Thursday, November 29, 2007

How many of you have heard “Traditional Catholics are “out of touch”?

To those of you whom have been blest with Our Heavenly Father’ Graces to be teetering on the fence whether to become a Traditional Catholic or not, you’re well aware that many criticize Traditional Roman Catholics as being out of touch with reality. Unfortunately without walking in a Traditional Roman Catholics shoes, how can one accurately describe and know what a traditional Catholic thinks, believes, and feels?

Many Traditional Roman Catholics used to be Vatican II Catholics. I was for 20 years, as an altar boy, lecturer, choir musician and attended Novus Ordo services weekly, sometimes daily. We Traditional Roman Catholics have worn both sets of shoes, been on each side of the fence, and happily keep our faith in the True Roman Catholic faith. We don’t feel we are better than our Novus Ordo brothers and sisters, just blest with the true 7 Holy Sacraments.

May the Holy Ghost help me here. We Traditional Roman Catholics are not a cult or schism. Traditional Roman Catholics come from all walks of life: rich and poor, old and young, healthy and ill, multiple races, and many nations.

We are your friends and neighbors, not adversaries. Despite these differences what is truly amazing is that Traditional Roman Catholics have the most important thing in common, we have the true Catholic faith etched in our hearts and do the best we can to make God the center of our lives daily.

It’s very heart-warming and reassuring to read another Traditional Roman Catholic’s blog describing the exact same matters and opinions of the true Catholic faith, the 7 Holy Sacraments; and viewpoints on the 10 Commandments, Catholic practices, and prayers -- we Traditional Roman Catholics are one Apostolic and Catholic.

D J Praska

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Sounds of Heaven


Sounds of Heaven

Today, as I was on the way to work, I heard several songs that I liked. Later, as I worked on my desk, I could hear more songs that I liked. Something, though, was different today. I just could not derive the same pleasure I used to from these songs.

So it was for me as each new and old song played on the radio. I am pleased less and less by these songs. These songs are just sounds arranged by man to fit human concepts of emotion and beauty. I realize more and more that all of these things are only temporary, that physical life does end, and eternal truth does exit.

God’s judgment is the great equalizer. It judges rich, poor, smart, and dumb. It judges the pretty, the ugly, the black, the white, the brown and the red.

True music is the music that the Angels play for God in Heaven. I pray, by the grace of God, that I may hear this music in His presence and spend eternity with Him. Praise God and his Holy Name. Pray for me.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Commenting on the 46-paragraph-long text

As Novus Ordo Cardinal Kasper stated:

"Commenting on the 46-paragraph-long text in an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Kasper affirmed that "the document speaks of the tension between authority and conciliarity (or synodality) at the local (i.e., diocesan), regional and universal levels. The important development is that for the first time the Orthodox Churches have said yes, this universal level of the Church exists and also at the universal level there is conciliarity, synodality and authority; this means that there is also a Primate; according to the practice of the ancient Church, the first bishop is the bishop of Rome."

When Novus Ordo Cardinal Kaspar states “ancient “ Church does he mean the church founded by Christ, the same Church that offers the sacrifice of the Mass, the Church who’s mission it is to convert all men to Christ?

Does Novus Ordo Cardinal mean the same Church of St. Gregory the Great, Pope St. Pius V and St. Ignatius Loyola? Well, regrettably, the Novus Ordo Missae is not the sacrifice of the Mass and does not try to convert pagans and Jews to Christ. Does Novus Ordo Cardinal Kaspar belong to the Ancient Church or the New or “Novus Ordo” Church.
Novus Ordo Cardinal Kasper continued:
"The next time," added the president of the pontifical council, "we will have to return to the role of the bishop of Rome in the universal Church during the first millennium. Then we must also talk of the second millennium, of Vatican Councils I and II, and this will not be easy; the road is very long and difficult."

Now the questions is will the Orthodox ever accept Vatican I, which they should?

Will the Orthodox accept Vatican II? Yes, if the become as liberal as the Novus Ordo.
And three:
Will the Orthodox agree that the Novus Ordo has valid Episcopal and priestly rites?

If you thought that the traditionalists were critical just wait until the Orthodox start asking the questions.

CATHOLIC-ORTHODOX DOCUMENT ON THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH



Taken form the Vatican Information Service:

CATHOLIC-ORTHODOX DOCUMENT ON THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was the final document of the plenary assembly of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The meeting was held in the Italian city of Ravenna from October 8 to 14 under the presidency of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and His Excellency Ioannis, metropolitan of Pergamo.

The title of the final document is: "Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church. Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority."

Commenting on the 46-paragraph-long text in an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Kasper affirmed that "the document speaks of the tension between authority and conciliarity (or synodality) at the local (i.e., diocesan), regional and universal levels. The important development is that for the first time the Orthodox Churches have said yes, this universal level of the Church exists and also at the universal level there is conciliarity, synodality and authority; this means that there is also a Primate; according to the practice of the ancient Church, the first bishop is the bishop of Rome."

"However," the cardinal continued, "we did not talk of the privileges of the bishop of Rome, we merely indicated the praxis for future debate. This document is a modest first step and as such it gives rise to hope, but we must not exaggerate its importance.

"The next time," added the president of the pontifical council, "we will have to return to the role of the bishop of Rome in the universal Church during the first millennium. Then we must also talk of the second millennium, of Vatican Councils I and II, and this will not be easy; the road is very long and difficult."

The cardinal also commented on the fact that the delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church had abandoned the plenary assembly, explaining that "there was an inter-Orthodox problem over the recognition of the autonomous Church of Estonia" about which Moscow and Constantinople take different views.

"This is an inter-orthodox question," he reiterated, "and we cannot interfere; yet we are extremely sad and concerned because it is important to us that the Russian Orthodox Church should also participate in our future dialogue. Hence we cannot interfere but we wish to ask Moscow and Constantinople to do their best to find a solution, a compromise.

"If they wish," the cardinal concluded, "we can also facilitate this solution, either at the bilateral level between Moscow and Constantinople, or at the pan-Orthodox level, but there is not doubt that we want the Russian Orthodox Church to anticipate. It is a very important Church, we do not want to dialogue without the Russians and we wish to work to achieve this aim."
CON-UC/RAVENNA DOCUMENT/KASPER VIS 071115 (470)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was the final document of the plenary assembly of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The meeting was held in the Italian city of Ravenna from October 8 to 14 under the presidency of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and His Excellency Ioannis, metropolitan of Pergamo.

The title of the final document is: "Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church. Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority."

Commenting on the 46-paragraph-long text in an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Kasper affirmed that "the document speaks of the tension between authority and conciliarity (or synodality) at the local (i.e., diocesan), regional and universal levels. The important development is that for the first time the Orthodox Churches have said yes, this universal level of the Church exists and also at the universal level there is conciliarity, synodality and authority; this means that there is also a Primate; according to the practice of the ancient Church, the first bishop is the bishop of Rome."

"However," the cardinal continued, "we did not talk of the privileges of the bishop of Rome, we merely indicated the praxis for future debate. This document is a modest first step and as such it gives rise to hope, but we must not exaggerate its importance.

"The next time," added the president of the pontifical council, "we will have to return to the role of the bishop of Rome in the universal Church during the first millennium. Then we must also talk of the second millennium, of Vatican Councils I and II, and this will not be easy; the road is very long and difficult."

The cardinal also commented on the fact that the delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church had abandoned the plenary assembly, explaining that "there was an inter-Orthodox problem over the recognition of the autonomous Church of Estonia" about which Moscow and Constantinople take different views.

"This is an inter-orthodox question," he reiterated, "and we cannot interfere; yet we are extremely sad and concerned because it is important to us that the Russian Orthodox Church should also participate in our future dialogue. Hence we cannot interfere but we wish to ask Moscow and Constantinople to do their best to find a solution, a compromise.

"If they wish," the cardinal concluded, "we can also facilitate this solution, either at the bilateral level between Moscow and Constantinople, or at the pan-Orthodox level, but there is not doubt that we want the Russian Orthodox Church to anticipate. It is a very important Church, we do not want to dialogue without the Russians and we wish to work to achieve this aim."
CON-UC/RAVENNA DOCUMENT/KASPER VIS 071115 (470)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Modernism and the California Missions

Modernism and the California Missions

A Baptist friend of mine marveled at the missions in California. He told me that on a hot San Diego day, a day when the Santa Ana winds were blowing hot over the Southern California landscape, how he had escape the heat by entering the abode walled Church of the Mission San Diego de Alcala. He marveled at the engineering feat of simple Catholic Franciscan priests who could build a solid structure of earth and mud that could block out the elements, keep the Church cool on hot days, and warm on winter days.

What he didn’t realize was that these simple priests were humble and meek but not all that simple. Many of these priests were well educated Spanish gentlemen who heard the call of God to traverse over oceans and deserts to bring the word of God to heathen Native Californians for the salvation of their souls.

These holy men were men of science, literature, and music. Many were educated in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, where the school in which they were trained still stands.

These gentlemen renounced worldly possessions, put on the coarse woolen grab of the Franciscan, and braved the elements to come north from the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico).

They brought with them the Holy Scriptures, the 7 sacraments, and tools to build a thriving Christian community where one did not exists.

These men put aside prejudice and accepted the Native California as they were a people capable of learning, deserving of Gods love and capable of becoming members of the Church of Christ. This example of charity was in stark contrast to other European encounters with Native Americans on the East Coast, South and Mid West.

These men of learning and charity were able to learn the native languages, organize communities, and bring souls into the Mystical Body of Christ.

In addition to this they brought books on Roman law and established representative government. They maintained the Native California concept of community property within the context of Catholic teaching. Therefore the goods of the community (the mission) belonged to the people (the Native Californians).

Certainly, we hear lot of revisionist history, mostly from anti Catholic, pro socialist, and pro modernist, that there were problems in the mission. Well the fact is that the successes completely outweighed the failures.

After many successful decades of surplus food and surplus products (principally cow hides) non religious institutions such as the Landed Elite (Rancheros and Hacendados) became jealous of the lands that the church developed for the benefit of the Native Californian population. The landed elite wanted a bigger piece of the tan and hide trade with the New England Merchants who visited California shores. If they could get a bigger piece of this market they would make more money and be able to buy more manufactured goods produced in New England.

Once the landed elite was able to rid itself of the Crown,who had protected the Church’s’ interest in New Spain, they were able to lobby their new secular government in Mexico City to disband the mission system. They called this process “secularization” of the mission system.

The landed elite had done this for three principle reasons. Firstly, the landed elite had become less and less Catholic and more and more influenced by the French Revolution which was anti Catholic in nature. The landed elite found it unbearable to accept the fact that the Church was involved in commerce, education, welfare and land ownership. They sought to extricate the Church from secular society as much as possible and they succeed to the detriment to the new Republic of México.

Secondly, they needed the labor that the native population represented. In cold hard economic terms, the landed elite needed Native American labor to work on its ranches grazing cattle. The landed elite had complained for year to the Royal authorities that their interests were not being considered and complained that Church was benefiting more from this labor pool that they were. They also asserted that the Church’s mission of Christianizing the Native California was complete and by virtue of this the Royal government should break up the unnecessary missions and allow these people to join the unskilled workforce of California.

What the Rancheros did not recognize in their greed for more land, labor, and production was that the Native California lived in a wholly Christian Collective environment within the mission. They had not been educated in 19th century Spanish/Mexican culture of land, and labor, and materialism. The foundation of the Mission system was the Catholic Faith.

Thirdly, the landed elite wanted the land. They had argued that the Church had no business as a large landholder. They made demands on the government in Mexico to free up these lands and give them to themselves. What a business.

These above arguments sound very similar to the arguments that the German and English princes made to their respective Protestant ministers. As in Germany and England , three centuries later in California the Church was dispossessed of the land and a great deal of common folk ( Native Californians) where thrust into an economic system they were wholly unprepared for. No more were there safeguards to protect the young, ill, and aged from poverty.

In California, as in Germany and England, after the confiscation of these lands, no new secular authority would be able to compensate for the charitable existence in which each dispossessed person could previously claim under the laws of the Church.

In California some Native California did go to work for the large landed elite like the Sepulveda, Alvarado, Dominguez families, etc. Many more ill and aged became desamparado or abandoned, distressed, and marginalized. Many Native Californians left their mission grounds and joined other bands of Native Californians up in the hills and mountain and returned to the life their ancestors had known.

What is sure is that modernism in California as Protestantism in Northern Europe caused dislocation, poverty, and despair to many common people all in the name of progress and greed.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Traditionalist is a Misnomer


What was a Traditionalist prior to the French Revolution? Traditionalist is a misnomer. Ever since the reformation and French Revolution the Catholic has been marginalized and criticized for maintaining the faith of the Apostles. Throughout the 18th, 19th, 20th and so far during the 21st century a Catholic has been characterized as backward, reactionary, antiquated, and yes, “traditionalist”. Catholics have been labeled by the term “traditionalist” as if this was some how bad.

The fact is, while the world became less Catholic, the Catholic has maintained the faith. Maintaining the faith has made the Catholic look less and less modern. So it is the world that is wrong not the Catholic faith.

It is the duty of the Catholic, in charity, to point out how modernity has detrimentally changed and negatively affected society. One of the most destructive changes came from within our own Catholic church, the destruction of the Mass and sacraments, of which, Luther, a modernist, would be happy.

Other changes in society completely at odds with Catholicism are homosexual marriage, work on Sundays, pornography, blasphemy in the media, divorce to name a few.

Is it reactionary to be against homosexual marriage? Yes, in today’s world, yes. Happy to be a Catholic. Traditionalist is a misnomer. Catholics take heart in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

New Survey: Should the Pope be Catholic?






















New Survey: Should the Pope be Catholic?

I guess the real question is: would a Catholic kiss the Koran, a book which describes Christians as worse than swine urine and that gives liberty to kill Christians who do not deny Christ and accept Islam? Is a Catholic one who receives a blessing from a Hindu priestess in the form of dried cow dung? Is a Catholic one who would allow pagans from all over the world to occupy Holy Churches in Assisi and practice idolatry in theses Churches?

Isn’t a Catholic instead more like our Holy Martyr, St. Peter, who would not compromise his faith at the hands of the Pagan Roman? Isn’t a Catholic one instead who would leave the comfort of his homeland, give up his life for Christ to convert the Native peoples of Canada, like St. Jean de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, who died a martyr’s death? Isn’t a Catholic more like the many more martyrs who died for their faith in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union ?

Traditional Holy Days of Obligation


Traditional Holy Days of Obligation for England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, United States, Canada, and Australasia


January 1 the Feast of the Circumcision ...... ALL
January 6 Epiphany....... E/W/S/I/C
March 17th St. Patrick’s Day..... I
March 19th St. Joseph..... S
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension ......... ALL
Corpus Christi..... ALL
June 29 Ss. Peter and Paul...... E/S/I
August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary E/W/S/I/U/A
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints...... ALL
December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception ..... S/I/U/C
December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ....... ALL

E = England W = Wales S Scotland I = Ireland U = United States C = Canada A = Australasia

Survey: Should Catholics take off Holy Days?

Survey: Should Catholics take off Holy Days?

The Results:

20% Yes, If Jews and Moslems take off their Holy Days why not Catholics ?

80% Yes, Of Course.

Overwhelmingly Catholics should take off our Holy Days. Take heart, Catholics, have courage and be counted as a Catholic. Make a stand for the Holy Church and do not go into work on our Holy Days of Obligation. Give your children a good example and take them out of school. We have rights as Catholics to worship our Lord on these days. Praise God.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

"The gates of hell will never prevail" (Matthew 16: 18)


Frequently we hear that the presence of a Pope is necessary to substantiate Christ’s promise. Subordinating Christ’s promise of “the gates of hell will never prevail" to the continuity of the Papacy is a fallacy. Christ is not a liar; He could not mean that we would always have a Pope. The fact is that between Popes there are periods of “No Pope” or sedevacante. Of course this is obvious.

For the sake of the uninitiated (those who are not conversant in traditional polemics) sedevacante is the period of time between Popes. Therefore at times there is NO Pope. If there is “No” Pope then logically Christ’s promise does not apply to this situation. (Unless you believe that Christ is a liar.)

Christ’s promise does not apply to these periods of sedevacante. This is a very simple argument. Christ’s promise is not that narrow and his love for us is too great to disappoint us during periods of “No Pope”.

Of course you may ask why a Catholic would believe there is no Pope at other times.

Well, it is very simple. Many Catholics believe that a Pope must first be Catholic. Simple, right? Yes it is simple. This means that the Vicar of Christ must uphold the Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition and the mageisterium. Catholic theology is not consistent with prayer with pagans, false ecumenism with Protestants, praying with Moslems toward Mecca, and a host of other actions the Novus Ordo Bishop of Rome has done over the past 40 years.

How has Christ kept his promise? Well, despite, the infestation of modernism in the Novus Ordo Church a Catholic can find valid sacraments through many validly ordained priests and bishops throughout the world. Christ is still found in many tabernacles throughout the world. Although, our opportunity to find a valid Mass has greatly been reduced by the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Missae, enough validly ordained priests and bishops have kept the flame alive. Praise God for these servants of God.

As St. Athanasius once said during the Arian heresy “they have the buildings but we have the faith”.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Could it be that the sedevacantist may be right in that the See of Peter IS vacant?

Could it be that the sedevacantist may be right in that the See of Peter IS vacant?

In traditional circles we hear a lot about the evils of sedevacantists and the praise for Novus Ordo Bishop of Rome, Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum Motum Prorio. (Please see Sept 3, 2007 post for an English language translation of the document). It seems that there are many Catholics who try to attend the true Mass whenever possible and ironically believe that those who have prohibited its use for almost four decades are still Catholic.

Most Traditionalists will agree that the reason they seek out the Tridentine or True Mass is because they do not feel that Christ is present in the Eucharist in the Novus Ordo form (and sometimes species). Essentially, if you are honest Traditionalist, you do not believe that the Novus Ordo (Modern Catholic) Sacramental forms are sacramentally valid.

It seems that the Novus Ordo Bishop of Rome, after prohibiting the True Mass for almost 40 years, all of a sudden is a hero to those he has disenfranchised. This contradiction alone should turn the heads of traditionalists and make them at least ask why. As Catholics we do not need to beg for the True Mass; it is our right as Catholics. As Catholics we should have a clear mind and understand what is and what isn’t true to the faith of Jesus Christ.

You see, essentially what Benedict XVI is saying is he’ll let you have your Mass, that has never been abrogated, if you announce to the world that his invalid Mass is a true Mass . He also is essentially saying he hopes your local bishop will approve of you having a true Mass, and if he doesn’t and you seek the True Mass elsewhere, you are outside the Church, a sedevacantist or both.

Further, let's remember that if the Novus Ordo Mass and sacraments are valid why go back to the older form? Why would we need a SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM? It would not be necessary. It would be a terrible waste to print new books and think of the confusion it would cause in the pews. How could the faithful reconcile the two forms? Would we then be uncatholic if we had two forms?

However, if the New Mass is invalid and its corresponding sacraments are invalid then run as fast as you can and find a traditional priest for valid confession and sacraments. You haven’t had valid sacraments for almost 40 years.

If on the other hand the Novus Ordo is valid, don’t worry, relax, there is no need to change anything. There is no need for a “Latin Mass”. There would be no need for a Motu Proprio.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Guadalupe over Islam


Byzantium was history by 1452. The Turk had conquered Rome of the East, Constantinople. They had confiscated the largest cathedral in the Christian World, Hagias Sofia, and made it the Great Mosque.

By the mid 1500's the Turk had conquered Greece, Albania and much of the Balkans. Germany (the Holy Roman Empire), France and Merry Olde England were no where to be found in defending Europe from the invader. Abandoning the Christian cause, they bitterly fought religious wars within their borders. England and much of the Holy Roman Empire fell into heresy.

The Turk at that time was the master of the Mediterranean. The Turk continued its threat against Europe and Italy. Throughout the Balkans, the Turk destroyed both Orthodox and Catholic Churches and tried to force Islam on the people. Regrettably, they were successful in Albania, Bosnia, and Kosovo.


Although Spain did not have economic and or strategic interests in the region, St. Pope Pius V asked and obtained aid from the King of Spain, Phillip II, to participate in a crusade to prevent further advancement of the Turk in Europe.

Spain, the Vatican and Venice formed a league to fend further Turkish encroachment into Christian Europe.

So despite the lack of political or economic interests, its own wars in the Low Countries, threats from England, and Moslem terrorism in Andalucía, Spain provided the greater part of the navy which destroyed a far superior Naval Fleet of the Turk. This was done on October 7, 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto.

Over 80% of the Turkish Navy was destroyed for the glory of God. The League’s leader, Juan de Austria, and all military personal prior to the engagement, fasted for three days, went to Confession, and received Holy Communion. Even the galley slaves were unshackled and allowed to do this. They also prayed the Rosary, flew the blue banner Our Lady of Guadalupe, and that of the Pope himself. This was a glorious victory for Christ.

At the very hour of victory, as Pope St. Pius was occupied with Vatican business, he looked out of the window and received revelation the battle had been won. Thereupon he told his treasurer “Go with God. This is not the time for business, but to give thanks to Jesus Christ, for our fleet has just conquered.” He then prostrated himself in his chapel in thanksgiving.

Two weeks later word of the victory finally reached Rome. The Pope declared October 7, the feast of the Holy Rosary and added the title Help of Christians to our Lady’s Litany of Loreto. There was much rejoicing in Italy and Spain.

Praise God.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Toties Quoties Indulgence

Toties Quoties Indulgence

From noon All Saints Day until midnight at the end of All Souls Day the Catholic faithful, as often as they visit a church or chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is truly present, to pray for the dead, reciting six times during each visit the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of Holy Mother Church, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, under the usual conditions of making a good Confession within a week before or after, worthily receiving Holy Communion within the week and having the right intention of heart. This is called the Toties Quoties Indulgence.

FIRST DAY - November 1, 2007

During this month our foremost thought is to recall to mind our beloved dead. We shall think of you, pray with you, labor with you, and shall give to the poor for the repose of your soul, that portion of the fruits of our daily labors which was formerly yours.
Pray: One Our Father, Three Hail Mary’s. On Gloria and De Profundis ( below) Psalm 129

DE PROFUNDIS

Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee, 0 Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
R.Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication
If Thou, 0 Lord, shalt mark my iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand it?
R.For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee. O Lord
My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
R.From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord
Because with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plenteous redemption.
R.And he shall redeem Israel form all its iniquities.
Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord,
R.and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace
R. Amen.


Most compassionate Jesus, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, for whose redemption Thou didst take upon Thyself the nature of mankind and die an ignominious death. Mercifully hear their pleadings - look with pity on the tears which they now shed before Thee and by virtue of their passion release them from the pain due unto their sins. Most pitiful Jesus, let Thy Precious Blood flow down into Purgatory and refresh and revive the captive souls suffering there. Stretch out unto them Thy strong right hand, and lead them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.

SECOND DAY - November 2, 2007

Is not the memory of the dead sweet to the heart, and is it not consoling to gather about us in thought the family dispersed by death?
Pray: One Our Father, Three Hail Mary’s. On Gloria and De Profundis ( below) Psalm 129

Protestantism: Labor and Land grab

Luther, a disaffected priest, who wanted to marry, was supported by German Barons who wanted to enrich themselves on Church land. Additionally German princes wanted to capitalize on peasant labor that was much happier taking off from 21 - 40 days a year in religious festivals.

Now, if the German prince could cut out all of those religious days their profit margin could increase. Additionally, once they were able to get rid of Rome they could confiscate productive monasteries and enrich themselves even more. An added benefit for Protestant was that they could divorce their wives and remarry with Luther's blessing. Great Reformation, right? Wrong.

The faithful Catholic was forced to accept a fabricated religion devoid of every sacrament except for baptism. The Reformation also deprived the populace of a valid priesthood and apostolic succession. Essentially the Reformation created a new religion and should actually be called a revolution, not a reformation.

As for Spain, if it were not for Charles V and his son Phillip II , Europe would be Moslem. Protestants were notoriously anti Christian and curiously unprepared for the onslaught by the Turk.