The Lepers: Letter From the Secretariat of State Blocking Entry of Traditional Pilgrims to Saint Peter’s Basilica

At least, it didn't come as a surprise when they were refused admittance to St. Peter's. One of Leo's lackeys had already told them it was a no-go.

From Rorate Cæli

Three weeks before the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage, which is in its 15th year and has always ended on the last Sunday in October, Father Claude Barthe, chaplain of the pilgrimage, received the denial.

Diane Montagna reports (main excerpt):

A letter from the Vatican Secretariat of State to the organizers of the annual Ad Petri Sedem pilgrimage, obtained by this journalist, confirms reports that the pilgrims were barred from entering St. Peter’s Basilica in procession to pray at the tomb of the Apostle.

The letter, dated 30 September 2026, is signed by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Substitute for General Affairs, and addressed to the pilgrimage’s chaplain, Abbé Claude Barthe. Written in French, it reads:

“Dear Father, in reply to your letter of 8 September, concerning the international pilgrimage Ad Petri sedem, I inform you that it is not possible to respond favorably to your request. Please accept, dear Father, the expression of my religious and devoted regard.”

Having already been denied permission to celebrate a solemn Mass in the Basilica, the organizers asked instead for permission to enter St. Peter’s in procession, to pray for Pope Leo XIV at the Confession, i.e., just above the tomb of St. Peter, and to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of the Chair.

Their request noted that the Basilica’s sacristy had said 1 p.m. would be possible, provided the Secretariat of State granted permission. [source]

***

We are speechless. No words left from us. Yet, there are appropriate words to express our being treated as lepers, and they are those of the great Pope Benedict XVI:

[S]hould not the great Church also allow herself to be generous in the knowledge of her great breadth, in the knowledge of the promise made to her? Should not we, as good educators, also be capable of overlooking various faults and making every effort to open up broader vistas? And should we not admit that some unpleasant things have also emerged in Church circles? At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them – in this case the Pope – he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint.

Dear Brothers, during the days when I first had the idea of writing this letter, by chance, during a visit to the Roman Seminary, I had to interpret and comment on Galatians 5:13-15. I was surprised at the directness with which that passage speaks to us about the present moment: "Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another." I am always tempted to see these words as another of the rhetorical excesses which we occasionally find in Saint Paul. To some extent that may also be the case. But sad to say, this "biting and devouring" also exists in the Church today, as expression of a poorly understood freedom. Should we be surprised that we too are no better than the Galatians? That at the very least we are threatened by the same temptations? That we must always learn anew the proper use of freedom? And that we must always learn anew the supreme priority, which is love? [source]

***

We are lepers. We are hated. We are despised. We are left out. We are the outcasts. WE ARE THE "PERIPHERIES", and Jesus is closer to us because of that. And we are to suffer His fate at the hands of the Grand Inquisitor Parolin:

" 'It is Thou! ... Thou!' ... Receiving no reply, he rapidly continues: 'Nay, answer not; be silent! ... And what couldst Thou say? ... I know but too well Thy answer.... Besides, Thou hast no right to add one syllable to that which was already uttered by Thee before.... Why shouldst Thou now return, to impede us in our work? For Thou hast come but for that only, and Thou knowest it well. But art Thou as well aware of what awaits Thee in the morning? I do not know, nor do I care to know who thou mayest be: be it Thou or only thine image, to-morrow I will condemn and burn Thee on the stake, as the most wicked of all the heretics; and that same people, who to-day were kissing Thy feet, to-morrow at one bend of my finger, will rush to add fuel to Thy funeral pyre... Wert Thou aware of this?' he adds, speaking as if in solemn thought, and never for one instant taking his piercing glance off the meek Face before him." (Dostoevky, The Brothers Karamazov)

The Porch in Indy

The Front Porch Republic held its conference in Indianapolis over the past weekend. They sat on a front porch for good food, good drinks, and good conversation.

From Front Porch Republic

By Jeffrey Bilbro

FPR continues to gather wonderfully contrarian people.

We enjoyed a rich and encouraging Front Porch Republic gathering in Indianapolis this weekend. Robb Greene hosted us in style at the stately Indiana War Memorial & Museum. Friday evening, after Jeff Polet’s opening, Chestertonian talk, many of us gathered at The Antelope Club for drinks and conversation. (Thanks to John Murdoch for the photos.)

Alexandra Hudson talks about the history of porches.

Saturday was full of good talks, ranging from the practical to the philosophical. Joanna Taft described her work with the Harrison Center, Alexandra Hudson, Amber Lapp, and Jeanne Schindler reflected on how we might build neighborly communities in different contexts, despite technological and political challenges.

In what I believe is a first for FPR, we had two sitting politicians speak, and both Robb Greene and Hunter Smith made compelling cases for the ways that serving in political offices, at least local ones, can genuinely help our neighbors. This was certainly the first FPR conference graced with the presence of a Super Bowl ring, although I think that fact was less central to Hunter’s Porcher street cred than his authorship of a new state law that empowers farmers to sell food products.

Bill Kauffman closes things out.

Patrick Deneen’s keynote gave an incisive history of FPR and drew lessons about the necessary tensions that animate our localist conversations. He described some of the early disputes among Porchers and the different criticisms we’ve received over the years (are we libertarian? Marxist? Fascist? Dangerously apolitical?) He challenged us not to settle into a complacent middle age but continue to debate local, practical approaches to building vibrant communities and debate the possibilities of government policies that reign in big money and big tech and make space for local flourishing.

You can write the caption for what Hoyt is saying to the Greenes.

The program wrapped up with Jeremy Beer reminding us that even Eugene Debs’s neighbors, who disagreed vehemently with his socialist politics, thought it mattered that he was a “nice person” and cared about him accordingly. Jeremy also announced that Creed and Culture would be publishing the authorized Wendell Berry biography as soon as Jason Peters gets around to writing it. When he spoke, Jason Peters waxed sentimental about the value of “ordinary people living extraordinary lives,” and Bill Kauffman concluded with Batavia-centered reflections on the possibilities of living as neighbors.

The Hudson’s hosted us all on their generous front porch Saturday evening, and it was the perfect place to enjoy good food, good drinks, and good conversation. Sometimes I wonder if organizing these conferences amounts to more trouble than their worth, but after a weekend like this one, I remember how vital it is to continue to gather in person, renew old friendships, and start some new ones. FPR continues to gather wonderfully contrarian people. And, of course, the recently departed great contrarian was often and fondly recalled.

Bishop Challoner's Meditations ~ October 26th

ON THE REMEDIES AGAINST SPIRITUAL SLOTH

Consider first, that the sovereign remedy against spiritual sloth is the daily practice of consideration, particularly by meditating on those moving truths which either represent to us the infinite goodness of our God, his love for us, the passion of his Son, and those innumerable motives we have to love him and to be fervent in his service, or else denounce to us his many judgments, both in time and eternity, upon the obstinate opposers of his grace, and the rebels of his love. O what heart can be so far hardened by sloth as to stand out against such meditations as these, when frequently repeated? We have a God to serve, and a soul to save. This God is infinitely good, and good to us. He is all goodness, beauty, truth, and all perfection; he is infinitely lovely, and he is our ancient and eternal lover; his Son came down from heaven for the love of us; he employed his whole life in seeking out salvation; he even died for love of us; we have received and daily do receive many great benefits from him; his thought is always upon us. And shall not the consideration of all this goodness and love of his for us, oblige us to be fervent in the love of him, and diligent in his service? If we love him, and serve him as we ought, he will be our protector here, and our reward exceeding great hereafter. If we neglect his love and service, he threatens us with eternal evils, and death, judgment, and hell are always following us at our heels. And shall not the remembrance of all his promises on the one hand, and of all his threats and judgments on the other, effectually rouse us up out of our slothful indolence, and spur us on to labour in earnest for the securing our eternity?

Consider 2ndly, that another remedy against sloth is to reflect often, that the short time of this life is given us by our maker for nothing else but to labour therein, and to labour for eternity; that we can have no other stock to live on for eternity but what we provide and send before us, by working well during the twelve hours of this short day of our mortal life; that every moment of this time is precious, it is even worth an eternity, because by the good employment of every moment we may add to our eternal stock, and consequently to our eternal glory; that what we lose of it by sloth is lost for ever, and that the loss is irreparable; that the night will be quickly with us, in which no man can work, and therefore that we must husband well this short, this precious time,and spend it to the best advantage, labouring by good works to make our calling and election sure, 2 Pet. i. 10. Oh! what a strict account shall one day be demanded of us, of the employment of this whole time! And where shall the slothful hide their heads at that day?

Consider 3rdly, and set often before your eyes, in order to overcome all spiritual sloth, the life and death of the Son of God, the great pattern of a Christian, who was never idle, but always employed in doing the will of his Father. O how happy is the Christian that endeavours to be always employed in this manner! Read also, and meditate often on the lives of the saints, and excite yourself to fervour in the service of God, by their example and by the consideration of their eternal glory. O what pains do the children of this world daily take, what danger do they expose themselves to for the sake of a little dirt, which they must leave behind them to-morrow? And is it not a shame that Christians should not do as much for a happy eternity? Remember also on all occasions that the eye of your great master is always upon you; therefore take care to please him, not only by ever doing something - because such is his will and appointment - but also by labouring to perform all your actions with that perfection which becomes works done for so great a king.

Conclude to arm thyself, by these and such like considerations, against all the mischiefs that are otherwise to be apprehended from this pernicious vice of spiritual sloth; and that thou mayest keep thyself farther off from its approaches, beware of all tepidity or lukewarmness in the service of God. Often reflect upon the sentence that was past upon the barren fig-tree, Luke xiii., and fear lest, if thou also content thyself with a show of leaves, without bearing good fruit, the Lord of the vineyard may order thee also to be cut up and cast into the fire.

26 October, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

Hail Mary

1. After the Lord’s Prayer there is no more beautiful prayer than the Hail Mary, which we should recite with particular devotion in the decades of the Holy Rosary. At the beginning of the Rosary we can imagine that we are witnesses of the Annunciation to Mary in her home at Nazareth. An Angel descends from Heaven and bows before the Blessed Virgin as she kneels absorbed in prayer. “Hail, full of grace,” he says, “the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:26-28) We should join with the Angel of God in repeating these words fervently and devoutly.

The constant repetition of this prayer is very pleasing to Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother. When we greet her with the words of the Angel, we remind her of the great mystery of the Incarnation, which was the beginning of her lofty mission as co-redemptrix and the dawn of Christian civilisation.

Even when we say these words over and over again, they can never become monotonous. When a son is speaking to his mother, every word possesses an unlimited warmth and meaning because it is the expression of a boundless love. When we recite the decades of the Rosary, we should think of the heavenly Mother who is watching over us and listening to us, eager to console and assist us. She loves us with a maternal love, but she requires us to love her also and to prove that we are her children by imitating her virtues.

2. The Angel’s greeting was later completed by the salvation of St. Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth saw the Blessed Virgin coming to visit her, she cried out in humble veneration: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!” (Luke 1:42)

In the first part of the Hail Mary, then, we pay her in the words of the Gospel the highest tributes ever accorded to any human creature, proclaiming her to be full of grace, blessed among women, and Mother of the Redeemer. The second part, which was later added by the Church, is a heartfelt supplication addressed to Mary as the Mother of God and our Mother. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” It would be hard to find a more touching plea. We ask our heavenly Mother to intercede for us now because we have such great need of her assistance in this vale of tears and temptations. May she be always by our side to shelter us beneath her mantle.

3. We seek her intercession, moreover, at the hour of death. Death must come, but if we have prayed often to our heavenly Mother she will certainly be with us in those final and decisive moments of our lives. If Mary is there to help us, we may be sure that death will come as a consolation, for it will be a peaceful journey towards everlasting happiness.

Byzantine Saints: Holy, Glorious Demetrios the Myrrh-Gusher of Thessaloniki

Eastern Rite ~ Feasts of 26 October AM 7534

Today is the Feast of the Holy and Glorious Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios, from Whose Tomb Myrrh Streams Forth, and the Commemoration of the Great and Terrible Earthquake at Constantinople of 740.

✠✠✠✠✠

The Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios the Myrrh-gusher of Thessaloniki was the son of a Roman proconsul in Thessaloniki. Three centuries had elapsed and Roman paganism, spiritually shattered and defeated by the multitude of martyrs and confessors of the Savior, intensified its persecutions. The parents of Saint Dēmḗtrios were secret Christians, and he was baptized and raised in the Christian Faith in a secret church in his father’s home.

By the time Dēmḗtrios had reached maturity and his father had died, Emperor Galerius Maximian had ascended the throne (305). Maximian, confident in Dēmḗtrios's education as well as his administrative and military abilities, appointed him to his father’s position as proconsul of the Thessaloniki district. The young commander's principal duties were to defend the city from barbarians and to eradicate Christianity. The Emperor's policy regarding Christians was expressed simply: “Put to death anyone who calls on the name of Christ.” The Emperor did not suspect that by appointing Dēmḗtrios he had provided him with the opportunity to bring many people to Christ.

Accepting the appointment, Dēmḗtrios returned to Thessaloniki and confessed and glorified our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of persecuting and executing Christians, he began to teach the Christian Faith openly to the inhabitants of the city and to overthrow pagan customs and the worship of idols. The compiler of his Life, Simeon Metaphrastes, says that because of his teaching zeal he became “a second Apostle Paul” for Thessaloniki, particularly since “the Apostle to the Gentiles” founded the first community of believers in the city (1 Thess. and 2 Thess.).

The Lord also destined Saint Dēmḗtrios to follow Saint Paul on the path to martyrdom. When Maximian learned that the newly-appointed proconsul was a Christian and that he had converted many Roman subjects to Christianity, the Emperor's rage knew no bounds. Returning from a campaign in the area of the Black Sea, the Emperor decided to lead his army through Thessaloniki, determined to massacre the Christians.

Learning of this, Saint Dēmḗtrios ordered his faithful servant Lupus to give his wealth to the poor saying, “Distribute my earthly riches among them, for we shall seek heavenly riches for ourselves.” He began to pray and fast, preparing himself for martyrdom.

When the Emperor came into the city, he summoned Dēmḗtrios, who boldly confessed himself a Christian and denounced the falsehood and futility of Roman polytheism. Maximian ordered Dēmḗtrios to be thrown into prison. An Angel appeared to him, comforting and encouraging him.

Meanwhile, the Emperor amused himself by staging games in the circus. His champion was a German by the name of Lyaeos. He challenged Christians to wrestle with him on a platform built over the upturned spears of the victorious soldiers. A brave Christian named Nestor went to the prison to Saint Dēmḗtrios, his instructor in the Faith, asking for his blessing to fight the barbarian. With the blessing and prayers of Saint Dēmḗtrios, Nestor defeated the fierce German and hurled him from the platform onto the spears of the soldiers, just as the murderous pagan would have done with the Christian. The enraged commander ordered the execution of the holy Martyr Nestor (October 27) and sent a guard to the prison to kill Saint Dēmḗtrios. At dawn on October 26, 306 soldiers appeared in the Saint's underground prison and ran him through with lances. His faithful servant, Saint Lupus, gathered up the blood-soaked garment of Saint Dēmḗtrios he took the imperial ring from his finger, a symbol of his high status, and dipped it in the blood. With the ring and other holy things sanctified the blood of Saint Dēmḗtrios, Saint Lupus began to heal the infirm. The Emperor ordered his soldiers to arrest and kill him.

The body of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios was cast out for wild animals to devour, but the Christians took it and secretly buried it in the earth.

During the reign of Saint Constantine (306-337), a church was built over the grave of Saint Dēmḗtrios. A hundred years later, during the construction of a majestic new church on the old spot, the incorrupt relics of the holy martyr were uncovered. Since the seventh century, a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh has been found beneath the crypt of the Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios, so he is called “the Myrrh-gusher.”

Several times, those venerating the holy wonderworker tried to bring his holy relics, or a part of them, to Constantinople. Invariably, Saint Dēmḗtrios made it clear that he would not permit anyone to remove even a portion of his relics.

It is interesting that among the barbarians threatening the Romans, Slavs occupied an important place, in particular those settling upon the Thessalonian peninsula. Some even believe that the parents of Saint Dēmḗtrios were of Slavic descent. While advancing towards the city, pagan Slavs were repeatedly turned away by the apparition of a threatening radiant youth, going around on the walls and inspiring terror in the enemy soldiers. Perhaps this is why the name of Saint Dēmḗtrios was particularly venerated among the Slavic nations after they were enlightened by the Gospel. On the other hand, Greeks dismiss the idea that Saint Dēmḗtrios was a Slavic saint.

The very first pages of the Russian Primary Chronicle, as foreordained by God, is bound up with the name of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki. The Chronicle relates that when Oleh the Wise threatened the Greeks at Constantinople (907), the Greeks became terrified and said, “This is not Oleh, but rather Saint Dēmḗtrios sent upon us from God.” Russian soldiers always believed that they were under the special protection of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios. Moreover, in the old Russian barracks, the Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios was always depicted as Russian. Thus this image entered the soul of the Russian nation.

Church veneration of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios in Russia began shortly after the Baptism of Rus'. Toward the beginning of the 1070s the Dimitriev monastery at Kyiv, known afterwards as the Mikhailov-Zlatoverkh monastery, was founded, The monastery was built by the son of Yaroslav the Wise, Great Prince Izyaslav, Dēmḗtrios in Baptism (+ 1078). The mosaic icon of Saint Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki from the cathedral of the Dimitriev monastery has been preserved up to the present day and is in the Tretiakov Gallery.

In the years 1194-1197 the Great Prince of Vladimir, Vsevolod III the Great-Nest (Dēmḗtrios in Baptism) “built at his court a beautiful church of the holy martyr Dēmḗtrios, and adorned it wondrously with icons and frescoes.” The Dimitriev cathedral also reveals the embellishment of ancient Vladimir. The wonderworking icon of Saint Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki from the cathedral iconostasis is located even now in Moscow, at the Tretiakov gallery. It was painted on a piece of wood from the grave of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios, brought from Thessaloniki to Vladimir in 1197.

One of the most precious depictions of the saint, a fresco on a column of the Vladimir Dormition cathedral, was painted by the holy Iconographer Andrew Rublev (July 4).

The family of  Alexander Nevsky (November 23 also venerated Saint Dēmḗtrios. Alexander named his eldest son in honour of the holy Great Martyr. His younger son, Prince Daniel of Moscow (March 4), built a church dedicated to the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios in the 1280s. This was the first stone church in the Moscow Kremlin. Later in 1326, under Ivan Kalita, it was taken down and the Dormition cathedral was built in its place.

The memory of Saint Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki is historically associated in Rus' with the military, patriotism and the defence of the country. This is apparent by the saint’s depiction on icons as a soldier in plumed armour, with a spear and sword in hand. There is a scroll (in later depictions) on which is written the prayer of Saint Dēmḗtrios for the salvation of the people of Thessaloniki, “Lord, do not permit the city or the people to perish. If You save the city and the people, I shall be saved with them. If they perish, I will perish with them.”

In the particular spiritual experience of the Russian Church, veneration of the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki is closely linked with the memory of the defence of the nation and Church by the Great Prince of Moscow, Dēmḗtrios of the Don (May 19). “An Account of the Life and Repose of the Great Prince Dēmḗtrios of the Don, Tsar of Russia,” written in the year 1393, already regards the Great Prince as a Saint, as other old Russian histories do. Great Prince Dēmḗtrios was a spiritual son and disciple of Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow (February 12), and a disciple and associate of other great figures of prayer in the Russian Land:  Sergius of Radonezh (September 25), Dēmḗtrios of Priluki (February 11), Theodore of Rostov (November 28). The Account states:

He [Great Prince Dēmḗtrios] worried a great deal about the churches of God, and he held the territory of the Russian land by his bravery: he conquered many enemies who had risen against us, and he protected his glorious city Moscow with wondrous walls. ...The land of Russia prospered during the years of his reign.

From the time of the building of the white-walled Kremlin (1366) by Great Prince Dēmḗtrios, Moscow was called “White-Stoned.”

By the prayers of his Heavenly patron, the holy warrior Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki, Great Prince Dēmḗtrios, in addition to his brilliant military victories, also gained the further prominence of Russia. He repelled the onslaught of the Lithuanian armies of Olgerd, he routed the Tatar army of Begich at the River Vozha (1378), and he smashed the military might of all the Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikovo Field on September 8, 1380 (the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), set between the Rivers Don and Nepryadva. The Battle of Kulikovo, for which the nation calls him Dēmḗtrios of the Don, became the first Russian national exploit, rallying the spiritual power of the Russian nation around Moscow. The “Zadonschina,” an inspiring historic poem written by the priest Sophronios of Ryazem (1381) is devoted to this event.

Prince Dēmḗtrios of the Don had a great reverence for the holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios. In 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the most holy object in the Vladimir Dimitriev cathedral: the icon of the Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios of Thessaloniki, painted on a board from the grave of the saint. A chapel dedicated to the Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios was built at Moscow’s Dormition Cathedral.

The Saint Dēmḗtrios Memorial Saturday was established for church-wide remembrance of the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo. This memorial service was held for the first time at the Trinity-Saint Sergius monastery on October 20, 1380, by Sergius of Radonezh, in the presence of Great Prince Dēmḗtrios of the Don. It is an annual remembrance of the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, among whom are the Schema-monks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrew (Oslyab).

Saint Dēmḗtrios is regarded as a protector of the young and is also invoked by those struggling with lustful temptations.

Troparion — Tone 3

The entire world has found you to be a great champion in times of peril; / for you put the heathen to flight, O victorious one. / As you brought to nought the boasts of Lyaeus, and gave courage to Nestor in the stadium, / in the same way, O Holy Great Martyr Dēmḗtrios, / entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.

Kontakion — Tone 2

(The Original Melody)
God, Who has given you invincible strength, Dēmḗtrios, / has adorned the Church with the royal purple of the streams of your blood, / and has kept your city unharmed, / for you are its support.

✠✠✠✠✠

In 740, at the time of the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian, there was a terrible earthquake at Constantinople. Seeing this as God’s just punishment for their sins, the people repented and prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos and to Saint Dēmḗtrios to help them. God had mercy on them, and the earthquake stopped.

Troparion — Tone 8

Christ our God, You look upon the earth and it trembles; / deliver us from the terrible threat of earthquakes; / and through the prayers of the Theotokos, send down upon us / Your abundant mercy and save us.

Kontakion — Tone 6

Deliver us all from upheavals, and from terrible afflictions caused by our sins, O Lord, / and spare Your people whom You have purchased with Your blood, O Master. / Do not deliver Your city to destruction by terrible earthquakes, / for we know no other God than You; / and to those who cry out You respond: / “I am with you and no one will be against you.”

IN LUMINE FIDEI: 26 OCTOBER – SAINT EVARISTUS (Pope and Martyr)

IN LUMINE FIDEI: 26 OCTOBER – SAINT EVARISTUS (Pope and Martyr): Evaristus was born in Greece of a Jewish father. Leaving his native town at a very early age, he went to Rome to study and distinguished ...

26 October, The Chesterton Calendar (Wisdom! Let Us Attend!)

OCTOBER 26th

It is currently said that hope goes with youth and lends to youth its wings of a butterfly; but I fancy that hope is the last gift given to man, and the only gift not given to youth. Youth is pre-eminently the period in which a man can be lyric, fanatical, poetic; but youth is the period in which a man can be hopeless. The end of every episode is the end of the world. But the power of hoping through everything, the knowledge that the soul survives its adventures, that great inspiration comes to the middle-aged. God has kept that good wine until now.

'Charles Dickens.'

26 October, The Holy Rule of St Benedict, Patriarch of Western Monasticism

CHAPTER XIX. Of the Discipline of saying the Divine Office

24 Feb. 26 June. 26 Oct.

We believe that the Divine presence is everywhere, and that the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the evil in every place. Especially should we believe this, without any doubt, when we are assisting at the Work of God. Let us, then, ever remember what the prophet saith: “Serve the Lord in fear”; and again, “Sing ye wisely” and, “In the sight of the angels I will sing praises unto Thee.” Therefore let us consider how we ought to behave ourselves in the presence of God and of His angels, and so assist at the Divine Office, that our mind and our voice may accord together.

27 October, The Roman Martyrology

Sexto Kaléndas Novémbris Luna sexta décima. Anno Dómini 2026

October 27th 2026, the 16th day of the Moon, were born into the better life:
At Avila, in Spain, the holy martyrs Vincent, Sabina, and Christeta, who were first racked until all their joints were loosened, then stones were put upon their heads which were beaten with heavy logs of wood, until their brains were burst, and so they finished their testimony under the (Emperor Diocletian and the) President Dacian.
At Thil-Chateau, (in Burgundy, in the third century,) the holy martyr Florence.
In Cappadocia, the holy martyrs Capitolina and Erotheis her handmaiden, who suffered under the Emperor Diocletian.
In Ethiopia, holy Frumentius, first Bishop of that country, who was first a captive there, then was ordained Bishop by holy Athanasius, and spread the Gospel in that country.
Likewise in Ethiopia, the holy King Elesbaan, who, after he had overcome the enemies of Christ in the time of the Emperor Justin, sent his kingly crown to Jerusalem, and made himself a monk in fulfilment of a vow, and so lived until he passed away hence to be ever with the Lord.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Meme of the Moment

Today is the 506th anniversary of his Coronation as Emperor of the Romans.

Traditional Catholic Evening Prayers in English | October

Traditional Catholic evening devotional prayers to close your day with your mind, heart, tongue, and soul on our Lord! The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Begin and end each day with prayer and make a sincere commitment this month to pray the Rosary every day! This 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 St Thomas Aquinas Seminary. You may follow the Office at Divinum Officium.

St Richard Gwyn, Martyr: Butler's Lives of the Saints

Second Vespers for the Feast of Christ the King

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

The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

The Last Sunday of October: The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

From Pseudoclasm:

The Kingdom of Heaven—Holy Church—is seen bringing forth out of her treasure “things new and old.” (Matthew 13:52) Although she can never add new dogmas to the deposit of Faith entrusted to her, as the ages go by she is seen understanding more perfectly and explaining more fully those treasures in her keeping. She is a living body, not a statue, and she can develop, though she can never change her nature. Hence, guided by the Holy Spirit of him who has promised to be with her not merely for a few centuries but unto the end of the world, she defines or emphasizes certain points of doctrine as she sees fit, considering needs of the times. We have an example in the institution of the feast, of the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Pius XI, in the jubilee year 1925, and explained to the faithful in the Encyclical Quas Primas.

Christians have ever hailed our divine Lord as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It was as a King that the representatives of the Eastern World came to adore him in the manger; it was as a King, albeit not knowing what he did, that the official representative of the Western world lifted him up upon the Cross. The patriarchs and prophets of the old dispensation foretold his royalty; he spoke constantly of his kingdom: when asked plainly whether he were in truth a king by the representative of Cæsar, he acknowledged that such indeed he was, though of a kingdom not of this world.

“His Kingship is founded upon the ineffable hypostatic union. It is spiritual and concerned with spiritual things. It is opposed to none other than to that of Satan, and to the powers of darkness. Christ is King over angels and men; King over men’s hearts and wills; his Kingship demands of its subjects a spirit of detachment from riches and earthly things, and a spirit of gentleness. They must hunger and thirst after justice and, more than this, they must deny themselves and carry the cross.”

Yet though his is a spiritual kingdom, opposed to no just earthly polity, “it would be a grave error to say that Christ has no authority whatever in civil affairs, since by virtue of the absolute empire over all creatures committed to him by the Father, all things are in his power. All men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ. In him is the salvation of the individual, in him is the salvation of society.”

Today we sadly behold “a world undone,” largely paganized in principles and outlook and, in recent years, in one country even glorying in the name “pagan.” At the best, governments mostly ignore God; and at the worst, openly fight against him, as we of today are witnessing in the Old World and in the New. Even the statesmen’s well-meant efforts to find a remedy for present ills and, above all, to secure world peace, prove futile because whereas peace is from Christ, and possible only in the Kingdom of Christ, his name is never mentioned throughout their deliberations or their documents. Christ is kept out of the State schools and seats of higher education; and the rising generations seem to be taught anything and everything save to know, love, and serve him. Art and literature all too frequently reflect the same tendencies.

And since the spirit of evil reigns inevitably wherever the spirit of Christ has ceased to reign, in public and in private men are flouting the moral laws of God, and some of the worst abominations of ancient paganism are becoming matters of every-day life. Moreover, be it remembered, modern paganism is worse than that of the ancient world, in that the former knows what it does as the latter did not. There is now an intense, positive hatred of Jesus Christ in the militant atheist, which differs in kind from the attitude of the fiercest Roman or Eastern persecutor: “If I had not come and spoken to them … if I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.” (John 15:22, 24)

Ever as practical as she is supernatural, the Church is not content with merely deploring the evil, nor even with counteracting it by sound teaching. She would also make definite reparation to the divine majesty thus denied and defied; to him whose royalty is slighted and insulted. Something must be done by those who, in a measure, understand and love, in order to atone for those who do not. “To repair the crime of ‘lèse-divinité,’ which denies God’s rights over the human society whose author he is, we must exalt Jesus Christ as King over all individuals, families, and peoples. If his universal royalty be proclaimed and his reign in society recognized, one of the principal evils of the modern world—the secularizing of public and private life—will be attacked at its roots.” (L’Amour de Dieu et de la Croix de Jesus, Garrigou-Lagrange O.P.) Hence we have the special exhortation of the Vicar of Christ, and the institution of the feast of this divine Kingship.

“To this end nothing would serve better than the institution of a special feast in honor of the Kingship of Christ. For people are instructed in the truths of faith, and brought to appreciate the inner joys of religion, far more effectually by the annual celebration of our sacred mysteries than by any pronouncement, however weighty, of the teaching of the Church. Such pronouncements usually reach only a few, and those the more learned among the faithful; feasts reach them all; the former speak but once, the latter speak every year—in fact forever. The Church’s teaching affects the mind primarily; her feasts affect both mind and heart, and have a salutary effect upon the whole of man’s nature … We have commanded its observance on a Sunday, in order that not only the clergy may perform their duty by saying Mass and reciting the Office, but that the laity too, free from their daily tasks, may in a spirit of holy joy give ample testimony of their obedience and subjection to Christ … that they may so order their lives as to be worthy, faithful, and obedient subjects of the Divine King.” (Quas Primas)

MASS

INTROIT

The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor; to Him be glory and empire for ever and ever.

Give to the King, O God, Thy justice, and to the King’s Son Thy judgment. Glory be to the Father, etc.

COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, Who in Thy beloved Son, the King of the whole world, hast willed to restore all things, mercifully grant that all the kindreds of the nations that are now divided by the wound of sin, may be brought under the sweet yoke of His rule: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth.

Commemoration is made of the occurring Sunday.

EPISTLE

Lesson of the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians 1:12-20

GRADUAL

He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the end of the earth. And all kings shall adore Him, all nations shall serve Him.

℣. His power shall be an everlasting power, which shall not be taken away; and His kingdom a kingdom that shall not decay.

In votive Masses after Septuagesima, instead of the Alleluia and its ℣., there is said:

TRACT

He shall cry out to me: Thou art my Father, my God, and the support of my salvation.

℣. And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth.

℣. And I will make his seed to endure for evermore, and his throne as the days of heaven.

In Paschal time, omitting the Gradual, there is said: Alleluia, alleluia. ℣. Potestas ejus, etc., as above; then:

Alleluia. ℣. He hath on his garment and on his thigh written: King of kings and Lord of lords. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Sequel of the holy Gospel according to John 18:33-37

OFFERTORY

Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

SECRET

We offer thee, O Lord, the victim of man’s reconciliations; grant, we beseech thee, that he whom we immolate in these present sacrifices may himself bestow on all nations the gifts of unity and peace, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord: Who liveth.

Commemoration is made of the occurring Sunday.

PREFACE

It is meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: Who didst anoint, with the oil of gladness, Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be the eternal Priest and King of the universe; that by offering Himself a spotless Victim and peace-offering on the altar of the Cross, He might accomplish the mysteries of man’s redemption, and that having subjected all creatures to His dominion, He might present to Thine infinite Majesty an everlasting and universal Kingdom; a kingdom of truth and life; and kingdom of holiness and grace; a kingdom of justice, love, and peace. And therefore …

COMMUNION

The Lord shall sit as King forever: the Lord shall bless His people in peace.

POSTCOMMUNION

We who have received the food of immortality, beseech Thee, O Lord: that we who glory in our warfare under the banners of Christ our King, may reign with Him forever in His heavenly swelling place: Who liveth and reigneth, etc.

Commemoration is made of the occurring Sunday, the Gospel of which is read at the end of Mass.

SECOND VESPERS

Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112, 116

ANT. 1. He shall be called the Peaceful one, and his throne shall be firmly established forever.

ANT. 2. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him and obey him.

ANT. 3. Behold a Man, the Orient is his name; he shall sit and rule, and shall speak peace unto the Gentiles.

ANT. 4. The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver: the Lord is our King, he will save us.

ANT. 5. Behold, I have given thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

LITTLE CHAPTER (Colossians 1)

Brethren: We give thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.

HYMN

Ruler of all from heaven’s high throne,
O Christ our king ere time began,
We kneel before thee, Lord to own
Thy empire o’er the heart of man.

While bands of shameless men refuse
The homage due to Christ their Lord,
We own thee sovereign Lord of all.
The King by heaven and earth adored.

O Prince of peace, o Christ, subdue
Those rebel hearts, thy peace restore;
Into thy sheep-fold lead anew
Thy scattered sheep, to stray no more.

For this upon the tree of shame,
Thy body hung, with arms spread wide,
The spear revealed the heart of flame
That burned within thy sacred side.

For this our altars here are spread
With mystic feast of bread and wine,
Still thy redeeming blood is shed
From that sore-stricken heart of thine.

May heads of nations fear thy name
And spread thy honor through their lands,
Our nation’s laws, our arts proclaim
The beauty of thy just commands.

Let kings the crown and scepter hold
As pledge of thy supremacy;
And thou all lands, all tribes enfold
In one fair realm of charity.

Jesu, to thee be honor done,
Who rulest all in equity
With Father, Spirit, ever One,
From age to age eternally.
Amen.

℣. His empire shall be multiplied.
℟. And there shall be no end of peace.

ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT

He hath on his garment and on his thigh written; King of kings and Lord of lords. To him be glory and empire, forever and ever.