Sunday, July 31, 2011

Thank You for Wedding Congratulations (and Gifts)!

Our Rome wedding was splendid. Many thanks to everybody for the well wishes; and for the many generous donations via PayPal!

See our wedding site here.

Some say my lovely new bride even looks like Princess Mathilde of Belgium!

Nuptial Mass in the Extraordinary Form is just about the most beautiful thing this side of heaven, indeed!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Philip Gerard Johnson of Raleigh: Ordination Subito

A Priest Forever: The Life of Father Eugene Hamilton is a must read for every seminarian and priest today. A true life inspiration. Today, one of the very finest seminarians the Church in America has produced is Philip Gerard Johnson. I've only met him once, but he is a saint, and a legend. See his great blog here.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Louis Anthony Sonnen: Happy 100th B-Day!

Today grandpa would have turned 100.

Born July 26, 1911.

Please pray for the repose of his soul.

Many thanks!

Future Pope

Even today there are future popes living. Pray and do penance for them.

Leather Furniture of Pope Paul VI

Seen in Rome today, this furniture belonged to the pope.

Summer Angelus With Pope


Every Sunday at papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo.

Regal Dignity: The Extraordinary Form

Episcopal consecration in 1958 of Blessed Pope John Paul II.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Vatican City Train Station



Located in the Vatican Gardens.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Solar Midday in St. Peter's Square on July 23 at 13:16


Lion facing due north with the obelisk facing south.

Catholic Heroes Persecuted by Nazism


Cardinal Beran, survivor of Dachau.

Catholic Bohemia

Cardinal Beran of the Holy Roman Church.

Lord, send Your Church leadership such as this again.

Vatican Bomb Damage From World War II

From Allied bombing of papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo, where Jewish families were kept hidden.

Vatican Bomb Damage From World War II


Bomb dropped from a single-engine Fascist plane - damage seen here kept on outside front wall of Vatican City train station.

Catholic Culture: Gift of Prophecy

"I was likewise told, if I remember rightly, that he [Lucifer] will be unchained for a time fifty or sixty years before the year of Christ 2000."

-Anna Katharina Emmerich (The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, p. 349).

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Study in Rome Where Blessed John Paul II Studied

Would be nice if they still today printed professionally diplomas like this nice one from the good old days.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Stone Where Abraham Attempted to Sacrifice Isaac

Church of Sts. Michele and Magno, located across the street from the Vatican.

Stone Where Circumcision of Christ Took Place

Church of Sts. Michele and Magno, located across the street from the Vatican.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Marriage is a Holy and Wonderful Sacrament

Datum Romae, a.D. MMXI.

From the bowels of the earth the Lord fashioned for me a woman of eminent sanctity - my new bride!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Tiara and Keys Tile

Available at the Vatican Museum gift shop.

Waiting to See the Pope

Papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo; located just outside Rome.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Rome Tram

Built in 1929, it is now used for private "romantic" dinner rides.

Pius XII Wreath Laid in Rome

Ceremony in Piazza Pio XII in Rome - to create awareness for the cause to establish a museum in his honor at his birthplace in Rome.