Stone monasteries were built for eternity, not comfort. This video explores how monks and nuns survived years of freezing winters inside unheated stone walls—through routine, discipline, community, and quiet endurance. A story of survival where faith did not remove the cold, but taught how to live with it.
01 January 2026
Traditional Catholic Morning Prayers in English | Christmastide
Traditional Catholic Christmas morning prayers to help start your day. Christmastide begins with Christmas and extends to Candlemas on February 2. Prayers for the Christmas season, in honour of the Nativity and the Virgin's birth of Christ, the Saviour of the world. This morning prayer 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.
Judas Wrote a Gospel? What It Actually Reveals Is Shocking
From Totus Catholica
The Gospel According to JUDAS | What His Gospel Actually Says
In April 2006, the National Geographic Society released a sensational documentary unveiling the "Gospel of Judas"—a manuscript discovered in Egypt that claimed to reveal a secret agreement between Jesus and Judas, portraying the traitor as actually a hero chosen by Christ himself. If true, everything we know about the Passion would be turned upside down. But here's the thing: what National Geographic presented as a "lost truth" is actually an ancient heresy that the Church refuted 18 centuries ago.
📌 The Gospel of Judas, written in Coptic and dated to the 3rd–4th century, presents secret conversations where Jesus tells Judas he will "exceed all" the other apostles by "sacrificing the man that clothes me"—freeing Christ from his body. This reflects Gnostic theology: matter is evil, the body is a prison, and salvation comes through secret knowledge. St. Irenaeus condemned this text around 180 AD, and Pope Benedict XVI clarified in 2006 that Judas made a free choice to betray Jesus—he wasn't following orders.
✨ What You'll Discover
– What the Gospel of Judas actually claims: Judas as the "enlightened" disciple who understands Jesus's secret mission
– Why it's Gnostic, not Christian: spirit vs. matter dualism, rejection of bodily resurrection, salvation by secret knowledge
– What the canonical Gospels say: Judas's greed, Satan's temptation, and free-will betrayal (Matthew 26:14–16, John 13:2, 27)
– St. Irenaeus (180 AD): Already refuting the Gospel of Judas as heresy in Against Heresies
– Pope Benedict XVI (2006): Judas was not obeying Jesus; he yielded to greed and evil
– Why foreknowledge ≠ fate: God sees Judas's free choice without forcing it
– How the Gnostic lie (body = prison) contradicts Scripture (Genesis 1:31, John 1:14, bodily resurrection)
⏳ Chapters
0:00 – National Geographic's 2006 Bombshell: The Gospel of Judas
0:52 – What the Gospel of Judas Actually Says
2:29 – What the Canonical Gospels Say About Judas
3:33 – St. Irenaeus (180 AD): Refuting Gnosticism and the Gospel of Judas
5:05 – Why the Gospel of Judas Is Fundamentally Gnostic
7:43 – The Biggest Objection: Foreknowledge vs. Free Will
9:30 – The Real Judas Story and What It Means for You
🌐 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
– April 2006: National Geographic releases the Gospel of Judas documentary
– Gospel of Judas (Coptic manuscript, 3rd–4th century): Secret dialogues, Gnostic dualism
– Matthew 26:14–16 – Judas's greed: "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?"
– John 13:2, 27 – Satan entered Judas; Jesus: "What you are going to do, do quickly"
– St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies (c. 180 AD) – Condemns Gospel of Judas as Gnostic fabrication
– Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience (October 18, 2006) – Judas's free choice, not obedience
– Genesis 1:31 – God created the world and "it was very good"
– John 1:14 – "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"
– CCC 999 – We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come
💬 Reflection Question
If Judas had the freedom to betray Jesus—and you have the same freedom to choose or reject Christ—what choice are you making today?
Why Was Jesus Christ Circumcised?
Today is the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ. It was His First Bloodshedding for our redemption, which He finished on the Cross.
From Aleteia
By Philip Kosloski
Wasn't circumcision part of the "Old Law"? If so, Jesus "abolished" the Old Law, didn't he?
The Catholic Church celebrates the "Circumcision of the Lord" on January 1.
It is the eighth day after the celebration of Jesus' birth and recalls the ancient Hebrew tradition of circumcision that was inaugurated under Abraham.
According to the book of Genesis, God said to Abraham, "This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised; every male throughout your generations ... So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant" (Genesis 17:10-12a,13b).
This covenant ritual was renewed under Joshua and remained in effect up to the time of Jesus (and many Jews still practice this today).
Old Law
But why did Jesus, Lord of the New Covenant, submit himself to a practice that was part of the "Old Law"?
St. Paul gives us an insight in his letter to the Galatians.
[W]hen the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
Jesus was a faithful Jew so that he might renew that which was "old," in order to bring us under a New Covenant in his blood. For this reason, circumcision is no longer a sign of the covenant we have with God, as St. Paul explains later in his letter to the Galatians.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.
The ritual was an essential part of Jesus' mission to redeem us and many ancient spiritual writers saw it as a foreshadowing of Christ's bloody sacrifice on the cross. The two events are linked and help us to see the complete picture of Jesus' saving action on earth.
The reason for Jesus' circumcision can be best summed up in the book of Revelation, where Jesus proclaims, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5).
Former Classmate of Pope Leo Speaks Out! | Professor William Thomas
From LSNTV
Professor William A. Thomas delivers a sobering analysis of the moral and spiritual unraveling of the West, tracing its roots to humanity’s rebellion against God and the Church’s retreat from truth. He critiques the rise of doctrinal ambiguity, the silence on sin and hell, and the emotionalism driving today’s “synodal” experiments. Thomas warns that modernism, relativism, and Marxist ideologies are being repackaged as reform, while in reality they are eroding catechesis, doctrine, and Catholic identity.
He urges a return to the clarity of apostolic teaching, devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and the sacred liturgy.
The Circumcision of Our Lord
From The Golden Legend of Blessed Jacobus Voragine, translated by William Caxton in 1483.
OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD
THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY
As for the first it appeareth, for the utas of saints be solemn, by much more reason ought it to be of him that is the saint of all saints. Now it seemeth that the Nativity of our Lord ought not to have none utas. For the nativity tendeth to the death. And the decease of saints have their utas because they be born of the nativity that stretcheth to life perdurable, for to be after glorified in body. And by the same way it seemeth that the nativity of the glorious Virgin Mary and of St. John Baptist, and of the Resurrection of our Lord ought not to have utas, for the resurrection was then done. Hereto we ought to consider, like as saith a doctor, that, in this we should fulfil such things as we accomplished not in the principal day that our Lord was born in. Of which of ancient time men were wont to sing at the Mass: Vultum tuum domine, etc. to the honour of our Lady St. Mary. The other octaves or utases as of Paske, Whitsuntide, the nativity of our Lady and St. John Baptist be of devotion, as of other saints that men will honour for singular cause or affection. And they may be said the octaves of figuration, for they signify and figure the octave of the last resurrection perpetual, which is the eighth age.A NEW NAME BEARING HEALTH
And as to the second, this day was his name imposed to him, and was named with the new name that the mouth of God named. This is the name of which there is none other under heaven by which we may be saved, that is Jesus. After St. Bernard, “This is the name which in the mouth is honey, in the ear melody, and in the heart joy; this is the name after that he saith, it lighteth and shineth like oil. When it is preached it feedeth the soul, when it is in the mind of the heart it is sweet, and it anointeth when it is called.”The Three Names of Jesus
And as the evangelist saith, he had three names, that is to wit the Son of God, Jesus, and Christus. He is called the Son of God insomuch as he is God of God the Father; Christ insomuch as he is a man taken of a person divine and nature human, and Jesus inasmuch as he is God united to our humanity. And of this three manner of names, saith St. Bernard, “Ye that lie in dust and powder arise out of your sleep and awake ye and give praising to God. Lo here that our Lord shall come unto your health, he cometh with unction, he cometh with glory. Jesus cometh not without health, nor Christ cometh not without unction, nor the Son of God without glory. For he is our health, our unction and our joy.”And as touching this treble name; before his passion, he was not perfectly known. As touching the first he was somewhat known by conjecting, as of his enemies, which said Jesu Christ to be the Son of God. And as to the second, of less or fewer he was known for Jesu Christ. And as to the third, vocally, for as much as by the voice he was called Jesus. But as to the reason of the name, he was not known. For “Jesus” is as much to say as “Saviour,” and this understood not they.
After the resurrection, this treble was clarified and declared. The first to the certainty, the second to the publication, the third to the reason of the name.
The Name “Son of God”
The first name is Son of God. And that these names be appropriate to him, Saint Hilary in his book that he made of the Trinity saith thus: Vere filium Dei unigenitum: In divers manners this name, Son of God, is known, as it is witnessed of God. God the Father witnesseth it that he is his son. Apostles preach it, the religious believe it, the fiends our enemies confess it. And therefore we know our Lord Jesu Christ in his manners, by name, by nature, by nativity, by puissance, and by his passion.The Name “Christus”
The second name is Christus, which is interpreted “unction.” For he was anointed with the oil of gladness before all them that to him were party. And by that he is said anointed, it is showed that he was a prophet, a champion, a priest and a king. These four persons sometime were wont to be anointed. Jesu Christ was a prophet teaching the doctrine divine, a champion in the battle against the devil whom he overcame, a priest in reconciling the human lineage to God the Father, and a king in distributing and rewarding every man.…[The Legend continues with discussion of the name “Jesus” and then cites comments by Church Fathers on the significance of that name. Here in italics is a summary of the parts omitted from my source:]
THE EFFUSION OF OUR LORD’S PRECIOUS BLOOD
The Legend explains the third reason for solemnizing this day: it is the first of the five occasions when Christ’s blood was shed. The others are the agony in the garden, the courging, the crucifixion, and the piercing of his side.THE SIGNS OF THE CIRCUMCISION
The fourth reason for solemnizing this day is for “the seal that Christ deigned to receive on this day.” For his willingness to receive circumcision the Legend provides five reasons: To show that his body was truly human, to show us that we should be circumcised in the spirit and thus redeemed, to leave the Jews no excuse for rejecting him, to keep the demons from learning of the mystery of the Incarnation, and to give us an example of humility.WAYS TO UNDERSTAND WHY CIRCUMCISION OCCURS ON THE EIGHTH DAY
Literally
On the literal level of understanding scripture, according to the Legend, God did not want babies to be circumcised in their first week because the flesh is too soft at that time.Anagogically
On the anagogical level of understanding scripture, according to the Legend, circumcision on the eighth day reminds us that we will be reedeemed “withing the octave of the resurrection,” taking the eight days for the eight ages of the world. Also, the eight days remind of the eight things that will be ours in Heaven: life, health, food, plenty, glory, honor, peace, and every good. Also, man is composed of seven elements (the four physical elements plus three faculties of the soul) but upon redemption is circumcised of all sins and faults.Tropologically
On the tropological level, the Legend continues, each of the eight days has a moral meaning to the individual Christian.The first day involves knowledge of our sins.
The second day is the decision
…for to leave sin and take the good, the which is showed us by the son that dispended his good follily, and when he had perceived that he had done evil and foolishly, he advertised himself and said: I shall depart and return to my father, and shall pray that I may serve him, and that he may receive me to mercy, and make me as one of his servants.
The third [day] is shame of sin, whereof saith St. Paul to them that for their sins be in pain and in torment: What fruit have ye founden in those sins in your life of which now ye be ashamed?
The fourth [day] is dread of the coming judgment and doom, whereof Job saith: I have feared and doubted God as men dread the waves of the sea in their great rage and tempest. And St. Jerome saith thus: Sive comedam sive bibam, etc. As oft as I eat or drink or that I do any other thing, alway me seemeth that I hear the sound and the voice crying: Arise, ye dead men, and come to the doom and the judgment.
The fifth is contrition, whereof St. Jerome saith: Give thy weeping and bitterness of that which thou hast angered thy God by thy sin.
The sixth is confession, whereof David saith: Dixi confitebor, etc.: I have said and purposed in my heart that I shall confess me to God and make knowledge of my sin.
The seventh is hope of pardon, for if Judas had had very repentance and hope, and had confessed his sin, he had had forgiveness and pardon.
The eighth is satisfaction and sacrifice, and then is the man verily circumcised, not only from the sin, but also from pain.
Where the two first days be for the sorrow of sin that hath been done and the will for to amend it, the third day we should confess the evil that we have done and the good deeds that we have left. The other four days be orison, effusion of tears, affliction of body, and alms given.
Allegorically
On the allegorical level of scriptural interpretation, the first five days correspond to the five books of Moses; the sixth and seventh, to the Prophets and the Psalms; and the eighth to the Gospel, which perfects circumcision.REGARDING THE FLESH REMOVED BY THE CIRCUMCISION
The Legend says that the removed flesh is said by some to have been carried by an angel to Charlemagne at Aix-la-Chapelle, where it remains, while others say it is in Rome. The author doubts these claims, reasoning that all of Christ’s flesh was glorified at his Ascension into Heaven.CONCLUSION
The Legend concludes with a final reason why the Church solemnized the first day of the year: to encourage Christians to abandon the pagan celebrations that were customary on that day.By contrast, Caxton’s translation of this part of the Legend concludes as follows:
We find that Jesu Christ said by the mouth of his saints: Non veni legem solvere sed adimplere, “I came not,” said Jesu Christ, “to break the law, but to fulfil it.” And he was that day circumcised and named Jesus, which is as much to say as Saviour.
And at the circumcision must he cut a little of the skin at the end of the member or yard, and that is signified and shewed that we ought to be circumcised, and cut and taken away from us the sins and evil vices, that is to wit pride, wrath, envy, covetousness, sloth, gluttony, and lechery, and all sins, and purge us by confession, by contrition, by satisfaction, by almsdeeds, and by prayers, and to give for God's sake of the goods that he hath lent us.
For we have nothing proper, but Jesu Christ hath lent to us all that we have. Then it is well reason that we do give for him to the poor of such goods as be his, for we be but servants, and we ought to give to the hungry meat, to the thirsty drink, to the naked clothing, visit the sick, and tofore all things to love God, and after, our neighbour as ourself; and despoil ourself from sin, and clothe us with good works and virtues, and follow the commandment of Jesu Christ. And in this manner we shall fulfil the will of our father Jesu Christ, if we been so purged and thus circumcised.
Then let us pray unto the Lord of heaven that saith that he came not to break the law but to fulfil it, that he give us grace in such manner to fulfil the law and his will in this world, that we may come into his holy bliss in heaven. Amen.