Some things are worth repeating: A Post about Truth Telling and Truth Tellers

I originally wrote this post in 2018 linking to Fr. Weinandy's letter to Pope Francis calling him to account in a profoundly charitable way. The pope didn't take it well, to say the least. And he continues to treat those who criticism him, not as brothers and sisters in the Lord, but as enemies with a "suicidal attitude" who are "closed up inside a dogmatic box." The number of insults from the pope against traditional Catholics is legion. Those who defend the faith, those who should be his pride and joy, are castigated and persecuted. Suffering persecution faithfully is a challenge and an opportunity and we can see some of its fruits, especially among the young men studying for the priesthood who are more orthodox than their predecessors.

It's a Spiritual Work of Mercy: Pray for the Living and the Dead.

I got a message this morning from a dear friend whom I've known since she was a teenager. I did a reading at her wedding back in the early 80s. She asked for prayers for her daughter, a busy mom of many, who is in the hospital with pneumonia. I've received many prayer requests lately: from a young father who's very sick, from an internet friend who lost his job and is near retirement age with not even a thin parachute for his golden years, from a number of sick family members including my sister in a nursing home, and from a number of other suffering souls. I've been keeping the Poor Clares busy with all the requests for their intercessory prayers.

Fr. Gordon MacRae and Beyond These Stone Walls

I received a letter yesterday from a very unusual priest, Fr. Gordon MacRae. I call him unusual because I doubt many priests would do what he did. Falsely accused of molesting a minor, the victim of trumped up "evidence" by a corrupt "justice" system in New Hampshire, he refused to be bribed by a plea deal. He could have been out of jail in one or two years if he took the plea. He refused because he was innocent. And now he is on the cusp of "celebrating" thirty years in prison.

Read these quotes from the website, Beyond These Stone Walls:

“Fr Gordon MacRae is beyond innocent. It is a travesty that he is in jail. If you listened and read the evidence, transcripts, videos, audio tapes you would be horrified. The people who did this need to get on their knees and beg forgiveness from God. + If they don’t ... .”

                — Cary Solomon, Writer, Producer and Director of “Unplanned”

Is This Upcoming Birthday a Secret?

America's 250th birthday is just around the corner. Have you heard one word about it in the mainstream media? The 1976 bicentennial was hyped long before it arrived. and we are only a little over two years away from this historic event.

So why the silence? Where is the enthusiasm for celebrating 250 years of America? What is the difference between the America of 1976 and the America of today? 

There were few people in our country shouting "Death to America" in 1976 like recently happened at a pro-Palestine demonstration in Michigan. Few pastors imitated Rev. Jeremiah Wright screaming, "God damn America." 

What are all these signs in the heavens trying to tell us?

Aurora Borealis of 2024

I'm repeating a post from a few weeks ago. It seems to me to be especially Providential that God has given us two "signs in the heavens" between Easter and Pentecost. Is he trying to wake us up? 

I recently read a chapter in the book Cleansing Fire: Welcome to the New Springtime about the message Mary gave the children of Fatima on July 13, 1917. The book is a novel, but much of its content is true. Chapter 33 pertains to Fatima and the Great Sign the Blessed Mother said she would send to warn people about a coming chastisement: 

“If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its sins, by means of war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and of the Holy Father.

Thought for the Day from a Friend

I thought this was an appropriate thought for Mother's Day. 

Thought for the Day from the The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph

Part of my morning prayer time lately is reading from The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph. I'm on the chapter on the Journey to Bethlehem. Two short passages really struck me this morning. The first related to scripture about the birth of the Messiah. 

Mary was reared in the temple and must have known the prophecies well. She and Joseph both must have realized that Bethlehem was going to be the birthplace of Jesus. And yet, they stayed in Nazareth waiting to see how God would bring it about. 

...we find them remaining on at Nazareth without doubt or question. If this surprises us, it is only because the strength of their faith and their complete abandonment to the leadings of God's Providence are beyond our shallow perception. God would know how to bring about His will in the manner He pleased, and they left all in His hands.

And, of course, we know God used Caesar Augustus to bring about His will.

Are You on the Bridge or in the Tunnel?

[Take a trip across the 23 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as a metaphor of life's journey. Turn off the sound if you don't want to listen to the obnoxious music in the video.]

Some images are perfect metaphors for life's journey. Before Mass today, I was reading the morning devotion from Benedictus, Psalm 142, a pretty gloomy reflection:

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old: and my spirit is in anguish within me....

The image that popped into my head as I read this was the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. (I have a weird brain!)  If you've never driven that route, it's a 23-mile bridge/tunnel, mostly above water but with two mile-long tunnels taking you deep under the bay. I've been through it once years ago and don't really have any desire to repeat the experience, although it is an impressive engineering marvel. 

Thinking about feet on the feast of the Ascension

This morning while I was praying I was looking down abstractedly and saw my feet. It got me thinking about feet. We take our feet for granted don't we? How many times do we think with gratitude about the gift of our feet? I can't say I think about them much at all. And yet, the first thing I do in the morning is sit up in bed with my feet on the floor and then stand up. Think of the gift of balance and say thank you to your feet...and your toes. Your balance would be seriously affected if your big toe was amputated. 

The Adventure of Cleaning Up "Hot Spots" - Thinking about the next pope!

Cardinal Péter Erdő 

Every now and then I start hyperventilating over the clutter. Much of it consists of stacks of back issues of magazines and newspapers that I haven't read but hate to just throw in the recycle bin. I usually read through the table of contents and the headlines to see if something catches my eye that I want to read.

Yesterday, I picked up Issue 1 2023 of The Traditionalist with a fascinating article by Edward Pentin, a chapter from his book on likely papal candidates in the next conclave. The focus was on Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Primate of Hungary.