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[Catholic Caucus] “He is damaging the entire series of his predecessors…and thus himself and the papacy”: The insoluble contradiction between Francis and Paul VI The following analysis was written by Michael Charlier, moderator of the German blog Summorum-Pontificum.de. Part of the brilliance of the piece is that it shows how massive a problem there is whether Paul VI or Francis is correct: “damned if you do, damned if you don’t...” Translated for Rorate Caeli.—PAKFrancis Against PaulMichael Charlier, Summorum-Pontificum.deJanuary 20, 2022At the center of the efforts pursued by Pope Francis and his supporters to expel the traditional liturgy from the Roman...

Friday 21 January 2022 Saint Agnes, Virgin, Martyr on Friday of week 2 in Ordinary Time Saint Agnes Church, Manhattan, New York Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red.Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst reading1 Samuel 24:3-21 ©I will not raise my hand against the Lord's anointedSaul took three thousand men chosen from the whole of Israel and went in search of David and his men east of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheepfolds along the route where there was a cave, and went in to cover his feet. Now...

Restrictions on liturgy announced in the Archdiocese of Chicago three weeks ago have prompted diverse reactions among priests in the archdiocese, while the archdiocese itself has become a focal point for the U.S. implementation of instructions, issued by the Vatican’s worship office last month, on the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Pushback on new liturgical policies suggests their implementation may become an ongoing issue within the Chicago archdiocese, even while one well-known parish has aimed to diffuse tensions over new archdiocesan rules. “The Canons Regular are…committed to filial piety for the Archbishop of Chicago and the Bishop...

[Catholic Caucus] An edifying message in the aftermath of Traditionis Custodes and the other orders from Rome on December 18th 2021: I received the following reflection from a religious who wishes to remain anonymous. It was penned after scripture reading, prayer and meditation – it is meant to lift up our hearts during this period of great adversity when Holy Mother Church is being beaten on all sides – both externally and internally. F.R.Viriliter agite‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous, be strong(1 Corinthians : 16:13)With regard to the December 18th document from Rome clamping...

[Catholic Caucus] Msgr. Stefan Heid: “A sacred rite, in a sacred space, on a sacred table, and facing east: This is how the early Christians celebrated Mass” Translated from the blog Messeinlatino, which in turn credits Il Timone for excerpts from a recent and very interesting interview with Msgr. Stefan Heid, Rector of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, on how the early Christians celebrated. Note that all of our information now definitively undermines the assumptions of the liturgical reformers.—PAKHow the First Christians Celebrated the MassLuisella ScrosatiIl Timone, January 2022There are those who try to deny it, but the...

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain” (Matthew 4:8). Satan’s final temptation was a last-ditch effort to corrupt and derail Christ and His saving mission. The greatest of all adversaries sought to complete a sinister bargain in which extremely attractive and enticing possessions were offered to Jesus in exchange for His subservience to Satan. The location (“a very high mountain”) where Satan took Jesus no doubt allowed them to have a comprehensive view of the earth for hundreds of miles in every direction. But their vantage point was clearly spiritual and supernatural as well. They would have...

January 20, 2022 Thursday of week 2 in Ordinary Time Saint Fabian Catholic Church – Bridgeview, Illinois Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green.First reading1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7 ©Saul's envy and Jonathan's loyal friendshipOn their way back, as David was returning after killing the Philistine, the women came out to meet King Saul from all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing to the sound of tambourine and lyre and cries of joy; and as they danced the women sang:‘Saul has killed his thousands,and David his tens of thousands.’Saul was very angry; the incident was not to his liking. ‘They have given David...

What else should you do, besides having a lot of faith, if you want to attend Holy Mass well? You should identify yourself with Christ. You should remember the Scriptures and have "the same mind" "that he had on the cross (cf. Phil 2:5). The same mind which means the same purposes. What purposes did Jesus have on the cross? What was he concerned about? We can sum up his ends or purposes as four: to give glory to God the Father; to thank him; to make up for the sins of men; and to ask him for graces for...

[Catholic Caucus] US bishop says ‘Catholic unity’ means supporting laity who attend the Latin Mass Bishop Thomas Tobin says that TLM devotees are ‘faithful Catholics who greatly love the Lord and his Church.’ Wed Jan 19, 2022 - 3:22 pm EST PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (LifeSiteNews) — An American bishop known for defending doctrine has praised Catholics who attend the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) and asked that they be supported in the name of Church unity. “In this Week of Prayer for #ChristianUnity, let’s also work to safeguard and promote ‘Catholic Unity’,” tweeted Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Diocese of Providence...

[Catholic Caucus] Crackdown On Old-Rite-Institutes Continues In MarchFrancis and his hardliners are preparing two more liturgical documents, reports La-Croix.com (January 17).In March, one decree will be fired at those Old Rite Institutes which have sold themselves to the Vatican. Another will replace the document Liturgiam authenticam (2001) which controls the quality of Novus Ordo liturgical translations.La-Croix.com further knows that Francis' suppression of the Ecclesia Dei Commission which was responsible for the Roman Rite, was an act of vengeance because Ecclesia Dei had authorised the Holy Week celebration according to the 1954 Roman Missal which Pius XII in 1955 replaced with...

“‘On the other hand, it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test”’” (Matthew 4:7). The Lord Jesus had two good reasons for not participating in a worldly spectacle such as jumping from the temple roof. First, such sensationalism is captive to the laws of diminishing returns. To generate and hold people’s allegiance to Him merely by stunning signs, Jesus would have needed to produce greater and greater signs. People would never have been satisfied and would always have demanded just one more miracle, one additional showy event. Real faith would not have been certain;...

In the midst of one of Israel’s most severe trials, Moses told the people to do three things: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13-14, NKJV). Soon dusk fell over the camp. This was the beginning of Israel’s dark and stormy night, but it was also the beginning of God’s supernatural work. “Moses stretched out his hand over the...

19 January 2022 Wednesday of week 2 in Ordinary Time Saint Henry's Catholoc Cathedral in Helsinki Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green.First reading1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51 ©David and GoliathDavid said to Saul, ‘Let no-one lose heart on his account; your servant will go and fight the Philistine.’ But Saul answered David, ‘You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been a warrior from his youth.’ ‘The Lord who rescued me from the claws of lion and bear’ David said ‘will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘Go, and...

[Catholic Caucus] Chicago's Cupich Stages Canon Law Charade Against One of His Best PriestsFather Anthony Buś, the pastor of St Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Chicago, who also wears the cassock, published a December 13 letter on his parish website informing that [rigid] Cardinal Cupich “forbade” to celebrate the Novus Ordo facing God although this is the norm established by Vatican II and the Novus Ordo rubrics.Strangely, Buś had asked Cupich for “permission” to celebrate Mass towards God although Cupich has no right to forbid this. Buś announced that he will comply. He explained to clueless Cupich that facing God has a...

Vatican Asks Bishops to Invite Local Protestant and Orthodox Leaders to Participate in Synodal PathOffering “some practical suggestions to ensure the ecumenical dimension of the synodal journey,” the cardinals encouraged bishops to reach out to leaders of other Christian communities in their area.VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has issued a letter asking Catholic bishops to invite local Orthodox and Protestant leaders to participate in the diocesan stage of the two-year process leading to the 2023 Synod on Synodality. Cardinal Mario Grech, the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for...

“‘If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command His angels concerning You”’” (Matthew 4:6). Throughout history, sensationalism has often appealed to average people who are looking for dramatic events that titillate the senses and pander to fleshly curiosity. Toward the end of His ministry Jesus warned, “False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Matt. 24:24). Even when signs are from God, they usually do not bring unbelievers to faith, but only confirm the faith of...

Hebrews 11 gives us this image of Jacob in his old age: “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff” (Hebrews 11:21, NKJV). Why is Jacob portrayed in his dying days instead of when he was outsmarting his deceitful father-in-law or wrestling with an angel? Jacob knew his life was about to end. What does Jacob do as he looks back on the events of his life? He is moved to worship. As he leaned on his staff, he marveled at the life God had...

18 January 2022 Tuesday of week 2 in Ordinary Time St. Margaret of HungaryStained glass window from St. Dominic’s Church in Washington, D.C. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green.First reading1 Samuel 16:1-13 ©Jesse's youngest son David is anointed kingThe Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you go on mourning over Saul when I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel replied, ‘How can I go? When Saul hears of it he will kill me.’...

[Catholic Caucus] Letter from Fr. Anthony Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Stanislaus Kostka,I write with a deep-felt sorrow that my letter to Bishop Lombardo dated January 13, 2022 was interpreted by social media as though I was being unjustly critical of, disrespectful to, or lambasting the Holy Father, the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago or Bishop Lombardo.As was stated to me, the letter verges on a violation of Canon 1373: “A person who publicly incites among subjects, animosities or hatred against the Apostolic See or an ordinary because of some act of power or ecclesiastical ministry or provokes subjects...

“Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple” (Matthew 4:5). In confronting our Lord Jesus Christ, Satan persisted in trying to undermine or destroy the Son’s relationship to His Father. This time he goaded Jesus with this statement: “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” To fortify his challenge and make it more plausible, the adversary— with a subtle and clever twist—quoted Scripture: “For it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, so that You...