Immaculate Mother, the Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix: "Every kind of grace we receive from the treasury of the redemption is ministered as it were from the hands of the Virgin."

Quæ est ista quæ progreditur quasi aurora consurgens, pulchra ut luna, electa ut sol, terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata?

Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?

Canticles (Song of Solomon), vi, 9

***

Because the Doctors of the Church by common consent profess that, if the Most Blessed Virgin did not apparently have any participation in the public life of Jesus Christ, and then suddenly reappeared on the path to Calvary and under the Cross, she could not have been present without Divine design.

Pope Leo XIV Extends Apostolic Blessing to SSPX Chapel in North Carolina for Its 25th Anniversary

In a remarkable gesture of pastoral solicitude, Pope Leo XIV has extended an Apostolic Blessing to the Society of St. Pius X's chapel in the Charlotte Diocese of North Carolina:

Vatican II ended 60 years ago today - "The Smoke of Satan has entered the Temple of God - Doubt has entered through windows meant to be open to light - We believed it would be sunny: instead, darkness and clouds."

The Second Vatican Council ended 60 years ago today, on December 7, 1965 (the official end came on the next day, with the publication of several documents and messages, but December 7th was the last day of official business). You may read the still optimistic closing address by Paul VI here.

Seven years later, we can see through Paul VI's own eyes the devastation that followed the assembly: in his famous homily on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29), 1972, Paul VI was not so optimistic anymore -- main excerpt:

Obedience in All Things but Sin?

 

By James Baresel

A priest of my diocese, who occasionally offers the Tridentine Mass on an as needed basis, has developed a habit of preaching on obedience every single time he does so—basing himself, sometimes explicitly, on Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s principle that it is never sinful to obey a superior’s command to do something which is not itself sinful. No attempt to explain just how the saint’s highly qualified statement might be relevant to the priest’s obvious implication has not, to my knowledge, ever been made.

Families and Children – Another View

A guest article by Joseph Bevan, in honor of the feast of St. Nicholas.

Pope Leo XIV on Music in the Liturgy

Music has always had an important role in Christian experience. In the liturgy, in particular, singing is never a “soundtrack”, a simple backdrop, but is intended to lift the soul to lead it as close as possible to the mystery that is celebrated. Saint Augustine, referring precisely to singing in prayer, wrote in his Comment on the Psalms: “You must sing to Him, but not out of tune. He does not wish for His ears to be offended. Sing with artistry, O brethren.” How important in music are care, commitment, artistry, and, finally, the harmony that comes from them: it is truly a precious gift that God has given to all humanity. ...

A Reply to John Lamont: In Defense of Christian Neoplatonism

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Dionysius the Areopagite with Thomas Aquinas, Madonna and the Child, 1486.

The following article by Dr. Sebastian Morello replies to Dr. John Lamont's critique of his work.

I was initially pleased to see that recently Rorate Caeli had published a critical essay by John Lamont on my writings. Given that Lamont has often shown himself to be a thoughtful writer, I was flattered that he deemed my work worthy of his critical engagement. Indeed, one of his essays is among the works cited in Mysticism, Magic, and Monasteries (see p. 105), the very work that has caused controversy among niche platforms of the internet. One can imagine my disappointment, then, when I read Lamont’s paper and found that, whilst it contained some interesting history of classical philosophy and its relationship with Christian intellectual culture, insofar as it claimed to respond to my writings, it comprised a sequence of attacks on straw men.

Francis-instituted Vatican Commission says NO to Female Diaconate - English Translation of Full Report

 Announced today -- report by Vatican News (followed by our translation of the full text of letter and report submitted to Pope Leo XIV):

Petrocchi Commission says no to female diaconate, though judgment not definitive

A report presenting the results of the Commission’s work has been released. It rules out admitting women to the diaconate understood as a degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders, but says that it is not currently possible “to formulate a definitive judgment, as in the case of priestly ordination.” [Vatican News]

***

Summary of the Study Commission on the Female Diaconate, December 4, 2025

To His Holiness

Leo XIV

Dear Holy Father,

Pope Buries German Synodal Way: the voice of the powerful in the German Church cannot silence the voice of the numerous who are not listened to

 

Well, not exactly, but in so many words.

From his press conference in the airplane returning to Rome from Lebanon:

[Question:] The Church in Lebanon is supported also by the German Church. There are, for example, some German aid agencies very active in Lebanon. So from that point of view, it is important that the German Church has to be strong. So you probably know, that there is this Synodal Way, we call it Synodaler Weg, a process of change in the German Church going on. Do you think this process can be a way to strengthen the Church in Germany? Or is it the other way around? And why? [Anna Giordano - German ARD Radio]

[Pope Leo XIV:] The Synodal Way is not unique to Germany, the whole Church has celebrated a synod and synodality over the past several years. There are some great similarities but there are also some marked differences between how the Synodaler Weg in Germany has been carried forward and how it may well continue in the universal Church. 

Goodbye to Catholic Family News

Another print publication goes under, unfortunately.

CFN had a great run, and we pray for the soul of John Vennari and Fr. Gruner, and we thank all those who kept it going.

Neoplatonism and the Antichrist: Against "Christian Hermeticism" - by Dr. John Lamont

 [Rorate Note: This is part of an ongoing debate; if you wish to contribute or rebut, just send us your view for consideration: newcatholic@gmail.com.]

***

Neoplatonism and the Antichrist

by John R. T. Lamont

Sebastian Morello's promotion of 'Christian Hermeticism' has met with severe criticism from a number of sources, as promoting occultism (cf. here). Surprisingly, Morello’ views have been defended by a certain number of Catholics. The criticisms that have been made of his ‘Christian Hermeticism’ are substantially accurate, but the accuracy of these criticisms rests upon facts about complex philosophical systems and historical developments that are little known even to the well-educated reader. It is important to fill in the historical background for the average Catholic, in order to show that Morello's views are irrational and cannot be reconciled with Catholicism. 

Tucho's Marian Kerfuffle - by Roberto de Mattei

The Consequences of the Marian Note of Cardinal Fernandez

by Roberto de Mattei

for Corrispondenza Romana

On November 4, 2025, the doctrinal note Mater Populi Fidelis was published, with which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sought to clarify the meaning and limits of certain Marian titles referring to Mary's cooperation in the work of salvation. The statement caused dismay and consternation among the faithful, but also among Mariologists, because it represents an objective diminution of the privileges traditionally reserved for Our Lady by the Tradition of the Church. One wonders now what the practical consequences will be.

Vatican II Springtime: Chapel of the Ursulines in Québec City deconsecrated

 On November 6th, 2025, a glorious history came to an end: the chapel of the Ursulines in the city of Quebec was deconsecrated.

The Ursulines first arrived in New France in 1639,  founded by Saint Mary of the Incarnation, and their monastery became the first institution for the teaching of women in all of North America (north of New Spain).

They survived the bitter cold, famine, wars, the British conquest, the upheavals of the American Revolution, the two world wars in which Canada played so noble a part -- they survived everything, except Vatican II.

Towards the Francis Dream of an Extermination of Opus Dei?

 

When Summorum Pontificum was promulgated, we had great hopes for a liturgical renewal of Opus Dei, the particular order founded by Josemaría Escrivá and later transformed in the only Personal Prelature, a novel figure created (for them, apparently) in the new Code of Canon Law.

We knew many priests of "The Work" loved the Traditional Mass, that Escrivá celebrated until the end of his life. But the order from above, as far as we could discern, was that the priests of Opus should, whenever possible, refrain from the Traditional Mass, and celebrate "the mass of the pope," that is, the novus ordo promulgated by Paul VI.

Leo XIV at the Tomb of Saint Charbel, the Miracle-Worker: "Saint Charbel has never ceased to intercede for us."

Pope Leo XIV became today the first Bishop of Rome to ever visit the tomb of one of the greatest Catholic miracle-workers, Saint Charbel.

Excerpt from his words: 

Saint Charbel has never ceased to intercede for us before our Heavenly Father, the source of every good and grace. Even during his earthly life, many went to him to receive comfort, forgiveness and advice from the Lord. After Saint Charbel’s death, his work multiplied and became like a river of mercy. For this reason, on the twenty-second of every month, thousands of pilgrims from different countries come here to spend a day in prayer and to renew their souls and bodies.