Ralph Martin’s surprising Vladimir Putin video

You have perhaps read my theory that, as the demographic sink-hole continues to gobble up Catholic who are falling away.   I believe that, eventually, there will be left three groups, traditionalists (no matter what the cruel hierarchy tries to do to them), charismatics, and converts from evangelical Protestantism.  These groups will have to work and fit together, because they will be all that’s left.  There will be frictions, but it will happen.

Along these lines, I pay good attention Ralph Martin, who for many years has been aligned with the charismatic trend.

This video was thought provoking in a particular way.

Posted in Pò sì jiù, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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ASK FATHER: Invalid marriage because one was secretly “gay”

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

My husband and I (both Roman Catholic) are separated. We separated in July after I learned he is secretly gay and has been meeting men for a decade, including before and throughout the entire time we were dating, engaged, and married.

I’ve already spoken to my parish priest about an annulment and we are in the divorce process. We have a toddler daughter. My husband does not want the marriage to dissolve.

My priest says it is a clear case of invalidity. But I would just like (hopefully) a word of encouragement that, on it’s face, you think those are reasonable grounds for me to seek a divorce and annulment.

While we do not have his side of the story, this doesn’t seem all that difficult a case.

Homosexuality, especially when concealed, would likely be a solid ground for exploring the invalidity of consent, because the person who now identifies as “gay” was incapable of assuming the obligations of marriage (can. 1095, 3), or because he deceived the person into marriage by concealing his tendencies (can. 1098) or possibly from error qualitatis personae (can. 1097).

If he had been seeing others prior to and after consent, there might also be the possibility of simulation against the good of fidelity (can. 1101) on his part.

UPDATE:

I was in touch with a canonist with lots of tribunal experience who advised me that, tribunals in these USA generally don’t accept a case until it is clear there is no hope of reconciliation between the parties.   The best (though saddest) proof of that is a final divorce judgment.   Some tribunals also have a waiting period after a divorce is final, like asking the Petitioner to wait a year, etc.

Furthermore, when someone alleges that his or her marriage is null, the burden of proof is on the person making the allegation.

It’s not enough to just say, “I learned he was secretly gay.”

Proof and evidence would be need of his long-term, deep-seated same-sex attraction.

The lady should submit all relevant evidence to the tribunal and let them decide the grounds.

“Gay” in itself may not be grounds for nullity.

UPDATE:

It should be added that people who are homosexual can validly contract marriage.  What matters is the state of the persons at the time of the marriage, the manifest exchange of vows of the baptized who are free, not hindered in any way, to marry.

Above, note the mention of “proofs”.   Until there are proofs, the marriage is deemed to be valid.

Moreover, there are various reasons to remain together, provided that fidelity and exclusivity can be assured, keeping in mind that two men who do things to each other is not so much adultery as mutual abuse.  The care of children, the goal of helping each other get to heaven… these goods are part and parcel of what was vowed at the time of the marriage and cannot be set aside without grave reasons (e.g., danger of physical violence, psychological harm to children, etc.)

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Daily Rome Shot 327

If you haven’t tried it yet, you have no idea how good this beer is with sausage, cheese, etc.

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Personal, home, cyber security and YOU

I have written many times about preparedness for emergencies, having a plan that your loved ones understand for various scenarios.

I have written many times about situational awareness and having gamed our in your head various possibilities in the case of an active shooter, etc.

I have written many times about having good supplies in a secure and accessible place.

I have written many times about steps to take to protect yourself and family.

In light of recent allegations about a priest having illegal material on a computer, I am reminded of incidents with priests who were accused of doing bad things with computers and internet only to be found innocent because their wifi security was bad and someone had hacked it.

Everyone has to be careful.

It’s always someone else… until it’s you.

Just today a weird thing happened. Someone parked in what is essentially a no-parking area on the street next to where I live.  I haven’t seen this before.  I had an optical gadget handy, so I took a closer look and saw what I thought was the driver moving his hand with a device around in the manner of one trying to get more bars or perhaps wifi.   That’s when I shut everything down, went out the side, and took a photo of the vehicle.  He sat there for a while longer and then left.  Distinctive vehicle.  I’ll keep my eyes open.

If you watch videos from a source like Hak5 you learn really fast the various ways to crack passwords, enter networks with half-handshake attacks, etc.   You can even get into a network through a wifi enabled appliance.   Hostiles can plant things on your cars or on your property.

Say you are out and about and find a USB drive.  Curious, you plug it into your computer to see what is on it.  You are now toast.  The drive had hostile scripts.  The drive was planted to get some sucker.   They can unlock your computer, copy your files, get your passwords in the blink of an eye and send it to someone.

Say you just left your laptop for a moment at the coffee shop or airport lounge. It would take a few seconds for someone to insert the drive and, bammo, your stuff is his stuff.  You are now toast.

Say you are out and about and your phone’s power is low.  You ask if you can use someone’s power cable.  You are now toast.  The power cable, indistinguishable from good ones, actually has “Rubber Ducky” scripts that can do amazing things to your phone and data that you won’t like.

Analogy.  I broke into my garage with a wedge and coat hanger in 15 seconds.   These scripts are a hell of a lot faster than that.   Access to your house through your garage makes you and yours vulnerable.  Access to your network, laptop, phone through USB drives, cables, half-handshakes, etc. makes you and yours vulnerable.

I once plugged by phone into the usb port on an airplane and got a message on my screen: Trust this network?”   HELL NO!   I now have these for all travel.  HERE

Changes have been made to the garage.  Changes have been made to cables.

Everyone… be careful out there.

Change passwords.  Make them strong.  Don’t use the same one over and over.

Keep your security tight, and use two-step identification.  Yes, take the extra annoying two seconds.

Treat view devices in the hands of nearby strangers as being filled with the CCP virus.

Leaving your mobile phone at home if you can.

Use signal blocking bags.

 

Posted in Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
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UPDATE From Fr. Christensen, warrior priest against ALS – READ and PRAY

From Fr. Dana’s blog...

Our Lady of Loretto

The very icon that Fr. Dana Ambrose took to the hospital.

I haven’t posted since my extended stay in the hospital, more on that later. What I wanted to do today is share just one snippet of how God, in subtle ways, made himself known.

I had brought an icon that I had bought in Loretto. If you don’t know the miraculous story, you can look it up.

But nevertheless, I brought an icon to the normally devoid of religious hospital. I wanted something beautiful in a place of such pain, including my own.

The night before my surgery, which would definitively take away from my voice, I was quite emotional. Then the night nurse arrived. She immediately noticed the icon, and immediately identified herself as Greek Orthodox. She took the time to show me her home icons on her cell phone. She had the respect the orthodox have for priests. She treated me dignity, especially given my emotional state. She called me father when most doctors and nurses called me by my given name. I’ve certainty been called worse, but her pious gentility was a calm in the storm of my emotions.

As they wheeled me away to surgery next morning, she gave me the gift of reminding me just who I and what I was about in that moment. She said “I will probably get in trouble for this” and then commenced to kneel down, kissed my hand, and said “bless me father, and bless my family.”

What a reminder of who I was at that moment, a priest-warrior going into battle for the sake of Our Lady, and for the sake of the salvation of my soul the souls of all men.

Brother priests, monks, bishops, fight like the consecrated men you are. Otherwise hell awaits.

Memento mori

 

His expenses must be incredible, with 24/7 care.

Please, as you have helped me and others, now help Fr. Christensen.

Fr. Christensen wrote some time ago:

If you want to give a recurring monthly donation click on the red “Donate” tab above [at his site] or click

HERE.

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The Anti-Catholic Pogrom continues” Today… in Rome itself

I was informed that Rome had more bad news for us all… I include those who are dedicated to the Novus Ordo.

Remember… Novus Ordo fans!  Hurt one, all are wounded.  You are wounded by the persecution of those who love the Traditional Roman Rite. You should defend your brethren out of both self-interest and charity.

A friend said that the Vicariate of Rome – the “chancery” of the Diocese of Rome, whose Vicar, a Cardinal, runs Rome while a Pope popes – has forbidden celebration of the Triduum at all churches with the Vetus Ordo in Rome, including the PERSONAL PARISH, Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, which is staffed by the FSSP.

I don’t have the energy to translate the hideous letter from the Vicar of Rome.  Rorate has a translation, HERE, which I will lift, below.

Suffice that… this repression is for, “facilitating ecclesial communion for those Catholics who feel bound to some previous liturgical forms”. Orwell stands in awe.

The repression is done with “lively pastoral charity”.

This pogrom is carried out “for the spiritual good of the faithful.”

The Vicar is setting up a Commissioner to handle requests from priests… blah blah blah…

“every day, except the Easter Triduum, the faithful may participate in the celebration of the Eucharist according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 in the parish of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini

I remind the readership of the meaning of the Latin term Vicarius.

Vir
Inutilis
Carens
Auctoritati
Rare
Intelligentiae
Umbra
Superioris


VICARIATO DI ROMA

Rome, October 7, 2021 [released to the public November 9, 2021]

– To all the priests involved in the pastoral care of the Diocese of Rome
– To all the faithful of the Diocese

Dear All,

The Diocese of Rome, welcoming the provisions of the Apostolic Letter in the form of a motu proprio of the Holy Father Francis Traditionis Custodes of July 16, 2021, intends with this Pastoral Letter to continue the work of “facilitating ecclesial communion for those Catholics who feel bound to some previous liturgical forms” (John Paul II, Litt. Ap. Motu proprio datae Ecclesia Dei, July 2, 1988), already underway in the City for many years.

To this end, it seemed opportune to continue to exercise a lively pastoral charity towards the faithful who “do not exclude the validity and legitimacy of the liturgical reform, the dictates of the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs” (art. 3 §1, Traditionis Custodes) and who nevertheless wish to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist according to the Missale Romanum of 1962. For the spiritual good of the faithful, it is appropriate to offer precise coordinates for the implementation of the motu proprio.

The motu proprio establishes that the “liturgical books promulgated by the Holy Pontiffs Paul VI and John Paul II, in conformity with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council, are the sole expression [that’s a choice for “unica”] of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite” (art. 1, Traditionis Custodes) and that therefore it is no longer possible to use the Roman Ritual and the other liturgical books of the “ancient rite” for the celebration of sacraments and sacramentals (e.g., the Ritual for the reconciliation of penitents according to the ancient form). The use of the other Ordines, therefore, is currently expressly forbidden and only the use of the Missale Romanum of 1962 remains permitted.

Moreover, all priests—diocesan or religious—who wish to continue to avail themselves of the faculty of celebrating according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 in the territory of the Diocese of Rome must first be authorized in writing by the diocesan Bishop (cf. art. 5, Traditionis Custodes).

All requests concerning the implementation of the motu proprio are to be sent in writing to me, the Cardinal Vicar, who will regulate them through a Commissioner designated by me for the ordinary management of all the fulfilments that fall within the competence of the diocesan Ordinary, especially for the purpose of the correct exercise of the faculties recognized by the P.M. for the faithful who intend to avail themselves of the prerogatives provided for therein. He is endowed with delegated power (cf. can. 131 §1 C.I.C.) and his office is to be kept distinct from that provided for in art. 3 §4 of the P.M., which for the moment will not be activated in the Diocese of Rome, since it is not necessary. In fact, I confirm the entrusting pro tempore to the Parish Priest of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini of the task of taking care of the dignified celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy, as well as of the ordinary pastoral and spiritual care of these faithful. He will carry out this office animated by a lively pastoral charity and by a sense of ecclesial communion; he will act in close communion and collaboration with the incumbent mentioned above.

In view of the above, I hereby decree that the Director of the Liturgical Office of the Vicariate of Rome shall hold the office of pro tempore Commissioner for the implementation of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.

Coming to some necessary specific determinations, I further decree the following:

– all requests specifically related to art. 3 §2 of the motu proprio must explicitly mention the Church or Oratory in which the celebration is intended (except parish churches, cf. art. 3 §2 Traditionis Custodes);

– every day, except the Easter Triduum, the faithful may participate in the celebration of the Eucharist according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 in the parish of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini (cf. art. 3 §5, Traditionis Custodes);

– in the churches of St. Dominic and St. Sixtus, St. Celsus and St. Julian, St. Joseph at Capo le Case and St. Anne at the Lateran, the faithful may participate in the celebration of the Eucharist according to the Missale Romanum of 1962, to be celebrated at a time agreed upon with the Rector of the church and with the person in charge mentioned above, possibly also on Sundays and feast days of obligation (excluding the Easter Triduum);

– the readings will always be proclaimed in Italian, according to the CE.I. 2008 translation (cf. art. 3 §3, Traditionis Custodes).

Trusting in the confident acceptance by all of what I have disposed, I bless you with affection and accompany you with my prayers.

Angelo Card. DE DONATIS
Vicar General of His Holiness
for the Diocese of Rome
Prot. no. 1845/21
Original letter

1986-80, After the Pogrom, Artist: Minkowski, Photographer: John Parnell, Photo © The Jewish Museum, New York

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Beautiful VIDEO from the traditional Benedictine monks of Le Barroux – the “Wine Monks”

In anticipation of a book release on 25 November, the traditional Benedictines of Le Barroux – the Wine Monks – have a splendid video.

These monks revived an ancient vineyard which had once been the papal terrain of the Avignon Popes. It is gloriously beautiful countryside in southern France. One of the stages of the last Tour de France went right by their vines.

You can get their fine wine with a 10% discount with my code: FATHERZ10.  They have a “Thanksgiving Assortment” now.

Help these traditional monks.  They use the Vetus Ordo and they are thriving as a community.  Support these good causes, such as the Wine Monks of Le Barroux and the Beer Monks of Norcia, Italy.

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

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ASK FATHER: If I’m aware of mortal sin, can I receive Communion if I intend to go to confession later?

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

My uncle wants to become Catholic and ive been taking him to RCIA classes. The priest is a great guy but said you can receive the Eucharist if you intend to confess after mass. I know this is bogus since you’re still in mortal sin. How and with what source(s) should I let the priest know?

Among other sources, look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church and can. 916 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

Unless there is a GRAVE REASON.

“It’s Sunday, I’m here, and I want to receive!”, is NOT a GRAVE REASON.

People are not obliged to receive Communion at every Mass.   So many sacrilegious Communions could be avoided if people could get this into their heads.  Rather… if priests would do their jobs correctly?

Also, even though there are not many places now – sadly – where confessions are heard before and during Mass, they are nevertheless usually heard some place nearby in the days before Sunday or Holy Days of Obligation.  Since a person ought to be making a daily examination of conscience, this scenario can be avoided with relative ease.

Of course there are rare situations where circumstances are different.  That is why the canon is written as it is.

Bottom line: If a person is aware of mortal sin, and is sure about it, he must not receive until after he has made a good confession of all mortal sins in kind and number and has received absolution.

This is not hard.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Canon Law | Tagged ,
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Marvelous piece about the Benedictine nuns at Gower Abbey and their new chant recording

The wonderful Benedictine nuns of Gower Abbey in Missouri, who were the victims of  drive by shootings a while ago, who are award winning recording artists, have a new disc of sacred music coming out in honor of Christ the King.

There is a piece at Crux – which surprised me a little – about the recording of the new album… and more.  It touches on the beautiful Benedictine and traditional spirit of the Abbey.

If you want to have smile and a lift up out of generally bad news, read that piece at Crux.

This is one of the most wonderful monasteries of Benedictines … anywhere.  I was at the consecration of their abbey church and the consecration of Abbess by the late, lamented Bp. Morlino.

Christ the King at Ephesus from Benedictines of Mary on Vimeo.

ORDER a disc

HERE

Digital only

HERE

 

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Daily Rome Shot 326

Help the Benedictines of Norcia build their monastery!

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