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Do Your Children Belong to the State?B YF E R R E O LG I R A R D E Y *Christ inthe Home Inara Prusakova Dreamstime.comDear Christian parents,your responsibility asparents is great.As individuals, you are answerable for your own souls;but as parents, you will be required to give the SovereignJudge a strict account of the souls of your children. It is yoursacred duty to train your children that they may become notmerely good citizens and useful members of society, but moreespecially faithful members of Christ’s body on earth, that is,the holy Catholic Church, in order that after this life they maybe saints in God’s heavenly kingdom.If they become good practical Christians, they willcertainly prove useful to society, and be law-abiding andpatriotic citizens. Few parents thoroughly appreciate thefull extent of their responsibility. If young men and women,before marriage, fully realized the extent of the obligationsof parents, many would shrink from entering a state so ladenwith duties and crosses.In the bringing up of children, both the father and mothershould act as a team. If you neglect your parental duties inwhole or in part, or if you act separately from or in oppositionto each other, your marriage will produce only thorns andthistles, and your children will be neither good Christiansnor useful citizens. Far from becoming your support andconsolation in your old age, they will instead become yoursorrow.You should be firmly persuaded of the great truth thatyour children belong, in the first place, not to yourselves, butto God. It is He Who gives them to you and takes them backwhen He pleases. God only lends your children to you—Heentrusts them to you as so many precious talents, for whichyou are strictly accountable to His infinite justice.Infidels and freemasons, maliciously subverting the orderof nature established by the Creator, seek to concentrate allrights and powers in what they are pleased to call “the state.”They erroneously assert that the child belongs, not to hisparents, but to the state; and, out of hatred of the Christianreligion, they dare to claim for the state the exclusive right ofeducating the children in state or public schools.If, as they say, the child belongs to the state, the child’sparents, being themselves the children of their own parents,must likewise be the property of the state; and therefore weno longer have any free men, but all are the possessionsor the slaves of the state. And as in some countries themasons and infidels claim to be the state, it would seemthat they claim to own and dispose of their fellow men justas they please.If, according to this godless doctrine, both the childand his parents belong to the state, the state is obliged,not merely to educate the children, but also to feed,clothe, lodge and provide with the comforts of life boththe children and their parents. Such a doctrine, however,is evidently false and absurd, and utterly subversive of theorder of nature.[I]nfidels and freemasons . . . erroneouslyassert that the child belongs, not to hisparents, but to the state.Let us never lose sight of the grand fact that the stateis composed, not of single individuals, but of families.Without families, that is, with individuals only, the statecould not be perpetuated, but would soon become extinct.To endure, the state must be composed of families, i.e.,of the parents and their children. Hence the unit of societyor the state is the family, and not the isolated individual,just as the individual is the unit of the family. From this itfollows that the family as an institution predates the state,for, as everybody knows, every compound exists before itscomponents. This being the case, the natural and logicalconclusion is that the family has natural and essentialrights which the state is bound to respect and even toprotect. *Taken from Popular Instructions to Parents on the Bringing Up of Children, Ferreol Girardey (New York, Cincinnati [etc.]: Benziger Brothers, 1897) pp 6–11.C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R G5

The End of History Just EndedB YJ O H NH O R VATI IReturnt o Or d e r Dimaberkut Dreamstime.comThe Russian invasion of Ukraine presents the greatest challenge to the West since the end of the Cold War.In 1992, American political scientist Francis Fukuyamapublished his famous book, The End of History and theLast Man. The author asserted that the fall of the Iron Curtainmarked a milestone of immense importance for the West.Liberal democracy appears weak, self-destructiveand unfocused. Strong alternatives are not only on thehorizon but are advancing across the landscape in theform of tanks and troop movements.He claimed that the end of the Cold War was not just “thepassing of a particular period of post-war history, but theend of history as such: That is, the end-point of mankind’sideological evolution and the universalization of WesternOLEHUDO GHPRFUDF\ DV WKH ÀQDO IRUP RI KXPDQ JRYHUQPHQW µThe Ukraine crisis is another milestone moment whentwo worldviews enter into conflict: liberal democraciesand autocratic regimes.Borrowing from Hegel and Marx about the evolutionof events, he predicted that henceforth liberal democracywould be the final form of government for all nations. Therewould be no later progression to an alternative system.A Narrative that Limped Along Until NowThe Ukraine crisis is another milestonemoment when two worldviews enterinto conflict: liberal democracies andautocratic regimes.Both Sides Are in CrisisThe moment comes as both sides are in crisis.Subsequent events challenged his end-of-historyscenario. Terrorism, Islamic wars and polarization allseemed to conspire against Prof. Fukuyama by addingchapters to the closed history book. However, throughoutthe post-Cold War period, the liberal democratic systemremained the ideal form of government. The globalizedworld standardized economies using the frameworkand protocols developed under liberal democracy. TheFukuyama narrative limped along because no crediblealternatives contested it.On the one hand, liberal democracy is in disarray.Basic institutions like family, community and faith arecoming apart, destroying the social fabric. The radicalwing of liberalism is engaged in suicidal behavior as itseeks to destroy social structures deemed too oppressive.The mechanisms of the rule of law that allow the systemto resolve problems through peaceful and legal processesare breaking down. As a result, things are getting violentand unstable inside liberal democratic regimes.With the invasion of Ukraine, however, the end of historyjust ended.On the other hand, the autocratic regimes opposingliberal democracy are likewise in crisis. They face6C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R G

looming demographic implosions due to eroded morals orDraconian population policies. Their social structures arealso in disarray amid widespread corruption. However, thehard mechanisms of governmental power are put in placeto give a semblance of direction to a society irreparably indecay.Two Systems Born of ModernityThus, a clash between the two decaying systems is setin motion—jumpstarting the processes of history thatsupposedly ended.However, it would be wrong to assume that the twosystems are diametric opposites. Both are products ofmodernity and share the same philosophies. They may differin methods but agree on the modern vision of humanity andhistory.come at a moment of great Western decadence, patheticleadership and pandemic disharmony.Why the West Is TargetedThe reason behind this laser focus on the West isnot arbitrary. It is not a question of roughly equivalentgeographic regions fighting among themselves. Theseautocratic regimes are not reacting to degenerate Westernmorals that deserve every condemnation. Indeed, theyshare the same depravity, although manifested differently.This anti-Western hostility focuses on the tiny lingeringremnants of the Christian order that built the West. Theroots of Western civilization are based on the Christianinstitutions, morals and truths that make true orderBoth systems have advanced in decadence to the pointthat they now want to overthrow oppressive structures thatrestrain them. Liberal democracy intends to eliminate socialstructures that radicals claim promote systemic oppression.Autocratic regimes want to destroy international politicalstructures (like NATO) that undergird the post-war order.The Target Is the WestThe target of the Ukrainian war is the destruction of theWest as a concept. Indeed, the media are all reporting onthe destruction of the post-Cold War order. They registerthe challenge to Western hegemony. No one contests thisgoal.However, most media do not allude to the dangerousalternatives that will replace the West. Russia, China andtheir client states see the West as a repressive frameworkthat must be supplanted by a deconstructed world thatrecycles old errors based upon nationalism, Marxism,Gnosticism and even mystical elements. Whether it beRussia’s pan-Slavic Eurasianism (of Aleksandr Dugin) or XiJinping’s “new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics,”the overwhelming emphasis is anti-Western, anti-Catholicand pro-Marxist.Thus, the West faces internal and external enemies thatseek to bring down the geopolitical structures and militaryalliances sustaining Western hegemony. The attacksThis anti-Western hostility focuses on thetiny lingering remnants of the Christianorder that built the West.Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia. Inthe face of the apparent weakness and self-destruction of liberaldemocracies, attention is increasingly turning towards strongman,nationalist alternatives. Led by China and Russia, these risingpowers aim to replace Western civilization with a new pro-Marxist,authoritarian world order.and progress possible. Thus, the present conflict targetsthis moral framework now in ruins as well as Churchgenerated structures like the rule of law, hierarchy,classical logic and systematized thought that elevated theWest and still exert influence. As long as this tiny platformexists, it must be safeguarded.The West must be defended. This is not done by theconflict of two decadent strains of modernity. Their fightresolves nothing. The true objective should be to defend theremnants of Christian order in the West as a springboardto a full return to order. The West must oppose, internallyand externally, the deconstructed errors that target theseremnants and will throw the world into chaos.However, the defense of the West can only be effectivewith a moral regeneration that must include Divine actionas foreseen by Our Lady at Fatima.The end of history has ended. History once again ismoving. Will the West return to order? C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R G7 Stockmll Dreamstime.comOn their part, liberal democratic societies are questioningtheir Westernness. Critical Race theory and other schemesconsider the West to be the root of all evil embedded in itsinstitutions.www.kremlin.ru.Thus this conflict is not a political disagreement but aparadigm shift to an anti-Western world.

PLINIOCORRÊA DEOLIVEIR A8C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R G

Our Lady attracts by showing the beauty of purity.Imagine being just five feet away from Our Lady! Wouldn’t it be great to be but five feet away from her?But, what about having Our Lord within us? If only we would think of this when we receive Holy Communion.As Sister Lucia dos Santos recounts, when Our Lady appears, everything is white, everything is clean andeverything is pure. She is, after all, the Virgin of virgins; entirely pure. The hymn Ave Maris Stella reminds usthat Mary became the gate of heaven, while remaining a virgin. That is to say, it was through her that Christ,Our Lord, came into the world and yet her virginity suffered nothing. Always entirely pure, she attracts us byher purity.She was “a Lady dressed all in white, more brilliant than the sun, shedding a light that wasclearer and more intense than that of a crystal goblet filled with crystalline water and struck bythe rays of the most brilliant sun.” Her face, indescribably beautiful, was “neither sad nor happy,but serious,” with an air of mild reproach. Her hands, joined together as if she were praying, wereresting on her breast and pointing upward. A rosary hung from her right hand. Her clothes seemedto be made of light. The tunic was white. The veil, white and edged with gold, covered the head ofthe Virgin and descended to her feet. Neither her hair nor her ears could be seen. . . .Description of Our Lady by Sr. LuciaAlso, we learn the way of an apostle through the example of Our Lady. When she appeared, she attractedus to the beauty of purity. Let us never make the mistake of adopting questionable customs as far as puritygoes, in order that people will accept us. No! To invite people to be pure, we must first show them the beautyof purity. Impurity seeks all darkness to hide its evil deeds, but purity loves daylight and thrives in open air.At Fatima, Our Lady spoke to an impure world using all the symbols of purity. Was that an invitation onlyto the little shepherds or was it to the world? She was dressed in white and bathed in light.This reminds us of when Our Lord spoke of the lilies of the field: “But I say to you that not even Solomon inall his glory was arrayed as one of these” (Matt. 6:29). Likewise, no one in all his or her glory was ever dressedas Our Lady was: in light. This article is taken from an informal address given by Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveiraon June 5, 1984. It has been translated and adapted for publication without his revision. –Ed.Impurity seeks all darkness to hide itsevil deeds, but purity loves daylight andthrives in open air.C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R G9

CoverStorySaint Anthony of Padua:The Rue of RelativistsBY FR . THOM A S DE SAINT- L AURENT *No sooner was Saint Anthony’sbody laid to rest in the Church ofthe Friars Minor in Padua whenthe faithful began to flock tohis tomb.The pilgrims came from everywhere tovenerate the remains of the extraordinaryman who had inspired the crowd by his wordsand his miracles. They gathered around theglorious sepulcher with such respect thatthey removed their shoes when approachingit. Even the noblest of knights and the mostdistinguished people approached the remains ofthe man they considered a powerful protector.Anthony did not forsake those devotedto him. He healed the sick and consoled theafflicted, multiplying signs and wonders. It isworthy of note that in order to receive his favor,one had to have first received the sacraments. Sogreat was the flow of penitents that there werenot enough religious in the convent to hear allthe confessions.Moved by these manifestations of populardevotion, after a thorough examination of hislife, Pope Gregory IX solemnly canonized theservant of God on May 30, 1232. Less than a yearhad elapsed since the death of the new saint.And this initial fervor did not abate. Devotionto Saint Anthony of Padua has spread to all ofChristendom. Far from declining over time,it enjoyed renewed interest in the nineteenthcentury. A statue of this great miracle workerwith the Divine Child in his arms is to befound in most churches throughout the world.Numerous testimonies attest to his intercessorypower.Apparition of the Virgin and Child to Saint Anthony, by Pedro Alexandrino,Church of the Magdalene, Lisbon, Portugal.10C r u s a d e w w w . T F P . O R GSaint Anthony enjoys immense influence withGod, for he reached a high level of perfection. Yethis life was short: he died at thirty-six, and spentmost of his lifetime in obscurity. He devoted amere nine years to preaching, yet his apostolate,

tempted him with impure thoughts. Fernando opposed theenemy with the sovereign weapon of prayer.One day, while the struggle was at its most intense,he took refuge in his beloved cathedral. Exhausted fromstruggling against temptation, he traced a cross on the wallof the stairwell that led to the cathedral’s tower. Traditionhas it that the stone softened under his fingers and retainedthe imprint of the sacred sign.Our saint emerged victorious from these painful struggles.To his very death, he preserved his innocence.Wanting at any cost to save his soul and preserve his heartfor God, at the age of fifteen, Fernando entered the CanonsRegular of Saint Augustine, occupying the Monastery ofSaint Vincent Outside the Walls in Lisbon.From his first day as a novice he faithfully observedthe Rule. To preserve the quality of his interior life, heobtained permission from his Prior to be sent to Coimbrato the Monastery of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) where themotherhouse of the Portuguese congregation of the CanonsRegular was located.Lithograph depicting Saint Anthony's public appeal andoverwhelming sanctityFernando possessed the power to recall information withincredible accuracy; he never forgot what he committedto memory. Consequently, he acquired such a thoroughknowledge of Sacred Scripture that his teachers andreligious brothers were astounded. Upon completion of histheological studies, our saint, now fully prepared for theextraordinary mission reserved for him by God, receivedHoly Orders.Five Franciscan Missionariesmade fruitful by extraordinary virtue and miracles, hasborne rich fruit throughout history.Seeking the Divine WillThe well-known miracle worker was born in Lisbonin 1195, and christened Fernando. His oldest biographyrecounts that he studied at the school of the cathedraladjacent to his father’s house. There, prayer accompaniedstudy. In this atmosphere of piety, he undoubtedly receivedhis first religious experiences, so profound and yet sogentle in souls predestined to the priesthood.Like other saints before him, Anthony experiencedthe “thorn in the flesh.” The devil, envious of his virtue,Miracle Stories“Is quaeris miracula,”intones an ancient verse,dear to the FranciscanOrder, “if you are looking formiracles” . . . seek the helpof Saint Anthony, and yourrequest will soon be granted.After his ordination, Fernando was given the charge ofhospitality at the guesthouse adjacent to the monastery.Such a modest task placed him in contact with the FriarsMinor (Franciscans), who had settled in Portugal in 1217and often came to the monastery for alms. As guest master,Fernando often welcomed the mendicant Friars. Thus it wasthat in 1219 he came to know five Franciscan missionariesthat the patriarch of Assisi sent to Morocco to preach theFaith.To reach infidel territory, the missionaries had passedthrough Coimbra and paused for a few days. Upon reachingMorocco, the Friars requested an audience with the MuslimThe Heretic and the MuleOne day, Saint Anthony was speaking with aheretic concerning the Eucharist. The unfortunateman obstinately refused to admit the mystery oftransubstantiation, for he perceived no change in thesacramental species after the words of consecration.In vain, Anthony presented proofs drawn from bothScripture and Tradition. When his efforts failed beforethe stubborn obstinacy of his interlocutor, he decidedto alter his strategy. w w w . T F P . O R G11

prince, who, at the time, was Abu-Jacub. They planned toshare the dogmas of the Faith with him, but were deniedthe privilege. The Friars were not discouraged, but insteadbegan to preach in the streets and public places. One day,as they were addressing a crowd, the monarch passed nearthem. The fearless missionaries did not balk, but continuedtheir exposition of holy doctrine without hesitation. Afterthey refused to leave the country, Abu-Jacub was furious.

to the closure of most faith-based adoption agencies. The Becket Fund, a non-profit legal group, sued the state on behalf of St. Vincent Catholic Charities, one of the oldest adoption agencies in the state. The lawsuit gained traction in June of 2021, when in a very similar case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Philadelphia