Father Lombardi: "I imparted the message from the Pope, to also admit girls to the foot washing."

Foot Washing of Women and the Unbaptized 

(Rome) The only real change in the liturgy which Pope Francis has introduced in the three years of his pontificate relates to the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told the Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana about the background of the first foot washing of the feet of the Argentine pope in 2013 and weaves it into a legend.

Other interventions in the liturgy remained informal and concern the Pope's gestures: not to give   Communion at public Masses or not to kneel during the consecration. The only formal change, with a decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship, concerns the Missa in Cena Domini, which begins the three holy days.

Problematic shift in axis

The official change relates to the admission of women to the foot washing. It's a problematic axis shift for those - and among them is of course the Pope - who know the importance of this gesture by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. This involves the establishment of the Eucharist and of the Sacrament of Holy Orders by Jesus, who washed the feet of the Twelve Apostles in this context - only men. He washed neither the feet of everyone, nor members of a marginalized, despised or discriminated groups.  For the masses, it involves a nice gesture of humility, which is why the admission of women just seems like an overdue measure of what is already supposedly a "misogynist" and "exclusive" Church.

Prison Chaplain Father Gaetano Greco

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires,  Jorge Mario Bergoglio washed the feet of women and also girls several times on Holy Thursday.  As Pope, he went far beyond the now adopted Decree and also washed the feet of the unbaptized. Nothing of this can be found in the new standard-setting, however. The papal model remains and urged to follow suit. The foot washing as a social spectacle?

"As he had already done it in Buenos Aires"

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi wrote to the Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana :

"The freedom of the gesture and its concrete physicality  immediately and deeply touched the hearts of people. In this sense, the Mass  of the Last Supper in the youth prison of Casal del Marmo was one of the first important experiences that I experienced ​​personally. According to the usual liturgical custom,  the foot-washing should take place only for young men.                                                                                                                                                       I I allowed myself to send the Pope a discreet message about the discomfort of the young inmates and the prison chaplain, and the answer was in fact immediate. As we all know, he washed and the girls and the Muslims feet, as he had already done it in Buenos Aires ... "

Vatican spokesman fabricates a legend

According to Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi, the desire that even the girls, one of them a Mohammedan, should have  their feet washed, was fed to the prison chaplain by Father Lombardi  from the Pope. Thus,  the Vatican spokesman is woven into a legend.

It is common practice in the Church that a pope formally, usually acts through requests of others. A bishop retires by the Pope when reaching the age limit. Officially, this is "only"  the resignation of the bishop in question. The Pope does not dismiss him, but releases him, if desired. The bishop, however, is forced by the Church law to this resignation.

Vatican spokesman Lombardi reported facts but omitted some details. The fact is that the prison chaplain, Father Gaetano Greco, a third Order Capuchin, officially expressed his wish. But the fact is that the instructions came from the Vatican, including the request,  that the chaplain  - even on behalf of youth inmates -  expressed a corresponding request.

Father Lombardi confirmed it indirectly to Famiglia Cristiana: "As we all know, he washed the feet of girls and  the Muslims, as he had already done it in Buenos Aires ...". The idea for the gesture was neither spontaneous nor did it originate  in the prison. Young prisoners would not have  such an idea.

Chaplain: "Religions are important, but when it comes to the human reality ..."

Even prior to the papal visit to Casal del Marmo the cue was, according to instructions by the Vatican communication sites, all on the foot washing. The washing of the feet was the central,  world mediated, "social, humble and humane" gesture, as with TV2000, the television channel of the Italian Episcopal Conference, was ready days before Holy Thursday in 2013. The day before, Chaplain Greco was even invited to a broadcast. The liturgical significance of foot washing has been deliberately distorted by this emphasis, because the far more important institution of two sacraments was ignored.

In the TV2000 broadcast, the emphasis was made that even members of other religions should have  their feet washed. "That's very nice," said the moderator. On the question of whether the twelve people were already selected, the prison chaplain answered: "Everyone asks that. I have compiled a list, but a final decision has not yet been made."

On the washing of the feet of the unbaptized  Father Greco said:

"It seemed to me well from the beginning to support such a hypothesis, precisely because of this sense of community, that it should be among all people. The religion is important, but when we come to the human reality, I think there are more important things."

"Of course," said the moderator of the Catholic radio station.

Father Lombardi on the election of Pope Francis: "I was just simply shocked"

In Famiglia Cristiana the Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi also told of his reaction as the election of Cardinal Bergoglio was announced on 13 March, 2013:

"When I heard the announcement by Cardinal Tauran from the loggia of St. Peter's, I was speechless. I knew that the announcement of the name of the new pope would be moving, but not to this extent. He was a Jesuit, a brother of mine, but I did not know him, only indirectly, apart from a very brief encounter in the days before in the corridors of the general congregations of cardinals before the conclave. Even if his name had been mentioned a few times among the papabili, I had never taken him into consideration, because the appointment of a Jesuit as Bishop or Cardinal, much les the Pope, is far outside the expected! After the announcement, everyone who stuck his nose in my office found me jubilant, because the Pope is a brother of mine. But they were surprised by my helplessness. I was neither happy nor sad. I was simply just shocked."

Next  Father Lombardi said:

"I was in my office in the press office and the conference room,  colleagues were waiting on me and my first comment. I felt speechless ... Then I took courage and said that two things that were immediately clear to me, as to highlight the big news: the name of Francis - firstly - and the fact that he is Hispanic.  Choosing a name that no one elected had chosen so far - and what a name! - pointed to an extraordinary freedom, of a courage and clarity. Poverty, care for creation, peace,  which is as the pope should himself say even a few days later. The origin from the end of the world, of course, 'brought a new perspective to be in a different way of looking at situations and issues facing humanity and the Church in the world today, which was soon heard. It seems I am not to have been mistaken."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 

Image: Difesa del Popolo / MiL hot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Pope Francis Giving More Aid and Legitimacy to Communists

Edit: it's not like they were Communists or anything, and that there was a civil war. Following the Communist in Chief's example, Pope Francis is giving sympathy and support to a Communist insurgency in Argentina that nearly took the reigns of power during the Cold War.

VATICAN CITY - At the request of Pope Francis, material in the Vatican Secret archives relating to Argentina's "Dirty War" is expected to be opened in the coming months, the Vatican spokesman said.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesman, told journalists March 23 that the cataloguing of materials related to Argentina's dictatorship continues to move forward.

"The work goes on regularly and is expected to be completed over the next few months," he said, adding that the timing and conditions under which the material may be studied will be agreed upon with the Argentine bishops' conference.

http://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/21987-vatican-to-open-archives-on-argentine-dictatorship

Pope Francis to Visit Fatima in May of 2017

(Rome) Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was received by Pope Francis on his first foreign trip, which took him to Spain and Italy.   Rebelo de Sousa won the direct elections for the Portuguese Head of State last January 24.  He was inaugurated on March 9.

Prime Minister Rebelo is a founding member of  the Social Democratic Party of Portugal (PSD), created in 1974, which is - is a Christian Democratic party - despite the name.

Invitation to Portugal's new president

The encounter with the Catholic Church leader lasted half an hour. Following this, President Rebelo told the press that he had invited Pope Francis for the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima in Portugal.

The President said:

"I have am issuing an official invitation to visit Portugal in May to mark the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima. It is an invitation to visit Portugal. It is not for me to decide what position the Holy Father favors, who receives many referrals."

At the same time Rebelo confirmed that  Cardinal Secretary Parolin will be present on the 100th anniversary of the last apparition on the 12th/13th of October 1917. Pope Francis will not travel with him in October to Fatima

Fatima visit May 13, 2017?

On May 13th, in the month named by President Rebelo, the first apparition took place in 1917.
An official confirmation by the Vatican is not yet forthcoming, but it is certain that Pope Francis will visit next year Portugal and Fatima.  In April and September 2015, Francis had expressed a wish to visit the Portuguese Marian shrine.

Francis has already announced his participation on October 31st, 2016, his preference for the Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of  500 years of Protestant "Reformation" in Stockholm. It's a decision that has caused some grumbling in certain Catholic circles.

In this context, it is noted from the Catholic side that Protestants may indeed celebrate in 2017, although the 500 years of "Reformation" for Catholics is another commemoration, namely the 100 years Fatima is of real significance.

100 years Fatima - 500 Years of "Reformation"

The Pope's visit to Portugal and Fatima in May 2017 would be intended, say observers, as "compensation" for the participation of Francis at Luther commemoration that gives the impression of a Catholic recognition of Luther.  Martin Luther is synonymous with the most serious cleavage of Latin Christendom.  "It is no cause to celebrate," said the Catholic News page Secretum meum mihi.
On the question, what is important for Catholics in 2017, 500 years of Reformation  or 100 years of Fatima,  the Catholic news website: "We are pleased with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of all Christians, the true ecumenist, for she is truly Catholic."

Text: Giiuseppe Nardi
Image: SMM (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Cardinal Parolin Meets Bulgarian Patriarch in Sofia

(Sofia) Cardinal Secretary Pietro Parolin is currently on a visit to Bulgaria. Yesterday morning a meeting with Patriarch Neofit of the Bulgarian Orthodox  Church in Sofia, was followed by a meeting with the Bulgarian Prime Minister  Bojko Borissov, with President Rossen Plevnielev and with the Grand Mufti of Bulgaria.

In the evening the Cardinal Secretary will give a speech for the occasion of the third anniversary of the election of Pope Francis and the 25th anniversary of the reestablishment  of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Holy See. It was a step that followed immediately after the overthrow of the Communist dictatorship.

Patriarch Neofit thanked   Cardinal Parolin for the "hearty reception" of Orthodox representatives in the Vatican. During the talks, the good relations between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Holy See were stressed. Every year, a Bulgarian-Orthodox delegation comes to the Vatican for the Feast of Saint Cyril and Methodius.

Cardinal Parolin spoke of the possibility to build upon the frequency of the mutual contacts, the relations and collaboration between Bulgarian Catholic and the Orthodox. Describing concrete situations, he identified the work with youth and care for the poor.

The meeting between Pope Francis and the Moscow Patriarch Kyrill as well as the Pan Orthodox Council, which is planned for June on Crete. Cardinal Parolin assured  Patriarch Neofit, he would pray for the success of the Council.

He also spoke gratefully for the opportunity of young seminarians and theologians of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to be able to study at the Pontifical Oriental Institute  and other Catholic study centers. 

President Plevneliev awarded the Cardinal Secretary the Stara Plana, the highest order of the land. Plevneliev asserted that Bulgaria shares Pope Francis' concern for those suffering in the conflict in Syria and in the Ukraine. 

About 85 percent of the Bulgarian population are Orthodox Christians, which includes almost all Bulgarians. About nine percent belong to Turkish ethnicity, four percent are Roma. The majority of the Turks and the Roma are Muslims.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Radio Vatikan (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

New Ostpolitik: The "Russicum" in Rome is to be Closed

(Rome) "Russicum Addio," writes Vatican expert Sandro Magister. "For the glorious Pontifical College founded in 1929 by Pope Pius XI. to train Russian seminarians, but even more to keep alive   the Catholic faith in the Soviet Union, the closure is a done deal."

The Pontifical College of the Russicum is in close proximity to the Patriarchal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The church is dedicated to the Father of Monasticism, St. Anthony.

The founder of the institution, which, after the bloody persecution of Christians by the Bolsheviks was entrusted to the Society of Jesus from the beginning on,  whom Pope Pius XI. entrusted this haven for Russian Catholics but also Orthodox Russians who converted under the influence of apocalyptic events in the former Russian Empire after the October Revolution, to the Catholic faith.

Refuge during the Soviet era

Missionaries were trained in the Russicum, who had the courage to go for their faith into the Soviet Union in order to evangelize. "There was a certain enthusiasm to go to Russia to preach the Gospel, and if necessary to die for it," said the Austrian-Swiss Jesuit born i 1915, Father Ludwig Pichler, about his memories on Russicum.

Among the students of Russicum belonged Blessed Theodore Romscha (1911-1947), Eparch of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church of Mukachevo, martyred.  Likewise, Father Pietro Leoni (1909-1995), Father Paul Chaleil (1913-1983), Father Walter Ciszek (1904-1984), Father Viktor Novikov (1905-1979), all of whom belonged to the Jesuits, all were doing missionary work in the Soviet Union and all were interned in the gulag.

Iconostasis in the Church the Russicum in Rome

Among the forgotten figures of this Pontifical College was Julia Nikolaevna Dansa, who from 1939 until her death in 1942 taught in the Russicum. The descendant of an ancient Byzantine aristocratic family, among whose ancestors was Emperor Romanos III. Agyros (968-1034), who had been occupied in her youth with occult practices, studied history and philosophy in Paris, was maid of honor of the Russian Empress and fought after the October Revolution in a Cossack regiment against the Bolsheviks. In 1920 she later met the beatified Leonid Fyodorov and converted to Catholicism. She joined the newly founded Catholic Nuns in St. Petersburg. In 1923 she was arrested in the wake of the communist persecution of Catholics and was interned on the Solovetsky Islands. In 1932 she was released and allowed to leave the country for Berlin in 1934 under the condition that she sign a declaration of silence about Soviet concentration camps. In France, she entered a convent of the Dominicans   and wrote in her last years several writings in which she contrasted Marxism with Christianity, and criticized Marxism. The writings, including her book, Catholic Knowledge of God and Marxist Atheism, which drew little attention not only in the field of philosophy, but also within Church circles under the changed conditions of the post-war period.

The Pontifical Oriental Institute Takes Over the Building

The building in which the Russicum is housed is adjacent to the Pontifical Oriental Institute, also run by the Jesuit Order. The Oriental Institute, which is celebrating the 100th year of its existence in the coming year, will be expanded. The number of faculty is increased and at the same time the rank of the institution into a university.

In this case, which enjoyed Orient Institute of the Pope last none too good health.A year ago it was about turbulence came at the Institut tip.

In May 2014. Pope Benedict XVI visited the seminarians of the Russicum  

The new Rector at the Oriental Institute is Father David Nazar, a Canadian Jesuit of Ukrainian descent. From 2005-2015 he was religious superior in Ukraine. He is determined to lead the Institute to the headlines and bring new glory. The Oriental Institute was nevertheless already a showcase of "historical encounters" and welcomed "illustrious guests".

Father Nazar expects that he will  soon get the green light for the takeover of the Russicums  from  the Congregation for Eastern Churches, whose prefect, the Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, is also Grand Chancellor of the Orient Institute as well as the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and from Pope Francis, but "not least from the benevolence of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Kremlin," said Magister. The Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod was "at home" in the Brezhnev era with the Jesuits in Rome. In his Rome stays he slept either in Russicum or "with honor" in the Villa Cavalletti Frascati as a guest of the then Jesuit Father General, Pedro Arrupe.

Nikodim turn summoned the Jesuit Miguel Arranz as a professor at his Theological Academy in Leningrad, while a crowd of Russian students to study could be sent to the pontifical universities in Rome.

As intercommunion between Catholics and Russian Orthodox  prevailed

The Pontifical College of the Russicum next to the church of the father of monasticism, Saint Antonius

Father Arranz was in use as a translator with that audience on September 5, 1978 at the Vatican  when Nikodim was received by Pope John Paul I.. During the audience the Metropolitan suffered a heart attack and died before the Pope's eyes. "The Jesuit never wanted to reveal what the Metropolitan said to the Pope at this meeting, who himself was to die even three weeks later," says Magister.

With the death of Nikodim, winter again froze over  the relations between Rome and Moscow. "Under the Metropolitan, the dialogue between the Church of Rome and the Patriarchate of Moscow had reached a peak," said Magister. The Moscow Patriarchate even allowed inter-communion at that time even   between Orthodox and Catholics, a short time later  it was banned under the pressure of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and rivals again.

The intercommunion had existed from 1439-1453, as the Council of Florence brought full unity between Western and Eastern Church which had been realized under the leadership of the Pope. The Turkish conquerors proceeded then, however, for political reasons to place anti-Western religious leaders at the head of the Patriarchate. Only more than 500 years later, were they reestablished again briefly under Nikodim.

"The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople does not allow intercommunion with Catholics, despite its super friendly dialog reputation until now," said Magister.

"It is curious that Father Antonio Spadaro," the editor of the Roman Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica and the close Pope's confidant, "has not mentioned this happy, ecumenical spring" when went over the history in his journal on March 12,  celebrating the embrace between Francis and the Moscow Patriarch Cyril in Havana as an unprecedented new beginning.  It's an omission which corresponds entirely to the revisionist style of the Soviet Union, such as the upcoming extinction of glorious Russicums. "

The following video shows a report of the Italian newsreel of 15 April 1940, the Russicum .



Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Wikicommons/Youtube
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Pope Francis Confirms His Burial Place -- the Grave of John XXIII

Pope Francis has chosen his resting place

(Rome) Pope Francis is preparing his grave, as the press agency I.Media reported. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi SJ confirms the report. This is neither "mysterious" nor something "special", says Lombardi.

The selection and preparation of a tomb is part of the earthly life cycle of a human being, said the Vatican spokesman.To that effect,  the selection of  the tomb chosen by Pope Francis is in the Vatican Grottoes.

Vatican spokesman: "Little more availability"

The crypt  below the St. Peter's Basilica and the further underlying necropolis is known as the Vatican Grottoes. Numerous popes were buried in the crypt, some of whom were laid there in the Vatican Basilica in the course of the Causes of Saints.

I.Media published the picture of a tomb. It's then not certain this really is the final resting place Pope Francis desires himself, as Tiscali reported yesterday and published its own photo.

The currently empty grave

Vatican spokesman Lombardi reported on Saturday  that it is the only unoccupied chapel at the moment in the Vatican Grottoes, which is why, in principle, the question arises, where the ceremony will be held  in the future.

"Pope of gestures" will be buried in the grave of the "Pope of the Council"

As "Pope of gestures" Francis wants to use the former grave of John XXIII. in which the "Pope of the Council" has lain for 38 years, from 1963 to 2001.  Soon after the beatification in September 2000 he was translated into St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis chose, bypassing the rules for the canonization for his miracle-less  elevation to the altars in 2014  together with John Paul II. The Polish pope was canonized through the recognition of a second miracle within a regular canonization.

From 2005-2011 John Paul II had initially been buried in this grave until he was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica.

John XXIII. let himself be buried in a simple sarcophagus of travertine in contrast to his predecessors. The grave inscription reads only Joannes PP. XXIII . Since then, all the popes have been buried in simple manner.

John Paul II., following the example of Paul VI. who found his final resting place in a grave sunken into the ground. On the marble slab in gold letters, which was even more spare, is Joannes Paulus II  with the birth and death date.

Cardinal Comastri: "Holy Father, it is yet to be seen who comes first"

The grave niche in the Vatican Grottoes has been unoccupied since 2011.  Recently it has been cleaned and "is ready to receive the mortal remains of Pope Francis," said Tiscali. The Argentine Pope let the Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, know that he wishes that grave for himself. The ideological commonality stressed with a hidden agenda  between John XXIII. and Pope Francis found is to continue in the grave.

Cardinal Comastri confirmed that Pope Francis expressed his wish two times.  The cardinal had replied: "Holy Father, it is yet to be seen who comes first." The reference was to the Emeritus Benedict XVI. whose ideas for grave locations are yet unknown.

Near the niche selected for Pope Francis, a white marble sarcophagus was recently placed.  Whether it has been  prepared for the German Pope remains speculation for now.

[Show as slideshow]

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: Wikicommons / Tiscali / MiL (screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Even Bill Donahue Can't Stomach Cardinal's Degenerate Parade

Edit: the parade is so bad even a professional mourner like Bill Donahue is moved to complain about something worth complaining about. That groups promoting sexual immorality are invited while those defending the unborn are banned. 

Notice this article ends with Cardinal Dolan complaining about secular forces which, like it or not, he serves when he allows the parade to be abused by the proponents of gender ideology.  It's so typical of the Register.

Complain though the Cardinal might about secularism, he's still caved to the consensus and is causing scandal by allowing organizations that promote sexual immorality in what is supposed to be a Catholic parade. Is he not the Gay Grand Marshal?

NEW YORK — When the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 11:30am Thursday, two homosexual groups will be among the hundreds of organizations marching under their own banners.

No pro-life organizations, however, will be marching in the annual parade down Fifth Avenue.

“You have a gay group in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade allowed to march, but the pro-life people are banned? The whole thing is perverse,” said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

http://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/nycs-perverse-st.-patricks-parade-will-feature-gay-groups-but-not-pro-life/

Petrus Blomvenna (1466-1536) and the Cologne Charthouse in the Renaisance

Exactly 550 years ago on the 29th of March, 1466, Pieter Blommeveen (later latinized to Peter Blomevenna) was born as one of twelve children of a wealthy and pious family.

The gifted boy received, like his compatriots: Adriaen Boeyens (1459-1523) and Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1537), a dignified education with the Brothers of the Common Life (Devotio Moderna).  Subsequently, he studied from 1483 at the University of Cologne and entered into the famous Cologne Charterhouse St. Barbara in 1489.  St. Barbara was the largest Charterhouse in Germany and one of the most respected of the Carthusian Order.

The Carthusians as a spiritual and moral renewal movement within the Church

The Carthusians led a  spiritual and moral regeneration movement within the Church.They placed an emphasis on prayer, asceticism, Christ and Marian devotion.

Converted church of Cologne Charterhouse, 1802 repealed under France since 1928 in a Protestant church

As part of its evangelizing activity, the Cologne Charterhouse gathered a large theological reference library and early had on their own printing and publishing operation for the production and dissemination of edifying writings.

Blomevenna was marked by great gentleness and innocence, by strict asceticism and by the gift of prayer and tears. This latter event was the reason why Blomevenna was prohibited from publicly  saying Holy Mass. His great emotion would, so said his superiors, confuse the faithful.

At 43 years he was elected prior of the Cologne Charterhouse in 1507. 

Intensive evangelizing activity

Blomevenna developed a broad and deep evangelizing activity. He wrote several theological works (e.g. Candela evangelica (The light / candle of the gospel); Assertatio purgatorii (Liberation [the soul] through purgatory).

Epitaph of Anton Woensam:  "Christ on the Cross", kneeling and embracing the cross is Peter Blomevenna shown (1535)

Not least important was the printing and distribution of numerous writings of Flemish Carthusian Denis van Leeuwen, called van Rijkel, better known by his religious name Denis the Carthusian (1424-1471).

This  greatest  Dutch theologian of the Late Middle Ages was considered very mystical. Because of his visionary writings, he was, in contrast to the sacred high scholastic Thomas Aquinas (the Angelic Doctor ),  called Doctor ecstaticus. He impressed  the  devout believers and the clergy tremendously by his devout life.The internal Church reform movement of Devotio Moderna got here a theological foundation with an emphasis on prayer, the renunciation of the world and was embedded in the Mysticism of the Cross and Marian devotion.

Blomevenna as editor of the writings of Dionysius the Carthusian

Denis the Carthusian was then several years a companion of Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa and strove already mid-15th century to an inner purification and spirituality of the Church in the midst of a turbulent world.

In 1509 Blomevenna translated the "Spieghel der Volcomenheit " (Mirror of Perfection) of Brabant Franciscan Hendrik Herp (ca. 1410-1477), another protagonist of spiritual renewal movement in the Netherlands, into Latin. More mystical-contemplative works followed.

The Carthusians were bound to the vow of silence. On the other hand, their use for pastoral care in Cologne was extremely necessary in the then chaotic times and was specifically requested, led Blomevenna to build a chapel on the outer wall of the Charterhouse, which made the pastoral care of women religious possible.

He led an intensive  correspondence with Dutch and Low German Beguines and nuns. He also had close links with Pope Clement VII. And Charles V.

The Cologne Charterhouse as a bulwark of catholicity

Under Blomevenna's Priorate many young men joined the Charterhouse.

Noteworthy are the brothers John and Dieter (Dirk) Loher (Loherius de Stratis). It was the latter who later became the savior of the Charterhouse Buxheim bei Memmingen (Swabia) which would lead the German Carthusian through the turmoil of the 1540s.

Blomevenna as editor of the writings of Dionysius the Carthusian

Even more important was the contact of the then still very young from Geldern, Pieter Kanis, actually Peter de Hondt, - who as Peter Canisius, was the first and the most important of the German and Dutch Jesuits - with the Cologne Charterhouse. The first Jesuits on German soil were largely supported by the Cologne Charterhouse financially and organizationally.

While the Reformation spread in Germany and in North-West Europe from 1517,  the Cologne Charterhouse constituted under Blomevenna the largest and most important bastion of Catholicism.

It was extremely proficient in theological defense of the faith and in its reply to allegations and accusations.

They trained their members and sympathizers, used modern printing techniques, gave out religious and polemical writings and operated a highly efficient network with important and interesting people.

Eighteen months after his death, his main work was published posthumously by his successor, Gerhard Kalckbrenner,  "De divina bonitate"  (Of Divine Goodness): an extremely important source for the Lower Rhine Dutch theology at this time.

The contacts with the Dutch Beguines and female religious were intensified. They led to the arrival of highly respected Dutch mystic, Maria van Oysterwijck with her mystically oriented circle.

Authentic model in prayer, asceticism and dedication to faith

Blomevenna today is almost completely forgotten today in his home. He is and remains, nonetheless, historically and above all for catholicity, an extremely important personality.

At the beginning of the modern era, in the troubled times immediately before and during the early Reformation period, he created, through great theological knowledge, through enormous pastoral activity, through efficient and skillful use of modern techniques, through education and networking of important and spiritually upright persons, and above all, by his personal example of the authenticity of prayer, asceticism and commitment to faith, the necessary staff work for the beginnings of the counter-Reformation.

Peter Blomevenna as Prior of Cologne Charterhouse, glass windows to 1510-1530

It has been referred to in the 20th century as the Counter-Reformation or as a "second Reformation" - to relativize the  "contra".

However, this is not quite true. There was a very long time, since the early 15th century, of aspirations for a Catholic renewal within the Church.

These reform movements were not least guided and supported as the saying goes, the Carthusians:"Numquam reformata qualis numquam deformata" (never reformed, because never deformed).

The Carthusian Order was then the most important center of Catholic piety. It stood  bravely and loyally for the venerable faith, was averse to the temptations of the world  and consolidated stably in itself; and it defended the faith very capably and efficiently in the Reformation turmoil.

The Carthusian Petrus Blomevenna here was the most important chief of staff. Blomevenna, who was prior of the Cologne Charterhouse and Visitor of the Rhenish Carthusian Province until his death, died on the 30th of September, 1536 in Cologne.

Of Blomevenna there are two traditional contemporary portraits:

In Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne is the epitaph by Anton Woensam  "Christ on the Cross with Saints of the Carthusian Order and its founder Peter Blomevenna" (Inv No: WRM0208 / Access 1857).

Moreover Blomevenna is depicted on a magnificent stained glass window that he himself donated; Today it is located in the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts (USA).

Dum mundus volvitur crux, stat.

Text: Armand Timmermans
Image: cartusiana / Worcesterart / University Library Freiburg / Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Fraternity of Saint Peter Relocated from Capuchin Church in Vienna to Paulaner Church

(Vienna) The Vienna branch, which was founded in 1988 FSSP, will  lose after 18 years, the famous Capuchin Church as a permanent Mass site.

"After about eighteen years in which we were allowed to be hosted by  the Capuchins, we have to give up the cherished Capuchin Church in downtown as a place of worship,"  announced  the local superior, Father Florian Grafl, in his preface to the March newsletter, has  received "a melancholy aftertaste" this year of "joy and jubilation over the high holy Easter."

April 2nd, the white Saturday in the Octave of Easter "will be the last day on which the weekday Mass at 8:00 am will be said in the Capuchin church."

There is No Reason for the Eviction

New Mass location: Wiedner parish church of the Holy Guardian Angels (Pauline Church)

One reason for the termination of the right of hospitality by the Capuchins was not disclosed.

The "termination"  took place a complete surprise.Nevertheless, it was Father Grafl, who will announce a new Mass location: "On White Sunday, April 3, Holy Mass will be said in the traditional Rite in the Schutzengelkirche (Pauline Church) [Church of the Guardian Angels] at Wiedner Hauptstraße."

The Fraternity of St. Peter was offered by Msgr. Franz Wilfinger, the pastor at the Paulaner Church,  "generously, a new home."

The Guardian Angels Church, also known as Pauline Church, is the parish church of the district of Wieden at Wiedner Hauptstraße Nr. 21 in the fourth district of Vienna. The first mention of the church dates back to 1211. It came to be through a donation in 1353 by the Equestrian Order of the Holy Spirit founded by Louie Anjou. In 1529 the Church was destroyed during the first Turkish siege. Since the members of the Order were scattered, it was dissolved.

"New home" in the Wiedner Parish

In 1626 Emperor Ferdinand II. in the course of the Counter-Reformation, called upon the Pauline Order founded by Francis of Paola 1435, to Vienna. The "Least of Brothers," as the members of the strict mendicant order call themselves, erected the first Paulaner church in 1651, consecrated to the Holy Guardian Angels. During the second Turkish siege of 1683, the church was destroyed again. This time as a precaution by the Vienna City defenders to leave the Turks no secure position for the attack. After the war,  the third and present church was built.

The storming of the monasteries of Emperor Joseph II.  was  in 1784 and the Viennese Paulaner monastery was a victim.The monastery buildings were almost completely raised. The only remainder is the presbytery which is used for that purpose today.

Capuchin Crypt, the grave where  the Habsburgs lay

The Fraternity of St. Peter in Vienna does not have its own church and is therefore dependent on hospitality at a parish or religious order,  the church of a rector. A canonical erection as an Old Rite personal parish for the Archdiocese of Vienna has not been  previously discussed. So far there is not one in all of Austria.

The Vienna Capuchin convent currently consists of ten brothers. seven of whom are priests. One of the tasks of the monastery is the custody of the Capuchin Crypt, the place of repose until 1918, of the ruling house of Habsburg.  The last, Otto von Habsburg and his wife Regina von Saxon were buried in the Imperial Crypt in 2011.

The Capuchins describe "necessary renovations" as the reason for the eviction. Finally, the church interior was subjected to a thorough renovation in 1976.

Text: Martha Weinzl 
Image: Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches... 

AMDG