Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, is a FULL FAST day. The word “fast” means TO NOT EAT; not to eat three meals and come up with some weird explanation of how that constitutes “fasting”. To fast means to eat nothing.

As always, and this preface NEVER works, because every time I write about fasting, no matter how thoroughly I preface it, I get emails from people needing to explain their various and sundry maladies and telling me that my fasting definition is simply beyond the pale… because he or she, personally and individually, cannot fast. But, I’m persistent, so here we go again:

If you have some medical condition that excludes you from the ability to go 24 hours without eating, lest you risk inviting some grave medical condition… then do whatever you can. Our Lord isn’t a jerk who is trying to cull the sick. If you can’t fast, then don’t. Do what you can.

BUT…

Fasting means eating nothing. Holy Mother Church asks that we eat NOTHING on two days of the year, a full fast from food and caloric beverages for 24 hours, from midnight to midnight: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This not only isn’t asking much, it’s actually extremely healthy for both BODY and soul.

Hear this now: if you as a healthy adult cannot go without food or caloric beverage for 24 hours without “passing out” or being somehow stricken, unable to work or function, then you are not, by definition, a “healthy adult”, and you should see an endocrinologist immediately.

But Ann! But Ann! The Church says that “fasting” means eating one main meal with two smaller meals that added together are less than the main meal!

To which I say, there is never any prohibition against doing MORE. Beyond that, I would also say that The Church said quite a few things in the 20th century that WILL NOT stand the test of time, to put it mildly. First among them being the de facto abolition of the Eucharistic Fast. How could anyone think that ONE HOUR constitutes a FAST? Or even three hours, for that matter. One could literally roll into a High Mass today with a bag from Mickey D’s, sit in the back of the church and eat a Super Value Meal, and as long as you’re done by the Gradual, depending on how long the homily is – perhaps even later than that – still have “observed the one hour Eucharistic Fast”, which is measured from the reception of Holy Communion, NOT from the beginning of the Mass. This is obviously madness, and it won’t last.

So, yes, I’m saying goodbye to my Lenten penance dietary restriction categories today, and eating absolutely nothing tomorrow. I will drink only lightly salted water, as needed.

I pray that everyone have a very holy and spiritually profitable Lent of ARSH 2024, that temporary abstinence from good things be offered up, and that sins and bad habits be crushed, and that good habits be permanently established!!!

Mis-lived Lives and Un-manned Men

“Is not ours an age of mis-lived lives, of un-manned men?

Why?

Because Jesus Christ has disappeared.

Wherever the people are true Christians, there are men to be found in large numbers, but everywhere and always, if Christianity wilts, the men wilt. Look closely, they are no longer men but shadows of men.

Thus what do you hear on all sides today? The world is dwindling away, for lack of men; the nations are perishing for scarcity of men, for the rareness of men.

I do believe: there are no men where there is no character; there is no character where there are no principles, doctrines, stands taken; there are no stands taken, no doctrines, no principles, where there is no religious faith and consequently no religion of society.

Do what you will: only from God you will get men.”

Cardinal Pie, ARSH 1815-1880

 

On the 11th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s announcement of his invalid attempt to half-quit, a quick reminder about whether or not unlettered laynothings can observe and hold Reality to be… Real: Canon 748

Yes, you, me and everyone absolutely CAN draw conclusions based upon our observation of reality. Including about the identity of the Pope.

It’s in Canon Law.

Checking your brain at the door and dispensing yourself from your responsibility as a rational intellect to accurately parse reality is NOT virtuous, and CERTAINLY not Catholic. It’s effeminate, cowardly and pathetic.

Canon 748. §1. All persons are bound to seek the truth in those things which regard God and His Church and by virtue of divine law are bound by the obligation and possess the right of embracing and observing the truth which they have come to know.

Here’s an obvious truth regarding God’s Church which I have observed and embraced: Pope Benedict XVI never validly resigned and thus remained the one and only Vicar of Christ on Earth until his death, and therefore Jorge Bergoglio is an Antipope, and the Petrine See has been vacant for 407 days and counting.

And just as an added bonus, our confirming citations on schism:

F.X. Wernz, P. Vidal: “Finally they cannot be numbered among the schismatics, who refuse to obey the Roman Pontiff because they consider his person to be suspect or doubtfully electedon account of rumours in circulation.” (Ius Canonicum, 7:398, 1943) 

Rev Ignatius Szal: “Nor is there any schism if one merely transgress a papal law for the reason that one considers it too difficult, or if one refuses obedience inasmuch as one suspects the person of the pope or the validity of his election, or if one resists him as the civil head of a state.” (Communication of Catholics with Schismatics, 1948) 

De Lugo: “Neither is someone a schismatic for denying his subjection to the Pontiff on the grounds that he has solidly founded [‘probabiliter’] doubts concerning the legitimacy of his election or his power [refers to Sanchez and Palao].” (Disp., De Virt. Fid. Div., disp xxv, sect iii, nn. 35-8)

Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict Ratzinger, for Petrine See in se, and Holy Mother Church, the spotless and indefectible Bride of Christ outside of which there is no salvation.

Also remember to pray for the activation and increase in the gifts of the Sacrament of Confirmation. If you aren’t Confirmed, GET Confirmed.

“Almighty God my heavenly Father, You knew me before the creation of the cosmos and You wanted me to come into existence to bring You glory. Of all the possible universes You could have created, You created this one and You called me into it at exactly the time and place You chose for me so that I could fulfill my part in Your unfathomable plan. You willed that I have the honor to be baptized into the Church You designed and You maintain for our well-being. You willed that I receive the Body and Blood of Your Son and the indwelling of Your Spirit. You willed that I should also be confirmed so that our relationship be even deeper and that I might be an even better instrument of Your will. I now call upon that mighty Sacrament of Confirmation. Through it make me strong to bear whatever burdens I must endure in Your service. Make me wise to recognize accurately and then strong to resist, resolute, whatever is out of harmony with Your will as manifested especially in the beautiful Tradition You have guided in the authoritative, infallible and indefectible Church. Even if that disharmony should come from those whom you have endowed with the grace of Orders and seated even in the highest places of teaching, governing and sanctifying, make me steadfast. With confidence in Your plan for me I ask this for myself and for the brethren through the Holy Spirit’s Gifts and in the Name of Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with You, ever one God, world without end. Amen.”

If only there had been some sort of sign or red flag…

Folks, I know this is going to come as a massive shock, but Fr. Jerry Kaywell has been put on “administrative leave” after being accused of child molestation.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256790/florida-diocese-places-grammy-winning-priest-on-leave-amid-sexual-misconduct-allegations

Y’all remember him. He’s THIS guy. NO RED FLAGS or WARNING SIGNS HERE!! Nosiree Bob!

Trust your gaydar, folks. If it looks like a faggot, walks like a faggot, and talks like a faggot… it’s almost certainly a faggot.

And faggots are vampiric, and are, every single one, a clear and present danger to children, and especially pubescent lads. Dykes are a clear and present danger to little girls and teens.

Suppressing one’s gaydar and exposing children to sodomites is a species of child sacrifice to Moloch. Kaywell’s behavior was so vomitously gay that it crossed a line into public obscenity. Shame on his parishioners for tolerating such campy behavior in the first place. They were accomplices in Kaywell’s predation of youngsters.

Happy Feast of St. Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict

Jean Baptiste de Champaigne (1631-1681) “Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica and Two Companions in a Landscape”

The propers of the Mass of a Virgin not a martyr are some of my favorites:

The Introit, from Psalm 44:

Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works to the king.

And the Gradual, again from Psalm 44:

With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty;

All the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance. the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory.

After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee. They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

Betcha can’t say it without laughing…!

I saw this comment somewhere a while back and thought it worth sharing:

Fr. Linus Clovis has said that the Church and the anti-church CURRENTLY co-exist, occupying the same sacramental, liturgical, and juridical space.

Does anyone doubt this? Of course not.

Now, say the following without laughing out loud: “Jorge Bergoglio is the head of the Church, opposing the anti-church.”

Not satire: Internet-connected electronic toothbrushes hacked and used to execute a denial-of-service attack.

It’s rapidly approaching, if we aren’t already there, the necessity to go original gangster Atari 2400-style and literally turn off, unplug, and put away in a drawer all electronic devices when not specifically in use. As in turn off your laptop, unplug your router, power off your phone. Everything.

I shan’t insult the intelligence of the readership with admonitions to never buy Wi-Fi connected appliances or gadgets of any stripe. Apparently there are now Wi-Fi connected electronic toothbrushes… that are hacked and become denial-of-service attack-bots. Lovely.

https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/three-million-malware-infected-smart-toothbrushes-used-in-swiss-ddos-attacks-botnet-causes-millions-of-euros-in-damages

Oh… awkward. This admonition also goes for cars.

Second look at that ’51 Hudson Commodore with the Dynaflow transmission, amirite?

And brush your own teeth with good ol’ elbow grease. Remember your first Reach toothbrush? CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY… in ’82. Good times.

And don’t forget to floss. You don’t have to floss all of your teeth; just the ones you want to keep. 😁

Fascinating testimony of man who went from “terminal” cancer to “100% cancer-free” by taking Fenbendazole – marketed as an animal dewormer.

This is from Jim Breuer’s podcast. Breuer was on Saturday Night Live in the ’90s. It’s fascinating to see the handful of SNL people who have escaped that world and maintained a semblance of sanity (faint praise in today’s world). Victoria Jackson (always a conservative Christian), Dennis Miller, Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz, Adam Sandler, and now Jim Breuer.

This testimony is fascinating. Fenbendazole popped up on our radar a couple of years ago. The linkage between cancer and these antiparasitics (like Ivermectin as well) which simultaneously have strong anti-tumoric properties needs intense study… after the war when actual science is being done again.