Every Saint Has the Spirit of a Crusader

Countenance of a saint

 

 

 

 

 

 

“To be Thy spouse, O my Jesus, to be a daughter of Carmel, and by my union with Thee to be the mother of souls, should not all this content me?

“Yet other vocations make themselves felt, and I would wield the sword, I would be a Priest, an Apostle, a Martyr, a Doctor of the Church, I would fain accomplish the most heroic deeds -- the spirit of the Crusader burns within me, and I would gladly die on the battlefield in defense of the Church.”

By Saint Therese of Lisieux  -- Story of a Soul, (New York: P.J. Kennedy & Sons, 1926), p. 201.

Vienna cuts 75 per cent of parishes

From The Tablet: The 660 parishes in the Archdiocese of Vienna are to be drastically reduced over the next 10 years to just 150.

The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, made the announcement to a startled audience of journalists at the annual media reception at the archbishops' palace on 20 September.

Read more:

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/4599

Oct. 1 -- Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus: “Never Allow Kindness to Degenerate Into Weakness”

We celebrate the feast day of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus on October 1. Here is one of her more unknown pieces of advice:

 

 

 

“We should never allow kindness to degenerate into weakness.

 

“When we have scolded someone with just reason, we must leave the matter there, without allowing ourselves to be touched to the point of tormenting ourselves for having caused pain or at seeing one suffer and cry. To run after the afflicted one to console her does more harm than good.

 

“Leaving her to herself forces her to have recourse to God in order to see her faults and humble herself. Otherwise, accustomed to receiving consolation after a merited reprimand, she will always act, in the same circumstances, like a spoiled child, stamping her feet and crying until her mother comes to dry her tears."

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Her Last Conversations

(Washington, D.C. Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1977)

The Unknown Saint Therese

On October 1 the liturgy of the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, “the greatest saint of modern times,” in the words of Pope Saint Pius X. The charm of her “Little Way,” with all its sweetness and mercy, admirably harmonizes with the traits of a genuine warrior, “I would die in a battlefield, arms in hand,” she once stated.¹

Click here to print a novena card of St. Thérèse

Her soul had infinite aspirations: she wanted to be a warrior, priest, apostle, doctor of the Church and martyr; she felt the courage of a crusader, of a Papal Zouave; she wanted to die in the battlefield defending the Church; she wanted to preach the Gospel to the four continents and to the remotest islands. “‘Jesus, Jesus’—she would say—‘if I were to write all my desires, I would have to borrow Thy book of life; I wanted to have achieved all these deeds for Thee . . . .’”²

“A French soldier, defender of
the Church and admirer of
Joan of Arc.”

An Admirer of Saint Joan of Arc

This warrior aspect of Saint Thérèse’s soul is dominant in her moral profile. Yet, even those who love her most, tend to forget this trait.

“In my childhood, I dreamed of combating in the battlefield. When I began to learn the history of France, I was enchanted with the deeds of Joan of Arc; I felt in my heart a desire and courage to imitate them.”³

Saint Thérèse gradually became increasingly aware of the profound similarities between her life and that of the Virgin of Donrémy. Thus, on January 21, 1894, the 101st anniversary of the martyrdom of the unfortunate King Louis XVI, she wrote a theater play titled, The Mission of Joan of Arc. The following year, as Pope Leo XIII declared her “Venerable,” and France celebrated it’s holy martyr and warrior, Saint Thérèse wrote the play, Joan of Arc Fulfills Her Mission, which the whole religious community staged. Saint Thérèse played the role of Joan of Arc.

The play featured the conquest of Orleans, the coronation of King Charles VII, but above all Saint Joan of Arc’s burning at the stake, which to Saint Thérèse meant the apex of the achievement of the heroine’s mission.

Saint Thérèse signed her Canticle to obtain the canonization of Saint Joan of Arc as “A French soldier, defender of the Church and admirer of Joan of Arc.”

Saint Joan, the Virgin of Orleans, and Saint Thérèse, the Virgin of Lisieux, are two models of militant Catholic combatants against the enemies of the Church and of Christian Civilization. Two great saints, though leading such different lives—one a strictly military life and the other a contemplative one—nonetheless have profound affinities with each other.

Saint Thérèse did not live to see Saint Joan’s canonization, and she was far from imagining that, on May 18, 1925, Pope Pius XI would present her, Saint Thérèse, to the Catholic world as “a new Joan of Arc”; and that during the Second World War, Pope Pius XII would declare her, like the Virgin of Orleans, “secondary patron of all France!”

A Crusader Soul; Apparitions; the Combatant

The idea of fight constantly fed the strong soul of the saint of the “Shower of Roses.”

“I went to sleep for a few moments during prayer,” she would tell Mother Agnes. “I dreamt there were not enough soldiers for a war against the Prussians. You said: We need to send Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus. I answered that I agreed, but that I would prefer to fight at a holy war. But finally I went all the same.

“Oh no, I would not fear going to war. With what joy, for example, at the time of the Crusades, I would have gone to combat heretics. Yes! I would not have been afraid to be shot; I would not have feared the fire!⁴

“When I think I’m dying in bed! I would want to die in an arena!”⁵
The same combative spirit animated her in the struggles of the spiritual life: “Sanctity! We need to conquer it at the tip of the sword . . . we need to fight!”⁶

Such is the mettle of this extremely active and energetic warrior soul, according to the testimonies of those who knew her: “Under a suave and gracious aspect [she] revealed at every instant, in her actions, a strong character and a manly soul; she would not be discouraged in her dedication to the interests of the Church.”⁷

“This is a manly soul, a great man,” Pope Pius XI later said. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus thus followed the advice of the great Saint Thérèse of Avila to her daughters: “I want you not to be women in anything, but equal to strong men in everything!”⁸

Thus wrote Cardinal Vico about the Virgin of Lisieux, “Thérèse’s virtue imposes itself with incredible majesty: the child becomes a hero; a virgin with her hands full of flowers causes astonishment with her manly courage.”⁹

St.Thérèse’s virtue imposes itself with incredible majesty

A handwriting analysis of Saint Thérèse’s Act of Profession gives this admirable testimony: “An iron-clad resolution, a great will to fight, an indomitable energy are expressed here. These traits show at the same time the fright of a child and the decisiveness of a warrior.”¹⁰

In 1914, when the First World War breaks out, Saint Thérèse appears some forty times in various battlefields, at times holding a cross in her hand, at times a saber! The soldiers see her; she speaks to them matter-of-factly, resolves their doubts, overcomes their temptations and calms their fears. She protects, consoles and converts them.

French soldiers would invoke her as “my little sister of the trenches,” “my war patroness,” “the shield of soldiers,” “the angel of battles” and “my dear little Captain.” A soldier wrote, “In fact, that gentle Saint will be the great heroine of this war.” Another commented, “I think of her when the cannon thunders with great roar.”

Countless were the artillery pieces and planes named after Sister Thérèse; whole regiments were consecrated to her. Countless relics of the saint that miraculously stopped rifle bullets like real shields, saving the lives of the soldiers who carried them, are in her convent of Lisieux, a testimony to the great prodigies of the one who, in fact, “died with arms in her hand.”¹¹

Click here to print a novena card of St. Thérèse

____________________
NOTES:
1. Poésies de Sainte Thérese de l’Enfant-Jésus, “Mes armes,” March 25, 1897, Office Central de Lisieux, 1951.
2. Manuscrits Autobiographiques, dedicated to Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart, Office Central de Lisieux, 1956, folio 4 t’.
3. Lettres de Sainte Thérese de l’Enfant-Jésus, Letter to Father Belliere, Office Central de Lisieux, 1948.
4. Carnet Jaune, 4.8.6 in Demiers entretiens, Éditions du Centenaire, Desclée de Brouwer ­Éditions du Cerf, Paris, 1971.
5. Summarium of the Process of Beatification and Canonization 1, testimony of Celine, 2753.
6. Correspondance Générale, Éditions du Cerf-Desclée de Brouwer, Paris, 1972, t. I (1877–1890), Letter (no. 89) Celine, April 26, 1889; Letter to Leonie, May 20, 1894.
7. Summarium of the Process of Beatification and Canonization 1, testimony of Mother Agnes, 706, and of Mother Therese of Saint Augustine, 1072.
8. Lettres de Sainte Thérese de l’Enfant-Jésus, as quoted by Saint Therese of Avila in a letter to Father Rouland, November 10, 1896, Office Central de Lisieux, 1948.
9. L’Esprit de Ia Bienheureuse Thérese de l’Enfant-Jésus d’après ses écrits et des témoins occulaires de sa vie. Office Central de Lisieux, 1924, Preface, at VIII.
10. Father François de Sainte-Marie, OCDP, Manuscrits Autobiographiques, Office Central de Lisieux, 1956, vol. II, 53.
11. Cf. Interventions de Sr. Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus pendant la guerre, Pluie de Roses, Lisieux, 1920; and Ch. Gabriel Sarraute, Un soldat français: sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus, Imprimerie Morière, 1970.

This monk gave Satan a real physical beating

The following text is an excerpt from a lecture given by Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira on June 20, 1967.  It has been translated and adapted for publishing without the author’s revision. –Ed.

We will now read an excerpt on Saint Leutfridus, taken from the book: Physiognomy of the Saints, by Ernesto Hello.

Extraordinarily holy, but little known, Saint Leutfridus is an example for our mediocre days.

He was born of a good family in seventh century Neustria (present-day France). He left his family to become a Benedictine priest. After a great struggle, he founded the Abbey of the Holy Cross. He was gifted with prophesy and the ability to work miracles and was extremely severe.

One day a lady began to ridicule Saint Leutfridus for being bald. The saint replied: “Why do you poke fun at my natural defect? From now on, you will have no more hair on your head than I have on my forehead, and neither will your descendents.”

Coming across a man working in a field one Sunday, Saint Leutfridus raised his eyes to Heaven and prayed: “Lord, make this land eternally sterile.” From then on, neither grain nor wheat was ever seen in the field again. In its place, there were only thorns and thistles.

These are magnificent stories!

Saint Leutfridus had an abundant zeal for justice, but was even more ardently merciful.

This principle is important. Saint Leutfridus was both just and merciful. These two virtues must go hand in hand.

Saint Leutfridus was even ardently charitable while angry and when reprimanding…these were parallel lines of his life.

When one of his monks died, his brothers found three coins in his pocket. This showed that the deceased had violated his vow of poverty. Upon learning this, Saint Leutfridus ordered that his body be buried in profane ground.

Afterwards, he made a 40-day retreat, praying and weeping for the soul of this monk, who seemed lost.

Those whose piety is merely sentimental would not understand this. Confronted by this situation, they would pray: “Oh, poor man, grant him pardon,” and consider him saved. On the contrary, Saint Leutfridus ordered him to be buried in profane ground and then made a retreat, begging for the monk’s salvation. Our Lord, Himself, possessed this combination of sternness and mercy.

After these days of retreat, the Lord revealed to Saint Leutfridus that His mercy had saved the monk’s soul, even though His justice was prepared to condemn him.

During the interim between death and salvation, the monk was in a type of limbo. Then Saint Leutfridus made a retreat, did penance and the man was saved.

Someone could wonder how this was possible since the man was already dead and judgment takes place immediately when the soul separates from the body. It is hard to say, but we cannot put limits on God’s mercy. Perhaps He left the monk’s soul fused to his body, waiting for the sacrifice of Saint Leutfridus. In any case, this story clashes with the liberal idea that the monk would be automatically saved.

Saint Leutfridus was tremendously wrathful against the devil.

Often, people react to temptations by becoming afraid of the devil, but I have seen very few who react with holy hatred and furiously fight against him. We should all strive to attain this holy wrath.

When Satan approaches, we should be filled with anger and hatred, because the devil is the declared enemy of God and our souls. He wishes us every form of evil. Thus, when we are tempted, we should react with militant execration, like Saint Michael did.

Once, a friar called Saint Leutfridus from his cell to tell him that the devil was appearing in the chapel. Recognizing his old enemy, the saint ran to the Chapel and made the sign of the cross over the doors and windows, which closed, blocking all the exits.

Wisely, he captured the devil first, so that he could not get away.

Advancing towards the devil, the saint furiously beat him. The devil wanted to flee, but all the exits were blocked. Normally, he could have instantly left the body he had taken up, but apparently he had not permission to do so. God wanted to humiliate him further under Saint Leutfridus’ blows.

This is a splendid scene. The beating was physically given and spiritually felt, all under the Sign of the Cross. Just as the wicked souls are burned by Hell’s material fire, so too the devil’s soul was made to feel the saint’s blows.

Saint Leutfridus beat the body that was merely a doll of the devil.

Naturally, these blows tormented and humiliated the devil. We too can increase his torment. This is particularly excellent when Satan provokes an attack. Then, the counter-attack gives glory to Our Lady by showing that her children’s hatred of the devil is greater than his hatred of men.

God obliged the devil to flee by way of the belfry, so that he would feel his defeat more sensibly.

The devil was forced to flee by way of the tower, under the continued blows of Saint Leutfridus. We would love to have seen the saint deliver the final blow!

We can imagine the scene: Saint Leutfridus is an old man with white hair and a white beard, but still fit and possessing chestnut eyes. He is very strong and beats the devil with utter hatred, yet maintains perfect serenity. All the while, the devil’s doll, moaning and writhing, retreats from sight, by way of the belfry.

Since we only fight and struggle as far as our anger propels us, just wrath is important. We should strive to develop a holy wrath against the devil that is always vigilant and never sleeps.

Just as a mother with a very sick child sleeps with a wakeful heart, we too should sleep with our hearts in a state of continual vigilance. We should be able to proclaim that even while asleep, we remain a living torch of hatred against the devil.

Thus, we will be able to say: “I sleep, but my heart looks in hope for an occasion to give greater glory the Blessed Virgin.”

Why they hate the rich and fight for total equality

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

Subject to another’s authority, the proud person first hates the particular yoke that weighs upon him.

Secondly, the proud man begins to hate all authority in general and all yokes, and, even more, the very principle of authority considered in the abstract.

Because he hates all authority, he also hates superiority of any kind and deep down he develops a true hatred for God.

This hatred for any inequality has gone so far as to drive high-ranking persons to risk losing their positions just to avoid accepting the superiority of another.

There is more. In a height of virulence, pride could even lead a person to fight for anarchy and to refuse the supreme power were it offered to him. This is because the simple existence of that power implicitly attests to the principle of authority, to which every man, the proud included – can be subject.

Pride, then, can lead to the most radical and complete egalitarianism.

New York City hands out morning-after pills at 50 high schools

CWN: Fifty public high schools in New York City are now distributing morning-after pills to students. The school system has already been dispensing birth control pills and condoms. The morning-after pill offers “relief or solace to a young woman or man who has made a mistake but doesn't want to have to live with that mistake for the rest of their lives," said Dr. Cora Breuner, a member of an American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on teen health. More:

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=15743

New Jersey Archbishop Myers: Catholics who back homosexual ‘marriage’ should not receive Holy Communion

by John-Henry Westen

NEWARK, NJ, September 27, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Tuesday Newark Archbishop John J. Myers released a pastoral letter calling on Catholics, especially Catholic politicians, who do not accept the teaching of the Church on marriage, to “in all honesty and humility refrain from receiving Holy Communion.” The Archbishop said that “to continue to receive Holy Communion while so dissenting would be objectively dishonest.”

Archbishop John J. Myers

The New Jersey prelate made a distinction between those struggling at times unsuccessfully against sin, and those who would willingly oppose Church teaching.

He said: “there is a difference between trying to live the whole Gospel while repenting of failures along the way, and not even trying. Worse still is the attempt by some to alter or pervert the authentic teaching of the Church, which is the true teaching of Christ.”

Archbishop Myers warned, “Jesus had very harsh things to say to those whose false teachings led others, especially the young, astray.”

The 16-page letter is a robust teaching on marriage and family which notes that divorce and contraception have paved the way for confusion in the Church and the world around homosexual ‘marriage’.

“The widespread use of contraception in sexual relations makes it difficult for young people today to grasp the intrinsic meaning and relation between sexual activity and procreation that has always been one of the fundamental meanings of marriage,” says the Archbishop.

Archbishop Myers explains that he is Biblically bound to preach the truth ‘in season and out of season’ and advises all the faithful to do likewise. “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel,” he cited.

Incredible Miracle: U.S. Marine Saved by Saint Michael

This is the true story of a Marine wounded in Korea in 1950. Writing to his mother, he told her of a fascinating encounter he experienced in the war. Father Walter Muldy, a navy chaplain who spoke to the young Marine and his mother as well as to the outfit commander, always affirmed the veracity of this narrative.

Dear Mom,
I am writing to you from a hospital bed. Don’t worry, Mom, I am okay. I was wounded, but the doctor says that I will be up in no time.

But that’s not what I have to tell you, Mom. Something happened to me that I don’t dare tell anyone else for fear of their disbelief.

But I have to tell you, the one person I can confide in, though even you may find it hard to believe.

You remember the prayer to Saint Michael that you taught me to pray when I was little: “Michael, Michael of the morning,…” Before I left home for Korea, you urged me to remember this prayer before any confrontation with the enemy. But you really didn’t have to remind me, Mom. I have always prayed it, and when I got to Korea, I sometimes said it a couple of times a day while marching or resting.
Well, one day, we were told to move forward to scout for Commies. It was a really cold day. As I was walking along, I perceived another fellow walking beside me, and I looked to see who it was.
He was a big fellow, a Marine about 6’4” and built proportionally. Funny, but I didn’t know him, and I thought I knew everyone in my unit. I was glad to have the company and broke the silence between us:

“Chilly today, isn’t it?” Then I chuckled because suddenly it seemed absurd to talk about the weather when we were advancing to meet the enemy. He chuckled too, softly.

“I thought I knew everyone in my outfit,” I continued, “ but I have never seen you before.”

“No,” he agreed, “I have just joined. The name is Michael.”

“Really?! That’s mine, too.”

“I know,” the Marine said, “Michael, Michael of the morning….”

Mom, I was really surprised that he knew about my prayer, but I had taught it to many of the other guys, so I supposed that the newcomer must have picked it up from someone else. As a matter of fact, it had gotten around to the extent that some of the fellows were calling me “Saint Michael.”

Then, out of the blue, Michael said, “There’s going to be trouble ahead.”

I wondered how he could know that. I was breathing hard from the march, and my breath hit the cold air like dense clouds of fog. Michael seemed to be in top shape because I couldn’t see his breath at all. Just then, it started to snow heavily, and soon it was so dense I could no longer hear or see the rest of my outfit. I got a little scared and yelled, “Michael!” Then I felt his strong hand on my shoulder and heard his voice in my ear, “It’s going to clear up soon.”

It did clear up, suddenly. And then, just a short distance ahead of us, like so many dreadful realities, were seven Commies, looking rather comical in their funny hats. But there was nothing funny about them now; their guns were steady and pointed straight in our direction.

“Down, Michael!!” I yelled as I dove for cover. Even as I was hitting the ground, I looked up and saw Michael still standing, as if paralyzed by fear, or so I thought at the time. Bullets were spurting all over the place, and Mom, there was no way those Commies could have missed at that short distance. I jumped up to pull him down, and then I was hit. The pain was like a hot fire in my chest, and as I fell, my head swooned and I remember thinking, “I must be dying…” Someone was laying me down, strong arms were holding me and laying me gently on the snow.

Through the daze, I opened my eyes, and the sun seemed to blaze in my eyes. Michael was standing still, and there was a terrible splendor in his face. Suddenly, he seemed to grow, like the sun, the splendor increasing intensely around him like the wings of an angel.

As I slipped into unconsciousness, I saw that Michael held a sword in his hand, and it flashed like a million lights.
Later on, when I woke up, the rest of the guys came to see me with the sergeant.

“How did you do it, son?” he asked me.

“Where’s Michael?” I asked in reply.

“Michael who?” The sergeant seemed puzzled.

“Michael, the big Marine walking with me, right up to the last moment. I saw him there as I fell.”

“Son,” the sergeant said gravely, “you’re the only Michael in my unit. I hand-picked all you fellows, and there’s only one Michael. You. And son, you weren’t walking with anyone. I was watching you because you were too far off from us, and I was worried.
Now tell me, son,” he repeated, “how did you do it?”
It was the second time he had asked me that, and I found it irritating.

“How did I do what?”

“How did you kill those seven Commies? There wasn’t a single bullet fired from your rifle.”

“What?”

“Come on, son. They were strewn all around you, each one killed by a swordstroke.”

And that, Mom, is the end of my story. It may have been the pain, or the blazing sun, or the chilling cold. I don’t know, Mom, but there is one thing I am sure about. It happened.

Love your son,
Michael

Other related stories:

Click here to print the novena to Saint Michael

Michael, Michael of the Morning Prayer
Saint Michael Chaplet

Prayer to Saint Michael
Video: Where Saint Michael Appeared

Saint Michael: Prince of the Heavenly Host And Powerful Shield Against Diabolical Action

September 29 is the feast of the glorious Saint Michael the Archangel. The Apocalypse thus describes his victorious combativeness in defense of almighty God: “There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.”^[1]

And Prophet Daniel refers to Saint Michael thus: “At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who stands for the children of thy people” [that is, the faithful Catholic people, heir to the people of Israel in the New Testament] and a time shall come such as never was from the time that nations began even until that time.”^[2]

While Saint Michael is commonly referred to as the Archangel, such classification can be generic and not necessarily mean that he belongs to the eighth choir of Angels (Archangels). In this regard, there is an interesting quote from the great Jesuit exegete, Fr. Cornelius a Lapide, born in 1567 in Bocholt, in the Belgian province of Limburg, and deceased in Rome on March 11, 1637.

The extensive work of this distinguished author, who commented on all the books of the Old and New Testaments, is universally admired even today. Special mention should be made of his vast erudition, scrupulous diligence and the bright wit with which he deals with Sacred Scripture. Although new issues have arisen about one point or another of the biblical text, it is undeniable that his magnificent commentaries and scholarly citations still command authority. He writes:

Many believe that Michael, for the dignity of his nature, grace and glory is absolutely the first and the Prince of all the angels. And this is proved, first, by the Apocalypse (12:7), which states that Michael fought against Lucifer and his angels, resisting his pride with a cry full of humility: “Who (is) like God?” Therefore, just as Lucifer is the prince of demons, Michael is the prince of angels, the first among the Seraphim. Second, because the Church calls him Prince of the Heavenly Hosts that are posted at the entrance of Paradise. And it is in his name that the feast of all angels is celebrated.

Third, because Michael is venerated today as the protector of the Church just as he once was of the Synagogue. Finally, in the fourth place, one proves that Saint Michael is the Prince of all angels and therefore the first among the Seraphim because in his homily, De Angelis, Saint Basil says: “To thee, O Michael, general of the heavenly spirits, placed by thy honor and dignity ahead of all other heavenly spirits, I beseech…”^[3]

September 29 -- Saint Michael the Archangel

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

Most Glorious Prince of the Heavenly Hosts
Model of Those Who Fight under the Standard of the Cross

In a memorable article printed in the September 1951 issue of Catolicismo, Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira described Archangel Saint Michael as model of several virtues, for example, his humility and hierarchical spirit. He also described the intrepid Archangel as a model of combativeness, a virtue mostly forgotten in our relativistic times soaked in defeatist pacifism. Below is an excerpt of that article.

                                                      * * *

On September 29, Holy Church celebrates the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. This date used to be very strongly marked in the piety of the faithful. Today, unfortunately, few are those who take it as a special occasion to venerate the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts. However, as we shall see, the devotion to Saint Michael, current for all people at all times, deserves in a very special way to be practiced with particular fervor in our days.…

Model of Combativity

Saint Michael is the model of the Christian warrior because of the fortitude which he showed by casting into hell the legions of damned spirits. He is the warrior of God who will not tolerate the divine Majesty to be challenged or offended in his presence, and who is ready to wield the sword at any time in order to crush the enemies of the Most High.

He teaches us that it is not enough for a Catholic to behave well: it is also his duty to fight evil. And not just an abstract evil, but evil as it exists in the ungodly and in sinners. For Saint Michael did not cast evil into hell as a principle, a mere conception of the intellect, nor are principles and concepts susceptible to be burned by eternal fire. It was Lucifer and his minions that he cast into hell, as he hated the evil that existed in them and which they loved.

We live at a time of profound religious liberalism. Few Christians have an inkling that they belong to a Church militant, as militant on earth as Saint Michael and the faithful Angels were militant in heaven. We also should know how to crush the insolence of wickedness. We too must tenaciously counter the adversary by attacking him and rendering him powerless.

In this struggle, Saint Michael should not just be our model but our help. The fight between Saint Michael and Lucifer has not ceased but continuous throughout the ages. He helps all Christians in the battles they wage against the power of darkness.

Photos, report on public reparation and protest against “P*** Christ” blasphemy in Manhattan

Some 50 members of TFP-America Needs Fatima  pray the Rosary and offer public reparation and protest against the P*** Christ blasphemy, in front of the Edward Tyler Nahem Art Gallery on 57th Street in New York City yesterday, September 27th.

Despite the fact that we 50 people strong, the media took absolutely no notice of our presence.  We were totally invisible to them.  Not a picture.  Not a word.   They could not see 50 people praying in a very public place about a very controversial issue.   

Even worse -- an article today in the Huffington Post proclaims that there were no protestors in front of the Edward Tyler Nahem Gallery yesterday.  The article says “no one from the right in sight…”  See their full story here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/piss-christ-andres-serran_n_1922356.html

Because of the scaffolding around the art gallery, some of us stood across the street from the gallery, while other members of America Needs Fatima stood directly in front of the gallery and peacefully protested the exhibit – the blasphemous exhibit that shows a crucifix turned upside down and stuck inside of a jar of urine.

The signs and banners were made by volunteers of TFP-America Needs Fatima and held with great spirit, and with the sincere conviction of the importance of this public act of reparation and the urgent need to console Our Lord for such a terrible sacrilege that was being committed inside the art gallery.

Most of the passersby were sympathetic to our act of reparation and were disgusted to learn that a crucifix in a jar of urine was on display in the art gallery and that it was even being called a work of art.  There were a few exceptions.  A few people agreed with the display, but these people were in the minority, by far.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary hear our prayers and listen to our acts of reparation and intercede with Her Divine Son, Our Lord, to bring an end to the terrible wave of blasphemies that afflicts America.  And give Americans the courage to fight and overcome this sin, always peacefully, prayerfully and legally, but with all the vehemence of soul that is needed to reverse such a tragic situation.

May God have mercy on us!

This Is NOT Jesus

Our Lord On His Cross
Is Once Again Publicly
Mocked Before The Whole World
Blasphemy!
“P*** Christ”

Send Your Instant E-PROTEST Message NOW

(Please read with caution. This is very disturbing.)

Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross to save us from our sins – can we not, at the very least, speak out in His defense?
E-PROTEST NOW

I’m deeply pained to tell you that Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who suffered the torture-death of crucifixion in order to redeem mankind, is blasphemed at the Edward Tyler Nahem gallery in mid-Manhattan, New York City.

The gallery is hosting an art exhibit that includes Andres Serrano’s notorious “P*** Christ” - - - according to press reports, a photograph of a beautiful crucifix immersed in Mr. Serrano’s urine.
E-PROTEST NOW To Defend Our Lord’s Honor.

And forward this e-mail to a friend.
The gallery’s curator, Walter Robinson, according to The Huffington Post, seems to admire Serrano’s audacity: “When it comes to the global stage of the spectacle, many are called but few are chosen, but those who are [chosen], like Serrano…are to be admired.”

This high-profile, blasphemous presentation of Our Lord’s holocaust on His cross, plunged in the artist’s own urine is planned to be exhibited for a month, from this Thursday, Sept. 27 through October 26.
Send the gallery your instant e-protest message.

You and I cannot sit by idly and do nothing about this awful blasphemy! We must do reparation and lift up our voices in peaceful and prayerful protest.

The silence and indifference of Catholics serves only to encourage the promoters of blasphemy to push their agenda.
And why so many blasphemies?

I don’t have all the answers, but we cannot allow this to shake the deep love and veneration you and I have for Our Sweet Savior, Jesus.

You and I must strive to increase our love for Our Lord by protesting blasphemy with ever-greater zeal and increasing our acts of reparation!

I’m sure you agree that we must rise to this occasion and protest, with all our hearts.

We must show Jesus that we care, and that we love Him, our Redeemer, and that we will defend His honor no matter how many times He is attacked and insulted.

And our prayerful protest and reparation is the only way of showing our gratitude and our only hope of redeeming ourselves.
That is why I am urging you to speak out, and to:
Send the gallery your instant e-protest message.

God does not need our help to defend His honor, but He does require our love for Him be made manifest.
Don’t miss this opportunity to…
Show your love for Jesus…please join in this peaceful and prayerful protest.

                                                    ***
To contact the Edward Tyler Nahem gallery directly (please be polite, but firm):
Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, L.L.C., 37 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
T 212-517-2453, F 212-861-3566
E info@etnahem.com
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The hidden side of St. Vincent de Paul and his unknown charity

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vicent de Paul founded a special organization for the relief of the nobility of Lorraine who had sought refuge in Paris during the Thirty Years War. In that period of the war known as the French period Lorraine, Trois-Evechés, Franche-Comté, and Champagne underwent for nearly a quarter of a century all the horrors and scourges which then more than ever war drew in its train.

St. Vincent funded in the ruined provinces the work of the potages économiques, the tradition of which still subsists in our modern economic kitchens. He encouraged the foundation of societies undertaking to bury the dead and to clean away the dirt which was a permanent cause of plague. They were often headed by the missionaries and the Sisters of Charity. After the general peace he directed his solicitude and his alms to the Irish and English Catholics who had been driven from their country.

Spanish born Queen of France Anne of Austria gives crown and jewels to St. Vincent de Paul painting by JM Rodriguez de Losada

All these benefits had rendered the name of Vincent de Paul popular in Paris and even at the Court. Richelieu sometimes received him and listened favorably to his requests; he assisted him in his first seminary foundations and established a house for his missionaries in the village of Richelieu.

On his deathbed Louis XIII desired to be assisted by him: “Oh, Monsieur Vincent”, said he, “if I am restored to health I shall appoint no bishops unless they have spent three years with you.”

His widow, Ann of Austria, made Vincent a member of the council of conscience charged with nominations to benefices. These honors did not alter Vincent’s modesty and simplicity. He went to the Court only through necessity, in fitting but simple garb. He made no use of his influence save for the welfare of the poor and in the interest of the Church.

St. Vincent de Paul with the Ladies of Charity, painting by Louis Galloche 1732.

Besides the Daughters of Charity Vincent de Paul secured for the poor the services of the Ladies of Charity, at the request of the Archbishop of Paris. He grouped (1634) under this name some pious women who were determined to nurse the sick poor entering the Hotel-Dieu to the number of 20,000 or 25,000 annually; they also visited the prisons. Among them were as many as 200 ladies of the highest rank. After having drawn up their rule St. Vincent upheld and stimulated their charitable zeal. It was due to them that he was able to collect the enormous sums which he distributed in aid of all the unfortunates. Among the works, which their co-operation enabled him to undertake, that of the care of foundlings was one of the most important.

Ladies of Charity giving alms to St. Vincent de Paul.

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Why Does Love Arouse Hatred?

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

A friendly reader asked me to explain why the Church has been fought so fiercely throughout her history even though she is the preacher of the Truth. He also wants to know why true Catholics, who do not compromise with present-day errors and remain faithful to the immutable teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ are so relentlessly attacked.

It seems to me that the reader could have broadened the scope of his question even further. Persecutions against the Church and today’s true Catholics are historic prolongations of those carried out against Our Lord Jesus Christ. How to explain that the Man-God, who is the Truth, the Way and the Life was persecuted to the point of being crucified between two vulgar thieves?

This question was given a luminous answer by one of the greatest Church Doctors of all time, Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hyppo. To facilitate the readers’ understanding, I reproduce here, slightly adapted, the teaching of the great Doctor of the fourth and fifth centuries.

Commenting on the famous phrase of Terentius, “truth engenders hatred,” Saint Augustine^[1] asks himself how to explain such an illogical fact.

Indeed, he says, man naturally loves happiness. Now, happiness is the joy born of the truth.

Thus, it is an aberration for anyone to see the man who preaches truth in the name of God as an enemy.

Having thus enunciated the issue, the holy doctor goes on to explain it. Human nature has such a propensity to the truth that when man loves something contrary to the truth he still wants that something to be true. In so doing he falls into error by persuading himself of something which in reality is false.

Therefore, someone must open his eyes. Now then, since man does not allow anyone to show him that he was mistaken, for the same reason he tolerates no one to show him the error in which he finds himself.

And the Doctor of Hyppo notes: In so doing, some men hate the truth for the sake of that which they have taken as true!  They love the light of truth but not being reprehended by it… They love it when it shows itself to them; they hate it when it makes them see who they are.

This is how such men are punished for their disloyalty: they do not want to be unveiled by it and nevertheless it blows their cover. And yet, it — the truth — remains hidden to their eyes.

“This is precisely how the human heart is shaped. Blind and slothful, unworthy and dishonest, it hides while not allowing anything to be hidden from it. So it happens to be unable to flee from the eyes of the truth, but the truth flees from its eyes.”

With these words, Saint Augustine concludes his masterly commentary.

Delaware: 1st state to jail parents who use spanking to discipline

by Thaddeus Baklinski

DOVER, Delaware, September 26, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Delaware has become the first state in the US to effectively outlaw corporal discipline of children by their parents.

Gov. Jack Markell signed Senate Bill 234 into law on September 12.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Patricia M. Blevins, redefines the term “physical injury” in the child abuse and neglect laws to broadly include any act that causes “pain.”

“This bill establishes the offense of Child Abuse,” the legislation states. “These new statutes combine current statutes and redefine physical injury and serious physical injury to reflect the medical realities of pain and impairment suffered by children.”

Under the new law, a parent causing “physical injury” (e.g., pain) to a child under age 18 would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and subject to one year in prison. A parent causing pain to a child who was three years of age or younger would be guilty of a class G felony and subject to two years in prison.

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), along with the Delaware Home Education Association and the Delaware Family Policy Council, opposed the legislation, saying the bill was “a violation of the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, including the long-recognized right to administer reasonable corporal discipline.”

HSLDA points out that while Delaware law had permitted a parent to use force to punish a child for misconduct, it already prohibited any act that is likely to cause or does cause physical injury.

By redefining “physical injury” to include the infliction of any pain on a child, even the reasonable use of spanking has become a crime in Delaware punishable by imprisonment.

The full text of Senate Bill 234 is available here.

Contact information:

Gov. Jack Markell
Office of the Governor - Dover
150 William Penn Street
2nd Floor
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 744-4101
Fax: (302) 739-2775
Email: Jack.Markell@state.de.us or via website

Catholic Fordham Allows Pro-Abortion Student Group with Ties to Planned Parenthood

Although the sin of abortion is perhaps the greatest injustice of our time, Catholic Fordham University in New York recognizes a pro-abortion advocacy group called “Law Students for Reproductive Justice.”

However, more than just advocating abortion on a remote web site, Law Students for Reproductive Justice openly promotes the culture of death.

SIGN YOUR PROTEST HERE

According to Fordham’s official web site entry, for instance, the group takes part in “an ongoing escort program in partnership with Planned Parenthood.” Other activities include: “a research partnership with local pro-choice legal organizations,” and “brownbags with reproductive rights activists.”

It is incomprehensible why a student club that embraces behavior that is so blatantly against the law of God and nature is allowed to freely operate at Fordham. Why is this happening? How much funding do they receive to promote abortion under the false pretense of “justice”?

Please Protest: Click here to defend the unborn

TFP Student Action invites its readers to register their firm yet peaceful protest, urging Fordham University officials to revoke the pro-abortion group’s status. Please support the timeless teachings of the Church, and the restoration of Catholic education. Let us expel the abortion agenda from every Catholic classroom.

Contact information:
Fordham University
Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J.
441 E Fordham Rd.
Rose Hill Campus Admin. Bldg. Rm. 107
Bronx, NY 10458
Phone: 718-817-3000
E-mail: president@fordham.edu

Before the TFP protest Screen shot from 09-19-12: The group's partnership with Planned Parenthood is mentioned. How can Fordham U allow this scandal?

After the protest: Web entry gets a scrubbing Screen shot from 09-26-12. The reference to Planned Parenthood was completely scrubbed off the web site. When will Fordham scrub the pro-abortion student group from its Catholic campus?