St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Many deceivers have gone out into the world ...

Anyone who is so "progressive"
as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. -2 John 9

Works for me.

It always has.  So why do people follow those who teach something else?  

Because they want to.

So let them.

Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for
but may receive a full recompense. - 2 John

So Vigano may not be as trustworthy as people say he is?

All things considered.

ROME - Last month Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a former papal ambassador who in recent months gained global fame for publishing a statement asking Pope Francis to resign, lost a civil lawsuit against his brother over a family estate.

In an October ruling, the Civil Court of Milan sentenced Viganò to compensate his brother, Father Lorenzo Viganò, over $2 million, including interest and court costs, in a feud over their family assets. - Read more.

I wonder what the real reason is behind his bid that Francis should resign? 

Some thoughts on the stuff LGBTQ-SSA church-people do.

Ideological revolving door.

The problem with the lgbtq-ssa religious movement is the division those involved perpetuate. They all 'come out', one way or another.  One group insists they are not gay but simply have ssa, and then tell others who do say they are gay that they are heretics or not really Catholic. The 'in and outers' make judgment calls on others from within and without, depending on where they are at on any given day. That is why I say it's crazy. When those who present as spokesmen are in the spotlight, they advocate for whatever group which praises them.  They occasionally compete for the lime-light by pulling those they consider their opponents down, citing them for being too liberal or too conservative, or worse - a heretic or a wolf in sheep's clothing.

No wonder James Martin, SJ seems completely normal and reasonable to many Catholics. - and bishops.  Today bishops are taking a beating depending upon their POV regarding lgbtq-ssa ministry and outreach.  I've been critical as well.  Some bishops are addressing the problem, some even discussing banning dissident clergy from speaking in their dioceses.  That's their job.  

The point I always like to make is that the Church and the Sacraments is the ordinary way of salvation. The ordinary way of salvation is open to all. The sacraments are still efficacious - especially the sacrament of penance.  For me at least, being Catholic is enough.  

Today everyone is freaking out about gay - everything gay - especially since McCarrick was outed.  It has indeed changed everything.  We have to deal with it, without losing our confidence in God.

Things are quite out of hand.  People feed on the panic and 'observers' online provide fodder.   I noted on one site someone saying he's never heard that Pope Francis was gay.  I didn't read his post, but just that statement alone suggests he might be.  Elsewhere, another devout Catholic is worried some bishop distinguished between consensual homosexual acts between adults and predation of minors. There is indeed a difference!  Others want all gay priests laicized, even if they are chaste and celibate.  Bishops are collectively demonized and condemned.  

To be sure, there's a problem with bishops and they are limited in what they can do.  I don't know what to say or do about it either. As I noted in a comment on FB, apparently, according to online news sources, there is some sort of problem the bishops have in exercising their ministry.  Outside of that, this just sort of a rant into the wind, and far too generalized, but many people who read me will know where I'm coming from.  Maybe not.

Long story short, in and outers come back, get on a high horse, frequently point out the errors of others and gain some sort of approval and validation, and when it wanes, they jump on another bus to go where the sun shines.  It's a process, and God is merciful... and of course, who am I to judge?  

“It is consistency God wants.”

- Matt Talbot

This is what gay people put themselves through ...

In and Out.

It's sort of a sad story, but so many religious people who are SSA - or gay - go through it.

They embrace Catholic teaching with a vengeance.  They abandon Catholic teaching with equal fervor.  In and out.  I don't want to say any more - but it is something I have discussed on this blog numerous - nay, innumerable times.  It's nuts.  I get sharply criticized for talking about it as well.

Richard Evans.

I've followed him for years, his public in and out of the Catholic Church struggle...  Over the years, he has friended me and unfriended me - even blocked me, I think.

Many of you reading this are familiar with much of my journey and story. If you are, you likely know that I have had more than my share of struggles in my pursuit of Catholicism at her core. That core is chasing holiness. To quote the Baltimore Catechism, which I was raised on, in question 6 of the very 1st lesson: “Why did God make you? God made me know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” Simple and obvious, right? Yet it seems to have somewhat eluded me for over 60 years. Or to be more honest I did much of the eluding, at least in large part. 

The original story of my return to the Church in 2005, after 35 years away, is featured elsewhere, as are the struggles which have dogged me on and off for several years even after. In short, I have returned, re-returned, and re-returned yet again. Essentially, I have been converted, reverted, and rediscovered. Okay, you get it. My walk has not been in all cases exactly perfect or consistent. Not even close. 

In and Out of the Catholic Church.

That's the thing.  Although, truth be told, he never really left.

It's very difficult to disappear though.

And when one returns, it's probably more prudent not to judge other people as harshly as one may have been inclined to do before.

God bless you Richard!

Prayers for all victims of the California fires ...

Mother of God of the Unburnt Bush, Have Mercy on us!

You showed Moses, O Christ God, 

An image of your most pure Mother 

In the bush that burned yet was not consumed, 

For she herself was not consumed, 

When she received in her womb the fire of divinity! 

She remained incorrupt after her pure childbearing! 

By her prayers, O greatly merciful One, 

Deliver us from the flame of passions, 

And preserve your people from all harm!

Protection From Fire 

As we noted at the beginning, one of the primary reasons for the popular devotion to this icon stems not so much from the theology it expounds as from the belief that it is a kind of talisman against fire. This idea derives from an old folk tale: 

In ancient Russia, most houses were made of wood, and fire was an ever-present danger. One day a raging fire broke out and was consuming several buildings. An old woman was seen by someone, standing in front of her home, holding up a copy of the Unburnt Bush icon before the flames. The next morning all the houses around it were found to have been completely destroyed, but hers was completely untouched. This led to the superstitious belief that the icon was capable of preventing or extinguishing fires, a belief that became widespread throughout Russia. - Source

Mother of God, Similar to Fire, Save us!

It is entirely meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, 

Ever blessed, and spotless, and the Mother of our God, 

More honorable than the cherubim, 

And infinitely more glorious than the seraphim. 

We exalt thee who didst bear without corruption God the Word, 

Thee verily the Mother of God.

Our Lady of the Fire, Save us!

O Lord, You miraculously protected and preserved 

the image of the Mother of Your beloved Son

 from the destruction of fire. 

Grant that through her merits and intercession, 

we may escape the fire of hell 

thanks to the fire of Your love. 

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

-Source

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Deliver us!

Santo Nino del Santissimo Rosario,

spare us O Lord!

Mother Cabrini

Mother of Immigrants.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) is the Patroness of Immigrants, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the first American citizen to be canonized.

Mother Cabrini was an immigrant herself.

"So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt." - Deut. 10:19

Fr. Z Reports: Little Sisters of Mary destroyed by the Vatican Congregation for Religious

Little Sisters

Just like the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

Another group of women engaged in works of mercy has been destroyed by the Congregation for Religious. 

Some time back we learned that a group of contemplative women called the Little Sisters of Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer, in Saint-Aignan-sur-Roe, France, were being attacked by the local bishop Thierry Scherrer of Laval. 

The sisters run four old-peoples homes. They have the Novus Ordo in Latin and in 2012 adopted traditional habits. The bishop thought they were too traditional. 

Apparently now so does the Congregation for Religious under Braz Card de Aviz, who destroyed the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. - Source

What if there is more to this story than what is made public?  What if there is more to the Franciscans of the Immaculate story than what was made public.

What if there is more to the stories we circulate online?  What if there are false reports?  Just today the USCCB was asked by the Congregation of Bishops to delay discussions on a code of conduct for bishops, and many Catholics online are upset about that.  But maybe a code of conduct is the responsibility of the Vatican and the Congregation of Bishops is working on it?  The Holy Father already scheduled a special meeting on the issue for February 2019.

What if there is more to the story than we know at this time?

Protests at USCCB and Papal Nunciature

Faithful Catholics will be carrying signs ...

Things are getting desperate.  They want Cardinal Burke to be the next Archbishop of Washington.

I received this in my email today:

Papal Nunciature Demonstration in D.C. While U.S. Bishops Convene in Baltimore  Contact: Missy Smith, 202-288-4984
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- While U.S. Bishops convene in Baltimore, Devout Catholics, including victims of abuse, will gather at the Vatican Embassy in Washington D.C., imploring Pope Francis to expose and remove the homosexual/pedophile cartel that exists within the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Event Details:
Time: Monday, Nov 12, from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Location: Apostolic Nunciature, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C.
Signs will be held:

"Holy Father, Remove the Scoundrels!"
"Pope Francis: Remove the Lavender Mafia!"
"Give us Cardinal Burke in D.C.!" Background

On Monday through Wednesday (11/12 - 11/14), the USCCB (American Catholic Bishops) will be meeting in Baltimore MD.
The most onerous, and horrific "item" on the Bishop's agenda, is the recent wave of disclosures of pedophilia and homosexuality committed by Catholic Clergy.

Perhaps worse - for the victims and the Church - is the accommodation and COVER-UPS of these demonic perversions, sins, and CRIMES by American Priests and Bishops.
During their meeting, the Bishops will inevitably pay lip service to this evil behavior; they will issue a statement of "regret and reform," while in fact refusing to expose and purge their numbers of known collaborators and evildoers.

The Fires in California

CreditJustin Sullivan/Getty Images

Fire came so fast to the wooded town of Paradise, a four-hour drive north of San Francisco, that roads quickly became impassable. Many people abandoned their vehicles, and at least seven people died in their cars. Paradise is popular with retirees — the town’s median age is 50 — and the authorities struggled to evacuate older residents. At least 35 people have been reported missing. The sheriff fears that number will rise. - NYT

What is next?

Prayers for all suffering such loss from disaster and terror.  Prayers for the dead.

Armistice Day

America’s deadliest battle ever, with 26,000 U.S. soldiers killed.

100 years ago, the weather was bad - but the American offensive at Meuse-Argonne in 1918 turned out to be a great American victory that helped bring an end to World War I.

In Minnesota ...

The Fires in California

Every year, every season.

Prayers for my friends and family there - and all the residents.  Especially those most in need, those  losing home, property and possessions - even their lives.  

Living Stones

What does it mean?

What does the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica mean for an ordinary Christian?  

The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple

You are God's building...

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,
that my name may be there forever. - Today's Readings

Be very careful and be attentive to your angel ...

Be attentive to him and heed his voice.
Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin.
My authority resides in him.

There is a lot of talk about having two churches.  A bad pope.  A bad council.  A bad Mass.

Don't believe them.  That is what they wanted you to believe all along.  There is no such thing as two churches.  There is One Church.  One Faith.  One Baptism.  There is no such thing as a small church, a remnant.  We are living stones of One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Year by year you sanctify the Church, the Bride of Christ,
foreshadowed in visible buildings,
so that rejoicing as the mother of countless children,
she may be given her place in her heavenly glory. - Preface: The Mystery of the Church

"Realize that your soul is the temple of God - it is St. Paul who teaches this. At every moment of the day and night the three Divine Persons are living within you." - Elizabeth of the Trinity

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

St. John Paul emphasized:

"The saints, in particular,

are precious stones

of that spiritual temple."

The gunman who massacred 13 people at a country music bar ...

Ian Long, 28, the gunman who opened fire

 on Borderline Bar and Grill 

in Thousand Oaks, California.

Tattooed trenchcoat-wearing decorated ex-Marine, 28, is identified as gunman who massacred twelve people during student night at country bar: Suspect killed himself after hurling smoke grenades onto dance floor and slaying cop in California ...

Long had modified his legally purchased handgun so that it could hold more rounds.

'The handgun is designed to hold 10 rounds and one in the chamber. This weapon did have an extended magazine on it. - Source