The Church Teaches the Social Kingship of Christ IN THIS WORLD!

Jesus said, "All power is given to Me on heaven and on earth!" We must bend the knee to Christ in this life because he rules over us! The constant teaching of the Church is that states must submit to the rule of Christ the King. Viva Cristo Rey!

He Has Risen As He Said....Alleluia!

Have a blessed Easter basking in the joy of the resurrection. Glory to God in the highest!

Fra Angelico (Italian, ca. 1395–1455), Noli me tangere, 1440–42.
Fresco from the convent of San Marco, Florence, Italy.

A Holy Saturday Sermon from St. John Chrysostom

He descended into hell by Gustave Dore (1832-1883)

I'm breaking my Holy Week silence a few hours early to share a wonderful Holy Saturday sermon sent to me by a dear friend and colleague who used to sidewalk counsel with me at an abortuary in Alexandria next door to Bishop Ireton High School. May it lead us all to a greater sense of gratitude for Christ's monumental event of salvation. The patriarchs and faithful of the Old Testament waited thousands of years to be released from their dark prison as they looked toward the coming of the Savior. May we pray in profound gratitude today and sing Hosannah with them for our release from the devastating consequences of sin!

Transgender Children in the Making

Back when a man was a man and a woman was a woman

Last week I was invited to go with friends to Big Sky, Montana, to their condo at the ski resort. I don't ski but the younger people did while my friend and I (we've known each other since nursery school at age 3 in Old Orlando) sat in the restaurant sipping wine. One day we all took the ski lift to the top of the mountain and ate "linner" (lunch/dinner). Later for dinner we had popcorn, blueberries and cheese. One night after a real dinner of elk ribs we went to the bar next door and had fireball shots. I'd never had those before...they taste like cinnamon. Each night in the evenings everyone played the game of Sequence.

Holy Week: Pick Up Your Cross and Follow the Lord!

Simon Helps Jesus to Carry the Cross -- Titian c.1490-1576

This Lent I made Suffering with a Purpose: How to Turn Failures into Victories and Pain Into Joy, part of my daily meditation. Each chapter focuses on a Station of the Cross. A first reading offered so much food for thought that I began re-reading the book as soon as I finished it. The author, Fr. Hubert Van Zeller, has been like Dante's Virgil to me. I will be praying for him this Holy Week in thanksgiving for his wonderful work of God.

Bishop Schneider: Fiducia Supplicans "is an insult to reason....an abuse."

The first subject discussed in the video below is Fiducia Supplicans, the magisterial document on blessing homosexual and other "couples" in mortally sinful "unions." According to Bishop Schneider, we must protest respectfully and ask the pope to retract the document. 

The interview is amazing. I recommend it. Bishop Schneider is one of the most important and courageous voices in the Church today. He warns us that, "The enemies are not sleeping. The good ones they are sleeping and the enemies are awake and very busy to promote their agenda."

True Confessions from an Addict - Part 2

Read part 1.... 

Certainly, games that glorify killing police are immoral like one I won’t name that shows an officer in a uniform like those worn by Chicago police. The officer is brutally murdered after begging for his life. Other games that offer “decision points” where the player can choose to engage in realistic sodomy or fornication are also sinful. But there is nothing wrong with playing Scrabble on-line any more than pulling out the board and the letter tiles. The question is, do gamers make entertainment an idol?

TRUE CONFESSIONS FROM AN ADDICT - Part 1

From The Truth Vol. 28 #4 Winter 2023-2024, the Les Femmes newsletter  

by Mary Ann Kreitzer

I have a confession to make. I’m an addict. One night recently I spent about four hours feeding my addiction. Every time I finished one hit, I told myself to stop, but I didn’t. “This is ridiculous!” I kept telling myself. But then I started up again. How many fellow addicts imitate me? Probably millions, maybe hundreds of millions.

St. Joseph, Pillar of Families, Pray for Us!

St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, as depicted by one of my favorite artists,
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 - 1682). St. Joseph, please pray for our families.

 

Sunday Meditation: Need Patience? Contemplate your Savior Scourged at the Pillar!

Flagellation of Christ by Rubens (1577-1640)

“If you need patience...contemplate the mystery of your Saviour scourged at the pillar.

Some people major in the minors over modesty!

I'm a big fan of Dymphna's blog, especially her random thoughts posts. This item caught my eye recently:

A priest posted a photo of his 90 year old mother and asked for prayers because she passed away. One person complained that the mother was wearing pants and chastised the loving son for showing an immodest photo. My brothers, if you experience temptation looking at a 90 year old woman I suggest that you step away from the Internet, possibly forever for any reason other than work, and get yourself to the nearest priest for spiritual guidance because ....something aint right.

I didn't see the picture, but I doubt a 90 year old woman was wearing skin tight pants with a plunging neckline top. 

How Can You Identify a Bad Bishop? Sometimes it's Easy!

 Gustavo García-Siller

Unfortunately, we have numerous examples of bad bishops in this country. That sad situation leads me to shake my head ruefully while reading the quote attributed to St. John Chrysostom:

The road to Hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path.

Two weeks ago I did a post about the Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo García-Siller, persecuting a good Catholic family and essentially trying to destroy their retreat center (their livelihood) by banning any diocesan events there. It led to groups violating their contractual obligations, an obvious serious moral violation against the eighth commandment, especially with no evidence of wrongdoing. The archbishop violated every Catholic admonition on how to handle disagreements. If you have a mind to, you can read the original post:

Is there no limit on the injustice bishops are willing to inflict on faithful Catholics?

For all the moms and grandmoms walking the Martha path

I had to laugh this morning as I was reading chapter seven of Fr. Scupoli's Treatise on Peace of Soul. He wrote that we should "remain in a state of perfect self-denial like Mary at the feet of Jesus, instead of busying ourselves with many things like Martha."

Put First Things First: Love God and Maintain Your Peace of Soul!

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

One of the books I use for regular spiritual reading highly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (c.1530-1610). My edition contains an additional work by the priest, Treatise On Peace of Soul. Along with Imitation of Christ, Imitation of Mary, Humility of Heart, and, of course, holy scripture; Fr. Scupoli's books offer a rich feast for meditation.

Our first duty is love of God. Nothing takes precedence over that: not love of spouse, love of children, or apostolic work. Part of that duty is maintaining our peace of soul. And so I offer the following as a thought for the day. I will be reflecting on it during my adoration hour this afternoon as I pray the Stations of the Cross:

God does not dwell in a soul which He does not first inflame with a love of Him and charity for others; for Christ Himself said He came to set the world on fire.

What Kind of Deep Hell Is This?

The Burning Up of God's Image

The Earthly Trinity, the Image of God on earth in which man participates in creation, is the FAMILY - MAN/WOMAN/CHILD. The FAMILY is made in God's Image. 

We've all heard of lesbian "families" but this one is particularly horrifying. As a true story, it's a living example of the demonic destruction of God's Image. 

Let's call our lesbians Mindy and Dee...

What happens when universities abandon the pursuit of truth and instead....

...are "securing brutalism in the world that they were founded to oppose?"

It's a question raised by Jeffrey Tucker in an article in the Epoch Times titled, What Happened to Intellectual Life? In view of the investment parents make in the higher education of their children, it's an important question and Tucker's analysis is spot on.

Sunday Meditation: The Nature of Love

I recently read an article about courtly love in the Middle Ages that began, "Love is the universal feeling." (my emphasis) Is that an accurate statement? If it is, then -- can one also say that "hate" is a universal feeling...or anger...or the desire for vengeance? 

St Issam of Egypt and Companions - 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya

                                        St Matthew Ayariga      St Issam Baddar Samir                                

"A stopped clock is right twice a day." Bergoglio got it right with the 21 Coptic Martyrs of Libya. I can't say much for Blessed Carlo Acutis and definitely nothing for Servant of God Pedro Arrupe, SJ, but the 21 Coptic Christian men beheaded by ISIS terrorists on the beach at Sirte, Libya deserve to be known saints of the Coptic Church and, yes, of the Catholic Church as well.

Cabrini: A Worldly, One-Sided View of a Saint!

I checked out two reviews of Cabrini before deciding to go see the film for myself. One gave it a glowing review. The Catholic mom called it one of her five top movies of all times. The other, Thomas Mirus at Catholic Culture lamented the almost complete omission of any spirituality. 

Last night I went to see the film and make up my own mind.

I really wanted to like this movie; I didn't.

Flee the Cities!

4th black SE Pennsylvania mass shooting in “less than a week.”
But MSM will not report this.
But if a white person shot 4 MASS Shooting would be everywhere!

Report: 8 Wounded After 3 Suspects Open Fire at Philadelphia Bus Stop https://t.co/iPLRw0Kxgz via @BreitbartNews

— Mr.RCM10001 (@RCM9953) March 7, 2024

This was the fourth shooting in Philadelphia near or on SEPTA buses in ONE WEEK! 

Fiducia supplicans opens a priest to the demonic!

In a recent interview with LifeSiteNews, Kyle Clement, a lay associate and assistant to exorcist, Fr. Chad Ripperger, discussed the dangers of Fiducia supplicans. I've highlighted what I consider particularly important. Let us commit to prayer and fasting for priests. We need holy priests who refuse to be caught up in the insanity of our woke culture and woke cult infecting Holy Mother Church!

FROM THE INTERVIEW

Is Just War Theory Dead? Are Babies Just Collateral Damage?

Bombing of Yassin Mosque in Gaza City --
Are Churches, synagogues, and mosques appropriate targets during wars?

Regular blog visitors know that I'm a big fan of Chronicles Magazine. The January issue ran a sobering article titled Sowing the Seeds of Future Terror by Mark G. Brennan. I recommend it for anyone who is an unbridled cheerleader for Israel's response to the horrible terrorist attack of October 7th. Yes, Hamas deserves our condemnation and Israel has a right to defend herself, but do the peaceful civilians in Gaza, the babes in arms and innocent children, deserve annihilation for the sins of Hamas?

The Cowboy Career of G.K. Chesterton

(Left to right) Lord Howard de Walden, William Archer, J.M. Barrie, G.K. Chesterton and Bernard Shaw, in the middle of making the cowboy film How Men Love. From Peter Whitebrook, William Archer: A Biography

My curiosity over Chesterton continually leads me into highways, biways, and labyrinthian detours. I presented at one of our monthly Chesterton bookclub meetings on Saturday and chose a unique format which hadn't been done before. Not having time to do any serious research, I suggested that, since Chesterton had so many eclectic interests, why not have the book club members share about whatever they happened to be reading. No doubt Chesterton would have been interested in it, since he was interested in just about everything! They could choose anything at all: any genre, any author, whatever. It could even be something they were reading to their children. I love picture books as a matter of fact and, with his love for children and his childlike enthusiasm, I know Chesterton probably did too. After all, his favorite book was The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald. Not only that, but he wrote a book for children called Coloured Lands with stories, poems, and his own drawings.

Is America Collapsing Like this Ancient Barn? It's Not Hopeless!

I love Victor Davis Hanson and enjoy his columns in the Epoch Times and his interviews on TV. We don't agree about everything, but his opinions are so thoughtful and thought-provoking that I always find myself stopping to reflect as I read. The article below is one such thought-provoking, not to mention inspiring articles. Is it a metaphor for our country? I hope so, because perhaps the 1,000 years of survival mentioned by one of the contractors will be our happy fate. Let us pray for our country and all resolve to build on the strength of the past for a solid future, but always according to the will of God. May Jesus Christ be praised!

Ode to a Collapsing Barn.

By: Victor Davis Hanson

 

Part One - February 20, 2024 

Bishop Strickland's Heartfelt Plea to His Brothers in the Episcopate!

I suspect the Vatican had no idea what they were in for when they dropped the nuke on Bishop Strickland. He has become a voice of encouragement and hope for persecuted Catholics. At CPAC recently he had the courage to boldly address the evil of IVF and the terrible consequences for the millions of preborn infants abandoned in the deep freeze. How many bishops will treat that monstrous evil with the same silence they treated Humanae Vitae's condemnation of contraception? Where are the bishops with the courage of the apostles in whose footsteps they supposedly walk. Every bishop can trace his succession back to one of the apostles. Do they mirror their successor's courage and willingness to face martyrdom?

Then a few days ago Bishop Strickland released a letter to all the bishops of the world. John Henry Weston reads the letter in the video below, but I've also included the text below. Pray for Bishop Strickland and all his brothers. We need them to address the crisis in the Church and the world and prepare us for the increasing persecution. May Jesus Christ be praised.