Whither We are Tending

Posted on by charliej373

 

By Charlie Johnston

I got the following reply from my US Senator, Cory Gardner, chairman of the foreign relations committee, in response to my advocacy for Kyle McCarter to be confirmed as US Ambassador to Kenya:

“Thank you for contacting me regarding presidential appointments. I appreciate you taking the time to write. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I hope you will continue to write with your thoughts and ideas on moving our country forward.

The President of the United States has the power to appoint certain advisors within his administration. While some of these appointments require confirmation by the Senate, there are others that serve solely at the pleasure of the President. Please rest assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind should any appointments come before me for a vote in the United States Senate.” 

I have kept an intensely low political profile in Colorado. I get involved in no political activities here, as I want to keep it my home and bedroom only, so I did not expect to get an answer like I would from those I work with. But this is how his staff responds to a normal constituent?!!! Completely ignore the concern, give a patronizing lesson in civics 101 assuming the citizen does not know jack squat about how government works – and say, in the politest way, that he does not give jack squat what the citizen thinks?!

I very much understand how pressurized high office can be. I have set up templates for form response letters for many federal and other officials and drafted a ton of specific responses. I pray that I have never been the cause for such a banal, insulting letter to go out in response to a specific concern. I honestly don’t think I ever have – but low-level staffers and the push of business can cause honest errors to occur. My sense, though, is that it sure didn’t take long for Gardner to join the swamp.

I will continue to stay out of Colorado politics except for voting. Heaven knows I have enough on my plate as it is. But boy, this note triggered a brief, but intense, urge to find a likely real conservative, little-regarded state legislator here and put together a smoothly run upset bid. Good thing I’m headed out of state on another project next week. Keeps temptation at bay.

*******

I was rather pleased to see former Pres. Barack Obama re-enter the political fray, despite it violating political norms going back to the founding of our country. It seems to me the idea of Obama has always sold better than the hectoring, smugly condescending, self-congratulatory reality of Obama. Democrats lost over a thousand seats across the country under his patronage. He drove votes away from everybody but himself. Truth is, he was a more effective recruiter of new voters to the Republican Party than Ronald Reagan was. So it pleases me that he has returned to offer his party his patented reverse political Midas Touch.

I did laugh out loud when he tried to take credit for the Trump economy. This from a man who said that 2% growth was the “new normal” and that nobody had a magic wand that could bring manufacturing jobs back. I wish I was standing next to him so I could say, “You didn’t build this!”

*******

Politically, everything has entered into an eerie suspension as people wait for the midterms to tell us truly whither we are tending. The media, polls and Democrats keep touting their belief that the Dems will take the House back. Yet the same media and polls told us Trump could not win, Brexit would never happen, and were all caught off guard by the rightward lurches in Italy, England, France, Germany – and now Sweden, for heaven’s sakes. I have said I expect a red tsunami, as I just can’t believe normal Americans are impressed by the histrionics and the level of violence Democrats have been injecting into the political process.

In some very real ways, the most honest pollsters’ jobs have gotten a LOT harder over the last two decades. The rise of cell phones replacing landlines and the ubiquitous nature of caller ID has made it much harder to get a truly random sampling of voters, which is vital to accuracy. Meantime, with the level of threats, vitriol and intimidation the left has mounted, many normal people, when they get a polling call, are not sure this is not actually a Democratic office on a search and destroy mission to identify dissidents – so they tailor their answers to avoid any trouble. I always believed in listening with empathy to the concerns of ordinary people you meet, rather than trying to strong-arm them. Persuading people to shut up is not the same thing as persuading them. I took this stance both because it is right AND because it is the only practical way to go. When you intimidate people into silence, you cease to get accurate information on what they believe and where they stand. It is hard to make good decisions from bad information – and it is extremely foolhardy to intentionally distort the flow of information you need to make good decisions. Yet that has become the Democrats go-to strategy. That suggests the almost unrelenting string of surprises they have been getting around the world these last few years will continue. It turns out too many, even of low information voters, remember the ravages of socialism and see the ravages of identity politics to endorse it in the privacy of the voting booth. Reading the internals of some public polls when I can get them, I see far too many intentionally tainting the sample and shaping preferred responses. That is an effort to create a reality that does not currently exist rather than measure accurately what does. Sometimes it works, as timid and undecided voters think if that is what everyone else thinks, than that must be what I should think, too. But I think those days are gone.

The strong-arm tactics of social media are not helping the left’s cause, either. Oh, they can shut conservatives up on their platforms, but in the process they also shut down and offend more than a few fellow travelers, thus confirming what conservatives say about the threat to freedom. Temperamentally, I have never liked strong-arm tactics Practically, they set you up for sudden, unforeseen, catastrophic loss. That is where the left is headed, I think.

On the other hand, the country has changed in some very unhealthy ways. Just a decade ago, a woman working with the Republican National Committee was trying to persuade me to come on board and help put together some effective, original messaging. I demurred, telling her, “I fear we may have reached a tipping point. I think the stupids have become the majority – and if that is the case, we are just going to have to suffer the consequences and collapse before we can get about the business of rebuilding.” I made the statement off-the-cuff, but it continues to bother me. Socialism has impoverished and terrorized everyone it touches. It has murdered over 100 million innocent victims just in the last century. Venezuela, once the most prosperous South America country has become a train wreck of starving people and children sold into prostitution through socialism. It was earlier this very decade that prominent Democrats and world leaders were touting Venezuela as what we should all aspire to become. With such a mountain of evidence, there should be NO advocates of socialism – yet broad swaths of the public still enthuse over it. I do, often, find myself a stranger in a strange land, wondering if we are determinedly and enthusiastically hurtling towards a doom for a time.

With all the shrieking about minor inconveniences and mere disagreements described as “persecution” and “oppression,” I wonder if perhaps it pleases God that we should re-discover real suffering and hardship for a while, that it might spark a new sense of gratitude and real tolerance in us. That is actually a happy thought for me, for if that is how it is to be, I suspect the real suffering will hit the pretend sufferers the hardest – and the gentle protective hand of God will protect the seriously faithful from the worst depredations yet to come. Certainly, if a doom is to come upon us, it will be a doom we have called down upon ourselves.

I have a hard time seeing how we avoid serious strife or, even, open war after the mid-terms. If the Democrats lose narrowly, they will double down on their rioting and violence. If they win, they will go right back to trying to force the conscience of normal Americans with a vengeance, quickly trying to make up with authoritarian brutality for what they briefly lost. Normal Americans will have to fight or consign their children to a dark future of poverty, misery and slavery – or fight once more for freedom. The climate has been cultivated for a Rwanda-style conflict. Even if Democrats are overwhelmingly repudiated, how do we reconcile a leftist movement that reserves to itself the right to riot, lie, cheat, steal, pervert justice and use unapologetic violence to accomplish its aims? I think we are going to have to seriously consider establishing exile islands and territories for a time.

In the short term, I am very pessimistic. Long term, I am very optimistic. God will redeem us, in ways that none of us can foresee right now. I am heartened that such a large cohort (though tiny in the world’s eyes) has truly committed to acknowledging God, taking the next right step, and being a sign of hope to those around them. I think it has already mitigated some of the worst aspects of the Storm. As the darkness grows, commitment to these is the mustard seed that will grow into a great movement which will steer us towards the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. We have a lot of wood to chop before we get there, though – and each of us will have to chop our share.


173 thoughts on “Whither We are Tending”

  1. Amen, Charlie. It has seemed to me that it must get worse before it gets better, particularly, when what has previously been hidden continues to be revealed. So, on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross may we each be strengthened in His Passion to tread those next right steps while immersed in His grace.

    Liked by 18 people

      1. Yes. Learned to recite this prayer after Communion in elementary school. Learned to pray this prayer as an adult. Beautiful.

        God bless.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Our family has recently been hit with a couple of horrible situations with which we will be dealing for a long time. That, in addition to the devastation in the Church, our culture and US politics makes us feel totally battered. So important to spend much time in prayer–the only true comfort.

    Liked by 20 people

    2. Kim,

      I pray that you will know the Lord’s consolation during your suffering and trials. I ask Him to remedy the painful situations you are presently facing. On this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, remember that His Cross is a sign of triumph and not defeat.

      Liked by 11 people

    3. I’m sorry to hear that, Kim. My prayers are with you. My family has had a very difficult summer as well — on a number of fronts. Perhaps the Lord is allowing people like us to experience our trials now so we will be prepared to comfort others later. God never left us abandoned, though. We have felt his presence in the comfort of our family, friends and each other. I was blessed a couple years ago to be part of a CRHP group. In preparing to give my witness, I came across this passage in the book of James: (I’m not impressive enough to know it verbatim. I’ll copy and paste it.).

      James 1

      2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

      May God bless you.

      Liked by 9 people

      2. Thank you, Jayman. Good can come from bad, and God provides the grace we need. It’s so tortuous to see loved ones suffer, but I feel Our Lady has us covered in her mantle.
        What a kind and loving place this is– I thank you all!

        Liked by 3 people

    6. True, true Kim. This has been our “annus horribilis” (to quote Queen Elizabeth). I thought it would be status quo till Truth won out but God has decreed as the world goes, so shall we. Padre Pio gave us the best advice which seems to help me at the moment: Pray, hope and don’t worry. Prayers for us all!!

      Liked by 8 people

  4. If “the stupids have become the majority”, as you felt back then, Charlie, I can think of one reason. That is, “the dumbing down of America” through the education system, and I say that sadly as a retired teacher. It seems that so many people must see the truth of that statement, but it’s not often admitted. Of course, now we have dumbing down with the myriad of social media means. Even the Twitter boss admitted that conservatives who work for the company are afraid to make their views known. It’s all so one sided, that it feels as though we’re in a police state at times, every level of thought and word regulated.

    BUT we keep on praying and doing our part! And we are thankful for the good things that come our way electronically, your blog, SpiritDaily, Father Z’s blog, etc., all of which I turn to daily. Come, Lord Jesus!

    Liked by 16 people

  6. Like you, Charlie, I think we’re about to go through some really chaotic times. However, I had a dream this morning that struck me. It was for the time immediately after the chaos. In the dream I saw that carrier task forces had been at first repurposed as rescuers instead of fighters, and eventually I saw a carrier moored, old, deteriorating in dock, with green plants beginning to grow over it. It made me think we – these generations – may live to see the world literally beat swords into plowshares and make war no more. May it be so.

    Liked by 20 people

  7. Dear Blogger-

    Thank you for writing those comments on that very important topic. As you know, I very much enjoy reading important posts and am honored that you would write such things. It was very well written. I enjoyed reading your post about that topic and I hope you will continue to write about that topic and others as we share information together.

    –sorry. In honor of the Senator’s response to you, I thought I would formulate my own “form comment” that would be vague enough to work in most situations and save me some time when I want to leave comments on the web.

    On a serious note, what do you think of this “Landmark China / Vatican Deal” as the Wall Street Journal put it? It seems we have fallen so far from the steadfast anti-communist warrior that sat in the chair of Peter just a couple decades ago. I used to give Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt. Now, it’s hard for me to see him as anything but destructive.

    Let’s pray for the faithful Catholics in China who have practiced their faith despite a hostile government. Please let them not lose their faith despite Rome siding with the atheistic communist regime over them.

    YBIC

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Now that was funny, Jayman. I actually get stuff like that that goes in the spam folder – and I wondered how spam got here. Love it. But now I am wondering why the Senator’s letter didn’t just go to spam in my email box.

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Jayman,
      Thank you for your comment. A Chinese Archbishop of the underground Church said it was the Vatican’s (read, Pope Francis’) betrayal of the Catholic Church faithful. A week or so after, the Chinese state destroyed a Catholic Church. And what do we hear from the world College of Bishops? crickets and more crickets in the silence of the night…. as the saying goes, Silence in the face of evil is approval and we will have to give an accounting for it.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Joseph, as one who has been in China evangelizing in past years and having interacted with both underground and Patriotic Church clergy and lay people, I can attest that this is a crushing development. One bishop from the Patriotic Church Association with whom we met in 1995 showed our small group a copy of the letter he had smuggled to Pope John Paul II at the time, affirming to the Holy Father that this bishop’s heart was with Rome; he simply chose to work within the PCA to meet the sacramental needs of his people. Pope John Paul, who taught youth in outdoor nature settings during the years of Nazi occupation, completely understood what it is to live under the oppression of communism. Lord have mercy on our Chinese brothers and sisters who have suffered much, many to the point of imprisonment and martyrdom for the faith.

        Liked by 9 people

  8. Scanned this post quickly and then read the final paragraph. Re-read the whole thing slowly (a couple of times), and with with attention to detail, but still think the final paragraph says it all.

    I think we have to come to terms with what the following truly means: “a lot of wood to chop,” and “each of us will have to chop our share.”

    Totally agree (with SBC) that we… “may live to see the world literally beat swords into plowshares…” but consider what it means to live. I’d personally like to see it soon, from here, and with a smiling brood of grandchildren sitting around the campfire… hearing one of ole’ Grandpa’s stories… but I’m not thinking like that.

    Tired of talking. Just chopping.

    Liked by 9 people

      1. Well, I don’t have grandchildren yet either… and don’t consider myself the ‘ole guy yet. Just an instance of imagining. The point i was making was that ‘wood chopping’ involves submitting to God’s concerns and putting aside our own. Sure, I hope for certain things here that would be nice, but hope even bigger for bigger things to come after. Much as I’ve got a healthy imagination, God’s is infinitely better, so I’ve taken to fasting from trying to script things out for Him. Also, “soon” to me could be as little as 2 days, or decades and beyond. Time is both short and long at the same time. Just fishing with Grandma ‘yesterday’ it seems, followed by a dizzying blur of decades. Some days I can’t even remember her face, others I can ‘hear’ her laugh quite clearly.

        Anyone else want to join in a fast from too much scripting and human expectations? Let go, and let God.

        Liked by 4 people

  9. The below from CTH is a long read but dovetails with the latest from Charlie. The Trump/Deplorables 16 Victory and the encouragement/awakening of The Faithful in politics & scandal tells me we have a small window of opportunty to take back Church & Country …. IF …. we have the Faith, Fortitude & Courage to do so. Warriors needed! Prayer & Otherwise!!

    “Knowing What We Know Now, We Must Remind Ourselves….”

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/09/14/knowing-what-we-know-now-we-must-remind-ourselves/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 11 people

    1. This is one of my favorite videos (posted at both CTH and Q’s site), Crew Dog. In my mind, it evokes remembrance of the locutions to Fr. Gobbi. Charlie conveyed to us that the prayers, sacrifices and return to God by so many have been mitigating factors which have shortened the length of the Storm. And isn’t that God’s Way… He sends His prophets to awaken us and rouse us to prayer for the many yet to make a return to Him. These days are so critical that Jesus and His Mother have come to us. When God’s people respond, God factors in mitigation.

      Imperfect as he is – and aren’t we all imperfect – Donald Trump is an instrument who has been an answer to our prayers, I think. I don’t buy that he was raised up by God as a spiritual leader as stated by the “hermit in Loretto.” I do think DT has cleared the restriction brush on the pathways for spiritual leaders to function in our society. Thanks be to God.

      In the end, the work and plans revealed by Sundance and Q, worthy as they are, filled with the goodness of taking down evil forces, remain subject to God’s Plan. Because of this, I’m gratefully keeping my eye on the CTH and Q main players proceeding with their work while remaining completely surrendered to what God will allow or change through these groups.

      For anyone here who doesn’t follow CTH or Q, I encourage you to view the video while keeping in mind what President Trump and team have accomplished in the face of bitter, corrupt, enraged, violent, unrelenting pushback and resistance.

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Beckita,
        As always, your comment is spot on. “Imperfect as he is – and aren’t we all imperfect – Donald Trump is an instrument who has been an answer to our prayers, I think. I don’t buy that he was raised up by God as a spiritual leader as stated by the “hermit in Loretto.” As St. Paul says, God chooses the weak to shame the strong of the world and God chooses the foolish to shame the .strong of the world.
        I am certain, if ever there was a defective instrument of God to confound the “wise and strong” of this political world, Donald J. Trump IS and the only President in memory to repeatedly proclaim God’s blessing upon the people and the nation. MAGA!

        Liked by 5 people

    2. Thank you CrewDog for the link. Very inspiring. What I also noticed is that the speech took place on October 13. Our Holy Mother is always at work. What a beautiful time to be alive.

      Liked by 8 people

  10. I was working as a primary inspector for the primary election out here yesterday and I was talking to my democrat counterpart. She began right away telling me that she was a committed feminist and communist, but for some reason, and she flat out told me that even she didn’t know why, instead of defending her viewpoints, she wound up telling me all of the heartache and tragedy she has suffered in life. She sincerely asked me my viewpoint on men, women, poverty, socialism, environmental concerns and finally, the afterlife. I answered as honestly as I could. Wow. Because she was really interested in discussing my viewpoint on women, I timidly offered a book choice, “The Privilege of Being a Woman” by Alice Von Hildebrand (coincidentally, I am going with a few friends to visit Mrs. Hildebrand tomorrow, turns out she doesn’t live too far from us) and I was surprised when she actually looked the book up on her phone and said that she wanted to read it, even while knowing that the author is writing from a deeply Catholic position. I find hope in things like this. I have no idea if our talk will have a lasting impact on her, but it will on me. When the chips are down, it will be these people right around us that we will need to re connect with and built trust and figure out how to communicate with. We should pray for our neighbors and acquaintances, bless random people as we walk around, address the spiritual poverty everywhere. You never know when a simple quick prayer for a stranger might be exactly what God needed to start the work of salvation in that heart . . . and perhaps help to make the coming cultural re-boot go a bit smoother in the end.

    Liked by 22 people

      1. I was with her for two hours today, she is still as sharp as ever! She was quoting in Latin from the writings of Saint Augustine at age 95! She could use some prayers, though. She lives the burden of her age with grace and humility, but it is very hard. We talked about living in the will of God and the coming renewal, about family life, femininity and trying to live in obedience and humility within our stations in life, about being thankful to God and being mindful to offer thanksgiving in our lives as much as we can, about the spiritual and intellectual poverty in the culture, about the joy of truth and the beauty of God’s design and the importance of the family. Such a blessing to have had the opportunity to speak with her.

        Liked by 7 people

    5. “should pray for our neighbors and acquaintances, bless random people as we walk around, address the spiritual poverty everywhere. You never know when a simple quick prayer for a stranger might be exactly what God needed to start the work of salvation in that heart . . . and perhaps help to make the coming cultural re-boot go a bit smoother in the end”
      ….Yes, Katherine, I have felt impressed to do the same for the past couple of years. I also include daily prayers for local community leaders, as well as the leaders in the communities of distant friends and relatives: priests and pastors, health care providers, law-makers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters,teachers and college professors, judges and attorneys. J+M+J

      Liked by 10 people

      1. Lin, your practice of praying for those around you, and beyond, in the various positions which support local communities is at the heart of an apostolate: Mission for the Love of God Worldwide. Their site is here. The apostolate’s presence and work is expanding. Just imagine if in the New Beginning, an entire city would rise with morning prayers for each and all in the community! Here’s a video of the consecration of the city of Miami which occurred in the mother church of the Archdiocese of Miami. Oh how I yearn for such as this in every corner of the world! Just imagine…

        Liked by 5 people

    7. What an immense honor to visit with Alice Von Hildebrand. I watched a wonderful interview with her the other day. Her love for humanity and our Lord is remarkable. And the fact that you were able to speak with your counterpart/listen was a grace from God! Right place/right time.

      Liked by 4 people

    8. A ‘random blesssing’ incident from a Medjugorje book:

      “One evening in 1991, just before midnight, I was waiting for the last train. The platform was packed after the closing of theatres, bars, and restaurants
      in a rough part of town. The train wasn’t due for another ten minutes, so as usual I started to bless all the people waiting on the platform with me,
      one by one. I was standing at one end and someone standing at the opposite end caught my attention. She looked like the incarnation of misery and
      a human wreck-either mentally disturbed or drunk, and probably both. Her distorted face showed the grimace of evil. I started praying for her, begging
      God to give her his Blessing in a special way: and prayed: ‘Lord please come to her through the Special Motherly Blessing of Our Dear Mother Mary.’

      “I had barely finished formulating these words in my MIND, when the woman began to scream in front of everyone, shouting from the other end of the
      platform: ‘How dare you bless me!; Then she jumped up and started a mad race along the platform, pointing to me and yelling threats:

      ‘Stop that- Stop blessing me!-Stop blessing me’ She looked like a frenzied lion ready to devour his prey. I stayed calm and continued to bless her
      repeating the same silent heavenly blessing over her soul, mind and body.

      Some people around me were asking me ‘do you know this woman? why does she want to attack you?’
      “Don’t worry, leave her be,” I replied. She’ll be fine.

      It was a long platform, but the woman was moving fast in spite of several people try to stand in her way.. Everyone on the platform and on the
      oppositie side, fixed their eyes on her wondering what was going to happen. I could tell that some of them were terrified. As she approached me,
      she was spitting, cursing, howling at me like a wolf in the night without food. I don’t know what would have happened to me if the Gospa and the Lord
      hadn’t interceeded. At least five men come to my rescue and tried to handle the situation, but her strength was beyond human

      I knew that God wanted to touch her with His grace, so I finished the blessing against all odds, articulating it one word at a time from my heart.
      As I finished the blessing, her rage SUBSIDED and strangely the scene returned to normal. It seemed like a deep liberation had taken place
      When the train pulled in, the woman stepped into the nearest car and sat down as if nothing had happened. Her face was transformed: and
      anger had given way to peace. I got in the same car and we looked at each other as if we were friends. When I got off at my stop, she stayed on-
      I never saw her again.
      I believe that the Lord and the Gospa won another great battle that evening.

      Liked by 6 people

      1. That gives me chills.
        And it proves the presence of God in our world for any who don’t believe. I would bet there was someone on that platform that night doubting if God existed who. And probably after that experience solidified their belief in God. The ripple affect in action again.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Marie,
        Thank you! I read this at the right time (joy in my heart) as I have had a gruelling three days which concluded yesterday on the memorial Our Lady of Sorrows.

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Marie,
        I am still getting ‘slammed’ just in a different way. I have been praying the St. Bridget prayer over and over, all day. I was getting near my wits end and this article posts to the internet. {Upon reflection, I am thanking God for his love and mercy.}

        Here is one of my Medjugorje stories.
        I met this Priest in Medjugorje. He related this story to me then!
        Cheers,
        Sean
        http://www.spiritofmedjugorje.org/index.php?ArticleSeq=102#featuredArticle

        Featured Articles

        The Spirit of Medjugorje
        Featured article from September’s Spirit of Medjugorje

        Vicka on Our Lady’s Mission in Dublin

        By Fr. Ronan Murphy

        In 1991, before entering seminary, I felt the call to go to Medjugorje, the first of many such visitations there, especially as a priest.
        In 1992, whilst returning from the International Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests in San Marino, I was collecting my luggage in Dublin Airport, Ireland. The airport, I remember, was packed with people especially with foreign students who had just arrived in the country in order to spend the summer months learning the English language. I distinctly remember whilst waiting for my luggage to come out, saying to Our Lady in the silent recess of my heart, “Mother, are you pleased with the Cenacle I have just made?” At that moment, and the only way to describe it, everyone in the airport disappeared before my very eyes.

        Fr. Ronan Murphy in Medjugorje in 2016
        Fr. Ronan Murphy in Medjugorje in 2016

        And I found myself alone with a young woman in front of me, smiling radiantly at me. The feeling I experienced was one of peace. Just then I heard a sweet voice interiorly which I believe was the voice of the Blessed Mother say, “My Child, I am very happy with the Cenacle you have made and all the graces I have obtained for you”. Simultaneous to the voice, I became aware of the identity of the young woman being Vicka, the visionary from Medjugorje, whom I had seen during my first visit there in 1991. I spoke once again to Our Lady interiorly, saying, “Mother do you want me to speak to her?” And the sweet voice once again replied, “No, this is my confirmation to you, a confirmation of Medjugorje and my Marian Movement of Priests”. At that, Vicka disappeared from before me and all present in the airport appeared once again, as if I came out of an altered state and back to reality. I thank Our Lady for gracing me with this spiritual or mystical experience, confirming me to the authenticity of Medjugorje and the Marian Movement of Priests and with other such experiences which have assisted me in my vocation to and in the priesthood. Ad Jesus per Miriam.
        Editor’s note: When Fr. Murphy sent us his story, he added, “I am a priest of the Camden Diocese, NJ., ordained May 13th, 2000, on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.” He is originally from Dublin.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Sean, indeed, a wonderful story! That website is a treasure trove of marvelous stories.
          May Our Lady of M. watch over you and all of us with her motherly blessing of peace.

          Liked by 2 people

    9. Katherine, I really agree with you. Sometimes when I’m sitting in the car waiting for my husband to return….I find myself asking the Lord to please “Bless that woman walking into the store” or Please Lord, Bless that man coming out, that’s limping. Please Bless that woman and child there, those two teenagers over there. You’re so right….we never know when we might just begin a cycle of good for someone. Let’s all keep doing the little bit of good we can, for whomever we can….whenever we can! And….God Bless you all!

      Liked by 2 people

  11. Hello to all !! a little off topic but has anyone read the article by Massimo Faggioli, Commonweal September 6, 2018? It was republished in my parish bulletin under the banner of ” Restoring Trust and Credibility” It slams Vigano and conservative Catholics as those looking for schism. Would like some opinions from you all on it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. JITIY, here‘s a review of Commonweal. And from its own “about” page on site: “The magazine has an ongoing interest in social justice, ecumenism, just-war teaching, liturgical renewal, women’s issues, the primacy of conscience, and the interchange between Catholicism and liberal democracy.” Notice the code words reflecting Modernism, especially “the primacy of conscience.” Notice, too, there is lack of any references to Magisterial teachings in this self-described: “… oldest independent lay Catholic journal of opinion in the United States.” This lay Catholic journal of opinion, devoid of references to Church teaching spells trouble to me.

      Mr. Faggioli is on staff at Villanova University where this occurred as reported by Joseph Sciambra.

      That Faggioli is published in Commonweal speaks volumes concerning his biases. He presents his opinion without concrete evidence, only asserting such things as the testimony of Archbishop Vigano is motivated by “a personal vendetta.” I say: prove it. This article is seeping with such unsubstantiated assertions. But no wonder. Consider the subtitle of the article: “The Right-Wing Effort to Delegitimize Pope Francis.” I do not view the comments expressed here as coming from people who are part of this subtitle to the article. There has been, again and again, the urging that a complete investigation ensue. Also in the article, Faggioli quotes Michael Sean Winters of the infamous National Catholic Reporter, known for its anti-Magisterial Teaching stance.

      Gosh, JITIY, I’m concerned about your pastor placing this in your bulletin. If resources such as Commonweal and the National Catholic Reporter are cool with him, this speaks to likely problems with his theological leanings and/or beliefs. If this was my pastor, I’d have to find a new parish in which to worship.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Amen to everything you said, Beckita! Can you imagine the subtle brainwashing taking place in parishes all over the country, by the preaching and the literature made available. It takes time and discernment from the Holy Spirit to study all that we need to know to be on the correct side of things.

        I too, have been distressed by some things I’ve read in church bulletins. There have been at least a couple of times that the Holy Spirit bugged me completely until I wrote a loving but firm letter to a priest. There’s so much education needed. “My people perish for lack of wisdom”.

        Liked by 5 people

  12. Hey Kim…just want you to know I’ll be praying for you & your family this weekend. May Our Beautiful Mother of Grace give to you all, all the graces that leave her fingertips that Noone asks for…I ask for some too, but I’ll ask Our Mother to mostly give them to you & yours…God bless aND keep you all always😘😘😘

    Liked by 4 people

  14. Katherine,
    It seems to me that the most anti-religious people make the best most commited converts.
    I think when you’ve lived on the other side of the tracks you know the true horror of darkness. If I had been lost in a cave for many years, I would most likely never ever want to go spelunking again!
    This poor woman is still in that cave and you, by the light of grace, have shown her the way out. A hope has been instilled in her hopelessness and a true sense of direction from her wandering in the darkness.
    God is so good how He gives us these moments: You to see the magnificent spark of hope rest on a weary battered traveller, and she to receive a little drop of cool water on her parched tongue from the heart of a comforting Lazareth.

    Liked by 9 people

  15. Just a story on how not to recruit a young Republican. My 20 year old daughter is a server in a high-end restaurant in town. (Charlie, the same one with real keys for the doors 🙂 ). She was given a party of 12 in a meeting room . They thanked her profusely and asked if they could request her next month. She of course said yes. Drum roll….and they racked up a $380.00 bill and they left her a $23.00 tip, $8.00 of which was change. It was the local Republican Headquarters officials. Now that is really no reason to dislike ALL Republicans but a single mom with a baby is gonna listen to the guy who says he’ll give her all she needs while a group of people show her what they are willing to do. She wouldn’t be able to put a name to it but when small things like this happen often Socialism starts to make sense to the vulnerable. IMHO.

    Liked by 3 people

    2. Boy, I hate to hear that. When I was a young man, I was a hotel manager – we had two restaurants, banquet space for a thousand and a show club. The staff figured out very quickly what groups were the cheap tippers and which ones were generous. In my day, a group of Republicans were primo – and everybody wanted to work any event involving them. Tell your local Republicans to get with the program and keep up the reputation. Geez…people really have no idea how that impacts service people. (I won’t name the groups that were considered cheap in my day and for whom we would have servers calling in sick or asking off. Suffice it to say that local Democrats at that time were great recruiters for the Republican Party among servers for precisely the reason you mention. It sickens me to think some Republicans are performing the same service for Democrats.)

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Charlie,

        I am reading “The Demon of Brownsville Road” based on the accounts of Bob Cranmer, a revert to the Catholic Faith.

        He was in politics as well and through God’s grace made a difference as a republican in a Tammany Hall style Democratic stronghold in Pittsburgh PA.

        He sounds a lot like you as I read. It ocurred to me that he would be great on your team.

        After all, he fought Evil in politics and the demonic in his own home. I would say he is an experienced vetran.

        He also has a military background.

        If you were looking for simeone he is your man!

        😀🙏🏻🙏🏻

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Sounds like God is using Mr. Cranmer for good. Smiling, Little One. As a member of Charlie’s team, I can tell you he has gathered around him an incredible group of people, each individual with unique strengths and talents which have me in constant gratitude for the opportunity to work together to support Charlie, his mission and his message… each one ALL IN and ready to do whatever is needed for the good of this community… even as each one remains faithful to duties at home and in serving local people and causes. Then there’s the teamwork in this community which is another dimension of people blessing one another.

          Liked by 4 people

    3. Party of twelve, in a meeting room with one waitress. She worked her behind off. Drinks, orders, silly requests, probably rude comments etc and all they leave is a little more than one dollar each with loose change.
      I calculated this is .0606 percent. She should have gotten a ‘C-note’.

      Liked by 3 people

    4. StJoanMusings: Had to do the math. That was a 6% tip, a long way from a normal 20% or $76. What cheap brats! What cured me of cheap tips — my 12 year old son delivering the local county paper, snow and rain regardless, watched him slip and slid over ice, which had to be delivered on the front door step by 6:30AM. (the paper’s delivery rules). Then watched as some gave his a $.01 tip for a 2 week’s delivery or sometimes a $.05 but then God Bless the one or two who gave him $20. But worse was the ones who didn’t pay him on time or at all because then he had to pay their bill from his money and had to hope he would be repaid. (Their was that one couple, after not paying their bill for weeks, I went to their door with him demanding that they pay him and who greeted us with filled wine glasses and still refused to pay.) Yep! cured me of low ball tipping. But I have to say that he and I are Republicans today. He and I know the ills of socialism. Just a reminder, see Venezuela.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. It just seems to me that people are filled with followship qualities. There are no leaders with standards anymore. I am a deplorable but I don’t often see presidential behavior coming from the White House. On the other hand, when did inciting violence become the American way? I watch people just do and say what everybody else does and says without spending a nanosecond of personal thought. That no one at that table of 12 thought it odd (at the very least) to see people fumbling in their pockets for change after spending big money on food and drinks is mind boggling. But this scenario then gave the rest of them permission to pull out one or two dollars themselves because why not? Everybody else is doing it. The sky is falling and everybody is partying. God have mercy on us all because we have become a wicked, mindless and thoughtless people.

        Liked by 3 people

  18. Oh that we, each of us, would remove our gifts each day. laying them before the Throne of God and only pick them up again with greater desire and intent to serve Him and His people.

    After removing his episcopal ring, Bishop Knestout removes other symbols of his office as an act of humility during the Mass of Atonement. Bishop then prostrates himself before the cross and altar to signify contrition, reverence, deep anguish for the suffering of Christ, grief and sorrow. (Diocese of Richmond)

    Liked by 14 people

  19. It seems as more tough information like that about Fr. Corradi, Fr. Grassi, and Gustavo Vera comes out of Argentina, we will understand that a lack of vetting similar to Obama’s election existed before the conclave of 2013.

    Liked by 4 people

  20. Among the pope’s appointees are to the upcoming Synod on Youth are Cardinals Reinhard Marx of Munich, Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark. Also noteworthy is Francis’s appointment of Father Antonio Spadaro who has written articles attacking conservative Catholics and Evangelicals. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia who had commissioned what some consider a homo-erotic mural in his cathedral church in Terni-Narni-Amelia has also been appointed by the Pope.

    It was announced 7/23/18 that the USSCB elected the following bishops to represent the U.S. at the October Synod. The synod will meet at the Vatican to discuss “young people, faith and vocational discernment.”

    — Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
    — Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, vice president of the USCCB.
    — Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
    — Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a member of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
    — Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.

    Note that Cardinal Cupich and Cardinal Tobin were not chosen as delegates to the synod by the USCCB. Please pray that the elected delegates from the U.S. are guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to defend the truth during this synod. Pray also that the Holy Spirit enlightens the hearts and minds of Cupich, Tobin, Spadaro and Paglia

    Liked by 8 people

    2. I pray they cancel the synod. I’ve seen a small part of the 30,000 page working document that is “guiding” this synod. Perhaps it was taken out of context, but maybe the context is the problem.

      Liked by 4 people

  22. Charlie,
    I have two thoughts about your post.
    1. I have also experienced the condescending tone from previous issues from a particular Republican Senator of my state in the form of the same type condescending letter you got back from yours. This was back in 2012. I have also called both Senators offices on issues, and I got the same condescending response. I was reminded of this when I read your statement, “Completely ignore the concern, give a patronizing lesson in civics 101 assuming the citizen does not know jack squat about how government works – and say, in the politest way, that he does not give jack squat what the citizen thinks?”
    To say the least, I have come to the conclusion that our Senators don’t care a flip about what their constituents think. It completely deflated my motivation to be engaged in the political process this way. I do still vote, of course. However, when you mentioned writing a letter to your Senator, I thought, “What for?”
    2. You mentioned the possibility of a Rwanda-style conflict which reminded me of a book on the subject by eye-witness, Immaculee Ilibagiza, Left to Tell. Highly recommended. Her Catholic faith is an inspiration to all of us who may have to live through a Rwanda-type experience. Especially her devotion to the Rosary.
    Just had to add some thoughts. Thank you.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I’m sorry to hear that, Tex. It really doesn’t have to be that way. The first Congressman I ever worked for, Robert McClory, was a stickler on constituent responses. He maintained that you could persuade people during campaigns, bit what convinced them, for good or ill, was how you handled yourself in communicating them when it was not campaign season – that that was what determined whether you could weather storms well. I’m glad that was my first, for it made sense to me and stuck.

      I hear all the time about how difficult it is…the volume of letters, the frequent nutjobs conspiracists you get. If you assign a few people – and have requests go up the ladder when they touch on something timely and specific, you can manage it quite well. That so many choose not to (and it IS a choice) is one of the reasons why politicians have such a poor reputation.

      Liked by 5 people

    2. Tex. I believe there are some(Congress and Senators) who care, and will listen. I write often to our Senators and Reps from Texas. I always receive a response. I also place comments in the you tube comment boxes of some I frequent. I am sure they read those as well. Until Trump came into office, I did not look at you tube, or barely contacted our Congress. But I did realize I needed to know the truth. I do not have a TV and now don’t miss it at all. Yet millions of people with our same mind set came out swinging. As my husband mentioned, “when you have nothing else to loose, you fight the hardest!” I know he is not the one who originally spoke this, but it is no different than the person who spoke:” All that is needed for the forces of evil to succeed is for enough good men to remain silent. ” We need to realize, “if God is on our side, who can be against us”. There is the catch…stay alert, be humble and keep looking up. It is all in the heavens.

      Liked by 3 people

  23. Had to reread your post before commenting.
    I am getting whiplash between praising God silently shouting Alleluia and wanting to weep at the state of just about everything. I am really hoping the law enforcement feels supported enough now to not let the rioting etc happen after the election if the conservatives hold the majority. Oh, I hope they do.

    My husband calls me a woodchick-because I love our wood burning stove-love, love, love chopping kindling…better get to work!

    Liked by 10 people

  24. Read this in my newsfeed on FB and it evoked streaming tears…

    From Kitty Cleveland:
    On this memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, my gentle and humble pastor, Fr. Otis Young, choked back tears during the Mass for the sins committed by members of the Catholic clergy.

    At the final blessing, he explained that it was hard for him not to contain his sorrow, and that he had wept many times for the victims and for the Church. He then prostrated himself for an hour before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar in reparation.

    I don’t wish to embarrass Fr. Otis, but I’m so grateful to have him as a pastor at St. Peter. It’s men like this who give me so much hope and courage. May God bless our faithful priests and bring healing to all those who suffer!

    Liked by 19 people

    1. Any way you slice this, for those Holy Priest, the Blessed Mother’s choice, this must be so sad and difficult. This is wonderfully beautiful and validating. Thank you for sharing!

      Liked by 10 people

  25. Let’s see – we have abortion on demand, approx. 50 percent broken marriages, children living in broken homes rather in a loving wholesome family, many homes with single mothers who have to work a 2nd job to make ends meet because fathers refuse the responsibility of fatherhood, plenty of pornography to go around for all ages to view, same sex marriage, couples living together instead of marriage, infidelity to the marriage vows, drugs are rampant, suicide on the rise, especially for young people, assisted suicide performed by doctors who call it “mercy” killing, corruption in our Church and in our government, gun violence in schools, malls, etc., violent protests.

    Did I leave anything out? So where do we go from here? …….Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…….spread the effect of grace of thy flame of love over all of humanity……(and our Country and our Church)….now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

    It appears to me that we need a rescue! It is obvious that people are really blinded by the devil. It’s gone too far. We need a worldwide illumination because there is no other practical answer to cover the extent of our sins. People don’t recognize sin for what it is.

    As for me, I’m saying my Rosary every day with the flame of love devotion. Satan needs to be blinded by the flame of love of Our Blessed Mother, and we need to be enlightened by the same flame. As practicing Catholics, we must live with hope.

    Any thoughts, Charlie?

    Liked by 20 people

    1. So true Judy. And it seems our society has given up on raising real men. It may be just my viewpoint, but narcissism, lack of empathy, self possed lost men seem to be everywhere, leading women, mothers and children into a dangerous trap.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I share your viewpoint, quiet, have experienced such a scenario in one of my children’s family life in addition to the many I see and hear about all around me and beyond.

        Liked by 2 people

  26. Let’s Face It! Satan & his Pals have been very busy throughout The Church, Western Society and especially godless Socialist (Marxist, Nazi, Maoist & Ilk) entities these past 100 years since Fatima. Plus! We believers have had plenty of ancient/modern warnings. Soooo …. the only surprise is the number that are not prepared and still dithering ……. but …. that was foretold too. Was it not!!? ;-(

    16 September – MILINET: Articles for Christians
    =======================
    Pope Francis expels Chilean priest accused of child sex abuse

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-abuse/pope-francis-expels-chilean-priest-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-idUSKCN1LW015

    Woman recalls how she ‘broke free’ of Evangelical ‘purity’ movement

    http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2018/09/15/woman-recalls-how-broke-free-evangelical-purity-movement.html

    BreakPoint: The Church’s Abuse Problem: It’s not Just a Catholic Thing

    http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/09/breakpoint-the-churchs-abuse-problem

    With wider crackdowns on religion, Xi’s China seeks to put state stamp on faith

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/with-wider-crackdowns-on-religion-xis-china-seeks-to-put-state-stamp-on-faith/2018/09/15/b035e704-b7f0-11e8-b79f-f6e31e555258_story.html

    & other articles:

    Amidst Scandals, Pope’s Popularity Plunges to All-Time Low

    https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/15/amidst-scandals-popes-popularity-plunges-to-all-time-low/

    Report: Catholic Church Suffers ‘Culture of Denial’ of Homoclericalism

    https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/15/report-catholic-church-suffers-culture-of-denial-of-homoclericalism/

    Does anyone know anything about The Catholic Women’s Forum? White Hats? … or? ;-(

    Catholic Leader on Cardinal McCarrick’s Abuse: Pope’s ‘Silence is Deafening’

    https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/emily-ward/catholic-womens-forum-sexual-abuse-popes-silence-deafening

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Don’t even think about paying $740 +Tax for an S&W AR or any other firearm!!
      Unless you live in a People’s Democrat Socialist Republic, AKA: A Deep Blue State or Urban Area!! It is perfectly legal to order a firearm through the internet as long as it is shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). In the case of an AR, like below, the only part of the order that need to be sent to the FFL is the lower assembly. It’s the part with the serial #. The rest can go to your house. These internet dealers make it easy to find an FFL in your area. I’d make it two orders. One order, the lower, to the FFL and order 2 to my house with everything else.

      http://enews.palmettostatearmory.com/q/OPvxTN_zkfT7DcDhhi-EAX6vznwg91lGQy__6QS-ehOUnivQGvPYMAcWp

      1) PSA AR15 FREEDOM CLASSIC LOWER, OLIVE DRAB GREEN – 7779347
      2) PSA 16″ CLASSIC M4 FREEDOM UPPER WITH BCG & CHARGING HANDLE, OD GREEN – 7780181
      3) SIG SAUER ROMEO5 1X20MM RED DOT SIGHT, BLACK – R52001
      4) D&H 5.56 30RD MAGAZINE (5 MAGS) & 100 ROUNDS OF FEDERAL 55GR XM193 5.56 NATO – SKU#KIT-0017

      All of the above = $540 S&H Free plus the $20-$30 you will pay the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) fee for transfer to you.

      https://www.atf.gov/firearms/updated-atf-federal-firearms-licensee-ffl-listings-page

      NO!! I don’t own stock in PSA but have found their stuff, prices & service good.
      It’s really sad that we even have to think about this sort of thing ….. but …. These-Days ;-(

      GOD SAVE ALL HERE

      Like

      1. Crew, I quickly put up the link as a visual to make the point that a Rwanda-style conflict here would be VERY different than the original. The Hutus were able to run roughshod over the Tutsis because the latter were a minority AND had no means of defense. I certainly wasn’t recommending people buy an AR directly from the S&W website. Got my M&P at a gun show for $505 out the door. Great entry level gun for the weekend shooter like me. Btw, the $740 on S&W website is MSRP. Nobody pays that in the real world as far as I know.
        Since you mentioned PSA, I bought a 20 pack of 30rd GI mags a couple of years ago directly from PSA. They came out to be something like $7.50 ea. Very stable follower and super reliable performance (so far). I don’t know why but I like the feel of the metal compared to the bulky polymer Magpul types. They even sound different when you seat them. Just a sensory preference thing I suppose.

        Like

    1. Dear God;
      On behalf of everyone here I would humbly ask You to send Holy Angels to surround and protect James O’Keefe. Please don’t let him meet the same end as Seth Rich.
      Thanks in advance;
      Me
      P.S. We Love You!

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Oh Dear God, yes, please protect James! That evil is too awful to think about, Christopher. And yes indeed, Rich’s death was no random crime. I keep asking the Lord to expose all the evil everywhere, the Church, the “deep state”, all of it brought into the light!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. HTTP: do you think this is accurate? Are they only going to release one person’s name at a time?

      I hope he has bodyguards!!

      I hope the truth comes out!

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Interesting insight from the readings from the 54 day Novena.

    Regarding the tactics of the Devil in the spiritual war raging presently in both the supernatural and the natural planes.

    Tactical objectives of the Devil confronting you and me and all believers:

    Cut us off from God’s supernatural grace. What Fr Heilman calls “the loss of the sense of the supernatural”.

    Divide the Church, pick off the weak, confused, and separated individuals and groups. Divide and Conquer.

    Devil’s Tactic #1 – Cut us off from our supply lines

    The first major strategy from the father of lies is actually as old as the Garden of Eden itself. It is simply to convince us we do not need God (Gen. 3:5-6), nor do we need his strength and his power (Eph. 6:10).

    In modern times, we have witnessed this in the effective campaign of militant secularists who have sought to de-mythologize our faith, a flat out rejection of the supernatural power of God. Once the devil has us convinced that we can challenge him under our own natural power, or simply deny that he even exists, he’s cut us off from the only real power capable of defeating him: God’s supernatural grace.

    More and more common is the modern “secularized” version of religion that sees it reduced to a kind of psychotherapy for self-actualization. Some seminaries seem to focus on training therapeutic practitioners rather than theologians. In other words, instead of seeing Jesus as God with us – a real and ever-present source of supernatural love and grace – he is reduced to a historic figure we simply emulate as a model in our efforts at self-actualization.

    Sadly, this secular version of religion has become so prevalent that most people’s eyes begin to glaze over at the mere mention of God’s supernatural grace as a necessary source of power in our lives. St. Peter warns us to be fortes in fide, strong in faith, because the devil prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pt 5:8-9). Lions size up a herd to find the weakest and easiest target. Once we are detached from God and his supernatural grace, we are powerless to defend ourselves from the tactics of the devil.

    Our ancestors and all of the saints knew all about this supernatural power and strength and that being in a state of grace was the armor of God that was to be treasured and protected at all cost. Like the scriptural images for the kingdom of God, this Divine Life in God (state of grace) is the “hidden treasure” and the “pearl of great price” (Mt 13:44-46). (excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).

    Devil’s Tactic #2 – Divide and Conquer

    The second modern tactic of the devil is actually the very ancient military strategy of “divide and conquer.” This strategy is defined as one that separates a force that would be stronger if united. As we said, the devil is roaming around like a lion that sizes up the herd to find the easiest target. He is also watching to see who is separated from the herd. Large, coordinated forces are difficult to defeat. If the enemy can separate us into small units or individuals, he can more easily defeat each one.

    “Strike the shepherd and the sheep scatter” (Zec 13:7). There’s no doubt that the devil has focused his assault on the religious leaders of our day. While these leaders may have had noble intentions of charity and pastoral sensitivity, the results have been devastating. Decades of lenient, non-confrontational leadership have left the faithful feeble and prone to be “conformed to the pattern of this world” (Rom 12:2). St. Augustine once said, “Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.”

    The unfortunate laxity of discipline has permitted confusion and strife where there should be clarity and harmony, an authentic unity based on the truth. As a result, the modern trend among those who believe and teach falsehoods that directly contradict the Church’s teaching is to consider these pockets of dissent as merely “differing tribes” within the Catholic Church. In this deceptive tribal system, those who believe in and teach all that the Church teaches are then considered extreme among these tribes.

    Right or wrong, religious leadership seemed to calculate that it is better to refrain from “charged issues” for fear of offending some or even losing members. However, St. Peter Canisius cautioned: “Better that only a few Catholics should be left, staunch and sincere in their religion, than that they should, remaining many, desire as it were to be in collusion with the Church’s enemies and in conformity with the open foes of our faith.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).

    Know your Enemy.

    Liked by 7 people

    2. Excellent piece. Thank you and get ready. This is the battle for LIFE! PRAYER IS FOREMOST- THEN FAITH- THEN RESOLVE- THEN FORGIVENESS (GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND MERCY).
      No time to reconsider, there is only onward, and upward. Look Heavenly.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. It’s hard to believe that we would consider a Rwanda type of event in our USA but, considering the Race and Class Divisions that we have seen exploited by The Left and their BLM, Antifa and Union Thug Rent-a-Mobs that have operated with near impunity/immunity, it most certainly must be considered a possibility! …… Especially if you live in/near a large urban area or Southern Border region…. or if you have to travel to/through same. In order to visit my SC Sis, I must travel through three such urban areas and I’m very mindful of the dangers since all of these places rate in the Top 15 of Crime Capitals ;-( When I travel to SC, I always do so on a Sunday and always take the outer loops regardless of traffic. I do my best to insure that my truck is well maintained, plan/check ahead for potential problems and insure I carry necessary emergency supplies.
    One thing that gives me great Hope is the fact that The Left has not only abandoned the Producer Class but has demonized them with their class envy and white privilege campaigns. They have also disparaged and demonized the local police/sheriffs, ICE/Border Patrol and US Military that protects the Producer Class. The Producer Class also has many former, active and retired Law Enforcement and Military people. During the eight years of Obama, about the only shining commercial industry was Guns & Ammo …. most of which was purchased by the Producer Class. I would also hope that this class also contains a majority that are Believers. Soooo ……. do what the Boy Scouts, Red Cross and Civil Defense used to preach about, keep tabs on those you care about and keep your head on a swivel. Lots of Prayer & Reflection too would be good 😉 Lets hope/pray that most of our troubles-n-fears don’t materialize this year.

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 9 people

    3. Thank you, Crewdog! The book Left of Bang is an excellent resource for those who move about alot. I.E. through public areas, and into unknown parts of cities, towns, and different venues – airports, trains, hotels, conferences, highways, etc. A course(book) on picking up on person’s of intent and signs that people will show, leave and demonstrate. While observing, asking our Lord to change people’s hearts is good and prudent. He will at times, put someone in a place that will change them, and send them home, back to him. It is part of the miracles into day’s world. We can’t give up on the ‘small stuff’. Blessing your children, pets, husband/wife, neighbor. Instead of being angry or frustrated. Just give a big smile, and look heavenly. I thank all who contribute these comments. They mean a lot to know that there are so many with the same concerns and the ideas/thoughts are priceless. We cannot know the daily life of each/but we do know we are kindred spirits, and that our life is embedded in Christ our Savior and his Blessed Mother Mary. So probably there are so many more. Christ our Savior be at our side/ Mother Mary protect us and give us Hope. Thanks good people!

      Liked by 2 people

  32. I just thought to share something curious.

    I believe Holy Father Francis has called for a get together with Church leaders to address the crisis in the Church on 28th February 2019, if I remember correctly.

    I believe 28th February is the remembrance day of a saint who fought corruption in the form of bad morals and bad accountability/honesty within the Church in past times. Sorry, I can’t recall the name of the saint. I am sure you genius researchers on the blog can find the name of the saint.

    And it occurred to me, that is the same day of the month Holy Father Benedict resigned from the Chair of Peter.

    I have read in the past that many things Popes do are unspoken messages. So, Holy grandfather Benedict was effectively sending a clear message by the very date he chose to resign. The message being the corruption of administration and the corruption of morals within the Church. And he simply did not have the health and strength to deal with it. Just a thought.

    And a bit of good news. Did you know when Holy Father Francis went to Knock in Ireland, it was the 25th August. That is the day we remember Saint Maria Faustina, the Lords ‘Mercy’ secretary. I think this is a great message of hope in God’s plan of things. Merciful Jesus, I trust in Thee.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Actually, the extraordinary synod on preventing clergy sex abuse and protecting children for which Pope Francis summoned the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences opens on February 21, 2019, the Feast of St. Peter Damian, who wrote The Book of Gomorrah which was about sodomy and sexual abuse among the clergy in his day. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, 2013. I am one who wishes this synod would begin much sooner than 5 months from now. It surely will be most interesting to see what all unfolds both in and out of the Church before February of next year.

      Liked by 5 people

  33. Charlie,

    This seems like an appropriate article to ask – thoughts on Q?

    Seems very legit and right in line with early comments about the current political structures crumbling.

    Just curious what you think – thanks

    Like

    1. Talk of Q and Sundance has come up pretty often at ASOH, Craig. Personally, I have read about strong evidence showing there are people working behind the scenes to rout out corruption in the deep state and worldwide cabal. What remains to be seen is just how the details of such efforts will proceed or be circumvented in God’s Plan.

      Liked by 3 people

    2. I have noticed that many of the Q followers with technological savvy are young people, which is consistent with Charlie’s earlier comments that young people have a special role to play.

      Like

  35. Thankfully, as of this date, we still have a Constitution, Holy Priests and Faithful Patriots willing to defend same!!:

    Constitution Day — the Most Important Commemoration of 2018–Scott S. Powell
    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/09/constitution_day__the_most_important_commemoration_of_2018.htm

    There Are Holy Priests, Too–KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ
    https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/holy-priests-father-arne-panula/

    …. and the evil folks who would like nothing better than to destroy our Constitution and our Church!:

    Antifa Website Shows How To Injure Police, Hold Up Banks, Sneak Across The Border, & More
    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/09/antifa-website-shows-how-to-injure-police-hold-up-banks-sneak-across-the-border-more/

    Soros-funded NGO Taking Legal Action to Block Traditional Family, Marriage Referendum
    https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/09/17/soros-funded-ngo-taking-legal-action-block-referendum-definition-traditional-family-marriage/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 3 people

  36. I started to write here several times in the past two weeks but couldn’t. I’ve been on emotion management mode. Our Pastor was removed the Sunday after the scandals hit. He was “relocated and on inactive leave” for something he allegedly did when he was a teenager…before he graduated college and entered seminary. 35+ years a priest with a spotless record and now he is collateral damage of the zero tolerance policy. I get it…but wow. Even if he is exonerated, he may never come back. For most people in the congregation, you just can’t un-hear that.

    Our new Pastoral Administrator is kind, energetic and loving but feels the need to add words and hand holding to our Sacred Liturgy……..(sigh.)

    Because I trust that God does all for our good, I know that somehow it is an act of his beautiful mercy for our Pastor and for us. I’m encouraging parishioners to double down on their prayer life for priests & victims, put their love in writing then put it into action and build up HIS church.

    Our families’ storm is torrential too. (Maybe I should change from Mimimommy3 to Torrential Too!) But seriously, after raising our kids and surviving cancer (but losing the business I built for 11 years) I am trying to “re-launch”. It is not going well. My Spiritual Director said it is my age. I’m only 54 for goodness sake! Since when did a life of leadership, multi-tasking, diplomacy, problem solving and service count for nothing! We might lose our family home. All the talk of oncoming strife is exacerbated by the thought of not knowing where we could live! JESUS I TRUST IN YOU! JESUS I TRUST IN YOU! JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!

    As I cling to hope, this TNRS/ASOH community means a lot to me. My husband and I can count on one hand the people in our lives who view these days similarly, but since November, I come here alone. It’s ok though – I share the links, the wisdom, the commentary and the ahead of the curve insights. Thank you for your words that sustain me… and my small circle.

    As a Cantor, I minister at funerals. I learned early on to “sing through sadness”…these days sadness feels like my new normal.

    Still sing’n.

    (Aw heck! “Torrential Too” or “Still Sing’n”…I like ’em both!)

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Oh Gosh, mimimommy, praying a PMT for you and sending the saint of this day, Robert Bellarmine, to be with you and your family in these challenges. Taking you, your clan and all here, with their families, to Adoration. Oh Jesus, I surrender this community of faith to You; take care of everything!

      Liked by 9 people

    2. Mimimommy3, I hold you close to my heart in prayer. We are practically the same age and are sharing similar trials. Please keep me and mine in prayer too. ❤

      Lord, send forth your Spirit to renew the face of the earth.

      Liked by 6 people

    3. Praying for you and your family, Mimimommy. And speaking of singing, the last part of your post made me think of this song from a Christian group that my kids like. I hope it brings a smile to your face:

      Liked by 5 people

    5. MM3-Imploring St. Joseph’s intercession to keep your house. Mother Angelica was 58
      when she started EWTN-so may she help in your business endeavors. Hope this melody isn’t too melancholic; Peter, Paul and Mary’s beautiful harmony might be soothing. We’ve all sung this
      in our own way, sometime in our life….(p.s. praying for everybody’s intentions).

      Liked by 7 people

    8. Mmmm3, I sense your hope and empathize totally with you too. We are similarly situated and indeed are hoping for an offer on our house today after two weeks on the market – please pray for us. I feel the guidance of the Blessed Mother in all this and am so grateful. It is very sad to be leaving my parish of 33 years but we are forced to move to the country where there is cheaper housing and still some work. We will be only 3 hours away from our growing family – most recent grandy born last week, first grandson, but at age 64 it is a big step for us. I look at it as an exciting new start which is part of the Lord’s plan for me – taking the Rosary, promotion of Adoration and the Divine Will on the road like a late missionary. May the Lord be truly blessed for His Goodness and Mercy!

      Liked by 7 people

    10. I am thinking that your experience is familiar to a whole lot of people in this Christian community. It certainly is familiar to me as I have been knocked to my knees in the past as well.

      Why is it so familiar to so many here? I believe it is precisely because this is a Christian community.

      As an active Christian you are advancing the Kingdom of God on Earth. We can rest assured that God is very pleased with your our efforts. Particularly if you are serving by helping a lot of people and leading them to God. In your own small way. God loves you for that.

      But God is not the only one watching you and what you are doing. And that one is not happy with what you are doing.

      The more good you are doing in the world the more attention from the Evil one you will draw. At some point you will be attacked. The object of the attack will be to stop you in your tracks and to end your good works. As we witness many of our clergy and religious find themselves under attack. The more powerful your work is the stronger and more thorough will be the attack on you. You may find yourself in a state of deep despair and hopelessness.

      Rest assured God does not abandon His people. Especially his “minions” on Earth who are working for the Kingdom. God will heal you and lift you up. You will survive the attack.

      When I was undergoing my own attack that left me in despair and hopelessness I was pointed by three separate sources to read Jeremiah 29 4:14. Jeremiah 29 was a letter from God to the Exiles in Babylon. Exile comes in many forms. It can be an illness, a loss of a loved one, a loss of your home … all sorts of Exile. Jeremiah 29 is both a letter of encouragement and a sort of contract offer. A covenant. I’ll do this for you if you do this for me. A deal. This deal was presented to me and it is available to all.

      Here is the deal:

      What God wants from you is contained in verses 4,5, 6,7 below. Basically, He is telling you to bloom where you are planted. Even if you are planted in cancer or loss of your home and your business. If you are at the end of your rope tie a knot in it. My reaction was you’ve got to be kidding me Walk a mile in my shoes before you tell me to tie a knot in it.

      So what’s in it for you if you tie a knot in your pain and suffering and bloom where you are planted in a very bad patch?

      What you get from God is contained in verses 10, 11,12, 13, 14. A series of promises. Read these promises very, very carefully. What God promises God delivers. These promises will take your breath away.

      That’s what a contract is. God doesn’t promise us a rose Garden. It won’t be easy to keep your end of the deal. I will just say that God has delivered on every one of these promises for me over the years. The one remaining yet to be delivered on promise in verses 10-14? I’ll let you guess.

      Over the years I have been called to draw people’s attention to this deal who are in a similar situation. I present it to you. I hope you consider it seriously and carefully. You are gonna have to deliver on your end. God will deliver on his end.

      Jeremiah 29 — A letter to the Exiles in Babylon

      “4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon:

      5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruits.

      6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters. Increase there; do not decrease.

      7 Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the LORD, for upon its welfare your own depends.b

      8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners who are among you; do not listen to those among you who dream dreams,c

      9 for they prophesy lies to you in my name; I did not send them—oracle of the LORD.

      10 For thus says the LORD: Only after seventy years have elapsed for Babylon will I deal with you and fulfill for you my promise to bring you back to this place.

      11 For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.

      12 When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you.

      13 When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,

      14 I will let you find me—oracle of the LORD—and I will change your lot; I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you—oracle of the LORD—and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you.”

      Please know that you are not alone. Your experience is not unique. Rest assured God loves you. He loves your work. He has a plan for you and your loved ones. It is a plan for your good and not for woe. That Plan will give you a future of hope.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Thank you Ed. The Lord is truly ever-faithful, so loving and so close. Someone mentioned here yesterday that the Light will surely shine in all those who are open and ready. Beacons of Hope, bearing the ever-faithful Word. God bless you.

        Liked by 4 people

    12. My heartfelt prayers go out to you in these terrible times. I, too, have recently experienced some great losses. My abusive husband left me after 48 years taking all the money and closing all our accounts leaving me on public assistance. I have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and can no longer work at my cake business. I need my two knees and one hip replaced and I lost my hearing aids and had most of my teeth pulled. I can’t see, hear or talk right. I am officially the three monkeys. At least I have given my friends and family some perspective on how good their lives are! But in my condition I stand a better chance of going to heaven because there’s not much evil left that I’m physically capable of. See? Light at the end of the tunnel. BTW I’m 70 and I refuse to go gracefully into that good night. Stay with it Torrential Too. After all, I’m my own personal storm…..Peace is abounding if only in my mind.

      Liked by 3 people

      3. OMGosh, StJoanMusings. This is the most horrifically funny comment I have read here. You must be a spitting pitbull of a never-say-die comedian. Remember Phyllis Diller? You should go on the road. Comedy Central is crying for stand-up (or maybe better, sit-down) talent. Meanwhile, I will pray a PMT for you, although I’m not sure exactly what to ask for on your behalf. The list is so long! But pray, I will.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. How did I miss seeing this until now? SJM…I love that we can laugh and cry at the same time soul-sister! God is so good! May our joy in the storm be a light in the darkness! Adding you to my prayers!

        Liked by 3 people

  37. Go Msgr Charles Pope!


    (Gay altar at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood CA)

    Active homosexuality in the priesthood helped cause this crisis

    September 17, 2018 (National Catholic Register) – There is a line in the Acts of the Apostles that I once found humorous: So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7) Of course the priests referred to here are the priests of the ancient Temple, the Levitical priests. In the past, such a line seemed ironically funny to the average Catholic who heard it.

    But that humor, in recent days, seems more darkly true and less ironic. Indeed, in the past two decades – and now, once again – the reputation of the priesthood and episcopacy has been sullied by the deeply sinful, unchaste, unnatural and unconscionable acts of some priests and bishops. They have harmed many victims and disgraced the priesthood. They have engaged in great evils, often repeatedly and with no accountability. But they will answer to God for what they have done.

    Add to this the cover-ups, secret payments, the neglect to follow up on many complaints and the seeming refusal to look to the real roots of the problem, and the result is a total collapse of any credibility or moral authority that bishops and priests need to have in order to effectively preach and teach the faith.

    I know that words cannot really describe the anger, grief and disappointment of our lay faithful, many of whom have tried to defend the Church, the Bride of Christ and our Mother whom we love.

    As a priest of Jesus Christ, I am angry and dismayed that the honorable Sacrament of Holy Orders has been so besmirched and dishonored by the actions of some. I know I do not need to tell most of God’s good people that the majority of priests and bishops have been faithful and are zealous and generous servants. I had insisted until recently that the number of malefactors is very small. But frankly, I must say that, while still a minority, the number is far more extensive than I thought.

    And while I have at times wanted to insist that the percentage of clerical offenders is the same or lower as other groups of men, I must also say that whatever the percent, the crime is far worse. This is because people entrust to us the most precious and necessary thing they need for salvation – their faith. For any of us to mislead God’s faithful or strip them of the trust they need to attain deeper faith is the worst sort of malpractice. And there are clerics up to the highest ranks who have done this, here and throughout the world. For clergy to go so far as to seduce others to sin is a horrific crime.

    Jesus said of these who do not repent of such seduction and malpractice: Scandals will inevitably arise: but woe to him through whom they come. It is better for him that a millstone be hung about his neck, and that he be cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1-2)

    Whatever new policies some wish to suggest, let’s be clear that we already have a policy. It’s called the Sixth Commandment.

    The policy is also set forth in many other clearly worded texts from the Scriptures that forbid homosexual acts, adultery, fornication and other lewd conduct: Ephesians 5:5-7; Galatians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:5-8; Revelation 22:14-16; Matthew 15:19-20; Matthew 5:27-30; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Colossians 3:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Hebrews 13:4; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Genesis 19; Romans 1:1-18, and 1 Timothy 1:8-11, among others.

    The Sixth Commandment is clear – there is a universal call to chastity, and no one is exempt. There is simply no provision for sexual intercourse or sexual touching outside of valid marriage, and those who are married live chastity by complete fidelity to one another. No one is ever permitted under any circumstances to engage in sexual acts with anyone to whom they are not validly married. There are no separate rules for heterosexuals or homosexuals. There is to be no sexual intercourse or touching outside of valid marriage.

    And this of course leads to the most-avoided topic related to this scandal – the problem of active homosexuality in the priesthood. An honest discussion of this current crisis cannot avoid addressing the issue – shouts of homophobia, intolerance, bigotry and scapegoating notwithstanding.

    It is evident that the vast majority of the cases involving both the sexual abuse of minors and of adults involve male victims. The 2004 John Jay Report (The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States), which was commissioned by the U.S. bishops themselves, found that 81 percent of the victims were male and 78 percent of all victims were post-pubescent. Thus, though legally still minors, they were sexually mature in the physical sense. So, the large majority of cases involved attraction by homosexuals to young men who, though legally minors, were physically and sexually mature males, not little children. This is not pedophilia. It is homosexual attraction. Regarding the sexual abuse and harassment of seminarians or priests by bishops or other clergy, obviously 100 percent of those victims were male.

    In summary, the large majority of the cases involve sexual misbehavior by priests with same-sex attraction.

    We should be clear that most people with same sex attraction do not commit sexual crimes or seek to seduce or sexually abuse younger men. Many people with same-sex attraction do live chastely and follow the teachings of the Church. This is not a sweeping characterization of all people with same-sex attraction.

    But the statistical evidence of the recent scandals shows a highly disproportionate level of homosexual involvement. The numbers are well-demonstrated in both experience and in the John Jay Report.

    All this demonstrates that seminaries and the priesthood are not good places for those with deep-seated same-sex attraction. It does not take an anthropology or psychology degree to figure this out. Putting a man with same-sex attraction in a seminary is no more advisable than putting a heterosexual man in a woman’s dormitory where he shares shower facilities and close quarters with women. A man with same-sex attraction is going to face temptations in all-male settings that would test the strongest.

    Add to this the possibility that other men of same-sex attraction are there and soon enough a subculture sets up where temptations are fierce, and compromises and liaisons soon emerge. And this is what we have seen in the “gay” subculture that is demonstrably existent among a significant number of clergy in the Church.

    An honest discussion of the recent crisis needs to include a clear setting forth and analysis of these facts. Ignoring them and staying silent through political correctness is malpractice at this point. We must speak charitably and clearly about this. We must not allow charges of intolerance, homophobia and scapegoating to suppress a frank discussion and analysis of the link of much of this misbehavior to active homosexuals, and a subculture among some of them that tolerates and promotes behavior which God forbids.

    Pope Francis recently reiterated the policy that the Catholic Church cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called “gay culture.” The Pope indicated that these acts or deep-seated tendencies can lead to scandals and can compromise the life of the seminary, as well as the man himself and his future priesthood. (More HERE.)

    This story was underreported, likely because it does not fit the narrative the press wants to create regarding Pope Francis. Nevertheless, any conversation that seeks to find real traction or solutions is going to have to include the connection to homosexuality – not as a single cause, but as an essential and highly important one. And honest discussion must also include analyses of institutional problems such as secrecy, unaccountability, abuse of power, and so on.

    In short, it is time for a truthful conversation free from political correctness and forbidden topics. If our bishops are not willing to engage a full and honest airing of all the causes, the anger of God’s people will only increase, and the credibility of the bishops and the Church will sink from near zero to absolute zero.

    The Church should be self-correcting, but we have not been so. Too often it has taken a secular state and threats of severe legal action to compel us to be more inwardly accountable. It is reminiscent of Pharaoh having to rebuke Abram for his crime of putting his own wife Sarai in the harem to protect himself (see Genesis 12:10-20). It is like the pagan sailors who had to tell Jonah the prophet to pray to God (Jonah 1:6). It is like Jesus finding more faith among the Gentiles than his own people. And now, too often, it takes grand juries, judges, financial and legal threats to get us to do what we should have done all along.

    As the quote above from Acts said, Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. It was once a fun joke for priests. Now, increasingly, we are becoming the brunt of that joke. Pray for a necessary house-cleaning, an honest conversation about all the causes of this crisis, and the purification the Lord wants for his Church. The episcopacy, the priesthood and the very credibility of the Church hang in the balance.

    Published with permission from the National Catholic Register.

    Liked by 8 people

  38. And Another from Msgr. Pope today!

    On the Length of the Homily

    During a recent day trip to Sicily, Pope Francis said that homilies should not last more than 8 minutes and that the entire Mass should be completed within 40 (although he may have been exaggerating on this second point). He has said similar things before.

    He is entitled to his opinion, of course, but I disagree. No sweeping generalization about sermon length is necessary. There are cultural and even local differences that come into play. In my own parish I offer two rather brief masses, on Saturday and Sunday evenings, that are about 45 minutes long; our Sunday morning liturgies are a good bit longer. Our choir Mass lasts 90 minutes and those that come seem to enjoy it immensely. They say they are enriched in the extended worship of God and appreciate a longer sermon that explores the proclaimed word more thoroughly. It is a tradition here. In many parts of Africa liturgies can last upwards of three hours!

    I will grant that no one wants to hear a long homily that contains only 5 minutes of content, but there are forms of preaching that teach out of the sacred text and delve deeply into its meaning and application to our lives—and this takes more than 8 minutes! There are some Catholics in this country who admire Protestant preaching because it typically features a rich message and makes it relevant to everyday life. For the record, though, most Protestant sermons are about 30 minutes long.

    At some point, Catholics need to decide what they want in a homily: a short “thought for the day” reflection or something more substantial, which takes more time. Maybe we should offer them such options.

    My deeper concern in the demand for briefer sermons and shorter Masses is that today we are in desperate need of liturgies that are more than perfunctory. In a world as secular and hostile as ours we need more prayer and instruction than ever! There are 168 hours in a week; removing time for sleep, that leaves more than 100 waking hours. How does 8 minutes of instruction and less than an hour of worship in total stack up against all those other hours, many of them filled with things that are downright poisonous to the faith?

    Rather than simply focusing on length, perhaps it would be better to speak to effective and compelling liturgy and preaching. There are many fine preachers, Catholic and Protestant. It is well within the realm of human ability to preach powerfully, and it is my experience that God’s people will gladly listen to a good sermon even if it is considerably longer than 8 minutes.

    In my mind, an 8 minutes ceiling is just too limiting. (There are times when brevity is required for good reason; for example, I have given 3-minute sermons as part of 30-minute televised Masses for shut-ins.) One might hope that the Pope, who sits atop a worldwide Church, would recognize the diverse situations and preferences that exist rather than suggest such a general, restrictive notion.

    For the record, the homily Pope Francis gave following his remarks about brief sermons was 17 minutes long—not a bad length for a Sunday homily!

    Liked by 10 people

    1. We have a great preacher in Msgr Pope. If his writings are anything to go by, I could happily listen to a three hour sermon any day. God bless him.

      And thank God through the internet, ordinary people can have a chance to read inspired, brilliant articles from men like Msgr Pope, and Charlie is a great writer too. A Sherpa and a shepherd. God bless them.

      I for one have learned many interesting facts about the Catholic Faith, never heard in my life; and that being a cradle Catholic.

      I wonder if we have a new Fulton Sheen in the making.

      Liked by 3 people

  39. from:https://www.barnhardt.biz/
    “Now, go ahead and ask Him why He has allowed you to be so hurt, so intensely disappointed by what is going on in the Church today. The answer is simple: He wants YOU to experience and share in the smallest way His Agony and His Passion. He wants you closer to Him. He wants you to know and understand Him better, because only then can you love Him better. He wants YOU to know and understand as much as you can exactly how much it is that He loves all of us, and how much He loves you personally, and right now the best way to do that is through His Agony. Even in His infinite agony which we caused, Infinite Love prevailed unto the Pillar and the Cross by which all are redeemed and some are and will be saved.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well, I am usually not quite sure what to make of Barnhardt…but then again a lot of folks aren’t quite sure of what to make of me.

      When I was still little, not yet at double digits in age, I noticed that Scripture is like an onion – a single sentence has many layers of meaning. Or it is like a finely cut jewel, with many facets of meaning. I think this quote elucidates one of those facets and is comforting for the insight.

      Liked by 2 people

  40. Hi everyone back after a pause.

    Not sure if I shared this dream of mine.
    In this dream I was climbing up a holy mountain and was a few steps away from the top. As I was climbing to reach the top I could see from the side a glimpse of a filthy black wing covered in black suit and it slyly touched me. I was startled and was afraid and fell right to the bottom and was gutted. As I looked at the top I saw the Christ vision and then saw the Most Holy Spirit decend above him as a white dove and the vision of Jesus became more promenant like Christ was transfigured and in my heart I heard the words “I lift up my eyes to thine hills from whence commeth my help? My help cometh from the Lord, The Lord who made heaven and Earth” Psalm 121. I started to climb back up.

    I’ve had dreams of Jesus brought down from the cross in church during the blessing of the eucharist and the entire heavens kneeling but I feel guilty am not.

    Recently I had a dream after the fiery thrashing I received in defense’s of president Trump and prayed for me to just let this go as was obsessed but then in a dream saw Mary looking at me through a window to comfort me and then my eyes were drawing to a celestial object heralding towards the earth and kept increasing in size until it was about to strike at which point I awoke. I wish she said something or just hugged me tight. I interpreted as Gods word is in motion and the cleansing has began and warning is near perhaps. I am no prophet just like everyone struggling to return back to God but as a sign of hope if anyone who doubts Gods existence and his power I hope this is litte encouragement as do not doubt He is in full control and he loves you.

    PS finally Trump ordered for the declassification of the abuses so I’m assuming his team is ready to pounce:)

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Interesting… Even in the political portion I could totally relate, political leftists don’t just behave badly around elections, they behave badly all the time, forcing their diseased thinking upon others all the time. With all the leftist laws & leftist social media trolls, people are becoming increasingly scared to speak out their conscience out of fear of leftist “police state” type punishments; it’s on the web, the media, the schools, the workplaces, and out in public in general… Any worse and people will be dragged off to jail/concentration camps for disagreeing with the leftist political will.

    It would seem that one of the side effects of internet/social media age is the pandemic of people less able think & reason for themselves. I’ve seen the internet compared to the new Tower of Babel, as it seeks to undo God’s judgement from way back when…

    Liked by 3 people

  42. Sadly the ‘Abandonment of Truth’ also includes many Catholic Schools … K thru University/Seminary. The Great Cleansing MUST include Catholic Education and those already tainted by phony left lavender “doctrine” must, somehow, be re-educated.

    DeVos: American Colleges Have ‘Abandoned Truth’

    https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/betsy-devos-hate-speech-protection/2018/09/17/id/882155/

    The Ussual Supspects don’t want to hear this:

    New study says that raising children with religion could protect their mental health as they grow

    https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/09/18/new-study-says-that-raising-children-with-religion-could-protect-their-mental-health-as-they-grow

    Get a load of SanFran Nanny, AKA: Crumbs Pelosi. Ya know it’s an election year when she boasts about he “catholic” Faith ;-(

    Pro-Abortion Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi Claims, “I Am a Practicing Catholic”

    https://www.lifenews.com/2018/09/17/pro-abortion-democrat-leader-nancy-pelosi-claims-i-am-a-practicing-catholic/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Yes… The sad reality that human stupidity & ignorance has brought us to… When I seen the movie Idiocracy, I could relate right away how it’s the internet age (not genetics) that’s turning this generation into idiot followers. (I see merits in looking at the destructive impact of our modern lifestyle & it’s corrupting influences, so I’ll be stuck on these points for a while, so don’t mind me)

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.

Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.