Helen Howell * Militant Defender of the Catholic Faith: October 2025

✠ A REFLECTION ON HERESY

Drawn from the writings of Fr. Frederick William Faber (1857–1860), this meditation compiled by Helen Howell calls the faithful to a deeper love for divine truth and a holy hatred of heresy—a virtue born only of an undivided heart for God.

HERESY

The crowning disloyalty to God is heresy. It is the sin of sins, the very loathsomeness of things which God looks down upon in this malignant world. Yet how little do we understand its excessive hatefulness! We take the worst of all impurities, the most revolting of God’s truth, which is the worst of all impurities, and we do not shudder. We look at it, and no fear. We see it touch holy things and we have no sense of sacrilege. We breathe its odor and show no signs of detestation. Some of us affect its friendship; and some even extenuate its guilt.

We do not love God enough to be angry for His glory. We do not love men enough to be charitably truthful for their souls. Having lost the touch, the taste, the sight, and the sense of heavenliness, we can dwell amidst this odd plague in imperturbable tranquillity, reconciled to its foulness, and without some boastful professions of liberal admiration, perhaps even with a solicitous show of tolerant sympathy.

Why are we so far below the old saints and even the modern apostles of these latter times, the abundance of our conversions? Because we have not the antique sternness. We want church-spirit, the old ecclesiastical genius. Our charity is untruthful, because it is not severe, and it is unpersuasive because it is untruthful. We lack devotion to truth as God’s truth.

Our zeal for souls is puny because we have no zeal for God’s honor. We act as if God were complimented by conversions, instead of trembling souls rescued by a stretch of mercy. We tell men half the truth, the half that best suits our own pusillanimity and their comfort; and then we wonder that so few are converted, and that of those few so many apostatize.

We are so weak as to be surprised that one half-truth has not succeeded as well as God’s whole-truth. WHERE THERE IS NO HATRED OF HERESY, THERE IS NO HOLINESS. A man, who might be an apostle, becomes a fester in the Church for the want of this righteous abomination.

WE NEED ST. MICHAEL TO PUT NEW HEARTS INTO US IN THESE DAYS OF UNIVERSAL HERESY. Whoever drew his sword with nobler haste, or used his victory more tenderly than that brave archangel, whose war-cry was ALL FOR GOD!

— Fr. Faber – “The Precious Blood,” 1860

HATRED OF HERESY

This is peculiarly offensive to the world. So especially opposed is to the spirit of the world, that, even in good, believing hearts, every remnant of worldliness rises in arms against this hatred of heresy, embittering the very gentlest of characters and spoiling many a glorious work of grace. In the judgment of the world, and of worldly Christians, this hatred of heresy is exaggerated, bitter, contrary to moderation, indiscreet, unreasonable, aiming at too much, bigoted, intolerant, narrow, stupid, and immoral. What can we say to defend it? Nothing which they can understand. The mild self-opinionatedness of the gentle, undiscerning good will also take the world’s view and condemn us; for there is a meek-looking positiveness about timid goodness which is far from God, and the instincts of whose charity is more toward those who are less for God, while its timidity is daring enough for a harsh judgment. HERESY CAN ONLY BE HATED BY AN UNDIVIDED HEART!

— Fr. Faber – “The Colors of Mary,” 1857

* BLACK ADVENT - 1964 by Helen Howell

Written in1964, Helen Howell’s “Black Advent” captures her deep sorrow at the first official changes to the Holy Mass. Her letter reveals both grief and resolve — a call to prayer, penance, and fidelity in a time of upheaval within the Church.

Dear Family,

I have never spent such a black Advent before; felt as though I died that First Sunday of Advent when officially the Mass was changed. [November 29, 1964] We’re past the point of no return and I tremble for the future chaos that could happen to our Holy Faith. Never thought it would go this far. The attached copies of letters were sent to several priests with a copy to our Pope with Christmas cards.

The Wanderer has mentioned our Holy Father [Pope Paul VI] was seen weeping at the dissension in the Church and the verbal attacks made against him by the liberal element. My Advent has been spent doing all I can to win souls for Christ by prayer, sacrifice and daily Masses, the best Christmas we can give Him; I’m so aware to that our Mass could become obscured altogether and I want to take advantage of the privilege as long as possible.

We must do more and inspire others too; the situation is serious but God can do nothing for us until we heed His Mothers wishes. Never before has it become so important to root yourself deeply in the Faith, a building of a Kingdom of God within. . Pray, pray much, especially the family Rosary for world peace.

Love,

THE SADDEST DAY - NOVEMBER 29, 1964

A letter written in 1964 by Helen Howell to several priests, with a copy sent to Pope Paul VI. Written at the dawn of the liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council, this heartfelt plea reflects her deep sorrow over the loss of the Latin Mass she so dearly loved, and her unwavering devotion to the preservation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in all its reverent splendor.

The first Sunday of Advent [November 29, 1964] was the saddest I can ever recall, the beginning of a Soviet America, when the Church officially changed the glory and splendor of our Holy Mass, that could very well end in chaos and a total obscurity, another time in the history of the Church when it would seem to be all but dead and buried.

Our Liberal Catholic press quotes and misinterprets Pope John’s “Pacem In Terris” to suit their own ends. Nothing is ever mentioned about his papal document “Verterum Sapientia” forbidding efforts to supplant Latin as the language of the Church, the English text of which appeared in the Tablet on March 3, 1962.

My impression of Catholics before I knew anything about the Church was that they were ashamed of their Faith. This was even more evident when I became one. Yes, this could be a very just punishment from God for not appreciating the truth, to have it obscured to us entirely. In the hierarchy of authority in the Church, it would be most complete.

Personally, I disliked the participation Mass from the beginning, not the responses, anyone who intelligently follows Mass can easily do that. The faithful, as a whole disliked it as we found in our active Legion of Mary work. Knowing obedience to God is preferable above all personal feelings, that was my attitude and advice to others, but I looked to my week day Masses to make up for the emptiness of Sundays.

Liberalism is the brainwashing of the enemy within our ranks. Its first object is to confuse, then to distort, and eventually to destroy. The main focus at Mass was always on the tabernacle and the crucifix above. With our turned-around altars, the priest has become the center of attention — the Liberal thesis of placing man above God. The singing and constantly changing rubrics are distractions which only cater to those who come to be distracted. Perhaps the greatest avenue of activity for the enemy is found in the Laity Movement (the Commies always pick a good and noble cause and use it for their own ends). This is a field into which they can easily insert themselves, resulting in the sickening articles that are published everywhere — debunking and ridiculing everything that we hold most dear in the eyes of both the world and the faithful. Satan is successfully undermining the power of the Church against him in every way, eliminating prayers and reducing our Faith to the social gospel of the materialistic world around us.

I am humbly begging, that whatever influence you have, to do what you can to restore and save the only Heavenly Oasis we have in the exile on earth - the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as we have always loved it.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Helen Howell

"SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD" by Helen Howell (1964)

In this 1964 letter to The Wanderer, Helen Howell reminds readers that the true battle is not political but spiritual. Communism, she writes, is only a symptom of a deeper moral decay — the real enemy is sin. Her call is to prayer, consecration to Mary, and complete trust in God’s victory.

Editor, The Wanderer:

To confuse issues is one of the most successful ruses of the Devil. In our activities to expose Communism, has he beguiled us into too much "beating of the air" in that direction, with the result that we are ignoring the real evil, of which Communism is but the symptom --- the moral decay all around us ---Satan's conquest for souls?

We fall into his snare when our message to others does not stress this spiritual combat --we don't go far enough after alerting others to the nature of Communism; or, having that knowledge ourselves, do not employ every spiritual weapon in the heavenly arsenal to obtain a victory that depends solely on God and our cooperation with Him, as His instruments, for the spiritual rebirth needed which concerns the temporal and eternal design of so many souls.

One of the most inspiring tapes available with this clear focus on conditions in the world today is entitled "Nuclear War, A Communist America, Or The Peace Plan from Heaven," a tape recorded lecture by Mr. Stephen Oraze, editor of Divine Love, P.O. Box 24, Fresno, California. One side, which lasts an hour, covers world affairs, the moral problems, and the solutions to be found in the Fatima message, and in the mercy of God for poor sinners. Side 2 contains about forty minutes of answers to questions most frequently asked, including one on the Fatima secret. It is well worth the price of $5.00. Everyone, without exception, should hear this vital message for the most important consideration at any time -- our eternal salvation.

Included also is a beautiful, clear explanation of consecration to Mary, a devotion little understood or practiced by most, but one of the most powerful means of obtaining graces for ourselves and others when our prayers and sacrifices are offered to Our Lord through her hands. Stressed also are the expressions and thoughts of love that can be sent heavenward by each and everyone of us throughout the day to offset the blasphemies; a veritable tidal wave of love against all the hate, so powerful in obtaining God's mercy in keeping evil from overbalancing the scales, and so easy to do even when we are busiest.

This, then, is the perspective that should be our greatest concern. "Seek first the Kingdom of God," should be our rule. By example and efforts we should lead others to this full knowledge of the real issues at stake. The greatest temptation is to believe we haven't time to put these "first things first" -- another delusion of the Devil; once this principle is adhered to, we will find more direction, time and energy will be spent with less tension and concern -- we are not fighting alone now; God is waging the battle, and we will be filled with new hope and confidence.

It is because our task is desperately difficult, our enemies numerous, with seemingly inexhaustible resources and organized with such diabolical cleverness that it is important our every step and move yield the most fruit to obtain this complete victory in the cause of Christ and souls.

Mrs. Helen Howell

The Story Behind "The Secret of the Rosary"

A mother and son’s love for Our Lady transformed a humble publishing effort into a worldwide apostolate of prayer — The Secret of the Rosary reborn for the modern age through Helen and Bud Howell.

St. Louis de Montfort’s masterwork, The Secret of the Rosary, written in early 18th-century France, remains one of Catholicism’s most enduring spiritual guides. This treasured manual, which unveils the profound theology and practice of the Rosary, has transformed countless lives through its journey from handwritten manuscript to global spiritual classic. Its modern resurgence — rekindled through one American family’s devotion — reveals how Divine Providence often works through faithful souls who labor to preserve the Church’s perennial devotions amidst times of great change.

Origins and Early History

In 1716, just months before his death, St. Louis de Montfort completed his manuscript explaining the history, prayers, and mystical meanings of the Rosary. Known for his deep Marian devotion, the saint wrote the text to help both beginners and advanced souls grow closer to Jesus through Mary. The work circulated among French Catholic communities and was later translated into other languages, though its reach remained limited for more than two centuries.

A Family’s Divine Mission

In the mid-1960s, the book’s destiny changed through an unexpected channel. Helen Howell, a convert to Catholicism, and her son, J. Bruce “Bud” Howell, discovered the 1954 hardcover edition published by the Montfort Fathers. Distressed by the growing confusion in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, the Howells saw in this timeless work a means to rekindle authentic Catholic devotion and to strengthen souls through Our Lady’s Rosary. They believed the faithful needed clear, traditional teaching and a return to prayer — the very message The Secret of the Rosary embodies.

The Apostolate Begins

As owner of Christ and Country Books in Rockford, Illinois, Bud Howell took the bold step of publishing an affordable paperback edition of The Secret of the Rosary. His mother, Helen, shared deeply in the vision and the work — assisting with editing, coordinating distribution, writing promotional material, and personally encouraging others to rediscover the power of the Rosary. Together, they transformed what began as a modest local printing project into a true family apostolate dedicated to preserving and spreading devotion to the Blessed Mother.

The editions gained their now-famous cover image when Bud discovered a striking portrayal of Our Lady of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary at a St. Thomas School rummage sale — a providential find that would become iconic.

A Legacy Continues

Between 1965 and 1969, the Howells produced five editions of their paperback version. Helen’s friendship with Thomas A. Nelson, founder of TAN Publishers, proved pivotal for the book’s future. Recognizing TAN’s growing reach and its commitment to traditional Catholic publishing, Helen arranged for TAN to assume publication in October 1970. This ensured that The Secret of the Rosary would continue to reach souls throughout the world while remaining faithful to the Church’s timeless spirituality.

Under TAN’s stewardship, The Secret of the Rosary has flourished, with over thirty printings reaching more than 5.3 million readers worldwide. The book continues to fulfill its original mission: to draw souls into the mysteries of Christ through the intercession of His Blessed Mother.

Impact and Spiritual Legacy

The influence of The Secret of the Rosary extends far beyond statistics. It has renewed the Rosary devotion in countless parishes, inspired prayer groups, and offered spiritual strength to those seeking to hold fast to the faith handed down through the ages.

Helen and Bud Howell’s labor of love remains a shining example of how Divine Providence can use the dedication of ordinary believers to preserve the treasures of tradition for future generations.

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.