Praise God for the overturning of Roe v Wade.

I thank God in heaven for the overturning of Roe v Wade. It is time to praise Him with all of our hearts and also I can not stress enough to pray for the women screaming in the streets, that they would turn and come to Christ in the Holy Catholic Church.  These women have been so deceived.

Let us also pray that the women screaming in the streets will open up the eyes of the world to what exactly the feminist movement is about.

Don't be fooled by what feminists are saying and what the press is saying. Abortion is not women's health care. Abortion is the killing of an innocent life. It  is also the very top priority of the feminist movement. Feminism is an evil agenda. It has evil beginnings and it leads women to abortion.

Feminism has absolutely nothing to do with women working, which is what many have come to believe. When you ask many women what feminism is about, those who do not know the foundation of the movement or it's priority, will tell you it is about women working. Not true, in a way.  

Women have held jobs and worked long before the 1960's. Women had jobs and worked as far back as Old Testament book of Judges.  Thing is most women of the past would stop working when marriage and children came along, unless the job was a necessity for the survival of the family.

But for feminists they can't be putting children or family first ahead of being the "working woman" so very sadly a child gets in the way of the career, in the way of power and money, and in turn that puts abortion as their number one priority. Of course, the sexual revolution plays a huge role in unwanted pregnancies but that is another post.

Feminism is about breaking up and tearing down of families. It is anti-family. It is about the "me" in the woman. It is about herself and her wants. It is "herstory".  It is the opposite of Christianity. It is the opposite of the Blessed Mother. It can't be Christian because you can't fight for your wants and desires ahead of your husband, children and home and still serve in a Christian way, loving others as Christ commanded us.  

Multitudes of women, myself included in years past, have been deceived by the feminist movement. It is in knowing and studying their agenda that a woman truly knows what they are about and can with the grace of God free herself from it.

A woman free of the feminist movement does not let her outside job come before her family but it is rather something she does for her family, if it is needed.

Working either in the home or out of the home is no longer about herself but rather about loving and serving God, her family and others. She is free to imitate the Blessed Mother, who should be every woman's role model.

A woman free of feminism is also not afraid to let that career go, walk away and detach from it when God calls her to come back and care for her home and family and yes submit to and love her husband in a godly way, a biblical womanhood way.  She then is free to love her work in the home and sees it as a pleasure and enjoyable.

Titus 2: 4-5 Teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands and to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husband, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

I can't suggest again highly enough the book, The Anti-Mary Exposed by Carrie Gress. Also, the book, Who Killed the American Family by Phyllis Schlafly.

I also suggest if you want to see them expose themselves, see Gloria Steinem's latest tweet. It is from the mini series, Mrs. America, where they are very dishonest about Phyllis Schlafly but very open about their agenda - abortion.

There is so much more I could say about the feminist movement but I will save those for another day but I highly encourage women to look to the Blessed Mother and let us return to putting our homes, our husbands and our families first after God. 

I also want to include here that God is merciful and it is my understanding that many women who have had abortions in the past, though reconciled themselves to God may be troubled by the agenda being brought up again, please find solace and comfort in the love of God and His most Sacred Heart. Keep moving forward in faith and love, knowing that as far as the east is from the west God does remove our sins from us.  

If you need help seek out, Rachel's Vineyard 

 https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/

God bless and may the abortion industry continue to fall just as slavery in the United States did and many lives be saved.

Praise the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Merry Christmas!! 

Don't let the world take away your Christmas, enjoy the full 12 days of Christmastide!! The season has just begun.

 

The Anti-Mary Exposed book recommendation

At first, I didn't want to read this book because of the title. Not The Anti-Mary Exposed, but what comes after that; Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity. 

 

So for me there is a difference between femininity and feminism. 

Online Merriam Webster definition of feminine is: characteristics that are appropriate or unique to women. Whereas the definition of feminism is: belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. (My definition of feminism is a lot worse.)

My question is, are we really seeing toxic femininity in our culture, or toxic feminism. I would have titled the book a little different, completely agreeing we are seeing anti-Mary in our culture.

Also, it seems too close in familiarity to "toxic masculinity", which I question as to whether that is a legitimate issue in males but maybe that is why the author chose to title the book with "toxic femininity", to show that there can be toxic issues or problems on both sides. I am not a fan of the word "toxic".

All that said, and just in case everyone is thinking I did not like this book, they would be totally wrong. I thought the book was great and a definite eye opener.

Opening our eyes to the evils of feminism and yes, feminism is evil. Carrie Gress clearly shows in her book how feminism is an evil and since the 1960's it has attacked and harmed women, children and men and destroyed families ever since. Feminism is connected to the errors of Russia (heard this before from a good traditional Catholic priest), associated with demons falsely called goddesses, the occult and abortion.

Women are so much more unhappy today. More than they have ever been. They have freedoms, or so they think, more like slavery. The worst thing that could have ever happened to women is feminism. Women have lost so very, very much due to believing the lies of such an evil.

In the book, Carrie Gress clearly reveals the evil beginnings of the feminist movement and the results after and I highly, highly recommend it to every woman and suggest they flee from feminism with everything they have, pray to God, pray the rosary asking for help to free ourselves from the lies we, as women, have heard from feminists and have been implanted in our brains, hearts, families and culture, such as men are chauvinists, women need careers, children are a burden or that there is such a thing as Catholic or Christian feminism. There is no such thing as Catholic feminism because you can't have your feet in the evils of feminism and follow Christ or imitate the Blessed Mother at the same time.

The anti-Mary or the feminist movement is a following of Eve, saying "no" to God rather than "yes" to God as Mary did. 

As Carrie Gress says, the solution for women is Mary our Blessed Mother. She is to be women's model, who is the best example of true womanhood.

After having grown up in this feminist culture we are living in, I frequently need to pray and ask God to help me to choose Him and reject all feminist thoughts or ideas.

Ask our Blessed Mother for help and guidance, pray the rosary and women flee as fast as you can from feminism and choose God, choose family, choose sacramental marriage and a family or if you are called choose the religious life as a traditional Catholic sister. Say yes to God. It is good for the soul.

God bless.

https://tanbooks.com/vocation/catholic-women-books/the-anti-mary-exposed-rescuing-the-culture-from-toxic-femininity/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzruGBhBAEiwAUqMR8DicpIZ35V0bBEPAea_lKDETANZsbGIDQ_WlDywLF_qGjG05A6m_-xoCSroQAvD_BwE

Maria, My Own Story. Book recommendation.

Last year after watching The Sound of Music, I decided to investigate the real life of Maria Von Trapp. Of course, I started out looking things up on the internet discovering that there were some discrepancies between her life and the movie.

In looking at her life, I found that she wrote several books. One that I purchased and read was Maria, My Own Story. This is her own autobiography. She says she wrote the book because those who bought her story, twisted it and she wanted people to know the truth. One main truth she wanted people to know was that her husband was not the person the movie industry portrayed him out to be but instead he was a loving and kind father and husband. The whistles were only used because the house was so large, they were needed to call the children, not march them around. 

My own father was a very good whistler and when he wanted us home, he would whistle, no big deal.

Some interesting things I discovered were, that she was raised by her aunt and her angry socialist uncle after her parents passed away when she was a child, she was a rebellious teen who, when she was finally of age, left home, got a job, made money and went on to college.  Her mother, father and aunt were Catholic, so she did learn some Catholicism but not much. When she went on to college she became, as would be expected even then, a liberal atheist.

Fortunately because of her father's love of music when she was a child, she also had a love of music. In order to hear the beautiful music of her day she would go to Mass on Sundays, sit in the back and listen to the music, though ignoring everything else.

Once at Mass when there wasn't any music, she was forced to hear the Mass and the homily. Afterward she spoke with the priest and challenged him on what she heard during his homily, asking him if he truly believed all that he had said about Christ, forgiveness of sin, heaven and hell. He could not speak with her at that moment but encouraged her to come back the next day. She did and for three hours he answered all her questions. 

She became a devoted Catholic, and joined an extremely strict convent, where, yes, she still had some mischievousness' in her. She would slide down banisters, jump over bushes and accidentally break many dishes.

Different than what the movie showed was that she was only asked to tutor one child, she did not love the Captain when they married, though grew to love him more than she could ever imagine and they did not go over the mountains but just got on the train and left Austria. 

The family traveled through Europe singing but could not stay in many countries long because people feared they were spies. Eventually of course they ended up in America.

She was a very devout Catholic and did her best to teach all the children in the family the faith.

 Her true story is so very interesting, I highly recommend the book.

Mary, My Own Story

This is war, friends. Total, unrestricted, asymmetrical war. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

This is war, friends.  Total, unrestricted, asymmetrical war.  Wherein Fr. Z rants.: UPDATE: Read what I wrote about totalitarians back in Jan 2020 before the Wuhan Devil COVID-1984 madness took full control HERE And check out Jennifer’s book… The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies Are Destroying Lives and Why the Church Was Right All Along US HERE – UK HERE Origi

Be Very, Very Cautious Who You Listen to and Who You Follow. Only Follow Christ and His Holy Catholic Church.

 
This post is not going to be a popular one but since I don't get many viewers, I do not think there should be too much slack. 

I am a traditional Catholic. I was raised a traditional Catholic. I do my best to live a traditional Catholic life (except for the short time in my youth when I left the Church and dwelled in the protestant world) and I very strongly reject the modernism found today in the Church. 

Traditional Catholicism has been here since Christ founded His Church. We have saints of the past and good traditional priests and bishops (sadly not a lot) today fighting for the Church as those who have gone before them did. There are societies, fraternities, traditional sisters also. There will be good, faithful, traditional Catholics continuing into the future until Christ's return also.

Today, in our internet driven world, there are a lot of traditional Catholics out there who have good websites, good new sites, good blogs, good Youtube channels, and work hard to teach and follow the true faith. I would definitely suggest checking them out because it seems to me, and maybe it is not really traditional Catholics supporting this, but we seem to be canonizing a particular person who says he is a traditional Catholic and making him the leader of the Church and putting him in the papal seat where he should not be. At least this is what I see happening here in the United States with this person.

Out of Christian charity, I am not going say any names but many will suspect who I am talking about and even if you do not  this post could apply to any very popular, celebrity type Catholic speaker.

The person I particularly have in mind has an online bible study type website, which I have been a member of in the past. He has a great thing going at that website, but now over recent years has developed a Youtube channel with a great following. Many of this man's videos are very good but...

Something has gone wrong at this channel recently and I can't exactly point to what it is but it seems to be drifting away from true traditional Catholicism. Don't get me wrong, he has some great videos and good interviews but just like all of us he is still just a man. Some of his videos seem, to me, anyway, more of a revenge attack on the Church than anything uplifting and encouraging to traditional Catholicism. 

Plus when I look at the comments on his videos, calling him a holy man, the one called to save the Church, the one who should start the New Catholic Church, the one crying out in the dessert, telling him how much they love him, he's great, he's awesome, he's the greatest, he will always stand by us no matter what, well it is just getting  a little "creepy" to me, more protestant than Catholic. I saw this a lot in the protestant churches. 

I, have taken a step away, unsubscribed from his Youtube channel and I would suggest others do the same or at least listen with cautionary ears. It is rather better to study the faith from the Roman Catechism, read scripture, study the saints, listen to some other very good traditional Catholics out there, some of which are also warning us to be cautious in following one person too far and expecting him to be the end all, be all answer for the Church.

We should ask ourselves, is this fair to this man for Catholics to be lauding him as the answer to the Church's problems. What kind of weight does this put on him? How can such praise and adulation affect his thinking? his salvation? How many misunderstand what he is saying and yes, leave the Church because of what he is saying?

Unfortunately Catholics today are hungry for leadership, hungry for good pastoring but I just want to warn Catholics beware of who you follow. As one traditional Catholic said at Restoring The Faith, "don't trust anyone". If they are still alive, they can take a wrong turn.

We should all be working out our salvation with fear and trembling, while also fighting the good fight but we can not fight the good fight if we follow someone who possibly could lead us down the wrong path out of a lack of humility.

There is a saying, "don't shoot the messenger"  but as Catholics we need to remember also, "don't canonize the messenger" at least not until they have passed from this Earth and have been canonized a saint by the Holy Catholic Church.

God bless, pray the rosary, pray for Holy Mother Church. 

Celebrating Advent

I recently came across the book,  Around the Year with the Von Trapp Family and love it, so if you are trying to make the most of the liturgical season in a traditional Catholic way in your home, this is a great read with many suggestions.

Maria Von Trapp, yes, is the young woman who started out trying to become a nun, then became a governess to Captain von Trapp's children and then the stepmother to all the children after marrying the Captain. The family was a singing family who later came to America to escape the Nazi's in Austria.

She wrote several books, which I hope to read but right now I have just started Around the Year.

In this book many Advent traditions are discussed such as the Advent wreath, Christmas wheat, Advent hymns, St. Barbara's Day, The Christmas Crib, recipes and more. 

She also talks about remembering St. Nicholas Day and one comment she says which is very interesting is, "Something happened to him on his way from Europe to America". Isn't that so true. So many countries with a good Catholic history still maintain this feast day, that unfortunately somehow never made it to America.

So far, all that I have read in this book, copyrighted 1955, comes from a traditional Catholic view, mostly because she didn't know any thing else probably. So, perhaps if you are like me this is just that what you are looking for. 

Maria von Trapp's view of Advent also is one of penance, which is what this time is about. Not as much as Lent, but there is to be an attitude of penance and spiritual growth.

No matter the size of your family, make Advent a time to draw closer to Christ while waiting for His coming.

Below is a link to the book at Amazon.

Around the year

God bless and pray the rosary.

From the National Catholic Register:

US and Canada to be Consecrated to ‘Mary, Mother of the Church’

Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. bishops' conference, is inviting all U.S. bishops to join him on May 1 in reconsecrating the U.S. to the Blessed Virgin Mary in response to the pandemic. The reconsecration is timed to coincide with the bishops of Canada consecrating their own country to Mary at the same time..

Archbishop Gomez, who is the Archbishop of Los Angeles, said in a letter sent to all American bishops April 22, that the Marian reconsecration would be done under the title of “Mary, Mother of the Church.” He invited all the bishops of the country to join him in prayer on May 1 at 12 p.m. PDT, or 3 p.m. EDT....read more below.

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/us-and-canada-to-be-consecrated-to-mary-mother-of-the-church

I am so glad to hear this. May we all pray with the bishops for the US and Canada and the whole world for the end of this virus and in hopes that people can get back to work, make a living and support their families. 

We need more civil authorities like this.

From RORATE CAELI:

Italy and the Coronavirus outbreak: The Mayor of Venice consecrates Venice and the Veneto territories to the Immaculate Heart of Mary click title for more


An exemplary witness to the faith - when the civil authorities set an example….

Catholics Must Know Scripture

I enjoy listening to Dr. Marshall on youtube. I haven't linked any of his videos as of yet but I thought I would start with this one. I agree it is so very important that Catholics should know Scripture. More than just what we hear at Mass. We rarely remember that anyhow.

Many protestants believe they know Scripture but they mostly have come to just misunderstand it and so it is important if Catholics can explain Scripture under the guidance of the Church, since that is where God has chosen to divinely reveal His Word to the world.

Click here for video:
Why Trad Catholics Must Know Bible Better than Protestants


I am also adding a link to the book Tim Flanders wrote and they talk about in the video. I have ordered it and am looking forward to reading and getting a better understanding of Scripture from a Traditional point of view.

Introduction to the Holy Bible for Traditional Catholics: A Beginner’s Guide to Reading the Scriptures for Spiritual Profit

������ Feminine Skills To Cultivate

Recently during a casual conversation with a woman I recently met, I mentioned that I was doing some sewing at home and looking for some fabric for curtains. I like to quilt, craft and sew much of my own household decorations.  She told me that she had taken several years of sewing classes in high school but couldn't sew. She asked if I would mind doing some mending for her. I said I would.

The mending, for me anyway, was pretty basic, needle and thread sewing, such as sewing on a button, fixing a hole in a blanket and sewing closed a seam or two on a shirt.

My concern here and the reason I wanted to share this video is, this woman took several years of sewing classes and is unable to mend some articles for her home. Perhaps she didn't pay attention in school. I am not sure the reason. She is a pretty smart and hard working person, so I am not sure why she can't sew. Perhaps she doesn't remember how but I can't help but wonder if it isn't more of an, "I don't want to sew because that is too domestic" attitude.  I ran into a similar attitude once when asking women to bake pies for bake sale our church was having. A couple of "I don't bake pies" firmly came my way.

Today it is very easy to learn many things on your own. There are books, and classes to take at shops and youtube videos galore that one can learn skills and this includes how to sew and mend.

So, the problem and the question is, do women want to do these things? I will say probably for the most part, many women would say no but there are those women, usually traditional type women, who would be all the willing to learn how to sew and mend for those in their home and that is what they do, out of love.


As the video from TradCatFem above indicates, there are skills all women need to cultive, sewing and mending should absolutely be one.

Tomorrow morning is Christmas. My husband and I will be going to Mass tonight.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord.

Remember tomorrow is only the first day of Christmas.

Return and traditional Catholic wife youtube channel.

I recently came across a youtube channel that I thought was just very, very good. I am a traditional Catholic and love hearing from other traditional Catholic women who share similar views as far as faith, homemaking, marriage and family.

So, I thought I would link to A Catholic Wife. Check out all her videos. They are all very good.

Return

Haven't been here in a while. Will be doing some updating and some new posts. Stick around.

Laetare sunday 4th Sunday in Lent

A little light that shines during Lent is Laetare Sunday.

Yesterday was the 4th Sunday in Lent and it is different than the other Sundays in Lent.  It is similar to the the third Sunday of Advent, which we call Gaudete Sunday, that means break.  The fourth Sunday of Lent is also a break in this penitential season, shining a light that we have come so far and we are closer to the day we will rejoice in the Risen Lord. The vestments the priests use on this Sunday are rose colored,  the same as used on Gaudete Sunday. The color rose is a symbol of joy and hope.  You may also find flowers placed on the altar on this particular Sunday. 

Laetare Sunday receives its name from the opening introit of the Mass:

"Laetare, Jerusalem":

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. (Psalm) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.

What foods could be considered to fix for our families on this particular Sunday?

From Catholic Cuisine:

http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2009/03/simnel-cake-for-laetare-sunday.html

Laetare Sunday is also known as "Mothering Sunday" because of the Epistle reading that speaks of how not the Jews, but those who come to Christ, regardless of their ancestry, are the inheritors of Abraham's promise. The old practice of visiting the cathedral, or "mother church" of the diocese on this day is another reason for the name. In England, natural mothers are honored today, too, in a manner rather like the American "Mother's Day." Spring bulb flowers (daffodils, for ex.) are given to mothers, and simnel cake is made to celebrate the occasion (this cake has also become an Easter Cake of late, however). The word "simnel" comes from the Latin "simila," a high grade flour." Fish Eaters

Simnel Cake

1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1 1/3 cups golden raisins
1 cup dried currants
2/3 cup candied cherries, rinsed, dried and quartered
1/4 cup candied mixed fruit peel, chopped
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons mixed spice 1 pound almond paste
2 tablespoons apricot jam
1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan. Line the bottom and sides of pan with greased parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour. Stir in the golden raisins, currants, candied cherries, mixed fruit, lemon zest and mixed spice. Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared pan.

Divide almond paste into 3 equal portions. Roll out 1/3 of the almond paste to an 8 inch circle. Place the circle of almond paste on the cake batter in pan. Cover with remaining cake batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours, or until evenly brown and firm to the touch. If the cake is browning too quickly, cover with foil after an hour of baking. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Set oven to broil. When the cake has cooled, brush the top with warmed apricot jam. Roll out 1/3 of the almond paste into an 8 inch circle and place on top of cake.

Divide the remaining 1/3 of almond paste into 11 pieces and roll into balls. These represent the 12 Apostles minus Judas. Brush the almond paste on top of cake with beaten egg. Arrange the 11 balls around the outside edge on the top of cake. Brush the balls lightly with egg. Place cake under the broiler for 8 to 10 minutes, or until almond paste is golden brown.


Also from Remnant tv youtube. A very fine homily for this Sunday. 

SUNDAY SERMON: From Luther to Bugnini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv7MZlWAUyM



God bless.

Marian Devotions

So recently I have learned a few new things about the Blessed Mother. Different dogmas and Catholic teachings that I had no idea about.

First let me say that a dogma is something the Catholic church teaches and to be Catholic you believe what the Catholic church teaches, so to be Catholic you need to accept the dogmas of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Now there are four dogmas that the Catholic church teaches in regards to the Blessed Mother:

1) Her Immaculate Conception, 2) Her Perpetual Virginity, 3) Mother of God and 4) Her Glorious Assumption.

Growing up Catholic, we always had a devotion to the Blessed Mother. It was what traditional Catholics did. We prayed the rosary in the car, during danger, and on walks. We had statues of Mary in our home. We made crafts at school with Mary the focus.  It was what we did.

Later in my life due to a lack of catechesis, confusion, curiosity and rebellion, I left the Catholic church and found my self for 12 years in many different protestant churches, anywhere from anabaptist, reformed, restorationists to evangelical. Name a denomination and I at least checked it out.

So when I returned to the Catholic church I just fell right back into Marian devotions. That is what a Catholic does, right, well most Catholics do. I figured if the Catholic church was the one, true Church, and it is, and they said it was okay, it was okay but I didn't really know why. Maybe I knew some. I read Saint Louis de Montforts, True Devotion, which I think I need to pull out and read again. I made a consecration to Jesus through Mary but recently due to some online conversations I felt the need to understand Marian devotion in light of the Catholic church's tradition. So in my search,  I have stumbled upon some videos from Franciscan Friars out of Stuebenville University by Mark Miravelle.  I found them to be very good in explaining Church doctrine and teaching throughout the history of the Church on why we show honor and devotion to the Blessed Mother, and what the Church has always taught, especially in regards to her titles of Advocate, Mediatrix and co-Redemptrix. I will link the video regarding co-Redemptrix below, since that is how my search began,  and then you find there are many more videos.

As far as the title co-Redemptrix, that has yet to be proclaimed as an official title, though the teaching is part of the doctrine of the ordinary magisterium, so even though the Church has has yet to give her that title, we still hold to the teachings that she is co-Redemptrix.

And then, when researching I  cameme to understand that the Catholic church has always had a devotion to the Blessed Mother, honored her and known her to have a unique role in salvation, such as this quote here from St. Irenaeus, “In the same way, Mary, betrothed to a man but nevertheless still a virgin, being obedient, was made the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race…Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve had bound in unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed through faith.” Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 3, 22.

Watching these videos and hearing peoples arguments against Marian devotion I was then sent to  different Church documents, I  especially searched documents from Vatican II since it seems whenever there are those who are finding devotion to the Blessed Mother difficult they usually call upon anything Vatican II. There are those who see the Church as having started at Vatican II, 1962 and not 33AD. Usually it is the "spirit of Vatican II" speaking through them and not Church teaching.  Many times you will hear comments such as,  you can't live in the past or you are being nostalgic or the great council teaches... I often wonder if people said the same thing to the apostles. You know, things like, "you can't live in the past. Jesus is gone. You twelve are just being nostalgic" so I knew I had to read the particular document Lumen Gentium in regards to the Blessed Mother and yes this is what I found,  "Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator" and this "Predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin was on this earth the virgin Mother of the Redeemer, and above all others and in a singular way the generous associate and humble handmaid of the Lord. She conceived, brought forth and nourished Christ. She presented Him to the Father in the temple, and was united with Him by compassion as He died on the Cross. In this singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Saviour in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore she is our mother in the order of grace."

There is a lot more to the document. That link is below also.

I, also very frequently find Taylor Marshall very informative. I found a post on his blog with Papal quotes and scriptural defenses regarding calling Mary co-Redemptrix.

It seems many times we are quiet about Mary out of fear of offending those who do not know her or understand Marian devotion and her role in everyone's salvation. We should not be offensive to people of course, but if Mary is such an important part of salvation, we should be letting people know who she is. We should be talking more about her and encouraging devotion to her not be quiet out of fear.

Throughout Church history Mary has always brought people closer to Jesus and has never taken anything away from Our Lord. Her goal is to lead us all to God and eternal salvation.

http://taylormarshall.com/2010/03/should-we-call-mary-coredemptrix-part-1.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJxVpx-aN88

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z27PgH0EqE

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

http://www.fraternitypublications.com/trdetoblvima.html

God bless,

Head covering at Mass

I returned to the Catholic church eight years ago and since returning I have always felt the need to wear a head covering, such as a veil or hat. I wasn't sure at first why but I just felt called to this devotion. It is a practice that has been in the Catholic church since Christ founded the Church on the Rock of Peter and it is a very beautiful devotion that seems to be increasing. 

As many women are being called to cover we are learning that during the 1960's feminists, and we have all seen recently how diabolical feminism is,  encouraged women to throw off the head covering and to stop wearing such a thing that represented submission to a man. I remember this time. I was young and in my early teens but I remember I stopped wearing my veil but Code of Canon law did not change until 1983. That means that from the 1960's until Code of Canon law was changed in 1983,women (including myself) were being just plain disobedient to the Canon law that was in place at that time, the 1917 Code of Canon law, which required women to wear a head covering during Mass.

At the start of my return I would first alternate between veils and sometimes hats or large headbands. I still alternate but I have recently began wearing the veil the most and feeling comfortable with it. I think the reason is because I have noticed more women wearing the veil and I am realizing I am not alone in this devotion.  I am so not someone who likes to stand out in a crowd or be the only one anywhere so I am grateful to see more women covering. Of course, in most parishes that include the Traditional Latin Mass or only have the Traditional Latin Mass you will see most all women wearing veils or scarves.

I live in a small town and there has been an increase in Catholic women wearing some type of head covering during Mass.

My reasoning for covering is because I am in the presence of the Lord and because of 1 Corinthians 11:6-10.  After wearing something over my head for these eight years now, I feel disrespectful and prideful at just the thought of not covering. 

1 Corinthians 11:6 - 10 For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head. The man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.  For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.  For the man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man.  Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.

If you are considering or feeling called to cover your head in respect of the Lord during Mass perhaps this video will help, probably help more than what I can say.

Also, there is a link below for Veils by Lily, where you can purchase your veil. If you are not ready for a veil, consider a hat, scarf or large headband. 

https://www.veilsbylily.com

Shrove Tuesday and the Holy Face of Jesus devotion

Before Ash Wednesday are two days, Monday and Tuesday, called Shrovetide. As I mentioned under Housewives Corner that this is a time for spring cleaning but more important than cleaning our homes is a time for cleaning our souls.

The word shrove comes from the word shrive meaning, to confess. Now and during the time of Lent is a time for confession, a time to make our hearts and souls right with God. A time to even clean out those venial sins that can grow into something bigger.

Besides confession a little known tradition Catholics would do before Lent when cleaning their homes, would be to do their best to use up foods that they were not able to eat during Lent. Lent used to be a lot stricter than it is today, a lot stricter. 

Of course, the Tuesday before Lent is most well known as Mardi Gras. We all know about Mardi Gras, so I won't go into that here but a couple other names for this day are Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday. Traditionally on this day, Catholics, in preparing for Lent would use up the butter, eggs and fats in their homes.  Having pancakes or waffles for meals were a great way to do that.

In some places in England they would have pancake races, sort of like races where one runs with an egg on a spoon but in this race women would run flipping pancakes. Not sure I could do that.

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Something more serious that is an important and  interesting part of Shrove Tuesday I just recently heard about is devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. 

In the 1800's Our Lord appeared to Carmelite nun, Sister Mary of Saint Peter. Our Lord revealed to her the devotion to His Holy Face, saying, “Those who will contemplate the wounds on My Face here on earth shall contemplate it radiant in heaven.”  Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus is meant to make reparation for the sins of modern disbelievers and to combat Communism. Our Lady of Fatima has warned us that Communism would spread it's errors and it certainly seems like we are seeing a lot of evidence of this in our society today. 

The prayers dedicated to the Holy Face of Jesus are acts of reparation. Reparation for the outrages enacted upon Jesus and His Holy Church.

On April 17th, 1958, His Holiness Pope Pius XII approved the observance of the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus on Shrove Tuesday.  


There are many prayers dedicated to the Holy Face but one in particular that Our Lord revealed to Sister Mary of St. Peter is called the Golden Arrow prayer. It is a powerful prayer by which a person can "shoot directly into the Heart of God" to heal the wounds inflicted on it by the malice of sinners. She was given a vision in which she saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus wounded by this "Golden Arrow" and streams of graces flowed from It for the conversion of sinners.

"May the Most Holy, Most Sacred, Most Adorable, Most Incomprehensible and Ineffable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the alter. Amen.


Links with more information:

http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/golden-arrow.htm

http://fisheaters.com/customsseptuagesima2.html

https://carmeloftheholyface.com/sr-mary-of-st-peter

Step by Step Explanation of the Mass

Father Goodwin's spiritual commentary on the Mass.

https://fssp.com/commentary-on-the-mass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moEZuCa5SyU

Septuagesima Sunday

This past Sunday is Septuagesima Sunday. It is a tradition that has been in the Catholic church since about the 500's.  I, myself, am just coming to understand the meaning and importance of this Sunday and the next two in helping us prepare for Lent.

It was typically a time to "bury the alleluia".  Also, it was a time when the "Gloria" was no longer said during Mass, preparing ourselves for penance, a time of preparation.

Lent used to be a lot harder than it is for us today. We are a generation that finds it difficult to give up, to sacrifice, to do acts of penance because things and food do come easier for us today than they did for our ancestors. We have to work harder to become holier due to the fact that the temptations are much greater for us to slack off in this pursuit.

I hope these links help you understand also, so we all can become holier and closer to Our Lord this Lenten season.

https://www.fisheaters.com/customsseptuagesima1.html

https://liturgyguy.com/2017/02/12/why-we-need-septuagesima/

https://liturgyguy.com/2017/02/12/why-we-need-septuagesima/