Category Archives: Church

‘Mater Populi Fidelis’: the new doctrinal document from the Vatican and how it might be a good read for sober Catholics

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I just finished reading the “Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation.” It isn’t always that I recommend a Doctrinal Note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for recovered/recovering alcoholics to read, especially when at first glance it seems to have absolutely nothing to do with sobriety.
 
I began reading it with some fear and trepidation, (because, you know, the contemporary Church hasn’t inspired tons of confidence in certain matters,) but after finishing it, the document makes a lot of sense.
 
Well-written with copious footnoted references (22 pages of text with 12 pages of footnotes) it definitively places in the proper context the role of Mary in salvation, as well as clarifying certain popular, pious titles of Mary (“Co-redemptrix,” and “Mediatrix of All Graces.”)
 
It spends far more verbiage on the latter title than the former; pretty much negating future use of that title by the faithful. Basically, that Mary is NOT the “Mediator” of all Graces,” and as I said, the document spends quite a lot of pages on that, citing extensive Scripture passages, along with Church Fathers, Doctors and Popes. I had always accepted that title given how many great spiritual writers of the past have taught that, and I figured they must know what they’re talking about and so I never questioned it. She is the “Mother of Grace,” and that is defined in its proper relationship to the salvific work of the Trinity. It makes sense, when you think of it: If you were to pray to St. Maximilian Kolbe for his intercession in some matter, and you were granted whatever it was you asked, was the grace received routed through Mary? Or, was your prayer heard in Heaven by St. Maximilian (by whatever manner saints receive these requests) and answered by God through St. Max? Same can be said for when a miracle is received through the intercession of a person on the path to beatification or canonization: Rome has made it clear that when it investigates a miracle, it determines if any other saint might possibly have been involved. So, is Mary somehow in this channel of grace in the Cause for someone’s path to sainthood?
 
It doesn’t go quite that far in negating the “Co-Redeemer” title, but warns against emphasizing it to the point of obscuring Christ’s role (He is the sole Redeemer, Mary’s role was a very subordinate one in support of His. That’s a bit simplistic, you should read the text yourself. Link at the end.
 
I do think that it makes an effective tool to use in evangelizing Protestants and Evangelicals. It might help them to overcome their “Mariphobia.” They’ll learn that they do not ‘have to go to Mary’ but in their journey through the text, they’ll uncover many, many, reasons why cultivating a Marian devotion is supremely beneficial and ‘going to Mary’ is often a great good. The extensive citations will help them better understand the Scriptural roots of Mariology and they should come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of why Catholics have, for 2,000 years, been basically crazy nuts for Mary.  

If your initial response to this was one of rebellion or resistance, and you actually think that St. Maximilian Kolbe would have publicly spoken out against this document, then you lack an appropriate understanding of humility and obedience to legitimate religious authority, even when you think it is wrong. St. Maximilian Kolbe was a model of obedience to the Church, as anyone who has read his writings can attest to.

Many Catholics online of the traditional sort are sounding the alarm against it. While their concerns are noted, I do believe their reading if it was too influenced by their bias against anything coming out of Rome since Pope Benedict XVI. (An understandable concern which I implied in the second paragraph.) However, these same people, who laud the past (as do I) also fail to recall the obedience of the saints to Rome and her pronouncements, even when they might have opposed them. I recall the shepherd children at Fatima obeying the local church as regards to the Apparition of Our Lady in 1917, even though they knew the Church was wrong. St. Padre Pio likewise obeyed the restrictions placed upon him for many years. Today, priests who are censured by Rome of their local bishop often go rogue, their pride overcoming their good sense and humility. Going father back, indeed, back to the beginning: Jesus obeyed the legitimate religious authorities in submitting to their judgment of Him, despite His being their God and their Master. Joseph and Mary also obeyed the religious laws of the time in having Jesus circumcised; and Mary, herself ritually purified. There was no reason for them to do so, given who Jesus is. Yet, they obeyed.

Now, back to the title of this post; why am I recommending this document to you? For the same reasons why I think it makes a great evangelical tool for use in tying to bring Protestants into the Catholic fold. It might go a long way towards clarifying in their minds just exactly who Mary is and what her role in the Church precisely is. That, along with the copious footnoted references to Scripture may just be the thing to overcome Mariphobia. Also, many Catholics, either new to the faith by reversion or conversion, as well as lifelong cradle Catholics, may have “Mommy issues” and this translates to problems identifying with the Blessed Virgin and seeking her help; especially in accepting her role as our spiritual Mother and intercessor. Even if there does not exist any such thing in you, you might still not be drawing close enough to your spiritual Mama. This document might assist in overcoming that.

Read the document (it’s not really all that intimidating, honest!) and after being exposed to 22 pages of reason why Mary is our Mother and what her role actually is, you may come away with a clearer view.


Here is the document, so that you can read it for yourself: Mater Populi Fidelis:’ Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation..

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Indulgenced Cemetery Visits Devotion for November 1-8

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This is an annual post on a fruitful pious devotion for November:

Catholic Culture has an excellent article regarding a very beneficial pious activity that can aid in your own spiritual progression. It also is a good reminder of where we’ll end up someday. (A grave. Morbid, true, but you wouldn’t be here unless you’re more aware than most people that you will die someday.)

Praying for the Dead and Gaining Indulgences During November is something I blog about here annually. It is about the act of visiting a cemetery during the first 8 days of November.

To summarize from the “Catholic Culture” site: “Indulgenced Acts for the Poor Souls: A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.

A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. A partial indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, can be obtained when the Eternal Rest  is prayed. This is a good prayer to recite especially during the month of November:  ‘Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.'”

The article explains the differences between plenary and partial indulgences.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Prayer request for a homeless addict and thoughts on unworthiness

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I received an email a few days ago (only saw it today as it was in my Junk folder☹️) from Richard S., a homeless addict in the United Kingdom. I won’t post his entire email here out of respect for privacy (even though it lacks personal identifying info.)

Some points, however:

I’m a Catholic and I’m an addict in England, UK. I’m struggling like hell.  I recently was given a copy of your book “The Sober Catholic Way” and it’s truly helping me. 

00000 TSCWBookCover.

If you only knew how it feels to discover your writing has made an impact!

 I feel as if I’ve let my Blessed Mother, Mary down and I’m not worthy.  Let alone our Lord Jesus. Anyway, many blessings and love to you and your family.

This part touched me. Who among us hasn’t felt this way? I replied:

About you letting Mama Mary and Jesus down: they perfectly understand. Mary’s love and Jesus’ mercy is greater than our deepest faults and flaws and our inability to overcome them. This is something everyone forgets from time to time, including me. Mary is a good Mother and will help lead you closer to Jesus. 

And so I am asking you for prayers for Richard S. (If you’re in the UK and know of resources for homeless addicts; and Richard does have access to medical personnel, he probably knows what’s available, but just in case something is overlooked, please email me at paulcoholic at gmail dot com .)

Richard is also a member of the Militia of the Immaculata. It’s UK Center is: Militia of the Immaculata in Great Britain and Ireland.

Here’s how to order it: The Sober Catholic Way.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Ensuring salvation “…at the hour of our death.”

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Have you ever thought about the hour of your death? Not just about your death in general, or how long you might live. But exactly when you’ll die?

This is the last chance for Satan to snatch you from the Lord. Unless you’ve prepared yourself by way of the Sacraments, prayer and a lifetime of “spiritual progress,” your final minutes on Earth will be The Enemy’s last chance to get you for Itself for all Eternity.

Worried? There’s a prayer for that!

It’s Mom to the rescue! Doesn’t Mom make everything better? Well, same thing for when you’re about to face the end of your mortal existence.

The venerable and ancient prayer of the Church to the Blessed Mother, said by millions of Catholics daily in the Rosary is the succor for such a worry.

“Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.”

See those last six words? “…at the hour of our death.”

Mary will watch over you. But not just you, when you say the “Hail Mary” on the Rosary or just by itself in moments of need, you are offering it up for other people as well. It does not say “pray for me, a sinner,  at the hour of my death,” but rather,  “pray for us sinners,” so you’re not just praying for yourself, but for other people, too, now, and at the hour of their death. And when you think of it that way, all of these people are also praying for Our Lady’s intercession at the hour of your death, too. It’s a community thing of the Church Militant (those members of the Mystical Body of Christ still alive on Earth.)

Now, here’s where I wander over into left field a little (or, score a “wonder goal” or have a “moment of magic,” which are the soccer/futbol equivalents of baseball’s “out of left field” idiom, I’m told.)

I have been dwelling on the Hail Mary recently, especially that petition to pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death and its connection to the persistent teaching of numerous saints, especially St. Maximilian Kolbe, St, Louis DeMontfort, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and St. Leonard of Port-Maurice, that those who are devoted, or consecrated, to the Blessed Virgin Mary are never “lost,” that is, “damned.” Their salvation is ensured (but not necessarily guaranteed. You still have to maintain sincerity of faith and steer clear of mortal sins. But that all should be easier with Mary’s help.)

This is NOT the Catholic version of the deeply heretical and unbiblical “Once Saved, Always Saved” idea that a few non-Catholics hold. (Don’t these people read St. Paul?) But is infers that as Our Lady is also our Mother, and as she loves us more than we can ever know, if we give ourselves to her, she will protect us at the hour of our death from the attacks of Hell.

Let’s take an example of one of these devotional promises. There’s a practice known as The Three Hail Marys. You are recommended to pray three Hail Mary’s every morning upon rising and again upon retiring to bed; at the end of the prayers you ask Mary to “preserve me from mortal sin this day (or night.”) You do this every day and when you die, you will not go to Hell (Purgatory, however, maybe!) 

This may be easier to comprehend and accept when you really understand the importance of the collective prayer of the Church Militant when praying the Rosary or a Hail Mary. The sheer number of prayers ascending to Heaven asking Our Lady to intervene for us during our final moments here in Time is huge. Just think about it: there are hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of Hail Marys are said every day. There’re 53 said in the Rosary alone, plus numerous other times in other prayers. Multiply those by however many are reciting their prayers… Now multiply that for every day until the final day for you on Earth. That’s potentially hundreds of billions of petitions, if not trillions over the course of  a life, for Our Lady to protect you from Hell’s final furious assault on your soul. 

Therefore, it stands to reason that this is not pious silliness, but a reasonable conviction of the faithful and a reliable promise by Our Mother. If you sincerely pray the Rosary every day, or recite the Three Hail Marys, or some other Marian devotion related to all this, then you will not be damned. And one thing bears mentioning: it doesn’t mean that you can do this and then intentionally go off and commit serious sins, and often, thinking that we’re going to be saved just because we’re saying three Hail Mary’s or a daily Rosary. We all lead sinful lives, but the difference is the willful intent to sin versus the willful intent to not sin, and to reinforce that desire through repentance and frequenting the sacraments. Presumption of God’s mercy and exploiting Our Lady’s priviliges will quickly land you in the hot place. 

There is another method to ensure our salvation. I won’t go into it here as I’ve covered it already (quite well, if I say so myself 😉) in this post on Marian Consecration and the Guarantee of Eternal life. PLEASE READ THAT, TOO! It goes well with this post. Here’s another post on the subject, written wayback in the early days of SoberCatholic: “Now and at the Hour of Our Death”

 A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU: The I Miss Christendom YouTube Channel lists 5 Things Catholics Can Do To Ensure Salvation. These are:

  • The Three Hail Marys (post on that here.)
  • The Brown Scapular (I don’t think I’ve written anything on that, but a post on sacramentals is being drafted.)
  • The Daily Rosary (I’ve written numerous posts on the Rosary, as well as a book on the Rosary.)
  • The Nine First Fridays  (My post on that is here.)
  • The Five First Saturdays (I wrote on that here.)

Note: This was previously published on Paul Sofranko Space. It’s been edited and significantly expanded for SoberCatholic.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

On Devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ

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July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ is as old as the Church, for we’ve learned through catechism or the Divine Mercy devotion that the Church was born from the side of Christ when St. Longinus pierced His sacred side with a lance and blood and water flowed out. Water signified Baptism, while the Blood signified the Eucharist. 

Some feel that it predates the Church. In Devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, I wrote that…  

It is said to have dated to the Circumcision of Our Lord, when according to approved private revelations, Mary collected the blood Jesus had spilled.

Today, July 2nd, used to be the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, but it was removed from the Roman liturgical calendar in 1970. Nowadays, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is referred to as the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, so it was essentially combined into that. It is called ‘precious’ because it is Jesus’ offered His own blood to pay for the redemption of humanity. Jesus shed His very blood for the sake of all humanity, atoning for humanity’s sins. The devotion to the Most Precious Blood is yet another one dedicate to repentance and reparation, much like the Holy Face devotion, the Sacred Heart and the Fatima Message.

I find the Precious Blood Devotion to be a particulary pertinent one for us Sober Catholics, given that wine, abused by us during our active drinking years, is transubstantiated by the priest into His Blood during Mass. That which was killing us is now the source of our redemption. This does not mean that we can partake of the wine at Mass; as I said in Appendix B of “The Sober Catholic Way,”

While the wine is transubstantiated by the priest during Mass, it still retains the properties of alcohol.

The Church teaches that the entirety of the Real Presence of Christ, that being His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are found in the transubstantiated bread. Therefore there is no reason at all for an alcoholic of any length of sobriety to receive the Eucharist in the form of wine.

Nevertheless, I think that the idea of turning something that was dangerous for us into a devotion to help keep us sober, merely because God transformed it into a substance through which we can attain eternal life, is emblematic of how He works through His Church. There is a lot to dwell on with that statement, if you pause to consider it. That’s the whole message of SoberCatholic.com and my books: that the Catholic Church through the Mass, Sacraments and her devotions can sustain one’s freedom from addiction. And get you so much more. 

Check out the resources on the Precious Blood I linked to in this post.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church in Rome

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Today is the Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church in Rome. As I prayed the Divine Office this morning, I was struck by the Intercessory Prayers from the Morning Hour:

INTERCESSIONS

Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

You redeemed us by your blood.

Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,

– give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.

Your martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood,

– give us a faith, O Lord, that is constant and pure.

Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,

– help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.

Your martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb,

– Help us to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

Courtesy: Common of Several Martyrs – Morning Prayer

I was reminded that we all may be called to be martyrs. But even if not, some of the intercessions do remind us alcoholics and addicts of the road we are called to trudge along, especially:

Your martyrs followed in your footstep by carrying the cross,

– help us to endure courageously the misfortunes of life.

and:

Your martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith,

– give us the true freedom of the Spirit, O Lord.

For the first one, evryday we are beset with annoyances and trials. “Normal people,” i.e, the ones who can drink safely, either take these in stride or resort to a few drinks to “take the edge off.” We, of corse, cannot. Furthermore, while in the past we abused the privilege of being able to drink by resorting to it for any reason, we also failed to learn socially acceptavle ways to “take things in stride.” In our recovery we had to relearn basic skills we somehow missed when others learned them. Even long after sobriety, we sometimes have to engage these new coping mechanisms willfully, so as to avoid the drink. Normal respond in stride, alcoholics have to think about how to cope. As Sober Catholics, we’ve learned to “offer it up.”

For the second one, we can reframe the martyrdom as having witnessed our old self dying for recovery. This means that in willingly turning away from the drink, we killed that old addicted version of ourselves and are reborn in Christ Jesus. In essense, we have found what true freedom is; liberation from the chains of addiction and having our souls fed by Holy Mother church via the Mass and Sacraments. We become free to become our truer selves.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Counsel

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The fourth of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is “Counsel.”

According to Catholic Answers::

Counsel allows a man to be directed by God in matters necessary for his salvation.

I mentioned in the post on Knowledge:

If you look over the list of the seven gifts, you can conclude that all depend upon and work with each other. All the more reason for us to draw closer to the Holy Spirit. We ask for the “wisdom to know” about things we have to deal with and the things of the spirit: the moral and ethical decisions that confront us. Stick close to the Sacraments as they enliven the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within you.

It appears to me that “Wisdom” and “Knowledge” (as well as “Understanding” contribute to “Counsel.” Once you have cultivated those first three, Counsel seems to naturally follow.

We are all “Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny,” and we need not go it alone. While the fellowship of a Twelve Step movement may appeal to some, it isn’t all there is. Cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit isn’t something we should only pay attention to in the latter part of the Easter season. It should be an ongoing, daily thing (I’m also speaking to myself on this!) Walking with the Church in the liturgical year, confessing your sins regularly (at least once a month) and most definitely developing a relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary (the one and only Spouse of the Holy Spirit.) 

When I decided to write this series of posts of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, I wasn’t aware that I’d be developing the idea that the gifts aren’t necessarily separate things, but are a contiguous whole. Perhaps “as if” there is “one gift” but it has seven interdependent components, all contributing to the whole. 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Knowledge

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The third of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is “Knowledge.” We are also familiar with this gift since we appeal for it in the Serenity Prayer along with Wisdom:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

According to Catholic Answers::

Knowledge is the ability to judge correctly about matters of faith and right action, so as to never wander from the straight path of justice. 

It is probably that gift of the Holy Spirit most affected by our drinking as we can hardly ‘judge correctly’ about anything, much less about “matters of faith and right action.”

If you look over the list of the seven gifts, you can conclude that all depend upon and work with each other. All the more reason for us to draw closer to the Holy Spirit. We ask for the “wisdom to know” about things we have to deal with and the things of the spirit: the moral and ethical decisions that confront us. Stick close to the Sacraments as they enliven the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within you.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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Since Pentecost Sunday is fast approaching, I thought I’d blog about each of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they relate to recovery. The Seven Gifts are:

Wisdom

Understanding

Knowledge

Counsel

Fortitude

Piety

Fear of the Lord (Or, my preferred term, “Holy Fear.”)

There will be one post on each over the next few days. Enjoy!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

May the Lord bless and keep safe Pope Leo XIV

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In a few hours Leo XIV will be inaugurated as the 267th successor to St. Peter. As the “Pope,” he is the Vicar of Christ, the visible Head of the Catholic Church, and he (or his own successors) will reign until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

98189437-14693619-Robert Prevost a 69 year old longtime Cardinal said peace be wit-a-25 1746741897992.

I haven’t been this excited about a Pope since like forever. I loved Pope St. John Paul II but the Internet wasn’t available to the public back in 1978 and following the daily doings of the Holy Father wasn’t as easy as it is today. If you lived near a parish which provided for Catholic newspapars (Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, Twin Circle, and others) or lived in a large city with public and university libraries, you could follow along fairly well. Still, not like nowadays with official and unofficial websites providing almost hourly coverage. Also, as with regards to the reign of JP2, I had left the Catholic Church for most of his reign, reverting only a few years before his death. So, JP2 is, to me, mostly a figure found in books and websites; although I do have an odd personal connection to him. I also deeply appreciated Pope Benedict XVI; but he didn’t touch my heart like JP2. I also resent a little his abdication in 2013. Pope Francis did not impress me much, I never warmed to him until earlier this year when he was gravely ill. There were a few things about his papacy that I liked, namely the “Year of Mercy” and a few other things. There was quite a lot I didn’t care for (The Pachamama idol and his assault on the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite (“Traditionis Custodes” and his allowance of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to recieve Holy Communion.) Nevertheless, I fell in between the two extremes of his haters and advocates. In never thought he was as bad as his detractors (calumniators?) claimed, nor did I feel he was the awesomesauce as his fans proposed. But, he was the Pope and now he’s gone. Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord…

And now we have an American Pope (never thought I’d ever see the day.) I’ve been kind of obsessed with social media coverage, as well as the legitimate news channels reporting, of him. Pope Leo XIV gives me a lot of Pope St. John Paul II vibes, with a huge dose of Benedict XVI, and a fair amount of the acceptable parts of Francis. The JP2 aspects include his seeming youthful enthusiasm, missionary spirit, doctrinal clarity, and social communication skills; the B16 parts also includes doctrinal clarity and liturgical expertise.  The Francis elements are his social justice advocacy; but this part of his makeup also seems to be heavily influenced by Leo’s  apparent orthodox doctrinal qualities. There also seems to be a rise in prophetic discussion regarding him, but I won’t go that route, now.

I am unsure how often I will post about him. I went to Saturday Vigil Mass so that I can stay up until 3AM to watch his inauguration on EWTN and not worry about my Sunday Mass obligation (not really an issue as I always attend the Vigil Mass.) Now, to load up on coffee!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)