Extra! Ripperger on Strickland

Volume XXVII, Number 23
November 17, 2023

My friends, here's a rare bonus message...

Strickland's Purple Scapular

During Bishop Joseph Strickland's viral interview with John-Henry Westen at LifeSite News, the bishop had a Purple Scapular prominently displayed on his office wall. I took a close look and I'm pretty sure it was made by the Mary Foundation—likely a gift from one of you. As for the interview, note his pointed reference to the battle of "powers and principalities."

Bang Zoom!

Based on the large number of your responses, my last message hit a nerve and enjoyed enthusiastic agreement. (By the way, I don't mind when you disagree—it's helps more than you know.)

I just had a long call with a cherished benefactor who personally knows and supports Bishop Strickland. She believes the Great Awakening we are praying for is already beginning to manifest, including among our Protestant brethren. Her call prompted me to add two things to my last message:

One Military, Many Branches

First, in addition to the Mary Foundation, Our Lady has deployed several other apostolates which more or less agree with my dark assessment of the state of the Catholic Church. They typically also take a similar approach by engaging in the supernatural battle raging over the future of America.

In the military analogy, the Mary Foundation is probably akin to the Marine Corps, featuring covert special-ops such as the True Cross Pilgrimage.

Father Rip on Grace Force Podcast!

One of my favorites of these other apostolates is Father Heilman's superb United States Grace Force, which just featured Father Chad Ripperger's evaluation of Strickland's removal. You can view it here:

Fr. Ripperger on Strickland

Ripperger sure is a cool customer, isn't he?

While we're on the subject, here is the intrepid Bishop Athanasius Schneider's statement on Strickland. Schneider is clear—as I was—that the removal was grossly unjust. No one is denying the reality of papal authority, yet Catholic history is replete with the abuse of its governing power, which lacks the character of infallibility. (Infallibility is limited to matters of faith and morals, the scope of which was also limited when defined at Vatican I).

Papal authority has recognized limits. To believe otherwise is both irrational and heretical. The Catholic Church is not an authoritarian dictatorship. A pope is the vicar of Christ, not Christ, and can commit grave sin. In history, popes have been declared heretics by following popes! Under Canon Law and in Sacred Tradition, even a lowly layman like me has a right and a duty to charitably and prudently speak the truth about these things.

Apostasy ≠ Destruction

Second, the gates of hell shall never prevail over the Catholic Church (even if its leadership embraces apostasy). The one true Faith can be outlawed, and the faithful can be forced underground by secular and Church authorities. This happened in Roman Times, during the massively-adopted Arian Heresy, and even in our times (such as in China and Saudi Arabia). Vile, venal corruption in Rome is the historical norm, not the exception. It is a given that the evil one primarily attacks the Bride of Christ through the fallen natures of its leaders.

However, the Catholic Church is Jesus' Mystical Body, it is indefectible, and thus will always exist until Christ the King returns.

Pray with Thousands Worldwide

I apologize, because of the large volume of responses it will not be possible to bring most your questions to Father Ripperger during the retreat this weekend.

Now, let us raise our whole hearts and minds to heaven, beginning in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

Eternal Father, we offer you
the body and blood,
soul and divinity,
of your dearly beloved Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins,
and those of the whole world.
Amen.

Thanks for being a part of it all. Have the best Thanksgiving ever.

With Saint Michael the Archangel,
and the Guardian Angel of the United States,

Bud Macfarlane
Troublemaker

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Read Bud's Previous Message

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