Thanks to my parents and family … I know man and I know God. I know love and I know wrath. I know justice and I know peace … and I know (as a faithful Catholic) that I have nothing to fear.

by Doug Lawrence

I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, in a (fairly) conventional family consisting of dad, mom, two brothers and a sister.

Dad took the car to work each day. Mom stayed home and took care of the house and kids. No surprises there.

We all went to Catholic school … but that’s not the point. The point is how mom ran the household … and particularly … the way she personally maintained family standards.

Even though we rarely had any serious discussions, there was no doubt that we were unconditionally loved and cared for … mainly because that’s pretty much all that mom did … 24/7 and 365. Of course, dad’s job (and his personal commitment to the family) made possible that extraordinary level of “intensive care”.

The house was always spotless. Meals weren’t fancy, but they were generally prepared on time and in abundance. Our clothing, grooming, and personal behavior were always closely and very effectively monitored … sometimes through “mysterious” means. Family outings were modest affairs, but frequent. Holidays were indeed feasts, with Christmas and Easter being number one and number two (but not necessarily in that order). Sundays were reserved for Mass and for family.

That’s just the way things were. We never questioned why.

Little went unnoticed, and nothing important to mom could ever be considered (by us) as irrelevant or insignificant, since we knew with certainty that a fate worse than death awaited all those who might transgress.

The means of our execution was the dreaded “whipstrap”!

Reputed to be a family heirloom of indeterminate age, the whipstrap had been fashioned from a stout piece of leather, roughly three inches wide and twenty-four inches long. The first part served as a handle. The last was cut into a classic “cat o’ nine tails” … and it was truly awesome to behold!

The “instrument” typically need not even be displayed, since the mere mention of it was usually sufficient to restore order. But, when partial measures were unsuccessful, deploying the whipstrap and applying a stroke or two, usually did the trick.

Mom was in pretty good physical shape (probably from all that walking … since she didn’t drive … and there was no outrunning her. She was even known to leap fences (and reportedly, tall buildings) in a single bound. And should we have been fortunate enough to discover a hiding place that was (as yet) unknown or inaccessible to her, dad would always be home, by six.

There was no escape!

The carnage wrought by the whipstrap was immense … and the suffering impossible to imagine … at least for a moment or two … in our young minds. Yet we all survived … and thrived … mainly because we were able to develop a good, clear sense of what was right and what was wrong. We also learned that actions brought sure and certain consequences … and sometimes, those consequences could be unpleasant.

The whipstrap effectively symbolized all of that potential unpleasantness. In this, a vision of Hell itself could not have been any more effective.

Years later … studying the Old Testament of the Bible … I suddenly realized that all the carnage and strife recorded therein really wasn’t much different than what went on back home … albeit on a much grander scale.

God lovingly cared for his children. God had particular standards and preferences, and when the “kids” got out of hand, God did what was necessary … for their own good … to rein them in.

Evil, in the person of Satan, made the problems in the Bible much more intractable, and the consequences much more severe. But, the “model” still works, since God remains the master of life and death, and he is most certainly able to transcend any and all human sufferings and failings … either in this world … or in the next.

Back home, should there have ever been any doubt about the fairness of our punishment, a hug from mom or dad was typically all that was necessary to fix things. No harm. No foul. Life went on.

My Catholic faith informs me that a “hug” from the Almighty would undoubtedly, have a similar effect.

So, you see … thanks to my parents and my family … I know man and I know God. I know love and I know wrath. I know justice and I know peace … and I know (as a faithful Catholic) that I have nothing to fear.

It’s good to “know” stuff like that … especially, when living in difficult times!

The Mass: The awesomely powerful representation of Christ’s perfect and eternal, propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the world.

by Doug Lawrence

The Mass is the liturgical re-presentation of Jesus Christ’s one-time, once for many, propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the world, at Calvary.

The Last Supper was the anticipation of that blessed event, the eternal fulfillment of the Jewish Passover, and the Christ-instituted model for our timeless Catholic liturgy.

What makes the Mass eternally unique and infinitely efficacious is the real presence on the altar, under the auspices of bread and wine, of Jesus Christ, the sinless God-man who was crucified, died, and was buried, who rose again from the dead, and who remains the only perfect and acceptable sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Since Jesus Christ personally embodies the one time, once for many, eternal sacrifice for the sins of the world, when Jesus becomes present on the altar at Mass, his eternal sacrifice for sin is also renewed and re-presented.

From a practical standpoint, this is necessary so that we might have a pure and perfect offering that will be acceptable to God the Father. Without Jesus’ real presence on the altar, such a thing would not be possible. 

Most people look forward to receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and typically consider that as their primary reason for attending Mass, but there’s much more to it … since it typically remains necessary for the People of God, with the assistance of the priest, to faithfully and regularly “line up” behind Jesus, offering him up to our Father in Heaven … so that “mountains” might move, all things might be reconciled and renewed, and divine grace might continue to flow, in supernatural abundance.

This happens shortly after the consecration and just before the “Great Amen”. Watch and listen carefully the next time you attend:

The priest takes the chalice, containing the blood of Christ,
and the paten, on which his body, in the form of the host, rests.
Raising both, he says:

Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever.

The people acclaim:
Amen.

Having just offered Jesus Christ, our sinless brother, savior, perfect victim, Heavenly High Priest, mediator, and God, to our Father in Heaven, we rightfully expect this ultimate, totally spotless and perfect sacrifice to be accepted, affording us (and the whole Church) divine favor of all kinds.

Only then do we continue … rightly claiming Jesus’ Father as our own … and receiving Jesus Christ … body, blood, soul and divinity … for our divine sustenance … as we go forth.

The Mass – illustrated

Propitiation and Atonement – illustrated

The reason for our joy: Christmas is proof that God always keeps his promises

by Doug Lawrence

The first thing God did after Adam fell from grace was call a meeting. (That probably explains why meetings have always seemed like a form of punishment, to many of us.)

The Old Testament Bible Book of Genesis, Chapter 3, verse 15, duly records the promise God made to Adam at that meeting … the promise of a redeemer … who would one day come to repair the damage that had been done … something that Adam could never hope to accomplish on his own.

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

Until that day, all of mankind would remain enslaved to Satan, sin, and death … except for the Virgin Mary, who was, by special privilege of God, conceived without sin, in order to make it possible for her to become the mother of our holy Savior, Jesus Christ. (That’s also why the above Bible verse has both a decidedly masculine as well as feminine “sense” to it.)

When Almighty God sets out to fulfill a promise, there’s nothing in the universe that can stop him … hence the joyous and absolutely confident proclamation of the angels, on that first Christmas:

Luke 2:10-14 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

As we all know, within the space of some thirty-three short years, that mild babe in the manger went on to perfectly fulfill all the prophecies and promises that God had ever made, concerning him … destroying Satan’s evil dominion, reconciling sinful mankind, opening the gates of Heaven, and permanently establishing the Kingdom of God, on the Earth.

Thanks to Christ, the state of war that had existed between Satan dominated, sinful mankind and God, was over. From that day forward, God’s grace would trump sin and death, while Satan, the former slave master and undisputed “Prince of this World” would remain a tragic, desperate, fugitive on earth, waiting for his sentence to be ultimately carried out, much like the late Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein, who spent his last days cowering in an underground “spider hole”, until justice finally caught up with him.

Now (and forever) Jesus reigns
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Video: The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass

Watch the video

The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass,
from the 6th century, Roman Martyrology,
explains, “How We Got To Christmas”.
It has been the Catholic Church’s official means
of initiating the Christmas Season, for the past 1500 years.

Yet
few Catholics
and even fewer
non-Catholics
have ever heard of it.

This beautiful, traditional video
covers over 5,000 years of Judeo-Christian history
in only about ten minutes time,
illustrating how Jesus Christ came to save us,
just as he promised he would.

He did it with awesome power and grace,
drawing on the assistance of real people,
throughout all the ages,
in real, historical circumstances,
precisely as described in the Bible.

The Ancient Proclamation is the true story
of God’s Master Plan for our salvation, writ large,
with Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior and Blessed Lord
in the “starring” role.

((|))
((|))
((|))

Merry Christmas!

Watch the video

Christmas Video: The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass

Watch the video

The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass,
from the 6th century, Roman Martyrology,
explains, “How We Got To Christmas”.
It has been the Catholic Church’s official means
of initiating the Christmas Season, for the past 1500 years.

Yet
few Catholics
and even fewer
non-Catholics
have ever heard of it.

This beautiful, traditional video
covers over 5,000 years of Judeo-Christian history
in only about ten minutes time,
illustrating how Jesus Christ came to save us,
just as he promised he would.

He did it with awesome power and grace,
drawing on the assistance of real people,
throughout all the ages,
in real, historical circumstances,
precisely as described in the Bible.

The Ancient Proclamation is the true story
of God’s Master Plan for our salvation, writ large,
with Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior and Blessed Lord
in the “starring” role.

((|))
((|))
((|))

Merry Christmas!

Watch the video

Christmas Video: The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass

Watch the video

The Ancient Proclamation Before Midnight Mass,
from the 6th century, Roman Martyrology,
explains, “How We Got To Christmas”.
It has been the Catholic Church’s official means
of initiating the Christmas Season, for the past 1500 years.

Yet
few Catholics
and even fewer
non-Catholics
have ever heard of it.

This beautiful, traditional video
covers over 5,000 years of Judeo-Christian history
in only about ten minutes time,
illustrating how Jesus Christ came to save us,
just as he promised he would.

He did it with awesome power and grace,
drawing on the assistance of real people,
throughout all the ages,
in real, historical circumstances,
precisely as described in the Bible.

The Ancient Proclamation is the true story
of God’s Master Plan for our salvation, writ large,
with Jesus Christ, our Divine Savior and Blessed Lord
in the “starring” role.

((|))
((|))
((|))

Merry Christmas!

Watch the video

How Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” came to be hosted by Doug Lawrence at AskMeAboutGod.Org

by Doug Lawrence

Bob and I were Internet colleagues in the Catholic faith since the early 2000’s. We spoke on the telephone on only a few occasions, but we kept in regular communication, via email.

At some point, Bob mentioned that he was getting older and was concerned about one day, being unable to maintain The Catholic Treasure Chest, so I told him I would make regular backups of the site and should it ever go offline and I was unable to contact him, I would restore and maintain it.

Bob liked the idea, so that’s what we agreed to do.

With Bob’s permission, I had been distributing the Catholic Treasure Chest on CD, mailing copies to people all around the world (Internet service was often “spotty” back then) so most of the technical work was already done.

Bob mentioned it in his article, entitled “In Lieu of A Book”:

“I have received many requests to put this website into a book.
But, I sense a frustration in having to download and save each page
of this very large site.

It has taken me years and thousands of hours
to put it all together and I certainly would not relish the time
it would take to download it page by page, either.

Putting it all into a book is a good idea.
However the sticking point is my having the time to do it.
I simply cannot do it for that reason, among others.

However I have a great solution
that was suggested by a dear new-found friend.
He is a teacher and many of his students do not have a computer
that is online, in order to go and visit the site.

He asked my permission to put the whole website onto a cd-rom
and pass a CD to each of his pupils.

I thought that was a great idea
and wondered why I had not thought of it myself.
Of course I gave him permission and he sent me a copy
and it was just like visiting the site online,
but much faster than even DSL…”

I would often link to the Catholic Treasure Chest from my website, referencing many of Bob’s wonderful articles. So, when The Catholic Treasure Chest domain was taken over by an Indonesian gambling casino and much of the content became unreliable or unavailable, readers from far and wide emailed me, asking what had happened.

Unable to make contact with Bob, I assumed the worst and went to work, successfully salvaging and restoring the site.

Because the Internet domain had already been assumed and taken over by others, it was necessary to bring The Catholic Treasure Chest over to my askmeaboutgod.org domain. It should be “safe” here, for many years to come, as by design, my site should be able to continue on (God willing) long after I have passed away.

Meanwhile, readers from a host of different countries, all around the globe, are beginning to reconnect with Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” (as I respectfully refer to it.)

Bob had quite a following. I have received a good number of enthusiastic emails from readers who are very thankful that Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” is back.

I’m sure that Bob would agree that this is no mere, coincidence. Together, we prudently developed a simple, effective plan for succession. I consider it a grace to have been privileged to do the work. Praise God!

The world needs Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest”. It has always been a unique and precious, irreplaceable Catholic information resource. People of faith instinctively recognize that fact.

Bob Stanley has passed away

Bob will be sorely missed. Even though he’s gone, his great work will carry on, as a blessing to the whole world.

There’s not very many people about whom that may be truly stated.

I have arranged for Bob to be remembered in daily Mass intentions,
until the end of time. Please pray a “Hail Mary” for the repose of his soul,
when you have the time.

Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” is available on-line,
in English and Spanish languages,
as well as in a portable, downloadable PDF version.

Here’s the links:

Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” (PDF)
Down To Earth Answers To Virtually All Your Heavenly Questions.
English – On the Web
Spanish – On the Web

The web versions also have a new, very convenient, custom search feature, which makes locating specific content much faster and easier.

Rest In Peace, Bob Stanley: Good Man, Good Catholic, Superb Writer, Catechist and Teacher

Robert M. Stanley
February 6, 1935 – August 29, 2022

After a long illness, Robert Manfred Stanley passed away on August 29, 2022. He was 87.

Bob was born in Washington, D.C. on February 6, 1935, to Manfred and Mary Stanley. At age 7, they relocated to Redwood City, California where he met his wife of 67 years, Loretta (Lori).

He graduated from Sequoia Union High, enlisting in the Air Force shortly thereafter. He was stationed at Keesler Air Base in Biloxi, Mississippi where he became an instructor of radar technology. He was honorably discharged in 1957 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

For the next 30 years, he was employed by IBM as a Customer Engineer, winning many awards. After retirement, Bob relocated to the foothills.

Bob enjoyed riding his tractor and watching old movies,
as well as writing and hosting his world renowned,
Catholic apologetics and information website:
The Catholic Treasure Chest.

He is survived by his wife Lori, daughter Christine (Christopher) and granddaughters Madelyn and Grace Horton.

Thanks to all those who were there in his time of need: Wolf Creek Care Center, Hospice of the Foothills and fellow members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Services will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Grass Valley on Friday, September 23rd: Rosary 12:15 pm, Mass 1:00, then a gravesite service at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. A reception will follow at St. Patrick’s Church Hall. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Foothills or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Editor’s note: By prior arrangement with Bob Stanley, Doug Lawrence at AskMeAboutGod.org will continue hosting and maintaining Bob’s superb, world renowned, Catholic website, The Catholic Treasure Chest, for many years to come. It would be a sin to let such a great, Catholic resource perish, especially during the times we are presently experiencing.

Let Us Pray…

Eternal rest grant unto Bob Stanley, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Please pray an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” for Bob, right now. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.

More about Bob Stanley

Go To Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest”

As seen at www.theunion.com (slightly edited)

How Pope Pius XII infallibly declared the bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A brief excerpt:

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION OF
POPE PIUS XII 

MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS

DEFINING THE DOGMA OF THE ASSUMPTION

November 1, 1950

39. We must remember especially that, since the second century, the Virgin Mary has been designated by the holy Fathers as the new Eve, who, although subject to the new Adam, is most intimately associated with him in that struggle against the infernal foe which, as foretold in the protoevangelium,(44) would finally result in that most complete victory over the sin and death which are always mentioned together in the writings of the Apostle of the Gentiles.(45) Consequently, just as the glorious resurrection of Christ was an essential part and the final sign of this victory, so that struggle which was common to the Blessed Virgin and her divine Son should be brought to a close by the glorification of her virginal body, for the same Apostle says: “When this mortal thing hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.”(46)

40. Hence the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination,(47) immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she might be taken up body and soul to the glory of heaven where, as Queen, she sits in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages.(48)

Read the entire Vatican document

More on this from Ann Barnhardt

More about The Assumption at
Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest”

Classic Bible Commentary Offers Profound Insights Into Holy Scripture

Practical excerpt from the commentary:

[Luke 1:26–38. Mat. 1:18–25]

The angel of the Lord was sent to Mary in order to procure this (her) consent. The time had arrived, and the Son of God was ready to descend from heaven and become Man.

It only remained for her, whom God the Father had chosen to be the Mother of His Son, to give her consent to be so. The angel of God therefore explained this great mystery, and waited for her answer, on which depended the salvation of the world.

While meditating upon that decisive moment, St. Bernard uttered this prayer to Mary: “Now, O Virgin, thou hast heard what is to be, and how it is to be. Both mysteries are exceeding joyous and wonderful. But the angel awaits thine answer, for it is time for him to return to God who sent him.

We too, O Mary, our Queen, we who are weighed down by the divine sentence, we wait for thy speech, thy words of mercy. For behold, the price of our redemption is offered to thee; and as soon as thou dost accept it, we shall be saved.

We were all created by the eternal word of God, and yet, behold, we die! But if thou wilt speak one little word, we shall live!

Speak then, Oh, speak that decisive word. Adam and his unhappy children, banished from Paradise, beseech this of thee! David and all our holy fathers—thy fathers too—beseech thee! The whole world, prostrate before thee, looks to thee and beseeches!

On thy words depend the comfort of the afflicted, the deliverance of the condemned, the salvation of the children of Adam! Hesitate not, O Virgin! Speak, O Mary, that sweet word of consent, which we who are on the earth, and under the earth, now wait for!”

Mary, as you know, did utter that decisive word of compliance: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word!” By these glorious and precious words she pronounced the longed-for consent.

Read more at eCatholic2000.com

Download the Classic Text: A Practical Commentary On Holy Scripture (PDF)

All About Sin, Death, Purgatory and Indulgences

These days, the subject of Purgatory and Indulgences is either totally ignored, or little understood.

It shouldn’t be that way.

This short (four page) presentation provides virtually all the practical information necessary to start getting Holy Souls released from Purgatory, or to totally avoid or shorten a possible stay in Purgatory, for yourself.

Here’s the link (PDF)

A short list of some commonly available indulgences:

Eucharistic Adoration for at least a half hour (conc. 7 § 1, 1°)
Eucharistic procession (conc. 7 § 1, 3°)
Family, day for consecration of (conc. 1)
First Communion (conc. 8 § 1, 1°)
Good Friday (conc. 13, 1°)
Holy Saturday (conc. 28 § 1)
Holy Thursday (conc. 7 § 1, 2°)
Rosary, Marian (conc. 17 § 1)
Sacred Scripture, reading or listening for at least a half hour (conc. 30)

Link to the official Catholic (USSCB) Book of Indulgences (PDF)

New Study Explains the Hows and Whys of Living the Catholic Life

Download and/or View In Your PDF File Reader

The way God works

Complete Study Here (PDF)

Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” website is fully operational in English and Spanish; including the new, custom search feature. Try it!

Click Here For Bob Stanley’s
“The Catholic Treasure Chest” Website
E N G L I S H – I N G L E S

Bob Stanley’s
“The Catholic Treasure Chest”
provides practical, well written and clearly explained
Catholic answers to a host of faith questions.

The site is fully up and running here at AskMeAboutGod.org
in English and Spanish, in both HTML
and downloadable, PDF formats.

Your advice, suggestions and prayers are greatly appreciated.

May God richly bless you and yours.

Click Here For Bob Stanley’s
“The Catholic Treasure Chest” Website
S P A N I S H – E S P A N O L

Illustrated Catholic Study aims to present the immutable truths of the Christian faith, unencumbered by denominational concerns or political differences

PART ONE:
The primeval events
that resulted in the Fall of Man

PART TWO:
The totally gratuitous
saving works of God

PART THREE:
Why we venerate
the Blessed Virgin Mary

PART FOUR:
The mystery
of our redemption
revealed

PART FIVE:
The spiritually vital mission
of the Holy Church

PART SIX:
Our personal identity
in Jesus Christ

Download the latest Adobe PDF Reader Software for free

God made me this way

Popular headlines in the  media earlier this year trumpeted Jorge Bergolgio’s telling a young man who is choosing freely to live a homosexual life that he should be happy because God made him that way.

Instead of condemning faithful catholics who speak the truth, why do the priests, bishops, cardinals and Jorge Bergolio not tell those they now condemn:

Be happy being a rigid RadTrad, God made you that way.

Be happy being a bully fundamentalist, God made you that way.

Be happy being a racist, capitalist critic of Jorge Bergolio, God made you that way.

What possible explanation could there be – if consistency is a standard for logical argument –  for not applying the “God-made-you” justification to any sin- even the sin of being a faithful catholic?

Link: https://the-american-catholic.com/2020/10/09/radtrads-rigid-bullies-go-to-heaven/

Everything you always needed to know about Hell

Courtesy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, as explained by Msgr. Charles Pope

The teachings of the Lord on Hell are difficult, especially in today’s climate. The most difficult questions that arise relate to its eternal nature and how to square its existence with a God who is loving and rich in mercy.

1. Does God love the souls in Hell? Yes.

How could they continue to exist if He did not love them, sustain them, and continue to provide for them? God loves because He is love. Although we may fail to be able to experience or accept His love, God loves every being He has made, human or angelic.

The souls in Hell may have refused to empty their arms to receive His embrace, but God has not withdrawn His love for them. He permits those who have rejected Him to live apart from him. God honors their freedom to say no, even respecting it when it becomes permanent, as it has for fallen angels and the souls in Hell.

God is not tormenting the damned. The fire and other miseries are largely expressions of the sad condition of those who have rejected the one thing for which they were made: to be caught up into the love and perfection of God and the joy of all the saints.

2. Is there any good at all in Hell? Yes. Are all the damned punished equally? No.

More….

The Judgment of God in History

In the era of the corona virus, everyone is talking about all sorts of things, but there are certain topics that remain forbidden, above all in the Catholic world. The primary forbidden topic is that of judgment and divine retribution in history. The fact of this censure is a good reason for us to consider the argument.

This talk by historian Robert De Mattei
should be required reading for every Catholic.
Click Here

…De Mattei argued that God sends mankind chastisements in the form of “war, plague, and famine” because of sin and to call mankind back to God. He described the infinite justice of God, and what this means, not only for individuals, but for nations. Every person faces his particular judgement at the moment of death, but there will also be a second judgement at the end of time. This will be the universal judgement at which every human action, idea, and society that has ever been “will be perfectly and clearly judged.”

Editor’s note: Catholics have real-time recourse to divine forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but Nations do not. Hence, individual Catholics might escape divine retribution for their sins, but Nations most likely, will not. 

Thanks to Dorothy Cummings McLean at LifeSiteNews.com

 

A must read: Father Leonardo makes an impassioned plea.

….Look brothers. God wants nothing more to do with this “Church”.  He is vomiting it from His mouth, this “beautiful church of the Council,” as someone called it. The beautiful church of the Council. God wants nothing more to do with it.

And is destroying it covering it with ridicule. A church that no longer preaches the truth, does not put God in first place. A church that gives communion to remarried divorcees, which admits homosexuality and all the vices.

What will God do with such a church?

With a church which tells you, “You can do whatever you want.”

What will God do with such a church?

It is as if a cop tell the thief, “You can steal is not a crime.” To the drug dealer: “You can do it is not a crime.” To the mafioso: “You can do anything you want is not a crime.”

But a cop like that: what’s the use of him if a cop doesn’t pull out his gun to defend the innocent and fight the wicked. What’s the use of this cop?

But think brothers, really think. Will everything go back to the way it was?

No, no, we are in the midst of the end times. We are in the midst of an great sign.

God is destroying this beautiful church of the council to rebuild the true church the church of tradition, the church of Latin, the church of true spirituality, the church of holy doctrine, the church of the true magisterium and not all the nonsense that we have to listen to every morning.

The Church of Padre Pio, and of all the Saints.

Padre Pio! Padre Pio!  If Padre Pio returned to life, what would he say?

He would immediately die of heat attack again. But first he would have the time to say the two words, that he repeats in his life in the moments of his holy wrath. He was want to use these words. He would say two words. Get out of here! You butchers of the body of Christ! Get out of here! This would Padre Pio say.

So, brothers we must start again, As the spider does day after day with aristocratic detachment and perseverance. We must we must convert to tradition, to Latin, to the true spirituality to the holy doctrine, to the true magisterium, to the Saints.

This is direction of our conversion, pushing ourselves towards the divine things, throwing upwards the anchor of our salvation and of our hope and the tenacious threads of faith, and of a love that does not surrender.

Upwards towards heavenly things! not towards the earth.

See the full text and video

Today’s Question: Do you have a favorite prayer?

Question: Do you have a favorite prayer?

Answer: I have a number of “favorite” prayers, but here’s one of the simplest, which has proved to extraordinarily powerful and effective for me, especially in times of crisis:

“Lord, I could use a little help, right now!”

Miracles have sometimes, shortly followed.

This simple but powerful prayer is ALWAYS TRUE
and it also demonstrates TRUE FAITH,
since I wouldn’t have invoked divine assistance,
if I didn’t FULLY BELIEVE that I would RECEIVE IT.

Praise God, I’m NOT superstitious and have absolutely no regard for knocking on wood, “lucky” rabbit’s feet, natural forces, demons, or idols.

Such a prayer also leaves one’s ultimate fate solely in God’s most capable hands; which is where it always is and always should be; no matter what.

Try it. It works!