Category Archives: Uncategorized
Richard Dawkins Admits Atheism Is a Delusion
In an embarrassing (for the Atheists) and rare show of common sense, Richard Dawkins admitted to be only sure to 6.9 sevenths (which, to you and I who do not have a book to promote, means around 98.6%) God does not exist. This leaves only space for the conclusion (as in such things tertium non datur) Dawkins considers the existence of God a 1.4% probability.
On Hell Again
A couple of days ago, I have let through one comment on hell in answer to a previous blog post. The very confused poster goes on with the usual confused mantras of the liberal and atheist society, as the concept of eternal torment does not seem to agree with oh how oh good oh he oh is.He also had some problems about those whom he thinks wish hell on other people.
The Mini Exorcist.
Look at this video with attention, and you will realise something is going on here.
The Pope approaches some people on wheelchairs. As he prepares to greet and give a blessing to one of them, the priest accompanying him whispers to the Pope something. Note the conversation is of some importance, that is: the priest thought something had to be said; also it is clearly confidential, not the kind of “Mr soandso travelled from Xyz to see you and brings you the greetings of all his family at home” communication.
The Holy Father listens seriously, and then performs on the man a blessing that one would consider rather lengthy, not stopping when the man starts to behave very strangely instead of interrupting and asking the man if he is all right.
Rorate Caeli now has the news Father Amorth has in the meantime performed an exorcism on the man, and found him possessed.
Granted, I wasn't there. But if we take together the video and Father Amorth's words, my limited intelligence has little doubts as to what has probably happened.
A man in suspicion of being possessed is brought to Rome so that a rite of exorcism be performed on him, if found necessary. He gets the opportunity of a papal blessing (camera and wheelchair: an irresistible combination with this Pope). When the Pontiff approaches, the priest says to him something on the lines of: “strange things happenings with this chap, Holiness; he will be seen by an exorcist soon”. The Holy Father then gives this man a lengthy blessing, containing some exorcism formula (many of those in Catholic prayers), with the reaction you can observe.
An unusual occurrence (possessed men are not found at every corner), but nothing extraordinary, really.
We know some people are possessed, because we are Christians and know it from the Gospel. We also know the Church trains a number of exorcists not out of desire to play Hollywood, but because there is a need for them. Thirdly, we know that Father Amorth found the man to be possessed. Fourthly, it would be strange that a possessed man may receive a blessing and mini exorcism from a Pope without showing any reaction whatsoever, and actually it would possibly say more about the Pope than about the man.
As far as I know, every priest can, in theory, give it a try when in the presence of a possessed man, though the Church wants such a rite to be performed by ad hoc trained priests. If a priest can, than the more so a bishop, who has the fullness of holy orders.
Therefore, it seems to me that nothing extraordinary has happened, at least for us Catholics who are informed about demonic possession and exorcism already.
Mundabor
Cardinal Dolan Is A Permanent Embarrassment
"I don’t know. We’re still trying. We’re trying our best to do it. We gotta listen to people”.
This is the kind of waffle Cardinal Dolan managed to tell ABC talking about the ways the Church should allow perverts (he said "gays") to feel "welcome".
As a Catholic, one cannot avoid feeling embarrassed at the cowardice regularly put on display by this disgraceful man.
Pentecost And The Vatican II Tree
You may want to read here at Insight Scoop some interesting reflections about Pentecost. The links between the Old and New Testament are very neatly presented, as is the reference to the voice of God being, always in the Old Testament, associated with fire.
This could be the starting point of some short reflections about Pentecost. How many Catholics know what Pentecost is?
Hell: The Comment Rant.
This is a comment I had posted some time ago concerning the probability that Christopher Hitchens is now in hell. I thought I'd re-publish it because in my eyes it makes a rather valid blog post in itself.
-----------------------
...we don’t know, and therefore we can’t be certain. It would be a sin of presumption for us to do so. Still, a Catholic is not allowed to pray for souls of whom he thinks they are very probably – very probably – in hell, because the Church doesn’t pray for the souls who are in hell.
LCWR: The Pussyfooting And Namby-Pambying Goes On.
The CNA has another rather puzzling article about the way Archbishop Sartain says he is going to deal with the witch "sisters" of the LCWR.
Now, everyone understands some diplomacy is in order here, and it is not improbable some rather harsher words have been and will be pronounced in private.
But is this really the case? Let us reflect the "sisters" have been going on undisturbed for around four decades, and their average age being 74 (as reported in the article: talk about wasted lives...) it is very clear a slow and diplomatic action is totally useless both in general and for the soul of the sisters involved, as the Grim Reaper will be much faster than the slow Vatican diplomacy/re-education intents.
Shock and Awe
I sometimes try to look at my blog with the eyes of a person who sees it for the first time, and try to imagine what would be his reaction. Insofar as these exercises can be made with any reasonable accuracy, I would say the first impression must be of an overload of Catholic imagery (and text; but I think the imagery will at the beginning impress itself in the mind of the reader faster, and stronger).
The Shepherds And The Sheep
If you ask me, Archbishop Chaput is right and wrong in his observation that if Catholic voters had been more ready to abandon Nazi Democrats in the past, things would not have come at the point they are now. He is certainly right if we observe only the immediate cause of the Catholic behaviour; he is, I daresay, rather wrong if we look a bit further than that.
Sainthood And The Church
The impending beatification of John Paul II will no doubt cause many questions among non-Catholics as to what this beatification is, and might reinforce many of them in their errors and misconceptions about this beautiful Catholic institution of beatification and canonisation.
I'd like here to give some very short explanations in bullet points, in the hope that in the coming months some non-Catholics may end up here and get some benefit from them and that Catholics may get some points to give explanations if and when required.
Sunday Psychologists
One of the funniest traits of liberals is their love for Sunday Psychology and fake wisdom.
To make an example, they seem to think people who tend to talk a lot about homosexuality (generally because they have been raised properly, in a proper Christian country, and feel as if bestiality had become the latest fashion modern society has to "celebrate") get a lot of accusations of being, at some level, latent homosexuals.
The Popes, The Fool And The Stubborn
We offer this mass for him , so that the Lord be with him, confort him, and give him great consolation. ... The Council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit. Think of Pope John: he looked like a good parish priest, and he was obedient to the Holy Spirit, and he did that. But, after 50 years, have we done everything that the Holy Spirit told us in the Council?
SSPX Begs Pope Francis Not To Allow Souls To Perish
From the very long - and very fitting - letter #80 of Bishop Fellay to Friends and Benefactors: (emphases mine)
We beg Heaven and the authorities of the Church, in particular the new Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Peter, not to allow souls to perish because they no longer learn sound doctrine, the revealed deposit of the faith, without which no one can be saved, no one can please God.
Conclave: BBC Incompetent Beyond Belief
One struggles to believe the BBC was once considered a professional broadcaster.
This rubbish has been online since the 28 February, so it has been online for now 8 days undisturbed. It truly beggars belief.
It is difficult to pick where to start, but let us select some of the most outlandish observations:
1) "Two-Pope Problem".
I though it was Two Popes, but I am not a mother tongue.
Episcopalians, On Their Deathbed, Appoint Loretta "Bishop".
http://youtu.be/sFBOQzSk14c
It appears very clear from the WSJ article that the parody of Christianity known as the "Episcopalians" are approaching death more rapidly than generally expected.
Last time I looked, they were supposed to still have around 2 million members. It appears now they might be reduced to around half that.
They did not start to die like flies, of course, though I suspect the average member age (do they say "member" over there?
Doctrine Of War Made Easy
I have found here an excerpt from an excellent Moral Theology course. The work has both imprimatur and nihil obstat and comes - crucially - from times largely not polluted from false theology and "new times/new men/new rules" illusions, the safest indication of the heresy of Modernism.
If you take the time to read the entire piece - which, if you ask me, you should do as these questions pop up again and again in international relationships, in the media, and even at the pub - you will understand both the reasonableness and orthodoxy of this script, and the scandal that it would cause to the modern generation of wannabe pacifists; many of them, alas, clergymen.
Satan, Suicides, Sugar, Pranks.
In the last days of the 2008 US Presidential election, Sarah Palin was the victim of a prank. During a radio transmission heard in vast part of the country, the "French President Sarkozy" called to greet and congratulate her. The "French President" was, if memory serves, a professional actor, and Sarah Palin swallowed it hook, line and sinker. It made world news, and the big UK radio stations opened the news with it (gloating, of course) the morning after.
Why The Abdication Was Wise
If you have looked at the Video of Pope Francis visiting the Pontiff Emeritus yesterday, you could probably not avoid noticing how frail Benedict looked. If one thinks that only at the beginning of February he was still fully in charge, one begins to have a very clear picture of why his decision to abdicate was a wise one.
I never bought the story of the "Cross from which the Pope is not supposed to step down".
Kindle Problems
If birds poop on you from the tree it isn't really a good experience...
I hate kindle books without an interactive table of contents. They do not make sense to me. A good book is not something one reads once and forgets, but one that one loves to go back to, refreshing this or that part when the fancy takes him.
After a couple of bad experiences in the past, I have started to look “inside the book” on the Amazon site to see whether the table of contents is interactive.
Unfortunately, it turns out the ToC might be interactive from your PC, but not in the actual Kindle book once downloaded, at least from the tablet app. This is nothing more than a slight disappointment if the book is free, but is outright bad service – or, I dare say, a fault in the product – if the book was purchased.
If anyone can give any indication as to how securely ensure a book has an interactive Table of Content in the Kindle before purchasing, I would be grateful for a line or two.
I also wonder whether it would be appropriate to complain with Amazon. It seems to me they should ensure the e-book standard promoted by them complies with minimum requirements, without which the perception of the entire “kindle book” can easily be damaged. I should not be required to ask the publisher – who would not answer anyway – before every purchase.
I am grateful for your experiences on the matter.
Mundabor
Blessed Pius IX On "Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus"
Pope Pius IX had, among his many gifts, the one of expressing himself in a simple, crystal clear terms. His language and way of presenting the Church's case are beautiful and instructive reading to this day.
Emphases mine:
"Not without sorrow we have learned that another error, no less destructive, has taken possession of some parts of the Catholic world, and has taken up its abode in the souls of many Catholics who think that one should have good hope of the eternal salvation of all those who have never lived in the true Church of Christ.
Dies Natalis Romae Invictae
Today is the 21 April, Dies Natalis Romae Invictae.
Sensible Italians remember today the birth of the second most astonishing phenomenon ever appeared under the Sky (after Jesus and His Church, of course).
The Catholics among the sensible Italians will also know that the First Rome was the instrument chosen by God for the development and spreading of the Second Rome.
As a born Roman, Civis Romanus, I allow myself to feel particularly proud today. Not my merit, I know. But proud nevertheless.
As image for this blog post I have chosen a most impressive symbol of Roman might: the Fasces. As you can see from the image, it was made out of many small rods, all bundled together to form a thick cylinder. This cylinder was then so strong it could be used as support for a weapon, generally an axe.
The first and most cited symbolic meaning of the Fasces is brutally evident: each one as an individual is small; but when put together in close collaboration, the group will be an indestructible, lethal weapon.
Most of my readers are, of course, not born Romans.
How will they celebrate today, then?
I suggest a beautiful way how we can, simple rods as we are, unite in this Spring Sunday in a powerful Catholic Fasces:
Dump Starbucks.
Mundabor
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Homosexual Priests* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Hat tip to Rorate Caeli for this beautiful, beautiful article about the liturgical impact of homosexuality in the priesthood appeared in the CNA.
Some quotations:
[...] more and more Catholics are coming to the unavoidable conclusion (contrary to “official findings”) that the overwhelming majority of abuse cases were directly related to homosexuality
One may further deduce that the historical spike in such incidents also likely coincided with an increase in the relative number of homosexual men in the priesthood - a proposition too unsavory (not to mention too politically incorrect) for many to acknowledge…
Jesuit Magazine Openly Pro-Homos
You would think that the Jesuits had some sense of shame. Perhaps, a few have. The impression is, however, that most of them don't. I can't explain otherwise how a group old sixty-eighters (several of them, no doubt, homosexuals; some of them, very probably, sodomites) continue to march towards extinction as if this were a valuable end, and one worthy of pursuing.
SSPX Begs Pope Francis Not To Allow Souls To Perish
Latin: FSSPX.
English: SSPX.
Italian: GRAZIE!
From the very long – and very fitting – letter #80 of Bishop Fellay to Friends and Benefactors: (emphases mine)
We beg Heaven and the authorities of the Church, in particular the new Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Peter, not to allow souls to perish because they no longer learn sound doctrine, the revealed deposit of the faith, without which no one can be saved, no one can please God.
What good is it to devote oneself to serving people if one hides from them what is essential, the purpose and the meaning of their life, and the seriousness of sin that turns them away from it? Works of charity done for the poor, the needy, the infirm, and the sick have always been a true concern for the Church, and we must not excuse ourselves from it, but if it becomes merely man-centered philanthropy, then the Church is no longer carrying out her mission, she is no longer leading souls to God, which can really be done only by supernatural means: faith, hope, charity and grace. And therefore by denouncing anything that is opposed to them: errors against faith and morality. Because if people sin, for want of that denunciation, they are damned for eternity. The Church’s reason for being is to save them and to help them avoid the misfortune of their eternal perdition.
“Mundabor”, the teacher would have said at school, “what does the author want to say”?
I am not at school anymore, but I think I know what I would answer: the author wants to say that there has been enough talk of simplicity, black shoes, iron crosses, and Argentinian newsagents, whilst the real issues continue to be happily ignored.
One month on, the silence of the new Pope concerning the new, exploding phenomenon of pro-homosexual legislation is deafening; but Heavens, we know everything about how he doesn’t like Papal Apartments, red shoes, mozzettas, or Roman cobblers.
The SSPX has certainly been prudent for a while, waiting to see how they can picture this Pontiff before speaking publicly.
Their decision to move to an open appeal clearly means they consider his silence as scandalous. Please read Bishop Fellay’s words again. They are clear enough.
Pope Francis has not justified the worst fears (up to now, at least), and has moved rather well on a couple of occasions (the LCWR comes to mind; actually nothing else of consequence comes to mind… one good homily here, one good idea there, things like that); but he has also lived dramatic weeks for world Christianity whilst doing basically nothing, or whilst letting us know how sensitive he is to his newsagent down in Buenos Aires.
God knows how much the French Catholics would have appreciated strong words of the Pontiff concerning the abomination of sodomy; it would have given – and would still give – the movement great strenght for the years of fight in front of them.
Instead, we haven’t heard one word. Not one.
I am sick and tired already to try to see Francis through Benedict. I see that Benedict was indecisive enough, and Francis can talk rather refreshingly if he wants, but he avoids to do it when it means grating the masses whose approval he is so sedulously seeking. Whilst the French members of parliament send the country’s soul to hell, he entertains us with the evil of gossiping.
Mozzetta or no Mozzetta, this is not good enough; this is no longer carrying on the Church’s mission, and allowing souls to perish.
It is a paradox that we had a Pope who saw the necessity of war but didn’t have the nerve to lead us into it; and we now have a Pope who probably has the strenght of character to lead us into any war he chooses, but seems not to think the unprecedented disintegration of the Christian fabric of the West is worth a war in the first place.
But hey, we know all about his cobbler.
Mundabor
Comments Allowed
I have excluded comments from the post in memory of Margaret Thatcher. Not from the general settings, but only from that post.
For reasons not clear to me, WordPress appears to have “imported” the setting as “default” for some posts I have published afterwards, a circumstance I have noticed only now.
Normal service has now been restored.
Mundabor
