Vatican II at 56: Like all Totalitarianisms of the 20th Century, Vatican II will still cause great havoc

The Second Vatican Council was opened in Rome exactly 56 years ago, on October 11, 1962. John XXIII had chosen this day, the Feast of the Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin, a memento of the Council of Ephesus, as the day of its beginning. Irony of ironies: the whirlwind generated by the Council that would almost extinguish the Traditional liturgy of the Roman Church included the abolition of the Feast on this day and the transformation of the Octave Day of Christmas in a similar solemnity.

There are several ways to understand Vatican II, but one has perhaps been overlooked. It is often said that the Council was a "reaction" of transformed European bishops, "horrified" by the Second World War. And yet... those were men of the 20th century, marked by the great movements of the 20th century, both of which -- Communism and Fascism/National-Socialism -- were characterized by a hatred of the past and tradition, and a love for the New Man, the New Society, the New World. All things, all traditions, all families, all institutions, and all individuals that were obstacles to the construction of the New Socialist State, the New People, the New Volk were to be abolished forever.

Newly Published: Two Historical Novels by Benson, Two Classic Liturgical Commentaries, and a Great Vocations Pamphlet

I am pleased to announce new reprints of five works that should never have gone out of print in the first place. All are available from Amazon sites; the titles below give the hyperlinks. 

Jesuit Fordham University Student Op-Ed: In Support of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò

Olivia Ingrassia

Fordham University student

This past August, former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò released a revelatory letter that detailed how Pope Francis was well aware of ex-Cardinal McCarrick’s heinous clerical abuse. This scathing letter divulged that Pope Francis not only lifted sanctions placed on the sexual predator by Pope Benedict XVI, but also covered for him, even making McCarrick his “trusted counsellor.” While many have discredited the 11-page epistle merely as a far-right tactic to oppose the Jesuit Pope, this report is undoubtedly concerning, especially since the Vatican has remained silent and neither denied nor addressed these claims. This has left many demanding further responses from the pontiff, who has instead deferred to “silence and prayer” during these most tumultuous times.

However, despite the potential danger, many prelates have courageously defended Viganò’s claims. For example, Cardinal Raymond Burke said that, “the declarations made by a prelate of the authority of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò must be totally taken to heart by those responsible in the Church.” Burke continued in speaking to the validity of calls for the Pope’s resignation if these allegations are proven true. Similarly, Monsignor Jean-Francois Lantheaume and also spoke to the veracity of these claims and questioned Francis’ taciturnity in the wake of these searing allegations, equating his silence to cover-up. In addition, Viganò recently broke his silence and doubled down on his original letter, stating that his testimony was published “during a crescendo of continual news of terrible events, with thousands of innocent victims destroyed and the vocations and lives of young priests and religious disturbed," and asserts before God that it is true. Viganò, who has reportedly activated the death switch, pointed to the fact that neither the Pope nor any Cardinal in Rome denied his testimony, and accused Pope Francis of slander and hypocrisy.

News: Rome Fires Pro-Homosexual Union Jesuit College Rector in Germany (First report in English)

Rome has effectively fired, that is refused the nihil obstat for another term, the Rector of the German Jesuit theological college of Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt.

New Traditional Latin Mass in NYC: new home for the TLM in Queens

Our friends of the Sursum Corda Society report the following:

The Latin Mass in Queens has a new home! On the Feast of Our Lady of The Holy Rosary, we celebrated our first Mass at St. Josaphat's in Bayside [Queens, New York City - Diocese of Brooklyn]. The high altar was renovated, and is still in the process of renovation, for the full celebration of the pre-Vatican II liturgy and sacraments. In addition to weekly Sunday Mass, Traditional Mass will be offered on the evening of Holy Days, First Fridays and First Saturdays.

Fr. Stephen Saffron is the celebrant and administrator

(Image by Arrys Ortañez - Source)

LEPANTO! "The highest moment that the centuries ever witnessed."

Lepanto

"The highest moment that the centuries ever witnessed." (Cervantes)

We cannot but recall that four great Roman Pontiffs came from the Dominican ranks. Of these, the last, St. Pius V, won undying gratitude from Christianity and civil society. He joined together, after unceasing efforts, the arms of the Catholic princes, and under the patronage of the Virgin Mother of God, whom, therefore, he ordered to be saluted in future as Help to Christians, destroyed forever at Lepanto the power of the Turks.

Striking Poll: Collapse of Francis' support in the US on all fronts

Please, take a look at the Pew poll released just a couple of days ago, in which American Catholics give their opinion on the current Bishop of Rome.

It is a much better poll than the usual "approve/ don't approve" type of poll, since it goes to the heart of what a Pope actually does. And it is all the more shocking because it includes all self-declared Catholics, and not practicing Catholics. One can only imagine the view Catholics who go at least to Sunday Mass every Sunday truly think about the current Roman Pontiff.

(Source)

You Suggest: 12 days to raise £1.2 million

Fr. De Malleray, FSSP, asked us to pass this along to our readers. Let's help them get this done!

                    Be part of this miracle – help us secure a strong traditional Catholic hub in England

The FSSP in England is growing and needs larger facilities. We raised half a million pounds this past summer to buy two buildings next to our beautiful Pugin Church in Warrington. But we need another GBP1.2m by 18 October, or the owner will turn it into flats.

With so many gloomy news across the Church and world, please support this promising Catholic venture. There, the first EF priestly ordinations by an English Archbishop in 50 years occurred last year. There, the same Archbishop, Malcolm McMahon OP of Liverpool, came thrice in three years to ordain priests. There, traditional doctrine is broadcast through daily homilies and frequent lectures via LiveMass.

The Priory Campaign is supported by the Latin Mass Society, by pro-lifers such as SPUC, 40 Days for Life, Good Counsel Network, and other prominent Catholics such as Archbishop McMahon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Viscountess Ashbrook.

Watch our short presentation video, by EWTN film director Stefano Mazzeo:

To donate: 

1.      please make the cheque or bank transfer payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’;

2.      write ‘Priory Campaign’ on the back of your cheque or in the bank transfer reference.

3.      Are you a UK tax payer? Help us maximize your donation through Gift Aid.  Please download our Gift-Aid form. FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: number 1129964.

This image summarizes the LGBT "Youth" Synod

The LGBT "Youth" Synod (officially, 'The XV Official General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops", dedicated to the "Youth") opened today in Rome.

In his opening address, the Pope attacked "clericalism" -- as if he were not the most clericalist man in the world, refusing to respond to the Viganò accusations that he protected and promoted Ted McCarrick. He also railed against "blogs", meaning we are doing our job right.

The symbol of this Synod that no one asked for and that will have no legitimacy (since its composition was carefully manipulated to avoid any resistance to the Pope's pro-LGBT agenda) is the ferula Francis chose to use: not the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, but this contraption:

Vatican II Springtime Update! First Ursuline House in North America abandoned by last sisters

In 1608, after decades of tentative exploration, in the name of the not very Catholic Henry IV, King of France, Pierre Dugas, Sieur de Mons, and Samuel de Champlain founded the City of Québec on a hillside overlooking the Saint Lawrence River.

The first years were extremely harsh, but in order for the colonization to advance, Catholic missions were always indispensable: and more than Catholic missions, Catholic sisters who could be a beacon for new families and, hopefully, help educate the girls born in this still almost wild environment.

The very Catholic Louis XIII signed the orders for the foundation of the Ursuline Convent in Quebec City in 1639, and the sisters who arrived not long afterwards, led by Saint Mary of the Incarnation, can be rightfully placed among the foundresses of Canada.

Before Vatican II

They faced wars and hunger, sometimes at the very midst of battle, as in the decisive Battle of the Plains of Abraham, but they endured it all. All, except the secularization that followed Vatican II. Because, if Quebec was indeed entering its own process of secularization when the horrible Council started, there can be no doubt that the secularization of religious orders forced from on top by the Vatican during and after the Council contributed more than anything else to the collapse of religious orders of men and women around the world. They resisted it all, and now, in 2018, they are shutting down for good.

And now all that is left is to report this tragedy (as we did about the Dominicans of Florence last week):

Dr Kwasniewski’s Upcoming Lectures in England

On this first day of October, I am happy to be able to publish the schedule of my upcoming lecture tour in England, kindly sponsored by the Latin Mass Society of England & Wales. The tour serves in part as a launch for my new book from Angelico Press, coming out in mid-October: Tradition and Sanity: Conversations & Dialogues of a Postconciliar Exile.

I shall be giving five different lectures from October 26th to October 30th at five locations: Oxford, Aylesford Priory, Ramsgate, and two in London. All details are listed below, as well as in the attached posters from the LMS.

In addition, two new choral compositions will receive their world premieres by the ensemble Cantus Magnus under the direction of Matthew Schellhorn: a motet “Ego Mater Pulchrae Dilectionis” (SATB) on October 27th and the Missa Rex in Æternum (ATB) on October 28th; these will be joined by three UK premieres of other motets.

Reminder: Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society

This is our monthly reminder to please enroll Souls of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. We added another wonderful priest to the Society this month and now stand at 89 priests saying weekly or monthly traditional Latin Masses for the Souls. Come on Fathers, let's get this to 100! 

** Click here to download a "fillable" PDF Mass Card to give to the loved ones of the Souls you enroll. It's free for anyone to use. **

Priests: The Souls still need more of you saying Mass for them! Please email me to offer your services. There's nothing special involved -- all you need to do is offer a weekly or monthly TLM with the intention: "For the Souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society." And we will always keep you completely anonymous unless you request otherwise. 

How to enroll souls: please email me at athanasiuscatholic@yahoo.com and submit as follows: "Name, State, Country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Jones family, Ohio, USA". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.

Sermon for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost: Lack of Virility source of Clergy's & Society's problems

Pietro & Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius (detail), 1619
Galleria Borghese

by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla

Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:24)

Book IV of the Aeneid is probably the most read and the most remembered of the twelve books of this seminal work in Western civilization  For it tells of the affair, the love-infatuation, between Aeneas, the man destined to found Rome,  and Dido, the founder and queen of Carthage.  How many thousands upon thousands of Latin students through centuries have translated these lines of great passion and betrayal and heroism?  And what most of these students have learned from Book IV is about the terrible choice in life for a man: the choice between the comfort and genuine love within a relationship with a woman whose greatness is strongly delineated by Virgil, and the calling to be the hero that founds the Roman empire and Roman civilization.  Aeneas dawdles in Carthage, becoming Dido’s consort.  And this dalliance has a debilitating effect on both Dido and Aeneas. She forgets her calling to build Carthage as one of the great cities of that time and place.  He forgets his calling to found Roman civilization from the ashes of Troy.  And in a harrowing scene, Mercury is sent by Jupiter to remind Aeneas, in the most strong terms, of his destiny. And Aeneas, frightened to his core, sets sail from Carthage to do what he has to do. Aeneas regains his virilitas as a man, a virilitas that will enable him to achieve his destiny given to him by the gods. 

Virilitas in Latin does not mean merely masculinity or manliness.  It means the quality of the vir, of the man-hero.  Both Vergil and his ultimate antagonist Turnus, are viri, are men-heroes, who are willing to sacrifice their lives for what they believe they are called to do and for what will give ultimate meaning to their lives through personal sacrifice.  Lest anyone think that virilitas is a virtue that only men can show forth, I offer the great women saints like St. Monica, St. Birgitta and St. Catherine of Siena, whose virilitas was a mark of their sanctity. The greatest of all the saints, Mary, is the model of virilitas at the foot of the Cross. Virilitas has nothing to do with machismo, nothing to do with old boy networks, still less with disrespecting women.  Virilitas encompasses courage and honor and a willingness to submit oneself to a calling to greatness based on truth, which involves a denial of self and a willingness to give oneself over to this calling. The ultimate and consummate vir is Jesus Christ. 

I have written and spoken about many times about the lack of virilitas in the Catholic clergy, especially in priests and bishops.  It is precisely this lack of virilitas that has made possible the moral turpitude of the clergy that has scandalized the whole world, specifically with respect to pedophilia but also with respect to the homosexual network within the Church that has allowed the cover-up of these crimes and the financial improprieties within the Vatican itself.  But the current drama that is enfolding in the United States concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is also about the lack of virilitas in our society. 

Viganò's accusations really got under the Pope's skin - new Chapter: Pope asks for prayers against "Great Accuser"

A couple of days ago, Archbishop Viganò released a new statement making clear that there are people in the Vatican who know and have the documents to show he is telling the truth about the Pope's knowledge of the evilness of McCarrick and his promotion of the latter to the position of kingmaker.

He particularly called upon Cardinal Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, to make the truth known.

As is well known in commonsensical daily life, a person who is accused of evil deeds but continually merely accuses the accuser as evil is usually hiding something. The innocent may use all measures to make the truth known and show that they are innocent, or they may indeed keep silent, but they usually don't get rattled accusing the accuser with snide and indirect remarks.

***

No, this Pope has much to hide, which is why Viganò has gotten under his skin so much. So, today, in another sign of his pent-up anger, the Bishop of Rome joined great traditions (the daily Rosary in October, ended with Sub Tuum Praesidium and the short prayer to St. Michael the Archangel) in an indirect attempt to once again accuse Viganò of being the "the Great Accuser" (that is the devil), or an agent of the devil: he asked today all Catholics to pray the daily Rosary in October, followed by both prayers.

The stonewalling continues: we know you covered up for McCarrick, Danneels, and others, Francis! 

Regardless of his motives, of course we will pray: more prayer is always good! We will pray the Rosary every day in October, as we do every day of the year, we will pray the Sub Tuum Praesidium, we will pray the prayer that only Traditionalist Catholics kept alive during the decades following the Council, Sancte Michaël Archangele: let Truth ring through every land!

Dying Italian Dominicans leave behind Fra Angelico

The latest example of a beautiful, centuries-old religious house closing due to a lack of vocations is found in Florence, where the Dominicans have decided to abandon their convent after self-destructing following Vatican II.

Elizabeth Povoledo of the New York Times has an article published in today's paper:

De Mattei: The Roman Primacy Disfigured by the Successor of Peter

Roberto de Mattei

Correspondenza Romana

September 26, 2018

The impressive rapidity with which events are unfolding one after the other in the Church makes one think that this is due not only to the dynamics of historical acceleration, but a deliberate choice by the agents of chaos to increase disorientation and paralyze the forces that are seeking to resist the rush of the tide.

The episcopal crisis comes to England

We all knew about Fr Hill, the priest-abuser of Gatwick Airport, long ago; we learnt about Bishop Kieran Conry more recently. One of the links between the cases is the involvement of the late Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, who moved Fr Hill to fresh pastures after earlier victims came forward, and promoted Bishop Conry's career. In both cases he was only doing what most bishops seemed to be doing: giving abusers new opportunities for abuse and seeing priests clouded by questions about their chastity as ideal candidates for promotion: that was just what happened in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, isn't it? Remember that Bishop Kieran was chosen by the Bishops' Conference to be head of their catechetical initiatives and 'Bishop for Youth'. (The official website summary of his career somehow neglects to mention his extra-curricular activities.) He must have had the support of a lot of other bishops as well.

So, what to think of the Holy See - China Agreement?

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Empress of China

1. First, it is just too early to say: it is mostly a preliminary agreement that tries to establish good faith between both parties. Can Communist China ever act in good faith? We would venture to say not, but similar agreements have been in place with many countries for many years, including in neighboring Communist Vietnam.

2.It is not because Francis has been such a bad Pope on so many levels that every single thing he does is bad.

The China agreement has to be judged on a pragmatic basis -- as so many other agreements the Church has signed in her history.

3. Let us pray to the Virgin Mary, Empress of China: may she protect all Catholics in that great land.

First Traditional Latin Mass since the Council in a parish in New Jersey

It's always very glad news when a Parish where the Traditional Mass hadn't been celebrated for decades is brought back.

The following is reported by the excellent Society of St. Hugh of Cluny:

Traditional Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at St Dominic’s Parish, Brick, New Jersey on Sept 14.

The Catacomb Option of Rod Dreher

Emmanuele Barbieri

Corrispondenza Romana

September 21, 2018

In the first few weeks of September, the American blogger Rod Dreher toured Italy to present his book The Benedict Option, A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian World, described by David Brooks of the New York Times as, “the most discussed and most important religious book of the decade”.

You Suggest: Reflection on SFX Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic

The following letter comes to us from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in Mexico and the video below on the mission from EWTN:

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter’s Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic this summer provided the missionaries who went with what can be considered an authentic taste of Catholic missionary life.  Man is a being of invaluable dignity created in the image and likeness of God and is composed of both body and soul. Catholic missionary activity should therefore recognize man’s bodily and spiritual needs.  

This missionary trip strove to provide missionaries who came from all parts of the United States (and some even from Canada and England) with the opportunity to serve people of the Dominican Republic in this capacity.  We brought them clothes, we helped build cement floors for a number of families, we even dug a latrine for a school in a small village.  All of these works, however, were secondary to the work of spreading the Gospel to these people and making the sacraments available to them.  

For the Record: Holy See announces agreement on Bishop nomination with People's Republic of China

From today's Bollettino:

Communiqué

concerning the signing of a Provisional Agreement

between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China

on the appointment of Bishops

Today, 22nd September 2018, within the framework of the contacts between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China that have been underway for some time in order to discuss Church matters of common interest and to promote further understanding, a meeting was held in Beijing between Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Undersecretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States, and H.E. Mr. Wang Chao, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, respectively heads of the Vatican and Chinese delegations.

During that meeting, the two representatives signed a Provisional Agreement on the appointment of Bishops.

The above-mentioned Provisional Agreement, which is the fruit of a gradual and reciprocal rapprochement, has been agreed following a long process of careful negotiation and foresees the possibility of periodic reviews of its application. It concerns the nomination of Bishops, a question of great importance for the life of the Church, and creates the conditions for greater collaboration at the bilateral level.

The shared hope is that this agreement may favour a fruitful and forward-looking process of institutional dialogue and may contribute positively to the life of the Catholic Church in China, to the common good of the Chinese people and to peace in the world.

[Original text: Italian]

No details have been made public, and the text of the agreement has not been made public.

When you're a liberal Pope and you lose the most important liberal weekly in Europe...

Der Spiegel is the most important center-left weekly in Europe. Created in post-war Germany, it provides every week the "acceptable view" for liberal minds in the Federal Republic and, therefore, in all of Europe. It is the essential "Gutmensch" media source.

One Pope refuses the Apostolic Blessing -- the other gives it. And the view from Rome.

Last weekend, at the end of a "youth" event in Sicily, the Bishop of Rome refused to give the apostolic blessing to those present, so as not to cause offense to the "many non-Catholic christians, those of other religions, and the agnostics" who were also supposedly present at the Catholic rally:

At the end of his meeting with the Youth of Sicily today, Pope Francis refused to give the Pontifical Blessing, as not to offend the "many non-Catholic christians, those of other religions, and the agnostics" present pic.twitter.com/mnNEXp6scN

— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) September 15, 2018

Now, amidst the maelstrom raised by the mainstream media regarding some private letters sent by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (in which he criticized those who had not understood his gesture of resigning -- full translation of letters here), this detail almost went unnoticed until some Francis sycophants noticed it:

Silence? No, it seems the Bishop of Rome has gone insane: Medication may be needed.

When questioned on the plane from Dublin what he had to say on the declaration of Abp. Viganò, the Bishop of Rome Francis said the following:

I read it and sincerely I must tell you, and all those who are interested: read it yourselves carefully and make your own judgment. I will not say a single word on this.

And yet, since his return, if there is one thing he has not been is silent. On the contrary: every single day, in his homilies at the chapel of the Santa Marta hotel where he lives, he has over and over made clear that, on this matter, he is the innocent Jesus, and everyone else who asks him questions on his mishandling of the McCarrick affair is "the Great Accuser", aka, Satan.

He first started with homily after homily completely unrelated to the readings of the day making clear that "Jesus" was silent in his trial (which Our Lord was, but not always, and always with the right interventions for each audience), and that "the Great Accuser" was the cause of trouble, both for the silent "Jesus" and for those who are silent in the Church. The gall of comparing Our Spotless Lord to people who were and remain silent in the defense of sexual abusers never crossed the mind of the Roman Pontiff.

Today, he reached levels of paroxysm, typical of those who are gravely guilty and have a difficult time dealing with their guilt. Edward Pentin reports:

Pope at Mass today: The Church is persecuted by hypocrites "within and without;" the devil is "strong with hypocrites," uses them to "destroy the Church." The "workhorse of the devil is hypocrisy," he is a "liar" who appears beautiful but "is an assassin" https://t.co/kdeAMC6Ymt

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) September 20, 2018

Whatever this is, it isn't silence. It really is all reaching a level where medication may be called for. All this pent-up guilt is not healthy for one's nerves. Guilt for so many things...

100 years ago today, Padre Pio first received the Stigmata

The past century was in many ways a turning point for the course of history. Western societies were shattered by the two world wars that engulfed them. Communist errors achieved “super power” status in the Soviet Union and were spread throughout the world. A social and moral revolution transpired and important societal institutions, such as religion, marriage, and the family, were questioned, altered, and in many instances completely rejected. In the midst of this turmoil, as the world began to grow cold toward its Crucified Savior, God renewed the visible bleeding wounds of Christ’s Passion in the hands, feet, and side of a simple priest. The priest was St. Pio of Pietrelcina, affectionately known as Padre Pio.

As this month marks both the 100th anniversary of his reception of the stigmata, on September 20 1918, and the 50th anniversary of his death, September 23, 1968, approaches, we would do well to reflect on the significance of Padre Pio for our times.

Time for Worldwide Sacrifice: Ember Week in September

The equinox is coming. The Roman Church will once again remind us of the cycle of the seasons in this Ember Week in September.

We re-post, for those who are not aware of it, this article first posted by us in 2008, and reposted often since. May you all have a fruitful week of sacrifice.

___________________________________________________________

THE GLOW
OF THE EMBER DAYS

By Michael P. Foley

A potential danger of traditionalism is the stubborn defense of something about which one knows little. I once asked a priest who had just finished beautifully celebrating an Ember Saturday Mass about the meaning of the Ember days. He replied (with an impish twinkle in his eye) that he hadn’t a clue, but he was furious they had been suppressed.

Traditionalists, however, are not entirely to blame for their unfamiliarity with this important part of their patrimony. Most only have the privilege of assisting at a Sunday Tridentine Mass, and hence the Ember days—which occur on a weekday or Saturday—slip by unnoticed. And long before the opening session of the Second Vatican Council, the popularity of these observances had atrophied.

So why care about them now? To answer this question, we must first determine what they are.

The Four Seasons

The Ember days, which fall on a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the same week, occur in conjunction with the four natural seasons of the year. Autumn brings the September Embertide, also called the Michaelmas Embertide because of their proximity to the Feast of St. Michael on September 29.¹ Winter, on the other hand, brings the December Embertide during the third week of Advent, and spring brings the Lenten Embertide after the first Sunday of Lent. Finally, summer heralds the Whitsun Embertide, which takes place within the Octave of Pentecost.

In the 1962 Missal the Ember days are ranked as ferias of the second class, weekdays of special importance that even supersede certain saints’ feasts. Each day has its own proper Mass, all of which are quite old. One proof of their antiquity is that they are one of the few days in the Gregorian rite (as the ’62 Missal is now being called) which has as many as five lessons from the Old Testament in addition to the Epistle reading, an ancient arrangement indeed.

Fasting and partial abstinence during the Ember days were also enjoined on the faithful from time immemorial until the 1960s. It is the association of fasting and penance with the Embertides that led some to think that their peculiar name has something to do with smoldering ash, or embers. But the English name is probably derived from their Latin title, the Quatuor Tempora or “Four Seasons.”²

The Tyrant State

A Sermon by Father Konrad zu Lowenstein, FSSP

At that time, when Jesus approached Jerusalem, seeing the city, He wept over it (Lk. 19.41)

Sermon for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"

The “Eighth Sorrow” of Our Blessed Mother

For the feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, we present to readers an excerpt from the book In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart—The Journal of a Priest at Prayer, which has featured here before.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Yes, my beloved little son, the eighth sorrow of my maternal and Immaculate Heart is that my Son is so offended in the Sacrament of His love. This sorrow of mine will endure until the end of time, when the real presence of my Son in the Most Holy Sacrament will give way to the sight of His divine majesty. Then will faith give way to vision, and hope to possession. Then will love be secure and everlasting for all who will have died in the embrace of His divine friendship. 

Benediction of the Conventual Church - Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer

The new conventual church of the wonderful Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer (an order of Priests and Brothers dedicated exclusively to the Traditional Dominican rite and customs), in Chéméré-le-Roi, in Mayenne, France, will be dedicated with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Abp. Guido Pozzo, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, Sep. 29, 2018.

More information and images in the video below:

All Roads Lead to Washington, D.C.

For those interested in the latest news, we bring you our summary:

1) Bishop Michael Bransfield resigned and the resignation was accepted.  Bransfield served for 24 years at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., most of the time as rector. He was then ordained a bishop, choosing Theodore McCarrick as co-consecrator.

2) Archbishop William Lori, who ran the Archdiocese of Washington (D.C.) throughout the 1990s (holding several high-level positions, including moderator of the curia and auxiliary bishop), will investigate allegations against Bishop Bransfield.  During Bransfield's time at the D.C. basilica shrine, Lori had oversight over Bransfield.  (For instance, the Washington chancery instructs which bishops -- and even cardinals -- are banned from offering sacraments at the basilica shrine, a practice that still continues).

3) All this follows the scandal of Theodore McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, who handpicked his successor in D.C., Donald Wuerl.  The two men were the leaders of the movement to give Communion to politicians who openly dissent from Church teachings.

4) Cardinal Donald Wuerl has announced he will be going to the Vatican to discuss his resignation, which implies it will soon be accepted by Pope Francis.  Not mentioned yet is Wuerl's membership on the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, where Pope Francis chose him to replace Cardinal Raymond Burke just nine months into this papacy.  Two Americans sit on the extremely prestigious congregation that selects all new bishops -- Cardinal Blase Cupich being the other.

After America, Germany: At least 3,677 Abused Kids, Mostly Boys

At least 3,677 children, mostly boys under 13, who were sexually abused.

At least 1,670 clergymen of the Catholic Church were involved, several German media sources reveal, including Der Spiegel and Die Zeit (both in German, linked below), whose journalists had access to a report on the German Catholic Church -- the bishops knowingly hid the facts. The facts took place from 1946 to 2014.

Started in 2014, this study should be presented on September 25 at Fulda, during the meeting of the German Conference of Bishops, by its president, Archbishop of Munich and Cardinal Reinhard Marx. Researchers examined 38,000 files and manuscripts from 27 German dioceses.

Report by Der Spiegel HERE

Report by Die Zeit HERE

De Mattei: The Church and the Men of the Church

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

September 12, 2018

The courageous denunciation of ecclesiastical scandals made by  Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has generated  the consensus of many, but also the displeasure of others, convinced that everything discrediting the representatives of the Church should be covered up by silence. This desire to safeguard the Church is understandable when the scandal is an exception. There is the risk in that case of generalizing, by saddling the behavior of a few onto everyone . Quite different is the case when immorality is the rule, or at least is a widespread way of living accepted as the norm. In this case public denunciation is the first step towards the necessary reform of “morals”. Breaking the silence is part of the duties of a pastor, as St. Gregory the Great admonishes: “What in fact is the fear of a pastor to state the truth, if not the turning of his back on the enemy with his silence? If, instead, he fights in defense of his flock, he builds a bastion for the House of Israel against its enemies. For this the Lord through the mouth of Isaiah admonishes: “Cry, cease not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” (Isaiah, 58,1).

New Online Database Tracks Episcopal Fidelity, Including in Liturgy

LifeSiteNews, for which I am a daily columnist, has just launched an initiative called Faithful Shepherds. It is an idea that I have heard people speculate about for years and wish would come true, without having the organizational resources to make it happen. Needless to say, it is welcome at this critical moment in the life of the Church. From the official announcement:

Faithful Shepherds helps hold American bishops accountable by providing years, sometimes decades, of past tweets, public speeches, sermons, actions, pastoral letters, and diocesan guidelines. Faithful Shepherds currently gives evidence of where U.S. bishops stand on ten issues: Archbishop Vigano's testimony, Amoris Laetitia, pro-life leadership, homosexuality, abortion politics, contraception, “LGBT” ideology, liturgy, marriage and family life, and education. More will be added as new evidence is gathered.

The Viganò crisis: 'The conservatives are winning'

Cross posted from lmschairman.org

This must count as one of the most absurd comments on the clerical abuse crisis centred, for now, in the United States. The attempt to carry on as if nothing at all was happening, always the first recourse of the bureaucrat to a crisis, has at this moment not only failed, even according to a supporter, but become utterly ludicrous. Of course people are more interested in Archbishop Viganò's statement than in the latest missive from the Bishops' Conference about the dignity of work. Are we supposed to think that this interest is misplaced?

By that time 'team Francis' had already moved on to a kind of damage-limitation which, instead of trying to distract attention from Archbishop Viganò, focused it on what they hoped would prove to be his weaknesses. This, too, has proved a failure, however. Few people had heard of Viganò before his statement, and no-one has anything invested in his personal reputation or political associations. They just want to know if what he says is true.

Happy Birthday, Most Gracious Lady! - Benedicta es cælorum Regina

Benedicta es cælorum Regina
Et mundi totius Domina,
Et ægris medicina;
Tu præclara Maris Stella vocaris,
Quæ Solem Iustitiæ paris,
A quo illuminaris

Te Deus Pater,
Ut Dei Mater
Fieres, et ipse frater
Cuius eras filia,
Sanctificavit,
Sanctam servavit,
Et mittens sic salutavit:
"Ave, plena gratia."

Per illud Ave prolatum
Et tuum responsum gratum
Est ex te Verbum incarnatum
Quo salvantur omnia.

Nunc Mater, exora Natum,
Ut nostrum tollat reatum
Et regnum det nobis paratum
In cælesti patria.

Amen.

Happy Birthday, Queen of Heavens!

[Recording of "Benedicta es cælorum Regina", Josquin des Prez]

First-ever traditional consecration of a Benedictine Abbess in the U.S., and the start of a novena

Those of you that have read this blog for a while know that we are very close to, and absolutely adore, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Two important things are taking place for them soon. 

First, Mother Cecilia, the Mother Prioress, will become the Mother Abbess [click here for backstory]. On September 9, at 9 a.m. Central, the new church will be consecrated. On Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. Central, the first-ever consecration of a Benedictine Abbess in the traditional rite in the United States will take place. You can watch a live stream of the ceremonies by clicking here. 

Second, the Sisters, with great help from our readers over the years, have almost hit their fundraising goal to finish their new church. To help, please consider enrolling in their Our Lady of Sorrows Novena of Latin Masses. You can enroll for only $15, but please do so soon -- enrollment is open until Sept. 15 but if you enroll before the 7th you'll get your Mass cards in a more timely manner. 

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL IN THE NOVENA OF MASSES

De Mattei: Archbishop Viganò - punished for telling the truth?

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

September 5, 2018

Will Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who brought to light the existence of corruption in the Vatican, singling out those guilty, beginning with the highest ecclesiastical authorities, be punished for telling the truth? Pope Francis is examining this possibility - if it is true, as several sources confirm -  that he has consulted Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmiero, and some other canon-lawyer, to study the possibility of canonical sanctions to inflict on the Archbishop, commencing with sospensione a divinis. If this news is confirmed it would be of extreme gravity, and somewhat surreal, seeing as the “expert” summoned to sanction Monsignor Viganò would be precisely Cardinal Coccopalmiero, who is being accused by the former-Nuncio of the United States, of being part of the “homosexual lobby” lording over the Vatican. It cannot be forgotten in any case, that the Cardinal’s Secretary, Monsignor Luigi Capozzi, is involved in a case of  homosexual orgy, in which the position of his superior has still to be clarified.  

Book Suggestions: Dogma, Liturgy, and Poetry

I have been remiss in reviewing good books sent to me by publishers. In fact, I am remiss even in announcing books that I have reprinted myself! So I will take some time now to recommend these works to Rorate readers.