Tag Archives: TLM

In Other News, Water Is Wet

Posted on February 25, 2023 | Leave a comment

A new report from an organization calling itself Vocation Ministry can be found on Aletia here. The headline is interesting. “New Report Examines the State of Priestly Vocations in the US”. Here’s the long and short of the article.

Young men don’t want to be priests.

There’s a shock for you.

The article goes on to offer potential reasons why the numbers are down at every level. And by the way, these numbers are nothing new. There has been a vocation shortage ever since the early 1970’s. Wonder what happened then…

Here are some of the proffered reasons why our lads aren’t eager to give themselves over to God. First and perhaps most laughable is the notion that dioceses have put too much of a focus on sacramental initiation (presumably their wretched lay-run RCIA “programs”) to the exclusion of focusing on vocations “awareness”. FYI, I hate that term “awareness”. In any event, this assumes that one cannot walk and chew gum at the same time. You focus on bringing in adults to the Church that literally zaps your resources to have a couple of priests staff a vocations office? I’m not buying it.

Another reason offered is that young men do not have priests in their lives. We’re getting warmer but… Even those who attend Mass with their families every Sunday aren’t inching toward the seminary. But while we’re on it, we could look into the mixed-sex sanctuary and see if there isn’t a connection there as to why young men really aren’t drawn to the altar. I’m totally being facetious. Of course that’s a reason.

He knew how to attract vocations… and he wasn’t even trying.

The report also goes on to suggest that materialism is a problem. Again, duh. But why is no one preaching against this? Oh that’s right. Because the focus over the past 50 years has been to “dialogue” with the world and never to make anyone feel bad. And so we here nothing on sin and conversion, nary a word on growth in personal holiness, and forget those really hard teachings… Boy, we don’t want anyone to walk away upset with us.

I have my own thoughts on this. Would you like to hear it? Here it goes…

No young man wants to be a priest in a gay Church with a hippie Mass.

Too blunt? I was on the inside, and that was 25 years ago. Believe me, it’s only gotten worse.

St. John Vianney, pray for us!

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Stations

Posted on February 24, 2023 | Leave a comment

Tonight I ventured to church. I had missed the parish Stations of the Cross due to a scheduling conflict but by the grace of God I was still able to slip into the church to pray the Way of the Cross. As I silently made my way around the church praying for the little booklet of Liguori’s Stations, I was deeply moved by Our Lord’s Passion. I pray that you and I be blessed with such similar grace to enter into His agony and in particular to meditate on the relationship between Our Lord and His Mother.

If you are not in the habit of praying the Stations, might I suggest you give it a go? Even if your parish does not offer this devotion or you cannot make it when they do, make the effort to pray them even at home and especially with your families.

May God bless you this Lent!

Only 37 more days to go!

St. Veronica, pray for us!

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Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

Posted on February 23, 2023 | Leave a comment

A very thoughtful reader sent me a note today about my last post. In that post I stated that I did not want to disclose my Lenten disciplines for fear of becoming proud or sounding judgmental. Reader S. reminds me of an old phrase. We ought to “Keep it secret, keep it safe.” I would add to that, “Keep it simple”, as far as Lent is concerned.

This reader agreed with me that there are some who have a right to know what our plans are. As I mentioned, it would be grossly unfair to my wife and children (not to mention bizarre and out of character) were I to suddenly adopt a completely different way of life and not bring them up to speed. I also use this as an opportunity to teach my children how to pray, fast, and give alms, following the example I lay forth.

I add the bit about keeping it simple because I have found (and many excellent sermons and the writings of the Fathers confirm) that trying to be heroic (aka: going overboard) is a recipe for failure. There is a balance to be struck. Don’t try not to be heroic because saints are made of heroic virtue and we should always be striving to become saints. Also, men in particular desire to outdo each other to show how manly we are. It’s kind of a thing. But don’t forget also a most important thing – your state in life. A husband or wife with care of small children, a police officer, a construction worker, any other member of the Village People – we all have obligations attached to those states in life. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Fasting should hurt. Fasting should be difficult. I would say, whatever you’re thinking, go for it and then dial that back based on your obligations. Similarly, I as a dad – though I may desire to do this – cannot devote as much time to pray as the Carmelite nuns do because it would interfere specifically with the raising of my children. So thank God the Carmelites pray for me. But I will definitely sacrifice any and all personal time during Lent to dramatically increase me prayer time.

Today, for instance, after listening to a talk about how men, through the offering of their prayers, sufferings, and good works merit grace for their wives and children; I asked Our Lord to give me more good works to offer. He did not neglect me. No details needed. He simply gave me opportunities to be charitable. He also gave me several moments during the day where I found myself in the vicinity of my parish church. Mercifully, the church is open all day. He gave me several times simply to come in and be with Him and to pray to Him in His presence. That was much needed and much more appreciated. I was able to tell Him my plans for Lent and wait for Him to laugh at me. He didn’t laugh, at least not that I could hear. But I did spend those moments lapping up the “intimacy with the Divine” of which Malachi Martin spoke in one interview and for which, he said, Catholics have always been distinguished. I could speak with my Lord in His presence about anything and everything and know that He hears me. I pray He continues to give me such opportunities as I make my way to Easter.

Speaking of Martin, it’s back to Windswept House. I’m making headway.

Only 38 more days…

St. Brendan, pray for us!

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Lent, Blessed Lent!

Posted on February 22, 2023 | Leave a comment

I have avoided sharing my particular Lenten “disciplines” for a number of reasons. I have a feeling in my gut that the second I start posting about what I am doing, giving up, adding in, etc., I will become victim to the sin of pride or the sin or judging others rashly or unjustly, or any number of sins. There are a few close family and friends with whom I have shared the plan. This is inevitable. For instance, I wouldn’t attempt to make any major change to my daily life without at least informing my wife and our children. And in that regard, it is my responsibility to teach all of them and to form them in the faith – including in the practice of the faith.

Suffice it to say that this Lent is a little different than in the past. For all of the evil afforded by the internet, there are some very good things too. I have seen such incredible writing and heard such beautiful sermons and talks on what a traditional Lenten observance looks like that it has inspired me this year to do more than I ever have. I won’t link to them here because there are truly many of them. I’m guessing we’re all visiting the same handful of sites every day anyway. But I know I am not alone in this as many of my friends and relatives (especially the men) have all mentioned similar things to me about fasting in particular. I believe this is a grace of God that we all appear to be converging on the same things around this time of year.

All that being said, I got a text this afternoon from a friend that said:

“Musings of a Trad Dad without a blog… Our Blessed Lord took upon Himself all the sins of the world… and my fat ass wants to curl up in a ball in the corner and whimper because I haven’t eaten for 24 hours. I suck. That’s all.”

After I laughed and asked his permission to use that text, he followed up with:

“I have to get to heaven because I am such a wuss, I won’t be able to deal with hell.”

So you see, the Lord goes out of His way to help us stay humble. Speaking of humility, Fr. Ripperger, in one of his talks, suggests that for a Lenten practice we ask our guardian angels to “interiorly humiliate us”. Thank you, Father, and NO. I want to live. My angel could do some serious damage with the things about me he could flash into my mind.

Only 39 more days to go.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us!

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To Pray, To Fast, and To Give Alms

Posted on February 21, 2023 | Leave a comment

We all know that the three directives of Lent are 1) to pray, 2) to fast, and 3) to give alms.

On the first front, I wish to encourage everyone reading this. I assume you are all good traditional Catholics and pray the Catholic way. 15 decades of the rosary during Lent would not be a bad use of one’s time. Daily Mass throughout the 40 days would be splendid. You can do it. If you are not yet Catholic, what are you waiting for? Come on over. It’s a hell of a fight right now but we could use the manpower.

On the second front, I wish to remind everyone reading this that fasting requires some form of actual fasting – that is, reducing your overall food intake. It is not, strictly speaking, giving up something you enjoy eating. It is not, strictly speaking, giving up anything willy-nilly (that phrase always makes me laugh yet I use it often). For instance, a priest preached recently that perhaps we might “fast from the internet”. I absolutely see his point and I recommend it. However, that is more of an abstinence and not even proper abstinence at that. Fasting must be about eating less. How much less? Much less? What an odd combination of words. Look, fasting is about giving up food. Period. Try going without eating a thing until 3:00 PM, the hour of Our Lord’s Passion and Death. Try going without meat, dairy, and eggs – the proteins of our daily life. I’m not suggesting everyone adopt a bread and water approach, but for those who can, even a few days a week, why not? Imitate Our Lord. He fasted for 40 days. And fasting can effect miracles from Our Lord. I’ll write more on that later. My point is, that if you are not denying your body nutrients, you aren’t doing it right. Esto vir. Be a man about it.

On the third front, I wrote a piece yesterday about praying for our priests. I do not have a “donate” button on my blog. I have nothing against the concept. In fact, I donate as often as I can to a handful of my own favorite bloggers. I haven’t done it (despite encouragement from friends) because I am not at that point yet. The Lord is providing for me at the moment. Trust me, when the time comes, that button will be big and flashy. In the meantime, I think it might be wise to prayerfully consider giving alms directly to your priests. Could there be a better way to show our support and gratitude? Mass stipends in an envelope are one thing. A card with a bill in it for no reason than because you appreciate that a man sacrificed his right to assume his role as head of a family so that the Eternal Sacrifice would be offered and our sins forgiven? Well that’s just gold right there. And it doesn’t have to be cash in a card either. We can find ways to do this. We jump at the opportunity to make meals for our priests. And when presented with the opportunity to dine with them at a restaurant, well… as old as my mother is, she’d still beat me senseless if she knew I hadn’t picked up the tab when dining with a priest. See if there’s a retreat Father wants to make and cover his airfare. Does your sacristy need new vestments? Can you sew? See where I’m going with this? I love my priests because they represent Christ. If Christ were living in my parish rectory, I’d move heaven and earth to give all I have to Him.

May your Lent be difficult. May your Lent be fruitful.

St. Peter, pray for us!

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What Paul Gladstone Saw: Spiritual Reading for Lent

Posted on February 20, 2023 | Leave a comment

I’ve decided to get a jump on my spiritual reading for Lent a few days early. About a year ago, two of my sisters had begun a little book club. When I think of book clubs I tend to think of middle-aged women drinking wine and sharing the Cliffs Notes version of whatever modern piece of garbage they supposedly “read”. These two took it in a different direction by starting Malachi Martin’s Windswept House. Somehow they knew this was my kind of reading. Sidenote: my eyes have always been bad. I went from 20/20 vision to nearsighted one day in fifth grade. It got progressively worse since then until about two or three years ago when it leveled off. I’m currently at +5.00 in my contacts (or is that -5.00? I can’t recall). Only now that I’m 45, I also have this curious prespiopic thing going on as well where I seem to need reading glasses but not really. So a 650 page novel with tiny print is just what the doctor didn’t order. Anyway, in short order they had sent me a copy of the book and I dove in. Unfortunately, life being what it is and this book being 650 pages, I made it to around page 180 before stopping a while back and I never picked it up again. Until tonight.

I have resolved to read 50 pages a day for the next ten days and be done with it. It really is a fascinating story. Martin was a fascinating storyteller. Just tonight, though, I came across a passage I want to share for your intellectual exercise and edification. The female protagonist, Cessi Gladstone, has sent her older son to a seminary in Spain at the direction of a priest who had been recommended to her by Archbishop LeFebvre. She wanted to insure he was properly formed as a priest. Her younger son, Paul, however, attended the minor seminary in New Orleans where he encountered all manner of post-conciliar evil. The following is his exit speech to the rector upon his decision to leave the seminary.

“In the end, his brief intimacy with the “Conciliar Church” took an awful toll on Paul Gladstone. Unable to stomach the bawdy, ramschakle atmosphere of the once orderly Seminary, he had announced his departure to the Rector one morning with a candor so brutal, even Cessi would have been hard pressed to match it. “I am not being trained as any kind of Sacrifice-offering, sin-forgiving priest.” Paul’s eyes were blazing. “If I remain, I’ll come out as a disheveled dispenser of useless trinkets in the Great American Roman Catholic Potlatch.

“…I don’t know how to be a priest,” Paul had countered with an iciness that froze the very atmosphere of the room. “I don’t even know what it means to be a priest in a church where the centerpiece is nothing more than a ‘Supper Table.’ Oh, I know. I’ve heard over and again how this new ‘Conciliar Church’ of yours will present a more human face to the world. But I tell you this: I will not preach to ‘the people of God’ that when they gather together, they not only ‘become church’ but themselves ‘form Christ.’ I don’t begin to understand such meaningless jargon.”

Boy, if only Martin had found a way to work in the phrase “sing a new church into being” he would have captured the essence of my own seminary training.

And like all spiritual reading, this has spurred me to prayer. I hope you will join me in praying for our priests. Even the poorly-formed priests and the mal-formed priests are still men configured to Christ Jesus. They alone can forgive our sins and offer the Sacrifice. We may never bring the majority of them back to their senses but we can pray for their souls.

Our Lady, Mother of Priests, pray for us!

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Why Can’t I Be a Good Trad?

Posted on February 18, 2023 | Leave a comment

The rumors swirling – nearly certainly true at this point – of the realization of a demonic plot, long in the making, to completely kill the Latin Mass and bury those who worship according to her rites have reached a dizzying fever pitch. Just today, the Remnant ran a piece by Diane Montagna claiming that the forthcoming document to be shat out by whatever Roman dicastery is currently jockeying to be the antipope’s sphincter of the month will include a prohibition of ever celebrating the vetus ordo on any Sunday of the year. That’s right, they will try to kill our spirit. They will also apparently try to enshrine the Novus Ordo Mass as “henceforth, the only official rite of the Latin Church.”

I’m sorry, what?

I couldn’t quite follow as I was sopping up the gin from the front of my shirt.

Seems to me another pope wrote something similar (yet even more forceful) a few hundred years ago in a little document called Quo Primum. Here it is again for those who’ve forgotten:

“We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us.”

I’m through with trying to figure out why they hate us. It’s obvious. The question I ask instead is this.

Why can’t I simply be a good trad?

If I had a nickel for every time Bergoglio has stumbled before a microphone or spoken with an atheist editor and stated that one needn’t be Catholic in any way, shape, or form to get to heaven… He has proclaimed that if one is Pentecostal (or Lutheran, Muslim, whatever) he should remain outside the Church because God apparently wanted him that way. Remember his late friend, “Bishop” Tony Palmer? What about the Lutheran woman he told should not convert but should instead receive Holy Communion with her Catholic husband? These people apparently need to remain as good whatever-the-hell-they-are’s and need never consider entering into the Mystical Body of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Why them and not me?

Why can’t I be a good trad?

Isn’t that what God wants of me? Can’t I be what I desire to be and be good for the Church?

We all know the answer to this one too. You can’t be a good trad because tradition is at odds with the ape-ish freakshow they’re running out of Rome these days. Notice, they never go after anyone but the trads. Trads must be crushed. So if I simply didn’t call myself a Catholic, they wouldn’t care if I followed the heretical whims of my heart (providing I was “nice” to people and/or a sodomite). Well duh. That’s because they aren’t in the business of saving souls. But the ones who are serious about saving their own souls and the souls of their families are those for whom he/they reserve their greatest invective.

An Apostolic Constitution to break the spirit of an admittedly miniscule percentage of the Catholic populace…

Tomorrow I will be presenting a little bit more about how this document will be received.

St. Rita statue, St. Edward Catholic Church, Palm Beach, FL (submitted by reader B. Y.). I suspect we all have many thorns coming our way. Embrace His Crown.

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