St. Nicholas

He came, he saw, he kicked Arius's butt... at the council of Nicea... so they say.

Zouaves Pontificaux

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Facing the threat of Italian nationalism, an international force of light infantry was formed to protect the Papal States. They were known as the Papal Zouaves. Zouaves refers to the Franco-North African Infantry regiments that wore funny looking uniforms inspired by a tribe of Berbers called Zouaoua. Well,  they were relatively funny looking compared to the other troops at the time, with their baggy pants and  fezzes. Zouaves were used on both sides of the U.S. Civil War,  so you can easily contrast their uniforms with the conventional troops' attire. 

They were a French based force, but were made up of Catholics from all over the world. It's pretty cool that Catholics men from different countries and cultures came together in the service of the the Holy Father. I'm kind of bummed that they don't exist anymore. I would have seriously considered joining this group had they still existed, since the Vatican Guard was not an option for me. They have this thing about being Swiss and taller than 5' 8". 

Post on the Pontificio Rifle used by the Papal Zouaves here.

Francisco Javier

St. Francis Xavier was of noble birth and planned on a career as a professor. Well, he was friends with fellow Spaniard St. Ignatius of Loyola. It wouldn't be a surprise to know that he didn't take that career path, instead St. Francis wound up being a hard core Jesuit missionary, preaching and converting people in the far East, from India to Japan.

He is a patron of missionaries, navigators, China, India, China, and Japan.

Sanctus Franciscus Xaverius, ora pro nobis

Veni, veni, Emmanuel

Happy New Year

Deja Vu? This was originally posted last year

"You'll shoot your eye out kid"

The Battle of Loigny -  1879, Charles Castellani

The following link takes you to the M1868 Papal States Remington Infantry Rifle. They were manufactured under license by two armories in England and Belgium and used  by Papal Zouaves(I'll be covering them in a later post) and the Corps of Gendarmerie. The Papal Zouaves were an international light infantry force established to fight for the Holy Father during the unification conflicts on the 19th century Italian peninsula.

Here are pics of the Gendarmerie version.

Now, this model of rifle is just one of many used by the many forces that have and still protect the Church. What makes this rifle distinctive and gives it a higher interest factor is that they are stamped with the Papal Arms on the receiver and stock.

El Rey Del Universo

Viva Cristo Rey

Clip Art XXXII

The Symbol used by the Vendée during the revolt againts the French Republic. Simple yet effective as an emblem.

Clip Art XXXI

My take on the Carthusian Order's emblem.

Doctor Universalis: Albertus Magnus

St. Albert the Great. Long story short, this Medieval German fellow was an uber-scholar known for his wide interest in the natural sciences and his encyclopedic knowledge. Member of the Order of Friars Preachers. Was a bishop, writer, teacher and of course a preacher. Canonized and made Doctor of the Church in 1931, a short 651 years after his death (remember this the next time you think the Holy See is taking their sweet time advancing the canonization of your favorite modern candidate for sainthood).


He is a patron of philosophers, scientist and students

Sanctus Albertus, ora pro nobis

Clip Art XXX

The coat of another one of my favorite orders, the Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives. If you find that to be long there's the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or The Order of Mercy... the Mercedarians. Don't confuse the friars for Dominicans, look for the emblem hanging just under the capuce over the scapular.

Because sometimes we need to be reminded

We belong to the Church militant ; and she is militant because on earth the powers of darkness are ever restless to encompass her destruction. Not only in the far-off centuries of the early Church, but down through the ages and in this our day, the enemies of God and Christian civilization make bold to attack the Creator’s supreme dominion and sacrosanct human rights. No rank of the clergy is spared ; and the faithful—their number is legion—inspired by the valiant endurance of their shepherds and fathers in Christ, stand firm, ready to suffer and die, as the martyrs of old, for the one true Faith taught by Jesus Christ. Into that militia you seek to be admitted as leaders.             - Ven. Pope Pius XII

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperat illi Deus; supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen

(Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God - cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.)