Serving Catholics for 25 Years Make a Donation July 28, 2021 Note from the Managing Editor Happy feast of Saints Joachim and Anne! We begin this week with a hauntingly powerful reflection on "A Radical Love for God."  "He waits for bold, irreversible acts of surrender in prayer that cannot be taken back, like marriage vows, dissolvable only in death, yet repeated continually in life." We also continue our focus on Traditionis Custodes in both the New Resources and Editorials. I highly recommend Msgr. Charles Pope's "A Cry From the Heart About 'Traditionis Custodes' and the Latin Mass," which we reprint in full below, as well as Cardinal Raymond Burke's "Statement on the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes," listed in our Editorials. Also of note is "On Fathers and Christian Masculinity" from Dr. R. Jared Staudt, who is now writing a regular column at Denver Catholic.  A father's role is to sacrifice "himself for the flourishing of the family by putting the good of his wife and children before his own desires." For all of you who are praying for myself, my husband, and our baby boy (who has a large cyst on his neck), a quick update: I will have a fetal MRI this Wednesday that will determine if we can go ahead with a procedure to intubate the baby in utero and deliver via c-section on August 5th, six weeks early.  In gratitude for your prayers, we had a Mass offered for you this past Sunday, July 25th at St. Raymond Nonnatus is Downey, California.  St. Raymond is the patron saint of expectant mothers and midwives. God bless you all this week! - Meaghen Gonzalez   Web version of this CERC Weekly Update here. Previous CERC Weekly Update here. Subscribe/unsubscribe here. Visit the CERC website at www.catholiceducation.org.   "The true meaning of the teaching authority of the pope is that he is the advocate of Christian memory. He does not impose something from the outside but develops and defends Christian memory." - Benedict XVI     New Resources   A Radical Love for God Fr. Donald Haggerty, Contemplative Enigmas: Insights and Aid on the Path to Deeper Prayer Ascetical practices are a form of sacrifice, but they are never enough for a deeper spiritual life...   Pope Francis restricts celebration of traditional Latin Mass News/Analysis, Catholic Culture In a stunning exercise of papal authority, Pope Francis has virtually banned the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass in ordinary parish churches throughout the world.   A Cry From the Heart About 'Traditionis Custodes' and the Latin Mass Msgr. Charles Pope, National Catholic Register Traditional Catholics are among the sheep of Christ's flock, and they need a shepherd's care.   Let's Study the Impact of the Traditional Latin Mass Janet E. Smith, NC Register The U.S. bishops will likely discover considerable evidence that proliferation of traditional Latin Masses has been largely a unifying force in the Church — worshippers have been brought into the parishes where youthful zeal is having a noticeable impact.   On Fathers and Christian Masculinity Jared Staudt, Denver Catholic The Year of St. Joseph points us to Jesus' adoptive father, Joseph, as the essential model for fathers.   The Beauty and Education Offered by Cemeteries Theodore Dalrymple, The Epoch Times Since my adolescence I have loved churchyards and cemeteries.   Introduction to Christology 101 — Our Lord Jesus Christ Is True God and True Man Father John Cush, National Catholic Register "Jesus Christ is true God and true man, in the unity of his divine person; for this reason he is the one and only mediator between God and men." (CCC 480)   Four Teachings on Personal Prayer — A Homily for the 16th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope, Community in Mission The Gospel this Sunday speaks to us of the priority of personal prayer.     Editorials of Interest   Statement on the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes Cardinal Raymond Burke Many faithful — laity, ordained and consecrated — have expressed to me the profound distress which the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes has brought them.   Ignoring Papal Mandates Crisis Magazine The sadness that many of us feel about the release of the motu proprio Traditionis custodes restricting the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass cannot be denied.   Liberal authoritarianism and the traditional Latin Mass CWR The recent apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes is theologically incoherent, pastorally divisive, unnecessary, cruel — and a sorry example of the liberal bullying that has become all too familiar in Rome recently.   Senior bureaucrat's farewell David Warren The remarkable thing about the pope's new Motu Proprio, strangely entitled Traditionis Custodes, is its degree of ignorance.   How Willing Are We to Defend the Victims of Religious Persecution Worldwide? NC Register It's time to remind ourselves that the cause of international religious freedom is a foreign-policy priority.   Yes, critical race theory is being taught in public schools Washington Examiner This theory is behind the curricula in school districts all over the country, shaping the minds of unsuspecting, malleable children.   Backstories: "The Chosen" The Catholic Thing Two full seasons into watching The Chosen (five more are planned), I happily admit I was wrong not to have begun watching when it was first released.   Santa Maria Novella: The world's oldest apothecary Angelus News Santa Maria Novella, Florence's 600-year-old cosmetics and perfume store, has an intriguing history.   This 16th-Century Italian Church Is Built into the Side of a Cliff My Modern Met Nestled into the side of a cliff in northern Italy, the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona is a breathtaking tribute to the lengths man will go to in order to contemplate life and religion in peace.   Two Contemporary Hand Illuminated Liturgical Books from the English Benedictines LAJ Ever since the invention of Gutenberg's printing press in the mid fifteenth century, hand illuminated books have become more and more rare.   Archbishop Cordileone Responds to Pelosi: No Devout Catholic Can Condone Abortion, 'Let Alone Have the Government Pay for It' NC Register "To use the smokescreen of abortion as an issue of health and fairness to poor women is the epitome of hypocrisy: what about the health of the baby being killed? What about giving poor women real choice, so they are supported in choosing life?"   Pillar Investigates: USCCB gen sec Burrill resigns after sexual misconduct allegations The Pillar Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, former general secretary of the U.S. bishops' conference, announced his resignation after The Pillar found evidence the priest engaged in serial sexual misconduct, while he held a critical oversight role in the Catholic Church's response to the recent spate of sexual abuse and misconduct scandals.   Wrong presuppositions skew reality: A response to Eve Tushnet CWR Our orientation is not 'gay' or 'straight.' Our orientation is determined by the design written in our beings. Our bodies are the key to our orientation. To claim that orientation is fixed by mere sexual appetites forfeits the design.   New study suggests mask mandates for kids should be scrapped Israeli National News CO2 levels five times higher for children wearing masks, even for short periods of time, new study finds.   BBQ Etiquette for the Catholic Gentleman The Catholic Gentleman As Catholic gentlemen, we can partake and share such an important culinary and social tradition to renew and foster bonds, friendships and Catholic values.   St. John Henry Cardinal Newman and St. Justin Martyr, pray for us. Subscribe / Unsubscribe Copyright © 2021 Catholic Education Resource Center