Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1424

Reader Steen Heidemann writes...

I take the liberty of contacting you concerning the unique book published during the year of the priesthood on this subject. (« The Catholic Priest, Image of Christ ») It is a hardback book on the Catholic faith in 560 paintings which could be a marvellous tool for evangelisation. Not only to help priests to 'meditate the divine, the mystical and the sacramental part of their priesthood' (words expressed by Mgr Zielinski of the Pontifical Commission for Culture, during the launch of the book in Rome in March), but also to be used to spread the faith to children and adults as it is a kind of illustrated Catechism. I should be be grateful if you would talk about it on your blog.

The first part with text and introduction by the Holy Father and Cardinal Medina is concentrated more on what the priest – IS -, rather than merely on what he does. This is followed by several texts on the holiness and charity of the priest as well as two chapters on the Mass.

Several examples are given in 'mini chapters' on Saints like St Bernard, St François de Sales, St Curé d'Ars and martyrs like St Maximillian Kolbe and Bl. Ivan Ziatyk in Ukraine. The issue of the priest as a monk has a major place. At the end before the conclusion by Cardinals Burke and Canizares, the question of what is a call is debated.

It is a book portraying the universal Church with priests from all periods of the history of art. With its high level of page layout, its profound texts and its unique iconography, the book is indeed a tool for contemplation for priests and seminarians for our century, where it has become difficult to be a priest. It is also a tribute to the numerous holy priests today, who by the being and their ministry are 'Alter Christus', but at the current date are unknown and often unappreciated heroes.

You can view part of the book on 'You Tube', a film taken at the launch in Rome with Cardinal Burke, either by clicking on the link, or placing my name (Steen Heidemann) in the search bar.

Finally, the book also explores the question of which art is worthy to be used in the Church (the illustrations include many paintings and stained glass designs from the 21st century), and provides a gazetteer of significant real Christian artists working for the Church today in a continuation with the past, to use an expression of the Holy Father i.e.
a stand against "Financial art". This is truly a book to be treasured, to inform the Catholic family, to inspire vocations and to help to reaffirm priests in their divinely appointed mission.

Just for your information, I am Danish by birth and holds diplomas from Oxford in architecture and history of art. I am a convert and was received into the Church at Westminster Cathedral in London. I now live with my French wife and children in Normandy in France where I work as an exhibition organiser.

It is a book that could become an essential part of evangelisation and Catechism classes. It can be purchased from :


USA and Canada (Distributer for Liamar) : Ignatius Press : http://www.ignatius.com/. Rest of English speaking world : Gracewing Publishing in England : http://www.gracewing.co.uk/

France : L'Oeuvre in Paris : http://www.oeuvre.editions.fr/Italy : Cantagalli in Sienna : http://www.edizionicantagalli.com/

Looking forward to be hearing from you, I send you my sincerest and respectful regards with assurance of my prayers.

Looks cool! Check thou it out!

Why Capitalism is Merely a Human Tradition...

...is aptly illustrated for us by Amazon.com, which excretes a bunch of "free speech" BS to justify selling "The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-lover's Code of Conduct."

What they mean is, "We stand to make money, and you can't stop us". 

Reality: no bookstore has a constitutional obligation to sell anything they don't want to.  This is about a buck, not some noble stand against "censorship".

What I want to know is: is the author on a watch list?  Seem like the book is evidence enough for arrest and conviction.

Dr. Mildred Jefferson...

Pro-Life Hero.

Tim Drake wonders....

...whether the USCCB will act like the Bourbons, remembering everything and learning nothing, by mindlessly electing a guy who knew a seminarian was a pervert but went on to ordain him anyway--leading to a brilliant career molesting 23 boys.

Asked about it, Bishop Kicanas essentially said that he would do it again.

"It would have been grossly unfair not to have ordained him," Bishop Kicanas said shortly after being elected as vice president of the USCCB, in a quote that appears in the deposition of Cardinal Francis George. "There was a sense that his activity was part of the developmental process and that he had learned from the experience," continued Bishop Kicanas. "I was more concerned about his drinking. We sent him to counseling for that."

Let us pray that decades of suffering visited on the Church by bishops who thought like bureaucrats  and not fathers and shepherds are over and that they will, as Tim says, hold "an honest conversation not about the voting practice of the previous era, but about who is the best person to lead the brotherhood of bishops at this time and place."

Nice to see!

A rather hopeful essay which asserts that the current regime of Soviet oppression of Incorrect Thought on campus is ripe for criticism and reform.

I  think there's something to that.

Also, the author gets it that the purpose of gay "marriage" is to find a legal basis to crush and persecute Christians who believe traditional teaching about marriage.  Tolerance is not enough.  You.  MUST. Approve.