The Reign of Mary, Issue No. 198, Fall 2025

 
Letter from the Editor
by Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI

“I Will Require His Blood at Thy Hand”: On the Sin of Omission
by Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI
Around 1,100 years before Christ Heli was High Priest. Heli, a religious man had two sons, Ophni and Phinees by name. According to the First Book of Kings, “the sons of Heli were children of Belial, not knowing the Lord” (2:12). Heli rebuked his sons with a very light admonition, but the two delinquents, having become hardened in their wickedness, failed to amend. The story goes on to say that “a man of God” came to Heli to admonish him, as follows: “Why have you kicked away my victims, and my gifts which I commanded to be offered in the temple: and thou hast rather honored thy sons than me… Wherefore, thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: ‘Behold the days will come: and I will cut off thy arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house… And this shall be a sign to thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, Ophni and Phinees: In one day they shall both of them die” (2:29-34)...
 

 
My Time with His Excellency, Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô-Dinh-Thuc
In recent years it has increasingly happened that readers of Einsicht throughout the world would ask me about the person of His Excellency, Mgr. Ngô-dinh-Thuc, and his relationships with people in his circle of friends. I have been rather reserved in answering the various inquiries up to this point, for the events in which the readers’ interest was focused were in some cases over 45 years ago. And please forgive me if I admit that some things have been forgotten in the meantime. That’s why I have so far refused to add what was happening during this period of time in the personal life of the archbishop, only publishing in the Einsicht the official statements and that which described events relevant to the Church — i.e., from the period around the formation of the Declaratio....

Excommunicated! The Life and Thoughts of Rev. Fr. Joaquin Sáenz
Part XII: At the End of the Day
by Antonio Rius Facius, Translated by Rev. Fr. Ephrem Cordova, CMRI
A man of universal perspectives, from his youth he has traveled abroad countless times. They are not tourist excursions; they always carry an apostolic purpose. It follows that his religious vision has truly catholic, that is to say, universal implications. His activity is not centered in a parish, in a neighborhood, in a city, or even in his own country. The doctrine of Christ spreads beyond all limits of time and space. Don Joaquín does not enclose himself within four walls to sterilely criticize the doctrinal twists that lead to apostasy; he goes out to meet the conspiracy and makes alliances with his peers, seeks concordances, receives support and moral stimuli to continue his mission.
At the end of 1973 he flew to Europe; there he stays almost two months. He visits the seminary of Econe and, as often as necessary, communicates with Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, whom he has known since the Council, and other prelates who act discreetly so as not to be hampered and persecuted....

The Ordinary Magisterium of the Church Theologically Considered Part II
By Dom Paul Nau, O.S.B., Solesmes
on the Church
The same considerations arise in regard to the second criterion which we have suggested: the impact which a pontifical document is expected to have on the Church as a whole. The importance of this impact cannot be disregarded. The assistance of the Holy Spirit promised to the successors of St. Peter is doubtless a personal privilege, in the sense that its subject is the actual person who is the visible head of the Church. But the Pope is not its final beneficiary: if his teaching is safeguarded against any shortcomings, it is in order that he may “strengthen his brethren” and in order that the Faith of the Church may remain unshaken till the end of time. A teaching given by the Holy Father, in the course of his duty, but to an isolated group of pilgrims, will not perhaps resound very far; but it will be quite otherwise with a pontifical act liable to attract the adhesion of the whole Church. Even if it is not a decision ex cathedra, it would be very difficult, on account of the impact which it must have been foreseen to have, to deny it the benefit of a quite especial assistance, without which some hesitation or doubt could have been instilled into the faith of all believers.....

The Abuse of Divine Mercy
A Sermon Preached on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori
In this day’s Gospel, we read that a certain man fell into the hands of robbers, who, after having taken his money, wounded him, and left him half dead. A Samaritan who passed by, saw him, and taking pity on him, bound up his wounds, brought him to an inn, and left him to the care of the host, saying: “Take care of him.” These words I this day address to those, if there be any such among you, who, though their souls are wounded by sin, instead of attending to the care of them, continually aggravate the wounds by new sins, and thus abuse the mercy of God, who preserves their lives, that they may repent, and not be lost forever. I say to you: Brethren, take care of your souls, which are in a very bad state; have compassion on them. “Have pity on thy own soul” (Eccl. 30:24). Your souls are sick, and what is worse they are near the eternal death of hell; for he who abuses to excess the divine mercy, is on the point of being abandoned by the mercy of God....

American Heroes of the Faith: The Home Martyrs
by Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI
During the last few issues we have been studying the lives of American missionaries who were martyred for the Faith. As explained before, we are here using the term “martyr” in a general sense, without wishing to anticipate the judgment of Holy Mother Church, who alone can verify that one who was apparently killed out of hatred for the Catholic religion or virtue was indeed a true martyr. That having been said, we can certainly be inspired by reading of the generosity of those men and women who gave their lives for the salvation of souls: “Greater love than this no man hath, that he lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Saved by Our Lady: St. Peter Armengol
by Rev. Fr. Joseph Appelhanz
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, there have been many men and women who were saved through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. Some were saved from physical harm by a special grace of Mary. Countless others have been saved from spiritual harm through her powerful intercession. In the case of Blessed Peter Armengol, the Blessed Virgin Mary saved him from both.

Hope or Despair?
by Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI
By Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI
Due to the sorrows and separations of life, we have all suffered from discouragement, frustration, disappointment, sadness, or even the temptation to despair. Despair often leads to death by suicide. Hopelessness can be avoided if a person looks to the things of heaven because nothing in this world is forever; material things cannot bring true peace or lasting happiness. Sadly, many people fall into despair and die from drugs, alcohol, suicide and other kinds of reckless behavior.

World Watch:
Cupich Denounces “Traditionalism”
Ancient Communion Wafer Unearthed
Vatican Welcomes “LGBT” Pilgrimage
The Weightlifting “Nun”
Confirmation in Manhattan
Jihadists Massacre 89 Christians in Congo
Leo’s Modernist Views
The Cupich-Durbin Scandal
The Dracula Liturgy
Deepening Depopulation
Dictators Plot Immortality
and more...