St. Peter of Alcantara

1955 Calendar (Double): October 19

St. Peter of Alcantara was born the son of Peter Garavita, governor of the palace.  His mother was a member of the noble family of Sanabia.

As a youth, Peter studied grammar and philosophy at Alcantara, and both civil and canon law at Salamanca University. At the age of 16, St. Peter became a Franciscan at Manjarez.

St. Peter founded the friary at Babajoz at the young age 20, and served as its superior at a remarkably young age. He was ordained a priest in 1524 at age 25 and quickly became a noted preacher.

A recluse by nature, he lived at the convent of Saint Onophrius, a remote location where he could study and pray between missions. In 1538, he became the Franciscan provincial for Saint Gabriel in Estremadura, Spain. He worked in Lisbon, Portugal in 1541 to help reform the Order. Shortly thereafter in 1555 he started the Alcantarine reforms, now known as the Strictest Observance. St. Peter became the Commissioner of his Order in Spain in 1556 and then the Provincial of his reformed Order in 1561.

He was a friend and confessor of Saint Teresa of Avila, and assisted her in 1559 during her work to reform her own Order. St. Peter is known as a mystic and writer whose works were used by Saint Francis de Sales. The traditional last lesson at Matins for his feastday reads:

Admirable was his gift of contemplation. Sometimes, while his spirit was nourished in this heavenly manner, he would pass several days without food or drink. He was often raised in the air, and seen shining with wonderful brilliancy. He passed dry-shod over the most rapid rivers. When his brethren were absolutely destitute, he obtained for them food from heaven. He fixed his staff in the earth, and it suddenly became a flourishing fig-tree. One night when he was journeying in a heavy snow-storm, he entered a ruined house; but the snow, lest he should be suffocated by its dense flakes, hung in the air and formed a roof above him. He was endowed with the gifts of prophecy and discernment of spirits as St. Teresa testifies. At length, in his sixtythird year, he passed to our Lord at the hour he had foretold, fortified by a wonderful vision and the presence of the saints. St. Teresa, who was at a great distance, saw him at that same moment carried to heaven. He afterwards appeared to her, saying: O happy penance, which has won me such great glory! He was rendered famous after death by many miracles, and was enrolled among the saints by Clement IX.

He died on October 18, 1562, of natural causes and was canonized on April 28, 1669, by Pope Clement IX.

Prayer:

Almighty God, look upon our weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our own deeds. Let the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Peter, in heaven, be our protection. Through our Lord . . .

Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal, 1945

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St. Hedwig of Silesia

1955 Calendar (Simple): October 16

Today the Holy Church celebrates the Feast of St. Hedwig.  Born the daughter of Berthold IV, Duke of Merania, St. Hedwig married Prince Henry I the Bearded of Silesia and Poland in 1186 at age 12. She became the mother of seven children including Saint Gertrude of Trebnitz.  St. Hedwig is the aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.  All in all, the life of St. Hedwig illustrates that holiness within the family is contagious and can help make our loved ones saints. Of Hedwig's children, only Gertrude survived her.

St. Hedwig oversaw a number of ministries including caring for the sick both personally and by founding hospitals. Upon her husband’s death, she gave away her fortune and entered the monastery at Trebnitz where her daughter was abbess.

As the Catholic Encyclopedia summarizes, "The duchess practised severe mortification, endured all trials with the greatest resignation, with self-denying charity cared for the sick and supported the poor; in her interior life of prayer, she gave herself up to meditation on supernatural things. Her piety and gentleness won for her even during life the reputation of a saint. She was interred in the church attached to the monastery, and was canonized by Clement IV, 26 March, 1267, and on 25 August of the same year her remains were raised to the honours of the altar."

Pope Innocent XI extended her Office to the whole Church and fixing it to October 17th. It was subsequently moved to October 16th.

Prayer: 

O God, You taught blessed Hedwig to turn from the attractions of the world to follow Your cross humbly and devotedly. May her merits and example teach us to spurn the passing pleasures of this earth and overcome all our difficulties by embracing Your cross; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the Marian Missal , 1945

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Synod Document "Relatio post disceptationem" Encourages Sin, Destroys Catholic Teaching

I have chosen to stay away from the topic of the current Synod but as the mid-term report from the Synod was released, we can now see for ourselves the evil being wrought by men who claim to be successors to the apostles.  It is simply unprecedented in the history of the Church! We ought to pray and do penance before the wishes of evil bishops spread heresy and apostasy far and wide in the barque of Peter.

The Secret Synod Does What We Expected: Evil  

by Christopher A. Ferrara  

As if we didn’t know it before, today we learned why the Secret Synod was conducted in secret, with the faithful not being permitted to see the texts of the participants’ addresses or even to know which bishop or cardinal was advancing which position. The Secret Synod was conducted in secret because evil advances in shadows. 

Many others, and not just traditionalists, have already expressed outrage over the disastrous “Relatio post disceptationem,” which appeared on the Vatican website today, October 13. This is the anniversary of Pope Leo’s vision of Satan’s attack on the Church (leading to his composition of the Leonine prayer suddenly abandoned after Vatican II), the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, and the derailing of the Second Vatican Council by Cardinal Liénart’s violation of the procedural rules in seizing the microphone in order to demand new drafting committees for the conciliar documents. 

By way of the comments of others, suffice it to note, as reported by Vatican Radio, that no less than the President of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, “did not hesitate to say that this document departs from the teaching of John Paul II [meaning the entire Magisterium regarding marriage and procreation], and even that in it can be noticed traces of the anti-marriage ideology. According to Archbishop Gądecki, this text also highlights the lack of a clear vision for the synodal assembly.” 

I must disagree with the final sentence of the report. The Synod had a very clear vision: nullification of the Church’s censures of sexual immorality of all kinds, including sodomy, and with this nothing less than an effective decommissioning of the Church as moral preceptor of humanity. This is what the aged Modernist cabal Pope Francis put in charge of this sham of a Synod has in view.  Continue reading the excerpted article... 

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St. Callistus I

1955 Calendar (Double): October 14

On October 14th, the Holy Church celebrates the Feast of Pope St. Callistus I.  St. Callistus reigned as the Vicar of Christ from c. 218 to 223 AD.  The Holy Pontiff was martyred for the Faith during an uprising of persecution at the time of Alexander Severus.

The Book of Saints by the Monks of Ramsgate:

A Roman by birth, the successor of Pope Saint Zephyrinus, whose Archdeacon or representative he had been. His five years of vigorous Pontificate were marked by many salutary measures: the moderating of the rigor of the penitential discipline; the repression of the Patripassians, Sabellians, and other heretics; the fixing of the Ember Day Fasts, etc. etc. He seems to have met with much opposition, and at length, probably in a riot or outburst of the heathen against the Christians, was flung headlong from the window of a high building in the Trastevere quarter (A.D. 223). He was buried in the Catacombs of Saint Calepodius, his contemporary, and his relics now repose together with those of that Saint in the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, close to the scene of his martyrdom. The document called the Philosophoumena, an anonymous production of the heretics of his time, written to besmirch the memory of the holy Pope, notwithstanding the credit given to it by Bunsen and by Protestant writers in general, has been amply refuted by Dollinger and others.

Traditional Matins Reading:

Callixtus, a Roman by birth, ruled the Church in the time of the emperor Antoninus Heliogabalus. He instituted the Ember days, on which four times in the year, fasting, according to apostolic tradition, should be observed by all. He built the basilica of Saint Mary across the Tiber; and enlarged the cemetery on the Appian Way, in which many holy pontiffs and martyrs were buried; hence this cemetery is called by his name.

The body of the blessed Calepodius, priest and martyr, having been thrown into the Tiber, Callixtus in his piety caused it to be diligently sought for, and when found to be honourably buried. He baptized Palmatius, Simplicius, Felix and Blanda, the first of whom was of consular and the others of senatorial rank; and who all afterwards suffered martyrdom. For this he was cast into prison, where he miraculously cured a soldier named Privatus, who was covered with ulcers; whom he also won over to Christ. Though so recently converted, Privatus died for the faith, being beaten to death with scourges tipped with lead.

Callixtus was Pope five years, one month, and twelve days. He held five ordinations in the month of December, wherein he made sixteen priests, four deacons, and eight bishops. He was tortured for a long while by starvation and frequent scourgings, and finally, by being thrown headlong into a well, was crowned with martyrdom under the emperor Alexander. His body was carried to the cemetery of Calepodius, on the Aurelian Way, three miles from Rome, on the day before the Ides of October. It was afterwards translated into the basilica of St. Mary across the Tiber, which he himself had built, and placed under the high altar, where it is honoured with great veneration.

Prayer:

O God, You see that we fail because of our weakness. Be merciful to us and let the example of Your saints renew our love of You. Through our Lord . . .

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Christopher Columbus: Catholic Explorer

Christopher Columbus, the great Catholic explorer, has been unjustly marred by historians and liberals. The true Christopher Columbus was a saintly man who sought to serve the Holy Catholic Faith and His Sovereign King.  Despite unprecedented challenges, Columbus ultimately ushered in the colonization and Christianization of the Western Hemisphere.  As a deeply religious man, we can learn from his Faith and devotion.  Join me in crying out: Sancto Subito! (May he be declared a saint soon!)

The following is excerpted from an excellent article on Nobility.org. Please read the whole article in honor of Columbus Day.

Before leaving [on his legendary voyage], Columbus received the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist, at the hands (it is stated) of Father Juan Perez, the officers and crews of the little squadron following his example. On 3 August, 1492, the people of Palos with heavy hearts saw them depart on an expedition regarded by many as foolhardy. 

... 

Columbus was unquestionably a man of genius. He was a bold, skilful navigator, better acquainted with the principles of cosmography and astronomy than the average skipper of his time, a man of original ideas, fertile in his plans, and persistent in carrying them into execution. The impression he made on those with whom he came in contact even in the days of his poverty, such as Fray Juan Perez, the treasurer Luis de Santangel, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, and Queen Isabella herself, shows that he had great powers of persuasion and was possessed of personal magnetism. His success in overcoming the obstacles to his expeditions and surmounting the difficulties of his voyages exhibit him as a man of unusual resources and of unflinching determination. 

Columbus was also of a deeply religious nature. Whatever influence scientific theories and the ambition for fame and wealth may have had over him, in advocating his enterprise he never failed to insist on the conversion of the pagan peoples that he would discover as one of the primary objects of his undertaking. Even when clouds had settled over his career, after his return as a prisoner from the lands he had discovered, he was ready to devote all his possessions and the remaining years of his life to set sail again for the purpose of rescuing Christ’s Sepulchre from the hands of the infidel.

The following author highlights the Franciscan nature of Columbus.  Columbus was a third order Franciscan and daily prayed the Divine Office:

As early as 1493, Columbus wrote a letter to the Royal Treasurer of Spain in which he speaks of the discovery of the New World as a great victory. Yet, it was not a victory by force of arms but a victory of bringing the truth to people who were sitting in the darkness of unbelief. He wrote, "Since our Redeemer gave this victory to our most illustrious King and Queen and to their famous realms, in so great a manner, it is fitting for all Christendom to rejoice and to make celebrations and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity with many solemn prayers for the great exultation which it will have and the turning of so many peoples to our holy Faith." 

All that we know about Columbus testifies to his having lived up to his Franciscan Rule. We know that he would wear the Franciscan habit, especially when he appeared before the Royalty or nobility. Except for the Franciscans with whom he stayed before leaving on his historic voyage, he would never had received the entree to Ferdinand and Isabella which opened the door to the New World. He went to confession to Franciscan priests. He would spend long periods of time in worshiping before the Blessed Sacrament in Franciscan chapels. When he left Palos, Spain on August 3, 1492 to cross the Atlantic, he left his son in the care of the Franciscans at their monastery. 

 Tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville, Spain's Cathedral. Photo taken January 4, 2019 (c) A Catholic Life Blog.

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Solemn High Mass for Blessed Karl of Austria at Old St. Mary's in Washington, DC

I hope that those of you in the area can attend this Mass.

You may also be interested to learn of the death of Brother Nathan Cochran, OSB, the USA/Canada Delegate to the Blessed Karl League of Prayers.  Here is a link to his obituary:
http://pittsburghlatinmass.org/blog/?p=2167

He was a great promoter of Bl. Karl, and had a great devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass.

Woodlawn Knights of Columbus Council 2161 and the Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community, Inc., will be arranging a Requiem Mass for him at St. Anthony Chapel in Pittsburgh on Saturday, 29 November 2014, at 2pm.

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4 Ways to Help Minorities Become Traditional Catholics

There needs to be an immediate call to action by Traditional Catholics to do more to share the Traditional Faith with minorities.

Kenya, 1937

In my own situation, I frequent a few different chapels/shrines/parishes regularly for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  At each Mass, all of which are Traditional Latin Masses, I am pleased to find a few non-white Catholics in attendance.  These people are extremely intelligent – one of which is very fluent in Latin and an integral part of the schola.  It is rewarding to see the one True Faith bringing in people from all societies, social classes, races, and nationalities.  Our Faith is one.  It is universal – after all, that is what it means to be a Catholic!

As Traditional Catholics, some of us are to be commended for what we do to share the Faith with others – whether digitally (e.g. on our Facebook walls) or in personal discussions with others.  But why do so many of us not reach out to the racial or ethnic minorities in our communities?  Are not these people also called to the one saving Faith that is the Catholic Church, outside of which no one can be saved?  Do we do enough to help their salvation?

It’s unfortunate that there are few Traditional Latin Masses in the Spanish-speaking world, relatively to the number in the English speaking world.  And why is it that when we think of African American Catholic communities we think of “praise and worship” singing and heretical worship rather than people who also need true, valid Sacraments?

It’s a fact that the same Traditional Latin Mass codified by His Holiness Pope St. Pius V was the Mass that converted the inhabitants of the New World when the explorers of Juan Ponce de Leon and Christopher Columbus landed on these shores.  The christianization of the New World consisted of naming many places after the Faith.  Did you realize El Salvador means “The Savior” or that much of Southern California christianized by the Franciscans is named after the saints?  Santa Monica – Saint Monica.  San Diego - Saint Diego de Alcalá.  And there are many other examples.  The point is that these primitive people all became Catholics – Catholics attached solely to the Latin Mass and the Latin Sacraments.  It’s a fallacy to even suggest that these peoples need the Novus Ordo to serve as a bridge between their prior ways and the Solemnity of the Latin Mass.  History is our proof and it is not necessary.

Let's also consider the work of the SSPX in Africa or the ICKSP in Africa today and the many conversions they bring about.  All peoples are called to the beauty of Tradition.

There is a tendency – a subtle one within us – to assume that the extraordinary beauty, awe, history, and ritual of the Traditional Latin Mass is only meant for Europeans and those of European heritage.  We need to completely eradicate this notion out of our minds.  Let’s consider the following:

1. Invite non-Catholic minorities to Mass with you.  It’s a holy act and one that we should all be doing more often.  There are many protestant minorities in our society.  There are too many ex-Catholics in the Hispanic community who are seeking spirituality in the un-holiness of Pentecostalism and the like.  Are we inviting them back to Mass?  Are we bringing them with us to the Solemn High Masses so they can experience the great awe and mystery of the Faith that they may have never truly known?  Do we explain to them why we pray to the Holy Mother of God?

2. Invite Catholic minorities to Mass.  With this group, unlike the aforementioned one, they can and should receive the Sacraments.  Help them follow along in the Missal.  Help explain to them the rituals (e.g. the Signs of the Cross, the many genuflections, the symbolism, etc).  Help them feel the awe and mystery.  Invite them to go to Confession.  Introduce them to the priest afterwards.  Invite them to the monthly social hours or some devotions (e.g. Sunday Vespers, Benediction, Rosary, etc).  These people, just like their Caucasian counterparts in non-Traditional Catholic Churches, yearn for what is True, Good, and Beautiful.  This is especially worthwhile to do by bringing to Mass those with inadequate transportation or health issues who may be completely unable to attend any Mass at all on a given Sunday.

3. Advertise in parishes with high minority concentrations.  Put some handouts in the various literature racks of these parishes with information on the Latin Mass and the local times – or even just some beautiful holy cards of St. Pius X or Pope Pius XII or a holy card on why pray the Rosary.  It’s no secret that many parishes with a large minority makeup suffer from poor catechesis, downright scandalous liturgies, and infrequent Confession times.  These people could really benefit from our missionary work.

4. Invite the homeless and the poor to Mass.  Consider giving them a few dollars when you see them and, at the same time, handing them a holy card or a Rosary.  Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that cometh forth from the mouth of God.

So please, join me in helping to evangelize to all members of our society – regardless of their race or nationality.  Let’s help spread the Traditional Mass to everyone.

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Solemn High Mass for Blessed Karl of Austria in Roslyn, NY

Join us in celebrating the exemplary life of Blessed Karl, Emperor and King.

Reception after Holy Mass

Sponsored by the Saint Agnes Institute

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2014 SSPX Starkenburg Pilgrimage

Come join us with your family in this 3-day, 40-mile pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady!

Renew and increase your devotion to the Blessed Mother!

The SSPX is pleased to coordinate this Pilgrimage of Tradition in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows to Starkenburg, MO. The pilgrimage route will be along the historic and beautiful Katy Trail.

We offer both a 3-day and a 1-day option for pilgrims.

The 3-day pilgrimage will start at the Katy Trail access point in Jefferson City, MO, proceeding through Tebbetts, Mokane, Portland, and Bluffton to conclude near the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Starkenburg, MO.

The 1-day pilgrimage will join the 3-day pilgrimage at Portland, MO on the morning of October 18 for the final 12.5 miles.

Learn more by clicking here.

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Requiem Aeternam: Fr. Benedict Groeschel

Please join me in praying for the soul of Father Benedict Groeschel, requiescat in pace. He has passed away after a long life of service to the Faith. May God forgive him his sins.  May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for Fr. Benedict, who has died on the eve of St. Francis' feast.

Taken from the press release:

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, beloved priest and preacher, died on October 3, 2014, the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis, after complications with an ongoing illness. He was 81.

Fr. Benedict was a founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR), a reform community started in 1987 by eight Capuchin Friars based in New York City. A priest and psychologist, he was director of Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, and also taught Pastoral Psychology for many years at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. Fr. Benedict was a popular writer, preacher, retreat master, and evangelist on Catholic television. His greatest joy was serving the poor and underprivileged. Founder of St. Francis House and Good Counsel Homes, he also served as chaplain at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry for 14 years. Always deeply concerned with the welfare of others, he tirelessly provided food, clothing, and assistance to people in need—people he always considered his friends.

Father Benedict is survived by his sister, Marjule Drury, sister Robin Groeschel, brother Gary Groeschel, nine nieces and nephews, 115 CFR brothers and priests, and 31sisters who were inspired by his authentic witness to religious life and devotion to Jesus and His Church. He was preceded by his brothers Edward and Mark.

Image: Fr. Benedict Groeschel after his ordination.

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