Te Deum Laudamus ~ Indulgenced Today

From the Apostolic Penitentiary: 60. The Te Deum. Plenary indulgence when recited publicly on the last day of the year. Otherwise, a partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving.

Catholic Night Prayers | Evening Prayer

In these Catholic Night prayers, we will offer our night to God before going to bed. We thank God for the blessings of the day, examine our conscience, pray the Litany of Mary and ask the Holy Angels to watch over this night. This evening prayer video is a compilation of many traditional evening prayers Catholics say, and should not be considered a replacement for those who have an obligation to pray the Divine Office evening prayers.

Compline

From the St Thomas Aquinas Seminary. You may follow the Office at Divinum Officium.

St Columba of Sens: Butler's Lives of the Saints

1st Vespers for the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord

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

Jubilee Economics

From the Paul Street Journal

Welcome to The Paul Street Journal, a show about Catholic social teaching on economics! The Paul Street Journal is a podcast all about Catholic social teaching on economics. We discuss everything from the economic principles laid out in scripture, to the economic questions that come up in our daily lives. This show will be your guide to making your own economic decisions with the heart of the Church. Hosted by Freddy Garcia and Brian Honsberger.

The Holy Rosary

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

Fmr Prince Andrew’s Medals: Which Were Earned, Which Were Stripped and Why

From Clasps of Courage

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, is well known for his Royal Navy service and his operational role in the Falklands War (1982). Serving as a Sea King helicopter pilot aboard HMS Invincible, he carried out missions including search and rescue, casualty evacuation, and anti-submarine warfare during an active conflict in the South Atlantic. His deployment was historically notable as one of the rare instances of a member of the British Royal Family serving in a modern combat zone. For his wartime service, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the South Atlantic Medal with rosette, along with later jubilee and commemorative medals connected to royal service. He also held senior orders and decorations, including the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order, which are traditionally granted by the monarch for service to the Crown. In recent years, however, significant public controversy has surrounded the stripping of his honorary military titles and royal patronages, leading to confusion and debate about which awards, ranks, and decorations were removed, which remained, and why these decisions were made. We explore his topic in this video.

The Philosophy of Human Nature: 1. Importance of the Study of the Soul

With Thomas Hibbs, PhD, J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy, Baylor University.

The Biblical Roots of a Dish Served for St Sylvester's Day

Today is St Sylvester's Day, the last day of the year. In Italy, it is celebrated by eating lentils, thought to bring good luck in the coming year. It is the same dish for which Esau sold his birthright.

From Aleteia

By V.M. Traverso

It is believed that eating lentils on January 31 brings good fortune in the year ahead, and ancient Romans would exchange lentils on New Year's eve.

Every year on December 31, Italians rush to get the last missing ingredients to prepare the “Cenone di San Silvestro,” the dinner in honor of St. Sylvester. Sylvester was pope from 314 to 335, marking the beginning of the Christian Roman Empire, and he passed away on December 31, 335. Among the many delicacies served for the occasion, one dish can’t be missed for a proper St. Sylvester dinner: lentil stew. 

It is believed that eating lentils, a nutritious legume, will bring good fortune in the year ahead. As is the case with many food traditions, the origins of this New Year’s Eve ritual are a byproduct of Italy’s centuries-old diverse history.  

Historians know that a similar tradition was in place in ancient Rome, where people would exchange small bags of lentils with family and friends at the start of the new year, which according to the Roman calendar would fall around the beginning of March. 

Lentils were in fact considered a superfood, rich in protein and minerals, and their rounded shape was similar to that of Roman coins, the sestertius, making the earthy legume a symbol of prosperity.

But this ancient food ritual has ties to the Bible, too. In Genesis (25: 29-34) Esau trades his firstborn birthright for a plate of lentils made by his brother Jacob. This contributed to lentils' reputation as a plate associated with positive changes to one’s fortune.

In Genesis (25, 29-34) Esau trades his firstborn birthright in exchange for a plate of lentils.

Billion Photos | Shutterstock

Recipe

To make St. Sylvester’s lentil stew, you need lentils (roughly 2.4 ounces for each person), 1 sage leaf, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 stalk of celery, olive oil. 

First, soak the lentils in cold water for at least a few hours up to a full day. When the lentils are softened, boil them over high heat for about an hour. Drain them and let them cool down. In the meantime, place olive oil and diced vegetables in a skillet, adding sage. Let everything brown for about 15 minutes. 

Then, add the lentils and mix the ingredients together. Add salt and pepper and mix until the lentils are infused with the flavor of the sage and vegetables. St. Sylvester’s lentil stew is now ready to serve! 

The Rise Of The Religious Nones: New Data Reveals The Weird Truth

Shocking Evils Done To Jesus At Christmas By Christians

Depicting Jesus as a monster or associating Jesus with magic crystals seems to be something these heretics do annually.

The Runaway Nun Who Became Queen of England | Life of Matilda of Scotland | Wife of Henry I

From History Calling

How did a runaway nun become the Queen of England and unite the Saxon and Norman bloodlines? This is the fascinating and often misunderstood story of Matilda of Scotland (also known as Princess Edith of Scotland), daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and St. Margaret of Wessex. Born into two powerful royal bloodlines—Saxon and Scottish—Matilda was sent as a young girl to the nunneries at Romsey and later Wilton, under the guardianship of her strict aunt, Christina. There, she was made to wear a nun’s veil, allegedly to protect her from the unwanted attention of Norman men following the conquest of England in 1066. Rumours spread that the young princess had taken religious vows, branding her a nun in the eyes of the church and the English court and therefore ineligible for marriage. When her father discovered this, he was enraged, famously declaring he’d rather marry her to Alan the Red than see her become the bride of Christ and he took her back to Scotland. Seven years after being orphaned in 1093 Matilda caught the attention of Henry I of England, the youngest son of William the Conqueror. Having just become King in 1100 he wished to marry her and make her the only Scottish Princess to become Queen of England in history, but was she free to wed? A special council headed by Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury was called to determine if she was truly a nun. Matilda herself testified and what she said about her time at the abbeys and her treatment at the hands of her aunt shocked the court and cleared the path for her marriage and coronation. In this medieval queenship documentary from History Calling, I dive deep into her life, using original medieval sources such as Orderic Vitalis, William of Malmesbury, and Eadmer of Canterbury to uncover the truth. Was she a runaway nun who schemed her way to a crown, or a misunderstood princess wrongly cloistered and who never took any vows? Join me as we uncover the real story of Matilda of Scotland, the woman who defied expectations to become the wife of Henry I, Queen Consort of England in 1100 and ultimately the mother of Empress Matilda and grandmother of Henry II.

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.

FBI Labels Latin Mass Catholics "Extremist" (Here's Why They're Wrong) (With a Note From the Old Curmudgeon)

From Totus Catholica

An FBI memo labeling traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists. A government agency comparing people who attend Latin Mass to white supremacists. Federal agents recruiting informants inside parishes. If you've heard these headlines and wondered whether this is real or exaggerated, you're not alone. Today, we're breaking down exactly what happened with the 2023 FBI Richmond memo, why it sparked a firestorm across America, and what the latest developments tell us about the state of religious liberty in this country. 📌 On January 23, 2023, the FBI's Richmond field office produced an 11-page memo titled "Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities." It wasn't targeting a specific criminal suspect—it was identifying an entire category of Catholics as a potential national security threat. The memo suggested FBI agents develop sources inside Catholic parishes, cultivate relationships with priests, and monitor communities for "radicalization." ✨ What You'll Discover – What the Richmond memo actually said and who it targeted (Latin Mass Catholics, Vatican II critics) – Why FBI Director Christopher Wray called it a failure to meet "exacting standards" and withdrew it – 2024 DOJ Inspector General finding: FBI "incorrectly conflated religious views with violent extremist activities" – June 2025 Senate revelations: Richmond consulted Louisville, Portland, Milwaukee; memo distributed to 1,000+ FBI employees – The deleted access logs and the second nationwide draft that almost went out – What Scripture and the Catechism say about religious freedom and government limits (Matthew 22:15–21, Acts 5:29) – The Xavier Lopez case: legitimate criminal investigation vs. illegitimate religious profiling ⏳ Chapters 0:00 – FBI Memo Labels Latin Mass Catholics "Extremist" 0:52 – What the Richmond Memo Actually Said 2:39 – Scripture and Catholic Teaching on Religious Freedom 4:28 – 2024 DOJ Report: FBI Violated First Amendment 5:02 – June 2025 Bombshell: Multi-Office Coordination and Deleted Logs 7:41 – The Xavier Lopez Case: Crime vs. Religious Profiling 9:38 – Three Lessons for Catholics and All Americans 🌐 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 – January 23, 2023: FBI Richmond memo on "radical traditionalist Catholic ideology" – 2024 DOJ Office of Inspector General report: FBI improperly conflated religious beliefs with terrorism – June 2025: Senate Judiciary Committee (Chairman Chuck Grassley) releases documents showing multi-office coordination – Matthew 22:15–21 – "Render to Caesar… and to God the things that are God's" – Acts 5:29 – "We must obey God rather than men" – CCC 2104–2109 – Religious freedom as an inalienable right – Pope St. John Paul II, Centesimus Annus §46 – Democracy requires respecting transcendent human dignity – September 2025: FBI Director Cash Patel testifies on terminations/resignations of involved employees 💬 Reflection Question If government agencies can profile Catholics for attending Latin Mass, whose faith will be targeted next—and are you ready to defend religious freedom for all?

Nota Bene ~ Religious freedom is a heresy condemned by Bld Pope Pius IX in his Syllabus of Errors in Paragraph #15.

Could It Be More Fitting? If You Know a Bit About Pope St Sylvester, His Feast Day Is Just Perfect

Today is the Feast of Pope St Sylvester, the last day of the year. It is celebrated as "Sylvester" in much of Europe, with parties and fireworks.

From Aleteia

By Nicholas Senz

He took Peter’s Throne in the year 314, just a year after Constantine famously conquered under the sign of the Cross, and changed the Empire’s view of Christianity.

There’s a tradition within Catholic theology of making arguments from fittingness. It’s not a strict logical connection, but an almost poetic one, a beautiful thread tying together two seemingly unrelated items. For a faith that believes in a Divine Providence that works in all things, this should not be surprising.

For example, Pope St. Gregory the Great notes the fittingness of Christ being born in Bethlehem. The town’s name means “House of Bread,” and he who was born there was the bread come down from heaven, the bread of life given for the life of the world. In short, with God, there are no coincidences.

With the feast of Pope St. Sylvester today, we see another bit of seeming serendipity that communicates something profound to us.

Very little is known about this holy pontiff. Early sources record his parents’ names, Rufinus and Justa, but nothing else about his early life. Even the content of his pontificate is fairly obscure. But what is known is momentous.

Sylvester became pope in 314, a time of intense turmoil in the Roman Empire. The tetrarachy set up by Diocletian decades before had descended into squabbling and then civil war, with each man seeking the imperial title solely for himself. In 312, two of the chief contenders, Constantine and Maxentius, met in battle at the Milvian Bridge. Inspired by a vision, Constantine had his soldiers fight beneath Christian symbols, the cross and the chi-rho, while Maxentius was a firm persecutor of the Church. Constantine emerged victorious. Maxentius drowned while trying to escape.

The way was clear for a new Roman stance toward Christianity. The previous three centuries had seen periodic persecutions both locally and empire-wide. Now, both of the remaining emperors were friendly toward the faith. Thus, in 313, Constantine and his co-emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan, which officially tolerated Christianity and forbade any further persecution. Not only that, the edict ordered all property stolen from Christians to be returned. (Contrary to popular misconception, the edict did not make Christianity the official religion of the empire. That would not happen until 380, when Emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica.)

Thus when Pope Sylvester was elected as the Successor of St. Peter in 314, he found himself in a very different set of circumstances. Whereas formerly Christians had met secretly in homes, during Sylvester’s pontificate the emperor himself would construct several massive churches in the style of the Roman bureaucratic palace, the basilica. St. John Lateran and the original St. Peter’s were built at this time.

Another monumental event would take place a few years later. In the wake of the Arian crisis, Constantine called together all the bishops of the world, not to his new eponymous capital, Constantinople, but the hot springs resort just across the Bosporus, Nicaea. It was the first ecumenical council of the Church. Yet the pope, the bishop of Rome and head of the apostolic college, did not himself attend, sending two legates instead, one of whom presided over the council in Sylvester’s stead.

Pope Sylvester reigned over a Church that was transitioning from hidden liturgies and secret meetings to a publicly supported role in civic life. His ministry came right at the time when the light was dawning and the page was turning (to mix a few metaphors). Likewise, his feast day falls on the last day of the calendar when we anticipate a new year, and the time of the seasons when the darkest days are behind and the light is increasing. Fitting! Though not intentional.

As with many saints, Pope Sylvester’s feast day was assigned to the day of his death. The confluence of events was not intended by anyone—save Providence itself, perhaps.