Day 3 of My Vacation

Gotta love a good chair and a plate of buffalo wings, especially if you're a guy.  For those of you on a ketogenic diet (i.e low carb - medium protein - high healthy fat),  for wellness or weight loss,  I recommend making your own using a deep fryer and lard.  Comes out 2x as good as even Pizza Hut.

Lard, Okie trad?   Yup, studies show saturated fat is actually good for you.   It's processed food,  flour, and sugar that will kill you. 

Getting ready to go down to the gym for a swim and a whirlpool soak.   Does wonders for my stress hormone levels.  7 more days before I jump back on the treadmill set to level 10, like a  capitalist slave.   Any working men out there in need of a soak or a sauna,  let me know,  I can bring guests. 

Yesterday was also a rewarding tonic, us driving to picturesque Eureka Springs,  AR.   An Ozark lunch at famous Myrtie Mae's, then checked out the serene glass chapel in the woods, and the towering Passion Play statue of Jesus that looks down on Eureka Springs.  Protestant,  but edifying. 

Then a tour of majestic Blue Spring Heritage Center - a round,  blue spring that forms a lagoon, surrounded by well kept gardens,  and a nice path that also takes you through the woods.   That alone is worth the trip from Tulsa. 

After a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the traditional St.  Catherine's Catholic chapel,  we finished the day over a German meal at the Bavarian Inn, with my Bavarian,  German mother for Mother's Day.

Happy belated Mothers Day to all mothers,  especially the Blessed Mother. 

And thank God for building leisure into his plan of salvation.

PART TWO: Some Facts about St. Padre Pio

This is PART TWO in a series of amazing, uplifting, and encouraging facts about the life of the Franciscan stigmatist priest from Italy named Padre Pio.  See Part One HERE.   The details of his life are meant here to comfort those in particular who are in extreme pain, suffering, and illness, who can be edified by the life of this saint who perhaps suffered more than most saints in the history of the Catholic Church.   Please share these posts with the sick by email, Facebook, etc.  Thank you.

Padre Pio was in constant, unimaginable pain all his life, all over his body, but especially for the 50 years he miraculously bore all Five wounds that Our Blessed Lord bore during his Crucifixion.  

Yet Padre Pio was constantly in a cheerful, playful, and comical mood, full of joy and hope in God.  

At the same time, he was also often full of sorrow and tears how sin afflicted Our Lord in His Passion and Death, as re-represented on the daily altar at Mass.  He was especially angered at irreverence, sacrilege, and disobedience of Church authority.  But when a penitent was scrupulous or acting eccentric, he typically was gentle and light-hearted with them in giving his advise.  

For a time in his life, he would miraculously cry so much in sorrow for the sins of mankind, while standing in choir with the other friars for prayers, that they would have to place towels around him on the ground to soak up all the tears.  

His daily motto he often repeated to penitents and other visitors was:  "Pray, Hope, and Don't worry."

He would typically preach very short sermons that were only 1-2 minutes long, but packed with spiritual wisdom and the teachings of Christ and His Church.  Listen to this moving EXAMPLE.

Padre Pio, while seminary trained, was a very simple, thinking man, reflecting his simple, peasant background.  He was not a theologian or philosopher, but loved to read the Bible, and to write simple, letters of spiritual direction, as a pastor and priest of souls, to his "spiritual children."   Yet, Padre Pio had an excellent grasp of the core lessons of theology, the liturgy, and the pastoral duties of a priest.

He often gave off the miraculous scent of roses or perfumes.  One day during Mass, the whole Church became full of the smell of roses, as witnessed by a packed church of visitors.

Cardinal Wojtyla of Poland, the future Pope John Paul II, visited Padre Pio, who confided to him, as he had rarely done to anyone, that he also bore a wound of Christ across his shoulder, which many people do not know Christ had suffered during His Passion.

Later, Cardinal Wojtyla wrote Padre Pio several times, to ask for prayers of healing for members of his diocese who were suffering from cancer or other life-threatening illnesses, and each time Padre Pio wrote back they would be healed, and then they were healed.

Padre Pio's body, as it lies inside a glass casket for pilgrims to see and venerate, is miraculously incorrupt, with no scientific explanation.  

It seems that he is a unique saint in the Catholic history of saints, in that he was the only saint who was: a priest with the full stigmata, a victim soul, a mystic, exemplifying through his own daily passion (especially the mystical way he was united to Christ's suffering during each Mass) the fullness of the sacramental priesthood.

Some days he spent 15-19 hours in the confessional, and beginning in 1950, the confession lines were so long the Friars would create a wait list that often was ten days out.

Every day the Friars received letters to Padre Pio, so many that a team of priests and brothers were assigned to sit down, read them, and try and answer them on Padre Pio's behalf, while he would bless the letters and include a holy card.

Every day Padre Pio went outside to walk around with the pilgrims and talk to them, answering questions, giving short catechism lessons, and often handing out holy cards and holy medals he had blessed.   People were constantly asking for his blessing.

Padre Pio could read people's souls.  Often he would help the penitent remember unconfessed sins.  But if the person was not truly contrite, but just going to confession for the amusement of hearing what he would say, he would know and angrily (justly so) order them out of the confessional, not because they disrespected him, but to admonish them for disrespecting the Sacrament of Confession.

One day after Mass a crowd filled the entrance to the sacristy.  After taking off his vestments, he was not able to get past the crowd.  As witnessed by priests who have given sworn testimony, Padre Pio levitated in the air, hovering above the height of the crowd, and walked over their heads to get past them.

Padre Pio was attacked by the devil on a nightly basis in his cell, leaving serious injury, that only the brothers who helped care for him knew about.  These attacks persisted throughout his life.  Sometimes the demon would physically hurl him across the room against the wall.  

The hospital he founded next to the Friary still exists today, and is overseen by the Vatican.

All the miracles and wonders surrounding Padre Pio's life are a testament to the divine love God has for each one of us.

Short BIO HERE.  St. Padre Pio, pray for us!

(Part Three coming soon!)

Okie Traditionalist Interviews: Bishop René Gracida, of Corpus Christi, TX, about a Remedy for the Current Papal Crisis.

His Excellency, Bishop Rene Henry Gracida of Corpus Christi, Texas, gives clarification about an Article he posted on his blog last month on April 7th, which has since been circulated worldwide.  He is encouraging the Cardinals to take action to remedy the current papal crisis.

You can read the Article:  HERE.

Bishop Gracida of Texas was the first diocesan bishop to sign the "Filial Correction" presented to Pope Francis by Cardinal Raymond Burke and three other Cardinals, calling into question certain statements in the document Amoris Laetitia, in particular its policy of admitting public, unrepentant adulterers to Holy Communion.  

He is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX;  he also served as bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, FL; and, he was auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Miami, FL.   He has been a bishop for 46 years, a priest for almost 60 years, was a Benedictine monk for 10 years, and served in World War II as a tail-gunner.  Being 95 years old next month, and dedicated to the daily celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, he is one of the most senior and traditional members of the hierarchy.  Here is a past video interview of Bishop Gracida:  LINK.

The Interview:

J.M.J.

Dear Bishop Gracida, Your Excellency,

Thank you for your reply from down there in Texas, to me a blogger up here in Oklahoma, and thanks for considering my request for an online interview.  I would greatly appreciate any response you can give to my questions, and to readers worldwide, which you approve of before I post it.  

Questions:

1.  In a recent article posted to your blog (LINK), which has since been read around the world, you supported the case that Pope Francis may not be a valid pope, and that the Cardinals themselves consider electing a new pope.  Was/Is your intention that the article might end up being read by Cardinal Burke, and other Cardinals, with the unique authority to directly confront the problem of the Francis pontificate?

Yes, that was and still is my hope. Since only the validly appointed Cardinals have the power to initiate a solution to the present crisis in the Church, it was and still is my hope that they will be encouraged by what I published to take the necessary steps toward a solution as was proposed in the post.​

2.  In your experience these last weeks, how has the response been from the laity, priests, and other bishops - if any - both online and in the flesh?  Do you anticipate backlash from members of the hierarchy, or Rome?  Or even from Cardinal Burke himself?

​There has been some response but not from cardinals. I do not really look for response from cardinals, I look for action on their part to initiate the steps that will lead to a special conclave. I do not expect them to publicize those steps, I expect them to move silently and discretely in order to minimize active opposition by the friends of Francis who are now firmly entrenched in the Vatican curia.​

3. Reading the argument, it seems the main basis and bulk of it is the contention the 2013 conclave broke conclave laws, enacted by Pope John Paul II, that would invalidate the election results.  It begins by discussing the issue of heresy and papal infallibility, but seems to not make those issues the main basis. There seems to be strong enough evidence that certain Cardinals of the conspiring "St. Gallican Group" did violate conclave laws, enough to at least now raise the question of the validity of Cardinal Bergoglio's election.  Am I correct in understanding this argument?  Is that the focus you are encouraging the Cardinals to take? 

​Yes, that is the focus I am encouraging the Cardinals to take.​

4.  Since the word "heresy" was used in the article, perhaps you could speak to the question of how Cardinals, based on the tradition of the Church, can judge if a certain pope is guilty of actual "formal heresy" (vs. material), which would result in excommunication and loss of Office according to church law.  Can you explain what the Church says?  That is how the College of Cardinals can judge the pope to be an invalid pope, for different reasons, to the point of actually electing a new pope?

Even though Francis has made heretical statements, he has cleverly also made orthodox statements on the same subject thereby making it virtually impossible to define him as a heretic.  On the other hand, the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution ​UNIVERSI DOMINICI GREGIS (edit: you can read it HERE) promulgated by Saint John Paul II are clear, and Francis and friends have confirmed their violations of those provisions in the conclave of 2013.   Saint John Paul II provided for the penalty of AUTOMATIC EXCOMMUNICATION for any cardinal violating those provisions.  Reasonable people should have no problem agreeing that an excommunicated person cannot be elected pope.

Thank you again, Your Excellency, for answering these questions.   I also hope the reasoned Argument you posted, and your answers in this interview, will be read and considered by the Cardinals.

God bless,

Joseph Ostermeir
The Okie Traditionalist Blog

Boy Scouts drop "Boy" from Their Name. One Traditional Catholic's Perspective.

Here is the New York Times coverage:  LINK.  The new name will be "Scouts BSA."

Their stated reason is that this name is more inclusive, applied to both boys and girls, in keeping with the name Cub Scouts.

Horse manure.

                                                 









I was in the Boy Scouts from age 12-18, and then an Assistant Scoutmaster from age 18-22.  I was also in other scouting organizations:  Medical Explorers, Civil Air Patrol, and in college Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.  If God should bless me with sons, I would get involved again one day.  

But do a google search.  The Girl Scouts are retaining "Girl" in their name.  When the Boy Scouts officially decided to allow girls to enroll in their troops, they protested.


Where to even begin?  

First, removing "Boy" from the name but retaining "BSA" illogically betrays their purpose of setting aside reference to gender, as is done in the name "Cub Scouts."  That is because BSA stands for "Boy Scouts of America."  Hello.  What is their frame of mind?  

Second, 99.9999999999% of its members remain to be BOYS.  That is essential to the very nature of this specific organization. If I wanted to say change the name of the health profession called "Physical Therapy" to "Therapy,"  to be more inclusive to all those other clinical therapies (occupational, speech, respiratory, counseling, etc.), then how is a patient to clearly know they are going to "physical therapy" for rehab after a total hip replacement?  Its ridiculous.

Third, when part of the very nature of your organization is that it is for, you know, BOYS, then when you allow girls to be members, and remove the name BOY from its name, it begs the philosophical question if the Boy Scouts as an organization and cultural institution actually still exists??   I waxed and waned about that possibility last Fall, when they announced girls can join Boy Scout troops.  LINK.

Solutions?

Well, I'm not 100% done with the BSA.  On the practical level, looking out across the landscape of Boy Scout troops here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, most of which are based at either conservative Evangelical churches or Catholic churches, I think it may still be a viable option for your boys, on a case to case basis.

The Catholic Church has always encouraged the formation of youth in institutions not officially part of the divine institution of the Church.   That is because while we are called to be first and foremost saints, that prime directive indirectly depends on forming ourselves into ladies and gentlemen, citizens, and patriots.  That is traditionally the aim of both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts alike.

But, I advocate for the trend of some Catholic parishes, in particular ones where the truly extraordinary form of the Mass is offered (aka the Latin Mass),  starting alternative scouting organizations.  Attempts have been made here in Tulsa.

The one I grew up with at St. Anne's in Broken Arrow, though, still remains with the politically correct, mainstream institution.

I can see two alternatives.  One would be to start an institutional BSA troop, but do everything you can to retain traditional language and custom -- like, for example, starting an official Knights of Columbus chapter but applying for permission to wear the traditional ceremonial uniform of a Knight (would they allow it?).  

This vs. This.  

Keep the name "Boy Scouts" in the name of your troop.  Be explicit that membership is for BOYS.   Be politically incorrect.  Study and restore the great traditions of American scouting.  

The other option I strongly lean towards is an alternative, Catholic scouting organization, like you traditionally see with Catholic Scouting in France.

LINK  (about Catholic scouting)

LINK  (Latin Mass order of priests, dedicated to scouting)

Some Facts about St. Padre Pio, Pt. 1

He suffered from a terrible GI disorder ever since his early youth, with frequent bouts of vomiting.

He had mystical visions starting as a young boy, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Our Lord.

He constantly saw his Guardian Angel, all his life.

His father worked in America to pay for him to go to the seminary with the Franciscans.

His family was very poor, but always had a roof over their heads and three square meals a day.

He had a very pleasant personality, frequently joking with others and smiling, despite the fact he was in constant, unimaginable pain for 50 years.

He did get angry on occasion, only to rebuke lay visitors of his Friary when they were blasphemous or irreverent.  Let's just say he pulled no punches.

As a young priest, he had a vision of Christ hanging on the cross in the Friary chapel, in which Christ asked if he would suffer for his people in the towns and villages his Order served.  When he said Yes, he was given the full stigmata, which he bore for exactly 50 years to the day.

He was told by Our Lord in a vision that he would be fully healed from the stigmata exactly 50 years to the day he received it, but just before his death.
On the day he died, later that night, he discovered all the wounds and pains were gone.

Padre Pio was the only priest in the history of the Catholic Church who bore all the wounds of the stigmata.   Very few people knew that he also had a wound across his shoulder, which he said corresponded to a wound Our Lord also had on across His shoulder during the Passion.  Padre Pio said it was the most painful wound, second only to the Crowning with Thorns.

The Crowning with Thorns wound was mystical, with no outward signs on his head, yet he said he felt it digging into his skull for the full 50 years.

Every day, he celebrated Mass in a mystical way, going into a mystical state in which he literally experienced/shared in exactly what Christ experienced/felt during His Passion and Death.  His Masses would often take hours.

Early on, he was called a liar by some prelates in the Church, to the point the pope ordered him for a time to celebrate Mass only in private, very early in the morning.  But multiple medical exams proved that the wounds were not self-inflicted or having a psycho-somatic origin.

Padre Pio only celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass.  When the Novus Ordo changes started to take place to the Missal post-1965, he personally wrote Pope Paul VI and was given permission to opt out of the liturgical experimentation.

Padre Pio was a great mystic and healer.  He frequently bilocated to other parts of the country and world, read the souls of people in confession, levitated on occasions, healed the sick, raised the dead, countless times.

For over a decade until his death, he only ate a couple crackers a day.

His routine was to go to bed around 1am.  Wake back up after 3am.  Pray in his cell, preparing himself for Mass.  4 am go to the sacristy to vest, pray, and hear confessions.  5am Mass, often lasting hours.  Then he prayed in the balcony looking down on the church, sat with the Friars during breakfast, heard confessions, sat again for lunch, had recreation daily after lunch walking or sitting in the gardens entertaining visitors and pilgrims, then he spent his afternoon writing his "spiritual children" around the world and hearing more confessions until Vespers and dinner in the refectory.  Each evening was filled with prayer, reading the Bible, answering more letters, and on occasion going into town to preach or teach.  He kept doing penances until 1 am, before having a couple hours of sleep every night.

Padre Pio was in constant, unimaginable pain, not only from the stigmata, but also from his GI issues, respiratory illness, and later severe, crippling rheumatoid arthritis, not to mention a half dozen or more other chronic illnesses.  He was a walking encyclopedia of medical diagnoses.

In his cell, he had a chair for sitting and praying, a table, pics of the pope, Our Lord, Our Lady, holy cards on the wall.  When laying in bed, he could see a large painting of Our Lady hanging on the wall, given to him by his mother as an ordination gift.  When bedridden, which was often, he often spent hours praying to this holy image.

See this very moving Youtube video of Padre Pio celebrating the Mass of the Ages:

See his last Mass the day he died, knowing while he celebrated it, it would be his last Mass ever offered as a priest before he later died that night.

There are so many more wonders that filled his life.  He said he wished he could have said Mass all day long, every day, in a state of suffering.  He set up prayer groups all around the world, which he was the spiritual director over.  He founded a children's hospital just next to his Friary.  And he spent a great deal of his priestly service literally performing miracles to heal the sick.  There are countless examples how St. Padre Pio has continued to heal the sick after his death, still today.

In my opinion, St. Padre Pio was one of the greatest saints of all times, and certainly one of the most important saints to be imitated during modern times.

To learn more, to help spread his devotions and healing, support the Padre Pio Foundation based at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT.   LINK.  

You can request they send you a third-class relic of Padre Pio, and I highly recommend all health care workers to carry this relic on them in the service of healing the sick.

St. Padre Pio, Pray for us!

Texas Bishop Suggests the Cardinals Consider a New Papal Conclave

FIRST Bishop to say this.  From Texas just to the south of us Okies, no less. 

Bishop Emeritus Rene Gracida

94 year old retired Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi.  In excellent health.  Interviewed last year by Michael Voris.

Says the TLM. 

Here is his argument. Click HERE.

In a nutshell,  he suggests Bergoglio's election was invalid because it broke church law about papal elections,  based on John Paul II's new conclave laws that prevent breaking of conclave. 

Not to mention, Bergoglio's heretical statements,  he says. 

Francis' Cardinal appointments would be invalidated (I suppose his bishop appointments too...hmm) ,  and the one's who conspired to elect him would be excommunicated,  per JPII's legislation. 

Solution?   He says the remaining valid Cardinals would have to call a new conclave to elect a new pope.

Cardinal Burke,  the tee ball has just been placed on top of the tee.   We need you to step up to the plate.

As in now. 

Fundraiser for St. John Cantius' Fr. Frank Phillips Legal Fund. PLEASE HELP

Friends,

I got an email asking for help with this worthy cause,  after I joined trad blogger Oakes Spalding up there in Chicago in reflecting on the already national story.

Here is the link,  where you can donate to help this impeccable traditional priest:

https://www.protectourpriests.com/our-mission

Help keep Father in his apostolate,  so he doesn't become yet another exiled traditional priest.   Help protect the good name of the Canons Regular of St.  John Cantius (they offer the TLM)  he founded.

Joe

Tulsa Bishop, Bishop Konderla Suggested for Papal Nomination for Synod-2018, by George Weigel. One Tulsan's Argument to the Contrary.

This story popped up on my phone this morning, as I did my morning constitutional, which customarily includes checking Canon 212, an invaluable traditional Catholic news aggregation website.  The title the website's administrator (who I really respect personally) gave to the link was:

"Weigel:  Bishop Konderla would make a very apt papal nominee to Synod-2018?!"

Seems like a reasonable question to me.  It is after all now 2018!  Here is the LINK to Weigel's blog post, in which he recalls the scandal of the rigged 2014 Synod, but then does an About-Face, turning optimistically to the next Synod, opining:

But, hey, memory is a tricky thing and this is the season of mercy, so let’s let bygones be bygones and concentrate now on Synod-2018, which will discuss youth ministry and vocational discernment. Those are very important topics.

5 Paragraph's down Weigel writes:

Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa was the director of campus ministry at Texas A&M for eleven years, where St. Mary’s Catholic Center has set the gold standard in traditional campus ministry and created a model for others to emulate. Over the past twenty years, Konderla and his predecessors have fostered more vocations to the priesthood and religious life than that school with the golden dome in northwest Indiana, while helping many Aggie men and women prepare for fruitful and faithful Catholic marriages. Bishop Konderla would make a very apt papal nominee to Synod-2018.  (emphasis mine)

So of course, being the Diocese of Tulsa's effective Traditionalist Blogger here in the Heartland, I could not refrain from comment.  So folks, here goes.  I'm on vacation, and blogging is good R&R, sitting here in my Okie Armchair sipping diet Coke.

The Okie Traditionalist's Argument to the Contrary:

First, I must preface this post by assuring the reader, including my bishop if he reads this, and my pastor, I am committed to due respect of my Local Ordinary, who is now the recently consecrated Bishop David Konderla, formerly college chaplain and priest at College Station in Texas. 


I'm thinking I'll use the scholastic method to structure my argument, mixed with a bit of satire.  Why not?  It is after all an excellent way to boil down issues.  My approach will decidedly not be traditionalist criticism of + Konderla himself, but about the progressivist orientation of current Vatican Synods, and Weigel's own reputation for pollyanna optimism about the current state of the Church, post-Vatican II.

My Argument:

Question:  should Bishop Konderla of Tulsa be Nominated for the 2018 Synod?  It would seem Yes.

One, Mr. Weigel argues the scandal of the 2014 Synod should be forgotten, and the 2018 Synod approached in an optimistic way, which includes focus on young adults and youth, of which Bishop Konderla has had great experience.

Two, Mr. Weigel argues for Bishop Konderla's role in the Synod, since he apparently fostered more vocations to religious life at College Station than the priests at Notre Dame.

On the contrary, recall that Cardinal Burke, Bishop Schneider, and other cardinals and bishops have condemned the scandal of the 2014 Synod, as a kind of Revolution under Pope Francis to institute a progressivist pastoral policy on moral issues throughout the Church Universal, in particular regarding human sexuality.  They have also issued grave warnings about plans for the next 2018 Synod.  And this is now 2018.

In fact, Pope Francis himself has confirmed that the next Synod will continue the general agenda of the last one, explaining the theme:

"The theme, an expression of the pastoral care of the Church for the young, is consistent with the results of the recent Synod assemblies on the family and with the content of the post-Synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.   (emphasis mine)   LINK

I would argue that Bishop Konderla, my bishop, should not be nominated to any special role in the next Vatican Synod.  Accepting such a nomination would mean the Tulsa bishop and Local Church objectively endorses the work of the next Synod, not to mention the work of the last one which it is continuing.  

Of course the crux of the argument over the next Synod is one's view of the last Synod and its outcome.  Weigel somehow takes a positive view to the outcome, in particular Amoris Laetitia, insisting being in denial there is any sort of rupture from the Magisterium of John Paul II, et al.  

Hello.  Where can I buy some smelling salts?  :)

Others disagree, including prominent Cardinals, plainly reading what Francis has stated about the document's interpretation, including elevating his famous Letter to the Argentinian bishops (confirming sacriligeous communion) to the Acts of the Apostolic See.


The agenda has already been established, to deepen even more a liberal, Francis-style pastoral policy towards modern ills.  That should be obvious, and require no more demonstration. This likely includes considering official Church endorsement of the heretical position of so-called "civil unions," which the Holy Office (CDF) has already clearly condemned in past pontificates.  After all, young adults also deal with the same sexual, moral issues presented in Amoris. 

The main problem with Weigel's personal nomination of Bishop Konderla is that Weigel is in a serious state of denial at how scandalous the outcome of the last Synod is.  Loui Verrechio has discussed this at his AKACatholic Blog, i.e. Weigel's effective dissent from Catholic teaching about marriage, in his blind, "neoconservative" adherence to Francis' policy.

Reply to Point 1.  The problem of Bishop Konderla having a special voice at the next Synod, on behalf of the youth, is that he was appointed by Francis, who Cardinal Burke, three other Cardinals on record, and other prelates, are basically rightly accusing of a heretical position on communion-for-the-divorced-and-remarried-without-annulment, among other positions. 

The point being, it is reasonable to suspect the modernist powers-that-be in the Vatican (and the Local Church), got the good Fr. Konderla appointed as the new bishop, because he does have a somewhat progressive approach to ministry, but more importantly because he is a team player, and someone that could be wrongfully manipulated to help advance the next phase of the great apostasy in the Church. 

Reply to Point 2.  Being a member of the Tulsa Diocese, having read a good deal about and by our new bishop these last couple years, my personal impression is that, yes, Bishop Konderla is committed on a personal level to orthodoxy and saving souls, in particular young people, as he did in fostering vocations.  That was clear from his successes at College Station.  

But, personal orthodoxy does not always equate to orthodox diocesan policies or pastoral decisions, especially during this Crisis in the Church.  This is especially the case when the bishop is under the control of a presbyteral council that is as a whole, by-and-large committed to Catholic modernism, and holds sway over their Successor to the Apostles in the name of collegiality.  Surely, Weigel would agree on some level this is the dynamic in virtually every diocese in the world, including at the level of Bishop Synods, even in the Vatican, as it was in 2014. 

Conclusion:

I would support an initiative of faithful, Tulsa Catholics appealing to our bishop, Bishop Konderla, to join with Cardinal Burke and other Prelates, in their defense of marriage and the Blessed Sacrament, here in the Heartland, but also if he attends this year's Synod.  Oh, and to refuse participation with Cardinal Cupich in Chicago leading the American Episcopate in the implementation of the next revolutionary "paradigm shift" in the Church.  Read about his Program HERE.  

Emailing this post now to Mr. Weigel, to ask for a response...

St. John Cantius in Chicago. In the News. The Okie Traditionalist Ruminates and Reflects.

Fr. Z was the first to clarify the story HERE.   And now Newsweek has made it national news.  Thanks secular press, now we have to comment.  Mahound's Paradise was one of the first blogs to do so, in a very balanced way.


Background:

For many years, I have only heard the best comments about the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago. They are a Latin Mass community of priests and brothers who run St. John Cantius parish near downtown Chicago,  while training priests from all parts of the world to offer the truly extraordinary form of the Roman rite.  Aka the Traditional Latin Mass.

In fact,  Fr. Davison of the Tulsa diocese recently sent his associate pastor at the time, Fr. Elmer Rodriguez, to learn the TLM from the Canons,  to offer the traditional Mass in his place before he went on sabbatical.

I myself have visited St. John Cantius and can verify they are at the forefront of preserving our Catholic heritage, and perhaps the main stronghold of orthodoxy left in the archdiocese, just 1.5 Miles from the Archdiocesan Chancery no less.  The sanest place for a Catholic to attend a still faithful parish, I'd think.

And I always heard the best regard for the founder and parish pastor Fr. Frank Phillips,  for his holiness and pastoral care,  and commitment to preserving Catholic tradition,  during this universal Modernist Crisis.   He has served as St. John Cantius' pastor for an impeccable...30 years.

The late Cardinal George (RIP) seemed to hold him in high regard,  being a special patron of Fr. Frank Phillips and his traditional apostolate.

In fact just the other day,  Fr. Z wrote about his high regard for Fr. Phillips and his work.


The Archdiocese of Chicago,  post-Vatican II:

That said,  many informed, orthodox Catholics are acutely aware of the plague of modernist, actively homosexual clergy that have treated the Chicago diocese as their own devil's playground since the days of Bernadine, decades ago.   Talking to my well-followed trad blogger colleague, Oakes Spalding from the Windy City,  it is public knowledge that this is still the case. 

I myself recall sitting down with the late Fr. Charles Fiore (RIP) who later worked with the FSSP and said the TLM,  as he talked to our group about how he and the Wisconsin traditionalist Fr. Alfred Kunz(RIP), both exorcists, once did secret,  official missions in the archdiocese.  Their goal was to put a dent in the underground,  satanic,  pedophaelic, clerical cabal that operated there.  What he related made the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end, literally.  I would learn later this became widely, publicly known,  which is why I can share it.

And we are also acutely aware that their relatively new Francis-appointed bishop,  now a cardinal,  is one of the most influential members of the hierarchy to promote the heterodox policies and outright heresy found in Amoris Laetitia.

In fact,  Cardinal Cupich is officially leading the implementation of the document here in America, for all American bishops (Tulsa bishop too?),  including Francis' official, heretical clarifications of it.  The program includes a progressivist "accompaniment" of Catholics dealing with same sex attraction.  Openly gay Catholics,  including priests,  are to be treated with the utmost pastoral concern,  and incorporated as much as possible into the ecclesial life of the local church, says Francis in his document.

The Francis-appointed prelate in fact has publicly promoted a a conference in Chicago to promote the controversial,  progressive James Martin, S.J.'s approach to pastoral care of Catholics with SSA.

You can't make this stuff up.

Non-Descript Allegations.    

All I am reading is that Fr. Phillips allegedly had improper interactions with certain males.  That. is. all. we. know.  

There is no explanation of the nature of the conduct or how that would warrant an actual suspension from acting as a priest.  

No public allegation has been made that Father used force or manipulation in whatever he is said to have done.

In fact, Father is not charged with either a canonical or civil penalty.  Yet he is somehow suspended from all public ministry.

Naturally, we should be concerned.  Priests in the past have abused others using their authority, even traditionalist priests in certain instances.  Of course there has to be procedure.  

However, the allegations are decidedly non-descript.  The archdiocese is offering no clarity.  Yet, anyway.  Fr. Phillips' reputation of 30 years is impeccable.  

For all we know he likes to give men hugs.  In the meantime, if you google his good name, that excellent reputation has been presently erased doing a google search.   Can it be restored, or has the damage already been done to him and the Canons Regular he founded?


Where's the "Accompaniment" Cardinal Cupich?

Fr. Z was the first to report the public announcement of Fr. Phillips' suspension,  asking for prayers for Father, a swift inquiry, emphatically defending his innocence, and giving his impression the decision seems "pretty sudden and draconian."  Draconian.

I talked to Oakes Spalding, blogger and St. John Cantius parishioner for 9 years,  who attends with his wife and children.  He was present for a meeting with diocesan representatives,  and has interviewed a number of people.  In his opinion, while the allegations are concerning,  overall they come across very questionable.  This situation naturally begs the question, if the allegations are trumped up as a political attack on the work of preserving our Catholic tradition in Chicago,  including the Mass of the Saints.  That is Oakes' perspective, at least.

You would think the diocese, if it was consistent,  would show as much "accompaniment and discernment" to the Catholic in question as it would to any other Catholic, be they traditionalist,  conservative,  or progressive, laity or priest.

According to Oakes, no assuring,  positive signs of "accompaniment" have yet to be shown to the accused pastor or the affected families of the parish.


Last Thoughts:

Myself,  having witnessed a verifiable rejection of two Latin Mass-devoted religious communities in my own local Church, recently,  without clear reasons given to the laity of the diocese, it does beg the question,  under the current pontificate:

Is there an open season on traditionalist communities in the wake of the current heresy/schism dividing the Church today?

This remains to be verified in Chicago,  under new church leadership.

But should we moderns who depend greatly on the internet world just ignore the bloggers,  pray,  and keep our protests to quiet whispers in the church parking lot?

Fr. Z himself thinks not,  calling for a public effort to address the authorities, to defend a good priest's rights and the good name of St. John Cantius as a Latin Mass community:

Everyone who can do something in addition to praying should also prompt, move, push and plead that this be swiftly investigated and swiftly resolved. In justice, this must not drag out, to the detriment of his good name and the good works which have multiplied over the years at the now world-famous St. John Cantius.

Folks, hopefully the suspension will end "swiftly" (Fr. Z's word),  but I'll follow the story again on the blog.  We Okie Trads here in the Heartland live 12+ hours away,  but this may as well be affecting our own local Church, and our own Latin Mass community.  I am convinced the same battle inside the Church, to further suppress Catholic tradition, is unfolding more and more in every single diocese, which is not a reason to despair,  but to act.  Yes pray,  but to voice our concerns to the pastors. 

Join the Online Prayer HERE.

And I would encourage readers to respectfully contact Cardinal Cupich to express any concerns, as I will.

Contact Info HERE.    Free Internet Fax HERE.

10 Things I'd Rather Be Doing than Reading about Benedict XVI endorsing the "Theology of Pope Francis."

I'm one of those trads whose serotonin levels do not elevate reading the current news about the current pontificate.  They decline, worse than one of those cloudy, sopping wet, dreary days.  If you need your critical Catholic news fix, I understand.  Whatever keeps the mind in this modern mosh pit afloat. 

As usual, hard-core trad bloggers sound the alarm, like my trad blogger colleague out of Chicago, Mahounds Paradise, while Fr. Z practice's spin control (scroll down).  Oakes Spalding in Chicago is circulating the story out of Rome that apparently Benedict XVI has endorsed in writing the "theology of Pope Francis."  Fr. Z goes so far as to suggest the letter doesn't sound like Ratzinger, while commenting on his travels and food adventures.  

Went to Mohawk Park Again, in Tulsa

I want to share this experience because I think this hidden gem is an excellent place in particular for a family outing.  It is a wholesome, frugal place to connect with the Creator by means of His Creation.

Wrote about this Oasis, recently.
HERE.

God's providence is a marvel, how it directs us in all the minute circumstances of daily life.  It was a cold, Sunday afternoon in early January, and I had an itch for re-connecting with the great outdoors, also known as Creation.  If you're a Tulsan like me, and live anywhere near Midtown like me, you know there aren't a lot of choices if you need a super Walmart.  The one at 81st and Lewis is just about as shady as the one on north Memorial, so I usually venture to the Memorial location since it's closer.  

That Sunday, I bought a small, backpacking-size fishing pole at Walmart.  As I walked to my car, I wondered where would be a good choice nearby to go fishing, and I thought of Mohawk Park on the north side of the city, in the countryside attached to the Tulsa Zoo.

I didn't catch anything that late afternoon, but I was really inspired by the place, how much is there:  the large park, picnic cabins with fireplaces,  a meandering stream, the city zoo, Oxley nature center/hiking trails, a golf course, and a neat Knights of Columbus lodge on the edge of the park.

Went to Mohawk Park Again, Yesterday.

So we packed one of those old-fashioned picnic baskets with chicken legs, brats, and mackerel, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes, plus some beer and pop.  I grabbed the charcoal, and out the door we went, arriving shortly later at a cabin, picnic shelter, the second to last cabin as the road veers to the right towards Oxley nature center.  Having analyzed the park, I highly recommend this spot.  A grill is very close to the cabin, and the creek runs feet behind it. It is more quiet and removed, as the park can really fill up with people on nice days like this weekend.

Here is a picture of the cabin area:

I like how these big cabins are FREE, and the whole park is open until 9 pm.  You can actually have more than a picnic experience, but the whole gamut of camping activities, minus the overnight stay.

Here is our meal:

While I unpacked our goods, started the coals, gathered firewood, and built a fire in the cabin's fireplace, the Mrs. was good to prep the food and grill.  The weather was really divine, the setting simple but picturesque.  It was a welcome retreat from the modern grind.

Here is the fire I built, and how I built it:

Got to use my new bushcraft saw.  Built my go-to fire design, a tee-pee built inside a log cabin.

Managed to catch a little time before dark to fish in the stream behind our spot:

I hear tale there are a good # of fish in this stream.  One gentleman related to me catching several large catfish there, once upon a time.

Deo gracias.  Thank God.  This was a bless-ed re-creation.  Hope you all can check out Mohawk Park one day, with you and yours.

Have a good week.  Enjoy the longer days! 

Calling all Clear Creekers! In Need of Land. Want to build a Cabin!

Hey Fellow Okie Traditionalists.  Do any of you live out by Clear Creek Abbey?  I am looking for land to build a small, weekend cabin, now or in the foreseeable future.  Either to buy, or with permission to use a remote spot in the wilderness, to make a small camp and hike around a bit.  Do you know of any land for sale, or anyone who might let me build something like this in their woods?  Would be greatly obliged for any feedback.

Clear Creek Workday Yesterday. I'm in a Body Cast.

At least I feel like I should be in a body cast, I'm so sore, even 24 hours after returning from Clear Creek Abbey for their Annual, March Workday, where hundreds of visitors come together for a long day of ora et labora.  Well, from past experiences, it definitely leans heavily towards 
labora, in a good way!  


  

Ruminating and Reflecting on: Clear Creek Workday this Weekend, Favorite Manly Youtube Channels, St. Blaise Miracle

Clear Creek Workday This Weekend:

Saturday, 3/3

6:45 Low Mass

7:30 Breakfast

8:30 Group prayer in pasture

Work until Noon -- BBQ provided by monks

1:00 - 5:00 pm More work
6:00 pm Vespers

My Refutation of Sedevacantism.

Introduction:

I've known a number of sedevacantists over the years, including in my own neck of the woods.  On some level, I can sympathize with them.  Yet, recently a sedevacantist organization called the CMRI, with a priest driving down to Oklahoma from Nebraska, has decided to try and set up a CMRI Mass presence here in Tulsa, as they now publicly list on their website.  It would seem a clever maneuver right after the closing of the SSPX's chapel in Tulsa.