Persecuted priests.

St. Jerome had a reputation: "In Rome, Jerome never really got on with other clergy. He was somewhat irascible, dipping his pen rather more often into vinegar than honey. Jerome loved nothing so much as a good squabble, and argued bitterly and at great length with his critics and adversaries." - Don Marco.

On the other hand.

It isn't my fight, but for years I've followed Fr. Z with some interest, finding his apostolate rather mysterious - especially now since he is even more a free agent without an assignment.  Monks like that are considered gyrovagues and were not held in great esteem by stable monastics.  Fr. Pavone is apparently in the same situation.  Fr. Z seems to feel he was targeted and is a bit 'persecuted' - did he say persecuted?  Not sure, but it is my impression, esp. since he lost his position in the Madison diocese.

Recently Where Peter Is did a post pretty much in response to a challenge Fr. Z threw out, to come up with some sort of compendium in defense of Benedict's assertion there is only one pope, along with "a defense of all that Francis is, has said, and has done."  The WPI post: Fr. Z, Challenge Accepted.  Fr. Z thought the author was 'nasty'.  I didn't.

This after devoting his time online urging readers to go to Canon212 to participate in a poll regarding the question of 'one pope and who it is'.  An unscientific poll on a site at enmity with Pope Francis and mockingly critical of the Pope Emeritus.  Fr. Z apparently follows, endorses sites like that - as well as mad/rad-trad,  Ann Barnhardt.  He claims others call his attention to sites like these, and or articles which mention his blog, otherwise he wouldn't know about their existence.  Knowing how hands on he is with his online connections, or network, he knows who links to him and/or writes about him.  In his response to the Mike Lewis piece, he claims he never heard of him - yet he mentions him by name in a post dated 14 August 2020.  Just saying.

Anyway.  I'm not sure priests like this are persecuted per say, except to say they can be wounded in the culture wars, which they so vigorously engage in, and in some cases, profit from. (Polling and fund drives seem to be quite profitable for them.)  Fr. Z and others like him, go after priests and women religious they don't like or whom they deem liberal-progressive-heterodox-heretics, with a vengeance.  When the winds of criticism blows their way, they claim persecution and suffering verging on 'white martyrdom'.  It seems a bit disingenuous.

That said, Fr. Z more or less responded to the Mike Lewis post(s) on Where Peter Is, who took up Fr. Z's challenge for supporters of what Benedict said, as well as the fact that Francis is Pope, to "put together their own compendium as a defense of all that Francis is, has said, and has done."  Fr. Z didn't accept Lewis' response, because it wasn't a compendium - in book form.  Writing:

"Lewis: “Fr. Zuhlsdorf, we [sic] respond to your challenge with the work of this website.” “…with the work of this website”. Okay. But that isn’t a response to the challenge I issued." - Fr. Z Of gauntlets, spaghetti wall art, and St. Robert Bellarmine

We shall see what WPI's response is, but Lewis is correct, his entire website is dedicated to the support of the papacy of Pope Francis and the legitimacy of the retirement of Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.  An endeavor conducted by faithful Catholic laymen in a time when some clerics have more or less rejected the legitimate authority of the Pope and Vatican II.  

A new image for St. Nunzio Sulprizio

Terry Nelson

2021

 

St. Nunzio, pray for us.

I was attracted to Nunzio Sulprizio many years ago, since he led a difficult life and suffered abuse in his childhood and teen years. I first heard Fr. John Horgan speak of him on Mother Angelica sometime in the 1990's.  His story and example of patience in suffering is remarkable. Go here for an overview of his life.

In this study, I based his looks upon the canonization image and early prints of the saint as to how he looked in life.  This image is so farunvarnished, since I just finished it - the exposure is a bit light saturated.   

He's been my companion all winter, spending a couple hours a day working on the painting.  We have a few things in common, I think.

A mystic worth noting...

Saint Marguerite Bays

This woman's holiness is notable, not due to her mystical gifts, but to her charity and ordinary life.  Saints are never canonized for mystical gifts or phenomenon, but rather their heroic virtue and fidelity.

She is the ideal mystic, since her mystical gifts went unnoticed for a long time, not interfering with her daily duties, nor attracting attention to herself.  She never developed a cult following, nor allowed herself to become a local celebrity and so on.  There was nothing morbid about her spiritual life.  

Her family, a place of holiness

Remaining in the paternal domicile, she made sure to participate well in the household tasks which fell to her. Her sister-in-law Josette did not make her life easy : a severe and rude woman, she humiliated Marguerite and did not spare her. Marguerite did not hold grudges against her. And, when Josette arrived at the end of her life, struck down precociously by an illness, Marguerite took care of her and prepared her for death. She was in fact the only person she accepted near her.

Her sister Marie-Marguerite, called « Mariette », suffered from the dissolution of her marriage, and came back to live at home. Her brother Joseph, who remained a bachelor, with a rather violent character and sometimes loose morals, ended up serving a short prison sentence! And her elder brother Claude had a child outside wedlock, the little François. Marguerite asked him to recognise the child officially. She took charge of his education. On the other hand her brother Jean understood better the mystical life of his sister and sometimes worried about her health.

Faced with her brothers and sisters, victims of difficult situations in their life, Marguerite would never have judged them in a moralist manner. On the contrary, through her testimony of a life filled with love and charity, each in their turn felt attracted by Christ to then undertake through love a true path of conversion. - Biography St, Marguerite

"Each Friday, Marguerite relived the Passion of Christ in her flesh. United with Jesus, she offered up the suffering she endured in the silence and privacy of her bedroom, sheltered from public eyes."

Spring is here

I saw a group of 5 robins this morning.  They were on the hill across the street, which faces south and the lawn was exposed.  They were eating or harvesting material for nests.  I've never seen them in groups like that before.

When I went online, FB messaged me that my account was restricted due to a meme I post a long time ago, which they found offensive.  It was a joke.  They also didn't like a gif from 3rd Rock that I posted of Dick choking Mary.  I signed onto MeWe for now.  It's a blessing to be censored from FB, I recently deleted my Tumblr account as well.  I still have Twitter, but do not use it much.  Social media is the Big Brother of our age, so it is better not to allow oneself to be so enslaved to it.  

Cancel culture and censorship is nothing new - it is simply the manner in which it is executed these days, and by whom.  The Church and Christian denominations have always performed this function.  Excommunication, interdict, the index of forbidden books, and so on.  Other denominations have the tradition of shunning and other types of sanction.  Christian communities always had their outcasts whom they marginalized and excluded.  Of course, the same dynamic is seen in parishes, religious groups, and among 'friends' - who will unfriend someone for a simple disagreement.  Today secular entities have assumed that role - in a concerted effort to control behavior, enforce social standards, and achieve a level of thought conformity.

Checking in after nearly a month.

I've been on FB, only posting rather neutral posts, so as to remain at peace.  Sort of.

I intend to keep this blog and will continue to post, I just have entered a strange silent phase.  I keep thinking of the prophecy, 'the hearts of many will be revealed.'  That's what we do online.  But why?

I don't want to argue or defend my point of view and opinion on this or that.  I know who and what I am and I have faith in God.

Today is the Chair of Peter and I am so grateful we have a Pope - Pope Francis.  I am so grateful to be Catholic.

I just don't have much to say these days.

Abba Moses said: “The one who makes a show of his good works and publicizes them is like the one who threw seeds on the ground, ‘and the fowls of the air came and devoured them up’ [Matt 13:4]. But the one who conceals his way of life is as one who sows in a furrow in the ground and who will reap an abundant harvest.

I probably never should have written so much.

Pope Francis to those who reject the teaching of the Second Vatican Council...

Ecumenical Council, Dali

They are placing themselves outside the Church.

Thank God the Holy Father said it.  Seriously, for at least 2 decades I have listened to the greatest Catholics of all time - their opinion, not mine - that the Council was evil, non-binding, non-magisterial. That it was a pastoral council, it did not affirm any dogma, etc..  It was corrupted and bore rotten fruit - case in point the OF Mass.  Opponents went so far as to say the Novus Ordo was Masonic, heretical, and no Mass - I used to respond 'you can't be holier than the Church, you can't be more Catholic than the Pope' and so on.  In no uncertain terms, not a few responded, 'but I am more catholic than the Pope.'  Stunning claim, to say the least.

These folks, following mentors among the hierarchy and clergy, as well as a few self-serving mystic monks, pretty much condemned everything Novus Ordo - save for their sacramental ordination - as well as Vatican II.  Apparently, this alone makes them holier than the 'post-conciliar'* Church and more Catholic than the Pope.  Not.

The Dubia Brothers, Vigano, and many priests in their 'Holy League', along with a growing Remnant of mystical  authorities, who have set themselves against the Council, The Ordinary Form of Mass, and the Papacy, now have something to deal with.  Are these folks ready to follow the post -Vatican I schismatic Old Catholics?  Because the Pope has spoken.  

“Either you are with the Church and therefore you follow the council, or you interpret it in your own away – according to your desire – [and] you do not stand with the Church,” the 84-year-old Jesuit Pope told members of the National Catechetical Office of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.  - The Tablet

Works for me. 

*"Unfortunately, it is not only the progressives who have adopted this individualistic spirit. Even in the name of Tradition, some today speak of a pre- and post-conciliar Church, thus creating a rupture between the past and the present. In this way, they submit everything the magisterium has to say to a test that ultimately sets the Church against itself." - Fr. Angelo Geiger

Just a thought on what 'may have' happened to Fr. Z

Fr. Z relocating.

Those who know of Fr. Z now know he is relocating, a priest without an assignment in search of bishop to sponsor him, as it were.  A link to that story:

"A prominent priest-blogger Fr John Zuhlsdorf who performed exorcisms against “fraud” in the United States presidential election is leaving his diocese.

The priest, who runs the popular “Fr Z blog”, has been living in the Diocese of Madison, in Wisconsin, although he was ordained for the Diocese of Velletri-Segni, near Rome.

News of his departure from Madison comes after The Tablet reported that Fr Zuhlsdorf had been carrying out live-streamed daily exorcisms against possible electoral fraud. In at least one instance, the priest claimed he had the authority of Madison’s bishop, Donald Hying, to perform the exorcisms, something the bishop denied." - The Tablet

So, there is lots of speculation as to why, where did he go wrong?  What will he do?  All I can say is thank God he didn't become corrupt or fall into any sort of moral scandal.  Though his political discourse is totally alt-right, his disenchantment with Vatican II, the Ordinary Form of Mass and love of the EF Form pulled him closer and closer to the rad trad, anti-Francis faction in the Church.  He blasted people like Fr. James Martin out of the water, so to speak.  Celebrated excommunications of liberal priests and was downright vindictive in his condemnation of liberal nuns and anyone who came out in favor of women deacons.  He ran his own version of cancel culture on his blog, calling for boycotts of Catholic journals, letters to the Vatican and nuncio, and so on.  Now he's on his own and protesting the 'cancel culture' which celebrates this setback in his career-vocation.

Some well meaning people seem to agree with the idea that Fr. Z's enemies were on a campaign to silence him and seek his downfall because he is a 'good guy', faithful and true.  I think he really is a good priest.  What has happened will turn out for his good, I think.

He started out well, he began writing for Catholic journals, and then engaged in an online apostolate which was effective in catechizing Catholics on liturgical matters and Catholic teaching.   I just think, whatever his apostolic intent, early successes may have led to a bit of presumption, sparking an ambition for fame and a drive for promotion. 

He had a brief stint as a commentator on Fox News during the transition from JPII to Benedict XVI,  and that bit of stardom might have awakened a greater desire for media fame - it wouldn't be unthinkable it aroused his ambition for recognition and esteem.  After all, he had credentials of working in the Vatican, reporting to important figures, running into Ratzinger, rubbing shoulders with journalists and influential clergy, and definitely prided himself as being in the know with all the court gossip, etc.. His work there allowed him to assume a certain level of status and influence. Then the immense success of the blog and the revenue it generated really propelled him, I think. 

I recall him almost bragging to a UK priest on how much money his Donate app made.  In one blog post, he urged the priest to get one and even offered his own donations as a fund-raiser incentive for the priest. I'm no longer able to find those posts, nor my commentary on them, but they existed at one time.  If I'm wrong, I'll retract.  He prized stats and links to his posts, and delighted in the growing number of his followers - restricting critics and those who sought to dispute with him.  In his hey day, he was posting photos of the frequent UPS deliveries he received, in between posts on the feeder feed, along with travelogue photos and visuals of fine dining trips. It was entertaining - and profitable - and his fans loved it - and I have to imagine his ego expanded accordingly.  He obviously felt called to support the Trump administration - for God and Country.  And then, just like that, it suddenly became too much.

In conclusion, that's what I think happened to the public figure of Fr. Z.  God bless him and this new chapter in his life.

My apologies

 

I'm sorry I haven't responded to comments, and more especially, to friends who sent Christmas cards.  I have no excuse.  

I'm still not myself - and don't know who that is.  

I'm living like a monk, alone and afflicted.  I pray the Office and rosary, and I'm united to the prayer of the Church in and through the prayers and readings of daily Mass.  

Thank you for your prayers.  My every thought, word, deed, penance, prayer and action is for my friend Darold.  

Please pray for my friend Darold.  Thank you.

(I'm closing comments - prayer is better than comments.  I feel your prayers.  Thank you.)

"Children, be on your guard against idols."

We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. - 1 Jn 5

This past week, Josiah Colt was one of the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and broke into Congress. He has since apologized profusely, begging forgiveness for violating the 'sacred ground':

"While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in its place. We're still on sacred ground." - source

I was a bit cynical about his apology, perhaps he's hoping for a pardon from Trump?  More likely, he understands that he can be charged and prosecuted, or at best, find himself unemployed for a long time, after potential employers see his social media activity and current media exposure.  

Just yesterday, a friend who has a couple of websites and her own news aggregator site, posted a bit of fake news about the discovery of discarded ballots in Georgia.  There is a fair amount of documentation refuting that story.  I didn't comment but left a link to an AP article contradicting the story.  I'm not getting into linking all of these threads, I just want to note that my friend said she doesn't believe anything from the AP.  Trump campaigned on fake news - repeating claims that MSM was totally and completely fake news, implying that he and a few rightwing news outlets was the only source for truth, Trump picked up on every conspiracy theory and used them to promote his lies and half truths.  The result was a huge success with his followers and supporters.

“People were willing to die for this man and he just threw them all under the bus. That’s the only thing that’s shameful about the events of the past 36 hours,” Nick Fuentes.

Until, faced with the blow back after the assault on the Capitol, wherein 5 people lost their lives - for him (yet as of this writing, I haven't heard or read if he even extended sympathy for the deceased and their families) Trump turned on his supporters.  The last I heard, his last ditch effort to save his 'legacy' by denouncing those who attacked the Capitol, some of the MAGA people have turned on him. 

"After years of fidelity, Donald Trump's most ardent online fans have finally turned on him.
All it took was for the president to acknowledge the reality of his loss a little over a day after they, the MAGA faithful, stormed the Capitol in a violent attempt to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s win.".- Politico

Yet that won't deter his pro-life militia and Catholics for Trump, inspired by such luminaries as Archbishop Vigano, followed by Catholic sacerdotal-personalities Fr. Pavone, Z, Heilman, et al - along with the EWTN Night Gallery network of dark fantasies and pro-Trumpsters and anti-papists.

Children, be on your guard against idols.

Seemingly unrelated, yet returning to the title of this post, the final words of today's first reading at Mass made a deep impression upon me - a sort of wonderful reprimand after engaging with people online over the past few days, and watching news coverage almost non stop: "Children, be on your guard against idols." I've pondered it all morning, so now I would like to offer a couple of thoughts which compliment my own.

“Once capital becomes an idol that presides over a socioeconomic system, it enslaves us, sets us at odds with each other, excludes the poor, and endangers the planet we all share.”
- Pope Francis, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future

"As Francis also says in Fratelli Tutti: “We need to learn how to unmask the various ways that the truth is manipulated, distorted and concealed in public and private discourse.”
Post-truth journalism is not just about narratives for financial profit; it can also be for political or ideological ends. Whole media organizations can degenerate into “an association of individuals united against a perceived common enemy,” as Francis puts in Fratelli Tutti referring to “digital campaigns of hatred and destruction.” - Austen Ivereigh

“Whoever takes refuge in fundamentalism is afraid of setting out on the road to truth. He already “has” the truth, and deploys it as a defense, so that any questioning of it is interpreted as an aggression against his person.”
- Pope Francis, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future

Happy New Year as we return to Ordinary Time.

The attack on the Capitol an “affront on our American democracy”

5 dead in DC.

I have never been this angry since Kent State.

Approaching Jesus

From today's Gospel.

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray...

When Jesus sent the disciples away, and while he dismissed the crowd - that is the time to approach him.  When no one can prevent you from approaching him - no one to condemn or scold you.  This is the moment of genuine prayer and healing.  

Matt Talbot.

A new painting by Nico M. Peeters.

It is a wonderful painting.  The narrative posted here, written by Nico Peeters, was sent to me by a friend of his.

“ Matt was a common laborer, working most of his life at a timber factory on the quay of Liffey River in Dublin, where ships used to discharge their cargo of timber. What makes his life special and at the same time very recognizable, is his struggle to get rid of his addiction to alcohol. He regularly fell back, but strengthened by the grace of God, he at last conquered himself. He attended Holy Mass whenever he could and nurtured by the Holy Eucharist, he grew in living a decent life and self denial. He has always been loyal to his patron and kept working until he died at the age of 77 in 1925.

This painting depicts, at the left, the always latent present temptation of reaching out to alcohol again, when things become difficult. Liquor may provide some relief, but at the end it always leaves one in darkness and loneliness. From the right the light of Christ illuminates life and gives strength to withstand temptations. The log in Matt’s hands symbolizes Christ’s cross, which acts as a barrier between him and temptation. We are not able to redeem ourselves, only Christ delivers us from evil.

At the quay a typical timber ship from the twenties and a lorry. The fellow laborer behind Matt shows the solidarity by his colleagues, who relieved him, when he became older, from too heavy labor and provided him a small burlap sack to prevent logs sliding off his slightly sloping shoulders. Still Matt accepted all hardships from life in a cheerful mood, being aware of the glory awaiting all those, who are not afraid to surrender to Christ, Who is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end of all times.” - Nico Peters

Holidays are over for me.

 

Third Day of Christmas

 

Feast of the Holy Family.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil." - (From Pope Pius XII, in his apostolic constitution “Exsul Familia”)

Second Day of Christmas

Good King Wenceslas

The Feast of Stephen.

I should write something - especially after the last post.  I don't know what to write however.  I also don't feel like it.

At one point I stopped really preparing for Christmas.  I sent out some cards, but didn't finish.  I think a lot of people didn't send cards.  Word must have gotten around that Darold died, because he didn't receive any cards.  A couple of his friends were my friends too, and they never even acknowledged his death when I sent them notice, much less responded with a Christmas card.  That was a good lesson for me - I believed they were my friends - but they were simply being polite.  The Imitation of Christ has some things to say about that - which helped me very much.  It is better for me.  It's a lesson I always need repeating - those who flatter you deceive you.  Likewise, it's could to have people recognize our faults and failings, As St. Philip Neri admonished: "He who cannot put up with the loss of his honour, can never make any advance in spiritual things." 

There you have it, and I'm quite content to accept my outcast state.

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings. - Sonnet 29

In conclusion, one excellent gift has been the reconnecting with my family, especially my sister and nieces and relatives.  For much of my life I thought of friends - many of whom are no longer in touch with me - as family.  While my real family felt alienated without understanding why.  Our Lady Undoer of Knots took care of that!

Happy Christmas!

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

O Maternal Refuge, Queen of the universe, Mediatrix of men to God, Refuge of all our hopes, have mercy on us.

“Come, and I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 

 I was going to write on the issues of the day and the past week, but decided it is unnecessary for me to do so.

Instead I will share something from The Mystical City of God, by Ven M. Maria Agreda, on Our Lady, our refuge - read it quietly and your heart will burn within you.

She was to be the secret refuge: protection and defense of all men, wherein they would find all the security of a city of refuge and of a strong fortress against their enemies.

“267. The angel spoke to the Evangelist saying: “Come, and I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” etc. The angel declares in this passage, that the holy city of Jerusalem, which he showed to him, is the espoused wife of the Lamb, referring by this metaphor (as I have already said No. 248) to the most holy Mary, whom St. John saw both as a Mother, or Woman, and as a Spouse of the Lamb, that is Christ. The Queen held and fulfilled in divine manner both offices.

“She was the Spouse of the Divinity, the only One (Cant. 6, 8) and incomparable on account of the unequalled faith and love, with which the espousals were entered into and accomplished; and She was the Mother of the same Lord incarnate, giving Him his mortal substance and flesh, nourishing and sustaining Him in his existence as man, which He derived from Her. In order to see and understand such high mysteries the Evangelist was exalted in spirit to a great height of sanctity and light; for without going out of himself and being raised above human weakness, he could not understand them; just as we, imperfect, earthly and abject creatures, cannot encompass them for the same reason.

“Then elevated thus high, he says: “He showed me the holy city of Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven,” for Mary was built up and formed, not on earth, where She was like a pilgrim and a stranger, but in heaven, where the common, earthly material was excluded. For though the material of her being was taken from the earth, it was at the same time so elevated in heavenly perfection as to be fit for the building up of that mystical City in a celestial and angelic, yet divine manner, effulgent with the Divinity. 268. Therefore he adds: “Having the glory of God,” for the most holy soul of Mary was favored with such a participation of the Divinity and of its attributes and perfections, that if it were possible to see Her in her own essence, She would appear as if illumined with the eternal splendor of God Himself.

“Great and glorious things are said in the Catholic church of this City of God, and of the splendor, which She has received from that same Lord; but all of it is insignificant, and all human words fall short of the truth."

[...]

“Above all We shall give to Her dominion and power over the dragon, our enemy, and over all his allied demons. Let them fear her presence and her name and in it, let their deceits be crushed and annihilated. Let all the mortals that fly to this City of refuge, find in it a sure and certain protection, free from all the dread of the demons and their snares.” . . .

“The blessed Trinity made known to Her that before his most just tribunal nothing would ever be denied to Her; that She should command the devil and that She should have power, by virtue of her commands, to keep him away from souls, since She would have at her disposal the arm of the Almighty.

“In saying that this City was surrounded by a great and high wall St. John refers to this God-given prerogative of his Mother, that She was to be the secret refuge: protection and defense of all men, wherein they would find all the security of a city of refuge and of a strong fortress against their enemies.

“He says that the walls are very high, for the power of the most pure Mary to overcome the demon and to raise the souls to grace is so great that it is inferior only to that of God himself. So well armed for all this and so well defended and secure for Herself and for all those, who seek her protection, is this City, that not all the forces created by God outside of Her can overthrow or surmount its walls.

“I desire to mention that the measure of the dignity, the merits and graces of most holy Mary, was none other than the humanity of her most blessed Son, united to the divine Word.

“The Evangelist calls the humanity of Christ a “reed” because He assumed the frailty of our weak and carnal nature, and “of gold,” on account of his Divinity. In accordance with the dignity of the true God-man, Christ, and correspondingly with the gifts and merits of the incarnate God.

“280. From all this can be estimated the greatness of that City of God, the most holy Mary."

I'm not too worried about it.

 

How screwed up.

Everything is screwed up.

Yesterday, I ran into a woman I know at a local grocery store.  She's the mother-in-law of a guy I used to work with.  They are rather well off, they have a place in Cape Cod, where they recently vacationed - during the 'scamdemic'!  She kept pulling down her mask to talk to me and kept edging closer and closer, to let me in on her information concerning the state of the city and the hoax, that is COVID-19. Explaining that it's all a scam and we are being controlled and lied to by CDC, Fauci, and health departments everywhere - oh - and the media.  She boasted she only wears the mask because stores require it. 

She and her family are Traditionalists, exclusively attending the EF Form of Mass.  She and her family, especially her son-in-law are very well educated, studied at the Gregorian, and so on.  I got the impression from the mom that she would very much agree with a local priest, Fr. Altier, and his take on the pandemic and the agenda of Globalists to control and suppress*. She started talking about all the stuff going on in Minneapolis after Gearge Floyd's death, insisting there is 'no racism here - never has been' - blaming 'them' for 'taking advantage of our tolerance'.  She's a nice lady, totally unaware of how loaded with 'benevolent elitism' were her comments. 

Later, last evening I checked her son-in-law's FB page and some of her other contacts - they all appear to agree with her. They are nice people. Some of their friends, whom I know as well, were 'birthers' before Trump was elected. They believed Obama wasn't a citizen. Not only do they seem to ascribe to the Fr. Altier* narrative, I expect they agree with Archbishop Vigano's conspiracy theories** as well. Like I said, they are really nice people, very good people. Well educated, well to do, attend the Extraordinary Form of Mass, homeschool, and so on. So you know they are special, and not at all like the rest of the ordinary form of humanity who live in Minneapolis, believe the science/doctors who contradict the Trump administrations claims that the virus isn't a threat, and guidelines that the shutdowns and mandates to wear a mask and socially distance are a hoax.

The Trump administration is largely responsible for the claims of fake new, fake stats, and much of the fear mongering.  The followers of Burke, Vigano and other important, albeit retired religious figures are responsible for the epic disrespect and mistrust of the Holy Father and the bishops in communion with him. Certain priests and religious are responsible for promoting distortions of private revelations and so-called locutions by dubious mystics to support conspiracy theories which have come back with a vengeance.   I can't help recall the words of Our Lord regarding such widespread deception, A lot of people will be led astray - 'even the elect, if that were possible.'  Although, those convinced of their own righteousness while despising everyone else, may be a tad more vulnerable.  Just saying.

Here is an excellent prayer in these times:

“Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God consume me. Along the true road, lead me. Mary, my good mother, look down upon me. With Jesus, bless me. From all evil, all illusion, all danger, preserve me.”- St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD

 

* Fr. Altier: Archbishop responds to priest’s controversial homily on COVID-19

Letter includes MN Health Department refutation, resources on ethical vaccination development
Priests should not use homilies to “present medical or scientific speculation,” Archbishop Bernard Hebda wrote in a Sept. 22 letter to Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, responding to a homily Father Robert Altier gave at St. Raphael in Crystal Sept. 6.

**Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò said the 2020 presidential election presents Americans with a “biblical” challenge “against the demonic forces of the deep state and against the New World Order.”

UPDATE:  Fr. Altier was interviewed here:  LifesiteNews Bishop Rebukes Priest.  Even a couple of experts defending him say Fr. A got some things wrong, and there is a subtle criticism that Hebda consulted the Minnesota Health Department, because some of their policies contradict Catholic teaching.  What can I say?

Virgen de la Merced or Virgen de las Mercedes

Hail you Star of ocean!

Break the captive's fetters;
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

 

Our Lady of Ransom

I first became acquainted with the devotion to OL of Ransom in 5th grade.  My dad ran into some difficulties and was in trouble a lot.  I understood Our Lady of Ransom was the patroness of those imprisoned, and had recourse to her.  My devotion to her has remained constant, praying in our day for help against Islamic radicals, and so on.  

Today, I look to her to delivery the souls in purgatory, especially those closest to me.  In fact, the Carthusian cycle of Gregorian Masses for my friend Darold, begins today - her feast day.  I may be mistaken, but after the Conventual Mass, the Fathers say their private Mass, and it is usually a Mass of the BVM.  The cycle of Masses ends on the feast of OL of Comfort.  I'm consoled to think my friend is in the arms of Our Lady.  

A brief history of Our Lady of Ransom

To my knowledge, this is the only title of the Virgin or devotion to Our Lady directly related to Islam:

The Blessed Virgin appeared to Saint Peter Nolassco, to his confessor, Raymond of Pennafort, and to the king, and through these three men established a work of the redemption of captives. She desired the establishment of the Mercedarian religious order. (derives from the Spanish word for mercy - merced) Its members would seek to free Christian captives from the Moors and offer themselves, if necessary, as an exchange. The complete name of this order is: Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Ransom of Captives (OdeM).*

The Order was legally constituted at Barcelona by King James of Aragon was established in Spain and later approved by Gregory IX under the name of Our Lady of Mercy. St. Peter was the first superior, with the title of Commander-General; he also filled the office of Ransomer, a title given to the monk sent into the lands subject to the Moors to arrange for the ransom of prisoners.

Requests of Our Lady to St. Peter Nolasco - August 1, 1218:.
The Blessed Virgin Mary:

“Find for Me other men like yourself, an army of brave, generous, unselfish men, and send them into the lands where the children of the Faith are suffering.”
.
St. Peter Nolasco:

"Who am I that God should honor me like this? And who are you, who knows so well, the secrets of my heart?'
.
The Blessed Virgin Mary:

"I am Mary, the Mother of God. My son, the Redeemer of the world,
who came to give liberty to the captive, has many people bound in captivity, and wishes the order to be established." - Source