I posted this four years ago and I have not changed my position.
No. Way. The. Enemy. Wins.
Since I am in Chicago, I post today a link to a story from this date last year, 4 August 2022, about the Archdiocese and the Institute of Christ the King.
You might remember that the local Archbishop said to the Institute, whose raison d’être is the use the traditional form of the Roman Rite, that they had to accept the patently and false and manifestly stupid claim that the Novus Ordo “is the only expression of the Roman Rite” or they couldn’t celebrate any Masses in their church. In other words, they offered the Institute an unjust choice: Accept the lie we are forcing on you, or you can’t functioning as priests… and it’s YOUR fault.
This sort of thing is a manifestation of what so often results for priests as moral injury.
Remember: It’s not just the rite, the Vetus Ordo, that they fear and hate, its the people (especially priests) who want those rites. It’s the people.

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Meanwhile, white to move and mate in two. Did it take you awhile?

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE
In chessy news, in Baku my guy Wesley So nearly gave me a heart attack with his come from behind games. He fought his way back from touch positions to draw and then win a tie breaker and then draw another to advance. The tournament is knock out: lose your tie breakers and you are out of the tourney.
This post is absolutely and blatantly self-serving! I shudder to think about my present situation if there weren’t people praying for me out there. I am so grateful to all of you.
Therefore, I want to underscore a special group.
I received this note today:
Father, one of your Holy Hour “Sisters” had to step away from her commitment on Mondays. Another sister will cover Monday for you until we can get a replacement.
Anyone interested should email Janette Howe at SevenSistersApostolate@gmail.com
Thank you, can you please post this request on your blog?
UPDATE: I got a note today that Monday is still open.
Do you know about the Seven Sisters Apostolate?
In a nutshell, 7 women and perhaps a couple alternates, commit for 1 year to 1 hour of prayer for 1 priest each week. Hence, there is a lady on Monday, one on Tuesday, etc., ideally in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
In some cases, though this is not obligatory, the priest or bishop may not even know who they are.
There are good resources at their site.
Perhaps some of you readers might, in your goodness, consider doing this, for me and for other priests as well.
Anyone wanting to accept this Prayer commitment respond to SevenSistersApostolate@gmail.

Not Rome, but not bad.
Meanwhile, white to move and mate in 2. How long will it take you to find it?

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I can’t recommend this enough.

Crucifixion to Creation: Roots of the Traditional Mass Traced back to Paradise

The FIDE World Cup is underway in Baku. There were no major upsets in the 1st Round.
From midnight 1 August to midnight today, 2 August, you can gain the “Portinuncula” Indulgence.
This indulgence seems to have been granted directly by Christ Himself in an appearance to St. Francis. The Lord them told Francis to go to Pope Honorius III, who, as Vicar of Christ, who wielded the keys, would decree it.
St. Francis, as you know, repaired three chapels. The third was popularly called the Portiuncula or the Little Portion, dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. It is now enclosed in a sanctuary at Assisi.
The friars came to live at the Little Portion in early 1211. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans. This is where St. Clare came to the friars to make her vows during the night following Palm Sunday in 1212 and where Sister Death came to Francis on 3 October 1226.
Because of the favors from God obtained at the Portiuncula, St. Francis requested the Pope to grant remission of sins to all who came there. The privilege extends beyond the Portiuncula to others churches, especially held by Franciscans, throughout the world.
A plenary indulgence is a mighty tool for works of mercy and weapon in our ongoing spiritual warfare. A plenary indulgence is the remission, through the merits of Christ and the saints, through the Church, of all temporal punishment due to sin already forgiven.
To obtain the Portiuncula plenary indulgence, a person must visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels at Assisi, or a Franciscan sanctuary, or one’s parish church, with the intention of honoring Our Lady of the Angels. Then perform the work of reciting the Creed and Our Father and pray for the Pope’s designated intentions.
You should be free, at least intentionally, of attachment to venial and mortal sin, and truly repentant. Make your sacramental confession 8 days before or after. Participate at assist at Mass and receive Holy Communion 8 days before or after.
BTW… the faithful can gain a plenary indulgence on a day of the year he designates (cf. Ench. Indul. 33 1.2.d). You might choose the anniversary of your baptism or of another sacrament or name day.
My friend the great Fr. Finigan, His Hermeueticalness, has some excellent points and suggestions in his post about the Porticuncula indulgence. HERE
Also, HERE, Fr. Finigan wrote about the requirement that we not have any attachment to sin, even venial. He offers quite a hopeful view of what sounds like a difficult prospect. I warmly recommend it.
Regarding “the Pope’s intentions”, this means intentions designated by the Pope. However, some people have wondered how strict this is, or what to do it the intention is… odd. I wrote about this issue HERE. Read that post. However, here’s an excerpt:
Because we are Unreconstructed Ossified Manualists, and we love our old dependable compendia of theology with its sober and thorough analyses, we can turn to the manual by Prümmer.
Prümmer says that the intentions of the Holy Father for which we are to pray have a tradition of five basic categories which were fixed:
1. Exaltatio S. Matris Ecclesiae (Triumph/elevation/stability/growth of Holy Mother Church)
2. Extirpatio haeresum (Extirpation/rooting out of heresies),
3. Propagatio fidei (Propagation/expansion/spreading of the Faith)
4. Conversio peccatorum (Conversion of sinners),
5. Pax inter principes christianos (Peace between christian rulers).
These five categories were also listed in the older, 1917 Code of Canon Law, which is now superseded by the 1983 Code.
However, they remain good intentions all.

White to move. Mate in two.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
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