Currently Reading Windswept House By Malachi Martin see related

Memorial of Saints Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus

I hope all of my dedicated and faithful readers have had a blessed Sabbath safe and secure within the traditional, orthodox bosom of Holy Mother Church. Firstly, I wish to thank all of you who have been so supportive and inquisitive in the comments section of my blogging entries. I encourage all my readers to be entirely straightforward and honest in your inquiries and the like. I do not offend easily at genuine curiosity. Secondly, a reader several days ago inquired a bit about what seminary was like and the toll it took upon me. I have decided to make this a somewhat interactive inquiry. I encourage everyone to leave his/her respective queries in the comments section of this entry. I shall then answer all the collected questions in a narrative format, effectively editing any sorts of stories that may have been read as dull or tedious were I not to utilize the aforementioned method.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass yesterday was, as per usual, an ethereal delight far beyond the confines of the temporal and corporal worlds. The priest gave a scathing sermon on the inherently evil sins of self-mutilation, abortion, suicide, and *watch modernist Catholics for gasps* contraception. It disgusts me that the 'ecumenical' church of the twenty-first century expends most of its time and energy pursuing some sort of ham handed reconciliation with apostates, schismatics, and heretics while ignoring the hell bound paths taken up by its wayward flock.

To end this small, but necessary entry...I close with the collect for the memorial of the day:

Deus, qui nos annua sanctórum Mártyrum tuórum Cyriaci, Largi et Smaragdi solemnitate lætificas : concede propítius ; ut, quorum natalítia colimus, virtútem quoque passiónis imitemur.  Per Dóminum nostrum, Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat, in unitate Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. Amen.

In response to a gracious commenter, I have decided to paraphrase into textual form the story of my conversion from Judaism. By this story, I hope to reinforce that all Catholic converts are not the likes of Scott Hahn and other...'charismatics.' Personally, I believe that being in love with Jesus Christ through song and dance routines does not make one a charismatic, but of course, I only speak my humblest opinions.

As an Orthodox Jew, I was good at practicing my faith. I kept Kosher, observed High Holy Days, and dressed in accordance with Levitical norms and traditions. After the death of my Grandfather three and a half years ago, a dear and wonderful mentor to me in all respects, I felt lost and rather disconsolate about life in general. It was during this period that I started watching reruns of "Life is Worth Living" by the archtitular bishop, Most Reverend Fulton J. Sheen. Mind you, I had no interest in Catholicism and far less interest in Christianity. Like Blessed Paul, the apostle, I did indeed persecute the Church of God. Rather, I enjoyed Archbishop Sheen's puissant denunciations and attacks on the evils of Communism and the creeping immorality of Western civilization. The brilliance of Sheen's talks was that they could appeal to the Jew as easily as the Faithful. I then began to read many of Sheen's countless texts on a variety of topics. Here I was exposed to the fullness of Sheen's Christological expertise.

Through many hours of prayer, I began to wonder if perhaps my long awaited Messiah was long awaited because I, and all Jewish people, had missed Him. I presented my worries to the family rabbi...who immediately dismissed them as "absolutely impossible." I, through obvious promptings of the Holy Ghost, decided this explanation was inadequate and began my study of Catholicism. My studies began at a terribly under funded public library near my home. The books I read, including a Missale Romanum, were all published before 1958...some before 1930 for that matter. As any of you may guess, I taught myself the Tridentine Mass and was convinced that this Mass was indeed our current Unbloodied Sacrifice of Calvary. I continued my research for several months, reading the entire 1917 Code of Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I was ready to convert to Roman Catholicism, but knew not how. My best bet, I conjectured, was to contact my local parish priest. Imagine my shock when he introduced himself by his first name and wore a short-sleeved shirt rather than a cassock. Undaunted, I presented to him my wishes for the Sacraments and was placed in that parish's RCIA de-programming...I mean, program.

Firstly, I was the sole male in the group. Secondly, all of the other members were engaged women with child who desired a 'Catholic wedding.' Thirdly, I was very dissatisfied with the sugar-coated message of the laymen presenting me with information on the Faith. They, I so naively believed, must also be new to the Faith and are not yet as educated in it as 'cradle Catholics' obviously must be. After each session, I excitedly went home to devour another apologetics book or memorize the Missale Romanum further. Finally, through intense prayer and supplication, I garnered enough confidence to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Firstly; I was quite confused to see my parish lacked the necessary high altar. Secondly, I was even more confused to see altar boys dressed in alb, rather than the proper cassock and surplice. Thirdly, I was very disturbed when I rose for the proper introit and was introduced to 'Gather Us In'. Where was the Asperges...the Confiteor...WHY IS THE LADY NEXT TO ME TRYING TO HOLD MY HAND?! Terrified and deeply saddened...I sought the advice of the parish priest who spoke to me on the 'wonderful innovations' of Vatican II. I was Baptized, Confirmed, and received, blissfully, Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil of 2001-2002. Sadly, I knew not the dangers of attending the Novus Ordo. I was coerced into believing that these changes were made at the behest of the Faithful and were for their best interests. I even (Father, forgive me.) played master of ceremonies to these painfully denigrating liturgies. Still, my unwavering Faith in Holy Mother Church kept me hopeful that I would one day understand why all that was happening was taking place. I entered seminary, buoyed by this Faith, and only then did I learn the true scope of what was happening. That, however, is another entry. I shall end with a prayer, very near and dear to my heart. Until next time, please keep the Faith. May the prayers and intercessions of the shining army of white-robed martyrs bring an end to these four decades of shameful irreverence to our Crucified Lord.

Oremus et pro perfidis Judæis: ut Deus et Dominus noster auferat velamen de cordibus eorum; ut et ipsi agnoscant Jesum Christum, Dominum nostrum. Oremus. Flectamus genua. (Levate.) Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui etiam Judaicam perfidiam a tua miscericordia non repellis: exaudi preces nostras, quas pro illius populi obcaecatione deferimus; ut, agnita veritatis tuae luce, quae Christus est, a suis tenebris eruantur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum qui vivit et regnat cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus sancti per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

Welcome to my blog. I previously had a blog called "Life in the Sem", but was forced to take it down by those previously in charge of all possible aspects of my life at Seminary. How strange it was that mine was forced down when others continued their blogs uninhibited. Regardless, my name is Ben and I look forward to engaging any and all readers in highly stimulating intellectual discussion. A few necessary things need to be written before this may take place.

1. I was an Orthodox Jew. Please do not try and 'stump' me with obscure Old Testament scripture to prove your counterpoint. I already know it.

2. I am a Catholic. I love the Church. I love Our Blessed Mother. I love the unbroken catina of the Holy Roman Pontiff. None of this can be changed. Do not bother.

3. Having stated number 2, I am a TRADITIONAL Catholic. This means that I see no redemptive value in forcing the Faithful to attend watered-down, theologically problematic vernacular Masses. I agree that Jesus Christ is indeed made present from these Masses; however, I do not wish to venture a guess on how pleased He is with being transubstantiated in such a manner. This also means I believe that Ecumenism means other faiths coming to the Catholic Church for catechesis and conversion. It does not mean and has NEVER meant that Catholics are in the same boat as Protestants and we're all going on a sweet little faith 'journey.' Nor do I find it 'cute', 'innovative', 'inspiring', or at all pleasing to witness the terrible blasphemies that certain disobedient, tepid, or lukewarm clergy/faithful propagate every Sunday in innumerable Churches. Pope St. Pius X (bon anima) spoke on innovations in the Mass once...he called it lamentable heresy.

4. I served a year as a minor diocesan seminarian. It had both its pleasures and its pains. It taught me a great deal about the current mood of the Church in the twenty-first century. It also showed me what  good, holy people are doing to combat it...and how they are persecuted. Seminary hurt me a great deal. It caused me severe losses both physically and emotionally. I do believe that Our Lord calls men every day to serve Him at the Altar; unfortunately, I also believe that many are scared away prematurely by certain 'innovators' and sycophants.

5. No, I am not unhappy as a layman. I am, in fact, the happiest I have ever been. I have a spectacular girlfriend who is also a traditional Catholic. She makes my world shine with a luminescence uncommon in today's rather bleak outlook. Will I often grouse and complain on this blog about certain sickening abuses being propagated in the Church today by heretics and apostates? Absolutely. Will I sometimes be uncharitable or harsh? Yes. Do I believe these problems cannot and will not be fixed? No. Hope...the great theological virtue.

I look forward to many future posts and a hopefully voluminous reading audience. I pray that Our Lord blesses all of His Faithful.

Valete.