Who Will Ordain the Priests? Anyone?

Today is, in the old calendar, the feast of Cyril and Methodius, slavic brothers who became bishops. As missionaries they were sent to catechize the slavs in the east since they spoke their language. As I was reading their story in Butler's Lives this morning I came across this:

In 863 the two brothers set out with a number of assistants and came to the court of Rostislav (Prince of Moravia); they were well received and at once got to work....The Byzantine missionaries, armed with their pericopes from the Scriptures and liturgical hymns in Slavonic, pursued their way with much success, but were soon handicapped by their lack of a bishop to ordain more priests. The German prelate, the bishop of Passau, would not do it and Cyril therefore determined to seek help elsewhere.

Thinking about Gratitude for the Three Fs: Faith, Friends, and Family

Gratitude!

I was thinking about it on Saturday while we celebrated 250 years of this great country. And how grateful I was to see all the enjoyment of the day with family and friends. What a blessing going in the pool with our little two-year-old grandson who sat on the steps and splashed with glee. What joy! What laughter! O beautiful for summer skies and little toddlers' feet!

Sunday Meditation: Be at Peace, Avoid Bitter. Zeal.

I've stopped going to several websites by Catholic authors because of the bitter tone and nasty language they use. I hate seeing Pope Leo called names (or even Cardinal Fernandez, although I use his common nickname, Tucho). There is something cringe-worthy about seeing Fernandez in lipstick and a clown nose. Perhaps my reluctance over this approach is because of my long experience as a pro-life activist. 

Of Validity and Excommunication and the Insanity of the Present Time

I have some really smart readers and how blessed I am to learn from them. In fact, I appreciate and pray for all my visitors even the trolls. They are particularly helpful to my retaining my sense of humor. 

But as for my fellow well-catechized Catholics, often I'm humbled by what they share.  So today I'm offering a few recent comments that are so smart and insightful they deserve wider viewing. Thank you to all my faithful readers for your kindness and prayers.

The first comment is about Pascal's wager. You've no doubt heard of it. Pascal defended the wisdom of living and acting as if you believe in God. You have nothing to lose (unless you consider living a virtuous life instead of a licentious one a loss). When you die, if there is no God you will be none the wiser. If there is a God and you lived the virtuous life of the believer, you go to heaven to glorify God forever. On the other hand, if you lived a sinful life ignoring God's laws, you will meet the God you didn't believe in and go to hell. Isn't the wiser course obvious?

Challenge for the Fourth of July: Read the Declaration and the Constitution

I'm giving you easy access to the Declaration. And here's a link to the Constitution. Know what you celebrate! It's not about the burgers, soda, and ice cream treats! Have a blessed 4th and thank God for this amazing country. Keep her strong and good. Pray the rosary daily!

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

When, O Lord, Will Our Weeping Turn to Joy?

Well, not only did they do it, but they are doubling down with a sledgehammer. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has released another document describing how the priests and lay faithful can reconcile with the Church now that we're excommunicated. [See document] 

I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to find the entire thing ridiculous and it smacks of Kabuki Theater or perhaps a story from Mad Magazine. Sad, yes, incredibly sad, but ridiculous as well. 

Cardinal Fernandez has stated publicly in his writings that no one goes to hell. And then he threatens with hell fire anyone who remains with the SSPX. So you can be an active sodomite, perform abortions with impunity and still be praised at the Vatican, enjoy an adulterous union, etc. Does anyone in the magisterium even mention contraception these days? But if you belong to the SSPX you are destined for hell. Don't pass go; don't collect $200.

Wow! I'm Excommunicated By My Papa...or Am I?

This photo says it all. My mom always said, "Birds of a feather flock together." So here we have the scandalous porn-writing head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith sharing an intimate moment with the pope, il papa, my daddy in the spiritual life. I'm heartbroken and shaking my head after reading the explanatory note from Fernandez. [Published at the end.]

Are We Rebels? NO! NO! NO!

I've been reading the headlines from the mainstream media about the SSPX consecrations of bishops in Econe yesterday. Over and over, they call us rebels and use words like "defy", "in defiance", "schism", "schismatic", etc. Here are some of the headlines:

New York Times: Rebel Catholic Group Consecrates 4 Bishops Risking Break with the Vatican

MSN: Pope Leo Faces First Major Crisis as Catholic Rebels Defy Him

Watching the Consecration of the New Bishops for the SSPX

Thanks to LifeSiteNews for this. You can send them a donation here. You can read my comments at my substack account. 

ÊCONE, Switzerland (LifeSiteNews) — The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is celebrating the consecrations of four new bishops today, July 1.

It's Going to Be a Hot Week; Good Time to Think about Hell

The weather report for the next week is grim: in the 90s every day but feeling over 100. Fourth of July is expected to be a scorcher here in northwestern Virginia especially if the humidity is high. Thank God for it. Miserably hot weather invites us to reflect on the reality of hell. Despite the statement of Cardinal Fernandez that everyone will be saved, they won't. And no, Bishop Barron, we cannot have a reasonable belief that all will be saved. Why would God die on the cross for the salvation of souls if, in the end, He's the Candyman who welcomes everyone at the Pearly Gates with chocolate bars regardless of the way they lived. He didn't ignore the rebellion of the angels; why would He ignore ours?