Traditional Catholic Network

Blessing of SSPX Chapel in Bamberg, Germany!

2010-06-09T13:02:00.006+01:00

Here are a couple of photos of the new church in Bamberg, Germany:

Below is a map showing all churches run by the SSPX in Germany (Bamberg is circled in yellow):

A Highly Ignorant Catholic!

2010-05-19T20:05:00.006+01:00

Wow! I've just finished reading (for the first time) the book: "The Martyrs of the Coliseum" and I have to say that it has had a tremendous effect on my soul. The courage and love of each and every martyr who was put to their death at the coliseum was phenomenal and I am astounded to find myself, a traditional Catholic, unaware of the fact that thousands upon thousands of early Christians were put to their death in such a 'magnificent' piece of architecture.

Of course I was aware that some Christians were murdered within the coliseum. However, due to my limited knowledge of the atrocities which took place within its walls, I was more often inclined to appreciate the coliseum purely for its aesthetic value, while being completely unaware of the fact that it was actually 'sacred ground' on which was spilt the blood of many holy martyrs. A famous prophecy states: "As long as the Coliseum stands, Rome will stand; and as long as Rome stands the Church will stand". The next time I visit the coliseum I won't be taking pictures and admiring the wonderful architecture: I will be praying to the martyrs of the coliseum for both the Church and myself!

A great book which I highly recommend!

To order the book from TAN Books click here.

God Bless!

Fabian

Traditional Catholic Dating

2010-05-15T16:18:00.005+01:00

"I want to marry but can't find anyone who is a Traditional Catholic". This is the predicament that many young people within Tradition find themselves in today. Nevertheless, there are young, single traditional Catholics, the question is: "how do I find them?"

After receiving several enquiries about Traditional Catholic dating, I decided to compile a list of my favourites sites and invite readers to add links to others within the comments box.

Many of you may already use the Traditional Catholic sites but I would also encourage you to check out the mainstream Catholic dating sites, as there are also traditional Catholics who search for people on there.

SSPX Singles has got to be one of my favourite dating sites. It was launched in September 2009 and has a considerable amount of traditional Catholics who mainly attend masses with the Society of St. Pius X. The site also has its own blog and contains interesting information relating to chastity and love.

The four sites below are basically the same site as SSPX Singles:

Traditional Single Catholics

Traditional Singles

Traditional Catholic Dating

Traditional Dating

Many of my close friends use Catholic Match and they found it really useful because there were more people and it was easier to find someone who lived closer to where their lived.

If you know of any good dating sites (preferable ones which don't clog up your inbox with spam) please list them in the comments box.

"Love is the beauty of the soul"

St. Augustine

A Beautiful Hymn for Our Blessed Mother

2010-05-03T18:37:00.002+01:00

Most People are 'Ignorant' Regarding the Powers of St. Joseph

2010-05-01T15:45:00.001+01:00

When Our Lady appeared to Ven. Mary of Agreda she said "The Children of the world are ignorant regarding the privileges and rights which the Most High has conferred on my holy spouse, and the power of his intercession with the Divine Majesty and with me. But I assure you, my daughter, that in Heaven he is most intimate with the Lord, and has great power to avert the punishment of Divine justice from sinners. In all trials seek his intercession, because the Heavenly Father will grant whatever my spouse asks."

"On the Day of Judgment, the condemned will weep bitterly for not having realized how powerful and efficacious a means of salvation they might have had in the intercession of St. Joseph, and for not having done their utmost to gain the friendship of the Eternal Judge."

St. Joseph the Workman

2010-05-01T15:35:00.003+01:00

Prayer of May 1st
Collect for the Feast of St. Joseph the Workman

O God, the Creator of all things, Who didst frame the law of labor for the human race, graciously grant that, by the example and patronage of St. Joseph, we may do the work Thou dost assign us and earn the reward Thou dost promise. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Chartres Pilgrimage May 2010

2010-04-28T18:30:00.002+01:00

Pope Benedict Will Visit Turin on Sunday

2010-04-27T19:04:00.000+01:00

Choir Sings Pater Noster

2010-04-27T19:00:00.001+01:00

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T00:01:00.000+01:00

Matthew 28:6 He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid.

Wishing you all a happy and holy Easter!

"Cardinal Hoyos Impressed by The Number of Rosaries"

2010-03-11T10:25:00.007Z

In a recent interview with Bishop Fellay on the Rosary Crusade, His Lordship commented on how Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos had reacted to the number of rosaries said in previous rosary crusades: "Card Castrillon Hoyos was impressed by the number of rosaries. He told me he was certain they had their role in obtaining what we got up to now."

Below is the interview which was published by The Angelus, the SSPX US District magazine:

Your Excellency, you called for a Rosary Crusade from May 1st, 2009, until May 31st 2010. What was the reason for such an important effort?

It is obvious that we are not in normal times. Also that we still are in the time covered by the message of Fatima. In 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared three little children and promised that at the end her immaculate Heart shall triumph. In 2000 apparently something of what was called the “third secret” of Fatima was released by the Vatican, to the unsatisfaction of almost everybody. And frankly, it is not over, the triumph in whatever form of the Immaculate Heart has not been realized. That means that it still has to come. And we do count that with such a triumph, a part or all the present crisis of the Church will also be over. So we try to get heaven do both at the same time by begging and longing for the magnificent triumph of our heavenly Mother, Mother of God.

What were the historical examples which prompted your decision for a “Rosary Crusade”?

Yes, indeed, there are several examples in history of the divine intervention, a true intervention of God or his saints in human history, and specifically after the prayer of the Rosary.

One of the most famous is the battle of Lepanto. Saint Pius V, in front of the perils encountered by the Christianity defending itself against the threatening Turks did call all Europe to a spiritual crusade of Rosaries. To the spiritual fight was united the Christian fleet who met with the naval forces of the Islam by Lepanto. Though in smaller numbers, by the end of the day, the victory was so significant that for years and years the Christians were left in peace.

The great battle of Vienna by Sobiesky again against the Turks is also attributed to the prayer of the rosary. As well in Austria, the regained freedon in 1955 from the communist Russia occupation is considered as a victory due to the prayer of the holy Rosary.

Certain people would say that the Catholic Church is so violently under attack by her enemies that prayer does not seem sufficient to support the Church. What do you think of such doubts?

When we pray, we do count on the help of almighty God and of his saints. This power cannot be put in comparison with any human forces, as strong as they may be. God is the only infinite, infinite in power – we call him the almighty God – and this word has to be taken as is without diminution. And God can really do whatever he wants. And the prayer, even more the prayers himself has given us can in all truth obtain what human resources would never have achieved. True that one of the conditions of an efficient prayer is the trust we put in it to be heard. If ourselves do not see it as realistic that God might listen to us and do what we ask for, we shall get nothing. We have to remember always these words: of your faith would be as big as a mustard seed, you would tell to that mountain to move to the see and it would happen. We should say that on the contrary, the prayer is the only proportionate mean to resolve the problem the Church is facing. This also includes all other necessary actions on our side, of course.

It is evidently difficult to speak of the Rosary Crusade without speaking of Fatima and especially the 3rd secret. What is the importance of the “3rd secret”?

We might say that this secret in as proportionally important as the way some try to avoid its full publication. we most likely must accept that the 3rd secret does speak about the present trials and maybe some future events of the Church. And as it does not only include some description of desasters but the promise of the victory, of our Lady, and this part, we already know… So we may have to say that we could find in it the key to get out of the present crisis and some precisions about it.

Do you think that the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary has been done?

We may say that some consecration to the Immaculate Heart has been done, even some consecration of Russia, though imperfectly and not respecting all the requirements indicated by the most blessed Virgin Mary. So already Pius XII did consecrate the world, John Paul II did mention the country where the Icon of Mary is venerated… But not all the bishops did united to the consecration of Russia.

Why do you think Pius XII did a “Consecration of the World” to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and not the Consecration of Russia – about which he certainly knew?

There might be at least two explanations: the first is that there was under Pius XII much opposition to such a consecration and the second is that another revelation came from Spain at about the same time asking for the consecration of the World (to the Sacred Heart?). So Pius XII might have tried to combine both in one consecration…Anyway, when he did, some of the miracles of Fatima were repeated for him in the Vatican: a rain of roses and the sun.

How do you think the consecration of Russia could affect the situation of the Church?

In the history of mankind, things are much more linked than what we think, but very often, we do not see or grasp it. And so the consecration of Russia would free that country from its errors, it will convert, as Mary says; how can this affect the crisis in the Church? In many ways, but here we are really in speculation. I prefer to let the Mother of God have free hands to do what she wants. She speaks of triumph, and that means definitely a great victory against the evil forces… such a spiritual victory would not be so spectacular if not accompanied by a real rise of the Church. Do not ask me how, though.

Do you think the results of the consecration of Russia will be entirely supernatural? Some seem to imagine immediate political or natural effects.

There is no need to reduce the power of God or of Mary. It can be both, easily. Would a conversion of Russia be only supernatural or not include some human parts? The present crisis has also human sides, as for example the empty churches, the empty convents… So God could fill them again, and with people of good faith, converting.

What is the importance of the Rosary Crusade for the influence of Tradition in the Catholic Church?

Very simply said: how could we pretend to do any good to the Church if not through supernatural means? So if we make use of supernatural means as is the prayer and the prayer of the Rosary, the importance of the rosary crusade can easily be crucial.

Do you think that only the faithful of the SSPX should have been involved in the Rosary Crusade or other Catholics as well?

There is absolutely no limitation to our Crusade. All praying soul is welcome! We have no pretention to the exclusivity of a prayer which has been given to the whole Church. But is is true that there are few who continue to use it, in comparison with what it should be. But due to the circumstances, it was somehow difficult to go over our borders fot this call to prayer.

Have you had any positive reactions to this Crusade from outside the Society over the past year?

Very few. I remember an Italian priest present at the ordinations in Ecône who promised to join with one million rosaries. And besides that, Father Gruner also launched something similar… It not much. By the last crusades, Card Castrillon Hoyos was impressed by the number of rosaries. He told me he was certain they had their role in obtaining what we got up to now.

The Angelus 2915 Forest Avenue - Kansas City, Missouri 64109 – USA.http://www.angelusonline.org/

Traditional Catholic Music Websites

2010-02-27T13:13:00.007Z

Over the past few months, there have been numerous emails enquiring about traditional Catholic music: Where can you buy/listen to it?

Some of you may already have heard of the website Chant CD, which consists of music (mainly Gregorian chant) sung by the seminarians of Winona (sspx). There are of course many other websites devoted to Gregorian chant but the music on this site seems to capture the simplicity of hymns we would normally hear at Mass and continues to be one of my favourites. Click here to visit the site.

The other day, I came across a similar music website to that of Chant CD, which was located on the French SSPX website: La Porte Latine. After clicking the link, I was taken to a website called "Musique liturgique" which can be viewed in English too. There are several music samples and it is also possible to pay and then download your music. In addition, the site offers sheet music and resources for those wanting to learn/use Gregorian chant. In my opinion, this site hosts some of the finest Gregorian chant I have ever heard and I would heartily recommend it! Click here to visit the site.

Please feel free to attach further links to other interesting music sites in the comments' section of this post.

The New Tower of Babel?

2010-02-12T15:40:00.006Z

As of January 4th, the Burj Khalifa (Khalifa Tower) in Dubai became the tallest man-made structure ever built. The building stands at 828 m (2,717 ft) and cost a staggering $1.5 billion to complete. Interestingly enough, the Tower of Babel was also constructed in the Middle East, in what is now known as Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq.

What fate awaits such a colossal monument in this prosperous Muslim city?

Homosexuals Striving to be Catholic

2010-02-10T14:25:00.004Z

The wicked sin of Sodom has existed for thousands of years, as have all sins. I remember one priest saying that "there are no new sins" in today's world. However, it is clearly obvious that the sins of impurity are on the increase, in particular Homosexuality, which is leading many souls to hell.

Almost everyone, whether you be a traditional Catholic or an atheist will know of someone who is a practicing homosexual. In fact, the epidemic of homosexuality is so wide-spread that many of us will have a gay relative or someone we know who is gay. The sin of Sodom is most ugly and belongs to one of the four sins which cry to heaven for vengeance.

As Catholics, we are often tempted to treat Homosexuals with contempt and many of us forget that we "must hate the sin and not the sinner". It is understandable why many of us may feel this way, as the perverse behaviour of Homosexuals can often be witnessed in public (by our children) and ultimately cause others to follow their example and rebel against human nature. However, at the end of the day, we must remember that this sin (like all sins) is the result of human weakness and that these poor souls have fallen victims to the temptations of the Devil. This therefore brings us to the question: "How does one strive to overcome the temptation of committing Homosexual acts?"

A Catholic TV show, under the header "The Homosexual Reality", recently answered the above question and gave new hope to those trying to overcome same-sex attraction. The discussion was lead by Melinda Selmys, a former Lesbian who abandoned her promiscuous lifestyle, converted to a Catholic and got married. Also on the show was Richard Fitzgibbons, a leading Catholic psychiatrist who deals with those wanting to overcome Homosexual tendencies.

The program is most useful for Catholics wanting to reach out to Homosexual friends or relatives, in an attempt to help them forsake their sinful lives. It also gives useful information to parents who want to ensure that their children grow up without falling pray to this sin.

Just because you attend the traditional Catholic Mass, do not believe that your children will never develop such tendencies; I know of several traditional Catholics who have subsequently stopped going to mass and embraced this debauched lifestyle.

To view the video click here.

SSPX Chartres Pilgrimage May 2010

2010-02-06T10:36:00.000Z

The annual pilgrimage run by SSPX (FSSPX in France) will take place on the 22, 23 and 24 of May 2010. The Pilgrimage begins with Holy Mass outside of Chartres Cathedral in Chartres and will conclude with Holy Mass outside of Sacré-Coeur, Paris.

The pilgrimage is one of the largest annual pilgrimages run by the Society and attracts thousands of people from all over the world. There are sometimes groups which leave from U.K., USA, Australia etc and are usually announced within the Society's district newsletter.

To find out more information about the pilgrimage, you can visit the official website (in French) or access a rough English translation of the site here.

SSPX, Fr Michael Mary and the Catholic Church

2010-02-03T19:22:00.006Z

Just over two weeks ago, the SSPX church of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet in Paris (right) was attacked by a group of vandals. Parishioners watched with outrage as three masked youths approached the building and fired projectiles filled with red paint at the facade.

The incident received no publicity and mainstream Catholics failed to express their dismay at the attack on the House of God. On the contrary, a similar incident which supposedly involved an attack on a FSSP chapel in Mexico by SSPX parishioners and a priest, was heavily publicized and even appeared on the Redemptorists blog run by Fr Michael Mary. The short yet misleading article concluded with: "Catholics don't attack Catholic churches, that is the business of Her enemies."

The overall intolerance towards Catholics within today's society is widespread and there is often little or no coverage on the various murders, attacks and hate filled blasphemies which occur almost everyday. However, when it comes to the traditional Catholics, namely the SSPX, the media adopts a different sort of approach. The 'hateful comments' made by Bishop Williamson last year gave the media (Catholic Media in particular) the opportunity to discredit the work of Archbishop Lefebvre and brandish the Society as a dangerous 'Hate Group'.

For years the priests and parishioners of SSPX have been unjustly discriminated against on the basis of their Catholic beliefs, namely by priests and churchgoers of the mainstream Church. The ill informed response of Fr Michael Mary in relation to the recent incident between SSPX and FSSP is a perfect example of traditional Catholics adopting the same sweeping generalisations deployed by today's modern media to infer that the actions of a few SSPX Catholics represent the Society as a whole. The conclusion of Fr Michael Mary's article: "Catholics don't attack Catholic churches, that is the business of Her enemies" seems to be very hypocritical! For example, the good Father fails to comment on the outrageous behaviour of the Catholic bishops and priests towards the SSPX, which has not only been uncharitable but also uncatholic and extremely hateful.

13 Seminarians Receive Cassock at SSPX Seminary - France

2010-02-03T18:25:00.007Z

Yesterday, 13 French seminarians from the SSPX seminary in Flavigny - France received the cassock. The ceremony was conducted by his Lordship Bishop Fellay who was assisted by Farthers Patrick Le Troadec (rector of the seminary in Flavingny) and Yves Le Roux (rector of the seminary in Winona. To listen to the sermon given by his Excellency (in French), please click here

Pope Scorns Career-Minded Clergy

2010-02-03T17:53:00.001Z

Woman Cured by Australian Nun

2010-02-02T14:12:00.003Z

An Australian woman who claims to have been cured of cancer by 19th century nun Mother Mary Mackillop, has been speaking about her experience.

Mary MacKillop, who died 100 years ago, is now expected to be canonised for what Pope Benedict has approved as her "second miracle".

To find out more click here

New Movie on Archbishop Lefebvre!

2010-01-27T11:20:00.003Z

To visit the official website, which is available in both French and English, click here

To What Extent Does Hell Frighten Us?

2010-01-24T13:54:00.007Z

What do we think about when we hear the word hell? Do we take significant precautions to avoid going there? And to what extent do the eternal fires of hell frighten us?

As a young traditional Catholic my attitude towards hell was rather passive. In others words, it didn't really frighten me. This probably was due to the fact that I knew very little about it. In fact, if I ever did hear a story about hell which frighten me, I was quick to forget it.

The other day a friend of mine sent me a link to a wonderful sermon by Fr. Pfeiffer of SSPX on hell. I never realized the extent to which people suffered in such a horrible place! Fr. Pfeiffer's sermon on hell has truly FRIGHTENED me and after finishing listening to it, I immediately decided that I was going to make a retreat this year.

Below are all five parts of Fr. Pfeiffer's sermon which are available on YouTube:

Download Fulton Sheen MP3s for FREE!

2009-08-20T15:05:00.003+01:00

I've searched many websites now in the hope to find some Fulton Sheen MP3s which I could download or listen to for free. Unfortunately I have been unable to find any and because the current download/delivery prices are so high (some sites are asking hundreds of dollars for them!) I decided to give up my search.

However, a friend of my sent me a link via email yesterday to a site were it is possible to download (or listen to) the full series of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's 'Life is Worth Living' for FREE!

Please follow the instructions below if you would like to download 24 hours of MP3 by Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

1) First follow this link which will take you to the website were you can download all of the 'Life is Worth Living' MP3s.

2) When you have reached the site, scroll down until you find 'Life is Worth Living' by Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

3) Click on any of the 48 titles you would like to listen to.

4) To download an MP3 (which will allow you to burn it to a CD), right-click on the desired title and a menu will appear. Select 'Save target as', this will bring up another window showing you the name of the MP3 and were it will be stored on your computer. Select 'save' and the file will begin to download.

If you have questions/queries relating to this post, please feel free to contact us via our email:

traditionalcatholicnetwork@gmail.com

Happy Feast Day!

2009-08-15T16:42:00.007+01:00

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. It also marks the day of my completion of the 33 day consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The 33 day Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary has been an unbelievable spiritual journey for me and has completely changed my life. It has taught me much about myself and has helped me to better practice the essential virtues of humility, temperance and purity.

I recommend everyone who is longing to overcome their faults and lead a more holy Catholic life to make the 33 day Consecration to Blessed Virgin, which will also help you to obtain a greater love for the Mother you share with Christ.

If you would like to order a book, I would recommend 'St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion' which is available at Angelus Press. The same book is also available at Amazon.com

Wishing you a most holy and happy Feast Day!

Fabian

Stop the Blasphemous Madonna Show!

2009-08-12T16:58:00.005+01:00

I'm forwarding a very important email concerning the blasphemous Madonna show 'Sweet and Sticky' which is scheduled for August 15th - Feast of the Assumption. Below is the email which I received from 'America needs Fatima', please forward it to as many people as possible.

"Dear Catholics,

Thousands of prayers, protest e-mails, letters, calls and faxes…… a firestorm of legal and peaceful outrage is sweeping the world against the blasphemous Madonna show "sweet and sticky," which is scheduled for August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Poland.
The show is stirring outrage because August 15 is not just any Catholic feast day or Polish national holiday. It is when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive at the Our Lady of Czestochowa shrine at Jasna Gora after weeks of pilgrimages from all around the country.
So let’s fan the firestorm of peaceful outrage. Renew the firm, yet respectful push to get the blasphemous Madonna show canceled. And here’s what I ask you to do:
Send a NEW protest message via email to the Minster of the Interior in Poland. Please send it now because some of the event’s ads read:
"There's no room for two queens in this country!"
You and I cannot accept this insult to Our Lady.
And if enough Catholics from all over the world pray and voice their protest, the promoters of this show will find out that there is indeed no room for two queens in Poland.
There is only one queen in Poland and her name is Mary, the Mother of God.
So, for the love of Our Blessed Mother, please send your instant e-protest message and forward this email message to every Catholic you know.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Robert E. Ritchie, Executive Director

PS - Please send your instant e-protest NOW against the blasphemous Madonna show in Poland to the Minister of the Interior.
Above all, please pray that more Catholics worldwide defend the holy honor of Our Lady against Madonna’s "sweet and sticky" show, and pray that it be canceled.
Finally, if you think our work worthy of your support, please consider giving a small tax deductible gift so we can get more Americans involved in our spiritual crusades. Thank you!

August 12th - Feast of St. Euplius

2009-08-12T16:54:00.003+01:00

St. Euplius

St. Euplius was a deacon at Catania, Sicily, during Emperor Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. He was found guilty of possessing a copy of the gospels by the governor, Calvisian. When Euplius persisted in refusing to sacrifice to the gods, he was beheaded on April 29th. His feast day is August 12th.

Study Proves that Young Religious Favour Tradition

2009-08-11T15:04:00.003+01:00

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: August 10, 2009

A new study of Roman Catholic nuns and priests in the United States shows that an aging, predominantly white generation is being succeeded by a smaller group of more racially and ethnically diverse recruits who are attracted to the religious orders that practice traditional prayer rituals and wear habits.

The study found that the graying of American nuns and priests was even more pronounced than many Catholics had realized. Ninety-one percent of nuns and 75 percent of priests are 60 or older, and most of the rest are at least 50.

They are the generation defined by the Second Vatican Council, of the 1960s, which modernized the church and many of its religious orders. Many nuns gave up their habits, moved out of convents, earned higher educational degrees and went to work in the professions and in community service. The study confirms what has long been suspected: that these more modern religious orders are attracting the fewest new members. more

Australia's First Saint?

2009-08-08T12:56:00.004+01:00

STEPHANIE GARDINER, SYDNEY
August 08, 2009 12:01am

MOTHER Mary MacKillop was the daughter of migrants, came from a broken home, struggled financially and fought hard to achieve her ambitions.

Even a century after her death, many parallels can be drawn between the story of Mother Mary, the founder of the Catholic order the Sisters of St Joseph, and modern Australian life.

Sr Maria Casey, who heads the push for her canonisation in Rome, says the centenary of Mother Mary's death today is a time for reflection about her life and legacy.

"I'm a great believer in Mary MacKillop and what she has to offer to Australian people of all creeds. She was a great Australian woman, but also a holy woman," Sr Casey said from Rome.

It is Mother Mary's life that was dedicated to helping the needy that speaks to all Australian people, Sr Casey says.

"She strongly and completely believed in the dignity of everybody.

"No one, black or white, Catholic or non-Catholic, at the time would not be welcomed by her. Rich or poor, the high and the low, people were people to her and she had extraordinary respect for their dignity."

According to data compiled by the Sisters of St Joseph, Mother Mary's parents moved from Scotland to Melbourne in the 1830s, only to be faced with financial difficulties.

"She understands migrants and there was a lot of discrimination in those days," Sr Maria said.

"We now have multicultural Australia, but so many migrants feel unwelcome still. She would understand the isolation that was caused by being a migrant. She has something to say to those people."

As a teenager, Mary was forced to become the breadwinner, working at stationers Sands and Kenny, and later as a governess. Her parents separated when she was older.

In 1866 she set up a school in a stable in Penola and founded the Sisters of St Joseph, affectionately known as the Brown Joeys, spending her life educating and caring for many, including ex-prostitutes and former female prisoners.

Amid tensions with the church, Mother Mary was excommunicated in 1871 for alleged insubordination but reinstated four months later.

She then begged her way to Rome to seek the approval and support of Pope Pius IX to continue her work with the sisters. Many Australians could relate to her yearning for spirituality despite years of struggle with her family, her work and the church, Sr Maria says.

"Especially in the present context, where there's a lot of stress, a lot of crisis . . . (spirituality) is something that a lot of Australians are yearning for," Sr Maria said.

"Judging by the numbers that go to Eastern religions to practise meditation, to learn how to relax and so on, she has something to say to us in this culture."

Almost since Mother Mary's death in 1909, there has been a push to make her Australia's first saint.

Speculation about whether her canonisation will be announced on the centenary of her death is mounting, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's recent visit to Pope Benedict XVI fuelling the hype.

Sr Maria says an announcement today is impossible, as Mother Mary's second miracle is before the Vatican for consideration.

Mother Mary was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995, meaning the Vatican recognised she had performed one miracle, healing an Australian woman of terminal leukaemia in 1961. To be named a saint, her second miracle of healing a woman with inoperable cancer during the mid-1890s must be proved.

While it may be many months before the Vatican makes a decision about Mother Mary's sainthood, the significance of her canonisation would extend beyond the Catholic Church, Sr Maria says. "For Australia, it means that they have a hero or a model for young people and for people looking for inspiration," she said.

"We've had the era of sports people, our film stars, our musicians being heroes and heroines.

"So I think with a new and increasing interest in spirituality rather than established religion, young people are looking for models and she would be a very good model for young people."

[Source]

Proof that Medjugorje Visionaries are Frauds

2009-08-04T18:42:00.004+01:00

Church Refusal to SSPX Could be Illegal under the Equality Act

2009-08-03T14:08:00.004+01:00

I came across an interesting article today from a Catholic barrister who believes that the refusal of the Church of England (Church Commissioners), to allow SSPX to purchase a disused church in Manchester, is nothing more than "blatant religious discrimination and therefore illegal under Part 2 of the Equality Act 2006 ". The Catholic barrister also believes that SSPX "have a good legal case should they decide to challenge the Church Commissioners". To read the whole article, please click here.

Facebook 'Undermining Community Life' says Archbishop

2009-08-02T21:32:00.005+01:00

[BBC] Social networking websites, texting and e-mails are undermining community life, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols said MySpace and Facebook led young people to seek "transient" friendships, with quantity becoming more important than quality.
He said a key factor in suicide among young people was the trauma caused when such loose relationships collapsed.

"Friendship is not a commodity," he told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
He added: "Friendship is something that is hard work and enduring when it's right".

'Transient relationships'
Archbishop Nichols said society was losing some of its ability to build communities through inter-personal communication, as the result of excessive use of texts and e-mails rather than face-to-face meetings or telephone conversations.
He said skills such as reading a person's mood and body language were in decline, and that exclusive use of electronic information had a "dehumanising" effect on community life. more

A Young Example is the Best Example

2009-07-31T11:59:00.002+01:00

Seattle, Wash., Jul 31, 2009 / 05:23 am (CNA).- The short life of a devout, Catholic, young girl from Seattle has brought many Catholics across the United States back to the Church. Her holy and loving example, as well as her battle with cancer, has drawn others to convert to Catholicism and has inspired the creation of an organization to reach out to families with a loved one facing a chronic illness.

Gloria was born in 1996 to Doug and Kristen Strauss and was like any other seven-year old. She enjoyed playing with her six siblings and friends, dressing up, playing board games, picking flowers and watching the Fox television show, “American Idol.” The young girl also had a special place in her heart for the Rosary and for making people feel good about themselves. However, no one could have predicted the amount of people her brief time on earth would touch.

Cancer diagnosis

CNA spoke with her father, Doug, who explained that one day in 2003 when Gloria was seven years-old, she was hit in the face with a ball resulting in a black eye. When the color returned to normal after the seemingly minor injury, a suspicious bump remained. After two trips to the doctor, she was referred to a specialist who instantly had a hunch it was cancer.

Gloria was diagnosed with a cancer known as neuroblastoma and only given a window of three months to three years to survive. Following the diagnosis, Gloria immediately went into surgery and began chemotherapy treatments. Doug explained that though it was difficult, the family resolved to remain “open to God’s plan in hopes that the family would be strengthened.” more

Italy Endorses RU486 abortion drug

2009-07-31T11:55:00.002+01:00

ROME — Italy's health and drugs authorities have approved the use of the abortion drug RU486, drawing immediate protests by the Vatican.
The Italian Drug Agency ruled after a meeting that ended late Thursday that the drug cannot be sold in drug stores but can only be administered by doctors in a hospital. The agency said the pill can only be taken up to the seventh week of pregnancy.
The RU486 was first introduced in France almost two decades ago and is available in several other European countries. But approval in Italy has been held up by the Catholic Church, which opposes abortion and contraception.
However, Italy allows surgical abortions in hospitals and the use of the morning-after pill.

[The Associated Press]

St. Bridget of Sweden

2009-07-23T10:50:00.000+01:00

St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373)

A woman who changed the world

A saint for our time

BRIDE OF CHRIST

"Bridget, I am speaking not only to you but to all Christians. You will be My bride...and it shall be through you that I will speak to the world. My spirit will dwell in you until your death."

The Fifteen Prayers revealed by Our Lord to Saint Bridget of Sweden in the Church of St. Paul at Rome

Published under sanction of the Decree of November 18, 1966, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Vol. 58, No.16 of December 29, 1966.

Prayers approved by Pope Pius IX

Magnificent Promises to Saint Bridget of Sweden Pope Benedict XV expressed himself as follows on the Revelations of St. Bridget:

"The approbation of such revelations implies nothing more than, after mature examination, it is permissible to publish them for the unit of the faithful. Though they don't merit the same credence as the truths of religion, one can, however, believe them out of human faith, conforming to the rules of prudence by which they are probable, and supported by sufficient motives that one might believe in them piously. (Les Petits Bollandistes, tome XII)

The 14th of June 1303, at the moment Bridget was born, Benedict, the curate of Rasbo, prayed for the happy deliverance of Ingeborde. Suddenly he found himself enveloped by a luminous cloud out of which Our Lady appeared:

" A child has been born at Birger; her voice will be heard by the entire world." Sagii, die XXIV Aprilis 1903
Imprimatur

First Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners. Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion. as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.

Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples. having washed their feet. Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.
Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: "My Soul is sorrowful even unto death."

Remember all the fear. anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifix ion., when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood. Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated. accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season.

Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands. that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.
In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction and the remission of all my sins. Amen

Second Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will. In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Saviour, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation. Amen.

Third Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs.
I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee. Amen.

Fourth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet, forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to I pray to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins. Amen.

Fifth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadnesswhich Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred Passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.
Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou saidst to him: "This day, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise." I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy. Amen.

Sixth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou saidst to Mary: "Woman, behold thy son!" and to St. John: "Son, behold thy Mother!"
I beg of Thee O my Saviour, by the sword of sorrow I which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen.

Seventh Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: "I thirst! " suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Saviour, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen.

Eighth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls. Amen.

Ninth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"
Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Saviour, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen.

Tenth Prayer

Our Father- Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee. Amen.

Eleventh Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, over- whelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away. Amen.
Twelfth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity ,link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable Blood. O Great and Universal Pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal Flesh for Love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What is there that Thou , couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy Passion, and may Thy Love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O Sweetest Jesus, in Heaven. Amen.

Thirteenth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy Head, saying: "It is consummated!" Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen.

Fourteenth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, Splendor and Figure of His Substance, remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: "Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit!" And with Thy Body all torn, and Thy Heart Broken, and the bowels of Thy Mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst Expire. By this Precious Death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee. Amen.

Fifteenth Prayer

Our Father -Hail Mary.

O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press.
From Thy Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross Thy delicate Flesh was destroyed , the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up.
Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy Precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony. Amen.

Conclusion

O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen.

St. Lydwine of Schiedam (1380 - 1433)

2009-07-16T11:26:00.003+01:00

Book recommendation:

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

1380-1433

By: J. K. Huysmans

Famous Dutch mystic who suffered voluntary expiation for the Church during the time of the Great Western Schism, when the Church was racked by the presence of two antipopes. St. Lydwine was bedridden from age 15, when she broke a rib, enduring a lifelong illness which was soon recognized to be of supernatural origin. Her body became covered with sores and abscesses and virtually came apart into three pieces-symbolically representing the condition of the Church. She ate no food except Holy Communion and experienced many mystical phenomena. An incredible story of one of the most heroic victim souls in the history of the Church.

Only $11.00! Order now from TAN

Russia and Holy See to Establish Diplomatic Relations

2009-07-15T11:02:00.003+01:00

Russia may soon establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See, according to Father Igor Kovalevsky, secretary general of the Russian bishops' conference. Father Kovalevsky told Catholic journalist Jonathan Luxmoore that “a full relationship will clearly facilitate links at a time when both the Holy See and Russian Federation share common views on many international questions.” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said recently that Vatican and Russian negotiators were meeting to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Father Kovalevsky added that relations with the Russian Orthodox Church were improving under Patriarch Kirill, who was enthroned on February 1.

Source: Catholic Culture

Canadian Prime Minister's Holy Communion Scandal!

2009-07-10T16:57:00.004+01:00

[Leanne Larmondin
Ecumenical News International
Jul 10, 2009]

Just days before a scheduled audience with Pope Benedict XVI, the Canadian prime minister, an evangelical Protestant, was in hot water after taking communion at a Roman Catholic funeral, contrary to church protocol.

When the incident was initially reported, it was suggested that Prime Minister Stephen Harper slipped the consecrated host into his pocket or service leaflet, but his spokesperson and another attendee said he did consume it.

Others who witnessed the ceremony, though, point to a clip posted online at the video sharing Web site YouTube that shows the Canadian leader accepting the host, a thin wafer, from a priest, but he is not seen raising it to his mouth.

The incident took place at the State funeral in Memramcook, New Brunswick, of Roméo LeBlanc, Canada's former governor general.

Catholics believe that that once consecrated by a priest, the communion host and wine are the actual body and blood of Jesus and not merely symbols of Christ's Last Supper. The church reserves communion for Catholics only.

Monsignor Brian Henneberry, vicar general and chancellor in the diocese of Saint John, told the Telegraph Journal newspaper in Saint John that he received a complaint from a Catholic. He called for an explanation from the prime minister's office about what happened to the wafer. The issue of whether the prime minister consumed the host aside, the matter was simple, say church leaders and spokespersons: as a non-Catholic, Harper should not have accepted communion.

"In terms of the celebration of the Mass, coming up for communion is reserved for Catholics," said Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto. "That is not meant to be exclusive but, rather, inclusive of those who believe [that the host is the body of Christ]."

At funerals and other events that might gather members of other religious traditions, priests often state prior to celebrating the Eucharist that only Catholics may receive communion, although that apparently did not happen at the New Brunswick service.

Non-Catholics are often invited to receive a blessing, by approaching with their arms crossed over their chests.

Mr. MacCarthy said it was clear there was no malice on the prime minister's part and it was regrettable that his advisors had not adequately prepared him for the ceremony. Still, he said, the issue was a good opportunity to educate the wider community about what Catholics believe about communion.

"It is definitely a difficult issue for non-Catholics and even some Catholics to understand, but it is a core belief of ours, that communion is not just symbolic," Mr. MacCarthy said.

Mr. Harper was scheduled to meet the Pope on July 11 after the meeting of leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations in L'Aquila, Italy.

For original article, click here

SSPX gets Criticized for Defending Pope and Church

2009-07-04T15:51:00.006+01:00

In this month's issue of the SSPX (Germany) newsletter Mitteilungsblatt, there was enormous outrage among many German politicians, activists, Jews and Catholic bishops concerning an article condemning homosexuality and the CSD (gay pride parade). The article went on to explain how the CSD was a 'perverse' movement which made a fool of both the Pope and the Church. Below are some photos of the CSD gay pride parade which took place last year:

Witch-hunt for SSPX ‘Gay haters’ - Germany

2009-07-03T21:34:00.003+01:00

Within the last 24 hours, there has been a huge media uproar in Germany concerning an article which appeared in the latest issue of the SSPX newsletter ‘Mitteilungsblatt’. The article goes on to explain how the CSD (Christopher Street Day = Gay pride parade) had mocked both the Church and the Pope in its previous parade last year in Stuttgart. Father Franz Schmidberger (District superior of SSPX - Germany) today released a statement (see below) concerning the ‘false interpretation of a text within the latest newsletter’.

There has been much opposition to the Society calling the CSD a ‘perverse’ movement, which is used as “propaganda...for the sin of Sodom”. The German Catholics Bishops Conference (Bonn) later distanced itself from the Society's claims.

The following sentence which was taken from an article within the SSPX newsletter 'Mitteilungsblatt' has been severely misinterpreted by the German press: "How proud we are when we read a history book and find that in the Third Reich there were courageous Catholics who said: 'We do not want this madness!". As a result, the Society is now being branded as a new ‘Nazi hate group’ and there are many politicians, activists, Jews and Catholic Bishops (in particular) who will stop at nothing to prevent the SSPX from gradually being reconciled with Rome.

Below is a statement from Fr Franz Schmidberger district superior of SSPX - Germany which was released today (03/07/09) on the Society's website:

[Based on ‘Google Translation’]

False interpretation of a text within the latest newsletter

In the newsletter of July 2009 there was an appeal for a peaceful demonstration at the Christopher Street Day rally in Stuttgart. [The article was] to encourage all Catholics, to model themselves on those men and women, which in the years of Nazism raised their voices against the blatant sins against the fifth commandment of God, even at the risk of their lives.
Catholics are always prompted to raise their voice not only when a totalitarian regime systematically flouts human dignity, but also when public groups raise up against the moral order - in this case against the sixth commandment of God.

We note that our reference to the Nazi injustice was completely misunderstood. According to the CSD, we have neither the intention nor the facts to equate the Nazi regime. We would however point out that according to Christian moral standards, the concern of the CSD is immoral. This is what we wanted the public to understand by our demonstration.

Father Franz Schmidberger, District Superior

[For the original German statement, click here]

I leave you with the relevant message of Our Lady of Fatima: “If my requests are heard, Russia will be converted, there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, promoting wars and persecutions of the Church; the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, she will be converted, and an era of peace will be conceded to humanity.”

Cardinal Newman soon to be Beatified

2009-07-03T12:41:00.003+01:00

(Times Online)

Pope Benedict XVI today cleared the way for Cardinal John Henry Newman to become a saint.
The Pope issued the decree that allows the beatification of England’s most significant convert to Roman Catholicism.
Cardinal Newman, who founded the high church Oxford Movement in the Church of England before going over to Rome in 1845, is set to become the first non-martyr saint in England since the Reformation.
The Pope opened the way for the beatification in 2001 by officially recognising the healing of Jack Sullivan, a Catholic deacon in the US, as a miracle resulting from the intercession of Newman...more

SSPX 2009 Ordinations - Zaitskofen

2009-06-28T15:47:00.004+01:00

Here are a couple of photos from the SSPX ordinations which took place yesterday in Zaitskofen (27/06/2009).

SSPX Rosary Crusade Video

2009-06-19T11:09:00.001+01:00

The Society of St. Pius X has decided to undertake its greatest rosary crusade of 12 million rosaries for the consecration of Russia to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart. This bouquet will be presented to the Holy Father in March 2010. The superior of the Society: Bishop Felly, also encourages us to make many sacrifices during this time. To enter the amount of rosaries you wish to offer for the SSPX Rosary Crusade, please visit: http://www.sspx.co.uk/page9.htm

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

2009-06-19T07:40:00.001+01:00

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus came into the Catholic faith through a Catholic sister known as Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690). At the age of 24 Margaret Mary entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial in France. She began to have visions of Our Lord and on December 27, 1673, on the Feast of St. John, she began to have visions that lasted for eighteen months. Jesus told her that she was to become his instrument in spreading devotion to his Sacred Heart. While kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lord appeared to her and invited her to "rest a long time on His Divine Breast". Jesus revealed to here the marvels of the love that His Sacred Heart had for mankind.
Jesus said to her: "MY DIVINE HEART IS SO FULL OF LOVE FOR MEN AND FOR YOU IN PARTICULAR THAT, NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTAIN WITHIN ITSELF THE FLAMES OF ITS BURNING CHARITY, IT MUST SPREAD THESE FLAMES BY MEANS OF YOU, AND IT MUST MANIFEST ITSELF TO MEN IN ORDER TO ENRICH THEM WITH ITS PRECIOUS TREASURES. I HAVE CHOSEN YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS GRAND CRUSADE OF LOVE."
The Sacred Heart of Jesus from that time was revealed to her on a regular basis in vision. According to Saint Margaret Mary, His Divine Heart was "more radiant than the sun and as transparent as crystal," with its adorable wound visible, and as a "furnace" of burning flames.
In June, 1675: during the feast of Corpus Christi, while praying before Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Monstrance. Our Lord revealed His Heart to her and said: "HERE IS THE HEART THAT HAS SO LOVED MEN AS TO SPARE NOTHING FOR THEM, EXHAUSTING AND CONSUMING ITSELF IN ORDER TO PROVE ITS LOVE FOR THEM; AND IN RETURN I RECEIVE, FROM MOST OF THEM, ONLY INGRATITUDE."
Jesus asked her to have a special feast established in honor of His Sacred Heart on "the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi." Jesus asked us to receive Holy Communion on that day and to make atonement by an act of reparation.
Jesus asked her to have an image made of His Sacred Heart and promoted throughout the world with special promises to those souls who would display His image of His Sacred Heart.
She consulted with her enlightened spiritual director whom God had given her. On the following Friday, June 21, Father de la Colombiere, her priest-director, and Saint Margaret Mary consecrated themselves to the Sacred Heart. With great sufferings and humiliations, Father de la Colombiere and Saint Margaret Mary made every effort to spread the new devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Lord Jesus revealed to Saint Margaret Mary the following promises to those souls who would honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
"1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
"2. I will establish peace in their homes.
"3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
"4. I will be their secure refuge during life and above all in death.
"5. I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.
"6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
"7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
"8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
"9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
"10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
"11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
"12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

For original article, please click here

See You Again on June 19th (Feast of the Sacred Heart)

2009-05-14T22:48:00.007+01:00

Dear friends and supports of T.C.N.,

We have decided to temporarily close Traditional Catholic Network until June 19th - Feast of the Sacred Heart. This will not only allow T.C.N. blog authors who are busy with exams to concentrate on their studies but also encourage a spirit of prayer and penance in this month of May.

May, as you know is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, therefore why not take this opportunity to pray more rosaries and consecrate yourselves to her Immaculate Heart.

Our next blog post will appear on June 19th, Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you have any questions/queries within this time, please feel free to contact us via our email address.

Wishing you all the best,

in Jesus and Mary,

F. Schneider

P.S. Below is an extract from an article on Mary and the month of May:

Mary Month--Why May?

The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary in many cultures. May is considered the season of the beginning of new life. Already in Greek culture, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fecundity. In Roman culture, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of bloom, of blossoms. The Romans celebrated ludi florales (literally: floral games) at the end of April, asking the intercession of Flora for all that blooms. This is also related to the medieval practice of expelling winter. May 1 was considered the beginning of growth.

At one time, the custom of having a Mary-month was independent from the month of May as such:

A very old tradition known as Tricesimum (or: Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary; also called Lady Month) was originally held from August 15 - September 14. The exact dates or origin of this devotion are unknown, but the custom is still practiced here and there.

Mary Month, as yet unrelated to a specific period, has been known since baroque times (Sources: Johannes Nadasi; Theophilus Marianus, 1664; J. X. Jacolet, Mensis Marianus, 1724). This devotion was comprised of about thirty spiritual exercises in honor of Mary.

Since medieval times, we have had the combination between Mary and the month of May. Among the earliest witnesses are: Alphonsus X, "el sabio," King of Castille, Spain (1221-1284) with his "Cantigas de Santa Maria" ("Ben venna Mayo"). Here and elsewhere, both Mary and the month of May are greeted, welcomed and celebrated on specific days in May. Later, the whole month of May became the month of Mary. On each day of this month, special devotions to Mary were organized. This custom originated in Italy (for example: Ferrara, 1784). It was spread widely during the nineteenth century, a century well-known for its monthly devotions (Heart of Jesus in June; Rosary in October).

Ways to Celebrate Mary's Month

There are many ways to celebrate this particular devotion. Most churches have a daily recitation of the rosary. Some include the crowning of Our Lady's statue. The important thing is that Mary be honored in a special way. At one time, the domestic celebrations of the month of May were widespread, especially by setting up a small May altar in the home.

May crowning became popular in the United States, especially prior to Vatican II. This practice continues in many parishes today. A statue of Mary is honored with a wreath of blossoms to indicate Mary's virtues, virtues that were to be imitated by the faithful. The ceremony usually takes place in the context of a public parish devotion outside of the liturgy.

For original article, please click here

SSPX Rosary Crusade Officially Started

2009-04-26T08:22:00.000+01:00

[Below is an article which appeared on Rorate Caeli yesterday (April 25th)]

The new SSPX Rosary Crusade

In his latest Letter to Friends and Benefactors (in French, dated April 15, 2009), the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), Bishop Bernard Fellay, after some strong words about those enemies of the Church (inside and outside Church institutions) who have been trying to undermine the Pope's efforts of reconciliation, proposes another Rosary Crusade, much larger than the other two previous Crusades:

"It seems to us that the moment is come to launch a substantial offensive, deeply anchored in the message of Our Lady at Fatima, in which she herself promised the happy ending, for she announces that, in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph. It is this triumph that we ask her, by the means that she herself requests, the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart by the Supreme Shepherd and all the bishops of the Catholic world, and the propagation of the devotion to her Dolorous and Immaculate Heart. It is for this that we wish to offer her, with this purpose, from now to March 25, 2010, a bouquet of 12 million Rosaries, as a crown of as many stars around her, accompanied by an equivalent sum of daily sacrifices that we may be able to fulfill most of all in the faithful accomplishment of the duties of our state of life, and with the promise to propagate the devotion to her Immaculate Heart."

FULL ENGLISH VERSION (SSPX - UNITED KINGDOM):
Just as we were launching a second Rosary Crusade at our Lourdes pilgrimage last October, we hardly expected such a swift answer from Heaven! As for the Vicar of Christ’s Motu Proprio liberating the traditional Mass, our second entreaty was answered even more swiftly by the Blessed Virgin, because on the very same visit I made to Rome in January to put in the Sovereign Pontiff’s hands our bouquet of 1,703,000 Rosaries, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos put in my own hands the decree lifting the “excommunications” of 1988!

That is something we had asked for back in 2001, as a sign of good will on the part of the Vatican towards the Traditional movement. For, ever since the Council, everything Traditional or seeking to be Traditional in the Church has been undergoing one vexation after another, up to and including our being cast into exile. Naturally that undermined partially or even totally, ones trust in the Roman authorities. As long as that trust is not partially restored, as I said at the time, the relations between Rome and ourselves will hardly exist. Trust is not just a nice feeling, it is a fruit that grows all on its own when one can recognize in the Roman authorities shepherds who have the interests of everything Traditional at heart. That was the meaning of our two preliminary requests. It is impossible to understand our present position and attitude towards the Holy See if one does not take into account the state of crisis prevailing in the Church, which is no superficial matter, nor just a personal opinion. It is a reality quite independent of our way of looking at it, which is admitted now and again by those authorities, and verified all the time by the facts. There are numerous and varied aspects to the crisis, some profound, some merely circumstantial, but everyone suffers from it. What strikes the faithful above all are the updated liturgical ceremonies—very often scandalous, alas! and the day-to-day preaching from the pulpit of positions on moral questions in direct contradiction to the age-old teaching of the Church and the example of the Saints. Very often parents have been grieved by their children’s losing the Faith, after having been entrusted to Catholic schools, or by their almost complete ignorance of Catholic doctrine, thanks to the lack of any proper catechism. A countless number of members of religious orders, through their Constitutions having been re-written and their minds re-trained according to Vatican II, show that they have lost the spirit of the Gospel, in particular, self-renunciation, poverty and sacrifice. This loss has almost immediately resulted in such a falling off of vocations that a number of Orders and Congregations are closing their houses one after another, or disappearing altogether. The situation of many dioceses is just as dramatic.
All of which forms a coherent whole that did not happen merely by chance, but arose out of a Council setting out to reform everything, and claiming to bring even the Church up to date. Yet we are accused of either seeing a crisis where there is none, or of wrongly blaming the Council for a disastrous and enormously serious situation which anyone can recognize, or again of profiting by that situation to justify a wrongful attitude of rebellion and independence.

On the contrary, pick up the writings of the Church Fathers, or the Magisterium, or the Liturgy or Theology down the ages, and you find a unity of teaching and example to which we cleave with all our heart. This unity of doctrine is in practice heavily contradicted, thwarted and attacked by present ways of doing things. We are not imagining things when we say there has been a break. The break is all too real. To observe how the Bishops of certain countries treat us even after the “excommunications” were withdrawn, is enough for one to see how deeply the up-dated churchmen reject anything that smacks of Tradition. The only name that can be given to such an occurrence is a break with the past.

For again, as surprising as was the appearance of the Decree of January 21, just as astonishing was the violence of the reaction of the progressives and leftists in general with regard to ourselves. By Bishop Williamson’s unfortunate words they may well have been handed a golden opportunity to smear the whole Society of St. Pius X and to treat it as a scapegoat, but the truth of the matter is that we were merely an instrument in a much more important struggle, the struggle of Mother Church, truly called the Church Militant , against the evil spirits prowling through the atmosphere, as St. Paul says. It is no presumption on our part to say the Society has just now been playing a part in Church history, the history of the titanic struggle for the salvation of souls, announced in the Book of Genesis and described so dramatically in the Revelation of St. John. Normally this struggle confines itself to the spiritual domain, but every now and again it flows over from words and souls into the bodily domain, and then it becomes visible, as with open persecutions.

In all that has happened these last few months we should see a particularly intense moment of this struggle. It is clear as clear can be that the main target being aimed at is the Vicar of Christ as he attempts to undertake a certain restoration of the Church. A coming together of the Head of the Church and the Traditional movement is much feared, as is any going back on the novelties of Vatican II, so everything possible is done to prevent it. What does the Pope truly think? What position is he taking? Jews and progressives want to force him to choose between Vatican II and ourselves…. to such a point that to re-assure them, the Secretariat of State could find nothing better than to lay down as a necessary condition for our canonical re-instatement the complete acceptance of what we consider to be the main source of the current problems we have always been opposed to!.... Yet those churchmen are bound, as are we all, by the Anti-modernist Oath and all the other Church condemnations of modern novelties. Thus we refuse to approach Vatican II from any other angle than that of the Solemn Declarations (Profession of Faith and Anti-modernist Oath) drawn up before God and the Church. And if the Council is incompatible with such Declarations, then it is the novelties that must be wrong. We are relying on the up-coming doctrinal discussions to clarify these points as much as possible.

Profiting from the new situation arising from the withdrawal of the “excommunications” which has actually left the canonical status of the Society unchanged, several Bishops try to square the circle by demanding that we obey Canon Law to the letter on every point, as though we were perfectly in order, at the same time as they declare we have no canonical existence! One German Bishop has announced that by year’s end the Society will once more be out of the Church… Nice of him! In fact the only possible solution is the one we already asked for, namely an intermediary status, necessarily incomplete and canonically imperfect, but generally accepted as being intermediary, without our having to be constantly accused of disobedience and rebellion, without our having ridiculous prohibitions thrown at us. When all is said and done, one more proof that the Church finds itself in an abnormal state, which we call a state of necessity, is the present words and deeds of certain Bishops with regard to the Pope and Tradition.
So how will things develop from here? We have no idea. We stand by our proposal to accept our present imperfect situation as being temporary, even while we enter into the doctrinal discussions that have been announced, in the hope that they will bear fruit.
But on this difficult path, in the face of such violent opposition, we ask you, dear faithful, once more to resort to prayer. It seems to us that the moment has come to launch a major offensive, firmly anchored in the message of Our Lady at Fatima, where she promised us success, announcing that in the end her Immaculate Heart will triumph. This is the triumph we are asking her for by the means she herself requested, namely the Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Supreme Pastor and all the Bishops of the Catholic world, and the spread of the devotion to her Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. So for this purpose we wish to offer her by March 2010 a bouquet of 12 million Rosaries, like a crown of 12 million stars all around her, to be accompanied by a similar quantity of daily sacrifices to be drawn above all from the faithful accomplishment of our duty of state, while we promise to spread the devotion to her Immaculate Heart. We are firmly convinced that if we take care to do what she says, we will obtain much more than we could ever have hoped, and above all we will make sure of our salvation by benefiting from the graces she has promised us.

So we ask also of our priests a special effort to make this devotion easier of access for our faithful, by putting the accent not only on the Communion of Reparation of the first Saturdays of the month, but also on living very close to Our Lady through the consecration to her Immaculate Heart. It would also be good to know better and to deepen the spirituality of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, the great herald of the Immaculate.

Our Society was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart 25 years ago this year. We wish to renew this happy initiative of Fr. Schmidberger by wholly devoting ourselves to that Heart and by reviving our own hearts in this spirit. Obviously we are not going to tell Providence what it should do, but we have learned from the examples set by the Saints and in Scripture itself that to have great desires can bring forward the designs of the good Lord in a remarkable way. Thus today we make bold to entrust this intention to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, by asking her to take you all under her motherly protection. May God bless you abundantly!

On the feast of the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

Winona, Easter 2009

+Bernard Fellay

[For original article, please click here]

Death of Garabandal Visionary Mari Loli

2009-04-22T16:10:00.005+01:00

Garabandal visionary Mari Loli Lafleur has passed away (April 20th). Below is a statement released by Joey Lomangino (founder of The Workers of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de Garabandal, Inc.)

It was with great sadness that we were informed late last night of the death of Garabandal visionary Mari Loli Lafleur in Boston after a long illness. She was very much loved by everyone involved in the promotion of Garabandal. We ask your prayers for Mari Loli and her family and close friends.

Joey and Marilynn Lomangino
The Workers of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel de Garabandal
Lindenhurst NY USA

Please note: We have no further information at this time.

May God have mercy upon her soul.

Our Lady of Garabandal, pray for us!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T01:19:00.000+01:00

T.C.N. wishes you a most Holy and Happy Easter!

Mass Times for Holy Week in Britain

2009-04-05T17:27:00.002+01:00

Below are the times/locations for Holy Mass during Holy Week (SSPX Britain) :

Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Sunday
9th April 10th April 11th April 12th April

Bristol: 1900 1500 2215 1000

Burghclere: - 1500 2200 0800

Edinburgh: 1900 1100* - 1300

Gateshead: - 1500 2000 1100

Glasgow: 1900 1500 2000 1000

Herne: 1900 1600 - 0900

Holnest/
Middlemarsh: - - - 1730

Keighley: - 1100* - 1330

Liverpool: - 1100* - 1300

London/
St. Joseph's: 1900 1500 2000 1100

London/
Wimbledon: 0800* 0800* - 0800

Manchester: 1900 1500 - 1000

Oxford: - - - 1000

Portsmouth: 1900 1500 2000 1100

Preston: 1900 1500 2000 1000

Rhos: - - - -

Taunton: - - - 1430

Woking: 1900 1200* 1000* 1700

*Mass not celebrated - other service such as Stations of the Cross or Tenebrae.

If you would like a more clear/detailed view of the mass times within Holy Week, please click here

Catholic University Encourages Alternative Lifestyles

2009-04-04T20:41:00.003+01:00

[Taken from Blogger News Network]

(Above photo) FLAGS ON LAWN AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY TO CELEBRATE, “QUEER WEEK!”

This entire week at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio the Jesuit Catholic University has engaged in observing, what they call, “Queer Week!” Today, April 3 marks the end of the week’s programs and special events that are intended as “A week to embrace and celebrate the use of queer as an inclusive, unifying socio-political term for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight, transsexual, intersexual, gender queer, or anyone else who supports the equality of all identities and expressions.” The quoted text is taken directly from the University’s web site.

When trying to call the University to ask someone how this campus observation of, “Queer Week,” appropriately fit into the context of Catholic moral teachings on the matter of homosexuality, the number called only provided an automated voice mailbox on which to leave a message or request a call back. The issue really is two-fold: How does a reportedly Catholic University promote, support and endorse a week of seminars and activities regarding a lifestyle that is contrary to Catholic moral and sexual teachings. Secondly, the question needs to be considered is how can any institution of higher learning consider itself authentically Catholic with such initiatives?Part of the continuously emerging concern in the American Catholic Church is the insistence of Catholic educational facilities to sponsor speakers, events and activities that are contrary to Catholic Church principles and teachings. The matter spills over into multiple topics, from (Pseudo) Catholics that are ProChoice, to the proverbial Quasi (Catholic) that endorses same-sex relationships, marriages and even gay civil rights.

It seemingly looks as if modern secularism is not only infiltrating the foundational teachings of Catholic moral and ethical teachings, but is actively eroding the theological and moral principles from within: namely Catholic institutions, clergy and faithful that are erroneous in their understanding of what the Catholic Church precisely teaches.

Additionally erroneous on the part of these groups is what the Catholic Church believes in living a lifestyle that is in accordance to the message of the Gospels & the teachings of the Apostles.Entities such as Xavier University engaged in discussion, development and fostering of activities such as,”Queer Week, “are indeed not in compliance to the four necessary components that are consistent for an educational facility of higher learning to maintain its Catholic identity.

Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities clearly states:

1 .A Christian inspiration not only of individuals but of the university communityas such;

2 .A continuing reflection in the light of the Catholic faith upon the growingtreasury of human knowledge, to which it seeks to contribute by its ownresearch;

3. Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes to us through the Church;

4. An institutional commitment to the service of the people of God and of thehuman family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaningto life.

Xavier University does not appear to provide a consistent vision in their application of these four points as stated by the Apostolic Constitution. As a direct result of this obstructed vision on the Church’s points, Xavier University is indeed not properly functioning as an institution of higher Catholic learning. They should immediately cease referencing themselves as a Catholic University.

The promotion of activities and events that are not consistent with the Church’s teachings quite frankly help to the disintegration and misunderstanding of authentic Catholic principles. The ersatz juxtaposition implied by, “Queer Week,” implies a tacit moral approval of alternative lifestyles as consistent with Catholic moral and ethical teachings. Any semblance of approval as illustrated at Xavier University to alternative lifestyles alienated from the authentic Catholic marriage and family pursuit indeed promotes a contrary to Catholic cultural traditions and should not be tolerated by the American Catholic hierarchy, and orthodox faithful Catholics in the United States.

If indeed any Catholic university wants to discuss the topic of homosexuality and the moral lifestyle implications, it should never be contemplated from a, “unified socio-political view,” but in the proper and correct context of authentic adherence to the Catholic Church’s guidelines set forth for the proper functioning of a Catholic University, and the proper implementation of Catholic social and sexual norms of appropriate behavior.Xavier University…stop advocating political correctness and start observing Catholic morality!

For original article, please click here

Why do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays?

2009-04-03T01:42:00.002+01:00

Fr. Peter Scott, rector of Holy Cross Seminary Australia (sspx) answers frequently asked questions about Catholicism.

Question: Why do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays?

Answer: The practice of Friday abstinence dates from the very beginning of the Church. The principle of the penitential practice abstinence, in order to achieve self-mastery, was already outlined by St. Paul himself: “Everyone striving for the mastery must abstain from all things” ( I Cor 9:25) and “Let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of Christ in labours, watchings, and fastings” (2 Cor 6:5).

Explicit mention is made of the practice of abstaining on Fridays in a documents from the end of the first century (The Didache of the Apostles), as well as by St. Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian in the 3rd century. It was the universal custom from the very beginning, and Friday was chosen in memory of the Passion of Our Lord, as a day on which we should make a special effort to practice penance. It is in recognition of the fact that Christ suffered and died, and gave up his human flesh and life for our sins on a Friday that Catholics do not eat flesh meat on Fridays. Pope Nicholas I made this a law of the Church in the ninth century. In the Latin Church, from the early middle ages this one day of abstinence was not considered enough, and Saturday abstinence was added, in honor of the burial of Christ and the mourning of the Blessed Mother and the holy woman on Holy Saturday. This was made a law of the Church by St. Gregory VII in the 11th century, but has since fallen out of custom, except by those who desire to profess their devotion to Our Lady in a special way. The Eastern rite Church also had strict rules for abstinence, given that it was binding for them on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The rules for what can and what cannot be permitted on days of abstinence have also varied with time. St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, indicates that eggs, milk, butter, cheese and lard are forbidden on days of abstinence because they come from animals and have some identity of origin with flesh meat. Present days rules limit the abstinence to flesh meat only.

The abstinence from meat is an ecclesiastical law, but one which has long obliged under pain of mortal sin. Pope Innocent III made this very clear at the beginning of the 13th century, and in the 17th century Pope Alexander VII anathematized those who would minimize the character of this obligation and declared that transgressions against it were only venial sins.

It is certainly true that, as an ecclesiastical law, it can be changed by the Church’s sovereign authority. However, the way this important precept has been trivialized by the post-conciliar church is a great disgrace and shame for Catholics. It is clearly not taught to bind under pain of mortal sin, and the mention of the possibility of substituting any other kind of sacrifice by the 1983 Code of Canon Law has effectively destroyed this very ancient practice. The fundamental reason why the modernists detest the Friday abstinence is that they refuse the need for at least some small works of penance to satisfy for the temporal punishment due to our sins, and they do everything they can to empty out the mystery of the Passion, that is of the Cross, and to replace it by a Risen Christ with suffering and sacrifice. However, it was by suffering, and by offering up his own flesh and blood that Our Divine Savior deigned to redeem us, and consequently it is our duty to associate ourselves with Him by the Friday abstinence.

Traditional Catholics know full well that they have a grave obligation of maintaining this ancient penitential Tradition. They can and should confess it as a mortal sin, if they break the Friday abstinence without any excusing reason. It is not a mortal sin in virtue of the Church’s positive, ecclesiastical law, or at least not clearly so. However, it is a sin of disrespect and contempt for Our Lord’s passion and death, for the Church’s traditions, and for the necessity of doing penance, and a sign of grave indifference to the work of our Redemption. Consequently, the priest will not hesitate to give absolution to one who confesses this sin, being truly contrite for it.

[To view more frequently asked questions about Catholicism (answered by SSPX Seminary rector, Fr. Peter Scott), please click here

Fourth Anniversary of the Death of John Paul II

2009-04-02T01:02:00.004+01:00

Today is the fourth anniversary of the death of John Paul II. Below is a PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
on the death of Pope John Paul II from the superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Fellay.

Menzingen

Easter Saturday

2 April, 2005

The Superior General of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X and his two assistants, together with all its members: bishops, priests, brothers, sisters as well as the faithful, join in the prayer of the Universal Church at the announcement of the passing of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. We commend his soul to the mercy of God the Father and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

There will be a Requiem Mass said in each house of the Society for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father.

The Society of St. Pius X, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, applauds the fight undertaken by Karol Wojtyla for the protection of life and his efforts in the moral sphere. Nonetheless, it feels it a duty to repeat that it has always disapproved of the indefatigable efforts of Pope John Paul II towards ecumenism, efforts which have led to a weakening of the Faith and of the defence of Truth.

The Society is aware of the superhuman task awaiting the future Supreme Pontiff and prays the Holy Ghost to enlighten the Cardinal Electors. It hopes the new Vicar of Christ will be able to take up the helm of the Church with a steady hand and make good the damage caused in the wake of the Second Vatican Council: liturgical unity and the unity of Faith have been dissolved and doctrinal errors have spread amongst all the clergy.

While we wait and hope for this, it is now time to pray for him who has just entered eternity.

Bishop Bernard Fellay

Superior General of the SSPX

[Source]

Below is a photo showing Pope John Paul II kissing the Koran. May Almighty God have mercy on his soul!

SSPX York Pilgrimage April 2009

2009-04-01T11:48:00.005+01:00

The SSPX.uk will be running its annual pilgrimage (formally known as 'the York to Hazlewood Pilgrimage') this month on Saturday 25th.

Pilgrims meet outside St. Wilfred's Catholic church, York at 10am and then walk through the narrow streets of York to visit religious sites such as: the house of St. Margaret Clitherow and the site where she was brutally martyred. Pilgrims also get the chance to venerate the incorrupt hand of St. Margaret and visit other sites where many courageous martyrs such as Francis Ingleby died for the faith.

The pilgrimage ends in Askham Richard with Holy Mass being celebrated in the Village Hall at 2pm.

No payments/fees are required for taking part in the York Pilgrimage and all are welcome to come.
For further details
please contact: Mr G Townshend
Tel: 01535 630436

If you would like to read the original program (published in the March 2009 newsletter by the SSPX), please click here

Bishop's Course For Couples Step in The Right Direction?

2009-04-01T11:20:00.008+01:00

[Lancashire Evening Post]

31 March 2009

By David Coates

Couples in Lancashire will have to do a course in marriage before they are granted a Catholic church wedding.

Bishop of Lancaster Patrick O'Donoghue has drawn up the Marriage Preparation Course as the final part of his controversial Fit for Mission? review of the Catholic church.

He has already announced the closures of churches in the county and attacked his fellow Bishops for failing to tackle issues such as homosexuality and same-sex adoption elsewhere in the review.

The Bishop plans two courses – Marriage Preparation, a basic curriculum for non-practising Catholics, and Marriage Preparation Plus for churchgoers.

Both courses include homework and are spread over six sessions.

Fr Robert Billing, the Bishop's secretary, said the courses had been requested by priests across the Diocese who were struggling to teach brides and grooms enough about marriage within the faith.

He said: "At the moment there is some kind of education, because couples who want a church wedding meet a priest a few times before a wedding.

"Often the priests are at a loss how to structure it, so this process formalises the whole thing."

In his introduction to the courses, due to be published shortly, the Bishop said he accepted that many who wanted a church wedding would be non-practising Catholics or have "no religious background".

The Bishop, who retires next month, said the basic course was aimed at "couples with little or no knowledge of the faith or experience of the church".

The Marriage Preparation Plus course assumes a "knowledge of the faith and a living relationship with Christ".

Fr Billing said priests would judge which course was best suited to each couple.

He said: "When I was at St Maria Goretti in Preston four years ago, the weddings I did were rarely with two practising Catholics.

"Often it was lapsed Catholics or people who had been to a Catholic school, so there was some contact but it was distant."

Fr Tom Singleton, of St Ignatius and English Martyrs churches in Preston, said the courses would help priests plan marriage preparations in a "more uniform way".

He said: "The important thing is that priests are able to help couples for the long term and prepare them for the challenges which married life brings to a relationship.

"It is about helping teach them about the church, and about how it can support them through their married lives."

[For original article please visit Lancashire Evening Post]

What do you think? Feel free to post comments on this article.

If Only There Was Such A Code Sill in Place?

2009-03-31T12:45:00.006+01:00

On the 31st of March 1930, the United States of America instituted a Production Code imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in films for the next thirty eight years.

The Production Code enumerated three "General Principles" as follows:

[Taken from 'Wikipedia']

1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.

2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented.

3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.

Specific restrictions were spelled out as "Particular Applications" of these principles:

nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited.

The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or villains.

The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization."

Methods of crime (e.g. safe-craking, arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented.

References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and venereal disease were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth.

The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered to be offensive.

Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. "Revenge in modern times" was not to be justified.

The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing." Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive option.

Portrayals of miscegenation were forbidden.

"Scenes of Passion" were not to be introduced when not essential to the plot. "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser element."

The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be presented "fairly."

The treatment of "Vulgarity," defined as "low, disgusting, unpleasant, though not necessarily evil, subjects" must be "subject to the dictates of good taste." Capital punishment, "third-degree methods," cruelty to children and animals, prostitution and surgical operations were to be handled with similar sensitivity.

1930 to 1934: The start of the Hays Code

The advent of talking pictures in 1927 led to a perceived need for further enforcement. Martin Quigley, the publisher of a Chicago-based motion picture trade newspaper, began lobbying for a more extensive code that not only listed material that was inappropriate for the movies, but also contained a moral system that the movies could help to promote - specifically a system based on Catholic theology. He recruited Father Daniel Lord, a Jesuit priest and instructor at the Catholic St. Louis University, to write such a code and on March 31, 1930 the board of directors of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association adopted it formally. It has become known to posterity as the Hays Code.

[For the full original article, please click here]

Imagine such a code was still in place today? Let us pray that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her spouse St. Joseph, the power of Christ will put a stop to these modern, perverse, sensual, blasphemous movies and such a code as the 'Hays Code' may some day be reintroduced into society.

'We have sold our soul' says Archbishop

2009-03-31T12:36:00.003+01:00

The Archbishop of Birmingham has said that Britons have lost there soul and... more

Blessing of New Organ - St. Peter's Berlin

2009-03-31T00:34:00.004+01:00

Here are a couple of photos from the blessing ceremony of the new organ for the SSPX church St. Peter's, Berlin.

Ireland and the Monarchy Debate

2009-03-31T00:01:00.001+01:00

[Independent.ie]

Monday March 30 2009
There have been some suggestions in recent weeks about Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth -- 60 years after Mr Costello's inter-party government stormed out of what was then the British Commonwealth, in 1949.

The Commonwealth is no longer called 'British', and republics -- such as India -- are now freely admitted; so certain Irish academics and notables (writing from the Department of History at University College, Cork, though not endorsed officially by UCC) have put forward the idea that it could be in Irish interests to be part of this international club once again.

Maybe: or maybe not. I cannot see it happening -- a national debate on the Commonwealth question might reopen too many old wounds. But there is one issue which has just arisen in which Ireland certainly should have a 'Commonwealth' voice.

That issue refers to Gordon Brown's constitutional proposal to remove the ban on Roman Catholics acceding to the British throne, or indeed, marrying anyone in line to the throne.

It is still part of the Act of Settlement of 1701 that "no British prince" may marry a Roman Catholic and keep his entitlement of succession. Any member of the British royal family who marries a papist must renounce his succession, as did Prince Michael of Kent -- his father was King George VI's younger brother -- when he married the Austrian Marie-Christine von Reibnitz in 1978.

More recently, Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, was received into the Catholic Church in 2001, and was obliged to renounce formally his succession entitlements to the throne. In 2006, he became the first member of the British Royal Family to be married at the Vatican.

As it happens, Nicholas's mother, Katharine, is also a Catholic convert; she has no claim to the throne, but she is, piquantly, a collateral descendent of Oliver Cromwell. (The duchess is also something of a royal drop-out: she does not do royal duties any more, prefers to be called 'Kate Kent' and teaches piano lessons in London's Notting Hill to disadvantaged children.)

By contrast, when Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, married the Irish-Canadian Autumn Kelly last year, she chose to renounce her Catholic faith and become an Anglican -- sparing her bridegroom the rigmarole of resigning from his entitlements as 11th in line to the throne.

Fair enough: individuals may choose whatever faith they wish to embrace. But it remains an awkward element of the British constitution that while a 'British prince' may marry a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Pantheist, an Animist, an Athiest or a worshipper of Wicca, the Witch-Goddess, Roman Catholics alone are still forbidden. Gordon Brown is anxious to update this aspect of the monarchy (and also to equalise succession as between genders, so that the first-born, be they male or female, succeeds.)

Some think that Gordon's political motive is that he needs to mend a few fences -- not to mention currying favour -- with his Labour base in Scotland, which has a strong Catholic element. He has lost ground with this constituency through various parliamentary measures such as approving legalisation of animal-human embryo hybrids, strongly condemned by the Scottish Catholic hierarchy.

Be that as it may, this religious matter is a constitutional question which does have a certain amount of relevance to Northern Ireland.

Republicans and strong nationalists in the North don't give a fig what the rules of the royal game are: to them (as to British republicans), the only progressive measure would be to abolish the monarchy altogether. However, this isn't going to happen any time soon, since the institution remains, on the whole, popular and is democratically supported. (And what would the celeb mags do without William and Harry?)

But there is a solid body of middle-of-the-road Northern Catholics who do care about this question. To them, the continuing, and unique, prohibition on Catholics marrying into the royal family is a 'symbolic' insult.

"I think the queen is a decent Christian woman," a Newry mother wrote to me. "But I do resent the fact that Catholics are still barred from marrying into the royal family, and being accepted properly. To me, it is a symbol of remaining bigotry."

In fact, it is a historically complex issue which has much to do with ensuring the dispossessed Stuarts would never make a claim to unseat the heirs of the House of Hanover. And Queen Elizabeth is the governor of the Church of England, which is thus "by law established": as things stand, the monarch must be an Anglican.

Still, ways can be found. The Dutch Royal House, a Lutheran monarchy, reached a perfectly sensible compromise when Crown Prince Willem-Alexander married an Argentine Catholic, Maxima Cerruti: each spouse could keep their own faith, but the children, to succeed to the monarchy, would be raised as Lutherans. The compromise has worked very harmoniously -- like all compromises, each side has had to give a little.

So, will the Dutch solution apply to the House of Windsor? Much depends on the Commonwealth, which has to be consulted on this issue. If the Commonwealth speaks with a strong voice, and makes workable recommendations, then these changes can be introduced.

What a pity Ireland's voice won't be among those consulted, especially since Ireland has a legitimate interest in expressing the views of the people of this island, which includes those Catholics who feel that the rules should be changed.

But since Ireland has excluded itself from the Commonwealth, there can be no input.

When you leave a club you may thereby assert your own independence from such networks. But you also lose empowerment in a sphere of influence which can touch your own national or cultural interest.

For original article click here

A Letter from Australia

2009-03-30T23:29:00.005+01:00

Below is an interesting article from Father Edward Black (Superior of the SSPX Australia) concerning the lifting of the excommunications and the current situation of the SSPX.

[SSPX Australia District Newsletter - March 2009]

Monday, March 30th, 2009

My Dear Brethren,

Many significant events have happened since I last wrote to you.

Father Jordie Stephens was ordained by Bishop de Galarreta at the seminary at Goulburn on 27th December and he has now been appointed to Sydney to begin his priestly apostolate by taking up the position formerly held by Father Christopher Curtis. The latter has been transferred to the seminary to teach there in place of Father Bourmaud who has gone to labour in the Lord’s vineyard in Kenya.

Father Anthony Esposito preached a retreat to the priests in January and was guest of honour, together with the new seminary rector, Father Vincente Griego, at our annual Australia Day Dinner at Rockdale. Father Emeric Baudot, the Bursar-General of the Society has just completed a visit to all of our major houses and other properties accompanied by Father Elias who has recently been appointed as District Bursar of Australia.The Rosary Crusade for the lifting of the putative excommunications of our four bishops was swift in its efficacy! The number of rosaries recited far exceeded the one million which Bishop Fellay requested; the total being 1,703,097 of which 39,465 were offered from Australia. The Crusade having ended on Christmas Day, the bishop personally took his Spiritual Bouquet to Rome on 17th January and the excommunications were lifted only a few days later by a decree of the Congregation of Bishops which was made public on the 25th January. This event, of course, is of singular importance to us. As Bishop Fellay wrote, “Throughout the whole world, Catholics attached to tradition will no longer be wrongfully stigmatized and condemned for having kept the faith of their fathers. Catholic tradition is no longer excommunicated.”

Furthermore, taken together with the Motu Proprio of 7th July 2007, which acknowledged that the Mass had never been abrogated it may represent a turning of the tide or change of direction in the disastrous policies of the last forty years which have brought the Church to ruin. Needless to say this perception is shared with those who approve of all that has happened during these years and this has resulted in an unprecedented attack by these people on the Pope himself. So seriously has he felt this that he has taken the most unusual step of writing, on 10th March, a public letter to all of the bishops of the world explaining his reasons for this action. Therefore, it is clear to all that Traditional Catholics no longer have the monopoly of being “against the Pope”!

All of these events are greatly encouraging and their significance cannot be underestimated. On the other hand however, it would be very mistaken to overestimate – or rather, misunderstand – what all of this means.

In a letter such as this it is impossible to examine all of the details, nuances and possible ramifications of a very complex situation. However, it must first and foremost be borne in mind that the Motu Proprio and the lifting of the excommunications, most welcome as they are, represent merely the fulfillment of the preliminary conditions requested by Bishop Fellay on behalf of the Society before we could begin with any degree of trust and confidence discussions about the canonical regularization of the Society. All of our troubles over the years have not been confined only to the question of the liturgy but also serious points of doctrine concerning certain documents of the Second Vatican Council and all of the negative consequences which have stemmed from them. These grave difficulties are yet to be resolved and until then the essential problems remain. Obviously, the Society has not taken its stand over all these years simply in order for us to have our comfortable little corner in the Church where we may be undisturbed in indulging our own religious sensibilities while abrogating the duties and responsibilities as members of the wider Church!

It may also be surprising to some that, as far as Church Law is concerned, the lifting of the excommunications does not have a major impact on the situation of the Society. Since the excommunications took place so long ago it is easy to forget that both Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society were suffering canonical penalties long before the excommunications were declared. As the Pope has pointed out in his letter to the Bishops mentioned above, these still remain in force.

The nature of the Church demands that all she teaches be believed by each of her members and that they acknowledge and obey the authority which Christ has placed over her. To reject any part of her teaching is heresy and a refusal to recognize the authority which she claims is schism. Note that simple disobedience to authority does not imply schism which is a refusal to acknowledge that the hierarchy actually possesses the power or authority which it claims. Heretics and schismatics are not members of the Church by the very nature of their situation so that no declaration of excommunication is necessary to be made against them.

Excommunication is sometimes, however, used as a penalty against members of the Church who are neither heretics nor schismatics but whom the Church feels the need to discipline for serious crimes by removing them from the body of the visible Church. In this case, a declaration of excommunication must be made by the competent authority and, of course, it may be lifted once the problem is resolved. It is inevitable that, as in all legal procedures, mistakes may be made and especially in cases where penalties are applied to persons who feel unable to obey because they perceive the commands of superiors to be contrary to the moral or divine law which is our own case.

Another canonical penalty which is known as suspension may be applied to priests and bishops. This forbids (or suspends) them from legally administering the Sacraments or celebrating Mass and they commit a grave sin if they do so. Note here that the sacramental power is not and cannot be taken away but only the authority to make use of the power. This, technically, is the situation of all of the bishops and priests of the Society and therefore the Vatican is not saying that it approves of our apostolate at the present time even although the putative excommunications of the bishops have been removed.

Obviously we have always considered the penalties against us to be unjust and the situation in the Church to be so grave that we are justified in continuing to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacraments in spite of the opprobrium which has been heaped upon us for doing so. What is now remarkable is that the Pope himself appears to be prepared to acknowledge that we have been acting in good faith. In a Press Release of 12th March Bishop Fellay stated:

“The priestly Society of St. Pius X assures Benedict XVI of its determination to enter into the doctrinal talks recognized as ‘requisite’ by the Decree of January 21st, with the desire to serve revealed Truth, which is the first act of charity to perform towards all men, Christians or non-Christians. It assures him of its prayers so that his faith fail not and that he may confirm his brethren. (cf. Luke 22:32)”

May our Resurrected Saviour grant you every grace and blessing this Easter.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Father Edward Black

Superior.

Trads Say 'No' to Bishop Roche!

2009-03-30T13:59:00.008+01:00

A group under the title: 'NO TO BISHOP ARTHUR ROCHE IN WESTMINSTER' has been put together on facebook and Traditional Catholics in particular are being asked to join.

In an article by the 'Catholic Herald' dated 15/08/2008, it is quite clear that Bishop Arthur Roche, (who is said to be a 'likely' choice for Westminster) is against the Tridentine Mass and the Traditions of the Catholic Church.

Let us pray that this Bishop doesn't replace Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and that another more suitable candidate (in favour of the Tridentine Mass) will lead the Catholic Church in England and Wales and hopefully increase the use of the Extraordinary Form of Mass.

To view the article by the 'Catholic Herald' please click here.

To join the Facebook group opposing Bishop Arthur Roche in Westminster, please click here.

DVD Great Way to Prepare for Holy Week!

2009-03-29T16:21:00.007+01:00

Many Catholics during this time of lent will refrain from watching TV, DVD, VHS etc in order to spiritually prepare themselves for the Holy Feast of Easter. However, I'm sure that during this period one exception could be made for the movie 'The Passion of the Christ'?

The movie (if you have not yet seen it) portrays the last twelve hours of Christ on earth, His sufferings and death on the Cross.

After watching this movie when it first came to the Cinema back in 2004, I can remember the tremendous feeling of love and appreciation which I experienced afterwards. I can honestly say that this movie completely strengthened my spiritual life and love for Jesus and Mary. The movie has also been said to have changed the lives of many other souls through its simple, yet powerful portrayal of Jesus and Mary.

This movie is a great way to prepare for Easter (especially when watched during Holy Week). It allows us to better meditate on the sufferings which Christ endured for the salvation of our souls. After watching this movie; meditating during the rosary, stations of the cross etc will become much easier and will also help you to appreciate the great love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wishing you all the best for the remaining two weeks of Lent!

Fabian

P.S. Today is 'Passion Sunday', therefore why not take this opportunity to watch a movie or read a book related to the passion and suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Below are some suggested materials which you might find useful in preparation for Holy Week:

'The Passion of the Christ' directed by Mel Gibson

'The Life of Christ' written by Fulton Sheen

'Jesus of Nazareth' directed by Franco Zeffirelli

'The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ' from the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich

'The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning' by Rev. James Groenings

'The Magnificent Prayers' by St Bridget of Sweden

'The School of Jesus Crucified' by Fr. Ignatius of the Side of Jesus Passionist

'Saints and Sinners of Calvary' by Fr. Christopher Rengers O.F.M. Cap.

Two Priests Jailed for Theft

2009-03-28T13:50:00.003Z

[Source: Digital Journal]

A Florida court sentenced two catholic priests to varying prison terms for stealing and misappropriating funds of their church.

Two Roman Catholic priests were sent to jail by a Florida Court for stealing thousands of dollars from their church funds.

Mb.com.ph reports:

John Skehan and Francis Guinan were accused in 2006 of skimming money from collection plates and bequests at their church in Delray Beach, Florida, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on real estate, travel, rare coins and girlfriends.

Skehan, 81, was sentenced Tuesday to 14 months in prison and seven years probation after pleading guilty in January to a charge of grand theft of over $100,000.

Guinan, 66, was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison after taking the case to trial and being found guilty of a lesser charge of theft under $100,000.

Many catholic priests have been criticized for committing various crimes ranging from misappropriation of funds to sexual abuse committed mostly on parishioners and church personnel.

Proof of the continuing and widespread abuse by many catholic priests is contained in a wikipedia report on compensation payout recorded up to 2007.

Huge settlement payouts include the 2007 settlement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California involving claims of over $600 million for abuses committed by the clergy.

In September 2003, The Archdiocese of Boston agreed to pay out $86 million to 552 victims. In 2005, Bishop Tod Brown of the Diocese of Orange apologized to 87 alleged victims of sexual abuse and announced a settlement of $100 million following two years of mediation.

There are thousands of cases involving catholic priests from around the world committing various forms of crimes, mostly sexual abuse and misappropriation of funds.

The Catholic Church hierarchy has been struggling in its effort to put order in the institution and in reviving its sagging popularity.

[Source: Digital Journal]

For original article, please follow: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/270002

The Pope, bishops and in particular the Catholic priests need our prayers more than ever. Watch the video below for more information on the 'why' and 'how' questions concerning the Catholic Priesthood.

Dedication to The Blessed Virgin Mary

2009-03-27T11:32:00.000Z

[Source: General Devotions - The New Roman Missal - Father Lasance]

My Queen! My Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to thee this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession.

Indulgence 500 days; Plenary, under usual conditions if recited daily for one entire month. -S. C. Indulg., Aug. 5, 1851; S. Ap. Pen., Nov. 21, 1926.

Jews Deliberately Twisting Historical Facts?

2009-03-26T12:23:00.001Z

The reason for the excommunications latae sententiae (automatic excommunication) of the four Bishops of the Society of St. Pius X in 1988 was a penalty laid down in the revised Code of Canon Law, Canon 1382, for directly participating in an episcopal consecration in the absence of a papal mandate.

However, as we know, the SSPX, several churchmen and canon lawyers affirm “that the consecration was not a schismatic act, on the basis that Lefebvre was merely consecrating auxiliary bishops rather than attempting to establish a parallel church.” We can therefore agree that the reasons for the excommunications of 1988 (whether illicit or not) were related to Canon 1382 and no other reason. This is a well known historical fact. However, according to the Jewish news agency Israel Today, Bishop Williamson “was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust”.

After reading an article on the website Israel Today entitled What Do Jews in Israel Think of Christians? (24/03/2009), the authors state that “Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust”. I immediately sent an email to the editor stating that the authors of the article had made an error concerning the excommunication of Bishop Williamson. Below is the email which I sent to the editor on (24/03/2009).

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has come to my attention that the authors of the article entitled: What Do Jews in Israel Think of Christians? have made a grave error concerning the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson.

The article states "Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 for denying the Holocaust". This statement is untrue! Bishop Williamson was excommunicated in 1988 but not for denying the Holocaust, it was because of his unauthorised consecration as a bishop by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.

This information is widely available on the internet and I am surprised that the editors of such a ‘prominent’ newspaper could make such a mistake. Perhaps it just goes to show that journalists/writers also make the same mistakes as the Pope when it comes to consulting the internet for information.

I trust the error will be rectified immediately?

Yours sincerely,

Fabian S

Today’s date is the 26th, I still haven’t received a reply from the editor and the errors within the article still haven’t been rectified. The reasons for this could be one of two. For example, the editor may not yet have read my email or is taking his time in replying and altering the article. Secondly, the authors of this article could have deliberately twisted the facts relating to the 1988 excommunications in order to dramatically defend the ‘Holocaust’ and condemn the actions of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

To read the short, yet rather misleading article, please follow: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=128&view=item&idx=1918

Opposition to SSPX Church Purchase

2009-03-25T16:50:00.006Z

The Society of St Pius X has expressed an interest in purchasing St George's Church in Gorton, Manchester. However, because of the comments made by Bishop Williamson concerning the 'Holocaust', politicians and members of the local council are trying to prevent the Society from purchasing the building.

Liberal Democrat Gorton councillor Jackie Pearcey in objection to the church sale said: "Although the Pope is rehabilitating this group back into the Catholic Church, the fact remains that this sect promotes views on a whole range of issues which are unacceptable in the 21st century. She also went on to say "It is astonishing that the Church of England feels that this is an acceptable use for St George's Church."

If it be the will of God, please pray that the Society of St. Pius X will be able to purchase this church, as it will benefit a great number of souls and also be a more fitting place for Christ Our Lord.

Mexican bishops reiterate fidelity to Pope following Lefebvrist letter

2009-03-25T12:30:00.002Z

[Catholic News Agency]

Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 24, 2009 / 11:51 pm (CNA).- The Bishops’ Conference of Mexico has sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI offering prayers, solidarity and communion after receiving the Pontiff’s letter explaining the lifting of the excommunication of four Lefebvrist bishops.

In their letter, the bishops lament "with sadness and sorrow the unjust and disproportionate reactions to the gesture of mercy His Holiness has shown to these brothers of ours aimed at reconciliation."

They called Benedict XVI’s decision to send the letter "a courageous gesture that expresses his sincerity, honesty and frankness in his manner of acting as a Successor of Peter." It also conveys "his sensitivity and gentleness, which are the fruit of mature spirituality and wisdom (….), in understanding the different situations that are present in the life of the Church, in order to act with evangelical spirit and to explain with charity and truth the motives and reasons behind the decisions that are made."

For this reason, the bishops said, it is the perfect opportunity to express to the Holy Father, our fidelity and communion."

"We confirm our filial adherence to the Successor of the Apostle Peter, we appreciate the value of his Magisterium and we thank him for such an exemplary testimony by showing us the heart of a good shepherd," the bishops concluded.

For original article follow: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15471

St. Catherine of Sweden, Pray for Us!

2009-03-24T14:52:00.002Z

St. Catherine of Sweden is the patron saint against abortion and miscarriages. She was born in 1331, the fourth of eight children, to Saint Bridget of Sweden and Ulf Gudmarsson.

At the age of seven, Catherine was sent to Risberg Convent to be educated. She desired to remain in the convent to pursue a religious vocation, but she was promised in marriage to the virtuous and pious German noble Eggard Lydersson von Kürnen, a lifelong invalid. At age 13, the two were united in the sacrament of matrimony. Although Catherine was very beautiful, she and Eggard took a mutual vow of perpetual chastity. They devoted themselves to a life of Christian perfection and active charity.

In 1348, Catherine's father died. With Eggard’s permission, Catherine joined her mother on various pilgrimages. During these pilgrimages, they visited the tombs of the martyrs the churches, and together practiced works of piety, caring for the poor and the sick. In 1349, Catherine traveled with her mother to Rome for the Jubilee; it was at this time that Eggard died. Following his death, Catherine turned down numerous marriage proposals.

When her mother died in 1373, she returned to Sweden, taking the mortal remains of Saint Bridget with her for burial. Catherine entered a monastery at Vadstena, where she lived a very austere life. For the last twenty-five years of her life, Catherine participated in the Sacrament of Confession daily to purify her soul. She died on March 24, 1381. At the time of her death, Catherine was the superior of the convent of Vadstena, founded by her mother; hence the name, Catherine Vastanensis, by which she is occasionally called. She was canonized in 1484 by Pope Innocent VIII.

St. Catherine wrote a devotional work entitled "Consolation of the Soul." In art, Saint Catherine is commonly depicted as an abbess with a female deer, which, according to legend, protected her from attacks on her chastity. She may also be shown (1) holding a lily; (2) dressing a poor man's wounds; or (3) as the Blessed Sacrament is brought to her after her death.

For original article follow: http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2007/03/saint-of-day-st-catherine-of-sweden.html

St. Catherine of Sweden, PRAY FOR US AND FOR THE CONVERSION OF SWEDEN!

Catholic Theologian Condemns Pope's Comments

2009-03-24T10:15:00.009Z

[SPIEGEL ONLINE ]

A prominent Danish theologian, who is part of a commission set up to modernize the Vatican and the papacy, says that Pope Benedict XVI is out of touch with reality.

Pope Benedict XVI is the wrong man for the job in what has become a complex society, according to a Danish theologian who is part of a commission seeking to modernize the papacy.

Pope Benedict XVI walks up the stairs as he leaves Angola on Monday, March 23."I have the greatest respect for Pope Benedict's intellectual capacity. Theologically he is well-founded -- he knows it all. But I don't think he is the right man for the job. He forgets life," says Professor Emeritus Peder Nørgaard-Højen in an interview with politiken.dk.

Ignoring Reality

Nørgaard-Højen, who has studied the Vatican and papacy for many years, has recently returned from meetings in an unusual Vatican commission composed of eight Catholics and eight Protestants. The commission is seeking to find ways to modernize the Vatican in an increasingly complex world.

"He ignores reality as it is. From a limited, theological point of view he is correct that the use of condoms goes contrary to the Catholic requirement of protecting life where it is found. But when he puts forward this sort of message on a continent where sexual practices mean that thousands of people die, it is clear to me that Pope Benedict has completely forgotten what kind of world it is that he exists in," says Nørgaard-Højen.

"I know the pope. He has visited us and he knows what we are working with," says Nørgaard-Højen, who sees a major risk that Pope Benedict will lead the Vatican astray.

African Mistake

"The mistake he made during the Africa visit shows that the pope scorns reality. He must learn that the world has become extremely complex. If he doesn't reach this understanding, things can go terribly wrong," he adds.

Asked whether the pope does not have advisers who can avoid this sort of mistake, Nørgaard-Højen says that he has a tendency not to listen. "His sharp intellect probably means that he is not particularly willing to listen to his advisers. His capacity also means that it is rather difficult for his advisers to contradict him," Nørgaard-Højen says.

The Danish theologian goes on to question the veracity of the Vatican newspaper.

Something to Think about

"We probably have to admit that the Vatican newspaper (Ed: l'Osservatore Romano) is just about as truthful as Pravda was during Soviet communism. The pope and his advisers are surrounded by a modern Italian reality, and the other Italian newspapers will react when he says something extreme," says Nørgaard-Højen, adding that the pope should learn from modern Italians.

"He could start by looking at how millions of young Italians and other southern Europeans have turned their backs on the Vatican. A result of this is a heavily reduced birth rate, which is catastrophically low for Italy. Young people couldn't care less about the pope's messages and live their own lives. That should give him something to think about," Nørgaard-Højen concludes.

Edited by Julian Isherwood

For original article, please visit: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,615144,00.html

An Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph

2009-03-24T01:04:00.000Z

An Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Italian Priests become Bankers

2009-03-24T00:09:00.005Z

[International Herald Tribune]

Italian priest Fr Vincenzo Federico has gone into the finance business, guaranteeing loans for people in difficulty as a result of the global economic crisis.

Ever since he guaranteed a loan of €10,000, or $13,500, to a family of four early this year, his mornings are filled with back to back appointments with churchgoers seeking similar help, the International Herald Tribune reports.

"These days I feel like a banker," Father Federico, 40, said by telephone from his parish in the village of Padula in southern Italy. "In 15 years of priesthood, I never thought that this is what I would wind up doing."

As Italy, the most indebted country in Europe, faces its worst recession since 1975, the Catholic Church is stepping in to help cash strapped Italians, who receive the lowest levels of unemployment assistance among the 30 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The smallest of Italy's 325 dioceses have earmarked a minimum of €15,000 to support bank loans for parishioners. The archdiocese of Milan, the largest Italian city after Rome, has created a €3.2 million fund, to which people may contribute over the internet.

Church officials are meeting in Rome this week at the Italian Bishops Conference to commit more cash, according to Andrea La Regina, head of social projects at Caritas.

"We are putting more money in the pot to meet the demand of families that, until a few months ago, wouldn't have dreamed to ask for help," Mr La Regina said. "The state is not doing what it should to cushion the effects of unemployment."

Caritas serves as the intermediary between parishes and Banca Etica, or Bank with Ethics, a lender started 10 years ago in Padua, west of Venice, by a group of nonprofit organisations.

To obtain credit, Catholics must first make their case to their parish priest, who presents the appeal to a three member council of the local branch of Caritas. If the charity decides with Banca Etica that there are grounds for a loan, the church acts as a guarantor.

"We examine case by case to ensure that people aren't too indebted," said Claudio Gasponi, who screens loan requests at the bank. About a third of applicants receive funds, he said.

The current interest rate is 3 percent a year. That compares with rates of 8.9 percent to 9.3 percent for personal loans from Intesa Sanpaolo, one of the biggest Italian banks.

SOURCE

Priests become bankers for Italy's neediest (International Herald Tribune)

Catholic school children not to give money to Comic Relief

2009-03-23T17:40:00.000Z

Mar 22 2009 By Derek Alexander (taken from Sunday Mail)

SCOTLAND'S Catholic schools barred pupils from raising cash for Comic Relief - because it backs contraception in Africa.

Heads were told to put off children joining the Red Nose charity's fun day because some of its work goes against church teachings.

The revelation came days after Pope Benedict XVI provoked a barrage of criticism for claiming condoms "aggravate" Africa's AIDS and HIV epidemic. Michael McGrath, the head of Catholic education in Scotland, said: "The church hasn't issued any policy on Comic Relief.

"But schools know they would not be encouraged to contribute funding in case they were promoting activities contrary to our beliefs. Comic Relief encourages Catholic schools to get involved in a way they feel comfortable with."

The BBC's Comic Relief telethon nine days ago raised more than s59million for good causes at home and abroad.

But earlier this month headteacher Jacqueline Sexton, of the private Fernhill Catholic girls' school in Rutherglen, Glasgow, was criticised by a staff member for letting kids wear red noses on March 13 - Red Nose Day.

Insiders say a teacher threatened to report her to the Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine. A source said: "She perhaps misjudged the depth of feeling."

Last night Mrs Sexton said: "We had some girls wear red noses but didn't raise funds. This is a very happy school and there is no problem."

Comic Relief said: "The Bishops' Conference confirmed they were confident Catholics may support our fundraising initiatives. The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund is our biggest partner agency in Scotland."

Pope Julius III and The Council of Trent

2009-03-23T13:00:00.000Z

(GIAMMARIA CIOCCHI DEL MONTE).

Born at Rome, 10 September, 1487; died there, 23 March, 1555. He was the son of a famous Roman jurist, studied jurisprudence at Perugia and Siena, and theology under the Dominican, Ambrosius Catharinus. In 1512 he succeeded his uncle Antonio del Monte as Archbishop of Siponto (Manfredonia), and in 1520 as Bishop of Pavia, retaining, however, the administration of Siponto. Later he became vice-legate of Perugia, and under Clement VII was twice appointed prefect of Rome. After the Sack of Rome (1527) he was one of the hostages given by Clement VII to the Imperialists, and would have been killed by the imperial Landsknechte in the Campo di Fiori, had he not been secretly liberated by Cardinal Pompio Colonna. In 1534 he became legate of Bologna, the Romagna, Parma, and Piacenza. Pope Paul III created him Cardinal-Priest of SS. Vitalis, Gervasius, and Protasius on 22 December, 1536, and raised him to the dignity of cardinal-bishop with the Diocese of Palestrina on 5 October, 1543. As early as 1542 he had been entrusted with work preparatory to the convocation of the Council of Trent, and in a consistory held on 6 February, 1545, he was appointed first president of the council. In this capacity he opened the council at Trent on 13 December with a short oration (cf. Ehses, "Concilium Tridentinum", IV, Freiburg im Br., 1904, p. 516). At the council he represented the papal interests against Emperor Charles V, with whom he came in conflict on various occasions, especially when on 26 March, 1547, he transferred the Council to Bologna.

After the death of Paul III on 10 November, 1549, the forty-eight cardinals present in Rome entered the conclave on 29 November. They were divided into three factions: the Imperials, the French, and the adherents of Farnese. The friends of Farnese united with the Imperial party and proposed Reginald Pole and Juan de Toledo as their candidates. The French party rejected both and, though in the minority, they were strong enough to prevent the election of either candidate. The adherents of Farnese and the French party finally reached a compromise and agreed upon Cardinal del Monte, who was duly elected on 7 February, 1550, after a conclave of ten weeks, although the emperor had expressly excluded him from the list of candidates. The new pope took the name of Julius III. In fulfilment of promises made in the conclave, Julius restored Parma to Ottavio Farnese a few days after his accession. But, when Farnese applied to France for aid against the emperor, Julius allied himself with the emperor, declared Farnese deprived of his fief, and sent troops under the command of his nephew Giambattista del Monte to co-operate with Duke Gonzaga of Milan in the capture of Parma. In a Bull, dated 13 November, 1550, Julius transferred the council from Bologna back to Trent, and ordered that its sessions be resumed on 1 May, 1551, but he was compelled to suspend it again on 15 April, 1552, because the French bishops would take no part in it, and, to escape his enemies, the emperor had to flee from Innsbruck. The success of the French arms in Northern Italy also compelled Julius on 29 April, 1552, to make a truce with France, in which it was stipulated that Farnese was to remain in the peaceful possession of Parma for two years.

Discouraged at his failure as an ally of Charles V, the pope henceforth abstained from interfering in the political affairs of Italy. He withdrew to his luxurious palace, the Villa Giulia, which he had erected at the Porta del Popolo. Here he spent most of his time in ease and comfort, occasionally making a weak effort at reform in the Church by instituting a few committees of cardinals for reformatory purposes. He was a liberal supporter of the rising Jesuit Order, and at the instance of St. Ignatius issued the Bull of foundation for the Collegium Germanicum on 31 August, 1552, and granted it an annual subsidy. During his pontificate the Catholic religion was temporarily restored in England by Queen Mary, who succeeded Edward VI on the English throne in 1553. Julius sent Cardinal Reginald Pole as legate to England with extensive faculties to be used at his discretion in the interests of the Catholic restoration. In February, 1555, an embassy was sent by the English Parliament to Julius III to inform him of its unreserved submission to the papal supremacy, but the embassy was still on its journey when the pope died. Shortly before his death Julius III sent Cardinal Morone to represent the Catholic interest at the Religious Peace of Augsburg. At the beginning of his pontificate Julius III had the earnest desire to bring about a reform in the Church and with this intent he reopened the Council of Trent. That the council was again suspended was due to the force of circumstances. His inactivity during the last three years of his pontificate may have been caused by the frequent and severe attacks of the gout to which he was subject. The great blemish in his pontificate was nepotism. Shortly after his accession he bestowed the purple on his unworthy favourite Innocenzo del Monte, a youth of seventeen whom he had picked up on the streets of Parma some years previously, and who had been adopted by the pope's brother, Balduino. This act gave rise to some very disagreeable rumours concerning the pope's relation to Innocenzo. Julius was also extremely lavish in bestowing ecclesiastical dignities and benefices upon his relatives.

Sources

MASSARELLI, De Pontificatu Julii II diarium, edited by DÖLLINGER in Ungedruckte Berichte und Tagebücher zur Gesch. des Konzils von Trient, I, i (Nördlingen, 1876), 259-326; PASTOR, Gesch. der Päpste seit dem Ausgang des Mittelalters, V (Freiburg, 1909), passim; DE LAVA, La Guerra di Papa Giulio III contra Ottavio Farnese in Rivista storica Italiana (Turin, 1884), 632 sq.; IDEM, L'elezione de Papa Giulio III, ibid., 32 sq.; CIACONIUS, Vitœ et res gestœ Pontificum Romanorum et S. R. E. Cardinalium, III (Rome, 1677), 741-98; CARDELLA, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della s. romana chiesa, IV (Rome, 1792), 397-401; RANKE, Die römischen Päpste (Leipzig, 1889), 177 sq., tr. FOSTER, History of the Popes, I (London, 1906), 206-11. See also bibliography under COUNCIL OF TRENT.

Taken from: Catholic Encyclopedia

For original article, follow: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08564a.htm

Sister Swapped Party for Poverty

2009-03-22T22:35:00.000Z

Thirty year old Sr Bernadette who turned her back on the law and partying with friends is Australia's newest and youngest religious superior general of the newly formed Missionaries of the Gospel.

Seven years ago, the promising young lawyer gave up her party lifestyle and plans for a career, sports car and a family for a more radical lifestyle as a Catholic sister, The West Australian reports.

Sr Bernadette, who is also founder of the new congregation, admits with a laugh that being the spiritual mother for her two fellow sisters, both in their 20s, is a role she is still growing into.

"I think I am experiencing the same anxiety any new mother goes through. We have completely different personalities and different cultures, so our community life presents great struggles and great joys as well," she said.

The order is one of only a handful of Australian orders established since Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866.

"I was like many other young people. I had a good job, I drank and partied a lot, but at the end of the day I still felt an emptiness that no boyfriend and no number of Wild Turkeys could fill," she said.

"I did a full 180. I really wanted to do law, I was deadset on being married, but once I started falling in love with the Lord I realised He was calling me to do something different."

Unlike many orders, the sisters chose to don (adopt) the traditional habit and take new names when they made their vows. Their vows of poverty mean the order receives no income from the Catholic Church, requiring them to rely on donations of food, goods and money to meet their simple needs.

SOURCE

Party lifestyle gives way to poverty (The West Australian)

Combat between Traditionalists and Leftists

2009-03-22T16:49:00.000Z

Traditionalists confront members of the PCF (Parti communiste français - French Communist Party) and the Greens (Les Verts - Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France) who were distributing condoms to denounce the words of Pope Benedict XVI. Eleven people have been arrested.

Serious clashes took place this afternoon (22/03/2009) outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, between left-wing activists and extreme right-wing activists [sic: Traditional Catholics]. One person has been slightly injured and police have taken three people for questioning.

Traditional Catholics confronted members of the Communist Party of France and the Greens who wanted to distribute condoms in front of the cathedral so as to denounce the words of Pope Benedict XVI.

A journalist from France Info saw a young man hit an activist in the face. The police
intervened between the two groups and evacuated the area. The front of Notre Dame was still closed to the public at 13:30.

(Based on Google Translation) To read the remainder of this article in French, please visit: http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/societe/20090322.OBS0027/altercation_entre_communistes_et_catholiques_sur_le_par.html

Modern Catholics Don't Like Pope

2009-03-22T16:02:00.000Z

(Reuters, 21/03/2009)

PARIS - According to an Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche, 43% percent of French Catholics desire the departure of Pope Benedict XVI who has been widely criticized after his recent statements about condoms. If 54% want him to remain in the Vatican, 83% of the Catholics of France believe that the Church must change its discourse and its positions on abortion to reflect changes in society.

According to the survey which is to be published on Sunday, they also want the Church to change its discourse and its positions on homosexuality (69%), remarriage for the divorced (77%), and contraception (85%).

The survey was conducted from March 19 to 20 among a sample of 620 Catholics representative of the French population aged 18 and over, following the remarks of the pope.

From the plane which brought him to last Tuesday, Benedict XVI asserted (estimé) that distribution of condoms was not a means to fight the AIDS pandemic, but on the contrary it aggravates the problem.

The first CSA poll for Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui published on Saturday showed that the image of the pope had deteriorated significantly in France, including among Catholics.

According to this study, 23% of the French say they have a good opinion of Benedict XVI while that figure was 53% in September. There are now 57% who have a poor opinion of him in contrast to 25% six months ago.

Among Catholics, 29% of those responding say they have a good image of the pope compared to 65% in September. 55% expressed a negative opinion compared to 19% six months ago.

The declining image of the pope is also confirmed by Catholics who practice regularly of which only 52% (compared to 86% in September) have a good opinion of him.

The CSA poll was conducted by telephone on March 18 and 19 from a sample of 1012 people representative of the French population.

France Wednesday expressed "its profound concern" ("sa très vive inquietude") in the wake the of the pope’s comments.

"These words are regressive and we are very concerned about these statements which call into question the spirit and the struggle of several decades" against AIDS, said Rama Yade, Secretary of State responsible for human rights.

L'Express

Pray for Good Catholic Leader

2009-03-21T12:47:00.000Z

In response to the debate concerning a new leader for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, I encourage you to pray for a good, conservative (truly Catholic) leader, particularly one in favour of the Latin Mass and the Society of St. Pius X.

Below is an interesting article from the Times in which the prospect of the Pope imposing his own man as English Catholic leader is discussed:

The Pope has been forced to intervene in a damaging power struggle over who will become the next spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Pope Benedict XVI will decide next week who should succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Archbishop of Westminster. It is possible that he will shun all five candidates vying for the post and impose a Vatican diplomat instead.

The highly unusual move is the result of his advisers’ failure to reach a consensus on the best candidate.

The Catholic Church in England and Wales is riven by splits and opponents of at least two of the candidates have lobbied the Vatican in an attempt to sabotage the candidates’ hopes.

Some senior insiders say that the Church is in crisis and the wrong choice of Archbishop could cause it severe damage. The need for decision is urgent as Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor is retiring soon and next week begins a series of farewell Masses to congregations around his diocese.

The five candidates to succeed him are the Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols; the Archbishop of Cardiff, Peter Smith; the Bishop of Nottingham, Malcolm McMahon; the Bishop of Leeds, Arthur Roche; and Bishop Bernard Longley, an auxiliary in the Westminster diocese.

If the Pope, who is currently touring Africa, decides that none the men meets the criteria, he may chose a relative unknown for the post.

The Times has learnt that the most likely candidate in that event is Archbishop Paul Gallagher, a Vatican diplomat and priest in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

The Pope has previously appointed Vatican diplomats to dioceses in the United States after his advisers were unable to agree on one of the original candidates.

Last month Archbishop Gallagher was appointed Nuncio in Guatemala, before which he was Nuncio in Burundi. He is known for his skilled diplomacy and courage. Last April his diplomatic residence in Burundi was bombed. He was out of the country at the time but the attack did not stop him returning to his post.

However, the Vatican may wish to keep his talent in the diplomatic service and in a part of the world where the Church is growing fastest.

The lobbying for and against the official candidates has been fierce. One bishop has written to the Nuncio to argue against Archbishop Nichols, saying that he would be a divisive choice, while it is understood that the Pope has taken telephone calls from opponents of Bishop Roche, with several lobbyists claiming that Bishop Roche would be as divisive a figure as Archbishop Nichols.

Bishop Roche emerged as one of the strongest contenders after Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor visited Rome and lobbied hard on his behalf.

He is a conservative pastor who has done his best to reorganise his diocese to cope with declining Catholic populations in Bradford and Leeds, but he has left some parishioners upset by church closures.

He had been ruled out of the running initially and was not even on the first terna, or list of names, because he had been earmarked for a senior post in liturgy at the Congregation for Divine Worship at the Holy See.

However, his appointment to the congregation has been put on hold and the post he was supposed to have taken left open, so that he will be free to succeed Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor if the Pope chooses him.

Bishop McMahon, a conservative also supported by Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, had been a favourite until his chances were damaged by reports of his backing for married clergy.

Bishop Longley is being touted by bloggers in Rome as the current favourite.
Archbishop Smith, who chairs the Catholic Truth Society and is an expert on the media, is another candidate from the conservative wing. He was ruled out by a majority on the Congregation for Bishops, whose job is to chose new archbishops, but his name is still going forward because it was on the original list.

The last time the Roman Catholic Church in England in Wales was thrown into such a crisis was when the Archdiocese of Westminster became vacant in 1976. The favourite, Derek Worlock, lost out to Cardinal Basil Hume after opponents lobbied hard against his appointment. Cardinal Hume was not an obvious choice for Archbishop as he had no experience running a diocese. He was also the first monk to hold the post since the restoration of the English hierarchy in 1850.

The confusion has even affected the normally suave demeanour of Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor himself. At the consecration yesterday of Bishop Canon Seamus Cunningham as new Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Cardinal began his concluding remarks with the phrase: “When I became Archbishop of Canterbury . . .”

In the race

Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham. The 63-year-old from Liverpool, served as an auxiliary in Westminster before moving to Birmingham. He impressed Rome by successfully challenging the Government’s plans to introduce quotas for faith schools. He is diligent and regarded as ambitious

Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds. The 59-year-old from Batley, West Yorkshire, was destined for a top liturgy post in the Vatican until the appointment was put on ice after the present Archbishop of Westminster lobbied hard on his behalf. He is loved by many but also has some well-placed opponents

Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff. The 65-year-old from Battersea, South London, is a chain-smoker whose affability disguises a steely intellect. He was once a conservative and now seems to have upset some conservatives in South Wales. He had the backing of some in Rome and Westminster, but it was not enough to get the majority he needed at the Congregation for Bishops

Bernard Longley, auxiliary bishop in Westminster. The 53-year-old from Manchester is an unusual candidate in that he appears to have no enemies. The main mark against him is his lack of experience as a diocesan and that he is simply too nice. He is urbane, conservative and popular on the dinner party circuit

Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham. The 59-year-old serves as an auxiliary to the Cardinal in the Westminster diocese. He is left-leaning and seemed a certainty until reports appeared in a national newspaper showing that he had supported married priests. Even so, the bookmaker Paddy Power suspended its Westminster stakes last month after a rush of bets
Paul Gallagher, Apostolic Nuncio in Guatemala. The dark horse of the race is a bright Vatican diplomat. He has all the skills urgently needed in an archdiocese desperate for gentle but strong leadership. He is not on the list of candidates and has not been considered by the Congregation for Bishops, but is well known in senior circles in the Holy See. His appointment could depend on whether the Pope believes his talents would serve the Church best in Westminster or in Latin America

Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent - The Times

For original article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5947510.ece

Happy St. Joseph's Day!

2009-03-19T08:00:00.000Z

Petition for St. Joseph's Blessing

Bless me, O dearly beloved Father, St. Joseph; bless my body and my soul; bless my resolutions, my words and deeds, all my actions and omissions, my every step; bless all that I possess, all my interior and exterior goods, that all may redound to the greater honor of God. Bless me for time and eternity, and preserve me from every sin.

Obtain for me the grace to make atonement for all my sins by love and contrition here on earth, so that after my last breath I may, without delay, prostrate at your feet, return thee thanks in Heaven for all the love and goodness thou, O dearest father, hast shown me here below. Amen.

Now pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father three times, in thanksgiving to God for the graces and prerogatives bestowed on St. Joseph.

(Taken from 'Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph')

Pope Benedict and the Catholic Priesthood

2009-03-17T15:09:00.000Z

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI declared a year of the priest in an effort to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests.

The pope will open the special year with a vespers service at the Vatican June 19 -- the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day for the sanctification of priests. He will close the celebrations during a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter's Square June 19, 2010.

The pope made the announcement during an audience March 16 with members of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy.

He met with some 70 participants of the congregation's March 16-18 plenary assembly, which focused on the missionary identity of the priest and his mission to sanctify, teach and govern.

During this jubilee year, the pope will also proclaim St. John Vianney to be patron saint of all the world's priests. At present he is considered the patron saint of parish priests.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of this 19th-century saint who represents a "true example of a priest at the service of the flock of Christ," the pope said.

St. John Vianney is widely known to Catholics as the Cure (parish priest) of Ars who won over the hearts of his villagers in France by visiting with them, teaching them about God and reconciling people to the Lord in the confessional.

In his address, Pope Benedict said the priestly ministry consists of total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating "in a spiritually intense new life and a new lifestyle which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the apostles made their own."

Priestly ordination creates new men who are bestowed with the gift and office of sanctifying, teaching and governing, he said.

The pope underlined the necessary and "indispensable struggle for moral perfection which must dwell in every authentically priestly heart."

The pope said he was calling for the special year for priests in an effort to foster the priest's yearning "for spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of their ministry principally depends."

"The awareness of the radical social changes over the past decades must stir the best ecclesial energies to look after the formation of priestly candidates," the pope said.

This means great care must be taken to ensure permanent and consistent doctrinal and spiritual formation for seminarians and priests, he said, specifying the importance of passing down, especially to younger generations, "a correct reading of the texts of the Second Vatican Council, interpreted in the light of all the church's doctrinal heritage."

Priests must also be "present, identifiable and recognizable -- for their judgment of faith, their personal virtues and their attire -- in the fields of culture and charity which have always been at the heart of the church's mission," he said.

"The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of ordained ministry," he said, adding that, without priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no church.

Therefore, he said, it is crucial to make sure that new bodies or pastoral organizations are not set up "for a time in which one might have to 'dispense with' ordained ministry based on an erroneous interpretation of the rightful promotion of the laity."

"This would lay the foundations for further diluting the priestly ministry, and any supposed 'solutions' would dramatically coincide with the real causes of the problems currently connected with the ministry," he said.

By Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service

For original article, please follow: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901200.htm

Prayer and Story of St. Louise de Marillac

2009-03-15T14:35:00.000Z

Feastday: March 15th, 1660

Louise de Marillac was born probably at Ferrieres-en-Brie near Meux, France, on August 12, 1591. She was educated by the Dominican nuns at Poissy. She desired to become a nun but on the advice of her confessor, she married Antony LeGras, an official in the Queen's service, in 1613. After Antony's death in 1625, she met St. Vincent de Paul, who became her spiritual adviser. She devoted the rest of her life to working with him. She helped direct his Ladies of Charity in their work of caring for the sick, the poor, and the neglected. In 1633 she set up a training center, of which she was Directress in her own home, for candidates seeking to help in her work. This was the beginning of the Sisters (or Daughters, as Vincent preferred) of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (though it was not formally approved until 1655). She took her vows in 1634 and attracted great numbers of candidates. She wrote a rule for the community, and in 1642, Vincent allowed four of the members to take vows. Formal approval placed the community under Vincent and his Congregation of the Missions, with Louise as Superior. She traveled all over France establishing her Sisters in hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions. By the time of her death in Paris on March 15, the Congregation had more than forty houses in France. Since then they have spread all over the world. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934, and was declared Patroness of Social Workers by Pope John XXIII in 1960. Her feast day is March 15th.

For original article, please follow: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=196

Prayer to St. Louise de Marillac

O God, the lover and the reward of charity, Who didst raise up a new Sisterhood in Thy Church and didst will that blessed Louise should be its mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that by doing works of charity we may be found worthy to receive the reward Thou hast promised. Through our Lord.

The Power of Satan is Increasing

2009-03-14T22:00:00.000Z

Let us never forget the power of Satan in this world! Below is a link to a video of a real exorcism preformed on a young Italian girl in Italy where Satanism and diabolical possession is ever increasing. After watching the video, I recommend reading the summaries which I've posted under the link. These summaries are of the books "An Exorcist Tells His Story" and "The Exorcist - More Stories" written by the well known Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth explaining why and how people become possessed.

Please note that the exorcist priest in this video is Father Alfredo Pallotta, not Father Amorth. However, I will place a video of Fr Amorth explaining diabolical possession, exorcisms etc towards the end of this post. Please also note that this video can be quite disturbing to those of you who may be sensitive or nervous. Your discretion is therefore advised! To view the video please follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1KhlC9DrqE

WHAT IS POSSESSION?

Possession is when Satan enters and takes over the physical and mental capabilities of a victim, however, the soul and will remains free. Satan acts through the victim without the victim's consent, thus the victim is morally blameless. Satan does not act alone when he possesses an individual. He works side by side with many evil spirits such as spirits of lust, hate, destruction, suicide, revenge, anger, anxiety, desperation, death, torment, etc. Such an example is found in Luke 8:30 the case of the possessed man in the territory of the Gerasenes: "Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Legion," because many demons had entered him ".

Satan's army of evil, torment many unknowing lost souls to the point of destruction of others and of themselves. Today a more favorable climate exists for cases of possession and obsession then ever before. Our world has become a playground of pornography, sex, money, material possessions, drugs, and alcohol. There are so many instruments to spread these Satanic messages such as television, Internet, radio, music, and even the clothing we wear; thus our children are exposed to a multitude of temptations and are wide open to evil. The "predominant" Gods of of this age we live in include money, television, music, and sex. Unfortunately, the "cure"-exorcism, is considered an "ancient" ritual and is snubbed by most religious leaving many victims to suffer indescribable torments, and in some instances, even suicide.

SIGNS OF POSSESSION (from the Roman Ritual of Exorcism)

The following are symptoms of possession as represented in the Roman Ritual of Exorcism. In most cases, a victim will have one or more of the traits listed.

Victim speaks or understands unknown languages without ever studying the language being spoken or heard
Victim clearly knows things that are distant or hidden
Victim can predict future events (sometimes through dreams)
Victim has an intense hatred for holy things
Victim shows a physical strength far above his age or normal condition

The Extraordinary Activities of Satan Defined - The following is taken from Fr. Gabriele Amorth's second book "An Exorcist More Stories." Fr. Amorth's book is published by IGNATIUS released in 2002. The boundaries between one category and another are not clear-cut, because there is a lot of mingling and compounding of symptoms.

External Pain - deals strictly with physical suffering. This includes the beatings, scourging, and injuries caused by inexplicable pushing, falling objects, and so on, that we read about in the lives of many saints, such as the Curé of Ars. Saint Paul of the Cross, and Padre Pio. These occurrences are not as rare as we may think, and the demon's activity is usually confined to external activity; internal activity, if any, is only temporary and limited to the duration of a particular disturbance.

Diabolic Possession - is the gravest form of demonic activity, which allows a continuing presence of a demon in a human body. The evil symptoms do not have to be continuous but can alternate between periods of crisis and periods of rest. Possession implies intervals of temporary suspension of mental, intellectual, affective, and volitive faculties. Symptoms can include the knowledge of languages unknown to the victim, superhuman strength, and the ability to know the occult or someone else's thoughts. Typically, there is an aversion to anything sacred, often in conjunction with blasphemy. There are also frauds who pose as demoniac; therefore, we need to be extremely wary.

Diabolic Oppression - is a ransom discomfort. We must remember that symptoms and gravity differ greatly case by case. This oppression can strike health, job, affections, relationship with others, and so on. Its symptoms include unexplainable rages and a tendency to complete isolation. Oppression can affect both individual and groups (even very large groups).

Diabolic Obsession- causes an almost split personality. Our will remains free, but it is oppressed by obsessive thoughts. The victim experiences thoughts that may be rationally absurd but of such a nature that he is unable to free himself. The obsessed person lives in a perpetual state of prostration, with persistent temptations to suicide. We must be aware that the temptation to commit suicide is also present in diabolic possession and diabolic oppression.

Diabolic Infestation - In this case, the malefic activity is directed toward places (houses, offices, stores, fields), objects (cars, pillows, mattresses, dolls) and animals, therefore it only indirectly affects man. Origen tells us that the early Christians resorted to exorcisms in these situations.

Diabolic Subjugation - The term indicates a voluntary pact--implicit or explicit---with Satan, by which we submit to the lordship of the demon. There are also involuntary times with the evil one; these cases fall into the preceding categories, especially the most severe: possession.

HOW DOES ONE BECOME POSSESSED?

Below, Fr. Amorth explains that there are four principal causes that may cause one to fall victim to these evils.

Pure Divine Permission
Clearly, nothing happens without divine permission, but God never wills evil, suffering, or temptation. He gave us freedom and allows the existence of evil, but knows how to turn it into good. When he gives the demon his permission to torment us, he does so to strengthen us in virtue, as in the biblical example of Job, as well as of many blesseds and saints. We must keep in mind that diabolical harassment in itself has nothing to do with the state of grace of its victims.

Subject to a Curse
Here, too, the victim is innocent, but there is culpability on the part of whoever casts and/or commissions the curse. By the word curse, I mean the intention of harming others through demonic intervention. This can be achieved in many ways: malefice (or spell), binding, evil eye, malediction, and so on. The matter is serious, but we need to be on guard against misconceptions. By their nature, curses lend themselves to all sorts of abuses, especially when we consider the current escalation in the number of frauds, suggestions, manias, and more.

Grave Hardening of Sin
Judas Iscariot is the classical Gospel example. The many individuals who abandon themselves to sexual perversions, violence, and drugs fall into this group. The heinous crime of abortion aggravates this situation; its terrible repercussions are clearly seen during exorcisms, because to liberate a victim who is guilty of abortion usually requires a very long period of time. Due to the current devastation of the family and the laxity of morals, the repercussions that stem from the scourge of abortion are much more common than in the past. When we take all these factors into account, we can understand why the number of individuals stricken by evil ailments has multiplied.

Proximity to Evil Places or Persons
This includes attending spiritualistic session, dabbling in magic, or consulting magicians, witch doctors, and some card readers; also, practicing the occult, belonging to satanic sects, or practicing in rites that climax with black masses, and so on, put us at great risk.

To this category we can add the influence of mass media, such as pornographic shows and violent horror movies broadcast by many TV stations. We witness the effects of the widespread presence of rock music, culminating in satanic rock performed in what we could easily refer to as "churches or rock", such as stadiums, parks, and discothèques. We should not be surprised that, today, there is an explosion of these activities: a decline in faith life is directly connected to an increase in superstitions. I will not tire or repeating that members of the clergy have done nothing to oppose, or at least warn against, all these evils, because they are completely ignorant even of what the Bible explicitly says on the subject. This forth category has greatly contributed to the increase in evil ailments in the last decades, especially among the young. Taken from (An Exorcist More Stories by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, published by IGNATIUS PRESS can be purchased at Amazon.com).

WHO CAN PERFORM AN EXORCISM?

In the early church (according the Early Church Fathers) the casting out of demons was widely accepted and exorcism could be performed by anyone. Why then has this practice changed? It has been found that in severe cases if the one who is casting out the demons is not experienced or grounded in faith and does not have sufficient spiritual protection it can be harmful for both the victim and the so called exorcist. We find in Matthew 17:20-21 a case in which the apostles could not cast out a demon from the epileptic demoniac. Jesus rebuked them for not being prepared and told them only through prayer and fasting could this demon be cast out.

Before Vatican II the exorcism prayer was part of the Baptismal rite. Why? In the days of the early church there were many pagans coming into the church. Part of the long preparation for these pagans coming into the church was exorcism on Holy Saturday before Easter.

Around the third century, Pope Cornelius was the first to make the exorcist a minor order (See on Internet about this). He announced that an exorcist could be a priest, deacon or in the subdiaconate. The minor order of exorcism has since been dropped by Pope Paul VI in 1972. He did not believe there was a need and it was obsolete.

From the Commentary of the Code of Canon Law

Canon 1172 - (1) No one can perform exorcisms legitimately upon the possessed unless he has obtained special express permission from the local ordinary. (2) The local ordinary is to give this permission only to a presbyter who has piety, knowledge, prudence, and integrity of life.

An exorcism is a sacramental by which "the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion. The canon pertains to solemn exorcisms observing the Rite of Exorcism of the Roman Ritual, not to the simply exorcism that are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or the baptism of infants.

One of the praenotanda to the 1998 Rite of Exorcism (n13) has completely reordered this canon. There are significant differences between the new law and the canon.

An exorcist is to be a priest (sacerdos) not a presbyter (presbyterus) as in the canon, which means bishops as well as presbyters may be appointed exorcists.

The priest must have specific preparation for this office.

"For the most part" (plerumque), the local ordinary who appoints the exorcist should be the diocesan bishop, which implies that the vicar general and episcopal vicar should not do it without a special mandate, except in a case of need when the bishop cannot be reached.

The exorcist, whether appointed to the stable office of exorcist or ad actum, is to fulfill this ministry under the direction of the diocesan bishop.

(Taken from stmichael.pair.com for the original article please follow link: http://www.stmichael.pair.com/index.htm)

Here is a video of the exorcist priest Fr Amorth explaining the rite of exorcism and diabolic possession.

SSPX in response to Pope's Letter

2009-03-13T12:40:00.000Z

The Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X Bishop Bernard Fellay has issued a statement in response to Pope Benedict's letter regarding the SSPX. Below is the statement which was released yesterday (12/03/2009) :

Press Release from the Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X

Pope Benedict XVI addressed a letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church, dated March 10, 2009, in which he makes known to them the motives which guided the important step of the January 21, 2009 Decree.

After the “avalanche of protests unleashed” recently, we wholeheartedly thank the Holy Father for having placed the debate back on the level on which it must be held, that of the Faith. We fully share his main concern of preaching the Gospel “in our days, when in vast areas of the world the faith is in danger of dying out like a flame which no longer has fuel.”

Indeed the Church is going through a major crisis which can be resolved only by an integral return to the purity of the Faith. With Saint Athanasius, we profess that “Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.” (Athanasian Creed)

Far from wanting to stop Tradition in 1962, we wish to consider the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar teaching in the light of this Tradition which St. Vincent of Lérins defined as “what has been believed at all times, everywhere and by all” (Commonitorium), without rupture and in a perfectly homogenous development. Thus we will be able to contribute efficaciously to the evangelization requested by the Savior (see Matthew 28; 19-20)

The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X assures Benedict XVI of its determination to enter into the doctrinal talks recognized as “requisite” by the Decree of January 21, with the desire to serve revealed Truth, which is the first act of charity to perform towards all men, Christians or non-Christians. It assures him of its prayers so that his faith fail not and that he may confirm his brethren. (cf. Luke 22:32)

We place these doctrinal talks under the protection of Our Lady of All Confidence, with the assurance that she will obtain for us the grace to hand down faithfully what we have received, “tradidi quod et accepi.” (I Cor.15:3)

Menzingen, March 12, 2009

+Bernard Fellay

For the original article, please follow the link: http://www.dici.org/accueil.php

Another SSPX Priest on German TV

2009-03-11T16:29:00.000Z

Last Thursday evening (05/03/2009) Father Marc Gensbittel, prior of the Society of St. Pius X church in Rheinhausen, Gemany appeared on TV Südbaden to discuss the Second Vatican Council.

A few weeks prior to this TV show, Father Matthias Gaudron, also of the Society St. Pius X appeared on another German TV show with Johannes B. Kerner to discuss the current situation surrounding remarks made by Bishop Williamson and also the current status of the Society.

For those of you who can speak German, here is the link to the TV Südbaden show with Father Marc Gensbittel which was aired on Thursday evening (interesting discussion but I'm afraid the program has been significantly shortened).

To view the program please follow the link: http://www.tv-suedbaden.de/default.aspx?ID=3865

New Priest and Priory for SSPX Scotland

2009-03-08T15:32:00.000Z

In the most recent 2009 March/April newsletter of SSPX Britain, Fr Paul Morgan (above, left)informs us of the prospect of a new permanent priest and priory for SSPX Scotland. The news comes after Bishop Fellay (above, right) (Superior General of the Society St. Pius X) gave his permission for a priory and new priest for Scotland. The Society hopes to have the new priest and priory in place as early as August 2009, however Fr Morgan reminds us that in order for these events to take place, we must first pray: “…pray earnestly that this important development come to fruition…the devil always seeks to create unrest whenever plans are made for the greater glory of God and for the sanctification and salvation of souls”.1

Saint David's Chapel, Wales

The Society has also managed to purchase the cottage next to their church in Rhos-on-Sea, Wales (above). “This acquisition guarantees the integrity and privacy of the chapel, as well as ensuring its continued use for meetings and refreshments after Sunday Mass, whilst allowing the visiting Fathers convenient over-night accommodation”.2

Saints Margaret and Leonard church, Edinburgh

Saint Andrew's Church, Glasgow

Let us pray and thank Our Lord for the prospect of a new priest and priory for Scotland and also for the priests of the Society St. Pius X in Britain. May Our Lord and His most Holy Mother protect and defend them in all their troubles and efforts to bring the traditions of Catholicism to a Kingdom in which Christ is neither loved or respected.

1 & 2 http://www.sspx.co.uk/page2.htm

Infectious hatred from Catholics to a Catholic

2009-02-28T15:33:00.000Z

In response to the continued persecution, criticism, hatred etc which Bishop Williamson (above) has received and continues to receive, as a result of expressing an opinion. I call upon all Catholics; Catholics lacking in fraternal charity and those who have been effected by this infectious hatred which has engulfed a many, especially those within the clergy.

We speak of hatred towards the Jews and how Bishop Williamson’s comments have caused such pain towards those effected by the Holocaust and their families, but have we actually considered what we (the ones who are now hating) are doing to Christ Our Lord? If there was any true charity, love or forgiveness for this poor Catholic Bishop, the Jews and many of the
self-righteous Catholics within the Church would pray instead of criticise, and forgive instead of hate.

Remember the example of Christ on the cross “Father forgive them…” Did Christ not demand an apology before He would love and forgive those who had caused him pain? No! Therefore rid yourselves of this pride and hatred towards Bishop Williamson, which, in itself is a trick of the devil and is causing much more pain to Christ than it is to the Jews. Whether you agree or disagree with the opinions expressed by the Bishop and if there is any christian charity left within you; you will pray for this Bishop.

Below is a short, yet powerful prayer to St. Joseph which you may offer for Bishop Williamson:

Prayer in a Difficult Problem

O Glorious St. Joseph, thou who hast power to render possible even things which are considered impossible, come to our aid in our present trouble and distress. Take this important and difficult affair under thy particular protection, that it may end happily. (Name your request)
O dear St. Joseph, all our confidence is in thee. Let it not be said that we would invoke thee in vain; and since thou art so powerful with Jesus and Mary, show that thy goodness equals thy power. Amen.
St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.

SSPX Priest on German TV show

2009-02-18T22:05:00.000Z

Fr Matthias Gaudron, a theologian with the Society of St. Pius X (Germany) appeared on a German TV show yesterday (17/02/09) with Johannes B. Kerner. They discussed the Society's current situation with Rome and the recent media uproar surrounding Bishop Williamson's remarks on the Holocaust.

Fr Gaudron (below) has recently been selected by the SSPX priests of Germany to head theological discussions with German bishops and theologians later on this year. The decision comes from Fr Franz Schmidberger (District superior of SSPX in Germany) who had asked for theological discussions with Bishops and theologians following the lifting of excommunications.

The discussions are said to focus on sacraments such as confession, last rites and articles within Vatican II etc. "The knowledge of the Catholic faith is at a unprecedented low point" explained Fr Schmidberger in an interview last Thursday (12.02.2009).

For those of you who can speak German, here is the link to the program of 'Johannes B. Kerner': http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/content/694720?inPopup=truel

T.C.N. Launches NEW and Improved Website

2009-02-15T01:36:00.000Z

Today we launched our new and improved website (above) with 'wix.com'. The site is much more effective, professional and easier to use, and only contains one small add (of text) at the bottom of each page.

Our previous website will still be kept with 'freewebs', however visitors will be informed of our new website and be given the choice of being redirected to the new site. This move is part of a project to boost the availability of T.C.N. to Catholics across the net and includes the branching of T.C.N. to other (NEW) sites such as 'wordpress' etc.

Although there still remains a sufficient amount of work to be done to the new site, we hope that you will visit us and leave feedback on what could be improved/changed.

Follow link to visit site (or click 'traditional catholic netowork' link at top right of page) http://www.wix.com/tradcatholicnetwork/Traditional+Catholic+Network

Three SSPX Seminarians Killed in Avalanche Accident

2009-02-12T14:02:00.000Z

(Please note that the above picture is not that of the seminarians who died)

Three seminarians from the international seminary of SSPX (FSSPX) Ecône, Switzerland lost their lives yesterday (Wednesday) while hiking at an altitude of 2200 meters. Four of them were swept away by an avalanche at around 1:20pm, leaving 1 injured and 3 dead. The names of the deceased have been reported as: Jean-Baptiste Despres, Raymond Guerin, and Mickael Sabak (all from Paris, France). All were in their 3rd year of seminary training with the Society of Saint Pius X in Ecône.

Requiescant in pace.

For further information, please visit:

http://www.fsspx.info/news/news.php?show=5255

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/

http://angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=290500#290500

Sign the Letter of Support for Pope Benedict XVI!

2009-02-08T14:24:00.000Z

Appeal from plain Catholic faithful.

This letter gathers different Catholic faithful, from different tendencies, who wish to support the pope in his brave gesture. The authors of this site assure you of the complete confidentiality guaranteed to the names of the signatories, the list of which will be transmitted only to the Holy See.

On January, 21st, You decided, Holy Father, to put an end to the excommunication which pressed on the bishops of the The Society of Saint Pius X. By this brave gesture, You acted the Good Shepherd of the flock entrusted to You by God.

We are men and women invested in the life of our city, we are fathers and mothers with a family or unmarried and, after stormy times, when "the boat seemed to take the water everywhere ", we wish to build with You the Church of tomorrow with its Tradition for a foundation. This project includes inevitably the transmission of the Faith to the future generations, by the love of the Catholic Liturgy and by the defence of human life.

By this letter, we wish above all to express to You our deep gratitude. Although Your historic gesture has been met with hostility and confusing opinions from certain media and persons, it arouses in us a tremendous joy and fills us with Hope. We prayed for Your intentions, according the request You made at the beginning of Your Pontificate: " Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.(1)"

We wish, by affixing our signature to this letter and indicating our age and the number of our children to say to You that with You, we want to build Christendom for the generations which will follow us, hoping wholeheartedly that future Christians will be self-confident and will proclaim to all the World the Credo.

So, in a spirit of filial respect, we bring You our support and our daily prayers for the pursuit of Your Pontificate, that God's Church will may emerge increased by it.

(1) Benedict XVI, April 25th, 2005

"Nothing emboldens more the audacity of the naughty ones than the weakness of kind people"

Leon XIII, encyclical Sapientae Christianae, January 10th, 1890

TO SIGN THE LETTER OF SUPPORT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK: http://www.soutienabenoitxvi.org/index.php?lang=uk

Inferno enters the House of God

2009-02-05T17:36:00.000Z

This was the scene yesterday morning after a huge fire broke out at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. The fire caused considerable damage to the roof of the cathedral and investigations are underway as to how the inferno began.

In the late 60's (after Vatican II) Holy Name Cathedral underwent a huge renovation project which dramatically altered the appearance of the church (especially the sanctuary and main altar). "Tragically, at this time all of the stained glass, oil paintings, and marble statuary (were) removed from the interior of the cathedral. The end result was a relatively plain room, dominated by a six-ton granite altar and Resurrection crucifix."

Below are some photographs showing the cathedral before and after the post Vatican II renovations (modernizations) :

The cathedral in 1958 The cathedral now:

"The ceilings, columns, and floor remain quite beautiful, but notice the apse in particular which has been almost completely desacralized. Also notice the disappearance of religious statues."

A visitor to the cathedral gives us an idea of what they experienced while visiting the cathedral for the first time in October 2008: "...I went looking for the tabernacle. Of course, there was no sign of it in the apse, and for a moment, I felt a little like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning when she said, "They have taken my Lord away and I don't know where they have put him." I found what I assumed was the tabernacle in one of the two side "chapels" flanking the apse. Calling them chapels is a stretch, however, as there are no altars in either of them. As works of religious art, both are horrifying:

This modern 'work of art' replaced the beautiful side chapel seen in the 1929 photograph below:

Below is the modern tabernacle which is simply horrible!

"...In this one, we see our Lord emerging from a Sputnik-like object which has apparently exploded in a taffy factory."

"...It was a bit difficult to pray with these disturbing images in front of me, and the cynical part of me speculated that this was the whole point of having them there."

A story of courage, love and self-sacrifice

2009-01-30T13:36:00.000Z

What is the typical stereotype of an aristocrat living in the 1930's - 40's (In Germany)?

Pro-Nazi?

Self centred atheist?

Proud, arrogant, selfish?

Of course the above bullet points are little over-generalised, as we all (not just wealthy aristocrats) tend to have some of these faults ourselves. However, for Baroness Elisabeth von Guttenberg (who was a wealthy aristocrat) living in the time of World War II in the south of Germany: this was not the case!

The Baroness and her husband were fervent Catholics from Bavaria, who lived a happy and comfortable life up until the Nazis came to power. In her memoirs, the Baroness explains in great detail how the sacrament of holy matrimony helped to sustain herself and her husband throughout the trials which they began to face from the 1930's onwards.

The central theme of the book is expressed through the title: "Holding the Stirrup" which represents the submission of the Baroness, as wife towards her faithful and fervent husband. Her story is one of love, faith and courage for her beloved Germany and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therese Neuman, the stigmatist from southern Germany was a dear friend of the Baroness and it was through her advice and prayers that the Baroness was able to understand the trials/sufferings which Our Lord was sending her.

"Holding the Stirrup" is a great book for those who wish to increase their love for Our Lord through their sufferings. It helps one to understand the reasons why Our Lord sends us the little (and big) crosses throughout our lifetime. However, the book is not purely religious; on the contrary it is political, historical and even amusing; this is something which makes the book interesting to read from start to finish.

After searching the net for over a week, I finally tracked down a copy of "Holding the Stirrup"(second hand) which was in relatively good condition and to my surprise I absolutely enjoyed it. I found a few sites (for those of you who might be interested in reading the life of Baroness Elisabeth von und zu Guttenberg) where the book is (or could be) for sale: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?tn=Holding+Stirrup