#monsignor tim

[planetflanagan]

Warning - spoilers for Oculus below

The mysterious mirror which was found in the hold of the Bay Breeze when it docked 6 weeks ago is now thought to have connections to the Gunning family. The history of the mirror known as “The Lasser Glass” has been uncovered by our very own local historian Dr Sarah Gunning – and with it, a shocking Gunning family tragedy.

Dr Gunning's aunt, Eliza Russell, left Crockett Island with her 4 year old son in 1968 after her husband Peter died in a boating accident. It is thought she argued with Sarah's mother Mildred before she left, and the sisters never spoke to each other again. In the months before her departure Eliza also refused to set foot in St Patrick’s Church, where she had previously attended regular Mass.

Dr Gunning says that she has never understood what caused the rift between the two sisters, and that sadly she is now unlikely to learn, as her mother is in the grip of dementia.

"I researched the mirror, it's so unusual it was fairly simple. And it turns out I have a personal connection," Dr Gunning told us exclusively, "I'm wondering if my mother must have made arrangements for it to be sent to us before her illness, or if someone sent it to provide her with a keepsake of the family she lost."

Dr Sarah Gunning at her home yesterday

The "loss" she refers to is the tragic story of her estranged cousin, Alan. In 2003, just weeks after purchasing the mirror at auction, Alan and Marie Russell were shot dead by their 10 year son, Tim. Tim was sent to an institution, but upon his release in 2014 he brutally murdered his older sister Kaylie using an elaborate mechanical device. Heartbroken twice over, Eliza died in 2015.

Kaylie and Tim Russell being interviewed by police in 2003

After being found in the hold of the Bay Breeze in June, the mirror was taken by local teacher Ms Beverly Keane to be used as "the perfect prop" for the Crock Pot's own theater group, The Crockett Island Players. Their next production, The Haunting of Hill House, will take place in October in the new Pruitt Community Centre. Proceeds from ticket sales will be put towards the fund to send beloved Monsignor John Pruitt to the Holy Land.

Ms Keane says "I'm delighted that, given its unsavoury, truly awful history, Dr Gunning has decided to leave the mirror with us at the presbytery until the community centre is complete. While she's not a regular figure at church like her dear mother was, she will be contributing to the Monsignor's journey to the Holy Land by helping with our wonderful play. Our very own Dolly Scarborough will be portraying Eleanor, and I just couldn't be more excited to watch her go mad - especially with this mirror as part of the scenery!"

[stmcdaily]

On behalf of the Chaplaincy Team, i would like to say a sincere 'thank you' for all your support during Catholic Schools Week (CSW) this week.

Please see below a review of the week.  Pictures are attached.  

MONDAY 22 Jan: After a windy start, CSW began with a special live-streamed prayer service in our college chapel with Fr. Paddy Moran.  2nd & 3rd Years were present at the service and Ms. Mullen’s choir provided the music.  At 10 am, First Year students were brought to Donnybrook Church for Mass with Monsignor Ciaran O’Carroll.  Monsignor O’Carroll gave a special mention to St. Michael’s College and wished all in the community the very best.  Fr. James Hurley from Merrion Church then visited our school in the afternoon to meet the 5th Year Ember Team.  This was a wonderful encounter where our students discussed their views on life and being a student today, and Fr. Hurley imparted his knowledge and wisdom on life as a priest.  At the end of the day, Callum Morris from Ember gave a video round-up on all that occurred. 

TUESDAY 23 Jan: On Tuesday, thirty 5th Year students attended mass in Merrion Church at 12 pm.  The mass was celebrated by Fr. James Hurley.  Fr. Hurley made a very special mention of St. Michael’s College and he also offered his blessings on the entire community.  David Willis (5th Year) recited the Readings at the mass.  Many of the parishioners were delighted to see St. Michael’s boys present.  In the afternoon, John O’Shea, the ex-CEO of GOAL, gave a very impassioned talk to all TY students.  He spoke about all the work he did while heading GOAL, the famous people he met during his life and those encounters he had with impoverished people who left an indelible mark on him.  John O’Shea encouraged the boys to become socially engaged regarding all the injustices happening in our world.  The invigorating talk inspired all present to become more aware of ‘social entrepreneurship’.   

WEDNESDAY 24 Jan: This was an extraordinary day where 3rd Year students’ grandparents were invited into our school for a special mass, celebrated by Fr. Paddy Moran.  Over sixty people were present in the chapel.  It was a very moving and intimate service.  Mr. Tim Kelleher, Fr. Paddy Moran and Mr. Robbie O’Flynn spoke.  Ms. Catherin Mullen’s choir sang exquisitely.  There was participation from students and their grandparents throughout.  The mass was also live-streamed for those who were unable to attend the event.  Afterwards, there was a reception of tea/coffee and cakes in the Assembly Hall where lots of photographs were taken and chats were had.  At 11 am, Fr. James Hurley spoke to fifty 6th Year students about his life as a priest and the conversion of St. Paul.  A special moment. 

THURSDAY 25 Jan: On Thursday, a class of TY students were brought on a walk around the ‘Donnybrook Block’.  It was refreshing to be out of class to spend time in conversation and laughter.  A group of 2nd Year students had a prayer service in the college chapel with Mr. Oliver Doolan.  The service dealt with themes of family, belonging, community and kindness.  In the afternoon, Fr. James Hurley returned to school to talk to the Student Council.  The boys told Fr. James about their role as Council Members - their tasks and their responsibilities.  It was a wonderful exchange which gave Fr. Hurley a great insight into the boys’ life in school.  Fr James spoke to them about faith and life as a priest - his tasks and responsibilities at many of the key moments in people’s lives.  At the end of the day, we had The 5th Year Parent Teacher Meeting.  We positioned our CSW pull-up banner at the entrance to the hall and Fr. Paddy Moran was present to speak to as many parents as possible during the time. 

FRIDAY 26 Jan:  On Friday, we had cake, biscuits and fruit for all staff as a gesture of thanks for all the support during the week.  A card of thanks from the Chaplaincy Team was also placed in teachers’ boxes in the staffroom.  At lunchtime, Ms. Mullen’s choir performed music on the corridor.   In the afternoon, all the 6th Year students were brought to Donnybrook Church to pray and reflect.  This was a special timeout from study for the 6th Year.  While there, they were introduced to the history of the church and particular attention was paid to many of the church’s fine architectural features.  This was a nice opportunity for the boys to experience the church where they will later celebrate their Graduation Mass in May.  

During the week all Religion Teachers used many of the resources provided by the Diocese for CSW in class.  The Religion Department also ran our annual Poster Competition for First Year and Essay Writing Competition for 2nd Year.  Winners will be announced next week.  The Chaplaincy Team would like to sincerely express their thanks to all staff members and families for making the week memorable.  Without your help and support, the week would simply not be possible to happen.  

With every good wish, 

Oliver Doolan

Chaplain

[auroracalisto]

a new start

summary: instead of timothy being assaulted by mary eunice, the reader is in his place.  finding them in the middle of it, timothy is outraged and vows to never let you get hurt again.  he even goes as far as taking you with him to new york, where he reveals to you just how far he would go to protect you.  

pairing: monsignor timothy howard x reader 

word count: 2.3k words

warnings: ASSAULT.  like.  not too much into it, but the reader is assaulted by a possessed!mary eunice.  so please, please, please.  DO NOT read this, if that is going to do anything to you.  slight NSFW scene because of the assault.  but it is literally the minimum.  possibility of ooc timothy howard.  reader is catholic in this.  

author’s notes: please for the love of everything good and holy DO NOT read this if assault will trigger anything.  i’m not too sure where this came from.  i really wanted to write a timothy howard thing and then this was born, shortly after i started playing anson seabra (which broken is one of the songs that inspired whatever the hell this is).  i, uh, hope someone out there enjoys this train wreck

Your knuckles rapped at the wooden door to the Monsignor’s office.  You heard him clear his throat before saying, “Come in.”  And as you opened the door, you noticed that Sister Jude was also in there.  She cast an annoyed look towards you, her back leaning into the chair she sat in.  

“Monsignor,” you gave a hesitant smile towards the priest.  “I was hoping that you would have a moment, but I can tell you’re busy.  I’ll come back later—”

“No, Sister,” he quickly spoke.  “Sister Jude was just leaving.  Isn’t that right?” he asked, looking over at the nun.  

Jude pursed her lips but nodded, standing up.  “We will finish our conversation later, Monsignor.”

He gave a tight lipped smile before she left, leaving you standing at the door.  

“Come on in,” he said, motioning towards the now empty chair.  “Shut the door behind you.”

You did as you were told, shutting the door and coming over to sit down.  You sat there for just a moment, trying to gather your thoughts before you looked up, your eyes meeting with the Monsignor’s.  

“Is there something wrong, Sister [Your name]?”

You shook your head, but stopped yourself.  “I… I think,” you messed with the edge of your sleeve, frowning deeply.  “No.  No, I know this.  There is something going on with Sister Mary Eunice.” 

He blinked slowly at you, raising an eyebrow.  “I beg your pardon?”

“Monsignor, I know how it sounds.  Absurd.  But there is something going on with her.  I cannot tell you what it is, but she isn’t the same.”

“Is that all you wish to speak with me about?” he asked, an unreadable expression on his face.  He didn’t believe you.  You knew immediately.  

Clenching your jaw, you nodded.  “Yes, that’s all, Monsignor Timothy.”

“Well, then, please show yourself out.  I need to get a move on with these papers,” he spoke, not looking at you now.  

You had to do something about this.  No one believed you, and it was obvious.

—  

Weeks had passed since your last proper conversation with Father Timothy.  Sister Jude had been revoked of her status and she had actually become a patient at the hospital.  You didn’t know what was worse—the fact that one of your sisters was now a patient, or the fact that Mary Eunice still walked around and no one expected anything.  

For the hours that you were not needed with your job, you stuck to your bedroom.  And at the moment, you were folding some of your clothes, putting them into your dresser drawer.  There weren’t many inspections for the Sisters in this asylum, but it didn’t help to already be tidy so when it did happen, you didn’t have much to do.  

Sitting on the edge of your bed, you finished folding a couple pieces of underwear when there was a knock at your door.  

You looked up, frowning.  “Come in.”

Sister Mary Eunice stood there, flashing you a quick smile as the door opened.  “[Your name].  Just the person I wanted to talk to.”

You slowly sat the last pair of underwear that you had folded down, frowning over at the woman.  “Can I help you?  What do you need?”

“You’re the only person that can help me with this, [Your name],” she said, coming over and sitting down beside you.  She took the underwear and tossed them on the floor, that same smile remaining on her lips.  “[Your name],” she said, grabbing onto your wrist.  “I see how you look at me.”

“What?” you deadpanned at the woman, trying to pull your wrist away.  But her grip was tight.  It was obvious that she wasn’t about to let you go.  

She forcefully pushed you onto your back.  Your head hit your pillow, and your headcovering slowly began to come off.  She smirked down at you, pinning your hips underneath her with her own legs.  

“Tell me, [Your name],” she said, moving down to kiss your jaw.  Her hot breath fanned your neck.  “You joined the Church at such a young age.  Practically forced into the religion.  I’m sure you’ve never been touched, have you?”

“W-what?  Mary Eunice, please get off of me, I have no idea what you are implying, but I am not interested—”

She took in a breath, her smirk only growing.  “Oh, dear, you’re still a virgin.  We can’t have that, now, can we?”  She grabbed your veil and tugged it off, watching your hair fall around your shoulders.  

“Sister Mary Eunice, please.  Stop it,” you said, your neck and face burning red with anxiety.  Your heart pounded in your head, and you could hardly think straight as you felt her hand inch down to underneath your robes.  

“You can’t tell me you don’t want this,” she grinned, pressing a rough kiss to your lips.  You were sure with the force she used that your lips would be bruised.  

“No, no, I don’t,” you let out, tears forming in your eyes as you felt the woman force her fingers into you.  “Please.  Please, Sister, please stop,” you begged, trying to sit up.  With her other hand, she grabbed your wrists and held them in place.  

But her assault only lasted for a couple more seconds as your door was opened for the second time that evening.  Monsignor Timothy stood there, a shocked expression on his face before he looked at your state and then to Mary Eunice.  

“Get off of her,” he spat, quickly rushing over.  Without giving it much thought, he pushed Mary Eunice off of you.  It didn’t take much, but you only assumed that was because Mary let him.  

The Monsignor quickly pushed your dress down, his hands gently cupping your cheeks.  

“[Your name],” he breathed out.  “Are you okay?” he asked, guilt washing over him as he wiped your tears away.  

“I told you.”  You let out a soft sob, wrapping your arms around the man’s torso.  His eyes widened a bit but he quickly hugged you back, glaring over at where Mary Eunice once stood.  She was nowhere to be found, but he was sure that he would see her again.  

“I.. I know you did.  And I am so sorry.  Sister, I will never let you out of my sight.  This will never happen to you, again.  I give you my word.”

You buried your face in his chest, trying to calm yourself down.  

His embrace made you feel better, but it didn’t erase the fact that you had just been assaulted by someone who should have protected your soul and your dignity.  Taking in a deep breath, you looked up at Timothy, your teeth taking in your bottom lip.  You were just trying to calm down, at this point.  

Timothy hushed you, gently running his fingers through your hair.  It was all he knew to do to at least try and comfort you.

—

Seeing Mary Eunice again made you want to cry.  But in this case of seeing her, you were leaving for New York with Monsignor Timothy.  He kept his promise to you—he kept his eyes on you, and now, he was taking you along for his new position as the Cardinal-Archbishop of New York.  You would be there for him, and he would be there for you.  

You put your last suitcase in the back of his car, casting one last glance towards Briarcliff.  

“You know,” you breathed out, looking towards Timothy as you did so.  “I hate to say that I will not miss this place.”

He gave you a faint smile, chuckling softly.  “I understand what you mean.”  He looked back at it, before he went and opened the passenger door for you.  You got in and he shut it, and then got in on the driver’s side.  “Are you sure you want to come to New York with me?”

“Yes.  I’m positive, Monsignor.”

He gave you yet another smile.  “How many times have I told you to just call me Timothy?  Especially since we’ll be driving all the way to New York.  Enough with the formalities.”

You smiled in return.  “You’re right, Timothy.  Sorry.” 

You looked in one of the mirrors on the side of the car, and you just watched the mental asylum get smaller and smaller as Timothy drove away.  

You were unsure of your feelings towards timothy—ever since he saved you, you couldn’t help but feel inclined to have feelings for him.  And with the religion.  As much as you wanted to believe, there were times when you felt yourself slipping.  However, despite all of this, you were grateful for Timothy and every string he has pulled to take you along with him.  Had it not been for him, you might have not ever gotten out of there, let alone lived for as long as you have.  

Clearing his throat to get your attention, Timothy began to speak.  

“You know.  I thought that I would mention this.” he looked out the window, one hand on the steering wheel as he drove.  “When we get there.  If you decide that you no longer want to be a part of the church…”

This caught your attention and you looked over at the man.  

“I would go with you.”

Your eyes widened a bit and you stared him down.  “What?”

“My title is paper only, at the moment.  I have yet to go through the ceremony.  But, I would back out of it.  For you.”

“Are you crazy?” you watched him in disbelief.  “Where is all of this coming from, Timothy?  You’ve never mentioned anything like this before.”

He couldn’t help but smile.  “[Your name],” he glanced at you from the corner of his eye.  “Surely, this isn’t something you haven’t thought about.”

“Well,” you blushed.  “I thought that we had gotten close.  But I believed it was circumstantial.  Never would I have thought that you returned my feelings—”

“—returned?”

As soon as the word had left your mouth, your face burned red.  Of course, in a moment of trying to convince the Monsignor to continue on with his path in the church, you expressed that you felt the same way he did.  

You looked away, leaning against your hand as you did so. 

“You’ve worked hard to be where you are, Timothy.  I don’t want to ruin that for you.”

He chuckled softly.  “I know I’ve worked hard to be where I am.  But I’ve also thought about this on more than one occasion… and I have never wanted to leave the church more, to be with you.  I would give it all up.”

“Since when did you start feeling this way?”

Timothy clenched his jaw as he thought for a moment.  “The night that I had walked in on Mary Eunice hurting you.  I had plans on discussing my feelings for you.  We have known each other for so long.  I do believe that is one of the reasons I had started to believe you after you said that Mary had something wrong with her.  And then, when I went to say something about it, about everything, it was far too late and far, too, a bad moment.”  

You purse your lips at the mention of your assault, but you looked over at him.  

“It was what I had been talking to Sister Jude about shortly before you showed up at my door.  She believed that I was throwing everything away.  After you left, I realized that what I had been feeling was true.  I… apologize for how long it has taken for me to realize that I needed to tell that to you.  And I sincerely apologize for me just now telling you this, when you were prepared to become a Sister in New York.”

“A new start.” you said.  

“What?”

You began to smile.  “You should think of it as a new start.  We’ll be in a new place.  And… we have hours more to discuss everything.  I… should tell you that I feel the same way.  And you’ve no need to apologize for just now realizing.  I’m sure it took a lot for you to turn away from the Church after you’ve spent so long to get where you are, now.”

His expression softened at your words.  He nearly jumped out of his skin when you took a hold of his free hand.  It wasn’t that you scared him, he just didn’t expect you to do it.  

“Thank you for saving me, Timothy.  And thank you, for telling me that.  All of it.”

He couldn’t help but smile.  In the hours to come, the two of you would talk about what you would do once you got to the Church.  How you would resign, where you would live.  There was a lot to discuss, but just like you told Timothy, you reminded yourself that it was a new start.  Unexpected, but new.  

If anything out of what Timothy talked to you about, it would be the fact that he did feel so strongly about you—he wouldn’t give up his title or position for just anyone.  What he felt about you was real.  Faults, and all.  All your trauma, all your self doubt, everything.  

He would never reveal this to you, even though the two of you would eventually marry and settle down close to the Catholic church that you still attended, but he honestly didn't know what enticed him to give it all up.  Something overcame him.  Something directed him in your direction and he knew that he had to follow it.  Perhaps, after all of his hard work, it was God showing His hand and giving him you.  One of the best things that had happened in his long, God-loving life.  That, and the new start that both of you were given.  

[agir1ukn0w]

[ebiemidnightlibrarian]

Hamish Linklater's Characters Playlists

So, I've been doing a bunch of playlists inspired by Hamish characters, and I wanted to share them, so I'm doing this post with ALL the playlists I've done so far.

I tried to make the playlists based in what I think that character would listen, or based in the vibes that character gave me while watching their respective media.

Most of the songs in each playlist has lyrics that match the character issues or personality, I've made sure of that. Also, every one of those playlists will be/it's been used as my personal playlist for these characters fanfictions.

Oh, and this list will be constantly actualized, since I'm still producing some playlists for some other characters. I'm also accepting songs suggestions for the characters that I haven't finished the playlist yet (they're at the end of the post).

Well, I hope y'all enjoy those playlists, fellows hamishionaries. Let me know what you think, my asks are always open.

Playlist below the cut!!!

Father Paul Hill | Monsignor John Pruitt (Midnight Mass)

That was the first playlist I've ever made (to a character), so I was extremely excited while doing it. I've read every lyric, looked for other playlists of the character and tried to make a uniform vibe, you know what I mean? Father Paul is one of my all-time favourite character in the history of TV shows. He's marvellously well constructed, his development is… I don't have even words to describe it. Mike Flanagan did a GREAT work writing his lines (The whole show is pure gold.). His homilies are by far the most precious thing to me in the series. The passion in Hamish's acting during those sermons, and the WONDERFUL moments of subtle acting. The discrete looks to Millie, the knowing look to Bev and Riley. A sad disappointment with Riley's moments of affront, the pain that turns into a dark hunger, almost a look of abstinence that turns to fear and then a deep denial. Dude... *slams a hand angst the table* THAT'S ART, LADIES, AND GENTLEMAN! Leaving aside for a moment my unhealthy obsession with Mike Flanagan's badass work on this show. This playlist has a lot of melancholic and reflexive songs that match with Father Paul's internal conflicts and demons. I'm a perfectionist whore :D I hope you enjoy this selection the same much I did while making it.

John Tyler (Tell Me Your Secrets)

Uhhh time for the Boogeyman that hides in the shadows. When I first watched TMYS I passed 95% of the time completely confused with what was happening, BUT, when I gave it a second watch EVERYTHING made sense. You see, this show has a lot of cores, a lot of things happen in the endless, filthy spider's web that creator and writer Harriet Warner has made. At first glance, the series can seem confusing and even have a strange pace, but if you give it a second chance, I guarantee you will like it. The first thing you need to know is that there is no good guy in this story. Everyone is running from the demons in their past, and those demons are catching each one of them by the heels. The character that inspired this playlist is the former sexual predator and stalker John Tyler. Let me tell you, everyone on this show is amazing, but man, Lily and Hamish are the highlight without a doubt. The idea of ​​a character that is the embodiment of everything we women fear the most is simply brilliant, especially when placed in the context of TMYS, where two of the protagonists are women. And they both have to deal with this man who represents everything vile to them. John Tyler is initially introduced as a reformed criminal, someone who is trying to be a good person, to be 'reliable' again. Apparently throughout the first episode we see that he has clearly been trying hard to keep the hungry wolf of his desires inside the cage, but when Mary Barlow appears, the fine bars on the cage instantly begin to loosen. Do I need to say that Mr. Linklater is doing a fucking great job playing that creepily handsome boogeyman? No, I don't, but I will. This character has so many layers that it's almost criminal as the script and acting put us inside his head. We never know exactly what he's planning, or what he's going to do next, but boy, can Hamish give us a good idea with just a glance or a subtle shift in expression. And let me say, there's a good LOT of scenes where he's just STARING at something or someone. That whole scene in the pub with Gayle? And then when she's saying goodbye to him? *chef's kiss* Damn good acting. The playlist is based on the demons of this character, the metaphors for him (the boogeyman and the wolf), the hunger, the stalking, the creepy stuff and all. Tbh is one of my favourite playlists, full of dark techno and dark wave. Wish you listener the best shivers lol :D

Matthew Kimble (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

OKAY! The therapist with a serious Oedipal (oedipussy) complex. I'm not much of the person of the sitcom, but TNAOOC is definitely something. The way the punch lines are so organic is AMAZING. Some situations were so absurd I thought I was seeing an episode of Monty Pyton's Flying Circus (ok I'm exaggerating, but is bc I LOVE Monty Pyton's humour). The comedic timing of Wanda Sykes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Clark Gregg and (of course), Hamish Linklater is PERFECT. The acid humour that came with the sarcastic commentaries of the characters is precious, and I got myself laughing my ass off many times. I had a crisis with every incest joke in that show, and there's a whole LOT. As a sitcom, the characters' development isn't *that* profound, however, Matthew's development is one of the most notable. He starts the series as an unemployed brother whose nanny of his nephew, Ritchie. And during the show, he gets to the medicine college and ends up becoming a therapist! And this journey till the fifth season is the funnier. We get to know Matthew's mummy issues and a few curious things about his teenage (like, he used to dress in a cape?!). The whole playlist is based in what I think Matthew would listen, he's a nerd that play Magic and D&D (I got identified lol), has an oedipal complex and is CUTE AS FUCK. So, there's some Indie, a bit of classic rock and some daddy/mummy issues songs, I couldn't avoid it. Hope you enjoy the soft boy vibe of the playlist. :D

Andrew Keanelly (The Crazy Ones)

Time for the creative director of an INSANE marketing agency. I've always been a fan of Robin William's work, as, also, Sarah Michelle Gellar, so it wasn't hard to convince me to watch TCO. Tbh the hardest thing was to find where to watch it, bc in my country… well it sucks to watch literally anything that isn't mainstream. It's hard to find and when we find it's with low quality and with a good spoon of computer virus. Anyway, once I watched this show, I immediately fell in love with the characters, specially Andrew, Sidney, and Lauren. Sindrew is one of my OTP's, and it's painful to pass through the 22 episodes with this two trying to pretend that they are not in love with each other, when they obviously are. The comedic timing it's very organic just like in TNAOOC. The punch lines take huge fat laughs off me while I'm watching. The punch line where we discover that Sidney is germophobic and Andrew has to take her phone in the quarantine area in the episode 'Epidemic'? Pure gold.

But if I had to choose between both series, I would say The Crazy Ones, bc the episode plots are far more simple than the COMPLETE COMEDIC MESS of The New Adventures of Old Christine. Actually, that choice depends on my mood, and today I'm more TCO than TNAOOC. WELL, I had to do something to my perfect boyfriend, Andrew. So I've search for every unrequited love, oldies and soft boy songs I could find. Some lyrics are very much about Andrew being in love with Sidney, but you can imagine that is actually with you or your OC. There's Queen, Bowie, lots of Beatles and a few 80s songs, but also some modern song like The Weekend and Taylor Swift. I hope you like my lover boy playlist, bc I really love that one.

Brice Catledge (Magic in the Moonlight)

My rich handsome husband Brice <3 All right, I hate myself in this one for a very specific reason. I watched Magic in the Moonlight twenty times when I was a teenager, bc… *Colin Firth*, and then when I discovered the shit abt Woody Allen and I stopped seeing the film till I fell in love with Hamish in 2017 in the first season of Legion. After that I decided to separate the author from the work and I saw MitM with new eyes. I love Colin Firth, but Sophie dear, what were you thinking when you dumped Brice like that?? The man is handsome, rich AND wrote you serenades, he sang them to you with a ukulele!! How can you say 'no' to that?! He had even created a fucking FOUNDATION under your name! *sigh* Please, you're smarter than that, girl. *breathes deeply* I'm fine now. But, let's be honest, Brice Catledge is a perfect gentleman, a bit naive? Yes, but if he wasn't, what were the fun? So, to my naive fancy husband, I've made a playlist with an obscene number of Oldies, there's Dean Martin, Julie London, Nat King Cole, The Ink Spots and Frank Sinatra. Hope you like fellow <3

Miles (You Can't Say No/Make or Break)

The ultimate soft daddy, my beloved Miles. I have never known about the EXISTENCE of this film till I opened Hamish's Letterbox page. And to my surprise, the film itself, it's… watchable. Tbh, isn't bad, but the main characters aren't sympathetic, really, especially the husband Hank, I mean if they are the protagonist they should be at least interesting, isn't? The answer this film gives is 'no'. The funnier scene in this self-titled 'comedy' is the ""threesome scene"" (pay attention to the quotes). It happens when the main couple Hank and Alex decides to have a three-way with Hank's considerate brother, Miles. Honestly, I had a good laugh when Miles say that he would do anything that Alex asks him. And Hank is CLEARLY jealous of him. To be fair I understand Hank, I mean, I think I already have mentioned a few times how good-looking Hamish is, but FOR FUCK'S SAKE his look in this comedy is beyond my mental ability of processing information. My brain melted, and I wasn't able to describe his beauty in a word. *does horny gremlin noises* He's so cute, happy, and hospitable, but with the appearance of a god-damn DADDY. The 'smoke on the water' fanfic by @prettyboyhamish confirmed my obscure fantasy. (I highly recommend their fanfics, they're great.) So, as this character doesn't have a bunch of layers or any development in the film (just some tips' abt problems of abandon and a father figure). I literally made a playlist with the vibes he gives me, that is, The Ultimate Soft Hippie Daddy™️. A lot of The Neighbourhood, The Weekend, and Lana Del Rey. As it should be. I wish you the best horny trip, listener!

David Turner (Groove)

The film that everyone forgets about. I'm going to tell you, this film made me go FERAL. Bloody unbuttoned shirt. Groove is a very random film, honestly, I'm very ignorant when the matter is a rave, but this one definitely gave me the vibes. It's not bad, I dare to say that this film is 'ok'. It isn't so bad that everyone remembers, (like in Battleship or The Future (that film makes absolute no sense to me, and I watched it twice.)). Or so good that it is a masterpiece (like The Big Short or Midnight Mass). It gets in the between, is that what sadly makes it forgettable. However, the directing is THE great stuff in this film. The way Greg Harrison directs the scenes, the lights and all, I really adore it. And OF COURSE, Hamish and Lola Glaudini are the best acting so far, the other actors are good, but they got all the highlights. Their chemistry is delightful. As I'm not much of a person of Electronic or dubstep, I put some songs that I presume that David would listen, and according to the character vibes. Enjoy!

Porter Collins (The Big Short)

The Ultimate Wall Street Daddy. The Big Short is one of my favourite films, Adam McKay direction and his screenplay with Charles Randolph is amazing. The dialogues are something at the level of Aaron Sorkin in The Newsroom. The dynamic between the characters is so organic and natural that most of them, you can believe they're real people. My favourite core is the one of Morgan Stanley and Mark Baum. The interactions of his team are the best thing to me. Vinnie, Danny, and Porter lines are the greatest, I always lose my shit over their scenes. About that, Porter is such a good character, he's angry, disappointed, and overwhelmed with all the economic crisis situation. I laughed so much with his angry answers to Danny. When he and Danny goes to check on mortgage default and the “I hate Vegas” sequel, it's just *chef's kiss* That being said, this playlist was made based on some songs that agree with the plot of the film and some that I think that our former rower would listen to. This sexy, overwhelmed man was a piece of work, but I think I got it. Some workout songs, a bit of Rolling Stones and lots of rich-daddy music. I hope you enjoy! Please, let me know what you think!

Dr. Jim Ellis (The Stand).

Doctor Daddy time! I read The Stand AGES ago, so I really don't remember shit, that said I thought that even that I didn't recall the character and all, I hope that I would like The Stand (2020), I WAS WRONG. I mean, the series ins't BAD, it is just… boring? Frustrating? Idk, maybe I got a little affected by what happens to my dear Jim. I've known him for 10 minutes and if something happen to him, I'll kill everyone in thus room and then myself… I- honestly, they just did the pilot classic "Interrogator daddy with sad ending". However, besides this TRAGEDY, I thought that Dr. Ellis was quite an interesting character and (of course) I fell in love with the man (have you seen the slutty way he crosses those long-ass legs?? how am I supposed to deal with that?). So, OBVIOUSLY, I said to my muse — while The Stranger by Billy Joel played at the ending credits of the first episode. — Shit, muse, I gotta save him… — we stared at each other for a long minute, and they agreed, SO here are we. For the good or for the bad, The Stand is a post-apocalyptic story, that said, I saw myself a little influenced by the stress of the quarantine. So I ended up putting a lot of songs about death, the end of the world, hope, love in difficult times and this kind of thing, I particularly love this one bc it has some of my favourite songs. I really hope you all enjoy this lil guy, it was so fun to make it!

Tom Spangler (Ithaca)

The melancholic postman with the brightest smile! Ithaca isn't a totally bad film, it's just a very mediocre adaptation of The Human Comedy, a 1942 novel. (I haven't read the book where the film is based on, but I honestly don't think that has enough content for an almost 100 min film). Maybe, idk, there's just a lot of padding where they could've focused on more interesting things, like I understand that the boy is like "the messenger of death" and all, but... poor thing, he doesn't have the necessary charisma to carry the film on his own. Everybody in this film seems lost, and no character has the development or depth for us to care about their fates. I think that Tom is the only one who saves himself (partially) from this, but it's just because of the public who really likes the actor. Which is sad, bc they could've made this a short film without that unnecessary amount of atrophied subplots. Tra la la la, enough of film review. Now, Tom is an underdeveloped character, but that doesn't stop Haim giving him some layers through his voice control and facial expressions. So I couldn't resist giving him my favourite thing in the world, a personal playlist, lol. That said, I've made with him the same as I did with Brice, mainly because I started making their playlist at the same time, but I've only being satisfied with Tom's now. I tried to use more vintage songs, you know more WWII kind of thing, some oldies and all, and really like the final result. Of course there are some contemporary songs, like Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen, but mostly oldies. Just a small shoutout to the amazing fancam that @i-was-ok-then-i-saw-hamish made mixing Tom and Brice a while ago, I really loved so much &lt;3 Hope y'all enjoy this lil one, my beloveds hamishionaries, you made my days happier <3

Noah Bearinger (Paper Year)

BEHOLD THE HOT CHEATER!!

I know this man is a complete dickhead, but listen… …he's hot. I know it is no excuse to cheat on someone, but let me tell you something. Remember when he read poetry like that, and then he did THAT thing? Yeah, I know, I think I've already made my point. Would you have the courage to say 'no' to that? I'm a weak soldier, guys, the poetry, and the forehead touch got me HARD. I personally consider Noah a smarter and less creepy version of Gary from 'Unicorn Store (2017)'. But the way Haim plays him, ugh, he made me fall in love with the bastard in the first time I watched Paper Year (2018), and kept me falling each time I watched it. So, here it is! I know he's a cheat, but, could you just look at him??? And I mean... We can always fuck fix him. Honestly hope y'all enjoy this selection, we have Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and a bunch of sexy songs (and maybe some angsty? hmm?) bc this man definitely wants to eat you alive.

Jeb Magruder (Gaslit)

Our dirty Republican crush, the himbo dilf we didn't know we needed. I completely LOVED Gaslit, exactly the kind of humour I like. As a non-American person, and someone how doesn't really know much out of the basic about America's Political History, it was a show quite fun to watch and that kept me looking forward for more at each episode released. It also made me curious enough to study about the Watergate Scandal. Still, my favourite moment is when Jeb is watering his flower and drives off a FUCKING BUTTERFLY. I totally lost my shit. I know our boy Jeb isn't the best of people, but he's just so… I mean, just look at those poor little puppy eyes. Anyway, I couldn't resist making him a playlist, after all he can be fucked fixed by the right person ;D. And let's face it, the poor guy is in desperate need of a fuck, imagine how much tension must there be in those handsome shoulders. Shoutout to Sixty Eight Days to Save a Life by @agirlinherhead, Long Hot Summer by @pegplunkett, and A Summer Endeavour by @girlwiththenegantattoo, their writing inspired me A LOT while making this one, thanks for keeping us well-fed &lt;3 To this one we have an OBSCENE amount of Lana Del Rey, but don't worry my dear listener, it's all been carefully chosen ;) Enjoy the playlist to this wet paper bag of a man, HamFam!

Jerry Dantana (The Newsroom)

It's time to our nasty journalist! The truth is, I kinda liked the style of script of The Newsroom, but those characters are sometimes just TOO SASSY, it's just like they're the only ones who know what they're doing, and the rest are just dumbasses. And that's why I what a little happier than I should when Jerry decided to try to fuck with them. (Except for poor Maggie, she deserved better, not cool J.D., not cool). If there's somebody that is a fan of the series and wants my head in a silver plate, I say, I'M SORRY BUT THAT NASTY BITCH IS HOT AND KINDA RIGHT! I still think that our nasty journalist could've dealt with the whole 'Genoa' situation with a bit more compassionate journalism instead of a little greed? There's also the fact that he was fooled just like the rest of the team into believing the story and was the only one fired… hum actually, I take off what I said, go ahead Jerry, fuck with those assholes. To me this playlist in particular has the PERFECT vibe to Dantana, the songs here give the vibes of the character and what he does in the series, and also two or three songs about his relationship with his OFC. (I'm still working on his piece… good Lord so many WIP's I want to finish*laughs a bit desperately*). Shoutout to this marvellous prompt, Chocolate by @thegardenarcher, it inspired me to make this playlist too. I hope you enjoy as much as me, fellow thirsty raccoon.

Tim (One More Time)

Another day, another cheater, lol. God bless this lumberjack. I kinda consider this film a waste of good character development, bc it's satisfied with just pretend it is heading somewhere. The screenwriters really wasted a good opportunity of making a huge conflict between the main character Jude and her sister Corinne because, of Corinne's husband Tim, with whom Jude had an affair when they were young. Instead, they just ignore it and decide to focus on a bad developed relationship between Jude and her father Paul. One lives in his successful past, the other tries to head herself to a successful future. A nice plot, but I don't know, it just hasn't worked for me. They have just thrown this romantic triangle in the film and doesn't develop how it affects an already conflicted family. ANYWAY. I got completely OBSESSED with @i-was-ok-then-i-saw-hamish edit of Tim. Now, I just wanted to make clear that their tags are one of the more truthful things I ever saw in this site. #great movie for hamish content #he chopped wood and ran on a beach and opened a jar... it's like the script was written by my ovaries Nothing else I could add. I mean, he's so HOT. The playlist has been inspired by the edit, the pics posted by @plainlo-inthemorning — a very honourable member of the HamFam pantheon. *whispers* I love u and your content —, and the fan fiction I'm planning to the character. As some of you might think, A WHOLE LOT of musics about dangerous feelings, cheating and old loves. I have a special feeling to each playlist I made, with this one wouldn't be different. Hope y'all enjoy!

Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Henry (Lola Versus)

John Joseph Jacobs (Pushing Daisies)

(In Development)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Clark Debussy (Legion)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Ralph Branca (42)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Evan Grant (Ugly Betty)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Cal Zapata (Battleship)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Jason (The Future)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Gary (Unicorn Store)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Benjamin Conway (10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up)

(TBA)

(I'm taking songs suggestions :D)

Hey! If you liked some of these playlists, please, like and reblog :)

[feojpeg]

here‘s my art vs artists 2021! basically the first year ever where ive had enough artworks to use in it. i swear im taking this seriously i just didnt have a better picture of myself

[scorpionyx9621]

I love how the DC Comics Vampires series turned the entire fandom into basically three warring factions.

You have the group of literal monsignor Claude Frollo wannabes who are aghast in utter shock over the fact that sweet, pure, incorruptible Richard Grayson has been mischaracterized yet again! These truly are the end of days with DC Comics! They shan't see a single red cent out of your pocket ever again!

You have the ones who were like yeah it's a cool concept but I feel bad that Dick did Tim and Jason like that. And/or you're just low-key miffed that we didn't get a sexy vampire Jason Todd when he already is a perfectly fine and functional zombie.

And then you have what I'd consider to be the majority of people who are just pure, carnal, mindless simps for Dick Grayson who see him not only get his pearls for the first time and survive one of these Elseworld stories. But also are just living for the idea of Dick Grayson, one of the sexiest men in all of comics fiction turned into a cold, vicious vampire whom has gone full evil and is living his Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! At the Disco era and you are just on your hands and knees begging for him to do whatever he wants with any of your holes.

[hollyharper]

Sims 4 batfam

It’s day two of my sims experiment (in my time, not theirs)

For some reason Steph slept in Tim’s bed, woke up a 4 in the Monsignor, ate, than slept on the couch.

People keep complaining about bathroom related problems. So I desided to slept the pre existing bathroom in half, so they’d have two. I lost the sink (the only on in the house) than ran out of money. So there’s a room with a tolit and one with a shower. Opps.

Cass is still mad.

Damian’s failing school.

And Dick is refusing to go to work.

Then I added the Queen’s and Kent’s to the neighborhood. Well, I forgot to mark Dinah and Oliver as married…

So now this is an Injustice world, where Dinah almost died and was sent to an alternate dimension with a different Oliver. Which explains them being ‘housemates’ who happen to have a kid.

That also helps explain why Steph is a young adult and Tim is a teen.

Oh well

It’s not like it can get worse…

[hieromonkcharbel]

Jesus Christ: Priest and Victim

by Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins

I. The Mystery of Mediation

An attentive study of God's revelation to us in both the old dispensation and the new discloses that God chooses to deal with his people through certain men whom he designates to represent him to them and to represent them before him. We might describe this as the "mystery of mediation". After the sin of our first parents, which was subsequently to be multiplied billions of times over by the personal sins of all their descendants, the Old Testament shows us numerous instances in which a representative is designated by God himself to intercede on behalf of his people in order that God's wrath, stirred up on account of their sins, might be turned away from them and that his people may receive instead his blessings. Among the many instances, "the prayer of Moses becomes the most striking example of intercessory prayer, which will be fulfilled in 'the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus'."1 The Catechism of the Catholic Church adroitly sketches the role of Moses as mediator:

From this intimacy with the faithful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, Moses drew strength and determination for his intercession. He does not pray for himself but for the people whom God made his own. Moses already intercedes for them during the battle with the Amalekites and prays to obtain healing for Miriam. But it is chiefly after their apostasy that Moses 'stands in the breach' before God in order to save the people. 2

The priests, prophets and kings of the Old Testament, each according to his particular office, all shared in this role of mediation. In varied circumstances and with an ever clearer manifestation of God's plan these chosen mediators reveal to us both (1) the divine dispensation of mediation which God established in order to show mercy to his people and (2) at the same time the provisional role of this mediation.

A. Priestly Mediation

We have already alluded to the fact that most probably the greatest of all the mediatorial figures of the Old Testament was Moses, the lawgiver, who in a certain sense combines in himself the categories of prophet, priest and king. Functioning in a priestly perspective, he offered sacrifice (cf. Ex. 24) and was empowered by God to "ordain" his brother Aaron high priest (cf. Ex. 29). In the course of time it eventually became established that it was exclusively the priest who offered sacrifice to God on behalf of the people and through whom the bounty of God was dispensed to them.3 Here is how the eminent Dominican theologian, Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, sketched the divine institution of priestly mediation:

To accomplish the exterior and social worship due to God, the priestly mediation must both ascend to Him and descend from Him. Man, being composed of soul and body, owes God both interior and exterior worship, and living by nature in society, owes Him, too, social worship, God being no less the author and benefactor of human society than of our soul and body. We need the priest to bind into a single whole the prayers of all the people, to unify their acts of adoration, of praise, and of reparation, and to make up for the imperfection of the acts of the faithful. His sanctity, that is, his special consecration to the Lord for this purpose, makes him capable of offering the prayers of the people to God as an expression of their whole soul.

The priest is no less necessary to bring to the people the things of God, divine light and grace, without human alteration or adulteration.4

B. Sacrifice

While the duties of the priest in the Old Testament included a number of functions related to the sanctuary,5 by far their most important function was to offer sacrifice. Because this was also true for the priests of many pagan religions, it would be possible to approach the question of sacrifice from the perspective of comparative religion and philosophy as well as from that of the Old and New Testaments and of Christian theology.6 We follow here the descriptions developed by Monsignor Antonio Piolanti, abstracting from the biblical, philosophical and theological data.

Sacrifice, which constitutes the supreme act of external and public worship, may be defined as the offering and immolation to God of something sensible (fruits, liquids, animals) in order to recognize his absolute lordship and in order to atone for sin. Sacrifice, consequently, has two aspects: one material and sensible because it is an external and public act; the other internal and spiritual because in order to have an effective moral value it must be motivated by a spiritual and intimate content. The offering especially of something living such as fruits and, even more, animals and then the consequent immolation or destruction of these offerings is the counterbalance to the creative act of God. As God has given life to all things, man symbolically restores life back to him. Particularly in the immolation to God of a victim such as a lamb, a goat, a calf or a bull through the mediation of a priest, man expresses his total dependence and dedication to God. The ultimate end of the sacrifice is the mystical union of man with his God.7

Let us listen to Garrigou-Lagrange comment on the offering of sacrifice:

The twofold priestly mediation takes place especially in sacrifice, the offering of the sacrifice forming the ascending mediation, and the sharing of the victim offered with the faithful by communion forming the descending mediation. Just as the priesthood constitutes the pre-eminent sacred function, so sacrifice, as its name indicates, forms the pre-eminent sacred action. Without sacrifice, no priesthood; without the priesthood, no sacrifice; for sacrifice supposes an offering priest and an offered victim.8

C. The Shedding of Blood

The pre-eminent way of atoning for sin in both ancient pagan religions and also in the Old Testament always involved the shedding of blood. Here is a fascinating analysis of the rationale for this from the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen:

Pagan people, without knowing it explicitly, sensed the truth that "unless blood is shed, there can be no remission of sins" (Heb. 9:22). From the earliest times, through the kings and priests, they offered animals, and sometimes even humans, to turn away the anger of the gods. As in the Levitical priesthood, however, the victim was always separate from the priest. The sacrifice was a vicarious one, the animal representing and taking the place of the guilty humans, who thus sought to expiate their guilt in the shedding of blood.

But why, it may be asked, did the pagans, without the help of revelation, reach the conclusion expressed by St. Paul under Divine inspiration that "without the shedding of blood there was no remission of sins"? The answer is that it is not hard for anyone who ponders on sin and guilt to recognize: first, that sin is in the blood; and second, that life is in the blood, so that the shedding of blood expresses appropriately the truth that human life is unworthy to stand before the face of God.9

While it was clear that God required an acceptable reparation in order to restore man to his friendship, it also became clear to the thoughtful man of the Old Testament that no mere man could ever definitively "breach the chasm" which sin had caused between God and his creatures. As the inspired author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us:

Since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins (Heb. 10:1-4).

Sin, an offense against the infinite God, in effect required a reparation which man, left to his own devices, remained incapable of making. No mere human creature could really succeed in mediating between God and his people except in incomplete and partial ways which could, at best, foreshadow the full, complete and definitive mediation which was needed.

II. Jesus the Perfect Mediator

At the very heart of the mystery of our redemption is the fact that Jesus Christ is the "one mediator between God and men ... who gave himself as a ransom for all" (I Tim. 2:5-6). Why is Jesus the unique and perfect mediator? This affirmation from the new Catechism provides us with the fundamental elements needed to formulate a response:

No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all.10

One with God in his divinity, Jesus is at the same time one with man in his humanity.11 In his divine person he unites the two natures of the two parties who had become separated by man's sin: he represents God to man and man to God. As the Word who is one with the Father from all eternity, the Son is not a mediator, but he becomes one from the moment he begins to take flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

A. Jesus the Priest

The position of being a mediator, according to St. Thomas, and indeed, according to the undivided Christian tradition, is in a pre-eminent way exercised by the priest. 12 Indeed, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the inspired author of the Letter to the Hebrews would come to grasp that, even though he was not sprung from the priestly tribe of Levi and never referred to himself explicitly as a priest, 13 Jesus was the perfect high priest who succeeded in bridging the gap between God and his people in a way that no other priest ever could.

Meditating upon this fact, the Fathers of the Church came to an ever deeper appreciation of the fact that precisely by virtue of the Incarnation, Jesus became the perfect mediator, the perfect priest. He was not so from all eternity as the Word coequal to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, but only from the time when he took on our human nature. 14

We can speak, then, of the ontological nature of Jesus' priesthood, that is to say of his being a priest by virtue of his assumption of our human nature. This understanding, in fact, was solemnly defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431. 15

Thus Father Clément Dillenschneider says that

By his union with human nature, the Son of God is ontologically constituted the Sovereign Priest of humanity, and God the Father recognizes him as such in the mystery of the Incarnation. As Son of God made flesh, he is priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec, although the consummation of his priesthood was attained only after the sacrifice on the cross (Heb. 5:9-10).16

One with the Father from all eternity, Jesus became one with us in an irrevocable way at the moment of Mary's fiat, hence by virtue of the hypostatic union. Garrigou-Lagrange puts it thus: He [Jesus] is a priest, therefore, because of the Incarnation itself, and His priesthood, like His sanctity, is substantial. God decreed the Incarnation and called Jesus to the priesthood and to His universal mediatorship by one and the same act. 17

B. Jesus, Priest and Victim

I believe that it was the special merit of Archbishop Sheen, in what he described in his autobiography as the third [and last] stage of his life, to have meditated at length on Jesus' priest-victimhood and to have drawn out the implications for Catholic priests of today. 18 Hence it is to him that I turn for another crucial insight into the person of Jesus:

The sin-bearing character of Christ did not begin on the cross. He was not first a Priest and then, during the last three days, a Victim. His Victimhood was never at any one moment divorced from his Priesthood. 19

Whichever way we look at Christ, we never find Divinity isolated from humanity or humanity from Divinity. Neither are priesthood and victimhood ever separated. Arianism would deny Divinity as the new Arianism would deny victimhood.20

Jesus could offer the perfect sacrifice to the Father precisely because he is one with the Father in his Godhead and one with us in our humanity and also because he is uniquely and simultaneously both priest and victim.

Here is the answer as to how Our Lord differs from all the other priests -- pagan and Jewish. All other priests offered a victim distinct from themselves: e.g., a goat, a lamb, a bullock, but Christ offered Himself as a victim. "He offered Himself without blemish to God, a spiritual and eternal sacrifice" (Heb. 9:14).

Everyone else who ever came into this world, came into it to live; He came into it to die. Hemlock juice interrupted the teaching of Socrates. But sacrificial death was the goal of His Life, the gold that He was seeking: "I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until the ordeal is over!" (Lk. 12:50).

He is both Offerer and Offered; both Priest and Victim. This deep secret of the Suffering Servant He did not develop in His public utterances, but reserved it for His disciples and future priests. To them alone did He unveil Isaiah 53, and only to them does He interpret His death as vicarious dying for sinners. 21

With his marvelous rhetorical gifts Sheen presents this paradoxical truth that Jesus is simultaneously both priest and victim as if he were slowly revolving an exquisitely cut gem. From every angle we see a different facet which helps us to enter into the mystery from yet another perspective. Permit me to share a lengthy excerpt in which he sets forth his theme and develops it with rare skill.

As a Priest He was sinless: "Which of you can prove me in the wrong?" (Jn. 8:46). "The angel answered: the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child to be born will be called Son of God" (Lk. 1:35). "I shall not talk much longer with you, for the prince of this world approaches. He has no rights over Me" (Jn. 14:30). "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are .. the Holy One of God" (Mk. 1:24).

As a Victim He was identified with sinners: "God made Him one with the sinfulness of men, so that in Him we might be made one with the Goodness of God Himself" (2 Cor. 5:21).

As a Priest, He was holy with the Holiness of God;

As a Victim, He was "made sin."

As a Priest He was "separated" from the world;

As a Victim He came into it to fight against the Devil, the Prince of the world.

On the Cross, He was upright as a Priest;

On the Cross, He was prostrate as a Victim.

As a Priest, He mediated with the Father,

As Victim, He mediated for the sins of men.

Before Pilate, He spoke seven times as the Priest- Shepherd;

Before Pilate, He was silent seven times as the Victim-Lamb. As a Priest He has vertical relations with heaven;

As a Victim He has horizontal relations with earth.

As a Priest He had dignity;

As a Victim He suffered indignity.

As a Priest: God is alive;

As a Victim: God is dead.

As a Priest He prays to the Father that the Cup pass;

As a Victim He drinks it to its dregs.

St. Augustine, in his Confessions, interprets it well: Ideo Victor Quia Victima. As the ministry of Christ approached its climax, He more and more insisted that the victory over principalities and powers had to come through His sacrifice and death.

Christ personally was sinless, but He voluntarily bore imputed guilt. If He were only a priest, He would have stopped short of the Cross and the Resurrection. As our Representative, He was found guilty of blasphemy because we blasphemed; at the courts of Annas and Pilate, we sinners were on trial in the person of the Sinless Substitute. Though personally sinless, He was officially guilty. ...

The very sinlessness of His priesthood was the necessary basis of His work of sin-bearing. "Christ was innocent of sin, and yet for our sake God made Him one with the sinfulness of men, so that in Him we might be made one with the goodness of God Himself" (2 Cor. 5:21).22

III. Jesus' Heavenly Priesthood and Victimhood

Now there is another very important aspect of Jesus' priesthood and victimhood which we must consider: the heavenly dimension. In the Letter to the Hebrews, which is our most important source in the New Testament on the priesthood of Jesus, we are informed that

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office: but he [Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:23-25).

Since his priesthood began when Christ took on our human nature and that human nature is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven, even so Jesus continues to exercise his priesthood there. This exercise is described in the Letter to the Hebrews in terms of the liturgy performed by the high priest on the annual Day of Atonement, the day which the Lord had appointed for expiating for the sins of Israel.23

In terms of this ritual the Epistle presents an image of Christ the King entering the heavenly sanctuary as a priest. Risen from the dead, he crosses the heavens, "a tent not made by human hands, not of this creation" (Heb. 9:11), that is, the place where God dwells, and he enters definitively the presence of God, the sanctuary (Heb. 9:12). The blood he bears which wins him admission is not the blood of goats or calves but his own blood which has won for us eternal redemption (ibid.). Christ has entered within the veil to the Holy of Holies into the presence of God (Heb. 6:20; 9:3; 10:20). It is in terms of this comparison with the liturgy of Expiations that Hebrews lays more stress on Christ's bearing his blood into the presence of God than on the actual shedding on Calvary. The slaughter outside the tent was secondary in the Jewish ritual; what constituted the sacrifice was the sprinkling of blood in the Holy of Holies. "This is why Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered outside the gate" of Jerusalem (Heb. 13:12). Christians are come "to Jesus the mediator of the new Alliance and to the sprinkling of blood more eloquent than that of Abel" (Heb. 2:24). Evidently, the metaphor is maintained here; what is expressed by the sprinkling of blood is the presence of Christ, body and soul, before the Father, the submission of his humanity to Him and the intercession which he makes for us in virtue of his sacrifice.24

Admittedly, we are dealing with a mystery here. We are not saying that Jesus' death on Calvary was one sacrifice and that in heaven he offers another, that of his blood. We are rather speaking of two phases of the same exercise of his priesthood: the earthly phase and the heavenly one. As St. Paul emphatically states: "Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him" (Rom. 6:9). Yet, by the same token he continues as a priest to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father (cf. Heb. 7:25).25 Here is the way our Holy Father put it in an Angelus address on 13 August 1989:

Jesus is the eternal victim. Risen from the dead and glorified at the right hand of the Father, he preserves in his immortal body the marks of the wounds of his nailed hands and feet, of his pierced heart (cf. Jn. 20:27; Lk. 24:39-40) and presents them to the Father in his incessant prayer of intercession on our behalf (cf. Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34).26

In effect, Jesus intercedes by presenting his sacrifice to the Father who never tires of looking upon the wounds of his Son which are now radiant and glorious and by which the fruits of the redemption continue to be applied to us, especially in the Mass and in the sacraments. A. Jesus' Priesthood and Victimhood in the Mass

It is extremely important for us to strive to grasp this heavenly exercise of the priesthood of Christ in order to understand how we continue to benefit in the Mass and the sacraments from the one sacrifice of Jesus. In his ever fascinating manner Archbishop Sheen put it this way:

Using human words to describe Divine things, we can say that each time we offer Mass, Our Lord shows His Heavenly Father the scars in His hands, His feet and His side; for this very reason He kept them. At the Consecration of the Mass, we can imagine Our Lord as saying: "In My Hand I have engraven their hearts. Not for their worthiness, but for My love unto death, grant them graces through the Holy Spirit. My wounds healed, but My scars I kept, that I might always hold them up before Thee, O Father, as pledges of My love. If Thou couldst not strike in justice the sinful people because the uplifted hands of Abraham stood in the way, then shall not My Hands win for them that mercy I won for them on Calvary? I am not just a Sacerdos in æternum; I am a Victima in æternum."27

What the Archbishop expressed in these evocative words is nothing other than a restatement of the Church's traditional teaching on the sacrifice of the Mass. This is exactly what the priest expresses when he prays in the third Eucharist Prayer: "Look with favor on your Church's offering [oblationem], and see the Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself [Hostiam, cuius voluisti immolatione placari]."

The new Catechism of the Catholic Church presents this doctrine on Christ's state as victim by quoting from the Council of Trent:

The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: 'The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.' 'In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.'28

With particular reference to the separate consecration of the two species of bread and wine, Pius XII had underscored Jesus' state as victim in the Mass in this way in his great Encyclical Mediator Dei:

On the cross Christ offered to God the whole of Himself and His sufferings, and the victim was immolated by a bloody death voluntarily accepted. But on the altar, by reason of the glorious condition of His humanity "death no longer has dominion over Him" (Rom. 6:9), and therefore the shedding of His blood is not possible. Nevertheless, the divine wisdom has devised a way in which our Redeemer's sacrifice is marvellously shown forth by external signs symbolic of death. By the transubstantiation of bread into the body of Christ and of wine into His blood both His body and blood are rendered really present; but the eucharistic species under which He is present symbolise the violent separation of His body and blood, and so a commemorative showing forth of the death which took place in reality on Calvary is repeated in each Mass, because by distinct representations Christ Jesus is signified and shown forth in the state of victim. 29

After the consecration the priest says: "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith." It is precisely this mystery of faith which we have been trying to elucidate and penetrate. In the strict sense it always remains a mystery, something that is beyond the capability of our finite minds to grasp. Even if we don't know the how, we are capable of knowing the what. Jesus, who accomplished his role of priest and victim on the cross, is still priest and victim in heavenly glory and on our altars through the ministry of his priests.

B. Jesus' Priesthood and Victimhood in His Priests

There are surely more ramifications of this central mystery of faith. Here I should like to introduce one more and I will let Archbishop Sheen do it in his own inimitable way.

I was a priest without being a victim. The priest is one who offers to God; the victim is what is offered. In the Old Testament and in all pagan religions, what was offered was something distinct from the priest himself -- a lamb, an ox, a bullock. But when Our Blessed Lord came to this earth He changed all this. He, the Priest, was also the Victim. He did not offer something apart from Himself; He offered Himself. ...

Eventually I came to see that the Lord was teaching me not only to be a priest, but also to be a victim. This explains why two of the books which I authored are on this very subject.

I can remember when, after four months in the hospital, I began to recover; I was reading Mass on an altar constructed over the bed before a few priests and friends. I spontaneously gave a sermon, which I remember so well. I said that I was glad that I had open-heart surgery because when the Lord comes to take us all, He will look to see if we have any marks of the Cross upon ourselves. He will look at our hands to see if they are crucified from sacrificial giving; He will look at our feet to see if they have been thorn-bruised and nail-pierced searching for lost sheep; He will look at our heart to see if that has been opened to receive His Divine Heart. Oh what joy is mine just to have endured the minuscule imitation of His suffering on the Cross by having a wounded side. Maybe He will recognize me from that scar and receive me into His Kingdom.30

Quite evidently Archbishop Sheen considered the beginning of "the third stage" of his life as the point at which he accepted being both priest and victim.31 He doesn't tell us exactly when this occurred, but indicates in the introduction to The Priest is Not His Own, which appeared in 1963, that these thoughts began taking shape while he was writing his Life of Christ. 32 His second book, Those Mysterious Priests, was published in 1974. I have been quoting extensively from these books in this presentation because I believe that they are prophetic works which have a great deal to say about the nature Catholic priesthood. Sheen analyzes as few others, I believe, the malaise which afflicts the priesthood today. He saw the crisis coming over thirty years ago and so devoted the last years of his life to preaching retreats for priests and promoting among them a daily holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament. I will leave to him once again the specific application. He states the premise succinctly:

In the New Testament there is no priesthood without victimhood. In Christ the two were inseparable; therefore, they are united in every priest called to be an Ambassador of Christ. 33

Fulton Sheen was surely not the first to recognize the necessary connection between being a priest of Jesus Christ and a victim with him, but he did underscore this nexus in a particularly striking way with reference to the era in which we live. There are any number of luminous figures in the history of spirituality who exemplify this teaching. One thinks, for instance, of Sylvain-Marie Giraud, the second Superior General of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, whose masterpiece is considered to be his last work, Jesus Christ Priest and Victim. 34 Again one thinks of Saint Maximilian-Maria Kolbe, who offered one of his Masses his first Christmas as a priest for the intention "pro amore usque ad victimam [for love to the point of becoming a victim"35 and who received the grace requested by giving his life on behalf of another innocent victim.

Further, one might ponder with great profit one of the most important conclusions which the great Sulpician Scripture scholar André Feuillet draws in his classic book, The Priesthood of Christ and His Ministers, which is a sustained meditation on the high priestly prayer of Jesus in chapter 17 of the Gospel of John. This magnificent prayer, Feuillet states,

offers the great advantage, lacking in the letter to the Hebrews, of linking to the consecration of Christ as priest and victim the idea of a participation of the apostles in this consecration. ...

In the priestly prayer of Jesus, the latter makes it clear that he intends to govern, sanctify, and unify his Church through the apostles: to this end he gives them a share in his twofold consecration as priest and victim.36

Granting that Fulton Sheen had personally rediscovered what many before him had also come to understand of the mind of Christ Jesus for his anointed ones, let us allow Sheen to draw out some important ramifications of his discovery which seem particularly pertinent to our postconciliar era:

In continuing the Mediatorial office of Christ, the priest-victim, is to be holy and unholy; holy, because in intimacy with the Father; unholy, because He will never deny His responsibility for the wickedness of men. The basic reason for the confusion in the ministry of Christ in the last few decades has been: the identification of the priesthood with liturgy and ceremony instead of with holiness: and the identification of victimhood with social action rather than with human guilt. The priest was linked with the altar; the victim with poverty exclusively, rather than with human frailty and ignorance and suffering. Once the priesthood no longer meant a vertical relation to the Holiness of God, and the victimhood no longer a horizontal relation to all men who have come short of the glory of God, then the priest was chained in the sanctuary and the victim to the inner city. 37

His final conclusion is this:

The divorce of husband and wife endangers the children; the divorce of priest and victim harms the Church. But once the priest is holy because the Lord is holy, once the priest is victim because the sinless Christ died for sinners, then the wounds of the Church become glorious scars.

[pope-francis-quotes]

25th August >> (@ZenitEnglish By Deborah Castellano Lubov) #Pope Francis #PopeFrancis Angelus Address: On Striving to Enter the Narrow Door to Paradise (Full Text) “But Lord I was part of that association, friends with that monsignor, cardinal, group, priest.’ Titles do not count. The Lord will only recognize us for … a life of faith’

Here is a ZENIT working translation of the address Pope Francis gave today, before and after praying the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

* * *

Before the Angelus:

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today’s Gospel (Lk 13:22-30), presents us with Jesus passing by, teaching through cities and villages, traveling toward Jerusalem, where He knows He must die on the cross for the salvation of all men. In this scenario, a man poses a question to the Lord, saying: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (v. 23). The issue was debated at the time, and there were different ways of interpreting the Scriptures, in this regard. But Jesus turns the question upside down – as it focuses more on quantity: “They are few? …” – and instead places the answer on the level of responsibility, inviting us to use the present time well. In fact, He says: “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (v. 24).

With these words, Jesus makes it clear that it is not a question of number, there is no “quota,” in Paradise! But it is a question of crossing the right path, which exists, for everyone , but it is narrow. That is the question. Jesus does not want to deceive us, saying: “Yes, rest assured, it is easy, there is a beautiful highway and at the end, a big door …” No, Jesus tells us things as they are: the passage is narrow. What do you mean? In the sense that to be saved, one must love God and one’s neighbor, and this is not, comfortable! It is a “narrow door” because it is demanding, it requires commitment, indeed, “effort”, that is to say, a determined and persevering will to live according to the Gospel. St. Paul calls it “the good fight of the faith” (1 Tim 6:12).

And, to better explain himself, Jesus tells a parable. There is a landlord, who represents the Lord. His house symbolizes eternal life, salvation. And here the image of the door returns . Jesus says: “After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from”(v. 25). These people will then try to make themselves known, reminding the landlord that they ate and drank together and that they listened to his teachings on their streets (v. 26). But the Lord will repeat that He does not know them, and calls them “evildoers”. Here’s the problem! The Lord will not recognize us for the titles we have… But Lord I was part of that association, friends with that monsignor, with that cardinal, that group, that priest. Titles do not count. The Lord will only recognize us for a good humble and good life, a life of faith that is translated into works.

For us Christians, this means that we are called to establish a true communion with Jesus, praying, going to church, approaching the Sacraments and nourishing ourselves with His Word. This keeps us in faith, nourishes our hope, revives charity. And so, with the grace of God, we can and must spend our lives for the good of our brothers, fighting against every form of evil and injustice.

May the Virgin Mary help us in this. She went through the narrow door, who is Jesus. She welcomed Him with all her heart and followed Him every day of her life, even when she didn’t understand, even when a sword pierced her soul. For this reason, we invoke her as “Gate of Heaven”; a door that exactly follows the way of Jesus: the door of God’s heart, demanding, but open to all.

[Original text: Italian] [Working Translation by ZENIT Sr Vatican Correspondent, Deborah Castellano Lubov]

After the Angelus:

Dear brothers and sisters,

I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims.

I greet in particular the community of the Pontifical North American College, especially the newly arrived, new seminarians, with prayers for their vocation. I greet the young people of Azione Cattolica (Catholic Action) from the Diocese of Bologna; the boys of the pastoral unit of Rovato, of the Diocese of Brescia; and those of Ponte Nossa, of the Diocese of Bergamo.

We are all worried about the vast fires that have developed in the Amazon. We pray that, with everyone’s commitment, they may be tamed as soon as possible. That ‘lung’ of forest is vital to our planet.

I wish you all a good Sunday. And please don’t forget to pray for me. Good lunch and goodbye.

[Original text: Italian] [Working Translation by ZENIT Sr Vatican Correspondent, Deborah Castellano Lubov]

25th AUGUST 2019 12:20ANGELUS/REGINA CAELI

[kemetic-dreams]

Controversy Over African Baby Jesus Shows Depiction of Christ Is Still a Politically-Charged IssueBy

Manny Otiko

People often argue that it shouldn’t matter what color Jesus Christ is, but hackles are raised when he is portrayed as anything other than white. This is what’s happening in Pascoe Vale, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, which has generated controversy by displaying a nativity scene with a African baby Jesus.

According to The Moreland Leader, Pascoe Vale state Labor Member of Parliament Lizzie Blandthorn said the figure, displayed in her office window, is a more historically accurate depiction of Christ. She said the display had been well-received so far.

“It’s a very multicultural community and people are pleased to see a multicultural presentation of the nativity,” she said. “Some people have suggested it wasn’t appropriate because it was dark-skinned, but my view is it’s more historically accurate given the part of the world in which the nativity happened.”

Even though Jesus is usually portrayed as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian in Western art, religious scholars say, judging by the place he was born and the people who lived there, he most likely would have been a dark-skinned Middle Easterner. The Archdiocesan Vicar General Monsignor Greg Bennett also supported this view. He told The Moreland Leader Jesus was Jewish, so he would have looked like the people of the Middle East.

“However, throughout the centuries, the images of the Holy Family in art, sculpture and windows have reflected the diverse cultures of the world and therefore the depictions of the Holy Family have reflected this reality,” Bennett said. “Jesus was born for all people — all nations — in history for history.”

However, not everyone is happy about the dark-skinned baby Jesus in the Pascoe Vale nativity scene. Local resident Maria, who didn’t give her last name, told The Moreland Leader she didn’t like the display because it was “changing what Jesus was.”

“I’m not saying he would have been blue-eyed and blonde, but I don’t think he would have been that African either,” she said. “It sounds like I’m being racist but I’m not. I’m Italian, I was born here, and I used to get called a dago — I don’t like racism.”

Twitter user XanderAngelis again raised the point that Jesus’ color should be immaterial.

“Why am I seeing people arguing about what colour Jesus was. It doesn’t matter if he was white, black, brown, green or purple,” he tweeted.

The controversy over the Pascoe Vale nativity scene shows how politically charged the depiction of Jesus can be. It seems many people get bent out of shape any time he is portrayed as anything other than a white man.

Tim Wise, an American anti-racism educator and author, said the image of Jesus has changed over the centuries. However, some of the first images of Jesus, found in the catacombs under Rome, depict him as dark-skinned. Also, early images from the Roman Empire, which helped spread Christianity across Europe, show him as a man of color. But over the centuries that image has changed to what is the now standard Caucasian features. Wise said there is a political reason for this.

“The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples,” he said in a CNN interview. “There are literally millions of human beings whose lives have been snuffed out by people who conquered under the banner of a white god. “

“So long as our culture pictures Adam, Eve, Moses, Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and even God ‘himself’ as fair-skinned, despite the obvious preposterousness of such representations, we will continue to plant the seeds of racial supremacy in the hearts and minds of millions,” Wise said.

[darkitsunex]

I- Imagine you hear some weird sounds from the Monsignor's office and since you are a doctor there you simply decide to step in to check on him and see Sister Mary doing things to him which he doesn't want to happen, you knew since a few weeks something was wrong with her and push her off Timothy, holding the Crucifix against her head saying a spell which kills the demon in her.

My goodness! That would be quite embarrassing seeing my baby being violated by possessed Mary Eunice and I am glad I will help Tim to be on his feet. So am I going to be some kind of the female version of Dr. Arden or not exactly?

[investmart007]

VATICAN CITY | Pope OKs probe into US bishop as he meets with US delegation

New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/vatican-city-pope-oks-probe-into-us-bishop-as-he-meets-with-us-delegation/169946/

VATICAN CITY | Pope OKs probe into US bishop as he meets with US delegation

VATICAN CITY  — Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a U.S. bishop Thursday and authorized an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, adding awkward drama to an audience with U.S. church leaders over the abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church.

The resignation of West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield was announced just as the four-member U.S. delegation was sitting down with Francis in his private study in the Apostolic Palace. Among the four was Bransfield’s cousin, Monsignor Brian Bransfield, secretary-general of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bishop Bransfield had been investigated for an alleged groping incident in 2007 and was implicated in court testimony in 2012 in an infamous Philadelphia priestly sex abuse case. He strongly denied ever abusing anyone and the diocese said it had disproved the claims. He continued with his ministry until he offered to retire, as required, when he turned 75 last week.

The Vatican said Francis accepted his resignation Thursday and appointed Baltimore Archbishop William Lori to take over Bransfield’s Wheeling-Charleston diocese temporarily. Lori said in a statement that Francis had also instructed him to “conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment of adults against Bishop Bransfield.”

No details of the allegations were revealed and his diocese said it had “no idea” where Bransfield was after the Vatican ordered him to live outside the diocese.

Lori set up a hotline for potential victims to call, said the Vatican had instructed him to make the investigation public, and vowed to conduct a thorough study into what he said were “troubling” claims against Bransfield, who was a major fundraiser for the Vatican via the Pennsylvania-based Papal Foundation.

The revelation was the latest twist in an incredible turn of events in the U.S. church that began with the June 20 announcement that one of the most prestigious U.S. cardinals, Theodore McCarrick, had been accused of groping a teenage altar boy in the 1970s.

Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation found the allegation credible. After news broke of the investigation, several former seminarians and priests came forward to report that they, too, had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults.

The McCarrick affair — coupled with revelations in the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing decades of abuse and cover-up in six dioceses — has fueled outrage among the rank-and-file faithful who had trusted church leaders to reform themselves after the abuse scandal first erupted in Boston in 2002.

Outrage has also been directed at Francis and the Vatican and has fueled conservative criticism of Francis’ pontificate.

The head of the U.S. bishops conference, Houston Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, had requested the papal audience last month following revelations that McCarrick had risen through church ranks even though the allegations of sexual misconduct were known in U.S. and Vatican circles.

DiNardo requested a full-fledged Vatican investigation into the McCarrick affair, and said he also wanted answers to allegations that a string of Vatican officials knew of McCarrick’s misdeeds since 2000, but turned a blind eye.

A statement issued by DiNardo after the papal audience made no mention of his request for a Vatican investigation. It said that the Americans briefed the pope on the “laceration” that abuse has caused and that “we look forward to actively continuing our discernment together identifying the most effective next steps.”

The statement also made no mention of the Bransfield investigation. McCarrick was a co-consecrator when Bishop Bransfield was ordained a bishop in 2005 and the two were active in the Papal Foundation, the big U.S. fundraising organization that McCarrick co-founded and which has funneled millions of dollars to the Vatican over the years.

Bransfield was president when the foundation was thrown into disarray last year over a revolt by its lay donors. They were incensed that the cardinals who run the foundation had agreed to a $25 million request from the Vatican to bail out a troubled Rome hospital. Under pressure, the cardinals pulled the plug on the funding mid-way through.

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spokesman Tim Bishop said Thursday he couldn’t answer questions about Bransfield’s whereabouts or whether he has an attorney.

“The Holy See has instructed him to live outside the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston,” Bishop said. “I have no idea of his whereabouts.”

The Vatican hasn’t responded to allegations by its former ambassador to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, that Francis effectively rehabilitated McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict XVI over allegations McCarrick would routinely invite seminarians to his beach house and into his bed.

Francis has, however, responded to the overall scandal with a series of initiatives aimed at trying to convince the faithful that he “gets it” and is prepared to take measures to put an end to what he has called the “culture of cover-up” in the church.

On the eve of the U.S. audience, Francis announced he was summoning the presidents of bishops conferences around the world to a February summit to discuss prevention measures and protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

The surprise announcement was largely dismissed as a belated damage control effort by victims’ advocates. Church historians questioned why such an urgent problem was being scheduled for discussion six months from now with the very bishops who are blamed for much of the scandal.

“Where are the laity and others who might provide both new and uncomplicit voices and insights into the process?” asked Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history at Syracuse University.

Even DiNardo’s own record on protecting children has now come into question. On the eve of his audience with Francis, The Associated Press reported that two victims in Houston had accused him of not doing enough to stop a priest who was arrested this week on sexual abuse charges.

The archdiocese issued a statement Wednesday confirming that both alleged victims had come forward to report abuse by the priest, the Rev. Manuel LaRosa-Lopez, one of them in 2001.

The delegation of U.S. bishops announced no plans to speak to the media after their audience.

By Associated Press

[cranfordpatch]

TAPinto Cranford's Weekend Catch-Up - TAPinto.net

TAPinto.net

TAPinto Cranford's Weekend Catch-Up TAPinto.net CRANFORD - Chaplain Monsignor Tim Shugrue installed the new Cranford Knights of Columbus Officers for the 2018-2019 Columbian Year at a ceremony held at St. Michael's Church. Pictured with Monsignor Shugrue are District Deputy Joe Kilroy, Grand ...

via Cranford - Google News https://ift.tt/2M4nS5R

[backpackerenpointe-blog]

I managed to get a front row seat in the circle and wow! what a view

SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a Convent!  Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music.

Plot summary from the official website

Craig Revel Horwood’s production has many strengths, the largest to note is it’s lead Alexandra Burke as Deloris Van Cartier. Every bit the star of the show she delivers her numbers with conviction and genuine emotion. She has the cheeky aura on stage necessary for the wit and humour characteristic of her part however she also brings a subtle underlying sense of vulnerability to the character.

Both Tim Maxwell-Clarke (Monsignor O’Hara) whose character is desperately trying to source funds to help the convent remain open, and Karen Mann (Mother Superior) whose building despair at the ongoing events of the show is obvious for all to see, play their parts beautifully. Both, eventually succumbing to the new world around them and joining the festivities of the finale with saxophone and trumpet in hand.

Sarah Travis’ arrangement of Alan Menken’s music is unique and entertaining with 14 of 19 strong cast joining the pit quartet and providing on-stage instrumentation.

Revel Horwood’s choreography entertains and sparkles with subtle characterisation added to help the actors characters remain apparent throughout the routines. The nuns are highly characterised: Susannah Van Den Berg is hilariously exaggerated and over the top as Sister Mary Patrick, accordion and all,  and Sally Peerless (who played Sister Mary Robert at the performance I watched) blossomed as the shy, quiet novice who finds her voice and her mind. As Curtis, Aaron Lee Lambert has the menacing grin and the attitude for his slimy character. And Joe Vetch as Eddie, the romantic cop with a crush on Deloris plays the perfect part with his feelings becoming more and more apparent and visible to her throughout the show.

I loved every minute of this divine musical comedy even with the dip in momentum during the second act. The show went out with a bang with a finale to remember performed by a fabulous cast and supported by a tremendous crew and production team. I take my hat off to them and applaud a fabulous revival of what was an already fabulous show.

Sister Act runs at The Edinburgh Playhouse until 15th April before continuing on its UK tour which ends 3rd September 2017.

Production Information

Production: Sister Act UK Tour

Venue: Edinburgh Playhouse

City: Edinburgh

Tour Run: 30th July 2016 – 3rd September 2017

Seen: Friday 7th April 2017

Book: Cheri Steinkellner/Bill Steinkellner. Douglas Carter Beane (additional material)

Music and Lyrics: Alan Menken 

Director: Craig Revel Horwood

Musical director: Greg Arrowsmith

Choreographer: Craig Revel Horwood

Set: Matthew Wright

Lighting: Richard G Jones

Sound: Richard Brooker

Costume: Matthew Wright

Technical: Sarah Travis (musical arrangements and supervisor)

Stage manager: Sue Berry (company stage manager)

Production manager: Simon Gooding and Matt Jones

Production Cast: Alexandra Burke, Joanna Francis, Karen Mann, Aaron Lee Lambert, Joe Vetch, Sarah Goggin, Susannah Van Den Berg, Liz Kitchen, Tim Maxwell-Clarke, Allison Harding, Ricky Rojas, Samuel Morgan-Grahame, Sandy Grigelis, Aiesha Pease, Justin Wilman, Sally Peerless, Jennifer Douglas, Nicola Bryan, Lewis Cochrane

Producer: Jamie Wilson Production and The Curve, Leicester

Running time: 2hrs 40mins

Official Production Images

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Aaron Lee Lambert as Curtis

Alexandra Burke as Deloris Van Cartier and Ensemble

Alexandra Burke as Deloris Van Cartier

Alexandra Burke as Deloris Van Cartier

The cast of Sister Act

Review: Sister Act UK Tour SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder.

[soft-and-brutal]

Was anyone else waiting for the Monsignor to put on Sister Jude's lingerie and dance around like Mary(Satan)Eunice did, or was that just me?