THE CATHOLIC TRADITION NEWSLETTER
A weekly presentation of News, Information, Readings and Commentary for traditional Roman Catholics and Catholic Families remaining faithful to the teaching Magisterium as held by all faithful Catholics through the centuries.
Vol 19 Issue 45 Editor: Rev. Fr. Courtney Edward Krier
November 7, 2026
Our Lady on Saturday
False Councils: Vatican II
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Four Holy Crowned Martyrs
Family and Marriage
Articles and notices
Dear Reader:
Today, just a short note during this month of November that is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Remember, Souls is prefaced with Holy. The Latin, sanctas, reminds us that the Holy Souls (Sanctas Animas) died in the state of sanctifying grace. For Catholics, the common usage of the term Faithful Departed is an indication that one may presume they died in the state of grace—a requirement the Church held was that—everything else normal—one could have Catholic Services (Funeral Mass and burial) only if one received the Last Rites, that is, Confession, Communion and Extreme Unction, before death.
Since the Conciliar Church has blurred the concept of the doctrine of Purgatory, making optional even the idea of praying for the dead in their service—rather celebrating their being united with Christ through death—whatever meaning you might want to make of it—but no propitiatory sacrifice or satisfaction for sin, it leaves its attendees no longer praying for the faithful departed, for their deceased loved ones, but simply remembering them—the now, frequent approach termed, Celebration of Life. Celebration equating to having a party.
For us faithful Catholics, let this month in particular be a month dedicated to our offering Masses, saying prayers and giving alms for the satisfaction of the justice demanded for even venial sin as we read in the Book of Machabees: It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. (2 Maccabees 12:46) One who does not believe in Purgatory will not pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. One who does not believe in Purgatory will not arrive in Heaven having gone through the purifying fires of Purgatory: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8)
As always, enjoy the readings provided for your benefit. — The Editor
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False Councils
Gaudium et Spes
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
As this document continues, the boldened introduction is fraught with questions as to which social movements? and, what is the “sacramental sign” other than perhaps liberté, egalite et fraternité? The paragraph that then follows it cannot be accepted since the Catholic Church has condemned Atheistic Communism and other socialist forms of government that usurp the right to ownership and parental rights. A carte blanche acceptance of any government that allows the Church to function—presently translated as meaning in private spaces—does not necessarily permit the individual to freely live his faith nor the Catholic Church to freely preach the faith in public without censure. The present Conciliar Church conforms to the politically correct standards.
(GS)
The Church recognizes that worthy elements are found in today's social movements, especially an evolution toward unity, a process of wholesome socialization and of association in civic and economic realms. The promotion of unity belongs to the innermost nature of the Church, for she is, "thanks to her relationship with Christ, a sacramental sign and an instrument of intimate union with God, and of the unity of the whole human race." (Lumen Gentium, 1, 1) Thus she shows the world that an authentic union, social and external, results from a union of minds and hearts, namely from that faith and charity by which her own unity is unbreakably rooted in the Holy Spirit. For the force which the Church can inject into the modern society of man consists in that faith and charity put into vital practice, not in any external dominion exercised by merely human means.
Moreover, since in virtue of her mission and nature she is bound to no particular form of human culture, nor to any political, economic or social system, the Church by her very universality can be a very close bond between diverse human communities and nations, provided these trust her and truly acknowledge her right to true freedom in fulfilling her mission. For this reason, the Church admonishes her own sons, but also humanity as a whole, to overcome all strife between nations and races in this family spirit of God's children, an in the same way, to give internal strength to human associations which are just.
With great respect, therefore, this council regards all the true, good and just elements inherent in the very wide variety of institutions which the human race has established for itself and constantly continues to establish. The council affirms, moreover, that the Church is willing to assist and promote all these institutions to the extent that such a service depends on her and can be associated with her mission. She has no fiercer desire than that in pursuit of the welfare of all she may be able to develop herself freely under any kind of government which grants recognition to the basic rights of person and family, to the demands of the common good and to the free exercise of her own mission.
43. This council exhorts Christians, as citizens of two cities, to strive to discharge their earthly duties conscientiously and in response to the Gospel spirit. They are mistaken who, knowing that we have here no abiding city but seek one which is to come, think that they may therefore shirk their earthly responsibilities. For they are forgetting that by the faith itself they are more obliged than ever to measure up to these duties, each according to his proper vocation. Nor, on the contrary, are they any less wide of the mark who think that religion consists in acts of worship alone and in the discharge of certain moral obligations, and who imagine they can plunge themselves into earthly affairs in such a way as to imply that these are altogether divorced from the religious life. This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age. Long since, the Prophets of the Old Testament fought vehemently against this scandal and even more so did Jesus Christ Himself in the New Testament threaten it with grave punishments. Therefore, let there be no false opposition between professional and social activities on the one part, and religious life on the other. The Christian who neglects his temporal duties, neglects his duties toward his neighbor and even God, and jeopardizes his eternal salvation. Christians should rather rejoice that, following the example of Christ Who worked as an artisan, they are free to give proper exercise to all their earthly activities and to their humane, domestic, professional, social and technical enterprises by gathering them into one vital synthesis with religious values, under whose supreme direction all things are harmonized unto God's glory.
Secular duties and activities belong properly although not exclusively to laymen. Therefore acting as citizens in the world, whether individually or socially, they will keep the laws proper to each discipline, and labor to equip themselves with a genuine expertise in their various fields. They will gladly work with men seeking the same goals. Acknowledging the demands of faith and endowed with its force, they will unhesitatingly devise new enterprises, where they are appropriate, and put them into action. Laymen should also know that it is generally the function of their well-formed Christian conscience to see that the divine law is inscribed in the life of the earthly city; from priests they may look for spiritual light and nourishment. Let the layman not imagine that his pastors are always such experts, that to every problem which arises, however complicated, they can readily give him a concrete solution, or even that such is their mission. Rather, enlightened by Christian wisdom and giving close attention to the teaching authority of the Church, let the layman take on his own distinctive role.
Often enough the Christian view of things will itself suggest some specific solution in certain circumstances. Yet it happens rather frequently, and legitimately so, that with equal sincerity some of the faithful will disagree with others on a given matter. Even against the intentions of their proponents, however, solutions proposed on one side or another may be easily confused by many people with the Gospel message. Hence it is necessary for people to remember that no one is allowed in the aforementioned situations to appropriate the Church's authority for his opinion. They should always try to enlighten one another through honest discussion, preserving mutual charity and caring above all for the common good.
(To be continued)
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THE GOSPEL OF THE SUNDAY
MATTHEW xiii. 24-30
At that time: Jesus proposed to the multitude this parable, saying: The Kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way.
And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle: And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it cockle?
And he said to them: an enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: wilt thou that we go and gather it up? And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.
ST THOMAS AQUINAS
Commentary on Saint Matthew
And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him. Here something is set out about the zeal of the good men against the evil.
first, they inquire about the origin of the evil men;
second, they are moved with zeal to wipe out the evil men, at and the servants said to him: do you wish us to go?
He says, and the servants of the master of the house came. First, one should see who these servants are. Below, he speaks about the reapers; but these are not servants, but angels. These are good men; and this is not unfitting, since the Lord is called both the gate and the gatekeeper. And the servants of the master of the house came by faith; come to him and be enlightened (Ps 33:6). And said to him: lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Did not the apostles sow good teaching? Yes, certainly. And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good (Gen. 1:31). Why then does it have weeds? There is a similar question: yet I planted you a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then are you turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange vineyard? (Jer 2:21).
The Lord responds: And he said to them: an enemy has done this. And notice that this is not from the first origin, but about that in man which is from the devil; but by the envy of the devil, death came into the world (Wis 2:24). A man is called the devil by a falling away from the deity; arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened (Ps 9:20). This man is called an enemy on account of complete malice; I will put enmities between you and the woman (Gen 3:15).
And the servants said to him. Here it says that the servants are moved with zeal to wipe out the evil men. Do you wish us to go and gather it up?
Two praiseworthy things are said about these men here, because they are moved to the destruction of evil; put away the evil one from among yourselves (1 Cor 5:13). Likewise another praiseworthy thing, because they do not want to do this by their own proper motion, but by the Lord’s command; hence bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct your ways (Tob 4:20).
And he said. Notice, this is the third, namely about putting up with the evil men; about this, for because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear (Eccl 8:11). And first, he makes clear the thing at hand; second, he gives the reason; third, he sets down a limit to the toleration, because he will not always put up with them. He says then, no, i.e., I do not wish that you should collect them yet; the Lord . . . deals patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish (2 Pet 3:9).
Lest perhaps; here he sets forth the reason. And in the first part you should note that the good is great and victorious over evil, because good can be without evil, but not evil without good. Therefore, the Lord puts up with many evils that many goods might come, or also lest they perish. Therefore he says, no, lest perhaps gathering up the weeds, i.e., the evil men, or heretics, you root up the wheat also together with it.
There are four reasons why evil men should not be wiped out for the sake of good men. One reason is because good men are exercised by the evil; for there must be also heresies: that they also, who are approved, may be made manifest among you (1 Cor 11:19); The fool shall serve the wise (Prov 11:29). If there had not been heretics, the knowledge of the saints, of Augustine and of others, would not have shone forth. Hence he who would wipe out evil men would wipe out many good things as well.
Likewise, it happens that one who for a while is evil afterwards becomes good, like Paul. Hence if Paul had been killed, we would lack the teaching of so great a master, which God forbid. Therefore, if you wish to wipe them out, you will wipe out at the same time the wheat also, namely him who will be wheat; the Lord said: I will turn them from Basan, I will turn them into the depth of the sea (Ps 67:23).
The third reason is because some men seem evil and are not; therefore if you wish to root up evil men, right away you will wipe out many good men. And this is clear, because God did not will that they should be gathered until they came to perfect maturity; hence, therefore judge not before the time (1 Cor 4:5).
The fourth reason is that sometimes someone has great power; so if he were cut off, he would drag many with him, and thus with the evil man many would perish. Therefore the congregation is not excommunicated, nor the prince of a people, lest with one man many should fall. About such men is understood what is said, that the dragon dragged a third part of the stars with him (Apoc 12:4). And far be it from you to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked (Gen 18:25).
But will he always spare them? No, but only for a time; hence he says, allow both to grow until the harvest. A similar thought is found: he who hurts, let him hurt still: and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still (Apoc 22:11).
Allow both to grow until the harvest. Against this sentence it is objected: take away the evil of your devices from my eyes, cease to do perversely (Isa 1:16). Likewise, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened (1 Cor 5:7). Why then does he say, allow both to grow until the harvest?
Chrysostom says that he speaks about killing. Hence heretics should not be killed, because many evils would follow from that. Augustine says in a certain epistle that for a while it seemed to him that they should not be killed; but afterward he learned by experience that many are converted by violence; for the Lord draws certain men violently, as he drew Paul. Whence this man, forcibly converted, was more profitable than many others who believed voluntarily. And Augustine investigated this opinion or question. Hence according to Chrysostom’s thought, if it cannot be done without danger, it should not be done, but only where a greater danger is feared.
And this is clear by induction from all the particulars, because even if they are evil, they are useful for exercise. Nevertheless, because one should fear even more lest the evangelical teaching perish in others through them, the conclusion follows. Likewise, some men who are evil for a while become good afterward. It is true that they should not be killed right away, but, as is said, a man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid (Titus 3:10).
As regards something which is opposed to the third thing, namely that many seem evil who are good, this is true, if they become indiscreet (1 Tim 4).
Likewise, what was said, that the prince of a people should not be excommunicated, if you should see that there will be a greater scandal if he is excommunicated than in the fact that he does wrong, he should not be excommunicated; but if he had done something which was dangerous to the faith, without doubt he should be excommunicated, whatever damage might come from it.
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November 8
The Four Crowned Brothers, Martyrs (A.D. 304)
FOUR brothers in the persecution of Diocletian, employed in offices of trust and honour at Rome, were apprehended for declaring against the worship of idols, and whipped with scourges loaded with plummets of lead, till they expired in the hands of their tormentors. They were buried on the Lavican Way, three miles from Rome, and were at first called the Four Crowned Martyrs: their names were, Severus, Severianus, Carpophorus, and Victorious. Pope Gregory the Great mentions an old church of the four crowned martyrs in Rome. Pope Leo IV. in 841, caused the church to be repaired, and the relies of these martyrs to be translated thither out of the cemetery on the Lavican Way. When this church had been consumed by fire Paschal II. rebuilt it; upon which occasion the relics of these martyrs were discovered under the altar in two rich urns, the one of porphyry, the other of serpentine marble, deposited in a stone vault. The new altar was built upon the same spot; and these relics were again found in the same situation under Paul V. This church is an ancient title of a cardinal-priest. Five other martyrs, called Claudius, Nicostratus, Symphorianus, Castorius, and Simplicius, who had suffered in the same persecution were buried in the same cemetery. Their precious remains were translated by Leo IV. into the same church, and are likewise honoured there to this day. These martyrs are named in the martyrology of Bede and others. These five are said to have been put to death, because, being carvers by profession, they refused to make idols.
The rage of tyrants, who were masters of the world, spread the faith which they vainly endeavoured, by fighting against heaven, to extinguish. The martyrs, who died for it, sealed it with their blood, and gave a testimony to Jesus Christ, which was, of all others, the strongest and most persuasive. Other Christians, who fled, became the apostles of the countries whither they went. Whence St. Austin compares them to torches, which, if you attempt to put them out by shaking them, are kindled, and flame so much the more. The martyrs, by the meekness and fervour of their lives, and their constancy in resisting evil to death, converted an infidel world, and disarmed the obstinacy of the most implacable enemies of the truth. But what judgments must await those Christians who, by the scandal of their sloth and worldly spirit, dishonour their religion, blaspheme Christ, withdraw even the faithful from the practice of the gospel, and tempt a Christian world to turn infidel?—(Butler’s Lives of the Saints)
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Marriage Guidance
A Study of the Problems of the Married and of those Contemplating Marriage
(1948)
By Edwin F. Healy
SECTION III
The Duties of Parents in
Regard to Their Offspring
CHAPTER XXII
RECREATION
Quarrels
It is advisable to let children solve their own small problems and disputes. This will serve to make them self-reliant and will tend to sharpen their wits. As a rule parents should not interfere in the quarrels of their children. An exception, however, must be made when probable danger of injury to the child arises from the tenseness of the situation. Parents too often make the mistake of taking the side of their own child against a neighbor's. When the parents of one child enter the argument, the parents of the other child will in all likelihood come to the rescue of their own offspring. This brings complications, for the quarrels of adults are much more serious and have more lasting effects than those of children. Children readily fight, and fight furiously, but then they quickly abandon their quarrel and forget the incident. One minute they are angry with their companions; the next minute they are most friendly toward them. The quarrels of grown persons, in contrast to those of children, frequently result in long periods of continued hostility.
Hobbies
A hobby is something in which an individual takes a special and continued interest in order to keep himself occupied during his spare time. There are three principal kinds of hobbies: (1) forming collections of various articles; for example, birds' nests, wild flowers, coins, stamps; (2) studying certain practical or cultural subjects; for example, chemistry or art; (3) constructing in miniature objects such as boats, airplanes, houses, trains, and so forth. It happens quite often that what a young person cultivates as a mere diversion gives some indication of his particular forte. Not a few adults have seen the hobby of their early days eventually grow into a well-paying business. Apart from its financial possibilities, however, cultivating a hobby is advisable for all children. It has educational value. It serves to enliven periods that might otherwise be tedious and uninteresting. It may awaken some natural talent which would otherwise lie dormant forever. A genuine interest by the parent in the child's special interest will prove to be a wholesome stimulus to the cultivation of the hobby. The following are some of the hobbies which are often pursued:
COINS. A person collects the various coins of a country and arranges them according to their dates and denominations. Such collections often consist of ancient Greek and Roman coins. This hobby provides a very instructive and absorbing study and inspires young people to greater interest in the personages represented on the coins.
MAPS. This hobby can be very educational. It gives the collector some knowledge of foreign countries and provides an incentive for studying something of their history.
PICTURES. This consists in gathering together pictures of artistic value. The young child can start, at a very early age, a collection of pictures which he cuts out of magazines. This hobby can do much to develop his artistic sense and can lead him to an acquaintance with the works of the great masters. Two good books on the subject are Art for Children and A Treasury of Art Masterpieces.
PHOTOGRAPHY. When the child begins to cultivate the art of photography, he needs only a cheap camera. He should be encouraged to take many snapshots of friends, still life, country scenes, and so forth. He will gradually learn how to select what is artistic and to limit his efforts to worth-while pictures. After he knows the fundamentals he may be taught to develop and print his own films. If he himself develops and prints the films, his interest in photography will as a rule be greatly increased.
STAMPS. Postage stamps of various countries are collected and classified according to their denomination, time of issue, shade of color, and so forth. At times collections are also made of entire stamped envelopes and postcards. The gathering together and study of stamps is called philately. It seems preferable for a young person to limit his collection to stamps of only one section of the world; for example, to those of the United States of America or of South America or of Europe: Some prefer to collect only those stamps which bear the representation of one subject, such as birds, animals, flags of nations, ships, mountains, writers, painters, and so forth.
A book recommended for those who are beginners is The ABC Stamp Book and Album, by Sigmund I. Rothschild. Many of the large business houses that deal in stamps publish valuable booklets which will be sent free of charge upon request. Examples of such pamphlets are The Stamp Finder, Stories from Postage Stamps, and The Stamp Collector's Annual Catalog.
BIRDS. This study stimulates the child to acquaint himself with the many birds of his section of the country, with their species, the time of their migrations, the size and color of their eggs, what each feeds on, and so forth. The youngster can obtain at the public library useful books which will explain the best ways of going about the acquisition of this knowledge. There are many valuable guides that contain pictures and descriptions of the birds found in the country as a whole or in various regions and states.
FLOWERS. The child begins this hobby by learning the names of the various species of flowers, what conditions are most favorable to their healthy growth, the rules for planting seeds and transplanting bushes, and so forth. He can study the cultivation of cut flowers, box flowers, rock gardens, and the care of house plants. He can experiment with flower arrangements and with both outside and inside types of decoration. This hobby is especially to be recommended because it serves to keep the child occupied at home and to arouse a greater interest in the home surroundings.
TREES AND SHRUBS. This hobby will teach the child how to distinguish the various kinds of trees by their leaves and by their bark, and how to recognize the wood of different trees. It will tell him what trees flourish in the various regions of the United States and other lands. He will acquire much useful information about the various species of shrubs.
(To be continued)
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Notices:
Fr Krier will be in Pahrump, NV, November 12, and in Eureka, NV, November 27, for administering the Sacraments.
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Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church is in the process of constructing a church hall, classrooms, library and residence in its efforts to provide for the parish and to have a place for research in traditional Roman Catholicism as well as a meeting place for those interested in both the perennial teachings and the movements to continue the Roman Catholic Church after the apostasy of the Conciliar Church. We hope you will support us in this effort as a center for spreading the Catholic Faith worldwide. We still need to borrow $100,000—more or less, depending on further demands by the city and public utilities—without your further assistance and prayers. Since the Church is located in the heart of Sin City (Las Vegas), it is a metaphor that the Church continues through her faithful bishops, priests, and laity in this sinful world that rejects the saving grace of salvation. Thank you for your prayers and asking for your continuance of prayer to bring this project to completion—interior framing is now being done with roof rafters and wood sheeting completed.
Meanwhile, we want to thank all those who have so generously heeded this appeal and all who have supported our apostolate through the years.
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