all of my grain and goods in them and will say to my soul: ‘My soul, you have plenty of good things laid aside for years to come, take life easy, eat drink and have a good time.’” Yet God said, “This very night the demand will be made for your soul.” Luke 12:16-21.

“Be prepared, for the Son of God is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12: 40