Canada's bishops have yet to apologize for two years of abuse and degradation they imposed on Catholics

 

The above photo of the faithful in Montreal, locked out of their churches, marginalized, ignored by their pastors; reduced to kneeling on hard cement in the freezing cold of Montreal is a reflection of the abuse inflicted on them by the men who outwardly occupy the sees of the successors of the Apostles in Canada. 

We Catholics are still waiting for these sad men to admit their guilt, their abuse, their collusion with the State. May they repent and do penance. Perhaps a start might be actually taking a pro-life stand? Perhaps they could show repentance by rebuking the political abusers? Silence, in this case, means consent. When the man who is the Prime Minister of Canada called Canadian truckers "Nazis" the bishops remained silent. When he called them racists the bishops were silent. And so it goes. 

The perverse irony of this is that he and his Deputy came out as fanatical supporters of real Nazis and racists involved in a foreign war half a world away (shipping them bombs and bullets on the backs of long-suffering taxpayers). 

Friends, pray for these men to repent and convert. They have abused us as neo-Gallican satraps of Caesar. They even allowed the Sacred Liturgy to be trodden underfoot by surrendering to State bureaucrats the rubrics of the Mass: the greatest crime of which was turning over the Most Holy Eucharist to the control of godless sinners.  

Ascension Day

Ascension, by James Tissot

 

A foretaste of the glory of the Ascension

The second track in this video, Nun lieget alles unter dir, is a treat.

Enjoy!

Queen Victoria: the Monarch who oversaw the founding of the Dominion of Canada

 

Today, in Canada, is celebrated the birthday of Queen Victoria (which is actually on the 25th). Though the enemies of this country toppled her statue in a desperate bid to destroy her memory, we commemorate her reign in which she oversaw the formation of the Dominion of Canada. 

 

 

"Ask, and the gift will come..." (Matthew 7:7)

Over the past week, I have heard and contributed to three separate conversations on the differences between the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Divine Mercy devotion. My arguments about the latter from three years ago have not changed. I still have reservations about the way the devotion came to the wider Church. The one thing I would change about my previous post is how I came across. But, "the prudent man who dost things with wise counsel" I was not. Mea culpa.

What brings me here is a query I heard from the first conversation. I relay it here in case a reader comes to our blog with a struggle about the Church or another spiritual matter. The person was relating how they were struggling with finding a yearning for a devotion to the Sacred Heart. How could they find this yearning? In response, I said they should simply ask for this yearning, in light of this famous passage from Matthew 7:

Ask, and the gift will come; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you. Everyone that asks, will receive; that seeks, will find; that knocks, will have the door opened to him. If any one of yourselves is asked by your son for bread, will he give him a stone? If he is asked for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead? Why then, as evil as you are, know well enough how to give your children what is good for them, is not your Father in heaven much more ready to give wholesome gifts to those who ask him? Matthew 7:7-11 (R. Knox Version).

Be it a desire to have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, or any other devotion, or to keep the Faith in times where the humanity of the Church is heavily scrutinized and exposed for all the world to see - whatever spiritual good you desire, all you have to do is ask. Of course, the caveat is that one has to be in a state of grace and that these goods must be what is needed for their state in life. But, the point remains - "Ask, and the gift will come." Don't be afraid to ask for a spiritual good with confidence and perseverance. He will give it to you, should it fit His Purpose for you, to be with Him forever and ever.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the role of Mary in this. 

All of the great Marian writers mention Mary's co-operation with God's spiritual gifts to us here below. Indeed, She, full of grace, is the greatest intercessor we have. Whatever spiritual good we ask of Mary with confidence, courage, and perseverance, She will bring it to Her Son. It is said that He cannot refuse His Mother anything, just like it is here below with sons and their mothers. Indeed, I have heard it said that Mary is quite eager to carry our spiritual requests to Her Son, with joy. So, do not be afraid to ask Her for the spiritual goods you need. She will help you in line with God and His Purpose.

We need only ask. Do not be afraid to ask for spiritual goods from God and His Mother. It will come, in due time, in one form or another. Blessed be the Names of Mary and Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

My Lady, My Queen, My Mother!

Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Building up the Body of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Ghent Altarpiece, detail

Reading Vox Cantoris' latest post this morning, my small, dim eyes focused on one small line. For context, Vox is speaking about the effect of the Pope's words on other souls:

The man does not edify, build-up or bring peace.

This short sentence reminded me of two passages from the Epistles about building up the Body of Christ. The first comes from Col. 3:12-17:

You are God's chosen people, holy and well-beloved; the livery you wear must be tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; you must bear with one another's faults, be generous to each other; where somebody has given grounds for complaint, the Lord's generosity to you must be the model for yours. And, to crown all of this, charity; that is the bond which makes us perfect. So may the peace of Christ, the very condition of your calling as members of a single body, reign in your hearts. Learn, too, to be grateful. May all the wealth of Christ's inspiration have its shrine among you; now you will have instruction and advice for one another, full of wisdom, now there will be psalms, and hymns, and spiritual music, as you sing with gratitude in your hearts for God. Whatever you are about, in word and action alike, invoke always the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, offering your thanks to God the Father through him. (R. Knox Version)

The second comes from 1 Peter 4:7-11:

The end of all things is close at hand; live wisely and keep yourselves awake to keep the hours of prayer, Above all things, preserve constant charity among yourselves; charity draws the veil over a multitude of sins. Make one another free of what is yours ungrudgingly, sharing with all whatever gift each of you has received, as befits the stewards of a God so rich in graces. One of you preaches, let him remember it is God's message he is uttering; another distributes relief, let him remember that it is God who supplies him the opportunity; that so, in all you do, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to him be the glory and the power through endless ages, Amen. (R. Knox Version)

These passages are rich in meaning and it would be foolish of me to try and extract all of what is said. Suffice it to say, I leave the present reader with two observations. 

The first is this. Spiritual writers such as Thomas a Kempis remark that our actions are constantly observed by others, be it in a public or a private setting. We observe others' behavior, seeing it as either right or wrong. What we say or do, too, has an effect on others we aren't always mindful of. While I caution fretting about others' opinions of us or how we come across to them, as it is a distraction, this subject is worthy of meditation.  What observations can we derive from the Pope's public actions, as well as our own, and how can we use them to build up the body of Christ through our own actions?

The second observation is this. I have come to understand that the Pope's actions and behaviors - as well as those of other people in the Church - have driven many souls out of Holy Mother Church, into Orthodoxy or other churches. These same souls seem to convey the impression that a bad Pope equals a bad Church, or at least that the Church is irreversibly corrupt. (Impressions I am not alien to, myself.) What fruits can we derive from these Scripture passages, the Pope's actions, and our own meditations? How can we use these fruits to edify, build up the Body of Christ, and bring the peace of Christ to these souls outside of the Church in such a way that these impressions are no longer at the forefront of their minds?

May the Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph encompass you all.

President Putin rebukes war-mongering West who continue to arm Nazis and Banderites

 

Today, on Victory Day, President Vladimir Putin  - once again - outlined the real truths that precipitated this tragic war in the Ukraine. Yesterday, for us in the now decadent West, it was VE in Europe Day. One would have never had known it. It was a day devoted to by, for example, the repugnant Banderite Justin Trudeau to pay homage to globalist "Elensky" (after all "Z" has been banned in the Ukraine). 

 

In fact we found out on VE Day that Canada has "for years" (Trudeau's words) trained up to 30,000 Ukrainian troops. We also know that they and other NATO imperialists also trained Nazis, such as those of the Azov and Aidar Battalions. It is only fitting then, that Nazi and fascist, racist Banderite enablers would be silent on the day we should be solemnly recalling the sacrifice given to rid the world of - so we thought - Nazism and Banderism. 

 

Ave Maris Stella

Hail, star of the sea,
Nurturing Mother of God,
And ever Virgin
Happy gate of Heaven

Receiving that "Ave"
From the mouth of Gabriel,
Establish us in peace,
Transforming the name of Eva.

Loosen the chains of the guilty,
Send forth light to the blind,
Our evil do thou dispel,
Entreat (for us) all good things.

Show thyself to be a Mother:
Through thee may he receive prayer
Who, being born for us,
Undertook to be thine own.

O unique Virgin,
Meek above all others,
Make us, set free from (our) sins,
Meek and chaste.

Bestow a pure life,
Prepare a safe way:
That seeing Jesus,
We may ever rejoice.

Praise be to God the Father,
To the Most High Christ (be) glory,
To the Holy Spirit
(Be) honour, to the Three equally. Amen.