Bld Columba of Rieti: Butler's Lives of the Saints

Vespers of Wednesday for St Bernardine of Siena, Confessor

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

Summa Contra Gentiles Book I: God Knows the Movements of the Will

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 I begins with general questions of truth and natural reason, and from chapter 10 investigates the concept of a monotheistic God. Chapters 10 to 13 are concerned with the existence of God, followed by a detailed investigation of God's properties (chapters 14 to 102). When demonstrating a Truth about God which can be known through reason, St. Thomas gives multiple arguments, each proving the same Truth in a different way. 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.

Catholicism and AI

From the Lepanto Institute

It's a new year and a brave new world too. Artificial Intelligence (AI) apps is an integral parts of various platforms and apps. The Catholic Church has joined the movement to incorporate AI in its teaching resources. AI is aimed primarily at formators and teachers of the faith, helping priests to enrich their homilies, facilitate catechism classes and to assist parents in catechizing their children. Among its services, Magisterium AI’s creators say it can answer “any questions” on Church teaching, practices or other topics, helping to “explain complex theological, philosophical, and historical concepts in simple, understandable language.” Join us for the Anchor Team this week as we discuss the promised benefits of using AI to pass on the Faith and highlight the real concerns of abandoning trusted traditions and teaching tools to embrace answers from a machine designed by fallen man.

The Holy Rosary

Wednesday, the Glorious Mysteries, in Latin with Cardinal Burke.

What Happened to Henry VIII’s Body? | Tudor Prophecy That Came True

From History Calling

WHAT HAPPENED to Henry VIII’s body after his death? Did one of England’s most famous Kings explode in his coffin and did dogs lick up his blood, or is this one gruesome dead body story that’s more fiction than fact? Those are the questions I’m going to answer in today’s Tudor history documentary from History Calling. In 1532 Henry was supposedly told by Friar William Peto that, much like the Biblical figure, King Achab, his blood would be licked up by dogs. Little could he know that this would be one Tudor prophecy that came true, for it’s one of the strange facts about Henry VIII that while his body was being transported to its final resting place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor, the coffin apparently began to leak during an overnight stay at Syon Abbey and onlookers reported that a stray canine, who was certainly not Henry’s best friend, was found lapping up the puddle. This story has then been embellished to say that Henry VIII exploded in his coffin, but how much truth is there in that part of the story? Did Henry VIII explode? This video will look at the sources which describe what happened at Syon, discuss what can happen to a dead body and share with you the grisly stories of some other deceased royals who had a less than dignified exit from the world, including the shocking story of what happened at William the Conqueror’s funeral and to Henry I’s body. It will also discuss what was found when Henry VIII’s body was exhumed. A leaking coffin may be one of the little known facts about Henry VIII, but as it turns out, what happened to this famous Tudor King was far from unique.

How the Catholic Church Infiltrated China Using Science | The Jesuit Mission to China

From King Ming Lam

In the midst of the Protestant Reformation, a group of devout Catholics gathered, and they formed the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits, in 1540. Their aim? To revive Catholicism in Europe and spread Christianity around the world. China was one of their targets. They wanted to spread Christianity to this ancient Empire. But there was a problem – China did not welcome foreigners, and the Chinese authorities restricted the movement of foreigners into the country. After many years of failures, they finally found a strategy to solve this. In 1613, the head of the Jesuit China mission, Niccolò Longobardo, sent his confrère Nicolas Trigault to Europe to recruit new Jesuits skilled in astronomy and mathematics. When Trigault returned to China, he brought with him a number of outstanding mathematicians and scientists, including the German Johann Adam Schall von Bell, the Bohemian Wenceslaus Pantaleon Kirwitzer and the Swiss Johannes Schreck. Schreck in particular was a friend of Galileo, and would later have correspondence with Kepler. They were tasked to implement a strategy pioneered by their senior Italian confrère Matteo Ricci… What followed might sound like comedy, but it’s 100% real history. Major sources of information: [1] Huff, Toby E. Intellectual Curiosity and the Scientific Revolution. Cambridge University Press. [2] Brockey, Liam Matthew. Journey to the East. Harvard University Press. [3] Standaert, Nicolas. Handbook of Christianity in China: 635 - 1800. Brill Academic Publishers.

Why the Holy Spirit’s Continual Presence Should Give Us Hope

This Sunday is Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost descended on those gathered in the Cenacle. He has been with the Church ever since that day.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

We are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us always, especially in our most difficult moments.

It's tempting to believe that the Holy Spirit only came upon the apostles at Pentecost, and that the Spirit is no longer active in the world. Yet, to believe that would be to deny the great gift Jesus promised when he said to his disciples, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always" (John 14:16).

As Josemaria Escriva explains in his homily entitled "The Great Unknown," "The solemn coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was not an isolated event. There is hardly a page in the Acts of the Apostles where we fail to read about him and the action by which he guides, directs and enlivens the life and work of the early Christian community."

According to Escriva, "It is he who inspires St Peter's preaching, who strengthens the faith of the disciples, who confirms with his presence the calling of the Gentiles, who sends Saul and Barnabas to the distant lands where they will open new paths for the teachings of Jesus. In a word, his presence and doctrine are everywhere."

Always with us

The Church confirms this in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, explaining how the Holy Spirit has always been present in the world and will continue to be in the world, "From the beginning to the end of time, whenever God sends his Son, he always sends his Spirit: their mission is conjoined and inseparable ... The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men" (CCC 743,747).

This continual presence of the Holy Spirit should give us hope, knowing that God is with us, even in our weaknesses. As Escriva points out, "The Holy Spirit is present in the Church of Christ for all time, so that it may be, always and in everything, a sign raised up before all nations, announcing to all people the goodness and the love of God. In spite of our great limitations, we can look up to heaven with confidence and joy."

God did not forget about us or leave us as orphans. He continues to show his love for us through the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world today. This is a simple fact that should give us hope, knowing that we are not alone and that the Holy Spirit is with us right now.

Let us continue to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, welcoming him and allowing him to have a greater impact on our lives.

Priest Accuses Leo Of Worshiping The God Of Money

Churches Descrated In New Wave Of Attacks The Bishops Are Ignoring

The faith is being targeted from both within the Church and from outside. The authorities say the external attacks are 'not religiously motivated,' but we know that's not true. But what about the internal attacks?

How Medieval Blacksmiths Forged Iron From Swamp Mud That Doesn’t Rust After 1,000 Years

From Medieval Way

Medieval Way explores the biological and chemical processes behind bog iron production in early medieval Europe. This investigation examines how peasant societies harnessed specific iron-fixing bacteria and unique smelting techniques to create durable, corrosion-resistant metal, while analyzing the socio-economic shifts that led to the eventual abandonment of this sustainable, decentralized craft.

Year 1936. A farmer named Hugo Kraft is plowing a peat bog on the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. His plow snags on something heavy. He digs it up. What he pulls from the mud is a wooden chest, banded with iron, that has been sitting in that bog for nearly a thousand years.

Inside the chest are over 200 iron tools. Hammers. Pincers. Files. Drill bits. Saw blades. Axe heads. The chest belonged to a Viking blacksmith who buried it sometime around the year 1000, possibly to hide it from raiders. He never came back for it.

What most archaeologists in 1936 could not explain was the most remarkable thing about the find. After 936 years in waterlogged ground, the iron was largely intact. Several of the tools were still functional. And the metal had come from the same swamp the chest was buried in.

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | May

Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. May our devotion to the Blessed Mother increase more and more and help us to love her divine Son, Jesus, more and more. We've included the Memorare, the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Spiritual Communion. Begin your May with daily 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.

This Jewish Love Song Is Entirely About Mary... Here's The Proof

From Totus Catholica

Many Christians believe the Song of Songs is strictly an ancient erotic love poem — or at most a metaphor for Christ and the Church. But Catholic theology claims its deepest typological fulfillment is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. And the proof is hidden in the Hebrew itself. God's greatest, most passionate love song isn't just an abstract theological idea. She has a name. CHAPTERS: 0:00 The Jewish Love Song Catholics Claim Is About Mary 0:49 The Ganul: What a Locked Garden Meant in Ancient Hebrew 2:20 Rabbi Akiva: "The Song of Songs Is the Holy of Holies" 3:06 The Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies Connection 3:17 Ganul — Song of Songs 4:12: Perpetual Virginity in the Hebrew 4:40 Tamati — Song of Songs 4:7: The Immaculate Conception in the Text 5:18 Temple Incense, Myrrh, and the Sacrifice of the Mass 6:35 Objection: Eisegesis — Solomon Never Knew Mary 7:38 Objection: The Bride Is the Church, Not Mary 8:20 Catholic-Jewish Dialogue: Mary as Faithful Israel 8:52 Conclusion: He Doesn't Just Promise Purity — He Creates It 🌍 Website: https://totuscatholica.org/ 📿 Rosary Guide: https://totuscatholica.org/rosary ✉️ Contact: https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 Examination of Conscience: https://catholicexaminationofconscien...

Pope Leo Compares Using AI to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents

As a result of the Fall, people are lazy. Therefore, they look for shortcuts, and AI is a convenient one. This is a very apt comparison by His Holiness.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Relying too much on artificial intelligence can result in suppressing our own God-given gifts, deciding to bury them in the ground instead of using them.

Pope Leo XIV has been watching closely how the world is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), and under his leadership, the Church is not sitting idly by. Like Pope Francis, Leo has been frequently writing about it and even setting up a commission at the Vatican to study it.

His first encyclical will dig even deeper into AI and its consequences in the world.

Most recently Pope Leo has commented on AI in a message for the 60th World Communications Day, titled "Preserving Human Voices and Faces." In it he focuses on how AI has been increasingly used to replace human creativity.

Burying our talents

While many in today's world are excited at the ability to create all kinds of creative works at the press of a button, Pope Leo warns us that this may not be a good thing for humanity. He explains how this is altering our view of human beings and the things they create:

In recent years, artificial intelligence systems have increasingly taken control of the production of texts, music and videos. This puts much of the human creative industry at risk of being dismantled and replaced with the label “Powered by AI,” turning people into passive consumers of unthought thoughts and anonymous products without ownership or love. Meanwhile, the masterpieces of human genius in the fields of music, art and literature are being reduced to mere training grounds for machines.

YouTube is one of the prime examples of this brave new world, where it's becoming increasingly difficult to know whether a human created a video or if it was generated by artificial intelligence.

Entire feature-length films are now being created with AI by people from around the world, using technology trained on movies that were previously the fruit of human hands and ingenuity.

Pope Leo does not see this as progress, but believes it is an example of "burying" our talents, evoking Jesus' parable:

[R]enouncing creativity and surrendering our mental capacities and imagination to machines would mean burying the talents we have been given to grow as individuals in relation to God and others. It would mean hiding our faces and silencing our voices.

Pope Leo is referring to Jesus' parable in Matthew 25:14-30, where the master gave his servants talents (the name of a coin in Jesus' time), money that was to be used to look after his estate and invested to increase his wealth. One servant is afraid of disappointing the master by making the wrong choices, and instead of using the money, digs a hole in the ground and buries it.

The master has the harshest words for that servant: "Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth."

Pope Leo believes that while AI may be a useful tool at times, we need to be careful about using it, especially when we want to use it for something creative, like writing an essay, generating a piece of artwork, composing music, or crafting a video.

If we rely on it too much, we risk "burying" our God-given talents in the ground, letting machines do all the creative work, while we slowly lose the skills we were given.