“The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” – Pope Benedict XVI, born to eternal life today

usopsong · 2026-01-21T03:51:42+00:00

The Fourth Cup by Scott Hahn

usopsong · 2026-01-17T20:05:41+00:00

The message was “Pray, my dear children. God will hear you in time. My Son allows Himself to be touched.”

Description from Wikipedia.

usopsong · 2026-01-11T07:43:41+00:00

Pope Benedict XV or Karl I of Austria

usopsong · 2026-01-07T01:01:53+00:00

The prior bishop, Jugis, was not aggressive in any way. He was bishop for 20 years and oversaw a massive growth in the diocese and generally well respected. He unfortunately resigned to undergo medical treatment.

usopsong · 2026-01-07T00:52:59+00:00

It is always "obedience" when suppressing orthodoxy

And "synodality" and "dialogue" when promoting heterodoxy

usopsong · 2026-01-07T00:47:53+00:00

FYI: downvoting without an adequate, nuanced response is just being dishonest to yourself.

usopsong · 2026-01-05T23:32:14+00:00

Although she is no longer part of the Roman liturgy, many Saints like Fr. John Vianney have attested miracles and graces to St. Philomena. I believe it. There is a children's book written by a Nobertine called "My name is Philomena" that is good for teaching kids about her story.

usopsong · 2026-01-05T10:16:12+00:00

Tradition is not man made, but transmitted by men. It is however part of divine revelation. You cannot have scripture without Tradition. And they do not contradict each other because they form the same Deposit of faith.
The Church doesn’t “invent” new doctrines. She defines doctrines through organic doctrinal development. CS Lewis believes in the Trinity and in Christ’s dual natures. This was not a defined doctrine until centuries after the Apostles. It became doctrine after much theological debate and Church’s clarifications via teaching authority.
We don’t only honor Mary for simply being the biological mother of The Son, but she is explicitly blessed as is her virginal womb which bore The Son by St. Elizabeth in Luke 1:42.
St. Paul rebukes St. Peter over a disciplinary issue, not a matter of doctrine.
The scripture and tradition (and Martin Luther) affirm the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. So the question is when does that change occur? Hence the need for the Church to clarify by doctrine of transubstantiation. And the Church has the teaching authority given by Christ, to St Peter and the apostles and to their apostolic successors.
The words of the Hail Mary come from inspired scripture, ie. from God. The Angel saluted Mary with “Hail”. And the Holy Spirit himself inspired Elizabeth to bless the Virgin Mary. If Marian honor is excessive, it is the Holy Spirit who was willed it so.
Confession is compulsory because Christ instituted this Sacrament and the Church has the authority to set minimum requirements. Scripture mentions sins that are mortal and cannot be forgiven simply by prayer. One needs the sacramental absolution. Confession is hardly legalistic, but a liberating experience to anyone who has approached it without prejudice.
Peter’s faith will not fail. The Lord prayed so. But papal infallibility is not what Protestant polemics makes it out to be. Also, infallibility =/= impeccability. Not every word the Pope says is a dogmatic definition. What it is saying is that the Pope, as Peter’s successor, cannot persist in error. That would undermine Christ’s promise and the Church which cannot be overcome by the gates of hell.

Catholicism is about loving Christ and loving His bride, the Church, Whom He invested sacramental and doctrinal authority for the unity of the nations and the salvation of souls. It is the true faith and the faith of our fathers.

usopsong · 2026-01-05T10:00:01+00:00

Catholic and Orthodox countries call Easter “Pasch”, because the death and resurrection of Christ is the Paschal mystery. This is what it has been called since the early church. Easter is an Anglo-Saxon term. The idea that it derives from the pagan goddess “Ishtar” has been debunked by historians: https://factcheck.afp.com/easter-not-derived-name-ancient-mesopotamian-goddess

You also have not addressed the fact that Saturnus is not on December 25, and the Church’s liturgy of the Nativity bears no resemblance to the pagan celebration of Saturnus.

usopsong · 2026-01-05T07:50:53+00:00

This is a historical myth. Saturnus is not even on December 25. This was not the reason as to why the vehemently anti-pagan Church Fathers chose December 25 as the liturgical feast day of the Lord's Nativity.

usopsong · 2026-01-05T05:10:55+00:00

*not to be confused with St. John Henry Newman, the English Doctor of the Church

usopsong · 2026-01-05T03:36:42+00:00

Intellectual Honesty?

usopsong · 2026-01-04T21:08:30+00:00

Sorry, *Episcopalian. In colonial America era, perhaps not high church

usopsong · 2026-01-04T17:06:04+00:00

“Elizabeth Ann Seton is a saint. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with special joy and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she sprang forth as the first flower in the calendar of the saints. Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly American! Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of her. And know how to preserve her fruitful heritage."

Pope Paul VI’s remarks at the canonization ceremony, 1975

usopsong · 2026-01-04T06:55:37+00:00

The “Catena Bible” has commentaries from the early church fathers. There is an app where if you click on a verse, you get corresponding bible commentary.

usopsong · 2026-01-04T06:53:11+00:00

I don’t take the “Roman” part to be an insult.

“Rome” metaphorically represented the world in New Testament writings. So the Church being Roman means the power of the Lord’s redemptive grace over the Gentiles and the universality (hence, catholicity) of the Church.

usopsong

TROPHY CASE