As a homeschool dad, I always try to find sources of amusement in my daily activities. Actually I do that anyway. Always have. It’s how I taught in the brick and mortar schools. It’s how I interact with my children. Life presents plenty of opportunities to laugh if you just let it.
I don’t have to search hard either. Having taken four years of Latin and having attended a Latin Mass for four years now (though years apart), I figured I could take a stab at this if the gladius was sharp enough.
Then I came across the following picture in a textbook. It’s from the Oxford Latin Course textbook series.
A mysterious chap known simply as “The Friend” is seen greeting (saluting) the young Quintus. Quintus looks none too pleased. In fact, Quintus looks like he knows what The Friend is there for and it isn’t to discuss baseball stats. I can hear Quintus meekly pleading with The Friend. “Please, The Friend, it isn’t right…”
Also, this illustration looks shockingly similar to the infamous photo of McCarrick and James Grein. Don’t believe me?
Pederast pedagogy. Latin killed the Romans and now it’s killing me.
But at least Quintus doesn’t have the same issues as the cook.
Not only is his name Grumio but he’s anxious because Claudia (the lady of the house who allows her son to go off with The Friend) is coming into the kitchen to second guess his work with that bird. Look, if Grumio cooks you a peacock (clearly what he’s cooked), you eat the damn peacock and be grateful.
A few days ago I posted about the Queen of Heaven’s birthday. This happened to coincide with the day the Queen of England died. I made a reference to Her Majesty’s very long reign and that she presided over a general decline in Western Culture. I did not say that she was the cause of that decline, just mentioned the link. The next day I noticed a comment that simply said that I was a “tosser”. I had to look it up. Apparently that’s slang for the already slang word “wanker” – one who gratifies himself, if you follow. Oh those Brits! So clever. And here I thought it was related to a baseball pitcher.
The sad fact is, like John-Henry Westin points out, Elizabeth II, may she truly Rest In Peace (and do pray for her soul), indeed gave her Royal assent to some terrible things during her 70 years on the throne. Go ahead and square that circle. I’ll wait. So to the gentleman who hurled that invective, it’s quite alright. I understand the grieving process takes time to work itself through. It’s not your fault you’re a biscuit short of a packet. But to attack a man for pointing out the obvious is just bollocks. Why don’t you go listen to some Gilbert O’Sullivan and tend to your cats?
Bring It On! Or Not…
I was chatting with a friend this evening over dinner when I remarked that I just can’t wait for the material chastisement to come about! I’m joking of course. Still, there comes a point at which one has to wonder how much longer this cesspool of a world can go. Then my friend told me of her recent experience raising chickens. And I realized that if I survived the material chastisement I would probably have to slaughter a chicken at some point for food. The living will envy the dead, folks. The living will envy the dead.
Arlington Diocese Underground
I was sent some pictures of the new locations where, starting this week, the TLM will be celebrated in Northern Virginia. I did not take these pictures myself so I will not post them here. I will have my own pictures to post soon enough. Nonetheless, the work that has gone into transforming these spaces – a gymnasium, a parish school building, etc. – is quite impressive and still far surpasses most Novus Ordo church designs. The thought struck me that for going “underground” and being pushed to the margins by the “pope* of mercy” these places aren’t all that bad. Remember to hold onto your devotion and keep the true faith alive. This will pass.
Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, stained glass, St. Francis DeSales Oratory (ICKSP), St. Louis, MO
Remembrance of Things Past
I was supposed to be at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Providence intervened and I overslept. On that morning, one of my sisters worried that her five day-old baby should be baptized. We literally did not know if the world was coming to an end. The smoke from the Towers was still rising just 7 miles away. I drove her down to the church. It took great effort convincing the pastor that this was a good idea. “Father,” I said, “If you don’t want to do this because you don’t really think anything bad is going to happen, couldn’t you at least do it to comfort this young mother?” Somehow, speaking the language of modernist false mercy and psychobable did the trick. Sometimes, I suppose, we have to speak on their terms in order to achieve our goals. A truly Catholic priest would have assessed the situation and, seeing a regular parishioner whose faith was known to him asking for baptism for her child, replied, “ Of course! This way to the font.” Imagine if Phillip had told the Ethiopian eunuch, “Sorry, pal, but there’s no rush. RCIA doesn’t start until October.”
I went to bed for the next three months with images of the planes slamming into the buildings. God rest the souls of all those who died that day.
I had to share the following that my wife sent me today. She’s still on the social things whereas I am not.
Know that I am offering my novena daily for the intentions that have been sent to me.
Remember, until very recently, it was considered impossible that anyone would publicly recognize the antipapacy and yet the chorus of voices is raising. Keep praying. And don’t forget to fast too.
Holy Mary, Model of Life for Saint Rita, pray for us!
If you’re following along and keeping score, St. Rita has notched another win today. From my ongoing novena prayer list I have just removed another intention meaning… She has delivered yet again.
This one was very sweet and personal to me. One of my nephews was looking for a better work schedule so he could spend more time with his growing family and get to Adoration more frequently. Not only did his schedule get changed abruptly, but so did his job. He got promoted to detective today!
St. Rita of Cascia, stained glass
Now, don’t take away from this a false sense of hope.
No, I want you to take away from this a very real sense of hope.
If you have been praying for some thing for a long time and it has not come to you, remember one of the first “rules” of prayer. “We pray to change ourselves, not to change God,” as Lewis said. Perhaps step back and begin with a prayer asking Our Lord to send His Holy Ghost to direct you how to pray and for what.
Either way, the novena continues and I have confidence in St. Rita’s power to intercede in impossible cases.
St. Rita, pray for us!
PS: More to come over the weekend. I’m on a bit of vacation visiting with a family member right now.
No, not that one. Believe me. Enough ink will be spilled on her life and times to flood a decent sized room. And regarding her I will say this. I prayed for her soul this morning and I hope her judgment went well for her who presided over the transformation of a once-great nation into a typical post-Western den of sodo-iniquity. I’m sure she was a very nice woman.
No, I mean THE Queen – she who rules over heaven and earth. Today we celebrated the Nativity of the Blessed Mother.
Mother of Good Counsel, mosaic, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington. DC
Happy birthday, my Queen! Please obtain for me and my family from the Heart of thy Divine Son all the grace necessary to live holy lives, die happy deaths, and come to the joys of eternal bliss with thee and with Him.
I offer today my rosary in honor of your loveliness, O fairest of our race!
Lord Jesus, through the tears of Thy holy Mother Mary, have mercy on me, a sinner!
Per Uncle Arthur, Mass times for the TLM “may not be published on the parish website or social media sites.”
Fortunately, this blog is neither of those.
Have at you…
Parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish in Gainesville can now attend the Mass of the Ages at Renaissance Montesorri School in Nokesville, VA. masses will be held in the gymnasium. Shouldn’t be hard to remember. Here’s a mnemonic for you. Gymnos is Greek for “naked man”. Just think of Uncle Arthur and his secretest thoughts and you’ll be fine.
No Mass for you here. Go to new location!
RMS is at 12625 Fitzwater Dr., Nokesville, VA 20181. Pull all the way around to the back of the parking lot. The gym is the second large building on your right
Sunday: 8:30 AM and Noon.
Monday-Saturday: 7:15 AM.
Who knows, friends… You might run into me there in the next week or two. If you can pick me out of a crowd, say hello! I’m friendly and I’ve had all my shots. Actually no, I abhor vaccines. Nonetheless, I’m still friendly and I don’t bite.
There is a line in the novena to St. Rita that I pray that has always carried special meaning for me.
“We promise if our petitions are granted to make known your favor and to glorify God for His gift.”
The Catholic Devotional Life
Earlier today, as I was finally cleaning off the top of my dresser after a year of collecting loose change, cuff links, and knick knacks, I happened upon a few items I did not know I had in my possession. If you have ever had a special devotion to a particular saint this will not surprise you in the least. I found that I had four separate medals of my Cascian intercessor , apparently acquired in Italy by one of my nieces who had traveled there several years ago for a semester abroad.
So let’s talk about devotions and the life of a Catholic. Prior to the middle of the 1960’s (gee, not sure what happened then) Catholics were raised to be in relationship with the saints. We were taught to pray to our guardian angel and to converse with him, to call upon our friends in heaven because they are God’s friends first. It is said that Padre Pio did not know until he was ten years-old that other people couldn’t see their angels, such was his devotion.
Devotion and Memory
And then the Catholic world forgot. To be sure there was a malicious force at work helping to suppress that memory. But memory is a beautiful gift from God. Like physical strength, it requires some exercise on our part to develop more fully. The ancients knew how to memorize epic poetry on the first hearing. They trained their memories and knew how to actively listen. Likewise the memory of our devotional life must be fostered. We must worship God in the manner He chooses (the Holy Mass) and listen in silence to Him. We must work at our devotions. Sometimes, like the occasional miraculous physical healing where the lame man regains his strength, God can intervene to remind us of what we lost and what we forgot. We must then thank God for that grace and jump back into fostering our devotional life.
Friends, remember your devotions. Make the saints and angels a part of your life. Those medals remind me to keep going and to continue to seek her prayers. I see them as a gift from God to continue in my devotion. Today in particular I see them as a nudge to continue in my novena prayers. Another nine days it is! Perhaps there are four particular people who need these prayers. Who knows? God knows.
Remembering that I will make known her favor and glorify God for his gifts, I share the days events with you and again invite any intentions that I might add to my prayer.
God bless us, the Virgin protect us, and St. Rita, pray for us!
Folks, I got off all that social media nonsense a while ago. Sorry but I'm not on Twitbook, Facepalm, YouHu, WingWang or any of the others. Maybe an event will happen to make me change my mind like Peter and Paul coming down with flaming swords and commanding it be so. Until then, read the blog and if you feel a comment is in order or you feel like sharing a tip or suggestion for a topic, email me at harvey@harveymillican.com.
Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad 