In Memoriam Vatican Watcher

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

—Prayer of St. Gertrude

RIP: Benedict XVI

His Holiness Benedict XVI, Supreme Pontiff Emeritus, died today at 9:34 AM Central European Time (UTC+1) at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in Vatican City. The Vatican has announced that his body will lie in the St. Peter's Basilica starting on 2 January and that his funeral will take place on 5 January in St. Peter's Basilica.

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the Faithful departed rest in peace. Amen."

RIP: Vatican Watcher

My beloved brother Jacob passed away this morning. While he was not able to post on the blog regularly for a number of years, his interest in the Vatican and the Church, as well as his faith in God, were as strong as ever to the end. This morning I have come across a string of emails dating back to 2016 detailing Jacob's attempts to arrange a Requiem Mass for himself. Because Jacob was pretty much homebound for his final year, he spent months arranging for the Sacrament of Penance here at home. Thankfully, he received absolution only a short while ago.

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his souls and the souls of all the Faithful departed rest in peace. Amen."

Winter Has Finally Arrived

Here in Iowa winter has finally arrived.  Earlier this month there were record breaking high temperatures; a few days there the high during the day was in the upper fifties.  But it did not last and the mercury bottomed out this last week at the same time as a few rounds of snow have covered up the faded greens and browns.

For those of you who are interested in such things, a consistory has been announced and with it the list of cardinals-to-be.  It's a pretty underwhelming list of names even when considered in the best light.

More recently, the Vatican approved certain 'celebrations' of the Neocatechumenal Way (Wiki link).  Again, that is looking at it in the best light in that 'celebration' does not mean the infamous form of Mass to which the Way subscribes.  On the other hand, many are of the opinion that it is an outright approval and even if it is not, the devotees of the Way will view this Vatican approval as general vindication, ignoring the subtleties of it.

Finally, this morning it is being reported by various sources that former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno is dead.  There were erroneous reports that he died last night.  Earlier this autumn, Paterno was fired after being caught up in the Sandusky sexual abuse case.  The former coach, a Catholic, received the Last Rites.  Requiescat in pace.

RIP: Father Dietzen

Aside from the usual local stories, the pastoral columns, and the national and international news (along with the opinion page that I hardly ever read), my diocesan newspaper carries the question and answer column by Father John Dietzen.

I got my newspaper today in the mail today and saw on the back page the CNS obituary of Father Dietzen, who passed away on March 27.

I like to pretend I'm up on the Catholic faith, but even when I don't agree with points of his answers, he always has interesting and educational points and his column is one of the principal features of the paper I look forward to each week. Hopefully CNS has a few more to run and hopefully Father's replacement will be as informative.

"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his souls and the souls of all the Faithful departed rest in peace. Amen."