I entered the Roman Catholic Church a little more than 20 years ago now, and my experiences in non-sectarian, public-charter classical education, first as a teacher, and then for a decade as a school leader, were a necessary condition for it. The soil of my soul was tilled by Socrates. To Tertullian’s exasperated question What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? I say: everything, bro. Everything.

There was also the influence of my wife and her family; the birth of my first daughter; my own Catholic-leaning (though officially ecumenical) Christian secondary education; basically the entirety of the Ignatius Press catalogue up to that point; a mildly-mystical experience of watching one of the red banners hanging from the church ceiling at Pentecost swaying in an air current that mysteriously affected only it and not the others; my first experiences singing Gregorian chant and attending the old Latin Mass; the pathos of having watched earlier that year live on broadcast television the final days and death of Pope John Paul II, the spectacle of a papal requiem Mass, that magnificent funeral homily by Cardinal Ratzinger, his zinger of a pre-conclave homily (the “dictatorship of relativism” one), and the thrill of seeing him step out on to the balcony as Benedict XVI on what just happened to be my son’s 3rd birthday.1

But prior to that, going deep into the practice and then the theory of Paideia-movement liberal education did so much to cure me of my prolonged and sophomoric Nietzschean delusions about the amor fati and the death of God.

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Rev. Stefan Gramenz is a Lutheran pastor and liturgical scholar working to recover the historic treasures of the Church for the English-speaking world. He serves with the Lutheran Missal Project, a collaborative effort to make the Lutheran liturgical heritage accessible to pastors and congregations today.

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essentialsaltes said:

Sanctions aren't all he's considering.

Trump threatens to cut off aid to Nigeria, possible military action over claims of 'killing of Christians'​

"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, "guns-a-blazing,"

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Trump caught own allies 'off guard' with military threat based on Fox News story: report​

The Washington Post on Sunday published a new report called, "Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat to Nigeria shocked key players, aides," in which the outlet claims that "Trump’s threat to go 'guns-a-blazing' into Nigeria concerned U.S. military officials in Africa and surprised even those who had been pushing the issue."

Referring to Trump's new priority as "seemingly out of the blue," the report states that "the president’s initial post followed a meeting in Washington between his top advisers and members of the faith community, and after he watched a Fox News segment on the topic aboard Air Force One, according to three people with knowledge of the situation."

JimR-OCDS said:

I heard the Trappist Monks in Spencer MA chant the Apostles Creed in English. It was awesome!

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Sounds like a great experience!

Praying for all the persecuted faithful!

Pope Leo XIV has appointed a longtime confrere and friend, Nigerian priest Edward Daniang Daleng, OSA, as vice regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope.

The prefecture also takes care of the preparations related to papal ceremonies, the spiritual exercises of the Holy Father, and gatherings of the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia. Furthermore, it handles the necessary arrangements whenever the Holy Father leaves the Apostolic Palace to visit places within Rome or Italy.

Daniang has been a general councilor and, most recently, procurator general of the Order of St. Augustine — Pope Leo’s religious order. As procurator general, the priest was responsible for preparing and carrying out the order’s business with the Holy See.

Born on April 4, 1977, in Yitla’ar, Kwalla, Plateau state, in Nigeria, Daniang made his first profession in the Order of St. Augustine on Nov. 9, 2001, and his solemn vows on Nov. 13, 2004, at the age of 47.

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Ugh! Lord have mercy! St. Thomas, pray for us!

Disgusting. Letting men who self identify as women led to this. Female locker rooms are for biological female only. Period. This just needs to stop.

More than 80 Christian leaders signed a letter to President Donald Trump ahead of his historic White House meeting Monday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging him to remember the plight of persecuted Christians, Druze and other religious minorities in Syria.

"With the visit of Syria's new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, scheduled for November 10, 2025, we urge you to address directly the massacre of Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria, notably in the greater Suwayda area," said the Nov. 7 letter, which can be read on the website of the advocacy group Save the Persecuted Christians.

Dede Laugesen, president of the Colorado-based organization, wrote the letter to Trump, describing him as “the only major world leader fighting for religious freedom” and highlighting his recent attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

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rambot said:

I'm surprised you guys didn't expect this at all.

For MANY, this whole thing was a bit of a "Fad". In my mind everything that was happenning sounded like a fad; especially while watching my teenage daughter go through it all. I could see how her and her friends "interacted" with this phenomenon; for MANY of those kids, it is little more than a social "clique" or identifier.

For SOME of those kiddoes, it IS a real thing and THEY need the support no doubt.

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Agreed, although some would disagree what genuine support looks like, which is fine.

essentialsaltes said:

Supreme Court rejects long-shot effort to overturn same-sex marriage ruling​

The court turned away an appeal filed by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who was sued after refusing to issue a marriage license to a gay couple.

Without comment, the justices rejected an appeal brought by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who was sued in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses because of her opposition to same-sex marriage based on her religious beliefs.

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Not surprising. It’s not like Davis had any power to do anything to begin with. Her 15 minutes of fame are long gone.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday for a case involving whether Louisiana prison officials must pay damages to a former inmate who had his hair forcibly shaved in violation of his religious beliefs.

The case centers on Damon Landor, a Rastafarian who was handcuffed to a chair and forcibly shaved at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, ignoring his religious objections.

The question before the high court is whether Landor can demand damages from individual government employees under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

During the oral arguments, Zachary Tripp, an attorney for Landor, argued that if damages cannot be awarded under RLUIPA, then “officials can literally treat the law like garbage.”

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Trump administration returns to Supreme Court in fight over frozen SNAP benefits​

His notice comes after a federal appeals court late Sunday rejected the administration’s bid to halt U.S. District Judge John McConnell’s order, which directed the government to fund November SNAP payments by transferring some $4 billion in child nutrition funds.

Though those payments remain frozen under a Friday night ruling from Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the appeals court’s decision starts a 48-hour clock for it to expire.

Colo Millz said:

Take it up with the Reformed Calvinist theologian Karl Barth - who of course did not preach universalism. We are, however, again, according to him, permitted to hope, genuinely hope, that in the end all of God's creation will be brought back to him.

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I genuinely hope that in the end God's purpose for it (Ro 9:22-24) is accomplished (of which there is no doubt) by his ordination of it.

Anglicans met in the Diocese of Durgapur in north India for a conference aimed at tackling human trafficking and slavery. The conference was run by the diocese in conjunction with the missionary organisation United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG).

The Diocese of Durgapur has been praised for its long-running anti-trafficking program, which is operated in partnership with USPG.

It is estimated that nearly 50 million people around the world are living in a form of modern slavery; of these, 11 million are estimated to live in India, making the country the slavery capital of the world.

Criminal profits generated from forced labor are estimated to be around $236 billion per year across the globe.

The Rev. Canon Peniel Rajkumar, global theologian and director of global mission at USPG, said, "These are not distant statistics: they are real people created in God’s image, with inherent worth, dignity, and value, regardless of status or circumstance. Because of this, the Church cannot remain passive.

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Abraham1st said:

you have to figure that out, don't you.

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And wow as you are most AUT0CRATIA and also make me AGOG. !!

dan p

# 1 LEST. //. ME. is a DISJUNCATIVE PARTICLE. NEGAGATIVE

# 2. ANY. //. TIS. , INDEFINITE ARTICLE. , in. the NOMCATIVE CASE. , in. the SIGNGULAR

# 3. SHOULD. SAY. //. EIPON. in. the AORIST TENSE in. the ACTIVE VOICE. is a SUBJUNCTIVE. in. the SINGULAR

# 4. THAT //. HOTI. is a CONJUNCATION

# 5. I HAD BAPTIZED. //. BAPTIZO. in. the AROIST TENSE in. the ACTIVE VOICE. in. the INDICATIVE MOOD. in. the SINGULAR

# 6 IN //. EIS. is a PREPOSTION

# 7 MINE OWN. //. is a PERSONAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUN. , in a. ACCUSATIVE CASE , is in. SINGULAR

# 8. NAME. //. in a ACCUSATIVE CASE in. the SINGULAR. , in. the NEUTER

# A WE see that Paul can NEVER WATER BAPTIZED as in. his own. NAME , NEVER as # 1 SAYS , NEVERRRRR EVER

# B We doe know for sure. in. Matt 28:19 and verse 20 to teach what Jesus taught. THEM the Law

# C. AND to Baptize them in. the name IN. THE NAME of the FATHER and of the SON. and off the HOLY SPIRIT

# D. And this means that WATER BAPTISM is NO LONGER ALLLOWED !!

# E. AND only HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM. REMAIN. by ACTS 1:5. !!

# F And there is. more. and will wait if anyone will find it ??

dan p

Michie said:

Three leaders of an unregistered Christian house church in Xi’an city in central China have been arrested by communist authorities and detained on fraud charges, reigniting concerns over religious freedom in China.

Pastor Lian Xuliang, Pastor Lian Changnian and church member Fu Juan were taken into custody last Sunday by the First Branch of the Xi’an Municipal Public Security Bureau, according to the watchdog organization ChinaAid.

The arrests were approved by the Baqiao District Court, and the three are currently held at the Weiyang District Detention Center, the group added.

The arrests mark a repeat of legal action against the same individuals, who were previously detained on similar fraud charges on Aug. 17, 2022. They were held for nearly three years before being released on bail in April 2025.

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Christian house church leaders arrested, detained by authorities on ‘fraud’ charges

Three leaders of an unregistered Christian house church in Xi an city in central China have been arrested by communist authorities and detained on fraud charges, reigniting concerns over religious

www.christianpost.com

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The pace of persecution is escalating. They even ban Christian weddings in hotels with serious fines.

A friend's sticker shock between current plan and best renewal rate.

Gracious Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus,
I pray for Your Grace for yuppers, who needs to hold onto his job. Help him to better manage his mental health situation in a way that is acceptable to his employer, and for him to get the treatment he needs.
In Christ’s Name,
Amen

I’ve been in this situation and it’s hard. Specially hard when people don’t understand the moral struggle and the pain in the heart. It hurts to feel you are constantly failing God. It also hurts when people pretend it’s easy and they are successful in overcoming without fail, when for most that is just unrealistic and impossible even.

I interpreted my struggles as a calling to pursue a relationship. Temptation was so pervasive and stressful it made me cry, feel inadequate, feel distant form God, be rejected by church friends who were judgmental, it was very very painful.

What helped me deal with this is:

1. Don’t torture yourself, as you’ve said it’s a natural desire God has placed on humans and that doesn’t make you a demon possessed individual. Most single Christian’s people struggle more than they are willing to openly admit.

2. Keep yourself occupied. Tire yourself, work long hours, exercise, create personal projects, spend time with people, volunteer, this helps keep the mind at bay and helps you fall asleep faster than temptation can come to you lol.

3. Remember the benefits of celibacy. No STD, no emotional harm by being sexually used or abused and discarded by men, you won’t drag past bad experiences into a new relationship, no unplanned pregnancy. Give thanks to God being celibate is good for you in more significant ways than abstinence causes suffering. You won’t regret it.

4. Pursue dating. I was single for 8 years and struggling, but I was never approached by any guy let alone any Christian so, contrary to common advice I took a more active approach to this situation. I started going to Bible study, I talked to guys I found attractive, I faced rejection, I was more open to dating men who were not necessarily my type. I finally met someone and now I’ll be getting married soon.

5. Be careful while dating and I mean it. In my country men are mysoginists. While I tried to be more proactive I faced disrespect, unwanted advances, manipulation and one time a guy restrained me. My life was endangered by a Christian guy from church. Don’t think a guy being Christian inmediately grants him the opportunity to be with you. Avoid being alone with men, try keeping some company with you. I didn’t have anyone who would help make us company me and that’s why I ended up in that tricky situation.

6. Learn what is a healthy relationship and how abuse looks like and avoid it. Don’t stand disrespectful men just because they are Christian. Manipulators, liars, jealousy, avoid that like the plague.

7. Be honest with yourself. It takes two to have a healthy relationship, try to see what you can do better, whether I’d be being more patient, more open minded, less superficial, more tidy, whatever it is. You can ask help from friends, family, pastors, elders. Make sure they are people that love you sincerely.

8. Be careful with people. I had fake friends at church that tried to sabotage me, the only explanation I can think of is that they didn’t want me to find a partner.

Choosing a partner is a very important decision, seek as much guidance as you deem necessary, but know that at the end of the day there will always be doubts.

Don’t do it alone, involve people because that will protect you in more ways that you may be aware of. Abusive men will not harm you if that would destroyed their reputation, always let them know people know what you are doing and that you are keeping them updated on how things go. Avoid being in dangerous situations like being isolated, alone in a room or a car with a man you don’t know much.

I wish you the best of luck ❤️ God sees your tears and knows your heart desire to please him, I believe that is way more important that having a perfect performance.

rambot said:

And measles vaccine.
and penicillin
and radiation as a cancer treatment
And any medication you put into your body.
And every medical treatment you've ever received.

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No argument there.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the mystery of the Holy Trinity is “the central mystery of Christian faith and life” and “the most fundamental and essential teaching.”1 But how can fallen human beings hope to comprehend “a mystery that is inaccessible to reason alone”?2 For those who do not delight in reading theological textbooks, a recently canonized saint offers a practical guide to the truth of Trinitarian theology.

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Michie said:

With Millennials and Generation Z leading the way, particularly among men, Bible reading among U.S. adults in 2025 is at its highest level in the last 15 years, according to new data from the "State of the Church" initiative.

The initiative by Barna Group and Gloocollected data from 12,116 online interviews conducted between January and October of 2025. The research revealed that approximately 50% of self-identified Christians report reading the Bible weekly, the highest level of Bible reading among Christians in more than a decade.

Weekly Bible reading among all U.S. adults reached its lowest point in 15 years in 2024 when it hit 30%. In 2025, the figure rebounded 12 percentage points to 42%, according to the latest data.

"Bible reading is rising again across generations, marking a reset to faith engagement levels we haven't seen in a decade," David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, said in a statement. "People aren't just curious about faith — they're opening Scripture for themselves. This trend aligns with other signs of renewal we've seen in our research, like growing commitments to Jesus and increased church attendance."

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More Americans are now reading the Bible but fewer believe it’s 100% accurate: study

With Millennials and Generation Z leading the way, particularly among men, Bible reading among U S adults in 2025 is at its highest level in the last 15 years, according to new data from the State of

www.christianpost.com

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Or maybe that just means they aren't reading it with Fundamentalist slavishly literalist standards. That could be good.