A reader comments on the Links Policy

Regarding a recent Comment:

Anonymous said:

"Even though you provide the links and (as other bloggers have stated) it is up to the individual to ascertain its relevance and whether the content is Catholic, why have this type of stuff? My question is, what is the purpose of providing "linked" material? I might add that it seems bloggers get caught up in the "newness or fun" of putting info out there and just get giddy, posting all sorts of stuff. They distance themselves from linked material, however,just as you outline, however, one can not escape even the slightest degree of connection or association with unacceptable and inappropriate information.

You might ask - how did I participate in this endeavor - I got there by YOUR link.

First off, I prefer that commenters give themselves some sort of a name, whereby they can be addressed more conveniently, even if it is just one alphabetic letter, please identify. Second: Links are posted that might have some material on that site that might have some relevance, at least, to Traditional Roman Catholicism, usually, this is done via the interesting posts from other sites section, where certain topics of interest bearing relevance to some topic of Traditional Catholicism is posted, those can be so targeted, they are the ones that the reader is directed to because they illustrate one or more points or contentions of one or more perspectives of one or more factions within the traditional Catholic movement. We sometimes post other links, such as to other blogs, other blogs that might be considered Traditional Catholic, or just plain Catholic, or who frequently posts posts that bear relevance toward the same. They are posted so to catalog certain opinions that some people have regarding Traditional Catholicism, not because we agree with them.

We don't always distance ourselves from linked material, but simply expound that we are not responsible for their material, because we have no control over it, and secondly, we post a disclaimer to illustrate this, and also the fact that we do not regularly read all of the linked sites, that's over a hundred links, and a lot of material, material that I know that I do not have time always to screen, so I advise readers to be prudent; it's why I say "viewer discretion is advised".

I offer this only as a constructive comment. Personally, you are a dedicated and informed writer.

You set blogging rules - why not set rules of engagement? There are links you provide that take a person to novus ordo, counterfeit church sites. Is that where you want readers to go? I have a suggestion. Have no "blog" links and only provide links that pertain to your objective. Christ's Church is currently diminished, would you not agree? But She exists still. Help Her shine for all mankind. Appreciating your hard work, Thanks

We set them because of the reasons mentioned above. It is where there are sometimes some information that is relevant to Traditional Catholicism, but is not always the case, though we do try to moderate them as best as we have time, clearly because most of us here run more than one blog, which we have to keep track of, regular readers may have noticed that such has been done, and is also the reason why we do ask readers to inform us of the status of a link linked from this web log, sometimes they go dead or something worse happens. I'll expand on the issue of links to other blogs some time in the future.

Well, we don't just link sites that agree with us, many are posted that some of us at VITW vehemently disagree with, and some that we do agree with, but our personal opinions are not what are always posted here, mainly, the doctrines, histories, morals, and contentions of Traditional Catholicism. One may notice that we have links from one extreme end of the spectrum and then from the other end of that same spectrum, but are present to demonstrate that spectrum, and to provide witness to some of their contentions and some of the views are espoused by some Traditionals, however, we do try to keep the links relative. Thank you for your interest and your thoughts,

Leo

Devotion to the BVM

St. Louis De Montfort (+1710): “Where Mary is, there the evil spirit is not. One of the most infallible marks we can have of our being conducted by the good spirit is our being very devout to Mary, thinking often of her and speaking often of her.” (True Devotion to Mary #166)

“Saint Bonaventure said (in his Psalter) that whoever neglected Our Lady would perish in his sins and would be damned… If such is the penalty for neglecting her, what must be the punishment in store for those who actually turn others away from their devotions!” (The Secret of the Rosary, p. 30.)

“… many others have proved invincibly, from the sentiments of the Fathers (among others, St. Augustine, St. Ephrem, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Germanus, St. John Damascene, St. Anselm, St. Bernard, St. Bernardine, St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure), that devotion to Mary is necessary to salvation, and that… it is an infallible mark of reprobation to have no esteem and love for the holy Virgin.” (True Devotion to Mary # 40)

“This [true] devotion [to Mary] consists, then, in giving ourselves entirely to our Lady, in order to belong entirely to Jesus through her. We must give her (1) our body, with all its senses and its members; (2) our soul, with all its powers; (3) our exterior goods of fortune, whether present or to come; (4) our interior and spiritual goods, which are our merits and our virtues, and our good works, past, present and future… and we must do it, further, without pretending to, or hoping for, any other recompense for our offering and service except the honor of belonging to Jesus Christ through Mary and in Mary…” (True Devotion to Mary #121)

“Let us conclude this point by giving the gist of all that has been said so far. He who prays is certainly saved. He who does not pray is certainly damned.” (St. Alphonsus, The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection, p. 30)