Defend the Faith from the Foxes in the "Henhouse!"

My husband and I go out every night to supervise our chickens while they free range for an hour. We used to let them out all day until one disappeared. When we saw a fox later prowling around the coop, we decided that poor Pidgie ended up in the fox's belly. Now we are the evening guardians while we pray our rosary and do some spiritual reading together. (Our evening activity is a metaphor for what the laity must do these days to defend the flock from the foxes and wolves invading the coop. Unfortunately, many who remain theologically true shepherds often will not act out of fear of reprisal. Thank God for the few, like Bishop Strickland, who will.)

G.K. Chesterton, Our Model for Engaging in a "Boisterous Argument with [our] Times!"

I was recently reading an article on Chesterton. With my dimwitted memory I can't remember the author, but he made such an interesting statement I think I will remember it forever. He wrote that Chesterton engaged in a "boisterous argument with his times." Everything Chesterton said or did was bigger than life, so of course, his arguments would be "boisterous." But they were never mean or ugly or bitter and always, like Socratic dialogue, were a search for truth. 

On the Silence of the Pastors: Where Have All the Shepherds Gone?

 Many voices lately are lamenting the silence of the pastors. Some of them are high profile. We've certainly heard it for several years now from Archbishop Vigano. (Check out the new Vigano page in the index on the right. Everything he says is worth reading.) But a more surprising source popped into the news in the past few days. Catholic actor Jim Caviezel blasted the silent shepherds who have allowed our churches to be closed with nary a word of protest. 

Need Encouragement and Hope? Watch this! The Catholic Future is in Good Hands!

My friend Janet at Restore D.C. Catholicism posted this video the other day. Thanks so much, Janet. As Catholics, we have great hope! The Lord is raising up warriors among the young. Like Don John of Austria who led the Catholic League at Lepanto (he was only 24), Alexander is in his 20s and filled with the spirit of zeal for God's house. How pleased the Lord must have been when he gathered up the idols from the church and threw them in the river. Watch the video and praise God! Support the front line warriors with your prayers and actions. Why not write a letter to your bishop today asking him to ask all the parishes in the diocese to offer a Mass in reparation for the desecration in Rome! Oh, and by the way, for a rousing poem about battling the enemy read Chesterton's ode to Don John in Lepanto. Everywhere Chesterton uses "Don John" substitute "Alexander Tschugguel." Hmmm...it might be fun to use Chesterton for a model and write a poem about Alexander and Pachamama! I might try it just for fun.

 Our Lady, Scourge of the Demons, pray for us!

Fr. Spadaro and the Long Knives for Raymond Arroyo!

My colleague at Restore D.C. Catholicism has a great post on Fr. Spadaro's attack on Raymond Arroyo.

Father Spadaro Points Long Knives At Raymond Arroyo - Call Him Out On It

Spadaro retweeted a silly Twitter post calling for EWTN to be put under interdict unless they fire Arroyo for daring to criticize some of the appalling swill being brewed at the Vatican. Really...the vindictiveness of these clerics staggers the imagination. They strain at the gnat of orthodoxy and swallow whole the camel of heresy. I posted on Spadaro awhile ago pointing out how disingenuous he is. That seems to be a common quality of FOF (Friends of Francis).

The Treason of the Catholic "Nice Guys"

The Church will --
through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Editor's Note: This is the main article from the current issue of the Les Femmes newsletter. It's not posted on line yet; I'm offering this as preview. I am on retreat this week and scheduled the article to post before I left. No comments will be posted, however, until I return on Saturday. So if you comment please be patient. 

I will be computer and phone-free this week and will moderate all comments when I return. I'm praying for the intentions of my readers during this five-day silent retreat. I would appreciate your prayers as well.

A Message from One of My Heroes: Bishop Rene Gracida Calls the Laity to "Rise Up" -- Literally!

If we don't do it, "the Church is doomed." What are you doing, laity, to defend the faith? Note what Bishop Gracida says about mercy (beginning at minute 4:48). Mercy is not the essential attribute of God as the Kasperites say. "The essential attribute of God is love....We are in a crisis comparable to the Arian heresy." St. John says, "God is love, not God is mercy." Bishop Gracida calls the laity to rise up and say to our heretical shepherds, "NO! That is not true." If heresy is preached from the pulpit the laity should rise up and say, "NO!" A priest will think twice about preaching heresy again out of fear another courageous person in the pew will stand up and resist.  Listen to the entire interview at Church Militant.

Fear Not! Our Twelve Star General is Leading Us.

An anonymous reader left a long quote from Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich on my post about the Synod. These two visions reminded me that, although we are war with the world, we have a general leading us in whom we can place all our confidence. So fear not. The worst that the world can do is kill us, and if we die for the faith, we have a direct, non-stop ticket to heaven. Follow the advice of Padre Pio: "Pray, hope, and don't worry."

April 12, 1820: "I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people were splitting into two camps."

October 22, 1822: "Very bad times will come when non-Catholics will lead many people astray. A great confusion will result. I saw the battle also. The enemies were far more numerous, but the small army of the faithful cut down whole rows (of enemy soldiers). During the battle, the Blessed Virgin stood on a hill, wearing a suit of armor. It was a terrible war. At the end, only a few fighters for the just cause survived, but the victory was theirs." 

The victory is the Lord's. We have nothing to fear. Keep the faith and defend it and all will be well! Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.

Is the Deck Stacked in Favor of the "Progressives" at the Ordinary Synod on the Family?

Sure looks like it.

Here's an article with Bishop Rene Gracida's take on the appointments.

A Few Clues to the October Synod

One thing should encourage us, however. Catholic Culture points out that the Gospel reading for the start of the Synod (October 7th, the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time) contains this:

But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.

We Need Real Knights Ready to Defend the Faith!

What do you think of when you think of a "knight?" I imagine a strong man, a man of integrity and self-control, a man who loves God, his country, and his family. I think of a man ready to stand in the gap upholding truth, defending what's good and battling against evil. The Knights of Columbus was founded for exactly that -- to defend the faith and support widows and orphans. Yes, a primary focus was defending the weak and vulnerable against unjust attack and exploitation.

So when Norfolk Council 3845 invited extreme pro-abort Terry McAuliffe to be the Grand Marshal of their St. Patrick's Day Parade they betrayed everything the Knights stand for. If nothing is done about this travesty, if the council proceeds without consequences, the Knights might as well fold up their tents and go home. They have abandoned the field of battle and left it to the enemy of life. Any man who turns his back on the most vulnerable member of our human family is a coward.

But what can be done? At the bare minimum, join the effort to expel the council from the K of C. Sign the petition posted by Knight Pete Barker of Virginia Beach Council 10601. And then share it far and wide urging all your family and friends to join the effort calling the K of C back to their roots. As of this afternoon only 52 people have signed the petition. Many more would if they knew about it. Won't you pass the word?

When men act like men and take the field of battle under the banner of Christ, great things can happen. You don't need to be a knight to sign the petition. Won't you help? Call on the Virginia State Knights of Columbus to disband renegade council  3845 and restore the honor of the Knights as a courageous pro-life organization.

Vatican Prep for Next Year's Synod

Synod council urges further discussion, preparation before October 2015 meeting

Vatican prep for next year's Ordinary Synod

Those of us who love the Bride of Christ must also be preparing for the Synod by daily prayer for the participating bishops and for all the activities going on, especially by dissent groups agitating for change. We are in a crucial time for the Church and many of our clerical leaders have a questionable agenda. 

It would be fruitful to read about Church politics and intrigue in the 13th century when Catherine of Siena was so busy trying to bring peace and unity to the Church. I just listened to Sigrid Undset's biography of the great saint and Doctor of the Church on tape. It is considered the best modern biography of St. Catherine. 

Many of Catherine's experiences and battles for the Church reminded me of our own time. She was a fearless defender of the faith who spoke the truth to power. Of course she first engaged in heroic prayer and fasting in preparation for her "bridegroom's" instructions to her. 

I heartily recommend the book and urge you to pray for the Synod through St. Catherine's intercession. 

Two Important Messages from The Vortex: Know the enemy and defend the faith!

All faithful Catholics need to recognize what is happening in the Church and what we can do about it. Michael Voris is speaking prophetically in these two episodes of The Vortex. Know and defend the truth. If that means naming names and "unmasking the enemies," do it! As Voris says, many of these individuals are a "danger to your faith." Fight them.