A Little Note to Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte, On Pentecost! (with Mass PDF)

You wanna get rid of the Saint Michael prayer? Unsmart man. You’re messing with the wrong dude!

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On this Pentecost Sunday, let us pray for the Diocese of Charlotte and for Bishop Martin in this hour of great need. Let us pray for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV and for peace to reign in Holy Church once more.

Come Holy Ghost! Enlighten the minds of our Church hierarchy to navigate this time of the clashing of light and dark.

Saint Michael, defend the holy and innocent!

From the Tridentine Mass of today…(read the beautiful words below and know this is what is being persecuted, this is what the forces of evil wish to destroy)…

The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world, alleluia; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

O God, Who on this day didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit: grant unto us, by the same Spirit, to be wise in what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation.

Alleluia, alleluia. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Alleluia.

Veni, sancte Spíritus, reple tuórum corda fidélium: et tui amóris in eis ignem accénde!

+++ SEQUENCE FOR PENTECOST +++

Come Thou Holy Spirit, come, And from Thy celestial home, Shed a ray of light divine.

Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come, Thou source of all our store, Come, within our bosoms shine, Thou of comforters the best, Thou the soul's delightful guest, Sweet refreshment here below.

In our labor rest most sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill.

Where Thou art not, man hath nought, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew, On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will, Melt the frozen, warm the chill, Guide the steps that go astray.

On Thy faithful who adore, And confess Thee evermore, In Thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give them virtue's sure reward, Give them Thy salvation, Lord, Give them joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Confirm, O God, what Thou hast wrought in us; from Thy temple, which is in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to Thee, alleluia.

Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the gifts offered up to Thee and cleanse our hearts by the light of the Holy Spirit.

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord. Who, ascending above all the heavens and sitting at Thy right hand, poured out on Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit upon the children of adoption. Wherefore the whole world doth rejoice with overflowing joy and the heavenly Hosts also and the angelic Powers sing together the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis! Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis!

Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming where they were sitting, alleluia: and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking the wonderful works of God, alleluia, alleluia.

May the infusion of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, cleanse our hearts, and render them fruitful by the inward sprinkling of His dew.

PRINT THIS! PDF PENTECOST TRIDENTINE MASS EXCERPTS

Trad Youth in Rebellion?

“The Tridentine Mass will return because youth is always in rebellion.”

Laurence Lesser

No, Mr. Lesser was not famous. He was a family friend of my parents, who we always called Uncle Larry. I became close to him later in his life and would visit him in a nursing home upstate, NY. We would correspond, and in one of his letters (early 90’s, only several years after Pope John Paul II liberalized the old Mass and I started attending it), he wrote the above quote, which I have never forgotten. I found him a rare encouragement in the Faith and particularly in my interest in the Tridentine Mass. The very last time I visited him, he said he had lost his Rosary beads in the nursing home. I had a pair of white plastic ones in my car and ran out to get them. It was a very short visit, as we were pressed for time. I remember placing them in his hand and then saying “Goodbye.” What a beautiful memory and I feel so blessed to have been able to do that for him in his final days.

As we see young people flocking to the “Mass of the Ages,” looking for something with true meaning, it would seem Uncle Larry was a prophet. They are indeed rebelling against a culture of narcissism and nihilism. They want happy, faithful marriages. They want children. Quite frankly, they want a normal life. I personally know many of these young people. I’ve seen them grow and blossom as they practice a truly devout Catholic life. I’ve seen them lovingly holding their children in their arms. I am always captivated by the babies at Mass, knowing it is to them, that I have a responsibility-that is why I do this work. I have only to look at these holy innocents and it is enough of a motivation.

As modernists see their “utopic” vision vanishing before their very eyes, they are unleashing their final attack. They can’t quite handle the cognitive dissonance that the great “Age of Aquarius” they were mind-controlled into slavishly working toward…is dead and dying. They just can’t face up to the fact that their whole lives were a mistake…and that they fell for a lie. Modernism bore no fruit-it had no roots. The plant itself is withering. Who knew that those who despised tradition would one day cling with draconian rigidity to their own traditions? The future belongs to those of the counter-rebellion.

“Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.”

Matthew 7:20

That doesn’t mean we are in for a cakewalk. But it does mean there is hope and certainty, in fact…that what was purchased with the Blood of Christ will prevail, because it must.

Please keep dear Larry and his family in prayer-much thanks. Please know we do take prayer requests and will post them if you like.

Another Take on Trad Persecution (you've probably never heard)

When considering negative occurrences in the Church, and there have been many, needless to say…we must ask ourselves, “Why is God allowing this? He said the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. He said He would not leave us orphans.” So we must believe Him. He must have a plan. We may never know the plan, but it can’t hurt to ask for understanding. And we know Satan always defeats himself in the end. His “greatest” moment, the Crucifixion of Our Lord, was also his greatest undoing.

Could it be that the persecution of the Tridentine Mass will actually become a protection? We might envision a world in which the Church is attacked by the state. Churches locked down (sound familiar?), property confiscated, maybe worse…as Don McLean prophesied, “The church bells all were broken.” If the traditionalists are already sent away and quarantined in our own little ghettos (as Taylor Marshall likes to say), this may serve as a protection. The government won’t be looking for the crappy once-Protestant chapel, in the middle of nowhere. They will go after what is most visible. They will attack our most prominent symbols of power and influence. They will wrench the Holy Eucharist from the hands of the unworthy (this is not to say all who attend the Novus Ordo are unworthy, many are very holy and I attend it myself at times, but it ought to be common knowledge that there is a great crisis of faith and knowledge among many Catholics, who receive Our Lord less than properly disposed). The wheat and grape crops will probably die from famine or direct intervention in this world of chastisement. The state doesn’t always know the true purpose of what it’s doing, but the Devil does. He never forgets his true enemy.

Those self-sufficient rural Catholic communities may wind up being preserved and untouched. God needs His Church to continue…a smaller, but holier Church. Would He do any less than protect His own most faithful?

So yes, let’s fight for what is right and just. But if it doesn’t go our way, we must trust in God, His Providence, Omniscience and Omnipotence. Trust and humbly accept our sufferings, if we must, until that day of triumph!

“In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

Our Lady of Fatima

+++ HABEMUS PAPAM! +++

Let us pray for our new Vicar of Christ, Cardinal Robert Prevost, American-born, also a citizen of Peru, who has taken the name:

LEO XIV

He invoked Mary, Mother of God, in his initial speech. May our Mediatrix shower her graces upon his soul.

Most Holy Trinity, Have Mercy Upon Us!

Mary, Queen of Heaven, Pray For Us!

Saint Joseph, Pray For Us!

Saints Peter & Paul, Pray For Us!

Saint Michael the Archangel, Protect Our New Holy Father!

All Ye Angels & Saints of Heaven, Pray For Him and Us All!

Amen.

And we continue to pray for the eternal repose of Francis.

Amen.

VATICAN NEWS

We Keep Vigil....

…until the white smoke appears.

Pray for the Conclave: Novena & Litany

2025 Conclave Novena Prayer

Composed by Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

From Cardinal Burke:

“The Church and the world have arrived at a most turbulent moment in their histories which are intimately related, for the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ is the instrument by which Our Lord continues His mission which is the salvation of the world. For the mission of Christ, the mission of the Church, the Roman Pontiff, the Successor of Saint Peter, fulfills an essential, indeed critical, service. According to the will of Our Lord, he “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 882).

The Sacred College of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church will be soon gathering together in Papal Conclave to elect the Successor of Saint Peter, Vicar of Christ, Shepherd of the Universal Church. The intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title Our Lady of Guadalupe is greatly needed so that the Cardinals in Conclave will humbly obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit and thus choose the most worthy man to fulfill the service of the Roman Pontiff, the Vicar of Christ on earth. 

Therefore, I ask that you join me in a Nine-Day Novena for the Papal Conclave…to Our Lady of Guadalupe, that she might plead for the Church at a time of great trial and danger, just as she came to the rescue of the Church at Tepeyac in 1531.” 

Litany for all Voting Cardinals

Take the “Pronounce All the Cardinals’ Names Challenge!”

A friend sent this litany to me. I don’t know where she got it, but it’s worth saying!

*** The Conclave begins May 7th and it usually only takes a few days for a Pope to be elected. ***

What is a Conclave? / For Conclave News....

Catholic News Agency explains:

What is a conclave and how does it work?

From Fr. Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary:

CONCLAVE

“The enclosure of the cardinals while electing a pope. To avoid interference from the outside, Pope Gregory X, in 1274, ordered the papal election to take place in conclave. Gregory's own election was preceded by a record vacancy of two years and nine months. On occasion (for example, Pope Leo XIII) popes have permitted the cardinals, by majority vote, to dispense with conclave in case of emergency. Pope Paul VI, in the apostolic constitution Romano Pontifici Eligendo (October 1, 1975), introduced numerous changes in the laws governing the election of the Roman Pontiff. Thus: 1. only persons who have been named cardinals of the Church may be electors of the Pope; 2. the number of electors is now limited to 120, allowing each cardinal to bring two or three assistants to the conclave; 3. while the conclave is not strictly required for validity, it is the normal way a pope is elected, during what may be called a sacred retreat made in silence, seclusion and prayer; 4. three forms of election are allowed, i.e., by acclamation of all the electors, by compromise in which certain electors are given authority to act in the name of all, and by voting ballot; 5. if the newly elected person is a bishop, he becomes pope at once, but if he is not yet a bishop, he is to be ordained to the episcopacy immediately; 6. if no one is elected after three days, the conclave is to spend a day in prayer while allowing the electors freedom to converse among themselves; 7. secrecy is to be strictly observed under penalty of excommunication; 8. if an ecumenical council or synod of bishops is in progress, it is automatically suspended until authorized by the newly elected pontiff to proceed. (Etym. Latin con-, with + clavis, key: conclave, a room that can be locked up.)”

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Catholic News Agency

EWTN News

New Advent

Vatican News

California Fires: Don't Forget

“Sara and I talked late into the night about the hard truths revealed by the Palisades fires. We now know none of the things we once trusted exist in reality. We are not protected from fire, crime, none of it. Civilization no longer exists under Democrat rule. We are on our own.”

James Woods

James Woods tearfully recalls evacuating in Pacific Palisades fire: 'Like an inferno'

Actor James Woods was interviewed by USA Today in the above article from January 8th, which also includes video. This was the day after he fled from his burning neighborhood in Palisades and his emotions are still intense. The quote above was posted by Woods on X yesterday.

In the interview, Woods recalls his ordeal from a hotel room. He doubted his house was still standing, but it did survive, which he later said was “a miracle.” Woods was responsible for saving the life of an elderly neighbor with dementia.

There is much to learn here, from a preparedness perspective, whether you are facing fire or some other disaster. Woods had enough presence of mind, even while still reeling from this experience, to well articulate the priorities one should have in this situation. He said that your home doesn’t matter as much as the lives of your neighbors. He mentioned the need to keep yourself safe, be smart about evacuating and let the responders do their job unimpeded. He also illustrates a lesson that we can all take to heart: one day you have everything and then it can be all gone.

Often, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, who we really are is revealed. CS Lewis talked about this in Mere Christianity, that there are times, before the mask can be thrown back on, when our true selves are revealed. James Woods showed his compassion in this situation, went through great lengths to find out if his neighbor was in the house, and saved a life (911 was notified, but Woods took it into his own hands, knowing they might not get to him in time).

Woods mentions God a few times in this interview. Perhaps these fires were in some way a blessing in disguise. If conversions occur, that is a great and joyful thing. And we all know Hollywood could use some conversion. Let us continue to pray for those in the aftermath of these fires and also those who are still suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Helene.

Consider what could occur in your own neck of the woods and make a plan to be better prepared. Check out our “Preparedness” topic to the right>>> and also see some useful links on our Home page!

Thoughts for the Day / Anniversary of Roe vs Wade, Day of Penance

[Edited since posting.]

Life is the gift that keeps on giving.

You must know the words to sing the song.

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2 days after the Presidential Inauguration in the United States, let us remind ourselves of the Scripture below. Do not put your trust in man. There will be peace and justice only insofar as we live the life of sacramental grace, which we receive through our Holy Mother Church, instituted by Christ. We pray for this new Administration and for all of its members to grow toward holiness and the Kingdom of Heaven.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.”

John 14:6

We have but one Savior!

(Beware Trump Messianic Syndrome, the opposite of Trump Derangement Syndrome.)

We pray for Los Angeles, for those who have perished in these fires and for those who remain in difficult situations. May the fires soon be extinguished. O Lord, have mercy. Blessed Virgin, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. All ye heavenly host, pray for us all at this hour.

We also pray for the March for Life, which takes place this Friday in Washington DC. May respect for life from conception to natural death once again reign in our great nation. According to the US bishops, we observe a recommended day of penance today, the anniversary of Roe versus Wade, which joyfully has been overturned….but we never forget the unborn and vulnerable in our midst.

Pray for Los Angeles

Our Lady of the Angels of the Little Portion

(the original name of Los Angeles)

Pray for Us!

May the people suffering in these fires (those in spiritual need), receive a great enlightening of conscience, turn from their sinful ways and return to the Lord with all their hearts, minds and souls. May God provide for all those in need. Let us pray that this once gloriously Catholic land will once again praise Our Blessed Lord and His Mother and give thanks for its beauty and abundance.

Amen.

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us!

Saint Michael, Protect the Innocent!

Saint Florian, Pray for us!

Saint Joan of Arc, Pray for Us!

Saint Polycarp, Pray for us!

All Ye Heavenly Host, Pray for the World at this Hour!

Amen.