UPDATE 17 July 2017:
Some of you are writing to me to ask for CCW cards. I’m not the guy. However, I passed the word to Fr. Heilman, who responded:
They’ll be available at romancatholicgear.com within the week. They must possess a “Combat Rosary” to purchase a card.
I don’t know exactly how they’ll work that out, but – hey!
___
Originally Published on: Jul 16, 2017
Last night I invited the bishop and some priests for another Supper For The Promotion of Clericalism. The priests are in the regular TLM rotation for Sundays at St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff, where my friend Fr. Richard Heilman is pastor. You will recall that Fr. Heilman moved his parish to ad orientem worship, put in an altar rail, and integrated the Extraordinary Form into the regular schedule side by side with the Novus Ordo. Great things are happening there. Fr. Heilman is also responsible, inter alia, for the now legendary “Combat Rosary“ which is now being carried by all of the Pontifical Swiss Guards.
Anyway, during the supper, Fr. Heilman unveiled of his new fun item for future distribution with the Combat Rosaries.
I bring this up in light of the snarky attack on my person and on all you readers of this blog made by the Wile E. Coyote of the catholic Left, MS. Winters of the Fishwrap (aka National Schismatic Reporter).
MS. “Wile E.” Winters arose from his fainting couch to engage in a celebratory chicken dance in the wake of the attack on Americans by the Jesuit-run Incività cattolica. Among Wile. E.’s comments (my emphases, comments):
Finally, someone took on Church Militant by name and called it out for its “shocking rhetoric.” I am tired of those in positions of authority hiding behind the rationale that they don’t want to “elevate” a fringe group like Church Militant by even calling attention to it, when they really just do not want the flak that will now descend upon Fr. Spadaro and Rev. Figueroa. Hundreds of thousands of people [That’s “fringe”? That’s more than read MS. Winters!] watch that garbage, and it is not just them: [NB] Yesterday morning, Fr. Zuhlsdorf had an article with the headline “ASK FATHER: Can I wear a Rosary like warriors wear weapons?” [HERE] That kind of militaristic, and profane, language is not uncommon at right-wing Catholic websites, all of which feed into the mainstream through less outrageous, but decidedly conservative, media outlets like EWTN and the National Catholic Register.
[…]
I find it hilarious that he wants “authority” to do something, when for decades the entire purpose of the Fishwrap has been to defy authority.
Wile. E. Winters ignored my response to the questioner, of course. I responded that the questioner should consider carrying his weapon/Rosary concealed. Get it? Concealed carry? The very fact that someone might ask about the Rosary as a weapon was enough to freak him out. The Rosary as weapon?!? Oh deary me! That’s militaristic! That’s outrageous! That’s … that’s… shocking!
What comes to mind is what St. Padre Pio said, namely, that , “The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” He also said, “Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.” St. Josemaria Escriva said, “The holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.” St. Jose Maria also said, “For those who use their intelligence and their study as a weapon, the Rosary is most effective. Because that apparently monotonous way of beseeching Our Lady as children do their Mother, can destroy every seed of vainglory and pride.” [I wonder if MS Winters prays the Rosary. He uses his intelligence and study as a weapon, after all.] Pius XI wrote that, “The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” [You have to believe in demons, acknowledge that there are sins, and love your country to get this. Again, I wonder of MS. Winters prays the Rosary.] Bl. Columba Marmion said, “Here is an example to help you understand the efficacy of the Rosary. You remember the story of David who vanquished Goliath. [Uh oh! Didn’t David use a … a.. weapon?!?] What steps did the young Israelite take to overthrow the giant? He struck him in the middle of the forehead with a pebble from his sling. If we regard the Philistine as representing evil and all its powers: heresy, impurity, pride, we can consider the little stones from the sling capable of overthrowing the enemy as symbolizing the Aves of the Rosary.”
Well, here’s a little something for Wile E.’s next case of the vapors after all this shocking, outrageous, militaristic imagery.
This is what Fr. Heilman trotted out last night.
Behold the Combat Rosary Concealed Carry Card.
In your wallet, this could go next to your old “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” membership card.
I would be delighted to send to MS Winters both a Combat Rosary and one of these Rosary “Concealed Carry License” cards. All I need is a good postal address.
As far as the Clerical Supper went, it was a great success. Clericalism (properly understood) was heavily promoted.
We started with our pre-prandials (nuts, chips and refreshing Mules).
The primo was “Whore-style Priest-stranglers” (aka Strozzapreti alla Putanesca). Thanks to the reader who, quite a while back now, sent the pasta from my wishlist! I remembered you while preparing the meal.
The secondo was frenched-ribeye steaks, which I dry-rubbed with salt, white pepper and oregano. (Biretta trip to K&MA for that preparation.) They went on the grill at about 700° – just to get their attention – after which I backed the temp down to finish. After resting for a while they were just as I wanted, butter-knife tender, dressed in a red-wine and shallot reduction and accompanied by green salad with tomatoes macerated in balsamic vinegar and touch of dry vermouth. Wines included a super sturdy Chalbis and a Malbec that you could have mistaken for a Petite Sirah.
Afterwards we tried my homemade limoncello, which is strong enough that I was tempted to extinguish the candles when I brought it out.
Great clerical fun was had by all.
I am dedicated to the custom of priests having steaks together on a regular basis.
And let’s get those Rosaries carried, concealed, and then USED! And please say one for the Fishwrap, along with this prayer HERE.