Musings of an Old Curmudgeon

19 April 2026

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.

Alex O'Connor vs Catholic Answers AI Apologist

From The Counsel of Trent

In this episode, Trent responds to Alex O'Connor's "dialogue" with the Catholic Answers AI apologist Justin on the subject of the Bible and slavery.

The Holy Rosary

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

The Life of His Majesty The Kaiser Karl I of Austro-Hungary (1887–1922)

From The Romanian Monarchist

Charles I or Karl I (German: Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Otto Maria, Hungarian: Károly Ferenc József Lajos Hubert György Ottó Mária; 17 August 1887 – 1 April 1922) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary (as Charles IV, Hungarian: IV. Károly), King of Croatia, King of Bohemia (as Charles III, Czech: Karel III.), and the last of the monarchs belonging to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to rule over Austria-Hungary. The son of Archduke Otto of Austria and Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony, Charles became heir presumptive of Emperor Franz Joseph when his uncle Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, was assassinated in 1914. In 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. He is venerated in the Catholic Church as a Beatus. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul II (born Karol Wojtyła and named for Kaiser Karl) on 3 October 2004, and is known to the Catholic Church as Blessed Karl of Austria.

What Would It Mean to 'Prove' God Exists?

With Fr Philip-Neri Reese, OP, LPhil, MDiv, STB, Professor of Philosophy, the Angelicum.

At What Age Is Confirmation Received in the Catholic Church?

As Mr Kosloski points out, in the Eastern Catholic Churches, Baptism and Chrismation (the Eastern name for Confirmation) take place in infancy.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Baptized Catholics can be confirmed at any age, though each diocese has its own age requirements for the usual reception of confirmation.

In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, any baptized Catholic can be confirmed, regardless of age.

This means that a 90-year old who was never confirmed can receive the sacrament of confirmation, as well as a tiny baby who is in danger of death. Age is not a factor, though particular pastoral circumstances have led local churches to make general guidelines.

Age of discretion

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that, "For centuries, Latin custom has indicated 'the age of discretion' as the reference point for receiving Confirmation. But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion" (CCC 1307).

For Eastern Catholics, as well as Eastern Orthodox, the celebration of confirmation always occurs at baptism, a practice that emphasizes the reality that both sacraments are sacraments of initiation.

However, while any baptized Catholic can be confirmed, the common practice in the Roman Rite of conferring confirmation has been left-up to each diocese or Episcopal Conference, as the Code of Canon Law explains:

The sacrament of confirmation is to be conferred on the faithful at about the age of discretion, unless the Episcopal Conference has decided on a different age, or there is a danger of death or, in the judgment of the minister, a grave reason suggests otherwise.

This can be widely varied throughout the world. Some dioceses confirm at the age of 7, while others wait until children are 16 or 17 years old.

Certain dioceses have been lowering the age, so as to not to associate it with a "graduation" ceremony, wanting to emphasize the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to provide the children with those gifts at an earlier age.

Whatever age a person is confirmed, the key is to remember the whole purpose of confirmation, as the Catechism summarizes:

Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings -- in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.

Confirmation is a beautiful sacrament, one that prepares an individual to be an active part of the Church, ready to confront the many challenges of the world.

Bishops Tries To Secretly Close Thriving Conservative Parish

Vigano Issues Blistering Response To The Trump vs Leo Feud

Just a reminder: you can find the president's words and AI images troubling without going full Synodalist.

15 Forgotten Medieval Peasant Snacks From 500 Years Ago No One Makes Anymore

From Medieval Way

Explore how medieval peasants fueled long workdays with nutrient-dense, shelf-stable snacks crafted from foraged and preserved ingredients. This look into historical eating habits contrasts traditional methods of preparation with modern industrial alternatives, highlighting how these ancient options provided sustainable energy without the need for refrigeration or artificial processing.

A medieval peasant in fourteenth-century England did not have a pantry, a refrigerator, or a gas station half a mile down the road. And yet when he was working twelve hours in the field and needed something between meals, he had more snack options than the average American vending machine. Every one of them was made from something he or his wife or his neighbor produced, preserved, or foraged themselves — zero cost, zero packaging, and a nutritional density that would embarrass anything sold in a crinkly wrapper today. Convenience food has existed for thousands of years. It just used to be real food. These are the fifteen snacks that kept a farmer fueled through a sixteen-hour harvest day — a rotating system so well-engineered for storage, nutrition, and portability that a two-hundred-seventy-billion-dollar industry had to bury every last one of them to sell you a bag of flavored corn starch instead. Historical & Archaeological Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieva... https://www.medieval.eu/eels-in-the-f... https://www.medievalists.net/2016/04/... https://medievalcookery.com/recipes/r... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenche...) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oatcake https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-... https://www.metmuseum.org/perspective... https://www.tastinghistory.com/recipe... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockfish Scientific Studies https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-03-01-... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/news/early... https://www.cambridge.org/core/journa... Practical & Cultural References https://britishfoodhistory.com/tag/pe... https://www.historytoday.com/archive/... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quince_... https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/...

Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | April

Traditional Catholic morning prayers to help start your day in a godly way! The month of April is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. May our devotion to Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist ever increase! We've included the litany of the Blessed Sacrament and a Spiritual Communion. Give your first thoughts and energy to 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 Quiet Vatican Move Is Ending Germany's Synodal Way

From Totus Catholica

A few years ago, the German bishops launched the Synodal Way, a reform project intended to modernise the Church and stop the bleeding of members. They pushed for the ordination of women, the blessing of same-sex unions, and a restructuring of governance. In 2025 alone, over 37,000 people formally left the Church in Germany. The more they liberalised, the faster the people departed. Pope Francis warned that the German path was moving away from the universal Church. Cardinal Woelki of Cologne formally disassociated himself from the Synodal process. In January 2026, he declared it was over. Africa, where the Church remains deeply orthodox, is growing. Germany, where it is not, is collapsing. History knows how this story ends. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Building a House That Sends People Into the Rain 1:11 The Synodal Way and Its Proposals 2:41 Acts 15: Why Local Assemblies Cannot Change Doctrine 3:27 Gallicanism, Pistoia and the Old Catholics: A Pattern of Failure 4:41 The Vatican's Response from 2019 to 2026 5:30 Cardinal Woelki and the Faithful Remnant 6:34 Africa's Orthodox Growth vs Germany's Liberal Collapse 6:57 Objection: Doesn't the Church Need to Change? 7:50 Sensus Fidelium Is Not a Democratic Poll 9:01 Rome Plays the Long Game: The Dutch Schism Precedent 🌍 Website: https://totuscatholica.org/ 📿 Rosary Guide: https://totuscatholica.org/rosary ✉️ Contact: https://totuscatholica.org/contact 🔍 Examination of Conscience: https://catholicexaminationofconscien...