Manos

A composite image featuring Pope Francis and Our Lady of Guadalupe with text discussing copyright infringement. The background is dark, with the figures in color and a prominent warning about stolen images. Text reads: "THE IMAGE WAS STOLEN! Despite the composite being fair use, it was also a beautiful composite, probably the best composite ever. Known by a lack of fair use knowledge anyway that it was stolen, but in 2023 - 10 years later - we got a demand for infringement and license fees for using 'Pope Francis' in this image - and they wanted a license fee as if we used a 8000x6000 size image on a commercial product making money off the use or something! We'd win in court - like in all those other cases we had to go through. But the cost of this litigation costs these days? You would very see your collage was fair use."

Exorcising the Vatican? Pope Francis style. With Fatima, St. Michael, and Leo XIII

Recently the news ran headlines that Pope Francis called for the Fatima Statue of Mary to be brought to the Vatican — in their words “to consecrate the world.”  I…

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Dormition icon detail showing the sliced hands of Anthonius

Mary’s Assumption Stands to Disprove Gnosticism: You aren’t Dragging yourself, or anyone else, to Heaven

Some time ago, and throughout the years, I’ve heard various people say, “I want to drag souls to Heaven.” I’m sure that in the cases where I’ve heard it, the person didn’t realize what they were saying. They can’t drag themselves, let alone anyone else, to Heaven! If we take that phrase literally then it…

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The Transfiguration: Jesus glowing in white robes, flanked by Moses and Elijah on a mountain. Three disciples below in awe. Gold background with red border. Text: "The Transfiguration"."

The Transfiguration shows that Baptism changes us? Why were Moses and Elijah there? (they fasted)

When Moses returned from the mountain with the tablets of the commandments, we are told that his face shone (the Douay Rheims reports that his face was horned). Moses did not even see the Lord face to face, but yet his body was changed, literally. Today, on the feast of the Transfiguration, we read the Peter,…

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A collage featuring religious and pop culture symbols: a cross with text "IC XC NIKA," Pope Benedict XVI making the sign of the cross, a Batman logo, and a Star Trek phaser. Text reads: "The sign of the cross really is: BATSIGNAL PHASER COMMUNICATOR." The background is primarily dark with red and white text."

Suffering the Ignorant Orthopraxis of Our Day

One of the things I really like about how God ordered this world is precisely how unassuming some of the greatest things He has worked really are to the passer by.  If you didn’t look, you wouldn’t notice.  It’s so easy to take them for granted until you look with the eyes of faith that…

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A religious leader in ornate red and gold vestments with a tall mitre, holding a staff. Text reads: "A Very Dangerous Sign of the Apocalypse." Catholic church background, emphasizing apocalyptic themes."

Gay Marriage is ‘A Sign of Apocalypse’: Russian Patriarch Kiril Speaks His Mind

In America, we are all too familiar with the scene where one person speaks their mind and states an opinion contrary to what others perceive to be the “correct” thing to say. Immediately, that person will be jumped on verbally and accused of being any various number of things, “arrogant,” “intolerant,” or worse, sometimes they…

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A judge declares two people are no longer married in a divorce court scene, while an illustration of Jesus says they are still married to each other. The judge is at a bench, and the couple sits in front of him. The background is red with black outlines. Text: "You are no longer married to each other." and "You are still married TO EACH OTHER."

If that was yesterday… Marriage catechism needs updated

From the old Baltimore Catechism… My how times have changed… That’s not even scratching the surface of Our Lord’s words: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? (Matt. xix. 4). Yet, people have hinged all their happiness on the idea that marriage is something different….

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Religious icons of Jesus and John the Baptist in a church setting with incense burner, featuring text: "REPENT!!! I MUST DECREASE THE HE MAY INCREASE." The icons are colorful with gold halos, and the text is bold."

Some People think ‘Losing Their Head’ is the Way to Imitate John the Baptist

Was John the Baptist a mere political activist, speaking truth to power? Why did St. john the Baptist survive death threats when Peter wilted at mere questions from bystanders? How and what can we learn from St. John the Baptist on his feast? What does he tell us about religious liberty?

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A person walking in a desert landscape with text overlay: "Acrobats, Daredevils, and... 'Thank you, Jesus?'". The scene is live with a time stamp of 04:24. The person wears a blue shirt and green vest, with rocky terrain in the background."

Acrobats, Daredevils, and … “Thank You, Jesus”?

This evening, Discovery Channel aired a two hour special wherein Nik Wallenda walked across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope, with no fall protection. The Wallenda family is several generations deep of acrobats, and tight wire performances. They aren’t amateurs at this sort of performance, but I was taken aback by something different. Besides Joel Osteen being…

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A man dressed in papal attire with a speech bubble saying, "Etiam vel non. Hoc dixi??" in Latin. The background is a blurred yellow and orange gradient, emphasizing Catholic themes."

Did Cardinal Pacelli (Pius XII) really say this?

Sometimes bombshell quotes sound just a little too good. Pius XII supposedly said we’d be searching for Our Lord in our own Churches as Mary Magdalen did… or did he?

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A mosaic depicting Jesus labeled "Truth Incarnate" and a demon labeled "Father of Lies," with text reading "Pick Your Side: The Two Standards." Gold background, religious theme."

The Two Standards: Truth Incarnate or The Father of Lies.

Alternate Title: Liars are children of the devil by imitation. Recently, I saw a disgusting sight on Kevin O’Brien’s blog as people reacted to a post wherein Kevin exhorted people to tell the truth (he gives more examples in his post about this article). The comments are horrid and remind one that no matter how…

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