ÑContra MundumÑ Volume IX, Issue 5 December 2006 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite http://www.locutor.net When an Eastern monarch visited NOTES his country, the advance party went first, preparing the way, literally pre- FROM THE paring the road the king would travel: filling up the quagmires and muddy CHAPLAIN paths, leveling and smoothing the OME years ago we had occasion rough places, and taking the kinks Sto be traveling by automobile in and curves out of the road where the Utah and Nevada desert. It was possible. bids us pause for a while on the at night, and the darkness is particu- John the Baptist warns us that larly intense and clear in the desert. highway and prepare ourselves by repentance. That is the only way we when Christ comes to His people We were flying out of Las Vegas on He finds exactly the same obstacles the next day. will worship and welcome the Christ Child aright. which opposed Him at His first com- In the west, there are far greater ing: hills and marshes, devious ways Christmas is a subtle presence, distances between cities than we and stony paths, What are these hills and all the glitz and clamor of De- know at home, and we had driven for if not mountains of pride and the cember, with its frenetic shopping well over 100 miles without seeing deliberate grievous sins which block pace, reminds me of the contrast a single light. And then over a ridge Christ’s path to our hearts? Any faith- between Las Vegas and the peace- ahead the entire city of Las Vegas ful examination of conscience will ful desert. I am sure that most of spread out below us far ahead. It reveal them. What is it that hinders the people who visit Las Vegas are seemed every light was lit and the growth in the spiritual life? It is gen- not aware at all of the desert. It is effect was stunning. erally some positive fault or habit of possible for you and me, likewise, It would be at least another hour sin which becomes a barrier like a to miss the coming of Christ. And it before we arrived, but from that first mountain to the influence of grace. was that way at His very first com- sight onwards our thoughts were in ing. Jerusalem was where the movers What of the valleys to be filled? the city we were approaching, all its and shakers lived. Bethlehem was the Are they not our laziness in the ser- glamour and glitz and gambling, and hick town. vice of Christ? Our contentment with how we would travel through it to our low ideals and all the things we call And so, lest we miss the coming hotel and to our flight home. sins of omission? of Christ lost in all the hustle and Holy Church gives us Advent bustle, Holy Church gives us Saint The crooked must be made to be like that. These days are mile- John the Baptist, himself picking up straight. Does this call to mind all stones on the road which leads to on the ancient themes of the prophet our compromises with the world Bethlehem. And before we enter Isaiah. “Prepare the way of the Lord, and its spirit, its insincerity and that little town and seek the stable, make his paths straight.” This mes- self-deception and lack of honesty which is the throbbing heart of hu- sage gives us in a very vivid way the in conscience with God? man history, to kneel at the unlikely meaning and purpose of Advent. And the rough places plain, the Manger-Throne of Christ, the Church Page 34 Contra Mundum rocks and ruts and potholes; are they Book of daily devotions are on sale Evensong on the Solemnity of Christ not our venial sins, scattered like an at the rear of the chapel. $3.00 each, the King. Fr Powers is Pastor of Saint obstacle course on LaGrange Street while supplies last. Maria Goretti Church in Lynnfield. in February. They don’t actually The SOLEMNITY OF THE An Every Member Canvass let- prevent Christ from coming to us, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION is ter has been mailed to our readers yet still they make His way more Friday, December 8th. It is a holy day and members. Please consider your difficult because of our rough ways of obligation. Anglican Use Mass is pledge to the Congregation of Saint of speaking, judging, looking. Often at 7:30pm in the convent chapel. Athanasius and return it to us at your you and I look so unlike the One we A QUIET EVENING FOR AD- convenience. Many thanks. call Master. VENT will be conducted for us by A pilgrimage FROM WALSING- Has something I have said got Father Peter Stravinskas on Friday, HAM TO ROME has been organized you dead to rights? Good. I’ve got December 15th beginning at 7:00pm for nine days next September and is me in the cross hairs too! And a in the chapel of St Theresa of Ávila being led by The Most Revd John J. good salesman knows how to make Church. Fr Stravinskas is editor Myers, who is Archbishop of New- the sale and then stop making the of Catholic Response magazine, ark and Apostolic Delegate for the pitch. author of many books and tracts, Pastoral Provision. A brochure is and in demand as retreat conductor available upon request. Copies are It is our business, like no other, and speaker throughout the country. also to be found in the rear of the during Advent, to throw down the He has visited us on previous occa- convent chapel. hills and fill up the low places and sions, most recently as conductor of straighten and smooth the high- Congratulations and best wishes a parish retreat in November, 2001. way for the progress of the King to Fr John A. Dooher and Father Please plan to attend, and bring your Robert Hennessey who have been of Kings. I am not talking about a friends. road that leads to December 25th. chosen by the Holy Father to be That is a twenty-four hour day and Many thanks to Fr James auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese O’Driscoll and Deacon Michael of Boston. Fr Hennessey will be our it will come and go. But we can see Connolly for assisting at the Re- regional bishop. Fr Dooher is known Bethlehem ahead on the road, and quiem Mass on All Souls’ Day. And to many of you as our “host” pastor our thoughts are in the city we are thanks to Fr Hugh O’Regan for the at St Mary’s Church, Dedham, when approaching. In the Cradle of the loan of vestments from Holy Trinity members of the congregation were Christ Child are to be found treasures Church for our use that day. preparing to become Catholic. Fr of graces and love that are stored up Dr Terry Maltsberger returned Dooher was very kind and encourag- there for you. The only question is, ing to all of us in those days, and our will you have them? home from sunny Italy with glowing reports of a lovely trip to Rome, Flor- initial reception Mass and my ordina- a sermon preached by Father Bradford ence, Assisi, among other places. tions as deacon and priest took place on December 6, 1998 in his parish church. The ordination Christmas Flower envelopes are will take place in the Cathedral of the available in the rear of the chapel Holy Cross on Tuesday, December for your use in offering memorials 12th. SHORT NOTES to loved ones and helping us with On Sunday, December 3rd, the the cost of decoration for the season. season of Advent begins with Litany Your generosity is much appreciated! "The faithful, living in the liturgy in Procession at Mass, includes the Readers of the parish paper may send the spirit of Advent, by thinking blessing of the Advent Wreath, and their instructions and contributions about the inexpressible love with clearly marked for Christmas Flow- the Exhortation, which is the long which the Virgin Mother awaited ers. Memorials are printed in the form of invitation to general confes- her Son, are invited to take her as Christmas service leaflet. sion. Sunday readings from Cycle C a model." begin that day. Many thanks to Fr Thomas J. POPE PAUL VI Powers for being our preacher at Copies of the Magnificat Advent Marialis Cultus Contra Mundum Page 35 conversion, we need to turn around that he was eventually reduced to inside, as it were, to overcome the little more than a skeleton. Father illusion of what is visible, and to Beesley was sentenced to death for develop the feeling, the ears and the being a priest. At his execution, fac- eyes, for what is invisible. This has ing a brutal death by drawing and to be more important than anything quartering, he quoted Saint Paul’s that bombards us day after day with words, “May I never boast except in such exaggerated urgency. Metanoe- the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” ite: change your attitude, so that God (Gal 6: 14). Before dying, Father may dwell in you and, through you, Beesley said to the onlookers, “Good in the world. John himself was not people, I beseech God to send all spared this painful process of change, felicity.” of turning around. Reprinted from MAGNIFICAT, Issue: July, 2004, Vol.