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Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media.This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)Religion Forum threads labeled *Prayer* are closed to debate of any kind.1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV says we shouldn’t ‘retreat into our own religious certainties’ Contrary to what Leo suggested, the Church has never seen a conflict between 'religious certainties' and an 'authentic relationship with Christ.'In his recent Angelus message, Leo XIV introduced a puzzling dichotomy to call into question “religious certainties”:“Dear brothers and sisters, let us seek not to retreat into our own convictions and religious certainties, but to remain open to an authentic relationship with Christ.”According to Leo, one must choose between our “convictions and religious certainties” on the one hand, and an “authentic relationship with Christ” on the other....

24 August 2026 Saint Bartholomew, Apostle Feast High Altar in St. Bartholomew's Church in New York CityReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(II).First readingApocalypse 21:9-14He showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heavenThe angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like...

On Thursday evening, August 20, the elders of Grace Community Church unanimously affirmed Nathan Busenitz as our new senior pastor. Through this decision, the elders have entrusted to Nathan the responsibility of shepherding the flock (1 Peter 5:1–4) and upholding our church’s commitment to the faithful exposition of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2). This announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of the memorial service for John MacArthur, who served as the pastor of Grace Community Church for fifty-six years. Pastor John’s ministry was marked by an uncompromising commitment to the lordship of Christ and the authority of His Word. Our...

Left-wing extremists and Antifa militants stormed the Precious Blood Catholic Church in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 23, where right-wing activist and free speech advocate Eoin Richard was hosting a peaceful free speech, anti-Islam rally. The confrontation unfolded after Connolly, known publicly as Eoin Richard, organized a “Take Back LA” free-speech rally criticizing Islam. Connolly originally advertised the August 23 demonstration outside the Islamic Center of Southern California on Vermont Avenue. A pre-event advisory circulated by opponents described the gathering as a “far-right” rally and accused its organizers of targeting the Muslim community. As counter-protesters gathered outside the Islamic center,...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem🇮🇱 (8/24/26)[Prayer]PersonalitiesPsalm 2Psalm 2 1 Why do the nations conspire[a] and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to...

"[Love] bears all things" (1 Cor. 13:7). Love confronts sin but protects the sinner. In 1 Corinthians 13:7 Paul mentions four qualities of love that are closely related: bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things. That might sound like love is indiscriminate and accepting of anything that comes along, but "all things" in that verse is qualified by the context. Love rejects jealousy, bragging, arrogance, and so on (vv. 4-6), but it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things that are within the parameters of God's Word. "Love bears all things" speaks of love's...

Daily Readings from the USCCBFeast of Saint Bartholomew, ApostlePhilip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:45–46The name “Bartholomew” is listed in the Synoptic Gospels as one of Jesus’ chosen Twelve Apostles. His name means, “son of Tolmai.” In John’s Gospel, he is traditionally identified as Nathanael. It’s possible that his full name was Nathanael, son of Tolmai. In John’s Gospel,...

Please join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media.1 Timothy 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.Religion Forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.

Vatican Double Standard: Communists IN, Traditionalists OUTWhy does the Vatican tolerate Communist China’s state-appointed Catholic bishops while cracking down on the SSPX and the Traditional Latin Mass? Michael Matt examines the growing double standard and the disturbing ramifications for faithful Catholics. Why is the Vatican eager to tolerate bishops appointed by Communist China without a papal mandate while taking increasingly severe action against Traditional Catholic bishops of the SSPX?Michael Matt examines this contradiction alongside a series of developments affecting Traditional Catholics: reported restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass in Seattle and Pittsburgh, new pressure against the TLM in England, and...

23 August 2026 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Rose of Lima Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 22:19-23I place the key of the House of David on my servant's shoulderThus says the Lord of Hosts to Shebna, the master of the palace:I dismiss you from your office,I remove you from your post,and the same day I call on my servantEliakim son of Hilkiah.I invest him with your robe,gird him with your sash,entrust him with your authority;and he shall be a fatherto the inhabitants of Jerusalemand to the House of Judah.I place the key...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem🇮🇱 (8/23/26)[Prayer]PersonalitiesPsalm 1BOOK I Psalms 1–41 Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that...

Lucifer can only succeed when humanity is at its basest and lowest point. That is when he is most powerful. His goal is just that: to reduce man spiritually and reduce him to a carnal and base state of non-absolutes and godless delusions to further his demonic agenda at all costs. It is ALL about him (Isa. 14:12-14)! He is fallen humanity's slave master and exploits man's fallen nature for his evil delusional designs of self-worship and absolute power (Isa. 14:12-14, Eph. 2:1-3; 6:10-12, 1 John 5:19). The more that a man’s soul consumes, the more that a man’s soul...

SELAH, MY CHILD SONG DEVOTIONAL Beloved, Selah; to pause, to consider, and think on these things! Throughout our pilgrim journey, Almighty God calls us not merely to pass through life's joys, trials, blessings, disappointments, victories, and tears, but to consider and meditate on what the Lord is teaching us through them all prayerfully. Nothing that ever enters the life of God's child is outside of His ETERNAL sovereign knowledge and agape loving care. Whether my circumstance appears favorable or unfavorable, our Heavenly Father can use it to disciple us, teach us, and continually conform us into the image of His...

"[Love] rejoices with the truth" (1 Cor. 13:6). Love never compromises God’s Word. Paul has just given us a list of things that love does not do: become jealous, brag, act arrogantly or unbecomingly, seek its own, become provoked, keep track of wrongs suffered, or rejoice in unrighteousness. Now he comes to the first of five things love does: "[Love] rejoices with the truth" (v. 6). The contrast in verse 6 is between love's inability to rejoice in unrighteousness and its joy when truth prevails. "Truth" refers to God's Word, which is the standard of righteousness. Paul could have said,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBTwenty-first Sunday in Ordinary TimeJesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13–16The symbolism associated with Caesarea Philippi is central to today’s Gospel. Located north of Jesus’ home base in Capernaum, it was a predominantly pagan...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men,...

By Dr. John BergsmaIn terms of Catholic “preachability,” this Sunday’s Readings are a soft-ball pitch, a long high arc that every homilist ought to be able to knock out of the park. The lectionary readings have been set up for a clear explanation of the nature of the Papacy and its basis in Scripture. The context of the Old Testament reading should be explained. During the lifetime of the prophet Isaiah, the royal steward of the palace, a certain Shebna, was arrogating himself by adopting royal privileges. In particular, he was having a tomb cut for himself in the area...

[Catholic Caucus] NEW BOOK: Publication of 'Vatican II and The Eclipse of God. A Critique of the Council' by Don Pietro Leone Rorate Caeli is delighted to report that “Vatican II and the Eclipse of God” ‘A Critique of the Council’ by Don Pietro Leone has finally been published. Readers will recall that Rorate had the honour of posting instalments of this very important work over a period of two years. (See note)* Since then, the author has added further analysis to the original texts. Below is the link to Loreto Publications and a short presentation of the book. Readers...

22 August 2026Our Lady, Mother and Queen on Saturday of week 20 in Ordinary Time St. Symphorian in Zell am Harmersbach, Germany. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingEzekiel 43:1-7The vision of the coming of the glory of the Lord to the TempleThe angel took me to the gate, the one facing east. I saw the glory of the God of Israel approaching from the east. A sound came with it, like the sound of the ocean, and the earth shone with his glory. This vision...