Aquinas Summa Contra Gentiles II: The Author's Intention in This Work

From Contemplating History

The Flaw With the Abortion Argument

With Fr Casey Cole, OFM, MDiv (Warning! He's a Modernist.)

Abortion is one of the most hot-button topics in our world today. That's not to say that both sides have coherent arguments. One side, however, ignores a crucial question that we must always ponder: when does life begin?

The Holy Rosary

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

The Monarchs of Russia ~ (1547-1917)

From The Romanian Monarchist

The vast territory known today as Russia covers an area that has been known historically by various names, including Rus', Kievan Rus',the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Czardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, and the sovereigns of these many nations and throughout their histories have used likewise as wide a range of titles in their positions as chief magistrates of a country. Some of the earliest titles include Kniaz and Velikiy Kniaz, which mean "Prince" and "Great Prince" respectively but are often rendered as "Duke" and "Grand Duke" in Western literature; then the title of Czar, meaning "Caesar", which was disputed to be the equal of either a king or emperor; finally culminating in the title of Emperor. According to Article 59 of the 1906 Russian Constitution, the Russian Czar held several dozen titles, each one representing a region which the monarch governed. The Patriarchs of Moscow, who were the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, have also acted as the leaders of Russia from time to time, usually in periods of political upheaval, as during the Polish occupation and interregnum of 1610–13.

-Vasili's son Ivan the Terrible formalised the situation by assuming the title Tsar of All Rus' in 1547, when the state of Russia (apart from its constituent principalities) came into formal being. Following the death of Feodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible and the last of the Rurik dynasty, Russia fell into a succession crisis known as the Time of Troubles. As Feodor left no male heirs, the Russian Zemsky Sobor (feudal parliament) elected his brother-in-law, Boris Godunov, to be Tsar. Devastated by famine, the rule under Boris descended into anarchy. A series of impostors, known as the False Dmitriys, each claimed to be Feodor's long deceased younger brother; however, only the first impostor ever legitimately held the title of Tsar. A distant Rurikid cousin, Vasili Shuyskiy, also took power for a time. During this period, foreign powers deeply involved themselves in Russian politics, under the leadership of the Vasa monarchs of Sweden and Poland-Lithuania, including Sigismund III Vasa and his son Władysław IV Vasa. As a child, Władysław was even chosen as Tsar by the Seven Boyars, though he was prevented by his father from formally taking the throne. The Time of Troubles is considered to have ended with the election of Michael Romanov to the throne, who established the Romanov dynasty that would rule Russia until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Empire of Russia was declared by Peter the Great in 1721. Officially, Russia would be ruled by the Romanov dynasty until the Russian Revolution of 1917. However, direct male descendants of Michael Romanov came to an end in 1730 with the death of Peter II of Russia, grandson of Peter the Great. The throne passed to Anna, a niece of Peter the Great, and after the brief rule of her niece's infant son Ivan VI, the throne was seized by Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter the Great. Elizabeth would be the last of the direct Romanovs to rule Russia. Elizabeth declared her nephew, Peter, to be her heir. Peter (who would rule as Peter III) spoke little Russian, having been a German prince of the House of Holstein-Gottorp before arriving in Russia to assume the Imperial title. He and his German wife Sophia, changed their name to Romanov upon inheriting the throne. Peter was ill-liked, and he was assassinated within six months of assuming the throne, in a coup orchestrated by his wife, who became Empress in her own right and ruled as Catherine the Great (both Peter and Catherine were descended from the House of Rurik). Following the confused successions of the descendants of Peter the Great, Catherine's son, Paul I, established clear succession laws which governed the rules of primogeniture over the Imperial throne until the fall of the Empire in 1917.

Catholic Social Ethics: 5. Seeking the Common Good through Virtue and Grace

With J. Brian Benested, STL, PhD, Professor of Theology, Scranton University.

Pope Benedict XVI's Key to a Fruitful Lent

We are just past the midpoint of Lent. Lætare is this coming Sunday, but it is not too late to work on your prayer life and works of mercy. 

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Pope Benedict encourages us to increase both our faith and works of charity during Lent.

Lent is a perfect time of the year to evaluate our own faith life and to consider various ways to improve it. Pope Benedict XVI, during his final message for Lent in 2013, gave his thoughts on what is the key to a fruitful Lent.

Faith and charity

Benedict writes, "The celebration of Lent ... offers us a valuable opportunity to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God – the God of Jesus Christ – and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others."

He then explains how faith leads to charity, which is a response to God's love for us.

The entire Christian life is a response to God’s love. The first response is precisely faith as the acceptance, filled with wonder and gratitude, of the unprecedented divine initiative that precedes us and summons us. And the “yes” of faith marks the beginning of a radiant story of friendship with the Lord, which fills and gives full meaning to our whole life. But it is not enough for God that we simply accept his gratuitous love. Not only does he love us, but he wants to draw us to himself, to transform us in such a profound way as to bring us to say with Saint Paul: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (cf. Gal 2:20).

In other words, "Faith is knowing the truth and adhering to it (cf. 1 Tim 2:4); charity is 'walking' in the truth (cf. Eph 4:15)."

Its easy to remain laser-focused during Lent on bolstering up our prayer life, which is a good and praiseworthy goal. However, Pope Benedict XVI asks us to take the next step and to use that renewed faith by being charitable towards others.

As St. Paul famously put it, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Charity should always be on our radar, and we can not trade it in for a better prayer life. We must allow our prayer life to drive our charity, seeking to outdo others in generosity. That is the Christian life and the key to a fruitful Lent.

Without a charitable heart, all of our efforts to increase our prayer life will fall flat and will not elevate us in our union with God.

Heretic Bishop Rejects Church Teaching And Papal Authority In Demand For Evil Reform

Court Orders Excommunicated Nuns To Leave Convent

Excommunication is only ever used against traditional or conservative Catholics, especially those who dare to criticise the Second Vatican Council.

I wonder how much the convent property is worth? Usually, when this happens, the Bishop rapidly sells the prperty at market value! ~ The Old Curmudgeon

Why Are There Killer Rabbits in Medieval Manuscripts? | Medieval Rabbit Drolleries

From Peter Austin

Who gave swords to these rabbits, and why are the snails so dangerous, too?

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | March

Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph. We've also included a powerful Lenten prayer -- the Prayer Before a Crucifix. 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.

The Silent Genocide The Media Is Ignoring (Nigeria's Christians)

From Totus Catholica

Right now, in Nigeria, Catholic priests are being assassinated, children are slaughtered during Mass, and churches are burned—with the Blessed Sacrament still in the tabernacle. Since January 2025 alone: Over 7,000 Christians killed 1,200+ churches destroyed Thousands kidnapped—including seminarians and priests Yet the world stays silent. The media calls it “banditry” or “land disputes.” But when attackers target churches during Sunday liturgy, kidnap priests by name, and demand conversion at gunpoint, this is not random violence—it’s religious persecution. And it’s a direct assault on the Eucharist, the priesthood, and the very heart of Catholic life. 📌 In this video, we expose: The verified data behind Nigeria’s Christian crisis Why Catholic institutions are specifically targeted How this mirrors the early Church’s martyrdom What Scripture, the Catechism, and Church Fathers say about persecution Why calling it “genocide” isn’t hyperbole—but truth And what you can do—spiritually and practically—to stand with our suffering brothers and sisters ✨ What You’ll Learn: 📖 CCC 1324: The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life”—which is why it’s under attack 🌟 Acts 4:18–20: Like Peter and John, Nigerian Catholics say, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”—even unto death 👑 St. Cyprian: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” 🕊️ Why mislabeling persecution as “ethnic conflict” abandons the faithful ⚔️ How Eucharistic reverence in the West is renewed by the witness of the persecuted ⏳ Chapters: 0:00 – The Silent Genocide No One Is Naming 1:27 – The Data: 7,000 Dead, 1,200 Churches Burned 3:13 – Why the Eucharist Is the Target 5:10 – Persecution in Scripture & Church History 7:29 – “It’s Not Religious”—Debunking the Myths 9:40 – Six Ways to Respond: Prayer, Aid, Truth, and Solidarity 📖 Key References: Matthew 5:10–12 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…” 2 Timothy 3:12 – “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” CCC 1324 – “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” CCC 2473 – “Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith.” Ecclesia de Eucharistia (St. John Paul II) – “The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.” St. Cyprian, Epistle 80 – “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” 💬 Reflection Question: When you attend Mass, do you realise you are spiritually united to Nigerian Catholics who risk death to be there? What would change if you did?

What is the Chaldean Church? Are They Catholics?

The Chaldean Catholics are indeed Catholic! They originated in the Nestorian heresy, but parts of them were reconciled with Rome in 1552. They form one of the 23 Eastern Churches subject to the Pope.

From Aleteia

By Matthew Grenn

When we hear news about Christians in the Middle East, there are often references to the Chaldeans or the Chaldean Church. Who or what are they?

The Chaldean Catholic Church is often mentioned in news reports about the Christians who live in countries such as Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, where its members have a historical presence. It’s also present in other parts of the world where Chaldean Catholics have emigrated and made their homes. Consequently, during these days when there is conflict in the Middle East, it’s helpful to understand who Chaldean Catholics are.

Churches within the Church

First, it’s important to remember that while there is only one Catholic Church, there are groups within it who are united by particular regional, ethnic, historical, liturgical, and theological bonds. In some cases they are officially referred to as Churches (with a capital C) without detriment to the unity of the whole Catholic Church.

These Churches have a long history. The New Testament often refers to “the Church in …” one city or region or another, such as the Church in Corinth or the Church in Rome. Over time, due to many factors (geographical, political, etc.), there evolved distinct theological and liturgical traditions (keep in mind these Churches didn't have the internet to stay in touch, so it was natural that within the limits and great time-delays in communication, differences would arise). Some share the same liturgy, or rite, but are differentiated by other historic or national elements.

Twenty-four of these traditions are formally recognized within the Catholic Church today. To give a few examples, there are the Maronite Catholic Church (rooted in Lebanon), the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (rooted in India), the Ethiopian Catholic Church (no explanation needed), and of course the Chaldean Catholic Church.

The origin of the Chaldean Catholic Church

In the 5th century, the Christians who lived in the Sasanian Empire (roughly modern-day Iraq and Iran) embraced Nestorianism. This was a Christological heresy that held that Christ the man and God the Son were two distinct persons, not essentially united, thus denying the Incarnation.

This implied a break with the rest of Christianity. Some sources suggest that this may have been intentional: a way for Persian Christians to separate themselves from perceived foreign influence, and free themselves from persecution by the Sasanian government. (This situation of Christians in what is now Iran, being persecuted because they are perceived as foreign agents of some sort, is sadly familiar; it remains a challenge for Christians in Iran today.) This group became known as the Church of the East.

The Church of the East actively evangelized and spread to India, China and Mongolia. However, most of the Nestorian communities outside of Persia were wiped out by the Mongol leader Timur in the 14th century. Starting in 1551, large groups of the remaining Nestorians started to reunite with Rome.

The region where the Church of the East had been founded was known before the Sasanian Empire as Chaldea, mentioned often in the Bible. Consequently, the Nestorians in that region who reunited with the Church of Rome were called Chaldean Catholics. 

In fact, their Chaldean identity remains important today. In a recent letter, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad (who retired in early March, 2026), wrote, “We are Chaldeans, our identity is Chaldean, our nationality is Chaldean, and our Church is Chaldean Catholic.”

Where do Chaldean Catholics live today?

The Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church has his episcopal see in Baghdad, Iraq, in the Church’s land of origin. Chaldean Catholics are in fact the largest Christian population in the country, although still a tiny minority overall. While it’s difficult to get exact numbers, and ongoing conflicts can cause major shifts due to forced migration, recent estimates say there are about 250,000 Chaldean faithful there. 

There are also 20,000-30,000 in Lebanon, and other Chaldean Catholic communities spread through the Middle East, most of which are difficult to measure due to their status as an often-persecuted minority.

Chaldean Catholics have migrated, whether to flee conflict or to seek better opportunities, throughout the world. The largest Chaldean Catholic population outside of the Middle East is actually found in the USA, in the state of Michigan.