The Tridentine Mass, or the traditional Latin Mass as we sometimes call it, is far more than a historical remnant or an artefact of ecclesiastical nostalgia. It is the enduring expression of the Church’s sacred worship, refined through centuries of prayer, discipline, and divine inspiration. Its Latin tongue, universal and unchanging, embodies the Church’s unity […]
A Reflection on the Tridentine Mass and the Ancient Eastern Liturgies
I write as a priest who reveres the Apostolic Faith and who believes that worship is the surest testimony of what the Church teaches and loves. I have offered the holy mysteries within sanctuaries where the air is heavy with incense and the choir answers heaven with measured chant. I have moved with deliberate economy […]
Some Thoughts on the Use of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence
These days, social media is part of nearly everything we do. It helps us stay in touch, share news, and sometimes even spread a bit of encouragement. Used wisely, it can be a blessing. But it also carries real dangers. The same places where truth and kindness can shine are often filled with pride, anger, […]
A Pastoral Word on the Recent Violence Within the United States
We awaken to yet more tidings of sorrow. Within the space of but a single day, five mass shootings have torn through the heart of the United States. The land groans beneath the weight of grief. Families are left in anguish, communities stand bewildered, and souls are wounded in ways that cannot be measured by […]
The Hiddenness of Prayer and Humility of the Heart
“Do not trumpet your achievements, and be not hopeless when you sin.” (St. Ephraim the Syrian) In these few words, he points out two dangers that ensnare the Christian soul, 1) pride in outward show and 2) despair in inward weakness. Both are contrary to the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, who bids His […]
Addressing Priests as “Father”
Question: Why is it that Protestant have such a problem with priests being called “Father”? Response: It is often objected by certain Protestants that the words of Christ in Matthew 23:9 forbid the use of the title “Father” for clergy. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which […]
The Necessity of Condemning Sin
“He had no mercy on a nation destined for destruction, who were taken away because of their sins.” — Sirach 16:9 The words of the Holy Scriptures are not written to flatter us, nor to soothe the guilty conscience with empty comforts. They are written to declare the truth of God’s justice as well as […]
Why Petition the Saints?
Question: I don’t deny that the saints exist in heaven, but why do you petition them? Isn’t Jesus enough? Without going into a full theological article, I will simply say that we confess that our Lord Jesus Christ alone is our Redeemer and Mediator, yet in our weakness and spiritual frailty we often feel unworthy […]
Augustine on Perseverance and Grace
“I assert, therefore, that the perseverance by which we persevere in Christ even to the end is the gift of God; … Therefore it is uncertain whether any one has received this gift so long as he is still alive.” (St. Augustine of Hippo) Calvinists, particularly those who seek to portray St. Augustine as a […]
Yet Another Nasty Email From Johnson City
I have been receiving these types of email for a few years now. I usually do not respond to most of them because of the filth they contain. For nearly a month, this individual has pelted me almost daily with the exact same message, turning his obsessive repetition into something as tiresome as it is […]