Here’s another Fr. Barron Video where he ponders the awful decline of the Church particularly in Europe. Does this merely mean that the Church has failed? Or is there more at work? Surely there are things we have done things that need correcting, but even when we do everthing we ought to do, there will still be a waxing and waning. Let me get out of the way and Let Fr. Barron speak.
Corpus Christi Sunday – The Bread of Life Discourse
Here is a powerful rendering of the Bread of Life Discourse in John 6. This excerpt is from the movie The Gospel of John The Movie is a worthy addition to your collection and the two volume CD is only $9.99 at Amazon. This clip captures the power of Jesus’ words and the reaction of crowd in the synagogue that morning.
A Rather Shocking Eucharistic Procession
The Diocese in Linz, (northern Austria) is infamous for liturgical strangeness. In a land of some of the world’s most beautiful rococo Churches liturgy has gone unhinged. If something is crazy, ugly or just plain illicit it is on display is this diocese. The latest sadness comes with a Eucharistic Procession held through the streets. Rather than use a traditional monstrance (see photo to the right) this particular parish nailed a rather large pita like lost to a stick and carried it through the streets; strange, ugly and unnecessarily provocative. Well, look for yourself.
Pope Benedict Summons Us To Faith In the Real Presence
The following report gives highlights of Pope Benedict’s Corpus Christi Homily along with other activities of that day, this past Thursday. The video is about a minute and a half. Give ear to the Pope’s exhortation to faith and prayer.
Church History for your Ipod
On my last vacation (back in February) I listen to the first ten episodes of a Church History Series by Fr. Michael Witt Assoc. Professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. The whole series has over 40 hours of listening where he systematically goes through Church History in a very conversational manner. The talks are entertaining and memorable and given by a priest who clearly loves the Church. They can found here:
Early Church History by Fr. Michael Witt
To get to the talks click on the upper left square. The talks are then listed on the left hand side of the screen and if you click on the talk you are given the the notes and the audio begins. You can right click on the sound horn and select the option “Save Link as” to download the talk to your computer. The talks are in mp3 format.
Interview with Ron Howard
The following video is an interview with Ron Howard by Stephen Colbert. Of course Colbert is a comedian so don’t take any of this too seriously. But what I find most interesting is how uncomfortable Ron Howard seems to be. Most guests on Colbert’s show seem to know that he is playing a role of sorts as an obnoxious and egotistical medialogue. It’s his shtick. Most of the guests know this going in and play along quite well. Howard though, seems unprepared for it or ill at ease. I wonder why? I also find Howard poorly spoken. I had been led to believe by others in the general media that he is some sort of “genius” but here he seem not to know much about what he is speaking. Even when he talks about his own movie it seems more to be memorized talking points that he recites rather than a real discussion. Even Colbert has a hard time trying to get him too lighten up. See what you think.
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Ron Howard | ||||
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Corpus Christi Procession
I think I’ve posted this video before. But it powerfully shows the glory of Eucharistic Adoration and of the way processions can take Christ to the people who need to see Him, to catch a glance or to reach out and touch. Behold the Lamb!
In Christ Alone
As we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi today (and on Sunday in most dioceses) we ought to mediate how Christ is our source and strength. Here are some quotes from John 6: and then a video to meditate. Consider well the promises associated with those who faithfully receive the Eucharist. Read these words of Jesus slowly, as if for the first time. Consider their power, rejoice in their promises, heed their prescription:
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…..”I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst…..I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”… Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”