Saint Simon Catholic Church in New Brunswick, Canada, has been destroyed by fire. Built in 1917 and described as New Brunswick’s tallest wooden church, it was engulfed in flames early Monday morning. Authorities determined that the fire was deliberately set, and a 68-year-old man has been charged with arson. The investigation remains ongoing.
"Free from all uncleanness, perfect and altogether without spot." — Denis (Pseudo-Dionysius), On the Divine Names, Chapter 12 "In these words three degrees of cleanness are described which are requisite for sanctity. And the first is the freedom from all uncleanness. Now freedom is the opposite of slavery. But the slave of uncleanness is he who is completely conquered by uncleanness and subject to it. The first grade of purity then is that one should be delivered from the slavery of impurity. Now the second degree is that the purity should be perfect, for the perfect is that to which nothing is lacking. It happens at times that one is not subject to uncleanness, but there is wanting to him something of purity, in so far as he is troubled by passions of uncleanness; and when these are taken away there is perfect purity. The third degree of purity is that one should be altogether without spot. For that is said to be spotted which is not stained by anything intrinsic, but by something …Zaidi
Saint Maria Goretti / Svatá Maria Goretti / Santa Maria Goretti (2003) *soundtrack *music by Ennio Morricone and Andrea Morricone *directed by Giulio Base
A Mexican bishop has issued a decree restricting laypeople from assuming roles proper to ordained ministers in liturgical celebrations. Bishop Carlos Enrique Samaniego López of Texcoco issued the decree on 10 August, citing “irregular practices” that distort the priestly ministry and the sacred character of liturgical acts. It prohibits former seminarians, religious, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and other faithful not instituted in the stable ministry of acolyte from presiding over celebrations of the Word, funeral rites, sacramentals or other liturgical acts proper to ordained ministers. It also forbids non-clerics from wearing the alb or “any sacred ornament or vestment reserved uniquely and exclusively to the clergy”, both within and outside liturgical celebrations. The bishop expressed concern about celebrations held in halls, gardens and other unapproved locations by “pseudo ordained ministers” and “celebrants”. “I ask all the Christian faithful of the Diocese of Texcoco …Zaidi
Worse than Germany: A contemporary dance and sound performance was incorporated into the celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption at the Church of Sant Joan Baptista in Muro, Mallorca. It was entitled El Vol Màgic (“The Magic Flight”). According to the Diocese of Mallorca, the work was “conceived specifically for the liturgical context of the celebration of the Assumption of the Mother of God.” The project was directed by a musician and developed together with a dancer and choreographer, an organist, and a sound specialist. According to the diocesan description, the project grew out of research into Mallorca’s traditional observances surrounding the Assumption and sought to explore the relationship between “sound, body, space and ritual.” #newsPvjzmshrbf
The Disease, the Cause and the Cure Every day, Catholic writers publish another article warning us about what is going wrong in the Church. Synodality, conciliarism, liturgical abuses, doctrinal confusion — the list seems endless. Much of what they write is true, necessary and long overdue. But after reading so much of it, one question becomes increasingly difficult to avoid: are we going to keep describing the disease, or will someone finally dare to speak about its cause — and about the cure? The Disease, the Cause and the Cure
Well seems like a fair number of people are also questioning the legitimacy of the current successor of Peter - I wonder what the mechanism for action is?
The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court has acquitted Yona Simcha Schreiber, 36, of criminal responsibility for a violent attack on a French Catholic nun in April. The court accepted psychiatric evidence that he was psychotic at the time of the assault. He could neither understand the nature of his actions nor control them, the court ruled. He was ordered to undergo compulsory psychiatric hospitalization for up to six years. The attack occurred on Mount Zion, near King David’s Tomb outside Jerusalem’s Old City. Security footage showed Schreiber running toward the 48-year-old nun from behind and knocking her violently to the ground, causing her head to strike the stone pavement. Schreiber initially walked away before returning and kicking the nun while she remained on the ground. He also assaulted a passerby who attempted to intervene. The victim is a researcher at the Dominican-run École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem. Schreiber is a resident of Peduel, an illegal settlement …Zaidi
Caroline Vermeulen, Belgium’s new ambassador to the Holy See, presented her credentials to Pope Leo XIV on August 27. The Belgian diplomat has frequently supported homosexual initiatives during her career. Born in 1973, Vermeulen has served in Japan, Russia, China and Taiwan, as well as with the European Union. From 2004 to 2011, she served as secretary to Queen Paola of Belgium. More recently, she was Belgium’s ambassador to Austria, additionally accredited to Slovakia and Slovenia, and permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna. During her time in Vienna, Vermeulen became a member of International Gender Champions, a network of diplomats and international officials committed to promoting the gender ideologie. On her International Gender Champions profile, Vermeulen states: “Diversity, including with respect to gender, in a professional environment improves the quality and results of teamwork.” In 2023, Vermeulen participated in Vienna’s homosexual march as …Zaidi
When the generation of the ’68ers passes away, the unfounded, one-sided attitudes against Latin and Gregorian chant will pass away as well, Cardinal Robert Sarah told IlGiornale.it on August 27. Benedict XVI’s liberalization of the Traditional Latin Mass had a positive and even corrective influence on abuses in the celebration of the Novus Ordo, Cardinal Sarah said. “Many priests testify that discovering the Extraordinary Form helped them to celebrate better.” Furthermore, the faithful could choose which form corresponded more closely to the fostering of the faith. “But all of this was brought to an abrupt end by Traditionis Custodes while the Pope Emeritus was still alive.” Francis’ restrictions on the Latin Mass were “neither a wise nor a respectful choice.” Cardinal Sarah added that access to “ritual forms that have existed for centuries can never be artificially restricted by decrees.” Without referring explicitly to the Novus Ordo, Sarah noted that a rite that did not serve the …Zaidi
Pope Francis broke with Vatican tradition by putting women into positions long reserved in practice for clerics. Leo XIV is now turning that breakthrough into routine. In little more than a year, he has confirmed women appointed by his predecessor, promoted others and named numerous women to positions across the Vatican. Italian media have noticed. They repeatedly reach for the colour pink: the Vatican “turns pink,” while headlines speak of a “Vaticano in rosa” and “nomine rosa” — “pink appointments.” Here are the many women Leo XIV has appointed, promoted or confirmed so far. Raffaella Petrini - Governor of Vatican City Francis appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini president of the Governorate of Vatican City State and president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State shortly before his death. Leo XIV did more than simply leave her there. In November 2025, he modified Vatican City’s Fundamental Law so that the presidency of the Pontifical Commission no longer had to be held by …Zaidi
Two pastors in South Korea have been fined 1 million won (about €620) each after loudly preaching on a domestic flight from Jeju to Seoul. They shouted that passengers would “go to hell” if they did not believe in Jesus, while one moved around the cabin. They continued despite instructions from the cabin crew to stop. A Seoul court found that their conduct constituted a disturbance under South Korea’s Aviation Security Act.
The court said the 64-year-old pastor stood in the aisle despite repeated attempts by crew members to stop him and shouted at passengers, “You will go to hell if you don’t believe in Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 1:17-25 "The cross is the power of God." Let us receive God's love. Matthew 25:1-13 "Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" Let us receive God's love, joy, and peace. Biblical texts: NAB-RE Normand Thomas.
Sorry, I don't buy it. Any pope worthy of the name is not merely a script-reader, and, if he can't discern that which is wrong (or 'wrongly phrased') he's on autopilot, and should recuse himself from his office.
After the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement “terrible things happen to Catholics” in the Fujian province, an anonymous Chinese bishop who is unaffiliated with the Chinese state church ‘Patriotic Association’, told Anthony Clark for CatholicWorldReport.com on August 23. The bishop speaks of a “state of emergency”. As government influence over the bishops increases, “the integrity of the Catholic faith will suffer.” To “assure the survival of China’s Church,” new bishops have been “secretly consecrated.” The bishop says the faithful question Rome’s genuine concern for their “spiritual well-being” when the Holy See approves government-selected bishops whom they regard as too reliable to the state. The number is unknown, but he suggested that “at least ten new bishops” were consecrated for the underground community in the Fujian province. #newsTzdkbhbakv
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