We thought our visitors, especially our many loyal American visitors, would find this revelation most interesting.
From Fr Richard Heilman on Roman Catholic Man
Just posted to YouTube yesterday, Father Giacomo Capoverde shares a fascinating story of his encounter with the Hermit of Loreto (the author of the Pieta Prayer Book), at the site of the Holy House of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Exterior and interior shown in this article’s photo). In this video, Father Capoverde shares an amazing premonition this Hermit of Loreto had all the way back in the 1980s about Donald J. Trump. Please watch as Father shares this incredible story.
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Wow. I hope the Hermit is right.
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Hello,
Does anyone have a picture of this Hermit?
I was at the Holy House in 2012 and spoke to a an old bearded man at the door, he says that he was guarding the Holy House for 50 years and gave me a word or two of spiritual advice…
I have a photo of him and would like to know if this is the same man…
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We have to pray our little hearts out. 🙂
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Father, when I went to Loreto, our guide (Liz Lev or Steve Ray) told us that through tradition is that theangels brought the house but it was actually (or likely) the de Angelis family. Is the holy door opened every 50 years?
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Truly fantastic. You couldn’t make it up.
We surely all look forward keenly to the prospect of Donald [three coarse words deleted] leading the USA back to God. I certainly do.
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Marc Alvira @ 01:23
Like you, Marc, I was curious to know the identity of the mysterious “Hermit of Loreto” who compiled the prayers for the wonderful little Pieta Prayer Book*. I searched everywhere but could find no record whatsoever of who he really is – nothing at all! (I wonder whether our clever GC could sniff something out?) It appears the Hermit wanted to remain anonymous… in much the same way that the author of the remarkable book for Eucharistic Adoration, In Sinu Jesu, is signed only “a Benedictine monk”, i.e., with no name given. Surely a sign of true humility.
However, considering how advanced in age the Hermit of Loreto must have been even in the 1980s when he gave this prophecy about President Donald Trump, I doubt he could have been the same old man you met at Loreto in 2012, approximately thirty years later.
* I was given the Pieta booklet in the late 1980s by a dear old lady who died long ago. Like most of us, I grew up in the crazy post V2 period, and remember being bowled over in surprise by the beautiful Catholic spirituality this little book contained. I realised so painfully then how much my generation, and following ones, had been deprived of our Catholic heritage by the storm of Modernism that had followed in the wake of the Council!
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kathleen, it wasn’t too difficult this time 🙂 . He gets a mention over on the forum at Catholic Answers.
The Pieta’ Prayer Book was assembled by two Americans during their pilgrimage to San Damiano in northwest Italy in the 1970’s. Tom Zimmer and Harry Faulhaber. Tom had a different idea than Harry, he included writings about avoiding alcohol and tobacco and other behaviors that harm us. Harry brought the book back to the US and had it printed so he edited some of the advice Tom had originally included. Harry told Tom that he excluded Tom’s advice to avoid tobacco and alcohol because Harry feared it might “put off” some readers. They tried to make a collection of beautiful prayers that they feared might be lost. Harry died many years ago and Tom died on Sept 10, 2009 in a Veteran’s rest home in Florida. He was 82. Tom spoke 5 languages. He had lived in Italy from the early 1970’s until November of 2008. He spent many years collecting prayers and assembling prayer collections. One of his other books is “Sacro Capo di Gesu” (“The Holy Head of Christ”), printed in Italian. The Pieta’ Prayer Book has sold millions of copies but Harry sold them at cost. Tom spent many years in Rome and lived in Loreto, Italy for the last 15 years. Tom knew Pope Benedict well and conversed with him in German. Tom encouraged John Paul II to recommend the practice of daily mass and communion. Tom attended over 300,000 masses during his lifetime (he said that the concelebrated mass was the most important invention in the history of the world!).
Since Tom Zimmer died in 2009, somehow I don’t think it was the man that Marc met at Loreto!
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I have some reservations about this video. The first is that I question the entirely spiritual , or good spirit for that matter, nature of the premenition of Donald Trump’s presidency. There are various video clips going back many years, to the time when he was quite young, of Donald Trump expressing interest in perhaps running for president of the USA. Trump, not a regular church-going Protestant has had some degree of religious conversion since he has stated
recently to have given up his pro-choice position, but still he is in favor of contraception and homosexual marriage. I will not judge his 3 marriages, since ,if he were a Catholic, there would be glaring
questions about whether they were valid . I voted for Trump because of the viable choices for Presidential election, he seemed the most willing to support faithful Catholics and their concerns re our Nation.
My second reservation is about the “Pieta” devotional booklet. I became familiar with this booklet in the 1980’s and at that time it already had a very wide circulation. I soon took issue with the “Muter Vogel” grave admonition in the “Pieta” to never say anything but keep silence and pray if you ever notice a priest doing anything wrong. This is contrary to Faith and to canon law and certainly in my estimation this passage of the booklet was and continues to be dangerous to Faith because, influenced by it, the people most likely to be believed by good bishops would be silent on issues of clergy abuse and heresy. I wrote to the Vatican expressing my concerns and suggesting that the “Muter Vogel” quote be removed. There are some other questionable statements in the booklet, but none serious enough to merit the same concern.
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Mary is now indeed the only hope to unite all souls who love God and seek Him alone.
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“I soon took issue with the “Muter Vogel” grave admonition in the “Pieta” to never say anything but keep silence and pray if you ever notice a priest doing anything wrong.”
That speaks volumes.
Thanks. Mrs, A.
Catholics who put their trust in Trump will wake up all too soon – and very sad indeed.
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I am just curious about something, I really hope this story is true, I do back, and beleive in Trump, but in the video, I may be misinterpreting what he is saying, but he does not sound like he knows that the Holy Doors are opened every 25 years, and not when the pope is ready to open the doors. That part of the video has me a bit confused.
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More people do go back to GOD during VERY DARK TIMES !
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GC @ 13:11 yesterday
You are a genius! I knew if there was anything about the elusive ‘Hermit of Loreto’ out there, you would uncover it 😉. In fact I had looked in at Catholic Answers myself, but not found this information.
——
Mrs. Maureen Avila @ 13:27
“I soon took issue with the “Muter Vogel” grave admonition in the “Pieta” to never say anything but keep silence and pray if you ever notice a priest doing anything wrong. This is contrary to Faith and to canon law and certainly in my estimation this passage of the booklet was and continues to be dangerous to Faith…”
I think you bring up a very important point – thank you.
And in light of the countless cases of blatantly treacherous behaviour (both in word and deed) committed by clerics today, imbued with the errors of Modernism and going right up to the top (!!!), not only do we have the right to denounce these betrayals, we have also the duty of doing so! To allow evil to flourish and scandalise the faithful without a word of protest is a form of complaisance with it – and that is indeed very wrong!
I may be mistaken, but I have always understood this “admonition” in the Pieta booklet as a warning to the laity against criticising minor failings we may observe in our local priest. IOW, it appears to be an admonition against petty gossip. (If the issue is a bit more serious, a kindly personal word with ‘Father’ could solve the problem if he is a good man and open to correction, perhaps?)
However, nowadays the issues are often far greater than mere “minor failings” (like the examples you describe) and instead we are often witnessing a full scale attack on the Church’s teaching that we should indeed denounce! And loudly!
We have an obligation to defend the Truth.
P.S. And, of course, we have an obligation to defend innocent children from sexual predators, whoever these may happen to be.
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kathleen, there doesn’t seem to be too much on this gentleman. I looked for some kind of obituary for him but found I none.
Someone who knew Mr Zimmer though wrote about him on Monday last in reaction to Father Heilman’s article. Mr Zimmer appears to have spent years visiting many Marian shrines including Garabandal and San Damiano d’Asti (near Turin). He seemed very devoted to these places and not unsceptical about some of them.
https://abbey-roads.blogspot.my/2017/02/tom-zimmer-and-holy-house-and-trump.html
Whatever, we can be sure God is looking after all those who truly sought Him.
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When Melania Trump read the Lord’s prayer did she realize what: “Forgive us our trespasses as WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US? Tell me, do those words apply to Mr. Trump?
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Here is the TV version of the Hermit of Loreto’s 1980’s “premonition “of Donald Trump as USA President:
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What rite does this priest belong to? His sign of the cross is done backwards with the left hand???
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Start either Trump video at 0.01 to hear Trump talk about the Presidency beginning in 1980.
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“What rite does this priest belong to? His sign of the cross is done backwards with the left hand???”
Well, Kate:
Either he’s a Jesuit, or the film has been run through the projector he wrong way round.
Good catch, either way – though.
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Kathleen suggests a good hard look in the mirror – though – for a certain pestilential and superfluous Toad, whom we shall not mention. In the mirror and camera lenses left appears right and so on. Simple really.
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I am having difficulty with some of the facts. How could Tom Zimmer have told the doctor he put a brick in the Holy Doors of Saint Peter’s in the 1980’s when Pope John Paul II did not open the doors until Christmas Eve 1999? A year later they were closed on Jan. 6, 2001. The doors are only opened every 25 years. So the previous time would have been around 1974. Both occasions were nowhere near the 80’s. Tom Zimmer died in 2009, so he could not have done it when Pope Francis opened the doors.
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Pope John Paul II did in fact declare a Holy Year of Redemption at the start of Lent 1983 for which the Holy Doors were opened:
http://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/25/Pope-John-Paul-II-today-opened-the-special-Holy/1634417416400/
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Thanks Fr. Heilman on this wonderful
Story. I took my parents and sister to
Loreto. My good friend was Brother
Michael, ofm, cap who has since gone
to the Lord. I have never met Tom but
God-willing I hope to meet him in the
future. I really enjoyed everything and
concur on the story of the Holy House.
Deacon Joseph
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This is such an interesting piece. I almost missed it. Grateful to have the Pieta and In Sinu Jesu book recommendations, and Mrs Avila is quite an asset, albeit an occasional one, to this blog.
___
Now, please forgive me people, but I must plead that you stop using expressions like “1970’s” and “1980’s”. You will understand why I ask that when you think about it. They say that pedants are malicious and take delight in pointing out small errors, which may be the case, but I am not like that. It’s just that the possessive apostrophe used in this context is – for me – like fingernails on a blackboard.
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@ JH
😆
And honestly, I don’t pretend to have never been guilty of this terrible “apostrophe sin” in the past. But in my comment on 21st Feb ^ above I didn’t fall into this temptation! 😉
P.S. And I still think Tom Zimmer’s (Hermit of Loreto) premonition about Donald Trump is amazing, despite kind Mrs Maureen Avila’s interesting comments and video.
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The politician requires religion to lend him legitimacy, the sycophantic clergy desire proximity to power. It’s one of the oldest, grubbiest marriages in history.
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I have to admit that like many people I’ve been surprised at the effectiveness of it all. The familiar dreary charade is playing out like it always does, but each time there are new people who wish to be deceived. I have to admit I’m pretty pessimistic. If Donald Trump, an obvious fraud and mountebank, can con you, anyone can. So who will come after him? How low can it sink?
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We (they rather) dodged the bullet everyone knows as the Whore of Babylon; so as much as people may dislike President Trump, even his detractors, including me, are relieved at his election.
___
btw: my Nigerian contact turned out to be a real mountebank (what century did you find that word in?) which is the only reason I’m here talking to you.
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mountebank (what century did you find that word in?)
The second half of the 16th, Italy.
We (they rather) dodged the bullet everyone knows as the Whore of Babylon
True enough. Different bullet.
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I’m so tired of the main stream press and their constant unsubtle attacks on this modern day P.T. Barnum. Yes, he’s a circus act, but nowhere near as immoral as the Clintons were and are. His populist message is laughable, as his supporters will probably soon learn, but sooner him than the alternative. The MSM fake news attacks are counterproductive because thinking people, who look askance at Trump but who know a choice had to be made, are disgusted by their Pravda-like efforts to mold our opinions.
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“The second half of the 16th, Italy.”
I had you marked down as a latter day Mr Pickwick when you used that word.
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The MSM fake news attacks are counterproductive because thinking people, who look askance at Trump but who know a choice had to be made, are disgusted by their Pravda-like efforts to mold our opinions.
Are you familiar with The Imaginative Conservative? Very stimulating, and a clean break from the liberal party line. Also good writing. You’ll like it:
http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org
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“Belphegor the Mountebank” is a 1921 British silent film based on the Pickwick Papers. It’s presumed to be lost. The British Film Institute is frantically searching for a copy. Do you have one?
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Of course I know of The Imaginative Conservative, and I’m glad that you do too.
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I rarely comment on TIC, but you will have come across me there if you are a regular reader .
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Someday you must come to Canada and we can have jolly get-together. You probably picture me as a 21st century Gregory Peck, but sadly (for him) that’s not the case. I think of you as Mr Bean.
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“Mr Bean” – I mean that in the most kindly way. Don’t you wonder what people here are like? Gertrude for instance?
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Belphegor the Mountebank
Never heard of it. latter day Pickwick now that would be a life. Glad you know TIC. I’m convinced Toad looks and sounds like Michael Hordern. Bean my foot!
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Michael Horden. Yes. I see what you mean. And speaking of movie stars, I know that you and Toad are glued to your “TVs” watching the Academy Awards right now, probably fawning over that Meryl Streep moon-faced twit as she denigrates the president – and possibly the First Lady – cum centrefold – too; and so good night until next time.
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I’m still concerned about the left handed sign of the cross. I filmed myself, and had someone film me also, and there is NO mirror effect. I searched Father http://www.immcon.org/contact-us and he looks to be legit, but why the left hand???
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And here is our local anaesthesiologist (can’t believe I spelled right that without Googling)
Brother Burrito.
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…which is not to say that the General Medical Council has restricted his practice to local anaesthesia.
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Still confused about the left hand, but I do think it’s something to do with the camera and reversals and all after all. Found Father’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dongiacomo.capoverdi where he posts. Scrolled way down and found a pic of him sitting at his desk, and the Italian flag is on the opposite side of when the video was done. Also saw where he posted the video. I looked into it because I don’t want to ever knowingly mislead anyone, and wanted to be sure before I shared this video with others. Just FYI, for what it’s worth. God Bless.
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Kathleen said,
“And honestly, I don’t pretend to have never been guilty of this terrible “apostrophe sin” in the past.”
I had to look this one up because it was not a sin in the past. Nice to be updated here and there.
Thanks!
Key to Comments and Commonly Confused Words
http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/keyto.htm
Although decades used to be written using the apostrophe ( the 1920’s),…
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What do think about mump’s and measle’s, Mrs Avila?
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I had to look this one up because it was not a sin in the past. Nice to be updated here and there.
Don’t worry about it. Many of us prefer the traditional way of writing decades. I presume you were responding to JH’s heartfelt plea:
Now, please forgive me people, but I must plead that you stop using expressions like “1970’s” and “1980’s”. You will understand why I ask that when you think about it. They say that pedants are malicious and take delight in pointing out small errors, which may be the case, but I am not like that. It’s just that the possessive apostrophe used in this context is – for me – like fingernails on a blackboard.
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The actor who nearest resemble’s me these day’s – is probably Margaret Rutherford.
…And I have no TV.
But it was good to read that the Oscar’s* was a giant ball’s-up.
*Ye’s, JH.
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Tom Fisher said:
Don’t worry about it. Many of us prefer the traditional way of writing decades. I presume you were responding to JH’s heartfelt plea:
“Now, please forgive me people, but I must plead that you stop using expressions like “1970’s” and “1980’s”. You will understand why I ask that when you think about it. They say that pedants are malicious and take delight in pointing out small errors, which may be the case, but I am not like that. It’s just that the possessive apostrophe used in this context is – for me – like fingernails on a blackboard.”
In recalling the rationale for the traditional way of writing decades, the year itself, 1970 can not be plural, as there is only one 1970, so the apostrophe stands for the unstated years in the decade, that is, 1971 through 1979, and the “s “being plural indicates we mean all of those years (‘s). The same rationale applies to writing centuries, so 1900’s refers to all the unstated years beginning with the numbers “19” . If you were to refer to a year in the that century without restating the “19”, you would also use the apostrophe to designate the unstated century( ’98). I was unaware that the’ Language Guru’ had changed this , but like Presidents , they do make changes.
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Fair enough, Mrs Avila. Much as I enjoy dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s, I shall henceforth mind my p’s and q’s and avoid flogging dead horses’.
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johnhenrycn says:
February 27, 2017 at 19:00
“Fair enough, Mrs Avila. Much as I enjoy dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s, I shall henceforth mind my p’s and q’s and avoid flogging dead horses’.”
These days you need to watch not only your pppppppppppppps and qqqqqqqqqqs but all the other letters in the alphabet too. As for avoiding flogging dead horses, I notice many horses playing dead to avoid being flogged.
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I have given hundreds of the Pieta book to people and seen miracles and blessing from sharing it. It is truly a gift from God and after the Bible and Catechism probably one of the most powerful books to lead us to heaven in print. It is truly amazing. I could write a book about it. Just buy the new version and read it cover to cover and then begin to use it in your prayers life. It will change your life for the BEST.
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Professor Giorgio Nicolini, of Ancona, Italy, has published and lectured widely on the miraculous translation of the House of Loreto:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMOfG_gkI-0
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Wow! I pray that Donald J. Trump can resist the “resistance” (which is underground). Does DJ Trump know this story??? Please, someone send this story to his Facebook or Twitter account – I have neither!!! Many of his staff are Catholic, send this story to them also. AND continue to pray for him, all DJT has is himself, US, and those of his loyal staff!!
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I live in Loreto (an also American) and did a little research into the “Hermit of Loreto”. This is what I found out:
http://stfrancispilgrimages.com/blog/tom-zimmer-the-hermit-of-loreto
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Bret Thoman Ofs: Thank you for that interesting update. Can I ask whether “Ofs” is a religious designation? There are many O.S.F. religious communities, but I can’t locate an Ofs (or O.F.S.) in my books or via online acronym search. Just curious, that’s all.
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Theresa Kuehne and Marisa Gatti-Taylor (at various times above) – noted with interest.
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JH (2 above), the Secular Franciscan Order (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis). I see they have fraternities in Ontario.
Bret Thoman OFS (3 above), thanks for this piece of fieldwork.
You found at least two people in Loreto who knew Mr Zimmer well for a long time, and both gave a very good account of him.
JH, a volume (by Bret Thoman OFS) for your shelves, if there is any room left? I see it comes very highly recommended by readers.
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Thank you, GC. I wonder why they’re designated by the acronym OFS rather than OSF which would seem to be the natural one. Not important obviously. Just interested.
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JH, I think you will find that OSF is used by many of the various groups of third order Franciscan “regulars”, those living together under a rule in community houses. OFS are “seculars”, usually living separately from religious houses. I may face correction, but I think the OFS designation for the seculars only began in 1978 as a result of measures taken by Pope Paul VI.
Yes, JH, a bewildering array of postnominal initials for the many and various third order groups. Over here we have at least four separate congregations of Franciscan third order regulars PLUS the Secular Franciscans.
Here, for instance, are the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC):
and the Sisters of Saint Francis of Sarawak (SSFS):
Two good battalions of sisters right there and I often meet some of these very darling and intelligent sisters about the place. I even saw the former group at the Manhattan Fish Market outlet near me, being treated (the sisters, not me) by our parish priest, who is a Portuguese/Dutch Eurasian. I guessed Father was begging the sisters to look after the Borneo Catholic peoples, usually young, who are living, working, serving in the armed forces or the police force, or studying in the peninsula. Or to teach the Burmese refugee children. That’s probably right, one or the other or both.
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GC (01:42) – I’ve added Bret Thoman’s recent book (co-authored by Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer) linked by you to my Wish List. Have you (or anyone else) read Pope Benedict’s Last Testament? I haven’t, but will, and your link reminded me to also add it to the list.
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Father forgive us for we know not what we do.
This nation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it. And so to this nation that has been given much needs now to repent for we know not what we do.
Many want the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus, but they know not what they ask, there are many people who do not know God and it is on our shoulders! We ask for a return & in so doing we condemn many.
No sign will be given them, a call to repentance is the only sign given.
Alms for the poor!
Support the leaders given you from above. Repent all who have hatred in the heart & come together one nation under God. There is no hatred in the trinity forgive as I have forgiven & unite .
When I called, the God of justice gave me answer; from anguish you released me; have mercy, oh Lord & hear my prayer!
Father forgive us for we know not what we do!
Peace be with you
Deacon John
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My dear Deacon: You fail to mention all 7 types of ambiguity mentioned in this book, but you are very ambiguous.
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http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153612.Seven_Types_of_Ambiguity
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I love the little blue book. It has a beautiful prayer for priest that I love and pray daily. Also, I cross myself with my left hand because my right one is lame. I think it’s okay with God so that’s all that matters to me. God bless all of us. Please pray for our country like you have never prayed before.
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THanks for everyone’s comments. OFS stands for “Order Franciscan Secular” to use the Latin order into English words. It’s the Secular Franciscan Order, which used to be called Third Order of St. Francis, basically the Order started by St. Francis in 1223 for laity…
It’s different from OSF, which is Order of St. Francis used by Franciscan sisters or nuns with an apostolic mission, as opposed to the contemplative Second Order of Poor Clare nuns, OSC
BTW, thanks for the endorsement of my book on St. Francis:
http://www.stfrancispilgrimages.com/new-book.html
pax et bonum
Bret Thoman
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It’s very hard to believe that DonaldTrump will lead America to God. But it’s just the beginning of his presidency, so we shall see
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Those of you attacking the “Mutter Vogel” quotes of the Pieta booklet are not thinking clearly.
The booklet simply says never to attack a priest. Nowhere does it say not to inform a priest’s superiors regarding his conduct. This is not an attack.
Additionally, any priest who endorses a position (on morality or sexuality) that is contrary to the Church commits heresy and may incur automatic excommunication (sexual sin is explicitly mentioned in the CIC as cause for automatic excommunication). Excommunicated, they are no longer priests, and the “Mutter Vogel” verses lose application.
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I do not think that the actual identity of Muter Vogel has been clearly established. She does not seem to be a saint or blessed. The booklet quoted her as saying that one should just pray for the priest when witnessing him doing something wrong and to not say anything. My point was and still is that this booklet had a huge readership when I first noticed it in the mid 1980’s and is still does…and that it wrongly fosters a lax attitude on the part of the faithful toward correcting and reporting wrongdoing by clergy.
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I am flabbergasted that we as Catholics would believe that Donald J. Trump is a man of God. Have you not heard him speak? The things he has said and how he continues to alienate more people with his rhetoric. A man of the Lord does not inspire hate. Can you imagine what Jesus would say to him if he walked among us? Wake up brothers and sisters and open your hearts like our blessed Pope Francis has done.
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Regarding Lisa Turner’s August 4, 2017 at 22:02 comment:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/still-need-convincing-here-are-18-more-reasons-why-it-is-crucial-to-support
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I know Fr. Capoverdi and can vouch for his honesty. I trust his veracity on his account of his friend’s visit with the Monk of Lorretto.
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