A blessed Christmastide to all

Pray for Archbishop Neinstedt

From Archbishop Neinstedt:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This is a difficult letter for me to write to you. This past weekend I learned of an allegation from a young man whom I anointed in the Sacrament of Confirmation who alleged that he believes I inappropriately touched his buttocks during a public photo session following the ceremony. Please allow me to say that I normally stand for those photos with one hand on my crozier (staff) and the other either on the right shoulder of the newly confirmed or on my pallium (the short stole), which hangs from my chest. I do that deliberately and there are hundreds of photographs to verify that fact.
I do not know the individual involved; he has not been made known to me. I presume he is sincere in believing what he claims, but I must say that this allegation is absolutely and entirely false. I have never once engaged in any inappropriate contact with a minor and I have tried to the very best of my ability to serve this Archdiocese and the church faithfully, with honor and due regard for the rights of all, even those with whom I disagree.
I have taken strong stands on the moral teachings of the Church and been criticized for it. I would not have done so if I did not believe those teachings and was personally bound to living up to them in practice.
True, I am a sinner, but my sins do not include any kind of abuse of minors. I have met victims and I know the lasting damage that such abuse causes.
The psalms from the Liturgy of the Hours have had a special echo in my heart these past weeks as I pray for those in distress. “But God does hear the cries of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.”
I hope that the investigations can be thorough but quick. I already long to be back in public ministry—to be able to serve as the Lord has called me to serve.
I regret this will be my last column until the present investigations are complete. These days will give me the time to pray for you and the individual involved. I ask that you pray for me too. 

With every good wish, I remain
Cordially Yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

What does Vox think?

This is what happens when you take on the homosexualist mafia as this good Archbishop has done. Evil is lurking everywhere in the Church of Christ my friends. The persecution is underway but they will not win. Christ has already won it for us.

Pray, pray for Archbishop Nienstadt and the clearing of his name. May St. Peter Damian intercede to the LORD to free the Church from these evil men who would tear Her down for the sake of sodomy.

Response to Father Tom Rosica's Salt + Light lawsuit

Further to the public release by Father Tom Rosica of Salt + Light's lawsuit against Fountain of Love and Life here is their response, notable, that they were, as faithful Catholics, trying to resolve this amicably and charitably out of the public eye!

Do you receive as our Pope and Emeritus desire?

OFFICE FOR THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF

Communion received on the tongue and while kneeling

The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. The history of the liturgy, however, makes clear that rather early on a process took place to change this practice.

From the time of the Fathers of the Church, a tendency was born and consolidated whereby distribution of Holy Communion in the hand became more and more restricted in favor of distributing Holy Communion on the tongue. The motivation for this practice is two-fold: a) first, to avoid, as much as possible, the dropping of Eucharistic particles; b) second, to increase among the faithful devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Saint Thomas Aquinas also refers to the practice of receiving Holy Communion only on the tongue. He affirms that touching the Body of the Lord is proper only to the ordained priest.

Therefore, for various reasons, among which the Angelic Doctor cites respect for the Sacrament, he writes: “. . . out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency” (Summa Theologiae, III, 82, 3).

Over the centuries the Church has always characterized the moment of Holy Communion with sacredness and the greatest respect, forcing herself constantly to develop to the best of her ability external signs that would promote understanding of this great sacramental mystery. In her loving and pastoral solicitude the Church has made sure that the faithful receive Holy Communion having the right interior dispositions, among which dispositions stands out the need for the Faithful to comprehend and consider interiorly the Real Presence of Him Whom they are to receive. (See The Catechism of Pope Pius X, nn. 628 & 636). The Western Church has established kneeling as one of the signs of devotion appropriate to communicants. A celebrated saying of Saint Augustine, cited by Pope Benedict XVI in n. 66 of his Encyclical Sacramentum Caritatis, ("Sacrament of Love"), teaches: “No one eats that flesh without first adoring it; we should sin were we not to adore it” (Enarrationes in Psalmos 98, 9). Kneeling indicates and promotes the adoration necessary before receiving the Eucharistic Christ.

From this perspective, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger assured that: "Communion only reaches its true depth when it is supported and surrounded by adoration" [The Spirit of the Liturgy (Ignatius Press, 2000), p. 90]. For this reason, Cardinal Ratzinger maintained that “the practice of kneeling for Holy Communion has in its favor a centuries-old tradition, and it is a particularly expressive sign of adoration, completely appropriate in light of the true, real and substantial presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the consecrated species” [cited in the Letter "This Congregation" of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 1 July 1, 2002].

John Paul II, in his last Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia ("The Church comes from the Eucharist"), wrote in n. 61: “By giving the Eucharist the prominence it deserves, and by being careful not to diminish any of its dimensions or demands, we show that we are truly conscious of the greatness of this gift. We are urged to do so by an uninterrupted tradition, which from the first centuries on has found the Christian community ever vigilant in guarding this ‘treasure.’ Inspired by love, the Church is anxious to hand on to future generations of Christians, without loss, her faith and teaching with regard to the mystery of the Eucharist. There can be no danger of excess in our care for this mystery, for ‘in this sacrament is recapitulated the whole mystery of our salvation.’”

In continuity with the teaching of his Predecessor, starting with the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in the year 2008, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, began to distribute to the faithful the Body of the Lord, by placing it directly on the tongue of the faithful as they remain kneeling.

Rosica and Salt + Light sue group of Chinese Catholics!

Why is Father Tom Rosica and Salt + Light suing a group of faithful Chinese Canadian Catholics and better still, why are they "Tweeting" it for all to see?

Father Tom Rosica is Excecutive Producer of Salt + Light and a Vatican spokesman. 

Who does this on Twitter?

How ugly is this for to air such as this in public!

Salt + Light ‏@saltandlighttv 22 Nov

Salt and Light’s legal claim against Paul Yeung: We thank you for your concern and support.  You can read abou... http://bit.ly/1bYQNy7 

•  

Maria Divine Mercy found: PR expert exposed as the fraud she is

Maria Divine Mercy: The Woman Behind the Curtain

November 18, 2013 AM – NEW REVELATIONS – Developing

Since Nov. 8, 2010, a woman identifying herself as Maria Divine Mercy, a Catholic messenger from God and the Last Prophet, has posted nearly 1,000 messages from Jesus, the Virgin Mary and God the Father on the Website TheWarningSecondComing.com. She has nearly 35,000 international Facebook followers and dozens of worldwide geographically-local Facebook sites. The main FB site, Jesus to Mankind, shows an image of a happy Jesus as messages report of cataclysmic global devastation and Satanic influences leading to the end times and schismatic separation of her followers from the institutional church. MDMers, as her devoted followers are known – possibly numbering hundreds of thousands – have turned into a cult-like mass of sincere, truth-seeking believers who have generated plenty of formal reaction from Catholic hierarchy, religious commentators and theologians.

She has passionate advocates and adversaries.  She has averaged four visions a week for three years that repeat prophetic warnings from a hundred years-worth of seers, and adds lots of her own to the mix, creating a worldwide discussion-frenzy and divisiveness within communities and families, split for or against. Her internet site ranks as the finest-looking bunch of Web pages for any prophet since…well…ever.  She has marketing skills!

But nothing is known of her identity. Until now.

PR GIRL GETS TAGGED

Mary McGovern

A mosaic has formed that leads to the door step of Mary Carberry, 58, of Dublin, Ireland, who does business under her maiden name of Mary McGovern. She has four children. Two have worked for her firm, McGovernPR, including her daughter Sarah Carberry, 28, and a 27-year son, a Web page designer. The 27-year-old company, McGovernPR, has won international awards for its skill in marketing products and ideas. Other Carberry companies are CultureLink, headed by her husband, John Carberry, and Digital Future Link, headed by Sarah.  Mary, John and their adult son live in Muldowney Court, MalahideCounty, Dublin, Ireland.

FULL REPORT HERE!

Rob Ford

Our City has been much in the news lately with the tragic personal situation involving our Mayor, Rob Ford. 

First and foremost, this is a personal tragedy for him and his family. I've met Rob Ford. I've had him respond numerous times to concerns as a Councillor and as Mayor. I've seen Rob Ford in action with disadvantaged youth and heard the testimony of those who know the good this man has done. For five years, he has been slandered, attacked, insulted, mocked, besmirched, ridiculed and bullied. He has fallen victim to his own demons and it was those people who did the above who drove him to it. Yes, he opened the bottle. Yes, he put the pipe in his mouth; but these wretched demons handed him the bottle and lit the match.  

I voted for Rob Ford the last time. If he is able to get the help he needs and runs again, I will vote for him again. 

Toronto Catholic Witness has written the most accurate and pointed summation of all that has been going on that can be summed up with this:

"Rob Ford is essentially a poke in the eye of Toronto's elites on the part of middle class suburbanites who feel disenfranchised and taken advantage of. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a greater insult to the powers that be than to foist an overweight, football loving, beer swilling mayor on them". 

On this Sunday, my fellow Torontonian Catholics, let us say a prayer for Rob, first and foremost for his health of mind, body and soul and for his family. I have and will continue to do so.

It would to well for us all to remember the maxim of St. Philip Neri when considering whether to mock him or not, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

Appeal for funds for a Seminarian

Dear Friends,

There is a young seminarian well known to me studying in a the Seminary of St. Philip Neri of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest in Gricigliano, Italy. As one might expect, he comes from a home-schooled family of eight children. He is well-respected by the seminary and is doing well in his courses. He is known to me personally as is his family. He is being supported by many people in his studies but it is not enough. He prays daily at Mass for all of his benefactors.

I am going to be right up front. 

Funds are needed to aid in the continuing of his formation for his tuition. The goal is to raise $10,000 in Canadian funds by Christmas. This will cover all of his needs this year and get him started on next year.

I can personally attest to this young man and his family.

If you are in Canada, you can make a donation to the Toronto Traditional Mass Society and a grant will be sent directly to support him at 100% of your donation for which you will receive a tax receipt for 2013. Outside of Canada, the receipt may apply.

You may also make the donation directly here through Canada Helps.

You may also donate by cheque with a note Seminarian JH and mail a contribution to:

Toronto Traditional Mass Society
3701 Lakeshore Boulevard West
STATION LONG BRANCH
P.O. Box 48577
Toronto, Ontario
M8W 4Y6 

For more information, please write to me at

voxcantoris@rogers.com

God bless you.

Toronto's Catholic Register manipulates Pontiff's words

Is it not bad enough? Some of the Holy Father's language and verbiage are already confusing enough and we've seen how the lame stream media have manipulated his words; but to see this in a Catholic newspaper owned by the Archdiocese of Toronto is quite another thing.

When my "gift" subscription (I don't know who my benefactor is, but there is a parish out there "ordered" to pay for 50 copies to keep it afloat that has me on their list), I was stunned. 

The headline on the cover of the October 20 edition:

"I think this is the moment of mercy" ... "Pope seeks reveiw of divorxe, annolment so barred Catholics can return to Church? Page 11...

And on Page 11:

"Pope raises hopes of unmarried Catholics - Call of synod on marriage and family could soon reopen door to sacraments to divorced."

Clearly, when our beloved Pope Emeritus spoke of the "Council of the Media" he had this kind of manipulation in mind.

The article is written by Michael Swan.

From my letter to Jim O'Leary, Editor:

Dear Jim,

As an “annulled” and remarried Catholic who abided by the Church’s teaching, I am quite disgusted by your choice of headline on the cover of the October 20 CR “…Pope seeks review….so barred Catholics can return to the Church” and equally as bad on page 11: “…could soon reopen door of sacraments to divorced.”

One could expect such ignorance and manipulation from the Toronto Star, but from a Catholic Newspaper owned by the Archdiocese of Toronto?

The Pope WILL NOT admit divorced and remarried Catholics to Holy Communion without the appropriate annulment because he has no authority to do so, civil divorce and “remarriage” is adultery and fornication, period. One who engages cannot receive Holy Communion without reaping “condemnation upon themselves” as St. Paul reminds us. Sacramental confession is necessary and a change in behaviour. This is not explained  by your trite titles or articles or the interviewed in the article. While it may be desired by the usual cabal of dissenting Catholics, modernists and protestants, he will not do it. If there is a problem it is with catechesis, the true understanding of marriage and the annulment process.

2.       I am a Catholic. When I divorced I was NEVER unwelcome, NEVER was a door closed, NEVER was I “barred from Church.” I am no Saint and when I fell, I used the appropriate remedy, but these words used by a Catholic paper are frankly, an outright fallacy , a lie and a manipulation of the truth.

At a time when the Holy Father’s words are confusing enough and when the main stream media take these and manipulate them for their own sinister means, to see a “Catholic” paper do this as well, is the height of repugnancy.

I suggest a front page retraction is in order.

Seven years ago

Dear Readers; Your indulgence please as this was originally posted, October 16, 2006 and edited for today on the seventh of anniversary of the passing into eternity of: 

A WIDOW WHO SOUGHT "THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE"

+ Martha Joan Stephen Domet +

August 15, 1915 - October 16, 2006

Requiescat in pace

Martha on her 90th birthday

+++

Seven years ago today, in her 92^nd year, my mother was called home to the LORD. She was a woman of great faith in God and she taught many lessons to all of those who came into contact with her. This was especially true in her last few years. She suffered the loss of her first grandson and then her first son from cancer and bore much physical suffering with faith, trust and humility.

Today, October 16 according to the calendar for the usus antiquior or the Traditional Latin Mass calendar is the Feast of St. Hedwig a medieval Polish duchess who died on October 14, 1243. She was also maternal aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary incidentally my maternal grandmother's name. So it was then for me a serendipitous moment when at the Mass I attended that morning, at the Toronto Oratory, the Epistle was read from the First Letter of Blessed Paul the Apostle to Timothy:

"Dearly beloved: Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God. But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God and continue in supplications and prayers night and day. For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living. And this give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work." 

Then came the Gospel; the parable about the "pearl of great price." A few hours later, just after lunch and whilst at work, I would receive the phone call from the caregivers at home. "David, your mother's not breathing, the paramedics are on their way." They revived her just before I walked in the door as you'll read in my little story below. She never regained consciousness and passed at around 8:00 P.M. in hospital. 

Martha spent her life auctioning all for that pearl. I believe she found it. A few days before she died we had a conversation and she told me that she whenever God was ready to call her, she was ready to go.

We often hear or read of those things that are “unexplained” except by coincidence, of course. To those who know and love God, “there are no coincidences.” Not even the fact that the Epistle at Mass is one of two from the "Common of Holy Women" or that she spoke only a few days before about being "ready" nor about what you are about to read below.

That day started like many others. I woke my son for school, (he now lives in Vancouver). I got ready for work and before dashing out the door I took Roxy, our terrier mutt to stay with her, kissed her good-bye and while bidding her adieu the first home care girl was arriving to help her get ready for the day and stay with her whilst I was at work.

At around 1:00 PM the second caregiver, Bridget, arrived for the shift-change. As Bridget arrived she came into the family room, the other caregiver had just sat her mum down on the sofa. My mother had only moments earlier complained of difficulty breathing and then she laid back, gasped and closed her eyes. Bridget yelled out her name, “Martha, Martha!” and gently slapped her. She stirred and let out a breath, she collapsed on the sofa. 

At that moment, my mother died.

I got the call at work from Bridget and on the way home it was clear from speaking to the paramedics that she was gone. They were working on her with adrenalin and the heart paddles but were not having any success. I told them to stop but they would not, there was no DNR posted. Well, that is because she had trouble swallowing and if she was choking, they would have let her choke to death with a DNR posted, so is the absurdity of the system.

I spoke to Bridget and told her that a priest from the local parish was on his way (the Sacrament of the Sick, what we used to call Extreme Unction had already been administered by one of her faithful Oratorian Priests a few weeks earlier.) I asked Bridget to go to my mother’s bedroom and retrieve the sick visit Crucifix from the wall above her bed. (This is a Crucifix which slides off and is placed in a stand; on either side are then candle holders and some of the necessary items for the Sacrament).

A few minutes later, I arrived screeching in the driveway. When I arrived my mother’s eyes were open and she was semi-conscious, technology, it seemed had triumphed, at least for now. Father arrived a few moments later and anointed her. She was transported to “St. Joe’s” where my father also died, and we removed the medical intervention around 5:00 PM., it was clear that the technology that brought her back was keeping her here and that if we did not remove this invasion she would suffer worse indignities. An Oratorian priest came to bless her again and to counsel us on the rightness of our decision to remove the intervention. Just after 8:00 P.M., I went outside for some air and a smoke with my niece. A a few minutes later my sister came running to get me. She had just gone out of the room to the Nurses desk to make a phone call. My sister was not out of the room a half-minute and no more than 5 metres away and our mother died. It was like she could not let herself go whilst we were with her.

So, what does this have to do with another coincidence?

The next day I called Bridget and asked her to stay on for a few more days to be at the house to tidy and answer the phone and assist with guests. Bridget was quite upset to be sure. She had been with my mother daily for the last year and often spoke of how well she was always treated and “their little talks.”

She came to me with apprehension and said that she really needed to talk to me about something.

The paramedics, with all of their intervention, “brought her back.” It took 14 minutes from the time they began to get a pulse. Had she every regained full consciousness her life would have been horrible, we all new that. But what was disturbing Bridget was that there was no reaction to their work; nothing, until my car screeched to a halt in the driveway.

“I have a pulse!” exclaimed the paramedic. It was simultaneous and  it was simultaneous with the screeching of my tires. David was home and his mom wanted to see him.

But there is more, much more.

Bridget was shaking and in tears.

“David, I had a dream Sunday night," my mother having died on Monday. She went on to say that she had typically forgotten the dream until she went to my mother’s bedroom to get the Crucifix. Upon seeing Jesus on the Cross the dream came back to her for just a moment. Again, it was gone. The house after all was a mass of confusion, police, fire-fighters, the paramedics, and eventually me, and the Priest; Bridget was now a bystander. After we left for the hospital, Bridget was alone and tidying up and it was what happened then that she was so desperate to tell me. It was then that Bridget told me what else happened. She will never forget it. Nor will I.

Bridget recalled for me her dream.

“I was standing on a street-corner in small town with other people. We were laughing at this man dressed in a robe and with long-hair. He said his name was Jesus and we were making fun of him. Just then a young beautiful woman stepped off of the curb and started to cross the street; she turned around and looked at us, she had tears in her eyes, tears of overwhelming joy, she was happy, really happy.It was then that Jesus took her hand and walked across the road with her.”

That was Bridget’s dream.

She went on to say that when she woke up from it she was aware that she needed to be more like the woman who walked across the street. That she needed to have “more faith in Jesus.”

I told her that it seemed like a pretty plausible conclusion.

“Wait” Bridget said, “There is more.”

I waited and listened as she started to cry.

“David, I remembered the dream only for a moment when carrying the Cross.”

“When I was tidying up I put the Cross on the end-table over there.”

“Yes, it looks nice there” I replied.

“No, David, you don’t understand, the picture, the picture beside the Cross.”

“Yes, Bridget, what is it?”

“That picture of your mother at graduation.” Bridget started to cry.

“It was her; she was the girl in my dream, it was Martha.”

and this...

Pope Francis to declare Canadian, "Servant of God"

Let the little children come to me," said Jesus to his disciples (Luke 18, 16) . To achieve this commitment to the children of the diocese of Rimouski, God prepared a wonderful woman of tenderness and solicitude Elisabeth Turgeon. This woman, in poor health, but the keen intelligence and wise and generous heart, was born in Beaumont (Quebec) February 7, 1840. His parents, Louis-Marc Turgeon and Angèle Labrecque, gave their nine children education stronger.

Elizabeth was 15 years old when his father died prematurely. Five years later, she entered the Ecole Normale Laval in Quebec City. After graduating in 1862, she taught successively in Saint-Romuald, Quebec City and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.April 3, 1875, at the invitation of Bishop Jean Langevin, Bishop of Rimouski, she joins a group of girls together, according to the desire of the bishop, in order to train qualified teachers for schools parishes in the diocese of Rimouski.

September 12, 1879, with twelve of his companions, Elizabeth is dedicated to the Lord by the vows [] . The same day, she was appointed the first superior of the Congregation. She agreed to send sisters, two by two, into a very poor school in three parishes: St. Gabriel, St. Godfrey and Port-Daniel. Then she opens aindependent school [?] Rimouski to prepare novices [?] teaching.

Her maternal tenderness as his unshakable confidence are endless, but his physical strength is already exhausted. Mother Mary Elizabeth (his religious name) died on August 17, 1881.

Source: http://www.soeursdusaintrosaire.org/elisabeth/fondatrice.php

Demeaning of Cardinal Burke exposed for what it is

The pitting of one against another by the secularists and Catholic-haters continues. We've seen it continuously since March, how all of a sudden, the Church and its Chief Shepherd have discovered humility. How we're all now like little hippie Franciscans, quick; come give me a hug, let's make a felt banner and hold hands and sing kubaya. 

Remember this, Francis of Assisi was poor on the outside and with his own habit, but not for the Holy Mass and not for the doctrine of the Church. St. Pio had one habit but when he celebrated Mass, he wore a glorious chasuble of silk and gold thread and even a lace alb with his one, old poor habit, underneath. His clothes were poor but he dressed in fine linen, silk and gold because he was going up to the Altar of God to offer the Holy Sacrifice with silver and gold sacred vessels. That was for the LORD, not for him. Does anyone wish to question this Saint's humility or poverty whilst on earth?

Gaze upon this picture my friends, this is humility.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina celebrating the Holy Sacrifice the day before his death

Father Paul Nicholson reports on a scornful attack on Raymond Cardinal Burke and where its roots really lay. 

"I really shouldn't give this author the time of day.  He has done a dreadful thing.  He has taken one of the kindest, gentlest, most approachable "Princes" of the Church and mocked him to scorn.  Really, a new depth has been reached.

There is such a smug tone in this article that you can almost picture the uber-yuppie type, drinking his mocha latte, at an upscale suburban Denver coffee house as he writes his hit piece on Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke."

Raymond Cardinal Burke celebrating the Holy Sacrifice

What is the difference between the two photos? I see the same silk, gold and lace and the same humility.

It is not going to get easier friends. Not one little bit.

But you already know that. 

TORONTO: Solemn Latin Mass for Our Lady of the Rosary

Please join the Knights of Columbus of Blessed John XXIII Council 4976 and their guests from the  Knights of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; and the Toronto Traditional Mass Society-UNA VOCE TORONTO, as we gather to honour Our Lady and her victory at the Battle of Lepanto. The Mass will be held on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, Monday, October 7, 2013 at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church at 161 Annette Street, just east of Keele Street in Toronto. A public recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 6:30 P.M and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be available with the Solemn Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite following at 7:00 P.M. We are pleased to announce that the homilist is Father Raymond J. de Souza.

A collection will be taken to support the ongoing restoration at St. Cecelia's and this will be specifically granted to the church hall. Cheques may be made out to St. Cecelia's Catholic Church Building Fund.

Battle of Lepanto

On October 7, 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces primarily from Spain, Venice, and Genoa under the command of Don Juan of Austria. It was the last battle at sea between "oared" ships, which featured the most powerful navy in the world, a Moslem force with between 12,000 to 15,000 Christian slaves as rowers. The patchwork team of Catholic ships was powered by the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.

What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.

The Rosary

At Lepanto, the Victory over the Moslems was won by the faithful praying the Rosary. Even though they had superior numbers, the Turks really were overmatched. Blessed Padre Pio, the Spiritual Father of the Blue Army, said: "The Rosary is the weapon," and how right he was!

The Battle of Lepanto was at first celebrated liturgically as "Our Lady of Victory." Later, the feast of October 7th was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" and extended throughout the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716 (who canonized Pope Pius V in 1712).

And with that we are back to Fatima, Portugal where Our Lady, when asked her name, said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." At Fatima, Our Lady taught us to pray the Rosary every day. Heaven presented its peace plan at Fatima and truly gave us hope for the world. Conversions were promised at Fatima: the conversion of sinners; the conversion of Russia; and what also appears to be the conversion of Islam. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

Taken from:

Soul Magazine

© 2001 The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.

September - October 2001, page 6

For subscription information:

The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc.

PO Box 976

Washington, NJ 07882-0976

Website: http://www.bluearmy.com

E-mail: service@bluearmy.com

or Phone Toll Free: 866-513-1917

The end of he world as we know it

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday welcomed Pope Francis' recent remarks that the Catholic Church must shake off an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuals, saying the pontiff was showing incredible humility.

"I tell you, I have been hugely impressed with the pope's pronouncements," Obama said in a CNBC interview.

Obama has worked to expand gay rights as president and last year backed same-sex marriage. He also supports the use of contraception and a woman's right to an abortion.

Pope Francis told the Italian Jesuit Journal last month that the Church had "locked itself up in small things" by its obsession with abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Obama said the pope seemed to be someone who "lives out the teachings of Christ" and shows "incredible humility" toward the poor.

"That's a quality I admire," said Obama, who has yet to meet the new pope.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Holding my tongue as best I can

When one wakes to a world where the to find that "The most serious of evils that afflict the world in recent years are youth unemployment and the solitude in which the old are left" when I nursed my mother to the day she died in my home and raised my son who is now 24, gainfully employed, on the other side of the continent, one can imagine how hard it is to hold my tongue. Truly, these are problems which afflict modern society due to globalist economic dominance and family breakdown; but, "the most serious?" 

Abortion.

Pornography.

Murder of innocents.

Human slavery.

Religious indifference.

Radical secular atheism.

Abuse of drugs and exploitation of the poor.

Sodomic cultural domination and the destruction of marriage.

Exploitation of the poor and feeble minded?

Breakdown of the family.

I thought the "most serious of evils" were these.

The fact is, youth unemployment and abandonment of the elderly are not evils, they are symptoms of the evils I've just listed.

But who am I too judge.

Oh, and "modernism" is a heresy.