Traditional Catholic evening devotional prayers to close your day with your mind, heart, tongue, and soul on our Lord! The month of September is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Begin and end each day with prayer. This video is a compilation of many traditional evening prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office evening prayers.
12 September 2026
Summa Contra Gentiles, Book II: LXXXII That the Souls of Dumb Animals Are Not Immortal
From Contemplating History
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 7 March 1274), was a Doctor of the Church, Philosopher, Theologian, Jurist, Dominican Friar, and Priest. Known as Doctor Angelicus "Angelic Doctor," and the Doctor Communis "Universal Doctor" his writings serve as a defense and proof of the validity of Christ's authority over all. The Summa contra Gentiles (also known as Liber de veritate catholicae fidei contra errores infidelium, "Book on the truth of the Catholic faith against the errors of the unbelievers"). The Summa contra Gentiles consists of four books. The structure of Saint Thomas's work is designed to proceed from general philosophical arguments for monotheism, to which Muslims and Jews are likely to consent even within their own respective religious traditions, before progressing to the discussion of specifically Christian doctrine.
Book II is dedicated to the Creation (in other words, the physical universe, everything which exists).
Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of religion, or simply curious about the impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the world, this playlist is designed to provide an informative and engaging journey through its captivating past. Subscribe to the Contemplating History channel for more educational content and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history.
Susan Schneider, PhD, on AI, Chatbots, and Consciousness
From Closer to Truth, a secular source.
Professor Susan Schneider discusses the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and others, transhumanism, and the future of artificial intelligence. Dr Susan Schneider is a philosopher and artificial intelligence (AI) expert. She is the founding director of the Center for the Future Mind at Florida Atlantic University, where she also holds the William F. Dietrich Distinguished Professorship. Schneider has also held the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation at NASA and the Distinguished Scholar Chair at the Library of Congress.
Professor Susan Schneider discusses the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and others, transhumanism, and the future of artificial intelligence. Dr Susan Schneider is a philosopher and artificial intelligence (AI) expert. She is the founding director of the Center for the Future Mind at Florida Atlantic University, where she also holds the William F. Dietrich Distinguished Professorship. Schneider has also held the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation at NASA and the Distinguished Scholar Chair at the Library of Congress.
Stone of Scone Facts | Stone of Destiny History | What Is the Coronation Stone?
From History Calling
Get ready for some STONE OF SCONE facts in this week’s video from History Calling, as we look at this famous rock (also known as the Stone of Destiny) upon which so many Scottish, English, and British monarchs have been crowned. Currently housed in Edinburgh Castle along with the Scottish Crown Jewels (aka the Scottish Regalia, or Honours of Scotland), the stories around this stone’s origins are legion. Some claim it dates to Biblical times and is the same stone as that which Jacob used as a pillow at Bethel, mentioned in the book of Genesis. Others claim it came from Egypt and perhaps had a pit stop in Ireland on its travels. Its earliest confirmed location is medieval Scotland, however, where it was used in the coronation ceremonies for Scotland’s Kings. That is, until 1296, when King Edward I of England stole it (It ws NOT "stolen", despite what the ScotsNazis claim! It was taken by right of conquest. ~ the Old Curmugeon) and took it to London, where a special chair, known as St Edward’s Chair or the Coronation Chair, was created to hold it. It stayed in England, almost without break, for the next 700 years, where it was usually kept in Westminster Abbey and used in the coronations of dozens of monarchs. It has been attacked and broken by suffragettes, hidden from Nazi bombs, stolen by Scottish nationalists, and eventually returned to its ancient home in 1996. But what is the coronation stone and how many of the tales from the Stone of Destiny’s history can we really believe? What’s more, how do you pronounce Stone of Scone anyway? In this video on the coronation of Charles III, you’ll find out.
Pope John Paul II’s Words the Day After 9/11
Pope John Paul II in his General Audience the day after the jihadists attacked the United States, in the worst peacetime disaster in US history.
From Aleteia
By Kathleen N. Hattrup
25 Years after the attacks on New York, we pray with John Paul II for the peace and justice he asked from the Lord that day: "that the spiral of hatred and violence will not prevail."
September 11, 2021, was a Tuesday. The next day, Pope John Paul II gave his condolences to the USA and the world and voiced his prayer to God.
The Holy Father had been giving catechesis on the Psalms during the Wednesday audiences, but on September 12, he delivered this text speaking directly to the United States. The previous day he had been one of the first heads of state to send a message to President Bush, offering his sympathy and prayers.
Here is what he said:
~
I cannot begin this audience without expressing my profound sorrow at the terrorist attacks which yesterday brought death and destruction to America, causing thousands of victims and injuring countless people. To the President of the United States and to all American citizens I express my heartfelt sorrow. In the face of such unspeakable horror we cannot but be deeply disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours to express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate that the ways of violence will never lead to genuine solutions to humanity’s problems.
Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity. After receiving the news, I followed with intense concern the developing situation, with heartfelt prayers to the Lord. How is it possible to commit acts of such savage cruelty? The human heart has depths from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the normal daily life of a people. But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ’s word is the only one that can give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit. Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail, those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.
With deeply felt sympathy I address myself to the beloved people of the United States in this moment of distress and consternation, when the courage of so many men and women of good will is being sorely tested. In a special way I reach out to the families of the dead and the injured, and assure them of my spiritual closeness. I entrust to the mercy of the Most High the helpless victims of this tragedy, for whom I offered Mass this morning, invoking upon them eternal rest. May God give courage to the survivors; may he sustain the rescue-workers and the many volunteers who are presently making an enormous effort to cope with such an immense emergency. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to join me in prayer for them. Let us beg the Lord that the spiral of hatred and violence will not prevail. May the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Mercy, fill the hearts of all with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions.
Today, my heartfelt sympathy is with the American people, subjected yesterday to inhuman terrorist attacks which have taken the lives of thousands of innocent human beings and caused unspeakable sorrow in the hearts of all men and women of good will. Yesterday was indeed a dark day in our history, an appalling offence against peace, a terrible assault against human dignity.
I invite you all to join me in commending the victims of this shocking tragedy to Almighty God' s eternal love. Let us implore his comfort upon the injured, the families involved, all who are doing their utmost to rescue survivors and help those affected.
I ask God to grant the American people the strength and courage they need at this time of sorrow and trial.
The US Bishops Are Ordering Priests To Give Partisan Homilies Ahead of the Midterm Elections
They're not hiding that they are operatives for anti-Christian politicians anymore.
I Jousted in Full Armor - This Is What I Learned
From Modern History TV
Jason Kingsley CBE, the Modern Knight, discusses how dangerous Medieval jousting might be, as seen in shows like A Knight of Seven Kingdoms with Dunc and Egg.
What’s it really like to participate in a jousting tournament? In this video, I share my personal experiences as a modern-day jouster, delving into the skill, preparation, and adrenaline of the sport.
Alongside my story, we explore the historical dangers of medieval jousting and the risks faced by knights who competed in this thrilling yet perilous medieval spectacle.
What it’s like to train for and participate in modern jousting tournaments.
The physical and mental demands of riding in armour and wielding a lance.
The injuries and fatalities that made jousting so dangerous in the Middle Ages.
Historical examples of famous jousters and accidents, including King Henry II of France.
How jousting evolved from a military exercise to a sport of chivalry.
Perfect for history enthusiasts, medieval sports fans, and anyone curious about the reality behind the romance of jousting, this video is packed with insights and personal stories.
How dangerous was jousting for medieval knights?
What makes jousting so challenging, even today?
How do modern tournaments compare to their medieval counterparts?
Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | September
Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a holy way! The month of September is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. I hope these prayers increase your devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary this month, to share in her sorrows and to and draw you closer to her Divine Son, Jesus Christ. Begin each day with morning prayer! This video is a compilation of many traditional evening prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office evening prayers.
The "Christian Avengers" on Catholicism (Rebutted)
From The Counsel of Trent
In this episode, Trent responds to protestant criticisms of Catholicism on a recent episode of the George Janko podcast.
Why the Holy Name of Mary Is Associated With a Turning Point in History
343 years ago today, troops under the command of King Jan III Sobieski raised the Siege of Vienna. He said, “We Came, We Saw, God Conquered”.
From Aleteia
By Larry Peterson
There's a reason that September 12 is dedicated to this unique feast.
Why do we honor the name of Our Lady and hold it in such high esteem? Why not just honor her as the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Why did Pope Innocent XI, in 1683, proclaim that September 12 is the Feast day of the Most Holy Name of Mary? (Pope St. John Paul II reinstituted the feast in 2003 as an “optional memorial.”)
The name Mary has its origins in ancient languages. In Aramaic, Maryam; Old Testament Greek, Mariam; Hebrew, Myriam; and from the New Testament Latin, Maria.
The feast day of the Most Holy Name of Mary originated in 1513 in Cuenca, Spain. At the time it was a local celebration and was held on September 15.
In 1587, Pope Sixtus V moved the feast day to September 17. In 1622, Pope Gregory XV expanded the feast to the Archdiocese of Toledo, and in 1671, the entire kingdom of Spain was included.
But in the year 1683, this feast day was inserted into the Roman Calendar. That was when Pope Innocent XI made it a feast everywhere in the Catholic world. The feast was designated to be celebrated on September 12, four days after the birthday of Our Lady.
Why?
Because of what’s known as the Battle of Vienna, recognized as a turning point in history and the end of the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe.
In 1683, the army of the Ottoman Empire had marched through Hungary. Now on Austria’s border, it was preparing to vanquish Vienna. The papal nuncio and King Leopold of Austria pleaded with King Jan Sobieski of Poland to help them stop the invading Ottomans. King Sobieski immediately agreed to help. He had beaten back the invaders a few years before, and although the army he commanded was small, he was undeterred.
On his march to Austria, King Sobieski and his army passed by the Shrine to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The King pleaded with the Blessed Mother by invoking her name. He asked for her blessing and intercession.
The allied forces went on to win against the Ottomans and King Sobieski triumphantly entered Vienna on September 12. He attended Mass and praised the Blessed Virgin as the cause and reason for their great victory.
King Sobieski presented the Muslim standard to Pope Innocent XI. The Holy Father proclaimed the Polish King as defender of Christendom.
Pope Innocent XI thereupon declared September 12 as a date to honor the Most Holy Name of Mary, whose motherly intervention had saved Christendom.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux:
“O most holy Virgin Mary, your name is so sweet and admirable that one cannot say it without becoming inflamed with love toward God and You.”
Blessed Raymond Jordano:
“However hardened and diffident a heart may be, the name of this most Blessed Virgin has such efficacy, that if it is only pronounced that heart will be wonderfully softened.”
11 September 2026
Catholic Titles for Mary Explained (Different Marian Titles)
Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary. From Catholic Truth.
Mary our life, Mary our hope, Mary our advocate. Are these and other titles for Mary blasphemous? Does Mary really bring salvation? How do Catholics understand these titles and what are our beliefs on it?
Mary our life, Mary our hope, Mary our advocate. Are these and other titles for Mary blasphemous? Does Mary really bring salvation? How do Catholics understand these titles and what are our beliefs on it?
'We Came, We Saw, God Conquered' ~ Our Lady’s Victory at the Siege of Vienna
343 years ago today. King Jan ruled his kingdom as the lieutenant of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Perpetual Queen of Poland. He knew whereof he spoke.
From the National Catholic Register
By Zubair Simonson
King Jan Sobieski knew that the prayers of the Queen of Heaven were far more powerful than any army in the world.
“She is, and shall ever be, Our Lady.”
Vienna was surrounded. An invading Ottoman-led army, estimated at 150,000 troops, stood outside of her gates. Having refused the customary demand to surrender, made by Kara Mustafa, the Grand Vizier, she had been under siege for two months. The soldiers defending Vienna, and the peoples trapped behind her gates, were exhausted.
For over a thousand years, since the very dawn of Islam, the borders of Christendom had been pressed against, and receding.
The Holy Land had fallen long ago, as had Egypt, the Levant, and all of North Africa. In the centuries since the early Arab conquests the subjugated peoples, many of whom had the honorary status of “People of the Book” according to the Quran, had most all been converted, through policies of taxation and breeding and the force of law. The vision of God as the Holy Trinity, whose efforts to befriend mankind culminated in the Crucifixion of Christ, had been traded away for the vision of God as Allah, far too majestic to have ever been one of us, to whom all servitude must be given.
The Iberian Peninsula likewise fell long ago, to the invading Moors, and the conquered peoples had to expend centuries of energy for Spain and Portugal to finally be liberated, during the Reconquista.
In 1453 the great city of Constantinople had fallen into Ottoman hands. Churches such as the Hagia Sophia were converted to mosques (just as the Hagia Sophia was recently reconverted to a mosque). Non-Muslims became subjected to the jizya tax, and countless young Christian men were forcibly conscripted and converted in the system of devshirme.
History had offered those soldiers under the Ottoman banner plentiful reason to believe that the conquest of Vienna, a stepping stone for the eventual fall of Rome and final collapse of the Christian faith, was destiny for the “one true faith.” Having assembled such a grand army for the task, Kara Mustafa could relish in the thought that his own name would be recorded in history alongside the names of Muhammad, the Four Great Caliphs, Saladin, Mehmed II, and Suleiman the Magnificent (who himself had failed to conquer Vienna), and other greats before him who brought the light of Islam to new territories through their conquests. Mustafa, a brilliant tactician, had seized an opportunity to exploit tensions between Catholics and Protestants and recruited Hungarian prince Imre Thokoly to his side, among allegiances of other Christian vassal states with plentiful reason to believe that they were siding with a winner.
The Holy League, a Christian coalition, was formed during the months in which rumors of imminent invasion circulated. This alliance was largely formed through the efforts of Blessed Marco d’Aviano, an Italian Capuchin friar with a reputation for holiness, whom Pope Innocent XI had nominated as chaplain. Father d’Aviano had served as advisor to Leopold I, the ever-indecisive Holy Roman Emperor, and so he had been deemed apt for the difficult task ahead. As a committed Franciscan, d’Aviano viewed all forms of violence as repugnant. Regardless of his convictions, war was well on its way, so in obedience d’Aviano used his talents as a negotiator and an orator, as one called to be “wise as serpents, innocent as doves,” to band together a delicate alliance that would be led by the King of Poland. Even still, the Christian armies would be vastly outnumbered.
When the siege finally commenced in July of 1683, d’Aviano steadfastly urged the faithful of Vienna to repent of their sins and to pray the Rosary, just as the faithful had been so urged during the anxious days leading up to the Battle of Lepanto (the anniversary of which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) a century before. “Vienna,” he had cried out, “Vienna, your love of lax living has prepared you a grave and imminent chastisement! Convert, and consider well what you are doing. O wretched Vienna.”
As the siege had neared its end, while Kara Mustafa readied himself to witness Ottoman soldiers breach the walls and flood into the city like waters from a burst dam, news had arrived that a relief expedition was nearby.
The Ottomans commenced their attack. Marco d’Aviano celebrated Mass before the battle. The Hapsburg armies spent the day courageously defending Vienna, doing what they could with what strength they had, without any certainty of the potential deliverance climbing the other side of a hill yonder north.
Jan Sobieski, the elected king of Poland, a veteran commander, had arrived with the relief expedition, made of Polish and German and Austrian troops. It was a much larger army than the one that was defending the gates. Still, the armies of the Holy League remained far outnumbered. Desperate situations call for daring measures. Sobieski and his army climbed the Kahlenberg, out of sight from the Ottoman army, with the intent to charge the hostile army, which was facing Vienna, from the rear. Such an undertaking hadn’t been considered plausible, and so the Ottoman command, practical as it was, had overlooked it. It was said that Sobieski was too heavyset, too old, that he could barely mount his horse. He would lead the charge anyway, with his 15-year-old son by his side. The army ascended the hill. On the summit of the mount the king placed his army under the protection of Our Lady.
“Woman, behold thy son!” Our Lord told the Virgin Mary while he was hanging on the Cross. After that he then looked to the disciple, saying: “Behold thy mother!”
Sobieski was a devout Catholic. He knew that we have a Mother who prays for us during trials, that the Queen of Heaven’s prayers were far more powerful than any army in the world.
The burst of cannons firing, the stamping of 18,000 horses, the roaring fury of men descending the mount, rang in the ears of the Ottoman forces like thunder from offended gods. The Winged Hussars dove upon the hostile army like eagles. The Ottoman armies were thrown into terrible confusion, and began to scatter. The charging cavalry shattered the lines of their enemies in one crushing blow. On Sept. 12, 1683, Christendom was saved.
“Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit” King Sobieski later went on to say. “We came, we saw, God conquered.”
Kara Mustafa assigned blame for this failure where he could, upon Imre Thokoly, upon Murad Giray, the Crimean khan who was quickly disposed of thereafter. But it wasn’t enough. The Sultan ordered that Mustafa be strangled with a silk chord, as was custom for high-ranking officials in the Ottoman Empire, and the Grand Vizier’s last words after surrendering to his executioners were said to be “Am I to die?” and “as God pleases.” On Christmas Day in 1683, the life of one of the most talented commanders in Ottoman history was extinguished.
The Holy League continued to push the borders of the Ottoman Empire back, liberating swaths of Europe from Turkish control, until the Treaty of Karlowitz was finalized in 1699. A Muslim army has never been capable of overrunning Christendom with large-scale invasion since. After centuries of steady decline, the Ottoman Empire finally dissolved under the pressures of the First World War.
Father Marco d’Aviano continued to serve as chaplain until 1689. In several instances, such as during the Siege of Belgrade (1688), Muslims facing capture, fearing retribution, had successfully appealed to him for clemency. He was beatified in 2003.
“Hail Mary, Full of Grace…” – Major Julian Cook while crossing the Waal River during Operation Market Garden, in World War II
You, the reader of this article, could very well have been a Muslim today if a single event had had a different outcome some centuries ago. And I, once upon a time, would hardly have imagined that I’d be writing an article paying tribute to a Muslim army’s defeat. But I grew up with the freedom to choose my faith, a freedom which so many in the Muslim world are deprived of. We enjoy the freedom to openly practice our faith, because brave men had taken their stands in defense of the Faith long before any of us were ever born. How often do we take this for granted?
The feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary was first included in the general Roman calendar on September 12, 1684. It was removed from the Church calendar after Second Vatican Council, and restored in 2002 by Pope St. John Paul II, who was, of course, a Pole himself like Sobieski. Karol Wojtyla, a man from one of the nations of the Eastern Bloc, was no stranger to overt assaults upon our Faith. As a man deeply devoted to Mary, he understood that the survival of our Faith, whether the assaults be from invaders without or from ideologies within, depends upon the constant intercessions of Our Lady.
Attempts to overwhelm and discredit the Faith are as old as the Church herself. Regardless of whatever challenges any generation faces, our Church has survived, continues to survive, and shall survive until the end of time, because our Mother prays for us.
From the National Catholic Register
By Zubair Simonson
King Jan Sobieski knew that the prayers of the Queen of Heaven were far more powerful than any army in the world.
“She is, and shall ever be, Our Lady.”
Vienna was surrounded. An invading Ottoman-led army, estimated at 150,000 troops, stood outside of her gates. Having refused the customary demand to surrender, made by Kara Mustafa, the Grand Vizier, she had been under siege for two months. The soldiers defending Vienna, and the peoples trapped behind her gates, were exhausted.
For over a thousand years, since the very dawn of Islam, the borders of Christendom had been pressed against, and receding.
The Holy Land had fallen long ago, as had Egypt, the Levant, and all of North Africa. In the centuries since the early Arab conquests the subjugated peoples, many of whom had the honorary status of “People of the Book” according to the Quran, had most all been converted, through policies of taxation and breeding and the force of law. The vision of God as the Holy Trinity, whose efforts to befriend mankind culminated in the Crucifixion of Christ, had been traded away for the vision of God as Allah, far too majestic to have ever been one of us, to whom all servitude must be given.
The Iberian Peninsula likewise fell long ago, to the invading Moors, and the conquered peoples had to expend centuries of energy for Spain and Portugal to finally be liberated, during the Reconquista.
In 1453 the great city of Constantinople had fallen into Ottoman hands. Churches such as the Hagia Sophia were converted to mosques (just as the Hagia Sophia was recently reconverted to a mosque). Non-Muslims became subjected to the jizya tax, and countless young Christian men were forcibly conscripted and converted in the system of devshirme.
History had offered those soldiers under the Ottoman banner plentiful reason to believe that the conquest of Vienna, a stepping stone for the eventual fall of Rome and final collapse of the Christian faith, was destiny for the “one true faith.” Having assembled such a grand army for the task, Kara Mustafa could relish in the thought that his own name would be recorded in history alongside the names of Muhammad, the Four Great Caliphs, Saladin, Mehmed II, and Suleiman the Magnificent (who himself had failed to conquer Vienna), and other greats before him who brought the light of Islam to new territories through their conquests. Mustafa, a brilliant tactician, had seized an opportunity to exploit tensions between Catholics and Protestants and recruited Hungarian prince Imre Thokoly to his side, among allegiances of other Christian vassal states with plentiful reason to believe that they were siding with a winner.
The Holy League, a Christian coalition, was formed during the months in which rumors of imminent invasion circulated. This alliance was largely formed through the efforts of Blessed Marco d’Aviano, an Italian Capuchin friar with a reputation for holiness, whom Pope Innocent XI had nominated as chaplain. Father d’Aviano had served as advisor to Leopold I, the ever-indecisive Holy Roman Emperor, and so he had been deemed apt for the difficult task ahead. As a committed Franciscan, d’Aviano viewed all forms of violence as repugnant. Regardless of his convictions, war was well on its way, so in obedience d’Aviano used his talents as a negotiator and an orator, as one called to be “wise as serpents, innocent as doves,” to band together a delicate alliance that would be led by the King of Poland. Even still, the Christian armies would be vastly outnumbered.
When the siege finally commenced in July of 1683, d’Aviano steadfastly urged the faithful of Vienna to repent of their sins and to pray the Rosary, just as the faithful had been so urged during the anxious days leading up to the Battle of Lepanto (the anniversary of which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) a century before. “Vienna,” he had cried out, “Vienna, your love of lax living has prepared you a grave and imminent chastisement! Convert, and consider well what you are doing. O wretched Vienna.”
As the siege had neared its end, while Kara Mustafa readied himself to witness Ottoman soldiers breach the walls and flood into the city like waters from a burst dam, news had arrived that a relief expedition was nearby.
The Ottomans commenced their attack. Marco d’Aviano celebrated Mass before the battle. The Hapsburg armies spent the day courageously defending Vienna, doing what they could with what strength they had, without any certainty of the potential deliverance climbing the other side of a hill yonder north.
Jan Sobieski, the elected king of Poland, a veteran commander, had arrived with the relief expedition, made of Polish and German and Austrian troops. It was a much larger army than the one that was defending the gates. Still, the armies of the Holy League remained far outnumbered. Desperate situations call for daring measures. Sobieski and his army climbed the Kahlenberg, out of sight from the Ottoman army, with the intent to charge the hostile army, which was facing Vienna, from the rear. Such an undertaking hadn’t been considered plausible, and so the Ottoman command, practical as it was, had overlooked it. It was said that Sobieski was too heavyset, too old, that he could barely mount his horse. He would lead the charge anyway, with his 15-year-old son by his side. The army ascended the hill. On the summit of the mount the king placed his army under the protection of Our Lady.
“Woman, behold thy son!” Our Lord told the Virgin Mary while he was hanging on the Cross. After that he then looked to the disciple, saying: “Behold thy mother!”
Sobieski was a devout Catholic. He knew that we have a Mother who prays for us during trials, that the Queen of Heaven’s prayers were far more powerful than any army in the world.
The burst of cannons firing, the stamping of 18,000 horses, the roaring fury of men descending the mount, rang in the ears of the Ottoman forces like thunder from offended gods. The Winged Hussars dove upon the hostile army like eagles. The Ottoman armies were thrown into terrible confusion, and began to scatter. The charging cavalry shattered the lines of their enemies in one crushing blow. On Sept. 12, 1683, Christendom was saved.
“Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit” King Sobieski later went on to say. “We came, we saw, God conquered.”
Kara Mustafa assigned blame for this failure where he could, upon Imre Thokoly, upon Murad Giray, the Crimean khan who was quickly disposed of thereafter. But it wasn’t enough. The Sultan ordered that Mustafa be strangled with a silk chord, as was custom for high-ranking officials in the Ottoman Empire, and the Grand Vizier’s last words after surrendering to his executioners were said to be “Am I to die?” and “as God pleases.” On Christmas Day in 1683, the life of one of the most talented commanders in Ottoman history was extinguished.
The Holy League continued to push the borders of the Ottoman Empire back, liberating swaths of Europe from Turkish control, until the Treaty of Karlowitz was finalized in 1699. A Muslim army has never been capable of overrunning Christendom with large-scale invasion since. After centuries of steady decline, the Ottoman Empire finally dissolved under the pressures of the First World War.
Father Marco d’Aviano continued to serve as chaplain until 1689. In several instances, such as during the Siege of Belgrade (1688), Muslims facing capture, fearing retribution, had successfully appealed to him for clemency. He was beatified in 2003.
“Hail Mary, Full of Grace…” – Major Julian Cook while crossing the Waal River during Operation Market Garden, in World War II
You, the reader of this article, could very well have been a Muslim today if a single event had had a different outcome some centuries ago. And I, once upon a time, would hardly have imagined that I’d be writing an article paying tribute to a Muslim army’s defeat. But I grew up with the freedom to choose my faith, a freedom which so many in the Muslim world are deprived of. We enjoy the freedom to openly practice our faith, because brave men had taken their stands in defense of the Faith long before any of us were ever born. How often do we take this for granted?
The feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary was first included in the general Roman calendar on September 12, 1684. It was removed from the Church calendar after Second Vatican Council, and restored in 2002 by Pope St. John Paul II, who was, of course, a Pole himself like Sobieski. Karol Wojtyla, a man from one of the nations of the Eastern Bloc, was no stranger to overt assaults upon our Faith. As a man deeply devoted to Mary, he understood that the survival of our Faith, whether the assaults be from invaders without or from ideologies within, depends upon the constant intercessions of Our Lady.
Attempts to overwhelm and discredit the Faith are as old as the Church herself. Regardless of whatever challenges any generation faces, our Church has survived, continues to survive, and shall survive until the end of time, because our Mother prays for us.
Pictured: King Jan III Sobieski blessing the Polish troops' attack on the Turks.
The Fake Lúcia Hypothesis: Questioning an Expert
Mr Symonds continues his series on the Third Secret of Fátima and the theory that an impostor was substituted for the real Sr Lúcia de Jesus.
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From One Peter Five
By Kevin J. Symonds, MA
...Chinese medicine, astrology, astro-herbalism, and meditation...
In the previous two articles (here and here), questions were raised about the scholarship of Sister Lucy Truth (SLT). Presently, we will develop these questions further by looking at one of the organization’s experts, Ms. Dragica Brayovic, and a studied conclusion she made regarding one of the biological sisters of Sr. Lúcia for SLT.
Introduction to the Matter
In May 2022, Dr. Chojnowski wrote an article about a 1990 video containing footage of a biological sister of Sr. Lúcia.[1] He doubted whether the woman truly was a sibling of Lúcia and consulted with Dragica Brayovic of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Design degree, an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, and has a background in Curanderismo, Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, astrology, astro-herbalism, and meditation.[2] Brayovic was consulted by Chojnowski in 2022 (as well as in 2019) due to her purported abilities as a super-facial recognizer with an 80-87% success rate.[3] After reviewing the materials sent by Chojnowski, Brayovic concluded that the woman in the video was not a sister of Lúcia.
The Documentary Itself
The video Chojnowski questioned is entitled “A Irmã Lúcia.”[4] It was broadcast in Portugal in May of 1990 and was hosted by Ruy Ferrão. The video was the last of the three-part series “Os Três Pastorinhos.” The series features both contemporary as well as stock footage about Fátima. Among the latter are black and white videos featuring three biological sisters of Lúcia: Teresa, Gloria, and Maria dos Anjos. Teresa is the woman in the video that SLT questions. We can identify her because she mentions her daughter is a Carmelite with Lúcia and the dos Santos family members and their activities were recorded by Lúcia in her Fifth and Sixth Memoirs.[5]
SLT’s Writings on the Documentary
SLT published two specific writings on the 1990 documentary. The first is an introductory article by Chojnowski entitled “Brayovic Super-Recognizer Analysis – ‘Older Sister’.” The second is a one-page PDF from Brayovic and dated May 18, 2022.[6] We shall refer to Chojnowski’s introduction as “SLTA” and the PDF as “Brayovic report.”
Why Question the Documentary?
SLTA questions the identity of the woman in the video because 1) her name was not given, 2) her discourse is “very general and lacking in any kind of specificity of memory,” and 3) she knows nothing of either Lúcia’s life in the convent, nor of her own daughter’s (also a Carmelite). It is true that Teresa was not named by Ferrão. Interestingly, neither was Gloria. Given that this is stock footage and Ferrão only presented two short clips of Teresa, what else might she have said that did not survive the cutting room floor? Also, did SLT consult, or at least inquire after, the original, unedited footage?
According to SLTA, the following question was put to Brayovic: “…[W]e asked Ms. Brayovic if this woman being presented as an ‘older sister’ of Sister Lucia was actually Sister Lucy II in lay clothing.” The conspiratorial nature of this tantalizing characterization hides an otherwise obvious question: why associate the alleged impostor “Lucy II” with the woman in the video? The only feasible answer is Teresa and the older Lúcia look alike. These features are unmistakable when one watches the video and compares them with photos and video of Lúcia from 1967-2005.[7] Additionally, Teresa is wearing glasses, which accentuate her features and make for an easy comparison with Lúcia, who herself wears glasses. Also, Teresa’s voice has a higher, tinny tone—a feature shared by Lúcia.
Drilling Down
The above facts would be particularly devastating to SLT’s case for an impostor Lúcia. How, then, did Brayovic conclude Teresa was not a sister of Lúcia? SLTA provides both a background as well as its methodology. The first paragraph sets up the rest of the article with a basic explanation of the “A Irmã Lúcia” video and that this video was presented to Brayovic. The article gives some basic facts about the video itself, such as it being in black and white, and claims the date of filming is unknown. The second paragraph provides a simple background of Lúcia’s family.
Poor Research and Methodology?
Ferrão provided an important source notation in the first video: in 1966, there were “…[S]ome unpublished documents collected . . . for the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the apparitions, black and white images, interviews with characters who are no longer counted among the living.”[8] If one checks SLTA, there is no mention of the “A Irmã Lúcia” video being the third part of the “Os Três Pastorinhos” series. How thorough was SLT’s research into the video series? Oddly, in the second paragraph of SLTA, the birth and death dates are provided for all Lúcia’s siblings, except Teresa. Why is this information omitted? It is baffling that the one person at the heart of this entire matter has the weakest presentation.
From here, SLT’s presentation regretfully becomes quite convoluted.
Pictures or Picture?
The third SLTA paragraph explains how it presented information to Brayovic: “…[W]e gathered pictures of the sisters of Sister Lucia of Fatima, even one of them all together which was taken in the late 1960s, and presented them, along with the video, to Ms. Brayovic for her professional facial analysis.” Apparently, there were several photos of dos Santos sisters “gathered” by SLT, along with one featuring all four. These images and the video, we are told, were presented to Brayovic. What follows next is where the confusion enters.
After the six paragraphs that form the first half of SLTA, there is a brief statement as to why SLTsought Brayovic’s assistance. This statement is followed by the two questions posed to Brayovic. The second question was “Is Subject 1 [Teresa], any of the sisters of Lucia dos Santos, as these are comprehensively portrayed in the picture below.” Note the sudden change from the pictures to the picture. How many pictures of Lúcia’s sisters were provided to Brayovic?
After the two questions posed to Brayovic, SLTA immediately presents three photos. The first is a still of Teresa from the 1990 documentary. The second is a photo of all four sisters, and the third is one of Lúcia (the alleged “Lucy II”) taken in May of 2000. Some text descriptions of these three photos are provided, as well as a translation of Teresa’s remarks in the documentary. Brayovic’s report has the same exact three images found in SLTA and Brayovic relays that her “task” was “To review 3 images.” The same three images in SLTA are positioned to the far right of the report.
Brayovic further states she “was provided with an additional four images of Sister Lucy II for further facial reference.” These four images are not provided in the report and so we must turn to SLTA. Underneath the translations of Teresa’s discourse in SLTA is the section “Additional Images that were analyzed.” Seven (not four) photos are presented here. The first four are close-ups of Lúcia as a Carmelite from around the year 2000. Are these the four photos mentioned in Brayovic’s report? If so, why were they not included in the report? The remaining three photos in the “Additional Images” section of SLTA are of Lúcia’s sisters: two of Maria dos Anjos[9] and the earlier black and white still of Teresa. Brayovic says nothing about having received the two images of Maria. Were these two images of Maria shown to Brayovic before she wrote her report? If so, why was this fact not specified there? If Brayovic was not shown them prior, why not? Lastly, what value do these two photos have as they are not of Teresa?
The presentation of the information by SLT about what photos were shown to Brayovic and when is unclear. The best interpretation of the data appears to be that SLT gave the three images (plus the four Lúcia close-ups) to Brayovic. In this scenario, the most important photo is the one of all four dos Santos sisters from the late 1960s as it appears to have largely influenced Brayovic’s conclusion. If this interpretation of SLT’spresentation is accurate, was Brayovic furnished with more photos of Teresa? If not, why? Also, what is the provenance of the photo in question and is SLT licensed to publish it?
Some Observations
If Brayovic was not afforded more photos of Teresa, then that questions Brayovic’s conclusion. A larger sampling would have placed her conclusion upon a surer foundation. Having this foundation is important given how SLT has made grave accusations of criminal activity against key people of the Catholic Church. Brayovic worked with SLT in 2019 and knew its mission. To protect herself and the burgeoning field of super-facial recognition, did Brayovic herself ask for more images? If so, why was this fact not reported? If she did not ask, why?
Consider also what was stated in an earlier article: SLT claims it is conducting a criminal investigation.[10] Criminal cases (as opposed to civil) have stricter rules in a court of law. If SLT took Brayovic’s conclusion here to a court within the United States, SLT must satisfy reasonable doubt (as opposed to preponderance of evidence).[11] Would Brayovic’s conclusion, if based upon one photo of Teresa in it among other people, satisfy reasonable doubt?
Conclusion
Sister Lucy Truth claims that the woman presented as a sibling of Lúcia dos Santos in the 1990 documentary is a “fraud,” one that “only adds to the entire mystery of the Fatima Crime.” However, Sister Lucy Truthhas serious questions to answer as to how it proceeded in this matter. The organization gave an unclear presentation to the public. The best interpretation demonstrates that there is shared responsibility between Sister Lucy Truth and Dragica Brayovic over not having a larger sampling of photos for a surer examination and conclusion.
Pending answers to the questions raised here, Brayovic’s report falls under suspicion of being fatally flawed. Likewise, the integrity of Sister Lucy Truth to perform a competent examination of the facts in its self-proclaimed “criminal investigation” is called into question. One goes with the other in this case and demonstrates perfectly the necessity of choosing a robust and cautious manner of proceeding in such grave matters.
[1] Dr. Peter Chojnowski. “Brayovic Super-Recognizer Analysis – ‘Older Sister’.” Sister Lucy Truth (May, 2022); see also Chojnowski. “Announcement: New Report from Super Facial Recognizer.” RadTrad Thomist (May 28, 2022).
[2] Dragica Brayovic. “About.” DB Designs (date unknown); Dragica Brayovic. “About Dragica Brayovic.” Earth Body Healing (date unknown); Dragica Brayovic. “A quick ‘what I do’ Intro.” Earth Body Healing YouTube Channel (June 24, 2025).
[3] Cf. “Australia’s top super recogniser stuns experts with skills.” Sunday Night Yahoo News (September 10, 2017); Lynne Malcolm. “Super-recognizers.” ABC Radio National (March 11, 2018); Genelle Weule. “So, you think you’re good at recognizing faces.” ABC (March 10, 2018); Dr. Peter Chojnowski (edit.). “Brayovic Super-Recognizer Analysis.” Sister Lucy Truth (July, 2019).
[4] Ruy Ferrão. “A Irmã Lúcia.” RTP Arquivos (May 16, 1990). For more about Ferrão, see the IMDB website.
[5] Fr. Louis Kondor, SVD (edit.), Fatima in Lucia’s own words II (Fátima, Portugal: Secretariado dos Pastorinhos 2004), 63ff.
[6] Dragica Brayovic. “Facial Recognition Analysis.” Sister Lucy Truth (May 18, 2022).
[7] Cf. “Irmã Lúcia.” Agência Ecclesia YouTube Channel (February 12, 2015); “A Santa do povo.” José Carlos Vieira YouTube Channel (October 2, 2018).
[8] “…alguns documentos inéditos recolhidos em 1966 para as celebrações do cinquentenário das aparições, imagens a preto e branco, entrevistas com personagens que já não se contam no número dos vivos….” Ferrão also notes in the third video (29:50) that the images were obtained from RTP Arquivos and the Archives of the Sanctuary of Fátima.
[9] The first photo is unidentified by SLT. It appears to be a digital still from the January, 1980 documentary by Manuel Varela entitled “O Mistério de Fátima,” which is presently available on the RTP Arquivos website. The section wherein Maria dos Anjos appears is between the 6:00 – 8:00 minute mark. The SLTA view source information names the photo as “unnamed-3.png.” The second photo of Maria dos Anjos has a lower third at the bottom with her name and is from the May, 1917 program “Maria, de Fátima” (also available on RTP Arquivos) around the 5:40 mark.
[10] Cf. Dr. Peter Chojnowski. “Criminal Case.” RadTrad Thomist (October 3, 2018). “The Phantom Sister Lucy Theory: An Attempt to Derail a Criminal Investigation.” Sister Lucy Truth (2024).
[11] Cf. Will Erstad. “Civil Law vs. Criminal Law: Breaking Down the Differences.” Rasmussen University (March 21, 2022).
Fifth Day Within the Octave of the Nativity
From Dom Prosper Guéranger's Liturgical Year:
“Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?” (Song of Solomon 6:9) Such is thy growth, O Mary! Not the holiest life, were it even of patriarchal duration, will ever attain the degree of progress made under the influence of divine power by the soul of the most pure Virgin, in these few days elapsed since her coming on earth. First, there is the progress of her intellect: not subject to the obscurity which envelopes the minds of all men at their entrance into the world, it is a faithful mirror, into which the Word of God pours floods of that light which is also life. Then the progress of love in that heart of the Virgin and the Mother, wherein the holy Spirit already delights to awake such ineffable harmonies, and to dig still deeper depths. Lastly, the progress of that victorious power, which made Satan tremble at the moment of the Immaculate Conception, and which has constituted Mary the incomparable Queen of the hosts of the Lord.
Two glorious triumphs, two victories won under the protection of our Lady, have rendered this present day illustrious in the annals of the Church and of history.
Manicheism, revived under a variety of names, had established itself in the south of France, whence it hoped to spread its reign of shameless excess. But Dominic appeared with Mary’s rosary for the defense of the people. On September 12, 1213, Simon de Montfort and the crusaders of the faith, one against forty, crushed the Albigensian army at Muret. This was in the pontificate of Innocent III.
Nearly five centuries later, the Turks, who had more than once caused the west to tremble, again poured down upon Christendom. Vienna, worn out and dismantled, abandoned by its emperor, was surrounded by 300,000 infidels. But another great Pope, Innocent XI, again confided to Mary the defense of the baptized nations. Sobieski, mounting his charger on the feast of our Lady’s Assumption, hastened from Poland by forced marches. On the Sunday within the octave of the Nativity, September 12, 1683, Vienna was delivered; and then began for the Osmanlis that series of defeats which ended in the treaties of Carlowitz and Passarowitz, and the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. The feast of the most holy name of Mary inscribed on the calendar of the universal Church, was the homage of the world’s gratitude to Mary, our Lady and Queen.
As a supplement to the ancient sequence given yesterday, we choose for today a hymn of the same period, to celebrate the blessed birth which brought peace and honor to the world.
O holy Lady of the world, illustrious Queen of heaven! O Mary, star of the sea, Virgin Mother after God’s own heart!
Come forth, thou maiden sweet; grow verdant, thou tender little branch; for thou wilt bear the noble flower, Christ, both God and man.
Lo! we are celebrating the annual solemnity of thy birth, the day whereon, sprung from a most choice root, thou didst begin to shine upon our earth.
We who are earth-born, yet now are citizens of heaven too, have been through thee, in wondrous wise, set at peace by an honorable treaty.
Glory then and victory be ever to the Trinity, in undivided Unity, through everlasting ages.
Amen.
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