21 September 2011


The Grand Master of the Order of Malta Fra' Matthew Festing was given a warm welcome when he visited the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Prince Regent Alois of Liechtenstein received the Grand Master in the twelfth-century Vaduz castle overlooking the principality’s capital. After the national anthems in the castle courtyard there was a meeting with the prince regent during which the Principality and Order of Malta’s initiatives in the fields of development, humanitarian cooperation and multilateral relations were discussed.

The full story can be read here.

The Grand Master of the Order of Malta Fra' Matthew Festing was given a warm welcome when he visited the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Prince Regent Alois of Liechtenstein received the Grand Master in the twelfth-century Vaduz castle overlooking the principality’s capital. After the national anthems in the castle courtyard there was a meeting with the prince regent during which the Principality and Order of Malta’s initiatives in the fields of development, humanitarian cooperation and multilateral relations were discussed.

The full story can be read here.

17 September 2011

Lourdes Grotto Cam Now Available on iPhone and Android

If you want to view the live cam of the Grotto at Lourdes with your iPhone or Android phone you can now do so. The mobile web address is http://fr.lourdes-france.org/tv-lourdes/mobile/

Lourdes Grotto Cam Now Available on iPhone and Android

If you want to view the live cam of the Grotto at Lourdes with your iPhone or Android phone you can now do so. The mobile web address is http://fr.lourdes-france.org/tv-lourdes/mobile/

Grand Master Fra Festing's Interview on The Catholic Cafe

Earlier this Spring in Lourdes, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra' Matthew Festing dropped by The Catholic Cafe for an interview. He talks about the history and nature of the Order and gives an interesting lesson on the actual meaning of the motto 'Tuitio Fidei' as being more than just "Defense of the Faith" but more accurately as "nurturing or teaching the Faith."
The Catholic Cafe, Inc. is incorporated in Tennessee as a not-for-profit corporation, under the umbrella of the Diocese of Memphis for tax-exempt purposes. It’s board members and officers are all members of the Order of Malta serving with the approval of the Bishop of Memphis. The mission of The Catholic Café, Inc. is to reach out to non-Catholics and fallen-away Catholics with positive, high quality radio and Internet programming to faithfully present Catholic teaching and follow up with personal outreach when requested. We wish to invite all people to consider joining us in the Catholic Church.
The interview lasts about half an hour and can be heard by clicking here.

Grand Master Fra Festing's Interview on The Catholic Cafe

Earlier this Spring in Lourdes, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra' Matthew Festing dropped by The Catholic Cafe for an interview. He talks about the history and nature of the Order and gives an interesting lesson on the actual meaning of the motto 'Tuitio Fidei' as being more than just "Defense of the Faith" but more accurately as "nurturing or teaching the Faith."
The Catholic Cafe, Inc. is incorporated in Tennessee as a not-for-profit corporation, under the umbrella of the Diocese of Memphis for tax-exempt purposes. It’s board members and officers are all members of the Order of Malta serving with the approval of the Bishop of Memphis. The mission of The Catholic Café, Inc. is to reach out to non-Catholics and fallen-away Catholics with positive, high quality radio and Internet programming to faithfully present Catholic teaching and follow up with personal outreach when requested. We wish to invite all people to consider joining us in the Catholic Church.
The interview lasts about half an hour and can be heard by clicking here.

16 September 2011

Address Change for the Order of Malta's Official Website

Rome, 15/09/2011


New address for the website of the Sovereign Order of Malta, http://www.orderofmalta.int/


From 15 September the address of the website of the Sovereign Order of Malta has changed. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) the international organisation responsible for the registration .int (international), has given the government of the Sovereign Order of Malta the new domain name of: www.orderofmalta.in. This is now the website’s main address.

The main email address also changes to: info@orderofmalta.int


The domain .int is considered to have the strictest application policies of all top level domain names and implies that the holder is a subject of international law. This change guarantees a more immediate recognition of the information published by the government of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Address Change for the Order of Malta's Official Website

Rome, 15/09/2011


New address for the website of the Sovereign Order of Malta, http://www.orderofmalta.int/


From 15 September the address of the website of the Sovereign Order of Malta has changed. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) the international organisation responsible for the registration .int (international), has given the government of the Sovereign Order of Malta the new domain name of: www.orderofmalta.in. This is now the website’s main address.

The main email address also changes to: info@orderofmalta.int


The domain .int is considered to have the strictest application policies of all top level domain names and implies that the holder is a subject of international law. This change guarantees a more immediate recognition of the information published by the government of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

10 September 2011

HIRH Archduke Felix of Austria R.I.P.

HIRH Archduke Felix of Austria, last surviving son of the late Emperor Karl and Empress Zita (née Bourbon-Parma) passed away in Mexico, where he had lived for decades.

Felix was born at Schönbrunn on 31 May 1916, the same year that his father was to succeed to the moribund Austro-Hungarian throne. He was named after his mother's brother, Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, who later married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

He married at Beaulieu, France, Princess and Duchess Anna Eugenie of Arenberg (1925-1997), by whom he fathered seven children: Maria del Pilar (b. 1953); Karl Philipp (1954); Kinga (1955); Raimund (1958-2008); Marie Adelheid (Miriam) (b. 1959); István (b. 1961); and Viridis (b. 1961).

The Archduke settled in Mexico and led a very successful business career. All but one of his children were born in that country. He will be buried in Vienna as well.

Like his brother Otto who recently preceded him in death, Archduke Felix was also a Knight of Malta.

HIRH Archduke Felix of Austria R.I.P.

HIRH Archduke Felix of Austria, last surviving son of the late Emperor Karl and Empress Zita (née Bourbon-Parma) passed away in Mexico, where he had lived for decades.

Felix was born at Schönbrunn on 31 May 1916, the same year that his father was to succeed to the moribund Austro-Hungarian throne. He was named after his mother's brother, Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, who later married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

He married at Beaulieu, France, Princess and Duchess Anna Eugenie of Arenberg (1925-1997), by whom he fathered seven children: Maria del Pilar (b. 1953); Karl Philipp (1954); Kinga (1955); Raimund (1958-2008); Marie Adelheid (Miriam) (b. 1959); István (b. 1961); and Viridis (b. 1961).

The Archduke settled in Mexico and led a very successful business career. All but one of his children were born in that country. He will be buried in Vienna as well.

Like his brother Otto who recently preceded him in death, Archduke Felix was also a Knight of Malta.

05 September 2011

The Charity of Cardinal Merry del Val or the "Charity" of Wealth Re-Distribution

I've been reading a wonderful biography on Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State under Saint Pope Pius X and one of the greatest statesman to ever serve the Church. While he will long be remembered for colloborating with Pope Pius X on reforming the Church and the battle against Modernism he is equally to be remembered for his humility and service to the sick and poor. He was also a Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of Malta and his cause for canonization was introduced by Pope Pius XII and he is currently declared a "Servant of God." Here is a brief characterization of his charity from the author and an example of the charity he gave from a Canon of the Basilica of St. Peter.
Like all great souls, Cardinal Merry del Val had a passion for charity that knew no limits; merciful charity that helps a person without humiliating him; pious charity inspired not by any human motives but only out of love for God.

"No one ever had recourse to him in vain; no one ever left him without getting some sort of help and comfort. He gave to all, and in order to give even more he imposed upon himself a way of life that was parsimonious and at times even downright austere (he once took the sheets and mattress from his own bed to give to a family in need). He was always so courteous and genteel in exercising his charity it seemed as if he was the one accepting it."
One last example from a former member of the Pious Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which he founded to help the young boys of Trastevere, one of the poorest sections of Rome.
"It was he who paid the rent for families unable to pay it. It was he who found work for those that did not know how or where to find it. He was the one who went out and procured employment for needy young men. Finally, it was he who, disregarding the sacrifice entailed or the expenses involved, would provide the sick, the infirm, and the invalids with care, support, and medicines."
What would happen if more of us would live our lives by his shining example? Instead of community organizing or radical social activism we acted as true Christian disciples how much more would God bless our efforts? Rather than abdicating our responsibilities to "the Government" or slandering those who might have a different political or economic philosophy we ourselves took care of our brother in need. Government has a proper role to be sure but too often those who work for it have their own selfish motives and interests in mind far removed from true Christian charity. Contrast the anonymous charity of Cardinal del Val with the self-promoting paying off of special interests to ensure their votes in the next election. Too often among these individuals there is a self-aggradizing look at me, I have compassion for the poor, while the example of the Saints is to show us that what they do is solely out of love of God and neighbor and seen by Him alone.

Today at a labor rally in Detroit, union boss Jimmy Hoffa, used inflammatory rhetoric to motivate the "labor crowd" in a war against corporations, Republicans, and anyone else they imply is not a labor supporter. The problem with this rhetoric is that calling your opponent "s-ns of b--ches" and threatening to "take them out"  is a decidedly un-Catholic view of the relationship between labor and capital. In honor of "Labor Day" here in the States here is a portion of the encyclical Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII. Though it has been updated by the encyclicals of subsequent popes, being the original document of the Church to address the changing social questions it still has relevance to us today.
1. That the spirit of revolutionary change, which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising. The elements of the conflict now raging are unmistakable, in the vast expansion of industrial pursuits and the marvelous discoveries of science; in the changed relations between masters and workmen; in the enormous fortunes of some few individuals, and the utter poverty of the masses; in the increased self-reliance and closer mutual combination of the working classes; as also, finally, in the prevailing moral degeneracy. The momentous gravity of the state of things now obtaining fills every mind with painful apprehension; wise men are discussing it; practical men are proposing schemes; popular meetings, legislatures, and rulers of nations are all busied with it—actually there is no question which has taken a deeper hold on the public mind.

2. Therefore, venerable brethren, as on former occasions when it seemed opportune to refute false teaching, We have addressed you in the interests of the Church and of the common weal, and have issued letters bearing on political power, human liberty, the Christian constitution of the State, and like matters, so have We thought it expedient now to speak on the condition of the working classes.[1] It is a subject on which We have already touched more than once, incidentally. But in the present letter, the responsibility of the apostolic office urges Us to treat the question of set purpose and in detail, in order that no misapprehension may exist as to the principles which truth and justice dictate for its settlement. The discussion is not easy, nor is it void of danger. It is no easy matter to define the relative rights and mutual duties of the rich and of the poor, of capital and of labor. And the danger lies in this, that crafty agitators are intent on making use of these differences of opinion to pervert men's judgments and to stir up the people to revolt.

3. In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class: for the ancient workingmen's guilds were abolished in the last century, and no other protective organization took their place. Public institutions and the laws set aside the ancient religion. Hence, by degrees it has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hard-heartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.

4. To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man's envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies. They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, inasmuch as each citizen will then get his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.

The Charity of Cardinal Merry del Val or the "Charity" of Wealth Re-Distribution

I've been reading a wonderful biography on Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State under Saint Pope Pius X and one of the greatest statesman to ever serve the Church. While he will long be remembered for colloborating with Pope Pius X on reforming the Church and the battle against Modernism he is equally to be remembered for his humility and service to the sick and poor. He was also a Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of Malta and his cause for canonization was introduced by Pope Pius XII and he is currently declared a "Servant of God." Here is a brief characterization of his charity from the author and an example of the charity he gave from a Canon of the Basilica of St. Peter.
Like all great souls, Cardinal Merry del Val had a passion for charity that knew no limits; merciful charity that helps a person without humiliating him; pious charity inspired not by any human motives but only out of love for God.

"No one ever had recourse to him in vain; no one ever left him without getting some sort of help and comfort. He gave to all, and in order to give even more he imposed upon himself a way of life that was parsimonious and at times even downright austere (he once took the sheets and mattress from his own bed to give to a family in need). He was always so courteous and genteel in exercising his charity it seemed as if he was the one accepting it."
One last example from a former member of the Pious Association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which he founded to help the young boys of Trastevere, one of the poorest sections of Rome.
"It was he who paid the rent for families unable to pay it. It was he who found work for those that did not know how or where to find it. He was the one who went out and procured employment for needy young men. Finally, it was he who, disregarding the sacrifice entailed or the expenses involved, would provide the sick, the infirm, and the invalids with care, support, and medicines."
What would happen if more of us would live our lives by his shining example? Instead of community organizing or radical social activism we acted as true Christian disciples how much more would God bless our efforts? Rather than abdicating our responsibilities to "the Government" or slandering those who might have a different political or economic philosophy we ourselves took care of our brother in need. Government has a proper role to be sure but too often those who work for it have their own selfish motives and interests in mind far removed from true Christian charity. Contrast the anonymous charity of Cardinal del Val with the self-promoting paying off of special interests to ensure their votes in the next election. Too often among these individuals there is a self-aggradizing look at me, I have compassion for the poor, while the example of the Saints is to show us that what they do is solely out of love of God and neighbor and seen by Him alone.

Today at a labor rally in Detroit, union boss Jimmy Hoffa, used inflammatory rhetoric to motivate the "labor crowd" in a war against corporations, Republicans, and anyone else they imply is not a labor supporter. The problem with this rhetoric is that calling your opponent "s-ns of b--ches" and threatening to "take them out"  is a decidedly un-Catholic view of the relationship between labor and capital. In honor of "Labor Day" here in the States here is a portion of the encyclical Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII. Though it has been updated by the encyclicals of subsequent popes, being the original document of the Church to address the changing social questions it still has relevance to us today.
1. That the spirit of revolutionary change, which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising. The elements of the conflict now raging are unmistakable, in the vast expansion of industrial pursuits and the marvelous discoveries of science; in the changed relations between masters and workmen; in the enormous fortunes of some few individuals, and the utter poverty of the masses; in the increased self-reliance and closer mutual combination of the working classes; as also, finally, in the prevailing moral degeneracy. The momentous gravity of the state of things now obtaining fills every mind with painful apprehension; wise men are discussing it; practical men are proposing schemes; popular meetings, legislatures, and rulers of nations are all busied with it—actually there is no question which has taken a deeper hold on the public mind.

2. Therefore, venerable brethren, as on former occasions when it seemed opportune to refute false teaching, We have addressed you in the interests of the Church and of the common weal, and have issued letters bearing on political power, human liberty, the Christian constitution of the State, and like matters, so have We thought it expedient now to speak on the condition of the working classes.[1] It is a subject on which We have already touched more than once, incidentally. But in the present letter, the responsibility of the apostolic office urges Us to treat the question of set purpose and in detail, in order that no misapprehension may exist as to the principles which truth and justice dictate for its settlement. The discussion is not easy, nor is it void of danger. It is no easy matter to define the relative rights and mutual duties of the rich and of the poor, of capital and of labor. And the danger lies in this, that crafty agitators are intent on making use of these differences of opinion to pervert men's judgments and to stir up the people to revolt.

3. In any case we clearly see, and on this there is general agreement, that some opportune remedy must be found quickly for the misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class: for the ancient workingmen's guilds were abolished in the last century, and no other protective organization took their place. Public institutions and the laws set aside the ancient religion. Hence, by degrees it has come to pass that working men have been surrendered, isolated and helpless, to the hard-heartedness of employers and the greed of unchecked competition. The mischief has been increased by rapacious usury, which, although more than once condemned by the Church, is nevertheless, under a different guise, but with like injustice, still practiced by covetous and grasping men. To this must be added that the hiring of labor and the conduct of trade are concentrated in the hands of comparatively few; so that a small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself.

4. To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man's envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies. They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, inasmuch as each citizen will then get his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community.

Prince Alois of Liechtenstein Vetos Bill to Legalize Abortion

From an article by J.C. von Krempach at the blog Turtle Bay and Beyond, which covers international law, policy, and institutions.









In the small Principality of Liechtenstein, a popular referendum is held on a bill that would legalise abortion. But Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the heir apparent to the throne (who is exercising the functions of Head of State on behalf of his father, HSH Prince Hans Adam II.), has publicly stated that he will in any case use his veto right against this bill.

This definitely reminds of the famous dictum ascribed to the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph (1848 – 1916): “My task as Emperor is to protect my people against the follies of their politicians”.
May God bless you Prince Alois for taking this courageous position and may He grant you the grace to remain firm in your beliefs and provide an example to other Catholic politicians and leaders.

Prince Alois of Liechtenstein Vetos Bill to Legalize Abortion

From an article by J.C. von Krempach at the blog Turtle Bay and Beyond, which covers international law, policy, and institutions.









In the small Principality of Liechtenstein, a popular referendum is held on a bill that would legalise abortion. But Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the heir apparent to the throne (who is exercising the functions of Head of State on behalf of his father, HSH Prince Hans Adam II.), has publicly stated that he will in any case use his veto right against this bill.

This definitely reminds of the famous dictum ascribed to the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph (1848 – 1916): “My task as Emperor is to protect my people against the follies of their politicians”.
May God bless you Prince Alois for taking this courageous position and may He grant you the grace to remain firm in your beliefs and provide an example to other Catholic politicians and leaders.

03 September 2011

The Order of Malta and It's Wines

A fine article in Spectator.co.uk about the Order of Malta with a review of some of it's wines, h/t to Fr. Mullins. Here's an excerpt and you can finish the article at their website.
Sovereignty, protocol, military tradition, historic splendour: the Knights cherish them all, but today’s Order has returned to its roots. A medieval hospital, such as the one they ran in Jerusalem, was a guesthouse for travellers. But it would have tended the sick and the dying. Today, that is the Knights’ principal purpose. They are the largest source of non-governmental aid in the world. All Knights are expected to perform good works. By enforcing this requirement, Fra Andrew stirred up some discontent in Rome. One or two princely families, who regarded their membership of the Order as merely an hereditary honour, had neither paid a subscription nor undertaken any charitable works since the Risorgimento. Fra Andrew insisted on a firm purpose of amendment.

The British Knights organise pilgrimages to Lourdes. They tend to have lineages with many quarterings, often from the recusant families who kept the candle of English Catholicism alive at the risk of being hanged and quartered. Many pilgrims are frail, despairing and lonely, a long way removed from Debrett’s. There are those who disapprove of the Order’s grandeur. But there is nothing grand about the nursing tasks which the Knights (and Dames) undertake. Anyone who is prepared to nurse the incontinent dying is entitled to a bit of pomp on their return.

As well as some decent wine. The Order has several vineyards in Italy, mainly near Lake Trasimene and the Castello di Magione, a 12th-century fortress which is the Grand Master’s summer residence. During a prolonged tasting, I had only one disappointment: their Prosecco (mind you, it was no worse than the run of Proseccos). I would commend their Rosso dell’Umbria, a sound quaffing bottle, and their Morcinaia, more complex and more expensive. It is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, so some purists regard it as a French interloper. Would they decline a glass of Sassicaia? There is a delicious Vin Santo, Colli dei Trasimeno, and, from Friuli, an excellent Fruiliano plus a first-rate Pinot Grigio. The Knightly vineyards are almost incapable of producing a bad wine and the profits subsidise good causes. If that does not put you off, the UK stockists are Clarion Wines, who have a website.

The Order of Malta and It's Wines

A fine article in Spectator.co.uk about the Order of Malta with a review of some of it's wines, h/t to Fr. Mullins. Here's an excerpt and you can finish the article at their website.
Sovereignty, protocol, military tradition, historic splendour: the Knights cherish them all, but today’s Order has returned to its roots. A medieval hospital, such as the one they ran in Jerusalem, was a guesthouse for travellers. But it would have tended the sick and the dying. Today, that is the Knights’ principal purpose. They are the largest source of non-governmental aid in the world. All Knights are expected to perform good works. By enforcing this requirement, Fra Andrew stirred up some discontent in Rome. One or two princely families, who regarded their membership of the Order as merely an hereditary honour, had neither paid a subscription nor undertaken any charitable works since the Risorgimento. Fra Andrew insisted on a firm purpose of amendment.

The British Knights organise pilgrimages to Lourdes. They tend to have lineages with many quarterings, often from the recusant families who kept the candle of English Catholicism alive at the risk of being hanged and quartered. Many pilgrims are frail, despairing and lonely, a long way removed from Debrett’s. There are those who disapprove of the Order’s grandeur. But there is nothing grand about the nursing tasks which the Knights (and Dames) undertake. Anyone who is prepared to nurse the incontinent dying is entitled to a bit of pomp on their return.

As well as some decent wine. The Order has several vineyards in Italy, mainly near Lake Trasimene and the Castello di Magione, a 12th-century fortress which is the Grand Master’s summer residence. During a prolonged tasting, I had only one disappointment: their Prosecco (mind you, it was no worse than the run of Proseccos). I would commend their Rosso dell’Umbria, a sound quaffing bottle, and their Morcinaia, more complex and more expensive. It is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, so some purists regard it as a French interloper. Would they decline a glass of Sassicaia? There is a delicious Vin Santo, Colli dei Trasimeno, and, from Friuli, an excellent Fruiliano plus a first-rate Pinot Grigio. The Knightly vineyards are almost incapable of producing a bad wine and the profits subsidise good causes. If that does not put you off, the UK stockists are Clarion Wines, who have a website.

Disclaimer

This blog and the opinions are all my own and in no way imply the endorsement from any organization. Nor does a recommendation of another blog or web site imply my agreement or endorsement of everything found on their site.