Thomas Cole (1801–1848)

View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow, 1836

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1908.

Ave Town on Today

For those of you who missed Ave Maria Town on Today, here's a link. In my opinion, the interview was done in a fair way and the town looks great. Mr. Gable was very impressive in the interview.

In Appreciation of a Priest

The date was May 17, 2003 and the community of Ave Maria School of Law gathered at Christ the King Catholic Church for a landmark event in the history of the nascent institution: the first Baccalaureate Mass. The inaugural Class of 2003 was on hand in all its glory and the occasion was marked by numerous con-celebrating priests. One priest was an obvious choice to serve as the homilist, but as he addressed the assembled faithful, he could hardly hold back his tears.

The homilist was Fr. Michael Orsi, then as now the Chaplain of Ave Maria. His tears were genuine; they were tears of love. During my three years in Ann Arbor, I saw Fr. Orsi devote himself to the service of all members of the Ave Maria community: students, staff, and faculty. He baptized their babies and occasionally presided at their weddings. And even when no monumental occasion was at hand, he was there for daily Mass, caring for his flock and pointing us in the right direction. He cared about each and every member of the community.

Fr. Orsi's love of the school's pro-life club, Lex Vitae, was emblematic of his commitment to the mission of the school. Father was also a scholar who regularly published articles. While his scholarship never devolved into an ivory-tower mentality, it made him a good fit for a community engaged in scholarly pursuits and intellectual understanding. These things, i.e., Father's scholarship and his love of the mission and those who were pursuing it at Ave Maria, aided him in the monumental task of standing at the spiritual and sacramental center of the law school. A spiritual leader is of paramount importance in a community founded to serve God in the world. We can thank the Lord that He provided an able figure to fill this role. I pray that we may never lose sight of our gratitude.

Incense: Why do YOU love us? Could you love us any more?

Based on all the feedback we are getting, Ave Marians and Catholics of good will from at least three continents consider Incense to be a welcome addition to the blogosphere - a heart-warming breath of rich, sweet, air that always pleases.

We are popular because every day we confirm and affirm what you already know: being Catholic is a wonderful privilege and the good works of Ave Maria are an extraordinary and wonderful service to Christ's Church. Apparently its nice to be reminded of that each day - and that's why we keep doing what we do.

Please tell everyone here just why you love Incense, the Church and Ave Maria.

We are an EXTREMELY independent website. We take orders from no one, and never would. But that does not mean Incense won't consider heeding your suggestions, so please post them on this thread.

This is an open thread; comments will show up instantly and [we won't be editing any comments] unless they are raunchy, calumnious, or spam.

Have at it.

Locals Discuss Positive Impact As Ave Maria "Opens"

Ahhh, the sweet, sweet, smell of incense as it rises heavenward!

Check out all the good things locals are saying about the advent of Ave Maria, Florida, now that businesses and residents are moving into the new town.

The locals have experienced - or expect to - the arrival of more steady jobs, more and better commerce for local businesses, cheaper prices for consumers, and more resident involvement in local non-profit social service boards.

As "Godsend" AMU Prepares For Opening Day, Local Community's High Unemployment Rate Evaporates

In noting the upcoming August opening of AMU, the USA Today has highlighted the boon that AMU is to locals (Ave Maria, Florida, is in Collier County and it borders Naples to its west and Immokalee to its north). According to the report:

Ave Maria is seen as a catalyst to broaden and strengthen the economy of Immokalee, a town with a long agricultural history and a large population of poor migrant farmworkers.

Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta said Ave Maria's massive construction project has dramatically decreased Immokalee's unemployment rate from about 17% to an actual shortage of workers.

"Immokalee has full employment now," he said. "If anybody wants work, there's a job. Ave Maria has been a godsend for Immokalee."

Well, well, well. Nothing like a paying job to give a man a sense of dignity. THE SWEET SMOKE JUST KEEPS RISING FROM OUR CENSER.

NB: Inigo has not yet issued a statement on this matter.

Ave Maria's Bishop Supports Motu Proprio and Latin Mass

According to news reports, the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, the recently installed bishop of the diocese of Venice, Florida (including Ave Maria and all of Collier County), "seemed to endorse the Latin Mass with his recent actions and statements."

"The interesting thing is many of the people attending the Latin Mass at St. Martha's are young families who did not grow up with the Latin Mass," Dewane said Monday. "I think it is a movement of the spirit and we have to be open to that."

According to the same report, Bishop Dewane also made recent personnel changes that will facilitate the use of the 1962 rite.

***Thanks to the kind priest who sent me the tip.

It's almost here: Ave Maria Town & University Offer Sneak Preview

It seems like it was just a few months ago that the plan to move to Florida was announced - but it was actually five years ago. It's amazing what can happen - and how quickly it can happen - when vision is coupled with resources! Its almost here:

New Catholic University & Newest Town in Florida Offer Sneak Preview to Media Prior to Opening

EVENT: Ave Maria University and the town of Ave Maria will offer a sneak preview of its new, permanent campus in Ave Maria, Fla., to members of the media prior to first day of class in August. Ave Maria University and Town leadership will be available for interviews and guided tours of the campus.

WHEN: July 18, 2007

Interviews & Tours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WHO:
-- Thomas S. Monaghan, Ave Maria University Founder and Chancellor
-- Blake Gable, Barron Collier Companies Vice President of Real Estate and Project Manager, Town of Ave Maria
-- Nicholas J. Healy, Ave Maria University President
-- Donald Schrotenboer, Ave Maria Development Project Manager -- Carole Carpenter, Ave Maria University Director of Development
-- Fr. Robert Garrity, Ave Maria University Chaplain

WHAT:
-- Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design permanent campus including academic buildings, library, student center, dorms, physical plant, athletic fields, oratory, campus mall, waterways.
-- Kindergarten through grade 12 school
-- Town center with six mixed use buildings, including retail, office and condominiums. Other retail and commercial sites under development.
-- Town Center La Piazza.
-- Six new residential developments in various phases of development including a golf course, waterpark and infrastructure.

WHERE: Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, FL 34142. On Ave Maria Blvd. heading toward the town center. There will be signs to direct you to the media check-in area.

OTHER: The Town of Ave Maria will also host a "TownFest" from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 21. The public is invited to view the town, model homes and parts of the University for the first time. There will be picnic food, give-a-ways,
music, magic and activities for kids.

Christ's Church Subsists in the the Catholic Church [click here for full Vatican Text]

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has answered some questions to clarify the Church's teaching regarding her fundamental nature. Here is an excerpt:

Christ "established here on earth" only one Church and instituted it as a "visible and spiritual community"⁵, that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted.⁶ "This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him"⁷.

In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church⁸, in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.

It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.⁹ Nevertheless, the word "subsists" can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the "one" Church); and this "one" Church subsists in the Catholic Church.¹⁰

Ave Maria Law Professor Richard Myers' latest: Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy

Congratulations to Professor Myers and his colleagues upon the publication of what appears to be a great (albeit expensive) reference book:

With more than 800 topics from over 300 contributors, Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy is a comprehensive introduction to the Catholic vision of society, social relations, and the human being. It combines theoretical work on important topics and scholarly disciplines (e.g., economics, moral theology, natural law, philosophy, psychology); social science perspectives on a variety of topics (e.g., alcoholism and drug abuse, forgiveness and mercy, globalization); and treatment of practical policy implications that flow from applying the Catholic religious, moral, and intellectual tradition to contemporary issues (e.g., abortion, assisted suicide, immigration policy, school choice, torture).

The book reflects a broad range of Catholic thought that is international in scope, but with an emphasis on the American situation. Its interdisciplinary approach offers insights from a variety of perspectives: theological, philosophical, historical, economical, sociological, political, psychological, and legal. The work will appeal to individuals who want a clear and accurate introduction to Catholic social thought and a Catholic-informed social science and social policy. One certainly need not be a devotee and advocate for Catholic social thinking to find this encyclopedia of good use as a handy reference tool.

About the Editors
- Michael L. Coulter, Ph.D. is Professor of Political Science and Humanities at Grove City College.
- Stephen M. Krason, Ph.D., J.D. is Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies and Director of the Political Science Program at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
- Richard S. Myers, J.D. is Professor of Law at Ave Maria School of Law.
- Joseph A. Varacalli, Ph.D. is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Nassau Community College-S.U.N.Y.

Kudos as well to other AMSL faculty who contributed material to the project: Jane Adolphe, Howard Bromberg, Joe Falvey, Bruce Frohnen, Patrick Quirk, Steve Safranek, and Jim Sonne.

New York Times Promotes Baseless Criticism of Pope Benedict

The Church's critics are - normally - easily thwarted by the full truth. In this case, the NYT repeats false information about the new motu proprio, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, that Abe Foxman is circulating as the head of the Anti-Defamation League:

Amid opposition from other Jewish groups, the Anti-Defamation League condemned the change on Saturday, calling it a “body blow to Catholic-Jewish relations.” While an earlier reference to “perfidious Jews” was removed officially from the Tridentine Mass just before the council, which set the stage for progressively better relations between Jews and Catholics, the group condemned a remaining prayer on Good Friday calling for Jews’ conversion.

“We are extremely disappointed and deeply offended that nearly 40 years after the Vatican rightly removed insulting anti-Jewish language from the Good Friday Mass, that it would now permit Catholics to utter such hurtful and insulting words by praying for Jews to be converted,” Abraham H. Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League’s president, said in a statement.

In fact, the new motu proprio actually states that any expanded permission does NOT apply during the Triduum (Good Friday is part of the Triduum):

In Masses celebrated without the people, any priest of Latin rite, whether secular or religious, can use the Roman Missal published by Pope Blessed John XXIII in 1962 or the Roman Missal promulgated by the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI in 1970, on any day except in the Sacred Triduum.

Which means that Foxman is complaining about a phantom reality that does not exist. It actually would seem that the pope has gone out of his way to thoroughly eliminate any basis for a Jewish person to take umbrage with the motu proprio's contents.

Which is worse: that the New York Times did not do any verification research before repeating the demonstrably false claims of Foxman, or that the Times uncritically repeated Foxman's claims in its reporting knowing they were false?

NB: I wonder if the NYT even knows that Good Friday is the one day of the year that, contrary to what Foxman states, Catholics do not celebrate Mass.

Video: AMU theologian Fessio reflects on motu proprio issued by his friend, Benedict XVI

In this video AMU theologian Father Joseph Fessio reflects on the motu proprio issued by his friend and mentor, Pope Benedict XVI. The link is found on the Ignatius Press web page that promotes the pope's book, The Spirit of the Liturgy, at Ignatius.com. Hat tip (and a "thank you" for his service to the Church and the nation) to a senior chaplain in the US Armed Forces for sending me the link.



Father Joseph Fessio, S.J. on "Pope Benedict and the Old Mass"

INCENSE Futures Spike as Motu Proprio is Released

In light of the new motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, and in the spirit of celebration and unity, readers are invited to share their most memorable, interesting or humorous experience involving the use of incense during Mass or other liturgies. Positive stories of memorable liturgies (with or without incense) related to Ave Maria are also welcome. (We will turn on the exhaust fan to rid the room of any annoying or noxious smoke and fumes).

AMU President Shares Supreme Pontiff's Perspective

People have from time to time noted that AMU President Nick Healy has a catholic view of Catholic liturgy - he has been informally "quoted" as saying "if it's ok by the pope, it's ok by us" (thanks, Kate).

In this regard, Healy seems to be of one mind with our beloved Pope Benedict XVI, who according to Whispers in the Loggia, instructs our bishops in his new motu proprio, titled Summorum Pontificum:

“Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows...”

It seems that we can look forward to a rich palette of liturgical worship in Ave Maria. The text of the motu proprio is at Whispers along with commentary, by the way. The Ave Maria community might wish to ponder the quote Rocco Palmo uses to close his commentary at Whispers:

In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.