By Anna Von Reitz
Are you looking for Solutions for America in Distress
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Fine Points - Answers to Personal Questions
Second Sunday After Easter
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's YearBecause of the joyous Resurrection of Christ, and the graces flowing to us on account of it, the Church sings at the Introit of the Mass:
INTROIT The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord, alleluia; by the word of the Lord the heavens were established, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just: praise becometh the upright. (Ps. XXII.) Glory be to the Father, &c.
COLLECT O God, who in the humility of Thy Son hast raised up a fallen world; grant to Thy faithful a perpetual joyfulness; that whereas Thou bast rescued them from the perils of eternal death, Thou mayest bring them to the fruition of everlasting joy. Through &c.
EPISTLE (I Pet II. 21‑25.) Dearly beloved, Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile; when he suffered, he threatened not; but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly; who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray: but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
EXPLANATION St. Peter teaches the Christians patience in misery and afflictions, even in unjust persecution, and for this purpose places before them the example of Christ who, though most innocent, suffered most terribly and most patiently. Are we true sheep of the good Shepherd if at the smallest cross, at every word, we become angry and impatient?
ASPIRATION O Lord Jesus! grant me the grace to follow Thee, my good Shepherd, and not to complain and make threats whenever I am reprimanded, reviled or persecuted for justice sake.
GOSPEL (John X. 11-16.) At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth; and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep: and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he bath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
How has Christ proved Himself a good Shepherd?
By sacrificing His life even for His enemies, for those who did not yet love Him, (I John IV. 10; Rom. V. 8.) and could not reward Him. He has besides given Himself to us for our food.
How are we to know if we are among the sheep of Christ, that is, His chosen ones?
If we listen willingly to the voice of the Shepherd in sermons and instructions, in spiritual books and conversations; are obedient to it, and especially give ear and follow the rules of the Church through which the Good Shepherd speaks to us, (Luke X. 16.) "for he," says St. Augustine, “who has not the Church for his mother, will not have God for his father;" if we gladly receive the food of the Good Shepherd, that is, His sacred Body and Blood in holy Communion; if we are patient and meek as a lamb, freely forgiving our enemies; if we love all men from our heart, do good to them, and seek to bring them to Jesus.
Who are the other sheep of Christ?
The Gentiles who were not of the fold of Israel, whom Christ sought to bring by His disciples, and now by their successors; into His fold. To these sheep we also belonged by our ancestors. O how grateful we should be to God, that He has brought us into the fold of His Church, and how diligently should we conduct ourselves as good sheep!
When will there be but one fold and one shepherd?
When, by the prayers of the Church and by her missionaries, all nations shall be converted to the only saving Church, constituting then one Church under one head. Let us pray that this may soon come to pass.
PRAYER O Lord Jesus! Thou Good Shepherd who on the cross didst give Thy life for Thy sheep, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy death, the grace to be faithful to Thy voice and teachings like obedient lambs that we may one day be numbered among Thy chosen ones in heaven.
INSTRUCTION ON HOPE
I lay down my life for my sheep. (John X. 15.)
What has Christ obtained for us by His death?
The remission of our sins, the grace to lead a life pleasing to God in this world, and eternal happiness in the next, for which we now firmly hope, with secure confidence may now expect, and most assuredly will obtain, if we do not fail on our part.
In what does eternal happiness consist?
In the beatific vision of God, which includes the most perfect love of Him, by which those who are saved become, as it were, one with Him, possessing in this union everything that they can possibly desire.
What are the necessary means of obtaining eternal happiness?
The grace of God, that is, His continual assistance; the practice of the three divine virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity; the keeping of God's commandments; the frequent use of the holy Sacraments, and constant prayer. These means must be diligently employed, for "God who", as St. Augustine says, created us without us, will not save us without us," that is, without our cooperation.
What may especially enable us to hope for eternal happiness?
The infinite mercy and goodness of God, who from all eternity has loved us more than an earthly mother, and. because of this love did not even spare His only-begotten Son, but gave Him up, for our sake, to the most bitter death. Will He then deny us heaven, He who in giving us His Son, has given us more than heaven itself? The fidelity of God: He has so often promised us eternal happiness, and in so many texts of Scripture so clearly explained that He wishes us to be saved, that He must keep His promise, for He is eternal truth and cannot deceive. (Heb. VI. 18.) He says not yes today, and no tomorrow, there is no change in Him, nor shadow of alteration. (James I, 17.) The omnipotence of God, who can do all that He pleases, whom no one can oppose or prevent from doing what He will; if we have confidence in a rich and honest man who assures us he will assist us in need, how much more should we hope in the goodness, fidelity, and omnipotence of God!
When should we make an act of Hope?
As soon as we come to the use of reason and, are sufficiently instructed concerning this virtue and its motives; in time of trouble or of severe temptation against this virtue; when receiving the holy Sacraments; every morning and evening, and especially at the hour of death.
The same thing is to be observed in regard to acts of Faith and Love.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
International Public Notice: Self Memory
By Anna Von Reitz
Friday, April 17, 2026
Watch This, Not Price: Silver’s Real Signal
By Paul Stramer
In 2024 we started using the new mint in Indiana to stamp and ship our silver rounds, after over 18 years with the previous mint in Utah.
The mint is now experiencing a larger volume of orders and has extended their production schedule up to six to eight weeks for new orders.
We expect our volume to rise also, and that run has already started.
Here are some of the things that are changing for the better for you, our customers.
1. The old 500 ounce minimum order is gone. The new minimum order is now 50 ounces.
2. They will be very competitive in their price structure, and right now we are offering a price plan based on the volume of metal in each order. See below.
These will be shipped by UPS Ground, fully insured.We will still be accepting wire transfers, or cashiers checks like always.
We can only lock an order after we have received the funds. Here is the formula we use to figure your price.
Go to this link on Kitco.com and look up the ask price of silver.
https://www.kitco.com/price/precious-metals
It's in the first table on that page.
The mint is closed Friday, through Sunday, so we can't lock an order on those days.
For a 50 oz. to 99 oz. order, take the ask price and add $5.00
For a 100 oz. to 199 oz. order, take the ask price and add $4.50.
For a 200 oz. to 299 oz. order, take the ask price and add $4.25.
For a 300 oz. to 999 oz. order, take the ask price and add $3.75.
All orders over 1000 ounces will be $3.50 over spot ask price.
Take that number times the number of ounces (50 or over) and then add $30.00 for each 50 to 99 ounce box for shipping, or for large orders add $50 per 500 ounce box for shipping.
Once we have your funds we will run this same formula to finalize the price with shipping.
Be sure to call us when you are ready to order so we can answer your questions.
When you call I will get your email address and send you the bank info for wire transfers or the mailing info for your payment. You can then reply with your shipping address for UPS.
If you have any questions here is my contact info.
Office phone 406 889 3183 8 AM to 2 PM and 4PM to 6 PM weekdays.
Cell 406 253 4257 when I am not in the office. Try the Office line first.
pstramer@gmail.com or pstramer@eurekadsl.net
Thanks for your support over the years. We are now open and taking orders.
Paul Stramer S.A.G.
International Public Notice: The New Old Science
By Anna Von Reitz