Multiculturalism

Does multiculturalism bother you? You may not be the only one, and maybe it's not only just a minor annoyance. Perhaps it's far more insidious than we think. Check out this article written by a Catholic Monarchist and papal knight Charles A. Coulombe. I may not agree with it in its entirety, but it's a good read. http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=4287

Our Holy Father

It's been a while since the election of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, but I thought that I should make a post on him. I was familiar with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger before he was elected to the Papacy, but looking back I wish I was more familiar with him. The only writing of his that I ever actually read was Dominus Iesus, but whenever I heard or read an excerpt from one of his writings I always thought "This man is a genius!! He knows exactly how I feel!"

When our late Holy Father Pope John Paul II died, my first pick for the new pope was Ratzinger. I always prefaced this when someone asked me who I was rooting for by saying that the Holy Ghost doesn't consult me when He raises up the man He has chosen to be the next pope--but nonetheless I was hoping Ratzinger would be elected Pope. When those great words rang out from the balcony of St. Peters "Habemus Papam!" and were followed with Ratzinger's name, it was all I could do to contain myself (I was in a public setting at the time).

I had great hopes at Benedict's accession to the papal throne, and I still do. He knows that the present state of the Novus Ordo Mass as it is commonly celebrated--especially in America and Europe--is a mess. He has celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass several times over the past 15 years, has relationship with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (albeit a superficial one, but supportive at that), it is reported that as of today he will issue a document banning gays from the priesthood. It is also rumored that he will lift the restrictions presently upon the Traditional Latin Mass, making it possible for any priest in the Latin Rite to say the Traditional Latin Mass without needing the permission of the local Ordinary. But of course there is always room for improvement.

I had hoped, as a monarchist, that Benedict would have had a traditional coronation Mass. What he got instead was a fairly simple "installation Mass." There was no papal tiara, no Sedia Gestatoria (the throne upon which the popes of yesteryear where carried around so the people could see them). He even took the papal tiara out of his coat of arms. We must remember that after being a spiritual monarch, the Pope is also the sovereign of the Holy See (aka Vatican City State). If he would have taken advantage of his royal status, he would have brought so much interest, respect, and love for monarchy in general. Bring back the papal tiara, the Sedia Gestatoria, the coronation of Catholic monarchs by the pope, bring it all back. If we as a civilization are to restore monarchy to its proper place in the world, it should most certainly start with the papacy.

I had great expectations with the election of Josef Cardinal Ratzinger as pope and I still do. I am proud of him and to call him Holy Father. May God protect him and grant unto him a long and glorious reign. Long live the Pope! Long live Benedict!

Wrath of God?

I'm kind of reaching out on a limb talking about this topic at this time, but what the heck. As Catholics we shouldn't be afraid of anything, right?? I'd like to talk about natural disasters, which of course at this time includes Hurricane Katrina. I of course offer my prayers for all the victims, both living and dead, of Katrina, but I think that this topic should be brought up.

I've often thought this year about all the natural disasters we've had. It seems like we've had one hurricane or tropical storm after another. In my area of the world, we've experienced a water shortage--albeit a rather minor league one--since early this spring. Has anyone ever thought that perhaps all the weather related problems we've been suffering just might be the actual--not allegorical--wrath of God? Now God is of course slow to anger and rich in mercy, but He only has so much patience. Let's face it people, America is a sinful, hedonistic, evil country. We abort or unborn by the millions each year (a sin which in my opinion is worse than the holocaust--at least the victims of the holocaust had voices to cry out with), we use contraceptives like they were multivitamins, we use our fetuses for scientific experimentation, we fornicate, co-habitate, and commit adultery left and right, and we've tolerated and accepted the homosexual lifestyle to the point that as we speak, the idiots in the California state government have voted to allow gay marriage (the "honorable" Governor Schwarzenegger has not committed one way or the other as far as approving or vetoing it). What would you say, are we the model of Christian moral living? No!

But what about all the innocent victims of Katrina? As is the case with all sin, the innocent often suffer just as much or more than the guilty--it all goes back to Adam and Eve. They sinned, and pain and suffering entered the world. So what's the solution? Embracing Christ and His Church. Will it end the pain and suffering? No, but it certainly makes it more than pointless.