A Council Was Not Necessary

The salient point of this Council is not, therefore, a discussion of one article or another of the fundamental doctrine of the Church which has repeatedly been taught by the Fathers and by ancient and modern theologians, and which is presumed to be well known and familiar to all. For this a Council was not necessary. But from the renewed, serene, and tranquil adherence to all the teaching of the Church in its entirety and preciseness, as it still shines forth in the Acts of the Council of Trent and First Vatican Council, the Christian, Catholic, and apostolic spirit of the whole world expects a step forward toward a doctrinal penetration and a formation of consciousness in faithful and perfect conformity to the authentic doctrine, which, however, should be studied and expounded through the methods of research and through the literary forms of modern thought. (Bl. John XXIII: Opening Speech of Second Vatican Council)

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Funeral of Bl. John XXIII

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Think Upon Every Generation

Remember the days of old, think upon every generation: ask thy father, and he will declare to thee: thy elders and they will tell thee. (Deut 32:7)

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As the Heathen and the Publican

And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. (Matt 18:17)

No believer will wish to deny that the teaching authority of the Church is competent to interpret even the natural moral law. It is, in fact, indisputable, as our predecessors have many times declared, that Jesus Christ, when communicating to Peter and to the Apostles His divine authority and sending them to teach all nations His commandments, constituted them as guardians and authentic interpreters of all the moral law, not only, that is, of the law of the Gospel, but also of the natural law, which is also an expression of the will of God, the faithful fulfillment of which is equally necessary for salvation…….

Christian married couples, then, docile to her voice, must remember that their Christian vocation, which began at baptism, is further specified and reinforced by the sacrament of matrimony. By it husband and wife are strengthened and as it were consecrated for the faithful accomplishment of their proper duties, for the carrying out of their proper vocation even to perfection, and the Christian witness which is proper to them before the whole world. To them the Lord entrusts the task of making visible to men the holiness and sweetness of the law which unites the mutual love of husband and wife with their cooperation with the love of God the author of human life… Given at Rome, 25th day of July, feast of St. James the Apostle, in the year 1968. (Paul VI: Humanae Vitae)

Protesting in front of St. Patricks right after the release of Humanae Vitae

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Continuity (Peter is Dead, Long Live Peter!)

             

He chose therefore His Apostles, and after infusing into their minds by the power of the Holy Ghost, the gifts in harmony with their high calling, “Go ye into the world,” He told them, “and preach the Gospel.” Their preaching renewed the face of the earth. For if the religion of Christ has withdrawn the minds of men from errors of every kind to the truth, and won their hearts from the degradation of vice to the excellence and beauty of every virtue, assuredly it has done so by means of that very preaching. (Benedict XV: On Preaching)

We read that Christ commanded not only Peter, whose chair We occupy, but all the Apostles whose successors you are: “Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” From the fact that the Roman Pontiff has entrusted to you and to your assistants the task of preaching the Christian religion to pagan nations, you ought not to conclude that the role of the native clergy is merely one of assisting the missionaries in minor matters, of merely following up and completing their work. What, We ask, is the true object of these holy missions if it be not this, that the Church of Christ be founded and established in these boundless regions? (Pius XI: On the Missions)

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Easterners moving East

Hello All, I just found out that a community of monks who are dedicated to  traditional Byzantine monasticism are going to be moving from California to New Jersey. For all those in the tri-state NY (come on all you Slavs in PA!) who are interested in having a monastery/retreat house somewhat local that provides a liturgical haven, take a look at their site. They are trying to buy an already established seminary/retreat property from the Sacred Heart brothers. Evidently the good brothers want to keep it in The Family. So if you have some loose change why not free up some pocket room for your Rosary.  Also, maybe if you have a blog in the NY/NJ/PA area you could perhaps give them some publicity? Small Pic from their current home:

Greek Rite Clergy in Italy:

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The Cardinal

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Until late in the Middle Ages the title of cardinal was given to prominent priests of important churches, e.g., at Constantinople, Milan, Ravenna, Naples, Sens, Trier, Magdeburg, and Cologne. In keeping with this custom we find the term Cardinalis applied at Rome from the end of the fifth century to priests permanently attached to the (twenty-five to twenty-eight) Roman tituli, or quasi-parishes (quasi diæceses), belonging to the church of the Bishop of Rome, the pope;therefore to the Cardo ecclesia par excellence in which tituli the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance were administered, and which were also often called tituli cardinales. In the course of time and according as the papal headship of the Church manifested itself more and more, the volume of ecclesiastical and temporal business increased greatly at Rome, in consequence of which the popes called in neighbouring bishops to represent them at episcopal functions and to aid them with their counsel. They also followed the custom, widespread in the early medieval period, of dealing with the important questions in synodal meetings. (New Advent Article on the history of Cardinals)

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Cardinal Pacelli in the U.S.

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When Pope Pius VI gave you your first Bishop in the person of the American John Carroll and set him over the See of Baltimore, small and of slight importance was the Catholic population of your land. At that time, too, the condition of the United States was so perilous that its structure and its very political unity were threatened by grave crisis. Because of the long and exhausting war the public treasury was burdened with debt, industry languished and the citizenry wearied by misfortunes was split into contending parties. This ruinous and critical state of affairs was put aright by the celebrated George Washington, famed for his courage and keen intelligence. He was a close friend of the Bishop of Baltimore. Thus the Father of His Country and the pioneer pastor of the Church in that land so dear to Us, bound together by the ties of friendship and clasping, so to speak, each the other’s hand, form a picture for their descendants, a lesson to all future generations, and a proof that reverence for the Faith of Christ is a holy and established principle of the American people, seeing that it is the foundation of morality and decency, consequently the source of prosperity and progress. (Pius XII: 150 years since the Establishment of the Hierarchy In the U.S.)

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Denied His Proper Place

If we weigh carefully the causes of today’s crises and those that are ahead, we shall soon find that human plans, human resources, and human endeavors are futile and will fail when Almighty God – He who enlightens, commands, and forbids; He who is the source and guarantor of justice, the fountainhead of truth, the basis of all laws – is esteemed but little, denied His proper place, or even completely disregarded. If a house is not built on a solid and sure foundation, it tumbles down; if a mind is not enlightened by the divine light, it strays more or less from the whole truth; if citizens, peoples, and nations are not animated by brotherly love, strife is born, waxes strong, and reaches full growth. (Pius XII: Last Letter, found on Rorate Caeli)

Also See: website of a committee that plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death. More details will be added to the site as the date for the events gets closer. (Go to site)

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Partaaaaaay! Dude, the Pope’s gonna be there!

When I was a teenager/early 20’s, and was very far from practicing my Faith, anything like this would have kept me miles away from the Church. A bunch of suggary, “slap-happy” drama-club kids clapping hands, strumming guitars, and saying things like “Ain’t Jesus great, gang!”, or, “Let’s Praise Him” would have led me to a mix of nausea and ridicule. The only reason I would have went would be to meet girls (evidently, from some of the below pics, many boys thought the same).

However, WYD serves a purpose, as it shows in one concentrated locale what Traditional Catholics are fighting against, and why we exist. Is this what Christianity is? Is that it? Hanging out half naked, half drunk (don’t you doubt some are drunk, or worse), and un-reformed at a Giant Woodstock Mass with 100,000 people?  I don’t even want to think about the many acts of Sacrelige such a gathering practically gaurantees. It just creates another generation of half-ass “Catholics”.

From Article on WYD :

Along with the spiritual aspects of the event, the social interaction that comes with hundreds of thousands of young people mingling is also a big attraction for the pilgrims.

“Just the euphoria of everyone coming together, all different countries for one purpose, for peace,” said one young female pilgrim.

“It’s a good time because you can do so many things you don’t expect to be doing and there’s great people, you can be doing partying when you don’t expect to,” said a young male participant. (Article on WYD, and justified response from the local SSPX folks)

Warning: Some of the below pictures from past WYD Masses are scandalous, profane, and indecent. Some might lead to indecent thoughts, and contempt for clergy. **Isn’t that sad, that Mass can lead to indecency?, Speaks volumes!**

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The Great Sacrifice

But it is particularly as the ministers of Jesus Christ in the great sacrifice which is constantly renewed with abiding power for the salvation of the world, that we have the duty of conforming our minds to that spirit in which he offered himself as an unspotted victim to God on the altar of the Cross. In the Old Law, though victims were only shadowy figures and symbols, sanctity of a high degree was demanded of the priest; what then of us, now that the victim is Christ himself? “How pure should not he be who shares in this sacrifice! More resplendent than the sun must be the hand that divides this Flesh, the mouth that is filled with spiritual fire, the tongue that is reddened by this Blood!” (St. Pius X: Letter to Priests)

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Vestments used during the Coronation of Pope St. Pius X:

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Merciful and Just

The Lord is merciful and just, and our God showeth mercy. (Psalm 114)

Mercy: Here, too, our beloved sons and venerable brothers, it is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching. There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments….

Justice: Also well known is the Catholic teaching that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church. Eternal salvation cannot be obtained by those who oppose the authority and statements of the same Church and are stubbornly separated from the unity of the Church and also from the successor of Peter, the Roman Pontiff, to whom “the custody of the vineyard has been committed by the Savior.”The words of Christ are clear enough: “If he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you a Gentile and a tax collector;” “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you, rejects me, and he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me;” “He who does not believe will be condemned;” “He who does not believe is already condemned;” “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”The Apostle Paul says that such persons are “perverted and self-condemned;” the Prince of the Apostles calls them “false teachers . . . who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master. . . bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (Bl. Pius IX: QUANTO CONFICIAMUR MOERORE)

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Wojtyla!

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Common Error

Secularists changing BC/AD to BCE/CE (Before the Common Era/Common Era) ? If it ever comes up when chatting with a person of the secularist persuasion, act stupid, and say “BCE ?, oh sure, you mean Before Christ’s Era, and CE, Christ’s Era”? They are making an increasingly common error.

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What the Hell?

This is a cover a new book I saw on B&N. It features on the cover a statue commemorating a meeting between Pope Paul VI, and Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon. Evidently the statue is based on an actual occurance of Paul VI prostrating himself before the Metropolitan, and kissing his feet. I have yet to find a full picture of the statue, or the event itself. (If you find one, drop a link in the combox). Now, I am first guy who approves of increased friendship with the Orthodox. However, the question with this is: What the Hell?

(The Book)

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Definition & Example

dig·ni·ty [dig-ni-tee]

1. bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation. 
2. nobility or elevation of character; worthiness: dignity of sentiments. 
3. elevated rank, office, station, etc. 
See Example:

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Draw Nigh To The Apostolic See

Hope: Let, therefore, the separated children draw nigh to the Apostolic See, set up in the City which Peter and Paul, the Princes of the Apostles, consecrated by their blood; to that See, We repeat, which is “the root and womb whence the Church of God springs,” not with the intention and the hope that “the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” will cast aside the integrity of the faith and tolerate their errors, but, on the contrary, that they themselves submit to its teaching and government. Would that it were Our happy lot to do that which so many of Our predecessors could not, to embrace with fatherly affection those children, whose unhappy separation from Us We now bewail. Would that God our Savior, “Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” would hear us when We humbly beg that He would deign to recall all who stray to the unity of the Church! In this most important undertaking We ask and wish that others should ask the prayers of Blessed Mary the Virgin, Mother of divine grace, victorious over all heresies and Help of Christians, that She may implore for Us the speedy coming of the much hoped-for day, when all men shall hear the voice of Her divine Son, and shall be “careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. (Pius XI: MORTALIUM ANIMOS )

Fulfilled? : The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham, is to lead his fellow Anglo-Catholics from the Church of England into the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Herald will reveal this week.  Bishop Burnham, one of two “flying bishops” in the province of Canterbury, has made a statement asking Pope Benedict XVI and the English Catholic bishops for “magnanimous gestures” that will allow traditionalists to become Catholics en masse. (Read post)

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Behold Thy Mother

When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. (John 19:26)

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250,000!

Just saw I hit over 250,000 hits on the blog since it started in March 2007. Not bad for a lil’ old picture blog! Thank you all.

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Secular “Saints”

For some reason progressive “Catholics” have decided to elevate non-Catholics into their own pseudo-Canon of “acceptibles”. Gandhi especially has been presented as a paragon of the only “dogmas” now taught: tolerence, peace, dialog, niceness, ecumenism, holiness without Christ & His Church (that’s the big one)..bla.bla.bla..you know the nonsense… Well, I hate to burst bubbles, but just in case you didn’t know, a little background on the secular “saint” on black natives in S. Africa. He was very much a Hindu who did not like mixing even among different “castes”, let alone with the African natives of Johannesburg. The below quotes are his opinion of the Indians being classed along with “kaffirs” (his term) during his time in South Africa.
(*Note: The word “kaffir” is considered an insulting term for blacks in S. Africa)

(“icon” of the “saint” by some delusional loon)

On having to live near Africans:
Why, of all places in Johannesburg, the Indian location should be chosen for dumping down all kaffirs of the town, passes my comprehension.

Of course, under my suggestion, the Town Council must withdraw the Kaffirs from the Location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen.
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On having to use public transportation with Africans:
You say that the magistrate’s decision is unsatisfactory because it would enable a person, however unclean, to travel by a tram, and that even the Kaffirs would be able to do so. But the magistrate’s decision is quite different. The Court declared that the Kaffirs have no legal right to travel by tram. And according to tram regulations, those in an unclean dress or in a drunken state are prohibited from boarding a tram. Thanks to the Court’s decision, only clean Indians or colored people other than Kaffirs, can now travel in the trams. (Read Article deflating the myth of the “saint”)

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The Ways of our Fathers

Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church’s judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful. (John Paul II: ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS)

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When the One True God of the Universe was worshipped only by Abram and a small group of people who came from Chaldea the priest who offered sacrifice was the Father of the Family. Never adminstered to liturgically by female hands.

Then that same God manifested himself to Moses, and revealed to him how he was to be worshipped by the Chosen People. Aaron and his sons were to be the only ministers at the Altar. Never adminstered to liturgically by female hands.

Then that same God came down to Earth to save us sinners, and took the name Yeshua ben Yousef (Jesus son of Joseph). He established a Church with many disciples, but only 12 Apostles. He established the Sacraments, and gave them to the Apostles, and to their spiritual descendents (Bishops) in perpetuity. Yet, Christ Himself only ordained 12 Apostles, all of whom were men. This same God was: Never adminstered to liturgically by female hands.

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But We Preach Christ Crucified

(15th & last Installation of Canonization of St. Pius X at Catholic Pictures)

For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness. (Cor 1, Chap1:22)

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Stronsay Comes Home to Papa

Very relevant news made public by the Transalpine Redemptorists, children of Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori and helped throughout their history by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX):

1 July, 2008
Feast of the Precious Blood

My dear friends,

I am happy to inform you that last June 18th, before Cardinal Castrillon and the members of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei in Rome, I humbly petitioned the Holy See on my own behalf and on behalf of the monastery council for our priestly suspensions to be lifted. (Read rest from Rorate Caeli)

These are the guys in this great video:

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