Virtus In Medio Stat

BE WATER, MY FRIEND  Watch this from Matt Fradd and Jimmy Akin on "Tough Love" in Apologetics:  https://youtu.be/73I8hCPI_eg?si=EgSU-A7CiUi7MwJj I tend to start off polite. But I also match their energy. If they come in hot, I might just respond with guns a blazing, or ignore them. Just depends. Everyone seems to have a preferred style and they want everyone else to be just like them bc they think their own style is always the best. If your intentions are good and pure, then maybe God will use you in the way he needs to for that other person. Let's not get too bogged down by technique. I think Bruce Lee's "be water my friend" approach is wise.  Some will disagree, I'm sure; that's fine.  You do you... Oh and, don't be too fooled by all the public facades of these professional Catholics; they ain't always as kind as their published personas appear to be. I know that from my own direct experience. I'm not a professional Catholic...

WHY RECOGNIZE AND RESIST MAKES LESS SENSE THAN SEDEVACANTISM AND FRANCISVACANTISM I came across this short video. I don't know who this guy is but "Novus Ordo Watch" has been around for a very long time. When I was studying the various Trad groups in the mid 2000s, I consumed much of their materials to get the Sedevacantist view, or at least their version of it. After distancing myself from the Trad community several years ago I thought myself to be somewhat in the R&R camp still because I had a lot of distaste for the Francis pontificate. In many ways, still do, to be quite honest. It should be obvious. But as I've had my private chats with Sedevacantist apologist Gerry Matatics and my two interviews with him, it became clear to me I'm really more in line with a Sedevacantist mentality that believes Francis is the true pope. That may sound like a strange way to describe myself. But bear with me, and it sounds like Gerry would back me on this (not ...

BORED AT MASS Video:  Alteration by Fr. Mike Schmitz I remember watching this video when it first came out around 7 years ago. I found it to be a little overdramatic at the time. Today, at the adult confirmation class that I attend and help with a bit of commentary for the parish director, this video was part of the lesson on the Mass. I thought it was a helpful conversation at the tables during the lesson. We started off talking about what the priest was and his role in the liturgy. I think this video was intended for teen confirmation but it seems also appropriate for adult confirmation since many of these folks haven't really been engaged in the Catholic faith for some time and it is good to present the basics. Having drifted a little bit further away from my former traditionalism since 7 years ago, I can appreciate a video like this. But here's what I find a bit inconsistent here.  I've gone to so many different parishes in my diocese and surrounding diocese...

Excerpts from  A Liturgy from Hell FEBRUARY 2024  BY GEORGE A. KENDALL https://chroniclesmagazine.org/society-culture/a-liturgy-from-hell/?fbclid=IwAR0IEJz64LXby5tXQ8GufuxhMejJKyzkEXf6E4dWgxke2Kh--ZIR-hrQuNI Responses by Laurence Gonzaga "Clearly, the Novus Ordo is not the work of the Holy Spirit, and that leaves only one other possibility—that it is the work of Satan. The Traditional Latin Mass has the authority of the Holy Spirit behind it. The Novus Ordo does not. Just as clearly, neither the Novus Ordo itself nor Traditionis Custodes has legitimate authority behind it, and we are not obliged in conscience to obey either. They are null and void." Laurence: Clearly? Says who? Who is George Kendall to conclude this as if it's an infallible truth revealed to him by God. The Devil didn't give us the Novus Ordo, don't be ridiculous. The real question here is, who hurt you, George Kendall? "The Novus Ordo has been with us only half a century. During ...

From:  Laurence Gonzaga  Sent:  Thursday, November 29, 2007, 1:55:39 PM PST Subject:  The Literal Interpretation of the  Scriptures : How I Understand It The Literal Interpretation of the  Scriptures : How I Understand It By: Laurence Gonzaga   I think it is very important, especially in this age, to reflect upon how we read the Sacred  Scriptures . I would recommend that the reader abandon their preconceived notions and labels for a few moments as they read further.   Personally, I think the word "fundamentalist" is a term popularized by a spirit in the Church which seems to be influenced by the doctrines of  Gnosticism (Hidden knowledge)  and  Modernism (Denial of the Supernatural) , which therefore fosters a  sense  of  relativism (Truth is not objective and universal, it is subjective and particular) . After all, the "fundamentalist" asserts there is a concrete and exact  sense  of the...

DEVELOPING A SUMMARY OF THE ATONEMENT In some parallel universe I might have chosen theology as my career field. Alas, not in this universe. It's simply a hobby of study. I came across an old post of mine summarizing the atonement. I couldn't find it in any of my digital archives. Luckily my post had a screenshot and I was able to find it in an email chain between me and Catholic apologist and author Robert Sungenis. This exchange is what led to my brief summary of the atonement which earned his seeming approval. Here's the exchange. Some edits had to be made due to some personal commentary. My summary of the atonement is at the bottom. Enjoy. Or not. 😞 - Laurence Gonzaga, MA,  Child Development Psychology  Gonzaga:  I just watched this from NT Wright. It was pretty compelling. It sounds like Christus Victor. Eastern Catholics/Orthodox seem to favor Christus Victor.  Can Vicarious Satisfaction be coupled with Christus Victor? https://youtube.com/watch?v=...

LITURGY WARS: THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY I read the first part here from Andrew Likoudis. I appreciate the balanced view he offers. Here's a few thoughts. https://wherepeteris.com/the-liturgical-path-of-the-church-after-vatican-ii/  "The council’s reforms made the liturgy more accessible and engaging for the laity in many cases." I'm not sure I agree with this piece here. At the very least, I don't think it's a universal thing. I can see how the Novus Ordo can be seen as more accessible to the vast majority of folks now, perhaps as a reinterpretation of the post concilar reactions of the common folks, by way of our own current present day biases. After all, why wouldn't we assume that having a liturgy in our vernacular language is naturally more engaging and accessible than a mysterious foreign language I don't understand. But I would argue psychologically, and perhaps this has to do with certain personality styles or types, but there'...