Benedict XVI in the USA

It is our sincere hope that Benedict, who has the capacity to celebrate the great mystery of the sacrifice of the Mass, will do so in full view of the public. We pray, with this action, the few remaining priests will be inspired to resume the sacrifice of the Mass, we so dearly need in our country. We also pray that Benedict will call together all of the Novus Ordo bishops involved in hiding pedophiles, and publicly admonish them, retire them to monasteries for their penance, and elevate true priests to the bishoprics. We also pray that Benedict would then submit himself and his Novus Ordo bishops to valid apostolic consecration (those in use prior to Vatican II) and bring the assembly back in line with apostolic teachings.

NOVENA FOR CHRISTMAS

NOVENA FOR CHRISTMAS

FIRST DAY DECEMBER 16
O God and Saviour of our souls, sweet Infant Jesus, Whom the angels and shepherds adored in the stable of Bethlehem on that holy night when Thou wert born of the Virgin Mary. We offer Thee our profound adoration and our most earnest thanksgiving for having become man for our redemption and salvation. Grant that we may apply all our powers to fulfill Thy gracious designs, that we may become perfectly renewed in heart, and inflamed with Thy holy love.
Our Father… Hail Mary...
Glory be… Hail and Blessed...

HAIL AND BLESSED be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the Most Pure Blessed Virgin Mary at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold: In that hour, vouchsafe, 0 my God, to hear my, prayer and grant my petitions, through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord.


SECOND DAY: DECEMBER 17
0 Merciful Redeemer, Who didst vouchsafe to remain in the chaste cloister of Mary’s womb, hidden and unknown, though Thou wast the Eternal Word, and the Wisdom of the Father. O grant that we may learn from Thee to love solitude and silence, and escape the evils that are found in the tumult and distractions of the world; grant us greater purity of mind and of heart; grant that we may glorify Thee, and edify others by our purity and modesty.

Our Father… Hail Mary...
Glory be… Hail and Blessed...



THIRD DAY DECEMBER 18
O Infant God, Who, from the moment of Thy conception in holy Mary’s womb, didst offer Thyself to Thine Eternal Father for the salvation of our souls. 0 vouchsafe, to give us a lively sense of the one thing necessary, so that we may labor zealously for others, and work out our own salvation in fear and trembling, yet with confidence in Thy love.

Our Father...
Glory be...
Hail Mary... Hail and Blessed...
Amen.

FOURTH DAY: DECEMBER 19
O Sweetest Jesus, Who didst go up to Bethlehem in the womb of Mary, to obey the command of Caesar, who had ordered all his subjects to be enrolled. O grant us grace to obey with alacrity the most arduous commands from those who hold Thy place over us.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be... Hail and Blessed...

FIFTH DAY: DECEMBER 20

O Most Adorable Jesus, Who, upon Thine arrival at Bethlehem, wast rejected by all men. 0 grant us to follow Thine example in sufferings and contempt, that we may welcome Thee joyfully into our hearts, when Thou seekest an entrance there, either by holy inspirations or by Thy Divine Sacraments.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be... Hail and Blessed...


SIXTH DAY: DECEMBER 21

O Divine Infant, Who, when excluded from Bethlehem, didst inspire Thy holy Mother to retire to a poor and wretched stable, in which obscure and humble place it was Thy will to be born in order to confound our pride, and to teach us humility. 0 grant that henceforward, conforming ourselves to Thy will, we may renounce all pomp and pride, and become truly meek and humble of heart.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be... Hail and Blessed...

SEVENTH DAY: DEC EMBER 22

0 Divine Word, Who for the love of us, Thy poor creatures, wast pleased to be born under the most lowly roof, to be wrapped in the meanest swaddling- bands, and to be laid in a vile manger, amongst beasts, and to suffer a thousand evils. 0 grant that we also may renounce all worldly vanities, and embrace poverty of spirit, and mortification of the flesh, so necessary for our perfection. Grant that we may be thoroughly detached from creatures, and poor in all things save in Thy love and Thy grace.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be... Hail and Blessed...

EIGHTH DAY: DECEMBER 23

0 Divine Saviour, 0 King of peace, Who wast pleased to make Thine appearance amongst us when the whole world was in peace. 0 vouchsafe to send us Thy peace, so that all our powers being brought into subjection to Thee, Thou mayest at the approaching solemnity, be born anew into our souls.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be… Hail and Blessed...

NINTH DAY: DECEMBER 24

O Divine Saviour, 0 King of immortal glory, Who, in Thy great mercy, didst come into the world to redeem us and to make us holy. 0 grant that, denying all ungodliness and love of this world, we may live soberly in ourselves, justly toward our neighbor, and piously before Thee, that so we may be happy with Thee for all Eternity.

Our Father... Hail Mary...
Glory be... Hail and Blessed...

Dec. 7, 1585 Isle of Bomel, Netherlands, Vigil of the Immaculate Conception

Dec. 7, 1585 Isle of Bomel, Netherlands, Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.

With the onslaught on the Catholic Church in full swing Protestant Armies were out fitted and supported by people such as William of Orange with the aid of Elizabeth I of England, Cecil, and other disaffected non Christian financiers. Many churches and tabernacles had been desecrated. Many of the Holy relics of the had been defiled.

Phillip II of Spain had sent his armies north to the Netherlands to protect his estates and more importantly to safeguard Catholicism at the cross roads of heresies between Germany and England. The Protestant armies, though, had a plan to destroy the Catholic Army.

After Phillips Army's success at Antwerp, the Duke of Parma sent a multiude of his troops to garrison on Bomel, Netherlands. The Catholic Army believed that Bomel was a safe and built a fort to protect themselves from possible attack from the Protestants during the winter months.

As the Spanish garrison thought they were secure, the Dutch Protestant Naval forces, who new the country better, had a plan to destroy the Christian army. It turns out that the land the Spaniards thought was safe was actually below sea level. Owing to the Netherlands reliance on dykes to keep water our of their fertile farm lands the areas around Bomel had been drained of water.

The Calvinists came up with the plan to destroy the dykes and flood out the Spanish Army. Once the dykes were destroyed the Calvinist Navy waited for the water to rise. They wanted the water to rise so high that the hated Catholics would be drowned.

Soon, that night, as the water rose, the land around Bomel became the Island of Bomel. The Catholics had become completely surrounded by water. The Spanish had no means of escape, no means of re supply of food, water, arms or reinforcements.

The Spaniard, though, had the true faith of Jesus Christ and the holy sacraments. The Spanish Army, in this time of peril, knelt down and gave thanks to our Lord and besought protection from our Lady of Victory.

Miraculously, in answer to the Catholics’ prayer, the roaring sea froze solid!

As the sea rapidly froze it became impossible for the Calvinist navy to approach the Spaniards and the Protestants had to retreat. Our Lady heard the pleas of her Christian soldiers. The open sea became ice so hard that the entire Spanish Army was able to cross the sea on foot to dry land!

Praise God!

How to put Christ back in Christmas? Celebrate St. Nicholas Day

Every year we here Catholics and Protestants alike complain that Christ is missing from the season of Christmas. We Catholics complain that the Holy season of Advent is forgotten. In modern America Christmas begins on the day after Thanksgiving and ends when Santa Claus comes on Christmas morning.

We have heard our priests on preach on Advent, penance and preparation for the coming of the Lord. Ever since the Protestant Revolution and the commercialization of that Holy Day celebrating Christ's birth is only really celebrated by a few Catholics and some conservative Protestants.

One solution would be to return to the celebration of St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. You see, after the Protestant revolution many northern European countries down played Christmas. When the Puritans came to America Christmas was outlawed. It was only after Catholic Immigrants’ arrived from Europe that Christmas was again celebrated to a any great extent.

With this new found interest in Christmas came the marketers of merchandise and the desecration of this sacred holiday. The Merchandisers and seculars writers needed something to celebrate (they had since lost the Catholic Faith generations ago and really did not understand the true nature of the Holiday.) Consequently in their ignorance, irreligion and desire for profit they distorted St. Nicholas Day and moved it to December 25th. They also changed the character of this holy priest and bishop into a rolly, polly, fat, and gift giver named Santa Claus.

As our Catholic Immigrates started to suck up American culture they bought into this “ Santa Claus “ myth and started lying to their children thereby inadvertently deemphasizing the penitential nature of Advent, the true character of St. Nicholas, materializing Christ’s birthday and essentially knocking Christ out of Christmas along with all of the Protestants.

What should have happened was that the Catholic immigrant should have reintroduced these traditional observances to the spiritually weak and culturally deprived Anglo-Saxon Protestant. As we know this did not happen.

The plan for every Catholic this year should be to celebrate St. Nicholas Day some how on December 6th. Only in this way can we bring back Christ. Why? Well every year we all have this great desire to celebrate a mythical creature called Santa Claus albeit based on a true Saint of the Holy Catholic Church. This desire to celebrate Santa Claus and all the gifts, family and friends that go with it is sweeter that candy. So indulge, but indulge on St. Nicholas day. Get you fix, get it out of your system. It can be a beautiful happy holy day.

Once St. Nicholas Day is over it leaves Christ for Christmas. Christ is back because Santa Claus is gone.

Make it fun it fun. We can give candy away as is done in Europe. We could pray, eat dinner, and maybe have a special desert,. We could also acquire an image of St. Nicholas and light a candle thereby reintroducing the real St. Nicholas to our family and friends. I plan to take chocolates to work and give them out.

One of the hardest things for parents with small children would be to tell their children there is no Santa Claus. There is so much pressure on all of us to sustain the Santa Claus lie. So much is riding on this lie (big profits and secularization of society). I know I have been guilty of perpetuating this lie. I will break this lie this year and tell my children the truth.

A Catholic family has so many ways to observe the season. After St. Nicholas there are so many other Holy Days i.e.: Immaculate Conception Dec 8th, Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12th , St. Lucy’s Day December 13th , and of course the vigil Christmas and Christmas Day.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

"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”.

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.

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.

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.

Take off that Holy Day

Today is All Hollows and tomorrow is of course, All Saints Day. This brings English speaking Catholics a desire to attend Mass in a country, that by Protestant English tradition frowns on honoring the Saints, exacts work out of the common man and does not celebrate God on a national level. Therefore, a Catholic who wants to go to Church must often decide what is more important, career, privacy or faith.

Certainly, if the Tudor King Henry VIII had remained Catholic, none of this would have happened. The fact is that due to Henry VIII’s greed and transgressions the common folk of England lost approximately 21 days a year of extra rest . These days of course were the former Holy Days of the Christian calendar. The English speaking world could enjoy God and family at home and church on these days.

In these days of merry olde England, an Englishman did not have to work and would participate in community fairs and celebrations of food, music, games and of course attendance at Holy Mass . Certainly, the English speaking world lost much more than their religion under Henry VIII. We lost freedom, good times and national reverence toward God the Father.

A day like November 1 was a day an employee did not have to ask time off to celebrate and go to Mass. Other days included January 6, Epiphany, February 2, Candlemass, March 26, Day of the Annunciation, etc. Clearly we lost at least 21 extra days a year.

For what, so Henry could confiscate church property, murder priests, and make the common man work harder for the realm.

The United States has continued this disregard for celebration of God in our lives just like the English Monarch. In our country, our constitution by its liberal nature is neutral toward God and Christian doctrine. Our Constitution does not declare God's sovereignty but man's sovereignty.

We urge Catholics to take pride in their heritage, ask for these days off and praise God. Catholics, united, can bring back God into the national consciousness through prayer, faith, and simply, en masse, refuse to go to work these days.

Believe it or not, Catholics in New England were influential enough to compel Protestant Massachusetts in the 1700’s to declare Christmas a holiday. Before that time a Catholic had to work on Christmas. Catholics can make a difference.

Praise God.

Motu Proprio

The Apostolic Letter

“Motu Proprio data”

Summorum Pontificum

of His Holiness Pope

Benedict XVI

English translation © 2007 Br. Alexis Bugnolo


The Supreme Pontiffs’ care has been, now and ever, that Christ’s Church would offer a due worship of the Divine Majesty, « to the praise and glory of His Name » and « for the utility of His entire Holy Church ».

From time immemorial just as even unto the future, the principle to be kept is « in accord with this that each particular Church ought to concord with the Universal Church not only in regard to the doctrine of the Faith and the sacramental Signs, but even in regard to the uses universally accepted by Apostolic and continuous Tradition, which are to be observed not only to avoid errors, but even to hand down the integrity of the Faith, because the Church’s law of praying may respond to Her law of believing ».1

Among the Pontiffs, who employed such a due care, the name of Saint Gregory the Great stands out, who cared to transmit to the peoples of Europe as much the Catholic Faith as the treasures of the worship and culture accumulated by the Romans in the preceding ages. He commanded that there be defined and conserved the form of the Sacred Liturgy as much of the Sacrifice of the Mass as of the Divine Office. He fostered most of all the monks, who serving under the Rule of St. Benedict illustrated with their life everywhere that most salubrious sentence of the Rule together with the annunciation of the Gospel, « that nothing is to be placed before the work of God » (chapter 43). In such a manner the sacred liturgy according to the Roman custom made fecund not only the faith and piety but even the culture of many nations. It is established, indeed, that the Latin liturgy in its various forms stimulated very many of the Saints of the Church in the spiritual life in all the ages of Christian history and strengthened all peoples in the virtue of religion and fecundated their piety.

5 protestants who helpped write the New Mass

Moreover so that the Sacred Liturgy more efficaciously fulfill this duty, several other Roman Pontiffs during the course of the ages expended peculiar solicitude, among whom Saint Pius V stands out, who with great pastoral study, at the exhortation of the Council of Trent, innovated [innovavit] the whole worship of the Church, took care to emend the liturgical books and « restore [instauratorum] them to the norm of the Fathers » and granted to the Latin Church that they be used.

Among the liturgical books of the Roman Rite it is clear that the Missale Romanum stands forth, which grew up in the City of Rome, and assumed (its) forms gradually with the passing of ages, which (books) have a great similarity to that in force in more recent generations.

« Which same proposal with the progress of time the Roman Pontiffs have pursued, when they accommodated the liturgical books of the rite to, or determined them for, new times, and (when) they then at the beginning of our century embraced (their) now more ample restoration [redintegrationem] ».2 Thus, indeed, did Our Predecessors Clement VIII, Urban VIII, St. Pius X,3 Benedict XV, Pius XII and Bl. John XXII act.

Moreover, in more recent times, the Second Vatican Council expressed the desire, that due observance and reverence would again be restored [instauraretur] toward divine worship and that it would be adapted to the necessities of Our age. Moved by which desire, Our Predecessor the Supreme Pontiff, Paul VI, approved for the Latin Church the restored and partially innovated liturgical books in the year 1970; which having been converted into the very many vulgar tongues of earth, were received by the Bishops and priests and faithful willingly. John Paul II, recognized the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. Thus the Roman Pontiffs have worked so that « this liturgical edifice » might appear « again splendid in dignity and elegancy ».

4

But in some regions not a few of the faithful adhered and continued to adhere with great love and affection to the antecedent liturgical forms, which imbued their culture and spirit so profoundly, such that the Supreme Pontiff, John Paul II, moved by the pastoral care of these faithful, conceded in the year 1984, by the special Indult “Quattuor abhinc annos”, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, the faculty of using the Missale Romanum of John XXIII, published in 1962; moreover in the year 1988 John Paul II again, with the Apostolic Letter “Ecclesia Dei”, given as a Motu Proprio, exhorted the Bishops to employ such a faculty broadly and generously in favor of all the faithful petitioning for it.

With the pressing prayers of these faithful pondered over for a long time by Our Predecessor John Paul II, (and) heard also in the Consistory held by Our Father Cardinals in the month of March of the year 2006, being all maturely pondered, having invoked the Holy Spirit and confiding in God’s help, we decree with the present Letters Apostolic those (things) which follow:

Article 1. Let the Missale Romanum promulgated by Paul VI be held as the ordinary expression of the “Law of prayer” of the Catholic Church of the Latin Rite. But let the Missale Romanum promulgated by St. Pius V and published anew by Bl. John XXIII be held as the extraordinary expression of the same “Law of prayer” of the Church and let it enjoy due honor on account of its venerable and ancient use. Let these two expression of the Church’s “law of praying”, lead, least of all, to a division in the Church’s “law of believing”; for they are two uses of the unique roman rite.

Next, it is licit that one celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass, according to the typical edition of the Missale Romanum promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in the year 1962 and never abrogated,* as the extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. However, the conditions established by the antecedent documents, “Quattuor abhinc annos” and “Ecclesia Dei” for the use of this Missale, are substituted as follows:

Article 2. In Masses celebrated without the people, any catholic priest of the latin rite, whether secular or religious, is able to use either the Missale Romanum published by Bl. John XXIII in the year 1962, or the Missale Romanum promulgated by the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI in the year 1970, and indeed on any day, except the Sacred Triduum. For such a celebrated according to one or the other Missal, the priest needs no permission [nulla licentia], neither from the Apostolic See nor from his own Ordinary.

Article. 3. If the communities of the Institutes of consecrated life and of the Societies of apostolic life of pontifical or diocesan right desire to have a celebration of the Holy Mass according to the edition of the Missale Romanum promulgated in the year 1962, in their own oratories, as a conventual or communal celebration, it is licit for them. If each community or the whole Institute and/or Society wants to perform very frequently and/or permanently such celebrations, let the matter be discerned by the major superiors according to the norm of law and their own particular laws and statutes.

Article 4. The Christian faithful, who ask for this on their own initiative, can also be admitted to the celebrations of the Holy Mass which were (spoken of) above in Article 2, having observed what is to be observed according to the law

Article 5, §1. In the parishes, where a gathering [coetus] of the faithful exists (who) adhere uninterruptedly to the antecedent liturgical tradition, let the pastor freely [libenter] take up their petitions to celebrate the Holy Mass according to the rite of the Missale Romanum published in the year 1962. Let him see that good of these faithful be harmonized with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the rule of the bishop according to the norms of canon 392, by avoiding discord and by fostering the unity of the whole Church.

§ 2. The celebration of the Missal of Bl. John XXIII can take place on ferial days; but on Sundays and Feasts there can also be one celebration of this kind.

§ 3. With the faithful or priests asking for this, let the pastor permit celebrations, in this extraordinary form even in additional particular (circumstances), such as are weddings, funerals and occasional celebrations, v. g. pilgrimages.

§ 4. Priest using the Missale of Bl. John XXIII, ought to be fit and (ought) not be impeded.

§ 5. In churches, which are neither parochial nor conventual, there is a conceding of permission concerning what was (mentioned) above to the Rector of the Church.

Article 6. In Masses according to the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, celebrated with the people, the Lectiones can be proclaimed also in the vernacular tongue, by using the editions (of the readings) recognized by the Apostolic See.

Article 7. Where any gathering of the lay faithful, does not obtain from (their) pastor by a petition made in accord with Article 5, § 1, let the diocesan Bishop make certain of the matter. The Bishop is eagerly asked to hear out their wish. If he cannot provide for a celebration of this kind, le the matter be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.

Article 8. The Bishop, who wants to provide for petitions of this kind by the Christian lay faithful, but who is impeded on account of various causes, can commit the matter to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, which will give him counsel and assistance.

Article 9, § 1. The pastor, likewise, having considered all (things) well, (and) having been persuaded to it for the good of souls, can concede permission to use the more ancient ritual in the administration of the sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, Penance and the Anointing of the Infirm.

§ 2. Moreover the faculty is conceded to the Ordinaries, (who) have been persuaded to it for the good of souls, of celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation by using the ancient Roman Pontifical.

§ 3. It is allowed to clerics constituted in sacred (orders) to use also the Roman Breviary promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in the year 1962.

Article 10. It is allowed to the Ordinary of the place, if he would judge it opportune, to erect a personal parish according to the norm of canon 518 for celebrations according to the more ancient form of the roman rite or to nominate a rector and/or chaplain, having observed what is to be observed according to the law.

Article 11. The Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, erected by John Paul II in the year 1988,5 continues to fulfill its duty.

Which Commission is to have the form, duties and norms of acting, which the Roman Pontiff willed to attribute to it.

Article 12. The same Commission, besides the faculties which it already enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Apostolic See, by being vigilant for the observance and application of these dispositions.

On the other hand, we command that all these, whatsoever has been decreed by Us in these Letters Apostolic, given as a Motu Proprio, be firm and ratified and (we command that they) be observed from the 14th day of September of this year, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, not withstanding any contrary things.

Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, on the 7th day of the month of July, in the year of Our Lord 2007, in the third (year) or our Pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI.

[1] Institutio generalis Missalis Romani, Editio tertia, 2002, 397
[2] Ioannes Paulus Pp. II, Litt. ap. Vicesimus quintus annus (4 Decembris 1988), 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899.
[3]Ibid.
[4]S. Pius Pp. X, Litt. Ap. Motu proprio datae Abhinc duos annos (23 Octobris 1913): AAS 5 (1913), 449-450; cfr Ioannes Paulus II, Litt. ap. Vicesimus quintus annus (4 Decembris 1988), 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899.
[5] Cfr Ioannes Paulus Pp. II, Litt. ap. Motu proprio datae Ecclesia Dei (2 iulii 1988), 6: AAS 80 (1988), 1498.

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* Translator’s Note: The Missale Romanum promulgated by Pope St. Pius V, by his Apostolic Constitution, Quo Primum, is only a liturgical book, as such it cannot be abrogated, because it is not a legal document. In saying, therefore, that it was “never abrogated,” H. H. Benedict XVI testifies solemnly that the Apostolic Constitution by which it was promulgated remains in force with all its effects, thus clarifying the great confusion sown by the enemies of the Apostolic See and the partisans of discord, who falsely claimed and claim that the Apostolic Constitution, Missale Romanum of Pope Paul VI, touched the Apostolic Constitution of he saintly predecessor, and in some manner either totally or in part abrogated, derogated, or obrogated it.
In this the present Holy Father, Benedict XVI, affirms the immemorial principle of interpreting Papal pronouncements: what is not explicitly mentioned is not enacted, abrogated, derogated, or obrogated. It also refutes the erroneous opinion published by the Congregation for Divine Worship