Vatican Calls Conference of Bloggers

Tridentine Community News (April 24, 2011):

As we all know, news of all sorts can spread instantly nowadays, thanks to pervasive use of telephones and the Internet. The news reporting and topical role of Catholic newspapers and magazines is gradually being supplanted by web sites and blogs. Recognizing this trend, the Vatican has called its first conference of bloggers, inviting 150 blog authors to a meeting on Monday, May 2, the day after the beatification of Pope John Paul II. The list of invitees reflects a broad spectrum of Catholic thought, including at least one from the Extraordinary Form world. It seems a fitting time to mention some blogs that would be of particular interest to the readership of this column.

Blogs to Watch

The New Liturgical Movement
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/
Every era seems to have its Walter Cronkite. In the world of traditional liturgical blogging, that person is London, Ontario’s Shawn Tribe. Articulate, balanced, and cool-headed, Shawn is the ultimate moderator. His team takes an academic approach to presenting liturgical news from the Extraordinary Form, conservative Ordinary Form, and Eastern Rite worlds.

What Does The Prayer Really Say
http://wdtprs.com/blog/
A combination of liturgical news, blunt opinion, and voluminous reader commentary, run by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, a Catholic version of Bill O’Reilly. Like him or not, you can’t avoid him, because everyone talks about “Fr. Z”. His “the Emperor has no clothes” style of commentary has opened discussion on a variety of topics previously avoided by the mainstream press, for example the inappropriateness of taking liberties with the rubrics of the Ordinary Form.

Roráte Cæli
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/
Led by the anonymous writer “New Catholic”, this blog seems to have inside information from a variety of sources, ranging from the Vatican to the Society of St. Pius X. Most notably, Roráte had detailed information about the contents of the Motu Proprio Summórum Pontíficum in advance of its publication. Reader comments can be long-winded and on the far right of the spectrum, but strictly as a news source, this is the Tridentine version of Woodward & Bernstein. A key contributor to this blog is Carlos Palad, an energetic organizer of Tridentine Masses in the Philippines, who provides reports on Extraordinary Form developments in that part of the world rarely heard elsewhere.

Musings of a Pertinacious Papist
http://pblosser.blogspot.com/
St. Josaphat parishioner and Sacred Heart Seminary professor Dr. Phil Blosser offers thoughtful commentary on traditional liturgical, philosophical, and theological subjects, plus article reprints, including frequent reprints of this column. Dr. Blosser occasionally addresses “Elephant in the Room” subjects, like Fr. Z, but in a more measured, reflective, academic fashion.

The Path Less Taken
http://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/
London, England-based Irish writer Mary O’Regan runs this blog that offers succinct reflections on spiritual topics from a refreshingly positive, traditional viewpoint. Imagine a modern take on the common sense advice found in Thomas a Kempis’ My Imitation of Christ delivered with British wit and crossed with a London travelogue. Mary is one of the 150 bloggers invited to Rome for the May 2 conference. Warning: Continued reading of this blog will make you want to visit London and its thriving Latin Mass environment.

Detroit Church Blog
http://detroitchurchblog.blogspot.com/
A relatively new entrant to the scene run by Andrew Fanco, this blog showcases Detroit’s historic churches and the events taking place in them. It can be easy to forget that the Archdiocese of Detroit is home to numerous beautiful, well-preserved, architecturally-intact churches. This blog offers a visual tour surpassing any published book on the subject.

Splendor: The Glory of Traditional Catholicism
http://splendoris.blogspot.com/
Carl Vanderwouden’s Canadian equivalent to the Detroit Church Blog, featuring photos of historic churches in the Diocese of London and the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Ars Orandi: The Art and Beauty of Traditional Catholicism
http://arsorandi.blogspot.com/
David Werling’s blog of stained glass, woodcuts and line drawings, paintings, and other inspiring Catholic images.

Exsultáte Iusti in Dómino
http://stjosaphat.wordpress.com/
Christopher Din’s blog about St. Josaphat Church, with photos by his father Edward Din, offers pictorial coverage of Extraordinary Form events at many of the churches in this region.

St. Joseph’s Blog
http://stjosephdetroit.blogspot.com/
Jude Beres’ blog about our partner parish, St. Joseph Church, is of particular interest for its sharply-focused, close-up photos of liturgical objects not often seen elsewhere.

Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

Mon. 04/25 7:00 PM: Low Mass at St. Josaphat (Easter Monday – Divine Mercy Novena at 7:00 PM; no devotions after Mass)

Tue. 04/26 7:00 PM: High Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Easter Tuesday)

Fri. 04/29 12:15 PM: High Mass at St. Joseph (Easter Friday)

Sun. 05/01 9:30 AM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Low Sunday – First Holy Communions)

Sun. 05/01 3:00 PM: High Mass at Assumption-Windsor (Low Sunday/Divine Mercy Sunday – Confessions and Novena precede Mass)

Sun. 05/01 3:00 PM: High Mass at St. Joseph (Low Sunday/Divine Mercy Sunday)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@stjosaphatchurch.org. Previous columns are available at www.stjosaphatchurch.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Josaphat bulletin insert for April 24, 2011. Hat tip to A.B.]