Filipino Flavour

Exams

2008-11-30T15:55:00.002-05:00

Dearest readers (if there are any of you left),

Exams, projects, etc. are overwhelming many students over the next couple of weeks, and the poor author of this blog is no exception. Pray for me as I pray for all of you.

If you are all lucky, I may even start posting more regularly after exams!

Francis

Last Night

2008-11-05T06:10:00.002-05:00

It's time for an update, but this one will be quite short.

Yesterday, after witnessing the American people's overwhelming support for the socialist Barack Obama, I pray:

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places" (Eph., VI,12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan", bind him that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Apoc. XX,2).

Continuing the Counter-Revolution

2007-07-07T14:19:00.000-05:00

My dearest readers,

By now, I hope that you have had the opportunity to read the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, and the letter that accompanies it. Without taking up too much space here on the web, I would like to post two (of several) rather troubling passages:

1. There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church's faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.

2. Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them.

Both of these excerpts come from the letter, and the bolded text within the passages is a cause of particular concern for me.

In light of these statements, I will continue to stand by Tradition, which is to say that I shall continue to refuse the fabricated liturgy and Protestant beliefs that came forth from the Second Vatican Council. To clarify my position and to remember the spirit of this resistance, the Declaration of Archbishop Lefebvre will be provided after this post.

Francis

The 1974 Declaration of Archbishop Lefebvre

We hold fast, with all our heart and with all our soul, to Catholic Rome, Guardian of the Catholic faith and of the traditions necessary to preserve this faith, to Eternal Rome, Mistress of wisdom and truth.

We refuse, on the other hand, and have always refused to follow the Rome of neo-Modernist and neo-Protestant tendencies which were clearly evident in the Second Vatican Council and, after the Council, in all the reforms which issued from it.

All these reforms, indeed, have contributed and are still contributing to the destruction of the Church, to the ruin of the priesthood, to the abolition of the Sacrifice of the Mass and of the sacraments, to the disappearance of religious life, to a naturalist and Teilhardian teaching in universities, seminaries and catechectics; a teaching derived from Liberalism and Protestantism, many times condemned by the solemn Magisterium of the Church.

No authority, not even the highest in the hierarchy, can force us to abandon or diminish our Catholic faith, so clearly expressed and professed by the Church’s Magisterium for nineteen centuries.

“But though we,” says Saint Paul, “or an angel from heaven preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema” (Gal. 1:8).

Is it not this that the Holy Father is repeating to us today? And if we can discern a certain contradiction in his words and deeds, as well as in those of the dicasteries, well we choose what was always taught and we turn a deaf ear to the novelties destroying the Church.

It is impossible to modify profoundly the lex orandi without modifying the lex credendi. To the Novus Ordo Missae correspond a new catechism, a new priesthood, new seminaries, a charismatic Pentecostal Church —all things opposed to orthodoxy and the perennial teaching of the Church.

This Reformation, born of Liberalism and Modernism, is poisoned through and through; it derives from heresy and ends in heresy, even if all its acts are not formally heretical. It is therefore impossible for any conscientious and faithful Catholic to espouse this Reformation or to submit to it in any way whatsoever.

The only attitude of faithfulness to the Church and Catholic doctrine, in view of our salvation, is a categorical refusal to accept this Reformation.

That is why, without any spirit of rebellion, bitterness or resentment, we pursue our work of forming priests, with the timeless Magisterium as our guide. We are persuaded that we can render no greater service to the Holy Catholic Church, to the Sovereign Pontiff and to posterity.

That is why we hold fast to all that has been believed and practiced in the faith, morals, liturgy, teaching of the catechism, formation of the priest and institution of the Church, by the Church of all time; to all these things as codified in those books which saw day before the Modernist influence of the Council. This we shall do until such time that the true light of Tradition dissipates the darkness obscuring the sky of Eternal Rome.

By doing this, with the grace of God and the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that of St. Joseph and St. Pius X, we are assured of remaining faithful to the Roman Catholic Church and to all the successors of Peter, and of being the fideles dispensatores mysteriorum Domini Nostri Jesu Christi in Spiritu Sancto. Amen.

True Allegiances

2007-07-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

Greetings,

For those Americans in the audience, I would like remind you that I, as a monarchist, do not celebrate the 4th of July.

Instead, I give my allegiance to the Crown:

Sixto Enrique de Borbón Parma y Borbón-Busset, Duque de Aranjuez, Infante de España, Príncipe de Parma y de Plasencia, Regente de la Comunión Tradicionalista y Abanderado de la Tradición

That is all.

Francis

Mixed News

2007-06-26T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

In order to stay on top of posting in here, I thought I'd provide some news links, give some of my own thoughts, etc. Normally, I try to post some of my own writings instead of sending you all over the place, but we'll see how this works!

Benedict Reverses JPII Decision!

For those of you who missed it, the Holy Father has reversed the late John Paul II's decision in Universi Dominici Gregis, which, in my opinion, is a major step forward. This document outlined a new (and improved?) way of electing popes. Despite everyone's love for "John Paul the Great" (read: papolatry), His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has prudently decided to stick with Tradition and not to continue the innovations of his predecessor.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_re_eu/pope_elections_4

Famous Cult Figure Banned by German Authorities

Although my title may be a bit dramatic and misleading, it is entirely true. Tom Cruise, a prominent Scientologist, is attempting to film (and act in) a movie about a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, but the German authorities have stirred up some trouble for him. According to Louis Charbonneau of Reuters, "Cruise, also one of the film's producers, is a member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not recogni[s]e as a church. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientology leaders reject."

I encourage all bloggers to applaud the decision of the German Ministry of Defence to bar "the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military sites because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist."

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL253889920070625?feedType=RSS&rpc=22&sp=true

Has the Motu Proprio Been Signed?

The motu proprio, which would theoretically "free" the Latin Mass, has supposedly been signed (or so says the media). Despite my personal feelings that this step won't reverse all of the disastrous activities of JPII and the Council Fathers at the speed of light like many are expecting, it is a step in the right direction. We can and ought to admit that much. Either way, we'll have to wait and see the document for ourselves.

As St. Padre Pio always insisted, "Pray, hope, and don't worry!"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1945642.ece

That'll be all for today. This is PinoyMonk signing out.

Until next time,

Francis

An Eastern Encounter

2007-06-09T19:36:00.000-05:00

Hello Loyal Readers!

In the event that you had started wondering about my status amongst the living, fear not! I have returned! In recent days, I have been pondering what to do with this site, but hopefully a few more photos will keep your attention for the moment.

Just this evening, I visited Sts. Volodymyr and Olha in Chicago after over a year of waiting (and basically just a lot of laziness). You can find them here: http://www.stsvo.org/

G'luck to those of you who aren't exactly fluent in Ukrainian. Anyway, here are the photos:

Firstly, this is what I saw as I entered the main portion of the church:

Next up, we have an image from the right side of the church. Sorry that it isn't...quite at the correct angle. I'd imagine that you'd be willing to turn your head, right?

And when you turn to the left...

I'm almost done now. Here's a shot from right above the iconostasis. It isn't perfectly clear, but is anyone perfect? =P

Lastly, I've got a bit of a blooper here. I'm not entirely sure how I managed this one, but notice how the pews are perfectly clear (or nearly), but the iconostasis (etc.) is all...crazy...

Hope you enjoyed all of that! Until next time...

Pinoy Monk

Divine Assistance

2007-05-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

Christos anesti!

Hm, I suppose the theme of my previous entry isn't entirely appropriate based on the liturgical season, so let's take a quick look at what's going on now instead. Although a good number of the readers are now done with their final exams, I suspect the rest of the students out there wouldn't reject a little bit of help. As some of you are well aware, it has been my policy for several years now to recommend a devotion to St. Joseph of Cupertino, patron of aviators and test takers:

O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino, who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

Through Christ Our Lord. St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us. Amen.

For those of you unfamiliar with his history, you could consider skimming through this article. Alternatively, there is a film available that has a rather (overly?) dramatic portrayal of this saint. If you have time, check it out here. I don't believe it is available on DVD though.

Until next time,

Pinoy Monk

Christ Crucified

2007-04-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

Dearest Readers,

It is my hope that on this Good Friday, the height of Our Lord's Passion throughout the Apostolic Christian world, you will find Hope. Of course, this is not any human or temporal hope but rather a spiritual and everlasting hope that cannot die. The death of Our Lord may have seemed a great victory for the perfidious Jews, but the victory of Our Lord was veiled from their eyes. As Bishop Williamson once said, “There are clouds all around the horizon. The world is getting worse and worse. I see no human hope, so let us lift up our hearts and rejoice!”

For those of you who are actually on the internet today (and not spending your time in churches or with your families), I thought that the following quotes from St. Gaspar del Bufalo (the saint of the Precious Blood) would be most appropriate. If you can, spend some time meditating upon them. It is my hope and prayer that they will inspire holy sentiments in your hearts.

Once you have completed these, there will be some prayers for the lost sheep. Do not let them be forgotten on this day.

“The Lord inspires me to offer the following proposal to you, which, when pondered over at the foot of the Cross, has as its object solely the pure glory of God, and nothing more.”

“Indeed, how many tears are being shed during these days at the foot of the Cross; how many sighs are released, how many good resolutions are made. Here is where the repentant sinner finds comfort, where the troubled soul finds courage, where the soul already sanctified finds the tenderness of love. [...] In looking at this sacred monument, oh my beloved faithful, you will remember the mercy shown to you during these days, you will be given courage to face your sufferings, and you will wage war against the tyrannical kingdom.”

“Remain at the foot of the Cross and pray for me who, in a special way, must sustain the glory of the Cross ... hail to the Cross ... hail to the Cross.”

“Let us encourage each other evermore toward the pursuit of perfection and let us not cease studying the great book of the Crucifix. From that book, we learn profound humility, indomitable patience and gentle, industrious charity so that we are able to attract souls to His Love. Yes, let us pray very much for the reform of our times that is so necessary. Let us try to make everyone see that serving God is sweet and that by word and deed we can stimulate in each person a love for the Holy Cross. With beginners we should adapt the burden in accordance with the strengths of their spirit; by corroborating these interior strengths of spirit, they will begin to make progress. May the life of Jesus Christ always remain fully before our eyes. All of this should serve to enkindle fervour within us reciprocally and assist us in our mutual striving for paradise.”

“A Book to be read. It is the Crucifix.”

“In this, let us seek indeed the greater glory of the Lord and we shall become saints… offer prayers so that the most lovable will of God will be manifested. Let us become saints.”

For the World

Let us pray, dearly beloved, to God the Father Almighty, that He would cleanse the world of all errors: take away diseases, drive away famine, open prisons, break chains, grant a sure return to travellers, health to the sick, and a safe haven to those at sea.

Almighty and everlasting God, the comfort of the sorrowful, and the strength of those that labour: let the prayers of those that call upon Thee in any trouble reach Thee; that all may rejoice that in their necessities Thy mercy has helped them. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God, world without end. Amen.

For Heretics and Schismatics

Let us pray also for heretics and schismatics: that our Lord God would be pleased to rescue them from all their errors; and recall them to our Holy Mother the Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Almighty and everlasting God, who savest all, and wouldst that no one should perish: look on the souls that are led astray by the deceit of the devil: that having set aside all heretical evil, the hearts of those that err may repent, and return to the unity of Thy truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God, world without end. Amen.

For the Jews

Let us pray also for the perfidious Jews: that our God and Lord would remove the veil from their hearts: that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ.

Almighty and everlasting God, who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the perfidious Jews: hear our prayers, which we offer for the blindness of that people: that acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be rescued from their darkness. Through the same Lord Jesus they may be rescued from their darkness. Through the same Lord Jesus Holy Spirit: God, world without end. Amen.

For the Pagans

Let us pray also for the pagans: that almighty God would remove iniquity from their hearts: that, putting aside their idols, they may be converted to the true and living God, and His only Son, Jesus Christ our God and Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who ever seekest not the death, but the life of sinners: mercifully hear our prayer, and deliver them from the worship of idols: and join them to Thy holy Church for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit: God, world without end. Amen.

Lenten Update

2007-04-03T22:17:00.000-05:00

Things have been incredibly busy of late, but I'll try to give a brief update of how things have been going. Many have asked me in the past to put some more of my day-to-day activities, so hopefully this will suffice for that particular group. Over the past few weeks, what did I do? Well, I took a mini-road trip to visit a friend. Despite being the guest, he put me to work!

On my way out of town, I noticed a tiny problem:

That was easily remedied though:

Those are the photos from that particular trip, but I did have some friends stay at my place the week after. Sadly, I didn't take any interesting shots that time around. For those interested though, I did shoot a few while at my chapel this past weekend.

And another:

See you a bit after Holy Week and have a great Pascha/Easter!

Catholic Humour

2007-02-25T22:09:00.000-05:00

Although we are in a time of fasting and abstinence, I figured that we weren't forbidden from having a few laughs. Here are a few entertaining things I heard after Mass today (in no particular order). Feel free to share some of your favourite quotes too if something funny comes up!

MC: YOU! Come with me!
Torchbearer: *Whimper.*

Parishioner: I like to read Catholic prophecies, like Bayside.
Priest: *Stunned.* *Jaw drop.*
Parishioner: *Imitates stunned priest.*
Priest: ...why...?
Parishioner: 'Cause...I like their politics...?
Priest: Right...
...a few minutes later...
Parishioner: My son thinks I'm nuts [for reading Bayside prophecies].
Priest: He might be right.

Same parishioner: Father, is it uncharitable to tell her that she needs to use mouthwash?
Priest: Yeah...probably... *looks for escape hatch.*

Today's Pessimism

2007-02-14T13:35:00.000-05:00

"Modern man does not love, but seeks refuge in love." -Nicolás Gómez Dávila

The Reality of Discipleship

2007-02-12T11:52:00.000-05:00

The future path of this site is currently unknown, being that I continue to struggle with material to put here. Various camps and groups of individuals have different expectations, and most of my original readers were lost during the transition period from Eastern-minded socialist (if you can believe that) to "religious fanatic" or "fascist" (those shouldn't come as much of a shock). So, until things become a bit more clear, don't expect prolific amounts of posts. Comments will continue to be encouraged because they are most definitely a form of motivation.

Being that the members of the New Calendar Eastern Churches are now in the Week of the Last Judgement and that the Latin Rite Church just celebrated Sexagesima Sunday yesterday, it seemed appropriate to provide some food for thought with the coming of Great Lent. Hopefully the following quote will cause people to go above and beyond giving up chocolate and perhaps (if we're lucky) meat on Fridays. An even greater hope exists that this mentality and lifestyle will be carried on beyond Great Lent.

"Let us not, who would be Christians, expect anything else from it than to be crucified. For to be Christian is to be crucified, in this time and in any time since Christ came for the first time. His life is the example--and warning-- to us all. We must be crucified personally, mystically; for through crucifixion is the only path to resurrection. If we would rise with Christ, we must first be humbled with Him--even to the ultimate humiliation, being devoured and spit forth by the uncomprehending world.

"And we must be crucified outwardly, in the eyes of the world; for Christ's Kingdom is not of this world, and the world cannot bear it, even a single representative of it, even for a single moment. The world can only accept Antichrist, now or at any time.

"No wonder, then, that it is hard to be a Christian--it is not hard, it is impossible. No one can knowingly accept a way of life which, the more truly it is lived, leads the more surely to one's own destruction. And that is why we constantly rebel, try to make life easier, try to be half-Christian, try to make the best of both worlds. We must ultimately choose--our felicity lies in one world or the other, not in both.

"God give us the strength to pursue the path of crucifixion; there is no other way to be a Christian."

-Father Seraphim Rose

Foolish Ponderings

2007-01-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Although I am posting something new just a bit over a week since my previous entry, I still encourage everyone to continue leaving comments (particularly on the previous post). As I have been waiting for your thoughts, a lot of time has been spent on enjoying tea, reading old books, and watching the snow. In particular, some of the works of Ryokan (a Japanese monk) caught my eye. Being that one of the readers requested that I post more random material, what could it hurt to provide you with some of Ryokan's thoughts that caused me to ponder?

Perhaps someone out there will gain some insight from reading these. No, there shouldn't be any sort of deep spiritual enlightenment or anything silly, but try to spend a few minutes on these, allowing pictures to form in your mind. I find a great beauty in the simplicity of these words and images.

Firstly, we have the following:

At night, deep in the mountains I sit in zazen.
The affairs of men never reach here.
In the stillness I sit on a cushion across from the empty window.
The incense has been swallowed up by the endless night;
My robe has become a garment of white dew.
Unable to sleep, I walk into the garden;
Suddenly, above the highest peak, the round moon appears.

A lot of these works don't have any titles per se, so I'm just typing this to break up the two poems. This other one isn't directly related to the winter (though I suppose the previous wasn't necessarily either), but some characteristics of the snow (and of life) fit well in my mind. Let's give it a try:

In this world, we meet only to part
Like white clouds coming in and out of sight
Leaving behind our faint traces,
So faint that we can't trace them anywhere.

Beyond the material above, I don't have anything else to offer this time around. Hopefully, it was "random" enough for the one who requested it. Until next time...

Unknown Future

2007-01-13T10:58:00.000-05:00

Greetings and New Year's blessings to all of my faithful readers,

As has become a bit of a tradition on this site, it has been ages since I've posted anything worthwhile, so I suppose it'd be appropriate to apologise for my lack of effort in updating. In some respects though, it wouldn't be entirely sincere, being that I have very little motivation to continue running this site. Despite some of you being quite faithful and always giving me comments and other feedback after reading the entirety of the material presented, I can't help but to be disappointed in the fact that a great majority of my readership has been lost since around this time last year. Why is it that blogs with mindless drivel about daily worries and concerns can be so intriguing? And yet, such topics as modesty, piety, etc. are seen as scandalous and cause people to anger? A most curious phenomenon...

So, in an effort to involve the readers a bit (and to actually get new text up on this page), I'd like to ask a few questions and prompt all of you out there to leave your thoughts:

1. Over the last months (or years) that you've been reading here, what particularly has interested you? Why? Would you like to see more of this subject matter?

2. For those readers who now merely lurk and only visit once a month or less often, I'd like you to explain why you have fled here. What have you found to be particularly offensive? Why do you find the material to be such a great cause of scandal?

3. Directed toward either group of individuals (or even to those relatively new), is there anything in particular (a new or old topic) that you would like me to focus on in the coming year? Perhaps, only one or two posts is necessary, but what would you like to see?

Any polite thoughts are welcome on these questions. If you have additional suggestions not directly relating to my (already rather broad) questions, feel free to share. I don't write here to vent but rather to have an open line of discussion with you. I hope what goes on here can cause both groups (the author and the readers) to ponder.

Pinoy Monk

Preparing for the Coming of God

2006-12-15T15:18:00.000-05:00

As the world has now hit the 15th of December, the season of Advent is in full swing. A mere 10 days (give or take) are all that separate us from celebrating the Incarnation of God. Little doubt exists in my mind as to the number of discussions and meditations the readers of this blog have had and come across over the last two weeks, concerning preparations for this great feast in the beginning of our liturgical year.

Doubt fails to play a role in the understanding of this author as to the busy nature of this time of year. Everyone knows how the mad rush of consumerism can overcome people around the globe, whether they are Christian or pagan. It matters not. This "holiday season" is a time of both joy and sadness, as well as fulfillment and suffering. How the season of Advent progresses and finally ends is dependent upon one's disposition along with his willingness take the Feast of the Incarnation seriously.

Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to help the needy, spending time with family, or even giving gifts to those you love. All of these practises have become a part of the Christmas traditions, particularly in West. Nobody should be discouraged from performing some of these traditions, but they must be in the correct context.

"What precisely is that context?" one may ask. "Where is he going with this rambling?" Well, the general idea is that a number of Westerners (and Easterners too, perhaps?) tend to feel guilty around this time of the year. They hear stories about the deprived children in Africa. Sometimes, there are tales of the homeless families in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Shouldn't we have pity on them?" one will ask. Another will respond, "Of course! In the spirit of Christmas, we must do all that we can to correct the evils of the world, trying to set things straight!"

Again, this author is not trying to downplay the plight of those suffering overseas (or even within the borders of the United States), but a doubt does often arise in the mind as to what exactly is this "Christmas spirit" that makes the world guilty during this season and prompts them to do something generous. Is this a way of balancing out all of the greed and overconsumption? Possibly.

Can the world's sufferings truly be alleviated by a few dollars being given here or there? Unlikely. Will all of Africa suddenly become peaceful when a handful of used books and toys are donated? Probably not. One shouldn't cease these activities necessarily, but the world must above and beyond these minuscule steps in order to achieve any sort of greater difference.

Quite a number of centuries ago, in the lands of the "Far East," a very wise man once lived, who always dispensed of his wisdom in order to reshape the world. No, he was not the Saviour of mankind, but he did indeed help to shape society in a more moral direction. This wise man, now known to Western ears as Confucius, once declared, "To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."

"Okay, what's this guy doing now? What does a Chinese philosopher have anything to do with Christmas?" Perhaps he, in and of himself, has absolutely nothing to do with Birth of the Saviour, but consider his message. How has the world been preparing for Christmas? How have you been preparing for Christmas? Has this been a season of setting your heart right with God?

No, I'm not going to petition for you to read your Bible more or for you to organise more fellowship opportunities at your church. Instead, spend more time in prayer. Go to confession again (or for the first time), no matter how long it has been. God is waiting there, for even the worst of sinners to return to His fold. Don't be afraid to renew that spark of Faith during this season.

In addition, we must unceasingly call upon Our Heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to pray for us as we struggle against the forces of evil without as well as the temptations within. Like the Most Holy Theotokos, we must adopt a spirit of humility if we are to be truly prepared for coming of God into the world.

Hail Virgin, Mother of God, full of grace, the Lord is with You. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you gave birth to Christ, the Saviour and deliverer of our souls. Amen.

Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe

2006-12-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

"Know for certain, dearest of my sons, that I am the perfect and ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, the Lord of all things and Master of Heaven and Earth. [...] I will show and offer all my love, compassion, help, and protection to the people and those who look for me. I am your merciful Mother, the Mother of all who live in this land and of all mankind. I will hear the weeping and sorrows of those who love me, cry to me, and have confidence in me, and I will give them consolation and relief."

His Lordship Gives an Update

2006-11-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

How is that I always promise to post more often and then fail to do so? Hopefully all of my American readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I am sure that everyone will begin to prepare (spiritually) soon for Advent. Don't forget to begin the Christmas Novena on the 30th of November if you are so inclined...

As you may have guessed from the title, the major body of this post will be devoted to updates on the Society of Saint Pius X. In particular, I have put together a transcript of a talk given by His Lordship Bishop Williamson, which he recently gave (on the 19th) in Poland. You can find the audio recording here (click!). Of course, I tossed this together rather swiftly (under 24 hours is swift for me), so please feel free to send in any corrections if you so desire.

For the moment, I believe that's all that I have to announce. Enjoy this lengthy transcript (which I typed... if you didn't catch that), and please do leave plenty of comments (because I did spend quite a bit of time on it). Lastly, please forgive the small handful of blanks that I couldn't figure out in my rush.

Bishop Williamson:

Dear friends,

Everything is going very badly. Around all horizons [are] dark, dark clouds. The prospects are only of disaster. So, St. Paul says, “Lift up your hearts and rejoice!” Since everything is going so badly, the only thing to do is to rejoice. Scripture says, “Go about your lives.” ...because hard times are coming. I have an American friend who says, “The alarm bells should be ringing off the wall.” ...because the alarm is so great ... in the near or immediate future.

I heard two days ago in Paris that the motu proprio, liberating the Tridentine Mass, should soon appear. I also heard the same source said that the lifting that the decree of excommunication of the four bishops should also be soon lifted. In other words, the two conditions that the SSPX asked for in 2001...it looks as though they may be granted. Then, in 2001, when there were negotiations between Rome and the SSPX, these were the two preconditions so that discussions could stop between the Society and Rome. In other words, in 2001, strictly speaking, if Rome granted these two things, then the Society would sit down at the table with Rome, in order to talk about doctrine. But, in Rome, they are wolves and foxes and sharks.

The message reached me recently from Cardinal Castrillón that he said, “Bishop Williamson calls me a shark. I am a shark.” He was happy to be called a shark! In French, it is called “opération du shark.” If the shark can charm his victim, he will more easily swallow. Cardinal Castrillón, between 2001 and 2006, has always wanted to contact the Society. When the communists want to get in contact with people (because they are not yet in power), the only safe thing to do is not to talk to them! I believe this is the wisdom of those years! Now, the communists are in power everywhere. Not hard communism but soft communism.

But, it makes one think of Little Red Riding Hood. “Mr. Wolf, what lovely teeth you have!”

“All the better to eat you with!”

“Your Eminence Shark, what lovely teeth you have!” During these last five to six years, the Cardinal has been, in effect, in discussion with the Society, and the discussion was not about doctrine. Just like the communists, he said, “We're not going to agree on doctrine! Let's just come to some practical understanding.” Because the communists know that if you come to a practical understanding, if they can be in contact with and you will be living with them, they will encounter no resistance. This is why yesterday, the only safe thing to do is not to talk to communists. Nevertheless, under John Paul II, the shark did not succeed in swallowing the Society.

Now comes Pope Benedict XVI. We know from a quotation of Cardinal Ratzinger, now the Pope, that he had, shortly before becoming Pope, two regrets. He said, we know this from an Austrian bishop, a colleague of Cardinal Ratzinger. [According to] this bishop, Cardinal Ratzinger said, “I regret two things: One is Fatima.” Meaning, what Cardinal Ratzinger did in 2001, regarding Fatima. At that time, in effect, the Cardinal played an important part in attempting to bury Fatima. Let's say in 2003, maybe in 2004, he regretted what he had done...or regretted what he had had to do. The Cardinal said, “My hand was forced,” meaning that the Cardinal had been told to bury Fatima. Have no fear. Fatima will rise from the dead!

But, the second thing that the Cardinal regretted was the failure of his negotiations with the Society in 1988. You may remember that, in 1988, on May 5th, the Cardinal succeeded in making the Archbishop sign a protocol of agreement, but then in the night of May 5^th and May 6th, as the proverb, “The night brought counsel.” So, on May 6th, the Archbishop took back his signature. He said to the Cardinal, “The time has not yet come for us to be able to work together.” He said, “You wish to dethrone Christ in society, and we to enthrone Christ in society.” What is called a head on clash! Yet, the Cardinal regretted that he had not been able to bring the Society into the Church, and that is, God knows, that the Cardinal was sincere in his regrets. Very possibly, the Cardinal sees the Society as a valuable element in the Church, an element which needs to be inside the official Church and not outside. Why should the Archbishop refuse? Because somebody like the Archbishop sees that the Cardinal's understanding of the Society inside of the Church is quite different from the Archbishop's understanding. Somebody like the Cardinal, somebody with the Cardinal's way of thinking... I only say Cardinal because he, Joseph Ratzinger, then was a Cardinal ... but somebody with his way of thinking does not see Catholic Tradition as an absolute Truth.

Read the Pope Pius X's encyclical Pascendi, around paragraph 28 at the end of section on the modernist theologian, St. Pius X explains why the modernists like Tradition to resist because the Church is Hegelian. The mentality of the modernists is Hegelian, just like the mentality of communists is Hegelian. Hegel, thesis, and synthesis, (?) out of the clash of thesis and synthesis: progress is made out of the synthesis. Without the clash, there will be no progress. So, in a Hegelian mind, if a Catholic Cardinal has a Hegelian mind, then he wants both progressives and conservatives...the progressives move forward. But if they must not move forward too fast.

Imagine a gardener and a hose and a tap. Agricultural comparison: If the gardener pulls the hose too far from the tap, there will be no more water. If the Cardinal pulls the Church too far away from Tradition, then the Church will lose contact with its origins, and the Church will lose vitality. So, the Hegelian Church needs the tap of Tradition, and then the progressives can happily water the flowers all over heresy. And carefully Tradition will help in watering and keeping alive all sorts of heresy. Somebody like Archbishop Lefebvre does not want to be used to provide water for heresy.

Read Pascendi! When Pius X writes Pascendi in 1907, he is, as it were, tearing the hair out of his head because the Pope sees such a danger in modernism! Modernism is a very subtle heresy. It maintains all the appearances while emptying out the substance. If Catholic Tradition allowed itself to be incorporated into the Hegelian Church, the Truth would only be used in order to make heresy flourish. That's why the Archbishop took back his signature. There was no need to say, at that time or today, that Cardinal Ratzinger was insincere. There was no need to say that he meant to lay a trap. There is no need to say that he did not sincerely wish the Archbishop's good. It is perfectly possible to say and to think that the Cardinal meant well. There is no need to think that he meant to deceive the Archbishop. Humanly speaking, my little opinion is that he didn't mean to deceive him. If you are a sincere Hegelian, if you are a sincere modernist, you honestly regret that you failed to come to an agreement with the Archbishop. The same thing today! It is perfectly possible to think that if Pope Ratzinger now fulfils the two conditions, it is because he sincerely wishes to bring the Society into the Church, but the Church has not changed since 1988.

The Official Church is still Hegelian. It is still modernist, and therefore in 2006, like in 1988, if the Society came to some kind of agreement with Rome, there would be a very grave danger of the sharks smoothly swallowing the dear little Society. It would very smooth. No blood. No tearing to pieces. Just quietly, the barrier of teeth closing behind the Society, and the Society is quietly Hegelianised, and we lose the absoluteness of Truth. Our Divine Lord did not say, “I am the Way, the Life, and the Hegelian Truth.” Our Lord said, “I am the Way, the Life, and THE Truth.” If by misfortune, the dear Society allowed itself to be swallowed, the Catholic resistance would need to start all over again. There would be an agreement with the Cardinal Archbishop of Warsaw, the Cardinal Shark of Warsaw would come here with a beautiful smile, and he would swallow the beautiful building; he would swallow the pious, good priests...and all the nice, little children. ...and it said in every fairy tale, “everybody would live happily ever after.”

Just one little problem: Catholic resistance would have to start all over again. The more sincere and well-meaning the Hegelians are, the more dangerous they are. A Hegelian is an absolute enemy of absolute truth. And, so, he has to dissolve absolute truth. Between Hegel and absolute truth, there is an absolute contradiction. Hegel has conquered the modern world, or communism is profoundly Hegelian. Communism and modernism are kissing cousins, and so, between modernism and absolute truth is an absolute enmity. The first Hegelians, Hegel himself, must have known what they were doing, but after the first, like any heresy, the heresiarchs know, but those who follow them don't necessarily know. The followers of Luther can be sincere.

So, a Cardinal Ratzinger, even a Cardinal Castrillón, may mean well, and this is why they deceive. This is why Catholics, who have charity, interpret them kindly. Catholics, assume they have good intentions. It looks as though they have good intentions, and so why shouldn't we come to an agreement? We will no longer have to swim against the current! We no longer have to fight with everybody else in our family. We are no longer exiles or outcasts. We are again friends with everybody because the official Church is friends with everybody. The official Church is friends with communists, with the Mohametans, with the Jews.

Pope Ratzinger, one of the first things he does, is to visit the synagogue in Germany, in Cologne. He says very nice things about the Jews. By accident, he said something not nice about the Mohametans, but he really said that he really didn't mean it. He is sincere friends with all those who used to be enemies of the Church. Why can't he also be friends with the Society of St. Pius X? Why can't the Society understand how he loves us? He can't. Somebody like him cannot understand. In one of the books shown in the rack on the bookshelves here, a book about (?). Unfortunately I can't remember which, it may be the book on the encyclicals of the popes. You have a magnificent collection of the encyclicals of the popes. Archbishop Lefebvre said we need to study these encyclicals. In these encyclicals is the understanding of the Hegelian world: the understanding of the disillusion of Truth, [and] the understanding of liberalism.

I was going to say that the quotation of the Archbishop goes like this, explaining this encyclical to the seminarians, he said, “we are dealing with people who do not believe in absolute truth. People who do not believe in absolute truth cannot be Catholic.” So, there is no way a Catholic can come to an understand with a Hegelian. If it looks like an understanding they come to, either the Catholic is being swallowed by the Hegelian or the Catholic wakes up and backtracks. But, after some kind of agreement, it is difficult to backtrack. The nice, sincere Cardinal Archbishop of Warsaw has come here. He has gone through the whole building. He has smiled all the way. He has met all the little children. He has given his Cardinal blessing to everyone and everything, and then you have to say to him, “Your Eminence, please go away again.” It is not easy, and the Cardinal Archbishop might not be very happy. So, the last state might be worse than the first, but, humanly speaking, once such an agreement is made, it would be very difficult to move back. What is necessary is for the Catholics to understand who modernists are. Modernism is a very subtle and a very dangerous heresy.

Imagine a pharmacy. There are all of the bottles with labels, containing all kinds of medicines and all kinds of pills, on the shelves. You go in one evening to buy some aspirin, and you buy some aspirin. You go away with some aspirin. You come back the following morning: the same bottle, the same morning, the same aspirin...you take it home, but the following morning, you take it home, and it is rat poison. Exactly the same pharmacy, exactly the same bottle, exactly the same label, but the content is quite different! What happened in the middle of the night? Somebody broke into the pharmacy and while leaving all of the appearances, completely changed the content. How is such a thing possible?

The modern age, our age, is very corrupt. We no longer have enough peasants. There is no longer enough common sense amongst human beings. For tens of years now, many of us have been living in big cities, separate from the creatures of God, surrounded by creatures of men. In the country, I cannot argue with the sunshine or the rain. It isn't much use. But, in the city, I can always argue with the policeman or with the girl at the bank counter. When everything is man-made, everything can be man-changed. So, people in a man-made environment think they can change what they like. People in a God-made environment know that there are a lot of things they can't change. This is why peasants in the country have a lot more common sense than computer geeks in the city. On the computer, everything dances at my touch. I am in control of virtual reality. That's why I feel free to change the content of all the bottles and the content of God's religion. There is no longer an absolute truth. Everything is man-made. There is no longer an absolute reality.

Today, there could be a revolution in the street, outside my apartment. People are throwing stones. People are firing guns. They are shrieking, and they are dying. Having looked out onto the street, I will turn back to the televsion set, and I will turn on the television to see if what is happening in the street is true. The tail is wagging the dog, and modern minds are losing reality. It is a danger for all of us, especially being in the city. But today, even life in the country is industrialised. The farmer sits on top of his carbine harvester in a sealed cabin. He no longer suffers from the rain. It is warmed in winter and cooled in summer. He has earphones, and there is rock music in his earphones. He is still in contact with reality? One may wonder. On the ground, on the land he throws chemicals in order to produce plastic food. The Americans are now producing genetically-altered food. I think there is some resistance in Europe, but, for the dear Americans, it is normal to want to improve on the Creation of God. When our digestion will fit genetically-altered food is a minor question.

If enough Catholics lose their sense of reality, they follow man's changing of God's religion. As Archbishop Lefebvre said, “We are dealing with people who have no grasp of objective truth.” The boy Joseph Ratzinger came from a village in southern Germany, but he was born in 1927. After the second World War, he was 18, I think. The pious Catholic boy entered a reconstructed Catholic seminary in Munich, where the very intelligent boy exposed to Hegelian professors, the most prestigious Catholic professors left in war-ruined Germany. He swallowed the poison of Hegel and became a pious modernist. As a pious modernist, he likes pious traditionalists, but he cannot understand them. So, Catholics must preserve, above all, their sense of reality, their sense of an exclusive, objective truth: a truth which excludes error, which excludes Hegel, which condemns Hegel, which cannot endure error, and which ... there is only one truth! No truth can contradict any other truth.

In Hegel['s world], anything can contradict anything. Every contradiction is a simply thesis and a synthesis, which needs to be reconciled in the synthesis. So, two and two are four, and two and two are six. They need to be reconciled into two and two are five. The problem is worse. The problem is that the modernists are like mathematicians who say, “Two and two are four. That's true! I agree with you! You are quite right! You need to be broad-minded. You need to progressive! You must not be a mental shut-in. You mustn't be limited to two and two are four. You must be more broad-minded! Two and two are four, but they're also five! They're also six! They're also six million! So, I agree with you. I agree with your traditional Catholic Faith! You're right, but you have got to be more broad-minded! You mustn't be so exclusive with your traditional Catholic Faith. You must understand that there's other Catholic Faiths which also prove! Between the Catholic truths and any heresy, there isn't necessarily any contradiction! Or...the contradiction doesn't matter! We have entered a new world, a new world of liberty! We are no longer prisoners of two and two are four! We are no longer prisoners of 'I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth...' And, yet, you're still quite right! We need the tap! We don't want to pull the pipe away from you, but we need you to keep all of the heresies alive!”

What can I do, except blow my brains out? What can you do in the face of such a mind? Such a mind is gone! A Hegelian mind is gone! The poor Pope Benedict XVI has a very good mind. The quality of the intelligence is very high, but the head is gone. So, when he is sincerely well-meaning, he's fulfilling the two conditions we asked for. It looks as if he wants to. He may not succeed against the opposition of all of the French bishops. The French bishops understand, 'If you approve of two and two are four, you're condemning six million. You're condemning our Church of Liberty. You're condemning our New Church. These people condemn our New Church. You cannot approve of these people without undividing (?) all of us.' This is why the French Bishops have risen up against the motu proprio. The well-meaning Pope may or may not succeed in establishing his motu proprio, but let us suppose that he succeeds. Let us suppose that he also lifts the decree of excommunication. Where then is the (?)? The Pope will seem at that point to have done everything he could for the Society. All of the newspapers and all of the media will say, “Look how good the Pope is! He is done what these traditionalists wanted for the last six years! He has done everything he could, but still the traditionalists refuse?! These traditionalists deserve to be shot! Why won't they enter into our happy brave new world?!”

If the motu proprio happens and the decree is lifted, we will cut a very nasty figure if we refuse! We are going to look like the Big Bad Wolf, and the Pope will look like Little Red Riding Hood. It will be a difficult situation, and many Catholics of Tradition will be tempted. If the Society does refuse (which is very likely), then Rome will look like the “good guys.” What the Society said in 2001 was reasonable! If these two conditions were fulfilled, it proves that Rome has some good will. And then we will start talking about the real problems, which are problems of truth and doctrine. The real problem is not really even in the True Mass. The real problem is the change of doctrine behind the change of Mass. Behind the New Mass is Hegelian variety. Behind the Old Mass is absolute truth, and Catholic doctrine is marveously expressed in the Old Mass.

So, my dear friends, to conclude, be prepared to fasten your seatbelts because you may need to fasten your minds to Catholic Truth, which is absolute and unchanging Truth. You will need to understand that behind even the kindness of Rome could be Hegelians and most likely is Hegelians. So, don't think that if Rome is kind, the problem is over. What Archbishop Lefebvre used to say was, “These churchmen must accept the doctrine of the encyclicals of the 19^th and the first half of the 20^th centuries.” He said, “They must profess the Syllabus of Pius IX and the Lamentibili and Pascendi of Pius X.” For instance, when these churchmen again profess and put their signatures to those anti-liberal documents, then we know that they too have got out of their Hegelianism. Then, we will know that they have come back to Truth and absolutely. Then, there will be no more problem between the Society and these Romans.

But, of course, if the Romans come back to the absolute Truth will then have the same old problems with the media of the world. That pope who has come back to Truth will be hated by the media like Pius XII. Instead of being loved like John XXIII, by all the world and all the media, and loved like Pope John Paul II with all the world coming to his funeral, he will be exiled like Gregory VII. He will be driven out of Rome like Pius IX. He will be scorned like Pius XII. Our Lord says, “If the world hated me, it will also hate you.” Our Lord never hated the world. Our Lord never hated souls, even the souls of His enemies. He never compromised with error. For that reason, he was crucified.

So, my dear friends, I wish all of us, if necessary, persecution. There are clouds all around the horizon. The world is getting worse and worse. The children are thoroughly threatened. I see no human hope, so let us lift up our hearts and rejoice!

Thank you very much.

Can Heaven Solve the Crisis?

2006-10-11T19:11:00.000-05:00

As the days drag by, more and more news comes forth about death, destruction, and war. Not only does concern exist about suicide attacks against American troops in Iraq, the Zionists are preparing to commit greater atrocities against their neighbours. In addition, the world looks on as the "Axis of Evil" provokes the global community. Particularly, countless worries are directed to the nuclear armament of one of the world's most rogue nations, North Korea.

Such conflict is most certainly worrisome, and there is no doubt that such turmoil can distress the masses and cause great suffering for those directly and even indirectly involved in any of these situations. What steps can be taken to solve these problems? The international community would have one believe that further military action along with economic sanctions could diffuse the global crisis.

Any pious Christian should take a moment to look at this situation and then ought to realise that the efforts of the secular and masonic governments will not solve anything. Such actions, in fact, will only continue to destroy the remnants of Christian society. Those who support the Zionist state will lead to the deaths of countless Palestinians, and those who support the annihilation of North Korea will only bring greater suffering to an already devastated region.

Surely, someone has by now realised that the one and only solution to the crisis at hand is not to be found in the minds and the hearts of the secular authorities. Those who desire a lasting peace must turn their eyes to Heaven in order to find the Truth. In this particular scenario, no private interpretation of the Bible or singing of "Christian rock" songs will solve the problems. No amount of money can be tossed at these issues to make them disappear. Instead, the words from Heaven must be heeded.

Those words are from the the Most Holy Theotokos. On the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it would be most fitting to remind the world of messages from Heaven. The Lord Jesus sent His Holy Mother to Fatima, Portugal in the year 1917, in order to give a world-changing message to three humble shepherd children. All pious Christians must take into consideration the gravity of these messages because, through them, world peace may be attained.

On July 13th of the same year, The Blessed Virgin told the children, "To save [poor sinners who are on the road to Hell], God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace." By the side of Christ of King reigns Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her Immaculate Heart not only teaches us great virtue, but it is an instrument by which God gives graces to the world. It would behoove all Christians to consider special devotions to the Mediatrix of All Graces.

In addition to the above message, Our Lady continued on by saying, "To prevent [war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and against the Holy Father], I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If My requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace."

What exactly is the Co-Redemptrix asking of the pious Christians and poor sinners alike? Firstly, it is the duty of every Christian to petition the Pope, His Holiness Benedict XVI, to consecrate specifically Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all of the bishops of the world. This is the first key. Secondly, reparation must be made to the Immaculate Heart. Countless heterodox Christians and non-Christians throw constant abuses against the Holy Mother of God. It pierces Her Immaculate Heart, and it pains Jesus to see such slander against His Holy Mother. Those faithful to the Holy Theotokos must make reparations through sacrifices and the First Saturdays practise.

To do this, one must go to confession, receive Our Lord in Holy Communion, pray five decades of the rosary, and meditate for fifteen minutes on any of the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. All of these actions must be done each First Saturday for at least five consecutive months. This is the bare minimum asked for at Fatima, and all of these actions must be performed in a spirit of reparation. To practise this devotion beyond the five months must not be discouraged, and such a soul will most certainly gain in virtue and attain a greater union with God through the hands of the Blessed Virgin.

Now, if humanity refuses to heed the commands of Heaven, it has everything to lose. Our Lady warns, "If [My messages are not heeded], [Russia] will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions against the Church." Not only will these wars begin, but Heaven also warns that "the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, [and] various nations will be annihilated."

What a great loss the world shall have if mankind refuses to do the Will of God! "Various nations will be annihilated!" Is the human race willing to take this risk? How could anyone, whether a pious soul or a poor sinner, know the desires of Heaven and cease to obey? It is of the utmost importance that action be taken immediately to stop further suffering, both here and in the next life.

Despite the current distress and agony, Heaven has given one last promise. Even if this situation appears dismal and nearly impossible to repair, it will not always be so. Mary has promised the world so much. "In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world." Why wait for this distant event when souls are being sent to Hell and countless people are suffering at the hands of the enemies of Almighty God? Do not hesitate to act ad majorem Dei gloriam!

Sweet Heart of Mary, be the salvation of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Europe, and the whole world!

Oath of Truth

2006-09-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

My dearest readers,

It seems that I have missed the great Feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Stigmata of Our Father St. Francis of Assisi. Even if this site is lacking proper posts for these feast days, surely you were not lacking in graces from the veneration of the Holy Cross and the saints of God.

Onwards to the secular news, I'm sure that many have been following the situation with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and his quotation of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II. Even if His Holiness was attempting to be highly ecumenical in his speech, I applaud the brief mention of the evils of Mohammedanism. For those readers who missed the quote, I shall reproduce it here:

“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”

What response did the Saracens give to this quotation? The world has seen that the Mohametans “proved” His Holiness wrong by:

1. Burning effigies of the Holy Father

2. Firebombing churches

3. Attacking christians

4. Mudering religious

5. Demanding the assassination of the Holy Father

How, I ask, do the Saracens believe that their actions disprove this quote from the Emperor? My continual condemnations of these Saracen assaults on Christians has brought forth a lot of the stereotypical liberalism from a number of my associates. As many of my previous posts have shown, they have given the complaint that I am not “tolerant” enough and how I must learn to “embrace” the “beliefs and truths in Islam.”

What hogwash! At the most elementary level, we have this quote from the Sacred Scriptures (tip of the hate to the Prots out there), "Beware of false prophets who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” The Mohametans claim to be of the “religion of peace,” but their actions have demonstrated otherwise. You need not look beyond the founder, who most certainly spread his religion by the sword!

The Sacred Scriptures continue to inform us as to our conduct, "Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things that ye have wrought, but that you may receive a full reward. Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, nor say to him, God speed you: for he that saith to him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.”

Like many who have left the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, the Saracens have twisted the words and teachings of Our Lord. Instead of giving a merely different point of view on the Sacred Scriptures (which is a huge problem in and out of itself), the Mohametans have the audacity to deny the very Divinity of Our Saviour. How can any true Christian believe that he can “respect” and “embrace” such beliefs?

For those who wish to take the first stand against liberalism and modernism, which is being forced upon us by our current society, I insist that you take the time to look over the following “Oath Against Modernism.” This oath was originally intended to be taken by the clergy, professors of religion, etc., but it most certainly will aid us in this struggle against the powers of darkness. Do not take this oath lightly because taking it is a commitment to leading a truly Christian life, which is constantly opposed to atheistic liberalism and all of the other evil facets of modernism.

And now, I present to you the Oath:

THE OATH AGAINST MODERNISM

Given by His Holiness St. Pius X September 1, 1910.

I . . . . firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring teaching authority of the Church, especially those principal truths which are directly opposed to the errors of this day. And first of all, I profess that God, the origin and end of all things, can be known with certainty by the natural light of reason from the created world (see Rom. 1:90), that is, from the visible works of creation, as a cause from its effects, and that, therefore, his existence can also be demonstrated: Secondly, I accept and acknowledge the external proofs of revelation, that is, divine acts and especially miracles and prophecies as the surest signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion and I hold that these same proofs are well adapted to the understanding of all eras and all men, even of this time. Thirdly, I believe with equally firm faith that the Church, the guardian and teacher of the revealed word, was personally instituted by the real and historical Christ when he lived among us, and that the Church was built upon Peter, the prince of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors for the duration of time. Fourthly, I sincerely hold that the doctrine of faith was handed down to us from the apostles through the orthodox Fathers in exactly the same meaning and always in the same purport. Therefore, I entirely reject the heretical' misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously. I also condemn every error according to which, in place of the divine deposit which has been given to the spouse of Christ to be carefully guarded by her, there is put a philosophical figment or product of a human conscience that has gradually been developed by human effort and will continue to develop indefinitely. Fifthly, I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind sentiment of religion welling up from the depths of the subconscious under the impulse of the heart and the motion of a will trained to morality; but faith is a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received by hearing from an external source. By this assent, because of the authority of the supremely truthful God, we believe to be true that which has been revealed and attested to by a personal God, our creator and lord.

Furthermore, with due reverence, I submit and adhere with my whole heart to the condemnations, declarations, and all the prescripts contained in the encyclical Pascendi and in the decree Lamentabili, especially those concerning what is known as the history of dogmas. I also reject the error of those who say that the faith held by the Church can contradict history, and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense in which they are now understood, are irreconcilable with a more realistic view of the origins of the Christian religion. I also condemn and reject the opinion of those who say that a well-educated Christian assumes a dual personality-that of a believer and at the same time of a historian, as if it were permissible for a historian to hold things that contradict the faith of the believer, or to establish premises which, provided there be no direct denial of dogmas, would lead to the conclusion that dogmas are either false or doubtful. Likewise, I reject that method of judging and interpreting Sacred Scripture which, departing from the tradition of the Church, the analogy of faith, and the norms of the Apostolic See, embraces the misrepresentations of the rationalists and with no prudence or restraint adopts textual criticism as the one and supreme norm. Furthermore, I reject the opinion of those who hold that a professor lecturing or writing on a historico-theological subject should first put aside any preconceived opinion about the supernatural origin of Catholic tradition or about the divine promise of help to preserve all revealed truth forever; and that they should then interpret the writings of each of the Fathers solely by scientific principles, excluding all sacred authority, and with the same liberty of judgement that is common in the investigation of all ordinary historical documents.

Finally, I declare that I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or what is far worse, say that there is, but in a pantheistic sense, with the result that there would remain nothing but this plain simple fact-one to be put on a par with the ordinary facts of history-the fact, namely, that a group of men by their own labor, skill, and talent have continued through subsequent ages a school begun by Christ and his apostles. I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers in the charism of truth, which certainly is, was, and always will be in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way.

I promise that I shall keep all these articles faithfully, entirely, and sincerely, and guard them inviolate, in no way deviating from them in teaching or in any way in word or in writing. Thus I promise, this I swear, so help me God!

My Imitation of the Immaculate Heart

2006-08-22T21:02:00.000-05:00

My dearest readers, I have once again failed to update regularly, but I suppose that it is of very little use to apologise because it will surely happen again sometime in the future. Perhaps it'll be several weeks from now before I write again, or perhaps you'll get something new before the end of this week (ie. before Sunday). Either way, it is time to get to the real material at hand.

As many of you ought to know, today was the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Most Holy Theotokos, so I attended the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (in the Latin Rite, naturally) at the chapel of the Institute of Christ the King. The liturgy was magnificent, awe-inspiring, and glorious, just as it always has been and will continue to be, but I suppose the point of this text really ought to be about Blessed Mary, ever Virgin.

As the pious and holy priest discussed in his homily, Mary plays countless roles in history, in the Church, and even in our own lives, so we must not fail to pay her due honour and to make reparations as she requested at Fatima. In particular, the notion that we need to imitate Her came through quite strongly, even if the priest didn't focus on that for the entirety of his homily.

To be most like the Holy Mother, we must live a life of virtue, filled particularly with charity (first and foremost), fortitude, and perseverance. No matter the hardships that are given to us in this life, we must continue on the straight and narrow path in order to attain Heaven. Like the Holy Theotokos, we must not compromise the Faith under any circumstances, no matter the suffering we have to endure.

Without dancing around the main point, I think what I’m trying to say is that we must live like the Cristeros did. For those of you unfamiliar with these brave Mexican soldiers, I recommend that you read the lives of my two favourite martyrs: Blessed Miguel Pro and Blessed José Sánchez del Río. Both of these gentleman (the latter only being a boy of 14 years at his martyrdom) were fine examples of living a Marian life.

Each, in his own way, exemplified perseverance and fortitude by their sacrifices. I have no doubt in my mind that they obtained strength from Heaven to continue the fight by their love and zeal for the Most Holy Rosary. Just as they fought the evils of masonry, we today can learn from them to honour Our Lady (and to learn about her life) through the daily recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. The Mediatrix of All Graces (one of my favourite titles of Mary) will surely reward us for our efforts if we fight for Christ Our King.

We must struggle until the end against the evils of modernism and liberalism in this world of darkness. By following Our Lady, the Co-Redemptrix, we cannot go wrong in this life in our battle with the Evil One. In the end, if we stay true to Our Queen, Her “Immaculate Heart will triumph!”

More Prayers for the Perfidious Jews

2006-08-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

My fellow Christians, we must double our efforts in prayers for the Zionists as they launch their strike against Lebanon with 20,000 troops. In particular, we must pray for them in order that they change their mind about who they serve. Let the following statement (released by the Yesha Rabbinical Council) give testimony to the intentions of the Zionists:

"According to Jewish law, during a time of battle and war, there is no such term as 'innocents' of the enemy."

These Zionists do not serve the True God, known to us as the Most Holy Trinity. For this very reason, we must pray for them. Western Christians are urged to make continual use of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Rosary. Don't forget our Melkite and Maronite brethren...

Prayers for the Perfidious Jews

2006-07-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

My dearest readers, I once again have gone several weeks without writing anything, and (once again) you have my apologies. Over these past weeks, I have been considering a number of topics to write on, but the time for such considerations has come to an abrupt halt. With the continued attacks on the Lebanese civilians, I cannot sit back and merely watch.

As many of you ought to have learned from any numbers of media sources, the perfidious Jews of the Zionist State have launched a full scale war against one of the remaining Christian strongholds in the Middle East. Through any number of sources, I hear the cries of my fellow Catholic Christians, particularly the Maronites. In particular, the meeting of local bishops by Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir insisted that “the painful incidents which Lebanon is witnessing are unjustified and inconceivable."

We must use the Weapons of Heaven, particularly the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, to assist in them in their liberation from the Zionist oppression. Let us bombard Heaven with requests for help for the survival of the Lebanese people and for the continued existence of Christianity in the Middle East.

In addition, we must continue our prayers for the conversion of the perfidious Jews. It is in their Zionist dream to deny the Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring about a perfect state and an ideal society for the coming of their false messiah. To rid the world of Christian influences, the Zionists have begun their first major assault on Southern Lebanon. Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of the Zionist State, recently stated, “Everyone in southern Lebanon is a terrorist and is connected to Hizbollah.” The singular aim of this campaign has nothing to do with protecting the Zionist State but rather to destroy those who refuse to follow the ways of the Talmudic Jews.

All of us have the solemn duty as Christians to pray for them, so that they may turn from their wicked ways. Is this teaching (from the Talmud of the modern Jews) something from God:

"Pour out thy anger upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the kingdoms which do not invoke thy name; Pour out thy indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them; Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord."

Most certainly not! In his first encyclical, the Holy Father insisted that “Deus Caritas Est.” (God is love.) Of course, God does possess a certain righteous anger, but the True and Living God of the Christians does not desire the death and destruction of all sinners. It is the Will of Almighty God that sinners shall repent of their sins and return to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. So, in this spirit, I ask all of you to pray for the perfidious Jews. For the salvation of their souls, they must cease in their works of evil, wickedness, and impiety!

Prayer for the Conversion of the Jews

God of Goodness and Father of Mercies, we beseech Thee by the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and by the intercession of the Patriarchs and Holy Apostles, to look with compassion upon the remnant of Israel, so that they may come to a knowledge of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, and share in the precious graces of Redemption. Amen.

Prayer of Good Friday for the Lost

Let us pray for the perfidious Jews: that the Lord our God may take away the veil from their hearts, that they may acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord.

Omnipotent and Eternal God, who does not even exclude Jewish perfidy from thy mercy: hear our prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people, that, having recognized the light of thy truth, which is Christ, they may come out of their darkness, Through Jesus Christ our Lord . . .

God Save the Queen!

2006-07-04T21:48:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are still reading this, please accept my apologies for the long wait in between posts. In the way of Church calendars, quite a bit has been going on (the Apostles' Fast, the Feast of the Holy and Glorious Apostles Peter and Paul, etc.). Otherwise though, life here has been relatively quiet...until today.

As I write this message, fireworks are going off overhead. Countless Americans are celebrating the revolutionaries who broke their allegiance with Britain over taxes, etc. In the mind of a loyalist and a staunch monarchist (such as myself), such a revolution (and subsequent split) with Great Britain was unjustified. Although I am not British nor an Anglican, I will provide the words to the song (mentioned in the title) as well as a video (provided by our friend over at St. Olaf's Axe). Do enjoy!

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

Modesty as a Duty to the Trinity

2006-06-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

During this week, following the Great Feast of Pentecost, I have decided to continue on with our theme of modesty (after the short interruption). Despite the focus on this particular fruit of the Holy Ghost, we must not forget the other fruits and gifts provided to us as we remember and recognise the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles. In particular, let us remember the fruits of charity, peace, and mildness. As many humble priests spoke of during their homilies this past Sunday, we must be humble in these times and learn submission to the Will of God through constant and vigilant prayer.

Once the Will of God has been determined through prayer, it is the duty of every good Christian to use the gifts of fortitude and piety to continue in a path that is most pleasing to the Our Father in Heaven. How is this to be ascertained? As I have said, prayer is a necessity, but we must also live Christian lives. Such a life includes frequent reception of the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments), devoutly wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and a true desire to remove oneself from the things of this world.

For today, a reader has decided to become a guest author in order to clarify the issue of modesty, which is deeply connected to our duty to be moderate in our dress. His text below speaks on women’s modesty but also touches on the appropriateness of men’s dress. As before, I request that you treat him politely and try to read through it all. For those of you with constructive commentary, I urge you to leave feedback to further the discussion on this very important topic.

Thank you.

A Lady’s Modesty, or, Pants versus Skirts
By Frère Ignatius of Vive Christus Rex!

It is truly doubtful that any Catholic or Non-Catholic Christian could possibly question the need for modesty. Modesty is a virtue, and more than this, it is an instinct. Since we are fallen creatures, subject to original sin, we also find ourselves subject, in a greater degree, to sinful temptations of the flesh. This gives us a wish to cover ourselves, in accordance with the natural law which God has written on the heart of every man. However, due to the insidious effects of the secularization of our society, what once, not so long ago, was seemingly common-sense, is now a highly charged and emotional issue.

For better or worse, it is a fact of life that the masculine sex is not overly controversial, in regard to modesty. We have a bit more leeway, though we are still bound to always dress ourselves with decorum and propriety. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost, and ought to be treated as such. One could easily tie this into "good conduct" and write whole books on appropriate carriage, manners, and general civility. If one wishes to read more on this, His Excellency, Bishop Williamson, has written a brief synopsis which is quite good: http://www.sspx.org/Catholic_FAQs/catholic_faqs__morality.htm#modesty

Unfortunately, while among Catholics, the modesty of the man is not terribly controversial, the modesty required of women, is. This stems from an inherent difference between the sexes, such that while most women naturally do not focus solely or first upon looks, and are not normally tempted to lust by visual stimulation, men, unfortunately, are. Exceptions exist, of course, and in our time, with the disordered, unisexual-masculine influences of modern "culture," and the vices prevalent therein, many girls sadly are tempted easily by the flesh. Some men are not, of course, and if they are not, then this is a wonderful thing. However, exceptions make poor rules, and we must deal with what is consistently and objectively true.

Men, by their very nature, are tempted to look upon women and to lust after them. Consequently, as we are indeed our brothers' keepers, women must consider this in their dress. A "reasonable man" standard may be followed. This "reasonable man" standard is certainly higher (in both senses of the word) than one might at first imagine, given the disgraceful fashions of our time. Holy Church, in Her infinite wisdom, has given us some guidelines, thankfully, and these are consistent with the constant standards of modest attire which have been practiced by devout Christians for essentially the last 2,000 years. There are certainly “regulations,” often quoted as “Dresses must have sleeves, must extend below the knee or at least to the knee, must not be low-cut in the neckline, excessively tight, have excessive slits, etc.” This, however, has been beaten into the ground, and it is hoped that any girl with a properly formed Sensus Catholicus (sense of the Catholic Faith) will naturally be able to feel if a garment is immodest or appropriate for a given situation. Notwithstanding, of overriding importance is the following basic principle: feminine clothing must be feminine, and masculine clothing must be masculine. There are established differences between the sexes, both in "physical construction," socially, and between the minds. As this is the case, it stands to reason that women will naturally dress differently than men.

This ties us into the exceedingly volatile topic of "pants vs. skirts." Pants are, in Western civilization and culture (which has been formed over the last 2,000 years directly by Catholic Christianity and is thus objectively the best culture in the world, as Christianity is objectively the True Religion) predominantly men's wear. This is elementary, in that in a traditional family, the woman works in the home to care for the children, while the man is the one who is out "breadwinning," or "working the salt mines," or however one wishes to put it. Men are the ones who are expected to perform most of the heavy labor, and they generally require greater flexibility in the leg. It is difficult to straddle the beam of a roof to apply shingles (or ride a horse, or any of these things) when one is encumbered by a long dress. Furthermore, Peeping Tom was named Thomas and not Sally or Eliza. This may seem a bit off-the-wall, but it illustrates a greater point which has been mentioned previously. Men, in general, do not need to worry about scandalizing the fairer sex with their garb, which can cling to the legs and emphasize the form. (Although, of course, if the form is too much emphasized it is just as wrong on a man as on a woman, according to the basic principles of modesty.) Women are, however, more vulnerable to such gazes, and it is indisputable that a “longish” skirt, fitting loosely, with no compromising slit, is very much more modest than even the most modest of conservative slacks, never mind the horrid, tight-fitting jeans, which emphasize all the wrong areas and might easily incite terrible thoughts in the mind of a man.

Femininity is another great factor. It has already been established that there are marked differences between men and women, which correspond to different roles in the family and society. This being the case, the dress as a feminine garb in western culture is quite appropriate for a lady. It is of course more modest, does not cling and expose the crotch area which ought not to be emphasized, and, as any women who has grown accustomed to wearing skirts and then tries on a pair of pants will tell you, feels much more free, graceful and encourages an altogether different sort of movement than does a pair of pants. Nowadays, since the advent of the so-called "feminist" movement, the sense of the true feminine in the world is quickly being lost. Women are acting, dressing, and even talking like men. Men are still talking and dressing like men, but amidst the onslaught of the feminists, are beginning to act like women, switching the natural roles and contributing to the disorder. Thus, even if pants-wearing by women was objectively OK, and skirts/dresses were merely a "nice accessory," it could certainly be argued that women have an obligation to wear them nonetheless. Traditional gender roles must be preserved, and women should be proud to resist the urgings of secular culture, wearing their skirts as if they were banners of war for Christ the King.

More Disaster

2006-05-24T11:15:00.000-05:00

We interrupt our usual broadcasting to bring you this important news update:

BBC reports have recently confirmed great amounts of destruction in Northern Thailand due to flash floods and mudslides. As is detailed in the article, thousands are trapped in their homes and are in danger of further threats from the floods. We pray for our fellow Southeast Asian brothers that they may be delivered from this trial and for Prime Minister Thaksin as he prepares to provide further support to this crippled area. May the infinte mercy of God be shown.

Blessed Philip Siphong, pray for us.
Blessed Sister Agnes Phila, pray for us.
Blessed Sister Lucia Khambang, pray for us.
Blessed Agatha Phutta, pray for us.
Blessed Cecilia Butsi, pray for us.
Blessed Bibiana Khamphai, pray for us.
Blessed Maria Phorn, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Heart Jesus, have mercy on us.

The Modesty of His Lordship

2006-05-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

Please accept my apologies for yet another delay in posting. As some of you may have noticed, several of our readers have shown great concern over the topic of modesty. To make things clear and to prevent further scandal, I’d like to put forth the following remarks. Men and women are not perfectly equal as has been believed since the members of the French Revolution forced their liberal propaganda upon the world . We are compatible entities but not equal in every respect.

What exactly does this mean in terms of modesty? Men may indeed wear modest shorts, and women ought to stick to their skirts. In my previous article, my commentary on shorts was centered primarily on such events as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and working at the office. Shorts are not fit for either situation, but the other listed activities (sports, around the house, etc.) are appropriate situations for such attire.

For those who still have questions about my viewpoints on women and skirts, I dug up some material from His Lordship Bishop Williamson of the Society of Saint Pius X. Many people consider him to be an extremist or a reactionary of sorts, especially when it comes to morality, but I believe that he explains the points in an orthodox manner without going completely overboard. Many of you will disagree, but hear him out and leave plenty of comments if you so desire. The following is a slightly edited text to remove details of His Excellency’s letter that did not pertain to the topic at hand.

Enjoy!

Dear Friends and Benefactors:

Summer's end may not seem to be the cleverest moment to choose to write about women's dress. Surely the arrival rather than the departure of the warm weather would be the time to inveigh against immodest clothing. However, several ladies happen to have raised with me this summer the question of women wearing trousers or shorts (pants), and the problem is broader and deeper than just immodesty, grave though immodesty is.
For instance Bishop de Castro Mayer used to say that trousers on a woman are worse than a mini-skirt, because while the mini-skirt is sensual and attacks the senses, the trousers are ideological and attack the mind. For indeed women's trousers, as worn today, short or long, modest or immodest, tight or loose, open or disguised (like the "culottes”), are an assault upon woman's womanhood and so they represent a deep-lying revolt against the order willed by God. This may be least true of the long "culottes", trousers most closely resembling a skirt, and at best mistakable for a skirt, but insofar as "culottes" establish the principle of dividing woman's outward apparel from the waist down, they merely disguise the grave disorder. What disorder? ("Excellency, this time really you have flipped your lid!").

In the beginning, God created man and woman, both human but quite different, firstly man, secondly woman (Genesis I, 27; II, 22); woman to be man's help-mate like unto himself (Gem. II, 18), woman for man, not man for woman (I Cor. XI, 9), for "the man is not of the woman but the woman is of the man" (I Cor. XI, 8). Thus even before original sin happened, God ordered between man and woman distinction, inequality, and the headship of man over woman for purposes of living in society and in the family upon this earth.

Original sin, whereby Eve made Adam sin and not the other way round (I Tim II 14), entailed Eve's being punished, amongst other things, by the turning of her natural and painless subordination to Adam into a punishing domination of his over her, for she had shown by seducing him that she needed to be controlled... "thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee" (Genesis III, 16). Thenceforth with the transmission of original sin to all children of Adam passes to all daughters of Adam (except, of course, the Blessed Virgin Mary) this punitive subordination.
As with all problems of sin, the only true solution is the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ. For instance in a Catholic marriage the painful control of man over woman, evident in all non-Christian cultures and re-emerging in our own anti-Christian culture, becomes by supernatural grace more and more that subordination of woman to man which is in accordance with their nature and which is profitable to both, which Eve had before she and Adam fell.

But away with Eden by grace! The modern world will have none of Jesus Christ's solutions to Adam's and Eve's problems. Making idols of liberty and equality, to refuse any inequality or subordination of woman to man, it will deny any distinction between them, it denies of course any order of God in His creation, any need for Redemption, and it will deny if necessary God's very existence. Today's feminism is intimately connected to witchcraft and satanism.

These considerations have taken us a long way from the question of women's trousers, and of course not every woman putting on a pair of shorts is consciously thinking of defying God or of defying her menfolk. She is, however, conscious of something. She is clearly aware that divided shorts are not like an undivided skirt, and the difference is that abandoning the skirt gives her a vague feeling — surely of unease, or emancipation, or both .... What is that feeling based on?

Clothing divided for the legs obviously liberates the mobile lower half of the body for a number of activities for which clothing undivided like a skirt is relatively cumbersome. Adam then having to earn his family's bread by the sweat of all kinds of activities outside the home, it is entirely normal for the man to wear trousers, and if a girl gets it into her head to join him in these activities, obviously trousers likewise emancipate her to do so. Shorts are the outward and visible sign of her, liberation from the restricted range of homemaking activities.

However, she is uneasy because trousers are not the natural wear of a woman. Howsoever it be with other species, in the human species the female is designed to attract the eye of the male much more than the reverse — compare the number of male and of female beauty magazines on the market. Now original sin wounds human nature with concupiscence (unlawful desire) particularly in the senses of sight, touch and imagination. It follows for questions of clothing that what might rouse concupiscence needs more to be disguised in woman from man’s eye than in man from woman’s eye. Hence as trousers benefit the activity of the man, so skirts disguisingly loose befit the dignity and honour of the woman. Hence while donning his emancipatory trousers, she feels uneasy – at least until her conscience is dulled – as she is moving away from her identity and role and dignity as a woman. In her conscience is resounding the voice of the Lord her God pronouncing in the Mosaic Law: “A woman shall not be clothed with man's apparel, neither shall a man use woman's apparel: for he that doeth these things is abominable before God" (Deut. XXII, 5). And trousers are normally man's apparel, for reasons given above.

Of course if one denies the original sin which inflamed man's concupiscence (Gen. III, 7) and sharpened woman's subordination (Gen. III, 16), women's trousers are not so unreasonable, but see all around you the absurd consequences of denying original sin ! — sweet Polyanna goes to the office dressed fit to inflame a stone, but woe unto the poor male colleague in the office who fails to react like a stone, because with recent laws (in the U.S.A.) she will attack him in court! Insanity! Places of work will soon have to extract in advance from women sworn declarations whether they do, or do not, want to have advances made to them! But what was to be expected when women were pulled out of their home? It all serves the liberal men right for so misleading their women.
Contrast the reflective good sense of an American grandmother who said to me this summer when she was on retreat here in Winona that, looking back on her Californian youth, she could see she had often been induced to wear trousers, and now she regretted it — she could see now that each time her womanliness had been diminished. As G.K. Chesterton said, there is nothing so unfeminine as feminism. Women's trousers are a vital part, maybe the crucial break-through, of feminism.

As for the true womanliness of woman, its importance cannot be exaggerated. It all turns on women being essentially designed by God for motherhood; for the bringing of children into this world, and for their rearing; for the giving of life, warmth, love, nursing, and nourishment, everything represented by mother's milk. For this, men are not designed, of it they are intrinsically incapable yet upon it they are wholly dependent if they are to become human, as opposed to inhuman, beings. In a valuable book, "The Flight from Woman", a cultivated Jewish psychiatrist, Karl Stern, tells how he could discern in countless ills of the big city patients coming through his Toronto practice after World War II a pattern of womanlessness with which he was familiar from the works of famous modern writers such as Goethe, Descartes, Tolstoy, Ibsen — not a lack of women, but a lack of truly womanly women, because modern men and women alike are trampling upon the womanly qualities and virtues. Shakespeare distilled this spirit in Lady Macbeth, proto-feminist and satanist:

"Come you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty.... Come to my woman's breast
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers..." (Act I, Sc. V).

Heaven help us! The womanliness of our women is being rooted out and the result is a way of life doomed to self-destruction, doomed to abort.

Girls, be mothers, and in order to be mothers, let not wild horses drag you into shorts or trousers. When activities are proposed to you requiring trousers, if it is something your great-grandmother did, then find a way of doing it, like her, in a skirt. And if your great-grandmother did not do it, then forget it! Her generation created your country, your generation is destroying it. Of course not all women who wear trousers abort the fruit of their womb, but all help to create the abortive society. Old-fashioned is good, modern is suicidal. You wish to stop abortion? Do it by example. Never wear trousers or shorts. Bishop de Castro Mayer was right.

Most sincerely yours in his Sacred Heart,

+Richard Williamson

The Philippines and the EU

2006-05-16T18:25:00.000-05:00

In between posts about morality and Church politics, I decided that it would be a nice break to speak about some secular politics. According to a news release from PhilStar.com yesterday, President Arroyo (of the Philippines for those of you who only worry about American politics) has been making negotiations with the European Union. Although I understand the Filipino desire to stay in touch with Europe, I must declared that this is a terrible decision.

Quite often, Filipinos feel the need to buy foreign products, either American or European (mostly Spanish), but how does this help us at all? Such actions merely increase the unemployment in our country and forces more and more Filipinos into poverty. Let us help one another by buying mostly Filipino products.

In addition to putting a big effort into buying Filipino, please do consider minimizing all purchases of European products. Due to the political decisions of the European Union, I cannot morally justify financing the corrupt EU. Forcing Catholic doctors to perform abortions as well as coercing Malta, Poland, and other Catholics countries to embrace sodomite activies are backhanded tactics that will not sit well with the Catholics of our great country.

Continue to support your local communities! Buy Filipino, and begin boycotts against the European Union! As Filipinos and good Christians, there is absolutely no justification for support of the evil EU. Please continue to pray for an end to this crisis in the world.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto Thine!

Soldiers of Christ

2006-04-29T12:30:00.000-05:00

After reading a recent piece over at Rorate Caeli article, I am very excited to announce the recent recognition by His Holiness of over 50 Spanish martyrs! The anti-Catholic attitude during the Spanish Civil War was so great that countless faithful lost their lives for the Most Holy Name of Jesus. We must not forget their great sacrifices for Our Holy Faith, nor should we fail to struggle against the same hatred and violence. In this spirit, I'd like to reproduce a popular Spanish tune from the same era. Not to worry, you don't have to listen to me sing it, but please do read it. Your comments are always welcome. Any suggestions or requests for future pieces will also be accepted. ^.^

CARA AL SOL (en español)

Cara al sol con la camisa nueva
que tú bordaste en rojo ayer,
me hallará la muerte si me lleva
y no te vuelvo a ver.

Formaré junto a mis compañeros
que hacen guardia sobre los luceros,
impasible el ademán,
y están presentes en nuestro afán.

Si te dicen que caí,
me fui al puesto que tengo allí.

Volverán banderas victoriosas
al paso alegre de la paz
y traerán prendidas cinco rosas:
las flechas de mi haz.

Volverá a reír la primavera,
que por cielo, tierra y mar se espera.

¡Arriba, escuadras, a vencer,
que en España empieza a amanecer!

¡España una!
¡España grande!
¡España libre!
¡Arriba España!

FACING THE SUN (a somewhat loose English translation ... if you could not tell! ~.^)

Facing the sun in my new shirt
that you embroidered in red yesterday,
I will wear it to my death
if I do not return to you.

I'll take my place alongside my comrades
who stand on guard in the heavens,
with a hard countenance,
they are alive in our effort.

If they say to you that I fell,
know that I'm gone to my place up there.

The flags of victory will return
marching merrily along peace
and bringing five red roses:
the arrows of my quiver.

Laughter will return in the springtime,
by the sky, earth, and sea, we await its return.

Onwards, squadrons, to victory,
that a new day dawns on Spain!

Spain united!
Spain great!
Spain free!
Onwards Spain!

Slaying Evil

2006-04-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

My dearest friends, today is the Holy Feast of Saint George, known to many as the slayer of the dragon. Saint George is far more popular in the East, but surely at least some of you have seen the images of this great saint in a decisive battle with the dragon. Even though a mere week has passed since the Feast of the Resurrection (Easter), the time is right to continue in the eternal struggle against the powers of darkness.

Recently, a report was released that a local sodomite was attacked, and the proper “authorities” suspect that this was due to this person’s “orientation.” Firstly, the Holy Crusade that we are currently calling for is not (and has never been) a call to physically harm these sodomites. Even if this particular sodomite was simply pushed around, I do not condone such actions and will stand up against such attacks.

Certainly though, the indifferentism and relativism of the so-called “Christians” of the world must not be embraced either. One of the authorities mentioned above has insisted that we “should be working diligently to assure [that this is] a community that embraces everyone.” As countless Church Fathers have concluded, error has no rights, and there is absolutely no need to “embrace” the errors and sins of the sodomites and other moral deviants.

In fact, such actions need to be destroyed, such as Saint George destroyed the Devil by his piety and constant prayer. All members of Our Holy Christian Religion must cease to embrace the sins of sodomy and liberalism! Instead, their voices of protest must be heard. Surely there are some pious Christians left in this world who will fight against the evils of such sins as liberalism and sodomy.

Every act of indifferentism towards these sins continues to bring shame and dishonour upon the Most Holy Trinity. Those calling themselves Christians need to rise to the occasion in order to protect the honour and sanctity of Our Lord. Do not sit by idly, waiting for someone else to stand up for Christ.

As Saint George put on his armour and drew his sword to prepare for battle, each Christian must also prepare. Arm yourselves with the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and frequent reception of the Holy Sacraments. As well, begin to lay the groundwork for the coming battles. Many have fallen asleep at their posts and are unable to combat the floods of evil. Awaken, I say!

Ready the troops, for now is the time! We must save as many souls as possible!

Saint George, pray for us!
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like unto Thine!

Virtues of the Spring

2006-04-10T21:45:00.000-05:00

With the coming of warmer weather, it is only natural for everyone to wander outside. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the fresh air (as long as one is not ignoring his duties, according to his state in life). Though, as everyone needs to remember, now is not the time to begin wearing shorter and shorter clothing. Naturally, there are requirements when worshipping God, and one should keep similar standards even outside of the church.

Specifically, women need to continue wearing proper skirts, especially outside of Mass. Modern society has led many women to believe that wearing skirts is of absolutely no value. In fact, countless women will issue complaints against the virtue of modesty, which is explained here. Any such complaints will not sway the opinion of this author. So, as a quick summary, women have no need of pants and ought to be wearing skirts and dresses because both of these are the appropriate articles of clothing for women. For a more detailed analysis, please turn to the article written by Cardinal Siri.

Now, as many fail to recognize though, women are not the only ones in need of a reminder when it comes to modesty. Countless men also fail in wearing proper attire. Although shorts and other such articles of clothing may be acceptable for playing sports or for around the home, they ought to be avoided due to their lack of formality. Of course, one must not always be formal, but the virtuous Christian must be presentable at all times. For further details on modesty for men, please refer to this article.

Although the above thoughts did not cover the virtues of modesty in depth, one ought to take the time to study the issue as to please God. In addition, being properly dressed shows a certain Christian dignity. Proper dress will allow others to know of one's self respect, and cleanliness (along with modesty) are some of the best outward signs of self respect, and this is most crucial as a representative of Christ.

To progress onward to a more pressing matter, all ought to recognize that now is the time for Holy Week. Although today (Monday) is nearly over, one ought to use the next two days to prepare for the Sacred Triduum (of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) by performing a deep cleaning. Firstly, a surface cleaning is required, so one ought to start with the home. All things ought to be straightened up, and stray belongings need to be put in their proper places.

Now, more importantly, the soul needs to be cleansed. So, in preparation for the Sacred Triduum, one ought to make a proper Examination of Conscience. The next two days would be a most perfect time for this. Upon arriving at a proper knowledge and understanding of his sins, the time for confession has come. When an orthodox priest is available, one should take the opportunity to confess his sins in order to purify the soul.

With these last days of Great and Holy Lent upon the world, no opportunity should be lost to obtain graces through extra penances and mortifications. Although such actions may be performed later on, Eastertide is swiftly coming. Such days of celebration are no time to be mortifying the flesh. So, begin to put in the last efforts to struggle against the flesh. Go to the extremes that the body can handle while their is still time before the great feast of Easter.

On top of these mortifications, do not forget to perform acts of charity! As Christ said, we must not be like heathens and take false pride in our fasting and penance. Instead, one ought to go with joy and cheerfulness as he spreads the Holy Gospel. Do not falter in any acts of charity, such as combating the evils of sodomy, immodesty, and the countless heresies of our age. Liberalism will try to overtake all of those who truly fight for Christ, but now is the time to put in the last efforts to destroy such an evil foe.

Never surrender in any efforts to overcome the evil while spreading the Gospel. God wills it!

Culture of Death

2006-03-27T23:59:00.000-05:00

In a recent publication of U.S. Newswire, Father Pavone of Priest for Life (http://www.priestsforlife.org) released an open letter to Michael Schiavo. Throughout the letter, he accuses Mr. Schiavo of murdering his wife. The author is in complete agreement with the title of “murderer” being used to describe Mr. Schiavo. In addition, agreement can be given for the need for Mr. Schiavo to repent! His sins are just one example of the countless abominations present in today’s society, in which the culture of death reigns. Sodomy, abortion, euthanasia, etc. must all be to a stop. During this time of Great and Holy Lent, each reader must take the opportunity to use the graces, derived from his fasting and prayers, to expel these evils by means of an active apostolate. Fear must not stop the faithful from preaching these truths! Please do take a few moments to read Father Pavone’s letter, and do consider passing on this message.

-Pinoy Monk

A year ago this week, I stood by the bedside of the woman you married and promised to love in good times and bad, in sickness and health. She was enduring a very bad time, because she hadn't been given food or drink in nearly two weeks. And you were the one insisting that she continue to be deprived of food and water, right up to her death. I watched her face for hours on end, right up to moments before her last breath. Her death was not peaceful, nor was it beautiful. If you saw her too, and noticed what her eyes were doing, you know that to describe her last agony as peaceful is a lie.

This week, tens of millions of Americans will remember those agonizing days last year, and will scratch their heads trying to figure out why you didn't simply let Terri's mom, dad, and siblings take care of her, as they were willing to do. They offered you, again and again, the option to simply let them care for Terri, without asking anything of you. But you refused and continued to insist that Terri's feeding be stopped. She had no terminal illness. She was simply a disabled woman who needed extra care that you weren't willing to give.

I speak to you today on behalf of the tens of millions of Americans who still wonder why. I speak to you today to express their anger, their dismay, their outraged astonishment at your behavior in the midst of this tragedy. Most people will wonder about these questions in silence, but as one of only a few people who were eyewitnesses to Terri's dehydration, I have to speak.

I have spoken to you before, not in person, but through mass media. Before Terri's feeding tube was removed for the last time, I appealed to you with respect, asking you not to continue on the road you were pursuing, urging you to reconsider your decisions, in the light of the damage you were doing. I invited you to talk. But you did not respond.
Then, after Terri died, I called her death a killing, and I called you a murderer because you knew -- as we all did -- that ceasing to feed Terri would kill her. We watched, but you had the power to save her. Her life was in your hands, but you threw it away, with the willing cooperation of attorneys and judges who were as heartless as you were. Some have demanded that I apologize to you for calling you a murderer. Not only will I not apologize, I will repeat it again. Your decision to have Terri dehydrated to death was a decision to kill her. It doesn't matter if Judge Greer said it was legal. No judge, no court, no power on earth can legitimize what you did. It makes no difference if what you did was legal in the eyes of men; it was murder in the eyes of God and of millions of your fellow Americans and countless more around the world. You are the one who owes all of us an apology.

Your actions offend us. Not only have you killed Terri and deeply wounded her family, but you have disgraced our nation, betrayed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and undermined the principles that hold us together as a civilized society. You have offended those who struggle on a daily basis to care for loved ones who are dying, and who sometimes have to make the very legitimate decision to discontinue futile treatment. You have offended them by trying to confuse Terri's circumstances with theirs. Terri's case was not one of judging treatment to be worthless -- which is sometimes the case; rather, it was about judging a life to be worthless, which is never the case.

You have made your mark on history, but sadly, it is an ugly stain. In the name of millions around the world, I call on you today to embrace a life of repentance, and to ask forgiveness from the Lord, who holds the lives of each of us in His hands.
-- Fr. Frank Pavone

A Crusade of Charity

2006-03-13T23:11:00.000-05:00

Brethren, the second full week of Great Lent has begun, and each person ought to have developed a proper set of disciplines. Through each act of mortification and by constant vigilance to unceasing prayer, the souls of the faithful are being purified and cleansed of all sins and of inclinations toward failure. By this lifestyle of asceticism, one may surely achieve clarity of mind as the soul becomes clean and wholesome.

So many in this day and age have called for a halt to mortification and denial of the flesh. Instead, such individuals desire leniency and often refuse to overcome the desires of their worldly bodies. They desire volunteering and such works in place of the commands of Holy Mother Church. They are in error, so it is now most proper to correct such flawed notions.

On top of all other mortifications, a new trial begins this day. Consider this message as a call to a new Holy Crusade against the world and the powers of darkness. Charity is one of the greatest theological virtues lacking in society, and the Most Holy Trinity demands that such a virtue be cultivated in the hearts of men.

Beginning this day, go above and beyond the demands of the minimal fast. Besiege the modern world, and do not fail in any attempts to bring about the Social Reign of Christ the King. In this mission, the world depends on the Warriors of Christ. As a soldier of the Lord, one must fight for the greater glory and honour of God. Each heresy destroyed will save thousands, if not millions, of souls from the eternal fires of Hell, and this is one of the greatest acts of charity!

Wherever you may find heresy, destroy it at its very roots. Those who stand in the way must be shown the power and strength of Almighty God! Holy Mother Church demands of the faithful that heresies must not be shown any mercy, but this must not be a call to massacre the faithless. The disciples of the True God and of the True Faith must not act like the False Prophet and the Mohametans, who have all been commanded to slay the “unbelievers” where they be found.

In place of such false teachings, a new command is to be given. Slay the heresies and modernist beliefs, not by the sword but through the weapons given by Heaven. The Most Holy Rosary must be a primary arm of all true warriors. In addition, do not fail to offer up great sacrifices for the countless sinners of this age. Through efforts of the true disciples of Christ, this world may be transformed, and the powers and dominions of Heaven shall sing praises as each new soul is returned to the Lord.

Liberalism and its fruits must be stamped out by those who desire to save souls. An attitude of indifference must be removed from the minds, and the false outlook of respect for errors must not be permitted to stand! Each act of liberalism which is permitted will surely bring about a greater loss of souls through the utter chaos inherent in the sins of liberalism. By its very nature, liberalism draws away the attention of the people from the Divine to the concerns of the temporal world.

Often, one hears that one should agree and respect the opinions and beliefs of others, no matter how false such notions may be. Even more frequently, the secular (or perhaps the religious) authorities demand that errors be embraced. All those calling themselves Christians must put a halt to the indifferentism infecting society. His Holiness Pope Leo XIII once said, “The world has heard enough of the so-called 'rights of man.' Let it hear something of the rights of God.”

How valuable are the words of this Holy Pontiff! “Modern man” must humble himself enough to see the Truth. Almighty God has established the Holy Christian Religion, not to enslave the people, but to liberate them from the bonds of sin. The world will not be in agreement in this regard, but the world and the flesh are so often used as agents of Satan. Submit to the Church, established by the Christ, and obey Her so that souls may be saved by the graces supplied through the Holy Sacraments. Put aside the contradictions and chaos of the world, and destroy liberalism and its evil fruits. God wills it!

Lenten Motivation

2006-03-07T23:45:00.000-05:00

Nearly one week of Great Lent has passed in the West, and so many are already surrendering to their passions. Has Christ not provided the necessary tools for the faithful to persevere? How many saints are now in Heaven to intercede before the Throne of God? How many devotions to the Blessed Virgin have been provided? My Dear Faithful, do not surrender so easily.

Throughout the days of Great Lent, one must struggle to conquer the desires of the flesh. No doubt exists as to the difficulty one encounters in the battle defeat sloth, gluttony, and all other sins. Oftentimes, Satan will attack the faithful now in their moments of weakness. Indeed, now is most definitely a time of weakness, but it does not have to be. Many will strive to "give up" chocolate, television, or some other such thing, and these are noble endeavors. One must stop to consider though, how goes about fasting and mortifying the flesh.

Despite the Christian nature of this season, many shall forget the numerous opportunities the Most Holy Trinity has provided to obtain grace. Many shall forget to petition Heaven for help. Now is most definitely not the season to overcome the flesh merely by one's own willpower. Pray often! Visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament! Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Confess often! How many souls will be lost as they are lured into a sense of pride! The Evil One shall not cease to draw souls away from God in these days, but the darkness can be overcome through constant prayer and by frequent reception of the Holy Sacraments.

Beyond the usual fasting and mortifications, one must also bear in mind the necessity to save souls. Yes, Great and Holy Lent will most definitely be a time to save one's own soul, but there is no time or place for selfishness. Sodomy, promiscuity, and countless other sins and temptations will not cease, so the battle must continue. Keep on guard against the powers of darkness because they are prepared to pull anyone and everyone from the path of holiness.

Now is the time to begin on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. It matters not where one is now, but a continual progression must be made upwards. As one can see in the popular icon of the same name, the demons will pull even the most devout from the ladder if they do not take the necessary precautions. For those unaccustomed to any number of disciplines, now may be a time to begin praying the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin. This devotion will deepen one's understanding of the lives of Christ and His Most Holy Mother. As well, the Church taught the efficacy of the Most Holy Rosary against the powers of darkness.

Praying is a necessity, and success shall be lost without constant prayer. In addition to the Most Holy Rosary, one may consider praying the psalms, which are quite agreeably arranged in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. A number novenas ought to be considered, and a variety of options can be found at FishEaters.com/Novenas.html.

So, in the coming days, take some extra time to pray and perhaps even make it to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. God will reward your efforts and provide you with the extra graces to overcome your difficulties and to fight the powers of darkness.

Chicago Conference Notes

2006-02-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

The following notes, concerning Bishop Fellay's recent conference in Chicago, have been acquired. Although they have been slightly edited in order to ease reading, the major themes have not been tampered with. The speech is said to have been a 3 hour 20 minute monologue by His Lordship. Please enjoy, comment, and share!

1. “We are not facing a heresy. One cannot say in correct, exact, precise terms that there is a schism [here]. There is a schismatic attitude in the consecration of bishops without a pontifical mandate. They are inside the Church; there is only lacking a full, a more perfect -- as was said in the meeting with Msgr. Fellay --a fuller communion, because there is communion”

“Despite the illicit consecrations by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988, and recognized as such through the declaration of Ecclesia Dei Adflicta, a document issued by, and signed by the late Pope John Paul II, the clerical traditionalist followers of Archbishop Lefebvre are not necessarily in schism, but may be in imperfect communion.”

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos made this same point in a little-known September interview in 30 Days, a well-respected Italian publication. “Unfortunately, Msgr. Lefebvre went ahead with the consecration and hence the situation of separation came about, even if it was not a formal schism”

2. SSPX Priests, 4 Bishops and 6 thousand faithful visited Rome, said Mass in the Vatican for the Supreme Pontiff, and then made processions to other Roman Churches where they were welcome by the local ordinaries to say Mass, and given the higher honor. Many faithful Italian bystanders came up to Bishop Bernard Fellay and said to each other that this (referring to the SSPX) is the “real” Catholic Church. The Pope was prayed for. Bishop Fellay remarked how odd it is that a “schismatic” group would be allowed to make a procession into the Vatican to celebrate Mass and also pray for the Pontiff.

3.Discussion with Rome began in 1999 during the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The request was made that Rome lift the decree of excommunication and also allow for universal Latin Mass without the indult of the local ordinary. Rome turned a deft ear. It was not until 2001 when discussions began again.

Discussions were always headed by Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos of Columbia who always maintained that such granting cannot be permitted.

2001 Cardinal Hoyos wanted to offer a “regularize condition” and “solve the SSPX” problem. Bishop Fellay’s response was that first as an act of good faith Rome must do what was initially asked for. It’s not for the Society or it’s members, but for the faithful. More importantly, Bishop Fellay told the Cardinal that he does not trust him or Rome. (The Society of Saint Peter was enticed back into the fold. Immediately afterwards, all priests were required to sign an oath to accept Vatican II. Moreover, the constitution of the Society of Saint Peter was unilaterally violated. Rome autonomously stated that the election of the Superior General will not have a 6 years term limit. At that instance Rome demanded the resignation of the current Superior General of the Society of Saint Peter, and unilaterally decided to appoint it’s own favored Superior. Moreover, Rome also demanded the resignations of all heads of the Society’s seminaries and replaced them with those loyal to Vatican II. The Society of Saint Peter for all practical purposes ceased to be. This year it will break up into 2 factions as preparations are being made.) SSPX does not want to suffer the same fate.

4. Rome appears to be working for a special arrangement for the SSPX wherein it may have universal self-governance without having to seek permission of the local ordinary Bishops. This is speculation, but something is in the works.

5.The Pope was interviewed by a female journalist who is a daughter of one of his university professors. It was a private interview which lasted some 20 minutes. The Pope was purported to have said that he want to return to Tradition, but there are forces that prevent him from doing so.

The back and forth with Rome is that Bishop Falley consistently has been pointing out to Rome that there is a major crisis in the church. Things are broken. Initially and for several first few years, Rome refused to accept that. This is particularly true in the Roman Curia and the College of Cardinals who are very concerned with preserving their own power and advancing their agendas. This is also true for the local Bishops the world over.

7. Cardinal Hoyos said to the Holy Father in the presence of Bishop Fellay that good fruits are coming as the results of the good works of the SSPX. Therefore, SSPX is not outside the church.

Moreover, Society’s priest who went back and defected to Rome were never required to be re-ordained and go through more training. Instead, they are fully accepted into the Church until, for example, ordained Orthodox priests or Anglican priests who come to Rome having to be retrained.

Additionally, an issue came up where an SSPX priest entered into a disagreement with Bishop Fellay, and asked of him that a commission be formed as a Tribunal. Bishop Falley said to his priest that this can’t be done as a Tribunal is a province and under the jurisdiction only of the Holy Father. When Bishop Fellay met with his Holiness recently, he made a request if the Holy Father would set up a tribunal for this purpose, and the reply was “Why not”. Cardinal Hoyos quickly interrupted the Holy Father saying, “Holy Father, we can’t do that. They don’t officially exist.”

On another occasion a theological dispute – which I can’t remember what Bishop Fellay said it was – came up and an SSPX priest wrote to Rome for clarification. A young Priest of the Curia urged that clarification be made and contact made with SSPX to deal with a specific theological point. A Cardinal said it can’t deal with SSPX as co-equals as the SSPX is inferior to the Curia which implies clearly that SSPX is within the structure of the Catholic church, and can’t be dealt with as equals, i.e., dealing with the Orthodox.

Finally, Rome removed schismatic status of the Orthodox in order to “help facilitate dialog” with them. SSPX asked for the same. Rome said that the issue concerning SSPX is different meaning that since it is already in the Church, and it does not need to have the situation normalized in that way.

8. In the most recent meeting between the Holy Father and Bishop Fellay, the Holy Father said that Archbishop Lefebvre has done the Universal Church a great service. Bishop Fellay commented that this is not bad to be so honoured (for being a supposed "schismatic") by the Pope himself.

9. France is almost without Priests. Each Priest has to be responsible for anywhere from 30+ to 80+ parishes. In fact, shortages of Priests are so acute that in Western European nations, many dioceses are closed down completely, or got folded into larger ones. Faithfuls are without priests to minister to them.

Many French Bishops have approached the SSPX and unilaterally wanting to offer churches to SSPX to run. This is not because they love tradition. It’s because they are anticipating that Rome is creating autonomous religious orders like the Institute of Christ the King and similar groups that will be coming into their jurisdictions, and as the result of that will dilute their influence within their own territories. So, in order to cancel Rome’s perceived interference in their territories, they are inviting in SSPX to have control of these empty parishes.

Again, in France, the Muslims are demanding that the French government hand over empty Catholic churches to them for usage on the basis that the French government collect taxes from it’s citizens and provide some funding of the Catholic churches. Since the churches are empty, the Muslims only are demanding that there be payoffs for their tax money.

The ills of the Civil Society were caused by the Age of Enlightenment where science overtook the Catholic Church. As such scientific rationalism supplanted the governance of the Catholic States and rule of Christ the King.

Bishop Fellay quoted Saint Thomas Aquinas who wrote that the relationship between the Church and the State is like that of the Body and the Soul, one can’t live separately and independent of each other. A Catholic nation state helps its citizens keep the divine laws of God and helps its citizens reach perfection and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. On the contrary, secular states lead their citizens into Hell since there are no limits or control of evils and all the passions and desires. For example, Bishop Falley said he grew up in a Swiss independent Catholic State. When he was young he recalled policemen were called to arrest a couple who were unmarried, but living together in contrary to God’s laws. In another instance, a woman was arrested for wearing a mini-skirt on the basis of immorality and immodesty.

After the Vatican II, that Swiss state no longer was a Catholic, but a fully secular state. Today all things that are ungodly are condoned there, and many great other places in the world.

The aim is the Universal Reign of Christ the King through the Catholic Church.

The mission of the Catholic Church is to lead souls to heaven. Today’s Catholic church has forgotten its mission and therefore the crisis.

12. We in the SSPX bow to the obedience to the Vicar of Christ, the Pope. We listen for the voice of Christ from the lips of the Pope. However, the most recent Pope did not speak the words of Christ. He kissed the Koran thereby giving legitimacy and endorsement to it’s teaching that Jesus is not the Son of God or God incarnate. John Paul II has done many Catholic souls great harm. Moreover, Vatican II has cause a crisis in the Church because of it’s many “ecumenical statements, behaviors and efforts” to reach out to heretic, schematics, and pagans.

13. Holy Father, the problem is not between Rome and SSPX. The problem is Rome within itself. If Rome solve it's own problem - Vatican II - then the problem that it has with SSPX will cease to be. The problem is Vatican II. Holy Father seems to want to return to Tradition, but fears that if he moves to rapidly the church will split in half or worst. So, the return to tradition will have to be gradual. Finally, the Cardinals only see this Pope as transitional as he is old. They want to have the opportunity to put in their very own Pope. The last elections - 4 all together - the other candidates knew early that they would not be Pope. They consolidated forces and still couldn't win. Radzinger is not a Traditionalist, but he realized now that there is a crisis.

14. Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos asked that His Excellency write a letter to the Holy Father, requesting that the excommunications be revoked. Bishop Fellay said there is no need to write again as he has alrady written 3 letters to the Holy Father. Also, Bishop Fellay says that for the Cardinal to suggest writing means that the Pope is ready to grant the lifting of the decree of excommunication. It is in the works. It just to make it formal. That's all. Bishop Fellay says why not just go ahead and just do it.

16. Holy Father said to Bishop Fellay, “You didn’t have the right to decide that a crisis existed and so must ordained Bishops”.

17. The Pope is a very private man and has a very different style of governing and management. Pope John Paul II would have breakfasts with his staff and Cardinals every morning after the morning Mass. Pope Benedict done away with that. In fact, no one knows what’s going on with him in the morning as he does what ever he does in his apartment until 11:00 a.m. before emerging.

18. The Pope had commented to a priest on his staff that “You are a worrier. I’m a thinker”. That says a lot about him. He takes an issue and think it over very carefully.

19. John Paul II hardly made any decisions during His reign. He referred all matters to committees and commission to decide on matter.

20. We don’t know yet how Pope Benedict will manage.

21. The SSPX is doing the work of the local ordinaries. If they were doing their jobs, the SSPX wouldn't have to. Confirmation, for example, is an obligation of the local bishop. (Implied - Since the local authorities failed to teach true Catholicism, [the SSPX] is doing that job)

22. In closing, the greatest act we can do for the Holy Father is to pray for him. He wants to do what is right, but there are forces that are preventing him from doing what he needs to do. As one of the Popes since Vatican II has said, "The smoke of satan has entered into God's temple (The Holy Roman Catholic Church). It's a serious fight between us and Satan. It's a difficult task to exorcise demons who possess a person. The fight is much greater to exorcise satan and his angels from the Holy Church. He will not give it up easily. It is a difficult fight, and we are all in this fight until the end.

Blessings and Cheer

2006-02-26T20:40:00.000-05:00

Today, His Lordship Bishop Fellay, visited Our Lady Immaculate in a suburb of Chicago, IL. He came to bring news of his contacts with Rome, but, more importantly, His Lordship came to confirm a number of men and women.

Do not fear! His Excellency made quite clear that he is unwilling to negotiate until Rome is willing to lift the decree of excommunication and/or permit all priests of the Holy Roman Catholic Church to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. There was some speculation that Rome might be willing to lift the decree after all of these years of obstinate refusal.

Further details will be provided as they arrive. His Lordship has given a conference to the Chicago public at 1800 (Central). As media reports are released, this blog will be updated as soon as humanly possible.

Thank you. That is all. ^.^

A Warning

2006-02-23T22:23:00.000-05:00

Liberalism is "the radical and universal denial of all divine truth and Christian dogma, the primal type of all heresy, and the supreme rebellion against the authority of God and His Church. As with Lucifer, its maxim is, 'I will not serve.'"

More than ever before, the people of the world need to heed these words of Father Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany. Even in the late 19th Century, he released his famous work, entitled Liberalism is a Sin. What, one might ask, did the world have to deal with in the 1800s that was so very liberal? Even in the days of Fr. Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany, liberalism was infecting the world and attempting to bring about an end to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Questions ought to begin coming to mind now if the reader has made it this far and not given up on reading. What precisely is liberalism? What are its marks? Well, it would seem that Father Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany quite accurately addresses these issues. He explains that the following are some of the principles of liberalism:

1. The absolute sovereignty of the individual in his entire independence of God and God's authority.

2. The absolute sovereignty of society in its entire independence of everything which does not proceed from itself.

3. Absolute civil sovereignty in the implied right of the people to make their own laws in entire independence and utter disregard of any other criterion than the popular will expressed at the polls and in parliamentary majorities.

4. Absolute freedom of thought in politics, morals, or in religion. The unrestrained liberty of the press.

Although many Westerners believe in every single of these as ideals, it must be strictly clear that such rationalism (as Father Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany declares them to be) is beyond erroneous and is quite sinful. In the same chapter of his book, he goes on to declare that one of many modern problems it the secularization of society. Again, how many Westerners see this as a problem? It is quite doubtful that modern man considers secularization to be a problem at all.

On the contrary, it is a huge obstacle that must be overcome. In Quanta Cura, His Holiness Pope Pius IX makes it quite clear that such beliefs are contrary to the Christian Faith and are a danger to souls. He condemns a number of modern ideals. The ninth notion, which he condemns, sticks out quite boldly as it concerns the rationalism discussed above. "All the dogmas of the Christian religion are indiscriminately the object of natural science or philosophy, and human reason, enlightened solely in an historical way, is able, by its own natural strength and principles, to attain to the true science of even the most abstruse dogmas; provided only that such dogmas be proposed to reason itself as its object.”

By declaring that the Truth can be attained merely through the use of human reason is erroneous and heretical. The Truth is beyond human reason, and many fail to comprehend this notion. One must never consider the world to be a purely physical realm. The spiritual nature of the world was not be forgotten, so Christ and His Church must not be forgotten.

In fact, one’s duty should go above and beyond this. Not only should everyone remember Christ and Holy Mother Church, but souls must be saved through Christ’s Bride. In place of “embracing” others’ diversities, one ought to be showing them the Way.

As countless pious and devout men have said, error has no rights. Why endanger souls by permitting errors to thrive? When liberalism does not insist upon completely embracing errors, it attempts to coax the innocent into a spirit of indifferentism.

Indifferentism is just as much of a sin as the previous. Christ the King does not desire friends nor followers who merely turn a blind eye to the problems of the world. How long will the “followers of Christ” fail to labour for their Master? Souls are in need of the Truth, and countless are lost because so many refuse to act. They have been infected by rationalism, secularism, and indifferentism. Such individuals believe that everyone has the right to choose any religion they so desire and that such errors are perfectly permissible.

Do not be overwhelmed any longer by liberalism! In order to combat it, one must frequent the sacraments and attend the Holy Mass as often as possible. Furthermore, it is necessary to discard the liberal propaganda. In place of such filth, all are encouraged to begin reading unmistakably orthodox material. To begin, read Father Don Felix Sarda Y Salvany’s Liberalism is a Sin.

Never forget his words. “Liberalism is the root of heresy, the tree of evil in whose branches all the harpies of infidelity find ample shelter; it is today the evil of all evils.”

Suffering in the Philippines

2006-02-20T00:18:00.000-05:00

It has recently been brought to the attention of the author that extensive mudslides have taken place in the Philippines in Southern Leyte. Although these occurred already three days ago, a lot is still unknown. Many people are still missing. Please continue to pray for the Philippines and for the families there. May they not lose their hope! May they hold strong to the Faith!

Check for updates on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Southern_Leyte_mudslide

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us.
Blessed Charnetsky, pray for us.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Lacking the Faith

2006-02-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

Recently, a reader has called into question this author’s allegiance to the Pontiff (as well as a number of other things). In order to clarify the Truth, it is quite necessary for the following to be written.

Contrary to the late JPII and even to the current Pontiff (H.H. BXVI), Holy Mother Church has taught throughout the ages that non-believers cannot share in eternal salvation if they deny the teachings of the Christ. In many of the past articles, it has been made quite clear that the Mohametans have no claim whatsoever to life everlasting.

Based on recent accusations, it is quite necessary now to tackle the issue of Judaism. JPII continually declared that the Jews are “our older brothers in the faith.” Naturally, such declarations about the Jews have never been directed toward the “race” but rather to the people of the Jewish religion.

Now, how is it that the world so readily embraces these words of JPII? To accept the errors of Judaism is far easier than to stand by Christ and His commands. The Holy Scriptures continually warn against taking the wide path, so tread ever so softly in any efforts to embrace the easy way of the Jews.

The Holy Council of Florence once again declared the end of the Jewish covenant. “The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and teaches that the Mosaic Law ... cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation.” No longer can anyone attain Heaven through the works of the Jewish religion.

Why does the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church teach such things? Did God not make promises to the Jews? Were they not His people? Indeed, God made many promises, which were directed to the coming of the Saviour. As Saint Athansius points out, “Those who deny the Son thereby deny also the Father.” The Jews (as well as the Mohametans) declare that they are worshipping the one true God, yet how is that possible when they deny the Son?

“The Jews have not recognized Our Lord; therefore, we cannot recognize the
Jewish people.” Pope Saint Pius X makes it quite clear though that the Jews have denied the Divinity of Jesus. The Father sent Jesus into the world to save His people, but they denied Him and refused to believe. This Holy Father has spoken wisely in his affirmation that the Jews cannot be considered to be saved. It is sound Christian doctrine to believe this message and to spread it.

The Lord Jesus Christ affirms the position of His Church in the most unambiguous fashion. “So clearly was the transition then made from the Synagogue to the Church that, when the Lord gave up His soul, the veil of the Temple was rent in two.” The Scriptures themselves give testimony to the end of the Jewish covenant.

For the common good, the Jewish religion must be denied by every devout and pious Christian, desiring to be saved. In fact, in order to save souls, one must avoid showing any affection for the Jewish religion in order to prevent a great scandal. The Holy Father Gregory IX commanded, “We order all our brother bishops absolutely to suppress the blasphemy of Jews in your dioceses, churches, and communities.” Do take note that His Holiness did not call for the execution of the Jews but rather for an end to their blasphemies.

“When Jews are admitted out of pity into familiar intercourse with Christians, they repay their hosts after the fashion of the rat hidden in the sack, or the snake in the bosom, or of the burning brand in one's lap.” Christians have been persecuted by the Jews, the Mohametans and countless peoples throughout history, but one cannot stand attacks against Christ. The eternal heresies and slander against Our Lord must be stopped at all costs, and Holy Mother Church realizes this.

How is one to halt the slander of Christ at the hands of the Jews? Simply, they must be taught and profess the Truth. As was the case with the Mohametans, one must share the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary and attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as often as possible. Heaven must be petitioned on the part of the Jews, and many must go out as the Holy Apostles had done. Leave neither Jew nor Gentile untouched.

Is this a war? Yes! Strike now with many prayers and sacrifices! Countless souls continue to be lost because the world has become soft and fails to heed the warnings of Christ. Do not allow the plague of their heresies to continue to spread! In its place, bring them to Christ. Show them the Light which the darkness does not comprehend.

Do not fear to point up to the Altar of the Lord and to declare “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world!”

Chivalry and Duty

2006-02-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

As the anger of the false prophet continues to spread, the world is seeing once again the true face of Mohametanism. In these circumstances, what is a Christian to do? Ought one stock up on ammo and buy new weapons? Ought one to prepare in the arts of combat? What is the true duty of those of the Faith?

As practitioners of the Faith, one is a subject of the King and Master, who is known as the Christ. Yes, one ought to take up arms against the violent Mohametans, but the arms are not what one may consider them to be. If one's family is in danger at the hands of the Mohametans, one ought to consider dying a martyr's death or defending the family by force. However, such discussions will be limited to that for the time being.

Each individual will need a number of arms in the coming battle. "Amongst [the necessary] weaponry are such diverse elements as" the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Sign of the Cross, the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and frequent reception of Our Lord in Holy Communion.

The mission of every Christian in this day and age is no different from that mission of the Holy Apostles. Firstly, one must save his soul. The above weapons are of great use in the salvation of souls. All of the great saints of Holy Mother Church will unanimously declare the benefits and power of the weapons given to the faithful. Nothing is lacking in the Church, and the fullness of the Faith can be clearly seen daily in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

All wishing to be saved must make an earnest effort to attend the Eternal Mass on a daily basis if it is so possible. The bloodless Sacrifice of the Altar will pour forth more graces than one could possibly imagine. All able-bodied men are recommended to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass when possible and at the request of the priest. Great piety and holiness will stem directly from assisting as often as possible at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

With such weapons from Heaven, the Christian should not be lacking. All orthodox believers will see the fulfillment of Christ's commands in the True Faith. Because the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is complete, She commands Christians to cease wandering so far from the Faith.

Many see the Roman Catholic Church as an oppressive instrument, used to destroy other churches and teachings. Although this is the incorrect outlook, there is some truth in the statement. Since apostolic times, Holy Mother Church has attempted to weed out heresy from the Faith in order to preserve the teachings of Christ. So many in the modern world are astonished as to the extent many will go to preach against the heresies of non-Catholics.

What surprise exists? The hierarchy should not be the only one to carry out this job. Every layperson ought to be combating modernism and heretical teachings! The mission of true disciples is to save souls! If one is to embrace errors heresies, the only outcome is that souls will be lost. Many speak of embracing diversity and accepting others' differences. In line with the teachings of Christ and Holy Mother Church, one must ask, "What rights do the errors of the world warrant?"

How is that one could even consider that error has rights? Individuals have rights. Human beings have rights, but error has no rights. As the late Leo XIII declared, "The world has heard enough of the so-called 'rights of man.' Let it hear something of the rights of God." Now is the time for the devout and pious people of the world to put a stop to the liberalism and modernism of this age.

Christ the King must triumph again! No longer shall the rebellious be considered the leaders. Christ must reign in the hearts of men!

How is this to be accomplished? The faithful must cease to embrace heresies and liberalism! Once they have begun the path of saving their own souls, they must spread the Holy Gospel to those who are in error. Their souls must be saved as well. One of the greatest acts of charity is to help save souls!

Many shall ask how this is done. Holy Mother Church has given the faithful many tools, but the Blessed Virgin has provided generously. Many should consider teaching others of the glories of Mary. Many souls have been saved through Mary's miraculous intercession. Spread Mary's Psalter, which has been called the rosary. As well, make use of the green and brown scapulars.

How many souls need to be lost at the hands of those who refuse the help of the Blessed Virgin? These same will reject teachings of Holy Mother Church. At the Council of Carthage, the faithful were given a severe warning. "None must either pray or sing psalms with heretics; and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the Communion of the Church, whether clergyman or laic, let him be excommunicated.” This severe warning cannot be taken lightly!

Those who go against this command will bring shame and dishonour on Christ and His Church. The believers cannot in any way, shape, or form falsely represent their interest in the heresies of those who have left the Communion of the Church. To make such false representations will lead to an even further loss of souls! To bring greater glory and honour God, the faithful must obey!

How is one to save souls then? One must possess the three theological virtues. There must be Faith. Read the Creeds, and believe them. As well, one must have Hope. This virtue must be directed not only towards the promises of Christ’s return, which is known to be true. Hope must be possessed in the realm of the conversion of the multitudes! Without this virtue, there will be no fruit in any efforts. Such labours will undoubtedly be arduous, but it is through many hardships and great exertion that glory shall be given to Christ, who is the King of All.

Lastly, charity cannot be forgotten. Respect and love can most definitely be shown to individuals who wish to be civil. In fact, such action ought to be shown even more often to one’s enemies when they are being rather hostile. Now, human beings and their erroneous philosophies are not to be considered as synonymous. This is where many will fall into error because they fail to comprehend or at least accept this belief, and this latter notion is the more likely reason.

As has already been noted, errors have no rights. One has no obligation or duty to embrace errors. The mission is to save souls, and this cannot be accomplished through the ecumenical channels of inter-religious dialogue. Follow the way of the Holy Fathers and of the Holy Gospel. Proclaim, “The time is accomplished, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel!” This must be the cry of the faithful if Christ is truly their King. Be subject to the Will of the Father and bring greater glory and honour to Christ.

Duty

2006-02-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

The last article about Mohametan cruelty and about the false nature of the Mohametan religion has caused quite a stir. In fact, one could go as far as to say that the piece caused an outcry. A number of individuals shouted from the rooftops, "You must embrace their diversity! You have to show them respect! You have to...!"

No. That's simply not true. The world (filled with modernists, pagans, etc.) will insist that respect be shown to their lies. How could this be so? Even Catholics now insist on respect to Mohametanism and other paganism. Do they not read the writings of the Magesterium? So many point to the modern hiearchy of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic as the shining lights in the world because these individuals (within the hierarchy) insist on inter-religious talks and conventions. Such actions are to be condemned, not applauded.

His Holiness Pope Pius XI wrote an excellent summary of what the Church has always taught on this matter. In his encyclical Mortalium Animos, he declared:

"These pan-Christians who turn their minds to uniting the churches seem, indeed, to pursue the noblest of ideas in promoting charity among all Christians: nevertheless how does it happen that this charity tends to injure faith? Everyone knows that John himself, the Apostle of love, who seems to reveal in his Gospel the secrets of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and who never ceased to impress on the memories of his followers the new commandment 'Love one another,' altogether forbade any intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupt version of Christ's teaching: 'If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you.'"

Faithful Christians must take the time to consider this message. Pan-Christians and their activities are to be condemned. It is no mystery that they call upon the Most Holy Name of Jesus, but do they live and profess the same Faith that Christ proclaimed? No! This is the danger in attempting to reconcile Truth and error. Perhaps the Protestans and other have some small portion of truth within their teachings or perhaps only a small portion of error, but it is not permissible to open the gateways of dialogue. So many devout Catholics will lose their souls because they have been infected by modernism and by various other errors through attempts to dialogue with the false religions.

The Protestants have removed the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass along with many other things. Such actions are in complete opposition to the teachings of Christ. As well, they've lost the Sacraments and even a sense of the sacred. All of these things are most terrible, but consider what the Mohametans have done. They have gone beyond such actions and deny the very Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As well, they go on to teach that Christ never died on the Holy Cross.

One can understand and show some sympathy towards the Catholics who fall by adopting various Protestant heresies, but how could any Christian go so far as to say that respect needs to be shown to a religion that denies the Divinity of Christ? Once again, such actions cannot be tolerated! The Mohametans spread lies about their religion. It is no "Religion of Peace" as is continually taught, even by the secularlists. Mohammed himself forced his pagan ways upon the multitudes by the sword.

Neither the Protestant nor the Mohametan heresies lead to the ultimate Truth. By mixing the Catholic Faith with such beliefs will merely bring about the loss of souls. His Holiness Pope Pius XI continues encyclical by declaring, "Since charity is based on a complete and sincere faith, the disciples of Christ must be united principally by the bond of one faith." By reading this declaration, how could one justify the actions of the ecumnical individuals who want to combine faiths?

"It is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics. There is only one way in which the unity of Christians may be fostered, and that is by furthering their return to the one true Church of Christ for those who are separated from Her." Do not be fooled by any who declare that one may partake of any and all religions. The Protestants (of any sort) are not part of the "Church of Christ" as described above. How is it possible that the Church could be composed of so many different theologies?

So, in placed of respecting and trying to embrace the errors of the Mohametans (Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, etc.), it is instead the duty of all to bring others back to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. What could be more important than to explain the saving Truth of the Holy Faith?

"We have only short moments of this life to work for God's glory. The devil knows this and that is why he tries to make us waste time in useless things. O, let us not waste our time! Let us save souls! Souls are falling into hell innumerable as the flakes of snow on a winter day. Jesus weeps! Instead of consoling Him we are brooding over our own sorrows . . . There is only one thing to do during the brief day, or rather, night of this life: Love Jesus with all the strength of your heart and save souls for Him, so that He may be loved!"

Mohametans Strike Again

2006-02-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

In the region of Mindanao (in the Philippines), Mohametan gunmen entered the village of Patikul and shot eleven individuals, one of which was a 9-month old baby girl. Six of the eleven victims were mortally wounded, and the baby girl is included in this statistic. The situation is being investigated by the local authorities, but it is rumored that Abu Sayyaf could be responsible for this attack.

One witness to the shootings has come forward with the following information. After the gunmen entered a house, they woke the inhabitants and asked whether they (the inhabitants) were Christians or Mohametans. Upon discovering that the inhabitants of the home were Christians, the Mohametan gunmen opened fire, killing six of the members (as indicated above). According to some of the recent investigative reports, it is believed that gunfire was constant for nearly ten minutes. After the shootings were finished, the Mohametans fled the scene.

These actions cannot be tolerated! The world cannot stand by and watch as the followers of the so-called "Religion of Peace" continue to murder and create chaos. The attitudes of "tolerance" have achieved nothing. These Mohametans merely desire blood in the name of Mohammed and Allah. As a possible international "Day of Anger" is being planned, what are the true followers of God doing? Catholics, awaken! Do not slumber as the world falls into greater turmoil!

The Mohametans pretend to desire peace and friendship, but what signs have been shown of true friendship? What honour have they when they slaughter? It is up to every single one of the faithful to fight this onslaught of persecution by both the modernists and the Mohametans. Do not listen to the secularists or any other who demands that tolerance and respect must be shown to the Mohametans, to their false Prophet, and to their deity of war. It is a grave sin to believe in such lies.

Arise! Now is the time! Strike at the heart of evil! Mohametan treachery cannot be allowed to spread. Mohametanism is like a plague upon society. It must destroyed!

The Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple

2006-02-04T14:24:00.000-05:00

On Thursday (February 2nd), the East celebrated the Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple, and the West celebrated the Feast of the Purification. Although this is being written now 2 days after the feasts, this topic must not be forgotten.

The Feast of the Purification is a remembrance and a celebration of two distinct events:

1. The Purification of Our Lady
2. The Presentation at the Temple of the Child Jesus

Once again, Our Lady's humbleness and her willingness to submit to the law is quite evident. As ought to be known, Our Lady had no need to be "cleansed" after giving birth to Our Lord. Her Immaculate Heart never had any stain of sin, so what inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary to carry on the Jewish custom? The New Covenant had not yet been made, even though it is quite clearly in the process, so she followed the commands of her religion, which was THE religion of the time. No other path existed that led to salvation!

As well, Our Lady and St. Joseph knew the necessity to carry out the religious rite for their son. The Christ Child was presented at the temple as mandated by their laws, and a sacrifice was offered up. In this whole process though, one of many signs of the Divinity of Our Lord is made present through the words of Simeon. The Canticle of Simeon is here reproduced:

"Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord,
In peace, according to Thy Word:
For mine own eyes hath seen Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared in the sight of all the peoples,
A light to reveal Thee to the nations
And the glory of Thy people Israel."

How early in the life of Our Lord is such a glorious declaration made! Simeon, like Mary, exemplifies the virtue of humility in his words. He says such things of an infant. Perhaps many in this day and age know of the Divinity of the Child, but it was not known in the days of Simeon. This grown man not only put himself under the Infant, but he went on to make prophecies:

"Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed."

Time is short, so it is now the duty of the reader to meditate upon the words of Simeon. As well, the reader ought to consider adding these words to the meditations of the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

And now, the following will be the closing. This is the Troparion of the Meeting:

"Rejoice, thou who art full of grace,
Mother of God and Virgin,
For from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,
To give light to those in darkness.
Rejoice thou also, righteous Elder, who didst take in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls
Who also gives us the grace of resurrection."

We're Being Cheated!

2006-02-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

In a recent Washington Times article, Julia Duin made one point clear:

"The younger priests are more apt to say [the Latin Mass]," [Father McAfee] says. "They feel they've been cheated, and someone's taken away their heritage. But they're not teaching Latin in seminaries these days as much as they should be."

Yes, somebody is cheating the Catholics of the world. If somebody hasn't noticed, Latin has disappeared from the mainstream Church. Various "schismatic" groups possess all that remains of the once glorious heritage that the world knew as the Catholic "trademark." The Latin language and traditional Latin liturgy is being denied to not only the religious. Countless Catholics must travel great distances (at a great expense) to hear just one Traditional Latin Mass.

Again, this is such a great struggle, and it IS the duty of every orthodox Catholic to fight against this oppression. How many faithful Catholics cannot afford to get to a Traditional Latin Mass? How many must travel several hours because their bishops deny them the true Mass?

A necessity exists for countless prayers for the Church and especially for the Holy Father. He’s always been involved in the operation of the Church (especially since the Council). Pray that he will have the courage to take the necessary steps. Don’t forget to ask Our Lady for assistance.

Our Lady of Good Success, pray for us.

Ecce!

2006-01-30T19:32:00.000-05:00

It has recently come to the city of Lexington. "What?" you may ask. The Traditional Latin Mass is back in full force at St. Peter [Catholic] Church! The main article can be read here, but it would be most proper to congratulate Mr. Al Arbogast for his persistence! According to the Lexington Herald, he has been fighting for a number of years for the TLM. At the age of 88, he has finally won. St. Peter Church now is offering a daily TLM right in Lexington. If anyone is in the area, it would be highly recommended that you consider taking a trip over there to check it out. Any reports would be greatly appreciated for those who get a chance to visit.

The world needs more people like Mr. Al Arbogast. Before moving on to further topics, it is quite necessary to say a few more words to Mr. Arbogast. In order to honour you, Mr. Arbogast, Filipino Flavour would like to award you with a box full of...1 mango...and another and another! So, that's 3 altogether. That's quite a nice pinoy gift, wouldn't you say? IF you, Mr. Arbogast, do indeed read this blog and do respond soon, a coconut or two might even be thrown in. Do leave messages if you are Mr. Arbogast!

Now, on to some more serious affairs...

How many of you pray for the return of the Traditional Latin Mass? How many people in this world stand up against the abuses of the Novus Ordo? No, it is not necessary to protest every single day outside of your local Novus Ordo establishment, but it isn't necessary for the Novus Ordo to be supported. Don't give money. Don't attend Novus Ordo Masses. Attend the Traditional Latin Mass. Most of the individuals who read this blog have already heard of all of this, but a bit of extra motivation never hurt anyone.

Don't give up the fight! It's so easy to grow tired of the neverending battle, but the fight must go on. The war is not yet over. Continue your sacrifices. Our Lord and Our Lady will hear our cries!

French Parliamentarian Fined Thousands of Euros for 'Homophobia'

2006-01-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

Today, it is rather vital that one take a look again at an article from LifeSite.net about a French MP. The title of this piece, as was the case with the previous, is the same as the article. For those who do not wish to read it in depth, a brief summary is to be given here.

The French MP Christian Vanneste was found guilty of homophobia and was fined a total of 9000 Euros (nearly 11,000 USD), 6000 Euros of which will be split between three separate sodomite organizations. During a recent parliament session, this noble MP decided to stand up for the truth when the discussion turned to prohibiting (by law, naturally) homophobia. Mr. Vanneste's exact words now follow, "This will bolster the notion that homosexual behaviour has the same value as any other kind of behaviour, when, in fact, it is obvious that it is a threat to the survival of humanity."

As will be noted, sodomy is indeed against the natural order of life, and MP Vanneste is quite correct in his declaration that such immoral and sinful actions will only bring about a greater destruction of society. This decision on the part of the French government cannot be tolerated by any person calling himself a Christian. To call oneself a Christian, one must uphold a moral code (along with any many things) that Christ would approve!

Sodomy is not to be considered normal. Anyone who considers sodomy as a natural occurrence has fallen deeply into error. Even atheistic Darwinists should recognize that sodomy is of no use to furthering the species. The faithful are to be reminded of the commandments. Specifically, it would be most beneficial to look at the ninth commandment, which declares, "Thou shall not covet thy neighbour's wife." The Penny Catechism proclaims, "The ninth commandment forbids all immodest thoughts and desires, and all willful pleasure in them ... [it] also forbids all immediate occasions of immodest thoughts and desires."

Not only are the acts of sodomy in themselves sinful, but they lead to many other sins. Simply put, the sin of lust is running rampant in the sodomite communities. How can one say that this is acceptable? It is the duty of every Christian to take a stand against this decision on the part of the French government. In fact, every Christian must consider legitimacy of the French government, being that it was established by the sword. The anti-Catholic revolutionaries, who are in charge of the French nation, must not be followed. These individuals will only continue to deprive society of any sense of morality.

This is a call to war. Awaken! Do not be overcome by the evils of the French revolutionaries! The secular world is trying with all of its might to eradicate the True Faith. These actions will not be tolerated. Take up your rosaries. Let Heaven hear the cry of God's people.

EU Passes Resolution Banning “Homophobia” 468 -149

2006-01-22T20:47:00.000-05:00

As described in the title of today's piece, it would be most proper to take a look at exactly what's happening in the world. The title comes from LifeSite.net article (by the same name), which describes how far the revolution has come. Such action on the part of the European Union is not to be applauded. In fact, it could be said that it is indeed our very duty to look down upon such actions and declarations on the part of the State.

In today's world, it is becoming increasingly more common for the liberals to toss about accusations such as "homophobia." If one makes remarks condemning sodomy and similar evils, it is easy for such individuals to be labeled "homophobic" or "homophobe." Not only is this frustrating, but it is a social stigma. It is meant to be a sign of disgrace in our society if you are labeled as "homophobic." What people fail to realize is that the majority of such "homophobes" do not indeed fear sodomites (or "homosexuals" as you PC people seem to prefer).

Instead of being "afraid" and "fearing" sodomites, such "homophobes" are doing their Christian duty by condemning the sins of sodomy. Note, that I am not advocating that we hate sodomites. This is yet another tactic of the left. Good and noble Christians, do not allow such liberalism to infect you. Sodomy is indeed a sin, and it must be combatted.

As many greater men have declared, the tactics of the left and of the sodomites involve using their political activism to enforce their way of life on us. Yes, that's correct. They're not necessarily forcing you to become sodomites, but, by legalizing their "marriages" (and other such tactics), their lifestyle is being accepted on a nationwide (if not global) scale. What is the response of good Christians?

They have given up. They sit back and merely watch. They do not do anything. Instead, they allow sin to run rampant. They permit sodomy to become a norm in society. It is every Catholics' duty (and every Christian's duty) to put a stop to such attitudes. Sodomy is not normal. Sodomy is not something natural.

The European Union has most definitely been infected by a spirit of secularism, devoid of any religious moral code.. They have accepted the notion that everyone must be indifferent to the sin going on around the globe. Not only that, but they go a step beyond indifferentism. Instead, like any "good" liberal will declare, it has become necessary in this day and age for everyone to embrace diversity. If you do not embrace everyone's diversity, you are seen as being hateful and attempting to spread your hate.

As those of the St. Joseph's Men Society have declared, "hate is a family value." What do they mean by that? "[They] hate sin, deception, heresy, blasphemy, immorality, molestation, pedophilia, sodomy, lies, murder, abortion, and anything that is against the Will of God, the innocence of our children and the goodness of our families, the Catholic Church, and Our Country." Yes, they have the idea exactly right. There is a need for that kind of hate. One ought to hate sin. How else is one to be truly contrite? How else are we to bring about holiness and to do the Will of God?

Many of you will not agree with such a mindset, such ways of thinking. You will declare that such statements are loaded with hate against the sodomites themselves. You will view this message as active orders to go out and to hate sodomites. How could this be? How is it against the Will of God for the people of this world to fight evil? Sodomy is indeed a sin. In fact, it is one of the few that calls out to Heaven for vengeance.

Be faithful and please do contemplate the Pater Noster (the Our Father / the Lord's Prayer). Jesus Christ called upon His disciples to pray this prayer. The faithful cry out by saying "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done." As is declared in the Scriptures, "the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel." That is Christ's call. The Saviour of all of mankind has said that a great need exists to repent, and, as can be seen, the Kingdom is here. Are you ready to do the Will of God as you pray "Thy Will be Done?" Are you willing to become Christ's humble servant? He is our friend, yes, but He is also Our Lord and Master. Are you ready?

Leavetaking of the Feast of the Theophany

2006-01-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am at a new blog 'cause I wanted to separate myself a bit from my past, so I think this is all for the best. For my first entry, I'll merely allow you all to enjoy reading a relatively recent piece that I wrote. Enjoy.

"When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord,
The worship of the Trinity made its appearance.
For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee
When He called Thee His beloved Son.
And the Spirit in the form of a dove
Confirmed the truth of the Word.
O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world,
Glory to Thee!"

Above, I have provided the Troparion for today's Feast, which is called the "Leavetaking of the Feast of the Theophany" in the East. Here in the West, yesterday was the "Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ." Under either title, one is brought to a remembrance of God in the Most Holy Trinity. It is at the Baptism of Our Lord that the Holy Trinity becomes manifest to the world, and one sees the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

At this time, a connection between St. John the Baptist and Our Lord becomes apparent. For many, this will bring back memories of the Second Joyful Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is, of course, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to Elizabeth. Of course, this is getting a bit off track, but one sees how, even at that time, Christ and St. John were quite connected. The Holy Gospel tells us that the infant John "leaped for joy" in the womb of his mother at the presence of Our Lord in the womb of the Blessed Virgin. Even at such early times, it is to be recognized the connection of these two.

After many years, they are once again reunited. St. John, who had come "to bear witness of the Light," was finally able to witness and take part in the Baptism of Our Lord. It is at this point that Christ humbled Himself to be baptized. One must realize that Our Lord had no need whatsoever to baptized because, naturally, He is God. What sins would need to be washed away by baptism? It is by this very act (along with later commands of Christ) that He made clear the necessity of Baptism and raised it to the level of a Sacrament.

For those who celebrate this feast day or have read the Holy Scriptures, the events to follow after the Baptism of Our Lord are well known. This is truly what the Eastern Churches are celebrating. The manifestation of God is truly made present through the presence of Christ and the dove with the Father saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Christ's ministry is merely in its beginning stages, just as many are commencing lives through baptism. In order to remove original sin and to have sanctifying grace infused into the soul, one must be baptized. By Christ's example (and by His commands), Holy Mother the Church continues this practise by administering this Sacrament for the faithful. As one beholds this image of the heavens opening up and the voice of the Father coming down, it is crucial to realize the beauty of the Trinity. Although God consists of three separate persons, He is a single entity.

For the proof of the necessity for belief in the doctrine, let us turn to the Athanasian Creed. "WHOEVER wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic faith. For unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever. This is what the Catholic Faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory, and coeternal majesty." What greater authority than this great creed does one need? Of course, God Himself has defined such things for the world, but it is so clearly defined within the Creed that I urge everyone to look into it. Preces-Latinae.org has an excellent rendition with the Latin, of course. Read it, and believe it.

The believing portion has always been the point of a Creed. Forgive me if my linguistic assumption is incorrect, but the word creed comes from the Latin "credo" or some form of the word. For those familiar with either Latin or the Nicene Creed, "credo" is the beginning of the Nicene Creed and has the meaning of "I believe." One ought to take the time to go through the Athanasian Creed and to adapt the doctrines to one’s life in order to declare “I believe” to the world that such truths are held and lived.

So many people center their lives around only ONE person of the Holy Trinity. While Christ is very crucial and is 100% God, what of the other persons? "So that in all things, as is has been said above, the Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who wishes to be saved, must believe thus about the Trinity."

Now that the Trinity has been minimally discussed (and now that I've sufficiently jumped onto the next topic without a proper transition), the actual Sacrament of Baptism ought to be properly considered. In the Holy Scriptures, Christ is also seen declaring (at a separate time outside of the "Theophany"), "Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." So, in addition to His humble example of being Himself baptized, Our Lord gives us many commands to be baptized.

The next point to consider is why one ought to consider receiving the Sacrament of Baptism (other than by the direct commands of Our Lord). As mentioned towards the beginning of this text, the Sacrament of Baptism actually washes away original sin and personal sin. Not only that, but temporal punishments are also remitted. Naturally, this is rather crucial for a soul to be purified. Baptism, next to the Sacrament of Penance, is one of three manners by which one may be purified of sins (the third being a perfect Act of Contrition). Though, one must consider that Baptism (as already indicated) removes temporal punishment. Some temporal effects of sin may be paid for by performing a penance given to us by a priest, but who can declare that the full remittance of the temporal of effects of sin can be had in any other fashion than by that of this great Sacrament of Baptism?

So, not only are sin and the temporal effects of those removed, but one is also marked as a member of the Church by this Sacrament. As some say, an "indelible mark" is put upon the soul of the person who has been sacramentally baptized. Once this mark has been placed upon a soul, it allows him to receive the other Sacraments of the Church. Soon after Baptism, one may (of course, when one is of age) begin going to the Sacrament of Confession and also receive Our Lord in Holy Communion (under one species in the Latin Rite). As well, one is also confirmed into the Church when one is of proper age (beyond the Age of Reason, naturally).

Lastly, the Sacrament of Baptism "infuses sanctifying grace, supernatural gifts, and virtues." This is the last key to the sacrament. Once the soul has been purified of sin (both personal and original), it is very open to the graces that God is sending to us. At no other time in life is the soul so clean, and no other time exists in which the soul has the ability to come to such a degree of purity.

With these ideas in mind, it would now be appropriate to take a glance at what exactly makes up a baptism. Three factors are to be considered when searching for the validity of a baptism. Although Holy Mother the Church recognizes a "Baptism of Desire" or "Baptism of Blood" as valid in cases of emergency, one must have the following three factors for a sacramentally valid baptism:

1. Valid Form
2. Valid Matter
3. Valid Intention.

Concerning the above, a brief description would reveal that a need exists for a Trinitarian formula, water (typically blessed on the Eve of Pentecost or at the Easter Vigil), and the intention to do what is prescribed by Holy Mother the Church. As far as the Trinitarian formula is concerned, the Latin Rite of the Church uses, "ego te baptizo in nomine + Patris, et Filii, +, et Spiritus + Sancti," which is to say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Although the ritual is a bit more extensive, those are the most necessary words to be used (especially in cases of emergency baptisms). As the priest (in the case of a sacramental baptism) says those words, he will pour water upon the head as the name of each person of the Holy Trinity is pronounced. Lastly, for the intention, it is quite clear and simple that the priest (or anyone who does emergency baptisms) must have the intentions to be performing the Sacrament at hand (as the Church prescribes). He must realize the necessity of the Sacrament for salvation.

Based on the above description, Holy the Mother the Church has allowed for conditional baptisms. For many, this is a great act of mercy because, often, doubt exists as to the various formulas and the intentions of those who perform non-sacramental baptisms. In the case of a conditional baptism, it is made clear that one is not aware of the validity of the previous baptism. For the salvation of souls, it is most necessary to have a sacramental baptism. If one does not receive a valid baptism, how is one to enter into Heaven without first being cleansed?

Although the Sacrament of Penance may help to remove personal sins, it cannot be used in the case of original sin. This is why one must have a sacramentally valid baptism. It is the Will of Almighty God that the soul be cleansed of both personal sins and original sins. How is one to know of the intentions of the ministers and pastors of non-apostolic churches? Such individuals have no intention of performing the Sacrament of Baptism. Some do not even believe in the doctrine of Original Sin. If they do not have such beliefs nor intentions (especially to assist in the removal of original sins by performing the Sacrament), how can one be assured of the removal of said sin without a valid baptism? I urge all to seek out valid (oftentimes conditional) baptisms performed by orthodox priest of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.