Why the Left Despairs

In 1903 the young Bertrand Russell gave ultimate expression to the tragedy which is implicit in the Cartesian separation of mind from matter. Here is how he viewed life:

"That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of though and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins – all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be safely built."

With a worldview like this, is it any wonder that so many in the left must practice "unyielding despair!" They cannot practice the virtue of hope.

Taken for the book of Lynn White Jr., Machina Ex Deo: Essays in the Dynamism of Western Culture, Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1968, p. 60-61.

We Grow Old by Deserting Our Ideals

Gen. Douglas MacArthur found a way to stay young by keeping his ideals.

General Douglas MacArthur was so inspired by Samuel Ullman’s poem that he popularized it and kept a framed copy in his office while Supreme Allied Commander in Japan. He quoted it so often in his speeches that it became known as “MacArthur's Credo.”

The Poem:

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years.
People grow old only by deserting their ideals.
Years wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair . . .
these are the quick equivalents of the
long years that bow the head and turn
the growing spirit back to dust.

Whether 70 or 16, there is, in every being’s heart the love of
wonder, the sweet amazement of the stars, and the star-like
things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events,
the unfailing childlike appetite for “What Next?”

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt,
as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear,
as young as your hope, as old as your despair.

So long as your heart receives messages of
beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from
the earth, from man and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When all the wires are down, and all the
central places of your heart are covered with
the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism,
then, and only then, are you grown old indeed,
and may God have mercy on your soul.

Can't the Pro-Life American Be Treated with Civility?

Written by John Horvat II
About the only thing more certain than the fact that hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans go out into the streets nationwide every January 22 is the fact that the official establishment media will ignore or belittle their efforts.

As activists nationwide gather on the date of the fateful Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, they know they will not get a fair hearing. If media do print stories, they will generally minimize the numbers and passion of those who brave cold winter weather to appear in Washington and other capitals. Reporters will always find a few pro-abortion counter-protesters amid the pro-life throngs to present disproportionally “both sides” of the story. More often than not however, the media will simply ignore this groundswell of Americans who enter the public square to voice their concerns. It is as if there is an unwritten rule that this story be forever unwritten.

Such treatment speaks volumes of the state of the nation. There has been much talk about a lack of civility in our society. The blame has curiously been shifted to a lack of public discourse.

Yet, the March for Life and other such rallies are healthy expressions of a desire for public discourse. These are striking manifestations of Americans asking for a voice in the public square. This huge movement has converged upon Washington for 38 years, for example, without a single incident of violence in its whole history. With the greatest of civility, participants have been courteous, compassionate and prayerful. At similar peaceful events all across the country we see a cross-section of every major group in America–all without any violent rhetoric. They are ever younger and more enthusiastic. They are as American as apple pie.

All they ask for their effort is a fair hearing–a voice in the debate, some recognition and respect for their great efforts. They want the other side of the issue to be told. All they receive from most official media is to be ignored, belittled if not scorned. Pro-life Americans are blamed for creating a climate of hostility and hate for the “crime” of merely disagreeing with establishment media on these issues. They are unjustly condemned as guilty by association when crazed individuals (with leftist anarchist views) like Jared Loughner fire upon a crowd. That is to say, the pro-life American is treated like a second-class citizen without any civility in this one-sided debate which hardly qualifies as discourse.

Massive 38th March for Life Reflects Youthful Resolve to Stop Abortion

Written by Thomas Schneider

When abortion activist Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, saw last year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C. she was utterly astounded: “I just thought, my gosh, they are so young,” she told Newsweek. “There are so many of them, and they are so young.”

Abortion advocates like Keenan must be uneasy with the "so-many-so-young" trend. However, as leaders of the pro-abortion movement get older and focus on retirement, the pro-life movement is ever more youthful, numerous and vibrant. And nowhere is the resilience and vitality of the pro-life movement more apparent than at the annual March for Life, where hundreds of thousands of Americans stand against the slaughter of the unborn.

An Estimated 300,000 Marchers
On Monday morning, January 24, busload after busload of pro-lifers rolled into the Capitol eager to peacefully oppose abortion and roll back the culture of death. Bishops, priests and religious were also there as parishes and schools came to protest the slaughter of the innocents.

Over 300,000 pro-life marchers filled Constitution Avenue on their way to the United States Supreme Court.

As the march proceeded up Constitution Ave., its sheer size was massive. The crowd–estimated at 300,000–filled the width of the avenue from side to side and stretched into the horizon as far as the eye could see. What a sight.

Why don’t the major media networks give this any real attention? The reason is simple: Like a barometer, the march indicates that the pro-life movement is alive and well. The liberal media would rather ignore this fact.

But marchers brave the cold not for media attention but to make reparation before the throne of God for the sin of abortion. Many recite the rosary. Banners and signs fill the esplanade. The event, so ably organized by March for Life president Nellie Gray, also brings together a veritable who’s who in pro-life America with cardinals and bishops, senators and congressmen.

A statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried by a TFP honor guard wearing the TFP ceremonial habit. Many in the huge crowd prayed the rosary and would reverently make the sign of the cross as they passed.

TFP in Action
Tradition Family Property Student Action volunteers were present together with a large contingent of over 120 members, supporters and friends, who carried banners and eighteen-foot TFP standards and distributed this year’s TFP statement: “Ten More Good Reasons to Fight Against Abortion.”

A TFP honor guard wearing the TFP ceremonial habit escorted the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The student body of St. Louis de Montfort Academy of Herndon, Penn. was also present, and The American TFP was pleased to receive contingents from organizations in Italy (Voglio Vivere), Germany (SOS Leben), and France (Droit de Naitre).

As in past marches, the TFP’s Holy Choirs of Angels marching band played a selection of patriotic hymns and American marches. The ensemble included brass, fifes, drums and bagpipes, which were greatly appreciated by the passing crowds.

Student Conference
Before the march, students gathered at the TFP headquarters for a two-day conference on the leadership role of Catholic men. The seminar was honored by the presence of Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza, a direct descendant of two crusader kings, St. Louis IX of France and St. Ferdinand III of Castile.

A line-up of informative lectures sparked lively study circles and thought-provoking discussion. “I really learned a lot during Mr. Gustavo Solimeo’s talk on the Dictatorship of Equality,” said Joseph Jordan, age 17. “My generation is facing very challenging times, but after this conference, I feel well prepared to meet the challenge and fight the good fight.”

This year also marks the first Louisiana Life March which gathered over 3,000 people who marched to the steps of the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Rallies Multiply
The March for Life in Washington is the largest of many similar events held nationwide to protest the tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade. For the seventh consecutive year, the Walk for Life in California has been gaining momentum. An estimated 45,000 participants attended this year.

While many TFP Supporters, led by TFP member Philip Calder, joined this West Coast rally, for the first time, a Louisiana Life March also kicked off in Baton Rouge on January 22, which members of TFP—Louisiana were happy to support.

Persevering and Confiding
For the last 38 years, the pro-life movement has organized, protested and prayed. It has challenged the pro-abortion movement and put it on the defensive. What is needed now is confident public action to finish the task at hand.

“With an unshakable confidence and determined insistence, we must continue our peaceful and legal fight against abortion.”

As the TFP 2011 pro-life message states: “With an unshakable confidence and determined insistence, we must continue our peaceful and legal fight against abortion. It is with certainty of the justice of our cause that we have recourse to Our Lady who at Fatima added a final certainty that these evils will be overcome and we will see the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.”

Prince Bertrand Speaks on Our Lady in St. Louis

Why does Our Lady weep? This was the timely theme of a talk given by Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza to a large crowd of Marian devotees.

On January 14-16, Prince Bertrand visited the city of St. Louis, Mo., named after his ancestor, to deliver the keynote speech at the Twelfth Annual Marian Conference at the Millennium Hotel near the Gateway Arch. The Saturday afternoon talk was warmly received by the nearly 900 who gathered in the main ballroom.

The theme of the whole Marian conference was “Trust in Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church. St. Louis’ Archbishop Robert Carlson officially opened the Marian event. The well-organized conference also featured notable Catholic speakers like Father Bill Casey, Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J., Dr. Robert Moynihan, and Mr. Carl Malburg.

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was present throughout the whole weekend adding to the atmosphere of graces and blessings. The statue which shed tears in New Orleans in 1972 coincided with the topic of the Prince’s talk.

Prince Bertrand raised the question as to why Our Lady as a mother would weep over her children. He spoke at length about the great accomplishments of Christendom, which were fruits of the Redemption. The fall of Christendom was obviously a cause for the sorrow of Our Lady.

Statue of the International Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima photographed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1972 miraculously weeping real human tears.

In this respect, he outlined this fall by citing the central thesis of the book, Revolution and Counter-Revolution, by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. He showed how Christendom fell through a series of Revolutions that attacked Christian civilization. He emphasized modern examples of this process especially those secular trends that aim to persecute the Church for holding true to Her teachings and morality. This rejection of the fruits of the Redemption, he said, was one major reason why Our Lady weeps.

The Prince also cited the crisis inside the Church. The process of self-destruction of the Church mentioned by Paul VI and subsequent Popes have caused enormous confusion, abuses and chaos among the faithful. This process is another great cause of the tears and sorrow of Our Lady.

However, while the Prince showed the gravity of the present hour, he stressed reasons for hope. He spoke of the prophecies of many saints like Saint Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Mary of Agreda who foresaw not only the tribulations of the present times but also the restoration of Christian civilization. Several apparitions of Our Lady especially those of LaSalette and Fatima mention this restoration.

“While it is clear why Our Lady weeps,” Prince Bertrand concluded, “it is even clearer that we cannot be indifferent in face of so copiously shed tears.”

Our Lady asks of her children that they ammend their lives, do penance and offer up prayers and sacrifices. She asks that they live up to the privilege and glory of being soldiers of Christ conferred upon them in the sacrament of Confirmation. Thus, the Prince called on all to make of these maternal requests a program of life especially in light of the Fatima Message.

Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza (left) visits Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion in the Benton Park neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo.

The Prince is the brother and heir to Prince Louis, the present Head of the Imperial House of Brazil. In his own country, he actively pursues his many activities in defense of Christian tradition, the family and every man's right to private property and free enterprise. Faithful to the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church, he is outspoken in defense of the innocent unborn and is active in the pro-family and pro-life movement around the world.

While in St. Louis, Prince Bertrand was warmly welcomed at Saint Francis de Sales Oratory by Canon Michael Wiener where he attended Holy Mass on Sunday in a place of honor in the sanctuary, a privilege traditionally granted to royalty. He also visited the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion, an historic home that reflects the city’s rich French and early American culture.

St. Sebastian: Pagan Manliness and False Christian Patience

Consideration on the Feast of St. Sebastian - January 20 Written by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira It is the lucid, calm, and serious look of a man accustomed to analyzing the world with a truly admirable sense of calm. If we compare the features of this third-century Roman, represented in a splendid sculpture from the Capitoline Palace, with those of the famous Apollo Belvedere, its irregularities become evident. In this sense, we could not exactly call this man handsome. Nonetheless, no one can deny that his countenance possesses a certain element of beauty, mainly a moral beauty. The contours of the face and skull are well proportioned. All of his features are balanced, strong, and regular, and all find their highest and most vivid expression in his gaze. It is the lucid, calm, and serious look of a man accustomed to analyzing the world with a truly admirable sense of command and with confidence in his own abilities. It is a look that reveals a soul of manly temperament, capable of confronting the trials and uncertainties of life with strength and nobility. Such is the character of the Roman soldier, as we know from history. He had those qualities that enabled him to spread Rome's great accomplishments: the Empire, law, literary and artistic masterpieces. In the same third century, Saint Sebastian served as the commander of the imperial bodyguard under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximilian. This guard comprised the army's elite and, for the people of Rome, embodied the ideal of manliness. We know of no existing document that describes the actual features of this glorious martyr, but everything leads us to believe that he would have been even stronger and more serious than the anonymous Roman in the first picture. This is so because Saint Sebastian was a Catholic. Grace, which elevates and fortifies nature, would, far from weakening the virtues of the Roman, render these same virtues incomparably greater. How, then, could the noble Praetorian officer of the guard resemble this youth, who, while riddled with arrows, looks the very opposite of Christian mortification, fortitude, and seriousness? Certain works of art discreetly contradict the Church's teaching about moral perfection. The painting presents a youth comely of face and body, quite assured of his good looks and satisfied with showing them off. His face has a sentimental and capricious expression. His posture is that of one who, though somewhat weary of standing, indolently enjoys the sun and the breeze. The tree serves him as a convenient prop, and he adroitly manages to support his feet comfortably on two sawed off stumps. The arrows cause him not the least pain. Nothing in his person conveys the impression that he is going to die. Thoughts of God and of eternal life, a prayer for final perseverance, prayers for Holy Church, a vigorous rebuke or a word of kindness to his torturers - none of this is expressed or represented in the picture. One could say that this youth, bored with being alone, merely waits for someone to find him and return him to his everyday life. In short, this is a morally mediocre figure, concerned exclusively about himself - and with the world insofar as it affects him. He belongs to the moral family of banal souls. Artistically, the work is a masterpiece, ascribed to the immortal brush of Botticelli. But the master should not have titled it Saint Sebastian. Rather, he should have left out the arrows, placed the youth on the ground, and called the work Vain Young Man Basking in the Sun. Why these comments? To help us perceive all the evil that the pagan Renaissance caused to souls by spreading an impalpable but contagious state of mind through its art, a state of mind that discreetly contradicted all the ideas of the Church about moral perfection. Furthermore, it is a warning for Catholics in face of the much more serious deviations and aberrations of numerous modern artists!

Why We Need Our Lady

Although we receive the necessary graces for our salvation, we still need special graces to persevere. This is because the process of the decadence of a soul generally follows a pattern.

First, one commits acts of ingratitude that cause a retraction of grace. This causes the person in the state of grace to deteriorate slowly and stand in need of exceptional graces. When graces dwindle, one goes from one abuse to the next, until eventually falling into mortal sin.

Devotion to Our Lady is crucial in obtaining the necessary graces to save the soul from this process. We need an intercessor who supplements this gap with requests for additional graces, so that we might have sufficient graces for our salvation.

Our Lady obtains for us the graces necessary to attain salvation. The mere fact that we are devoted to her makes us pleasing to God Who is thus predisposed to answer our requests. However, human nature is so weak that we often abuse grace to such an extent that it is difficult to find those who practice sufficient fidelity to save themselves without Our Lady’s intervention.

One might ask if this means that Our Lady is not the Mediatrix of all graces, but only of extraordinary graces. No, she also obtains the minimum of essential graces for us. However, our malice serves to demonstrate that we cannot persevere in the spiritual life without her full support.

Imagine a friend who is in a “state of grace,” so to speak, in relation to you. In other words, he is a friend who depends completely on your kindness, and generally acts correctly toward you. However, although this friend does not commit grave faults against you, he nevertheless constantly commits small faults such as lack of courtesy, respect or affection. Of course, to the degree that he insists upon doing this, you gradually withdraw your friendship from him. If he commits a grave fault, it is understandable that you severe your relationship with him.

This is a bit like the image of a sinner who, without losing the state of grace, almost inevitably, falls into mortal sin at a certain moment. To prevent this fall, the intercession of Our Lady is greatly needed. It is not only greatly needed, but indispensable since after a mortal sin, a person has no claim to obtain forgiveness. Even if he were to repent, it is doubtful that God would give Heaven to a person in this state of soul without subjecting him to grave trials as a punishment for his attitude.

Some people suppose that death comes as an accident, a disaster outside the ways of Providence, and that God has nothing to do with death. Man walks along the ways of the spiritual life as he so pleases, and then all of a sudden death comes and interrupts God’s plans and the development of his soul. In fact, it is nothing like this at all. No hair drops from our head without God allowing it. Everything is proportional to the orientation of our spiritual life. In fact, the moment of our death is perfectly chosen with regard to our sins and merits. Without an intercessor with the merits of Our Lady, it would be impossible to remain in the state of grace.

Imagine that a friend commits several small faults toward you, but nothing atrocious. All of a sudden he shows up asking you for a gift. Would you be ready and willing to give it? Depending on the situation, you might refuse any request on his part.

Our spiritual life is not a plateau next to an abyss. It is an inclined ramp, in the middle of which is a line that separates the state of grace from mortal sin. When someone is on the upper part of this ramp, he can go down without falling into mortal sin. When a person on the upper part of the ramp commits an infidelity, God normally diminishes His graces; and with the dwindling of grace a person can fall into such a state of destitution as to be reduced to strictly indispensable grace. When one says that venial sin leads to mortal sin, it does not mean that man lacks the sufficient grace not to fall, but that he all too often does not correspond to grace and thus falls. Human nature has a very strong penchant to abuse grace. However, in each concrete case, man has the will to react. Man can only obtain all the necessary and opportune graces not to fall however, if he has recourse to Our Lady. And that is why we need Our Lady.


The preceding text is adapted from a lecture given by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. It has been translated and edited for publication without his revision. –Ed.

Prince Bertrand to Visit St. Louis on Saturday!

Don't miss Prince Bertrand of Orleans Braganza, the Keynote Speaker at the 2011 Marian Conference in St. Louis!

His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Bertrand of Orleans Braganza is scheduled to be the Keynote Speaker at the 2011 Marian Conference at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, MO on the weekend of January 14th - 16th.

He will be speaking on Saturday afternoon at 2:20 on the subject: Why Does Our Lady Weep?'

You will not want to miss the extraordinary opportunity to hear Prince Bertrand, the Great-Great Grandson (20 times removed) of the Patron of our City, King St. Louis IX. For more information or to register please go to this link;

http://http//marianconferences-catholicevents-midwest.com/saint-louis-marian-conference---january-2011.html

Prince Bertrand last spoke at the Conference in January of 2005 where he greeted our then Archbishop Raymond Burke.

'American Knight': Award Winning Book Now in Second Edition

The book, An American Knight: The Life of Colonel John W. Ripley, USMC has found its way into the hands of many Americans who are looking for Catholic role models. Now the award-winning book written by Norman Fulkerson will extend its reach yet farther with the publication of a paperback second edition that has just come off the press.

The book is the riveting cradle-to-grave biography of Colonel John W. Ripley, who was a true Marine legend of the Vietnam era, devoted Catholic, an outspoken Marine, faithful father, in short, an American knight. It is a book that engages, inspires and motivates, complete with anecdotes and pictures from all phases of this hero’s life.

The book has met with acclaim winning the 2010 Gold Medal for biography of the Military Writers Society of America. The new edition features additional never-before-published pictures and new testimony of praise from Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel H. C. “Barney” Barnum, Jr., USMC. Of special note is a commentary praising the book by Mary Susan Goodykoontz, the last surviving sibling of Colonel Ripley, who calls it “an extremely accurate account of my brother’s life” which “brought back so many happy memories of someone I sorely miss.”

For those wishing for inspiration or to give a gift of inspiration to youth, this book is hard to beat. An American Knight has already made its way far and wide. Now the book’s updated second edition will keep the legend going.

To buy this inspiring book, click here

Christmas banned from EU ‘Christmas’ Calendars!

Christmas was taken out of 330,000 calendars handed out by the EU to British school children as “Christmas” gifts.

Instead, on Christmas, the entry is:

"A true friend is someone who shares your concerns and will double your joy".

But they make sure to include Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Chinese festivities as well as Europe Day and other key EU anniversaries. See more here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8207411/European-Commission-criticised-for-omitting-Christmas-on-EU-school-diary.html

Epiphany

---

Today, January 6th, we celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings to adore the Infant King and to offer Him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Through the centuries, others will also come to venerate Thy crib: from India, Ancient Nubia, Macedonia, Rome, Carthage, and Spain; Gauls, Franks, Germans, Angles, Saxons, and Normans.

Both pilgrims and crusaders will come from the West to kiss the ground of the cave where Thou were born. Your manger will be venerated all over the earth. In the great Gothic or Romanesque cathedrals, multitudes will gather around Thee, offering Thee presents of gold, silver, incense, and above all the piety and sincerity of their hearts.

Then will come the period of the Western discoveries in which the benefits of Thy Redemption will reach new lands. Incas, Aztecs, natives of various tribes, blacks from African shores or further inland, bronze-skinned Indians, slender and pensive Chinese, short and agile Nipponese, all will gather around Thy crib and adore Thee.

Lessons from the Holy Grotto

The star of Bethlehem now shines over the whole world. The angelic promise has been heard by all peoples, and all across the earth hearts of goodwill have found the inestimable treasure of Thy peace. Overcoming all obstacles, the gospel has finally spread to people all over the world. In the midst of contemporary desolation, this great gathering of people from all nations and races around Thee is our only consolation, indeed our only hope.

We are among them, kneeling before Thee. See us, Lord, and have pity on us. There is something we would like to say.

Who are we? We are those who will not kneel before the modern Baal. We carry Thy law engraved upon the bronze of our hearts and we do not allow the errors of our times to become engraved upon this bronze sanctified by Thy Redemption.

We love the immaculate purity of orthodoxy above all else and reject any pact whatsoever with heresy, its wiles and infiltrations. We are merciful to the repentant sinner, and since - due to our unworthiness and infidelity - we count ourselves among that number, we implore Thy mercy. We spare no criticism, either, of insolent and conceited impiety or of strutting vice that scorns virtue.

We pity all men, particularly the blessed who suffer persecution for love of the Church, who are oppressed everywhere because they hunger and thirst for virtue, who are abandoned, ridiculed, betrayed, and disdained because they remain faithful to Thy commandments.

Many are those whose suffering is not celebrated in contemporary literature: the Christian mother who will pray alone before Thy crib because her children no longer practice the Faith; the strong yet austere husband who is misunderstood or even loathed by his own due to his fidelity to Thy teachings; the faithful wife who bears the solitude of both heart and soul because frivolous habits have led to adultery he who should be her support, her "other half"; the pious son or daughter who - while Christian homes are celebrating - sense how in their own home, family life has been stifled by egotism, hedonism, and secularism; the student who is shunned and mocked by his colleagues because of his fidelity to Thee; the professor who is eschewed by fellow staff because he will not condone their errors; the parish priest or bishop around whom a menacing wall of misunderstanding or indifference has been raised because he refuses to compromise the integrity of the doctrine entrusted to his care; the honest man made penniless for refusing to swindle.

All of these isolated people, scattered across the globe, ignorant of each other, now gather around Thee with the Three Kings to offer Thee a gift and a prayer.

Their gift exceeds the sun and the stars, the oceans with all its riches, and the earth in all its splendour: they give themselves entirely and faithfully.

By preferring complete orthodoxy over approval, purity over popularity among the impure, honesty over gold; by remaining faithful to Thy law even when this entails sacrificing career and fame, they attain perfection in their spiritual life by practicing love of God above all things, which is a sincere and lasting love.

Such love differs greatly from love as it is understood nowadays, which predominantly consists of gushy and illogical feelings, senseless and blurry affections, obscure self-condescension and trite justifications to appease one's conscience. Instead theirs is true love, enlightened by Faith, justified by reason, serious, chaste, upright and persevering - in a word, theirs is love of God.

They also offer a prayer. Before all else - because they love it above all else in this world - for Thy holy and immaculate Church: for both the pastors and the flock; foremost, for the pastor of the pastors of the flock, that is for Peter, whom today we call Benedict.

May the Church, which now moans as a captive in the dungeons of this anti-Christian "civilization", finally triumph over this era of sin and implant a new civilization for Thy greater glory.

May the saints become ever holier, may the good be sanctified, may sinners become good, and may the impious convert. May the impenitent who have rejected grace and are jeopardising souls be dispersed, humbled, and their efforts frustrated. May the souls in purgatory rise to heaven straight away.

They also pray for themselves: may their orthodoxy be ever purer, their purity ever more rigorous.

May they be more faithful amidst adversity, stand ever taller amidst humiliations, be more energetic in their struggles.

May they be more terrible to the impious, yet more compassionate towards those who are ashamed of their sins, seriously strive to overcome them and publicly acclaim virtue.

Finally, they pray for Thy Grace, without which no will can durably persevere in good, and no soul can be saved; may it be more abundant in proportion to the number of their miseries and infidelities.

Originally published in O Legionário, Nº 750 - 12-22-46, slightly adapted, by Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira

Pro-Abortion Divorced Governor Receives Communion at Bishop's Mass

Governor Andrew Cuomo began his second day in office at Mass at Albany's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where in his homily, Bishop Howard Hubbard urged him to move forward with a sense of "evangelical daring" in his work to fix the broken state government.

Gov. Cuomo attended Mass was with his three daughters and live-in girlfriend, Sandra Lee, sitting in the front pew. Although the story does not say that the bishop actually gave him Holy Communion, it does say that both he and his girlfriend calmly entered the line and received.

Cuomo is not only pro-abortion but also publicly support same-sex "marriage." During his campaign he said:

"I don't want to be the governor who just proposes marriage equality. I don't want to be the governor who lobbies for marriage equality. I don't want to be the governor who fights for marriage equality. I want to be the governor who signs the law that makes equality a reality in the state of New York."

The 53-year-old governor reportedly praised Bishop Hubbard's sermon as "inspirational."

To read the whole story, click here