The Legacy of T Saint John Fisher
“The victory will ever be with God”
Saint Pius X, who occupied the Chair of Saint Peter from 1903 until his untimely death in 1914, is known for vigorously opposing the Modernist infiltration of the Catholic Church.
Verily no one of sound mind can doubt the issue of this contest between man and the Most High. Man, abusing his liberty, can violate the right and the majesty of the Creator of the Universe; but the victory will ever be with God—nay, defeat is at hand at the moment when man, under the delusion of his triumph, rises up with most audacity. Of this we are assured in the holy books by God Himself. Unmindful, as it were, of His strength and greatness, He “overlooks the sins of men” (Wis. 11:24), but swiftly, after these apparent retreats, “awaked like a mighty man that hath been surfeited with wine” (Ps. 77:65), “He shall break the heads of his enemies” (Ps. 67:22), that all may know “that God is the king of all the earth” (Ps. 66:8), “that the Gentiles may know themselves to be men” (Ps. 9:20).
All this, Venerable Brethren, We believe and expect with unshakable faith. But this does not prevent us also, according to the measure given to each, from exerting ourselves to hasten the work of God—and not merely by praying assiduously: “Arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened” (Ps. 9:19), but, more important still, by affirming both by word and deed and in the light of day, God’s supreme dominion over man and all things, so that His right to command and His authority may be fully realized and respected. This is imposed upon us not only as a natural duty, but by our common interest. For, Venerable Brethren, who can avoid being appalled and afflicted when he beholds, in the midst of a progress in civilization which is justly extolled, the greater part of mankind fighting among themselves so savagely as to make it seem as though strife were universal? The desire for peace is certainly harbored in every breast, and there is no one who does not ardently invoke it. But to want peace without God is an absurdity, seeing that where God is absent thence too justice flies, and when justice is taken away it is vain to cherish the hope of peace.
“Peace is the work of justice” (Isa. 22:17). There are many, We are well aware, who, in their yearning for peace, that is for the tranquility of order, band themselves into societies and parties, which they style parties of order. Hope and labor lost. For there is but one party of order capable of restoring peace in the midst of all this turmoil, and that is the party of God. It is this party, therefore, that we must advance, and to it attract as many as possible, if we are really urged by the love of peace.
But, Venerable Brethren, we shall never, however much we exert ourselves, succeed in calling men back to the majesty and empire of God, except by means of Jesus Christ. “No one,” the Apostle admonishes us, “can lay other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). It is Christ alone “whom the Father sanctified and sent into this world” (Isa. 10:36), “the splendor of the Father and the image of His substance” (Heb. 1:3), true God and true man: without whom nobody can know God with the knowledge for salvation, “neither doth anyone know the Father but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal Him” (Matt. 11:27.). Hence it follows that to restore all things in Christ and to lead men back to submission to God is one and the same aim. To this, then, it behooves Us to devote Our care—to lead back mankind under the dominion of Christ; this done, We shall have brought it back to God. When We say "to God," We do not mean to that inert being heedless of all things human, which the dream of materialists has imagined, but to the true and living God, one in Nature, triple in Person, Creator of the world, most wise Ordainer of all things, Lawgiver most just, Who punishes the wicked and has reward in store for virtue. n
Pius X, E Supremi [Encyclical of Pope Saint Pius X on the Restoration of All Things in Christ], sec. 6–8 (October 4, 1903), The Holy See, https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/en/ encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_04101903_e-supremi.html.
Crusade Magazine is a publication of The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). Direct all requests and inquiries to: Crusade Magazine, P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331 or email to: crusade@ TFP.org. Web: www.TFP.org, Tel.: (888) 317-5571. © 2025 by The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. This publication may include images from iStockphoto™ and Dreamstime™ which are protected by copyright laws of the U.S. and elsewhere. ISSN 1096-3782 LCCN 98-641433 M-195 (HF2505)
Crusade
Editor: Michael Gorre
Associate Editor: C. Michael Drake
Contributing Editors: James Bascom, Ben Broussard, Vincent Gorre, Stacie Hiserman, John Horvat II, Tonia Long, Robert Nunez, Gustavo Solimeo, Luiz Solimeo, Rex Teodosio, Renato Vasconcelos
The American TFP
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) is an organization of lay Catholic Americans concerned about the moral crisis shaking the remnants of Christian civilization. Its earliest origins date back to January 1971, when the first TFP members started to group around the publication Crusade for a Christian Civilization. It is a civic, cultural and nonpartisan organization which, inspired by the traditional teachings of the Supreme Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church, works in a legal and peaceful manner in the realm of ideas to defend and promote the principles of private ownership, family and perennial Christian values with their twofold function: individual and social. The TFP’s words and efforts have always been faithfully at the service of Christian civilization. The first TFP was founded in Brazil by the famous intellectual and Catholic leader Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in 1960. His work inspired the formation of other autonomous TFP sister organizations across the globe, thus constituting the world’s largest anticommunist and antisocialist network of Catholic inspiration.
Return to Order
Communist Cuba Fuels Conflicts but Can’t Provide Electricity
Electricity is at the forefront of essential services for a functioning modern society. However, in Cuba, after decades of central economic planning under communist leadership, reliable electricity remains an elusive luxury. The Marxist nation can spread revolutionary ideas worldwide but struggles to keep the lights on.
On March 14, 2025, the entire nation went dark after Cuba’s national power grid collapsed, leaving over ten million people in the dark—again.
This isn’t the first time the lights have gone out. Rolling blackouts lasting up to twenty hours a day have become common outside Havana for months. Recently, the entire system has been failing without warning. The empty promises of leaders like Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel have done little to enhance the struggling economic system that leaves ordinary citizens in the lurch, literally sitting in the dark.
The Tragedy of Central Planning
The communist economic system relies on central planning and the suppression of private property. The theory asserts that the central government can allocate resources more efficiently than free-market mechanisms. While the system promises prosperity, equality and progress, it has only delivered inefficiency, mismanagement, corruption, theft and inflexibility.
For some sixty years, Cuba’s energy industry has functioned as a state-controlled monopoly. Unlike free-market systems, where competition fosters efficiency and innovation, Cuba’s communist model eliminates all incentives to innovate or sustain infrastructure.
Decades-old power plants and transmission lines now form the backbone of the island’s electrical grid, which is frag-
ile, poorly maintained and overdue for replacement.
Cuba attributes its failures to the U.S. trade embargo rather than acknowledging its flawed policies’ evident neglect and inefficiency.
The United States has imposed an embargo against communist Cuba, but Cuba can purchase what it needs from the rest of the world—if it has the money to do so. However, replacement parts might be more easily found in museums than in warehouses.
A Flawed Reliance on Allies
Cuba depends on imported oil to operate its power plants. Historically, leftist allies have supplied cheap oil to support the Cuban economy. However, the same Marxist theory that afflicted Cuba has also jeopardized oil imports. Venezuela’s oil production, for instance, plummeted due to its adoption of socialism. Russia temporarily stepped in to provide 30,000 barrels of oil per day. These deliveries proved to be irregular and insufficient.
Last October, when Cuba was running out of oil, left-leaning Mexico sent an emergency shipment of 500,000 barrels of crude oil. Instead of alleviating energy woes, the shipment barely reduced demand. Blackouts persist, as no lifeline can fix the system.
The Vicious Cycle of Underinvestment, Corruption and Indifference
Marxist central planning prevents Cuba’s investment in critical energy infrastructure. With a severely limited cash flow, resources are diverted to address immediate crises rather than to overhaul outdated power plants or upgrade decaying transmission lines. This short-sighted mentality ensures that breakdowns are not rare but
inevitable and are now frequent.
The entire electric grid requires an overhaul. However, experts have indicated that a single aging component at a power station triggered March’s nationwide blackout. Without the mass replacement of such components, similar failures continue to promise future blackouts.
This neglect ripples beyond energy. A lack of reliable electricity affects Cuba’s few remaining industries, including tobacco, sugar and nickel exports. Hospitals that rely on refrigeration and medical equipment also suffer during blackouts, putting citizens’ lives at risk. One crisis triggers others as the whole system breaks down.
Lessons from Cuba
The recurring blackouts in Cuba serve as a stark warning about the dangers of centralized economies. Without incentives driven by free-market principles to invest in and maintain infrastructure, systems decay, resources get misallocated and the poor bear the brunt of these failures.
Cuba’s energy crisis mirrors similar failures in other artificially planned economies in Venezuela and Nicaragua. They all impose communist and socialist ideologies upon their people.
Indeed, communism and socialism never achieve the utopia they promise; instead, they only deliver poverty and misery in abundance.
Breaking the Cycle
Cuba desperately needs to throw off the yoke of communism and allow the private sector to participate in energy production and all other parts of the economy.
Cuba seems only efficient in spreading the plague of Marxist ideology all over the world. It cannot provide its population with even the most basic necessities.
Today, millions of Cubans sit in the dark, both literally and metaphorically. Their plight poignantly shows that socialist models do not deserve to be a standard for anything civilized. It’s time for Cuba and other nations suffering under communism and socialism to reject these models. The United States and the West should do everything possible to oppose these frameworks that consistently produce failure and misery. n
May: The Month of Mary
Duringthe month of May—the month of Mary—we feel a special protection of Our Lady that extends to all the faithful; we feel a special joy that shines and illuminates our hearts, expressing the universal certainty of Catholics that the indispensable patronage of Our Heavenly Mother becomes even more tender, more loving and more full of visible mercy and exorable condescension during her month of May.
Holy for the glory she rightly pos sesses and for all that she represents in the plans of Divine Providence. It also teaches us to be more constant in our filial union with Mary.
Children are never more sure of the loving vigilance of their mothers than when they suffer. All of mankind suffers today; all people suffer. They suffer in every conceivable way.
The more somber circumstances become, and the more excruciating sundry pains grow, the more we should ask Our Lady to put an end to so much suffering, not merely for our own relief but also for the greater benefit of our souls. Sacred theology says that Our Lady’s prayers anticipated the moment of the world’s redemption by the Messias. At this anguished moment in history, then, let us turn our eyes to Our Lady with confidence, asking her to hasten the great moment we all await, when a new Pentecost will kindle beacons of light and hope in this darkness and restore the kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth.
Even after the month of May passes, a remnant of this remains if we have profited from those thirty-one days especially consecrated to Our Lady. We are left with an increased devotion, a keener confidence and, so to speak, such an increased intimacy with Our Lady that in all the vicissitudes of life, we will know how to petition her with respectful insistence, hope in her with invincible confidence and thank her with humble tenderness for all the good she does us.
Our Lady is the Queen of Heaven and Earth and, at the same time, our mother. We enter the month of May with this conviction, and it becomes more deeply rooted in us when we leave it, strengthening our faith and increasing our fortitude.
May teaches us to love Mary Most
Windstorms of impiety and skepticism sweep through minds, and crazy whirlwinds of all types of messianism devastate them. Nebulous, confused and rash ideas filter into every milieu and mislead not only the wretched and the lukewarm, but sometimes even those of whom greater constancy in the Faith is expected.
Those who are tenaciously faithful to the fulfillment of duty suffer from all the adversity they meet by their fidelity to the Law of Christ. Yet those who transgress the Law also suffer, for without Christ, every pleasure is nothing but bitterness, and every joy is a lie.
Hearts suffer, torn by the revolutionary psychological war, which is so intense in our days. Bodies suffer, impoverished by work, undermined by malady, overwhelmed by necessities of every kind.
We should be like Daniel, whom Holy Scripture describes as the “desideriorum vir,” that is, a man full of great desires. Let us desire many great things for the glory of God. Let us always ask Our Lady for everything. And let us, above all, ask her for that which the Sacred Liturgy beseeches of God:
“Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur, et renovabis faciem terrae” (Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth). We should ask, through the mediation of Our Lady, that God once again send us the Holy Ghost with the plenitude of His gifts so that His kingdom may be created anew and be purified by a renewal of the face of the earth.
In The Divine Comedy, Dante wrote that praying without the patronage of Our Lady is like wanting to fly without wings. Let us then confide in Our Lady this heartfelt yearning and desire. Mary’s hands will be a pair of pure wings that will carry our prayer with certainty to the throne of God. n
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
ADORER AND CRUSADER: A Call to Be a Militant Catholic
AtrueCatholic must have the spirit of a crusader—a warrior-like spirit. How so? The question of a warrior-like spirit is deeply rooted in the very makeup of the human spirit and the human mentality.
Original Sin, Self-interested Love and Dedication
After Original Sin, we tend to love things in a self-seeking way—what’s in it for me? In other words, we tend to love someone or something for what they can give us in return. Thus, a person who has a pleasant and witty friend will naturally cultivate and enjoy his company. But it is another story when that person requires his help and dedication. Enjoyment, yes Dedication, no.
The same goes for a husband and wife who are in love and find each oth-
er’s company delightful. But when the time for sheer giving comes, the troubles begin. Again, to enjoy—yes, to dedicate—no. That is because dedication requires sacrifice, and the first natural tendency of every human creature is to shrink from sacrifice.
There is only true love, true dedication, true friendship and true idealism where there is a spirit of sacrifice.
Thus, we can easily look at Our Lord, Our Lady and the Catholic Church and her doctrine with the same eyes. We can be convinced Jesus and Mary love us; we are touched by their goodness and hope they will grant us all we ask. We admire the Church and all she offers and bask in all she can do for us. But when it is time for us to do something for God and His Church, the excuses begin. We do not want to sacrifice. But the truth is that there is only true love, true dedication, true friendship and true idealism where there is a spirit of sacrifice.
Without it, all declarations of love are only empty words. Either we prove our love and idealism with works and, at times, difficult works, or there is no true friendship.
"The time we most need a friend is when we are under attack; it is then that we find out what our friends are worth."
True Friends Are Recognized in Battle
Now, those times in which we most need our friends are when we are attacked. And there are such times in life. When some enemy attacks us, when someone files a suit against us or accuses us unjustly—it is then we find out what our friends are worth. If, at a time of trouble, he is not on the battlefield at my side, sword in hand, but rather, on the sidelines looking on, then he may be an acquaintance or a sympathizer but not a friend.
There Is No True Adoration Without Militancy
Therefore, if friendship is dedication, and the best of dedication is shown in battle, we may also conclude that, in relation to Our Lord and His Church, there is no true dedication without a fighting spirit. Why so? If I am truly grateful for the fact that Our Lord is my God and my Savior, Who shed His Blood to the last drop for me and would have done it for me alone, I must react when I see Him attacked, insulted, derided, blasphemed and His Church persecuted. That is the logical consequence of adoration. What good is a Holy Hour, filled with good feelings and emotion, if, as I come out and witness an offense to God, I do not take a stand? What is the sincerity of that love I pledged to Our Lord, if I remain indifferent when I see Him attacked? If my adoration is sincere, I must be ready to fight for His cause to the last breath.
What good is a Holy Hour filled with emotion if one is not willing to defend the God he adores?
B y P linio C orrêa de o liveira
© Peter Sobek Dreamstime.com
Our Obligation as Children of the Church
If we consider that Our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Mystical Body, which is the Catholic Church, and that the Church on earth is called the Church Militant; if we consider that it has been the Church’s lot to be attacked, contested, denied, betrayed and persecuted through the ages, I must be prepared to defend her. Before those who try to make me ashamed of her, I must hold my head high and have enough knowledge of her holy doctrine to silence them.
Of course, we should be gentle and kind, but we must take care that “gentle and kind” is not another term for “politically correct.”
Depending on the circumstance and the person’s disposition, we may do it with a smile, with patience and kindness. At other times, we must be firm and to the point. Regardless, we must always work within all the available means of legality—but work, nonetheless. True love of God is battle-ready.
It Takes Effort and Reflection to Foster a Battle-ready Spirit
It is not easy to fight. It takes prepa-
ration and exercise. Just like the body needs care and exercise to stay fit, so does the spirit. If we wish to be seriously battle-ready, we must prepare mind and spirit. A fit of rage is not a battle. A serious warrior is ready because he has reflected, studied and prayed. He is always attentive to the interests of the Church. Whether he remains silent or speaks, whether he chooses a strategic retreat or attacks, he is always fighting. That is a true soldier of the Cross—a crusader.
Always Gentle and Kind but Always Fighting
Many claim we should always be gentle and kind, regardless of circumstances. Of course, we should be gentle and kind, but we must take care that “gentle and kind” is not another term for “politically correct.” The crusader-like spirit transposed to the field of doctrine is orthodoxy. “Let your speech be yea, yea, no, no” (Matt. 5:37).
A Catholic is not gentle and kind because he feels like being gentle and kind. A Catholic is gentle and kind because his Master is the Lamb of God. But that same Lamb of God defended His Father’s honor fearlessly in the Temple against the moneychangers and against all those who wished to call black, white, and white, black—or white, gray.
Another thought to bear in mind is
that when Our Lord defended Truth, He surely did so with the conversion of His enemies in mind. But, above all, He was defending the innocent bystanders from being deceived or confused as to that Truth. People watch us as Catholics. We may often not convince the one attacking us, but we may help develop the faith of another. And that is our obligation.
May every hour of adoration spent before the Blessed Sacrament help those who are good to confront an increasingly “politically correct” world. May we be adorers, may we be lovers and may we be fighters. n
Are you tired and burdened with problems? Maybe discouraged and lacking energy even for words?
No matter! JUST BE STILL.
Simply take this little book, step out of the daily humdrum, enter an adoration chapel in your area, and spend fifteen minutes with Him who said: “Be still and know that I am God.”
To a Catholic, there is no greater comfort than to know that Our Lord and God is corporally present among us, thus literally fulfilling His promise: “I am with you all days, even to the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
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For a FREE downloadable version, go to: http://anf.org/be-still
Members of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property protest outside of a satanic convention in Boston, Mass., in 2023. SatanCon was canceled the following year.
The Legacy of Saint John Fisher
Ironically, one of the reasons for Saint John Cardinal Fisher’s relative obscurity is confusion with his contemporary, Saint Thomas More. They were convicted of the same crime and executed in the same manner. Holy Mother Church canonized them in the same ceremony 400 years after their deaths.
First, we need to place John Fisher
into his historical context. Without that context, his life leaves more questions than answers.
Before Henry VIII’s apostasy, the Church was far wealthier than the Crown. Indeed, it was said that no one at any point in England could walk more than an hour without encountering a parish church, monastery, convent, hospital or
school. However, that wealth and power masked a deep and widespread impiety. England was emerging from the War of the Roses. For thirty-two years, two branches of the Royal House of Plantagenet–Lancastrians and Yorkists–battled each other. The civil government was rent by discord while the Church prospered.
An Independent Spirit
The 1,100 miles between Rome and London spawned a sense of independence in the English Church. That made it easy for Englishmen to embrace the anti-religious humanism of the so-called Renaissance. This attitude not only explains Henry VIII’s apostasy but also that of the English bishops.
Another common problem was that the road to higher office and income was based more on personal connections than care for souls. Most of the politically powerful Church leadership was inept at piety, preaching and scholarship.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, there were only three learned professions–teaching, the law and the clergy. Teaching didn’t pay much, and lawyers were held in low repute. Those with the right connections often chose the Church. Therefore, the upper clergy was usually occupied by the ambitious rather than the genuinely pious.
The seminaries of the time also bear some of the blame. Many sources charge that the typical run of parish priests knew only enough Latin to celebrate Holy Mass.
A Brilliant Young Man
Historians know little about John Fisher’s childhood. Scholars even have to guess about the date of his birth. Most place the date at 1469.
He was raised in a market town in Yorkshire. His father, Robert Fisher, dealt in woolen goods, and the family prospered. His father died young, and his mother re-married. Fisher’s mother and stepfather must have seen something extraordinary in young John because he entered Cambridge University at the age of fourteen.
John Fisher completed a Bachelor’s Degree in 1488 and a Master’s in 1491. He was ordained into the priesthood at age twenty-two. He quickly moved up through the ranks of the Cambridge faculty to be a “senior proctor” by age twenty-five.
“The Lady Mother of the King” In 1495, the young academic attended a dinner that would change his life. An entry in his official logbook stated, “I dined with the Lady Mother of the King.”
The king’s mother was Lady Mar-
garet Beaufort. She was a descendant of King Edward III. She had a tumultuous life. Her family was on the Lancastrian side in the War of the Roses. She would marry–and bury–four husbands. The second was Edmond Tudor–a Yorkist. He died a year later, but the marriage would produce an heir, Henry VII, whose coronation ended the dynastic dispute.
Unusually, the Lady Margaret’s world of dynastic marriages, politics and the uncertainty of dynastic war made her immune to the attractions of power. One of John Fisher’s modern biographers said of her, “The Lady Margaret’s deep devotion to the Church and her love of learning gave meaning to her life and excluded those worldly ambitions that might have poisoned the feelings of any other woman standing so close to the throne.”
Her fourth husband died in 1504. The sixty-one-year-old noblewoman dedicated the rest of her life to religion. For the rest of her life, she served God by creating colleges to train priests. In that process, her young confessor, Father John Fisher, played a significant role.
Long after her death, John Fisher wrote of Lady Margaret, “That though she chose me as her director to hear her confessions and to guide her life, yet I will gladly confess that I learnt more from her great virtue then ever I could teach her.”
The Best Connections
As mentioned before, Henry VII’s coronation marked the end of the War of the
Roses. However, his claim to the throne was not secure. The king’s insecurity would be reflected in his son and successor–Henry VIII.
Henry VII and Lady Margaret had a close personal relationship. They saw eye-to-eye on matters of state. Therefore, it is only natural for the son to respect the man his mother trusted so much. The king appointed John Fisher to be the Bishop of Rochester in 1504. This appointment began the most productive phase of John Fisher’s life.
John Fisher’s position was enviable. He was in favor with the king, and the confidant of the king’s mother. He was a well-regarded academic figure creating two new colleges with the Lady Margaret’s considerable resources behind him. He was also a bishop, making him a member of the House of Lords.
A Holy Bishop in a Lowly Diocese Rochester, though, had the reputation of being the poorest diocese in England, an unattractive rural backwater.
For a bishop, especially one with John Fisher’s intelligence, contacts and influence, Rochester could have been a “stepping stone” to higher preferment. However, Fisher remained the Bishop of Rochester for thirty-one years until his death.
Even more unusually, he fulfilled his duties in person. Most of Fisher’s fellow bishops delegated their responsibilities to underlings. That was not Fisher’s way. He threw his energies into the task while continuing his political and academic
Lady Margaret Beaufort, a descendant of King Edward III, was admired by the young John Fisher for her great virtue.
Engraving of Rochester Cathedral drawn by Hablot Browne and engraved by B. Winkles, where Saint John Fisher served as the Bishop of Rochester for approximately thirty-one years.
Most of Fisher’s fellow bishops delegated their responsibilities to underlings. That was not Fisher’s way. He threw his energies into the task while continuing his political and academic duties.
duties. It must have been exhausting. The travel alone, in unheated carriages, must have consumed vast amounts of his time. Yet, he made those trips frequently.
The jurist, William Rastell–Saint Thomas More’s nephew and associate–left this recollection:
“He was in holiness, learning and diligence in his cure and in fulfilling his office of Bishop such that of many hundred years, England had not any bishop worthy to be compared unto him. And if all the countries of Christendom were searched, there could not lightly among all other nations be found one that hath been in all things like unto him, so well used and fulfilled the office of Bishop as he did. He was of such high perfection in holy life and strait and austere living as few were, I suppose, in all Christendom in his time.”
John Fisher had been a bishop for five years when Henry VIII became king. Father Fisher may have even been one of young Henry’s tutors. However, they were never close. Fisher was twenty-two years older than the young king, who probably looked at his grandmother’s confessor as a kind of holdover.
Gathering Clouds Over England
Fisher’s downfall can be traced to a remarkable event in May of 1527. Over
three days, King Henry VIII answered charges that he lived in sin with his brother’s widow. The hearing was a farce. No one would have had the courage to list Henry’s sins to his face unless the king had some ulterior motive. This pseudo-court was the first move in Henry’s attempt to obtain a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
Leviticus 20:21 says, “He that marrieth his brother’s wife doth an unlawful thing, he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness: they shall be without children.”
Princess Catherine–daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain–had been betrothed to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, when Arthur was eleven. The two kings desired an alliance between England and Spain. The couple met each other four years later. The marriage ceremony took place nine days after they met.
However, the fifteen-year-old prince was unwell and died six months after the wedding. There is much evidence that the couple never consummated their marriage. The two kings agreed that the seventeen-year-old Catherine should eventually marry Henry, who was eleven when his brother died. Both kings requested and obtained a papal dispensation for the marriage. In 1509, the seventeen-year-old king married the twenty-three-year-old princess.
By 1527, Henry wanted a new wife. Historians still argue about whether Henry’s primary motivation was the lack of a male heir or the coquettish charms of Anne Boleyn. Eager to dispose of Catherine, Henry assigned to his Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York, Thomas Wolsey, the task of obtaining a papal annulment.
Defending the Queen and the Faith
John Fisher entered this torrid tale when Wolsey asked the bishops for their opinions about the legality of the Pope’s dispensation that had allowed the couple to marry.
Fisher based his opinion on Our Lord’s statement to Saint Peter, “Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall
be loosed in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shalt be bound in Heaven.” The Pope had granted a dispensation, therefore the marriage was legal and indissoluble. Any other conclusion would brand the dispensation as a papal mistake, and such an error was impossible.
Fisher would not be executed for another eight years. However, the personalities of the lecherous, power-mad king and the righteous scholar-bishop allowed no other outcome. Those eight years are signs of Fisher’s influence as a peerless scholar, a dutiful bishop and a self-sacrificing Christian.
Henry sought to win Fisher over to his side, to no avail. The situation drove European politics into turmoil. Catherine’s nephew, Charles V, was King of Spain and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Pope Clement VII knew that any decision must infuriate either Henry or Charles.
Henry and Wolsey tried a new strategy. The Church would decide the question through a rarely used Legatine court under the auspices of England’s papal legate, Cardinal Caravaggio. At the court, Bishop Fisher argued the queen’s case.
“Forsooth, my lord,” Fisher began. “I am a professor of the truth; I know that God is truth itself, nor he ever spake but
Queen Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, the first ill-fated wife of Henry VIII.
The personalities of this lecherous, power-mad king, Henry VIII, and the righteous scholar-bishop, Saint John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, allowed for no other outcome than the martyrdom of the latter.
the truth; which said, What God hath joined together let not man put asunder. And forasmuch as this marriage was made and joined by God to a good intent, I say that I know the truth the which cannot be broken or loosed by the power of man upon no feigned occasion.”
Some say that Henry flew into a rage at hearing these words. However, he was sufficiently intelligent to know that executing the famous bishop would encourage opposition.
Failed Political Strategies
Henry’s advisors recommended caution. Fisher was already in his late fifties at a time when fifty was considered old. He was thin and emaciated from his many penances and his exhausting schedule. Surely, he would die soon. After his demise, his words could be safely ignored. Henry acquiesced. He even grudgingly made Bishop Fisher Queen Catherine’s counselor.
Amazingly, the king had some residual affection for his queen. No one records that Henry ever spoke ill of Catherine herself. Was he trying to assuage his conscience? Was it a cynical political move? It is a mystery that fascinates many.
Bishop Fisher did his utmost to argue for Queen Catherine’s cause and, simultaneously, the cause of Catholic England.
“At the scaffold, he felt that his human weakness could get the upper hand. He was afraid of becoming afraid. Thus, he asked those present to pray for him.”
By 1530, Henry had decided that his chancellor had failed him. Cardinal Wolsey died while on his way to London, where trial and execution awaited him.
Separation from the Body of Christ
In December 1532, Henry married Anne Boleyn secretly. She became pregnant. There was a public wedding in January.
On May 23, 1533, the loathsome Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared that Henry’s earlier marriage to Catherine was invalid. Soon, Parliament passed an “Act of Succession,” declaring Henry and Catherine’s daughter, Mary, illegitimate and giving her rightful place to Anne Boleyn’s children. In 1534, Parliament passed the “Act of Supremacy,” officially separating England from the Catholic Church. It established Henry as the supreme head of the new Church of England.
Furthermore, it was declared an act of treason not to swear to the Acts of Succession and Supremacy.
John Fisher’s Remarkable Death
The following excerpts from the narrative of Saint John Fisher’s death were composed by Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira.
“In the early hours of June 22, the Tower officer met the prisoner in his cell and reminded him that he was old, unable to bear the prison regime for long. Then he announced the king’s decision that the execution take place that very morning.
“‘All right,’ replied the saint. ‘If that’s the message you bring, it’s nothing new to me. I waited for it every day. What time is it?’
“‘About five.’
“‘What time is my departure from this world scheduled?’
“‘At ten.’
“‘Then I would thank you if you allow me to sleep another hour or two, as I didn’t sleep much last night, not out of fear but because of my illnesses and great weakness.’
John Fisher refused the oath. He was taken to the Tower of London, where he would spend the last year-and-a-half of his life. There was an official trial, but its outcome was never in doubt.
One last significant event happened before Bishop Fisher’s execution. On May 31, 1535, Pope Paul III elevated the bishop to become the Cardinal of San Vitale.
Henry was enraged. When he heard of it, he shouted, “Let the Pope send him a hat when he will. But I will so provide that whensoever it cometh he shall wear it on his shoulders—for head he shall have none to set it on.”
Less than one month later, Henry carried through on his threat.
“When the officer returned at nine o’clock, he found Fisher ready and dressed. The holy bishop took the New Testament and read with great consolation these words of Saint John: ‘Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee.’ Then he asked to be given his fur-lined robe. To which the officer questioned him:
“‘But, my lord, why should you take such care of your health if your time is up and you have little more than an hour to live?’
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bob Collowan/Commons/CC-BY-SA-4.0
Bust of Saint John Fisher, sculpted by Pietro Torrigiano, 1510-1515. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, N.Y.
The infamous Tower of London where at least forty Catholic martyrs, including priests, religious and laypeople, were executed for the Faith between 1535 and 1679.
“‘I ask for my cloak to keep me warm until the moment of execution. For even though I do not lack the courage to die a holy death, I still don’t want to jeopardize my health even for a moment.’”
A Saint Requests Prayers
“He walked towards the scaffold, straightening his body, which was so thin and gaunt that it looked like death had taken a human form. On the platform, in an intelligible and clear voice, he asked those watching the execution to pray for him:
“‘Until now, I have never been afraid of death. However, I am flesh, and Saint Peter, fearing for his flesh, denied the Lord three times. Help me, therefore, that at the precise moment that I receive the mortal blow, I do not give in through weakness on any point of the Catholic Religion.’
“At the scaffold, he felt that his human weakness could get the upper hand. He was afraid of becoming afraid. Thus, he asked those present to pray for him.
“How appropriate it was for him to distrust himself! There, on the scaffold, his tormentors insisted on perverting him and making him deny the Catholic Faith. Their last-minute harassment had a purpose. They knew it would be a triumph for the Anglican cause if he accepted their heretical proposals. If
Even at the height of his importance, John Fisher knew that only suffering builds and tests virtue.
the saint accepted the offers, he would leave that scaffold surrounded by honor and applause. He would sleep that night comfortably in some palace and have a few years of pampered life ahead of him.
“However, Saint John Fisher feared his fear. He feared a temptation from the devil at that time. He recognized that he might fall. Thus, he asked for others to pray on his behalf. Above all, he must have begged for the intercession of Mary Most Holy at the throne of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
“He remained unshakable in his faith, was beheaded, and received the crown of martyrdom.”
The conclusion of Professor Corrêa de Oliveira’s reflection leaves us to briefly discuss the importance of Saint John Fisher to modern Catholics.
Redemptive Suffering
Saint John Fisher, alone of all English bishops, stood up for the Church. Their commitment was weak because they had
worldly ambitions. Saint John Fisher’s was strong because it was based upon knowledge, conviction and self-sacrifice.
Saint John Fisher is an important example of redemptive suffering. Suffering was a constant in Fisher’s life. One might look at the thirty-year-old Fisher and wonder what he had to suffer about.
However, even at the height of his importance, John Fisher knew that only suffering builds and tests virtue. So, he imposed that suffering upon himself. He wore a scratchy hair shirt underneath his dignified clothing. He fasted even though he could have eaten foods as fine as England could provide. He slept four hours a night. In the dark night, he examined his conscience and meted out punishments with a flagellant’s whip.
Such a foundation would serve him well. His fellow bishops feared losing their comforts and positions. Fisher knew that life’s comforts were tawdry compared to Heaven’s joys. He conquered luxury–and, as such, could treat it with contempt. When he dressed in his best clothes on June 22, 1535, he knew he was losing nothing. John Fisher walked into the arena with his eyes open–and still he went.
Who will be the Church’s heroes in 2025, as Saint John Fisher was in 1535? n
Depiction of the beheading of Saint John Fisher and the Countess of Salisbury on June 22, 1535.
America Needs Fatima ®
May/June 2025 PROGRESS REPORT
From the Desk of Robert Ritchie
Dear Soldier of Our Lady,
I know you love Our Lord and, like me, are saddened by the deliberate disregard and offenses His Most Sacred Heart is subjected to in the month set aside by the Church to honor and glorify Him.
Traditionally, the Catholic Church has dedicated the month of June to celebrating the Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, this beautiful month-long devotion has been almost forgotten and replaced by LGBTQ “Pride” Month—a celebration of sin that happens even in many Catholic churches.
As activists try to overtake this month as a celebration of LGBTQ “Pride,” let us stand firm in the Faith to preserve June as the month honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Our Lady reminds us that through the power of public prayer, we can fight back against those who want to normalize homosexual and transgender lifestyles with “Pride” Masses and other sinful events that promote the LGBTQ ideology. It is more important than ever for us to show the world that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a symbol of His love and mercy, to stand up for the Sacred Heart in His month of June and not relinquish it to the promotion of immoral perversions.
I hope you will gather your family and friends and pray a peaceful, legal rosary of reparation in public to show your devotion to the Sacred Heart.
“The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!” And how better to save souls than through the most powerful weapon given to us by Our Lady: The Holy Rosary. I know she will reward your love and devotion to her and her Son Jesus Christ as you publicly proclaim June to be the month of the Sacred Heart—not homosexual “Pride.”
Sincerely, In Jesus and Mary,
Robert E. Ritchie Executive Director
Show of Support for Protest Against Cirque
A large group of TFP-ANF supporters held a rosary rally of reparation against a blasphemous Paranormal Cirque event happening in Houston, Tex.
Despite cold weather, Anthony, a rally captain, said the group was honored to fight back against the devil and make reparation for the despicable show.
“It seems that this particular event struck a nerve with those that we contacted. Many were willing to stay out in the cold after the campaign to talk. The response from the public was very positive. Many people were honking with a lot of energy,” he said. “I only remember a few people who made some sign that they were against the campaign. There was even one police officer in his cruiser who passed by several times, each time honking his horn.”
He added, “Please pray for this effort to expel the demons from Houston and replace them with myriads of angels.”
Innocence Preserved in Maryland
Noemi, a dedicated TFP-ANF supporter and rally captain who hosted more than thirty rosary rallies last year, recently held two rallies against Drag Queen events.
The first rally was held outside Loyalty Bookstore in Washington, D.C., to make reparation against a Drag Queen Story
Hour. “I didn’t see any customers, but six people with rainbow umbrellas were at the entrance. Later, I went to Mass and thanked God for not letting people take their children to Drag Queen Story Hour. Thank you for the opportunity to pray for those poor little souls,” said Noemi.
The second rally was outside Lost Ark Distilling Co. in Columbia, Md., to protest a drag brunch. “When people at the distillery saw us with the banner, they came out saying something, but I couldn’t hear what it was. Thank you for the opportunity to go today. I’m ready for the next one. May God and Mother Mary of Fatima keep blessing us all!”
Raising the Banner Against Satan in Palm Bay
A faithful group of TFP-ANF prayer warriors gathered in Palm Bay, Fla., to fight back against Satan and make reparation against a Paranormal Cirque show happening in the town.
Although they faced mostly negative feedback from the hundreds of people who passed by, Monique, a rally captain, said the group was not deterred at all and it only made them want to pray even louder.
“At least ten people took pictures of us praying or read the banner and started laughing at us. But it’s good to know that those who took pictures and video now have the image of Our Lady on their phones,” she said. “Having the banner to hold at our rally was impactful. If we didn’t have it, no one would have known what we were doing out there. I was honored to lead this rally, and I will be saving the banner for future use. God bless you!”
Victory! Protests Lead to Relocation of Blasphemous Image of Our Lady at a Michigan University
Following public outcry from a group of TFP-ANF supporters, Grand Valley State University relocated a blasphemous piece of “art” that mocked Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Meredith, a rally captain, organized a rally on the university’s campus in Allendale, Mich., to make reparation against a sacrilegious mural that depicted perversions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The display used an image of Our Lady to promote social justice and LGBTQ ideology.
Due to the protests from our supporters, as well as Christian students, lawmakers and the general public, the university relocated the image from its Kirkhof Center. However, Meredith said she will continue to fight for its permanent removal from the campus.
Meredith said, “We are fighting a supernatural battle. Desecrating this sacred image of Our Lady is going too far. Simply relocating this is not what the president’s office told me ear-
lier this morning. It does not change the sacrilegious nature of it. It is offensive to God and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Resisting Satan in Atlanta, Ga.
When The Satanic Temple of Atlanta organized a satanic Black Mass, many TFP-ANF supporters jumped into action to organize a rosary rally of reparation against this evil event. What made it particularly blasphemous was The Satanic Temple’s use of the phrase, “Bringing the panic for those that fear the Satanic,” to promote the event.
But Barbara, a rally captain, and her friends were not afraid. They proudly stepped up to host a peaceful public rally. She said people continued to join as the rosary rally went on, and some brought their own statues and pictures. Everyone participated and volunteered to lead different prayers.
“This was very important to me, more important than I understand. I was horrified at what was being planned and now, as I reflect back, I know that from that first horrific moment to the beautiful end of our rally, Our Mother and Our Lord were leading it all. And I know They continue to do so.” n
Our Readers and Viewers Write
FroM our readers:
“Dear ANF, I really think that you are one of the few Catholic holdouts. All the other ones are giving in to the times of this world. God bless you for holding strong!” Tony O., Chicago, Ill.
“Please send me three rosaries and three rosary guide booklets. I have three close relatives that I hope to encourage to pray the rosary. Please send them to me as, if you sent in your envelope to them, they would toss it out. I need you to know that you have made the rosary a joy I had never imagined! Thank you!”
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“Months ago, you sent me a very special gift, and I never got around to thank you, so let me say it now. Thank you so much for the Mass and prayers on my special day. I’ll never forget this birthday of mine on May 19, 2024. From the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful for all you do for me and my family, all the love and prayers and spiritual benefits. Your fellow daily rosary devotee. . .”
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“Please pray for my granddaughter Teresa. She was born on the feast of Saint Teresa and named after her. She is now twenty-five years old and has informed her parents and myself that she is ‘marrying’ a woman. My heart is very sad. I told her that I would not go to the socalled wedding but would pray for her— and that women do not, cannot, marry women. God did not say that is a marriage. No. There is no joining together woman and woman, or man and man. But the horror and tragedy of it all is that it is her and those who choose that sin like she did that the world will sympathize with when God’s truth about marriage is spoken.” Frances F., Falls, Pa.
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John I., Las Vegas, Nev.
The Virgin Mary Book
“I have read it and I loved it, it is so great! I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know, and it’s so graciously written. Thank you for sending this book to me.”
Pauline M., Cottonport, La.
“Thank you! The nice Fatima rosary got here, and I am actually giving it to a new member who just joined my bi-weekly prayer group—and doesn’t know the rosary at all. It’s perfect. Also, I received safely, and thank you for, The Virgin Mary book which came with your “Closer to Mary” campaign letter. Great idea, by the way. And I consecrated myself to Saint Michael as you asked in another mailing.”
Mary B., Whitestone, N.Y.
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FroM our Viewers:
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more. It’s crazy how much cognitive dissonance I dealt with. No wonder they’re all angry and stressed!” @111bep
“The fact that these people give such convoluted answers when shown something as simple as a child’s face shows the depth of their delusions.”
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Protest Against Kansas Black Mass
“Thank you! My dad was there and he was the man who dove in and intercepted the Eucharist before they were able to desecrate It! Praise God! There is victory in Jesus, forever and ever Amen! Our God is an AWESOME God!!!”
M. T. B.
“Robert, I am a demonologist doing deliverance ministry. I totally agree with you; thank you for continuing to bring this to light.”
Rev. E.H.
“As a priest, I offered my daily Holy Mass and invited my parishioners to do the same. God bless and protect America and all humanity.” Fr. A.
“Thanks for protecting the Eucharist. You are heroes in a very dark world. Don’t ever get discouraged, and KNOW that your efforts bring hope to many more people than you realize.” J.P.
“Well done with the petitions and stopping them from getting inside the Capitol. Very well done.”
E.B.
“I’d like to express my appreciation for what you guys are doing against this injustice. Any ideology that promotes the devil, selling your soul or blood sacrifices, has absolutely NO business near any government building. No matter how you try to argue it. It’s not about freedom of religion, it’s unacceptable. These people are an embarrassment. Thank you, guys, for your service, and God bless.”
J.B.
Accepting the Cross as a Means to True Happiness
There are times when the principles and lessons of the Gospel speak to the soul more than at other times. That is especially true when these principles are exemplified in the life of someone you know. This very phenomenon happened to me recently and has taught me a valuable life principle.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). This is the very passage that stood out to me one day as I was bringing Our Lady of Fatima to a home in Houston, Tex.
From all appearances, everybody who attended the presentation was pleased by the visit, especially the hostess, who was visibly happier than the rest. I thought this was normal, for it is natural for the host to be pleased that Our Lady is visiting them in their home. I am sure this fact had something to do with her happiness then, but the reality was more profound than that.
During the visit, I noticed that the hostess had to excuse herself to tend to something repeatedly. I didn’t think much of it at the time. However, after the
visit, she informed me of the sickly state of her husband, who is bedridden due to some sickness. She then asked me if I could bring Our Lady into his room so he could see her. So, I brought the statue into the room, and we prayed three Hail Marys for his recovery and for several other intentions. The hostess then told me about her difficulties when she first started caring for her husband. She said that her husband’s health had been gradually declining for a few years. She could tolerate having to help him for a while, because he could still walk, talk and take care of himself, albeit with difficulty. However, at a certain point, he could no longer move on his own, and from then on, she had to take complete care of him at all times of the day. That was where the suffering began.
She related that, at first, she did not take the suffering well. She was angry at God for placing such a heavy burden on her. She refused to accept the cross that Our Lord gave her and hoped for a way out. This suffering continued for many months. Finally, she said, “Alright, you win,” as she prayed to Our Lord. “I will not fight you on this anymore. I accept
this suffering.” Very soon afterward, she noticed that her life went from a habitual state of unhappiness to a steady and calm state of happiness. She then related something she once heard from a priest who said that each person has an altar to sacrifice on, metaphorically speaking. She then pointed to the bed on which her husband was lying and said, “This is my altar.” I can’t help but relate the fact that she was smiling from ear to ear when she told me that. This incident struck me because it was a real-life example of what happens when you answer the call of Our Lord to pick up the cross and follow Him. It proves that true happiness is not obtained by seeking one pleasure after the next. True happiness can only be achieved when we accept the cross that Our Lord has handcrafted for each one of us and follow the example He gave us while on earth. n
for a video showing what will happen when Our Lady enters your home.
If you would like to have a Fatima Custodian visit your home or school with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, please contact America Needs Fatima’s scheduling department at (888) 460-7371. This is a FREE service provided by ANF to achieve its mission of winning the heart and soul of America for Our Lady.
B y a nthony a tilano
Touching Souls
He Died After Doing What He Loved
Please say a prayer for the blessed repose of one of our monthly donors, Mr. R.L. He called ANF customer service Saturday morning and left us a message expressing a wish to give a donation toward our efforts.
However, when I returned his call the following Monday morning, Mr. L’s son answered and informed me that his father had passed away quite suddenly Saturday afternoon, an hour or so after attending one of our rosary rallies in support of the police, a Saint Michael rosary rally. His son said that his father was a devotee of Our Lady of Fatima and her rosary and that “he died after doing what he loved.” It was a very moving conversation. I could hear the grief in the son’s voice. At the same time, I could also tell he was much consoled by the timing of his father’s passing. What a wonderful thing to be able to say about one’s father: “He died after doing what he loved” . . . praying Our Lady’s Holy Rosary! n
My husband Patrick and I have known America Needs Fatima for more than fifteen years. After my dad passed away, I wanted to make sure we had all our affairs in order. It was time to update my will, and I didn't hesitate. I included a bequest to America Needs Fatima so they can continue their work even after I'm gone. I hope you'll consider a gift in your will like I did. It's very easy and it will make a lasting difference!
Mass.
Saint Michael, Defend Us in Battle!
OnFebruary 2, the Feast of Candlemas, America Needs Fatima (ANF) volunteers Gary Isbell and the author delivered four large candles and a box of petitions and consecration pledges to the Sanctuary Basilica of Saint Michael on Monte Gargano in Northern Apulia, Italy. The large blue candles were molded from 10,687 small candles sent in from ANF members all over the country. Together with their signed consecration pledges, the candles signified their appeal to the General of God’s Celestial Armies for aid and protection.
The sanctuary on Monte Gargano is the oldest shrine to the Archangel Michael in Western Europe. In the year 490 A.D., Saint Michael appeared to the bishop of Sipontum and asked him to dedicate the cave to Christianity. He told the bishop, “I am the Archangel Mi-
chael, and I am always in the presence of God. The cavern is sacred to me, I have chosen it; I myself am its watchful custodian. . . . There, where the rock opens wide, the sins of men can be forgiven. . . . What is asked here in prayer will be granted. Therefore, go to the mountain and dedicate the grotto to the Christian religion.”
Many miracles and favors, both spiritual and temporal, have been granted to pilgrims visiting the sanctuary. A museum of paintings and drawings depicting these favors attests to Saint Michael’s powerful intercession. He helped the early Catholics of the fifth century defeat invading pagan armies. In the seventeenth century, he appeared to the bishop of Monte Gargano and promised that whoever would keep a piece of the stone from the cave would be spared from the plague ravaging the country. Today, he continues to intercede for us, as evidenced by the many pilgrims who go to the cave sanctuary.
Among the numerous pilgrims throughout history, many saints have visited the sanctuary. Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Saint Thomas Aquinas were among them. When Saint Francis of Assisi approached the cave, he stopped at the entrance and did not enter, deeming himself unworthy to enter the sacred place. He simply carved a cross in the form of a T (tau) at the entrance. Many crusaders paid homage and asked God’s Champion for assistance to win back the Holy Sepulcher and secure the defense of the holy places. Their carved crosses and names also line the long staircase leading down to the basilica.
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, whose monastery and shrine is located in nearby San Giovanni Rotondo, often encouraged his penitents: “Before you go to me here . . . go to Monte Sant’Angelo and call for the help and protection of Saint Michael Archangel.”
We were blessed to deliver the candles and consecration pledges of the 10,687 ANF members who participated in the Saint Michael Consecration. In their name, we added our prayers to those of the countless pilgrims who, for over fifteen centuries, have sought the mighty defense of Saint Michael the Archangel in our ongoing battle “against the wickedness and snares of the devil.” n
B y M i C hael G orre
Above: Mr. Gary Isbell of America Needs Fatima delivers prayer petitions and four large blue candles made from over 10,000 smaller ones sent in from ANF supporters.
Right: The cave of Saint Michael the Archangel on Monte Gargano, Italy.
The Story of Randy, the Man Who Saved the Host from the Topeka Satanic Ritual
OnMarch 28, 2025, hundreds gathered on the grounds of the Kansas Capitol Building to protest a satanic Black Mass. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) organized the rally of reparation and protest.
After the rally, the news quickly spread that someone had intervened to prevent the desecration of a Host. Since then, many articles, pictures and videos have appeared about the intervention.
Understandably, many want to know the whole story. Who was the man who leaped into action? What exactly happened to the Host? We spoke to the man hailed as the modern-day Saint Tarcisius. His name is Randy. This is his story.
The Satanist’s Intention
It was unclear what the Satanists had planned. However, exorcists and former Satanists agree that true followers of the devil insist on using consecrated Hosts for Black Masses. The event’s organizer, Michael Stewart, claimed— both online and in phone calls—that they had secured such a Host. However, Stewart also swore under
oath that they had not stolen a Host. Many Catholics doubted his honesty, believing that a follower of the “father of lies” would not be truthful about such a matter.
During the Capitol ritual, Stewart pulled out a large-sized Host. With sarcasm, he declared, “This was definitely not stolen from the Catholic Church. This is definitely not a consecrated Host,” prompting laughter from the small group of Satanists.
Then, in a blatant act of desecration, he broke the Host in half and threw it to the ground, preparing to stomp on It.
The Intervention
That is when Randy sprang into action.
A Catholic husband and father who works in construction, Randy had dressed in a black shirt and jeans to blend in with the Satanists. He had been leaning against the stone balustrade by the eastern steps of the Capitol Building, trying his best to look nonchalant. Interiorly, he was tense but prayerful.
Earlier, he saw the large crowd amassing with the TFP’s protest and greeted some members. This and people’s prayers gave him the courage and wisdom to do what was needed.
When the Host fell, he rushed forward, keeping track of the particles. By an act of Providence, the wind gusted and blew the two Host pieces away from Stewart. They were blown away by only six to ten inches, but it was enough to cause Stewart’s first stomp to miss.
Randy saw one part of the Host blow under the table. He dived under the ta-
ble, searching for the Host. As his eyes adjusted to the table’s shade, he surprisingly saw one piece right in front of him. He immediately consumed It. He saw the other particle about to get stomped. Randy reached forward to stop it. The tip of Stewart’s shoe touched a part of the remaining Host, but Randy’s hand prevented him from fully stomping on it.
After a brief struggle, Stewart lifted his foot, revealing the rest of the Host. Randy immediately grabbed a part of the remaining piece and consumed It. At this point, he had already consumed what he estimated to be about 75% of the Host. It had broken up into smaller particles on the pavement. He licked as many of the particles from the ground as he could before a Satanist in a white hoodie pulled him away.
Michael Stewart raised a large Host and read blasphemies against Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
Randy waited for the right moment to rescue the Eucharist from further desecration at the east entrance of the Kansas State Capitol building.
The moment when Randy dived to the ground and consumed the Host, while Satanists tried to stop him.
His Injuries
Stewart kicked Randy several times, pushing his face into the concrete. He also punched him multiple times, some blows landing in the back of his head.
Randy was in the military and works in construction. He has some experience in fighting. As the kicks and blows fell on him, he felt he was shielded by Saint Michael and the angels. The blows hurt less than they normally would. His primary concern was to complete the task of consuming every particle of the consecrated Host.
He walked away with a solid knot above his right eye and scratches on his hand, arm and head.
Certainty of Our Lord’s Presence
Randy prepared spiritually for this encounter. He arrived the night before the event and spent the night praying while walking around the Statehouse grounds or napping in his car. One thing he prayed for was a sign that the Host contained the Real Presence of Our Lord. He says he did not receive a sign and thus could not say with absolute certainty that the Host was consecrated.
Randy resolved to act regardless because the risk of injury to Our Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament was too great not to do anything.
However, he listed several indications that point to the notion that It was an authentic consecrated Host.
The first was the way Stewart wrapped It. A meaningless “wafer,” as Stewart referred to it, would not be handled with so much care. Stewart
pulled the Host from a plastic pouch inside a second plastic pouch. The Host itself was wrapped in a velvet cloth.
The second indication was Stewart’s sarcastic statement that It was not stolen from the Church, which caused his followers to laugh.
Stewart kicked Randy several times, pushing his face into the concrete. He also punched him multiple times, some blows landing in the back of his head.
The third indication was that the other “hosts” Stewart was giving away in what he called “Black Mass kits,” were very different. These kit hosts were packaged hostwine combos used in some Protestant services. These smaller hosts are smaller and sealed just above the cap of the cup.
The fourth indication was how Stewart behaved after the intervention to save the Host. Had the Host been only a wafer, he could have taken another one from one of the kits and continued his ritual. However, once the Host was rescued, the ritual abruptly ended.
Randy’s Alone Time with the Satanist
After the incident, Randy’s path crossed once again with Stewart. An officer took him to a small storage room inside the Capitol that had been transformed
into a holding room.
Randy prayed for thirty minutes as he waited in isolation. Suddenly, another person was brought in. It was Michael Stewart. At first, Stewart smirked at seeing Randy. Then, his face went blank when he recognized Randy.
They sat a few feet apart. Randy began praying the Saint Michael prayer aloud over and over again. To him, it felt like he prayed it hundreds of times over the next several minutes. Meanwhile, Stewart remained expressionless. The bravado and spirit of defiance he showed in the Rotunda mere minutes earlier when he was arrested were entirely gone.
Another officer moved Randy after he realized the mistake of putting the two in the same room.
Soon afterward, Randy was released without any charges. The police officers and the videos all attest that Randy never acted violently or threateningly to any of the Satanists. He was the one who was assaulted.
Preventing Future Black Masses at the Statehouse
Though he prays for Stewart’s conversion, Randy is determined to prevent future public blasphemies. He told law enforcement that if needed, he would cooperate with the case to ensure Stewart and his accomplice faced justice. God willing, this would prevent them from obtaining future permits for satanic rituals at the Kansas Statehouse.
Some call Randy a modern-day Saint Tarcisius, the young Christian who died defending the Blessed Sacrament. Others called him a hero or a saint. Randy sees himself as nothing more than a sinner relying on God’s mercy. n
Scan this QR code for a video about Randy.
To see other videos by TFP Student Action, go to www.youtube.com /tfpstudentaction
On March 28, 2025, about thirty Satanists held a Black Mass ritual at the east entrance of the Kansas State Capitol building (left), while hundreds of Catholics voiced their protest on the main steps of the Kansas State Capitol building's south side (right).
TFP in Action
Fighting the good fight for moral values
TFP Stands Tall Against Homo-Heresy at LA REC*
Fr.James Martin, S.J. has gained notoriety for promoting homosexual sin within the Catholic Church. He travels across the country, giving talks that attempt to build a bridge between Catholics and behaviors explicitly condemned by the catechism.
However, the “Rainbow Jesuit” does not speak at an event attended by over 30,000 people every day. That is precisely what occurred on February 20–23, 2025, at the Los Angeles Religious Education Center (LA REC). The event was billed as “the nation’s largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics.”
This year, Father Martin delivered two talks—one of them unabashedly titled “LGBTQ Catholic Update.” Other presentations also raised serious concerns, such as “What Can the Church Learn from the LGBTQ Catholic Community?” These talks, and others like them, do not merely raise questions. Rather, they actively promote sinful ideas that endanger souls.
In response, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) mobilized. On Saturday, February 22, five TFP members and several supporters gathered outside the Anaheim Convention Center for a prayer protest. They stood for three hours, distributing flyers and engaging in conversations with LA REC attendees.
This rally stood apart from typical TFP protests. Usually, attendees of such events react with hostility toward peaceful protesters. However, at the LA REC, the majority of attendees were supportive of the TFP’s message.
Many were shocked to learn about the sins being promoted inside. Atten-
dance at the LA REC is mandatory for all educators within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, meaning some participants were unaware of the event’s agenda beforehand.
Upon discovering that some speakers were pro-homosexual, pro-abortion and supported women’s ordination, many attendees expressed immediate outrage.
One woman asserted: “Thank you for this flyer. I will definitely make sure to avoid those talks!” A man confided to TFP bagpiper James Slobodnik, “Sometimes, when we’re sitting at a talk, the speaker says something, and we all tilt our heads. We listen through it, but we all disagree with it.”
Another woman told Mr. Slobodnik, “I hope they don’t promote any of that stuff at the talks I attend. If they do, I’ll have to stand up and yell, ‘I disagree with that!’ What’s the worst they can do to me? Put me in prison?”
The TFP volunteers were heartened to see many priests, religious brothers and nuns stop to express their gratitude. One religious sister from Miami said, “God bless you all. The work you are doing here is really necessary.”
There was some opposition, but it was negligible. A few passersby muttered comments under their breath, such as, “You all should be wearing T-shirts and shorts.” The bolder detractors simply refused the flyer and voiced their disapproval but declined to engage in discussion.
Once the lunch break ended, the peaceful protesters recited the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary in reparation for the sins being promoted at the conference. By the time the prayer
protest concluded, the TFP had distributed nearly 1,000 leaflets.
Why Protesting the LA REC Matters
The success of the TFP’s protest was evident. The message was clear and reached thousands. Countless LA REC attendees were given insight into the dangerous propaganda being disseminated at the event, and many were confronted with the urgent need to defend the Church’s true teachings.
Most importantly, faithful Catholics stood as witnesses, offering reparation for the offenses against God being committed at the event. The Church teaches that homosexuality is a “sin that cries to Heaven for vengeance.” The gravity of this sin is magnified when it is promoted within the very structure of the Church, as was the case at the LA REC.
The protest in Anaheim was a powerful act of atonement. Protest leader and TFP member Michael Whitcraft explained:
“We need to reject the errors of today, but not just within the comfort of our homes. We need to fight against them in the public square because God is now being attacked in the public square. If we want to make reparation for public sins, we need to make public reparation. As we have seen time and time again, protests do work. That’s why today’s protest matters.” n
*Los Angeles Religious Education Center
(Continued
Face to Face with Evil
Upon arriving, the Satanists were already preparing the ground for their rituals. Counter-protesters began to chant “Christ is King,” to which the sons of darkness responded, “Christ is dead.” They cursed and blasphemed non-stop, taking every opportunity to offend the dignity of Our Lord.
At a certain point, satanic leader Michael Stewart held up a Host and began to blaspheme. He then threw the Host onto the ground and began stomping on it. However, one courageous man dove into the crowd and consumed the Blessed Sacrament. Immediately afterward, the man who had rescued Our Lord was arrested and taken away in handcuffs.
About thirty minutes later, despite being forbidden, the Satanists made their way to the Capitol entrance. An officer told Stewart as he entered the Capitol Building that he was not allowed to hold an event or cause a disruption, or he would be arrested.
Waiting until he was in the center of the rotunda, Stewart pulled out a booklet he had brought with him and, holding one hand aloft in the shape of devil horns, began in a loud voice to bellow, “In the presence of all the dread demons from the pit…” Immediately, the Christians sprang into action. One man could be heard praying, “Sancta María, Mater Dei,” while holding the crucifix around his neck as close to Stewart as possible. As Stewart, who is a large man and stands about 6’3”, defiantly continued the satanic rite, a much younger man stepped forward. About half the size of Stewart, the young man tried to take the booklet from the Satanist, at which the Satanist punched him in the face twice.
The Kansas police officers leaped into action, taking Stewart to the floor. He was then led away from the area in handcuffs, shouting, “Hail Satan. I dedicate this building to Satan.”
A Beautiful Sight to Behold
The contrast between the ugliness of devil worship and the beauty of the Catholic Faith was striking. TFP volunteers brought their trademark red standards, signs, banners and a magnificent statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
Hundreds of local Catholics joined the rally, along with supporters from across the country. People traveled from Missouri, Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and beyond.
The rally opened with a speech from
Francis Slobodnik, a Kansas resident and TFP supporter. He explained how shocked he was to find out that a Black Mass would be taking place at his state capitol and how he was inspired to organize the rosary rally.
Former U.S. Congressman Tim Huelskamp also spoke, explaining why the protest was so important. He proclaimed, “Silence in the face of evil is evil!”
Following the speeches, the crowd united to pray fifteen decades of the rosary, singing Marian and patriotic hymns between decades.
After the rosary, the crowd prayed the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking God to protect the state of Kansas from demonic influence.
Why Satan Lost on March 28
Some might ask how the Satanists lost, given that they still carried out their blasphemy on the Capitol steps. There are three key reasons:
Firstly, the Satanists were exposed. They had hoped to pass under the radar and carry out this blasphemy. Satan’s biggest victories come when he acts in public without opposition. As a result, devil worship becomes increasingly seen as “normal” in society.
This time around, they faced the righteous anger of thousands of God-fearing Americans and were forced to act defensively. Instead of coming closer to being culturally acceptable, the Satanists came across a roadblock.
Secondly, the Satanists were booted out of the inside of the Capitol Building. As a result of the TFP’s petition drive, Governor Kelly felt enough pressure to revoke their original permit. Furthermore, Michael Stewart and the other Satanists would not have been arrested if it was not for the protest.
Finally, now the Satanists will be forced to think twice before taking more public action. They are now aware that whenever they publicly attack God, they will have to face off with thousands of Catholics. It will become increasingly clear that America is a God-fearing country, not a demon-loving one.
The battle is not over, but March 28 proved once again that when Catholics take a stand, Satan always loses. n
Top: Former Congressman Tim Huelskamp addressed the hundreds of Catholics protesting and making reparation for the satanic desecration of the Eucharist at the east side of the Kansas State Capitol building. Below: Catholics prayed fifteen decades of the Holy Rosary, held signs and sang hymns to Our Lady. Between each decade of the rosary, protestors held their rosaries up high.
Satan DEFEATED at the Kansas Capitol—Here’s How It Happened
OnMarch 28, 2025, the satanic movement made a bold move.
A group called the Satanic Grotto attempted to hold a Black Mass inside the Kansas State Capitol building. Their intention? To blaspheme the Holy Mass and the Blessed Sacrament in a symbolic state venue.
However, faithful Catholics threw a wrench into their malignant plans. Immediately, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) mobilized against this demonic affront.
The Power of a Petition Drive
The TFP and America Needs Fatima launched four petition drives on its different sites, calling on Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to prevent the Black Mass from taking place inside the Capitol. These efforts gathered over 95,000 signatures, which were delivered to the governor’s office on March 27.
Only days after the petition drives began, Governor Kelly announced that the Satanic Grotto’s permit to hold the sacrilege inside the Capitol had been revoked. However, authorities granted them another permit to gather outside.
This response was still unacceptable. At 10:15 a.m., TFP members, supporters and friends gathered at the south entrance of the Kansas State Capitol to oppose the satanic Black Mass.
on
TFP-ANF held
rally
on
south steps of the Kansas State Capitol protesting a satanic desecration of the Holy Eucharist by the Satanic Grotto.