Creole Mass in St Peter's Basilica

The Church has fallen to a new depth from a great height.

Bishop dies who was one of the greatest supporters of traditionalists

The diocese of Gap and Embrun has announced Mgr Georges Lagrange, Bishop of Gap from 1988 to 2003, died on Thursday at age 85, . His funeral will be held in the church of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne (Ain) which was his native village on Monday, December 15 at 14:30.

Born on November 23, 1929, Bishop Lagrange was ordained a priest in Belley 29 June 1955. He served in Algeria and Senegal, before returning to the Ain. Appointed Bishop of Gap by Pope John Paul II on 11 July 1988, he was ordained bishop on 18 September at the shrine of Our Lady of Laus shrine and enthroned at the Cathedral of Gap seven days later. On 18 November 2003, he became bishop emeritus of Gap, retiring to his native diocese of Belley-Ars. Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco Léandri, who was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gap in September 2003, and who then succeeded him on 18 November.

In 1999, Bishop Lagrange caused unease among priests and laity of the diocese because of his favorable attitude to traditionalist movements. He had indeed used the traditionalist communities (like the Brothers of St. John which he had placed at the shrine of Our Lady of Laus) to address the lack of vocations in his diocese. Faced with this crisis, he had requested a canonical visitation that the Vatican had entrusted to Bishop Bernard Panafieu, Archbishop of Marseille. Bishop Lagrange was then reorganized the diocese and restored the various councils involving priests and laity in the life of the Church in the Hautes-Alpes.


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Deus, qui inter apostolicos Sacerdotes
famulum tuum Georges pontificali
fecisti dignitate vigere : præsta, quæsumus; ut
eorum quoque perpetuo aggregetur consortio.
Per Dominum.
O God, who wert pleased that in the apostolic priesthood
this thy servant Georges should be invested with episcopal
 dignity : grant also, we beseech thee,
that he may be joined for evermore to the fellowship of
that priesthood in heaven. Through our Lord. 

Pope loves Europe after all.

It is already a long time ago: On Tuesday of last week, Pope Francis first appeared in Strasbourg before the European Parliament and had attempted to breath new life into the "grandmother of Europe". But now the closest collaborator of the Pope, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks of his hope that Eurosceptics will let themselves be convinced by the European project.

"I hope they listen to the message of the Pope. This is a message that has placed much value on the European project, also in the light of the results, which has resulted in this project. Of course, we are currently in a period of difficulties, the crisis, the fatigue - but we must not overlook the fact that this European project has meant peace and prosperity for many generations. That should encourage young people even more. If you reduce the European project to the material and bureaucratic, then the basic values get obscured from the eyes, the values of the founding fathers of Europe. Despite all of the EU's weaknesses: We do have an important tool to secure peace for Europe's prosperity and a place in the world".

(!!!- it is NATO that has kept the peace in Europe since World War II- the European Union in its present form is creating the conditions for the next war.)

Parolin talked with us on the sidelines of a Roman party, which commemorated one hundred years of diplomatic relations between Britain and the Vatican. Also in view of Eurosceptics in the UK, the number two of the Vatican said:

"The world is more complex and conflictual than we imagined it would be after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The international scenario has changed a lot. And so it is today really essential to talk to each other and to negotiate, then the problems of the world to get together. "

Gaudete Sunday

Horseback pilgrimage for senior Cardinal

Priest says Linz diocese is a pigsty

"Pigsty": Father Wagner complains about Diocese 

Gerhard Maria Wagner,the parish priest prevented from becoming Auxilliary Bishop of Linz again makes criticism of his diocese on the publication of his book "Heaven or Hell".

The whole sorry tale of ecclesiastical cowardice which prevented Father Wagner becoming a bishop.

"In Linz to become a bishop, perhaps is a bit more difficult," says Wagner. The situation in Upper Austria is still very controversial and pulled in opposite directions, he said at a press conference on Friday.

Diocese of Linz on Cathcon

 He wished the successor of Bishop Ludwig Schwarz “all the best” - the diocese has recently released a shortlist of three candidates for the pffice - said Wagner. "It stinks," he said in response to an earlier statement that he had been trusted to "clean out this Austrian pigsty". The church is not on a good path, there are tensions, many people are disoriented. Wagner reported there are priests who are "suffering that we stop today basically being Catholic." 

 "Oligarch economy" 

 The parish priest of Windischgarsten (District of Kirchdorf) criticized the fact, among other things, that the Sacrament of Penance is dead in many parishes. Liturgies of the Word have got their own momentum whic really bothered him. He also does not understand the competition in the relationship of laity and clergy, says Wagner. "How is it that today priests are afraid of the parish council meeting? There is something not right there." But he had not yet had the impression that his opinion is much sought in Linz. Wagner stated the domestic dioceses are "already a bit of an oligarchic economy," many bishops stood alone there. 

 "I find it appalling that Father Wagner has used the dramatic word 'mess' for the whole Church in Austria," the Episcopal Vicar of Linz, Wilhelm Vieböck responded to the statements. This position does not exactly qualify for higher church offices and he disqualifies himself. All in the diocese endeavour to provide high-quality work, stressed Vieböck. 

 For the now published book, the author Norbert Blaichinger spent seven days by Wagner, the militant cleric takes on various topics position: When asked about Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst, he explains, for example, "at that time I felt ashamed for Austria". The practice of homosexuality was "seduction and grave sin". He knew quite a few people seeking help gays, the minister said in the press conference. He was pleased that the new Pope succeeded from the beginning in awakening across the whole world sympathy and trust, he is quoted as saying in the book. But "I see nothing of it, the churches are not fuller, people do not go to confession more and all that praise Pope Francis have not become more religious in recent times." 

 "Heaven or Hell - Seven Days with Dr. Gerhard Maria Wagner, pastor of Windischgarsten" edition innsalz; 338 pages, 19.80 €, ISBN 978-3-902981-38-7; edition-innsalz.at 

 Provocations by Gerhard Maria Wagner 

 "I do not need this bishop's mitre." (About his short-term office as Bishop) 

 "I would have expected myself to clean out this mess." (On the Diocese of Linz) 

 "Do I have to like a Pope?" (About Pope Francis) 

 "For me, there's only a resounding no." (For an eventual EU membership for Turkey) 

 "I am totally disgusted by Hermann Nitsch and his 'smearings'. This is pure blasphemy." (About Nitsch and his mystery plays) 

 "They are blasphemies." (About Haderer cartoons) 

 When asked what he would say to Conchita Wurst: "Hello Mr. Neuwirth. And now I tell you honestly, at that time I felt ashamed for Austria."

 "I have not allowed myself to form judgment until today." (About Cardinal Groer‘s pedophilia)

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