Here is the final part of our little series of the images from our Day with Mary pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It begins with the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows).
Many thanks to Claudio, Trevor, and Derek for their work in putting together these incredible journeys! Thanks also to Frs. George and Gabriel, FI who were our spiritual directors and offered Holy Mass daily for us. Thanks also to the Sisters for accompanying us and giving beautiful example with their holy ways.
A Day With Mary apostolate is a tremendous channel of grace, not only on these special pilgrimages but the Saturdays when they are presented. All glory to God through the Immaculate!
I hope you have enjoyed these images. Full screen is best! Part Three
On Sunday 23 Jan, 2011, during a Missa Cantata Mass held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Sr Maria Lydwine Pia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Sr Maria Consolatrice Stefania of the Immaculate Conception and of the Most Holy Eucharist, made their Solemn Profession of Vows. The Chapel was filled to near capacity as family and friends gathered to witness this moving ceremony where these two religious sisters vowed for the rest of their lives to live the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and totally consecrated themselves to Our Blessed Mother by the Marian Vow.
Kneeling on the steps of the Altar is Fr. Angelo Geiger flanked by his two MCs, Friar Isaac and Friar Augustine. In the foreground, the two sisters lie prostrate covered with a Pall during the Litany of the Seraphic Order. The Cantor, Friar David, can be seen in the Pulpit. PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE GIRARD
This was the first time that a Solemn Profession by the Franciscans of the Immaculate has been done in the United States during the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The friars combined the new with the old as they used high-tech equipment with the 1500 year old form of the Mass. There was a camera set up in the Choir loft covering the whole of the Sanctuary which was wired into the vestibule where one friar stood in front of a television set monitoring the progress of the ceremony and directing the two MC’s who were wearing concealed earpieces and listening to the instructions and directions so as to be able to choreograph the various intricate movements of the servers during the Mass. Friar Isaac commented afterward that the communications had worked brilliantly. When he first arrived at the Foot of the Altar, his mind went blank as to what was going to happen next when he heard over his earpiece, “The Priest and MC’s genuflect in plano, ascend the Altar steps, and turn towards the Congregation while the Cross Bearer brings over the chair to the Predella”. Thanks be to God for modern technology!
Sr Maria Lydwine Pia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (closest to camera) and Sr Maria Consolatrice Stefania of the Immaculate Conception and of the Most Holy Eucharist, kneeling during the ceremony.
Paix Liturgique, in its newest Italian newsletter, has an interview with Fr Alessandro M. Apollonio, rector of the theological seminary of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (FFI), which brings splendid news from this young order which now has more than 700 members. Here is a translation of the part concerning the liturgy:
The vocation of a seminary is to give priests to Holy Church. This year eight of your friars will be ordained in Florence, on the Feast of the Annunciation, 25 March. Last year, the ceremony took place at Tarquinia and, for the first time in the history of your institute, the sacrament of orders had been conferred on five of your friars according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Monsignor Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, officiated. This year Cardinal Rodé, another prelate of the Curia, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, will be the celebrant. Again, the Pontifical Mass will be accordiing to the older form: can we conclude that the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite now becomes the ordinary manner of your ordinations to the priesthood?
Yes, as long as the Pope allows it, in the sense of being the preferred form, not the exclusive.
Rinascimento Sacro has announced that, at 10:00 A.M. on March 25, 2010, H.E. Franc Cardinal Rode will offer Solemn Pontifical Mass and ordain 8 new priests for the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, in the Chiesa di Ognissanti in Florence.
Fi News #67 – Fr. Gabriel Pellettieri visits Perth (08min) >>> Play
For the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Perth, Western Australia, the beginning of Lent was not so penitential this year, as they were blessed to have the visit of Fr. Gabriel M. Pellettieri, our Cofounder. He arrived in Perth after a visit to the Philippines and, after staying a week in Perth visiting the friars and sisters, he returned to Italy.
Short Series #43 – See you next year (09min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
Celebration of All Hallows Eve at the Franciscan Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Griswold, CT.
The Church day by day gives special veneration to one or more of the holy men and women who have helped to establish it by their blood, develop it by their labors, or edify it by their virtues. But, in addition to those whom the Church honors by special designation or has inscribed in her calendar, how many martyrs are there whose names are not recorded! How many humble virgins and holy penitents! How many unknown anchorites and monks, Christian fathers and mothers, young children snatched away in their innocence! How many courageous Christians, whose merits are known only to God and His heavenly court! – a
Homily #080206 ( 11min) Play – Rend your hearts and not your garments, preaches Fr. Angelo on Ash Wednesday, extolling us to live what we are showing outwardly by our external sign of Ashes.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Face of Pro-Life #20 -Fra Anthony talks about our modern culture of death. (29min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
Fra Anthony Mary, FI gives his testimony of growing up in a the pro-abortion world after Roe v. Wade was passed. He describes his amazement when he looked into the issue about how bad abortion is and yet it was never talked about in school or in his Church. Listen to this unique perspective on the pro-life movement.
Homily #080203 ( 21min) Play – Fr. Angelo preaches on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, explaining that the Beatitudes are not opposed to the Ten Commandments as some try to claim but that they are an invitation list to the Wedding Banquette and we all must hope and pray that we are on that list.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Homily #080202 (11min) Play – The blood splattered on the wood of the doorposts in Egypt was symbolic of the blood of the Lamb who was to be slain, who was today presented in the Temple.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Homily #080127 (37min) Play – Using the example of the calling of the Lord’s disciples from being fishermen to being fishers of men,?Fr Bonaventure highlights the importance of living for God, offering up our sufferings for the conversion of sinners as opposed to what the world offers as paradise, indulgence in fleshly pleasures and the associated hardening of the heart.?
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Homily #080125 (10min) Play – Fr. Angelo, as he preaches on the Feast of St Paul, underscores the power of God to convert such a hardened persecutor of the Church and raise him up as a great Apostle, preacher and writer of Epistles.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Homily #080123 (7min) Play – Fr. Ignatius preaches on the feast of the Espousal of the Virgin Mary to St. Joseph. He points out that this was the most happy marriage in the world because it was the holiest.
Ave Maria!
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Homily #264 (6min) Play – Fr. Michael Gauvreau explains that?all nations are called to be?Christians and we must follow Our Lord’s example and work hard to lead others into the Church.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Face of Pro-Life #19 – Corinn Dahm with guests Pat Rossi and Margaret Becotte (29min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
Host Corinn Dahm discusses with Patricia Rossi and Margaret Becotte organizers for Norwich, CT Right-to-Life Bus to the annual Washington DC Pro-life March. Listen as they describe the history of this event and the challenges and blessings this 30 hour odyssey for life entails.
Links: CT Right to Life
Here is the final part of our little series of the images from our Day with Mary pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It begins with the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows).
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