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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/12/2010


Question
1. How do the holy Rosary came about (origin).           2. Why Rev. Sisters do not wear ear rings and status used in Catholic church.  

Answer
Hi, Godsway...
Thanks for the questions.

1. The Holy Rosary was given to St. Dominic, and it is a traditional prayer of meditation upon the Mysteries of Jesus' & Mary's lives.  It is a sort of "Bible on a chain."

2. Consecrated sisters have traditionally not worn jewelry such as earrings because when they wear a full head veil with wimple, nobody can see their ears anyway.  No doubt, however, since they are Brides of Christ in a special manner of consecration, they have traditionally taken St. Paul's admonition that a good wife present her natural beauty with extra adornments like the pagans wore in that time.

3. Statues are images or representations of particular Saints.  They make us mindful of the holy presence and example of those friends of Christ who have passed on into the life of eternity, and can assist us un earth by uniting their prayers with ours, and presenting our prayers to God as intercessors through Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and man.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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