Ralph Martin on the 'Baptism in the Spirit'

The current issue of the Journal Logos, out of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, has an article on the so-called 'Baptism in the Holy Spirit' by our friend (and one of my former professors) Ralph Martin, which is also available online:

Ralph Martin, "A New Pentecost? Catholic Theology and 'Baptism in the Spirit'," Logos 14.3 (2011): 17-43.

I am afraid that he disagrees with the interpretation of the experience which I argued for in my undergraduate thesis, or rather I suppose I should say that I disagree with him; but I mention it because he does me the honor of mentioning my humble little work in the pages of his article.

At first I get a mention in an endnote (n. 15, p. 41):

[Yours Truly] also very ably argues in support of Sullivan's position in his article, "The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal: Theological Interpretation of the Experience," in Antiphon 9, no. 2 (2005): 141–65.

Later he gives me an nice block quote (pp. 33-34):

One of the strongest advocates of Sullivan's interpretation admits as much:

"There is also a second possible answer to the question whether the pentecostal experience is essentially a sacramental grace: a highly qualified "yes." If the essence of the pentecostal experience is restricted to a general growth in sanctifying grace, which is always rooted to some extent in baptism then there is no difficulty. The charisms, then, would be non-essential manifestations of the growth, or renewal, of baptismal grace. The pentecostal experience as a whole may legitimately be interpreted as a sacramental grace only if the charisms are clearly distinguished as accidental to the experience." ("Outpouring of the Holy Spirit," 154.)

Happy 1st Birthday, Edmund George!

Edmund has started taking a few steps at a time in the past week or so, and we finally got them on camera!

Solemn Feast of the Assumption

Of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Almighty everlasting God, Who hast taken body and soul into heaven the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Thy Son: grant, we beseech Thee, that by steadfastly keeping heaven as our goal we may be counted worthy to join her in glory. Through the same our Lord...

Apostolic Constitution

of Pope Pius XII

MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS

1 November 1950

42. We, who have placed our pontificate under the special patronage of the most holy Virgin, to whom we have had recourse so often in times of grave trouble, we who have consecrated the entire human race to her Immaculate Heart in public ceremonies, and who have time and time again experienced her powerful protection, are confident that this solemn proclamation and definition of the Assumption will contribute in no small way to the advantage of human society, since it redounds to the glory of the Most Blessed Trinity, to which the Blessed Mother of God is bound by such singular bonds. It is to be hoped that all the faithful will be stirred up to a stronger piety toward their heavenly Mother, and that the souls of all those who glory in the Christian name may be moved by the desire of sharing in the unity of Jesus Christ's Mystical Body and of increasing their love for her who shows her motherly heart to all the members of this august body. And so we may hope that those who meditate upon the glorious example Mary offers us may be more and more convinced of the value of a human life entirely devoted to carrying out the heavenly Father's will and to bringing good to others. Thus, while the illusory teachings of materialism and the corruption of morals that follows from these teachings threaten to extinguish the light of virtue and to ruin the lives of men by exciting discord among them, in this magnificent way all may see clearly to what a lofty goal our bodies and souls are destined. Finally it is our hope that belief in Mary's bodily Assumption into heaven will make our belief in our own resurrection stronger and render it more effective.

43. We rejoice greatly that this solemn event falls, according to the design of God's providence, during this Holy Year, so that we are able, while the great Jubilee is being observed, to adorn the brow of God's Virgin Mother with this brilliant gem, and to leave a monument more enduring than bronze of our own most fervent love for the Mother of God.

44. For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

45. Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

Feast of St. Lawrence, Martyr

Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.

Quench in us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the flame of vice, even as Thou didst enable blessed Lawrence to overcome his fire of sufferings. Through our Lord...

Don't forget to fire up the grill today in honor of St Lawrence!

Fourteen Holy Helpers

Today is the feast day of the fourteen holy helpers, whose numbers includes:

~St. Barbara

~St. Catherine of Alexandria

~St. Margaret of Antioch

~St. Giles

~St. Eustace

~St. Acathius

~St. Cyriacus

~St. Denis

~St. Christopher

~St. Vitus

~St. Pantaleon

~St. Erasmus

~St. Blaise

and...

SAINT GEORGE THE DRAGONSLAYER!!!

Happy secondary name day, Edmund George! Have some dragon cake today.

The Definitive Solution

The ongoing great debate about Vatican II - whether it represents continuity or rupture with Catholic tradition - has just received a contribution from Prof. Thomas Pink of King's College, London, which alters the landscape of the whole question. After going back and forth on this question for the last few years myself, I have to say that, as far as I am concerned, this settles the matter. I think that Prof. Pink has finally shown us all what the Catholic Church actually does and does not teach about religious liberty.

His article: What Is the Catholic Doctrine of Religious Liberty?

With an introduction by the author at Rorate Caeli.

Developing Skills

The children are each working on developing some important new skills these days. Edmund has figured out how to stand up, but he is still working up the courage to take more than a step at a time. His sword swallowing abilities are coming along as well. Thomas has been putting in hours in the batting cages to improve his pitch to contact ratio. He has also developed a bit more pop in his bat. Maria took it into her head to try out her friend Eli's bike this afternoon, and before you knew it she was breezing around the courtyard like you wouldn't believe.

An Idea for a University in London

This looks interesting: The Benedictus Trust brings us 'A Proposal for Liberal Arts Education' based on the principles of Blessed John Henry Newman's Idea of a University.

From their website: "We seek to establish in this country a course of learning at foundation and undergraduate level, a return to true liberal education with the study of the traditional liberal arts, encompassing what are usually known as the humanities and mathematics, to be studied alongside philosophy and theology, using as texts the greatest works of the European tradition. This study will be fully integrated with courses on the history, arts, culture and languages of Europe."

... a University, taken in its bare idea ... has this object and this mission; it contemplates neither moral impression nor mechanical production; it professes to exercise the mind neither in art nor in duty; its function is intellectual culture; ... it educates the intellect to reason well in all matters, to reach out towards truth, and to grasp it. (The Idea of a University, Discourse VI, I)

Video from Otto von Habsburg's Funeral and Burial

Update: Here is what people are saying about H.I.R.H. Archduke Otto von Habsburg:

• New Liturgical Movement
• Sancrucensis
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Fr. Z.)
• Unam Sanctam Catholicam
• Crisis Magazine (J. Zmirak)

The Habsburger Burial Ritual

You can watch the funeral and burial of His Imperial Royal Highness Archduke Otto von Habsburg live on Austrian television at ORF. It is an historic event, and I hope you are able to witness at least a part of it.

Almost 2 billion people (that's the reported number, although it may be a bit hard to believe) watched the funeral and burial of H.I.R.H. Kaiserin Zita von Bourbon-Parma (wife of Blessed Kaiser Karl) in 1989. Below is some brief video footage of that historic day, in which you can also see the moving Habsburger burial ritual.

When the procession arrives from the Stephansdom, where the funeral Mass was held, at the doors of the Kapuzinerkirche, where members of the royal family are traditionally entombed in the crypt, the herald knocks on the door three times with his staff. From within a Capuchin friar asks: Who seeks entrance? The response: Zita, Her Majesty the Empress and Queen. The friar says: We don't know her. He knocks again. Who seeks entrance? This time the herald answers: Zita, a mortal, sinful woman. Friar: Then come in.

In the clip below you can see a more dramatic enactment of the same ritual from an Austrian television series which in one scene portrays the burial of Crown Prince and Archduke Rudolf von Habsburg of 1889. Here the dialogue is even more impressive, as it truly was, since the Empire was still a living reality.

Capuchin friar: Who is there?

Imperial herald: His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince of Austria, Kingly Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, of Lombardy and Venetia, of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria, and Illyria; Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece; General Inspector of the Imperial Infantry; Archduke Rudolf von Habsburg.

Capuchin friar: We don't know him. [The herald knocks again...] Who is there?

Imperial herald: Archduke Rudolf von Habsburg!

Capuchin friar: We don't know him! [The herald knocks again...] Who is there?

Imperial herald: Rudolf, a poor sinner.

Greatest Video Ever

What do you think? Does he have a future in the big leagues?

Paying My Respects

I had the tremendous opportunity to pay my respects, with thousands of others, to Otto von Habsburg as he lay in state next to his wife in the Kapuzinerkirche in Vienna. The coffins are draped with the black and yellow of the Habsburg arms. (They are laying in the same side chapel where Edmund was baptized almost a year ago.)

You can also watch a brief news spot with footage from inside the Kapuzinerkirche.