The following comes from a July 1 blog posting by Father Paul Nicholson, a Canadian priest who was visiting California.
….On Sunday, June 29th, my assistant drove me from San Francisco to Simi Valley. The drive along the California coast was spectacular. We stopped along the way to visit a monastery, the New Camaldoli Monastery in Big Sur. I was excited to visit, because I had read a great deal of the reforms of St. Romuald, and his Benedictine efforts of the 13th Century. I knew of their austerity, their love of silence. And the location couldn’t be more conducive to contemplation.
Alas, I was so disappointed. I was disappointed to find in the bookstore yoga manuals and Buddhist tracts. There were collections of nice Byzantine icons and Thomas Merton books. But as for real authentic traditional material of the Camaldolese monasticism … nothing.
But my disappointment didn’t stop there. The chapel awaited a visit and I was even more disappointed. Here ‘the cult of minimalism’ had triumphed. The chapel was divided in half; the entrance being for the Liturgy of the Word and the inner hexagon room had a centralized barren altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist (no altar cloth … nothing to soften the eye) with no visible tabernacle, and no image of Our Lady. The Crucifix seemed small and non descript in a suspended state. Once I discovered the tabernacle, my amazement for its hiddenness knew no bounds. It was no more than a plain cupboard in a back corner. You would never know it was a tabernacle except for a feng shei orb lamp on a ledge by the side of the wall. A big pottery bowl contained loose pieces of paper, presumably petitions.
There was nothing to attract the eye. It was intentionally severe in its hard simplicity. Nothing was attractive. It was the most purely functional room I had ever encountered. It reminded me of some kind of Roman bath.
How different down the road things were.
Down the road from the monastery was the unbelievable Hearst Castle. Built by an enormously wealthy William Randolph Hearst, from the early 20th century, the Castle became a magnet for people ever since. Hearst built the place, as they said, because he believed “dreams are meant to be shared”. In the 1920’s and 1930’s the Castle hosted countless starlets and silver screen stars. What a place!
You should see it. I am not going to give you a history lesson on how it was created or even why. One guy had money, but he spent it in an explosion of generosity for others. Now it hosts people continuously. It is simply awesome.
Hearst collected all sorts of art from human culture and civilization. Christendom is everywhere. Paintings, statues, ornaments … in a word, beauty. You can’t help but feel inspired, and in a strange way, loved … because this fellow shared himself with you. He took what he had and did something wonderful. Did he solve world poverty? No he didn’t and I didn’t hear a peep from anyone saying California should confiscate the property and give it to the homeless.
He wanted to share his dreams. The Catholic Faith is better than dreams; its the real deal, but sadly we are so STINGY with it. Why can’t our monasteries look, even a bit like the Hearst Castle? Why do secular buildings inspire more then our chapels and our churches. What a shame!
The next day had me in the heart of Los Angeles. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels has long been on my list of places to visit. So much has been written about it, that I confess, I was eager to see it. I had read all sorts of pros and cons on its construction. But nothing actually prepared me for what I found. Again, the minimalism of the design, the hardness of the lines, the austerity … was profoundly un-Incarnational. It didn’t feel like a home, it didn’t feel like a place in which you want to pray. Rather, it had a very strong industrial feel to it. Like a big factory. Maybe that is the intended goal. As a factory, it seeks “to make Christians”. But we are not products on an assembly line, we are children of God.
Down the street, again, the secular arm of the world wins the arm wrestle for beauty. The Biltmore Hotel, one of the original sites of the Oscars is a magnificent building. Nothing so captures the eye or the soul like the beauty that lies within. Such magnificence speaks, it tells the visitor, ‘you are important, you are a person, and you are worth sharing this loveliness with’.
To read the entire posting, click here.
Well, I cant speak for the writer’s comparisons of the Camaldolese Big Sur monastery to the Biltmore Hotel; but I can say that the devastation of traditional Catholic religious order tradition, discipline and history is overwhelmingly evidenced in the almost nihilistic “worship space” (a fact I was already familiar with at the Big Sur monastery) in what has happened to the Camaldolese. St. Romuald wrote of “emptying oneself” to concentrate on the grace of God: but what has happened in the post-Vat2 era with this group has been a complete deviation from their actual Benedictine-St Romuald roots. Just look at the surviving architecture and foundations of Camaldolese in Europe that havent become this New Age Zen Emptiness -type of community.
And also: I concur entirely with his visit to the Aircraft Hanger of Mahony, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. When one enters the “worship space”, just as with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple in Chicago, Il, one first starts toward a beautiful classic altarpiece/reredos originally at the Our Lady of the Angels minor seminary in San Fernando Valley: then, to continue to the cathedral nave, one is forced to turn away from this emblem of Catholic tradition and meaning, at a 90 degree angle, than to turn again at 90 degrees to come to the actual true Cathdral nave and face the new altar.
It is not an accident at all that the architect of the Cathedral followed exactly FL Wright’s plan of “turning” away from the tradition of the past to go in a different direction, clearly to turn to a different faith and a different church.
Why the surprise, Father? The Catholic Church turned its back on the beauty that was the TLM, Gregorian Chants, religious architecture and statuary of all kinds. Centuries of trying to create places of true beauty to worship our Lord and to honor our Most Holy Mother, left many, many wonders to experience. What you see — sadly — is what you get with the Novus Ordo, and with the awfulness of non-Traditional “songs” now played at the “gathering” where all “help the presider” to complete the “service.” What a sad and complete joke. And, now we have the truly bizare lecturing that is going on as bishops and cardinals try to “out-Francis” each other by calling out the evils of Traidtion, and the Church, itself. Perhaps one of the biggest Company Men around, Abp. Socrates Villegas (Pres. of the Catholic Bishops Conf.), called the pre-Francis Church, “dogmatic, self engrossed and authortative sick institution.” The dangers from True Believers, whether they are Nazis, Communists, or Imperialists, is that they try, try, and try again to put the generalized policies of their Masters into practical effect. And, their work has been rewarded: the Catholic Church is dying as an institution, including in your Canada. The Benedictines are much more Buddist than Catholic; they embrace the belief that seem to have a core and actually mean something, instead of the brutalist approach to “belief.”
I know we will be put down and called out for believing in the Traditions of the Catholic Church but I never figured I woluld be disliked because I attend the Traditional Latin Mass and believe in the Traditions of the Church.
The Messages of Our Lady of Akita, Japan
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see Cardinals opposing Cardinals, Bishops against other Bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.”
AND ALL HAS HAPPEN AS OUR BLESSED MOTHER PREDICTED
That’s sad, but for the lay faithful, what is to be done? Nothing other than prayer. Otherwise, just hold our ground, maybe press for the Latin Mass to any open ears. It’s not the fault of the lay faithful that the divisions proliferate.
Reminds me of a movie set for a gathering of freemasons. CA has the largest number of freemasons in the world. And the circle is very creepy, like a Carl Rogers Esalen therapy group for normals.
Freemasonry has a formal history going back to the early 1700s. Pope Clement XII in 1737 was the first pope to condemn it. Calling it ‘creepy’ or comparing it to a therapy group is gross understatement and a disservice to Catholics on this board who may not be familiar with it. In truth of fact, Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Humanum Genus in 1884 flatly stated that Freemasonry’s “manner of reasoning is calculated to bring about the ruin of the Catholic religion.” Further, Freemasons “easily deceive the simple-minded and the heedless, and can induce a far greater number to become members.” Beware of ignorance.
“Beware of ignorance”
Yes, read a Catholic Bible, and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” at home.
More of “The Fruits of Vatican 2”.
Now just stop already with that…..geeze!
Whats the problem, Abeca?. V2 is the problem!. I would suggest that you “stop with that already” and make a comment that can be backed up…
Will I can say the same for you. But why bother, just do us all a favor and have your eye’s fixed on Jesus!
I don’t need to prove anything to you, I live the faith, I grew up in the V2 as you call it, I love my faith. The sins of men will pay for their ways but the church is always the same, yesterday, today and always as is our Lord! I’m grateful that in my little ways, God has created me during this after V2, and it is now that we can carry our cross with Christ and be a witness to the faith. I don’t want to get in the mud mentality that you and others who complain and always shout fruits of the V2, fruits of the V2 when they see something they don’t like! How about the real culprit, the fruits of the wicked. They are the culprits, but those of us who have a zeal to be faithful, live the faith and we are from these times. Praise God that we are living these times, it is now, today that saints can be made. The question is “are you up to the challenge?” Stop blaming and be what the Lord has called out for you to be or do. Make a difference, many in the V2 generation are doing that, making a difference, sorry that you are too bitter and angry to even notice! Our Lord promised in Matthew 16:18 Douay-Rheims Bible
I have no power over the changes that took place that may have or may not have happened but our God is in control. He will see to it that those who did not honor what the church really intends to do for the good of our salvation, if they have abused that trust or for whatever reason, His truths still live on, even within us. There are many good things that are happening now because of the devout love that the lay faithful have for our Lord and His church. It is not the time to abandon ship, its actually a time to witness more saints in the making!
I notice that it’s in these times, that prayer is what gets me through, closer to my Lord. Nothing else matters when I am alone with Jesus. I suggest you do the same.
Abeca Christian, the statistics I saw show that pre-Vatican 2, Mass on Sunday attendance was about 75% of the Catholics and that now it is about 25%. Catholic churches are closing all over America, especially in the big cities. If that’s not a result of Vatican 2, what is it.? By the way, I am totally capable of handling my own prayer life. I’ve been doing it for many, many years.
I agree with John F. The statement “praise God we are living these times” – Wow – I guess it can be helpful to look for a silver lining. Bottom line, Vat 2 gave license to the greatest widespread disintegration of the Faith since Martin Luther. Only a person who grew up post-Vat 2 could sufficiently lack perspective to wax poetic about Amchurch. The people that love the current mainstream presentation of the faith in this country shouldn’t be regarded much differently than zealots that exist in various protestant sects. Hearing the enthusiasm of some evangelical means about the same. They’re just one more step removed, but similarly are blocked in their own lack of perspective. It’s so sad that the post-Vat 2 people just have no clue as to what they were deprived of without their knowledge or consent. No it’s not a time to abandon ship, only because the ship was abandoned long ago when traditional Catholicism was thrown overboard. Now is the time to return to the TLM. That’s where the action is. But tough to explain color to a blind man.
I have my eye’s fixed on Jesus, so if you don’t get you all, what can I tell you. My love and faith is genuine. My question for you men is :
If this is the fruit of the V2, then what is the fruit that created V2? And what are you trying to accomplish by pointing out such things? Are you trying to discredit my faith?
F. Suleau you are very sad by us post V2 people? Glad that you pity me. I am grateful. But don’t pity me out of despair, for my greatest love is Jesus and He will take care of us Post V2 lay faithful. As a person who suffers much, I offer them up and at that end of that suffering, I find Jesus. I don’t share your views sir but I do respect them. I actually feel very sad by your views, I don’t know if there will be any room to grow if you continue having that pity for us. You come of as someone who despairs and who does not trust in Jesus word. Again please don’t take my words as attacking you or disrespecting you but I am replying to you and I wish I can say tons of things to you in reply but its too long to post here. I wish I knew you in person and we can pray together and have an charitable talk. Lets pray for one another and trust in our Lord. God bless you.
F. Suleau wrote” No it’s not a time to abandon ship, only because the ship was abandoned long ago when traditional Catholicism was thrown overboard. Now is the time to return to the TLM. That’s where the action is. But tough to explain color to a blind man.”
Those are one of the most saddest comments I have ever read(they are not even close to reality)…..sir you know nothing about me, its best you stop talking before you look more foolish. Your not helping with the good cause. Some just work against others that are fighting the good fight, its like if they want everyone to fail that is united to Rome! It shows their utter prejudges. How are they different from the liberals in our church who work against those of Tradition? God have mercy.
John Feeney well good for you. Keep handling your own prayer life. No one is stopping you. In fact, I encourage you to continue. Its for the best, lets just ask Jesus for His will. Just fix your eye’s on Jesus, not on who and how many are attending Mass back then and now.
John Feeney As I know it, the Pre V2 church wasn’t perfect either, had its own issues as well why then did we have dissent in the church that helped created V2, its run by adults born and who grew up before V2.
I read it from St, Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas etc. how about during the Council of Hippo and Trent? How many Christians were martyred then? Many. If the church fought all heresies, then we wouldn’t have Luther and his minions try to break the church. Before V2 we started having the Jesus freaks protestant movement. Lets see now, it was the sins of men and even our own church who stopped teaching, I have a feeling it was before V2, or why else did V2 start? There was a fruit of something in the church that helped created V2 disobedience. I say disobedience because from what I read, is that some in V2 disobeyed and did what they wanted over here in the USA. If our church was so obedient and strong as they say, then why did the dissenters use the V2 as something to work against the church missions?
If the dissenters where actually Catechized well since they were fruit of Pre-V2, then V2 would of been more faithful. But it’s back firing because the truth lives on and the strong evangelizing of V2, the good intention of it, is striving and we do see good fruit, but the dissenters we will always have with us. If you know history, you will know this, going all the way back to Judas.
: ) Well you don’t have to fight me or argue with me, I am no saint, I have no power, but my only trust is in Jesus and the intercession of our lady. Take care. < < <
Very perceptive piece by Fr. Paul Nicholson. The Vatican Council II churches are denuded of beauty. I can only start imagining how awful it must be for a Monk to be trapped for life attending several services a day in that terrible circular chapel with a cross hanging from a thread over a table altar. No tabernacle. No reclinatories. No Holiness. For life! The poor monks must go slowly crazy.
The Taj Mahony is what it is, the glorification of the disaster that we still continue living through. Council Vatican II. The Los Angeles Archdiocese was devastated by our Cardinal protector of Pederasts and elector of Popes.
Father is right that the Biltmore Hotel is much nicer than a Monastery and a Cathedral. Just visit any of the California Missions built by Fr. Serra and you will see the way it should be.
The problem with these Modernist churches is that after they are built the faithful have to put up with these buildings for decades. I think it will be better for all é involved to tear these buildings down and build Catholic Churches.
I notice that Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Incarnation, did not spend time in palaces, except when drug into the praetorium by His captors. I find Fr. Nicholson’s analysis of the sights he visited shallow, buying into the values of the world, and serving Mamon rather than than the Spirit.
What David said.
Jim McCrea writes, “What David said.” = Anti Catholic homosexual activist
Taken from Letters to the editor- San Francisco Catholic
Marriage and the Bible
July 11th, 2011
By Jim McCrea
Jim McCrea also wrote …”Would any contemporary heterosexual married couple — who likely woke up on their wedding day harboring some optimistic and newfangled ideas about gender equality and romantic love — turn to the Bible as a how-to script? I recommend readers of Catholic San Francisco study John Boswell’s book, “Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality” (University of Chicago Press, 1980), in which he documents legally recognized homosexual marriage in ancient Rome extending into the Christian period, and his “Same-Sex Unions in Pre-modern Europe” (Villard Books, 1994), in which he discusses church-blessed same-sex unions and even an ancient Christian same-sex nuptial liturgy.”—-by Jim McCrea =
Enough said!
So the cells of the monks should be spartan and humble, David I. But that which is ordered to the honor and acknowledgement of Almighty God – the chapel and altar and Tabernacle – should expound the glories of Heaven and that which is deserving to God. Which is all honor and the very best of what we as people have to offer Him. Like Abel who offered the finest meats vs Cain who offered wilted vegetables, we should honor God with our best and most beautiful, not negate His glory by even visually offering nothing.
Yes the results of Vatican 2 are so magnificent aren’t they David I,,, just so wonderful your kind has striped our parishes of sense of the divine and replaced it with the feeling of school auditorium…
My sense of minimalist priests is that they struggle with prayer even while they are drawn to a life of meditation. Buddhism is a devotion that appears meditative and deep making the road to God one of going further into yourself rather than stepping out of your self-centeredness and finding God outside ourselves. The faith of these men is a form of narcissim.
The priest is certainly more generous than necessary in his description of Hearst’s motivations, but I wonder if he found any insight into the inner life of the monks at Big Sur beyond that informed by the architecture and the sale items at the gift shop?
What is for sale in the gift shop says much about the spirituality of those in the monastery, Brian S.
How much, and what, the gift shop items say about the brother’s spirituality is in question, Ann. Would you base your opinion of the Vatican on the quality of the gift shop?
Did this man, a priest, even bother to talk with the brothers? Why base his report only on gift shop indicators as if he were any other tourist?
I’m guessing his investigation of the monastary was as superficial as the rest of his article. Holding Hearst – a man who used tabernacles as sock drawers – up as a monument to generousity, indeed!
Yes, actually, I would base much of my opinion of the Vatican by what is sold in the book shop. If the book shop that is accessible to the faithful (and, more importantly, those outside the Faith) yet under the jurisdiction of the Vatican is rife with heretical material, that would indicate at the very least that those in authority are not heeding those seemingly ‘small’ details that can and DO cause souls to fall into Hell. They are NOT vigilant as shepherds are called to be.
Externals matter, Brian S, and so do first impressions. So a Catholic institution of monks that has heretical materials in their bookstore are scandalizing not only the faithful, but misleading those who might otherwise wander inside not understanding what the Church actually teaches. (But that’s been the m.o. for decades now.)
So saying it is not the ‘quality’ of the bookstore that I’d take issue with. Although that makes your argument appear to take the righteous highroad of non-judgement of the poor, innocent brothers. Rather it is the ‘content’ inside the bookstore that is RIGHTFULLY judged as that is what gives an impression to the unwary tourist. “Gee, Fran Catholic, I got this Buddhist meditation book at the monastery so it must be okay. I don’t know why you’re telling me it isn’t. You’re so narrow minded and judgmental.”
Apparently you don’t think it odd that a priest would go to a monastery and then report only on its gift shop. I find it quite strange.
I find it odd that you would put up a defense of any Catholic institution that promotes Buddhism in any way, shape, or form, Brian S. The fact that it was a priest reporting on this very BASIC disconnect is refreshing.
It’s time poison and bad example/practice was called out as such. And from the mouth of a Shepherd. That is odd, but welcome, Brian S, and lonnnnng overdue.
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the prayer life of the monks centers around what is sold in the gift shop. At least I can hope it does not!
Ann Malley, when I went to the gift shop at the Vatican, they were pushing postage stamps. Do we really think the Vatican is telling us that Christ gives a hoot about how we transport mail from one 19th century village to another? No, I think they were trying to make money. I’m not disparaging that aim, I’m just saying, you shouldn’t confuse it with an ex cathedra statement of dogma.
I haven’t defended anything, Ann. I’ve criticized a priest for scandalizing a community of monks on such shallow ground of the contents of a gift shop, when he surely could have secured a direct audience.
Of course, maybe he did, and for all I know they are a bunch of new-age goofballs, and perhaps he showed charity by not going beyond mentioning their new-age wares. I don’t disagree with you that those stocking choices have some meaning.
But the priest’s credibility is strained in my eyes. I’m astounded that he would hold up Hearst’s monument to his own ego as “an explosion of generosity for others”. I’m disgusted that he would describe the misuse of the sacred objects Hearst profaned and used as decoration for his adulterous love-nest as evidence that “Christendom is everywhere” within it.
Well, YFC, I would seriously hope that someone at the monastery would have a care for what they sell. Much like I am concerned over your selling the homosexual agenda under the pretense of Catholic charity. That said, one could seriously hope that you do not center your spiritual life around what you sell, but it is scandalous and misleading none-the-less.
And, Brian S, you may find it shallow that the priest who wrote this article focused on the gift shop, but that is rather telling in itself.
Hearst’s castle is no testament to religion, love of God, or anything other than secular excess. It isn’t supposed to be. And yet Hearst spent much effort in seeing to every detail. Even details to mock God and the Catholic Church. Conversely, the attention to detail at the Monastery with regard to honoring God and adhering to the Catholic Faith seems wanting … even if it is a lack of attention to detail. The selling of Buddhist themed goods on top of it, however, is a rather interesting detail that hasn’t been missed.
That’s the message, Brian S. No need to disparage the priest who wrote the article or think less of him. Think more about what was meant by what he wrote…. or write to him and ask. Those priests with sight enough to make such clear observations of that which shouldn’t be are a rare breed. We need more of them!
And YFC, would it be confusing doctrine with ‘making money’ if Catholics took issue with the Vatican book shop selling blue films? Really?
Selling postage stamps makes no message. Selling Buddhist tracts to ‘make money’ as you term it teaches multiple lessons. 1) We don’t care what you read or learn. 2) Making money comes before preaching Truth. 3) We don’t really know and/or care what truth is so long as you drop money at the Vatican.
Sounds a lot like what is going on with certain factions in the Church pandering to those who would have the Church sell what it doesn’t ‘believe’ in order to turn a buck.
Thanks for making your stance on that issue even clearer than it has been already.
Ann, there is no reason to think that the Brothers did not pay attention to detail! The monastary has been made exactly as the brothers desired it made. Your complaint is not about lack of attention to detail, your complaint is with the details they selected.
If inclined to charity, one could see the yoga and other tracts as outreach, similar to the practice of the missionaries who sought to incorporate the spiritual language of the culture they lived.
Father Paul is certainly charitable to W.R. Hearst – so much so that he ignores the profanement and destruction of his palace, to call it an “explosion of generosity for others”. Please see Life Lady’s post, and contemplate the barbarity required to convert midevial chant sheets into lampshades.
Far from being an “explosion of generousity”, Hearst Castle is a state-owned museum, funded by ticket sales. It has been this since the Hearst heirs traded it for tax abatements on tens of thousands of acres of the California coast.
Yes it is pretty, and anyone who enjoys vicariously living the life of the ultra-rich can derive some pleasure for it. The Calamoldi monks have elected severity instead. This is also in the Catholiic tradition.
If one is not inclined to mandated blindness one will see tracts on yoga and Buddhism as heretical and misleading, Brian S. That is precisely how the priest who wrote this article is viewing it. Why? Because the fruits of this methodology have shown that they lead to indifferentism, syncretism, and the incorrect notion that it’s-all-good. It is not all good, Brian S. This priest can see that and has the fortitude to say as much, using common sense and reason as his guide. Not misguided misinterpretations of charity.
So my consigning the presence of such material at a Catholic Monastery as an oversight was, in fact, charity. Often times letting one’s yes mean yes and asserting that one’s no means now – kindly – is the best evangelization.
So while the Calamoldi monks have elected severity, they are so severe that they appear to cut off the reality and beauty of that which is the Catholic Faith. Hearst Castle, a monument to Mammon, does not skimp on promoting that which they believe. As Our Lord says, we could learn much from those who are not of God if only to see how focused they are on their chosen agenda.
WE should do the same.
I’m confident the yoga books were not an oversight. Evangelization has been done different ways and no technique has been devoid of criticism.
Or, everything the Priest implies about these monks could be correct, even as Henry VIII’s opinions no doubt had some exemplars to support it.
The priest has a blind spot for Hearst, however. One might as well praise Bill Gates for erecting his $700 million dollar house and call him generous for it.
You miss the lesson, Brian S. That is not the priests fault. And yes, evanegelization has been done myriad ways, but the fruit of this newer brand, which is little more than indifferentism/syncretism, hasn’t proven a success as the Catholic Church is not burgeoning with converts. The biggest conversion is to non-practicing former Catholics. And often for not understanding what the Catholic Church actually teaches.
And, yes, I would tend to agree with you that books on Yoga and Buddhism are there quite intentionally. So sad.
If the bishops were wiser they would ensure that every pre-conciliar VC2 church be maintained as it is. These are treasures that link past and present. Too many beautiful churches are being demolished, sold for vegetable markets, night clubs or whatever. In Europe many churches are being wreckovated to build circular seating around the people’s altar in the transept (e.g., Saint Germain des Près in Paris, Cathedral of Würzburg) and to remove the sacrament from the nave. Why Vatican II priests want to bring us back to the Sixties I do not know, but they hurt the Church.
We need churches that lift our hearts and minds to God, not minimalist spaces that invite our minds to wander, and wonder why anyone built such an empty space. To blame Vatican II is silly. Nothing in the documents mandated the stripping of altars and churches, but Vatican II was used as an excuse by some in church leadership to turn their backs on the Tridentine Rite, using the vernacular in the Mass, and putting music publishing companies in charge of music used in the liturgy, instead of following Rome’s guidelines. Some call our church here the American Catholic Church. Those of us who are old remember the beauty and sacredness of our churches, the beautiful liturgies, devotions, novenas. Fortunate are those of us who can still participate in a Latin liturgy on a regular basis, in a “worship space” that is really a beautiful temple built for the greater honor and glory of God. Not to forget the blessing of a great organ in contrast to the pounding of pianos or twang-twang of guitars at every Mass.
Having been to that Hearst place I can’t express my shock of finding tabernacles turned into ornaments, books of chant their pages of hand written chant turned into lamp shades, and priest vestments worn by Hearst himself hanging in the closet of his room ( I don’t want to know when he wore them). So something got missed all the way around, and that’s the biggest disappointment of all.
The first time I saw the cathedral I was driving by on the freeway and it was under construction. I though it looked like a big pile of, well, adobe. I’ve been inside once and that was enough.
The Vatican II movement can be called many things, Catholic, however is not one of them.
Just to show by contrast what a pre-Vatican II Camaldolese monastery church looked like, here is an image (there are several similar Camaldolese churches and monasteries throughout Europe):
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_Our_Lady_Assumed_into_Heaven_(Camaldolese)-interior,_1_Konarowa_Av,_Bielany,_Krakow,_Polanda.jpg
Pardon that it is sourced from wikimedia: But in answer to (what I believe is a mistaken view of) David, this contrasting image of a true Catholic church shows the restored interior of the Camaldolese Church of Our Lady of the Assumption near Krakow, Poland. The Krakow foundation church also shows, when compared with the Big Sur foundation and “worship space”, the Buddhist tracts, and its yoga manuals, that there was an absolute rupture at Vatican II. If you read the “Brief Rule” of St. Romuald (ca 1000 AD), just see what Romuald stood for: he did not recommend anything but the pure life of Catholic tradition:
“Realize above all that you are in God’s presence, and stand there with the attitude of one who stands before the emperor. Empty yourself completely and sit waiting, content with the grace of God, like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing but what his mother brings him.” (excerpt from Romuald’s Brief Rule).
And people cant see that there was something wrong that happened sometime in the last 50 years? Really?
Steve Phoenix, Magnificent photo vs the sacked altars and churches that Our Lady of Akita warned us about.
Some parishes in the United States are currently having retreats and the purpose is to teach Catholics about “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” which is so needed at this time. Some local parishes had the Legion of Mary members come and show a teaching film to Catholics about this helpful book which was recently written by a young priest named Father Michael E. Gaitley, MIC. The book is based on the inspiring works of St. Ignatius, St. Faustina and The Little Flower. This book truly reminded me of what Our Lady of Akita is asking of us during these times.
See You Tube ‘CONSOLING THE HEART OF JESUS’ by Michael E. Gaitley, MIC
Message of Our Lady of Akita, Japan
“Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with My Son, for souls who will repair, by their suffering and their poverty, for the sinners and ingrates.”
I met Father Paul Nicholson at a retreat. He is a good and faithful Catholic, not to mention a wonderful speaker. His Masses are Holy and devote.
Fr. Paul adheres to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
Thank Karen for your comments.
Which masses are NOT holy and “devote”? Are there masses that don’t adhere in some way to the Catechism? Or are you actually complaining about something other than rubrics or canon law? Sacramental validity and external adherence to the faith are hardly things to be judged by such trivial posts on the web.
Anony are we going through that again…last time I heard of a scandal coming from a Mass was the one in Orange county, the clown mass or something like that. You must be new or else you would know from past comments of concern on that.
This spartan look of the Vatican Coucil II Church is also reflected in pope Francis’ preference to live and work in the Casa Santa Martha guesthouse over the papal apartment at the Apostolic Palace. The Chapel in the cellar of Santa Marta is quite awful (designed by an American architect) and does not even have the tabernacle behind the altar. Pope Francis could give his daily sermons in any number of fabulous ancient chapels just across the street from Domus Sanctae Martae in St. Peter’s Basilica or nearby churches inside the Vatican. Beauty does not seem to be desirable for evangelization, yet it is.
well God bless Father Paul Nicholson. I’m glad that he is sharing his concerns about what he saw. It needs to be said from our priests. There needs to be a dialogue, an honest one in order to get rid of the trash that is being allowed in our churches.
God bless you Father Paul Nicholson. God help you speak to those who are in high places, so they know what abuses are being allowed, and with our prayers, we hope to see some action taken to stop this madness. They also will know that we know and we will not stand by them.
“The two centres which were the initial power-houses of the New Age, and to a certain extent still are, were the Garden community at Findhorn in North-East Scotland, and the Centre for the development of human potential at Esalen in Big Sur, California, in the United States of America.” – from the Vatican document JESUS CHRIST THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF NEW LIFE
A Christian reflection on the “New Age”
Like so many others on this site, I have visited hundreds of wonderful churches in many countries of the world. I am impressed with the architecture, the paintings, the statues, the gold leaf and the overall art of the places. They are beautiful. They are also icons of another age. Although I love those places, I also like the more bare churches of modern times as well. Many of the modern churches are designed to put the entire focus on the altar, not the art. Modern rules don’t even allow for flowers on the altar, because it takes away from the rite. I’m sure that there is a happy medium, but whenever I ask ” what does a Catholic church look like” I never get an answer that focuses on the Eucharist. The answers always focus on the art work or other non-essentials.
Bob One…the art work is to bring one’s attention on Christ by the various senses God has given us..Many of the modern churches that you like have moved Our Lord in Eucharist from off the tabernacle to some pathetic side room. The modern churches much like the modern liturgy focuses on man not God…What does Catholic Church like…it looks like Holy Innocents in Mid-town Manhattan..which of course is slated for closure by Cdl Dolan…fruits of the new “springtime”
Flowers do not take away from the ‘rite’, Bob One. They show human effort to honor Our Lord. Effort which needs to be stressed as the modern notion is to expect everything for absolutely nothing.
Many of the modern Churches put the Tabernacle in the back room.
These definitely never center on the Eucharist.
CCC: ” 2502 Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God – the surpassing invisible beauty of truth and love visible in Christ, who “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,” in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
This spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God, the angels, and saints.
Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Savior, the Holy One and Sanctifier. “
CCC: “2513 The fine arts, but above all sacred art, “of their nature are directed toward expressing in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands.
Their dedication to the increase of God’s praise and of his glory is more complete, the more exclusively they are devoted to turning men’s minds devoutly toward God” (SC 122). “
“I’m sure that there is a happy medium, but whenever I ask ” what does a Catholic church look like” I never get an answer that focuses on the Eucharist. The answers always focus on the art work or other non-essentials.” = Happy Medium meaning the modern day version of lukewarm medium honor for Christ the King.
Bob One, This isn’t about whenever you ask about “your” personal taste. This is about honoring Almighty God with our whole heart , our whole mind and soul. This is also about teaching by visual examples the many ways we honor God through the beautiful traditions that have been passed down. These traditions build faith.
You cannot have it both ways Bob One. You are the same poster who once posted that it was the bishop’s *pleasure* to place a tabernacle anywhere he wanted and boy Bob have they! Even in a broom closet. Now you write that the focus should be on the Blessed Sacrament, which it should be but you have also been inconsistent when proclaiming that the Source and Summit of our faith deserves the most prominent location and the most honorable surroundings. One of our local parishes has Our Lord residing in a stark ugly broom closet right next to the cemetery for the dead and buried instead of placing the tabernacle inside the main body of the church for all of the living to honor.
This post showed up on the Father’s blog today. https://catholicexchange.com/preaching-hall-temple.
It is the first article that approaches the question, that I have seen at least, that tries to answer the question. Now, all we have to do is agree on what “beauty” is, but I’m moving towards his way of thinking a bit more. I think it is worth the read.
We have been over this a couple of times, Catherine. When I said the tabernacle can be placed at the “pleasure” of the Bishop, I was merely stating that that decision is, by canon law, up to the discretion of the Bishop. Canon law also states that if the tabernacle is in another place, other than the church, it needs to be readily accessible and well designed and decorated. I would agree that a broom closet doesn’t meet that requirement.
Thank you Bob One for writing that the discretionary choice of a broom closet is wrong. Spiritual neglect causes hunger. The world is starving for God and the world is in the greatest need, of authentic Catholic teaching, due to the discretionary choices of many compromised shepherds.
Well, at least Cardinal Arinze publicly congratulated Cardinal Mahony for the LA Cathedral, which Cardinal Arinze described as “really original.” He said the cathedral “delivers a message” that God is “transcendent.” He prayed that visitors to the cathedral would be enlivened and quickened in faith.
https://www.cardinalrating.com/cardinal_7__article_920.htm