Robert Edwards

The Extraordinary Story of a Young Victim Soul Who Saw Heaven & Spoke to the Blessed Mother

. . .“Soon the entire dismemberment and devastation of the Church was cast upon her. . . as Christianity for forty years was divided between popes & anti-popes, so, too, was Lidwina’s body literally separated into two parts. . .

by Georgette Bechara,

of ChurchPOP

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Celebrate Advent with These 6 Beautiful Austrian Traditions – Chloe Langr, epicPew
The Case Against Pell: New Details Emerge – Ed Condon J.C.L., Catholic News Agency
Quæritur: Pastor Says “Gaudete Sunday, Is No More” – Fr. Z’s Blog
About that Funeral Mass Homily, Some Points – Edward N. Peters J.C.D. J.D., The CWR
“They Have Convicted an Innocent Man” – California Catholic Daily
Seasonal Blasphemy – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Moral & Mortal Terrors: The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix – Pat. Malone, Catholic Stand
The Mitigating Circumstances Gamble – One Mad Mom
Ghirelli Rosaries – Off the Shelf 103 with Dino Piccinini – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand
Chinese Underground Church Surrenders – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Mother Teresa’s Secret to a Heartfelt Celebration of Christmas – Philip Kosloski, Aleteia
Yes, God Does Love Irony – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Mercedarian Sisters Beautifully Sing Inspirational A Capella Hymn for Advent – ChurchPOP
What are the “O Antiphons” of Vespers? – Fr. Roger J. Landry, Integrated Catholic Life™
On Evangelizing the Culture & Why Hobbits (Really) Need the Shire – Con. Sweeney, The CWR
How Catholics Can Ensure Their Health Care Doesn’t Fund Abortion – Lau. Brown, NC Register
Pope Francis: Death Penalty a ‘Legalistic’ Value, Not a Christian One – CNA via The CWR
Advent & Christmas: a Reason for the Season – Tom Collingwood Ph.D., Catholic Stand
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Douglas Murray On Europe’s Apocalypse

. . .I finally got around to reading the British writer Douglas Murray’s book The Strange Death Of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam recently.  It’s fantastic, & I cannot recommend it strongly enough.  I found several things striking about it. . .

by Rod Dreher,

of The American Conservative

Europe: Pains of an Empire Lost – Jérémie Gallon, Politico
The Molly Maguires – Cathal Brennan, The Irish Story
A ‘Clericalist & Apostate State:’ Why Jacob Rees-Mogg Wants Out of the E.U. – The CWR
Would America Really Lose a War With China & Russia? – Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat
Shakespeare’s Pro-Catholic Broadside – Patrick Sawer, The Telegraph
The German Capital at a Crossroads –  L Beier, H Schmundt & V Weidermann, Spiegel Online
My Regrets Over Hong Kong by Lady Thatcher – Miles Goslett, The Telegraph
The Battle of Lhasa, A.D. 1959: Where It All Began – Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter
Czar Vladimir? Putin Acolytes Want to Bring Back the Monarchy – Th. Grove, The Wall Strt Jrnl
On War: Homer’s Advice to Us – Louis Markos, The Imaginative Conservative
The World Nationalism Made – Liah Greenfeld, American Affairs
China’s Crisis of Overconfidence – David Bandurski, The Diplomat
What Does “Stability Maintenance” Mean to Hans in Xinjiang? – Li Zaili, Bitter Winter
China & Russia: A Strategic Alliance in the Making – Graham Allison, The National Interest
U.S. Warns Turkey Not to Wipe Out Syrian Christians, Will Turks Be Defiant? – Joh. De Jong
Bishop Says Iraqi Christians Want to Stay, Contribute to Country – Charles Collins, Crux
Kosovo’s Parliament Votes to Create Army Despite Outcry – Stefan J. Bos, Vatican News
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Cardinal Cocopalmerio on Anglican Orders

. . .London’s left-leaning Catholic paper The Tablet reports that Cardinal Cocopalmerio– described laughingly as “one of the Vatican’s top legal minds”– thinks there should be a re-think on Pope Leo XIII’s ruling that Anglican orders are “absolutely null & utterly void”. . .

by Father Dwight Longenecker

Heretic of the Week: James Pike – Charles A. Coulombe, Catholic Herald
Anglican ‘Stockpiling Whitewash’ – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Life In Post-Christian Britain – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Methodist Chapels . . . & ‘Bible Sunday’ – Fr. John Hunwicke, Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment
O Nach Éisdeadh – David Warren, Essays in Idleness
This Dreaded Prison in London was Where Catholic Martyrs Were Made – K.V. Turley, NC Rgstr
Reviving “the Method” for the Ordinariates – D. Gyapong, The Anglicanorum Coetibus Society
The Noble Army of Martyrs Towers Over the Towers of London – K.V. Turley, NC Register
Church of England to Create ‘Celebratory’ Transgender Liturgies – Ed Condon J.C.L., NC Rgstr
Preaching Coram Sanctissimo – Fr. John Hunwicke, Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment
Priests on the (Cricket) Pitch – Boxfacts
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Ukrainian Church: A Multigenerational Divorce

. . .observers strain Google’s capacity to lead us to the truth by searching for quick, neat profiles on all of the leaders & land on any number of websites claiming to possess the absolute truth.  We might find what we want to find: another layer of incriminating evidence exposing the faults of Metropolitan Filaret, a photo of a grotesque icon demeaning Russia (or Ukraine), a headline announcing the seizure of a church, & through it all, we select the sources that support a viewpoint we have chosen to adopt. . .

by Rever. Dr. Nicholas Denysenko,

of Public Orthodoxy

LGBT Fight Comes To Orthodoxy – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Russian Orthodox Leaders Terrified They Will Go Same Way as Constantinople – Cthlc Herald
The Russian Orthodox Church Say President Petro Poroshenko May Be a Catholic – Tass
The Split between Kirill & Bartholomew & the Pope Sides More with the Former – S. Magister
Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, & Post-Truth: An Orthodox Perspective – Fr. C. Hovorun
What is the Constantinople-Moscow Break All About – Meduza
39-Year Old Metropolitan Epiphanius Elected Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Vat. News
Russian Catholics Hope Ties Won’t Be Affected by Inter-Orthodox tensions – CNS via Crux
New Ukrainian Orthodox Leader Gives First Liturgy, Urges Unity – A.P. via Crux
Russian Orthodox Church Satisfied with Pope’s Attitude to Events in Ukraine – InterFax
Christian Geopolitics & the Ukrainian Ecclesiastical Crisis – Irina du Quenoy Ph.D., War on. . .
The Problem with the Kosovo “Solution” – Fr. Sava Janjic, Public Orthodoxy
Reconceiving Healthcare: Philanthropia & the Vocations of Healing – Public Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodox Church Calls on Pope Francis, U.N. for Help in Ukraine – A.P. via Crux
Ukraine Orthodox Leaders to Approve Break with Russia Church – Associated Press via Crux
New Cold War by Proxy? Religious Conflict on Ukrainian Territory – Victor Gaetan, NC Register
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II: Constantinople/Moscow Clash Source of “Pain” – Tass
Ukraine Prelate says Orthodox Independence is Affirmation of Rights – Allen/San Martín, Crux
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

How Jesuit Priests Survived the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Thanks to the Rosary

. . .when the Enola Gay dropped the first ever wartime use of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, a shock wave traveling three miles per second completely annihilated everything within a one-mile radius, instantly leveling the city & setting anything that remained ablaze.  One building stood miraculously upright through the chaos: a Jesuit presbytery with priests inside. . .

by Billy Ryan

of uCatholic

Shades of Rosacea – Shawn R. Tribe, Liturgical Arts Journal
Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
God Bless Fr. LaCuesta; No Mention of “Hell” in Funeral Homily – Edward N. Peters J.C.D. J.D.
Australia: The Inexplicable Conviction of Cardinal Pell – Philip Lawler, Catholic Culture
Bishop Robert Barron: I Want to Re-Judaize Catholicism – Shaun McAfee O.P., epicPew
A Response To James Martin – uCatholic
Belgian Priest Convicted for Not Revealing Suicidal Man’s Confession – Zel. Caldwell, Aleteia
Should a Teen Suicide’s Funeral Look Like a Canonization Ritual? – John Zmirak Ph.D.
Australia: Why Many Consider Cardinal Pell’s Conviction a Sham – Steve Ray, Defenders of. . .
Bishop Olson of Fort Worth Responds to Petition Allegations –  Banks of the Trinity
Five Lessons from the Christmas Market Attack – William Kilpatrick, Crisis Magazine
Secrecy & Suppression Reign in Australia – Christopher R. Altieri, The Catholic World Report
Why Drive for Independence of Ukraine’s Church Matters to Rome Too – John L. Allen Jr., Crux
Intentional Killing is Usurpation of God’s Lordship Over Life: Reply to Ed Feser – J Finnis PhD
The Beauty & Power of the O Antiphons – Fr. Thomas Petri O.P., National Catholic Register
Underground Catholic Churches Closed in Fuzhou Archdiocese – Lin Yijiang, Bitter Winter
Welcoming Baby Jesus at Christmas: Good Reads for Little Ones – K. & P. Crawford, NC Rgstr
Pope Francis Celebrates His 82nd Birthday With Sick Children – Han. Brockhaus, NC Register
The China-Rome Accord Is Secret Only in its Actual Words, Here’s How It Works – S. Magister
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Only Catholic College in Georgia Announces Exciting Relaunch Plans

. . .beginning in the fall of 2019, college-bound students will once again have a faithful Catholic option in Georgia, with the re-launch of Holy Spirit College’s undergraduate program. . . .

from the Newman Society

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Remembering Sophie Scholl’s Witness – Jay Copp, National Catholic Register
A Priest Preaches at a Funeral, the World Falls on His Head – Fr. Z’s Blog
What is the CDF for? – Fr. John Hunwicke, Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment
Bishop Strickland: Receive Communion on the Tongue While Kneeling – Liturgy Guy
The Severed Holy Head of Saint Catherine of Siena – Billy Ryan, uCatholic
Newly Born Religious Groups, Strangled in Their Cradles – Fr. Z’s Blog
A 10-Point Primer on the Lord’s Prayer Kerfuffle – Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register
“Gay Lobby” in Argentina – Catholic Herald
Fast Growth in Paganism, Wicca (the Joke That is No Joke) – Fr. Z’s Blog
California College to Help Catholic Revival in New England – Kelly Salomon, Newman Society
Study Shows Young Adults Leaving Church Start Down That Path at Age 13 – CNS via Crux
Satanic Temple Displays “Snaketivity” Sculpture Near Nativity at Illinois Capitol – ChurchPOP
Christ & the Infused Moral Virtues – Fr. Joshua Neu, Catholic East Texas
Church on the Site of Jesus’ Birthplace Undergoes a Major Renovation – S. Beale, Aleteia
Relief For Your Gift Buying Stress – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
The Wit & Wisdom of Mother Angelica, Book Review – Joseph Pronechen, NC Register
3 Ways Catholics Can Better Fundraise in 2019 – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
The Site of Baptism of the Lord Nears Reopening as Landmines Cleared – CNA via The CWR
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

10 Invigorating Quotes by St. John of the Cross to Strengthen Your Journey to Holiness

. . .1) “Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it”. . .

by ChurchPOP

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Consecrated Buildings & Their Officially Sponsored Profanation – P. Kwasniewski Ph.D., NLM
Other Modern: An Art Deco Inspired Solemn Mass Set – Shawn R. Tribe, Liturgical Arts Journal
Why Did 2nd Person of Trinity, Rather Than the Father/Holy Spirit, Become Incarnate? – CiM
Advent & Anti-Christ, Part II – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Holy Water History: Why Catholics Bless Themselves Entering a Church – Billy Ryan, uCatholic
What Were the “Minor Orders,” & Why Do They Matter? – Kevin Di Camillo, NC Register
A Franciscan Univ. of Steubenville Group Sends 50 Missionaries Worldwide – NC Register
Why I Came to Believe That Mary was Conceived Without Sin – Ler.Huizenga Ph.D., The CWR
The Markan Sandwich – Noel Ethan Tan, Ignitum Today
Possibly Lying in Confession? Help for the Scrupulous – Jimmy Akin, National Cthlc Register
A Medieval Liturgical Commentary on the O Antiphons – G. DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
“God, Why ?” Questions, Part II – Guy McClung Ph.D. J.D., The American Catholic
Did You Know St. Dymphna is the Patroness of Mental Disorders? – Alex R. Hey, epicPew
Fr. George Rutler on Being a Priest-Writer: An Interview – K.V. Turley, Crisis Magazine
Count Neri Capponi, RIP – Gregory DiPippo, New Liturgical Movement
How to Understand Old Testament Prophecy – Jimmy Akin, Catholic Answers Magazine
Hand Coloured 16th Century Pontificale Romanum – Shawn R. Tribe, Liturgical Arts Journal
Biblical Hebrew – the Gift of the Sublime Parole, Part I – Edouard Belaga Ph.D., Catholic Stand
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The “Protestant” Catholics

by David Carlin,

of The Catholic Thing

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Why Are So Many Millennial Christians Confused About Homosexuality? – Mic. Brown Ph.D.
Vatican Announces New Three-Strikes Excommunication Policy (Satire) – Eye of the Tiber
Jesus was Not Crucified or Killed: Quran, Sura 4 – Steve Ray, Defenders of the Catholic Faith
Rudolph the Red-Nosed in Gregorian Chant – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Trail of Blood: Do Baptists Have a Claim to the Original Church? – Steve Ray, DotCF
The Catholic Crooner – Catholic Vote
Exploring Harmful Anger In & at Marriage & the Priesthood – R. Fitzgibbons M.D., H&PR
There Can Be No Justice Without Truth – Donald DeMarco, National Catholic Register
What Explains the Durable Popularity of Handel’s ‘Messiah’? – Richard Ostling, Get Religion
Forgiveness is Not Optional – Brian McShane, Catholic Stand
What’s the Difference between Crystals & Relics? – CNA via The Catholic World Report
The Tradition of the Christmas Crèche – Maria Augusta Von Trapp, Catholic Exchange
“Silent Night,” the Most Popular Song of All Time, is 200! – Patty Knap, Aleteia
Advent & John the Baptist – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Relief For Your Gift Buying Stress – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
The Symbolism of Light in Advent – Noelle Mering, Favorite Catholic Things
3 Ways Catholics Can Better Fundraise in 2019 – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
E.U. Bishops: Religious Freedom is a Human Right – Linda Bordoni, Vatican News
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

2 Prayers That Dads Should Memorize & Use Daily

. . .a Baptized man shares in the offices of Christ of priest, prophet, & king.  A Baptized man who is the father of children is a priest, prophet, & king in a particular way.  His house is his domestic church & his children are the flock that he shepherds.  So, what does this mean: prophet, king, & priest? . . .

by Will Wright,

of Catholic Link

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
The Mysterious Magi – Mystery Solved! – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand
Priests & Bishops Who are Probably Going to Hell – Fr. Z’s Blog
Boy Scouts of America: Get Woke & Go Broke – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The Amrcn Catholic
Pope Francis’s Warning – Charlotte Allen, First Things
Celebrity Priest Jimmy Martin Endorses Online Store That Supports Abortion – Micaiah Bilger
On Parishes With Short Confession Times – Elise Ehrhard, Crisis Magazine
Taking the Girl Out of Girl Scouts – Ben Butera, The American Catholic
Did Angels Really Carry the Holy House of Mary to Loreto, Italy? – CNA via The CWR
Have to Kill Me First: Florida Woman Refuses to Remove Guadalupe from Mobile Home – Crux
No, God Did Not %@$# the Virgin Mary – Katie Yoder, Catholic Vote
Byrne on Why Sex is Not a Social Construct – Edward Feser Ph.D.
Advent & the End Times: Refuting the Rapture Doctrine – Allison Low, Catholic Stand
Bookshop Outside Westminster Cathedral to Close After 90 Years – Catholic Herald
This Advent, Let Christ Heal Your Inner Darkness – Constance T. Hull, Catholic Exchange
Relief For Your Gift Buying Stress – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
Seeking God’s Grace-Filled Healing for Sex-Abuse Victims – Jeanette Flood, NC Register
3 Ways Catholics Can Better Fundraise in 2019 – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
More Than A Birdbath: The Real Mystical & Historical Saint Francis – Ryan Scheel, uCatholic
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

This is a Novus Ordo, the Vision Will Not Disappoint

. . .this photo was taken four years ago.  It was our first Christmas with the Communion rail. . .

by Father Richard Heilmann,

of Roman Catholic Man

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
An Innocent Bishop Acquitted, Did Anyone Notice? – Michael Cook, Mercatornet
So Fun! Watch These Two Nuns Take Each Other Down in Epic Snowball Fight! – ChurchPOP
Why a Major Story in Australia Isn’t Being Reported – Charles Collins, Crux
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport Appoints a Laywoman To Lead a Parish – Crux
Options Emerge for Handling the ‘Other Sexual-Abuse Crisis’ – Ed Condon J.C.L., NC Register
Reports of Cardinal Pell Guilty Verdict Emerge, Despite Gag Order – E. Condon J.C.L., NCRgstr
Under Attack, the Eucharist Needs Defenders – Tom Hoopes, Aleteia
Millions Will Visit a Church at Christmas, Tips To Make Sure They Come Back! – Catholic Link
Deliver Me, Jesus: The Litany Of Humility – Jessica Fahy, Catholic Exchange
Are You a Teacher? Try This Litany of Fortitude Asking for Strength Thru the School Day – CP
To Rekindle Our Amazement – Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, Catholic East Texas
On My Homestead, Advent is Thick & Heavy in Nature – Jason Craig, Catholic Exchange
Make the Sign of the Cross & Start Your Day Right – Pamela Mandela, Catholic Stand
Are Moral Absolutes Unfair to Individuals in Difficult Cases? – Marie Tejklova, Crisis Magazine
Video: Why Does Good Liturgy Matter – Brian Holdsworth, uCatholic
Kindness – Nicholas Lye, Ignitum Today
Irish Midwives & Nurses Join Doctors in Abortion Bill Protest – CNA via The CWR
Making a Plan for Advent – Joannie Watson, Integrated Catholic Life™
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Culture War Neutron Bomb

. . .Ross Douthat recently wrote that Aldous Huxley was the real prophet who foresaw what we’ve become: a society of tech-addled wankers. . .

by Rod Dreher,

Aztecs, Human Sacrifice & the Catholic Faith – Steve Ray, Defenders of the Catholic Faith
A Stunning New Exhibit about Armenia Illuminates the World’s First Christian Nation – CJ
Rome’s Catacombs Witness to the Catholic Faith of the Early Church – Stephen Beale, Aleteia
Helping the Poles Throw Off Moscow’s Yoke – Seth G. Jones, Law and Liberty
Can America Become a Christian Society Again? – Thomas Ascik, The Imaginative. . .
Religion Declining in Importance for Many Americans, Especially for Millennials – Jana Riess
Why Catholics Should Sympathize with Nationalism – James Kalb, Crisis Magazine
U.K.’s Aging Issues – Marcus Roberts, Mercatornet
Will White House Sacrifice Thousands of Christians in Syria, To Appease Turks? – The Stream
China’s Regional Demographics – Marcus Roberts, Mercatornet
Syria & the Unintended Effects of Toppling Evil Tyrants in the Middle East – Mercatornet
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time