"There's a Communist Living in the White House!!!"

The blood of the martyrs, the conquering spring

The is an old German hymn attributed to St. Bede the Venerable entitled The Hymn For Conquering Martyrs Raise. The final verse of this hymn goes like this:

O city blest o’er all the earth,
Who gloriest in the Savior’s birth,
Who are His earliest martyrs dear,
By kindred and by triumph here;
None from henceforth may call thee small,
Of rival towns thou passest all:
In whom our Monarch had His birth,
O city blest o’er all the earth!

Today, Holy Mother Church commemorates the Feast of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. These first heroes, the first to imitate Christ's passion, were the ones whose witness convinced many a pagan in Ancient Rome to find something that was greater than themselves, more powerful than their graven idols. These early Christians truly went into battle for their King, and won the victory. However, instead of killing in the name of their King, they gave up their lives in imitation of their God. It was their heroism, it was their Faith, that convinced others to lay down their hedonistic pagan way of life and carry their cross with Jesus Christ.

For a pagan to convert to Christianity at the time was certainly not an easy thing to do. To choose to bow one's head over the baptismal font under the waters of baptism one morning, held the risk of resting one's head on the executioner's block under his axe the next day. However, this was a risk that they chose to take, to ensure that this small sect, deemed dangerous by the Roman Emperor, would live on. Their blood watered the seed, planted by the Gospel, that shook the foundations of the Roman Empire from its core, a shock so strong that the impressive statue of Jupiter amongst the mythological creatures was crushed into dust, conquered and replaced with the image of Christ crucified, bleeding for the sake of man's redemption. The shock has reached the further corners of the earth, trumping cultures and traditions with the Truth and salvation given from Christ through His Church.

Since then, the blood of the martyrs continue to flow in the places where the Christian Church continues to be persecuted, and they continue to this day. Such names as Justin, Cosmas, Damian, Marcellinus, Peter, Agnes, Philomena, and Cecilia, have certainly inspired such names as Goretti, Jägerstätter, Kolbe, Popiełuszko, Pro, Romza, and countless others. They have proven that the victory lies in Christ, not human recognition. They recognized a love greater than themselves, and focused on that crown that gives them eternal recognition of the ultimate love for Christ and for His Church.

Please continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world that they remain steadfast in the Faith.



For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

They Taught Both Jew and Gentile that Christ is All in All

The title of this post is taken from the third and fourth line of the special verse in Horatio Bolton Nelson's hymn By All Your Saints Still Striving dedicated to the holy apostles Peter and Paul. In a way, it calls us to continue on that missionary spirit of Sts. Peter and Paul to today's world that is returning to a materialistic entity as was the world of Ancient Rome that Peter and Paul sought to evangelize, and eventually, they conquered.

Why so much focus on Rome? Why as Catholics do we center our Faith on Rome as opposed to say, Jerusalem where Our Lord offered His life for us and where the Holy Spirit descended on Our Lady and the apostles on the birthday of the Church? Because Christ triumphed over the barbaric Roman Empire and its bloodthirsty emperors who waged war against Him, all falling to their demise. The blood shed on the cross by St. Peter as he hung upside down in his humility, that of St. Paul's on the executioner's block and axe, and the blood of the early martyrs, watered the seed that was planted through the Word of God which was preached to Jew and Gentile alike by the two apostles. Though their imitation of the Master's passion, the Sacred Heart of Jesus triumphed in conquering heart of the Roman Empire, and since then, the entire world.

Today, the Church of Rome faces attacks from each corner of the world from the neo-pagans that seek to destroy the Church as Nero and Diocletian attempted. Caught in the middle again are Peter in the person of the Holy Father. Caught are Paul, and John, and James, and Simon, and Thomas, and the other apostles in the persons of the cardinals and bishops of the Church. We are called to stand up for Christ in the face of the unbelieving world. Are you willing to carry the cross and follow Him as well? Follow Christ from this moment, carry the cross, run the race, finish the course, and keep the Faith.

We praise you for St. Peter;
We praise you for St. Paul.
They taught both Jew and Gentile
That Christ is all in all.
To cross and sword they yielded
And saw the Kingdome come:
O God Your two apostles
Won life through martyrdom.

After a year, more prayers needed

For over the past year, the Holy Roman Church has celebrated the men who gladly spend their entire lives everyday for the sake of bringing Christ to an unbelieving world both physically and mystically.

Unfortunately, it really is an unbelieving world.

Throughout the Year for Priests, the Catholic priesthood has come under attack in a vicious way that has never been seen. You can thank the devil's favorite tool, the media, for that. Most of the more vicious attacks were directed at the Roman Pontiff himself. One needs only to look back at the New York Times and their attacks on Pope Benedict XVI and New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

More recently, the cover of TIME Magazine had an image of the back of the Pope's head with the title reading "Why Being Pope Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry". The article went on to portray the Pope as complacent with the sex-abuse scandal. Needless to say, the entire article was nothing more than a piece of filthy garbage (though, I should apologize to filthy garbage for comparing it to an article from TIME. Tisk, tisk).

I find it hysterical when liberal media covers the Pope meeting with sex-abuse victims. They try to make it look like it's justice. In reality, the commies just want something to satisfy their blood-lust for anti-Catholicism. They want the victims to pound the Holy Father for not doing anything for them and destroying the Catholic Church. This is their chance!

Though, you never hear MSNBC or the BBC cover the results of the meeting.

Hmmm...gee, I wonder why?!

Perhaps it is because the Pope radiates the same love and compassion, and yes, even the sorrow, that Christ showed when He walked this earth. It even led to one victim who met the Holy Father in Malta to ask "Do you know you have a Saint?".

Bet you didn't hear Diane Sawyer talk about that!

It is a shame that our priests are subject to the hatred of others because of the evil done by a tiny minority, a speck of evil men. But it doesn't end there.

Remember the Notre Dame scandal? Who can forget the images of Fr. Norman Weiler, an older priest, who was arrested for the scandal caused by a brother priest, the president of the University, for honoring an American President who condones the ongoing infanticide in his country:



Imagine, a priest being arrested for defending Christ, Whom he served for many years, and the faithful who were indeed scandalized.

This is what the Catholic priesthood went through during the Year for Priests. Please continue to pray for them as they continue their ministry to the unbelieving world.

ALL IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA: St. Peter's; Merchantville, NJ (Diocese of Camden), will hold a Holy Hour for Priests this Friday, June 18, at 7:00pm. Please spend this special evening before our Eucharistic Lord as we pray for priests, and please spread the word around.

So...uh, what?

Thanks to a 4th degree Knights of Columbus meeting last night, I didn't see President Obama's primetime speech last night.

Thank God!

Democrats Gone Wild

Could you imagine the field day the liberal media would have had if this had been a Republican? Then again, we don't roll that way. So, to the chagrin of media, here's Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-North Carolina), who was on his way to a fundraiser for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, assaulting a student who asked him a question while filming for a school report.

Here's how the whole thing played out:



The students involved are now in the process of pressing criminal charges against Rep. Etheridge. Etheridge has since apologigized, but his clear actions and his support for the Obama agenda is proof that he is willing to assault the American people. I pray that he will receive the right consequences at both the legal standpoint and at the ballot box come November.

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us

Over the past year, we as devout Catholics have honored and shown our deepest respect for our priests during the Year of the Priest. Unfortunately, for the world that will forever hate our priests and holy religion for being counter-cultural, there have been countless attacks against our priests, slander, and especially, the cracks of the whips laid on our Holy Father as he carries his cross.

Day to day, we hear the horrifying stories of the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament, cowardly thugs desecrating our churches, and our Lord, our Lady, the Saints, and all we hold dearly being spoken of blasphemously. For these we beg God's forgiveness and now make amends, for we now know who really caused the most pain to our Lord in His passion: ALL OF US.

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ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for me is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Your altar (in Your presence) eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Your loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying for from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow You, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Your Law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against You; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against You and Your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Your Vicar on earth and Your priest are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Your Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which You have founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Your divine honor, the satisfaction You once made to Your eternal Father on the cross and which You continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Your grace, for all neglect of Your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent other from offending You and to bring as many as possible to follow You.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowing gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to You, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where You with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, world without end. Amen.

CONSECRATION OF THE HUMAN RACE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Your altar. We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known You; many too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Your Sacred Heart.

You are King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

You are King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

You are King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism; refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Your eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Your chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and Honor forever. Amen.

Philly's new auxiliary

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert P. Maginnis as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, and has appointed Msgr. John J. McIntyre to fill that post. Many will recognize Bishop-elect McIntyre as the secretary to Justin Cardinal Rigali, seen with the Cardinal at all of his functions.

A heartfelt thanks to Bishop Maginnis for his service to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and congratulations to Bishop-elect McIntyre on his appointment.

Primary Day

As most of you know, I'm running for Camden County Republican Committeeman from Cherry Hill, NJ. To the citizens of New Jersey, let your voice be heard. Get out and vote!

Body of Christ, save me!

Class acts

I saw umpire Jim Joyce do his job tonight at third base for the Padres-Phillies game, and you gotta give the guy credit.

After his call cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, Joyce was man enough to admit he was wrong.



And contrary to popular belief, it takes a REAL man to show some emotion. Jim Joyce did exactly that when he made his admission, and when he took the field and received the lineup card from the man who had every reason to be furious at him. Instead, Galarraga walked up with an authentic smile on his face.



I don't know if I've seen a classier act than these to guys. It takes a real man to do the things these guys did, and they are a fine example to everyone who saw this. Let me just say that I still enjoy a nice scuffle every once in awhile!

PLAY BALL!!!

A new shepherd for the Church in Trenton

As Bishop John Smith nears the mandatory age of retirement, Pope Benedict XVI has named the Very Rev. David O'Connell, C.M. as the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Trenton.

Fr. O'Connell, 55, served as president of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC for 12 years. Father may be familiar to many due to his appearances on CBS, ABC, and PBS, for discussions on the Faith.

Fr. O'Connell is scheduled to be ordained to the episcopacy on July 30 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Trenton, NJ.

Corpus Christi in the Diocese of Camden

The two traditional-centered parishes in the Diocese of Camden will be having large celebrations for the Feast of Corpus Christi:

MATER ECCLESIAE, BERLIN: Tonight, Fr. Robert Pasley, KHS, will celebrate a Choral High Mass at 7:30pm with an outdoor procession with the Blessed Sacrament and benediction at the various altars following the Mass. The music will be composed of the Gregorian propers, Victoria's Missa 'O Quam Gloriosum' and Saint-Saëns's Ave Verum Corpus.

ST. PETER, MERCHANTVILLE: On Saturday, there will be a Solemn Choral Mass in the Ordinary Form at 5:00pm followed by an outdoor procession with benediction at the various altars after Mass. The music will be Mozart's Messe in C KV 259. The celebrant will be Fr. Anthony Manuppella, KHS, V.F. assisted by Fr. Allain Caparas and Deacon Joseph McHugh.

At the 12 noon Mass on Sunday, there will be a Choral High Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the external solemnity of Corpus Christi (as permitted in the United States by Pope Leo XIII) followed by benediction. The celebrant will be Fr. Allain Caparas.

A moving story from Andrea Bocelli

Just a stupid call

First it was the A's Dallas Braden, then last Saturday, it was the Phillies' Roy Halladay. So for many of us who follow baseball, we've noticed that pitching perfect games (which has only been done 20 times in Major League Baseball history) was becoming a recurring phenomenon, especially when Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galaragga was faced the Cleveland Indians' Jason Donald with two outs in the 9th.

Unfortunately for us who follow baseball, there's been another phenomenon going on: bad umping. Coming off the heels of the Joe West incident during the White Sox-Indians series last week, umpire Jim Joyce called what was arguably one of the worst calls in professional sports since the USA vs. USSR basketball game in the 1976 Olympics, by calling Donald safe (something that even Donald felt was the wrong call).

To his credit, Joyce is maned up and has apologized to Galaragga and Tigers manager Jim Leyland. That being said, it was still a bonehead call and it denied Galaragga his rightful place in baseball history. Detroit was hurting after that, Galaragga was hurting, the Tigers ball club was hurting, and all of us who follow baseball were hurting with them.

Or maybe it's just the Cleveland Indians...



UPDATE: Major League Baseball has decided not to reverse the call.