The World’s Best Sacristan™ has had time off from blazing hot Rome back in his native place where he is able to enjoy his mother’s cooking once again. Ecco! La parmigiana della mamma.
Welcome registrant:
Holy Zeal
This morning in Lauds I read:
Quóniam magnus Dóminus, et laudábilis nimis: * terríbilis est super omnes deos.
Quóniam omnes dii géntium dæmónia: * Dóminus autem cælos fecit. (ps 95:4-5)
For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: * he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: * but the Lord made the heavens.
This from Leo…
Pope Leo XIV told Amazonian bishops in Bogotá to care for creation without making Nature their idol.
He urged them to proclaim Christ with clarity, give the Eucharist, defend the dignity of local peoples, and safeguard creation as God’s gift ordered to salvation. pic.twitter.com/HbnMb41bhF
— Trad West (@trad_west_) August 19, 2025
They bowed down to a pagan idol in the Vatican Gardens. He put a demon-idol bowl on the altar over the bones of St. Peter.
We need an Augean Stable Event of grace. Fathers! Don’t forget Chapter 3.
Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.
Blessed are the peacemakers… to be sure. However, can we have a chat about supernatural charity and sanctifying grace? We can’t “work” our way into Heaven, even with dramatic works. Nevertheless, encouraging.
“I want to get to heaven.”
President Trump makes a humble admission as he pushes to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. pic.twitter.com/r5r0TuUuPM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 19, 2025
Very cool.
Happy National Aviation Day! ? Did you know NASA’s Ingenuity #MarsHelicopter carried a small swatch of material from a wing on the original Wright Brothers Flyer? Ingenuity flew 72 times, the first powered, controlled flights on another planet. https://t.co/z9PjcMhzdw pic.twitter.com/4TOUVOMivL
— NASA Mars (@NASAMars) August 19, 2025
In chessy news… The Sinqefield Cup is in Round 2 today. Lately Armenian born Levon Aronian has been really hot. He won the recent Rapid and Blitz. He and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (“Pragg”) both won yesterday over, respectively, Nodirbek Abdusattorov with the black pieces and World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Sam Sevian, the wild card, had a winning position against my guy Wesley So, but Wesley managed a draw. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) let “Puer” (Alireza Firouzja) escape. Fabiano Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda drew. This is the last qualifying event of the Grand Chess Tour which culminates in Sao Paulo in September.
White to move and mate in 4. Slightly tricky.
1.Qf3+ Kxe5 2.Bf4+ Kf6 3.Bd6+ Kxg5 4.Qf4#
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE
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And shortly after the Pachamama disaster we were visited with Covid and all that it brought with it in its wake.
CasaB: And the wake must be dealt with.
We need to get Trump to pray a Hail Mary. Someone has to be able to teach him.
Q F4+ – KxP
B F5+ – K D5
Q B3+ – K C5
Kn E4++
@CasaSanBruno:
I have been convinced for a long time that these two events are connected. Such most grievous acts of blasphemy by a successor of Saint Peter (whom I shall not name) cannot be without consequences. And yes, Father is right, we are still dealing with the aftermath.
Pope Leo warning of idolatry of nature seems to me like the start of a correction of one of the most egregious excesses of the previous pontificate. (The Amazon Synod was a horror show in itself.) Let’s hope and pray this is not a one off.