10 Things I Liked About A Recent Visit to Clear Creek Abbey

1.  The Fall colors.  Mid-November being the most pristine time to visit.  Just imagine looking out your 3rd floor guest room window at hills covered in Fall colors with a gentle breeze. 

2.  The Tridentine Mass.  Every priest monk says daily the Mass of the Saints.  And it is uniquely edifying to attend 7 am Low Mass in the crypt while many priests offer simultaneously the Mass at side altars.  Before later enjoying a silent breakfast of homemade bread, homemade peanut butter, and coffee. 

3.  The pond.  The trick to catching fish at the main pond across from the monastery parking lot is, I discovered, to fish the far south side of the shore next to a very old deck that reaches out from the shore. Which if I had stepped out on, it would surely have collapsed. My friend was able to sit on it, being half my size. I caught two fish, but I think he preferred I throw them back in, which I did.  

4.  The guests.  Young men, men with their sons, visiting priests, all sitting with local laity in the nave participating in the Divine Office, and communing later in the Refectory. You will always meet interesting people there from around the world. 

5. Every lunch and dinner starts with soup and salad, and typically ends with coffee and homemade cheese, French style.  These guys could make a killing if they hypothetically turned their daily culinary experience into a restaurant. 

6. The livestock are open and curious. I stopped for several minutes making eye contact with several cows chewing their curd curious at my gaze. 

7.  Across the road from them is the farm garden, I guesstimated to be 20,000 square feet, feeding nearly 60 monks.  On a smaller scale, those proportions would support a family with say 4 twenty-by-twenty foot gardens.  Something to consider. 

8.  The ride in from T-town, the southern route being my preference, through Wagoner and across Ft. Gibson lake.  More scenic, and less hazardous to your tires, in my opinion.

9.  Immersion in Catholic Tradition.  The liturgy, architecture, traditional adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict, spiritual retreat, knowing this place is established to connect deeply with two millennia of Church history, visiting this oasis is a realist, hands-on immersion in Catholic Tradition. 

10.  Their homemade cheese.  Goodness gracious it was good, when served as dessert.  Some kind of pepper jack with licorice tasting seeds.  Bought a large chunk of their Asiago and Gouda cheese before heading  home, as I usually do.  The Gouda is very Good.

Deo gratias. 

A Few Words About Fr. James Jackson, FSSP

1.  He was charged with a crime recently, the story having now, unfortunately, gone viral on Catholic news websites, otherwise I would remain silent about it.  He is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a judge and jury.

2. His reputation is impeccable.   I remember him when I occasionally attended the TLM back in my college days at the then newish FSSP apostolate in Tulsa back in the 1990's, which he helped start as well as the OKC FSSP apostolate.  

From that experience, and hearing many personal anecdotes since about him told by priests and laity, I can verify his reputation is impeccable, making it almost unthinkable that he is guilty of this.  

3.  Trad Youtubers have been defending him, and their defense is sound (vs. the vitriol put out by the likes of Christine Niles of Church Militant).  Today it is very easy for cyber criminals to frame someone for the crime of which Fr. Jackson is being accused.  

4. That said, it must be admitted that it is possible Fr. Jackson is guilty.  On November 15th, he will either enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.  Being a very disciplined, orthodox, tradition-minded, gentlemanly, well respected priest does not necessarily render a man immune to this kind of scandal.  We all know of past, proven scandals by traditional clergy (not only novus ordo) within the history of the TLM movement, within all trad camps.  It is within the realm of possibility.  

But in my opinion, I tend to think Fr. Jackson was set up.  Time will tell the outcome, and what the meaning of that outcome is.  Either it will mean another faithful Catholic targeted through a kind of white martyrdom for their heroic witness, or (in the unlikely case) this would be another example that the human element of the Church (vs. the divine element) has not yet reached its perfection. The Truth being what matters.

Praise be Jesus Christ.  Questions, comments, or constructive feedback, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com

Digital Minimalism

I listened recently to a youngish, brilliant MIT grad, a PhD Computer Science Georgetown professor, author of several books presenting data critiquing our digital media/social media culture.  

Watch here:

Awareness of this phenomenon is like an awakening to its effects on society and individual health.  Or better put, the more I personally embrace this minimalist, traditionalist philosophy regarding the use of technology, the more I am re-awakened to the Real.  

To Reality outside my mind, which largely is not represented on the modern screen, whether the smart phone, computer, or TV.  Unplugging re-awakens the five senses, common sense, mental clarity, and mindfulness.  

In light of this, I’m finding myself wanting to write less this blog, or rather to economize better the time I give to it.  I’ve discontinued my recently added news feed side blog since I think I need even less exposure to daily “news” than would be necessary to comment on it as much as I’ve done. 

This subject reminds me of the Amish. They are right (and somewhat wrong) about technology.  They are wrong in my view because they tend to be luddites, tending to treat modern technology as evil.  That would be a kind of semi-Manichaeism, the demonization of material things.   

However, the Amish are right that we must be radically deliberate in how we choose to use any form of technology, lest it takes over us, rather than us having dominion over it.  And they are very good examples today of such self-mastery. 

Digital minimalism then would be one similar response. Only use digital technology when it is strictly necessary, or adds substantial value to your life that promotes spiritual, mental, and social health. 

How addicted are you to your smart phone?  Facebook, or any other form of social media?  Of staying “connected” through a 2 D screen you glue your eyes to hours a day?

I’ve already said too much, if I’m going to embrace this philosophy even more.  Instead I’ll be eating fish tonight with the Mrs. at the locally famous, fish restaurant White River Fish Market, a go-to for the Catholic Friday Fish Eater, sipping whiskey later, and playing with our new German shepherd puppy.  Keeping it Real. 

Have a good weekend fellow Okie Trads and Beyond. Enjoy these Fall colors!

Gain a Plenary Indulgence Nov. 1 - 8th

1.  Visit a cemetery November 1 - 8th.  You could just drive through a cemetery nearby your house or work.

2. Be detached from all sin.

3. Pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. 

4. The plenary indulgence gained is applicable only to the Pour Souls.

5.  Say a prayer for the Pope and his intentions (I always add "traditional" intentions of the pope = a) propagation of the Faith around the world, b) peace in the world [not the pachamama new world order nonsense]).

6.  Have gone to communion and confession 20 days before or after the act (visiting the cemetery + the prayers).

In some Catholic countries, Catholic pious belief holds that the Souls in Purgatory can hear our prayers directly on All Souls Day.  If true, when you talk to your deceased loved one, and they are in purgatory, they can hear you.  I believe it.

Happy All Saints Day, and All Souls Day tomorrow.

The Narcissist Dynamic and How to Manage It

The narcissist is a person who is extremely vane, self-centered, and self-promoting.  They equate happiness with social status, wealth, and power.  Truth for them is not reality but appearances.  That applies equally across social classes today, whether “successful” (according to contemporary measurements) or not, fueled by a narcissistic culture enabled by public education, news media, entertainment media, social media (!), and nearly every fabric of life. Whether in the work place, the market place, in social circles, heck even at church where Christians are called to show their love for God in their love for one another.

The powers-that-be at all social levels do not promote wisdom or virtue, but instead self-indulgence, greed, and privatized cliques serving private interests at the expense of those outside the clique.  They would read something like the above and label you an outcast or worse a terrorist, for challenging this status quo of narcissism, and speaking up for Truth.  

By Truth, I am referring to the moral teachings of Christ and His Church, not only about what is due to God alone, but also about being honest, fair, and charitable to your neighbor (commandments # 4 - 10, plus the Golden Rule).  For the narcissist, their moral standard is a politically correct, sanitized form of niceness, which in truth is really little more than a veiled passive aggressive state of inner turmoil and aggressive threat to anyone around them who gets in their way.  The ideology of secularist pacifism being really a state of war, philosophically speaking.  This would exclude the pacifism promoted by such groups as the Amish or Quakers, though objectively still an error.

And so what plays out between you and the narcissist, either a person with full blown NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder -- which, if the person actually has this disorder -- would be a mitigating factor lessening culpability on their part), or just the average secularist, materialist subscribing to narcissistic values and behavior, becomes something ungodly, even diabolical, and very complex to dissect out.

Being someone who has made philosophical observations over the years about this trend, and as someone who has dealt with my own fair share of narcissists, in recent years I read a few books on the subject, one which read as if it was written by traditional Catholics, but in reality the authors were probably just anchored in the same Western morality, realism, and altruistic culture that I am as a believing, traditional Catholic.  And which likely you, the reader, are.

Anyways, it’s something I’ve been more aware of in the last few years on a personal level. Here are some things I’ve learned -- from hard personal experience, and research -- that you might find helpful when dealing with a narcissistic type of person. 

The Narcissist Dynamic:

1. One sign the person is a narcissist, is that they  are not asking you questions about yourself, actively listening to your responses, or taking an interest in your life or background.  The communication is almost entirely about them or their thoughts.

2. Their body language, word choice, and tone, based on the circumstances, indicates condescension and de-personalization, that you are so beneath them that you lack real value which they appreciate or want to benefit from. 

3. Yet the narcissist asks for your help, your time and attention, or makes use of you somehow for whatever they need. They will give shallow smiles and hellos, but they will manipulate you to use you. 

4. Sooner or later these episodes of manipulation and condescension manifest into a pattern which must be addressed.  If not addressed, then the pattern will continue, you will suffer unnecessarily, and said person will only be encouraged to keep sinning.

5. If you try to talk to them directly, and tell them your concerns, or worse directly correct their behavior, even mildly with no judgment of them personally as to their intent or character, or worse respond to unprovoked insults (example: making a shaming, mocking comment about your fitness level in front of others) with even mild insults in return (example: “hey, you’re acting like a jerk today”), no matter how calm or civil you do so, they will take great offense.  It is as if you have thrust an emotional sword into their precious ego.  At that point, you have made the mortal mistake, a tactical error I myself have made a number of times.  The relationship is almost unrecoverable at that point.  It is not your fault, morally, but there is a wiser, more clever psychological way to handle narcissistic abuse.

6. The narcissist is not so much judging your behavior, what you actually say or do, but  appearances, and how that appearance in the context corresponds to their vane, worldly view of the world.  They’re not really talking to you directly, but past you to that social group which they do not like.  This plays out when the narcissist is more secular and liberal than the non-narcissist.  They take your mere presence as a micro-aggression threat representing those who are more conservative, religious, and traditionally moral, and even more so if white, male, or Christian.  No matter what you say, or how you respond, you are treated as guilty of a future crime against their inflated ego.  Ideologies like critical race theory, gender theory, or feminism often come into play in this dynamic, at least on a subtle level when the errors spread by those dominant ideologies have corrupted the majority through everyday media.  In short, the narcissist will abuse, then take any self-defense as judgmentalism against them, ironically, hypocritically being judgmental and threatening to you, when you were never the same to them.  This is what makes the narcissistic dynamic diabolical, psychiatric...and dangerous.

7,  The narcissistic kind of person, as soon as they realize you are not okay with their treatment, that you see them for what they are -- a narcissistic jerk -- will commit to “narcissistic abuse.”  You no longer serve the purpose of propping up their own ego and self-worth.  You make them look bad, or worse could cause them some trouble down the line.  Narcissistic abuse usually takes the form of public shaming, public gossip and slander about the person to hurt their reputation and standing in the group, marginalization, ostracizing, harassment, or even illegal discrimination.  You do not want to be subject to any of this, it is like someone waging war with you mentally and socially. 

8.  A few other parts of the narcissistic dynamic:  they usually get away with their behavior because they are part of a clique or group of people they know will support them vs you, if you are not in the group or do not have the same level of standing in the group.  It will never come down to facts and reality, about actual behavior, what was actually said or done, but about appearances and status.  The more religious, morally conservative, upstanding in your treatment of others, the less materialistic and vane you are, the more likely you will become s target.  And you will have less power in the dynamic to stand up for yourself, and deal with any fallout from the narcissistic abuse that ensues when you cross the narcissist.  This dynamic is like Christ being tempted by the Devil or the Pharisees.  They want nothing more than to drag you down to their turmoil and lack of peace, and make you look like an angry troll if you get angry (which would be your right).  They are not open to fraternal correction; and if you try, they will turn the tables on you and paint you as a crazy person   It never works.  

Dealing with the Narcissist:

1. If they show strong traits for narcissism, such as arrogance, frequent bragging about their possessions or successes, show little regard for the personhood of ordinary people around them, if at all possible, avoid them like the plague.  That would also extend to their closest acquaintances and clique.  Do not think about, talk about, or interact with them.  Just pray for their conversion, forgive, and forget.  And by "forget," forget about trying to have any kind of relationship with them again.  

2.  However, if you must work or otherwise interact with them, highly manipulate the dynamic, get the upper hand, but not in a way they would ever realize.  Remember, they are so tuned into their latest purchases and spray tans that they will have no clue when you bring out the mental Judo that is far more effective than their low-level, pop-cultural way of manipulating people around them.  As soon as you see the signs emerge as a pattern, you have to take this strategy from now on with that person.

3.  You’re going to have to praise them often to soothe that addictive need for praise from others, but make it praise that indirectly disarms their narcissism.  Praise all those behaviors that are good, friendly, civil, which are healthy social behaviors, instead of their toxic anti-social behaviors.  Thank them often for their genuine help.  Think positive reinforcement strategies.

4. Never even give the superficial appearance of arguing, even when arguing is justified, or you are not actually "arguing."  Do not be defensive, or use defensive language like “Okay yeah I was just wanting to ask you a question.”  The word “just” in that comment will likely trigger their brain chemistry to respond with more narcissism.

5. Instead make frequent requests.  Let your language and tone be very matter of fact, even almost robotic.  

6,  Otherwise when talking to them be light-hearted, friendly, make light of situations to diffuse tensions.  Joke around, but in a very light-hearted way.

In conclusion, in today’s culture, no matter how devout or humble you are, we all can be influenced by a culture of narcissism and ourselves exhibit narcissistic behaviors from time to time.  But when someone is habitually, overtly self-centered, self-promoting, materialistic, and vane—i.e. a narcissistic person—and truth be told that is the majority of people today, then you have to switch to the mode of mental Judo to manipulate that dynamic, so that in the end you maintain your own peace and basic dignity as a child of God.  If the person is extremely narcissistic, then if possible, avoid them, forgive them, but move on to forming friendships with caring, charitable, Christ-like people.

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

Questions, comments, or constructive feedback, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com

The Moral State of Contemporary Society: A Reflection on the Twilight Zone Episode “Button Button,” Pt. 2

In Saturday’s latest segment of The Okie Traditionalist—as always brought to your doorstep by yours truly the infamous local Okie Trad blogger—I pondered the moral dilemma posed in a 1980’s Twilight Zone episode called “Button Button.”

Link

By the way, thanks to a fellow local, himself an “Okie,” a “Trad,” a blogger, and a reader, for telling me that title, and background info.

Check it out on YT, as I did. It’s a worthy 20 minute evening entertainment. Makes you ask what percentage of the public, in special circumstances, would choose to murder or otherwise seriously damage undeserving people, for the sake of money or some social gain.





I think the moral dilemma in the story could be converted into any number of more realistic but still similar moral situations most face today, which seems to be the theme of the story.

Pushing the red button could be the equivalent of making a singular, thought-out, deliberate choice to tell someone a) a lie, b) slander, c) detraction, or d) calumny; or to 1) steal, 2) cheat, 3) embezzle, 4) commit fraud; or to betray a friend or acquaintance, seriously undermine a superior’s legitimate authority, harass, discriminate against, or any other grave offense that you know will cause real substantial harm to your fellow man.

The Golden Rule being the entire foundation of the Ten Commandments, the New Law of Jesus Christ which fulfills those commandments (not abolishes), and Justification itself, the moral imperative to follow all moral absolutes is central to our Faith and salvation.





I’ll give an example of someone “pushing the button.” Years ago, a Catholic man I know worked very hard to get into Physician Assistant school, with outstanding grades, GRE scores, resume, medical experience, exceptional professional references, etc.

In an interview, the female interviewer, seeing on his record a degree from a Catholic college (which he did not hide on his application), questioned how he could be a Catholic and a PA, stating “If you are Catholic, I don’t think you can be a Physician Assistant. You would have to be okay with birth control and reproductive health. It just wouldn’t work.”

He had said nothing indicating whether or not he believed Catholic teaching against birth control. She had asked him a loaded question, which he had actually prepared for ahead of time with a general statement.

Mental reservation in that situation wasn’t enough to gloss over this question, which was really a trap.

Needless to say he was not admitted to their program. Because of (at least in part) overtly religious bias, and probably feminist bias, that person’s singular comment and ultimately the written assessment they gave after the interview was over, as to their recommendation, almost certainly prevented him from entering the PA program and profession. This being the 3rd year to apply, he decided to stop trying. God’s will be done.





Most of us have had similar experiences, on some level, in one form or another, at one time or another on our personal timeline. One person making an extremely unfair, if not illegal decision that negatively affected our life history on this planet.

Either because that person gained something from it for themselves (like the satisfaction for a few fleeting minutes of blocking a well prepared, religious, pro-life candidate from entering the medical profession), or for some utilitarian reason, they made an extremely unjust choice and you suffered for it.

Grave evils have always been committed by one man, through singular, direct decisions, against another who did not deserve the consequence. Just read any Shakespeare tragedy. But today this is common place in the family, work place, social organizations of all kinds, making contemporary society itself into a collective, diabolic tyrant to not be trusted.

This is a good argument for turning even more strongly than ever back to subsidiarity, local authority and living, self-reliance, and a counter-cultural lifestyle.





When your central government has been now overtly usurped by foreign powers, and traitors in collusion with them, to create an effectively one world, godless, tyrannical government; when the president has no conscience about abandoning thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan to the Taliban, or to force a universal vaccine under threat of losing your livelihood, or to enforce baby dismemberment on demand; when the average person would push the red button in many scenarios rationalizing the self-gain, then you cannot trust the government or social mainstream.

These times call for extraordinary measures. Consider re-locating to rural areas of red states, and near places like St. Mary’s, KS or Clear Creek Abbey here in OK.

Work to one day start a sustainable business rooted in your faith, morals, and values.

Live an Amish-like lifestyle. That is minimal immersion in technology, simple living, self-reliance, connection with nature, focus on faith and the family.

Associate only with people, places, and things that are decent, honorable, and trustworthy. Wean off of digital media addiction. Embrace the stoic life. Let life be more quiet slower, rational, and clear.

I am often far from faithful to these values myself, but I am nonetheless advocating here for them. This is as much a self-reflection for my own personal growth, as it is an admonition for the anonymous reader stumbling upon this blog.

Let us be more in reserve and retreat, to develop wisdom and virtue, through prayer and good works among family and acquaintances, and less “busy” running around all over kingdom come focusing on excessive errands, sports and competitions, all kinds of extracurricular activities and distractions, and all those things frenetically “busy.”

Otherwise, we risk losing focus on the good and true, objective moral absolute truths, and whenever presented with a “push the button” kind of scenario, we end up that much more tempted to, you know, push the button.

By the way, enjoy this Fall weather. I almost caught a fish last Sunday.

Push the Button Test: A Thought Experiment About the Moral State of Contemporary Man

A man arrives at your door.  He is carrying a box and asks to come inside to show you the opportunity of a lifetime.  He seems safe and well-intentioned, so you let him into the living room to sit down.  He opens the lid of the box to reveal a large red button.  He tells you "This is the opportunity of a lifetime.  If you push this button, some person in the world will lose their job.  It will take them 3 months to find a new job with a comparable salary.  But during that time they will feel depressed and discouraged, bewildered how they lost their job, anxious about their future.  However, you will receive $5000 cash immediately after you push the button.  You can spend the money on your family, or as a down payment on that new sports car you've been dreaming about buying.  Don't worry, the person will get a new job, and eventually recover emotionally and financially."

If I recall from my youth, this kind of story was an actual Twilight Zone episode.  I forget how the story ended, but it did not end well for the person pushing the button.  The universe somehow caused the main character to later experience some kind of existential crisis, after pushing the button.

My belief is periodically throughout our daily lives we all our faced with a similar situation, where we are tempted to rationalize seriously hurting someone's life because of selfish interest.  It could be telling a lie at work about a coworker or someone you are competing with in business.  It could be choosing to cut off all communications with a person, who was your friend, for no proportionate reason, except for some temporary self gain (like having artificial acceptance from others in your group setting).  It may not always rise to the level of causing someone to lose their job, with a reward of $5000, but the scenario often gravely affects people's lives.

And the chief character in this thought experiment is not the rare person suffering from psychopathy, sociopathy, or clinical-level narcissism, but rather every day contemporary man, such as 21st century North Americans or Europeans obsessed with wealth, power, and status, even the middle class and lower income classes.

It is a fact that modern education, media, and culture in general has taught people to deify themselves, to create their own special rights--i.e. "entitlement"-- at competition with the actual legal and universally moral rights (based on natural and divine law) of all human beings.  God, Christ, religion, the Ten Commandments, have been replaced by secular, materialist culture, political correctness, and the hyper-emphasis on self-esteem, clearly creating a level of selfishness in the average modern person that exponentially surpasses anything we have seen in human history.

Jordan Peterson talks about this, saying much of his research and analysis delves into the perennial question of evil, in particular crimes against humanity, the kinds we saw in the 20th century (especially genocidal murder under Stalin and later Hitler).  Peterson asks how the average German under Hitler could be so accepting or complacent with what Hitler did to the Jews (and other groups), and how some Germans, otherwise nice and law abiding citizens, who ended up working in the concentration camps, could end up capitulating and knowingly, intentionally, sometimes even not under immediate duress, could gladly organize mass murder in the gas chambers.  Those were not crimes of passion or indiscretion.  They were pre-meditated and willful.  

I am talking about an average man say from Berlin, sent to work at Auschwitz (my great-grandfather, a Christian, was gassed there for protesting Hitler publicly, so this example is personal for me), told that the next day he will be required to start rounding up thousands of inmates, herding them like cattle into a gas chamber, locking the doors, and then flipping a switch (perhaps pushing a button) knowing damn well that they will be murdering thousands of innocent people who broke no law.

Back to the "push the button test" metaphor--there is no practical, temporal reason why pushing the button will harm the person who later gets the $5,000.  Ask yourself, what percentage of Americans would push the button, cause someone to loose their job say for three months, to get the $5,000?

The optimist would say that most people are nice, law abiding, pay their taxes, so there is little reason to think many or most would push the button.  But why are most people fundamentally nice and law abiding?  Is it because to deliberately break a clearly just law for them is absolutely, fundamentally always wrong, and absolutely can never be done or justified?   

The data does not support this.  Most Americans do not subscribe to traditional, Judeo-Christian objective moral absolutes, because, even if they technically are registered with a church or synagogue, collectively Americans do not subscribe to traditional religious doctrine as something objectively revealed by God as the Law Giver, which requires absolute adherence.  Religion has almost entirely been converted into a feel-good social club for secular, psycho-social ends mainly, dressed in religious garb, not so much for a transcendent path of redemption, repentance, conversion of life, to God's laws, to the commandments, and the Golden Rule.  As a result, the common morality has been reduced down to utilitarianism, moral relativism, and situation ethics.

What we orthodox Christians, Catholics, profess on Sunday in the Creed, is treated as something alien, as in from another planet.  Our faith, morals, and values render us in the catacombs, figuratively speaking.

So applying this thought experiment to the on-the-ground reality of today's culture, the mysterious man with the box may as well add:

"By the way, the guy who will lose his job, only because you decide to push the red button, he kind of deserves it.  He is a fanatical, judgmental right wing Christian conservative type, who talks like he must hate blacks, gays, trans people, and anyone else who is tolerant of different lifestyles.  Sometimes too he says offensive things to people online or in person, and rejects as conspiracy theory the covid policies of the CDC and WHO."

Gasp, say it ain't so. 

Common sense tells me, for the majority, that statement will make it much more easy to push the button.   To get the $5,000.  Even though the guy actually did nothing to deserve termination, has a family to feed, is not in fact a religious bigot, and will seriously suffer in many ways at least for months.

As a result of pushing a red button, which may as well be any singular act such as lying, slander, cheating, discrimination, harassment, etc, based on any individual circumstances.

Conclusion:  most people would push the red button in a similar scenario--and in fact effectively do--that is deliberately cause some form of harm to another human being, through singular choices, seriously harming someone who did nothing to deserve that harm, for some kind of temporary gain (money, increased social acceptance and status, increased influence and opportunity for themselves in the world).  And then feel little or no guilt or shame afterwards.    

This is the way of our contemporary world.  Dog eat dog.  The majority are faced with making these kinds of choices on a regular basis, yet the majority hit the red button, or are disposed to hit the red button, because that fits their life philosophy.  That may not actually mean murdering someone, or getting someone fired, but it is usually smaller sins that lead to graver sins, the kinds that call out for vengeance from God.  

Yet when a People make a habit out of stabbing their neighbor in the back, lying, cheating, stealing, slandering, etc., as part of the game of social darwinism, then eventually when presented clear moral dilemmas, they will be that much more likely to do things like genocidal murder, seriously damaging someone's life socially or economically, or otherwise cause havoc in their life that was not deserved.

Consider that the data shows 10% of the population borders on sociopathy, that another 40% occasionally performs sociopathic, anti-social kinds of acts but with some guilt and shame.  The extremely self-centered, amoral, immoral kind of people are 50%, and they tend to control group dynamics such as government and business, whereby the other more benign 50% follow along.   The more narcissistic and godless someone is, the more likely they are to push the red button.

Call me pessimistic about the state of modern society, but I would even go so far to say that at least 50% of people in the thought experiment I described at the beginning, would actually push the red button.  Many would feel some guilt later, but they would go on with their lives content to have their $5,000.

Taking a Break for a Week

Deciding to do a digital fast this week. Will touch base thereafter.  Also, please keep a special intention of mine in your prayers.  Thank you.  Praise be to Jesus Christ. 

The Plandemic Regime: Applying Principles of Catholic Political Thought, a Philosophical Essay

Introduction:

All things Covid…the universal Vax mandate…the unfolding of the Great Reset…the full throttle suppression of Traditional Catholicism, freedom, and what once was the Christian West—this present situation being so critical, I think it calls for a moment of repose to reflect philosophically about the very nature of society, government, and politics through the lens of the Catholic Church.  

1984 Has Arrived

Often the movies I carefully choose to watch are relevant to current events, for reflection on a debated topic. So recently I re-watched the movie 1984, based on the George Orwell novel by the same name, in light of the Plandemic nuttiness. 

The City of God vs. The City of Man: Witnessing the Spiritual Battle Play Out in Daily Headlines

I’ve been maintaining the Canon 1752 news blog, adjoined to The Okie Traditionalist, having a really good flow of traffic approaching my daily stats for TOT.  I siphon through all the news cycle noise, 95% of it, circulated across the Trad Blogosphere, to soberly highlight what I think is most relevant to the Traditional Catholic, not in competition with other news conglomerates necessarily, but filtering out the nonsense.

Check it out here: Canon 1752. 

How to Tell When Someone is a True Friend.

Does the person really care about listening to you, not just your viewpoint but to you on a personal level, even if you have a serious disagreement about a topic, which we all are going to have at some point with each other?

Dear Tradition-minded Diocesan Priests

Fathers,

With the new Motu Proprio, you are being put to the test.  We all are being put to the test. This new situation is very much like the 1970’s, needing to choose between Church authority imposing error and sin, in the form of Catholic Modernism, vs. keeping the Faith. 

Exposed to Cooovid! Under Quarantine!! Yeah Baby!!!

Call me a sheep, but after talking to the health department yesterday, prudence and the 5th commandment dictates following the guidelines. 

2021 Shakespeare Festival, St. Mary’s, KS (sponsored by SSPX)

We’ll be there next weekend, Saturday.  My idea of leisure. Catholic leisure, that is.  Festivals = a Catholic tradition. Amazing event.  Worth the drive.  Then that Sunday big celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Sisters of the Society of St. Plus X.  Watch festival promo video here: 

Fall Plans

1. Focus on life, not all things Cooovid, or FrancisChurch.  Fall temps help calm the sympathetic nervous system shocked by the crazy headlines, after all. 

In the News Today

More noise.  

To Get the Jab, or Not to Get the Jab

To get the Jab, or not to get the Jab, that is the question. 

It may as well be, in Shakespearean phrase, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” 

Take an Abortion-linked Vaccine, Or Lose Your Job? One word: SINOPHARM

So...this Covid vaccine IS NOT derived from the use of fetal cell lines from aborted babies.  But to my knowledge it's not yet in the USA.  Sinopharm.   LINK (c/o SSPX), see pg. 2.   

If it is, let me know.

In the News Today

Noise. 

On the Outer Margins, Yet in the Center

When you really adhere to and live in accord with Truth you are in the center of everything. You are the real leaders and "aristocrats," i.e. "men of wisdom and virtue," vs. oligarchs who rule mainly from wealth and power.

Thoughts on Ecclesia Dei Leaders’ Letter Re Motu Proprio, and Ensuing Internet Flame Wars

1. The ED leaders released their letter for all to read via Rorate Coeli.  It should be scrutinized.  

Happy Feast Day of the Nativity of Our Lady, the Mother of God! The Mrs. Making Filipino Torta Cake Today in Her Honor.

5 Principles That Helped Me in Turning Towards Catholic Tradition

(Re-post)

Turning towards Catholic Tradition.  This is the phrase I usually use when I relate to someone that phase in my spiritual journey as a Catholic in which I turned away from the Regime of Novelty that dominates the Novus Ordo form of the Roman rite, towards the Traditional form of the Roman rite.  AKA the Traditional Latin Mass, or Tridentine Latin Mass.  

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Happy Labor Day.  I've never been able to form a firm opinion about the value of "Labor Day," given certain socialist/communist influences of past labor movements this holiday is meant to celebrate.  But I hope nonetheless you get a day of leisure like myself, including some outdoor and family time, and BBQ.  

We Are Obligated to Take This Catholic Stance

It is the duty of every person to profess Christ and His Church, and therefore to reject the false VII teaching that everyone has a fundamental right in their human nature to profess a false religion. 

Vote with Your Feet (Car)! Invitation to SSPX-OKC This Sunday!

(Re-post. And read the recent letter this week from the Ecclesia Dei leaders.  We leave Sunday by 6:30 am.  As always, you are invited!)

Read about St. Michael’s Chapel,, SSPX-OKC:  Link

7 Concerning Quotes from Recent Ecclesia Dei Leader's Open Letter. Where is Their Backbone?

See their letter here.

1.  "We reaffirm our adherence to the Magisterium (including the Magisterium of Vatican II and its successors).

What then of the clear Errors of Vatican II and the Novus Ordo?  

2. "We are ready, like every Christian, to ask forgiveness if some excess of language or distrust of authority has crept in among some of our members. We are ready to convert if partisanship or pride has polluted our hearts."

Ask for forgiveness to the Traditional faithful for a deficit of language on the Errors of the Crisis.

3. "We would like to meet a person who is for us the face of the Church's motherhood."

Ambiguous statement.

4. "They were promised that "all measures would be taken to guarantee the identity of their Institutes in the full communion of the Catholic Church"

The SSPX was and is in full communion, as will you be if you refuse to accept the Errors and insist on the rights of Tradition (not just a personal charism).  Where is Catholic Truth being proclaimed in this letter, with the courage of risking being illegally suppressed by the Vatican? 

5. "Pope Francis "invites pastors to listen with affection and serenity, with a sincere desire to enter into the heart of people's drama and to understand their point of view, in order to help them live better and recognise their place in the Church" (Amoris Laetitia, 312)."

Quoting a heretical document.

6. "We are eager to make our modest contribution to this harmonious and diverse unity"

The Novus Ordo Missae, a Protestant presentation of the Mass, is not part of "diverse unity," nor is the TLM in unity with it.

7. ""We must avoid judgments that do not take into account the complexity of the different situations.... We must help each person to find his or her own way of participating in the ecclesial community, so that he or she may feel that he or she is the object of a mercy that is 'unmerited, unconditional and gratuitous'" (Amoris Laetitia, n° 296-297)."

Quoting again a heretical document.

Conclusion:  this reads like Trad Stockholm Syndrome, rather than any Profession of Faith.  Act guilty, plead for forgiveness, so your captor/kidnapper won't end your life.  Instead of standing up for Christ and His Truth on the matter (liturgical orthodoxy).   It is a disheartening letter to read, to be frank.  

Silence is Golden

I wrote that phrase in the middle of the white board the first day I ever taught high school science, back in the day.  In big cursive.  The message did not go over well with the parents who insisted their kids be able to “express themselves.”  Now their kids are adults driving down a "highway to hell."

So be it.

Everything around us is full of noise.  Traffic, endless chatter, 95% of daily news headlines (secular + Catholic ones) being stupid noise.  Everything must be exposed and hashed out. The unspoken rule is you must verbally promote yourself, defend yourself, describe yourself to your neighbor.  Everything out in the world, and between individuals, must be discussed and analyzed like dissecting a cat in biology lab. 

Our Lord was a man of great silence.  Most of what we read was of his actions, and prayer, more than his actual verbal teachings.  He did.  Period.  When necessary, he talked.  Just like his foster father St. Joseph. 

Our social media, narcissism, materialism, superficial status-addicted culture is addicted to all the endlessly perpetuating Noise.  Which is why I try to unplug as much as possible. 

I have a few YouTube channels I watch now and then, one Catholic, a few outdoors oriented.  I scan very quickly the daily headlines for what really matters to God—all things pertaining to our Catholic Faith, the family, the sanctity of human life, etc—and then unplug.  

I leave the Facebook and Twitter culture for the zombies. As well as Cable TV and Netflix. 

Silence is Golden.  I love the sobriety, mental clarity, and soul enrichment that silence brings.   Like drinking black coffee early in the morning, or quietly working up a sweat chopping firewood.  Which is why I don’t say much IRL in group settings, ie avoiding the noise and useless chatter of our banal, hedonistic culture.  I enjoy fruitful, authentic, lively conversation, about Truth in all its kinds, an experience which is few and far between. 

Which is why when I have the hard choice between silence and the Noise, I choose silence. 

Praised be Jesus Christ. 

Questions, constructive feedback, or just to say what’s up Okie, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com 

New FREE Online Latin Mass Calendar

My blogger pal over at the Tridentine Catholic website, put together a FREE online Latin Mass Liturgical Calendar for 2022, which you can reference there, and print off. Thanks for this. 

CLICK HERE FOR FREE TLM CALENDAR

Introduction to "The Old Romans" Group of Traditionalist Roman Catholic Bishops/Priests/Religious/Laity. Food for Thought.

Preface:  I am not an authority on "The Old Romans" traditionalist group of Roman Catholic bishops, priests, religious, and laity.  I have not read sources from the Vatican or traditionalist priests like that of the SSPX or FSSP about their Catholicity.  I only recently discovered who they are.  

I am going off of answers to my written questions by their chief bishop, Archbishop Jerome Lloyd, weekly videos I've been viewing lately on his Youtube channel Old Romans TV, which I find refreshingly appealing to someone like myself always looking for sources of Catholic Truth, as a traditionalist Catholic attached to the SSPX (I've noticed trads like myself liking their contribution as of late, commenting in Latin Mass Facebook groups), and their website:

The Old Roman

Who they are:

1. Traditionalist Roman Catholic Bishops (I believe 4), priests (around 100), religious, and laity served in Traditional Latin Mass chapels all around the world.  Not sedevacantists.  They accept Pope Francis as supreme head of the Church.

2. The head bishop presiding over their Synod (based in the US), Archbishop Jerome Lloyd, is himself based in Selsey, England.  Many of their priests have to work to support themselves.  + Lloyd himself, to support himself, founded and runs a local restaurant that employs formerly homeless and itinerant people, and trains them in the culinary arts to give them a renewed start.  He shepherds priests in England and continental Europe, while broadcasting live TLMs, sermons, talks, prayers from his Chapel on YouTube.  Other "Old Roman" Bishops of their union oversee TLM Chapels on other continents.

3. Originally, they were Roman Catholics in Holland, who believed they had the right to elect their own Archbishop (despite the current pope at the time insisting otherwise) based on a standing decree by a previous pope, and likewise that of an ecumenical council.  This resulted in a certain separation from Rome, and eventually branching outside of Holland after the liberal-modernist "Old Catholics" took over locally.  Ever since they have been in a sort of limbo with the Holy See, though apparently not in formal schism.

The "Old Roman Catholics'" Positions:

1. They accept and believe in the all the Catholic dogmas, including the Immaculate Conception, Assumption of Mary, and Vatican I's teaching, principally the formal dogmatic teachings of "papal primacy" and "papal infallibility," according to the actual definitions as written.

2. They are not "Old Catholics."  They reject the Liberalism, Modernism, and Protestantism of those called "Old Catholics."

3.  The Old Romans identify as Traditionalist, opposing the Modernism of the post-Vatican II Church, but have been staunchly opposed to Modernism, and in defense of Catholic Tradition, since the 1800's.

4. They say the Tridentine Latin Mass, and are opposed to the Novus Ordo Missae, having the same positions as the SSPX on the post-Vatican II liturgical reform.

5. They accept Vatican I as a valid Council, but criticize, in their view, an Ultra-montane theology on the papacy (as did Archbishop Lefebvre).

6. They accept Vatican II as a valid Council, but take the same general view as the SSPX as to its Modernist errors and orientation.

7.  They strongly oppose abortion, birth control, homosexuality, divorce, women priests, or any form of modernism or liberalism in the Church.

8. They accept as valid the popes of Vatican II, including Francis who they pray for at Mass, though they publicly oppose his errors.  Like recently his motu proprio on the TLM.

9. The "Old Romans" were in a formal discussion with the Holy See only a few years before Vatican II, to possibly become "regularized," but have backed off for now due to, in their view, the errors of the "conciliar church" (i.e. errors in VII/New Mass).

10. Yet, they accept the supremacy of the Pope, vow submission to him in matters requiring strict obedience (in the manner the SSPX does), profess the intention to one day, as soon as possible, be re-united in a normal unity to the Holy See as they once were.  Based on this, I cannot see that they are in schism or heresy.  These bishops and priests often minister to SSPX and other traditionalist Catholics as needed, based on the local situation, and profess communion with all Traditional Roman Catholics, including the FSSP, Institute, etc, and all orthodox Catholics attending the Novus Ordo rite.

Conclusion:

I am no theologian, but if the SSPX are Roman Catholics in full communion with the Church, albeit in a "canonically irregular" way, then my impression is “The Old Romans” are as well, but in a different kind of historical canonical irregularity. They give full acceptance to all the dogmas and doctrines Roman Catholics are required to accept for salvation.  They profess submission to the Pope, as does the SSPX.  They are deeply dedicated to Catholic Tradition and the fight against Modernism.  They do have a controversial lineage going back to the See of Utrecht dispute with Rome over the right to select their own Archbishop, but are orthodox and traditional, and for the most part are almost identical in their doctrinal/liturgical/disciplinary stance to the SSPX.

My hope then would be that more Traditional Catholics know about this group "The Old Romans," and that somehow one day our ranks could work together, at least at times, with those of their ranks.  I even suggested to their Archbishop that they could make a Profession of Faith to traditionalist Bishops like in the SSPX, or Bishop Williamson, or the like, if they cannot do so right now directly with conciliar Rome, so that there is an official recognition, even if for now it is practically impossible to approach the Vatican as it is overrun presently by Modernists.

At the very least, these Bishops and priests are offering some very edifying insights into the current, ever-evolving ecclesial situation, in a very personal, engaging, and lively manner.  That is fundamentally Traditionalist Roman Catholic.  Here are a few of their live stream discussions I thoroughly appreciated:

Let's pray for them. 

Praised be Jesus Christ.

Questions, constructive feedback, or to just to say howdy, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com

Catholic Priests in Afphganistan Should Have Baptized.

"Go Ye Therefore and Baptize Nations," said Our Lord Jesus Christ.

"No, don't baptize or you will certainly be killed," said the Novus Ordo church to Priests serving in Afghanistan.

At least do it in secret.  But the Novus Ordo bishop forbade this.  So they obeyed.  And they will have to answer to God for this grave neglect of the Great Commission, for the scandal they bring to the Church.

Baptism is necessary for salvation, whether by water, intention, or blood, despite what the Modernists teach.  Get your family in secret to baptize you, Afghans.  

Taylor Marshall’s Rumor Corrected by FSSP Superior General

A few days ago Taylor Marshall, who describes himself as “just a dad with a podcast,” uploaded a YouTube video, now with 87,000 views, claiming that—with no sources given or even hinted at—all the Ecclesia Dei TLM Institutes (FSSP, Institute, etc), are being summoned by Francis to Rome, next month, to receive more direction on how the new Latin Mass motu proprio will be implemented.  He goes on to suggest a list of demands these Superiors will be given.   LINK

I have to admit I almost fell for it, until I read yesterday this article by the National Catholic Register: 

LINK

The ED Institutes are not being called to Rome by anybody, let alone to receive more directions.

They are coming together for a private meeting, to strategize how to proceed in the situation.

I left a straightforward comment on Marshall’s video, but it is now removed.  I asked for a source, and then quoted the FSSP Superior in that NCR article.  That was it.

So you’re hearing the Truth here folks, not from Texas, but from Oklahoma. 

Pray the TLM Superiors will have the courage to confront head on the satanic abuse that is this new motu proprio.  To once and for all make known publicly their reservations about Vatican II and the Novus Ordo, which undoubtably they have in private.  

And pray for Taylor Marshall, that he doesn’t let his public status go to his head with more of these concocted stories.

Eucharistic Sacrilege in Norman, Oklahoma. Despite Faithful Priest Saying Mass “Ad Orientem.”

I attended this parish for 4 years when I attended OU in Norman, when it was an off the charts haven for modernists, arch-liberals, arch-ecumenists, and heretics.  

They have a new, more traditional-style church, and the pastor seems Tradition-minded, saying Mass on occasion ad Orientem, to the East.

If a priest (or bishop) has zero interest in saying Mass in a sacrificial posture, in my book he is already suspect of the Protestant heresy on The Holy Sacrifice. 

But I digress. 

Here’s the story reported here: LINK

The priest laments frequent very immodest dress in church.  

Recently a woman brought her dog to Mass in a dog carrier.  At Communion, she asked the priest to give Holy Communion to…her DOG.

He corrected her.

The result?  She became so angry she reported him to the diocesan “sex abuse hotline” for being “mean,” which implies she took him refusing Communion to her dog as sexist towards her. 

Thank God for this faithful priest.  Prayers he turns away from the Novus Ordo Missae which itself in its very design, encourages Eucharistic sacrilege.  He should say the Traditional Latin Mass.  Since he is a lawyer, he knows this can’t be restricted, and has a right to say the True Mass. 

Sermon of the Day

Best sermon during the post-Vatican II era hands down. Explains it all in a nutshell.  By a heroic, saintly Archbishop.  Deo gratias.  

LINK

Fathers, Disobey These Modernist Bishops!!!

A Priest Life Blog reports suppression of the TLM in the Pittsburgh diocese, including even a ban on private TLMs:   LINK.  

The unfolding of the "Guardians of the Faith" document suppressing the TLM continues each week, which any faithful Catholic spiritually armed with their childhood catechism and right reason is able to determine to be an invalid edict directly from Lucifer himself.

In Costa Rica last week, a priest who up until recently was the actual Chancellor, second in charge, over his Diocese, having been now forbidden to continue his TLM for a community attending it for a long time, opted to say the New Mass in Latin facing the altar, ad orientem.  For this he is suspended for six months, sent home to live with his parents, and ordered to receive psychiatric treatment.

By his Modernist bishop.

Let's face the facts.  No conciliar bishop is going to allow you to say a public TLM if you publicly question the legitimacy of the Protestant reform of the Mass, or Vatican II;  or choose to only use the Missal of Pius V which is your canonical right.

But this is not only your right but duty to God.  Therefore, Fathers, disobey these evil, null and void restrictions of your Modernist Bishop.  

Facing the fact of the situation, instead of wasting time waiting to get suspended and persecuted, just write the bishop your declaration you intend to exercise your authority as a Priest, given to you by the Church directly through Canon Law itself, to refuse the Novus Ordo Missae and VII novelties.

In the odd chance of 1 in 1,000,000,000,000 that he accepts your stance and supports you, then continue in your parish.

But absolute common sense dictates he will not, and you should act as if you are already outside the Diocese, and then in a matter of days or weeks, 99.9999999999999999999999% chance he will suspend you formally, then smile and continue the work of Traditional Catholicism as you are already doing.

Start a GoFundMe fundraiser, build a home and Chapel outside the city on some land, and hunker down until you die.  Affiliate with the SSPX for support.  Word will get out, and a flock will come.

And screw your pension.  Deliver pizzas, update your resume, teach English online to kids in China, whatever. Set aside enough social security so you can retire one day, with enough money to buy a sack of potatoes every week.  Like the Cure of Ars did.

But continue the Traditional Catholic Priesthood Jesus Christ Himself gave to you, until your last dying breath.

Folks, for every truly Traditionalist diocesan priest out there---and I suspect there are many hundreds if not thousands in the world---from a birds eye view, facing the facts, this is the course all of you must follow, according to natural and divine law.  All facts considered, as presumptuous as it might sound to say this, common sense dictates this.  No one needs clerical training or ordination to figure out the hard fact of the situation.

You must refuse to be a part of the New Religion, period.  As every Catholic must do.  And virtually all conciliar bishops now more than ever requires you to be a part of it.

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

Questions, constructive feedback, or to just say hello, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com

This Week in Review: A Hot Summer in Need of Relief

I don’t know about you all, but I’m looking forward to some relief soon from the summer heat. Literally…and metaphorically.  

It’s been a hot one in the deep heat of July/August here in Oklahoma, which parallels the deep heat of the current Crisis in the Catholic Church, this summer to be exact.

Excessive heat does something to the brain.  Increased heat leads to increased blood pressure and inflammation, which causes some level of brain swelling, albeit at safe enough levels, yet still having an affect on brain chemistry and as a result the psyche.  The remedy of course being cooler temps. 

Bullying and gaslighting from current Church authorities, who hold the sacraments, the liturgy, the very Magisterium in their hands, which we need for salvation itself, is enough to inflame our psyches, and cause spiritual trauma, even if only temporarily.  And seasonally.  

The effects of the new nuclear bomb Motu Proprio on the TLM are still being spread/experienced in many dioceses where the bishop in the past was not supportive of the plain and simple universal right to the True Mass.  

If the Pollyanna Optimists are really honest about it, most bishops have fit that description.  

And then there’s these many “cancelled priests” like Fr. Altman from the LaCrosse diocese, or for example Fr. Benedict Andersen from his Irish diocese, placed in a kind of ecclesiastical gulag.  

And for good measure, certain very large dioceses have set precedent they will not support religious exemptions for pro-life Catholics not wanting to participate in—even remotely—an Abortion-linked vaccine. Likewise, “Catholic” Biden is starting to force the jab on all Americans, starting soon with all nursing home workers under threat Medicare be otherwise withheld from nursing facilities not in full compliance of the new mandate..  All backed up by weekly admonitions from Francis-Church for everyone to get the jab.

To even have to face the threat of losing your livelihood for refusing the Abortion-linked vaccine is itself an ongoing soft martyrdom.

Oh, and for a summer ice cream treat, we get treated to weekly headlines about Francis spouting, almost comically, yet more heresies in his General Audiences.  The last couple times literally contradicting the Council of Trent on the Ten Commandments and Justification.  Hello.

The tensions of what to do, what to believe, where to go, how to mentally process the unfolding, exponentially more dystopic situation, have torn at many Catholic laity and priests alike.

We have entered the eye of the tornado, and we can only expect more persecution in the weeks and months ahead .  

At least though in a few weeks, we can look forward to subsiding temps, and the promise of all things Fall.  Campfires, hiking, fishing, hunting, and the like.  The Lord saying “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.”  At least we have some small things to sustain us, the jam in our bread as they say, and of course His Grace. 

Have a good weekend.

Questions, constructive feedback, or just to say what’s up Okie Trad, email me at:

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com 

Yet ANOTHER "Cancelled Priest," This Time a Traditional Catholic Priest, for Reporting Concerns of Sexual Misconduct

This interview came out today by The Pillar.  LINK

It's a long story, so I will break it down for you.

1. The former Sub-Prior, second in charge, of the Latin Mass Silverstream Monastery in Ireland, Fr. Benedict Andersen, wrote his Bishop his concerns of an alleged decade long pattern of sexual/spiritual/pscyhological abuse by the monastery's founder.

A Young Trad Speaks Out on the New TLM Motu Proprio: Guest Post by William.

Ever since Francis-Bergoglio issued his ironically named Apostolic Letter Traditiones Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition), it has been on my mind continually whether the majority of Catholics even care about this decree.  To be sure, members of the Magisterium like Cardinal Burke, Cardinal Mueller, Archbishop Vigano, etc have shown great interest in it, however does the average Novus Ordo Catholic even know about this restrictive order?  Has their parish addressed it at all? Have they read it?

In the News Today: Truth.

Most secular (and Catholic) news headlines are distractions. To drive up site stats and revenue. Understandably. So you have to sift the wheat from the chaff in your daily news glimpse. So be it. 

New Motu Proprio Litmus Test; Covid Vaccine Mandate; New Trad Catholic News Source

It’s scorching hot here in Oklahoma this mid August. We’ve managed three Blue Hole Springs trips this summer, for relief, hoping to get at least one more in before Fall. And as I am this time of year, I eagerly anticipate the cooling temperatures in the weeks ahead. 

Christian, Pro-Life Med Student Expelled. Hits Home for Me.

Read about this here.

Here’s the break down: 

Is this an Age for Martyrdom, another Crusade, or Both?

Western society has been overcome by a flood of anti-Christs.  Everywhere we look, we see a social war of anti-Christs persecuting Christians, in our neighborhoods, marketplace, and workplace, an anti-Christ mainstream ending what is left of Christendom.  

SSPX Response to TLM Motu Proprio: PRAY. Join Novena This Month to Immaculate Heart of Mary

Intentions, in light of TC:

1. To safeguard the work of the SSPX, and Traditional Movement throughout the world.

2. Consolation for those wounded by TC.

3. To safeguard children in a worsening world.

Begins day before Feast of Assumption, August 15th (on 8/14) --> Ends August 22nd.  

Read more HERE.

Please Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Tulsa Trad Jeff Davis (RIP)

I've known Jeff for 20 years.  It was my sad shock to learn recently of his passing.  A husband, father, real estate salesman, long term parishioner of the local FSSP parish, and a devout, traditional Catholic, he will be greatly missed.  Please pray for him, and have Masses offered for the repose of his soul.   

Whenever I ran into Jeff, he was always an exceptionally friendly man, with a rock hard hand shake, beaming genuine smile, and always willing to give of his time for others. I've actually ran into his wife a couple times outside of Mass, who has the same charisma for going out of her way to show friendship.   

When my father passed away some thirteen years ago, Jeff came to his funeral and burial, even though my dad did not attend the Latin Mass at the FSSP.  I wish Jeff had more years on this Earth, but God called him at his appointed time.  You will be missed by the local Catholic community, Jeff.  Requiescat in pace, may he rest in peace.

Coalition of Cancelled Priests: OPTIONS Going Forward

Here are my thoughts:

1.  In general, they will not win their canonical battles, nor be re-inserted back into public ministry under a Novus Ordo Bishop.   May as well come to terms with that now.

Tulsa Diocese: Implements New DECREE, Re New Latin Mass Motu Proprio. Two Diocesan TLMs Allowed For Now to Continue. Questions and Concerns.

After a couple weeks of prayer and study, Tulsa Bishop Konderla is now officially implementing the new Motu Proprio on the Latin Mass here in this diocese.  The two diocesan Latin Masses will be allowed to continue in the parish church.  No need to find an alternative location.  Deo gratias for these two individual dispensations.  The Traditional Mass in those two locations continues!  As expected, the two already existing TLM "groups," Clear Creek abbey and the FSSP parish, are permitted for now to continue with the TLM.

10 Ways to Develop Catholic Manhood

There are plenty of newer books and articles out there by lay Catholics giving their own ideas about Catholic manhood, or masculinity.   Here are my own thoughts the essential Catholic teachings and practices, according to traditional priests, spiritual directors, catechisms, Catholic conferences, approved works by priests or theologians, and the dogmatic/moral teachings of Holy Mother the Church.  All for FREE!  These are habits I myself work on daily, too often falling short, but to develop Catholic manly virtue in myself, until the day I die.

The 7 Deadly Sins of the Modern Age

1.  To be anything less than athletically fit, and smartly dressed for success. 

2.  To have anything less than—like—an amazing self-esteem. 

The FOCUS Going Forward Must be on the Truth, More Than Church Politics

Jesus Christ and His Church are the Truth, they are the answer to every problem. 

But it is the Truth that the Church is in a grave, universal Crisis, because it is now falsely taught all men can be saved through false religions, that the hierarchical Church is a collegial democracy of bishops equal in authority to the Supreme Pontiff, that we can participate in heretical rites in the name of ecumenical unity, and that the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is to be presented mainly as a memorial narrative.

The Elephant in the Room: Vatican II/New Mass. The Bottom Line of the New Motu Proprio on the Latin Mass.

Well, by critical acclaim and positive feedback as of late, I, yours truly, the infamous Okie Traditionalist blogger, am decidedly back to blogging.  All for the greater Glory of God.

So regarding the new Motu Proprio on the Latin Mass, frank commentators are calling out the Elephant in the Room, what this draconian (truth be told, invalid) law is really all about.

Let Me Know If You Want Me To Continue.

Well it’s been a week.   Received a few supportive emails, for which I’m thankful.  

I have no reliable way of knowing if this blog has any real effect in the world unless I’m told. Stats aren’t reliable.  And when I allowed comments, while some were civil and friendly, many were trolls or spam.  I do not have the time to moderate the comments, which is why I turned off the comment section.

So IF over the years this blog has informed, entertained, or otherwise inspired you, if you appreciate my style or approach, please let me know in the next  week, 7 days, otherwise I am considering taking this blog down. 

JosephOstermeir@gmail.com

I’m getting roughly 450 views a day lately.   So, if just a mere 1% of you email me (4.5/day x 7 days = 31+ people), heck even if just 10 people email, then that would be a positive to consider.

I need to hear from a substantial number of people if I decide to take time away from my family going forward to sustain this Catholic blog.  

Please let me know, if you want to continue reading this content.

If in a week this blog is gone, there’s no hard feelings.  I’m sure there are many dozens more trad Catholics in Internet land who will take my place writing a blog opining about the latest in Church or secular news, or anything in Life related to the Almighty.  Besides, there are other hobbies and interests of which I can spend more time.

Onward and upward! 

Taking a Break

(Update 7/18, I wrote a long post about the new Motu Proprio situation going forward in my local Church, but decided to take it down because I’d rather be silent going forward.  You already know my convictions. The Church is in a kind of state of eclipse, to quote one local priest of my diocese, though never entirely, so there is always hope to obtain what a Catholic needs to save their soul, no matter how much the Shepherds have been struck.  Life goes on.)

More here:

Faithful Catholics Are in The Wilderness

(re-post)

Francis might amend Summorum Pontificum?  The future of the TLM is in jeopardy?  What if my bishop takes away the Latin Mass for us speaking out too much in the church parking lot?

Another Round of Slander, Libel and Calumny Against the SSPX, by Church Militant's Voris/Niles.

This week we are treated once again to the never-ending Church Militant Voris/Niles Witch-Hunt of the SSPX.  While I'm generally trying to abstain from all the latest sensationalist internet "Catholic news," this hit home for me.  

Pope Francis Predicted to Issue New Document Today On Summorum Pontificum

(Update: 7/8.  No document released, as prognosticated.  Life goes on.)

Hot off the press.  This just in from Ann Barnhardt. Pope Francis will release today, July 7th, on the anniversary of Pope Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum, a new document regarding the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. She writes:

Blogger Predictions Re Changes to Summorum Pontificum?? Reality Check.

Taylor Marshall this last week released some "breaking news" click bait:  an insider has leaked to him the REAL plan for changes regarding Summorum Pontificum.  We are told.  Francis will not change SP, but instead issue an addendum motu proprio that "goes further," to put an end to "TLM-only-ism."  

Happy 4th! In a Sense.

This is the first 4th of July I am not honoring the government of what continues to be called the "USA," because the USA died on January 6th, 2000.  It is now de facto the Communist States of America. 

John Senior on Literature and Culture, from the Catholic View

I highly recommend reading Dr. John Senior's (RIP) two great modern classics The Death of Christian Culture and The Restoration of Christian Culture.  These are excellent books explaining the downfall of the modern West, and classic means to restore Christian civilization, beginning foremost with each individual, marriage, family, and local community.

10 Reasons to Embrace Catholic Tradition

(Re-post)

 1.  A major spiritual relief--i.e. from the banality of the Novus Ordo rite atmosphere.  Turning away from Modernism towards Catholic Tradition is like removing yourself from a room filled with noxious fumes clouding the mind, and stepping into fresh, clear air.  Catholic Tradition clears and enlightens the mind and soul. 

Response to Fr Z on the “Two Popes” Question

Fr Z yesterday wrote a very long post, what he described as a thought experiment, to resolve the “Two Popes” controversy, to at least put people’s mind at ease troubled by a Pope Emeritus Benedict still dressed in white living in the Vatican. 

Who Was Francis Talking About When He Asked People to "Pray for the Pope"??

Came across this amusing headline.  

Saturday Morning Musings: Rainy Day, New Grill, Frank Walker

Rainy Day Today: 

Gardening: a Catholic Hobby

My dad (RIP) was both a devout Catholic and an avid gardener.  That hobby I always perceived was something devotional.  Working the land helping to cultivate virtue and a deeper connection to the Creator.