The Pious Saint Pius X. Squirrel

Dr. med. vet. Edith Breburda, PhD

Published in Oremus Press, June edition 2019
I have to admit, I love to sit in Church and proofread my books. But every so very often people misunderstand my intention and tell me I have to leave and that they never ever want to see me again. Since then, I am very afraid of going even to Adoration and instead prefer to sit in one of the last pews in the main church. Until… yes, until I realized I could go as well to this huge church nearby. It is brand-new, and sometimes I sneak in. Most of the time, no other human there. Today was such a day. I did not know where to go but was in dire need of a place to contemplate my writings.

Sure, I know all the arguments going on in the Church regarding the Society of Saint Pius X. Coming from Germany and having been a founding member of the (German-Catholic) Guides et Scouts d’Europe, I am even more aware of the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. In 1988, we so much hoped the Society Pius X would come back to the Church. However, nothing happened and since I was studying at Veterinary School in Munich during that time, I enjoyed daily Tridentine Mass celebrated by one of the founders of the Fraternity of Saint Peter.

Officially it was difficult for him to say the Tridentine Mass. He was allowed to do so in a nursing home chapel and the door behind him was closed to make sure nobody got in. I did see father very often because his studies in the German Seminary of the Society of St. Pius X at Zaitzkofen were not validated, and he needed some additional studies in Munich.

In between the Theology Faculty and the Veterinary School, located at the entrance of the English Garden, was only one street. Whereas, not the Theology Department but Veterinary School was referred to as the black faculty. To give you an idea of how dedicated the farmers are to their veterinarians, consider the old saying:

“Ross verrecken, grosser Schrecken, Weiber sterben, kein Verderben.” (If a horse dies, it is a huge disaster. If a wife passes away, it is not a big deal). Of course, this saying is obsolete. It only expresses the love Bavarians have for their animals. Indeed, the most respected person in a little Bavarian village has not been the priest, but instead the Veterinarian.

Still in our times, framers did make pilgrimages to our Lady of Altötting to pray for their animals suffering from an unknown disease. Some speculated it was attributed to GMO food and in such a case only our Blessed Mother could help.

“As a matter of fact, the mysterious illness was causing calves to bleed to death on Bavarian farms since 2007. Veterinarians were stumped over what was causing the deaths: vaccines, genetically modified feed or perhaps even the mothers’ first milk (colostrum). “The animals’ bodies were covered with drops of blood, and their eyes were bloodshot,” stated a Bavarian farmer. In his barn, the first calf bled to death in October 2007. The veterinarian tried everything, he says, including administering vitamins and blood-clotting agents. However, nothing worked, and within two or three days, they were all dead. The mysterious disease was rampant in Germany’s cattle barns. Until then, farmers likely had no other choice but to hope for help from above. At a “farmers’ pilgrimage” six hundred farmers prayed to the Black Madonna of Altötting to have mercy on their bleeding calves. The words “Holy Mary, help us in our hour of need, resounded across the shrine. In the invitation, the organizers

wrote: “Because there is apparently no help to be expected from any worldly source, we intend, in making this pilgrimage, to beg for protection and help from the Virgin Mary of Altötting, the patron saint of Bavaria>.”(1) 

I enjoyed being in school. I imagined my mother and grandfathers of several generations, who might have been sitting in the same pew at the old university building.

Being so close to Theology has had its advantages. Father invited me to the lectures of the famous Philosophy Professor Robert Spaemann. However, I could not invite him back to any of my classes because I didn’t think they would have been of interest to him.

Moving fast forward to today, I needed just a little spot in one of the last pews. From the parking lot, beneath the Diocesan Center, it was only a ride on the elevator to my desired location. Two ladies and a gentleman boarded the elevator with me. I looked at them and sensed a bit of confusion in their eyes. They did not really know where to go and eventually decided to ask me. “Where do you want to go?” I did not hesitate and answered, “Oh I want to go to heaven.” When we reached their destination on the first floor they were still chuckling.

I crossed a small plaza and entered the basilica. It was too early for Mass. I only saw the parents of a suburban parish priest. Today, it was difficult to go to Mass because all the priests gathered with their bishop. I guess many people thought that the Franciscan priests downtown would for sure celebrate Mass. But when the time arrived, the organist announced that there would be only a word and communion service. Shortly thereafter, a lady in a black dress with long white hair entered the sanctuary and took the priest’s seat. I left because I really needed a quiet place to “work.” I decided to try my luck at the Church of the Society of Pius X. There nobody would interrupt me.

I was sitting beside  a window and, after a while, I asked myself, “Why it is here that I can concentrate best?” I looked up and felt a presence. There was a squirrel and only a window in between us. To my dismay, the little thing was astonished seeing me here. After a while, the animal gave up staring at me and started to pray intensely. Indeed, I thought, there exists an interaction between animals and theology. And in places you never expected you find great faith. It just depends on where to turn. And the best example is the location of the Veterinary and the Theology Department of the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich.

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1) Breburda E.: Promises of New Biotechnologies, ISBN-13: 978-0615548289

ISBN-10: 061554828, Kindle or Hardcopy at Amazon.com

See also the 2017 CPA Award winning Children Book from Edith Breburda: Felix the Shrine cat and Felix the Pilgrimage cat in Paris, Chartres and Rome

Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the litte pilgrimage cat Felix

 

Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

July, 16

Edith Breburda

 

Blessed Isidore Bakanja – Martyr of the Brown Scapular

Written by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez

Our Lady of Mt Carmel 
whose feast we will celebrate July 16.
......Pray For Us...... 

 See also our devouted, littel, highly intelligent cat Felix and his reflections on the "Brown Scapular".....

Felix the Pilgrimage Cat in Paris, Chartres and Rome.....

.....Then time begins to fly by quickly. Just yesterday, Felix was grumbling, but now that he finds himself in the spectacular Cathedral, he is elated that he is allowed to sit with the children in the first pew, although he remains tucked in between them so that he is not so obvious.

The interior of the Cathedral is cool and dark. Felix with his predominantly black coat blends in easily. No one expects a cat to be in a Cathedral. It is a secret that is safe with the children.

Long before Mass begins, the young pilgrims go forward to kneel at the communion rail. There they receive their Brown Scapular medallion with individual prayers for each child by the priest. It is associated with St. Simon Stock.

In the window above the right side altar, a scene is depicted wherein the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon, on July 16, 1251.

The image reflects the Blessed Mother with the baby Jesus in her lap, holding the Brown Scapular in her hands. St. Simon Stock kneels in front of her and he receives the brown woolen vestment.

Thankfully, Peter had already explained all of this in great detail to the children. A scapular is a short woolen shoulder garment that is worn over the clerical habit.

It’s meaning is purely symbolic, reminding one of Jesus’ words, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11, 29-30). Long ago the oxen wore yokes in order to plow the fields.

The modern scapular consists of two pieces of cloth, one worn on the chest and the other on the back, which are connected by straps or strings passing over the shoulders. In this way, the Blessed Mother provided the Carmelites with their vestments.

It is associated with devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the very beginning, the Carmelites wished to stay in Jerusalem. At that time, they were still Eremites.

They lived in total solitude, emphasizing sacrifice and spent most of their time in prayer. Their rule was given to them by the Bishop of Jerusalem.

The Eremites lived around the chapel that was dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Their general superior was St. Simon Stock.

When the Blessed Mother appeared to him she explained that the Carmelites who wear the brown scapular are under her special protection.

In addition, whoever wears the scapular at the time of death will emerge from purgatory on the following Saturday. As the children learned the history and meaning of the scapular, everyone was eager to don the scapular. It became a medallion similar to the Miraculous Medal with the passage of time. Peter emphasizes that the scapular reminds one to live as a good Christian.

Everyone was then encouraged to receive the scapular. “All you have to do is come forward during the simple ceremony and kneel at the communion rail.”

While the ceremony of the enrollment progresses, Felix watches with rapt attention. As the priest carefully leans forward and places a scapular on the shoulder of each child, a special prayer is said, which includes:

“He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. The benefits of this blessed scapular will be given to you.”

Felix can understand everything with his sensitive ears and he is becoming extremely jealous. He consoles himself with the thought that perhaps as a cat he doesn’t need a scapular. 

Mosaic at Carmel Monestary in Carmel/CA

A truly catholic cat would never end up in purgatory. He hesitates, thinking, “If there is no purgatory, then there is no cat in heaven.” However, our Felix cannot commit a sin because no animal can do that. Animals rely on instinct rather than having a free will. Intellect, free will, and a grave matter are required in order to commit a sin.

It is true, many people praise Felix’ intelligence. He has also a well-formed conscience that helps him to decide what is wrong or right.

However, the feline concludes that, because he does not have free will he cannot commit a sin. This makes him very happy.

As he ruminates about his situation, he realizes that purgatory is never an option for him. He knows that even as a cat he has a very good chance of ending up in heaven.

So, he can skip the Brown Scapular ceremony in good conscience, with peace of mind. Surely, he realizes that the path to heaven is strenuous, just as the journey to Chartres has been. In his wildest dreams, Felix would have never conceived of the possibility of a feline path to heaven… or Chartres.

Previously, he did not understand the meaning of the seminarians’ pilgrimage to Chartres. He had just wondered why everyone disappeared from Wigraztbad during Pentecost. Felix yawns and mumbles to himself, “It will be nice to be back in my comfortable homestead soon.”......

Continue to read 

 Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel......May this scapular be for each of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you.....Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son....Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to you every moment of our lives.......Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death, so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the blessing of heaven forever...........Amen....Mary conceived withour sin, pray for us who have recourse to you........Our Lady Of Mount Carmel......pray for us...........