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[Catholic Caucus] Is There Really Hope for JudasThese last few Maundy Thursdays, my feed has been populated by various musings presenting Judas as a pitiable figure who may not be in hell after all. I thought it rather diabolical that a day of sympathy for our Lord is now turning into a day of sympathy for His betrayer. But as I considered this transformation or, rather, deformation, I saw that sympathy for Judas is about far more. It is about the redefinition of divine mercy. This year’s reconsideration of Judas was sparked at least in part by an article at...

[Catholic Caucus] Francis: Cardinal Sarah Is "Bitter" and Archbishop Gänswein "Has Hurt Me"Archbishop Georg Gänswein "did some very difficult things to me", the vengeful Francis claims in his interview book 'El Sucesor'.His example: When he replaced a head of a Vatican department, whose name he doesn't mention, the decision sparked controversy: "In the midst of all the noise, the secretary took the initiative to take him to see Benedict, because this person wanted to greet him. Since the retired Pope was very friendly, he accepted".The problem was that "the photo of this meeting was circulated, as if Benedict had reacted...

Luke 24:13-35 Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus enlightens the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Have you ever tried to solve a puzzle and then were surprised when the various pieces suddenly fell into place? Well, this is what happens to these disciples as Jesus begins to speak: “How slow of heart [you are] to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”The whole of Christianity is hanging here in the balance.The disciples didn’t get it at first. They didn’t get the secret, the mystery, the...

Francis and His Collaborators Reject More of Vatican II Than Traditional Catholics DoChrist is the goal of human history; He is the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization; He is the center of the human race; He is the joy of every heart and the answer of all its yearnings; He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end; and it is the Church’s “single intention” that God’s kingdom may come. Thus says Vatican II, and yet the “great defenders of Vatican II” persecute Traditional Catholics because we assert...

Daily Readings from the USCCBAnd it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30–31Two of Jesus’ disciples had been discussing the events of the past week as they walked the seven-mile journey along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They previously...

3 April 2024Easter Wednesday St. Richard of Chichester Catholic church in Sterling, MA Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First readingActs 3:1-10 ©I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus, walk!Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour, it happened that there was a man being carried past. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to put him down every day near the Temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the people going in. When this man saw...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Francis slams Archbishop Gänswein for ‘lack of nobility and humanity’ over Benedict XVI bookIn his latest book-length interview, Pope Francis claimed that Gänswein, Pope Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, ‘did some very difficult things to me.’VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis has criticized Archbishop Georg Gänswein for publishing his book Nothing but the Truth shortly after Pope Benedict XVI’s death, saying Gänswein lacked “nobility and humanity.”In a book-length interview titled The Successor, which is set to be published in Spanish on April 3, Francis addressed his relationship with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. During his interview with Spanish...

[Catholic Caucus] Francis: a Pontificate filled with Bad Omens - The Icon of Christ the Redeemer Falls Down During Vatican Easter MassThe fallen Christ the Redeemer in front of Pope Francis, what does it mean? Omens and alleged mysterious signs.A certainly unforeseen anomaly that has inevitably been juxtaposed with other signs that have occurred in recent years coinciding with major Vatican changesby Franca GiansoldatiIl MessageroTuesday, April 2, 2024[Main excerpt]On Easter Day, during Mass at the Vatican, a gust of wind more powerful than the others caused the ancient icon of the Christ the Redeemer on the courtyard facing St. Peter's...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17Mary of Magdala was one of the first persons to whom Jesus appeared. She was deeply devoted to Him, especially because of the great mercy He offered her when He forgave her manifest sins and expelled seven demons from her. After He had done that, Mary became a devout follower and was one of...

2 April 2024 Easter Tuesday Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, Taguig City, Philippines Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First readingActs 2:36-41 ©You must repent and be baptized in the name of JesusOn the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the Jews: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’ Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope says he was 'used' in 2005 conclave: Ratzinger 'was my candidate'Pope Francis discusses details from the 2005 conclave he participated in as archbishop of Buenos Aires in an upcoming book.Pope Francis voted for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, in the 2005 conclave that followed the death of St. John Paul II."He was the only one who could be pope at that time," Pope Francis said about his immediate predecessor in an excerpt from the upcoming book "El Sucesor" ("The Successor"). The excerpt was published March 31 by the Spanish daily newspaper ABC.Pope Francis told...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThe chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” Matthew 28:12–14The Lord of all rose from the grave, conquering sin and death, making it possible for us all to share in His glorious Resurrection! Death had lost. Satan had lost. The corrupt religious leaders had lost....

1 April 2024 Easter Monday Church of the Santo Condestável (Saint Constable) Nuno Álvares Pereira. Lisboa, PortugalReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First readingActs 2:14,22-33 ©God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to thisOn the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you...

Here’s what the Catholic Church actually teaches about ‘Christ is King’In 1900 Pope Leo XIII said, 'The world has heard enough of the ‘rights of man.’ Let it hear of the rights of God.' This sentence is key to understanding what is actually meant when Catholics proclaim that 'Christ is King.' “The world has heard enough of the ‘rights of man.’ Let it hear of the rights of God.”[1]That is what Leo XIII said that in 1900, and it is key for understanding what the Church means by the phrase, “Christ is King.”This declaration is not just a spiritual platitude...

31 March 2024 Easter Sunday The altar of St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First readingActs 10:34,37-43 ©'We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection'Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I,...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5–7The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia! Sin and death have been destroyed, and new life has been offered to all who cling to the Savior in faith. What a...

Holy Mother Church offers us Readings from Scripture this Easter Sunday that comprise an elegant review and statement of the whole Gospel message. In particular, they focus our attention on the Resurrection, the Eucharist, and the relationship between the two. 1. The First Reading is Acts 10:34a, 37-43: Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with...

30 March 2024 Holy Saturday Orthodox church of St. John Climacus, Warsaw Readings at MassThere is no Mass on Holy Saturday itself. Here are the readings for the evening Easter Vigil.First readingGenesis 1:1-2:2 ©God saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very goodIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water. God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. God called...

The Savior of the World died a cruel death upon the Cross. His broken body was laid in the tomb. His disciples scattered and were fearful that they would be next. But our Blessed Mother kept vigil in the perfect hope that her Son would soon rise. Traditionally, Saturdays within the Church year are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This ancient tradition developed in part due to the belief that, as others were filled with fear and confusion, Mother Mary kept vigil on Holy Saturday in prayerful anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection. She knew her Son would rise. She had...

... The number of adult baptisms in France has increased by 30%, from 5,463 in 2023 to 7,135 in 2024, the French bishops’ conference reported March 27. ... The number of adult baptisms has also continued to rise over the border in Belgium, almost doubling in a decade, from 186 in 2014 to 362 in 2024, the Belgian bishops’ conference announced March 26....