Podcasts about pope john xxiii

Potiphar's Wife: The Vatican's Secret and Child Sexual AbuseThe ‘cover-up' of child sexual abuse by the Catholic  Church has been occurring under the pontificate of six popes since 1922.  For 1500 years, the Catholic Church accepted that clergy who sexually  abused children deserved to be stripped of their status as priests and  then imprisoned. A series of papal and Council decrees from the twelfth  century required such priests to be dismissed from the priesthood, and  then handed over to the civil authorities for further punishment.That  all changed in 1922 when Pope Pius XI issued his decree Crimen  Sollicitationis that created a de facto ‘privilege of clergy' by  imposing the ‘secret of the Holy Office' on all information obtained  through the Church's canonical investigations. If the State did not know  about these crimes, then there would be no State trials, and the matter  could be treated as a purely canonical crime to be dealt with in secret  in the Church courts. Pope Pius XII continued the decree. Pope John  XXIII reissued it in 1962. Pope Paul VI in 1974 extended the reach of  ‘pontifical secrecy' to the allegation itself. Pope John Paul II  confirmed the application of pontifical secrecy in 2001, and in 2010,  Benedict XVI even extended it to allegations about priests sexually  abusing intellectually disabled adults. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave a  dispensation to pontifical secrecy to allow reporting to the police  where the local civil law required it, that is, just enough to keep  bishops out of jail. Most countries in the world do not have any such  reporting laws for the vast majority of complaints about the sexual  abuse of children. Pontifical secrecy, the cornerstone of the cover up  continues. The effect on the lives of children by the imposition of the  Church's Top Secret classification on clergy sex abuse allegations may  not have been so bad if canon law had a decent disciplinary system to  dismiss these priests. The 1983 Code of Canon Law imposed a five year  limitation period which virtually ensured there would be no canonical  trials. It required bishops to try to reform these priests before  putting them on trial. When they were on trial, the priest could plead  the Vatican ‘Catch 22' defence—he should not be dismissed because he  couldn't control himself. The Church claims that all of this has  changed. Very little has changed. It has fiddled around the edges of  pontifical secrecy and the disciplinary canons. The Church has been  moonwalking.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys Catholic out hard. In celebration of Lent, “Conclave,” and a Catholic Jubilee Year, Kiernan talks us through the top sites to see in Vatican City. Rome is expecting 32M visitors this year, and now each and every one can listen to Out of Office! Things We Talked About on Today's Episode: Jubilee 2025 https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025  Holy Doors https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/5-holy-doors-what-every-catholic-should-know-ahead-of-jubilee-2025-4075  Saint Peter's https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/  Pope John XXIII https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/martyrs-miracles-and-the-stuff-of-making-saints/  Vatican II https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-10/vatican-ii-council-60th-anniversary-video-history-background.html  Papal Altar and Canopy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Baldachin  Chair of Saint Peter https://www.ncregister.com/cna/historic-chair-of-st-peter-on-public-display-in-vatican-basilica-for-first-time-in-150-years  Tomb of Saint Peter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter%27s_tomb  Saint Peter Statue https://stpetersbasilica.info/Statues/StPeter/StPeter.htm  La Pieta https://fa-inkwell.org/1039/arts/artists-review-la-pieta-one-of-michelangelos-earliest-works/  Vatican Museums https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html  Laocoon and his Sons https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Cortile-Ottagono/laocoonte.html  Gallery of the Candelabra https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Galleria-dei-Candelabri/galleria-dei-candelabri.html  “School of Athens” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens  Sistine Chapel “In Our Time” episode https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015vh8  Sistine Chapel pre-reading https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/michelangelo-last-judgment-sistine-chapel-vatican.html  Omio https://www.omio.com/  Jenny Nicholson on the Star Wars Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0CpOYZZZW4 

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 310The Saint of the day is Saint Charles of SezzeSaint Charles of Sezze's Story Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to Brother Juniper. Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, “Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love.” Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was “an accident waiting to happen.” He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames. One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of Saint Francis. The superior ordered Charles—then porter—to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars increased also. At the direction of his confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout the years; they helped him discern which of Charles' ideas or ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing. Charles had a firm sense of God's providence. Father Severino Gori has said, “By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal” (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page 215). He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959. Reflection The drama in the lives of the saints is mostly interior. Charles' life was spectacular only in his cooperation with God's grace. He was captivated by God's majesty and great mercy to all of us. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 465The Saint of the day is Saint John XXIIISaint John XXIII's Story Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he avoided the limelight as much as possible. Indeed, one writer has noted that his “ordinariness” seems one of his most remarkable qualities. The firstborn son of a farming family in Sotto il Monte, near Bergamo in northern Italy, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was always proud of his down-to-earth roots. In Bergamo's diocesan seminary, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order. After his ordination in 1904, Fr. Roncalli returned to Rome for canon law studies. He soon worked as his bishop's secretary, Church history teacher in the seminary, and as publisher of the diocesan paper. His service as a stretcher-bearer for the Italian army during World War I gave him a firsthand knowledge of war. In 1921, Fr. Roncalli was made national director in Italy of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He also found time to teach patristics at a seminary in the Eternal City. In 1925, he became a papal diplomat, serving first in Bulgaria, then in Turkey, and finally in France. During World War II, he became well acquainted with Orthodox Church leaders. With the help of Germany's ambassador to Turkey, Archbishop Roncalli helped save an estimated 24,000 Jewish people. Named a cardinal and appointed patriarch of Venice in 1953, he was finally a residential bishop. A month short of entering his 78th year, Cardinal Roncalli was elected pope, taking the name John after his father and the two patrons of Rome's cathedral, St. John Lateran. Pope John took his work very seriously but not himself. His wit soon became proverbial, and he began meeting with political and religious leaders from around the world. In 1962, he was deeply involved in efforts to resolve the Cuban missile crisis. His most famous encyclicals were Mother and Teacher (1961) and Peace on Earth (1963). Pope John XXIII enlarged the membership in the College of Cardinals and made it more international. At his address at the opening of the Second Vatican Council, he criticized the “prophets of doom” who “in these modern times see nothing but prevarication and ruin.” Pope John XXIII set a tone for the Council when he said, “The Church has always opposed… errors. Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.” On his deathbed, Pope John said: “It is not that the gospel has changed; it is that we have begun to understand it better. Those who have lived as long as I have…were enabled to compare different cultures and traditions, and know that the moment has come to discern the signs of the times, to seize the opportunity and to look far ahead.” “Good Pope John” died on June 3, 1963. St. John Paul II beatified him in 2000, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2014. Reflection Throughout his life, Angelo Roncalli cooperated with God's grace, believing that the job at hand was worthy of his best efforts. His sense of God's providence made him the ideal person to promote a new dialogue with Protestant and Orthodox Christians, as well as with Jews and Muslims. In the sometimes noisy crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, many people become silent on seeing the simple tomb of Pope John XXIII, grateful for the gift of his life and holiness. After his beatification, his tomb was moved into the basilica itself. Learn more about Pope John XXIII! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Why do they call Pope John XXIII the "Good Pope"? Ken Hallenius joins The Morning Blend with more of his life story.Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Friends of the Rosary, Today, October 2, the Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. Angels are messengers of God. These spirits, non-corporeal beings, are sent by the Father to be our protectors and our guides. Each person on earth has a guardian angel who watches over him and helps him attain salvation. This is a truth of our faith. Angelic guardianship begins at the moment of birth when the soul is infused at conception. His protection continues throughout our earthly pilgrimage by assisting us in work and study, helping us in temptation, and protecting us from physical danger. Beyond our life, our guardian angel accompanies our soul to purgatory or heaven and becomes our coheir in the heavenly kingdom. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “From our birth until our death, man is surrounded by the protection and intercession of angels, particularly our guardian angel: Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (336).” Today's feast appeared in Spain during the sixteenth century. Saints like Pope John XXIII, Josemaria Escriva, and Padre Pio had a great devotion to their guardian angel.As these saints, we love God's angels and develop a greater devotion to our guardian angel. And by the way, the practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the cases of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, whose names are contained in the Holy Scripture. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 452The Saint of the day is Saint Paul VISaint Paul VI's Story Born near Brescia in northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, editor, and eventually a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was very involved in Catholic Action. After ordination in 1920, Giovanni did graduate studies in literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before he joined the Vatican Secretariat of State in 1924, where he worked for 30 years. He was also chaplain to the Federation of Italian Catholic University Students, where he met and became a very good friend of Aldo Moro, who eventually became prime minister. Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in March 1978, and murdered two months later. A devastated Pope Paul VI presided at his funeral. In 1954, Fr. Montini was named archbishop of Milan, where he sought to win disaffected workers back to the Catholic Church. He called himself the “archbishop of the workers” and visited factories regularly while overseeing the rebuilding of a local Church tremendously disrupted by World War II. In 1958, Montini was the first of 23 cardinals named by Pope John XXIII, two months after the latter's election as pope. Cardinal Montini helped in preparing Vatican II and participated enthusiastically in its first sessions. When he was elected pope in June 1963, he immediately decided to continue that Council, which had another three sessions before its conclusion on December 8, 1965. The day before Vatican II concluded, Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras revoked the excommunications that their predecessors had made in 1054. The pope worked very hard to ensure that bishops would approve the Council's 16 documents by overwhelming majorities. Paul VI had stunned the world by visiting the Holy Land in January 1964, and meeting Athenagoras, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in person. The pope made eight more international trips, including one in 1965, to visit New York City and speak on behalf of peace before the United Nations General Assembly. He also visited India (1964), Colombia (1968), Uganda (1969), and seven Asian countries during a 10-day tour in 1970. Also in 1965, he instituted the World Synod of Bishops, and the next year decreed that bishops must offer their resignations on reaching age 75. In 1970, he decided that cardinals over 80 would no longer vote in papal conclaves or head the Holy See's major offices. He had increased the number of cardinals significantly, giving many countries their first cardinal. Eventually establishing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and 40 countries, he also instituted a permanent observer mission at the United Nations in 1964. Paul VI wrote seven encyclicals; his last one in 1968 on human life—Humanae Vitae—prohibited artificial birth control. Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo on August 6, 1978, and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica. He was beatified on October 19, 2014, and canonized on October 14, 2018. Since 2019 his liturgical feast has been celebrated on May 29. Reflection Pope Saint Paul's greatest accomplishment was the completion and implementation of Vatican II. Its decisions about liturgy were the first ones noticed by most Catholics, but its other documents—especially the ones about ecumenism, interfaith relations, divine revelation, religious liberty, the Church's self-understanding and the Church's work with the entire human family—have become the Catholic Church's road map since 1965. Learn more about Pope Paul VI. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

IMAGE CREDIT:  Quirinale.it, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons LINKS St Peter's Colonnade Statues: https://stpetersbasilica.info/Exterior/Colonnades/Saints-List-Colonnades.htm   Vatican bio of Cardinal Zuppi: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zuppi_mm.html         Matteo Maria Zuppi on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvadore Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2019.htm#Zuppi      Cardinal Zuppi on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/p/47959       Cardinal Zuppi on Catholic-Hierarchy.org:  https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzuppi.html              Archdiocese of Bologna on Gcatholic.org: http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/bolo0.htm?tab=info    Archdiocese of Bologna on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbolo.html  St Leonard (Colonnade Statue): https://stpetersbasilica.info/Exterior/Colonnades/Saints/St%20Leonard-2/St%20Leonard.htm St Gallicanus (Colonnade Statue): https://stpetersbasilica.info/Exterior/Colonnades/Saints/St%20Gallicanus-1/St%20Gallicanus.htm  Community of Sant'Egidio website: https://www.santegidio.org/pageID/30704/langID/en/PROJECTS.html  Sant'Egidio reporting of conflict mediation and honorary Mozambique citizenship: https://archive.santegidio.org/pageID/3/langID/en/itemID/9207/The-honorary-citizenship-of-Mozambique-to-Andrea-Riccardi-and-Matteo-Zuppi.html Avvenire.it edition of Archbishop Zuppi's forward to the Italian edition of “Building A Bridge” (Italian): https://www.avvenire.it/chiesa/pagine/chiesa-e-persone-lgbt-sul-ponte-dellincontro  Advocate.com reporting on reactions to elevation of Cardinal Zuppi: https://www.advocate.com/religion/2019/9/06/lgbtq-friendly-cleric-named-cardinal-far-right-catholics-appalled#toggle-gdpr    Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold!   TRANSCRIPT Hello! Quick note before we get started, first off, sorry that my voice is going to sound a little bit off for these next few cardinals, when I started the recording session, I was fine, now I am DEFINITELY feeling it, and am congested as all get out. But! The show does go on. Also, for those of you wondering what happened to the September edition of our worldbuilding episodes, well, it's still September, cool your jets! In the end, what happened is my episode on the Gospel of John got to mammoth proportions and is basically going to be a double episode. I took to Patreon to see whether I should split it up in two to keep it released on time, or keep it as, you know, one Gospel, one episode, and the vote was one Gospel, one episode. So, mega, you know, two-hour long episode on the Gospel of John will be coming later this month. With that, let's go! *THEME* Welcome to Cardinal Numbers, a rexypod ranking all  the Cardinals of the Catholic Church we can get our hands on, from the Catacombs to Kingdom Come.    Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript.   Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes.   Matteo Maria Zuppi was born on October 11, 1955 in Rome, Italy. I don't yet know whether for sure whether Rome is the most popular birthplace for Cardinals as one might suspect--, but I've got a growing certainty and it at least has to be up there. Accordingly, I want to start doing something a little different when we have cardinals born in Rome: let's assign them one of the 140 statues that top the collonades that frame Saint Peter's Square. Now, it's entirely possible that there might be more than 140 Rome-born Cardinals in history, and actually I can now update that to say I *know* that there are more than 140. And given that, we'll just simply find other statues in Rome after that, they're not exactly hard to come by.   Matteo's statue is Saint Leonard of Noblac, a 6th century founding abbot and hermit whose 10 foot 4 statue is probably a bit beyond lifesize and whose expression amused me enough that I immediately reached out to Pontifacts for comment.   But wait, Gregg, you say, because you are very observant, yes, good job, Matteo actually isn't our first Rome-born Cardinal, because, well first off he's not a Cardinal yet in our narrative he was literally just born but apart from that one of the very first Cardinals we talked about, Cardinal Lojudice, was also born in Rome. Which is why I assigned Matteo the *second* statue on the big list from stpetersbasilica.info, which, like every other link you might desire, can be found in the show notes. St Gallicanus was an early 4th century Roman senator, and possibly the first Christian Consul. His relics are at Rome in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle.   Anyways, Matteo is the fifth of six children, and is the Great-grand nephew of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, who was elevated to the Cardinalate by Pope John XXIII a few months after his election in 1958. Though this is the first time we've had someone who we can confirm is a relative of another cardinal, it certainly won't be the last–the Roman Curia basically invented nepotism, after all.   That's not to say, by any means, that Matteo himself is lacking in credentials, as we'll see. While he was a high school student, he came across fellow Roman male Andrea Riccardi, who, at the venerable age of eighteen, founded a lay association dedicated to community service. In 1973 when Matteo came in contact with them the community had just moved into the Church of Sant'Egidio in Rome, which would give them their name: the Community of Sant'Egidio. From homeless children to AIDS patients to the elderly, from immigrants to addicts to prisoners, the Community of Sant'Egidio serves the poor and marginalized, and it's fair to say Matteo fell in with the right crowd in his youth.   After his first batch of higher education at La Sapienza University in Rome, where he specialized in Literature and Philosophy, Matteo entered into seminary studies with the Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina. I don't know that I've really gone into what a Suburbicarian Diocese is yet but the “suburb” part is a big hint, it's a diocese centered on one of the communities on the outskirts of Rome, in this case, Palestrina, and yes, that's the hometown of a famous composer if that rings a bell.   His se minary studies also included work at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, and then after his 1981 ordination he did yet further study at yet *another* institution of higher education in the Eternal City, this time obtaining a doctorate in letters and philosophy from the University of Rome with a thesis on the History of Christianity–a man after my own heart.   As a priest, Matteo–now Fr. Zuppi–served as vice-pastor of Santa Maria in Trastevere for nearly two decades until he became that parish's full-on pastor in 2000, a role he held until 2010. Of course this is the story of a future Cardinal who I've already told you is plenty qualified, so it won't surprise you to know that that's not all he was doing, not by a long shot. He simultaneously served as Rector of the church of Santa Croce alla Lungara from 1983 to 2012, and continued his association with the Community of Sant'Egidio, which had added the related fields of peacemaking end ecumenism to their portfolio–not as an afterthought either, but as a strong emphasis, as in Fr. Zuppi and the Community were instrumental in negotiations that ended a long civil war in Mozambique in 1992. As in, he was made an honorary citizen of that country by way of thanks, alongside Sant'Egidio founder Andrea Riccardi, popping up again.   While he was originally a priest of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina, astute listeners may have already noted that, much like the universities, all the parishes I've mentioned, including Sant'Egidio, are in Rome. It's fine, it's fine, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Rome back in ‘88, a sentence which gives me the opportunity to go on both a tangent about how the word inCARDinate is tied to the word CARDinal, both having a fundamental sense of a stationary position around which other things move, and also allows me to note that yeah, it's weird to call Rome a Diocese but in the end yup, officially Rome is a Diocese, rather than an archdiocese or Patriarchate or whatever you might expect. Of course it still acts as a metropolitan and as the principal see, but I expect it's tied to the whole first shall be last humility themed angle, servant of the servants of God sort of thing. And that's not to say that bishops of Rome aren't jealous of their status as the principle See of the entire world.   Anyways, Fr. Zuppi might be a good person to ask more about how all of that works, if you can get ahold of him with all else he has going on, because in 2012 his white phone rang and Pope Benedict made him an Auxiliary Bishop of Rome and titular bishop of Villanova. Rome has a bunch of auxiliaries, currently 7 by that specific title, presumably because the Church loves her numerology, and a few more bishops that help run things at something of a higher level with titles like Vicar General and Viceregent. Bishop Zuppi would not stay in the Diocese of Rome for much longer though, because in 2015 he was made the new Archbishop of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of what I think it's fair to call central north Italy.   As a pastor, Father–scratch that–Bishop–scratch that–Archbishop Zuppi has continued along the lines of emphasis he honed working with the Community of Sant'Egidio, focusing on real Pope Francis style stuff like the poor and marginalized. He authored books published in 2010, 2013, and 2019 on what I am told are “pastoral themes”, so stuff like that, but he's best known because of his personal involvement in one of the most hot-button of hot-button issues in the modern Church: LGBT issues. In 2017 American Jesuit priest Father James Martin wrote a book called Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity, which is pretty much what it sounds like. The next year, it was none other than Archbishop Zuppi who wrote a forward to the Italian edition, saying it was, quote “useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding, in view of a new pastoral attitude that we must seek together with our L.G.B.T. brothers and sisters". He also noted that it would quote "help L.G.B.T. Catholics feel more at home in [I accidentally said “with”, my bad] what is, after all, their church", end quote, and it's worth noting that that second quotation was actually Archbishop Zuppi quoting Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, so it's not like he was a lone voice in praising Father Martin's work.   Of course, I called this a hot-button issue, so praise was not universal. Many see Fr. Martin's work as an attempt to undermine Catholic teaching on gender and sexuality, despite Fr Martin's assurances that it is no such thing, and I admit Father Martin is even more comfortable pushing boundaries than I am, which is saying something. We'll see more conservative takes on this topic as we go, don't worry, this is not the last time we'll talk LGBT+ issues in the Church, but I've accidentally made this the longest episode of Cardinal Numbers to date so we should move on.   In 2019, Pope Francis made Archbishop Zuppi a Cardinal-Priest, assigning him a very special newly minted titular church, Sant'Egidio.   Since his elevation to the cardinalate, Cardinal Zuppi has gained more hats! In 2020 he was made a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, and i n 2022, Pope Francis selected him as head of the Italian Bishop's Conference. In 2023 he was appointed as a justice of the Vatican City State Supreme Court, which took effect earlier this year, that's 2024 for archive listeners. And that's before we get to the Dicasteries, which we're just going to have to save for another day.   Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2035.   Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers,  and there will be more Cardinal Numbers next week. Thank you for listening; God bless you all! Thanks, Joe!

This week, Kate tells the tale of the 1910 Haliburton Hockey Ball clebrating a toournament win by the local heroes. Plus. Paul has the story of Edwin Baker who was blinded by a sniper in WW1's trenches, but who overcame his personal adversity to become a world-renowned advocate working on behalf of the visually impaired. Edwin became a co-founder and long-time Managing Director for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). He also received awards and acolodates from around the world for his work, including from King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Pope John XXIII, and Helen Keller. Kate Butler is the Director of the Haliburton Highlands Museum. Paul Vorvis is the host of the Your Haliburton Morning Show 7 - 9 a.m. Fridays on Canoe FM 100.9 and streaming on your devices. Haliburton County is in cottage country about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto. You can contact us at timewarp@canoefm.com

Maxim W. Furek is my guest on today's show, "The Strange Reality with Dave Emmons." The show was recorded on 8-11-24. Maxim will give us a brief peek into his books, such as "The Coal Hoodoo," which is the story of the Sheppton Mine disaster in PA. This story occurred 50 years ago when three miners were trapped, and only two made it out. Maxim says the Sheppton mythology has miraculous, supernatural, technological, and macabre elements. Maxim tells us that the third miner might have been cannibalized, but it is not proven. He tells us that supernatural occurrences happened, like a vision of Pope John XXIII; miners said they saw alien humanoids with lights on their helmets, not miners but strange creatures. Maxim says the miners saw ancestors and golden cities. He explains the differences between science and the supernatural. Maxim talks about Bigfoot in his new book coming up". He enters other areas like cryptids, angels and entities from another realm. Maxim W. Furek is an avid student of the paranormal. He has a Master's degree in Communications and a Bachelor's degree in psychology. He has written several biographies of rock music stars and paranormal-theme books, such as Flying Saucer Esoteric. Maxim talks about the song "Timothy" in 1971, which fits into his books. Maxim's new book coming out next month is "The Lost Tribes of Bigfoot (Hanger One Publishing). He has written several books, including "Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit." His books also contain UFO/ET abduction research. You can find Maxim at www.maximfurek.com His books are on Amazon or Google his name.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, John and Father Stephen explore Pope John XXIII's vision of the Pilgrim Church as detailed in Lumen Gentium, emphasizing the Church's ongoing mission away from a triumphalist view. They reflect on the veneration of saints, with a special focus on Mary, and how these practices weave into the Church's mission toward unity with God and humanity. They discuss Christ's role as the light of nations and how the Church acts as a beacon and instrument of divine unity.What role does the Holy Spirit play in the Church's theology? Fr. Stephen unravels the profound mysteries of the Church as both the body and bride of Christ, animated by the Holy Spirit. They discuss the essential role of sacraments, especially the Eucharist, in fostering unity and the Church's mission of witnessing God's reconciling love. Highlighting insights from Yves Congar and the Second Vatican Council, they delve into the restored Augustinian view of the Holy Spirit as the soul of the Church, emphasizing Trinitarian aspects and the interconnectedness within the Church community. Join us for a dialogue that challenges and enriches your understanding of these complex theological concepts.Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, John and Fr. Stephen delve into the historical context of Vatican II.Take a walk through history with us as we revisit the abrupt end of the First Vatican Council in 1870 and the unresolved issues it left behind. Fast forward to 1958, when Pope John XXIII initiated the Second Vatican Council with a focus on inclusivity and transparency. We explore how his vision aimed at addressing the Church's challenges and how the preparatory work set the stage for a significant shift towards openness and communal participation within the Church.Understanding the Second Vatican Council's teachings isn't straightforward, and we tackle the complexities head-on. From the diverse sources and necessary compromises to the broader context of the council's entirety, we provide insights into interpreting these teachings.Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Full Text of ReadingsSeventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 110The Saint of the day is Blessed Stanley RotherBlessed Stanley Rother’s Story On May 25, 1963, Stanley Francis Rother, a farmer’s son from Okarche, Oklahoma, was ordained for his home diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. Having flunked out of the area seminary due to his difficulty with Latin, Fr. Rother finally accepted an invitation to attend Mount St. Mary Seminary in Maryland, where he finished his studies and was approved for ordination. After serving in his local diocese for five years, Fr. Rother joined five priests, three religious sisters, and three laypersons to staff a Guatemalan mission in Santiago Atitlán serving the Tz’utujil people. The Oklahoma City diocese heard the call of Pope John XXIII to send missionaries to foreign lands, especially Central America. These twelve individuals felt the call, and with their bishop's approval, left the comforts of the United States to live and work in Guatemala. By 1975, Fr. Rother was alone at his parish in Santiago Atitlán, the others having returned home for various reasons. He served the Tz’utujil people for 13 years and won their hearts and souls. Ever the farmer, and always unpretentious and mild mannered, Fr. Rother experimented with various crops as well as fulfilling his heavy pastoral duties which included as many as five Masses in four different locations on a given Sunday and as many as 1,000 baptisms a year. Guatemala's civil war reached the highlands and Lake Atitlán by 1980. Government troops camped on the parish farm and Fr. Rother witnessed the assassination of a number of his parishioners, including the parish deacon. Warned of imminent danger, Fr. Rother returned to the United States for three months early in 1981, to visit with his family and friends. Against the advice of his family and the local bishop, Fr. Rother returned to Atitlán to be with his people. He remembered a Sisters’ community who had fled the country and later tried to return but the people asked, “Where were you when we needed you?” On the evening of July 28, three masked men entered the rectory and shot Fr. Rother to death. His beloved parishioners mourned him repeatedly crying, “They have killed our priest.” Pope Francis declared Stanley Rother a martyr on December 2, 2016. He was beatified in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017. Reflection The declaration of a blessed or saint is always a celebration of the Church as the people of God. To single out an individual for his or her holiness and service builds up the entire community of faith. But this is doubly true for the Church in the United States and in Oklahoma, as one of our own is both declared a martyr for the faith and enrolled in the ranks of those declared Blessed by the Church. May the dedication, faith, and service of Blessed Stanley Rother be a source of strength for all in this country. Learn more about Blessed Stanley Rother! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

The ‘cover-up' of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church has been occurring under the pontificate of six popes since 1922. For 1500 years, the Catholic Church accepted that clergy who sexually abused children deserved to be stripped of their status as priests and then imprisoned. A series of papal and Council decrees from the twelfth century required such priests to be dismissed from the priesthood, and then handed over to the civil authorities for further punishment.That all changed in 1922 when Pope Pius XI issued his decree Crimen Sollicitationis that created a de facto ‘privilege of clergy' by imposing the ‘secret of the Holy Office' on all information obtained through the Church's canonical investigations. If the State did not know about these crimes, then there would be no State trials, and the matter could be treated as a purely canonical crime to be dealt with in secret in the Church courts. Pope Pius XII continued the decree. Pope John XXIII reissued it in 1962. Pope Paul VI in 1974 extended the reach of ‘pontifical secrecy' to the allegation itself. Pope John Paul II confirmed the application of pontifical secrecy in 2001, and in 2010, Benedict XVI even extended it to allegations about priests sexually abusing intellectually disabled adults. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave a dispensation to pontifical secrecy to allow reporting to the police where the local civil law required it, that is, just enough to keep bishops out of jail. Most countries in the world do not have any such reporting laws for the vast majority of complaints about the sexual abuse of children. Pontifical secrecy, the cornerstone of the cover up continues. The effect on the lives of children by the imposition of the Church's Top Secret classification on clergy sex abuse allegations may not have been so bad if canon law had a decent disciplinary system to dismiss these priests. The 1983 Code of Canon Law imposed a five year limitation period which virtually ensured there would be no canonical trials. It required bishops to try to reform these priests before putting them on trial. When they were on trial, the priest could plead the Vatican ‘Catch 22' defence—he should not be dismissed because he couldn't control himself. The Church claims that all of this has changed. Very little has changed. It has fiddled around the edges of pontifical secrecy and the disciplinary canons. The Church has been moonwalking.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 359The Saint of the day is Saint JoachimaSaint Joachima's Story Born into an aristocratic family in Barcelona, Spain, Joachima was 12 when she expressed a desire to become a Carmelite nun. But her life took an altogether different turn at 16 with her marriage to a young lawyer, Theodore de Mas. Both deeply devout, they became secular Franciscans. During their 17 years of married life they raised eight children. The normalcy of their family life was interrupted when Napoleon invaded Spain. Joachima had to flee with the children; Theodore remained behind and died. Though Joachima re-experienced a desire to enter a religious community, she attended to her duties as a mother. At the same time, the young widow led a life of austerity and chose to wear the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis as her ordinary dress. She spent much time in prayer and visiting the sick. Four years later, with some of her children now married and younger ones under their care, Joachima confessed her desire to a priest to join a religious order. With his encouragement, she established the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. In the midst of the fratricidal wars occurring at the time, Joachima was briefly imprisoned and later exiled to France for several years. Sickness ultimately compelled her to resign as superior of her order. Over the next four years she slowly succumbed to paralysis, which caused her to die by inches. At her death in 1854 at the age of 71, Joachima was known and admired for her high degree of prayer, deep trust in God, and selfless charity. Joachima was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940, and canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1959. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on August 28. Reflection Joachima understands loss. She lost the home where her children grew up, her husband, and finally her health. As the power to move and care for her own needs slowly ebbed away, this woman who had all her life cared for others became wholly dependent; she required help with life's simplest tasks. When our own lives go spinning out of control, when illness and bereavement and financial hardship strike, all we can do is cling to the belief that sustained Joachima: God watches over us always. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

This week we dive into the thrilling world of piracy with special guest, author and podcaster Jem Duducu on this episode of History Rage. Jem, an expert in history and author of captivating books, provides fascinating insights into the diverse realms of piracy, from the Caribbean to the Barbary Corsairs.Introduction to Pirate Legends:Jem introduces the world of piracy, debunking myths and exploring the historical realities behind pirate legends.The conversation touches on the notorious pirate Anne Bonny and the challenges of researching historical pirates.Anne Bonny's Story:Anne Bonny's unconventional life, from piracy to running bars and brothels, is discussed.The hosts reflect on the limited representation of women in positions of strength in historical narratives and propose the idea of a Disney movie about Anne Bonny.Factors Driving People to Become Pirates:The discussion shifts to the motivations and circumstances that lead individuals to become pirates.Insights into historical contexts, such as the power vacuum during the golden age of piracy, and modern examples like Somali pirates, highlight the desperation that drives people to piracy.Comparing Pirate Cultures:Various pirate cultures, including Islamic piracy, Caribbean piracy, Barbary piracy, and Viking piracy, are explored.Cultural and strategic differences among pirates are discussed, such as the Barbary corsairs' focus on slavery and the Chinese pirate's hierarchical structure.Enduring Fascination with Pirates:The hosts explore the enduring fascination with pirates in popular culture, referencing movies like Pirates of the Caribbean.Jem Duducu recounts Hollywood's past struggles with pirate-themed movies and the unexpected success of Pirates of the Caribbean.Pirates or Ninjas:The hosts end the discussion with a playful question: Pirates or Ninjas? Jem unequivocally declares his preference for ninjas and shares a fascinating historical anecdote about a pirate who became Pope John XXIII.You can, and should, read Jem's book “Hollywood and History: What the Movies Get Wrong from the Ancient Greeks to Vietnam” which you can buy from the History Rage Bookshop and you can follow him on Twitter @JemDuducu and you can listen to the Condensed Histories Podcast here or wherever you found us.Follow History Rage on Twitter @HistoryRage and join the conversation using the hashtag #HistoryRage.Become a part of our 'Angry Mob' on Patreon. For just £5 per month, you get episodes 3 months early, a chance to ask questions, entry into our prize draws, and the coveted History Rage mug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing the mission and vision of Roncalli High School along with how Roncalli was named after Pope John XXIII

         "Cooking With Scripture" is a weekly segment of Morning Light hosted by Chef Lou Aaron. owner of Westside Drive-In and a Deacon at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in east Boise.  In honor of Mardi Gras, Chef brings us a nice big bowl of gumbo, talks about okra and reads a scroll with Pope John XXIII's decalogue  https://www.appleseeds.org/Decalogue_John-23.htm?fbclid=IwAR3jba5rMxLBgcH31JpXjYLTV1dke7II-HVD2763DacdSTOSghIZDknaflc 

Today we dove deep into the enigmatic tale surrounding the election of Pope John XXIII and the conspiracy theories that followed. Amidst the intrigue, we debunked the sedevacantist position that challenges the legitimacy of recent Popes and guided listeners towards resources for a more profound Lenten journey. We also celebrated a heartwarming conversion story, as a former Southern Baptist shared his decade-long journey to Catholicism—a testament to faith's transformative power. Plus, we clarified the Catholic stance on praying to saints with personal anecdotes and addressed a listener's concerns on the concept of ecclesia suplet in confessional practices. Email from Scotland – Question about perfect contrition and dying in a state of grace Joe - Were the first Church's in the East Greek? Does that mean the Church Fathers were not inspired? (11:55) Patrick recommends “Were the first Church's in East Greek? Does that mean the Church Fathers were not inspired?” by Scott Butler, Norman Dahlgren, and David Hess Patrick recommends “Four More Witnesses: Further Testimony from Christians Before Constantine” by Rod Bennett Patrick recommends “The Early Church was the Catholic Church” by Joe Heschmeyer Chuck - Just got confirmed. Thanks for bringing me home to the church! Patrick recommends “Pope Fiction: Answers to 30 Myths & Misconceptions About the Papacy” Patrick recommends “The Divine Symphony: An Exordium to the Theology of the Catholic Mass” by David L. Gray Kevin - Why is there confusion as to why we pray to saints?

How do we balance unity and diversity within the Catholic church? Do Catholics have to accept every single one of the official teachings of the church? Does union with the pope mean accepting and believing every single thing he says?In this episode, we discuss unity and diversity within the Catholic church. Support us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:John 17Matthew 18Matthew 16Vatican DocumentsMeditations for the Octave of Christian of Christian UnityJohn Paul II, Ut Unum SintCatholic Answers, "Magisterium""What is the difference between doctrine and dogma?""Does doctrine change?""What's the Deal with Limbo?""Papal Infallibility""Can Dogma Develop?"Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life On the Ecclesial Vocation of the TheologianAleteia, "What is the Magisterium of the Catholic Church?"Pope John XXIII, Ad Petri Cathedram, On Truth, Unity and Peace in a Spirit of CharityThe Catholic Encyclopedia, "Unity""Tradition and Living Magisterium""Christian Doctrine"Pints with Aquinas, "What is the difference between doctrine and dogma?"Relevant Radio, "Freedom in Temporal Affairs"

Full Text of ReadingsThursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 314The Saint of the day is Saint Charles of SezzeSaint Charles of Sezze's Story Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to Brother Juniper. Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, “Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love.” Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was “an accident waiting to happen.” He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames. One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of Saint Francis. The superior ordered Charles—then porter—to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars increased also. At the direction of his confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout the years; they helped him discern which of Charles' ideas or ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing. Charles had a firm sense of God's providence. Father Severino Gori has said, “By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal” (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page 215). He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today's Topics: 1, 2) St. Gallen Mafia prelates were chosen by suspected Freemason, Cardinal Baggio https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/priest-st-gallen-mafia-prelates-were-named-by-suspected-freemason-cardinal-baggio/ 3) Why is Whoopi Goldberg praising Pope John XXIII and bashing the Latin Mass? The radical feminist's comments after visiting Pope Francis were strange considering her history of abortion and her contempt for the Catholic Church https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/why-is-whoopi-goldberg-praising-pope-john-xxiii-and-bashing-the-latin-mass/?utm_source=popular 4) Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem offers himself in exchange for hostages held by Hamas https://www.ncregister.com/cna/catholic-patriarch-of-jerusalem-offers-to-be-exchanged-for-hostages-held-by-hamas

Guest host Marcus Peter and William Doino discuss the life of St. John XXIII and Edmund Miller shares more stories from his years as a sidewalk counselor. Dr. Thomas Richard joins to discuss why so many of us misunderstand the Our Father, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker shares his story of going “there and back again” to the Catholic Church.

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 463The Saint of the day is Saint John XXIIISaint John XXIII's Story Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he avoided the limelight as much as possible. Indeed, one writer has noted that his “ordinariness” seems one of his most remarkable qualities. The firstborn son of a farming family in Sotto il Monte, near Bergamo in northern Italy, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was always proud of his down-to-earth roots. In Bergamo's diocesan seminary, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order. After his ordination in 1904, Fr. Roncalli returned to Rome for canon law studies. He soon worked as his bishop's secretary, Church history teacher in the seminary, and as publisher of the diocesan paper. His service as a stretcher-bearer for the Italian army during World War I gave him a firsthand knowledge of war. In 1921, Fr. Roncalli was made national director in Italy of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He also found time to teach patristics at a seminary in the Eternal City. In 1925, he became a papal diplomat, serving first in Bulgaria, then in Turkey, and finally in France. During World War II, he became well acquainted with Orthodox Church leaders. With the help of Germany's ambassador to Turkey, Archbishop Roncalli helped save an estimated 24,000 Jewish people. Named a cardinal and appointed patriarch of Venice in 1953, he was finally a residential bishop. A month short of entering his 78th year, Cardinal Roncalli was elected pope, taking the name John after his father and the two patrons of Rome's cathedral, St. John Lateran. Pope John took his work very seriously but not himself. His wit soon became proverbial, and he began meeting with political and religious leaders from around the world. In 1962, he was deeply involved in efforts to resolve the Cuban missile crisis. His most famous encyclicals were Mother and Teacher (1961) and Peace on Earth (1963). Pope John XXIII enlarged the membership in the College of Cardinals and made it more international. At his address at the opening of the Second Vatican Council, he criticized the “prophets of doom” who “in these modern times see nothing but prevarication and ruin.” Pope John XXIII set a tone for the Council when he said, “The Church has always opposed… errors. Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.” On his deathbed, Pope John said: “It is not that the gospel has changed; it is that we have begun to understand it better. Those who have lived as long as I have…were enabled to compare different cultures and traditions, and know that the moment has come to discern the signs of the times, to seize the opportunity and to look far ahead.” “Good Pope John” died on June 3, 1963. St. John Paul II beatified him in 2000, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2014. Reflection Throughout his life, Angelo Roncalli cooperated with God's grace, believing that the job at hand was worthy of his best efforts. His sense of God's providence made him the ideal person to promote a new dialogue with Protestant and Orthodox Christians, as well as with Jews and Muslims. In the sometimes noisy crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, many people become silent on seeing the simple tomb of Pope John XXIII, grateful for the gift of his life and holiness. After his beatification, his tomb was moved into the basilica itself. Learn more about Pope John XXIII! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Guest host Marcus Peter and William Doino discuss the life of St. John XXIII and Edmund Miller shares more stories from his years as a sidewalk counselor. Dr. Thomas Richard joins to discuss why so many of us misunderstand the Our Father, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker shares his story of going “there and back again” to the Catholic Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has spoken by telephone with a Catholic priest serving in Gaza, according to the news agency of the Italian bishops' conference. The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in the Gaza Strip, on October 9. Romanelli said Francis shared “his closeness and prayers for the entire Church community of Gaza and all the parishioners and inhabitants” and imparted his blessing on them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255630/pope-francis-calls-gaza-priest-as-israel-announces-blockade In a message to Vancouver's Jewish community, Vancouver Archbishop J Michael Miller “unequivocally condemned” Saturday's attack on Israel, calling it an offense against moral and international law. Commenting from Rome where he is attending the Synod on Synodality, the archbishop said Monday the news about “the Hamas incursion into Israel is devastating.” The nature of the attack and the taking of women and children as hostages was “a serious violation not only of international law but, even more importantly, of the moral law that is written in the conscience of every human being,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255640/archbishop-of-vancouver-calls-attack-on-israel-contrary-to-moral-and-international-law Two 12-year-olds were identified by police Sunday as suspects in the vandalism of a Massachusetts Catholic church, which included a fire being set to an altar cloth, a tabernacle cloth, and the lectionary. The two juveniles, a boy and a girl, will not face any charges at this time, police said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255635/two-12-year-olds-identified-as-vandals-in-massachusetts-church-fire An Oklahoma school authority on Monday gave the thumbs-up to a contract for the nation's first religious charter school, a virtual Catholic institution that is facing challenges from advocates who claim the school would violate state law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255634/oklahoma-board-approves-catholic-charter-school-contract Today the Church celebrates Saint John the 23rd. Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli at Sotto il Monte, Italy on November 25, 1881, Pope John XXIII was elected on October 28, 1958. He died June 3, 1963 in Rome and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000. Elected Pope on the death of Pope Pius XII, he was an example of a ‘pastoral' Pope, a good shepherd who cared deeply for his sheep. He manifested this concern in his social enyclicals, especially Pacem in Terris, “On peace in the World.” His greatest act as Pope however was undoubtedly the inspiration to convoke the Second Vatican Council, which he opened on October 11, 1962. Pope John's spirit of humble simplicity, profound goodness, and deep life of prayer radiated in all that he did, and inspired people to affectionately call him “Good Pope John.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-xxiii-390 The Church also celebrates Saint Firminus, a fifth and sixth century bishop of bishop of Uzès. In 538, he signed the fourth and fifth Councils of Orléans in 541 and 549, respectively. In 551, he assisted at the second council of Paris. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-firminus-of-uzes-10

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential.” On today's Talking Saints, hosts Laurie and Pete unpack the life of “Good Pope John.” Having been elected at the age of 76, many thought he would be a transitional pope, but John XXIII's short, yet impactful papacy, proves that we can be God's instruments at any age. Pope St. John XXIII, patron of papal delegates and the Second Vatican Council, pray for us!    Listen to Talking Saints with Laurie Power and Pete Sanchez on the Talking Catholic channel at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Alexa or at https://talking.catholicstarherald.org/show/talking-saints/.  Follow us on… Facebook: www.facebook.com/TalkingCatholic Instagram: www.instagram.com/talkingcatholic Twitter: twitter.com/talkingcatholic

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 450The Saint of the day is Saint Paul VISaint Paul VI's Story Born near Brescia in northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, editor, and eventually a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was very involved in Catholic Action. After ordination in 1920, Giovanni did graduate studies in literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before he joined the Vatican Secretariat of State in 1924, where he worked for 30 years. He was also chaplain to the Federation of Italian Catholic University Students, where he met and became a very good friend of Aldo Moro, who eventually became prime minister. Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade in March 1978, and murdered two months later. A devastated Pope Paul VI presided at his funeral. In 1954, Fr. Montini was named archbishop of Milan, where he sought to win disaffected workers back to the Catholic Church. He called himself the “archbishop of the workers” and visited factories regularly while overseeing the rebuilding of a local Church tremendously disrupted by World War II. In 1958, Montini was the first of 23 cardinals named by Pope John XXIII, two months after the latter's election as pope. Cardinal Montini helped in preparing Vatican II and participated enthusiastically in its first sessions. When he was elected pope in June 1963, he immediately decided to continue that Council, which had another three sessions before its conclusion on December 8, 1965. The day before Vatican II concluded, Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras revoked the excommunications that their predecessors had made in 1054. The pope worked very hard to ensure that bishops would approve the Council's 16 documents by overwhelming majorities. Paul VI had stunned the world by visiting the Holy Land in January 1964, and meeting Athenagoras, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in person. The pope made eight more international trips, including one in 1965, to visit New York City and speak on behalf of peace before the United Nations General Assembly. He also visited India, Columbia, Uganda, and seven Asian countries during a 10-day tour in 1970. Also in 1965, he instituted the World Synod of Bishops, and the next year decreed that bishops must offer their resignations on reaching age 75. In 1970, he decided that cardinals over 80 would no longer vote in papal conclaves or head the Holy See's major offices. He had increased the number of cardinals significantly, giving many countries their first cardinal. Eventually establishing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and 40 countries, he also instituted a permanent observer mission at the United Nations in 1964. Paul VI wrote seven encyclicals; his last one in 1968 on human life—Humanae Vitae—prohibited artificial birth control. Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo on August 6, 1978, and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica. He was beatified on October 19, 2014, and canonized on October 14, 2018. Since 2019 his liturgical feast has been celebrated on May 29. Reflection Pope Saint Paul's greatest accomplishment was the completion and implementation of Vatican II. Its decisions about liturgy were the first ones noticed by most Catholics, but its other documents—especially the ones about ecumenism, interfaith relations, divine revelation, religious liberty, the Church's self-understanding and the Church's work with the entire human family—have become the Catholic Church's road map since 1965. Learn more about Pope Paul VI. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Potiphar's Wife: The Vatican's Secret and Child Sexual AbuseThe ‘cover-up' of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church has been occurring under the pontificate of six popes since 1922. For 1500 years, the Catholic Church accepted that clergy who sexually abused children deserved to be stripped of their status as priests and then imprisoned. A series of papal and Council decrees from the twelfth century required such priests to be dismissed from the priesthood, and then handed over to the civil authorities for further punishment.That all changed in 1922 when Pope Pius XI issued his decree Crimen Sollicitationis that created a de facto ‘privilege of clergy' by imposing the ‘secret of the Holy Office' on all information obtained through the Church's canonical investigations. If the State did not know about these crimes, then there would be no State trials, and the matter could be treated as a purely canonical crime to be dealt with in secret in the Church courts. Pope Pius XII continued the decree. Pope John XXIII reissued it in 1962. Pope Paul VI in 1974 extended the reach of ‘pontifical secrecy' to the allegation itself. Pope John Paul II confirmed the application of pontifical secrecy in 2001, and in 2010, Benedict XVI even extended it to allegations about priests sexually abusing intellectually disabled adults. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave a dispensation to pontifical secrecy to allow reporting to the police where the local civil law required it, that is, just enough to keep bishops out of jail. Most countries in the world do not have any such reporting laws for the vast majority of complaints about the sexual abuse of children. Pontifical secrecy, the cornerstone of the cover up continues. The effect on the lives of children by the imposition of the Church's Top Secret classification on clergy sex abuse allegations may not have been so bad if canon law had a decent disciplinary system to dismiss these priests. The 1983 Code of Canon Law imposed a five year limitation period which virtually ensured there would be no canonical trials. It required bishops to try to reform these priests before putting them on trial. When they were on trial, the priest could plead the Vatican ‘Catch 22' defence—he should not be dismissed because he couldn't control himself. The Church claims that all of this has changed. Very little has changed. It has fiddled around the edges of pontifical secrecy and the disciplinary canons. The Church has been moonwalking.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

Today, Pilgrim Center of Hope Media Coordinator Angela Sealana leads you on a journey and examines the question, what about Jesus fascinates you? During this episode, you can expect: To hear from the Gospel about Jesus question for each of us. Learn about how other followers of Jesus have learned from him. Receive some direction in answering Jesus' very personal question that will help us better understand our relationship with him. Meet the Master is a monthly audio retreat from Pilgrim Center of Hope, bringing you into an encounter with Jesus every first Friday. The official Meet the Master theme song is an original composition by Laura Garza for Pilgrim Center of Hope. All rights reserved. Pilgrim Center of Hope is grateful for all our Missionary of Hope supporters who make possible everything we do. Learn more at PilgrimCenterOfHope.org Help us spread hope! PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Donate

Picture this: It's 1962, and Pope John XXIII convenes the Second Vatican Council. When the conference concludes, one of its most significant outcomes is a new vision for the relationship between the Christian Church and the Jewish religion. This momentous declaration rejects the long-held accusation that the Jews were responsible for Jesus' death and seeks to foster understanding and reconciliation. Cut to - decades later, Dr. Karma Ben-Johanan, an Israeli researcher, would be captivated by the impact of this historical event on the Christian world. Her research would grant her one of the world's most prestigious history prizes, the Dan David Prize, for her phenomenal achievements. Dr. Ben-Johanan's inquisitive mind delved deep into the subject during her doctoral studies at Tel Aviv University. She was puzzled by the idea that, in the 20th century, Jews were still a topic of concern in the Christian world. What were the origins of this guilt and the subsequent need for reconciliation? This inquiry led her on an academic journey to dismantle the complex tapestry of Jewish and Christian relations after the Second Vatican Council. Today, we have the privilege of exploring the intricacies of Dr. Ben-Johanan's research, discovering how the past informs the present, and understanding the fascinating dynamics between religious communities in our ever-changing world. Her work serves as an inspiration, bridging the gaps of understanding and shedding light on the complexities of interfaith relations. Dr. Karma Ben Johanan is a senior researcher-lecturer at the department of comparative religion studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Her book, ‘Jacob's Younger Brother' was published by Harvard University Press and is available on Amazon. We're delighted to have her on the show today. The book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jacobs-Younger-Brother-Christian-Jewish-Relations/dp/0674258266

The coming of age of Annie Shea is documented in two novels by Caitlin Hicks. Set in 1963 California, "A Theory of Expanded Love" finds a young Annie, desperate for attention in a family of 13 kids, a military father and a strong Catholic faith. With the passing of Pope John XXIII, a family friend stands to be the first American to be his successor. Annie seizes the moment to create a web of lies, but then discovers a family's hidden secret, which they will keep at all costs. Annie's life takes a turn in "Kennedy Girl." Now seventeen, Annie stands to further break the mores of her family, through her crush with a black fellow student, Lucas Jones and her volunteering for the campaign of Robert F. Kennedy. The world comes crashing down for both Annie and Lucas with Kennedy's assassination--later joined by Annie's brother, the three head for the Canadian border, where the latter's own secrets are uncovered, and Annie must sort out a changing world and what it all means for her. An author and actress, Caitlin Hicks drew on her own upbringing for Annie and the cast of characters in these two works. First released in 2015, "A Theory..." won awards from the likes of Forward Indies and iTunes for Best New Fiction. Her writing has appeared in newspapers such as the Vancouver Sun, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Milwaukee Journal Sentiel, plus Atlantic Canada's International literary journal, The Fiddlehead. She lives in British Columbia.

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 399The Saint of the day is Blessed Stanley RotherBlessed Stanley Rother’s Story On May 25, 1963, Stanley Francis Rother, a farmer’s son from Okarche, Oklahoma, was ordained for his home diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. Having flunked out of the area seminary due to his difficulty with Latin, Fr. Rother finally accepted an invitation to attend Mount St. Mary Seminary in Maryland, where he finished his studies and was approved for ordination. After serving in his local diocese for five years, Fr. Rother joined five priests, three religious sisters, and three laypersons to staff a Guatemalan mission in Santiago Atitlán serving the Tz’utujil people. The Oklahoma City diocese heard the call of Pope John XXIII to send missionaries to foreign lands, especially Central America. These twelve individuals felt the call, and with their bishop's approval, left the comforts of the United States to live and work in Guatemala. By 1975, Fr. Rother was alone at his parish in Santiago Atitlán, the others having returned home for various reasons. He served the Tz’utujil people for 13 years and won their hearts and souls. Ever the farmer, and always unpretentious and mild mannered, Fr. Rother experimented with various crops as well as fulfilling his heavy pastoral duties which included as many as five Masses in four different locations on a given Sunday and as many as 1,000 baptisms a year. Guatemala's civil war reached the highlands and Lake Atitlán by 1980. Government troops camped on the parish farm and Fr. Rother witnessed the assassination of a number of his parishioners, including the parish deacon. Warned of imminent danger, Fr. Rother returned to the United States for three months early in 1981, to visit with his family and friends. Against the advice of his family and the local bishop, Fr. Rother returned to Atitlán to be with his people. He remembered a Sisters’ community who had fled the country and later tried to return but the people asked, “Where were you when we needed you?” On the evening of July 28, three masked men entered the rectory and shot Fr. Rother to death. His beloved parishioners mourned him repeatedly crying, “They have killed our priest.” Pope Francis declared Stanley Rother a martyr on December 2, 2016. He was beatified in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017. Reflection The declaration of a blessed or saint is always a celebration of the Church as the people of God. To single out an individual for his or her holiness and service builds up the entire community of faith. But this is doubly true for the Church in the United States and in Oklahoma, as one of our own is both declared a martyr for the faith and enrolled in the ranks of those declared Blessed by the Church. May the dedication, faith, and service of Blessed Stanley Rother be a source of strength for all in this country. Learn more about Blessed Stanley Rother! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

NOTE: This article from May 2023 was fairly popular, so I decided to record it for YouTube and for the Podcast streams. Enjoy, and please comment, like, and share!IntroductionThis is not an article refuting various theological points of the Society of St. Pius X. It is not an extensive refutation of the pernicious errors of sedevacantism. What it aims to be is a reiteration of what the Church Herself is, who we are in relationship to Her, and a warning to avoid the grave sin of schism.The Church of Jesus Christ is the Catholic Church. This Church is visible and clearly manifest. Jesus is not trying to trick us. God, our Father, desires our salvation. The Holy Spirit guides and guards the Church. Our Blessed Mother never ceases to intercede for us. No matter how bleak things seem, staying in the Barque of Peter is always the best option. What is the Church of Jesus Christ?During the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the Council Fathers took up the task of writing a Dogmatic Constitution (the highest magisterial level of a Church document) on the Church Herself. The Mystery of the Church is expounded in this constitution: Lumen Gentium. Promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI in November 1964, the Council Fathers provided a clear and beautiful description of Holy Mother Church.Found in paragraph 8 of Lumen Gentium, in particular, is a nuanced and gorgeous explication of the Church. Passages such as these must be read in continuity with everything that came before this moment in the Church or we run the risk of reading it outside of the heart and mind of the Church. One word, especially, provides difficulty for some readers of Lumen Gentium: “subsists.” However, I hope to show, in short order, that this word is inspired. The paragraph begins: “Christ, the one Mediator, established and continually sustains here on earth His holy Church, the community of faith, hope and charity, as an entity with visible delineation through which He communicated truth and grace to all. But, the society structured with hierarchical organs and the Mystical Body of Christ, are not to be considered as two realities, nor are the visible assembly and the spiritual community, nor the earthly Church and the Church enriched with heavenly things; rather they form one complex reality which coalesces from a divine and a human element. For this reason, by no weak analogy, it is compared to the mystery of the incarnate Word. As the assumed nature inseparably united to Him, serves the divine Word as a living organ of salvation, so, in a similar way, does the visible social structure of the Church serve the Spirit of Christ, who vivifies it, in the building up of the body (LG, 8; emphasis added).”Let us pause here for a moment. To summarize: Christ is the one Mediator between God and man and the Church which He established and continually sustains is His Church. In a strongly analogous sense, the Church is both human and divine because there is a visible structure but an internal cohesion as well. The passage continues:This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as ‘the pillar and mainstay of the truth.' This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity.”If we understand that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, founded a Church two thousand years ago, then we can acclaim rightly that this Church is divinely constituted. As the Church has always affirmed, the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. This Church is visible. As Lumen Gentium, this Church IS the one Church of Christ professed in the Creed. So, why do folks have a problem with the phrase “subsists in?” Generally, it is due to a suspicion of the Second Vatican Council that sees the modernist boogeyman in every page of the documents of this Council. The Latin phrase used “subsistit in” is actually quite ancient, the meaning going back at least to the terminology of Aristotle. It means to exist as a substance. In other words, the Church was founded by Christ and has been sustained by Him as one, true, substantive thing. This one Church is the Catholic Church. So, why not just say is (est in Latin)? Well, not to belabor the point, but they did! The first part of the paragraph containing “subsistit in” begins: “Haec est unica Christi Ecclesia (this is the one Church of Christ).” The Council Fathers are not disputing the understanding of the Catholic Church as the Church of Jesus Christ.The Church of Jesus Christ can be encountered as a concrete subject only in the Catholic Church. The “elements of sanctification and of truth” outside the visible structure of the Church are the reality that God is present and operative in the Sacraments, such as Baptism and Matrimony, in Protestant communities and present and operative in all seven Sacraments in the Orthodox Churches. Nonetheless, the Church subsists only in the Catholic Church. These elements of sanctification are not substantial and concrete instantiations of the Church of Jesus Christ apart from the Catholic Church, rather they are an admittance that moves as He wills and is drawing all people to Himself in the Catholic Church. This is true ecumenism: being willing instruments in helping the Holy Spirit guide all persons to the truth and fullness of the Catholic Church, which is visible and concrete. To take another approach, we could say that when God effects a Sacrament or moves in grace and power outside the visible bounds of the Catholic Church, it is nonetheless a fact that “the one Church of Christ has an operative presence in them (Ut Unum Sint, 8),” as St. John Paul II wrote. So, if someone is saved by sacramental grace, it is still only by the grace flowing from the one true Church of Jesus Christ which is the Catholic Church, our sacrament of salvation on Earth. How Can We Identify the Catholic Church?The Catholic Church has always been visible, though admittedly clandestine in certain circumstances. We can think here of the difficult situation in China today or of the Church in Communist nations in the 20th Century. Or we can look at England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Or under Roman persecutions or Muslim occupations. Nonetheless, the Church was founded by Christ and continues to be sustained by Him and guided and guarded by the Holy Spirit. The four marks of the Church are present in fullness in the Catholic Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. The Church is one because Christ is one. In the inner life of the Trinity, there is no disunity. Likewise, the Church cannot have disunity, as it is the Mystical Body of Christ. The Church is holy because Christ is holy, though it is composed of sinners. The Church is catholic because it is universal (Greek: katholou - “according to the whole”). God desires the salvation of all and our Blessed Lord commissioned the Apostles to preach the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. This apostolicity finds fruition not only being built upon the successors of the Apostles, but it is also firmly set on apostolic teaching. As a result, the Church has a true unity of governance, preaching, teaching, and means of sanctification.The Catholic Church has a visible hierarchical structure. The successors of the Apostles are the bishops of the Catholic Church - this is historically provable. However, apostolic does not only mean the successors of the Apostles exist. If that were the case, then the Orthodox Churches would rightly be considered apostolic. However, apostolicity also requires the recognition that Jesus designated Peter as the Prince of the Apostles. The Papacy is the succession of this Petrine office. The teaching authority of Christ passed on to the Apostles, the Magisterium, is thus the successor of Peter in union with all the successors of the Apostles. In other words, it is the Pope in union with all the bishops of the world. The Church of Jesus Christ will thus be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. It will have a visible hierarchy of the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay people. Just as a body, the Church will have a metabolism, an internal means of sustenance, as well. This is clearly the Holy Eucharist: the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ hidden under the veil of a sacrament. There will be actual church buildings. There will be assemblies of the faithful. The visible Catholic Church will be manifest and clear to all who seek Her out, because Jesus is not trying to trick us. Good Distinctions is free to read and listen, but if you have appreciated the channel, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for as little as $5/month. It would greatly help us continue to produce content - Podcasts and YouTube software and equipment aren't cheap! Thank you for your consideration and prayers!What is Radical Traditionalism?Finally, with a working understanding of what is meant by the Church of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, we can turn our attention to “radical traditionalism.” Granted, this is a term which means as many different things as “conservative” and “liberal” do in American politics. My usage of the term is pragmatic, more than descriptive. A Catholic ought to be traditional, in the fullest sense of the term. A Catholic also ought to be radical, in the sense that radical comes from the Latin radix meaning “root.” We are rooted in Jesus Christ, and apart from Him we can do nothing.The Southern Poverty Law Center associates Radical Traditionalism with white supremacy, anti-immigrant attitudes, and anti-Semitism. Though there is some correlation in reality between radical traditionalist communities and these ideologies, there is no causation. In general Catholic circles, the main characteristic of radical traditionalism is not only a preference for the Latin Mass according to the Missale Romanum of 1962, but a tacit (if not explicit) rejection of the Roman Missal of 1970 (called the “Novus Ordo”). Further, “radical traditionalists” reject the Second Vatican Council, usually in its entirety. They see it as heretical nonsense, unfaithful, and a divergence from the true Faith. The term “radical traditionalist” is often wrongly associated with thrown around against those who attend the Holy Mass with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP), and other communities in full and complete union with Rome. This needs to stop. These communities are obedient to the Holy Father and their local ordinary. They do not reject Vatican II or the Novus Ordo. They have a deep love and reverence for the Vetus Ordo (the Old Order of Mass and the Sacraments) and have permission to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy according to that charism. Simply having a preference for the Latin Mass does not make someone a “radical traditionalist.” Radical Traditionalism is a rejection of Catholicism, underneath the veneer of a heroic savior-complex of safeguarding Tradition against the Modernists. Now, I want to be clear: Modernism is a serious problem in the Church and the world today. Pope St. Pius X referred to Modernism as the synthesis of all heresies. Ultimately, it is a denial of the supernatural and of mediation. This liberalizing tendency should be fought tooth and nail, without doubt! But what we cannot do is reject the Second Vatican Council, deny the legitimacy of the Novus Ordo, or choose to be disobedient to the competent authority. What is Sedevacantism?One of the loudest voices within radical traditionalism (at least on Twitter) is sedevacantism. Sede means “seat” in Latin and vacante means “empty.” Sedevacantists believe that due to formal heresy, the sitting pope lost the papacy. Usually, these groups will maintain that Pope Pius XII was the last valid pope, others will make arguments for Pope John XXIII and I have even heard one argument for Pope Paul VI (though this one makes the least sense). Mario Derksen of “Novus Ordo Watch” in his talk “Eclipse of the Church: The Case for Sedevacantism” on October 8, 2021 lays out his arguments. I do not intend to litigate them here, but I will share part of the conclusion of his talk: “If Francis and his five predecessors of unhappy memory were true Popes, then the forces of darkness would indeed have prevailed. Then the ‘most deadly foes of the Catholic religion,' as Pope Pius IX called them, would have triumphed, then the ‘proud gates of hell' would have succeeded in overthrowing the Chair of Truth and turning it into a fount of blasphemy and heresy. Then what had been the ‘citadel and bulwark of the Catholic faith' would have become the bulldozer of Catholicism.”So, for the sedevacantist, none of the Popes since Pope Pius XII have been true Popes. For those who are curious, that would be since 1958. For the last 65 years, the Members of the Body of Christ have been misled en masse, according to this view. Further, with virtually all of the cardinals, bishops, and priests complicit in this great apostasy, how are we to restore the Church to its former glory? Again, I do not intend to debate sedevacantism here because, frankly, I think the position is so intuitively absurd that it would be a waste of time to do so. If Mario Derksen is being honest about his own conclusions, he would likely agree. In the paragraph directly before what I have already quoted, he says:“Yes, we are happy to call it ‘Sedevacantism,' but it really isn't an ‘-ism' other than Catholicism during these perplexing times. It is a theological position that ‘creates itself', as it were, after we've ruled out the things we know to be impossible in light of the timeless truths of the Catholic Faith. Sedevacantism is what is left once we have rejected what is clearly false.”In other words, in the face of the entire Mystical Body of Christ on Earth, including five legitimately elected Popes, the sedevacantist chooses to trust his or her feelings rather than trusting that the Holy Spirit guides and guards the Church. I cannot think of anything more modernist than that.However, I will be honest. I am sympathetic to the sedevacantist view. We do live in troubling times. The Popes of recent memory, even the amazing St. John Paul II and the incredible Pope Benedict XVI, have made some strange choices and prudential decisions. Further, many bishops and priests have said and done horrifically scandalous things without any sense of justice of discipline meted out by the Church. But this is not an excuse to abandon reason and play the hero who is “preserving” the Church precisely by leaving it. Because, make no mistake, sedevacantism is formal schism. Though there are many independent sedevacantist churches, the most prominent are the Roman Catholic Institute (RCI), Most Holy Family Monastery (MHFM), Society of St. Pius V (SSPV), St. Gertrude the Great Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI). If you want a more substantive refutation of Sedevacantism, I would recommend this fantastic resource from Noah Perez at Catholicism Coffee entitled “3 New Arguments Against Sedevacantism.”What is the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)? In this article I want to outline some of the dangers of radical traditionalism. This article would get far too broad if I began refuting various points or getting into the nitty gritty. Those resources exist. My goal, again, is only to show some of the spiritual dangers posed by sedevacantist and non-sedevacantist radical traditionalists. The largest group of “radical traditionalist Catholicism” is the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). Officially, the SSPX is not sedevacantist. They acknowledge the legitimacy of the Roman Pontiff and his predecessors. However, they reject the Second Vatican Council because they believe it contains theological errors and heresy. They reject large parts of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Over half of priests and most of the original and current leadership of SSPX reject the New Mass as containing elements dangerous for the Faith. Since the days of Archbishop Marcel Lefevbre, they have conducted illicit ordinations of bishops and priests and consecrations. The Society has even discouraged its followers from attending the Latin Mass offered by priests in full and manifest union with Rome because of the belief that these ordinations are deficient because they were conducted by a revised rite.  The website of the Society of Saint Pius X claims that “no canonical censures against the SSPX have ever existed (SSPX).” They also claim that the “persecution” of the SSPX is political in nature and that any notions of excommunication and schism are “false accusations.” To the contrary, Pope St. John Paul II through the Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops publicly decreed on July 1, 1988 that Archbishop Marcel Lefevbre and the four new bishops he consecrated illicitly had incurred the penalty of excommunication. The legitimacy of these excommunications was further clarified and reiterated by the Vatican in 1996 and 1998. More recently, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have made great strides in attempting to normalize the canonical status of the SSPX. Admittedly the level of ambiguity of their current canonical status among informed and very bright Catholics is puzzling to me. What is clear to me, though, is the spirit of disobedience that runs rampant through the SSPX. For example, the SSPX do not believe that they are in Schism (or ever were) nor do they believe that Archbishop Lefebvre was excommunicated (he was and that excommunication has not been lifted). Their reasoning can be found on their own website archives: “No penalty is ever incurred without committing a subjective mortal sin (canons 1321 §1, 1323 70). Now, Archbishop Lefebvre made it amply clear that he was bound in conscience to do what he could do to continue the Catholic priesthood and that he was obeying God in going ahead with the consecrations (Cf. the Sermon of June 30, 1988, and Archbishop Lefebvre and the Vatican, p. 136). Hence, even if he had been wrong, there would be no subjective sin (SSPX).”Archbishop Lefevbre believed, erroneously, that if he did not gravely disobey the Pope, then the Catholic priesthood would not continue. And they say that this was not a mortal sin; actually, they say that it was no sin at all. There are recent books that continue this line of thinking, such as SSPX “apologist” Kennedy Hall's new defense of the Society. This thinking is ridiculous and insidious. For a more sufficient refutation of this line of reasoning, I would recommend this 2008 article on the excommunications from Cathy Caridi, J.C.L. of Canon Law Made Easy. The disobedience of the SSPX is insidious because they believe they are the saviors of Catholicism and that they alone are safeguarding Tradition from the Modernist Church. However, unlike the sedevacantists, they still acknowledge the rightfully elected Pope and his authority. They simply choose to be disobedient. In some regards, this position is even less tenable and less sympathetic than full-blown sedevacantism. The SSPX has significantly more faculties under some of the allowances granted by Pope Francis. Pope Francis gave priests of the SSPX faculties to validly and licitly absolve sins; this is a faculty granted by the local ordinary regularly. They were also granted faculties to witness Holy Matrimony validly and licitly. Those within the Society argue that this shows that they are not in schism and they are in union with Rome. I think it says more about Holy Mother Church's care for souls who are currently under the care of the Society than it does about the priests and leadership of SSPX. These are not canonical changes; they are indults (extension of legal authority in an action that the Church does not sanction). The reality is that the SSPX is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, they have no canonical status in the Church, and they are in schism (just as the Orthodox Churches are in schism). There is an excellent compilation of references by prominent clergymen about the reality of schism of the SSPX by no less than Cardinals Burke and Mueller here. A Schismatic Spirit is DeadlyThe Church of Jesus Christ is the Catholic Church, which is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. Sedevacantism and positions such as that of the SSPX do harm to each of the four marks of the Church. The clear and manifest schism of sedevacantism is a wound to all four marks of the Church, but so is the ambiguous and insidious schismatic spirit of the SSPX. The Church of Jesus Christ is one, with Christ as Head and we as Members of His Mystical Body. This is an invisible reality but it is also clearly visible and hierarchical. As a Catholic, to reject the Vicar of Christ as the head of the Church on Earth is to reject Christ Himself. It is to cut off oneself from the Church. Of course, we pray for reconciliation and unity! As long as someone has breath in their lungs it is not too late to repent and return. However, we need to understand that schism is a grave evil on the same canonical level as formal heresy and apostasy. To leave the Barque of Peter in times of turbulent water is a misguided plan. Yes, times are difficult. Yes, the Church is in crisis. But Jesus Christ is not in crisis. He is asleep on the bench as the waves and wind rock and batter the boat. He is with us and all we need to do is call upon Him; He will calm the raging sea. Instead, if we trust in our own power, we will drown. If we make ourselves the authority, we will be doing the will of the Enemy rather than the Holy Will of the Father. If we are to love Christ and His one, true Church then we must avoid radical traditionalism and every sense of a schismatic spirit with a holy fervor. Noone knows better than Holy Mother Church. Times are tough. But the Church of Jesus Christ is the one place to be. A schismatic spirit is deadly to the soul.As St. Augustine said: “Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.”Good Distinctions is free to read and listen, but if you have appreciated the channel, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for as little as $5/month. It would greatly help us continue to produce content - Podcasts and YouTube software and equipment aren't cheap! Thank you for your consideration and prayers! Get full access to Good Distinctions at www.gooddistinctions.com/subscribe

Thank you for supporting Scholastic Answers Pope John XXIII and the Authority of St. Thomas Aquinas Here is the second part on my series on the authority of St. Thomas in the post-conciliar popes. If you enjoy this series, please consider becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/militantthomist NEW AQUINAS ACADEMY Link: https://www.christianbwagner.com/newaquinasacademy Discord: https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~DePrinNat.C1 Donate: https://www.patreon.com/newaquinasacademy FURTHER RESOURCES To get Tutoring: https://www.christianbwagner.com/book-online Annotated Thomist: https://www.christianbwagner.com/annotated-thomist Scholastic Courses: https://www.christianbwagner.com/courses SPONSOR Use the code “Militant” for 20% off to learn Greek here: https://fluentgreeknt.com/ MUSIC https://youtu.be/ePYe3lqsu-g https://youtu.be/Hi5YgbiNB1U SUPPORT Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/MilitantThomist Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=9XM8FACTLFDW2&no_recurring=0&item_name=Support+my+Apostolate¤cy_code=USD SusbscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/militant-thomist FOLLOW Website: https://www.christianbwagner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilitantThomist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/543689120339579 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilitantThomist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/militantthomist/ WATCH https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg LISTEN Podcast: https://www.christianbwagner.com/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0exZN1vHDyLuRjnUI3sHXt?si=XHs8risyS1ebLCkWwKLblQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/militant-thomist/id1603094572 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/militantthomist SHOP Book Store: https://www.christianbwagner.com/shop Merch: https://www.christianbwagner.com/merch

Maxim Furek, author of Coal Region Hoodoo, stops by to discuss Catholic mysticism in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. An apparition of Pope John XXIII appearing to miners trapped in a cave-in; the doomed town of Centralia, supposedly cursed by a priest; Father Alphonsus Trabold, an exorcist called in to deal with a famous haunting, Saint Teresa of Avila, and more.To support The Flowered Path, become a patron at patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thefloweredpathAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 358The Saint of the day is Saint JoachimaSaint Joachima's Story Born into an aristocratic family in Barcelona, Spain, Joachima was 12 when she expressed a desire to become a Carmelite nun. But her life took an altogether different turn at 16 with her marriage to a young lawyer, Theodore de Mas. Both deeply devout, they became secular Franciscans. During their 17 years of married life they raised eight children. The normalcy of their family life was interrupted when Napoleon invaded Spain. Joachima had to flee with the children; Theodore remained behind and died. Though Joachima re-experienced a desire to enter a religious community, she attended to her duties as a mother. At the same time, the young widow led a life of austerity and chose to wear the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis as her ordinary dress. She spent much time in prayer and visiting the sick. Four years later, with some of her children now married and younger ones under their care, Joachima confessed her desire to a priest to join a religious order. With his encouragement, she established the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. In the midst of the fratricidal wars occurring at the time, Joachima was briefly imprisoned and later exiled to France for several years. Sickness ultimately compelled her to resign as superior of her order. Over the next four years she slowly succumbed to paralysis, which caused her to die by inches. At her death in 1854 at the age of 71, Joachima was known and admired for her high degree of prayer, deep trust in God, and selfless charity. Joachima was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1940, and canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1959. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on August 28. Reflection Joachima understands loss. She lost the home where her children grew up, her husband, and finally her health. As the power to move and care for her own needs slowly ebbed away, this woman who had all her life cared for others became wholly dependent; she required help with life's simplest tasks. When our own lives go spinning out of control, when illness and bereavement and financial hardship strike, all we can do is cling to the belief that sustained Joachima: God watches over us always. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

May 29: Saint Paul VI, Pope 1897–1978 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White An erudite introvert helms the Church in stormy waters Over the two millennia of its storied existence, the papacy has piled prestige upon power upon privilege like so many bricks in a high, impregnable, theological fortress. The Bishop of Rome is without doubt the world's greatest institutional defender of tradition. There is simply no other office which telescopes into one man all that is meant by the compressed phrase “Western Civilization.” Giovanni Baptista Montini, today's saint's baptismal name, was as perfectly prepared by education and experience as any man before him to carry the torch of tradition handed to him by his predecessor Pope John XXIII. Yet for all of his erudition and decades of practice walking along the high ridges of church life, the mid-1960s suddenly demanded of the Pope a mix of lace-like delicacy and raw political power alien to his sensitive character. The unity of the Church after the Council was quickly unwinding under potent centrifugal forces. In order to keep the core intact, it was no longer enough for the Pope to be just the bearer of the great tradition. Paul VI had to be Peter, a man of office and authority, yes, but also a tireless missionary like Saint Paul, and a silently courageous disciple and sign of contradiction like Saint Mary. The future Pope Paul VI was born in the last years of the nineteenth century in Northern Italy to an educated and dignified family that was deeply committed to the Church. Giovanni was ordained a priest at the tender age of twenty-two and entered the service of the Vatican a few years later. He spent approximately thirty years serving in the central administration of the Holy See in roles placing him in close contact with three popes. He was appointed Archbishop of Milan in 1954 and a Cardinal in 1958. “Habemus Papam” could have been announced before the Cardinals ever mustered in the Sistine Chapel for the papal conclave of 1963, as few doubted whose experience best prepared him to be pope or who Pope Saint John XXIII wanted to succeed him. Cardinal Baptista took the name Paul, the first Pope of that name in over three hundred years. The new Pope very consciously united the stability and authority represented by Saint Peter with the zealous evangelical outreach represented by Saint Paul.  Paul VI became the first pope ever to travel to other continents, going on apostolic pilgrimages to the Holy Land, India, Colombia, the United States, Portugal, and Uganda. Paul also continued the Second Vatican Council and shepherded it to its conclusion in 1965. After the Council, Paul VI promulgated a new liturgical calendar, missal, breviary, and simplified rites for all the sacraments, thus impacting the lives of Catholics the world over in a personal way that few popes had ever done before. Paul VI was also deeply immersed in the theological and moral deliberations over the Church's response to new technologies making artificial means of contraception accessible and affordable to the masses. Paul's 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae, heroically restated the Church's perennial teaching on the immorality of using artificial means of contraception. Although Humana Vitae was not as compelling and humanistic a presentation of the Church's rich teachings on married love as would later be advanced by Pope Saint John Paul II, it was replete with prophecies. Paul VI's predictions about the far-reaching and negative repercussions of the widespread use of contraceptives have all come true! No other individual or institution at the time foresaw, or anticipated in any way, even one of the ticking time bombs whose cultural shrapnel Paul inventoried with such accuracy. The intense storms that blew over Humanae Vitae in Northern Europe and North America lashed the aging Pope, and he never issued another encyclical. At times in the late 1960s and 1970s, it seemed as if chunks of Catholicism, Christianity's mighty rock of Gibraltar, might fall away and drop into the sea. But Paul VI's steady, if undynamic, hand avoided fissures in the Church's facade. Though no schisms surfaced during his pontificate, the Pope did publicly warn about the smoke of satan entering the temple of God.  Our saint was in many ways a tragic figure, tasked with leading a huge, complex Church in a confusing time. Paul's confessor, a holy and faithful Jesuit, said, after the Pope's death, that "if Paul VI was not a saint when he was elected Pope, he became one during his pontificate." The Church was Paul VI's perennial love and undying concern. He died on the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, and was buried, per his request, in a simple casket placed directly in the earth in the grottoes under St. Peter's Basilica, near so many of his predecessors who sat on the same Chair of Peter.  Pope Saint Paul VI, you resisted a swell of voices to uphold the Church's teachings on authentic human love. May all bishops and popes be as courageous as you in their fidelity to the Church's undying tradition.

Join ALL ACCESS! Are you ready to unlock your ministry's potential? Our ALL ACCESS plan includes  courses from Steve Gladen and leading small group pastors from across the country. workshops quarterly coaching premium articles live digital events.  All for the price of $49 a month or $490 annually.You even get half off in person events like the LOBBY and ACCELERATEAnd to make it an even better deal, that one low price is a churchwide license. Everyone at your church is included. PLUS your WHOLE team gets half off the events. Meaning with this plan, your church can SAVE money and get your whole team trained and equipped.Check it out today at https://smallgroupnetwork.com/allaccess ... your community, unlocked!"What unites us is much greater than what divides us." This quote by Pope John XXIII is so applicable to this conversation with Kelly Lippenholz from Church of the Nativity - a dynamic Catholic congregation deeply committed to discipleship and community through small groups. Kelly shares about the power of a personal invitation from her own story, how Church of the Nativity developed a new culture of community in a Catholic church context, how they executed very successful group launches, and how they integrated groups as the primary pathway for discipleship. Kelly and her small groups team are valuable members of the Small Group Network and you can interact with them on our Facebook page.  Bio: Kelly Lippenholz began her career in ministry at Church of the Nativity, a parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland when she began volunteering with the Youth Ministry program and leading a small group of 6th grade girls. Those girls are now in college and Kelly is in her 10th year of vocational ministry. She spent six years withYouth Ministry - writing curriculum, delivering messages, planning retreats, and training for 200 Next Gen ministers. A few years ago, she transitioned into her current role at Nativity as Director of Adult Discipleship where she oversees several ministries including small groups, member care, missions, and adult ministry.  ALIGN + ACCELERATE July 11-13, 2023ALIGN is the small groups ministry essentials workshop. Perfect for people new to groups or who are considering launching groups at their church.ACCELERATE is a 2 day intensive workshop for a small group point person who wants to develop an 18 month strategic plan for growth or revitalization.Your team can attend ALIGN or ACCELERATE or get a discounted rate for attending both. For those attending all 3, lodging and lunches are included in the price! And don't forget, ALL ACCESS members always get 50% off all events.We'll see you there! https://smallgroupnetwork.com/conferences/

Maxim Furek stops by to discuss his book, Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle, and Music. A mining disaster in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania in 1963 left three men trapped. Two men survived, and when they came out of the mine, they told strange stories of incredible visions, weird humanoid creatures, and an apparition of Pope John XXIII. If you would like to help us continue to make Strange Familiars, get bonus content, t-shirts, stickers, and more rewards, you can become a patron: http://www.patreon.com/StrangeFamiliarsIf you would prefer a one-time payment to help us out, here is a PayPal.me link - you can change the number 25 in the URL to any amount: https://www.paypal.me/timothyrenner/25Our Strange Familiars / Lost Grave etsy shop has art, books, patches, t-shirts, and more ... including original art done for Strange Familiars: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lostgraveStrange Familiars ‘Awoken Tree' shirts, now available in glow-in-the-dark! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1300641744/strange-familiars-podcast-glow-in-theEpisode 380 notes and links:Maxim Furek's website: https://www.maximfurek.comStrange Familiars Curiosity of the Week #80: Little Leather Library BooksYou can purchase these books in our etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1434465799/little-leather-library-pick-one-kiplingMaynard's gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/maynard-walk-againRiverbend Comics: https://www.riverbendcomics.comDepartment of Truth #15 variant with Timothy's artwork on sale at Riverbend: https://www.riverbendcomics.com/products/dot15?_pos=3&_sid=220198f8e&_ss=rRiverbend Comics Instagram: @riverbendcomicsTimothy's books: https://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Renner/e/B072X44SD5Strange Familiars ‘Awoken Tree' t-shirts are available in our Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/739690857/strange-familiars-podcast-awoken-treeChad's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB7MSJ2F1SRBPcQsEFLnvg (make sure to subscribe to Chad's channel, Ruck Rabbit Outdoors.)Chad's etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RuckRabbitOutdoorsTo help with the Capuchin Day Center's work with the homeless you can donate here: https://www.capuchindaycentre.ieand here: https://www.cskdetroit.orgContact us via email at: strangefamiliarspodcast@gmail.comhttp://www.facebook.com/strangefamiliarsJoin the Strange Familiars Gathering group on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/strangefamiliars/instagram: @strangefamiliarshttp://www.strangefamiliars.comIntro and background music by Stone Breath. You can find more at http://stonebreath.bandcamp.comThe closing song is The Heart and Star of Sacred Memory by Stone Breath – from the album Witch Tree Prophets: https://stonebreath.bandcamp.com/album/witch-tree-prophetsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/strange-familiars/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Michael considers the opening speech of St. Pope John XXIII on the medicine of mercy, along with the Code of Canon Law, and then asks some probing question in light of Sacred Scripture.

Michael considers the opening speech of St. Pope John XXIII on the medicine of mercy, along with the Code of Canon Law, and then asks some probing question in light of Sacred Scripture.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."What are the obligations of the news media to the truth? What's the relationship between truth and beauty? Is all art beautiful?In this episode we wrap up our discussion of the eighth commandment.This episode covers Part Three, Section Two, Chapter Two, Article Eight of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (pts 2492-2513).Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/....References and further reading/listening/viewing:Pope Paul VI, Inter MirificaPope John Paul II, Letter to ArtistsThe National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing VR TourVatican Museum VR TourGuggenheim Museum Online MuseumNatural History Museum Online Contemplating the Rosary through Art and ScriptureJustice and Peace Office, "Catholic Social Teaching on Emerging Technologies"Pope John Paul II, "Message of the Holy Father John Paul II for the 37th World Communications Day" Pope John XXIII, Pacem in TerrisCatholic Answers, "Religious Liberty"Ray Bradbury, Farenheit 451Leo Tolstoy, Anna KareninaNational Gallery of Art, "Mark Rothko"

In January 1959, Pope John XXIII announced a council of all the world's Catholic bishops and cardinals in Rome. It led to sweeping reforms, including allowing Mass to be said in languages other than Latin and an attempt to build relationships with other denominations and faiths. But not everyone was happy with the changes. Monsignor John Strynkowski was a student priest in Rome at the time and told Rebecca Kesby about the excitement and controversy surrounding the council that became known as Vatican II. This programme was first broadcast in 2019. (Photo: Pope John XXIII. Credit: Getty Images)

Sheppton has been described as a “continuous, collective hallucination,” an out-of-body experience, a miracle by Pope John XXIII, and proof of life after death. Fate Magazine pronounced Sheppton as “unmatched in the annals of psychic research.” The Associated Press called Sheppton “one of the most significant” news stories of the year. The Sheppton Mythology remains Pennsylvania's forbidden Urban Legend and the Coal Region's final mystery.Maxim W. Furek is the author of the book, Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music, investigates supernatural events during a 1963 Pennsylvania mining disaster. Maxim W. Furek's eclectic background includes aspects of psychology, addictions, and rock journalism. He has a master's degree in Communications from Bloomsburg University and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Aquinas College.Mallory Cywinski opens up about her fascination with the paranormal and how she used that interest to save her from postpartum depression. Straddling 2 worlds between the living and the dead brought her journey closer than she could have imagined.Mallory has her B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University, and she lives just outside Philadelphia, PA with her husband, son, daughter, and rescue dog. She is a paranormal investigator, content creator, and Halloween fanatic. Visit Maxim Furek's site here: https://www.maximfurek.com/Get Maxim's book here: https://amzn.to/3kUq9mSHear the banned song about the Sheppton Mining Mystery, Timothy by The Bouys here:https://bit.ly/3jick1jVisit Mallory Cywinski site here: https://www.facebook.com/coffeebooksandghosts/Get Mallory's book here: https://amzn.to/3jfwWY0The Paranormal 60 with Dave Schrader - Myth, Miracle, & Making Friends with Ghosts with Maxim Furek & Mallory Cywinski***********************************************************SHOW YOUR STATUS AS A LOYAL DARKLING!Grab Your Paranormal 60 Gear At:https://www.darknessradio.com/storeTRAVEL WITH DAVEhttps://www.darknessradio.com/darknessevents/SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormal60withDaveSchrader--------------------------------------------------------------------------DAVE'S LINKS:TWITTER:https://twitter.com/TheDaveSchraderFACEBOOK:www.Facebook.com/DarknessRadioDaveDAVE SCHRADER - INSTAGRAM:https://instagram.com/OfficialDaveSchraderPARANORMAL 60 - INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/officialparanormal60/WEBSITE: http://www.Paranormal60.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 313The Saint of the day is Saint Charles of SezzeSaint Charles of Sezze's Story Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to Brother Juniper. Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, “Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love.” Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was “an accident waiting to happen.” He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames. One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of Saint Francis. The superior ordered Charles—then porter—to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars increased also. At the direction of his confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout the years; they helped him discern which of Charles' ideas or ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing. Charles had a firm sense of God's providence. Father Severino Gori has said, “By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal” (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page 215). He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Questions covered: 04:53 – Is there any connection between the pagan goddess Bridgid and St. Bridgid of Ireland? If so, isn't that a problem for the Church?  16:51 – I'm having trouble with Deuteronomy 25:11-12 commanding Israelites to cut off peoples' hands.  22:02 – Why are the Mass readings rarely ever from the apocrypha?  24:39 – What does it mean when Jesus is called “Son of Man”? I thought he was the son of God?  32:17 – Do pets go to heaven?  37:17 – I used to be in the SSPV (splinter group from SSPX), who claimed that Pope John XXIII was a mason. How would you respond to this?  47:19 – What's the difference between the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees in terms of what they do?  51:11 – I'm a new convert. How do I make a good confession and what are the requirements?  …

A reading of the biblical Birth of Jesus Christ and the extended story surrounding the nativity. Then I read a couple other comical, tragic, thoughtful, and endearing Christmas stories by Joseph Conrad, Frederick Douglass, and Betty. Also included is the Poem "The Bird of Dawning" by Shakespeare. Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro (Christmas is a collective dream about hope, peace, and love and one in which billions look forward to participate in.) Beginning of the Story of the Birth of Jesus: 5:07 (Elisabeth and Zechariah given a miracle baby: John the Baptist) 9:39 The Annunciation (Gabriel announcing miracle virgin birth to Mary) 13:28 The Visitation (of Mary to her cousin Elisabeth) 16:03 The Nativity (Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, Birth Jesus, Shepards visited by Gabriel and visit Jesus) 22:16 Presentation of 8-day old Jesus in the Temple (to Simeon) 25:00 The Coming of the Magi (Wise Men) and Herod's Inquiry 28:21 The Slaying of the Infants (by Herod in Search of Jesus) and the Flight to Egypt of Mary, Joseph and Jesus 30:53 The Return of Jesus to Israel 37:25 What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Comet? Conjunction of Planets? Beginning of the other Christmas Stories: 46:29 "The Bird of Dawning" (Short Poem by Shakespeare) 51:07 "A Letter from Santa Claus" by Mark Twain 59:11 "Christmas Day at Sea" by Joseph Conrad 1:06:07 "Christmas Meditation of a Young Student" by the young Pope John XXIII (from 1902) 1:11:19 "New Relations and Duties" by Frederick Douglass 1:18:00 "Francie Nolan's Christmas Tree" by Betty Smith   Merry Christmas, -Rich

The legacy of Christian anti-Semitism is not a happy one. Early in the history of Christianity, as the religion grew, the persecution of Jews became a normal feature of life in Christian lands. By the Middle Ages, the Jewish people were subject to dislocation, alienation, psychological torment, violence, and torture—all with the approval, and at times the official encouragement, of church authorities. Even in modern times, religiously inflected anti-Semitism has been an unavoidable part of the relations between the two religions. Is that still the case? Perhaps not. Relations between global Christianity and the Jewish people are fundamentally different than they have been. In part this is because of one document: the Vatican's Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, more commonly known by the Latin words with which it begins, Nostra Aetate, “In our time.” Nostra Aetate was promulgated at the ecumenical council called by Pope John XXIII known as the Second Vatican Council, only the 21st such council to have been convened in the nearly two millennia of the Catholic church. This month marks the 60th anniversary of its being convened. To help us understand what the Second Vatican Council was about, and its effects today, Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver speaks with one of the most incisive analysts of Catholicism: the author George Weigel. This week marks the publication of his new book about the Second Vatican Council, To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II, an excerpt from which was featured in the Wall Street Journal this month under the title “What Vatican II Accomplished.” Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.