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“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14). The indwelling Holy Spirit allows us to rejoice, no matter how greatly we suffer or are persecuted. One of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the past half century has been the discovery of the DNA molecule, which carries unique and essential genetic information about all living beings. The most well-known practical application of DNA has been the “fingerprinting” technique in which genetic information from one DNA sample is compared with that of another. If...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: Catholics will never attain true unity if it’s not grounded in ChristOn this week's two-part episode of The Bishop Strickland Show, Bishop Joseph Strickland discusses abiding in God's love, his pastoral letter on obedience, and unity in Christ. Bishop Joseph Strickland returns for this week’s episode of The Bishop Strickland Show, in which he discusses abiding in God’s love, respect for authority, and unity in Christ.Strickland begins the first part of the show with a commentary on part of the Last Supper Discourse from St. John’s Gospel. The bishop says Christ’s statement that if we keep...

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). We should rejoice in trials and persecutions, not for their own sake, but for the benefits that result. The late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his classic book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, made the following careful distinction on what it means to rejoice in persecution: “The Christian is, in a sense, one who must feel his heart breaking at the effect of sin in others that makes...

Pentecost is a very important feast in the liturgical life of the Church, and it has its own vigil. Not only so, but the Readings for the Vigil are particularly rich. I cannot think of another that has such a wide variety of options, for example, for the First Reading. Even though only one First Reading will be proclaimed in any given Mass, it is well worth pondering them all, in order to come to understand the significance of Pentecost more deeply: The First Reading Options for the Vigil: 1. Genesis 11:1-9, the Tower of Babel: The whole world spoke...

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). We can be certain of God’s love for us, no matter how unexpected or difficult any trial might be. Reassuring words are vital as we strive to deal in a godly fashion with trials and sufferings in our Christian lives. In today’s verse, Peter opens with a pastoral term (“beloved”) that conveys tenderness, love, and concern for his audience. It reinforces in a single word the concepts of fervent love...

Pentecost, a radiant jewel in the liturgical crown of the Catholic Church, illuminates our faith with the fiery descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples gathered in Jerusalem. Celebrated fifty days after Easter, Pentecost ignites our hearts with the timeless message of Divine empowerment, unity, and evangelization. The Acts of the Apostles transports us to that momentous day when the apostles, previously cloistered in fear, were filled with heavenly courage as tongues of fire settled upon them. The Holy Spirit, in His boundless wisdom and grace, bestowed upon them the gift of tongues, enabling them to proclaim...

Let's discuss the Readings for Pentecost Sunday Mass during the Day.First Reading: Acts 2:1-111When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5Now there were devout Jews from...

In James 1:27, the apostle James gives us insight into what pleases God: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (NASB). The word for “undefiled” is translated “faultless” in the NIV. When interpreting any verse in the Bible, including James 1:27, we should always look at its context to get an idea of what the verse means within the surrounding verses. In this case, we can look at what comes immediately before James 1:27 and get some...

On today’s Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck is joined by the Kwak brothers to break down why the year 2030 is so pivotal for the Great Reset agenda—and how the push for global government and a digital currency is growing at an alarming rate. Does this sinister movement have prophetic implications? Watch now!

“Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9). All of Satan’s involvement in our sufferings and trials is under God’s control, which means our success against him is also in God’s sovereign hands. During the past twenty-five years, there has been a tremendous upsurge of interest in the occult, Satan worship, and evil supernatural influences. Such unwise fascination has had an impact on the church and...

"The View" co-hosts criticized Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s Catholic faith on Thursday, saying the athlete's religious outlook is being compared to "cult-like and extremist religions in the Middle East" and recommending he go to therapy. The panelists added to the backlash Butker has received for his recent commencement speech at a private Catholic college in Kansas in which he promoted his traditional Catholic values, criticized the LGBTQ community and President Biden, and championed his wife’s vocation as a "homemaker." "If you’re using this to oppress people or hold them down,

[Catholic Caucus] The Whisky Priest and Jairus’ DaughtersBefore the start of Mass in a Mexican town last week, a wounded American bishop looked into a sea of teenage girls who had, he’d been told, been hurt in inhumane ways. Three thousand or so girls stood before him at Villa de Las Niñas in blue skirts, white blouses, bobby socks, and black saddle shoes. These were Mexico’s bullied ones from Guerrero, Oaxaca, Durango, Veracruz, Puebla, Jalisco, and numberless other poor villages. In the silence of the mammoth gymnasium, the wounded looked into the eyes of the wounded. Sorrow wrung the bishop’s...

The False Security of the Born-Again SectBorn-Again zealots always make sure that Jesus Crucified is not on the CrossIn Holy Scripture, St. Paul says, “There shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3) The sound doctrine of Christ is to embrace and live the Cross of Christ and to do penance for our sins, but instead we have false teachers today who run about luring millions into the deception of presuming on God’s mercy. This heresy has especially taken...

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We will be better prepared for what God teaches us through trials if we have a basic understanding of His providence. I believe it is vital that all Christians have an essential awareness of God’s providence if they want to be fully prepared to cope with life’s adversity. Providence is how He orchestrates, through natural means and processes, all things necessary to accomplish His purposes in the world. It is the most...

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Genuine believers will react thankfully to trials and suffering. Preventive spiritual maintenance is very important. If we are disciplined believers, we’ll practice it and prepare ourselves for any kind of trials and hardships. Then when the unexpected happens, we’ll be able to respond in a godly manner and truly appreciate what the Lord is teaching us. The attitude expressed in today’s verse is basic and is one of the strongest antidotes to fear and lack of preparation...

[Catholic Caucus] She Confronted the Pope About the Latin MassWas she the cause of the 1984 Indult?At OnePeterFive we promote what we term the “godfathers of Tradition” – those men and women who fought for the ancient Roman Rite and the Faith since the Iconoclastic revolution of the 1960s. As younger generations provide fresh energy to the Trad movement, it is not only an obligation of justice and piety to give our Trad godparents their due, but it is also a spiritual necessity in the new period of iconoclasm which was inaugurated by Traditionis Custodes.The figures of Dietrich and Alice...

“‘And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock’” (Matthew 7:25). Faithfulness in discipleship will mean we are prepared for the worst possible adversity and trial. People are often unprepared for life’s unexpected upheavals. This was vividly illustrated by the once-in-500-year floods that struck the Northern Plains of the United States in the spring of 1997. One community on the Red River in North Dakota was especially devastated by the surprising events. After working diligently for days to...

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[Catholic Caucus] Catholic priest: Dignitas Infinita a ‘faithless’ document with little to say about salvationIf hell is empty, there is no need for a cross and redemption, no Church and no grace. Even human dignity is then just a man-made vehicle, and despite its beautiful title, 'Dignitas infinita' is a faithless text for a faithless world.This essay by Fr. Joachim Heimerl was originally written in German. It has been translated and published with the permission of Fr. Heimerl.(LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal Robert Sarah recently caused a stir when he spoke of the “atheism” that is spreading in the Church. He was...

[Catholic Caucus] Fiducia Supplicans: Another Homosex-Blasphemy in a Church"Triggered by Francis' homosexual propaganda piece 'Fiducia supplicans', a homosexual [pseudo] blessing was staged in the Nuestra Señora de Belén Church in Miajadas, Diocese of Plasencia, Spain.One of the two homosexual concubines admitted on a social network that their complicity in sin was hardened and had lasted for 30 years."We were very happy to be able to do it in the Church, to be the first homosexual couple of many to come," he announced.It seems that the initiative for the sacrilege came from Don Enrique Gómez Rodríguez, the parish priest, as can...