The COG Catholic

I agree. But if this particular (hypothetical) Mass in which the Host is regularly mistreated through open sacrilege is only five minutes away, then that still wouldn't justify going to it.
Jesus does not bind us at pain of mortal sin to participate in sacrilegious Masses.

2026-06-27 12:02:28 UTC

Here's a thought experiment:
What if the only Mass within two hours of your home is one at which the priest always processes do the altar doing the moonwalk? 🚶‍♂️
He says mass to a funky beat. 🔊🕺
And he touches the Host to his nipple and crotch, with a wink 😉, before placing it in your hand.
While inappropriate, it's still "valid." Transubstantiation happens.
Are you obligated to go? Would you take your children there?
Or would you save up gas money to go to a more appropriate, traditional, reverent mass that's three hours away every other week -- which means you would miss Mass on the off-weeks?

2026-06-22 23:09:37 UTC

A common "nondenomational" belief:
https://blossom.primal.net/9757de7e3ebbece3437fd3b1b750c5075d60e5e90d92a1ab8b4bc13f48338d15.png
If a person finds himself not trusting in Christ's finished work, then is there something he can DO about it? Yes, begin to TRUST.
But that's a "work" in itself, isn't it?
One might ask: Are you saved by the power and "work" of your own trust? Or by Jesus' self-sacrifice -- regardless of your imperfect, human trust?
Seriously, though...
The problem behind many Protestants' irrational fear of salvation by "works" comes from thinking "works" always means obedience or any good deeds.
But when the New Testament speaks negatively about "works," it nearly always has to do with the works of the Mosaic Law in particular. (Sacred Scripture never speaks ill of obedience to God!)
We're not saved by the religious system that requires sabbathkeeping, circumcision, clean and unclean dietary laws, etc.
No, we're saved by Christ as we do the things Christ teaches the Church to do, including baptism, the Eucharist, confession, and everything else he commands us.
In other words, we're saved by the fullness of Christianity, not by unfulfilled Judaism.
Christianity indeed requires the work of a warrior who needs to put on the whole armor of God. It requires that we flee temptation and beware of Satan who prowls like a lion seeking those whom he might devour.
Christianity is not just "believe and sing along with the praise band." It's a battle of life and death. It's a race, requiring that you train yourself, submit to God's will, love God and man, and mortify the deeds of the body.
It's not easy -- suffering is never easy -- but the reward is great if we remain joyful and faithful through our suffering.
Just like Jesus did.

2026-06-21 03:28:33 UTC

FOR THESE REASONS, don't fret that God is too unhappy with you to forgive you yet again:
* He always had a plan to save us, but it was first revealed in the Garden when Adam and Eve got busted.
* God sent His Son to us while we were yet sinners, His enemies.
* Jesus suffered and died for us as our representative. He volunteered to undergo this suffering, and it was excessively brutal. Proof of His love.
* To apply the fruit of his most generous self-sacrifice out of love for us, he instituted the sacrament of baptism, which wipes away the eternal and even temporal punishments due to our sins.
* He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of Himself in us, to guide us and lead us and empower us.
* He knew we would still sin after baptism, so he instituted the sacrament of reconciliation, or confession.
* To eradicate or lessen the temporal punishments due to sin, he gives us the gift of indulgences. That's some extra generosity right there, more proof of His love for us and His eagerness to forgive us our sins and welcome us on the fast traoffer ante called of all his life lines eternity.
* Provided we don't die in the state of mortal sin, He gives us the necessary gift of purgatory to make us worthy of heaven even if we haven't completely overcome all sin.
* On top of all this, he gives us a spiritual family in heaven, the saints in light, who are cheering for us, witnessing our race in life. They pray for us, even if no one else does.
* The angels are also on our side. In fact, we are each assigned our own guardian angel to protect and guide us, to intercede for us, and to offer us inspirations.
* Not least of all the signs of God's love for us is the premier saint,, our Queen Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Jesus gave us to be our greatest teacher and example in the created realm. She loves us with a mother's heart.
So don't be overly scrupulous or overly downtrodden when you stumble or fail in this life. It does not surprise God. He already knew about it. Just repent every day. Love our Lord every day.
It's easier to do so when you remember all that he has done in anticipation of your failings, and how he has gone out of his way to ensure your entrance into the glorified kingdom of God -- if only you will accept his offer and take hold of all his life lines.

2026-06-18 21:21:16 UTC

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I've always liked forums.

2026-06-17 15:11:27 UTC

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So are you saying that "self-authenticating" implies that Jesus' sheep will know which books are divinely authoritative without being given a list by anyone else?
I don't know anyone who says either a person or group of persons *causes* these books/letters to become inspired.
But you're saying any Spirit-led Christian on his own can *recognize* the inspiration of these books without outside help from other Christians?

2026-06-17 14:22:57 UTC

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In everyday layman's terms, can you explain what he means when he says the Scriptures are "self-authenticating"? I have no idea.

2026-06-17 10:58:57 UTC

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I'd say apostolic Tradition from the start, which was then cemented by the Church's binding authority.

2026-06-14 00:30:36 UTC

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Imagine doing that, laying your life down of your own free will, out of love for people who were your enemies.
I don't want to let Him down after all that.

2026-06-13 20:53:54 UTC

That St. Louis de Montfort had a way with words... https://npub1f3e4cqqewe3wx5q3h72mlmh3k28yzyvpxz753pl98ul9w0a5u0vss98zls.blossom.band/fc201b7c6817b6fc55d1738e45f8b2fe7fd184c0cff389fc37f1ddcac94a23f8.jpg

2026-06-13 18:27:15 UTC

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I'm proud to be free of all of those as well, except I do still have an X account. But I rarely post. When I do, it's often to promote Nostr.

2026-06-13 14:01:57 UTC

Not to ruffle feathers, but to provide a service to those interested, here is a "debate" from a few days ago between an SSPX priest and Fr. Gerald Murray (of EWTN/Arroyo fame) about the current issues surrounding the #SSPX.
It's actually two separate interviews conducted by the head of TAN Books, edited together. Both were asked the same questions. Very fair, very informative.
You'll like it no matter which "side" you fall on. Makes you think.
Oh, and it's 4 hours long.
https://youtu.be/3ulFHIKFgd8?si=PV4joFRm3NMHR1xZ

2026-06-12 10:43:46 UTC

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In what way for long-form articles? Mostly for writing them, or mostly for reading them?

2026-06-10 13:42:54 UTC

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I'm starting to pick up what you're laying down.
I like Ditto a lot, but installed Yakihonne this morning due to your post(s). I think I like it.

2026-06-10 12:56:06 UTC

We have no king but Jesus -- and no queen but the Holy Virgin.

2026-06-10 03:34:24 UTC

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We should all know boys are boys and girls are girls. Boys are naturally ordered to engender; girls are naturally ordered to conceive. That truth is not too high for the undarkened intellect to grasp.
Any other "configuration" does not correspond to reality. So, seriously identifying as something other than what a person is, is a serious mental disorder.
Such people should be loved -- and thus taught how to accept the truth about themselves as God made them. We should not encourage or go along with their delusion (lies never help anyone), and we certainly should not celebrate it with "pride." That would be unreasonable, uncharitable.
It's why we don't celebrate or validate anorexics in their mistaken identity as being too fat. Instead, we help them see the truth about themselves, about objective reality. We would never celebrate their disorder with a month of "anorexia pride."

2026-06-09 17:36:38 UTC

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Of course people with various disorders like those are "legitimate." We are all disordered in our own ways. We're all legit. But that doesn't make all our actions and inclinations good or praiseworthy.
Filth is filth, and I have the greatest respect for people who seek to repent of this kind of deep-seated filth.
God hears and answers their cries for help, but their declarations of obstinate pride as they misuse their sexuality is to be condemned.

2026-06-08 10:47:37 UTC

The worship God desires is not rocking out to a praise band, but sacrifice -- the pure and holy sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

2026-06-05 19:58:50 UTC

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While I disagree with some of your takes regarding this matter (and I'd love to discuss these things further with you over a beer or two, as fattening as that would be), I surely don't view you negatively -- just so you know.
Obedience is our natural default position, how we're wired. It ought not be controversial.
You're a good guy, a good priest whom I respect from afar. If only this situation could be resolved in Nostr comments. That would be grand -- for the Church and for the Nostr protocol itself.
The older I get, the more I believe in the urgency and effectiveness of prayer. As a laydude in the Midwest, my opinions on the problems in the Church and their solutions don't count nearly as much as my prayers. God's will be done.
Thanks for sharing your perspectives with me, Father.

2026-06-05 19:19:05 UTC

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I just don't see how they're "out of the boat," especially now, when Pope Francis of all people explicitly gave them faculties for hearing Confessions (something no one outside the boat can ordinarily be given) and witnessing marriages, and the laity have explicitly been told by the Church that Masses with the SSPX fulfill their Sunday obligations, and that they may support them financially.
It seems to me that the worst thing for which the Society could be found guilty (come July 1) is validly consecrating four auxiliary bishops - - with zero jurisdiction, solely for the purpose of providing sacraments to the Church's faithful (particularly, priestly ordinations) -- without a papal mandate.
It seems odd considering the string of gay-friendly, communist, modernist bishops that have been consecrated with approval.
I just finished re-reading a good Padre Pio biography, so I appreciate the virtue and value of obedience to religious superiors with humility. But surely, at some point, that has its limits in cases where foxes are in charge of the hen house. Where do our loyalties reside?
If strict, unbending obedience to one's superior is the end-all be-all standard in the Church, how is it that within the Code of Canon Law there is the stipulation about cases of necessity or believing them to be so? (I'm no lawyer and can't cite the reference at the moment, but I'm sure you've heard of it, too. It's what LeFevre [and the Society today] often pointed to in order to show an automatic excommunication does not automatically happen in this situation.)
Since Church law is supposed to be primarily concerned with the salvation of souls, it seems wrong to get tied up in legal knots which can result in harming them.
Do you really believe SSPX is insincere about believing we are in a state of emergency that allows for certain extraordinary measures for the sake of the Church?
I don't claim to have all the answers. Just honestly sharing my thoughts and beefs.

2026-06-05 18:03:22 UTC

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Would you always equate an act of disobedience to the pope, regardless of the circumstance, with breaking away with him?

2026-06-05 15:54:16 UTC

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The expectation to obey "no matter what Rome says or does" is precisely the problem.
That would be falling in line with the Protestants' caricature of us, who think we're brainless automatons who just "follow the pope no matter what." That's not Catholic.
Protestantism and schismatics separate themselves from the Church and the pope, and reject her perennial teachings. That's entirely different from a necessary (or perceived to be necessary) act of disobedience in order to preserve Catholic Tradition.
The larger problem, I'd argue, is clerics acquiring power and influence in Rome through disobedience to Tradition. That problem won't be permitted to grow and spread indefinitely or unchecked. A time of reckoning is coming. God will put the Church back on track somehow, some way.
If faithful Catholics didn't resist Peter to his face, as it were, under certain conditions, we would all endanger the faith of our children. We don't want them to become gay tree huggers who believe in the fraternity of man under a god who wills the existence of all religions, while disrespecting (or disbelieving in?) the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
It's a terribly difficult situation the Church is in. We all have to do what we prayerfully discern is most appropriate during this time of crisis. The SSPX is just doing what they feel they're called to do in service to the Church, serving spiritual orphans who feel abandoned. I can't pass judgement on them.
The reason I began considering driving an hour to my diocesan TLM (which can be taken away by the stroke of a pen, I might add) is I was tired of putting up with my local parish's Protestant Bible study programs, its monthly "LGBTQ Catholics" meetings, its promotion of the "Gender-Bread Man," and more. So I understand we have to draw the line somewhere (a prudential judgment). I could not in good conscience subject myself and my wife to constant non-Catholic things that my bishop approved of, even if the sacraments were valid.
I believe loyalty to the Body of Christ is not the same as loyalty to a political party (conformity even if it contradicts the principles held by previous party leaders).
I also believe this reply is too long. I didn't mean to go overboard with it, Father, but the situation strikes a nerve.

2026-06-05 13:55:03 UTC

The Society of Saint Pius X (#SSPX) needs to have a regular relationship with Rome, but for that to happen, Rome needs to have a regular relationship with Tradition.
Praying for the Church to heal and be united in Truth.

2026-06-05 10:32:46 UTC

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Such meaningless, word-salad propaganda to make anal peneration, genital mutilation, and other evils sound beautiful.
The idea of "Pride Month" needs to be rejected by all people of good will -- because love is love and filth is filth.

2026-06-04 10:30:51 UTC

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Very encouraging to hear of your conversion next year!
What Jared said is spot on.
I will add that you should consider the "queen of heaven" (mentioned by Jeremiah) was a false queen, not the true Queen of Heaven.
Note that there are many false gods, but that doesn't mean the Creator isn't the true God.
"Ba'al" means "lord," but that doesn't mean we should refuse to acknowledge God by the same title -- as our "Lord."
The Jeremiah reference also mentions the idolators offering cakes and drink offerings to their "queen of heaven," but that doesn't invalidate offering bread and wine at our Christian altars.
Don't be scared by counterfeits! They merely testify to the Real Things!
Our Holy Mother -- the true Queen of Heaven -- is not threatened by imposters. They will vanish, while her crown will last forever!
God bless you!

2026-06-04 02:16:16 UTC

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I'm guessing you're Catholic. So remember that Confession is not meant for motivational advice, but for forgiveness. That's the primary grace of the sacrament of Confession -- the absolution of any sins since your last Confession.
If you, for example, fall to porn or masturbation or hateful anger or thievery, etc., it doesn't matter that you find ways to reform yourself in some way; what you need is to have your sins absolved -- or you will be bound to hell (in the case of mortal sins).
Frequent Confession does help one to overcome sinful habits, but more importantly it reconciles us to God when we fall out of the state of grace (something that just doing better from now on doesn't fix). Praise God for his abundant mercy.

2026-06-03 14:47:45 UTC

My best, most profitable private prayer time is an early morning walk with the #Rosary.
Brisk walking in the morning air as the sun rises keeps me alert and focused, and the Rosary lifts my mind and heart to where they should be.
It helps me to "[p]ray without ceasing."
Praying in bed, on the other hand, helps me to fall asleep instantly, which is not exactly the goal of prayer.

2026-05-30 10:56:17 UTC

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What is the difference between a drop and a message?

2026-05-30 03:22:34 UTC

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No, my wife gave me some good reasons to hold off on that (particular to the people I was thinking of). But I still might try it later for a similar purpose.
I use it several times a week to send notes to myself from work, because we have a guy who snoops through my email box. But he can't read my encrypted Hostednowhere messages. 😁

2026-05-30 02:34:37 UTC

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For what it's worth, I use it often. Grateful for it.

2026-05-28 02:27:26 UTC

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I just wouldn't describe someone as "conscientious" if he knowingly rejects his Creator, or gives no thought to the all-important and unavoidable matters of death, judgment, heaven, and hell.
I don't see how God would love that, because in the big picture it's absolutely negligent, irresponsible, and even hostile.
As rational creatures (unlike a chickadee), with minds that are meant to seek, find, and bite down on truth, we are responsible for coming to know the truth about God -- and to know God.
That's our ultimate duty in this life. What else can there be?

2026-05-28 00:58:12 UTC

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Would an atheist even want heaven -- which is eternal communion with God?
Hell is eternal separation from God. That's the natural path of an atheist who denies Him. The atheist freely chooses hell even now, unless he changes before he dies.
We can't expect God to force Himself on those who reject Him. That wouldn't be love. That wouldn't be just. That wouldn't be nice, peaceful, or loving.
Kids laugh at Bugs Bunny when he gives a big sloppy kiss to Elmer J. Fudd, because it's absurd. Elmer is intent on turning him into rabbit stew, and doesn't want Bugs' kiss. To him, it's hell.
I've watched way too many cartoons, sorry.

2026-05-28 00:24:03 UTC

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The Bible is not simply a manual of how to be nice. It doesn't merely assign certain moral standards to live by.
There can be nice atheists who work hard and do good things.
But we are not saved by being nice or good alone. We're saved by how we relate to our Maker, our position in Him.
If we are in Jesus, we will be saved. If we reject, dishonor, and disown our Creator and Heavenly Father (which isn't nice or just or good at all, by the way!), then no amount of "being a good person" -- however that's defined -- is sufficient. It's intolerably ungrateful to the One who continues to hold us in existence.

2026-05-26 11:48:24 UTC

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Yes. Sometimes I think I'm funny. Might not always be the case, though.

2026-05-25 23:27:33 UTC

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I'll have to run it through AI to summarize the main points.

2026-05-25 00:08:32 UTC

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Practically always, because that's usually how we decide our out-of-town trips.

2026-05-24 15:04:03 UTC

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We're out of town this weekend. Our plans beginning right now:
Drive to park.
Walk trail around lake.
Read by water (Padre Pio bio).
Nap.
Mass (TLM)
Cheesecake Factory.

2026-05-22 14:25:28 UTC

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do..." (Matthew 6:7, ESV).
Who seriously expects us to believe this implies that pagan gentiles used to repeat biblical prayers while meditating on the central events of the gospel in order to draw closer to the Blessed Trinity?
Don't let illiterate, theological retards -- no matter how well meaning -- influence you to abandon the rosary. 📿

2026-05-22 09:58:22 UTC

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I don't see how it can hurt as another option (to have your mission's information on its own npub). Those who are interested and have the inclination can explore it further if they wish.
With your friends and family, rather than go through all the technical information, you can simply say that nostr is "censorship resistant" in a powerful way, such that X or FB et al cannot control your speech, remove content, or suspend your "account."
I actually take that very seriously, especially after the COVID lockdowns against free speech. Inevitably we will go through such times again.
That's actually another reason I like Monero, which I used to help anonymously support the Canadian trucker convoy. I did so freely and slept like a baby knowing I could not be stopped or censured financially.

2026-05-20 09:54:49 UTC

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Yes, I went to MeWe eleven and a half years ago. Even then, I loved the idea of escaping the evils of Facebook. (But I didn't entirely leave Facebook until 2020.)
I still pop onto MeWe once in a while because I have two good Catholic friends there that won't budge, not even for Mastodon. They are tech normies, but at least they're not on Facebook. So they're still above average.
They are still stuck in the trap of "But I don't know people on Nostr."
I like the freedom that comes with knowing that once you get into Nostr, your nsec is your nsec for life (if you want it to be), across all kinds of applications, and without losing followers when switching to different clients.

2026-05-20 09:28:13 UTC

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I can't get over men dressing up in too-short, tight slacks to go with white sneakers at the office -- and coming in wearing a backpack. (In my day, kids used to get beat up at school for looking like that.)
And at Mass I even see young women wearing white Nike hightops (1970s style) with their dresses and veils.

2026-05-18 09:33:33 UTC

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Now, if you don't want XMR, feel free to send it back. 😄 I can zap you with the sats I have -- not much -- but I did want to try the XMR thing you made.

2026-05-17 19:29:46 UTC

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I sent you a 0.002583949760 XMR tip.
Great feature.

2026-05-17 18:21:20 UTC

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Nice, Laeserin. You are innovative, a good doer of all things Nostr. I added my Monero address. Thank you.
On a separate note: Can you briefly explain the difference between jumble.social and jumble.imwald.eu? You made both of them?

2026-05-16 19:50:23 UTC

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Beautiful.

2026-05-16 19:49:50 UTC

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It's funny but I notice MeWe has recently gotten its own coins you can earn and send to people. Very annoying now to see promos that say, "Watch this and earn one [whatever it's called]!"
I and many others flocked there years ago because of its freedom, but it has undergone fundamental changes to increase revenue (some I don't fully understand but to me seem more privacy invasive than before).
And you're right -- regular people don't want to hear about digital coins.
Without sounding preachy, I have to say Bitcoiners need to find additional interests in life and talk about those other things, instead of deluding themselves into seeing Bitcoin as their Savior and acting as its apostles.
Imagine if Nostr was full of people who loved nothing more than to talk about penny stocks or certain mutual funds, trying to save up a huge nest egg. Most people don't find that interesting. Just certain nerds, which is fine for them.
What people find most interesting is other people: kids, faith, hobbies, jokes, experiences, insights, advice, pictures, etc.

2026-05-12 12:31:20 UTC

If you're afraid of catching a virus, but you live with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or are hooked on porn, or believe in or act on LGBTQIANEJIFUCYENEKXKSJEBT+ ideology, you're afraid of the wrong thing.
Don't worry about a virus. Save your soul.
#Jesus #Catholic

2026-05-11 15:25:07 UTC

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I will stop in if ever in the area. Very nice.
My wife and I seek out and visit such beautiful Cathedrals wherever we can.

2026-05-11 13:19:04 UTC

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Where was that?

2026-05-11 02:46:19 UTC

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"You should repent."
What if I don't repent? Will I lose my salvation? 😄
Do I have to repent of thinking repentance is a lifelong necessity?
As a Bible-believing Catholic, I have to say you're butchering those scriptures badly. You're not holding to the Faith once delivered, but to the tradition of Baptist men.
Romans 8 does not say we can't abandon Christ or separate ourselves from him, and Galatians 2 is referencing the works of the Mosaic Law.

2026-05-10 03:21:57 UTC

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When I mentioned that my initial justification came about through repentance and baptism, you said it sounds like I "begin by grace and end with works."
Are you saying that continued repentance, after initial repentance, is now "works"? How does it change from being grace to being "works"? Is that a concept you get from the Bible?
If you define "works" as anything you do that's good, then would you consider accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord in one's heart as a "work"? Don't you try to convince people to come to Jesus, to respond to God's call by making a decision for Christ? Wouldn't those be "works" too then? Surely not.
Surely we can agree it's absurd to think you can turn to willful, serious sin -- a state of rejecting God without repentance -- and then think God is fine with that.
Have you turned to a constant situation of murder, adultery, pornography, drunkenness, hatred, etc.?
If so, no judging here. People have problems, and God knows this and is ready to reach out and embrace us. We can repent of anything whatsoever -- if only we will. If we choose not to repent, then we choose to reject the salvation God freely gives. Salvation is never something God forces on us.
We have to submit to God, to love him more all the time, so that we don't commit great evil sins (and to make intentional grave sin unthinkable). He is quick and just to forgive us if we do, but not without repentance.
Does your theology say we don't need to repent every day? Or does it say it's okay to sleep with your neighbor and kill her husband and steal their car, and then die without repenting of that, and then go straight to heaven?
Jesus said if your right hand offends you, cut it off. If your eye offends you, pluck it out. It is hyperbole, but the point is He takes sin seriously and expects us to also.
That doesn't mean we will necessarily attain perfection in this life, but neither can we reject Him through serious willful, unrepentant sin -- and then die expecting Him to welcome us. The prodigal son did have to turn back and make some gesture of repentance, even if imperfect, before his father ran to meet him.
Repentance is never too late until we die. Repentance isn't a "work" that earns us salvation, but is a condition to unlock the door to God's grace that He wants to give us.
All glory to God.

2026-05-09 23:20:11 UTC

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I'm a traditional Catholic (I love Trent), and I know plenty of other good Catholics. It doesn't match our experience to describe our lives as "back-breaking labor" with regard to our walk with God toward heaven as our destination.
Our salvation is assured as long as we don't die in a state of rebellion against God.
That doesn't mean life is always easy. We have to carry our crosses like everyone else. We are expected to strive to love God more every day. And when we sin, we must repent. But that's what faith in Jesus tells us to do.
Worshiping God the Father, with Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit, in union with our fellow Christians here below and with Mary and the angels and the saints -- this is not back-breaking labor. It is a privilege and a joy, a joy-filled life.

2026-05-09 19:57:05 UTC

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My "work" for justification was to repent and be baptized. Do you seriously call that working for (earning) justification?
I call it receiving a gift.

2026-05-09 17:46:22 UTC

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I see.
What Catholic view or practice is something that's opposed to saving faith?
We do believe that we're saved 💯 percent by grace alone, and that our initial justification occurs when we believe and are baptized as Scripture teaches. That's faith in action.
(We just don't believe in mere "belief," or mental assent, as even the demons have, although it does start off that way -- and then it flowers.)

2026-05-09 04:05:33 UTC

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"Rome contradicts the Scriptures at the most important point: the pathway of redemption."
How does the RCC contradict Scripture about the pathway of redemption? What is the one thing most significantly bothersome or contradicting to you?
We believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way.

2026-05-08 19:42:35 UTC

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I'll probably do some hot and nasty garden work to earn some sweat on my brow till my eyes sting. Then maybe carry bundles of fallen limbs from the yard to start a bonfire, too.
😄

2026-05-08 19:35:54 UTC

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I also prefer the Month of Mary (May) to Jewish Heritage Month. 😁

2026-05-08 19:31:55 UTC

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Thanks for finding the source document.
But it's still there a little at:
"I further call on all Americans to celebrate their faith and freedom throughout this year, during this month, and especially on Shabbat."
As a Christian, I would especially celebrate it on the Lord's Day. There is no benefit or virtue in looking backward to the Sabbath like this.

2026-05-08 18:59:32 UTC

No, no, no. Nooo!
Not even -- no.
Christ is King. How about a national Lord's Day!
#nevent1q…xwzj

2026-05-08 10:04:01 UTC

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I'm pointing out that while you don't trust the Church (which you might see as ridiculous), you prefer to trust yourself (which you think is perfectly reasonable). I would call that a misplaced trust.
I do think I'm right, but not because I trust in myself. I trust in the Church that Jesus built, which is historically verifiable.
Here is a practical example:
The Church has given us the 27 books of the New Testament and has told us they are the inspired Word of God. (These are the same books you have in your New Testament.)
Without the Church telling me this, I would have to trust my own research in figuring out which books were inspired of God. That would be a nearly impossible task - - especially since I wouldn't have even known there were supposed to be 27 books added to existing Scripture (the OT).
Is that what God would expect from all of us, including little old ladies? It would be presumptuous for us to think we could figure that out on our own -- and all agree with each other -- independently of the Church.
I believe it is reasonable to put my trust not in myself but in the apostolic Church, against whom the gates of hell cannot prevail.

2026-05-07 18:16:33 UTC

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"We do not obtain salvation either because we are prepared to embrace every dictate of the Church as true...."
As a Catholic I'd say that the Church -- the Body of Christ -- is always 100 percent reliable in its definitive teachings on matters of faith and morals.
It's more reliable than me acting like my own interpretations of Scripture and right and wrong are guaranteed correct. That would be a very self-centered approach to truth.

2026-05-06 12:31:25 UTC

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Would you be in favor of ditching other medieval terms, like transubstantiation? Consubstantial? Trinity?

2026-05-06 11:34:19 UTC

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I should add, this is very similar to the title Mother of God.
Some people might misunderstand it and think we mean she is the mother of the eternal Trinity. But what we mean is that she is literally the mother of God, in that Jesus is God.
We don't get rid of or hide the title to appease critics.

2026-05-06 11:24:55 UTC

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Well that's where we really disagree. It's not antiquated or overly-poetic rhetoric. It is literal truth.
Mary is literally our co-redemptrix. Jesus redeems us with ("co") Mary.
We can't sacrifice Catholic truth to appease Protestants. They cannot be appeased anyway.
Clarity entails explaining what co-redemptrix means, not erasing our theological vocabulary to avoid hard truths.

2026-05-06 11:21:42 UTC

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If they are not now in communion with Rome, then why is Rome considering disciplinary measures?
They don't go around threatening schismatic groups, because they're already in schism. They don't get feisty at every Orthodox consecration, for example, because the Orthodox reject Rome's authority in *principle* (not just a particular prudential judgment).
The SSPX is working within the Church, as you rightly suggest we should. The SSPX does not claim to have left the Church, and neither do the popes claim the SSPX has left the Church.
There is a huge difference between tension and schism. One has to properly define schism.

2026-05-06 10:22:57 UTC

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The thing is, the SSPX has not split off from the Church. It maintains its loyalty to the Church, her beliefs, and to the pope. That's their whole point. They're afraid that by going along with the latest, novel trends, people will be led away from the Church and the true Faith.
Their concern is founded. We see it happening. No matter how a Vatican official or a pope might undermine Church teaching, we mustn't go along with it, even though many are.
So for example, we can't accept gay ideology or the blessing of homo relationships, or the idea that religions are all basically good and lead to God (and are willed by God), or that the Mass is primarily a sacred meal amongst brethren, or that we must now become a "synodal church," etc.
If we insist on living the Faith of our Fathers, of the Saints, then that's not departing from the Church; it's our duty. Bishops are not middle managers belonging to the pope; each are responsible for handing down the Faith once delivered. Even if an angel were to come down and preach another gospel, the bishops must not swerve from their duty to be faithful.
Obedience is a virtue indeed, but obedience to technicalities in canon law that are not conducive to the salvation of souls is not our duty and is not the intent of the law itself. It's the salvation of souls.
It's a messy situation, but the SSPX is recognized as fully Catholic now (by multiple popes), even though it felt the need to ordain bishops in 1988 due to a crisis in the Church. And if they go through with it in July for the same reasons, it's the same situation.
All they're trying to do is teach and live Catholicism, not Modernism or Catholic Lite, even if Rome currently trends toward those false ideologies.

2026-05-06 01:44:36 UTC

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I'm no canon lawyer, but as I understand it, within the law there is a stipulation that there is no excommunication when the bishop does so sincerely believing there is a state of emergency.
This is the same situation we had back in 1988 - same controversy, same reasons. Except now SSPX leaders say the emergency is even greater. (The "last straw" was when the Vatican's doctrinal guy discouraged the use of the title "Co-Redemptrix" and "Mediatrix of all Graces.")
I'm not comfortable with the whole situation. I'm not "comfortable" with what SSPX is doing in July (though I don't oppose it), but neither am I happy with what has led up to it and how Rome is reacting to the whole thing.
At the end of my daily rosaries, I ask St. Pius X and Sts. Peter & Paul to pray for us (the Church). The whole Church is struggling, going through its own passion.
But we can rest assured things will work out. We as individuals just have to be faithful to the full deposit of the Faith and keep the salvation of souls as our first priority.

2026-05-05 20:05:01 UTC

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I'm not trying to be contentious -- just thinking.
The SSPX is not in schism right now according to B16, Francis, and Leo/Fernandez. But they've had their "own [Catholic] bishops" since 1988.
How would July 2026 be any different?
They are only trying to preserve Catholic Tradition, not overthrow it.
I am not SSPX, but I'm sympathetic.

2026-05-05 17:20:36 UTC

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One might argue that the inventors and hardcore proponents of the New Mass are basically Protestant.
Years back I was disturbed when an ex-Catholic Lutheran convert I worked with told me their worship services are pretty much the same as at the Catholic Church. She equated the two.
I tried to explain the huge theological differences, including the Real Presence, behind the outward appearances of similarity.
But as a common layperson, her beliefs were formed by the liturgy. Since her former New Mass liturgy resembled Protestant liturgies, she developed Protestant beliefs as well.
She was harmed by the Novus Ordo over the span of years, mostly her youth.

2026-05-05 12:12:35 UTC

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I still want someone to tell me what Catholic teachings specifically that the SSPX reject.
I'm not aware of one, but they will get hammered for an act of disobedience made from a Catholic conscience.
What a sorry situation the Church is in. (Though that should never diminish our faith in God's providence -- not in the slightest!)

2026-05-02 15:31:57 UTC

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You have put a lot of thought into this and bolstered your position with hard facts.
But I do get up around 4 or 5 in the morning for rosary and a workout, or to write. I need time to do these things before heading in for my sedentary day job.
My "best" time is probably 8 to 11 a.m.

2026-05-02 15:20:43 UTC

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Extremely happy to see a Monero-favoring Catholic finding Nostr. Welcome aboard and stay awhile! 😊

2026-04-30 10:38:17 UTC

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I will consider it further.
I would think if it's posted in an adoration chapel where people go there for no reason other than to pray, then they are probably the most trustworthy group one could find.
But it only takes one butthole to mess things up.
Thanks for the warning. And thanks for your creative work.

2026-04-30 02:11:46 UTC

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I think hostednowhere is great. Thanks!
My idea for it is to create a local anonymous prayer request forum.
People can make prayer requests / share answered prayers anonymously. And they don't have to understand Nostr to use it.
I can print QRcode and post in our local prayer chapel. 📿👍

2026-04-29 15:33:02 UTC

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"Reading the paper".... What's that?! 😄

2026-04-27 11:18:34 UTC

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I grew up on Jack Chick Tracts.
Good job, Grok.

2026-04-24 02:13:25 UTC

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Thank you, Father. Good words.

2026-04-23 19:26:41 UTC

Sometimes when I think of my former sins, I think, "Oh, aaargh, yuck -- what a goober! Evil b@st@rd!"
But then I remind myself of God's great and tender mercy. His love is great to save a dork-and-a-half like me.
We should focus on God's immense love without entirely forgetting where we came from -- and where we are even now, realistically, on our spiritual path.
That's what humility is: keeping it real.

2026-04-23 16:15:03 UTC

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I would respond by saying that just because people have worshiped a false queen of heaven, it does not follow that there isn't a true Queen of Heaven.
There are also false gods, false lords, false apostles, false religions, angels appearing as ministers of light, etc. They are all cheap knock-offs of the real thing.
As for the other things (e.g., co-redemptrix, Marian doctrines), it is all a bit much to cover in a Nostr comment, but "yes" to the last two questions.
And remember that the "co" in co-redemptix in Latin simply means "with."
Think of it kindalike when a preacher goes on an evangelization tour and saves a hundred souls for Christ. Obviously we know that only Christ does the true saving, but the preacher, as an ambassador of Christ and one who cooperates in His mission, saves a person WITH and in Christ.
It's the same as the fact that only God can create; there is only one "Father" -- in heaven. Yet he shares his fatherhood WITH men. We can pro-create children. But not in a way that usurps God's role as Creator and Father.

2026-04-23 11:33:49 UTC

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Jesus will indeed be fine, except the statue is a visual representation of him. Imagine someone taking a beautiful picture you own of your mom, and ripping it to shreds with the intent of showing you both contempt and disrespect. Your mom would not sustain bodily injury, but it's the intent that's bad.
The solider smashing the statue seems to have had that intent, which is bad for his own soul. And it therefore does not please the One whom the statue represented.

2026-04-23 11:22:19 UTC

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I wondered what you meant by hearing Mary called the Holy Spirit. What you probably heard was that she is the "spouse of the Holy Spirit." That's just a description of her submission to the Spirit, in tune with the Spirit, cooperation with the Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in her womb. (I promise the title does not imply anything weird or freaky or kinky!) But Mary herself is never called the Holy Spirit.
The other titles you mention are beautiful titles that signify her connection to Jesus and her role as the Queen Mother (if he is our King, then she is our "Queen Mother," a title found numerous times in the OT).
Lastly, when the exuberant woman shouted, "Blessed is the womb that bore you," notice Jesus did not contradict her. He actually described the qualities Mary had; she heard the word of God and kept it (unlike Eve who listened to the bad angel, Mary heard and said "yes" to the good angel).
Further, when Mary visited Elizabeth, she said under inspiration, "For behold, from now on all generations will call me *blessed*; for he who is mighty has done great things for me...."
Hence, we call her the "Blessed Virgin Mary."

2026-04-23 11:07:32 UTC

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Yes, the understanding that we, too, are her children is profound and exciting.
John is the "beloved disciple" (so are we). He stood at the foot of the Cross (so should we) alongside Mary. Jesus' "Behold your mother" was not a last-minute living arrangement, but a profound gift to his followers. We are John. John took her to his home and honored her as his mother, and she acted as a "mother" to him.
The same writer (John) identified the "Woman" -- the mother of the man child (Jesus) -- as having other offspring. He described them as "those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (Revelation 12:17).
That's us. What a beautiful gift from our Lord.

2026-04-21 17:24:05 UTC

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I'm Catholic. We believe we should honor our father and mother -- that is, to honor them in a special way, more than others.
But Mary is the mother of Jesus, and by extension she is our mother, too. ("Behold, your mother," said Jesus on the Cross.)
So we honor her in a much greater way then our uterine mother. But this kind of reverence is by no means the worship that is due to God alone.

2026-04-20 09:40:28 UTC

The song "Mary Did You Know?" does have some theological problems. Yet there is something good about it.
This may not be well understood by certain Protestants, but it is a great example of mental prayer.
"Mental prayer" is engaging the gospel story with our imagination. It includes seeing Mary and Jesus and others in our mind's eye, and interacting with them, asking them questions, reflecting on our own walk with Jesus and/or our Blessed Mother Mary, seeking their help or intercession.
The heart that sings "Mary Did You Know?" or even Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine," is the heart that can pray the Rosary well, because the Rosary, too, is a combination of vocal and mental prayers.
Whether Protestant or Catholic or Orthodox, take up the Rosary to encounter our Lord in your heart. 📿

2026-04-15 19:56:32 UTC

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I hope one is made for Android. Right now I use it on mobile web.

2026-04-15 19:53:47 UTC

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Having the same problem here. 😪

2026-04-15 13:57:00 UTC

During Mass, priests have practically always joined the laity in facing our Eucharistic Lord in prayer throughout the Liturgy.
It's crazy how many now flip that on its side by describing it as "turning their backs to the people."
Is the Mass Christ-centered or people-centered? The answer to that question reveals who we're actually turning our backs to.
Bishops need to reconsider their novel diocesan bans against saying Masses ad orientum.
https://blossom.primal.net/613ff7ac5d78bfb79e6c832c5ec1b6897b9710fa21027cb286f136b91a3ea7f1.jpg

2026-04-15 01:54:10 UTC

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Nice.
I have several, but pictured is my EDC.
Thinking I should keep a Rugged Rosary in the car, though, because of its durability -- to keep in a glove box in case I need it.
But I think if you get caught praying it in the car, you could get charged with a DWI (driving while indoctrinated).

2026-04-14 21:55:20 UTC

Drop a pic of your daily or regular prayin" #rosary in the comments.
Here's mine.
https://blossom.primal.net/794b4a0bf0d415778a89ee932c2710d7a55d2cb7bc6b50493876611df3a24906.jpg

2026-04-04 22:29:27 UTC

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Just now finished praying my rosary. Soon we'll be headed out to Easter Vigal Mass!

2026-04-01 18:51:36 UTC

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Father, I saw your blog posts on your home page. I will be subscribing to the RSS feed. I liked the one about homilies.
Could you also cross-post to Nostr? (Via clients such as habla.news or Primal "articles"?)

2026-03-28 01:14:33 UTC

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Elaborate, please?

2026-03-25 00:18:38 UTC

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I've grown in my appreciation of him a lot over the last year. Still only halfway through his Confessions. Still reading it. So good.

2026-03-24 14:45:21 UTC

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I met R. W. Schambach several years before he died. My employer at the time in East TX sold their property to Schambach who bought it to be his new world headquarters.
I could be wrong but I don't think his ministry still owns it.

2026-03-24 14:34:04 UTC

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... said none of the apostles.

2026-03-20 22:29:27 UTC

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🙏🙏

2026-03-20 18:06:23 UTC

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True, true.
And many Protestants who display manger scenes during Christmastime understand this concept at least for a season, annually. But how soon they forget.

2026-03-20 18:01:57 UTC

It's many times easier to believe one can randomly guess the seed phrase of Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin address in one try than to believe the physical cosmos came into existence from non-existence -- without an Uncaused Cause, an Uncreated Creator, outside of the cosmos.

2026-03-20 17:19:19 UTC

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I certainly do!