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St. Optatus of Milevis (fourth century) is one of the important early witnesses to the Roman Church's understanding of the authority of the Chair of Peter. His most famous discussion appears in Against the Donatists (De Schismate Donatistarum), Book II, Chapter 2. It is particularly interesting because Optatus was writing against the Donatist schism, arguing that the unity of the Church could not be separated from communion with the Church of Rome. ### 1\. The famous passage on the Chair of Peter > "You cannot then deny that you do know that upon Peter first in the City of Rome was bestowed the Episcopal Chair, on which sat Peter, the Head of all the Apostles ... that, in this one Chair, unity should be preserved by all, lest the other Apostles might claim—each for himself—separate Chairs, so that he who should set up a second Chair against the unique Chair would already be a schismatic and a sinner." — Against the Donatists, II.2. Tertullian.org +1 This is particularly significant because Optatus explicitly connects Peter, Rome, and the preservation of universal ecclesial unity. ### 2\. The succession of Peter Optatus continues by identifying the succession of bishops occupying Peter's chair: > "Therefore, in the one Chair, which is the first of the endowments, Peter first sat, to whom succeeded Linus; to Linus succeeded Clement..." He then traces the succession down to the Roman bishop of his own time. New Advent +1 ### 3\. Rome and the universal communion of the Church Optatus identifies the contemporary Bishop of Rome as an important point of communion for the worldwide Church: > "...to Damasus succeeded Siricius, who is today our colleague, with whom the whole world agrees with us in the fellowship of one communion." — Against the Donatists, II.3. New Advent +1 This is important because Optatus isn't merely talking about Rome having historical prestige. He is describing communion with Rome as a characteristic of the universal Catholic Church. ### 4\. Peter and the keys of the Kingdom In Book II, Chapter 4, Optatus makes another striking argument: > "Peter received the saving Keys ... Peter, that is to say, the first of our line, to whom it was said by Christ: 'To thee will I give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,' and these keys, 'the gates of Hell shall not overcome.'" He then challenges the Donatists: > "How is it, then, that you strive to usurp for yourselves the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, you who, with your arguments, and audacious sacrilege, war against the Chair of Peter?" — Against the Donatists, II.4. Tertullian.org +1 ### 5\. The Chair of Peter as belonging to the Catholic Church Later, Optatus summarizes his argument: > "...through the Chair of Peter which is ours ... the other endowments also belong to us." — Against the Donatists, II.23. Tertullian.org +1 ### What makes Optatus particularly important historically? I think three aspects of his testimony deserve particular attention: 1\. Petrine primacy: He explicitly identifies Peter as the head of the apostles and the first occupant of the episcopal chair at Rome. 2\. Roman ecclesial unity: He considers the Roman chair a unique instrument for preserving unity among Christians throughout the world. 3\. Communion with Rome: He treats communion with the Roman bishop as an important criterion distinguishing the Catholic Church from schismatic communities. There is also an important historical qualification: Optatus was writing against the Donatists, a North African schismatic movement. His immediate argument concerns ecclesial unity, legitimate episcopal succession, and communion with Rome. He does not systematically articulate every aspect of the later Catholic doctrine of papal jurisdiction or infallibility. Nevertheless, his testimony is remarkably explicit for a fourth-century Father. Primary source: [Optatus, Against the Donatists, Book II (complete English translation, 1917)](https://tertullian.org/fathers/optatus_02_book2.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com). You might find Optatus especially interesting in your exploration of the relationship between early Catholic unity and the later development of papal authority. His writings provide substantial evidence that Rome's special Petrine role was not simply a medieval invention.

G2.10 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grace, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous etes benie entres toutes les femmes et Jesus, le fruit de vos entrailles est beni. Sainte Marie, Mere de Dieu, priez pour nous pecheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Will do - give update when you can! God bless.

time travel

It doesn’t happen. That’s my point. It should happen and for some reason it’s not. Even within the Latin Rite there are NO parishes closing when they could be given to EF apostolates. The irony too is that hierarchy would rather sell churches than allow the same Mass that was celebrated by the original missionaries of said countries and states. The same Mass we’ve been told we should have no problem leaving because the NO is just as valid as the EF and yet despite the EF being the same valid Mass it’s for some reason not good enough to keep around in order to save failing parishes. Weird.

I’ve been binging the George Lopez show, and it’s one of the few sitcoms where they talk about the kids staying virgins instead of couples sleeping together. That’s kind of cool.

Who dat?

Yes, but when does this ever happen?

dUSt?

I would personally add: 1) AnneLine 2) arFink 3) Cartermia

FuturePriest would have to change his name to CurrentPriest.

Baby is ready to come out, we are just waiting around for labor to kick in. Prayers for a healthy birth, please!

memento mortuorum

been their, done that!

All Hallows' Eve means "holy evening" and refers to the night of October 31, which serves as the traditional vigil or eve preceding All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day) on November 1st All Saints' Day November 1st, is a Christian solemnity and festival celebrated to honor all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven All Souls' Day November 2nd, is a day of prayer and solemn remembrance dedicated to honoring the faithful departed. Observed primarily by the Roman Catholic Church, Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Solemnity of All Saints - is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, in the United States: memento mortuorum

Happy Halloween 🎃

Real.

Ooh, the find feature on the Apple Watch-just have to remember to charge it. Where was that charger?

The Conference of Women Contemplative Communities of the Philippines (CWCCP) is a national network and registered organization of Catholic women religious living a cloistered or contemplative life in the Philippines. Purpose: It unites contemplative congregations to foster communion, share insights and concerns, strengthen spiritual life, and highlight the role of contemplative prayer within the Catholic Church. Member Orders: The council and network include representatives from various contemplative traditions, such as the Poor Clares (OSC), Augustinians (OSA), Dominicans (OP), Redemptoristines(OSsR), Passionists (CP), and the Living the Gospel Community (LGC) Nuns. Office Bearers (Quadrennium 2024–2028): Chairperson: Sr. Alice Agosto, OSsR Assistant Chairperson: Sr. Augustine Cruz, OP First Councilor: Sr. Mary Caritas Endonila, OSC Second Councilor: Sr. Guadalupe Boco, OSC Third Councilor: Sr. Socorro de Leon, CP Fourth Councilor: Sr. Teresita Oliveros, OSA Fifth Councilor: Sr. Eduviges Inoc, LGC

In 2018, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Exhortation called “Rejoice and be Glad” (Gaudete et Exsultate) in which reminded us that holiness is not for special people or a particular vocation but a universal call to all believers. On the feast of All Saints, we celebrate the lives of all who have demonstrated holiness in their lives. Some of them are canonised saints, but many are ordinary people, But there is something else we remember today. We remember our own calling to be saints. Each of us is called to be holy. It is a calling we receive in baptism, when we become members of the Communion of Saints. Although we probably do not go around calling ourselves “saints” very often, being a saint is actually at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Because to be a saint—to be holy—is at the heart of what it means to follow Jesus. We all carry our own failures and wounds. And yet we are called to be saints. But what does that actually mean: to be a saint? What does it mean to be holy? We may think of people who were martyrs, who lived extraordinarily virtuous lives, or who spent their days in prayer. We can easily imagine saints as people who were somehow different from ordinary human beings. But All Saints’ invites us to see holiness differently. For Jesus, holiness is not about being separate from the world. Instead, it is about entering more deeply into it. Jesus does not spend his life keeping his distance from human suffering, human failure, or the people others consider unclean or unworthy. Instead, he moves toward them. As Rowan Williams former Archbishop of Canterbury puts it, “Holiness … is Jesus going right into the middle of the mess and the suffering of human nature. Being holy is being involved, not being separated.” The call to be a saint is very much a call to be present in this world—to be absolutely involved in it. This means showing the values of Jesus, instead of the values of empire. As disciples, we are called to live the way of the kingdom instead of the way of the world. This is how we are called to be “ involved.” This is part of what Jesus is teaching in today’s Gospel, the Beatitudes. There, Jesus names those who are blessed in the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus’s time, to be blessed was closely connected with holiness. A blessed person was a holy person. Yet notice who Jesus calls Happy: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Jesus does not say, “Blessed are the perfect.” He does not say, “Blessed are those who never fail.” Instead, he points toward people who are deeply engaged with the realities of human life: people who know what it means to grieve; people who long for justice; people who practice mercy; people who make peace; people who are willing to suffer for what is right. This is a way of living that is in the world, but not of the world. This is the holiness Jesus calls us to. It has something to do with mercy and justice and peacemaking,to enter into the places where human life is most difficult. In other words, the saints are not people who have escaped the messiness of human life. They are the people who have learned how to meet that messiness with the love of God. And that is good news, because it means that becoming a saint does not require us to become perfect. God does not need perfect saints. What God needs are saints who are willing to make their lives a place where God’s kingdom can take root and grow; saints in whose hearts the Beatitudes take on flesh and blood. God needs saints who strive for holiness, even when they know they will fall short. Those who seek after the better way, even when they know they will never fully achieve it. And that’s where more good news comes in: We are not alone on this journey. In fact, we will never be alone. Gathered into the Communion of Saints, we join a big family of other saints. A family that includes everyone gathered here, people who are far away, and even people who have died—the people we remember today. They aren’t physically here with us, but we can trust that they are present in the mystery of God, rooting for us in our own journey toward becoming saints.

IceyP HeavenSeeker XIX MIssyP Rachael Budge Papist MissionSeeker Jamie xtrishaxlynnx who else?

So cool! Congratulations!!!! Blessings upon Blessings!!

This video also proposes an important question in regard to the closing of churches. If one expression is losing attendance but another is growing, then wouldn’t it be right to let the expression of the liturgy that’s growing to take over the church thats struggling instead of selling it?

Congratulations! God bless!