Tradicat

+ JMJ      Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away, may he rest in peace.   This will undoubtably cause much debate over whether his was a good or bad pontificate.  However, our opinions will not be weighed with the sight of God who sees not just the action, but the intent. P^3  Image from Rorate https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2022/12/thank-you-joseph-ratzinger-well-always.html http://www.lmschairman.org/2022/12/farewell-pope-benedict-official.html  

 + JMJ   By Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95206525    I don't understand why they're afraid of this Mass!    I remember clearly speaking in a dim parking lot on a cool November evening with a priest (RIP) for the diocese.  The local bishop had just refused permission for the Tridentine Mass requested by a group under the auspices of Summorum Pontificum. He stood there and said "I don't understand why they're afraid of this Mass!". The Bishop had made clear that if he proceeded with publicly offering the Mass, he services in the diocese would no longer be required and he would have to return to his order's Mother House.   He acquiesced to the bishop's order, however a few weeks later Universae Ecclesiae was promulgated and within two weeks we attended a meeting with the Bishop and the 'group' that had made the request and ... been in discussions with a Canon Lawyer to begin t

 + JMJ In my opinion, for all his faults, with Summorum Pontificum (link) and Universae Ecclesiae (link) Benedict XVI, did more for the Church than any other post-conciliar pontiff.  Even as Pope Francis attempts to undo this work, we Catholics have a duty and obligation to pray that Benedict has a good death and for his salvation. P^3    Source: BBC News (and others)  Other references https://aleteia.org/2022/12/28/vatican-spokesman-benedicts-condition-has-worsened-in-last-few-hours/     By Paul Kirby BBC News Pope Francis has said former Pope Benedict XVI is very ill and he has asked pilgrims at the Vatican to pray for him. Benedict, 95, became the first leader of the Catholic Church to stand down in 600 years in 2013, citing advanced age. At the end of the Pope's final audience of the year, he asked people to "pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict". The Vatican then said the ex-Pope's health had worsened in recent hours. "The situation at the mom

 + JMJ     Wishing you a Merry (or Happy) Christmas and a Happy and Holy New Year! P^3 P.S. I'll be on a blogging holiday for a while!

 + JMJ    I don't think this is what she had in mind ... Don't lose your sense of humour, if someone else finds it, they'll never return it! P^3

   + JMJ Locus of Control refers to an individual's perception about the underlying main causes of events in his/her life. When you failed a test who did you think was responsible?  Was it yourself for not studying or do you blame the teacher because you feel the test was too hard? How you answer this and similar questions helps to define your 'Locus of Control.  In general, it seems to be psychologically healthy to perceive that one has control over those things which one is capable of influencing. With control comes responsibility.     So this leads to the concept of Divine Providence.  God arranges events etc for us to the best advantage. However, He does not take away our free-will to make decisions counter to the His Will. As mentioned previously, ultimately our decisions are our own, influenced by Grace, but still free.  So the next time you want to blame Pope Francis or someone else, think about what decisions you made, because I doubt Pope Francis made you do it. We don

 + JMJ     https://despair.com/products/mistakes?variant=2457302467 At some point in a competition, exhaustion starts to become an internal competition between the body and the will.  The same can be said for the continual struggle to be a good Catholic in this world.  I know, I know ... there are millions of Catholics who are not SSPX or even Traditional who are "good Catholics".  The key difference is how much they care about what has happened over the last hundred years.  Yes, you read that correctly. The fight for the soul of Catholicity started well before the Second Vatican Council.  That was when the closeted Modernists came out of their respective closets.  Since then, for those aware of the conflict, it has been a continual battle against the World, Flesh and Devil. The problem is that, if you just pour yourself into the battle without a strong protected supply chain (see list) then you will run out of energy for the fight, become discouraged and eventually exhaustip

   + JMJ For reference I have created a summary Map for the First Friday (Sacred Heart) and Saturday Devotions (Immaculate Heart) devotion.  P^3 First Friday Overview In 1688, during an apparition to Saint Margaret Mary, Our Lord Jesus Christ promised the grace of the Holy Death to those who would receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of the month, nine months in a row. This was called The Great Promise. Reparatory Communions on the First Fridays of the month: The Twelfth Promise was inserted in full in the Bull of Canonization of St. Margaret Mary on May 13, 1920, by Pope Benedict XV. He thus wanted to encourage the practice of reparatory communions on the nine first Fridays of the month, in honour of the Sacred Heart. Promises I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. I will establish peace in their homes. I will comfort them in all their afflictions. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death. I will bestow abundant blessings up