Category Archives: Theological Musings

Backwards

Posted on Sunday, April 3, 2011 by bt

“Well, see you later. I’m off to buy sheets.” “You’re going to carry out unnecessary commerce on a Sunday?” “Oh, no, it’s necessary. I gave up shopping for Lent.”

Posted in Leger-de-Mind, Theological Musings | Leave a comment

Musical Allusion

Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2011 by bt

The Liber is full of internal references that join different parts of the liturgical year like secret passages between distant rooms in a mansion. For example, the Gradual of the first Sunday of Lent has the same tune as that of the Mass for the … Continue reading →

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Holiday Peeve

Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 by bt

Why is it so much harder to frequent the sacraments on a holiday than any other day of the month? For Catholics, the sacraments are the whole point of the holiday. Hence ‘holi’-day. The thought seems to be that secular … Continue reading →

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Christ in Disguise

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 by bt

As I sat with a Rosary after Mass today, my attention was arrested by a grunt at my ear, which sounded like “Excuse me”. I became acutely aware of a form looming over me from the aisle, and a hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Theological Musings | Leave a comment

The Latin Mass

Posted on Saturday, February 5, 2011 by bt

Of all the names used for the 1962 Missal, (Usus Antiquior, Extraordinary Form, Traditional, Tridentine), the worst is ‘Latin Mass’. It implies that the new one is the non-Latin Mass. Always in essence and ideally in practice, the Novus Ordo … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Theological Musings | 1 Comment

Fumate et Videte

Posted on Sunday, January 30, 2011 by bt

“The point about smoking is, that if is is not a sin, it can certainly be shared with God, and if so, there is no reason why we should not talk to Him while enjoying one of the creatures He … Continue reading →

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Um…Your Emotions are Showing

Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010 by bt

The chief difference between Protestants and Catholics is this: Protestants wear their religious emotions like women wear scarves: right up front. They show them prominently, they talk about them, they inquire politely about those of their friends. Catholics think of … Continue reading →

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Sneaky Translation

Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 by bt

English translations of Vatican documents are notoriously loose, and the critical reviewer can sometimes sniff out what looks like a deliberate distortion. The Holy Father’s letter to the Bishops explaining his Motu Proprio of July 7, 2007 offers a tidy … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Theological Musings | 1 Comment

Friday

Posted on Sunday, August 2, 2009 by bt

Certainly, the chief purpose of Friday abstinence is penance, but let’s not forget the collateral benefits of leisure and luxury. If you don’t know what I mean, then sit on your front porch next Friday at supper time with a … Continue reading →

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Theocracy

Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 by bt

Theocracy is the wrong word. We call Australia a democracy because we think the people rule, we used to call Iraq a cleptocracy because we thought a thief ruled, and sometimes we take a sardonic poke at Canada and call … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Res Publica, Theological Musings | Leave a comment