The Anti-Modernist

Life is hard. There is no denying that and in our difficulties, we will often find that our minds wander and questions arise; especially, questions regarding the existence of God. Amazingly, this a is question that is common among people, even those who truly believe. What I mean by this is that no one can truly believe in God, unless as some point or another they questioned whether he existed or not and put their logic to the test, but I can without a doubt tell you that He is real. Being that God is real, and He created us, we must always strive to be pleasing to Him in all thoughts, words and actions. Yet, the question of our human suffering may then rear its ugly head and say: "why must I be unhappy? Why does God permit me to suffer?" Yet, the great answers to these questions is that it is part of our fallen nature. It was the decision of our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, and their disobedience which allowed us to enter state where suffering is permitted; h...

I have found myself remarkably busy these last few months. Between study, family, and many church activities, I have found that I have little time to write, but I do read an awful lot and I have been utterly disappointed with acceptable prejudice against Christians be so readily propagated and spread. I recently read the statements for certain governor of New York, Mr. Cuomo, stating that those who defend the definition of traditional marriage are "anti-American". Imagine that, in a country where there is a plurality of ideas and religious freedom has been an acceptable practice if you disagree with liberals or cafeteria Catholics like Mr. Cuomo, you are anti-American. Amazingly, they neglect that the very dialogue which is occurring is extremely American, as last I checked American was a democracy which allows for freedom of speech ( perhaps it is freedom for only those opinions which conform to everyone else. ). The Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, has done a goo...

US Supreme Court discusses all-male Catholic priesthood In argument before the Supreme Court on an anti-discrimination case, the solicitor general—representing the Obama administration—said that the government would uphold the right of the Catholic Church to preserve an all-male priesthood, but only “because the balance of relative public and private interests is different in each case.” The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC , in which a woman charged that she was wrongfully dismissed from a teaching position at a Lutheran school. School officials countered that the teacher had been dismissed because she did not accept the teachings of the church. The case turned on the “ministerial exception” that is traditionally according to religious bodies, allowing them to set the standards for their own religious personnel. ... [Full text]: http://www.catholicculture. org/news/headlines/index.cfm? storyid=11993 There are every growing ...

Today I had the pleasure of being present in a Mass where the revised missal was being used. It was indeed enjoyable, but I was so tempted to do responses in Latin...LOL. I would have to say that it was nice to see a parish community so accepting of the changes and participating in the Mass. As much as I like the changes which have taken place, I must still say that in many ways I favor the EF, especially because the communicant receives on the tongue (and kneeling too). Now, before some people get there knickers in a bunch, listen to my reason why. I am not going to argue against reception in the hand because of the way that it is done now breaks from the tradition of the past, or even discuss argument and counter arguments regarding maturity of parishioners and whether they are adult enough to receive in their hands, etc. Rather, I wish to draw attention to the sacrilege of our Lord. I could bring forward points about the the sacred particles in the Eucharist and how each one...

This is a presentation of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, specifically on homosexuality,marriage,and the family by Fr. Michael Rodriguez and in my opinion it is quite insightful and in keeping with the faith. To those who may watch this and be offended, I can only say that I am sorry; however, Fr. Rodriguez is speaking truthfully and candidly on Catholic teachings, and his words are not to condemn but educate all, especially as regards sinful acts and policy which erodes and destroys the family. Enjoy!

We have no power, but that which is given from above. It was a point that Jesus made clear to Pilate during His passion. All power on earth, all that we have and possess is bestowed upon us by God. This is a point that we would strive to remember as we go through our daily lives. Even our choices are a gift from God; hence, free will. Recognizing that all power and strength comes from above, we should constantly have recourse to our loving Father, for it becomes futile to go about living merely by our own strength which will surely fail us at some point or another, especially when it comes to true Christian living. Human kind has a predisposition to sin.   This is of course a result of our ancestors fall from grace and it is for this reason that we must battle concupiscence (inclination and weakness drawing us to sin).   Still, more important to note, is that fact that we are often engaged in battle, but our battle is not with people per se; ...

A sobering look at the importance of the family and the positive influence Christian values have in society.  My hat goes off to the Population Research Institute and all the good work that they do.

Americanism has been addressed by Holy Mother Church, and Pope Leo XIII had dedicated an entire encyclical to dealing with problems associated with this error. Here is an excerpt: The underlying principle of these new opinions is that, in order to more easily attract those who differ from her, the Church should shape her teachings more in accord with the spirit of the age and relax some of her ancient severity and make some concessions to new opinions. Many think that these concessions should be made not only in regard to ways of living, but even in regard to doctrines which belong to the deposit of the faith. They contend that it would be opportune, in order to gain those who differ from us, to omit certain points of her teaching which are of lesser importance, and to tone down the meaning which the Church has always attached to them. It does not need many words, beloved son, to prove the falsity of these ideas if the nature and origin of the do...

Life is precious and a divine gift and I think that is a position most people who call themselves pro-life would acknowledge; however, I find it awkward that when it comes to discussing the death penalty how some pro-lifers balk or wish to avoid the subject. I have written on the death penalty before and how in certain circumstances it can be considered and used for the protection of members of society, but in this modern age which has at its disposal so many forms of punishment and a more thorough understanding of social ills and psychological problems, it is perplexing how such an extreme measure can still be used regularly. There are many positions put forward in favor the death penalty for cases of murder including the prevention of recidivism, yet one has always stuck out in my mind, and it is the use of captial punishment to provide closure for the victim’s family. This is a position that I must disagree with, as it has often been ...

How can anyone not love this man? Thank God for Cardinal Arinze! Now, if only those so-called 'catholic' politicians would listen to his words.

Homosexuality continues to be debated in public domain, especially as it pertains to marriage, and this is not surprising considering that homosexual marriage was recently deemed legal in my home Archdiocese of New York. I have found that this topic is often one that evokes feelings from both sides, pro-homosexual and pro-traditional marriage, and it is an issue that I have thought long and hard about, and the passage of the recent bill has not come as a surprise to me. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before such legislation would be passed, not because it is a civil right or because it is proper, but because God has slowly been removed from center of marriages and that marriage continues to be relegated to the state of a mere civil contract as opposed to a Sacrament. Once God is removed from any equation, it is only natural that subjective truth instead of objective truth will come forward and peek its head and from that one will discover ever type of relativist...

I had just finished doing my morning prayers and started doing my morning reading and came across this entry on the SOLT webpage I am deeply saddened at the news of my brother priest Fr Corapi  which I thought was very beautiful and insightful entry. Please take a moment and give it a read. It will be worth your time.

Fr. Corapi has issued a response to the press release given by SOLT on July 7th. Regardless of whether one believes Fr. Corapi has committed the acts he is accused of or not, please remember to pray for him and for all who have been hurt or negatively influenced by recent events. We all must remember to turn to God in times of trial and tribulation or when persecuted, and this instance is no exception.  I would strongly encourage people who are concerned to offer many prayers, especially the rosary in this difficult time and to participate in Eucharistic Adoration and The Holy Mass. We all must remember not to be polarized during this time of trial, but must ensure that we remain united in the Church and trust in Our Lord. Taken from Fr. Corapi's Blog: The Black Sheep Dog I am going to answer in a simple, straight forward way what seem to me the main elements of the action taken against me by the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the  Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy...

In the last two days, there has been so much talk about Fr. Corapi that it is enough to make my head spin. I have been going to many different blog sites, news sites, and Catholic sites to see what has been said, as well as talking to family and friends. Sadly, there have been many comments that have been somewhat uncharitable and there have been many who have been negatively effected by this experience and have come to question the faith and the message that was preached by Fr. Corapi. Writing this, it should be known that Fr. Corapi has been a pillar of strength to me. During my return to the Catholic Church, the boldness of his messages appealed to me and gave me the moral courage and conviction to help me stand up and be Catholic in a society that often stands against and attacks the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Fr. Corapi's preaching style was one that truly appealed to me and I shared it with others, but what stands out to me the most was his impact on my brother...

I saw this an wanted to share. It is truly wonderful to see so many standing up to protect the lives of the innocent, especially the most vulnerable. This is simply beautiful!!!

Last night, I sat praying before going to bed and as I went through my prayers, I happened to look upon " Quam Singulari " again, and it struck me straight in my heart. As I read, this particular statement jumped off the page at me: "From all this it is clear that the age of discretion for receiving Holy Communion is that at which the child knows the difference between the Eucharistic Bread and ordinary, material bread, and can therefore approach the altar with proper devotion. Perfect knowledge of the things of faith, therefore, is not required, for an elementary knowledge suffices-some knowledge (aliqua cognitio); similarly full use of reason is not required, for a certain beginning of the use of reason, that is, some use of reason (aliqualis usus rationis) suffices." Beautifully written, the statement explains that knowledge need not be perfect, but that the child should have an understanding that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread, and should be...

Protecting the innocent in society, especially the most vulnerable is a duty that all Christians have. However, there are many adversities and questions that can arise when defending life which can dissuade one from taking a stand. It is partly for this reason The Society of St. Gianna has put together " The Life Workshop ". From the Society of St. Gianna blog: ‘The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion…  Because if a mother can kill her own child – what is left for me to kill you and you kill me – there is nothing between.’ — Bl. Teresa of Calcutta The Society of St Gianna presents to you…  The Life Workshop ! Date/Time:  9 Aug (Tue, National Day), 10:30am to 5:30pm Venue:  FMM House, 49 Holland Road Recommended Age:  17-30 Registration Fee:  $10 (inclusive of lunch) What is it all about? The Life Workshop  is a one-day seminar that aims to provide a Catholic perspective on abortion and the life of the unborn, especially ...