Tag Archives: TLM

St. Rita Mailbag Edition

Posted on March 4, 2023 | Leave a comment

Yesterday I received an email from a fellow blogger with whom I correspond somewhat frequently. I asked him I if could share the story and he consented. This comes to me from Adam at the blog Pushing Rubber Downhill. Please check out his blog when you have a second.

“

“I have a nice little story for you. About 100 meters from my mountain abode is a large shrine on the side of the road to Mary. I make a habit of making the sign of the cross when passing by on foot and perhaps saying a short prayer. There is a statue of Mary in the shrine as well as candles, a crucifix and other items.
Today I was out early with the dog and the two of us stopped before the shrine. I told the dog that we had to say a prayer to Mary and he dutifully obeyed.
It was then that I saw that the statue has a red mark of blood on its forehead.
And then I saw that there was an inscription which read St Rita. So all along I have had a shrine to St Rita just next to my new house.”

My observations (which I shared with him):

Dogs are awesome. Turns out his is a border collie pup. I have a Jack Russell; but I don’t think my doggy would be so obedient (or pious). Clearly, Adam has hit the jackpot with this canine.

I live in Texas. What’s a meter? I actually remembered that at one point in grammar school in the mid-1980’s I was taught that a meter was roughly 3 feet and thus, for reference, the height of a stove. I also know from my study of all things geographic and urban planning (purely as a side interest) that most city blocks in a grid pattern are about 400 feet long. So basically, this shrine is at the end of the block. I would die, as they say, to have a Marian shrine that close. As it turns out, though, it is a St. Rita shrine.

I state again, I do not know why Our Lord gave me this devotion to this saint but I am so grateful to be able to spread that devotion. Could it be that there are so many troubled marriages these days and she is a saint for that cause? Could it be that peace within families is sorely lacking these days and she is a saint for that cause? Or could it be that she is the patron of impossible causes and – let’s face it – who doesn’t have an impossible cause right now?

Either way, pray to St. Rita and bring her your intentions. She will bring them to the Savior she loves so much and in Who’s presence she rests.

St. Rita, pray for us!

Leave a comment

Tagged , , ,

First Friday/Dilemma

Posted on March 3, 2023 | Leave a comment

Customarily, on the first Friday of each month I write a post about the First Friday devotion, encouraging all to participate.

In fact, here is a link to help you in that regard.

But today is a little different. The First Friday devotion must be carried out on the first Fridays of nine consecutive months.

Look at your calendars. You might notice that the first Friday of April (next month) happens to be Good Friday. In TLM land, that means you will certainly not receive Our Lord in Holy Communion (one of the requirements for the devotion). This is especially so if your priest opts to use the pre-1955 rites.

Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure, Harrisburg, PA

I wrote to Fr. Z. about this the last time it happened that first Friday and Goos Friday aligned. His response was basically, “Oh well,” though he did offer the possibility of going to another church (a Novus Ordo) where Communion would be distributed. I balked and re-started the devotion a month later.

This year we have the greater threat to the practice that April’s first Friday is also post-April 3rd so it might just be difficult to find what you’re looking for period.

Either way, let us make acts of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, so wounded by our sins.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Leave a comment

Tagged , ,

Prayers

Posted on March 2, 2023 | Leave a comment

I just finished watching Tucker Carlson’s opening monologue. For the people I watched here and for several private intentions, I ask anyone who reads this to offer a few prayers.

The world is gone to hell.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us all.

Leave a comment

Tagged ,

Lenten Orations

Posted on March 1, 2023 | Leave a comment

Apologies are in order. I typically post at night before I drift off to sleep. Most of you probably read this in the morning. I am apologizing because I want to share a couple of prayers from the Mass for Ember Wednesday, which will undoubtedly be outdated in a sense when you read it. That being said, the prayers I am sharing are still marvelous in their language and sentiment and, I believe, can serve as a source of meditation for hours.

First up, the Postcommunion:

“By receiving Thy sacraments, O Lord, may we be cleansed of our secret sins and delivered from the snares of our enemies.”

What’d I tell you? I could spend hours with that one. Secret sins? It kind of immediately prompted me to want to ask my guardian angel to help me truly examine my conscience, rolling up the carpets and sweeping out the dust as it were.

Confessional beneath the 11th Station – Our Lord Nailed to the Cross, Church of St. Dominic, San Francisco, CA

Next, the Prayer over the People, which is a prayer said immediately after the Postcommunion on the weekdays of Lent:

“O Lord, we beseech Thee, shed light upon our minds by the brightness of Thy glory, so that we may see what we must do and have the strength to do what is right.”

The Roman liturgical tradition is nothing if not concise. And isn’t this something many of us ask of Our Lord every day? Show me what to do! The key here is the follow-up petition that He give us the strength to actual do it.

As I’ve been saying, these are darkening times. If I wake up on April 3 and there is no new document to view, I will give thanks to God for the additional day. If we get “cancelled” before that? Well… Lord, enlighten my mind now so that I may see what I must do. I have no fear nor doubt that He will give me the strength to do whatever that is.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Leave a comment

Tagged ,

Bludgeoned by Tack Hammers

Posted on February 28, 2023 | Leave a comment

The funny thing about tack hammers, as any casual woodworker can attest, is that they still hurt when flung at a fellow even though as tools they’re only really useful at driving small tacks.

April 3 is coming indeed. For some it is coming early.

The Remnant ran a piece today – “Persecution Accelerating in Dioceses…” – which backs up what I have been hearing. Do check that article out.

One by one, dioceses on these shores are “suppressing” the venerable and august Mass of the Ages. Bishops complicit by their lack of vertebrae are capitulating to this evil. We all know that the Missal of Pius V cannot be abrogated. So instead they scurry to implement some rescript of a document that has no weight because you-know-who said they have to. In diocese after diocese, the Latin Mass is being driven out of parish churches. I have mentioned that priests at chancery levels have literally said to me that the gameplan on their part is simply to wait for him to die and try to ride out the storm. In the meantime, screw the rest of us I guess.

Yesterday I mentioned Albany. Ah Albany… After 40 years of Howie Hubbard, I’m surprised there is anyone left in that part of New York State who even knows what the Catholic faith is. And yet, surprisingly there are many faithful Catholics living there. Many of them attend the TLM. Over the weekend, it seems that Howie’s successor decided he needed to get the TLM out of parochial buildings. I suggested an alternative in the form of a local SSPX chapel. It is likely out-of-the-way for many but it is an option.

Today, one of my dearest friends who happens to live in that part of the country texted to tell me that there are two more options. The first is that the Carmelite Rite Mass continues to be offered at a nearby Carmel. Someone please help me out with an address. I searched but came up empty. The second is that the TLM may be offered at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY as it is not a parish. That’s great unless it’s winter. The shrine church itself is cavernous (it seats 6000) but has no heat. But they didn’t think that would stop us, did they? Bundle up kids. It’s time for Mass!

How about my home state? The Trenton diocese this past Sunday moved the TLM to the basement. Just following orders from Rome, apparently… A friend emailed me that he and some friends attended Mass there as a sign of solidarity. I think that’s a remarkable idea and I hope it was appreciated.

Look, they’re hitting at us from every angle and it’s happening fast. The Remnant article even hinted that “a diocese in Texas” will soon have its TLM’s reduced or curtailed. Given that Texas has 15 diocese in two provinces I might dodge this bullet. Nah, they’ll throw a tack hammer at us too.

Read that article. So often we hear of complaints with no solutions. The author, Brian Mershon, offers what I believe are possibly the only solutions for many of us at this juncture – SSPX and organizing with like-minded Catholics.

A tack hammer hurts, friends, but it isn’t likely to kill. Pray your rosaries.

St. Peter Damian, pray for us!

Leave a comment

Tagged , ,

Albany TLM

Posted on February 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

Came across this headline on Canon212 this afternoon:

“Albany Freakbishop Ed Crushes the Ancient Mass for His Blessed Francis“

The tweeter poignantly says, “April 3 came early for our community.”

Brings a tear to my eye for sure; but it also strengthens my resolve.

I have family and friends in the Capital Region of New York. I’ve visited many times. From my experience – and some may hate me for this but I really don’t care – I offer the following option.

Chapel of the North American Martyrs, 100 Boulevard, Hudson Falls (Glens Falls), NY

It might be out of the way but it’s the Mass. I’ve attended there myself. Very welcoming crowd and very valid Sacrifice.

Help each other out, friends. It’s come to this.

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Leave a comment

Tagged , , , ,

This Book is Long

Posted on February 26, 2023 | Leave a comment

Another not-so-lazy Sunday around our house. I have been plodding through my copy of Windswept House. On the one hand I’m happy to say that, despite all the other goings-on around here, I’ve managed to reach almost 400 pages into this novel On the other, that means I still have about 250 to go. I may be up all night, folks.

Again, if you haven’t read this yet, pick up a copy and find a few days of free time. In the meantime, here’s a passage I read this evening that might help you understand why so many have glanced at Martin’s story and immediately grasped (especially as we going further into this nightmarish situation in the Church) exactly what we’re up against.

“Perhaps you’re too young to know this matter in the round” – the Cardinal smiled – “but at my age, I have come to realize that Council gave us a new ecclesiology. A new beginning. A new constitutional structure for the Church. One in which the power of Christ as head of the Church is suitably and harmoniously exercised by all its bishops, including the venerable Bishop of Rome. And you, Father Gladstone – even you, by your collaboration with this office – are helping mightily to enforce that new structure.”

p. 374

I am more and more convinced – as if I wasn’t thoroughly convinced already – that the plots and machinations detailed by Fr. Malachi Martin in this book are being carried out today in haste. I believe he thought this would all happen to John Paul II; but he (JPII) somehow hung on to a natural death. I will say no more. Read the book. Thank me later.

Leave a comment

Tagged , , ,