At 7:15 the sun crept over the Seven Hills like Augustus’s shade inspecting his quondam empire, gilding the domes and pigeons of Rome in imperial light.
By 18:39, Sol will yawn and slip behind Janiculum, leaving the city to its vespers, scooters, and the tombs of saints.
At 19:00 the Ave Maria Bell should ring, summoning us from day work to aperitivi.
The shade of Augustus shall repeat, “Sic transit gloria solis” and Rome will begin her nightly negotiation with eternity.
At My Cuban Store it is “Clergy Appreciation Month”. 50% off on all clerical shirts (including standard and guayabera clerical shirts).
NB: Registrants…. if you register and then nothing happens or works, it is possible that I didn’t approve your registration. The main reason for my not approving is that, in the bio section which I require, what you put in it didn’t convince me that you were a) not a bot or spammer, or b) a bad actor of some kind.
WELCOME REGISTRANT:
JTT5748
That said…
???? BLACKWATER FOUNDER LAUNCHES PRIVATE ARMY TO DEFEND CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA
Erik Prince says he’s building a private military company to protect Nigerian Christians from ISIS-linked militants, and wants Vatican funding to do it.
Prince directly calling out Pope Leo XIV:
“Why… https://t.co/IAGtOaNmmW pic.twitter.com/PiEV0JEhIf
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 9, 2025
US President Donald Trump has reinstated Columbus Day, celebrating the great Catholic explorer who led to the Christianisation of the Americas and the eventual end of human sacrifice there
Columbus has been the victim of anti Catholic black legends which falsely ascribe crimes… pic.twitter.com/JCWpR5jDxu
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) October 9, 2025
This is cool…
10 October is ‘Old Michaelmas Day’ – Michaelmas counting by the Julian calendar. After the 1752 calendar reform, many Michaelmas traditions were kept on this date. For instance, it was said you shouldn’t pick blackberries after Old Michaelmas, because the devil spits on them… https://t.co/TXiLgIFJmV
— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) October 10, 2025
Yeah… this…
The tomb of Miguel Pro, who died facing his firing squad, arms outstretched, cruciform, shouting VIVA CRISTO REY! Long Live Christ the King!
…and this is your friendly reminder not to be a sissy when it comes to letting people know you’re a follower of Jesus. :) pic.twitter.com/8CTsSOTE3O
— Chris Stefanick (@ChrisStefanick) October 9, 2025
In chessy news…
In a Fischer Random (960) match in St. Louis, Viswanathan Anand is struggling again Garry Kasparov. Both, former world champs. Kasparov leads 8.5-3.5, but the intrigue remains, since 12 points are still up for grabs on the final day.
Some food things…
I met a friend, in town, a lawyer who defends priests, for drinks at my usual spot.
Since he has been here before, he made a bee line for the bar and they created a new cocktail… as one does.
At the restaurant… some beginners…. my friend wanted some pecorino.
Salmon carpaccio in ground red peppercorn and orange.
Freshly made caponata. Wow… exquisite. A little blurry here, I know.
This has been a go to place for me over the years. They’ve had good times and less good. Right now they are having GREAT times. This is one of the best meals I’ve at at this place for a long time. I spoke at length with the owner. He explain that even in the last month he got back an old chef who had been elsewhere, a guy he started with. He brought new nuance and brightness to the menu, along with expert timing of the FISH which I will post tomorrow.
This place is BACK! And it is close. And we all know each other, which in Rome really helps.
Everyone got thumbs up. My friend, whose 26th visit to Rome it was, said it was some of the best he’s had.
Hmmm… I had a thought. We should pressure John Sonnen, who runs pilgrimages, to have a special tour of restaurants and churches in Rome with the TLM. No massive slogs through a dozen places. Low impact. Busy part of the day. Here are suggestions if you want to go on your own. Here are a few fixed places. Tour with Mass for grown ups.
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Does anyone care about Nigerian Christians! Thank you and congressman riley moore and sen Ted Cruz, who also cares. What is the label for the emotions Catholics have to deal with when their POPE is concerned about blocks of ice, increasing illegal migration into the West, regardless how natives feel about it, and all manner of other causes, but not the muslim massacre of thousands of Nigerian christians thats been goin on and on. Boko haram has been doing this for years. Nigerian government doesnt seem to care, even the pope doesn’t care. He should be denouncing the slaughter and asking governments to intervene! Let the church support THIS effort to help them! Do this instead of staring at ice cubes and intructing the bishops to carry out sedition, something guaranteed to rile alot of people.
Your delicious meal and conversations make my day. Thank you for sharing.
I am in favor of the pilgrimage idea. As much as I want to see the Roman tourist sites, I would like to include churches as part of my exploration.
I knew a cousin of Miguel Pro. He was an awesome Dominican priest. His sermons were deep forays into Church history and Catholic theology. He always reminded the students to be fearlessly Catholic, but not to be more Catholic than the Church.
He was transferred to Mexico many years ago, and I lost touch with him. I pray for him every day. Fr. Bartolomeo de la Torre, if you are still with us, I send my greetings!
What a family that produced these two awesome priests!
Drinks al fresco! I love the variety of chairs . . . especially what appears to be a barber’s chair!