Prayer Request July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Latin Mass, manhood, priests, Tradition, true leadership, Virtue.comments closed
One of the good things that came out of this weekend was meeting a priest visiting Mater Dei from another Texas diocese. I don’t want to give too many details for obvious reasons, but this priest has a strong interest in learning TLM, his parish has one of those “stable” groups of souls who would like the TLM, and he is beginning to learn it. He also shared some things with me that make it plain that there is a providential element to his desire to offer the TLM which sort of simmered in the background for a few years but over the past few months has become much more urgent. I think we may have another priest offering the TLM soon.
Two interesting things he told me that I can share: he enjoyed matching faces with some of the priests he’s heard many times on Audio Sancto (a very good sign), and he has been edified by the content on Faithful Answers. He definitely appears to be on the right track.
But I’m certain he will meet with obstacles and even persecution along the way. That is simply the way of things in the Church in this time. So would you consider, in your charity, praying for Father M.L., for his continued cooperation with Grace and submitting to what certainly seems – based on some amazing things he shared with me – the Will of God for him in learning the Mass? I am certain he will appreciate it, and I will be praying for him myself, as I already did today.
Thank you and God bless you! The glory of the Mass is being realized, one soul at a time! There will come a time, in the not too distant future, when the traditional Mass is simply the Mass again, and this period of awful experimentation and abuse will be looked back on as a dark time in the long history of the Church.
Dominus vobiscum!
Weekend greatness July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, awesomeness, family, farm, General Catholic, Society.comments closed
It turned out to be quite a good, even in some respects superlative weekend. Even though while in Kansas we were unable to assist at Mass (the options being almost non-existent), we had a lot of fun. One thing I got to do was to shoot most of my guns, a whole bunch. It’s the most shooting I’ve done in the past year, at least:
One of the targets demolished by 7.62×39
We got up to our land just after it had been harvested. But harvest was still going in full swing in the area (in fact, it needed to be going even more in full swing). There is a family who farms our land for us and we stopped by their place while they were in the midst of cutting. My daughters got to ride in a big rig, a first time:
After the farmer dumped a load in the semi’s trailer, the kids had a blast playing in the grain. They also got to slide down the chutes. The farmer’s family has a couple of very outgoing boys who were much fun for my kids. I’m so glad they got to play together.
Then for the big moment, we got to ride in the combine. I really would like to drive some day, but it’s actually pretty complicated. I’d probably drive the reel into the ground or break something. That would be bad.
Sorry for the shaky cam, the ride was rough and there were four of us jammed in the cab. Just pretend your watching a JJ Abrams movie:
I could watch that reel work all day.
Let me tell you, you can’t see it in these videos but we were standing downwind of the combine most of the time and those clouds of wheat dust and chaff were just killing us.
The below has nothing to do with me or my farm, but it gives a lot of interesting perspectives….except from inside the combine! You should really watch it if for nothing else but the camera angles. The harvest scenes begin at ~6:50. At 8:20 and 10:15 you can see what I mean by being abused by clouds of chaff and dust. This guy also operates a Case IH combine similar to the one I rode on:
I’ve never seen a camera on a reel before. Incredible. That guy deserves an award.
Awesome Austin Procession last week; or wherein I admit my manifest failure as Catholic blogger July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Ecumenism, episcopate, Eucharist, fun, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Society, Spiritual Warfare, Tradition, true leadership, Virtue.comments closed
Quite possibly one of the most gloriously significant events in the Church in this great State of Texas in decades occurred on Corpus Christi……ahem……Sunday in Austin, and I failed to say a thing about it. It’s not for want of help from readers. Not one but two different readers sent me links and very helpful information. And still I failed to say a word last week. I really have no excuse. I just plain forgot, even after being reminded more than once.
Nevertheless, the first Corpus Christi Procession to a state capitol building in a very long time (quite possibly, ever) in this country took place and was a well attended, well-covered (except by me) event. It received near top billing on the local news. Thousands processed. Many more witnessed this transcendent, uniquely Catholic act of faith.
All in all, it was a very big win (vid coverage at link, could not imbed):
Saint Mary Cathedral hosted its annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession on Sunday. For the first time ever, the church brought the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction into the Texas State Capitol.
“This is called the Feast of Corpus Christi, and this is the day we celebrate the belief we have of Jesus truly present with us right here, right now. He walked the Earth 2,000 years ago, but he didn’t leave us alone, he walks with us every single day,” said Joan Maroney. [And He is literally present in the Blessed Sacrament, whether walking, riding, or reposed in the tabernacle]
The historic Eucharistic Procession began at Saint Mary Cathedral on 10th Street in downtown Austin, then made its way to the Capitol Rotunda. The church held a mass prior to the procession Sunday morning. Hundreds of parishioners filled the streets in a solemn, emotional walk.
“It’s sort of a recognition in the importance, I think, in the role we play in the community, various charitable activities and so on we are involved in,” said Blake Krass. [I might also add, it’s a way to show non-Catholics Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, in the flesh. Not so to speak…..that’s Him. So what if it doesn’t “look” like Him, it’s HIM! And He is the only way to salvation, so get on board!]
Pics and an amateur video below:
Video below. Thanks to the person who shot it. I’ve never heard the Pater Noster concluded “and deliver us from the evil one” before. But I’ve also led a sheltered life.
Some folks seem to get that we don’t engage in casual conversation in front of Our Lord, any more than we would talk about our lunch plans with the President standing there, or how rad we found the White House (well…..maybe this president). But it’s sad that many others did not seem to get it. Then with the shushing. Much could be learned from the decorum of traditional parishes! It is possible for hundreds of people to process with nary a word!
This was a very blessed event. I have great appreciation for the Bishop of Austin, Joe Vasquez, and the cathedral choir, for being willing to host this Procession. I pray this becomes a tradition, not just in Austin, but throughout Texas and the entire nation. We have much to offer reparation for, and Processions can be both witness and act of reparation.
How about we process here in Dallas! There is certainly enough precedent for it, as reader MFG has shown us with the pics he sent me, like the conclusion of a Corpus Christi Procession in this Diocese decades ago:
Let us pray and encourage Bishop Farrell to give such witness to our Faith! This is the kind of ecumenism I can get behind!
Here’s a parting thought – is it any coincidence that the diocese that put this great event on has a TLM at the cathedral?
Traditional priests may (will?) outnumber non-traditional priests in France by 2038 July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, catachesis, Christendom, disaster, error, foolishness, General Catholic, horror, priests, scandals, secularism, self-serving, the return, Tradition.comments closed
And, I would think, traditional Catholics will similarly outnumber non-traditional ones around the same time.
This is actually a phenomenon I have speculated on in an anecdotal manner on this blog. Looking at the trends in France, in particular, where, I will say it, Novus Ordo parishes and priestly vocations have collapsed to ludicrously low levels, and with the strong presence of not only the Society of St. Pius X, but also the FSSP, Institute of the Good Shepherd, and other groups, I have posited for some time that traditional Catholics would become a majority in France within a 15-20 years. For instance, it is already known that 30+% of all ordinations in France are for traditional groups/order. It turns out, my estimate was not far off, someone graphed the trends and found that traditional priests will outnumber non-traditional ones around 2038 (via Rorate twitter feed):
2038 is not very far away – only 24 years. So, I may live to see the day when traditional Catholicism makes up the majority of a much smaller Church in many countries. Rorate noted that the trend lines do not include the monastic orders, which have quite a few priests among them. That would make the transition occur even earlier. I also think the increase in traditional priestly vocations will gradually depart from the linear growth model shown above to a more asymptotic one (it will go more vertical). But when such will occur is only for the Lord to know.
In detail, I’m not sure how reliable the data is, especially pinpointing the rate of decay of non-traditional priests, but I think the overall trend, in France, at least, is reliable. Traditional Catholicism is very strong in France, and the post-conciliar new order very weak, so that there likely will be a convergence at some point. Whether that is in 2038, or 2025, or 2100, I don’t know, but it will occur. It will be fascinating to see how such a situation plays out, especially if the post-conciliar status quo remains in place with hostile progressives occupying most of the levers of power. Or will the status quo remain? One would think that if the post-conciliar Church does collapse to such a marked extent, there would have to be some movement towards a more traditional mode of belief and practice, but who knows? Ideology is a powerful thing, sometimes, the most powerful thing. Such circumstances could even engender increased radicalism.
But they could also be remarkably clarifying. If the Church really is faced with a new religion in the post-conciliar ethos, observing the reaction of the “new religion” to a situation where traditional priests and Catholics outnumber non-traditional ones could unmistakably reveal the differences and provide a clear picture of the stark contrast between the two. Not that I hope such occurs. Quite the contrary, I’d rather see a holy, devout, strong, vibrant, growing, orthodox Church all around. But I’m afraid we may not get there before experiencing the very nadir of contraction and destruction, first.
On a related note, how sad will it be to think that France will almost certainly have fewer than 1500 priests within 30 years or so? Incredible, and not in a good way. I would hazard to guess Paris alone had around 1000 priests a century or so ago. Maybe more recently than that. And now the entire country most likely will not muster even 1500 at some point in the not too distant future? Tragic.
Finally, let’s not have the comments devolve into warring camps proclaiming “SSPX are our saviors” versus “SSPX are protestant”. I think we can comment and discuss this likely future scenario without going down that particular rabbit hole.
Two awesome, efficacious prayers for you! – Part 2, Thirty Days Prayer to the BVM July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Christendom, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Interior Life, Novenas, Our Lady, sanctity, Spiritual Warfare, Tradition, Virtue.comments closed
I posted previously an Act of Reparation, which was the first great prayer for today. The second is a Thirty Day Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Honor of the Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, thanks to my wife for typing this up for me!
(By the devout recital of this prayer during thirty days, we may firmly hope to obtain our lawful request. It is particularly recommended as a proper devotion for every day in Lent, and all the Fridays throughout the year.)
Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of virgins, Mother of mercy, hope and comfort of all dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of 
sorrow, which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His disciple St. John: take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of what kind soever. Thou art the Mother of mercies, the sweet Consolatrix and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted.
Cast therefore an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer. For since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, whither can I fly for more secure shelter, O Mother of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection. Attend then, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my most humble and earnest request.
I ask it through the infinite mercy of thy dear Son; through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance 
with thy divine will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months, thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit this world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it through that anguish of mind wherewith His blessed Mother, His Apostles and Disciples, and when in their presence, He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it through the awful appearance of thy Son at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I ask it through the compassion He bore thee in this life, and the ineffable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into Heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin, comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me…
(Here mention or reflect on your request, under the reservation of its being agreeable to the will of God, who sees whether it will contribute to your spiritual good.)
And as I am persuaded my divine Savior doth honor thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou askest nothing 
contrary to His honor, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the request and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him.
Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbor, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God perseverance in all good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, a strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively, attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacraments of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favor. Lastly obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting from only Giver of each good and perfect gift, the Lord God almighty: to whom be all power, now and forever. Amen.
Two awesome, efficacious prayers for you! – Part 1, Act of Reparation July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Christendom, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Interior Life, Latin Mass, sanctity, Spiritual Warfare, Tradition, Virtue.comments closed
My wife found these prayers in a pre-conciliar prayer book that we found, amazingly, in a dusty old barn down in Harper. It belonged to her aunt, apparently. The book is called Key of Heaven and my wife has found it very efficacious and helpful. She in particular finds two prayers edifying. The first one is presented below. The second will appear in a post to follow shortly.
This first prayer is an Act of Reparation. We live in a time and place that screams for such pious acts. We are awash in a culture that is increasingly pagan and hostile to Christian belief. We live in a time that is approaching the absolute nadir of human immorality seen only in places like Sodom and Gomorrah and in Noah’s time before the flood. It is only through prayer, and especially acts of reparation like the one below, that we can hope to save ourselves and others from what appears to be a coming inevitable onslaught. I know one traditional priest in particular who stresses that prayers of reparation, and even more importantly, Communions of reparation, should be a constant part of the lives of pious souls.
Thanks to my lovely wife for typing these up for me!
O sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.
Mindful, alas! That we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offences, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, who renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.
We are now resolved to expiate all outrages committed against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offences against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violation of Sundays and Holy days, and the blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy Priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the Sacrament of Thy divine love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations, who resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded. [In our nation, it is now a scandal to millions that some of us find it offensive to pay for the gross immorality of others in the form of contraception or abortion. And yet pay we do. And soon we will have to subsidize the lives of those lost in the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.]
Would, O Divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction thou didst once make to Thy eternal Father on the cross and which Thou dost continue to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints, and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can, with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel, especially that of charity. We promise, to the best of our power, to prevent others from offending Thee, and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.
O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance, keep us faithful unto death in the duty and allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all, one day, come to that happy home, where Thou, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.
————End Quote———–
That is just a fantastic prayer. I am so glad my wife found it and realized it needed to be shared.
This prayer could be turned into a Novena of Reparation. Or simply part of one’s daily prayers. It is a great spiritual work of mercy/charity to offer such prayers for the millions lost in sin, who have forgotten the Faith, or turned away from it deliberately. It is also a great and necessary work on behalf of those who may be engaged in the Church to some degree, but who have fallen into the myriad errors that abound at this present time in the Church, such as rank immodesty or impurities of all kinds.
I hope you find this prayer beneficial!
Start Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel today! July 7, 2014
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Domestic Church, General Catholic, Glory, Grace, Interior Life, Novenas, Our Lady, sanctity, Tradition, Victory, Virtue.comments closed
The Commemoration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is on July 16, as always. Start your Novenas today. Thanks to reader MJD for the below:
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand your power. O, show me herein you are my mother.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (Mention your intentions here.)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us.
Litany of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of Heaven, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Victorious over Satan, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Most Obedient Daughter, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Most Pure Virgin, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Devoted Spouse, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother Most Tender, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Model of Perfect Virtue, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sure Anchor of Hope, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Refuge in Sorrow, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Dispensatrix of the Gifts of God, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bastion Against Our Enemies, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Aid in Danger, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, The Way Leading to Jesus, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Light in Darkness, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Consolation at the Hour of Death, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Advocate of the Most Abandoned Sinners, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, For the Hardened in Vice, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, For Those who Offend Thy Divine Son, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, For Those Who Neglect to Pray, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel,For Those Who are in Agony, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, For Those Who Defer Their Conversion, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel,For Those Suffering in Purgatory, Pray for us Sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, For Those Who Do Not Know Thee. Pray for us Sinners.
Let Us Pray: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God’s tenderest mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence I prostrate myself before thee, beseeching thee to obtain for me [Mention request silently]. In return I solemnly promise to have recourse to thee in all my trials, sufferings and temptations, and I shall do all in my power to induce others to love and reverence thee and to invoke thee in all their needs. I thank thee for the numberless blessings which I have received from thy mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be my shield in danger, my guide in life, and my consolation at the hour of death. Amen.
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