Is Homeschooling the Ideal?
Since however the younger generations must be trained in the arts and sciences for the advantage and prosperity of civil society, and since the family of itself is unequal to this task, it was necessary to create that social institution, the school. But let it be borne in mind that this institution owes its existence to the initiative of the family and of the Church, long before it was undertaken by the State. Hence considered in its historical origin, the school is by its very nature an institution subsidiary and complementary to the family and to the Church. It follows logically and necessarily that it must not be in opposition to, but in positive accord with those other two elements, and form with them a perfect moral union, constituting one sanctuary of education, as it were, with the family and [...]
The Second Commandment by St. Alphonsus Liguori
Many good Catholics today have now become acutely aware of sexual sins (the Sixth and Ninth Commandment) as well as the First Commandment (partly due to public violations of this like the worship of the Pachamama statue near the Vatican a few years ago.) In light of this, I believe that the most underrated of all Commandments is the Second Commandment. Keep in mind that the Ten Commandments given on Sinai come in order of importance. Thus, the misuse of the Holy Name of Jesus is one of the worst sins one can commit. We look to the doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori, to consider the weight of blasphemy in God's eyes: Sermon LIII Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. – On Blasphemy, by St. Alphonsus Liguori “When, therefore, you shall see the abomination of desolation.”—MATT. xxiv. 15. ALL sins [...]
TCE 56: True Ecumenism
What kind of people will we win to Catholicism if we put relativism first? If we put objective truth first?
Archaeologism Part II: Not Real Archeology
In Archaeologism Part I, I demonstrated that Popes from 1786 to 1947 condemned the heretics projecting Protestant notions of liturgy onto the early Church under pretext of "archeology" or "Church history." This modernist fad is also called "antiquarianism." Realize first that Pope Pius XII basically warned the faithful not to believe the Holy Spirit was less active in guiding the Church of the Middle Ages than the Church of the Primitive Ages. Secondly, he wanted us to realize the Holy Spirit does not change His directives in liturgy or doctrine. But on top of this, I personally believe the modernists executing "archaeologism" (saying the early Church had no complex rites, no complex rituals and no complex liturgies) really finds little to no support in Church history. Truly, those obsessed with "archaeologism" are not doing real archaeology. This article will help [...]
Archaeologism Part I: The Synod of Pistoia
Before looking at the Synod of Pistoia, let's define Archaeologism (also called antiquarianism.) Unam Sanctam defines it: Archaeologism is not so much a heresy as a fad, a certain approach to Catholic liturgy and practice. Its distinguishing characteristic is an excessive value placed on those Catholic practices which came earlier in historical-chronological succession. For the archaeologist, first is always best. A practice or prayer of the patristic Church is “better” or “purer” than a practice of the medieval Church. Consequently, the goal of any true liturgical renewal ought to be to return to the practice of the first Christians, inasmuch as possible. The modern Church ought to imitate the apostolic Church. Pope Pius XII warned against this in his 1947 encyclical Mediator Dei: This way of acting bids fair to revive the exaggerated and senseless antiquarianism to which the illegal [...]
St. Mark’s and the Pyramids
On why the Son of God chose to die as a slave before rising from the dead, and why modern martyrs will follow in His footsteps on both. (Correction: I said St. Mark's feast is coming up, but it's today.)
Does a Priest Need a Lay Person at His Mass?
p/c Notre-Dame De Fontgombault Several years ago, as I was switching from the new sacraments to the ancient Roman sacraments, I stopped at a parish in Tampa one afternoon. I asked the parish secretary if I could offer Holy Mass there. She asked who was going to attend my Mass. I said I was alone. She looked bewildered. No youth group? No family of origin traveling with you? The parish secretary only thought of the Mass in anthropocentric terms: If no one was there to receive Holy Communion, why would this priest show up at her parish and try to offer Mass alone? It was as crazy to this lady as if a layman had showed up asking for marriage prep to marry himself. Alas, the poor lady did not understand that the Holy Mass is God the Son offering [...]
Better to Attend a Parish That Lacks Truth? Or One That Lacks Love?
Should you attend a parish that promotes truth or charity? The obvious answer is both. But what if you had to choose? I ask this parish-based question because I have been hearing horror stories lately on some unbelievably mean things that traditional priests have said in the confessional to lay people. Also, we just saw more priest-child scandals explode from the past in the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) world. But the question I am proposing here doesn't have to do with such scandals. Obviously, one must avoid like the plague any parish with a groomer priest. I am talking about something slightly more nuanced than the following dilemma but here's the basics: Should you go to a grumpy TLM parish or a conservative Novus Ordo Mass (NOM) parish that maintains occasional doctrinal errors? If I were to argue for the [...]
Arab Culture and Secularism
How do you maintain your convictions when your culture is smothered? https://youtu.be/1dBSLVT3XSw?si=KMYog_EzwheB0uUy
Bill Maher Admits Abortion is Murder.
Recently on his show, Bill Maher shocked his audience in admitting that pro-lifers are correct: "They think it’s murder—and it kind of is." The audience enters a nervous silence. Then he adds a shocking line: "I’m just okay with that." The audience enters another nervous silence, not sure if he's joking. But he is not. He adds: "There’s 8 billion people in the world. I’m sorry, we won’t miss you.” Wow. Bill Maher ADMITS abortion is “murder” and that he is “okay with that.” “I can respect the absolutist position. I really can... They think it’s murder—and it kind of is. I’m just okay with that. There’s 8 billion people in the world. I’m sorry, we won’t miss you.” When… pic.twitter.com/qldRhuliVE — The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 13, 2024 This is not the first time we have seen pro-abortion [...]