Rorate Caeli Mass at St. Stans tomorrow!

Breakfast will follow the Solemn High Mass in the parish hall

St. Collen and the paranormal

Saint Collen of Denbighshire

Also known as Colan or Gollen

Monk in Wales, Brittany and Cornwall. Believed to have travelled to Rome, Italy. Lived as a hermit in a small cave near Glastonbury Abbey. Abbot of a monastery in Wales. The Welsh town of Llangollen (Collen’s enclosure), Clwd is named for him, indicating that it formed around his hermitage and church.

Collen was at the right time and place to be a transitional figure in the folklore of the region. There are tales of him slaying a Welsh giantess to save the people of Llangollen (the church there still has an image of him in this triumph), and of fighting a duel with a Saracen in front of the Pope. Stories have him being taken to the land of faerie, but always as a Christian, and always showing the power of God over the old ways.

Legend says that Collen was once invited to dine with the King of the Fairies; some say he was asked by a man, some say by a fairy, and some say by a talking peacock; I cannot say. The saint declined three times, but finally accepted. Though the king appeared to live in an enormous castle, wealthy and fair, surrounded by courtiers and servants, and seated before a table groaning under the weight of good eatings. Collen, however, knew him for the lying spirit he was. The saint reminded the king of the fate of the Godless, then sprinkled holy water in all directions; in an instant there was nothing left but an angry, demonic bird, flying away from the scene.

Another version has it that Collen, while he lived as a hermit near Glastonbury, was summoned to settle the eternal May Day struggle of Gwynn ap Nudd, Lord of the Underworld, with Gwyther, Lord of Summer, for the hand of the fair Creiddylad, the Maiden of Spring. Collen ordained that the quarrel would be resolved on Doomsday, and not before. Then with a sprinkle of holy water, the faerie folk and fortress disappeared.

All of the above is taken from the following site: HERE

Also, more stories of the saints and the paranormal HERE

Thank you to Charles Coulombe for bringing these up as always

Breaking Luther: Bishop Bruskewitz corrects the nostalgia for the so called reform movement

Chaos in Christianity: an interview

Bishop Bruskewitz reflects on the Reformation, need for prayer

By S.L. Hansen

(SNR) - With the 500th anniversary of the Protestant movement coming at the end of this October, it is important for Catholic Christians to understand some of the facts behind that movement.

It is also a good idea to prepare for the inevitable conversations that might result as Protestant friends and family members mark the occasion. Related item: Coffee House series to focus on Reformation

In a recent conversation with the Southern Nebraska Register, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, the emeritus Bishop of Lincoln, spoke about some of the effects of Protestantism on Christianity and offered some advice for Catholics who may have an opportunity to correct misunderstandings and perhaps help to rebuild unity in Christianity.

Q. How would you describe the Reformation itself?

A. I would first say that the very word seems to be flawed and inaccurate, since nothing was “reformed.” Basically what happened was that large numbers of people left the Catholic Church and formed and invented numerous new man-made churches, denominations, religions, sects, and cults, which continue even to this day to multiply in number, making chaos of what had been once a generally traditionally unified Christianity.

Q. What is the effect of that chaos?

A. In the Western World, religion in general has fallen out of favor in large part because of the divisions in Christianity, which are viewed as appalling and embarrassing. Christianity is often held in disdain by the wider secular world. Also, centuries of scandalous Christian disunity, with the accompanied history of quarrels and wars, frequently form a serious impediment to the ability to present to our modern world the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Meanwhile non-Christian religions are currently advancing.

Read the whole interview HERE, it is excellent

Pope Leo XIII on Christopher Columbus

" To persuade the Indian people to Christianity was, indeed, the duty and work of the Church, and upon that duty she entered from the beginning, and continued, and still continues, to pursue in continuous charity, reaching finally the furthest limits of Patagonia. Columbus resolved to go before and prepare the ways for the Gospel, and, deeply absorbed in this idea, gave all his energies to it, attempting hardly anything without religion for his guide and piety for his companion. We mention what is indeed well known, but is also characteristic of the man's mind and soul. For being compelled by the Portuguese and Genoese to leave his object unachieved, when he had reached Spain, within the wall of a Religious house he matured his great design of meditated exploration, having for confidant and adviser a Religious-a disciple of Francis of Assisi. Being at length about to depart for the sea, he attended to all that which concerned the welfare of his soul on the eve of his enterprise. He implored the Queen of Heaven to assist his efforts and direct his course; and he ordered that no sail should be hoisted until the name of the Trinity had been invoked. When he had put out to sea, and the waves were now growing tempestuous, and the sailors were filled with terror, he kept a tranquil constancy of mind, relying on God. The very names he gave to the newly discovered islands tell the purposes of the man. At each disembarkation he offered up prayers to Almighty God, nor did he take possession save "in the Name of Jesus Christ." Upon whatsoever shores he might be driven, his first act was to set upon the shore the standard of the holy Cross: and the name of the Divine Redeemer, which he had so often sung on the open sea to the sound of the murmuring waves, he conferred upon the new islands. Thus at Hispaniola he began to build from the ruins of the temple, and all popular celebrations were preceded by the most sacred ceremonies."

Read the whole of the Encyclical HERE

Update on Fr. Kenneth Walker's cause

Sorry, its been a while since I have updated the blog... oh well



Anyways, I was recently at a retreat and during one of the discussions we had, the late Fr. Kenneth Walker was brought up. I inquired into any new updates on his cause and did find out something of interest.

About two years ago there was a mother who had received some bad news in regards to cancer and it looked like her time would be very short.  The family committed to asking the intercession of Fr. Walker. During this time she received a locution from the late priest informing her that she would indeed live longer then they had expected because she still had much God willed for her to do, but that the case would be terminal.  This locution met reality, and only recently did the mother die.

Please pray for her soul and for Fr. Walker.

Catholic prophecies and Jewish prophecies seemingly lining up

Myths that Glenn Beck told you: Poland is now a fascist state

So, on the 7/21 radio show, Mr. Beck declared that Poland is becoming fascist by removing justices from their court.  Note to Mr. Beck, Poland is not the US, they dont claim to have our values (we dont recognize virtues in America, but value are easy to change) but they do have principles and virtues that have been time honored and have sustained them for a thousand plus years... compared to the what? Less than 300 years here in the US?

So whats the story?

POLAND TO PURGE COURTS OF COMMUNIST-ERA JUDGES

Thats the headline on Church militant today.  Since i dont want to reinvent the wheel here is the link:

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/tbd8

Poland recognized Christ as King and even brought in E. Michael Jones to educate them on western manipulation though "libido dominandi.

I stand with Poland and Hungry as the only sane nations in Europe proper that remain.

Pope Francis in context - E. Michael Jones

The following is a pretty good discussion on the new book.  I wholeheartily endorse reading the book.  As an aside, E. Michael began this pontificate as being very open to Francis.  It is only after his travels to Argentina that he has changed his views.

https://www.amazon.com/Pope-Francis-Context-Arrived-Buenos-ebook/dp/B0721KX2BV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499824052&sr=8-1&keywords=e+michael+jones

Thanksgiving Mass for Summorum Pontificum at St. Stan's 7/7

Things Jesus Never Said: Capital Punishment Edition

Milwaukee's Largest Corpus Christi Procession this Thursday!!!

In case you are unware, the Churches that line Historic Mitchell Street will be uniting to celebrate the Solemn Feast of Corpus Christi on its proper day!!!

We will begin with a Solemn High Mass at St. Stanislaus.  All are welcome to assist at the Mass and if you need help following along, or need a translation of the Mass it will be provided! All parishes are welcome and the priests are encouraged to come and sit in choir during the Mass. Do come!

Following the Mass we will process by candlelight to St. Anthony's where consecrations to the Sacred Heart will take place.  We will then continue the procession to St. Vincent de Paul where Benediction will be offered.  Perhaps even some celebration there afterwards,

If you need a shuttle to take you back to St. Stanislaus, this will be provided.

PLEASE SHARE. This is the first time we will attempt a massive Corpus Christi procession and we are expecting a really good showing to honor our Lord in his Eucharistic form.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

History of the Latin Mass in Milwaukee: Fr. Lawrence Brey

As I have started to research the Latin Mass community in Milwaukee it has become apparent that the continued offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the Ancient Rite nearly died out, but for a few priests and of course the laity who left everything and were persecuted for their adherence to the Ancient Rite.

Many Catholic historians in Milwaukee will know the name Fr. Hugh Wish, who I hope to talk about as I do more research, but few are familiar with Fr. Lawrence Brey. Fr. Brey was a true champion of the Latin Mass. Along with Fr. Joseph Cunningham, Fr. Brey is known as "Our Saint" to the Original Latin Mass community in Milwaukee.

What follows is part of his story.  I will be saving some of the information I have from his friends for a book I am working on. You can find pieces of his work online as well.

And when the liturgical changes first occurred, Fr. Brey was assigned to St. Bernadette's Church, out on Denver. He had been a long time associate at St. Rose, on 31st and Michigan.The Pastor there asked Archbishop Cousin in October to put off all of the initial changes in the liturgy until May of 1964.

He went from St. Bernadette's, being transferred to St. Mary's in South Milwaukee. Then he spent two years at St. Rita’s. And then he went back to St. Bernadette and was assigned as chaplain to the detention center of Milwaukee lasting until 1969, and at which time , Bishop Atkielski was the auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, who was Father Brey’s great defender died. And when his appointment came up for renewal in 1971, the archdiocese would not give him an assignment and he became a priest on the road.

Fr. Brey would regularly offer mass in the city when he would come in at a few priest friends houses. And the word just went out that he was in town. And remember that Fr. Brey had lived in LA for a while, but then he just ran the circuit. He would go everywhere from California to Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, the northwestern states. He was doing that for 15 years. And when he came back to Milwaukee, he was living with Fr. Kunz, the priest that was murdered in 1998 in Dane County. He had just left and they got him a sweet of rooms at the cousins center. Bishop Scalba, arranged that everyday Father could say his Mass in one of those side chapels behind the Mater Christi chapel. One of his brother retired priests that came down from the start of Mass till we forcibly had him removed, just viciously swore and cursed in the most vile language possible at Fr. Brey during Mass. This was in 1998,  He stayed at the Cousins Center another two months until he could not take it anymore. Went back to St. Cloud, and then again Milwaukee in 2003, and that is where some of you have meet him for one Sunday. Fr. Brey never received clearance to say Mass in his archdiocese afterwards. But one Sunday, the third Sunday of Lent, he did appear at Mass, but the great patron of Fr. Brey, who was going to see him daily at St. Camillas was Fr. Joe Cunningham. He went to see Fr. Brey as often as he could.

I found one of his sermons, and linked it HERE.  The quality gets better as it goes

Vernacular permissions in the Latin rite prior to the New Rite

A pretty solid note on the occasions when Latin was set aside in favor of the vernacular, at least for a time:

"Although Latin prevails in the West as a unified liturgical language, in the face of certain circumstances the Roman church has made exceptions to provide a language in the Liturgy more familiar to the people. It is in the ninth century among the Slavic nations that we find a departure from liturgical Latin in divine worship. A privilege was first granted to Sts. Cyril and Methodius, by Pope Hadrian II in 869, and again by Pope John VIII in 880 to use the vernacular in the Liturgy.24 It was in practice in the present-day territories of Czechoslovakia; afterwards it was introduced by way of legitimate custom into the regions of Croatia. In the course of the years the Holy See has been quite positive in declaring her mind not only by the decrees of the Popes, especially Urban VIII, Innocent X, Benedict XIV, Pius VI and Leo XII, but also by compiling and publishing liturgical books in Glagolithic (Old Slavonic) characters. Among the most important pontifical documents for the use of this privilege is the rescript of Pope Innocent IV granted in 1248 to Philip, Bishop of Senj.25 Today members of the Roman Rite celebrate the Liturgy in the paleo-slavic language in the Croatian diocese of Senj, Modrus, and Kirk, and in some parishes of the dioceses of Sibenik and Split (present-day Yugoslavia), and in those places where there are large numbers of the Slavic races.

Another example of the flexibility of which the Roman rite is capable is the privilege granted for the use of Chinese as a liturgical language. History records in the fourteenth century that the first Franciscan missionary to China, John of Monte Corvino, used the vernacular in the Liturgy.26 Pope Paul V, in a brief of June 27, 1615, granted the same privilege to Jesuit missionaries.27 As recently as 1949, the privilege to use the Chinese literary language in the Liturgy was granted by the Holy Office.28 When conditions return to normal in China, and when Rome finally has approved a completed Chinese-Latin missal, this decree will take effect in all parts of that country."

Read the full article HERE

Michael Davies full video on Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "The Fight over Catholic Orthodoxy

They finally put this up online and it is well worth your time

Aurini: Donald Trump is not our Savior

A stiring article from Davis Aurini


"I’m sick of hearing about our bombing of Syria. A foolish rattling of the sabre, over a chemical attack which, according to the latest UN statements, was performed by our erstwhile ‘allies’ the rebels – the same loose affiliation of Mohammedans who are behind the recent attack in Sweden, pictured above. New boss just like the old boss, the military-industrial complex will have its way, the Deep State triumphs again...


The Left wants George Soros to redeem them from their sins; for the Right, Daddy Trump grants permission to indulge in materialistic debauchery. The Western man is dying because his soul died long ago; blank-eyed zombies, smoking pot, playing with their iPhone, screwing around on tinder, or finding vacuous catharsis through video games-turned-skinner boxes. Veal wrapped in cotton; auto-erotic assisted suicide. That is what your fellow ‘compatriots’ are fighting for; a pleasurable descent into the nihilist’s abyss...."

Click HERE to read the whole article

Just a small note on the SSPX marriages matter

It's a half measure

The real thing to wait for is to see what Rome will say about the marriages that were "contracted" prior to this grant.  Until there is clarification on that its pure show.

 

+JMJ+


 

Fr. Joseph Ratzinger on Patriarchate vs. Papal Primacy

"The more new Rome (which could not dream of calling itself ‘apostolic’) obscured the old idea of the apostolic see in favor of the patriarchal concept, the more; the more Old Rome emphasized the completely different origin and nature of its authority. Indeed, this is something entirely different from a primacy of honor among patriarchs, since it exists on quite a different plane, wholly independent of such administrative schemes. The overshadowing of the old theological notion of the apostolic see – an original part, after all, of the Church’s understanding of her own nature – by the theory of five patriarchs must be understood as the real harm done in the quarrel between East and West."

Read the whole article HERE

Hearings can be a funny thing

.@DavidRutz pic.twitter.com/Ny6lelPTIg

— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizWFB) March 21, 2017

Bieszad: A Massive Apostasy Is Taking Place Right Now As American Evangelical Christianity

An interesting article from Andrew Biezad on the failing Evangelical groups in America, as well as the failing of many Catholic Churches in America:

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"The essay by Rod Dreher that Eric Metaxas is referring to is well worth the read. In summary, American Christianity is rapidly disappearing, having lost its social strength and becoming a target of scorn and rejection by the greater society. In his view, Christians need to adopt a “Benedict option.” Named in honor of St. Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of Europe and exorcists, Christians need to form small communities in which to transmit and pass down their faith as the greater society around them dissolves just as Christians of the world of antiquity did:

Millennials, even those who identify as Christian, are shockingly illiterate, both in terms of what the Bible says and more generally regarding what Christianity teaches. I trust you don’t need me to repeat again Christian Smith’s findings showing that Moralistic Therapeutic Deism — a bland, undemanding, non-specific religion parasitic on Christianity — has taken over US religious institutions and has displaced authentic Christianity, especially among the young.

In my own informal conversations with college professors — both progressive and conservative, and both at Christian and secular institutions of higher learning — this finding has been abundantly confirmed. The ignorance is so widespread and profound that most of their students don’t even know what they don’t know. Which leads us to:

If we lose the middle and upper classes, we lose the church. For various reasons, churchgoing in America is primarily something that educated middle and upper class Americans do. Charles Murray, among others, has highlighted research showing that the working class has largely abandoned church. If Christianity is to survive in the US, it cannot afford to lose middle class Americans. Of course Christianity must especially be for the poor and working classes, but at this point in its history in the US, the poor and working classes have already left, and the middle classes are hemorrhaging.College is (at least for now) a common middle class experience. If we lose these kids in (or by) college, they’re gone. According to my anecdotal information, supplemented by the research from Smith et al., this has already happened. (source)

Both of these articles are well worth the full read, as they discuss major issues that are often times ignored. They are well reasoned and thought provoking.

But I’ll give a simpler and more daunting reason why “American Christianity” is collapsing. That reason is because “American Christianity” is a social religion. It is a product of and subject to the spirit of the times in which it lives, existing an independent organism with a false conception of its very self. It could never survive long-term because it was inherently heretical and doomed from its inception, and what we are witnessing is its natural and really, inevitable death.

...

Now it is only fair that at the same time in mentioning the evangelical Protestant sects, one also address the dire situation of the Catholic Church in the United States. Having been highly influenced post Vatican II by a desire to become like the world instead of standing in resistance to it (which was a major criticism of the encyclicals Gaudium et Spes and the infamous Rerum Novarum). This desire to become “Americanized” is a huge problem and has caused much of the scandal, heresy, and problems in the Church in America in the past and today. Just like the Evangelicals, the Catholic Church is also suffering its own free-fall collapse in the main Novus Ordo ranks. ..."

Read the whole article HERE

VHE IX: Dietrich von Hildebrand’s question for Lent: are we ready for a radical change?

A few good articles have come out recently in regards to the Von Hildebrands:



Dietrich von Hildebrand’s question for Lent: are we ready for a radical change? (Catholic Herald)


"In the first chapter, “The Readiness for Change”, von Hildebrand uses his insight in human psychology to help the reader see that the phrase “to die to self” implies a radical change. Many people are persuaded to change some of their bad habits or vices but are too afraid or obstinate to entrust themselves entirely to Christ. The author distinguishes between “the decisive cleavage” which “separates the unreserved radical readiness to change from the somehow limited and partial one.”

We sometimes fear we will lose our “individuality” in following Christ. The author reminds us that grace perfects our nature and brings to fruition the particular talents which God has entrusted to us. Indeed, the greatest examples of attractive and engaging individuality are the saints; he cites St Catherine of Siena and St Francis of Assisi as two very different personalities who share in the same holiness."...

Read the rest of the article HERE

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Equal But Not the Same: The Two Sexes

I am so incredibly grateful we live in a world where both men and women exist.

Seriously though, think about it for a moment. Picture a universe that is completely and utterly man, or completely and utterly woman. Why do we even have two sexes in the first place? Why not three? Why didn’t the creator of the universe just make one. Is there a point to any of it? ...


Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand, as well as Karol Wojtyla, write extensively about this topic. The book Man, Woman, and the Meaning of Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand is quickly becoming one of my favorite philosophical works. In it, he has many great philosophical insights into the nature of who we are, and how we relate to the other sex. He writes:

“What matters in our context is to understand, first, that man and woman differ not merely in biological, and physiological direction, but that the are two different expressions of human nature; and second, that the existence of this duality of human nature possesses a great value. Even if we prescind for the moment from all biological reasons as well as from procreation, we must see how much richer the world is because this difference exists, and that it is in no way desirable to efface as much as possible this difference in the spiritual realm, a trend which is unfortunately very widespread today.” (2)." ...

You can read the rest of the article HERE



Appeal: Help Keep the Roman Forum going


The ethos for the Symposium, as always, is the one laid out for us by Professor Dietrich von Hildebrand, with his concern for rooting all of our work in an ever-deeper study of the theology of the Mystical Body and the exalted understanding of “transformation in Christ” that this probing of the full significance of the Incarnation yields. It is that Christological approach, closely connected with devotion to the Sacred Heart, that has made the Roman Forum so eager to seek to cure our world’s “sickness unto death” by insisting upon the need to infuse all aspects of natural life---philosophical, political, economic, familial, fraternal, artistic, sportive, culinary; the serious and the festive together---with that Catholic teaching and grace that correct their flaws and raise them up in a hymn of praise to God. It is this approach that caused von Hildebrand already in 1970 to insist that the Roman Forum fight for the full restoration of “a liturgy that does not turn its back to God”. Gardone, 2017 will insist upon the necessity of following this Christological path, in all realms of human activity, as the sole, infallible route to the fullness of life instead of naturalist, secularist death.

2017 also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Roman Forum’s Church History Lectures in New York City. The 2016-2017 session is entitled “Even Now the Devastation Is Begun---And Half the Business of Destruction Done”, and deals with the dramatic years between 1748 and 1799. Beginning in March, talks will be available on Sound Cloud (https://soundcloud.com) for free consultation by everyone.

You can read the rest of the appeal HERE

Fr Calloway & Dr Marshall: History of Rosary

A good talk on the true history of this Divine Gift

Choosing one's penance

In case you are waiting until this morning to decide on what you will do for Lent, consider the Gospel from Luke 10: 38-42:

"Now it came to pass as they went, that he entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha, received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord's feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her."

The desire to do many things out of Charity for God is right and just, but be careful to place the emphasis on the amount of things you can do. Mary had left her worldlyness behind her, even to the point of pouring out her expensive perfume on Christs feet, offering what she had to Christ. Her response was simple and ordered toward perfect Charity, her one desire, her singular work was now to follow Christ even to the Cross where she would once again reside at his feet.

When Christ was asked by the young man what else he must do to have eternal life, he told him to sell all he had and follow him (for Christ is the Pearl of great price), yet it was the repentant and simple Mary, and not the young man, who put behind her the world to focus on Christ.

A joyous Ash Wednesday to you

Photo: Carl Spitzweg's "Ash Wednesday"

Fr. Ripperger conference on generational spirits and a note of the former satanist Zachery King

I put together a playlist of last years talk on generational spirits by Fr. Ripperger. Please, if you listen he asks that you say a decade of the Rosary for him or make a donation to his ministry. Also, do visit his website, which you can find by clicking HERE





Also, Zachery King was invited by Fr. Ripperger's community of exorcists to give a conference on his experiences and deliverence. Interesting because its an interesting story, but also because there were some that made it their mission to make Zachery look like a fraudster.  Now there is a good rule about prudence on such things, but love is also patient and slow to judge.

the information for Zachery's talks are HERE, as well as information on Fr. Rippergers upcoming conferences

A non-utilitarian defense of Monarchy

This is a non-utilitarian defense of monarchy I recently came across.  It is not an economic or political defense either

ROK: What is virtue signaling and just another instance of the Jewish Revolutionary Spirit

From Return of Kings:



"Virtue signaling is an attempt to get into the good graces of an individual or group by taking a political stance that attempts to show moral superiority. It allows someone to cheaply gain social status—and sometimes money—through comments or displays that are easy to make in place of genuine activism or work.

Such politically correct “holier than thou” empty gestures by ordinary individuals are silly but innocuous. By the powerful, though, this can have real impact on pushing agendas. More disheartening is when it happens by politically notable figures, for instance the “I’m not an extremist, unlike this guy a little to my right” routine. What’s quite troubling is how common it is for corporations, celebrities, and the ultra-wealthy to jump on the virtue signalling bandwagon. Many corporations have enthusiastically embraced affirmative action policies, put on gay pride events, ostentatiously celebrate diversity, and so forth—a clear endorsement of these things..."

The entire article is worth your time HERE

Dear liberals; This is who you are in bed with. The neo-con architect of the Iraq war. Well done. pic.twitter.com/eBda2IFwVc

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 15, 2017

Myths Glenn Beck told you: Dark Ages were against reason

The other day, Mr. Beck delivered another monologue wherein he again propagated the notion that Thomas Jefferson was so honorable for saying to: "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

Now, I'm not against anyone using reason to come to the knowledge of God.  St. Paul tells us this is just and the First Vatican Council made it a dogma wherein anyone that denies God can be known by reason is anathema. The issue is that Mr. Beck, as Mr. Jefferson did, is utterly fascinated by the myths of Carl Sagan, and how Sagan revealed the supposed lack of reason and pure superstition the Church was guilty of in the Dark Ages.

First, this notion of a Dark Ages are a matter of Modernity seeking to belittle Christendom and it's culture. That the Dark Ages propogated "blindfolded fear" is a petty shun. Jefferson was no Aquinas, Bellermine, Aristotle or even a Dante. He was a typical revolutionary age thinker, bound to the notions of Locke and Hobbes (both of who hated the Church and were not opposed to lying to bash Her).

It is libertarianism and conservatism of modern America that inherited the non-sense of the liberal thinkers of such an era “The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected," Chesterton tells us. We don't want to really look at the liberalism that all the major American political groups come from. We are a nation of revolution and aggressive trigger fingers. We invented total war and unconditional surrender... USA, USA, USA. We cant bring ourselves to really revisit things like the "need to go to war to free the slaves" or the "need to drop the bombs to bring Japan to their knees". All of these ignore facts to promote the American ideal. Justification is our passion!  The Dark Ages were bad because the Church didn't let heresy to spread everywhere! Good thing we are now all about dialogue with these principled men of modernity.

The idea that its more enlightened to allow falsehoods to spread everywhere is a type of indifferentism. We know the truth, we can come to it through the natural and divine law (both of which can be shown through evidence to be true). I'll keep Bellermine and Aquinas over Jefferson any day. Virtue much?

> Muh Light

Cardinal Burke and the Maronite liturgy

I'm trying to find when and where this picture was taken. When I find out, I will update

In response to Fr. Stravinskas' notions of the Ordinary Form influencing the Ancient Rite

Good news NLM put up a critique which is probably way better then my stuff below: HERE

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Recently, Catholic World Report published an article that attempted to square the circle and identify exactly what Benedict XVI may have meant when he spoke of both “forms” needing to enrich each other. Now, I don’t know the Reverend authors intentions or his experience, but this was a seriously problematic take on every level possible; absolutely requiring a response

Adoption of the revised lectionary

Taylor Marshall has done a fantastic job addressing this: http://taylormarshall.com/2013/01/the-lectionary-of-holy-mass-one-year-vs.html http://taylormarshall.com/2015/10/catholic-mass-lectionary-omits-anti-homosexual-verses-from-romans-1.html

Incorporation of additional Mass formularies

In his book “The Mass: A Study of the Roman Liturgy”, Adrian Fortescue addresses why the Church did not incorporate so many prefaces into the liturgy. You can click the link below to access the particulars. But also, it seams odd that here the author is so desireous of having many options, whereas later on he stresses that “Virtue stands in the middle”. I think he likes his ideas too much, making excuses and being critical of the formulation of the ancient rite when he does not have the competence to speak.

https://books.google.com/books?id=OkwmAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA318&lpg=PA318&dq=mass+prefaces&source=bl&ots=0uPi9_kH1F&sig=3pU2Zi7lknu1jsE_s5WTzphuWTA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyodD5k_TRAhUk64MKHWBfCHg4FBDoAQhJMAg#v=onepage&q=mass%20prefaces&f=false

There is also a position paper from Una Voce on this:

http://www.unavoce.ru/pdf/FIUV_PP/FIUV_PP8_PrefaceFinal.pdf


Expand possibilities for solemnity

The EF has clearly defined categories for the celebration of Mass: Low Mass, Missa Cantata, Solemn Mass. The normative form is the Solemn Mass, wherein a full complement of ministers functions, along with incense and chant. The Low Mass (which, in the United States, unfortunately, was the most familiar and common liturgical experience) had none of those components. The Missa Cantata is an attempt to have at least some of the solemnity, even without all the desired ministers. The OF does not have such mutually exclusive categories, thus allowing for as much solemnity to be incorporated as possible. And so, even at a daily Mass with a single priest-celebrant, one can chant any and all the prayers and use incense. Regrettably, that opening is not taken advantage of very often—even on Sundays. However, it would be a good element to add to the liturgical menu of the EF.

A) The Low Mass is most common because the seminaries refuse to teach the ancient rite, so it’s the beginning point for any priest of good will. Plus, a Solemn Mass can only be said once a day by a priest. Want less Low Mass’? Encourage priests to learn and regularly say the ancient rite and to not be so obsessed with saying the “ordinary form”. Plus there is the issue of having a deacon, which is not a guarantee at any Parish, even if a second priest stands in its still rare to have two priests. Encourage vocations. We all know the current model of permanent deacons is really an ordinary form thing, whereas the societies that offer the ancient rite, the transitional deacons are way more present. The possibility for Solemnity is increasing on the ancient rite site and we know what to expect, for the Novus Ordo (outside of a handful of churches here and there) it’s a crap shoot.

B) I see no reason why we are afraid to have exclusive Mass’. When I go to a Low Mass I know what to expect and it slightly changes how I will enter into the mystery, and with the other solemnities. Having knowledge and clarity is not a bad thing. Clarity is an aspect of Beauty, formlessness is not related to beauty… consider CS Lewis’ “Till we have faces”. Plus, its not like a Low mass could not be changed to a High Mass before hand. What is listed in the bulletin is the norm (and often helpful for young families for the obvious reasons), but it can be changed with necessary considerations.

Elimination of duplicate recitations

“In the celebration of Holy Mass, the priest moves in and out of various modes: at times, he prays as one of the faithful; at other times, he prays in persona Christi Capitis… there is no theological reason for him not to pray the text in union with the whole assembly”

- What is he talking about there is no theological reason? Why do so many of these priests buy into the modernist idea that useless repetition was involved in the ancient rite? The parish and choir are invited to sing the mass at times, but this does not mean the priest should not undertake his duties to say the Mass that is put before him. His recitation is not without merit for the action. You may dislike repetition but God has no issues with hearing his word spoken again and again, anymore than God has issues with Lord have mercy said by the priest and people separately. The priest has an office separate from the laity, that they should execute the office separately when the Church has ask them to in the past is not pointless.

- Before I move on, the garbage notion that the ancient Rite had useless repetition is just that. Fr. Ripperger addressed it in an article: “The third thing that the ancient liturgy provides is repetition. Now modern man has rejected repetition because he has a fixation on novelty. Novelty, of course, gives our appetites delight but does not necessarily indicate depth. To enter into something in depth requires time and repeated considerations of a thing. Repetitio mater discendi, as we say in Latin: repetition is the mother of learning. This principle applies not only to learning but to our spiritual lives as well. By repeating a prayer, its meaning becomes more known to us and therefore is able to be entered into more perfectly and with greater depth. Since the ancient rite allows not for novelty but repetition, it provides a way in which people can focus on the mysteries present rather than the new things that are constantly popping up. With the silence quieting our faculties and the repetition that characterize each Mass, we are able to participate in and enter more perfectly into the mysteries of the Mass. Too often participation is equated with physical activity rather than the higher and more active form of participation which is spiritual participation” . Those who attend the EF will know the awkwardness of the current rubrical practice, especially when a text calls for a gesture on the part of the priest (e.g., the Sign of the Cross to end the Gloria or the genuflection during the Credo) which is not “in sync” with what is being sung because the schola/congregation have not gotten there yet. - What is this priest talking about? Awkwardness? This is a subjective take that ignores just order and proper piety. Every action has meaning so too with the two Glorias, it does not confuse those that go to the ancient rite regularly, so he is just over his head on this

Restoration of Offertory Procession and Prayer of the Faithful

“Both of these rituals were specifically identified by SC as elements to be restored. The emphasis here is on “restored”; unlike some other rites introduced into the post-Vatican II liturgy,” - Later on he will jabber about antiquarianism… he is all over the board wherever it suits his modern notion of “liturgy” these two have a venerable tradition to them. - Which ended in the 11th century. While I don’t have an issue with either I would ask how this has really impacted those that now see it in the new rite. Though slight, there is a processing of the gifts up the steps of the Altar, which is easy to see and also has the same symbolism of elevating the normal to the sacred. And if we really wanted to restore the specific tradition of the “Prayers of the faithful” I would not look at the ambiguity of the new Rite, but to the actual ancient practice as Dr. Kwasniewski describes below:

http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2015/05/how-can-we-elevate-quality-of-prayer-of.html#.WJSlfFMrKCp


Re-order the dismissal rite

The EF dismissal rite is anti-climactic, inasmuch as the priest dismisses the congregation and then bestows the blessing, followed by the Last Gospel. The OF has a more logical conclusion, in that the “Ite, missa est” is truly the last word. Perhaps the Last Gospel could be retained as an optional text, given its historical value.

- The importance of the Last Gospel is taken up in the Fisheaters Forum:

http://www.fisheaters.com/forums/index.php?topic=3444395.0


- It is also of interest that a Mexican Archbishop recently restored the Last Gospel in his diocese:

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2017/01/mexican-archbishop-orders-last-gospel.html


Move the “fractio”

In the OF, the “breaking of the bread” occurs during the Agnus Dei, which is the quintessential hymn to the “Lamb who was slain.” The action and the text for this rite in the EF do not correspond to each other as well.

- So, it occurs just before the Agus Dei in the ancient Rite, but during in the Novus Ordo… why exactly is it more fitting they should not have distinct observations? Make clear that the homily is a true part of the Sacred Liturgy Removing the maniple and donning the biretta during the homily (along with the opening and closing Sign of the Cross) declare that the homily does not form part of the Mass; indeed, that is an “interrupter.”

- Im not sure why he wishes to call a sermon an interrupter. It would be more close to an intermission during a play. The Play does not include it among its parts, but it is observed. Outside of Sundays the Church does not demand a sermon be delivered at either rite. Saying the sermon is part of the Mass is just pure novelty. It’s nice to have, but not necessary considering the sermon can vary greatly, especially now.

- Plus removing the maniple is considered a sign of authority, not an issue of being outside Mass (see Taylor Marshall) On the contrary, the homily is an essential part of the Sacred Liturgy.

- False, its rarely said, and is not essential period.

Furthermore, if it is not such, then any baptized Christian should be able to deliver it!

- So… the Church cant bind outside the Mass… what?

Maintain the integrity of the Sanctus

When polyphonic Masses are sung, it is not unusual for the Benedictus to be separated from the rest of the Sanctus, being sung after the Consecration. This is an obvious accommodation to the problem of a musical offering that so overshadows the liturgy itself that it cannot be performed without creating an undue delay in the celebration. If a musical composition would have that effect, it certainly comes under the condemnation of Pope Pius X’s Tra le Sollecitudini. Beyond that, if it is being used as a “filler” for the silence after the Consecration, it flies in the face of the whole rationale for an inaudible Canon, evoking a deeper sense of mystery.

- I’m not familiar with this issue so I don’t have a take.

Adopt the rubrics of the OF for the Communion Rite

If the Pater Noster is the prayer of the family of the Church to her heavenly Father, why should not the entire congregation pray it together? Of course, Pope Benedict’s norms in SP already allow for that, however, I have rarely seen the option taken. It would also make sense to have the other prayers of the Communion Rite recited audibly or chanted aloud (as in the OF), with the priest’s private preparation prayers done sotto voce (again, as in the OF).

- Purely subjectivism which I see no reason to change anything for.

Face the people when addressing the people; face God when addressing God.

We have used this formula to justify celebrating Mass ad orientem in the OF, that is, to face liturgical east from the Liturgy of the Eucharist forward. The converse is also true: when proclaiming the Scripture readings, face those to whom those texts are addressed. Whatever the historical origins of facing east for the Epistle and facing north for the Gospel at Solemn Mass, they are not truly communicative of the significance of the rite being celebrated.

- He assumes that the scriptures are read specifically since the people are there. But if the priest says a private mass and has no audience does that mean the scriptures are not meant for the people? Of course not, but the readings are first said as a reminder to God, just as the trumpets were played in the temple not for the peoples enjoyment or learning, but as a reminder to God as to what they had received from him

- Plus in the novus ordo anyone, including prots are welcome to deliver the readings outside the Gospel… which begs the question.

- The epistle is prayed from the south because the Gospel as not been taken to the nations yet, which symbolically happens at the movement of the missal from South to North.

- The lectionary is not purely a learning device. This is creeping Protestantism, but if you do follow them and learn that is welcome, yet unneeded.

- Una Voce addresses the Lectionary in Latin in one of their position papers:

http://www.unavoce.ru/pdf/FIUV_PP/FIUV_PP16_VernacularLectionsFinal.pdf


Unite the calendars of the OF and EF

For the EF to be unable to commemorate the saints canonized since 1962 is an impoverishment—a point also raised by Pope Benedict in SP.

- Sure we can probably agree here Certain calendar changes were good (e.g., making the Solemnity of Christ the King the last Sunday of the liturgical year)

- But the feast was not meant to be an eschatological event. At the end of the liturgical year in the ancient rite we already observed this sovereignty over all in a different manner. Its not like Pius XI all of the sudden thought we were missing this, just look at the last day readings. , while others were destructive of long-standing traditions (e.g., Epiphany, Ascension). Regardless of what one thinks of either calendar (and no calendar will ever be perfect), operating with a dual-calendar system bespeaks division, the very antithesis of what good liturgy should be.

- All of this is playing off the idea that it’s a single rite… this is a weird game of denial for the sake of calming the mind with complacency.

Modify the rubrics SC calls for the modification of signs and symbols that are duplicative or arcane.

 One thinks immediately of the multiple Signs of the Cross during the Canon. Just as the OF admits of a certain laxity, the EF can lean toward an unhealthy rigidity or rubricism. In medio stat virtus! (“Virtue stands in the middle”).

- See the note on repetition above. The notions of rigidity should be a clear give away. Now follow the dog whistle.

Rename the two principal parts of the Mass

To continue to call the first part of the Mass the “Mass of the Catechumens” is a form of the antiquarianism pilloried by Pope Pius XII in Mediator Dei. We have not been dismissing catechumens (or penitents) for centuries (except in silly parishes where baptized Christians preparing for reception into full communion are “dismissed”).

- If this terminology was reintroduced then it would be antiquarianism, but considering it has remained in East and West without the “feeling” of it needing to be changed because (((nomenclature))), I think this is just another way to separate us from the tradition. The post-conciliar nomenclature is quite accurate: Liturgy of the Word/Liturgy of the Eucharist.

- Plus non-Catholics are still to observe the different parts of the liturgy in separate manners, so tough, it should stay on tradition alone.

When I asked Taylor Marshall his thoughts here was the response:

20% good. 80% not so much. E.g. Removing maniple is a sign of teaching authority - not "outside of Mass". https://t.co/B6AeUCy2Bx

— Taylor Marshall 🇺🇸 (@TaylorRMarshall) February 1, 2017

Fr. Hunwicke also wanted on the critique: HERE

Just an idea. Instead of seeking out someone that has been formed in the new theology and has only had limited liturgical experience in the ancient Rite, why not ask someone that daily says the Ancient Rite about what might be beneficial to it? Modernists will not rest until the ancient Rite is stripped... Thank the Lord for the ICRSS who use older books than the '62.

 

STAUP!

Update on Fr. Terra FSSP

You may remember Fr. Terra from the story of Fr. Kenneth Walker. I am happy to say that Father is daily increasing stamina and is back to constructing beautiful high altars

 

 

Please continue to keep Fr. Walker and Fr. Terra in your prayers!

The LMS of England gives their Rorschach Option

In the movie Watchmen, the character Rorschach gives an excellent opening monologue which I think plays well with the current situation:


"Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen it's true face. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save us!"... ...and I'll look down, and whisper "no."'

If the spats with the FFI and the Order of Malta have shown us anything, it should make us recognize the time and prep for likely ends.  The Latin Mass Society of England has put out a series of how the ancient liturgy can be a true bulwurk against the modern nominalists and modernists alike:


"The advantages the Traditional movement has in the current crisis are both tactical and strategic; I shall give two examples of each. Consider the tactical ones first.


"The recent history of the FFI and the Order of Malta illustrate two important tactical realities. One is that the Traditional Mass is a de facto rallying point for orthodoxy on a wide range of issues. (This has been the fear of opponents of the ancient Mass from the beginning.) The other is that internal divisions, including divisions about the liturgy, provide both an excuse and a point of leverage for attacks on an organisation (/ group / parish). It follows from these two undeniable facts that the Traditional movement has an obvious advantage. It is by definition united around this banner of orthodoxy.

...


The second tactical advantage is that the Traditional movement is not dominated by any one organisation: the blogs, priestly Institutes, lay groups, periodicals and so forth all exist among a good number of others of their kind. The suppression of one or another would not be the same kind of disaster as is the suppression of the FFI or the Order of Malta, because resources and support can be transferred between them far more easily than between non-traddie conservative organisations. Traditional groups are not interchangeable, but the fact that they support the Traditional Mass is a decisive reason for nearly everyone who supports them, to support them, and these supporters are, normally, already very familiar and friendly with other Traditional Catholic groups and organisations, and would be highly likely to find another group to support instead, were their current favourite to disappear. The orthodox Catholics who support the Order of Malta (as with other worthy conservative bodies) do so for all sorts of complex reasons, and if the Order were, for practical purposes, to disappear, they would be scattered to the four winds. As a force for good the Order would be gone, and no similar organisations would be proportionally strengthened. This is not a criticism of the Order, but in the current crisis it is a disadvantage.

...

The first strategic reason is this. As the cases of the FFI and the Order of Malta illustrate, internal struggles over teaching and liturgy are endemic within conservative Catholic organisations, and within the broadly understood ‘conservative Catholic movement’, if we want to call it that. The tactical consequence, of offering an opening to the enemy, has already been noted. The strategic consequence is that this makes them a terrible front in the war in which to invest resources, not just because of this tactical vulnerability, but because so much of one’s efforts will be spent on internal, organisational conflict. You might say: these internal battles need to be fought. Well, that is a judgement each person needs to make on the spot. The organisation at issue may be in a great position to make a valuable contribution to the struggle if only X, Y, and Z internal battles are won by the good guys, and that may be a realistic prospect. In my experience such prospects are never as rosy as one imagines. Nevertheless, if you really judge that to be so, good luck to you, but remember this: while this battle is going on, the efforts going into the internal battle are not going into the apostolate. They are not doing the work the organisation is supposed to be doing. In the meantime, you are helping to keep an organisation afloat which may be doing bad things as well as good ones. And finally, in my experience internal battles are disproportionately exhausting and demoralising, whereas work ad extra can be very rewarding and energising...."

You can read the rest of this rest of this series HERE

Breaking Luther: Martin was a Manichean, teaching both an evil Jesus and a good Jesus

 

The idea that Martin Luther just wanted to restore the early Church is laughable, but he did personally teach the early heresy of Manicheanism as his own.

 

"For most of post-Reformation history, it has been axiomatic in theological histories of the controversy to propose Martin Luther as a devoted follower of the theology St. Augustine of Hippo, the great opponent of the Manichees. This is not surprising, given that Augustine is often invoked by the Reformers against Catholic dogma, that heretics such as Calvin and Cornelius Jansen have made a corrupted Augustinianism the center of their doctrines, that Augustine's bold stance in favor of grace against the Pelagians lent itself to a certain degree of use by Reformers arguing in favor of sola fide and double-predestination, and that Luther himself was an Augustinian monk. Contemporary scholarship, however, reveals quite a contrary picture of Luther. Far from invoking Augustine against Rome, Martin Luther shows himself disdainful of the great doctor of Hippo, and in fact an advocate of the dualist theology of the Manichees.

…

How could these important elements of Luther's thought get lost? Theobald Beer points out that what we now know as "Lutheranism" is really the thinking of Luther's successor, Philipp Melanchthon, who was Luther's interpreter and advocate, who nevertheless diverged from Luther on several important points. Unlike Luther, Melanchthon held the Church Fathers, especially Augustine, in a certain level or reverence, admitted the usefulness of philosophy in theological studies, and tended towards a certain irenicism that Luther found troubling. Melanchthon brought these characteristics into the Lutheran cause and served to moderate the Lutheranism of the latter 16th century against some of Luther's more extreme positions.

…

In Luther's glosses, he refers to Christ not as a person, but as a compositum, a composition; this is necessary, since he asserts that divinity and the diabolical are co-existing within Him; Christ is a composition of humanity and divinity. Here Luther is opposing the traditional concept of a single, personal hypostasis, which he will argue against his entire life. This was a huge point of divergence between Luther and Melanchthon; after Luther's death, Melanchthon stated, "The formulas to be rejected are: 'Christ is composed of two natures' and 'Christ is the fruit of creation.'" The former is obviously an attempt to move the Lutheran movement away from Luther's heretical compositum view, and thus Lutheranism would maintain the the traditional formula of hypostasis. Here Luther is especially against Augustine, which we will say more on shortly.

Beer stresses that Luther fixates much more on the role of Christ rather than on His identity; what Christ does is more important than who He is. For Luther, Christ has two functions. "The first," says Theobald Beer, "is the function of shielding us from divine wrath and the second that of giving us an example. This is twofold justification." [4] The human nature of Christ, because it adopts the sinful disposition of fallen man, in fact becomes sin. This is where a Gnostic-Manichaean dualism enters into Luther's thought. There could be no reconciliation between sinful flesh and the divine nature. This is why Christ is compositum but not hypostasis. "

You can read the whole of the article HERE

Ryan Grant on the reliability of Canon Hesse's teachings

I figured there was so little out there to directly challenge Hesse at this point but Ryan Grant did call him out recently

On the Gaffigans’ and a good question on the Malta situation

File this in the same stack as Stephen Colbert catholics.

As much as I enjoy most of Jim Gaffigan’s material, I am utterly frustrated by how these folks can fall into the dumbest of traps. Now many people will say, “But, they don’t use contraception”. As if that was the sole distinguishing mark of a Catholic. No, what he has been shown to push is of grave concern, and that so many Catholics have been silent on this – I’m looking at all of you that push Gaffigan stuff on Catholic Blogs, news sources and at official Catholic gatherings – is a grave disgrace. There was not a single show where he did not try to use his platform to normalize sodomidic behavior. For crying out loud they made one of the family helpers/advisors a sodomite and never, ever attempted a plea to the individual to change. They brought him into the home to influence the kids, and effectively normalized his disorder by making him a regular on the show. And in case you need more that same actor decided he needed to act up the other day.

Woke budget cutter pic.twitter.com/QoaVqGpFNk

— Michael B Dougherty🍃 (@michaelbd) January 13, 2017

----------------

The other thing worth touching on is this Malta bishop’s situation. CCC, on their Twitter feed made a good observation (which could be applied to many things):

Why was ad orientem SUGGESTION shot down immediately, while Maltese bishops' DIRECTIVE--violating Church teaching--is left uncorrected?

— Cream City Catholic (@CCityCatholic) January 16, 2017

It is a fair question to ask I believe…

I can’t believe every woman I know is marching in the streets and CNN is showing Trump pretending to believe in God. #WomensMarch

— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) January 21, 2017

+JMJ+

St. Bridget of Sweden: Christ's words to the five men of this world

Taken from "The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden: Volume 1"


“I am the Creator of all things. I was born of the Father before Lucifer. I am inseparably in the Father and the Father in me and one Spirit in us both. Accordingly, there is one God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost – and not three gods. I am the one who promised the eternal inheritance to Abraham and led my people out of Egypt through Moses. I am the one who spoke through the prophets. The Father sent me to the womb of the Virgin without separating himself from me but remaining inseparably with me so that mankind who had abandoned God, would return to God through my love

But now, in your presence, my heavenly host, although you see and know all things in me, yet for the sake of the knowledge and teaching of my bridge standing here, who cannot understand spiritual things except through a corporal parable, I make a complaint before you over these five men who are standing here, for they provoke me to wrath in many ways. Just as I, once, in the Law, with the name of Israel, signified the whole Israelite nation, so now by these five men I signify every man in the world.

The first man signifies the leader of the Church and his priests; the second, the evil laity; the third, the Jews; the fourth, the heathens; and the fifth, my friends. But from you, Jew I exclude all the Jews who are Christians in secret and who serve me secretly in a pure love, a right faith, and a perfect deed. And from you, heathen, I exclude all those who would gladly walk in the way of my commandments, if they only knew and were taught how they should walk and live, and who with their deeds do as much as they know and are able. These shall by means be judged with you.

I now complain over you, o head of my Church, who sit on my seat which I gave to Peter and his successors to sit on with a threefold dignity and power: First so that they would have the power of binding and loosing souls from their sins. Second, so that they would open Heaven for the penitent. Third, so that they would close heaven to the damned and to those who despise my Law. But you who should be healing souls and presenting them to me, you are in truth a murderer of souls. I appointed Peter as shepherd and guardian of my sheep. But you, however, scatter and wound them, You are worse than Lucifer. For he was envious of me and desired to kill none but me so that he could rule in my place. But you are so much worse, for you do not only kill me by driving me off from yourself by your bad deeds, but you also kill souls by your bad example. I redeemed the souls with my blood and entrusted them to you as to a faithful friend, but you deliver them back again to the enemy from whom I redeemed them. You are more unrighteous than Pilate. He judged no one else but me to death, but you not only judge me as if I were a powerless lord and worthy of no good thing. No, you also judge and condemn the souls of the innocent and let the guilty go free without rebuke. You are more cruel than Judas who only sold me, but you not only sell me, but also the souls of my chosen men for your own shameful profit and vain name’s sake. You are more despicable than the Jews, for they only crucified my body, but you crucify and torture the souls of my chosen men for whom your malice and your sins are more bitter than from any wound from a sword. And so, since you are like Lucifer and more unrighteous than Pilate and more cruel than Judas and more despicable than the Jews, I complain over you with justice.

To the second man, that is, to the laity, our Lord said; “I created all things for your benefit, You gave your consent to me and I to you. You gave me your faith and promised by oath that you would serve me. But now, you have deserted me like a man who does not know his God. You hold my words for a lie and my deeds as vanity, and you say that my will and my commandments are too heavy. You have violated the faith you promised me. You have broken your oath and abandoned my name. You have separated yourself from the number of the saints and have come to belong to the number of the devils and you have become their friend. You think that no one is worthy of praise and honor but yourself. Everything that belongs to me and that you are bound to do for me appears heavy and bitter for you, but the things that please yourself are very easy for you. Therefore, I complain over you with right for you have broken the faith you gave me in baptism and later; and for the love I have shown you in word and deed, you mock me and call me a liar, and for my suffering you call me a fool.

To the third man, that is, to the Jews, he said: “I began my deed of love and you and I chose you as my people. I led you out of slavery, I gave you my law, I brought you into the land I had promised your fathers, and I sent you prophets to console you. Thereafter, I chose a virgin for myself from among you from which I assumed Manhood. But now I complain over you since you do not want to believe in me, but say: “The Christ has not yet come; he is still to be expected’”.

Our Lord said to the fourth man, that is to the heathens: “I created and redeemed you like the Christian man, and I created all good things for your sake. But you are like a man out of his senses, because you do not know what you are doing. You are also like a blind man, because you do not see where you are going. You honor and worship the created things instead of the Creator and the false instead of the true, and you bend your knee before things that have less worth than yourself. That is why I complain about you.”

To the fifth man, he said: “My friend, come closer!” And he directly said to the heavenly host: “My beloved friends, I have a friend with which I signify and mean many friends, he is like a man trapped among evil people and harshly shackled in captivity. If he speaks the truth, they beat his mouth with stones. If he does something good, they thrust a spear into his breast. Alas, my friends and saints, how long shall I endure such men, and how long shall I tolerate such contempt?”

Saint John the Baptist answered: “You are like the most pure mirror, for we see and know all things in you as in a mirror without any help of words and speech. You are the sweetness that no one can describe in which we taste all good things. You are like the sharpest of swords for you judge in righteousness.”

Our Lord answered him: “Indeed, my friend, you said the truth, for my chosen men see all goodness and righteousness in me, and even the evil spirits see it in their own conscience but not in the light. Just like a man placed in a dark prison, who had earlier learned the letters, knows that which he had learned before even though he is in darkness and currently cannot see, so it is with the devils. Even though they do not see my righteousness in the light of my clarity, they still know and see it in their conscience. I am also like a sword that separates things into two parts. In this way I give each and every person what they deserve.”

Then Our Lord said to Saint Peter: “You are the founder and defender of the faith and of my Church. While my host is listening state the sentence of the five men!” Peter answered: “O Lord, all praise and honor to you, for the love you have shown to your earth. Blessed be you by all your host, for you allow us to see and know all things in you that have been and will be, and that is why we see and know all things in you. It is true justice that the first man who sits upon your seat, while having the deeds of Lucifer, should shamefully lose the seat he dared to sit on and become a partaker in the torment of Lucifer. The right judgment of the second man is that he , who has fallen away from your faith, should fall down to hell with his head down and feet up, for he loved himself and despised you who should have been his head. The right judgment of the third man is that he will not see your face and that he should be tormented for his malice and greed, since unbelievers do not deserve to see your glory and beauty. The right judgment of the fourth is that he should be locked up like a man out of his senses and banished to the city of darkness. The right judgment of the fifth is that help should be sent to him.”

Then our Lord answered: “I swear by God the Father, whose voice John the Baptist heard in the Jordan; I swear by the body which John baptize, saw, and touched in the Jordan; I swear by the Holy Ghost who revealed himself in the form of a dove at the Jordan, that I shall do justice with these five men.”

Then our Lord said to the first of these five men: “The sword of my severity will go into your body; it shall enter at the top of your head and penetrate you so deeply and violently that it can never be drawn out. Your chair will sink like a heavy stone and never stop before it comes to the lowest depth. Your fingers, that is, your assistants and advisers, will burn in the inextinguishable sulfurous fire. Your arms that is your office-holders, who should have reached out for the help and benefit of souls but instead reached out for worldly honor and profit, will be judged to the torment and suffering of which David speaks: “His sons shall be fatherless and his wife a widow and others shall take his property.’ Who is ‘his wife’ if not the soul which shall be excluded from the glory of Heaven and be widowed and lose God? ‘Their property’, that is the virtues they appeared to have, and my simple and humble men who were under them, shall be separated from them, their honor and property will be given to others, and they will inherit eternal shame instead of their dignity and glory. Their headgear will sink down into the filth of hell, and they will never be able to get up out of it. Just as they rose above others through their honor and pride, so in hell they will sink so much deeper than others so that it will be impossible for them to ever stand up again. Their limbs, that is, all the priests who followed and helped them in wickedness, will be cut off from them and severed just like the wall that is torn down where not a single stone is left upon another stone and the cement no longer adheres to the stones. No mercy will come to them for my love will never warm them nor restore or build them up into an eternal house in Heaven, but instead they shall be excluded from all good and endlessly tormented with their headmen and leaders.

But to the second I say: “ Since you do not want to keep the faith you promised me and have love toward me, I shall send an animal to you that will rise from the surging torrent, and it shall swallow you. Like the torrent always flows downward, so this animal will drag you down to the lowest hell, and just like it is impossible for you to travel upstream against the surging torrent, it will be just as hard for you to ever ascend from hell.

 To the third I say: “Since you, Jew, do not want to believe that I have come, you will see me when I come on judgment day, but not in my glory but in your conscience, and you will come to know that all the things I said were true. Then there is nothing left for you, but to be tormented as you deserve. To the fourth I say “Since you do not care to believe and do not want to know me, your darkness will be light for you, and your heart will be enlightened so that you may know that my judgments are true, but you will still not come to the light.

To the fourth I say: "Since you do not care to believe and do not want to know me, your darkness will become light for you, and your heart will be enlightened so that you may know that my judgments' are true, but you will still not come to the light."

To the fifth I say: “I shall do three things to you. First, I shall fill you inwardly with my fervor. Second, I shall make your mouth harder and firmer than any stone, so that the stones turn back to the ones throwing them at you. Third, I shall arm you with my weapons so well that no spear will harm you, but instead everything will melt before you like wax in the heat of the fire. Be therefore made strong and stand like a man. For just like a knight in battle who hopes for help of his lord and continues fighting as long as he still has some life-force in him, so may you too stand firm and fight like a man; for the Lord your God, who none are able to withstand will give you help. And since your number is small, I will honor you and multiply you greatly. Behold my friends, you see these things and know them in me, and in this way they stand before me.

The words I have now spoken will be fulfilled. But these other men shall never enter my kingdom, as long as I am King, unless they better themselves. For Heaven will only be given to those who humble themselves and to those who mourn over their sins with penance.” Then all the host answered: Praise be to you, Lord God, who are without beginning and without end.”