Critical Mass 09/2007

was a great bike ride.

Archb. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who headed the diocese of Mother of God in Moscow, is the new Archbishop of Minsk-Mohilev. Known for his conservatism in the image of Pope John Paul II, his "Polishness" was an obvious obstacle in relations with the Russian Orthodox. I always thought that it would have been better to have a complete foreigner as the leader of Moscow Catholics, but not a Soviet man. I also believed that having an enemy of Tradition placed in the middle of the most important Eastern Orthodox capital was a misrepresentation of Catholic Faith - he seemed to be an example of a Protestant in comparison to the Patriarch Alexy II. As far as I understand there were no officially allowed Tridentine Masses in Kondrusiewicz's diocese, unless someone from FSSP or SSPX showed up privately.
Now this man is to head the Catholic Church in my native Belarus, and though I know he was an obvious choice to succeed the heroic Kazimierz Swiatek (Kondrusiewicz was an earlier administrator of Minsk diocese before his transfer to Moscow), and though I suspected he would not stay long in Moscow with Pope Benedict's ascent (he is wisely replaced with an Italian, naturally), I wished for a man who was in love with Tradition. Now he will be made a cardinal.
Will there ever be the same revival of Tradition we are witnessing in the neighboring Lithuania (special thanks to SJC)?

Catholic quiz

This one via the Dutchman via Ma Beck.

1.) Favorite devotion to Jesus:
Stations of the Cross

2.) Favorite Marian prayer:
Ave Maria.

3.) Do you wear a scapular or medal?
I wear the Brown Scapular and a St. Benedict medal. (There is a Jerusalem Cross next to it and my wedding ring that no longer fits, and I will add another medal when I find the one I am looking for).

4.) Do you have holy water in your home?
No, but my atheist boss presented me with an antique holy water bottle that I meant to fill.

5.) Do you offer up your sufferings?
Yes.

6.) Do you go to Adoration?
If it is there, I will go, but will not schedule it ahead of time.

7.) Are you a Vigil Mass person or a Sunday morning person?
Absolutely a Vigil Mass person but I often have to go on Sunday morning.

8.) Do you say prayers at mealtime?
Very rarely.

9.) Favorite Saints:
St. Anthony the Abbott, St. Bartholomew, St. Casimir, Bl. Piotr Bonifacy Zukowski, Bl. Emperor Karl of Austria and I am also devoted to several people whose beatification I hope will happen in my lifetime: Pope Pius XII, Archb. Lefebvre, and King Baudouin of Belgium.

10.) Do you observe First Fridays or First Saturdays?
Not especially, but I will show up at Mass on Friday if I can.

11.) Can you recite the Apostles' Creed by heart?
In Latin, English, and Russian.

12.) Do you say short prayers during the course of the day?
Yes - I usually say Rosary, but if this didn't happen, a short prayer then.

13.) When you pass a car wreck or hear a siren, do you say a short prayer?
I do. I also always cross myself when I pass a cemetery, a funeral, a Catholic or Orthodox church, and a cross marking the pedestrian/cyclist hit. When I pass a synagogue or an occasional Protestant church I also cross myself and say a short prayer for the conversion of Jews, infidels, heretics, and wanton women.

Candlewax on my shoe.

Degenerate art

How unfortunate for Cardinal Meisner to voice an opinion shared by the silent majority of our planet's population: that modernist art is degenerate. We all knew that. It is enough to read the manifesti of countless modernist movements: they themself stressed the direct link between their "new" art with that of the lunatics, insane, distorbed and deformed - to shift the blame on the Nazis is hypocritical.
Media persecussion of those who disagree with the official liberal pro-Modernist presentation of Art History has to stop. But such attacks will not stop and the courageous lone figures like Cardinal Meisner will have to pay for their public honesty in this stifling environment decorated with rectangles.

Latin in Skokie

Tonight I attended the first Traditional Mass celebrated in Skokie, IL, in the past three decades. It happened at St. Lambert Catholic Church, and celebrant was Fr. Simon. It was good, and Ma Beck and Pa Beck (even Lil'Beck who made up about 45% of all the kids in attendance) can say the same as they were witnesses. The red vestments of the priest stood out in the modernist architecture of the church, but the big crucifix hanging above made all the human participants well aware of their minuteness. The schola, organized of fine men volunteers came quite handy for the occasion.
The opportunity to participate at this Holy Mass at the time of the start of Rosh Hashanah, and Ramadan, as well as it falls on the Feast of Exaltation of the Cross, was absolutely special. I even sighted the moon. :)

New Wood Engravings

A few weeks ago I finished two blocks of engravings and Jeff Coufal of the Red Star Press had kindly proofed them for me as I lack a letterpress.

One is old theme of the Maiden and Death which I already approached years ago with one woodcut and which I was going to come back to with a large painting, but executed an engraving first.

The second one is an bookplate for myself. In the finished version it will have the inscription in blackletter movable type, underneath the image.

I shall continue with wood engraving - I like it a lot - it is super hard.

Awesome.

Mind Sprocket #10

Today the tenth issue of the Mind Sprocket was launched. It contains some good writing by Hadley Cooney and Anna Luther, and illustrations by Anatole Upart. Another quality issue. Well done.

Catherine Jacobi; This is my body

september 14 - october 7

CATHERINE JACOBI
____________
THIS IS MY BODY;
work in progress



Opening Reception
Friday, September 14
6-10pm



Artist working in the gallery:
Saturdays:Sept. 15, 22, 29
12 - 5pm



Gallery Discussion:
Saturday, October 6
2pm

WHERE:
3524 S. Halsted,
Chicago, IL 60609
773-847-0573
http://www.mngallery.net/