THE FRANCISCAN POVERTY OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS XII

TAKEN FROM THE TESTIMONY OF A NEPHEW OF POPE PIUS XII

"Pius XII loved concretely and not in words, all human beings especially those who suffered. This love led him to want to suffer like them, to impose on himself the same privations under which they were forced undergo. During the war he knew that many men suffering from hunger, and he deprived himself of food that he could have had in abundance. When the bombing began, many people remained homeless and were forced to deal with the rigors of the cold without heating, with few clothes in conditions of severe poverty. Thinking about those families, Pius XII during the war, did not wish his apartment to be heated. His hands and feet are swollen, full of chilblains. He found it difficult to type, to hold the pen in his hand, he was not in good health, but he still would not heat his apartment. When sugar and coffee became scarce in Italy, my uncle stopped drinking coffee and until the end of the war drank not one more cup of coffee. He sent the stocks of sugar and coffee in the Vatican to the city's hospitals for the sick.

In public, my uncle would always look perfect, flawless.  He represented the Church, he felt so strongly the meaning of the supreme dignity of his office. His behavior and his clothes, outwardly, were impeccable as those of a sovereign. But in fact he was very poor. After his death, we found that his bedding was poor: he had only three shirts, which were worn and patched, he would often changed the starched cuffs, only because those could be seen. He had two or three pairs of shoes which were continuously adjusted and resoled. During the war years he gave everything he had to the poor, all the money he received. When he died, he left nothing to anyone, because he had nothing. As we all were able to see looking at the photographs published after his death, he slept in a bare room, on a cot of iron. "

SOURCE

Don Divo Barsotti a prophet for our times taken from "Christian Order"



Don Divo Barsotti with Giacomo Cardinal Biffi

Don Divo Barsotti 1915-2006

The Widening Rift

SANDRO MAGISTER

In a new book sent to the printing press in recent days, Professor Enrico Maria Radaelli — philosopher, theologian, and beloved disciple of one of the greatest traditionalist Catholic thinkers of the twentieth century, the Swiss Romano Amerio (1905-1997) — cites three passages taken from the unpublished diaries of Fr. Divo Barsotti (1914-2006).

"Diabolical Pride"

In them, this brilliant and esteemed mystic and spiritual master — who in 1971 was called to preach the Lenten exercises to the pope and to the Roman curia — expressed strong criticisms of Vatican Council II. Fr. Barsotti wrote:

I am perplexed with regard to the Council: the plethora of documents, their length, often their language, these frightened me. They are documents that bear witness to a purely human assurance more than to a simple firmness of faith. But above all I am outraged by the behaviour of the theologians.

The Council is the supreme exercise of the magisterium, and is justified only by a supreme necessity. Could not the fearful gravity of the present situation of the Church stem precisely from the foolishness of having wanted to provoke and tempt the Lord?Was there the desire, perhaps, to constrain God to speak when there was not this supreme necessity? Is that the way it is? In order to justify a Council that presumed to renew all things, it had to be affirmed that everything was going poorly, something that is done constantly, if not by the episcopate then by the theologians.

Nothing seems to me more grave, contrary to the holiness of God, than the presumption of clerics who believe, with a pride that is purely diabolical, that they can manipulate the truth, who presume to renew the Church and to save the world without renewing themselves. In all the history of the Church nothing is comparable to the latest Council, at which the Catholic episcopate believed that it could renew all things by obeying nothing other than its own pride, without the effort of holiness, in such open opposition to the law of the gospel that it requires us to believe how the humanity of Christ was the instrument of the omnipotence of the love that saves, in his death.  READ MORE HERE

The Golden Thread of Faith: EWTN series sponsored by the LMS

THIS UPCOMING SERIES FROM THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES TO BE BROADCAST ON EWTN LOOKS TO BE VERY GOOD:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013

The Golden Thread of Faith: EWTN series sponsored by the LMS

The Latin Mass Society is the sponsor and co-producer of a new three-part series on the Catholic Faith in Wales. The series includes footage of the LMS Pilgrimage to Holwell last year, which was led by Bishop Rifan of Campos, Brazil.

It will be broadcast from 10th June; in due course the LMS will be able to sell DVDs of the series. Here's the EWNT schedule for that day.

I've seen an early draft of it, it is both fun and informative. 

Queen Boudicea: makes an appearance

The Golden Thread of Faith
Part 1 From Roman times to the Age of Saints 
A new docudrama series about the Catholic Church in Wales. In part one, the Roman conquest of Britain and how Christianity spread among the Romans and Britons. After the Romans left, Christians travelled around the western seas evangelising as they went.

Monday 10, 2:00, 9:00, 21:00 (30 mins)

Part 2 From the Age of Saints to the Reformation 

St Richard Gwyn, Welsh martyr & LMS patron

For a thousand years the Catholic Church in Wales was vibrant, the village church and the great abbeys were the centres of Welsh life, an age when Wales placed Christianity at the heart of its existence.

Tuesday 11, 2:00, 9:00, 21:00. (30 mins)

Part 3 From the Reformation to the Present Day Pilgrims 
King Henry VIII’s unwelcomed “Reformation”, the dissolution of the monasteries, Welsh recusants, Civil wars, the Titus Oats plot and the Welsh martyrs. Today Welsh Catholics can once again practice their faith and go on pilgrimages.

Wednesday 12, 2:00, 14:00, 21:00. (30 mins)

PRAYER REQUEST

I humbly ask of  your kindness and charity that you say a prayer for my beloved Franz-Josef "Beanie". He is the brown standard Dachshund pictured here with my other Dachshund "Astrid-Sissi".  He is quite ill and I kindly ask you to pray if it be for God's greater glory that he be restored to health.  Holy St Raphael pray for him! St Francis of Assisi pray for him!

A village for traditional Catholics

I REPOST THIS WONDERFUL PIECE FROM "CORDIALITER BLOG"

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

A village for traditional Catholics

A few days ago, an intelligent and industrious college student called me, 

who told me about a project he has in mind. He would like to create a sort 

of traditional community of young faithful lay people who want to lead an "alternative"

lifestyle to the stressful and degrading life that so many people lead in modern cities. 

How to do this? There are several hypotheses on the table. For example,

 you could "colonize" an old farm and engage in agricultural work, accommodation 

for people wishing to spend a few days of rest and meditation, 

educational and recreational activities, summer camps for youth conferences

 on issues dear to the traditional movement, etc. .

As an alternative to the farmhouse you could use an abandoned convent 

(instead of entrusting these structures to progressive associations, as has happened

 in some cases, it would be best handled by groups of traditional Catholics), 

 Obviously the members of this "traditional village" lead a sober 

lifestyle (if not austere) and "environmentally friendly", avoiding the waste of money and materials. 

Is the project feasible? I know that in Italy there are similar communities, 

that are able to manage themselves and to have sufficient income to continue to keep the idea alive. 

So, if we fail them, they can do it also Catholics.

If anyone has any ideas and suggestions to be given to the student who is organizing this project, 

you may contact me at cordialiter@gmail.com and I will pass your messages.

It would be great if someone had available land or a country cottage and would like to 

make it available for the initiative. If anyone knows some abandoned monastery 

that the owners (bishops, religious institutions, etc..) Are willing to rent it at

reasonable prices or even give a loan for use (always better than leaving it abandoned)

 please report to my e -mail.

Fr Ryan Erlenbush of the "New Theological Movement Blog" has some interesting thoughts about "Ascension Sunday" and other anomolies of the post-conciliar liturgical calendar....

“One of the weaknesses of the post-conciliar liturgical reform can doubtless be traced to the armchair strategy of academics, drawing up things on paper which, in fact, would presuppose years of organic growth. The most blatant example of this is the reform of the Calendar: those responsible simply did not realize how much the various annual feasts had influenced Christian people's relation to time […] they ignored a fundamental law of religious life.” 

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Feast of Faith, 81-82 (published by Ignatius Press).

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

Today the 13th of May is a feast very near and dear to my heart.  Today we honor our beloved Mother commemorating her appearances to the three shepherd children of Fatima. I learned early on about the coming of the Mother of God to Fatima. Already in the 2nd grade we learned in religion class about this wonderful world changing event. Our Lady came to earth to warn us of the consequences (both temporal and eternal) of sin. She called mankind as she always has in her apparitions to conversion, prayer and penance as a means of averting disasters that come as a consequence to sin (wars, persecutions of the Church etc). The future of the world and most especially the Church is dependent upon the fulfillment of the requests asked by Our Lady at Fatima. THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA is of paramount importance today.  It is more important now than ever before. I urge everyone to make an effort to learn the message of Fatima and more importantly to LIVE the message of Fatima in our lives and in our homes.  Above all pray that the holy father in union with all the bishops of the world will finally consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and pray for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart!

In a Nutshell

Fatima is a dreadful ultimatum to the world to stop sinning. The enormity of mankind's rebellion against God and God's infinite hatred of sin is the foundation of the Fatima message. In His infinite mercy, God gives the world one last hope in the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Vision of Fatima). If you don't know what happened at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, find out here.

Will Pope Francis be able to rebuild the Church? 5-8-2013
St. Francis of Assisi, whose name the new pontiff has taken, heard the crucified Savior say to him, "Go, Francis and rebuild my Church." These words Bishop Fellay wrote[1] as he offered his best wishes to the newly-elected Pope for a successful pontificate. Now that the spotlight is off the Vatican and each one is going about his business, may we suggest to our readers some thoughts about his ecclesiastical career and how we might obtain insights into his pontificate?
If his work at the head of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires (Argentina) is any indication of the future, it is difficult, perhaps even presumptuous, to be hopeful. Very conscious of the dilapidated state of his clergy, he was unable to improve vocations, seminary training, or continuing formation. Never has the seminary of Buenos Aires had as few seminarians as today.[2] The liturgies presided over by the "Cardinal of the Poor" have been poor in tradition, dignity, and sacrality. With Pope Francis we appear to be on the brink of a return to the bizarre, secular, and even sacrilegious liturgies of Paul VI’s and John Paul II’s pontificates, complete with raucous singing, dancing, and lack of care for the consecrated sacred species. Liturgies[3] as Pope Francis was accustomed to perform as cardinal would be a far cry from Benedict XVI’s efforts to restore some of the dignity worthy of the worship of God.[4]His position on the pressing moral issues of our day is very much in the spirit of Vatican II - contradictory. He appears to have been outspoken in support of the Church’s condemnation of the evil of abortion. Yet in the fight against the unnatural attempt to create gay "marriages," if his two public letters have been clear statements, his course of action has been a strong defense of the rights of God.[5] "Go, Francis and rebuild my Church."
Concerning the exponential rise of blasphemy in our world, Cardinal Bergoglio revealed more than once his dislike for confrontations over or demonstrations against blasphemous expositions. Is it not akin to a politician who likes to get along with everyone and will ask for peace rather than provoke a confrontation by boldly proclaiming the truth of the moral law? Unlike his predecessor, but in the footsteps of John Paul II, the Pope seems happy to oblige a media ever ready to turn him into a superstar. Yet this ready-made "Pope of the humble and the poor" could in reality be promoting not personal humility but humiliation of the Church and denial of the rights of Christ. As Bishop Fellay explains in his Letter to Friends and Benefactors: 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… 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.
Some hope was raised when we heard that the Pope desires to dedicate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, in union with the entire episcopal conference of Portugal.[6] Yet we then learned that he expects this dedication to be a mere private act of devotion open to the voluntary participation of the Portuguese hierarchy, rather than a public act of consecration. It is likely then that he will not be the Pope who will end the current, and prevent the future, chastisement by commanding all the bishops of the world to participate in the public consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
We pray that She who has overcome all heresies will inspire the new Vicar of Christ to be another crusader against the modern errors and ecumenical deviations which are obscuring the true face of the Bride of Christ. Yet at the same time, we have seen gestures from Cardinal Bergoglio and heard statements which forebode something quite different. He participated in false worship in synagogues[7] and in ambiguous ecumenical events with Protestants.[8]
Cardinal Bergoglio participating in synagogue services
When asked about the statement of Benedict XVI concerning the Muslims spreading the faith by the sword, the Cardinal answered: "The Pope’s words do not have my support." And he contrasted the former pope to John Paul II, whom he considered skilled at "dialogue" with the Muslim world: If the Pope [Benedict XVI] fails to recognize the values of Islam, without further development, it seems to me that he will have destroyed in 20 seconds what was built in 20 years.[9] We could say so much more about his apparent friendliness to communists and the violently anti-Christian Argentinean government, social questions apart, on which is stance, however strong, nevertheless remains humanistic. In his biography El Jesuita [The Jesuit], he praises the work of the theologians of the liberation theology movement[10] as well as Cardinal Casaroli and his Ostpoliticcompromise with communist Moscow.[11] The mission of a Pope is not compatible with an attitude of a mercenary politician ready to work for whatever is popular in the world these days. St. Augustine has this to say about mercenaries: You have heard the wolf coming and have fled. You have fled because you have been silent, and you have been silent because you have feared. Bishop Fellay, when blessing the cornerstone of the new SSPX seminary in Virginia this past month, explained that this Pope is not a European intellectual but a pragmatic man. This mindset, geared towards action, is seen clearly in his scolding of those Catholics who wish for the return of the pre-conciliar Church, that is the Church of Tradition. The Pope explains:
The Council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit… some people want to go back. This is stubbornness, this is what we call trying to tame the Holy Spirit, this is what we call becoming foolish and slow of heart.[12]
These words do not bode well for any coming back to sane doctrine or for any acceptable pragmatic solution to the canonical persecution of the Society of St. Pius X through our unjust canonical irregularity. We can imagine that one with this attitude would demand not only an agreement not to criticize Vatican II but an affirmative embrace of this "beautiful work," neither of which exigencies would the SSPX ever accept. No doubt, the pontificate of Pope Francis will blaze new trails. It would seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum from that of the two previous Popes who were university professors. The reigning Pontiff may be more concerned about practical results. Such a desire could be for the good of the Faith and Tradition if the results desired were the rebuilding of the Faith and thereby the Church; although we have many reasons to fear that the results he doggedly pursues will prove more detrimental to the Church than Benedict XVI’s moderate reforms proved favorable. So, more than ever, this is a time for all traditional Catholics to pray for Peter, for the gift of fortitude in fulfilling his mission of "confirming his brethren in the Faith."

PENTECOST NOVENA TO THE HOLY GHOST BEGINNING ASCENSION THURSDAY

Novena to the Holy Ghost

Pray especially starting on the day after Ascension Thursday, ending on the Pentecost

First Day:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Second Day:
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Third Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fourth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fifth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Sixth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Seventh Day:
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Eighth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of the earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Ninth Day:
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA MAY 5 - 13

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA MAY 5 - 13



I apologize for my sparse posts the past week and a half. I've been away and have only sporadic
computer access.  I wanted however to post on the importance of the novena to Our Lady of Fatima beginning today (May 5 ending on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13).  It is imperative that we offer this novena along with many prayers and acts of sacrifice to implore Our Lady of Fatima through her intercession for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and for the full restoration of tradition.