Monthly Archives: September 2025

Does It Matter?

From the “dad with a webcam (and a Patreon, etc.)”:

Don’t try clicking on it. It’s a screenshot. Note how he even asks th “dear” leader nicely?

My question is this:

What does it matter to a man who has “bent the knee” to the guy wearing white?

For the record, the notion that a man cannot consider himself Catholic if he supports the death penalty is itself patently false. If it isn’t, then the whole of Catholic Tradition isn’t Catholic.

Prayers Appreciated

All my fellow homeschool parents out there, I’m looking at you.

My son is applying to colleges. Yikes!

I’d love some prayer assistance.

Thank you!

Do You Think?

They’ll ever let this kid get to a trial?

Does the name Jack Ruby ring a bell?

I can’t remember where I saw it but in the days immediately following the Kirk assassination, there was an article online that speculated that Tyler Robinson was likely not going to survive prison.

Hmm…

Strange goings-on for sure.

Go to confession.

Question: Should I Fast?

For the answer, let us look to the several collects for this Ember Saturday in September.

First Collect:

“Almighty and everlasting God, Who by means of healthful abstinence dost heal both minds and bodies, very humbly we entreat Thy Majesty: be appeased by the devout prayers of those who fast, and give us help both now and for time to come. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

Second Collect:

“Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that fasting from food we may be filled with Thy grace, and by abstinence may become stronger than all our enemies. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

Third Collect:

“Protect, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy family, that by Thy bounty we may receive those life-giving helps which Thou Thyself dost inspire us to seek. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

Fourth Collect:

Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we may so abstain from bodily eating, that we may also fast from the evil desires that assail us. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

Fifth Collect:

“As Thou dost permit us, O Lord, to offer Thee this solemn fast, so in Thy mercy vouchsafe to us, we beseech Thee, the help of Thy forgiveness. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

And finally, the actual collect of the Mass or sixth collect if you’re counting, which follows the Lesson from Daniel about the three young men in the furnace:

“O God, Who didst deaden the flames of fire for the thee children; mercifully grant that the flames of vice may not consume us Thy servants. Per Dóminum Nostrum…”

So, I think it’s pretty obvious.

Should I fast?

Only if you want health of mind and body, the merciful forgiveness of Almighty God, and not to be consumed by your vices.

But what do I know? It might just be so much “solemn nonsense” that was papered over by Vatican II. I couldn’t even type that with a straight face. Ask yourself why the modernists got rid of all of this beauty and then ask yourself again if you should fast. You know the answer.

God be praised!

He’s Not That Guy

The ever wonderful blogger Dymphna on Cardinal Burke:

“Sure, I’d like the cardinal to stand up and start preaching like a lion but he’s not that guy. He’s not coming to save  the Faith as practiced by traditional Catholics.  Burke will get a Mass at St. Peter’s in October. It will be lovely. Trad Inc. will trot out that, “We’re back,” nonsense and Michael Matt, bless his heart will get all red in the face and sweaty while bellowing, “Unite the clans!”. Soon afterwards Fr. Martin will either get another visit to the Vatican or there will be another  event for those who are living in sexual sin.”

Read the rest here.

Our State Fair…

Is a great state fair!

Howdy, folks! This here is my new friend Boris (or as I call him, “Future Bacon”). He weighs 1,000 lbs at the tender age of 4.

This is the upswing in my love/hate relationship with the great state of Texas.

SeptEMBER Days: UPDATED: UPDATED AGAIN!

Hopefully the final update. Reader TM sent the following link. www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2025/08/arranging-breviary-for-rest-of.html?m=1 This seems to be due to a revision in the rubrics of 1960 which explains why my parish celebrated the Ember Wednesday today (9/24) but many others did so last week (9/17).

*******I posted the following a few minutes ago and quickly received an email pointing out my error. It seems the ember days were last week. My parish bulletin has a misprint. Nevertheless, fasting and prayer are still a good idea. Carry on. **********

DOUBLE UPDATE: Not only does my parish bulletin have them as starting today but the calendar on the wall of my kitchen has them starting today. So, mindless of the confusion…

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of this week are the Ember Days for Autumn.

Though not enforce, nor hardly even mentioned anymore, these are three days set aside, seasonally as days of fasting and penance.

What is the state of your soul?

How much time do you wish to spend in purgatory?

Is there anything afflicting your family, your parish, your community?

Do we really need additional reasons to fast and pray?

Husbands and fathers, this is a beautiful time and a salutary way to edify your families.

Fast and pray.

Go to confession.

Lead those in your care.

Perhaps it may be said of you one day, “Fidelis servus et prudens…”

“The faithful and wise steward whom his Lord set over his family to give them their measure of wheat in due season.” – Luke 12:42