I knew about it... but I guess there had been a media blackout?

What?

Breaking News:  Media Blackout of New Nuns?  Really?

Bill Donohue released the following comments:

Aside from Deacon Greg Kandra, the Catholic News Agency, and EWTN, both the religious and secular media—including the Catholic media—have failed to report an important story that deserves wide attention: on New Year’s Day, 11 Anglican nuns from the Community of St. Mary the Virgin in England entered the Catholic Church. Moreover, a sister from another order of Anglican nuns joined with them to form a new Catholic order, the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

So why isn’t this “historic event” being publicized? Imagine the media reaction if on New Year’s Day 12 renegade Anglican nuns had held a press conference in their street clothes announcing their intent to join a dissident Catholic order so they can press for gay marriage and women priests! It would have been front-page news. And had they rented an oversized luxury bus to haul them around town, that would have been world news. But because these are humble orthodox nuns, who eschew media gimmicks, there is a news blackout. - Catholic League
 

Stop the presses!

 

 

I won't be

bound and gagged again!

 

 

 

 

 

The news blackout continues! 

CNA has the story here.

 

 

 

Too late!

I'm more Catholic than CNA!

The Devil's Final Battle

"Shifting scapegoats to suit market demand." - S. Miesel

If I was a dad and my son told me he was reading that book I would say, "Oh honey, don't get nuts!  Burn that book!  And get rid of the guns in your room while you're at it!"

Seriously.  I read it 2, 3, even 4 times and finally got rid of it.  I gave it to a fanatical friend who left the traditionalist-sedevacantist cult and returned to Wicca - thinking somehow she might snap back to the Catholic Church by realizing what sent her over the edge in the first place was screwed up.  It still didn't work.

The Devil's Final Battle is a bad book - it is faith destroying and divisive and the devil is in between the lines.  Stay away from Fr. Paul Kramer, unless you just like fiction and love conspiracy theories.  Same with the guy who wrote Windswept House... Malachi Martin.  It is fiction.  Catholics must watch out for that type of fiction - which mixes fact with fantasy - it can come back to haunt you and some of you could even mistake it for locutions some day.  You might even get paranoid enough to want to get a conceal and carry permit.  Priests can be deluded too. I will post about one soon.  In the meantime - be on your guard, this kind of crap continues to circulate online.

Recent prophecies...

Father Kramer: 'Well, here we go beyond the firm evidence of approved apparitions and into the realm of speculation. Based on the reported prophecies of a German priest, a mystic, whose veracity is attested to by another German priest I regard as utterly trustworthy, we can surmise that the year 2008 will see the outbreak of war and 2011 the Consecration of Russia and the beginning of the period of peace spoken of by Our Lady of Fatima. The period of chastisement may continue past 2011, but by 2013 the chastisement will have ended and this may be the actual year of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart' - Fr. Kramer 2006

 

"Fr. Kramer believes it is most likely that before January 6, 2013 is past, the whole world will see and experience the outbreak of World War III, which will be worse than WWI and WWII combined." - Fr. Gruner, 2012
 

 

Holy crap!

Didn't Fr. Gobbi

say something just like that?

 

 

If they only had guns.

Oh wait!  I think they did.

I watched Downtown Abbey

I know it's Downton - but saying Downtown is more fun. 

Who is old enough to remember Downtown Julie Brown? 

Who am I kidding.

No one.

To be honest Poodles, I was disappointed in the first episode of Season 3.  Too much crammed into two hours.  And I came away with a heavy feeling of foreboding as well... the feeling confirmed for me as I read a few spoilers late last night... and I couldn't sleep thinking about them.  Yes. I know who is going to die in Season 3 - I'm not happy about it.  I know what will happen to poor Thomas as well - BTW - it could have been written better.  A kiss is just a kiss you know... and men don't sneak into rooms just to have a kiss.  And who decided to cast Shirley MacLain?  Awful choice.

Though disappointed, I will watch the first episode once again to try and pull myself together and be surprised next Sunday when the new episode airs.

I was the same way with Harry Potter BTW - by the fourth book I was bored.  I'm not at all normal.

(I wrote this in my Mrs. Patmore's voice.)

If only he had a gun... the mysterious death of Fr. Kunz

In the Diocese of Madison.

I remember when this happened.  It is still very scary...

The Village of Dane, a quiet hamlet some 10 miles north of Madison, Wisconsin, welcomed March 1998 with eager anticipation. Winters in southern Wisconsin could be harsh and the hope of an early spring among area residents was almost universal. Yet, March 3rd, 1998 with its blustery winds and occasional snowflakes gave no hint of winter’s demise.

For Father Alfred Kunz, pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in the Village, the weather was of little concern as he went about his priestly duties, retiring to his room by early evening to prepare for the taping of “Our Catholic Family,” a religious talk show program based in Monroe, some 70 miles South of Dane. Leaving the rectory at 7:30P.M in the company of Lodi Priest Fr. Charles Fiore, the taping was completed by 9:00 P.M, and the two priests left Monroe shortly thereafter, arriving at St. Michaels a little before 10:00 PM.
Neither man had had time for dinner that night, and as Fr. Kunz walked away from the car, Fiore reminded him to “Get a piece of cheese or something, Al.” Kunz smiled and nodded his head, then turned away. What happened between that moment and 7:00 A.M. the next morning has remained a mystery for over eleven years.
[...]
With the appointment of Bishop William Bullock on April 13, 1993, disagreements between the new Bishop over the interpretation of Church law became commonplace, and within the year, Kunz had resigned as Judicial Vicar and was no longer a member of the Marriage Tribunal. Yet, despite his considerable differences with the head of the Madison Diocese, Kunz remained at St. Michaels Catholic Church, due, in large part to his status as a beloved priest within the Dane community.

Kunz had reportedly taken on the task of investigating several local priests and planned to report his findings to the Hierarchy on March 7, 1998. Sadly, that day would never arrive.

At 7:00 A.M. on the morning of March 4, 1998, a teacher arriving at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dane found the body of Fr. Alfred Kunz laying in the hallway of the school near the door to his living quarter. Fr. Kunz had been stabbed and his throat had been cut with an edged weapon, which had severed the carotid artery, and he had died of blood loss. All of the doors to the school were locked, and there were no signs of forced entry. No weapon was found. - Source
 

 

 

I wonder how many priests in Wisconsin have guns now days?  Going forward I'll post about a priest who collected guns and used one of them to silence his liberal accusers.  The priest had a gun on him even as he celebrated Mass...
 
 

The fall...

"Other people don't share the worldview that they are simply bit players in your universe-- and so their attitude is to dismiss you. You don't count. 

Hence the popular narcissist mantra: when I make it big, when I get discovered, then all these people will acknowledge me." - Source
 

H/T Enbrethiliel

 

Be careful not to scare people away from the Church...

We would remind people that it is the law of nature that all things must be of gradual growth. - Blessed John XXIII

Over the years, I've had a few friends who 'dropped out' of the Church.  Some left because of bad example, others left because they felt unable to live up to the perfection fellow Catholics seemed to expect of them.  As if they were expected to become saints overnight.  Indeed, some even thought they had become saints, only to crash and burn when the bubble burst.  Uber-Catholics, fiery apologists, traditional, orthodox - no longer...    

Anyway, I came across the following from Dr. Alice von Hildebrand which really surprised me, coming from her, that is.

"The most we can do is to pray to be God’s instruments. To be an instrument we must strive to live the Gospel every day and in every circumstance. Only God’s grace can give us the desire and ability to do that.

It is one of the fears I have about traditional Catholics. Some flirt with fanaticism. A fanatic is one who considers truth to be his personal possession instead of God’s gift. We are servants of the truth, and it is as servants that we seek to share it.

I am very concerned that there are “fanatical” Catholics who use the Faith and the truth it proclaims as an intellectual toy. An authentic appropriation of the truth always leads to a striving for holiness. The Faith, in this present crisis, is not an intellectual chess game. For anyone not striving for holiness, that’s all it will ever be. Such people do more harm to the Faith, particularly if they are proponents of the traditional Mass. - Dr. Alice von Hildebrand

 

I also came across this...

 

"Salvation and justice consist not in the uprooting of an outdated system, but in a well designed policy of development. Hotheadedness was never constructive; it has always destroyed everything. It has inflamed passions, but never assuaged them. It sows no seeds but those of hatred and destruction. Far from bringing about the reconciliation of contending parties, it reduces men and political parties to the necessity of laboriously redoing the work of the past, building on the ruins that disharmony has left in its wake." - Pius XII's address to Italian workers, Rome, Pentecost, June 13, 1943

If he only had a gun

Looks as if Christmas is finished.

 

 

 

There's nothing in canon law

to prohibit it.

Have yourself a merry little Russian Christmas!

Today is Christmas Eve according to the Julian Calendar.  Break out the vodka Puti!

 

The Holy Father's Homily for Epiphany 2013

The disciples "rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the name of Jesus."  (Acts 5:40ff.)

"If we defend his (the Lord's) cause, we will constantly gain others to the way of the Gospel. But, inevitably, we will also be beaten by those who live lives opposed to the Gospel, and then we can be grateful for having been judged worthy to share in the passion of Christ." - Source

I wonder if he said anything about self-defense for bishops and priests?  Or conceal and carry? 

The Epiphany: What's it mean to me?

That three kings - or really three important, well educated people, somehow knew the Messiah was to be born at such and such a time, in such and such a location, and that the leaders of Israel did not.  That is so awesome.  They followed a star to find the exact location - a light in the sky!  And then they finally showed up at the doorstep of the most despicable little hole on the planet, and with great awe, recognized their Saviour, Salvator Mundi.

Happy Christmas my friends!  Stay especially long after Communion today - to thank Our Lord for this manifestation - which is not limited in time .. he sees us amongst their retinue.  The poorer we are, the better.

If only they had a gun...

The Trappist Martyrs of Atlas

From the journals of Father Christian and Luc:

“We welcomed that Child who was born for us, absolutely helpless, and already so threatened. Afterwards we found salvation in undertaking our daily tasks: the kitchen, garden, the prayers, the bells. Day after day. We had to resist the violence. And day after day, I think each of us discovered that to which Jesus Christ beckons us. It’s to be born. Our identities as men go from one birth to another. And from birth to birth, we’ll each end up bringing to the world the child of God that we are. The Incarnation, for us, is to allow the filial reality of Jesus to embody itself in our humanity. The mystery of Incarnation remains what we are going to live.” - Fr. Christian

“I was recently reading this “pensée” of Pascal’s: “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it for religious conviction.” Here there is confusion and violence. We are in a “risky” situation but we persist in our faith and our confidence in God. It is through poverty, failure and death that we advance towards him. Heavy and devastating downpours have not curbed the violence that is infiltrating itself everywhere. Two opponents are present, one wants to hold on to power, the other seize it. They are fighting with their backs against the wall. I don’t know when or how it will all end. In the meantime, I perform my duty… Caring for the poor and the sick, awaiting for the day or the time to close my eyes. My dear friend, pray for me, may my exit from this world be done in the peace and joy of Jesus.” - Fr. Jean-Luc
 

Quotes source.
Trappist Martyrs of Atlas

Regional Mediteranean Cooking...

Fried calamari, dipped

in spicy red sauce.

Appetizer.

Recipe

For the old feast of the Circumcision...

Kat has a post up about the veneration of relics... principally, the Holy Prepuce - click here.

For more general information, go here.

I was always under the impression the devotion and veneration of this particular relic was more or less discouraged - if not forbidden in modern times.




 

 

Put me through to the Institute,

I wanna check this one out

with Christopher West.

This is actually very sad: Fellay given the run around?

Could certain Vatican officials be speaking out of both sides of their mouth?

Bishop Fellay seems to be saying that.  If true, it's scandalous.

Bishop Fellay isn't helping matters much either as he reiterates SSPX policy statements such as these:

Apparently speaking without a text, he also called the Jewish people "enemies of the church," saying Jewish leaders' support of the Second Vatican Council "shows that Vatican II is their thing, not the church's."

Bishop Fellay said he repeatedly told the Vatican that the contents of the preamble -- particularly acceptance of the modern Mass and the council as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- were unacceptable.

Bishop Fellay said Pope Benedict wrote to him, emphasizing that full recognition required the society accept the magisterium as the judge of what is tradition, accept the council as an integral part of tradition and accept that the modern Mass is valid and licit.

Bishop Fellay said, "Even in the council there are some things we accept," as well as reject, however, the group wishes to be free to say, "there are errors in the council" and that "the new Mass is evil." - CNS

 

Bishop Fellay isn't all that different from Bishop Willimason then, is he.

The smoke of Satan indeed.

I'll stick with the Pope.
 

If they only had a gun...

498 Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.

Just one batch of the many martyrs...

Although almost 500 persons, they are a small part of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.

12th Night...

Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, 1996

Sadly, I think the 12 Days of Christmas are wasted upon ... the many ...

For what it is worth, Happy Christmas.

In mediaeval and Tudor England, the Twelfth Night marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows Eve — now more commonly known as Halloween. The Lord of Misrule symbolizes the world turning upside down. On this day the King and all those who were high would become the peasants and vice versa. At the beginning of the Twelfth Night festival, a cake that contained a bean was eaten. The person who found the bean would rule the feast. Midnight signaled the end of his rule and the world would return to normal. The common theme was that the normal order of things was reversed. This Lord of Misrule tradition dates back to pre-Christian European festivals such as the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. - For more on the origins and traditions of 12th Night, go here.
 

 

Make sure that creche is down

by Monday morning.

If he only had a gun.

Once St. Seraphim was beaten so badly by robbers he almost died and had to return to the monastery to recuperate.

While living in his little hermitage, St. Seraphim once suffered greatly at the hands of robbers. Although he was physically very strong and was holding an axe at the time, St. Seraphim did not resist them. In answer to their threats and their demands for money, he lay his axe down on the ground, crossed his arms on his chest and obediently gave himself up to them. They began to beat him on the head with the handle of his own axe. Blood began to pour out of his mouth and ears, and he fell unconscious. After that they began to hit him with a log, trampled him under foot, and dragged him along the ground. They stopped beating him only when they had decided that he had died. The only treasure which the robbers found in his cell was the icon of the Mother of God of Deep Emotion (Ymileniye), before which he always prayed. When, after some time, the robbers were caught and brought to justice, the holy monk interceded on their behalf before the judge. After the beating, St. Seraphim remained hunched over for the rest of his life. - Source

Robert Hugh Benson on the death of a pope...

From tapestries by Robert Hugh Benson.

Obviously I'm not very well read.

The other day when I mentioned a contemporary Monsignor and the publication of locutions from a soul he directs, prophesying that a pope would be killed in Jerusalem, my friend who shared the story also mentioned that Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson mentioned such a scenario in his writings.  I had never read such a specific prophesy of a pope dying in Jerusalem before, although the idea of an assassination or execution of a pope is not a new one to me - and to die in Jerusalem would certainly be a great honor.  Historically there have been more than a few popes martyred.  In the 20th century a couple popes have come close: Pope Paul VI was once attacked by a man wielding a knife in the Philippines, John Paul II was shot, and Pope Benedict certainly receives death threats.  The martyrdom of a pope isn't out of the question - in fact it is indicated in the Third Secret of Fatima - an 'approved' apparition and message from heaven, deemed 'worthy of belief'.

Is martyrdom to be feared?  I'm not sure.  The early martyrs went to their deaths willingly.  Later, some saints went to mission lands with the hope of shedding their blood for Christ.  One of the earlist martyrs, Ignatius of Antioch, begged Christians not to obstruct his martyrdom.  The martyrs did not try to defend themselves from death, they didn't barricade themselves in their homes, or carry weapons to fend off attackers.  Recall how Christ reprimanded Peter to put away his sword.  My patron, Peter of Verona forgave his murderers as he lay dying, and even then, he witnessed to the Gospel by writing Credo with his blood - neither did he condemn his assailants.  So I'm not sure martyrdom is something to fear.

Even as bishops are roundly criticized and condemned for teaching on faith and morals in the public square, I'm not sure we ought to feel so sorry for ourselves or the Churchmen who resist the onslaught.  Yes we should pray for them and support them - and stand with them - but I think we should be edified and encouraged by what they suffer.  I base my assertion on something I came across in the Syllabus Of Errors condemned by Blessed Pius IX:

To the Archbishops and Bishops of Prussia concerning the situation of the Catholic Church faced with persecution by that Government....

But although they (the bishops resisting persecution) should be praised rather than pitied, the scorn of episcopal dignity, the violation of the liberty and the rights of the Church, the ill treatment which does not only oppress those dioceses, but also the others of the Kingdom of Prussia, demand that We, owing to the Apostolic office with which God has entrusted us in spite of Our insufficient merit, protest against laws which have produced such great evils and make one fear even greater ones; and as far as we are able to do so with the sacred authority of divine law, We vindicate for the Church the freedom which has been trodden underfoot with sacrilegious violence. That is why by this letter we intend to do Our duty by announcing openly to all those whom this matter concerns and to the whole Catholic world, that these laws are null and void because they are absolutely contrary to the divine constitution of the Church. In fact, with respect to matters which concern the holy ministry, Our Lord did not put the mighty of this century in charge, but Saint Peter, whom he entrusted not only with feeding his sheep, but also the goats; therefore no power in the world, however great it may be, can deprive of the pastoral office those whom the Holy Ghost has made Bishops in order to feed the Church of God. - Syllabus

Blessed John Paul II always encouraged us, "Be not afraid!"  The Pope leads his flock...

As for Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, perhaps I will read him.  In the meantime, two good priests have wonderful commentaries on his famous novel, "Lord of the World".  Fr. John McCloskey here.  Fr. Robert Barron here.  Check them out.

Two things I want to mention however.  Many people express surprise at how accurately late 19th, early 20th century writers 'predicted' the political, anti-religious situation of the late 20th, early 21st century.  Men can imagine and calculate such outcomes naturally, through natural intelligence and learning.  I suggest that based upon the sense John of the Cross writes in Chapter 21 of The Ascent, Bk. II, discussing God's displeasure at the quest for revelations and locutions.

   "And likewise supernatural events and happenings may be known, in
   their causes, in matters concerning Divine Providence, which deals most
   justly and surely as is required by their good or evil causes as
   regards the sons of men. For one may know by natural means that such or
   such a person, or such or such a city, or some other place, is in such
   or such necessity, or has reached such or such a point, so that God,
   according to His providence and justice, must deal with such a person
   or thing in the way required by its cause, and in the way that is
   fitting for it, whether by means of punishment or of reward, as the
   cause merits. And then one can say: At such a time God will give you
   this, or will do this, or that will come to pass, of a surety.'"
 

Likewise, people claiming locutions can be deluded, even unconsciously articulating details they have read about or heard in the course of their lifetime. John of the Cross also points out that things foretold do not always happen as we expect.

God desires not that we should wish for such visions, since He makes it possible for us to be deceived by them in so many ways.

Some spiritual persons convince themselves that their curiosity to know of certain things through supernatural means is good because God sometimes answers these petitions. They think this conduct is good and pleasing to God because he responds to their urgent request. Yet the truth is that, regardless of God's reply, such behavior is neither good nor pleasing to God. Rather he is displeased; not only displeased but frequently angered and deeply offended."  - Ascent Bk II, - Chapter 21

Christ promised not to leave us orphans and to be with us - the Church - until the end of time.  Trust him.
 

Blessed Angela of Foligno, Penitent

Pope Benedict XVI on:

"Today I would like to speak to you about Blessed Angela of Foligno, a great medieval mystic who lived in the 13th century. Usually, one is fascinated by the heights of the experience of union with God that she attained, but perhaps too little consideration is given to the first steps, her conversion, and the long path that led her from the beginning -- the "great fear of hell" -- to the goal: total union with the Trinity.

The first part of Angela's life is certainly not that of a fervent disciple of the Lord. Born around 1248 in a well-off family, she remained orphaned of her father and was educated by her mother in a rather superficial way. She was soon introduced to the worldly environments of the city of Foligno, where she met a man, whom she married at 20 and with whom she had children. Her life was carefree, so much so that she looked down on the so-called "penitents" -- very widespread at that time -- those, namely, who to follow Christ would sell their goods and live a life of prayer, fasting, the service of the Church and charity.

Some events, such as the violent earthquake of 1279, a hurricane, the age-old war against Perugia, and their harsh consequences affected Angela's life, who became progressively aware of her sins, until she took a decisive step: She invoked St. Francis, who appeared to her in a vision, to ask him for advice in view of undertaking a good general Confession. In 1285, Angela went to confession to a friar in San Feliciano. Three years later, her path of conversion took another turn: the dissolution of her familial ties. Within a few months, the death of her mother was followed by the deaths of her husband and all her children. She then sold all her goods, and in 1291, joined the Third Order of St. Francis. She died at Foligno on Jan. 4, 1309." - Finish here.

If you ever wonder what you can do in the 'New Evangelization' - try penitence - it worked for Angela.

11th Day of Christmas...

I think of medieval streets, with partiers, joyously returning home - sort of like Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet.  Yet the best night of Christmas is yet to come...

Last night however, I wanted to set fire to the discarded Christmas trees I encountered throughout the neighborhood!  The light came into the darkness and the darkness grasped it not!  I'm not nuts of course, so I didn't set any fires.  Ah! But how wonderful to be in Italy for the fires of Christmas which are lighted in the town square of hill towns... no intended reference or connection whatsoever to the Protestant custom of 11th Night - to be sure!  Awful.

Merry Christmas!  Never let it go...

Whaddya mean it's tacky?

 

What's taste got to do with it?

The men who teach in the Catholic Church.

Just a comment...

Yesterday I was reading the resumes of some of the best men in my archdiocese, the men who form our priests - their resumes are posted on the seminary website.  In researching a story, I also came across the names of some of the top Cardinals, Bishops, Monsignors and priests on the boards of institutes of formation, amongst the faculties of seminaries, on the staff of chanceries and so on.  Good, good men.  Faithful, solid men.  Most likely very holy men - I once read that a bishop is supposedly in the 'unitive way'.  I normally do not pay attention to such credentials, but it made me stop and think.  These are men with degrees and accomplishments and service longer than the longest cappa magna.  These are ordained men:  Men who have been actually appointed as teachers and pastors in the Church - canonically appointed in their vocation.

And yet we traipse around the Internet following religious personalities, clerical celebrities, as well as dubious mystics with messages of supernatural phenomenon and private opinion, as if these speak 'ex-cathedra' for the Sacred Magisterium of the Church.  

We can't even discern if the translation of a foreign news story on what the Pope actually said is accurate.  How often do blogs and Internet news portals sow doubt and confusion online?   What is the source of all the conflict in the com boxes?

Don't go to strangers. 

Support your bishops and parish priests.  As the Rule of St. Benedict says: "Thou hast placed men over our heads."

Works for me.

The Tenth Day of Christmas...

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

JESUS!  The name given by the angel before he was conceived.

John was named before he was conceived as well.

God seems to have named us - willed us - before our conception... before the begining of time - at least our entrance into it.  I may not express that thought very well - but how dare we destroy a life once conceived?

I wonder what is our name given by God? 

I suppose we will only know in heaven.

Jesus!  Be a Jesus to me.

News from the War on Christmas front:  Good Christians in my neighborhood have been seen removing Christmas decor and lights the day after New Years!  It isn't even Epiphany yet!  What happened to Christmas?

Our side has the

militant atheists on the run!

What?

 

Locution, locution, locution.

Troubling locutions and private revelations.

A friend sent me a link - or several links - to a Monsignor Esseff, who is an esteemed priest who also happens to be the spiritual director for a soul who receives locutions from Our Lord and Our Lady...

His credentials: Monsignor John Esseff, diocesan priest and exorcist for the diocese of Scranton, PA.  ordained in 1953, says Padre Pio was his spiritual director, and later on, he was Mother Teresa's spiritual director. 

Evidently Monsignor Esseff will be speaking at the minor seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota this year, and from that, as well as other indications, such as his involvement with the Institute of Priestly Formation, I gather he is highly regarded by bishops, priests and lay people alike.  I had never heard of him or the locutions before this.

An initial skim of the documents forwarded to me and a brief look at the content of the messages on the website, noting especially the ties to the Fatima messages and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I was left with a favorable impression.  However, today I read some of the locutions more closely and I have to admit I can't get into them. 

For instance, there are specific messages of the Pope going to Jerusalem and being killed.  True - I still think the Third Secret of Fatima has yet to be completed and that a Pope could still be martyred - but I find it troubling to come across so specific a revelation.  Likewise there are warnings against Russia and the world allowing it to regain power, and disclosing Russia's hatred of America... those locutions in particular sound as if God has chosen sides and America is on God's side.

I find locutions and purported messages such as these very troubling and unsettling - not in the desired way either - meaning to shake up my conscience and move me to deeper repentance.  They seem to me to be a distraction and a means of inciting unhealthy, even morbid curiosity.  I know many priests still have devotion to the Marian Movement of Priests and Fr. Gobbi (now deceased), but many of Fr. Gobbi's predictions and locutions were rather suspect to me - not that I believe he was lying, but it seems that a lot may have been the product of his imagination and personal meditation.  Is that bad?  Not necessarily, since God speaks to us in that manner.  Though I can't recall verbatim, some of his millennial predictions never came to pass - and that sort of upsets the whole bundle - for me at least.  Locutions have to be discerned on the premise that "whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver."   There is so much discernment required, it is beyond my capability and interest.

Since Medjugorje and the onset of the Charismatic Movement within the Church, locutions seem to fly all over the place, and they always come off as sounding like former revelations from other mystics in 19th - 20th century literature, and/or pious meditations by the saints or a meditation one comes across in devotional books.  Since the words of Monsignor Esseff's mystic speak so directly and without affectation to what is going on in the Middle East, perhaps these locutions are different?  I don't know.  Yet I have to ask, have any locutions in modern times ever averted disaster or war?  Have locutions in modern times changed religious people?  We do not even listen to and obey our superiors, the Holy Father and the Teaching Magisterium. 

"If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,  they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

BTW - I don't despise private revelations, I just find them confusing.





Links:

Jesus and Mary on Israel, Jerusalem, and the End Times

Locutions to the World

Institute for Priestly Formation




 

Sr. Lucia as a young Carmelite...

See, conspiracy theorists?  It really is the same Lucia who met the Holy Father(s)...

 

 

 

Top photo:  Taken from Carmel of St. Teresa, Coimbra website.

 

 

 

Teresa of Avila on the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament

One of the concerns these days is how people receive Holy Communion, and this is a genuine and praise worthy concern.  I am reminded of St. Teresa of Jesus, who was concerned about the conduct of the soul after receiving Holy Communion.  For those of us striving to practice recollection, this is good instruction.

Delight to remain with Him; do not lose such an excellent time for talking with Him as the hour after Communion. Remember that this is a very profitable hour for the soul; if you spend it in the company of the good Jesus, you are doing Him a great service. Be very careful, then, daughters, not to lose it. If you are compelled by obedience to do something else, try to leave your soul with the Lord. For He is your Master, and, though it be in a way you may not understand, He will not fail to teach you. But if you take your thoughts elsewhere, and pay no more attention to Him than if you had not received Him, and care nothing for His being within you, how can He make Himself known to you?

When you have received the Lord, and are in His very presence, try to shut the bodily eyes and to open the eyes of the soul and to look into your own hearts. I tell you, and tell you again, for I should like to repeat it often, that if you practise this habit of staying with Him, not just once or twice, but whenever you communicate, and strive to keep your conscience clear so that you can often rejoice in this your Good, He will not, as I have said, come so much disguised as to be unable to make His presence known to you in many ways, according to the desire which you have of seeing Him. So great, indeed, may be your longing for Him that He will reveal Himself to you wholly.

But if we pay no heed to Him when we have received Him, and go away from Him in search of other and baser things, what can He do? Will He have to drag us by force to look at Him and be with Him because He desires to reveal Himself to us? No; for when He revealed Himself to all men plainly, and told them clearly who He was, they did not treat Him at all well—very few of them, indeed, even believed Him. So He grants us an exceeding great favour when He is pleased to show us that it is He Who is in the Most Holy Sacrament. - Way of Perfection, Chapter 34
 

Our Lord will use any means to come to the soul... but is He welcomed, and are we attentive to Him when He enters?

Remaining after Mass to extend our thanksgiving... it's a good thing. 

9th Day of Christmas...

Little Therese was born.

And... Seraphim Sarovski died.

Little teeny souls.

 

 

 

Another good resolution: 

^“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” -Philippians 3:7-8

Once upon a time...

Princess Grace of Monaco

When Her Serene Highness wasn't exactly serene.

I was reading Billy Baldwin's memoirs and came across this little anecdote about Princess Grace visiting Nantucket.  The Grimaldis were staying at a friend's house and the visit was to be private - the royal couple were traveling incognito - thus their hostess went to great lengths to ensure their privacy and to keep cameras away.

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier arrived promptly and were crazy about how pretty the restaurant was. Princess Grace had her hair tied up under a turban like a laundress, and she was quite disagreeable. She was also disagreeable to her husband, who was quite enchanting, witty, and polite. Princess Grace sat to my right and got along quite well until she started talking about decorating... As we were finishing lunch, Helen asked me if I would show Princess Grace my little cottage and I said I would be happy to do so.

Before we left the Chanticleer, the Berruets asked if they could take a photograph of their guests. "Oh my heavens, yes," said Princess Grace. "We were wondering where the cameras were." She had not liked it at all that there were no photos taken.

So Jean-Charles, looking perfectly grand wearing his big white chef's hat, came out and took photos of them. After that Princess Grace walked with me over to our cottage. She walked in and said, "Oh, I like those lamps. I think I'd like to buy two. Send them."

I said, "They are not for sale. I'm retired and nothing is for sale here."

Paying no attention, she spotted a little table and said, "I'll want that too, but don't be too sure he'll let me get it... he's so stingy. I'm trying to get an apartment in Paris furnished, and he won't let me do what I want because he won't spend the money... so don't count on it." She then told me she had a lovely day and left. - Billy Baldwin, An Autobiography

 

Billy Baldwin, a noted interior designer, often regarded 'the dean of American decorators', died in 1983.  I don't think Mr. Baldwin liked the Princess.
 

Here's a New Year's resolution.

One day at a time...

- don't set yourself up.
 

Trust in the Divine Mercy.

8th Day of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

In the bush seen by Moses

as burning yet unconsumed

we recognize the preservation

of your glorious virginity

O Holy Mother of God!

Mother of the Church.

What a blessed feast!  O Mary!  Mother of God!  Mediatrix of men to God!  Refuge of all our hopes!  Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

One thing that has been impressed upon me is that it is of extreme importance for us to support our bishops and submit every devout initiative to the approval of the Church and her ministers. This, I am convinced, is key to the triumph of the Church and our salvation.

Art source.
 

Praise for Band of Sisters.

I didn't know there was a documentary made honoring the Religious Women of the United States.  I came across an article online about the film and the changes wrought by American Sisters - with praise for the baby boomers as well!  I'm sure some people will hate it. 

Babyboomer nuns help revolutionize healthcare. 

Within the church, perhaps the biggest agents of this change were its nuns. A wave of new thought during the 1960s opened cloister doors.

 

While modernization of the church did leave fewer nuns in the pipeline to carry out work in the health care and education fields, the ones who stayed -- this baby boomer generation of religious sisters -- undertook a kind of grass-roots, social justice-oriented health care.

 

Even today, their work continues to fill in the gaps left by our general health care system.

 

Vatican II revolutionizes religious life

 

It was Pope John XXIII who initiated the Roman Catholic Church's modernization movement in 1962. The pope was decidedly not a baby boomer -- he was born in 1881. But he inspired the boomers, who were left to carry out his reforms.

 

He convened the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, whose leaders created 16 documents that redefined the role of the church in the world. They allowed Catholics to work and pray with members of other faiths, replaced the Latin Mass with church services held in local languages, and dramatically changed how religious sisters lived and worked.

 

"Pope John XXIII said we had to re-examine who we were as the church and get back to the core teachings of Jesus -- which were about compassion and justice -- and get rid of what wasn't," said Miriam Therese MacGillis of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey.

 

She made the comment in the recently released documentary "Band of Sisters," which examines how this generation of religious women changed the Catholic Church's social justice efforts, something little discussed until now.

 

It was a huge shift for the sisters.

 

"For over 1,500 years, cloister and religious habit were absolutely required. So we were not to ever leave the cloister. We were never to be without habit," Sister Theresa Kane explained in the documentary.

 

Vatican II loosened so many requirements that it made the front cover of Time magazine.

Nuns no longer had to live in convents, solely work within the church and its institutions, or wear their distinctive habits. The ruling also put the laity on equal footing with religious sisters and priests, who at one time had been seen by the church as being above the people.  [Ed.'s note: That's incorrect.]

 

The new freedom shook many convents to their core. Hundreds of nuns left religious life. Others stayed to figure out how they could best use their talents. - CNN

 

Now obviously there are some doctrinal issues, as well as exaggerations and misinterpretations of the reforms of Vatican II: To be sure, changes that went too far - secularization wasn't at all envisioned.  Yet the documentary, and the article point out the accomplishments of the nuns, as well as their sincerity and dedication to their cause.  More traditional Catholics will perhaps scoff, but I can almost guarantee you, the average Catholic in the pew, as well as many bishops and parish priests continue to hold the sisters in high regard and will credit the sisters for that sincerity, dedication and generosity.

Sisters of Life

In contrast, this past weekend I received my Sisters of Life newsletter/magazine, published through the generosity of the Knights of Columbus.  The sisters are full of life and vitality - bright young women, their testimonies filled with ardent devotion and joy.  Likewise the women and families they serve offer testimonies and praise for these women who have brought Christ into their lives.  There is something 'vivascious' about the sisters - not unlike the Dominican Sisters as well as the Missionaries of Charity and the CFR's.    It strikes me that it is their relationship with Christ which vivifies their lives, their vocation, and subsequently their apostolate.  They do not see the cloister as limiting, much less the habit - which they wear with delight and honor.

While the older orders may have revolutionized religious life gone stale, the new sisters are reviving the fervor, the fire of apostolic religious life in the Church and the world - and attracting souls to Christ.
 

7th Day of Christmas... and the feast of Pope St. Sylvester.

Sylvester, Pompous Maximus

From one of Pope Sylvester's Apostolic mewvelous allocutions:

"Meow thinks unless something - like Communion in the hand - is prohibited ex-cathedra, or more directly, by the local ordinary of one's diocese, no Catholic lay person has the right to judge any fellow Catholic's devotion in their reception of Holy Communion.  Meow is not speaking ex-cathedra on this issue however...  Benedicite."
 

Merry Christmas, dear, brave warriors in the war defending Christmas against the materialists! 

And now, for your listening edification, the solemn Christmas chant for the 7th day of Christmas, originally composed by Sylvester I ... click here.

What a catty thing to post!

Just having fun!  Merry Christmas!

2012 Top 10 Photos...

A stunning look back.

The Cardinal Burke Cappa Magna Collection Photo Gallery...

The following gallery is a collection of photographs of Cardinal Burke from various sources. St. Peter’s List hopes to bring attention to this excellent Prince of the Church and illuminate his good work that should not go unnoticed...

Courtesy of St. Peter's List

 

Be sure and watch for more 2012 Catholic news-maker hi-lights during this last day of the year.  It's still Christmas!

What's that supposed to mean?

 

Wanna see me dance?

That's me at 1:18-1:20 and I reappear around 1:50 in the video.  I wish I was back there.

 

Things everyone should know: Like, there are 12 months in 2012 - which ones were the best?

Bella Dodd: "They're everywhere!"

Or 12 ways to get through a year... month by month.

Face it - I have nothing to blog about but I want to write something, helping people to find out the best way to be Catholic, or to know everything they must know but didn't know before... that kind of stuff.  Oh!  Oh!  The top 12 Catholics of 2012!  That's a good one.  Or the the top 10 most memorable tweets in the past 12 minutes. 

See.  Other bloggers have nothing to write about either.

Because that is the kind of crap I'm running across online at blogs and news portals and Catholic print.  50 things you must know about that - who says?  Ten commandments nobody taught you - that's so true.  7 gifts Catholics forget to ask for - could it be any more obvious?  6 reasons I hate musicals - I just said that.

BORING!


Now here's something.  I just found out a friend of mine has mental illness.  I always knew something was off but everyone told me I was mean when I said it.  Now I'm proven right.  How did I feel?  Betrayed? Angry? Deceived?  Not really.

But then I thought to myself, "I didn't tell co-workers that I was... well, you know."  I did not want people to know.  I didn't want to be labeled - "don't call me Shirley!"  I didn't even want to be.  Yet co-workers felt: Betrayed.  Angry.  Deceived. 

Lesson learned.  So, I get it. 

Now you understand - that story has substance - it's actually blogging about stuff people really didn't know about or were afraid to tell you about because you probably wouldn't like them anymore if you knew, or others just didn't think to ask - and why should they?  It's none of their damn business.  So really, who cares who the top 10 Catholics of the year were?  Some of those chosen could be nuts or gay or tipplers, or they could be old friends of Bella Dodd - but we will never know for sure unless they tell us.

WHAT?

That's it!

Write him up!

*I know!  Amy Farah Fowler totally made that up.  The statement seems to have been inspired by the following quote from Dr. Alice von Hildebrand: (Hearsay and inadmissable to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints BTW.)

I can only tell you what I know. It is a matter of public record, for instance, that Bella Dodd, the ex-Communist who reconverted to the Church, openly spoke of the Communist Party’s deliberate infiltration of agents into the seminaries. She told my husband and me that when she was an active party member, she had dealt with no fewer than four cardinals within the Vatican “who were working for us.”

Vatican develops new system to clean dirt, dust off Sistine Chapel visitors...

CNS story here.

6th Day of Christmas, Feast of the Holy Family

In our times, could there be any more important feast within the Octave of Christmas than the feast of The Holy Family?

Heaven proclaims that children need a dad and a mom.  Children desperately need a stable family - moms and dads who are married and stay married to one another.  Fathers are critical to the family and the proper upbringing of children - if it were not so, the Father would not have given St. Joseph to Our Lady and Jesus.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, defend and protect the family.