The Importance of the Rural Question

 In 1941 the National Catholic Rural Life Conference published a book titled, Manifesto on Rural Life. It was published “with the intent to state certain fundamental principles and policies without which it would be folly to essay a solution. These principles and policies are chiefly derived from Catholic social philosophy as expressed in the social and cyclicals of Leo XIII and Pius XI.”

80 years later, we can be asking the same question taken from the book.

IMPORTANCE OF THE RURAL QUESTION

The National Catholic Rural Life Conference, is committed to the belief that the well-being of the nation rests to a large measure on a healthy agrarianism. The conference regards the betterment of rural conditions as the starting point in the regeneration of society. It’s objectives are the improvement of the spiritual, religious, social, cultural and economic status of the rural group. These objectives are so closely related that one is dependent on the others. Right living conditions are essential for spiritual and cultural development. Reconquest of the soil, which has been depleted through improper use, and exploitation, is a fundamental consideration, for human erosion is closely related to soil erosion. Reconquest of ownership is another fundamental consideration, as much as ownership is essential for independent, successful and self satisfying farm life. The multiplying family-size, owner-operate firms is an important safeguard against the exploitation of our greatest natural resource, namely, the land.

Intensive educational program is needed in order that rural youth might learn to appreciate the singular blessedness of life on the land, and in order that the farming group might be enable to retain its economic independence, develop a spiritual and self satisfying rural culture. This education should be adapted to the special needs of the farming group, and should be grounded on the Christian philosophy of life.

The rural problem is complex and varies in type and intensity with geographical areas. Wrong attitudes toward agriculture, and wrong appraisals of what constitutes fundamental values, deeply rooted in the thinking of both rural and urban groups, are barriers that must be surmounted. Although the rural problem presents great difficulties, we cannot admit that it is insoluble, for the fate of humans society rests on the solution. The rural problem is so important, that it should engage the greatest minds of the nation.

Our Lady of Palestine Patroness of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Prayer To Our Lady Of Palestine

(Patroness Of The Order)

O Mary Immaculate,
gracious Queen of Heaven and of Earth,
behold us prostrate before thy exalted throne.
Full of confidence in thy goodness
and in thy boundless power,
we beseech thee to turn a pitying glance upon Palestine,
which more than any other country belongs to thee,
since thou hast graced it with thy birth,
thy virtues and thy sorrows,
and from there hast given the Redeemer to the world.

Remember that there especially
thou wert constituted our tender Mother,
the dispenser of graces.
Watch, therefore, with special protection
over thy native country,
scatter from it the shades of error,
for it was there the Sun of Eternal Justice shone.

Bring about the speedy fulfilment of the promise,
which issued from the lips of Thy Divine Son,
that there should be one fold and one Shepherd.

Obtain for us all that we may serve the Lord
in sanctity and justice during the days of our life,
so that, by the merits of Jesus
and with thy motherly aid,
we may pass at last from this earthly Jerusalem
to the splendors of the heavenly one.

Amen.

(“Imprimatur, Jerusalem. Kal. Jan. 1926: Aloysius Patriarcha”)

I just recently purchased this book myself and recommend it. Ambassador Habsburg is a credit to his family.

“Knowing who you are gives you sovereignty over yourself. It will give you the confidence not to be swayed by fleeting fads, but to follow the truth—about yourself and about God. The alternative is the empty aimlessness that torments so many and characterizes so much of modern life.”

— Archduke Eduard Habsburg, The Habsburg Way: Seven Rules for Turbulent Times

https://www.tumblarhouse.com/blogs/news/7-reasons-to-read-7-rules-for-turbulent-times-the-habsburg-way

Novena for the Election of the New Grand Master of the SMOM

For those interested in a novena to pray for the election of a new Grand Master here is one to St George that I suggest. Although he is not a patron of the Order of Malta specifically he is still a patron of chivalry, knights and is also one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He is also the patron of the Constantinian Order of St George of whom many knights are also Knights of Malta.

Pray the following prayers for nine consecutive day's with the suggested intention, 

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will truly be present at the deliberations and voting of the SMOM membership and leadership concerned -- and that all will obey and cooperate with the Spirit so that the Grand Master elected will TRULY be God's choice for SMOM and the Universal Church.

May whoever is elected be an indefatigable defender and promoter of the Deposit of the Faith and the Magisterium of the Church, ridding SMOM of all Freemasons and others who live or encourage any way of life contrary to Gospel mores.

PREPARATORY PRAYER

Almighty and eternal God!
With lively faith
and reverently worshipping
Thy divine Majesty,
I prostrate myself before Thee
and invoke with filial trust
Thy supreme bounty and mercy.
Illumine the darkness of my intellect
with a ray of Thy heavenly light
and inflame my heart
with the fire of Thy Divine love,
that I may contemplate
the great virtues and merits
of the Saint in whose honour
I make this novena,
and following his example imitate,
like him,
the life of Thy Divine Son. 

Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously,
through the merits and intercession
of this powerful Helper,
the petition which through him
I humbly place before Thee,
devoutly saving,
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Vouchsafe graciously to hear it,
if it redounds to Thy greater glory
and to the salvation of my soul.

Amen.

PRAYER IN HONOR OF SAINT GEORGE

O GOD, who didst grant to Saint George
strength and constancy in the various torments
which he sustained for our holy faith;
we beseech Thee to preserve,
through his intercession,
our faith from wavering and doubt,
so that we may serve Thee
with a sincere heart faithfully unto death.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

INVOCATION OF SAINT GEORGE

Faithful servant of God
and invincible martyr, Saint George;
favoured by God with the gift of faith,
and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ,
thou didst fight valiantly
against the dragon of pride,
falsehood, and deceit.
Neither pain nor torture,
sword nor death could part thee
from the love of Christ.
I fervently implore thee
for the sake of this love
to help me by thy intercession
to overcome the temptations that surround me,
and to bear bravely
the trials that oppress me,
so that I may patiently carry the cross
which is placed upon me;
and let neither distress nor difficulties
separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Valiant champion of the Faith,
assist me in the combat against evil,
that I may win the crown promised to them
that persevere unto the end. 

PRAYER

My Lord and my God!
I offer up to Thee
my petition in union
with the bitter passion
and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
together with the merits
of His immaculate and blessed Mother,
Mary ever virgin,
and of all the saints,
particularly with those of the holy Helper
in whose honour I make this novena. 

Look down upon me,
merciful Lord!
Grant me Thy grace and Thy love,
and graciously hear my prayer.

Amen.

Philip Lawler Commentary on This Disasterous Papacy

Philip Lawler has written another excellent article for Catholic Culture on what we can and should do  when the non-fallible speech of the Pope threatens to undermine perennial doctrine. Some would prefer to minimize or downplay this to "focus on the good" or not talk about it in public so we don't cause scandal. As though silence in the face of evil isn't itself scandalous.

In a large family, how should a son behave when he realizes that his father’s pathological behavior threatens the welfare of the whole household? He should certainly continue to show respect for his father, but he cannot indefinitely deny the danger. Eventually, a dysfunctional family needs an intervention.
In the worldwide family that is the Catholic Church, the best means of intervention is always prayer. Intense prayer for the Holy Father would be a particularly apt project for the season of Lent. But intervention also requires honesty: a candid recognition that we have a serious problem.

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?ID=1207

Solemn Vows of Frà Bertrand de Villermont

Frà Bertrand de Villermont made his solemn vows as a professed knight of the Order of Malta in February at the conventual church of the Order in France, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Paris.

For more photos visit the webpage below.

http://www.sainteelisabethdehongrie.com/photos2017.html

Modernist Jesuit Superior Says Word of God is Relative

It's no wonder these people have such admiration for Martin Luther, they are protestants just like he is. In effect they are saying saying "I interpret the Bible in my own context, as it speaks to me." Whether by sin or other reason the light of Faith has gone out from these people. How supposedly intelligent people can spout such nonsense is shocking and the fact they actually believe what they are saying is even more stunning.

Q: Cardinal Gerhard L. Műller, prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, has said with regard to marriage that the words of Jesus are very clear and "no power in heaven and on earth, neither an angel nor the pope, neither a council nor a law of the bishops has the faculty to modify them."
A: So then, there would have to be a lot of reflection on what Jesus really said. At that time, no one had a recorder to take down his words. What is known is that the words of Jesus must be contextualized, they are expressed in a language, in a specific setting, they are addressed to someone in particular. 

Q: But if all the worlds of Jesus must be examined and brought back to their historical context, they do not have an absolute value.
A: Over the last century in the Church there has been a great blossoming of studies that seek to understand exactly what Jesus meant to say… That is not relativism, but attests that the word is relative, the Gospel is written by human beings, it is accepted by the Church which is made up of human persons… So it is true that no one can change the word of Jesus, but one must know what it was!

For more of the interview, http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/02/22/marriage-and-divorce-the-general-of-the-jesuits-jesus-too-must-be-reinterpreted/

Cardinal Burke Visit to Kansas City

Some pictures of Cardinal Burke during his visit to the Kansas City area last week.

Defense of the Faith Lecture with Cardinal Burke in Kansas City

This Friday, February 10th, Cardinal Burke will be giving a lecture entitled, "The Challenges to the Defense of the Faith in Our Times." If you are in the Kansas City area this weekend you won't want to miss it. 

Dec. 20, 1522- The Day the Knights Surrendered Rhodes

Today is the date in 1522 when the Knights accepted defeat and surrendered the island of Rhodes  http://gloriaromanorum.blogspot.com/2016/12/december-20-ad-1522-knights-of-saint.html?m=1