What’s New
For an archive of older What’s New entries, please go here.
• The Feasts of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Nicomedes, 2011 (9-15-11)
Posted part one of a new book, Mary Exalted. In it I go through Sacred
Scripture carefully and explain even more carefully --- with ironclad logic and
simple good sense --- why it is that the Blessed Virgin Mary is so highly
venerated by good Roman Catholics. And that this is as it should be… the
Virgin Mary being God’s Most Admirable Creature by far!
In actuality, it’s not quite so
new; I posted it first thing when I uploaded the website in May of 2008.
However, it was only part of the home page as you scroll down --- and how many
people pay close attention to that? But I did edit it and change the font style
significantly late last year. Now it has a proper place of its own, standing
alone as a book in the Books & Articles section of this website. Hopefully,
this will gain it a little bit more readership amongst those very few souls who
really do care for the truth, and who want to gain the great & mighty
salvation that Our Creator has prepared for those who humbly believe what He
has proclaimed through His Son’s Body, the Church, which is the Pillar
& Foundation of the Truth, and which He has wrought through His Son’s
Mother, the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary.
Also posted an
expanded Quiklinks frame on the right. It now has not
only recent posts but, in blog-like fashion, an
alphabetical list of all pages that I have posted to this website. Again, it
increases the odds that someone will find and pay close attention to something
that could prove salvific for his immortal soul. Because
a surfer might not bother to search each section, whereas he just may, scanning
the easy to scroll list of 109 pages (thus far), see a title that catches his
fancy and read it unto a full understanding, profiting his soul.
And a word about
the Virgin Mary’s Seven Sorrows. They are, in this exact order:
1) the words of St. Simeon about the sword piercing Her soul at the
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple; 2) the flight into Egypt to save the life
of Jesus, leaving everything they knew behind them in Palestine; 3) the loss of
Jesus at age twelve in Jerusalem, it taking Joseph & Mary three days to
find him; 4) Jesus carrying His Cross through the streets of Jerusalem and
meeting His Mother along the way; 5) Jesus being crucified upon the Cross and
dying in front of His Mother’s eyes; 6) Jesus being taken down from the
Cross and His Bloody & Bruised Body placed dead in Her arms; and 7) Jesus
being laid in the Tomb as His Mother watches, seeing Him for the last time
prior to His Resurrection.
There are special promises & blessings
associated with reflection upon these sorrows, or dolors.
They are intimately akin to the Stations of the Cross and the terrible horrors
& sufferings that Her Divine Son, Jesus, endured during His Passion &
Crucifixion. The two of them are like one, the Immaculate & Sorrowful Heart
of Mary inextricably merging with and attached to the Sacred & Suffering
Heart of Jesus. This is the essence of --- and secret to --- Her being the Co-Redemptress. For though She could not redeem or save
Humankind without Her Son, He being absolutely necessary to Our Salvation, God
in His Eternal Wisdom chose to execute His Salvation through Her and never
without Her, it being Her Blood & Flesh that Jesus wore like a Sacred Veil,
the Sacrifice of which was the means of Our Glorious Redemption in His Body via
the Sacrament of Baptism and Profession of the Catholic Religion. And this is
why God prophesied right from the beginning in the Garden at the Fall of Man,
saying to that ancient serpent, the Devil, “She shall crush your head…”
Not He --- and even though it was Jesus, Her Son, Who died upon the Cross,
literally accomplishing the Redemption! But She --- it being Her Flesh &
Blood shed upon the Cross by which He consummated the Eternal Sacrifice.
Praised be the Sacred Hearts of Jesus
& Mary! O Most Divine Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. O Most Immaculate
Heart of Mary, pray for us. Ad Jesum per Mariam!
• The Feasts of the Nativity of the Blessed
Ever-Virgin Mary and St. Adrian, 2011 (9-8-11)
New article posted called Modest Dress: What It Is and Why It Is So
Crucial. Ever wondered about the way we clothe ourselves nowadays in this
part of the world, my dear reader? Does it make sense to you? Or, if liking the
way we dress, do you nevertheless realize it’s drastically different ---
and at complete odds --- with the way people in our part of the world used to
dress less than a century or two ago? What happened? Was it a mere change of ‘styles’?
Yet how could it have merely amounted to a change in styles when the way we
dress now would have been condemned and hissed at by the average person in the
mid-1800s as shocking, immoral & reprehensible?
You see where I’m headed with
this. It’s not mere ‘style’… it’s a matter of
morality. Something changed in us as a people in the last hundred years,
something that began happening in the previous century to that but only
culminated in our times, in the past fifty years. Our sense of right &
wrong shifted drastically. And while I don’t get into the nitty gritty details of why that shift occurred, I do
explain carefully why we, as real Roman Catholics, must defy that change in our own lives. That is to say, we cannot
dress the way most everyone else dresses today. Not because we relish being odd
or want to stick out like sore thumbs, but because modesty in clothing is
something that both God and His Church command us to practice. Not sure what to
make of it? Or not certain where to draw the line in the clothing you wear?
And, yet, do you call yourself Catholic? Then dig in and read the article! You
can find a quick link at the top of the far right frame. Or go to the link for
Books & Articles (B&A) in the far left frame and scroll down till you
find the hyperlinked title listed alphabetically.
Also posted a companion page to the Modest Dress article called A Chart for Modest Dress. It’s
literally just what it says it is --- a rapid way at one glance to see the
guidelines for how Catholics should dress, whether man or woman. You can find a
quick link at the right for it, or go to the B&A section. It can also be
linked to from inside the Modest Dress
article itself.
Finally, a word
on the wonderful feast day today. The nativity --- or birth --- of the
Mother of God is one of the greater solemnities celebrating Her
in the Catholic Church. While not a holy day of obligation in the
Yet how old is She
exactly in terms of years today? Believe it or not, we can know the answer to
that question. Sacred Scripture tells us that she was in her fifteenth year
when She conceived Jesus in Her Womb. That is to say,
past what we’d call fourteen years old, but not yet fifteen. And Jesus’
conception was on March 25, precisely nine months prior to his birth upon
December 25th. Yet Her birthday happened
between those two dates. Hence, if she was what we’d call fourteen (the
Jews termed it differently, counting inclusively in contrast to our habit of
counting exclusively) when She conceived Jesus, then
the Blessed Virgin Mary was fifteen when She gave birth to Jesus. Now, Jesus was
born in AD 1. Therefore, Mary was fifteen years old on September 8, AD 1. And,
since there was no year zero, then She had to have
been born on September 8, 15 BC. Which means, then, that She
is two thousand and twenty-five years old today. Happy 2025th Birthday,
My Dearest & Most Celestial of Ladies! Thank the Triune Catholic God that
He gave us You as Our Heavenly Queen!
• The Feast of St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal,
2011 (8-21-11)
Re-posted Should You Go to a CMRI Mass or Take Part in the Worship of Other Traditionalists?
with several additions meant to
address the questions or concerns of certain readers. Nothing in the gist of
the article is changed; its points are merely made with even greater scope
& clarity. As an example of what I’m talking about, certain people are concerned about
the words of Pope Innocent III through the 4th Lateran Council
regarding the avoidance of heretics. Doesn’t this mean,
thought they, that Catholics are justified in receiving the sacraments from ‘undeclared’
heretics… that is, if the Hierarchy has not yet explicitly condemned them by
name? And the answer: not at all. I had already addressed this concern in
dealing with Pope Martin V’s Ad evitanda scandala. However,
to make it perfectly clear to all of my potential readers, I have now included
the words of the 4th Lateran Council in the article, explaining how
they are to be rightly understood and why they can’t change anything for
the truly Catholic soul when comes to dealing with heresy or schism. Or, to put
it differently, how the Church has never deviated on this matter by one
single iota --- notorious & pertinacious heretics or schismatics are automatically
excommunicated, despite no formal declaration from the Hierarchy, and we are
hence, once aware of their notorious crime, to avoid them in all things
religious from that point in time onward!
Fervent disciple of that saint of
apologetics,
• The Feast of St. Igatius
of Loyola, 2011 (7-31-11)
Added another
new article to the Books & Articles (B&A) section. It’s
called Should You Go to a CMRI Mass or Take Part in the
Worship of Other Traditionalists? Many people claiming to be Catholic
nowadays are confused about this matter. They may hold the Salvation Dogma
correctly --- not allowing for loopholes where a supposedly ‘invincible
ignorance’ will let someone into Heaven regardless of not professing the
One True Religion whole & entire --- but they either think the
traditionalists don’t teach salvation heresy or don’t think God
cares if we get the sacraments from notorious & pertinacious heretics…
or that it’s somehow okay during unusual circumstances like ours, with
nothing else available.
Has that been your attitude as well, my
dear soul? Then please read this article in the B&A now! It is a subject of
eternal life or eternal death, as is so much which I deal with on this website.
And why wouldn’t it be? For this is God’s One & Only True
Church we’re talking about!
How appropriate that I should post this
on the Feast of St. Ignatius. Not to be mixed up with St. Ignatius of
• The Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, 2011 (7-19-11)
Added a new
article to the Books & Articles (B&A) section. It’s
called What Are We to Think of Written Abjurations?
Ever run into the claim, my dear reader, that a baptized heretic must sign a
written abjuration in order to be admitted (or re-admitted) to the Catholic
Church and have hope of saving his soul? And ever wondered if this could be
true? Or, perhaps, you presume it to be true, no questions asked and no doubts
entertained? Then read this article in B&A! You will learn what abjuration
is, why it is necessary, and what the role of signed & written abjurations
is --- if any --- nowadays during the Great Apostasy when no bishops with
jurisdiction are to be found.
Heaven willing, I shall be posting
several more short articles in B&A. I’ve long wanted to address
certain pressing issues regarding Catholicity, especially in the apostate times
that we live in. Keep an eye out for them. They will contain useful information
(even lifesaving information) that everyone needs to know, surrounded by chaos,
confusion & rebellion like we are presently.
Finally, a very
brief note on
• The Feasts of the Most Sacred Heart &
Most Precious Blood of Jesus, 2011 (7-1-11)
Updated a
webpage in the Admonishments subsection of the Letters & Admonishments
section. There are four webpages there presently,
apart from the main page that hyperlinks to the
others. One of them is brand new, having been added just yesterday. Now one of
the remaining three is updated, having a new preface and being converted to the
smaller font that I’ve been using lately. Take a look at this subsection
if you’re Catholic! You’ll find some of the ground rules for when
& how a Catholic should admonish or rebuke his fellow Catholic, and you’ll
discover who to refrain from worshipping with religiously when it comes to some
people that are only pretending to be Catholic, or who may be Catholic but are
schismatic toward certain popes or fellow laypersons.
Today is a very special & unique
day. The Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus always falls on July 1st,
no matter what the year or what the day of the week. Nevertheless, this year it
just happens to fall upon a Friday, which is the day Jesus shed His Most
Precious Blood upon the Cross. However, this alone would not be that unique
since it happens every few years. No, what makes it particularly rare is that
Easter occurred late enough his year that the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus just happened to occur on this
exact Friday --- the same day that the Feast of His Most Precious
Blood is celebrated in 2011! This is exceedingly rare. Indeed, it may be so rare
as to be the first time that it has ever happened in history, considering that these
two feasts don’t go back too many centuries yet. The Feast of the
Most Sacred Heart, like many others, depends intrinsically on the exact date of
Easter in any given year. Notwithstanding, it always falls on a Friday…
but only the first Friday after the Octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi,
which is always on a Thursday… the Thursday following Trinity Sunday,
which in turn follows Pentecost Sunday, which in turn comes seven weeks after
Easter Sunday.
Yet from what does the Precious Blood of
Jesus flow? Right --- His Sacred Heart. Thus, how
glorious & beautiful that these two feasts would fall together this year! His
Sacred Heart represents the Divine Love that He has for Humankind, which has
been created in His Image. It is why He sacrificed Himself upon the Cross,
dying in both bodily and soulful agony. The Blood that flows from this Heart,
though, is the Source of All Life, and the means by which men can redeem
themselves from the awful debt of mortal sin, which takes an eternity to pay…
but which can be remitted in an instant via Baptism of Water and Profession of
the Catholic Faith! This is the free gift of God; it is the love of God for His
creatures of mere flesh. We, who had no reason to expect anything other than a
just condemnation from Our Creator. Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus, have mercy on us! Most Precious Blood of Jesus, we worship & adore
You!
• The Commemoration of
Revamped the
Letter & Admonishments (L&A) section. The letters
were very many, and I have tried to find the best way possible to warn
Catholics of those who --- while they may be members of the Body of Christ ---
are publicly grievous sinners, heretics or schismatics.
I do not wish to needlessly disgrace them or pretend to take vengeance on them.
Nevertheless, I must make known their notorious & obstinate sins lest others
become harmed by them, too, in some terrible way.
I have therefore split the Admonishments into its own subsection, which can be
linked to immediately after entering L&A. Then, after a preface detailing
the correct way to rebuke a fellow Catholic, the surfer can follow whichever
link he wishes to investigate. There are four admonishments thus far (one of
which is brand new), with several more arriving by the end of this year, I
would expect.
Today is the Commemoration of St. Paul.
He tends to get swallowed up in the shadow of St. Peter. This is why the Church
separately commemorates him on this day, the day after June 29th,
which is the Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul together.
• The Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, 2011 (6-29-11)
Updated the
First Things First section with a new article for those who consider themselves
Catholic. Like the original article that I had back in 2008 for those who
call themselves Christian or ‘born again’ before I updated it for a
new one, I thought the old article for self-styled Catholics to be a bit too lengthy
or rambly. It also failed to address the controversy
(amongst those few who purport to be truly Catholic during these horribly
apostate times, leastwise) of written abjurations. This new article tackles
that thorny beast head on. And if you think written abjurations are absolutely
necessary for the hope of salvation when a baptized soul abjures his
heresy, then you had best read this article now. You can link
to it directly here. You may be truly Catholic, my dear soul, but foolish
adherence to an ‘absolute necessity’ for written abjurations ---
especially during our apostate times --- reveals a tendency toward Catholic
fundamentalism (about which you may learn more here.)
I also updated the First Things First
section with an article for those who consider themselves some other form of
religion, or who lay claim to no religion at all… finally! This has been
waiting for three years. I think, though, that it is worth it. I had long ruminated
over what would be the best approach to such a person on a website like this.
While under no illusions --- this article will not,
apart from miraculous graces from God, convert hordes of non-Catholics to the
Catholic Faith --- the good-willed man who really wants to know the truth will
find it compelling. I know, because that’s how I am. Before I became
Catholic, I really did want to know the truth about things… particularly
the truth about our purpose in this existence. Such an article could have, at
the right moment, much shortened my journey out of the vain religions or
philosophies of this endarkened world. So if you are such a person, then please read it now.
You can link directly to it here.
I hope for more to come tomorrow. It is waiting in the wings,
almost ready to go.
Last but not least, the Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul is, in many
very real ways, the most important feast of the Catholic Church after the three
solemnities concerned with God. To wit, the Feasts of Easter,
Pentecost & Christmas. Only the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
(wherein Catholics honor the Mother of God as the only human being born without
sin in this world, aside from Her Divine Son, Jesus) is a possible rival to its
importance. This is because Peter & Paul founded the Church in
• The Solemnity of St. Joseph, 2011 (5-11-11)
Added my latest book, Catholic Fundamentalism: What It Is and Why It Is So Deadly,
to the Books & Articles section. While not exhaustive, this is my
definitive statement upon the subject for now. Who are Catholic
fundamentalists? Read the book to find out! It’s fairly short and not
that hard to get through.
In brief, though, Catholic
fundamentalists (CFs for short) are those who pretend
to know what the Magisterium is saying about a
particular topic even though the Magisterium is neither
explicit nor thorough about the topic in question. Indeed, even when --- at
least sometimes --- the Magisterium isn’t
addressing that particular issue at all!
The point is, CFs
like to see what isn’t actually there… and then pretend they
can’t possibly be wrong about it. This causes all sorts of problems, not
least of which is schism, heresy, and the unjust treatment of others as CFs accuse fellow Catholics of heresy where no heresy
exists, or where only a material heresy is involved. My dear reader, study this
book carefully to make sure that you aren’t a Catholic fundamentalist,
and, if not, to make certain you know how to defend yourself against these
pestilent troublemakers.
Incidentally, May 11th has not been called the Solemnity
of St. Joseph since 1955. However, it was observed as the Solemnity of St.
Joseph for centuries prior to the 20th century. Moreover, Pius XII
was a weakened and unvigilant pope by the mid-1950s. (Some accuse him of being
an antipope by then, but that’s another can of worms which I will deal
with later elsewhere.) It is therefore wiser, in my opinion, to keep the day as
it was previous to that date. In any case, a future pope can clear this up in
not-too-distant days to come. My own conscience meanwhile bids me to honor
Joseph in this fashion.
+
+ +
Pilate’s
query met:
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