Most American kids can’t name 5 presidents, or understand fundamentals of civics….. March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in abdication of duty, asshatery, Basics, disaster, error, foolishness, General Catholic, horror, persecution, sadness, scandals, sexual depravity, sickness, Society.comments closed
…..but by God allah, in Obama’s America, we can certainly teach kids the truly voluminous contributions to history of transgenders:
What’s funny is that in Canada, the state cowering to muslims and homosexuals is turning into quite a battle – they can’t please both at the same time. It won’t be long before that occurs here, too.
This is nothing but indoctrination – vagaries of nature forcibly applied to humans, although the true biological evidence for such is nonexistent. Note also the implicit assumption of evolution – if clownfish can switch genders (maybe they can, maybe they can’t, I’m just going with the argument), and people are descended from fish, ergo……..
Please. Did you notice the bored and skeptical faces of the kids? Most kids, if they have kept their innocence intact, have a good feel for the natural law, that law God wrote on their hearts. They will know what they are being presented with is contrary to what they feel is right. So, it takes indoctrination to turn kids away from that natural law, with rewards for “good” behavior and increasing punishments for those who refuse to give in. This is just the beginning. It won’t be long before people have to publicly evidence their worship of “sexual diversity” through some public demonstration. A figurative burning of a pinch in incense, if you will. All in the name of “tolerance,” of course.
h/t TFP
Reason number 9987 for homeschooling.
First round of voting: black smoke March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, disaster, episcopate, error, Four Last Things, General Catholic, priests, Tradition, Virtue.comments closed
So, the first and only round of voting to take place today resulted, unsurprisingly, in no pope. It takes 2/3 of the 115 votes, or 77 votes to select a pope. There have been many reports the conclave is badly divided with no obvious choice to replace Pope Benedict XVI – frankly, I think he shocked even the Cardinal-electors and, since the Pope Emeritus’ health has generally – generally – been good, there weren’t any real efforts to groom, if you will, or “gather around,” an immediate successsor. There are four rounds of voting tomorrow and Thursday – if there is no Pope selected by then, the conclave will likely last into next week.
What kind of pope should be selected? Well, Michael Voris has had (as usual) some fantastic videos up of late, on all manner of subjects, but especially on the prime crises in the Church today, the crises that overhang everything else: the general collapse in priestly/episcopal leadership in the Church, and the division that continues in the Church due to the differing interpretations of Vatican II, which interpretations are largely responsible for the first crisis, the crisis of leadership.
The first video is sure to appeal to at least some readers, as I know they believe, as I do, that the dimunition of the reality of hell in today’s Church, the de-emphasis to the point of pretending hell doesn’t even exist, or at least, that a “merciful” God would never send anyone there for all eternity, in complete contradiction to our Savior’s repeated, frequent pronouncements to the contrary, is probably THE dominant factor in so many souls either leaving the Church entirely, or remaining within the Church physically but rejecting so much of what she believes. For if no one goes to hell, why bother with Mass, or inconveniencing oneself to adhere to the Faith? I like the visual of the “one, two knockout punch” of disbelief in hell, and rampant indifferentism, as the prime causes of the tepidity of so many Catholics, including those appointed to critical positions of authority in the Faith.
One can see what Voris addresses in the above video – the total forgetfulness of so many Catholics, including and possibly especially priests and prelates, regarding all that went before 1965 – in microcosm in the NFP presentations I discussed so much in the past two weeks. Many NFP advocates promote the “unitive’ aspect of marriage highlighted in Guadium Et Spes and stressed in Humanae Vitae to the near total exclusion of the procreative aspect, but the pre-VII Tradition always – ALWAYS – maintained that the prime aspect/end of marriage was the procreation and education of children – the religious education, especially. That is just one area, but a critical one, where a “hermeneutic of rupture” dominates in the Church. I highly recommend all my readers to read Roberto de Mattei’s signal contribution to the scholarship of the Church with the first comprehensive history of the Council from an orthodox Catholic perspective. I think if you do, you will very clearly understand exactly how that rupture or “spirit of Vatican II” came to be, and how at least a portion of the Council fathers were the instigators of that rupture (such as, Cardinal Suenens of Belgium pleading with Pope Paul VI to have VII somehow declare contraceptive use “moral”).
This second video reviews a sermon or talk given by Fr. John Colet to the bishops of England shortly before Henry VIII took the English portion of the Church into revolt against the Primacy of Peter. Henry VIII, in his fall from a fairly pious and healthy youth into a foul, maloderous old man totally given over to his passions, was jealous of the authority of the Papacy and took his Church into heresy and schism.
Yes, I’m aware that Fr. Colet was an early proponent of “Christian humanism,” and perhaps stressed Scripture against Tradition at times. That he was loved by Erasmus, who some see as a proto-protestant (he was problematic, but not a protestant) is not necessarily an indictment.
My hat is off to Fr. Larry….. March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in attachments, awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, disaster, error, General Catholic, Interior Life, North Deanery, Sacraments, sadness, scandals, sexual depravity, true leadership.comments closed
…..who blogs at wherethereispeter and has a post up on that dirty little word masturbation, like contraception, one of those (I fear) exceedingly frequent sins that just gets swept under the rug at most parishes, as if it never happens “to our parishioners” (really, a priest once told me they didn’t have much confession because his parishioners didn’t sin much! But, to his credit, he did add some more Confession time later, I don’t know if that was my doing, or the more orthodox young vicar that had been recently assigned – I suspect the latter). I excerpt much of his post below, with my emphasis and comments as per usual:
Masturbation is a grave evil that when done with full knowledge and full consent of the will can land you in Hell. [the adjective “full” did not traditionally apply to the commission of mortal sin. At least, there is great debate in the Church on this subject, and this was one of those possible changes in definition in Lumen Gentium that caused the more orthodox prelates at VII so much heartache. I would just say “knowledge and consent of the will,” that is, you know it’s wrong (against the belief of the Church/natural law/moral law and you have a chance to think about it, or it’s not done against your will. In a bizaare situation, like someone holding a gun to your head and demanding you do something you know is immoral, there is no culpability because you are not really consenting] Those who die in a state of Mortal Sin suffer the everlasting pains of Hell. Masturbation when done with full knowledge and full consent of the will is a mortal sin. When confessing mortal sins, one must, to the best of their recollection, state the number of time this mortal sin has been committed.
Masturbation is on the same plane as contraception and homosexual activity because it is using the great gift of our sexuality which is not open to the creation of life. Nor does Masturbation fulfill the other requirement of the proper use of our sexuality: The unity of the spouse. Mutual masturbation, oral sex, or anal sex are also not open to the creation of life and thus are in the same moral category. [Great stuff. It’s good to cover these frequently committed ancillary acts. Even groral or granal sex committed as an antecedent to the marital act are still disordered and at least venial sins, even if the marital act is eventually accomplished in its intended way, due to the danger of accidents and total frustration of the marital act. Also, the focus on pleasure associated with these other forms of sexuality is disordered]
Most people are aware that rape is not a sexual act but is an act of violence. When linked with pornography, masturbation is equivalent to raping yourself. That is why masturbation is often called “self-abuse.” Since you cannot do what you want to the women (or men) in these pictures because you have no control over their bodies, you exercise your control over your own body. Therefore, masturbation is often brought on by frustration, anger, rejection, or a sense of not being in control. [Very good description]
Animals have the ability to reproduce, but do not have an immortal and rational soul. Angels have an immortal and rational soul but, since they are created individually by God and have no connection to any other angel, they cannot reproduce. Therefore, the devil wants to constantly drag us down to the animal level and pull us away from our God-given gift of procreation. Furthermore, Jesus did not become an angel but became man. Therefore, the devil hates to have to bow down to a human and so constantly tries to pull us down from our exalted dignity.
Do not let the devil do that to you. You are a SON (Daughter) of God Almighty. Claim your dignity. Call on God and the saints and angels to protect in this fight against the devil. When you go to the Sacrament of Confession, God will run up and give you a great big hug and say “Welcome Home, I love you.” After the Sacrament of Confession, you will as St. Paul has said, “put on the armor of righteousness” so you will be able to fight the devil like a man.
There is more at Fr. Adamcyzk’s post here (I hope I spelled his name right!) I thank God He, in His beneficence, given us priests like Fr. Adamcyzk, who are willing to speak all the Truth of the Faith, and not merely those that are easy or comfortable, and for giving us, in this day, means to hear the words of these often distant priests through forms of technology.
And I still want to know how Fr. Adamcyzk finds such great pictures on the intrawebs! I never find ones this cool!
Conclave Cardinal – “It’s a dangerous time” March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in abdication of duty, Basics, disaster, episcopate, error, foolishness, General Catholic, Papa, sadness.comments closed
That, anyways, is what Dr. Robert Moynihan, American “vaticanista,” is reporting he heard in a conversation with an older Cardinal of unspecified nationality or theological viewpoint (orthodox, progressive, moderate, etc):
“I only wanted to tell you one thing,” I said. “That I loved Pope Benedict.”
He stood still.
“I did too, and I do love him,” the cardinal said.
“And so I have been troubled and a bit off balance since February 11,” I said.
And then, as if filled with a sudden emotion, I saw the cardinal’s face grow dark and sad, and he said, forcefully: “I love him, but this should never have happened. He never should have left his office.”
I was silent.
“It is like a man and a woman, a husband and wife, a mother and father in relation to their children,” he said. “What do they say?” It seemed he was asking me the question.
I was silent.
“They say, ‘until death do us part!’ They stay together always.” [from this exchange, I would hazard that this prelate is of a more orthodox or traditional viewpoint. I havent’ read too many complaints from the progressive side regarding Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI]
So I understood him to be saying that he felt a Successor of Peter should not step down from the throne, no matter how weary and tired, but continue until death.
I felt the words he was speaking were the words of an argument that may have been used even among the cardinals, but of course, that may not be the case.
But I felt that I was catching a glimpse of how at least one cardinal was thinking about the Pope’s renunciation.
“Your eminence,” I said, “I’ve forgotten. Are you already above age 80, or not?
“I am not yet 80,” he told me.
“So you will be voting tomorrow.”
He nodded, and a look passed over his eyes which seemed filled with shadows and concerns. I was surprised at his intensity. I was surprised by the whole conversation.
He squeezed my hand. “Is there anything else I can do?” I asked.
“Pray for us,” he said. “Pray for us.”
He turned as if he needed to go.
“I have to go.”
He took a step away from me, then turned again.
“It is a dangerous time. Pray for us.”
I am. I will have to do more. The first ballots may be being cast at this very moment.
3rd Century convert Lactantius on heresy March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, Ecumenism, error, General Catholic, Interior Life, sanctity, secularism, Society, Tradition.Tags: proof of faith
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Lucius Caelius Firmianus Lactantius was a late 3rd/early 4th century convert to the Catholic Faith. I read some of his writings from a document called The Divine Institutions lately, and thought his words on heresies were worth sharing (from Jurgen, The Faith of the Early Fathers, Vol. 1 pp. 267-8, my emphasis and comments).
But since many heresies have come about, and because the people of God have been cut apart at the instigation of demons, the truth
Lactantius
must be briefly marked out by us, and must be placed within its own proper domicile. Thus, if anyone wishes to draw the water of life, he will not be turned aside to broken cisterns which hold no supply, but he will know the abundant fountains of God; and when he has been watered there, he will lay hold of perpetual light……But all of these ensnared in demoniacal deceits, which they ought to have foreseen and to have guarded against, have through their imprudence lost the name and worship of God. Whether they be called Phyrgians, Or Novatians, or Valentinians, or Marcionites, or Anthropians, or whatever else, [or protestants….] having lost the name of Christ, they have ceased to be Christians, and have put on human and foreign names. [I think this is very simple, but also sublime. All these sects bear the names of men – Lutherans, Wesleyans, Calvinists, Arians, Eutychians, Hussites, the list goes on. “They have put on human and foreign names.” Indeed.]
It is, therefore, the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. [The term “Catholic Church” dates from at least the first decades of the 2nd century – ~AD 107. It was in wide use by the time this was written, around AD 300] This is the fountain of truth; this, the domicile of faith; this, the temple of God. Whoever does not enter there or whoever does not go out from here, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation…….Because, however, all the various groups of heretics are confident that they are the true Christians, and think that theirs is the true church, let it be known: that is the true Church, in which there is Confession and penance, and which takes a salubrious care of the sins and wounds to which the weak flesh is subject. [I found it amazing that Lactantius brought up Confession and penance, when it is exactly issues surrounding Sacramental Confession and all it entails that led to the protestant revolt!]
It is no wonder that you, who are far removed from the Wisdom of God, understand nothing of the things you have read; for not even the Jews, who were well-read in the Prophets from the beginning, and to whom the mystery of God was consigned, knew what they were reading. Learn, then, if you have any sense at all, that it is not because He worked miracles that we believe in Christ and that He is God, but because we have seen that in Him were fulfilled all the things that were announced to us beforehand by the predictions of the prophets……….[This was said because many pagans accused Christians of being low-brow fools who fell for simple “magic tricks” conducted by Jesus]
……Now let us seal the whole argument with a brief summarization. The world was made for this reason, that we might be born. We, in turn, are born, that we might know God, the Maker of the world and of us. We know, in turn, that we may worship. And again, we worship so that we may receive immortality as the reward of our labors – for the worship of God entails great labors indeed. And, in turn, we are recompensed with the reward of immortality so that having been made like the angels, we may serve the Most High Father and Lord forever, and may be an everlasting kingdom unto God. This is the sum of things; this is the secret of God; this, the mystery of the world.
——————————End Quote——————————–
Almost 2000 years ago, such arguments, in their totality and fineness (only brief excerpts above), swayed a hostile, jaded, highly educated pagan world. I think we shall have to go back to such first principles again, and soon, in order to sway a hostile, jaded, highly sexualized pagan world.
I’m late! Novena to St. Joseph March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, family, General Catholic, Good St. Joseph, Grace, Interior Life, sanctity, Tradition, Virtue, Voris.comments closed
Sorry, all, because I was out yesterday I didn’t get this out in time. The Novena to St. Joseph should really have started yesterday, or even the day before (Sunday, March 10). Here is one version below, sent by reader MJD, and here are some links to other versions I blogged on previously:
Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. I have special confidence in you. You are powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me, to your intercession. By the love you have for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon me during life, and assist me at the hour of my death. Glorious Saint Joseph, be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary. Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I am confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Through Christ, our Lord. AMEN. (MENTION YOUR INTENTIONS)
Please pray for my wife! March 12, 2013
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, Domestic Church, family, Interior Life.comments closed
For those who may keep a list of those suffering with illness or injury they pray for, if you would, in your charity, pray for my wife who suffered a nasty injury over the weekend, I would appreciate it. It’s not life threatening or even debillitating, but it’s painful and could be in a tricky place to heal.
I very much appreciate your kindness in this matter. My wife is a really great, caring, faithful woman.
Deo Gratias!
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