America Needs Fatima artist Dias Tavares is unrivaled inhis sculptures and paintings, and the Prince of Peace is

no exception. For Christmas 2016, Mr. Tavares offers a uniqueand magnificent statue of the Infant Jesus to grace yourhome. From the luster in His eyes to the folds of His garmentto the intricate halo around His head, the representation ofthe Prince of Peace is a masterpiece.

Every detail of the statue is painstakingly hand painted.Special attention is given to the expression on the Infant’s faceand eyes—those eyes that look upon all who approach Himwith a life-like expression of infinite sweetness.

The Prince of Peace is twelve inches long and weighs overthree pounds. It is yours for just $129 $99 (shipping and han-dling included). Satisfaction guaranteed. The tasseled golddamask pillow is free!

Order by December 2nd and you’llreceive Him in time for Christmas!

Prince of Peace

From the patience whichthe martyrs showed dur-ing their tortures, we

should learn to suffer with holyresignation the crosses and af-flictions of this life; poverty,sickness, persecution, insults,injustice, and all other evils, arebut trivial when compared withtheir sufferings. The reflectionthat it was the will of God thatthey should suffer for His lovewas their only solace.

We also in our tribulations should rememberthe necessity of resignation to the Divine Will,and, calling to mind the more grievous sufferingsof the martyrs, should blush to complain. SaintVincent de Paul used to say: “Conformity to theDivine Will is a sovereign remedy for all evils.”

It may be useful here to remark, with Saint Au-gustine, that it is not the torture but the causewhich makes the martyr. Saint Thomas teaches

that martyrdomis to suffer death inthe exercise of an act ofvirtue. From which we may infer thatnot only he who by the hands of the executionerlays down his life for the faith, but whoever dies tocomply with the Divine Will, and to please God, isa martyr, since in sacrificing himself to the divinelove he performs an act of the most exalted virtue.

We all have to pay the great debt of nature; let ustherefore endeavor, in holy prayer, to obtain resig-nation to the Divine Will to receive death andevery tribulation in conformity with the dispensa-tions of His Providence. As often as we shall per-form this act of resignation with sufficient fervor,we may hope to be made partakers of the meritsof the martyrs. Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, inreciting the Glory Be to the Father, always bowedher head in the same spirit as she would have donein receiving the stroke of the executioner. n

From The Victories of the Martyrs, Introduction, p. 37.

B Y S A I N T A L P H O N S U S D E L I G U O R I

ForgottenTruths

12 inches long, 3 pounds, marbledust and resin, hand painted. −Item #S17 $129.00 $99.00

Call toll free (888) 317-5571

Like the Martyrs, Endure All Things for the Love of God

In pre-Christiantimes the palm wasregarded as asymbol of victory. Itwas adopted by theearly Christians, andbecame a symbol ofthe victory of thefaithful over theenemies of the soul.The palm wasespecially applicableto martyrs, thevictors parexcellence over thespiritual foes ofmankind.

I N B R I E F 4

C H R I S T I N T H E H O M ELaying a Sure Foundation 5

R E T U R N T O O R D E RRediscovering the Ideal Health Plan 6

C O M M E N TA RYThe Miraculous Springs of Fatima 8

C OV E R S T O RYMeditation Next to the Child God in the Crib 11

A N F P R O G R E S S R E P O RTw Showdown with Satanism in Oklahoma 15w Our Readers Write 17w Saint Michael, Protect Our Police 19w Two Million Rosaries 19

T F P I N AC T I O NCall to Chivalry Camp in the Shadow of the Sequoias 20

C O M M E N TA RYTransgenderism: Burning Binary 22

BACK COVERPierre Toussaint: God’s Image Carved in Ebony 24

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

Contents

CRUSADECCRCRUCRUSCRUSACRUSADCRUSADECRUSADEfi

Editor: C. Preston Noell III Associate Editors: John Horvat II, Michael Drake,Norman Fulkerson, Kenneth Murphy, Vincent GorrePhotography: Gary Isbell, Michael Gorre Foreign Correspondents: Charles E. Schaffer, Austria; José Carlos Sepulveda, Brazil; Philip Moran, UnitedKingdom; Benoit Bemelmans, France; Beno Hofschulte, Germany; Juan M. Montes, Italy; David Nash, South Africa; Felipe Barandiarán, Spain

The American TFP The American Society for the Defense of Tradition,Family and Property (TFP) is an organization of layCatholic Americans concerned about the moral crisisshaking the remnants of Christian civilization. Itsearliest origins date back to January 1971, when thefirst TFP members started to group around thepublication Crusade for a Christian Civilization. It is acivic, cultural and nonpartisan organization which,inspired by the traditional teachings of the SupremeMagisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, works ina legal and peaceful manner in the realm of ideas to

defend and promote the principles of privateownership, family and perennial Christian values withtheir twofold function: individual and social. TheTFP’s words and efforts have always been faithfully atthe service of Christian civilization. The first TFP wasfounded in Brazil by the famous intellectual andCatholic leader Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in 1960.His work inspired the formation of other autonomousTFP sister organizations across the globe, thusconstituting the world’s largest anticommunist andantisocialist network of Catholic inspiration.

Crusade Magazine is a publication of The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). Direct all requests andinquiries to: Crusade Magazine, P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331 or e-mail to: crusade@TFP.org. Web: www.TFP.org, Tel.: (888) 317-5571,Fax: (570) 450-6352. © 2016 by The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. This publication may include images from iStockphoto™which are protected by copyright laws of the U.S. and elsewhere. ISSN 1096-3782 LCCN 98-641433 M-144

Cover: The Adoration of theKings by Carlo Dolci

(1616-1686).

Page 19Protecting our police

Page 8 The springs of Fatima

Page 20 A camp to remember!

Seal of Confession Cannot Be Broken A Louisiana Court of Appeals upheld the CatholicChurch’s doctrine that prohibits Catholic priestsfrom revealing any conversa-tion that takes place in theconfessional under penalty ofexcommunication. The rulingwas in connection with a civilsuit involving a woman whoclaimed that, when still aminor, she had confessed toFather Jeff Bayhi of the Dio-cese of Baton Rouge and toldhim of the sexual abuse. Thewoman’s family sued the dio-cese for not reporting the al-leged abuse to the police. Thestate appeals court ruled thatthe alleged confession waslegally confidential and that the priest was not amandatory reporter.

Federal Judge Rules Against Obama’s Bathroom PolicyA federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas, ruled thatPresident Obama’s new policy allowing transgen-dered students to use bathrooms and lockerrooms according to their gender identity cannotbe implemented. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Con-nor sided with the state of Texas and twelve otherstates, arguing that the Obama administration’spolicy usurps local control and threatens students’safety and privacy.

Target Spends $20 million on Bathrooms After facing boycotts and negative publicity be-cause of their transgender-friendly bathroom pol-icy, Target Stores decided to spend $20 million toconstruct a third, single-toilet bathroom in all oftheir stores. Clearly affected by pressure from

groups like the American Family Association,which spearheaded the boycott, the store realizeda disappointing sales record for the recently com-pleted second quarter. However, Target denied

that the move to build a third bathroom was theresult of the outcry from the public.

Charges Against David Daleiden DismissedDavid Daleiden, the pro-life activist who secretlyvideotaped Planned Parenthood personnel inHouston, Texas, trying to negotiate the sale ofaborted baby body parts to him, was cleared of allmisdemeanor charges. The charges involvedDaleiden’s alleged use of fake ID papers to gain ac-cess to the abortion facility. Prosecutors, however,decided not to proceed with the charges. Thevideos obtained by Daleiden exposed twelvePlanned Parenthood officials who tried to sellbody parts of aborted babies to Daleiden.

Study Reveals that Twenty VeteransCommit Suicide Each DayA Department of Veteran Affairsstudy has revealed that roughlytwenty veterans kill themselveson a daily basis. In 2014, which isthe latest data available, 7,400 vet-erans took their own lives, ac-counting for eighteen percent ofall suicides in the country. Anorganization called theNational Alliance toEnd Veteran Suicide,whose mission it is toprevent military sui-cides, said that the biggest increase is among theVietnam-era veterans (around 60 years old) and re-cent veterans 18 to 25 years of age.

Homosexuality Not In-born, Says New StudyTwo scientists from Johns Hopkins University re-cently published the results of their study in TheNew Atlantis supporting the conclusion that “Thebelief that sexual orientation is an innate, biologi-cally fixed human property—that people are “bornthat way”—is not supported by scientific evi-dence.” Lawrence Mayer, M.B, M.S., Ph.D., and PaulR. McHugh, M.D., also wrote that “This report isabout science and medicine, nothing more andnothing less.” Mayer is a scholar in residence in theDepartment of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Uni-versity School of Medicine and a professor of sta-tistics and biostatistics at Arizona State University.McHugh is professor of Psychiatry and behavioralsciences at Johns Hopkins University School ofMedicine and has been Psychiatrist-in-chief atJohns Hopkins Hospital for twenty-five years.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G4

In Brief

© Stockyimages | Dreamstime.com

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G 5

The time to safeguard the home begins on thevery first day of the marriage. Even beforeGod blesses the union with a child, the

home has been formed, and if its first developmentis not right, it cannot, as it enlarges, grow into theright kind of home.

How is the right start to be made? By living asGod directs. Man and wife may soon be father andmother. Let them begin to lay the foundation forthe family which God may enable them to rear.

First, man and wife must realize that they aresubjects of Almighty God. They are not their ownmasters even in their own home. The Head Mas-ter of every home should be God. The homewherein God is supreme will be the right kind ofhome no matter what the environment or circum-stances may be.

As Christ Himself told us, we are made to live inthis world but not for this world. Our life is a stew-ardship for ourselves, and also for those whomGod entrusts to us. If we lose sight of this ac-countability and live merely for this life and to suitourselves, our families will do the same. And inthese days of home decay, no family can hold outagainst worldly assaults unless God be its defenderand ruler.

Such is the basis of happy home life. To realizethat we are placed on this earth to live for a cer-tain time as God directs, and not as we please, is tosolve the riddle of life, and to find the key to ahappy home.

For God places us here for a few years to test us,to find out if we are worthy of sharing His divinityforever in heaven. He permits the ups and downsof life that we may show ourselves true to Him. Ifwe prove faithful, we shall become, in the end, chil-dren of God. Knowing this, we can bear our hard-ships patiently, and enjoy our good fortune withmeasure and gratitude. In all things we can ob-serve moderation. We will respect God and rever-ence His holy law.

Show me the man and wife who truly reverenceGod, and I shall show you the nucleus of a happyhome. They may not be rich; God may not want

them to be. They may not have high social posi-tion; God may be pleased to keep them lowly. Butthey will have the substantial peace which comesfrom knowing that they are friends of God, andthat whenever He calls them, they are ready tomeet Him as friends dear to Him. The man andwife living in this way are safe and secure amid allthe dangers of modern life. If their children arebrought up with the same respect for God, theywill be good sons and daughters, no matter whattheir environment.

If there is trouble in some families it is becausethe parents do not respect God or each other, andin consequence the children do not respect theirparents. If little ones are brought up from the verybeginning to love God and obey Him, they will alsolove and obey their parents.

Nowadays, when, on account of business and thecustoms of society, children are left so much tothemselves, it is very essential that they have withinthemselves a safeguard for virtue and a motive fordevotion to the family. It is simply impossible tomake people virtuous or devoted by worldly means.The world is essentially selfish, and worldly motiveswill make people virtuous and devoted only so longas it profits them to be so. Virtue and family stabil-ity demand sacrifice. The greatest incentive to sac-rifice in the whole world is love of God. n

From the book You and Yours: Practical Talks on HomeLife, pp. 4-6.

Christ in the Home

© Andrey Magda | Dreamstime.com

If little ones are brought up fromthe very beginning to love God

and obey Him, they will also loveand obey their parents.

B Y F R . M A R T I N J . S C O T T , S . J .

L A Y I N G A S U R E

FOUNDATION

There is a prevailing idea thathealthcare plans are necessarilycomplex and expensive. There was,

however, an ideal healthcare plan in thedistant past that was amazingly simple.The plan did not list its benefits, clinicalmetrics or financial data. The main em-phasis was not on a “plan,” but on thehealth of both body and soul.

Faith Wallis describes this in her bookcalled Medieval Medicine: A Reader. Look-ing at this “medieval healthcare plan” isa refreshing glimpse at the care that islacking today.

By proposing a medieval healthcare plan as anideal, we do not mean to say that medieval medi-cine, primitive as it was, is the ideal formula for thepresent. Medieval medicine was advanced for itstime, but certainly not for today. However, thespirit with which people were treated does presentan ideal that should be imitated.

Hospitals Built on CharityMany people do not realize that the hospital as it isknown today was an invention of the Middle Ages.They were established from the desire to extendChristian charity to the poor. In the early MiddleAges, hospitals first became attached to monas-teries where monks would minister to the sick anddying. No other civilization was able to developanything remotely comparable.

Medieval hospitals provided free health care.They were usually under the supervision of a reli-gious order, whose members took vows of poverty,chastity and obedience. They dedicated their livesto God and the cheerful service of all, includingnon-Christians.

Not content with those who came to theirdoors, hospital attendants were obliged regularlyto go out into the streets and bring in all thosefound in need of treatment.

Reception of PatientsThe reception of patients was charity in action.

Every effort was made to care for their spiritual

needs. Upon entering the hospital, thepatient, when a Catholic, went to con-fession and received Holy Communion,as the first steps in the healing process.This provided spiritual peace of mindthat often extended to the health of thebody.

Once admitted, the patient was seenas another Christ. Each was treated asthe “master of the house,” according tothe hospital’s bylaws. Every need wastaken care of as if Christ Himself werebeing served.

During a visit to the 2,000-bed Jerusalem Hos-pital of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, onecleric noted: “It has happened on a number of oc-casions that when the space… proves insufficientfor the multitude of the suffering, the dormitory ofthe brethren is taken over by the sick and thebrethren themselves sleep on the floor.”

Those who cared for the sick did not see theirrole as just a job to be performed, thinking onlyabout their pleasure or profit. They knew that theirservice gave meaning and purpose to their lives.Caring for others was an important means to se-cure their own salvation.

Excellent CareThus, the care was as excellent as it could be forthe times. Specialists were brought in to take careof extraordinary cases. Doctors made the roundsdaily to check on the progress of the sick who wereplaced in their care. Regulations required that pa-tients never be left without an attendant and thatnurses be on duty around the clock.

The environment was clean and refreshing. Bril-liant works of art were often hung on the hospitalwalls and ceilings to delight the patients, using thesame artistic skills that were employed to adornchurches. Such masterpieces can still be seentoday in the buildings that have survived.

Special attention was paid to cleanliness, ven-tilation and comfort. Patients were supplied withclean mattresses, white linen sheets and “fleecyblankets.” Care was so excellent that the cleric at

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G6

B Y J O H N H O R V A T I I

Return to Order

Rediscovering the Ideal Health Plan

the Jerusalem Hospital reported that there were“wealthy people who pretended to be poor to stayin the hospital.”

Solicitude for the sick was not limited to thedoctors and attendants. All Christians saw the sickin a similar Christ-like manner. Patients in ordi-nary hospitals were often heartened by the visitsof persons of high or noble rank. Visitors might in-clude even personages like Catherine of Sweden,Margaret, Queen of Scotland, or King Saint LouisIX of France.

A Touching ReciprocityHowever, the sick were not just the recipients ofcharity. They also had their duties inside the hos-pital whereby they extended charity to thosearound them.

Mindful of how God especially hears the prayersof the suffering, the patients, when Christian, wereenjoined to intercede for their benefactors, the au-thorities and all in distress. To the extent that theycould, theirs were the duties of prayer, Mass atten-dance and reception of the sacraments. At night-fall, the wards might end the day with litanieswhere the “sick lords” of the house would pray forthose in need of prayers. In this way, the sick gavetheir best to reciprocate for the care they received.This offering gave meaning and purpose to theirsuffering.

Hospitals Flourish, Then FallAs a result of practices like these, the hospitals ofthe Middle Ages flourished. The Benedictine orderalone is credited with founding 2,000 hospitals. Im-bued with this spirit of Christian charity, individu-als, guilds, brotherhoods, and municipalities alsoestablished and generously endowed hospitalsof their own. The result was an extensive sys-tem of healthcare that provided for the care ofbody and soul on a scale never seen before inhistory.

This impressive system was largely de-stroyed by the upheavals of the sixteenth cen-tury when the Church and her hospitals weredespoiled and plundered. The infamous sup-pression of the monasteries by England’sHenry VIII in 1540 also suppressed the Eng-lish healthcare system, leaving the poor inmisery and putting an end to hospital build-ing in that country for some 200 years.

In modern times, religious orders that oncecared for the sick in this manner now facedwindling membership, as they focus moreon “liberating” social justice than concrete,Christ-like care.

A Lost Ideal Never to Return?With all the talk about rising premiums andhealthcare costs, perhaps it is time to rediscoverthe ideal healthcare system. The dedicated spiritof this care is needed as an alternative to our ever-expanding medical bureaucracies. The massivenumber of complex government regulations andmandates might be better replaced by the selflesswork of dedicated men and women who simplytreat the sick as if each one is the Person of ChristHimself.

Someone might object that such an ideal sys-tem is impossible in today’s secular and hedonisticage. People simply will not dedicate themselves tothe service of the sick and needy. The ideal me-dieval healthcare plan is a dream that will neveragain reappear.

This is not true. Religious congregations like theLittle Sisters of the Poor are flooded with cheerfulyoung women who minister to the elderly poor inthe medieval tradition. Ironically, these same Sistersare being prosecuted by the government for failureto comply with government healthcare mandatesthat would make them complicit in distributingabortion-causing drugs to their employees.

The problem is not the lack of people or evenmoney, but a failure to present the ideal. The idealhealthcare plan will be rediscovered when theChristian Faith is revived in society. Until that re-turn to order comes, there will always be the seedsof this plan inside the Christian souls that awaitthat blessed day. n

As seen in Crisis Magazine.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G 7

Healthcare in thepast sought to treatboth body and soul.The spirit of self-sacrifice andChrist-like carewere at the centerof healing the sick.

Commentary

The MiraculousSprings of Fatima

At the time of the Fatima apparitions, nowater sprung from the ground, as it did inLourdes, France.

Nevertheless, the lack of water in and aroundFatima was a very real problem and a difficultone to solve. That difficulty was exacerbated bythe nature of the limestone and porous terrain inthat area and its surroundings, unable to con-serve moisture.

In order to have water in their homes, the in-habitants of Fatima and neighboring villageswere obliged to gather the rain water that drippedfrom the eaves of their houses in reservoirs.

And then the Fatima apparitions began to takeplace. How and when could pilgrimages made byhundreds of thousands of people to a place de-prived of water such as Cova da Iria take place? Hu-manly speaking, it seemed utterly impossible. Hereonce again, the action of Divine Providence madeitself seen; where human action had failed, Divinehelp surely came. It began on November 13, 1921.

Soon after the first open-air Mass was cele-brated in the Memorial Chapel of the Appari-tions, it became obvious that water in largequantities was needed for the planned buildings.The Bishop of Leiria had the good inspiration tosearch for water and commanded that a well bedug at the bottom of Cova da Iria, precisely in theplace the shepherd children occupied at the timeof the first appearance.

In obedience to the zealous prelate, workersopened a small ditch and were surprised towatch a spring with clear and abundant watersprout a few steps from the sacred oak tree.

Some peasants had laughed at the bishop’s idea,claiming it was a waste of money. After all, he wasjust an outsider and did not know the ground.

“I don’t know how to explain this,” one of the

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G8

Adapted for English readers from the book Novos Esplendores de Fátima(New Splendors of Fatima), by Father Valentim Armas, CMF, published byEditora Ave Maria, São Paulo, 1944, pp. 209-212.

After offering the first open-air Mass at Fatima, HisExcellency José Alves Correia da Silva, Bishop of Leiria,ordered workers to dig for water, revealing themiraculous springs.

At the edge ofthe plaza leadingto the Basilica ofOur Lady of theRosary, pilgrimsfor decades havepartaken of themiraculoussprings at Fatima.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G 9

surprised bystanders said. “There’s simply nothinghere, there’s no way any spring could come up. Itmust have been a miracle from heaven. . . or fromthe bishop.”

The episode took place around 9:00 p.m. on No-vember 13, 1921. Shortly afterward, as the waterwas not sufficient for all the pilgrimages, thebishop ordered another two wells to be dug a fewmeters from the first, and water sprouted againjust like the first time.

From then on there was never a shortage of theprecious liquid, either to supply buildings or pil-grims, who haul large quantities of the water totheir homes.

Even today, water from various sources is col-lected in a large reservoir built in reinforced con-crete which forms the base of the monument tothe Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Miraculous SpringsThe miraculous springs form a circle roughly 2yards high by 10 yards in diameter, in the shape ofan emptied gas tank as can be commonly seen inmajor Portuguese cities. Its circular shape facili-tates supplying the large amounts of water re-quired during great pilgrimages. Fifteen taps—asmany as the mysteries of the Rosary—are placedall around the wall.

On top of the fountain platform and next to thetaps are posted a number of young people incharge of distributing all the water the pilgrimsmay need.

A notice over the fountain says the water is freeand it is expressly forbidden to give or receive tipsfor providing it. On both sides of the fountain aregaps formed by the landfill or wall of the centralavenue.

In the days of great pilgrimage, just after thefirst open-air Mass, a huge crowd buzzes fromearly morning and parks at the site of the miracu-lous source, eager to fill up containers with thebeneficial and healthy water.

The slight impatience of those in a hurry is eas-ily contained by volunteers who prudently butfirmly control access to the taps. People line upfrom early morning to late afternoon in order toget their supply of the precious liquid.

Pilgrims fill containers of all sizes and shapesand take them to their homes in distant lands inthe hope of healing a friend or relative with thatwater, or at least alleviate their sufferings.

First-Hand ReportsFrom the journal Voz da Fátima, we transcribebelow some descriptions of the miraculoussprings. A quick look shows that in almost all cases

the supernatural intervention takes place by ap-plying or using the miraculous water.

Here are a few, summarized examples:

My condition was extremely serious, and hav-ing received the last rites I was close to death.Then with the liveliest faith I drank the wonder-ful water of Our Lady of Fatima that a pious ladygave me. I felt a great relief at the first spoonfulthat I ingested. A novena to Our Lady of Fatimafollowed. When it ended I had entirely recovered.My gratitude to Our Lady will be eternal.

—Arminda dos Anjos

For 12 years I had been suffering severe painin my stomach and intestines. With the greatestpossible devotion I said a novena to Our Lady ofFatima, drank her miraculous water for threedays and soon found a quick recovery; the painsnever came back. I thank Our Lady of Fatimawith all my heart for such a great grace.

—Fernanda Franco

I was suffering terribly...consulted some spe-cialists...to no avail...until I remembered to makea novena to Our Lady of Fatima and applied a fewdrops of her miraculous water every day of thenovena. When it ended I was entirely cured... In-finite thanks to the Blessed Mother of God.

—Evandra C. Ferreira

Adelino Pinto, aged 22, had gone mad. Apious person advised his poor mother to make anovena and gave her a medal to hang on her son’sneck, a few drops of Fatima water, and a little holycard of Our Lady of Fatima which he kissed in hismadness. After a month he recovered his reasonand is totally fine to this day.

In 1932, themonument to theSacred Heart ofJesus was built overthe miraculoussprings at Fatima.

Prayer of theMiraculous Springs

of FatimaObeloved Queen and exalted Lady of the Rosary

of Fatima!This miraculous source that you one day made

spring forth next to the sacred oak tree is an ex-pressive symbol of your Maternal Heart mani-fested at Fatima as a sure pledge of peace andsalvation for humanity.

Your Immaculate Heart, O Lady, is the source oflife, for from it was born for us Jesus Christ, theOne who is our way, truth and life.

You, most blessed Virgin, are an open fountainfrom which flow rivers of graces and bounties; afountain always open for the just through the ra-diance of your charity; and for repentant sinnersthrough the waters of your mercy and compassion.

You are that fountain mentioned in Genesis

(2:6); for just as an abyss of many waters gave riseto other springs, so are you a fountain of manygraces for all those who invoke you.

You also are, O benign Virgin, the sealed springpraised in the Song of Songs (4:12) where the mostholy humanity of the Son of God was hidden fornine months.

You are that fountain of Siloam whose watersrun silently and intermittently like your favors, ac-cording to your will.

Hail Mary, fountain of grace, compassion andmercy; inexhaustible source of sweetness andclemency!

Make us hear those sweet words that your Sonsaid one day: Come unto me, all ye that thirst; I amthe fountain of living water welling up to eternal life.

Drive us away from the muddy waters of sinthat plunge into the abyss and guide us to the wa-ters that slake and soothe, heal and resurrect.

And pour the pure and crystalline waters ofyour grace on the dry and barren soil of our hearts;cleanse the stains of our souls that we may bemade worthy to continue this our pilgrimage andpossess your beloved Son, the living and unfailingfountain of all good, for all eternity.

Allow us to proclaim, with your beloved servantSaint Methodius:

Fons Propiciationis Filii Erga Genus Humanum:Fountain of Jesus Christ’s atonement for mankind,pray for us. n

10 C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G

Your Immaculate Heart, O Lady,is the source of life, for from it wasborn for us Jesus Christ, the One

who is our way, truth and life.

The miraculoussprings found shortlyafter Our Ladyappeared made itpossible for enormouscrowds of pilgrims tocome to Fatima.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G 11

Approach the crib of the Child God with me. Let usimagine the arrival of the Magi Kings at the manger,after having followed the Star of Bethlehem with their

caravans and treasure-laden animals. These sovereigns—King Balthazar, King Melchior and King Gaspar—offer theChild Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh, in adoration.

Looking at the God Child, we pause and consider His in-finite grandeur, His accessibility, as well as His infinite com-passion. We then ask ourselves, which of these three Divinequalities draws us closer to Him.

Dignity of the Child Jesus and His Most Holy MotherAs we consider the infinite greatness of His birthplace, letus imagine a spacious grotto as high as a cathedral, withsome of the stones arranged, as if by angels, in such a way asto remind us of the arches of the gothic cathedrals of theMiddle Ages.

We can also imagine the manger that served as a cradlefor the Child God, the roughness of the wood sanctified byHis Divine Presence. Placed at the focal point of the grottowith a heavenly, golden light hovering over Him, the mangeris a majestic throne.

While still a newborn, the Divine Child lay in His crib withthe majesty of a true King: King of all majesty and all glory;Creator of Heaven and Earth; God incarnate made man. Fromthe first moment of His being, while “cloistered” away in HisMother’s womb, He had more majesty, grandeur, strength andpower than all men throughout the history of mankind.Knowing all things incomparably more than any scientist, theChrist Child had inscribed in every physical feature thatmajesty made of wisdom, holiness, science, and power.

Imagine we are seeing all this mysteriously expressed onthat Boy’s face. At times, as He moves, that movement re-veals His kingly bearing. When He opens His eyes, we knowwe are in the presence of the Wisdom of the Ages.

A whole atmosphere of holiness surrounds those whoapproach Him. The very air one breathes has such puritythat people do not even approach the place without askingforgiveness for their sins; but at the same time, the holi-ness emanating from the manger makes them want toamend their lives.

Meditation Next to the Child God in the Crib B Y P L I N I O C O R R Ê A D E O L I V E I R A

CoverStoryCoverStory

At Christmas, we approach the manger justas the Three Kings. The Christ-child is

majestic, yet ever approachable.

Imagine also Our Lady at the foot of the ChildJesus. She is truly a Queen. Her dignity andgrandeur are so naturally a part of her being thateven without wearing noble-looking garments, herdignity shines throughout the grotto.

Majesty Exuding from SanctityFrom where does all this majesty come? Sanctity.

Let us shift our meditation momentarily toconsider a more recent example of this type ofmajesty. We will turn to Saint Thérèse, the LittleFlower. It is written that even as a child she was

so dear and imposing that her father called her“my little queen.”

During the process of her canonization, the gar-dener of the Carmel of Lisieux reported that heonce saw a nun working with her back to him: shewas Saint Thérèse. The devil’s advocate* thenasked, “How could you know she was SisterThérèse when she had her back to you?” The gar-dener’s response was very significant: “I knew itthrough the majesty of her bearing, for no othernun had such majesty.”

If Saint Thérèse was like that, what would OurLady be like?

Imagine the Mother of God kneeling before herChild’s crib. She is so majestic, transcendent and

pure, praying to the Child God. Invisibly, angelssing songs of glory and the whole atmosphere ispermeated with so much sanctity as to transformthe poverty of the stable into a royal court.

Now we approach the manger, feeling the great-ness of the Divine Child. As Catholics, we are wor-shiping all that is noble, pure, holy and steadfast, tofight and sacrifice all for the glory of God. The Boybefore us mysteriously draws to Him all the good-ness and grandeur that flow from Him and yet arebut reflections of Him. For is it not true that allforms of purity, all forms of holiness, only exist be-cause of His holiness?

Thus, fending away from us sin, error, disorderand chaos, we do not even dare to raise our eyes tothat magnificent scene of the Nativity in whichorder, hierarchy and splendor permeate everything.

Though Majestic, He Beckons Us to Come CloseNow let us imagine another aspect: His infiniteaccessibility.

Imagine the Baby Jesus immensely ap-proachable. This King, so full of majesty, at a cer-tain moment opens His eyes to us. We noticeright away that His most pure, highly intelligentand penetrating gaze meets ours. He immedi-ately sees the deepest of our faults, but also thebest of our qualities. At that moment, He gentlytouches our soul just as He moved Saint Peter dur-ing His Passion.

The Gospels tell us that the way Our Lordlooked at Saint Peter was such that the latter wentout and wept bitterly. Throughout his life, thePrince of the Apostles never forgot the touchinggaze that continually caused him to repent of histhree-fold denial of his Lord.

It is only natural that this gaze would provoke inus a deep sorrow for our faults. Giving us a knowl-edge of our failings, it inspires us with a horror forour sins.

But all is not lost!Just when we fear we cannot withstand that

gaze, the newborn Redeemer also manifests Hislove of our qualities. He will always love that whichHe, in His infinite goodness, created. It is a love Hededicates to us despite our faults, because we werecreated by Him and are destined to a degree of ho-liness and perfection that He Himself placedwithin us. He knows our potential for greatnessand that is what He loves.

And when we least expect it, by a kind entreatyof Our Lady, He smiles. Despite all His majesty, with

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G12

*The term “devil’s advocate” refers to the popular title of the person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church tochallenge a proposed beatification or canonization, according to the process used at the time of this writing.

The grandeur ofthe Nativity ispermeated withorder, hierarchyand splendor.Painting by DiasTavares.

that smile we feel the distance disappear, forgive-ness invades our soul, and we are drawn to Him;and thus drawn, we walk up to stay with Him. Wehave determined that we will never leave the ChildGod’s side. The Divine Child affectionately em-braces us and pronounces our name, in the mostclear and loving tones to ever fall upon our ears.

“My dear one, I do love you so much! I wishyou so many things and forgive you for so manyothers! Do not think about your sins any longer.From now on, think only about serving Me. Andthroughout your life, when you have any doubt,remember the sympathy, kindness and goodpleasure I am now showing you. Have recourseto Me through My Mother. Through the voice ofMy Mother, I will always hear you. I will be yourrefuge and your strength, and these will take youto heaven, to reign at my side for all eternity.”

Infinite CompassionNow imagine the mercy of the Child Jesus. This di-vine mercy is most evident when He seeks ourgood and discerns what is good and bad in us. InHis mercy, the Child God considers the miserablecondition of every man traveling through this valeof tears.

The mercy of Christ analyzes the sorrow andsuffering that each of us brings along—past, pres-ent and future suffering; the grief and sorrow thatyou may feel at this very moment. He alreadyknows all of this because He is God. And He alsosees the risk that our souls run of going to hell. AsCatholics, we know that on his earthly journeyman is exposed to the very real danger of losing hissoul for all eternity.

Also, imagine the Child Jesus looking at Purga-tory and the torments that await us there if we arenot entirely faithful.

His Face now shows a look of sympathy and

deep participation in our pain; a desire to removethat pain as much as possible in view of our sanc-tification. In His infinite mercy, this Infant desiresto give us the strength to withstand whatever painis necessary for our sanctification.

In Him, we see that which so greatly consolesthe human soul: perfect compassion.

It is part of our human nature for us, when weare suffering, to feel consoled at seeing that some-one has pity on us. Compassion thus lessens suf-fering by sharing in it. Man is made in such a waythat when he is happy and communicates his joy,that joy is doubled; and when he is sad and com-municates that sadness, the sorrow is divided.

So also are we made stronger when we discern

in the face of the Child God that most perfectcompassion.

In all the sufferings of our life, when the cup ofour trials is bitter, we should repeat, through OurLady, His prayer: “My Father, if it be possible, letthis cup pass from me, but let Your will be done,and not mine.”

At any time we can ask that the pain cease.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G 13

The Boy before us mysteriouslydraws to Him all the goodness

and grandeur that flow from Himand yet are but reflections of Him.For is it not true that all forms ofpurity, all forms of holiness, only

exist because of His holiness?

The Child Jesus is filledwith infinite goodness.He only waits for us toapproach.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G14

However, if it is His will that wedrink from a bitter cup as He did,we are certain that our pain willfind His compassion. In addition,He will tell us: “My son, I am suffer-ing with you! Let us suffer together,for I suffered for you; a momentwill come when you will foreverparticipate in My joy.” And we canbe sure that the compassionategaze of Jesus will not leave us a sin-gle moment of our existence.

Therefore, throughout the upsand downs of everyday life, weshould retain this threefold mem-ory—the Child God’s infinitemajesty, His infinite accessibility,and the boundless compassion Heshows towards us. This should be aliving memory, one which com-poses in our imagination an accu-rate image, which moves our soul.

Three Crèches for the Child GodBeing like us in all things except sin,Our Lord’s human nature is com-prised of perfections and moods thatexisted according to the circum-stances of His life, and all of themperfect. He was full of majesty, fullyaccessible, ready to listen and tohave compassion on men from themoment He became incarnate.

It is only natural that one or an-other part of Christ’s human nature would be moreobvious as different people, in different states ofsoul, approach Him.

To better assist in a meditation like the one wejust shared, it would be very inspiring if we wereable to set up three crèches in a church, on threedifferent altars. On each of these altars the figuresand the whole atmosphere would signify each of

these aspects, thus making it easier for souls tomeditate on the Child’s mood that touches themthe most.

In this way our meditation on Christmas wouldbe based on a very sensible retelling of the scene,which can more easily touch us and stay with usas we make our way out of the Crèche and backinto the world. n

Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira was born in São Paulo,Brazil, in 1908. He received his doctorate in law

from the Law School of the University of São Paulo.He was Professor of the History of Civilization atthe University College of the University of SãoPaulo and Professor of Modern and ContemporaryHistory in the Colleges of São Bento and SedesSapientiae of the Pontifical Catholic University ofSão Paulo. He distinguished himself from his youthas an orator, lecturer, and Catholic journalist. Hewrote regularly for the Catholic weekly Legionario

and, later, for the monthly Catolicismo and thelarge daily newspaper Folha de São Paulo. In 1960he founded the Brazilian Society for the Defense ofTradition, Family and Property (TFP) and servedas president of its National Council until his deathin 1995. TFPs and similar autonomous organiza-tions, inspired by the book Revolution and Counter-Revolution and other works of Prof. Corrêa deOliveira, were founded in numerous other coun-tries around the world and carry on his efforts onbehalf of Christian civilization.

The Child Jesus shows us compassion—we need only ask.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . A N F . O R G 15

America Needs Fatima®NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 P R O G R E S S R E P O R T

“God, yes! Satan, no!”“Reparation! Reparation! Reparation!”“Begone Satan! Begone Satan!”The battle cries rang out in the evening heat. Hun-

dreds of Catholics from around the country came tofight. They yielded the weapons of the prayers of theChurch. And the angels descended in force.

On August 15, 2016, the Feast of the Assumption ofMary into Heaven, a satanic group called the Church ofAhriman took sacrilegious desecration to a new low. Ashad been advertised for months, the satanic groupwould use the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall,a taxpayer-funded venue. Registered sex offenderAdam Daniels led a satanic “black mass.” The BlessedSacrament and the Catholic Mass were mocked and blas-phemed. This was followed by a ceremony called the Con-sumption of Mary. Deliberately mocking Our Lady’sAssumption, a statue of the Blessed Mother was decapitated,and a pig’s heart inside consumed after smashing the statueto pieces.

AmericaNeedsFatima.org, TFPStudentAction.org andcitizengo.com collected online petitions, insisting local of-ficials cancel the event. By August 14th, the total numberhad reached over 306,000. But the city officials refused toact, adamant in defying public opinion.

The Roman Legion ArrivesTFP Student Action director Mr. John Ritchie stated, “To de-file and smear the true Mass, the Blessed Sacrament, and theMother of God is not even remotely a form of religious ex-pression, but rather a direct act of anti-religious bigotry andhatred against God. And when government buildings opentheir doors and allow a satanic Black Mass that offends Godso deeply, it begs the questions: Where is our beloved nationheaded? Are we still one nation under God?”

Thankfully, the Americans who came to oppose the satanic

offense showed that the answer to the last question is “Yes!”The intense summer heat didn’t stop anyone from coming.Catholics from around the country converged on OklahomaCity. Local faithful stood side by side with people from dozensof states to pray the Most Holy Rosary, sing hymns accompa-nied by the bagpipes and drums, and console Our Lord and

Showdown with Satanism in Oklahoma B Y B E N B R O U S S A R D

Top: Bold signs with clear messages against Satanism could be seen in everydirection. Above: Catholics from around the country united to oppose thehorrible sacrileges perpetrated by Satanists on the Feast of the Assumption.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . A N F . O R G16

ANF PROGRESS REPORT

His Mother. In a statement to a local news venue, Satanist and con-

victed sex offender Adam Daniels acknowledged the lowturnout for his events, stating: “When you have the wholeRoman legion out there, how likely are they to come and buytickets?”

And the legion was there in force. The hymn ImmaculateMary resounded as TFP members in ceremonial habitprocessed with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The litanyof Saint Michael the Archangel quickly followed. Signs andbanners were everywhere: “We Renounce the Devil and hisWorks,” “She Will Crush Thy Head,” “Down with Satan andthe Sacrilegious Black Mass.” Unequivocal messages gave amilitant aspect to the protest, and the faithful were veryvocal in responding to the prayers.

Lucas from Louisiana remarked, “If we are truly going tobe one nation under God, we have to fight. These Satanistsare pushing full steam ahead.”

Maria, who was at a previous protest in 2014, stated, “It’sso great to see so many show publicly their love for theBlessed Mother on her feast day. We have to console her herewhere she’s being attacked.”

Joseph from Missouri summed up his thoughts: “With thepush for Satanism in schools and in pop culture, the powerof prayer is more crucial than ever.”

Children of Mary vs. Children of the DevilAs the protest finished, TFP members led a procession withthe statue of Our Lady of Fatima as the faithful followedsinging Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above. Meanwhile, insidethe Civic Center the Satanists were engaging in their heinousrituals.

In the book of Genesis, when God cursed the serpent, Hedeclared: “I will put enmities between thee and the woman,and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thoushalt lie in wait for her heel.” (3:15)

The Church teaches the woman is Mary and the serpentthe devil. Saint Louis de Montfort comments: “God has es-tablished only one enmity—but it is an irreconcilable one—which will last and even go on increasing to the end of time.That enmity is between Mary, his worthy Mother, and thedevil, between the children and the servants of the BlessedVirgin and the children and followers of Lucifer.”

If we are to remain one nation under God, we must showGod whose side we are on. Either we are the faithful chil-dren of His Mother, or we will be the children of His greatenemy, the devil. It is time for Americans to choose a sidein the spiritual combat being waged for the soul of ourcountry.

Saint Louis de Montfort further consoles us: “But thehumble Mary will always triumph over Satan, the proud one,and so great will be her victory that she will crush his head,the very seat of his pride.”

May Mary Immaculate gloriously assumed into Heaven

accept our acts of reparation and hasten to aid us her chil-dren in the battles against the children of Lucifer. We trust inGod’s promise, and beg its fulfillment here in America: “Shewill crush thy head.” n

Top: Hundreds of Catholics prayed in reparation, consoling the Queen ofHeaven who was so viciously attacked. Center: Raising rosaries at the endof each decade, the faithful offered reparation for the day’s horriblesacrileges. Above: The statue of Our Lady of Fatima served as a reminderof the need to defend the honor of God and His Mother in America today.

Fatima Car ShrineIn January of this year, a young man hit me from

behind with his car and com-pletely destroyed the trunk of mycar (as a result, my car was totaledby the insurance company). Bythe grace of God, the protection ofthe Blessed Mother, and that carshrine you sent me (which I hadon the visor above my head), all Ihurt was my left leg below theknee which got a big lump. I hadput the car shrine in my car rightaway when I got it from you!

B. C., Houston, Texas

Saint Benedict MedalMany thanks for the beautiful St.Benedict medal. I know what atreasure it is! It is so powerful.God bless you all for what you dofor our Heavenly Mother.

B. F., Plattsburgh, N.Y. 

I have to thank you for the Saint Benedict medal.I really like what it stands for, everyone shouldhave this blessed medal. The evil forces of Satanare all over, and we need to do Our Lady’s work. Iwill keep the medal close and I will protect it, andlike you said, keep Satan’s forces away. I thankyou again!

I.T., Ontario, Calif.

This is a most favorite gift from you! I appreciatethis—so many family members need one! I alsoloved the 100th Anniversary Fatima rosary yousent me. I pray 15 decades daily!

P. S., Houston, Texas

Thank you for spreading the spirituality of SaintBenedict. I am a Benedictine Oblate of Saint An-drews. I wear the Saint Benedict Medal 24/7 as domany of my friends. Our world needs daily rosariesand works of mercy. The Crusade Magazine is ablessing! I share it with many others.

G. P., Simi Valley, Calif.

Thank you for this blessed sacramental and the ex-planation of the spiritual armor attached to it. Iwill cherish Saint Benedict’s Medal!

M. C., Pottstown, Pa.

I didn’t realize it, but I received a miracle using thismedal. I was cured of St. Vitus Dance (where myright side—arms, legs, face—did involuntary mo-tions). I was cured! Praised be St. Benedict! Pleasesend me more medals to distribute to my friends.

C. A., Westminster, Md.

For 20 years I had a medal of Saint Benedict at myfront door, seeking the protection which he gavein great quantities to me. Thank you for this new

one, as, over time with the moving of residences,somehow my old one got misplaced. At 80 yearsold, I am still in need of this Saint’s guidance andprotection. God bless you all for your good work.

L. K., New Bern, N.C.

Thank you for my medal. I’m wearing it now as Isend you this note. I’m praying for you and all ourcountry—the times we live in are truly evil, but wehave Our Lord’s arms around us!

L. S., Evansville, Ind.

The Book of ConfidenceWe really appreciate your new edition of TheBook of Confidence, and our extended family willbe sure to read it! We appreciate also all your cor-respondence with us in the past, and we pray forthe greatest possible success in your holy mission

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . A N F . O R G 17

ANF PROGRESS REPORT

Our Readers Write...

Have something you’d like to share?Send us your feedback by writing to Crusade@TFP.org

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . A N F . O R G18

ANF PROGRESS REPORT

to stand for God’s wonderful Truth, Love, andBeauty as you say all those rosaries during yourmany rallies, and as you pray and work to bringsouls to the practices of our Catholic Faith! Godbless each of you!!!

M.O., Washington, D.C.

I received The Book of Confidence—thank you verymuch, I have enjoyed reading it! Brother Robert,my strength is not good and I am not in the best ofhealth, but by reading this book, it gives mestrength through the mercies of Almighty God.May God bless you richly.

R.J., Elmont, N.Y.

I am 87 years old and of all the books I’ve read thisone without a doubt uplifted my spirit as no wordscan explain. The part “Trusting through the darknight” is God’s blessing for me.

J.M., Tomkins Cove, N.Y.

I read The Book of Confidenceand have no words to expresshow valuable it is. I am dedi-cating it to my grandson andpassing it on to him.

H.R., Bayamon, P.R.

For a long time, you’ve beensending me these nice pic-tures of Jesus, Mary, and nowthis Saint Benedict medal—thank you for all these things!I wanted to tell you, aboutthat book called The Book ofConfidence you sent: youknow, I loved that book somuch that I would read it assoon as I came home everyday, in fact, I couldn’t wait toget home every day to con-tinue reading. I finished it! Ireally enjoyed reading it.

A.C., Fresno, Calif.

Thank you for this book. It’s terrific! And so read-able! Also, your recent magazine about the satanicevil going on in Oklahoma and Texas is frighten-ing. I passed it on to others to read.

M.L., Dubuque, Iowa

I have read The Book of Confidence. It is well writ-ten and reads so much as I also think. Easy to ab-sorb and understand, too. When I have completedreading it a second time, I intend to add it to thechurch library. Many others should also get achance to read it.

E.R., Clinton, Okla.

Thank you for sending me The Book of Confidence.This book has enriched my love of Jesus and all myprayers to help me to build my trust and confi-dence in Him!

R.B., Natick, Mass.

The Book of Confidence is such a blessing—myprayer habits and my faith have increased tremen-dously, as have my blessings.

S.R., La Place, La.

This book is certainly a treasure! I’m starting my“second read,” I liked it so much.

C.B., Bell, Fla.

Robert: This book is a godsend. I certainly wouldlike many of my fellow church parishioners to readit. I am 85 years old and do not read very much, butwhen I started reading this book, I had to read andre-read it. It’s very inspirational. Thanks so much.May God bless you and all those around you.

J.S., Jeannette, Penn.

I have the earlier version of this book which I pur-chased many years ago. It helped me through avery difficult time and I read it periodically to givemyself a boost. God bless you for sending out thisvaluable book. It will help many people!!

K.G., Saratoga, Calif.To order your own copy ofThe Book of Confidence, call (888) 317-5571.

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . A N F . O R G 19

ANF PROGRESS REPORT

The Blessed Mother spoke about therosary during each and every one of

the six apparitions to the three little shep-herds of Fatima starting on May 13, 1917.On the last day of Her apparitions on Oc-tober 13, 1917 during which over 70,000people witnessed the miracle of the sun,she eventually revealed to the little chil-dren that “I am the Lady of the Rosary!”

There can be no doubt that theRosary is the easiest, most effective andmost powerful prayer we have in ourtreasury of prayers. From the sanctifica-tion of souls to the end of wars, Our Ladyof Fatima’s emphasis on the power of therosary has been proven time and timeagain throughout human history. WhenLucia asked Our Lady if Francisco wouldgo to heaven, she said yes, “…but he has

to pray many rosaries!” While the First World War was still

raging at the time of the apparitions,Our Lady told Lucia, “Pray the rosaryevery day to obtain peace for the worldand the end of the war.” One year later,the war came to an end! Countless mir-acles are attributed to the power of therosary. Many of these have altered thecourse of events for peoples and nationsthat are now indelibly recorded in thearchives of history.

Consistent with America Needs Fa-tima’s mission to promote the messageof Fatima and the devotions attached toit, the goal to distribute two millioncommemorative rosaries was launchedto mark the 100-year anniversary of OurLady’s apparitions in Fatima, Portugal in

1917. The blessed rosaries are made inItaly and have a special keepsake valuefor all those who receive them. They area fitting remembrance of the most im-portant event of recent times—the ap-pearance of the Mother of God and hermessage of hope for all of mankind. n

Two Million RosariesB Y V I N C E N T G O R R E

On July 16, 2016, the feast day of Our Lady ofMount Carmel, 5,167 Public Rosary Rallies

were held across America in support of the na-tion’s police officers. This was the initial responseof America Needs Fatima members and sup-porters to the senseless attacks that resulted indeath and injury to several of our law enforcersand protectors during the summer of 2016.

Seeing that our police officers are in dangernow more than ever, America Needs Fatimalaunched a new initiative to continue the na-tional campaign to support our police officers.The goal is to send every police officer in Amer-ica a Saint Michael Badge Medal.

“Our police officers desperately need super-natural protection,” says Robert Ritchie, direc-tor of America Needs Fatima. And “they needthe special protection of SaintMichael, the Archangel whocast Satan’s followers fromheaven.”

The attacks on police offi-cers are symbolic acts of evil inthe battle between order and

chaos. Americans who care about the peaceand order in their communities and cities arevery much concerned about the safety of thosewho selflessly protect their families. Many ofthe nation’s police officers are baptizedCatholics. In New York City alone, there are35,000 Catholic police officers—75% of the en-tire police force. And non-Catholic police offi-cers would certainly not refuse the protectionof Saint Michael the Archangel!

The first batch of 145,000 badge medals hasbeen made and is now being distributed na-tionwide. However, there are over 900,000 policeofficers that need them, and so a second batchof thousands more needs to be made and dis-tributed so that not one officer will be deprivedof the comfort of Saint Michael’s protection. n

If you would like to help us send these powerfulshields of protection to our police officers, please contact us at: (888) 317-5571or ANF@ANF.org

Saint Michael, Protect Our Police

The TFP Call to Chivalry Camp2016 wound up its final camp inCalifornia. The theme, Catholic

Spain, was the same as with the othersites in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin andLouisiana, but the location and theroad trip were entirely unique.

The camp began with a road tripstarting from Pennsylvania with only afew participants and picking up moreboys along the way. The trans-nationaltrip included skeet shooting in Kansas

and and a pilgrimage in Colorado tothe shrine of the first American can-onized as a saint, Saint Frances XavierCabrini. Participants also climbed thesometimes dangerous trail of AngelsLanding in Zion National Park in Utah,and traveled to Death Valley, the low-est point in North America at 282 feetbelow sea level and one of the hottestspots in the United States.

At the end of the journey, a five-daycamp in the beautiful Sequoia Na-

tional Park awaited the boys. The camp ran fromAugust 1st to August 7th. The talks were inspira-tional. The games were competitive. The camp-fire stories were lively. The solemn rosaries andvigil before a relic of the True Cross were rever-ent. It was truly a Catholic environment full ofCalifornian friendliness.

One of the more unique events was the hiketo see the giant Sequoias. The boys paradedalong a trail through the largest trees in theworld. When you walk in front of a giant sequoia,your sense of “largeness” shifts fundamentally.The moniker, “giant,” was not given lightly. Some

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G20

B Y R E X T E O D O S I O

TFP In Action

Call to Chivalry Camp inthe Shadow of the Sequoias

In the unique gamesduring the course of thecamp, teamwork goes along way to victory.

of the Sequoias have been around for severalthousand years, many of them perhaps were aliveat the very time Our Lord Jesus Christ and theBlessed Virgin Mary walked the Earth.

Many camp participants spent part of the nightsimply marveling at the stars above them. Beingover 7,000 feet above sea level, the camp wasabove the haze of the atmosphere, the pollutionand even most of the clouds. It was arguably oneof the most stunning displays of the galaxy fromEarth, especially since the only source of electric-ity in the camp, a generator, was shut down atnight, throwing the camp into complete darkness.The Heavens truly proclaim the glories of God.

Another unique (extra-official) event of thecamp was the polar dips in the morning. Noth-ing like jumping in the pool on a mountain-coldmorning to start the day.

After the camp, many participants campedout for two nights near Yosemite National Parkand visited famous sites like The Bridal Falls, ElCapitan, and Half Dome. The hike up Cloud’sRest rewarded the hikers with a commanding360-degree view of the whole Yosemite Valleythousands of feet up in the air.

The return road trip was just as epic, hiking

around Arches National Park and visiting themiraculous Saint Joseph’s staircase in Santa Fe,New Mexico. Finally, we participated in theprotest against the satanic black mass in Okla-homa City. Defending the honor of Jesus andMary was a “grand finale” to end a very adven-turous road trip and camp.

As Caleb, one of the participants, put it, “Thiswas a great road trip! I’m definitely doing thisagain next year.” n

21C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G

For more information on the Call to ChivalryBoys Summer camps, please visit: www.TFPStudentAction.org.

Hiking through the Sequoias—the largest trees in the world.

Before saying goodbye, participants were givena souvenir of their week of grand adventures.

The Medieval Games brought newchallenges and great rewards.

The evening rosary processions provided afitting end to each day’s activities.

Lesbian activist Rikki Wilchins has no prob-lem defining her final goal. Her article,“We’ll Win the Bathroom Battle When Bi-

nary Burns”1 clearly states that the goal is toeradicate the differences between men andwomen.

If a person cannot be identified objectively byhis or her characteristics using logic, we cannotknow anything. With this, the principles of iden-tity and non-contradiction vanish, leading tomental and personal chaos. “Transgender” peo-ple want to transform “identity” into a mere illu-sion created by fantasy, determined by whateverone desires. They deceive themselves with the il-lusion that they can change their sex and iden-tity at will.

Of course, this is absolutely impossible to do.“It is physiologically impossible to change a per-son’s sex, since the sex of each individual is en-coded in the genes—XX if female, XY if male.Surgery can only create the appearance of theother sex,” explains Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.,

Philip M. Sutton, Ph.D., and Dale O’Leary in awell-documented study. Sexual iden-

tity, they add, “is written onevery cell of the body and

can be determinedthrough DNA test-ing. It cannot bechanged.”2

While sex can-not be changed,newly inventedterms referring tosex created by theh o m o s e x u a lmovement try togive the appear-ance of changeand cause confu-sion in the generalpublic. It would behelpful to under-stand the meaning

and origin of the words “gender” and “transgen-der” as steps in changing the perception of a per-son’s sex.

A sexologist at Johns Hopkins University, Dr.John Money, coined “gender” in 1955 as a term todescribe what sex one identifies with, not a de-fined biological trait. However, if a person mani-fests anything other than identifying with his orher biological sex, it has long been considered apsychological disorder that no one is born withand is manifestly contrary to our human nature.

In 1965, psychiatrist John Olivan coined theterm “transgenderism” in a medical study onSexual Hygiene and Pathology and used it in amedical context to indicate the urge one suffersfrom when desiring a change of sex. Note herethat the word “urge” does not refer to a biologicalmatter, but a function of the will, which is to de-sire. Neither the word gender nor the word trans-gender have any basis in genetics, rather they arepsychological terms that refer to states that orig-inate in the mind.

Many credit transvestite Arnold Lowman,who took the name “Virginia Prince,” for coiningthe term transgender in 1969, but this is not true.However, Arnold did start the Society for the Sec-ond Self, published the magazine Tranvestiafrom 1960 till 1980 and produced many otherwritings promoting transgenderism. One sucharticle was titled “The Expression of Femininityin the Male” in 1967 under the pseudonym “Vir-ginia Bruce.” It discussed the psychiatric links be-tween cross-dressing and sexual deviation. Neverdid he confuse his biological sex with his desires.

Rikki Wilchins, the founder of the first trans-gender advocacy group Gender-PAC, has gonefurther stating “as a matter of simple human dig-nity, trans people should be allowed to access thebathroom that fits their gender identity. Fullstop.”3 Her argument assumes the premise thatgender ideology is an uncontested fact. Shecomplains that we are all confined to the socialconstruct of the binary system of sexes that mustbe destroyed because it gives an indisputable

TRANSGENDERISM:

Burning BinaryB Y G A R Y I S B E L L

C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G22

Commentary

definition according to biological characteristics.Binary sex is not a social construct but a realityrooted in biology, and destroying it destroys ournature.

What Wilchins will ultimately achieve by“burning binary” is the burning of logic throughmoral relativism. Logic is the intellectual meansby which we are able to know things correctly;that is, what something is and is not, to definethings as they are. The etymology of the word“define” would help. It comes from the Latindefinire, meaning to set limits or specify, andtransgender people want to eliminate any defi-nition that clashes with their ever-changingfantasies.

In fact, the word “transgender” is not clearlydefined by the very people who promote it. It isan umbrella term used by the homosexual move-ment to address myriad sexual desires and iden-tities. Besides referring to trans-men andtrans-women that “identify” with the oppositebiological sex, it can also refer to people who arenot exclusively men or women but are gen-derqueer, which includes bigender, pangender,genderfluid, third gender and agender. Some ofthese definitions include being both, or neither,sex and/or “gender” at the same time and place.

Once sexual binary concepts have been de-stroyed, and together with them the first princi-ple of logic, the principle of identity will bechallenged. This is the first of the three classicalprinciples of thought defined by Aristotle, stat-ing that everything that exists has a specific na-ture. It states that each entity exists as somethingin particular and possesses characteristics thatare a part of what it is, therefore “each thing isthe same with itself and different from another.”

Logic shows us that it is impossible to affirmand to deny one thing at the same time andunder the same aspect; it is a consequence of theprinciples of identity and non-contradiction.However, with transgenderism rejecting the

principle of identity, it also rejects the principleof non-contradiction. This is the patent substi-tution of objective reality with subjective feelings.

If the moral relativism inherent to transgen-derism succeeds in burning the concepts of bi-nary definition and logic regarding one’s sex,what can possibly resist the ferocious unbridledpassions from obliterating the very underpin-nings of what makes us all human beings? Byforcing society to respect a man for what he feelslike rather than what he is, we will have com-pletely denied the fundamental characteristicthat defines us as rational beings. That is, the ex-tinguishing of the light of reason through the de-nial of logic, one of the most important qualitiesthat differentiates us from every other animal.

It becomes clear that by challenging funda-mental and non-negotiable binary concepts,the definition of what it means to be human isat stake. The burning of binary unleashes amoral relativism that threatens the destructionof civilization. It is ironic that the transgendermovement can’t seem to see the God-given def-inition of biological sex; but it clearly definesits goal to destroy the very existence of thatwhich it denies. n

Notes:1. http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/4/29/

well-win-bathroom-battle-when-binary-burns2. http://www.ncbcenter.org/index.php?id=5813. http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/4/29/

well-win-bathroom-battle-when-binary-burns

Today, the honest person isfaced with two personaldecisions: (1) to remainfaithful to the God-madeobjective reality, (2) to goalong with modernsubjectivism and adopt aseries of lies. Something assimple as a set ofcellphone cases shows thebeauty of the differencecreated by God. Male andfemale are the only createdand existing genders; thedifference between themis real and beautiful.

23C r u s a d e N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6 n w w w . T F P . O R G

“It is physiologically impossible tochange a person’s sex, since the

sex of each individual is encodedin the genes—XX if female, XY if

male. Surgery can only create theappearance of the other sex.”

—Richard P. Fitzgibbons, M.D.

Looking at the man in this photograph, the im-mediate impression is that he is a person of dig-nity. He sits upright with a bearing that belongs

to old world diplomats. His facial expression is seri-ous, determined and yet calmly tinged with charity.His eyes simultaneously suggest conviction and gen-tleness, intensity and kindness. He would easily bemistaken for a man of great distinction.

Everything in him speaks of order. The soul whichshines through his intense gaze has nothing of themodern insecurity found in our sad century. Thevirtue seen here is one that comes from the convic-tion of one who knows that God is his father and thatHe watches over him.

In studying this portrait, could one ever guessthat its subject was born into slavery? Indeed, PierreToussaint was born a slave in Santo Domingo (pre-sent-day Haiti) in 1766. This French colony was rav-aged by the horrors of the French Revolution acrossthe Atlantic, and young Pierre found himself movedto New York with his masters escaping the propo-nents of “liberty, equality and fraternity.”

When his mistress fell into poverty after the death ofher husband, Pierre Touissaint took up the modest oc-cupation of hairdresser. Revealing a great talent in hisnew profession, he was highly regarded by New York’supper-class ladies, not only for his ability to set their hairto its best advantage, but more so for his gift of counsel.

We are fortunate to have a quote from one suchlady, Emma Cary, which characterizes our slave-saint:

“His life was so perfect, and he explained the teach-ing of the Church with a simplicity so intelligent andcourageous that everyone honored him as a Catholic.He would explain the devotion to the Mother of Godwith the utmost clearness, or show the union of thenatural and supernatural gifts in the priest.”

He used his earnings to provide generously for hismistress and support her in her distress. He boughtthe freedom of his wife and mother and was knownfor his charity and assistance to all those in need, re-gardless of social position.

At his death in 1853, thousands came to his fu-neral. Among them were many members of NewYork’s high society.

The cause for his beatification was initiated in Romein 1989. He was declared venerable in 1996. His remainslie in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and hisexample shines through the generations. n

PierreToussaint:God’s Image Carved in EbonyB Y S A B R I N A W E Y M I E R