On the FSSP Chaplaincy in Front Royal and the SSPX

St. Francis de Sales advises the faithful to always put the best construction on other people's actions and the most critical on your own. So I will do that with Bishop Burbidge's decision to invite the FSSP to start a chaplaincy here in Virginia. Since it is being formed "to serve primarily in Front Royal," it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a primary purpose is to close (by attrition) the SSPX chapel currently in Linden "which remains in a state of irregular communion."

I can't read the bishop's mind but I will presume that he really does care about his diocesan flock and not just the money the diocese is losing which, in view of the on-going SSPX building fund donations, is approaching two million dollars.

The Battle of Front Royal Continues with Arrival of FSSP Chaplaincy

I've been more than a little amused at all the chortling over Bishop Burbidge establishing a  chaplaincy for the FSSP under the patronage of Our Lady of Victory. [See the announcement here.] "Isn't it wonderful? What a brave bishop! How grateful we are!"

Really? I'm sincerely grateful to Bishop Burbidge for a number of things, and I can even be grateful for this, since the only result can be to bring more people to recognize the glory of Sacred Tradition and the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). But I'm also a realist. This is the same bishop who severely reduced the availability of the TLM in accord with Traditionis Custodes. Except for the three parishes where it remains inside the church, the TLM was exiled to gyms and multi-purpose rooms where it continues. And in 2024, after renewing the indult, the three parish churches were ordered to substitute a Latin Novus Ordo (NO) for the TLM once a month. [Source] You see, it is all about "weaning" the laity away from the TLM (the Mass Pope Benedict said could not be abrogated.). We must conform to every jot and tittle of Vatican II and to the "new Mass" that grew out of it by the influence of probable Freemason, Annibale Bugnini.

Where are the Shepherds? Silence after the Murder of Charlie Kirk

One of the saddest realities since the assassination of Charlie Kirk has been the silence for the most part from our shepherds about the brutal murder of this godly man. Kirk continuously witnessed to Jesus Christ and often openly prayed for his adversaries. Of the 17 cardinals and 400+ bishops in the country only a handful have released statements on the assassination. I have also read several nasty comments from priests who, taking Kirk's statements out of context, condemn him in the same vein as the radical Democrats. He's a racist, homophobe, misogynist, yadda, yadda.... Was Charlie Kirk perfect? Of course not, but his life was clearly motivated by his love for Jesus Christ, for family, and for country.

With regard to the pope, he expressed his condolences to the American Ambassador privately, but limited his public discussion of martyrs to a homily on September 14th at an ecumenical prayer service. Only four days after Kirk's brutal slaying, the pope ignored this newly martyred Christian. Why? If he had mentioned no one by name, it would be more understandable, but he did mention several people specifically. This paragraph totally described Charlie Kirk:

Is Anyone Listening to Catholics in the Pew? GIVE US THE MASS!

Newly elected Pope Francis with St. Gallen Mafia member Cardinal Danneels (seated)

Ever since Jorge Bergoglio came out on the balcony as Pope Francis (the first of that name - poor St. Francis), we've been bombarded with words like "pastoral".... "listening".... "dialogue".... "collegiality"...."synodality"....etc. ad nauseum. Like the Big Brother ministries in Orwell's 1984, the reality is the exact opposite. There is no pastoral treatment, listening, or collegiality for those who hold fast to the perennial teachings of Holy Mother Church. All the listening goes one way. Atheists, dissenting priests and bishop, abortionists, homosexuals, Muslims, idol worshipers, etc.; they all have the ear of Pope Francis. Those who stand firm and hold the ground for the teachings of the Church Fathers are treated with derision and contempt. 

Some Questions are Well Worth Asking: I'm Happy to Find a New (to me) Blog Doing It!

“Did Bishop Burbidge Violate Canon 932 in Order to Punish His Flock?”

Of Pagan Loving Pope Francis and the Carpet Bombing of the Traditional Latin Mass

What a week!  The Holy Father was in Canada participating in pagan ceremonies, while my bishop, Michael Burbidge, was meeting with the priests of the diocese dropping the bomb on the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in obedience to the pope's apostolic letter, Traditionis Custodes (TC). 

Open Letter to Bishop Michael Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, Virginia on Access to the Traditional Latin Mass

Editor's Comment: Many bishops around the country are acting in haste to implement the illegitimate motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes, and the responsa to the dubious dubia. The shepherds have much reason to go slowly before joining a good ole boys' club (literally) to hammer the faithful for loving the holy Mass celebrated by the saints for millennia. Instead of providing a fish, many are giving us a serpent, instead of bread, a stone. They are engaged in a hopeless task, because, as Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin, if it's from God they will find themselves fighting against God. Anyone who has ever attended a Tridentine Mass can testify to the fact that it's from God. There's no question that it gives all honor, glory, and praise to our Creator through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Please join me in letting your bishop know that you want what the English martyrs wanted, the holy Mass! Let us pray and offer Masses for our shepherds!

Most Reverend Michael Burbidge,

Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington

200 North Glebe Rd. 

Arlington, VA 22203

Your Excellency:

Pray for Bishop Burbidge: He is Obviously Not Going to Question or Challenge the Right of the Pope to Abuse Us!

Virginia diocese announces massive restrictions on traditional
sacraments following Vatican crackdown

From the article:

Thu Dec 23, 2021 - 10:15 am EST

ARLINGTON, Virginia (LifeSiteNews) – A bishop in a U.S. diocese recognized for its ample provision of the traditional liturgy (Latin Mass) has become one of the first prelates to announce a ban on certain sacraments in the Old Rite, following the Vatican’s latest restrictions on the Latin Mass.

Bishop Michael Burbidge, 64, of the Diocese of Arlington sent an email to priests of the diocese December 21, in which he outlined his implementation of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments’ (CDW) December 18 document.

After the Vatican Directives, What's Next in the Diocese of Arlington for the Latin Mass?

And so it begins. 

My bishop, Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, spoke about the Vatican directive that came out last weekend in his 12/20 podcast, a portion of which I've transcribed below. The bishop won't be issuing his own implementation document until the new year, but it's pretty clear that it will be bad news for those of us who attend the "extraordinary form" at diocesan parishes, even if only occasionally. 

Larry Elder, Truth Teller Extraordinaire, and the Myth of Systemic Racism

Watch him take on Obama, who experienced privilege from the day he was born!



There is no systemic racism in America according to Larry Elder.

If there were it would be hard to explain how Obama was elected by all those systemically "racist" white voters who put him in office -- twice!

So, Once More, When Are We Going to See the McCarrick Report from the Vatican?

Are they waiting for him to die?

Remember back in the Fall of 2018 when the bishops voted on the resolution to ask the Vatican to release the documents on the misconduct of Cardinal (now Mister) Theodore McCarrick? The measure failed on a vote of 137 to 83.  My own bishop Michael Burbidge said at the time "It did not get passed, not because we don't believe this is a very serious situation and it needs to be resolved, but because the proposal was merely encouraging the Holy See to do what they have promised to do and are doing. I didn't feel a strong need to give support to that." (Source)

Weird! It's the Madhatter's Tea Party!

I visited my spiritual director today and we agreed that the times are weird. Very weird! I've
described them as "surreal." Some days I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Other days it's more like the Madhatter's tea party. Frankly, I'd like to join the dormouse and go to sleep until it's all over!

Chinese Woman Gets Slap Down from the Pope and an Ad Limina visit for Bishop Burbidge

Now what could these two events possibly have in common? Read on....



According to a tweet by Msgr. Ferrari, a priest who lives and works in Rome, the Chinese woman was begging the pope to help the Chinese people. Keep in mind that Francis threw faithful Chinese and their underground bishops under the bus in an incredible betrayal. The persecution since then has intensified even for government-appointed churches. You can see Msgr. Ferrari's tweet here. When asked who his source was, he said it was a Chinese priest working in Rome who spoke to the woman.

Two Banned Bishops "Sent to Coventry!" Not Nearly Enough!

Archbishop William Lori, Administrator of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese released a letter yesterday permanently banning two bishops from ministry there and in his home diocese of Baltimore. Bishop Michael Bransfield, former bishop of the West Virginia diocese and Bishop Gordon Bennett, S. J., former auxiliary bishop of Baltimore are accused of sexually harassing adults. Bransfield also stands accused of financial improprieties. (No surprise! He spent buckets of money in Wheeling on his own personal comforts with expensive renovations to his residence, a personal chef, wining and dining at fine restaurants, etc.)

Fr. Tom Collins: The Virginia Bishops' Statement on the Born Alive Act is Too Little Too Late!

Editor's Comment: Fr. Collins isn't the only one to weigh in on this pathetic statement by the Virginia bishops. Complicit Clergy has an article titled Sorry Boys, We are WAY Past the Point of Press Releases. As a member of the Diocese of Arlington, I'm angry! When Trump tried to implement a ban on people from terrorist countries threatening our security, Bishop Burbidge didn't just issue a press release. He went out to Dulles Airport to support the protestors many of whom carried anti-Trump signs showing exactly where they fall on the political spectrum.