VOLUNTEER?

 

ALWAYS THE SAME

“…He who possesses true virtue does not change nor is he disturbed by anything, like a rock in the midst of the sea beaten by raging waves. Let them despise you, let them slander you, let them mock you, let them call you hypocrites, false devotees: none of this takes away the peace of your soul; you love those who insult you just as much as those who praise you; do not cease, for this reason, to do them good and to protect them, even if they speak ill of you; continue in your prayers, in your confessions, in your communions, continue attending Holy Mass as if nothing had happened.”

St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars

THE WILL OF ISABEL THE CATHOLIC: THE GOOD TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS

Queen Isabel made her will at the castle of La Mota, in Medina del Campo, on October 12, 1504.

On November 23, she added a codicil, in Chapter XII of which she expresses her concern for the inhabitants of the newly discovered American lands.

Therefore, she asks her husband Ferdinand, her daughter Princess Juana, and her son-in-law Archduke Philip to ensure that the Indians are treated with justice and respect and to remember that the main purpose for which they have been granted the territories of the New World is evangelization:

"Whereas, at the time that the islands and mainland of the Ocean Sea, discovered and undiscovered, were granted to us by the Holy Apostolic See, our main intention was, while we begged Pope Alexander VI of good memory, who made us the said concession, to try to induce and bring the peoples therein and convert them to our Holy Catholic Faith, and to send to the said islands and mainland of the Ocean Sea pearls, religious men, clerics, and other learned and God-fearing people, to instruct the neighbors and inhabitants thereof in the Catholic Faith, and to teach and indoctrinate them good customs and to exercise due diligence in this regard, as more fully  In the Letters of the said concession it is contained, therefore I most affectionately implore the King, my Lord, and I charge and command the said Princess my daughter and the said Prince her husband, that they do and comply with this, and that this be their main objective, and that they exercise great diligence in this regard, and that they do not consent or allow the neighboring Indians and residents of the said Indies and mainland, conquered and yet to be conquered, to receive any harm in their persons or property; but I command that they be well and justly treated. And if they have received any harm, that they remedy and provide for it."

THE SCALES

For the truly wise, prosperity and adversity, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, honors and disdain, life and death are things that, in themselves, are neither desirable nor abhorrent. If they contribute to the glory of God and your eternal happiness, they are good and desirable; otherwise, they are evil and abhorrent.

Saint Robert Bellarmine

THE REAL CAUSE OF POLARIZATION

 

THIS IS THE MASS THAT SANCTIFIED THE CHURCH FOR CENTURIES

For centuries before 1970, this was the way Mass was celebrated throughout the world, the same Mass that nourished the souls of saints and sinners for centuries. The priest stood before the altar with the people, offering a sacrifice to God, present in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. With the exception of the sermon to the people, the Mass was sung, chanted, or spoken entirely in Latin.

⚜️This is the Mass where St. Joseph of Cupertino was seen levitating.

⚜️This is the Mass that St. Gregory the Great inherited, developed, and solidified.

⚜️This is the Mass that St. Thomas Aquinas celebrated, wrote with love, and contributed to (he composed his own Mass and the Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi).

⚜️This is the Mass that Saint Louis IX, the King of France, attended three times a day.

⚜️This is the Mass that Saint Philip Neri had to distract himself from before celebrating it, because it so easily sent him into an ecstasy that lasted for hours.

⚜️This is the Mass that was first celebrated on the shores of the Americas by Spanish and French missionaries, as the North American Martyrs.

⚜️This is the Mass that priests said in secret in England and Ireland during the dark days of persecution, and this is the Mass that Blessed Miguel Pro Juárez risked his life to celebrate before being captured and martyred by the Mexican government.

⚜️This is the Mass that Blessed John Henry Newman said he would celebrate every waking moment of his life if he could.

⚜️This is the Mass that Father Frederick Faber called "the most beautiful thing this side of heaven."

⚜️This is the Mass so beloved by great artists such as Evelyn Waugh, David Jones, and Graham Greene that they mourned its loss with grief and alarm.

⚜️This is the Mass so revered that even non-Catholics such as Agatha Christie and Iris Murdoch came to its defense in the 1970s.

This is the Mass persecuted and fought against by modernism because it perfectly and unambiguously expresses holy Catholic doctrine and must be restored throughout the Church 

SAINT ATHANASIUS DIXIT

 "It will always be beneficial to strive to deepen the content of the ancient tradition, the doctrine and faith of the Catholic Church, as the Lord handed it down to us, as the apostles preached it, and as the Holy Fathers preserved it. Indeed, on it is the foundation of the Church, so that anyone who departs from this faith ceases to be a Christian and no longer deserves the name."

Saint Athanasius, Epistle to Serapion.

THE MURDERER BELIEVED THAT HIS COWARDLY ACT WOULD SILENCE HIM...

Note: We didn't know him, nor do we know all of his beliefs, only that he was pro-life, but whatever his beliefs, we don't need to agree with everything to condemn the treacherous murder that left two young children orphaned and an inconsolable widow and made him famous in ways he never imagined in life.

PROPOSES REFORMING LITURGICAL REFORM IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRUE CATHOLIC TRADITION

The Liturgical Revolution of Paul VI “Implanted Protestantism in the Heart of the Church”

By Edwin Botero Correa

September 8, 2025. Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has initiated a profound debate on the need to reform fundamental aspects of the Mass according to the rite of Paul VI, known as the Novus Ordo, pointing out historical parallels with Martin Luther’s liturgical proposals that have generated considerable discussion in theological circles.

The current structure of the Novus Ordo, implemented after the Second Vatican Council, grants the celebrant a certain flexibility in several moments of the celebration—a characteristic that, according to various liturgical experts, can give rise to interpretations and practices not always in accord with Catholic tradition. This liturgical freedom, although intended to facilitate the participation of the faithful, has been a matter of concern for theologians respectful of and faithful to Sacred Tradition, not without weighty reasons on their part.

Among the proposed modifications, a return to the celebration ad orientem stands out, in which both the priest and the congregation face the liturgical east during the most sacred parts of the Mass, especially from the offertory onward. This common orientation in prayer represents, according to experts, a physical expression of the unity of the Church in her worship of God.

A crucial point of the suggested reform is the restoration of the Roman Canon as the only Eucharistic Prayer permitted in the Roman Rite. The term “canon,” meaning “rule” or “norm,” underscores the importance of maintaining an established and venerable form of Eucharistic prayer, avoiding the multiplicity of options that characterizes the current rite.

The manner of receiving Holy Communion is also under consideration. It is proposed to return to the age-old practice of receiving it kneeling and on the tongue, a gesture that emphasizes the reverence and adoration owed to the Blessed Sacrament. This form of reception expresses more clearly the faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The offertory prayers have been identified as a particularly problematic area. The current prayers, inspired by blessings from the Jewish Sabbath ritual and containing elements from the Talmud, do not adequately express the sacrificial character of the Mass, reducing its meaning to that of a simple commemorative meal. This historical modification reflects, according to critics, a direct influence of Martin Luther’s thought, who firmly opposed the Catholic conception of the Mass as a sacrifice.

The preservation of Latin, at least in the Roman Canon, is presented as another essential element for maintaining continuity with the Church’s liturgical tradition. The use of the Latin language, beyond its historical and universal value, serves as a tangible link with the Church’s two-thousand-year-old heritage.

These proposed reforms are framed within a broader context of reflection on the postconciliar liturgy and its relationship with Catholic tradition. Such modifications would strengthen Catholic identity and correct the deviations introduced during the liturgical reform of Paul VI.

The discussion on these proposed changes continues to generate debate among liturgists, theologians, and the faithful, reflecting a tension between tradition and renewal in the liturgical life of the Catholic Church. The dialogue on these fundamental issues remains a vital part of theological and ecclesial reflection on the best way to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

SEPTEMBER 8: NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN MARY

“This is the Virgin who conceived in her womb, this is the Virgin who gave birth to a son… She is the gate of the sanctuary, which no one shall pass through except the God of Israel alone. This gate is the blessed Mary; of her it was written: ‘The Lord shall pass through her,’ and it shall be shut after her childbirth; for she conceived as a virgin and gave birth as a virgin.”

~Saint Ambrose (Epist. 42,4 PL, XVI)

Lope de Vega, born in 1562 and one of the most representative poets and playwrights of the Spanish Golden Age, composed the following:

Let the angels sing today,

for You are born, great Lady,

and let them rehearse, from now,

for when God Himself is born.

Let them sing today, for they come

to behold their lovely Queen,

for the fruit they await from You

is He through whom they find grace.

Let them proclaim, O Lady, of You,

that You shall be their Sovereign,

and let them rehearse, from now,

for when God Himself is born.

For in fourteen years’ time,

when You reach that blessed age,

they shall see the good You give us,

the remedy for so many ills.

Let them sing and proclaim, through You,

that from today they have their Queen,

and let them rehearse, from now,

for when God Himself is born.

And we, who await with longing

that Bethlehem may soon arrive,

let us prepare as well

our hearts and our hands.

Go on sowing, O Lady,

peace within our hearts,

and let us rehearse, from now,

for when God Himself is born. Amen.

EVASION: THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF THE YOUTH

“Be free, don’t tie yourself down.”

That is the catechism the modern world endlessly repeats to young people. It has convinced them that promise is a chain, that commitment is a prison, that sacrifice is madness. The entire culture has become a school for fugitives: no one must ever say “forever,” no one must embrace the cross of fidelity, no one must remain.

And yet, the paradox bursts forth in every heart: if everything is so free, why does everything feel so empty? If there are thousands of “contacts,” why is no one truly known? If love is so liquid, why does loneliness echo so loudly?

The new commandment of evasion does not liberate—it enslaves. The young person who flees every commitment does not conquer freedom, but condemns himself to the perpetual anxiety of never having a home. A ship without a harbor does not sail farther: it is lost. A heart that never binds itself does not soar higher: it bleeds out in the air.

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I. THE EMPTINESS AS PROOF

No theory is needed to confirm it: just look. The generation that boasts most of its options is the one least able to choose. The one that proclaims freedom the loudest is the most enslaved to anxiety. The one that talks the most about connections is the loneliest.

The emptiness is no coincidence: it is evidence. The human heart was not made to jump from one experience to another, but to remain in love. When that permanence is denied, one falls into nothingness.

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II. THE DISORDER OF THE END

St. Thomas teaches clearly: every being acts toward an end, and man’s ultimate end is beatitude—that is, God. But the evader has twisted the scale: he has placed his happiness in what is fleeting. He seeks fulfillment in pleasure, in comfort, in immediate gratification.

It is not that he loves evil, but that he seeks the good where it is not. And thus his life becomes constant frustration: because he tries to drink water in the desert. Evasion is, metaphysically, the absurd attempt to find happiness in nothingness.

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III. THE VICE THAT ATROPHIES THE WILL

Evasion is not an accident: it is a vice. And vice, as the Angelic Doctor would say, is not merely a bad habit but a corruption of nature. Virtue perfects the will; vice mutilates it.

The culture of escape has bred young people whose wills have atrophied. It is not that they do not want to commit: it is that they no longer can. Their will, tamed by flight, has become incapable of a definitive “yes.” Thus, the evader is not a rebellious hero, but a weak slave, unable to embrace his own vocation.

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IV. LOVE REDUCED TO INSTINCT

Love, in its fullest sense, is an act of rational will. Animals move by instinct; man, by reason and choice. But in the culture of evasion, love has been reduced to feeling, to appetite, to passing chemistry.

That is why bonds are so fragile: because they depend on emotions that change with mood. “Love without metaphysics” is not love: it is appetite disguised. And appetite does not build homes, does not sustain marriages, does not give children.

The other is no longer an end, but a means. No longer a soul created in the image of God, but an object for consumption. That is why modern relationships look so much like store windows: one chooses, one uses, one changes, one discards.

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V. SOCIETY AS A SCHOOL OF EVADERS

The young person did not invent this flight: he was trained in it. The weakened family did not teach sacrifice; the school suppressed rigor; the contemporary Church preferred silence to truth; the market turned the neighbor into a product; technology fabricated a virtual world where everything is reversible, ephemeral, disposable.

Never have there been so many “friends,” and never so little friendship. Never so many couples, and never so little love. Never so many freedoms, and never so much fear. Evasion is the unwritten commandment of a system that needs men without roots, without permanence, without home.

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VI. THE SIN OF EVASION

Evasion is not neutral: it is sin. It is the denial of sacrifice, and therefore the denial of love. It is the vital heresy of a generation that rejects the cross. But without the cross there is no love, and without love there is no life.

The Gospel said it centuries ago: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Evasion whispers the opposite: “There is no greater mistake than to lay down your life for anyone.” A culture that lives this way has already condemned itself to sterility.

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VII. GRACE AS REMEDY

Here St. Thomas is blunt: wounded nature cannot rise on its own. The will sickened by original sin has no strength to pronounce a definitive “yes.”

Grace is not an ornament: it is the only medicine. Confession, the Eucharist, prayer—these are not accessory rites, but the very places where man receives the strength to promise and to remain. The “yes forever” of marriage, of religious vocation, or of faithful friendship is not a human feat but a miracle of Grace.

Without God, every commitment ends in flight. With God, even the impossible—perpetual fidelity—becomes a path of holiness.

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VIII. THE BEAUTY OF PERMANENCE

It is not enough to speak of truth and goodness. Beauty too unmasks evasion. Because evasion is ugly. A life made of flights is like a broken painting, like a symphony interrupted at every bar: it lacks form, integrity, harmony.

Commitment, on the other hand, is beautiful. The fidelity of a long marriage is more splendid than any showcase of fleeting pleasures. A vocation sustained over time has the majesty of a cathedral standing tall. A friendship that endures years and trials is more melodious than any passing song.

Evasion promises youth but delivers ugliness. Sacrifice seems harsh, but shines with splendor. Tradition knew it: the Cross, terrifying to the carnal eye, is the highest beauty of love, for in it is revealed the perfect order of self-giving.

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IX. BEING AND PERMANENCE

Modernity has divinized change, the ephemeral, the reversible. But St. Thomas teaches that being itself is permanence, that mutability is accidental, and that human fidelity participates in the very being of God, who is eternal and unchanging.

The evader does not know it, but when he flees every commitment, he renounces not only love but being itself. He dissolves into nothingness, because nothingness is the only thing that does not remain. The man who promises and fulfills, on the other hand, partakes in the stability of God himself.

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CONCLUSION: FROM “MAYBE” TO “YES”

The modern commandment of evasion has turned the world into a graveyard of broken promises. It has produced empty homes, fragile friendships, weary souls.

But the heart knows what ideology denies: that only the one who promises and remains is happy. Evasion leaves ruins; commitment raises cathedrals. Flight produces ugliness; fidelity engenders beauty. Caprice is smoke; promise is rock.

The young person has before him two paths: to keep worshiping the idol of the ephemeral and end up lost in nothingness, or to dare to say a definitive “yes” and discover therein the only true freedom.

For only the one who gives himself without fleeing lives; only the one who remains loves; and only the one who loves already participates, here and now, in eternity.

Oscar Méndez O.

Father Reginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, OP. said

 Respect for all opinions, however false or perverse, is nothing but the proud denial of respect due to Truth. Frankly, to love the true and the good, we must not sympathize with the wrong and the evil."

- Father Reginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, OP.

Saint Francis dixit