Join in the St. Andrew's Christmas Novena.

Today begins the traditional Christmas novena to St. Andrew. Rather than the usual nine days, it lasts for 25, but what a blessed opportunity to get to know St. Andrew better. I hope you'll join me in praying it until Christmas. St. Andrew is one of my favorite saints. I want him to bring me to Jesus like he did with his brother, St. Peter. Benedictus has a wonderful meditation in this month's issue. I'll share just a bit:

Give thanks for good and holy priests who are willing to suffer for the truth!

As I was reflecting on the things for which I'm thankful this year, the faces of good and holy priests passed through my mind like a slideshow of sanctity. Some of them are gone now to their heavenly reward: Fr. John Hardon, Fr. James Buckley, Fr. Robert Bradley, Fr. Hugh Monmonier I pray for them and to them. If they are in Purgatory they need my prayers and sacrifices. Whether they are in Purgatory or Heaven, I need their prayers. They were faithful spiritual guides here on earth. I need their continued guidance now more than ever.

One living priest who I pray for often is Fr. Gordon MacRae. I hope this Advent you will make him a companion on the journey by reading his blog and praying for him. I wrote this post last May. I repeat it here as a reminder that often adherence to the truth requires courageous suffering. Let us embrace sacrifices in Advent for the sake of our own souls and the conversion of our poor world.

Fr. Gordon MacRae and Beyond These Stone Walls

Down the Rabbit Hole: I'm Reading the Final Document from the Synod on Synodality!

Within two paragraphs of starting to read the final document from the Synod on Synodality, I found myself laughing ruefully and shaking my head. Are these folks serious? Pope Francis says we all have to accept the document and the bishops must implement its recommendations because it “participates in the ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter....as an authoritative orientation for her life and mission.”

Give Thanks Where It's Due!

Not to the Indians...not to the pilgrims...but to God! May Jesus Christ be praised! Have a lovely day with family and friends thanking God for everything!

 

Take a Break from Thanksgiving Prep to Read This!

Fr. Gordon MacRae's website, Beyond These Stone Walls, is a treasure. And his post on the First Thanksgiving, linked below, is fascinating. I thought I knew "the rest of the story" from years of celebrating Thanksgiving and reading about its beginning. But Fr. MacRae's article cast new light that set me reflecting on God's amazing and often bewildering Providence. 

It is little wonder that Catholics struggled to be accepted in the New World often in colonies forged by anti-Catholic Englishmen. The Pilgrims were among the worst. And yet, a Catholic Indian, prepared by God, saved their little colony from extinction. 

Read the article. It doesn't disappoint. And pray for Fr. MacRae, unjustly imprisoned for thirty years in a modern witch hunt that brings to mind the Salem Witch Trials. 

Give us the grace, Lord, to be thankful tomorrow and every day, especially for the crosses in our lives and the angels you send to help us in our times of greatest need.

The True Story of Thanksgiving: Squanto, the Pilgrims, and the Pope

"What Are You Doing? Pray!" Are You Praying and Sacrificing for the Incoming Administration?

Before Our Lady visited Fatima, the Angel of Peace appeared three times to the little shepherd children: Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. On his second visit he chided the little ones, saying, “What are you doing? You must pray! Pray a lot! The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs on you. You must constantly offer your prayers and sacrifices to GOD, the Most High."

Sunday Meditation: "Take up your cross and follow me."

As a member of the Church Militant (not the Church Milquetoast), I believe in studying warriors' manuals. One of them is The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, a 16th century priest. The book was a favorite of St. Francis de Sales, master of the spiritual life, who carried it in his pocket and read from it every day. He also recommended it to his spiritual sons and daughters. One can't go wrong with such an effective manual for fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil.

What Can We Do to Respond the Crisis in the Church?

The Crisis in the Church series is well worth watching. This is one of my favorite episodes.

 

Digital Viral Slop!

Escape the screen.
Take a walk in the woods!

The Gab CEO sent out an interesting article a few days ago: JOMO, The Joy of Missing Out. The article was a reflection on the amount of time and attention we give to our computers, phones, and other digital devices. The joy comes from "missing out" on the digital viral slop that consumes so much of our time and energy. Here's a bit from the article which has convinced me to stop playing any internet games during Advent and to limit my exposure to the ubiquitous screen:

Research shows that excessive information consumption can lead to psychological stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue. This constant bombardment of information through various digital channels can overwhelm our cognitive capacities, making it difficult to process and evaluate the information effectively. The inability to filter and process the overwhelming amount of data can result in difficulty making decisions, decreased productivity, and a general sense of being overwhelmed.

The Lame Duck Legacy of Joe Biden: Will it be World War iII?

Joe Biden's dementia is downright dangerous. Throughout the Ukraine/Russia conflict, he has stated over and over what the U.S. won't do to escalate the war. Then he does it. His line in the sand is a straw blown about by the wind. Joe's latest act of aggression is to allow what he said he never would allow -- for Ukraine to use long-range U.S. missiles to strike deep into Russia. Their use of these missiles involves the U.S. directly because Ukraine doesn't have the guidance capability. So we can't claim non-involvement anymore than a person helping a kid aim a gun and helps pull the trigger! Really, Joe, how is that not an act of war by the U.S., i.e., one more unauthorized aggressive act of war unilaterally determined by the executive branch in violation of the U.S. Constitution.