Guest Blogger: JonathanCatholic on Men

I am very pleased to announce a guest blogger, JonathanCatholic, who will hopefully present us with yummy tidbits for Catholics hungry for the Truth on a regular basis. I asked him to join me, as a young, male perspective is helpful, of course, and because, even though he is a new Catholic (congratulations), he has excellent insights and writes well. We are in negotiations (lol) for him to blog on this post one day a week.

Welcome, JonathanCatholic


On Protectors and Predators

On this blog, Supertradmum has been very helpful informing all of you, her readers, of the three divisions of male psychological development: Protector, Predator, and Peter Pan. I truly believe this three-fold division that the path of male development can take reflects a profound truth about the male mind, and I see this truth both in my life and in the world around me. This concept can hardly be overstated! It is vital to both men and women, particularly youth, to understand these categories, as it is never too late or too early for men to begin submitting to the perfect will of God in their lives and living as authentic men, Protectors, who have Our Lord Jesus Christ, His wonderful foster father Saint Joseph, and Saint Peter to model themselves after. All three were Protectors, Our Lord being so preeminently. We as men need women to encourage us in this endeavor, as mothers, sisters, and most powerfully, wives, have an incredible affect on us, changing us, becoming a part of us and how we think, just as Our Lady is intimately united to Our Lord.

In light of this truth, Supertradmum has graciously allowed me to write on this subject on her blog. I have in mind a two-part series, focusing on the particular classes of Protector and Predator. I have one particular Protector who I have met in my life that I would like to share with you as a model of how it is possible to live as a Protector in the West even today. That is my second topic, however. In this post I want to make note of a profound fact regarding all classes of masculine psychology, particularly the Predator: Societies, depending on their orientation to the Truth who is God, and their alignment to His will, will influence the formation of men toward one class of psychology or another. Take Christendom for example. Classically, Christendom in the West has taught men the essence of what it means to be a Protector: Responsibility, Duty, Chivalry, Protection of the Weak, the Honor of Women, Self-Mastery, General Virtue, the Art of Controlling one’s Strength, and masculine Self-Sacrificial Love. All of these factors play into what makes up a Protector, and they were thick in the air of Christendom for almost seventeen-hundred years. This didn’t make every man a Protector, but it did influence the development of them, and the man who accepted the Truths inherent in Catholic society did, to his degree of acceptance of these graces, develop into a Protector. The West has come a long way in a bad direction over the last century, however, and has retreated from masculine Christian ideal to a sort of decaying rot that is stuck somewhere between the dying embers of a Christian civilization and an unvirtuous pagan one. The West is above all things weak and milquetoast in our day, fostering neither strength controlled by the will working toward Virtue as is the Christian ideal of a man, nor all-out cruelty and bloodshed as often occurred in the Roman Empire, but rather, promotes a limp, irresponsible child of a man. In short, Western Civilization produces Peter Pans today. It positively excels at this dismal mission.

Contrast the state of our society today and its past with the state of the Islamic culture that is spread out through various countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This is very important to take note of, as it may very well be a prophetic fact that will influence future events. Islamic society is a society that has not become weak and milquetoast in its outlook. Whereas Christendom in days of old influenced men toward the role of Protector, Islamic society has always influenced men toward the role of Predator. Islamic society, where it exists in its fullness, has lost none of its potency in fashioning men into hardened Predators who rule their women, their families, and their societies without the Gospel Ethic of peace, gentleness, and honor that tempers the steel edge of the Catholic man’s soul. Just as in Christendom, Islam’s ability to shape men traces ultimately back to religion, which has always been in human history the single most powerful influence on society. In the Qur’an, the sacred text of Islam, there is a strong emphasis on conquest, strength, subjugation, and power, without the restrain which Christ places upon these attitudes in the Gospels in Christian Ethics and the balance which emulating Him brings to men. The document, as well as the religion, is oriented toward aggression, and this is echoed in fundamentally Islamic cultures. The Islamic society still encourages the development of boys into Predators, and this is unfortunate, since the West fell away from the Catholic encouragement of boys to grow into the Protector role.

I pray that the West rediscovers this common sense regarding the formation of men, the critical role that religion plays, and the danger still posed by the strong society of Islam. It is vital that we rediscover our identity that we have always held in the past, of authentic Catholic manhood, which develops Protectors who lay down their lives for their wives, their families, their communities, and their Church, in small ways and in large ways. As Saint Irenaeus said so perfectly, “The Glory of God is revealed in man fully alive.” We need men who are fully alive, not laid waste by the malaise of a Peter Pan mentality, or trapped by the false attractiveness of the Predator attitude, but men who are willing to first master themselves, and then pour themselves out on the narrow road of Virtue. It is only in this self-mastery and total self-giving that men can be fully alive, and conduits of Our Lord’s Life, in His Passion and Resurrection.

Perfection Series Again-Pride

By popular request, I am starting up the Perfection Series again. These are not all tagged but if you put "perfection" in the search bar, most will come up.

I want to focus on a chapter from Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange The Three Ages of the Interior Life. In Chapter 22, the great Dominican writes of "The Predominant Fault".The holy priest lists most of the obvious sins, but I want to highlight one, but in a different manner.

We know that Pride is most likely the worst of all sins and the primal sin. Garrigou-Lagrange writes extensively on pride, but also explains the defects that come from pride. These are presumption, ambition, and vainglory.

"Presumption is the desire and in ordinate hope of doing what is above one's power. The presumptuous man believes himself capable of studying and solving the most difficult questions; he settle the most abstruse problems with rash haste". 

One of the characteristics of the presumptuous man is not to have a spiritual director. Another sign is the skipping of the long steps of perfection in one's mind and thinking that one is a holy mystic or on a higher level, instead of "building his interior life on humility, renunciation, fidelity to the duty of the present moment even in little thing..."

The author equates these tendencies with egoism, a very common sin. "He is full of self; a great void must be created in him in order that his soul may some day be filled with God and able to give Him to others."

Garrigou-Lagrange paints a picture of humans in 2012. Presumption leads to ambition. The desire to dominate and want power over others follows. Ambition opens to door, he explains, to intrigue and plotting.

Another result of pride is vainglory. The priest notes that boasting, hypocrisy, disobedience, stubbornness, contention, and defensiveness reveal this aspect of pride.

He goes on to write that "pride is the great enemy of perfection because it is the source of numerous sins and deprives us of many graces and merits." 

Pride leads to hell.

But, the great Dominican does not leave us here, but gives us remedies.

First, one must meditate on the fact that "of ourselves we are not, that we have been created out of nothing by the gratuitous love of God, who continues freely to preserve us in existence; otherwise we would return to nothingness." 

If we do have grace, he continues, it is only because Christ redeemed us through His Passion and Cross.

To be continued.....

Thoughts for an early Saturday Morning on the Disappearance of Dioceses

Now, I realize that most people do not want to think on the weekend. However, I have the backing, let us say, of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's God and the World. In the section on the Church, the Pope, then Cardinal, states that although the Holy spirit ensures that the Church will remain until the end of time, She, Our Holy Mother Church, may not be everywhere. Let us look at the passage:

There is not doubt that the Church gets tired. The Church can even become tired throughout an entire cultural area and even come to ruin there. The Apocalypse warns,, in the letters to the seven churches, which point to an example for the future: Watch out, or I shall take the lamps away. It is in fact the case that not only the flourishing Church in Asia, which was once the vibrant heart of the Church, but also the Church in North Africa vanished entirely beneath the tempests of Islam. Of course, the force applied by the conquerors, the repression of whole classes of society, played their part here; we don't want to make an oversimplified complaint against a tired Church. But still, this can happen.


The promise of Christ--"Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world"--does not mean, in addition, that each and every diocese has the assurance that it will endure forever. It does mean, on the other hand, that the Church will be, until the return of the Lord, His special sphere of action, His organism, His Body, and His vine. 


Now, I can think of dioceses which could disappear, not from conquest from without, but conquest from within. One only has to think of those dioceses with the liberal bishops who do not stop disobedient Catholic politicians from receiving Communion, or bishops who allow priests to be involved in "gay Masses", or dioceses where the vast majority of the women contracept.


God is Just and Merciful.

On Newman, the Oratorians and Maryvale

thanks to Wiki

In June, I mentioned my trip to Maryvale, the foundation of the Oratory. Some laypersons have asked me recently to explain a bit about the Oratory and the Oratorians. That this congregation began at Maryvale was new to me, as one thinks of the Birmingham Oratory or the Brompton Oratory (which was my parish a long time ago) as the Crown Jewels of the congregation. Someone has rightly pointed out to me that the Oratorians do not take vows to the community and therefore are not an order, but a congregation.

Maryvale holds many secrets, such as the little chapel I noted in the post linked above. But, the fact that the Maryvale Institute, which has a Pontifical Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy, is such a small jewel does not mean it should be overlooked by Newman pilgrims.

Maryvale, named after St. Philip Neri's church, St. Mary's in Vallicella, which I have also visited, feels more like the scholar than the two great Oratories. It was the site of the first seminary after the Catholic Restoration and as such, the first site of Oscott College. St Eugene of Mazenod visited here as one can read from this page.

(I have also been to Littlemore, but that is another post). Here is a very small paragraph from the Maryvale website found on this link:


The site of Maryvale has been in Catholic occupation since the Middle Ages. From 1794 to 1838 it was the home of Oscott College, the first Seminary (school preparing students for the priesthood) to open in England after the Reformation. In 1846 the college moved to the larger purpose-built premises at New Oscott. Newman and his community were granted the former Seminary as a house of retreat and study. 


Now, remembering that Newman was one of the founders of the Oxford Movement, one can understand that two of the heritage values of the Oratorians today are music and liturgical perfection. However, when one is standing in the main chapel at Maryvale, one senses the combination of Faith and Reason, the intense prayer life of Newman, and his dedication to personal holiness. The humility of the Blessed surrounds this small but lively place. As an Institute, one can feel the throbbing of Catholic intellectual activity which must and will spread again across Great Britain. That Newman was called to renew Great Britain through his own openness to sharing his conversion, as well as the intellectual feat of giving reasons for the Oxford Movement through the Tracts, is a call which must be answered today in this country. 


Heart speaking to heart is not only God's heart speaking to each one of us, but our hearts, individually, and as the heart of the Church corporately, reaching out to those without the knowledge or experience of Christ, Who Is Love.

I suggest a visit to Maryvale. Catholics in England have a great secret in this place: the revival of Catholic learning. By the way, because I am an American, I can state that like all Catholic institutions, Maryvale could use the financial support of Catholics. We are all called to support Catholic education and this institution is a worthy cause.

You are in the Army now...

Several months ago, I wrote a series on quietism, applying the heresy to the attitudes of many Christians who refuse to fight the fight of Faith.

Too often, no matter where I go, I hear Catholics stating that "there is nothing I can do", or "the problems are too big" or "I am apolitical" or "God will miraculously sort things out."

No to all the above...we are the Church Militant, as our dear Pope reminded us not too long ago. God has commissioned us with a duty. We have our papers. It is our responsibility to fit into the battle plan.

Now, some of the Gen X and Millennials have been brainwashed into thinking all fighting is bad. Tell that to St. Michael the Archangel. There are many ways to fight. Writing, teaching, raising Catholic thinkers through home schooling, consecrating yourself to God in celibacy, prayer and fasting, being excellent business men, honorable and respectful, being good citizens by obeying just laws. This list is endless.

I was shocked, silly me, by an article in a British newspaper on the immorality of the athletes coming here for the Olympics. I shall not give unnecessary details, but the ideal athlete who is moral and a good example for children seems to be an anomaly. That our society worships athletes who are not worthy of such idolatry creates an atmosphere of neo-paganism. Why are the Catholics silent about the Olympic charade of virtue in sport bringing nations together? One other blog and myself are ranting about this idolatry. The Catholic world has been horribly silent or supportive of this religion of sport.

The Church Militant cannot and must not tolerate evil. That, to me, is the biggest problem with the English culture-the overlooking of gross sin--even Catholics--the allowance of sin to proliferate.

Christ calls all of us into the Church Militant by our baptism. This is not some nice metaphor, but a daily reality. We cannot let down our guard for one moment.

He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. Matthew 12:30 Douay Rheims.

Are you part of the problem or are you part of the solution?

Have mercy on us, Oh Lord, have mercy

In light of what happened last night, I pass on an excellent article for parents, uncles, aunts...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2461820/Our-attitude-to-violence-is-beyond-a-joke-as-new-Batman-film-The-Dark-Knight-shows.html

Sin Leads to Insanity. God Created Us Rational.

As reported by LifeSiteNews online, Poland is one voice in the EU speaking against the new EU Council's (Council of Europe),decision to define gender as culture-defined. The brave Polish Bishops, the Presidium of the Polish Episcopal Conference and pro-life groups, have stated clearly that the agenda behind a document to protect women's rights pushes the lgtb life-style and undermines Catholic teaching on male and female as God-given identities. This last point reveals the distance between natural law philosophy, the ancient Revelation of the Bible, (Male and female He created them) and shows the breakdown of basic human definitions by this radicalized council. On can contact the Polish Government here to stop the passage of this document into law.


Many years ago, it was clear that among  the representatives to these councils were Marxists, who have supported the destruction of the nuclear family by undermining Church teaching on the sacredness of marriage and family. Now, after years of positioning, those who have wanted to support openly feminist agendas as well as those of the lgtb groups are in power to do so. 

Here is a snippet:The convention redefines gender as a social construct, rather than as a distinction grounded in biology, and suggests violence towards women is systemic with roots in religion and culture.

According to the “Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence” which was publicized in April, 2011, gender “shall mean the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men.”

This new “social construct” definition is at odds with the definition in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court - which this new convention cites.  The Rome Statute states that, “For the purposes of this Statute, it is understood that the term “gender” refers to the two sexes, male and female, within the context of society. The term ‘gender’ does not indicate any meaning different from the above.”

“The Polish Episcopal Conference supports the protection of women against violence, but does not agree with the ideological assumptions of the Council of Europe Convention,” the Polish bishops declared.

“It should be emphasized that the Convention, although it is devoted to the major issue of violence against women, is built on ideological and false assumptions that are in no way acceptable. It suggests that violence against women is systemic, and its source is religion, tradition and culture,” the bishops wrote, noting that Article 12 of the convention obliges signatories to “dismiss the achievements of civilization,” which are considered “as a threat and a source of violence.”

There are some who recognize the connection between communist ideology and the new world order of sexual and gender radical ideals. Note:

Joanna Najfeld, a Polish journalist and pro-life commentator, noted the complicity of the liberal mainstream media in Poland in promotion of the convention that she labelled “ridiculous beyond belief.”

“Nobody in this country, or in any other sane, democratic society, would agree to it if it was being introduced through democratic channels, like a popular vote or a referendum,” Najfeld told LifeSiteNews.

“The mainstream liberal media silence, downplay, or manipulate the subject totally, so it can be ratified quietly by those in power in Poland now, and soon used against the Polish nation. The European Union uses the back door to impose these absurd, and extremely dangerous ideas on us.”

“We are a traditional nation,” Najfeld declared. “Traditional, meaning sane, rational and conservative.”

Comparing the imposition on Poland of the Council of Europe’s gender ideology to Communist oppression, Najfeld said, “the liberal ‘elites’ use lies, coercion, and supranational powers to perform yet another - excuse my strong language - rape on our society. Communism oppressed us and now European institutions are a new oppressor.

LifeSiteNews gets better and better. Please support them. They are a voice for freedom in Europe as well as the States. Here is another good article.

On Thinking Like a Protestant Single

Many of the posts here on this blog have been on thinking like a Catholic and not like a Protestant. In the many, many responses I have read on the series on being single, I realized that some Catholics are not thinking like Catholics about vocations. Let me posit a few points.


One, the Scriptures give us not only real life stories of people but paradigms and analogies. Scripture also give us prophecies about Christ and Who He Is and what His Titles as God-Man, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus Christ was and is the High Priest, the Priest of Priests. He is not "lay". Several commentators were confused on this subject. He is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament Priesthood and the First Priest of the New Covenant. All priests ordained in the Catholic Church are "other Christs". One can click on the link on the side or here for more explanation-Ordinatio Sacerdotalis.


Two, the Church has Tradition, which are the entire teachings, doctrines, and sacramental theology, for examples, as I cannot list all. which are based on Scripture but go beyond the Scriptures. We cannot read Scripture outside of Tradition. We believe as Catholics that the Holy Spirit inspires the Church regarding Faith and Morals, as well as the Nature of Christ, His Mother, the Liturgy or whatever. As Catholics, we value Tradition and Scripture as from God; that is revealed Truths given to the Church. Scripture, that is Revelation and Tradition are the two keystones of Truth in the Catholic Church.


Three, in describing or defining the traditional, "small t", vocations in the Church, the Teaching Magisterium, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has given us clarity as to those calls in the Church. One cannot merely quote Scripture and say "so and so was this or that" without looking at the interpretation of the Church in these matters. We have 2,000 years of Tradition and to throw that away is to be a Protestant in one's thinking. We do not interpret Scripture outside the Church. Those are the heresies of "private interpretation of the Bible" and "Sola scriptura"--the basis of all Protestantism. What the Church teaches about vocations through-out is that we choose to follow a vocation, to follow the calls from God for our lives. We are just not "single" without choice. Therefore, referring only to Scripture is incorrect. See more of this train of thought below on Protestant ideals.


Four, Apostolic Succession means that the Apostles were priests. They were not lay people after Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders as sacraments. Now, the Jews would have understood this, as they had priests, set aside from the rest of the community to serve in the liturgy of the Jewish Law. The Apostle themselves would have understood their priesthood. That some were married is not an issue. That they all were priests, then bishops, handing down the priesthood through Ordination to our own day is one of the great blessings and treasures of the Church. The Old Testament priesthood foreshadowed that of the New.


Five, the Church very early on saw that the Holy Spirit was calling men and women to consecrated celibacy. One is no longer "single" in the same sense as a lay single person who is not committed to anything, under this vow, which should be, but apparently is not, obvious.The first monks were hermits, that it solitaries, who took in young novices. Later, under St. Anthony, Abbot, we see the development of monasticism. St. Augustine started a community of celibate men. St. Benedict's inspired genius changed Europe. Women also were called as nuns.

Six, Our Blessed Virgin Mary is the Role Model and great patron of consecrated virgins. To deny her virginity and her complete commitment to the Trinity is heresy. Mary is all things and no one else is to be compared to her. She is Queen, Mother, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mother of God and virginal spouse of St, Joseph. Catholics understand her uniqueness in God's Plan of Salvation. She is the Theotokos. She alone is Mother, Spouse, and Child of God.


Seven, as Catholics we are called by God to grow in love and the life of the virtues. One never hears sermons on the virtues. Without living that virtuous life, one cannot see God. We cannot go to heaven without the virtues being established in our beings.  In a committed relationship, God perfects us in the virtues. One cannot do this alone, or very rarely. To live with others is to allow one's self to become holy. Thankfully, more traditional priests are speaking on this subject. I hope more do so for the sake of our souls and the souls of our societies. To think that we can reach our potential for holiness in superficial relationships, and not in choosing either marriage, Holy Orders, religious life, or that of the consecrated virgin is revealing a Protestant mind-set-that life is just  about "me and God". If one finds one's self alone, and this is a common problem, one must find out God's Plan for life, especially if one is older. The younger among you need to decide. 


May I add that those "religions", false ones, which do not value celibacy, have not the true teaching of the Catholic Church. Celibacy is a committed state and is not synonymous with being single and not being committed to any walk of life. Today, for example, if one is dating and looking for a mate, one is not dedicated to following a celibate life-style. 


One of the first things that Henry VIII did was to suppress the monasteries and convents, forcing thousands of monks, priests and nuns literally onto the roads and into dire poverty. He, of course, was in debt and needed property and goods to pay his friends, but he also hated the "sign of contradiction" in the world. So, too, other Protestant "reformers" taught against celibacy. All ministers were to be married and some ministers were distinctly seen as "lay brothers". Part of this rebellion was hatred of the hierarchical structure of the Church. Of course, a Protestant ideal would be to get rid of authority, which meant the priesthood, bishops, cardinals, the Pope. This is connected to point three above. The rebellion against the Church led to rebellion against vocations to celibacy.

I know some of this thinking has seeped into the consciousness of some Catholics. A permanent deacon is not a lay person. If he is not married, he cannot get married. If he is married and his wife dies, he cannot get married again. This is also true for the married priests coming in through the Ordinariate. The Byzantine Catholics do not allow a married man to be a bishop. This is all part of the Catholic Church's high evaluation of celibacy as a consecrated state. One can choose to be celibate on one's own, but the Church has always encourage spiritual direction for this and vows. And, as noted in the other blogs, there are Catholic ways to enter into communal life and be celibate. But again, it is a commitment, not merely a "being single in the world".

I do not have this book with me, but one of the best on the monastic life is Consider Your Call: Theology of the Monastic LIfe by Daniel Rees.  I read it many, many years ago and loved it. My copy fell apart I referred to it so often It is out of print but around used. I highly recommend unattached laypersons to read this and to consider your call.


If any of you missed these two posts on virgins and widows, here are two links.


http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/on-order-of-widows.html

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-mystical-marriage-of-consecrated.html

Also, if you are one of those who claimed you could not find an appropriate spouse, read this: http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/on-monasteries-convents-and-suitable.html

So much for national pride-the "me" generation hits the Olympics

Olympic disgust four. 

I do not understand this. What has happened to the national pride of the British? It is gone.

Several news agencies are reporting these stories, which are here taken from The Mail. Also, below, another  AP article highlights the border guards strike. The British used to take pride in being British. 

This is the entitlement me generation at their worst. No one in these unions seems to understand cooperation. Gramsci would be pleased, as he did not believe in nationhood. The great lies of socialism and communism seem to be at work here.

The great Olympic walkout: Now train drivers AND airport immigration staff announce strikes which will hit Games

• Aslef union will take industrial action over pensions on August 6, 7 and 8
• Thousands of staff at the Home Office, including airport immigration workers, will also stage a 24-hour strike the day before the opening of the Olympics
• Train company bosses are 'shocked and angry' strikes are being planned at time of 'great national pride' for country
• Aslef general secretary, Mick Whelan calls cutting pension contributions 'highly irresponsible'
• Transport Secretary Justine Greening: 'If there were an Olympic sport of self-interest, Aslef union leaders would win it hands down'
• Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt claims unions would be 'completely out of tune' with public mood if strike held during Games
• Labour leader Ed Miliband: 'People should not be striking during the Olympics. People should not be disrupting the Olympic Games'
• Members of RMT union on South West Trains reject strikes by narrow margin of four votes

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175874/London-2012-Olympics-Train-drivers-stage-days-strikes-Games.html#ixzz216zeVxHB

Dead corn, dead faith

Oh my goodness, now we cannot pray for rain in the States and the Breadbasket is drying up daily.

The scenes of dead corn and wheat break one's heart. But, oh no, we cannot pray at the White House. I am from Iowa and so is Tom Vilsack. He was hardly the most religious politician to come out of the Hawkeye State, so if he thinks the situation needs prayer, well, that's OK with me.

We need more religion, more prayer, not less.

Look at this:


The Council for Secular Humanism is attacking the Obama administration for Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack saying he prays for rain to end the nationwide draught.

“I get on my knees every day,” Vilsack said at the White House press briefing on Wednesday. “And I’m saying an extra prayer now. If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”

In a statement, Tom Flynn, the executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, said Vilsack's mention of prayer "sends the wrong message to distraught farmers."

“[Praying] for rain? That’s not just government entangling itself with religion, that’s government publicly practicing it, and wallowing in superstition,” he said.

The full release is below:

Agriculture Secretary Out of Line to Pray for Rain, Says Council for Secular Humanism

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told reporters at the White House that he is praying for rain to end the drought parching 61 percent of the United States. “I get on my knees every day,” he said on July 18. “And I’m saying an extra prayer now. If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”

“The Obama Administration has been criticized by secular humanists for backpedaling on then-candidate Obama’s campaign pledge to reverse Bush-era policies that provide federal funding to religious charities that discriminate in hiring,” said Tom Flynn, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and editor of its journal Free Inquiry. “But praying for rain? That’s not just government entangling itself with religion, that’s government publicly practicing it, and wallowing in superstition.”

This summer’s prolonged drought, the worst in a quarter-century, is devastating crops and parching livestock. It may bring sharply higher food prices later this year.

“It sends the wrong message to distraught farmers when the Agriculture Secretary suggests that the best response is to pray,” said Flynn. “For a Cabinet official to recommend prayer as a solution or call attention to his own devotions may violate the Constitution’s prohibition against establishment of religion. Most important, though, is that prayer doesn’t work. But if you want to test the power of prayer yourself, consider this. Apparently Secretary Vilsack’s been praying for rain every day; how’s that working out?”

Please read notices

Some good comments have been sent to me in the past week but are anonymous. Please find a name. For one thing, I cannot respond, as I am apt to do, to four anonymous names in one post.

Not an official translation of DICI text today online

Déclaration du Chapitre général de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X

As announced in the statement of the General House of the Society of St. Pius X, July 14, 2012, members of the General Chapter in Rome sent a joint statement. It is released today.
During the interview in DICI, July 16, Bishop Bernard Fellay, stated that the document was "an opportunity to clarify the roadmap (the Society of St. Pius X) with emphasis on the conservation of (his) identity, only effective way to help the Church to restore Christendom. " "Because, he added, the doctrinal silence is not the answer to this 'silent apostasy' that even John Paul II noted, in 2003. "
At the end of the General Chapter of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X, together with the venerated tomb of its founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and united with its Superior General, we the participants, bishops, superiors and elders of the Brotherhood, would like to up to heaven our thanksgiving for the most vivid forty-two years of divine protection so wonderful about our work in the middle of a church in crisis and a world away from day to day and God its law.
We express our deep gratitude to all members of this fraternity, priests, brothers, sisters, commercial, religious communities and the dear faithful friends for their daily devotion and fervent prayers on the occasion of this Chapter that has seen frank and fruitful work. All the sacrifices, all the sentences accepted generously certainly helped to overcome the difficulties that the Brotherhood has faced lately. We found our deep union in its core mission: keep and defend the Catholic faith, form good priests and work towards the restoration of Christendom. We have defined and approved conditions for a possible canonical normalization. It was established that in this case, an extraordinary chapter is called deliberative before. But never forget that the sanctification of souls always begins within ourselves. It is the work of a faith enlivened by charity and operative in the words of Saint Paul: "For we have no power against the truth, we have for the truth" (II Cor., XIII, 8) and again: "Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her ... so she is holy and immaculate" (cf. Eph. V, 25 sec.).
The Chapter believes that the first duty of the Brotherhood in the service it intends to make the Church is to continue, with God's help, to profess the Catholic faith in its purity and integrity, with a proportionate determination attacks that same faith continues to suffer today.
Therefore it seems appropriate to reaffirm our faith in the Roman Catholic Church, one Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, without which there is no salvation and no possibility of finding the means leading to it, in its monarchical constitution, intended by our Lord, who made the supreme power of government over the whole Church returns to the pope alone, Christ's vicar on earth in the universal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, creator of the natural and supernatural, to which every man and corporation must adhere.
For all the innovations of Vatican II that are flawed and that reforms are coming, the Society can only continue to adhere to the affirmations and constant teaching of the Magisterium of the Church, it is his guide in this continuous Magisterium who, by act of instruction, transmits the deposit revealed in perfect harmony with all that the whole Church has always believed, anywhere.
Also the Brotherhood found his guide in the constant tradition of the Church that transmits and forward until the end of time all the lessons necessary to maintain faith and salvation, until a serious and open debate, a return to the ecclesiastical authorities to Tradition is made possible.
We join with other Christians persecuted in various countries around the world who suffer for the Catholic faith, and very often to martyrdom. Their blood shed in union with the Victim of our altars is the guarantee of renewal of the Church in capite and membris, according to this old adage "martyrum sanguis semen christianorum".
"Finally we turn to the Virgin Mary, also jealous of the privileges of her divine Son, jealous of his glory, his kingdom on earth as in heaven. How many times has intervened to defend, even armed, of Christendom against the enemies of the kingdom of our Lord! We plead to speak today to chase the enemy within who seek to destroy the Church more radically than external enemies. Deign to keep the integrity of faith, love of the Church, in devotion to the Successor of Peter, all members of the Society of St. Pius X and all the priests and faithful who work in same feelings, so it keeps us and preserves us as the schism of heresy.
"May St. Michael the Archangel us his zeal for the glory of God and his strength to fight the demon.
"What St. Pius X could give us his wisdom, his knowledge and holiness to discern right from wrong and good from evil, in these times of confusion and lies. "(Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Albano, October 19, 1983).
Ecône, July 14, 2012
Dichiarazione del generale della Capitolo Priestly Fraternity San Pio X
Declaración del Capítulo General of the Priestly Fraternity San Pio X
Grundsatzerklärung Generalkapitels der Priesterbruderschaft of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X Chapter General Statement
Read also:
Interview with Bishop Fellay after the General Chapter of the Society of St. Pius X (July 16, 2012)

See also Rorate Caeli and Fr. Z for comments.

Nine post day for me to date. Pray for my computer situation.
 

Déclaration du Chapitre général de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X

Comme l’annonçait le communiqué de la Maison générale de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X, du 14 juillet 2012, les membres du Chapitre général ont adressé à Rome une déclaration commune. Elle est rendue publique aujourd’hui.
Lors de l’entretien paru dans DICI, le 16 juillet, Mgr Bernard Fellay, indiquait que ce document était « l’occasion de préciser la feuille de route (de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X) en insistant sur la conservation de (son) identité, seul moyen efficace pour aider l’Eglise à restaurer la Chrétienté ». « Car, ajoutait-il, le mutisme doctrinal n’est pas la réponse à cette ‘apostasie silencieuse’ que même Jean-Paul II constatait, en 2003. »

A la fin du Chapitre général de la Fraternité Sacerdotale Saint-Pie X, réunis auprès du tombeau de son fondateur vénéré Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, et unis à son Supérieur général, nous les participants, évêques, supérieurs et anciens de cette Fraternité, tenons à faire monter vers le ciel nos actions de grâce les plus vives pour les quarante-deux ans de protection divine si merveilleuse sur notre œuvre au milieu d’une Eglise en pleine crise et d’un monde qui s’éloigne de jour en jour de Dieu et de sa loi.

Nous exprimons notre profonde gratitude à tous les membres de cette Fraternité, prêtres, frères, sœurs, tertiaires, aux communautés religieuses amies ainsi qu’aux chers fidèles pour leur dévouement quotidien et leurs ferventes prières à l’occasion de ce Chapitre qui a connu des échanges francs et un travail très fructueux. Tous les sacrifices, toutes les peines acceptées avec générosité ont certainement contribué à surmonter les difficultés que la Fraternité a rencontrées ces derniers temps. Nous avons retrouvé notre union profonde en sa mission essentielle : garder et défendre la foi catholique, former de bons prêtres et œuvrer à la restauration de la chrétienté. Nous avons défini et approuvé des conditions nécessaires pour une éventuelle normalisation canonique. Il a été établi que, dans ce cas, un chapitre extraordinaire délibératif serait convoqué auparavant. Mais n’oublions jamais que la sanctification des âmes commence toujours en nous-mêmes. Elle est l’œuvre d’une foi vivifiée et opérante par la charité selon la parole de Saint Paul : « Car nous n’avons pas de puissance contre la vérité ; nous n’en avons que pour la vérité » (II Cor., XIII, 8) et encore : « Le Christ a aimé l’Eglise et s’est livré lui-même pour elle… afin qu’elle soit sainte et immaculée » (cf. Eph. V, 25 s.).

Le Chapitre estime que le premier devoir de la Fraternité dans le service qu’elle entend rendre à l’Eglise est celui de continuer, avec l’aide de Dieu, à professer la foi catholique dans toute sa pureté et intégrité, avec une détermination proportionnée aux attaques que cette même foi ne cesse de subir aujourd’hui.

C’est pourquoi il nous semble opportun de réaffirmer notre foi dans l’Eglise catholique et romaine, seule Eglise fondée par Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, en dehors de laquelle il n’y a pas de salut ni de possibilité de trouver les moyens qui y mènent ; dans sa constitution monarchique, voulue par Notre Seigneur, qui fait que le pouvoir suprême de gouvernement sur toute l’Eglise revient au pape seul, vicaire du Christ sur terre ; dans la royauté universelle de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, créateur de l’ordre naturel et surnaturel, auquel tout homme et toute société doit se soumettre.

Pour toutes les nouveautés du Concile Vatican II qui restent entachées d’erreurs et pour les réformes qui en sont issues, la Fraternité ne peut que continuer à s’en tenir aux affirmations et enseignements du Magistère constant de l’Eglise ; elle trouve son guide dans ce Magistère ininterrompu qui, par son acte d’enseignement, transmet le dépôt révélé en parfaite harmonie avec tout ce que l’Eglise entière a toujours cru, en tout lieu.

Egalement la Fraternité trouve son guide dans la Tradition constante de l’Eglise qui transmet et transmettra jusqu’à la fin des temps l’ensemble des enseignements nécessaires au maintien de la foi et au salut, en attendant qu’un débat ouvert et sérieux, visant à un retour des autorités ecclésiastiques à la Tradition, soit rendu possible.

Nous nous unissons aux autres chrétiens persécutés dans les différents pays du monde qui souffrent pour la foi catholique, et très souvent jusqu’au martyre. Leur sang versé en union avec la Victime de nos autels est le gage du renouveau de l’Eglise in capite et membris, selon ce vieil adage « sanguis martyrum semen christianorum ».

« Enfin nous nous tournons vers la Vierge Marie, elle aussi jalouse des privilèges de son divin Fils, jalouse de sa gloire, de son Règne sur la terre comme au Ciel. Combien de fois elle est intervenue pour la défense, même armée, de la Chrétienté contre les ennemis du règne de Notre Seigneur ! Nous la supplions d’intervenir aujourd’hui pour chasser les ennemis de l’intérieur qui tentent de détruire l’Eglise plus radicalement que les ennemis de l’extérieur. Qu’elle daigne garder dans l’intégrité de la foi, dans l’amour de l’Eglise, dans la dévotion au successeur de Pierre, tous les membres de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X et tous les prêtres et fidèles qui œuvrent dans les mêmes sentiments, afin qu’elle nous garde et nous préserve tant du schisme que de l’hérésie.

« Que saint Michel archange nous communique son zèle pour la gloire de Dieu et sa force pour combattre le démon.

« Que saint Pie X nous fasse part de sa sagesse, de sa science et de sa sainteté pour discerner le vrai du faux et le bien du mal, dans ces temps de confusion et de mensonge. » (Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, Albano, 19 octobre 1983).

Ecône, le 14 juillet 2012

From the Vatican: apologies, as my computer is now not working

Vatican City,  (VIS) – Early this afternoon, the Holy See Press Office released the following English-language communique concerning the declaration which emerged from the General Chapter of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X.

“The recently concluded General Chapter of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X has addressed a declaration regarding the possibility of a canonical normalisation in the relationship of the Society and the Holy See. While it has been made public, the declaration remains primarily an internal document for study and discussion among the members of the Society.
“The Holy See has taken note of this declaration, but awaits the forthcoming official communication of the Priestly Society as their dialogue with the Pontifical Commission ‘Ecclesia Dei’ continues”.-here  is the link.

Just go to the Vatican Website and click on VIS-there--for news daily.

VIS

If you do not know about this, you should.

Vatican Information Service

Vatican Information Service is currently available in four languages.

CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

FRANÇAIS

ITALIAN

USA; the weak link in foreign diplomacy

The spokesperson for the United States government has not condemned the suicide attack in Syria. Since when does America support suicide attacks?  Someone has lost perspective here. Obama and Putin had discussions which ended up in non-agreement. This administration is an embarrassment on the world stage. And, because of a bland president in foreign policy, we may lose a vote for restrictions of violence in Syria in the UN. The problem is that there is no policy which is consistent. Look at Egypt, Libya, Pakistan...Note:

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking earlier, said Syria was lurching into dangerous territory and emphasized that Assad's government would be held responsible if it failed to safeguard its chemical weapons sites - a major concern for U.S. and regional security planners.

"This is a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control," Panetta told a Pentagon news conference.

One European national security official, reflecting the intelligence estimate of Washington and its allies, said that while the deadly bomb blast that wiped out key Syrian security officials was a huge setback for Assad, it was not necessarily a death blow.

U.S. officials said they were still assessing reports of the Damascus attack - but did not condemn it outright.

"The United States does not welcome further bloodshed in Syria. We note, however, that these men were key architects of the Assad regime's assault on the Syrian people," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said.

U.S. officials said they did not have any information on Assad's whereabouts, and declined to speculate on who might have been behind the attack.

"I have seen nothing yet that would lead me to believe we have a clear determination of who was behind it. It certainly has all the elements of an al Qaeda-type attack, knowing that al Qaeda has a significant presence there," Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee, told Reuters.

"When there is confusion in the capital city all of these groups are going to try to take advantage of it."




Check out this article on the problem of chemical weapons falling into the hands of Al Qaeda--http://ca.news.yahoo.com/syria-brink-civil-war-jordanian-king-213636899.html

On Getting Past the Past

In the long discussions on the blog on the single life, I have had several comments from people who had to leave religious communities for one reason or another. I must honestly say the pain and suffering of these people moves me and calls for prayer. However, what is clear is that emotional suffering and psychological suffering interfere with our ability to see God clearly and to see what He is doing in our lives clearly. To be able to love demands that we accept Love. We can only love through Christ, in the Trinity, not of ourselves. But, sometimes, this process takes years. We also have to forgive ourselves for mistakes, failures, sin.

For the child who has never known the love of parents, especially a father, this would take Divine Intervention and grace to overcome.

For an abused person, of any age, forgiveness is necessary for healing.

For a person who has been betrayed and abandoned in marriage, the same--forgiveness and healing.

We see through a glass darkly, states St. Paul, not only because of our own sin, but the sin we endure from others. Some of us have experienced great hurt. Some of us forgave and still forgive, as we are forgiven.

As to having bad experiences in religious communities, I can personally state I understand, having been in a lay community for seven years as a young person, and having experienced rejection and selfishness by authorities in my life at the time.And yet, I regret none of my good decisions, which were made for God and did not involve sin.  Forgiveness is the key to healing. God wastes nothing we have experienced.

If one has tried a vocation and for whatever reason this path has ended up in failure, that is a real cross, again, as I know personally. However, those of us who did that made choices and tried to follow a vocation. We are not in the indecisive, non-committing group, which the statistics in several posts of the past week show, and as we see daily in the lives of lost youth. Being open, following a vocation, having that interrupted, is just plain suffering. That, too, can be a sign of dysfunction in our society. God has a plan.

God bless you all.

But, the Cross of Christ always leads to life, always. Golgotha was not the last word. The Resurrection is.

I repeat the rule that no anonymous commenting will be published, and I also do not publish references to the Church or the Pope which I consider rude or blasphemous. If I feel others would not accept or be able to read a comment calmly, or with love, I do not publish those either. I pray for my readers and commentators. God has a plan for all of us. Be hopeful, have courage.

Whose says martyrs can't be feisty?

Sts. Justa and Rufina Feast Day — July 19

Justa and Rufina were sisters who lived in Seville, Spain about two hundred years after Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. We believe that they became Christians after hearing missionaries preach about Christ. They were devout members of the Church and tried to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

The sisters supported themselves by making and selling beautiful clay pots. They always gave some of their earnings to people in need. Like many other merchants, they sold their pottery from booths set up out of doors in the village where people could see them.

People who were celebrating a pagan festival honoring the Roman gods came to the sisters’ booth. They wanted to buy pots to use in their worship services. Justa and Rufina refused, explaining that they were followers of Christ and did not believe in false gods.  The worshippers became angry. They broke all of the Justa’s and Rufina’s pottery, smashing everything to the ground. The sisters responded to this by breaking an image of Venus, one of the pagan gods. They were arrested immediately.

The sisters were brought before the governor. He demanded that they give up their faith. They refused. He ordered the women to be jailed. The governor gave Justa and Rufina one last chance to speak out against Christ . They refused again.

Justa and Rufina died as martyrs for our faith. Their lives teach us what it means to follow the First Commandment: I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.

all from http://rclweb.com/resources/2009/07/19/sts-justa-and-rufina-feast-day-%E2%80%94-july-19/

Olympic disgust three

If you never have lived in a city where there has been an Olympics. count yourself lucky. Londoners are not happy. It is as if one was having a party for mature friends, and then discovered your teen-aged daughter and son invited all their friends to your nice, organized soiree. All of a sudden, there are 300 kids on the patio asking where the pop and computer games are...Also, the rules are getting more and more odd.


Really, can you imagine these early set of games? Here is my take--τὰ Ὀλύμπια 


(Panning out from the Acropolis, an aerial view -heck, this is pretend, right-of a bunch of guys in loin-clothes or nothing on )


(A media girl from the local news center at the well is interviewing the athletes)


(This journalist is named Athena.)


Athena: Here we are in the center of the training grounds for this Olympiad. Let's find out where this young man is from and what his sport is...Hi, what is your name, sir?


Young man: Pericles, but I am not related, you know...


Athena: Sure, what will you be doing here this week?


Pericles: I am not an athlete. You can talk to those guys there, Plato and Ephorus, they will run in the foot race.


Athena: Well, I can't interview them because well, I have an artist here drawing pictures, and you are dressed...you know.


Pericles: Actually, I am a caterer. I set up stalls and sell olives, figs, dried fish, honey cakes, wine, flat breads, cheese, and other things. I even have fresh water in little clay jars with little clay lids-look-for taking into the stadium. They are recyclable. When the water is gone, you just throw them on the ground and stamp on them. 


Athena: But, Pericles, this year no one can take water into the stadium. Security rules. We are expecting troubles from the Goths, I think. 


Pericles: No water jars? Oh, no and I invested so much in these. Well, I still have giant leaves with ice and snow from the mountains here in this special hide carrier so that people can stay cool.


Athena: Pericles, no one can take ice or snow into the arena either. 


Pericles: What about the aulos and specialty Egyptian sistrum types of instruments for making noise to encourage your athletes? I have bags of them made for the tourists to cheer on the home teams. I even went to Egypt and picked some up, but they each have a strange word I can't read on the side.


Athena: I think these characters say "China". No, all those musical instruments will not be allowed, either. Oh dear, you must have missed the announcements posted up on the pillars of the Parthenon.


Pericles: I haven't had time...shucks, I might as well pack all this up and go home.


Athena: I am sorry. Where is home? 


Pericles: Well, I guess I might as well tell you the truth. My real name is Varazdat and I am a boxer. I was intending to make some money on the side before the games started.


Athena: You mean you are the future King of Armenia? Wow! What a scoop for me.


Varazdat: Well, sure. Go ahead and tell people. I am just a little concerned as I hear there may be more wars involving the Romans and the Goths-- and some of my cousins have been banished to a place called Britannia already by the Emperor.  I really do not want to go there.


Athena: Why?


Varazdat: I hear it is called the Nanny State of the North and it rains all the time.


Athens: Well, that is all now from Athens. Maybe I'll just go speak with that guy over there. By the way, good luck with your fisticuffs. 


Varazdat: Ah, thanks. I have a good feel about this competition. I am in great shape and I am the greatest...

Athena: Sure, right, bye.

On the Order of Widows

Anna, the Widow and Prophetess

In Old and New Testament studies among both Catholic and Protestant scholars, a resurgence in the interest of the history of widows has happened. Now, some of the Protestant interpretations, usually, of course, based entirely on Scripture, reveal, as do the Catholic studies, the plight of the widow in the time of Christ. This post is not a history of the widow either in the Old or New Testament, but a discussion of what is sometimes called The Order of Widows.

Starting in the years following the World Wars, there emerged an interest in Europe to acknowledge the needs of widow both physically and spiritually. France seems to be the earliest example of the post-war re-institution of an Order of Widows. According to Elizabeth Rees, in the most complete article I have seen on this, the French Bishop of Paris had a blessing for widows approved by the CDW for a specific group attached to an order of nuns.

There are several groups in America, none of which have the approval of the Vatican at this time. Some live in communities, and some have non-communal affiliations. I do not mention them by name, as these are not approved, and in some cases, somewhat liberal. I would only recommend approved orders at this time.

However, in some European countries, but not in America, a few individual consecrated widows have made private vows to their bishops. These widows do not live in communities.

In the early Church, the Order of Widows may be connected to what is written in 1 Timothy 1-16. The criteria are that the widow must be truly one, of one husband; that she is over 60, (nice, assuming a woman younger may get married again), not gossipy or taken to wine, with an excellent reputation in helping the poor and other members of the Church.

One of the interesting notes is that it is the family who is to take care of the widow if she has one and not the Church. This is specifically stated. Those poor widows without families, of whom we can assume there were many, needed Church protection and funds.

Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband  Douay Rheims 1 Timothy 5:9

The Widow's Mite

Now, St. Paul uses the word "enrolled" or "chosen", and with the above list of set and clear criteria, the Church has concluded that this was some sort of "Order" with a rule.

That the Vatican has taken such a long time on revising this means that the CDW wants to get it right, clear, and in accordance with Scripture and Tradition.

At this time, for those women who are interested, I suggest you talk first with your spiritual director, then your bishop, and then, possibly write to Rome. If Rome had many letters requesting a renewal of this group, it may happen faster. In the meantime, a widow could make private vows, as least in Europe.

By the way, a widow is not a divorcee and an annulled woman. I did check that out with a priest who is involved with such a group. God bless all widows.