2023 August

31 08, 2023

Was St. Magdalene the Sister of St. Lazarus?
Was St. Magdalene the Sister of St. Lazarus?

Was St. Magdalene the Sister of St. Lazarus?

By Father David Nix|2023-08-29T21:37:20+00:00August 31st, 2023|Theology|

Was St. Mary Magdalene the biological sister of Lazarus who Christ raised from the dead? Most of the early Fathers believe so. In fact, the 16th century Jesuit, Fr. Lapide, reveals the ancient dispute of the Fathers. Ultimately, however, he comes down on the side of the affirmative to that question. Here, we will just copy-and-paste that great scholar's clear and profound words without any commentary, except Lapide's own commentary on Sacred Scripture and the early Fathers: Ver. 36.—And one of the Pharisees desired that he would eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to meat. Ver. 37.—And behold a woman in the city. [...]

29 08, 2023

Who’s Your savior—The State or The Savior?
Who’s Your savior—The State or The Savior?

Who’s Your savior—The State or The Savior?

By Father David Nix|2023-08-28T05:17:59+00:00August 29th, 2023|Theology|

One headline I saw last week read “Biden says new covid shots ‘that work’ may be on the way for all Americans.” This is probably funny to most of my readers but the notion that a new injection “that works” obviously implies the last shot did not work. At all. Actually, it worked perfectly: It reduced the world's population as Bill Gates promised it would. And many of us lost a loved one who didn't listen to us. But why is a certain segment of leftists still blinded to this obvious truth? I think of when Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, trying to figure out the Truth (but still [...]

26 08, 2023

“Surprised At Nothing, Troubled At Nothing”
“Surprised At Nothing, Troubled At Nothing”

“Surprised At Nothing, Troubled At Nothing”

By Father David Nix|2023-08-26T14:56:55+00:00August 26th, 2023|Life|

The above pic is a statue of Our Lady that remained standing amidst the recent Hawaii fires of 2023. (It was all over social-media, so if you know the original source, I’ll happily give photo-credit.) My favorite line in St. Louis De Montfort’s description of the saints of the final days of the Catholic Church goes like this: “They will have the two-edged sword of the Word of God in their mouths and the bloodstained standard of the Cross on their shoulders. They will carry the crucifix in their right hand and the Rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart.”—Thunderclouds of Mary, [...]

24 08, 2023

The Mass Was Never a Means of Evangelization
The Mass Was Never a Means of Evangelization

The Mass Was Never a Means of Evangelization

By Father David Nix|2023-08-24T10:40:29+00:00August 24th, 2023|Theology|

Thirty years ago this month, I attended World Youth Day (WYD) in Denver, CO with Pope John Paul II. It took place days before my 15th birthday. Some estimates believe one million people showed up to the events at the old Mile High Stadium (see above photo) and the final Mass at Cherry Creek Reservoir (see below photo.) My own mother was one of the chaperones for WYD '93 and my little brother (12 years old at the time) was one of thousands treated by Denver General Paramedics for dehydration at the final reservoir Mass. This was a special event for my family since Denver is where we were born [...]

22 08, 2023

You Can’t Please Your Enemies (So Don’t Try)
You Can’t Please Your Enemies (So Don’t Try)

You Can’t Please Your Enemies (So Don’t Try)

By Father David Nix|2023-09-20T17:47:00+00:00August 22nd, 2023|Theology|

Even though he's not completely Thomistic in his treatment of the virtues, C.S. Lewis brilliantly explains in chapter 2 of Mere Christianity the difference between vanity and pride: That is why vanity, though it is the sort of pride which shows most on the surface, is really the least bad and most pardonable sort. The vain person wants praise, applause, admiration, too much and is always angling for it. It is a fault, but a childlike and even (in an odd way) a humble fault. It shows that you are not yet completely contented with your own admiration. You value other people enough to want them to look at you. [...]

21 08, 2023

VLX 136: Mt 22:34-40. “The First Commandment.”
VLX 136: Mt 22:34-40. “The First Commandment.”

VLX 136: Mt 22:34-40. “The First Commandment.”

By Father David Nix|2023-08-21T20:59:51+00:00August 21st, 2023|Podcasts, Sermons, Talks|

Old corrections I had to update because of new lies: https://www.padrepegrino.org/2022/01/chenlies/

17 08, 2023

Maximalism and Minimalism
Maximalism and Minimalism

Maximalism and Minimalism

By Father David Nix|2023-08-16T18:35:04+00:00August 17th, 2023|Theology|

Recently, I read about a certain African female saint in the ancient Roman Martyrology: "At Cyrene, in Lybia, St. Cyrilla, a martyr, in the persecution of Diocletian. For a long while she held on her hand burning coals with incense, lest by shaking off the coals she should seem to offer incense to the idols. She was afterwards cruelly scourged, and went to her spouse adorned with her own blood." Notice that St. Cyrilla not only refrained from putting incense on idols (which certainly would have been enough to win her martyrdom under Diocletian) but many Catholics today might even add that she didn't "know her theology enough" to know [...]

15 08, 2023

The Roman Canon Is the Oldest Eucharistic Prayer
The Roman Canon Is the Oldest Eucharistic Prayer

The Roman Canon Is the Oldest Eucharistic Prayer

By Father David Nix|2023-08-15T13:50:42+00:00August 15th, 2023|Theology|

Really, the better title of this blog should be "The Roman Canon is the Oldest Eucharistic Prayer and those of the Eastern Liturgies." What is excluded from this? Obviously, the Novus Ordo's Eucharistic Prayer II, III and IV are all very new man-made prayers. They are not of Apostolic Origin. But for some reason, that isn't so "obvious" to most Catholic educators today. One of the strangest modern-myths pushed in my mainstream-seminary years ago (and probably still today) was that "Eucharistic Prayer II is older than Eucharistic Prayer I." (That sounds as silly as saying, "The New Mass is older than the Old Mass.") As most of you know, what [...]

14 08, 2023

St. Paul: Why I Love Him So
St. Paul: Why I Love Him So

St. Paul: Why I Love Him So

By Father David Nix|2023-08-14T14:27:41+00:00August 14th, 2023|Life|

Except for the Blessed Virgin Mary, I would say that my favorite saint is the Apostle Paul. Why is that? Blaise Pascal once wrote, "The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing." So, of course not everything can be identified. But here's a few reasons: St. Paul was the "Chosen Channel" and the "Standard Bearer" of the entire Gospel of Love. He chose to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2.) Christ Himself chose him to transmit the Gospel over the whole Mediterranean region nearly 2,000 years ago. With Christian-radio being played in my house all during the time growing up, I [...]

13 08, 2023

TCE 50: Interview with a Green-Beret
TCE 50: Interview with a Green-Beret

TCE 50: Interview with a Green-Beret

By Father David Nix|2023-08-14T02:59:27+00:00August 13th, 2023|Podcasts, Sermons, Talks|

In "Theology and Current Events" (TCE) #50, I interview Fmr.-Captain John Frankman, a Special-Forces Green Beret. He joins us to discuss his service in the Army as a practicing Catholic. We then discuss his decision to separate from the US Military due to their requirements of the C19-j@b.