How We Won the War: A Little Known Christmas Story

This is an excerpt from the book by Dr Peter Kreeft, The Angels and The Ants...

This is a true story. It took place on the eve of D-Day.

The greatest of world wars was at its most critical turning point.
Until then, the war had been mostly a series of stunning victories for the Fuhrcr. Dictatorship had apparently proved highly efficient. Most of Western civilization was under his control. The only hope was the great counterattack, the invasion plans. Both sides suspected the time was ripe for D-day; the only unknowns were when, where, and how.

On the eve of the invasion, a conversation much like the following took place between two close friends, both captains in the invasion forces. The conversation was never written up in memoirs or reported in any newspaper--until now.

“Gabby, you know all about the invasion plans, don't you?"
"No, Mike. No one knows all about them. You know how Army Intelligence works."
"Sure, and also why. They're afraid you'd live up to your name and your gift of gab will get picked up by enemy ears."

"No way. Our new spy behind enemy lines has the only receiver that can pick up my messages. But I have to tell you some startling things tonight. The General himself told me to. It's you who have to keep this top secret."

"You know you can trust me, Gabby. I was only kidding about you."

"Captains don't kid, Mike. You know that. Now listen up. I have three secrets for you."

"Shoot."

"First, the invasion is tomorrow night."
"That's no surprise. What else?"

"The place. Look here on the map. It's a little town no one would ever suspect."

"There? Never heard of the place."

"After tomorrow, the whole world will know about it. We'll put it on the map."

"OK, what's the third secret?"

"The identity of our new spy. She's a woman."
"A woman! Why?"

"Mike, don't be such an old chauvinist. This one's perfect for the job, just perfect. She's been preparing the landing place now for months."

"How do you know all this?"

"I was the one that got the first message through. That was extremely tricky, let me tell you."

"Why?"

"Because I had to wait for her reply. Sending wireless messages is easy, but waiting to receive them is much harder. This one especially, because the General absolutely insisted that we wait until we got her permission."

"Permission? The General waited for the permission of a woman before the great invasion could happen?"

"Exactly."

"Why?"
"Well, he's a gentleman, you know. Very old-fashioned that way. And he knows the job is terribly dangerous."

"I'll bet. Look at what happened to all the spies we sent in before her."

"Yes. Most were tortured."

"So what if she had said no?"

“Then the whole invasion plan would have been scrapped, at least for now, maybe forever. Who knows?"

"Incredible! If I didn't know better, I'd swear the General had lost his marbles."

"You haven't heard the half of it. Hold on to your hat for this one, Mike. The General insisted on personally leading the invasion, not just directing it from across the Channel."

"What!"

"That's not all. He's already there, in disguise. He landed nine ago."

"This is incredible, Gabby! And horribly dangerous. Suppose he's captured? What a plum that would be for the Fuhrer! What kind of strategy is that--to walk right into the enemy's territory?
Remember what happened to all those spies in the past? How does he expect to pull this off?"

"Well, the disguise is incredibly good, for one thing. But tomorrow, he's coming out of hiding. In fact, I think he may even be planning to be detected and eventually captured."

"What kind of a plan is that? Everything you tell me makes less and less sense than the thing before it. Why would he let himself be captured?"

"Believe it or not, I think he plans to confront the Fuhrer himself, face to face."

"And what then?"

"I have no idea. He hasn't told anyone that."
"You know, if I didn't trust him implicitly...."

"I know. But you know what they say, `Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die.'"

"It's true, Gabby. That's the army way. Trust and obey."

"You know what I wonder about, Mike?"
"What?"

"Suppose the invasion works, and we liberate all the captive people. What will they do once they're freed? I'll bet many of them will still cling to the Fuhrer's `New Order.' It's so much a part of their lives now, it feels half comfortable to them--like a jail cell that's become your home. Even when you're paroled, you're afraid to leave. One thing is sure, anyway: Even if we win, the world will never be the same again: too many scars, too much devastation, no simple return to pre-war innocence."

"No, but we can at least give the tired old world a chance for a new start, eh?"

"Absolutely, Mike. By the way, who is `we'? How many troops are in the invasion forces? If you're leading them tomorrow, you must know."

"You wouldn't believe it. The world has never seen an army this big. The whole sky is gonna have to open up for this one!

On Christmas Day, 4 B.C., the legions of General King of Kings under Michael the Archangel descended en masse in a field outside a little town called Bethlehem. The General himself came out of the hiding place Mary had prepared for him nine months before, disguised as a helpless baby.

The General wants all citizens to know that the invasion has been successful and the mop-up operation is still under way. All are urged to join this operation. There is still plenty to do. But the General assures all his troops that final, total victory is absolutely assured.

Hallmark is wrong. Christmas is not cute and cozy, sweet and sentimental. Christmas is God's D-Day.

For, this day is born to you a Saviour...

who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.



Merry Christmas everyone!

The Blessing of the Thorns

I'm reposting this entry from two years ago...

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door.

Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday.

Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder.

Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

"I....I need an arrangement, " stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this thanksgiving? "

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Just then the shop door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said,
"Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses.
Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara, replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd
think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest. And she left with her order.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!

"Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel
today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for
the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no
children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow
any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and never
questioned the good things that happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask questions! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but
it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."
Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" shouted the
clerk to the balding, rotund man.
"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving Special....12 thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.
"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?"

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"
"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said. "It's all too...fresh. "
"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.
"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a
minute."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."
Praise Him for your roses; thank him for your thorns!
-- Author Unknown

Churchill said it best...

Winston Churchill - Oct 29, 1941

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done.

Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination.

But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period ...this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.

Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

(H/T Red State)

A spooky Obama post, just in time for Halloween

click on this link to go to Hillbuzz and click on the gif image link there

Click on their link and watch carefully... It's an animated gif...

(H/T Hillbuzz Blog)

Don't let the psy-ops throw you

so says the Anchoress. She has such reasoned posts on politics. I don't always agree with her but this post makes so much sense. She packed a lot into it but here's a sample...

But then again, folks, you know what I always say - everything happens for a reason. There is a reason that this untried, unprepared, not-especially-glib-after-all man has been thrust into such extraordinary prominence at this time. There is a reason why so much seems to be coming together to work in his favor. There is a reason why world markets are collapsing just before this very important election, and why they will continue to do at least until after the vote.

What that reason is? Who can say? All I know is, stop freaking out. At this point in the election 4 years ago John Kerry was wandering around hearing himself referred to as “Mr. President.” This point in 1980, Jimmy Carter was planning his second inaugural.

My advice: live in the Present Moment and ask God to reveal Himself and His plan for you in that moment. Not in the next moment, not in the past moment. Work on the present moment. If you can get a real grasp of that - and if you can remember that past and future are also constructs, because time itself is illusory - then you have no need to hyperventilate.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Go read Matthew, go read the Sermon on the Mount. It’s all about that.

Go read the rest!

McCain's latest ad on Obama's friend, Ayers (updated)

Right now it's just on Youtube (1:40 minutes) but it will be shortened to 40 seconds or so and aired as a TV ad soon...



Notes, i.e. more documentation, from a political blog, Dr Sanity...

Ayers is a 'respectable' university professor; a man who shows his patriotism for America in subtle ways; an educational reformer; along with his wife, a pillar of the [leftist] community; the man who launched Barack Obama's political career; the man who gave Obama millions of dollars to spend on community organizing. In short, we are to believe that Obama knew nothing of the past activities of this man , despite having worked for him, disbursed money for his radical educational agenda; and used him to obtain power and influence in the leftist world for his meteoric political rise... in Chicago...in Illinois..in the US...and probably eventually, the World.

If that is true (and I don't believe it for an instant) why is Obama so anxious that his connection with Ayers be silenced? Why is the MSM so desperate to prove that there is nothing to see here?
I'm sure that's what Ayers would like, because he has always acted behind the scenes to (violently, if necessary) promote his socialist revolutionary agenda. Obama as his most successful front man to date must be kept clean so that the unwashed masses can be properly manipulated and led to the socialist utopia.

Many of the items in the first paragraph are hyperlinks to sources.

The real reason the market is tanking?

From G. Thomas Fitzpatrick of Recta Ratio...

Maybe not all of this sell-off in the US and global markets is because of the latest banking crisis.

Maybe investors are freaked out at the increasingly likely prospect of an Obama Presidency. Maybe they are selling anything they can because they know the policies this fellow, with a Democrat Congress to help him enact legislation, will not be one bit good for investors.

Ora Pro Nobis

Fr John Rizzo, FSSP, will celebrate High Mass in Boston!

Fr John Rizzo, FSSP, visits the Boston area next week on his way to Rome for the Celebration of 20 years of Ecclesia Dei, and will celebrate HIGH Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston at 11:00 am.

This will also be a Holy Name Society Mass, with the recitation of the Holy Name Litany at the end.

Fr Rizzo is coming from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

(removed quasi-snarky comment)

What do baked potatoes and October 7th have in common?

The baked potatoes symbolize Victory Vessels in the Battle of Lepanto, of course!

The ladies at Catholic Cuisine are never at a loss as to how to tie food and liturgical feast days together.

October - Month of the Most Holy Rosary

Redneck Neck Woman from Postscripts from the Catholic Spitfire Grill has an amazing post about the rosary, quite the compendium of info. Check it out here.

I love Father Corapi!

A new vocation video with the voice of Father Corapi.



(H/T Roman Roman Vocations, Brad Watkins)

In Honor of the Feast of Guardian Angels

I'm republishing a post from last year on naming angels...

(from 9/7/2007)

The other day, Carrie Tomeko blogged about Opus Angelorum and the practice of naming angels. This gets very interesting because she found on Father Z's old forum site a thread which was discussing that very practice. Did you know that there was a document published by the CDF on this topic back in 1984? Father Z quickly translated a bit of it here.

Essentially, this document says that there is not to be diffused the idea that one can know the name of one's guardian angel that that one is not to invoke the (unknowable) names of angels in prayer.

I have not found online an English version of this yet and I do not have the time to translate it at the moment.

What the CDF is warning about is the great spiritual danger that can come to a person from trying to invoke angels by name. The naming of angels is something that should be avoided. Not all angels are the friends of God and man. They are mighty beings that transcend our human nature. Some of them are bent on our eternal damnation. They can apply an angelic intellect in tricking us into the loss of heaven. They do not sleep. These are demonic enemies of the soul. Demons do not relent, unless God and His angels, unless the Church God's priest intervene. The naming of fallen angels is part of the rite of exorcism. It is perilous indeed to anyone without the protection and power that comes from the sacrament of Holy Orders to name angels.

This is a foolish and sentimental practice for most people who are into this sort of thing. But it is not benign. While it is not dangerous in all situations, it is dangerous in some. We just cannot know whom or what we are invoking outside the names of the angels friendly to God whose names appear in Holy Writ: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael.

Fr. Z

Thank goodness for Father Z! I had heard on another forum that it was a good idea/practice to name one's guardian angel and did try it. I never really felt comfortable with it though...

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.".

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.

Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

May you reap what you sow...

Sacrifice Beads

In honor of St Therese's Feast Day (Oct 1st new calendar, Oct 3rd trad calendar), I thought I'd post this description of the sacrifice beads that were popularized by St Therese of Lisieux.

The most typical actual "chaplet" consists a string of 10 beads, with a Crucifix at one end, symbolizing our taking up our Crosses and going the Way of Christ. On the other end nowadays is usually a medal depicting St. Thérèse, which reminds us of her "Little Way" of spirituality that's embodied in the use of the beads, and of the fact that we are all called to be Saints. They are kept in one's pocket, secretly, and when one mentally offers up something to God in union with Christ's sufferings on the Cross, one slides one of the beads toward the Crucifix. The beads are constructed such that when they are moved, they remain where they are put.

Some Sacrifice Beads consist of 15 beads, with 3 beads of a different color evenly interspersed among them, each representing one of the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. Each time 5 regular beads are moved toward the Crucifix, one of the Trinity beads is automatically moved, too, symbolizing our participation, by grace, in life of the Most Holy Trinity, and reminding us that any good we do is because of God alone.

Some people use the beads simply, by just moving one toward the Crucifix for each Sacrifice, but a more challenging and fruitful way of using them is to move a bead back toward the medal for each sin one commits along the way. This is a good way of examining one's conscience all throughout the day.

Source

Please Pray for this priest

Why this priest votes for Obama

Of course, he's going to Boston College (ugh) to work on a book about Father Robert Drinan, another priest who needs prayers.

A Little-known Shrine

Two years ago, through Domenico Bettinelli's blog, I discovered the shrine for Father Patrick Power, a young priest who died in 1869. The grave/shrine is in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden Massachusetts.

I had a chance to visit the grave again last week and took a couple of pictures on my phone camera...





The prayer on the photo above is

O Jesus, who filled your servant, Father Patrick Power, with profound veneration for Your boundless mercy and compassion for all, deign, if it be Your holy will, to grant me, through his intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray.........

Be mindful of Father Patrick's spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, and reward his virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike confidence, I present to You through his intercession.

It was composed by Father Bernard Shea, a retired (do any of them really retire?!) 91-year-old priest at St Mary's in Melrose. Please say a prayer for Father Shea, who fainted while celebrating the 4 pm Mass at St Mary's last Saturday. Thankfully, he is fine and resting comfortably.

Babies: We need more like you

As the Demographic Winter approaches in Europe, Germany fights it with this ad. Will it work?

The video is charming. :-)

Instruction on the TLM in Peabody - Sept 24th

Excellent news!

On Wednesday, 24 Sept., at 7 pm, at St. Adelaide Parish, 708 Lowell St, Peabody, Fr. Van de Moortell will host an evening of instruction on the Traditional Latin Mass. Low Mass will also be offered. Light refreshments will be provided after Mass.

Latin Mass North website

Crush

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush

'Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It's just too much, just too much

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin' away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we're hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?

See it's a chance we've gotta take
'Cause I believe that we can make this into something that will last
Last forever, forever

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I've just got to know

Do you ever think when you're all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
'Cause I'm trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain't goin' away
This crush ain't goin' away

Dear Mr Obama

One soldier's reasons for voting for Senator McCain for president.

Wonderfully done.

Remembering September 11th

There's a good thread on FreeRepublic, the conservative online forum, which contains a compendium of photos and videos regarding 9/11.

Link

Grassroot Films Strikes Again!

These people are amazing! They've done a wonderful video for www.catholicvote.com

H/T to American Papist (please see his post for more info)

Fall For You

"Fall For You"

The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting
Could it be that we have been this way before
I know you don't think that I am trying
I know you're wearing thin down to the core

But hold your breathe
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find

This is not what I intended
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may have failed
But I have loved you from the start
Oh

But hold your breathe
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
It's impossible

So breathe in so deep
Breathe me in
I'm yours to keep
And hold onto your words
Cause talk is cheap
And remember me tonight
When your asleep

Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
Tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I wont live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find

Added the link to the Youtube video so you can hear the song...

In the Beginning

RNC's tribute to 9/11

Did you know that the RNC played a video tribute to 9/11 last week? Unfortunately, this clip includes Keith Olberman's take on it...



I think this one is better (more graphic however)...

TAN Books announces that Fr O'Sullivan books are back

Father O'Sullivan wrote many excellent booklets on various aspects of the Catholic faith. Check them out!

Many of our customers were introduced to TAN through the popular O’Sullivan booklets. These little booklets are great for passing along to loved ones. They are perfect for evangelizing, easy to read, and are filled with straight Catholic teaching, never watered down. Two of the most popular, "The Wonders of the Holy Name", and "The Holy Ghost, Our Greatest Friend" are currently going to press for reprinting but should be available very soon. Quantity discounts are available on all the booklets.

If you are a new TAN customer, a great introduction to the Fr Paul O'Sullivan books is "All About the Angels", especially since September is the month of the Angels. If you have any questions about what Angels are, where they go, what they do, and how they can help us, this is one of the best titles on the subject. "All About the Angels" contains solid church doctrine and traditional teachings about the Angels, stories of approved angelic apparitions and much more.

I'm especially interested in the one about angels.

TLM Reminder! More Masses on the North Shore of Boston

This coming Sunday, at 1 pm, St Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly will be offering another TLM. This will be a monthly occurrence on the first Sunday of the month.

St Adelaide's in Peabody will begin offering a Saturday TLM, the first Saturday of each month at 8:30 am. Also, they offer the TLM every 4th Sunday of the month.

We're making good progress here. Please help support these Masses and let your friends know.

Thanks!

Separated at birth?

What Where When Meme

Stolen from Father Richtsteig at Orthometer

1. President Kennedy's Assassination - 22 November 1963

I was in second grade and was surprised to see my teacher crying

2. England's World Cup Semi Final v Germany - 4 July 1990

I have no idea...

3. Margaret Thatcher's resignation - 22 November 1990

I don't know where I was, but I remembered being disappointed.

4. Princess Diana's death - 31 August 1997

I was saddened by her untimely death. It seemed like she was finally experiencing some happiness in her life. I did watch the funeral, etc that Saturday morning and my then-6-year-old daughter wasn't happy that she had to miss her cartoons because of this...

5. Attack on the twin towers - 11 September 2001

I had just left the IT business to start a home-based business. I was listening to the radio, a talk show on WRKO and one of the hosts said that a plane crashed into the WTC. In Boston, we have a tiny office building called the World Trade Center and that's the one I thought they meant. So, I turned on the TV and a few minutes later saw a second plane crash into the WTC towers in New York.

6. The election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy - 19 April 2005

Given that I had just come back into the Church a few weeks earlier, I was excited to be working from home and watching EWTN when this was announced. Cardinal Ratzinger was the one I was hoping for...

Sarah Palin

I was incredibly excited to hear that Senator McCain picked Governor Palin to be his running mate. I was happy for several reasons, she has executive experience (mayor and governor), she is pro-life (Ridge would not have been acceptable) and overall her resume is fabulous.

I am disappointed in myself in that I gave up on the 2008 campaign when McCain was picked. I still have some doubts about him but he is proving to be a very savvy campaigner. Thank goodness others did not give up so easily, like the folks at Palin for VP. We can thank them for getting the job done.

If you agree with me, go make a contribution to the McCain/Palin campaign.

By the way, the Hillary supporters are still ticked off at Obama. Just google "pumas for palin". Woo hoo!

PUMA stands for "Party Unity My A**"

TLM Reminder! Today - St Adelaide's in Peabody

The Mass will be at 2 pm. I don't know if it's high or low but I hope to see you there!

Knights of Columbus Donates $1 million to Defend Marriage in California

Good on them!

Proposition 8, the ballot initiative to protect marriage, has announced that it has received a $1 million contribution from the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization.

In a press release, spokesman for the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Korten said that the donation from the Knights "is both an indication of how important we believe this referendum to be, and an encouragement to other groups and individuals of all faiths to lend their support as well."

"From the day the organization was founded 126 years ago, strengthening and protecting the family has always been central to the mission of the Knights of Columbus. Preserving marriage as the indispensable institution in which children are conceived, born and raised to adulthood by a loving father and mother is vital to a healthy society. It is also the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and best interests of children. We are proud to join the Catholic bishops and priests of California, and so many other people of good will, in this effort on which so much depends.

Source

More lolcat

Source

Personal Prayer Request please

Friday was my husband's last day at his job. My job ends in two weeks. I'd appreciate any prayers you can say for us. I trust that God will take care of us (as always)!

Thanks!

The Isolation of Teenagers

Over the past year or so, I've been able to watch several teenagers close-up in social situations. It's pretty ugly. I feel depressed for them although it wouldn't surprise me if they themselves didn't feel depressed but pushed the feeling down, covering it with complaints of tiredness and boredom.

They have hundreds of ways to communicate with one another, cell phones, IM, texting, Facebook, etc but so much of it is superficial. Text messages can only be 160 characters. They are learning to speak in soundbites, expressing incomplete thoughts. So their knowledge of one another is very shallow.

Beneath the surface of their lives is a pool of anger. If someone says something to them and it is perceived as something negative, they strike back in kind. They don't learn to trust one another. Resentment towards the other person builds and another friendship/relationship falls by the wayside. This just reinforces their isolation, that they are not understood, they are not loved.

Even if they have pets, they don't interactive with the pet. They may not even like to acknowledge that the pet has a name.

If they connect with someone long enough to get physically intimate, i.e. hook-ups, they discover another way to enable bad feelings to arise because they haven't gotten to know one another emotionally. The girl learns that her feelings aren't reciprocated so her heart hardens a little bit more. The boy learns either that he can use another person or, like the girl, feelings arise in him that he wasn't expecting and which he doesn't want. He quickly ends the relationship and thus his heart hardens too.

It's worse if the couple goes all the way sexually. They don't have the maturity to know how to discuss their feelings and they are not financially ready to make a commitment to one another, i.e. marriage and so stress arises and because they don't have the skills to resolve it, the relationship ends and their hearts are hardened.

Where did this come from? The family, I'm sad to say...

They weren't taught in the home to respect others, to look for the good in others, to put someone else first. While the hard skills; working hard in school, doing chores around the house, are important, the soft skills are just as critical to leading a happy life.

Please pray for them. If they continue down this path into adulthood, it doesn't bode well for the next generation either.

We need to show more sympathy for these people...

• They travel miles in the heat.
• They risk their lives crossing a border.
• They don't get paid enough wages.
• They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
• They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
• They rarely see their families and they face adversity all day every day...

I'm not talking about illegal aliens, I'm talking about our troops!



H/T Moe Lauzier Source

My Blogroll...

is terribly out-of-date but I was asked by Jackie of Catholic Mom of 10 to add her blog to my blogroll.

So, Jackie, you're there! Thanks for asking. Now I need to figure out who else to add/delete.

Thank you Jimmy Akin!

We're Catholic! We don't need to use the Bible to justify all our beliefs...

Not all questions can be answered in a way that offers Bible verses as evidence. In fact, not all questions can be answered at all. There are many things we human simply don't know the answer to, because God hasn't told them to us, and there are also many things in life that have answers that don't involve the Bible at all, like how to solve the quadratic equation or where to find the gas station with the cheapest gas or how to make chop suey.

I think it is important to point these things out when dealing with the "Where is that in the Bible?" mentality.

It is also important to point out that, even when dealing with questions that do involve theology, we are Catholics and therefore do not need to provide answers within the confines of sola Scriptura.

As Catholics, we draw information from and our theology is shaped by not only Scripture but also Tradition, the formulations of the Magisterium, philosophy, human nature (i.e., natural law) reasoning, etc.

From Jimmy's blog entry, Prayer for the Dead

Wonderful response

to the question, "Why did God create us?

from commenter Abigail...

Love is creative.

Why do married people have kids?

(I don't know if you have kids yourself. If you don't, I'm sure you can think of someone among your family and friends that does have a little one that they dote upon.)

My husband and I are complete in our relationship with each other. If God had given us the cross of infertility (or the real-life situation we faced where all our kids could have inherited a fatal disease) --we would be left spooning each other Jello alone in the nursing home.

When I faced that possibility head on, I was okay with that.

I didn't earnestly desire children with my husband because I needed someone to control, or someone to adore me, or someone to make me look good.

The desire for children which I never abstractly wanted as a young woman, sort of came over me during this flood of amazing feelings I had for my spouse.

He felt the same way about me.

Now we've got 3 little ones who all share his funny toes and my curly hair, and yet each have an individual spirit which is entirely their own.

Love delights in company. Love reaches out and expands itself.

God's love for each member of humanity is so fantastic we can only glimpse it inside the human heart. The desire for children, no matter how terribly perverted or buried in modern culture, is one of the basic laws written on the human heart. You'll find parental love across all lands and all cultures. It's proof that we all have the same imprint of One Creator.

Go vote on the most annoying "Spirit of Vatican II" phrase

Click here

What have we done?!

Since I've come back to the Church (in 2005) after being a C&E Catholic (Christmas and Easter) for so many years, I keep tacking more and more to the trad side of the liturgical spectrum. One of the latest posts on Father Zuhldorf's blog, What Does the Prayer Really Say, really brings it home for me just how much has been lost in the past 40 or so years. The post, Review of Worship as a Revelation discusses several topics, including why we should receive Holy Communion on the tongue.

A priest had the question, why is it okay to receive on the tongue but
not on the hand. The tongue hasn't been consecrated, has it?

Yes, it has...

At least in the old Rite of Baptism, the tongue was consecrated.

I don't know about you but it horrifies me that someone "improved"; the Rite of Baptism and removed that part of the Rite.

What have we done?!

I am so incredibly tired of the "improvements" made to all aspects of the SACRAMENTS.

Let's tweak the motto 'Save the Liturgy, Save the World';

Save the Sacraments, Save the World!

NObama!

(H/T Gloria Romanorum)

How to Avoid Purgatory (part 2)

Link to the entire booklet


Chapter 1

CAN WE AVOID PURGATORY? YES.

Many think that it is practically impossible for the ordinary Christian to
avoid Purgatory. Go there we all must--so they say.

They laughingly remark: "It will be well for us if we ever get there" Alas!
When too late they will recognize how terribly rash their words were. As a
consequence of such fatalistic ideas, many make no serious effort to avoid
Purgatory, or even to lessen the term they may have to pass there. Thank
God all do not hold such gloomy views.

WE SHALL STRIVE IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO SHOW

a) How all can notably shorten their period of expiation in Purgatory; b)
And how they may even avoid Purgatory altogether. These pages are well
worth reading and re-reading. The fact is that a great number of souls go
to Purgatory and remain there for long years simply because they had never
been told how they could have avoided it.

The means we suggest are easy, practical and within the reach of all.
Moreover, far from being irksome, the use of these means will only serve to
make our lives on this earth holier and happier and will take away the
exaggerated fear of death which terrifies so many.

We ask you, Dear Reader, to put this little booklet into the hands of all
your friends. You cannot do them a greater service.

Part 1

How to Avoid Purgatory (part 1)

The entire text of this booklet by Father Paul O'Sullivan can be found here on EWTN's website. It is a very easy read but with a ton of information. I highly recommend buying it from TAN Books but for those who would like to "try before they buy" I'll post a chapter a day...

FOREWORD

Our Lord came on earth expressly to give us a perfect Redemption. He gave
us a Law of Love, a Religion in every way to suit our human hearts,
destined to make us holy and happy. His Commandments, counsels and promises
all breathe peace, joy, mercy and love.

The idea that nearly all of us shall, notwithstanding, have to pass a
period more or less long in the excruciating fires of Purgatory after death
seems to be at variance with this all-merciful and all-loving plan of our
Divine Lord.

It is true that we are weak and fall many times and that God's justice is
rigorous and exacting, but it is equally certain that God's mercy and love
are above all His works.

It is no less certain that Our Lord has given us abundant grace and
strength to save us from sin and many (and most efficacious) means of
satisfying for any sins that we may have committed. This last fact seems to
be almost entirely overlooked, or imperfectly understood by the majority of
Catholics.

Of course, those who go on deliberately sinning and who make no effort to
correct their faults and refuse to use the many wonderful means God offers
them for satisfying for sin, condemn themselves to Purgatory.

The object of this little book is to show how we can avoid Purgatory by
using the means God has so generously offered us, and, secondly, to show
that the use of these means is within the reach of every ordinary
Christian.

The careful perusal of these pages will be a source of much benefit and
consolation to all who read them.

The author offers them to the loving Heart of Jesus and asks Him to bless
them.

Excellent Examination of Conscience

I found this via the Fisheaters website, altough it's actually on the website for the Saint Philippine Duchesne Latin Mass Community (FSSP) in Kansas City, Kansas.

A Comprehensive Examination Of Conscience.

Based On Twelve Virtues For The Twelve Months Of The Year
By REV. DONALD F. MILLER, C.SS.R.
Imprimatur: Joseph E. Ritter, St. Louis, April 7, 1959

Each month's examination is in a separate pdf.

More Ceiling Cat...

Latin Mass North

I just stumbled across this website, Latin Mass North, for those of us on the North Shore of Boston (wandering for 40 years in the desert)...

The TLM that was offered at St Adelaide's in Peabody was beautiful (more on that tomorrow) and it will be offered every 4th Sunday of the month!

Woo hoo!

I Confess!

Let me know if this is Greek to you...

Viva La Vida (Update)

I love this new song by Coldplay. It has a ton of Catholic imagery in it.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies' eyes
Listened as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh, who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Thomas Peters (an American Papist) wrote about it a couple of weeks ago.

Here's an interesting thread discussing the possible meanings of the song...

Bingo! From page 9 (h/t Sainthoodx)...

So, in short, Martin [Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay] is Lucifer (aka. Satan) singing/reminiscing/confessing his sins about the present time from a future perspective.

Lucifer was the most beautiful and terrifying Archangel, with the most authority. Once at the right hand of God, he was cast down to earth and, to this day, given authority by God as king of this wicked world - until the authority is stripped from him at the second coming of Christ, and starts singing this reminiscent song.

Seas rise at Satan's word, as he still retains as much spiritual authority as Gabriel or Michael, if not more because he rules the earth. But in the future he will sleep alone, defeated.

The crowd at large (excluding the revolutionaries, who know the truth) want to follow Satan. Often, without even realizing it, because they believe his lies - even the most common one that he doesn't even exist. So the crowds sing "Now the old king is dead, long live the king". Despite people's need for God, they reject his leadership for a more dangerous/interesting king. God will eventually strip Lucifer of that and "close the walls" on him and Satan will realize that his castles stand on pillars of salt/sand.

Jerusalem bells, and Roman cavalry choirs singing either celebrating the second coming of Christ or maybe Lucifer is reflecting (again: in the future, defeated) back to the present, when people are happy to serve Lucifer (ultimately, by not serving God). He obviously wants "missionaries in a foreign field" for himself, or people to spread his lies . He even mentions, there "was never an honest word.. when I ruled the world" - as he presently rules the world and is the "prince of lies").

His appearance into the world was wicked and wild. People had different reactions to it, but everyone couldn't believe how he'd transitioned from being the leader of all of heaven's armies to the prince of darkness. Many revolutionaries: Christians, crusaders, religious groups, and even Jesus (being the biggest revolutionary - who finally put Lucifer in his place, defeated and alone at Jesus' second coming). Lucifer's feelings are hurt because the revolutionaries mock him with "just a puppet on a lonely string, oh who would ever want to be king?", because his jealousy lead him to a failed attempt to dethrone God and take His place.

Now that he is defeated, he is repentant, so he has this feeling that St. Peter will call his name at the "pearly gates" from the book of life (the list of people allowed into heaven). He confesses that there was never an honest word, but that was way back when he ruled the world.

This could be Lucifers confession, or plea for salvation..

Update: the only issue I have with this theory is centers around these lines...

"People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate"

and the fact that the album cover is a painting about the French Revolution by Delacroix. This makes me think this might be King Louis the XVI.

And here's the 30-second clip on Youtube for its iTunes commercial...

Don't forget, a TLM offered in Peabody MA this Sunday

Save the Liturgy, Save the World

details here

Another(!) TLM on the North Shore

Woo hoo! Just got notified of this today...

SAVE THE DATE! 2ND TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS OFFERED NORTH OF BOSTON

Sunday, August 3, 2008
1:00 pm

St. Mary Star of the Sea
Cabot Street
Beverly, MA

Hosted by Father David Barnes
Boston Catholic Conference's
2007 Priest of the Year

Celebrated by Father Mario Lopez, O. Carm.

For further information please contact Latin Mass Community North Spokesperson Pamela Smith at
smith-pamela@comcast.net

Fun on Facebook

Facebook, the 'social utility' website, popular among high schoolers and college students seems to suddenly be attractive us Catholic bloggers (some of whom have been out of school a long time).

I'm having fun interacting with some folks whose blogs I've always
read but never really conversed with directly. Also, there's many
Catholic groups to join to meet other liked-minded Catholics. For
example,

Catholic Resources on Facebook
The Beauty of Veils for Catholic Women
I Love the Sacrament of Penance!
Friends of the Crescat
St. Blog's Parish
I Will Not Support Komen Because it Funds Abortion Providers
1,000,000 Strong For Stephen T Colbert
Prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
The Cause of Canonization of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Catholics forClerics in Cassocks
3 Million Hail Marys to End Abortion
EWTN Fanclub

I'll add the Facebook link to my profile on my blog's profile page. Stop by and say hi if you're in the FB neighborhood...

We live in interesting times

From Father Z (and several other blogs) The remarks between [] are Father Z's...

Latin Mass to return to England and Wales
By Damian Thompson

The traditional Latin Mass – effectively banned by Rome for 40 years – is to be reintroduced into every Roman Catholic parish in England and Wales, [Get that?] the senior Vatican cardinal in charge of Latin liturgy said at a press conference in London today. [This was stated by someone who knows what he is talking about. He wouldn't have said it if it was according to the Holy Father's will. how can we know this? He made a similar statement before. Review this. If the Secretariat of State or the Holy Father had a problem with what Card. Castrillon said back then, he wouldn't be saying it in public now.]

And, if you think Damian Thompson was exaggerating, here is his response/comment in Father Z's blog...

There were four journalists at the press conference – Anna Arco of the Herald, a Catholic guy from Reuters, Elena Curti from the Tablet and me from the Telegraph. I was sceptical that the Cardinal really envisaged the arrival of the Gregorian Rite (his term) in "many ordinary Catholic parishes" and my jaw dropped – and heart leapt – when he said: "Not many – all." Twice. Elena bristled and started talking about going backwards and said something along the lines of "but we [the laity] are now priests, kings and prophets". At which point I told the Cardinal that I wanted to dissociate myself from her comments, that young people were increasingly delighted by the opportunity to experience the TLM and were very grateful for his efforts."

As we left, three out of the four journalists kissed the Cardinal's ring. Guess which one didn't – but then I suppose she's already a priest, king and prophet or whatever.
Comment by Damian Thompson — 14 June 2008 @ 6:00 pm

How soon can we get the Cardinal to say the TLM here in the US (maybe even the Archdiocese of Boston?)?

A TLM begins on the North Shore! (updated)

Deo gratias!

God closes one door...

Holy Trinity, which I've been attending for the past 5 months, has a Tridentine Low Mass at 9 am on Sundays. The attendence has slowly been increasing but the Archdiocese must close it.

And He opens another....

You are invited to

A TRIDENTINE LATIN SOLEMN HIGH MASS

The very first Vatican-authorized TLM on the North Shore in several
decades!

ST. ADELAIDE'S Roman Catholic Church, Peabody, MA

SUNDAY, JUNE 29 AT 2 P.M.
CONFESSIONS 1 p.m.
INSTRUCTION, 1:45 p.m.
Latin-English Missals provided

PLEASE TELL OTHERS.

You are Cordially Invited to a

TRIDENTINE LATIN SOLEMN HIGH MASS

On the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul

Sunday, June 29, 2008
2:00 pm

Confessions 1:00 – 1:40 pm
Instruction 1:45 pm

St. Adelaide Parish Church
708 Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960

CELEBRANT: Father Raymond Van de Moortell, Pastor

English-Latin missals available

Refreshments immediately following in the lower church

This Mass is offered in accordance with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter "Summorum Pontificum," issued "motu proprio,"
July 7, 2007

***Directions: Rte 114 to Jct. Rte. 62 SOUTH. Take 62 SOUTH for
two+ miles (into Lynnfield) to Lowell Street (four-way stop). Left on Lowell Street 1.5+ miles. St. Adelaide's is on the right side.

Update:
I did a trial run of the commute to the church as I wanted to check it out. It's rather modern. It will be interesting to see how they adapt the setting to the TLM but I will there on the 29th. By the way, I was able to get into the church because they were having Adoration (around 6 pm on a Wednesday night!). Always a good sign!

Closing of Holy Trinity

It's been reported that Holy Trinity, one of the two churches in the Archdiocese of Boston offering the TLM, is going to be closed on June 30th.

As I stated in the link above, I will continue to pray for a miracle but if they close Holy Trinity [a 20-minute drive for me], I’ll drive to Still River [an hour's drive]. Yes, Pope Benedict’s motu proprio has done wonderful things here in the Archdiocese of Boston, i.e. we'll be left with just one church which celebrates the TLM every Sunday but hey, the SSPX has opened another chapel in the diocese.

I can't tell you what a comfort the TLM has been to me the past few months. It has been my refuge, readying me for the spiritual combat of the ensuing week.

Oh well, I'm already not contributing financially to the Archdiocese. I guess my physical presence isn't needed either. Edited to add: I contribute a decent amount to this parish, Holy Trinity. I wish I could have done more financially.

Thanks Cardinal Sean!

Pope Benedict, saying the Rosary in Latin?!

http://rectaratio.blogspot.com/2008_05_11_archive.html#5995393412669569253

From RectaRatio...

You Can Now Buy A 4-CD Set Of the Holy Father Reciting the Rosary In Latin
Latin was chosen because of its universality.

Now, I tried to hunt it down on the Vatican Bookstore site, without success. For now, this might have to be an item you buy only there in Rome in person.

I have made some progress with my efforts, begun last year, to say the Rosary in Latin. The only big stumbling block has been my inability to find the Latin translation for the Prayer Before the Rosary ("O Queen of the Holy Rosary, thou hast deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three shepherd children the treasures of grace...".).

Of course, I have the Paters, Aves, and Minor Doxologies by rote, along with the Salve Regina, and have for some years now. I still have to read the Latin for the Fatima Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, the Prayer After the Rosary, the Prayer to Saint Michael, and the Guardian Angel Prayer, as well as the actual announcements of the Mysteries.

Progress comes slow.

A Little Irreverent

There's another cute one I have to post later (or tomorrow) from I Can Has Cheezburger with a 'Christian' theme.

see more cute cat pics

I'm Pretty Proud of My Daughter

It appears that the first guy that my daughter dated and really cared for has dumped her, via text message (yes, an incredibly tacky way of doing it). She's not what I would call a religious person but she has begun praying, specifically, I thought, that they get back together. So I said to her, "You know, God doesn't always answer our prayers in a way that we would like, if it's not His Will." She said, "I know. [former boyfriend's name] and I may not get back together, he may not be in God's plan for me but I've also been praying that he finds someone good to be with."

Is she nice or what?

What do you say when a Secular Humanist asks...

"Why is there so much evil in the world?"

You could just roll your eyes and say, "I know, isn't it awful?"

Or you could say it's due to the destruction of the family and pushing God out of our lives.

She asked and I answered. I don't think she liked the answer. Oh well!

Prayer Request

Please pray for a friend of ours, a very nice young man who is going to be in a difficult situation tomorrow night.

It's not life-threatening. I just fear his heart's going to get more broken than it already is.

2Co 11:19 For you gladly suffer the foolish: whereas yourselves are wise.

The veil

I wore my veil to Eucharistic Adoration today. I felt a little strange doing it because this is a Novus Ordo parish. However, I have begun attending a TLM (Thank you Pope Benedict for your Motu Proprio) in Boston and so I wear the veil there. It seems silly (hypocritical?) to wear the veil in one circumstance but not the other. It's either appropriate or it's not.

The Traditional Catholic's Motto

We are what you once were.
We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshipped.
If you were right then, we are right now.
If we are wrong now, you were wrong then.

One Day, I'll Be Pope!

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