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IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
Council of Trent
The greatest and longest of all the major ecumenical councils was convened by Pope Paul III on December 13, 1545 in the mouintain village of Trent in northern Italy. There were 25 major sessions that spanned eighteen years under five popes - Pope Julius III, Marcellus II, Paul IV and Pope Pius IV who closed the last session on December 4, 1563 with Pius IV issuing a Papal Bull on February 7, 1564 confirming all that was declared at Trent. Pope Saint Pius V completed the commission of Trent, reforming the Roman Missal with his De Defectibus and Quo Primum writing the Catechism of Trent based on all the decrees of Trent and also set up a commission to issue a more exact edition of the Latin Vulgate Bible. The Council issued the most dogmatic and reformatory decrees ever, specifically on the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments plus reinstating traditions always held 'Catholic.' Trent was the ideal Counter-Reformation to the Protestant Reformation where Protestantism was condemned as anathema along with Martin Luther and other reformers who had bolted the Church. Moral discipline was emphasized and reinforced in order that Holy Mother Church regain the respect and authority intended for the Church Christ founded and passed down through His infallible, perennial Magisterium of the Church, preserving the Truths and Traditions of Holy Mother Church in the Sacred Deposit of the Faith. For an overview to the full documents of the nineteenth Ecumenical Council see COUNCIL OF TRENT
Catholic PewPOINT 
In this issue editor Michael Cain continues his series on the analogy of the Mystical Body of Christ with the sorrowful mysteries. Today he stays with the second sorrowful mystery - the Scourging at the Pillar as he illustrates offenses that occurred just the past few weeks which clearly show the Mystical Body of Christ being thrashed unmercifully by those within the Church who would scandalize for the sake of political correctness or some other humanistic reason. In doing so they scandalize and contribute to the endless scourging as he powerfully explains in part three of the series on the Sorrowful Mysteries: The longer the scourging continues, the greater the consequences!
Standing with the Church Militant On the BattleLine  
In this issue Atila Sinke Guimarães recalls an article he wrote a few years ago in which he expressed fears that the Vatican was caving to the liberal ideas of men like Cardinal Martini, Cardinal König and Archbishop John Quinn. In light of Martini's announced retirement on turning 75 last week, Atila revisits this issue about the possibility of another Council to further the progressivists' agenda. Even with the retirement of older cardinals, the possibility still remains very plausible considering the ecumenical advancements made by this regime as Atila explains in his column A New Council, an Old Yearning
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LATER THIS WEEK:
"Feed My sheep"
In Wednesday's issue we address the problems haunting the Church today from pedophilia to outward disregard for Catholic truths. As the Church goes, so also goes the world. We point out that when we point the finger at someone else in the 'blame game' we are basically pointing three fingers back at ourselves and rightly so, for we can no longer claim innocence or naivete to what is going on by hiding our heads in the sand. We allowed it to happen and must not only share in the blame, but strive to do something about correcting the situation by being ever more vigilant and that begins at home as we illustrate in The Finger of Blame
Pro Life Prescriptions
Wednesday Dr. Frank Joseph will provide an outstanding platform which pro-life politicians can take to the polls and produce votes from those constituents who have a conscience. With the primaries getting underway in this pivotal year where the pro-life vote is paramount to beginning to overturn Roe vs. Wade and return America to a semblance of sanity in a world gone mad, Dr. Frank provides fail-safe ammo for speech writers of all those pro-life candidates who want to win. All they have to do is take off the gloves and be honest. Honesty will go a long way with the people and with God as he affirms in his column Wednesday A Primary Primer for Pro-Life Politicians
Exspectans exspectavimus Ecclesia Dei
Chris Ferrara points out the ridiculousness of the charges against Traditionalists who seek to uphold the Truths and Traditions of Holy Mother Church and recognize the Pope as the successor of Peter, while the accusers ignore the aberrations and outright rebellion of a schismatic group in China. Thanks to Michael J. Matt of The Remnant we share Chris Ferrara's excellent syllogisms which first appeared in a recent edition of The Remnant as we present part one of his article A Tale of Two Schisms
Simply Sheen
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen continues in Wednesday's issue on his treatise on the very topic so greatly twisted and misunderstood today: Tolerance! He turns from the negative aspects of tolerance, which is what the word purports to, instead reflecting on the antithesis of the word - love - God's Love where the bishop shows that no matter who we are, there is always room for love for we can never escape the Light of His Truth as he concludes in They know not what they do.
Echoes of True Catholicism
On Thursday Dr. Marian Horvat will zero in on the bleak picture in Russia where Rome seems to be doing a high wire act in wooing the Russian Orthodox to cooperate while establishing four new dioceses there. All the while trying to convince the rest of the Catholic world that the Fatima prophecies have been fulfilled. The facts don't back that up as anyone can see by scanning the headlines of the neo-Catholic news services each day. She will cite various examples that point to a humanistic global agenda in her column The Myth of a Converted Russia Exposed
Precious Gift of our Faith
This Thursday we continue a beautiful catechetical apologetic series taken from The Glories and Triumphs of the Catholic Church on the true meaning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The 260th installment continues an enthralling, truly inspiring and enlightening understanding of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass like you never realized before. After you read this, you will clamor for the return of the Mass of All Ages for only in the Tridentine Rite is its fullness realized. You will see the Mass as it was always intended and why the Council of Trent - featured this week in Ecumenical Councils - in their infallible wisdom settled on this most perfect propitiatory sacrifice to uniquely and purposely represent every aspect of Christ as we present part three of The Perfect Plan of the Mass
The Great Sacrilege
Father James F. Wathen, O.S.J. has granted permission to publish his entire work which was first published by Tan Books in 1972, and which we urge you to read for everything he wrote back then is backed by the solid depositum fidei - the Sacred Deposit of the Faith and still holds true. It takes up where the Ottaviani Intervention left off as you'll see in Thursday's issue when Father gets down to the serious violations perpetrated on the faithful, explaining in Part Nine of Chapter Four - the drastic changes caused by disregarding "Pro Multis"
Christ or chaos 
This coming Friday Dr. Thomas Droleskey continues his series on G.I.R.M. Warfare. He comments on paragraph 87 and 88 on the subtle but serious changes that alter the role of the alter Christus - the priest to merely a presider where, just through placement of rubrics elevates the people to the role of priest, an aberration which could be considered the antithesis of the True Sacrifice. This is aided and abetted by the noisy nuances of ruing silence and meditation during Communion as Tom explains in his 40th installment Subtraction has created distraction
Traditional Insights 
On Friday Mario Derksen continues his series on "Vatican II and the Gospel of
Man" as he meticulously peels off the skin-deep layers of rhetoric, exposing the tightening muscles of modernism that seek to squeeze the bones of doctrine. This prevents the living organs of Truth and Tradition from fully being able to function, thus allowing the cancer of humanism to penetrate the pores of the Mystical Body of Christ. Mario will show how the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes took the smoke of satan and torched the Truths and Traditions upheld by previous pontiffs by diminishing man's dignity by elevating him to something he can never attain - divinity. Mario will explain Friday in part two of his column Towards the Deification of Man
The Fatima FILE 
On Friday we present another excellent essay by Peter Miller of the Seattle Catholic which addresses the Third Secret of Fatima and what many, including the late Cardinal Silvio Oddi - truly believe that it pertains to the great apostasy in the Church, not to Perestroika as the Vatican has propagandized for the sake of compromise. Miller first wrote this article in August of 2001, citing the late Italian cardinal's own first-hand knowledge as a close friend of Pope John XXIII to highly doubt the propaganda released in May 2000 as Peter shows in his article The Third Secret of Fatima
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"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you, Though all things pass
God does not change.
Patience wins all things. But he lacks nothing
Who possesses God;
For God Alone suffices."
Saint Teresa of Avila
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Today in Church History
Death of one of the world's most gifted masters
Today is the 438th anniversary of the death in 1564 of the great Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarotti, who passed away at the ripe old age of 88. He left behind countless priceless objects of art and reverence especially in the Vatican. His most famous works being his Pieta marble sculpture residing inside St. Peter's Basilica and the magnificent Sistine Chapel ceiling, as well as the statue of David in Florence, Italy. His influence has been tremendous over the centuries and yet no one before him or since has been able to express the beauty of God's creation than this moody Italian artist, who had his share of run-ins with Popes who expected miracles from this man whose work truly transcended the Heavens.
In each issue we will feature a special prayer to enhance your Catholic devotions
 
Prayer for the First Monday in Lent
Convert us, O God our salvation, and that the Lenten fast may be of profit to us, instruct our minds with Heavenly discipline. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
For prayers posted thus far, see Devotions and Reflections For Stations of the Cross, see WAY OF THE CROSS
Liturgy of the Saints
MONDAY, February 18:
Traditional Feast of Saint Simeon, Bishop and Patriarch of Jerusalem and first cousin of Christ. He was martyred in 112. Traditional Feast of Saint Bernardette Soubirous, Virgin and Visionary of Lourdes who died in 1879. Her body is still incorrupt. Historical feast of Saint Flavian, Bishop who was martyred in 449
TUESDAY, February 19:
Historical feast of Saint Gabinus, who died in 296. He was the brother of Pope Saint Caius, and nephew of the evil emperor Diocletian. Also the Historical feast of Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit who died in 1351. He is the saint the faithful invoke for the cure from hernias.
WEDNESDAY, February 20:
Ember Wednesday in Lent - Day of Fast and Partial Abstinence. Historical feast of Saint Eucherius, Bishop who died in 743 and Saint Amata, Religious who died in 1250. She was the niece of Saint Clare of Assisi.
THURSDAY, February 21:
In the new liturgy the feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church who died in 1072. Also the historical feast of Saint Peter Mavimenus who died in 743.
FRIDAY, February 22:
Ember Friday - Day of Fast and Abstinence. Feast of The Chair of Saint Peter
SATURDAY, February 23:
Ember Saturday - Day of Fast and Partial Abstinence. Traditional Feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church who died in 1072. In the new it is the feast of Saint Polycarp, Bishop who was martyred in 166. He is the saint the faithful ask intercession for when they have earaches.
SUNDAY, February 24:
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT. Traditional Feast of Saint Matthias, the Apostle who replaced judas iscariot and was martyred in 65 A.D. Also historical feast of Saint Ethelbert, king of Kent who died in 616. For reflections on the Second Sunday of Lent, see Fr. Cusick's reflections
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 The Rosary of Mary is our most powerful weapon. Click on the Rosary button to recite the full Rosary in either English or Latin.
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