St Margaret of England: Butler's Lives of the Saints

Vespers of Tuesday in Septuagesima

From the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem. You may follow the Office at Divinum Officium.

Antiqua et Nova: AI and Human Intelligence

From the Paul Street Journal

On this episode of The Paul Street Journal, Brian and Freddy dive into 'Antiqua et Nova,' a document drafted by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, presented to Pope Francis discussing the relationship between AI and human intelligence. Learn about the theological and philosophical distinctions between human and artificial intelligence, the socio-economic implications, and potential ethical concerns. Discover how AI might exacerbate inequality, influence labor and the economy, and what practical steps Catholics can take to address these challenges.

The Holy Rosary

Tuesday, the Sorrowful Mysteries, in Latin with Cardinal Burke.

The Life of His Majesty the King Charles X of France ~ (1757–1836)

From The Romanian Monarchist

Charles X (Charles Philippe; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother of the reigning kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1814, Charles (as heir-presumptive) became the leader of the ultra-royalists, a radical monarchist faction within the French court that affirmed absolute monarchy by divine right and opposed the constitutional monarchy concessions towards liberals and the guarantees of civil liberties granted by the Charter of 1814. Charles gained influence within the French court after the assassination of his son Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, in 1820 and succeeded his brother Louis XVIII in 1824. Charles's reign of almost six years proved to be deeply unpopular amongst the liberals in France from the moment of his coronation in 1825, when he tried to revive the practice of the royal touch. The governments appointed under his reign reimbursed former landowners for the abolition of feudalism at the expense of bondholders, increased the power of the Catholic Church, and reimposed capital punishment for sacrilege, leading to conflict with the liberal-majority Chamber of Deputies. Charles also approved the French conquest of Algeria as a way to distract his citizens from domestic problems, and forced Haiti to pay a hefty indemnity in return for lifting a blockade and recognising Haiti's independence. He eventually appointed a conservative government under the premiership of Prince Jules de Polignac, who was defeated in the 1830 French legislative election. He responded with the July Ordinances disbanding the Chamber of Deputies, limiting the franchise, and reimposing press censorship. Within a week, Paris faced urban riots, which led to the July Revolution of 1830, which resulted in his abdication and the election of Louis Philippe I as King of the French. Exiled once again, Charles died in 1836 in Gorizia, then part of the Austrian Empire. He was the last of the French rulers from the senior branch of the House of Bourbon. (So far! Vive très haut, très puissant et très excellent Prince, Louis XX, par la grâce de Dieu, Roi de France et de Navarre, Roi Très-chrétien! ~ the Old Curmudgeon)

Introduction to Moral Philosophy: 2. Moral Philosophy as Philosophy

With Ralph McInerny (R+I+P), PhD, late Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Centre, & Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies, Notre Dame.

3 Feasts in February That Honor the Sick and Suffering

One is St Blase, which is today. The others are the World Day of the Sick on Our Lady of Lourdes Feast, and, surprisingly, St Valentine, Patron of sufferers from plague and epilepsy.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

There are 3 popular feasts in February that ask God’s providential care for those suffering physical ailments. 

While traditionally February in the Catholic Church is dedicated to the Holy Family, in reality it is a month that could easily take on the theme of serving the sick and suffering.

This is on account of three popular feasts that all focus on alleviating physical maladies.

Feast of St. Blase – February 3

For many centuries the Church has performed a special throat blessing on his feast day, February 3. This blessing honors a story from his life, when he removed a fish bone from the throat of a choking child. The blessing also prays, “may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness.”

World Day of the Sick – February 11

Pope John Paul II instituted this day in the Catholic Church in 1992 and appointed its celebration for February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The reason why he picked this day is that many sick people flock to Lourdes in hopes of physical or spiritual healing. Many have been cured by being immersed in the waters at Lourdes. John Paul II explained in a homily the general theme of this day.

This day, which, beginning in February 1993, will be celebrated every year on the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, for all believers seeks to be “a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind” (Letter Instituting the World Day of the Sick, 13 May 1992, n. 3).

The day seeks, moreover, to involve all people of good will. Indeed, the basic questions posed by the reality of suffering and the appeal to bring both physical and spiritual relief to the sick do not concern believers alone, but challenge all mankind, marked by the limitations of the mortal condition. 

St. Valentine’s Day – February 14

According to some legends, St. Valentine was a physician-priest, who healed the daughter of a Roman jailer. This miraculous healing led to the family’s conversion to Christianity and Valentine’s eventual martyrdom. Interestingly, St. Valentine is considered a patron against the plague and all those who suffer from epilepsy.

Jesuit Trained Priest Caused An International Scandal That Now Goes To Court

The Catholic World Responds Harshly To The SSPX'S Huge Announcement

Suddenly, people seem to not to believe in the Ape of the Church hypothesis.

SSPX To Consecrate New Bishops Without Rome's Approval

Talks with Rome have broken down, according to the SSPX.

Could English Monarchs Heal the Sick with their Touch?

From Allan Barton ~ The Antiquary

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | February

Traditional Catholic morning prayers -- an excellent way to start your day off strong! The month of February is devoted to the Holy Family -- Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph. It is my hope that these prayers increase your devotion to Our Lord and His Holy Family. Begin each day with morning prayer! This video is a compilation of many traditional morning prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office morning prayers.

Catholics Must Believe This About Aliens (Vatican Says...)

From Totus Catholica

The Catholic Church Has a SECRET PLAN for Aliens (2000 Years Old) Picture this: A NASA press conference announces unmistakable signs of intelligent life on a distant exoplanet detected by the James Webb Space Telescope. What happens next? For many, the discovery feels like a spiritual earthquake—they've assumed humans are God's only rational creatures, and an alien discovery would prove Christianity obsolete. But here's the truth: the Catholic Church has been ready for this conversation for centuries, and the discovery of extraterrestrial life would actually deepen your faith, not destroy it. 📌 The Church has never taught that God's creative power is limited by the absence of aliens. In fact, Vatican Observatory Director Father José Gabriel Funes stated in 2008: "How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere? Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation" . The Catechism teaches that God creates freely, not out of necessity (CCC 295–296), meaning His creative freedom cannot be limited by human categories . ✨ What You'll Discover – Why many believers fear alien discovery would destroy Christianity (and why that fear is misplaced) – What the Catechism teaches about God's creative freedom (CCC 295–296, 366) – Romans 1:19–20 and how the cosmos itself is God's revelation – St. Augustine's "seminal reasons" and why Church Fathers didn't limit God's creativity – Vatican Observatory's official position: extraterrestrial life is "not in contradiction with our faith" – What rational extraterrestrials would share with us (rational souls created by God, embodied existence) – Whether Christ's one sacrifice covers all rational beings—or whether multiple incarnations would occur – Why "made in the image of God" doesn't exclude aliens (CCC 356: "on earth") ⏳ Chapters 0:00 – The NASA Press Conference Scenario 0:54 – Why Alien Discovery Feels Like a Spiritual Earthquake 2:53 – What the Catechism Actually Teaches About God's Creative Freedom 4:56 – Vatican Observatory (2008): "Why Should We Not Talk About an Extraterrestrial Brother?" 5:20 – What the Church Teaches (and Doesn't Teach) About Aliens 7:18 – Christ's Redemption: One Sacrifice or Multiple Incarnations? 7:53 – Three Common Objections Answered 9:17 – Your Faith Doesn't Crumble If NASA Finds Aliens Tomorrow 🌐 Stay Connected 📿 Daily Holy Hour – https://totuscatholica.org/rosary 🌍 Website – https://totuscatholica.org/ ✉️ Contact me – https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 Examination of Conscience – https://catholicexaminationofconscien... 📖 Key Teaching & References – James Webb Space Telescope detections: methane/CO₂ on exoplanet K2-18b, silicate clouds on rocky exoplanets – CCC 295–296 – God creates freely, not out of necessity; creation proceeds from God's free will – CCC 366 – Every spiritual soul is created immediately by God and is immortal – Romans 1:19–20 – God's invisible nature clearly perceived in the things that have been made – St. Augustine – God implanted "seminal reasons" (latent principles) in creation – 2008: Vatican Observatory Director Fr. José Gabriel Funes: "We cannot establish limits to God's creative freedom" – Psalm 8 – "What is man that you are mindful of him?" 💬 Reflection Question If God's love is infinite and personal, does the existence of other rational creatures make you any less special to Him—or reveal how vast His generosity truly is?

Can Your Throat Be Healed on the Feast of St Blase?

Today is the Feast of St Blase. It is traditional to have one's throat blessed today, using the blessed candles that were blessed on Candlemas, which was yesterday.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Is the blessing of throats just a pious devotion that has no real and lasting effect?

Many Catholics attend Mass on February 3 to receive a special blessing of throats in honor of St. Blase, bishop and martyr.

The priest or deacon recites the following prayer while holding a pair of candles next to a person's throat:

Through the intercession of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The blessing calls upon God's power to deliver the individual from "every disease of the throat and from every other illness."

However, why do so many people receive the blessing, but are never healed?

Is the blessing of throats just a pious devotion that has no effect?

As with every type of miracle, one of the primary requirements is an honest and sincere faith in God. This type of faith in God trusts in him entirely and in his power to heal us.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this requirement when discussing the many miracles of Jesus.

The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask.

This means that we need to seriously examine our own faith in God.

Do we truly believe that God can heal us?

Often our own prayers for healing has a tinge of doubt along with it. We know intellectually that God can heal us, but we don't think he will actually do it.

Our faith still hasn't made the leap from head to heart.

In addition to a humble faith in God's saving power, a miraculous healing needs to be within God's will for us.

It's possible that we would be drawn closer to God through suffering, then if we were healed.

Jesus healed a group of lepers in the Gospel, but only one came back to express his gratitude.

Healing does not guarantee a deeper relationship with God.

Whenever we approach God for healing, we must do so in faith, trusting that he knows us better than we know ourselves.