Happy New Year!

The Traddy family sends its prayers that you all will have a much better 2010! God bless you, and we'll see you next year!

Prayers For Rush

Several reports indicate Rush Limbaugh is in hospital in serious condition after complaining of chest pains. Please pray for him.

Revisionist Holiday History

I received this from Mary Starrett, the communications director for the Constitution Party. Very interesting. I haven't investigated all the claims in the article, but they are quite eye opening. I always knew there something wrong with Kwanzaa, and now I think I know what.

By Marcia Segelstein

It's that time of year again. Time to speak the truth about a holiday based on race, now mainstreamed into American life. Yes, I'm talking about Kwanzaa. For yet another year, schoolchildren have undoubtedly sung Kwanzaa songs at holiday concerts (as was the case at my children's former elementary school again this year), and been read Kwanzaa books at storytime. Once again the U.S. Postal Service has issued an official Kwanzaa stamp, providing further evidence of the victory of revisionist history.

Last year, columnist Ann Coulter, who's written about Kwanzaa in the past, declared that "triumph over this synthetic holiday is nearly complete." The only references she'd come across in 2008, she wrote, were humorous ones. Not so this year.

Just in time to keep the fraudulent holiday alive and kicking, and presumably make some money along the way, a new film all about Kwanzaa has been released. And it's narrated by none other than Maya Angelou. Filmmaker M.K. Asante was a guest on the CBS News Early Show to promote The Black Candle. Anchor Debbye Turner-Bell introduced the segment by saying that on December 26, "millions of Americans will begin celebrating Kwanzaa." That number is difficult to pin down. But no doubt Asante would like to think so. His assertion that Kwanzaa's principles are "universal" is also wishful thinking, unless by "universal" he means also used by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Yes, the SLA and Kwanzaa share the same seven principles. The SLA chose the seven-headed cobra to represent them (remember that famous photo with Patricia Hearst?). For Kwanzaa, it's the "kinara," which holds seven candles.

Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Ron Karenga, later known as Maulana Ron Karenga, as an alternative to Christmas. You won't read that on any current Kwanzaa websites. But surprisingly enough, it's actually referenced on the Wikipedia page about Kwanzaa, adding that that aspect of the holiday was "altered" to avoid "alienating" Christians. Reading from Chapter 6 of an online version of The Quotable Karenga (written by Maulana Karenga) is an eye-opener. He writes: "Christianity is a white religion. It has a white God, and any 'Negro' who believes in it is a sick 'Negro.' How can you pray to a white man?" Then there's this: "The time we spent learning about Jesus, we should have spent learning about Blacks." And this: "The Christian is our worse [sic] enemy."

Karenga helped to found a violent black nationalist organization called United Slaves, a group that believed the Black Panthers were insufficiently extreme. He served time in prison for, among other things, torturing two women with a soldering iron and a vise.

Way back in 1999, the late Tony Snow wrote a column called "The TRUTH about Kwanzaa." Here's how it starts: "Blacks in America have suffered an endless series of insults and degradations, the latest of which goes by the name of Kwanzaa." He continues: "Our treatment of Kwanzaa provides a revealing sign of how far we have yet to travel on the road to reconciliation. The white establishment has thrown in with it, not just to cash in on the business, but to patronize black activists and shut them up."

His point is well taken. Elementary school children who sing Kwanzaa songs while wearing what's supposed to pass as African-style clothing aren't healing any racial divides. They're making white liberals feel better about themselves, and patronizing blacks in the process. One black mother at my children's former elementary school, when asked for her advice about how the school should best honor Kwanzaa, responded by saying that she had absolutely no idea since she and her family were Christians.

Kwanzaa originated in the mind of a violent, racist ex-convict opposed to worshipping a "white" God. According to one website, Karenga was "inspired" by African harvest festivals. The fact is that there are no harvesting rituals celebrated in December. Anywhere. Do we really want to perpetuate this fraud?

Where is the successor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who has the guts to expose Kwanzaa for what it truly is and to promote the celebration not of ethnicity, race, or skin color, but of good character? He'd have to be a leader unafraid to decry the emptiness of faith in race and willing instead to preach faith in God and, through Him, the brotherhood of all mankind.

COPYRIGHT AMERICAN FAMILY NEWS NETWORK 2009

Gimme That Christian Charity!

In the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians Paul teaches us that the theological virtue of Charity is superior to all others. He writes:

1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

It seems to the Traddy that the people involved in the homeless shelter question at Holy Family in Sugar Notch need this lesson placed before their eyes.

Include into that mix some of the parishioners who are now objecting publicly to the shelter. People are under the false assumption that a homeless shelter is a half way house or that it houses criminals. Where is our sense of Christian charity today?

I was in New York one time and ignored a beggar. My thoughts at the time was that the guy was going to go off and buy some cheap wine. I felt bad about it after and went to confession. The priest actually told me, "You have a good heart. I cannot remember the last time someone told me they ignored the poor." It was only then when I realized it didn't matter what he did with it, what mattered was that if I had given the beggar money, I would have done the right thing and would have been storing treasure in heaven.

I wonder how many of us are doing just that? Storing treasure in Heaven. Matthew 19:21 clearly tells us:

Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.

And this isn't even a case of selling all and giving it to the homeless. All they have to do is open the door of their church building. They don't have to do anything. They only have to give a little bit of of themselves.

And sometimes, that is harder than giving up your treasure.

Bible verses courtesy http://www.drbo.org

No Excuse...

...to not offer the Extraordinary Form! Our friends at the FSSP have introduced a 2 dvd set to teach you how to celebrate the Mass!

This 2-DVD disc set has been produced by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in collaboration with the EWTN Global Television Network to teach priests how to say Low Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The video includes an introduction by Darío Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. A comprehensive step-by-step explanation and walk-through of the entire ceremony of Low Mass. A real-time demonstration of the Mass filmed from four simultaneous camera angles with the ability to switch the viewing angle at any time! Instruction in the basic principles of gesture and movement as well as all the variable elements commonly encountered when offering Mass. A talk on the fundamental principles of the Extraordinary Form by Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, and a spiritual commentary on the liturgy. English, Spanish, & Italian audio tracks available. Over three hours of footage on two DVDs!

And best of all it is FREE to priests! What have you got to lose except bad liturgy?

http://www.fsspdvd.com/

Help The Homeless - Get A Fine!

Well, that's what the parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church in Sugar Notch, PA were told, anyway.

It seems that Holy Family agreed to help VISION, which is a homeless shelter in the area, by being one of their rotating homeless locations. From what I've been told by a parishioner, the parish held a meeting and agreed to do their part to help the homeless in our area.

On Friday, December 18 the parish got a letter from Sugar Notch borough informing the church that they were not properly 'zoned' to house homeless people, and if they did house them, they would be on the receiving end of a $500 fine.

Per day.

The letter was signed by the 'Zoning Code Enforcement Officer' Carl Alber. I tried unsuccessfully to get him on the phone. Also, the mayor Bill Davis was not available for comment.

I tried to contact Monsignor Kelly over at Wilkes-Barre Catholic Social Services, but he was on the phone, and noone at the chancery knew about it, I spoke to Bill Genello so hopefully now they will bring their weight to this issue.

We just had a big to-do over the so-called 'separation of church and state' that our friends at the ACLU brought to us over at the Court House. So here's my call:

ACLU, be on the right side of an issue for a change and help out Holy Family Catholic Church!

We'll be updating this one as info comes in. Stay Tuned!

UPDATE 2:08PM Just spoke to Sugar Notch Mayor Bill Davis who claimed he had nothing to do with the decision to fine the church. He claimed that the borough council directed zoning officer Alber to notify Holy Family. He would not go into any detail concerning what brought Holy Family Catholic Church onto council's radar.

They are having a meeting Monday January 4 at 7pm at the Sugar Notch borough building. I expect to see a large turnout to give this council an earful.

More as I know it.

The Merriest Of Christmases!

The Traddy family wishes a most blessed and Joyous Christmas for you and yours!

Luke Chapter 2

1 And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. 2 This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, 5 To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

6 And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. 9 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. 10 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:

7 "Her firstborn"... The meaning is, not that she had afterward any other child; but it is a way of speech among the Hebrews, to call them also the firstborn, who are the only children. See annotation Matt. 1. 25.

11 For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. 15 And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

16 And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. 18 And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Thank You, U. S. Senate!

Like a thief in the night, you have stolen our liberty and our freedom, not to mention our tax dollars. You will find that there will be a reckoning coming to you and your colleagues in the next election.

Merry Christmas.

Barry Christmas!

EXCLUSIVE: Transvestites, Mao And Obama Ornaments Decorate White House Christmas Tree
by Capitol Confidential

Why let a holiday season come between the White House and making some political statements? The White House pegged controversial designer Simon Doonan to oversee the Christmas decorations for the White House. Mr. Doonan, who is creative director of Barney’s New York has often caused a stir with his design choices. Like his naughty yuletide window display of Margaret Thatcher as a dowdy dominatrix and Dan Quayle as a ventriloquist’s dummy. For this year’s White House, he didn’t disappoint.

These photos of ornaments on the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room were taken just days ago. Of course, Mao has his place in the White House.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without an ornament of legendary transvestite Hedda Lettuce.

He/She even signed it:

And, so soon after collecting the Nobel Peace Prize, why wouldn’t the White House have an ornament super-imposing President Obama onto Mt. Rushmore:

All around, a very Barry Christmas!

Jews Upset. Again.

And do we really care? They claim Pius XII didn't do enough to stop Nazi atrocities during WWII. The record has already been set straight on this, but it's not good enough for them. They say naming Pius 'venerable' puts a strain on Catholic relations with them.

As far as I'm concerned, they should be glad there are even any relations between us to begin with. Eh. Maybe I'm over-reacting. They only committed Deicide. That's not too bad, is it?

It seems to me that Jews get offended just about as easily as muslims. No wonder they don't get along.

You can read the story here.

Pius XII, JPII, 'Venerable'

With all the goings on at the courthouse this weekend, I forgot to get this good news up. I am most pleased about Pius XII, a particular target for the liberals.

Popes Pius XII, John Paul II declared 'venerable'

Catholic World News
December 19, 2009
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4969

In a series of decrees issued on December 19, the Vatican has approved miracles allowing for the canonization of five people and the beatification of five others. The Vatican also recognized the 1984 death of Father Jerzy Popieluszko as a martyrdom, preparing the way for his beatification.

The decrees, approved by Pope Benedict XVI during a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, also proclaimed that ten other candidates for sainthood had lived lives of heroic virtue. Those decrees make the candidates eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession.

The two decrees commanding the greatest public attention were those recognizing the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned from 1978 to 2005.

Five of the December 19 decrees testified to the authenticity of miracles attributed to candidates who have already been beatified, and are now qualified for canonization. They are:


•Bl. Stanislaus Soltys (Kazimierczyk) (1433-89), whose liturgical cult was formally recognized by Pope John Paul in 1993
•Bl. André Bessette (1845-1937), a Canadian renowned for his devotion to St. Joseph who developed a reputation as a miracle worker in his lifetime
•Bl. Mary MacKillop (1842-1909), who founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and will become Australia’s first canonized saint
•Bl. Giulia Salzano (1846-1929), foundress of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart
•Bl. Camilla Battista da Varano (1458-1524), a Poor Clare nun
The Congregation also approved miracles for five other candidates who, like Father Popieluszko, will now be scheduled for beatification:


•Father José Tous y Soler (1811-71), a Capuchin Franciscan
•Brother Leopoldo de Alpandeire (1866-1956), a Capuchin Franciscan
•Manuel Lozano Garrido (1920-71), a Spanish layman
•Teresa Manganiello (1849-76), a Third Order Franciscan
•Chiara Badano (1971-90), a laywoman of the Focolare Movement
In addition, the Congregation declared the heroic virtue of Bl. Giacomo Illirico da Bitetto, a Franciscan.

The Congregation also proclaimed the heroic virtue of nine others, who now qualify for the title "Venerable" and may be beatified with the approval of a miracle:


•Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli) (1876-1958)
•Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) (1920-2005)
•Father Louis Brisson (1817-1908), founder of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales
•Father Giuseppe Quadrio (1921-63), a Salesian
•Sister Mary Ward (1545-1615), an Englishwoman who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters)
•Sister Antonia Maria Verna (1773-1838), foundress of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception of Ivrea
•Sister Francesca Farolfi (Maria Chiara Serafina of Jesus) (1853-1917), foundress of the Missionary Franciscan Clarists of the Blessed Sacrament
•Sister Enrichetta Alfieri (1891-1951)
•Giunio Tinarelli (1912-56), a layman and member of the Silent Workers of the Cross

More On SSPX - Rome

Some News about the SSPX Discussions

by Gregor Kollmorgen
New Liturgical Movement
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/12/some-news-about-sspx-discussions.html

Via the website Panorama Católico Internacional (found via messainlatino.it) come news about the doctrinal discussions between the Holy See and the SSPX.

The follwing is a synthesis of remarks made by Bishop Alfonso de Galareta, head of the SSPX delegation for the discussions, on the occasion of recent ordinations of the SSPX at its Argentinian seminary of La Reja.



1) The outcome of the first meeting has been good.

2) Primarily the agenda and the method of discussion were established.

3) The issues to be discussed are of a doctrinal nature to the express exclusion of any canonical question regarding the situation of the SSPX.

4) The common doctrinal reference point will be the Magisterium prior to the Council.

5) The talks follow a rigorous method: an issue is raised, and the party raising it sends a paper substantiating its doubts. The Holy See responds in writing, after prior email exchanges among the technical advisers. At the meeting, the issue is discussed.

6) All meetings are taped by both parties and filmed.

7) The conclusions of each topic will be submitted to the Holy Father and the Superior General of the SSPX.

8) The timing of these meetings depends on whether the topic is new or is already being discussed. In the first case, it will be approximately every three months. In the second, every two. The next meeting is planned for mid January.

10) The theological representatives of the Holy See "are people you can talk with", they speak "the same (theological) language as we". (meaning presumably they are Thomists).

11) Some of the topics mentioned by the bishop in his homily, not exhaustively, are:

a) The Magisterium of the Council and after the Council.

b) The conciliar liturgical reform.

c) Ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.

e) Papal authority and collegiality.

f) Freedom of conscience, religious freedom, secularism and the social reign of Jesus Christ.

g) Human rights and human dignity according to the Council's teaching.

The Bishop repeated that the results of the first session are good, compared to the previous situation. The parties talked entirely freely and only about doctrinal issues in a Thomist theological framework.

No one can foresee what will happen in the future. One will move forward day by day, as prudence and evangelical spirit direct.

The Development Of The Roman Rite

Michael Davies was a giant in the Traditional movement for over 30 years until he died in 2004. He left us some remarkable writing, and I wanted to bring to you what he wrote about the development of the Mass in it's entirety. I will present it in sections, beginning with his introduction:

The Development Of The Roman Rite
By Michael Davies

The Universe is the Catholic newspaper with the largest circulation in Britain. On 18 May 1979 its principal feature article was by one Hugh Lindsay, Bishop of Hexam and Newcastle. The Bishop's article was entitled "What Can the Church Change?" It was a petulant, petty, and singularly ill-informed attack upon Archbishop Lefebvre and Catholic traditionalists in general. It is not hard to understand why the Archbishop is far from popular with the English hierarchy, and with most hierarchies in the world for that matter. The Archbishop is behaving as a true shepherd, defending the flock from who would destroy it. He is a living reproach to the thousands of bishops who have behaved as hirelings since Vatican II. They not only allow enemies to enter the sheepfold but enjoy nothing more than a "meaningful dialogue" with them. The English Bishops are typical of hierarchies throughout the world. They allow catechetical programs in their schools which leave Catholic children ignorant of the basis of their faith or even teach a distorted version of that faith. When parents complain the Bishops spring to the defense of the heterodox catechists responsible for undermining the faith of the children. The English Bishops remain indifferent to liturgical abuse providing that it is initiated by Liberals. Pope Paul VI appealed to hierarchies throughout the world to uphold the practice of Communion on the tongue. Liberal clerics in England defied the Holy See and the reaction of the Bishops was to legalize the practice. The same process is now taking place with the practice of distributing Communion under both kinds at Sunday Masses. There are no stern words from Bishop Lindsay for priests who do this. Two English bishops are signatories to the three notorious Agreed Statements in which Catholic teaching on the Eucharist, the Priesthood, and the Papacy has been betrayed. But Bishop Lindsay is not concerned with censuring those who betray the faith, only those who uphold it. The situation is by no means unique in English history. The same thing happened in the sixteenth century when St. John Fisher upheld the faith in the face of apostacy by his fellow bishops. He was a living reproach to them just as Archbishop Lefebvre is a living reproach to so many bishops today.

Bishop Lindsay's article poses a serious problem. He is either extremely ignorant or extremely dishonest. His article is so at variance with the truth that no other alternative exists. It is, of course, part of the traditional faith that we put the best possible interpretation upon the actions of those with whom we disagree and so I will conclude that the Bishop is an ignorant man making a fool of himself in public, rather than a wicked man deliberately trying to deceive the Catholic people. It is one of the spiritual works of mercy to instruct the ignorant and so I shall duly instruct the said Hugh Lindsay. As he made his ignorance public I shall make his lesson public. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that there can be occasions upon which the public rebuke of a prelate is a duty. Well this is not even a rebuke, it is a lesson, an open lesson.

The Bishop begins his article with a rather labored attempt at irony:

The people who call themselves "traditionalists" say the Church can change nothing. When we introduce lawful change they call us enemies of the Church . . . The Archbishop [Lefebvre] and his followers are often named "Tridentinists" after the Council of Trent but Trent is against them. In 1563 (Session XXI, Chap. 2) the Council declared that the Church always has power to make changes in the sacraments, including the Holy Eucharist, providing that their substance is safe-guarded.

Session XXI took place on 16 July 1562, but let that pass. What matters is that the Bishop's irony is not simply labored but unjustified. No responsible traditionalist has ever claimed that the Church has no right to modify any of the sacramental rites, which is presumably what Bishop Lindsay means by his sloppy phrase "to make changes in the sacraments." What traditionalists have done is to make specific criticisms of specific changes—a very different matter. No one with experience of the traditionalist movement would deny that there are some ill-informed traditionalists who sometimes exaggerate. This is understandable; unlike bishops, laymen and the ordinary clergy are not presumed to have expert knowledge of theology. Bishops are presumed to have such knowledge which makes Bishop Lindsay's ignorance somewhat culpable. It is even conceivable that some indignant layman, outraged by the latest liturgical abomination, has written to the Bishop claiming that "the Church can change nothing." Somehow I doubt it. However, Bishop Lindsay makes his accusation general—he does not say that one traditionalist has made this accusation, or even some, many or most. He makes his charge against all traditionalists which makes him appear ridiculous. If he cares to consult Appendix I to my book on the new ordination rite, The Order of Melchisedech, he will find that it is entitled "The Substance of a Sacrament" and deals in some detail with the right of the Church to make changes in sacramental rites.

Having attempted to ridicule and misrepresent traditionalists by accusing them of something they do not maintain, Bishop Lindsay continues the task of making himself appear ridiculous with a series of statements which it is hard to believe can be explained by ignorance alone. However, this is the interpretation which we will put upon his words even though it requires a conscious effort to do so. Three of these statements will be considered here.

1. Pope St. Pius V used the Church's power to make the changes in the Mass requested by the Council of Trent and to issue a revised Roman Missal in 1570. In exactly the same way Pope Paul VI made the changes requested by the Second Vatican Council and issues a revised Roman Missal in 1970.

2. So the "traditionalists" who don't like the revised Mass rite must themselves seek the guidance of the Church and make sure they are truly informed.

3. There have been some changes in the way Mass is celebrated but not in the Mass itself. The priest usually faces the people now and prays in English not in Latin. Some features have been restored, like a greater choice of readings, the homily, bidding prayers, and the offertory procession.

Archbishop Lefebvre and others talk as though the revised rite were an un-Catholic prayer service. However, the essentials are mentioned even more often than they were in the older Missal.

I will deal with the three statements in sequence.

1. Pope St. Pius V and Pope Paul VI revised the Missal in exactly the same way. Yes, I repeat, Bishop Lindsay really did make this claim. I have the relevant copy of The Universe open before me, I have consulted it again, and that is what he has written. The major part of this article will be devoted to examining the development of the Mass of the Roman Rite up to the reform of St. Pius V. This will make it clear that the reform of Pope Paul VI is totally without precedent in the history of the Church. Its closest parallel is with the reform of Thomas Cranmer. Note that I do not claim these two reforms are identical—I claim that close parallels exist. I have demonstrated this in great detail in my book Cranmer's Godly Order (which was banned in all the Catholic bookshops in Britain). As I will show, the reform of St. Pius V left the Mass virtually unchanged. He did little more than codify the existing liturgy. This great pope did not invite observers from heretical sects to advise him on the reform, he did not remove from the rite of Mass almost every prayer to which a Protestant could take exception. St. Pius V did not allow the Latin heritage of the liturgy to be cast aside or Communion to be distributed by laymen, in the hand, to standing communicants, and under both kinds. St. Pius V did not authorize the celebrant to improvise at certain stages in the Mass; he did not authorize a new canon (Canon II) which Protestants have stated they can use in good conscience.¹ Let it be noted that Vatican II did not mandate any of these changes. It ordered that changes must not be made "unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them." Did the good of the Church genuinely and certainly require the changes I have just listed? Has there been a marked increase in Eucharistic piety? Has Mass attendance increased?

2. Those who do not like the revised Mass rite must seek the guidance of the Church and make sure they are truly informed. Obviously, the Bishop means that we must obtain the guidance of bishops like himself. The guidance he and his ilk are likely to provide has been made clear to those who have consulted them in such matters as defective catechetical instruction, sex-education, the support of Catholic organizations for movements calculated to advance Marxism, and even deviations from the new rite of Mass itself. The equation "Guidance of the Church=Guidance of the Bishops" does not always apply. It did not apply during the Arian heresy, it did not apply in England during the reign of Henry VIII. In order to become "truly informed" the faithful may have to weigh the guidance of certain bishops in the light of tradition. The question to be answered with regard to the liturgical reform authorized by Pope Paul VI is whether this reform can, in fact, be reconciled with Catholic tradition. The answer is that it cannot; it is unprecedented in two thousand years of Church history, as this article will demonstrate.

3. The changes in the Mass consist of the vernacular, Mass facing the people, etc. etc. As I have already shown the reform of Pope Paul VI does go somewhat beyond these peripheral matters. The most astonishing claim in this section of the Bishop's article is that the essentials of the Mass "are mentioned more often than they were in the older Missal." I would suggest a simple experiment to the Bishop Lindsay. Perhaps in some murky recess of his cathedral there may still remain a copy of the older Missal which has not been destroyed or thrown upon the trash heap by zealots of the "Conciliar Church." If he does not have a copy I would be happy to lend him one. The essence of the Mass lies in the fact that it is a propitiatory sacrifice offered to the Blessed Trinity by an ordained priest for the living and the dead. Let the Bishop go through the Order of Mass in the older Missal and the new Missal and see how many times sacrifice is referred to in each. Should he find it mentioned more often in the older Missal perhaps he would print a retraction in The Universe apologizing for misleading its readers. On the other hand perhaps he would not, similar errors have been pointed out to Bishop Lindsay before but there have been no retractions. He is better at denouncing than retracting. I have already provided a detailed analysis of the reform of Pope Paul VI in my pamphlet The Roman Rite Destroyed. This pamphlet provides a total and fully documented refutation of Bishop Lindsay's ludicrous assertions. In this article I propose to provide sufficient information on liturgical development within the Roman Rite to prove that the reform of Pope Paul VI constitutes a break with tradition.

To Be Continued...

Casey Supports Abortion

At least now we know his mind on abortion. He can claim to be pro-life all he wants, but on top of assisting women to murder their babies, he is also a liar.

Now we'll also see how dedicated to pro-life work Cardinal Rigali remains. He is our Bishop while we wait for another to be named by the Vatican. Will he take action against Casey like he should? It is well known he is close to retiring and wants no 'bumps' on that particular road. Watch his reaction carefully.

Scranton, PA (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the pro-life group Insurrecta Nex and local Pennsylvania pro-life advocates are in day two of a vigil outside Senator Bob Casey's home in Scranton. The pro-life advocates are literally camped on the street, praying, and holding signs with the hope that they will be able to convince Casey, who claims to be pro-life, to vote against the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. By their witness, and with their prayers, they are pleading for Senator Casey to filibuster the measure -- the only way to stop it from advancing.

Diana Roccograndi told LifeNews.com she introduced the group to Casey's wife and explained that they would be holding a vigil in front of her house for the next four days regarding the health care bill because Sen. Casey has said he is pro-life. She responded, "Why won't you leave him alone? Why doesn't anyone give him credit for the votes for life he has made?" She was upset about us being there, and said: "My children and neighbors will also be upset; you should have gone to his office, not here."

Casey's wife admitted that their protest would not likely yield any results. "It is not going to do any good; he has prayed about it, and has already made up his mind, and is not going to change it," she reportedly said. Roccograndi wondered what God Casey prayed to if the answer was to support a bill that would result in paying for hundreds of thousands of abortions.

Abortion Escort Assaults Protester

From Lifesitenews.com

SAN JOSE, California, Dec. 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Live Action Films president Lila Rose, the undercover investigator who has gained notoriety for videotaping Planned Parenthood employees, filed a police report yesterday after she says she was struck by a Planned Parenthood escort outside a San Jose abortion mill.

Rose was standing on a public sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood affiliate at 1691 The Alameda. She was there with a group to pray and provide information to abortion-bound women.

Rose reports that just before noon Thursday she began the exchange with the uniformed escort, who recognized her as the investigator in the Live Action videos. According to Rose's police report filed at the scene, supported by several witnesses, the following interaction took place:

Rose, from the public sidewalk: "Sir, are you familiar with the abortion procedure?"

The Escort approaches Rose rapidly from Planned Parenthood parking lot, saying: "You idiot. You've caused so much trouble. You piece of crap."

Rose offers to show Escort a picture: "Can I show you a picture of what it really does to a baby?"

The Escort strikes Rose's hand, knocking literature and Bible to the ground. Rose steps further back on sidewalk, Escort steps towards Rose.

Escort, visibly shaking, says, "It's a woman's choice!"

Rose says, "What about the baby's choice?"

Escort says, "It's not a baby!" Escort turns around and walks away.

Police were called and interviewed the victim and several witnesses. Rose sustained no injuries from the attack. Charges of assault and battery are pending. There have been no apologies.

In its press release, Live Action Films said they maintained a strong commitment to non-violent public discourse, and expected Planned Parenthood to respond to their escort's attack by publicly disavowing the use of violence.

Bad News For "Pope" Michael

If you don't know who "Pope" Michael is, go here and have a chuckle. Basically, he was a sedevacantist until his family elected him "Pope".

Vatican Copyrights "Pope"
From CNA:

The Vatican made a declaration on the protection of the figure of the Pope on Saturday morning. The statement seeks to establish and safeguard the name, image and any symbols of the Pope as being expressly for official use of the Holy See unless otherwise authorized.

The statement cited a "great increase of affection and esteem for the person of the Holy Father" in recent years as contributing to a desire to use the Pontiff's name for all manner of educational and cultural institutions, civic groups and foundations.

Due to this demand, the Vatican has felt it necessary to declare that "it alone has the right to ensure the respect due to the Successors of Peter, and therefore, to protect the figure and personal identity of the Pope from the unauthorized use of his name and/or the papal coat of arms for ends and activities which have little or nothing to do with the Catholic Church."

The declaration alludes to attempts to use ecclesiastical or pontifical symbols and logos to "attribute credibility and authority to initiatives" as another reason to establish their “copyright” on the Holy Father's name, picture and coat of arms.

"Consequently, the use of anything referring directly to the person or office of the Supreme Pontiff... and/or the use of the title 'Pontifical,' must receive previous and express authorization from the Holy See," concluded the message released to the press.

I hope I'm not sued for writing "Pope" just then.

Rodano's Meetup

The next meeting of the NEPA Freethought Society will be December 26 at Rodano's in Wilkes-Barre.

As you recall, the members of the Society contacted the ACLU and caused a big ruckus down at our county courthouse.

According to one of their members on their message board "...The doors to the private room we utilize during our winter meetups will be secured, so to those members who are attending, simply give a knock and someone will immediately allow you entry. Apparently our host, Rodano's, has no issues with our group, and the way we show our appreciation to them is by spending a few bucks on eats and drinks during our meetup."

So, Rodano's allows them to hold their meetings free of charge. If anyone feels like calling Rodano's at 570-829-6444 be sure to tell them they've lost your business, for catering to groups like the "freethought" people. If they can offer them a place to meet for free, they apparently don't need your business.

Breaking News!

From the Times Leader:

The manger is back on the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn, along with a Santa and Mrs. Claus, a snowman, a reindeer, a little elf handling mail for Santa, and the return of the menorah commemorating the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah.

Yes Virginia, Obama Is A Liar

Remember this? Barry Obama September 9, 2009

"There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false – the reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally. And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions..."

The Weekly Standard reports that you and I will indeed be paying whenever a woman desires to murder her child.

And The Federation for American Immigration Reform will tell you here how this bill impacts immigration.

I hope you aren't too shocked by this.

Courthouse Rally

The Traddy family stopped by the courthouse today where Frank Scavo from Voice of the People was the main speaker and organizer at the Nativity rally. No free thinking radicals that I could see were in attendance.

It was asserted that the county was not establishing any religion, and that since the United States was founded as a Christian nation by men who firmly believed in their God, we are well within our rights as Americans to display this Christian symbol on our public grounds.

Tomorrow the display is to be brought back by the county. We'll see.

Check here for the latest.

Muslim Terrorists Now Have Due Process. Why Not The Unborn?

Found this at The Pennsylvanians For Human Life webpage. Does anyone even think this will ever make it out of committee?

Atlanta, GA -- Georgia legislators will introduce a bill early next month that refers to abortion as an "execution" and will require any mother seeking an abortion to go to court to obtain a death warrant.

''A mother would have to argue why the child should die and why her rights would take priority over the rights of the child,'' said Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, who sponsored the legislation.

Once a mother filed for a death warrant, a guardian would be appointed to protect the rights of the unborn child. That guardian would be authorized to demand a jury trial in which the rights of the unborn child would be balanced against the rights of the mother seeking to have the ''execution''performed.

''It's a grotesque violation of a woman's right to choose," said Ebony Barley of the Georgia Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

Some pro-life advocates say the approach won't help the cause and legislation in other states designed to help women seeking abortions understand fetal development and abortion's risks and dangers have proven extremely successfuol in reducing the number of abortions.

The court would be able to hold a trial within 30 days of the filing of the petition and a death warrant would be signed only if the court finds that the rights of the person seeking to have the abortion are superior to the right of the unborn child to live. Either side could appeal.

Franklin said, ''It's an attempt to restore the 14th Amendment due-process rights of the unborn.''

''It's a constitutional protection that we all have that's not being adhered to when it comes to dealing with unborn children,'' Franklin said. ''The first thing we do as state representatives is take an oath of office to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Georgia. Both ensure no person will be deprived of life or liberty without due process. We just want to make sure that's adhered to. Right now, the unborn child is losing his or her life without a trial.''

Barley said it's no coincidence the legislation is being introduced during the month that marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalizes unlimited abortion. She points out the bill stipulates it will be automatically repealed on the day following the day the U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision expressly declaring the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

''It's not outlawing abortion; it's just recognizing the child has rights,too,'' said Franklin.

The bill also mandates that no one can perform an abortion in the state without first obtaining a death warrant. If an abortion practitioner performs an abortion without a ''death warrant,'' he could be subject to up to five years imprisonment and permanent revocation of his medical license. But,there's no penalty for women who have an abortion without first obtaining a ''death warrant.''

Franklin, who has co-sponsored other pro-life legislation in the past, said abortion practitioners have the most at stake because they're the ones who would be performing the abortion.

Franklin will officially introduce the bill at the beginning of the legislative session on Jan. 13. He said he hopes it will make it out of committee and then be called up for a vote by the whole House.

Ultimately, he hopes lawmakers in other states will be inspired by the concept of applying due-process rights to the unborn and propose similar legislation.

''I'm an optimist. I think if people who claim they support the concept of the Constitution, and also those who claim to support the sanctity of human life, if those people really do, we have a good shot at passing this thing.''

Forty Years Isn't Long Enough?

From our friends at The New Liturgical Movement

As many of our readers will no doubt already be aware, in response to the forthcoming new English translation of the Roman Missal -- a translation which is far more accurate and theologically rich, being more closely aligned to the actual Latin editio typica of the Missal of Paul VI -- some individuals have organized a petition, What if we just said wait?, which expresses their concern over the new translations, further asking the bishops to not introduce them generally into the English speaking world at this time. This petition was also recently featured in an article by America Magazine on Dec. 14th, 2009.

Their petition has about 6000 signatures at the present moment.

Now, in response, a counter-petition has been created (which WDTPRS drew to our attention this evening), which comes out in support of the bishops conferences, the new translation and its general implementation: We've Waited Long Enough.

Needless to say, the NLM joins with WDTPRS in asking and encouraging people to make their own voices heard, taking the few moments required to sign this petition in support of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

SIGN HERE

I encourage you also to sign the petition, as this along with the widespread use of the Old Mass, will lead to the true 'springtime'. One we can all agree with.

Hellbound Plan Next Assault

Now that the County is planning to restore the Nativity I can tell you what the Dungeons and Dragons playing, girlfriendless, living in their parents' basement losers from the NEPA Free Thought Society will do next.

They will most likely show up at tomorrow's rally at the courthouse to try to stir up trouble with the intent of showing Christians in a bad light. Don't let them goad you into anything tomorrow. Keep a clear eye and remain calm. Bring video cameras and tape them if they cause trouble.

I believe they will also protest the Nativity and Menorah re-installation on Monday.

After that, their first option to restore 'diversity and equality' will be to see that pagan and other pretend religions have their place on our public ground. Don't be surprised to see Buddha, Wiccan pentagrams, and representations of other Satanic cults. As well as Atheist slogans. These items will be placed right next to the Nativity. Be prepared for this.

Of course, this may not happen at all considering the resources of the free thought lot. We'll see what they can muster.

Their second option is to try to prevent 'religion' from being the dominating theme. To see the Nativity off to the side or behind Frosty and Rudolph would be their their primary goal. Religion cannot be the centerpiece or they will cry foul and the ACLU will sue.

Traddy has eyes everywhere.

I have observed these people for some time now. Their top priority is not to protect the Constitution as they claim, for they use the Constitution and liberal judges to attempt to make for themselves a dogma and religion free world. Or at the very least, they plan to make the rest of us miserable while they attempt to strip away everything we believe in on account of their choice to believe in nothing. They hate Christians and ridicule us as simpletons for believing in a God without any proof.

So now you know the plan.

And knowing is half the battle.

Haha!

Constitutional Scholar Vacula

Self proclaimed liberal Justin Vacula (left) was indignant after DJ Jumpin Jeff Walker lambasted him on KRZ this evening. Poor baby won't be doing anymore interviews!

From the NEPA Freethought Society Meetup Message Board:

Crazy discussion.
I am most likely opting out of interviews in the future because the people can't handle the truth and want to misconstrue the situation.

The displays were unconstitutional.
This is a secular nation. End of story.

Has anyone ever noticed that "free thought" usually translates into a tiny minority attempting to with-hold the natural rights of the majority?

Well thanks for setting us straight, Justin. I'm sure we're all glad you were able to interpret the Constitution for us.

VICTORY!

According to KRZ's Jeff Walker, the Nativity will be back at the County Courthouse Monday! County solicitor Vito DeLuca just confirmed this on WILK. As far as I know, the protest planned for Sunday is still on, as well as the Living Nativity.

Also our conservative friend Jumpin' Jeff Walker had our atheist friend Vacula on the radio just now, and made him look like an idiot. Way to go Jeffy!

Vacula just posted up on his page: I'll be on 98.5 KRZ very soon! Tune in!

I don't think he got the reception he was expecting.

His latest Facebook says:
Justin Vacula has been declared the most hated person in this county besides the judges involved in the "Kids for Cash" scandal by KRZ Radio. It's so wonderful that's I'm hated because this nation is truly a secular one and I am willing to uphold the constitution and fight for the truth. Luzerne County is ridiculous.

Now we are ridiculous for ridiculing him? Maybe he'll call the ACLU on us!

Just Because...

...I care, if anyone would like to thank non-tax paying atheist Justin Vacula for the Nativity debacle at the courthouse, feel free to email him at either of these addresses. The photo at left is from his meetup.com profile.

justinvacula@kings.edu

or

blitzace255@hotmail.com

Send him some Christmas cheer!

Thanks St. Mary's of Dorrance Parishioner for the links! You officially Rock!

Come Together

When I started writing this post, my Irish was up, but then all of a sudden, it wasn't.

It was suggested that since we haven't had a Scumbag of the Day lately, that the atheist who just happens to go to a Catholic college, who just happened to call the ACLU and got the baby Jesus busted, would become a prime candidate for my coveted award.

But then reason and God's graces intervened, so now I am looking at this situation in a different way.

This single act will bring Christians together in a way this Christmas season which is not normally seen. Right now as I write this people are gathered where the manger once stood on our public ground in Christian solidarity. Waving flags and holding pictures of Nativities, and carrying plastic baby Jesus'. Would those people be there right now if this hadn't happened?

This single act has now brought Christ to the forefront of our Christmas celebration.

Unwittingly, this kid who does not believe in God will see true Christianity in action right before his eyes. Maybe the love of Christ will fill him up and his eyes will open.

Even if not, this kid has probably done more for Christmas this year than most of us have done.

Yes, it is terrible that they took our Nativity away. Yes, it is terrible how the ACLU bullies people at every turn. Yes, it is terrible how much power our courts now have over us, despite the intentions of the founders.

But better yet is the good that will come of this. Come together as Christians at this time of persecution. Show them our power.

Come to the courthouse rally this Sunday at 1pm. The Traddy family will be there.

Come to the Living Nativity Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 4-8pm and lend a hand, or just show up and look. Sing a carol. Bring some hot chocolate in a thermos and share it with the drummer boy. The Traddy family will be there.

This is a tremendous opportunity.

God does work in mysterious ways which we cannot understand.

God bless you and we'll see you at the courthouse!

At This Very Moment....

There are about 15 people standing outside the Courthouse of Corruption.

One of them has a picture of the Nativity and another holds a plastic baby Jesus.

Awesome.

If someone has a donkey, Mrs. Traddy (who is eight months pregnant) and I would like to borrow it. We want to walk around the courthouse grounds dressed as Mary and Joseph searching for a place to rest.

We won't be able to find one of course, because the corruptocrats inside took it away.

A Final Solution?

My sources tell me the Mass I told you about here has been put on hold by the Diocese, while they try to find a final solution for Traditionalists.

I can't say too much now, but as soon as possible I will fill you in on the plans.

In the meantime, fast and pray for those involved in the process.

Living Nativity!

Since the honchos who haven't been indicted at the courthouse decided to remove our Nativity display, there are plans afoot to hold a LIVING NATIVITY on our public ground outside the Courthouse of Corruption.

This coming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 to 8 pm each night. Contact Gene Stilp at 1-717-829-5600 to volunteer in any way. They need people for the display, to bring items and so forth. Gene can fill you in better on what is needed.

Also, if you cannot help out, be sure to visit, bring the kids, sing a carol or two, we're gonna have a great time.

I can't wait to hear your ideas on who the Traddy should portray at the Nativity. I'll be awaiting your comments!

Pro-Christmas Rally

In response to the nativity at the Luzerne House of Corruption (aka county court house) being taken away, there will be a pro Christmas/Hanukah rally on the steps this Sunday at 1pm.

For those of you who do not know, ACLU thugs threatened to sue the county if the Nativity and Minorah were not removed. Maryanne Petrilla, frightened of yet another lawsuit, quickly caved in, and both displays were removed.

Be sure to come to the rally and make these officials understand that the courthouse and grounds belong to US.

It Is Almost Soon

For those of you wondering whether it is 'soon' yet, it is.

Almost.

For those of you who are new and haven't read down aways, I reported here that a Traditional Mass will once again be offered in Wilkes-Barre.

What I can say is that a Diocesan priest who will be trained by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will offer the Mass at Saint Patrick's in Wilkes-Barre. Remember this post? Thanks to prayers, the Holy Spirit proves he can soften hearts.

We are hoping to have a meeting this Monday evening to iron out details, and then I will be able to give you all a proper post on the subject.

In the meantime, it would be nice to show our gratitude if you would call Saint Patrick's and thank Father McGahagan for allowing us to use the beautiful church at 823-1948. If you are in the Diocese and haven't visited Saint Pat's, stop in. It's gorgeous.

My Day

Traddy's not in a real good mood.

This morning, while pulling into my parking spot at the office my car stopped moving with a terrible grinding sound.

Getting out, I moved around to the left rear, half expecting to see my transmission laying on the ground.

I got to the right front and found my ball joint had snapped clean off, leaving my tire sticking out at an odd angle.

I had to be towed which took two hours, get picked up by the wife and take her back home and get back to the office.

So I lost about four hours of my day in all, and realized that if I had been on 81 when the joint snapped, there may not be anymore posts from the Traddy, and you'd all be wondering what the hell happened to me.

So now, in the glow of the Christmas tree I write this post, as I await tomorrow and the dreaded call from the mechanic.

I am relaxing with my Boswell rusticated 3/4 bent pipe, filled with a luxurious blend from Cornell and Diehl "Autumn Evening", which fills the homestead with the aroma of maple syrup and caramel.

And even though the 300 dollars or so for this repair will take a bite out of our Christmas money, my car can be fixed, my babe sleeps soundly upstairs, and I will be around to agitate at least another day.

God Bless!

Prayer And Mortification

After a lovely Mass this morning and breakfast at the Pittston Diner, I drove down to see the demolition of St. John the Baptist.

I wish I had my camera.

Only the church is left. Rubble is piled up in front of the doors.

A sobering vision.

Offer prayer and mortification in the hope that we can save more of our churches and fill them with faithful.

Blessed News!

I have today been informed that our Diocese has received unending graces from Our Lord Jesus Christ!

After a seven month absence, the Traditional Mass of the Ages is returning to Wilkes-Barre!

The Lord has softened the hearts of his clergy and filled them with His love and grace.

I will have Mass details soon.

Be sure to offer prayers of thanksgiving for this special gift from Our Lord.

Oath Against Modernism

Pope St. Pius X defined modernism as "the synthesis of all heresies". To combat this all-encompassing heresy from inflicting the Church he, by virtue of his Apostolic Authority, ordered all clergy, teachers of theology and seminarians to take the "Oath Against Modernism". This oath was the litmus test by which Catholic Orthodoxy was measured. The oath was taken from 1910 to 1966. It was abolished one year after Vatican II ended. If you are wondering why this oath was abolished please read it and you might start to understand why.

I ...firmly hold and accept each and every definition of the unerring teaching of the Church, with all she has maintained and declared, but especially those points of doctrine which expressly combat the errors of our times.

In the first place, I profess my belief that God, the beginning and end of all, can be surely known and also proved to exist by the natural light of reason from the things that are made, that is, from the visible works of the creation as a cause from its effects.

Next I recognize and acknowledge the external arguments of revelation, that is, divine facts, especially miracles and prophecies, as the surest sign of the divine origin of the Christian religion, and I hold that these are specially suited to the understanding of every age and of all men, even of our times.

Thirdly, I likewise hold with firm faith that the Church, the guardian and exponent of the revealed Word, was proximately and directly founded by Christ Himself, the true person of history, while He dwelt amongst us, and that she was also built upon Peter, the Prince of the Apostolic Hierarchy, and upon his successors to the end of time.

Fourthly, I sincerely receive the teaching of faith as transmitted in the same sense and meaning right down to us; and, therefore, I wholly reject the heretical notion of the evolution of dogmas, which pass from one sense to another alien to that the Church held from the start; and I likewise condemn every error whereby is substituted for divine deposit, entrusted by Christ to His spouse and by her to be faithfully guarded, a philosophic system or a creation of the human conscience, gradually refined by the striving of men and finally to be perfected hereafter by indefinite progress.

Fifthly, I hold for certain and sincerely profess that faith is not a blind religious sense making its way out of the hidden regions of the subliminal consciousness, morally untinged by the influence of heart and will, but is a true assent of the intellect to truth received from without by hearing, an assent whereby we believe to be true, because of the authority of all true God, whatever by the personal God, our Creator and Lord, has been spoken, testified and revealed. I further, with all due reverence, submit and with my whole might adhere to all the condemnations, declarations and directions contained in the encyclical letter Pascendi and in the decree Lamentabili, particularly regarding what is called the history of dogma.

I also reject the error of those who allege that the faith proposed by the Church may be in conflict with history and that Catholic dogmas in the sense in which they are now understood cannot be harmonized with the more truthful origins of Christianity. Moreover, I condemn and reject the opinion which declares that a Christian man of better culture can assume a dual personality, one as believer and another as historian, thus taking it to be permissible for the historian to hold fast what his faith as a believer contradicts, or to lay down premises from which there follows the falsity or the uncertainty of dogmas, provided only that these are not directly denied.

Likewise I reject that method of estimating and interpreting Holy Write which, setting aside the Church's tradition and the analogy of faith and the rules of the Apostolic See, adopts the rationalists' principles and with equal arbitrariness and rashness considers criticism of the text the only supreme rule. In like manner I reprobate the opinion of those who hold that a teacher of the science of historical theology or the writer on the subject must first put aside the notions previously conceived about the supernatural origin of Catholic tradition or about the divine aid promised for the perpetual preservation of each revealed truth; then that the writings of individual fathers must be interpreted solely by the data of science, without any reference to sacred authority, and with the freedom of judgment wherewith every profane record is usually examined.

Finally and in general, I declare myself to be far removed from the error of the modernists who hold that in Sacred tradition there is nothing inherently divine; or who - far worse still - admit it in a pantheistic sense: thus there would remain only a bare simple fact equal to the ordinary facts of history, viz., that the school started by Christ and His Apostles still finds men to support it by their energy, their shrewdness, their ability. Wherefore most firmly I retain and to my last breath will I retain the faith of the Fathers of the Church concerning the sure endowment of truth, which is, has been and ever will be in the succession of the episcopate from the Apostles (St. Irenaeus IV,C.26); not in such a way that we may hold what seems best and most fitting according to the refinement of each age, but that we never in any different wise understand the absolute and unchangeable truth preached from the beginning by the Apostles (Prasecript, C.28).

All this I promise that I will faithfully, entirely and sincerely keep and inviolably guard, and from this never in teaching or howsoever by word or writing in the least depart. So I promise, so I swear, so help me God, etc.

Pius X, Sept. 1, 1910 Sacrorum Antistitum.

The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception

Happy feast of The Immaculate Conception!

Today is a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States, a day on which we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (the Immaculate Conception has been, since 1846, the Patroness of the United States). Note that it is she, Mary herself, who is the Immaculate Conception; the day does not refer to Mary's conceiving Jesus by the Holy Ghost, but to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by Mary's father, St. Joachim. What makes her conception immaculate is not that she was conceived by the Holy Ghost of a virgin, as was Christ Our Lord, but that from the very moment of her conception, she was filled with grace by God, Who knew, in His omniscience, that she would say "yes" to the Angel Gabriel and become the Mother of the Savior. Exactly nine months from now, on September 8, we will celebrate Mary's birthday.

James 5:16 tells us that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" -- and who is more righteous than Mary, the woman chosen by God to bring forth His very Son? As Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote, "It may be objected: 'Our Lord is enough for me. I have no need of her.' But He needed her, whether we do or not. God, Who made the sun, also made the moon. The moon does not take away from the brilliance of the sun. All its light is reflected from the sun. The Blessed Mother reflects her Divine Son; without Him, she is nothing. With Him, she is the Mother of Men."

You will see here where I wrote of a specific devotion - the Three Hail Mary's. What day could be better to begin praying regularly to Our Lady than on this special feast, when God took this pristine vessel and made her the Mother of His only Son, Jesus Christ?

Opening Heaven with the Three Hail Mary's Devotion
One of the greatest means of salvation and one of the surest signs of predestination, is unquestionably, the devotion to the Most Blessed Virgin. All the holy doctors of the Church are unanimous in saying with St. Alphonsus of Liguori: "A devout servant of Mary shall never perish." The chief issue is to persevere faithfully until death in this devotion.

Numerous examples show how agreeable the three Hail Marys Devotion is to the Divine Mother and what special graces it draws, during life and at the hour of death, on those who never omit it for a single day.

This practice was revealed to St. Melchtilde (13th century) while she was beseeching Our Blessed Mother to assist her in her hour of death. Our Lady appeared to her and said:

"I will, certainly. But I also want you to say three special Hail Marys to me every day. The first will be in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that after God I have the greatest power in heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you. The second Hail Mary will be said in honor of the Son of God Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled. The third Hail Mary will be in honor of God the Holy Ghost Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight."

Our Blessed Mother also revealed to St. Gertrude the Great: "To any soul who faithfully prays the Three Hail Marys, I will appear at the hour of death in a splendor so extraordinary that it will fill the soul with heavenly consolation."

St. Leonard of Port Maurice, the celebrated missionary, had the Three Hail Marys recited morning and evening in honor of Mary Immaculate, to obtain the grace of avoiding all mortal sins during the day or night; moreover he promised in a special manner eternal salvation to all those who proved constantly faithful to this practice. He gave this devotion of Three Hail Marys as a penance in the confessional, especially for those who were struggling with sins of impurity.

Promises

1. Mary will appear to you at the hour of death and console the one who practices this devotion.

2. Mary will obtain for you special graces during life.

3. Avoidance of all mortal sin and in a special manner eternal salvation to all who practice this devotion with perserverance.

Practice

Recite morning and evening, three Hail Marys in honor of the three great privileges bestowed upon Our Blessed Mother by the most Blessed Trinity with this invocation at the end: for the morning: "O my Mother preserve me from mortal sin during this day." For the evening: "O my Mother preserve me from mortal sin during this night."

Indulgences

200 days granted by Leo XIII, 300 days for the members of the Archconfraternity of the Three Hail Marys by Benedict XV, and Apostolic Benediction by St. Pius X. Currently this would be considered a partial indulgence according to The Handbook of Indulgences.

Prayer ~ The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen+

Bad News, Modernists!

Pope Celebrates Ad Orientem
by Gregor Kollmorgen

Today, the Holy Father celebrated Mass with the members of the International Theological Commission, which has its yearly assembly in these days. The Mass was offered in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, which had been re-inaugurated in July after an extensive restoration work which included a repositioning of the altar so that Mass could be celebrated both versus populum and versus Deum/ad orientem liturgicum.

Today, Pope Benedict availed himself of this new possibility and celebrated Mass ad orientem. This is, as far as I am aware, the first time the Holy Father has publicly celebrated Mass in the traditional posture at a freestanding altar which allows for either form of celebration.

Pope Benedict thereby sends an important signal, underlining that this liturgical orientation is acceptable - and even encouraged - not only at altars which are fixed to the wall or to a reredos, and which therefore do not allow for a different manner of celebration, but at any altar where this is physically possible.

O Horrible Singer!

I heard a rumor there is to be a new cantor at the cathedral.

Behold!

Meeting Of The Minds

I spent some time today speaking with Bishop Emeritus James Timlin on certain goings on here in the Diocese.

A kinder, more gracious man of God I have yet to meet.

Please pray for him.

Also, please remember tomorrow is a Holy Day. Get thee to Mass!

"The Phantom Directive"

Thrilling movie title or business as usual at the chancery?

If you chose the latter, then you have chosen wisely!

The latest nonsense coming out of the Scranton Diocese chancery is that NO priest can say the Old Mass anywhere other than the cathedral.

With the exception of the FSSP guys at St. Michael's, I understand.

I have spent nearly two weeks in vain attempting to contact Monsignor Bambera (delegate to the Cardinal), Fr. Clarke (his assistant), Fr. Washington (the director of worship), Fr. Polednak (the Episcopal Vicar for the Southern region), and William Genello (Diocesan mouthpiece).
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No one wanted to comment on this story. Let me make one more attempt: If any of you chancery guys would like to add to the record, you have my email and my phone number, please feel free to weigh in on the issue.

So, I am forced to move on without their input. Here's what happened:

A certain diocesan priest wanted to say the Old Mass at his parish. He was soon contacted by the chancery. Father Polednak, his Episcopal Vicar told him that there was a 'diocesan directive' compelling priests to celebrate the Old Mass only at the cathedral. And nowhere else.

When I and several others got wind of this we collectively said "Whoa! Hold yer horses, partner. That's not what the Pope said!"

I now present you with the text of His Holiness' Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (which is more than the Diocese can do with their 'phantom directive') from article 2 "...each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary."

So we can plainly see, the diocesan priest who wished to celebrate the Old Mass at HIS OWN CHURCH was well within his rights to do so, and Fr. Polednak was well outside of his. A persistent question is how does the directive of an Episcopal Vicar trump the Motu Proprio of a Pope?

Chancery guys? Anything?

(insert cricket chirping)

I hesitate to say Polednak was lying, but no one at the chancery was willing to provide me with a copy of the directive, including Polednak. I have to think this directive does not exist, which means that there is an attempt here to deny both Catholic priests and Catholic faithful of their rights as Catholics. Even if it does exist, the fact that they would use it when they know full well that it is contrary to the Pope's wishes is evil of itself. They are disobedient, and they are not carrying out God's plans for His Church.

I'll leave it up to you what their agenda is.

Other things are in motion concerning this issue, but until I can make them known to you, please pray that our Lord will soften the hearts of the men at our chancery, and that His will be done.

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Leather Wearing Men And Sex Tents. Oh. And San Francisco!

Concerned citizens of San Francisco: People are having sex outside at the leather fair.

Leather men: Then we'll put up "sex tents."

City supervisor: Sounds good to me!

Don't believe me? Only in San Francisco, pervert capital of the country. Go here for the story.

How do I find this stuff?

Save Our Schools

Father Z found a great article from The Catholic Spirit on How to save a Catholic School.

I wonder how long the Diocese will continue down this road of closing school after school as they systematically jettison the school system and our children along with it. Let's pray our next Bishop sees the value of a truly Catholic education and is able to halt the gangrenous growth that has infected our schools for so long.

Here is one place to start: read this article to see how they saved St. Matthew's school in St. Paul.

While most inner-city schools continue to struggle in a difficult economy, one school — St. Matthew’s in St. Paul — has been experiencing unprecedented growth.

Last year, enrollment at the school increased 30 percent. This year, despite the worst recession since World War II, enrollment continues to grow.

What’s the secret? It depends on whom you ask.

Like other urban schools, St. Matthew’s had been losing students at an average of 10 to 15 per year. When the kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school’s enrollment dipped down below 140 students, principal Doug Lieser realized he needed to find a way to increase enrollment and financial support if the school was to survive.

The first thing Lieser did was conduct a survey asking parents why they chose St. Matthew’s for their children. Their answers surprised him.

Continue here

The Twinkle In My Eye

My little baby is two today!

Say a prayer for her, please!

St. Patrick's Says "Sorry. No".

The Traditional Old Mass was requested recently of Father McGahagan, Administrator over at Saint Patrick's in Wilkes-Barre.

The person who requested it was an old friend of McGaghan, and still he refused.

I can understand his refusal to me over a year ago, he didn't know me from a hill of beans. But to refuse his old friend who heads up the local pro-life center?

Wait.

It wasn't even a refusal.

When I asked him, he just LOOKED at me, as if lobsters were crawling out of my ears.

Then I asked him again to at least consider it. Again he just looked at me, and blinked. He didn't even respond.

So guess what?

St. Pat's gets no more money from me.

You win some, you lose some, right Father?

Gimme The Scoop!

I have had emails recently from people giving me 'scoops' on different stories pertaining to the Diocese.

So let me announce, if you have a 'scoop' on a particular person, or parish, feel free to contact me, and we will see what we can find out.

Just like we are rooting out corruption in our government, lets do it in our church too.

You may email me at therockintraddy@gmail.com

How Much More?

Why doesn't she wear a burqa in her next PETA ad?

From The Catholic League:

It would be hard to find an organization in the U.S. which treats animals more unethically than People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In 2008, as demonstrated by the Center for Consumer Freedom, PETA killed 95 percent of the adoptable pets in its care. Indeed, it killed an average of 6 pets a day last year at its Norfolk, Virginia headquarters, placing only seven in adoptive homes. Between 1998 and 2008, it killed a total of 21,339 cats and dogs. To top it off, despite a budget of $32 million, PETA does not operate an adoption shelter.

Now the animal killers have launched a Christmas campaign that exploits Christian symbols. It features Playboy queen Joanna Krupa: before Thanksgiving it showed a side angle of her naked from the waist up holding a dog and a rosary; she is adorned with angel wings and a halo. The inscription below reads, “Be an Angel for Animals: ALWAYS ADOPT. NEVER BUY.”

Today PETA bares Krupa on a Los Angeles billboard. According to Hollywood.com, she appears “as a winged angel, covered by a carefully-placed crucifix.” Once again, the target is pet stores.

The fact is that cats and dogs are a lot safer in pet stores than they are in the hands of PETA employees. Moreover, pet stores don’t rip off Christian iconography and engage in cheap irreligious scams.

PETA is a fraud. It also has a long and disgraceful record of exploiting Christian and Jewish themes to hawk its ugly services. Those who support this organization sorely need a reality check. They also need a course in Ethics 101.