Last Post 'Til Easter

Howdy fellow Okies, Okie Trads and Friends from Far and Near, wanted to let you know I'm givin' up blogging for Lent, which is a bit selfish to TBH, since it simultaneously curbs what has become at times addictive, while also serving as a Lenten penance.

Also please keep me in your prayers, as I'm recovering from a weird run of medical issues in the last several weeks-- seemingly serious but in the end minimal--that started with a Low Back Injury (which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy), then a facial nerve compression from sleeping on my hand (which produces paresthesia) which thank God is healing and "fading away," a CT scan to rule out stroke (which it did!), oh and for good measure an MRI (a 30 minute purgatorial experience) from my family doc to verify an arachnoid cyst in my skull (which turns out I have, but probably since birth, these things being benign--thank the Good God and Divine Physician!!!).

My last health challenge is overcoming weeks of insomnia, i.e. for me trouble falling back to sleep due to these symptoms (+ worries).  Such has been my pre-Lent gauntlet, which I offer up in reparation for my own sins, for the grace to once and for all overcome my personal sins, and in the end I think to become a stronger man and Catholic for it, according to my state in life.  

So besides abstaining from blogging, then, I'll also be offering up the residual effects of these recent crosses in the next weeks to come.

Come Easter Vigil when we stand outside watching Father light the Easter fire, know I'll be prayin' for you all.  So, I'll be seein' you all in a few weeks, 40 days as it were.  We'll celebrate the Resurrection with a roasted pig and flowing wine, as signs of the renewal of our Christian soul!  Happy Fat Tuesday!

The Good Fruits of Summorum Pontificum

I was just watching a youtube video talk about the Mass given by a former Okie Trad from OKC, Fr. Justin Nolan, FSSP, who I knew back in the day visiting Clear Creek monastery before he entered the seminary.  This young priest is brilliant; last I heard he was headmaster at St. Gregory's boys school back in Pennsylvnia.

Someone in the audience asked if the Church was heading in the direction of every parish having a Latin Mass.  Fr. Nolan said Yes, he thinks there will be at least half of parishes with the traditional Mass, and asserted that half the priests in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia already say regular TLMs.

Folks, brace yourself!  Here's the current list!!!
https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/Catechetical-Resources/Worship-and-Prayer/Liturgy/Masses-in-the-Extraordinary-Form/

LINK


Holy Trinity Parish, Gainesville: Sundays at 12:30 p.m.


Saint Anthony Mission, King George: Sundays at 12:45 p.m.; Thursdays at 9 a.m.


Saint John the Apostle Parish, Leesburg: Sundays at 10:30 a.m. (in the Historic church).


Saint John the Baptist Parish, Front Royal: Sundays at 12:30 p.m.; Mondays at 7 a.m. in the Chapel; Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Contact the parish for more detail (540-635-3780)


Saint John the Beloved Parish, McLean: Sundays at noon; Mondays at 7:30 p.m. (Low Mass)


Saint Lawrence Parish, Alexandria: Sundays at 12:30 p.m.


Saint Mary Parish, Alexandria: Third Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m.


Saint Michael Parish, Annandale: Sundays at 7:00 a.m.


Saint Patrick Parish, Fredericksburg: Sundays at 1:30 p.m.


Saint Raymond of Penafort Parish, Springfield: First and third Fridays of each month at 7 p.m.


Saint Rita Parish, Alexandria: First Sundays of the month at 9:40 a.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Alzheimer's

So the Little Lady just got an FB message from her friend back in the Old Country. It seems a senior member of their SSPX Chapel has Alzheimer's disease.   The faithful try to visit her at her house, but she is hostile and insulting (dementia).  Kyrie eleison.



SSPX Brothers Praying for the Living and the Dead

Reminds me of my Uncle of sorts, at least that's what I called him, who was my aunt's live-in partner.  In the last few years of his life--God rest his soul--he suffered from Alzheimer's.  He went from being an occasionally grouchy person (lol who isn't), to being grouchy and combative 24/7.  It was horrifying to see him lose much of his personality.

This, in my mind, begs the question:  if a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, isn't it better if they pass on to the here-after BEFORE they lose their mind??  I mean, imagine potentially forgetting your own identity, much less that of the Holy Trinity or Catholic Church. I am not a moral theologian, but I'd imagine their culpability is akin to that of a severely mentally retarded child or adult.  I'm not sure.



God bless these patients, who are like "victim souls."

Recently I had my own sudden, odd, out-of-the-blue brush with a potentially life-threatening medical situation.  Thank the Good Lord and Most Merciful Divine Physician on High the diagnosis was minor and prognosis very good.  But it got me to thinking about death.   When an E.R. nurse asks you "Sir, do you have an Advanced Directive Order?" your life perspective changes, at least for a moment.

If you had Alzheimer's, how would you wish to be cared for?  Me, no, I wouldnt opt for a shotgun, but there are fools out there that would and do, God help them.  I would ask for "ordinary treatment to be preserved," but insist that the doctors DO NOT extend my life through any "extraordinary means."  My last petition would be to ride into the sunset with my faculties at least somewhat intact.

Anyways, please pray for Maam Rose who has Alzheimer's, that God will comfort her and give her some relative peace of mind during this final season of her life.



Agony in the Garden

The so-called "Alt-Right." The Okie Traditionalist Policy Statement

Catholics need to beware of the "Alt-right" phenomenon on the internet.

The "Alt-right" is not advocating for a return to a Christian society or a Christian sense of morality, in the least.

The "Alt-right" has very few constructive positions.  Its main positions are mainly negative, reactionary, libertarian, and uncivilized from a Catholic point of view.

The "Alt-right" also promotes the so-called "Manosphere," blogs and forums promoting a machismo, barbaric reaction of men to feminism.  It commonly promotes sexual immorality and un-Catholic attitudes towards manhood, womanhood, and marriage.  Beware of it.

The "Alt-rights" views on race and nationalism are often at odds with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

There are many political and philosophical alternatives for traditional Catholics actually interested in building up the future of our country, starting with the traditional social teaching of the Catholic Church, especially pre-VII papal encyclicals (which are actually easy reads).  

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