Imagine a roomful of nearly two hundred people gathered with one common goal—to discern Our Lord’s and Our Lady’s expectations for the United States in the twenty-first century. Such a gathering would necessarily be both intelligent and devout. It would cut across ages, professions and experiences. Its meetings would stimulate exciting conversations. The very air would sizzle with holy anticipation.
That weekend took place within the park-like grounds of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) headquarters in Spring Grove, Penn., from October 23-25, 2026. Participants were invited to transcend workaday concerns by focusing on topics about America’s future and Our Lady’s triumph.
The overall theme was intriguing: “What Our Lady Expects from Us on America’s 250th Birthday.” As event coordinator Michael Drake explained when opening the conference, “We have been given much, and we have used much of it well. However, we find ourselves a disunited nation. We ask Our Lady to unite us.”
Counter-Revolutionary Goals and Actions
American TFP Vice President John Horvat carried the theme forward by examining the development of American society, specifically the aspects that differed from those of Europe. Like much of Europe, the U.S. was heavily influenced by the pseudo-Enlightenment ideas of Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. However, America diverged by elevating honesty, daring, and private property. These characteristics simultaneously enabled American society to prosper and, eventually, held communism at bay.
Like all speakers, Mr. Horvat based his talk on the principles of Revolution and Counter-Revolution by TFP founder Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. He showed how Our Lady expects America to fight the Revolution, promote Counter-Revolutionary virtues, and have a special devotion to her and her Son.
The next talk described the TFP’s Counter-Revolutionary work over the past year. Mr. Michael Gorre presented facts and statistics that lent substance to the TFP’s goals. The most broad-based activity was the 24,700 America Needs Fatima rosary rallies. Inspired by the American TFP’s example, other TFPs sponsored over 3,500 in Canada, South Africa, Ireland, and Australia. Also mentioned were the Sacred Heart billboards that TFP supporters placed on America’s highways, reclaiming June as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Likewise, the TFP’s websites presented critical information to a total of 658,000 email subscribers. TFP campaigns spread 347,000 copies of Crusade and 831,000 printed books to the public. TFP Student Action conducted multiple campaigns on college campuses. It also magnified the effects of those campaigns on a YouTube channel with over 308,000 subscribers and a total of over 100 million views.
However, the annual conference does not meet to bask in the accomplishments, but also to equip its supporters with the tools they need to carry the Counter-Revolutionary cause into their communities. Mr. Philip Calder accepted that challenge by explaining ways that “Supporters Can Help in the Fight for Our Nation.” He encouraged TFP supporters to discern the spirit of the Revolution around them and to spend themselves in prayer, sacrifices, and action. Members and supporters, he continued, “are called to be like fireworks in the dark night of the Revolution.” By their self-sacrifice, they bring light to the vast number of people who languish in the darkness of the evil around them.
The Myth of Egalitarianism
One great challenge for America is the Enlightenment error of egalitarianism. As Mr. Michael Whitcraft posited, “if people are different, justice demands that they be treated differently.”
He showed how American society has never been truly egalitarian. Total egalitarianism, even if it were established, would fail in three ways. First, no society can function without taking individual skills and abilities into account. Egalitarianism also perpetuates great injustice by denying children’s rights to benefit from the achievements of their parents. Lastly, seeking equality denies future generations the wisdom of true elites, which they will need to continue living in a workable society. Americans must learn to dismantle the pseudo-Enlightenment’s myth of egalitarianism.
Mr. Jose Ureta examined egalitarianism from another perspective. He explained how America’s optimistic spirit contributes to a focus on individual achievement, which often manifests as materialism. Unfortunately, this is not the only ill effect. It also, even for observant Catholics, tends to disrupt spiritual life by contributing to the egalitarian error known as indifferentism—the illusion that all religions are more or less the same. Rooting out these effects requires fervent prayer to Our Lord and Our Lady for the graces that come with wisdom.
The Role of Suffering
In his second talk of the conference, Michael Whitcraft pointed out that a prerequisite of wisdom is often suffering. Detaching oneself from the world’s Revolutionary temptations entails suffering. Mr. Whitcraft reminded the audience that modern-day idols must be thrown down, recalling the words of Saint Remigius, who converted the French king Clovis in 496 when he said, “Burn what you have adored and adore what you have burned.”
TFP author Norman Fulkerson centered his talk on honor and heroism, highlighting the conferring of the Medal of Honor on Col. John Ripley. Mr. Fulkerson wrote a biography of this famous Marine and called the conferring of the medal a birthday present for the nation. He posited that, “A man can be a hero without being a man of honor, but a man of honor is always inclined toward heroism.”
He cited a ladder of examples of American heroes who showed great physical courage but, above all, stressed the moral courage of these soldiers who confronted issues like women in combat or homosexuals in the military. These men were not afraid to address these issues and put their careers on the line. They are worthy of imitation.
Past and Future
Catholicism is honor’s ideal seedbed. To make this point, Mr. Nelson Fragalli examined the role of nations and how God acts through them. He provided a tour of the world, commenting especially on the Latin peoples and their evangelization of the Americas.
About the United States, he explained how daring and enterprising souls began to feel strong desires to achieve something more than just economic prosperity. They began to look for something else, related to God. America has great potential to channel this daring spirit for the Catholic cause.
Many question the relevance of the Fatima message today. Mr. Rex Teodosio responded that the TFP has always boldly proclaimed the Fatima message. Instead of ideological retreat, he urges renewed zeal and enthusiasm. Mr. Teodosio especially noted the two billion members of “Gen Z,” the largest generation in world history. Because of the Internet, it is also the most accessible generation in history. Many “Gen Z-ers” grasp the shallowness of the digital world into which they were born. They seek the genuine, beautiful, and holy. As both the oldest and largest religious organization in the world, Catholicism offers these “digital natives” the genuine truth and beauty that they seek.
A Glorious Finale
In 2026, the conference concluded with a magnificent Mass and a festive dinner. The keynote speech was by His Imperial and Royal Highness, Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza, the head of the Brazilian Royal Family. A member of the TFP since childhood, his wisdom is much anticipated by all members and supporters. He addressed three qualities that each member and supporter will need to navigate the difficult times that lie ahead—operative wisdom, seriousness, and recourse to Heaven. Operative wisdom guides actions to respond to unexpected challenges to the Faith. Seriousness dispels illusions, allowing escape from the pitfalls of foolish optimism on the one hand and despair on the other. Recourse to Heaven through prayer opens the stores of God’s wisdom to all who seek it.
With this encouragement ringing in their ears, the TFP members and supporters who gathered in Pennsylvania returned home encouraged and fortified for the fight ahead.
Deus Vult!
Photo Credit: The American TFP Photo Archive
