Brian McCallJuly 2021 Edition Now Available — Preview HERE
July 2, 2021
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dear Friends of Catholic Tradition,
Recently, I was speaking with a convert to Traditional Catholicism from Protestantism. In the course of the conversation, he mentioned that one of the things that struck him as very new when he was converting was the Second Joyful Mystery: the Visitation. It was not an event in the life of Our Lord and Our Lady that received much attention in the Protestant sect.
Our Blessed Mother provides an important lesson on this feast for Traditional Catholics, as well as Catholics of all times. Her first act after pronouncing her fiat and becoming the Mother of God was to take the Savior within her into the the world. She brings the Son of God immediately to her relative, St. Elizabeth. She does not remain at home in silent adoration of the Incarnate Word within her (although she does continue to adore Him throughout her journey). The Light of the revelation to the Gentiles (cf. Luke 2:32) is not to be kept hidden in a catacomb. He is to be proclaimed from the rooftops.
This message is particularly relevant for our circumstances. Once we find Tradition, there is often a temptation to hunker down and revel in the wonderful gift we have received. There is an understandable sense of relief at having found the truth which evaded us. Yet, we cannot hoard it for ourselves. We certainly must use prudence in the manner and timing in which we try to share this great gift of Tradition. Nevertheless, we cannot let the weariness of our journey deter us from visiting those we know to share the goodness, truth, and beauty we have received.
The motto that Archbishop Lefebvre desired on his tombstone, which he took from St. Paul (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3), was Tradidi quod et accepi — “I have handed on that which I received”. It is not enough to receive. We have a duty to hand on what we have received. Certainly, that which we (laity) have received is different from a bishop of the Church. We do not have all the same gifts to hand on. However, we do have the precious and eternal gift of the Faith, and we must make that Faith visit the world in which we move, and live, and breathe.
It is the desire to follow this example of Our Lady which motivates all of us at Catholic Family News. We want to visit as many souls as possible with the gifts we have received from those who went before us. Thus, we humbly ask for your help in supporting our efforts. You can purchase a subscription for yourself, your friends, and your relatives. You can make the content we provide each month in the paper visit those for whom you pray. What is the worst that can happen? They may not read it. Yet, even if they do not read the paper, you may never know where that paper will end up. It may be given away or found by someone whom God has been preparing.
You can also forward our online articles, videos, and audio podcasts. In the past few years, we have been making more video and audio content available for free so as to reach more people. We can reach many more souls with your help. Finally, you can consider making a donation through our website to help support the cost of all the free content we produce and distribute.
Thank you for welcoming our newspaper into your home each month and for supporting our work to share the treasures of Tradition!
In Christ the King,
Brian M. McCall
Editor-in-Chief
Matt Gaspers
