CARDINAL BURKE REMOVED FROM CONGREGATION FOR BISHOPS

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.

The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Cardinal Burke is still Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest judicial body in the Roman Catholic Church, but his conservatives proclivities are likely to be curbed by Pope Francis.  The pope has counseled simplicity in liturgical dress to Roman Catholic clergy and shown by example that he is serious, so the elaborate and flamboyant vestments may be relegated to the dustbin of history. Still, I won't hold my breath.  As you view the series of pictures of the cardinal in silk and lace at the link above, remember I had them first in my long-running series of posts with pictures here on "Wounded Bird".  Google search conveniently gathered the posts together into one link.

What other changes are in the offing?  Who knows if liturgical fashions will be never be the same?  What a loss!  I shall dress in mourning black...with a bit of lace and matching black gloves.  

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.
The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American prelate and a divisive leader of the Catholic Church's conservative wing, was today removed from a prestigious Vatican congregation that helps the pope select new bishops.
The Congregation for Bishops takes lists of names of potential candidates for bishop and whittles them down to a short list that's then sent to the pope for final approval. According to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter, while the pope is technically not bound by the congregation's recommendations, he nonetheless usually selects their top choice when a position opens up. Consequently, the group plays a huge role in shaping the direction and ideological makeup of the Catholic hierarchy.

Read more at http://www.bilerico.com/2013/12/vatican_fashion_leader_removed_from_influential_po.php#HGTst2ZfxCY6qcBY.99

FLEAS NAVIDOG

It's way too early, but anyway...

O ADONAI

Antiphon sung by the Dominican student brothers at Blackfriars in Oxford.

December 18

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.


O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel,
Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush,
and gavest him the law in Sinai,
come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

Isaiah 11:4-5

But with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

Text of the antiphon from Fish Eaters.

Reposted from last year, the year before, and the year before...as a tradition.

O SAPIENTIA

Antiphon sung by the Dominican student brothers at Blackfriars in Oxford.

December 17

O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High,
that reachest from one end to another,
and orderest all things mightily and sweetly,
come to teach us the way of prudence!

O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter
suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

____________________

Isaiah 11:2-3

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;

__________________

In the Sarum [Anglican] use, all eight antiphons are used, beginning on December 16 and ending on the 23, leading up to the First Mass of Christmas, the Eve of December 24. In the Roman use, the observance begins on December 17, but only the first seven antiphons are used, and the observance ends, as with the Sarum use, on December 23.

Reposted with slight editing from last year, and the year before, and...and....  The reposts are a Wounded Bird tradition. Though the year is not 2006, the O Antiphons are timeless.

Text of the antiphon from Fish Eaters.

HAPPY 238th BIRTHDAY, JANE AUSTEN!

"I will not say your mulberry-trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive."

"At the bottom of Kingdown Hill we met a gentleman in a buggy, who, on minute examination, turned out to be Dr Hill - and Dr Hill in in such very deep mourning that either his mother, his wife, or himself must be dead."

(From Jane Austen's letters to her sister Cassandra)

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Collect of the Day

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,
   in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
   on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
   who executes justice for the oppressed;
   who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign for ever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Epistle of James 5: 7-10

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!  As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Listen to and/or read Fr Tobias Haller's sermon for Third Sunday in Advent.

MORE HANDY CONVERSIONS

Shortest distance between two jokes:
A straight line

1 million microphones:
1 megaphone

1 million bicycles:
2 megacycles

2000 mockingbirds:
two kilomockingbirds

10 cards:
1 decacards

1 kilogram of falling figs:
1 Fig Newton

1000 milliliters of wet socks:
1 literhosen

1 millionth of a fish:
1 microfiche

1 trillion pins:
1 terrapin

10 rations:
1 decoration

100 rations:
1 C-ration

ADVENT REFLECTION BY THOMAS MERTON

The reflection is taken from a booklet of reflections by Thomas Merton titled Breakthrough to Joy; Advent Reflections From the Writings of Thomas Merton.

GETTING STARTED ON CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

In a burst of activity late this afternoon, I began to decorate the inside of the house for Christmas. Tom decorated outside more than a week ago, because, once the neighbors have theirs up, it's go for him. The tree is an over-decorated Charlie Brownish type, but the decorations completely obliterate any trace of the Charlie Brown effect.

FLEAS NAVIDOG

Way too early, but anyway...