Celebrating 57 Years of Marriage

Last Sunday, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Larry and I celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary.  How we got here so fast is a puzzle. It seems like yesterday we were making our vows at my parents' parish, St. Augustine in Elkridge, MD. Sunday was drizzily and chilly unlike that glorious October 4th in 1969 which was sunny and warm. I'll never forget my dad's toast wishing us the combined fertility of both families. I was one of 11, ten living; Larry was one of 11, nine living. Needless to say there was plenty of laughter in the room.

Will the Real Protestants Please Stand Up! (Hint: It's NOT the SSPX.)

What's coming down the pike in the Church? New crises! The Prayerful Posse looked at several serious issues related to the synodal process that will protestantize the Church. In some of the situations there is a profound lack of truth, particularly the spin on illegal immigration about "welcoming immigrants" without distinguishing between those who come in lawfully and those who enter as invaders.

Virginians, Be Informed! Vote NO on all three Constitutional Amendments!

Does God Have a Sense of Humor? Two priests leave the SSPX; Two Diocesan Priests Affiliate

I think all faithful Catholics lament the serious problems we're facing these days in the Church. But sometimes I can't help but laugh and shake my head over current events. The Vatican often seems clueless about what's happening. I watched jounalist Diane Montagna's talk at the Catholic Identity Conference livestream yesterday and the panel following with fellow Vatican journalist Edward Pentin. They give a balanced view of both the good and bad happening in Rome. If you want trustworthy sources check out their substacks. I've hotlinked on their names.

Starting Advent Early with St. Alphonsus Liguori

I'm a big fan of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. What a prolific writer he was. Every Catholic could benefit from having him for a friend and intercessor. His statement, "By the grace of God I have never confessed having acted from passion," gives me a twinge. Would that I could say that. But I have a friend in heaven to ask for help! I have no doubt he will respond to my request because he had such zeal to save souls. 

Is the Underground Church in China in Schism? Are It's Newly Consecrated Bishops Excommunicated?

In September, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), the official church in China, ordained its 18th bishop under the secret Sino-Vatican agreement signed in 2018 and renewed several times including for four more years in 2024. Pope Leo approved the move. 

At the same time, Chinese expert Anthony Clark revealed a contact from an underground Chinese prelate that the underground church has ordained ten new bishops. The Catholic Herald's Michael Haynes reported on it last month:

Welcome Gen Z! May You Help Renew the Face of the. Earth!

Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) is getting a lot of attention these days because they are a big blip on the Return to the Catholic Church graph. I recently read an article that said the primary attraction to the Church for Gen Z-ers is miracles - not the Traditional Latin Mass or the smells and bells, or the reverence or fellowship, etc., but the miracles.