"When they shall say peace and security..."

1st Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, Chapter 5

“…For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall so come, as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. For all you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, having on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  Who died for us; that, whether we watch or sleep, we may live together with him.

For which cause comfort one another; and edify one another, as you also do.

…Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all. Extinguish not the spirit. Despise not prophecies.

…The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

Beef up your preps.

This Is What It's All About!

See our previous post promoting the Catholic Land Movement’s upcoming summer conferences. Here’s a great excerpt from director Michael Thomas’ opening talk at last year’s NY conference. It is so inspiring and I think he is right in saying many Catholics are coming to dream of a very different world and a very different life: The Authentic Life! There is more footage of last year’s conference on the YouTube channel (I’m probably in there somewhere LOL). And maybe I will see you at the New York one day conference next month!

Catholic Land Movement Conference Summer 2024 ~ Short Video Clip

Text:

“Am I alone in dreaming of a world, where I wake up to the sound of bells calling me to Daily Office, and then leaving there for a meal with my family, and then leaving there to meet my brothers in the field, where we work by the sweat of our brow and pause to say the Angelus at 12, and then return to the field?

And then go to the home where my wife is productive with my children in a domestic setting where things are being made, where the children work on dresses and canning and pickling food.

And I went out and milked the animals at the end of the day.

And then I went to the monastery, which was right down the road and caught Vespers at night. Maybe there was a Mass.

I lived an agricultural life layered on top of a liturgical life where Ember and Rogation Days really meant something in my life because the blessing of my fields was critically important.

When fast days really actually helped keep my larder full.

When Lent was really about making it through Spring.

I dream sometimes of living that simple life. Am I alone in dreaming that? Anybody else feel like they want that?

I think there's something deep in all of us as Catholics that calls us to that that idea of a life of a cadence of seasons, of a deepness in our prayer and liturgical life, a deepness in our relationship to our labor and its dignity, and an ordering, a natural order to our family that is beautiful and touched by God's grace. I believe that many of us as Catholics hold that dream.

For 3 days at this conference squint your eyes and just pretend that that's what we live like. Let yourself live that dream that I think we all carry about what Catholic community could be like.

Then we're going to go out into the world and make it happen.”

Is that beautiful, or what?

Novenas to the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts

The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus started yesterday (you can still do it!) and the one to the Immaculate Heart of Mary starts today. Find a novena you like. Here’s a great resource:

Pray More Novenas

The Original Novena Reminder

There’s never been a more important time!

Catholic Land Movement Summer Events

[Edited since posting.]

There are 2 upcoming events, one in New York and one in Indiana. I’m a member and attended my first conference last year. The topics were very interesting, including general gardening/farming, advanced water infrastructure and the philosophy and history of agrarianism. They had vendors, great food and spiritual activities on beautiful grounds. Also, lots of children!

“The Catholic Land Movement exists to facilitate the rural resettlement of Catholics onto productive property which they own.”

New York Regional Day Conference

• Saturday, July 19, 2025, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

“Join us for a day of practical workshops, speakers, and fellowship at Rosa Mystica Shrine, Edmeston, NY (near Cooperstown), on July 19th. Great place to meet other Catholic Homesteaders and agrarians.'“ (I’m in charge of food for this event. I need help!..I’m also a backup speaker.) Workshops will include topics similar to last year, in addition to tin-smithing and meat prep. There will be a low Tridentine Mass to start the day.

2025 National Conference

• Fri, Aug 29, 2025, 5:30 PM-Sun, Aug 31, 2025, 6:30 PM

“Join us for our 4th Annual National CLM Conference, hosted by Edelweiss House in Greensburg, Indiana.

Spread the word!

“Dear Ian, I know you said to stay away from riot-stricken areas, but I have obligations. Advice?”

“Yeah, don’t go.” READ MORE:

Needs must drive, When the Devil dances

The Bugscuffle Gazette

Thought for the Day

“If you’re not in control, something else is. And that’s dangerous.”

Lisa Kyle

Octave of Pentecost & the Ember Days

It is the Octave of Pentecost and also the Ember Days of Summer this week. Why not print our Pentecost prayers from the Mass in the previous post, and incorporate them into your prayers this week? You can easily combine the Octave with the prayerful Ember Days!

A Little Note to Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte, On Pentecost! (with Mass PDF)

You wanna get rid of the Saint Michael prayer? Unsmart man. You’re messing with the wrong dude!

+ + +

On this Pentecost Sunday, let us pray for the Diocese of Charlotte and for Bishop Martin in this hour of great need. Let us pray for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV and for peace to reign in Holy Church once more.

Come Holy Ghost! Enlighten the minds of our Church hierarchy to navigate this time of the clashing of light and dark.

Saint Michael, defend the holy and innocent!

From the Tridentine Mass of today…(read the beautiful words below and know this is what is being persecuted, this is what the forces of evil wish to destroy)…

The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world, alleluia; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.

O God, Who on this day didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit: grant unto us, by the same Spirit, to be wise in what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation.

Alleluia, alleluia. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Alleluia.

Veni, sancte Spíritus, reple tuórum corda fidélium: et tui amóris in eis ignem accénde!

+++ SEQUENCE FOR PENTECOST +++

Come Thou Holy Spirit, come, And from Thy celestial home, Shed a ray of light divine.

Come, Thou Father of the poor, Come, Thou source of all our store, Come, within our bosoms shine, Thou of comforters the best, Thou the soul's delightful guest, Sweet refreshment here below.

In our labor rest most sweet, Pleasant coolness in the heat, Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill.

Where Thou art not, man hath nought, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew, On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away.

Bend the stubborn heart and will, Melt the frozen, warm the chill, Guide the steps that go astray.

On Thy faithful who adore, And confess Thee evermore, In Thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give them virtue's sure reward, Give them Thy salvation, Lord, Give them joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Confirm, O God, what Thou hast wrought in us; from Thy temple, which is in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to Thee, alleluia.

Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the gifts offered up to Thee and cleanse our hearts by the light of the Holy Spirit.

It is truly 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, through Christ our Lord. Who, ascending above all the heavens and sitting at Thy right hand, poured out on Pentecost the promised Holy Spirit upon the children of adoption. Wherefore the whole world doth rejoice with overflowing joy and the heavenly Hosts also and the angelic Powers sing together the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dóminus Deus Sábaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis! Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis!

Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming where they were sitting, alleluia: and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking the wonderful works of God, alleluia, alleluia.

May the infusion of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, cleanse our hearts, and render them fruitful by the inward sprinkling of His dew.

PRINT THIS! PDF PENTECOST TRIDENTINE MASS EXCERPTS

Trad Youth in Rebellion?

“The Tridentine Mass will return because youth is always in rebellion.”

Laurence Lesser

No, Mr. Lesser was not famous. He was a family friend of my parents, who we always called Uncle Larry. I became close to him later in his life and would visit him in a nursing home upstate, NY. We would correspond, and in one of his letters (early 90’s, only several years after Pope John Paul II liberalized the old Mass and I started attending it), he wrote the above quote, which I have never forgotten. I found him a rare encouragement in the Faith and particularly in my interest in the Tridentine Mass. The very last time I visited him, he said he had lost his Rosary beads in the nursing home. I had a pair of white plastic ones in my car and ran out to get them. It was a very short visit, as we were pressed for time. I remember placing them in his hand and then saying “Goodbye.” What a beautiful memory and I feel so blessed to have been able to do that for him in his final days.

As we see young people flocking to the “Mass of the Ages,” looking for something with true meaning, it would seem Uncle Larry was a prophet. They are indeed rebelling against a culture of narcissism and nihilism. They want happy, faithful marriages. They want children. Quite frankly, they want a normal life. I personally know many of these young people. I’ve seen them grow and blossom as they practice a truly devout Catholic life. I’ve seen them lovingly holding their children in their arms. I am always captivated by the babies at Mass, knowing it is to them, that I have a responsibility-that is why I do this work. I have only to look at these holy innocents and it is enough of a motivation.

As modernists see their “utopic” vision vanishing before their very eyes, they are unleashing their final attack. They can’t quite handle the cognitive dissonance that the great “Age of Aquarius” they were mind-controlled into slavishly working toward…is dead and dying. They just can’t face up to the fact that their whole lives were a mistake…and that they fell for a lie. Modernism bore no fruit-it had no roots. The plant itself is withering. Who knew that those who despised tradition would one day cling with draconian rigidity to their own traditions? The future belongs to those of the counter-rebellion.

“Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.”

Matthew 7:20

That doesn’t mean we are in for a cakewalk. But it does mean there is hope and certainty, in fact…that what was purchased with the Blood of Christ will prevail, because it must.

Please keep dear Larry and his family in prayer-much thanks. Please know we do take prayer requests and will post them if you like.

Let Us Remember D-Day (and little-known WWII stories)

I realized when I saw “D-Day” on my calendar today, that I never learned much about this historical day which turned the tide of World War II.  So I embarked on some research which spiraled in several directions…

I personally have a deep connection to WWII and have done lots of research on Nazi Germany over the years, which led me to discovering the Catholic martyr, Fr. Alfred Delp.  My father, named Joseph, was almost killed by a shrapnel bomb, as a recruit of the “Seabees”.   I think he was performing an operation, disengaging these land mines, when this happened. I remember the horrifying scars on his back.  I remember the dramatic blue and red tattoo on his arm.  I remember his Navy hat in the hallway closet.

The Seabees (cleverly taken from “CB,” Construction Battalion) were Navy soldier engineers/builders/craftsmen, formed specifically for WWII and its unique challenges (they would also conduct clean-up in destroyed areas).  The USA needed to establish infrastructure around the world and these were the highly qualified men to do it.  Not only did they have to build, but build as covertly as possible.  Many of these guys were both tough and intellectual, knowing how to wield a gun while doing calculus in their heads!  Those who knew my father would laugh, as this is exactly who he was, perfect for the job, a macho Sicilian from Brooklyn who went on to design machines for factories.  Apparently, he was recruited as an electrical engineering student of the Illinois Institute of Technology (this is what I have gleaned, as he passed when I was very young).

My father told the story of a little-known suicide mission in the Philippines, undertaken by his courageous fellow Seabees.  If he had volunteered himself, you would not be reading these words.  This was one war story which seemed to imprint itself indelibly upon his heart.  And this may be the first time it has ever publicly been told.  I won’t be able to get the technicalities right, so I won’t try.  It was an effort to disrupt Japanese communication systems, which were electrically dependent.  The engineer had to go into an electrical box and blow it up, dying in the process. 

Here is a recent article honoring the Seabees, which are still in existence and also played a role in the D-Day invasion.  Today, they do all the same work, only it’s more high-tech and they also are called to help after natural disasters…

“From erecting entire bases in the jungles of Vietnam to constructing floating causeways for D-Day landings, the Seabees have pulled off some of the most audacious engineering feats in military history. Their work has enabled some of the most crucial missions in modern warfare…Beyond the battlefield, former Seabees have gone on to revolutionize the civilian construction industry, carrying their skills and discipline into the world of infrastructure development. Despite their vital role, the Seabees often remain in the shadows of military history. Their contributions deserve more recognition, as they are the foundation—literally—of countless military victories. The Seabee ethos is one of resilience, innovation, and determination.”

Blood, Sweat, and Concrete: Inside the World of the Seabees

USN for Life ~ you can get cool gear here too!

Moving on to another story, my father’s brother, Uncle Sal, was one of the survivors of the sinking of the “Sammy B” ship off the coast of the Philippines. Most of the crew survived, but had to swim in shark waters for 3 days. I should not have to tell you what my uncle and the other men witnessed and suffered in those 3 days. He was so traumatized, he lost his voice for a time.  Salvatore went on to become Chief Architect of Walt Disney World in Florida, influencing a generation of architects.  After seeing the absolute worst life could offer up, he dedicated himself to the creation of a fantasy paradise…also, a little-known story of American 20th-century history.

Back to D-Day, the largest sea invasion in history, here’s an article from yesterday, which includes video footage and a pep-talk by Eisenhower…

“By being able to get forces into Normandy, the Allies were able to begin their advance into northwest Europe. Though World War II lasted nearly another year in Europe, the success of Operation Overlord led to the liberation of France and allowed the Allies to fight the Germans in Nazi-occupied Europe. The US’ National World War II Museum says that a good way to appreciate the significance of D-Day is to imagine what would have happened if the operation had failed. According to the museum, another landing would have not been possible for at least a year. In this time, Hitler could have strengthened Nazi-occupied Europe’s coastal defenses, developed aircraft and weapons, bombed the UK even more heavily and continued his killing campaign.”

What is D-Day? How the Normandy landings led to Germany’s defeat in World War II

CNN World

Let us pray for those who lost their lives on D-Day, on both the Allied and Axis sides, and for their families who suffered with so much grief…and for all the souls touched by that terrible war.  Let us pray for mercy for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Let us seek to console Our Lord’s Heart for these crimes.  Though this is said to have ended the war, we know as Catholics, civilians may never be targeted.  I would also like to remember my husband’s Uncle Harry, a young man killed in Germany in WWII.

As we approach Pentecost…

“Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.  Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.  And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”

May peace reign in Holy Church and throughout the world!