Yesterday morning Father Benedict Nivakoff, prior of the Benedictine Monastery of San Benedetto in Monte in Norcia, Italy, celebrated a Solemn Mass at St. John the Evangelist Basilica in Stamford for the Feast of St. Hilary.

If you would like to be a donor to the monastery: https://en.nursia.org/donations.html

A lunch followed Mass downstairs in the church hall. Participants had an opportunity to sample the beer that is made at the monastery, including a new variety that was being sampled for the first time in the United States. After lunch Fr. Nivakoff gave an address.

(Above and below) At the Sacra Liturgia Conference in Menlo Park, June, 2022. The presentation he gave there was unforgettable.

He died today in Rome at age 81.

I only saw Cardinal Pell once – at the 2022 Sacra Liturgia Conference in Menlo Park sponsored by Archbishop Cordileone. Cardinal Pell’s address was easily the most memorable presentation at this event. He spoke of his imprisonment, of his inabilty to celebrate Mass and of his trust in the Lord despite all adversities. His physical presence alone was impressive; his direct and unmannered eloquence was moving. He later celebrated a beautiful Novus Ordo Mass.

Cardinal Pell indeed had much to suffer. He was called to Rome to address the financial affairs of the Vatican which have been a source of scandal and disgrace since the late 1970’s. He was forced out relatively quickly with the involvement of politically connected characters who themselves were subsequently dismissed and are now facing a criminal trial. Cardinal Pell’s actions were vindicated all too soon.

Subsequently Pell was a victim of the clerical abuse hysteria, which the media (with their Catholic allies) selectively direct against political adversaries. Cardinal Pell was convicted in Australia after a preposterous trial, forced to spend a year in solitary confinement – only to be completely exonerated on appeal. That hasn’t stopped the media from presenting Pell, after his death, as a “controversial,” tainted figure. One thinks of the German media storm and resulting legal action againt Pope Benedict in 2022. Pope Benedict has also continued to be vilified as an alleged facilitator of clerical sexual abuse. Yet, far more recent and well-founded revelations regarding prominent figures still in authority remain, to large extent, unexplored…..

As for Cardinal Pell’s relationship with Catholic Traditionalism, I can only relay the following news from Michael Matt (the leader of many years of the American chapter of the Pentecost Chartres pilgrimage):

I think it is more than appropriate for us to remind our readers that one of George Cardinal Pell’s last public acts was to let it be known that he’d accepted an invitation from Notre-Dame de Chretiente to offer the Traditional Latin Mass in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres on Pentecost Monday for the close of the 2023 Pilgrimage to Chartres, France. Given the controversy surrounding Traditionis Custodes and the Vatican’s attempted suppression of the Latin Mass, this was indeed an act of courage and fidelity to Tradition on the part of His Eminence. Cardinal George Pell R.I.P.

Blessing of Epiphany Water, Jan. 5

The following churches will offer the traditional blessing of Epiphany Water on January 5th.

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, 7:00 pm Thursday Vigil of Epiphany blessing of water (No Mass) 

Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Bridgeport, CT, 6 pm, Solemn Vespers and blessing of Epiphany water

St Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, CT, 6 pm. You may bring water and salt to be blessed. You may also bring for a blessing chalk, gold, incense and myrrh.

St. Martha Church, Enfield, CT, 7:00 P.M. Epiphany Water Blessing Ceremony (No Mass) Bring empty containers

Holy Innocents, New York, NY, 5:15 pm, Epiphany Water and chalk will be blessed. Please bring the water you wish to be blessed marked with your name and place it in the sacristy prior to Holy Mass.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 6:00 P.M. Blessing of the Epiphany Water followed by 7:00 P.M. Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI

Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, New York, NY, 6 pm, Blessing of Epiphany Water. Please bring your own water.

Annunciation Church, Crestwood, NY, 7 pm. Bring your own vessels of water to be blessed

Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, Jan. 5, 7 pm. You may bring a container of water to be blessed to the sacristry prior to the service.

Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6th

St. Mary Church, Norwalk, CT, Low Mass 8 am; Missa Cantata 9:15 am; Solemn Mass 7 pm; First Friday Adoration 9 am to 11:15 and 1:00 pm to 6:45.

Sacred Heart Oratory, Georgetown, CT, low Mass 8:30 am; low Mass 6 pm. Adoration will take place after the 8:30am Mass until 9pm that evening. The 6pm Low Mass will be Coram Sanctissimo, that is, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed throughout Mass. 

St Pius X, Fairfield, CT, Missa Cantata, 7 pm, Fr. Richard Cipolla celebrant

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Oratory, Bridgeport, CT, 7:45 am; 6 pm Solemn Mass with guest celebrant Fr. Greg Markey followed by blessing of the chalk and a reception.

St. Patrick Oratory, Waterbury, CT, Low Mass 8 am, holy hour of adoration at 5 pm, Missa Cantata 6 pm

St. Martha Church, Enfield, CT, 7:00 P.M. High Mass with a visit by the Three Kings after Mass with reception and gifts for the kids. (PLEASE BRING A SNACK TO SHARE)

Holy Innocents, New York, NY, Missa Cantata 6 pm

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, 10:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. All day adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 7:00 P.M. Solemn Mass, procession with and veneration of the Infant Christ Child and distribution of blessed chalk and Epiphany Holy Water

St. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers, 12 noon

Immaculate Conception, Sleepy Hollow, NY, low Mass 7 pm

Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City, Missa Cantata, 7 pm

Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, NJ, Missa Cantata, 7 pm. Confessions available before Mass at 6 pm; veneration of a fragment of the Holy Crib of Jesus after Mass.

Corpus Christi Church, South River, NJ, 7:00 pm Sung Mass. Adoration from 3:00-7:00 pm. Confessions from 6:00-6:30 pm.

The following churches are offering Requiem Masses for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI

St Patrick’s in Waterbury, CT, Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict on Saturday, January 14 at 10:00 am.

Most Holy Redeemer Church, New York, NY, Solemn Requiem Mass, Monday, Jan. 9 at 6 pm

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New York, NY, Jan. 5 at 6:00 P.M. Blessing of the Epiphany Water followed by 7:00 P.M. Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI

St Paul the Apostle Church, Yonkers, Thursday Jan. 5 at 12 noon, Sung Requiem w Absolution at the Catafalque