Usury: the Science of Shylock

The Church’s teaching against usury has been infallibly defined and confirmed over and over again, but especially in the Papal Letter of Benedict XIV known as Vix Pervenit. In that encyclical, the pope stated: The nature of the sin called usury has its proper place and origin in a loan contract … [which] demands, by its very nature, that one return to another only as much as he has received. The sin rests on the fact that sometimes the creditor desires more than he has given…but any gain which exceeds the amount he gave is illicit and usurious. A lender has the right to be made whole…to be compensated for services and the effects of inflation…but he is not allowed to make a direct profit…or gain…upon the loan itself. The Holy Bible is very clear on this point. The Book of Exodus, for example, reads: If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among My People, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. The Psalms and the Prophets confirm this prohibition. King David wrote: Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?…He that does not ask interest on his loan. And Ezekiel added: The upright man is law-abiding and honest…He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil…It is Yahweh who speaks. Usury is always the main cause of economic collapse. Usury is the root cause of business cycles…of rapid expansion and rapid contraction…of Bull and Bear Markets…and always guarantees the concentration of wealth and mammon in the hands of a few. Usury is the cause of countries being unable to pay their bills. Since 1950, the US Federal government has paid more than $10 trillion dollars in interest using the value the dollar today. It is compound interest that has bankrupted virtually every nation in the developed world. Making usury illegal would virtually eliminate many of these evils and would guarantee a wider distribution of ownership and wealth in society. The debt would be one-third of its current size without usury. Furthermore, without usury, money could be used in more productive ways as investment and could produce a just profit. Only when Shylocks are once again despised and unjust interest and profit are taken out of the lending process will sanity and justice return to the field of lending and borrowing.

The Holy Rosary

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

The Life of His Majesty the King Louis XV of France ~ (1710–1774)

From The Romanian Monarchist

Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until he died in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather, Louis XIV, at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defined as his 13th birthday) in 1723, the kingdom was ruled by his grand-uncle Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, as Regent of France. Cardinal Fleury was chief minister from 1726 until his death in 1743, at which time the king took sole control of the kingdom. His reign of almost 59 years (from 1715 to 1774) was the second longest in the history of France, exceeded only by his predecessor, Louis XIV, who had ruled for 72 years (from 1643 to 1715). In 1748, Louis returned the Austrian Netherlands, won at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. He ceded New France in North America to Great Britain and Spain at the conclusion of the disastrous Seven Years' War in 1763. He incorporated the territories of the Duchy of Lorraine and the Corsican Republic into the Kingdom of France. Historians generally criticise his reign, citing how reports of his corruption embarrassed the monarchy, while his wars drained the treasury and produced little gain. However, a minority of scholars argue that he was popular during his lifetime, but that his reputation was later blackened by revolutionary propaganda. His grandson and successor, Louis XVI, inherited a large kingdom in need of financial and political reform which would ultimately lead to the French Revolution of 1789.

Introduction to Moral Theology: 1. Moral Methodologies

With John Haas, PhD, STL, MDiv, John Cardinal Krol Professor of Moral Theology, St Charles Borromeo Seminary.

The Funny Story About the Power of St Scholastica's Prayers

God sent a thunderstorm at St Scholastica's asking so that her brother, St Benedict, couldn't leave the spiritual conversation they were having.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

St. Scholastica wasn't going to let her twin brother, St. Benedict, make an excuse for why he couldn't stay and talk to her about spiritual things.

Siblings often have a keen sense of one another, knowing when they are making excuses and withholding something.

Twins typically have even more of a "sixth sense" regarding how their sibling is feeling, and if they are holding anything back.

According to tradition, St. Scholastica and St. Benedict were twins, and St. Gregory preserved a humorous story that highlights St. Scholastica's spiritual sense and the power of her prayers.

Spiritual conversations

One of the most popular stories from the life of St. Scholastica is told in the book of Dialogues by St. Gregory the Great.

In it, St. Gregory narrates how the two siblings would meet to talk about spiritual topics dear to their hearts:

Scholastica, the sister of Saint Benedict, had been consecrated to God from her earliest years. She was accustomed to visiting her brother once a year. He would come down to meet her at a place on the monastery property, not far outside the gate.

One day she came as usual and her saintly brother went with some of his disciples; they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things. As night fell they had supper together.

The night was growing late and St. Benedict was eager to go back to his cell.

Yet, St. Scholastica did not want that to happen and knew her brother could stay a little longer:

Their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late. The holy nun said to her brother: “Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life.” “Sister,” he replied, “what are you saying? I simply cannot stay outside my cell.”

Since St. Benedict was firm in his stance, St. Scholastica had to take matters into her own hands:

When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated. Sadly he began to complain: “May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?” “Well,” she answered, “I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery.”

Reluctant as he was to stay of his own will, he remained against his will. So it came about that they stayed awake the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about the spiritual life.

St. Scholastica had a simple yet strong faith in God. She knew that if it was God's will that her brother should stay with her, that he would make it happen.

This funny little story highlights the power of prayer, especially when that prayer is coming from someone with a complete trust in God.

Olympic Games Embraces Satanism Yet Again

The Vatican Just Launched Another Attack On The Virgin Mary

New Vatican guidelines for Marian theology calls out Catholics for "excessive" Marian devotion.

The St Scholastica's Day Riot

671 years ago today. From The History Guy

There is always some conflict between a university and the community where it resides. Sometimes that conflict is just a little more intense. The St. Scholastica's Day riot of 1355 was one of the most extreme instances of "town vs gown" in history. It is history that deserves to be remembered.

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.

They Don't Want You Knowing This About Mary's Assumption (Biblical Evidence)

From Totus Catholica

Elijah's Fiery Chariot Predicted Mary's Assumption—MIND-BLOWING Connection Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Most people know the story—but almost no one realises that this fiery ascent lays the groundwork for one of the most astonishing truths of the Christian faith: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 📌 In this video, we show you step-by-step how the logic behind Mary's Assumption is built directly into Scripture, the lives of the prophets, and the consistent faith of the early Church. This isn't speculation—it's revelation properly understood. ✨ What You'll Discover: 📖 2 Kings 2:11 – Elijah's bodily assumption into heaven—proving God can take an individual's body and soul into His presence 🕊️ Genesis 5:24 & Hebrews 11:5 – Enoch "walked with God" and was taken up without dying—establishing a biblical pattern

✝️ Matthew 17:3 – Moses and Elijah appear at the Transfiguration in glorified form, confirming their heavenly existence 🔥 Revelation 12:1 – "A woman clothed with the sun" appears in heaven—supporting Mary's bodily presence in glory 📜 CCC 966 & 974 – The Church's official teaching on Mary's Assumption, rooted in ancient belief 🛡️ Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950) – The dogmatic definition confirming what the Church had always believed 💬 Early Church Fathers – St. John of Damascus, St. Gregory of Tours, and others affirm the Assumption as apostolic tradition ⏳ Chapters: 0:00 – Elijah's Fiery Chariot: Not Just a Miracle, But a Prototype 2:09 – Why Many Christians Struggle with the Assumption 3:35 – Biblical Precedents: Enoch and Elijah's Bodily Assumptions 5:34 – The Church's Teaching: CCC 966, 974, and Munificentissimus Deus 7:05 – The Early Church's Witness: St. John of Damascus & St. Gregory of Tours 8:32 – Answering Objections: "It's Not Explicitly in the Bible" 9:35 – What This Means for You: Trust in God's Patterns 📖 Key Teaching & References: 2 Kings 2;11 – "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" Genesis 5:24 – "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" Hebrews 11:5 – "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death" Matthew 17:3 – Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus at the Transfiguration Revelation 12:1 – "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun" CCC 966 – "The Immaculate Virgin… was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory" CCC 974 – Mary "already shares in the glory of her son's resurrection" Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950) – Dogmatic definition of the Assumption St. John of Damascus, Homily on the Dormition 2 – "It was fitting that she… should keep her body free from corruption" St. Gregory of Tours (6th century) – Records Mary's body being "borne aloft into the clouds" 💬 Reflection Question: If God bodily assumed Enoch and Elijah—who prepared the way for the Messiah—how much more fitting that Mary, who bore the Messiah in her womb, would also be assumed into heaven by God's grace?

Prayer To Follow the Example of St Scholastica

Today is the Feast of St Scholastica, the sister of the perhaps better known St Benedict of Nursia. Small "t" tradition says they were twins.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Ask God for the grace to imitate the pure and loving example of St. Scholastica.

One of the principal reasons why the Church highlights various saints throughout the liturgical year is to give us hope that we too could be united with them in Heaven. It is a beautiful thought, but it requires our cooperation with God's grace.

St. Scholastica had a pure heart and childlike trust in God. She helped found the women's branch of the Benedictine Order with her brother, St. Benedict.

Here is the collect prayer for the feast of St. Scholastica that we can use to ask God for help in following her example.

As we celebrate anew the Feast of the Virgin Saint Scholastica,
we pray, O Lord, that, following her example,
we may serve Thee with pure love
and happily receive what comes from loving Thee.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
One God, for ever and ever.
Amen.